OhForAGreavsie

Well said. If Charly has even just one or two more performances at the level he showed last night then Wilmots would almost have to call him up. Tielemans on the other hand does not look even close to being selected. I'm tempted to ask, "Who is really the one that has wasted his time?", but that would be unfair. Unfair because I think if Youri had moved to Chelsea, and Charly had stayed in Belgium, then Charly would still be the one pushing for a place in the squad this summer. Charly is, in my opinion, simply the better player.* *I must point out however that I have only seen Tielemans play three times so this may not be the most valid opinion I've ever formed.

Firstly, I'm in full agreement about your last paragraph, apart from the last sentence. As to the quote from January, yes, about six weeks ago as I said. At his first conference, and at others up until January, he talked about the dates for the two cup finals (although he initially got the date of the Champions league final wrong) but then added, after that we'll see. He absolutely clearly left the door open to an extended stay. Something happened in January, something I speculated on in a post at the time. My guess then was that the club had reached agreement with the new man (in principle at least) , that Guus had been told about it and that this was the reason for his change of tune. I was very disappointed that Guus did not take the job when it was offered to him in 2009, and I'd be delighted if he was appointed now but he isn't going to be. There must be a reason or reasons for that but, while we can each speculate what the key reason might be, neither of us know. One thing for sure is that Guus has never said that he does not want the job. He may not want it but he has never said so, as was originally claimed.

Arsenal have already made it clear that they have no interest in such a set up and, today, Steve Atkins, on behalf of Chelsea FC, has categorically denied that any such idea was even discussed at the recent meeting. The only person I have heard speak in favour of the super league idea is a continental European who is an officer of a continental European club. I think you are readily persuaded to buy into the worst possible characterisation of the situation because that's what fits with your overall outlook.

This may well be true but some caution is advisable. 25 years ago it was Ajax and the Dutch model that we were all urged to follow. 20 years ago in was Manchester United then it was the French & Clairefontaine, the the Spanish and Barcelona. Now it is the Belgians. No one is seeking to deny the quality of the work being done but in the end it almost always turns out that coincidence plays a big part in the simultaneous production of a crop of high quality players.

How can you not love Guus? Today's highlights: - He's definitely leaving although he ducked the question about why he is not in the running for the job. Credit to the press core however, it only took them 6 weeks to finally come up with some good questions about this! He will be around Stamford Bridge and Cobham rather often but only as a tourist. We take all games seriously including this one. There will be a strong side selected. Diego will start but the plan, match situation allowing presumably, is that he won't finish the game. Neither Pedro nor JT is in contention tomorrow. No questions or comments about Pato. Guus is against the idea of a breakaway league which would shut out certain teams. He believes in meritocracy. If teams like Leicester earn their place at the top table then the must be allowed to have it. (My paraphrasing of what he said.) Steve Atkins chimed in to say that the idea of a European Super League was not discussed at the recent meeting.

Or Eden indeed.

Guus said this in 2009 but I have never once heard him say so this time around. Guus has said he is leaving but he has not said why. This is not to say that Guss does want the job but I do know he clearly did have more than half an eye on it when he returned. As far as the public knew that remained the case until about six weeks ago when he started to make it clear he'd be leaving the hot seat at the end of the season. It may be that the club, now obsessed with the long term boss idea, have made it clear that they want a younger man, it could be that Guus finds the alternative job he's been offered upstairs more appealing, or that his health won't allow him to accept the role in the dugout. Goodness it could even be that Guus just does not want the job, as you say. It could be any number of reasons but the point is we don't know because Guus hasn't said.

Agreed. I am not a big Pjanic fan personally but if the new manager, whoever that might be, wants Pjanic then I want the club to try to get him. The conversations on here might be fun, and might lay down markers for some I told you sos later, but someone has to choose the squad and, since that is never going to be any of us here, it may as well be the man who is paid to make it work. Let's build the new boss a squad he's happy with and allow him to try to get the show back on the road.

Another fabulous run to the byline. He's enjoying himself.

Brilliant run now from inside his own box to about 30 yards out where it broke down because Charlay passed for an inside run but the wide man held for the ball to feet. The Betis fans love him They are up each time he touches the ball. Wilmots may not have expected to see so good a display.

http://cricfree.sx/watch/live/espanyol-vs-real-betis-live-streaming

Wonderful assist for Charlay. Receiving the ball with his back to a defender, Charlay dummies to go left but moves right, turning his man in the process. His defender does well however and recovers to face up again only for Charlay to dribble past him and deliver a cross into box which was put away. He's doing well and Betis lead 2-0.

Me, I'm an ABT and I do mean anybody.

And Tottenham, let's not forget Tottenham. Spurs being within three points of the top is unbearable. Now that City seem to have given up the ghost It makes every incident in a Leicester game a moment of tension filled torture. Four or five successive defeats for Spurs is what my nervous system needs.

Started his first game wide right but has been stationed wide left since. Against Depor he was asked to hug that touchline, or that's what he did at any rate, but in the two subsequent games Charlay has had more license to roam. I thought his last outing was Charlay's best by far so I'm really looking forward to tonight's game.

Will Kennedy even be fit?

For what it's worth, I think Traore is ahead of all of them. I can't argue with anything you say about RLC but I retain a bit of hope because I think if the penny drops about asserting himself then he does have qualities that can influence a game. As I said three years ago however, if that penny does not drop then Ruben will be lucky to get a gig in League One. (In fact I sad he needed a kick up the backside and that he needed to react to it.) I have not yet seen anything which allows me to agree with your comparison of RLC & Riechedly Bazoer, except in one vital regard that is. I have never seen Bazoer do anything that I have not also seen Ruben do. Indeed, if asked to come down on one side or the other, I'd call Ruben the more talented player. The exception is a rather big one however; Bazoer does it often, Ruben only occasionally. This is really just a repeat of what you said above, but, unless Ruben is able to put his talent into action then, although that talent has earned him a contract which will shovel money into his bank account, it won't get his name onto the team sheet.

It looks like Guus has Mikel as his first choice over Matic so I expect to see Nemanja vs Stoke.

There are times when Arsenal Fan TV is compulsory viewing. Got to rush; Sainsbury's closes soon and we don't have any popcorn in.

I had no faith when Nemanja was here the first time. My assessment was that he was too fond of the floated pass which took too long to reach its target and that he wanted way too long on the ball. After he returned It looked to me that I was wrong. In truth however Nemanja's slump passed out of the realm of form a long time ago. With the odd exception, he has been poor, or worse, since Christmas 2014.

^^ Everything you say is spot on. The only variable is whether the reports are accurate.

You're probably right on both counts. The Matic comment about top-four still being possible is either one of those things footballers say when someone sticks a mic in their face and asks silly questions or else it's a clue as to what the camp is thinking. Either way, Guus is clearly very proud of the turn around so, as you say, he might not want to give it away.

You know, I sometimes think you'd still have anger toward the manager even if Roman gave you the job. All of us understand the temptation to rage at everyone who doesn't agree with our opinions but it really isn't good or wise.

Not news really. Guus has been hinting at this very heavily at virtually all of his press conferences. He says something like, I shall be at Stamford bridge rather often in future.

Guus must be seriously tempted to rest everybody and go very weak. That makes predicting the outcome of this one even tougher than usual I think. Maybe something crazy like: - Begovic, Aina, Miazga, Cahill, Baba, Colkett, Matic, Traore, Loftus-Cheek, Pato, Remy. Charlie made his first start for the 21s after injury at St. Mary's on Monday night and was brilliant. Well first half he was anyway.