Sunderland And Smoke On The Horizon
Nov 20th, 2009 by 'holic
Apologies, ‘holics. I know it’s a bit late in the day, but the management has been under the knife again so I have been spending a lot of time elsewhere. However, I know many of you need to know the destination of the ‘holic pound, so you can discount it from your own weekend bets. Cruel, you lot can be!
Arsenal travel to Sunderland with a depleted line-up, but it is not all bad news on the availability front. According to the official site we welcome Theo Walcott, Denilson, and Jack Wilshere back into the squad, which is tremendous news. Walcott may be a contender to replace Robin van Persie up front, but I suspect that Eduardo will get the nod as he is slightly ahead in the match-fit stakes.
I am also hoping the trio that impressed at Wolverhampton will retain the midfield berths. Song, Ramsey, and Fabregas looked a balanced combination, although fifteen or twenty minutes for Denilson will not go amiss. He may well be needed come January and needs to get back up to speed.
In defence it is being suggested that the two French players may get a rest after a gruelling two hours the other night. Thanks for being so negative, Monsieur Domenech! I have a feeling Eboue will be preferred to Sagna at right-back, but I doubt that Gallas will be sacrificed too. His partnership with Vermaelen is critical with changes in both full-back positions likely.
So the bet to avoid, being the one I shall be lumping a whole pound on, is what appears to be a very generous 13/2 from William Hill on the score being level at half-time, and Arsenal winning. When you consider that the other majors go 3/1 or 7/2 on that happening I can’t help but suspect a misprint. I’ll be banging on their door in the morning.
Saturday morning update. As I suspected those odds are complete fiction. 16/5 they offer. Go to Paddy Power for 7/2. Hills did have Thomas Vermaelen at 7/1 to score at anytime, so my backup pound is on that.
I cant avoid it totally, can I?
I’d like to remain firmly on the fence I was occupying prior to the France v Ireland qualifier. No other international has interested me more this year, frankly. However the furore that has followed the evening’s events leave one burning question in my mind.
Would I be more embarrassed to be French after they won through a sleight of hand, or English, given the astonishing amount of xenophobic, hypocritical, self-righteous indignation exhibited by some of the nation’s hacks. I can only personally affirm the second part of that conundrum.
There is no question that once again we have a clear example of why video technology should be seriously considered for top flight football. I understand the arguments about it not being available at lower levels of the game, but in all honesty the numbers of people, and the vast sums of money, that are affected by the results of big-time matches now, suggest some additional assistance to the officials is required.
The slaughter of one man for something that goes on game in and game out, day in and day out, throughout the world, is disgusting to any right-minded observer. For football scribes here to lead the lynch party is amazing. Yes, the hand of God sticks in the memory, but so too does the sight of Michael Owen tumbling theatrically as we extracted our revenge.
I’d love to see the French offer a replay, in the same way Arsenal did after the Sheffield United incident in the FA Cup. I’d love to see FIFA accept such an offer, but fear that neither is likely to happen. The only sensible solution will vanish into the smoke that is pouring from a million keyboards or more.
Perhaps the time has come to let that smoke clear, until the next incident involving Johnny Foreigner. Because we don’t do that sort of thing, do we?
15 Responses to “Sunderland And Smoke On The Horizon”
I thought I could get first drink!
Single malt for me!
Cheers
And spot on blog, comme toujours!
The next round is on me.
Absolutely spot on ‘holic. i think that midfield trio is the way for arsenal. Ramsey can do it at international level so it wont take him long to get into his stride in the prem given more starts…
I have only posted a couple of comments on here for some reason but am an avid reader. The best arsenal blog going without doubt!
I’ve got a feeling the lads will come 1st or 2nd this year, however hard these pesky interlulls try to hamper our progress… Up the arse!
a flaming, sugary black absynth for me please š
be a great game tomorrow…goals galore, but a think we might sneak it honestly. a hope you lot win the league though because you’re brand of football is best in the world…much better than barca as they just keep the ball without doing to much! this will be the only time i’m wishing arsenal lose all season except when we get you down the shed lmao…good luck ha’way thu lads
an old monk rum for me ‘holic.. another balanced post from the ol’ timer..
Thank you Matt,
and sorry not to mention your boys much. Normally I would. Sunderland lads have been good to us down the years.
You appear to be putting a side together under Bruce as well. Should be tight tomorrow.
Good luck fella.
Soda and lime please, ‘holic and good luck ..
Plus – Gallas is the real scoundrel after all š
Sorry to hear the management is not too good ‘holic – I hope all is well and that she is back in situ giving you ear-ache – we all love it really!
Great news that Denilson and Theo are back with young Gibbs determined to make the most of his chance – the depth of our bench has been quietly impressive this year. Anyway here we go – at long last the Interlulls will cease to get in the way of what is shaping up to be a great season. Our most difficult 12 week period of the whole season is approaching in the league – we need to keep the faith, cheer on the lads, and not back down if the odd thing goes wrong.
The young master’s own football commitments in the Cambs U11 league (he’d rather play than watch and quite right too) mean that we won’t see another game in the flesh until Stoke – let’s hope that the Mackem’s, Liege, Chav’s and money bags City have been done and dusted by then. After that game we can play the kids away at Olympiacos and get properly rested for ending the mugsmashers season at Anfield.
Time for a large, old cognac I think ‘holic, perhaps a 20 year old Hine . Did you see that piece in the paper that said heavy drinkers were at the lowest risk of heart disease? Happy days!
Come on you Gunners!
fyi i think thierry killed someone. some short who owned a pot of gold and a bright green suit. he also had a ginger beard, drank guiness and only ever said the words “to be sure to be sure”. such a fall from grace for one of my favourite players and now he is going to have to go jail and wont even be able to spend the pot of gold or get freaked out whenever he notices the short arses in the barcelona team kind of remind him of his murder victim that still haunts his dreams.
Well said holic. Even “our” very own” (muppet) Myles Palmer jumped on the hysterical bandwagon with “Henry is a LIAR & a CHEAT”. Personally I am so disgusted at the manner in which the media has treated this man. Most of those typying cruel and untrue words hide many worse forms of cheating in life but lucky for them they weren’t caught!. “Let the man without sin cast the 1st stone!!”
Anway, the 13/2 looks good but I have a sneaking suspicion that a few local(home) punters might take a dab at the 9/2 that is being offered on a home win.
This is the perfect game for The Arsenal to show that we are ready for this title tilt. A win here says “yes we can” and in a tough place like The Stadium of Light. 3-1 to the beautiful free flowing Gooners. Edurado at the double!
Play to the whistle is what we were taught and that`s what Henry did, no more. The ref. missed it, that`s part of the game at present. Tomorrow we`ll have technology in place for the EPL and many doubts and question marks will disappear on the spot. I personally think both France and Henry would rest easier by agreeing to a replay. After all as Henry himself has said in the past ” it`s not just about winning but the way you win”.
If we can gain three points at stadium of light we will have done pretty well,remember this is the place were we hardly seem to be able to buy a win.
Sunderland are looking improved under Mr Bruce this season, and I thought in their last match (against Spurs) they looked the better team and were unfortunate not to get anything from that game.
That said I think that the injury to Cattermole is a huge blow to their team and with Jones being suspended their forward line is not as potent.
A big test for the lads this afternoon, if they can win this one it should boost confidence going into the clash against Chelsea, so fingers crossed.
Finally, from the outside lookin in, it pains me to say that the British medias coverage of the whole TH affair is beyond disgusting. As you yourself stated their xenophobic, hypocritical and self-righteous indignation is just beyond the pale. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not condoning what TH (admitedly) done, and I do feel that the Irish were “wronged”, but they’ve just taken it too far. I saw this morning on the Sun website an interview from old nut job Eric Cantona in which the headline was “Iād have hit Henry”. Now what good could printing that kind of garbage do anyone?
Anyway, I’ll have a pre match Pint please sir, cheers.
oh noes our season is in tatters, how will we ever survive?