By Tony Attwood
I guess for many of us who just go and watch the under 23s occasionally through the season, the appointment of Freddie Ljungberg to first team duties as a coach was a bit of a surprise. Not because Freddie is not a good coach and a man who is totally Arsenal orientated, but because it was not signposted in any way.
Arsenal did well in the under 23 league last season, but the under 23s are a bit of a strange squad. Arsenal tend to pack their team with players well under 23, plus giving games to one or two older players who are returning from injury and need a few matches before getting back into the first team squad.
And it is interesting that the top six of the Premier League do not automatically dominate the under 23 league. Manchester United were not even in what is called PL2 this past season – nor will they be again next season. They came sixth in the second division, behind such luminaries as Reading.
Here is last season’s table for PL2 – the first division of the under 23 league with the five of the top six of last season’s PL league highlighted.
| Pos | Club |
P
|
W |
D
|
L
|
F | A | GD |
Pts
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Everton | 22 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 31 | 14 | 17 | 41 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 22 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 48 | 36 | 12 | 37 |
| 3 | Brighton and Hove Albion | 22 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 37 | 27 | 10 | 35 |
| 4 | Liverpool | 22 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 38 | 27 | 11 | 34 |
| 5 | Blackburn Rovers | 22 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 38 | 37 | 1 | 31 |
| 6 | Chelsea | 22 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 34 | 33 | 1 | 31 |
| 7 | Derby County | 22 | 9 | 3 | 10 | 29 | 34 | -5 | 30 |
| 8 | Manchester City | 22 | 9 | 3 | 10 | 38 | 48 | -10 | 30 |
| 9 | Tottenham Hotspur | 22 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 26 | 38 | -12 | 28 |
| 10 | Leicester City | 22 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 24 | 33 | -9 | 27 |
| 11 | West Ham United | 22 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 41 | 43 | -2 | 26 |
| 12 | Swansea City | 22 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 28 | 42 | -14 | 16 |
So we saw the start of this new approach last year with Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe on loan in Germany. had loan spells in Germany. Now the whole programme is sorted out, with Freddie moving into his new role, we can hope for more players to move up from the under 23s to playing in the first team squad. And we need this, not least because of the owner’s stated intent to limit the amount of money the club can take from the annual profits and spend on transfers. The profits, it is clear, are for the owner, not the club.
So it is worth having a look at the leading players from last season who might now step up.
Have all these “past Arsenal players” obtained their coaching badges?
We know of their quality as former players of course, but not of their ability as teachers, able to convey the art of tuition to their charges. 😎
Okay. If Chelsea are looking to have devised a contingency plan to put in place that will allow them able to successfully cope with playing in all competitions next season in anticipation of being banned for 2 windows without signing any senior player for the Blues, Arsenal who are not under the threat of any transfer window ban like Chelsea are, but are suffering from inadequate transfer kitty this summer should likewise device a way too that will make them to successfully cope with incoming transfers for the Gunners this summer with the reported £45m that is allowed the club to sign players this summer without jeopardizing the club’s ambitions to finish in the top-four places in the PL and also win titles for the club next season I will say.
Despite that Stan Kroenke has told the Arsenal board to not spend more than £45m out of the net profit the club has made last season, I think the Board should appeal to him to further give the club an additional transfer kitty this summer. Like to say half of the £45m he has approved for the club to spend on incoming transfers this summer which if he approves the additional one so requested for by the Board will bring the total incoming transfers kitty at the club this window to £68m approximately. In fairness, Kroenke should be kind enough to do this financial kind gesture to the club if not for anything, but for the sake of the teeming Arsenal supporters, us the Gooners who don’t want to endure watching Arsenal miss out on the top-four place finish and to win titles next season as the club makes serious effort towards achieving these successes.
But at any rate, if Kroenke turns his back on Arsenal Board to not increase the club’s incoming transfer Kitty this summer beyond the £45m he has already gave them, the Arsenal hierarchy bosses should put their heads together to forge out on how they can move the club forward positively at the transfer market this summer without letting us Gooners down.
But I think the reported £45m that is said to be in the club’s summer incoming transfer kitty can cover the signings of William Saliba and Kieran Tierney from St Etienne and Celtic respectively, and even still remain some amount in the club’s kitty. But why are Arsenal delaying to not have concluded the signings of these duo defenders for the club by now I don’t understand if truly they are seriously after the signings of the duo this summer I beg to know?
Just yesterday I was reading on the net and saw Tottenham Hotspur are about to conclude the signing of one Ndombele at a French Ligue 1 club sides whose transfer negotiations Spurs started just of recent but looking to get it done over the line.
If Arsenal conclude their signings of Saliba and Tierney hopeful before this week runs out. They can start focusing on the outgoing transfers at the club to sell some of the on the fringe Gunners at club and the ones they want to loan out this summer. That they will raise money to further do a right winger and a no 9 striker signings all of top quality players for the club this summer too.
Finally, I can see from the above chart how porous Arsenal PL2 defence was last season for us in the Premier League 2 matches. But it is noticeable to note that Eddie Nkethia and Joe Willock have scored 10 and 7 goals respectively for the Arsenal PL2 team who they played for last season. But will Emery promote these Arsenal duo youth players to the club’s first team next season? But Nkethia was making appearances for the first team in matches last season. But I don’t know if his playing for the Arsenal first team was as a result of his been promoted to the team or not. Anyway, out of the trio youth Gunners of Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nkethia and Joe Willock, Emery should at least promote two out of the trio if not all the trio to the Arsenal first team squad next season to save 3 incoming transfer costs for the club I will opin.
Okay. If Chelsea are looking to have devised a contingency plan to put in place that will allow them able to successfully cope with playing in all competitions next season in anticipation of being banned for 2 windows without signing any senior player for the Blues, Arsenal who are not under the threat of any transfer window ban like Chelsea are, but are suffering from inadequate transfer kitty this summer should likewise device a way too that will make them to successfully cope with incoming transfers for the Gunners this summer with the reported £45m that is allowed the club to sign players this summer without jeopardizing the club’s ambitions to finish in the top-four places in the PL and also win titles for the club next season I will say.
Despite that Stan Kroenke has told the Arsenal board to not spend more than £45m out of the net profit the club has made last season, I think the Board should appeal to him to further give the club an additional transfer kitty this summer. Like to say half of the £45m he has approved for the club to spend on incoming transfers this summer which if he approves the additional one so requested for by the Board will bring the total incoming transfers kitty at the club this window to £68m approximately. In fairness, Kroenke should be kind enough to do this financial kind gesture to the club if not for anything, but for the sake of the teeming Arsenal supporters, us the Gooners who don’t want to endure watching Arsenal miss out on the top-four place finish and to win titles next season as the club makes serious effort towards achieving these successes.
But at any rate, if Kroenke turns his back on Arsenal Board to not increase the club’s incoming transfer Kitty this summer beyond the £45m he has already gave them, the Arsenal hierarchy bosses should put their heads together to forge out on how they can move the club forward positively at the transfer market this summer without letting us Gooners down.
But I think the reported £45m that is said to be in the club’s summer incoming transfer kitty can cover the signings of William Saliba and Kieran Tierney from St Etienne and Celtic respectively, and even still remain some amount in the club’s kitty. But why are Arsenal delaying to not have concluded the signings of these duo defenders for the club by now I don’t understand if truly they are seriously after the signings of the duo this summer I beg to know?
Just yesterday I was reading on the net and saw Tottenham Hotspur are about to conclude the signing of one Ndombele at a French Ligue 1 club sides whose transfer negotiations Spurs started just of recent but looking to get it done over the line.
If Arsenal conclude their signings of Saliba and Tierney hopeful before this week runs out. They can start focusing on the outgoing transfers at the club to sell some of the on the fringe Gunners at the club and the ones they want to loan out this summer. So that they can raise money to further do a right winger and a no 9 striker signings all of top quality players for the club this summer too.
Finally, I can see from the above chart how porous Arsenal PL2 defence was last season for us in the Premier League 2 matches. But it is noticeable to note that Eddie Nkethia and Joe Willock have scored 10 and 7 goals respectively for the Arsenal PL2 team who they played for last season. But will Emery promote these Arsenal duo youth players to the club’s first team next season? But Nkethia was making appearances for the first team in matches last season. But I don’t know if his playing for the Arsenal first team was as a result of his been promoted to the team or not. Anyway, out of the trio youth Gunners of Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nkethia and Joe Willock, Emery should at least promote two out of the trio if not all the trio to the Arsenal first team squad next season to save 3 incoming transfer costs for the club I will opin.
OT – WWC: Phil Neville and Being Ashamed
I think he is a hypocrite. If he feels any shame for what Cameroon did or didn’t do; what he benefited from in N years at ManU has to be much worse. And really, he should not even have noticed there was a problem; as he would be so used to this kind of treatment and hence should be blind to noticing it.
Exactly Gord
Given that both Neville’s have admitted that intimidating the Referee and kicking the opposition were legitimate tactics employed by Manchester United his embarrassment does seem a tad hypocritical to say the least.
I believe only recently following the sad death of Rayes Gary actually admitted United set out to kick him off the park in that shameful match.
@ Gord & Nitram
That too was my immediate reaction. The Nevilles (plus several of their colleagues) shamed football. Without Fergie’s grip on the refreeing fraternity they would have been mere also-rans with a record of bans longer than Peter Crouch’s inside leg.
@ Gord, Nitram, Mikey – I’m with you on the disgraceful Neville’s farcical comments on Cameroons reaction.
They were not given a chance with the freekick for a backpass to the keeper. The backpass was not directed but was grabbed by the keeper as a matter of good play. The official reacted to the crowd & the English players wrongly and started off a chain reaction that destroyed what could have been a good match. Several aspects of the Laws were not followed including the full roatation of the ball before being played by the next player.
The physical bullying of the opponent by USA & the likes was so apparent that football lost all ‘sport’ & ended up like a match somewhere between Rugby & wrestling.
The goal keeping farce ignores encroachment of players but kills goalkeepers with yellow cards for stepping off the line.
There have been a few goalkeepers “disciplined” for being off the line.
If a goalkeeper jumps up slightly before a penalty is taken, when they land back on the ground they can “pre-load” their leg muscles. When they then detect (or guess) the direction the ball is going to travel; they can then travel in that direction faster than they could if they hadn’t of pre-loaded their muscles.
Penalizing them for moving off the line some distance that makes no difference is silly.
OT: Batteries used by Football Stadia
I ran across an article, which talks about where the batteries used by football stadia (such as Wenger Stadium) could come from. Eaton is involved in electrical power, and they are planning to use used automotive electric batteries in places such as football stadia.
https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/old-electric-car-batteries-used-to-power-football-stadiums/4973018.html
New article, apparently posted 4 hours ago.
Given Spurs made the champions league final last season and finished in the top four (just) without signing a player there’s obviously more to it than just spending money. Part of it is simple consistency. The trend has been to turn over managers more and more quickly. Both Pochettino and Klopp have been given time to work with what they’ve got and try and add to it when the opportunity arose. Spurs in particular have developed players. Not all of these have come through the youth set up, they’ve bought young players and made them better players. Given that the Manchester clubs will have more money than anyone else for the foreseeable future the Spur’s recipe is one Arsenal probably need to follow. The problem is it takes time, there will be no instant impact, and football fans don’t have a huge amount of patience.
The whole object of youth teams is to feed the Premier team with a steady supply of decent players. If they are not doing this then scrap the whole youth feeder system.
Personally (Showing my age) even 40 millions is more than adequate to fill a few places. Surely at the Premier League level a decent defence is all about coaching. Far too much emphasis (Mainly from the media) on bringing in high priced unknowns from abroad. AS far as dipping in the owners pockets just forget it.
@ Gord – Batteries could eventually mean fuel cells driven on Hydrogen. There was a time when Fuel Cells were getting pretty powerful but were stopped short by Russian intervention to ensure a market for fossil fuel (natural gas) was not disturbed.
Politics gets involved in markets when energy volumes can be impacted irrelevant of environmental consideration.