Yes not selecting Alexander Arnold would be the dumbest decision made by an England manager since Graham Taylor decided not to take England’s top Goalscorer Ian Wright to the 1992 Euro championships and decided to take Nigel Clough instead because of his surname.

Prat

I don’t think it’s spurious rumours Bernard hasn’t he been left out of southgates last couple of squads ?

I'm really, really hoping for the best for Brentford. C'mon Bees.

As I'm sure you recall, OMOH, the main controversy of that game was McParland's 'shoulder charge' on the United keeper Ray Wood. Watching it these days, it is incredible not only for the fact that it was (arguably?) a legal challenge, but that Kenneth Wolstenholme is extremely disappointed in the United fans for their appalling lack of sportsmanship in booing the ref as Wood is eventually carried off. How dare they!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuL515DPIJ4&t=409s

He has been left out of the last few squads, but plenty of other out of form players were being picked. England have a bit of an embarrassment of riches at right back. Walker, Trippier, James, Trent, Wan Bissaka and then even younger players like Aarons and Lamptey coming through. Rumours are the 3 at the start of my list are the 3 Southgate likes. Trent is clearly the most talented of the lot, he should be on the plane with Walker - no doubt in my mind

Lots of links to prem based players and particularly some players from the relegated sides. Of course lots of rumours are just that, made up to get clicks, but it is a tactic that has proven ok for teams in the past.
Sander Berge CM at Sheff Utd
Adarabioyo - young 6ft 5 CB, was with Arteta at City so can understand the link
Anguissa at Fulham, CM with more successful dribbles than any player in the league

I think it is going to be a buyer market this summer, even if we consider our own finances tight it is nothing compared to some clubs on the continent. Some bargain deals will be done this summer for sure

Rich, there may be a lot of wishful thinking going into the summer buying season. I hope we are canny buyers. But we can't buy unless we lesson the wage bill right? Sell to buy? Or have I misunderstood it? I don't know our finances. I only know we can't spend like we need to.

Trippier and Walker are quite similiar as players, decent defensively and good going forward. Wan Bissaka doesn't have the attacking edge of the others, but is the best defensively. And Alexander-Arnold is by far the most gifted offensively. I just don't see any reason at all to pick both Trippier and Walker.

Agreed. I think there are more differences between Walker and Trippier though. Walker has much better pace, athleticism, physical ability and versatility being able to play in a back 3 (as he did at the last world cup I think). Trippier has a much better delivery and set piece threat - but Trent trumps that anyway.

in a 26 man squad you can have something like:
3 GK
9 Def
9/10 Mid
4/5 Attack
id go for something like this
Pickford, Pope, Henderson in goal
Trent, Walker, Maguire, Stones, Mings, Keane, Chilwell, Shaw (we're a bit light at CB quality)
Rice, Henderson(if fit), Mount, Foden, Sterling, Grealish (if fit), Phillips, Sancho, Saka, Bellingham, Lingard
Kane, Rashford, Calvert-Lewin, Watkins

Read we are supposedly after Sheffield United's Sander Berge. I think too many clubs are after him, including Liverpool (doubt that but its in the rumor mill). He'll be too expensive I'm guessing.

I can't dispute it. Right now, we are a name and that's about it. Our history maintains us a big club. Fanbase as well. But Man Utd had woeful seasons between 1967 and 1992.

https://www.sportbible.com/football/rivalries-news-former-spurs-players-says-leicester-city-are-a-better-club-20210517
Leicester City Are 'A Big Six Club' And 'Better' Than Tottenham Hotspur And Arsenal

Writing something you all know anyway but as you know I sometimes peruse through old matches and such. I was looking at the 1977 season and wondering how big of an upset was it that Liverpool won the league but lost the FA Cup to hated rivals Man Utd and how big of an upset that may have been, especially denying them the double. Also I have long known we were in 3 straight cup finals. (How did we lose the 2 easier ones and win the toughest one?) but didn't know that Man Utd were in 3 cup finals in 4 years ('76, 77 and '79).

Anyway, I didn't know that Tottenham got relegated that season and barely made it up for promotion in '78 from what I see from the 2nd division table. Wow! Had no idea.

I had never seen that. A truly grim spectacle. Like a totally different sport really.

I believe he can fill in at keeper too. Handy if Leno is injured or has buggered off.

Taking off Lineker when ye needed a goal to stay in the tournament was the pinnacle. Astounding decision.

For me, TAA is the best fullback in the league and by some distance too. Brilliant player.

Believe it or not at the time I thought it was the right decision. Lineker had a shocking tournament and looked totally passed it. It’s only really seen as a wrong decision because Lineker took exception to it and he was unquestionable at the time. The real mistake was that he only had Alan Smith to bring on rather than a prime Ian Wright

It will be interesting how the Harry Kane potential transfer plays out this summer. He's reportedly told Spurs he wants out, some reports saying he did this last summer and agreed to give them 1 more year. Levy isn't exactly known for being that accommodating in selling his players. Reports are he'll want £120m. I just can't see clubs paying that when you can get Haaland for that price this summer or for half that price next summer. You might even get Mbappe for that price. The age is a massive factor.

Chelsea, Man U and City are the 3 obvious teams interested. I think Kane would want to stay in England, he's got a young family as well. All 3 of those clubs need a striker and you could argue that if he were to sign for any of the 3 they'd become favourites for the title next year, or enhance that favourites tag in City's case.

I just can't see a team paying £120m for him in a post pandemic transfer window.

Hi Rich,

If he stays in England then whomever of the big four (City, United, Chelsea or Liverpool) gets him will make an obvious step up in the quality of their attack and will likely challenge for the title, if they aren't already title holders.

If Chelsea, Man U or Liverpool get him I think it cements their place in the top four, making our efforts to get CL next year even more difficult.

I hope he goes abroad but Real and Barca don't have the money, he's too expensive for Bayern and the italian clubs leaving only PSG as a real option in europe.

A wee bit cool

He’s off to the chavs, you heard it here first.

It's one of those signings that is very good on paper, but there is a big element of risk involved. The money will be absolutely ridiculous, and he's turning 28 in the summer. with quite a few injuries in the last few seasons.

Man Utd seems like the best fit to me, their best central striker is 34, and they'd have a great supporting cast around Kane. It would limit their ability to strengthen other areas of the team though - their central midfield is atrocious and they probably need to upgrade their goalkeeper and central midfield as well.

I may be accused of being a pessimist but I'd rather use the term 'realist'. I am not at all confident about us winning at Selhurst Park. My guess is we'll get a draw. I hope we win, even though I have a soft spot for Palace. They might have been my club instead of Arsenal (along with another club). I actually though Palace were a 'bigger' club than Arsenal because I had heard of them before I got into football, but have never heard of The Arsenal.

Lots of stories in the media about Bertrand and a number of other free transfers. We should not be dreaming of any player who is over 25. Any replacements should be young and be pushing to actually replace the person currently in the position. Even if they are a couple of seasons away from being the number 1, competition will keep everyone one on their toes. If they develop well they will either replace the encumbent or be sold for a good profit.

I repeat my concerns that Arteta has no history to demonstrate he has an eye of selecting good players. In the midfield we need only midfielders who can play a position and not be forcing a right side midfielder to play central or Partey to play a role he is not familiar with. I am hoping most of the stories are just fluff.

He’s a home bird, and recently made quite a large investment near Cobham.

That’s interesting. Chelsea’s training ground is in Cobham, I believe.

So what you guys are saying is that Kane is a lazy sod?

Fair enough, you're losing sleep over the Palace fixture, but it's fear of losing to Brighton on Sunday that's stopping me from focusing on anything else at all in my life.

If there is a 29 year old with a skillet to get us into the top 4 then we should buy him.

And they allowed the manager Matt Busby on to the pitch to check on his player!

Pan Ximing from the Chinese League might fit the bill?

Rightly so! And that young Duncan Edwards looked quite good. RIP.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuL515DPIJ4&t=2555s

Indeed.
I think Arsenal have a very difficult balancing act with the ins/outs this summer. There is so much to consider, who can we move on and for what price?
Do we need to move players on who we might want to stay simply because there is an offer on the table?
How do we ensure we don't have too many non-home grown players?
How do we ensure we're sufficiently covered in the squad when the African Cup of Nations comes round in January?
What positions do we decide a cheaper player will do as we push more significant funds to other positions?
If we are looking at cheaper players is that very young or very old? How do we approach contracts with potential free transfers?

It is a massive, massive job. I think a lot of fans will expect us to make the jump from 8th to 4th next season, whilst also bedding in new players, Saliba will be the new Van Dijk, Aubameyang will get his mojo back etc etc. Right now it is hard to see beyond 6th place next year - maybe 5th if Spurs implode post-Kane. Realistically we're more likely to be fighting off Everton, Villa, Leeds etc for 6th place than pushing those at the top for a top 4 place.

To me Bertrand looks like a decent squad signing. Pretty good player, knows the league, homegrown and is a free agent. If he's signed it'll be as a backup to Tierney, and he won't cost a fortune.

Hi Rich, we're currently nine points from fourth - a minuscule margin over the course of a 38-game campaign. Yes, we've been terrible for a lot of the season, but why shouldn't we get a handful of points more in 2021/22, rather than less? (I can't help thinking I'm arguing a point you've been making for most of the season!) This is a statistical outlier, but I love the fact that, comparing 2014/15 with 2015/16, Leicester picked up 65 points on Chelsea. So ... 10 or 20 is surely doable.

Would like to see Liverpool edge out Chelsea for 4th. Hoping West Ham beat out the scum in the table. Fingers crossed all around.

Then just allow Sead K to see out his next season.

Chelsea playing Leicester tonight. Leicester could seal a CL place with a win.

No worries. Hodgson won't be at CP next season.

I do think the margins are small, but I wouldn't expect Liverpool to be as poor again, I can't see us finishing above City, Man U, Chelsea or Liverpool. So finishing top 4 is very difficult sort even if we improve a lot on this season.
The margins are tight but every team from 5th to 11th may have the same case.

So whilst I think we can certainly improve next season with some canny signings and a proper pre-season etc I don't think it is realistic to expect us to jump in to the top 4 considering the quality of those 4 big teams who will also all be strengthening this summer with much bigger budgets than we have.
So the point of my post was we might be 5th but given the strength of those teams I think we're be in a pack of 4-5 teams for 5th-6th rather than being up close to the big 4. And I haven't even mentioned Leicester yet.

We have a lot of results this season that we should improve on next year but realistically we can't expect to be bagging the 3 points away to Man U, Leicester and Chelsea next season - we'd have probably been satisfied with 3 draws from those games this season given our level.