by Tony Attwood
It is getting quite hard to work out who the real crazies are in football at the moment. Is it the bonkers FA with their wild and out of control chairman, now thankfully gone, or is it the bloggers and journalists who refuse to ask the most obvious and simple question: how did the FA come to appoint someone so bonkers in the first place?
I suppose the fact is the Greg Clarke with his 18th century views and 1930s language was an ideal appointment for the FA, fitting exactly with their profile of who should run football in England having never once criticised the FA in the past, save when the last old duffer got himself into difficulty.
But let’s move on the top stories of the day…
Football.London have what is really pretty much a non-story that Saliba played for the under 21s against Gillingham’s first team in the Football League Trophy and did ok, but doesn’t speak English and that the manager was right not to play him in the first team.
Arsenal rejected AC Milan’s offer for new signing
“AC Milan tried to sign Saliba on a permanent transfer in the last transfer window,”
Mesut Ozil posts eight-word message after Arsenal U-turn is confirmed
excitement level with the story that Gunnersaurus has been reprieved although there is no news as to whether the man inside the costume is going to be the same fellow as before.
Mikel Arteta backed for Mesut Ozil January u-turn because of one Gunners star
The Express tells us that Tony Adams would like to see Ozil play in the No 10 role behind Aubameyang because Partey can provide the defensive protection that would allow Ozil to do what he is good at. Mr Adams is reported as saying on the subject or Partey, “You’ve got a fantastic screen there now. Creativity is not maybe Partey’s game but what you have got is presence, you’ve got a leader. I thought his performance against Manchester United was phenomenal. For me he was the best player on the pitch.
“Watching that game I felt for the first time in a long time I went, ‘wow, hallelujah’. The same I felt about Gabriel with Holding, it’s got the potential to be one of the best partnerships in the league. I think they’ve got the athleticism, the strength, the commitment, they just need to be worked with on a regular basis.
“I asked Dennis Bergkamp now and again to get back in and get back behind the ball and do a little bit for us and make it a little bit difficult for them. That’s all that Ozil needs to do but when you’re putting him on the sides and asking him to go with runners, he’s not got that.”
Arsenal chief Edu eyeing two signings as Gunners set to let four stars leave in 2021
The Express tells us that “Lyon’s Houssem Aouar is a long-standing target while Red Bull Salzburg’s Dominik Szoboszlai is another on the radar.”
Now of course you might think in the light of these changes you fancy a flutter. If so please visit the website.
They also tell us that “The biggest hole in the team is in midfield, with a lack of attacking quality in the centre of the pitch having let Arsenal down in recent weeks,” but they don’t explain why we should go out and buy when we actually have Ozil who could do that job.
Meanwhile The Athletic tell us that Arsenal are looking for a right-sided centre-back. And they will cover the surplus numbers by not giving new contracts to the “three centre-halves set to leave the club at the end of their contracts this coming summer, with top earner Ozil another set to depart on a free.”
And I must I am glad about that, and would like to thank Fifa and the Mail, because at the thought of Clarke “doing the right think” I laughed like I haven’t laughed since the start of the pandemic.
As a player, Tony Adams was clearly a legend. As a manager, he left a considerable amount to be desired. Hence, as with anybody else (fan, pundit, ex-player, commentator, blogger or “journalist”) who has never successfully managed at the top level I’ll ignore their suggestions in the same way as I go to a doctor when I’m ill rather than doing what some bloke in the pub suggests.
Have you read what Clarke said (other than the soundbites?). Everything he said was clearly well intended and no offence was meant. The person who should have resigned was the opportunistic MP who seized on clumsy speech and a slip of the tongue to signal his own woke credentials and virtue.
@ Dublin Gooner
About two weeks ago the FA launched a new ‘diversity code’ but Clarke talks about being gay as a lifestyle choice. “Well intended” or not, someone that out of touch with reality is completely unsuitable for such a position of power in my opinion.