We Pay A Visit To An Old Friend
Aug 27th, 2010 by 'holic
“IT’S BEHIND YOU, ROBBO!”
Go on. Yell it out. Like any true old friend it makes you feel better as the good memories come flooding back.
“YOU WANT US TO PUT A BELL IN THE BALL SO YOU CAN HEAR IT COMING, FATGUTS?”
Ever was it so when Paul Robinson, once of the parish of Twitching-in-the-Marshes, came up against the mighty Arsenal. Saturday lunchtime gives the former England ‘keeper the opportunity to rack up a remarkable half-century of goals conceded against North London’s finest. Just two more are required for this astonishing landmark.
The tubby one will be quick to point out that in his last meeting with us he ended up on the winning side after surrendering his customary opening goal to Robin van Persie. Two weeks after the shambolic defeat at Wigan had ended our title hopes a makeshift Arsenal side were bullied out of the contest with Lukasz Fabianski in particular coming under pressure from set pieces.
In the aftermath of that performance I wrote,
“Did Blackburn take the laws of the game and ride as close to the edge as possible? Well, yes, but don’t tell me anybody in the away team dressing room hadn’t been prepared for that. It was hardly a surprise. Teams like Blackburn have to scrap against us and, Pedersen’s ‘challenge’ on van Persie aside, there was nothing that could have been expected to cause serious injury.”
Tomorrow is unlikely to provide any surprises in terms of the pressure Fat Sam’s stormtroopers are likely to attempt to exert. They will try to compress play, tug shirts, nick ankles, tumble theatrically (yes, Pedersen is still there!) and generally do what they have to in order to disrupt the flow of the game. They know if we establish a passing game they are dead meat.
At set pieces they will stand on Manuel’s toes and block his route to the ball. Frankly I would like us to clear the six yard box just before each corner is taken. Risky as that sounds it will leave attackers in offside positions if they don’t react, and Manuel will have a clear view of any attempt on goal if we make a horlicks of it.
The point I am seriously over-labouring is that we all know what is coming. Arsene and his highly professional coaching staff know what is coming. It would be a huge disappointment to a lot of people if we allowed ourselves to fall for those tactics again. We are prepared, aren’t we?
After last Saturday’s excellent win there is some serious competition for places. Koscielny returns from suspension, which in turn frees up Song to contest the anchor role in a midfield that will be seriously difficult to select.
The skipper must return, mustn’t he, but Rosicky is at his best, Wilshere and Diaby have started well, and Denilson is also in contention for the first time this season. My guess is that Song, Diaby, and Cesc will get the nod given the nature of the opposition, with Jack permanently warming up on the sideline ready to get stuck in when required.
Two decisions need making up front. Walcott, Chamakh, and Arshavin, face competition from van Persie and Eboue. My heart says you cannot drop a hat-trick scorer, and van Persie should get the nod ahead of Arshavin against his old foe in the Blackburn goal. My head says Arsene will select van Persie ahead of Walcott, and keep the Russian in for the unexpected.
The ‘holic pound was decided for me by chippy in the drinks this morning. I like the look of 3-1 to a much stronger Arsenal side than appeared at Ewood in May. I wan’t to see Fat Sam as sick as the proverbial in his post-match growl. I have an account with sportingbet.com who offer 12/1. I’ll have some of that.
Paddy Power appears to have withdrawn his Arsenal special of 10/1 against Maroune Chamakh scoring first. I’m mighty pleased I was on it in time!
So, travelling Gooners, have a great day, and don’t eat too many meat and potato pies. Good luck those on the stream hunt too. Negotiations complete, I will be accompanied by the management on the sofa. On this bank holiday weekend we are having a boozy Saturday watching the Arsenal and then I will try and produce some sort of report before reaching the point of no return.
Callers on Sunday morning will get short shrift I predict!
All the best for now, ‘holics.
84 Responses to “We Pay A Visit To An Old Friend”
cerveza and a tequila chaser for this early round please sir…
I’ve got some looking after the kids credit to get in tomorrow but will be sky + ing it to watch later, segwaying nicely into a bbq (charcoal, rotor goat!) and cheering on Racing vs The Team That Can’t Be Named.
If you could all refrain from telling me the result I’d be very grateful!
Salud….
I hope you don’t mean the Arsenal – Blackburn result, Catalan. I don’t think people will be too quite about that one around here. 🙂
Evening, Holics. Interesting test tomorrow, I think we’re really up for it. Love to see some competition for places in our team, what a relief.
I’ll have an early Guinness, if you’re pouring. My local pub Beckett’s (they fund our weekend side) just went belly up. Not so easy to find a good pour here in the East Bay Area… cheers.
And Holic, is Buffon coming by train? He’s slow to arrive… hope he’s not in that traffic jam over in Beijing! He might miss the window!
I feel a front 3 of Rosicky, v Persie and Chamakh.
3-0 to the Arse
Chamakh getting a header!
new and improved blog over at http://cescandthecity.blogspot.com/
Too right that we can’t honestly act surprised when we head up north and they play like schoolkids. That said we do seem to have (whisper, don’t jinx it…) rather a lot of players back from the medical room.
3-1 seems wise but I’m going to push the boat out and say we’ll get four (and let one in of course).
Hope the Saturday piss up goes to plan Mr holic. I’ll have a pint of star and some cheap brandy please – it’s Friday!
Another post ‘Holic – I can’t keep up 🙂
A great statistic that – 2 goals to reach a lardy landmark – just got to make sure that whatever we get, they get less. I can wait on that landmark if needs be and an old “One Nil to the…….” will do me fine.
I also have an appointment to watch the Arsenal tomorrow – Management here is going to be with the ladies that lunch. Joy.
I have some Polish lagers chilling in the fridge just for that very appointment with Sky. For now I will have Mojito.
Is there anything better than waking up at 7:45 and watch Arsenal?
After taking a very close look, for the first time in years, our squad is the deepest squad.
Have a look at United, Chelsea and you can see how light they are, especially in the back.
Maybe the injury curse could move on to that side of London? Let’s see them coping.
I was told that last year apart (and that was a dead rubber so I can disregard it somewhat) we have a decent record at Blackburn in recent years, so fingers crossed we can get the win and that will be a very satisfactory start to the season.
Oh okay – Joshua. I’ll understand if you mention the result, but whisper heh?
Catalan, you know it gets a bit noisy in this establishment after the full time whistle – I suggest you avoid the computer 😉
Thanks for the added pressure of your pound Holic 🙂
In praise of your normal tipping i will have the added dabble of Chamakh first goal and the good guys to win 3-1
I love an away day but im afraid Blackburn is not one of the grounds i visit with any excitement so have decided to give it a miss this year as in all honesty its not the greatest place for a day out !
So instead i will be meeting a few friends and we will plot up,
In front of a big screen with barrels of the amber nectar and black stuff only yards away lovely 😉
Catalan, perhaps Clive or BtM can give you the keys to their “Secure Unit.”
So here’s TWO you Misses Robinson . . . . .
Come on REEDDDSSSS !!
I know it’s a bit early in the season, and perhaps to “measly” an opponent for me to use the Peter Hill-Wood quote from after Anfield -89 but I’m going for it anyways (we’re all a bunch of drunkards anyways so I’ll probably get away with using it again later this season, preferably after we grab the league)
“Never in any doubt”
We will beat the Rovers. No worries. We might get a few bruised legs but we’ll do it. I’m going for 2-0 to the Arsenal. Almunia won’t let in a goal. Cesc to score his first of the season. It will be a nice, round “50 let in” for Robbo The Robbed.
Up the Arse!
…good one Trev!
Absolutely nothing to worry about tomorrow. 4-0. Maybe 4-1.
And FatSam will say after that they got nothing from the referee as he was pre-influenced by Wengers rugby comments.
Got a good feeling about tomorrow, it will be great to put Fat Sam back in his place.
Looks like Fran Merida is getting off to a good start in his A. Madrid career.
A Guinness extra cold please.
Blackburn scored the most set pieces in the league last season – Arsenal conceded the highest proportion to set pieces. I think B’burn will score a set piece. Goalkeeper is the most important position at a set piece.
Holics
Let’s cut through all the bullshit and verbal diarrhoea,
We have 4 league games before we go to the Bridge,
Blackburn,Bolton,Sunderland and West Brom,
I don’t care what CL qualifiers we are playing around those games,
Anything less than TWELVE points should be completely unacceptable as far as i and every other Red blooded Gooner should be concerned.!!
We are already 2 pts behind Chelsea,whose next 3 games are against Stoke,Wham and Blackpool.
They go to Man City the week before they play us,for their first serious test of the new season.So if we pick up 12 points and they drop a couple at City we could be going to the Bridge level on points.
So EXCUSES are not acceptable anymore.!!
I have already signed my life away to get out of the Secure Unit for the start of the new season,but if we cannot beat the 4 Neanderthal teams mentioned above,then i may well have to seriously consider re admitting myself to the SU for a very long time to come.!!
Great post as usual Holic! I think we should play a midfield three of song diaby and the in form rosicky.How do you think we’ll line up if wenger goes for both chamakh and RVP?
‘Anything less than TWELVE points should be completely unacceptable as far as i and every other Red blooded Gooner should be concerned.!!
We are already 2 pts behind Chelsea,whose next 3 games are against Stoke,Wham and Blackpool.’
Calm down, I think 10 points would be acceptable from those games (though any less would be disappointing). And so what if we’re 2 points behind Chelsea already, they’ve played West Brom and Wigan, we had to go to Anfield!
So, who thinks Walcott will start?
I think he might – Wenger will want to show faith in the player after the criticism last week.
Charlie
You are already being defeatist and settling for mediocrity if you think 10 pts are acceptable.
Let’s hope the Boss and the Team don’t think like you.!!
Utd and Chelsea would eat those 4 teams for breakfast without breaking sweat.
It has always been the points we dropped against the lesser teams that have cost us dearly in the past.
With a much stronger squad this season,dropping points against mediocre teams is not an option.
If the mindset is right,anything is possible.
Didn’t Chelsea draw at Blackburn last year? Hardly eating them for breakfast. And I don’t think wanting 4 wins and 2 draws after 6 games is settling for mediocrity. You have to be realistic sometimes.
This was the team that lost at Ewood on 3 May 2010:
—————-Fabianski
Sagna – Campbell – Silvestre – Traore
———Eboue – Nasri – Diaby
———-Walcott – RVP – Vela
I don’t think it’s a stretch to say the players available for tomorrow won’t be bullied quite so easily. But this is Blackburn, a team which, in the last year or so, is notoriously difficult to beat at home (I think they only lost 3 times at home last season?), and we have yet to prove we can deal with their tactics. My hope is tomorrow will lay a marker for the season, but I don’t think scorelines of 4 or more are quite on. They will definitely score one. Perhaps the first goal. 2-1 to Arsenal?
[…] dish out whenever Blackburn appear on the fixture list. With Paul Robinson still in goal and approaching a half century of goals conceded to us in his career, I see no reason for that not to continue […]
I’d love 3-1 but I’ll settle for 2-1. Playing Blackburn/Allardyce away has never been a walk in the park for any team. Still confident of course!
@Clive: we ought to win those 4 games but there is no need to resort to personal attacks to make your point. if anything the draw between Indebted and Fulham last week demonstrates again that there are no granted results anymore in the premiership.
@Snir: the game is live at 4.45 here. Ouch! We better win it 😉
I love the difficulty in predicting who will play now. I remember GG saying those are problems a manager wants to have, or somesuchandsuchness. I want to see Rosicky play but I suspect Fab will be back (it would be a kind of rough justice if the skipper found himself having to challenge for a place in the team).
This one’s almost worth spread betting on how many cards the ref will dish out. Liverpool, Blackpool, Blackburn, Bolton – what a northwest filthfest this season is kicking off with. If Koscielny gets through that little lot in one piece he’ll be prepared for the rest of the English season. It was probably a good thing he got a red and a match off to watch and recover before being plunged back into the fray.
Glass of warm milk now, beddybyetimes.
Matt – You should stay up then 🙂
I just stumbled across a scary fact – We haven’t beaten an Allardyce team away from home since 2002 (not even the invincibles)!!
We HAVE to get a result.
Am quite glad we have United, Chelsea, City, Villa, Liverpool all away in the first round cause we’ll have it easier come the business end of the season!
Tomorrow’s game appears to be the biggest potential banana skin of the next four, with the away game at Sunderland following closely behind. But Clive you are of course right that we must approach it as 12 points we must have. The pull of the Secure Unit may be strong but the urge to be with a winning Arsenal team must win out every time! Chamakh if he scores first will delight us all and especially Holic knowing his money is on it but what about Vermaelen to score on a first minute header?
YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST – FABREGAS, ROSICKY, ARSHAVIN + WALCOTT WILL GET 1+ MONTH LAYOFFS AFTER THIS GAME DO NOT PLAY THEM.
Almunia
Sagna Kos Verm Clich
Song Diaby Denilson
Chamack RVP Eboue
to win 1-0
hardnuts, don’t know who you’re supporting with predictions like that but if we put out the team you suggest we will blow them away anyway.
Hardnuts – That’s an interesting lineup. If there were ever a time to use, away to Big Sam’s Blackburn is it!
I want to see Jackie Boy get stuck in, but then again I want to see Arsene give the Walrus a nice fist sandwich. I suspect I’ll be disappointed twice. Regardless, I love the 3-1 prediction, sounds right.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS!
Late again, ‘Holics. Apologies for that.
Lubrication got in the way of me, and this contribution tonight. Not black-with-a-tawny-top throat lubrication, as enjoyed frequently by ‘Holic and purveyed by Young Master Guinness of Dublin. Not lubrication of the KY kind, so don’t raise your hopes in anticipation of a salacious story. But good old honest lubrication of the industrial kind – air compressors, gas engines, gear boxes and hydraulic systems and that kind of contraption, that hark all the way back to the steam engine, the industrial revolution and to dark satanic mills.
BLACK BURN. The very name conjures up visions of dark satanic mills and burning fires in the depths of darkness deep below the earth’s surface. Where Auld Nick himself looks on as suffering, punishment and fiery torture are dolled out in good measure at his bequest, as he sits in his dug-out, chewing gum.
And, as Arsenal board their Chariot’s of Fire and prepare for northern climes, they know this will be no jolly-boys outing to Jerusalem. They’ll be well aware of the prospect of the suffering, punishment and fiery torture that are the regular ingredients of their annual visit to Ewood Park. Inevitably, the pain on the Lancashire plain flows decidedly in one being direction, and Cesc from Spain had better beware as the home-side torturers hammer limbs and sever skin, to the tempo of Auld Nicklas Samuel Allaryce’s spearmint gum chewing from the depths of his lair.
Sam’s a fat man of Bugsy Malone proportions and that’s no lie. But he’s not funny in the style of Oliver Hardy, John Candy, Billy Bunter or Bud Abbott and can’t sing in the style of Mama Cass. Nor can he fill a front bench like Cyril Smith, even although he does seem to have mastered the art of eating all the half-time oranges and making the entire squad’s pies disappear single-handedly immediately the whistle blows for 90 minutes. And he can’t have a drink after the game with Arsene because he’s polished of the entire bottle of Chateauneuf before AW’s even in the tunnel.
He’s signed another Diouf. Now that’s two of them, a brace of Diouf’s, the Diouf duet, brothers in arms Diouf, a duo of Dioufs, that we’ll have to face. A quick scan of my Arabic-to-Scots dictionary reveals that a Diouf is a “camel turd sniffing, river boat gambler who regularly frequents the casino on the Blue Nile ferry”. Only Sam could get away with having two of them in his team against the Arsenal.
Whether Andrei Arshavin’s haircut will be sufficient to put the fear of the devil into Sam and his camel turd sniffers, time alone will tell.
Will the TTT of Cesc, Song and Deni start? Or will it be extended, by the addition of Eboue, at the request of bt8bbnn, to the FFFF (Fabulous Foursome of Fantastic Fortitude)? I think both are unlikely and I’m right with Holic on Cesc, Diaby and Song getting the mid-field nod. I fancy Kos and the Verminator at centre-back, Theo on the wing, with Robin and Chamakh doing a diabolic dagger dance on Robinson’s head up front.
Rusty nails in a coffin shaped glass and a flaming top, ‘Holic please.
Oh yes, and an away win to celebrate tomorrow.
You can’t be offside on a corner. By definition you are behind the ball once it’s put in play. i.e., Don’t clear the 6-yard box!
“Frankly I would like us to clear the six yard box just before each corner is taken. Risky as that sounds it will leave attackers in offside positions if they don’t react”
Can you be offside from a corner??? As the ball cannot be played forward, as it’ll just go straight out of play, technically you can’t be in an offide position? Did you mean free-kicks instead of corners?
18yr old Glenmorangie please. Neat.
sorry, hadn;t seen storefront’s comment…
BtM I am honoured to be given a mention in your magnificent and mellifluous match preview. If there be no Fabulous Foursome of Fantastic Fortitude then I will hope for an Eboue cameo appearance in relief of young master Walcott. A big effort is needed from everybody, but I have an optimistic feeling about this one.
You know whats coming and you know theres nothing we can do to stop it. Highly skeptical about our chances.
Snir: I just stumbled across a scary fact – We haven’t beaten an Allardyce team away from home since 2002 (not even the invincibles)!!Not quite true. I can think of at least once, we beat Bolton away in the FA cup in the 2006/7 season. Granted, that was after extra time, but still.
And even if it was true, well, time to change that, then.
Storefront and Eddie,
You are right about that, but having seen Fabianski stumble over his own man in a crowded box I would clear to the six yard line. Any ball in that area must be the ‘keepers with an arm’s advantage over any attacker who could only prevent him getting to the ball by physically impeding him.
Any ball played to the penalty spot and headed forward from there would more than likely catch any slow forwards in an offside position in front of the ‘keeper and therefore ‘active’.
The ‘keeper also has a clearer line of sight and time to react to the effort.
Agreed, I didn’t use the word ‘risky’ without thought, and we know it won’t happen, but is it any riskier than relying on the referee to solve the issue for us, which he clearly didn’t in May.
‘morning, really looking forward to this match, what about starting with chesney in goal, he’s a big fucker and dominates his area unlike the other two. I’ve gone for the 3-1 as well.
I’ll have a pint of “yellow matter custard, dripping from a dead dogs eye,” please..
..and a powers.
Great blog again Sir.
Looking forward to this game as a test of our psychological resolve in facing these type of shitkicking teams.
This morning I am facing the consequences of the delicious creamy pints of plain that the barman in my local provided last night. I will therefore take a strong mug of tea please.
Normally I’d be quite wary of an away trip to Allardyce’s place, but since we’re full strength – BRING IT ON!
Lars – I’m quite sure I picked it up from Jeremy Wilson’s piece, so I’m quite sure he’s talking about EPL matches…
It’s time we break that record, don’t you think?
Why don’t we start the player who has a dark side but cannot be named….. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11670_6342987,00.html
Matt @ 30
I’m sure Charlie is quite capable of defending himself if he thinks i am criticising him on a personal level.[ Which i’m not ].
I just happen to think that if you settle for something less than maximum points as a fan or a player,then you get what you wish for.
Just because Utd only drew with Fulham last week,shouldn’t be used as a crutch to support your argument that there are no ‘ given games ‘ anymore.
I repeat what i said earlier,any Gooner who thinks less than max points against Blackburn,Bolton,Sunderland and West Brom,is acceptable if we want to challenge for the Title, is subconsciously settling for second best.
Let’s be brave,bold and positive in thought and deed and trust the ‘ Boys’ can put down a marker for the early part of the season that everyone knows is vital for the confidence of the Club and all it’s myriad of followers scattered all over the Globe.
Particularly the erudite,witty,passionate,cantankerous,opinionated mob who congregate at Holic’s Bar.!!!
Who is red nose talking about? Oh thats right he was drunk and thought he was back in time 10 years – he might have a couple of guys you might fit into that category…. dont forget we also have red nose to thank for the extract Douif bag in the Blackburn lineup (on loan from MU)
extract = extra
Aha, http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Cesc-Fabregas-The-dark-side-of-Arsenal-s-maverick-captain-article29133.html
Aah yes obvious really….http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Cesc-Fabregas-The-dark-side-of-Arsenal-s-maverick-captain-article29133.html
Unlike RVP……..http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/football/585655/VAN-PERSIE-REJECTED-THE-DARK-SIDE-It-was-Robin-Prince-of-Thieves.html
interesting – gibbs might get some games in midfield http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-gibbs-will-get-games-for-arsenal
thanks Tipp – Phil Brown must have put red nose up to it, he is just dying to get some limelight again and show off that awful fake tan of his…
Particularly the erudite,witty,passionate,cantankerous,opinionated mob who congregate at Holic’s Bar.!!!
Couldn’t have put it better myself, Clive. Good ‘holics all.
AJ, I’m with you this morning on the recovering from pints of plain front, with added Cooleyness. About half a bottle by the look of it 😉
Cheers Pat what’ll you have?
Yo ho ho… and a bottle of rum.
We are ready to stick it up ’em.
Working a little, then off to kick off (that sounded good)
Enjoy the rugby ‘Holics
Blacburn Rovers warm up…http://soccertunes.tk/blog/files/2009/10/haka_rugby.jpg
Big day for Chamakh I reckon. He’s already doing a lot better in his general comportment than his predecessor. Does this sound familiar?:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/aug/27/manchester-city-emmanuel-adebayor
Chamakh may have his big day but will have to do it by coming off the bench if so. Ditto for Rosicky and Eboue.
Holic,
That was a great piece of business getting 10/1 on Chamakh scoring first no wonder they done £10 max !! I did indeed double him and 3.1 at the tasty odds of 40/1 if it cops Happy days but much more important is 3 points Come on you Rip Roaring Reds!
Up The Arse,
Joshua @15 Good idea… but I’m not sure they’re the ones holding the keys!
They don’t like it up ’em!
Up yours Walrus!
Up the Arse!
Would you believe it.!!
Away to the Spuds in the 3rd round of Carling Cup
Bollocks
Our whole team is in frigging panic!
IT’S BEHIND YOU, ROBBO!
your pound at 3-1 is looking good Holic!
Koscielny is improving from the shocking first goal, even though it’s as much Clichy’s fault for Diouf running in behind him (Sagna is not to blame, he was too forward, cause the ball was in our possession).
Make no mistake about it, Arshavin’s goal is one of the hardest he’ll score. So easy for that shot to get deflected.
Arsenal 50 Lardy Arse Robbo Nil. 🙂 🙂
I feel like I just had a baby.
Whewww… We survived it, watch out Chelsea, United.
Koscielny EXCELLENT in the 2nd half.
RvP and Cesc with knocks, how surprising, good thing we have an international break now.
A good word on Almunia!!! He was Excellent!
that’s the way to grind out a result – no complaints here – hope RvP isn’t crocked…..
Aaaaagh that’s young Jack of my Xmas card list I was counting out Mr Hills payout!!!!! Great result and special mention to two players I have abused in the past, Almunia and Diaby were superb today so I doff my cap! Next stop pissed ville have a great bank holiday 🙂
Fully Up The Arse!!!!!
Soz for costing your pound holic 😉
Almunia excellent! One more game like this and he might well run into a real vein of confidence. Too bad about Van Persie. Cesc not at his best, just hoping he won’t get the supporters on his back if this keeps on for a game or two, I really do not think he’s not up for it, he’s just not match fit yet.
We got the win, Walcott continued to impress (he almost played better this game than the last by my reckoning, he just didn’t get the same amount of chances, but some of his turns were sublime and he DID get the ball in the net three times (even if two were disallowed!).
In the end a good day for us.
Huuugge result. Chewed off my nails during the last 20 minutes. Well played lads – cannot fault anyone in particular today.
And Manuel was superb!
Van Persie injury concerning but Chamakh did well. Koscielny weak at several points. Fabregas off but better at start of 2nd half. Diaby and Walcott excellent. We easily could have conceded another goal and were disorganized after Cesc went off. Nevertheless the result is excellent and a confidence builder. Almunia excellent but what happens if he is injured?
bt8bnn – Disagree. Koscielny was excellent in the second half and apart from the goal. The goal was his fault but also Clichy who let Diouf run in behind him without sticking a body on him (Clichy was also superb).
Cesc was rusty, a lot of heavy touches and misplaced passes.
Diaby is one of my favorites, but that’s already known, glad he’s getting the recognition 😀
Walcott again MOM.
Those throw ins and Robinson kicks will do Chelsea a lot of damage.
Play of the game? Jack tackling Samba. I just got filled with pride!!! 😀
Ha Ha, Spuds are losing to Wigan.
Not so easy combining the CL and PL is it?
I’ll drink to that.
H2H, the Young Boys must have tired them out.
Quite proud of comment 28. Who was that sagely individual?
Ahem.
Okay, I got the first goal prediction wrong.
Great game.
[…] dish out whenever Blackburn appear on the fixture list. With Paul Robinson still in goal and approaching a half century of goals conceded to us in his career, I see no reason for that not to continue […]