Another Big Semi-Final Night For The Arsenal?
Jan 24th, 2011 by 'holic
Huddersfield Town, Stratford Hotspur, Stratford Hotspur, Everton, Crystal Palace, Stratford Hotspur.
The old boys are with me. I remember them all, and so does anybody else over fifty. Still stuck? If Ipswich Town are beaten by at least two goals at the Grove our friends and neighbours will no longer have provided the opposition in half of our League Cup semi-final successes.
Down the years this particular round has provided some remarkable stories, and some wonderfully entertaining encounters. Let’s hope another is on the cards this year. I think it just might be.
Ipswich arrive, like most other visitors to The Arsenal, as massive underdogs, but with the significant one goal advantage they thoroughly deserved from the first leg in Suffolk. If you are a Tractor Boy, that is where the compliments end! Regulars here will know only too well my view that this tie is now Arsenal’s to win or lose, and will be decided by how many players we choose to ‘rotate’.
As one of the select few (tens of thousands!) to receive Arsene’s weekly email today, I am now informed from the horse’s mouth that,
“We will rotate the squad for Tuesday’s game against Ipswich, we have no choice. We play nine games in January, it’s the most we have ever played. When you look at the fixtures we had in December it means we need to rotate from game to game.”
Make nine changes and that disrespect could rebound in our faces. Keep a spine of the players who are dismissing Premiership opponents (and Leeds) almost disdainfully, and we should be celebrating a seventh League Cup Final appearance at the end of February. I think I have done that particular speech to death though!
The ‘holic pound will have to be wagered on a scoreline because we just don’t know who will or won’t be in the starting line-up. I’m going to make the dangerous assumption that we will have a strong side out, and plump for 3-0, a popular scoreline this month. 11/2 might seem a poor offer, but only to be expected when the visitors are offered at 25/1, a quite ludicrous price in a two horse race. If it were against anybody but Arsenal I would be sorely tempted by that price.
Here is to another great night, ‘holics.
I’m Still Begging
A quick reminder, anybody who has an away ticket or two for Barca, I have some proper Gooners I can put you in touch with to take any spares at cost price. The flights are sorted, sadly the match tickets aren’t. Drop me a line to gooneratgoonerholicdotcom if you can help.
Cheers.
83 Responses to “Another Big Semi-Final Night For The Arsenal?”
Can’t wait for tomorrow night ‘Holic! A trip to Wembley is just the elixir the boys need.
I recall a 0-0 v Liverpool in the late 70’s which ultimately put us out but Highbury was packed and loud and swaying. We were up against the machine that was Liverpool then and it was a thoroughly entertaining 0-0 and we really went for it but just could not find the goals.
I too am hoping for a strong line-up tomorrow night given that the 4th round FA cup game at the weekend against Huddersfield is at home..
I also hope that we score 4 goals in the first 60 minutes..
8500 of us did the away leg at Anfield, ’78 I think THG. Took Scouseland over good and proper. They still talk about that night up there.
Crying shame that the Arsenal of 78,79,80 only came away with 1 FA Cup win. When you think of that strikeforce. Still here is to latest crop to exorcise some ghosts and put us back on track. Hopefully no Viv Anderson or Ian Allison heroics needed and just a straight forward 4-0 thumping.
I will raise a pint of Carolina Blond to you Holic for your service down the years
play song and theo and everything should be alright on the night
Hi me again, the Town fan who was oddly proven right in the first leg, (the omens were the following to recap: We played Millwall and West Brom in 1978 before we beat the gunners at Wembley and were the underdogs then, just to add spookiness Priskin scored at the same time as Osbourne) But I didn’t do a prediction, indeed I still won’t.
We are in new territory tomorrow, physically as in the Emirates, though the pitch will be to our liking as it was always a toss up for best pitch between Highbury and Portman Road when we were in the Prem, the stadium is new to us, well not all of us, some ex-Arsenal fans now follow Ipswich having been priced out of following Arsenal. But I digress. New ground, big attendance, good pitch and a lot at stake.
Omens for us, Jewell has achieved what we need to achieve before whilst at Wigan, having got them through a second leg at the Emirates five years ago. Fulop has conceded one goal in four games at the Emirates, you need more than that or it’s penalties.
Penalties, lovely for whom exactly, does my memory play tricks or are you really rubbish at Penalty shoot outs, cos we are, I think we have won one in more than a dozen so if it comes to that, at least one of us will succeed for a change.
The odds are nice, I don’t bet but a couple of quid at those odds would pay for Wembley.
Our team, despite Delaney saying we would park the bus, have ourselves turned a corner of sorts. Saturday saw the kind of result we have been lacking, Wickham stepped up a notch from the first leg, indeed he was immense, our luck failed us for their second equaliser but we scored an immediate winner. Oh and the passing and crossing was excellent. So expect us to possibly be even more dangerous on the break than last time.
It should be a good game. I do hope our defence does not afford your strkers the freedom of the penalty area as Leeds and Wigan seemed to.
Let the best team on the night go through.
Oh and watch out for rugby balls…….
We should remember that AW actually picked a pretty strong XI for the first leg. The selection wasn’t the problem, just the horrible performance (Cesc included). I expect a similar side for tomorrow, but perhaps one featuring Cesc and Nasri. These two are the key at the moment, keep them in the side and we can afford to rest a few others. I’m feeling confident. 3-0. Bendtner hat-trick. Probably…
Bendtner hat trick? That would be a sight the pink boots or the Danish farm implement haven’t seen. What would the odds on that be? Astronaumical!
A NB52 hat trick would be good odds!
I doubt that I’d risk more than a couple of squid on that tho… 🙂
Tim Regester, whilst history does indeed point to the chance of an upset, I believe the modern game has changed, and the only way you’ll get the result you crave is by all 11 of your team staying in your penalty area.
Good luck to you tho’.
Are you going to the match Holic?
A bottle of Corona please 😉
Tim Regester – welcome back.
2 points:
1. If your mates were “priced” out of watching Arsenal then they weren’t Arsenal fans to start with – you never forget your first love (even if she starts hankering after designer bags and Jimmy Choos) 🙂
2. At 25-1, a couple of pounds will get you about 2 pints and a packet of crisps at the new Wembley – I assume you were expecting more?
Well too bad, because your boys are going to get a rogering tomorrow night.
Didnt Willie Young have a goal disallowed in that game at Anfield?
I actually know several fans who used to be Arsenal ST holders but the travel distance (combined with lower Suffolk wages) family committments and in some cases disgust at how money has corrupted football, means they stopped going. They are now torn in half tomorrow, like the old Landlord of the Gunners pub. They probably need a half and half shirt.
Years ago this was unheard of, a sort of heresy but now we have teens who have two teams (is this some kind of Schizoid condition) a Prem side who they yearn to see every week (but cannot for all sorts of reasons) and a Championship side that they can afford to go and see (though our prices are now horrendous as well).
Such a good touch to charge £20 and £10 tomorrow night, much appreciated and almost down to Bundesliga levels.
Drink the muck they sell in most Stadia, err no, prefer a decent ale instead and do with water to lubricate the vocal chords.
Pint of Pride please ‘Holic and best of luck with your scoreline. I’ll hope for better odds on Sami and Cesc to score. I’ve got a feeling we’re going to be singing KC and the Sunshine Band… And then can we put him in an unbreakable box please? Heard he was hobbling at the weekend and boy do we need him for Barca- gulp!
One for Tim please, who will need consoling before long.
A toast, fellow gooners! Down with Andy Gray, whose days, I sincerely hope, are numbered. As if they needed an excuse!
Welcome back Tim. You will be more than welcome in the Drayton opposite the Clock End Bridge you have to cross to get in.
Inside the ground is the usual fizz that was poured an hour ago. Don’t do it 🙂
Hope you have a good experience, if not a happy outcome.
I am horribly nervous about tomorrow night. Would have felt much calmer if Arsene had promised a strong side. Please, do NOT start with Arshavin-Chamakh-Bendtner! I want Cesc, Nasri, RvP and Walcott to start, they can then be rested on Sunday.
The boss got the team selection right last week against Leeds (and was repaid on the pitch), I’m confident he’ll do the same tomorrow.
I’m hoping that rotation means a very strong bench, as per Leeds, but more importantly I want whichever 11 take the field to be at them right from the start, again as per Leeds.
I agree with Anonymarse @ 8 – a strong team on paper means nothing if the team don’t have the right attitude.
As luck would have it, I am in bloody Ipswich tomorrow afternoon – only found out I was headed there last Thursday but couldn’t get a ticket by then and now have a return flight from Stansted that’s going to get me back to Edinburgh AFTER kick off.
Sky plus to the rescue – if I can resist reading the texts that want to give me an update!!
well whatever happens this is the best chance we have had in 6 years to win a trophy and get ourselves back on track, hopefully Wenger does put a strong squad out for tomorow and rests sum key players on saturday before a big home game against everton
Cummon the Gunners
nervous nervous nervous.
I’m thinking of PSV Eindhoven in the CL four years ago. Please no repeat of this horrible night.
Barman, something strong.
Must say, with all respect to Ipswich if we Fuck this up we deserve shooting. No excuses will be accepted. I have no problem with rotation and resting players but why not one or two each week rather than the 8 or 9 that are likely?
Whatever team plays we should be more than strong enough.5 – 0 and another Chance to give the Gareth Bale song an airing. Happy days.
Keep the faith.
Gareth Bale song tomorrow night indeed. Love to hear that. I think the choice is clear. Select a strong side Tuesday night with almost no one from the best XI out. We are too close to a trophy to piss this one away. Rest and rotation for Huddersfield. The schedule has made the choice for us. Let’s not look the gift horse in the mouth. Farm pun …
The schedule is entirely our own fault. We have no one to blame but ourselves. Play a proper team against Shaktar and we win the group with 2 games to go. 2 games to rotate. Play a team against Leeds and we don’t have a tough replay. Play anywhere near to what we should have played like against ipswich and we could think about resting a few on tuesday evening. Anyone else spot the pattern that is emerging here?
We’ve made our bed. Best we make sure we are able to sleep nice and snug in it.
Farm joke.
Old MacDonald was dyslexic
X. Y. L. Z. P.
There’s another big game for us tomorrow. The Evil Empire has their make-up game @ Blackpool. Hopefully, Halloway’s men can get ManU to drop some points.
Blackpool voodoo hex in effect.
By many Ipswich will be called a potential banana skin for Arsenal but it’s time we turned the tables or, shall we say, upset the tractor by recognising said banana skin, grasping it and placing it squarely beneath the wheels so we can watch the tractor slipping, sliding and spinning wildly out of control while we pass and move to the next round.
Too Much Rotation and Agricultural Aroma Will Smell Foul
The residents of one-time Gyppeswick, the Tractor Boys, trundle down from The Fens on Tuesday, hoping to land a Suffolk Punch of a knock-out blow to Arsenal’s chances of Beer Cup glory and enjoy a good night out on the Tolly Cobbold. The carrot-crunchers chances of causing chaos of the kind that culminated in a cute consternation on the last en counter can be calculated quicker than a cultivated corn critter chasing a cute corn critteress ‘cross a crispie corn crisp. Lower than a bean shoot on a frozen Tuesday morning in December, poorer than a church mouse in a potato famine.
You can wager your last bushel that Le Boss will get his rotovator out and till Saturday’s blue ribbon winning line-up. Hopefully he won’t cause cornsternation, harrow us and leave us feeling sickle. He doesn’t need to use the thresher, to get things a little fresher. A gentle use of the plough should do for now and have us all gasping for mower and basking all over (in clover). Keep severe rotovation for another occasion. Some gentle pruning is all that’s needed to keep the fragrance fresh in The Emirates garden.
This should be a haymaker, a killer diller seed driller, a country show of pastoral perfection, an arable art exhibition in green gumboots, white Volvo and dung fresco. We need to be sure to turnip on the night and be part of the mash, something that eleven red gooners failed to do backhoe down at Portman Road. We’re not in this to be beet, we can’t afford to sprout any more leeks at the back, lettuce be keane as mustard, hotter than pepper on a chilly night, pumped as pumpkins ready for pickin’ the points from their pockets.
The addition of one more jewell to the Ipswich jewel box should increase their haul to a grand total of one. Ipswich had their big night out, their ninety minutes of fame, last time around in the first leg. They won’t be able to live with Arsenal at The Emirates and that’s as sure as sugar in a beet mill. The hand brake will be off, we will be showing great maturity and we’ll win this one and be on our way to Wemberlee by Wednesday.
The BtM crystal ball is flashing HOME WIN. There’s a combine harvester, two caterpillars, a beet cleaver and a cotton picker in the red section and not one farm implement in the blue. So, 5-0 to The Arsenal it is! (Does the crystal know Robin isn’t playing?)
Enjoy it ‘Holics. The game is showing at 2.45 pm here, which interferes badly with my efforts to earn a living. I’ll watch it on the rewind and see you all here again tomorrow night. Enjoy!
BtM such alliteration has seldom been seen. 23 words starting with a “K” sound in one sentence is certainly quite impressive, nearly every one having to do with the agricultural theme, but “critteress” being my favorite. The handbrake must have been off for that one!
I just thought of Her Nellieness, bt8bbnn, and there it was!
BtM,
Very well written. And I believe you will give credit to farm machinery the world over. However, I will point out that the reference to Keane is outdated as of his recent sacking. Therefore, you are cautioned and are on a yellow.
I will get you a drink of your choosing nevertheless. Barman, if you please, get the gentleman a drink.
Ipswich will no doubt park the bus, er tractor, on us today. I must admit to never witnessing a parked tractor during my fair years.
BtM,
Also, very impressive use of varied farming implements. All such tools would be very proud.
I particularly liked your use of cornsternation, sickle, and turnip. And on second thought, you deserve another fine beverage.
Barman, a double Glenmorangie neat for the fine man please.
Ah, the fine air of anticipation the night before a big match. I can smell it from the other side of the pond. Yes, I can smell it! Or is that the agricultural aroma BtM was speaking of?
Boy, do you have a way with words BTM! 🙂
So wonderful to read the blog on a boring morning at work….
Early goal and we should be too much for the tractor boys…
Although, I wouldn’t like the emirates crowd to go silent if we don’t get an early goal.
This is the time when we should show some spirit, coz things could go horribly wrong if we crash out of beer cup..
Come on Arsenal!
long due but i gotta say this…
BTM’s THE Man!!! made my day!
There are no fens any where near Ipswich. The fens lie entirely in West Norfolk and Cambridgeshire BTM.
I sincerely hope that we are not complacent tonight – work, work, work some more and concentration are the key whoever AW decides to pick. We should be OK but it isn’t a foregone conclusion Ipswich will be well up for it.
3 – nil to the Gunners.
I may be 28. But it wasn’t until I sore my cabbie step dad dancing round the living room with all his cabbie mates in ’93 That it finally clicked what football was all about. And for that reason the league cup has always had a special place for me. We need this!!! Come on you reds!!!
If the theme for BtM’s exceptional prose for Wigan was pies, and for Ipswich was farming machinery and implements, one can only wonder what it will be for Huddersfield. But I digress.
Focus Grasshoppers. One match at a time.
SteveT: I agree completely with both posts, there are no excuses for not making it through tonight. And the congested schedule could and should as you say have been made a lot easier, we have noone to blame but ourselves. The Carling Cup is the least most important competition, but right now I feel this is about showing intent and proving that we are moving in the right direction.
Has anyone noticed Ancelotti’s raised left eyebrow lately? It seems as if it’s permanently raised and it is reaching new heights. If I ever go for a new pen name it might be ‘Ancelotti’s raised left eyebrow’. Not that I care for anything Chelsea. But it just encapsulates so much in such a short phrase. The man should get a trademark on it.
Agree with you fully Lars. No excuses. Just do it! Get the job done.
And I don’t want to see a Bendtner & Chamakh pairing tonight. Save the Dane for Huddersfield. No need to play a farm implement against the club that is the mother of all farm implements.
Le Boss has said he will rotate tonight. So how about Gibbs @ LB, AA @ LW, and Chamakh @ CF. But no other rotations than that. Keep it strong and progress to Wembley.
Today will be one of the more important days in our season.
A CC win would be the catalyst to many trophies after that as many have said including the FA cup and EPL.
Man U’s game with Blackpool tonight can make it a two game gap with only Chelsea (twice), City, us and Liverpool as the remaining teams I can see Man U losing points to. Man U are a very poor away side, so let’s hope Holloway’s men can make some magic.
Up the Arse!
BTM almost left No stone unturned shame as Dumpling puts it his geography eludes him, but the literacy and allegory are fine forget the geography.
Also a shame he mentioned not, the massive Suffolk Punch from our club badge, a horse so massive that it redefined the measure of horsepower as it dragged ploughs and harrows through countless fields as well as being the steed of choice for Knights at Crecy and Agincourt. But no matter. Twas good.
Ordinarily we would have nothing to lose tonight, but our first leg performance has raised many Town expectations to new heights, and now our fans are nervous, trepidation is the order of the day. Not for me though, as long as the nerves of gooners are still frayed approaching 90 minutes I will be happy. I just want our boys to give you a close game.
One point though, if doing the 92 is a dream of many fans then new grounds up the ante, like Leicester’s Crisp Bowl, Hulls KFC Stadium (replete with headless chickens), The MK Stadium (named after electrical fittings perhaps) and Reading Majestic dullodrome and many others Surely there seems no way to complete the 92 of current grounds over a period of years. The Emirates will be a new ground for me, used the seats before (at MK above same seats in black) and I gather the parts were not gathered from a massive trolley in B & Q as most are, so I look forward to it.
Our coach is dropping us at Finsbury Park so with over 50 coaches (and assorted tractors) stopping there, maybe we will forego the Twelve Pins and make it to the Drayton which has always been the pub for Arsenal away.
Now where is my smock and straw hat? Oooh Aaaarrr
Tim,
Just don’t park that coach, or tractor, in front of your goal mate. Your nerves and trepidation will soon lapse after Nasri and Cesc circumvent the varied farming machinery placed about your goal. Enjoy your visit to the Grove and the hospitality of the watering hole however.
Morning ‘Holic & ‘Holics
Snir @ #43 – You’ve made some good points. There are so many big days/nights for our team right now – it goes with the territory when you’re in 4 competitions. Manure have their tails high at the moments (as do we), so as much as I’d love it I can’t see Holloway’s men doing us a favour tonight. Nevertheless and as you point out, their remaining fixtures leave plenty of opportunities for a defeat including a whipping at The Ems.
BtM – More thanks from me for your inimitable farmyard preview. An agricultural 5-0 will be a wonderful result but 2-0 will be just as sweet-corn. Sorry you won’t be able to take the match in live but look forward to your post mortem report – hopefully the dead body will be the one in blue with carrott pieces lodged in its gullett.
Tim Regester – Impressed that coaches can bring you to The Ems. There was me thinking that it would have to be Suffolk Punch & cart until Bury St. E (where the roads start) and then get a coach into that there London. May the best team win tonight (that’s the one in red then) but hat’s off to your lot for a good peformance at Portman Road. If you do the unthinkable tonight then I’ll expect to see you here tomorrow marnin’ crowing like a rooster with a clutch of fresh hens to service. Please have a drink on me mate 😉
Come on you Mighty Reds and please Arsene, go easy on the rotation!!!
Q) What do you call cattle with a sense of humour?
A) Laughing stock.
PS form TS: So, according to Pravda.com, Le Boss is now looking at getting in a CB on loan, interesting…. Could that clear the way for a straight Vela for Cahill swap even if Vela seems to prefer Spanish sun to an English winter (bless)???
Q) What’s a farmer’s definition of competition?
A) Two blacksmiths in a one horse town.
Q) What do you get from a drunk chicken?
A) scotch eggs.
Scotch and Dry please barkeep.
Just been told I should consider a holiday to old London town this time next year by the management. Fair to say I’m in a little bit of shock, the only problem I imagine is that Arsenal tickets are like rocking horse droppings for a bloke from Australia at this time of year. That is a beautiful segue to those who are so committed as to fly to Barcelona without tickets for the match; I hope each and every one of them are successful in their pursuit ‘holic but doubt it will be the case. Never mind, I’m sure there are worse places than Spain to be held in purgatory!
That said, please let me know of the Emirates experience Tim (and whoever else would like to) and what I may have to look forward to. I don’t mind if our nerves a frayed at the end of 90 so long as sweet relief comes too. I wouldn’t begrudge Ipswich a trip to Wembley but that’s ours please mate so try not to get too disappointed eh? 😉
Speak to you all tomorrow morning perhaps, get in there you Arsenal!
Ox, let us know nearer the time, and once we know next years fixtures. You never know what Santa might do for a visiting Aussie.
Better still, join this lot next season… http://www.arsenalaustralia.com.au/
Tickets sorted!
‘Holic
Just a reminder that we’re still looking for revenge for our big Willy (Young) 😉
Lunchtime livener big man to quell the pre-match nerves?
I’d like to see RvP start. He has found a rich vein of scoring form. We need an early goal to wipe out the deficit quickly and release the handbrake on the tractor.
A glass of your finest claret, as ever, ‘Holic, in hope that it will be only the first to toast a Wembley return.
Ned,
Can’t imagine anyone here not wanting RVP to start. An early goal to settle the nerves is a strong bet from Robin tonight if he gets to start. I certainly hope so but trying to second guess AW is like trying to herd cats….
I will post on here tmw whatever the result.
Well when I say coaches they are charabancs so we hope it don’t rain bah. His lordship up the big house let us borrow his we just had to clear out the spent cartridges and feathers.
So we are all set fair for the game. two hours til departure.
Might have a pint up the tap afore I leave.
Could we not invite Tim to be our token opposition supporter every match (whoever the opposition)? He could look up a few facts, engage in a bit of humour etc etc.
Even if it is just to get a view of The Arsenal from a neutral’s point of view. All makes for a better bar!
A pint of your choice, Tim. PS – most Youngs pubs will serve a decent pint. Not all with the choice of The White Horse.
Dr C. – I’ll second that proposal. Generally, it’s only the LWC and Manure interlopers that tend to leave the bar in a state which demands the windows being left open for a week but Tim does seem to be a good sort so….
Barman, three of your very finest please and scotch chasers to calm the PMT. 🙂
PS for Tim R: Don’t forget to buff-up your wellie boots afore ye leaves the charabanc. London is a frightfully sophisticated place don’t you know.
Wellie boots are them those rubber ones his Lordship wears. No wearing best bib and tucker bah, the boots with least sh#t on em and me plus fours me uncle gave me.
Don’t know about sophisticated but I was given an all in one neckerchief at Christmas by my cousin from Ipswich, but looks a bit poncey to me don’t think real men will ever be seen wearing such a thing.
Fair hammering down here now, best tell your groundsman to get the fork out.
Tim R
Very funny. All-in-one neckerchief? So, we have you lot to blame for the snood wearing fest. Harrr….
PS: Groundsman says something about telling you lot to fork off.
If Arshavin,Denilson & Bentdner are not on the pitch at the same time we’re sorted,if they are well,could be tight. These 3 don’t deserve a career at Arsenal,in my opinion.
Gaz
You may well be right and I’d prefer to see us field as much of the Theo Van Nasregas group as possible but that selection (Arsh, Bend, Deni) worked well enough at Elland Road last week. The rotation is a very fine call. We have to have some trust in Le Boss to get things right, I guess….
make tim r a honoray (sic) gooner. makes a change for an oppo fan on here to be so nice. 3=0 the arse tonight… She wore, She wore, She wore a yellow ribbon etc………..
At the pub. Not able to hold meaningful conversations. Absolutely fucking bricking it. Haven’t been this nervous in years…
TS & Lars,
Deep breath boys. Breathe in, breathe out. Let’s keep it together.
Barman, single Glenmorangie neat for each of us please.
Andy Gray … shame, didn’t mind him so much. Wish they had got rid of the monkey-handed one.
Sorry Gaz:
Szczesny, Sagna, Djourou, Koscielny, Clichy, Denilson, Wilshere, Fabregas, Bendtner, Arshavin, van Persie.
Subs: Shea, Nasri, Walcott, Song, Eboue, Gibbs, Chamakh.
Only three not from the best XI. Good sign. Keeping the best at the back and the on fire RvP. Hope to see the little Ruskie pot one.
I’m a jinx,the 3 Stooges are in. Hope to jaysus I’m made to look a fool by them,the rest of the tram is spot on and should be more than enough to dismiss Ipswich by 3 or 4. Wembley here we come!!
Blackpool 1-0 ManU
15′
blackpool…you beauties!
Any streams for the semis?
Cheers Cat Gun. Could be a very good night indeed.
Not a single drink since 7:51 last night??? Where have you all gone, are you all just so relieved that we didn’t fuck it up that you are all lost for words? 🙂
‘Holic,
Great to see the site back up…
Congrats on the ‘holic pound again.. I hope the boys keep on scoring 3goals every game until May..
Lars,
The site was down from yesterday night until an hour or so ago..
Hello all,
The holic pound was on shaky ground for a while there yesterday 🙂
I was nervous till Bendy’s touch and finish. Both, I have to say, were sublime.
Pity BlackPool couldn’t hold on to a 2 goal lead against the mancs. That would have been nice.
Now that the bar is open, something to quench my thirst please.
Very nice, in the final, hopefully by the time that rolls round we’ll have three league wins and an FA Cup quarter-final place under our belt too. Interestingly this means our game at White Hart Lane gets shunted from its end of February slot – possibly to April? Sky would probably prefer that). And if that is the case we would have only two away league games from now until April (!)
As for Blackpool, I know this is very irrational and unfair but I want them relegated now – curse you!
Also one more thing:
Man Utd goals conceded in the league – 21
Arsenal goals conceded in the league – 22
Not bad for a really shit defence huh
Morning ‘Holic & ‘Holics
It appears there was internetus interruptus last night, hey ho what a good game and a fabulous result! Finally, we get revenge for 1978.
Gaz – sorry to do this but maybe there’s a lesson in there to have some trust and faith in our management. Bendy and Arsh both made significant contributions last night. What a goal from Bendy, has he ever scored a better one? Arshavin’s give and go with Cesc set-up and assisted the third goal. Both worked their socks off and tracked back. Neither is in good form…..yet. Denilson? OK, still not sure about him…
Charlie – OK irrational yes but also very funny. The “Damned United” indeed. Let’s just wait now for their trip to The Ems and beat them in style.
Tim R – Look forward to reading your thoughts some time later today… You boys played your game really well until the 60th minute. Until that point, I could see the score staying as it did at Portman Road.
Coffee anyone?
PS for Charlie: Realise the “Damned United” was about Leeds but if the cap fits….
Our defence is looking very good right now. If DJ & Kos continue this form and partnership, TV is going to have to fight his way back into the team. Just the way it should be.
BTW, all of our last 7 wins have all been either 3-0 or 3-1. 3-0 vs Huddersfield anyone?
Indian: ah, of course. I should have figured that out by myself!
Charlie: Blackpool were robbed. They should have had a penalty at 2-0 and I’ve been told (haven’t seen it myself) that Berbatov was offside for their first goal.
Storey: Big Nick scored an almost identical goal but from a bit further out v Blackburn at home last season, but that was in the final minutes when we were already 5-2 up so I’d say this was a better one because of the significance of it – which brings me to a point that we can not overlook: Nicklas Bendtner scores important goals! He has done it far too many times for it to be a coincidence, if he could just develop his all-round play a little more he would be a really good player.
Both Bendtner and Arshavin worked hard yesterday and that paid off. Arshavin generally stunk the place out until things finally started to come together for him in the last half-hour or so. He is a mighty fine player when on form, so let’s just hope he is getting back to his best again.
Denilson did some good things but also some awfully bad things. All too often he seems to be caught in some sort of no-mans land, neither really making a challenge nor marking anyone in particular.
Credit to Ipswich for not resorting to kicking or violent play. They really tried to play their game which is something I think they will benefit from in the long run.
Barman, cups of tea and coffee for all present!
My fav Big Nic goal was the goal he scored against the Sp*ds within 21sec (or 22 secs) of him coming on the pitch as a sub couple of seasons ago.