Ozil and BFG or Koz and OG? Campbell to slay the Dutch?

497 thoughts on “Ozil and BFG or Koz and OG? Campbell to slay the Dutch?”

• Excellent stuff, AFC. Yes the terror window is going to script right now. Lots of names are being bandied around but nothing happening, so let’s talk WC instead. Plenty of good football being played an it is nice to see the likes of Ozil, BFG etc from another perspective. The game between France and Germany tomorrow is a must watch for us Gooners and I cannot say who will come out on top: BFG or Koz (if he plays), Ozil or Giroud… The teams are pretty equal in all departments and plenty of talent will be on display.

  Here are my answers:

  ) Which teams do you think will win their ties and make it into the semi-finals?

  France, Colombia, Argentina, Robben

  2) Which teams do you think will make it to the final?

  Colombia v Robben

  3) Which team has impressed you the most so far throughout the 2014 World Cup?

  Colombia and Algeria

  4) Which team has disappointed you the most so far throughout the 2014 World Cup?

  Uruguay – both from a sporting and attitude point of view. They have a problem… the Millwall syndrome

  5) Which player has impressed you the most so far in this World Cup?

  Campbell, De Bruyne, Memphis Depay, Sanchez, Blind, De Jong, Rios, Vidal and my favourite Cuadrado

  6) Which player has disappointed you the most so far in this World Cup?

  Too many.

  7) Which player do you think will win the Golden Ball (best player) award?

  This will put the cat among the pigeons…….. Rob………ben.

  8) Which player do you think will win the Golden Boot (top goal scorer award) award?

  Mueller

  9) Which player do you think will win the Golden Glove (best GK) award?

  Tim Howard

  10) Which player do you think will win the Best Young Player Award?

  Depay

• Hi TA. 🙂

  Thanks for the reply. I will definitely be watching the Germany vs. France match. I think Germany will and should just edge given the players at Germany’s disposal.

  Here are my observations and predictions.

  1) Which teams do you think will win their ties and make it into the semi-finals?

  Germany, Brazil, Argentina and Holland.

  2) Which teams do you think will make it to the final?

  Germany and Argentina. Germany to win the World Cup.

  3) Which team has impressed you the most so far throughout the 2014 World Cup?

  USA, Costa Rica, Chile and Colombia.

  4) Which team has disappointed you the most so far throughout the 2014 World Cup?

  Uruguay (for non-footballing reasons), Ivory Coast, Italy, Spain and England.

  5) Which player has impressed you the most so far in this World Cup?

  Sanchez, Joel Campbell, Neuer, Vidal. Too hard to choose.

  6) Which player has disappointed you the most so far in this World Cup?

  Cavani? Rooney? Suarez (for non-footballing reasons). As you say there are a lot.

  7) Which player do you think will win the Golden Ball (best player) award?

  Sanchez or Robben.

  8) Which player do you think will win the Golden Boot (top goal scorer award) award?

  Mueller.

  9) Which player do you think will win the Golden Glove (best GK) award?

  Neuer.

  10) Which player do you think will win the Best Young Player Award?

  James Rodriguez.

  I forgot to add the question of who people think will win the WC. I can see people saying who anyway. 🙂

• Edge the match*

• “Is it me or does anyone else get the feeling that when top players are continually linked to other top clubs, like Chelsea, the player actually signs for them? The stronger the link between the player and the club, the more likely the player is to sign for that club. When it comes to Arsenal, however, it seems to be the entire opposite. The more we are linked with a player, the less likely we are to sign him.”

  My thoughts exactly, AFC. Something I’m sure many of us feel and you have articulated it perfectly. It’s laughable, really. But here’s to hoping we have the last laugh come the end of the window!

  1) Which teams do you think will win their ties and make it into the semi-finals?
  It’s a toss up but I just hope colombia thoroughly exposes brazil tomorrow..
  2) Which teams do you think will make it to the final?
  Germany v. Argentina OR (dont ask me why) Colombia v. Nederlands
  3) Which team has impressed you the most so far throughout the 2014 World Cup?
  has to be my good ol US of A. The USMNT has truly inspired with moments of genius that nobody could honestly have predicted.
  4) Which team has disappointed you the most so far throughout the 2014 World Cup?
  strangely enough… Germany. Which is just goes to show how talented they really are.
  5) Which player has impressed you the most so far in this World Cup?
  Two words… HAM. EZ. Cuadrado in a close second.
  6) Which player has disappointed you the most so far in this World Cup?
  Our beloved ozil. He’s had a decent contribution but, like his team, is just underperforming. A microcosm of his country’s overall performance.
  7) Which player do you think will win the Golden Ball (best player) award?
  Surely messi if he continues his heroics.
  8) Which player do you think will win the Golden Boot (top goal scorer award) award?
  Would love to see James take it, but my gut tells me Mueller.
  9) Which player do you think will win the Golden Glove (best GK) award?
  Would have been Howard. Probably Neur now.
  10) Which player do you think will win the Best Young Player Award?
  HAMEZ!!!!

• Haha… loving the World Cup so far, and it’s been great in that no teams have really dominated so far. Good questions, so here goes..

  1) Which teams do you think will win their ties and make it into the semi-finals?
  Germany, Colombia, Netherlands, Argentina

  2) Which teams do you think will make it to the final?
  Germany, Argentina

  3) Which team has impressed you the most so far throughout the 2014 World Cup?
  Colombia, Algeria, Mexico

  4) Which team has disappointed you the most so far throughout the 2014 World Cup?
  Honduras, Cameroon

  5) Which player has impressed you the most so far in this World Cup?
  Neymar, Campbell, Robben, Rodriguez, Aurier, Vidal

  6) Which player has disappointed you the most so far in this World Cup?
  Robben for being a despicable little cheat

  7) Which player do you think will win the Golden Ball (best player) award?
  Messi

  8) Which player do you think will win the Golden Boot (top goal scorer award) award?
  Rodriguez

  9) Which player do you think will win the Golden Glove (best GK) award?
  Neuer

  10) Which player do you think will win the Best Young Player Award?
  Joel Campbell of course!

  I think Germany might win this now (after previously backing Brazil. The Brazilians have pushed their luck so far, they got lucky against Chile and I don’t believe they’ll get away with it again.

• Frozen, thanks for answering the questions. 🙂

  We seem to agree on question 8, 9 and 10. We also seem to agree partly on question 3. Ozil and Germany will surely be some controversial shouts but I can understand why you have chosen them. With all the talent Germany have you would expect them to walk games but they haven’t really. You expect Ozil to he shining as the tournament’s best playmaker (?) which would be understandable as he is one of the best no.10’s in the world. My friend who is a Chelsea fan said Ozil wasn’t defending and was being lazy in the Algeria game. He thinks Ozil’s all round game has deteriorated and he thinks Arsenal have ruined him and he hasn’t been the same since joining us.

• Let’s hope Ozil can prove him wrong next season.

• Davydavy, thanks for your views on the current WC. 🙂

  Damn I forgot to put Neymar in my list if players that have impressed me so far. I also forgot Cameroon as well for teams that have disappointed me the most. I totally forgot about them, maybe that is because they have been so poor.

  Agreed on the teams that will get through to the semi-finals, final and the team to win the WC. 🙂

  I am not sure if Messi has done enough in the early stages of the WC to win the Golden Ball award when you look qt the likes of Sanchez and Neymar.

  Neuer is the best keeper in the world currently IMO.

  Suarez beats Robben for question 6 in my opinion. 😉

• At*
  Of players*

  TA, can’t see a Holland vs. Colombia final. Holland might just be able to get into the final because of Robben and your mastermind Van Gaal.

  De Jong is a very good shout. The work he does protecting the back four in Holland’s midfield is vital to your team and goes unnoticed. The best destroyer currently in world football? I would say so.

  I think Neuer will beat Howard to the Golden Glove.

• AFC Imust admit I’m taking a punt on Messi doing well in the remaining games, and yep I had Suarez as the most disappointing initially but changed it for repeat offending by Robben. They are both such gifted players and that is why they are so disappointing to me.

  However I’m totally not on the same page as Frozen when it comes to Ozil – to me he has been one of Germany’s best players. I watched him closely in the group games and he ran a lot, created outlets for the German defence, dragged defenders around and created chances for the forwards. He will be the boss for Arsenal next year, no doubt about it.

• Davydavy, Ozil certainly divides opinion amongst Arsenal and Germany fans. I don’t have any problem with him. He will be even better than he was last season next season.

  Suarez may well be off to Barca for around £70 million which would leave the door open for us to sign Sanchez if Liverpool don’t sign him first.

• It is simply naive to say the best playmaker in world football has “been ruined” by our club. But I also do not think his recent form is entirely due to the popular arguments such as adapting to a physical new league, poor surrounding cast, blah blah. Sure, they are factors but it is my opinion that ozil is going through somewhat of an ‘identity’ (or confidence) crisis’, if you will. In a recent interview ozil mentioned how every footballer plays differently at 25 to when they are 20. This is all well and good but It is just frustrating when the type of player he was at 20 seemingly carried so much more confidence than he plays with now. He speaks favorably of his new responsibility at both arsenal and the German national team but who knows how he really feels about it. There is no doubt in my mind that mesut possesses all the required talent (and then some) to carry arsenal and Germany to glory but I do have my worries as to what and how long it will take for him to recapture his confidence. It is a well known fact that ozil is a sensitive guy, and a bit of a peculiar personality (see new tattoo), so I think it starts with the unrelenting support of the fans and everyone surrounding him– manager, teammates, etc.

• Frozen, you might be onto something there with your theory. Have you noticed that German players seem to peak a lot younger than players from other countries? The likes of Mertesacker and Podolski were at their peak around their early 20s years before they joined Arsenal? The likes of Gotze, Ozil, Kroos, Reus etc, all seem to have accomplished things you would expect a player of around 28 to achieve. I could be wrong.

• Davy- perhaps i was a bit harsh on declaring him my “most disappointing player.” My expectations are sky high for the guy.

  The idea that Ozil has been one of Germany’s top performers is evidenced by his consistent presence in the starting XI. I agree. However i will admit that I feared for his spot after every match, particularly after this latest performance versus Algeria (until he found the net). His new role on the wing should also be noted, as he stated it is not his preferred position. I’m guessing he is still figuring out how to operate in that role to bring the best out of himself and his teammates. I think Low sees this too which is part of the reason why, aside from his fairly decent contribution, he keeps being selected.

  I do wonder though… Who would have gotten the boot had the immensely impressive (and my absolute top transfer target) Reus been fit?

• Carlos Sanchez, the number 6 of Colombia has impressed me the most. Didn’t know anything about him until this tournament. I’d snap him up as our holding midfielder, above anyone else at the moment and in second, I’d say Hector Herrera of Mexico, another number six! 😀 Love the unsung heroes.

• Interesting thought AFC… But then you have the likes of Lahm, Neuer, and Klose to keep you wondering 🙄

• Good points Frozen, and 100% with you on Reus 🙂

• Yeah they do Frozen. Although those players are in the minority?

• Overall I am enjoying the Wc but the officiating and some of the better teams have been disappointing. Here are my answers:

  1) Which teams do you think will win their ties and make it into the semi-finals? Brazil,Argentina,Netherlands and France

  2) Which teams do you think will make it to the final? Brazil and France

  3) Which team has impressed you the most so far throughout the 2014 World Cup? Costa Rica

  4) Which team has disappointed you the most so far throughout the 2014 World Cup? England

  5) Which player has impressed you the most so far in this World Cup? Campbell

  6) Which player has disappointed you the most so far in this World Cup? Casillas

  7) Which player do you think will win the Golden Ball (best player) award? Muller

  8) Which player do you think will win the Golden Boot (top goal scorer award) award? Neymar

  9) Which player do you think will win the Golden Glove (best GK) award? Neuer

  10) Which player do you think will win the Best Young Player Award? Campbell

• omgarsenal, all good picks 🙂 however there can’t be a France vs. Brazil final.

• AFC – A football post indeed. And nice not to talk about players not linked to Arsenal?

  Now here is a tip for you late comers. I have been having to scroll up to see what the next question was, which late on is a big crawl up the list:
  However the copy & paste works well. Just do the usual shift – hold, and scroll down from
  1 -10, then from keyboard control+C, flip down to the message box and get the cursor flashing in it. Control+V will have all questions as written.
  Simples! …. as I was for not doing it before now 😀

  I said at the start of this WC it would be an all South American semi final. It has been more complicated, partly due to the way the draw worked out, and having so many in the top half of the draw, but it still could be an all South American final? My answers will be guided by that.

  1) Which teams do you think will win their ties and make it into the semi-finals?
  Brazil, – Columbia will be tough, but home support,etc, etc will win the day.
  France, – I am sticking to the theme that tough matches in the previous round will take the edge off any side this time. Germany are mentally strong, but even they might find the French just that bit sharper?
  Argentina, – Experience will count strongly here. Belgium have yet to fully gel as a team.
  Netherlands, Costa Rica had such a hard match last time, and they may not play their usual ‘fearless’ way at this stage. Sadly, I think the final quarter will belong to the Dutch?

  2) Which teams do you think will make it to the final?
  See above. Brazil v Argentina.
  You didn’t ask the question as to who wins, so I will duck out …at this stage at least.

  3) Which team has impressed you the most so far throughout the 2014 World Cup?
  ‘The most’ is difficult to say. The list is long otherwise, but the underdogs, Algeria, America, Costa Rica, are just the first 3 in alphabetical order.

  4) Which team has disappointed you the most so far throughout the 2014 World Cup?
  Spain, – Total capitulation in the opening game. Individually, collectively, and tactically.
  Uruguay were as I expected, and did not disappoint 😀

  5) Which player has impressed you the most so far in this World Cup?
  Again, ‘the most’ is the difficult part. JC, naturally. Sanchez and Vidal for their work ethic. Robben for coping with conditions. Ochoa for some fantastic saves. Ozil for his stamina. Naymar for his composure under great expectation. Jamez for being so gifted. And all the players who stepped up when asked. It has been a good WC for memories.

  6) Which player has disappointed you the most so far in this World Cup?
  Chiellini, For saying the Suarez ban was harsh. Tell that to his next victim!
  7)
  Which player do you think will win the Golden Ball (best player) award?
  I think the main candidates are still around. So whichever teams get through to the final?
  Naymar v Messi. The former will get his sainthood for restoring a nation.

  8) Which player do you think will win the Golden Boot (top goal scorer award) award?
  As above.

  9) Which player do you think will win the Golden Glove (best GK) award?
  Ochoa
  10) Which player do you think will win the Best Young Player Award?
  James Rodrigues.

  And there you have it. Nice one AFC 😀

• ===

  QF1
  France (captain: Hugo Lloris, GK) vs Germany (captain: Philipp Lahm, DM/RB)
  *Venue: Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro (Southeast Brazil)
  Referee: Néstor Pitana (Argentina)

  * 2nd time playing at venue for France. (Prev: vs Ecuador, GS, 0-0)
  * 1st time playing at venue for Germany.

  ===

  QF2
  Brazil (captain: Thiago Silva, CB) vs Colombia (captain: Mario Yepes, CB)
  *Venue: Estádio Castelão, Fortaleza (Northeast Brazil)
  Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Spain)

  *2nd time playing at venue for Brazil. (Prev: vs Mexico, GS, 0-0)
  *1st time playing at venue for Colombia.

  ===

  QF3
  Argentina (captain: Lionel Messi, AM/RF/CF) vs Belgium (captain: Vincent Kompany, CB)
  *Venue: Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha, Brasília (Centerwest Brazil)
  Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy)

  *1st time playing at venue for Argentina.
  *1st time playing at venue for Belgium

  ===

  QF4
  Netherlands (captain: Robin van Persie, CF) vs Costa Rica (captain: Bryan Ruiz, CM/AM/RW)
  *Venue: Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador (Northeast Brazil)
  Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)

  *2nd time playing at venue for Netherlands. (Prev: vs Spain, GS, 5-1)
  *1st time playing at venue for Costa Rica.

  ===

• Interesting JM – the three that have played at their venues before, the top half had their worst results, and the Dutch had their best result. And they all play earlier in the day?
  Watch out for the weather forecast later.

  What has been the stand out moment(s) for you then JM?

• Nobody says anything about teh semis involving Brazil except to say they will be in final. For me it depends on who wins teh 1/4. If France prevails over Germany (and I think they will) they may be too strong fro Brazil and France will contest the final. If Germany wins I think that Brazil will be in teh final. Just a feeling that Brazil will beat Germany more than they will beat France.

• As hard as I try I cannot get too passionate about the World Cup. I saw England win in 66 (on tv) and it’s been pretty much downhill since then. That said I have enjoyed watching Costa Rica and Columbia. I was tipping Spain so what do I know.

  Your second paragraph about transfer activity is spot on and frustrates me no end. Last night needing an Arsenal infusion I watch a u tube video of the invincible. Whilst it was a fantastic team effort from an attacking point of view, Henry, Bergkamp, Ljunberg, Pires and Vieira were incredible. If I were given an endless supply of transfer funds I don’t believe I could create a better side.

• @Gerry, July 4, 2014 at 08:30
  “What has been the stand out moment(s) for you then JM?”

  (1) Costa Rica coming out top from their “Group of Death”, beating Uruguay, Italy and eliminating England along the way. Held and knock out Greece with 10 men in last 16, scored all 5 penalties in the shoot-out.

  (2) Last minute(s) equalising & winning goals:
  Samaras’ penalty goal win for Greece vs Ivory Coast (knocked Ivory Coast out and brought Greece into last 16)
  Seferović’s added time goal win for Switzerland vs Ecuador (decisive win for Switzerland, gaining 2nd spot in group)
  Messi’s added time sucker-punch win for Argentina vs Iran (Argentina’s star delivered in every match he played – MoM x 4, for his team to progress)
  Varela’s added time equaliser for Portugal vs USA (USA would have been leading Germany with a win at that group stage, leading to the last match)
  Origi’s 88th min winning for Belgium vs Russia (Minimalist Belgium gets 2nd narrow win; Russia deflated after loss)
  Sneijder’s equaliser & Huntelaar’s winner in the last mins & added time for Netherlands vs Mexico (Netherlands through to QF at Mexico’s expense)
  Papastathopoulos’s added time equaliser for Greece vs Costa Rica (bringing the match to extra time and then to penalties)
  Ozil’s 120min added time proved-to-be-winning goal for Germany vs Algeria (Djabou scored for Algeria on a counter exactly a min. later)
  Di María’s 118min winner (from a Messi assist) for Argentina vs Switzerland (Argentina through to QF after much labouring)

  (3) All group leaders (8 out of 8) reaching the QFs. (and none of them have taken a loss yet)

  * I am still waiting for 2 “strange myths” to be broken in this WC.

  a) the first is of Brazil reaching the finals (while being in the same group as Cameroon*).

  “Cameroon appeared 5 times (1982, 1990, 1994, 2002, 2010) from the group that includes one of the finalists. They did not qualify in 1986 and 2006. The odd year was 1998.

  2014 – Group A (Brazil, Croatia, Cameroon, Mexico)”

  Colombia and either France/Germany gets to end this “myth” for the 2nd time since 1998.

  b) the 2nd “myth” is stranger (has not been “disproved” yet):
  “On 10 occasions (since 1970), the WC is won by a team captained by a defensive player (GK, CB, FBs, DM/CM)

  – On the odd final in 1986, Maradona (a second striker) led his Argentina team to victory against the West Germany team, led by Rummenigge (a centre forward). Maradona’s “mystical aura” seemed the stronger than Rummenigge’s on that occasion.”

  refer back to comment on June 22, 2014 at 01:14
  https://bergkampesque.com/2014/06/21/campbell-delivers-cuadrado-immense-quintero-one-to-watch-aboukabar-wenger-esque-wc-review/#comment-81505

• Anthony, I can see why you would think that. Germany have been shaky like Brazil whereas France been better collectively than both Brazil and Germany.

  Gerry, I forgot to ask who the question as to who will win the WC but then remembered it when I started answering the questions.

• JM @ 05:38 thanks for the additional information on the quarter-finals and your thoughts at 09:43. 🙂

  I could believe it when Samaras scored that pen. That was the worst way for Ivory coast to go out. Ronaldo provided a beautiful cross for Varela’s equaliser and the Messi goal was a kick in the teeth for Iran.

  I really think some of the African teams like Ghana and the Ivory Coast can do a lot better than they have done internationally. Ghana would have been in the semi-finals last WC had not been been for Suarez. We should have at least one or two African teams in the semi-finals.

• Retsub 🙂 , we will just have to wait when it comes to transfers. As Gerry said Spain really messed this WC cup up.

  Gerry, Chiellini is stupid for apologising. If Suarez had bitten me I would be trying to get his ban increased. All good responses Gerry. 🙂

• Thanks, AFC ….and love the 2nd paragraph !.
  Oi Totes !….when are you going to sort out a poll format, so we can just click onto some boxes instead of me having to spend half an hour writing the answers to the questions !……..and some of you bastards are cheating by giving several names to questions only asking for one !. Lucky there`s an honest guy with principles like me !. hahaha

  1) Frogs, Colombian Drug Cartel, Falkland Islands Greasie Neighbours, Oranje .

  2) Frogs and FIGN

  3) Colobia

  4) I should say England, but they always disappoint, so I`m going for the reigning Champs…….. Spain !. World and European Champions should make play-offs !.

  5) The Rod !

  6) Cesc !……..for joining The Chavs in the WC !.

  7) Robben

  8) The Rod !

  9) Neuer

  10) The Rod !.

  Right , off to play with The Rod !.

• Frogs to be Champs……….apparently the Krauts have 7 players suffering from flu-like conditions, so should have some kind of effect !.
  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2014/article-2679150/Germany-blow-seven-players-hit-fall-ill-World-Cup-quarter-final-France.html

• Thanks AFC. Perhaps Chiellini thought it was his first offence?

  I noticed your comment to yourself that you missed Question 11 : D

  With two hurdles to go, I’d rather wait to know who is batting … mixing my metaphors wonderfully ha ha.

• JM – It is good to see you found the odd moment to savour? 😀

  You clearly like the dramatic finishes, including my deja vu pair, Ozil and Di Maria?

  I am slightly more with AFC, feeling sorry for the underdogs who came so close.

  As for the historic connections, I am not sold on it. Predicting coincidences is what a superstition is, and whilst I accept you are looking for one team to snap the sequence, which could happen. I just think history is made in the present, and sequences can go the other way at any time. In 40 years time, after another 10 World Cups there could be a sequence where a side captained by a defender has not won … since this one?
  I say, since this one, as all 4 in the top half are defender/captains, but it would need Belgium to get through to the final to make sure of it?

  The other one with Cameroon, I would query whether Cameroon were as poor a this one were? Which is what I mean about history being made in the present, every year is different, players, circumstances, venues,etc.

  Fun stuff to play around with though,
  cheers

• AFC, well done for bringing so much ‘energy’ into the site by getting so many quality responses. Lots of different opinions, which is good. 🙂

• Cocker, we don’t do lazy blogs here, matey. 😛

• Cheers AFC baby.

  1) Argies, Brazil. Dutch, France. Though none of them deserve it

  2) Argies and Brazil. the despicable swines.

  3) USA for there fighting spirit. they also make the best quality porn.

  4) England. They sound like me mouthing off before a fight., “Ime gona batter yer, kick your teeth in, smash yer up and then shag yer wife”

  I then proceed to get battered, And they dont even have the decency to shag my wife.

  5 )Robben, great player, great hair

  6) Robben, cheating gimp, and suspiciously effeminate

  (7&8) Neymar. A joyous day for the world wide Lady Boy community

  9) Tim Howard. For a guy who suffers from Turretts, He F*ck**g sh*t knows how to F*uck*ng goal keep you f*cki*g bas*ards, err i mean you lovely people.

  10) Jack Wilshere

• Some good choices Cockie. I knew The Rod would be in a lot of your answers. 😀

• Terry, your dreaming with no.10. 😀 When it comes to England I feel sorry for the fans. England always seems to let us down. England seem like the international version of Spurs. 😀

• AFC, A very nice and very welcome post. This torture business is brutal and made worse by our needs for the start of the campaign. I keep trying to remind myself that short term solutions can often be long-term headaches, which I think is Wenger’s mantra. Being at the business end of the WC I just hope we might be on the end of a bit of business. (007’s occasional reports, which seem to have a bit of insider knowledge, help keep my spirits up. More please…) It’s not too long before at least parts of the team put on the Puma gear and start kicking the ball to one another. Speaking of which, welcome back, Dylan…Only three weeks until your road trip to New York City…

  I’ve watched a lot of this WC but I wish I had seen more. I’m regretful for missing Campbell’s first match (vs Uruguay) and Holland coming from a goal down to dismantle Spain. I also missed the US-Ghana match which seemed the blueprint for their (our?) whole tournament. Worst of all, I only caught snippets of Colombia until they did what everybody wanted and sent the Suarez supporters home.

  Overall, my take on things is that I keep waiting for a hard-working, technical group of midfielders to take the tournament by the scruff of the neck and assert its dominance. Clearly Spain were no longer up for the task, leaving Germany as the heir-apparent, but still no real clicking there. (France seem Les Bestials in MF as does Brazil…Does Argentina actually have a MF?…) In the meantime, spirit and commitment and speed on the break seem the main ways forward. Groups pushing hard have been able to overachieve and (obviously) many of the matches have come down to very (very) small margins. Pleasingly, with the great exception of the game with the bite, almost all of the matches have been played with a good spirit and more determination to go out and win rather than the desire to avoid losing. Total’s Dutch team might be an exception but spotting some early goals has made them come out and play (as well as play-act)…

  So, to answer the questions…1) Germany, Colombia, Holland, Argentina. 2) Final is Germany-Argentina, Messi v Messy… That’s sort of more what I’d like to see than what I truly expect… 3) Not truly impressed by any of the biggest teams–Costa Rica, USA, Mexico, Chile, Algeria and NIgeria have ALL showed great group effort. Colombia too but I fear for their MF and defense today… 4) Spain, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, Croatia, Russia, England (in that order). 5) Messi. As bad as his teammates have been he keeps trying to get them in before taking charge and getting the result. I wish I had seen more of the Colombians-Cuad and the Rod–and Campbell (but they’ve looked outstanding). There are a slew of lesser names (Herrera/Auyun, Degalah, Brahimi/Fegouli, Origi/DeBruyne, Aurier, among many others) who are now on my radar 6) Lahm (bad giveways vs Algeria and Ghana), Suarez/Robben (for their win-at-all-costs mentalities). 7 and 8) Messi. 9) The keeper from the winning team. So many keepers have done very well (exceptions, Akinfeev and Casillas). Ochoa and Howard have had incredible performances but Romero and Neuer have been impressive too. Bravo, Navas and Ospina all look very good…10) Hamez el Rod.

  There you go…Can I get a little GDC (game day chat…) for the matches later on?…

• Nice one AFC.

  1) BRAZIL……ARGENTINA……COSTA RICA……..FRANCE (Only because of the illness within the German camp)

  2) BRAZIL V ARGENTINA

  3) COLOMBIA

  4) ENGLAND

  5) CUADRADO

  6) BAINES

  7) RODRIGUEZ

  8) MULLER

  9) NEUER

  10) RODRIGUEZ

• VCC, I think you are the first person to say Costa Rica will win their quarter-final tie. Baines slipped my mind too. I didn’t see him do much in any of our games. Cole would have been better but I would have rather given game time to Gibbs or Shaw. When will our manager get it right?

  17ht, I should be around for some game chat. 🙂

• Germany will beat France. The Germans are winners.

  Argentina will beat Belgium. Just.

  Brazil will flukily beat Colombia. Why? Because I want Colombia to win!

  I’d be surprised and delighted if Costa Rica got to the semi finals.

• 17ht, not much new in the papers today. Only new story I have seen is a £18 million bid for Lovren from Liverpool turned down. The Saints want £25 million according to the papers. Don’t Liverpool have enough CBs? Liverpool seem to be raiding the Saints.

  I too missed the Holland vs. Spain match in the group stages and just like you I regret not watching it. Argentina do not really have a midfield. I think they would be better off just going out all attack. Quick transitions from defence to attack through the likes of Di Maria and Lavezzi might the key to their success. It is either that or long balls up to Higuian? They have got Gago in there to provide a bit of steel if needed? Their best chance is to try and avoid a midfield battle so they cannot get dominated in midfield.

  As you say Messi has to end up doing things himself. That is what the best players in the world have to be able to do and actually do when needed. Rooney did not do this for us and I expect more from him even though I think he is overrated and was playing out of position. 😀

• Am I the only one who thinks Sakho was a huge miss for us? Very young with a good amount of experience. Would be a brilliant 3rd CB for us.

• MERTESACKER AND GIROUD DROPPED!

  France seemed to play a lot better when Benzema played down the middle for them? Mertesacker was a liability in the Algeria match?

  Here are the teams:

  France: Lloris, Debuchy, Evra, Varane, Sakho, Cabaye, Valbuena, Benzema, Griezmann, Matuidi, Pogba.

  Germany: Neuer, Howedes, Hummels, Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Ozil, Klose, Muller, Lahm, Kroos, Boateng.

• Kos not playing either. Kos and Sagna are better than Varane/Sakho and Debuchy in my opinion. Perhaps DD wants to build a defence for the future.

  Germany will be playing with a target man rather than a false 9.

• Rolf Harris gets 5 years and 9 months for 12 assaults on 4 girls, a bit lenient imo !……I would have gave him 10 years for his cover and murdering Led Zeppelins, Stairway to Heaven !.

  I cant wait for this WC to finish, then Arsene can vacate the Rio gay bars and stop “mamading” in his froggy smugglers and get his wallet out to do some TW business !.

• Cockie, Rolf Harris deserves a lot more. He could be out in around two years (?) with good behaviour? I would have given him 10 years minimum. I don’t think he deserves to come out of prison before he dies.

• AFC…..the minimum will be 2 years 10 and a half months !, but if he continues to be in denial, he will do upto three quarters of the term !. I`d cut off his didgeridoo as a starter !.

• Far too short in my opinion Cockie. Hopefully someone lodges an appeal so he can get a longer sentence.

• Well. it appears Low and Deschamps don’t think too much of the Arsenal players…Only Ozil gets a start… We shall see, but I think the line-ups favor the Germans. Kos did a lot to protect the goal vs Nigeria but maybe played too safe and gave up too many corners?…

  I actually think Giroud as a big presence up front–pressing crazy Neuer and holding the ball up on the break will be missed. Of course, he might play late and on through extra time, if it comes to that…

  Looks like it will be one-way traffic with a hope to play on the break for French…Though Benz gets a tentative shot (wide) on 7 mins…

• Hey AFC…I haven’t seen enough of Sakho to comment…Rolf Harris, likewise…

• France looking better with Griezmann somehow not offside…Very tentative once he received the ball, however…

• Germany score. Hummels with the header. 1-0 Germany.

• I nil Germany…Set piece Kroos to Hummels…Varane overpowered and Pogba watching…Perfect ball in, perfect header…

  Game over?…

• Not yet 17. If Germany get another, which they could with the likes of Klose and Muller on, then I would say the match is done.

• No doubt, AFC, but France just don’t have much of a possession oriented MF. As such they’ll need some good 1 v 1 work by the three forwards.. Lahm and Khedira are a pretty strong shield…

  France could use Ribery and Nasri today, I fear… Still, a long way to go and anything *can* happen…

• Very quiet in the Maracana at this point…

  I don’t know what to say about your English team, AFC, the draw was tough and Roy favoring all the Pool players didn’t help. What is Rooney’s best position? Gerrard’s experience seems important but his mistake was the death-blow and he can’t really move any more. Sturridge in full on selfish mode doesn’t flatter himself…

  France doing better through the man-child (Valbuena) but Benz given space and time can’t do anything with the ball at his feet on the set-piece…

  Germany need to be a bit less complacent or France will get a bit of belief…

• That was nice play from Debuchy–ball straight into Khedira’s face… Mert, the good man, handing out water bottles as Sami recovers…

• Haha, I got moderated mentioning BFG handing out bottles of agua… Nice from Debuchy, knocking it into Khedira’s face…

• 17ht, I would say Rooney’s beat position is as a no.10 behind the striker or SS. The thing is Rooney has never really performed for England apart from that one tournament so long ago. I can’t even remember which it was. I think it was the 2004 Euros? I think it is time we move on from Gerrard and several of the other older players but it seems Roy has his favourites. Gerrard is one and Johnson is another. Rooney of course is another.

  Sturridge is a good goal scorer but does not have all of the qualities needed to play the lone ST role.

  I think Roy has got away with it. He hasn’t really been held accountable for anything despite him being the manager of England and the one who makes all of the decisions.

  Agreed, Germany seem to be in control but over-confidence could be an issue for them. Germany are definitely winning the midfield battle.

• El Inutil (the useless one, Benzema, as they called him in the Merengue restaurant-bar in Granada where I watched a little RM football…) has had a few chances but he’s done the obvious thing each time. When the balls to him are better and lead him to a good solution he’s technically strong enough to take the chances well…If not, however…

  Half-time espresso needed to avoid the snooze-ish feeling in this one…

• OK 2nd half on and I’ve had just a tiny bit of coffee…

  Has Griezmann had a touch since that first ball when he looked offside? There’s one, but it’s poor and he goes to ground immediately (and for no good reason). France definitely pushing here…Must beware of the German counter…since they don’t seem to want it for very long in possession…

  Valbuena to Evra (offside) not as effective as the German one which scored the goal… How long before they get big Ollie on?…

• Remy might get the nod ahead of Giroud as he has the pace to get in behind the Germans and their high line?

• AFC, I’d bring both of them on…Benz and Griez both look nervous and predictable. Valbuena is their best attacker on the day, I think… I doubt, however, that Deschamps will pull Benz (Griez for Ollie seems the obvious sub)…

  Better there from Matuidi with Valbuena again doing the best work… Varane header safely in Neuer’s hands. Shoulder to the head is the price of being tiny?…

• Klose off for Schurrle.

• Kos on for Sakho.

• Remy finally comes on for Cabaye. Ollie looked to be warming up as well?

• France have gotta bring on Giroud as well. No urgency from France until now.

• I think the most interesting thing in this game is the Reff`s hair or whatever it is ?. Is it a syrup or a comb over ?…..or has Stretch invented a hybrid of the two ?. Fascinating !.

• Cockie, my wife was intrigued by that element as well… Comb over, I’m pretty sure…

  That was better from Benz but still can’t get past the defenders…

  Very poor foul from Schurlle (a player who relentlessly fails to impress me)… And he fails to finish the German break after Mueller whiffs… Still just a single goal so a little more fun here at the end…

• Gotze on for Ozil. I gotta say I think Germany have this match in the bag.

  Cockie, only Stetch can answer that.

• Giroud finally on.

• Ozil out, Goetze in… Giroud still waiting to come on…Finally, but they pull the man-child (Valbuean instead of youngster, Griezmann…)

• Benzema should whip that across the six yard box and France are out.

• Well, hopefully the late match has a little flair from the host continent…Not much on display in this one… Debuchy hopefully just faking injury even if this isn’t the time to do so…

  Benz off the bar!! (NIce 1-2 with Giroud…) Too little too late. No, Neuer saved it…

  Germany through…

• Sorry, but I’m not impressed by Deschamps and his line-up… AW will do better in Russia… 🙂

  Not much scoring in that German team, but they didn’t need to…

• To answer the burning question of the evening, it is a comb over.

  However, the ref is an excellent canditate for this ridiculous look. He is not completely bald on top, rather a “diffuse thinner” which in essence affords the option to comb over from closer angles to the centre and blend in with the thinner and sparsly populated cental hair

  This look tends to create a sense of delusion, in that from certain angles, one actully believes that there is a full head of hair. Full blown delusion can lead to a belief that your hair is akin to John Travolta form Saturday Night Fever, thus resulting in proud combing in Discos.

  It usually comes as a great shock to the user, when you get into an argument with another patron over a car park space, one is called a “bald bastard”.

  After the shock, therapy is often required to cope with this terrible reality.

• How goes the therapy, TERRY MANCINI TRAVOLTA TRANSPLANT ?.
  I think I was put off by the fact he had the sides of his head close shaven, as normally a comb over is long hair taken from the side of the head and ear holes !. He cunnilingusly close shaved the sides to confuse me !. Ridiculous ?…yes, but a fine effort by the Reff from Crete !.

• Ridiculous or trendsetter icon ?

  

• Correct Cornwall. Its imperetive that the sides are kept very short. Long sides, and the parting crumbles.

  What bloody therapy? From certain angles, my hair is exactlly like Elvis. hahaha

• Stretch.
  Is this the result of hours of getting ready for tonight in Brentwood or Harlow !.

  Looking good though, Stretch !. How can they resist !.

  

• Very nice Cornwall

  Ive noticed that going clubbing like that, you command so much respect, that women are in such awe they tend to keep a distance. Its obviously there belief is that your to good looking to be approachable.

  Ive lost count how many times to make them feel at ease ive hard to corner them. Soemtimes even using chloroform to calm there excitement. hahaha

• Hahaha Stretch…..you`re too kind a person, even going to such lengths as to help their unconscious bodies into the boot of your Cortina !. If only they new how modest and approachable you are for such a hunky guy !.

• We need to pop over to Tahoe and help our mate Seventeen !. He needs your guidance on how to preen the most natural comb over, then he can go out clubbing with the normal guys instead of going out to illegal underground Squatching ( red neck guys version of dogging ) venues……usually a cave with a chloroformed Sasquatch on heat !.

• Anyone else excited to watch James Rodriguez tear apart the extremely overrated Brazil? 😉

• Excited Dylan !!!……actually for someone who has had …”The Rod”….tattooed on his chopper, I`m quite calm !. Probably down to the fact that I`ve become a Buddhist and found out that in my previous life I died from labia suffocation in a lesbian knocking shop !.

• I have to get ready now…..well, undressed and put my mini Colombian kit ( actually it`s a lemon flavoured condom with a number 10 marker penned on the back ! ) on……The Rod !.
  Come on you …Los Cafeteros !.
  Give us a T !…give us an H !….Give us an E !….give us a R !…give us an O !…..give us a D !……what have you got ?……..The Rod !. hahaha

• That fellow Yepes has a nice head of hair for a guy who could be Thiago’s dad…

  Venga, Vamos, etcetera…

• Oops… Not the best corner defending I’ve ever seen… 1-nil to the home country…

• Had a pound on BFG scoring first and one on Silva scoring first. The former never played but fellow CB, Hummel did… And now, Silva, at 34-1, does oblige. Nice 🙂

• Have a few quid as well on game finishing 2-2. Come on the Rod. Come on Colombia! 🙂

• France v Germany was a damp squib… Never a proper game, and DD really disappointed with his selection. Without Giroud they lacked structure in their attack, and this shows again how important he is to Arsenal.

• Well done TA. 🙂 I would put £10 of that back into bets and enjoy the rest. 😉

• TA, I felt like sleeping at some points in that game. This one is a lot more open and exciting.

• Not playing Sagna and Kos were two more mistakes by DD.

• Hi AFC 🙂

  Yes it is a much better game, at least from an excitement point of view. The fouling on the Rod is so cynical.

• Agreed on the mistakes, AFC

• Happy Independence Day, American Gooners! 🙂

  What are you all doing to celebrate it?

• Yeah TA, Fernandinho best be careful seeing as he is already on a yellow.

• Referee is having a hard time

• The continuous fouling without punishment is a joke…the Brazies know they will get away with it.

• That free kick from David Luiz… Wow! Did you guys see the dip on that?

• Yes !…..Happy Independence Day……you ungrateful bastardos !, Don`t come crying to us when the Canadians take you from behind !……….and Greece wont help !

• Hahaha

  Great free kick, AFC, and pen now

• One more Colombianos!

• Cuadrado has been disappointing tonight !………a bit like Gervinho on hallucinating drugs !.

  The Rod !…..get in !.

• Yes he has, the Rod Lightning thinks and plays so fast!

• Colombia win a pen and score the pen. 2-1 to Brazil now.

• Colombians losing their calm now. Dirty foul on Neymar

• Brazil v Germany semi final…. Nice.

• Night night 🙂

• Debauchee just confirmed he will be an Arsenal player.

• Hrm… Debauchy, sorry

• DEBUCHY … Damn autocorrction

• Night Totes !. 🙂
  I too shall call it a night and go to bed and ponder my imminent penetration of the US !. Now they have independence they are at a vulnerable stage of transition !. The flag of Lesbania shall be hoisted above the White House as I interrogate a naked Mrs Obama about her husbands involvement into the disappearance of our Kenyan BKers !. I shall be good cop and The Rod bad cop !.

• Not my day… Anyway he confirmed in a post match interview he will join Arsenal.

• Alcide, what do you make of this signing? Is he an improvement on Sagna?

• extremely happy with the Debuchy signing – get in.

  Sanchez next.

  Schneridelin to follow along with Casillas

  Sorted

  thanks for the good news Alcide – at 28 years old, Debuchy has another 3 years to offer Arsenal

  and maybe he’ll be rated the best RB in England from next season – was certainly in the top 2, hands down for me .

• hell yeah – he’s an improvement on SAGNA hands down –

  what a shrewd signing and a ready made player with EPL experience – you can already look forward to thrice as many goals and twice as many assists , at least.

• great free flowing article and apologies for now answering the questions but I already picked up Germany as the winners from the very beginning @ AFC

  they will win this.

• That’s alright Bond. I really want Arsene to bring in two SQ players. I think we can do better than Schneiderlin?

  I think Sagna is better defensively which is shown by his ability to slot in at CB but Debuchy is better when it comes to attacking.

• Debucky signed. Caulker next please. 😀

• Debuchy*

• AFC, agreed that Debuchy is better going forward, and is a bit behind defensively (especially aerial duels). Considering their respective ages, I’d also agree with JB, he is/will be an improvement for the next few years.

  How’s everyone? I’ve been awfully busy at work, have had cursuory reading of the blog, but no time to participate… Vacations coming up on Tuesday though…

• Actually JB, whoscored ranked him as best RB on their “European Best XI” team based on their stats (it’s worth what it’s worth, but still nice) http://www.whoscored.com/Statistics

• http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/worldcup/neymar-ruled-out-of-world-cup-striker-out-of-tournament-with-broken-vertebra-as-injury-mars-colombia-win-9586082.html

• Myths No.1 & No.2 still on for this edition of WC.

  @ Gerry says:July 4, 2014 at 13:14
  “The other one with Cameroon, I would query whether Cameroon were as poor a this one were? Which is what I mean about history being made in the present, every year is different, players, circumstances, venues,etc.”

  Myth No.1:

  the first is of Brazil reaching the finals (while being in the same group as Cameroon*).

  “Cameroon appeared 5 times (1982, 1990, 1994, 2002, 2010) from the group that includes one of the finalists. They did not qualify in 1986 and 2006. The odd year was 1998.

  2014 – Group A (Brazil, Croatia, Cameroon, Mexico)”

  Colombia just narrowly failed to take out Brazil; though Neymar is now K.O. for the rest of this WC & Thiago Silva is suspended for semi-finals.

  Germany gets to end this “myth” for the 2nd time since 1998.

  ====

  @ Gerry says:July 4, 2014 at 13:14
  “As for the historic connections, I am not sold on it. Predicting coincidences is what a superstition is, and whilst I accept you are looking for one team to snap the sequence, which could happen. I just think history is made in the present, and sequences can go the other way at any time. In 40 years time, after another 10 World Cups there could be a sequence where a side captained by a defender has not won … since this one?
  I say, since this one, as all 4 in the top half are defender/captains, but it would need Belgium to get through to the final to make sure of it?

  Myth No.2:

  the 2nd “myth” is stranger (has not been “disproved” yet):
  “On 10 occasions (since 1970), the WC is won by a team captained by a defensive player (GK, CB, FBs, DM/CM)

  – On the odd final in 1986, Maradona (a second striker) led his Argentina team to victory against the West Germany team, led by Rummenigge (a centre forward). Maradona’s “mystical aura” seemed the stronger than Rummenigge’s on that occasion.”

  refer back to comment on June 22, 2014 at 01:14
  https://bergkampesque.com/2014/06/21/campbell-delivers-cuadrado-immense-quintero-one-to-watch-aboukabar-wenger-esque-wc-review/#comment-81505

  You can also go back further down the years, when a smaller group of teams were involved in WC:

  1966 (England, Bobby Moore, CB) won against (West Germany, Uwe Seeler, CF)
  1962 (Brazil, Mauro Ramos, CB) won against (Czechoslovakia, Ladislav Novák, LB)
  1958 (Brazil, Hideraldo Bellini, CB) won against (Sweden, Nils Liedholm, IL/Inside Left Mid.)
  1954* (West Germany, Fritz Walter, IL/Inside Left Mid.) won against (Hungary, Ferenc Puskás, CF)
  1950 (Uruguay, Obdulio Varela, CH/Center Half) won against (Brazil, Augusto, RB)
  1938* (Italy, Giuseppe Meazza, IR/Inside Right Mid.) won against (Hungary, György Sárosi, CF)
  1934 (Italy, Gianpiero Combi, GK) won against (Czechoslovakia, František Plánička, GK)
  1930 (Uruguay, José Nasazzi, RB) won against (Argentina, Manuel Ferreira, IR/Inside Right Mid.)

  well basically since the 1st ever WC in 1930, and that is some 84 years timeline.

  The exceptions were 1938, 1954, 1986 but even on those occasions, the winning side’s captains were against opposition captains who were not defensive types.
  i.e.
  Giuseppe Meazza’s, Fritz Walter’s & Maradona’s “mystical aura” seemed the stronger than György Sárosi’s, Ferenc Puskás’s & Rummenigge’s on the respective WC finals.”

  In every final since 1930, an offensive-type captain has not won over a defensive-type captain, for 80 years (last WC final being in 2010).

  2014 might be the year to break the myth, though anyone who might still be living for close to a century could have been anticipating for 80 years and counting (19 WCs finals) for the myth to be broken.

  Maybe waiting another 80 years, we would be all “ancient geezers” blogging & commenting in BK.

• World Cup 2014 bulletin (as of 05 July):

  Still in running for overall total points won, “bragging rights” & the Final Victory (WC title for respective client):

  Adidas – 57 pts (Argentina /12, Colombia /12, Mexico /7, Germany /13, Nigeria /4, Russia /2, Japan /1, Spain /3, Bosnia and Herzegovina /3)

  Nike – 51 pts (Brazil /11, Netherlands /12, France /10, United States /4, South Korea /1, Croatia /3, Greece /5, Portugal /4, England /1)

  Burrda – 12 pts (Belgium /12)

  Lotto – 8 pts (Costa Rica /8)

  ———-

  Out-of-Running:

  Puma – 30 pts (Côte d’Ivoire /3, Chile /7, Italy /3, Switzerland /6, Uruguay /6, Ghana /1, Algeria /4)

  Marathon – 4 pts (Ecuador /4)

  Uhlsport – 1 pt (Iran /1)

  =================

• Hey boys, We had actual live football, er, Soccer, aficionados drop by, and in celebration of our independence, I drank beer to go with the coffees… They’re casual Spain and Barca supporters and see the Suarez development as another downward step for the “mes of a club” Barca seems to be pursuing. Afterwards the younger boys did some very impressive rock climbing with older folks just enjoying the hike and the spectating and another beer… Now we follow those folks to their ridge top cabin (opposite direction of the masses) for a distant view of the lake and the fireworks–if I can stay awake that long…

  Agreed with those who thought an earlier yellow might’ve helped in the 2nd match. Nonetheless, as fans of the English game we have to salute the superior power and use of the pitch (width) by the Brazil team. For me, the Colombians needed to try some runs (and passes) to the outside. Maicon and Marcelo might have the experience but surely a little attempt to work them might’ve helped the cause. Through the middle with a ref allowing the serial fouling seemed a dead end, even if Hamez is clearly a major talent. Was Jackson M hurt?…If not, his price must be dropping to go as an unused sub in such a big match…

  I had written the other half of the bracket off, but on the basis of what I saw today a glimmer of hope must be held out for the two lowland countries alongside Messi + 10… (Jo-el and Ruiz + 9 might be a step too far)… Germany might be in with a shout as it was fairly workmanlike and at least they have scored from something besides a set piece in the elims. They need a spark and Ozil seemed not very happy coming off before the 90 was up. Without Neymar, the ref’s whistle and burly set piece action seems the new version of the Jogo for the hosts… It could be enough given that (still) none of the other teams have truly distinguished themselves.

  Debuchy is the new right back?… Seems fine by me and still give Jenks a bit of a lifeline at the club. There goes the Cesc savings and Vela profits, if not any “actual” powder…

  Until tomorrow then…

• Shaping up to be an exciting summer. Sanchez, wow! He can be our aguero. If we get him, it will be considered a bargain when we look back on it. Debuchy, upgrade and financial savings at rb. His fee is only about one season of sagna new ridiculous salary. Happy for Bacary/ludivine, MORE happy for us. All stats show debuchy better defensively, and we all know better in attack.

  Just need to sort out back up cb. Important, because we were very fortunate to have our top 2 for most of last season, and sagna was a nice safety for that position. a keeper obviously, we will find a backup, probably exploring alot of options. But sczez is our man for many years to come.

  An athletic, physical, primarily defensive midfielder would be nice , as would a back up striker, but I would consider that or anything else as gravy, and if its quality, I like us to be right there for the league.

• Not a lot to add about last night’s matches.

  The Germans switch their defence around so the French could not exploit Per’s lack of pace when playing the high line, and the French obligingly, changed their team for the same reason?

  The early German goal should have spurred the French on … but not until the 82nd minute.
  Now was that German efficiency, or a touch of the ‘laisse faire’ from their opponents?
  Just how much comes down to DD trying to get the balance right, and ultimately failing?

  A tad disappointing is all I will say. Tant pis, non? eh Alcide?

  The other game was marred by the lack of control by the refereeing. The highlight of which was the knee in the back resulting in a fractured vertebrae to Naymer, not helped by the ref ‘playing on’ … ‘because they had an advantage’, or the eager stretcher bearers keen to get him off the pitch, did a jig-jog impression of a mini ‘bouncy castle’ – (still in French mode) ‘L’ idiots!’
  Did he come back and book the culprit? After the innocuous sliding tackle by Rodrigiez resulting in a yellow(hilarious,not!), this should be at least a double red !?!

  There must surely comes a point where refs step in. It has been a theme of this WC that the players have been given too much licence in their cynical tackling, presumably to avoid red cards being issued, and that they become the talking point of the day? That it has now come and hit Brazil, hard, they may think that the rules of the game are far more important, not least with regards to player safety?

  If he is lucky, Naymar will be able to walk, play football, and have other World Cups to show off his talent. Anything less is a tragedy …

• France went for a “ball over defense” simple approach, which actually could be justified and kind of worked (except passes were not well adjusted, first touches not good enough), but with Germans leading and falling back, we should have moved to plan B sooner. Except we insisted (Remy in for his pace instead of OG for his back to goal link play). I was a bit disappointed by our three midfielders’ pressing and defending. Özil, Kroos amongst other always managed to free themselves in between French lines, made it too easy for them. And Lahm overlapping on the right hurt us constantly (and I still think Evra is much more average than people think). It’s analogy for France, Germans are good, but their defense looks a bit shaky to me, even though they have stabilized a bit with Hummels back and Lahm’s repositioning.

• It’s not analogy — it’s a pity

• Oh, and Benzema, once more, was not decisive. I can’t think of another player with the same talent that is such an “almost”. He scores lots of 2nd, third goals – when the game is already won, but not often the winner that counts in important games. Then be tries to make it happen on his own, and gets close, but. It’s often the last 1% is missing – a late block, a shot on the keeper, or ‘just wide’. I’m not criticizing him in fact, but with his type of skills, 99% superiority is worthless if you don’t score.

• you were missed @ Alcide – good to have you back and hell yeah – you deserve a holiday as well by the sounds of it !

  well, I said he was one of the 2 top RB’s in England for me but didn’t know he was rated and appreciated across Europe as well as he has been on them stats (can’t say am surprised as I have rated him whenever I watched him play ) let’s hope he can show everyone at Arsenal how good he really is – allow me to share something with you – remember when I said that AW likes going back for Players he’s shown an interest in or made a bid for in the past ? yep, Debuchy was one of them players – he could have easily ended up at Arsenal instead of Newcastle before, as AW was interested.

  non the less – a great signing.

  am not one of those who likes “VERSATILE ” players ( jack of all and you know the rest) like TV5, Sagna e.t.c e.t.c if you are a RB or a CB then that’s your forte – stick to it .

  specialized players for specialized positions and RB happens to be one of them – don’t really care if he can’t be a 4th choice CB .

  Schnierderlen is massively underrated @ AFC

  The German game was well boring (yawns) but that’s down to France as well – you are only as good or entertaining as the opposition .

  Colombia were robbed – Brazil have been given plenty of help and support in this world cup – however, it was the best game of the tourney for me , an absolute treat for the footy purists !

• Alcide – you have a great chance of winning the world cup or EUROS next time

  why ? you have the best lot of new and upcoming generation of superstars…

  great Goalie –

  Varane / Pogba / Griezmann / Yaya Sanogo / Schneriderlen

  that’s going to be the core of your team for the next 5 years to come and I Reckon, you’ll be right up there

• Debuchy has confirmed he will sign for us on a 4 year deal. Good business in my opinion. He will start as first choice and over the 4 years more and more responsibility will be shifted to Jenkinson until finally at the end of the 4 years Carl will be ready to be full time first choice with Bellerin as his backup/rotation/competition.

• My Wishlist:
  GK-David Marshall
  RB-Debuchy
  CB-Fabian Schär
  CDM-Khedira
  ST-A bit harder. There are lots of options in my head, but I’ll give the top three in order of likelihood.
  1. Sign Alexis Sanchez and convert him to an out and out striker (he already plays that for Chile and occasionally for Barca).
  2. Sign Angel Di Maria and convert Theo (wants to play there) or Joel Campbell (can play there and does for Costa Rica) into a striker.
  3. Sign Marco Reus and convert one or him, Theo, or Joel into a striker.

• The Debuchy deal was paid for from the money we got from the Cesc and Vela deals? Around £5 mill from the Cesc deal and around £9 mill from the Vela deal which might rise with add ons?.

  I am just hoping Wenger will sign Sanchez. If Cesc was sold for under £30 million surely Sanchez should be £30 mill max?

  If we do get Sanchez why not go for Vidal. Now I know that is an extremely hard deal to pull off but only United seem interested. Now United can offer higher wages but we can offer him CL football, stability and a chance to link up with Sanchez (if we get him). If we match United’s transfer fee and offer him wages of £150 000 a week with bonuses it might be enough?

  The wages saved from players released or sold would pay for a new GK. Sanchez and Vidal would eat up a lot of the budget but would be worth it in my opinion.

• What a great way to celebrate Independence Day, 17! You are lucky to live in such beautiful area. 🙂

• Dylan – you are not asking for much there, are you ? am surprised you haven’t included Hamez- Rodrigues in that wish list and asked for him to be converted into a number 10 😀

  sometimes less is more.

• I just read City are interested in Sanchez. I hope this isn’t true as his price could rise to at least £40 million. I just can’t see Sanchez at City, maybe Di Maria but not Sanchez.

• My predictions for the two quarter-final matches today.

  Argentina vs. Belgium. 1-0.

  Holland vs. Costa Rica. 3-1.

• Agreed that the potential is there JB… I just hope they do better collectively than our golden ‘spoiled brat’ generation – Nasri, Benzema, Ben Arfa, Menez, Anelka and co. That reminds me of M’Villa who has/had everything to be an amazing DM…

• Disagreed on Valbuena, I think he’s a bit underrated, and in our setup, he could actually be more effective than Santi (on the wings) as he has more pace and a better burst.

• Costa Rica to win 2-1 against Holland.

  sorry Skipper.

• JB, it’s all about cover. 😉 As for James, we all know he’s headed to Real. Suarez goes to Barca and then Real will need a third Muskateer for their team! 😉
  Ronaldo=Suarez
  Bale=Neymar
  Rodriguez=Messi 😉

  Mark my words, if Suarez goes to Barca, Di Maria will be sold and Real will buy James Rodriguez and convert him to a false 9 and make him the new Messi with Bale and Ronaldo as his Suarez and Neymar on the wings.

• Valbuena has a fantastic link up with Giroud, but we don’t need him. We have more than enough CAMs and wingers, no more! 😉

• that’s strange because as per what I was told 8 months ago – it’s Falcao headed to RM and not anyone else : ) : ) : )

• Dylan, unless they go by the name of Reus, Di Maria or Sanchez.

• Hello all you Sanchez Lovers @ Fozzie with a B (Skipper, can we contact FB and see if everything is ok with him ?

  http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28177987

• Dylan – indeed, I didn’t mean to imply we should go for Valbuena 🙂

• Team line-ups:

  Argentina: Romero; Zabaleta, Demichelis, Garay, Basanta; Biglia, Mascherano, Di Maria; Higuain, Messi, Lavezzi.

  Belgium: Courtois; Alderweireld, Van Buyten, Kompany, Vertonghen; Witsel, Fellaini; Mirallas, De Bruyne, Hazard; Origi.

• Indeed you did not Alcide. 🙂 And agreed AFC, I gave solutions to all of those though. 😉

• Kompany gives the ball away which leads to Higuain scoring. 1-0 to Argentina.

• Lucky lucky bounce for Higuain but great finish.

• Arsene not coming the game on French TV… apparently in bed with pharyngitis.

• Kompany does just enough to stop Messi getting a one on one with the GK.

  Alcide, sure he is. He is having a secret meeting as we speak with Sanchez’s agent. 😀

• Di Maria done. Can’t continue.

• AFC… That’s the first thing that went through my mind 🙂

• I don’t know about that but one thing is for sure – we get Sanchez then it will be Cesc – WHO ? ? ?

  Sanchez = PL + CL (if we add a solid DM)

• deal is 80% …

  similar scenario as the one with Bale- Ozil

  Suarez- Sanchez

  there is only one club Sanchez wants to play for and this was done and agreed before the world cup, apparently.

  things are looking good, very good !

  oh Mirallas , you should score there.

• JB, if we get Sanchez, a DM and a good ST then I will get confident of us winning the EPL. If the DM and ST are SQ then we are in with a chance of winning the CL as well.

• My prediction is looking good for this match. Time for Lukaku.

• why would you need a good ST when we be getting Sanchez ? ? ? ? ?

  Sanchez = 3 in one.

  you could howeverm add a Remy (if you insist on a decent striker) to bolster and shore up for injuries which will give you Giroud, Sanchez, Remy with the likes of Theo and Poldi available as back up, if needed up front

  Yaya can go out on loan.

• my opinion of Lukaku has gone down but I think he could do a solid job for Liverpool though.

• Same JB. Jose is an idiot but he knows his football. Maybe he has seen something no one else has seen. If he let’s him go there must be a good reason. The thing is Lukaku is proven at a high level (EPL) but not the highest level (CL).

• JB, we would have the option of playing him up front or on the left. In the some matches we could play him up front with Wilshere, Santi, Ox or Podolski on the left. In others we could play him on the left with Giroud or anew ST up front.

• AFC,

  to be honest with you – I much rather we play Sanchez up front along side Giroud or simply on his own up front with the likes of Theo on the RW and Poldi on the LW – what this does is that this opens up play for our midfield runners in Ramsey/Ozil/JW or even Santiago

  the beauty of Sanchez playing up front on his own and not with Giroud is that he can easily form a very fluid partnership with the likes of Theo Walcott on the RW and maybe OX/Poldi on the LW with all 3 interchanging positions at will and slotting in like a glove .

  this helps Poldi out so much more on the LW because Sanchez never stops running or doesn’t shy away from doing the dirty work, which we often see the lack off from Poldi.

  it’s mouth watering, am just hoping the Suarez deal is announced sooner rather than later and Liverpool don’t do a Spuds in the sense that they sell on the last day , which makes all us gooners go a “bitch twitchy”

  😉

• You have forgotten a certain Mr Campbell, Hamez Bond !.
  Right !, If we don’t get Sanchez we can all blame Hamez Bond !.
  As for Debauchery, I`m not impressed enough, not a bit of movement in the groin area !. No better than Sagna imo, so just about a like for like at best, as also imo, not only did Bac`s have the best look wife at the club , but he was our best CB as well !.

• comment in moderation, so will try to break it down into 2…

  AFC,

  to be honest with you – I much rather we play Sanchez up front along side Giroud or simply on his own up front with the likes of Theo on the RW and Poldi on the LW – what this does is that this opens up play for our midfield runners in Ramsey/Ozil/JW or even Santiago

  the beauty of Sanchez playing up front on his own and not with Giroud is that he can easily form a very fluid partnership with the likes of Theo Walcott on the RW and maybe OX/Poldi on the LW with all 3 interchanging positions at will and slotting in like a glove .

  PS: 1 of 2

• this helps Poldi out so much more on the LW because Sanchez never stops running or doesn’t shy away from doing the dirty work, which we often see the lack off from Poldi.

  it’s mouth watering, am just hoping the Suarez deal is announced sooner rather than later and Liverpool don’t do a Spuds in the sense that they sell on the last day , which makes all us gooners go a “bitch twitchy”
  😉

  PS: 2 of 2

• this helps Poldi out so much more on the LW because Sanchez never stops running or doesn’t shy away from doing the dirty work, which we often see the lack off from Poldi.

  it’s mouth watering, am just hoping the Suarez deal is announced sooner rather than later and Liverpool don’t do a Spuds in the sense that they sell on the last day , which makes all us gooners go a “bit*h twitchy”
  😉

• Unusual Hamez using a 1 of 2, it`s usually a 1 of 3….or 5 or 7or 9 !.

• not forgotten about Joel C @ Glics but Sanchez is SQ hence gets more of a mention

  and Debuchy is better than Sagna, he will prove plenty of people wrong – hopefully but agreed about L.Sagna being an irreplaceable loss though 😉

  PS: tried copy pasting the 2/2 but still in moderation, boo

• True JB. Ox/Podolski, Sanchez and Walcott would be something with the likes of Ozil and Ramsey feeding them. That would follow the 3 P’s (Cockie theory) PACE, PACE and more PACE.

• ahahahahhahahaha good catch that @ Glics

  who would your preferred signings be for the DM (don’t say pogba) and GK ? @ GLICS and AFC

• JB, are you allergic to even numbers? 😀 What is up with the 1, 3, 5, 7 etc, system when it comes to making points?

• let’s not talk about Allergies @ AFC

  this bloody hay fever has been doing killing me slowly for years and this year, seems to be even worse, ha

• For DM: Vidal (that’s my dream signing), Khedira, Bender, Song, Schnierderlen (more realistic options).

  For GK I do not really have a preference. Cesar will do. If Wenger can get Casillas that would be brilliant.

• Higuain just had a brilliant chance, I think he should hit the target at the very least. Lukaku and Mertens on for Origi and Mirallas.

• Hey boys…I lost a comment I’d written there at half time…I’m enjoying this match quite a bit. Very up and down and maybe the early goal is the reason.

  Your transfer ideas, 007, backed by your insider connections, seem intoxicating even if some will always require more (more and more and more)… Is Schneiderlin truly on the radar? I would’ve liked to have seen him yesterday but France already had the DM spot covered (several times over) with Pogba, Matuidi and Cabaye. Going down that early goal might’ve suggested a need for more on the creative option, I thought… I like the looks of Axel Witsel today for Belgium but it would take huge money to get him from Zenit, even if that club has historically been very tough on black players. That’s one I don’t understand… There was a lot of noise last week about an improved bid for Bender? Any fire there?…

  Speaking of which, I’m not going to believe this Alexis Sanchez stuff until it happens…BUT, if it does AND he can adjust to English football (i.e., not go down at the slightest touch) we might really have something up front. Turning Theo into more of a luxury player (rather than a guy who we need to score 20+) immediately elevates our standing. We shouldn’t forget the attacking qualities of the Ox, either… Indeed, in this scenario, there’s not much elbow room for the likes of Yaya and Jo-el…

  Belgium are making chances moving the ball quickly but Argentina are too, Argie fans creating quite the atmosphere as well… Next goal wins?

• 17, I expected a lot from Belgium but I have been left disappointed. Great individual players but not a great team. The coach has a lot of work to do with this squad. Hazard hasn’t been as good as he can be.

• Strong match from Higuain (and Levezzi) I thought. Belgium might benefit from slowing the ball down now and again but nobody seems to want to do so. If Hazard (who can become deeply selfish in his play) gets something going with Cesc at Chelsea, consider me worried. (Their other attacking options, guys like Oscar and Costa have me less worried. Willian, I think, is a strong player and should get a chance in the semis now with Neymar out…)

  Argentina hanging on but Belgium certainly have some big bodies… A couple of set pieces might be what the doctor prescribes…

• Ello Ello 17HT !

  long time no speak !

  yeah, good valid concerns and points raised there – as always, it’s not done and dusted until announced on the official ARsenal site or the Beeb !

  re- Belgium – least your wife will be happy since Nacer Chaldi is on for Belgium ?

  seems like Germany will be the only team from Europe in the last 4, if Costa Rica can do the dutch later.

• A corner or a long throw in and it can all change for Belgium.

• I think it was AFC who predicted 1-0 to Argentina ?

  if so, then well done sir !

  off now – be back later, if I can.

• Yeah it was JB. Mertens with a brilliant ball. Lukaku can’t set someone up.

• Hey 007…Chadli is the one Spur she cannot bring herself to detest, something about the tall, dark and handsome thing plus the Roman nose…

  I was trying to probe (above) on the DM question…Anything?

  Cortois…Whatastop on Messi! Good stuff from Lukaku but Witsel volley high! And Argentina go through…

• I shall now go and H20 the shrubs before the next match…come on The Oranje…4-3 to Oranje and a JC hat trick !.
  DM ?. I`ll have to agree with a few just commented on …Vidal 1st and any of the others !.
  Shame the spuds got Vertonghen, as I rate him highly !.
  Off to H20 !.

• That was a good match.
  Shame that there is only 1 underdog left in it in Costa Rica.
  The ref seemed to favour Argentina to me.
  If the Dutch win and i hope they do, Then we will have 2 great semi final ties. Cockies score line would do nicely
  I still really like Sanchez , but is James Rodrigez not worth a bid, he looks the real deal 2. Buy em both Arsene.

• Now we have all had a good look at every team.
  Who do you think will will it? It really is a tough call. I am really not sure, for me there is not a clear fav.
  I will say Argentina, they were my fav’s before it started , they are as good as any left.

• Well done with your prediction, AFC. Hope you get the other one right as well! 🙂

• Hup Holland Hup, laat de Leeuw niet in zijn hempie staan! 1-1 or 4-0 to Robben. 😉

• AC Monacco paid 45m euros for James last summer.So the lad was already worth a massive ammount of cash before the world cup started. I would love to see him in an Arsenal shirt.

• Holland to play with Kuijt and Depay as full backs, so potentially with five to six attackers when moving forwards. There are a lot of proven, experienced goal scorers and if we dare to attack we should see a good game tonight. 🙂

• Funny that Debuchy has come out to say he has signed for Arsenal… Very un-Arsenal-like to allow this.. I would not count on it yet.

• I agree TA,til Arsenal have announced nothing finalised yet.
  Though i am finding it fustraighting on our Transfer front, i do feel we are close to getting some players signed . Hopefully lol 🙂

• Yes !, PG…….get me The Rod !.
  So far we have spent nothing with upto £20M coming in from the Cesc and Carlos sales as part of our “third party” ownership !. We only used £30M from our £70M last summer !…..that’s around £60M we have to go on to the £70M for this summer, so we have a minimum of £130M to spend, but Pegsie ( Groves ) says we have £200/220M and as he works for the Arse on legend tours I`m going to believe him, but you Fellatio Felons can believe what you like, even though I have made a good case for the minimum amount…..yes old ground , but I have to keep you on your toes !.
  So PG my old tipster, you can bet your bottom dollar we have the funds to buy The Rod if we were interested or wanted to !. 17highburyterrorist will say something along the lines and in a girlie voice …” yeah but what about the wages ? “……well…..and this is old ground as well…..we saved £450K per week in last years clear out and not taking into consideration about this summers clear out !. The BK Accountants will paint it a more complex picture, but they are paid to do that and are dodgy bastards to a man, but it is all simple maths !. Easy peasy !. hahaha

• I see we are back to The Oranje background tonight !. Come on you Tango`s !.

• A bit of comedy for you guys

  http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/arsenal/world-cup/news/holloway-blasts-wilshere-attitude_163516.html

• This match has been quite dull until the last 20 mins. Sneijder hits the post and not one single Dutch player can a touch on that ball into the box.

  The Dutch are getting chances and I hope they can win it.

• Did anyone see Van Persie take a bottle of w*ter from the Costa Rican physio’s bag as if the physio is Dutch and belongs to the Holland team. That’s a bit cheeky. Lol

• Van Gaal has subbed the GK and brought Krul on.

  loooooooool

  That is either an act of genius or insanity by Van Gaal.

• Am I the only one confused as to how to Netherlands was allowed to sub on a Costa Rica free kick from an offside call?

• Play stopped?

• Holland get through.

  TA, you can thank Van Gaal and Krul. 🙂 An actpof genius by Van Gaal.

• Act of*

• World Cup 2014 bulletin (as of 06 July):

  Still in running for overall total points won, “bragging rights” & the Final Victory (WC title for respective client):

  Adidas – 60 pts (Argentina /15, Colombia /12, Mexico /7, Germany /13, Nigeria /4, Russia /2, Japan /1, Spain /3, Bosnia and Herzegovina /3)

  Nike – 52 pts (Brazil /11, Netherlands /13, France /10, United States /4, South Korea /1, Croatia /3, Greece /5, Portugal /4, England /1)

  ———-

  Out-of-Running:

  Puma – 30 pts (Côte d’Ivoire /3, Chile /7, Italy /3, Switzerland /6, Uruguay /6, Ghana /1, Algeria /4)

  Burrda – 12 pts (Belgium /12)

  Lotto – 8 pts (Costa Rica /8)

  Marathon – 4 pts (Ecuador /4)

  Uhlsport – 1 pt (Iran /1)

  =================

  No surprises.

  Brazil (Nike) vs Germany (Adidas)
  Argentina (Adidas) vs Netherlands (Nike)

• Wow, that was truly nerve wrecking! How The Dutch never scored, I don’t know. Stoic defending by Costa Rica and they could have had a penalty too. Time for some Argie Bargie on Wednesday. 🙂

  Night all.

• Yes AFC, the Krul choice was risky but it paid off. Van Gaal said he will use the whole squad, as everyone will play a role in this campaign, and he kept to his word until now. Let’s also not forget he had five very fine pen takers on the field….. Very different from past Dutch pen shoot outs.

• Ooh and JB got it wrong again…. Please can you keep predicting the Dutch going out…. You are bringing us luck hahaha 🙂

• Did I not say that Holland would win 4-3 !……..fair enough JC didn`t get a hat trick and it was on penalties, but it was still 4-3 !.
  Holland can be the new Greece !. hahaha

• The new Greece….. That sounds bad! Hahahaha 😆

• Congrats to fans of respective semifinalists. TA, I’m glad that Holland have a chance to win the tournament that they should have won years ago – Cruyff and Bergkamp should have won it. 🙂

  Krul is a c..t though (I still remember his row with Van Judas two years ago). Had the referee had any balls, he’d have given a yellow card to Krul after his first intimidation of Costa Rica’s takers.

  My view on the remaining teams:

  The Germans might have been the Germans so far (winning even if they haven’t excelled), the Argentinians might have Messi and his brilliance to bail them out and a very solid defense so far, the Brazilians might have had an upper hand from the referees so far for being hosts and all that but there is only one team left which star players and a manager wouldn’t mind bulldozing their own mothers in order to win the game. That’s why Van Gaal and Holland will lift the biggest international trophy after beating Germany 2:1 in the final (Sneijder, Robben – Klose).

• Cheers Admir 🙂

  I hope you are right. I Also feel strongly that a repeat of my first ever WC final is on the cards. The two best structured and organised teams should make it through and then the Germans will be the 1974 Dutch abd the Dutch will be the 1974 Germans hahaha. 🙂

  I can tell how many liked the Dutch victory last night by the sheer amount of congratulations from my fellow BKers! Hahahaha hahahaha 🙂

  In times like these you get to know your real friends 😉

• Yes Totes !….after buying an Oranje T-shirt and predicting the 4-3 win, these bastards should be punished !……especially quadruple agent…….. Hamez Bond !. You supply the drugs and porn and I`ll supply an award winning Cornish inbred obese bearded woman with labia as big as an African Elephants ears to suffocate the bastard !.

  PS….can this comment be made to be invisible to Stretch ?….as he will get a boner the size of Bounds Green at the thought of such a threat !….I know for a fact that when I said Holland is the new Greece, he was straight in the wardrobe looking for his passport and luckily enough his builder neighbour was in there adjusting the slats on the louvre doors and helped him !…..he`s trafficking his goats through Amsterdam as we speak !.

• Congratulations Totes… And mostly I’m glad that your guy Van Persie recovered from that toe-stub to make his pen and feel good about himself again… 🙂

  Of course, I’m with Admir (and all others) who are having a tough time admiring this version of the orange people. On the other hand, the better team (clearly) got through and the semis should be “good.” I put it in quotes because the fun, attacking football is probably behind us now and we’ll likely be treated to a whole bunch of cat and mouse (playing not to lose) and going to the edge (or over it) attempting to influence referees. All part of the game and there will be some great moments in there too, I’m sure… 🙂

  Agentina (even w/o Di Maria) have a bit in attack so I think it’s premature to write them off. It’s true they got by an “assembled” group whereas Holland beat more of a team. Still, neither would have been expected to lose either of those quarters and now we’ll see if Van Gaal’s tactics can contain the Argentine attack. To me, the set up has been overly defensive against the CONCACAF opponents, but maybe will serve well against Messi and co. Regardless, I would expect the keepers to need more than 1.5 saves (each) in that one. Likewise, Romero (who left Holland to sit on the bench–and the beach–at Monaco…) will have to keep up his good work as the bald and the grey cannot whiff and hit posts at such an incredible rate two matches running. He actually played under Van Gaal so advantage Holland if they can get it to pens, perhaps?… Who’s the ref? An early yellow (for diving) might be in everybody’s interest…

  In the other one, I’ve refused to follow all the incriminations and (faux?) drama around Neymar’s airlift. Given the violence allowed in the QF, Zapata’s foul didn’t seem that far off and seeing that Neymar wasn’t doing much (already hurt, maybe?…) I’m excited to see if the whole “win it for him” — plus Willian and Bernard, might offer a little more in terms of actual football. Can the two old (and not so slim) FBs (Maicon and Marcelo) really be the answer against the Germans who bring at least a bit of width to their attack? Certainly sitting on one player (J-Rod) won’t work as it did against Colombia and whoever plays for Thiago will be tested… Ozil *should* be able to dance (out wide, but might think about bringing it central) and Mueller can’t be as quiet as he has been since the group stage ended. All goals in the QFs by these two teams were set pieces, so those (or pens) will like play a role…

  Anyhow, all good fun–and drama…

  Speaking of which, the latest murmurs seem to favor a direct swap of Sanchez + money to Liverpool even if we seem to (maybe?) be in the cat-bird seat in the menage a trois with ALL our money. ‘Pool are already spending like last year’s Spurs. Could it be the same result where they get the depth and the breadth (and a bunch of dross) but we take the (SQ) prize? Our superspy (007) might have the extra info, but us more realistic types have to also take his standard state of confidence with a grain (or a sauce of our own, distilled from grain)… The “never enough” types already have Alexis (and Debuchy and Schneiderlin and Khedira and Remy) in our colors (colours?) but still have another half dozen we “need” in order to achieve satisfaction and/or keep the sky aloft. Tough times, as always, to win the window, if that’s your game…Even tougher if you need to win it early… Happiness = low expectations (in my book) so I forecast tears for many. I’d offer hugs but they don’t translate so well on the web… The weather’s great here, so come for a visit if you REALLY need one.. 🙂

• Hahahaha Cocker 🙂

  Stretch would love it in Amsterdam!

• hahaha Cornwall. I have been to Amsterdam many times

  I am the only man in the history of the towns famous red light district to be turned down by a prostitute.

  Congratulations TA, but you didnt deserve it. Infact, none of the semi finalists deserve it. They all deserve something else but I cant say what because the police are monitoring my activities.

  i am however, delighted for Messi. he may look like a Gimp and no doubt has a very elsticated arsehole, but what a player

  Not as good as Maradona, but the best ive seen since.

• Good points, 17. 🙂

  Argentina are the favourites and this suits the Dutch fine. They also have to attack as their best form of defence, and again, this suits us. The Messi – the best player I have ever watched – v Robben battle will be intriguing.

  Yes we could have attacked more against Mexico and CR, but Van Gaal knows he is vulnerable at the back, and this became clear once more yesterday (pen shouts and late save by Cillesen). If we play compact against Argentina and move quickly when obtaining the ball, we could hurt them. The strikers missed a lot of chances and surely their luck will change?!

• I think Stretch is confusing Amsterdam with his fetish for muff diving small rodents !. I had to send him an award winning Hamster dental dam to stop the rodents catching anything !.
  Not as confusing as our mate VCC though !. We invited him to a Armadillo fancy dress party, but Vics was stopped at the door in a dildo costume !. When questioned what was he dressed as , he said ….I`ma dildo !.

• sorry 17HT for doing a runner yesterday – we are in for a DM but for now it’s only wishful thinking on my part when mentioning names 😉

  out of all the sides in the semis – the netherlands are the only one that baffle me, how they have got to the semis is way way beyond me – and I hope for the sake of football that Argentina not only knock them out but knock them out in the right way.

  sorry skipper I am a friend of “beautiful football” – give me the likes of chile, Colombia, Germany and so on over the likes of negative football anytime.

  anyway – we should give the trophy to Germany already , none of the other 3 sides are as complete as the German’s – they are hungry and are playing attractive football even if the score line doesn’t portray it.

  am thinking way ahead of the World cup and I can clearly see why Jose.M plays the way he does – it’s easy to see that he was taught by Van Gaal and am already freting over watching the likes of Chelsea and Man utd play against the big teams – you be wise to put your money on dull and boring draws.

  😀

• Regarding Brazil, I must admit that I’ve never supported them in a single match but this team has to be the worst one Brazil have ever had. First of all, Neymar shouldn’t have been on the pitch against Colombia at the first place – he should have been booked against Chile. That would have been his second yellow card and he would have watched the game from the stands. Second of all, referees have been too lenient to Fernandinho. He should have had at least two yellow cards so far (one against Chile, one against Colombia) so he wouldn’t have been available for the semis. Third of all, it was the referee who had allowed physical football prior to Zuniga’s assault on Neymar’s health. He booked Rodriguez for the first foul and gave a licence to Brazilians to beat the crap out of him without cards. That reminded me of Wilshere’s problems with the referees in Premiership – they can beat him, assault him, kick him…but if he tries to strike back, it’s a card.

  That is one of the reasons why I hope Germans will beat Brazil with goals of Miro Klose and Thomas Müller. People speak a lot about Klose’s all-time record but Müller’s possible record would be a huge one too and maybe even harder to break in years to come. If he outscores Rodriguez and Messi at this World Cup, Müller will become the first player IN THE HISTORY OF BLOODY FOOTBALL that has won two Golden Boots at World Cup. And, it would also mean he has won it two times in a row at the age of 25 (which means he still has one or two World Cups ahead of him).

• well it’s easy to explain how Brazil have made it so far in the tourney – that credit goes to the Ref’s – Croatia were robbed nice and early in the first game.

  anyway – congratulations on getting this far in the tourney @ Skipper 👿 I suppose in the end, it’s winning at any cost that should matter (looking at it from a neutral and slightly dutch perspective, ha

• Fair enough, JB. 007 only wants sexy chicks. 😉

  You don’t know van Gaal very well. His teams have played the best footie imaginable, but he is also a realist and a master tactician, and in my view, together with Guardiola, the best manager around.

  He is getting the best out of the resources available, and for that I applaud him. It might not suit your aesthetic needs, but the Oranje don’t give a sugar.

  Interesting that the Germans have impressed you so much. I thought the Algerians thought them a few football lessons, and they have not entertained me once. But there you go: sexy footie is in the eye of the beholder! 😛

• ahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

  no, not the eyes of the beholder – I can back my claims with substance…

  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2014/article-2677692/Germany-new-pass-masters-Lionel-Messi-King-dribble-Marouane-Fellaini-dirtiest-player-left-Your-ultimate-World-Cup-stats-guide.html

  so please don’t think I am anti-Holland – just concerned when the both the pupil and master park their buses at the emirates or at other clubs in the premier league together 😉

• Admir, Muller is a peculiar case. So effective without playing beautifully. A great nose for being at the right place and adding value to the team, whether by scoring, assisting or setting up an attack.

• you know it’s Anti-football when the likes of Italy are well ahead of the Netherlands in the passing department .

  so let’s just say – Entertainment is in the eye of the beholder and not sexy footy ; )

• also it’s rather interesting your comparison and how highly you rate both Van Gaal and Pep –

  I can see why Pep is high on your list – and he no doubt is very high on most peep’s list as a manager , however, he never compromises on his style of play regardless on the opposition he plays.

  on the other hand, I find it hard to believe how you rubbish Jose.Moron for doing more or less the same as Van Gaal and when Van Gaal does it – he becomes much admired !

  Jose.Moron is the creation of Van Gaal – would you agree or disagree ?

• Yes the passing has been poor and it would have been different with the Dutch Fabregas, Strootman, in the team. So we don’t do foreplay, or lots of naked dancing with the ball, but just wait and pounce 😉 and yes, Maureen will be proud of his master hahaha 🙂

  It’s a tournament and we want to win it, and show Cocker a video of both the German and Dutch goals and ask him what stirs his loins the most! Hahaha 🙂

• JB, had van Gaal stuck to his beloved 4-3-3 his team would have held hands with the English on the flight back. Principles are principles, but being naive is unforgivable. Wenger could learn a few lessons here…

  Out for a bit.

• Maureen is NOT a creation of Van Gaal…. He is just Portuguese……

• fair enough and yeah, I know Strootman is a player that is highly rated by Henrychan (where are you Henry) ? ? ?

  and yes, am only being a party pooper, had that been England in the semis, I would be over the moon ahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

• Cocker 18:23………LMAO

• The gossip is we are in for former Barca man Victor Valdes

• kill me for saying this but I much prefer our own Sczny over Victor Valdes anytime – he can go else where, thank you very much !

• ha ha ha ha JB, I never thought i would hear you say that.

• You must have seen some bad performances that i have missed by Victor.?
  I think he would be a good signing as either the new number 1 or back up to Szcz.
  Maybe i am wrong on this 1 though. What makes you say that 007?

• JB, don’t get me wrong,I find it at times hard to watch our team too.

• TA,
  How did you feel about Tim Kruals antics last night?
  I thought it was very bad sportmanship .

• I don’t get that, PG. What did he do wrong? It’s a WC pen shoot out, not a game of cards.

• I can understand that winning is what Holand wanted, not sure you would have thought the same if there keeper had done that hollands pen takers.
  From a nutral point who wanted Holand to win i thought it was bad sportsmanship

• I did not realise til last night that Holland had never won the world cup, surprising , i would like to see them do, though its hard to support Judas lol

• Change the lime green, i would have thought Orange would be better, sir DB10 would prefer that surly .

• PG,

  Valdes and Sczny are similar – I don’t want both of them having brain farts together at Arsenal, we need a solid world class keeper to mentor and improve Sczny, not someone as bad as Sczny.

  also, I think it was a top notch decision by Van Gaal to bring on Krul for the penalty kicks – it just goes to show how thorough and tactful he is as a manager who leaves no stone unturned in the pursuit of victory – mind you, he won them the game and that’s one of the main reasons why the netherlands are in the semis.

  fair enough @ Skipper – and I don’t blame you for it !

• I understand the desision to bring Krual on, it was to do exvactly that.
  I am not alone in thinking that, all the neutrals in the crowd were booing .
  Holland were the better team and deserved to go though, i just was not a fan of how he did it.

• how can it be bad sportsmanship ? @ PG

  they had a sub left – he made use of that substitution very very wisely – you can blame him for playing negative football but I actually thought it was a master stroke or stoke, even , ha

  sometimes I wish that AW was this thoughtful with is substitutions

  and the background was orange yesterday, where have you been ?:)

• It was not the fact he brough him on.
  It is the way he got up in there faces and was walking around delaying the penalty takers etc that i thought was bad sportmanship

• brought

• oh yeah – my bad.

  yeah, that was rather malicious in a way , yeah am with you on that one but then again, the semi final place is on the line – by hook or crook you want to get the job done for your country but yes, that was rather below the belt – was nasty – agreed !

• Its an opinion and i was asking people what they thought, no right or wrong answer. Just opinion

• Pg, I prefer keepers to be calm and not in your face, but there is nothing illegal in putting opponents off by saying I know what you are going to do. You are either an introvert or extrovert in these situations, and Krul did what many keepers have done before.

• Have to agree with my Oranje bastard Totes !. Van Gaal hasn’t got the best squad of players ….maybe the weakest Dutch squad I`ve seen at a championship, just a few house hold names……I mean, if Dirk Kuyt, who plays in a grave yard league, is a 1st choice, then Holland really are scraping the barrel !. Yet, Van Gaal can galvanise a mediocre squad and get them to play to disciplined strengths, however boring it may be, only speaks volumes for his coaching and management ability !………so beware next season, a wounded Manshafter Std with money to spend and only the domestic games to play and just like Liverscum last year, no fatigue problems with an experienced and respected manager with not just a plan B, but an alphabet of them !.
  So Wenger better start buying some serious SQ, otherwise the groundhog day of injuries will be upon us with no SQ strength in depth to cover them !. Your loaded Bast` Wenger, no excuses !.

• yeah, in my opinion it wasn’t nice to see but then again, if it was an England keeper doing that to win you the game then I wouldn’t be minding it – so that’s my way of saying, allow it

  @ PG

  Krul did go overboard though, there is a fine line in trying to disturb the concentration of the takers but he was right up there with a boxer ahahahaahahahahahahahahaha

  I remember a tussle Krul had with Robin Van Pussy a few years ago, it was quite entertaining that and Krul came out on top at the end with van pussy failing to score.

• Fun discussion here… At some point, TA, you need to write a little something about what you expect Van Gaal to do with the players at his disposal up at ManU. While I’d hate to see him in that shade of red, aren’t all these ideas about Verms as a DM even more interesting with him as the center of a 3 man back line? In other words, if he can get himself fit (and I have my doubts on that element) he covers ground pretty well… (And, of course, it would be fun to maybe see Arsenal in one of these more sexy-flexy formations…)

  Regarding the two keepers and antics… We don’t know what was said and the ref allowed it (he could’ve easily given a yellow)…so I don’t think we can blame Krul for a little “shite-talking.” The fact that Van Gaal used his subs in this manner (bringing on a “specialist”) might have been more intimidating than all the talk and tactics which players have dealt with their whole careers…

  007, your words and the trending headlines on Newsnow are making me feel better about the transfer biz…Cheers…

  Predictably the football gets more conservative and negative as a tournament progresses. The bigger the tournament, the worse it gets. I gotta say, I’m behind the Germans but not very impressed that they couldn’t end their matches a little earlier. Schweinie (like Sjneidie for the Dutch…) sees the game but has lost mobility while the likes of Kroos, Ozil and esp. Geotze just seem tentative and relectant to really take it on…

  Is it possible that we’ll see a little more of the “conductor” element from Messi and someone in the Brazil squad (Willian or Ramires?) now that both South American teams are down a runner/attacker? Overall, I think that is the football we ALL crave…seeing a player of truly superior quality take the game on his own shoulders while putting his teammates in spots where they too can shine. I was reasonably impressed by the workrate of Levezzi and Higuain and the guy with the worst hair (ever? balding but with the spot he missed…) seems a good sub. If they can pack the stadium with their own supporters (i,e, be playing Germany rather than Brazil in the final, if they make it…) Argentina might have to be the new favorite to go all the way–even missing Di Maria and El Kun… The fact that Messi has yet to go down in the box makes me think they’ve got at least one (cheap) goal up their sleeves and one might be enough if Robben and Robin carry over their form from the quarters… The Germans haven’t won a pen either, however, if I’m remembering correctly… Fingers crossed for good matches and not too much hinging on the work of the refs…

• Winning starts with a deep passion to do so, the rest is just enjoying the ride. The ref was there and did not judge anything out of order. Sportsmanship and courtesy have a place, but sometimes people are underestimating what a will to win really means.

• I agree JB,
  The ref allowed it and if England had done it i would not have minded, but in the neutrals he made no fans by doing that.
  I also remember the van persie – kraul thing well too. I was wondering how they were getting on at the moment because that carried on after that match.
  Robben is by far there star player, i agree with Cockie that the midfield and defence is average.
  On Van Gaal sadly he willl be good for United, but in bringing in loads of players i hope they will be like Spurs and have trouble getting basically a whole new team to click straight away.
  Either way he won’t do as well as Fergie so we are still ahead.

• Nothing wrong with “sledging” in football !…..I was a master at this and would wind players up by telling them I was shagging their girlfriends and if that didn`t work, would say I was shagging their mums and if that didn`t work would say I was shagging their sisters, boyfriends and dads !….and it always helped that I could back up my claims by the fact that their …girlfriends, mums, sisters, boyfriends and dads were in the crowd with my name on the back of their shirts !……attention to detail, that’s why I never disappoint !. hahaha

• All opinions on that are fair enough to me.
  But i feel by him doing that he may have started something and i would not be surprised if Argentine did that to Holland after watching him do that.

• TCM,
  Ha ha ha ha ha ha there dads ha ha ha

• No wonder Ray Wilkins lost his hair playing with you ha ha ha ha

• True PG !…no one is going to beat what SAF did, so for them it`s just a case of trying to get back to winning ways and competing, as with the likes of Mansour City , Chavs , Liverscum and ourselves ( we`re loaded ! ), it`s going to be tough for any one team to have the 20 year purple patch they had !.

• Yes PG !……that was just “sledging” my own team mates !. hahaha

• Is this transfer news that we signed Finlands under 21’s keeper true.
  Newsnow was saying we signed him , but i have seen nothing on Arsenals site

• Poor old Ray ha ha ha ha ha
  He must have spent half his time making sure you was not after his mum and girlfriend.
  No wonder the hair fell out so early ha ha ha ha

• It will be interesting what Van Gaal will do at Manure, 17. He has little time to prepare the team for his preferred 4-3-3 system, so he might find another way to get started and grow into the season. They will be very strong no doubt, as there is no international footie to distract (as per Cocker).

• I agree United having no Europe is a massive advantage.
  But if i had to choose between Lord Wenger and Van Gaal , i would take Lord Wenger til my last breath. 🙂
  Up the Arse! In Arsene we trust!

• I think davy davy`s theory that signings could be unveiled when the new kit is launched @11pm on the 10th of this month….fcuk, that`s Thursday !…..is serious consideration to happen !.

• On Arsenal, i haft to say Ozil form is worrying. He needs to step up and deliver.
  I think Wenger will try and make him score a lot more goals next season.
  He needs to do that and take his chances instead of always looking for someone else, ness its Rambo, Walcott or Podolski. Or hopefully Sanchez

• Oh ok Cockie thanks and hopefully you are right and more will quickly follow.
  Next season in our new kit is a massive season. Puma are or will be putting big pressure on Arsenal to use the money they are putting in to the club to be spent on big signings and it should happen i think.

• Right !……..I`m off to print my name on the back of some shirts and then send them to relatives of people I want to wind up !. Laterz !

  PS
  Bastards !….what`s your addresses ?. hahaha

• laterz TCM

• on sky sports 1 Bergkamp football gratest is on

• damn missed it, it started at 10 pm ends at 10:30 pm

• great news we missed it on telly tonight but i found it on you-tube. enjoy 🙂
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxUts7gAWGQ

• Thanks PG, will watch it when I have more time. 🙂

• Do TA, it is a great watch, mainly around his Arsenal days. With Wenger , Ian Wright, Keown and Parlar giving there views. 🙂

• Thanks PG. Just watched it through. A joy!

• A 29 year old Egyptian right back formerly of Sheffield Wednesday and Hull City (now playing for an African team) is headed to a 10 day trial at Arsenal confirmed by his clubs manager. Really random deal, especially in light of Debuchy’s impending signature. Seems similar to that Morocan winger we had on trial from a Ligue 2 team last summer. Never really understand Wenger’s philosophy on trials for older players. Makes perfect sense for young players (like when we had M’Baye Niang a couple summers back) but doesn’t make much sense for this 29 year old whose played in the Premier League previously.

• Ozil gets no credit from anyone. They all say he’s having a bad world cup, , but all stats say he is best in most of “his” categories. Top in passes in final third, forward passes, key passes, chances created. And he’s not playing in his best position.

  What else do people want?

  For us, he was a last minute transfer, in a new league, had slow giroud, no theo or ox, I think he was overplayed . We won a trophy in his first season.
  He’s the best in his position in the world, and trust me, if good players like Sanchez, and others join us, he is the big draw.
  I dont care if casual fans watching world cup dont appreciate a player of his subtle quality, but gooners should get it. Support our Mesut, and watch us get even better with him .

• Dylan, I think that story is false.

  The Sanchez deal is getting closer according to the papers. We have apparently bid £22 million for Cuadrado. I am not sure about him. He has had a good WC but what has he done at club level to warrant a move to Arsenal, what has done last season? He plays in Serie A which isn’t the best league and he is not even a winger but more of a wing back? The WC can make players look better than they actually are so…

• https://fbexternal-a.akamaihd.net/safe_image.php?d=AQBRs0HABeBXjQQp&url=https%3A%2F%2Ffbcdn-vthumb-a.akamaihd.net%2Fhvthumb-ak-xfp1%2Ft15.0-10%2Fs526x296%2F10470129_693362794033952_693362547367310_4270_1584_b.jpg&jq=100

• Try again !.

• Just leaving a comment to be registered (if neccessary) from the invite of the Cockie Monster. I’ll wait till the next article to comment. Good blog. My predictions for the world cup semis were: Holland, France, Columbia and Belgium………. I did really well there didn’t I….. don’t ever put a bet on one of my predictions.

• Suarez bites his 4th man, mr Milan takes muti bites from the crazy man lol

• Welcome to bergkampesque, northbank1969! 🙂

  I hope you know what you are doing re Cockie. 🙂

• Hi Northbank 1969…..welcome to BK……..Don’t listen to a word that monster Cockie tells you. Him and his side kick Terry Mancini Hair Transplant are scoundrels.

• Thanks for the welcome…… I’ll be carefull 🙂

• ===

  SF1
  Brazil (captain: David Luiz, CB) vs Germany (captain: Philipp Lahm, RB/DM)
  *Venue: Estádio Mineirão, Belo Horizonte (Southeast Brazil)
  Referee: Marco Rodríguez (Mexico) (Prev managed: Belgium vs Algeria, 2-1; Italy vs Uruguay, 0-1)

  * 2nd time playing at venue for Brazil. (Prev: vs Chile, last 16, 1-1/3-2 penalties)
  * 1st time playing at venue for Germany.

  ===

  SF2
  Netherlands (captain: Robin van Persie, CF) vs Argentina (captain: Lionel Messi, AM/RF/CF)
  *Venue: Arena Corinthians, São Paulo (Southeast Brazil)
  Referee: Cüneyt Çakır (Turkey) (Prev managed: Brazil vs Mexico, 0-0; Algeria vs Russia, 1-1)

  *2nd time playing at venue for Netherlands. (Prev vs Chile, GS, 2-0)
  *2nd time playing at venue for Argentina. (Prev: vs Switzerland, last 16, 1-0)

  ===

• BTW CockieM

  I did the google map thing last night and took a tour of the Holloway area…. fucking brilliant! I’ve posted the route on my blog. Brought back some lovely jubbly memories. 🙂

• Awfully quiet around here except for the welcome of the new guy whose avatar shows a fellow with a gorgeous round head and a lovely grey beard. Being that this IS the look towards which I aspire, I want to give him a VERY warm welcome… Anyhow, I’m not sure if that’s you in the picture, NB, but if it is, I could use a little advice–about getting the look but also in how you keep the birds at arms length. I always tell them that a) I’m already happily married, and b) that if I were the sort to seek a bit on the side I would want to get to know them first. That usually does the trick… Sorry, but I’m a person, not just a piece of meat…

  Speaking of which, Debuchy and Sanchez talk seems very strong… Do these signings get a rise from our (Greek) chorus? Must run now but will be around for some GDC during the semifinal…

• ———————————–Szcs—————————
  Doubcy————BFG——————KOS—————Gibbs
  ——————————–Flemini—————————
  Sanchez————————Ramsey——————–Walcott
  ——————————–Ozil——————————–
  ——————————-Giroud——————————-

  I think that team with an awesome bench or lots of rotation in Cazorla, Podolski, Rosicky, Sanogo, Gnabry, Zaleem and the Ox i could go on,. I think that team can win the EPL but that is a strong looking squad
  Add to that a DMB and another CF of SQ then it goes to CL challenging.?

• 17,
  There is no way that silver fox Walter White look a like is 10 years older then me.
  Either that or the 9 year trophy draught really took its toll on him ha ha ha ha ha

• NB69 just put something on your blog, it may get your taste buds going and draw you back to London in a sleazy life of crime to afford one !. Although probably cheaper to relocate The Emirates to your South of France than buy a house around Highbury !. hahaha

  Do my fellow English Bunkupesquers think it`s weird that us proud English bulldogs will probably be rooting for the “Gerries” tonight !……my granddad would be turning in his grave !. Mind you, I bet Hitler would be turning in his grave if he see some of the names in their squad…Adolf Boateng, Sami Goering and Mesut Goebbels ! hahaha
  My mate VCC was going to support Brazil and was getting expectantly excited when his missus phoned him to say she was having a Brazillian !…….that`s until he got home early and found a young Personnel FitnessTrainer from Rio by the name of Juan Muffdiveinho leaving by the back door !…..he must have been a good Trainer as she could hardly walk afterwards !.

  Lovely down in St Ives today !…….I drove past some stunning looking skirt on the sea front and they had the shortest mini skirts I had ever seen, to tell the truth, I would have seen their vertical bacon sandwiches if it hadn`t been for the rusty brillo pad thongs they were wearing !. hahaha

  7eventeenho !. If you want to pull the ladeez with that certain look, then I`m afraid you will have to be as rich as Sir Stanley Syrup !”.
  Which reminds me !. Did anyone see the incident when Vermaelen had the FA Cup in his hands and shook Stan`s hand ?……you were all probably too ecstatic to notice, but as Verm shook Stan`s hand, simultaneously the lid of the cup fell on the floor as Stan`s syrup fell in the cup as he bent forward !. Verm then slipped the lid of the cup on Stan`s head and putting the syrup on as the lid !.

• Hey guys! Wanted to see if people would be interested in a post on potential DM and GK targets to take our minds off the constant Sanchez and Debuchy headlines? 🙂

• Go for it Dylan. I can issue it tonight but will be away for business all day tomorrow and on Thursday I am collecting family from the airport…. So to is either tonight or Thursday night before I can issue it.

• Cocker, you is hilarious filth! 🙂

• Dylan,
  I would be interested to see your fav’s and the topic is a good 1.
  Cockie,
  I am surprised you didn’t crash your motor after seeing the hairy axe wound.

  I think if we land our 2 potencal signings we would have done very , Wengers patients in waiting a little longer would have paid off. Why?
  Because Liverpool signed 33 year old Lambart. Soon after Suarez bites a man, resulting in him leaving making Liverpool much weaker and opening the door for Sanchez to sign for us making us much stronger.
  The same could be said for the RB from Newcastle good business i do believe.

• Just so we get this right young Dylan !……..DM is not abbreviation for Dominatrix Masochism and GK……..Granny Karmasutra ?. If not…..why not ?. hahaha

• I will see how quick I can turn it around TA. With our time difference it’ll probably be very early morning for you tomorrow. 😉

• Sanchez dripples the ball every 11 minutes.
  Only Messi and Naymar have a better rate of every 9 minutes.

• Fcuking amateur`s PG !…………..I was dribbling every 10 seconds at St Ives beach today !.

• Also i think we need to start thinking of Johan Djourou as an Arsenal player again, he had a great world cup, was rated in the top 10 on world cup stats.
  So although we lost Sagna as CB cover we may have confident Djouou back. Only problem is his name and Giroud sound the same.
  Cockie i see you mould fetish is back, good man. nothing like a good gumming.

• ha ha ha ha ha Cockie

• Cockie Monster

  I saw it…. fucking mad. I like the idea of vertical bacon sarnies!

  @17……….. why oh why would you want to keep women at arms length? And I had no choice in the hairstyle I have today 🙂

  I don’t really care who wins tonight, I just hope it’s an exciting game and not another bore.

• PG…….Djourou was transferred !. Not ours anymore !. Maybe we have a Cesc/Vela buy back clause ?.
  http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11896/9245262/transfer-news-johan-djourou-completes-permanent-move-to-hamburg-from-arsenal

• Welcome NB1969,
  I can’t believe it but i am with Cockie , i will be cheering on the ze gerries.
  Even 4 years ago i would not dream of it, but our Gerries have changed my mind.
  Also i want Brazil to lose, i have heard stories of Brazilians ripping of the English over there.
  A taxi driver said to them do you want to go to English bar.?
  They got there spent loads of cash, then a waiter brought out a bottle of champagne, they said they did not order it and arnt paying then the doorman got in and said you are paying they said how much after a big row. £500 they said they have not got, they got a bouncer to take them to a cash point while the rest were made to stay.
  So from the taxi man to the waiter, bar owner, the doorman all in on it.

• Cockie…If you have a favorite for tonight’s match does that mean you’ll have to get behind the sofa and watch it only if the Germans go through?… Where am I supposed to go to get grooming tips (and Arsenal thoughts) from our new poster?… AA, is it?…

  You people are, er, dizzgusting… (but entertaining…)

  Also, Cockie, you do realize that I only got to live at my screen-name due to following my (lovely) wife on her labors (labours?, er, job…) when she had a teaching exchange over there… The housing was free for us, but we were shocked by the prices. Everything looked reasonable in the windows of the rental offices until we realized it was per week, not month! At the time the pound was 2 x 1 on the dollar as well. Let’s just say I did many a long haul through Tony Blair’s neighborhood to the Iceland and Sainsbury near Angel, nursing the special of the day at the local Whitehorse (near Highbury and Islington) with all the pensioners…I guess it’s just as bad these days down in my home area (Berkeley, San Francisco Bay area) ergo my little squatchie home in the mountains…

  OK, to the hardware store (ironmonger?) but back for the match… The life of the househusband may seem glamorous (glamourous?…) but it’s not all days at the stylist and the spa…

  Right, TA?….

• CM,
  He cant have his name has just been put back on the offical site a week ago have a look.
  Surly they would not have done that if he moved .?

• http://www.arsenal.com/first-team/players/johan-djourou

  he is on the site here, he is also a DM

• PG, if true (and it likely is not…) you have to say that is one elaborate story of a rip-off… And at least they got the bubbly… 🙂 IMO there are better reasons to root against the Brazilians tonight… (Sorry Alex and all others supporting the home team…)

  My point: Don’t believe everything you read… Though maybe you’re on the right track, using the official (Arsenal) site to decipher what is (and what isn’t happening) with the squad. Also, Djourou as a 3rd or 4th choice CB seems OK to me… He may not be the best but at least you know what he offers and his game isn’t that far off the BFG, IMO….

  Dylan, I’m looking forward to your post, even if it will probably include a few which might be wishful (i.e., not gonna move except for silly money…) Vidal to United seems like a lot of very hot smoke from a scan of the headlines…

  OK, truly gone now, back for kickoff…

• CockieM

  Talking of vertical bacon sarnies….. next time you are at Sainsburies, buy a jar of Sun Dried Tomatoes in Olive oil….. and when you get home, open the jar and put your finger in 🙂 it’s better if you warm them slightly in the microwave first 🙂

• i know its a cliche but him, Diarby, Coqulin and even Theo really will be like new signings.
  Joel Campbell basically is a new signing as he has never played for us also

• 17,
  It is true i know that people it happened to, plus all the protesting and Brazils dirty football, they have been getting away with murder because its them

• You`ve confused me now PG !. Is he or isn’t he Arsenal ?.
  17, I found NB69`s blog and he only does a post every Sunday !. The story caught my eye and is well worth a read.
  Hope it`s OK to link his blog, Totes !.

  http://northbank1969.wordpress.com/

• Cockie he is a Gunner, he extended his loan at Hamburger it was not on a perm.

• Hahaha NB69……..Don’t give my mate VCC any ideas !. I took him to Sainsbury`s Butternut Squash aisle blindfolded and told him he was in a Ann Summers sex shop . I made a swoosh sound so he thought he was in the changing room !………he`s now barred from Sainsbury`s in South Ockendon for life !. hahaha

• Djourou passes to Giroud back to Djourou to Ozil then to Giroud lol

• Hello, people!

  Tonight, I cheer for the Germans which is a bad news for them given that I’ve been successful in knocking out Colombia (Rod 😦 😦 ), Belgium and France in the previous round. Germans have never beaten Brazil in the competitive match but then again, they have never had a team that was so much better than the Brazilian one.

  2:0 for the Germans, Müller and Klose to score after Özil’s passes to shut up his critics.

  @TCM – hahahahahahahahahaha! 😀 I’m still laughing at the possibility that the c..t with stupid mustache sees Mesut Özil, Lukas Podolski, Jerome Boateng and Sami Khedira in a group hug with Per Mertesacker, Manuel Neuer, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Phillip Lahm. 😀

• @proud gooner – imagine Coquelin joining Djourou at Hamburger SV and all the newspapers and web-sites spread the title: “Le Coq in Hamburger!”

  If that doesn’t destroy McDonald’s, nothing else will.

• Hahaha Adders…….I like this McDong burger…….but I didn`t ask for the cheesy sauce !.

• Bacon burgers for everyone then……. finished off with a cream dip!

• I am going to eat a hamburger soon, i have got a juicy burger and nice roll.
  McProud Burger
  Il put anything you want in it cheesy, bacon , il leave Le Coq of the menu you will have to make a special request for that lol

• No waffer ham slice skinny burgers round here.

• Oh ! and Squatchieho, I will be watching tonight games in front of the sofa and rooting for the Krauts !.
  This is what three quarters of a million pounds gets you near The Emirates nowadays and there seems to be no end in sight for runaway London prices. I`m probably not alone in thinking….If only I had bought in London when I actually could afford it !.
  Not a bad view though !.

  http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-45222086.html?backListLink=%2Fproperty-for-sale%2Fmap.html%3FlocationIdentifier%3DUSERDEFINEDAREA%255E%257B%2522polylines%2522%253A%2522gxtyHftSjXgGVhe%40%257DW%257EBe%40aa%40%2522%257D%26insId%3D1%26radius%3D0%23locationIdentifier%3DUSERDEFINEDAREA%255E%257B%2522polylines%2522%253A%2522gxtyHftSjXgGVhe%2540%257DW~Be%2540aa%2540%2522%257D%26insId%3D1%26radius%3D0%26box%3D-0.12224%2C-0.09349%2C51.55076%2C51.55970%26popupPropertyId%3D45222086&fromMap=true

• Nice flat but very small for £750,000 , if the club sells 40 that but you 1 Sanchez lol

• Yeah, but you get a view of Arsend Wenger pulling up in his Mr Bean mini !. hahaha

• Having lived next to Highbury for a while in the 70’s sometimes it can be a real pain on a match day, with the crowds and if you were arriving home in your car. However, if I wasn’t going to a match, it was nice to lay in the bath and hear the roar of the Northbank 🙂

• No problems Dylan. I will not issue it till Thursday though, as I am on the slow train to Brum from 5.50 am 😦

  17, the stay at home dads are unsung heroes! I am still doing most of the housework but also work almost full time now… Something went wrong! 😕

• I think it went wrong from birth, Total van Trannie !. hahaha
  Listen bastard, I go to work to relax !……driving around the Cornish beaches and harbours is a breeze compared to Monday`s and Wednesday`s when I`m chasing my nearly 2 year old little bastard….I mean grandson around the house !…….that means I only have Sunday off !…..and that’s usually for catching up on the gardening !…….bloody stay at home Freddie Mercury I want to brake free husbands !. hahaha
  Right, time to get the best seat in my house, come on zee krauts !.

• Mueller, set piece, 1-nil

• Indeed, weekends are my busy time… 🙂 Totes you might want to think about the “French maid” idea (or maybe the dutch niece)…

  I’ll look at the links Cockie when the match is over…Cheers… You must make it out this way and do a little beach-combing, etc, etc…

  2 nil…Klose has the record alone…

• 3 nil…Kroos… We have a finalist…

• 4 nil… Trouble in the host country tonight?

• 5 nil…Ozil assist to Khedira… A goal every 6 minutes would mean 15 total…

• Am I the only one who thinks Germany may have peaked too early ?……..quick back to TV in case I miss another goal !. hahaha

• Bloody hell, took my dog out for a piddle at 2-0… come back and it’s 5-0…

• 5 nil at the 30 min match.

  WHAT THE HELL IS UP WITH BRAZIL. DISGRACEFUL.

• No one could have predicted this before.

• The theater (theatre?) of the Neymar airlift is one thing but I think the loss of captain Thiago (in a foul that really was miscalled and didn’t deserve a yellow…) is probably the bigger issue. Also, going with the two fat fellows at fullback seems a bit misguided. Willian over Bernard for me, too…
  Finally, you just get nothing in terms of pressing from the front with Oscar, Fred and Hulk…

  Personally, I think it might be a better thing that it’s a drubbing rather than hinging on a call or other thin margin…

• I bet Ozil looked at Luiz and Oscar at half time and said I owed you that one

• Brazil get booed off and the fans are crying… Those players needed to get grilled by LS at the break.

• Germany are still in this thanks to Neuer !.

• Brazil need their nuts roasted !.

• Half-time and a nice moment between Lu-lu and the record goal scorer… Otherwise nothing but shots of Brazilians weeping and players looking shell-shocked…

  Ozil and (crazy) David Luis BOTH pull out of 50-50…Where’s the passion? etc. etc… Sell the slacker, etc., etc. :Rolly eyes, eh…

  Hey, did I just get a text from some overworked househusband in England?… This daddy don’t text, sorry…

  Brazil needs to grovel for respect….Power is out in Rio…that will not be good for locals who might taking this as more than sport…

• If Ozil can get one it will be good for his confidence.

• AFC, this is less than a training ground exercise at this point…Brazil need to grovel for respect (hold the ball a bit, get a couple of shots, score a goal) and German players just need to avoid injury, so let’s hope for a true “friendly” in the 2nd period…

  These things happen in football. Arsenal certainly know the story from last season and 8-2 at OT… Real Madrid with the huge scoreline in Munich in the CL semis…

  Truly I am worried about violence in the host country…People take this stuff a little too seriously, I think…

• 17HT. I agree people could get killed because of this.

• I agree too !…..starting with players…goalie first, then the defence, next the midfield, then the strikers followed by the manager !. We could hold a poll on how they will die !.

• Cockie, cheers for the link to the Sunday scene…

  Spuds and Chavs on for Brazil and the BFG gets a run out too…

  Brazilians falling like flies (Oscar and Fred) but at least they’re putting balls into the German box…

• What Colombia SHOULD have done. In other news…

  Alexis to sign tomorrow?

• 17, agreed. The fans seem a bit too ‘involved’. Football is like religion to the guys in Brazil. Then you consider the fact that a lot of the people in Brazil didn’t want Brazil hosting the WC because there are bigger issues in the country that need addressing and it can all get nasty as yourself and others have said.

• Brazil attacking and Neuer with a brilliant double save.

• Brazil making chances but Neuer up to them thus far… No Stuart Robson to tell us, “Well, that’s what happens when you have Mertesacker in there”… In truth, it looks more like the German front men had a stein-full at the break…

• I hope Podolski can come on if fit.

• 6 nil now. I think Germany will get another.

• Maybe I’m just a “homer” (as we say…) but I feel pretty unimpressed by these Chelsea players on display in this tournament… Oscar and Schurrle are very young (as is Hazard and Willian) but new (older) fellows Costa and Cesc did less for Spain than most would’ve hoped and really looked no better than Torres. They’ll be strong (and deep) no doubt this season but may need even longer than Mourinho’s “next season” talk. Of course, the transfer window is just open and the 50 million pounds from the David Luis sale (just funny money between the Sheiks/Garchs…) leaves a bit of wiggle room for more moves. Of course, if loanees Cortois and Lukaku come back–and play–they will have a very exciting, if very young, team…

  6-nil Mueller…

• Fred gets booed as the camera focuses in on him. Peak.

• Oops, my mistake, Schurrle takes it off Mueller’s foot…

  Willian on…

• Draxler coming on for Khedira.

• Young Drax coming on… Looks a couple of inches shorter than Khedira who gives way…

  Poor kick out from David Luiz there…

• 7-nil Schurrle… Wow… Nice finish there, underside of the bar… David Luiz might think about defending, now and again…

• If Luiz isn’t careful he will get booked and miss the final…

• Shurrle scores with a good finish.

• Schurlle, I think, is on a perfect hat-trick…Only needs the header, but time is growing short… Ozil, doing the full 90, shows a little poor body language not getting a ball after a run…

  Germans will have to forget about this one and be ready for a much tougher opponent in the final…

• Ozil to score the eighth as per his shirt number?

  Feel sorry for the Brazilians… a total humiliation. People paid so much money for the tickets on the black market.

• That’s funny, Retsub…

  Woeful finishing from Oscar and Bernard…

  And Ozil… Sell him!

  Oscar!!! The comeback is on!

• And he put it wide…. poor Mesut!

• Not sure why the players are praying and crying. They knew they were losing well into this match. Booing deserved? Anything else (violence) isn’t?

• Really felt for Ozil. He deserved to score.

• Felt for him too, AFC. However, he had a fabulous game and should be proud of himself.

• Finishes 1-7…

  Our Messy needs to work on his finishing (and associated nerves)… Carlos Vela would’ve chipped that one…

  These things happen in sport… Maybe the players were praying for minimal violence in their home nation. It’s a big moment for the country, I think…

• Yeah he should TA. He done his part. Let’s hope his confidence builds.

• It could be that 17. That thought came into my mind but the fans and the team are supposed to be united. Results can change that though.

• Night all 🙂

• Sooo… Beyond this match, the smoke on Alexis Sanchez is getting awfully hot… Somebody will tell us the whole story on our new signing when (if) it happens…

  It occurs to me…that as well taken as his goal from open play was, we might have already had Brazil out of the tournament if he’d made his PK…

  More pace in the team seems good, esp. given the injury issues of Theo and the Ox… Just gotta take those chances when they come…

• Sanchez is in the bag.

  done and dusted.

• Like I said before, let’s give the world cup to the German’s already.

  couldn’t see anyone else winning it at the beginning of the tourney and still can’t .

  if there is one team that plays the closest to Arsenal then that’s Germany .

• Congratulations to Germany in reaching the finals with a comprehensive 7-1 win against the host nation, Brazil.

  Double delight too with Miroslav Klose being the outright all-time top goalscorer for the WC.

  Germany ended Myth No.1 (A team grouped with Cameroon to reach the final), for only the 2nd time in WC history (the other being in 1998).

  PSG might have squandered a record £50 million on a wrong defender in David Luiz. (bearing in mind they are restricted in transfer activities this season, with FPP penalties imposed – limit spending on new players up to €60 million/ £47.7 million, exc. player sales)

  And Hulk has huge bums and upper body mass: – bad proportions for a footballer. At least he is not the worst of the lot (Fred gets the most “boos” even from his own countrymen).

  ====================================

  World Cup 2014 bulletin (as of 09 July):

  Overall total points won: Adidas
  WC title won (with bragging rights): ?Germany(Adidas), ?Netherlands(Nike), ?Argentina(Adidas)

  Adidas – 63 pts (Argentina /15, Colombia /12, Mexico /7, Germany /16, Nigeria /4, Russia /2, Japan /1, Spain /3, Bosnia and Herzegovina /3)

  Nike – 52 pts (Brazil /11, Netherlands /13, France /10, United States /4, South Korea /1, Croatia /3, Greece /5, Portugal /4, England /1)

  ———-

  Knocked-Out:

  Puma – 30 pts (Côte d’Ivoire /3, Chile /7, Italy /3, Switzerland /6, Uruguay /6, Ghana /1, Algeria /4)

  Burrda – 12 pts (Belgium /12)

  Lotto – 9 pts (Costa Rica /9)

  Marathon – 4 pts (Ecuador /4)

  Uhlsport – 1 pt (Iran /1)

  =================

  Overall All-Time WC top goalscorers (active):

  Miroslav Klose (Germany) – 16 goals/23 games (0.70 avg)
  Thomas Müller (Germany) – 10 goals/12 games (0.82 avg)

  Müller is only 24 this year and has at least 2 more WC tournaments to either equal or better Klose’s record.

  =================

• Arsenal related news:

  Kieran Gibbs is likely to receive his new No.3 jersey, as our starting LB. (Noticed there is no number on his new PUMA training kit in the club’s pre-season training pictures)

  In-coming signing Mathieu Debuchy is likely to wear the No.2 jersey. (As our starting RB, and no pressure comparing with Sagna)

• Other news:
  “Nike will not renew kit deal with Man. United”
  http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jul/08/nike-manchester-united-kit-deal

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X16b5OQb2fY
  “Arsenal confident of signing Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona for £30 million”

  I would expect Sanchez to receive the No.18 jersey when he arrives. (If No.13 is reserved for our new GK).

• So it’s will we or won’t we day….. get Sanchez that is! Will he be rolled out all pristine and shinny in the new Puma kit? If I had any knickers on they’d be damp at this moment. ooohhh I’m all excited and will be keeping an eye on the internet until the announcement is made. But for now a glass of wine, some cheese and chorizo!

• NB1969….you sure know how to live……Glass of wine, cheese and chorizo…alcohol at 07:34 😉

• Hahahaha. NB1969 living the life yo!!!

• Welcome 69

  Have just read your post on gunnersorearse and recommend that every body else have a gander. Superb stuff.

  Also, looking at your picture upside down, I find you to be a very attractive individual. hahaha

  What a laugh last nights game was. In the last year or two it seems that football has changed in that when two good sides meet, if one scores fairly early and the other fails to compensate or change tactics, we see a thrashing.

  Absolutely gutted I wasn’t on a seedy Brazilian holiday. All those beautiful Brazilian birds distressed and vulnerable, the perfect time to pretend you give a shit and make your move.

  Never mind. The nexts one in Russia init? There pretty shit, so I should clean up there. hahaha

• VCC….. 7:34am, no way that’s far too early, it was 8:34am here in the heat and dust of southern France 🙂

  Terry Mancini……….. I’ve been warned about you. 🙂 I bet there were quite a few vertical bacon sarnies looking for a sympathetic cuddle last night in Rio. It must have been a ‘jack and danny’ feast!

• hahaha, 69.

  I know a Tranny called ‘Pete the Builder’, and if they look any thing like him they can keep it. The only person I know with bigger hands is my wife.

  Pete once asked me “are you shy?”. I never left my house for weeks. hahaha

• TMHT

  Yeah, I knew one when I lived in Brighton called ‘The Fat Plumber’!

• Is it a bit slow on here today or is my refresh not working?

• Afternoon Fcuktards !. 😀

  I tell you what, I haven`t seen strength of rumours like this about Sanchez since we bought Higuain !.
  Stretch (TMHT) and `69 should get on as they are a like !………both dodgy looking bastards ! hahaha
  We know Stretch is loaded from his Aristotle Onassis inheritance !…..basically he managed to remove (scalp) Onassis`s hair before he was buried and turned up at the will claiming to be his son from Onassis`s affair with a Crete Mountain Goat and then conveniently produced a DNA sample from Onassis`s dead hair syrup, which now sat on top of Transplants head !……the resemblance was uncanny !.
  Then there`s the Pigeon loft conversion !. I visited Stretch and before I could knock on the door, I could hear moaning and groaning coming from inside. Words such as…Take it hard you bastard !….and other expletives were emitting from inside and as I know Stretch had just bought a consignment of Exotic birds from abroad, particularly some very advanced Parrots !….I was not sure who was receiving or administering the shagging !. That was until I heard a loud painful groan followed by a weird sounding…..” WHO`S A PRETTY BOY THEN ! ” .
  As for `69, judging by his avatar, he could definitely get a part in East Enders as Phil Mitchell`s dad !. hahaha

  It seems fitting that I put up a link of a celebrity Gooner, given …The Trannie talk !.
  This could so have been the opening words of this famous song !

  I met him at a clinic in Harley Street, where he transplanted hair to his head from the toes of his feet !
  It was Transplant
  TMHT
  Transplant

  He walked up to me and he gave me a stare.
  I asked him his name a he extracted my hair.
  He said Transplant
  TMHT
  Transplant
  TMHT Transplant

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ixqbc7X2NQY

• Hi `69 😀
  It`s quiet as our leader….Total Arsenal ( site owner and all around good guy Dutch porn and drug dealer ! hahaha )……..is busy doing his house work and is probably anxious about Holland`s game with the Argie Bargies tonight ….not about the result !, but getting the porn and drugs through customs !…..a window of opportunity which will only be bettered if they make the final !. hahaha
  It ( comments) picks up a lot more when the season starts and when and if we get some Super Quality (SQ) signings in !

• Also remember !. Transfers are only confirmed when it is either announced on Arsenal.com…..or said player is tattooed on my Hampton or carved on the Titan cavernous sized inner labia of Vanessa Feltz`s fanny !.

• Ok Cockie…. I now understand, you’re totally radio rental. Phil Mitchells dad, you need putting in your place sunshine 🙂

• I wouldn’t bother if I was you 69. Ive been trying to put him in his place for years, but the only time the patients of the Cornwall institute for the criminally insane showed any logic is when they all ganged up to sign a petition keeping him out.

  I dont know why he thinks were dodgy looking bastards. He looks like the kind of geezer who should walk around with a mini railing over his head. hahaha

• Cant be me !……the geezer`s wearing Adidas and we`re PUMA !.

  

• Is this the dodgiest comb over ever ?………and is it just me, but does he look like Phil Mitchell !.

  http://lh4.ggpht.com/_yNMIPbHcVKU/TTcKW3MZ6aI/AAAAAAAAGr0/66YXa43Aj_8/chobblercombover15_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800

• So yeah, Its a little slow here… even for us that do the reading more than the commenting!! 😀 anyways I’ve got a lil bored so guess what i did??

  I went to go watch all The Arsenal’s FA cup celebration videos because…WE WON THE CUP!.

  LOL. No, It never gets old to say that. Plus the joy from the videos are (Whats that word for when something gets to you and makes you happy too?? No its not cockie. -__-)

  Anyways… The Sanchez-Debuchy_PumaUnveiling cant come soon enough!

• This is a funny blog….. I think I’ll fit in nicely!

  Cockie, it looks as if the geezer has grown a really long beard and then combed it over his head…. I may try that 🙂

• Definitely `69 !. If I can dig out some photos of TMHT ( Stretch as I call him ! ) ) as a adolescent teenager, It will show off his comb forward !, basically he combed his hairy back over his head and shoulders and was the pioneering guinea pig for the major hair product company who now produce ..”Head and Shoulders ! “. If he doesn`t comb it forward, he looks more like a bald caped crusader !. He himself tells a very funny story about Germans and lounging around the swimming pool !.
  Talking of Radio Rental….where`s Fozzy B ?. ( Now that really is one fcuking nut case, but in a nice way ! hahaha )

• TA,

  I popped on to wish you and the Orange Marmalades all the luck — and I do — only to find Glic talking to soixante neuf!!

  That Northbank is like royalty making a Grand Tour to every Arsenal blog in his kingdom. 🙂

  Don’t get taken in with his bragging about his chorizo – it pales by comparison with my salami — but he is a talented artist who paints gorgeous women, so maybe his chorizo isn’t bragging! 🙂

  Come on Holland – you can do it – got to say I have mixed feelings because of Robben and Van Purse – but for you TA, I am rooting for the Netherlands and Cockie is rooting for the Netherregions! 🙂

• Thank you Redders, and fully understood re VJ and Robben. If the Dutch win today, we’ll win the WC, but it is big IF. 🙂

  Catch you after the game.

  Hup holland Hup laat de Leeuw niet in zijn hempie staan, want de Leeuw op voetbalschoenen kan de hele wereld aan!

• The first half has been a bit like a chess match.

  Robben for Holland and Messi for Argentina are being heavily marked.

  It will have to open out in the second half.

• Not sure why Vlaar took a pen and the first pen.

  Sneijder pen saved.

  Holland out and Argentina go through.

  Sorry TA, I did predict Argentina would make it into the final but you guys can go home with you heads held high. Van Gaal took this squad as far as he can and as far as anyone could have in my opinion.

• football wins, beautiful

  finally – at last, about bloody time –

• JB, what do you mean football? Argentina were just like Holland tonight. Both defended at times and both attacked at times.

• World Cup 2014 bulletin (as of 10 July):

  Overall total points won: Adidas
  WC title won (with bragging rights): Adidas (Germany vs Argentina)

  Adidas – 64 pts (Argentina /16, Colombia /12, Mexico /7, Germany /16, Nigeria /4, Russia /2, Japan /1, Spain /3, Bosnia and Herzegovina /3)

  ———-

  Knocked-Out:

  Nike – 53 pts (Brazil /11, Netherlands /14, France /10, United States /4, South Korea /1, Croatia /3, Greece /5, Portugal /4, England /1)

  Puma – 30 pts (Côte d’Ivoire /3, Chile /7, Italy /3, Switzerland /6, Uruguay /6, Ghana /1, Algeria /4)

  Burrda – 12 pts (Belgium /12)

  Lotto – 9 pts (Costa Rica /9)

  Marathon – 4 pts (Ecuador /4)

  Uhlsport – 1 pt (Iran /1)

  =================

  Adidas is the official ball supplier (Adidas Brazuca) of the FIFA World Cup.
  Adidas is also one of FIFA partners (along with Coca-Cola, Emirates, Hyundai–Kia, Sony & VISA)

• Knock me down with a chorizo spicy sausage…. you put yourself about RA don’t you. 🙂

  Just having my first slurp of the day…. her name is Rose and she’s an fruity lttle number with just a hint of anchovy.

• Sorry about the result, TA. 😦

  Could have gone either way – at the penalty stage I must admit that I really did not like the unsporting antics of the Keeper and found myself thinking ‘served you right’.

  RvP was pretty poor and Huntelaar may have been a better option, and let’s face it Robben could have won it except for taking one touch too many – not like him.

• JM,
  You never fail to amaze me with all your knowledge and statistics. 🙂

• Hi Norther,

  Every blog I visit I find you there up to mischief.

  You will certainly enjoy yourself on Bergkamp (BK) and you will fit in very nicely with the Dodgy Three, CockieM, Terry (TMHT) and VCC (Zimmer Frame Man) – they are all potty! 🙂

• RA

  I’ve only just started doing the blog tour…. since starting mine. So far this is definately the one that needs to be interned at Broadmoor 🙂 I’ve also visited AA (that’s Arsenal Arsenal and not Alcoholics Anon) although a visit there may be neccessary soon. ACLF just gets a bit too footbally serious in the afternoons. And PA is always good for a rumble…. but I like George for some strange reason 🙂 but for the moment that’s the scope of my AFC blog world.

• NB,

  There are some really first class bloggers here on BK from all over the world – and then there is Cockie.

  Total Arsenal (TA) the boss on here is a very good friend of mine from our Arsenal Arsenal days, and is probably a bit down today as he is Dutch, and, well ,,,,, you know what happened last night.

  Like on most sites are finding, it is a bit quiet at the mo’ as it is the off season, but it is a great debating forum when we get back to ‘normal’ football. 🙂

• By the way, Northbank, what is the name of your own blogsite?

• Only a few weeks now till the first game of the season against City. I hope we have Sanchez and Debuchy by then?

  My bog is GunnersoreArse.

• Condolences Total on the Orange people going out…

  That was some tough football to watch, but watch I did. Is it true that Holland actually had zero shots on goal? (And Argentina only a couple, easily caught by the keeper…) What’s amazing to me is that nobody is talking about the Higuain goal that was called back for offside. He was completely level with the defender and the finish was just as good as the one which got them past Belgium, if not better… Given that so little occurred from an attacking perspective, I’m just not clear on why the linesman isn’t being taken to task for that one. It would’ve spared us the extra half hour which included the removal of (completely ineffective, unfit?) Robin Van Judas, preventing the introduction of the Toonie keeper who might’ve actually gotten them to the final… Was DeJong (taken off at half-time) also unfit? Might a little bit of Memphis or Hunterlaar from the start have been a better approach? As such, I think we might question more than just Van Gaal’s hair color, but I’m curious what our leader believes…

  The Puma unveiling is this evening (I believe) and maybe it will feature some players including (possibly) some of these guys who are supposed to be signing with the club. We’ve had plenty of outrage about lack of signings (and other clubs getting theirs done)… Could it (finally) be time to get excited about some business being done or must we worry that we’ve gotten the wrong guy(s) or downplay expectations because, you know, signing players (spending money) is only one part of building a winning squad?…

  Just asking… (and my hunch is that no matter what actually happens people are pretty set in their ways. The glass is either half empty or half full, depending on perspective)… but I am curious if people are feeling any better (or worse)…

• 17,

  The Higuain ‘goal’ was not a goal – he hit the side netting, so the offside, or not, call was somewhat irrelevant.

  Maybe that is why no one was bothered?

  Glasses? 🙂

• I agree that RvP was simply not at the races last night, as I said this morning, but then too many of the Dutchmen were not really showing their true ability.
  But don’t forget a couple of them, including Vlaar (who actually played quite well) play for second rate clubs in the EPL.

  De Jong has been suffering from a hamstring injury and was not fully fit, so Van Gaal took a gamble to match Argentina’s physicality, but he just could not last.

  Krul has only saved 2 penalties out of 20 (?) in the last 4 years, according to some reports, and his regrettable delaying antics in the penalty shoot out in the quarter finals was distasteful, and the other keeper tried the same malarkey, unsuccessfully, last night, and I do not think it should be allowed by these weak referees.

  As for the possible unveiling of the new Puma shirts with a new signing or two, I think it would be better to wait until Sánchez & co. have signed on the dotted line before the Whingers start to complain.

• Hi 17…what a bore that game was, I gave up at 90 mins, neither side wanted to commit themselves and push for a goal. I sympathise with our leader, it is terrible to lose on penalties.

  Van Judas and the cheat looked spent and had nothing left in them.

  The Netherlands are undoubtedly the best footballing country never to have won the world cup. Their team in the seventies oozed class. I’m always surprised when the media talk about “The Greatest” footballer ever……it’s always Pele/Di-Stefano/Maradona…………….Cruyff’s name never comes up. He must run those guys close, he was one of the best I’ve seen.

  What an injustice the Oranje men have never won the thing. Their names still roll off my tongue…..Cruyff….Johnny Rep…..Resenbrink…..Neeskins…Arie Haan…..Rudi Krol……I’m getting goose bumps just typing their names. TOTAL football.

  The launch of our new kit today has brought leaks of Sanchez’s name has been seen on the back of one at the Emirates???????????? wonder if this is true or just another far fetched media story???????

  We will see later today I guess.

• You have mail TA. 🙂

• should have put…..”The Seventy’s team” oops.

• Hi VCC,

  Your original use of “Their team in the seventies oozed class.’ was just right if you ask me?
  But then you didn’t! 🙂

  Of course, “their seventies’ team etc” works too. But I know nuzzink! 😉

  Hope you are well?

• Haha, RA… It (the Higuain side-netting) looked good to me, even on the replays…Now I understand… :ashamed red face: Maybe it was because I was almost drifting off, despite my early tea…

  Also, agreed about waiting for official confirmation re: signings but I think Arsenal may be turning a corner on this stuff. It’s possible that Barca need the cash to do their deal for the toothy fellow–And cash is something EVERYBODY knows we’ve got… 😉

  The thing about Sanchez (and I repeat myself here) is that he was Pep’s big signing that same summer they got Cesc and he was just as big a “flop.” Cules were shocked by Cesc’s lack of pace (he looked fast playing in England, maybe…) but they were also shocked by Alexis’ lack of decisiveness and confidence in front of goal. Of course, that was three seasons ago and he was quite young. Barca is a big stage but many felt–with Pedro–that they already had a young guy who was just as good. Now, with Neymar (and, ostensibly, Suarez… not to mention Iniesta and, of course, Messi…) there just isn’t enough ball for all of them…

  Alexis *should* fit us to a tee and be the guy to replace Gervinho and spell Theo and the Ox. Many who underrate Santi Cazorla (and/or Lucas Poldolski) might hope that he becomes our regular on the left. Given that Theo is talking about not rushing his return I think Sanchez will start out on the right wing, with Santi retaining his spot. As always, however, (WTF) do I know… and, of course, we may dawdle and the announcement (tonight) might come from Rodgers up at Anfield…

  Regardless of which English team lands him, I would caution that he may spurn a few (glorious) chances and he may take some time finding (or keeping) his feet in the English game (which allows a whole lot more contact in the box and tolerates a whole lot less going too easily to ground)…

  Consider me excited, however… 🙂

• 17,

  Stop it!! You are drawing me out – and I has promised myself that I would keep my opinions to myself. 🙂

  What I have seen of Sánchez is that he seemed to be a mirror image of Theo. That is to say fast, direct and lacking a little in subtlety. If the transfer goes ahead and Theo comes back as fast as ever, I think they will change the ethos of the team, which has been sluggish and without an ‘out’ ball to a speed merchant. [Theo always seems to be injured for half the season.]

  As long as the fans understand that his prime asset is speed, then all will be well. If however they are expecting a ‘goal machine’ then they will be disappointed.
  We really do still need a backup CF, otherwise it may turn out to be same same.

  Now, when I am proved to be talking bollix, the others will be able to say what a faint hearted dude I have been – and I will never forgive you!! 🙂

• has – have.

  Apple predictive text can be soooo wrong!! 🙂

• You put it very well, RA… Here’s even a more cynical view… Imagine Theo if he could stay fit AND if he took an occasional (Rooney or Gerrard style) dive…

  My view on Alexis Sanchez is a guy who knows how to protect his (small) body by diving–to avoid injury but also to embellish contact. Unfortunately, IMO, he might be better at this element of the game than in scoring or making the key pass. One thing about those South Americans (and I know that I shouldn’t generalize…) is that they show a LOT of commitment when it comes to making the most out of contact. Because he’s so quick, Alexis beats a lot of defenders to the play (or the ball)… Backing off is probably the best way to defend against him, but that’s not the *English* style… If he’s ours (and I hope he is…) he’ll need to stay on the good side of the refs while inducing the galoots (up and down the league) into fouling him while, of course, working AWAY from always looking for the foul… Great teammates who’ve spent plenty of time in Spain (Santi, Ozil) *should* help with the transition…

  To me, it’s an exciting signing but I kinda agree that another finisher is also needed…Does Remy fit the bill?…Or will the hope be youngsters like Campbell and Yaya S?….

• 17,

  Well with the 25 man squad rule, of whom 8 must be Home Grown, I suspect that if we buy more than 3 non-home-grown players there will also possibly have to be some players going out too, so that must be in Wenger’s thoughts when appraising who he buys.

• RA, true dat (as we say)… Tell me what (or who) I’m missing…

  Ramsey, Wilshere, Theo, Ox, Jenkinson, Szcz, Gibbs = Homegrown. That’s only 7… So, unless we buy another homegrown player we may only carry 24 (plus U-21s)

  That leaves 17 spots…

  From front to back…

  Giroud, Poldolski, Yaya S., Sanchez, (New Striker or Campbell who just turned 22) = 5

  Santi, Ozil, Arteta, Flamini, Rosicky, Diaby (New DM) = 7

  Monreal, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen, (Debuchy) = 5

  So….That’s 17 but it doesn’t include a back-up keeper nor a 4th CB. What it says to me is that Campbell or Yaya (or both) may have to go out on loan if we want a ready-made back-up striker and a (non-English) keeper or CB. Or, as you suggest, some on the list might have to be sold…

  Hmmmm…..

• 17, in my opinion we keep Yaya and Campbell. Get rid of Diaby and bring in one of my keeper targets. 😉

• Dylan…..I think if Wenger does eventually buy Sanchez he will put either Campbell or Sanogo out on loan.

  I still haven’t given up on a cheap £8 mil Remy. 🙂

• Hey Dylan… Looking forward to your article about DMs… I’m a big fan of (unlucky) Diaby…(the very best of ALL the French players in the last World Cup, IMVHO…) but I can also see the wisdom in maintaining an unsentimental view of all players. What does a horse get when he pulls up lame…a bullet, right?… As such, I’m guessing that you didn’t include him in your discussion of who might play towards the back of our defense… 😉

  Looking back at my list and doing a little research (and assuming I’m not missing anybody or wrong about how the b-days work)… I think Yaya can be included as an U-21. He turns 22 in January… (Research also shows that Serge Gnabry only turns 19 on Monday!) Campbell just turned 22 but certainly has a ton of momentum coming in from the WC (and that strike vs ManU in Greece) but I wonder if Wenger might opt for a more proven scorer (i.e., Remy)… Maybe it depends on everybody’s fitness come the transfer deadline… There are some decent English keepers we could get to play behind Sir Chezney but people seem to favor the bigger name veterans…

  These roster limits do seem a bit of a bother which is why another important longer term step is getting the youth academy in better shape. (It’s also considered a write-off in the FFP accounting, I think, but maybe the accountant types can explain it better)… As such, I would expect a little Ignasi Miquel in the squad (not just welcoming Alexis Sanchez in the papers)…and maybe some Isaac Hayden at least in the league cup. Gerry, paging Gerry, for a report on the WC semis and his take on who might get some playing time and augment the team from the youth set-up in the upcoming season…

• Evening gents 🙂

  Holland are out but I am proud of them. Two SQ players – Robben and De Jong – and a bunch of good to average ones and never got beaten, reaching the semis. Redders is spot on about Van Judas and he could have added Sneijder. Just did not do enough to support Robben.

  JB, that what a disappointed comment, matey. It shows you lack both football knowledge and empathy. I expected better of you. 😦

  Cheers Dylan, will publish later tonight. 🙂

• Possible GK targets which would be homegrown.

  1. John Ruddy. 27 years of age. Value according to Transfermarkt is £3.96 million.

  2. Ben Foster. 31 years of age. Value according to Transfermarkt is £3.52 million.

  3.Alex McCarthy. 24 years of age. Value according to Transfermarkt is £1.76 million.

  I cannot see us signing David Marshall or Fraser Forster.

  Fraser Forster would cost a lot of money as Celtic have no reason to sell, he might be tempted to a move to a big club but only if he is 1st choice GK (IMO) as he is ready to make the step up and be a 1st choice GK for a big club.

  David Marshall would be very expensive for a GK. We were told to pay £12 million for him by Cardiff City. I think we could get him for around £10 million. He would cost a lot and would give us more freedom to sign players which are not homegrown in more important positions but I still see Wenger signing him. He is 29 and could play for us for many years. Personally I would go for it. He is expensive but he is homegrown and the price of homegrown players are generally inflated.

• Evening Oranje Orangutan Orifice Oglers !.

  Shame Holland lost out, but more confused as to why the Oranje turned Red !….what was that about ?.
  Long drive today, but have been in touch with my sources and there`s a strong possibility of an announcement tonight on ………………………. http://www.enca.com/live-arsenal-unveil-201415-trilogy-kit……….just over 3 hours to go !

  It`s at a secret location and Arsend Wonga will be there !….who knows may be a Sanchez as well !.
  Mind you my sources are the like of…….
  My Raging Boner .Com
  Mutilate My Red Member . Com
  TERRY MANCINI`S TORTURED TESTICLE.COM

• Possible CB targets which would be homegrown.

  1. Chris Smalling. 24 years of age. Value according to Transfermarkt is £10.56 million.

  If Vermaelen wants to go to Manchester United we could ask for Chris Smalling in return.

  2. Ryan Shawcross. 26 years of age. Value according to Transfermarkt is £7.92 million.

  I know he broke Ramsey’s leg and there controversy over whether Shawcross has apologised properly for breaking his leg. I think Shawcross has apologised and Ramsey has said he has no problem playing with him for Wales.

  3. Steven Caulker. 22 years of age. Value according to Transfermarkt is £6.60 million.

  Steven Caulker is very close to sealing a move to QPR this week. There is still time for us to hijack this deal if we move quickly.

• Hi TA,

  You are spot on with your attitude. Holland were terrific for most of the tournament.

  Perhaps it was nerves, but although they should and could have skinned Argentina in my opinion, they just could not spark like they usually do. Big surprise to me!

  I dislike Robben (and I don’t know why really – diving?) but he is a fantastic player and when he was through on goal near the end, I would have put big money on him to score and put Holland through.

  One touch too many (and that is unlike him) and that creepy Mascherano pulled off a brilliant interception. As we both know, that’s football, and fairness does not come into it I suppose.

  It looks like most people want Germany to win on Sunday – but you never know, perhaps lightning can strike twice??

  Anyway, glad to see you taking it so well!! 🙂

• Also on Arsenal.com !.

  http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20140710/puma-arsenal-kit-launch-watch-it-live-

• Question is……..is Totes more pissed off with Holland losing the WC semi or Arsenal losing the Carling Cup Final against Burntmingeham ?. Where`s your loyalties Totes ?.
  We know Holland deserve to win it at some time more than any team, but how long will they be known as the Netherwinitlands ?……….it could be worse, he could be an England supporter!……..then again, I don’t get upset as I expect us to be shit and they never disappoint me on that account !.

• AFC……Shawcross has one England cap !.

• Been confirmed Sanchez has signed on a long term……

• http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20140710/alexis-sanchez-agrees-to-join-arsenal

• It’s officiail!
  http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20140710/alexis-sanchez-agrees-to-join-arsenal

• BOINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

• Doesn’t really matter Cockie. Richards doesn’t have many of any England caps and he is a quality RB.

  Smalling and Caulker would my preferences though.

• Another significant day for the Arse!

• Hopefully we get Khedira as well and then sign a top ST (not Remy). Then AW can focus on getting another GK and reinforcing the CB area.

• I must say that Sanchez has an uncanny resemblance to TMHT`s illegal Filipino rent boy, Domingo !.
  Can Stretch confirm the whereabouts of Domingo as he has micro chipped his testicles !.

• Sanchez and Walcott on the wings. That is pace, goals and assists. Surely we will make the switch back to a 4-2-1-3 formation.

  Anyone think Walcott and Sanchez could replicate the Suarez and Sturridge combo at Liverpool if we play them up front together?

• My chorizo just split my red and white thong and creamed all over my collection of barbie dolls 🙂

• BOING! frank-further just hit me hard under the chin! Sanchez is a big, big signing for us. He impressed me so much during the World Cup and he offers so much variety upfront. Even 4-6-0 is possible now!

• Yessssss get in there , go on my son!
  Sanchez joins AFC ON A LONG TERM CONTRACT

• Great news TA, Cockie, AFC, Dylan.
  That is the 1 we really needed 🙂
  Next season should be a really good 1.

• SANCHEZ is a Gooner dadadada Sanchez is a Gooner dadadada.

• So is the Puma unveiling going to be in Brazil tonight with Sanchez next to Wenger?

• Absolutly delighted. Sanchez is a great buy

  Not happy for myself, ime always happy about Arsenal. Pleased for you grumpy gits who are always moaning about lack of spending. hahaha

• PG, Sanchez is a quality signing. He is only 25 as well. Can you imagine Arsenal when the likes of Ozil, Sanchez, Walcott, Ramsey etc, are all it their peak as they get older and more experienced. We will dominate Europe!

• Yes Redders, one touch too many. I also thought he was going to score….. Argentina were very well structured and the two DMs were superb. Argentina just edged it despite not producing many good chances. The pens were a bit of a shambles but I knew we would not get through. So yes, I have peace with it, and the good thing is that the many youngsters in the team have gained invaluable experience. 🙂

• Now let’s get a qual DM and I will start forgetting about our ex EL Capitan! 🙂

• Hear hear TA. Khedira would be a brilliant signing. He is not a purely defensive players but he is very experienced and cam do it all. A combo of Khedira and Ramsey would be the best double pivot on the league.

• Can*
  In*

• AFC,
  I agree with what you said, it is a massive signing for us.
  It has made Arsenal a very attractive team to join now with the likes of Sanchez, Ozil, Rambo, Theo, Joel Cambell. Giroud has not hit his peak yet but will soon.
  We also have options up front now and a great set of up and comings

• Yep Khadera would be amazing, but why would RM let him go?

• TA, Real have just signed Kroos from Bayern. Di Maria has been converted to a CM and Real have a lot of options in midfield. Reports are also saying Khedira has rejected a new contract offer and we want to sign him but wages are an issue. He is on around £150k a week at Real.

• For years all our rivals have been getting a boost when seeing a SQ signing comes in the dressing room while we have been losing ours, we hada boost when Ozil signed now we have another after a good season. Things are looking up. I am really happy for Wenger, he deserves to get the players he wants.

• TA,
  Sami K would be an awesome signing, Ozil and him are really close to, we would have half the German team lining up for us lol
  With Sanchez , Theo and Rambo etc backing them up.!
  We can expect a keeper for sure too, we are still in the window for 2 more players you would think 🙂

• This is definitely a big day for Gooners everywhere. Ozil, FA Cup, a hat-trick of smashing Spurs, Alexis Sanchez …. these are looking like good days for the club. Kudos to Arsene for building the club on such solid foundations so that we can compete with Europe’s elite and get these absolute class players.

  Next up a DM and then a lightning fast striker or winger. I agree with you pg that Khedira would be ideal from what we’ve seen in the WC and he would fit in nicely in terms of team spirit.

• AFC, sounds good, but if money is his main motivator I cannot see him coming to us.

• This seems like very good news, indeed… Like I’ve been trying to say…of the two, I think Cesc is the more familiar, more sentimentally appealing of the Barca rejects, but Sanchez is the more exciting and more suitable for our current needs…

  Khedira, I thought, was looking for similar money to Ozil and Sanchez, so it would seem possible. Reports also suggest that we’re revisiting the possibility of Lars Bender. Cheaper still and with the French connection would be Morgan Schneiderlin… But maybe all of this is discussed in Dylan’s soon to be released article.

  DoubleDavy, I think Sanchez IS the lightning fast winger/striker you want, unless you want a 2nd one (or a third, assuming Theo remains a Gunner). We cannot buy every player out there, I don’t think… You are the champion of the fantasy league, so who am I to argue, however… 🙂 Such an additional purchase would spell the end for Santi or Poldolski, I’m guessing, and with both of them on sizable money, I don’t quite see it happening… Agreed, however, that the manager might come in for some kudos on this one…

• No (Brazil) 1-7 (Germany) Highburyterrorist !……….kudos to me for wanting Sanchez when he was at Udinese !. I always spot the potential long before Arsend Wonga !…..he needs to listen to Cockie !. hahaha

  Warning to Arsend !…….don’t think you can satisfy the likes of me with just one SQ player !. You are fcuking loaded, remember !……. Gooner ledge Perry Groves told us you have £200/220M under the mattress, so I`ve got my beady one eyed monster keeping you under scrutiny !.
  Unlike Stretch, I`m not infatuated with you and unlike him, don’t have a Wenger full size blow-up doll with pump action penis !.
  Not bothered with the goalies, but a DM Beast for my mate Totes is on the list !.

• T minus 10 mins to kit launch !

• Here`s the link in case any of you bastardos missed it !.
  http://www.enca.com/live-arsenal-unveil-201415-trilogy-kit
  Now 8 mins to launch !

• Oi Totes !…….why the red kit last night ?.

• sorry skipper, I have nothing against Holland – just that whenever I see Holland play and Van Gaal’s tactics, it’s more or less like watching Jose.Moron’s team play – and I am dreading Arsenal vs Man utd already for next season .

  but allow me to put my personal bias both towards your dutch manager and van pussy to one side –

  you did extremely well getting to the semis and I congratulate you – Shakes hands like a true gent !

  AFC – where have you been mate ? I bet you must have been sleeping through most of the Netherland matches ahahahahahahahahhahaha

  on a more serious note – just imagine if Holland won the world cup by playing like that ? don’t you think it would have been bad for the game ? it would have been in the same category as Greece winning the Euros a decade or so ago and then teams trying to emulate that blue print – am not a fan of that at all.

  not so sure why everyone is so excited about the Sanchez signing 😀 the next signing is the icing on cake 😉

• 17, you’re right of course. Last season we looked slow when we had Theo, Ox, Gnabry and Aaron all unavailable through injury, but then with better luck and also Joel coming in we should have plenty of cover this time round. Which means that our quality DM is the priority.

  Some nice-looking kit in this Puma launch..

• http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/jul/10/alexis-sanchez-arsenal-?

• Fcuk !……that was a bit of a let down !…..it was supposed to be for about 30 mins !……So that`s why it was done at night !………Arsene looked like what I`ve always said…..a Sith Lord being projected from the River Thames !. hahaha

• cheers for that guardian link @ skipper

  do you still feel let down by AW for not re-signing Cesc or has the Sanchez Signing won you over ? 🙂

• Sorry guys, no time to issue Dylan’s post tonight. Will come out in morning.

  Sweet Sanchez dreams! 🙂

• yeah it was but it was nice and to the point though after the initial 30 minute build up @ Glics

• TA and all,

  Been busy but did see Germany, and like anything German, it was efficient, as I only had to spend 28 mins watching the game instead of the usual 90+. Anyway, quick comments:

  a. Sanchez! And apparently Debuchy — both great signings for us, and one SQ, and one who seems just as good but younger than Sagna (who I wished had stayed but…)… So, if we rant about slow TWs and AW, then we must now admit, so far, so bloody good!

  b. Sanchez, the right kind of striker to really free up Ozil (pace, power, clinical) … At least until Orcs or is it CP now for Pulis, chop him down (yikes! something to make me hide behind CMs couch).

  c. I think / hope / pray we will get Khedira or Schneiderlin…

  Then of course we would have my 4 main missing things from long ago post.. in order now,

  a. new trainer
  b. ST, pref SQ if possible
  c. DM of true or near SQ level
  d. Replacement for Sagna (who hadn’t left when I wrote it so it was down the list)

  Is jgc-damus back?? I certainly cant complain that AW has got 3 of 4 done… let alone before mid-July!!!

  cheers — jgc

• Sanchez will wear the no.17 shirt which is Monreal’s number. Could he be on his way out?

  JB, no disrespect to TA and Holland but a lot of the Dutch players were bang average. I am referring to the every player apart from RVP, Robben, De Jong and Sneijder. In comparison to other nations those players (apart from the four mentioned above and maybe Depay) would not even have made the squads of the other top nations.

  Only a stupid or naive manager would have a squad of such players and go and tell them to attack and play football without fear. Could you imagine what would have happened if Van Gaal did tell his team to do that? They would have been knocked out of the WC ages before and probably would not have made it out of the group and probably would have received an ass-whooping.

  Van Gaal was spot on with his approach to the games which was to be cautious, defend first and foremost and attack and play football when you can, in my opinion. He got his tactics, systems and formations spot on. The Dutch were more than happy to attack, when they thought it was safe to hence the 5-1 demolition of current WC champions Spain. Van Gaal highlighted just how important tactics, systems and formations can be to a team’s success and anyone doubting that should take a look at Van Gaal, Mourinho and the other great tacticians out there.

  The difference between Van Gaal and the likes of Mourinho is that he can mix it up. Van Gaal can get his teams playing total football and can get his teams playing a more cautious counter-attacking game when appropriate. That’s what a great manager can do. It seems to me that Van Gaal has a plan a, a plan b, c, d all the way to z. He knows the limitations and strengths of his teams and what they are and are not capable of.

  It takes great discipline for a team to play as Holland did. Greece were different. Greece were looking to sit, defend and try and get a goal by luck or win on penalties and did not intend to attack? Holland were looking to attack when they could and when it was safe to, while maintaining a solid shape when defending and not having possession? That is very different. One is counter-attacking football and the other is anti-football. Greece were playing anti-football and Holland were playing counter-attacking football.

• AFC

  IMO, the dutch had better players than that, but what is critical in a world cup is that your squads players do one and only one thing, and that is play well. By which I mean, play above or at top of their game. You want to see players exceeding themselves in these situations. By my look, barring game 1, they didnt do that…. Equally, as a USA fan, I can say I am very pleased with the cup as they did play well almost to a player..

  That said, if you aren’t playing that well, then the next best thing is to keep it simple!

  cheers — jgc

• New jersey numbers (till date):

  No.3 Kieran Gibbs
  No.17 Alexis Sánchez
  No.18 Nacho Monreal
  No.27 Serge Gnabry

  (No.2) (incoming) (Mathieu Debuchy)

  No.13, No.21, No.23, No.26 to be accounted for. (At least one of the numbers is reserved for new GK)

• AFC,

  how man SQ players did Argentina have for the semis ? ? ? ? ?

  I am going to disagree with you entirely there – you are talking about The Netherlands there, the home and pioneer’s of sexy footy – the finalists in 2010 and the squad was at the right age with a blend of both experience and youth.

  talk about teams like Algeria, USA, Colombia or Costa Rica even doing what they did with an “average Squad” playing like a team and playing more entertaining, free flowing football than the mighty dutch.

  it’s a difference of opinion and using different specs – I don’t intend or mean to slay into their tactics more as their journey came to an end – so let’s just get behind the team who plays the best football and puts on the show .

  however, am not too sure what you are on about with Greece – they won the Euros playing exactly the same – you might be getting confused on their approach in this world cup as opposed to how they won it back in the day when TMHT still had them long silky hair !

• JGC-Damus has said all that needed to be said !!! – brilliant

  17HT – Coquelin also comes under the “home grown” thingy 😉

  Gerry seems to have gone missing these days ?

• 007, You’re a better man than I… I get a little sensitive if people cop an attitude about my “football knowledge”… On the other hand, I thought a ball into the side netting was a goal in that match…

  🙂

  I’m dying to know what the sauce is saying about the “icing on the cake” signing… But maybe that has to wait until Dylan’s post on DMs…

  Also, what’s all this piling on the praise for the ManU manager (and even a bit for the Chelsea manager)?… It seemed to me that Van Gaal maybe erred by playing half fit players (De Jong and RvP) and messing with the confidence of his keepers with the switch for pens in one match but not the other… Also, wasn’t there a chance to maybe nick the win in regulation, so maybe a little Memphis at the 75th min or Huntelaar for RvP?… If we’re gonna rake Wenger over the coals for every last decision, perhaps the ManU guy should come in for the same treatment, I would think, esp. on an (ostensibly) pro-Arsenal site…

  But that’s just me and I guess I’m enjoying AW using his influence to lure targets our way while getting the business done on an accelerated schedule. It may be just our long term economic “strangulation” strategy, (and the “money in the bank”) but I think the respect the man generates (in some circles at least…) also plays a part…

  Obviously (like Terry) I’ll be behind the team no matter what, but I do feel we’re on a bit of a roll so I (too) can’t help but feel the greed and want just that bit more…. Or maybe it’s you lot of greedy fcukers who are pumping up my expectations… 🙂 Exciting times, I think…

• Yes!!!!!!!

  what a massive signing! The great thing about both he and Ozil is they haven’t peaked yet. The best is yet to come.

  Everyone can thank me because Arsene has clearly been looking over my FIFA team for the past few years. The following are always transferred to my team:

  – Ozil
  – Sanchez
  – Flamini

  Only ones left are:

  Hummels and Reus. Sort it out Arsene.

  What a glorious day!!!!

• AFC, your last comment is a gem. I could not have said it better; you will go far! 🙂

• Morning all on BK

  If i’d had a woman next to me when I woke up this morning she would have got a hell of a seeing to, thank you Alexis Sanchez for making an elderly man very happy. 🙂

• 17,

  Van Gaal brought on Huntelaar to win the match, or did you forget about that? He would and should have had brought on Krul, IF he still a substitution left. It is a matter of simple maths. If you cannot see how much Van Gaal did with this squad to get to the semis then yes I will question your football knowledge as well. How far do you think your hero would have gone with this squad? Reality sucks. 🙂

• Oz, good to see you are still alive. 🙂

• Geoff, those players played at their best, bar Van Pudsie, who did not disappoint to disappoint. Sneijder is simply a limited player with a few world class skills; the rest did phenomenally well given their experience and talents, and that is Van Gaal for you.

• New Post New Post! 🙂

  Dylan talks sense and, like AFC, for such a young guy incredibly so. Enjoy! 🙂

• That is what I do not get. Geoff I though the Dutch players played at their best. The players apart from the ones I mentioned above were average. They would all play for bottom of the table clubs if they were in the EPL?

  Van Persie could have done better in this tournament but so could have other top players at the WC such as Rooney, Ronaldo and even Messi.

• You are spot on AFC. There are youngsters in there who have potential to become big… but Van Gaal raised their levels incredibly high during the tournament. He even made Vlaar look like the best CB in the tournament…. Respect for that, whether I am Dutch or not.