Time To T-Bone The Blues On Stormy Monday
Dec 26th, 2010 by 'holic
The morning after the night before. Watching the Aussies self-destruct until 1.30 am with a particularly tasty bottle of Cooley for company did help the digestive tract deal with the sheer volume of food squeezed into it yesterday. It all starts again in a couple of hours, with the obligatory cold meat and mash boozefest round the mother-in-law’s. So sorry guts.
Therefore a bit of a rushed preview of one of the games of the season at the Grove on Monday night. Our old friends from the bus stop in Fulham come slithering across town with their skipper and talisman bleating about them lacking depth these days. Their recent performances may not inspire, but surely they must be lifted by the way they have taken Arsenal with astonishing regularity in recent times with a footballing version of rope-a-dope.
The task for Arsenal is simple to put down in black and white, but far, far more complicated on the lush pitch, where it seems our approach will not differ from the previous five encounters. We will get on the front foot, and that is quite right, but we need to be as resilient to the counter-attack as I felt we were at Old Trafford. That means some will have to heed the words of Martin Keown in his mischievously titled Sunday Mirror piece.
“You win together, you lose together. The full backs are able to attack with great venom and great energy, so why can’t the wide players defend with the same energy? It’s about a willingness to work for one another. You can’t carry any passengers and I just think one or two of them could do a bit more when they’re not in possession.”
Read that last bit before you read the title of the piece. Keown is offering some advice to more than just Andrey Arshavin. It is well timed advice too. One would assume that Cesc Fabregas will be recalled, which suggests Samir Nasri will be on the right hand side in direct confrontation with the left-back who cannot be named. Invariably that is the source of assists for Chelsea against us. I want Nasri to completely outshine that grubby little man so much it almost hurts, but it will require hard work and application.
I’m far from certain that Arshavin will start on the other flank. Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott are surely options to play on the left, which appears to be a bit of a chink in Chelsea’s armour. The key to us ending our poor run against the champions may come here. The only other big question for me is whether to start with Jack Wilshere or Denilson alongside Alexandre Dimitri Song Billong. For me it would be Wilshere alongside the Song of last year, but right now we may need the double indemnity insurance offered by the Brazilian. I can’t help thinking Song’s adventure is becoming a significant hindrance to us this season.
The ‘holic pound is obviously not a prolific earner against those from West London, but bad runs are there to be ended, and I am jumping on 3-2 to the hosts at 33/1 with Stan James. I’ve also had a few coppers on that same scoreline, with Chamakh to score first, at 145-1 with the same firm. If we are to beat them we will have to outscore them, I think. Nobody would be happier to be proved wrong by a good old-fashioned 1-0 to the Arsenal, but it isn’t happening, is it?
So there we are. A brief rundown of what I am thinking about tomorrow. If you are going give the boys a lungful from me. To those who share my dread of yet more feasting-a-plenty today, “JUST SAY NO!”
Spare a thought for those ‘holics back at work today, and those Australians contemplating mass suicide. Now you know how we felt the last twenty-three years. Now you know how I hope Chelsea fans will be feeling on Monday night.
26 Responses to “Time To T-Bone The Blues On Stormy Monday”
Christmas 1st? Irish Coffee please
Xmas in Miami…its my first year spending the holidays in semi-tropical environment away from friends and family. So what is my xmas wish you ask? Why nothing more than the utter humiliation of Chelski at the Emrites.
I must say that a quote from none other than our favorite barbarian ever, Conan, sums up how I am feeling about this match…
“To crush your enimies, to drive them before us, and to hear the lamentations of their women”.
Yep, that about covers it.
Peace unto you all*
Irish Coffee for me as well please, its still a bit early here in the states.
*(Chelsea not included)
I was meant to be in work for a mere hour today. That started at 10.30. it’s now 3.30. Incompetent. Bastards.
I wish Song would control his urges – to attack on the pitch, stop giggling at the bar please – and then we can play with more creativity in midfield. Denilson may be a good passer, as his stats have pointed out in the past, but Jack’s a better playmaker with the ability to produce something exceptional.
Xmas Brandy please ‘holic
Bodacious boxing day to holic and the holics. Individual brilliance must come to the fore alongside a great team effort. Chamakh to demonstrate why we got him with a shining Drogbaesque goal or two to sink the dirty Chav scum.
I had a busy Christmas Eve in the bar and as almost everything in the area was closed I decided to take a gamble and open on Christmas Day too. It was a good choice and we had a heavy session untill around 7 this morning. After a few hours in coma and a quick visit here, I’ll be opening up again, so I’ve put the festivities (well the eating bits) on hold until Monday.
So, I’d like a nice win tomorrow to help wash down the excesses of nosh and booze I am planing to consume tomorrow please Mr Wenger.
Come on you rip roaring reds!!!!!!!!!!!
Beers all round please sir.
Have a goodun ‘holics, cheers.
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Merry Christmas past, ‘holic et al.
Was it said tongue in cheek, or a result of holiday booze, that “If we are to beat them we will have to outscore them, I think”?
But how true.
8th!
Pires squaring up against Redknapp just now was lovely to see. Take a look at it if you can find a clip later ‘Holics.
Sadly it doesn’t seem to be helping Villa getting a point today.
here is the clip. Priceless, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHWf9oYxGhQ
Great work Bobby. No doubt Redknapp will be snuggling into a pair of Robert Pires pyjamas like everyone else.
Off topic – back page of the Daily Telegraph
“Australia all out 98…England 0 for 157
In Affectionate Remembrerance of Australian Cricket,
Which Died at the MCG on 26h December 2010,
Deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing friends and acquaintances.
R.I.P.
N.B. – The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to England”
Another great write-up ‘Holic. I apologised to my guts well in advance of the festivities this year although the drinking has been somewhat sparse so far.
Am off the the Ems today, can’t wait. My last Arsenal vs Chavs match was in Nov-08 when we came back from 0-1 at half time at the Bus Stop with a brace of RVP beauties. I have a sneaking suspicion that it’ll be the same scoreline today and I’ll be shouting my lungs out to help urge the boys onto a famous victory.
Of course any margin will do as Manure, Citeh and LWCs have all chosen to win this weekend. We need all 3 points to keep Manure honest and the others at a small but safe distance.
So, a very happy new year to all those who frequent this noble corner of the internet and come on you Rip Roaring!
Drink all round please barman for those who still have sufficient amounts of constitutional integrity in tact.
PS: For any of you readers/contributors who will be in the Tolli tomorrow, It’s highly likely that I’ll be there for one or two before and after the match so maybe see you down there?
145-1 seems like an excellent bet!
I hope Arsene won’t make any more casting errors, I’ll be pulling my hair if I see him isolated on the wing again. As for dealing with Drogba all our defenders are a bit short yet but if anyone can it has to be Djourou, it’s about time to give him the starting berth he deserves.
And please Arsene, have us play 11 vs 11, give the passenger a rest.
Fabianski
Sagna Djourou Kos Clichy
Song
Nasri – Fabregas
Rvp – Chamakh – Walcott
Go Gunners GO!
Evening all. I like a few have been back to work today and not been in long. Pain in the arse really.
I would love to see Woj get the nod in goal. I think his frame and stature could be a boost to us and a good way of dealing with the likes of Drogba and Terry. I also have this feeling that Chamakh may well start from the bench. He has looked tired in recent weeks and could do with a rest.
I agree totally re Song. He needs to remember where he should be playing.
For me, for us to have a real chance of turning the Chavs over then we have to get at them and unsettle them. They don’t like it up em a famous member of Dad’s Army used to say. It could just be the way forward.
Keep the faith
Wow haven’t been in the bar for ages…
Am sure Wilshere will pay for his defensive errors at Trafford tomorrow (Desi Gunner’s highlighted them very well and AW commented about that shortly after the game – re the long balls).
Not too sure who’ll start on the left, I’ve got a feeling it’d be Nasri with Walcott on the right or Rosicky with Nasri on the right.
Woj/Fabianski
Sagna, Djorou (cause of Drogba), Squillaci, Clichy
Song, Diaby, Cesc
Walcott/Nasri, RvP, Nasri/Rosicky
With Cesc in the lineup and RvP making runs which are better than Chamakh’s (as much as I love him, RvP is better at that than him), we should be able to breach their defense.
Hello holics,
I say put RVP in the starting line up and make him play with Cesc. Two of our match-winners and with Nasri in form, we will be an offensive threat and will be good enough to win at home.
I hope the emirates has a vociferous atmosphere come tonight.
Cheers
This whole day will, for me, be about not getting myself worked up into a state of nervous meltdown, about trying to remeber that a loss would not mean the end of the world, about seeing the bigger picture and so forth.
And of course, as usual, I’ll probably fail miserably and by kick-off I’ll be babbling incessantly while trying not to show everybody how nervous I am but of course giving myself away with said babbling 🙂
Make yourselves heard if you’re going to the Grove, get behind the boys and help them end this miserable run against the bus stop.
Drinks all round!
Lars mate, here’s me bragging:
Was really intent on meeting up with you lot again today but I got an offer I cannot refuse – going to the Viasat Studio to watch the game in 3D with free food and free beer. Will even be in to talk with the commentators for a bit (not when they are on air though!) so let me know if there is anyone in particular you want me to give a bonk on the noggin.
2-1 to the Arsenal. Scorers to be Drogba, Persie and Drogba (OG).
The trip from Streatham Hill to Arsenal Station promises to be icier than a Doctor Zhivagoan sleigh ride; chillier than a third class, deep freeze ticket for a mid-winter railway trip across the Steppes from Gdansk Bay to Murmansk; Frostier even than the breakfast cereal of a Siberian Sabre-toothed tiger called Tony. Potato Vodka, Comrade Holics, is likely to be the tipple of choice at the ‘Tolly. Everything else will have frozen, solider than Joseph Stalin’s heart, more crystalline than Leon Trotsky’s underpants after a midnight swim in the Sea of Azov.
It’s time for the Russian Empire’s invasion of Emirates Stadium. Time for some three thousand or so misguided missiles from the Grand Duchy of Moscow, the world’s largest stockpile of weapons of self destruction, to meander their way from the Bust Stop in Fulham, in a freezing fog of sub-arctic blue, to witness the Red Flag of Arsenal flying higher than Yuri Gagarin in Vostok 1. Gooners will, most likely, make them even more welcome, than Jose Mourinho at an Abramovich dinner party in the Stamford Bridge’s Kremlin Room.
This Monday after Boxing Day is set for a fifteen round heavyweight contest with the putrid pugilists of perestroika in the blue shorts matched against the artisans of artistry in arsenal red, ready to dance around Chelsea’s lumbering armoury, more nimbly than Rudolf Nureyev and the Bolshoi Ballet. It’s time for The Gunners to put Didier Dogbreath in a Nutcracker; sail Salomon Sturridge down Swan Lake for a peck, put Pedr the Great inside Peter the Wolf, hammer Ancelotti inside a baboushka of spaghetti until he’s sickler than Boris Yeltsin after a good night on the Glastnost.
For Arsenal, it’s bigger than Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace. It’s the event that the BtM crystal ball has been preminiscing since September. It’s the Age of Enlightenment, it’s the day the Gooners begin their trip to top of the league permanence. It’s the day that the handbrake on the big games is left off and Arsenal start Putin it in, in style, and go top of the Periodic Table quicker than you can say Mendeleev.
And who better to provide the final line of defense against the Russian front than either one of our two Polestars, with Fabianski likely to be favoured over Woj by the thinness of the string on a balalaika? A back four, of Sagna, Djourou, Koscielny and Clichy with Alex Song lying deep will provide fortification stronger than the partisans of Stalingrad. Fabregas and Denilson would be my pick for duty in the middle of a red square with Van Persie, Chamakh, Nasri packing the silent punch of Red October and forming the frontline most likely to fire Sputnik One and torpedo Chelsea amid ship, sending them into a higher orbit than Laika the space dog.
I don’t see a place for Russia’s finest haircut, the Meerkat of Minsk, the conserver of energy extraordinaire. That means that Arsene likely will, and that Andrei Arshavinsky will be firing Molotov cocktails through the freezing fug of a red hot cauldron from the first spark of the liquid hydrogen in the mighty motors of Arsenal’s inter-continental Soyuz ballistic missile launcher. And, I have to admit that Wilshere for the Sultan of Swing and Squill for JD20 may be closer to the front of Arsene’s mind than mine.
In addition to flashing “HOME WIN”, the swirling mists inside the BtM crystal set is signaling three stratus clouds on the red side of the globe to one wimpy cumulo nimbus strand on the blue side. To the non-metrologist in the holics’ midst, that’s 3-1 to the Arsenal and a good drink afterwards at the Tollie on me if the ball’s correct. There is also a hint of a Yuletide brace for the man Chelski fans love to hate, Rockin Robin of Christmas present.
Enjoy it Holics. The view from the top on New Years Day will be one to savour and enjoy. A glass half full, then half full again, of your finest, barman with the compliments of the season to all at Holic Manor.
Follow that!
Well played BtM. As you can see, our glasnost certainly is half full.
After the Hunters trapped the Wolf,they locked him in a cage where he languished for several years,suffering grievously.
Then one day a curious Elf,to whom iron bars were no more an obstacle than the shadows of grasses on a sunlit meadow,took pity on his plight and asked, ‘ What can i bring you that will ease your pain,? ‘
And the Wolf replied, ‘ My Foes To Play With.’
🙂
Great stuff, ‘holic and BtM.
Good luck the ‘holicpound.
Here’s to 3 points, until next year (what do you mean there’s another game on wednesday?) Oh.
Guinness please. With a whisky chaser 😉
Toby: 3D at Viasat? Sounds cool as hell so you are well within your rights to brag! (And I won’t be joining up with us either ’cause I’m out of town until Sunday. My next game at O’Learys will be when we host ManCity on the 5th.)
Just left 50 mins and I’ll be seeing some old friends for a beer or two let’s hope we have something to celebrate after!!
Fully up the Arse, Come on you rip roaring reds 🙂