Stolen Motors And Lost Mojos
Nov 28th, 2011 by 'holic
Monday night. Late. I’ve only just recovered from Saturday night. Getting too old for it all. Now, what’s on the agenda next? Oh yes. The little matter of Manchester City in the quarter final of the beer cup.
That reminds me. Regulars will know I don’t drink in the ground usually, but Arthur was insistent on forcing alcohol down my neck on Saturday at quarter to kick-off. Seeing as how I had only just sipped at half a dozen Guinni, a regularly topped up glass of red wine with dinner, a glass of port afterwards, and a swig of the nicest banana rum known to man, I gave in gracefully. We reached the bar.
“Bitter please”
“Sorry no bitter”
“What? No bitter? What can I have then?”
“Er a bottle of lager, or a bottle of cider”
And so poor old Arthur ended up paying more than the price of a pint of Guinness to buy me a small plastic bottle of Gaymers cider. He opted for the Carlsberg, also in a plastic bottle. So dumbfounded were we that I forgot to ask if this was a one-off shortage, or can you really not buy bitter in the ground anymore? Could someone put me out of my misery on that one? I know in the past it has not been good for service to have queues of pint drinkers, but small plastic bottles at that price? Ouch.
Anyway, I digress, which is probably not a bad thing. The preview of this game is basically eleven of City’s squad players and reserves who didn’t play on Sunday (so why are people getting worked up about Nasri?) and who cost considerably more than our first choice eleven, will take on eleven of our squad players and reserves, who basically cost a few Reward points and Air Miles. Don’t, however, let that make you think I am trying to soften the blow of a potential defeat.
Arsenal at home to Manchester City in the League Cup is not a game that holds happy memories for me. I remember we played them in the late seventies and when I went back to Highbury Fields my battered old Austin 1100 had been pinched. I had to get a police warrant for the train home as I was boracic. The insurance company took six months to settle. Two weeks after that it was found two streets away from Highbury Fields. “Would you like it back?” Get stuffed!
I do think it entirely possible that we will use a couple of players who were involved on Saturday to avoid throwing completely raw youngsters in at the deepest of deep ends. Particularly in the full-back areas. Although we are down to the bare bones I would not be surprised to see Djourou and Santos retained, although I also have visions of Squillaci being asked to fill in on the left-side. I must stop eating cheese before I go to bed.
Frimppong and Coquelin could come in to anchor the midfield with Benayoun maybe given a free role? Oxlade Chamberlain, and possibly Gervinho will flank either Chamakh or Park. My guess would be the former. Marouane looked a lot more positive when brought on against Fulham. The green shoots of recovery, or another false dawn? We shall see. You know I would love to see him regain his mojo.
City will also be down to the bare bones. In the last round at Wolves, where they scored five, that meant the likes of Zabaleta, Kolarov, De Jong, Johnson, Dzeko, and of course one who I hope will be given a rousing welcome. The only invincible on the pitch is likely to be Kolo Toure, if they can find a pair of shorts to fit him. Seriously, the fella deserves a rousing welcome. The circumstances of his leaving were not entirely of his choosing. He is not another Nasri, who I suspect will be where he has spent so much of this season, on the bench.
The ‘holic pound, in need of a bit of a lift, is going on an anytime scorer bet, given the total unpredictability of the outcome. As much as we will be unused to seeing Arsenal 2/1 against at home, that isn’t a value bet in my eyes. I’ve already mentioned Yossi Benayoun as a potential starter, and his bursts into the box have been mightily productive in his past life. You can see the bookies just don’t know how to price him. He is an appalling 9/4 in a couple of places. Shame on you. I’ll take William Hill’s 6/1 against the Israeli hitting the target. I will try and update you in the drinks if he is not in the starting eleven.
That’s it for now. If you are going tomorrow night how about not hurling abuse at Nasri, if he is present. Just turn your back on the avaricious little sod. Let him see he means nothing to us now.
Just a thought.
G’night ‘holics.
284 Responses to “Stolen Motors And Lost Mojos”
A cheeky one from the end of the last blog – now to read the one above …
My half a pfennigs worth v the sheik and vacuous mob from up there – is that i hope Arsene plays as many of the on-the-fringes-of-the-team players as possible. I want to see D.R.B and G’isalob and Dingdong and Le Coq and ComebakhattakhChamakh and Can’t Get On The Park and AA getting another home start etc .- out there, getting a game.
I want to find out if our new-found up-and-at-’em/won’t-be-beaten spirit has spread throughout the club. I’d like to think it must have, as you would hope everyone’s got to be gagging to get in that first team now.
Plus our nakered looking midfield 3, and a few others, can then get a well-earned rest.
We’re at home and we’re on the up. Let’s have a go at them and if we lose, well we’ve got far more important football things to concentrate on – imo
CoMONuREDS!
Here’s one I prepared earlier!
Blimey, since my last confession the bar seems to have gone a little mad with vulgarians, rashes and Ricky Gervais has even made an appearance!
It’s good to see AW actually does grant wishes and doesn’t try anything too adventurous tomorrow!
I’d like to see “play em off the Park”, “The Ox” and Benny (without his wife) bring a little magic to the pitch tomorrow and if Chamakhattackcanbringback his debut form and slot one in tomorrow, I wouldn’t care if we win that fooker tomorrow. Just the mere sight of the French lesbian dancing around tomorrow will add to any humorous joy that I’ll experience.
Lets get our make shift back four out there, get this one out of the way so we can get back to the meaty stuff on the weekend!
Up the Arse, I say!
Drinks all around to add to the madness in the bar! 😉
Cheers, ‘holic. Let’s hope nobody loses their car tomorrow night. 😀
Come on and up the Arse!
Well played ‘holic – blogging under floodlights? I hope we have a good go at them – whatever the result, but of course i hope we don’t get stuffed
And re the pressing business of beer inside the ground – i’m fairly sure i got a pint of smooth at the Sunderland game earlier in the season, it was all they had. And smooth, to my mind and taste buds, barely qualifies as bitter – so don’t think i’ll bother next time
Apologies in advance holic. Nasri is getting it large. It will make me feel so much better. Petulant little greedy twat.
Looking forward to tomorrow. Can’t say I am massively confident. Stiil, another airing for the off spring and a further step along their football development as well.
Onwards and upwards.
Oh, and as a bitter drinker I must say holic that you did not miss out. The increase in season ticket prices meant that my savings were made at the bar. I am buggered if I am paying that much for some of the worst beer on the planet. That is if you are lucky enough to find someone behind the jump that actually understands what a pint of bitter actually is?????
Psed – am still on the look-out for a reasonably priced single but would prefer a pair (no sniggering, please) if anyone knows of any
Up The Arse!
“the sheik and vacuous mob”
I wonder what happened to us being everyone’s favourite second club? I suppose the death of that was when we stopped being crap. Well, we’re the same supporters that put up with 35 years of nothing much at all, so I for one won’t lose any much sleep over what other fans think of us – I think I’ll just continue to enjoy the ride.
As far as the semi-final goes, your guess is a good as mine. It’s probably as uninteresting to Wenger as it is to Mancini, although it might be your best chance of winning something this year 😉 Oh, and if you’re so fond of Kolo Toure you’re more than welcome to take him back. Please?
*quarter final
Quite fancy our Champions League chances CTID.
You could make it a European double for England by winning the Johnstones Paints Europa League 😉
Easy on the Citizen, Guv’. Yours is a tavern that welcomes reasonable folk. 😉
I also like your suggestion regarding Nasri. The opposite of love is not hate… it’s indifference.
I take it there are no recommendations to catch a match in New Orleans?
BMBD!
Sorry CTID, don’t mean to be a bully, but its Thursday night euro crap for you’s in the New Year!
Enjoy your visit to an independently financially sustained club tomorrow! 😉
Holic,
As ever – thanks for making the night a little warmer and increasing the appetite for the prospect of an upset tomorrow. I really hope we put in a big performance.
For me – I’m really looking forward to seeing young Oxo again. I think the lad has some future ahead of him. He certainly has the talent to decide a fixture like this – but only if our defence & midfield stand up and be counted. While I’ve been largely happy with the defensive improvements in the first team this season – the midfield, for me, has been an area of concern.
Tabs: Great stories on the previous thread.
CTID – To be fair to you lot ‘the mob’ i meant were the assorted mercenaries and money grabbers that middle-eastlands has been filled with (on and off the field), since the oil-barons turned up and parked their tankers on your lawns, and not the finest support in all of Manchester.
And as ‘holic said good luck in the Europy cup – an english double beckons.
Lonestar, There used to be an Irish pub a few blocks from Jackson Square in the French Quarter where you could see the games. Somewhere in the Quarter is your best bet, anyway.
Lonestar,
Not abusing the blue, just joshing, as he didn’t abuse us. An exchange of smartass digs it was.
Try asking this fella, Cliff Harris – neworleans@arsenalamerica.com about where to go.
Thanks, ‘Hols and 8ball.
I know you weren’t abusing the old boy – just getting in a bit of good natured ribbing myself. 😛
Much obliged for the recommendations…
BMBD!
Great read, ‘holic!
Whoever starts tomorrow for us, be it a reserve player, or not they are not going to take this game lightly. You’ll probably witness one of those CC games where we light it up on the pitch with some of our youngsters playing out of this world. We know who we are playing against and how much it’ll mean to us.
@12 Goonertown…”Enjoy your visit to an independently financially sustained club tomorrow!” Brilliant! 🙂
Come on you Arsenal!
Ha! Nice one, Lonestar @11: “The opposite of love is not hate… it’s indifference”. That’s classic. I hope the fans heed and not pay the lezzie much mind if he plays.
I am slightly ashamed to admit I’d love to see Na$ri Pingpong’ed tomorrow.
He should be starting as it will be their reserve side – he looked, I thought, really pleased with life as he was hauled off for their first substitution, again, on Saturday.
Hi holic would love a result tomorrow like all gunners,just a little off topic could u tell me how u get the smiley’s on the keys,also if u have done a post for our champions league final I’d love to read, would appreciate it..
Song for tomorrow night vs the oil sheiks : We Shell not be moved ?
Goals could be at a Premium unless Chamkh can reload his Unleaded pencil, stop shooting blanks and get firing on all cylinders.
He could even try tanking one from outside the box. That might distill some confidence in his team mates, and he could use the game as a platform to relaunch his Arsenal career.
It would be good to see him add to his season’s Total.
With regular ‘Holics in attendants – will Esso be there ? – it’s to be hoped that the men from Middle Eastlands don’t try to bore-whole sections of the crowd with the ultra defensive tactics they normally employ when visiting REALLY big clubs.
Let’s hope for a Supreme, Four Star, well-drilled performance from the Gunners, with Chamakh to end his baron spell, by slotting at the end of a slick passing move, with the final ball coming from Derrick.
It’s Frimpong’s middle name 😉
If you’re going, have a barrel of laughs 😉
LG@11: Try Finn McCool’s
http://finnmccools.com/
LG: Looks as if they are showing the game at 2pm local along with some Barca vs Rayo Vallecano.
http://finnmccools.com/events
Enjoy.
Steve T.: England had better get its mojo back by figuring out what bitter is. 😉
Thanks NBN!
Good lookin’- out. 😀
BMBD!
NBN / Lonestar: Good find in Finn McCools. It’s a little off the beaten path, but my sister used to live about four blocks from there.
I’m anticipating:
Fabianski,
Djourou, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Santos,
Diaby, Frimpong, Benayoun*
Chamberlain, Park, Gervinho
* If Rosicky is fit, change Benayoun for Gervinho and Rosicky for Benayoun. NO CHANCE that Chamakh will start or feature against Shitty’s defence. He has neither the speed, touch nor guile.
Against all odds, I think this makeshift eleven will win 2-0. Alex the Ox and See Why Park to score. Kos and the Verminator to snuff out Shitty’s central styrikers completely. Santos and JD20 to nix their wingers. The Frimpster to pocket Sllva. Arsene to “nut” the Pink Panther, just for fun.
Glass half full enough?
BtM: I want to see that game! This is where I will be:
http://www.britspub.com/whats_on/index.php?strWebAction=tv_detail&intEventID=173
‘Holic, I believe Trev needs his glass topped off. 😀 Great stuff.
Clearly I need to make it over to Minneapolis, Bt8.
Regrettably, I will be at the game.
Regrettably?
Yes. Wrong game. Wrong sport. Washington Capitals v ??. Company “do”. I thought our game was on Wednesday! Yet another screw up in a season long sequence of the same.
Enjoy at the Britspub and raise a glass of something Hi’land when Park scores our second.
I would love to see Nasri get Frimponged.
Quite optimistic for tomorrow… Their reserves aren’t as frightening as some might have you believe.
Holic, I’d like to see Chamakh start ( I thought he had his moments against Fulham). If TR is fit, then he’ll see some action as well. As for Nasri, I’m conflicted, hope it doesn’t get ugly.
Morning/night ‘holics.
From the previous drinks, our good friend AL posted;
“I want to find out if our new-found up-and-at-’em/won’t-be-beaten spirit has spread throughout the club. I’d like to think it must have, as you would hope everyone’s got to be gagging to get in that first team now.”
I agree 100% and couldn’t have put it better myself, even if I had twice my IQ.
==
We are curently on the comeback trail, after our “disasterous” start, we are on a run, that none of the so called (let me clear my throat) experts, could of dreamed of. We are now within touching distance of the o so important top 4 and the only PL outfit who have guaranteed qualification (as GROUP WINNERS) to the CL knock out stages.
I, as every gooner, would love to put some silverware in the cabinet, even if it is only to make all the pundits, who’s only valid contribution to society is to be able to count to 7, shut the fuck up. BUT, I’d rather we’d not bet our whole season on it. The warning signs from the last campain are flashing for all to see.
Ofcourse I want us to beat the noveux, dipped in oil, loaded, who among us wouldn’t?
BUT, I’d rather we concentrate on moving higher up the PL table and giving it our all in the next round of Europe’s ( a place where tomorrows opponents even with more money then God) prime competition (are not yet able to boast)
IMO we should give the kids and the fringe players a chance, Citeh’s second string are stronger (on paper) then almost any team that have graced the competition, what better test could you ask for?
It’s gonna be a long year and history tell’s us that we’ll need a strong squad to be successfull over the duration of a season. It’s time for the “wannabes” (for lack of a better word) to stand up and be counted and show us, that they too, can step up to the plate and give AW a welcome selection headache.
Come on you RRsecond string, show us that the shirt means as much to you as it does to us and let’s send those mercanarys packing.
======
CTID.
Welcome to the page of gooners who will (if you abide by the rules) enable you to voice your opinion. If you are indeed a true Citizen then you have my uttermost respect, it must have been hard following the blues all those years doing bugger all, while in the shadow of the deeeply indebted. Enjoy the petro-cash while it lasts. But would you please get rid of Tevez, (to cleanse your soul) burn Adebaywhore’s contract or send him out on loan to a club that can actually afford the wages that you promised him, hide the drug’s from Kolo and while your at it, kick the chinless lesbian in his nuts (if you can find them) ;).
ps Thanx for taking Gail “If you’re only interseted in money you’ll sign for City” Cliche off our hands.
================
A drink for all the gooners in the bar,…
May I reccomend a voddie shot.
Cheers.
Nurse ABB:
“As for Nasri, I’m conflicted, hope it doesn’t get ugly.”
Unless you are offering free plastic surgery, then I’m afraid that ship has sailed. 😆
H2H, Can’t help it…I’ll always have a soft spot for Sammy. The boy just wants to play, what can I say? Working night shift has really screwed up my sleep cycle…looks like we’ll be closing the bar tonite.
ABB – I hope it does get ugly.
I hope he suffers a career ending injury. That would make me laugh so hard. LMAO…
I’m laughing just thinking about it…LOL
H2H, As for the game, I’m done with predicting outcomes. I’m far too superstitious. I also will sometimes jump out of my seat and run in place when Arsenal makes a break with the ball, honest-to-god, we usually score!
“The boy just wants to play”
Heh, heh, ha ha and may I add…… HEH!! .
The boy just wants the cash, I can’t really blame him for that, as who amongst us can honestly, with hand on our hearts, wouldn’t chose a boat load of lolly?
I know I would, but please save me all the “ambition” and “I want to win trophies” bollox, because he could of won them with us, but when push came to shove he was left wanting.
He was a valued member of our first XI, now he is nothing more then a squad player. Good ridance.
I apologise if I’m comming off rude, ABB, Have a drink on me.
Patient Ging gan Geuli reporting for duty. 😆
I don’t blame for wanting money, I blame him for a cunt whose word means nothing.
ABB – he agreed a pre-contract with Arsenal in January and dithered on signing the contract as soon as he heard about the interest from the rich Manchester clubs.
He was quoted in June saying that Arsenal had the best squad in the EPL last season and should have won the title.
In July he was quoted that he wants to move because of ambition despite the fact that the squads of the top 4 clubs stayed the same when he said that statement.
What’s the sudden change?
I think $ had a lot to do with it.
His word means nothing. He isn’t a man.
Snir, You are so naughty! But it’s good to hear you smile. Nite fellas, let’s hope Arsenal are boring, very boring. Cheers!
@35: 😆
We can take them with our second stringers. Watch and see something tonight. Whatever happens though it should be a great watch if both teams go for it.
Glenfiddich anyone?
I think the best option with regard to Nasri is indeed an ignore session. Chanting against ex-players usually makes them play better against us I’ve noticed.
H2H@34: I’m with you on giving the up and coming/fringe players their chance. For the beer cup final last season we fielded our strongest team in the cause of securing silverware, and we all remember how that went pear-shaped. And while I like the idea of a settled team, and especially a settled defence, having some competition snapping at the heels of the 1st XI is no bad thing either.
43 CoR, I’ll have one last Glen as a night cap, cheers.
45 Ned. Indeed, indeed.
Night all.
A question for these black-coffee hours: what exactly puts a player in the red zone? Is it minutes played; distance covered on the pitch; other factors such as measurements of muscle fatigue or the nervous system; or measurements of symptoms of fatigue such as worsening pass completion rates or fewer/slower sprints; some combination of all or some of the above? And is it only calculated on the basis of competitive matches or does training time/effort count? How individual is the calculation? Is Arteta’s red zone different from Ramsey’s? Why don’t we ever hear of defenders being in the red zone?
Hey NBN, I figure the “Red Zone” is just another term for Chronic Fatigue…
Chronic fatigue in competitive athletes is muscle damage. You train for competition by taking a very hard workout, which literally damages your muscle fibers. You feel sore the next day, so you allow your muscle fibers to heal by taking easy workouts. However, many athletes are so obsessed with their training, that they attempt another hard workout before they have recovered from their previous one. This damage prevents muscle fibers from adequately storing muscle sugar for fuel, so they contract with less force and tire earlier. You will recover faster by eating a wide variety of food so you will get all the nutrients that you need to repair the muscle damage caused by hard training. If you are a competitive athlete and suddenly can’t get through your workouts, the odds are overwhelming that you are training too much. Take a rest, and if you do not recover in a few days, ask a doctor to look for a hidden infection.
Or it could indicate a player whose mouth is making cheques their body can’t cash 😉
NBN, it’s a combination of all those factors I suppose
Arteta and Ramsey have played all the matches of our “recovery run” so far. They are bound to be knackered. Ramsey went away during the interlull too
Same goes for RVP. Walcott, since he is the quickest among them would be prone to minor hamstring injuries
Kos was in the red zone and so he was rested at the weekend, I believe.
Should be an entertaining game tonight. Really looking forward to it
I also figure that defenders face less wear and tear on their body compared to players further up the field so that’s why they tend to build up fatigue less quickly.
FIFA headquarters, Zurich. Michelle Platini is meeting with Syph Bladder to discuss recent events. Platini approaches Bladder’s throne of skulls and bends his knee in homage and kisses his FIFA ring.
Syph: Welcome young servant. Do you think my plan worked? I still can’t believe I’ve had to hug so many black men to appease the public. All one of them.
Platini: I thought you did well, sir. I myself could not do such a thing.
Syph: Ah well, just like the good old days, eh? A handshake or a hug will solve all problems…or some whipped cream…
Platini: Sir, sorry to change the subject but are you still planning to visit London?
Syph: Why of course, you damn idiot. I must witness the humbling of Arsenal at the hands of our new FFP exemption with my own jaundiced eyes. You know I hate seeing teams trying to achieve while staying within their means.
Platini: I’ve received word via carrier pigeon from our spy at the Emirates. He suspects the hatching of a plot. Mentions suspicious movement and daggers in moustache wax…
Syph: Nonsense. I don’t believe a word of it. Nobody can touch me now and even if they were to dare they would find out this old fox still has a few tricks up his sleeve…
Bladder extends his left hand and we see a Derringer pop into his palm from his sleeve. It then retracts back into his sleeve.
Platini: I still think you should exercise caution tonight. Maybe, even reconsider attending until we find out what’s really going on.
Syph: I’ll decide after I finish my breakfast.
Bladder claps his hands twice. A servant rolls in a table that has a goblet of wine and a covered plate on it. Bladder removes the aluminium cover from the plate in the middle of the table to reveal a cooked baby with an apple in its mouth. He grabs it with both hands and starts devouring it like a wolf that hasn’t eaten in days. He then throws the remains to Platini who trembles in delight at being able to partake in such a feast. Bladder then wipes his mouth with the edge of the tablecloth.
Syph: Full English, nothing like it…
Hello ‘Holic. I fear I’m the only one who has has to look up boracic :-).
I half expected that from someone outside these shores, Poppet, but surely it is still in common use here? 😉
For the confused, boracic lint is cockney rhyming slang for skint, penniless, broke, on your uppers.
Apologies.
‘holic @ 53 unfortunately have had to use that phrase more often than i’d have liked over the years – but had no idea it was spelt ‘boracic’ – looks like a s Serbian international – ‘sign ‘im up, sign ‘im up, sign ‘im up’
CoMonUsupeREDS!
or maybes ‘sign ‘im on, sign ‘im on, sign ‘im on’
i’ll get my cards
I never heard the term boracic ’till I moved to London from the Midlands in 1978, so I’m pretty sure its a southern expression. Way everyone said it, for many years, I though it was spelt ‘brassic’.
Cheers for post mate, unfortunately looks like I cant make Everton now. Gutted.
Very annoyed. Now the remote demo to India is scheduled at 8am tomorrow morning. I’m normally just about waking up at that time.
Cunts.
Morning all.
Shit news Esso, gutted too 🙁
Me too Esso @ 57 – and me a London boy b and b – so no excuses.
Wooo Hoooo – Game day – bring it on!
Up The Arse!
Trev@22: with all your brilliant puns, I gas there is no point in me trying to get another one in.
Ned@47: it is a combination of pretty much everything, but one of the most important bits is, as I understand it, the frequency and duration of sprints at top speed. As you grow tired, you do (quite obviously) not reach your top speed as often and for as long and when the top speed sprints are too short and too few then you probably need to rest (or you have just become lazy, but that’s another point!). This is not always visible to the naked eye, if you lose just a percent or two of your top speed then you won’t neccessarily see that without the aid of technology but it is still important to catch it.
As for the chinless cnut, I am not convinced he’ll even be at the Emirates at all tonight and the same goes for Clichy. I haven’t seen any squads yet, but Mancini would be an absolute idiot to start any of the players that started v Liverpool. I’d be very surprised to see any one of Silva, Toure, Aguero, Richards, Clichy or Hart even be in the squad – maybe Mancini will keep one or two of them on the bench just for the fear factor but again, he would be an idiot to risk any of them at any stage in this game. Remember, when the game kicks off tonight it will be less than 50 hours since the Liverpool game ended which is far too little time to recover fully from such a game and at least Silva, Toure and Aguero looked absolutely knackered on Sunday. We will see players like Kolo Toure, Gareth Barry, Adam Johnson and Edin Dzeko but Silva and Yaya Toure are the heartbeat of the City team. The one I fear the most tonight is Johnson (who I can not for the life of me understand why he does not get more time on the pitch for City) but I can’t see why we shall not be in with a rather decent chance of winning this game even with a team made up of reserves. Rest everyone from Saturday apart from perhaps Arshavin who hasn’t played much lately and if we win, then great and if we don’t, well then there are at least two games less to play in January/February. RvP, Theo, Szczesny, Ramsey, Arteta and Song should not even be in the squad if you ask me.
“* The Gunners have now won seven points from losing positions this season – more than any other team.”
Yet I’m pretty sure we’re still generally seen as a mentally weak team by most….
@ 18 – it was a total and utter pleasure 🙂
Lars – Mancini already said he’s gonna make 11 changes to the team that played on Sunday.
I can assure you that Woj, RvP, Theo, Ramsey, Arteta and Song will not be in the squad.
What’s a remote demo Ollie?
Something I’m managing from here but to show to people in India.
So I can’t really afford to go to the pub, and to top it all, I see that the game is not on French TV.
I know it’s only the League cup but still, you’d think someone, even a minor channel would show that game, guaranteed to get some viewers.
Gutted.
Ollie cannot afford to go to the pub, as he left all his Euros in the Tollie on Saturday?
Time for a whip round, folks?
Lars@60 got to agree re Johnson. Confess to secretly hoping AW might have been able to make him part of the $am Na$ dirty deal.
I reckon Na$, the wee sulker, must hate Johnson – one – because Johnson is a better player imo and 2 – because i’m pretty sure Johnson was taking the piss out of the French lesbian when he recorded this track …
http://youtu.be/QVc29bYIvCM
“A confusion in her eyes that says it all, she’s lost control – again”
More of a case of ‘cannot afford to go to the pub because I have to be up early and sharp the next day’, Dr Z 😉
I suspect it is in common parlance … I clearly need to brush up on my jargon [Smiley face]!
I have a similar problem with the game kicking off at 1:30 (early in the morning) and I have a meeting at 10 o’clock. I’m more used to it than you though, Ollie 😉
Snir@63: so Mancini has not gone completely mad, then 🙂
Ollie@66: at least the game is live on several channels so streams should not be too hard to find.
AL@68: I think Arsene has said that we tried to get Johnson as part of the transfer fee for Nasri.
True Lars.
I’ve just grown to hate streams now.
Morning All
Another cracking read ‘Holic, my head agrees re: Na$ri should he even appear tonight. We could do a mass turning of our backs like The Vulgarian supporters do. My heart says boo the little $h*t and sing the edited Na$ri song but I probably won’t. I don’t drink in the ground either these days. Way over-priced and the selection is cr*p. The fine hostelries around the ground more than make up for it though, don’t they Ollie? 😉
zico @ #67 – Good idea. Let’s stick a large “Save The Ollie” banner on the side of the HT tonight and send Roxette, Green Eyes, The Prof & Dr.F out tonight with with the collection buckets. Siphon 10% off for DLL and donate to a real ‘foundation’? 😀
Lars @ #60 – In hindsight, your team selection criteria is likey to be the right one. I hope it’s enough to beat the ADVs tonight. I expect they’ll also field a team full of ‘yoot’ 😉
Trev @ #22 – Pun-tastic again! Enjoy the game tonight.
I’ll sign-off for now with a brief note of thanks to resident HT MkII train driver, Glennw, for sorting me out a ticket for tonight. Cheers mate and top fella!!!!
Twitter seems to be THE place for getting hold of last minute tickets.
COYRRRs!!!!
PS: Syph Bladder @ #51 – Dark, dark, dark. Are you a viewer of ‘Salad Fingers’ (http://www.fat-pie.com/salad.htm). You might enjoy it 😉
Dr F may be sending his apologies TS, (all will be revealed) but top idea.
Anything to get Roxette out the house 😉
Poppet, here you go!
http://www.nichewp.com/how-to-use-wordpress-smilies-in-comments.html
Arsene knows and so does Lars!
The scene:
A sanitised office in a retreat somewhere in the Home Counties, an agitated Dr Feelgood sits in a chair awaiting the arrival of his psychiatrist. He continually looks at his watch, and repeatedly checks his wallet which is full to overflowing with money. The notes however are from the board game, Monopoly……,
The door opens and a man, somewhat younger than the patient, calmly enters the room and sits down beside him……
Shrink : “Good morning Mr Feelgood, sorry I’m late, I……..
Feelgood : “It’s DR Feelgood, now make this quick, time is money, sonny. Heh, it rhymes.”
Shrink : “Your wife has asked me to have a little chat with you, she said it would be ok for you to be brought here, you have a clear diary and yet, you seem to think you have somewhere to be?”
Feelgood : “Roxette. Lovely girl but she’s away with the fairies. She hangs out with Pirates you know. Anyway, I have an urgent meeting with Professor Storey at 2pm sharp. In the Executive suite….”
Shrink : “Ah Professor Storey. Is he in the room, just now?”
Feelgood : “Eh? (under his breath) We’ve got a right one here…..”
Shrink : “And is THIS the Executive Suite?”
Feelgood: “You’re fucking nuts pal. Think you need to see a quack. I can recoomend two for a small fee….”
Shrink (changing the subject) : “How did you find your room last night?”
Feelgood : “Same way I always do. I grope in the dark, usually stagger into 2 or 3 walls and then fall in a heap drunk, on the bed. What about you?”
Shrink (ignoring the hostility in Feelgood’s tone) : “Ah, so you admit to feeling disoriented from time to time?”
Feelgood : “So would you pal, if you had drunk a gallon of Guinness and been up doing Mexican Cartwheels with the bar staff till all hours…..now can we go find the Doctor so I can get my “tonic” and get off to, errr, work?”
The psychiatrist calls his assistant and asks her to take the patient for a walk in the grounds outside……
Feelgood throws a £20 (monopoly) note on to the table on his way out and says…..
“In case you want to get some professional help – here’s the taxi fare – just ask for Dr T”
The psychiatrist looks on in astonishment as Feelgood leaves the room singing “One nil to the Arsenal…..and then scribbles in his notepad – “this case will make the British Medical Journal…….”
to be continued……
Thank you, Lars. :idea:.
Poppet, you’re welcome 🙂
And 😆 😆 😆 at the latest Feelgood updates – proper quality stuff!
Morning Chaps and Nurse Abb ,
Great preview Holic . Sorry to hear about your old motor . I remember that game – a tight 1-0 win in front of 56,000 packed into Highbury if memory serves . Supermac with the winner ? Not sure .
Thanks also for putting me right on the origination and spelling of “boracic” . I , like AL , had always thought it was “brassic” , derived from a lack of .. er .. um .. brass . Anyway , moving on !
Another night of Britneys beckons at the local battle-cruiser . And at the end of the night , if I have enough Rifle left in my sky I might even have a Ruby (been a while since I’ve had a Basil) .
Good stuff in the drinks . Have to say I’m completely in H2H’s camp as to what team will be fielded . Will be amazed if we see anyone from Saturday’s first XI , with the exceptions of Djourou and AA .
Whether we like it or not , the game has completely changed in the last 20 years . Winning the League Cup or the FA Cup would of course be great , but both competitions have been relegated to the status of “icing on the cake” . The cake is of course The Prem and the Champs League . Getting in the top 4 is the be all and end all these days , and despite what the idiots over at Le Groan might tell you , represents a success which Arsene has managed to deliver year on year . Qualification determines the budget , the say you have at Europe’s top table , and of course the players you can attract . Would Arteta , just as a for instance , be at the club if we were not playing Champs League Football ? Doubtful .
With that in mind , I will be amazed if we see anything other than a shadow side tonight .
Picking a team is tricky as I understand both Diaby and Rosicky are carrying injuries . On the basis neither are fit , I would go with the following :-
Flappy .
Yennaris Djourou Schill Miguel .
Ox , Coq , Frimpong , Benny , AA
Chamakh .
Park to come of the bench and score the winner !
Still enough there to give ’em a game on our own patch , and as others have mentioned , its an occasion made for the fringers to step up and start demanding a first team place through performance rather than misjudged interviews .
Notwithstanding what I said re Park above , (heart ) , I’m going for us to sneak it on pens after a 1-1 .(head)
Cheers for the kind words Joe .
Lonestar @11 – Spot on . I am completely indifferent to Nasri . Doubt very much that he will even make the Bench tonight .
Trev @22 – I can see you’re pumped for tonight . Great stuff 🙂
BtM @28 – “Arsene to nut the Pink Panther” – heh 🙂
H2H @34 – Agree with all of that . A voddie shot right back at you .
Lars @60 – Nice post , agree with you on Johnson , a terrific player , who has been so unlucky with injuries .
AL @68 – TUUUUUUNNEE !!
Enjoy the game TS . If you’re planning on wandering round with a bucket , I assume you’re donning your Gunnersaurus outfit ? 😉
Dr Z @79 – the plot thickens ! Brilliant 🙂 🙂
Snir. You write some great stuff but @37 you have let yourself down. Surely us Gooners are above that.
Cheers Guys, the plot doesn’t so much thicken as unravels in about 47 different directions.
The author has lost it, in much the same way as his creation. 😉
CoR @48 and Harsha @ 49 Very impressive stuff!
I just found out another thing that is to our advantage tonight – Gareth Barry is also suspended so he won’t feature at all either. ManCity won’t, in other words, be able to field nearly as strong a team as many (this bar apart) seem to think.
Dr Z @ 79 You have me rolling on the floor, and begging for more!
zico @ #s 79 & 85 – Enjoying your onion peeling exercise. Who knows where it will end up? I bet not even you 😉
tabs @ #82 – Well, The Gunnersaurus outfit will make a pleasant change from Chel$ki and LWC bio-suits but not really sure it’s me unless Wolfie has a pair of matching JCs that he may be willing to loan?
Ok, it’s official. Nasri has asked Boy George to sing tonite on his behalf. We will be treated to George crooning, “Do you really want to hurt me, Do you really want to make me cry?
Ah, Nurse ABB,
I have sent you an ‘hmail to the address you leave on your drinks. Is it valid?
Cheers.
Hey Holic, I don’t rightly know…having technical probs with that but now must get it sorted out in a hurry! BTW, re your car…Ollie says he was only joy riding!
i might go to bed before the end of the game tonight if I’m reasonable.
I really really hate this.
I’m OK with working until late, but starting early is a total cunt.
Hah
if I’m reasonable
Re the mighty FG Ds – am laughing – just a tad nervously
Pardon – the FG Fs
Consider the JC’s yours for the night TS 😉
Cheeky leg trip in the midfield upends Yaya allowing AL to advance deep in to the Citeh half …
two typos help me tip-toe towards the ton – tut!
And the veteran rose at the back post like a salmon and nodded it in 😎
And his teammates mob Tabs for sending Arsenal through to the next leg. 😉
I’ve been away too long ❓
But when AOL fucks about with your broadband, what can you do eh?
In all honestly, too many good drinks to mention since the last two posts by ‘Holic, keep up the good work good sir 😀 but Dr Z’s latest FeelGood diaries and Syph Bladder @ 51 take the biscuit and the cake, well in 😉
Get in tabs! 🙂
well in tabs! I’m going to make that a good omen re the mighty Arse – in my mind
UREDS!
Yehhhh !! There was a little bit of Chamakh about that goal I feel . Good omen for tonight . Nice assist AL . Positively Frimpongish the way you won the ball and drove upfield there .
*BOlILK*
Well in tabs.
8Ball – reckon i might get a run out at LB tonight . Still awaiting the call up from Arsene , but my shinpads are on , and I’ve gelled my hair Chamakh stylee . I have told AW that I am also prepared to bare my arse a la Sammy Nelson .
‘specially as you received holy communion this Sunday (?) from one of the great leaders of The Holy Redeeming Church Of The Mighty Arse – in the form of one Arch Deacon Frank ‘and open’ Mclintock
Afternoon Wind and Afternoon H2H , crikey H2H , must have been a big one if you’re boilking , a BM to settle the stomach and a round of umbrella drinks to please Wolfie , please Barman .
Indeed AL – twas sat night – a majestic visitation from the Gods .
well as football fellows tabs, ’tis apt that ’twas a Sat. Though as drinking fellows i confess to feel a tad saddened that it did nay spill into Sunday too
Oh but it did AL !!! Check out the timing of the post first relaying the Glad Tidings – 3.56 am – Lovely !
Dr Z @94. Glad you spotted the problem there ;D
tabs got 100th? We’re doomed…..
Well in Frank’s mate 😀
Heh Ollie 🙂
We all know , that whatever the pressures of tomorrow , you will be sitting by your radio/stream with your Arsenal bobble hat on , sipping on your Rum , and cheering the boys on to the end (even if it goes to pens) 😉
I hadn’t considered the pens, damn!
(but no, still no alcohol 8) )
I used to have a soft spot for Manchester City.
My brother, similar I guess to Blogs and the MugSmasher, out of nowhere, declared a love of Manchester Utd, (for no reason other than George Best played for them I’m sure), but such is sibling rivalry, it instilled in me a hatred that only got worse over the years, (of Utd, not my brother). Frank Stapleton didn’t help, and it got really bad with Ferguson’s success and his hypocritical underhand methods to deliver it. All the nasty pieces of work that he has cultivated over the years (Hughes, Keane, even the Ginger twat Scholes) just completed the circle for me.
So I decided that I would root for City in all things Manchester (apart from when they played the mighty Arsenal of course).
But that was then.
The City poster above is correct – a lot of this “sympathy” was very patronizing, based as it was, on the premise that as a club they did not pose a threat. They were the hapless country cousins. But as a group, you have to give the City supporters credit, they have suffered and kept with their team, and I’m sure will be there when it all goes tits up.
Which it will.
Because, if any team can fuck up having billions to spend, it will be them. You know it is in their DNA. They will snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. It may not be tonight, but it is as predictable as Cannons of Rhetoric seeing the sun before I do each day.
And there is another reason that I can no longer find that soft spot (stop laughing Roxette).
I’ve just moved sideways to a new job at work. The dude on my right is born and bred Mancunian and a die-hard City supporter. Mention the old third division to him and he starts to twitch. Unfortunately, he has become unbearable in the way that Man Utd fans took a generation to become unbearable. And he has bought into the myth that players are moving to his club to win things. With one solitary FA cup in the last 42 years. A team that last won the league in 1968. A team who in recent years were gearing up to play Oldham in a bitter local Derby. This is what Samir Nasri has moved to. A small club who won the lottery.
And one final thing, I am not indifferent to Man City. I want us to beat them tonight. I want them to suffer and I want Patrick Viera and his project to go figure. Sorry Paddy, but your credentials have taken a dent in the zico household.
I used to have a soft spot for City.
It’s almost got the stage where it has become ABC.
U Reds!!
After some really intense negotiating by Nurse Wolfie and yours truly, Leg Rash has agreed to join The Quackery. It gets better…he has offered to get Bale’s and Vanderfart’s tightey whiteys to our secret location. Once we have the goods, Ollie’s Itching Powder will be employed. In other words, next Spurs game, expect to see both these lads called for multible hand balls. Can’t make this stuff up.
Nice post Dr Z . Bang on the money .
Very difficult not to have a soft spot for them , given the additional heartache they have had to face in an era of the all-conquering Manc Reds (albeit in underhand fashion) , as well as their own propensity for laughable ineptitude .
I was actually at the 76 League Cup Final between Man City and Newcastle with the old man (no idea why) . Due to an antipathy to Supermac ( an antipathy that transformed into passionate adoration as soon as he signed for the Gunners !) my father declared we would be City supporters for the day , and were rewarded with a Dennis Tueart bicycle kick for the winner .
So have always quite liked them . Their fans (Little and Large and The Gallagher Thunderbird Brothers aside) always seem pretty decent , but even they must surely recognise that their present success is a massive blight on the game , distorting wages , transfer fees etc , and all funded from the wealth of a Nation , which must surely have more worthwhile “projects” to spend their immoral billions on , than a football club many thousands of miles away .
The quicker they are back in their rightful third tier home , the better .
Dr Z speaketh the truth re: Citteh&Vieira
Nothing to do with me Nurse Abb , but on this occasion I am more than willing to turn a blind eye to such shenanigans 😉
Oh and by the way , from the last drinks , no visible stubble on my chinny-chin-chin , there’s procedures for that sort of thing don’t you know 😉
And therefore, tabs too 😀
Afternoon Holics,
Good post Holic nothing to add really.
Recovery from Sunday took longer than expected I have to say I was also invited for Birthday party on Sunday which I should have declined but I didn’t! Finally recovered today thank God for that. Xmas party from work on Friday, oh dear where does it end?
Those plastic bottles are a joke at the ground I suppose they did it on purpose so people don’t glass each other when things get out of hand.
Next time Holic I shall bring my very own bottle of Bitter just in case. Taking about memories I have a very nice piccy of you and not that Danny Murphy. Will send it via email.
Tough game tonight and hope the younger generation can fulfil their potential and show AW that they also mean business. If Na$ri plays he will get some stick from the fans. His twitter comments were not exactly the things Gooners wanted to hear before he left for his millions.
Either way this could prove to be a real cracker of game!
Come on you Reds!
Either way
tabs @ all the wons (111 – another omen !?!) – i confess to feeling relieved at that news. You and Frankie Mac have grown in mine eyes – whereas, conversely, i have to agree re the sentiment – that sadly big Pat v has shrunk somewhat – oil well.
Staff Nurse Wolfie, Yes I know all the tricks and then some. I regularly can be seen shaving my mug, if the occasion calls for it. After all, the 80’s were my back-in-the day, so to speak. Seriously though, we simply can’t let Spurs finish above us. That is why Holic has commissioned the formation of the Arsenal Mafia. Seems his years at Interpol have paid off handsomely. But more on this later, top secret and all that.
Right, no more weak puns about slick passing and crude passages of play.
Let’s not make any more corny jokes about ‘speculative’ strikes or sheikhing things up…
…because let’s face it, we’re really scraping the barrel here!
I’ll get my kaftan.
CG
This one would do nicely 🙂
http://www.plussize-swimwear.com/silhouette-beach-kaftan/
Very nice Arthur @126 , that little number will go very nicely with my Speedoes .
Nurse Abb – Interpol you say ? Time for a tune
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezdAiDh31D8
Cheers for the BM tabs, I was in dire need, I also swigged one of those umbrella geezers just to kick start the system. 😉
It was indeed a serious session last night. I’m like Ollie, I don’t care how late it get’s, but I hate early rises. For me it was before 10am this morning, which is probably late for most of you guys, but for this ‘holic that’s just waaaay toooo early, especially when I was messing around here on the drinks till about 6am.
Ah well, got a couple of hours now to recouparate before climbing behind the bar to resume where we left off in the wee hours. Good news is that my beloved Sport Channel have the good grace and sense to show tonights game live, so here’s a tip of the hat to the team at Sport1 NL.
I should clarify for some of you newer Holics – there is a subtle distinction that you need to be aware of – the Feelgood Diaries are written by someone with a dark and dangerous mind.
The Feelgood Files will describe how that dark and dangerous mind responds (or not) to treatment.
Just in case there was any potential for confusion, you understand……
It’s all getting very confusing Dr Z 🙂
Not to us 😀
Heh Dr Z , 🙂 , have a song based on your excellent post @116 .
Will also give H2H a chance to practice his dance routines now he’s getting stuck into the umbrella drinks 😉
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho7796-au8U
Camberwell @ 125, that is some of the highest quality I have seen during this time at this bar, I mean, kaftan! 😆
Oh and as a post script to zico’s post @ 129 – the Feelgood Tapes don’t actually exist 😉
Tabs, The only way you’d get me doing that is if you Mickey Finn’ed that umbrella drink and I’d downed a whole tray of ’em. 😉
Staff Nurse Wolfie @ 127, Wow, that song really sounded like nu wav. to me. My 3 passions in life are Arsenal, music from the 80’s, and wildlife conservation. Guys, remember “Come on Eileen” (Dexie’s Midnight Runners, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” (Tears for Fears) “And I Ran, I Ran so Far away” (Flock of Seagulls). Don’t get me started. But you Wolfie, how about Duran, Durans, “Hungry Like a Wolf”! Cheers!
Theme tune Nurse abb 🙂
What happened in the Eighties?
As the saying goes, if you remember them, then you weren’t with me……:-D
Nurse Abb , Interpol formed in the late nighties , but have been compared to a few post punk Bands eg Joy Division , for their influences .
H2H – mate , not even a little leg shuffle ? 🙂
Dr Z – Agreed . 😉
Staff Nurse Wolfie @ 137, I thought you would approve. Saw Duran Duran in concert, really put a terrific show on.
tonights squad
Eighteen players have been selected for tonight’s Caring Cup tie against Manchester City at Emirates Stadium.
Squad (in alphabetical order):
Andrey Arshavin
Yossi Benayoun
Marouane Chamakh
Francis Coquelin
Johan Djourou
Craig Eastmond
Lukasz Fabianski (GK)
Emmanuel Frimpong
Gervinho
Laurent Koscielny
Ju Young Park
Vito Mannone (GK)
Ignasi Miquel
Nico Yennaris
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Oguzhan Ozyakup
Sebastien Squillaci
Thomas Vermaelen
nighties ??? Sorry still in Wolfie mode 🙂 I of course meant nineties
Tabs, the only thing I shuffle are cards on poker night. 🙂
Cheers Cognac .
Amazed TV is in there , especially as he appeared to bang his knee on Sat , and was hobbling around for 10 mins or so .
Our 18 man squad looks decent 😉
H2H @143 heh 🙂
Didn’t realise Eastmond was back at the club
Squad certainly looks good on paper….
Arshavin needs to put in a good shift tonight he’s really starting to frustrate me a little.
@84 – Steve T – sorry mate, when people disrespect The Arsenal like that I’m not forgiving, the hatred takes over, plain and simple.
What he did is utter disrespect to The Arsenal and I can’t just ignore him…
Karma is a bitch and she’ll be out to get that cunt.
Will be interesting to see how Manc-cini’s team line up. Our squad seems to have a nice blend of youth and experience. I’d be very cautiuos with TV, JD and Flipper though.
Holic , you have Mail .
Since Ollie does not seem to be around, let me take the opportunity to ask this:
If that is alphabetical order, what alphabet would that be? 🙂
…and now I am off to the pub!
Arthur@ 148 😆
We can only start with either Geo or AA so we should still be left with a fairly rested forward line on sat (in theory)
ATG @ 126 – Bugger! Not what I meant at all…although having said that, do you think Wolfie might be interested?
What I meant was one of those scarf-type things quite popular in the Middle East, that have a kind of black and white check/hound’s tooth pattern on them – knowwhatImean?
All @ all (except CTID) – Now that it’s T minus a matter of hours, I can’t maintain the reasonable stance I’ve had on this game up to today.
I really want to win this now – just think of the boost it’d give everyone! Not to mention the elimination of arguably the strongest team in the cup.
You know what, fuck it. Why the hell can’t we serve up an upset? Maybe the gold-diggers will have an off night.
Ox to grab a cheeky goal either side of half time, plus a cherry from Chamakh – not impossible is it?
CG
I believe Wolfie is well up for it 🙂
I really want to win tonight too that will certainly put a statement out there.
CG @155 nope !!!! an upset far from impossible . Having ruminated further on the matter , I think you’re being a little on the conservative side . Reckon The Arse will dish out a 5-0 hammering , with The big C up front nabbing a hat-trick . You heard it here first 😉
Haha Lars 152, I see .con are back to their old tricks.
In other news, back in ranting mode.
If the Germans had arrived this morning as I thought rather than in the afternoon, perhaps things would have been ready earlier.
I have no desire/intention to stay late at work tonight, especially now that the Brazilians have wasted most of my afternoon.
Also following a prior…..I was interrupted mid-post again, no idea what I meant to say, too busy to try again.
fuck all this.
Arthur and CG – Certainly am , see @127 !
Ollie , I shall get your pipe and a little Californian .
Very unlike ze Germans to be late I must say . Mind you , I can think of worse ways to spend an afternoon than playing with a Brazilian 😉
Wolfie @ 159: how silly of me – if course you are!
Now, to quote Lars pre the CL qualifier v Ude:
COME THE FUCK ON ARSENAL!
No chance of me leaving within the next hour, I think.
So goodbye game.
heh and thanks tabs
Oh come on Ollie! You have to negate the jinx that is Tabs’ 101st post
..and don’t forget the liveblog 😉
Oh come on Ollie! You have to negate the jinx that is Tabs’ 100th post
..and don’t forget the liveblog 😉
Apologies for the double post there
An Austin 1100 would be de rigeur in some parts of north London these days holic so it might be still doing the rounds. Exciting night ahead…Come on Arsenal
Harsha, I can only follow the liveblog from home.
Here it comes under the IT Nazi police’s fire.
can we please have aa in the divot with gervais, park, and the ox up front? yossi and le coq holding. back four of tv and kozzer, plus ignasi and dj on the corners. please?
and le coq leaves around minute 70 well ahead so the chinless wonder can be frimponged…
Ollie,if you are on the orange network ,try this link,
http://orange-sport.orange.fr/live/orange-sport.html?dub=1
I don’t know if it will work when the match is on but its working now.In my programme it says that Arsenal Shitteh will be live.
Sometimes I think I work with some very fucking slow (of mind) people.
thanks washed up but no I’m not registered with Orange TV I’m afraid
I’m seriously fucking pissed off now.
Feel I’ll stay until 10pm at work, to be back at 7.30am.
Sorry but that’s not the right fucking conditions for doing my job OK.
Especially when it’s all because of these fucking c**ts.
My part wouldn’t cause me trouble, I feel that once fucking more I’m babysitting and helping.
Right , off to the juicer , (sorry Ollie 🙁 ) , so good luck everyone , lets see these kids tear the money-laden parasites a new one .
COME ON THE ARSENAL !!!
Just seen the team:-
Fabianski, Djourou, Squillaci, Koscielny, Miquel, Frimpong, Coquelin, Benayoun, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Park, Chamakh.
Enjoy, tabs!
Any team news?
I am in a painfully slow commute 🙁
Cheers tabs, crossed post
Mancini is so stupid. He just gave the crowd a reason to be extra spicy.
Pantillimon, Onuoha, Toure, Savic, Zabaleta, De Jong, Hargreaves, Johnson, Nasri, Kolarov, Dzeko.
All I can say is this – Na na na na na na na Samir you’re a cunt, Samir you’re a cunt.
I’m pumped up like a mothafucka for this one.
Na$ri starting for the Mercs.
I’m off down to the bar, enjoy the game ‘holics.
Snir –
Settle down boss 😉
Give those meds some time to kick in. 😉
BMBD!
Oh sorry Ollie
I was talking about liveblog being a massive jinx and you watching the game negating that 🙂
Anyway, hope your work troubles end soon
Now these Germans are taking the piss, aren’t they?
Earlier they told me that they or someone in Italy were doing one thing and would could me when it’s done just to confirm.
Now I go and check with them before leaving (or wanting to leave) and they ask me if that thing is done?
Cunts, utter utter cunts.
I know it’s a strong word but I hate de Jong – the dong!
Come on you gunners!
COYRRR
Well my work here is done.
Might have to work from home later.
For other people……………
Heh. Nasri being booed at every touch.
Frimpong pinging it about nicely – UREEEEEDDDDSSSSS!!!!!!
Really impressed by Oxlade-Chamberlain so far.
He’s far from perfect but WHAT A FIGHTER FRIMPONG IS! He shoves Nasri and Agüero out of the way like nothing and anticipates the dribbling of City players like a more experienced defender would.
That said, he might still make a mistake that costs us the game but my God, this lad really is a gooner.
how’s the team playing? i haven’t been able to watch but parts on a crap stream.
dribbles in from the left, looking for a runner.
All streams r going down – whats happening guys?
halftime…what’s the good news, besides no score? i saw ox’s screamer saved by clairfontaine (whatever his name is), and park’s touch the bastard saved with his hand.
other than that, not much, except for another exercise in flappyhandski from a corner.
Try this one: http://www.firstrowsports.tv/watch/95153/1/watch-arsenal-vs-manchester-city.html
Decent commentator too.
holds the ball up and plays it back to the keeper.
passes it forward…
Ta Josh will try
streaks upfield, looks for a touch, hits hopefully…
Chance?
Its crazy even bbc aint working here
celebrates
😀
and sets it up beautifully for wind to nip in and take the credit…
well done, wind…
Frimpong could now cover Song with some conviction.As looks like he might have learnt his early season lessons well – well played son!
Meanwhile difficult to find Park in space – wanders about about a bit aimlessly – not sure about him at all. Still time i s’pose.
Of the other understudies the Ox and the Coq looked good too …
Up The Arse!
Wearing the red and white, he wheels off in celebration!
Come on Arsenal!
Well done Wind – since cant see match may well start passing towards 300
Half time and they haven’t really bothered us at all.
I’ve been impressed with some of the youguns, especially Miguel and the Ox.
COYRRR.
Thanks Scruz, and many condolences.
If I didn’t have to re-enter my name and e-mail, the double century would of been yours 😛
0-0 chaps.
Is there anyone else who thinks shitty could be there for the taking? Their attacks seem poor and man-kini has subbed a defender for a striker.
With kolarov off do you really think aguero will track bacbdand defend?
wind@209, ah the pitfalls of modern technology…:)
Ty Cognac, unlucky on not being able to see the match mate.
Different laptop, different rules Scruz.
Thanks for the inch-perfect assist btw 🙂
Re streams – Front Row OK here
Is wind a blowhard or a wind-up merchant?
I can’t quite decide
(Only kidding, mate). 😉
Ps well in Wind!
Heh Zico, I think I blow a bit more to the wind-up merchant side, but that’s just my cheeky opinion 😀
I’m with you Cam.
Come on you gooners.
Thanks Lester, appreciate it.
Master tabs instructed me well in the art of the ‘lurk’, and many sessions with Cannons of Rhetoric and Camberwell Gooner helped hone my potential 🙂
second half start…come on gooners!
Its crazy here – even google and bbc not replying – ‘holic has a charmed blog here you know
i keep getting popup ads with that link above. live-planet.org seems to work ok, though.
Good start to the half.
Wind, finally someone who appreciates the dark art of the self-assist!
Kos is an outstanding defender. Great tackle.
Park the number 9 and AA to go up the middle where he may get his tow on the end of something, maybe?
cg@224…i couldn’t stand the thought of utilising those dark arts…especially for my first ton…
boy, though they’re holding us, and may beat us, city’s millionaires are really not very good.
claps park off the pitch, gervais on.
Bloody mobile reception
Cooyrrrrs!
ffaaaaaaack.
#$@!#$@!
now it’s going to be six minutes of time wasting.
gervais great move, poor shot attempt.
Come on AA. Give us some magic.
Kunt aguero – is it?
@al, my thoughts exactly. first with kozzer, then squid. another form of timewasting.
sick at my stomach. they were there for the taking.
Good game that! We played really well and really looking forward to seeing quite a few of these players in action more regularly sometime in the future. Had the finishing been better we’d be through with a few goals to spare.
Anyways, well played lads!
Scruz, they really was, but then again, that we didn’t wasn’t for lack of trying! The team on the pitch gave it a proper go. It wasn’t enough but they, overall, showed some heart.
Oil well – we’re out the Carling Cup – they’re out the Champions League (moreorless/hopefully) – know which one i’d choose
UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUreds!
Shame, but no disgtace, the lads gave it a good go and we should be proud of them.
Good run out for our younger lads. They did themselves proud.
Could have won it, but there you go.
And Nasri shows tonight just why we were more than happy to get 25m pounds for him. Completely anonymous.
Frimpong should have fouled Johnson, that pass was the only thing Johnson could do and Frimpong should have known it’s a goal waiting to happen.
He’ll learn. Although I’m doubtful anyone will ever tell him to commit a foul in that position but that would have prevented the goal.
I’m off my seat, clapping and saluting these kids. Courageous effort by these kids and Kos who is one of the top 5 CBs in the EPL to outplay the City’s millions.
If anything, it would give the first team a lot of confidence that a result away from home at City can and needs to be achieved.
Up the Arsenal.
*Clapping*
Shitty didn’t deserve to win this game by any means, we created more and should have won the game!
Feel sorry for the lads, great performance by Ox our most dangerous player I thought. Coquelin, Frimpong and Miquel need to mentioned here too, top class performance lads! Here’s to the future!
Down to the wire what else can you say great game indeed, but yet again I thought we should have taken our chances.
Looking forward to Holics report!
Wasn’t the result we wanted, but the lads played well and you can’t fault them for that.
If RVP was on the bench, maybe, but he’s only a single man.
Onward and forward to bigger and better things, hopefully Cardiff or Crystal Palace will win the Carling Cup, one can only wish.
CG @ 224, lol, patience is a virtue 😉
Scruz @ 227, I turned to those dark arts of the self-assist in an attempt to get my first ton, the bar was empty, say for CoR, who had utilised a masterful 11 drink lurk to snatch the ton from my waiting jaws and place an assist there instead.
looking back on that moment, it was good that it happened, I was saved from corruptness 😛
Wow, considering we had two dummies up front we were fantastic!
Aoc, Frimpong, The Cock were outstanding
Joins Snir in clapping and saluting these kids!
Up the Arse!
Arthur, Arthur give us a wave!
Didn’t watch the game then, but heard there were some decent performances in the middle of that.
😯
Very fucking nearly
Promising from the young guns
And the half-ton has weird eyes! :O
*Claps*
Fair play to Chamakh too. Thought he did alright considering the amount of service he got.
And Gervinho may not be getting a lot of goals right now, but he transforms our attack. We looked much more lively with him on.
Chamakh should have leveled or Squidgy for that matter….gghrrrrrrrrr
Echo that they were there for the taking. A better corner wouldn’t have caused the breakout for the goal…although we could have gotten back or broken-up the play. Kids did great, just couldn’t get the final ball in there. I’m clapping too, Snir.
@ Wind 252
No wonder I got the keys to the MC!
A lot to be optimistic about. But boy do we need to buy a striker in January.
Look forward to the barman’s report.
Loved the way we played the game, didn’t deserve to lose it 🙁 If there is as much effort every time (and I have not seen anybody slack of late), then I am happy enough! We were definitely the better team, no question about it. Ox the MOTM in my opinion..
1 shot on target, the goal, and the clowns Twitchson & Sacked-one reckon the northern chavski deserved to win. How did Dzeko get MOTM as well???
Fuck those two idiots. Thought the youngsters did well. Future looks bright.
Can’t believe these idioits are talking about van p playing….muppets.
There is always that coulda, shoulda feeling after losing 1-0, but if you don’t score the goals you don’t win the games. Can’t fault the effort or the fight, or any individual performances, save at the front. Defence looked solid. Back four all had good games. Squillaci included. Miguel looks better with each game and Kos’s tackling was outstanding. Not a word to be said against the midfield, either. The Frim, the Coq and the Ox all had strong games, and Benayoun impressed. Different story in front of goal. Park looked to be playing in one level too high for him. He always seemed half a yard off the pace and was jumping for headers as if they were 50-50s just trying to get anything on the ball when at that level you have to try to get it under control. Chamakh worked hard but seemed to run out of steam (commentators said he had been throwing up during both halves) so it might have been better to keep the Ox on and take him off. Also their keeper came up with at least a couple of big saves in the first half. Flappy didn’t do much if anything wrong, but no big save when we needed it. Breakaway goals like that a doubly annoying because a lot of little things broke against us, rather than us being undone by a cock-up or a single stroke of great play.
Heh heh Arthur, more mysterious things have happened… 😉
But still, MC?
Nasri threw a punch at Frimpong and then ran off to the away dressing room.
How stupid can you be you silly cunt?
I’m praying for Frimpong to play the next game against City.
zico@257: This.
In my eyes, we really didn’t lose. Do you guys have any idea what we witnessed tonite. Many decades ago, Pele graced some pitch, for the first time. Those astute enough realized what he could be. I swear, on all I hold dear to me, that current incarnation of possibly the greatest of all time, is this young composed lad, the Ox.
Well that was bloody decent all round I’d say. A pity about the outcome, but the youngsters really earned their cannons out there – City were well pinned back for chunks of the game and I almost want to say the result they got was against the run of play!
Theo is going to have to fight for his spot if the Ox keeps showing up like that and the Frimpster and Coqs didn’t take @#@# from anyone 😀
LSAG@265: Song-Arteta-Ramsey or Frimpong-Coquelin-Wilshere. Tasty choice.
Good show, the lads…good show.
Snir, where did you see that Nasri tried to “steal” on the Frimmer. Very foolhardy.
BMBD!
Twitter…
From a very reliable source known as the Arseblogger 🙂
I also hope that AW plays this guts of this side in the FA Cup. They deserve another run out after this evening.
Hmmm, perhaps Na$ri IS a fakking cooont…
BMBD!
Bloody good effort….we can’t complain. Was it my imagination or was Chamakh vomiting on 2 occasions? If he had flu or something I don’t know why he was out there.
We played a 4-4-2 though…..shame about the 2.
I don’t regret the things that had to be done this summer but I wonder if we’d have been in better shape with that Danish egomaniac still as our reserve striker?
I thought Frimpong and Coq had their best games yet for the first team.
We need a striker. Badly.
I’d take PSG’s 10 million for Chamakh in a heartbeat and spend 20 million on Podolski.
What a duo he and RvP can be.
This result should be the prototype to the way we should play City in two weeks.
How good is Kos? One of the best 5 CBs in the league. On current form I can only think of Kompany and Vidic being better than him. Rio, Terry et al have been horrible.
He seems to have it easier against the big clubs as opposed to the Rugby teams.
I’m telling you guys, the Chamakh-attack is gonna come good. Just hang in there with him.
Snir – spot on about Koscielny – he’s class.
BMBD!
When I said this result should be the prototype I mean this performance.
This performance and dedication along with Woj, Santos, Song, Arteta, Ramsey, Theo and RvP in the team and we’re getting the three points.
mean= meant
sorry Ollie 😀
agreed with all who are heaping praise. i missed most of the first half, but saw lots of good work in the second.
i think we can take them down in two weeks.
and nbn, agreed about the fa cup run.
Snir, I saw Podolski play for Cologne in February of this year – he was their best player by a country mile.
In today’s terms, a net spend of £10m would be a pretty good price for a striker with that pedigree.
Hard not to be enthused and encouraged by our young players tonight, all four of them can take great heart from their performance.
Evening Holics
Great entertainment tonight, a game played at pace with outstanding performances from the Ox, le Coq , Frims and my MOTM Koscielny. Had we had a real striker on the pitch we would have won. I suspect AW feels the same way and I fully expect a CL forward to be drafted in in January. I might have played TV5 up front for the last 20 mins, just a thought.
In any event, tonight was eminently more watchable than Saturday’s efforts notwithstanding the result. City were very fortunate to escape with the win considering they had one shot on target to our five, but goals win matches and the two up front, on tonight’s showing ,are not up to the job!
Fantastic support from the fans at the Ems this evening, well done you Gooners.
As always COYRs
Just got home from the pub. Aguero is a cheating, stuck-up fucking cunt. Piss off you fucking mercenary twat. You might be good at scoring goals but you have a lot to do before you earn my respect.
Immensly proud of how all the players fought for the team. Not everyone played that well, but they all gave everything they had. And I can not ever ask for anything more.
Arsenal – now and forever.
Zico – I rate him very highly, one with the potential to be world class (just like Klose who is killing Serie A).
His contract ends in 2013 just like RvP and he was quoted that he can feels fit and that he can fit in to any top team in Europe.
I would love for us to grab him in January, him and RvP up front is a formidable duo, one of the best in the world to be honest.
Even if he wouldn’t play up front he’d be added competition for Gervinho and Theo.
I think AA and Chamakh should be sold in January. Podolski can fill in for both of them.
AA looks like he won’t get a game anytime soon and neither does Chamakh so one top top player would do.
He is what AW means when he says we need to buy super quality.
Snir, I should have also added, he (Podolski) scored the only goal of the game, a quite stunning goal in the last minute. He is indeed quality.
I am reluctantly beginning to agree on Arshavin – I feel his is a missed opportunity, for both player and club. But we have to move on, and we need to reward performances like tonight with guys who will score goals.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 🙁
Random bedtime thought – I saw some Journos a while back talking up Mario Goetze and calling him “The German Messi”. The way the Ox is tearing into defences with those mad feet of his – can we claim him as the English Messi?
I must admit, I don’t make a habit of visiting the blogs of opposing teams unless my News Now feed throws them up, and then I think it’s fair game as the author must have tagged them in such a way as they’d be picked up by City fans using that or a similar service. Unfortunately most of these visits result in my being showered with insults, when I had no greater purpose in mind than offering an opinion on something or other, so this was a pleasant surprise.
All the best for the rest of the season, except for when you play us of course, and I remain City Till I Die 🙂