midds

I think Coutinho may be asked to step up this season. Not saying he's anywhere near the level Suarez is obviously, but I think he's good enough to make a decent fist of it.

Sounds like he's got no intention of signing for them. The fee's been agreed so why would you fly off to the States if you were due to sit down and negotiate a contract? Obviously he could catch a flight back in a day or 2 but it seems totally illogical way of doing it. If he was interested in the move he'd just stay behind and sort it. They may have even dodged a bullet given the fee they were going to pay for him though.

How can refusing to give the most talented player a squad number be beneficial for the football team? I'd love it if a journalist asked him point blank to justify his petty, childish decision. Break it down Alan, exactly why are you not prepared to include Ben Arfa in your entire squad? Explain it please. Fucking wanker.

They'll be stretching their squad if they're going to have a real go in all 4 competitions though. Can't see him starting in their 'big' games but I bet he appears in most of their games next season either from the start or off the bench. They may play 60+ games next season.

Sanctioning the buying of players with money the club has generated in it's own right does not warrant praise, it should be a given. Replacing players we sell does not warrant praise, it should be a given. The fact so many are willing to drop to their knees and start piping the horrible wankers off for simply, briefly, acting like a (semi) normal football club is ridiculous. We should be looking to invest, we should be spending the money we have, we should be replacing the players who leave - that's just the normal way to do things. It's satisfactory, bang average, alright, reasonable. It certainly doesn't warrant the rimming they're getting from some of the fuckwits out there.

Replacing Borini with Remy whilst making circa £5m profit in the process is a sensational bit of business by the scousers.

Which striker did they buy for £15m? Enner Valencia.

He's a canny player but that's way too much for him. They obviously want him and are prepared to pay it which us fair enough but £14m to, effectively, stand still is crazy. Never mind, their money.

No axe to grind at all with the bloke. He naturally wants to pay at the very highest level he possibly can which he'll never be able to do up here due to the entire ethos of our club. Arsenal judge success by competing in Europe, winning trophies and developing players. We judge success in pounds and pence.

Rivs. Deffo.

Bet the 'second string' are fucking buzzing after hearing that.

All of it: Pardew: “You want to win games but it’s about performance level,” “The performance level was the problem last year, and if you get that right then the results will follow.” “That performance level was top drawer. With no disrespect to Motherwell, we made them look ordinary at times, and could have scored even more than we did.” “At the back-end of last year I warned the players that pre-season would be the toughest of my time here, for sure, and one of the toughest I've ever done.” “And that was reflected tonight. That was our best conditioned team and we looked really sharp. The quality was also there and we needed to get a win because we want to get back in that winning habit.” “It was a great night with some fantastic performances and we played a little bit more relaxed.”

Motherwell. Pardew : "at times we made them look ordinary" No shit.

I'll go for: 'Good workout'. 'Getting our fitness levels upped'. 'Time to gel'. Perm any 2 from 3.

It's this material. It's like polyester working against us at times.

Forever known as the 'black napkin' kit. Revolting.

The 2 horrific injuries he's had will take a massive toll pretty soon. He seems like a decent bloke, can't fault his attitude or commitment but if he plays regularly he'll be exposed. Needs to be a bit-part player this season.

No interest in winning a Cup No interest in qualifying for Europe No interest in developing a squad No interest in developing young players No interest in entertaining paying fans No interest in moving the club forward a single inch. It's a pointless exercise to actively follow this club. They're like a ropey film I've muted whilst I'm doing other things, it's still ticking over in the background but I'm barely noticing it.

The club has become a conveyor belt. Cabaye out one end, De Jong comes in, Cabella comes in, Debuchy goes out etc. who gives a fuck man? All this piss and nonsense purely to keep a football club squarely mid-table and promoting a spunky sports shop chain. If others give a fuck then that's up to them.

I know exactly where we are as a club. I understand our aims and how we're going to set out to achieve them. It's completely pointless to get even remotely excited or positive about the future. Been done to death but it's not negativity, it's pragmatism. The club is in a coma and I'm not about to spend any emotional energy worrying about it and I'm certainly not going to spend any money watching them either. I'll wake back up when the club does, 'til then it can fuck off, what happens will happen.

Good.

Not exaggerating here but Sunday is the defining day in Messi's career. He's always been compared to Maradona obviously but the fact he dragged his team to win a World Cup has always been thrown in Messi's face. Sunday is his time to put that right and prove his greatness. Absolutely pivotal game for him and his eventual legacy.

Not exaggerating here but Sunday is the defining day in Messi's career. He's always been compared to Maradona obviously but the fact he dragged his team to win a World Cup has always been thrown in Messi's face. Sunday is his time to put that right and prove his greatness. Absolutely pivotal game for him and his eventual legacy.

"First down and 6". Get fucked.

Yet I think he's been reasonable.