Arsene’s Got A DeLorean?
Jun 24th, 2012 by 'holic
Morning all. Nice to see the sun just starting to pop up as I start to type. Got to do some Fathers Day type stuff later as we were away last weekend, so glad to see a break in the wettest drought in history.
Of course when we were kids summers were always hot and cricket matches never got rained off at the weekend and…what? Oh, they did. Well you cannot help but feel when things are not quite as you would want that you could return to some point in the past when they were. I think Arsene is feeling a little bit like that at the moment.
There is a distinctly ‘Wengerball 1′ retro feel to his recent and proposed dealings. It is almost as if he has looked at his attempts to match Barcelona in style and decided that power and strength is needed to counter all that magical midget-based tippy tappy. I may be wrong, in fact I probably am, but look at Lukas Podolski, a powerfully built six footer plying his trade on the left for Germany, and in all likelihood that is where he will play for us.
I have to be honest and say I haven’t taken much notice of Olivier Giroud when watching French football this season, but at 6’ 4″ and 88 kgs I think it is fair to suggest that if his signing is confirmed he will not be expected to fill the ‘Messi’ role in the side. Another alleged target, Yann M’Vila, is a six footer who plays as a holding midfielder.
Add into the mix the likelihood of greater involvement for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the coming season and you will see why I am picturing a pattern emerging. Should those signings (and another goalkeeper and defender please boss) happen, and particularly if the skipper is also persuaded to stay, then the options open to Arsene in terms of formation and style are many. A side that can play in a number of formations, a side that can physically intimidate, a side with options on the deck and ‘upstairs’.
I’m getting ahead of myself, I know, but Arsene isn’t. He is surely looking back to the future?
Good Luck England
There, I’ve said it. It’s no secret that I have grown bored of international football in recent years, mainly because they drag players away from their club sides with monotonous regularity, and tend to send them back broken, particularly after meaningless friendlies. Those who represent the national side also include a number of contemptible ne’er-do-wells who I just cannot bring myself to cheer on.
The time for international football is now, in June. It should only be now, but I digress. With a major championship underway I have been caught up in the ‘how much can this poor England side achieve’ mentality. It is refreshing for once that we have not gone into a tournament over-egging the pudding that has been our national side for over twenty years.
I’m also relishing the prospect of Theo and the Ox getting some more big game experience, particularly the latter. It may all go horribly wrong tonight. It seems so strange that we are anticipating an England versus Italy game with England adopting the more cautious approach. I am also fully aware that few outside our borders would want England to follow Chelsea’s lead and triumph with a largely negative approach. I understand and sympathise with that view.
However, the feel-good factor that is generated by a successful national side is a tangible thing. I would have thought those who have spent years going into Championships as underdogs would appreciate what some of us are feeling today.
I would also hope you appreciate my desire for Roy Hodgson to ram the disgusting headlines and half-hearted support he got from the Harry-friendly tabloid hacks when he was appointed back down their throats.
1,355 Responses to “Arsene’s Got A DeLorean?”
In off the post!?
I haven’t read the England bit at the end ,but the Arsenal stuff is very interesting.
Perhaps he thought the officials would apply the rules .So we need more robust players ,and has now decided the will not .
A bit like FFP,if you can follow my ramblings
Bejezus,I will try again Soory holic.
I havenโt read the England bit at the end ,but the Arsenal stuff is very interesting.
Perhaps he thought the officials would apply the rules .and has now decided the will not .So we need more robust players ,
A bit like FFP,if you can follow my ramblings.
I think with the (alleged) signing of Yann, to add to Arteta, we will have a solid platform from which our attacking and creative players can do their thang. If we keep you know who, we will definitely challenge next season.
But holic, you say you want a defender> What position? I don’t see where they would play, if I’m honest.
Hi, ‘holic
Agree about the New Direction, tweaking or whatever, but I think it started last season when we had to reorganise after Cesc’s departure.
The options could be mouthwatering, except that you just know that injuries will have their say. But surely, surely, we are due a break?
I would also hope you appreciate my desire for Roy Hodgson to ram the disgusting headlines and half-hearted support he got from the Harry-friendly tabloid hacks when he was appointed back down their throats.
Yes, indeed. I find it hard to support England, mainly because of JT’s presence in the team – and I am disappointed Wodgson selected him – and because of the jingoism and sense of entitlement that is usually displayed, but I can always get behind a bit of ramming where hacks and pundits are concerned.
***
From yesterday’s post:
@ And Lester
I genuinely think Spain are far worse than say, Germany, when it comes to the dark arts but what really gets my goat is that they are so good at it and get away with it all the time. It spoils my enjoyment of the game.
As to their greatness, I would not for one minute suggest that they don’t deserve their place in history, especially if they become the first team to defend a European title. They have been an extraordinarily good side over the last four years. All I am saying is that their football style does not stir my emotions – for such a great side, they are not that entertaining. Which is why I want Germany to win.
@ lurky olivia
M’Vila hasn’t particularly caught my eye, except for yesterday when I noticed some very good attacking passes. But I don’t think we’re after him anyway. And I like Denilson – the Denilson of three seasons, ago, I mean.
Anybody comparing Mvila to Denilson should watch Rennes more.
The good thing about Mvila is not on the ball (which is rather decent) but off the ball. His movement is so defensively oriented and so intelligent. He also always offers himself as an outlet for a teammate on the ball.
Do y’all remember our second half against Villa at home or Wolves away this season? That’s how Spain play. I believe it was called a “professional” performance. Just pass it around and wait for the final whistle.
Do you remember our game against Blackburn? That’s how Germany play. Non stop pedal to the metal.
Roy is a very decent chap and by far the best qualified (English) coach out there. I would love him to have some success. He was treated shabbily (what a surprise) by the media and the fact they are having to do yet another about face and pretend to get behind him only makes them look even more ludicrous than usual.
Its just a dam shame the England team is full of such utter c***s.
Reckon you’re right re the relative big lumpiness of recent and prospective imports, ‘holic. After all Barce and their ilk don’t have to confront the likes of st*ke do they.
Maybe AW’s gonna find a happy blend of wengerball1 and some of his later craftier incarnations – so that we can compete on all fronts. Why i can almost taste the quadruple already – i can.
Hoping either The-O or The Ox’ll get a start tonight but not holding me breath (it’s over 8hrs to kick-off after all). Hoping our boys acquit themselves well in this tricking looking tie with the Ities – still not sure re about 3 of our back 4 as they come up against increasingly sophisticated and mobile forwards.
And as for your appeal to non-Englander supporters for generosity of spirit towards our boys – i fear you may be trying to teach old underdogs new tricks.
If you’ll forgive me for paraphrasing a charming (ahem) wee ditty from another lot (my local team) what wears lions on their shirts: “No-one likes us and we don’t affect to care – so there!”
Up The Euros
Pardon “tricky looking tie”
@ 6 Snir Geuli
“Anybody comparing Mvila to Denilson should watch Rennes more.”
If you meant me, I wasn’t. You’d have to see lurky olivia’s original comment to understand.
AL;
The back for is a worry for me too. Lescott and Cashley have done well for me, but the other 2 are hapless and wouldn’t be in my squad, let alone 11. jagielka is a far better option, along with Jones at right back.
Its only a matter of time before we see Terry falling over on purpose in an attempt to not look like he has been done yet again, on the turn by a nippy forward.
The Germans, like Spain, are obviously a fine side FG. meself, i wouldn’t mind seeing them nick it either; should they manage to scrape past the practically unstoppable all-conquering (excluding the lacklustre french, of course) uber fussball machine that is Mr. R. Hodgson’s England, in the semis. (Again football gods i woz only messin’ about – honest, ask Dennis).
Mug couldn’t agree more re Jagielka – think he’s an excellent footballer well-suited to the demands of international football. Don’t reckon Hodgson’s gonna switch round a defence that hasn’t lost yet, now – unless he’s forced to.
Right i’m orf for me pre-match brekkie and a little light limbering up
@ Mug
good points
@ And Lester
cheers, enjoy the game! And the limbering up.
@ holic
And Lester has made me feel bad. I can definitely support TheoX, so I will be hoping they get to play a decisive part, if that helps? I also like Jones and Welbeck as individual players. but I just can’t shout “Come on England” when Terry and a whole load of other bar stewards whom I despise during the season are in the side.
On your point about June/the summer being the right time to faff with internationals, why is it that the powers that be are so keen to have international games interrupting the season? What do they get out of it that they wouldn’t get if the “international season” was in June, or maybe twice a year? Is it the number that they could fit in and the concomitant potential for revenue from advertising and sponsorships? Is it that they want to have more of a “presence” throughout the year? Hope these aren’t daft questions, but the timing of them seems perverse to me.
FG – I saw lurky oliva’s original comment.
I meant anybody! Which is anybody, not you specifically ๐
FG – I agree re friendliest but when will they play qualifiers? June? I prefer to give my players a rest when possible. A post season rest of course.
@ FunGunner
We are after M’Vila that is for sure, mate. Arsenal had agreed fee with Rennes long ago, according to different sources. The problem is (was), that they wanted some extra money before the Euros, and we all know that Arsenal are tough negotiators.
@ Snir
I did not compared M’Vila to Denilson, but to Felipe Melo saga 3-4 years ago, when everyone thought that he he is the solution for all of our defensive problems. Thankfully Juve came, paid 25 mil, and the rest is history… without Melo in it.
I’m quite satisfied with what I saw from him because he seems to be the Song version of 09-10 who stayed back and thought defense first.
I don’t mind if he’d only pass sideways as long as it comes with responsibility on the defensive side of the ball.
At the moment he is what we need as our back four is left exposed far too many times.
49 goals conceded is something you have to fix, and I reckon he could be that fix. Or maybe Song can if he goes back to being Alex Song of 09-10 and not Songingho of 11-12.
Afternoon all.
I’ll wait until conformation from .com before doing any futher research on our two maybe signings, admitedly I know pretty close to bugger all about either of them. I do however know quite a bit about Podolski and if he can settle in London then he’s a more then decent acqusition.
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I’ve been behind England from day 1, I know a few of the squad are dispicable but I suppose you have to put club loyalties briefly (extreeeeeeamly briefly) aside for international tournaments.
Due to the nature of the business I am in, for the last few tournaments all my decorations have been of the orange variety as I cater for the punters, even thougfh I’ve openly supported the Three Lions, however the Dutch have done rather better then the English in the preceeding years and I’ve had to eat shit for quite a while, so it’s nice it’s finally my turn to have a giggle at their expense, last time was Euro 96 ffs.
I have no great expectations for tonight, but what if…..?
Oh wouldn’t it be grand if we could make it to the semis so we can repeat the tradition of being knocked out by ze Germans, maybe even on penalties. ๐
===
Got about 600 odd drinks to catch up on, as have been away for the past few days, what was meant as a one day break turned into two as the harsh reality of life stood up and gave me a whacking great slap around the chops. We had to bring away a long standing friend, a (supposedly) healthy and vibrant individual, who had just turned 47 who suffered a brain anurism and never stood up again.
A hallowing reminder that life’s too short to get caught up with petty bullshit, so ladies and gents, have a drink on me and god bless you and yours.
Sorry to hear that H2H, all the best.
@ lurky olivia
Well, all I know is that when AW was asked about it in his final press conference, he did say unequivocally that we weren’t interested, in fact he was shaking his head before the reporter had finished asking the question. A month is a long time and plans can change, but my feeling is that a DM is more of a fans’ priority than AW’s. I could of course be wrong.
@ H2H
My condolences to you.
Since we’re talking of bulking up, and seeing that we might be without Sagna at the beginning of the season, how about trying to get Micah Richards on the cheap as cover for both right back and centre back, especially if Djourou decides to leave to get first team playing time?
And yes, would love to see Hodgson rubbing success into the faces of the media and the delusionary supporters who believe a ‘big’ team like Ingerland should only have a star manager…Have a huge soft spot for Hodgson – he took Switzerland to the World Cup for the first time in 28 years in 1994 and got them past the group stage. Incidentally, in the same WC qualifying group as Italy and Portugal, Switzerland under Hodgson beat and drew with Italy – if Hodgson can do that with Switzerland, he certainly could do that with England!
Whenever I hear talk of 88 kilos, visions of Mexican and Colombian cartels seem to pop into mind. I’ll have to work on eradicating that bad habit. ๐
But maybe Giroud’s shoulder barge can come in handy for Arsenal, and we will win some of the balls we didn’t win last season due to the lack of bulk among Walcott, Gervinho, Chamakh, et al.
Come on England. Hoping the day’s highlight won’t be Roy signing God Save the Queen, not that he sings badly mind you. ๐
Dyslexic readers will hopefully pardon my mixup between signing and singing. And maybe the other readers too?
@ bt8b, well, ADD readers might quite like “Roy signing God’ though…
Nice post ‘holic, I’ve been thinking the same thing with our recent and potential signings. They fit into our current formation, but more importantly in my view, they allow us to change formations (i.e. double pivot or 4-4-2 for example). Our plan B of recent years has just been to throw on attackers and hope for the best- I think now you’ll see a change in that, assuming these transfers happen. I would love to see RVP in the Bergkamp role… it’s so important that he stays.
A little present for lurky olivia, abb, Wolfgang and of course myself.
Enjoy!
http://www.tetu.com/actualites/media/le-footballeur-olivier-giroud-saffiche-en-couverture-de-ttu-21594
And ‘ette. Last but not least, as they say.
Sorry to hear your news H2H.
A reminder of what is important, as you say.
H2H – very good to see you back – sympathies on your sad news.
Cba – burglary is a horrible thing, psychologically very upsetting regardless of what is taken or damaged. It does gradually fade but as long as all are safe – except the burglars of course – that has to be the main thing. Speaking as one who has had a house broken into and a brand new car badly damaged by the bastards.
‘Holic – enjoyed that post, ta.
Interesting thoughts on a return to power and pace. It seems to be a fact that success is almost impossible to achieve in the Premier League without them.
The Invincibles struck fear into opponents both because of said qualities and the results that they had achieved. Many matches were won before the teams had even taken to the pitch.
That factor has been well and truly lost in latter years as Big Fat Sam – oh how good it will be to have to listen to him again every Friday – and Hughes and the like, have gone out to kick us out of matches.
It will be good to have a mature side again who can go and physically impose themselves on others, and not just by “letting them know that we are there”.
I can’t agree with whoever was putting M’Vila down as just another Felipe Melo. I watched him with great interest yesterday and agree with Snir. His movement is intelligent and constant. He doesn’t just charge in at opponents and is constantly watching and staying aware of everything that is going on around him.
His passing was careful and I can’t remember him giving the ball away. He had range as well and the ability to pick the right option.
Not flashy but safe and dependable.
He actually reminded me of another player who was very under appreciated until he wasn’t there, namely Gilberto Silva.
On the England thing, I would agree with your sentiments ‘Holic if only they weren’t overshadowed by the sight of Terry, Rooney, Lampard (usually), Cashley, Gerraaaard and Ferdinand, who might just as well have gone and sat in the dressing room as be constantly twatting or tweeting, or whatever he calls it, about the whole thing.
The sooner the likes of Theo and The Ox kick their boring arses out of it the better.
Sorry to go on ‘Holics, but what do you do on the 587th dull, grey, damp Sunday of the year ?
Have a good one.
Totally in agreement on Roy Hodgson by the way. A very decent bloke now, and still will be however his England results pan out.
‘holic, if we extend the term “defender” across the entire back line, then I agree with your request for another, specifically at right back. Not knowing what Sagna’s recovery status is, and whether he’ll continue to be fragile, PLUS misgivings about Jenkinson — sure, he’s a gooner through and through, and serves up tasty crosses, but he defends mainly with his hands and reaching out so that he’s always a threat to give up cheap free kicks and PKs — to me this is the main area of concern going into this season. And it’s being completely overlooked. Maybe Coquelin can do the job short-term, but I’d like to see an addition of a real fullback for cover.
Hard to disagree with that Bayonne, although Bouldy should improve the Jenks.
Almost like being in the dressing room, ain’t it ? ๐
A glass raised to your thought on Hodgson and the U.K. tabloid press, ‘Holic. He is much undervalued as a manager.
‘arry Yapnap would seem to match this description: “Football managers are modern celebrities, yet the vast majority appear to add no value to their teams, and could probably be replaced by their secretaries or stuffed teddy bears without anyone noticing. Only a few managers…consistently improve their teams.”
That quote comes from a piece by Simon Kuper in the Financial Times earlier this year on football’s best managers. Far from the final word on the subject, but well worth the read.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/f340caae-47cd-11e1-b646-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1yiXuALuO
H2H@19: our thoughts go out to you and your friend and their family. Harrowing. A reminder to keep life in perspective.
Trev@30: you are right about power and pace being needed to win the domestic league, but the Wengerball 1 team underachieved in Europe. Wengerball 2, the Cesc edition, seemed built for pursuit of Champions League success. Does Wengerball 3 mean the Premiership title has become the priority?
BJ@32: Agree with your assessment of Jenk’s weaknesses as a defender. those can be trained out of him, one would hope. But a utility defender who can play centre half or full back would be a good addition. Losing all four full backs last year was a freak event, but with Gibbs ever fragile, Santos more a wing back than a full back, Sagna’s future health a question mark after twice breaking his leg and Jenkinson still green, there are reasons to be concerned about our depth there. I don’t think Coquelin is the answer. He looks to be more valuable in midfield (Song, Frimpong and Coquelin may be why AW is not racing to buy another DM). Yennaris might be being developed as a right back.
One other England thought: Much being put on Theo and Ox as impact players against Italy, yet arguably neither is a guaranteed starter in our potential first XI next season.
A lovely garden you’ve planted about arsenal holic lets hope it all comes to fruition. good read.
Snir@18: we conceded less than one goal per game with Arteta on the pitch (this is for the league) and 2,3 (TWO POINT THREE!!!) per game without him. In ten league games wihtout him, we conceded almost as many goals as in the 28 with him.
Trev@30: I too agree about M’Vila. Your observations about his game last night are exactly the ones I made. Always looking to help the central defenders in the build-up, his passes as hit with power and mostly very accurate. If we really are after him, I hope we get him. That would allow Arteta a rest every now and then, and it would make us far less reliant on Wilshere getting off to a flying start.
Bayonne@32: I’m not particularly worried about Jenkinson. I think he played quite well almost every time he played last season. He’s also arguably the best in the whole team at hitting accurate crosses. Having said that, however, I do agree with you – a defender that can fill in at right-back wouldn’t be such a bad idea provided we have room in the squad.
Ned@35: I don’t really rate Yennaris, not as a right-back anyway. Coquelin is miles ahead of him in that position.
—–
H2H, my condolences.
Afternoon ‘holics from a subdued France.
Didnt watch too much of match as at a French birthday party, and although it was on tv inside, not many of the locals thought it was worth watching after 1-0. They did wish me well for tonight though!
Todays Sud-Ouest reviewed the match and only gave 2 players 3 stars – Lloris and our own Kos (saying that they thought he was sure to have booked his place in the team for the future)
One M.Cli@hy got just 1 star for his sterling performance as an attacking back in place of Evra
Is there a pattern evolving over the international future of Citeh’s overpaid cretins – lets hope it continues with Blot-on-the-telly
Great post Holic. I also agree with the part about Roy shoving the bad press down his detractors’ throats. They’re too vile to feel remorse though, and some might even say they were behind him all the time…meh
Btw, if Arsene is going back to the future, I hope he writes a letter to himself so that he doesn’t sign Almunia ๐
I can’t wait to see some more pace and power in our unit next season, it’s been too long since we’ve been a terrifying team…
Word of advice for Frimpong.
Replace ‘Dench’ with ‘Drench’ and you might be onto a winner.
Piss-poor weather here.
I support Roy and Ox and Feo, but given that the last two haven’t really played much, I think I’ll still support Italy tonight, sorry, ‘holic.
And Germany in the grand scheme of things.
http://www.francefootball.fr/#!/news/2012/06/24/154053_-koscielny-tire-son-epingle-du-jeu.html
Praise for Kos.
Well,
Whilst you lot are watching, some of us will be doing.
Nothing at the European Championship will keep me from my weekly game of six a sides tonight.
I will be banging them in with left and right, whilst you lot will have to listen to Crisp Monger and his chums instead.
And at the end of it all, I fully expect my 14-1 shot on Italy to win the tournament to be intact ๐
Hmmm, just got notification of a Dr Spin on tweeeeeeter.
*waves at Ollie* ๐
Hang, where are all these alter egos coming from?
Anyway, there is a major flaw on twitter: I’m guessing there can only be one Andy Goram….
h2h, i am sorry about your friend. when your roads rejoin, the stories will be told!
snir@6, if we can have a team capable of both of those sorts of performances, we should be devastating.
fungunner@27, don’ forget delia!
good luck to england supporters today, but goooooo eeeetaaaallyyyyy!
A frequent abuser of the CMC
tsk, tsk Dr Spin ๐
Thanks, scruz – Delia, that Giroud link is for you, too.
zico @ 48 – naturally it stands for “Corrupt Media Charlatans”. In my line of work I think it only appropriate that they are abused on a regular basis ๐
H2H – sorry to hear your news, many condolences.
Dr Spin on Twitter? Is this so? I have followed a far more frightening new arrival this afternoon.
Haven’t I Wolfie ๐
‘holic @ 52 – naturally I can neither confirm nor deny that allegation at this time, until we have had the opportunity to fully assess all relevant facts …
๐
See my 46, ‘holic. (which is missing an ‘on’, admittedly)
H2H, Oh very sad…prayers offered for your mate and his family. God bless.
Rumours seem to say no Arsenal involvement from the start, again.
So, again, Fuck England and Forza Italia!
*backdrinks*
Sorry to read this piece of news, H2H.
Lens gone awol behind the eye again.
I hate this.
Retrieved already this time ๐
All the best H2H
The-O and The Ox to ride to the rescue cavalry styleee then
Thanks for the kind words gents.
Please have another drink on me to whet your whistles for the Eng v Ita game.
Holic, 2nd paragraph, 3rd sentence. How true…as for England vs the Azzurri, I’m fully confident all holics will be wishing Theo and Aoc the best, whether they are for England or not.
Asti Spumante, prego, barman.
And indeed, abb, I hope they can stay safely on the bench, unharmed while England disintegrate.
Great post Holic.
Condolences H2H, wishing you the best.
Right off to the juicer .
Come on England ! (except for Terry of course,the cunt ๐ )
Holic, I aim to please ๐
None of that foreign muck in here tonight Ollie.
Let me get you a good old British Bolognese and you can wash it down with a Monty Pulciano D’abruzzo. Proper English fare ๐
and wolfie, by all reports your aim is true.
Evening all.
Hope that you are right Holic and that Le Boss has at last come to his senses with a return to “silk & steel” with the emphasis on STEEL!! God I remember a few games into his first full season we were playing away at Portsmouth (I think) and as the teams took the field our players were at least a foot taller than their opponents! Power is the ingredient that has been missing all these years. We’ve had the skill must now we are putting back the power. I can’t wait..
I agree with Snir about M’Vila – he has that “Terminator” feel about him in midfield. I can’t wait to see him in the Red & White..
Fun Gooner: I think that you will find that Lurky is a full-blooded Macedonian male Gooner and not a puff like Woolfie – I wish I was so sure about Giroud though..
๐
hey hey, ‘holic, not to tell you how to sell your drinks, but how about a peroni doppio rosso? and be careful, if you cut out imports, no one will be drinking england’s national lager…stella!
A puff GT ?
I am not a sugary breakfast substance for goodness sake.
I am a POOF . Get it right eh Handsome ๐
If Balotelli and J. Cunterry collide and through some freakish fission thingy implode right there and then on the pitch – i don’t fink planet football would necessarily be a worse place
CoMon Englaaaand (more in h than e at the mo)
sorry lurky olivia – it was the “olivia” bit which misled me. Schoolboy error.
Lars@37: I rate Coquelin highly. He has always put in a decent shift at right back whenever asked to play there, but playing him there rather than in midfield underuses his talents.
Neither of TheoX starting? This could be dull.
I see Coquelin or Wilshere as Arteta backups/acolytes. Anyone agree?
I beg you pardon Wolfie – Poof of course you are. Those auto-correct guys are the puffs..
๐
‘Holic@66: Isn’t curry the British national fare, and has been since London’s first curry shop, the Hindostanee Coffee House, opened in 1809 off Portman Square? I am reliably informed that diners could smoke hookah pipes there and recline on bamboo-cane sofas as they tucked in, which would appeal to some in this bar.
Come on England and all that, but not feeling confident with this unchanged line-up ๐
heh, cheers ‘holic!
Fun, How about the ladies at the bar do lunch aka Carrie and her gal pals in ‘Sex in the City’. NYC or London. Milan or Paris (my first pick, near the steps leading up to the Sac Le Coeur, cept in the evening.
FunG : it’s lurky ‘oliva’ though, no ‘i’
FG@75: Surely our first choice midfield, if we are still playing 4-3-3, is Song, Arteta and Wilshere? I am wondering though if our silk and steel 4-4-2 in the making for next season won’t have a midfield of Song, Arteta and Wilshere with Bergkampesque RvP as the point of the diamond behind Giroud and Podolksi up front. With Gervais, the Ox and Theo coming off the bench as impact subs, that could be championship winning.
Both sides going so close!
And sorry lurky oliva. Schoolgirl error. All cleared up now.
Take back what I said earlier – not dull at all.
Good reflexes by Gigi.
Great write up Holic. I agree totally. Could it be that we are finally getting the balance right at long last? Let’s hope so.
I have been pleased with England so far. It has made me smile reading what some write, both in here and elsewhere. If people boo or moan at arsenal players then then it is wrong and they form part of the BBB. Then I hear fellow countrymen have a dig at players playing for England and seem quite happy to boo and all of a sudden that becomes acceptable. I will never get that at all. As much as I hate the likes of Terry, if he scores the winner tonight then there may well be another poznan in my lounge. I have no love for the likes of Terry, Cashley, Rooney etc. But I am an Englishman. I am a proud Englishman and will be cheering on my country, not a group of individuals.
Come on England…….
Sure you all saw the piece where Hart was more then willing to play his part in the pk phase (as many feel it will come to that) if chosen by Roy. See, all great goalies want to score.
Possibly a lack of humility though, abb.
@ Steve T
Can’t say I’ve noticed anyone even talking about booing England players on this blog, let alone condoning it? I agree it’s wrong for Arsenal fans to dig out Arsenal players – I hate it when that happens. But for English people who are not England fans talking about England players, that doesn’t apply. Thirdly, I am also proud to be English, which is partly why I find it hard to support the team. Some of them are not fit to represent our country.
Good game so far, though – such a contrast to last night.
@ abb
London would do me. did you like the pictures, btw?
@ NBN
Eventually, probably, but while JW and Diaby are recovering, it’s Song-Arteta-Rosicky for me.
Ollie, Goalies have to be their own biggest fans. A different breed. Remember when Julio Cesar teased/dared Ibra before he took that PK. He darn well knew Ibra would score, but he had to bluff it anyway. Tis why goalies are my favs.
gOODNESS me! It could be 2-2, easily.
Re having said churlish hurrumphing from the sidelines was something like sharp and funny would like to retract – much of it is more like the rain persistent and wet (smiley face) – good game sofa!
Fun, A very healthy specimen for sure (blushes).
Feels like there’s a chance every 30 seconds in this game! Yet nobody quite wants to be the first to score.
Half-time.
Not a bad game at all.
Well if Roy can’t find a place for Theo or Ox in this side then he’s a cunt! That’s all I have to say..
๐
Enjoyable game to watch so far, 50/50 kind of match, both team making silly mistakes but not so sharp in final third, will be interesting to see how subs are going to impact the game (aka Feo and AOC).
Assist..
Bang! That’s how you do it Rooney! ๐
Just about to write that, h2h… Pleased with how both sides are playing, easily the most entertaining quarter.
Good combination, H2H >!
FG. You find it hard to support England because some are not fit to wear the shirt?
That’s kind of my point. We can debate individuals all day long. Different opinions are part of what makes the game great. But for a proud Englishman and a proud Gooner, supporting either should never be difficult. Testing sometimes I would agree but never hard.
Decent first half. Give it 10 and Theo time?
Hopeful lob over the keeper.
Well in Tel.
bah, epic fail -_-, well in GT!
That’s real hopeful Eandy, your miles out. ๐
if the italians don’t score before theo and the ox are introduced, england may well nick it, the italians’ recovery speed barely adequate so far.
well in, gt, and h2h assisting.
Heh Eandy, that was very very hopeful indeed: you’re about 96 posts too early!
The GOD Liam Brady is a pundit on my stream ๐
Yeah, bit premature attempt, but my time will come! ๐
Hey H2H, A game of the men between the posts, just like I thought. Entertaining. Something gotta give, Balotelli? Need Theo out there to create more chances. AOC, this would be just his venue, nice and open. Have a drink on me lad.
Fun gunner @89 – very well said.
lucky, gt, i suffer with ian “in the” darke and mcmananananamamanaman. ugh.
Hey abb.
Scruz: Luckily I have been unable to get ESPN since yesterday but I ended up with Carrighar instead. How many ex-Liverpool players are they FFS?
๐
Come on ENGLAND!
Sorry Ollie, but you have to say this is the best of the QF’s. Italy have played a full part too. Great stuff.
“SEND HER VICTORIOUS,,,”
@ Steve T
It’s not the only reason, but yes, it is partly why. I think being a fan of a club is quite different to being a fan of your country’s football team. I fell in love with Arsenal’s style (soon after AW came in) and I feel connected to the club’s values – I wasn’t born in Islington, or even in London, in common with the vast majority of Arsenal fans. Now I love the club come what may and would do so even if we started playing like Stoke! (I’d weep bitter tears and a little bit of me would die each day, but once a gooner…) I choose which national team to support, based on their style, to make the international tournaments more fun, but it’s not the same. I’m a Gooner, but being English doesn’t make me an England fan by default. If the squad were literally fighting to defend us or something like that, I would support them regardless of their individual failings, but after all this is only football. That’s how I see it, basically.
***
Nobody wants to score. Do you think they’ve got some sort of weird bet on about how many chances they can miss?
Steve T –
If we should find it easy to support Terry and Cole etc. purely because they, like us, through accident of birth are English, does that mean we should condone and even support the actions of English lager louts in foreign resorts for the same reason ?
Unconditional support on that basis doesn’t follow for me.
That said, I do want England to win tonight, I just wish we didn’t have to do it with said individuals.
Close. Nice give and go. This just might go to PK’s.
Come on Reds !
John Terry’s pact with the devil means Italians haven’t scored yet.
Can’t argue with the ‘most entertaining qf’ tag, ‘holic, no need to be sorry.
However and still: Forza Italia! ๐
Abb – for a nurse you have a worrying sadistic streak ! ๐
They just dont want to score heh:D
Hey Trev (smiles).
wow, how is there no score?
and, gt, remember, “[they] never walk alone”.
Gotta love czech commentary “There had to be very loud thumping sound now in the sector of English fans from the avalanche of stones which just fell of their hearts” after those chances Italy had:D
Bring on TheoX!
heh, poetry in motion, Eandy!
Is James Milner the worst ever England international? Apart from Carlton Palmer, of course.
England are back being a bit like Greece 2004 now, aren’t they?
Yeah Ollie, this guy is masterclass in doing commentary and again “Steven Gerrard, harshly tackled by wet surface” XD
love it, randy.
Yay! Here comes Theo!
ach. eandy.
Poetry indeed, eandy. Beautiful turn of phrase.
Feo + some diver on?
*Got to learn Czech.
Great Theo on – Game on ๐
FEEEOOOOOOOOOOOO
Theee-oo!
Theo on for Milner, fingers crossed.
A bit surprised Young still on.
Trev at 119. I don’t get your point at all. I support England. Not Cashley, not Terry, not any individual. How that equates to condoning the behaviour of drunken yobs in any part of the globe has lost me I’m afraid.
Please stay uninjured while your team loses, Feo.
derossi not particularly impressing, very neary England…
heh, Young is such a cheat.
Of course he can see the ball got deflected….off Carroll.
Me too H2H
Theo has had a positive impact already. But the player England are really, really missing is Wilshere.
@Snir_Geuli: I have never seen something as strange as De Rossi wearing a kit with one short sleeve and one long sleeve.
This is a bit too much like the Champions League final….
Quoting yourself, Snir? ๐
how good is pirlo. wow.
Have to say that Pirlo is still some player.
Pirlo passing truly is impressive.
Come on Woy, bring on The Ox. You know you want to.
heh, hat-trick, all at 9.10: great minds, etc. ๐
Lol I copied it… Being lazy ๐
Steve, I agree, it’s like we’ll still be Gooners even if AFC have a first eleven of JT, Suarez, et al.
and his ball control, his turns are sometimes brilliant.
ollie@157 ๐
Thankfully, Snir, we know it won’t happen.
FG at 149. Agree totally. I also have no idea why Young is still on the pitch.
Pirlo is the ultimate example of a player needing a change if scenery.
Was poor in his last two seasons at Milan, but moved and reinvented himself at Juve. Was vital for them in their title challenge.
I’ve really not seen anything in this game which would make me support England a bit.
How is it still 0-0?
Steve T: when I saw Young on the touchline, I assumed he was coming on.
Didn’t realise he had been on the pitch from the start.
great save gigi
See ‘pact with the devil’ bit earlier, FunGunner ๐
What a wanker Young is – should have him going off instead of that other wanker Milner..
Ashley Young going for the “ball given away” record.
cassano off, diamanti on
diamanti forces a save from hart, nicely.
@ 169 Steve T
ha.
Never a free-kick.
@ 166 Ollie
ha ha
I don’t know why Italy have taken off their left back, Milner. He did really well and broke up every England attack.
Heh, Steve T and Ollie.
What a cheat the guy holdoing his face.
Not a single ball given to Theo so far, understandably its also because of the way game goes but surely, I dont think there has been any through ball which would utilize his strong sides.
HEH Steve T ๐
Good point Ollie. I don’t think you will be alone with that view.
Eandy, I remember Theo having the ball on the left, running then getting a cross in, from which England nearly scored.
They obviously don’t want to score, hence the no longer passing to him.
If England could keep the ball longer then two minutes then they might have a chance.
parker with the donkey touch. second time he put that out past feo.
That Parker. That was a rubbish pass to Theo.
Rooney in Feo’s way.
Fuck you, Glen Johnson, you’re supposed to be useless.
It’s Sunday night so I don’t want extra time.
oooh, great from italee, good recovery johnson.
With both teams obviously knackered Roy must bring on the OX if there’s extra time..
Fuck both these teams, I want to go to bed.
et phone home!
Good idea!
Okay, some money well won, now both Italy and England are permitted to score:P
Lawrnson: “Walcott looked like he was strugglign to keep the ball”
So totally unlike every other England player, then?
Bring on AOC.
Come on Roy. Bringing on the OX is now is no gamble at all…
They can all rot in hell (except Feo and AOC) for my money, Eandy.
Extra time on a Sunday is wrong.
lol@fg, just like.
Second half belonged to Italy. How have we held out?
Theo to nick it against tiring legs?
one of the rare times when a game 0-0 is leaving me on the edge of my seat (really). pretty much going the way i thought. goalies rule, strikers drool.
FunG:
Lawrenson is a stupid man.
Or didn’t he notice how Theo actually managed to keep the ball on the touchline there (he did struggle to control it first time, but he kept it and gave a perfect pass).
FG: That man is a facking twat. Theo has only had the ball twice since he came on..
And another goal for GT, well done!
While we’re waiting, abb, didn’t you think that the best of those OG photos was the portrait of his face?
๐ at GT. well in…
abb, a bit too one-sided to be a really exciting game.
How good am I? Really, does anyone know? I think I am as good as RvP on my day.. ๐
From a beach in South Carolina – Alex Ox to nick it.
Hey BtM in the hizz house
Ah, there was some proper football today, and great result too ๐
http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3482587/ladies/arsenal-ladies-v-birmingham-city-ladies?tab=report
BTM!! Nice to have you with us Sir! ๐
Holy Smoke, BtM is here?
FG, When it comes down to that sort of thing, I prefer the Mensa type. And a nice smile.
Shit. Cursed him!!
fuck young, the diver.
Henderson????????????????????
Henderson on?
Forza Italia, one more notch.
Kiss of Death, BtM: we shall not see The Ox tonight.
no Ox, then.
Bah no, AOC should come on:(
Chaos!
If Jordan Henderson is the answer I dread to think what the question is?????
Who’s a useless cunt?
@ 219 Steve T
ha ha
@ abb
he has a degree, you know. For a footballer that practically IS mensa level.
If England could just keep the ball for a few passes they would do the Italians..
Hah another gem after Ballotelis shot “Well, I dont know if that was supposed to be shot on goal, or Balloteli just wanted to settle some grudge from the dressing room with Lescott” ๐
ooooh, off the post.
FG Hey! GT You think? Both itching to score first.
Goodnight, I don’t want to have to react to England’s win on penalties.
Shit football might just win again.
What has the World come to, when you hope for the Germans to save it! ๐
“Andy Carroll gets a little mixed up in the message from brain to boot” – you couldn’t make it up.
KEEP THE FUCKING BALL.
cheeky, theo!
Well done, Theo. good attempt, just the execution not quite there.
Sorry, H2H. Didn’t catch that, could you speak up a liitle?
Heh
See, just give ball to Feo, he is looking sharp today. Italy deserves going through much more though in my opinion.
Nite Ollie. Both goalies looking pumped (yes, I’m enjoying this).
Blimey ABB – you’re a better than me.
OOps – pardon – Blimey ABB – you’re a better man than me
Someone needs to have a word with Diamonti’s tattooist ๐
a pirlo moment?
ech, no.
What is meant to be special about Balotelli?
Ballsupedotelli
god, Italy just cannot buy one.
Hey, afraid to take my eyes off the game, even for a second. fast and furious. hi al, gt, eandy.
see what i mean, that was close!
beautiful, but just offside.
Scruz 242, and that from the worlds biggest match fixers
Just a thought but has anyone actually told England that we are in white tonight?
hi abb:)
lol@h2h, damn straight.
@ 246 Holloway2Holland
ha ha ha!
i get it. Italy wiping out englishe legs so they have no control in the shoot out.
wtf?? They are competing with each other to give it back to the Italians..
Penalties….
Finaly we have a chance.
oh, christ. pennos.
if terry takes one, i hope he is wearing his slip.
Try to contain your excitement everyone (stuff of dreams in my book!) You all know how I feel about PK’s, how they elevate the game into a very glamorous realm. Enjoy!!!
MISS
I am taking bet..
* Bets of course
god, I hate these.
Young you ……
2-2 Pirlo masterful, young misses….
but i love me some pirlo. young misses, evens.
Pirloooo panenkaesque:D
BUFFON!!!
nocerino goes through…ashley thwarted by gigi
VAI ITALIA!!!
Ah well. Ultimately, fair result. And at least it wasn’t Theo who missed.
Fuck, Fuck. fuck.
Well we were thrashed 0-0 and penalties were never our thing.
I bet Germany are shitting themselves.
Oh well the least worst team won
huh, al?
Ashley Young b4 Theo on pens. No Ox? Scotland for the World Cup.
Young – what a wanker. But its Roy’s fault for keeping him in the game to the end..
Italy deserved to win though..
So, the original Chelski (Greece) are out, and the copy Chelski out too. This turn to be a great Euro after all:)
Amazingly, negativity didn’t triumph in the end.
Genuinely surprised. Cuntley missing is the cherry on the top.
At least Italy deserved it.
Betting tip: the ban ‘Ashley’ to lose popularity.
Ban? Name. What’s wrong with iPods ?
I didn’t think that were overly negative Ollie – they just could not keep hold of the ball long enough. Must have been nerves or something because more than half the turn-arounds were unforced errors by England
PICNIC Ollie….
you are right, gt, i think. they were up in the shoot out and let it slip.
Who else is looking forward to the semi finals?
At least we don’t have to apologise to Europe for going through on pens after being utterly outclassed for all but the first-half.
Well played for reaching the last eight England, but our technical limitations were there for all to see tonight.
Germany v Italy will be a good game, but Germany v Spain in the Final will be even better.
As already highlighted we just did not keep the ball well enough. I don’t think we were negative. I just don’t think we are good enough. As someone more learned than I once said, “you can only piss with the cock you’ve got.”
End of really.
If not negative then utterly shit GT. from half time on this was even more one-sided than the CL final or even FA Cup final 2005 ๐
Truly amazed that Italy prevailed on penalties.
Germany – Italy will be good. Has to be.
@gt280…meeeeeee!
Heh right then Steve T. Like the analogy ๐
Me too scruz especially as I won’t be able to watch the final.
ollie, both should be crackers.
and sorry you won’t be able to watch it…
Steve T said it well Ollie ๐
Well if England have to lose then I have this to say.
Ashley Young – That’s what you get for being a fucking diving cheat.
Ashley Cole – That’s what you get for being a fucking twat.
What goes around, comes around, fucking prick.
Absolutely chuffed to see him gutted.
he can take solace in his mobile, snir.
@ 291 Snir Geuli
ha ha ha!
Good night all.
And on a side note, Carrol’s passing is extremely poor.
League one level at best.
Let the hate out lad – its good for the soul.. ๐
You see Snir, you’re right. No matter how gutted I feel, there’s always a positive.
Carroll’s first touch is a pass.
paints the word “ashley” on the ball and runs it along before lobbing it cross field…
Passes to AOC
who smashes it in from the bench
Bang
ok take it then ๐
Bugger. I’ve had an Ashley.
I hope that Trev appreciates how kind I am to my fellow players at times ๐
now i’ve had two at once, steve. ๐
Wow, Congrats SG. Steve, good form, just like me!
2 out of 3 ain’t bad, GT. cheers, nurse, great assist. very thoughtful of you to send it towards the bench.
AND – we weren’t as shite as the french – phew!!!
Could not have happened to a better bloke – well done Scruz ๐
thanks, GT, backatcha.
cheers, all, off to paint the bathroom…
Oi @ 281
The zico fiver lives to fight another day ๐
Good work scruz nice assist Steve T. And goodnight
Er, I mean abb. backwards assist for Steve T. After all, the title of this piece mentions a DeLorean.
I know it’s easy to blame, but Ashley Young was the worst player on the pitch and not for the first time in this tournament.
I think Roy did well, but leaving AY on the pitch was a big mistake, he was clearly out of his depth.
Fuckety fuckety fuck !
That is all until the Guinness has worn off . ๐
Heh zico ๐
Your fiver gets wiped out by my great-grandfathers boys…
Uber alles!
I got quite a few notes on ze Germans too.
Money in the bank. ๐
Night all.
@snir 291 absolutely spot on… Young especially for consistently displaying his sporting moral, or a lack thereof, to the whole world this past season. What a scum. Near impossible to sympathise for him really, even when I had bet a small amount on England qualifying. Ashley cole… What more can I say? Money can’t buy you everything.
Italians are Speedo men . I like them generally .
Tonight I could sit down with at a dinner table with Al Pacino, Gina Lollobrigida, Michael Angelo and Mr fucking Whippy and I would still throw my Cinzano Bianco all over the sun-tanned fuckers.
Oh dear Wolfie,
A hissy fit. ๐
At least we win something
“Arsenal win first Argentine league title “
I will be so cheering that your fiver goes “tits up” in the semi Dr Z, even though I have no idea what the phrase means of course.
“Semi” on the other hand , I am familiar with ๐
Y’know, from an Irish perspective, I’ve always thought that we did very well to even qualify – even if we were smashed in every game we played. The one thing that got us to the final, defensive discipline, seemed to desert us in the tournament.
From an English perspective, I thought Hodgson did fabulously well, considering he only had 40 days in charge. I really believe the culture of the game is wrong in England and the British Isles. The focus is on the kick and run game, with physical domination, whereas our European counterparts play a possession game. And its so telling. Tonight England (like Ireland) were actually better without the ball than with it. It was almost like watching Chelsea and if you don’t mind me saying, Italy were deserved winners, because they we simply the better team.
England have always had the right material to win major tournaments, but the system, culture and style of play has been wrong for along time now. England have no player remotely like Pirlo. At 34 years of age, he controlled the entire game from start to finish. Even when Hart, an outstanding keeper, thought he could chide his elders by jumping about and trying to play mind games, Pirlo not only showed consummate expertise and confidence in chipping the ball over Hart, but in doing so, gave the young man a lesson I feel he will remember for the rest of his days.
Its been an outstanding tournament, which even the referees have not managed to spoil so far. Whoever emerges victorious will prove worthy winners!
GoonerT –
I am absolutely thrilled that you let EVERYBODY ELSE have a goal occasionally. ๐
Now if you’ll excuse me it is my apparent duty to go and practice being proud of all these fine fellows that the other drinkers are slagging off and enjoying seeing looking completely gutted. ๐
Smallballs and Snir back with more vicious passion. Great stuff. ๐
There is a fan in the room to which the transfer window provides ventilation. The shit will now begin to hit it one way or the other.
Enjoy fellas!
Pint of bitter Trev? Pull up a stool. First one is on me.
๐
Chelsea (A Cole) and Manchester United (A Young) cost England the semifinal spot. What more could you expect? ๐
Never bitter me, Steve T, always Guiness. ๐
Have one yourself too.
Joe – England will change their ways because of the next crop.
Far too talented to play a physical domination game, but more importantly, they aren’t brought up that way (JW, Ox, Theo et all).
And England has a Pirlo, his name is Jack Wilshere.
He will be dominating the middle of the park in future tournaments, just like Xavi, Pirlo, and Schweinsteiger.
Snir,
“And England has a Pirlo, his name is Jack Wilshere”
I guess there’s talk and then there’s walk.
With Milan, Pirlo has won 2 CL’s, 2 Scudetti, an Italian Super Cup, a FIFA Club World Cup (2007), and the Italian Cup in 2003. In 2012, he added another Scudetto with Juventus. And he also won the Wold cup with Italy in 2006. In short, the mans a proven midfield maestro.
As highly as I rate JW, he’s a long long way to go yet…!
Cheers, Joe! Don’t mind if I do for a life-giving number like 333. ๐
The good news is Terry will not get his filthy hands on another trophy. I like Roy as a man but the guy is so negative I thought it was so dreadful .England looked like Stoke . refused to pass the ball, the entire half Hart was pumping the ball long to Caroll. It was really embarassing. I blame Chelsea for the negative football we are seeing. Chelsea won the champions league by parking the bus and England thought they would go the same route. Did not work and this pethatic negative football need to be scrapped for good. Spain were as boring to watch they play at a slow pace and bore you with their side ways passing. The best team I enjoyed watching is Germany, very exciting going forward,lethal finishing and very physical, they’ve got the whole package. English football was well known for its quick thundereous football now they seem to be lost, they don’t know whcih way to go. England will never play like the pargmatic way of the italians or the boring slow posession football of the Spanish. England need to go back the way they always played and add new ideas. Chelsea way is not the way.
Joe – Notice I wrote “future tournaments” ๐
Sometimes you just know, just like people knew about Xavi.
Rooney was also a player that everybody knew would become a world class player since he was a young kid.
Jack is one of those players.
Wenger’s Coat – The reason the Chelsea way didn’t work was because England didn’t have Didier Drogba.
Andy Carroll was great (absolutely awesome!!) at winning the long balls from heart, but he couldn’t hold the ball up, and misplaced every single pass.
Won the long ball from Hart, but lost it every time.
He is so poor.
Snir- true but the annoying thing is we all can see that hoofing the ball was not working. England players can pass the ball around, they do it with their clubs. But somehow they’ve been told they are not good enough and they have to do a Chelsea. Why? Why they didn’t have a go and play from the back instead of those dreadful long balls from Hart to Caroll?. What was the point of bringing Theo on when all they did is kick the ball in a straight line down the middle?
Football of secondary and tertiary loyalties has been a fun time filler but it’s almost over and the summer will get a lot slower again. Come on Spain assert yourselves to win one more tournament in this glory run before Germany and the other usual suspects take over again for the next couple of generations, just like they dominated since 1970.
Hey holics, hope everything is fine with you.
I must say that I hope Spain don’t win the Euros. They bore me to death. I think I’m hardcore ABS now…Anyone But Spain
Come on Germany!!!! At least they show human fallibility
RVP tweeting “Pirlo!” as I read .com’s player tweets. Surely there was no underlying message to this :s
derrick, i sure as hell hope not…
Maybe he just likes his sexy penalty. Pirlo also tickled it you see ๐
I was shocked when I saw Pirlo chip the penalty. I mean Robin against Wolves in the league is one thing, but in a penalty shootout at the Euros when your teammate before you just missed takes some gigantic cojones…or whatever it’s called in Italian ๐
I missed the quarter final yesterday because of an early start today but I’m dying to see the Pirlo penalty after I get back home
He’s always been on my favourite non Arsenal players
Italy Germany should be a cracker – just like the 2006 world cup semi!
cor, pirlo ha le coglioni enormi…est lo mismo de pirlo tiene los cojones grandes…mas o menos.
Sorry for all the England supporting holics this morning,sorry to hear of H2H mate,and Joe that post of yours hit the nail on the head for me,on the brighter side we have only 2 more gunners left in the tournament let’s hope they can stay injury free.
* Guess which England player had the most touches of the ball over the 120 minutes. No, not him. Not him either. Him? You’re joking. No, it was Joe Hart, with 85. Tells you plenty, that.
Something for you, Harsha:
* A quick word on Pirlo’s panenka penalty. It was magnificent in many ways, not least because it underlined that he thinks. Pirlo knew that Hart had done his homework, and that the Italian usually goes low, to one side, without a great deal of power. Hart guessed right, so Pirlo dinked it down the middle. It was the potentially the first penalty ever taken by a brain in a major tournament. He also claimed after the game that he did it to unsettle the England takers. Taking a penalty in a European Championship quarter-final while at the same time psyching out your opposition. What a man.
What a player he still is, Ollie. Forget his ball retaining and passing abilities, he is one of the best at that from his generation, but I think I read an interseting point in zonal marking that he is very smart defensively too.
I mean he is not the fastest or the strongest in the middle of the park but the way he controls the play, is just a joy to watch
Right. On to all things Arsenal. So, what are the priorities?
1) Sort out the contracts of those whose expire in a year.
2) New signings to come in early to allow them to gel with the current squad and to prevent the debacle of last season.
3) Move on those who do not quite make the grade.
Well, it appears to me that all those with a year to go are either back home, or will be within hours.
If current speculation is to be believed our next two targets are both French and therefore also back at home.
Dead wood? I am sure suitable enquiries are already in hand to shift players on. I would hope that the likes of Arshavin and Bendtner have done themselves no harm with their performances in the Euros.
So, Arsene, Ivan? Time to go to work boys.
Steve T, you’re hired! ๐
IN other news, 10 days to get an appointment with ORL. I’ve seen worse, but in means no hope of any improvement until then, hope it doesn’t get worse, right ear has possibly been a little more painful lately.
Don’t be hasty, Steve T.
Why do this now when it can be left till the season has started ๐
zico, you’re fired! ๐
Oh, and isn’t Arsene still working for French TV?
That will give Ivan time to paint my fence. ๐ฏ
Work is over-rated, Ollie. ๐
Indeed zico 355. So it’s all down to Ivan and Dick Law.
We’re screwed.
Well, I guess the players will go on a short holibob, while Arsรจne is probably considering the Euros to be his.
“Arsene’s got a DeLorean?!” ๐ Aluminium Vroom Vroom at 88mph!!!
Disappointed for Woy but in the modern international game, technically limited players now means the quarters at best!
Pirlo = conduttore
Has always been a talent with an exceptional footballing brain and ball-striking technique. Jack can become just such a maestro for many years to come!
On the transfer front, looking forward to lots of OGs from the Arsenal next season! Salut!
Talking of M’Villa, can anyone imagine a
Midfield of Song, M’Villa and Arteta, the latter of which could rotate with Wilshire, Rosicky, Ramsey and even Arshavin who was a boss in that position for Russia or how about when he deputised for Cesc in the CL allowing Bendy to get a hat-trick?
We have not had a natural DM since our title challenging, worldclass squad was molested after the 07/08 season when we returned looking depleted and awkward. This summer appears to be the season of re-structure. Our youngsters can only improve with the signings we have been making lately and hopefully will cont.
Not many people have mentioned the fact that if we add the right players and keep the important ones,that we will have at least two decent squads we can rotate on all four trophy fronts.
Our options should be ridiculous post signing M’Villa another CB and extending the contracts of those up for it.
Another keeper would be a bonus me reckons.
Oh and if we could sign Yossi on a perm I would be delighted.
Good point Zico. Apologies for even thinking it.
๐
A centre back who can play RB would complete the cypher
I think flappy deserves one more season because we are a loyal club.
I dont think that he would like to stay in first place regarding his current position in the club Goonertown, so looking for backup goalie should also be on Arsenes to do list.
Eandy
Tis true
Overall I think en-gu-lund did well
Better than Holland. That’s saying something, even though KVNB were poor!
G’town. I think you mean KNVB (the dutch equivalent of the FA) , although I’m not sure why you think they were poor, unless you mean Oranje were poor, in which case, yes they were.
=====
I think Fabianski has flapped at his last cross in an Arsenal shirt, shame, because according to the boss he’s the best keeper he’d ever worked with (in training) unfortunatly his problem seems to be mental and not in the good Jens’ way.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/new-away-kit-set-to-be-revealed-on-july-12
So will it be the expected purple-striped horror?
‘Striking new look’, er yeah, that must be it ๐
H2H, I think he flapped a long time ago. He’s been rather decent in the few months before his injury that heralded SZCZ’s arrival.
I hope not, Ollie. it looks like those T-shirts mothers force their young kids to wear.
Ollie@348: England’s penalty takers are perfectly able to unsettle themselves without any need for assistance from Pirlo.
heh, true NBN. Especially those called Ashley.
The mooted away kit looks like decent pyjamas.
As our away football kit though, bleurgh.
Mr Tumble……Meet Mr Weed.
Nothing to see here……
keep moving…… ๐
Ollie, you may be right, I always assumed the worst when he was in the team, the defence never seemed that confident with him either.
===
That kit, the purple strippy thing really is the high point of bad taste, we’ll look like a bunch of psychedelic Denis the Menace’.
===
Zico, were there’s tumbleweed there’s usualy a saloon…….
Beer time!!
I’ll buy the Home Kit, I actually like it, the question is when, this season or the next ๐
The Away Kit on the other hand… ๐ Think I’ll spring for Arteta 8 and Henry 12 instead for last season’s kits (full with the latter) instead of the purple shocker.
And H2H, sorry to hear about your friend.
H2H,
the mere mention of psychedelic and saloon in the one post is enough to get me interested
Where do I sign? 8)
On the purple,green and yellow line.
Zico @355 – heh !
On the dotted line of course;
I (insert name) being of unsound mind and questionable judgement wish to partake in the consumption of physcodellic substances whille situated in said place (from hierby refered to as Saloon/The bar) where I shall also be partaking in the downing of liquids (hierby refered to as booze)
………………..
Goonerholic Industries or H2H Productions are in no way shape or form responsible for anything bad that may occur during your
tripvisit.signed
with love
zico 8)
Heh.
====
Ah, well in Trev, there’s a geezer working on the cable here, so I’m falling in and out of conection.
====
Thanx young hurricaine.
News Item: Joey Barton fined six weeks’ wages and stripped of QPR captaincy
Comment: What took so long?
Before anybody starts criticizing Roy Hodgson too harshly, let’s think of some things he could have done but didn’t:
1) Select Joey Barton
2) Make Joey Barton his captain
3) Select a host of other players who praise and/or emulate Joey Barton
Fuck it. No one in here. I think I will go to the wine bar down the road.. ๐
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jun/25/montpellier-arsenal-olivier-giroud
Well that’s that then – now for the next one ๐
Wine bar, Tel?
You’ll get your Holloway Yardy Boy Pass revoked. ๐
They really make an article out of not much, GT: apart from a short one-liner from Nicollin, they just rehash the old quotes from Arseblog news! ๐
Well there aren’t many more quotes on line anyway:
http://www.midilibre.fr/2012/06/25/dma-nicollin-confirme-pour-giroud,523061.php
Or, with a better picture from arseblog news :
http://news.arseblog.com/2012/06/montpellier-president-confirms-giroud-arsenal-move/
Hey Ollie et H2H: I only shouted that out to see who were hiding in the dark room at the back! Who else is in there?
๐
Re: That picture in Arseblog news: I certainly hope the man in the picture is the Montpellier president and not our new signing. He seems to be carrying an inordinate amount of weight in his checks and jowls. Not the sort that I would expect to have scored 25 goals in Ligue 1 last season, or in any other league either. ๐
Re: GT @386: I suppose I too qualify as no one? ๐
I like that President guy – sure the hell beat our boring Silent Stanley in the hair department.. although he’s not the one to hold your secrets it appears..
๐
Podolski, Giroud. Who is next? I wouldn’t mind seeing Arsenal accused of being the club that’s hoarding all the good players.
According our club scout Snir, Its Yann M’Vila next. Snir has already sent in his report so that’s all the formalities done ๐
Seeing Clichy going walkabout for France reminded me of painful memories when he did the same thing at Arsenal at critical times. I would say that Manchester City managing to win the league with him at left back speaks to their strength at the other defensive positions.
GT: If I were silent Stanley I would take a few cues from the critical social media sources (this one, specifically) and start sporting a red and white wig, tout de suite!
In Arsene we trust 8ball.. ๐
Drills it in off the post – fuck you Pirlo ๐
That President dude’s got barnet like a Ken Dodd diddy stick.
wtf just happened ?? I didn’t mean that honest…how will I face Trev now…OMG the shame ๐
Yeah Tel, we believe you.
:youmustbe’avingalarfsmileyface:
H2H. Looks like WordPress needs to add that smiley face to its repertoire. ๐
If I were the club scout, life woulda been a whole lot easier ๐
Classic GT goal, I see.
Although…..self-assist?!?
hey and heh Snir
H2H: Apologies accepted then? OK moving right along – I want to know how Dr Zee did the :poppyeyeoutthingy:
P.S. Hey Snir lad. I agree we’d be more decisive if a little more excitable..
๐
Planning a recreational summer league here in the Twin Cities with only two clubs: St. Paul Psychopaths and Minneapolis Mental Defectives. The games could get ugly. ๐
GT 409, do you mean this? ๐ ?
Obviously not, as you did it too.
D’oh.
http://news.arseblog.com/2012/06/brazil-manager-makes-shocking-revelation-about-andre-santos/
The day that the Arsenal switch Santos (and Sagna) to wing backs and play an additional DM or CB is the day we will be on the road to being champions..
Remember you heard it here first ๐
No this Ollie
http://goonerholic.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_eek.gif
Oh, I see.
Isn’t that just ๐ฎ then?
Weirdly not. heh.
I thought that one was :-O
๐ฏ
Mayb 8-0
It’s an 8 plus a capital o ๐ฏ
Interest in our very own self proclaimed best striker in the world(his mind)is global according to his agent,but could still stay at AFC???the sooner the better we get shot of these loopers the better.
Sorry, ๐ฏ
Google is your friend:
http://codex.wordpress.org/Using_Smilies
๐ฏ works too then?
This is ๐
Ok better stop there.
I’m feeling generous GT, so we’ll leave your punishment at a 3 post ban and 2weeks wages.
I’ll ask ‘Holic to email you my address for forwarding the 2 weeks wages. ๐
Just added another week’s wages for the frivolous “wtf just happened” comment. ๐
GT: Not only are you are the winner of the worst self-assist of the week award, but you should have had 2 additional weeks’ wages docked for the frivolous โwtf just happenedโ comment, not to mention your attempt to divert attention to other subjects with all this smiley business. Shocking.
Are you intercepting my posts 8ball ?
Hey. ๐ฏ
Trev. I was just saying, you were too lenient with your disciplinary regimen. As a past transgressor of the self-assisting rules I was strongly and effectively disciplined for my offenses, which nobody will tell you have been repeated, so I feel I have some authority to say these things.
Jesus Trev ๐ฏ some friend you are!
Word press smilies were so yesterday…..
๐
Thanks Ollie & H2H. Have to find a :stickmetongeoutthingy: for Trev ๐
Duty calls. I will now leave you in the capable hands of Dr Zee who I understand will have some new material that he’s picked up in foreign parts to share with the class ..
๐
Model justice for punishing self-assisting transgressions:
http://rlv.zcache.com/offisa_pupp_judge_jury_executioner_mousepad-p144127210437062183trak_400.jpg
horrible horrible misread of that smiley GT…at first it looked like :stickmeatoutmethongs: which left me slightly disturbed ๐
Sorry if you thought that was a bit harsh GT. ๐
Heh GT
Any “material” picked up on foreign “shores” has since been confiscated by Customs.
Apart from the stuff hastily swallowed by Dr Disorder, who’s still missing in action.
Look out for his legs if you’re passing any tables…..
Heh, caught myself hooked on youtube for some time and this is, ladies and gents, why Tomas should shoot much more than he does http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7vH9oZcfDA&feature=related
Dr. Disorder caught on camera, destroying the evidence:
http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/images/interview/brianwelch_drugs.jpg
bt8 was your ‘self-assist’ incident perchance a 25-pass move, all to yourself?
Or was it pik who did that?
Yes, Ollie. Massive transgression at the time, of course. Long ago and far away. Useful to draw upon the sins of one’s youth at times though. ๐
In this story:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18502562
Is “rolled up pieces of paper” a special BBC euphemism for “toilet paper” sanitized for a “family website”? Good news that UEFA are acting against the German racists, I suppose. I thought the racists at this UEFA were supposed to be the hosts but apparently not.
Last sentence should be I thought the racists at these euros were supposed to be the hosts but apparently not.
bt8, looks like there’s a new competition:
Russia got fined 3 times, having play 3 games.
So now Germany are on 2 fines, and I think a couple more got fined too (Czech and England(for pitch invasion), I think).
Basically : ‘whose fans are the biggest cunts?’ seems popular.
Phil Brown Radio 5 “why hasn’t Pirlo played in the premiership, is it because he’s homophobic?” meaning – he thought – afraid to leave home.
Thick orange tnuc – cheered me up though
OK I am back. What’s the verdict? Was there anyone prepared to defend me? Or do we have an official Goonerholic Witch-hunt on our hands..
๐ฏ
Atta boy Ollie: Trev’s & 8ball’s offenses were far, far worse than my honest mistake, now I find myself being punished by these self-appointed Guardians of Virtue. Kangaroo Court what?
๐
GT@413: I’ve suggested playing three at the back with Sagna and Santos as wingbacks on several previous occasions. just saying.
Evening all. T.S. Debby has upgraded my property to waterfront (new lake in the back). Been raining for days and wind a howling. Summer in Florida. So, it’s official about Giroud (smiles). Someone doing the math here, right. Wenger said 2 or 3 acquisitions (after we had Poldi). I’m in the camp that feel we really need a backup goalie, perhaps rotate Woj (like Fergie did with De Gea, not sure if spelt correctly). Nothing wrong with a little incentive for our young keeper. Later all, work calls (as in yard work).
@ 446 And Lester
Phil Brown Radio 5 โwhy hasnโt Pirlo played in the premiership, is it because heโs homophobic?โ meaning โ he thought โ afraid to leave home.
Priceless.
What a day. Could someone summarise the drinks content today for me please? I assume nobody needs a yellow or red card?
(hic) ๐
NED: I know but who’s taking any notice of us eh? ๐
Hey Guv: I will save you all the trouble. I have been accused of self-assisting and Trev has docked me 3-weeks wages and banned me for 2-whole posts. Can he do that?
๐
Don’t make me back-drink Tel.
Trev is sound of mind and judgement.
Last warning ๐
So do I still have to send the money to his private bank account in the Seychelles?
GT@453: story of my life. ๐
Liked Theo’s insight on arsenal.com about England’s plan for World Cup qualification: “We will play teams that arenโt as good as those we have played in [Euro 2012].โ
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-18578637
I can see it now: Yes Your Honour if it were that Mr Ferdinand was in fact not Black and a Cunt, our client would not have….
๐
isn’t that two in two sessions, GT? ๐
‘holic, you make it sound like trev needs to sign h2h’s form. that’d take care of it.
huh, couldn’t the tables be turned, then? not that cunterry has any priors. bad character, indeed.
Trev. Do I get a cut of the Seychelles dosh?
Show us the evidence Scruz :devillookingthingyattached:
…and 2-weeks wages in Jamaican Dollars is erm… ๐
gt@461…talk about having to backdrink…
and i think “seychelles dosh” is code for the pik you can get in these here humboldt hills…
‘Holic, you’re the boss, if you want a cut of the Seychelles dosh -otherwise known as Terry’s All Gold – then it is yours.
As the boss, I suggest you increase the fine by another week’s wages to cover your, erm, costs. :teeheeheethingywithaknowingwink:
If I copy-paste all of these smilies, one of them will surely convey the emotion I’m feeling right now….
๐ ๐ ๐ ๐
๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ณ
๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ
๐ฎ ๐ฎ ๐ฎ ๐ฟ
๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐ฏ ๐
๐ ๐ ๐ ๐
8) ๐ ๐ โ
๐ก ๐ก ๐ก โ
๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ก
๐ ๐ ๐ โก
๐ ๐ ๐
@19: H2H, please accept my condolences for the passing of your friend.
@446: I laughed my head off at that Phil Brown post! Does tan in a can kill your brain cells?
@345: Grazie Mille Scruz 8)
Seems like we have to call the boss Arsene Wenger P.I. from now on. Cue the saxophone and get ready for the entrance of the femme fatale ๐
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/258676/Marco-Reus-enjoys-rave-review-from-Arsene-Wenger/
Cannons, I do admit to being always ready for the entrance of the femme fatale. ๐
And in this case, you should too:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/liliambrosia/femme%20fatale/femmefatale5.jpg
CoR@465: I think you missed one or two..
Let’s put the Seychelles dish behind the bar and give Lars’s wallet a break for a minute or two.
– dish
+ dose
Damn you, iPad type ahead.
Unless, of course, the Seychelles dish is a femme fatale…
Double damn you
– dose
+ dish
Aargh, no
– dish
+ dosh
Sod it. Lars, you wallet. Urgently.
Fats Domino, anyone?:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwqDotvE9SE
That one felt so good it left me aching to hear another one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNNiBcU3BR4&feature=related
And if you liked those two there’s a lot more great music of that ilk at:
wwoz.org
Invest in Africa
That is what Sunderland’s new shirts will say. Not since Barcelona’s shirts said UNICEF can I remember a shirt sponsor I could approve.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18582139
Although I didn’t mind Chang, the Thai brewers that have been on the shirts at Everton.
Headline: http://straightalkingooners.com/agent-interest-in-nicklas-bendtner-is-overwhelming/10589/?
Full story: http://straightalkingooners.com/agent-interest-in-nicklas-bendtner-is-overwhelming/10589/?
Comment: Please don’t make me larffffffffffffffffff.
That headline should have been:
Interest in Nicklas Bendtner โis overwhelmingโ.
@468: 8ball, Iโm ready like Tevin Campbell. Let me light my cigar and adjust my hat 8)
@470: NBN, If you think itโs hard to type that message on an Iphone, try โShe sells seashells on the seashore in Seychellesโ ๐
@478: Could be just me but Craig Gardner looks a bit simple in the photo ๐
Good gesture by Sunderland. I wonder if this will ensure calls going their way like Barcelona after they put Unicef on their shirts?
Think I’ll go to bed before someone accuses me of “auto-assisting” or something even more sinister. ๐
Top o’ the mornin’ to you, Cannons. Nite for me. ๐
Ned@dish/dose/dosh+/-, that is some fuuuny stuff. if we did put the seychelles dish behind the bar, i think everyone would be distracted enough not to think about lars’ wallet…except maaaybe wolfie.
cor, nienti amici. unfortunately his higgins just retired…
Have a good one 8ball. I think I’ll lurk around the bar and maybe nick a free drink or two while the bartender is not looking…
I’m on your side GT. Punishment meted out to you is way too harsh, I feel
8ball’s was a much more sinister self assist ๐
What was it? 25 posts in a row?!
I think GT’s punishment is harsher because he was wearing advertising on his lucky speedoes as he self-assisted ๐
NBN I’m surprised you didn’t make a dash for it.
Hey Harsha, I wondered if bt8 was at it again, thankfully it looks like he had to go to bed much before 500.
taking the ball up the left wing, cutting inside past the center circle, sends a pirloesque cross field ball towards the right side of the box.
*controls it on his chest, but there is no way past cuntley cole. So passes it back infield*
takes the ball at the point and dribbles left, then passes back towards the center circle.
and so doing has to go to sleep. goodnight, seychelle gal, see you in my dreams (we can have a drink at eduardo’s pad, see…).
*finds it difficult to control the slightly over hit pass from scruz, loses it, wins it back again, passes it back to the goalie*
Afflicted by *boilk*, Mr C weaves his way unsteadily down the pitch looking for a team mate…
Suddenly an Albatross appears. Holic shoots it down from the stands.
Too much cheese last night…
It’s 1986
It’s Maradona
He slaloms past the whole England defence……
Prevents DrZ from self assisting
You have to say……that was brilliant!
Do your worst you card mongers…..
Harsha. A medal for you.
Harsha,
How could you?
It was Maradona FFS…..
Oh well, onward to 600…..
It’s Maradona……..
Heh, sorry Dr Z ๐ Had to be done. House rules, innit?
Rules?
Pah!
The only thing good about this morning so far has been Harsha poaching that goal off of the latin American exile
You’re all a bunch of killjoys.
I’m off to Le Groan to throw some chewing gum……
heh, great goal Hazza.
Mightiily surprised though, there’s normally nobody around at this time of the day, I was refreshing just now thinking maybe there’d be a post from Harsha and we’d be at 492-493 at most.
Yer all ‘orrible lurkers.
Great slagging off of Nasti by Sagna over his behaviour.
Same Euro fall out seems to have ended out interest in MVila due to his attitude. Fair enough, dressing room harmony is vital.
Arsene knows. Except when he didn’t make Gilberto captain.
zico, I know you’re Scottish, but Maradona is a knut..
VEry well played indeed, Harsha.
Heh, incredible.
I e-mailed back a colleague to tell here I’d support Spain in the semifinal but Germany (or Italy in the final), and one of her colleagues messages me straight back from the work communicator asking me why I prefer Germany to win.
http://www.francefootball.fr/#!/news/2012/06/26/094543_nasri-suspendu-deux-ans.html
We’ll see what comes out of it, but this says Nasri could be suspended for 2 years by the French Federation.
Menez, MโVila and Ben Arfa could get 4 games..
Not that much has changed since the last World Cup. I hear that cunt Evra laughing from here. Anelka too.
I turn around for one minute and Harsha’s nicking a goal.
Can’t blink in this bar…
Just came across a rumour that said Lewis Holtby will be our next signing. Gotta love the internet for time-wasting ๐
Anyway, I’m off to play some footy.
A demains monsieurs et mademoiselles
Most national sides are just a bunch of individuals playing for themselves I feel. Netherlands, France and to an extent even Portugal are teams I hate just for this reason
If Mvila is even half a cunt that Nasri is, I say screw him. Let’s move on
Look folks, the best kept secret in the world is out:
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/olivier-giroud-agrees-deal-to-join-arsenal
Meanwhile,
http://www.francefootball.fr/#!/news/2012/06/26/100909_drogba-finalement-a-barcelone.html
heh, Dogbag…. having just signed a 2 1/2 years contract in China is already about to sign a new one with other knuts.
I like the fact that the announcement coincides with today’s ‘2011/2012 Player review: Ju-Young Park’.
heh.
Great first name, Mr Giroud ๐
Morning ‘Holics
Welcome ‘Ollie’ Giroud. Our attacking options now have the depth that we lacked last season, assuming RVP & Theo stay.
Our bench will be formidable too.
Per ‘Holic, another defender and a decent back-up goalie and we’re in fine shape to challenge for some of that elusive silverware.
H2H – Saw the tragic news in your earlier drink. As I also turned 47 this year, your words were particulalry poignant. Best wishes.
Ollie – Is park an ALAUS? (Almost Like An Unused Signing)
Greetings TS.
ALAUS, heh, I like it.
Giroud! ๐
I’m sayin’ nuffink
F.A.O. LeG Rash:
WTF IS WENGA DOIN’ NAAH, FFS?
FIRST HE SIGNS A USELESS GERMAN (PLODDY?) AND NAAH ITS ANUVVER CRAP FRENCHIE. CHAMAK MARK 2 NEONE? SPENT LOADSA MUNNY TOO!
WHEN WILL HE EVER LEARN? HE WANTS US TO FAIL. HE CANT EVEN RESIGN ROBIN KOS HES 2 TIGHT. AT LEAST ROBIN IS ENGERLISH.
WENGA AAHT NAAH!!!
Tee Hee, Hee!?!
Let the squad number speculation commence ๐
‘H
Is #22 still vacant after Clichy’s departure (pun-intended)?
It rhymes beautifully with his family name.
To the tune of Metal Guru:
Ollie Giroud twenty-two
Ollie Giroud twenty-two
He thinks Sp*rs are shite
His goals are dynamite, oh woh
Giroud??? Who saw that one coming?! That has come out of NOWHERE!
@ 522 Tru Bollix
ha ha ha
Ohh ohh Holic @ 524! The Squid’s soon to be vacant No. 18! That’s the number I’d like if I played for Arsenal… 8)
He asked for 12.
Don’t think he’ll get it with JC coming back.
Gonna take a punt on Mvila joining regardless of his NT antics.
Welcome Giroud.
Two strikers in, so far no players out that we want to keep. Good job so far by Ivan, Arsene and/or whoever it is that is doing the business.
‘holic 524, I thought just that.
Bienvenue Olivier, you mean, Lars.
Once again, thank you all for your kind words of support, they’re highly appreaciated.
====
So, a xmas morning feeling in the summertime (well summertime in the broadest sense of the word), you wake up to find a brand new shiney signing has been dropped off by Santa as you slumbered.
Good stuff, now I’ll go and find out something about him.
Nah Ollie, Lars would say;
Vรคlkommen Giroud
Olivier est un Canonnier (had to check the translation of Gunner as I wasn’t sure of the spelling in French, heh!)
Food for thought for Le Grove.
So far we have two players who have ‘agreed to join Arsenal’. But they haven’t signed yet!!!!
maybe the club’s cooked up some kind of sale or return deal re the newboys. If Wee Woolly Walcott and RvP re-sign, we get to send ’em back, no harm done and no dosh sploshed.
@ 532
So how come I didn’t get a new bike? ๐
International players who are banned from international matches ?
Sounds ideal !
When does Sebastian Frey sign ?
Without trying to stir shit up too much, a reliable source got in contact with me today to say that the M’Villa deal is back on and is almost a done deal!!!
I’m trying to get a link but it was apparently retweeted over the last 24 hours.
Watch this space, aye?
Trev – wtf?
Harsha – I will be recommending a yellow card for your attempts to cause disharmony the squad.
GTerry fully deserved his punishment, regardless of previous indiscretions by 8ball.
The only truly accidental self-assist to date was myown. ๐
It’s not worth carding Zico, sorry Maradonna, for his attempted self-assist. Anyone who misses from point blank range like that is not going to be selected anyway. ๐
Goonertown – what wtf?
The only bad thing about iPads is this predictive text – as bad as Stingy Voyageur, trying to tell me what I want to say.
Wonder who he is plaguing now ?
H2H, top marks for the Swedish welcome ๐
Trev, just turn that feckin predictive crap off and you’ll never have to worry about it.
@ 541
Not so much a miss, as a cynical obstruction.
Still awaiting the day when the authorities will promote skill over brute force….. 8)
Can you actually turn it off on iDevices, Lars?
I’ve turned it off on all sort of computers/phones (it doesn’t have a clue about you flitting between 2 languages anyway, and sometimes tend to favour Merkan over English….), but couldn’t on the iPod.
How can you be obstructed standing on the goal line ?
A miss is a miss is a miss, I’m afraid.
Unless it’s a Wolfie. ๐
What about that handballing thing into the net, Dr Z? ๐ฟ
Giroud has got 9 apparently so it’s goodbye Park.
AL, cheers for that Phil Brown gaffe.Wolfie has been making hay on Twitter, as you might imagine. ๐
What a thick, orange piece of overcooked excrement that man is . And yet he is allowed to broadcast to the Nation ? That gaffe should spell the end Of Brown’s broadcasting career for no other reason than that he is just too dense to open his mouth in public. I will not however hold my breath.
A welcome to Monsieur Giroud .
Great idea Lars. Any clues ?
I can’t find a setting for “feckin predictive crap”.
Remember I only know where people’s bits are, not machines’. ๐
predictive text can be switched off quite easily on an iPad.
Unless of course you’re a Luddite.
*points finger at Luddite formerly known as Trev*
OK it wasn’t obstruction, call it a push
Ollie: yes, you can. On my iPhone 3GS it’s under Settings->General->Keyboard – just turn “Auto-Correction” to OFF and Robert has become your father’s brother.
Hey Tabs, sort Zico out please. ๐
Trev, see my answer to Ollie, it should be the same on the iPad.
Feckin work getting in the way of me not replying too late again…
Cheers LfkaT,
I’ll have a Guinness, tabs. ๐
ThanksLarsthatseemstohavedoneit. ๐
Zico typing in freakin italics just to make me feel dim. ๐
And put it on my tab, tabs!
And take one off Lars’ tab and put it on my tab,Tabs.
Giroud has got 9 apparently so itโs goodbye Park.
Tabs, please please pleasedon’t tell me it’s some ‘information’ you got from….Twitter, right?
Have I signed anyone yet ?
Lars,
As the sole provider of the line of credit of all at the bar on the Happy Train, the Executive takes a dim view of your “moonlighting” into areas that have previously been the sole preserve of our technical genius, Professor Storey.
Focus, please.
Cheers, Lars 553! Have a drink on your own tab! (heh)
Who is Giroud and what’s he got 9 of ?
Guinness Dr Z , on Lars tab as requested. ๐
I wonder if Phil Brown was part of the “mob” that burned down that paediatrician’s house, when The News of The World were having one of their intermittent and ill-advised crackdowns on kiddie fiddlers ?
Wouldn’t surprise me .
@ 562
See 381 and 382.
Ollie, well err … yes actually ๐
Apparently he’s wearing 9 in his “welcome to AFC” vid on .com. Haven’t watched it myself but thought I’d pass on the gossip.
I’m helpful like that ๐
Trev @548, for the last time, of course I’m a Miss.
My breasts are coming on magnificently, and I didn’t even have to take any hormones ๐
Well I thought we were signing older players these days, but Zico ?
He must be sixty years old now, but he is rather good.
Re: Snir @528: Aren’t we leaving 12 open for TH14?
Re: Trev @541: After his failed self-assisting attempt Dr. Z’s morale must be so low maybe you should consider slinging him some punishment just to make him feel better. ๐
I didn’t miss.
I was pushed.
Not that Mike Dean (aka Trev) was prepared to acknowledge the fact……
Harsha = Shawcross.
Boooooooooooo……
You shouldn’t be coming on anyone’s breasts, young man.
tabs, er, only if there’s a ‘photoshopped’ version of the video.
I’ve just watched it again and there is no sign of a ‘9’ anywhere.
People on twitter, truly, are cunts.
Seriously, unless it comes from arseblog or ‘holic or me, don’t trust them ๐
That was to Wolfie, things move quickly here.
So feel free to slag off the idiots while I stay away from twitter.
Good idea 8ball, let’s make it a Red for Zico, and another week of GoonerTerry’s wages.
Re: Peter Hill-Wood @574: Time to review our transitive and intransitive verb cases.
Case 1: Coming on someone’s breasts: Transitive
Case 2: My breasts are coming on magnificently: Intransitive.
Let’s test what we have learned with a one question quiz:
Is it transitive or intransitive if you come on Lady Nina’s bun?
Merkans giving grammar lessons to PHW? ๐ฏ
Wise words Ollie. Rest assured , I will ๐
Unfortunately Gareth Le Cunt has seen fit to block me. Can’t think why .
heh, baffling indeed ๐
Re: Ollie @580. The world is a strange place these days. ๐
Trev , you naughty man.
Thank you however for describing me as “young” … unless you meant in the “Ashley” sense of the word of course, in which case my thanks are retracted .
Should have been Mike DeaN –
Why didn’t my predictive text correct tha…… Oh yeah. ๐
Trev, 8ball
Never mind the grammar, surely a pun relating to transvestism is going begging there.
In your hands pun-meister.
8ball @579,
Is the answer transexual ?
@579 –
I think Lady Nina would be rather intransigent about that one.
Heh,
I like Mike Dead better.
And stick your red cards where the sun presumably doesn’t shine.
(I would not venture beyond presumption in this particular instance….)
Isn’t Wolfie is the expert on Transitive & Intransitive.
Predictive text is the reason why there are two of me.
589 Zico – I think that covers most of Uk at the moment.
No number on the Giroud kit in the vid, probably wishful thinking by someone.
@589 –
What use are all my red cards in Scotland ? ๐
Maradona intercepts.
Again
He’s past one
And another…..
Another England defender is on his arse…..
Careful son !
*prepares to take redcard from ocket*
He’s inside the penalty area…..
Picks the ball up with both hands and punches it towards the goal.
You cannot say England weren’t warned……
You’re off !
Oh and Deano – stick your red card where the sun doesn’t shine i.e. your ocket ๐ฟ
*goes to find out how to turn predictive text back on*. ๐
…..after it rebounds from the back of the net….well in Zico.
Will it be up for a video review?
Btw sorry to nick your favourite spot tabs,
I just reboot the PC and the century’s gone already!
Booooo!
Dr Feelgood@563: I do aplogize most humbly, but seeing as Professor Storey was seemingly otherwise engaged (well, he bloody well wasn’t to be seen around here anyway) I just wanted to help the good Doctor Trev with his problems. I did of course only tell him what I learned from Professor Storey, honest gov!
Dubious goals panel says zico didn’t score.
I still have no fucking idea how that stupid panel didn’t give Thierry his due against Blackburn.
How the fuck could that be considered og?
*slide hands into their ockets and trundle back off to work*
see that 8 ball, a sentence containing 3 consecutive prepositions – beat that !
zico didn’t score
Maradona, on the other hand…….. heh.
No worries Uplympian , things moved way too fast for me to even figure in the goalmouth scramble .
Diego Maradona . Pfft. Yesterday’s cunt.
In other news –
Uplympian attempts to shave Tabs, and nicks his favourite spot. Ugghhh !
Ollie, 666 is still up for grabs.
Luddite Trev…I am even more Luudite. I have my new iPad thingy and although I type smileys at the end of my prose and they show, they do not appear on the finished article when transcribed onto the web page!
Any suggestions kind sir (or any other kind holics reading this ).
Lotsofsmileywhatits in thought.
Tabs – as FG said re Phil Brown (orangy/brown, surely) – priceless. You really couldn’t make it up – though i did have to check it to see if i’d heard it right, and even then i wasn’t sure he could have meant what he thought he meant.
Fukwittery of the highest order. AND be honest, i confess i wouldn’t mind the BBC continuing to team him up with the Savage every now and then – a la last nite; for truly that’s entertainment. (Though admittedly, of the lowest order).
And i do appreciate that in these straitened times it might be difficult to justify such an utterly abandoned pissing up the wall of the public purse – hey ho.
Good to hear the twitter hills are alive with the sound of Wolfie – ’bout time too.
Have been chewing over whether to bother mentioning it, but thought i would – in the spirit of clarity: my “i’m sayin’ nuffink” bit, a bit earlier was actually a response to summat the good Dr. had posted a bit before that.
Laters fellas.
heh zico 611
615 bit of a hairy moment there!
Ooh @ 612 , another hissy fit…..
Greatest player ever. And a fan of the Peruvian marching powder – what’s not to like ๐
pardon “to be honest” – honest
last bit above probably pointless as bet the Dr. knew anyway. Oh well, too late, it’s there – can’t wriggly out of it now.
The work day has now officially come to an end. Well, technically not, but I have decided I have done what I can do today and shall now feck off home.
Dear Lars
It is the summer time, therefore a period of non-Arsenal travel. I am busy working on next season’s fun-inducing transport. Forgive my absence but am always contactable by any member of the bar for questions of a technical nature. It appears you have assisted Luddite Trev in his iDevice issues. I shall therefore return to the lab until I am required again.
Thank you for your continued funding of the bar in these straightenend times.
Yours, Edwin.
PS: All cheques remain payable to The Feelgood Foundation.
Ulympian
All you need to know about making smileys;
http://codex.wordpress.org/Using_Smilies
====
Wow, that was a quick ton.
Well in Zico. Mike Dead getting in the way means that it wasn’t a self assist.
Rulz is rulz, innit.
Whoops my 618 – comment was for 613 not 615…….welcome to the world of confused.com sponsored by Arthur Guinness.
Apologies to all.
Heh, The Professor knows….
Rulz
Pah.
H2H thanks for the smiley info – will read it slowly in a darkened room and re-surface in due course. What confuses things is that the iPad has a complete keyboard of emoticons already loaded and they work on the page u type but do not show on the finished article.
As for Mike Dead assisting that Primadona Argie for his 600, it’s been reported that he was attempting to get the red card out to him but the hand of god paralysed his arms and he couldn’t manage itโบ
Psed – Do the Scots still bother to put themselves through their own special agonies via international football? Or do they stick with getting all their jollies on that front via the lady’s curling team these days?
Blimey progress….I’ve got pre 1970 smiley viz black & white om my last comment. Will try harder to get full colour version
AL,
I can only endorse all you say (cept for the Savage/Brown Double act continuing- I would like to see both dispatched to The Tower where they are both slowly eaten by Ravens).
Dr Z – “Another” hissy fit ? Wasn’t the last one Wolfie ? ๐
@ 627
A question more suited to Wolfie’s cousin, Heather McSmallballs.
This particular Scot has been indifferent to the national football team for some time.
I do still get a laugh watching the Gary Lineker’s of this world getting a hard-on for nothing every two years or so…….schadenfruede is alive and well in Fife ๐
I stand corrected tabs,
I confused you with that chap from Funchal…. ๐
630..when Tossing the Caber becomes a world sport, the Scots will re-surface. BBC football pundits will be in their element as they are the biggest tossers around
Admittedly – that too would be entertainment tabs
“A hard-on” – nice to know you still care Dr. Zee – but that MUCH!?! Unhealthy i reckon. And it’s made me spit me tea. (Peruvian, a coupla Cubilas o’ sugar – if you don’t mind).
heh zico 631. That’s a bit below the belt, isn’t it?
Meaning no doubt Wolfie will approve.
8ball/PHW – Sorry to be a pedant, but ‘transitive’ and ‘intransitive’ are not verb tenses, they are actually verb types or classes. Tense refers to the ‘time’ of the verb, e.g. past or present.
Not to confused with ‘voice’ (active/passive) or ‘mood’ (indicative/imperative).
Hope that clears it up. I’ll get my coat and put my ‘Understanding Lexis’ book in the pocket on my way out.
Heh Uplympian
Maybe, but I see your Alan Shearer and raise you one Clive Tyldsley….
*At this point the more experienced players would fold*
get coat OR get coated?
@ 363
I suggest you read again – you’ve got the wrong end of the, errr, stick ๐
Funchal Dr Z ?
The only Madeira I know is cake which I like to take at 4 00 with my afternoon tea.
I holiday in the bushes of Robert Pires’ garden, and take the odd weekend break stalking Mark Spitz.
That is, of course, when I’m not feeling homophobic.
Oops – pardon Zee – i see. An even more disturbing image. I’ve now spat me crisps. Cheese and Onion’ll never taste the same again
You need to dig a bit deeper Wolfie, and sooner or later you will, ahem, come across a preening poster boy…..
If “homophobic” is an aversion to leaving home is “geordiephobic” an aversion to dragon-slayers?
He is a Geordie, right?
Ollie @575 – And me ๐
I’m rather reliable this summer so far ๐
Frank Warren (a boxing promoter) who is apparently a big and well connected Gooner, has just said in a radio interview that he has info that RvP is definitely off.
He says it “new” info.
I don’t know the dude so I have no idea how reliable he is.
So Dr Z only gets a hard on every 2 years , and even then it’s all for nothing ?
Sounds a bit like my relationship with Pele.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/giroud-i-have-the-weapons-to-do-well-here
WMD? I am yet to read but I suspect he’s not talking about the old Armand Traorรฉ knuckledusters.
Psed – intriguing to discover that retired German centre-forwards end up in Fife – who’d a fort!
Heh the Reverand ultimately knows…..
Snir,
Frank Warren is a gangster cunt . He has zero inside info.
To be fair to him I heard the interview myself this morning. He did only say that he “felt” RVP was off and claimed no inside info.
I’m assuming Twitter for your source ? If so, go and get heavy with those spreading utter lies.
Seriously,
Does anyone really think van Persie is staying after we have signed TWO new strikers?
This has a feel of the elephant in the room to me……if he intended to stay what’s stopping him saying so, right now?
We would be better to get this out there and move on rather than go through the agonies of last summer, seems to me.
Who’s Geordie ?
I am completely lost.
I need to get out more clearly ๐
Dr Z , I have more or less given up on RVP staying.
The only advantage that I can see to Arsenal in keeping it quiet is that transfer fees for incoming players don’t get even more inflated on the back of us getting in 20-25m for him .
Snir, as long as it’s not a retweet ๐
Ah, Camberwell is around. I was reminded of him when driving on Avenue de Camberwell the other day.
zico, I think RvP has done the scoring thing and now intends to be a playmaker. Number 10. Dennis.
I was convinced that the signing of Giroud meant he was off, but I know can confidently say that….. I have no fucking idea.
But don’t call me Frank Warren.
Snir, I hope you didn’t (re-)tweet what you posted here or it would seriously undermine your point ๐
tabs, ye of little faith. Despite not knowing, I have started believing again that he is actually staying.
In the case he isn’t though, good thing we moved early.
@ 650
I tend to agree – I think he’s gone.
Not convinced Ollie, but it’s certainly a nice thought, so I shall believe it as gospel.
Might even go on Twitter and quote RVP directly.
“Signings of Giroud and Poldi have convinced me Arsenal will dominate. I look forward to the No.10 role. I have also taken a pay cut .”
636 heh Zico my pair of aces Lee Dixon & Martin Keown beats your Alan
( I am totally impartial re KKK ) Hansen & Andy ( politically correct) Gray. Let’s share the spoils….and auto consume on Lars tab.
Two new strikers and both left-footed like “our” RvP – hmmmmmm
Psed a chap what went to my school went to court accused of shooting Frank Warren once. It was in all the papers and that. When he got off the charge the police didn’t go looking for anyone else, and Frank Warren – who knew him well – accused no-one else of carrying the thing out. Where’s ‘e when you need ‘im? (Only kidding Frank – if you’re looking in. No, leave it Frank, it was all a long time ago. I know it’s not funny, really. I meant nuffink by it – honest. I’ve got a big gob, me, ask anyone. But i’m ‘armless Frank. And a coward.)
Tu quoque, zico?
heh tabs 656
AL, surely there are several teams who have only right-footed strikers.
So while ‘all left-footers’ is most unusual, it’s not outlandish, and I really like the idea.
Defenders aren’t used to it.
Noting Podolski scored with his right in this tournament, RvP too, defenders won’t know what hit them.
In fact, I believe we only had right-footers up front in 2001-2002?
So we’re in a distorted rightist world, but Arsรจne is clever ๐
Ok Ollie…let’s assist u upto the 666 so you can ack up and head off home. U can still just call yourself Ollie – no need to cwhen’s ourself Ollie G – when we want to call our new signing a cunt he will just be known as Giroud
fair play to you Ollie it’s not impossible i s’pose. And maybes it’s AWs new big IDEA: Out with the Teenage-Midget-Masterplan and in with the left-wing revolution. Up The Reds – and all that!
Ollie @ 660
It’s all too reminiscent of last summer……apart from the fact that at least we have learned to replace BEFORE the season has started.
I shall eat your Belgian beret * if he stays! ๐
*This is not a code, or Smallballsian metaphor you disgusting lot…
Only left-footers up front ?
I’m not sure I agree with this new sectarian policy ๐
Oops – pardon seems i’m the evil one. And that’s “AW’s big Idea” an’ all
It’s Ok if we have an only left-footers upfront policy, tabs – s’long as we have a few decent proddies in midfield. Amen!
Ollie’s missed his 666 special and appears to have walked off in disgust. Zico 667 if it were Lars a different connotation could indeed be construed viz OllieLars.
Psed – Dr. Zee – would that be a rasp-beret!??!?
I’ll get me ‘at and coat
Hah, And Lester is the devil.
Back, Beelzebub…… ๐ฟ
Rev Al – with all these wide men accumulating, maybe next version of wengerball is based on a wing & a prayer.
Right Ollie, in my endeavours to be the newest fulliest-fedged ITK, I have tracked down the source of the Giroud No.9 story.
Apparently when the transfer was confirmed, Giroud opened a twitter account in the name of @Gunner9. This was soon taken down and relaced with @Giroudofficial.
If I hear anything more, I’ll be sure to let you know ๐
I need a strapline.
Tabs – “First with all the shit.”
Hmm , needs working on .
Rev AL,
I’m fine with all that, so long as we don’t have the Buddhists at the back, far too laissez-faire for my liking.
Tabs / Rev Al. At th back we could do with the Methodists rather than the Unitarians at at present
Zee, don’t tell me you didn’t know that already
Uplympian – i’m hoping that was last season bruvvah/sistah???
laissez-faire play to you tabs
Wow, I’ve just learned that we are having a leap second on Friday.
After 23.59.59 but before 00.00.00 it will be 23.59.60.
Blinding!
Praise be Uplympian – a little methodist in the madness that is too often our defence – hallelujah on that front – errr – back!
Heh, it’s only when I came back here that I saw my las post was 664.
Thought I might get 666 as it seemed quiet, but I see there were a mere 15 posts in the meantime….
I hate this RvP thing.
I swing back and forth between staying or leaving every thirty minutes!!
Argh.
I’ll be sure to enjoy every minute of it Ollie. On Friday you say – why that’s long enough to squeeze in a coupla extra pints!!!!!
Re: Ollie (Not G): Is it considered a sectarian or a non-sectarian observance, this celebrating the leap second?
Well it would seem a helluva gamble to me and most un-arsenal like to go out and buy two strikers, before we sold RVP..!
Its a pretty big financial gamble – and if there’s one thing we don’t do, its gamble. We are, by nature, very conservative and risk averse.
I think the two players have been bought to supplement what we have because Chamahk & Park were plainly not good enough. Would we really bring in two new strikers – so that we could sell the only one we can rely on? Where’s the sense in that? There’s an obvious adaptation time when a player comes to PL footie no matter how good they are!
Of course, I don’t deny that there is a possibility that RVP will go. And indeed, considering that he has not signed, is under media curfew and indeed when we look at how Kronke seemingly intervened in the Nasri saga last season to ensure the club got some return rather than see him leave for nothing, then it may even be logical to think he will go. But if he does go, it will be only happen on the clubs terms. Nasri didn’t score 30 goals a season, so I think we can expect the price to be alot higher than 25m if its Citeh who want him!
I’m a bruvva Rev……I assume the bruvva/sister ??? is pertaining to our dear friend Wofie. Thank you for airing your time with me – I hope I’m not keeping you from the communion wine.
Who would have thought the elimination of England would have elicited this level of giddiness in the bar? I haven’t seen the happy train get out of the station this fast in weeks. Maybe expectations have been met so happiness reigns??
@ 682
Don’t tell the brothers Goram….. ๐
heh
Re: Joe, Did Kroenke really intervene, and wouldn’t that would make it a first? Just sayin’ ….
Not at all Uplymian. I’m awash with it.Psed 678 was a reply to your 674 – but who’s counting!?
And on the gender front – i find it’s always best to look/ask first…especially as i’ve first-hand knowledge that boy/girl Wolfie is not the only mysterious creature on ‘ere. (Don’t have sordid thoughts please anyone, i’m a man of the cloth. Oh that doesn’t help me argument does it.)
Joe,
At 31 and in the last year of his contract, I think we would sell for ยฃ25m.
You may think he is worth more, but then so was Cesc. There is no point in keeping him if he wants to be elsewhere. Time will tell, but my expectation is we will re-sign Walcott and Robin will be somewhere else.
Ollie not G. That would mean you probably passed by Chez Camberwell and Management – super central we are (or that’s how Master Yoda would’ve said it)
As for ‘getting coated’ – why not? Worryingly, when I punched “coated” into my phone, one of the options was “fisted”. Who compiles these predictive dictionaries? Sickos, that’s who.
Joe….God only knows and do far he’s not telling. Maybe Rev AL has a better link for the information? Middle Eastlands may feel the need to dispose of one of Tevez / Dzeko before signing a new striker. As for fee, we should hold out for more if we are selling to a major competitor but RVP’s age compared to Na$ri does affect the final price. One could argue that although we have sold them half a team these past few years, how many of these players have made a major impact on their success?
I think we should have reserved that extra second for the start of the 100m . Given our boys a bit of a headstart.
Maradona,
On that lethal left foot…….
Dr Z , think RVP is only 29 .
On his debut against the Jocks …
They cannot get near this left-footed genius…..
Bang!
Malvinas!
RE: Tabs @697. If RVP is only 29 we should raise the price by 20m for TWO additional seasons!
takes time out from scoring to shoot a journalist, take some come down drugs and wonder if I, the great Maradona , am slowly turning into the first human Beachball.
Malvinas ? Not bothered.
At least we’ve still got Scotland ๐
@ 697
29 really?
Thought he was younger than me. Footballers look old, dontcha think?
@ 703
Heh, for now. ๐
Tabs 702 – more like a medicine ball!
Psed – a sort of side point/issue thingy re something Joe said@ 385.
i think it’s a myth that Arsenal are conservative and risk averse. The massive investment the club has undertaken re buying and developing young players is by definition risky.
Alongside this the club moved to a 400million pound brand new stadium in central London, so following a twin policy fraught with enormous risks.
No other club that I can can think of in recent times has had the courage or imagination to pull off anything as remotely risky (that word again). It’s part of what grates with me re the nonsense the ignoramusfukwitmoronasses over at Le bunchofcuntz spout.
In comparison tossing 25 or 35 or 50 million quid at some so-called star striker is a piece of piss – although of course it might lumber you with a useless piece of (i’ll stop there with the below the waist stuff).
And the club’s only p’raps now able to admit to itself that the stadium is a success – and that we can p’raps start to invest heavilyish in the squad again. I hope so anyway
According to twitter, Zico’s 700 goal has been referred to the SFA review panel for rescinding.
Zico curling one in – great scot!
Dr Z, just looked it up. He is 29 on 6th August so younger than I thought.
And yes, most footballers look much older than you.Last time I saw Danny Mcgrain, he couldn’t hold a candle to you for youthful vigour ๐
Uplympian – don’t hold your breath waiting on that lot making a decision. They still think there is a club called Rangers…..
Heh, Danny McGrain.
Maradona waltzes on toward 800…….burgers….. ๐
sorry somefink joe said at 685 – but who’s counting – apart from me – obviously.
800 – pounds – maybe
I apologise for earlier misinformation, as I now realise that the 30th of June is Saturday.
So the leap second is on Saturday night, not Friday.
Also need to specify that times indicated were UTC/GMT, not British or Belgium Summer Time.
This kid is talented!!!
LOL LMAO
http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/video-top-schmoks-lukas-podolski-arsenal-germany-releases-europop-single-halleluja/
700? Shouldn’t zico be off the pitch already with his red card?
Age of footballers; Catalan jr was astounded the other day when he realised that I was older than RVP. His actual words: “wow. Older than RVP!”
We also had the following conversation;
“Daddy. You’re older than Mummy?”
“yes son”
“so, why do you have to do what she says??”
I had no answer. ๐
Snir, I’m trying to convince myself that Lu’s involvement in that enterprise was entirely in the spirit of irony and self-parody. Sadly, I’m not wholly convinced …
Dr C – the answer of course is trousers, and wearing of.
The Prosecution rests, your Honour.
*Sticks tongue out at Ollie*
Heh Mr C ๐
That’s like something out of eurovison snir he’ll be ripped in the dressing room!
@ 714
Nice tie.
AL if you think we’re risk-takers, we got nothing on Sp*rs. Every year they risk wasting tonnes of cash buying loads of new players, being embarrassed by us and perennially reminded who owns North London. It hasn’t paid off for many a decade.
Shawcross Dr Z? I belong to your team! Just took your goal away. Nani may be? ๐
*pukes*
I see you have scored another very dubious goal
Just have to wait for the ultimate holicbar authority(not Trev) to rule on it ๐
Dr 716, heh ๐
At least we know what his initiation song will be ๐
Aye CG (blimey, there’s 2 of the blighters in) @ 722 – which in turn allows us boundless opps – where they’re concerned – to be piss-takers. Long may it continue.
CG @ 716 – heh. Your boy’s realized that daddy’ll (probably) never lead The Arse front-line, and that actually it’s gals that run the show. Big, BIG SUMMER for the wee fella
@714 hopefully someone at Arsenal will have a word with Lukas. And hopefully that word will be “NO!”
AL @ #707 – Very well observed. Really like that perspective. Brave and risky even?
Dr.C @ #716 – Priceless (as they say). You have definitely found the secret to a harmonious marriage. Salut!
Dr.z – You remain shameless, I see, on the self-assisting front. That’s got to be a strong yellow or a soft red, Argentinian or otherwise.
Snir – Re: RVP. Know how you feel. No news, in this case, is not necessarily good news. I am standing by my prediction of no contract but he stays for the coming season. What do your balls tell you? ๐
*Sticks tongue out at True Storey*
TS – a strong yellow or a soft red ?
This is for a Scotsman – has to be soft. ๐
TS, no news is no news.
zico is starting to look a lot like that:
http://annexe.labo.pagesperso-orange.fr/AlbertEinsteinManon/images/albert.jpg
Zico…..I’m afraid it a hard red for you. Roxette giving an affidavit that you never self assist does not apply in this case.
Dr C @ 716, :lol :’) Bless Boy Catalan’s heart.
Giroud’s changed his Twitter Account to GiroudOfficial from the Montepellier variant & his Twitter Avatar to him in next season’s kit.
He’s also got rid of the #Gunner9 that was in his Twitter Bio 8)
News that’s doing the rounds is that he’s chosen the Number 12 instead, looks like Park’s gonna be sticking around next season as I thought ๐
News, Wind? Is that ‘News’ as in ‘twitter’ again?
*continues one-man campaign against rubbish rumours*
Heh @ 730
I look younger, and saner, every day.
Only RvP looks older. ๐
*sticks out tongue at whole ‘Holic nation*
TS there has been a train of thought in the past few years that some of our biggest departures have been caused by a perceived lack of ambition in the transfer market. Big hitters like to play with other big hitters and not with average players or inexperienced potential – which can equate to near misses in the quest of silverware. Proof being our recent annual results – many great performances but no cigar at the end.
In the past Some promises may have been made to strengthen the squad but they did not materialise to the level expected resulting in the annual exodus of our better players. This is leading to a possible agreement with RVP that if proposed strengthening was actually achieved this year he would stick with the project and all the benefits that will follow – along with suitable financial rewards which reflect his current status within AFC of course. This year the club has got its act together early and produced 2 excellent signings already and who knows..maybe more to follow. Is this what the delay and silence is all about – RVP waiting for the proof of the pudding before signing a new contract. Just thinking like.
RVP, Poldi, Giroud. Seems like Arsene has assembled for Arsenal our very own RPG up front, ready to open fire on EPL defenders. Fingers crossed this becomes a reality.
Cheers TS
Re RvP – i reckon what with his injury record (See 714 for L. Podolski’s) i can’t see that he/his agent would allow his contract to run down to nuffink.
Granted, he would be quids in at the end of it when he would be able to walk away on a free. But if he copped a long-term injury before that – who would want to sign ‘im then?
In a worst case scenario it could cost him up to about 30 million quid – which by my calculations comes pretty darn close to Lars’ ongoing bar bill. Fwightening!
Sherbets all-round fanks barman – and put ’em on the super Swede’s tab please
Three top top candidates have emerged in the news as the next likely manager of Tottenham. In increasing order of likelihood (according to the bookmakers):
1. http://www.fanboysoftheuniverse.com/images/uploads/Oaf_Undies.jpg
2. http://www.fishingfury.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/oaf.jpg
3. http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/050/4/4/Brutish_Oaf_by_ozplasmic.jpg
AL re Lars tab…..could Sweden be the next country to ask for banking support in order to cover Lar’s debts at various bars around Europe?
RPG, I like it, Derrick
AL, too much is made of RvP’s ‘injury record’. Never struck me as injury prone, just terribly unlucky with a lot of impact injuries.
He’s no Diaby or Gibbs.
Hehs! @ Trev & Ollie G. Einstein and a fair point re ‘no news’. Dr.z is far better looking than that image though. Maybe it’s his long lost Maori cousin?
Thanks to Ulympian for giving me a little more hope that RvP may indeed be waiting on promises made before committing. The silence is deafening though.
AL, your full of good stuff today, aren’t you?
Right a 3AM start to catch a sparrow’s f*rt flight to Toulouse means I must bid you fine fellows a dieu. A nightcap for me and a round for all on The Swedish national debt.
Two great summer signings so far. God bless The Arse and all who sail in her ๐
Look Ollie, when I’m right, you are bringing me a crepe over from France ๐ Its been too long as it is…
And if tabs can do it, why can’t I, eh ๐
Apologies people.
Was going to post tonight, but neighbours popped in for a ten minute chat four hours ago and now four bottles of Chilean Merlot, and four pints of draught Bass, and two pints of London Pride later they have just left.
Stuck some southern fried chicken in the oven so tiddly management and I can have something solid. This may be an early night.
Any drinks I should be aware of?
By the way, picture #2 is actually a Harry Redknapp reappointment. That is what Redknapp looks like these days after a sun-drenched holiday in the Seychelles. ๐
Toulouse, TS? Good luck with the sausages and cassoulet.
744….’Holic. – so the neighbours are tee-total then.
And I like deafening silence rather than stupid rumours. Especially when Robin is on holidays.
(sadly, and I’ll see what goes after appointment with ORL next week for a start, but silence may never happen again, we’ll see).
Crรชpes; mmmmm. Good idea, Wind ๐
Any drinks I should be aware of?
Holic, by the sounds of it you have had enough drinks for one night ๐
Uplympian – if anything’s worth bankrupting a continent for then surely
it’s that
Injury prone or not, either way Ollie the point still stands re it being a massive risk on RvP’s part to allow his contract to run down – i reckon.
Psed – well played you for using “struck” and “impact injury” in the same sentence – and don’t you dare tell me there was no pun-ch intended – trev’ll be soo proud!
TS, too kind. Am shertain there are plenty of others who might suggest i’m full of a lot worse.
Well in Lars for the 3/4 millenium. It’s not often we get a shot at that so quite a milestone, if somewhat undersung in some parts. ๐
It seems it takes a flawed ex-manageur to know a flawed side when he sees one:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18592356
The neighbours are even more of a bad influence than that Ollie ๐
Hey, Lars at the bar – and ‘holic still able to count after that lot – well played. And following ‘h’s announcement of no post tonite i can almost hear Old McMaradona up there in Fife loosening off the hamstrings and other fings in readiness for the enormo self-assisting octoton.
*hmmmmm – i swear by the life-force that beats through the PURE RED blood that washes through my bluish/greenish/brownish veins AND all that i hold to be precious and sacred in this life, and the next one, and the one after that – that I, yes I, me, wassername – will guard against he, the jock/Argentine glory-grabber succeeding oncemore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz*
Cartoon for Dr. Z:
http://belgranoinquiry.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/stevebell11.jpg
(Something to do with Dr. Z @700.)
[ ]
Stan, Is there anything you would like to add?
Maradona,
Has a thing for the number 8……
‘Bout another 30% or so ud be niiice
Holic 754 : I saw that ;p
Back drinking complete. Lights out….
leave the lights on me! I just woke up and haven’t finished my pint….
on for* me
flipping the lights on for cor. btw, it should have been amico, not amici. amici is for everyone here.
i must say, i expect z’s run for 800 to begin soon, from the tartan end of the bar, where the whisky used to be kept.
saw an interesting comment on some article, or website, i can’t remember: robin’s keeping quiet because he wants to see just how many “top quality” players will be brought in. hopefully one more will toll his staying bell.
Who’s smiling smiling down on Arsenal from her heavenly throne?
http://faeriewind.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/moon_goddess.jpg
@ 636 Camberwell Gooner
Good for you. That stuff matters. Take off your coat. Now.
@ 657 takeabowson
ha ha – everyone else does it with the fake twitter accounts so why not!
@ 707 And Lester
Totally agree with that post – I recall very clearly how the building of the Emirates was seen as a massive risk which was bound to sink the club. Nothing conservative about Arsenal. But because we are not brash, we conduct ourselves properly and because we are sensible with money, people make the connection with risk-averse conservative attitudes. Arsenal are innovators.
@ 716 Catalan Gunner
ha ha ha ha ha!
And quite right, too.
fuck this.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2165135/Arsene-Wenger-preparing-life-Robin-van-Persie-Neil-Ashton.html
neil ashton is full of it. a whole article that says NOTHING, has quotes from NO ONE. spurious (pun intended) logic, and statements of “fact” backed up by nothing. for example [blockquote] There are some divisions forming at Arsenal over the recruitment of players and Wenger is increasingly ignoring the advice of his scouting department to take them.[/blockquote] really? he then goes on to use our new ollie’s (as opposed to our old ollie) as an example of someone arsene ignored his scouting department to take. a load of SHIT.
this is the worst kind of journalism, to me: pure fiction masquerading as “fact”. kind of like leg rash, in his burro incarnation.
a ticking off by mike dead for misuse of blockquote tags (none in worldpress, apparently).
‘Holic@744: those are the sort of neighbours to have. The (mal)lingerers in this bar are more than capable of self-amusement. Or something.
SCG: reading the UK red tops is rarely good for your blood pressure, especially the football pages. And good man for keeping the lights on. Wouldn’t want CoR self-amusing in the dark.
SCG – This is the same paper that invented that we want Reus because AW was asked if he was interested in him before he signed for Dortmund in January.
Ignore them.
thanks, guys, but that they can publish this crap at all should be illegal. i thought the mail was sometimes worthwhile. i will stick with the independent and the guardian…
cor probably just shuts his eyes for that, ned. ๐
Tsk, task, SCG. It must be a Japanese thing.
Haha! When I close my eyes I become invisible you see.
Zen-drinking trick I use on the nights when I fall asleep drunk in the streets in my suit on a Friday night ๐
I’ve stopped reading newspapers since the whole “Rooney’s goal is the best in the history of the Premier League” shiznit. Pure rubbish and nothing but Arsenal-bashing.
I agree that these tabloids should be brought to task but sports are now part of the entertainment industry. Printing pseudo-stories is par-for-the-course and unfortunately lawsuits will take too long to settle to make it worth it. I have been waging a one-man war against the vaguely named “SPORTSMAIL REPORTER” though. Makes me feel slightly better about myself trolling his shit articles.
What a sad man I am ๐
cor, not as sad as those who only *think* they are going invisible when they close their eyes…when they really want to be a cowboy, instead. wage on!
jackpot!
Ah, the nighttime century beckons and even men with far harder hearts than I would find it impossible to ignore the idea of achieving the ever elusive 800th drink…
Who will raise their drinks and step forth into the night with CoR as we stumble towards our destiny?
Those who dare to say “Aye” must know that should we do this, everyone in this most homely of taverns will forever have our names and stories of our bravery upon their beer-stained lips…
Now who’s with me?
It’s been lovely summer weather over here this week. Not to make the Britons, Californians or anyone else envious, of course.
Cannons, you are starting to show signs of numerology addiction, a very dangerous condition if not treated promptly. ๐
cor, eye!
makes a darting run to the left of the center circle, nicks my defender’s ankle, making him trip, and waves for the ball in space ahead.
bt8b, lovely here in the cruz, too. makes me think it is summer. sun just going down, light breeze, mild and cool after a warm day.
CoR passes the ball with a brilliant no-look pass over to scruz while keeping an eye on the eightest of balls ๐
Brilliant weather over here too. Sunny but cool.
I just saw on the Sky website that Vertonghen transfer to LWCs is frustrating him. That’s what you get for aiming low I guess…
Shaft is here and throbbing with excitement at the thought of 800 drinks. The beer goggles that come with it will make a hippo look like a jaguar…Gotta get me some of those player 8)
shaft, didn’t you spank for 700 the other week? a man of experience.
cor, when the v deal wasn’t done before the euros, it makes me think he really wants to come to us, but we aren’t really interested. amazing how far things can be drug in the service of wishful thinking.
brings cor’s feather light ball down with a deft touch, then plats keepieuppie while weaving in and out of the defense, wondering if my switch ball will find anyone.
btw, the iPad is better charged now. *tosses back a shot of templeton rye*
Shaft finishes applying his bear grease moustache wax and throws the empty tin at a steward. He then turns and chest-traps the ball like a master…
looks sheepishly at shaft, wondering if it will wash out of my back hair.
*it being the moustache grease from my stash
***Wonders what Shaft makes of the bear grease in the hairdo of that lowly punk, Cristiano Ronaldo.***
i think that is actually his lifetime supply of saf sebum…
CoR puts down his book of numerology and performs an Elastico leaving a lurker on his arse…
Bear Grease never comes out….if you try the results can be quite grizzly
heads cor’s elastico rebound towards shaft at the top of the d, wondering if football correspondent will write about my leaving for whiskeytown f.c.
heh, it’s the polar opposite of slick.
which lurkers will come out and try the shot…?
If we keep this up the bar will in bruins…
It’s not often they leave the century mark unguarded for the nighttime marauders ….
if you paws to think about it…
Squats performs a leaping spinning cyclone kick and the ball rockets toward goal….
…you miss the shot. ๐
And scruz scores one for the left coast faithful. The crowd erupts.
bt8b they forgot to lock the lid.
Well in Scruz! I almost self-assisted but thankfully I defurred…
that was fun, lads, a real 20-pass team goal…
ursu-ch a major player, huge in the constellations. (reaching, possibly)
Now, our names will forever be recorded in the pantheons of Holicdom to be gazed at and venerated by generations to come.
It truly was an epic journey gentlemen. One that saw us grab our sanity from the depths of boredom and lift our spirits above and beyond the nail-curling banality of transfer speculation.
Too bad I had to tabs it though, ๐
The fans have gone positively hog-wild over that goal scored by scruzgooner. They’re still cheering!!!!!
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/10/29/article-0-019039FA000004B0-510_468x303.jpg
i have to take a look at a new cub on the block and take a card and some flowers for his folks…a round on me, courtesy of this evening’s luck!
Lol@cor, and bt8b…;)
Moon goddess image at 767 seems not to have shown up, so here’s another try:
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=moon+goddess&num=10&hl=en&biw=1150&bih=680&tbm=isch&tbnid=_gft3nQvsu_UGM:&imgrefurl=http://www.josephinewall.co.uk/moon_god.html&docid=87Jar3DBoMZ4GM&imgurl=http://www.josephinewall.co.uk/goddesses/moon_goddess.jpg&w=403&h=524&ei=x4LqT5CPBMLpqgG9_rDxBQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=225&vpy=158&dur=12&hovh=256&hovw=197&tx=103&ty=117&sig=101711568736580150008&page=1&tbnh=142&tbnw=109&start=0&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:144
Looking down and protecting Arsenal??
Ahoy ‘Holics
Here’s my contribution to 1000.
BMBD.
Not only is LK our best defensive signing in some time, he is also turning out to be an outstanding recruiter of new signings:
http://www.cityam.com/sport/koscielny-convinced-me-join-arsenal-says-13m-giroud?
An old favorite of mine, dedicated to the scruz supernatural 800:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeOKj5XdVAE
Hey Lonestar, how’s goes the llamas?
cheers, bt8b, but no loads the video.
lonestar! earliest run at a century? gotta be the earliest run at a millennia…
Scruz, Sorry to hear the video isn’t getting through. It was Peter Green playing the guitar on The Supernatural with John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers. One that has stood the test of time and then some, IMHO. Time to tuck myself in, I’d say.
Well done the night ‘holics!
1000 is really on isn’t it? ๐
It’s on! But I think we have to move quick before the boss spirits a new bar into existence….
Maradona sleeps through 800, but already has eyes on the big 1000 prize……
Good goal scruz!
Not sure if you holics have seen this (or interested) but I came across an interview of Arshavin where he talks about why Russia exited the tournament.
http://arshavin.eu/en/news.php?id=777
I wonder if all of this turmoil surrounding him will make it hard for him to play football in Russia?
If you want the fastest ethernet, go to Andorra:
http://www.cedmagazine.com/news/2012/06/tiny-andorra-offers-fastest-internet
Surely ‘holic will have a new post before 1000?
England exit, a new signing and still no post?
Those neighbours (well, not The Neighbour I guess) sure are a bad influence! ๐
Morning holics great read yesterday,would this be the 1st 1000?think iv seen one get near the 900 mark,a couple of lines for Diego he could nearly pull it of on his own!
I think this bar should remain open until we get an update about the status of van the man…Or until every holic comes up with a Giroud song. Here’s my one:
Giroud, Giroud,
Giroud is on fire!
We donโt need no Hazard
Let the mother****** burn!
I think it has legs ๐
Hey Gars,
1000 plus has been done before, end of thr transfer window last season I seem to recall…..but Diego is getting his boots out of the cupboard as we speak…..
z, so long as he puts bear grease on his hands, he could run bearfoot.
cheers, ollie. a team effort.
i am off to bed, you early risers, i hope to see 1000 with dawn’s early light. or even one of her later lights.
Be careful Diego, mike dead and his card waving friends are after blood!
*Sticks out tongue at Mike Dead and his card waving friends*
Like it, CoR 827
Might try to confuse zico later on.
How about this one?
Loooving Giroud,
Is easy cuz he’s Arsenal,
And everytime that he scores,
We’re more in love with Girouuuud,
Lalalalala, lalalalala,
Lalalalala-lalala-lalala
Doo-doo-doo-doo-do-doo
Aaarseeenaaallll
Wish I could pen better lyrics but like Ashley Young I’m useless with a pen…
http://www.football365.com/news/14460/7843829/Fabio-Capello
zico, apparently Rooney only understands Scottish…
Open spaces are a right pain when everybody’s around.
I miss my old office ๐
Scruz, very impressive with the goal @ 800 (lovely prose assist bt8b) but even more impressed by the team spirit shown by you, CoR, Shaft and bt8b, top work my friends ๐
They’re collectively known as ‘The Anti-Maradonas’, Wind ๐
You could say I am currently at the crossroads of my career in my current company
On the one hand,
1. It’s been a nice company to work for
2. Initial training was fantastic
3. The workplace/campus is one of the best in the world – Football pitch, gym, basketball court, umpteen foodcourts, rock climbing, tennis, swimming pools and what not
4. I live around 140 kms from Bangalore and only travel there on weekends. This is ideal, because I skip the everyday traffic/noise/pollution and yet get to experience the weekend joys in Bangalore
On the other,
1. Poor pay
2. No arseblog/arses access
3. Work has become a bit monotonous
4. My project just ended and my boss is no longer my boss, new project sounds not too interesting
5. I’ve just completed a round of interviews for a company in Bangalore
Decisions decisions…
Thanks Wind!
No “I” in team but there is one in “Rhetoric” so I was a bit torn ๐
Well done with the octoton Scruz. Reckon the maradona of the north’ll have his good eye set on the 9 hundred…
And hurrah! Looks like the world’s back on its axis and normal service has been resumed – Ollie complaining about work/dodgy transport links/latest cold/ear-ache etc.
Now for some sun, please!!!
Similar harsha to our captains, On one hand. 1join a bunch of mercenaries. 2become just another number. 3work is boring, in an awful city. 4no access to the drinks. On the other. 1continue to pay faith in people who love you. 2 increase in wages. 3leader of a bright new project that’s going to make history. 4unlimited access to the drinks and the holic train medical cabinet,for your enjoyment. 5no decision.
You ask and you shall receive AL ๐
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/euro2012/4396890/Holland-in-shock-clear-out.html
Heh Scruz, it is a bit like RVP’s situation but if my company were Arsenal, I would take a pay cut to stay there!
Ollie is the right person to ask for advice, eh, Ollie?
Harsha, These must be momentous times for you. If I were giving truly useful advice I would lower the priority of the Arses at work but of course I can’t say that on an Arsenal blog. ๐
Mad drinks above, self assisting, preaches from thew Rev’ and a particularly amusing story from Dr C.
Scruz. It’s hard to believe 95% of the shit in the tabloids, but the Daily Fail really is the worst. I wouldn’t wipe my arse with that rag
CoR. point in case., that “story” appeared in yesterdays Telegraaf (Dutch newspaper) it was not from a “leaked document” as the Sun would have you believe but from a statement made by a KNVB aid.
v Maarwijk said he wants to rejuvenate his squad and the players most likeky (not definetly) to be replaced are Fanny Fart, KJH,, Mathijsen, Boularous and Hettinga. He still has to evulate Kuyt.
Not exavtly the same story is it?
==
For all you RvP story afficenados who can’t get enough of the rubbish stories and speculation, here’s another angle, from the same newspaper:
http://www.telegraaf.nl/telesport/voetbal/buitenlands/12439320/__Geen_vervanger_Van_Persie__.html
Briefly translated it says that Oli G has not been brought in to replace RvP, but according to him, the plan is that RvP will be “teaching me and helping devolp my game.”
Make of it what you want.
Cannons @834 –
If you really want to go to Shite Hart Lane or Upton Park and sing that, please be my guest old chum
Good fit for the words though. ๐
So fucking beautiful!
http://t.co/LPhfb69i
Oh, I see that Arseblog news has run the story I just linked, with a slightly different translation.
I spend all my net time catching up on the drinks. ๐
Harsha, I’d agree with bt8’s 845 anyway. Arses, no disrespect Wolfie, cannot be a factor.
In fact, are you certain that there would be no filtering at work in the new company?
Since arseblog ban got enforced at work, I survived OK: I just post more often on the drinks when I’m not too busy ๐
Where are the regulars? We need to work harder if we are to get to 900 – let alone 1000 or has ‘holic posted anew?
About the filtering in the new company, I’m not 100% Ollie
Arses are not a factor, I just put it there to augment my ‘cons’ column
This blog is not as popular as arseblog of course, and that is why I think it is not banned by the interweb filters. Having said that, since we are reaching 1000 drinks at a peak rate of 200 drinks/day, it could well be on its way to ousting the arses ๐
In other news, if Federer wins Wimbledon he becomes number 1? How can that be?
Hey Snir, what a link!
Thanks for that. I just watched that and laughed and cried alternately into my lunch from start to finish. If anyone hasn’t seen that video, watch it now !
And call me an AKB, or worse, or whatever you like,but every Arsenal fan should be grateful to Arsene Wenger for that video, for ever. End of.
I challenge any BBB or LeGroaner to watch that video and disagree. Then you can go and spend the rest of your days in Tottenham.
Get yourself back to Arsenal Thierry.
I read Arseblog everyday too, but I hardly ever look at the Arses. I don’t think the two (arses and drinks) are comparable. The drinks are usually in reaction to the post, before sckewing off on a tangent. The arses are a collection of one liners about, well, almost anything, some funny stuff there, but it would take far too much time, for me, to go through or keep up with them all.
Harsha, if Federer wins Wimbledon he becomes a goalie?
I don’t get tennis either. ๐
====
Great vid Snir, got a little chocked up at the end.
*choked.
Harsha –
I also read Arseblog every day and while this is my favourite blog, you have to admit that 100 drinks a day are zico self-assisting. ๐
With you on the Arses H2H.
Wasn’t comparing H2H, before people starting taking out yellow cards
You are right about the arses, can’t keep up with them unless you are unemployed and absolutely have nothing else to do
Ta COR @ 843 – shall bask in that till the real stuff arrives.
Chill Harsha – don’t think anyone is criticising you at all.
No yellows been brandised at all Harsha, were saving them up for Zico. ๐
Meant to add a wink thingy at the end there Dr T
No criticism taken at all ๐
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/-i-think-giroud-is-a-real-coup-for-arsenal-
Philippe Auclair has me drooling. Not on his good looks ๐
Of course I do realise that PA probably wrote the same thing about Chamakh two years ago ๐
@846: H2H, not quite the same story at all as you say! The next Dutch squad will probably look nothing like the one we just saw at the Euros. French squad will be shaken up as well. England squad? I predict the old guard coming riiiiight back into the fold. Still can’t believe Roy called that overrated wig-wearer his Pele :vomitsviolentlyintoSuntorywhiskey*
As for the Robin story, hoping that’s true. After last summer, I refuse to get worked up over players and their futures but hoping Robin stays…
@847:Trev, let’s face it, it’s bound to be better than the crappy “When the Sp*rs” dirge and the “Bubbles” nonsense ๐
@848: Snir, great find! Going on my Ipod asap…
There was a time when the arses were as numerous as the drinks are now (well, far less in fact) and the drinks were, er, all fields.
Probably only about 3-4 years ago as well…
Re: What Auclair said: I too would love to see RVP playing as an inverted winger on the right side at least as an experiment. Maybe his right footed crosses could be weaker than someone else’s but there could be many positives as well.
Would post a picture of Ollie drooling but Google Images seems not to have it. ๐
Nice vid link Snir. Blimey that boy could play. Wonder if Arsene’ll get us him for Christmas again this year – hope so
Ollie, not that long ago indeed, I’d go as far as saying less then two years ago it was rare that drinks got anywhere near the 100 mark. The popularity of the bar has been justly growing and growing.
๐ @ all fields.
Thank you, Snir. That was beautiful.
I think it’s the level-headed conversation H2H.
And the Speedoes ๐
Seriously though, some years back I got really tired about reading about Arsenal from biased journalists and started reading only arseblog. Then I started spending more time reading other blogs where the comments take a longer time to read (lots of time to kill at my old job…and this one), which led me to goonerholic and the gang…
The laughs got me and several new posters/readers through last season’s debacle I imagine…great place to be
I came here for the chicks…
H2H you are right. I added the extra years more for the context of the arses than this bar, whose popularity surge has been more recent indeed..
(somehow I don’t think ‘whose’ is correct in the context)
Giroud: Cost The Arse a third of what cesspool paid for A. Carroll – the pony-tailed, great lumbering, cart horse. AND if he becomes only half the player Carroll is then…oh no, that doesn’t work – back to the blackboard on that one. (Ahem) where’s me calculator???
Am I in time for a run at 901 ?
Oh good, time to watch Snir’s video.
What H2H said about the Arses .
@868: Ollie, this “time when the arses were as numerous as the drinks are now” you speak of, will it return?
Anyhoo, Modric to Real Madrid according to the Daily Fail. I smell an imminent meltdown over at SHL…
Good Lord , that video Snir …
My knees have gone all trembly …
Cheers for posting it.
Done with video chaps?
Good ๐
Now, read this.
The last time RvP signed a contract.
Intriguing read on his way of thinking.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1138300/The-Saturday-Interview-Robin-Van-Persie–artist-draws-best-Arsenal.html
Snir, that was a great video. Cheers.
Snir – you’re on fire – that article makes for very interesting reading – ta
Great find again! P.I. Snir is on the case ๐
Thanks Snir – great video and intriguing read…it just adds more avenues to the mystery of his intentions.
I’ve read Goonerholic over the years along with Arseblog. Two different variations of style but both fantastic for content and humour. I’ve never really got into the arses..bit too whimsical for me but the drinks on this scroll hit the spot…the content, the wit, the depth when needed
and the general bonhomie that exists between you all. Quite rightly ‘Holic’s code of ethics sets the tone….respect between those drinking at the bar and the Arsenal family. If you don’t like it there are many other establishments that cater for your needs. On the other hand, slagging off any other team/player/referee/pundit/etc positively encouraged.
Thanks to you all for letting me join in the fun.
Yep great article Snir.
Not sure if it sheds any light on his current situation,three years and no trophies on, but a great read all the same.
Cheers .
Anyhoo, Modric to Real Madrid according to the Daily Fail. I smell an imminent meltdown over at SHLโฆ
The meltdown is not the only thing that you can smell from that poo hole.
Superb triple 8 H2H.
http://www.francefootball.fr/#!/news/2012/06/27/142443_pas-de-minute-de-silence-pour-miki-roque.html
I find that poor form from UEFA (to be honest I’m surprised they had the minute of silence for Thierry Roland….oh, forgot Platini was French).
@888: I think that other smell was Bale using his poo to sign a new contract for the LWCs. Smells like chicken masala :S
Ah shucks, cheers Ollie, I’ll dedicate it to your fine triple run on the previous drinks.
And speaking of manure, here’s a blast from the past. Good for a chuckle or two ๐
http://bit.ly/mUyzrA
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/anderlecht-replace-rangers-in-pre-season-cup
Belgians replace Rangers.
Kennedy or Brady ?
Brady or C.Nicholas ?
C.Nicholas or Rocky ?
Rocky or Bergkamp ?
Bergkamp or Henry ?
Henry or Pires ?
Pires or Giroud ?
That testing crossover period between relationships is always the worst .
‘holic would not put up a new post before 900, would he???>?
crossdressing period? Oh…
Looks over shoulder for Maradonna, runs towards goal………….
Trips over the ball…
Jealousy over missing the coveted 888. Pooh.
Kicks Mike Dead in the nuts, keeps going…
Redemption!! ๐
But gets the 900, nice consulation 8ball.
*Kicks Mike again while he’s down as he heads towards the centre circle.
Zico…ZICO…ZIIIIIIIICCCCCCCCCCOOOOOOOO!!!!! He’s about i reckon. Perched high on a rock somewhere. Keeping a beady on the pass. Taking aim. Ready to shoot when he has to.
http://youtu.be/Q-ptpERFVeY
OR ‘e’s at home with a Scottish summer cold, in bed in his vest and sox – with a pint o’ medicinal Guiness on the go. It’s one or the other i’m quite sure of it.
Well in 8Ball – that took Balls . ๐
Bravo – 8ball
Bravo – AL
๐
H2H. Tabs will be jealous about 901 but then there’s 1001 on the horizon, as well as 999 and 1000 for the more conventional among us. ๐
great videos this morning, over coffee. thanks zico and al.
well in, bt8b (and assisters!). a rare play. *joins h2h in kicking mike dead’s nuts*. zico must’ve gotten shaft’s bear grease on his feet, and is stuck in bed.
cheers, ollie, wind.
Tabs doesn’t seem the jelous type.
Wolfie, on the other hand, would scratch my eyes out… ๐
Well done, Bt8
back drink *properly*, damn it.
read snir for zico’s video thanks. must’ve gotten something in my eye.
Well in 8Ball! Redemption always goes down the hole last it seems ๐
Off to see the land of sand now…
See you groovy cats later 8)
Having fun kids?
Right back atchyer old bean for yer indispensable Arse relationship guide. Pretty much definitive i reckon – though, whether he goes or not, there’ll always be a place in my h for RvP’s special brand of beauty
A pleasure Scruz – though i confess it’s not all me own work.
Congrats H2H on the esteemed “one” position.
It is a position of honour, responsibility and dignity.
You wear the crown well Sir !
H2H,
You, Sir, are a bitch !!
I’ve got my goods, bads, and uglies to sort out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qakWAS8ixtU&feature=related
But the Mexican poncho thingie seems to identify the good, for some reason. It must have been the days before the drug cartels took over.
Heh @ Wolfyson.
*wonders if the guv is off the boilk this morning (whatever your local time)*
Harry Redknapp says England will continue their run of tournament failures until their players learn to hang on to the ball.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Says the man who couldn’t hold on to his job.
*Lurking*
Cheers, CoR and Scruz! The llamas are all afraid of the wildfires out west. Something about bar-b-que…I think the real money is in llama derivatives.
I’ll be starting llama EFT trading as soon as I get cleared with the NYSE and the FTSE.
I hope all my ‘Holic bretheren and sisteren have been well. I’ll pop by again later.
BMBD.
Harry Redknapp says [….]
Tsk, H2H, you missed the obvious conclusion:
‘Liar, fucking fucking liar!’ ๐
Hardly barbecue weather here. Well temperatures definitely gone up, but sunshine still at a premium.
Thunderstorms forecast for tomorrow…again.
Heh Ollie ๐
Alright, Lonestar .
That’s tabs line Ollie, nicking the 01 position is enough for one day.
Not very sunny here either, the last few days it hasn’t bothered coming out until the evening, but I’m not holding my breath that it will make an appearance today.
Here we have the lowdown for the tiqui-taca averse, from no less an authority than A. Iniesta who speaks quite objective of course:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18584189
Objectively, too. ๐
Wotcher, Arses.
No colds, no sox, just an audience with the Pope. ๐
Bale is one ambitious fecker, eh? Scared the world finds out he is a one trick chimpanzee I reckon.
Wow, this might make a 1000 drinks at this rate! Not being a real regular, whats the record drinks for one post?
Hi Z, was just thinking the same after reading that he had put his paw print on a contract extension. Not all rat (faces) are smart enough to leave a sinking ship.
Just over a thousand Esso, I believe, it was last during years transfer deadline day. (I think)
Hey Lonestar. I’ll trade you two pitchers of lemonade for two llamas. ๐
*during last years
Haha – Zico. Bale – a one trick chimp – i like that a very lot loads
http://youtu.be/NPGUIpv-JxI
My nuts hurt !!! ๐
Psed – could it be the line of clubs queuing for monkey boy’s signature never materialized – one wonders…hmmmmm
esso, snir got 1000 of 1068 last august 31 (the day of “confirmed! arteta’s a gooner!”, among others).
lonestar, i think you’d have good luck with those derivatives. llama-que, hair of the llama, llamoysters, llamalips… and that’s without consulting wolfie for, shall we say, more exotic derivatives.
lovely weather here again. of course, it’s down to the number of professors here on campus…the sun shines out of all their arses, right?
al, one trick, all right: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLuMmsgktUU
LOVE the first comment.
espn’s soccernet is farqued.
and bale? hopefully more teams are in for nik than bale, the diving, cheating, monkey-faced cunt.
christ, at this rate i’ll be hauling the lot of you to 1Kposts. ๐
Ah-ha. V. funny Scruz, ta. Reckon comment no. 5 sums up the big S.winger pretty succinctly
yep. detestable scum. puts apes in a bad light.
Speaking of transfers and signings, a question to all the [i]cogunneroscenti[/i] here: do you care if Theo signs a new contract or not?
I personally would love to see him grow in the club and I think his progress last season has been encouraging, all that inconsistency notwithstanding. He played well in quite a few key matches.
What about Song? Though Song has two years left in his contract should Arsene get him to commit his long term future now lest we suffer from another round of transfer speculation next year?
Even if RVP leaves — a distinct possibility now, just hope it is not to another PL club — Podolski-Gervinho-Giroud-Theo-Ox has enough variety and potential, but only just enough and one of them has to really stand out next season.
Lets not be too hard on Bale, he’s had a hard life;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N-GGyyeIwI
Pretty ruthless that Sp*rs scouting team.
ech, h2h, that’s harsh (not to be confused with harsha, who i know can’t read this right now unless he’s home).
dr faustus, i think we should re-sign them both this summer. i don’t think theo is worth quite as much as he might think, and i have no clue for song. both are valuable to the team, and avoiding the speculum of will-he-won’t-he is worthwhile. rvp’s signing should be enough to keep them, if the $ make sense (of course, they could have as many offers as bale, too, though i doubt it).
Faustus (you’ll excuse me for not referring to you as Dr F, as there is only one),
There is a place for Theo at the Arsenal, but not at silly wages. Hopefully he and his agent are realistic. If he decides not to renew, then we can always take the inflated fees that English players seem to go for – if Henderson is worth ยฃ20M after all…..
Song is much maligned in the Arsenal blogosphere, but to me, is another we should look to keep. I would like to see us buy a defensive midfielder, whether he stays or goes, though.
That Dutch fella’s not bad.
Maybe if my chum Maradona were to talk to him…. ๐
Sorry, just to clarify, I was hinting about the Dutch fella at striker, not as Defensive Mid.
Muddled brain.
It’s that communion wine…..
Test
One-two, one-two
Wind where are you, mate, this is huge?
Good question Dr F.
Feo is a strange one, briliant in flashes, but way too often looks absolutly clueless. Is capable of making great runs and pinpoint crosses and stuning goals, yet also suffers consistantly of headlesschickenitits, surely one of the most frustrating Arsenal players to watch when he’s not on his game because we are all aware he can do much better.
I’d like him to stay, but if he plays hardball I think we should tell him to jog on. His biggest asset is his marketability (only in the UK though) but, I think, this alone shouldn’t warrant him being in the highest earners bracket.
Song is a good player to have and is improving. I’d personally like to see him in a more defined DM role as I think he leaves the back too exposed every now and again, but as I’ve said before, I’m not sure if that’s his fault as I’ve no idea what instructions he is recieving from AW.
Sign him up!
Wanders into the bar.
Sees the drinks count and gets nosebleed.
Wanders out again.
From afar is heard crying “Good luck with the millennium”.
Diego, looks for 950 as a warm-up.
Pah, it’ll be alright on the night…..
Heh, only two off Diego, not bad for a bloated, colombian sneezing powder snorting, divine handed, tax dodgeing, meglamaniac.
I would of missed by at least four. ๐
Heh,
All my good points in one sentence.
*Plays keepy-uppy with ball and smokes gargantuan cigar*
I would like Theo to stay, because three reasons mainly
1. He has an assist connection with RVP, they play well together
2. He is an underrated finisher – He can be a frustrating player to watch for the whole 90 minutes but when the chance comes, he more often than not takes it
3. He is still young and has room for improvment
*Pulls out a record player, shoves Life is Life on and admires the keepy uppy skills.
as life is life appears to be over, but the ball is still keeping up, i put on side 2 of la revancha del tango and pour myself a rioja, tapping my foot in time.
I think that keeping Theo and Alex are as important as keeping Robin, should we manage that, I am really confident we are in for winning trophies next year. I am really curious about how Arsene will rotate the squad, so many options so far. Just thinking how different many matches could be last season if we were able to call upon the likes of Giroud and Poldi as subs…
The FA have denied that a copy of a leaked report is fact and they have covered it up. Apparantly they were investigating reports of racism at Shite Hart Lane where reports of continued monkey chants were heard. An investigation was immediately instigated and it was found to be coming from an area where Gareth Bale’s family were sitting. The investigation was immediately closed and the file locked away.โบ
zico 952, brilliant, you’re on form!
Effective squad rotation, or the lack of it, has been our weakness in recent years, and I’m not sure lack of squad depth is the sole reason. One case in point: Was it really necessary to play RVP nearly every game last season?
HEH Uplympian ๐
Eandy, I am in complete agreement about the need to resign Alex and Theo. They both bring very special qualities and can be outstanding cogs in the machine that wins the title and other such silverware.
Heh at Uly.
Nice little mini me smiley face, aaaah.
Dr. Z. I am afraid you are doing an unfortunate disservice to those wild monkeys to equate them with Bale. They are far superior in every way.
Sorry Dr. Z That was not you who posted the video at 945 that I meant. My apologies and please transfer the blame to H2H.
Not playing RvP when he was in such form would be considered crime, especially when there was no as reliable source of goals as him. Take the Carling Cup game against mancs, we were far superior for pretty much whole match, just lacked effective finishing Robin would have provided. That game might be the one when Arsene decided to play him as much as possible, simple lack of faith in Chamakh and Park.
Bruvva Zico – you popped along to see the pope you say – did he ask after me? Only we used to share one another’s cassocks back in the day. A filthy habit – i know – but times were hard, and needs must and all that.
And H2H – Theo good in flashes you say!? In that case there’s a place for the boy in the back-row of my choir – should he become available. Aaaaaaaaamen!!!
I’ll take the blame.
No offence intended to all you animal lovers out there.
Which is shame since I have soft spot for Chamakh and was really happy when we signed him. I am sure he is very good striker, but needs regular game time which is now as situation is, after arrival of Poldi and especially Giroud in the realm of dreamland for him. Loan or transfer seems to be imminent for him but I am sure that he will do really well wherever he is going to play.
eandy@968, that is a perfect podolski possibility, resting robin. or a giraud game. considering we’ve got 50-60 games to play this coming year, especially if we’re in for silverware, there will not be a lack of opportunities. iirc from 7amkickoff we had 17 shots/game, so 55 games of that would be 935 or so shots. divide that by 3, and each of those lads will have a full season’s worth of shots to try and make.
harsha, your #1 is an excellent point. not quite henry pires, but another year older, another year wiser.
*Sticks two fingers up at Ollie* ๐
Yeah, I can see that Rev AL, Theo as a choirboy, he’s got that kinda innocent baby face.
h2h, he doesn’t have his hair parted in the middle, though, so he can’t be an altar boy.
Tabs – it might not be the same situation, with three more trophyless seasons, but it shows his intentions really do rely on ambition and not money, therefore by signing Poldi, Giroud, and presumably two more players, we did our bit.
Harsha @ 956 – a (worthy) men-tion to that lot – bruvva!
Wolfie is an alter boy.
Fuk me! (in the deeply spiritual sense of that phrase) fings are sure as hell moving fast on ‘ere. The big M Brighton and Hoves into view, already ( i’m a rabbi on me days orf)!
z, i am shocked to hear that.
no, really. i thought he was a priest. you know, the flowing gowns, the hats, the altar boys, the crisps.
Zico, nice post – opp couldn’t be ignored, i reckon!
rev, it’s like the top of a rapid. quiet and smooth, then you get pulled in whether you like it or not…and all hell breaks loose.
The posting rate here is quite unnatural now.
A rapid, scruz?
Don’t be hasty.
If Wolfie were here pulled orf and rapid would be the order of play scruz – but fortunately as a man of the (loin) cloth, i’m able to rise above such thoughts – thank the lord!
Maradona stretching his rippling……stomach.
no, not from colorado, z.
we’re still in the quiet, smooth part, but getting pulled…
I am mostly Geordiephobic tonight.
What a twatspatula Alan Shearer is……
Hopefully Maradone will fall face first.
Well, belly first, I guess.
Maradona also.
Who is Maradone’s evil twin ๐ฟ
that’s just you, rev, always in communion with the lord, especially in the confessional.
flicks the ball towards maradone, hoping he will fling it to his doppleganger…
starts the move by the sideline …after quick one-two with full back sprints forward and lobs it to the box..
Ball gone for a corner.
I sense a goalmouth scramble coming up….
The ‘holicpound is changing hands at a frenetic pace.
elbowing shearer in the gob, and stepping on hansen’s toes…
Diego,
Blondes on each arm, sticks a middle finger up to the hectoring crowd, and continues to cast a spell with his left foot….
Heads it?
chips panenka for glory
PaddyPower?
diego’s ball’s in the air, an inswinger…leaps…
Goes for glory!!!
and misses it…
Hahahahaha!
Get in there!!!!!
..over the bar?
Diego shoots, no snorts…..
OLLIE!!!
Mad fucking scramble indeed, and Maradona was nowhere near the action.
I hear he was still snorting the line from the corner.
well in Ollie! you shameless underwear revealer!:D
meh
Lady Maradona allowed to cheat and lie her way to triumph – again. Why that’s virgin on the ridiculous that’s what it is!!!
let’s hope our new ollie will be as successful…well in.
Ollie, you deserve it. Cheers on 1000!!!
I got a touch but the ball was already over the line!
The dubious goals panels will surely give it to Ollie!!
Goes and celebrates with Ollie, who’s skeptical about his goal being allowed. ๐
sticks out a toe
zico 1006, your training at 952 served you very well.
Can’t have been coke….
HaHAAAAA! Ollie’s pants!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cheers all. I think that was my best goal ever ๐
al, it’s bloody awful, i tell ya. leaves a real stigmata on the triumphal cross…
Whoa! Well in Ollie
Brilliant millenium!
*celebrates with fellow 1000er Snir*
*shakes his head at still no sign of ‘holic, not even one of his famous one-word drinks…*
bt8, credit to you: is 15 post later the latest attempt ever?
turkish ref’s unfortunate moniker: cunyet.
i thought the preening fukctard was the only cunyet on the pitch.
Also, well done to lurky oliva for the final triple!
At this rate, 1111 is just around the corner.
Diego passes on his wishes to all (bar Ollie) and is off to read up on the Atkins diet.
Now then,
It’s 1967, and Jim Baxter is playing keepy-uppy and taunting the World champions…..
and that would be it until 2222, ollie.
First?
Oh…
Right then – the ultimate team V the ultimate individualist – gammon!
oops, pardon – jambon!
And a good clean fight please you fine-looking, Iberian boys. Keep the diving, ref-baiting and pouting to a minimum please
No Cesc?…madness..
Bloody neighbours…
I need food (hic)
Ollie, Credit where credit is due. ๐
Speaking of credit, where is Lars??
guv’s back! time to restock the bar, methinks…
Woah, turn my back for a few minutes and…..
Well in Ollie, a sponsers dream.
All I can say is where were the rest of you around 950?
At least Oliva’s got the decency to put the word Lurky in his monniker.
Glory Hunters, the lot of ya. ๐
Sorry Lars, Missed you at 1028. Is anybody’s credit coming due? Just to be sure, of course. ๐
heh Lars.
Rev AL, in your dreams for that last bit, I fear.
‘holic, I feel like a very good influence now ๐
Blimey, well played Ollie ๐
spain already having to play faster, could be a very open game.
Oh, and well played Ollie!
Played Ollie ๐
*asks PaddyPower for some money*
Round for all.
On my tab.
ollie, they will pay your fine.
cheers! (raises his fourth glass of rioja).
spain actually involved in a football game this time.
I believe congratulations to Ollie are in order. Top Lad. As ever.
Ollie for President.
Of Sweden.
Cheers Esso! (and the others who offered congrats after I last thanked).
Heh Zico ๐
spain forced to move the ball at much quicker pace, many giveaways and putting it out into touch. glad to see *somebody* taking them on.
ronaldo looks like he’s dipped his head in a vat of used motor oil, and fogotten to towel off.
I may do requests tonight. Must get a new post up, but the old mince pies are struggling to focus ๐
portugal’s crossing is HORRIBLE. worse than ours.
requests? how about “the wonder of you”, ‘holic?
Spaniards looking bit unsettled now.
Requests? Mine’s a Laphroaig, thanks.
Fucking Hell !!!!!
And Bang !
I wish I had neighbours like Holic.
Roxette: “No you don’t…..”
Oh , slightly early for the mythical 1100 it seems .
ooooh, close by the PT.
No Casillas didn’t touch the ball, you preening fuckwit!
I thought that was your attempt at 1001, tabs ๐
Well in Ollie !
Apologies to others but Ijust can’t back drink that much.
New post required soon as I’m wearing a scrolling groove into the screen of me shiny new iPad!
I suspect my enjoyment of this game would be improved if I had neighbours like ‘holic’s….
Might you consider sending them out on loan next season Guv’nor? ๐
Any more of this and you’ll need some cunt like a developer in here.
H2H @ 855, agree with you about the arses, how they open up in another window freaks me out! 8)
approaching the mystical 1068.
lol@wind (in the nicest way), clearly backdrinking…can’t wait to see that post!
Fine first arf so far – flying by for me. Portugeezeers right at it, a low pout count and Keown on the commentary – hallelujah!
who is this tosser commentating on BBC?
he’s a fucking cluster-headache!
lucky, al, i have the darke macca unholiness. sound off.
Snowy returns ๐
Breaks the ‘holic bar record
Well Dr Z did actually!
Keown not much better.
Why can’t we get someone with a bit of insight?
ladies and gentlemen, the drinks record is reset from here on out with every post. congratulations, drinks are on lars, again. his gdp (gross drinking payments) once again exceed those of upper volta.
nice, a card for ramos. very cynically blocked.
Evenin’ Trev ๐
Jaysus, I’m hating how the commentator gets all excited everytime the preening fuckwit gets near the ball, even in the middle of the pitch.
now, this is nba, and by and large i think mark cuban is a nonpreening fuckwit, but if you place the way he’s talking about things in a football context skip bayless could be any of these uninsightful halfwits on the espn/sky/bbc/fox microphones.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAkVnlA9CJo
I don’t deserve you lot. Thank you for filling in the gaps. More wine please…
pulls the next to last clean jelly jar out from under the bar and pours ‘holic the last of the rioja.
You’re right Dr. Zee!!! What the eff has M. keown ever done to qualify him to talk football – fuk you swivel-eyed, heartless, Van Nistelrooy baiter!!!
Sets the new ‘holic bar record!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Scruz – turn your translator back on please. ๐
15 posts too late of course, but then he does it again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Holic has been captured by an alcoholic religious cult, masquerading as neighbours
What’s the property market like in Wiltshire?
Evening ‘Holic – reassured to see you’re still there. ๐
AL -not exactly full of insight though is he? Reverting to the predictable he’s gone down too easily there….. blah blah
Just because he is an ex Arsenal player, let’s not kid ourselves……
sorry, trev. which post? seriously, check out the video. bayless is a complete idiot, and cuban shreds him into tiny little pieces…just like we’d hope someone with wenger’s verbal ability and brain mixed with keown’s ruthlessness would have a go at the darke macca unholiness.
1079 scruz – had me scratchin’ me head – no problem. ๐
I think there are a bit too many of us now.
Preening Fuckwits are on top IMHO..
Ollie for the 1000 – must be a first on Goonerholic surely ๐ฏ
hopefully 1089 cleared that up, trev. even though it’s cross-sport, what cuban does to bayless is exactly what we’d like to see someone do to, say stuart robson.
Now keep calm everyone – cards at the REDdy here. ๐
gt, second. snir got the other last august. or haven’t you backdrunk? if you’re quiet, you will see maradone try to swing his methadone addled hips and paneka in 1100…
Surely everybody’s calmed down now, Mr Dread.
trips mike dead, steps on his nuts.
decides to shoot on sight.
Could the evil twin nick it?
but not self-assist…leaving that to the pros.
Sneakily sticks out a foot cos he can’t resist and …….
Clearly not, Mr Maradone.
Well in scruz!
you should have at least made sure it was methadone, maradone. shaft’s grease is the last thing you want to inject…
Bring that back for offside ! Now !
Diego has just popped in to see the neighbours
Ok, Portugal to score first. Want this to end in PK’s (smiles). Now about Germany…want Italy to win (Juve majority).
trips maradone into mike dead, knocks him over, steps on his nuts, stuffs his red card into his mouth, tapes it shut, hangs him from a gibbet, and calls his uncle robert.
Well, abb, we didn’t support the same team for more than a game then? ๐
diego or diegoe, z?
cheers, ollie.
*does his silly skippy dancy thing and stamps his feet in pure rage. Blows the whistle so hard that both eyes explode out of his head and his career is, well, Dead *
Betfair?
ramos to get a second yellow. you read it here foist.
Another successful shot in the dark. ๐
Well then, er, shots for all at the bar!
ollie with the last for a millenia…
Nice one Ollie, I at least wanted that if I would miss 1000 & 1100 ๐
Commentator dweeb guy:
“Alonso, strokes his beard…..”
FFS – I give up
Have we signed anyone yet?
Is it just me or is this game actually boring?
We’re in uncharted waters now.
1100+, hope the bar don’t break.:)
Nice one for the quadruple Ollie.
Must be boring Ollie – not ‘Boring Ollie’ – judging by the number of drinks rattling up.
Trouble with all this Euro stuff is “who cares” ?
h2h, considering it has supported all of us dancing on it for a few days, i can’t see how it would break. *happily reminiscing about the bartop conga line led by wolfie and abb*
cescy poo is in.
Ollie, it’s not just you. It started out quite well but there hasn’t been a proper scoring chance for either team that I can remember.
Cesc on, maybe he can create something?
Cesc to win it again for Spain?
Cesc on ๐
Well true, Trev. Some time ago I was kind of with what blogs said : ‘nice to watch some football without caring too much about the results, let’s just enjoy it’, but it seems to be getting more boring with every game…..
I’m kind of starting to care about Germany to win this to right some wrongs about football.
Exactly Trev, who cares?
Forza Italia ๐
Terry’s in – you’re banned. ๐
what is *with* these guys? 3 on 3 break and shooting from distance? please.
spain not going to have a silva lining today.
Afraid I’ve found the whole thing meaningless Ollie.
However, I still have all The Arsenal’s best League and Champs League games Sky+’d from last season – think I’m going to start rewatching them.
And wait for more signings of course. So far we have 2 LARSs but no LANS – I feel quite cheated ๐
JW will be a LANS though, so fair enough.
Boring indeed (the game, not the bar’s clientele). Want Poldi to score and Per to play, Germany no doubt the stronger side…but emotionally I support Gigi and the azzurri. Hey, really looks like Portugal will nick one soon. Oh, Navas on, like him…maybe Spain score first!
@ 1130
Me?
cesc telling pepe, thanks dude, better him than me, while alonso lies rolling on the pitch stroking his beard.
A mattter of time before the handbags begin.
This game will be won by those who cheat best.
No not you zico – GoonerTerry is serving a 3 match ban but there seems to be scant regard for any sort af authority round here.
yellow cards flowing like wine in this bar.
You might be right, H2H.
Abb – exactly how many teams are on the pitch in that game you’re watching ?
@ 1138
Rules?
Pah!
ah, an actual shot on goal. first save of the half?
Now Trev…(where’s your smiley thingy)!
Yes, think you’re right SG, nice one too. Good save. Boring game.
Abb –
Many people have smiled at my thingy, but it’s whereabouts are not your concern. ๐
Ooh, there it is !
abb, if portugal could actually follow through on their good positions it would be a better game. hell, they’d be up 2-0, maybe.
freekick for CRtPF, let’s see.
trev, is it apt you chose a one-eyed smiley thingy?
Entirely scruz. ๐
Every single free-kick I have seen from that preening fuckwit in the tournament has been dogshit, scruz….
Go Cesc, make Pepe feel his own vile medicine! ๐
this one was no real exception, ollie. but didn’t he score from one earlier?
Nurse abb @ 1144
As a nurse, I would have thought you would have known…. ๐
earlier = group stages. my mind is rioja addled.
Zico – even I can’t find it on occasion. ๐
Can’t the ref just blow for full time and tell both teams that he has decided to let the penalty-kicking begin immediately instead of in about 45 more minutes of this dross?
Come on Spain!
I hate the You’re-a-peeing Championship. ๐
off comes laurindo almeida. on comes oliver nelson. that ought to jazz things up for portugal.
Get needles warming up to stick in my eyes if this game goes to extra time.
Since I am going to miss the final, is it too much to hope for tomorrow’s game to provide some entertainment?
Zico and Trev…oh what’s the use in trying. God bless you SG, trying to keep us on the straight and narrow. Hey Lars, like the way you think.
Bored.
Bored.
Bored.
When’s the next paint-drying monitoring contest? I’m in.
Indeed H2H. Still hope Spain win though.
Here. The second worst thing after France winning is Portugal winning.
Some cunt with a Portugal flag hannging from his mirror nearly crashed into me on my way from work.
He was liberally driving on the left on a bend that wasn’t sharp at all.
I had to brake and swerve a bit. Without any hope for an extra ยฃ5,000.
Haha, another superb free-kick from PF.
abb, if that’s what i am doing i am failing ๐
ollie, hopefully your mobile phone ended up usable, though.
Yes great insight again, Martin.
He’s got to get that one up and over the wall…..
Coach of Netherlands has quit.
Hey abb, where’s your smiley thingy .
heh scruz 1167
Trev: 6 goals! That how many I have passed up to allow some of my ‘slower’ team mates (not you Ollie of course) to score…I have even denied myself the opportunity to engage in the stimulating conversation on here for two days. If that’s not enough ‘respect’ for you Trev then I am off to join those boys on Untold who have always been so nice to me…
๐
Lars, I fear we’ll have to endure those extra 30.
(famous last words?)
Heh Trev
GT – you can check out any time you want, but you can never leave. ๐
Pops in to set a new drinks record ….because i can ๐
yet another golden opportunity for portugal, forsaken. by PF.
Haha at this other attempt from the preening fuckwit.
What a total cunt.
“Messi, Messi, Messi…” ๐
Corners aiming for Peter Crouch unlikely to work for Spain…..
Oh FFS, another 30 minutes of this shit awaits…
90 minutes of nothing. the first half was brighter, but wow, ughly.
What a crock of shite.
I agree with Line Acre for once….
The Iberian Oscar ceremony goes on. Sick of the play-acting.
heh@ollie, they’re unlikely to work for england, liverpool, tottenham, or…anyone, for that matter.
@ 1179
*Holic Management takes one look at her other half…..*
CR, not exactly having a good day at the office. Nanci quiet too. Trev, whenever you ‘talk’ I smile. SG, plenty of time to mend your ways (predict PK’s).
I’m getting confused here – abb can see Spain, Portugal, Italy Germany and the coach of Netherlands, and now Peter Crouch is on the pitch and he isn’t even in the squad !
Well in scruzgooner @1100 and Ollie @1111. Cool numbers. 8)
trev, you just haven’t had enough drinks. or at least not as many as abb.
nurse, give trev some of what you’re having. i think he might see things your way after a bit…
These bunch of tnucs are effin shite – bring bak James Milner!
cheers, bt8b. pushing for the dozenth century…pings the ball over into the offensive third.
I’m a record breaker !!!!
Not to mention well in scruzgooner at the little appreciated but supercool 1177.
1186
Heh! ๐
Scruz – abb is a respectable nurse – I am not “after a bit” ๐
Does a BENDTNER???????
didn’t even notice that, bt8b. but i did luck into 777 as well.
Shoots…
on the rebound ๐
I want Spain to win but I really really really didn’t want or need 30 more minutes of that pile of shite.
bang!
PaddyPower or what????????
VEry well, bt8, fox in the box!
Shooooots ……….
Holic,
You cannot put up a new post until you let me post #1314 ๐
that was the sound of one balloon popping. well in, bt8b. and ollie in trev’s usual spot, while he is a way for a little bit…:)
Psed Zico @ 1088 (i fink) there’s nothing with reverting to going down too easily – cheap, i know – but i’m woth it!
Well, 1199 is WAY cooler than 1200 anyway…
My nails remain firmly in the box – I am saving them for the upcoming season with teams expected to start playing the Chel$ki way..
worth it – obviously!!!
al@1208, as a reverend you’ll be an expert, wouldn’t you be.
Puts his fag down, and places it firmly in the back of the net ๐
Oh, late again, and there I was expecting a bit of premature congratulation. ๐
Oh dear !
Why, Lars, who got it? Let’s have a celebratory drink. On your tab, of course ๐
tabs@1213, i thought you were talking about wolfie.
Xabi Alonso really does look as likely to score for Spain as anybody else.
heh, tabs 1213, I wondered whether it was a ‘joke’ ๐
I think I might just log off.
AFter all, there’s a good chance this game sends me to sleep even before the penalties…..
Brilliant!
Only a goal is going to change this game
I don’t pay enough to the BBC for brilliance like that. Really deep.
pedro put through the pepe grindah…medium grind.
Zico – more ‘cos he’s an ex-top-class player, than an ex Arse player. He may not be as articulate as thee or he or me – but he has been there, and that warrants a modicum of respect, i reckon. Too easy to sneer.
Before I log off, sorry but I can’t agree, zico.
A meteor crashing there and wiping out both teams would also change the game.
And be far more enjoyable.
finally, some goalmouth action. brilliant save, rui.
zico@1221: I bet he also believes that getting the next goal will be very important…
zico @ 1221 – I think by now even the commentators want to harm themselves…
Keown getting a lot of stick on Twotter, but unfairly I think – they need an actual game to commentate on, the poor feckers :-/
Ou, a chance, the needles feel out of my eyes.
The drinks are better then this game…I’m on my second margarita (comes in a foil pouch, pretty space age).
Not even Dr Spin could make this game sound interesting.
Commentater;
“Spain sapping the energy out of Portugal”
I know how they feel.
last gasp of the half, alonso. is bt8b right?
sorry, ramos. and, not.
This game really does not live up to expectations…oh only in one aspect…theatrics are shown from both sides as expected. I am starting to regret watching it instead of taking care of my now sleeping better half :-/
this is a perfect game for a player like torres. no goals.
well in, eandy. nice numbah.
I want them to go back to
Alonso strokes his beard
I think I can sell tickets for that on the Happy Train ๐
Lars @ 1230 – one word: Penalties
๐
Heh H2H. ๐
scruz @ 1212 (nice number, bro!) amen to that!
al, of course, getting a witness is probably the *last* thing you’d want.
Dr Spin: well, but what about the murderously boring 120 minutes before the penalties?
The 1250 sweepstakes are hotting up now …
I’m off, can’t stand anymore and no longer care about penalties. Enjoy all.
Night Trev.
Penalties will be a sweet release after the last few hours of steaming doggy do.
ciao, trev, i hope you’re back after a bit…;)
on to pennos. this was actually worse than the italy england, for all its early promise.
So, penalties it is then. Didn’t see that one coming two hours ago, did we?
Right! Orf down to the all night boookies (geordie accent), anyone called Ashley on either side?
Diego penalty! Bang.
I certainly expected a more dynamic performance from Spain. But I wonder if they or Portugal can hope to keep up with Germany.
I’m missing all the action as I try to follow the match and backdrink at the same time!
whatever your sympathies there’s a fuck of a lot riding on this for the Spanish (the Portuguese too, fair enough), but when the carping, and the revisionism, and the backlash have been long forgotten the Spanish have a chance to be remembered as one of the best ever. If they lose this lottery and don’t make the final and win it, or come close – no-one’ll care all that much. Except maybes the Spanish themselves.
Ronaldo to win it or lose it?
I think I’m gonna ask Arsene for his DeLorian, go back in time and tell myself to not watch this game.
If I refuse to listen to future me, then I’ll have to kill past me causing the time continuim to unravel destroying the very fabric that binds the universe.
A bit harsh maybe, but on the bright side it means that all you guys won’t have to get to watch it either.
Wind.
Action?????
h2h, he means here in the bar, at the moment.
I think Portugal will win the shoot-out. Or maybe Spain.
Hey 8ball, don’t count Italy out.
Nice save.
ooooh, curse of bt8b for alonso.
jesus, poor penalties, even.
Lars @ 1257 – ๐
Great save, Alonso already a hero. Another terrific save. Goalies do RULE!
Finally a goal.
time for pepe to sky it in his ernest haste.
H2H @ 1254
Any chance of a lift?
FFS someone score already!
nope. can’t get it right with these guys.
Heh, the Scot gets 1266 8)
a plate of scones for the scot.
Heh Zico.,
lol @ ramos trying to channel pirlo
Get the tissues ready for Ronaldo….
can he do it?
Eh, Iniesta and Pepe level. PK up to take a PK, and scores!!! Nanci now, and nice one . Tied up. S. Ramos goes through. Now drum roll…
yes he can!!
ramos..well played
Cesc scores, so Spain wins – just like I told you@1267!
FAAAAAAAAB!!!! Buuuuuuuuuuuutttttttttt that’s what top-class, late stages, international tournament football all too often looks like. If you don’t like it (sorry chums what i’m inordianately of) watch the Wimbledon repeats or walk the dog (that may or may not be a slang term for somefink sordidly saucy – i can’t remember)!
h2h you can take out the needles, now.
Cesc wins it for Spain. No CR PK! Que passa?
Cesc killed Ronaldo.
๐
Uncanny prediction again from GT ๐ฏ
Dear God,
Can I please have a refund on the last two hours of my life?
Love,
Zico
off to get some work done. thanks for the drinks!
Cristiano – off to cry tears of unfathomable sadness ๐
Ronaldo unable to shoot his – erm…shot. Ah-ha, photo-op for the Portuguese preener denied!
or do i stay in the hunt for 1300? punts it over to abb, with another margarita bag taped to the side…
Well, thanks everyone for providing far more entertainment than the game itself. I’m off to bed, laters everyone!
lars! please leave your tab at the bar!
Re: Lars @1257. You called it. ๐
Re: Zico @1285. That is assuming a loving God, then?
Thank fuck for that: more PF tears, deep joy!
All thr close-ups, the fuckwit was so convinced he was going to score the winning penalty.
Now do your work, Germany!
Several people seem to be playing coy in the 1300 sweepstakes …
Lurkers all. ๐
Oops, pardon Ian – not you x
Whips a devilish diagonal cross field ball that gets there much faster than anything the Spanish or Portuguese were able to do tonight.
to heck with lurking, ping it around, ping it around!!! runs down the left side waiting for abb to do *something* with the ball…
Well the Prime Preening Fuckwit had only his own headlines in his mind and failed to notice that his team needed him to step forward a score his penalty to give them a boost – makes you appreciate Pirlo all the more doesn’t it? ..
races onto bt8’sb and slings it into the net!
poing
bang !
I can’t believe how bad that game was, nor can I fathom why the shirt brigade are now hailing Spain as a great team because they looked better then a broken Portugal in ET.
backheel
New rules??
Pardon – inordi(a)nately “fond” of – Oops, either the vino or the excitement of the match appears to have gotten to me
oooh, bt8b gets the rebound…and it’s in! well played, well played.
Oh well…ive still broken another record !!
diego’d better be around soon…
That’s 900, 1200 and 1300 for me now, my best ever run. Off to Vegas. ๐
Well in 8ball ๐
But the 1313 sweepstakes are still on …
Well in bt8b, well in ๐
Wel lin 8ball
All the plaudits. Too kind, too kind. ๐
And it’s another milestone for H2H. The 1313 Johnstons Paint Trophy is off to Holland. ๐
nice poinging 8ball
and the 1314 goes to bt8b after a perfect 1313 from h2h. buy lottery tickets, boys.
8ball,
you are going to regret pinching drink #1314.
In these parts, that is akin to stealing our birthright.
Almost as perfidious as Clan Campbell. You’re not a Campbell by any chance?
Temperature here is 93 and my daughter plays her soccer game in a little over an hour. Time to pack the icewater. Go blue team!! (Actually it’s Manchester City blue in this case but it’s pure coincidence, I assure you of that.)
Snir, great links @ 848/882 :’)
bt8b @ 900, well in you moaner ;), nice assist Clumsy Catalan ๐
Lurky @ 949, sorry mate, was watching the tennis ๐
Harsha @ 956, great point on Theo ๐
Well in Ollie @ for the Millennium 1000, nice attempted panenka lurky @ 999 for the assist ๐ Well tabsed Snir @ 1001 ๐
H2H @ 1035, agreed ๐
Scruz @ 1067, thanks for following my work ๐
‘Holic @ 1080, haha you know you do mate ๐
bt8b @ 1083, ‘wishes he sets the new ‘holic bar record!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!’
Scruz @ 1100, *salutes his strike partner*
Unlucky Maradone, another time.
abb @ 1106, you a psychic Ms? (Wanted it to end in PK’s at 8:47pm) :s
GT @ 1172, you were on Untold Arsenal? Slagging it up I see… ๐
abb @ 1187, she did predict them ๐
Well in bt8b for 1200! Lars @ 1209, Unlucky your 1199 never went in ๐
Good 1222 Scruz ๐
Eandy @ 1234, most unique number of the day mate, and yes, the game was shit indeed.
H2H @ 1255, the action in the bar of course! ๐
Zico @ 1285, I told my friend to go to his local council to get an electricity refund ๐
bt8b, you got 1300 as well, greedy bugger ๐ฎ Good assist Scruz ๐
H2H @ 1313, be proud with the trophy bt8b suggests @ 1315 haha ๐
Dr. Z, I hereby award you #1314 and sincerely apologize. Not a drop of Scottish blood in me. North Yorkshire is as close as my ancestry got.
Wind’s up!
Backdrinking… Like a Boss B-)
That was almost shitter than England vs Italy ๐
And I didn’t even get to see Ronaldo’s beautiful tears at the end ๐
Hey 8ball, way to do it, congrats! Chris Gooner, good attitude son. SG, 5% alcohol, but feels much stronger (thank the gods). Tomorrow, much better game (really). Nite all.
At least Cesc got the winning penalty ๐ I can have a spot spot for him in this aspect at least
Epic back drinking again, Wind.
*Trudges back to 1035 to see which one of my inane rants someone actually agrees with.
abb, check my 1320 ๐
Rev AL @ 1321, its divine ๐
*swipes 1331*
wind up?
I hate Spain so much, and the fact that Cesc is there isn’t enough.
Still have a problem with Cesc celebrating.
Still finding it hard to forgive him for refusing to play for us against Cologne and letting himself get unsettled as was admitted by AW.
And this is coming from a person who defended him more than most, including against people from this bar.
Thanks H2H, and that was speed back-drinking to try and get into the fray for the 1300 century, you check my 1320 as well ๐
Just goes to show how unreliable history books are. Sweaties, 1314?
I think not.
Proud Edward won, but kept it quiet ๐
I know how you feel Snir, I talk about Cesc a lot with Sian from ibelieveinarsenal on her comments on her blog & on twitter, its only thanks to her that I can talk about him so positive, still haven’t fully got over him leaving, will do when I read an article in the Sport Magazine over here with him on leaving us.
Hey Maestro ๐
Let it go Snir, all that hate will destroy you from within.
Hate should be reserved for the worst kind of scum, like murders, rapist, pedo’s and Joey Barton.
Gonna go help my older brother build his bed, will be in the bar on my phone if the battery doesn’t die on me ๐
Wind in bed ? Not good. ๐
Wind’s brother sleeps on Lego?
@ 1335.
Rumour has it, you were there ๐
H2H – I’m a Scorpio, I’ve got no middle feeling. Just love or hate ๐
Wind – I loved him to bits. And if there is one thing I can’t tolerate is people who disrespectful to AFC. He was very respectful to AFC during the years, but refusing to play is the biggest no-no.
It took me a year to admit that he really did it, but he did, and it’s unforgivable.
Snir – oh dear Cologne? Presumably he was scent home after that and his arse career went down the toilet water route. He musht’ve been after shaving himshelf for the Catalansh on the other side of the chanel… pardon – under-arm spray of biscay.
Right-guard Bedfordshire Brighton and Hoves into view – fank fuk!
Only the 600 odd drinks to catch up on then ๐
I might be gone some time .
Ah fuck it,
Who wants rumors?
Forgot to add the ๐ of course!
Haha Zico. @ 1341, he’s actually quite offended ๐
But we’re quite the bed builders I must say, he taught me the tricks of the trades when I was young… ๐
Snir @ 1342, I didn’t know of it until Holic brought the topic up in one bar or the other a few weeks ago, wouldn’t of believed it if anyone else had said it to be honest ๐
h2h@1338, isn’t that all a tad redundant?
wind, epic backdrink. hallmark of quality.
i missed that about cesc and cologne. anyone have a link, or remember which bar session it’s from? eau de humanity…
Returns to the bar, nosebleed starts again. Night all. What record drinks lie ahead?
1349 SG. Unfortunately now known as Neau de Cologne!
lol@uply…
Goddamn that’s a lot of drinks!
Gotta backdrink now…but at first glance I see a Panenka that went straight over the crossbar at 999 ๐
Enough, already ๐ >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
For the love of Dennis, what on earth has been going on here?