17 Aug 2021 06:41:11
Hello everyone
Me personally am not a fan of Brendan Rodgers nor of Nuno even when he was doing great things at Wolves. Conte I just couldn't see him wanting to come to us. Benitez would have have been a good fit I think and Everton might be a surprise package this season. Which leaves us with not a lot if Arteta goes. Some of the other managers that have been mentioned that ply their trade on the continent I am not really gen up on. Marco Rose, Hutter have been mentioned. Viera and Henry to me its quite clear that their brilliance as players has not carried thru into their managerial careers. To be honest as much as I think Arteta needs to go now, I cannot think of 1 manager available who would improve us at this moment in time.
As for the ingoings and outhgoings with the squad for me the Xhaxa situation just sums us up. Roma wants him, player wants to go and because we could not get a fee close to the over the top ridiculous fee we paid for him in the first place and ignoring the rubbish he has produced season after season and on the strength of a couple of good games in the Euros we give him a new contract. Anything half decent Roma offered for him I would have taken.
Bellerin a allegedly first rate full back who struggles to take a throw in properly wants to go but once again can't go because the as I see it Arsenal are holding out for a big fee. As for Willian well having been bitten once by Ozil well blow me down we go and do the same thing again, another high earner non productive player. The Auba and Lacca situations I think in my opinion its Arteta showing them whose boss, whether I am right or not remains to be seen, their is obviously a problem there. As for the rumours regarding Odegaard, he didn't exactly blow me away but he is far from the finished article. Maddison is good but well overpriced, Aouar maybe on a loan first to see how he goes. Coutinho I would not touch with a barge pole 2 words come to mind their Ozil and Willian. The goalie situation is strange, Leno is not the worst keeper we've had but he clearly struggles with what Arteta wants him to do. Ramsdale not sure if I want to pay 30 mill for him because if it went wrong his resale price would incur in my view a massive loss, so i be inclined to give Okontwo or Hein a chance to see how they shape up. I know changing goalies after the start of the season is not good but it's another area where our transfer dealings are embarrassing. Sorry for the long post but calmed down a bit since Friday night and just thought I put my views across
Take care everyone.

1.) 17 Aug 2021
17 Aug 2021 09:33:15
Good post Bill

I also think Everton got a jewel.

2.) 17 Aug 2021
17 Aug 2021 10:08:17
I read an interesting article recently which suggested that Arteta needs a good experienced 2nd coach alongside him to share the burden. Roy Hodgson was mentioned.
I don't think Arteta is going anywhere soon so perhaps it's not such a bad idea.

I enjoyed your article Bill :)

3.) 17 Aug 2021
17 Aug 2021 10:45:19
Excellent post Bill mate.

Hi Sally I think Roy the boy would be a good choice as interim manager, someone to come in steady the ship until a permanent replacement can be found.

We don't need to rush into another hasty permanent decision but we do need to do something soon because I don't see the internal divisions that comes as part and parcel of Mikels management style suddenly being healed and a dived squad is a decent candidate for a bottom half finish if not worse.

A united dressing room needs to be introduced asap.

4.) 17 Aug 2021
17 Aug 2021 11:06:56
Agree with that. The folly of our transfer and contract history is being cruelly exposed by the financial consequences of the C.V. - if we want to make changes, we cannot buck the market, and we cannot access the market unless we make room. I fear another dismal season.

5.) 17 Aug 2021
17 Aug 2021 12:48:51
Agree Urban we are caught with players no one wants unless we give them away a la Xhaka so we "financially astutely" keep him but ultimately we are left with a player that was out the door and didn`t want, same with Bellerin Torreira AMN etc and we are not improving as we can`t buy before we sell.

Also wondering how PEA Laca ESR Leno feel ( regardless of whether you rate them ) with us linked to Ramsdale Abraham Odegaard Martinez etc etc . I still think £350 000 a week should make you professional though and available for selection at the very least - just not buying the sickness thing.

C.V. is making many clubs be prudent and the clubs where money isn`t too much of an issue don`t want the players we want to sell and the clubs that do want them are waiting for us to drop the prices - a fire sale! A mess COYG.

6.) 17 Aug 2021
17 Aug 2021 19:20:12
Blimey! And that’s a post once you’ve calmed down 😂, please don’t post when you are angry lol

In all seriousness, good post.