Invisible Butt Provides Fitting End To The Week
Jan 27th, 2008 by 'holic
First up, let me offer my sincere thanks to Railtrack, who managed to turn a relatively straightforward trip to the Grove into a four hour nightmare. Great Western deserve a mention too, for ensuring that replacement bus services did not arrive remotely close to the departure time of the trains they were presumably intended to connect with! I cannot leave out TfL for the circle line closure either.
Travel groans apart though, yesterday was another thoroughly good day at the new home of football. Thanks are due to those who made the pre and post match slurps of Guinness an enjoyable and enlightening experience.
Thanks also to William Hill. Newcastle’s inability to score scuppered the ‘holic pound, but I had more than that as a backup on the draw at half-time, and Arsenal to win, and that paid for the upper tier ticket. *Note to Arsenal’s caterers. It would also have covered a bite to eat, if you had anything other than vegetarian pizza and hot dogs upstairs at 2.30pm!
The match itself panned out pretty much as expected, although the inclusion of Hoyte and Walcott caught me out. The first half saw us once again with the handbrake on, controlling possession, but creating little. There was an element of ‘safety-first’ about the performance. We were not about to suffer a second cup upset in a week.
The early loss of Rosicky possibly didn’t help the game plan. Lovely footballer that he is, he seems to be a very delicate individual. At least Robin van Persie will have his regular Monopoly opponent back in the treatment room.
After the break we upped the tempo, driven on by Flamini, and Adebayor once again demonstrated there is not a hotter striker in the top flight at present. Two wonderful finishes were supplemented by a wayward header from the anonymous Butt, and safe passage into the last sixteen was assured.
I cannot let the game pass without a mention for Senderos. Fears that Owen might be the type of striker to unhinge him were unfounded. The big man was excellent, and the run of games is starting to show. Keep it up Phil.
The return journey, only a three and a half hour nightmare, was made more pleasant by the excellent ESB at Paddington, and more Guinness at Didcot, thus ensuring I dozed through the final leg on the coach!
Now, who do we want in round five?
14 Responses to “Invisible Butt Provides Fitting End To The Week”
That ESB sounds tasty. Clichy continues to catch the eye, for me. He looks to be in rich vein of form bombing down the left. He was constantly putting Newcastle under pressure.
I thought the whole team played well with stand out performances by Flamini, Clichy, Ade and Eduardo. Cesc is starting to find his best form again and I agree with you re the solidity of Senderos at the back. Keep it up lads!
Toure is ok –
http://tinyurl.com/3495m8
But is it – NO ADEBAYOR, NO ARSENAL ??????????
Diaby was pathetic yesterday – he made the difference – whether v having scored 3(or 2 for dat matter) and cud have gone on2score 5 or 6.
Fabregas has lost his strking prowess. Flamini is needed alot at the back. Hleb & Eboue work hard but they dont come on2striking positions. Rosicky/RVP – Injury Prone. Walcott – hopeful but v dont have da time dis season 2 wait & c if he improves..
So v need a breakaway attacking midfielder who can deliver lethal strikes not lethargic Diaby strikes..
V took the ball & have been taking the ball so beautifuly to the opponent’s penalty area so many times this season..&more often than not – v just simply crumble in front of Goal..
Dis doesnt happen 2Manu – Opponents are so worried of strikers -Tevez & Rooney..&da cunt who actually causes trouble is their Lead -midfielder – Ronaldo..V need this option as well..Reason y am comparing 2Man u- is bcos v need2beat dem dis season..
&1-0,2-0 wins at da Premier League wont be enough..y ? bcos dats y v arent at the TOP of the table today, ya..
& what has happened to our shots outside da opponent’s penalty area..da medium range ones..da ones that curve in..curve out?? da ones dat Fabregas/RVP used to score from a distance..
remember Fabregas’s effort from the midfield against Spurs -away…v won 3-1..those kind of shots???
I feel v are weekened cos dey are not coming out anymore
I presume you intended the pun in your heading – very good!!
very happy with the result. were you in the choir who kept singing the Ade song? haha
Are you happy? I’m happy. Are you happy? =)
p.s. – Fab hasn’t lost his striking prowess. It’s just a rough patch and honestly he played better against Newcastle than in the previous few games. He’ll be back. AND it was his great freekick that led to Butt’s own goal no?
I love all our lads. Even lazy Diaby.
Who once said “you don’t win anything with kids”? How right they were…..
Bald Devil loves you all.
Railtrack? 😉 or Network Rail
Whoever it was Darren from what I could make out there were two tossers picking crisp packets off the line that was closed down at Didcot in the morning. Fascinating viewing while you are waiting for something to arrive that will get you to London in time for kick-off!
We drew Yanited.
Every other fixture looks easy and boring.
Nice to meet you again, ‘holic!
Shame I couldn’t stay any longer.
Answer to your final question: I wanted Man U. At home. Close but no cigar.
AC Milan for CL; MU for the FA Cup; and a tight 3-way race for the league. It’s going to be a cracking second half of the season. I am sure the players will be raring to go. Let’s just hope everyone stays fit and focused.
We need all the resources we can get..RVP/Toure/Rosicky & even Vela if possible..
We just need everybody..rearing to go..And no time for experiments with stupidos like Diaby