Author Archives: keenosafc

Danny Bailey – Legend of the Concourse

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I remember the first time I met Danny.

It was on the train back from Sunderland away. I don’t remember the year.

There were 3 of us on a table, another 2 in the seats behind. And then Danny just plonked down his plastic bag of beer on the table and took a seat.

He joined in straight away and from the outside you’d have thought he was part of our group.

At one point, one of my pals (let’s call him Simon) decided to start rapping – it wasn’t very good. Danny was sitting next to him and suddenly transformed into his hype man.

They made an odd couple. Certainly no Fresh Prince and Jazzy Jeff. There was zero timing and all Danny was actually doing was shouting “YEAH” at random points. But it was hilarious.

And this sums Danny up.

He could walk up to any of the different groups of fans that follow The Arsenal and instantly fit in.

One of the great things about doing aways is you see the same people over and over again. And Danny was one of those you would always see. Always recognise.

Everyone knew him. Everyone liked him.

I hated when Danny would see me at games.

He would shout “Keenos” at the top of his lungs across the concourse. He would never call me Dan.

I always try to distance myself at away games from my blogs. I don’t go round looking for attention, and feel uncomfortable when people tell me they ready my blogs or call me Keenos.

Danny didn’t care about this and would always just call me Keenos, and loud. There was no hiding from him.

Another memory is being in the White Swan on Highbury Corner.

He had bought one of those remote control key rings and had somehow managed to programme it to control the TVs in the pub.

Danny spent the entire evening changing the channel, stick Babestation on or turning the TVs off.

When you’re 10 pints in something like that becomes one of the funniest things in the world – we all remember the kid at school doing it!

One post game drink up we were showing Danny how to get bubbles back into your pint by taking another pint glass and tapping its bottom onto the rim of your drink.

Danny then proceeded to miss the rim of his glass and smash through the middle of his pint, shattering the glass and losing a whole pint in the process. Beer was everywhere. We were in hysterics again.

Whether it was the Bailey, Wig, George or Swan, you’d walk in and Danny would be there.

He had this infectious craziness. Always up to something. A bundle of energy.

In all the time I knew Danny, I rarely saw him actually watching a game. He always seemed to be down in the concourse. Beer in hand. He was the King of the Concourse.

Everyone will have their own story of time spent in Danny’s presence. He was just one of those sort of people. You saw him at every game home and away, no matter what time of day. He knew everyone. Everyone knew him.

He was a quality guy and will be missed by everyone that knew him.

Arsenal will be a quieter place without him.

RIP Danny Bailey

Keenos

Arsenal need to bin Sweet Caroline

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Sweet Caroline became the tune of the summer during the Euro’s and I hated it.

For me, the song will always be associated with Match Room Boxing.

It has been used by Eddie Hearn for as long as I can remember. It is the “last song” before ring walks of the main event.

The song played the duel role of getting the fans pumped up and letting them know the main event was about to start.

Whether you was in the O2, Wembley or Millennium Stadium, the of would come off when it was played.

Arsenal began using it around 2 or 3 years ago (the last few years have rolled into one with everything that has gone on). I did not mind it, but it never felt like it was ours.

It has also been played at the cricket for quite a few years, with Geoffrey Boycott singing it live on T20 Finals Day 4 years ago.

And then this summer England “adopted” it as their song for the Euro’s. And it became boring very quickly.

To fans who had no interest in boxing, cricket, or did not support Arsenal, it was probably loved. It was fresh. But to someone like me it was over played and was basically just an idea stolen from others.

I never really liked Arsenal playing it as it was an idea stolen from boxing and cricket. It never felt like “ours”.

With it played so much over the summer, I imagine loads of clubs will begin using it in their ground as an attempt to manufacture an atmosphere.

I hope the Arsenal DJ resists in urge and snaps his Sweet Caroline DVD in half. I just do not want to hear Sweet Caroline again.

Keenos

James Maddison still Arsenal’s number one target, but Odergaard move could happen first

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James Maddison is Arsenal’s number one target this summer. That is something that I am fairly certain of.

If either Houssem Aouar or Martin Odergaard was the first choice, a deal would have been done by now.

Both Lyon and Real Madrid are happy to cash in terms with the players would not be hard to agree.

The fact neither deal has been done shows that they are options 2 and 3. That would leave Maddison as option one.

The Maddison deal is more complicated due to the price.

Reports are Leicester City are demanding £60million+, which is a huge price.

Still just 24-years-old Maddison ticks a lot of boxes including his age, Premier League experience and ability. Although questions will be asked about the hip injury he suffered last year and whether this has affected his ball striking ability.

Despite his ability, I can see why Edu is reluctant to spend £60million on Maddison.

With Ben White set to be confirmed today, that will take Arsenal’s expenditure to £75million. We have yet to raise any money in player departures.

The reported prices for Odergaard and Aouar are £35million and £25million respectively.

Maddison’s Premier League experience makes him the better player of the 3; but is it worthwhile spending around £30million more on him? That is the question Edu will be pondering; especially when the squad needs so much improvement elsewhere.

Edu will be aware how signing one player can impact the budget when targeting others.

With another midfielder and 2nd choice keeper still essential, spending £30million more on Maddison than what Odergaard would cost us will impact who we target elsewhere.

Were we to go for Maddison, one of two things need to happen.

Either Arsenal need to sell some players or Leicester have to come down on their asking price.

The lack of sales is proving a headache for Edu.

Not only is it the squad places they take up but also the potential incoming.

Hector Bellerin and Granit Xhaka would be expected to raise £60-70million between them.

We also have Lucas Torriera and Sead Kolasinac at the club. We would expect around £20million combined for the pair.

Selling the 4 would then raise £80-90million. That is a huge chunk and would more than fund a replacement right back and central midfielder for Bellerin and Xhaka.

Those bits of business would only leave us with needing the 2nd choice keeper and an attacking midfielder.

And that is without taking into account the income we could generate selling Joe Willock, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson (up to £100million if all 4 sold).

Were Arsenal to sell all 8 players mentioned, we would probably raise enough funds to be able to afford Maddison and one of either Aouar or Odergaard; whilst still getting the new right back, central midfielder and keeper.

Without the sales, the only way Maddison is coming is if Leicester City lower their £60million asking price.

The issue with that is Maddison does not seem to be pushing for a move.

Maddison spoke in an interview yesterday about having his ‘hunger and motivation’ back and how he was looking forward to the new season.

He knows full well that he could stay at Leicester for another year, play European football for the FA Cup winners and a transfer to a “big club” will still be there in 2022.

With 3 years still left on his contract, Leicester will be in no rush to sell as his transfer value will still be £50-60million next summer.

And were Leicester to continue with their top 6 finishes and competing for trophies, I would not be surprised if he signs a new contract next summer. There is a good chance with Tottenham’s problems that Leicester could replace them over the next 2 or 3 years in the medias “Big 6”.

So how do I think it will go?

I do not think Leicester will lower their asking price. They have no reason to do so and Maddison is not pushing for the move.

So I think if we do not see any sales over the next 7 days, we will put our interest in Maddison to one side and sign Odergaard or Aouar for half his asking price.

We may well return to Maddison towards the end of the transfer window depending on who we have sold and having signed a keeper, right back and central midfielder.

If we sell who we want and maximise those transfer fees, we could be back in for Maddison close to the transfer deadline.

That would leave us with Bukayo Saka, Nicolas Pepe, Emile Smith Rowe, Odergaard / Aouar and Maddison as options to play behind the striker.

Moving for Odergaard in the next 10 days will not mean that we have given up on Maddison. It will mean the price is not right at this time.

Keenos