Two from T, And One from BtM
Feb 2nd, 2012 by 'holic
The biggest buzz associated with doing this blog has been watching a cracking little community of ‘holics grow and develop over the years. I’m proud that here is a place where people who don’t necessarily share a vision of what is happening at the club at any one time can share their views with a degree of civility. Two of my favourites share a mutual respect, but have subtly different takes on where we have been in recent years, and where we are.
I’m delighted that the always positive Bergkamp the Man has taken inspiration from a recent Steve T post in the drinks, and has penned what follows. Steve, I hope, will let me have something to post next week in response. The ability to discuss our views with respect is a gift Arsenal supporters can make more of, particularly at moments like this when we are all hurting just a little bit.
Let BtM take up the mantle…
Of all of Holic’s regulars, there is none more resolute of viewpoint than Steve T. Is there a single one of us who does not yet know?
– We do not play with enough width!
– We need to strive to be the best we can be!
– We never learn from our mistakes!
– There is no hope for Fabianski!
Steve’s views are often controversial but ALWAYS come from the heart. With the Teelets (junior Ts) in tow, Steve is invariably “there” for The Arsenal, to bellow, bollock, berate and blaspheme (outwith the Teelets hearing, of-course) exactly as the situation requires.
Clear from the emotion expressed in his excellent roving report, the Villa game caused great heartache. Amongst many stimulating comments, were those below. They’re thought provoking and don’t deserve to be washed down the drinks gurgler of time without further comment. Although the esteemed Mr. TABS has already said some, I couldn’t leave them alone.
On entering The Emirates, Steve observed:
My arrival was met with a general apathy, a big sort of “whatever” type of feeling, and resigned lack of interest. It was as if very few would have bothered but for their season ticket. That did not seem right to me, and I pose the question, Why? Why was it like that?
Why indeed? Once upon a time football was primarily a source of entertainment. A well deserved break for many from a hard, grinding week of labour. A beer with the boys, a laugh, a thrill, some fun. Most importantly, something to be looked forward to in an otherwise gray existence.
In these circumstances, it’s impossible to imagine anyone being apathetic or disinterested. If they were, why would they be within a mile of the game, completely wasting their precious free time. So, something has changed, on that we agree.
And here’s Steve’s rationale, eloquently expressed as ever:
Football fans have evolved. It is not like the 50s/60s/70s. You don’t pay peanuts to get in, stand with like-minded individuals and then get the bus home with the centre forward. The whole game has changed. The average fan has changed and people need to grasp that fact.
Going to football is not a cheap option. It’s bloody expensive, not just in money terms but in personal life-time terms. These changes result in indifference and less tolerance. Fans want value for money these days. Many Arsenal fans feel just that little bit short-changed at this moment in time. Maybe this explains why tolerance levels are not what they could be and why people boo.
And that, it seems to me, gets to the nub of it. The profile of the game has changed. Football basks in the bright glare of the global media spotlight. Players become global personalities almost overnight. They earn sums that would have been incredible in years gone by and, even in these heady days, are incomprehensible to many.
New fans are attracted like moths to a flame. Their primary motivation often has nothing to do with what used to be known as a ‘relaxing day out’ or ‘entertainment’. Rather, an association with this “happening event” and its overnight stars can often be the primary mover. Pick a winning team and claim a lifetime of allegiance. Glory, glory, I’m united.
And this association is a fine thing, especially when your new team is winning. You can strut the strut and talk the talk. You can bask in the glory. You can be better, in this aspect of your life at least, than the guy who supports the other team. In short, life is good. The Lord God Arsene is glorious. Vive La France! Yeeeees! Get in there!
But beware this association when things take a turn for the worse. What – no silverware again? What – eight defeats in twenty-two games? What – no spending to take the club into debt? What – these muppet owners won’t spend their personal wealth to buy Leo The Lion? What? What? What? Don’t they realize this is my self-esteem they’re shredding? Don’t they know that I’ll take this out on my wife’s face when I get home. Christ, this was the only success I’ve ever known and now it’s gone. Boooooooooo!
And worse, enabled by digital media, they can become pundits overnight, legends in their own lunchtime, read by millions worldwide. A web-site and an ability to plagiarise or cut-and-paste is all it takes to get you your first million clicks.
And astonishingly, the newly attracted are influenced and take up the cause “Arsene out!” that many pimple-picking teenage scribes prescribe. A complex situation distilled into a simplistic, four word soundbite that, for them, says it all perfectly. “He’s feckin lost it!”
Because they feel the pain. They can empathise with the writer. They too, like him, have had their lives shredded by Arsene Wenger’s inadequacies and the parsimony of Silent Stanley. “It’s fecking obvious, ‘in it?” A life wasted, and by a Frenchman who’s paid millions for their troubles.
Steve’s right. The game has most certainly changed. In many ways for the better. I don’t miss urine running down the back of my leg or brandished razor blades in return for a peanuts entry fee. In other ways for the worse, the noise and passion have dissipated even though crowd numbers have increased. And good and bad can both be elaborated.
But what’s the common bottom line on all of this. Fanciful notions are fine but where is all this going? Well, that depends. It depends on what you want to get out of the game. It depends on what your expectations are.
If you simply want to be entertained, and you judge that your 50 quid is better spent at The Emirates than The Odeon, The London Palladium or The Royal Opera House at Covent Garden then, Arsenal may well meet your needs and make you happy.
If you need the personal reinforcement to your self esteem that comes through association with a team that always wins trophies, which enables you to be in a constant state of strut – well, I have to say Barcelona or Manchester City may better meet your needs than Arsenal.
And I know it is not as simple or as black and white as these two paragraphs paint it. But, if your only route to happiness is winning, irrespective of quality of play, the individual skills of beautiful young men and great sporting entertainment (and booing for me is not an indicator of happiness), then your road to eternal contentment may be the M5 to Manchester.
I’d rather too, you took it, than come along and spoil my precious days off from work by spilling your bilious bile within my earshot. Just because you’ve chosen to waste your day, don’t feel justified to spoil mine and many others just because you paid to get in.
Association football, football, fitba’, soccer. However and whatever you call it, the game has a spectacular future as the world’s first truly global game. With that comes the fetid smell of money, with potential to generate revenues at levels that are difficult to imagine and untold riches for those with a nose for it. There won’t be room on the stage for everyone. Many will go by the wayside. The ascendance to global prominence of New Delhi United may well be paralleled by the demise of their counterparts in Scunthorpe, Doncaster or Glasgow.
Increasingly big business will be tempted by the call of the cash and more Silent Stanleys are likely to emerge as heads of successful sports conglomerates. Likely Stanley, they’ll put their bottom line and shareholder value ahead of tacky metrics (like winning silverware).
There will still be outliers, of-course, like Abramovich, who will attempt to elevate the profile of a lifetime, notable only for grand scale misappropriation of a nation’s funds, by association with the likes of John Terry. Or countries, otherwise largely unknown, who will seek to achieve greater national prominence by directing mineral revenues toward a little known brand on a football shirt, rather than to a more deserving social purpose in the homeland. For the betterment of whom?
And, to the long-suffering group in the middle (of which we ‘holics number many), who love to watch our team play with the handbrake off, who agonise over every single defeat until our ears bleed. But who just hate to hear the balefully bilious bile of the boo and bleat brigade (B6). What can I say? Life’s a pitch.
201 Responses to “Two from T, And One from BtM”
ahem!!! 🙂
The post looks longer than normal?
The first drink shorter though.
Evening all.
Ah, it’s there!
Mini-baths, heh 😉 (from previous drinks)
-9 you say, Dr C?
I could see why you’d be first in the bar 😉
BtM, Great read. The B6 can only mean one thing, the handbrake is off!
BtM
A great read, and, I’d suggest, not only for us but for all true footy fans of any club.
I would rather spend my time in a bar on holiday with a knowledgable Manure fan (if one exists) than some of the trophy chasing malcontents that follow (not support) our club.
Ollie – I’ve been to the supermarket, got the provisions, and I’m not moving! 🙂
Pleasure to read you as always, BtM.
Well said mate, footballs changing and arsenal will always be here been supporting em all my life and no manner were we end up im a goober til i die! We may not win trophies anymore but there still the arsenal to me.
Gooner! Bloody phone. Anyway great post ‘holic and keep up the gd work
Fine analysis BtM. The downside of success is the accretion of those who crave the reflected glory of the successful. The intolerance of so called fans both on-line and in the ground is a reflection of what you have so elegantly described. It is however difficult to wish for a year or two in the wilderness to purge ourselves of these parasites. I did think that in the late 90s when tickets became very difficult to obtain but it is a perverse thing to wish for. Maybe simply a year out of the CL will be sufficient medicine though I cannot really wish for that either.
Some Highland Park all round.
Mrs Woo has a way with words, Ollie!
Enjoyed that muchly BtM. Thanks.
I’ll tell you what, that Little Dutch can write.
And he likes Sark.
What’s not to like?
And the big ex-pat Scot with a Dutch name can write too.
Clearly.
Nice intro Holic. BTM, love the passionate yet no nonsense approach you bring to this discussion. I remember quite clearly each of those excerpts from Steve’s postings. Some I agree with more then others. But even when I don’t see eye to eye with him, his love for Arsenal always come through. For me as a fan of just not Arsenal, but the game itself, I count myself very blessed indeed.
Great post, not sure it will please the same crowd as the previous one 😉
Just one thing: I personally don’t see Steve T’s opinions as being any more controversial than most. Each one of us will agree with some and disagree with others, but I find myself in agreement with him more often than not and love reading his post-game reports. Yes he’s dead wrong on Fabianski but no one can be 100% right all the time 😉
Selective memory, ‘arry?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-16849968
On the other hand, why would anyone not have lied to NOTW since they edited out all truths anyway. You can use that one if you like, ‘array, regular reader of Goonerholic that you are.
re ‘Arry
“I was thinking about David Beckham when I signed that form”
Isn’t “ignorance is no defence” one of the basic rules of law??
TaBS, no doubt can enlighten…… hilarious. 🙂
Good evening Bath,
Mrs W indeed has a magnificent vocabulary, and to be subtly scolded by her is quite the experience 😉
Yes, football and the world in general have changed and not all for the better. But I’m Arsenal until the day I die. Unless I decide to go birding with Delia, if she’ll have me of course. 🙂
It seems a fitting tribute to the post….
http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/arsenal-legend-dennis-bergkamp-scores-stunning-volley-in-ajax-training/
Evening all (morning here in Oz). Great post BtM. I’m just wondering if most of the current dissent is being sprouted by those of a certain age who have only known (up until recently) Arsenal teams winning things for fun. Wenger had almost immediate success (winning trophies)that lasted nearly a decade and before that we had the Stroller who built a team out of nothing, mainly homegrown, almost all English, who had 6 years of FA Cups, League Titles and European success that equals (almost) anything that Wenger has achieved, and yet when was the last time George Graham’s name has been mentioned? He started the resurrection of the sleeping giant that went so tamely through the Terry Neil and Don Howe era and would we have had Dixon/Adams/Bould/Winterburn without him? Anyway, I’m getting away from the point, that being many of us who were there during the lean spells and the relegation near miss of 74/75 are more grateful and shed more than a tear of hapiness for having clutched the class of Bergkamp, Henry, Vieira, Lungberg, Pires et al to our beloved bosom. The greater capacity of the Grove has highlighted that the 38,000 who packed the old Home of Football every week are the same ones who arrive early, stay till the end and clap of the team regardless of performance or result, for they we are the Arsenal (and you know what the rest can do). The disenters, the late arrivals and must-leave-earlies are also probably the ones who are only now able to go because of the more seats on offer and they’ll go because the team is great and , oh hang on a minute they’re not so great anymore, so I’ll boo and leave early and not bother turning up any more because Spurs are above us and I can’t face my mates down the pub any more. Get a backbone for fuck’s sake, I would give my right arm to be at the Grove every week and no I would not arrive late, and no I would not leave until i have clapped every last man off the pitch….. because we are the Arsenal!!
Absolutely Brilliant Post.
Well said & a Good read.
Best opinion/view I’ve read.
Well said DazDownUnder too
I’ll second that.
Grow a pair.
Luverly, BtM. B6 is the alliteration of the week.
Is it just our destiny to be the generation condemned to be the one between fans and customers?
Fantastic post, BtM. I have had thoughts along the same lines – why has it become so extremely important for some to win things? Too many have lost touch with reality, in my mind. I am a relative newcomer to Arsenal fanaticism, but for me it is about so much more than winning. And I think that many of those who want every title right now also feel that if they just take a step back and think about it.
I’m on my iPad right now and just about to go to bed so I won’t elaborate further right now but let me just say that once again this bar has been a wonderful example of how we can differ in opinion without losing our manners. Considered and careful discussion and analysis might be out of fashion at the moment but here it is very much alive and kicking.
Alright, drinks on me as usual!
Doesn’t stack up I’m afraid. I remember lean times in the nineties when I would talk about Arsenal and moan and complain just as much as I do now. The price of entrance was not important, the same things then were important as they are now – was the team winning etc.
The difference now is access to media. So people are thinking the same as they always did, but now they can communicate their emotions.
If the Internet was around when George Graham’s team started to fall apart and play boring, one dimensional football, people would have clamoured for his removal and vented their frustrations just as they do now – or maybe slightly less so as Graham was never as illogical and self-absorbed as Wenger, but even so.
It’s a better thing that people can let of some steam, discuss and moan about their club, what’s wrong with it. Doesn’t mean their wrong does it. Supporting the club and taking the moral high ground doesn’t make you RIGHT!
BtM , thank you for taking the time and effort , that was an absolutely magnificent post .
I will look forward to Steve T ‘s reply which I’m sure will be equally excellent .
Fantastic forum . Thank you ‘Holic .
Mr C @20 – I have never practised Criminal Law , so am relying on an increasingly dodgy memory of Law School studies . It is my understanding that ignorance of the Law is no Defence , but might go some way to mitigating sentence , depending on the circumstances that lead to that ignorance .
*crosses fingers and toes as might be talking bollocks*
@Pete: what about the scum who constantly abuse young players on twitter? Is this something you think is right too?
As for your memories from the 90s, I haven’t watched all the games but I don’t remember one fourth of Highbury leaving when the score was against us at half-time or kids being abused all game long.
Great post.
Great work also from Tabs in the previous drinks.
Re: criticism of the club, I’m fairly sure I’ve said it before but it bears repeating: you can criticise the Arsenal, but do it like you’d criticise your own flesh and blood. And by that I mean keep it proportionate, keep it respectful, don’t do it outside the family and remember that when you sober up and it’s the next morning, you’ll still fucking love them.
Simple rules gents. And the difference between the reasoned, intelligent views of a Steve T and some of the fuckwitted, “look at me” nonsense that came rolling into the bar last night.
Drinks on me and here’s to gaining three points on the Chavs this weekend. Time for some bottle to be shown, on and off the pitch.
Cheers ‘Holic, BtM, Regulars,
A thoroughly enjoyable read was what that was. Two weekends ago, I was in lovely San Diego finishing vacation with Mrs. Lonestar and Baby (who is no longer a baby) Lady Gooner. Mrs. Lonestar and I had just returned from Maui (a write-up is coming, ‘Holic), and I was watching the Manure game with my brother-in-law who supports the Mancs. As he celebrated the victory in only the way a stereotypical American, who can’t be arsed to learn a bit of history and culture of the club he supports, (I refrain from using the term “glory hunter” – although it is likely apt – because that term has often been inappropriately applied to yours truly, I looked at a crestfallen BLG who could see the doleful countenance of her old man at thought I am so fortunate to support this wonderful club during these lean times…and so is my daughter.
Though her birthright is American, she has been exposed to the Arsenal since she came home from the hospital. She will know that good things come to the patient; that football, like life, can beautiful and unfair; that victory (often only) comes from harmony. And I will be able to watch her learn those lessons.
We are indeed fortunate. Up the Arse!
BMBD.
Lang May Yer Lum Reek BTM,Lang May Yer Lum Reek.!!
Cheers
The Sweeper
Pete, I hear you, and particularly about access to the media.
Social media in particular has become a double-edged sword, and I suspect for ever.
We used to moan and grumble with our mates after games and that was it for a few days. Now we carry on 24/7, if we are of that mindset.
Matt, you will know my views about the scum who use this privilege to abuse. All we can do is hope the law works when dickheads given a voice overstep the mark.
Maybe if we moan 24/7 it’s a good thing. Show’s we are passionate supporters and think about Arsenal all the time. We live in a world of technology, everytime you open your PC or laptop there’s another story to comment on or another way to express an opinion.
@Matt: if people are abusing players on Twitter then the players should not use Twitter. There will always be a minority of morons prone to doing that, you can’t lump all football fans that are anti-Wenger or unhappy in with them.
Players have been abused from the terraces for as long as football has existed. The price of the ticket won’t change that. I’m sure in the lower leagues it goes on as much as at £80 per game Arsenal. Personally, I wouldn’t do it as it’s counter-productive, but people pay their money and can do what they like within the remit of the law.
BtM – great stuff.
I don’t think Steve’s posts are in anyway controverisal though – and he’s on the money regarding Fabianski. 😉
Brilliant stuff BtM. I would just like to say that having started following Arsenal in the late 90’s and being spoiled early on with success (not to mention Dennis!) I still try to be positive and maintain persective. So I much prefer the approach to supporting the team that is generally proffered at this fine establishment. This is not to say I am not incredibly frustrated when the team struggle, but when the emotions have died down it just seems so much more enjoyable to take stock and look forward to the exitement of the next game and good company. It is afterall by far the greatest team the world has ever seen.
Pete, I feel sorry for you mate. Are you not a fan of the game? I still have that snapshot of RVP’s most glorious goal this season emblazzoned in my mind. Or Per’s outstreteched leg preventing a goal. Countless images of Kos defying gravity. The Ox weaving his way down the field tricking defenders whilst on his way. Enjoy the moment. And believe. All you have to do, is believe.
Well in BTM
Zico.
Is Feelgood on Holiday,? ILL,? In Therapy.? Under Arrest,?
Under the Thumb,? Dead.?
Please advise
cheers
The Sweeper.
Dr Feelgood is currently imprisoned in his own private hell, Clive.
I’m sure he’ll get word out to us eventually though 😉
As learned and as eloquent as always BTM, but I agree with Steve T….
🙂 😉 🙂
@arsabeatbarca
I’m a supporter of Arsenal and whilst there are occasionally things to celebrate it’s also my responsibility to ensure that my club stays competitive and doesn’t fall asleep at the wheel and become some second-rate bunch of losers for the next 20 years.
For the first time in a VERY long time (pre-1980) there’s a REAL danger of that happening, so I’m afraid celebration of the minor events you’re going on about will have to take a back seat for now.
Premier League squad named for rest of season:
Andre Santos, Andrey Arshavin, Mikel Arteta, Yossi Benayoun, Maroune Chamakh, Abou Diaby, Johan Djourou, Lukasz Fabianski, Gervinho, Kieran Gibbs, Laurent Koscielny, Vito Mannone, Per Mertesacker, Park Chu‑young, Tomas Rosicky, Bacary Sagna, Thierry Henry, Alex Song, Sebastien Squillaci, Robin van Persie, Thomas Vermaelen, Theo Walcott
+ all the under 21s
No Almunia, note.
Oh Pete, I hear your pain and in no way doubt your love for Arsenal. Those ‘minor’ events however, are what bring me to my feet, time and time again, often with tears of joy steaming down my face.
Well in BTM! Fantastic reasoning and let’s
hope we win the remaining four games in february
to get this season back on track!
Wow, absolutely wonderful posts on here the last few days and I doff my cap to ye. Cant bring myself to be down on the club as it costs me too much money to go to a match and be miserable…Will be one of the ones singing on Sat whatever happens. Social Media my hole..
Nifty fifty?
Epic stuff BtM – visionary, thanks.
Really good to read such a positive perspective, even if some of the Stan Kroenke related bits seem a little rose-tinted to me.
Good to couple that post with an equally enjoyable / interesting and rare emotional outpouring from the Guv’nor.
Tabs, Lars – two exceptional posts from the previous drinks, plus several good comments from NBN, amongst others.
Trying to keep up with this blog is becoming a full-time job 😉
Hi Geoff, hope all is well.
Put me down for The Tollie on Saturday – looking forward to a late-morning half.
Just off to knit myself a pair of long johns – forecast of -7C !!
Are you there Zico – just your kind of weather ?
BTM, I’ve followed this blog for a while now and I’ve always enjoyed your contribution. This piece couldn’t have better described what’s gone through my mind over the past few days. Football’s not as big here in Montreal, but what you do find are the fans of the winning clubs.. the united fans, the barca fans, the chelsea fans.. but the ones I do respect are the fans who stick with their team. Everyone has a right to question, but when that questioning becomes finger pointing, when the criticism loses the constructiveness.. that’s when it gets infuriating. Well written my friend, well written.
holic, always been a great fan of this. Thanks for being a sensible voice in the midst of all this chaos..
cheers from the 514
@Pete: “my responsibility to ensure that my club stays competitive”
I would be more inclined to agree with you if the home crowd was pushing behind the players like the away crowd. Fact is a lot of people show up at games to be entertained and can only be arsed to support the team when we meet Barca and the likes. Haven’t you noticed when the season started so badly and we started to recover how the ground was only 3/4 full and the push behind the team was much stronger? A few good results, the glory hunters are back with the usual nastiness as soon as the going gets tough.
As you say it’s counter-productive and it’s up for everyone to see, these people are making our team worse instead of trying to make it better. They’re free to do so and supporters are free to label them anti-Arsenal because this is what they are.
Got beef with the club? fine there are good reasons for it these days. That’s not an excuse for not making things worse.
Actually my point about the crowd stands on the interweb. Just look how the doom-mongers come in to spout their venom every time the results are against us but are nowhere to be found when the ride is smooth. How many of the whiners from the last post will show up when we win the next game?
@Peter: and your last point is totally laughable. The players should not use Twitter? Really? This is plain bollocks. Most Arsenal supporters do enjoy this mean of exchange with the team, why should they be deprived of it because of a minority of braindead cunts who are so sore about their loser lives that they have to take it out on 20yo kids?
‘holic great article. You have summed up the my thoughts! I can’t believe the vitriol that is currently poured from the stands around the globe. As a follower of Arsenal from Australia, I can only state that even in a fledgling league like the one I support and attend on a weekly basis, it appears that the booboys are becoming the norm not the exception.
I hear the abuse layed out through the TV at the club I became affiliated with as an 8 year old sports mad child, who chose Arsenal purely based on the fact they an amusing name. It saddens me and irritates me to no end. The sad thing is that the culture and attitude has drifted into the support at my A-League club Melbourne Victory. It saps the enjoyment out of attending games and I wish that people who don’t love the sport would just fuck off and leave it to the ones who do.
I feel your pain and hope that this downturn in Arsenals league standing actually removes the plastics from the venue and in the end only the true fans will attend.
Come on the Gunners!
BtM, excellent post/write-up, I knew it was coming, only a matter of time, Steve T’s quotes sprinking in make for a increasing better read as some of them hit like arrows to the heart.
Mr C @ 8, that is the only reason I can tolerate my older brother, he’s United through and through, from the 1990s era (If you can call that decade an era)
Dazdownunder @ 24, its people like you who I wish could fill in the gaps that begin to appear when the pre-emptive rush for the Arsenal Tube Station queue begins, love the spirit in the drink 🙂
N7 Gooner @ 34,
“you can criticise the Arsenal, but do it like you’d criticise your own flesh and blood. And by that I mean keep it proportionate, keep it respectful, don’t do it outside the family and remember that when you sober up and it’s the next morning, you’ll still fucking love them.”
That’s the message that needs to resonate across to all the factions that have formed in our mighty club, the common denomiator = We all love this club in some way, shape or form, so we should unite. Victoria Concordia Crescit.
BG @ 39, 😀
abb @ 40/47, beautiful words Ms.
Gunner514 @ 54, keep the faith 🙂
I’d take Fabinaski over Almunia anyday, the deer in headlights look as the ball approaches the latter is horrific. 🙁
As a public service I ask the question:
If in 1967 they had 4,000 holes in Blackburn, Lancashire, has anybody done a census recently?
From http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=129 about The Beatles’ A Day in the Life:
The beginning of this song was based on two stories John Lennon read in the Daily Mail newspaper: Guinness heir Tara Browne dying when he smashed his lotus into a parked van, and an article in the UK Daily Express in early 1967 which told of how the Blackburn Roads Surveyor had counted 4000 holes in the roads of Blackburn and commented that the volume of material needed to fill them in was enough to fill the Albert Hall. Lennon took some liberties with the Tara Browne story – he changed it so he “Blew his mind out in the car.”
John Lennon stated this regarding the article about Tara Browne: “I didn’t copy the accident. Tara didn’t blow his mind out. But it was in my mind when I was writing that verse.” At the time, Paul didn’t realize the reference was to Tara. He thought it was about a “stoned politician.” The article regarding the “4000 holes in Blackburn, Lancashire” was taken from the UK Daily Express, January 17, 1967 in a column called “Far And Near.”
John’s friend Terry Doran was the one who completed John’s line “Now they know how many holes it takes to fill…” Terry told him “fill the Albert Hall, John.”
Re: Brendan @58: If the Victory don’t win aren’t they failing to live up to their name??
As an explanation of the vitriol that can pour forth on social media, I offer this thesis. There is a generation that has never known sports commentary as anything else but that which is put out by Sky. Sky has realized that creating controversy is the way to engage audiences. Every little incident is blown up into something that can be controversial, regardless of the facts, to feed the rapacious maw of the media beast. When there was just the papers and the decorous BBC, it took a relatively few incidents to slate the thirst. Commercial TV and then talk radio have made it a non-stop feeding frenzy. To those who first took to social media, this was just the way the sport was talked about. Social media just provided the opportunity to continue an often mindless and vicious conversation on a previously unimagined scale. We are fortunate in is bar to have so many patrons who remember the likes of Brian Moore and Peter Jones, and so know that the game can be discussed with objectivity and civility without any loss of passion. The Sweeper probably even remembers Kenneth Wolstenholme in his pomp (He might even remember Henry Wakelam). As was said of a famous theatre critic, he may hate the play but still loves the theatre. And so of us with this club.
Brilliant post, as usual, ‘holic. You express everything an old bastard like me feels. Also enjoyed your comments Dazdownunder#24. Like you the distance never dims the passion.
As always Holic and his regulars–BtM in particular this week–provide a welcome read during a difficult time. Until the day I make it to the Grove and can offer you all a real beer I must simply offer you a figurative “round on me”
Cheers
Doesn’t AW like to say something along these lines? We just have to keep going, perhaps?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdiCJUysIT0
Best post I have read in a long time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8i5NLyXZdc&feature=related
Excellent post and a truly enjoyable read.
@37: Pete, you say “Players have been abused from the terraces for as long as football has existed.” Certainly not the players of your own team during a game? And you said “you’re sure it happens in lower league games” but that doesn’t sound like you’ve done any research whatsoever, speculative weasel words to support your argument. Don’t know how you can possibly hope to justify Twitter bullying. If you are afraid to say something to someone’s face but you can say it with the protection of internet anonymity, then whoever’s saying it is just a fucking brain-dead coward as far as I’m concerned.
Great post BTM.
But the question is as the times are changing whether for the good or the worse are Arsenal doing enough to combat the change?
I do not agree with your comment that if you expect your team to win every game you support Barca. Fans can HOPE to reach that level from their team, whats so wrong with that?
A major reason of vitriol from the fans is also because they see their club falling backwards. No well meaning level headed supporter will complain if there are signs of progress from the team each successive year. But the way this season is going we have regressed far too much (even from last year) for a club of the stature of The Arsenal.
Barring Man City, no other team has improved a lot from last season, we find ourselves in this mire because we have have been unable to maintain status quo, which is not too much to expect surely.
And that is the cause of real pain.
COYG
Couldn’t help but laugh at this one…
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/uk/harry-redknapp-interrupts-evidence-to-lash-out-at-staring-detective-16112253.html?r=RSS&google_editors_picks=true
Trev@52: , I’m fine mate thanks for asking, just that work is consuming my time and leaves me little time for posting. How’s your daughter? Hope all is good with you.
Big hello to all the usual suspects, I’m looking forward to catching up with you all when time allows but as long as companies want their staff in uniform, well, who am I to argue!
Just a quickie regarding the support every ground now has the booing mentality – Up and down the country sides that are getting beat or drawing at home leave to a chorus of it, I was shaking me head at the boos that follwed Fulhams draw with West Brom this is a side that 20 years ago were doomed and looked like becoming extinct so it not an Arsenal problem it seems the new way !
On another note whats this black binner liner thing all about i take it its the BSM lot, Fair play to them i caught a bit on the radio this morning least they are trying to do something that dosent invlove abusing one and all 🙂
@Pete 37 above. “Maybe if we moan 24/7 it’s a good thing. Show’s we are passionate supporters and think about Arsenal all the time.”
Sorry cant agree with that. To me such behaviour shows obsessive compulsive disorder and marks you out as a bit strange really. There’s nothing more important to me than Arsenal Football Club, but I do have a life as well. And thats important.
Trev @ 53
Yes, I shall be pounding on the doors of the Tollie at opening.
Minus 7? Positively tropical, my friend.
So what’s the roll call? Me, tabs, and Ollie are known definites. Any other takers – Holic, Snowman?
Incidentally, my post match celebrations will be curtailed to an hour or two, as I have to be back at Heathrow for a 7ish flight – Roxette has stamped down hard with her Doc Martens, mumbling something about family……
Oh, and Roxette sometimes forgets about my “other” family 😉
First class post which highlights so well what the football business has become and you are so right that the success or failure of a fans team is seen quite wrongly and probably as never before as a reflection of our own personality, successes and failures. This is made worse by a media stirring this pot of trouble and stoking the fires of discontent for all they’re worth. Let’s face it the results on the pitch have absolutely no bearing on our worth as human beings and at best give us a lift for a short while and at worst make us feel down in the dumps, also for a short while or until something really important happens such as a serious family illness, a job loss a birth or a death.
I’ve said before in these drinks that there don’t seem to be so many fans any more only critics and pundits and most of us are guilty of it from time to time – I’m certainly not immune – and we see only the negatives and forget that managers, players and match officials are all human and make human mistakes. All of us have made mistakes at work or at home and usually we get away with them because there are no serious consequences and they are not on TV. If a player makes a mistake on the pitch – a tackle is missed, a pass goes astray or a shot on goal goes hopelessly wide there is no hiding, it is is there for all to see and it is scrutinised endlessly by fans, journalists and pundits. The same applies to the match officials. How many of us would enjoy or even survive living our professional lives in such a goldfish bowl?
All of this doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t have opinions or criticise our players and manager, and self analysis and criticism is an important tool in progress, development and improvement, but a sense of proportion must be retained where the vastly complicated and many faceted world of professional football is concerned. Just booing a disappointing performance or result achieves nothing apart from destroying our own players confidence and giving an almighty lift our opponents.
I too long for success and more silverware at Arsenal FC and for all of the injuries to get better and lost form to return – a couple of top class signings would also help – but until that happens I’ll just have to steel myself and dig in for the long haul.
@61 behind. Victory currently should change their name to the Melbourne Draw. That is by the by because we have players being abused that have just got in the first team, if they misplace a single pass or miss an opportunity that they should tuck away. Its not fair and players should have our support when on the pitch. Thoughts about their ability should be restricted to conversions held over a beer with friends who also love the club.
The essence of being a supporter is supporting the team through good and bad times. We are currently in a little bit of a rough patch but let’s get behind the team. Put up with the shit from your mates who support other sides with good grace knowing we will be back at some stage in the future.
Sorry BTM for not realizing that this great was your musings rather than ‘Holics
A really great post ‘holic;
Thanks.
Something that struck me when I got to the bit about civilians becoming “media stars” through the internet – this may be bollocks, but a lot of what I read in the posts (or increasingly refuse to read actually) smacks of the wisdom of the virtual football manager. It strikes me that the advent of high quality football simulation software has given too many people the certainty that they know better than Arsene because they have “coached” Arsenal to the World Club Championship for 10 straight seasons on Playstation.
Let me tell you something guys, it ain’t that easy in the real world!
F*** me, it’s cold this morning.
North Bank Ned @ 62 – great post. I should have read it before I posted myself Dooooh!
Well said Brendan @ 77, likewise RCL @ 78.
I’ll have a dumpling with my drink today, thanks.
Goonerholic, BtM – Thank you guys for providing a place where sanity and reasonable debate can be found.
Many great posts as usual, and SteveT@44 made me laugh 🙂
Chocolate Leg@78: there are definitely those who really believe that real football is like the manager games. Too many seriously believe that buying a player is all about paying enough to his current club.
Oliie@79: you’ll want to talk to Wolfie for such services…
Knocking on the door, First Great Western permitting, zico. Should be a big whisky day 😉
Great btm and holic,couldn’t believe it when the landlord opened up after the Bolton game great to see some frustration we have all felt it from time to time..I knew reading it would be jumped on by many as one of the regulars said they only come out after bad results!looking forward to steve T reply also always worth the read no agenda or bull.
Morning ‘Holics
‘Holic – Great performance on The Arsecast this morning with Blogs & Ms.Wright. Another one of those ‘nail on the head’ moments for me.
BtM & Steve T – Two of our finest. Per Ollie, a pleasure to read and look forward to reading Steve’s response.
A round for all please Mr. Barman.
I tip my cap the way of BtM, for a finely written heartfelt piece.
Not that I agree with a fair bit of it. I’m afraid that I felt an undercurrent of ‘Don’t complain, this is it’ coming through.
I just feel that we can be better than what we currently are, and for me it’s a cause for discontent, and because of that, this horrible ‘think the unthinkable’ devil keeps reappearing in my head.
Hope no-one has a ‘wasted’ trip saturday. The current forecast is for a ‘blizzard’ of 2 – 4 inches of snow around lunchtime.
Then again it might not 🙂
Mugs of tea and bacon sarnies please.
Dr Z is in town on saturday? Lock up your daughters.
Mark @ 88. I agree, “That we can be better than what we currently are” and also that it’s that feeling that causes so much of the frustration and discontent. The future also looks very bright – let’s assume we get all the currently injured players back and then, during the next season, add the promising young players in; Ryo, Coquelin, Yennaris, Joel Campbell, Frimpong et al plus a couple of top class signings (yes, we really need them) and I then think that we’ll have a very good squad.
The problem is, what happens in the meantime and I think this is the source of much of the current unrest. I do wonder why we seemed to show no interest, last summer, in Scott Parker for example and also why we seemed (we don’t know for sure what actually went on) to make no effort to sign some goal scoring support for Robin in January. When Robin’s goals dry up or if he gets injured we’ll truly be in the pooh.
I have no doubt at all that Arsene Wenger’s ambitions are the equal of any fan or supporter and I’ll bet my house that he is seething inside at the lack of success over recent years and fans criticism and booing isn’t going to help one jot. In fact it’ll make things worse as the teams confidence is undermined and they become ever more tense and nervous on the pitch.
This is a time for great intestinal fortitude and not a little forbearance, not for throwing a hissy fit each time the team disappoints on the pitch.
I’ll shut up now, I think my posts are getting too long!
Monkeys. Brass ones. 🙁
Just downloaded the latest Arsecast onto the ‘ol Blackberry, can’t wait to have a listen 🙂
Truly, Dr C.
Randomly decided to check ‘holic’s site during a break in work, and found a fine post that rather chimed with what I’d been thinking about earlier in the day, about changing nature of football “support”.
Which is that there does seem to be a shift in mentality. From where we may have been fans, players, manager but all Arsenal and (pretty much) together; to one where fans seem to regard players, manager and board as owing them success. It’s as if people feel (emotional level) they’re being betrayed or cheated by players or Arsene not bringing them glory.
As football has become richer, and the cost to follow more expensive, I guess it’s understandable if people new to the game (and who’ve only experienced success) feel that they aren’t getting what they were offered. This isn’t really supporting a team. Feel disappointed, sure. But you’ve no grounds for frothing-mouthed sense of betrayal.
These are generalisations, not meant to describe all fans new or old. In fact, as I was trying to get across above, I think it could be the increased emotional separation between the different components of the club (players emigrating to Planet Celebrity, fans becoming paying customers that expect the glory they pay so much for, etc). If I’m honest, I don’t feel the connection I used to to players, and while that may be partly me getting older, married and more cycnical I don’t think that’s the whole story by any means.
Maybe that’s just me. But I certainly don’t have any expectation of being served up silver goodies every May; not everyone gets to win all the time. I get angry when I see people not bothering (Eboue for instance, or the Wigan match), but not when players try and fail. Depressed and alcohol-poisoned perhaps.
Anyway. They may be young, they may even be crap, but they’re our boys so cheer them on.
Apologies for lengthy and not properly organised post.
Hadn’t enough time to make it short, y’know.
Ilmarinen, no need to apologize at all!
Morning All ,
N7 @33 – Cheers Sir , and your post is so so true .
Trev @51 – Thanks for the kind words , and see you tomorrow . I take it we will not be meeting in the garden ! 😉
Tomorrow threatens to be a momentous day … I might have to forsake the Speedoes ! Sometimes , one just has to accept that a highly attuned fashion sense must be more secondary to a more pragmatic approach .
Steve T @44 – heh 🙂
Ned @62 – Good stuff .
Esso @73 🙂 and Matt@various – Well done for dismantling the nonsense .
Norfolk @76 – Great stuff . Endorse every word .
Right off to have a little listen to the Arsecast . Is Hayley Wright the lady who was offering a nibble of her Chocolate Brownies at the book launch ?
The very same TaBS.
I suspect you may be correct about abandoning the garden tomorrow, but what about you puffers?
Lays it on a plate….
Header on goal
Cheers Holic .
As for the tabbers , I plan on being well wrapped up .
http://www.starpulse.com/Music/Lady_Gaga/gallery/20110714-8/
I am trying to persuade fellow tabber Snowy to display the same sense of style , but fear that he will not take up the offer , given his Rugby League background .
Well in Wind !
great blog.
sums up the current situation accurately, in doing so, it is hard not to touch on the negative.
well said dazdownunder: Arsenal have had a golden period without winning trophies and hopefully its not over
Turns to attempt a team celebration, but doesn’t see anyone around, not even his Spanish Assister Catalan. Bolstered by his apparent increase in form, he joggs back to the half-way line, content 🙂
What an absolute pleasure to see you here, Ilmar. We’re not too fussed about grammatical structure here 😉
Ilmar! Good to see you here.
Smashing header, Wind!
tabs back to his old 101 ways 😉
I think I pay a lot more to Eurostar than to the Arsenal, and it’s true that while the ‘results’ are far more ‘consistent’ with Eurostar, I moan much more about them than I do about the Arsenal, even if the levels of frustrations aren’t the same.
But then I’m not a supporter of Eurostar Ltd…..
Tomorrow , I shall be taking a black bin liner to the game , so that I might collect all the black bin liners placed on seats by the needy .
These bags will be available on sale after the game at 5p a pop . I am hoping to raise enough cash for a new pair of Speedoes .
We can’t afford bin liners. Do you think it will be ok if I bring used Sainsbury carrier bags?
It is but a small comfort Ollie 😉
Wind… I hung around for a while waiting for you to arrive, but gave up and went for some lunch!
Nice header though… Eventually. A nine minute assist. You have to ask where the defence was…
I’m not sure if Sainsbury’s bags will fit the planned colour scheme Holic.
You might ruin the overall aesthetic effect , and we can’t have that can we . 🙂
Sainsbury’s are orangey aren’t they ? Perhaps we should all follow suit , and pretend it’s “Dennis Bergkamp Day” all over again ?
Apart from the sheer ridiculousness of it all , surely empty red seats are rather more conspicuous than black bin liners .
I also wonder at what time they are planning on covering the empty seats given that many now take to their seats at one minute before kick off .
Has anybody got the faintest idea on what it is they are actually protesting about ?
Staggeringly stupid on so many levels .
TABS, you’re in luck, they’re on sale
http://www.speedousa.com/sale.shtml
I reckon around 350 bin bags and your’e in
Brilliant posting today ‘Holic/BTm .
Will have a listen to the Arsecast later
Killer Wind (0;
I have just done a quick couple of laps round the garden in Speedoes , as a means of taking a quick temperature check .
Attendance in Speedoes tomorrow may yet be possible if I remember to bring my hip flask ( it’s Bovril , Mr Steward , honest) .
Attending in Speedoes will also have the added bonus of a quick fire route to the planned sex change , without the usual irritations of waiting list and cost .
Hellas – Thank you ! That is EXACTLY the kind of link that I joined this online community for ! 🙂
Well in, Wind@100.
And congrats all round for some top-notch posts above. Too many to single out by name, but this has been an excellent round of drinks. Getting tough to keep up.
Black bin liners? Protest? What’s that all about?
Nice goal, Wind!
Lars ,
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Arsenal-exclusive-Disgruntled-fans-plan-place-bin-bags-over-empty-seats-at-Emirates-in-bizarre-protest-at-Blackburn-match-article860647.html
Geoff @ 71: Hey buddy long time no see…did you know that there was another Geoff on here being all belligerent and we have to see him off with pitch forks & clubs? I think that he’s still in the ICU (0;
Cheers ‘holic ‘n’ Ollie.
Grammar? Arsenal we are, maintain standards we must.
In possibly other matters: bin bags? I think I might have to get back to work, or my response will erode the friendly tone.
Bin bags.
*starts counting, may not stop for some time*
Oh, and Lars who I don’t know, for the kind words.
*counts more*
Cheers tabsn had no idea about those bin liners, thought they were you own invention of a silly protest.
‘Arsene Wenger is facing the humiliation of a bizarre BIN-BAG protest as angry Arsenal fans begin to vote with their feet’
SERIOUSLY? Jaysus wept.
These are the people who should face humiliation.
Plus other bollocks. Of course that draw (when we hit the woodwork twice) is the reason why our season is over (despite losing the corresponding fixture last year, etc…).
Anybody care to guess what will happen to any bin bag being put over a seat in my vicinity?
I’m appalled and increasingly disgruntled by some of our ‘fans’.
Hmmmm, I’m sure there are many options, ‘holic, but I’m guessing torching them isn’t one as
a) it would smell
b) it would be frowned upon by the authorities.
tabs, I did suspect that the Black Scarf people would be involved. What do they believe that such a protest is going to achieve? What are they even protesting against?
TABs @ 112: I think that they are protesting the fact that people are not sitting in their seats. I totally support this protest. Those darn season ticket holders who purchase these expensive seats yet do not come to games are totally unacceptable. I too plan to protest this Saturday by putting a bin liner over my chair here at home. At half time I plan to boo gustily at those same season ticket holders who instead of coming to the game plan to stay at home in front of the fire while their fellow Gooners freeze to death at the Emirates…I really don’t care if Holic is one of them – a principle is a principle..
Now back to the trial at Southwalk…before lunch it all got a bit heated when Mrs Redknapp chinned a Policewoman for nodding and winking at “Arry ….she thought that the Policewoman was taking the piss..(0;
Oh I see that Holic WILL be at the game!! Well then, just as well. Nevertheless I will still go ahead with my protest against those un-named ingrates who elect to stay at home when they could be there freezing with the rest of them..
The bin bag thing truly is pathetic.
I really really do worry …… BtM, it seems this post was truly prophetic.
Have these twats got nothing else to occupy them??
Tabs @ 102, thanks teacher 🙂
Ollie @ 106, heh about tabs! I can’t even recall his 101 days/ways, although I may be peeking through my rose-tinted… 😉 Thanks mate
Catalan @ 111, heh, I almost pulled out of the header after I’d lunged in when I saw the 7 minutes time after you’d laid it on a plate, never saw tabs bombing in on my blind side and I didn’t want to embrass myself but I followed through and it paid off, thanks 😀
GT @ 114, thanks, must of been a side-effect of being around your pipe and what was in it 😉
NBN @ 117, thank you :}
Lars @ 118, it is an honour to be praised by the one with the master Wallet 😉
‘Holic, listening to the Arsecast, you and Blogs must be on the same length because you have a habit of interrupting each other :p
Excellent post btm
Here’s my take on things. Right since I started watching football, when we were right up there fighting for titles and cups, playing the best flowing,passing football I have ever seen, I knew Arsenal was my club
As most here would agree,I cannot explain why it started. It just happened. May be it was because we played football like no one else. Lightening quick counters.Attack with pace. Demolish teams within the first twenty minutes. Oh ,those days
May be it was because the most elegant, dignified not to mention a very intelligent manager wasin charge
May be it was that dutch legend whose touch was so beautiful that you could sit in class the whole day just thinking about it
May be it was the red and white sleeves
May be it was highbury, which looked so classy even on tv
May be its a lot of things and I am only grateful
You folk who attend games regularly might find it a bit surprising to know that there are a lot of true gooners in this part of the world. I live and breathe Arsenal too and so do my gooner friends
Our lives, for some inexplicable reason revolve around Arsenal too.
If we had the opportunity, we would be singing our hearts out at the grove too
We are bewildered to see most fans coming late to their seats, five minutes after kick off. If some day, I get to see my team play, I will be there an hour early(if they even allow it)
Funny thing is, gooners over here understand what supporting a team means more than some cunts over there
A long post, but What I want to really say this.
You have my unconditional support, Arsenal
We have has Bin Laden visit us before now we have Bin Liner.
Yay, the arseblogger tweeted me back! 😀
@arseblog Internet Joe has me jumping for his next appearance, but the Silvestre, Thomas Eisfeld PI and Nik Bendtner bits = super quality 😀
@AlexAFC6 haha, cheers
And within 10 seconds of me tweeting him, I’m amazed and elated, bordering on estatic! I’m on a roll today, hopefully that streak will continue to my weekend 🙂
Bin bags????? Really?????
What a load of rubbish.
Sitting on a bag sure draws out the ol’ farmers. Ouch!
GT. I feel a bit fairweather.
I’m going to be at Ashburton Grove where it will actually be warmer than here.
Admittedly, I’m not going there to get warm, and I wouldn’t be staying outdoors if I weren’t going, but still, I could say I’m looking for warmer climes by going to the stadium.
I’ll keep moaning about my employer instead.
The corporate communication that announces yet another salary-freeze is piss-poor.
Apparently our top management keep helping themselves to large bonuses and pay increases though….
If it’s good enough for Divas , then it sure is good enough for me .
http://recluse.me/2008/04/inner-beauty/
Remember folks , recycling is the order of the day . Let’s make ourselves look pretty for the Tollie bar staff !
Ollie @123 – “my own silly invention” ??? What ? Meh ! 🙂
Holic @124 – My money is on asphyxiation . Perhaps we should all wear black ties as a sign of (dis)respect to the passing of a black scarfer ?
Lars @127 – No idea . I posed the same questions @112 .
Gt @128 – I hear ya 🙂
Wind @131 – My pleasure Grasshopper .
Harsha @132 – Well said .
Hehe Steve T
.. and Ollie with the forecasts predicting it to be so cold you will have to be careful of frotteurs standing behind you (0;
Steve T @135 heh 🙂
Time to leave work and go home in a bit, the management is away for the weekend so I think I shall put a bin liner on one of the sofa cushions as she has left me home alone to watch tv tonight. Or maybe I’ll just run myself a bath and soak for a bit while I read the last few chapters of “So Paddy Got Up”, but turn the tv on anyway before I get in the bath and then put TWO bin liners in the sofa to protest against the fact that none of us are there to watch it. I’m sure this will make the Arsenal climb the league table like you’ve never seen before!
And I second tabs’ heh @SteveT 🙂
In addition to that, I suspect that Wolfie will skip the bin liner stuff.
Lars , 🙂 🙂
Apologies guys. Change of plan for me. I will miss pre-match. Anybody want bring a mate? I have a Block 5 available if you can collect about 11 in the morning from the Grove and return card to the pub afterwards.
Apparently tomorrow, instead of “The Wonder of You”, as a way to acknowledge the Black Scarf Movement, the club has decided to instead play the song “I’m Only Happy When It Rains” by Scottish 90’s band Garbage.
(though I just remembered that Garbage was an American band, but the vocalist, Shirley Manson, is Scottish)
Are you freaking serious? We should be happy with just watching beautiful football regardless of the team winning or losing. What is this, AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization) where everyone gets a pat on the head and trophies for showing up? Premier league is not a pub league where you show up and have a drink after the game. The Premier League is a competitive league and in a competition there is a winner and a loser no in-between. If the only team that has never been relegated in the history of the Premier league and precursor doesn’t care if it wins or loses where do you think it will be in a few years? It is thinking like this that has us now in 7th place. What a load crap. By the way, I do not rely on Arsenal to have a fulfilling life and if your idea of having a fulfilling life is to sit in a nearly empty stadium basking in the smugness of being a “pure” fan you will find that reality will change that fulfillment real quck for you.
The Scene – Platform 49
A gathering crowd is assembling and milling around the Happy Train. Conspiratorial conversations are taking place in a number of small groups as the mob await expectantly. Some have brought their pitchforks and one rabid band is handing out firebrand torches.
Professor Storey and Dr Feelgood walk purposefully toward the Train, unprepared for what comes next – the crowd, as one, turn toward Feelgood and rabidly start screaming…..
“Booooooo! Rubbish…….You don’t know what you’re doing……….Spend some fucking money…..!
Feelgood : “You seem to have upset some folk, Edwin, what’s THEIR problem?”
Edwin : “Erm, I think they might be aiming some of that towards you, Dr F, seems that some punters think that boarding the Happy Train means we have to MAKE them happy….”
Feelgood : “Look, we give them the opportunity to be Happy – if Swedish Blondes, industrial strength drugs and a never-ending line of credit from Stockholm which provides them with free beer, is not enough, then who are we to stop them from being miserable?”
Edwin: “For some its not enough. They seem to be demanding a Silver service.”
Feelgood : “Look Edwin, nothing in life is guaranteed. Apart from a migraine when Roxette’s mother is around……. how about we offer them a Senior Service?”
Edwin : “You mean, like cigarettes?”
Feelgood : “Well, no. Senior Service – you know, the thing that April April gives Clive…….”
Blimey, that Chico has issues. Show him to the CMC cabinet for chrissakes.
…and lock up the binbags before he sees them…
Hey Chigooner, Took a wrong turn from your spiritual home haven’t you?
This is Le Grash, not Le Moan.
Wind @131
I know it’s exciting to score a goal, but I was a little distressed to hear that you had “followed through”.
🙂
Oh, and Chicago boy, you might care to peruse the First Division table for 1912-13 before making any more typical plastic historical errors.
Continuing on from my 134, Hayley Wright tweeted me back as well!
@HayleyWright You were excellent, along with @TheGoonerholic, great job! #Arsenal #Goonerfamily
@AlexAFC6 Ta v.much.
And I continue my roll!
Harsha @ 132, very inspiring 🙂 ‘warm heart felt smile in your direction sir’
Mr C @ 153, where have I gone wrong with ‘followed through’?
The unintentional innuendo and incorrect grammar checks checked out good. Is this a matter of my youth!? 😕
Insert, I’ve scored! Wouldn’t following through pertain to finishing the deed, which I did?
I need to lie down… ❓ (I’m gonna be a welcome Persona no Grata for a bit lads)
tabs, you will have noticed that I wrote ‘invention of a silly protest’ and not ‘silly invention of a protest’, so I was actually praising your talents!
And heh @Wind’s star-struck ways.
And another heh ‘Wouldn’t following through pertain to finishing the deed, which I did?’
I was wondering where the foul smell in the 6 yards box was coming from.
Holic @145 – Might have someone who’s interested if you haven’t managed to find a home for that Block 5 . Will make a couple of calls , what is ze cost Sir ?
Dr Z @149 – hey 🙂 and a big hey at the word “conspiratorial” . 😉
Andy Goram , Old – Fine work !
Mates rates TaBS. How good a mate? 20 or 30 beer vouchers? Up to you.
Wonderful post BtM. Haven’t time to read all the reaction to it. This:
“Just because you’ve chosen to waste your day, don’t feel justified to spoil mine and many others just because you paid to get in.”
had a resonance for me. But weirdly – where I sit – the Gooners aren’t too bad. (It’s more online that I feel it, hence I’ve recently taken a break.) Those around me have also started to leave later and only go out 5 mins before half time and are noisier – all very strange.
Do I want to go back to the 70s with the piss on the ground, the charges of the yobs trying to take the North Bank, and the one ladies’ loo with the broken window and no lock? No thanks. But do I miss the North Bank where I sat where I once stood (left of goal, 2nd barrier back)? Hell yes.
My Brother , ‘Holic . Can’t get hold of him at mo , but he was looking for a ticket earlier in the week . If he still wants a ticket , he can have mine , and I’ll take yours at the going rate .
Brother? That’s family, not mates. Defo 20 mate.
Just spoken to brother , Holic .
He is interested if its still going . How does 35 smackers sound ?
I can then meet him tonight to give him my ticket , and then meet you early doors for yours tomorrow
Ah , our drinks crossed ‘Holic . Quite happy to pay 35 Sir .
[stands] [applauds]
Superb. Right in the top corner. Well done BtM and to the ‘holic for his immaculate hospitality.
20 it is. Will email later re pick up. Singapore noodles should be fried by now. Laters.
In your debt ‘Holic (again!) .
Enjoy those noodles .
Just a thought: why do we holics wait to score goals on the hundreds? Why are we not more free-scoring? Why don’t we score more often during the drinks? Do you think that this is influencing the team?
I see the barman’s going all corporate on us again. Boooooooo 😉
I hope you’ll be travelling with your sign 😀
Chigooner @148 ,
“Chi” – in traditional Chinese medicine the balance of negative and positive forms in the body .
Nope , I don’t think it’s that . Clearly your negative and positive forms are misaligned such that the negative holds so much sway , there is no room for the positive .
“Chi” – 22nd letter in the greek alphabet just before Psi (pronounced pissy ) .
Getting warmer methinks .
“Chi” – Short for Chicago , a dreadful Band that originated from the USA , made anodyne sounds , and against all known advices , decided to inflict it on the wider world .
Bingo ! Or as you might like to say Home Run !
Enjoy your “fulfilling” life .
Goal !!!! Get in ! The kid’s still got it .
Pfft, come on tabs! That’s not a legal goal, what you just did would be like going Bank to Rayners Lane and then Kensal Green, everybody knows that is not allowed.
And it was self-assisted!
Ban the cunt! 😉
Well I did have my doubts Lars , I must admit , but Goonerterry seemed to give the Green light .
Good point on the infamous Rayners Lane / Kensal Green move , but don’t forget that under certain circumstances it can be allowed ie if you’re playing Regal rules and you’ve just completed the Circle Line parabola .
Ollie @173 🙂 🙂 🙂
Tabs on fire …..:)
Or maybe better to say tabs smoking ….
tabs, is the parabola still allowed even though the Circle Line isn’t actually a circle anymore?
You lot are truely mental, Either that or the waft of Catalans special substance is in the Air, Have a good un tomorrow all that are going and make sure you older lot wrap up warm 😉 Im off to get plastered !!
Question for Ollie (or anyone else that may know)
If I ended up with a paper ticket, do I still need to take my Red Membership card?
It’s a pain in the arse if I do, coz I can’t find it!! 🙁
Just Smokin’ , Catalan 😉
Lars , still allowed . Regal Rules do not take account of modern variations , hence the name . Members of the Aristocracy get an extra move every two rounds . Luckily , most of them are too in-bred to take advantage .
Dr Z , can’t answer for sure , but when I had a paper ticket for Manure , I needed the Membership card to get through the turnstile .
Feck.
Looks like I will be going straight to the ticket office rather than the Tollie!!
No zico,
The paper ticket gets you through the gate. You have one because they haven’t been able to code your card I’m guessing.
I don’t know why though?
The supporters clubs get paper tickets for every game. Worry ye not.
Ah, I see the potential query clearer. Do you mean you have an email with your booking details?
Or have you got a proper match ticket with a stub?
really looking forward to seeing the team, Wenger, Henry and the stadium tomorrow for the first time in my life. 15 years of waiting. not looking forward to the fans excuse for atmosphere though, but am happy to be surprissed. Holic and co, any good places to meet up before the match? would be fantastic to have a tongue wag before the whistle.
Holic , thanks for the Mail , and have replied .
Holic – you have sort of re-assured me.
I applied for the ticket with my Red card, and have an e-mail with confirmation of my red membership number on it, but I think because I bought it after the tickets went on general sale, this resulted in me getting a paper ticket – all I know is it cost me an extra £2.20 for the privilege and I now have the extra grief of not being able to find my bleedin’ Red card.
BtM will know what I mean when I say I long for the days of “getting a lift over” 🙁
What the barman said, Dr Z.
At least you got your paper ticket. They still send to Scotland.
See my story in the previous drinks.
Re: GoonerTerry @168: Now there’s the kind of open minding thinking we have been waiting for, and you are to be rewarded commensurately but not until I say this: GOAL!!
‘holic the reason they don’t activate is because the booking fell in the ‘Family&Friends’ period.
There is not a single technical reason why they couldn’t activate it (as proven by Tx), it’s purely a been counting/accounting excuse and to charge you more.
Total rip-off as I detailed in those drinks, especially for us oversee people.
oversee? overseas
tabs@181: ok, that makes sense about Regal Rules. I see I still have a lot to learn about this game!
Re: Dr. Z @149: Good stuff, and I’ll subscribe to the Senior Service with auto renewal option, please.
Ollie, thanks for clarifying and, sorry I now fully understand your rant in the previous drinks.
I obviously just assumed you were having a go about the Ticket Office not knowing where France was!!
8 ball, what’s your preference – Tiffany October or April April?
JAM!
Will be tight beforehand mate. Hoping to get a pint in the Tollie around 10.15 but I have to be at the ground by 11.
Will be in there afterwards for at least a couple of hours, so that might be better.
So glad you are over. Hope to see you tomorrow.
and ‘holics >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
heh. that comment has made my night, ‘holic. i’ll try and make one or both tollie sessions if i can find the place . look for a tall, shiveriing wreck with a #26 JAMES RYAN shirt. also,with regards to this god awful cold, I believe Obelix said it best: ‘These Britons are crazy!’
Dr Zee @ 149: Now we are talking…the Happy Train can just pull into Kings Cross and April April doesn’t even have to break her stride…(0;
I want to play on …so cuts inside and crosses the ball to the far post…continues run into the box
the ball hits the bar and rebounds…
..for GoonerTerry to dive in a score a glorious header….turns to acknowledge the crowd…and avoid the ref..(0;
Great post BTM and hard to disagree with anything.
However, Wenger doesn’t have a monopoly on wisdom, and has clearly demonstrated his fallibility over the last 7 seasons, our CEO described him as a genius last week on Fox.
That sort of sycophantic bollocks does the club absolutely no favours at all, and pisses off those fans who have more than a single brain cell.
As the great Spike Milligan said of some worthy years back (was it the Queen?); they scratch their bum in bed like everyone else.