Premier League 2022/23 Thread

[Sir Shep]

 Forest having Lingard has just guaranteed themselves 6 points off us! 

[Fox92]

3 hours ago, TK95 said:

Couldn't resist 

 

 

I think Leeds have more chance of doing this.

[FoyleFox]

4 hours ago, TK95 said:

Couldn't resist 

 

 

I hope that's not put the kiss of death on the possibility 😳 I was looking forward to this being an option. 

[HankMarvin]

Interesting piece of Arsenal and how they had to pay up a lot the deadwood  to leave 

 

GUNNED DOWN 

‘We needed to clean the squad’ – Arsenal chief Edu blasts old players ‘comfortable on long contracts’ for KILLING club

Mark Irwin

7:00, 25 Jul 2022

Updated: 10:44, 25 Jul 2022

ARSENAL chief Edu slammed the ageing superstars who were killing the club.

Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are among big-name stars who had their contracts paid up by Arsenal to leave.

 

Edu has been brutally honest about some of Arsenal's big earners in the past

Mesut Ozil left Arsenal under a cloud earlier this year after a long time on the sidelines

 

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had his Arsenal contract terminated in Jan

Edu said: “When a player’s 26 or older, has a big salary and is not performing, he’s killing you.

"In the past, 80 per cent of the squad had those characteristics and there was no chance anyone would buy them.”

Gunners chiefs also paid off defenders Shkodran Mustafi, Sead Kolasinac and Sokratis to go.

Technical director Edu explained: “They don’t have a transfer value and are comfortable on a long contract living in London.

 

“So we needed to clean the squad and if we had to pay some to go, I considered it an investment.

“It’s better than having them blocking the path of another player. It’s not a problem if a player has a big salary and performs.

“I know it’s strange to go to the board and tell them, ‘Sometimes it’s  better to pay a player to leave than to keep them’.

“I realise that hurts and some people say that it’s expensive — but you have to take the problem out.”

 

Now that purge is over, and £260.5million has been spent on 11 hungry young players over the past year, Edu feels the club is in good shape.

He added: “It’s important for people to see the direction we’re going in.

“Now we have a plan and I always said to Mikel Arteta and the board that 2022/23 will be the season we’ll be much better.”

Edited 25 July 2022 by HankMarvin

[HankMarvin]

one for @Ric Flair
 

Southampton already reaping benefits of hiring Joe Shields

 

Joe Shields is one of the most respected talent spotters around and has become Southampton's head of senior recruitment... with Gavin Bazunu and Romeo Lavia on board, the Saints are already reaping the benefits of his 'brave' calls on young potential 

Six signings - and counting - to bolster 's squad, an overhauled coaching team and a potentially crucial addition to lead 's recruitment setup.

In a busy summer at Southampton their headline off-field addition could prove to be just as important as the ones fans will see on the pitch or sitting alongside Hasenhuttl in the dugout.

Southampton confirmed the appointment of Joe Shields, 35, as their new head of senior recruitment earlier this month.

Southampton have confirmed the appointment of Joe Shields as their new head of senior recruitment 

Shields has built a reputation as one of the most respected talent spotters around 

He officially begins work on Monday though his influence on their recruitment has already been seen.

 

Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu and midfielder Romeo Lavia are two of Southampton's summer signings, joining for a potential, combined £29m from Manchester City, and are among the many players Shields helped bring to the Eithad as their head of academy recruitment.

They fit perfectly the mould of upcoming, high-potential player Southampton want in their first team and it would be even better if they could land them earlier, when cheaper.

That is a one of the key reasons why the man who did just that at City is who they have now turned to.

It could prove to be just as important a signing as any for Ralph Hasenhuttl this summer 

'When I think about a lot of scouts in England, Joe is brave,' one source familiar with Shields's work said.

'He has got a good eye and trusts what he is seeing. He doesn't sit on the fence or faff around forever. He is decisive. Whereas a lot of other scouts are just admin, gathering information, scared to make a decision, put their neck on the line, Joe does things with ease, speed and more intricately than anyone I know. He takes risks every day. Incredible scout.'

There is a school of thought held by some in the game that there are tougher tasks than identifying players for the Premier League's elite.

The quality of player they need is obvious – only the very best – and they have the money, facilities and top coaches to tempt them. That theory will, no doubt, be firmly countered at City.

Shields has the chance at Southampton to underline that the reputation he has built as one of the most respected talent spotters around is because of his qualities more than anything else.

Sportsmail understands he could have stayed at City, with director of football Txiki Begiristain thought to have been keen to retain Shields and work more closely with him.

 

But it is testament to Shields, amid that aforementioned perception, that he has instead opted to leave and test himself with what might be widely viewed as a much more difficult recruiting task.

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Shields is said to have a refreshing realism about what has gone before and what is in store, with success at Southampton not being considered a given. But his standout attributes will give him every chance of making things work at St Mary's.

'His work ethic is incredible,' another source said. 'His eye for talent and work ethic are on another planet. You can call him at midnight and he is picking up the phone. He's always on it. Passionate about the job. He doesn't have a history in professional football so his desire for the game is child-like.'

Bernie Dillon, considered by some in the scouting game as a Godfather-like figure, is familiar with that.

He was Crystal Palace's head of recruitment under Neil Warnock and, among other things, was tasked with 'bringing in local people to bring in local kids.'

That was when a young, Shields came to his attention.

Shields, just 20 at the time, was volunteering for Croydon-based Sunday League side Melwood FC, helping organize games and tournaments for youngsters in the area.

 

On one particular Saturday, Dillon was struck by Shield's work ethic and knowledge as he ran around organising all the different teams and explaining everything about all the players involved to anyone who had queries.

 

Dillon, 72, also remembers Shields's loyalty as he initially refused to abandon his community role mid-season to join Palace making his suitor wait until the end of that campaign before moving to Selhurst Park.

In his first Eagles stint, Shields was trusted and played a key role in helping Palace simplify, re-organise and modernise on computer all their records and reports on players as they sought to meet the FA's academy grading requirements around the time when EPPP was starting to be introduced.

Dillon, the now-retired former head of recruitment at Gillingham who counts the likes of England internationals Matt Jarvis and Ryan Bertrand among his finds, said: 

'During their visit, and don't forget Joe hadn't been there that long, I spoke to the guy from the FA and said 'this fella [Shields] will surpass everything I achieved in football by a mile and go onto great things. Look how young he is and how much he has learnt already.'

'I say to him every time 'Joe, you're going to go all the way. You will be picking out England players.' Yes, it's going to take time but that's how good he is.'

Shields is the man credited with bringing Jadon Sancho (above) to Manchester City 

In some ways and without an FA position Shields has already been doing his bit for the country, along with other nations too.

Jadon Sancho was one of City's headline hires under Shields, a player he proactively targeted from Watford aged 14 when some others doubted and dithered, leading to recriminations and regret at one top Premier League club in particular for their scouts' misjudged assessment of the now Manchester United winger.

England under-19 Euros winners Liam Delap and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens [now at Borussia Dortmund] are two other City and Shields recruits while Cole Palmer, Luke Mbete, Ben Knight and Finley Burns were also brought to the Etihad, have made their first-team debuts and also earned Three Lions recognition at youth level.

Shields' ability to spot potential is not limited to players either.

He is described as a 'door opener' and scores of scouts and off-field personnel across the country, particularly from ethnic minority backgrounds, are indebted to Shields for helping them land their first professional football roles in the same way Dillon did for him.

Some were not even working in football but Shields has a knack of identifying those with a knowledge of the game who just needed that crucial first chance to put it to good use.

England under-19 Euros winner Liam Delap (above) is another City and Shields recruit 

Nathan Collier, a former non-league player, viewed finding a route into scouting as an 'unknown' and considered that world a 'closed society' from the outside until a mutual friend connected him with Shields and Sam Fagbemi [then City's southern scout lead manager and now national youth scouting manager] paving the way for him to land a part-time recruitment role in City's academy in 2018.

Following that Collier was later offered a head of recruitment position after retiring at Woking and was named Stoke's first-team head scout for the south of England this year.

Collier, 36, said: 'Joe just connects with real people and if he thinks that you've got what it takes he creates pathways for people that deserve a chance.

'He has something in him where he can see talent when he meets people or just through references whereas some people might not want to or be willing to give you the chance.

'You have someone [like him] in a position where they can hire anyone, people with the best resumes, and he [instead] gives people who might not have had that chance due to their resumes the opportunity to then create their own pathway in life. You have to take your hat off to people like that.

'Without Joe, who gave Stoke a glowing reference on me, and a lot of other people at Manchester City like Sam and Carl Walker, because they all played a role, I probably wouldn't be in the Stoke role today. 

Jamahl Jarrett came to Shields's attention for his work at south London grassroots club Lambeth Tigers 

'I'll be forever grateful and I don't think I'm the only one. Many other people will have stories to tell about Joe and their pathways, whether it's a playing career, scouting career, or elsewhere in the football industry as coaches.

'This is what he does. He is not a person self-indulged by himself and trying to get to the top. While he is on his journey he tries to surround himself with people that are relatable to him and that he can give a chance to create their own journey.'

Jamahl Jarrett, 34, will vouch for that too. He and his business partner David Marriott came to Shields's attention for their work at renowned south London grassroots club Lambeth Tigers.

Among other things, Shields was impressed by their desire to help players push on and develop even if it resulted in them leaving prematurely, leading to an opening voluntary scouting position during Shields's time at Fulham.

Then came roles for both Jarrett and Marriott at Brentford before the pair later reunited at Palace under Shields after briefly going separate ways.

Nathan Collier, a former non-league player, viewed finding a route into scouting as an 'unknown' 

Jarrett is now in charge of Manchester United's scouting in the south of England and said: 'Some of the leading, young, emerging scouts and a lot of people with full-time positions now, their first role somewhere down the line would have been with Joe.

'There is a lot that I took from Joe so I always give him credit for where I've got to.

'For example, putting a team of people together, I became quite good at that. I'd even say, in certain ways, speaking to people in different communities because as a scout you've got to know how to interact with people in different environments.

'Also when you're looking at talent – it's more of a general one as a lot of people probably think that way – thinking ahead and not just in the now, about their potential rather than what they're like now. That forward thinking.'

Another source added: 'This is one of the biggest, most important things in football and Joe is able to do it. Look at a situation and say 'yes, this is going to happen with this guy if I do XYZ. He sees potential and that development.'

Southampton will now be the beneficiaries of all of Shields's expertise and it will be intriguing to see the teams he can build at Southampton - both on and off the pitch.

[daddylonglegs]

Have just realised Arsenal away is their first home game of the season. 

 

A fanbase that is, at the best of times, insufferable. Except this time it's their first game with a new look team after a really positive summer. 

Going to be really grim  

[Fear Of The Fox]

4 minutes ago, daddylonglegs said:

Have just realised Arsenal away is their first home game of the season. 

 

A fanbase that is, at the best of times, insufferable. Except this time it's their first game with a new look team after a really positive summer. 

Going to be really grim  

1-4 smashing, Vardy hat trick. 

I agree it's going to be really grim. For them. 

[daddylonglegs]

16 minutes ago, Fear Of The Fox said:

1-4 smashing, Vardy hat trick. 

I agree it's going to be really grim. For them. 

[Fear Of The Fox]

This is Neymar diving (surprisingly) and been awarded a penalty in their recent friendly game. I hope PL implements a new rule for a straight red card after VAR check for blatant dives like this. 

 

[Fox92]

2 hours ago, HankMarvin said:

Interesting piece of Arsenal and how they had to pay up a lot the deadwood  to leave 

 

GUNNED DOWN 

‘We needed to clean the squad’ – Arsenal chief Edu blasts old players ‘comfortable on long contracts’ for KILLING club

Mark Irwin

7:00, 25 Jul 2022

Updated: 10:44, 25 Jul 2022

ARSENAL chief Edu slammed the ageing superstars who were killing the club.

Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are among big-name stars who had their contracts paid up by Arsenal to leave.

 

Edu has been brutally honest about some of Arsenal's big earners in the past

Mesut Ozil left Arsenal under a cloud earlier this year after a long time on the sidelines

 

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had his Arsenal contract terminated in Jan

Edu said: “When a player’s 26 or older, has a big salary and is not performing, he’s killing you.

"In the past, 80 per cent of the squad had those characteristics and there was no chance anyone would buy them.”

Gunners chiefs also paid off defenders Shkodran Mustafi, Sead Kolasinac and Sokratis to go.

Technical director Edu explained: “They don’t have a transfer value and are comfortable on a long contract living in London.

 

“So we needed to clean the squad and if we had to pay some to go, I considered it an investment.

“It’s better than having them blocking the path of another player. It’s not a problem if a player has a big salary and performs.

“I know it’s strange to go to the board and tell them, ‘Sometimes it’s  better to pay a player to leave than to keep them’.

“I realise that hurts and some people say that it’s expensive — but you have to take the problem out.”

 

Now that purge is over, and £260.5million has been spent on 11 hungry young players over the past year, Edu feels the club is in good shape.

He added: “It’s important for people to see the direction we’re going in.

“Now we have a plan and I always said to Mikel Arteta and the board that 2022/23 will be the season we’ll be much better.”

Fair play, it's a good approach getting rid of deadwood on stupid wages (we should take note), but where have Arsenal got the £260m from? Obviously PL finish, European football and investment but it's a lot to spend without selling.

[Nalis]

15 minutes ago, Fear Of The Fox said:

This is Neymar diving (surprisingly) and been awarded a penalty in their recent friendly game. I hope PL implements a new rule for a straight red card after VAR check for blatant dives like this. 

 

Diving in a friendly ffs, absolute state of him

[AllGoneTitsSchlupp]

21 minutes ago, Fear Of The Fox said:

This is Neymar diving (surprisingly) and been awarded a penalty in their recent friendly game. I hope PL implements a new rule for a straight red card after VAR check for blatant dives like this. 

 

the worst part is the fvcking scream. i remember bruno fernandes being constantly at it in the games during covid

[PhillippaT]

51 minutes ago, Fear Of The Fox said:

 

 

I'm assuming this cuts off before we see him roll all the way off the pitch?  

[majaco]

3 hours ago, HankMarvin said:

Interesting piece of Arsenal and how they had to pay up a lot the deadwood  to leave 

 

GUNNED DOWN 

‘We needed to clean the squad’ – Arsenal chief Edu blasts old players ‘comfortable on long contracts’ for KILLING club

Mark Irwin

7:00, 25 Jul 2022

Updated: 10:44, 25 Jul 2022

ARSENAL chief Edu slammed the ageing superstars who were killing the club.

Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are among big-name stars who had their contracts paid up by Arsenal to leave.

 

Edu has been brutally honest about some of Arsenal's big earners in the past

Mesut Ozil left Arsenal under a cloud earlier this year after a long time on the sidelines

 

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had his Arsenal contract terminated in Jan

Edu said: “When a player’s 26 or older, has a big salary and is not performing, he’s killing you.

"In the past, 80 per cent of the squad had those characteristics and there was no chance anyone would buy them.”

Gunners chiefs also paid off defenders Shkodran Mustafi, Sead Kolasinac and Sokratis to go.

Technical director Edu explained: “They don’t have a transfer value and are comfortable on a long contract living in London.

 

“So we needed to clean the squad and if we had to pay some to go, I considered it an investment.

“It’s better than having them blocking the path of another player. It’s not a problem if a player has a big salary and performs.

“I know it’s strange to go to the board and tell them, ‘Sometimes it’s  better to pay a player to leave than to keep them’.

“I realise that hurts and some people say that it’s expensive — but you have to take the problem out.”

 

Now that purge is over, and £260.5million has been spent on 11 hungry young players over the past year, Edu feels the club is in good shape.

He added: “It’s important for people to see the direction we’re going in.

“Now we have a plan and I always said to Mikel Arteta and the board that 2022/23 will be the season we’ll be much better.”

Arsenal are ridiculous with money.  And they're still buying.

[filbertway]

2 hours ago, pmcla26 said:

Have to see that from the reverse angle - looks like there may have been a clip on his shin there. Definitely not enough to provoke that reaction, though. 

So it's a dive then 

 

I can't tell if you're joking or not, but contact or no contact, that's not a penalty and he's cheating. In a friendly as well which is mad.

 

[Fear Of The Fox]

2 hours ago, pmcla26 said:

Have to see that from the reverse angle - looks like there may have been a clip on his shin there. Definitely not enough to provoke that reaction, though. 

Huh? You don't need another angle. Defender removes his foot a second before that clown pretends he was just hit by a train. This kind of behaviour needs to stop now in football by implementing strict rules with the support of VAR. Otherwise the sport is heading absolutely the wrong way. Tbh it's heading to the wrong way for many other reasons also. 

[filbertway]

1 minute ago, Fear Of The Fox said:

Huh? You don't need another angle. Defender removes his foot a second before that clown pretends he was just hit by a train. This kind of behaviour needs to stop now in football by implementing strict rules with the support of VAR. Otherwise the sport is heading absolutely the wrong way. Tbh it's heading to the wrong way for many other reasons also. 

People even trying to justify it shows how far it's gone and how deeply ingrained that cheating has got into the game.

[Fear Of The Fox]

4 minutes ago, pmcla26 said:

Technically if there is contact then there is a case for a foul, like I said, the reaction is OTT, but there's still a case there - it's just unclear from that angle. Don't forget the footage is slowed down, too. 

 

As above. 

This Neymar guy and some others that earn thousands per hour are treating us like idiots and you think that's alright? Why don't you go to a pub then, ask for a G&T and have your tap water with tonic without saying anything then? I can't understand your logic. 

[TheStig]

5 hours ago, daddylonglegs said:

Have just realised Arsenal away is their first home game of the season. 

 

A fanbase that is, at the best of times, insufferable. Except this time it's their first game with a new look team after a really positive summer. 

Going to be really grim  

We will smack them - as we always did at Highbury and now the Emirates.... - and cannot wait to see the Ars fans reaction

Edited 25 July 2022 by TheStig

[fox_up_north]

I'd love to see Neymar over here, if only for the absolute kicking he'd get and the pelters from fans. 

[CosbehFox]

looks like Fulham have been utter cnuts 

[Guest Col city fan]

37 minutes ago, pmcla26 said:

And the fact he’s one of the best players in the world would be good to watch too, right? 

I’m not sure he is anymore mate?

One of the best players in the world would be leading Paris to have won the Champs League by now.

I’m not sure that Neymar, Messi et al aren’t a little past their best tbh

[Dan LCFC]

How anyone can not think that's a dive just sums up the level of brainwashing the media are capable of.

[Out Foxed]

6 hours ago, Nalis said:

Diving in a friendly ffs, absolute state of him

even worse because with the position his leg was in if the guy had decided to be a **** and leave his foot in he could have ****ed him up...and he still does that. grade a ****. 

[Jaspa]

Should be significant enough contact to impede the player or stop them getting the ball, problem is and always have been that refs give penalties for the lightest of touches. You can't blame the players. If the referees & authorities took a hard, sensible line on it diving & petulance would be gone in a season.