Queued of pundits lining up to lavish praise on Lampard for keeping Everton up. Everton were 15th when Lampard took over, he got no ‘new manager bounce’ took Everton further in to a genuine relegation fight and finally got them out. He essentially came in to a tough job, made it worse and scraped himself out of the mess he at least partially created. I’d hold off the praise

I’m always willing to admit when I’m wrong. Only the other day I told Rich I’d misread one of his posts. Perhaps there’s little need for me to do it?

Is there not an award for ‘I hate letting others have the last word on a debate’? If so the winners would be 1) Top Gun 2) Top Gun 3) Top Gun 4) Top Gun 5) Top Gun 6) Top Gun.

I’ve zero affinity with them but I’m not upset that Everton survived. A fine old club who I’ve always considered way more preferable to their nearby neighbours.

I remember coming out of Goodison not that long ago. I had an Arsenal shirt on so it was obvious I was an away fan. Anyway, I dropped my phone without realising it. An Everton fan saw me drop it, picked it up and chased after me to hand it back. Others said stop walking so he could get to me without a long trek.

In the Villa Burnley match Ashley Barnes (a serial elbow offender) didn’t even get a yellow card for this. And Marty Cash did this foul throw. The consistency is awful.

The ref who decided Barnes elbow wasn’t worthy of a yellow card was the same ref (Tierney) who decided Holding’s on Son was worthy of a yellow card…..and Son’s on holding wasn’t anything.

I know where you are coming from, Rich, but did you see the end of the Forest v Sheff Utd game when Forest won the penalty shoot-out to secure a place in the play-off final? The Forest fans "invaded" the pitch and stayed there for ages celebrating. They were great scenes. Of course, old Cloughie might not have approved. Remember him punching a fan who ran onto the pitch years ago.

Was in the car this morning where the radio is always on TalkSPORT. Heard that Port Vale beat Swindon on penalties last night to secure a place in the League Two play off final.

I was glad. Not through any particular affinity with Port Vale but because it means Swindon won’t be promoted. I’m not ant-Swindon enough to follow their results. However, when I hear they’ve suffered a misfortune I’m routinely pleased.

To this day I’ve never forgiven them for that 1969 League Cup final defeat.

I was looking at some of the iconic games we had in our heyday roughly a couple decades ago and we won a few of them with players that made me raise an eyebrow. We won at Old Trafford in 2003 in the FA Cup with Edu, Jeffers upfront with Wiltord, Man Utd I think had their best XI. Yet we won 0-2.

Point is the bench players, even peripheral players stepped up. You go past the first 11, 12, on our side and we don't have players step up oftentimes. I think in some part due to our XI not having the same pressure for you to step up as the invincibles.

Its why I don't think we will do well in Europe next season and I think had we made top 4 there is a chance we may not even make it to the group stages if they still have that play off thing. I have no idea. I haven't watched a full CL match in months and months. Not bothered if we aren't in it.

Anyway, we need a bigger squad and that squad needs to be quality as best we can. Other teams may be able to cope with the same limitations as our squad in Europe and frankly I'd put that down to having a better manager and perhaps employing a better strategy perhaps.

I like Arteta and feel he deserves his new contract. May not be the popular opinion among many gooners but I am willing to give him more time and 5th is actually slightly above goals.

We don't have that esprit de corps the prior great side did. We collapsed twice in the final run. It speaks volumes to our mettle, desire and ambitions.

Given just how Chelsea have stalled in recent weeks it is frustrating to reflect on how we have missed an excellent opportunity to come third never mind fourth.

What ifs and maybes eh?

I watched more Palace games than ours the last month. I was willing Palace to do well, our games with them aside. I don't know what Palace fans think of Vieira but I will look on a forum or two. They finished roughly the same as last season. I am hoping he can improve them next season. He will likely use his legend status with us to get some loaned players instead of them going elsewhere.

As for that fan, he took his life in his hands. Vieira is no joke.

Very true.

Mind you, the frustrations, angst and lack of nails I have as 'the only Arsenal fan in the village' (and have been for over 50 years), make the good times all the better.

From the disappointment of Dad telling me Swindon had won (a la Bernard) when I was still very little, through the high of the first Double, Alan, Alan Sunderland, the worries of the late 70s early 80s, Anfield in May 89, (when the final whistle went and I celebrated madly with a new born asleep upstairs and the reaction I got was the moment when I knew my marriage was over, but that's another story and not for this forum), George's defence (oh how I loved that defence), Wenger's transformation (he will forever be a hero to me), Vieira, Petit, Overmars, Henry, and the greatest ever, Dennis. And so many, many more.

This current period has its ups and downs too of course, but at least it's keeping things interesting.

One thing I have noticed (and maybe Rog can confirm or deny), is that contributions here are on the up recently. Is that a positive indicator? I think so.

Anyway, enough of my rambling.

Could that incident make you love Patrick Vieira even more.

Blokes an unstoppable footballing force.

I think he was restrained all things considered. He should have proper belted him. Man, social media is encouraging society to be arseholes for likes and hits. Why are people such stupid *%^@? I remember years ago seeing a pub sign that simply said “Stop making stupid people famous”. I think about that often. Reality TV and the internet has driven down the collective societal intellect. We now have the society and politicians we deserve.

He should have belted him and the outrage is pathetic. Palace should issue a statement supporting him. There should be no apology

That blokes a formidable born winner. I love him

You are right about our societal problems. Government sets the tone and needs to be an example. You had people in government joking about rapists this week. It can’t be chaos

Nail hit firmly on head.

I notice something in the states. There is an unsaid, nervous vibe to an social interaction. Why? People are very, very scared/worried, whatever you want to call it of going viral for anything. If you have any negative ineraction in public. Even if its justified. A guy cuts you off on the road. Your hotel resernation isn't in the system and you just flew in to the Holiday Inn in Phoenix, whatever.

You avoid being that guy or gal that goes viral and in a strange way it checks people. It makes people a wee bit more polite.

Anyway, the Everton vs Palace game had 2 iconic midfielders who were big rivals as well and that added to it a wee bit. I am sure they both respect each other immensely given our battles.

That would have been immensely satisfying.

Doesn't seem to work on the Trumpers though, does it?

https://www.caughtoffside.com/2022/05/1 ... -transfer/

Anyone seen this guy play? I knew he was sought after as he's young and on a free transfer but I've not seen him play

Rich,
Marseille play Strassbourg Saturday. I usually watch the Marseille games anyway. Saliba, Guendouzi play. I've heard of Boubacar Kamara before only since watching Marseille. He does well. Whether or not he'll be in their lineup Sat. is another thing.

The free transfer players are always potential boom or bust. They command high wages so can be difficult to move on if it doesn’t work but if you get a good one you can obviously commit much more money to key positions.

Arsenal are in this dilemma. We maybe need 6 signings and maybe have £150m again like last year. So do you go with roughly £25m per player or do you commit £100m to solving to key positions and hope for bargains in other areas?

I think this is why we might shop in the ‘1 year left on the deal’ players, as I think you can pick them up for half of their market value.

It seems to me that one of our problems is that we are one of the clubs for whom the price tag seems to go up when we express an interest. We are seen, rightly or not, as a rich Premiership club who can ‘afford it’.

If there are bargains in that segment of the market, why aren't other clubs exploiting it? The only thing I can think of is that the bargaining power of the player is reduced the nearer the end of the contract they are. But you'd only get bargains if there was weak competition on the demand side.

I would agree that it is better to pay a high transfer fee than be saddled with high wages! But wouldn't one be tending toward the high wage low transfer fee combination as the contract enters its final year?

And Australia has a new Prime Minister.

Good thing or bad thing? First time I've ever heard of Anthony Albanese.

We'll have to see. The current government has been in power for nearly a decade.

Reuters - Breaking news.

Donald Trump has claimed victory in the Australian election with Arizona and Texas already doing a recount and launching legal action. More soon.

Not certain that anyone knew Stan had recently bought an old unused shopping mall earlier this month for $150m.

https://dailycannon.com/2022/05/stan-kr ... nade-mall/

Marquihnos fits that bargain shopping in at £3m.

Perhaps it’s going to be our new stadium.

If it is, I hope they put the stands nearer the pitch this time.

Pleased that Rangers won the Scottish cup, beating Hearts 2-0 in today’s final. Ramsey was on the bench again so didn’t get in their starting eleven. But this time he didn’t even come on as a sub. Boy did we dodge a bullet by not bringing him back.

Whilst I will bow to your greater than mine knowledge of all things Arsenal Bernard, not sure I agree with your last sentence.

I played in a relatively successful school team in Shropshire. Our captain got called up for England schoolboys, and the general response was what? How?

But when he was put in a team with better players, it was like WOW! He’s good isn’t he?

Same with Ramsey I think. Better players around him, he plays better. All respect to Rangers, they’re not top class.

Anyway, I’m biased. Cymru am byth!

The thing is John1, apart from one outstanding season, was he ever that great at Arsenal? Look he scored a couple of cup final winners, scored one of the best Arsenal goals I’ve ever seen (from memory in Turkey or Greece) and was pretty decent. Indeed, I see him as an Arsenal legend.

But week in, week out, I’ve seen far better. Rangers, who I agree aren’t too class, have better players. That’s why he can’t get into their team. It’s all personal opinion, of course. But in my view we dodged a bullet by not bringing him back.

Who knows, as I said, I’m biased. He makes a massive difference to a Wales team that is currently punching far above its weight.

I think he would have had a positive impact, even if he wasn’t first choice. When we let him go, that was a bad choice.

But people who understand football far more than me made the decision not to bring him back, and I respect that.

Oh, and I am currently 10 pints in.

Iechyd da pawb!

Changing subjects, I was pleased to see Vivianne Miedema extended her contract with Arsenal Women. Her contract was expiring this summer, she hadn’t renewed it, and there were big rumours she’d be moving on to Barcelona (who are losing tonight’s Champions League final to Lyon).

I’d like to see us return to being unarguably the best women’s team in England, and indeed Europe as under Vic Akers we won the women’s Champions League (still the only time an English team have won it). Chelsea have taken over domestically and who knows what priority (money) their new ownership will give to the Chelsea women’s team?

I’m hoping Miedema’s staying is an indication the Kroenke’s have decided to spend money on the women’s team (we improved last season) as well as the men’s team. I was as anti the KSE ownership regime as much as anyone. But I must admit as time moves on the Kroenke’s are impressing me more and more. They are finally spending. Just wish it hadn’t taken Stan ten years to do it.

Hoping you’re not changing subjects just because I’m 10, not make that 11, pints in, Bern?

On a more serious note, I think it’s the son, Josh.

Ten pints? Must admit I do drink beer and lager to be sociable when going to a pub with mates. But it’s not something I enjoy. Much prefer red wine.

I’m sure it’s Josh who persuaded Stan to spend it, so I think you’re right. But at the end of the day it is Stan’s money as he is the sole owner of KSE.