The days are getting warm and you know what that means? It’s perfect weather to make bread.
It’s perfect weather because the rise times are so dialed in. In the cold, moist, winters we get here in Washington, it can take 4 hours to get a loaf of bread to rise on your counter. But in the summer you get some great results almost right away.
People hate waiting around for their results.
There has been a winter’s loaf of news at Arsenal since the season ended. A few stories have bubbled up but the actual, reportable, news has been almost nothing.
First off, I don’t traffic in reports from the Twitter account “Mr. Arsenic” or LT Arsenal or any of those other accounts that act like news sources by reporting, often without links, real journalist’s stories. I also don’t read the Mail, the Sun, the Independent, the Telegraph, the Daily Star, the Daily Mail, London whatever, the Metro, etc. etc. I don’t read any other blogs (sorry!), I don’t listen to podcasts, and I don’t have any inside contacts into the club. I only read the BBC, the Guardian, and Arseblog News (rarely).
I’ve been doing this now for about a decade and it was a conscious decision to disconnect from the non-stop, generated news cycle around Arsenal. I found myself – because of the way my weird brain works – spending far too much time on stories that could never be confirmed. And then debating with people on the veracity of those stories and whether my opinion, based on those stories, was well founded.
What I found out about myself, the self that was immersed in the Daily Mail,, etc., was that through reading those articles (which were always of the “Arsenal in turmoil”, “Wenger the penny pincher”, and “Arsenal dither in the transfer market” variety) was that those articles made me angry about Arsenal. Every time a “deal fell through” it felt like we had just lost a match. And if it was a kind of a big deal (like Suarez/Higuain) it felt like we’d just lost a final.
If you believe every transfer story Arsenal are a loser team that rarely attracts talent. And here’s the thing: I don’t need to see that we missed out on such and such player to know that! I can see that we signed Lichtsteiner last summer, that we have no backup left back, that Granit Xhaka is a starter, that we let Aaron Ramsey go on a free, shot Wojciech Szczesny into space, sold van Persie to United, and on and on and on.
It is abundantly clear that the Arsenal management team and coaching staff is full-on dysfunctional. Management is leaving left and right – the Beeb is reporting that Arsenal’s “high performance” coach is leaving – and the players that we do recruit aren’t really that great. The Guardian’s story this morning is that Denis Suarez was only FIFTY PERCENT FIT when he signed for Arsenal. Arsenal, needing a center back, signed a flippin creative midfielder who was only 50% fit.
Here’s the deal tho.. maybe you like hearing all that transfer news (it’s inescapable – yep, I’m aware that Arsenal are “going to sign Carrasco”, who will be a major failure in my opinion) and enjoy delving into the what-ifs. Please, do it! People I like live off of your engagement and I don’t begrudge them that life at all. Not at all.
But if you’re inclined to take the summer off from Arsenal transfers, lie in the grass and read some Uncle Walt, paddle a boat, take a hike, bake a loaf, or have a picnic with someone you love. I guarantee that when you return to Arsenal in August, you will see us in more or less the same state we have been in for the last decade. There will be some new (uninspiring) faces, there will be some players sold or loaned out, and there will be some players you wish we sold who are still at the club.
Josh and Stan Kroenke will still be in charge. Unai Emery will still be the coach. The team will still be nowhere near the level required for a title challenge.
But even if there is a revolution at Arsenal this summer (the idea is laughable) you will be able to catch up in less than a day.
Happy summer.
Carrasc-who?!
Do you have a good brioche recipe, Tim?
I DO!
Summer is a great time for brioche because you have to let the final dough rest in the fridge overnight. In winter, that means it takes forever to warm up but in summer it’s much more reasonable. I’ll post my recipe this year.
“this year.”
so passive aggressive.
I hate summers. It’s 48 degrees here. 118 F!
I’m baking like your bread, and rising to all baits.
I’m planning on listening to Zonal Marking’s podcast about teams in the 90s. Ajax and Juventus so far.
I stay off Twitter because, generally, it never makes me happier to look at the feeds or comments. We should all strive to be happier in life. So, in that vein, I could not care any less about transfers this summer. When I see Carrasco’s name as a target, then I know it’s guaranteed disappointment. I’m out. Tell me mid-August who the team is.
Carrasco is one of the most depressing names I’ve seen linked to an Arsenal attack.
On one hand, reading this motivates me to go live, do things I enjoy and strive to be happier. On the other, this depresses me. When the club’s dysfunction was shielded by criticism of Wenger, it seemed improvement was just around the corner. Alas, life is not so simple. It’s depressing to realize just how bad things are, and to see no improvements on the horizon. At this point, the most soothing thought is to read about the astounding mediocrity of the pre-George Graham Arsenal.
With our levels of spending we have to emulate the recent title winning teams of Monaco, BVB and Athletico Madrid which were built right under peoples noses, using a combination of bargain signings and world class talent coming through from the academies. This is the only way Arsenal will get back at the top- i.e by things falling dramatically into place though right now it seems like there is a thin line between that happening and things falling apart. I hope one day it will be Arsenal’s turn to surprise the world with a brilliant unexpected team. The major problem we have now is that there is nothing of note coming from our academy and our bargain signings have turned out to be average. Other than that slim hope l honestly do not believe that the owner, the current board or the current manager can get us out of this mess we’re in.
I loved that phrasing – “built right under peoples noses”.
I’m almost completely tuned out, writing block and other life crises are not getting alleviated with this boring team. Seriously, we are a cutback team. Not even old English style, “cross it to the big fella in the middle.” So boring.
Look at the management structure flux in the last year, and it’s clear we are set for a long period of frustrating mediocrity.
Wait, bread can be made? At home?
Where are your permits, certificates of inspection, and compliance placards, good sir?
The G-men are coming…and they’ll want answers. And your support for high falootin’ “sport” like soccer (let alone The Arsenal) won’t please them none too good. Just sayin’
Thanks Tim. For me, realizing there are infinitely more people online wanting to say something than there are real, substantive conversations to be had helped me disconnect. That’s not to say there isn’t a lot to write re: Arsenal, of course. It’s just that too many people are incentivized to look for something to say too often.
It’s so frustrating for me to think about this team/be a supporter right now. This is the only place I check from time to time for new posts. And I’m thankful for a busy summer of sport: My city is on the verge on a first NBA title, my country’s team is one of the best in the FIFA Women’s World Cup with a good chance to get of their group and perhaps get to the quarters or semis. There’s also the ICC World Cup in England (if the rain ever stops), Jai Hind! Our baseball team is deep into rebuilding but hey, we have Vlad!
FInally, thankfully, the Boston Bruins did NOT win the Stanley Cup in the 7th and final game in Boston. The St. Louis Blues, ranked dead last in the NHL in January and one of the last and lowest teams to earn a playoff berth have improbably, won the 7th game in Boston after a 52-year drought.
No, it may not be that long for us but it sure feels that way right now. so that’s why I’m so thankful for these other distractions.
Bread! I love bread. I also love The Arsenal. Is it a crime to love them both even though one occasionally doesn’t ‘rise’ to the occasion?
Only the very single minded can tune off completely at times like these and detach themselves from all the noise concerning our once great club.
I will take my licks and come back for more.
That’s what supporting Arsenal really is.
By the by, Carrasco > Fraser.
Fraser is just a set piece specialist.
As an expert on all things Belgian (football, beer, chocolate, complex politics, pedophiles…), I can confirm that Carrasco is not going to add all that much value. He is a decent but not consistent winger. He has lost his place in the national team to the brother of Eden Hazard (what a family!) and he was never a clear first eleven player anyway. He wasn’t one either in Madrid before. He is fast and can have good moves and dribbles but his success ratio is insufficient. I hope I’m wrong…
Have a great summer guys!
The stats confirm this.
Homeboy attempted 8 dribbles a game in China and was turning the ball over basically constantly. His numbers in Spain were equally unimpressive. He’s going to get eaten alive in the Premier League. Very mediocre signing on paper.
LOL @ “Homeboy”!!!
No worries.
I hear we’ve been linked with Reinier of Flemengo. The last couple of Brazilians we’ve had didn’t work out so well but I’m sure this dude will take us straight to the top.
Campeões da primeira liga!
Up the Arsenal.
Come Winter, I put the oven on “warm” and just put the proofing bucket on the counter next to it. Is this not an acceptable method? I only started baking my own after reading your posts, and I haven’t really studied the intricacies.
There is no unacceptable way to make bread! But I have a better way! Put a big pan in the bottom of your oven, fill it half way with boiling water, place the dough for proofing in there, shut the oven door. Wait 30 minutes, empty out the old water, add more boiling water. Keeps the air moist and warm!
carrasco? i like him but nah, lets roll with iwobi and nelson; spend that money elsewhere.