So Here’s To You, Mrs Robinson
Sep 16th, 2011 by 'holic
“You lose your confidence quickly, and you gain it back slowly, but you gain it back only with hard work, and that’s what we want to show at Blackburn.”
“Luckily we are up against Paul Robinson, and he has curvature of the spine as a result of the number of times he has had to bend over to pick the ball out of the back of the net against Arsenal.”
Arsene is clearly, and quite rightly, taking Blackburn more seriously than the voices in my head. Then again, Arsene had not just chucked a gallon of Guinness down his neck before cracking open a fresh bottle of Laphroaig ahead of giving his pre-match opinion.
My glee at seeing the former Tottenham ‘keeper in between the posts for the Lancashire club is a little childish, I grant you. However, 59 times we have planted the ball in the net he hasΒ been defending down the years. His moments against us have been few and far between, but we should not forget we could not get past him on April Fools Day at the Grove last season. Fortunately we had already triumphed 2-1 at Ewood Park in our second away League match last season. Now in our third Premiership trip of this season we are eager to snaffle the three points that should lift us into the top half of the table.
Are we likely to make sweeping changes to the side that picked up a welcome Champions League point in Dortmund? Personally I wouldn’t. The defence survived some scary early moments in Germany and looked very solid indeed the further the game went. Only a very special strike robbed us of an unlikely clean sheet. The back five has earned another chance to gel.
The midfield is the great conundrum for the boss ahead of this game. Aaron Ramsey may be fit to return, but most likely he would come in for Yossi Benayoun. The Israeli may not have caught the attention with the ball in the week, but his workrate off it was phenomenal. There is a Carling Cup tie on Tuesday in which those who don’t start tomorrow can gain match practice and confidence. Let’s not risk reducing the squad by rushing anybody back too quickly.
Blackburn are in an even more fragile and unpredictable situation than us, and their supporters are planning a pre-match protest aimed at removing manager Steve Kean. The irony of that will not be lost on a number of the traveling Gooners who will, I’m sure, treat lunchtime Sky viewers to many a long and loud long and loud chorus of “We love you Arsenal”. The hosts are finding points even harder to come by than the Gunners, having picked up just one point from their opening four fixtures.
So what of the ‘holic pound, the voices in my head ask next? I have grabbed a piece of the very generous 16/1 offered by Paddy Power against a 3-1 away win. I know that would double our tally of League goals for the season, but surely you haven’t forgotten already, they have Robbo in goal! I’ve also grabbed a little of the 33/1 offered by Stan James against Laurent Koscielny, the man of the week, scoring the first goal.
So that’s about it. If you are off to check the four thousand holes in Blackburn, Lancashire, tomorrow lunchtime, I hope you spot a fair few of them in the defence ahead of our porky old chum. If, like me, you will be slouched in front of the tv with what is likely to be a mighty hangover, then I’m glad you are having a good night.
Whatever you are doing, have a good one ‘holics.
234 Responses to “So Here’s To You, Mrs Robinson”
!!!
Have to read the post now… π
Nice post ‘Holic .
Reckon AW will stick with the same side . 2-0 win . Flipper and VP .
A problem for us is that no player in the squad is able to play that attacking midfield position to play close to the striker. Ramsey and Benayoun have both sat far too deep in order to support attacks properly. So without a decent Fabregas replacement I just dont see the current formation working all season. It constantly looks like we are playing zee ‘andbrake on.
I think a flat midfield four with a player in the hole would be the way forward with this squad.
Lovely post.
Here’s to some vigorous choruses of “We love you Arsenal” and the ‘holic investments seeing a fine return on the morrow.
*sneaks in for an early round*…. did I miss anything??
gazup@4
Surely Yossi can play that role in the abscence of LJW?
And Arteta has a bit of pedigree too….. no?
First from africa
i will love wenger to start with diamond tomorow rvp and walcott upfront,benayoun as the camf,gervinho and arteta as the left and right cmf respectively,a.song as the cdmf then the back four just like the borussia game just some difference in tactics
Cheers to all.
I wonder if Wenger will give Park his debut in a substitute role at Ewood?
4:45am kickoff in my part of the world. Tempted to watch with the sound off to avoid the inevitably annoying ESPN commentary.
Okay the boss had confirmed yossi likes to play on the wing and that is where I recall him playing for the scouser’s, however he’ll play where the boss says. So if he’s covering for Aaron then so be it. The options are minimal!
2-1 to de arse-al tee-o and van P to bring it back I reckon!
Everyone help yourselves to your choices cause whatever happens I’ll make it back on tomorrow’s game unless something fu@#ing stupid happens!
π
I bet anybody on here arsenal lose 2-1
Nurse!!!
Get the vaccines ready…..
… and the paddles!
Carlos…. where are you? I believe this is more your field of expertise?
Wolfie and I will deal with them until you arrive.
Right, Nurse, Paddles, speculums, and ketamine. That should do for now…..
Looks like Carlos Kickemhard is required !!!
Evening Dr C .
Evening Tabs. Would you care for a pipe whilst Wolfie takes care of this?
Oh dear,
Fat Robbo has got a nickname @ 12.
A roversfan4life – definition – 70 years of misery, then death.
I have a feeling Arshavin will start ahead of Walcott tomorrow. 1-0 to the Arsenal will do fine.
Beers for all the usual suspects Barman, and one for yourself.
Eastern, I feel is best right now, TABS.
Helps drown out the noise from the creche.
I think Carlos may have some answering to do for dropping his guard on a Friday night.
I expect the mongs posts will disappear some time soon, assuming Holic can tear himself away from his Laphroaig.
Evening Zico
A beer would be great, thanks.
Zico – both of them. Equal opportunities, after all! π
Heh, too true Dr C.
Aggregate IQ of about 9 I’d say.
I was going to say Tomaschevski(spelling?) to you,Mr Clough.Too many Goalies have been man of the match against us over the years,frequently from teams starting with B .Hope Arshavin gets a chance to play in his proper position but doubt it. Maybe hope will be our overriding emotion this year,but I won’t be blaming the players.
Memo to Dr Feelgood .
cc.Prof TES , Wolfgang Smallballs .
Subject : Additional Security Measures for Blackburn.
First of all , before I get into theβ meatβ of this note , may I thank you for the 16 hours of pleasure you afforded me with Sylvia Smallhands , our most efficient barmaid .
Though she was initially apprehensive of my weaponry , she soon lost all misgivings , and lost herself in the moment , or 16 hours in this case . Having become familiar with my shooter , she soon showed herself very adept at handling and polishing same , and then opening the barrel . I didnβt want to push her too hard on her first session , so I made sure that I did all the firing and subsequent unloading .
She did however begin to flag towards the end , and she wondered , given the size and weight of my piece , whether it might not be a job for two Barmaids simultaneously .
In this regard she recommended that her friend , Agnetha Largeholesen , accompany her to the next weapon-testing session .
I trust that this request might meet with Board approval , and also ask that Sylvia be put on non-walking duties in the short-term .
On to more work-detailed matters , and I thought it would be salient of me to warn you of additional security measures that Happy Travellers should take this coming weekend . The train did of course experience some minor joltage on the last trip βoop tβnorthβ , and in an effort to prevent same occurring , I have laid out some additional guidelines .
I would be grateful if they were circulated with Boarding Passes upon embarkation .
1. Black Pudding , otherwise known as β Samba crunchβ . This is a delicacy in these parts , but on closer inspection turns out to be heavy , and can at times stick in the throat . Availability is unknown at this stage and travelers are advised to bear in mind that portions are enormous , and can limit mobility . Treat with caution .
2. Tripe . Another delicacy here , and can be found at Robinsons Foodstore . Of deeply questionable origin , it has spent far too long in the most rancid of places . Gives off a dreadful smell and any contact is likely to be nausea inducing . Customers are advised to give this a wide berth , and pause only to comment on its fatty texture , and disgusting appearance .
3. Good Willie . Not what it says on the tin . Not good at all . Customers are advised to leave well alone . Any queries should be directed to Wolfgang Smallballs , who has kindly indicated he will undergo any emergency test-tasting .
4. Whippet Walking . Customers are of course free to carry out their leisure time in any way they see fit , but this particular activity mig ht be dangerous , as these dogs are likely to be Rovers . Should be avoided .
5. Pidgeon-Racing . Not to be confused with bird-fancying , this activity might leave you birdless at the end of the day and encrusted in only the white stuff . Again , leave this strange activity to the locals .
I trust that the above proves helpful in allowing our customers a trouble-free day out , and I look forward to another successful day for DLL .
Yours Salutingly
Carlos Kickemhard
Now then ,roversfan4life , get gack to your dreadfully unhappy life , before I turn my Arsenal on you , and vapourise you . Be off .
Cheers for pipe Dr C , and the Beer Dr Z .
Have the kids gone yet ?
Wolfie’s poised with the Speculum .
Adeu, tios. Me voy…
What in the name of Dennis has been going on here then?
I sense a bit of anxiety oop t’north…
They really shouldn’t let the workers out of the Chicken factory before the end of the shift. Only causes problems. Keep them in the cages instead of the battery hens. It’s the kindest way really.
Well done Carlos.
Carlos, thanks for your memo. You do make me laugh.
But these are strange names for Swedish girls.
I have a feeling they may have been pulling your plonker. Which might have been the point.
Consider your additional security matters to be well and truly authorised. Your 4 point avoidance plan will be of great benefit to our customers.
The only thing you have omitted, (which is permissable because you are new at this game), is the 6.5% premium that we will need to put on the face value of the ticket for err, the additional expense that went into this research in the first place.
I am glad to see you are taking your new duties seriously, particularly in the absence of Professor Storey, who I believe has gone looking for more stringed instruments of torture.
Oh and one more thing. “Green eyes is off limits”. π
All in a day’s work , Snowy π
Phew thank goodness for that.
According to Wikipedia “Over Β£25 million is currently being invested in education initiatives in Blackburn with Darwen, including new schools, city learning centres and children’s centres.”
Anyone else think that the taxpayer’s hard earned pound has been a bit, err, wasted?
π
Thank you for your quick response and will bear in mind the instruction as to “Green Eyes ” .
The 6.5% will of course be extracted at the Departure Gate .
Blimey , this vapourisation gun is even more effective than even I had thought . π
Boilk
‘holic, If it were Tabs in Blackburn I think we could have faith in him to find the 4,000 and first hole, even if he did break his duck with @600 in the previous drinks. Great preview and come on the Arsenal!
It does of course mean that my post @ 17 makes very little sense….
Oh well no change there then π
Bit early for that ‘Holic . Glad to see it hasn’t affected your aim π
Or maybe yossi could recommend his wife instead.
Just catching up on drinks from yesterday, and today, and am now very confused.
One day away and I don’t know who is who in here anymore.
Carlos K – zico / tabs ?? Thought it was Catalan last night but @24 has a different hand on it.
@24 very good though π
Will be nice to see Misses Robinson again π
Looks like I am facing stiff competition for the Silent Stan gig – unfortunately no time again today.
A bit much when work inhibits blog activity so severely π
Must say I think this is part of a string of games that are all very winable. A run of matches where we can really get back on track. 3 points at the chicken farmers is a must. I hope Benny gets a start. I think in the last 2 games his performances have earned him that right. Another good chance for the defense to continue their learning curve and for Kos to have another world class wonder display???? π
Let’s terrorize Robbo and make it a torrid time. I fancy a treble from either RVP or AA. Or both?????
Keep the faith.
Yes Trevor maybe Misses Robinson could meet Yossi’s wife on the pitch tomorrow! I hear she’s a professional hot Isreali Lap Dancer!
π
Yes Steve I think AA is due another goal against the straw chewers π
GT – what’s the story re Yossi’s wife – i’ve missed all this, like most things this week.
And talking of ‘stories’, where is True Storey?
Trev –
I was just joining in with the gibberish talk as I’m always an outsider when it’s going on! π
And yeah where the devil is that little devil TS?
‘Holic, you forgot Wenger does Cabernet Sauvignon – which could be a devil. I wouldn’t give those vultures any interviews while I’m sober either…….(like I’m trying hard to put together a meaningful sentence right now) π
Up the Arsenal.
I too fancy a 3-1 to The Arsenal Holic. Tuesday was all about avoiding defeat without too much ambition. I expect us to approach the game with more attacking zest and I’m also hopeful that we’ll see signs of fluidity and confidence returning.
Win won,draw won. Hardly any reason for frothy drinks or boasting.
First leave us win the game and reduce our goal difference to say minus 4. The maybe I’ll hoist a couple of heady ones. Till then loose lips sink ships and we are my fellow holics still very much decks awash.
I have a stinker of a cold
Sorry to hear about the cold, impressive.
What’s that you say, Mrs. Robinson? Let’s hope it’s this:
Why is that fucking ball in the back of the net again??
Good stuff ‘holic.
RvP to get on the scoresheet and Woj to keep a cleansheet.
Blackburn are fowl, so here’s to a finger lickin’ good three points
Cold remedy guaranteed to work: Drink a glass of red wine, followed by a glass of white wine, followed by an entire onion, followed by 5 cups of steaming hot tea with no milk or sugar. You’ll be good as new. Or not. π
Evenin holics, great stuff up there from the new and now infamous as well as the usuals.
I’m feeling a 6-0 to the arsenal RVP 3, gervihno 1, Arteta 1 and the big sack to bust his nut and grab one from a corner. Wishes do come true….
Drink up holics, or have the coffee first but, skip the pudding eh.
3 points is an absolute must.
Steve, I’d say this game is part of not just a winnable string of matches but a string of almost must-win matches – and we will win them all if we just go out there and work hard enough because if we match our opponents for work rate then we’ll have too much for them.
Up the Arse!
And I agree with the ‘Holic, don’t make any changes to the team, the Carling Cup game is the game for resting players.
Lars. Spot on with both above in my opinion.
Lars –
As we played in mid-week today’s contest is always going to be uneven in terms of freshness. But yes with some hard work(especially from the previously suspended) we should bring home the Bacon against a team who have failed to win any of their opening games or keep a clean sheet so far!
As you say, these next run of games are a must win. The straw chewers are a team a hate with a pitch as patchy as Pep Guardiolas hair!
I’m now upping my game to 3-0 with the other quid I have lying around
I’ll stick to the same goal scorers as before and well…the third one’s up for grabs! π
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-the-cycle-has-started-again-for-us
Guidelines for journalists writing about Arsenal:
When writing about Arsenal you must mention all of the following:
1. … (X years) since they last won a trophy
2. … since the departure of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri
3. … since the 8-2 humiliation at Old Trafford
Glad to see in this bar and a couple of others that some fans are looking forward (scary word, I know), rather than backwards. Until recently, Arsenal players looking backwards would see Le Squil and Almunia. Now that’s scary.
To The Arse!
GT – The boss is high.
Yossi’s preferred position is in the center. He played on the wing because he really didn’t have a place in the center at Liverpool.
Oh, and Yossi’s wife is one of the ugliest Israelis ever. Most Israelis are hot, just ask Rio Ferdinand π
Tabs – I respect Tim but that just means Arsenal haven’t played the loudest in Europe π
Must win game. No other way to call it.
Snir@57- but I’ve heard she’s a really good person ξ
Ps: it is true, most Israeli women are gorgeous!
She probably is because Yossi is one of the most professional players I’ve seen.
He never goes out, never drinks, never does anything controversial.
Just going to training and playing on weekends.
A quick good morning to one and all from me and Edwin.
Great reads above as usual.
Blackburn need a good tonking, we need the points and the goals!
Back later, enjoy the match all!
Drinks on the bar for all but the green-eyed, northern interlopers (and nothing to do with Dr.z’s preferred mount ;-))
I’m in San Diego and I love the fact the game is at 4:45 A.M!
It gives me a weird ‘party’ feeling to the game π
Significant team change at Diab’holical should please the whingers π
First drink?
Oh
Good stuff ‘holic. Haven’t checked my team since day one.
And is ‘Lancasire’ a pun?
Selling Rooney ‘Holic ? π
Smallballs has reacted to his fall to 4th by entering the transfer market. Arshavin and Doyle out . Flipper and Guttierez in .
TS – Morning , and good to see you back .
Trev @37 – Carlos is the bigger-balled , army-loving second cousin of Smallballs π
Hour and a half to kick off , Good luck everybody .
Just enough time to make last minute changes to team, step out buy a bottle of cheap red wine and rewatch the Dortmund game…oh yes…
SG –
Every attacking midfielders preferred position is in the centre. But at Arsenal, the boss says his preferred position is on the flanks, or he can go back and warm the boring Chelsea bench!
Aslong as Yossi’s wife can play on Guardiola’s patchy head today and knock a couple of bells out of Mrs Robinson’s shopping trolley, then it’s all good!
As TS said we need the 3 points and nothing less!
Afterall, these are a bunch of straw eating cow herders!
π
Good work, sub-ed.
Welcome back π
Watching the match while waiting for my girlfriend to finish her class, in a cafe is not ideal but there you go
Come on Arsenal!!
Good grief it’s early (well for me anyway)
Pre breakfast BM please.
COYRRR
COME ON YOU GUNNERS!
Shouldn’t let a girl come before you and Arsenal, Harsha π
Heh Dr z!
Looking forward to our new left back’s performance
We are playing a really high pressure game. Chasing all over the pitch. Great attitude this far! (only a few minutes in though)
Fllliiiippppeeeerrrrrrr!!!
Yeeeessssssssssssss
get in
It’s behind you!
Nice stuff so far…
High-five head! UReds!!!!
Big fucking German, we got a big fucking German!!! Loving it…
Loverly juberly
YESSSSS!!!!
Yeah we’re going to kill ’em 5-0, 6-1.
Nobody marks Samba at the back post twice and nobody picks up the runs from midfield.
At this rate we’ll be lucky to pull another away point.
Get real Holics we may get there but we gotta loooong old way to go.
Arshavin seems lively today. Good effort from the Russian.
We’re making steps forward still though. Of course we’re not perfect but I’m enjoying what I’m seeing so far
RvP didn’t look too happy with Flipper there.
Sorry to be a pain, does anyone have a feed to watch the game? I’m audio only here.
Sounds like a good first half performance. Another couple of goals and we’re home and dry.
Well done Gervaise and Ourteta for opening their EPL accounts. Many more to come please fellas!
UTA π
Diab’holical making a double-pronged attack on the moral ground (RVP in/ Shrek out) and scoring ground (Gervinho goal/Ramsey assist). The pressure is high. π
Try one of these:
http://forum.wiziwig.eu/threads/60341-Saturday-s-Football-Links
To be fair to Flipper though, when he took his first touch RVP was offside I thought…ah well, once we keep it tight and maybe nick one in the second we should be alright…
Cheap red wine and fried chicken for anyone?
Here’s a feed for the game
http://tv.indonewyork.com/soccerhd/index.html
Flipper should have passed!
That was a cracking goal by arteta though
Ohhhh, Frozen Numpties…no Arsenal players on the field, missed a trick there man
Nice strike by Art8ta.
I hope Sagna’s ok, looked to be struggling at the end of the half.
B’burn classless chicken fucking supporters.
Silent throughout the game, except for one “same ol’ Arsenal…..”
chant when Sagna was down.
====
COYRRR
Cheers tabs @ #67 π
… and to Joshua & Canons for the links, unfortunately I couldn’t get them to work.
Gervinho should have passed to RVP!
Blimey (3-2) — this is all a bit familiar for some reason. Another poor decision by an official, but we looked shaky from the start of the 2nd half…
Come on Arsenal…
FFFaaaack!
Cmon Arsenal!!! Let’s bring it back
Unbelievable…
Big fucking sigh
Yeah we’re gonna Kill ’em, easy meat.
When is it going to get clear.
The team means well but Wenger has lost it.
Oh well just have to go through it I guess. Weed out the fake gooners. Still 06:20 here so it’s too early to start drinking.
Come noon however. Drown it out.
Chamakhhhhhhhhhhhh
Get in there — come on Arsenal
two more please!
I like Santos on the ball! very promising!
I’m usually the happiest of HT regulars, but this was a bad, bad, result.
Yes we were unlucky to concede two own goals and one that was clearly offside, but Blackburn were piss poor, the back lash will be big this time.
Nice try at the end, but too little, too late.
*sighs with North Bank*
Well that was Shite defending
Argghhh…own goals were harsh. We have to keep our heads up though, I felt there were sparks of our former selves. It’s almost 11pm here leftcoast, just polishing off a bottle of red wine…numb is good
Looked like a penalty at the end but it wasn’t. Two own-goals and one off-side. I think that makes us unlucky. Great to see Chamakh get a goal, plus Gervinho and Arteta.
We’ll improve… don’t really know what happened. We looked totally down and out but finished the better team.
Very worried when any team breaks against us — kind of like how we use to play.
Looks like our confidence has gone — but have we really ever had any this season?
We still of flashes of brilliance though — but something’s not quite right.
Up the Arse
Lets start with a positive the streams are much better stateside, Negative to score 3 away at the bottom club and who are shit and come away with Zilch shows exactly where Arsenal are,In a complete and utter mess π Such a shame as it was all so avoidable.
Fact: 3 defeats in 5 matches.
Fact: We played well yet conceded 4 goals.
Fact: Arsene looks lost on the bench.
Fact: There is a black cloud hanging over the team.
One question: Is this too deep a hole for Arsene to climb out from?
Things may turn around yet, friends, and probably will, but this is downright painful. The team has quality, but they still need to put it together.
Lagavulin, please.
63% possession, 20 attempts at goal, and 3 scored away from home and still not enuff for a point. Cruel or shocking, I can’t decide…..jesus christ
We figured out how to defend at Swansea and Dortmund, and today we figured out how to attack (three goals from three players). Now to put them together.
Nothing unlucky about being tactically inept against a bunch of hoofers. We gave them the confidence to take us on. Positive first half but we are like rabbits every time the opposition enter our half. This will not be a quick fix I’m afraid.
That was really rough. My only lingering thought, the better team lost today. They need to believe they are still the better team each Saturday. We simply have to play a 4-4-2, we can’t do any worse can we?
It’s going to be a season of ups and downs for us, no doubt about it. Let’s buckle up and get ready for the ride..
Excuse me as I step out for some wine and moustache wax
Very well put North Bank @ #116 & Joshua @ #117.
Noel73, also valid points @ #118.
Personally, I need a little bit of time now to gain my own perspective.
I do, however, fear a big backlash on this result.
Arsenal ’till I die…. it’s probably going to be a l-o-n-g season.
UTA!
Geoff,
Hopefully that hole will also contain Silent Stan and Gazidis but im not holding my breath,
Noel73,
Nothing unlucky about being tactically inept – Bang On
This will not be a quick fix Iβm afraid – Theyve already had 3 summers to fix the complete and utter shambles that is our defence and the total lack of a cohesive defensive unit from the midfield backwards.
Very depressed Gooner on this end. On one hand we see Cesc and Nasri playing for their new clubs as if they were shot out of a cannon while badmouthing our future prospects. Can’t we take care of business against Blackburn? π
I really don’t know what to say about what I just saw.
Oh bollox
Depressed
It’s going to take me a few hours to stop fuming. That was an awful second half. Awful, awful, awful.
The first o.g. may seem like bad luck but is in reality a pub team mistake by Song. You must NEVER face your own net in a situation like that. Of course the ball is going to bounce towards your own goal if it hits you when you are angled perfectly for it to do so! He should have been turned pretty much 90 degrees to his right, which would have prevented that goal. And yes, the third one was offside but it shouldn’t have mattered, the game should have been out of reach for Blackburn at that point. And in any case, why not use that “injustice” to gear ourselves up? And also, it was obvious to anyone with a pair of eyes that Sagna could hardly run even in the first half so why on earth was he not taken off at half-time? Sure, Djourou is even worse at right-back than in the middle, but the only thing we achieved now was probably to aggravate Sagna’s injury and put him out of commission for two more weeks or so. And why was Arsene and Pat Rice just sitting there at 4-2 down? At the very least, stand up and try to encourage the players.
As we all said beforehand, we had to match their work rate but for large parts of the second half we did not. We should have won this game by a country mile but gave it away. It had nothing to do with missing Jack and Vermaelen, it had to do with the players not doing their jobs. When you are playing a team like Blackburn, a team that has more or less nothing to lose, you have to make sure you don’t give them any room to breathe. Close them down, never take your foot of the pedal (and I’m not talking about the brake pedal here) and don’t allow them to build confidence by giving away idiotic own goals.
And also, why wait so long to change into a 4-4-2 formation? The minute we changed, we were immediately more dangerous going forward. We even created enough chances to steal a point (hell, we even created enough to win the whole game ffs) but failed to convert. It really is peculiar that when we have nore players in the box we always, by some strange coincidence, start creating chances, isn’t it? If we had started five minutes earlier I’m pretty sure that we eventually would have got that fourth goal.
I know this might sound as if I am about to fall off the Happy Train, but that will not happen. It’s just that I am horribly, horribly frustrated right now. We have what it takes to be so, so much better but too many players just seem to wait for others to lead the way.
Pints all round, see you all later – I’m going outside to try and take my mind off of footie for a bit.
Chippy@122- You’re right, no statement of intent from Stan, this club needs direction, ambition and leadership.
I’m shell shocked. I genuinely felt we were going to win today, make no mistake Blackburn were poor.
Lars@127-‘Don’t give them room to breathe, close them down’ ABSOLUTELY SPOT ON. Even though we played well and this was a must win I never felt we were tenacious enought without the ball.
Oh.
Dear.
Here’s where a steady hand and calm sense of perspective are required. Yes, we should have won, but we didn’t. This team is on the long road to forming an identity.
Arshavin – much better performance; more please.
RvP – I am liking everything I see; more please.
Gervinho – bit of a mixed bag; good game all – in – all; put the game together. I will not criticize for shooting more, just get a better understanding with RvP.
Arteta – more please!
Chezzer – Mama said there’d be days like this, chin up.
Dos Santos – keep your line tight; hustle more; good game.
Rest: time to stop the pity party; get back to defending and playing the game. We won’t get every call, hell, we won’t get most calls. But, if you want to win, if you want to be a champion, you have to overcome it.
Supporters: stay strong; it’s ugly now, likely to get uglier ( might even have to suffer Europa league), but this team WILL come good. I know it.
BMBD!
Defensive errors? Major fuck UPS? Can’t hold on to a lead?
You don’t say???????????
I have been banging on about this for 2 years now. I do not remember a time when I felt more frustrated.
I am completely embarrassed. Totally and utterly embarrassed. It is so Fucking basic.
‘Holic @ 63,
It’s about time you came to your senses! π
BMBD.
deary me holics, glad I didn’t catch that one. all I can say is I’m putting it down to experience right now. can’t be jumping on a plane with a face longer than southend pier.
sounds like some of the boys had a bit of a shocker. wish I could pick some other holics up so I’ve lined up pints with tequila chasers on the bar for the usuals. must dash, management already thinks I’m ignoring her!
Drink for iLonestar
Lars @ #127
I think we’re all sharing your pain right now. Good rant π
Time for me to switch off and think about something else.
Laters all…
Under this 4-3-3 formation we look decent going forward but a shambles defensively. The midfield 3 don’t seem to take it in turns to defend and at any time Song and Ramsey will be too advanced up the pitch and nowhere near the CB pair.
I know the manager created this system to give more freedom to Cesc whist he was there and I do think the formation can work if the manager can make the DM player sit in front of the CB’s. However time and again this doesn’t happen and when opposing players break the defenders are found exposed.
There also needs to be a serious review of the defenders starting positions. Is it me or do they always seem too high up the pitch? It would appear that the defensive coaching has not been improved (other than introduce zonal marking) and this is a sad indictment of the management and coaches.
A switch to 4-4-2 with at least 1 DM would be more solid but alas I fear the players that would be required to play that position do not have the discipline to stay in front and shield the back four. I think Song and Ramsey are fantastic players, and Song in particular not only breaks up play but tries to get things going. But when we need someone who will do a ‘Makelele’ neither player can do this role. Is this a lack of communication or bad discipline?
We long for a character in the dressing room or on the pitch to address the glaring problems we have. When AW won the 1st double those characters were the famous back 5 who read Petit and Vieira the riot-act after we lost 3-1, ironically, to Blackburn at home. I don’t know if we have still addressed the problem of leadership on the pitch but on today’s display it doesn’t look like we have.
Having to outscore teams in every game is not going to work.
Please sort it out Arsene, please.
Laters TS. Take care.
@ Steve T
I hear you pal, I really do. But what can we do as fans, but swear excessively and look for the slightest slivers of sunlight.
Large glass of Cognac from the top shelf for all….
we are not a possession team anymore. period. we dont have the playmakers / ball retention players to do it anymore. naturally the tactics need to be changed to account for this
BUT this problem goes way further. It is an organizational development issue and the culture of the entire club is just wrong. a big part of it is lack of confidence but the same things were evident in the last few years. Team is simply not hard enough. I dont know if this means more English players or just more hard players.
There is one more take on this that has crossed my mind. I have never been and never will be part of the Wenger out brigade. However I wonder if the constant media, referee, and general football scene’s Arsenal antagonization would end if Wenger left? I feel that this is as big a contributor as any to our lack of performance. Not sure if it is that directly correlated but it is definitely a part of it.
Jesus.
I’m not sure if that second was actually more painful than OT. At least in the scum pit there was the knowledge that we were down to the bare bones and reinforcements were imminent. Today felt like a warning that if we’re not very careful we may struggle to even compete for 4th.
I’m not going to criticise individual players – some of those at fault today were excellent midweek – but I do have to say that it is absolutely beyond me why the club has not picked up the phone to Martin Keown these last few months and invited him to come back and help with the defensive coaching again.
Today was a horror show of bad luck and basic errors – how often do those two go hand in hand? It should all be easy enough to sort out, but only if we’re willing to really, genuinely face up to the problems and take some hard choices. If for no other reason than to help Djorou – how can a player who was looking so promising in January, really making the step up, appear to be in absolute bits in September?
As ever, the problems are in the head and on the defensive chalkboard. God knows what we do to sort the former, but a real crack at the latter wouldn’t hurt and is fully justified after shipping 12 goals in two away games.
I’m still just about clinging to the happy train, and will be 100% behind all the lads next game, but I really hope we can pull it together soon. I can’t recall a more bruising 7 month spell in the life of a fan – it’s not just the results we’ve been getting, it’s the manner of the results. This is just the latest in a series of gut punches.
Come on Arsene – time to put it right.
UTA
North Bank 1@136-
‘Please sort it out Arsene, please’
He’s trying his best but it’s no longer good enough.
I love his romantic, idealistic approach to the beautiful game, it worked for many years but I fear he may be in terminal decline.
I desperately hope he proves me wrong.
I hope your wrong too, but the concern is tangible.
Shit. Just woke up expecting to hear of a fine away win of the type I’d been dreaming of. Think I’ll go back to bed.
I was at the Air Race in Reno yesterday. Two horrible crashes in two days is two too much.
Back from the offy with two cases of Guinness and a bottle of Tullamore Dew.
For once I am going to stew on that one before posting. I am considering very carefully what I have to write after witnessing that.
Don’t blame you Holic! Shocking second half looked like what we have witnessed time and time again!
They wanted it more than us!
I have seen it too many fucking times for my liking!
Wise to do so, ‘Holic. I’m hoping that it’s darkest just before dawn – but I’ve been hoping that for a while now.
Tell you what, we’ll put the world to rights with Lars, Zico, Ollie, TS (?) before the Bolton game. Looking forward to that. Hopefully we’ll have a Carling Cup game WIN under our belt by then? – Gulp.
Still absolutely fucking fuming. Saw a post-match interview with Arsene and he made no excuses, he said it was a lack of concentration and he looked like he was as angry as I am. He refused to single out Koscielny (he was asked specifically about that goal) which is exactly right, we lost as a team. But what worried me is that he looked extremely tired as well, even more than he did towards the end of last season. Maybe it’s just me projecting my own emotions but I thought he looked like he could have collapsed at any moment.
This is not the end of the world but we have made it so much harder for ourselves. It was always going to be a struggle to stay in the top four but losing games like this makes the mountain needlessly much higher to climb.
Have to say there are some very good posts in this bar, impressively balanced in the face of yet another disappointment that should never have happened.
Ah, fuck it. No point in dwelling on it anymore. It was the shittest of shitty second halves.
BtM: we’ll have to do our best next Saturday. The team needs us, it seems.
Up the Arsenal.
A good few beers later and I still feel crap. I think it’sso frustrating because the opposition really were dire.
I’llshare a drink with Lars and the other fine gents in the bar.
35 million in the transfer kitty.16 million profit on the seasons deals.9 players still out on loan of which we are still a major contributor to their wages? Do you ever think that we may have got our priorities just slightly wrong? Or is it just me again?
Steve T,
Your not alone it seems weve been saying the same things for 3 years and nothing changes, The only way it will is if things from the top down get a proper shaking,
On another point has anyone ever seen such an ill disciplined performance in such a short pace of time than what JD served up today, Children wouldnt make some of the basic errors he made at times it was laughable,
AW looks as exhausted and exasperated sitting on the bench as I feel watching this team.
OK, so one B’burn goal was offside and it was hard to see how the lino could possibly miss it, BUT that does not excuse a ball being pushed weakly towards our own goal by our own defender as it arrives over the team-mate in front’s head. What the hell do you expect to happen when you are marking a zone.
With the second own goal, if you are moving the wrong way – i.e towards your own goal – and the ball is coming at you, and you can’t effectively clear it, JUMP OUT THE EFFING WAY and take a chance, rather than tapping it into your own net.
We have now scored FIVE goals and missed a penalty in our last two away games. We have, however, NO POINTS to show for it.
Sorry for all the capital letters, but I am shouting at the keyboard.
We are supposed to select our players, as I understand it, on the basis of an extensive intelligence and personality analysis.
I do not generally resort to comments like this, but when the f*ck will these players learn anything ?
We have replaced a lot of players over the summer, but the defensive frailties and general physical weakness look exactly the same.
*please read the last 3 words also in capitals *
Arsene looks bereft of ideas.
So am I π π π
Pain, Steve T, shared here.
Trev,
AW looks as exhausted and exasperated sitting on the bench –
I come to the conclusion watching it today that the Fairytale ending is not going to happen where by Wenger rides off into the sunset with the Premier League wrapped under his arm, Im afraid the mess we are in will take at least two years to fix and i cannot see him being here to do it sad but true as id like nothing more than to see him leave a winner.
Good Evening Holics
How on earth did we manage to shoot ourselves in both feet and loose that game. North bank 116/Joshua 117, I couldn’t agree more.
This has not been a good week for me. Yesterday I had my lovely old Labrador put to sleep and I had every expectation that AFC were going to cheer me up with a really positive display against BR. Oh dear, how disappointed can one get.
Let’s hope the kids do us proud mid-week.
I hate to admit it but I have just switched over to watch Cesc!
But as always COYRs
PS: Cesc has just scored the most fantastic left foot volley !
Roversfan,
Carnt argue with you on your predictions of us but Olson took an almighty dive Ramsey wasnt even close to him let alone touched him but your hard northern lads so wouldnt even dare cheat π
Chippy,let’s be honest it’s only a dive when it’s the opposition if it had been your player he’d have done the same fella,
Nope our lot dive as do all teams players but i just find it quite amusing when the chants of same old Arsenal always cheating ring out and your lot are rolling round after getting blown over by a gust of wind – I wouldnt worry to much tho im sure the powers that be will come out with the hes not that type of player bollocks,
I wouldnt gloat to much mind no doubt we will finish above you lot and we have the added bonus of not living in that shithole called Blackburn π
Saying all that the team that takes the 3 points are always deserving as thats the name of the game so congrats on today you deserved it,
Ok, Delia – please go back to your cell if you’re gonna whine away about Cesc-TSB… we’ve covered that ground already (I really don’t care if you are a pseudo-regular, or friends with a regular, today AIN’T THE DAY FOR THAT SHIT)
Red Rover – good on your boys. They fought hard, played the ball in the box, and got some breaks. If the ball had fallen the other way, I surely would have taken the win (or draw).
But here’s the thing, you chicken farmers will be relegated this year… get it RELEGATED.
So I hope you bottle up this excitement to savour on those cold nights next season when you are on the outside looking in.
Now be gone to your chicken-koop.
BMBD!
Chippy speaketh the truth
We didn’t play badly going forward. We made two defensive mistakes. At the moment we have to take it game by game going forward
Please don’t respond to the trolls. The cunts won’t be here for long.
Thanks all.
‘holic.
With Bordeaux 2-0 up HT, I twitted what I feared would happen.
3-2 to to the cunts up the wrong side of the Garonne now π
Shit day for football.
lonestar, you are out of line
we are all frustrated but pick the right targets
Ouch Ollie π
Look at Holic, losing his rag and calling people “cunts” because – let’s face, he’s been talking utter fucking crap for years about Wenger. This is the worst Arsenal blog on the Internet. There’s no wisdom, no insight, just illogical support and daft bravado.
Talk of illogical, one has to wonder why some people keep reading this blog then.
I suppose I’m curious about a lot of blogs that never have a bad word to say about Wenger, wondering how bad it has to fucking get before they wake up.
Undying commitment and support can be commendable, but there comes a point when it’s just idiotic and fruitless.
Holic has been defending Wenger for so long he refuses to back down and see the evidence staring him in the face, which makes his opinion valueless.
He’s not an honest blogger, he’s a fraud.
No way…that arsenal blog that doesn’t mention football at all and only sells hats is way worse..
I certainly don’t envy you having to write a blog on that Holic π
Delia, sorry to hear about the loss of your dog.
I mean the match of course π
Bad result but at times we looked really good, bit of bad defending, bit of bad luck, bad linesman decision and where is Jenkinson? as soon as we put Djourou on Blackburn put Olsen on because he knew he would skin Djourou. i think we have to also remember this is a new team and it will take a while to gel, but not too worried I thought the positives were some of our play. As usual their are plenty of managers on here with premiership experience who have all the answers, do they really think Wenger has lost it? or that he likes conceding this amount of goals? Or that he likes losing games? Do they think the players want to lose games? Get real this is football highs and lows and we’ll come out the other side on derby day which is stating to loom when we cream the lwc’s.
Up the Arse
James, calling someone “a fraud” is a terribly strong accusation. I think you are way out of order with that one.
Where can we read your blog James
Just got back from the chicken factory. Havenβt looked any βmeejaβ yet so will stick for now to what the proper experts on here say!
What I feel overwhelmingly is just disappointment.
We were neat and in control in the first half. Their half time pep talk clearly involved putting it up us a bit. They donβt really have the most complex of game plans do they? Theyβre big. They score from set pieces. They rattled and dispossessed us a lot, and by the time we got it together again it was too late.
And I should point out β for all that itβs a simple game plan β they are bloody good at it. We could have done much better though…
Firstly there were too many errors. Thatβs the good news. Because errors are corrected by training and β most importantly β discipline.
Secondly, of the new batch, the only one who looks like a round peg in a round hole is Arteta β not really surprising really. He already plays our game. But what really impressed me is his courage, and the way that even when facing off meat mountains, he gets out of the way of trouble. I think LJW in particular will learn a lot from him, because when Jackβs fit again, if he can spend less time picking himself up off the turf he will be an even bigger asset for us than he has been.
Thirdly, basic lack of rapport. And that will only come from game time. When they started getting in our faces we got all sorts of out of shape, and the problems began. When we regained our shape, we started to look dangerous again.
Fourth observation is about Two Saints. He is really really strong. And very elegant and skilful. Now Iβm fully prepared to get shot down in flames here, but he has the kind of charismatic play I havenβt seen since Titi at his best. If he keeps that up he is going to be an exceptional player for us, and an utter joy to watch.
I think weβre justified in thinking βsame old, same oldβ but we do have some new components to fit in.
And if I could have picked beforehand who I wanted our goals to come from I couldnβt have wished for a better three. Thank you Mikel, and welcome back Flipper andβ¦.Chamack!
Now I realise Iβve already gone on too long, but I did want to share one last curious observation. Coming down the M1, just past the M25 junction, there was the most massive rainbow over North London, and therefore the true Home of Football.
Now Iβm not superstitious, I donβt believe in fairies, leprechauns or God (apart from Dennis), but as symbols go, it was a very welcome one.
Thereβs gonna be a pot of silver at the end of our rainbow this season. It will be pretty ugly a lot of the time on the way there I expect. But a pot will be there, I am now convinced.
And on the plus side, in my last two away games Iβve seen 17 goals! OK so only 7 of those were from Arsenal players (and 2 of those in the wrong bloody net!) But who says the Arsenal isnβt value for money??? π
Oh and before I sink into a bottle of something seriously intoxicating, well done βholic on getting the real result! (OK so the record wonβt show it, but discounting OGs and offsides, our esteemed βholic leader was bang on π )
(and apologies for this being so long I had a lot of words to use up on journey….)
Round for everyone please – we all need it…
People need to calm down here we are all supporters and want best for our Club but let’s start having some fucking respect towards each other please!
I wouldn’t want to be in Arsene’s shoes tonight a tough ask is required, I just can’t see where he’s going to find incentives to lift the team and team spirit!
Holic, over to you….
175 Snowy: You cheered me up mate — thank you!
Top post Snowy
James I thought you said you’d said your piece?
Good run down Snowy, not feeling better about the result but you certainly cheered me up! A drink of your choice for you fella!
Zico @ 163,
Due respect, but I don’t think I am out of line. I didn’t call anyone out of turn, I simply said that today is not the day to come here and wax lovingly about Cesc.
I don’t really care who you are, today ain’t the day for that shit.
If you will read some of my earlier posts (i.e. 130), you will find that I am one for calm perspective on the day’s result. I am disappointed, but today’s result isn’t the end of the world. We had bright spots, and we had familiar and disappointing shortcomings.
I just don’t really appreciate being informed of someone’s lovely left-footed finish at this particular point in time.
BMBD.
Thanks Matt Austrian and Arthur.
I’m disappointed, I don’t want anyone to get me wrong here.
We now have players who are very talented….and WANT to be here. For me that counts for more than all the great on paper stuff. But some of those key players are new to us. This is not going to be an easy journey by any means, but I think it’s going to be a rewarding one because the skills are there.
Anyone who discounts us on this result (since the previous long run of lacklustre form, and also the Manc debacle, was with a different squad) is bonkers.
And for the “management geeks” among us:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuckman's_stages_of_group_development
When new teams are created they go through various stages of ‘getting it together’ to become a high performing unit.
We’re in the early bit of the season with a new team, so we’re really only at the Forming stage with this group. We still have a way to go to get through the Storming, Norming and (I fully hope) the Performing stage.
I think I need more alcohol…and then will safely shut up!!!
π
Thanks for the eye-witness summary Snowy. A large whatever you want as recompense. There were positives amidst the ill luck and misjudgements. We certainly need some hard defensive drills on the training ground and I for one would like to see a new man in charge of that area.
Lonestar
Perhaps you have a point. On a day when in the first half we played our best football for months, it was particularly disappointing to see a familiar scenario in the second.
I needed cheering up, nothing more, nothing less.
“Alas…How terrible is wisdom when it brings no profits to the wise”
We hit the rock bottom. After eightytwo comes the fortythree.
Pandemonium.
The Shrews are next. Watch out, it’s gonna be a tricky one. After all, they are also 1886.
The thing that bothers me the most is that it seems as if it’s become a condition.
Play well in the final third, play shot defensively.
Don’t create chances, have a great defensive display.
I just can’t seem to understand why we don’t press the opposition when it’s proven itself time and time again.
I’m sick and tired of losing to ourselves.
Once again, Arsenal beat Arsenal.
That was as good a first-half as i’ve seen from us in quite some time – and as bad a second-half as i’ve seen from us in about 3 weeks –
B’burn obviously made some adjustments at half-time and we took too long to respond to them. Thought our midfield 3 were getting closed down and overrun 2nd half, and p’raps the bench could have shunted frimpong on (or was he still suspended?) to help stem the flow – hindsight etc i know, but it looked pretty clear,i think, that we needed reinforcements (Rambo’s struggling to impose himself in the current formation imo), and a sharp response to B’burn’s revised gameplan .
i know Le Prof likes to give the players on the pitch time to sort things out for themselves, and that’s commendable, but sometimes i’d like to see him be more proactive from the bench…
Still thought 5 head and Arteta looked good – Up The Arse
psed on a more serious note – i’ve never seen the man i think is possibly a burgeoning Arse legend – M.Arteta – and this fella on the same pitch…
http://youtu.be/kwJWr_Zk1R8
http://youtu.be/kwJWr_Zk1R8
I promised to stop the management speak, so I will, but in Delia @184 I did notice a Gooner in the ‘holic team who is distress.
At this point in the evening (which I usually term ‘The Pint of No Return’*) I have nothing left to offer but a crap joke…
A vicar books into a hotel and says to the hotel clerk,
“I hope the porn channel in my room is disabled?”
She says “No sir, it’s just regular porn. You sick bastard.”
* The Pint of No Return also implies a ‘From now on I am not sober enough to be responsible for what I say so apologies in advance’-type blanket apology – but generally it’s just simpler to say ‘This is the Pint of No Return’…just for future reference and all…)
And Lester @ 187 – top link. I wondered who he was ‘separated at birth’ form…job done!
π
Bathgooner @ 183 – sorry missed that (too busy on jokes) thank you!
Snir @ 186 – I think we did press in the second half? But the difficulties I think are to do with the thing about the Tuckman link I posted above – they haven’t got it together properly yet. ManUre have got the art of re-Norming and going rapidly to Performing off to a fine art. We’ve been rubbish at it.
And now…a joke for the physicians among us…
A man visits his doctor for a health check.
“I’m afraid that I am going to have to ask you to stop masturbating,” says the doctor.
“Oh no, why is that?’ asks the worried patient.
“Well, I am trying to examine you” replies the doctor “and it’s putting me off”.
Lovely post snowy @ #175.
A beacon of light in a depressing day for The Arse.
It has to get better but lord knows when….
Forwards.
Glad it made you smile Snowy – and may i add my thanks to quite a few others on here already for your fine report from the front @175
UReds!
Thank you TS.
The issue of when it gets better will probably depend on how well this new squad gets past being polite to each other, and really start communicating honestly. I hope enough of them are grown up enough to hear the ‘hard stuff’ and smart enough to use ‘the good stuff’ to good effect.
But what do I know? I’m clearly delusional enough to think my cat is a PR adviser…
So since I’m well beyond The Pint of No Return, another joke:
My racing snail was not winning races any more, so I decided to remove his shell to make him more aerodynamic.
It didn’t work. If anything it made him more sluggish.
Fucking hell fellow ‘Holics ,
I’ve said before on these pages that I hope that 40 years on the Highbury terraces has given me some perspective , and that a defeat rarely makes me angry just sad , but today had me fuming .
Blackburn were utter utter shite . That we managed to ship 4 to them is extraordinary though , if we’re all completely honest , not surprising .
Totally agree with AW that instant condemnation and game by game judgement is both ridiculous and wholly at odds with reasonable analysis , but the shortcomings of the side today were so basic , so horrific and so fucking predictable that it’s difficult , almost impossible , to see how things will turn around quickly .
Great analysis by Lars and N7 above . I share your sense of outrage , disbelief , and sheer frustration at what occurred today . Snowy , thank you for your great post , and I am very sorry that your early start wasn’t rewarded .
I take on board the fact that a side fielding 3 newbies will not instantly “gel” , but there can be no excuse for the dreadful set piece defending that lead to goals 2 and 3 for Blackburn , nor the catalogue of errors that lead to goal No.4 .
So , so pissed off at the mo , I dread the influx of cuntheadery as soon as Holic posts a new one .
We have gone massively backwards since the end of last season , let alone 08 . Forget 04 , the present side bears no comparison .
As a Director of The DLL , I ain’t about to get off The Happy Train anytime soon , but there comes a point when blind optimism becomes perverse . I’m also not about to start slagging the greatest manager in our history but boy ,Arsene , you’re making a rational defence increasingly tricky .
Lonestar – mate , you are totally out of line . Your response to Delia’s post betrays nothing more than a very extreme position to Cesc going . Get over it . If Delia chooses to assuage some of the pain of today by taking some pleasure in an ex-gooner’s goal , good luck to her .
Oh and James , Fuck off .
Holic,
Me thinks James wants to take you on a date π
Tabs – I do understand, and I hate to see you so fecked off at this because you are properly one of the good guys.
All I can offer (apart from another joke which I’ve posted too many of already) is the thought that the manager’s task is likely a far more difficult task than that understood by the c*ntheads that will post nonsense as soon as a new post is put up.
But more importantly, I didn’t bloody well see myself on MOTD despite being in the front row of the upper tier. F*ckin meeja wankers…. π
*gets coat…*
Snowy, I just LOVED that vicar joke.
You sound a lot more positive having been at the game than I, who prowled across my living room for the whole of the second half, frustrated, looking for a domestic pet to give a good kicking to. Having failed, I just headed to the pub for some introspection.
Came home. Watched the game again. Main feeling was one of nostalgia. When did we start being such a soft touch? Bring back the days of some real “honest” dirty bastards. We are too nice.
Some strong medicine required tonight (on top of John Barleycorn) – I’m sure it will look less bleak in the morning.
PS – James, may your next shit take on the characteristics of a porcupine. With rabies.
I’m sorry, but it just fucking hurts tonight, it really does.
Yes, luck plays a part (and Mrs Lady Luck where have you gone?) but we need to do something..
After the Dortmund game I asked on here what would happen if Sagna had got injured based on our bench? Today we found out.
I can’t begin to understand that lack of foresight. I am horribly optimistic about my team but it is getting so difficult. The best Arsenal memories (a solid back four) are just keeping me sane.
Incidentally, can we recall Lansbury?
Just watched highlights of game on MoTD.
Despite a truck load of shambolic defending there were definite rays of hope and our goals were all very pleasing. Some exquisite build-up too. However, ultimately just not good enough.
Just as I thought we were building a really strong defensive unit and needed some creative flair to get goals, we put in a total opposite display. Ewood Park has generally not been kind to us over the years. Today I agree with whoever said that we beat ourselves.
My PS for James – Sit down and may the rain always fall on you. Are you Cusop in disguise?
Never have I been so unbothered about two centuries in one day π
Hey Snowy ,
Just suffered it again on MoTD .
Totally agree with you that AW’s position is far more difficult than we all realise . I for one feel sure he is hampered by a Board that refuses to back him .
However I can’t help but feel that the lack of “mental strength” and the woeful defensive disorganisation , both of which have been present for at least 24 months , are all to do with what goes on , on the training ground .
Kudos to you mate for going up north for that horror show and coming away with your head still high .
And cheers for the jokes , all of which made me chuckle . π
I feel that tabs.. Was astounded at the lack of discipline and communication between defence and midfield, Santos and Arsh may as well have been on different planets even though I think Arsh was one of the players who actually put a shift in, and why no one heading for near post for the second goal, a free kick that was a corner basically. We cant seem to get one player to be consistently good over a couple of matches never mind the whole team. Still love this club though so they get the benefit of the doubt for now.
PS: Drinks for all the fine, upstanding regulars (you know who you are) whom I see, as usual, keep dignity and persepective as their watchwords.
I think Lars’ tab deserves an almighty bashing tonight. Line them up please Mr. barman as you cogitate your next post. Looking forward to that.
James, sit down, heh
Delia @184, I do apologize if my earlier rebuke was too gruff.
BMBD.
And a ray of hope for you Dr.z π
Well in Lonesatr, it takes a big man to say sorry.
Have an extra whatever on my tab please π
TS – cheers for the drink , I’ll have a Zombie please . No idea what’s in it . but I know from bitter experience That after one you can conquer the world , after 2 you lose the power of speech , and after 3 you lose any ability to walk .
Noel – The Club will always get the benefit of the doubt for me , for you , and I suspect all the regulars , but today was so so tough .
Hoping to drink myself into oblivion …
TS – heh – and congratulations on a century post (even if you’re not bothered…!)
Glad you saw the rays of hope too.
Appreciate I’ve gone long past TPONR now, and I have zero experience of managing something as complex and bewildering as a football team. But having spent most of my working life trying to extract the best performance out of teams I mostly had no say in bringing together, and having been tasked with making them perform well, I have to say I think the task ahead of our manager is horrendous. But frankly, that’s his fuckin job.
The Arsenal is so bloody… “civilising” these days. Our guys have to get beyond that, get all the shit out on the table for everyone to row about, then get past it, and find the zone they can all work in. Otherwise they’ll all be tippy tappying around the edges all the time, and achieving fuck all. Like today.
Well in Lonestar .
And another joke:
Q: What do you get if you insert human DNA into a goat?
A: Banned from the petting zoo.
π
Barman?
Three zombies for tabs and three for me please. Have three yourself while your there, I believe Lars is still buying π
snowy – I believe the expression we might be looking for is to have a ‘drains-up’ review at the club from top to bottom.
TaBS @ 194, we’ve rarely not seen eye to eye, but I was totally not out of line. Your saying I was out of line is out of line. If some one wants to find solace by watching Cesc, but they don’t have to post it here, today.
Now listen, if she can post that, then I can respond, especially since I made no ad hominem abuse.
I will continue to have ill will to Cesc. And I will continue to have a problem who unfairly give him a pass while castigating others.
If you have a problem with that, if the boss has a problem with it, then I guess i’ll have to find MY solace elsewhere.
BMBD.
Good Ole differences of opinion, that’s what makes the world go round! π
TS @ 214 – “drains up” review – I am SO stealing that one. Feckin genius…
Hope our gifted but over-civilised manager steals it too.
MASSIVE drink for Mr Storey please barkeep.
And for everyone else. I’ve gone way past TPONR and feeling very reckless…with Lars’s tab π
tabs, zombies? We need a couple of fucking Pan-Galactic Gargle Blasters…
Lars, a dip into Douglas Adams (ahem) always hits the spot in difficult times.
Wonko The Sane would definitely approve π
Cheers!
Night all, things will look a bit better tomorrow…. so long at the LWCs don’t win π
Lonestar – Don’t want to get in a pissing competition , so I hope we can agree to disagree on this occasion . I think James showed there are far more obvious targets for one’s ire than Delia , who is a very reasonable poster .
I, for one , am not prepared to forget the 7 seasons of pleasure Cesc gave me , simply because you tell me to .
Cheers .
Night TS .
Order up 2 of those babies Lars π
Two Gargle Blasters coming up, tabs!
And speaking of pleasure, before I bid you all adeu, a joke I have long found pleasing…
Yorkshire man: “Ah’ve come to see thee abaht me cat.”
Vet: “Is it a tom?”
Yorkshire man: “Nay lad, I’ve browt it wi’ me.”
Tis always darkest before the dawn, and we probably haven’t got as dark as it will get for our beloved club just yet.
But it WILL get better.
And on that note, night night all.
Snowy. We did not press in the 2nd half. We let them time on the ball and that’s how they won those set pieces.
I still can’t believe what happened. Arsenal’s the only team that can lose to itself.
Ridiculous.
‘holic: I’ve been waiting for your measured assessment and words of reassurance all afternoon and evening… but I’m now shit-faced. And my lad has footie tomorrow at 8AM. So I’m off to plant some DNA in a goat. Or the missus. Or something. Or maybe I’l just crash and dream that that never happened (at Blackburn — not the goat).
We looked brilliant today, apart from the… zonal marking… bedtime…
‘holic: Looking forward to your blog tomorrow.
Cheers Lars .
Snowy , are you a stand-up ? Very funny π
snowy, cheers for the jokes and sleep well!
So Iβm off to plant some DNA in a goat. Or the missus. Or something. Or maybe Iβl just crash and dream that that never happened (at Blackburn β not the goat).
π Ha HA thats a cracker one of the funniest things ive read in ages Cheers Matt2 cheered me up no end – Why a Goat π
snowy – really good post at 175, and some good gags too π
Tabs – couple of good posts up there, sorry can’t remember all the numbers π
Heh Trev , Cheers , really not sure where it all goes from here . Worried for the club , for Arsene , and for us .
Hoping I will feel better about it all tomorrow , though I suspect the only difference will be a thumping hangover .
Been working all day. Just managed to watch motd and quite frankly I am amazed. Defensively we were an absolute mess. A complete shambles. I lost count of the headers we missed and the free ones we gifted them. Their 4th goal has to be one of the worst I have ever seen us concede. It came from OUR corner. Unbelievable dross.
Then there was chance after chance that for some reason we decided that we could not be arsed to put away.
Another example today of a lack of leaders and any organization. Quite simply it does not even come close to being good enough. I like many I guess want some answers, and I want them now. I am fuming here. We are in a mess boys, a proper Fucking mess.
Watching AW today and then seeing the Barca highlights tonight, I wonder whether the whole Cesc affair has knocked the stuffing out of Arsene a bit.
He gave Cesc the chances he would not have had at Barca, at such a young age, and helped him become the player he is.
He built the team around him and just as he was about to reach his peak, we get two years of sulking and then he clears off.
It must be galling, even for an experienced manager like AW, to then see him performing at such a level for somebody else.
Especially as, I agree, I think with Tabs above, that it appears the board are not backing him to rebuild, or hang on to the best of what we have left.
He looks and sounds shot to me. And long term injuries to TV5 and LJW must be a killer in these circumstances. JW was probably the one player who could have instantly repaired our midfield.
Arteta has looked really good so far, but Jack was ready, after last season, to slot right in.
Nothing very revelatory there, but rambling seems quite cathartic tonight.
One for snowy –
My therapist told me I am a paranoid schizophrenic, who is obsessed with revenge.
I told her, we’ll see about that.
G’night ‘holics.
And Delia, sorry about your dog. Ignore Lonestar, he’ll calm down tomorrow. π
I have read many on here saying the side needs time to gel. I accept that to a certain extent but it goes back again to how and when we did our business. Also, this run started February.
Right those gargle-blasters have finished me off so off to bed .
Great post Trev .
Steve T – agreed , we’re in a very very big hole at the mo , and I’m struggling to work out where the ladder is .
Night all .