1978, Centrepoint Saturday, And FIFA Can FO
Dec 2nd, 2010 by 'holic
The Carling Cup draw has aggravated an old injury. A particularly unpleasant memory of my third FA Cup Final. The 1978 clash with Ipswich was supposed to be my reward for following the team in every match, home and away that season. The Arsenal boasted an astonishing array of attacking talent. Alan Hudson, Liam Brady, Alan Sunderland, Frank Stapleton, and of course Malcolm Macdonald, would surely prove too strong for Ipswich.
The day went horribly wrong for all manner of reasons. I managed to get a ticket for the ‘holic girlfriend of the time, and her pre-match bottle of wine did not stay with her until kick-off. She must have felt dreadful in the intense sunlight that seemed to always shine on Wembley the first weekend in May. It was my turn to feel sick a couple of hours later as the tractor boys celebrated a deserved success. The star-studded Gunners just didn’t perform, and Ipswich peppered Pat Jennings’ goal until Roger Osborne finally struck twelve minutes from time.
It doesn’t particularly matter that since that day we have generally had the better of the meetings between the two clubs. Every time we play them I want us to beat them, and beat them well, to make up for that dreadful experience. The fact that they are now bossed by Patrick Vieira’s most famous adversary just adds to that desire to see them humiliated. Yet as that day at Wembley clearly illustrates, we won’t do it by just turning up and strutting around complacently.
This Arsenal side has one advantage that their predecessors didn’t. One poor performance in the first-leg will not be fatal, but please don’t even take us down that road. Be professional, be ruthless, and another Wembley date should be secured. One at which I will not be buying a bottle of wine for anybody until the win is in the bag!
This Saturday Is Centrepoint Day
The Arsenal v Fulham game this weekend is Arsenal’s dedicated matchday in support of the Club’s Charity of the Season, Centrepoint. Players and Directors’ alike will be donating a day’s wages while there will be a range of fundraising activities for you, the supporters, to participate in on the day.
Arsenal/Centrepoint bobble hats will be on sale at the match in The Armoury and All Arsenal shops. Priced at £10, all proceeds will go to Centrepoint.
Denilson has also generously donated a trip for two to Dubai including three nights’ stay at the Atlantis Hotel on the Palm Jumeirah Resort. To stand a chance of winning, fans simply need to text the word ‘Arsenal’ to 83023. At least £1.50 from each text will go to Centrepoint.
Speaking ahead of the dedicated matchday, Arsène Wenger, said: “Centrepoint do some fantastic work with young homeless people across London, helping them to develop essential life skills to get back on their feet and stay off the streets permanently. Having been involved with our Club’s charities for a number of years now, I am always struck by the amazing generosity shown by our supporters, so I hope that they will join us yet again in supporting this worthy cause and dig deep on Saturday.”
Let’s prove the boss right again. As I cannot be at the game I’ll be making a donation. If you want to join me the ‘Be A Gooner Be A Giver‘ website is the place to visit to do just that. You will also find more details there of the excellent work done by the charity with young homeless. Cheers ‘holics.
The Last Word
I’m fully aware that the ‘holic readership is spread across the globe, so I won’t expand on my feelings about FIFA’s decision-making process for the award of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup Finals. It seems very strange that in each case the venues that came out bottom of the technical review should emerge successful. The fact that the venues seem to have been pre-determined by Blatter and his corrupt cronies renders the whole bidding process a complete and utter waste of time and money.
82 Responses to “1978, Centrepoint Saturday, And FIFA Can FO”
First
Holic’,
Whew. Couldn’t believe my good fortune, being first in line when the tavern opens. I have an interesting night of poker planned so wish me luck – perhaps you’ll join me in a shot of Johnnie Walker Blue?
I like our chances to win the Beer Cup, I must say. I would just like the boys to put together a string of consistent, positive performances home and away. I think we can. I am (always) bullish on these true reds, but, as I have placed myself in the role of Cato the Elder, I will end this missive per my usual form…
What have we learned?
And as far as the World Cup Draw is concerned, my dear Sir, you wouldn’t, couldn’t possibly intimate that FIFA and Mr. Blatter are corrupt?
‘Course not. But, if you think I’m travelling to Russia to be frostbitten and kidnapped, I have some prime beachfront property in Nevada to sell you… ‘Holic-discount of course.
Holic
I still cannot decide which was more painful,
Ipswich in 78 or West Ham in 80.
On reflection,they were both a total FUCKING disaster.!!
Let’s hope we get the chance for revenge against both of them.
Cheers
Clive
Lonestar, easy on the sauce if you are playing poker. There are some clear-headed sharks out there.
Clive, throw Swindon and Leeds (twice) into the mix and we certainly paid for our pleasures in those days. Makes us appreciate any success even more I reckon.
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Don’t waste Johnnie Walker Blue on shots. For Godsakes, sip it … enjoy it.
Talk Sport presenters have been spitting blood all afternoon about the World Cup result – and they’re still at it.
They are now praising the Panorama journalist who they wanted dead a few days ago. They want Arshavin to be made unwelcome when he returns to England because he supported his own country! They want England to pull out of FIFA.
Someone please save them from themselves before they strangle themselves with contradictions and hypocracy.
Well for once Mate we can agree, Mrs Cusop is still livid, but here is the reason why! The good lady and I were finishing up our Hols in Eygpt and we stayed our last two nights at the Marriot in Cairo. Where the African Nations FIFA round up of the South Africa 2010 world cup conference was being held. Much to surprise the day we left everyone in the hotel including Taxi drivers knew Qatar would get the world cup in 2022 they had been told by FIFA members. The wife and I laughed on the way to the airport there was no way that Qatar would get the world cup and we thought it was wild exaggeration. Well now we know. This FIFA shin dig was one of those no expense spared meetings! I regret not getting one picture of one individual out in the courtyard chain smoking as I though it to be a marvelous advertisement for the game. As for the Russian bid there is going to be a massive backlash in the UK 1. Against Abramovich and 2 against Arseshaving. Sorry for the barb but you must have thought the same.
Never mind we can get back to our rivalries now.
Holic
Those defeats,and throw in the Sunderland semi final debacle as well,made us older fans,appreciate success when it fleetingly came our way.
The younger generation of supporters haven’t gone through that cycle,so i guess they are more impatient for success.
In this ‘ Instant’ society we now live in,a couple of defeats brings doom and gloom and Our Team suddenly become total rubbish.
They should try going 6,8 10 and more games without a win like we did often in the sixties,then they would know what a barren run feels like.!!
cheers
clive
Alright cus.
Don’t want to labour the chat because most are probably chuckling that we didn’t get it. I feel for those just younger than me who don’t have any memories of ’66. It is hard to see the tournament coming back in my lifetime. We won’t play Blatter’s game.
Didn’t it piss down in the morning, but brilliant sunshine during the game?
As good as 79 was, 78 and 80 were equally bad. My first final, such great expectations, being a kid and then we don’t turn up.
I remember that Chippy was touch and go all week due to injury, which clearly affected his performance. Supermac was giving it large in the build up and he didn’t do a thing and Rixy was unlucky to lose his place.
Hey ho, c’est la vie!
An extra cold Guinness please bartender.
CoYRRR’s
Yup thats the crux of it. 2030 something I will be dead by then or piddling in my pants.
Bye
The World Cup thing was rather depressing – it wasn’t just England that got shafted really, Spain/Portugal, USA and Australia all would have made great venues too (Australia got one vote! And they can organise major events in their sleep). Stuff like the Olympics might have some dodginess in which bid wins, but at least the campaigning and presentations seem to actually make a difference, everyone bar Russia and Qatar needn’t have bothered this week.
And I’m with MistaKen, Talk Sport (both the people on it and the people who phone in) are pillocks and need to bog off.
You are right to point out the complacency issue. That’s a bigger barrier to us getting to the final than anything Ipswich might do. I also hope Wenger continues to pick fairly strong teams for it.
FIFA are unbelievably, nakedly corrupt.
The 1978 Cup Final was my first, been too them all since but nothing seems quite as good as A.S`s winner in the last minute after giving away a 2 goal lead
Gooood old Arsenal!!!!
Proper team Proper club
Charlie, surely by now everybody has cottoned on to the Talkshite tactic of winding people up and handing out the ‘you pay for the call’ number.
I haven’t listened for about three years now, and never will again. They don’t wind me up one jot.
There are (and always will be) plenty of idiots out there alas ‘holic
Holic, sorry to have to remind you of another nightmare but Valencia in 80 still pisses me off. Made worse by going from west ham game at wembley straight over to Brussels. Arghhhh
£2.50 for a cup final ticket in those days. Cutting out tokens from the home progs and hoping for the best.
CoYRRR’s
From across the pond, ‘seems to me that the Torries wouldn’t allow England to put on a proper tournament in 2018. What, with all the fiscal responsibility and austerity measures that are all the rage right now, there is no way the home of the Three Lions could provide all the pay-offs, subsidies, concessions, and other forms of “tribute” required to host a successful FIFA event.
Now, the US, here’s a country that can afford…oh, right.
Two Mafia bosses in the same room,Blatter and Abramovich and the winner is not Football,power corrupts absolutley.
Not to over react,but some sort of reaction must be required.Laughable,”Eurovision politics” is one thing,killing fairness in the game we love is another.One minute we are swallowing bullshit like the “UEFA family”,guaranteed 50% tickets to all major finals,the next it’s a fridge freezer 2022 WC.
I am so so close to being dead to football it’s quite sad,the only thing that keeps me believing is that one day AFC Wimbledon over take the MK dons in the league.
It’s time fans started a forum,work together and take some power back.
P.S Arshavin’s reaction was the only good thing to come out of the whole stitch up,he is totally hatstand,
Glenn, don’t.
Still remember coming out of a little bar in Brussels the following morning to a row of riot police.
Absolute nightmare 🙁
It is outrageous that 3 counries’ football associations have wasted millions that could have gone to grass roots football, helping toreduce club fees for kids to play and train every week. If the best bid does not win lets not have bids but allocations and the money can stay within football. I would like a FIFA deligate to answer this. It would also be interesting to know the costs involved in FIFA visiting all of the original bidding countries, Could that money have been more wisely spent?
Did you really have to remind us of Leeds?
We’ve got those buggers in the FAC on January 8th.
I was thinking of coming over for that but whilst it can get a bit nippy here in January it’s a bloody sight warmer than London
Nice character assessment of Septic Bladder.
“Is that a Monkey in your pocket” Mr Blatter was asked 🙂
The chance of the truth is like asking the Le Prof to ‘see’ us fouling the other side 😉
I wonder how long it will be before we break away from such corruption, form our own association, lets introduce goal line technology and other stuff we like the sound of. Boycott Russia FFS guys, I now longer can support players that wish to play ‘for their country’ under such a despicable governing body.
Sod it, lets have a double Mount Gay and coke please barman.
Read: ” I can no longer…” please
It’s obviously not strong enough barman, stick another one in please…
What a start to the cricket. Aussies 2 for 3 in the 3rd over.
I think the sooner we pull out of FIFA the better. The whole system is laughable. Blatter and his bunch of merry men do nothing for the game in general. The reports on the BBC news suggest that before the vote he had a meeting with all the committee members to remind them of the comments that had appeared over the years in the press and media. Now if your boss says that to you juts before you cast your vote you have to be quite daft not to be able to read between the lines. For me that is an utter disgrace. The integrity of the whole system is down the pan. It is rotten to the core.
The most amazing decision of the whole sorry affair was Qatar. A country that has never qualified for the finals. That in June and July has temperatures of 120 degrees. It was officially described as dangerous by medical reports for both players and supporters. The whole situation just beggars belief.
Let’s get out of FIFA now. I was amazed to find out that England have a friendly arranged for June next year. It is away in Thailand. I mean what the fuck are we playing this shite for????? Time to stand up as a nation, grow a pair and tell them to fuck off.
Looking forward to Ipswich. Looking forward to Fulham. Both games that we should expect to prosper in.
And the Aussies are now 2 for 3 in only the 3rd over so not all doom and gloom.
Holic, I reckon it would take up at least one night to talk about all the dodgy stuff that went on over in Brussels that night, probably best leave that one alone. A shot of something strong to help me sleep please and one for your good self
Clive, I wasn’t aware of it at the time — in fact, due to U.S. coverage of the sport, I wasn’t aware Arsenal existed until my 30s — but if I’d grown up 35 miles outside London instead of 35 miles outside New York, 1980 would have hurt much more, for the simple reason of 1979, that victory could now be expected because it had already happened.
‘Holic, you might appreciate this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXLjSfgLJm0
Luton 88 anyone? Super Gus.
Putin the biggest Mobster of the lot!
corrupt.
Uncle Mike @ 31
Mike,
I think the defeat in 1980 owed more to fatigue than expectancy of victory after 79.
The boys were just completely worn out.
They played 4 semi final cup games against Liverpool.
In April alone they played 10 games.
In May they played on the 1st,the 3rd and the 5th,before playing West Ham 5 days later in the Cup Final.
To say the players were exhausted would be an understatement.
Including the Charity Shield the Boys played 70 games that season,a record i believe still stands today.
Having somehow got through to 2 prestigious finals at the end of the season,to lose one to the only goal Trevor Brooking scored with his head,and the other after extra time,to lose on penalties was cruel in the extreme.
To make it all the more surreal,after the Cup Winners Cup final they had to come back and play 2 remaining league matches to finish the season.
From memory,we had to win at Middlesborough to qualify for Europe the following season,but were so worn out we got belted 5 nil.!!
Somtimes there is no justice in sport.!!!!
cheers
clive
Clive, I remember those four games, first minute goals last minute equalisers, damn near skint me getting to them all as well. Think we played them at anfield in the league about same time as well didn’t we? 1-1 with Talbot scoring from our only chance of the night at the kop end
FIFA is like a virus. It only exists to make more of itself. It does what it has to do to replicate without ever quite eradicating its host.
I couldn’t believe my eyes nor my ears watching that fat skank read the votes.
“I mean excuse my language but that bitch needs to get a fuckin head examine ” courtesy of South Park !
I would have voted for England in my sleep.
It is funny I noticed the Russian correspondents happily scream when he had barely opened his mouth to read final results !
It was like they knew it !
No offence to Russia.
And Qatar ? Give me a break !
All you need is a Wiki search and you are settled !
Cheers holic’
Qatar?? Seriously??
Time to pick up our home league form which has been very disappointing so far. Nasri with a small knock? Should Arsene have brought him on against Wigan? I think he’ll be fit though.
Another weekend of Arsenal to look forward to.
I’ve been reading your blog long enough to know that you aren’t racist or bigoted or even narrow minded. But sadly this thinking that somehow your bid was the best and you are the ideal place to host the world cup seems to pervade throughout the English society today, if blogs are to be believed. A few weeks ago nobody cared about international football and the World cup. Now suddenly it’s the worst decision in the world to allow someone else to host it? Sad really.
Shard
I don’t think that many are that bothered about us not getting it – more the seemingly corrupt process that decided it.
As for thinking England had the best bid – well that actually was FIFA’s verdict, not ours. Russia and Qatar had the worst bids – FIFA’s verdict. Make of that what you will.
The red russians spent over 20 years in my country (Czechoslovakia) from 1968. My hate towards russians comes from this period, that’s why it was hard for me to accept that those oil monkeys should host WC in 2018 instead of England.
FIFA is corrupt. Everyone knows it. But most of the criticism seems to be directed against Russia, seemingly for succeeding where England failed. I just find it disappointing that for all the talk of fair play and respecting all communities, most people (not including anyone in particular) basically think the rest of the world isn’t worthy of hosting it simply because they are different.
Shard
No problems with the Russians for my part. Just the laughable process.
Then that’s good on you Catalan’s Medicine. I’m just expressing general disappointment at coming across people saying Russia is a land of mafia and crashing planes with racists who run around making monkey noises, and qatar well, we don’t know enough about them to create stereotypes so we’ll just say that it’s a joke and that they have no footballing history. oh and they’re islamic so must be homophobes and prohibitionists.
Sorry about that. It’s just that hypocrisy is one thing which really gets me up in arms so to speak.
Where on earth are you reading that nonsense Shard. I would be grateful if it were left there in all honesty.
I am upset with the means of arriving at the decision, with some justification I reckon, but the winners have as much right to see the tournament as you or I have.
Fair enough Shard – and I think I’m with you on those points.
How about that cricket eh?
Is Jimmy really a gooner ‘holic?
Conflicting reports Catalan. He was said to be one in his early days, but family were Burnley fans and he apparently supported them in the Prem.
I’m reclaiming him for us 😉
Sorry Goonerholic
Perhaps you can delete my last post. Its better to not have that stuff in print anywhere I reckon, but it just is around everywhere- Either explicitly or as the underlying theme. and it annoyed me enough to put it here.
The decision making for all such events and even awards etc are actually based on much more than the criteria advertised. I’m afraid it’s not just FIFA, though they may be the most corrupt of the lot. Maybe England deserved to win it, but i’d say in it’s own way so did Russia, as did Qatar. They deserve a chance to show what they can do without being subjected to moralising from anyone else. Especially from someone with sour grapes. (or how it would be viewed) England in any case should probably concentrate on winning the World cup.
Sorry to butt in , but by Jimmy do you mean James Anderson? He dyed his hair red like freddie didn’t he? Though apparently there are more spurs fans in the England cricket team. Boo.. But I’d love for you guys to beat the aussies.
Holic,
I really enjoyed your post today.
I feel it is important that as a unit we drum it in to the club from a supporters perspective that as the team are so close to winning their first trophy in 5 years (not six as some bloody pundits would like the public to falsely believe), that we will not tolerate anything less than success at the imminent end of this tournament(the beer one)…
…nothing less!
I will be honest and say that I have not kept up with the with the ‘scandal’ involving the WCB but I have been filled in by a work colleague regarding those parts I missed. I must say that it is a disgrace that such a large world wide organisation can even hold themselves out as being bias and corrupt! Disgraceful! Holic well done for using a diplomatic approach!
But you know me Holics at the end of the day it’s all about the Gooners for me and it was good to see the Meerkat show one of his Arsenal snaps for his bid speech and I am truly happy that a Gooner has come out of this genuinely happy.
Time to press on and start thinking about tomorrows game and I will be waiting for your preview with anticipation as I’m sure I am not the only Gooner he feels that now is a more important time than ever this season to get behind the club for this final push towards early silverware in the New year, not to mention all the tough fixtures in all other competitions (did I mention we are still featured in every competition….but lets not get ahead of ourselves, we’ve still got partisan next week).
So on that note, I would like to congratulate the whole team for keeping it tight in all competitions this seaosn so far and just to say…
Come on you rip raoring reeeedds!
A Green tea and lemon Grass just to keep the body temperature up please Holic!
Fifa is corrupt? Well whod’ve thunk it?
Hats off to the England cricket team – what odds on an England batting collapse in the next innings – pretty slim against that Aussie attack I think so they should be 1 up in the series by the end of the weekend.
Now, more importantly, my trip to the Emirates is now officially cancelled as BA cancelled my flight this morning. £67 down the swanny for my East Stand Upper ticket but at least I’ll get a refund on my travel and accommodation costs.
Still bitterly disappointed so make some noise on my behalf tomorrow you lucky Holics who are going.
I think I’ll get bladdered to forget…..rum and coke please Guv.
Catalan? You decided the name was too good to lose?
I love Chamakh’s attitude.
Sorry about the SS reference. The haters!
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6549636,00.html?
Zico-
Sorry to hear you’re going to miss the game tomorrow.
If it makes any difference I’m going to resort to a dodgy stream tomorrow.
I want a few quid on the scores for my troubles too!
Cheers Goonertown – I think I’ll be stream hunting too.
Good luck with the bookies 🙂
Zico – think I might be suffering a little multiple personality problems… !
Sorry to hear about your cancellations, but at least you’re going to be nice and warm this way.
…In tribute to True Storey (if I remember correctly)..
To the Doctor at 55 and 56
Yip, there’s a cast of thousands in there, obviously 😉
Hello ‘Holic,
I couldn’t agree more re Ipswich – it was a day to test my mettle as a child as I was in the middle of my a glory hunting switch from supporting Brighton and Hove Albion to Arsenal …
As for the sickness, that’s what splashing out on a bottle of Blue Nun will do for you!
‘Holic
I am with you (and many others) with the Ipswich wound. 77-78 was my first year of really following The Arsenal.
It was an early lesson that sh$t happens…
The hordes of Catalonia are descending upon us….. lock up your DNA!
Have you ever visited Barcelona? Right, then we claim you. It is obvious that you should play for us, as we are the best team in the world.
What’s more, you want to play for us so much that we shouldn’t have to pay your club. Or you. Actually our bank told us that we should say that.
Anyway, we’re great and never do wrong. We invented democracy you know. And caganers (but best you don’t know too much about them). Tell your club to stop disrespecting us by refusing.
Zico – Thanks. my P2P worked for me (a little) on Tuesday. Yeah I’ll be applying my usual ‘at least 2 goals system’.
Catalonia in da howse!
Sorry!
The media are harping on about Wenger wanting to splash £25 Mill on Benzema! I cannot and will not see that happening myself, as good as he is!
Well said, ‘holic. The first match I saw at Highbury was a 3-0 drubbing by Ipshit, led by Ray Crawford and a little bald winger whose name escapes me. Despite the defeat it was the beginning of a lifelong love of the club. I remember too how much 1978 hurt so now is the time for revenge!
Great that Arsenal are supporting Centrepoint. That’s why I love the club – they represent all that’s good about the game, best club, best supporters and of course the best blogger. I’m tee-total but I raise my glass of orange juice to you.
Nuff said about the World Cup.
As a 25 year old in the States, it goes without saying that the history of the club is something that I’m still learning. As evidenced by the fact that I chose to support Arsenal rather than Chelsea, history is something I consider extremely important in a club. (Though I would argue that it was Arsenal that chose me!) Anyways, I point this out because I wanted to really thank ‘holic for posts like this one that offer a window to the past for relative newcomers like myself. They really are wonderful to read.
As for FIFA, what a disaster! In all honesty, I don’t feel nearly as bad for England or the USA as I do for Australia. The selection of Russia is disappointing, but at least it’s defensible. But seriously, Qatar? What kind of experience can that offer the fans? Repressive heat, all twelve stadiums within a 20-mile radius around Doha, the only real city in the country and home to over 80% of the entire population. We’ve had it relatively recently here in the States so despite being disappointed it’s hard to complain. But for Australia, a country that’s clearly a natural fit but has never hosted (nor has anyone else in Oceania or South Asia), it must be crushing to lose out to a country claiming it’s going to air-condition itself.
Did anyone really think we would get the world cup? We only got the olympics because of a voting balls-up; and everything is so corrupt and politicized that England/UK will never again win anything that has to be voted on.
Right that`s it! I couldn`t give a shite about the world cup. I was never more grateful to our brilliant boys in Adelaide for providing the perfect tonic, and it was the only radio that I could bear to listen to yesterday. I`m looking forward to the Fulham game tomorrow, and a good pre-match. COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!!!
And now for something to broaden your horizons….. I guarantee you have not seen anything like this before.
http://www.caganer.com/caganers-famosos-futbolistas-c-47_53.html?language=en&osCsid=h9kdph4a5c62ehfpd0brp7c672
Catalan – those are scary 🙁
Are they used to ward off evil spirits, or what?
Zico. They are for Catalan nativity scenes.
No, Honestly.
Nativity scene by Hieronymos Bosch, presumably.
I hope TH14 is suing the b******s.
hellow ‘holis
I’m not aware of what’s happing in the bar after a month in the Lesotho mountains. Sadlly I will miss the drinks from tonight and after the game hope you enjoy both in my absence and the 2018/22 get out of your systems see you next week!.
2 pints of castle and 1 gin and toni c pls as i’ m ina harry! thanks barman!
You guys are looking foolish crying about how corrupt fifa after the embarassing loss, im sure no one would be saying that if you would’ve gotten the bid. The point of giving the wc to these countries was to develop football in an area of the world were its not so big. it makes it seem like all english people are nationalistic assholes when even the reaction to the loss by your delegates was immature, by crying into every possible media outlet a poor choice, people are going to remember that next time the bidding happens, especcially reactions like “Jokers” is truly pathetic
Ilya – nice generalisation there!
Clive @ 34
I’ve seen the clip of Terry Neill talking about the pounding the team took that season. Southampton away on a Saturday, Spurs at home on a Monday, Liverpool in the FA Cup Semifinal on a Wednesday (neutral site), and then Juventus away in the CWC on a Saturday. And the substitution rules weren’t especially lenient then. (I’d love to see Redknapp, Ancelotti or Mancini work around that.)
What sadistic schedulemaker set that up? I’ve seen clips of Pat Jennings getting pelted by snowballs at Hillsborough, were a lot of games postponed due to winter weather?
“We ended up playing 70 games that year,” Neill said. And I thought everybody hated Arsenal NOW! “Wonderful season, we ended up winning nothing!” And to then lose Liam Brady as well, to a team they’d just humiliated? (To say nothing of how Juve treated him, dumping him for Platini after he’d won ’em 2 Serie A titles!)
Hey there ‘Holic,
You’re a wise barkeep for the poker advice. I did pretty good, but sobriety would not have kept me from getting busted last night; bit of bad luck on the flop.
Catalan @67,
That’s a pretty racist site, mate.
I remember the train/tube trip back from Wembley to Holloway Road after the 78 final. I sat silent in a trance of disbelief, I couldn’t understand why our lads hadn’t turned up. A bitter first Twin Towers experience for me, but a good lesson to learn at such a tender age, nothing in life is guarenteed. (save death and taxes)
No opponent should ever be underestimated, but with all due respect to the Tractor Boys this really is a game that we should win over two legs. If the lads go at it proffesionaly then this is a great chance to get to a final nd get that so called all important first trophy win under their belts that may give them the belief and hunger to win more.
=========
As for the WC voting process, well it’s a total sham, and before I get the PC brigade saying that I’m a xenophobe and bla bla blah, I don’t live in England, I live in the NL.
If the FIFA wish to reward a country that has never hosted the event, then so be it, but why go through the whole bidding bollox in the first place? I’m happy for Russia that they “won” the right to organise the competition, and I can see the merit in this (even if they did make the worst case (according to FIFA)
But Qatar????
This just reeks of pay offs and back handers, a country with a population of 1.7 mil, which at this moment in time has hotel space for approx 40 thousand guests. An event like the WC pulls up to 400 thousand visitors, that’s just under a quarter of their entire population.
A game of football there (at this time) doesn’t attract more then 10 thousand people so what to do with all the stadia when the WC has gone? Maybe they can break them off and use the rubble to stone adulterers and gays, common practise in these “devolping” lands.
Tempretures up in the “god damn its fuckin hot” regions, will not be a problem because Septic Bladder tells us that they are working on technology that will circulate cool air 30 metres around and above the pitch. This is the same fucking guy that refuses to use new fandangled (aheh) camera/video technology that can tell us if a ball has crossed the line FFS.
FIFA corupt???
Never.
To celebrate the winners I’ll have a vodka and a…… errrr????
I don’t think you can drink in Qutar so better make it an orange juice.
Cheers.
@H2H-76
LOL! nice post…
Evening Holics,
I have just come back to life after staying in a bed since yesterday afternoon.
Catalan
I didn’t go for Aunties Lemsip mixture this time just ordinary drugs for now.
Fifa has always been corrupt we all know that, the bidding process is of a medevil structure too.
Looking forward to the game tomorrow, it’ll be good too see Fabianski vs Schwarzer
A nice hot chocolate for me please Barman, actually make that a lemon tea please…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mu7i5CJq3mg
Lonestar @75
Racist? I don’t see how it is, but apologise completely to you if you personally find it offensive.
Weird and dubious, yes.
Still, too sensitive an issue to argue about – we’ll have to agree to disagree.
Catalan,
One last query:
Why is it that Eto’o, Ronaldinho, and the other dark complexioned players have such exaggerated lips? Surely you realize this oafish caricature as hallmark racism.
No need to apologize, but it is this type of subtle prejudice that should be kicked out of football.
It’s not just the footballers that are portrayed in that way on that site Lonestar, it’s across the board.
Not that it makes it right or wrong, just pointing it out.
Are Gollywogs still banned?