Challenge Aneke, Arsenal Pass The First Test, Just
Jul 24th, 2012 by 'holic
Being a most disorganised sort the demands of the nine to five prevented me from witnessing the opening match of the tour. Therefore, for the second consecutive post, may I welcome you to TaBS week on Goonerholic. I am seriously grateful to Take a Bow Son for stepping into the breach and saving me a very long night indeed, for I am just about to watch the contest. If you like the cut of his jib do follow the author on Twitter, @takeabowson1, and tell him I sent you!
Ah, some real football at last. There was a time not so long ago when Arsenal’s exhibition matches entailed nothing more than either a short hop to Glasgow to take on Rangers, or the slightly more problematic hop and a skip to Paris to enjoy the hospitality of Racing Club. That those two Clubs are now defunct as a result of fiscal irresponsibility, whilst Arsenal continue to operate at the very highest levels of the modern game serves as a stark reminder to those that throw accusatory barbs of “lack of ambition” at the Club, that we continue to get the big things right.
Football has moved on of course. The global game now demands that pre-season takes place in rather more distant destinations, principally to consolidate and expand on commercial opportunity but also, less cynically, to afford Arsenal’s Malaysian supporters the opportunity to once again renew their seasonal vows in the flesh. Given their clear fanaticism and love for the Club, it would only be the most misanthropic of curmudgeons that would begrudge them that opportunity.
The Malaysian Goonerhood wasted no time in unfurling a huge “Where is our Captain?” banner, perhaps less memorable than the rather more explicit and direct advice offered to Barcelona last year, but no less pointed for that. Our erstwhile captain, Robbin’ iVan’s Pursie, was of course at home “working on his fitness”, together with our two other potential departures, Bendtner and Arshavin. Injuries to Sagna, Jack, Rosicky, an Olympic challenge for Ramsey, and the decision to withhold the French and German boys from the fray not only denied us a first look at our new close season presents, but also signified that the Gunners’ side had a fledgling, if not unfamiliar, look to it.
Before an estimated 30,000 crowd, principally bedecked in red and white, Arsenal began with Mannone in goal behind the strongest available defence of Jenkinson, Vermaelen, Djourou and Gibbs. A solid looking midfield of Arteta and Coquelin with the welcome return of Diaby in the hole, strived to serve Gervinho, Chamakh and a roaming Santos.
Diaby, combining a forward thrust with his familiar sublime and insouciant skill, dominated the early exchanges. Playing quick give and goes there was a nascent promise in his performance that his recovery from injury will not be hamstrung by a tentative mentality towards the physical side of the game. One challenge in particular sent him sprawling and drew a collective intake of breath before he got up, dusted himself down, and carried on
With Arteta displaying his usual compact and tidy self, Arsenal’s greater possession led to a flurry of corners in the first 25 minutes, but clear chances were at a premium. Chamakh encouragingly shot first time on the volley forcing a good save, whilst somewhat surprisingly our best two openings fell to an otherwise subdued Santos. The first was scuffed wide with his chocolate leg after a neat interchange of passes, whilst the second was spurned after he nipped in on an errant Malaysian pass, but failed to lift the ball over the advancing keeper.
At the other end Mannone had wisely forsaken the pink shorts as advertised and plumped for black. He had one uncertain moment when he fumbled a free kick around his post, but generally looked tidy enough and made a couple of good saves. In first half injury time however he was beaten all ends up with a shot that swerved, dipped, and did a double pike before hitting the back of the net. In truth it would have beaten far better keepers than Mannone, and Arsenal headed for their half time cuppa one down.
Arsene then rang the changes, emphasising the primacy of the squad’s fitness rather than the result, notwithstanding the increasingly hyperbolic commentary of my stream. Only Mannone survived the half-time cull and Arsenal took to the field for the second half having changed the whole outfield.
A central defensive partnership of Eastmond and Bartley flanked by Miquel and Yennaris did not promise solidity, and in the first 20 minutes it was the Malaysians who posed the greater threat. Mannone was called into action after a rusty Bartley had been turned rather too easily. In midfield Song provided the experience to the youthful Aneke who looked comfortable throughout, showing a good spatial awareness and range of passing. The ever willing Chamberlain sparkled sporadically.
Up front Afobe showed a willingness and a neat touch though he will be disappointed that he was unable to beat the keeper when put through by Song. On the flanks Ryo made a much greater impact than Theo, and with 10 minutes to go it was his movement which fashioned an opportunity for the England winger, only for the Englishman’s first touch to let him down. It was to be Walcott’s last contribution to the game, as Arsene decided to give the young German, Eisfeld, the last 10 minutes.
With the clock showing 3 minutes to go Yennaris, having overcome an uncertain start, got past the defensive line and neatly beat his man before pulling the ball back for our least vaunted German to finish with aplomb. One quickly became two. A rampaging run from Miquel and a lightning interchange of passes with Aneke afforded Chuks a glimpse of goal he didn’t spurn, albeit with the help of a cruel deflection. His goal was reward for an impressive 45 minute turn, and whilst this season might come too soon for him at Arsenal, a loan spell in a higher league than he has been afforded previously surely beckons.
So 1-0 down, 2-1 up and that is how it finished. Resplendent in regal purple, it was not perhaps the performance of kings but to borrow and adapt a phrase from our Brazilian left back, “Well done Queens !” The players all have another 45 minutes under their belts from a useful training exercise, and will travel to China in good heart ready for the greater challenge presented by Manchester City.
Goodies versus Baddies. Where’s my white hat?
I should point out that the views contained herein, particularly in relation to the regal purple, are expressly the views of the contributing author and not necessarily the old boy in the ’71 Cup Final shirt who writes here occasionally.
369 Responses to “Challenge Aneke, Arsenal Pass The First Test, Just”
First???
Oh yes, call me Oxon Random Gooner
Well in Oxon!
the slightly more problematic hop and a skip to Paris
Heh, those were a days. Getting to Glasgow is the slightly more problematic hop and a skip now 😉
-a
+the
Evening chums.
Working with demanding Frelgians.
Knackered.
Need more booze 😉
Thank you Wolfie.
Miguel,
‘holictabs? Be glad Snir is not around….Those from Toulouse, ‘holic? 😉
I think Lars is back from the ‘other’ pub so the tab should be open 🙂
Those from Toulouse, Ollie, indeed…
Would a glass of Pomerol do for you?
Resplendent in regal purple.
Or as I put it, fuck off Nike!
Haven’t seen any of the game. Since we didn’t win 27 nil, I suspect that Wenger has lost the dressing room. And also some players by the sounds of things. Where’s Fabianski?
Nice work tabs btw.
Well played Tabs!
An educated report with just the right degree of, one has to say these days, inevitable campness, dear boy ! 😉
Great report Tabs…not the slightest trace of a slur like some other match reports on this channel ;-:
A glass of arsenic and old lace would do me right now…
No worries Holic, glad to help out .
Hats off to you for the “Challenge Aneka” line of the title. I spent ages trying to come up with different formulations of “Malaysia Chuks it away”, but gave up.
You, on the other hand, nailed it in one !
Btw, had another bet with myself as to whether “Well Done Queens” would make it past the cutting room floor.
Looks like I lost ! 🙂
9 ‘holic….do you call them LWC as they know how to lose 😉
*takes coat and slips out as surreptiously as possible*
Trev likes camp, what can I say?
I fucking hate liquid coffee, me 😉
Wenger seems to have been at his enigmatic best after the game. When pressed on Cazorla he seemed to claim we were ‘not close to signing anybody but still working on that’. In Wengerspeak that is almost an admission that negotiations are going on which is what we probably expect in the circumstances.
I doubt signing Cazorla would be entertained were RVP going to stay and it may be that the deal is set to go ahead when RVP naffs off wherever he goes.Which is hopefully Juventus for an obscene amount of money. Over the years we’ve been a bit of a feeder club for them but they did sell us a bloke called Henry a few years ago.I wonder what happened to him?
Nice to see Eisfeld scoring. Maybe he might be a surprise package. But Bartley worries me.
Goes for Szczesny too, zico 😉
http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3533509/first-team/malaysia-xi-v-arsenal?tab=report
Looks like both preferred drinking vodka on the bench.
Cheers Dr Z, Up
Thanks Trev, though I resemble that campness remark 🙂
Ollie, I’m pretty sure the original had a “g”. I’m blaming Holic, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it 😉
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenge_Anneka
ah, thanks tabs. I knew there was something behind it, but I’m afraid it was beyond my cultural references.
tabs, the editing was very swift after my 7 😉
I’m still in the ‘don’t care if he goes to Man U rather than Juve’ camp.
In fact, that would seem more honest to me.
Fuck him with a rusty pole.
I mean ‘honest’, not honest.
Dyslexic cunt 😉
After all, one and a half good season is on a par with Adebayor…..
No prob Ollie, always willing to broaden your culture 🙂
Yep just checked, original was with a “g”. Holic’s gotta take the rap for that one 🙂
Good work, tabs!
Whoever came up with the idea of having the numbers and the names in red on a purple/black shirt either need to be taken out and shot or be sent to a crash course in graphic design. Haven’t really decided which yet.
And yes, Ollie – the drinks are, as always, on my tab!
@ 27
Sub editors are not what they used to they used to be – drunk and asleep on the job 😉
I think you got that bit wrong, tabs: the correct one is with ‘q’.
‘holic’s editing after my remark was to spare your blushes….
As he fails to edit his own post 😳
Good grief – a post-match report from tabs that is correctly punctuated and errr, sober??
Who is this impostor ‘holic? Quick, call security….
Still, nice work whoever you are 😉
Lovely write-up, TaBS. That Capital Wun Cup side is looking tasty. Well done the kids and keep going, Abou Diaby. We need you.
But ‘holic is correct – it is Ignasi Miquel, with a q. There’s a song about that, I expect.
Classic, zico.
Hi snowy.
We’re playing the next game in China? This is all getting a bit disorienting. At least I hope ‘holic will be back with the match report, which is not to say I didn’t thoroughly enjoy Tabs’ effort, which I certainly did. 🙂
How could you doubt him, snowy? 😉
Well chaps, now that my learned chief commentator has lodged his report, it falls to Lady Nina and myself to bring you the “View From The Inside”.
After a slight mix up, as chronicled in the previous dispatches, Lady Nina and I arrived somewhat flustered at the ground, just before kick-off.
Being used to the very best of everything, Lady Nina has seen fit to ensure that hospitality suites have been booked for all of our pre-season tour games, and so we took our seats in hot steamy anticipation of the evening’s events.
Lady Nina’s standards are not allowed to drop one iota, and so it was, just after kick-off, that she felt it necessary to tidy up her box.
I’m afraid the ensuing contortions rendered my view – of the game – somewhat restricted, and so I have nothing to say about the game at all, until after half-time drinkies.
With a fresh cherry in my snowball, I awaited the second half, only to find that all the, to me, unknown participants of the first half had been subbed off.
Hardly fair on an aspiring pundit Arsene, if I may say so.
As the game progressed, the heavily muscled thighs displayed under Alex Song’s curiously rolled-up shorts, excited Lady Nina, who gradually found her own chanting – or was it moaning – rhythm.
One late thrust up the middle brought things to a victorious climax, and Lady Nina’s box shuddered with the ferocity of our celebrations.
The team looked rather splendid in their new shirts – from now on it’s going to be the purple every time for me.
Off to Beijing now for the Bird’s Nest Souper Cup, or Cup o Soup, or whatever the thing’s called.
‘Til Friday.
Oh fuck “q” it is 🙁
I have to take the rap. Damn.
Cheers Lars, Fun, 8Ball.
Thanks Snowy. I won’t lie, think Holic helped me out on the punctuation side of things 😉
*waves to snowy*
😀 @ old Hill-Wood.
PHW – Brilliant 🙂 🙂
Glad you weren’t in my box though !
🙂
And thank you Lars.
Right off for a lie down. All this work has quite done me in !
It’s not easy writing for Holic you know. I was a study in concentration.
http://www.robmansfield.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/journalist-bw-laptop-o.jpg
‘holic @ 36 and Tabs @ 38 – heh 😉
PHW – 🙂
*waves at Ollie & zico*
PHW well reported sir. The sound effects mike managed to pick up the sound of a demented woman shouting shoot..shoot. Sounded very much like Lady N…good to see the toffs getting behind the team.
Heh@Hill-Wood!
Confessing to my virginal status in regards to knowledge of the correct way to say Aneke’s name, would somebody please reveal the phonetic pronunciation? It might help me to understand the clever double entendre within the title of the piece. Many thanks.
PHW. Too clever for our own good. 🙂
tabs – hope you haven’t left yet. In all the excitement of picking up up two Champeens’ League places I forgot to congratulate you on the post.
Good post
ORG CCMUED
Cheers Oxon.
Have to confess to not having a clue what your acronym means though !
Brilliant stuff all round!
TabsBlog? I’d read it.
Great post…a (sorta) proper match at last….
Must say that Song’s pass for the opening for the first was superb, when he slid it I thought…’nice idea, too ambitious’ only to see it find Yennaris who did smart work from there.
A workout at the very least…no injuries…and perhaps Aneke might still be around in 4 weeks time if we get busy moving a few elsewhere. Something tells me Bendtner is staying…just a feeling is all.
Tim’s back!
Still behind State Lines, I hope? 😉
One possible reason why TGSTEL might stay. We cant fucking shift the cunt for love or money!
Nice work again, Tabs.
Kos signing for *five* years. Woohoo! Yaaaaaaaaaaaaay! (Runs around living room yelping and bouncing on furniture.)
Let’s all think about Sagna for a bit – stuck at home and not being able to join any of the fun. Come back soon, Bac.
***
@ bt8bbgfg
A-neigh-kay
There used to be a popular TV show called Challenge Anneka, featuring the bubbly and enthusiastic presenter Anneka Rice.
Fg, Thanks for the explanation. That double entendre could be a bit esoteric for some? 😉
The latest news on the Harry Redknapp legacy at Portsmouth:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18977953
Great news about Koscielny, who certainly has it in him to be captain one day.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18965563
When will Arsene select a new captain, assuming he has not already done it?
If mancity have the money to bid for the best players,why haven’t they bid for messi and Ronaldo? I’m not drunk,I’m still drinking.. And why do chamack always back the opposition goal post.. Strange!
Speaking of captain, I thought the Malaysian banner as reported by Tabs, “Where Is Our Captain,” was quite pointed and effective. Indeed, that is the question to ask.
Tim, good to see you.
Heard Jimmy Cliff’s new album?
He does a version of Guns of Brixton. Have to say I like it, for a cover. What a tribute from one of reggae’s giants to the boys.
8ball.
Our captain Was on the pitch. Take your choice from two.
Some other cunt was taking it easy at home 😉
Tabs, you might have a future in this sort of thing. Kinda felt like I actually SAW the game. The q/g debate was very entertaining. Sorry to say, I’m one of those ‘misanthropic curmudgeons’, cause Arsenal need to be here, in America, spreading the gospel. Maybe next year.
Evening nurse.
Having caught glimpses of the cabbage field the boys were expected to play on I would think America just moved to the head of the list for next summer.
I agree we need to take the brand to the overseas fans these days, but we need the facilities to be up to scratch…
PH-W@37: 🙂
Glad to hear that you were able to sample some of the delights of the Orient.
bt8b@46: the usual way.
The intergoogle phoneticises it thus: UH-nik-kah,
Here is his full name so you can practice:
Chukwuemeka Ademola Amachi Aneke
FG: Anneka is a Dutch girl’s name meaning gracious.
Nice one TABs. The report pretty much reflects the game I saw as well.
🙂
Looked proper daft in purple. Too busy glued to the racing to watch the game properly though, so thanks for the writeup.
GT – thanks for the link yesterday, by the way.
Had given up by then, caught the end on the PC at home just before starting work again.
‘Holic @62 –
Poor pitches are a malaise of the Malays. 😉
Great write-up TaBS.
BMBD
Hey Lonestar, Will you join me in a round of smoked llama dung in the pipe? I’ve heard the aroma can be most intoxicating. 😉
Certain things about Arsenal playing against underdogs never seem to change: opposition scoring unexpected screamers, and opposition goalkeeper pulling out series of saves. :–)
Diaby and Gervinho, if remain fit, could be huge for us this season.
I hope Ryo gets a chance in the first team, and not loaned out anymore. He is obviously not quite the finished article yet, but learning at Arsenal would be best for him and the club. Should start at Carling Cup and even FA Cup for me, and third choice winger (primarily left) in PL and CL. May turn out to be one of the best signings Arsene has ever made.
Afobe should get some first team chance as well. Would be hard for Eisfield to break it in this season, maybe one more year in the reserves with Carling Cup experience to look for. And PL loans for Aneke and Yennaris?
There must be some good reason why Bartley has been preferred over Miguel as the apprentice center back, but in my humble opinion Miguel is just a better footballer, and more versatile. Would really hate to see Miguel going back to Spain.
About Cazorla — and by all accounts it looks like he is on the verge of signing — I am not convinced he is someone we really need. He does play on the wings for Spain, but he may be too slow in that position in PL, and for Villareal and Malaga if I remember correctly he has played more often in the central midfield. Unless Theo is really on his way out (moving Ox as the first choice right winger) or Arsene wants to use Ox primarily in the attacking midfield…
There is indeed the need for a creative midfield player who can also play on the wings, and experience is always welcome, but not convinced Cazorla could be that player. Would be glad to be proven wrong though.
tabs on the double – very nicely written I might say 🙂
And even though somehow I missed both kick-offs, I enjoyed the match, had a good feeling about Eisfeld as soon as he came on and he brought the frosty goods 🙂
Dr F@71: Interesting discussion to be had about Bartley vs Miquel. Bartley was bought from Bolton for the U-18s in July 2007 for an unknown price; Miquel a year later from Barcelona for £1.1m. Both had a couple of seasons in the U-18s before getting professional contracts with the club. Bartley was loaned out in the second half of his first season with the Reserves, often a sign of a player regarded by the club as an outstanding prospect, though I don’t know if that is policy or just coincidence. Miquel, on the other hand, has not yet been sent out on loan, though there is talk of him going this season. He’s not listed as a current first team player whereas Bartley is. May be a clue, or may mean nothing.
Both his loans and being a year ahead of Miquel make Bartley the more experienced player; 35 first-team games in the Championship for Sheffield United, 24 Scottish Premier League games, three Europa League games and three Scottish FA cup games with Rangers and an FA Cup and a Beer Cup game with Sheffield United and one Champions League game with Arsenal. Plus he has played eight Reserve League games for Arsenal, making a total of 76 competitive appearances and racking up 6,224 minutes on the pitch. Miquel, who is still 19, 16 months younger than Bartley, has played mostly Arsenal Reserves football, which accounts for 39 of his 57 competitive games. He has played 11 times for the first team, four Premier League games, three apiece in the FA Cup and the League Cup and once in the Champions League. He has also played 7 times for Spain’s U-19s, giving him a total of 4,725 playing minutes.
In short, Bartley is probably readier for first-team football. I agree that Miquel looks the more talented footballer, though I must admit to not having seen Bartley play much. As for their versatility, Miquel seems to be used as an understudy left back, while Bartley is able also to play as a DM. Miquel’s contract runs out at the end of the coming season so whether he gets a long-term extension, as Bartley has been given, will probably be a good indication of his future with the club.
Ned, once again some very interesting numbers. I know you mentioned SQL the other day, and that must mean that you have access to a database with all the basic data. Is this something you have put together yourself or do you even have access to something like Opta Sports databases?
AW this morning at press conference; “we are Not At the end of signing people. We will bring more players in”
Snir last night on Twitter “don’t worry boys. Everything will be cool”
Police are concerned that there is some kind of body replacing alien substitution type of malarkey going on. Please be on your guard. They have announced they want to interview a “Mr Shaft”.
Robbin’ iVan’s Pursie.
I think I’ve just died and gone to pun heaven. It’s got everything. Close enough to the original to be relevant, it’s got flavour and some sting, a modern touch with the “i”, making everybody under 60 feeling right at home. Everything just fell into place. Surly he must have been born with the name just for this moment to arrive.
Take a bow son, Take a bow son.
Bartley doesn’t look like Arsenal quality to me. (What does Wagner know about spotting a player?)
I saw quite a bit of him last season and he was, well, average.
Of course his performances might have been affected by the fact that he had discovered his temporary employer was in fact a warren of criminals. 😉
Z – I’ve put in a great effort over the past week or so reading up at rangerstaxcase.wordpress.com. Is it time for some succulent lamb puns?
Hope you enjoyed the read Oxon.
Succulent lamb?
Just don’t pull the wool over my eyes….and don’t say you can’t hear me either becuase you are all mutton jeff 😉
I someone baaaarking mad round here?
IS ..
Ewe will have a lot to answer for Oxon – no need to feel sheepish about it though.
I can see you are all supporters of the great Woolwich Arsenal, even if a few of the puns seems to be made on the hoof.
Giving you all time to shepherd your thoughts before Trev the Punk ing arrives…….
Shear madness on here today.
*sobs quietly*
*Opens CMC and hands ginormous Dooby to Dr C*
Hush, and don’t cry, Cattlean Gunner. I do agree that I’ve Herd better entertainment than what we are treated to here and that most of the jokes aren’t exactly Quadrupedal, but at least we aren’t paying anything for it, so it’s not like we are getting Fleeced? Anyway, I promise we will Farm out those who commit the worst atrocities to some other bar in Corriedale for future Grazing.
…and if you and me can’t get them under control, CG, we can always cry “WOLFIE!”
*Toby inspires CG to inhale deeper and faster on the Dooby so generously provided by Dr F.*
Suddenly keyboard becomes complicated. Exclamation marks appear upside down¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ What´s happening¿¿¿¿¿¿
The fear descends…..
Dr C,
Strap yourself in and enjoy the ride.
I’ll explain your disappearance to the Senora later 😉
Fleeced with a capital “F”? Maybe not, but since these sheep puns started I’m feeling fleeced with a small “F” at the very least, but I’ll take one in the chops for the team.
If only someone had written a song called Good Shepherd. Oh, wait …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOWX2-l788A
Breaking news:
Gooner pun fest lambasted in Catalonia!
As he drifts off into dream land, beautiful visions appear to CG / Dr C / Mr C.
He starts to play the “what if” game in his head. But now there is only one “what if” variable needed to make his dreams reality.
What if Arsenal do sign Santi Carzola?
The team and back ups will look something like this;
Szczczcz (Fabianski)
Sagna (Jenks)
TV (BFG)
Kos (JD)(Bartley)
Santos / Gibbs
Arteta (Ox)
Song (Coq)
Cazorla (Ramsey) (Diaby)
Poldi (Flipper)
Giroud (Chamakh) (Afobe)
Theo (Ryo)
Then there are the wounded heroes to return; LJW and TR7.
The Young Guns brimming with potential; Yennaris, Eisfeld, Aneke, Miquel.
Close the door on your way out, Robin!!
Dr Feelgood, we should really give him a chance to bring the Senora, I’m quite sure we could Horn her in. The more the merrier in our happy Flock.
Oh, and well done Zico. Like the ring of that. Straight on, no Milking it.
Many thanks for the kind words, really appreciate them.
Fun @54, Ned @63 – Is that pronunciation right? I’ve been labouring under the misapprehension that it was pronounced “A Knee key”?
Nurse Abb – Thank you for your kind words. You make a good point re The States. I guess the decision for the powers that be is always whether to capitalise on and consolidate existing relationships or to venture to pastures new . My guess is that you won’t have to wait too long for an Arsenal trip to the States. We have a ready-made ambassador in Thierry Henry already there and it would seem silly not to use that. Might have to wait until Thierry hangs up his boots though.
Faustus @71, agree with you on Ryo. He looked very sharp yesterday and appears to have filled out a bit during his time up North. I would also like to see him kept at the Club, at least until January whilst there are CoC opportunities. Depending on our progress in the Cups, we can then take a view in January as to whether his progress merits another loan.
I think Premier League loans for Yennaris and Afobe might be pushing it. I would imagine that The Championship is a more likely destination. Possible that Yennaris is kept until Sagna is fully recovered.
Ned @73 – Great stuff, cheers. Agree with you that Miquel looks much the more accomplished player, and that the only real doubts concern his smaller physique. It was one of the failings of my “report” that I didn’t give him much of a mention. I thought he had a terrific game, adventurous going forward, sound defensively, and calm in possession.
I don’t think however I agree with the final conclusion you draw from your stats when you say Bartley “is probably readier for first team football”. My view would be that you would have to weight the numbers in terms of Premiership experience. Miquel is way ahead in that regard.
As you say, Miquel is in the final year of his contract. That has slid under the radar a bit with all the talk concentrated on RVP and Walcott. Might it be possible that there is a bit of a contract stand off, hence all the Barca talk ?
I would hate to lose him. Looks a real player to me.
Mr C@75 Heh, Snir’s happy clappy “que sera sera” attitude on Twitter last night was a bewildering one. I was completely wrong-footed by his new temperance and only slightly heartened when he said,
“I wanna see the mutherfucka that has the balls to hack my account.”
I think we need to keep a watchful eye.Strange things are afoot. 🙂
Btw any inside info from the Barca press re Miquel ?
CG, that’s a good team that. As long as we can keep enough players healthy. Feels like we’ve had about every damn injury and sickness apart from Foot-and-mouth disease…
Sun is out, Speedoes are on.
Hot to fucking trot ! 😉
Time to stop ruminating on our chances of reaching greener pastures this season, and actually go out and find them.
Baaaaaa
Tabs, Just speaking for myself I’m trying to keep Newcastle players out of the sheep puns. Well in though, and a good thing it wasn’t Wolfie. 😉
Nice score TaBS.
Haven´t seen anything in the Farça press about Miquel. But the last time I looked they had a piece about Denilson being on their wanted list, so not sure I can take them seriously after that. Not that I did before I guess….
There has been a bit about TV5, but then they have named every centre half in Europe as a potential Puyol replacement.
New manager, Puyol and Xavi with limited shelf life…. interesting to see what happens
@ 96
It is clear that the mystic, formerly-known-as-Snir, has been poorly supervised by his medical team in the Quackery, and has been helping himself to some Feelgood Foundation’s finest product.
I blame the doctors.
And the nurses.
And Security.
And the Government.
And the FA.
And Roxette.
Wool in at 100, tabs!
Cheers 8Ball, and nice assist.
Did a lap of honour for scoring the first sheep related goal in the History of football before I realised I was celebrating in a near empty stadium.
A good job it wasn’t Wolfie indeed. Too busy posing that bloke ! 🙂
Lars, I don’t have access to Opta. Far too expensive for frugal Castle Ned. My monks assemble their own manuscripts from sources too sacred to name.
Dr Z.
Snir is here under observation, I tell you. He´s heavily sedated and gently stroking his crystal balls.
Anyone else is clearly some kind of alien bodysnatcher.
Cheers Lars 🙂
Cheers for info Mr C. I thought Martinez was their big summer target?
Dr Z – Whoever is to blame, I do think Snir needs a new drugs regime. I think we might have overdone it on the horse drugs. A quick course of stimulants might do the trick. I won’t be happy until he’s venting again. We need him in good shape for when RVP eventually leaves 😉
Well in, Tabs. Is there nothing you don’t do now?
TaBS
Javi Martinez certainly is their target, but he´s ruffled their feathers a little by saying that he´s happy where he is!
Maybe they´ve lost the Pep factor??
Cheers Ned 🙂
Possibly Mr C, but would have thought the Club is a big enough draw in itself. Perhaps the debts are finally beginning to bite?
Perhaps Bilbao are a one off – Proud Basque and all that?
@ 107
Well you would say that.
A root and branch review of the medical staff is clearly required.
@ 108
Horse drugs? I thought the patient was stable? Heh.
🙂
Perhaps Snir is just mucking about? I’d have a pony on that.
Dr Z
What the hell are you going to do with that root and branch??
Don´t you come barging into this here Quackery waving your foliage about!
Be off with you, before I let Wolfie get her shears out…
Leaf Wolfie out of this, he’s barking.
Really thought we were through tinkering with animal puns. Was thinking of turning tail. But, oh well, better saddle up even though I’m quite sure this will be a mare.
I don’t think we can keep two themes growing at the same time. It’s hard enough to snare people to stay just with the one. Especially CG seems to be quite thorny, and come on, we really need to tend to our own garden.
Tabs@105: crowds weren’t flocking in?
Chop chop chop. Right then who wants it?
Ned, they were.
Sadly the Steward told ’em all to flock off.
@ 120
If it refers to unlimited Guinness, then, oh go on then.
Speaking of which
I have been given the heads up about a free bar tonight.
I have to be up at 4:45 am tomorrow morning for a flight to Stansted.
What could possibly go wrong?
Yo 8ball – puff, puff give playboy…puff, puff give.
Positively mad cap…each and every last one of ewe.
*Where’s that coat?*
BMBD
Zico book a taxi fom the free bar 2 hrs before flt dep time. I’m sure the guvnor of the free bar will assist you getting in the taxi as a matter of pure good will & not at all to being glad to see the back of you , having seen his profits drain away before his very eyes during the course of the night. If Roxette has any issues, tell her you are being given a tax refund. 😉
Ned@106: too sacred to name? Hmm, that sounds a but mysterious – now you got me even more curious 🙂
Heh, Uplympian.
A taxi refund (at least I think that’s what you meant) 🙂
Zico…..free drinks meaning you not paying any taxes/duties which equates to a rebate in my weird logic. I’m building up towards a mandatory admission to the Feelgood clinic as my current medication is losing it’s effectiveness 😉
Mr Uplympian
I like the idea of not paying (for) taxis.
It’s already caught on in Glasgow. 😉
As a gesture of goodwill – help yourself to something from the top shelf of the CMC – my man tabs will look after you.
Who is Robin van Persie?
Dr F, is not the aforementioned Tabs now pursuing a secondary occupation in journalism. Can you still rely on his total dedication to the cause?
Hey all…is not today Lar’s birthday? Happy B’day Lars, if it’s true! Snir @ 129, right on the money.
It is!!
FB just told me! 🙂
Happy birthday Lars! Enjoy it!
And of course tell us all about your *boilk* tomorrow 😀
@ abb
I think a US tour would be great, too. I can imagine a future in which we go every three years to Asia, Africa and the US in turn.
I’ll let tabs answer that one, Uplympian.
For me? Never in doubt 😉
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LARS.
SEND MONEY!
And Happy Birthday Lars – hope you have a nice cake and lots of beer.
Happy birthday to you Lars. I guess that means we’re paying? Didn’t budget for that actually … 😉
Happy Birthday Lars! Top of the range swimming goggles winging their way towards you 😉
Just seen the Olympic Torch.
Seen bigger Doobies! 😎
And talking of which, there you go Up, a top-shelf “Special” for ya. How could you ever doubt me? 😉
Hey Sir, Thanks for the confirmation re Lars big day! Fun, how about a bottle of bubbly (courtesy of our Frenchman, of course) to celebrate. As far as Arsenal coming to the states, let me share with you all one of my true stories. A couple of seasons ago,(March, to be exact) my sister and I attended a pre-season NY Yankee game in Tampa. Well, we started to ‘roam’ about, and I spotted a young man wearing an Arsenal hoodie. My gosh, I went absolutely bonkers, ran up to him and started singing “you too, you like the Arsenal”, on and on I went (jumping up and down for joy). My big sis, seeing the look of alarm on this poor chap’s face, took me by the arm and bought me a glass of wine to calm me down a bit.
Snir, When people start calling you Sir by mistake I think it’s time to consider a name change. Sir Sir has quite a ring to it, don’t you think? 😉
8ball, my bad! Hope your holiday is superduper so far! Sorry Sir Snir (does have a nice ring to it though). Now, time for me to get on the treadmill (10 miles a day), just in case Arsenal call me up, I’ll be ready.
ABB – NY Yankees???!????! You make me sick! UGHHH
8ball – I’ll stay with Snir. I have Ollie here to make sure people don’t make those mistakes again 🙂
D L Ltd
SECURITY ALERT
Sounds like one of our inmates has escaped @ 139.
A night with green eyes to the first man who brings this one in alive.
You make me sick! UGHHH
Normal service has been resumed 😉
@ abb
Loving the Bolly, thanks!
Abb, The New York Yankees are the Manchester United of baseball, but I did like a Yankee player once. I think it was back around 1970 when they were utterly hopeless. 🙂
Looks like Mr C located the stimulants Dr Z 🙂
Hey Lonestar. Glad you kept some of that llama dung around. Vintage 2008 or thereabouts? 😉
Happy Birthday Lars !
And yes, as it’s a special occasion, I will let you buy me one. 😉
I seem to have missed a lamb pun fest due to pressure of work. Good to see a new topic which everyone attacked with new zealand zest.
Not that many puns there really, hardly grazed the surface, in fact, but I don’t have the time to stew over it at the moment.
Tough subject really, not too many spring to mind, but rather than bleat about it, as indeed I cud, I’ll be off.
137 tabs……u missed off the last part of your message to Lars, they are being delivered in person by Wolfie wrapped around a certain part of his anatomy 😉
138 tabs……cheers…..you have your fingers in many pies 😉
Happy Birthday Lars
I claim responsibility for starting the lamb punfest (with malice aforethought). Please cease and desist henceforth.
Many Thanks
Happy Birthday Lars and many more major boilks to follow 🙂
Oxon…you show no shame 😉
I have none, Uply. That’s why.
http://news.arseblog.com/2012/07/gibbs-were-excited-and-hungry/
‘Hungry, Mr Gibbs?’ That would be Mr Santos’ influence.
8Ball – Didn’t Lonestar sell his llamas? Perhaps he has a new breed?
Trev @149 – Your position as pun king is secure 🙂
Up,
I am in my private jet on the way to Sweden as we speak.
As for where Lars’ present is, where do you think the phrase “goggle-box” comes from? 😎
Cheers Tabs,
Just as well ‘cos I don’t think there’s much hope for the career in punditry. 😉
Today, I got controlled by the police (in the car) for the first time in my life.
Well second, if I count that time in Scotland, but that was less random as apparently I was slightly over the speed limit when entering Inverness coming back from Loch Ness.
Re: Tabs @156. In my understanding he did indeed sell his llamas quite some time ago, which makes his conservation of this particular llama dung all the more remarkable. A shot in the dark, really, but one well worth the effort. 😉
… And it’s always nice to hear of any prospects for re-entry into the llama business I should say. Although camels would be just as amusing. 🙂
Yes Trev, your position as a Pumpkin is secure 🙂
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/has-gareth-bale-had-his-ears-pinned-back-1168431
In other news we can now expect the Swamp Thing to hit the ground faster now that he has had his flaps tucked in ..
🙂
There, hope you´re happy now?
I pumped the bugger full of amphetamines (please note, Dr Z, that a request for re supplies has been forwarded to your carriage), forced him into a twitter overload and unstrapped him to run havoc….
On your heads be it….
Lars: I think that I will wait till tomorrow and wish you a belated birthday instead as I don’t wish to be associated with some of the rather dubious birthday greetings above ..
Hope you are having a great day anyway 😎
Oh I don’t know Trev, I thought the”View from the Inside” was pretty illuminating 🙂
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/charity-dinner-with-arsenal-and-man-city
Beijing opponents at Gala dinner
Heh, they shall not be named.
Happy Birthday Lars! Can I add my drink to your tab? 😉 Ahh thanks mate 🙂
Ollie – “Today I got controlled by …”
More clear evidence of alien body-swapping. Mr C’s theory gains more credence with each passing day 😉
GT, Genetic tests on monkeys? We know what it led to last time around…
For some reason I thought Lars’ birthday was in March.
Happy Birthday Lars!
*offers Lars a new wallet*
And Snir’s doing great as opposed to the vicious tabloid rumours rife in the bar, he listened to my kit problems and came up with assurances and solutions, the quinnessential good bro 🙂
Btw, my Arteta 8 with PL badges is done, the Henry 12 with PL Badges is next after a quick visit to The Arsenal Finsbury Park/Sports Direct Oxford Plaza… 8)
Re: Ollie @168: At the risk of being accused of bad taste (when was the last time that happened around here, come to think of it), I hope there wasn’t too much MSG in the food at that dinner. 😉
happy birthday, lars! fortunately for me, no birthday boilk this morning. hopefully you’ll have none tomorrow!
and gt, further to the monkey-faced cunt:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1127074/gareth-bale-to-escape-ban-as-fa-won%27t-complain?cc=5901
now, if it were aaron, or theo, the FA would have complained in the strongest terms possible…
tabs at the top, another 180 on the board. i do hope miquel gets a run-in this year at the grove.
Thanks for the birthday wishes! 🙂 I’ll put the goggles to good use, Wolfie!
Snir, there will be no boilk tomorrow since there is no b-day party today. Was down the pub yesterday to watch the footie and that counted as a party for me. I’ll do the big celebrations next summer when I hit 40.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/squad-numbers
Hmm… Poldi what’s your angle 😉
FunGunner, I never knew you read Sian’s blog at ibelieveinarsenal 🙂
Good work Mr C, but where is he ?!
I have no idea, Mr T.
And, quite frankly, if the lunatics wanted the lunatic released then I think it´s no concern of ours.
Here we are slaving away in our luxurious carriage, selflessly testing all of the CMC contents on ourselves (so as to note secondary effects etc), and all they can do is complain that we´ve successfully restrained one of them from self harm.
Well, the jokes on them…. I geed him up with a few twitter rumours, pointed out that someone had been hacking his account just to get his dander up and then pointed him in the direction of the bar.
Personally, I´m going to sit back and enjoy the fireworks….
Heh, Bellion and Modeste score for Bordeaux in a friendly.
I’m hoping this won’t be next year’s strikeforce.
I see Ben QuelleFailure scored too the other day.
Wind, nobody ever answered to my kit problem: namely how to dismantle the v.PERSIE letters on my shirt from two year ago, which is a nice one I don’t want to bin.
Burn them off Wind, carefully 😉
Sorry, Ollie not Wind.
Can’t see strigaht at the monmet. Another safcrifice that Mr C adn mysefl are maikng to get all thsi stuff tetsed for yuo.
Heh, great new stuff in the CMC it seems, can’ t wait!
Mr C,
a very amusing situation you’ve created here, to be sure.
Just one question. How will we know if we too have become lunatics ?
Cheers Zico…firmly behind state-lines for the upcoming season.
‘holic – I did, it’s a great album – consistent all the way through. Taking on ‘Guns of Brixton’ was bold but he did a nice cover. Been reading all summer, not commenting because summer/transfers/all that drive me a bit mental. I’m really optimistic overall and think we’ll improve our points total over last year by a good amount…where that leaves us we will see.
Been attending local semi-professional football games here in San Diego. The manager is none other than Islington born ex-Maidstone/Wimbledon/Newcastle Warren Barton. Quite a laugh to see him going nutty on the bench. The class of football is decent, two tiers below MLS but not noticeably much worse – from a teamwork/tactics standpoint probably better.
The team is essentially all local lads, all under 24 (I think) and play some good stuff. Amazing to see games with more flow/less acting,. rolling, arguing and the rest. The technique of some of the kids is really good but they lack a bit of bottle, one of them could be Diaby’s twin (except he always plays). It’s not Highbury by a long chalk but gets me out of the house – I just have to resist having a go at my ‘fellow supporters’ decked out in Man Utd and Chelsea tops…
Will send some photos next season (it just ended)….nice mountain backdrops beyond the pitch with hot air balloons hovering about.
http://sandiegoflashsoccer.com/
Cin-Cin boys 🙂
Re: Wind @177. If RVP stays Poldi takes Yossi’s 30 but if RVP goes Poldi takes his 10. That’s my hypothesis anyway.
So 8ball, #10 for Poldi, sounds good to me! Tim, love the pic, Warren is bit of a (closet) Arsenal fan. Mr C and Mr T…kinda have that Ollie/Zico vibe going…good stuff. Ollie, sorry to hear you had a brush with The Law (oh my!). And Lars gets to sit at the ‘kiddie’ table one more year!(not fair).
And the Telegraph is writing pretty much the same thing about our #10:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/9427722/Arsenals-new-shirt-numbers-hint-at-Robin-van-Persies-departure-from-the-Emirates-Stadium.html
Many happy ones Lars. Top man! 😀
Cheers Holic!
Miquel will be a great player. Massive.
There is no doubt about that and he’s only 19!
Let him do his teenage kicks for a while and then we should keep him forever on undisclosed feeeeeee!
“Wanna Feeeee, Ignasi?”
“Yes, sounds great. What’s that?”
“Just sign on the dotted line and you will be blessed”
….after signing:
” You’re right, I’m so Feeeeee!”
TaBS and 8ball –
The Llama herd was liquidated, tis true, but I always maintained access to a “private reserve” of sorts in Southeast Texas (locally known as the “Valley”). The trip is dangerous… lots of narco-traffickers and fringe-Tea Party yocals, but the quality of the Valley Llama is worthwhile.
A special shipment is scheduled for delivery to DLL Ltd in time for the maiden voyage of the HT Mk III.
Happy Birthday, Lars.
Nurse ABB – how are you sweetie! I too have had those moments of joy when seeing an Arsenal shirt, only to discover the wearer of said shirt has about as much business wearing the damn thing as I have rendering medical aid to anyone. It’s shocking, really. Not as shocking as 10 mi on the treadmill, but shocking nonetheless.
Tim – can’t wait to get back out to SD. I’ll let you know next time I visit the in-laws. But if warren Barton is a closet Arsenal supporter (althought I think Nurse ABB made this point, not you), I’ll make a donation to save Pompey.
More puns, please.
BMBD
Picks it up in the center circle with a Cryuff like turn and beats one nonchalantly
Hey Lonestar…gosh, always good to hear from you. Hope the Missus is doing mighty fine and the little gunner as well.
Flies down the wing ‘( that stuff from dr C is working well ) and waits for chip pass.
Shot in the upper right corner
Lands clumsily and ball flies off his head towards the goal.
and DEFLECTS the ball (off her knee) to Uply…
Sorry Impeccable1, my head in-advertantly got in the way of your shot.
@ 200, not pretty, but it still counts, congrats!
Thanks for the assist Impec1 and also Nurse Abb for assisting with the rebound in case the ref called the first attempt not over the line 😉
That’s ok Uplympian, I’ll take the inadvertent assist. Nice goal by the way.
What a Mad Scramble…
ABB, thanks. All is well out here; just working too hard. Baby Lady Gooner is a baby no more, but she “swimming” now and kicking the ball about.
The Management is just fine. She has just begun her newest managerial project…we’ll see how it all turns out in about 9 months 😉
BMBD
Get in, Uply!
BMBD
Lonestar, Congrats to you both!!! Nite all.
Mr T:
“How will we know if we too have become lunatics” ?
Easy! When you start thinking “I know exactly what they are talking about” ..
Hope this helps 🙂
Nite abb….btw ’twas a nice knee control you had there.
Thanks LG – the joys of parenthood…..they are the one true reminder of how tempus fugit. 🙂
Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Lonestar.
For the record, HT MkII is still intact – there were no Class One events last season 😉
Now I must get some sleep….laters, frequent flyers!
Mr C,
I think we have to keep a watchful eye on Nurse Abb.
Is she actually administering the “medication” to the patients ?
Some of her recent ramblings are making me seriously wonder if she isn’t withholding it all for her own private consumption.
She’s been singing at complete strangers, making rather uncomfortable suggestions as to Lars’ party behaviour, and is displaying compulsive tendencies in terms of her own exercise programme, which I presume is designed to ‘sweat out the residues’.
I never imagined I would say this, but it might be better to get Nurse Wolfie to take over the ‘drugs’ round.
Finally, the lunatics are taking over the asylum.
Mr T @186
Catch 22, I believe. …
Bloody drugs!
That’s better. Got rid of that CG quack.
Nurse AAB does seem a little enthusiastic it’s true. But don’t want to discourage the filly.
For tricky situations I’ve always relied on Nurse Wolfie. You know what’s what with her. Sort of.
Who’s Nurse AAB????
Arsanihillatedbarca? ABB’s big sis
I know this is late but we get typhoons in this part of the world.
However being even older than “the old boy in the ’71 Cup Final shirt who writes here occasionally” I regard the tem regal purple as very much OTT.
On a shit scale of 1 – 10 it rates about 15 along with that bloody awful green and blue thing we wore some years ago.
I shall be watching the Carling Cup team on Sunday.
Lonestar, Congratulations young man. It sounds like you have everything under nearly perfect control. 😉
Congrats Lonestar!! 😉
Morning. I cant express my love for PHW it is so great.
He’s a fucking boy!
Great news, Lonestar – congratulations and celebrations are in order so the drinks are being lined up on the bar as we speak!
I’m with Esso.
And Lonestar. Congrats old son 😀
Cheers Les…
Belated happy birthday Lars!
Congratulations to both of our L-boys!
Esso @220
Yep, fantastic quotes re RVP by Hill-Wood today.
At least with regards to the players, he seems to regularly say what we´re all thinking. He is the Prince Philip of Arsenal! 😉
Heh! Imagine PHW and The Duke sitting down for a bit of a session… I´d love to hear that conversation! 🙂
Morning All,
First of all, congratulations to Mr and Mrs Lonestar. Grt your order in now mate! 😉
http://arsenaldirect.arsenal.com/content/ebiz/afc/invt/a9832/A9832_kit%20Sleep%20Suit%20a_230.jpg
And glad to hear of the “special shipment” due. 🙂
I’m afraid,however, that you do owe Pompey a few bob.Warren Barton is an Islington boy and supports Arsenal, though you would rarely know it from his punditry.
Various hehs at Mr C and Mr T.
Dr Z @211 – Doesn’t a Class one event occur when it becomes impossible to win a trophy?
Les @217 – Apologies. The “regal” purple comment was tongue in cheek and designed for mischief, given that people hate it so much. I too would prefer us in yellow, but will admit that I don’t mind the purple as much as many others.
Enjoy the game on Sunday and give’em a cheer for me.
Well played Lonestar, tabs, the Arse…another unbeaten season beckons
Cheers AL.
What has PHW said about the Dutch guy?
Ah, just found it on Arseblog News.
@ 178 Wind
Yes, FAGWLTG is one of my favourite blogs – always hilarious and on the money. Except she’s way too soft on Cesc, imo.
Congratulations Lonestar, give our best to the management 🙂
bt8bbgfg @ 189, I think that if RVP & Park stay then Poldi would rather take 13 than 30, ‘unlucky’ as it may be (and probably not more than number 9 *shivers*) its more of a proper first-team number than 30 which is more of a squad/fringe player number in my honest opinion.
FG @ 232, she’s one of my favourites as well if not my favourite (Sorry Holic 😛 but you’re one of my favourite 3 as well 😉 ) cos I can relate to her blog on a daily basis in terms of general life.
And on her and Cesc, well they do have a bit of a history if you can call it that but I agree that the fixation is a bit excessive but she helped me with her blog posts to get over him leaving so I’m thankful for that at least 🙂
I have a friend like that on Blackberry Messenger who’s a Gooner but he still posts pictures of Cesc when he was with Arsenal and stuff, hope he can move on although I wonder if he ever will… 😕
Wind, Have we had a 13 since Hleb left? If not, and Poldi takes it, I hope he erases my memories of our number 13 not shooting when he gets an obvious scoring chance!
We use to say “Once a Gunner, Always a Gunner” but it seems the fashion these days is to hate ex-Arsenal players with venom usually reserved for the Spurtz. I will not be part of that fad. I adored Cesc since the day I first saw him play for us and nothing has changed since he left for his boyhood club. I feel the same about RvP – obviously to a lesser extent given the treachery of his recent actions – but I do not hate him and I wish him, his lovely wife & kids all the best wherever they end up …
Afternoon all. What a wonderful it is today. There is love in the air .. where’s that adorable Nurse today .. Hugs & Kisses ABB .
🙂
@ GT
I don’t hate him either, but I’m not excusing his conduct. That’s what I mean about being soft on him. I did adore Cesc but for me, once players have gone, they’ve gone and my interest in them goes close to zero. A few exceptions to that, obviously.
FG: What I mean is that I can’t go from love for a player to hate just because they exercise their god-given rights ..
🙂
Many thanks to all you guys and dolls (you too, Wolfie) for the well-wishes.
Just a quick drink this morning as the next few days at work promise to be a Murderers’ Row.
I’m pretty chuffed. Come on PHW and come on you rip-roaring, never boring, always scoring Reds!
BMBD
@ GT
That isn’t why people who do hate him, hate him. It’s not the fact of leaving, it’s the how and when.
He’s nothing to me now – I think I’ve mentioned before that the donning of the shirt forms 90% of my love for a player. Don’t get me wrong, my heart was broken for a while, but it even amazes me how quickly I get over them! (Always love Titi, though, especially since he came back.)
GT @236,
I have a lot of sympathy for that view GT. I find it very difficult to turn on anyone once they’ve worn the red and white, especially if they’ve achieved great things, whether it be from a team or an individual perspective.
I will admit to joining in the barracking when Stapleton returned with Utd, but that was borne more of a real frustration with the stasis that prevailed at the Club at that time, than any real angst with the player.
Dear old Cashley is another who I find difficulty abusing, given his invincible status,and even though the fellow is clearly a bit dim.
There are of course exceptions. Adebaywhore’s clear disinterest in his final year, his behaviour up at Eastlands against us (how ironic that RVP might replace him there), and his ultimate betrayal in joining the LWC’s means he’s fair game for anything in my book, and I joined in (and enjoyed) the abuse he got at SHL last season. Nasri is another who I have no compunction in booing. That though is more to do with his constant disrespect of Arsenal since leaving , rather than the departure itself. That,and his very punchable face!
As for RVP it’s difficult to say until the final chapter of this sorry episode plays out. I do think his statement on his website was unforgivable, but still suspect that when push comes to shove, the overriding emotion in seeing him in another’s colours will be strained sadness rather than emotive anger.
I suppose my ultimate reaction might very well depend on the colour of his new shirt.
Adebaywhore fair game for anything in your book Tabs? I say he’s a c*unt then. 😉
GT. Is RVP’s wife lovely? It almost sounds like you know from first hand experience. 😉
That’s what I called him at SHL 8Ball 🙂
Good thing somebody is on the job Tabs. 🙂
TABs: With you with regards to Adewaddie & the chinless cunt. I never liked both players – the latter always struck me as a petulant prick .. with regards to Ade he always said that he’s in the game to make as much money as possible. Fair enough, but I thought at the time (as I do now) that we should not be investing in that type of player.
@b8th Ball
I think that you might be confusing me with that Chel$ki player? 🙂
Agree with all of that GT.
Twitter crashes!
World continues…
GT. I did think that was you who fell in front of RVP on Arsenal’s fifth goal against Chelsea, come to think of it. 😉
Amy Lawrence with a good roundup of the decisions facing AW:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/jul/26/arsenal-arsene-wenger-manchester-city?
GT. I forgot an extra 😉 at the end of 250, just to be sure. 🙂
Hi all. Amy’s post provides plenty to dwell on and chew over. Would love to see Ryo play for us, this season. He’s got the moves and the energy, too.
@227
No!
If I didn’t know better, I might suspect Gareth le Cunt had hacked your account with sentiment like that. 😉
Up your dosage – tell the Quacks I sent you. 😀
“If I didn’t know better, I might suspect Gareth le Cunt had hacked your account with sentiment like that.”
Dr Z, You know how to wound me like no other with sentiment like that!
🙂
Scorchio!
It’s truly roasting today. Thankfully storms are forecast tomorrow to get the temperatures down a bit.
Grateful for the extra drugs though 😉
Speaking of quacks…hi Zico! Whoops, isn’t Friday yet. Anyone brave enough to predict the outcome on tomorrow’s little get together. Ok, I’ll start. 1 nil to the Arsenal!
Always a safe bet with the Nurse 😉
I’d rather go 3-2 to the Arsenal, their two goals coming from a badly defended corner and bad communication between the midfield and the defence.
The cunty thing about pre-season in China is work gets in the way of watching the games.
I’m guessing this game is the real reason why RvP didn’t travel 😉
@ Wind and abb
I never predict scores, but if I did, I think I’d go with Wind. There will be goals in the plural, I feel.
That’s a singular prediction, FG.
Ah tabs,
Forgot about your sensitive side. It’s because we normally see each others de-sensitized side 😉
As for your new prescription – Qualludes and red wine* should do the trick.
*Copyright the Guvnor of the Lower Third 8)
@ 263 Ollie
A singular prediction with a plurality of ssbscribers to it.
I am rubbish at puns. Just thought I’d better make that clear! 🙂
Just the pick-me-up I require Dr Z 😎
Prediction? 7-0 to the Arsenal.
But that might be my new prescription talking …
Hey Fun and Wind, Mighty brave of you two to go out on a limb and all…(hope it happens). Seems like some holics (clears her throat), are a bit rusty on the fine art of putting it out there, so to speak (shakes her head).
Good for you Tabs, that’s the spirit!!!
Who’s doing the match report tomorrow?
I vote for Snir.
It would need to be censored by the HATE police. 😉
abb is doing the report
Hey Ollie:
I feared that you were breaking rocks at some dreadful French penal colony since I had not seen you since you became the scourge of the Parisian Traffic department – glad to see that my fears were unfounded ..
🙂
Erm, I’m with Zico on that.
Nurse Abb 😉
Anyone know what time GMT kick off is tomorrow?
Dr Z 🙂
The game kicks off the same time as the previous game TABs.
Good one GT! Heys Tabs and Andy. Hey Ollie!
Can’t really ‘drink’ during the day at the moment, GT.
Cheers GT.
Hey Andy 🙂
I’m betting there’s only one of that Andy Gorham, the badly spelt impostor.
tabs, and don’t forget to add 1 hour to that GMT time if you’re currently in the UK.
Feck, where did I place me gun…
Not wanting to be seen as a besserwisser, but I think the game is on at 13.00 BST actually, so it’s one whole game earlier than the last one. But that’s just what I remember, might well be wrong, you should have a look at pravda.
Dr F.
Here is your gun.
http://www.arsenal.com/assets/_files/scaled/498×369/jul_12/zp_NikeEventBeijing4_4198.jpg?ic=7c914dT
Somebody has been touching it and something came out.
Regards,
Toby
Don’t fuckin’ confuse me Ollie.
You know that sort of thing is too much for me!! 🙂
Cheers Toby, just checked on Pravda, 1 00 it is.
Thank God I didn’t rely on that GT eh! 🙂
Well, question still hasn’t been answered what time GMT the game starts… :p
Well, now the game for tonight has started at least!
But bah, Ramsey is on the bench.
This is, ladies and gents, how you recover properly from surgery http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/422340_410281792369493_1035888314_n.jpg
As for tomorrows match, 2-1 to Arsenal, Gerv and Arteta scoring, late consolation goal for mancs by who-cares-about-skyblue-sods-anyway 😛
Who’s gonna teach Wilshere to play the guitar then?
And my god this is boring. I must say the Swedish ladies that played yesterday showed much more spirit. If you want to see a good game of football I’d really suggest you all to look at Sweden – Japan on saturday. There will be some nice football and two contrasting styles on show there, but both from teams with a lot of skill.
Hey Eandy, TR looking real good. Toby, I’m thinking Brazil will take top honors.
GB scores!
Dr F, Brazil really has has a good team, but for team ethics, you just can’t look past the Japanese, and the Swedes really played like a team yesterday. I think there will be better football on show from the ladies than from the men during the Olympics. But I am fortunate enough to be living close to where Marta is playing at the moment, and been to a game or two. Always fun to watch the woman who has been voted the worlds best footballer for what, 6 years running, and for a few quid.
Oh, and Bellamy scored.
I don’t know who claimed to post under Dr Feelgood above, but it’s not cricket.
However, if the imposter wants to take Roxette off my hands….
Just so everyone knows, there is a bogus Dr Feelgood in our midst.
I suspect the drug squad 😉
And Dr Feelgood would clearly know how to spell honours 😉
Never have I laughed so hard…
Butland. Wow.
No football on TV here.
Or there might be some game on Eurosport, I don’t know, their transmission is fucked.
The info button says Brasil vs Egypt and Belarus vz NZ anyway.
Oh, assist time.
Boom – http://bit.ly/LShe8T
…and Oxon randomly wellies it, Bellameyesque…
…somewhat wide.
Shot, Toby
And cheers Ollie, very unselfish, one might even say Hleb-like play.
You got a cyber stalker Dr Z? The price of fame mate 😎
One of the best goals ever in this bar, Toby.
Well played.
I take it ‘Bellameyesque’ means ‘off target’ ?
Oh, yes
The protraction starts now…
…enjoy Holics!
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1127485?cc=5739
Is it just me, or is the GB-Senegal match somewhat, err, lousy?
On balance, I think I rather miss those magic few weeks when you don’t have to listen to Jonathan Pearce and Mark Lawrenson. I may even stop at half time.
@ 304
I’m most concerned that our new friend says something that would get Dr Feelgood a bad name….
Oh.
You got a stalker, then tabs?
Cheers, Ollie, quite proud of it myself. Felt quite fitting going into the game tomorrow.
And Oxon, this is the last time I try blowing the horn of the ladies football, at least for today, but there are some good games to be found there, and some I am sure that will be quite better than this one. Give it a shot, even if you don’t normally watch women’s football (not saying that you don’t, but you know). The Olympics is pretty much the top competition in womens’s football and even if there are a few bad teams in there some can really play. I really did enjoy the last women’s world cup.
I wonder whether tree puns might take root, or am I just barking?
*Gets coat and leaves*
Oh, just one more thing. Another good thing with women’s football is that I don’t find myself hating every second player. You can just relax and watch the game for once. I mean, now I’m looking at Bellamy running around. That isn’t my idea of fun.
Well done on the “leaves”. But it won’t bear any fruit today.
Sorry Toby…giggles @ 310. Zico @ 309 True, could prove to be a sticky wicket. Although, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Or so they say.
Ah,
looks like our Kanadian friend is back and causing mischief.
Take a leaf out of Trev’s book and it might work.
@309 – All about your reputation mate 😉
@310 – It would appear so.
Toby – why me? I don’t recall ever saying anything about women’s football hitherto.
If you pressed me, I’d admit to watching it from time to time, but it always seems to me to lack a little something. I like the physicality of the Premier League (that’s code for people barging into and knocking each other over, as opposed to people hacking each others’ legs off) and the technical excellence of the Arsenal. Women’s football sometimes seems to come close to technical excellence, but generally reminds me too much of lower-league football.
I’ll probably watch it again, given the chance, with half an eye, but I’m not sure how far out of my way I would go.
Good news: Half time, no more Pearce and Lawrenson.
Bad news: Half time – Linacre, Hansen and Savage.
Thank Dennis, I’ve found the remote
Balotelli impression at 319, Oxon? 😉
Yes, it was a-bit a-corny.
tabs,
the posting style of the troll is familiar.
Holic will hopefully be able to check the IP address.
For the benefit of doubt, and to protect the less-than-innocent, the REAL Dr Feelgood has gone to ground. 😉
Heh, Oxon, it isn’t personal. Just been banging the drum for a bit here, but that’s because we’ve sent our ladies but not any boys to the Olympics, and me watching their game yesterday got me thinking on how much fun I had during the W World Cup. So I just wanted to suggest it to everybody that don’t really get a hard on watching the boys.
Er… now that came out wrong.
There is some good football on show if you catch the right teams in the right games. That’s all.
No worries, Toby. I’ll get them in.
Goodnight, folks.
Nite Zico, Nite Ollie!
Jebus, my neighbour can’t keep up with the livers…
Mr or Mrs Troll
When you are not saying goodnight to me, it kind of sounds like I am you.
Please refrain from refraining from saying goodnight to me in the future.
Best regards,
Toby
Ollie,if you can pick up France0,they have the GB match,but the commentators and the football are not up to much.
I want the Holic neighbours to move in next to me…
not particularly a good game for england v. senegal, there’s a big part of me wants to see senegal score. maybe arsene’s watching, and will find the next pv4! bellamy with an auspicious start to the second half.
late to the party (as always), but congrats lonestar and miz lonestar on the impending goal. hopefully delivery will be timed to coincide with the exultation of a gooner champs league win, and miz lonestar won’t feel the pain.
congrats, dr. feelgood, on the stalker. it means you’ve arrived, etc.
well in, toby for the triple, what a great way to bang it in.
I can’t stand the sight of Rose since that goal he scored a couple of seasons back.
Chilean merlot is the new Guinness…
In vino veritas, ‘Holic.
I warmly second Toby about the tastiness of the scheduled Japan-Sweden women’s match (thus giving it the KoD).
The quality around the world and the various leagues is very variable, but basically the teams to watch for a high technical level are Brazil (obviously) Germany, USA, Japan, Sweden and France. In no particular order. Although my favourites are Japan and France. England are quite good, too, but not on a level with the aforementioned. Some of the leagues are amateur, others totally professional with very good wages, and everythign in between. I switched from the end of the GB-New Zealand match to watch USA v France, and it was like watching a different game – even the physique of the players was different. But overall, the quality improves year on year.
With regard to Team GB, it is so refreshing to watch players who play honestly, for the love of the game and who are conscious that they are privileged to play for their clubs and country. And of course, one third of the squad is Arsenal Ladies. I only hope that pre-teen girls are watching and hoping to emulate them rather than WAGS.
Finally Aaron Ramsey. I can’t believe he doesn’t make the starting line-up.
Aaah thanks washed up. I switch on and Aaron comes on. Good timing I say.
Oh, and Egypt has scored 2! Just one more to go to draw with the Samba Boys.
Might be the red-and-white specs but Aaron seems to have made a difference immediately.
Not sure I want Aaron out there – Senegalese not taking any prisoners.
Good point, Tabs
seroiusly, tabs, once those handbags started over bellamy, the pace and intensity have ratcheted up.
rose into the hoardings. well in!
This is rather boring… I think I’ll just switch off anyway…..
What Toby said @328
The intensity of boredom surely, scruz. Didn’t know that teat Rose was still playing football. Did he ever do anything beyond triggering one more Almuniaflap?
Fuck me, GB are even making sure they waste their corners. Heh Senegal score that will teach them. Idiotic corner routine.
lol, olio, just as senegal tie it up.
rose has done just what he’s done the rest of his career in this game…fuck all. sliding into the hoardings was his best move yet.
I was going to switch off after the corner expecting it to be useless but I didn’t expect that big a fuck up.
Nice to see Stuart Pearce look like the clueless buffoon he is.
stuart pearce looking like a man whose gears have had the teeth ground off…must be a tryin’ ta think, but nothin’s happening!
Ramsey really did put it on a plate there. Well done lad.
oooh, gb off the bar. woulda had better luck in here…
end to end action! that ramsey kid is good, maybe arsenal should pick him up.
15 minutes of my life I’ll never get back. Don’t think I’ll bother watching Olympic football any further…
Heh scruz you nearly manage to make it sound exciting !
as has been suggested, try the wimmen, ollio. er, watching them, i mean. playing football. in the ollimpics.
I think the commentator’s apathy doesn’t help, to be fair, but the quality of football on display is extraordinarily poor.
nearly. if senegal pull it off in extra time…seriously.
certainly poor finishing by senegal. they’ve had some really flowing moves this half, though.
Ollimpics, love it scruz 😉
c’est ca, c’est fini.
That was that then. I’ll go back to getting things to work again after buying Mountain Lion today…
best part of the game, to rename an entire worldwide sports extravaganza after an arsenal barfly 😉
toby, did much go wrong on the install? that’s maybe this weekend’s home computing project for me.
Nah, pretty much everything works well enough, and my macbook pro is much snappier than before. I’m very happy with many of the new features as well. Only problem was really that AutoCad for Mac decided not to work with it. Which I kind of knew. But I upgraded anyways. So getting a windows license and updating parallels so I can continue working whilst Autodesk is working on a fix. Little things like that. There will always be a few programs not working perfectly after an upgrade like this, but I have had no issues with the OS per se.
Well worth the upgrade I’d say, it being so cheap as well.
toby, thanks. glad that’s all it was.
may i recommend virtualbox, rather than parallels? much less overhead and as such, very fast. the only downside (though i haven’t tried it lately to see if the latest version has changed) is no drag and drop between OS instances.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Bored at work, sneakily fired up the ARseplayer.
Howard Fucking Webb? Jaysus, don’t they have local refs?
I wonder if he’ll manage to fuck us up in this friendly as well.