This will have to be quick since I got up late today and there’s a number of stories today I want to make at least a ‘placeholder’ type comment on.
Billy Bob Neck
It turns out that yesterday’s late afternoon video post is the work of a small time comedian. The character he’s created is called Billy Bob Neck and you can check out more of his work at his website or his YouTube Video. Normally, I can suss these things out very quickly but yesterday I got caught up in the “OH GOD THIS IS HILARIOUS I NEED TO POST IT NOW” fever.
Apologies to all the rednecks I offended.
Howard Webb
Congrats to Howard Webb and his crew, that the crew is selected is always overlooked, for being chosen to referee the World Cup final between Holland and Spain this Sunday. Everyone will be watching and that means that Webb will be on his level best. I expect he will have a great game because he is a quality referee — you simply don’t get chosen at that level unless you are the best.
The only question for me is: will he allow De Jong and Van Bommel to wreck Spain the same way he let Liam Ridgewell and Craig Gardner break legs when Arsenal faced Birmingham in March? Will he give Busquets a 16th minute yellow card for a soft foul like he did against Song in that same match? Will he allow Holland to score an offside goal in the 90th minute to stun Spain? Will he give late penalties as he’s done all season?
For some things I suspect the answer is yes and others no. He’s been the second quickest ref to pull a yellow in the World Cup. This fits his EPL refereeing style, where he likes to give an early yellow to announce to the players that he’s the one in charge. Look for one of the defensive midfielders to get in the book early on Sunday.
But the big question is will he let van Bommell get away with some of the stuff he’s been getting away with in this World Cup? After all, Holland are facing a more technically adept team and they will need to use their physicality to win, right? Webb is well known to be liberal in his approach to physical play, so it’s a question for me. Is he just like that, or is it something he has control over?
We’ll find out on Sunday!
Sol Campbell
Whatever team he goes to, we should let Sol go in peace this time. He’s an older player and while I wish he would stay on with us if Sunderland are offering him a multiple year contract we should wish him well and just appreciate the fact that we had him in our team for one last year.
Speaking of Sunderland
Lorik Cana leaves for Galatasaray after just one year at Sunderland? I didn’t see that coming, did you?
Ibra to City to fund Cesc to Barca?
I’ve seen this story and I suspect this is Sandroll Rosell trying to show that Barca have the money to buy Cesc. Don’t get me wrong, Ibrahimovich is probably out the door given the arrival of Villa, but City aren’t interested. At least not while they are openly courting Eden Dzeko.
This all raises several questions for me; with their crazy spending spree bringing in more and more foreign talent how on earth will City be able to field a team with 8 “homegrown” players? How much are they willing to give Barca for their failures? Why would they want to fund Barcelona’s Champions League success?
Hmmm….
Escape from Alcaraz
Interesting little blurb popped up about Paraguayan defender Antolin Alcaraz; he looked set to join Wigan but has balked after “several” other English teams showed an interest. In all likelihood this is just his agent looking for a better deal from Wigan on the back of several very good World Cup displays, still I wonder what my Paraguayan readers think. Could he make the jump to a big team?
With Sol going to Sunderland, what’s our options to fill out the rotation?
Are we in need of English players to fill out our quotient? With Upson not signing at West Ham is he an option (not one I’d personally care for, I think he’s a bit cement footed). Gary Cahill in exchange for another Wilshere loan spell is an idea I’d be more open too.
But with Wenger spending 10 million already, I find it hard to believe he’s going to spend another 10 million or so on another single player… so for me, it’s got Halliche written all over it. 23, 6’1″, 170lbs, 3 million fee.
Looks like we might be building a cookie-cutter defense with three clones in Vermalaen, Koscielny and, if it happens, Halliche.
Joe Reply:
July 9th, 2010 at 11:54 pm
@Brahmabull, No. The quota is home-grown players, which include:
Mannone
Clichy
Djourou
Gibbs
Traore
Cesc
Denil
Ramsey
Jack
Vela
Walcott
Bendtner
Song
+ Reserves
Finally. Well. Re: Alcaraz, the strongest rumour over here, is that Inter is the one interested in signing him. I rate him very highly. If he can overcame the language barrier, he can slot right away in ANY team. Good with the ball, good in the air, good timing, interceptions and reading of plays. (Check his goal vs. Italy).
I mean… if the Upsons, Hangelands, Vidics, Carvalhos and the like can play EPL football, Antolin definetely can.
Joe Reply:
July 9th, 2010 at 11:55 pm
@Yan, Brugge confirmed he’s signed with Wigan
Tim, what was your reaction to all the Handanovic rumors surfacing today? I reckon that was plucked straight from your blog, it seems to happen all the time with the press. No quotes, no substance just something to interest Arsenal readers…
Tim Reply:
July 9th, 2010 at 1:32 pm
I just had a chance to look at the article on sky sports and you’re right, they don’t even bother saying that an anonymous source told them such and such — just “the Gunners could now switch their focus to Handanovic as an alternative.”
It’s interesting to me because Sky is owned by Murdoch who owns The Scum, I mean The Sun, who are going to start charging for content. If that happens, maybe I should start charging places like Sky for my commentary.
I personally think that Felipe Melo is the most likely new arrival with Alex Song doubling as cover for both Melo and the centre-backs we already have.
Cahill would be a brilliant signing, whereas Matthew Upson would not. In fact, he’s right up there with Shaun Wright-Phillips and Eduardo (Portuguese ‘keeper) in the transfers I pray don’t come true.
Brahmabull Reply:
July 9th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
Song is not going back to the bench. Never ever. Melo and Song would get paired up in a new(er)4-2-3-1 set-up with those two holding the midfield behind Arshavin/Cesc/Nasri.
Yan Reply:
July 9th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
@Brahmabull, Yes….4-2-3-1 Please.
Jay-Jay Reply:
July 10th, 2010 at 4:25 am
Have to admit, I really like the idea of a 4-2-3-1 formation being employed.
i think a defensive player with the right experience to tie us over could be Arne Friedrich,he did alright for the germans
JV Mauer Reply:
July 9th, 2010 at 9:19 pm
@RichieGooner, Can’t be Arne. He just signed a three-year deal with Wolfsburg about a week and a half ago. I think Hertha really screwed the pooch on that one. He was willing to go down to the 2nd Bundesliga with them, but they decided to sell him on anyway. I’m none too hopeful that Hertha will bounce back now.
Would love Sol to stay as we have no experience or leadership at the back, leadership being the key word here. A combination of Halliche, Vermaelen, Djourou and Laurent, paired with Almunia and Fabianski hardly inspires my confidence.
Having said that, Sol needs to make up his F***ing mind so we can go get another experienced defender ( does not have to be a starter) if needs be. Incoming players should be signed sealed and delivered now so they have the additional time to practice with the squad.
I don’t care if we get Scwarzer, Hart or Handanovic, just get someone better than Almunia or start Wojo. Iker Cassilas and Valdez were starters at Real and Barcelona at age 18.
@ Brahmabul,
Walcott, Cesc, Djourou, Clichy, Gibbs, Traore, Wilshire, Mannone, Ramsey, Eastmond and Bendtner are definitely all considered to be home grown. Wojo will meet that criteria next year. I think Diaby and Denilson may be also.
Ergo, we have no problems meeting that quota.
Joe Reply:
July 9th, 2010 at 11:57 pm
@Caribkid69, Denil is, Diaby isn’t, but Song is!