And Everest Can Stick Their Windows Too…
Jun 26th, 2011 by 'holic
Sunday morning. The sun is a rare and welcome visitor. There is no music on but I can hear Lionel Richie singing ‘Easy”. Thirty degrees, they say it will be later. The BBQ is sorted, the red wine lined up and ready.
Maybe the memory misleads, but the last two or three years weekend sunshine has been restricted to once or twice a summer. That is very different from the summers I recall pulling on my whites to play cricket, when the occasional rainy days would completely destroy the weekend plans.
It gets me thinking about football summers in the past. Admittedly without the minute by minute bombardment from the internet the close seasons of twenty years ago and longer were more leisurely, less fraught points in time. It wasn’t just the absence, though, of the insatiable thirst for current developments, that made those times less of an endurance test. There was one other significant difference.
There were no transfer windows.
That isn’t strictly accurate. If you wanted to play in the European competitions then there were UEFA imposed dates by which players should have been registered in order to be eligible. Domestically, and between Associations for that matter, the market was open 24/7/365.Β It has me thinking.
The introduction of two artificial ‘windows’ has done nothing but add to the advantage that such restrictions give to the better players and the richer clubs. Transfer values generally have been forced through the roof for not just the most accomplished individuals, but also those hyped to be the next best thing. Every buyer is trawling their net at the same time. The potential catches calculate what extra money they can coerce from a new employer, or better still can they sit out their contract and trouser a chunk of what should have been the fee as well.
Now I know that removing the windows would not affect the latter scenario. Players have been given advantages that can never be reclaimed. However, leaving the market open-ended would put an end to the two infernal periods of frenzied scrambling for goods of uncertain quality. Let’s face it, August and January, critical though both are to the success or otherwise of anyones season, have now become distractions to the business at hand.
Scrapping the windows wouldn’t put an end to the situation where if the truly top talents became available then a mad scramble would take place with only two or three clubs likely to be in contention at the top end of the market. It would however put an end to the artificial pressure to sign less-blessed performers because you cannot get your preferred targets.
As a hypothetical example of that let’s assume you want to buy a centre-back from, let’s say, Bolton. Let’s complicate matters by saying Manchester City are sniffing round him too, keeping the price artificially high. Throw into the mix the fact that maybe Blackburn have a centre-back, not as good, but available at a more realistic fee. There comes a point in August when you have to bite the bullet and plump for second best, just because it is August.
“But ‘holic, that means clubs at both ends of the table will be able to strengthen in March and potentially affect the end of season placements.”
So what? In a world of financial fair play, if a club still has the budget to sign players and comply with the new guidelines, why should they not have the ability to do something about improving the situation their financial prudence has seen them reach?
There is no reason why European or Cup competitions could not still enforce deadlines, and have players cup-tied if they have already appeared in those competitions. That was ever thus. What I’m asking we consider is removing the artificial barriers to allow clubs to run their business as they see fit within the rules, and remove the inflationary effects that restricted windows encourage.
What say you, ‘holics?
109 Responses to “And Everest Can Stick Their Windows Too…”
Top post ‘Holic . Agree totally with your premise . My only worry would be that we would have to put up with the media -driven transfer nonsense for 12 months rather than 2 .
Cool lager please Barman , whilst i wait for the rabble .
Ha, something to read before I leave.
I was going to order the first drink, but I see tabs got in first.
Anything but vodka please.
Who benefits most from the “window”. Is it the smaller clubs who see the value of any decent players they have get ramped up during the feeding frenzy or is it the wealthier teams who have the strength to out bid their opposition.
Perhaps the “Fair Play” rules might be the thin end of a wedge that will lead to the Bigger players in the market to call for an end to the Window
I really don’t know what to think about the transfer windows, I think tabs has a point.
However, on seeing the title on twatter and here now, I was convinced this was going to be some rant on why Macs are better than PCs π
and yet with a “window”, on the 1st of September the Press start writing stories about who will get bought and sold in January
Have some Polish lager on me Ollie
Have a great trip Ollie.
How are you Wolfgang π
Speedoed up ‘Holic π
Cracking post as ever ‘holic. 2 Boxes of 15 x 440ml Fosters to go please (bbq this afternoon). One point – there WAS a transfer deadline day prior to the introduction of the poxy new systems, was there not ? A date in March (can’t remember how it was determined) after which either signings could not be made, or they could but players could not appear for their new club until the following season. Or did I just imagine it..??
Cheers!
To be honest, I don’t think the transfer windows make any difference to the amount of transfer gossip in between – there are still scurrilous rumours in the press in September and February, so I’m not convinced removing them would have a downside in that regard. And if we can remove that awful ticker Sky Sports News have, all the better.
Agreed on the desperation buys the windows causes. Prime example was the January just gone – Liverpool sell Torres, need a replacement, and sponge Β£35m on Carroll. Had there been no window, they would have been able to take their time a little, negotiate prices down or look elsewhere, particularly as they weren’t in the hunt for silverware or a Champions League spot. But no, the window forced immediate action, and insane money was spent (which incidentally, will not be reinvested in Newcastle’s budget, so is lost to the game).
Losing the windows would inevitably cause some shady moves late season – I could see City, vying for fourth spot, loaning players to the opponents of their rivals on the final day, but that comes with a hefty price – heavy criticism and the enhancing of mecenary status of their own players, which is the last thing they want in the long term. Perhaps the answer there is simply stick to the emergency loan system and disallow anything other than permanent transfers otherwise.
Class of 68 – I’d agree that the smaller clubs are helped by the inflation of the price of their players, but there is an equal downside, in that the smaller clubs find it harder the build those squads, due to the inflated prices of their own targets. Even Championship clubs are now being asked to pay millions for frankly overtly mediocre fodder.
One of the only benefits of the window, in my opinion, is that clubs who are routinely preyed on for young talent can rest easy for a few months once it has closed, knowing that their squad will be settled for at least half a season before the madness occurs again. Is that worth the craziness of the open months? I’m not so sure.
I appreciate what you mean in terms of the scramble, but the transfer windows were brought in to help fair play on the field. The landmark case was George Weah signing for Milan. Weah’s Paris Saint Germain side had managed a stunning win over Milan in the first leg of their champions league semi final with Weah the star performer on the night. Milan moved quickly to sign Weah before the second leg was played, and his performance in that game was anonymous, even missing a notable chance created for him. Foul play was brought into question, and this is why the transfer window was brought in – to avoid players being unsettled by transfer dealings during the season, with the January window planned well before the ‘business end’ of the season.
A nice post and food for thought. I’m not too sure which side of the fence I’m on with this issue, but I think it would be detrimental to the game if any player could be snatched up at any time by the likes of the bigspending Citeh and the Chavs.
It’s a false market as it is and agents are already detestible toerags, how diobolical would they get if they had even more room to manoeuvre? I imagine it would be like an invasion of witches on every footy stadium on the planet with the agents hovering above the grounds on their Mercedes broomsticks ready to swoop on down to sweep up the talent with promisses of magical contracts and riches in lands far far away. (any similarity between this and the newest Shrek film, which I saw earlier in the week, is purely, sub consiensly, intentional)
Anyways, it’s much too early on a Sunday for me to be able to produce a reasonable arguement, so I’ll have one of those Green Goblin Geezer Ciders please with a pint of vodka chaser.
Cheers.
You are correct John. There was a March cut-off date. Probably understandable too.
Some interesting arguments against. Nothing to change my opinion yet, but worth considering, certainly.
A man after my own heart H2H , I knew you’d come round to the pint of vodka idea eventually – makes the Green Goblins go down easier π
Good stuff Pete , both here and on your own page . Your blog is indeed far more beautiful than Gareth and Gervais over at Le Groan from the darkside π
Heh, thank you kindly. One thing I’m terrible at is being concise though, as you’ve already seen…
And also, I forgot my drinks order. So much to learn.
Tanglefoot for me on this lovely sunny day, please.
We all have that concise problem, Pete. Thanks for popping over and contributing. Good to see you here.
A quick Sunday chuckle courtesy of the Observer;
SPAIN
Bodyguards take the hit as Barça look to cut debt
Barcelona’s president, Sandro Rosell, has been outspoken about the state of the club’s finances, telling Catalunya’s TV3: “I am concerned about the club’s economic sustainability. We have to balance the books.” Not even office supplies, it seems, are to be exempt from his budgetary examinations.
The club has debts reported to be around β¬450m but are also still chasing big-money signings such as Arsenal’s Cesc FΓ‘bregas and Alexis SΓ‘nchez from Udinese. “We have sorted out the situation and what the economic area has achieved means we have β¬45m to spend on transfers this summer plus sales,” said Rosell.
While big-spending and book-balancing appear to be at odds with one another, the president believes it can be done: “By being austere, hard and losing friends … We removed the catering events, our bodyguards, and we have even stopped making photocopies in colour at the club. Now we do black and white and save on toner.”
———–
Great plan, you wanna buy the world’s best players?
Use less ink!
Do away with the transfer window and at least we will stop hearing “he should’ve bought a goalkeeper/centreback in January”
In fact, given our luck with injuries, removing this window might just benefit Arsenal more than others.
The downside is that our pockets wouldn’t be any deeper if we could dip into them more frequently, and those with limitless cash (Arabs and Russians) would still distort the market.
A mineral water for me please, Barman, and a key to a darkened room.
Bone weary this morning after 27 holes at Blue Ridge Shadows – yes, as nice as it sounds – but very content having been, for the first time in four attempts, part of a winning British foursome who humbled our noisy and objectionable Colonial opponents and, hopefully, shut them up for another 12 months.
The French Hound (nod to Ollie), was the venue for the presentation ceremony and a very nice job they did on my Steak Frites and Her Nellieness’ Paillard de Poullet (another nod to the French redhead). As a token, and an acknowledgement of their superiority in at least one dimension, we opted for a Barrossa Shiraz as just a pubic hair’s width better than one of Kent’s finest chardonays.
There was 80 quid riding on the 27th hole. I hit my best drive of the day leaving only 132 yards (not metric here yet) to the pin) – my very best distance with an easy eight. The moment proved too much for me and in a Rory-in-Reverse moment, I flumped it short, chipped it long and then two putted in a style reminiscent of Manuel Almunia in last season’s home game against West Brom.
So that’s the summer bit, ‘Holic. As for the windows, well you’ll be surprised at the things you see when you’re cleaning them. And I for one am happy to sign up for the “Window’s Out” campaign instigated and inspired by the Great Goonerholic. Maybe we can have a 200 man march at the Emirates Cup game against Red Bulls? I’ll be there if you will. Her Nellieness is coming so she makes three.
Off to gloat over the noisy and objectionable Mr Scobie from down under. I’ve had to listen to him for the last 12 months. No point in letting any more time slip before I repay the compliment.
I think the idea of a transfer window is a ploy which is easy to see through, although a few choose to remain blind to the whole thing.
For buying clubs it is a pane, while at the same time creating a sillers market, unless narcissistic, diva players are determined to sashay off to the highest bidder for their own ends. In this case, it is simply curtains for the powerless selling club.
You would have thought that Man Utd would have mastered the transfer window, what with the Glaziers at the helm, but even they have been forced to pay ridiculous prices for players in January windows rather than face e-lamination from the latter stages of cup competitions.
Players can hardly lose. Even lesser players surplus to requirements at our top clubs, will find that as an english door closes, a French Door opens.
I can see both sides of the argument, so long as one-way glass is not utilised. For those who remain confused, there is an article on this very subject in today’s Irish Times by the highly respected Patti O’Doors.
I have finished this little post with the dazzles from a migraine attack, so apologies for any spelling mistakes – I can only just see the keyboard atm.
Break on through, Trev! Masterly.
Cheers BtM, a compliment indeed from the Master Punster.
When one of the big clubs goes to the wall (let’s hope it is you barc – cunt- a – loana) only will other clubs realise the total irresponsibily of being 450 million in debt and cutting back on toner for the photocopier yet still trying to sign 2 great players. The detachment from reality is beyond belief – I hope it happens and I will laugh til my dying day
It’s like being on a teaching salary and walking around the Aston Martin garage to pick a car -which I would love to do but the wife would have kittens.
More strongbow on this sunny sunday Barman
Wish I has some windows to keep the bloody grass pollen out. Since when did hay fever kick in at 43??
Anti-histamines from the CMC please..
Not sure a transfer window really affects things from an Arsenal point of view, – you have to sign players for it to affect you π
so much for a busy summer! another upcoming youngster and err thats its.
although at least this week might see the sale of our best player and possibly the next best if nasri doesn’t sign a contract.
still, at least alumunia,denilson, diaby, bendtner and eboue are still at the club.
hope springs eternal…
I don’t know about pulling my cricket whites on ‘Holic but watching Middlesex can be as frustrating as watching The Arsenal at times!
Just a thought on the transfer windows, has any club ever considered a legal challenge about restraint of trade?
Transfer windows, Signings non signings players that may sign players that want to leave money money money as Abba may sing, Ive just spent the last couple of hours with me best mates 2 day old daughter in my arms and that puts it all in perspective, Beers on me for all the normal reprobates please barman,
Actually it is also interesting to imagine no transfers once the season begins. Name your squad and play your games.
Anyone else feel some sense of relief last season when our schedule had us playing BOTH our Chelsea matches before the winter transfer window? (Of course, as things turned out, the addition of Torres had no effect anyway)
Financial Fair Play doesn’t “level” the playing field with regard to spending. The rich can afford top shelf while the rest wade through the slop. If there were strict wage bill restrictions in place then “spending wisely” would become the priority, assuming that player salaries generally reflect the transfer fee paid. Forcing teams to do the maths thoroughly before a new signing, and thus perhaps having to sell players to make room for a big salary addition, would help alleviate the “rich get richer” problem.
On a serious note, whilst the media speculation is absurd, I’m not sure it would be that much different without the window. The prices being driven up is a very good point, but it never struck me as fair that a team (even us) could buy a player from the opposition for the run in to the title….
arsenalkl @29 = nice point. I’d agree; if there is going to be a window then have just the one. Makes more sense.
Chippy – of course, you are correct with your perspective. All of this is nothing but a fabulous and enjoyable waste of time. Assuming you regard me as a reprobate, I’ll have another glass of cabernet sauvignon, please.
Paint it black. Trying to fade away and not have to face the facts. We threw it all away. This summer is hard to deal with. Come on Arsenal. Put things right.
I say ‘aye’ ‘Holic. Let players be weleased when they’re weady π
Spookily, I had to repair one of my real windows earlier. On a scorching summer’s day, that was about as enjoyable as clicking on a BS link on NewsNow and realising that you’ve been mugged over again.
Ice cold drinks for whoever’s left in the bar. Smell’s like we’ve had an LWC in here recently π
Dr.C from previous post re: hay fever,
Try consuming local honey (the bee variety) over a period of time for your ailment. It seems to have worked for me. I’ll add a jar of Catalunyan nectar to the CMC.
Catalan, TS – the local honey idea is a good one – needs to be “cold pressed” I’m reliably informed.
Sleep is also a good idea – goodnight.
TS, Trev; Cheers!
*off to find out what “cold pressed” honey is*
No Transfer windows would mean city buying and selling new players every month.That would be fun to watch.If a player doesn’t play well for 2 matches running they would replace him immediately.
And the barca cunts would get unbearable.I can imagine xavi saying – ‘cesc was poor in the last match.He must put in a transfer request.His heart and soul are at barca’ Tapping up of our players throughout the year?No thank you.
Morning All
Another scorcher here in Herts. And the big news today is….. Juan Mata?????….. and tabs wearing his budgie smugglers two days on the trot π
Cooling ‘cold presses’ for all please Barman, whatever they may be. I’m working on a refrigeration unit for the CMC. Gotta keep the ‘animal-puff’ fresh for the patrons.
Catalan @36
Fuck the Cold Pressed Bollocks,just get your hand on some New Zealand Manuka Honey,absolutely best honey in the world.
Google Manuka Honey for all the info.
BT8Ball @32
Please refrain from trying to hijack the Moniker that BTM has kindly bestowed on me.
If you want to invoke PIB in future,please consult me for prior approval.
Cheers
Clive
Nice post ‘Holic.With the window shut, all the players are more settled and even sub-consiously they can’t think about jumping ship in the middle of the season
The other thing is, the league should go to the team that has been best the whole year, shouldn’t it?
Coffee please, cheers
Clive @ #39
Cold pressed b*ll*cks??? I’m sure there’s an ointment in the CMC for that.
Hope you’re sitting comfortably π
Dear Marje Proops ,
Thank you for the advice regarding suitable swimwear .
Unfortunately , following an afternoon in the sun , I now have a face like an over-ripened tomato . Whilst this has lessened the possibility of being hit by a motor vehicle , I find that i am scaring small children at distances of up to 100 yards .
Is cold-pressed Honey a possible remedy ?
Thanking you in Anticipation ,
Wolfgang Smallballs .
Morning All ,
Some of the patrons were up late last night – did the Guv’nor have a lock in ?
Who’s this Mata Hari kid ? Personally , i am not convinced exotic dancing will necessarily improve our team .
TS @ 41
You’ve come a long way since you first blogged on this site,
If you would only desist from your demeaning comparisons between Gareth Bale, certain Primates,and Bananas,i would elevate you to my top 100 Bloggers on this Site.
Cheers
Clive
Dear Mr. Smallballs,
Don’t be ridiculous. Honey, cold pressed or otherwise, is no remedy for a man in his 40s dressed in overly-tight swimwear.
I have warned my children to steer clear of Enfield and the vicinity
Yours lovingly,
Marje
Morning all,
I see the boys have been taking their medicine nice and early.
The Telegraph are hinting that Β£31M is a compromise fee “could” be accepted by Arsenal for Cesc.
Β£50m or c*** off, I say.
TABS – spying on the opposition, however, might help things.
NOw then google cold pressed honey and Manuka Honey (thanks Clive). Not confident it’ll be stocked in Barcelona though…
tabs, you get the strangest visitors in here sometimes π
Afternoon zico. Yes, nicely medicated thanks. With all the smoke that’s around, I’m beginning to wonder if Cesc really is on his way this summer. Up until now, I thought we’d have him for at least another season. Β£31M does sound ridiculous (in this market) for a man of his talents. Que sera….
Clive @ #44: Thanks for the incentive, it’s going to be hard to resist. Hope you’re having a good day π
In other news, I received my ‘Explosive Arsenal’ brochure in the post today. Am I the only one who thinks the new away kit looks good? It’d probably make Samba feel right at home.
For the conspiracists amongst you, there’s no piccies of Cesc, Nasri or Clichy in the brochure. Front cover is (L-R) Szcz, TV5, Jack, Gibbs, Rambo.
For the parents amongst you, it’s Β£35 for a short-sleeved kit top (home or away). Ber-luddy cheek!
You certainly do TS , bloody Germans eh ! π
Dr C @47 , Good point , Dr C , but I seem to recall it all ended rather badly .
Afternoon Dr Z , emerged from the darkened room yet ?
The Telegraph is just selling papers – Cesc going nowhere unless they stump up Β£45 mill . Cuoco !
Yes TS , you are the only one who likes the new away kit , or at least i hope you are .
Spud light blue and Rugby League halves do not a winner make .
Btw , for the non conspiracy theorists out there , the arsenal.Com TV advert featured both Cesc and Clichy π
TS – No RvP either. Conspiracy scratched π
tabs @ #51,
Fair point re: Spud light blue – I still like it though and the goalie kit is all green for the traditionalists. Even fairer point re: ‘Arsenal Player’. BTW, no home or away speedos available yet. I’m advised that the positioning of the new crest is the biggest issue π
Snir @ #52,
Sorry to say RVP is in the (printed) brochure sporting our home kit. Song and Walcott too. π
*emerges blinking into the sunlight*
Is Lars still buying?
TS @48
Apologies.!!
I’m in the Secure Unit during the summer recess,and whilst i was sending my comments @44,i was getting a knee trembler off the Voluptuous Cecilia,who is one of the Day Nurses here at the Unit.
At the crucial moment,i accidently added a Zero to my figures.
It should have been Top Ten,much like the knee trembler.!!
In return for allowing Cecilia a more ‘Hands On ‘ approach to my check ups,she has turned a blind eye to my laptop which i smuggled in on arrival.
I will be keeping an eye on Holic’s site as and when i get the opportunity.
I have to be very careful,because Electronics are a No No.
But with the wonderfully inventive Cecilia on my side,anything is possible.
I will keep you posted on my adventures with Cecilia,I’m playing the ‘ Long Game ‘in that regard, as at my age i am grateful for small mercies.!!!
Cheers
Clive
Dr. z
LIAB but please have this one on me. There’s a pair of anti-tabs-glow sunnies on top of the CMC for you too. If you narrow your eyes, he looks like an advert for Ready-Brek (Note to our sponsors: Other brands of oat based breakfast cereals are also available).
Clive @ #55
No apology required!! I thought it was all good humoured banter. Top 100 was way complementary in my eyes for some of the drivel that leaves my keyboard.
BTW, all this talk of the wonderful sounding Nurse Cecilia has got my creative…. er…. juices flowing. Images of ‘The Singing Detective’ have flashed into my twisted brain.
If you don’t mind, I’m going to ask Dr. z to add a Secure Unit Carriage, Knowing It’s a Traveller’s pre-requisite – or SUCK-IT for short.
Always good to have you grace our bar when you’re ‘en forme’ Clive π
Dr.z what say you???
TS , briefs do the job just as well π
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Love-Jack-Wilshere-Arsenal-Underwear-1211p-/260691280652#ht_2356wt_1270
Clive , welcome to the secure unit . I am currently in isolation , but when i get out , you have an ally . Err , for non knee trembler duties i should add . i will leave that pleasure to the wonderful Cecelia .
Heh tabs! I rather like the content. Not sure she’d make a better DM than Jack though π
TS – cheers for the drink and shades.
The Secure Unit Carriage is liable to dwarf the rest of the train if this place is anything to go by.
Someone has stolen the Blonde’s midriff!
Dr. z @ #60
Good point. Perhaps just add a High Security Level fare to the ticketing choices? Comes free with a straight jacket, food you can consume though a straw and you’re very own nurse to administer. Maybe a no-charge option for Club Level tickets?
One for you Clive
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5_QV97eYqM&feature=fvsr
Stone the crows, even Aunty Beeb are now printing stories about our board being ‘wiling to sell’ our captain should the offer be suitable.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13928823.stm
I wonder if this is IG’s & PHW’s cunning ploy to shame Farca into permanent retreat for not being able to stump up the readies? A kind of double bluff maybe? I guess we’ll have to wait for the next episode of ArsenalNation St. (Behind The Arse) to find out. CUoCO in the meantime?
PS for tabs: Was my application for sub-editor received well by your editorial team? If yes, a copy of the script could be forwarded to my secure unit email address. Our esteemed Barman has my details and the keys to my straight jacket π
TS/Tabs/Zico
The German Stormtrooper Ms Schlossberg has just come on shift,so this will be my last blog for a while.
I will try and report in this evening.
The adorable Cecilia has gone home to her invalid Mother.
Although she did whisper in my ear before she left,that she hadn’t washed her hands since.
She is such a devil.!!
Sigh.
Cheers
Clive
TS has more keys than Liberace had sequins.
Sounds like the usual bullshit, TS, quoting a “source”. Just as bad as the tabloids that lot.
Ah, the wonders of the secure unit. π VC appears to be the newest entry in the glossary, should the SU coupling with the HT not suffer coitus interruptus.
Yep , I’m with Dr Z . The most interesting thing to come out of that article is that Lady Nina has a twitter account ! I sense Behind the Arse opportunities ! π
On the subject of Behind The Arse TS , i did set out my offer in the last round of drinks , which from memory was a couple of drinks and certifiable proof of your insanity .
Boardroom shenanigans on the Agenda this week , though sadly without Sir Chips Keswick and Lord Harris of Peckham , who are beyond parody π
Sir Chips ? you couldn’t make it up π
zico(insequins) @ #66,
Wrt your second point, I certainly hope so and tend to agree – it’s all noise-for-clicks. I’ll stuff the carrotts back into each ear now, makes life so much easier. Pardon?
Clive @ #65,
I was just wondering if Wolfgang S and the Schlossberg lady were really the same person. Is she/he wearing overly tight pants? Remember: give name, rank and number only. As for that nurse of yours, I’d be tempted to make good your escape with her at the first opportunity π
tabs, I was just thinking that (about the names)…. Sir Chips, Lady Nina and Lord Harris! We should make them our commercial team. We’d soon be singing “6%, it isn’t enough….” π
Re: my job application. How about you as Lord Bowson of Enfield? I’ll be Sir True Burgers Wellington. Zico as Dr. King Dom Le Fife. Does that certify me sufficiently? What about the carrotts in my ears?
*Scratches chin. Realises this is going to be a drawn-out process… possibly painful*
TS π π
Lord Bowson of Southgate if you please . Enfield too Spuddy π
LBoS
And another good point. Enfield = Spudtown
Southgate faaar nicer. Lived there myself for a year or so in my late 20s. Used to go clubbing there in my early 20s. Remember The Pink Elephant? You couldn’t make that name up either, could you?
Now, about my salary…. π
It’s good to be the King….. π
TS , i spent much of my youth … ahem … in The Pink Elephant
tabs, zico
Which circles us back nicley to the capacious elephants scrotum comments of last week.
You couldn’t make that one up either π
Indeed , TS , and seeing Pink Elephants is a euphemism for drunken hallucination π
By the way it was The Pink Elephant that the Arsenal players were rumoured to have celebrated post-game on May 26th 1989 .
I had just moved to N4 at that time , and was too busy cavorting around Highbury , ( as depicted in Fever Pitch ) , so can neither confirm nor deny . Niall Quinn and one or two others used to live round these parts , so it’s entirely possible .
tabs
I do recall hearing that as well about the Pink Elephant but all details sadly lost in the mists of time but thanks for the prompt.
I had heard that some of our players used to live in Hadley Wood (very posh, nr. Barnet) around that late 80s/early 90s period but for the life of me cannot remember who. Come to think of it, maybe a few still do…?
Yeh a lot of them still do TS – known as Footballers Row .
Bergkamp lived in a private road there , saw him once in Pizza Express in Barnet with his wife and Kids . His wife was a Hottie .
Spud Keane also moved that way until the neighbours complained – brought property values down about 20%
Clive @ 39 – “fuck the cold pressed bollocks” – Manuka Honey.
and Catalan –
“cold pressing” is the process by which the honey is extracted from the comb, and is an alternative, you will not be surprised to hear, to “heat pressed”.
The use of heat destroys the pollens which you need to have active in the body, in order that your body builds up resistance to them.
The honey should be obtained from a local keeper, or source, so that it contains the same pollens that irritate you.
Manuka Honey, while excellent in it’s own right, is more famed and used for it’s anti-bacterial qualities than for anti-allergy purposes.
So, Mr Waterman, while I usually find myself in almost total agreement with your posts, on this occasion I’m afraid it’s “bollocks to your bollocks to the ‘cold pressed’ bollocks”.
That is a lot of bollocks – just the last comment mind, not the whole post.
TS @ 77 – Greenoak Place, Cockfosters, I believe, is where Dennis Bergkamp used to live. I lived in East Barnet as a lad – the poor end of Cockfosters.
Kanu used to live just round the corner in Beech Hill in Hadley Wood.
Blimey, this could go on for a few days !
Trev/Clive, No matter the technical details please order me up some hot pressed VC honey on the double.
Nasri – don’t you start!
What the hell is VC honey ?
Trev, Not certain mind you but I believe VC honey relates to the Voluptuous Cecilia as described by Clive @#55 π
Nasri – I think you’ll find that’s “hard pressed”.
Trev – a quiet day in the clinic? π
You are a veritable fountain of knowledge on honey. And all that bollocks.
Trev @ #79,
Thanks mate, that’s highly inofrmative b*ll*cks – don’t they do something similar in the production of high quality olive oil?
tabs @ #78,
You saw god and his family munching on pizza? Was there a halo above the table? Agreed re: one spud in your neighbourhood and bang goes the area! Can you imgaine the potential conversations of Mr. & Mrs. Arsene at the Totteridge Village resident association discussing the arrival of The Bartons and The Defoes? There could be a whole episode of ‘Behind The Arse’ in that one π
I’m a bit worried about al this hot air of Arsenal accepting 31 million for Cesc. Seriously?? The same as Andy Carrol?? Grow some balls Arsenal, and stand firm for the correct price.
CUoCO
Catalan – sadly, back to work right now ’til 8.30 !
TS – Olive Oil is all about extra virgins, but i’m not going there!
See you later, when I tune in for Clive’s grovelling (about my bollocks) apology.
Trev @ #80,
Thanks for sharing! Spent a lot of my late teens in that area due to a ‘squeeze’ (as tabs would say) at the time. Fond memories over all. Small world π
Back to the topic at hand. Widening the window for peeping at the VC, of course …
If we widen the window it won’t make the VC any more or less attractive but if we narrow the window there’s a chance it could make her that much more titillating so all in all I vote for narrowing the window and requiring her to wear only teeny tiny outfits guaranteed to titillate.
Well 8ball, as long as she hasn’t got bollocks…
Catalan, I find it VERY hard to believe that Β£31m should be an acceptable price for anyone in the Arsenal camp. But if we ever do sell him, then Barca will never ever admit that they bought him for more than peanuts. It would be very much in their interest to spread lies about how much they paid for him.
I reall, really don’t want Cesc to go. But if he does, I completely understand him and there’ll be no grudges held on my part. He has given us eight years and never once done anything but give everything his got for the club. But, as I said, I really, really want him to stay.
Lars & ‘nasri,
Good to see you both exchanging some b*ll*cks. Makes a pleasant change from the usual suspects π
TS, That reminds me. How many people does Clive need to apologise to this evening after he reemerges from the secure unit?
I mean he did already move you up from the top 100 to the top 10 but surely if anybody is a “usual suspect” (as in “round them up…” it is you?
Agreed ‘nasri re: usual suspects. Round me up, put me in a field, etc., etc.
Bloody hell , i now know how Trev feels , you step out of the Bar for a couple of hours , and when you return you have no idea what’s going on .
Nasri’s smearing himself in VC honey ? VC might be a man ? Clive’s grovelling around Trev’s bollocks ? TS is in a field ?
I think the time has come for an end of day summary of play Test Match Special stylee . Over to you Mr Jonathon Agnew …
TS, Usual suspects in Casablanca were not necessarily guilty, just a little bit shady so it appears the term is appropriate. π
Dzien dobry!
What’s happening around here, comrades?
Is that Ollie in disguise, just in Poland, or both?
Isn’t Arthur our resident Polish correspondent? But we haven’t heard from him in a while. Ollie, you must investigate.
Evening Ollie , how’s the vodka ?
Both bt8bbnn!
Haven’t tried it yet tabs. Been a rather busy first day. I’m not sure I’ll have much time to relax until the weekend, to be honest.
Greetings Komrade Olliski!
Please bring back some industrial grade wodka for the bar. Sorry that our Mad Hatter’s tea party gets a little confusing at times. I don’t understand it myself and I’m one of the biggest perpetrators π
Speaking of transfer windows, have we signed anyone yet JKC???
SV, JKC??? If it’s going in the syllabus you must tell us what it means first. But no, signings seem to be on the distant horizon if at all according to newsnow the last time I checked. Actually, more than two minutes ago. π
8ball – It is an acronym to add emphasis to a statement and one we should add to our burgeoning lexicon. JKC = Jesus K. Christ.
ManU is on the verge of their third signing and we remain as parsimonious as ever …
Stingy, it’s June…