Arsenal Suffer The Kicks and Elbows of Outrageous Fortune and Win
by ClockEndRider
On we moved from AC Milan to the second game of pre-season and the game against Newcastle. The team which started was Raya, White, Saliba, Calafiori, MLS, Zubimendi, Merino, Nwaneri, Saka Trossard, Havertz.
Under Howe and that curious orange man – who oddly never attracts the ire of mental midgets such as Gary Neville for being outside the prescribed area or waving his arms about and is never more than 2 paces apart from his Leader- their style of play has increasingly come to resemble that of a marginally more sophisticated Stoke. Many of us doubted the wisdom of playing this antediluvian throwback side and it didn’t take long for Guimaraes and Co. to go do that voodoo that they do so well, pretty much kicking anything that moved from the off. And talking of throwbacks, we were behind to what was their first effort of the game after five minutes when Elanga, entirely unmarked in the box, seemed to cannon his shot off his standing foot and then off the post into the net. There followed a period of about 15 minutes in which our defensive security owed less to the Beefeaters at the Tower of London and more to the Keystone Cops.
Gradually, though, as the half wore on, we forced them back and found ourselves yet again in a low block scenario. On 32′ Merino scored a really good equaliser. Having won the ball back in their final third he passed to Trossard outside him. Trossard fired a low pass in to Havertz on the edge of the box who controlled and backheeled the ball into Merino’s path for him to caress it the remaining 17 yards into the corner of the net. Stokecastle were now under real pressure and less than 2 minutes later were behind. The referee gave a foul again in their final third. While several troglodytes were making shapes with their mouths and struggling to force out any coherent sounds – evolution is a slow process – Trossard took a quick free kick, putting Havertz away down the left-hand side. He looked up from the edge of the box and hammered in a low cross looking for Saka, running in at the far post. However, someone called Alex Murphy decided today was his day and pre-empted the inevitable strike from Saka by absolutely hammering the ball past his goalkeeper into the net from two yards wide of his own goal. Well played young man! We went in for oranges at 2-1 up.
The second half started and oddly we had only made 1 sub – Ødegaard for a very subdued Nwaneri, while Stokecastle had made 9, most notably substituting the kickin’-an’-a-gougin’ Guimaraes for the languid subtlety of Joelinton. Our sub quota was increased on 49′ when Calafiori appeared to pull up – yes, I know – with nobody around him and was replaced by Kiwior. Newcastle found renewed energy, but Arsenal had the best chance when a Trossard cross from inside the box on the left-hand side was met with a spectacular flying volley by Saka and well saved by Pope. 2 minutes later though, Newcastle’s renewed energy showed when Jacob Murphy hit a pass-shot from 22 yards out into the bottom left of the Arsenal goal. A very good finish, assisted from some laboured non-defending from Arsenal’s midfield and defence. Cue more subs as Raya, Saka and Havertz made way for Kepa, Dowman and Gabi on 59′. Straightaway 2 things happened. Dowman massively raised the energy level. And Newcastle decided to kick lumps out of the 15-year-old making apes of them. On 70′ he received the ball in midfield, turned smartly and left 2 players for dead with his acceleration and notably tight control, before loosing off a shot which the keeper pushed round the post for a corner. This upping of energy went through the whole team and on 72′ Ødegaard hit a stinging shot from 15 yards, pushed wide by the keeper. Dowman had another effort 5 minutes later, cutting in from the right a la Saka and shooting at the top right, Then on 82′, Dowman, again, picked the ball up on the right hand touchline on the edge of the final third and drove forward, jinking inside some bloke pretending to be a left back, then putting on a burst of speed which surprised the chasing pack, until the Brazilian Vinnie Jones could do nothing but push him over in the box for what no doubt from what I have witnessed at St James Park would be a Newcastle free kick. Fortunately, this game was not being refereed by the football regulation relativists at PGMOL so the actual rules as written were applied and a penalty was given. Laughably, as well as laughingly, Joelinton – the least Brazilian Brazilian since Sandro played for Sp*rs – complained to the referee. Ødegaard took the pen. Arteta looked unsure, but he scored in any case and that was that.
Apparently Gyökeres was introduced to the crowd and will accompany the team to Hong Kong where they play an East Middlesex Swamp Dwellers XI on Thursday.
Holics Look to the New Season
by TTG
I am very grateful to four very helpful Holics who accepted my invitation to take a look at what they believe is currently happening at the club and who shared some of their hopes and fears for the new season. Inevitably this was written before all our recent signings had been confirmed and before some other developments at our rivals. The four Holics were Osaka Matt (OM), North Bank Ned (NBN), Sancho Panza (SP) and Bergkamp the Man (BtM) so we have certainly achieved a degree of geographical diversity! Here are their thoughts:
Are you happy with the direction and progress of the club under Mikel Arteta?
BtM: Absolutely! Arteta is an excellent leader, communicator and coach who is driven to succeed on his own and the club’s behalf. Despite their jibes, I suspect that he and his leadership style are the envy of a multitude of opposition fans. Mikel has patiently renewed virtually the entire playing squad, patiently, methodically and in accord with a plan to elevate the Arsenal’s playing style to the very competitive heights of world football. In this regard, he has won the confidence and respect of the vast majority of Gooners and, more importantly, the club’s hierarchy and stakeholders. Two thumbs up from me.
NBN: Yes. Football fans’ memories can be short-lived. We forget at our peril that the club faced a sliding doors moment at the time of Arteta’s appointment. That we are looking forward to Champions League, not Championship football (thus sparing C100 from trips to Hull, Stoke and Watford), is testimony to the turnaround that Arteta has achieved.
SP: Yes, I am very happy. We have a once in a generation manager who is brilliant at both managing players and coaching them. It’s not a case of who else is there to replace him? There isn’t anyone out there I would rather have. The direction is spot on. It can’t be argued that we had a poorer season, but we need to take into consideration factors both in and out of our control when looking at the season as a whole. We still did better than everyone else bar Liverpool, including all the cup winners. Progress is taking shape. Our squad is much stronger season on season, and we can’t expect a splurge on players every summer.
OM: Yes, certainly in terms of direction. Like everyone else (including MA and the team!), I’d like tangible signs of progress like the PL or CL title.
It is early days, but what are your initial impressions of Andrea Berta?
SP: The initial impression is that he seems to know what he is doing, and he has a process that he is following. The amount of plates he is spinning is impressive with all the buying, selling, and retaining he has to do. I presume Tim Lewis is helping out a lot.
OM: At this moment there is no confirmation on Gyokeres, Madueke or the young Spanish defender but if they join then I think that with Kepa, Norgaard and Zubi, we will have completed Step 1. In which case, so far, so good.
NBN: It is way too early to tell. Unfairly or not, he will be judged on the success of the striker he lands this window. The quality of the 2026-27 squad will be a better yardstick. A second-order hope would be that he proves as good at selling as buying, and we get more for the players we move on, both the seniors and those coming out of the Academy.
BtM: These are indeed early days and so the basis for comment is limited. I’m pleased by the recruitment of Kepa, Norgaard, Madueke, Mosquera, and Zubimendi – particularly the latter, although the slipway for Zubi’s move was well greased by Edu prior to his move into the depths of the Forest. It’s pleasing too that Gabriel, MLS and Nwaneri have all been re-signed. Berta appears to be being tested though by Sporting and Leipzig in his efforts to land Gyokores or Sesko and failure to land either would severely dent his credibility. If he can complete the Gyokeres deal, seduce Eze and persuade Big Willy to sign for five more years, his first summer window will have been stellar in recruitment/retainment terms. Finding suitors for Zinchenko, Trossard, Vieira, Nelson, Lokonga and Kiwior would add a rich layer of icing to this summer pudding.
Which of our signings or prospective signings excites you the most?
NBN: Tying down Saliba, Gabriel, MLS, and Nwaneri to long-term contracts to secure the team’s current and future core is a major goal. Clearly, a striker is likely to be the pivotal signing. I only hope that there is not an undue weight of expectation heaped on his shoulders and that whoever it is, is given time to settle in (think Havertz). My concern would be that the e-haters pile in if he fails to notch a hat-trick in the first fifteen minutes on his debut.
BtM: Zubi, Zubi, Zubi! Gooner, Gooner, Gooner! A splendid song waiting in the wings for a player who I believe will speed our transitions forward, strengthen our midfield defensively and free Martin Ødegaard, in particular, for a more attack focused and goal scoring season ahead. TP5 (at peak fitness) was always going to be difficult to replace. I’m optimistic that Martin Zubimendi will transcend Partey’s contribution quickly and become a vital contributor to our trophy safari.
SP: Dare I say Noni? I really like the thought of him coming on as a game changer and also starting some games to share the load with Saka. Zubi will be quietly efficient rather than exciting.
OM: Of course Gyokeres would be the exciting CF signing everyone has been wanting but for me Norgaard and especially Zubi are the possible step up in quality that might win us the PL
Have you concerns about any of the deals we have done so far?
OM: There are always risks with every signing so yes of course – for example, simple things – Can Zubi / Gyokeres adapt to the PL? Is Norgaard too old? Can Madueke improve his end product? Will Kepa’s form fall off a cliff at the first howler?
NBN: The three confirmed incomings, Norgaard, Zubimendi and Kepa, all seem sensible acquisitions at appropriate prices that improve the squad (and Zubimendi, the first XI). Of the outgoings — KT3, Jorginho, Partey, Marquinhos, Tavares and a bunch of Academy players who have aged out — the only concern might be Tavares’s price, but that was a deal structured a while back, so it is what it is.
BtM: There’s a huge deal of negativity surrounding the Madueke capture, based primarily, I believe, on price point and his Chel$ki heritage rather than his lack of talent or potential. I find both surprising and I’m very pleased to see a high calibre winger, able to play as a disruptor on both wings, and providing essential cover for Saka and also Martinelli, being added to the talent pool. He may well need some of Arteta’s famed coaching focus to reach his full potential – but, with that, let’s hope he makes the doubters ‘do one’ and the boys at the Bus Stop regret his departure as much as that of Salah and De Bruyne.
Is there any business you would additionally like the club to do?
SP: I would love to see Eze coming in and being something completely different from what we are used to seeing. It is great to be unpredictable.
OM: Depends who we sell really. If Tross leaves then I still want one more who can play wide left. I accept it is a difficult balancing act but I hope we won’t leave ourselves short. It’s gone quiet on Eze but let’s see, as he’d be nice to have.
NBN: Apart from the obvious incomings still needed at the time of writing (striker and all-purpose winger/10/Ødegaard, Saka cover), the situations of Vieira, Lokonga and Nelson need resolving, sooner rather than later.
BtM: I would love to see Eze join. He’s a very skilful, impactful talent and would add greatly to our attacking repertoire, particularly in low block situations. I’d like to see Zinchenko, Trossard, Vieira, Nelson, Lokonga and Kiwior join Tierney in finding new homes in which to be happy and develop their careers. If some of these were to be used as make-weights for Eze, I’d be happy.
Which Arsenal player would you least like to lose for next season?
BtM: Without a shadow of a doubt, unquestionably William Saliba. Superb generational talent who is an outstanding contributor already but who is at the same time far from his peak.
NBN: Saliba. If the question is really about losing Trossard or Martinelli, I would let the Belgian go before the Brazilian. Of other mentioned possible departures, I would keep Kiwior at least until the other fill-in centre-backs, Timber, White and Calafiori, have confirmed their returns to full fitness. I would also put young Max Dowman on the must-keep list.
SP: Well, it’s either Martinelli or Trossard. I would rather Martinelli stays.
OM: The issue is drop off in quality, so it’s still Saka for me. Raya would hurt too.
Without giving too much away about your Predictathon entry where do you expect Arsenal to finish in the Premier League next season?
OM: I predict The Arsenal to win it every season !
SP: 2nd or 3rd. Everyone has strengthened, unfortunately, and I still think there is genuine referee bias against us. That is not to say we can’t win it if we make it impossible for decisions to make a difference.
NBN: Top 20, definitely!
BtM: Winners. It’s time, and if the recruitment and divestment programmes I’ve outlined above come to fruition, we’ll have the squad to make that happen. The vagaries of PGMOL are, however, unpredictable and avoiding another six (disgraceful) “Arsenal only” red cards will be essential. Beware the dark Webb!
If Arsenal enjoy a similar season to last campaign but do not win silverware should we sack Arteta?
SP: Absolutely not! That’s not to say he won’t walk, but sacking Arteta would be completely stupid.
NBN: Assuming ‘a similar season’ means remaining competitive with Europe’s elite clubs, then absolutely not.
BtM: Absolutely not! Retaining Arteta’s services should Man Cheaty, Bayern, Real Madrid, PSG or Barcelona come calling will merit more focus and attention.
OM: No, I don’t believe so. Unless, of course, he loses the dressing room in the process of not winning, then the decision becomes much more difficult.
Any other comments ?
SP: I really fear the Club World Cup is going to change football for the worse. Maybe a super league is taking shape regardless of opposition to it.
OM: Just that I want us to start the season a little better than last.
NBN: I suspect many will say that winning a trophy should be the priority for next season, as ‘the project’ has reached the stage where one is due. Silverware is important, symbolically, to fans and because winning things tends to become a habit. However, my two cents are that the key goal for next season is to consolidate our position among Europe’s elite. Arteta has returned us to top table, but we are not yet seated in the middle by right rather than at the end.
As I compile this article Joe Root has scored another sublime century and transfer nerds are charting the flight path for Victor Gyokeres’ plane from Majorca to London for his medical. I would reiterate my thanks to the correspondents that answered my call for their opinions, made in an atmosphere of pre- season uncertainty and who were brave enough to venture their thoughts before we know exactly what we may be facing next season and who we will be facing it with. The good sense and understanding of the game which Holics traditionally exhibit is much in evidence here and suggests optimism for the season combined with concern that events outside our control might interfere with our ambitions. The season is approaching fast. Let’s hope it’s a special one!
CER
Thanks for a very entertaining and informative report. I don’t usually watch friendlies but followed it while trying to build up some fitness on an exercise bike at the gym. I’ve subsequently seen the highlights , most of which featured Max Dowman . He is a phenomenon and must be inching ahead of Nwaneri already . I think he might become the youngest England international of all time . He tore the ape Joelinton a new one and appeared unfazed by the GBH dished out by Stokecastle
Two for the price of one! Fantastic stuff.
I watched the game against the new Orcs. My breath was quite taken away by Dowman. What a prospect. One plea.Please do not set him up in competition with Ethan Nwaneri. Both are brilliant and have superb futures in front of them. Let them develop in their own way and at their own pace. Hopefully both will find their own niche and be teammates at Arsenal for years to come. Be patient with both. They will have good days and bad days as they grow.
TTG and I were chatting the other day. Neither of us can remember a transfer window with such strength and depth. Between us we have over a hundred years of following The Arsenal. It’s only human to want one more, in this case a thrilling left winger to balance the right.
At the end of May I was weary with football. Now I can’t wait for August 17 and the trip to Old Trafford to watch our new team play.
Mike McDonald on the game against the Saudi Orcs.
Thanks C100 for attaching Mike’s good news epistle!
His take on Dowman is astonishing and his views on Gyokeres were one of the things that persuaded me he was a better option than Sesko.
C100 makes an important point re Nwaneri . If the debate becomes ‘ who is going to break through first’ this would be unfortunate. The reality is that Dowman looks so talented that he will always be the first option off the bench to play wide and I’m concerned that Nwaneri may not get much football especially if we sign Eze. I wonder if the clever move might be to loan Nwaneri to Palace as part of the Eze deal. He would play PL football much more regularly at Palace next season and return to us as much more battle hardened . With Madueke , Dowman and Eze , Ethan won’t get much football and our objective should be to get him ready to play as a 10 in 26/27 . I don’t think that was in the plan we presented to him when he signed his new contract but we probably didn’t reckon with Dowman settling that quickly .
Thanks CER, I was only able to find the highlights and appreciate your more detailed review. From what I saw you’ve captured things well and the first goal by Merino
was excellently finished, going to be a real fight for places this season if he keeps
doing that.
C100@3. Thanks for the Mike McDonald link. The eye-opening statistic it contains is that when Saka turns 31, Dowman will still be only 22.
His judgement on Martinelli is brief and dispassionate, but does not bode well for the Brazilian’s continued employment in N5.
As TTG notes, you make an excellent point about the need to avoid making Dowman and Nwaneri an either/or. Two very different talents.
Thanks, too, to TTG for canvassing the view from the four corners of the bar, and CER for his second round of Singapore Slings.
In “formerly of this parish” news, Aaron Ramsdale is being strongly linked with Newcastle (ugh) and Granit Xhaka to Sunderland looks increasingly likely to happen.
C100@7: McDonald makes the point that Pope’s days on Tyneside are numbered because of his kicking. Rammy wouldn’t be much of an upgrade in that respect.
A double header to enjoy- many thanks to CER & TTG for this.
I didn’t watch the match v Stokecastle but it’s nice to get a win over them at any time. It was a decent pre-season workout, helping the team to get prepared for the over physical approach of some opponents. Meanwhile Max Dowman…..just wow!!
It was a completely different tone to read TTG’s assimilation of questions to 4 of the esteemed patrons of this bar. I believe we find ourselves in a very positive mode to how the team is shaping up and the excitement of a very productive transfer business – the squad has been significantly strengthened. Arteta and the coaching team can really get to work.
Two excellent reads. Thank you CER, TTG, BtM, SP, OM and NBN.
I anticipated that the New Orcs would prove a physical challenge for our boys, if not actually over-physical, and so it proved. On the field they epitomise the Mephistophelean looks of Nice Eddie’s evil sidekick rather than Nice Eddie’s fraudulent attempt at a choirboy image. They are a thoroughly nasty bunch and seem to incubate a particular beef against the Arsenal. They can’t possibly still resent the defection of Malcolm McDonald, can they?
It was a delight to beat the buggers but we do need to get our defending organised. Hopefully Big Gabby will return for the start of the season. I thought Nwaneri was surprisingly muted given his performance against Milan. Ødegaard on the other hand looks back on track! I am awestruck by Dowman. Thank goodness he has to cool his heels in the Under 21’s until his next birthday and will hopefully be out of the spotlight until next season at least.
The wisdom of TTG’s correspondents surely reflects the values espoused on this site and it would have been a shock to have read in that piece intemperate, emotionally driven, knee-jerk ramblings such as one regularly finds in another place. Nothing to disagree with strenuously there, gentlemen. However I do not agree that Arsenal now HAVE TO win major silverware or this season will have been a failure. The concept that progress in top level football has to be linear like compound interest is for simpletons.
Berta has been extremely impressive as a buyer of players this summer. Now we will see how good he is as a salesman. Our record in player sales has been so poor (in part perhaps as a result of the silly wages we were offering average players to get them to sign during our years in the wilderness) that improving on Edu’s performance as a salesman is a very low bar. FSG are clearly a model to aspire to, given that Diaz’s sale brings their Dippers’ player sales income to a billion according to the Telegraph (£):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/07/27/liverpool-luis-diaz-bayern-munich-deal/
Bath@10. Not so re Dowman. He is eligible for the Prem and the Carabao immediately. He is only eligible for the Champions League when he turns 16, in December.
Oh dear! I was misinformed. I am actually slightly disappointed. I am pretty confident he will handle it but too much pressure too young is not a good thing.
@7 I read the Xhaka to Sunderland story. It will be nice to welcome him back though it really doesn’t seem like a good idea for Xhaka to go there.
I suppose Rammy knows supposedly Nice Guy Eddie from his Bournemouth days but yeah “ugh” was about my reaction too 🙂
TTG, thanks for the opportunity to share my tuppenceworth on
the various questions.
I answered the question on “who would you least like to lose next
season” based on injuries but if it was about transfers then, of
the vaguely possible transfers, I suppose I’d say Gabi M or Benjamin.
I don’t believe either will leave but it’s football so who knows.
I did read in The Athletic that Reiss will go to Fulham where it seems
he’s wanted and Jesus back to Brazil to help him get back in the
World Cup Squad once fit – both seem sensible moves and all the best to them
Lot of good points about silverware next season and it’s importance to fans
but my own worry is it’s importance to players. MA wants to win the biggest
prizes and that’s what a club like ours should be aiming to do and that’s the
vision sold to the players. It’s absolutely the correct approach to me but players are only human and if they keep falling short they may well eye supposedly greener grass.
Bravo to all contributors. It looks to have been a very successful series of acquisitions this Summer, and the preseason is off to a good start. And Joelinton is unappy so what’s not to like?
That’s a very good point @15, OM, and a perspective that I had overlooked.
The poisonous whispers of certain notorious suitors that winners medals and global adulation would be guaranteed if they were only to join them is a very real risk for our most important duo yet to sign new contracts.
Thanks CER for another fine report full of good chuckles. Hopefully that’s the last time we play them unnecessarily – maybe next summer’s fitness programme could feature a day wrestling crocodiles instead …..
Off to read TTG’s piece now – which I didn’t even realise we were expecting !
And many thanks to TTG and all the correspondents for their interesting and thoughtful answers. What a considered, balanced bunch they are. What the hell are they doing on a football blog ?!
To believe the rumour mill, dealmaking for Trossard is afoot. Also, to add to seeing Xhaka in Sunderland’s colours this coming season, we may see Vieira in West Ham’s.
Will Wright has chosen Liverpool over Arsenal. I can’t cope with this news.
The Ramsdale/Pope news is interesting. A few years ago we drew 3-3 at West Ham after trailing 3-0. Leno had a shocker and when I spoke to friend of the GHF blog, Bob Wilson a couple of days afterwards he told me that he and Seaman had huge reservations about Leno . They both know just a tad more about goalkeeping than I do but I did ask who they recommended as our new custodian ( remember that term?) . Bob said he had told the hierarchy to go for Nick Pope who he thought was the best keeper in England . I don’t think we mentioned how good he was with his feet .
This is not in any way to disparage Bob who coached goalkeeping and arguably created the tradition for goalkeeper coaches but nobody would put Pope in that category now . He looks a very ‘ yesterday’ keeper compared with Raya , Allison , Pickford ( not a fan) and even Kepa . But as Ned points out Ramsdale won’t be the answer to a maiden’s prayer either
I have to disagree with my learned friend TTG.
Rammy is young, tall, blonde, good-looking and rich.
If he is not the answer to a maiden’s prayer then I
don’t know who is 😂
Now to find it who Will Wright is…….
Oh, I see. Wot SP said @22 in that case.
Seems only Gabby and Cala are out for the spud match.
Hopefully this means Timber is fit enough for a run out
Why is Liverpool signing the 65-year-old creator of SimCity? Or are we talking about another Will Wright?
TTG@23. Eddie Howe is no maiden.
Matt @24 – 😂
Disappointing watch in Hong Kong. Very laboured first half with virtually no chance creation after lots of possession. Spuds corners looks more dangerous than ours and they should really have scored twice for them. 0-1 at HT doesn’t flatter them. Or left side lacks impact.
Well, it was only a pre-season friendly moneymaker, so not really a big deal to lose it – BUT, that was a very disappointing watch. Why didn’t we win the League last season? – We played too many games like that. A barrowload of possession without any real forward momentum, minimal chance creation and a centre forward who worked hard and is a good target man but doesn’t have the sharp acceleration or close control to make half chances count. Predictably we relied upon the White/Saka overlap act which Spence dealt with well. The few efforts we tried via Martinelli and later Trossard and Nelson on the left came to less than a hill of beans.
Still it was only a friendly. Nothing to be getting in a lather about.
Oh, and Spuds will finish well above 17th this coming season. Decent squad, good manager.
Thanks BtM for the quick review as I couldn’t watch it here.
I think you’ve summed it up well in the last sentence @29 and I hope you’re wrong
@30:😄
BtM@29: On the money.
Even in a preseason friendly, you don’t want to lose to that lot. Frank has got them playing Championship Brentford possession football with Premiership Brentford set-piece threat. They will indeed finish higher than 17th if they sustain that.
I’m a friend of Shane, known to most of you as depressedgooner, I’ve been a friend of his for almost two decades unfortunately I live in Germany so getting to see him is a twice yearly thing, he used to come to me but with his health issues that is no longer the case, so now we mainly use teams.
For as long as I can remember knowing him he has talked enthusiastically about Arsenal and Goonerholics then Goonerholicsforever.
This year you broke him and I don’t say that lightly, he was delighted to have found a safe space where he could be himself and not worry about offending anybody with his somewhat darker viewpoint and he was absolutely thrilled at the chance to attend a match and watch Arsenal with some nice people from here, I tried to temper his enthusiasm as I’m not quite as trusting of people you have not met yet, anyway as you know it did not happen and nobody let him know it was not going to happen and when he finally worked out his feeling and posted about it, you effectively banned him, his posts were deleted and he became nothing to you.
He’d talked constantly about the nice people he’d met here who told him that he would always be welcomed and even with a depression mindset he should not worry about what he posted to much, I know for sure he never swore or insulted anybody because that is not him, but you offered him so much and then threw him away and I struggle to understand how anybody could do that to a person they have known for many years with no problem at all.
Anyway I know you no longer want him here and I had promised not to say anything but he is having a bad day today and I decided I could not be silent for any longer.
There were some people here who still said very nice positive things to him so to those people I thank you on his behalf.
>>>>>>>