Kop That, Liverpool Suffer Arsenal Backlash
Sep 2nd, 2012 by 'holic
I have endured the immediate aftermath of both tortuous defeats and comprehensive triumphs down the years. Just a year ago we shipped eight goals in our third Premiership fixture. The feelings are extreme, and need to be brought under control a little before reviewing what has just happened. Apologies if my gut-feel tweets irk at or just after the final whistle. They serve as a reference point though, as well as proof that you never lose that deliciously puerile sense of fun or injustice for a few vulnerable minutes.
I know what I wrote in the preview received a mixed reception. In summary the whole piece could have been shrunk to this paragraph,
Now it will surprise nobody that I am tipping Arsenal to win a tough away game. I’ll tip Arsenal to win most games this season I suspect. On a week by week basis I reckon we could field, with good luck and a following wind, as good an eleven as anybody in the top flight. If injuries and suspensions start to bite, as indeed they have in recent seasons, then I do wonder if we have greater strength in depth than in those previous ill-fated campaigns.
I’ll proudly highlight the first part of that, and pray the second part comes to bite me on the arse as the season progresses. This afternoon, for ninety delightful minutes, as I tweeted at one stage, “we’ve got our Arsenal back”. That particular missive followed a moment when the back four, in unison, raised their arms Full Monty stylee as Enrique was caught offside. If the fact that we have gone four and a half hours (three of them away) without conceding didn’t convince you of the influence of Steve Bould’s elevation to first team coach, then that moment surely must have done.
Lest we forget, the hosts should have taken all three points off the reigning champions last week. Maybe today was an off day for them, or just maybe we are developing, week by week, into the real deal. With Citeh (a) and Chelsea (h) following our next match against Southampton we won’t have too long to wait to get a clearer idea of where we stand.
There may be days ahead when we are bound to offer some criticism. That is the nature of football, so some words of praise should be forthcoming when due also. It is easy to know where to start. Whether you scanned the social media, or listened to the nasal tones of Jamie Redknapp this afternoon, there was a clear man of the match. Abou Diaby, fetlocks tested fully by a crude and violent lunge from the mutant Skrtel, ran the show from the first minute to the last.
His role these days is to be the front to back player offering defensive support to Mikel Arteta, and serve as a creative accompaniment to Santi Cazorla. That trio produced a comprehensive masterclass in controlling a tricky away match against quality opposition today. They will need help over a thirty-eight match season, but it will be interesting to see what happens when all three and the returning Jack Wilshere are fit. That is for another day.
Close behind Diaby in my book was the big flipping German (that is what we were singing, wasn’t it?). Per Mertesacker was the early recipient of a yellow card when Suarez suffered his first attack of an inner ear infection that affected him throughout. Only Howard Webb could have seen fit not to do the game a favour and card the loathsome Uruguayan on several occasions. Despite walking a disciplinary tightrope Per made header after header, and tackle after tackle, all timed to perfection. Laurent Koscielny, our defensive player of last season, will have to wait to reclaim his place after injury perhaps?
Alongside Per the skipper was strong and keen to push us forward with pace and menace. Thomas Vermaelen leads by example, and we must hope that Belgium don’t send him back broken from the upcoming international break. No matter who is alongside him, his inspirational qualities will be needed in the weeks to come.
Up front the attacking trio had what I shall lazily call a mixed bag. We tend to forget sometimes that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is still a young man learning his trade. He suffered the misfortune today of being up against the one Liverpool player who exuded class. Jose Enrique probably stopped his side from ending up on the wrong side of a more severe beating.
In the centre Olivier Giroud contested every high ball, made his runs, missed another chance similar to that on the opening day against Sunderland, and refused to hide when things weren’t going his way. He contributes, but will know he will be measured in goals. They will come, I’m sure. He is two starts into what will hopefully be a very successful Arsenal career. Give him time.
Then there was Lukas Podolski, quick to pay tribute to Cazorla afterwards, and quite rightly, for the ball that set up his first Premier League goal. He forgot to mention it was he himself who fed Cazorla in the first place. This was a complete performance from the German international, prominent and hard-working at both ends of the pitch.
The second goal saw roles reversed, and those who still recall Reina’s part in the Fabregas high jinks post World Cup will have relished his decisive touch that ensured his fellow Spaniard doubled the advantage. Karma indeed that the third choice keeper at the other end of the park was clearly the better man today. Well done Vito Mannone.
So that is enough gushing for one day. For all that Liverpool were indeed impressive last week we really don’t know how good they are after today, and therefore our own performance must warrant guarded enthusiasm. Let’s enjoy though the fact that there are indeed encouraging signs. We can only beat what is put in front of us, and today we did that comprehensively.
Well done Arsene, and thanks Bouldy (and Neil Banfield).
Stone Inscription
Just a reminder the competition to determine the inscription on arsabeatbarca’s generous gift of a North Bank Terrace stone is now over. The result will be announced on Tuesday evening. Thanks all for your entries, and good luck.
424 Responses to “Kop That, Liverpool Suffer Arsenal Backlash”
Get in!
Intellligence and patience. The stuff that 3 points are made of.
Good work, gentlemen.
Goals, anyone? No, thank you!
Now read it 😉
CL spot
A pleasurable read. 😉
Reposted from previous bar:
Point of protocol, ‘holic. Is Sheißkopf acceptable language to describe a fellow-drinker? I fear I might wish to use it in the future.
Thanks.
Now to read the current posting…
A word of praise for Giroud. Yes he hasnt scored but he doesnt hide. And I love that about him.
His movement is superb and he was instrumental in the first goal.. His movement left the Pool defender clueless and gave Santi a clear run at Pool’s defense..
Goals will come, Giroud.. We love you Arsenal.
Top ten?
Man Utd spend 24M on a striker, but can’t defend. Heh.
He’s making a list.
He’s checkin’ it twice.
He scores load of goals
‘Cause ur team is shite
SANTI CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN!!!
BMBD
Brilliant performance throughout the team today. It is heartening to know that the route back into the team for Sagna, Sczesney and Koscielny is not a straightforward one. Competition for places will bring in greater performances from the lads and hope it does result in wins vs Chelsea and Man City.
The burden Bould and Banfield have taken off Wenger is significant after such astute defensive performances. The away fans have also done themselves proud and I pray that it comes to a point one day that I follow only those away fans on twitter if ever I can seperate them from the others who throw their toys out of the pram at the first sight of trouble.
So can we start the RvP-bad-back-carrying-Utd jokes now?
RVP misses a pen!!!! POS!!!
Oh Van Stapleton.
This day keeps giving…..
A very balanced and fair report. I watched the game with fair Arsenal and Liverpool fans alike and we were generally of the view that this was a fair result and that we did very well in almost all respects. Whilst Vito did admirably I was very glad he had comparatively little to do in the air as he certainly doesn’t relish the high ball but otherwise we defended well. Our midfield was beautifully balanced. Arteta got the least plaudits but he is a gem and Santi is a worthy heir to Brady and Fabregas. Giroud has got a lot in his locker but needs that first goal but these are encoura
ging times and as I write RVP has made an arse of himself.Happy days!
As good as ever ‘Holic.
Your style is clearly your own choice but I think we like “raw” Holic as well as measured ‘Holic.
Football creates passion like nothing else. No harm in letting it show occasionally.
Mugsmashers ? I wish someone would smash Suarez in the mug. 😉
Someone said laugh while you can…
So there goes hahahahahahahaaaa XD loving it while it lasts
“Marouane Chamakh, he would have scored that…” 😉
Can I say how disappointed I am with the team performance today
Bloody goalie did absolutely nothing until 86th minute
Jenks stopped passing to the opposition which was getting me all excited
BFG refused to get a second yellow no matter how much wobbly Webb looked for an excuse
TV could not get a pelanty for Suarez all day
Gibbs ran far too much
Arteta spent too much time tackling back
Diaby – was he playing?
Caz wandered all over the park looking for what
The Ox kept getting up after being thumped
Pod plodded along scoring when he fancied
Jeerooo left the pitch with Skyrtels elbows in his back
Altogether a total waste of time – why Brendan didnt bring Carroll on at half time to make a competition of it Ill never know
In summary I was totally loving a relaxing tv show with Bulgar tv commentator who seemed to be talking about VonP and Sung (possibly how much we regretted them going or summat)
Hee hee!
Old Chewy McPurplenose has just come out to instruct Dean to add some more time on.
Why don’t they send that twat to the stand ?
Do you mind Trev? That’s Sir Chewy McPurlenose to you, young man, and don’t you forget it.
COYG ICDDR, and for today only, Come on you Saints
“Chewy McPurplenose”! Hahahaha just added a new word to my predictive text dictionary
Schadenfreude too early it seems….. Oh well.
Diaby was basically killer, a proper box-to-box midfielder. Gonna soak this one up for days!
Nice write-up, ‘holic – very fair, very funny.
Yee haa! Get in there you Beautiful Gunners! Backlash indeed Guvnor! What another sweet day facing the Kop and this time with a big fat zero next to the Arsenal defensive line!
“There’s only one Arsene Wenger!” “Arsene Weeengeeerrr!” “There’s only one Arsene Wenger!”
Bouldy, the best signing before deadline day! iPod, Santi and Giroud not far behind!
We now have a proper all-rounded footballing team and squad again, and not carrying a few petulant prima-donnas that think they’re the dogs bollocks after achieving fcuk all! Were you watching Feo?!
Doubles all round of your premium vintage malt please barkeep! The season has now started in earnest for AFC!
Come On You Beautiful Gunners! 😀
RVPrick; Judas wanker!
“Despite walking a disciplinary tightrope Per made header after header, and tackle after tackle, all timed to perfection”
please add block after block and interception after interception…..
his work was su’per’b
I see Wenger has invented a new word. Asked to describe Santi, he said:
“hpffffffffffwwww”
Loved it – watch the clip if you haven’t seen it.
MOTM: Gibbs, Diaby, Santi, Verm, Poldi, Arteta?….who do you pick? I think the starters should share it. Well played by the entire squad today, very proud of them.
These international breaks suck the big one. Win or lose, you want to get right back on the pitch again.
Krautrock medley…and a river of beer runs through it…
The only piece of wit to ever pass Son of Yappyapp’s lips :
“Cazorla looks like you couldn’t get the ball off him in a phone box”.
Triffic !
MOTM? I think it’s a mark of the real togetherness the lads exhibited today that it’s almost impossible to choose one. This was one of those utterly delightful games where everyone seemed to be doing their job well.
And is it just me or does the sight of the opposition advancing into our defensive third with the ball actually NOT induce panic every single time it happens? I swear that’s a feeling I haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing in quite some time.
You hear that gooners? That’s the sound of contented sighs being emitted from many a red and white sofa.
Tim knows 🙂
Supplemented by never-played vinyl in the week Tim.
London Calling / Combat Rock as a double album only £7.99 on iTunes.
Forget City and Chelsea, Southampton might give us a decent test of our progress.
‘holic……
that’s value on a Cazorla lavel….
Southampton play a refreshing brand of football, and were unlucky to lose today.
I’d like to think that we will defend better against them than Utd did today – but you are right Savage, the league looks like it’s going to be competitive, with even small teams like Tottenham only losing one game so far. 😉
Lets just bask now in the eerily silent Kop today….. 8)
BREAKING NEWS: Heartbreaking news today as Manchester United lose one of it’s most beloved characters, the letter M.
Reports are stating that the two legs of the “M” have fallen off and just left a V, leaving the once global name of “Manchester United” to appear “Vanchester United”.
A close source is quoted as saying “The V looks wobbly as it has nothing holding it up and it is only a matter of time before it falls”.
Lovely stuff Holic.
A 2-0 win at Klanfield never loses its charm.
Defensively we were superb, shackling the Mugsmashers attack to such a degree that the sometimes nervous looking Mannone was given very little to do. The big German was indeed superb, save for a couple of early misplaced passes. The Captain, all controlled aggression alongside him, was every inch the Captain, taking time out from his excellent defensive play to drive the team forward as well.
On the flanks, I will admit that Corporal Jenks gave me a couple of scares with his penchant to turn inside and casually play across his Defence, but in truth that says more about me and the state I work myself into, rather than any real culpability on his part. He grew into the game and in the second half his defensive work could not be faulted. On the other flank Gibbsy was magnificent combining attacking flair with defensive solidity.
The game was of course won in the middle of the park. Whilst it is fair to acknowledge that Rodgers boobed by going with what was essentially a 2 man midfield (including a woefully undercooked Sahin) against our 3, that should not take anything away from both Diaby who delivered the kind of midfield performance that most seasoned and sensible observers have known he is capable of for some years, and Arteta whose covering, tackling and link up play was faultless. With Wilshere’s return only a month away, Ramsey on the bench, and Rosicky in reserve, their collective performance made the plaintive, (and frankly pathetic) friday night calls for Dempsey seem even more childish.
Up front Podolski was hungry, aggressive and direct, his goal capping what was a hugely impressive performance. With supremacy established by Diaby and Arteta, Cazorla was able to exploit the space that that dominance provided.What a fine footballer he is.
On the other flank it was not the afternoon for The Ox to shine, but nevertheless the shift he put in for the collective good should not be underestimated.
Very Happy. Bottle of Cool Aid please Guv.
Dempsey was a daft call indeed. Cabaye would have been a better argument, had he actually gone anywhere, but he didn’t. Wasn’t available, end of.
Exactly Holic.
You are quite right Holic to highlight Man Utd’s Webb being so indulgent toward Suarez.
I am convinced he meant to stand on Vermaelen. He is a snake.
Forgot to mention Giroud. Agree with everything you said. He battled, made a nuisance of himself, and was mobile. He needs a goal but it will come.
Phil McNulty, BBC Sport chief football writer at Anfield:
FULL-TIME – Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal
“Liverpool’s fans gave their verdict on this abject display by leaving Anfield in droves well before the final whistle. Arsenal’s supporters, in sharp contrast, celebrated a performance that offered real optimism for a team still bedding down. Tough start this for Brendan Rodgers.”
Fire drill at Anfield? 😎
Manchester United! A One Van team of ever there was one! Watch those glass ankles “Chewy McPurplenose”! It’ll all end in tears to sure! Hee Hee! 🙂
Was I imagining, or did Gibbs give Giroud a rollicking after he missed his chance?
Holy smoke, Holic. That was fast! Been watching Santos in action? Here’s how I saw it.
Diaby Dictates. Poldi and Santi Grab Glory.
Arsenal sailed the Mersey ferry to Scouseland for a first Anfield encounter since the demise of King Kenute and his 100M+ megaspend. Kenute’s cash-splash having earned nothing more than his red card, has flushed down the gurgler onto Toxteth Beach and been carried away with all of the other effluent thereabouts to pastures new in West Ham, Stoke and the home team bench.
Meanwhile the main stand at Anfield continues to crumble and “Don’t Slap the Sign” has been painted over “This is Anfield” lest it falls down completely. And Big Bren has swanned up from the valleys. In early discourse he’s shown some encouraging signs of the verbal incoherence of his predecessor. Time will tell if the rich seam of humour bequeathed by Dalglish’s Neanderthal ramblings matures to the nonsensical.
The stadium was packed to see The Mighty Arsenal in the flesh. With our third choice keeper in goal, Scouser’ tails were up in anticipation and wagging harder than last bonfire night in Toxteth. Suarez and Sahin, the tumbling twins, had greased up well with tumbling gel. The only thing missing was Handy Cap Carroll, the 35M panto horse. (But he’ll be back when we hammer Hammers. Yes!). Fresh from a lucky draw with the Jam Tarts in mid-week, Liverpool were unbeaten at Anfield this season. The stage was set for The Arsenal.
And then we heard the first belly rumble and sarcastic comments from Sad Stuart, Bishops Stortford’s finest caustic critic of everything Wengerish. Apparently believing the score-line irrelevant, he waxed lyrically on the home team’s superiority. Whether anyone in TV land believed him is debatable but, judging from the faces of home punters, they most certainly did not.
Even absent Sczez, Sagna, Kos and Jack, Arsenal looked by far the stronger team, on paper. And the potency of the bench stood testament to the manager’s ability to regenerate while others are profligate. But we started slowly, giving Sad Stuart cause for orgasm. But Stuart Bold not Bald Stuart is THE man and Arsenal’s best appointment of the summer. Under his tutelage, there is new steel in the Arsenal back four and the home team’s toothless efforts left Don Vito’s hairdo unruffled.
We had two early Luis “ah ken he’s no a divin racist nae mitter whit Fergie micht say” Suarez moments. First he buckled at the knee like a man shot through the temple by a howitzer when Per got close. Then he stamped on Vermaelen’s calf in frustration after Tommy had swatted away another of his impotent thrusts.
After about 15 minutes, Abou Diaby said “OK. Enough”, took the game by the scruff of the neck and made it his and Arsenal’s. He’s one of the world’s most talented mid-fielders and he’s been missed badly. But as soon as he hit his stride, there was only going to be one result. Poldi and Santi will take many of the plaudits, but Abou was the mainspring, the heartbeat, the rock on which this win was founded.
The BtM crystal ball had predicted 3-1 to the Arsenal, anticipating the usual gratuitous penalty for the home team and Ollie G’s first goal. Despite some close calls, neither materialised. But three, even four away goals without return were fairly easily there for the taking today.
When it came, Arsenal’s first goal of the season was a thing of great beauty. An easy “Santi to Poldi to the back of the net” would belittle the little man’s contribution and Poldi’s 80 yard sprint to the far post. I had looked forward to hearing “Poldi, Poldi, Hallelujah” or “Lu-Lu-Lu, Lukas Podolski” when this first-of-many arrived. I think its time the other song was condemned to the garbage.
While this was a great team effort, Jenkinson deserves a special mention. He needs to learn to kick with his left foot but he’s coming on well and will be a fine CB in time. Ramsey and slim-line F1 Santos looked good when introduced. Chambo will have benefited from the experience and Ollie G will find his feet shortly. AND Jack will be back next month with Sagna.
Clean sheets anyone?
Meanwhile, on a putrid stretch of grey-brown beach in Toxteth, a well rogered figure sits forlornly on a cracked, once-gilded, seat-less commode, strides at ankle. Fake Scots-Welsh tones can be heard murmuring to the waves that roll incessantly shorewards “I know what you said and he knows what you said……..”
SG –
Gibbs went a bit mental…I think he wanted the ball.
Gibbs also had a brilliant shot in that 2nd half
Trev – Chewy McPurplenose 🙂
Snir – Nope you didn’t imagine it. Good to see. I’m glad Giroud shot though. If your centre-forward starts passing from those positions you know his confidence is shot. That said, Gibbs was free and quite right to bollock Giroud when his shot failed to ripple the net. Too nicey-nicey in the past, players should expect a bollocking when they get it wrong.
Nice stuff BtM 🙂
Nothing emphasises more beautifully the madness of the transfer window and the “must spend” attitude of managers and supporters alike than the madness that occurred at Liverpool following the sale of Torres and the scorched hole in their pocket that that money induced. The resulting burn is one that will probably take many years to recover from.
Evening all – I enjoyed reading that almost as much as I enjoyed watching our boys win at Anfield today. What a performance, solid at the back, dominant in midfield, and clinical up top. Biggest change this season for me though is not having Heart palpitations every time our goal come under any threat.
Holic, Don’t think your last post was lukewarm. A bit of a surprise for me maybe, but it made me think (not a bad thing in my case). Now in this post, you’ve given me some homework to do, re OG. So when I watch the game again, I will plant my focus on Him. It’s just that Diaby blew me away…and Gibbs delighted the mom in me. Proud of all the lads today. Anyway just want to say your posts are like a class on Arsenal 101, with just the right touch of humor from the Professor.
Gibbs went mental but was quick to lend a consoling hand to Olivier.
I love Gibbs. He is turning into a real fighter and I hope he genuinely loves the club.
Also a word of praise for Carl.. Last year he scared the bejesus out of me. But looks much better now.
Pretty sure its down to Bould.
Vito: “XXX per la mia bella principessa, Jonjo – Bonjo”
Some great write ups here.
What an impressive performance that was, from front to back. We look like a real team now, solid, incisive and capable of defending a lead. Love it.
It really was a day when everything went our way. New signings on the score sheet, Diaby eating Sahin’s lunch all afternoon, Jenks looking extremely solid (wayward passes aside) and so on.
Already loving watching that midfield. Personally, I’d pay to watch Cazorla play training matches, what a player, he really sees it all.
Motm for me was Stevie Bould. Working absolute wonders, best signing we’ve made in years. Praise also for Diaby, BFG, Arteta, Tommy – hell, just list the whole team.
I have no worries re OG. Anfield and the Britannia are tough hunting grounds and he is making smart runs. Keep your head up big man, the goals will come. Amusing to watch Sky getting on his back after less than 180 mins of his Arsenal career and totally overlooking the utter no shows from Sahin and Borini.
Only blot on the day was a certain ex skipper scoring goals for the scum. Can only say fuck him – he didn’t want to be here and we look a better all round team than when we had him last season.
Finally, I think it’s worth repeating: Arsene Knows. More than other managers. More than the players. And certainly more than gobshite keyboard warriors. Fingers crossed everyone can stay fit and we get Jack back soon, but the omens look good and I’m already looking forward to our next match.
COYG
Holic, feel free to gush away as long as you like. We all deserve it. I have a good feeling about this season (nudge, nudge, say no more, all will be revealed in future missives)
TABS, I wonder if they will ever really recover? Their youth programme looks to have evaporated. The current squad is distinctly average with a capital A, Gerrard is on his last legs, their brand is on the wane and their stadium is too small to generate the income they’ll need when Henry tosses it all in as a bad lot.
Old trout around my flies (thanks, Steve) precluded comment during the window’s closing. I think Arsene wanted to buy two more players but wasn’t prepared to sell the shop to do so. I’m very happy with the current squad. Maybe Feo will be playing centre-forward when you buy me my haddock? And what was all that recent rambling about Percy? What did he have to do with anything?
Tabs- I agree they deserve that, but I would prefer it if they go easy on Giroud for the time being.
You can see how much he wants to prove he’s worthy of leading the Arsenal line and his confidence takes a hit with each missed chance. I’m sure his miss vs. Sunderland is still in the back of his head.
Don’t want his confidence to get to Chamakh levels.
Hmm – TaBS at 48, I’d have rather Gibbs remember the first rule of leadership: praise in public, condemn in private.
BMBD.
N7- Your last paragraph sums it all up for me. Arsene does know, full stop, and we continue to be privileged to have him.
BtM- You may well be right. Difficult to see how Liverpool can re-establish themselves amongst the elite without (a) giving Rodgers time (which they won’t) and (b) a cash injection from the national coffers of some Arab state (which would be about 5 years too late, given that FFP is not far away).
And before anyone asks, yes I do think FFP will have an effect. Not perhaps the cure-all that we would all hope for, but certainly strong enough to limit the kind of madness that we have seen at City in the last 5 years.
Exactly Snir, OG looks like real deal from what I have seen about him..just needs to adjust himself to the pace fo the game. He seems to rush things to me so far. Once he realizes that he has that slight moment of time more the dam will open, he does everything right except the finishing, staying focus and confident is crucial for him now, thats why I hope he will find the back of the net against Southampton.
The important thing is that Arsene believes in him so far too..once I see him benched for whole game, I will start to worry.
The way I see it about OG, he does try real hard. But this was kinda his first game in which he faced a team, that at least wasn’t trying to park the bus. No doubt he will shine, he just needs to keep going, the goals are in him, just waiting to explode.
Snir/Lonestar
I see where you’re coming from Chaps.
However firstly Giroud strikes me as a far more confident character than Chamakh and secondly Gibbs was quick to follow his bollocking with a consoling pat.
First?
Oh.
Good day Ollie? 😉
Tabs @ 61
Totally agree. We’ve all played the game and know full well that on pitch bollockings are part and parcel, provided that they’re also matched by a bit of camaraderie and support.
About three or four years ago a new lad played a couple of games for my fives team. After the second match he came over to me in the bar and said:
“Listen, I’ve enjoyed the last couple of weeks N7, but it’s not for me so I don’t reckon I’ll play next week”.
I asked him what the issue was and he replied “well, to honest, I don’t like travelling all the way here and paying ten sheets to be called a c*nt”.
“Well”, said I, “there’s not a huge amount I can do about that I’m afraid. The other teams can be a bit aggy, although the bunch we’re playing next week won’t be so badl”.
“I wasn’t talking about the other team” he replied “I meant by my own team mates”.
Thankfully, we talked him round and within a month or two he was effing and blinding with the rest of us.
So long as you leave it on the pitch and it’s clear it’s just stuff that’s said in the moment, for the benefit of the team, I see no problem with it. I’m sure a handsome devil like Giroud will be able to take it on the chiseled, perfect chin.
Great write up, Holic, and outstanding win. On his Arsenal player interview, Serge Gnabry was asked which player has impressed him the most since he started training with the first team. His answer … ” Abou Diaby ” We are starting to see on the pitch what the boys have seen in training.
Have done a quickish back-drinking session and reading that Stuart Robson said that Liverpool largely outplayed us made my chin drop to the floor. I didn’t think even he could be that stupid. When did they ever look likely to score?
Abou Diaby, take a bow son! Head and shoulders above any other player. Why oh why were you not blessed with a stronger body? 🙁
“Lest we forget, the hosts should have taken all three points off the reigning champions last week. Maybe today was an off day for them, or just maybe we are developing, week by week, into the real deal.”
…or a combination of both? Liverpool probably punched above their weight last week, and City looked uncharacteristically sloppy in defense that game. Just look at their team, apart from Suarez they don’t even have a proper attacker on the squad, maybe Borini can come good later (and Sterling too, but for all his trickery he did seem rather light-weight) on but he hardly touched the ball in any significant areas today. I also still maintain my serious doubts that Suarez, technically gifted though he is, is not making Liverpool a better team.
But enough about them, this was a proper team performance. Our defensive discipline so far has been fantastic, and what a change it was from not too long ago to not have to worry too much for the last 20 minutes. Mannone made one real mistake all game and that was his positioning for the Sterling shot in the first half but other than that it was a very solid performance and his awareness to push the ball away from the feet of Suarez after BFG made that perfect sliding may well have saved a goal.
I could go on but you lot have all said pretty much everything already so I’ll just stop there 🙂
BtM/tabs: agreed, Liverpool are on a very slippery downward slope. If this turns into another mid-table season, they may very well be fucked for a long, long time. And a large part of their downfall is wasting money on players just for the sake of it. They should have given Roy Hodgson more time, appointing King Kenute was a massive, massive panic-induced mistake. We are walking a tightrope, but we have what no other club has: we’ve got Arsene Wenger.
Drinks all round!
Hey! Hey! Hey! What’s with all the Giroud sympathy?!
He’s a man and was the leading goal-scorer in France FFS! I’m pretty sure he’s tough enough to take such frank comments from a destined-to-become Arsenal & England Legend called Gibbsy?! Furthermore, to go with his chiseled chin, I’m sure his statuesque broad shoulders can more than take such “harsh” language!
His personal dam certainly will be opened with aplomb soon enough! Both of today’s goals owed a lot to his movement and running off the ball – watch the highlights! Additionally, he doesn’t half put himself about and scare the shit out of the central defenders who used to have an easy ride physically against our front line or at our set-plays! RVPrick never used to do that but Dogbreath, for all that he was a cunt, certainly did that for the Chavs! Bendtner could have become such a physical presence but he had his own head up his own arse too much to see that!
N7, Tabs….Snir, Lonestar. See both sides of the coin here. As Giroud’s English improves, his ability to communicate with his mates on the field and receive instruction from them, will benefit everyone. Gibbs undoubtedly felt bad, a lesson for him as well.
Oh come on Abbs! Not you too! Oggie’s English’s pretty good from my observations!
Gibbs-Giroud-gate is no biggy! He’ll get over it; if ever there were any tears! 😉
Heh, Dan. RvPrick, the case to beat I think.
Get Giroud in here on FFF. That’ll sort the geezer out !
One point of interest, I hope.
In 3 hours 20 minutes after Holic’s post, and one of the performances of the last 6 years, the bar has attracted 65 drinks.
I know, I know, North Bank Ned has a lot to answer for 😉
Any guesses on what that number would have been, had the score today been reversed ?
Just wondering.
Sterling, not Stirling, work BtM, Tabs.
Something else I’m wondering, but don’t ask BtM – as King Kenute and BrenGun Rodgers are both unintelligible, do they share anything else in common ?
N7 Heh 🙂 That sounds about right re giving your mates some stick, and as long as it comes from a base of mutual respect I see nothing wrong with it!
Lars, I too am baffled by the reports of what Robson has said. Thankfully I was spared his one eyed bollocks today. Only a man with a very deep well of hatred for Arsenal could see that game as anything other than a resounding and convincing win for our Boys.
Evening Nursie,DanC, Neiuwleven.
Hey DanC…multiple chuckles. Anyway watching Inter vs Roma. Listening to it in Italian, very romantic. Kinda like French, no matter what they say, it makes me swoon.
Hey Tabs! Juve won too, just saying.
Heh Trev, was thinking the same about those that refuse to pop in after a good win.
Perhaps they don’t like Kool Aid? 🙂
How has Le Groan taken the bad news Tabs. I can’t be Arsed to look.
Had my one and only visit after we beat Citeh last year. ;(
DanC — agreed about Giroud. He had done the rounds in French football at various levels, and one of those late bloomers who is mentally very strong. His career path has a similar arc to Koscielny’s, and let us not forget how much criticism Koscielny had received in his first season before he grown into one of the finest CBs in the league.
I really have enjoyed his last two performances, you can clearly see the things he is trying to do in terms of positional play and pressing the defenders and the smart adjustments he is making. And he can pass-and-play as well — the Podolski shot that was blocked by the arms of a tumbling Stoke defender was set up by a a very nice chip by Giroud.
The goals will come eventually, just hope the supports would not get on his case impatiently.
Refuse to give them my click anymore Trev so can’t help you.
I now prefer to abuse him on twatter 😎
Love the season being here and BtM being back 🙂
…and all the usual faces obviously. This bar is happier than Cheers…
Trev – regarding the amount of drinks after such a resounding victory..I will repeat myself but it strikes me as when things are looking bright, only regulars contribute it seems. When not, lot of newcomers come to share their doom visions sparkling responses from the regulars ..oh and also transfer window is (finally!) shut.
BtM,
Feo playing centre-forward? Is that an offer of double or quits on the haddock? 🙂
Btw, Holic is the only one, so far, to mention Neil Banfield.
I have to admit, in disgrace, that I wondered upon his appointment, whether he would be capable of the step up from the reserves.
Probably because of something as shallow as the fact that his name is not Nils Barnfelden, or some such.
Well, apologies and huge thanks to you Neil.
We have all been quick to praise Bouldy for his defensive input.
Whatever you have been doing sir, has made a massive difference to the attitude of the entire team.
When did we last have fans wanting to nominate the whole team as MOTM.
That’s not to detract from Pat Rice’s contribution, but maybe familiarity had bred a little bit of contempt.
Still smiling. Fantastic comments, people. I don’t miss the pop-up trolls.
What with the whole scoring thing and the transfer window finally closing, it feels like the season has genuinely started.
There are bound to be some disappointments and bad times in every campaign, so I always make sure I enjoy the hell out of the triumphs and the good times.
UTA!
Giroud’s two starts to date have been against Shawcross and Huth, and Agger and Skyryrytel (however you spell that).
Not the easiest two pairs of CBs to try and find your form against.
The guy has worked hard, run well and taken a battering for the team.
His goals will come.
Right, time for a real drink.
Cup of tea, of course.
The correct slovakian pronouncing and spelling is “Škrtel” ..which sound wise is like “Shkrtel” and not “Skoertl” like you usually hear ..anyways..just a sidenote:P
Thanks Eandy – sorry for my ignorance.
Ah, TABS, you want some fin in the game?
You lot have been posted!
Yes, tabs 63. Bit disappointed but So’ton late surrender, but that would only have been an unexpected cherry on the top, to be fair.
TRev 84. Agger and Skrtel really look like a couple of psychos.
I’d cross the street.
Its not ignorance Trev, hehe, just providing language support when asked and when I can 😀
Until the goal I thought Podolski was a bit of a passenger but he took it well and played well after it. Girou worries me a lot. It’s not that he’s missed three sitters (including his free header in this game) but that they’ve been missed in spades. Both shots have been screwed a mile wide (notice the frustrated and apparent angry shove by Gibbs after his spectacular miss today) and the “header” somehow managed to miss his head completely and hit his shoulder. At least he worked hard, I suppose. We appear to be stuck with him in the middle though.
Apart from him I thought things were ok. Mertesacker has been great this season apart from a few misplaced passes today, and he’d stay in the team if I was picking it every week. It will be a shame if he gets discarded just because Koscielny is fit. There’s no reason to change things.
Jenkinson is looking good too, as is Gibbs.
The big surprise today was Diaby. One of his best games for us, I think, let’s hope he can finally put together a lengthy and consistent run of performances unhindered by injury.
I wouldn’t have Ox on the wing too often, it does him no favours really. Play him central or not at all and use him very sparingly wide please.
We just get going and it’s internationals again. Blast them.
Fin BtM ?
Queens English please 🙂
Not too well versed on the Scottish vernacular but if you mean “fun”, then I think you know the answer! 🙂
Ollie – A Soton win would have been asking too much I think. Even the hat-trick couldn’t impinge on my mood. Momentary dismissive contempt was all I felt.
Mr C,
we need to discuss strategy, old chap.
Since all these real Doctors starting hanging about around here, our positions appear to be coming under threat.
It seems the current crop of longer term acute and chronic knack carriers are soon to be leaving The Quackery.
Inexplicably, the supply of fresh patients seems to have dried up too.
No new admissions were made last week, at all.
Or maybe they are being diverted to that new fangled clinic where they have the anti-gravity bubble wrap thingys that Feelgood and Edwin are so fond of.
The Children’s and Juvenile’s Wards have all but closed.
Do they know more than us, Mr C.
Is there anyone who doesn’t know more than us, Mr C.
Eek.
Nurse, Uppers for Nonny please. Lots of them. 😉
TaBS, suggest you Google finny haddock.
Even a half sweaty like me knew what was meant 😉
Hi Dr. C, always miss you! You are one laid back dude. Mr T, smiling here.
Nurse, can you not even see properly now ?
That was ME writing TO Mr C., not Mr C writing at all.
And you dispense the, er medicine, round here ?
Frightening !!!
Not much to add to all the above. A great away win. We played them well. As I said in previous drinks , I was one that was calling for Kos to come in for the BFG. I was happily proved wrong. Per had a great game other than that one time he got turned and a few poor passes out of the back in the first 20 minutes. Jenks also was a bit careless to start but both grew into the game and played well.
A great team win. How many times did Poldi and AOC track back and play defense? Absolutely loved it. And Poldi starting the attack for his goal and busting a gut to get up field and finish it. He will score a ton if he makes those runs. Santi will find him every time.
I am also fine with Gibbs giving a little guff to Giroud. I have actually seen it a few times this season from the whole team. They are bedding in and are all competitive. With more time together those things won’t happen because it will come naturally.
These guys are all professionals and will not take it personally.
Well done Gunners
Nonny, Now we have quality cover, that’s how I look at it. AW will rotate, the variations are plenty and something to look forward to with relish. As always a drink is waiting for you, chilled and sparkling, just like you.
Ton up
The Nurse scores. pfffttsksk, as Arsene would say.
Probably didn’t even see the goal posts !
Rather nicely deflected in though, albeit accidentally 😉
@ abb
wow! receiving with your back to goal, lovely swivel, effortless curler into the top corner, keeper no chance!
re Gibbs
Shows he feels like he belongs – confidence no longer an issue?
abb @100 –
“a drink, chilled and sparkling – with relish”
Some weird Merkan cocktail, I guess 😉
Bows, ever so humbled by the adoring fans.
Great finish, abb!
As well as a great result, this was a fascinating game between two clubs who are run in very different ways.
Liverpool have flushed loads of cash down the loo and have very little to show for the millions they spent over the last 4-5 years. Look at their bench today!
Benitez realised what a liability Gerard is and wouldn’t play him in a midfield two. He was at it again today trying to spray Hollywood passes round the pitch, trying to be the hero and his sloppy pass led to the first goal.
Back to Arsenal. There were moments technical brilliance throughout the game.
Diaby was superb. Sometimes he plays as if he is playing basketball, shielding the ball, trying to beat his opponent three times, but today he was powerful, drove forward, was technically excellent and understood his role.
OG is an intelligent player who makes great runs. He will come good.
Gibbs will come on leaps and bounds with iPod in front of him (shouldn’t he be called the ‘LFG’ if Mertesacker is the BFG?).
I still don’t get Poldolski. He’s not particuarly quick or skilful; he’s not a typical striker, a winger or a wide midfielder, but still he is a great player.
With him on the left and the Ox on the right, we be a more technical, narrower team and not reliant on our wide speed merchants who will spend more time on the bench.
Ramsey also looked a different player when he came on. He has got his confidence back.
Finally. Man Utd looked a mess tonight. It is a pity Southampton couldn’t keep their nerve
A blind assist and a blinder of a goal abb.
A doctor assisting a nurse. And both clueless of the attempt.
No worries Mr T , Dr C et al; you are still the experts and custodians of the Quackery. The ” real” doctors are merely consultants.
Thank you Ollie! Hey, we still have Delia’s and Steve T’s match reports to look forward to. Any maybe something from Dr Feelgood (himself) and, if we’re really lucky, one of the Andy Gorhams as well. The nite is young and so are we!
Abb, Maybe you weren’t as clueless as me. You probably knew it all along. Just more composed than me.
Ah, cheers for the education Holic. Not sure the budget will stretch to Smoked 😉
Mr T 🙂
Well in Nursie.
ah, nice, sunny day after a nap and lunch, reinforcing the beautiful feeling in my heart and peace in my soul. even the dutch cunt’s work slips by with little notice.
norcal, i too called for kozzer, in fear of the uruguayan cheater, but for naught. our big, frigging, rootin’ teuton was PERfect. a definitely misplaced assessment on my part.
great ton, abb, i do love seeing naturals.
otherwise super drinks above, btm and tabs especially. a round of seabright pale for the assembled please, barkeep!
Hi NorCal, Sorry, didn’t mean to ignore you. My other half wants a vespa and we are in the middle of a ‘discussion’.
Trev@71: go on, unleash your inner stato. Once you do, there is no going back, you know…
Wasn’t able to see the game today so thanks for the reports above from the usual suspects. Three points and a clean sheet at Anfield make for a pretty decent day’s work by any account.
Not sure that Liverpool are done and dusted as a big club. Certainly the previous owners left them in bad shape and there is a lot of rebuilding work to be done on and off the pitch. My guess is that the new American owners will have the patience for the task overall but that Liverpool may have come along one job too early for Brendon Rodgers.
Well in for the ton, abb. Always good to slot your first one of a new season.
Wasn’t that good? Where are all those noisy infants?
Fine reports Holic and Holics.
Still chuckling and still drinking….Brew Dog Post-modern Pale Ales all round.
Hic.
Good call, baff.
And goodnight.
Tabs – I think it was more of a push than a consoling pat 😀
Jez – I too thought Poldi wasn’t quick, but look at how fast he ran in the build up to his goal.
Super fast for about 70 yards.
Innis & Gunn here bath,
Very, very highly recommended.
Ive read that the physiological impact a football supporter feels when his team scores a goal in a hotly contested match is similar in effect and intensity to an orgasm.
For the longest time thought that was a load of gibberish.
Today however, i believe i just about creamed me shorts. Twice.
Seriously tho, what a team effort. And OG will come good.
Love the clean sheets. Loving the work rate.
Well done Gunners!!!
And pardon my manners.
Cheers to all in the bar! And a Guiness please.
@ Homer
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Snir, well I guess its all open to interpretation, but to be honest I don’t think it really matters. I’m sure Giroud hasn’t given it a second thought, so why should we?
Anyway MOTD on in ten, so we can all watch it again 🙂
Just enjoy the win Gooners
Sauvignon blanc please. Wonder what MOTD2 will make of our performance, I reckon it will all be about the scousers. BFG, arteta, Gibbs and santi were immense. All looks better this evening.
Just watched last night’s MOTD.
Was hilarious seeing ‘Arry’s analysis of Spurs.
And even funnier, was his prediction of Spurs finishing in the top 4 without a problem.
Ha ha, Hansen on MOTD2 but we predictably start with Manure.
Innes & Gunn is indeed quite nice Holic, but I find their flavours a soupcon overfabricated. I do recommend BrewDog – they have it in Waitrose and Sainsbury. Brewed in sunny Fraserburgh.
If you don’t find them to your taste, fairy snuff but you’ll enjoy reading the labels – they’re a hoot.
I’ll give them a go, sir…
Just seen the Manc/Southampton highlights.
He is such a bucket of slime. Pointing at his badge, praising Scholes… It’s as if he was never at any other club, as if the last eight years of his life have been erased. He is so arrogant – I hope, when he visits the Emirates with his new club, we all just ignore him.
I’m aware that I should ignore him, I have to put it behind me, but there is something shocking in the seamlessness of his transition from Gunner/Gooner to Manc. We should be reaping the benefit of the years we’ve put into him. It’s so unfair. We’ve been used.
Bath – So frickin predictable as you say, Scum Yoo vs a newly-promoted side takes precedence over Us vs the Mugsmashers? Do me a favour.
I suppose it gives the pundits a chance to drool over McPurplenose’s managerial record and give his arsecheeks a good polish. Squeaky clean they are!
My 7 a side team got absolutely horsed tonight and I had a bit of a nightmare, personally – think Alex Song versus Fulham – but I am still cheesing after the result at Klanfield.
Best part of all – Micky Quinn will be hurting…..
FG, that is the word I was looking for. Arrogant. He was arrogant when he was playing for us, but we were so blind to see. I can’t pretend to be reserved towards him. I hate him and his manners, from the bottom of my heart.
Heh. Really enjoyed MotD.
Hansen looking even more ashen than usual and somehow finding a way to avoid using the words “steven”, “gerrard” and “almightyballsup” when explaining the first goal. Didn’t seem to take much joy in our quality defensive performance either!
Not suprised to see Utd on first and quite enjoyed watching their utter shambles of a performance. Leaking goals at one end, totally reliant on a glass ankled Dutchman at the other – strangely familiar. Could be a long season for old purple nose.
Having reviewed the Gibbs/Giroud clip all i can say is…. Well done Gibbsy. I’d have done the same.
Forget it FunG – he’s gone and couldn’t guve a monkey’s, clearly.
As Holic said, we support the club, not the hired help.
Mind you, some of those that played today might just change our minds about that.
The one we really cannot afford to lose is Arsene Wenger.
I’ve given up trying to work out what the current state of play is between himself, Mr Kroenke and Deins, Senior and Jr.
So I won’t worry about that either. Just be thankful that we still have him.
RVP spoiled it for us today. we knew he is class, however we looked better defensively than United on another day RVP is not going to get a hat trick. I look at our team and compare it to united, I honestly think the team we have is better. I’ll take Cazorla over Carrick or an aging Scholes and certainly Vermalen and Kos over the has beens of Rio and Vidic. I’m quietly confident we are going to surprise everyone this year
BtM @70,
Absolutely maestro! 🙂
@72,
Evening, Take-a-Bow-Son: Manny; Jenky, Vermy, Per, Gibbo, Arty, Dibby, Caz, Oxo-kid, IPod & Oggie! 🙂
Abbs @73,
Mais oui, Madame! 🙂
Trev @76,
Their their usually cockless selves!
Dr F @77,
My sentiments exactly my learned quackery friend! 🙂
Trev @82,
Another master-stroke this season fom the club.
Mr T @95,
What about me! 😎
Abbs @100,
Nice ton; ooh la la! You couldn’t get the ball off of her even in a phone- box! 😎
Snir @125,
MoTDickheads-2 is a waste of fcukin’ time! Put on mute during the interludes of ineptitude!
FG @128,
Don’t worry “fella”, he’ll get what’s coming to his chocolate and glass limbs! That ginger, geriatric cunt will too! 😎
@128
Fuck him. He’ll never really be one of them and he’s no longer one of us.
His loss. Instead of having Santi Cazorla behind him he has Tom Cleverley.
Wind posing as DanC ?
N7 @136,
Well said! 🙂
If Arsenal have bought a player called Diaby for 20 millions I don’t think anyone would complain. He was awesome today. we also have Sagna and Wilshere still to come. I’m so pleased about the defensive side of things. Walcott and Gervinho will find it difficult to start as I saw today Wenger went for players who have better defensive qualities Ox and Pod were immense today they defended really well.
Been out most of the afternoon bowling (lawn) followed by the customary imbibing. Just caught up with the drinks and MOTD 2. Surprisingly punditry was complimentary including Hansen. Performance was indeed stupendous and our new attacking trio have to yet fully bond!
Abou gave as good a performance in an Arse shirt that I can recall..maybe matched by the game in Istanbul v Fernabache in the ECL ( fortunately co-incided with a business meeting I had to attend there). First saw him play for French U19 team where he was immense and when AW bought him thought it was a fantastic buy. The rest is history.
Can only hope that he stays fit as no doubt will be a major asset to the team.
Trev @137,
Sorry about the flatulence! I tried to hold on but it’s better out than in! That was relieving! 😎
MotD2 – chuckling at the Spuds losing a lead in injury time for the second week running.
Tom Hundredstone off – straight red. 🙂
All those wonderful deadline day signings and a shiny new manager, all brought in by the oh-so-shrewd Daniel Levy.
Dream on you half baked Spuds………
AVB – another vacancy beckons 😉
Ex employees are exactly that…we have new heroes wearing the shirt.
Wenger’s Coat @139,
Yep, Abou was immense and that’s why Arsene keeps faith in him! All fingers and toes crossed for Dibby!
Uplympian @140,
Lawn bowling?! Man, those white threads are so Dapper! 😎
Goodness,that has cheered me up no end.!!
Tonight we have the 5th best goal difference in the division, and the Spuds are in 14th position while we are up to 8th.
Not necessarily related facts but I kept hearing that we couldn’t score.
Haven’t yet heard the experts saying that Sp*rs are in trouble though ??
Great drinks this evening fellas! Same place tomorrow?!
Celebratory shots of your finest to all barkeep and put it on my Dapper tab! Salut Messieurs and Medames! 🙂
Evening Sweeper, not bad was it.
Looking more like the Golders Green Rangers / Ramblers ? Every day. 😉
DanC, Merci beaucoup! Fun, excellent analysis of RVP. N7@ 136 I do believe that is quotable, and just as I feel too.
Dan 145 With your tag, a man who obviously knows style 😉
Bon Huit .
Right about the support those at the club, not the ungrateful grabbers, but nothing would be more satisfying than to see van Persie shank a sitter at THOF and 57000 Gooners roar in unison “Marouane Chamakh, he would have scored that”.
😀
Hey Mr Sweeper, Glad you enjoyed! Thanks for your mention of Neil Armstrong a while back, appreciated that.
Dr.z @ #143
No, no, no, no, no.
Agent AVB-IN! 😎
153 ‘holic 🙂
abb 113..hope the Vespa discussion ended in a peaceful conclusion..gotta scoot now..g/nite. 🙂
Trev
ah the Golders Green Ramblers,
happy days they were,
I have to say that of the players on offer during the final day of the transfer window,None of them would have even made the bench at the Ramblers.!!
ABB,i was a trifle surprised that no one responded to my mention of NA.
perhaps they were all wrapped up in the excitement of transfer deadline day.!!
Cheers
The sweeper
TS …the Ruskis have the KGB…the Arse have got AVB 😉
I have just arrived in Hongkong, in transit on my way to Jakarta from San Francisco. No internet in flight means I missed the game. I dreamed while sleeping on the plane that we were 3 goals behind Liverpool by halftime. Thank goodness it was no premonition. Checking the scores was the first thing I did on my arrival, and the fact that we gained all 3 points, along with goals for 2 of our 3 signings meant that today is a briliant day indeed for me, and every living Gooner. Ooh to be a Gooner. Can’t wait to see the whole game on Player!
Abb, if he lost the Vespa discussion, I hope he hasn’t moped about it. 😉
Clive…I saw my first game at the HOF in the early 50s but ’twas still a boy then. Were you sweeping in 54 as boy or man. Never normally got as far as Golders Green…normally Jack Straws Castle or the Old Bull & Bush would be my limits. If I went to the former now, more likely to meet Wolfie than a local 😉
What a contrast in your posts ‘Holic but that’s football I guess.
Definite cause for quiet confidence tonight after such an emphatic victory but as you say, it’s very early days and lets see how the injuries can be repelled, or better still, avoided.
One thing’s for sure. If Diaby can keep himself out of The Wilshire Wing of The Arsenal Infirmary, we have the best midfield in the country starting to take-shape.
I’m keeping everything crossed for a first XI featuring Cazorla, Jack, and Diaby being a regular sight this season. If we can make that happen, we could challenge for he big stuff.
A celebratory round on me. It always feels great to beat The Mugsmashers at thier place.
Uply @ #157 – Exactly so!
Greeetings, The Sweeper.
Funny Trev and Uply, he’s like a child, like me when it comes to Arsenal (smiling).
Clive is back.
Feels like we are the Invincibles again 😉
Bless you sir, and thanks. I know these fleeting glimpses of pleasure are a bonus…
@FG I am also very ambivalent towards RVP at the moment. Mere months ago he was our talisman, the embodiment of AFC and AW’s relentless trust on his players. And here we are today. Watching him score goals for Manure is quite hurtful to be honest, no matter how much I try to deem it irrelevant and pretend not to care. He’s a cunt for doing what he did, and yet he gave as best as he got while wearing the Arsenal shirt. I hope we all ignore him at the Ems. He is no longer part of AFC, and shall never be again. Let’s not feed the ego of this arrogant pretender.
TS ….you must also add Arteta to that midfield list ( and Eandy will never forgive me if I don’t also add TR ). Quite a problem for the boss to sort out if we actual have a relative injury free season. I guess LJW will be eased in slowly if all the others are available. Good times are a coming it seems.:-)
No contrast TS.
Always expected we could beat anybody. That hasn’t changed.
Over the season? Everything crossed here, honestly…
Cheers, Mr Sweeper, you’re a good man.
163. But abb …what is the outcome….is he smiling like you will be when we win the EPL??
Nurse, he is indeed. I’m very lucky with those who post here.
Guvnor / TS..we have always been able to beat any team on our day during the barren trophy years….it’s sustaining it for the whole season that has been hard to do. If we stay relative injury free, the quality in the team is there. As always I shall enjoy the ride – a prize at the end of journey is aspired to but considered a bonus if achieved.
Right..bed time is really calling. Sweet dreams all.
Uply, Too dangerous. People here don’t know how to drive. ‘No’ for now (sighing).
Excellent win today. What we learnt- 1. We have a clinical finisher in podolski who’ll get at least 15 goals this season either on the left or up front. 2. As long as giroud keeps his chin up, he’ll do great and should score a similar amount. 3. Cazorla is simply brilliant! 4. Diaby is excellent when he can put a few games together… or maybe we true arsenal fans knew all this already!!! Extra props to the defence… and the bould effect too! Arteta did what he always does- what a pro… Hey i know i’m rambling here- but i’m so excited- just had to share. Sorry. COYG! BMBD!
hey and please could we just enjoy an excellent arsenal win without talking about him? (You know who.) Please? It kind of hurts, you know…
Uplympian,we are of the same vintage my friend.
Golders Green was rabid Spurs territory in those days.
Only there because i worked in the local Woolies as the Stockroom manager,and had much fun with the local Gentries daughters who used to do the saturday shift at the store.
A bit of Arsenal rough got them very hot under the collar.!!
Greetings TS,glad to see you are still maintaining the rage against the mob down the road.
ABB,you are too kind.
So are you Holic.
Cheers
The Sweeper
Me too Holic. Nite everyone. @ 173 You’re not rambling at all mate, quite agree.
Sweeper, what a man!
Gentrie’s daughters in the stockroom and then round the back of the bike sheds for a, well, yep, we know all about that too ……..
@abb 176. Thanks. I actually read the posts here a lot, so i know about your really wonderful gesture. So double thanks! Nice strike too there, by the way…
@ Trev
I know, I know…but it’s difficult.
@ 136 N7 Gooner and @ 152 goonerholic
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
See, feeling better already. Laughter is the best medicine.
@ Derrick
yes – that’s the sort of turmoil I’m going through. And the fact that there is clearly no emotional turmoil whatsoever for him is what appals and shocks me. Cesc was torn, even Nasri feels something – you can tell by his overreaction to critical Gooners. But for Robin, despite seeming to us to carry the flame of Arsenal in his heart, it’s like Arsenal never existed. A lesson for me, perhaps.
**
@ 167 Goonerholic
But this time, I feel we do have the depth of squad and character to pull it off.
Mind you, I say that every year…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/sep/02/santi-cazorla-arsenal?CMP=twt_gu
Don’t agree with her on her evaluation of Giroud’s performance or the clamor to sign Andy Carrol (huh?!?!), but this is interesting…
While Liverpool loaned Carroll to West Ham, Arsenal twice attempted to sign Yohan Cabaye from Newcastle before the transfer window’s closure but Wenger surely did not need the France playmaker. Indeed, with Jack Wilshere scheduled to make his long awaited return from ankle and knee injuries next month, midfield looks the Gunners’ strong suit.
Sweeper, my man, Welcome Back! The old 78s keep spinning but my needles keep wearing out:
“I see a red door and I want in painted Clive”.
Holic, I think Goonerholic Inc. needs to sponsor an old bastards outing. By the sound of it, Clive, me and Uply should be the inaugural attendees. Zico should be there to carry our coats and fall off his chair, TABS to buy the lunchtime haddock, Ollie to add that certain Je Ne Sais Quoi, TS for a touch of class, Fun and Snowy for added spice and………um, you can come too to foot the bill, write it up and make it sound like a much better event than it ever was!
Trev, Snir and others too numerous to mention, you too will be an old bastard one day and your time on Gonnerholic Inc’s Charabanc outing for old lags with incontinent tendencies is just around the corner. As Clive will testify, it comes around at 78 rpm and faster than you think.
Three games in and I’m still warming up and stretching the muscle. It WILL get better, holics. I promise.
Who the hell is Stuart Bold anyway? Any relation to Steve Bould, I wonder?
Snir,
Andy Cap Carroll, the pantomime horse with the first touch of Red Rum would be as welcome at The Arsenal as Charlie Carrolli, the prince of pie throwers, would be playing clarinet alongside Lionel Messi at the Nou Camp. Carletto’s first touch is marginally superior to Cap’s but the Blackpool Tower Circus would be a more appropriate location for both of these clowns than the been, green grass of THOF would be for Cap.
As Holic said, Cabaye wasn’t for sale. End of.
We sold Sonf for 15M and we’ve still got the best midfield pool in the perm. Go figure. Only one Arsene Wenger.
Sorry about the lack of clarity, punctuation and spelling in BTM’s last couple of posts folks .. It may well have something to do with the Sam Adams, Heinekin and vin rouge combo he has imbibed tonight ! 😉
TS @ 161,
Much as the Santi, Jack, Diaby starting combo is mouthwatering, my suspicion is that it will be unleashed quite sparingly this season as:
1. Why take the risk on ankles and heels against the cloggers?
2. What to do with Arteta in the meantime?
3. How to develop Alex OC as the second best MF the world has ever seen?
4. How is Rosicky to enjoy the last of the summer wine?
5. Who will Frimpong RvPrick
6. How will the IceMan Cometh?
7. Who wil Le Coq put Le Coq in (if not RvPrick?)
8. How will AW maximise The Return of King Aragorn Ramsey?
9. Why curb the F1 instincts of Santos the Speedy?
10. And why deprive Nico Y and Chuks Aneke of their days in the sun?
Other than that, I’m all for the best midfield trio on the planet.
🙂
“Per Mertesacker was the early recipient of a yellow card when Suarez suffered his first attack of an inner ear infection that affected him throughout. Only Howard Webb could have seen fit not to do the game a favour and card the loathsome Uruguayan on several occasions.”
Nice.
Watched the game in Kentucky. When the LFG scored I woke up the hotel with a yell. A goal. A dadgum goal.
As I noted before I love that LFG’s work rate. Jenkinson continues to amaze me. He took a shot? What the heck.
Gosh wasn’t Diaby brilliant today?
I was pleased the BFG got his head on a ball when we finally had a corner.
What the heck is that Nehru jacket thing on ManU’s shirt. Coyote ugly.
That Gerrard remains on the national team surprise me. Move on. It is over for him.
I wanted Clint Dempsey on Arsenal because I think he could play that lone striker pretty well, but really because he is American and I want Arsenal to have a good American player for marketing reasons.
A word on language. Someone mentioned how bad language was used in games. Man, you use that c word around here and you are picking up your teeth.
BtM @182,
“Adam Cap Carroll”; heh! 🙂
Sorry BtM; “Andy Cap Carroll”! Blasted predicto! 😎
Incidentally, Sahin was visible by his lack of contribution to the Scousers! Very slow too with little pace! A near miss there, thankfully! Eh Snir?! 😉
On Cabaye, if wee Jack’s return had not been upcoming, Le Boss would’ve got his Frenchman! In a season or two?! Hmmmm, certainly a possibility. Ben Arfa for me a decent shout too at some point in the coming seasons!
COYBG!
Thanks ‘holic for a great report of a great result. We’re all looking for some consistency and signs are we may have it on the defensive side of the ball. So happy to see our 3rd straight clean sheet. Long may they continue. Podolski and Cazorla goals lovely to see and hopefully the beginning of consistency on the goalscoring side of things.
Too many great drinks above to recognize any of the so just have to say: C’mon Arsenal!!
Lovely read ‘holic. You had me at ‘Mutant Skrtel’.
This could be just the start of something lovely.
The talent is there. but nothing will ever replace hard work. hopefully we get to see both this season. saw a lot of leaders out there yesterday. and nobody hiding.
Gibbs needs to whip in those balls harder. Its useless floating in crosses at such a slow pace. Bould needs to work on getting the wide men to whip in those crosses.
And why did we give up possession so easily time and time again. Hopefully the fitness levels will improve.
Agree that Giroud will come good. he will be a handful for any defense when he puts himself about.
Cant wait to get Wilshere back. Yes. we have got our Arsenal back.
Morning. Nice post.
*makes a Diaby turn, power and elegance leaving Gerrard stranded*
Diaby is the new Viera; and some! 😎
Totally forgot what I wanted to say.
I mean, beyond a slight *boilk*
And a very Good Diaby to all the denizens of the best bar in the ether (not for drinking btw)
At the moment, I can’t stop singing the song I heard on The Tuesday Club to the tune of “Let It Be”….
When I find myself in times of trouble,
Arsene Wenger comes to me,
Speaking words of wisdom, Diabyyyy
Diaby, Diaby, Diaby, Diaby
He knocked out John Terry,
Diabyyy!
What a superb performance that was yesterday.
Morning All, still basking in the win and our super-quality new signings.
Cheers BtM @ #184. It’s OK, I get your points loud and clear 🙂
A few musings of my own in terms of your thought provoking points:
1) Our MF definitely has depth and differing qualities and I agree, how can you contemplate leaving our huge talents like Arteta, The Ox and co?
2) It’s great to have this problem, of course and I have no clear idea (yet) which blend will prove to be THE combination of combinations but I expect that some will be deployed higher up the pitch to help strengthen the foward line.
3) For example, Jack as a new number 10, The Ox who is already been playing mostly as a forward for a season, etc., etc.
4) I have my doubts about Frimpong’s long-term future (attitude)…
5) …but what about giving our favourite Russian haircut? Written-off by many already but still training at LC last time I looked. Is there a possibility to finally play him in that famous hole or upfront?
No doubt, all will be revealed in Le Boss’ master plan this season. I’m beginning to understand why we were so conservative in terms of splashing the cash this summer.
I still don’t agree with the level of parsimony as a few injuries to key players will put us back in the brown and smelly stuff but I get the general idea: Why ‘panic buy’ when we’ve got so much talent at hand?
Reinforcements for the squad in terms of defence and another out-and-out striker, however, would not go amiss. I notice that Arsene did change his tune a little bit yesterday, post match, declaring that “we do not have a huge squad” or something similar. Let’s see how things pan out for the next three games.
‘Holic @ #167
It was, perhaps, a poorly expressed point on my part.
The contrast was a reference to the post TW deflation of not making further investments in the squad when we seem to have the money to do so vs the joy of seeing what we have invested in starting to click and gel and play in a way that reminds us of teams past that delivered trophies as well as a glorious style of play.
Hope that’s clear 🙂
BFG and MA8 combine to stop another one.
Well in 8 ball, super surreal strike. How will you celebrate?
And TS moves it quickly up the pitch laying it onto 8 ball who adds a sublime third for Arsenal whose away support go absolutely berserk. 😉
Bonkers too. 🙂
Goal?
Oh…I blazed it wide again 🙁
Heh!
Cheers Bath, and a very good Diaby to you too sir.
The Sweeper and BtM both in the bar at the same time – just when you thought it couldn’t get any better!
Bath, Innes & Gunn? Tried one of theirs once, one of the few beers I had to struggle to finish. Tasted (and smelled) like liquid yeast or something. Wasn’t to my taste at all.
Still feeling very happy about the win. Watched MOTD2 last night and for once I thought Alan Hansen actually gave a rather fair account of what happened, and seeing him almost having a meltdown when talking about Glen Johnson’s defending (or rather lack thereof) was quite amusing.
TS, I would say the doubts about Frimpong for me is more about his wonky knees. Having had cruciates done on both knees at such a young age does not bode very well at all for his long-term fitness prospects. He’s toned down his Twitter antics considerably lately and even said something like “time to stop this nonsense and focus on my rehab” a while ago.
Bath, Lars, I have just two words for you: Black Sheep.
4 points off the pace after 3 games. Wenger OUT.
Giroud couldn’t hit a barn door. WASTE of money.
Cazorla’s goal was a fluke. BENCH him.
Diaby will get injured again. RESERVE TEAM material.
Morning all.
What a great day Sunday was. The first rugby training session of the new season saw the little man confirm that egg chasing for an 8 year old is almost as much fun as football. A dash home via Sainsbury’s for some lunch bits was the pre match entertainment before the main event. A great victory at the home of the Scousers followed by a mad dash to the station to head off to and afternoon/evening session of Paralympics entertainment. We arrived home later that night feeling a tad jaded from our exploits, plonked ourselves on the sofa to tune into MOTD 2. That was already well underway by now. How fitting it was that as the on button was pressed and the picture emerged that we were greeted by the two teams emerging form the tunnel at Klanfield? It seemed somewhat fitting that we had been spared the badge kissing of some plastic Dutch twat.
I can’t really add a great deal to what most have said above. I thought that to start with we looked just a tad nervous. A few misplaced passes from the back has me wondering. But have no fear, it did not take us long. I though the midfield trio of Diaby, Arteta and Carzola looked particularly encouraging. They looked liked they had been playing together for years. If there is a better bargain than Cazorla this summer then I would love to see him. I am also firmly in the camp that the more games the likes of Diaby and Gibbs can get then their confidence will increase as well as their strength. If both can remain fit then both will have a major part to play in this season. Credit also to Vito Mannone. Vito with 3 clean sheets on a row is a sentence I never thought I would have use for.
Another word for big Per. Again I thought he was outstanding again. He impresses me as much when he does not have the ball. By that I mean his positioning and just his marshalling of the back four. If you watch him you can see him ordering and directing. I am amazed at those outside of the club who seek to criticise him. People moan at his lack of pace. He has never had pace and at times I have seen milk turn quicker. But his tackle in the box when he was already on a yellow tells you all you need to know about him in my opinion.
Arteta’s talents are wasted in the holding role. He is far too good. But he plays with a knowledge and discipline that dare I say we have not had for ages. I think he just manages to gel the whole side.
Both goals were well taken. Nice to see Poldi off the mark. His work rate was again impressive. I am sure that Giroud will find the target very shortly. It will come.
The trip to the Excel was truly inspiring. We have all voiced our opinions on here about our beloved club. There is nothing wrong with that. Of course there isn’t. But when you watch women under 60 kilos in weight and wheelchair bound being helped onto a bench and then power lift twice their bodyweight then fir me it is just massively inspiring. It just eliminates words like can’t from the vocabulary. A Paralympics record latter followed by two gold medal matches in the table tennis completed a great day. I will certainly take a massive positive from what we saw.
The interlul beckons and I just hope that everyone returns unscathed. Then on to three points against the saints.
BTM. The largest haddock in the shop is on me. Just as long as you ensure that the old trout hanging around your flies does not start demanding a cheeky little sausage as an accompaniment?????
Keep the faith.
“At times I have seen milk turn quicker” – choice remark Steve T!
Up The Arse!
“Manchester United sign a ground-breaking agreement for Toshiba Medical Systems to become the club’s official partner.
The five-year partnership, the first of its kind to be developed with a British football club, will see state-of-the-art equipment provided to the United’s medical team.”
Really missed the boat there, haven’t we. I guess we just carry on relying on licking toads and carrying onions in our pockets when the moon is full 😉
Too right Nonny. Our crumbling medical facilities, outdated treatment technology and coterie of witch doctors really are the laughing stock of the PL.
Lars @ #207 – Thanks for the correction, very good to hear. Like you, I hope Frimpong can overcome his knee issues becuase he is a beast who adds yet another dimension to our MF. Is he back in training yet?
Steve T – Nice to see you so up-beat about our performances again. Lots to be happy about. A bit off-topic but was given Paralympic tickets myself for Saturday’s equestrian event. Not really my thing at all by my daughter loved it and you can’t help but admire the paralympians courage and determination. Quite inspirational.
Nonny – Very amusing comments but how do you know we’re not working on something even bigger? FYI, Manure have been ‘big in Japan’ for a l-o-n-g time. Their presence there outshines ours. If I were a large Japanese corporation wanting to enhance my branding and market presence via the EPL, Manure would be my first choice too. Citroen on the other hand… 😉
Camberwell knows. VENGA AAAAHHHT!
nice one at 210 Steve T – what a wonderful day you had!
Actually, what I popped in to say was that Merts said Poldi is “reliable” – he is good for a goal a game”.
Let’s hope he turns out to be right.
That was a great win. Really happy about the way we played yesterday
Some great form in the drinks too, regulars and all
Welcome back sweeper
TS, I think he is a few weeks away from switching from rehab to footie. He wrote about it on Twitter when asked by someone and said something along the lines of “three more weeks of rehab”. And that was a week or even two ago.
Steve T, quality drinking as always! Happy to hear you had a great day out with the young’un!
Nonny: “Really missed the boat there, haven’t we”
Umm, no not really 🙂 We opened up a new, multi-million pound brand spanking new state-of-the-art medical center less than a year ago.
But I’ll give you one thing: ManU are really good at making whatever they do sound amazing. Their PR machinery is rather brilliant (just look at how many people – fans and media people – have swallowed that nauseatingly contrived “theatre of dreams” crap), I’ll bet you they could even make people believe that going into administration would be a new and innovative move by the club, never done by anyone else before…
Camberwell @209 – being a little harsh there, I’d say ……..
Steve T –
have to say I’m surprised that Arteta can perform that holding role so well, but I disagree that he is wasted there.
The requirements for defensive midfielders are more to win the ball through timing and agility, and be on your fett ready to quickly launch a counter attack. The days of the huge athlete crashing through a challenge on his backside seem to be gone.
If Arteta can keep fit in that role over the longer term, I think he’s perfect there because, as you say, he justs glues the whole side together.
TS – surprised to see such negativity from you too ……..
Lars – heh!
Erm, it was meant to be a joke about them choosing to go to United rather than us, seeing as how we manage to make little things like hamstring pulls turn into career threatening injuries and months in treatment… I know we have this supposedly whizz bang medical centre and allegedly crack medical staff
Fucking hell you lot are hard work.
Apologies Nonny, I misinterpreted your post.
Trev. I agree entirely re Arteta. The point I was trying to make was that with his ability his talent almost demands a more advanced position. I do think that so far this season he has been outstanding.
Trev, spot on regarding the DM role, at Arsenal at least. The big (or little) “get the boot in” bruiser, has no place in a team that bases its game on passing. I knew there was zero chance of either Tiote or De Jong coming to The Arsenal, simply because neither can pass the ball after they’ve mugged someone to win it.
The nimble guy who can “nick it” through guile and technique is the player AW will focus on. In that regard, Jack, Frimpong and Le Coq are likely to join Arteta as pass masters with an ability to win the ball and start a counter.
Steve, the paralympics are getting ZERO TV time here in the US. Very shabby treatment of such an inspiring event. Delighted you made it along. Did the little egg-chaser go too? On a more frustrating note, I was saddened to hear Oscar Pistorious start some aggro on “I would have won the 200M but some Brazilian bloke had faster plastic parts than mine”. Having inspired the world and opened the door for paralympians in the main event, he may well have pushed it shut again.
Day of for Labour Day here. Time to go and hit some little white eggs then some little white balls.
Trev, should I have put smiley faces on my ridiculous comments @ 209 to show I was being ironic?
Nonny, ditto. You get so many reactionary little children on message boards everywhere who spit their dummies and criticise for no good reason – other than 1. they have a mental age of twelve or 2. they’ve been reading each other’s apocalyptic messages and have no original opinions.
Thinking more about it Arteta could well hold the key to our season. It will be interesting to see how we do against a top side who put us under pressure. I do love him as a player. A great “panic” buy.
BTM. That is a shame if they are not showing any. Took both my two yesterday and they loved it. Wheelchair basketball on Tuesday and Athletics on Wednesday. They can’t wait. Great to see everything sold out. I think it shows the UK in a really positive way.
Not really fussed about the sponsorship deals. My understanding is that the majority of ours are up for renewal in s year or two.
CG @ 227
On that score, Wenger said something very interesting yesterday regarding the reaction to our failure to make deadline day signings, along the lines of “We have moved from a thinking society to an emotional society and we all have to deal with the repercussions of that”.
I’ve been rolling this round my head for the last 24 hours and I have to say that the gaffer has applied nail to head.
Not the kind of comment you get from Alan fcking Pardew, he’s a one off is our Prof.
Spot on N7 @ 229
The more I watch the first goal, the more I am impressed by Podolski’s pass, then run 2/3rds of the pitch to get into the penalty box.
Another thing I meant to say yesterday, was, based on his performance against us, why were we concerned about not landing Sahin?
It’s a beautiful day in Caledonia, and a colleague who calls himself a Liverpool fan has just walked in the door. Showtime.
PS – a warm welcome return to Clive. 🙂
zico, I noticed Sahin twice – when the starting elevens were on the screen and when he was subbed. On the other hand, had he been proper shite then maybe we would have noticed him more? 🙂
Lars
I would not call Sahin Shite. I would say he was playing in a shite team.
Plus he looks far from fully fit.
Nonny @213, 😀
Regarding Diaby,
I felt that his fluidity compared to Cazorla and Arteta was only at question a couple of times (for me). I always forget, as with Adebayor, those gangly framed players always tend to look as though they are making less effort than others when in fact they do not need to due to their reach advantage.
As always, can his biscuit legs cope with the season in the same way Robins did last year?
If so, he will no doubt be in the shopping list of many other clubs.
Cor @ 197
That was JTs kick for all the shit he get up to later in his career.
The knob!
Camberwell @ 209
I know what you mean, I can’t see them repeating that performance anytime soon.
How about that keeper? Doesnt know how to keep a clean sheet to save his life.
Off to the Brent Cross store tonight to get the little one ready for footie club this Sat.
Has anyone been there before?
It’s open til 8 so gives me time to pick him up after work and pop up there.
GT. If you are looking for kids football stuff head for Sports Direct. Not the greatest shopping experience you will have but a bargain for kids stuff. Failing that take a trip to Decathlon. They are excellent for kitting out kids.
Arsene may have made good bargains on flops hoping they come good, it takes patience, what we analyse from a game he does day in day out…since this man is almost never wrong, i hope chamakh comes good, christ! How can a player stay that fit, n stay that long low on form. First game he came in bang! Second bang! He had us forget we had RVPrick on the treatment table( which we should have)…we dont have a credible deputy centre forward. A case of patience maybe?
Steve
Thanks for the heads up. I’ll have a look.
Kenyanconnection @240. I couldn’t agree more. It was an astonishing deterioration in form that has persisted far too long. I wonder whether a brief (and reversible) lone spell to a Championship club would help him find his feet? Sadly we may be forced to rely on him as the season draws on and it would be nice if he could find his feet again (both literally and metaphorically).
Nonny – What Lars said @ #224 and Camberwell said @ #227
Trev – I’m feeling quietly confident about the season. Good points re: Arteta. His discipline is key.
TS – I have the same feeling. TBH, yesterday simply re-inforced it. I was liking the way we are suddenly a team, with a sound defence and absolutely no ‘cult of the personality’ for the first time in over a decade.
Very good idea bath. With the benefit of hinsight perhaps we should have let Chamakh go to Liverpool on a short term loan. God knows they don’t have anyone better 😉
To d, or not to d, that would appear to be the question.
Andy@245….am having a laugh! Never seen liverpool suck this bad in attack since the 2nd coming of Robby Fowler
Oh dear, following any Andy Goram is a tough act to follow, but I’ll try. Steve T, what a day for you and your little ones. And no time for a nap in there, I see. Give you a lot of credit, as I’ve said before, you are a terrific dad. Enjoyed the read thoroughly. Cheers.
Good day all. Stumbled upon a link, that took me, of all places to Chelsea, one of their fans sites. Back in early August, their was a rumour there, that Neymar might be brought on board. Well their fans had a lively debate on whether he should modify his style (less dribbling, tricks done why standing still, etc) or if he could flourish just as he is. Valid points on both sides ensued. The reason I bring this up, is our discussion on OG. Is there a prominent difference in the way the French play in general (as opposed to the style in the EPL)? Is it pace, the defending or just a philosophical difference. I follow Serie A, but am clueless about the French way. Someone help, please.
Can’t help ABB but just wanted the 250.
ABB
Apparently Montpellier play the same as Arsenal.
However Giroud isn’t a quickie. He looks like he had a freer role at Montpellier and to top it all off we have not had alot of time to train together that’s why we looked quite disjointed at times.
However he has been our best target man since Adebayor (exc: Vanman)
Im of the opinion thatGiroud will come good and everyone will forget about his start.
Giroud’s Mrs is eternally grateful that he isn’t a quickie.
Nurse Abb – spending time on a Chelsea message board? Get yourself to Drs C and T immediately. 😉
Camberwell, shame on you (winks). Goonertown, yeah, I’m see his quality (I’m a fan) just was curious. So he had a ‘roaming’ role? Yikes, Cesc said he was given to much freedom,when he played for us. Very confusing! But comforting to now know there isn’t a big difference, as far as style goes. Thank you lad!
Hey Zico! hey if you google French football, funny things happen.
Giroud did not have a roaming role.
If anybody, it was Belhanda who had a roaming role.
Giroud doesn’t need to change anything, as his movement is top notch.
He is a mixture of NB and RvP.
He’s got great positional awareness and movement to get into scoring positions (something which NB always had. Can’t deny that, even if I don’t rate him whatsoever), and a great touch, along with the ability to shoot it hard and one time, just like the Dutch bloke.
People tend to think the Dutch bloke was clinical, but while he scored the most, he also missed the most, so let’s not panic about Giroud yet.
He’ll more than come good. He’ll be in the top 5 goalscorers in the league with 20+ goals.
Thank you Sir, no roaming for Giroud. He won my heart when he attempted that bicycle kick. For a player of his height, that was pretty audacious of him. Rooney has the ideal physique for that type of maneuver, methinks. (Snir, spellcheck).
Also, another point on Giroud’s movement.
The reason it is so good, is because it’s unconventional.
Most strikers (Chicharito is a master at that), make runs into the box and then scatter around to the right, back, left and forward, depending where their marker is.
Giroud on the other hand, uses a movement that not many use, if any, and that is a bending movement.
He runs straight forward at the CB and then twists, comes backwards, only to pop up in the other side.
That movement was perfect for the chance against Sunderland, and it was very similar yesterday for his chance.
This will show his movement perfectly.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xswl0v_sungirmiss_lifestyle?start=1
This was ruled for offside, but speaking of bicycle kicks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh8vV99xDQs
Just watched the game again and two things became more apparent:
1. Sad Stuart Robson’s cynical swipes are even more noticeable and depressing than in real time. It’s been developing for a while, but it seems to have reached fever pitch now. He clearly hates Arsene Wenger.
2. Lukas Podolski was absolutely everywhere and turned in a more complete game than PvPrick ever did in his life in terms of defense – MF assists – counter attacks – scoring the winner. There was one second half corner when, on the RHS of the box he rose high and headed powerfully to Chamberlain. Master-class for an attacker.
To compare Podolski with Plastic Dutch is to compare a Mercedes with a Dutch DAF with rubber band transmission. One keeps running and works forever, the other keeps breaking down and quickly ends up on the scrap heap and is never heard of again. I’ll let you figure out which is which.
I’ll be happy to see Gnabry and Ice-Man break through the Siegfried line to join BFG and LFG. There is a steeliness that comes with Germans that other nations (Scots excepted 🙂 ) have difficulty in matching.
Snir, That was amazing for him to pull that off! Really impressed by that.
What about Belgian football?
Snir @255 good points; thanks for those.
BtM @259 Wha’s like us, eh?There’s a difference between German steeliness and Scots ‘hard’. I think it also encapsulates work-rate.
Oh Ollie! They mention Brazillian, English, Argentinian, German, Spanish (Spain) and Dutch as far as style is concerned. Did learn that the Brazilian youth teams play listening to music. How nice!
@ 257
yes indeed – well spotted, Snir.
Zico @ 252 –
You never know, Mrs. Giroud might fancy a “one-minute-man.” Ahem.
BMBD.
Evening All,
Just to pick up on a couple of threads running through the Bar today …
1.Mikel Arteta
I totally agree with Trev. I think he fits the position of DM (such as it is defined in our system) like a glove. The nominal title of DM does him an injustice of course. He is far more than that, but the deeper lying position allows him to dictate the tempo from a space that he would not be allowed further forward. His passing, tackling and positional awareness are all greater than the departed Song and he is already, from that deeper role, far more worthy of the label of “playmaker” than many were seemingly intent on applying to Song.
2. Andre Arshavin.
There were of course a welter of words dedicated to the Little Russian when we all thought that we were waving a final goodbye to him in January. That he is still here has come as a major surprise to me, and judging from his failure to make the bench in the last 2 fixtures, a major surprise to Arsene too.
I am astonished to read continued calls that he be given a chance in his favourite No.10 role. He has to earn that right and getting himself fit might be a start. Cazorla has everything that the Russian lacks – a team ethic, a willingness to help recover the ball when possession is lost, and above all else, sound judgement in deciding when to play the Hollywood pass and when to play it safe.
In my view Arshavin personifies much of what was wrong pre 2011-12 and his absence from the side for much of last season saw a huge improvement in the collective attitude that prevailed.
Arshavin is a special player and he may yet prove me wrong, but should Cazorla be unavailable I would pick any one of Diaby/Ramsey/Wilshere/Rosicky as the attacking apex of the midfield before I turned to Arshavin. Good for 10 minutes at the end of a game if we’re chasing a goal, but that would be the limit of any future role for him in my view.
And finally The Sweeper, great to have you back and always a pleasure to read your stuff mate.
Under-21s 1-0 up against Everton.
A minute man?
Saddle the horses. 😉
@ 266 tabs
great observations there
For all that he can be the most tedious of bores, there is no doubt that James Lawton has stayed resolutely behind Arsene during the years of drought, and shows no sign of deserting him.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/james-lawton-liverpool-manager-brendan-rodgers-would-love-to-have-what-arsene-wengers-got-now-8101405.html
tabs 266, great post. ‘On the money’.
Jaysus, Lawton writing a positive article about Arsenal. I know he has done, sometimes, but it’s still a bit of a novelty to me.
Thanks Fun, Ollie.
Nice link Holic. Cheers.
SG et al., an interesting bit of trivia — apparently Wright, Bergkamp, Henry all opened their respective Arsenal scoring accounts against Southampton. If that is true, Giroud to follow? … 🙂
In addition of his movement off the ball, and hold-up play, I really like the audacity to attempt the very difficult. Hope he doesn’t lose that even if sometimes the end result may make appear silly … the unpredictability can help the team cause and can add another dimension to Arsenal’s insouciant style.
tabs @ 266 — cannot agree more about Arshavin. I am optimistic that if he stays fit, committed and willing he can actually be a very effective late substitution especially when we are chasing games. With license to go all out attacking for fifteen odd minutes without defensive responsibilities — which, and the fitness to last the full distance have been the undoing of Arshavin’s career in Arsenal — would suit him and can definitely benefit us.
Holic, he seems to have the same ‘vibe’ that many of us share, that this could be the season…reading between the lines a bit, but that’s why I felt he thought. Nice tribute to AW. Hang in there, Brendan. “When going thru hell, keep going” Winston Churchill.
Tabs – bang on, as ever, old son.
Not only is Arshavin unfit and disinterested, he’s also clearly running down his contract so he can head off on a free and collect maximum wedge next summer. That, and his current wage level, are the only reasons he’s still with us.
I love him as a footballer (fantastic to watch when on the ball), but we’ve had too much of this sort of bollocks in recent years: players who can’t be arsed to put in a shift walking into the team. It’s time to send a message: work your arse off for that shirt or cock off and play somewhere else. No passengers.
All very frustrating as there’s a little genius in there somewhere, but you only have to look at Arteta to realise that having mad, crazy silks doesn’t justify laziness. What an example that man is.
Cheers N7, we are clearly singing from the same hymn sheet. Agree completely in regard to both Arshavin and Arteta.
Faustus, hope you’re right. Can’t help thinking that your “if” Arshavin stays fit and committed is an almighty big “if” though.
3-0 to the Under-21s. They must be so full of confidence.
I like Arshavin.
Don’t care about the rest of you curmudgeons.
I think he is serially mis-understood and I,of all people, can relate to that 😉
Camberwell –
No smileys required CG. i was merely returning yours and TT’ irony with a bit of my own.
Looks like yours then ran out, but it wasn’t intended to irritate. 😉
Good work on Arshavin, Tabs.
Such a shame when I remember the euphoria that resulted from his first performance at The Ems and, of course, the never to be repeated night at Anfield.
Everybody could see that here was a player who definitely had ‘it’.
Shame he couldn’t seem to remember what he did with it.
Dr Z 🙂
Trev, I think he ate it 😉
hulk to zenith for 40-60M euro and witsel for arounf 20M wtf
Poor Zico…always misunderstood. 😥
Perhaps, on the contrary, he has always been too well understood. 😛
I know it’s not FFF, but I couldn’t resist. Have a beer with me ol’ boy.
BMBD.
Line ’em up, Lonestar. 8)
I have to say I love Arteta ( easy Wolfie). I have liked him even when he played for everton. He does his job and does it well. I am so glad AW looked to him last summer instead of that pansy Parker that many were calling for. He works hard for the team and does what’s asked.
Looks like TR7 even showed him that super slide tackle. Only regret with him playing deeper is that he may not score as much but if he scores off a free kick like against Newcastle or by coming up from deep like Man City, I will still scream his name ( down Wolfie!)
Trev, he had ‘it’ in Euros 2012, especially that one match (forget against who). So it has to be a matter of application. Tabs, I want to see him play down the middle, don’t see why it would hurt us, if given a chance to start, I’m thinking Champ League just might suit him best. Yank him out, if he doesn’t deliver. Next transfer window, he might just fetch us a fair price (if he works his magic). And us AA fans would have a little treat, as well.
Evening nurse et al,
Sorry, flitting in and out of all my favourite places tonight.
UK bods can catch Joe Strummer on Radio 6 at midnight…
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01mgqd9
Lest I be called an elitist I probably shouldn’t admit to it but am now on a wine and cheese binge. The delicious two components being:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brillat-savarin_(cheese)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ribolla_Gialla
Toast to Cazorla, Podolski and Giroud. 8)
Toast to Mertesacker, Vermaelen and Gibbs. 8)
Toast to Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arteta and Diaby. 8)
Toast to Ramsey, Koscielny and Mannone. 8)
Toast to one Steve Bould and one Arsene Wenger. 8)
Shortchanged Corporal Jenkinson.
Toast. 8)
Evening all.
Tabs and Zico,good to be back,although it will be irregular for a while.
Are you still reading the Jo Nesbo books Tabs.??
Everybody i put on to him,cannot put the books down,he is that good.
BTM ,hi mate,thnks for the welcome words,although if beating Pool at Anfield gets you so excited you post more comments than the previous 3 months put together,then God knows how many you will post after we beat City away.!!
I entirely agree with you re Robson,i also watched a full replay of the game and he must really really resent AFC.
I think it has alo t to do with us offloading him when it was apparent he was not good enough.
His resentment runs very deep,and i find it very sad that he can be so vitriolic in his comments about our players.
Cheers
The Sweeper.
Well it looks like 8ball and Holic have their evenings planned. Hope ‘Locked up Abroad’ is on tonite, enjoy watching people escape from jail (don’t worry, they’re usually repentent by then).
Steve T
Right Sports Direct didn’t do name printing so collected the little one headed straight Brent Cross.
Got him the full kit with name, number which came with a free arm band and medal.
The guy printing the name told me Chamakh had been in earlier today to look around. They also had a signed Poldi shirt (from the current squad) and some signed legend shirts. He also told me that the bfg had also been in recently to get his kids some stuff too. However we did head to Sports Direct to collect the boots.
The highlight of the evening was when I said to the little one “right now you look like Santi Cazorla”. But his little lip went so I said “what’s wrong son” and he said “no I want to look like van Persie”
Ah bless!!
Onwards and upwards I say!!
Keep it Goonerish guys!!
Hello Clive,
Thoroughly enjoyed the first Nesbo book you recommended, but haven’t yet picked up the second one, more fool me! Anxious to read them in the correct order, and must get on the case.
Agree with you completely on Robson, His vitriol, presumably arising out of bitterness, is quite something.
Nurse Abb,
Fair enough, I realise Andre still has his supporters, but for me he’s had his chances. We’ll have to agree to disagree on this one I’m afraid.
https://twitter.com/mr_rossi_gooner/status/242730491927728128/photo/1/large
Sweeper. It’s great to have you back and I haven’t started my first Jo Nesbo yet but it’s on my list of books to read and I’m looking forward to it having read all three of the Swedish detective series.
Odds on the three people above Santi’s head being Liverpool fans in the wrong place?
…or completely wasting three seats that could have been put to better use?
Hard to beat the feeling of going batshit mental at a big away game 😀
You can say that again Holic! 🙂
The photo really captures the feeling. 🙂
Yeah and that one fan kinda does look like RVP.
Abb. Yeah, but did you spot Eboue? Well in at 300. 🙂
Oh 8ball, it was your spirit that pushed me on! Saw a TR look a like too. Good fun for all, thanks Holic.
Hey 8ball, saw Eboue, gosh.
Tabs, never be afraid. Say ‘Cheese’.
And Pat Rice is inbetween Gibbs and Cazorla. Good to see he’s still actively rooting us on.
Hope gooners stop singing that unpleasant RvP chant. Just makes us look bitter. I think we are better than that.
Tabs
re Jo Nesbo
Nemesis
The Devil’s Star
The Redeemer
The Snowman.
The Leopard
Phantom
In descending order.
A mate of mine who is a retired Police Commander,mad Man U fan since the 50’s,so a Proper supporter,reckons they are the best Crime novels he has ever read.
So enjoy.
BT8B @295
The first book by Jo Nesbo featuring the detective Harry Hole,is called The Redbreast,Tabs will vouch for it.
The rest of the series to date are in my previous email to Tabs.
You won’t regret it.
I saw that Podolski dude with his clinical finishing doing it for Germany in the World Cup but never for a moment did I think he could make it in this league. 😉
Sorry it’s me again
If I’d bumped in to Chamakh, I would have asked him when we’re likely to see him team up again with jack.
🙂
Hola amigos! Que pasa?
In honour of the scorer of the opening goal I penned a little ditty…
My name is Lukas,
I passed through the Arsenal doors,
I will score just for you,
And I smell like Christian Dior,
If you hear German late at night,
Some kind of cheer, some kind of fight
Just don’t ask Per what it was
Just don’t ask Per what it was
Just don’t ask Per what it was
I think it’s ’cause I’m Poldi,
I try not to talk too loud.
Maybe it’s ’cause I’m classy,
I try not to act too proud.
I’ll always dart in from out wide
Then I’ll score for the Arsenal side
You won’t be lacking for a goal
You won’t be lacking for a goal
You won’t be lacking for a goal
Think it’s got legs?
The thing for me towards Van Persie is tough brotherly love.
Cannons, maybe not as many legs as a spider. Before I pass judgement, should I have any particular musical accompaniment in mind? I tried I Am The Walrus but it didn’t work.
BtM. Maybe it’s Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds?
Lukas in the Sky with Diamonds
Lukas in the Sky with Diamonds
Lukas in the Sky with Diamonds
Ah Ah
I thinks the tune is Suzanne Vega. My name is luka.
Tell him what he’s won Johnny!
NorCal. Blimey. It certainly seems to fit …
New respect for CoR …
@316: NorCal, you are correct my friend 🙂
You win a signed RVP shirt with CoR’s sweatstains on it.
It will be mailed to your location as soon as possible 8)
Um………thanks?
Save the postage. I already have rags to clean the toilet. And the dog has stopped pissing in the house.
NorCal…
That.
Was.
Priceless.
True Gooner.
BMBD.
Hehe, I finished cleaning already as well which is why I’ve been trying to palm it off on someone 😉
@313: BtM, since you mentioned it, I think I will come up with to the tune of “I am the Walrus” 😀
Who should it be about though?
Hello holics
Any windoze phone users on here?
Unfortunately not Harsha. Is yours on the fritz or something?
CoR, good effort.
But if the Mertesackerana didn’t catch (get a funny feeling we’ll be singing it in Germany again though), this probably won’t.
Don’t know if this one has legs but I reckon it has wings 😉
What do you think holics? To the tune of “I am the Walrus”
We are the Arsenal
I am gooner, you are gooner, we are gooner
And we are all together
See how we concede less goals than before, see how we fight
I’m flying
Sitting on a cannon, waiting for the team to come
Corporation jersey, stupid blue rings
Nike you been a naughty boy. You make our shirt look shite
But we are the Arsenal, we are the Arsenal
We are the Arsenal, goo-goo-goo-joob
Forgive the lack of articles eh 😆
I have to ‘heh’ that last one, CoR.
Cannons @328 – Brilliant effort 🙂
Abb @304 Heh.
Clive, cheers for the list. Off to get Nemesis!
Heh, thanks fellas!
Btw, a friend of mine sent this link to me a couple of hours ago. Check it out if you have some time.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/james-lawton-liverpool-manager-brendan-rodgers-would-love-to-have-what-arsene-wengers-got-now-8101405.html
Just had to share this – RvWho is now “the greedy badger” (courtesy of the blogger Ashburton Grove)
I love it. It cuts him down to size. Moving on now. Finally.
CoR, was that friend a certain Mr Goonerholic at 270? 😉
Oh my, I must be getting senile!
Sorry about that redundant post but when you think about it, it deserves a re-read 😆
This was the article I got from my friend (not Mr. Holic) ;D
http://www.sport360.com/article/arsenal-offer-oxlade-chamberlain-new-deal-avoid-van-persie-repeat?
Cor@335 The article says nothing that I could see. I t looks like an excuse to bash Arsenal. Good to see the good old “If only we’d re-signed Matthieu Flamini, all would have been well” canard get another airing. I anticipate a rush of “Arsenal’s policy of not offering long-term contracts to the over-30s is a disaster. Without it we would have kept Pires for a bit longer and all would have been well” articles.
We know that Wenger isn’t an idiot. We can deduce that he’s going to try to avoid having important players leave on a free/a Bosman and getting them to sign new contracts early is an obvious thing to try. We did the same with the previous Spanish bloke, so we also know it doesn’t always work.
Chill, people – me especially 🙂
COYG ICDDR
Not even bothering reading the link at 335, thanks Oxon :).
TO be fair, I read the title of the link and thought ‘yeah right’….
I mean, completely different circumstances, etc. etc.
@ Ollie
Agree
**
Just wanted to mention Neil Banfield – he has been working with the midfielders on their defensive duties. So props to him, too. Tends to get forgotten.
Sweeper, TaBS
I’m in the market for a good book, but can’t work out from Amazon which is the first of the “Harry Hole” series.
Fantastic name!
Could you enlighten me..??
@ 336 Oxon Gooner
My 338 should have been addressed to you, not Ollie – sorry. Failure to refresh.
Hey Canons, if you had back drunk, think ‘holic posted the same link
AHHHH
Kindly ignore the above (not all of them, just me!)
I see you already answered that! Although, in Amazon it labels Redbreast as “Book 3”
Those crazy Norwegians, eh?
Shucks, I too failed to refresh
can you explain why my antivirus just detected trojan on that link?..dont click guys I guess O.o
(Edit Link gone. Didn’t have the courtesy to ask first either)
Mr C, The first Nesbo book is called “The Redbreast”.
Cor, Your second one, ‘We are the Arsenal’ to that tune…yes, I think it would work, ‘goo-goo-goo-joob’ (singing out loud here). Of course our Poldi smelling like Christian Dior is rather a nice thought too (pre game I imagine). Good afternoon all, very exciting day ahead.
Cannons @328 I must say this is a winner. 😀
The Nesbo discrepancy seems to have an explanation in Wikipedia which says The Redbreast is the third in the series, but the first that is available in English. It could be that Clive and other aficionados are in still in for a treat once the first two are translated?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Redbreast
Upon further research into my query of whether there are differences between the English and French style of futbol, I came across an article, that opened my eyes. Entitled ‘Playing the Identity Card, Stereotypes in European Football’. Briefly, it says that European writers (that would include the likes of Holic, when he writes about Champions League), ‘use vocabulary and imagery to be entertaining and provocative’…it goes on further to explain, ‘evoking references to warfare, politics, history, economics, and popular culture’. In other words, reinforcing myths of national character. Examples, ‘The English played a brave game’ The French players have such flair’ and ‘Those Germans are so efficient with the ball’. Upon introspection, I realize, I do this myself. But it’s all good.
Isn’t Jenkinson Norwegian? Maybe he is in the plot …
One for ‘holic :
Thankfully, some sense has been seen at Swindon and there has been an apology after Paolo Di Canio publicly called goalkeeper Wes Foderingham ‘one of the worst players he had ever seen’. It’s nice to see the Italian growing up and admitting his mistakes.
Here’s Di Canio on the pair’s reconciliation: “Wes has apologised. The situation is now clear and we will move on and work together.”
Oh.
Half Finnish, bt8 (or 1/4 or whatever, but he qualifies to play for them)
Abb @349. Whatever styles they play, the one that seems to lend itself the most to winning is the style of the Germans. Collective mental approach may have something to do with it, I think.
Abb’s article is presumably this one.
One for this evening, I think, rather than try to struggle through, with my head over my shoulder, at work.
COYG ICDDR
Ah, sorry, my link above is to an abstract from the article, to which access requires payment.
COYG ICDDR
Thanks, Ollie. I was quite certain that Jenkinson was partly derived from non Swedish Scandinavian stock. I suppose that reduces the likelihood he is a character in a Jo Nesbo novel, sadly. 😉
Jo Nesbo being the Norwegian, that is …
@338 – not by me Fun, did a whole drink on it.
Tabs, have it all ready to read – any idea where I can get the time ?
Absolutely Oxon @336.
AW’s knowledge of players and their contracts is encyclopaedic – and that is not just hearsay.
8ball, yes emphasis on team approach. Very good observation. Interestingly enough, it points out that German journalists shy away from using words like ‘domineering’ (because of their political history) when writing up their country’s teams at the international level.
Oxon, Abstracts tell us everything we need to know anyway, don’t they? 😉
Abb. Quite right. Team approach is critical, although that is not to overlook mental approach, as in Holic’s 297. 😉
Oxon, that is indeed the piece I referenced. It is available in PDF for free. A good read from start to finish.
Does anyone have a link to what PHW said??
Can’t find it in my (admittedly brief) search…
Thanks in anticipation…
“The London Evening Standard”, Catalon.
Ooh, sorry about mispelling Catalan.
Thanks ABB…..
Use the NewsNow link in the sidebar, Catalan.
De nada Catalan. My goodness, this Andy Goram chap is very useful to have around, methinks (smiling,of course).
Trev@358 Hmm tricky. Not sure I can help Trev. Maybe give up the drink? 😉
As regards PHW’s latest offering, I’m bemused by the latest round of criticism. Even though I’m fond of the old bugger, I nevertheless often flinch at his public outpourings, but this latest interview (by a well known LWC ensuring that the questioning was probably provocative), was innocuous at worst, and dare I say it, even sensible.
It seems that there is a mindset now whereby PHW will be criticised whatever he says.
Just read the Standard piece on PHW
How strange that a spud like Bose would choose to highlight things such as the trophy drought, where PHW went to school and holidays, and IG’s salary!
And then how strange that some fans are buying in to it
Yawn….
I like to keep an eye on things while ‘holic is busy at work, nurse.
And a commendable job you do Andy.
Good afternoon abb 368……(and other drinkers in the bar of course) …it’s a handy Andy 🙂
abb359: and the French never mention ‘surrendering’ a lead? 😉
Not heard/read the PHW thing, but ‘Mihir Bose’ says enough to me….
And heh at Andy Goram….
Bt8 and Cannons – magical mystery tour on LSD and Walrus. Nice!
Can we try “I’m Fixing A Hole” for Steve Bould? Hey Bulldog for Frimpong?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19461177
Hmm, that is rather discriminatory, isn’t it?
Do they refuse you access to the site if you are, say, a bald redhead?
Ollie, how can you be a bald redhead ? 😉
Haven’t read the article yet btw.
Don’t forget the Italians will never own up to surrendering the lead, or indeed changing sides at half time.
Good Afternoon chaps – oh and probably some ladies, these days.
Glad you liked my article with that snivelling little Spud chappie from the Standard.
In his attempts to portray the club in a bad light, I think he included just about everything he could think of to make us look like a bunch of elitist twats, before he rushed off to lunch at ENIC Headquarters with Levy and Joe Lewis. That’s the billionaire who just handed them £100 million to spend on some of Fulham’s old players.
He seemed to be suggesting that we should have shared Wembley instead of moving to The Emirates. Of corse he didn’t report it, but I told him there was more chance of me sharing Lady Nina with, oh well, never mind that …..
Actually, as the summer evenings are drawing in now, Lady Nina has decided it’s time to tidy up the garden.
She’s had a job to even find her clematis amongst her terribly overgrown bush, but her pinks are doing rather nicely.
But I digress. The only other thing I could really be bothered to engage with Bose about was the vexed question of Usmanov.
What he reported, was that I said I didn’t think he would fit.
What I actually said was that I know the fat bastard doesn’t fit through the boardroom doors.
Typical Spud. Doesn’t listen. Hates the truth. Never learns.
Til next time.
Heh @ PHW!!
Ollie @374; to be fair, the French never really held the lead. They were relying on parking the bus in a nice straight line, but were confused when the opposition just went around it…
Cigar for PHW, great man!
PHW 🙂 🙂
As they say (re to above drinks) “That’s Entertainment!” PHW, very funny…truly. Ollie @ various places, how observant and true as was one of the Andy’s. Good Afternoon Only. While I was away from the bar, was trying to get my profile Pinterest, but I don’t think I succeeded, unless they have a long delay. You all should check it out cause Arsenal has it now and it’s free! UPLY, spellcheck lad, so very sorry.
Probably old
http://i.imgur.com/BqmTr.jpg
Nonny, heh!
Hey Nonny!
Well not exactly a mirror image, but you get the drift.
tabs @345 the first Hole is ‘The Bat’, available from 11 October in English for the first time.
Anyone got a link to the PHW article?
Heh @ PHW @ 379
This PHW article Bath?
It’s not worth reading. Honest.
COYG ICDDR
Ah, Cheers Bath. I stand corrected.
You still standing, tabs? Nearly 7pm mate.
Thanks Oxon, appreciated. Not bad IMHO – hilarious old fart.
Nobody up for the quadro-ton?
Still standing Bath, and quite able to give the oppo the old Cazorla eyes before slipping the ball inside the full back to the onrushing … 😉
Time to randomly ping the ball forward.
There was a tosser called Mike,
Who no-one pretended to like,
He went to Stoke City,
And found it so shitty,
He immediately got back on his bike.
in local paper, joey barton is ready to forgive and forget , now he is at OM – but who is he anyway
pushes bartonballs forward
heh, lovely tabs.
Thankfully, cognac, he didn’t go to Bordeaux.
Marseille is just perfect for him.
*customary cross*
back from a couple days away with limited access, just in time to help towards the quadton. pings it over towards ollie and tabs, hoping to miss their beers on the way.
annnnnd curls it into the net. 395 to 400 in a single drink.
riggswelter black sheep, all around.
Cheers Ollie 🙂
Well in Scruz, missed the Beers but found the back of the net in some style!
must’ve bounced off the fumes, tabs.
clearly, meedja tosspot is at work today:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/?cc=5901
:eyeroll:
scruz, you missed the beers, but you didn’t miss the target!
Well played.
cheers, ollie. sure wish beers could go with my lunchtime today, like they did yesterday. but my boss frowns upon that, so i have to enjoy you and tabs drinking them down…:)
@ 396 There was a diving tosser called Mike….. fixed that for you.
Heh @ Mr Hill Wood, Sir….
Are we now officially in Interlull?
Weird things happen in the interlull…..
zico, let’s just hope for further growth and development, rather than setbacks, in all arsenal players. i dread saying the i-word…and i don’t mean interlull.
can’t wait to see who gets bartoned over in league un.
Michael Owen to Stoke? Good luck trying to reach those crosses and long balls.
PHW@379: heh!
Well in, scruz!
Nice to see that AVB has fallen out with Lloris within two days of signing him, that is an achievement I only thought ‘Appy ‘Arry was capable of. I don’t know what their next few games are but let’s hope for a couple of more losses and draws and a complete meltdown 🙂
I also just had a look at the squad lists over on http://www.premierleague.com/content/dam/premierleague/site-content/News/publications/squad-lists/Squad-Lists-September-2012.pdf and found out something I had never heard before:
Johan Djourou isn’t just Johan Djourou, his name is actually Johan Djourou-Gbadjere. Imagine the things you can learn on a Tuesday evening!
It’s obviously a Levy-signing, not an AvB signing, Lars 😛
I never knew that either about Djourou. They should have that on the shirts….
So Johan Djourou Gbadjere
Was from Ivory Coast we did hear,
But how could we miss
He was in fact Swiss,
No! Half of him comes from Kashmir.
Ronaldo is sad in Madrid,
His emotions just will not be hid,
He’s had a good cry
But can’t tell us why,
Grow up, you daft bloody kid !
Trev up for new Poet Laureate?
Has Snir gone on holidays after the end of the window?
Transfer madness here in France for the last day 😛
When I thought it couldn’t get worse,
I sensed the old poets curse,
I’ve tried hard to fight it
But try as I might it
Is now going from bad to verse.
heh
nothing in the cry
of cesc’s dna suggests he is
about to be subbed.
at practice they sing
sweet Songs of nonattachment
he wanted to stay.
autumn sun shining
grass green with joy, intricate
santi cazorla.
bright red shirt, sleeves white
thousands of voices call out
arsenal f.c.
Good one scruz.
I haven’t a clue how to do the non-rhyming stuff.
Stick to the stupid stuff, that’s me. 😉
Ollie, you mean he is their answer to our Park, and bought only to sell shirts in France? 🙂
Heh@415!
lol, i have just the opposite problem. can’t rhyme to save my life. all of these are haiku in the 5-7-5 syllable pattern, and i’ve written and read enough of them to be able to make them up pretty easily.
however, full disclosure: the first is a direct ripoff of basho’s famous cicada poem:
nothing in the voice
of the cicada intimates
how soon it will die.
fun stuff!
also trev, 411, 412, 415…priceless 🙂
Interlull.
Pure poetry.
Only not very pure. 😉
Wasn’t there meant to be a new post tonight?
Barman?
We have a winner >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Heh Dr Z, knew it was missing something 🙂
Scruz, Trev – Great stuff 🙂