Swans Get A Cob On As Pens Disappear
Jan 16th, 2013 by 'holic
Well I can certainly get ‘a game of two halves’ in. I don’t mind accepting at some stages of that game the clichΓ©s I was most expecting to have to use were along the lines of ‘if you miss that many chances you begin to wonder if it is going to be your day’. At half-time I tweeted some cheap analogy…
Like watching two bantamweights at the moment. Neither has a knock-out punch, but will bang away furiously the nearer the end gets.
The little Arsenal players lived up to that prophecy, and to such an extent that Swansea ended up on the receiving end of the biggest 1-0 hiding I can recall. I don’t know what was said at half-time, but it most certainly did the trick. Arsenal hadn’t been that bad in the opening spell, but were a bit deliberate in the build-up, and decidedly choosy about when to press and when to retreat. It was an opening half we have seen before this season, most recently at Swansea in the first game. Thankfully when the visitors threatened then invariably the skipper was there to thwart them. Thomas Vermaelen has rediscovered his form.
What followed in the second-half was confirmation that Jack Wilshere has come of age. A change in personnel from the off saw Santi Cazorla moved roughly into the Podolski berth on the left, thus allowing Jack to work behind the central striker. Theo Walcott found himself mainly on the right with Olivier Giroud rightly started up top. This was a fairly fluid formation in the first-half, but proved a tactical masterstroke in the second. When Arsenal upped the tempo you could sense the Swansea markers were being pulled about, uncertain of who they ought to be picking up and where.
In the midst of it all little Jack constantly offered himself as an outlet, and when others took a short breather he took it on his own shoulders to take on players and get the ball into dangerous areas. My view was that Cazorla too enjoyed the change of responsibilities. Notionally removed from the onus of being creator in chief, he buzzed around Jack, harried defenders, and looked like the player we have missed in recent weeks. Between them they created a plethora of chances. Was it going to be ‘one of those days’?
The gift of hindsight suggests the deciding moment was inevitable. As the visitors settled for the prospect of extra-time and penalties we launched one more assault. A sumptuous touch from Giroud set up Jack for a left-foot drive beyond the outstanding Vorm. Who was the player pointing to his skull after that, imploring those around him to concentrate. You’ve guessed it. Let’s not burden the lad with nonsensical talk of the captaincy too early. It didn’t help us to keep Fabregas. However it does seem inevitable that he will get the armband in the years to come when he is good and ready.
So a potentially frustrating evening has come to a satisfactory conclusion. There are some real positives to be taken from this game. Most important of all is the clear message that Jack is ready to take on that role more often in what remains of the season. He will need to rest for the odd game for sure, and having Santi, and yes, Abou Diaby, as options is important. Behind them we could still do with a proven defensive midfielder. That is not a criticism of Francis Coquelin, solid tonight, but not yet a regular starter in a side that will contest the major prizes. He should develop, but isn’t there yet.
There are a couple of other areas that require ‘supplementing’, but shall we leave that for the aftermath of the Chelsea game? I have splashed out on a particularly tasty Islay malt, and it is demanding my attention. I’m really looking forward to a day out in Brighton, brief or not (hint hint!).
364 Responses to “Swans Get A Cob On As Pens Disappear”
I’m supposed to be sleeping!
As someone who owned a shop called Pen & Cob I feel there should e litigation here……. But who cares – we won despite Walcott being Walcott & Arsene’s coat not to mention ESPN commentary
definitely real positives to be taken, ‘holic. diaby showed what we missed, the formation showed a beautiful way forward, and jack showed both the spirit and the class we need from here on.
Fuck the 3rd I ‘m too happy that we have won!
He may be LJW but he has the heart of a lion. Well played you red & whites….2cnd half best performance for weeks – keep it up !
Wilshere was outstanding. I thought Coquelin was excellent – not showy, but there when and where needed.
Walcott? Sell him, preferably to someone we don’t like, for a lot of money. Let them have the missed shots and lack of positional discipline.
Giroud — didn’t he have the assist for the goal? If Vorm hadn’t been quite so good, Giroud could/should have won the game long before Wilshere’s goal.
Holic big wisniowka is waiting!
Just in from the Grove. Bloody freezing.
Now to read the write up.
Top 10? We can do better than that.
Well done bt half a reserve swansea side and now ir quality. Another trophyless dseason bewaits u again. Nevermind, chin up if the swans play bradford at wembley ur welcome 2 come along in the bradford end and support britains best footballing side win the cup as we play our STRONGEST TEAM!
Nice report Guv, i very much agree with you that talks of Jack and the captaincy are too early,let’s allow the boy develop into a grown man yet(not that he’s not matured yet, but you get my drift right?) the following is my own comments on our players tonight: What a performance that was, our boys never stopped running. Schez did well when called upon, Sagna looked like he’s on his way back, BFG was PERfect, Vermaelen was monstrous, Gibbs was awesome, Diaby dominated the midfield, Le Coq was good, he looks more mobile than Arteta but needs to learn how to orchestrate like the Spaniard, Jack ran them ragged and deserved his goal as well as been MoTM, Santi played better than he has played for quite a while now, Theo was frustrating but never stopped trying, Giroud gave us more balance and was a useful outlet, he did everything required of a striker apart from score(that’s not a dig at home). More performances like this and we can suprise many people by may.
As someone said in the previous drinks, somebody pls get Wind a season ticket. I look forward to your account of the game, Wind.
Last season I was on bad wagon for Theo!
I was wrong he will win games for us but have some patience!
Stvee T and Mr Storey!
Have words please π
well,closest ever……..now to read the post….
I fancy some cherry, Arthur. Good man.
Cornelly, I’m not a mean spirited bugger like you. I would love Swansea to win the League Cup this season. You are a proper club playing proper football. True Premiership class.
Shame some of you can’t display the class your team does…
‘Holic
What about “Shere-Wil Sees Gunners Through” as an alternative title?
I’m hoping to join that Brighton beach-party.
UTA!
I’ve just returned from the match and you have provided an admirable description. I think Diaby ‘ sat’ more in the second half and the freer role for Jack combined with Santi’s wider station was key. I also think Gibbs going forward is outstanding even if the end product isn’t always there but Sagna is still labouring although he is better than he was a few weeks ago. I guess it helps not to have anyone to mark.
My biggest concern is that Giroud is a decent squad option but isn’t top quality and Theo is well…….Theo.
It is also fair to say that Swansea were knackered but we did work them very hard in the second half. One other point was that the oft criticised Clattenberg gave the most sensible refereeing display I have seen this season although the spirit in the game was excellent and there were no flash points. So more cause for optimism and an earlier night than looked likely with a few minutes left.
We have won today!
We saw it similarly, Holic – but you’re lacking fire and passion these days π
When the Welsh go down, they go down deep. Deeper than a dead canary on the floor of a cage at the bottom of an anthracite mine; deeper than a Celtic water mollusc under a stone on the bed of a deep river in the depths of valley with a welcome (break) in it; deeper than David Lloyd George in the doodoo of the 1919 Miners Strike.
And so went Swansea. Down deep, deeper than whale shit they went tonight at Emirates stadium in a replay, cunningly contrived by Arsenal to give Abou Diaby another practice game, and simultaneously sell 58,304 seats to swell the coffers of the transfer war chest, that will see two outfield players and a keeper join this excellent squad before the windae slams doon at the end of the month.
Swanseaβs defense sprung more leeks than a Caernarvon garden festival. Their attack looked limper than a limp Llandudno lugworm on a lukewarm, low light , La Luna lit, lettuce-patch. They lack the Arsenalβs resources and it really showed tonight. Sure, they got lucky and managed to beat us twice in the last 125 years β but thatβs unlikely to happen ever again, is it? Letβs be honest, Geoff βΊ.
The first fifteen minutes were ALL Arsenal. Walcott, then Giroud, then Coquelin all had excellent chances to score before Feo won dix pointes for a triple-saltcoats on the 20 minute mark for a nose-dive in the box when it would have been easier to make it 1-0 to the Arsenal.
Swansea had one chance in this game and it fell to a Gooner. Kyle Bartley hit the bar with a header from six-yards. Woj would have saved it had it been lower. The Wilshere β a beauuuuuuutiful slalom through the Swansea box and a lay off to Walcott. Theo muffed that one too unfortunately. All of the danger was coming from Arsenal β while Swansea tried to play Arsenalβs passing game and failed.
The second half was a one-way street of Arsenal dominance; longer than a Llanwern strip mill, faster than Lynn Jones in the long jump and louder than Stereophonics on “Word Gets Around” (that Arsene Wenger knows best π ). Theo Walcott is to striking what Neil Kinnock is to hair, although, at 100k per week, Theo getβs paid more than the Welsh Windbag ever did and makes even more cock-ups. Theo was right through on the keeper as early as 48 minutes from a Diaby peach pass but contrived to chip past the post. I would have scored (honest, I would have π ).
And then Arsenal squandered so many chances to make this a cricket score that it would have required a super-computer to catalogue the culprits. Santi blasted over, Giroud just past the right post, Theo again, Giroud again from a corner, Wilshere from 17 yards, Walcoot from 3 yards, TV5 header, Santi, Giroud from 20 yards, Feo failing to bend one. Yes. We were THUMPING them. They were getting a good thump. We were the thumpers, they the thumpees.
Swansea brought on a few including Michu-Pichu fresh from Peru, but he is already a spent force. A flash in the pan, a Rocky Santa-Cruz (who?) in the making, a latter day Chamakh likely to be West Ham bound quite shortly for a painful spell under Fat Sam.
Then, just when you thought that despite all of the superlative play of Wilshere, Diaby and eight others (Woj was rested) this might just limp on to a draw, Arsene brought on the best young Welsh player of this century for the excellent, but tiring, Abou Diaby. And quicker than you can say Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwll-llantysiliogogogoch, it was Ramsey to Giroud who laid off a magnificent ball for MOM Jack Wilshere to pump home for our favourite scoreline: one-nil to the Arsenal.
Weβll breeze through Brighton in February (What? January? OK β January) on our way to Top Three, One Trophy and 20 Ollie G bountiful beauties. Start Ollie for the nest ten games, Arsene. Pulleeeeze.
A glass FULL of sunshine orange with a wee snifter in it will do me nicely, barman, and hae yin yerselβ.
Wasnβt it a pleasure to see Kyle Bartley play so well? Maybe when Swans are relegated next season we can buy him back. What do you think, Geoff? π
Sorry, but i think the “decent squad option” is about a valid label as using “world class”.
Eye of the beholder and all.
BtM
That’s deep maestro π
Single malt and chips?
PS: TWO outfield AND a keeper? Have you been on the single malt already, BtM?
Clattenburg was outstanding, I have to say. I think he is our best referee. Notwithstanding his private life, I have to say i think he was stitched up big time by the bus stop conspirators.
Mind you, saying he is the best English referee is much like according someone with the title of Holland’s best mountaineer.
Whoever scouted walnut should be [s**t] best signing,not!!! WE WON!!!
Sorry goonerholic just think ur all goin over the top with this win. We were poor tonight but that could well be down to laudrup having one eye on next wed. We only put out half a team whereas that was ur strongest line-up. And as 4 wilshere he got a million miles to go b4 he can be regarded anywhere near the class of someone like the last english world class cm who came from a north lindon side sorry but its GAZZA. Thanks 4 the kind comments tho TDTY fella.
Played ‘h – to the seaside and possibly beyond
(small wee point of possible interest – just googled to see if God’s own nephew was still playing down there – they still own him but he’s been loaned out apparently – shame, any Bergkamp in an Arse match would still appeal – i reckon.)
Up The Arse!
“Lacking fire and passion” (hardly) but providing excellent, thoughtful insights wrapped up in a carefully crafted parcel of balance, good humor and good grace. Enjoy that whisky. π
Great post, as usual, BTM, count me in as one who’s walking in the sunny side.
cornelly j
So, with your full-strength, undistracted by other games team you scraped (a bit unkind, I know) a draw in the last couple of mins against one of our weaker line-ups.
Now that we thumped you 1-0 with what might prove to be our first team (but we’re still not sure), we’re going OTT.
Sounds like sour grapes to me.
Do us all a favour, pull up a chair, have a drink on the house and save your angst for Chel$ea next week because we’ll all be rooting for you in that game.
Back at the hotel now, time to go pack my bags and get a few hours of kip in before going to London City Airport and proper back-drinking will have to wait until tomorrow, but first…
Holic, that report was pretty much spot on as I saw it too. I can also add that in my eyes Jack Wilshere wasn’t the best player on the pitch by a country mile, you would need at least three or four or possibly even five country miles to express how far ahead of all other 21+subs participants he was. He led the team, he inspired the team, he pointed and directed players into spaces and so on – it was simply an outstanding performance. It was absolutely fucking magnificent to watch first-hand and as corny and cheesy it may sound I feel priviliged to have watched a player like Jack perform for us. I just pray to Dennis that we will be able to hold on to him long enough for us to build a good enough squad around him to win stuff too.
Other than that, I would again like to repeat the thanks that I’ve given to many of you in person for the brilliant few days I’ve had over here. Massive thanks to everyone (I don’t want to name names for fear of accidentally leaving anyone out – you all know who you are!), you have given this Swede many happy memories π
London, I love you and I’ll be back!
And as usual, drinks in this bar are on me of course. The Wallet never sleeps, you know!
Evening all. An early night kick off starts with a trip to the Tollie. Early drinks with Lars allowed us to put the world of Arsenal to rights. A brief encounter with Snowy before I depart for entrance B.
The bare concrete walls on the concourse seemed to lower the temperature even further. 4 layers of clothing will do the trick, not that I need to look even more like a Michelen Man.
The first half I thought was a frustrating affair. I though we looked laboured at times. Lethargic and with no real purpose. It seemed the headache from the weekend had not quite gone.
Second half it appeared that the Nurofen had kicked in in the shape of an AW team talk. We seemed to be playing with more pace, urgency and dare I say it? Passion. It actually seemed to all mean something again. Our movement improved immeasurably and we pressed every time we lost the ball. Quite simply we grabbed hold of the game by the scruff of the neck and dominated.
The only slight criticism I would have is that we need to be more clinical at times. So many chances and we all started to think that it was just going to be one of those nights. Then up steps the gameβs star performer with a drilled left foot effort that nestled in the bottom corner. I agree with holic in that we do not want to heap too much on Jack at this stage but his potential is frightening. He could rapidly become our Steven Gerrard. Quite simply, he is the one we build a team around.
Lots of positives today. Diaby still looked off the pace at times but a lot sharper than he did on Sunday. That can only bode well. Ollie G worked his socks off. He will have more luck in front of goal but his work rate was tremendous and his touch to set up the winner was sublime. I also want to mention Kieran Gibbs. He has had his moments recently, especially defensively. Tonight I thought he was outstanding. Solid and disciplined at the back and a constant threat pushing forward. Letβs hope that continues. What I would give to see him give Cashley a lesson on Sunday.
One final word for the crowd. Ignore the figures, The Grove I would say was less than three quarters full. The numbers that did not bother showing up despite having a ticket was quite alarming and should be a bit of a wake up call for the club. Those who were there froze. But those where I sit sang their heart out from start to finish. No moans, no groans just encouragement. Take a bow people.
So, itβs that time. Dust off the parka, polish the chrome on the Lambretta and off to Brighton it is. Get down there early, sort out the dirty, greasy rockers and head off to the game to watch the small faces from the Arsenal look for Kinks in the Brighton defence. Who are yer, who are yer, who are yer????? Itβs all too beautiful.
Onwards and upwards.
Well played arsenal deserved the win good luck in the next round . You will be up against a few ex swans players no excuses from me second half was very one sided had a feeling that Laudrup had one eye on the next couple of games . Hopefully both sides can get to wembley
Cheers Lars, we love you too. See you end of Feb?
Steve T, another display in Brighton from Wilshere like tonight’s and we’ll all be happy Jacks.
Wilshire – the lion of Arsenal !!!
Cheers 3663jack,
Of course you are much closer to Wembley than us at this moment. Good luck fella. We are with you for the COCup π
Let’s not get too carried away. This was a much-substituted Swansea side with eyes on what they deem bigger fish, and still we struggled to put them away. Yes, it was the kind of performance I expected when I predicted we’d win 4-0 but the inability to put the ball away when it matters was as worrying as ever. Heck it could have been 6-0, with Wallclott alone missing that many.
Worse than that, if we’d been playing a better side than this version of Swansea (their best XI for one) we could have been goals down at half-time and the second stanza would have been all in vain anyway.
I don’t know what AW said at half-time, but could he please try saying it before the game in future?
That said, I thought Diaby was channeling Vieira there at times – very encouraging – and Planet Jack was another world altogether. But once again no substitute until well into the last ten, which gives them zero chance of contributing, imo. I’d have had Poldi on for Theodawful at around 60 mins. Talking of whom (Theo) I’m more than ever convinced his rightful position is left back on the bench until introduced as a shock of speed late on (with more speed than shock, hopefully).
Good news from Stamford Bridge π We can win that one … if second half Arsenal show up early enough!
Oskar
Steve T knows how to enjoy a day out in Brighton. Desert boots at the ready.
Jack is the reason why I see light in this tunnel.
There is Santi too, but he tends to emit in infrared.
Hmmm … light at the end of the tunnel could be a train coming the other way, HK.
Oskar
Oh Santi Cazorla can brighton up my day and then some. CYOG we’re gonna win the cup!
COYG????????
Re: ‘holic @23. Holland’s best mountaineer. Is he the one who made it all the way to the top of the windmill? π
I’m all for Swansea win the League Cup.
We have found our #10
you don’t need to be a mountaineer to get high in Holland.Looking forward to watching match later on player ,worth watching both halves or just stick to the second?
Some top drinking up there, especially from Steve T, Lars and the verbose man from auchterchoocty π
I’m convinced Walcott has signed a new contract – how else do you explain his lapse back into “consistently inconsistent”?
I also think Holic is right to mention Clattenburg for his performance but his job was made easy by both teams playing the game in the right spirit. I mentioned in the aftermath of the game, that Swansea deserved credit for not resorting to booting Jack in the air as the classless Oil State did on Sunday. Credit to Laudrup.
Co-incidence that neither of last night’s managers have been schooled in the cliched British in-your-face mentality epitomised by Pulis, Hughes etc?
Probably not.
“We are working very hard to try to do something, but at the moment I cannot give you any name”
Wenger, last night, regarding January signings.
It’s not every transfer window he actually says that they are working hard to sign someone, most of the time he just says that if there is quality available we might go for it. Then again you should never read anything into what a manager says about the transfer window, especially not Arsene.
And for all we know he might be talking about selling players π
Oh, and good game yesterday, well done lads. Jackie boy, oh how I remember when I talked with some friends about you a few years back when it was still possible to watch youth games on ATVO. People had not yet heard of you. No-one had. Not even most Arsenal fans (and I remember the people I talked with were Liverpool). I said you were different class. They said “you always say that about one youngster or another!”
I said – “Well, this time it’s TRUE”
From F365:
Mohamed Diame stepped in, and with a flinch of his shoulder, a movement that could as easily have just been a small twitch or spasm, tossed Buttner to the ground like he was made of prawn crackers. Or was Theo Walcott
Heh. I laughed.
I hate having hangovers at work π
BTM, You have surpassed yourself.Top stuff.
Last time we played at Brighton in the cup 25 years ago,yes it was the 4th round,the only goal of the game was scored by Dr Z’s
new best mate.
I wonder how long it will be before some of the Barca players,suddenly discover they have Bayern Munich DNA in their bloodline.!!
On the subject of Pep,i did offer him the chance to take the
GG Ramblers to the next level,but he said he wanted something easier.!!
Cheers
The Sweeper
Fine accounts gentlemen,
Oh what a performance that was from LJW. That team also looked so much better balanced and hungry than we have of late.
With reference to previous drinks, what large bollocks that LJW has!
LJW is a couple of classes above the rest of this squad. Reminds me of Chippy in so many ways. Let’s surround him with the quality he deserves to play with and we’ll see that fucking silverware.
Bath @ 52 with you all the way there – sir.
Still basking.
Interesting to see that Eurostar are cancelling some trains due to bad conditions in the North of France.
I hope they don’t croak the frogs on the tracks. π
I want to watch football!
Games like last night, when you see glimpses of what we can do when we click, make me so hungry for more. And even if we got a nice climax in the end, I don’t feel fully satisfied. I can’t wait for the next game. Aaaah.
Oh, it’s against Chelsea?
Bring it on.
From today’s BBC Football Gossip column:
” Arsenal fans were tricked when a rogue supporter posted old Theo Walcott contract news on Twitter.
“Full story: Metro”
Sigh. Hand up all those who were fooled.
COYG
Soooo…. last night Twitter was abuzz with a rumour that Arsenal have made a Β£30m bid for an unnamed player.
The source appears to be one of the “ITK”s who so consistently provide us with high quality inside info.
Today, the Guardian have run this: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/jan/17/arsene-wenger-arsenal-edinson-cavani
Don’t know if that’s a new quote re: interest in Cavani, but it would seem a lot of people are putting 2+2 together and getting 4.
All I can say is that I will believe Arsenal FC have bought Edinson Cavani when I see him lining up at the Emirates in the sacred shirt. And even then I’ll probably still be sceptical.
Clive@51: could the GG Ramblers ever get higher?
I am a fraud. I may have alluded to it from Sunday onwards, but a brisk Wind did not enter the Emirates yesterday, he just blew about outside aimlessly with no ticket floating into his hand from above.
Do you know what it is to stare at the turnstiles at 7:35pm, knowing you are not going to get in short of a mutation in your DNA at that very moment and developing the phasing abilities of Shadowcat and being struck by solar radiation at the same time to gain the Invisible Woman’s abilities. It is longing, depression, disbelief, anger, but all combined into one desolate, forlorn look as you hear the roars of the crowd, the oohs, the ahhs, as you stand outside, with (most likely horse) burger in hand.
The reason? A simple misinterpretation on my part from Mike, tabs’ brother, that he had a spare for yesterday’s game, Mike: “I’ve got a ticket for the Swansea game.” Me: “Oh do you? I might take you up on that offer.” Very gutted, the only way I would have felt worse is if I’d decided to go home to get all my Arsenal Gear on (Home Shirt/Trackjacket/Scarf) after I’d left Clapham and then Camberwell (had business to attend to at the former, dry-cleaning to give in at the latter) and then gone to the Tollie to find out I had no ticket from Mike in front of Steve T (missed him before/after the game again X_X), Top Man Snowy and Lars. The cringeiness of the moment might have killed me there and then and I already hate it when I’m the only person not going to the game live π (Either death by Cringing due to Awkwardness or by stress induced by watching Arsenal π )
I missed Mike (and everyone else)because after 2 exams on the day combined with the Vauxhall Incident making me late for the 1st one then having to rush off towards Clapham, I had no idea when Kick-Off was so I assumed the League Cup 7:45/8:00pm times to my folly. At 7:00pm walking down from Highbury and Islington Station I still assumed I had time when I got a call from Mike saying he was at the Tollie so at 7:10-7:15pm I decided to get a Β£2 Burger (Matchday Offer) from the Food Shop closest to the Tollie, only for me to get there about 7 minutes later with it empty, no-one anywhere to be seen and the ball being placed on the Centre Spot on the TV. Cue desperate run to the Ems along with other Gooners who were just genuinely late, but still going to the game, lucky bastards. Many calls were made and maybe a text sent (30p a minute/10p a message, T-Mobile you crooks.), I got through on the 4th or 5th attempt (the burger had been crammed into my mouth at this point, it was delicious 8) ), Me: “Hey man, I’m outside the stadium, where are you?” Mike: “Yeah man, I’m in Block A.” Me: “Ok, (realising my worst fears at this moment) where’s my ticket then? :)” Mike: Oh mate, I meant I had one ticket for me, not a spare as well.” Me, Crestfallen: “Oh, Oh I see, common misunderstanding, no worries then. Mike: “Yeah mate I’m sorry, if I’d had a spare I’d been waiting for you at the Tollie” Me, Crestfallen: “Yeah I understand, fault on my part, enjoy the game, see you after at the Tollie :)”.
π
I walked/ran back, regret in my eyes as I realised I would have had the time to get Sweet and Sour Chicken with Fried Rice and a drink for Β£4.80 (I was actually starving having only eaten a Sausage and Egg Muffin at 6:30am or so the whole day), but I kept on going and entered the Tollie, no security on the door as the game had already started. Managed to watch it from 10 mins onwards, got chatting with a local Gooner about a variety of topics as the game went on, Wenger, bad results, who in the team actually gives a crap, the sterilisation of the Emirates compared to Highbury, ticket prices, the lack of bums on seats on the screen, why if the game goes on general sale and seats are available why you can’t just walk up on the day and buy at normal or reduced prices if the game has already kicked-off and many others.
It was good there, normally I wouldn’t even get to watch the game due to work or something so I was content for that at least, the difference between the 1st and 2nd halves was evident on the TV, that familar (or used to be) pressure when we’re in the opponent’s half encroached, waiting for a chance, a mistake from one of their players as the shots taken and shots on target total numbers crept up, even Sagna had two efforts from the right hand side today that touched the posts but could have gone in. I thought Aaron Ramsey was good when he came on, a few misplaced passes here and there but the desire to do well was evident in his play, trying to release Giroud and Walcott when he could. And then the man of the hour, Jack Wilshere himself bursts through the middle to take on a pass from Giroud to smash it past Vorm! Worth the price of admission alone I say to the lads next to me as cheers erupt from the punters in the pub, the bar staff and the security staff, nervousness exits like smoke leaves a cigarette.
We hold out, 1-0 to the Arsenal, truly the best scoreline (even though if Theo was more sharp and focused along Vermaelen and Giroud having more luck [was surprised at Coquelin’s shooting proficiency with both feet, like heat-seeking missles!] then we would have run up a perfect 1st set of Tennis score. I get a Strongbow to celebrate and as I’m nursing it Mike and Lars appear, a consoling hug is given from the former and another pint from the latter convinces me to stay a bit longer (9:55pm or so,) Top Man Snowy is seen at the bar, and the four of us chat about the game, fun is poked at Rooney’s penalty miss in the other 3rd Round replay game as it is turned off and the three of them express disbelief that Southampton pulled 2 back to save a point and deny Chelsea two of them in one of their games in hand (due to the FIFA World Cup). Good for the saints, and good for us. Snowy has to depart and embraces us all, Martin, one of Lars’ friends is around and the quartet is once more. The pub roundly disapproves of Scholes’ dangerous tackle on a West Ham player (guess what colour card he got?) and the four of us talk on, more pints are bought and I’ve convinced to stay for another round as Mike has already bought me one as I popped in the Toilet. Malaga equalise against Barca as the pub jeers and Martin has to leave, work tomorrow and the remaining three of us continue to talk, eventually Lars and Mike throw shapes to leave and after downing the rests its time for me to go get a Saveloy and go home. (I don’t know what brand it is that Mike gets for me but its always the one that gets me slightly buzzed and reminds me its time to go home(/to work).
So here I am writing all of this up, sorry I couldn’t give you a proper match review Cent but this was more to get the whole situation of not getting to watch an FA Cup live and not getting to complete the quartet of competitions played in by Arsenal viewed live by myself off my chest. And it seems to have worked π The sun is shining, my final exam of the January exams is tomorrow, Arsenal are in the 4th Round and going to Brighton and Jack truly is back with this goal, and the Tollington Arms is showing the game on Sunday, think I’ll go and get an unconvential Thai Pub Lunch in π
I didn’t get to better my All-Time Record for watching Arsenal play Live (6 visits, 6 wins) by 1 more win but I feel that my presence right outside the stadium last night helped us to the win, who knows, maybe me being inside would have changed the Wind pressure and speed a bit so all those shots and crosses that hit the posts or just went past them would have got inside instead π Tickets for West Ham United, Liverpool (ooft! Cat A) and Stoke at home are now on sale to Red Members, Lars is coming over with Family for the Villa game I think at Home in February (on sale on the 23rd of January to Red Members) so I could be involved for that game, I’m still in the frame to get a ticket for the Home Leg of our Last 16 Clash in the UCL vs Bayern Munich (on sale to Red Members on the 22nd of January), the season is still young to middle-aged, plenty more chances for a Gooner like me π
Next time I’ll just buy the tickets with plenty of time for it to be put onto my Membership Card (worryingly I have 2 of them!) or collected at the Box Office, or at least for me to have a TicketFast ticket printed out at the very minimum now that I have a steady income coming in, lessons learned, now never to speak of it again π
Classic Wegner windowspeak from N7G’s Cavani link above:
“The prices always go up at the start of the transfer market and go down in the last week. Sometimes as well they go up in the last week, but it depends.”
Good to see this place is back to being happy, I had taken a leave of absence because of the mostly negative vibes, it is bad enough when I am down due to the team not performing, hearing it over and over makes the feeling worse.
As the game went on and on I had a bad feeling that we would get sucker punched at the death especially after missing so many chances but I am very elated it didnt come to that. Having so many chances which hasn’t happened in ages was a sign that this team was playing its heart out, I thought the midfield 4 did very well and the defence was very solid, if only we could put our chances away. I hope luck was saving them for the bustop at fulham. i cant wait for the game.
As many have noted from the previous comments I thought Theo was poor not just in putting chances away but in his overall game, he did ok though when taking the corners. Anyway enough about nitpicking, there is enough to celebrate for making it to the next stage of the cup.
Wind is our lucky charm, we have never lost a game that he has attended, was that 6 in 6 or 7 in 7? the number escapes me , he should attend more games so that we can win more often.
Cavani would be a big boost to our squad no doubt..but as you said, I will believe that when I see it confirmed on .com site. Its too high profile signing for us ..very “un-Arsenal” like ..but I would be pleasantly surprise to see him in our shirt..hes a beast.
Poor wind, but you are right your presence around the stadium helped, so if you cant get a ticket just hang around and the good vibes will get to the team π
Good write up Holic as per usual π
BtM, your welsh inspired posts are a delight to read *thumbs up*
Heh Firstlady @ 62/64 its true, I didn’t go right up to the stadium on Sunday, was just within a stone’s throw walking past – we lost to City.
Was right outside yesterday and then – we beat Swansea! π
The Wind Magic π
Would have been 7 in 7 in all competitions had I attended yesterday, instead 6 in 6 for 3 competitions π
Now we just need a benefactor for my season ticket and its Invincibles Mark II time 8) Maybe even the Impenetrables Mark I. (Audience: *Ooh!*)
Bath knows at #52
LJW could be the new Chippy.
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11670/8402746/Arsenal-boss-Arsene-Wenger-admits-to-tracking-Edinson-Cavani-and-Wilfried-Zaha
Make of it what you will…..
No need for mountains to scale when there are dykes to be fingered. π
Sorry, just watching the highlight of JW’s goal last night – just for maybe the 8th or 9th time.
Santi’s sublime ball to OG, OG with a killer one touch flick to Jack, who hamers it home on the half volley. That is just KILLER stuff!
It gets better each time.
C’mon lads, we need to show the same gritty performance against Chelsea on Sunday. Our defiining season starts from now!
Get your boots on N7 !!!!
What Bath said about JW.
A touch harsh to put him TWO classes above everyone else, but he was extraordinary last night.
Can’t wait ’til he’s fit !
And from fit to fat –
As Swansea’s lean and lithe subs ran and high-kicked their way through their warm-ups last night, I noticed on the touchline two of the fattest people I gave ever seen at fewer than 50 yards, sorry metres, from a Premier League football pitch, waddling around in Arsenal Wenger-style coats, Nike bibs and woolly hats.
Aha! I thought, Arsene has signed not one, but two new recruits without telling us !
But who ?
It looked like two geezers off the kebab stand. A cunning plan, I thought, or hoped!
One was later identifiable as Santos – who must have secreted all his half time snacks away in his coat lining – but who was the other one.
The only one I could think of who could possibly produce such a profile is Frimpong – but isn’t he out on loan ?
Any insight, anyone ? I arrived at the ground too late to catch the subs list.
Finally, before work strikes again – what everyone, and Holic, said about the match in general, but a mention for Swansea, who did NOT try and kick Jack Wilshere up in the air, and have arrived in and been a credit to the Premier League.
Good luck in the COCup fellas.
I was born with my boots on Edinson.
Now be a good chap and tell your agent you want to sign for the Arsenal ASAP. You know it makes sense.
Trev.
Didn’t Frimpong get red carded playing for Arsenal reserves a few weeks back? Diaby was in the team too if memory serves, so I don’t think he’s on loan.
Wind, nice ‘match’ report, mate, it’s a pity you couldn’t get a ticket for the game, as far as i’m concerned your record is now 7/7.
Trev, Frimmy is back from loan, the 2nd of the ‘fat’ duo is Podolski/Chamberlain, you can see them clearly in the pictures of Jack’s celebration.
Trev
Subs from last night:
24 Mannone
11 Santos
25 Jenkinson
15 Oxlade-Chamberlain
16 Ramsey
23 Arshavin
09 Podolski
I’ll leave it up to you to determine who the other podgy looking figure is likely to have been. I have my suspicions.
Shame you couldn’t get in Wind, the decision looks pretty ridiculous when you see just how many empty seats there were, 58,359 my arse, there were a shocking amount of empty seats as far as I could see on the highlights (just watched).
Great drinks above, although I think TW is getting a bit of undeserved stick, I thought he looked ok, he created a few decent opportunities and on another day he would of been on the scoresheet, in fact I don’t understand the whole general worry that we missed a few chances, I’m just glad we’re creating them. I’ll take 26 attempts on goal over a first shot in the 89th minute any day of the week, after all practice makes perfect…. right!?
Wind, I have a 100% record when being stuck on the Eurostar/too delayed on it to make kick-off.
It’s a separate record, you’re one out of one for these π
76Cent
Trev, Frimmy is back from loan, the 2nd of the βfatβ duo is Podolski/Chamberlain,
Well if they’re both in one coat it’s no wonder they look about the same weight as Santos. π
So, if I’ve got this right:
I have a ticket to Dunfermline….
Wind, is going to be on my train, right? π
Heh @ H2H 80 i meant either Chamberlain or Podolski.
Now then mate, tell me you’re sorted for Brighton! Me and the Big Hibee will be there. Gonna be a massive day out.
Oh, Oskar, why shouldn’t we get carried away with a win, regardless of circumstances? We certainly have no problem getting carried away with the losses. π At the very least, we got the stormer we predicted, whatever the final score says.
I think the fellow denizens have summed up well my feelings on the squad’s performance, as well as Arsene’s zipper. I didn’t consider the first half quite as dour as most, and thought the pressing was excellent. There is no question that having two young players in the midfield, as opposed to just one, completely changes the dynamic of the team. Santi as the ostensible wide man basically gave us four midfielders, similar to what Benayoun offered last year, which I remember as a particularly fluid time (I miss Yossi almost as much as Santos does). I also thought that, albeit in a short cameo, Ramsey continued showing us why Le Boss considers him such an integral part of this team going forward.
Wind, mate … I really don’t know what to say, except get those tickets sorted!
cdoyle
I totally agree re: Ramsey.
The young man has had some difficult moments these last 12 months, but he’s also shown a considerable amount of ability and mental fortitude.
Were he finding his way in a more settled, less chaotic side I think he would have been forgiven a lot more and there would be a more widespread appreciation of his virtues.
Of all the crop of younger players we have making their way with the club he is very near the top of those whom I hope will reach their potential and prosper with us.
He looks to me the sort of player who is capable of going up another gear or two as he matures.
Thanks all for the subs information.
As I said, I arrived too late to see it on the stadium screens, and had no angle to any faces from my seat. Whoever the second one was – Pod or Ox – the girth was hilarious from my vantage point.
I bought a cheeseburger from Tesco today. The woman serving me said,
“Do you want anything on it ?”
I said, “Yes, I’ll have a fiver each way, please”. π
Esso, sorted I am. Looking forward to it, apart from the journey…
π @68. delighted with the win last night but I was embarrassed for young Theo,shockingly bad.iv always wanted to stop the rot and fair play to the club looks like we are but that performance should be played back to him and his agent at the next talks they have planned.like most thought jack was different gravy.
Cavani, Capoue, Zaha. Easy.
A man can dream.
Aye. Fucking cunt of a day to have engineering works. Suppose they scheduled long before a) Albion got through and b) drew a London club. But still.
N7: I’ll eat my Ramsey shirt (purchased the weekend he was savagely assaulted) if he doesn’t turn into a top player. Only issue holding him back right now is his “best” position is still up in the air, as there’s an argument he’s best suited for any of the three main CM positions in a modern formation.
Norcal, your dream may not actually be far from reality.
Esso, sorry about work commitments getting in your way, hope you find a way around them.
Cdoyle, you sir, are a good man.
Sign me up for Norcal’s dream.
We still have two more weeks left to kid ourselves this is a possibility!
Cdoyle,
Aaron Ramsey has looked much better in the last few games, especially playing more centrally. Personally, I don’t think he’s ever had great defensive instincts, even before his injury, but if he can sometimes speed up his delivery, he is beginning to look quite tidy in the more attacking positions.
NorCal @89,
No need to dream:
Wilshere, Fabregas, van Persie …….. Oh, π
Not even a wild “never could have happened” thing.
It so nearly did, and must break Arsene’s heart that we never got them all fit, with Diaby, in the same side.
We would have walked the Premier League and they would probably all still be here ……..
Where’s Snir when we need him to assure us it’s “very close”, or that there’s “something even better” juts around the corner?
COYG
Snir, where are you? We need your crystal balls.
Drives upfield a’la Diaby and lays it off to JW10
SNIR,
Still No Incoming Recruits
Sorry No Immediate Response
Speculative Noise Is Rubbish ……
Cavani!!!
Tabsed it !
Where is Tabs ?
Well in Cent-urion. π
Thanks for the assist and kind words, Trev.
‘Cent-urion’ π Well holics, haven’t seen the 2nd half yet but your comments are delightful and informative. Steve T, your thoughts on our Jack ‘his potential is frightening’ really grabbed me. Excellent π Wind, great stuff! But do you mean to say, that on match day you can’t just walk up and buy a ticket! I must be misunderstanding that part. As for resting Jack, I have to go against the majority (?) and feel it should come sooner than later. Let him play Chelsea and then rest the little rascal π
Cent @ 75, heh, so close but so far, we all have to do our part, thanks mate π
H2H @ 78, thanks for the commiserations, almost rage inducing to be 300m away at most but not able to go in my any conventional means.
Ollie @ 79, thanks haha, hopefully our alternative 100% records stay like that without either of us being in the frame to add to them eh? π
Zico @ 81, π see you on the platform… 8)
cdoyle @ 84, heh, I’ll do my best in the future, “Try for yourself first, if you do not succeed, then turn to others.” – The New Wind Motto for purchasing/getting Tickets, perhaps? Worked for the NLD π *knowing nod to Ollie, Holic & Clive*
Trev @ 86, π π π But are you sure it wasn’t a half? π
Well in for the Cent, Cent π
Hey nursie, thanks for the kind words, i share your opinion on resting Jack after the Chelsea game.
abb, you’re not misunderstanding anything. You have to buy tickets in advance these days. I think it was originally a reaction against football hooliganism. The authorities were, perhaps understandably, concerned about a crowd of several hundred footie fans turning up for a match, not getting in and smashing the place up in frustration. A sadly familiar scenario a few years ago, and one that might still happen if matches weren’t all-ticket.
COYG
Hey there Cent (waves). Oxon, wow! Not very fan friendly. Baseball is so uncomplicated π
I think its Americans that are uncomplicated π
Trev, I *probably* agree with you on Ramsey, in that he doesn’t seem to have the greatest defensive instincts, but I don’t perceive there being a pure CDM in this formation anyway. But I do think he can be a sub for Arteta in the water-carrier role. And what he lacks in ability he can make up for in graft, because his work-rate this season, even when struggling for form, has been excellent.
Largely, though, I sense he’s not only got the ability to become a top-class player but the will as well. Not just recovering from his injury, which is massive, but also his willingness to not wilt in the face of some rather harsh treatment from the natives and in fact come out of it looking even more confident. The program for him is perfect right now: Let him act as the first mid off the bench, filling in a bunch of roles without the kind of pressure he faced last season to be a main player, with the idea that in a year or two he could really be putting pressure on the starters while serving as a much-more-capable-than-people-believe option to cover off the wings in games that require more solidity in possession.
What really irks me about the view of Ramsey from some quarters is that he’s PERFECT for this team, in terms of providing depth: A guy who is clearly not ready to be a full-time starter, and has enough self-awareness to not be a distraction by complaining over his role, but can bring a host of talents and hard work into play when called on. Ramsey is a “glue guy,” and he can be in my red-and-white bunker any day.
Tragically, the shirt I have of his came the year of Nike’s absolute worst design, and fits me about as comfortably as a sausage casing, so I can’t really wear it as much as I’d like. Damn you, Nike. Damn you.
Oh Hi there Dr Z π π π
Wind 105: eggsactly! π
Well in Cent!
(and hello/goodbye all)
I resemble your remark, Zico.
Abb, *waves back*.
Cdoyle, nice analysis of Ramsey you did there.
Cdoyle,
I like Ramsey and think he has a bright future. Like ATG said about Theo, he is still young and will grow. Where I do disagree is that he should not be put in the Arteta roll this year. Ramsey gets caught on the ball too often for that roll, still. Mikel understands the danger in losing the ball that deep in our half. Mikel is also better at either shielding the ball and drawing a foul or recirculating it quicker. I think Aaron will get there but I don’t want him to try this year. IMO.
Cheers.
Heh, cd – you probably do. π
Can’t even start a colonial fight on here – you’d think it was the interlull…..
Santos is not young, and will grow…..
Ollie, you’re sighted.
NorCal, you might be right. Most of the dawdling I’ve seen this season was out on the wings, but there’s definitely evidence to support your position with a couple of costly turnovers in central mid. I just sense he’s turned a corner and has been much quicker to get the ball off his feet of late. That said, the Coq is best-suited to be Arteta’s main backup (I can’t bring myself to count on Diaby’s fitness, it’ll just make it hurt all the more if/when he goes down again), so perhaps it’s moot.
TEAM RAMSEY, signing off.
Dr Z.
That’s because most of us probably agree. π
See Dr Z – simples. π
Heh,
Clevor Trevor π
Simples is as simples does. π
I’m curious.
I light of the Lance Armstrong ” confession”, how come you never gear cases of Footballers doping?
Would a little more upper body strength not give you that little extra when squaring up in the box. Would a little juice not maybe give you that one extra step of pace. Would a little epo not give you just that extra endurance to be strong the full 90 minutes? Is it a sport that these little advantages would not help?
It’s not just an American thing. Lots of athletes from other countries have been caught using performance enhancing drugs. I just think its weird that you never have heard of a footballer.
Do they test them regularly?
Discuss….
Gear= hear.
Damn Autocorrect, iPhone keyboard.
Norcal, footballers have series of random and impromptu tests throughout the season, i don’t know how often they do it but they do it.
Thx Cent. I thought they had to test them. I just find it interesting that you never hear of a problem.
Of course we should be delighted with a win, cdoyle, but I cannot get carried away with this latest one. Relieved, yes, but hardly transported by practically the entire team’s inability to shoot with any power, accuracy or placement. We had to create 42 chances to score just one goal … while all the time fearing one of their 7 attempts could have turned the game on its arse.
We are playing like a position 4 to 6 side and not surprisingly that’s where we are. I still believe we can make top 4, maybe even top 3, and we might even sneak an FA or a League Cup sometime, but most of us want more than that. The present squad doesn’t have enough players with flair to make that more than a dream, imo.
After the Man C game I pointed out that they were missing at least three players we couldn’t afford to buy anyway since the oligarchs starting dumping their ill-gotten gains into the Premier League, and therein lies the problem. We used to be able to compete with the best and could/should have won the CL in 2006, but realistically we cannot do so currently and getting carried away a win that could be called lucky (given how long it took to secure) ain’t going to help us face facts.
Here’s a test. How many of today’s squad would get into the Immortal’s side? Or make the bench? How many of today’s squad have the flair of Adams or Vieira or Henry or Bergkamp or Pires or Ljungberg or Seaman or the passion of Parlour? I’m thinking Jack and maybe TV on a good day, that’s it.
Our squad has many good players, of course they are, but still mostly second-rate at the highest level. Okay, even the top teams are weaker in some areas than others, but generally we are weaker than them all over. If we are to really threaten the major trophies we need at least a smattering of the very best … the kind of players only ever mentioned in context with the present EPL top 3. It’s depressing enough that AW should, for years, express admiration for the likes of Eden Hazard, only to sit and watch while he signs for Chelski … or refuse to pay the extra 2 million that would have secured Wossa.
But don’t get me wrong, I understand WHY we are where we are, and have confidence things will change. In the meantime I gratefully accept a win such as the latest as a win, however it comes, without seeing it as some augury of a shiny tomorrow. My present dream is to live long enough to see us win the CL … which I believe inevitable, and which I’ve been patiently waiting for since it began life as the UEFA European Nations Cup 53 years ago.
Oskar
Oskar: To take your question about the Invincibles in a slightly different direction, how many players in the Prem right now make that starting lineup? The best back line available in the league is Zabaleta, Kompany, Vidic when healthy, and Baines. Maybe you could argue Kompany or Vidic over Toure, but neither would provide his ability to make dangerous unmarked runs from the back line, so I’d take the Arsenal set there. Midfield? Moving it back into a four-man mid, you’d probably go Valencia, Toure, Fellaini and Silva/Mata. I’d probably stick with Freddie over Valencia, you could make an argument for either Toure or Fellaini over Gilberto, and I pity the fool who would take Silva or Mata over Bob, with handsomeness as a tiebreaker should one be needed. Up front, your class forwards are the traitorous skunk and a pick between Aguero, Rooney and (based on current form, or form against Arsenal alone) Michu. Don’t know about you, but I’ll stick with the greatest striker in the history of the league, and God, there.
My point is that if we’re judging ANY squad in the world, with the notable exception of Barca, to the standard of the Invincibles, the modern-day unit will be left severely wanting. There’s a reason that team went undefeated.
Yes, this team is short a couple of things to make it properly competitive in the league (as noted by my unwillingness to count any Arsenal players in my league-best list). Yes, it should have been sorted sooner. With those facts accepted, I do wonder how much of that we can reasonably expect to rectify in January, considering the nature of the market and what it would take for a transfer to really make an impact. What’s readily available are good, solid players, particularly in the back, and I do think we’d benefit from the acquisition of a Capoue, for example. But flair? Flair right now costs a prohibitive amount. Cavani, who is not one of the top five strikers in the world, would command upward of 35 million quid and a weekly wage that would shatter anything on the books right now. And that’s assuming that we wouldn’t be gazumped again by Chelsea or Citeh, like we were with Mata.
One other point, I really don’t think that we’ve lost out on many transfers because we wouldn’t go just a little bit higher; I think in most cases it was evident that we were going to lose the bidding, either because of the resources of the competition, or the player’s preference to join someone else. This is one case in which the narrative is too good to pass up β stingy intellectual manager unwilling to pay a penny more than he thinks he should β that actually flies in the face of history, one that shows many notable big-ticket acquisitions by Wegner, which only look cheap when not adjusted for inflation.
As for getting irrationally excited, I still think it’s an absolute necessity if you’re not willing to go insane. Plus, I think we were unlucky to not have six goals, as opposed to being lucky to score the lone one in the dying embers. But I don’t wish to impose my perspective on anyone, except my future offspring. Poor buggers.
Crowley,
Nice post above. I too get lost when comparing to the Invincibles. They went undefeated. That should not always be your measuring stick or you will be very disappointed a great majority of the time. Should we strive for it ? Sure but don’t get upset if we don’t achieve that.
Crowley? I meant Cdoyle. Cooking and autocorrect this time. Bah.
Cheers
simple american song for dr. z:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6xscuS9H8U
cdoyle … Comparison with the Invincibles (not the ‘Immortals’ as in my previous, oops) was simply pointing to a time when we WERE able to compete in the transfer market, before the oligarabs came on the scene. I take the point about who in any EPL side would make that team, and agree with you … except I would probably have Kompany for Kolo and RvP in Freddie’s place. For all his goals I have always seen skunk as primarily a winger capable of doing from the right what TH did from the left.
Short of impossibly landing Falcao and Fellaini I agree January won’t solve anything. Probably the best we can hope for is re-signing Wallclot. Apropos which, if it’s so sure to happen why hasn’t it? Is there some agreement to announce late as a supposed boost to spirits when no-one else of consequence arrives? Common sense suggests the deal should have been done by now so that other problems can be properly addressed instead of repeating last summer’s 24th-hour panic. Okay, we got three nice players then, but I can’t see a real marquee signing happening the same way.
You need to get irrationally excited to save going insane? Lol. I must be a lot older than you!
Oskar
Zico – now you KNOW Americans are complicated in the extreme. How else can we on one hand masterfully run the Indebted and ineptly run our glorious Arsenal?
…Or is it the other way ’round? See, complicated. π
BMBD
Jazz, Elvis, Coca-Cola…colt revolver.
Moon landings (allegedly), Tang, transistors…nuclear weapons.
Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Michael Jordan…Lance Armstrong.
See, Zico? We Americans are quite a complicated lot.
How complicated are the English? Shakespeare, the Beetles…Downton Abbey? Please. And don’t even get me started on the French and Spanish…
BMBD
Beatles, even…
Wow. (I am Giroud)
BMBD
Lonestar @135
A) what are things that that explode under pressure
B) what are 4 things monkeys took to space
C) who are 4 people who have never been in my bedroom. ( thanks cliff Clavin)
Cheers, no really the tv show “Cheers”.
American tourist, admiring Edinburgh Castle:
I love it, it’s amazing, but why did they build it so close to the railway station?
Defence rests, your honour.
American 1: We spent our holiday in Aruba this year.
American 2: Where is that exactly?
American 1: I’ve no idea, we flew.
Oskar
Zico. Does that officially form part of the legal definition of Diminished Responsibility?
βThe cool thing about being famous is traveling. I have always wanted to travel overseas, like to Canada and stuff.β – Britney Spears
Oskar
I seem to be fated not to be posting when cdoyle is around. It’s happened again overnight. This is a shame as I have yet to see him post a word with which I disagree. Hear, hear, fella. There’s a drink from me for you behind the bar next time you’re in.
Off to work then, to spend 6+ hrs worrying about whether I’ll manage my 180 mile drive home tonight, and if I do, how long it will take.
See you later all (Dennis willing)
COYG
best performance so far for the 2nd coming LJW19. The boy has talent. It makes a pretty good sense that he is on a verge to become one of the best. Giroud, good game good assist. Little Spaniard Carzola, as usual. He was offencevly good on the left. Diaby is coming back, watch-out. le coq is gettin there, very mobile.
NorCal, there have been a few cases of footballers being caught with their hands in the medicine jar. Diego Maradona is the most high-profile case, he finished his career by being caught during the 1994 World Cup. Also, Rio Ferdinand was suspended for eight months a few years back for failing to show up for a drug test and test are being done fairly regularly.
So is football squeaky clean then? I don’t believe that for a second. There are players in the Premier League that I have very strong suspicions about (no names of course since I can’t prove anything) for various reasons. And let’s also remember that high-profile cheaters like Lance Armstrong or Marion Jones were never caught during their active career despite extensive testing so I would not bat an eylid if certain Premiership players of today were to be found guilty in a few years’ time.
cdoyle@129: well said!
cdoyle@129
Spot on and a consistent voice of reason in the bar.
Glad to hear the subject of footballers and doping cropping up, as it gives me an excuse to point to this:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/3005511/Davids-faces-two-year-ban-for-drug-use.html
I can neither confirm or deny that Davids was still high as a kite when he decided to join Spurs.
Interestingly, among the other players to have tested positive for nandrolone are former Scum man-beast Jaap Stam, evil twin Frank De Boer, Gallic Brummie Christophe Dugarry, small faced Spaniard Fernando Couto and one Pep Guardiola (who was subsequently able to clear his name).
Positive tests seem to be less prevalent in the English game, but I would imagine it must happen.
Southampton sack Adkins – baffling decision.
Indeed it is Charlie, especially when you consider that they have replaced him with a guy who as far as I am aware, has no experience of the game in England.
Some clubs deserve all they get when you think about it…..
D L Ltd Press Release
The Feelgood Foundation would just like to remind customers that Drug Testing is not a practice that we condone in any shape or form.
We believe that our products and our reputation speak for themselves. They do what they say they will do on the (green) tin.
Don’t try before you buy. Just buy.
You will not be disappointed.
*ends*
Charlie. Unbelievable. They’re mentalists.
Who’s the replacement, zico?
-though I suspect I’ll trawl the web and find it in a couple of minutes.
Right, I’ll book my train for Stoke(H), keep on hold for Brighton.
Travel may still be affordable-ish but not chancing it without ticket.
Hoping there’ll be no snow problems, I see Eurostars are running slow and some are being cancelled these days.
Diego’s 3rd cousin (on his mother’s side).
Mauricio Pochettino – which may be an anagram. π
I don’t approve of owners who effectively shoot the manager who propelled them up into the Premier League in the back – its not good. If this ends up meaning that QPR extend their stay in the League for another year, I’ll be annoyed :/
Pochettino? Did Portsmouth take the decisions on behalf of Southampton? :s
Afternoon team,
In the unlikely event anybody is trying to contact me I have no mobile signal at work.
The Southampton chairman should be certified, now. Everybody has a right to be stupid, but he is abusing the privilege.
It’s not just that, Wind: they are currently 15th, above teams like Newcastle and Villa, having just got a great draw at the Bus Stop.
They also were extremely unlucky to get nil points at the start of the season vs the 2 sets of Mancs.
Oh, and they drew with us also recently….. the cunts π
So it’s not exactly a ‘something needs to be done’ situation, is it?
Hello ‘olic!
Southampton have sacked Adkins??? Agree with you all, absolutely fucking mental. It stinks of a board trying to be Billy Big-Boots.
Actually Southampton have lost only 2 of their last 12 PL games…
Chairman must be fucking mental.
Must have lost the plot after Pep turned down his offer.
On a side note, feels like the TV channels are snubbing us at the moment! No live league games in February, and just one in March (at the Spuds). Our games against Everton and Swansea both get passed over, which I’m surprised about.
Agreed Ollie, they are due free fall at terminal velocity back down to 19th or so, bringing in this new guy is the most effective destablisation that they could not hope for. When they start getting rolled by the team’s around them, it will be too late.
Hey Lars, good to see you got home safe π
Hi Holic π
And Ollie, its snowing mighty fine in London right now, more of a snowstorm now Lars hehe π
Oh yeah, exams are over! Feeling fairly positive, got my 1st offer for a University as well UCAS-wise π And now I can get my Internet/E-Mail/BBM Booster for the Blackberry back, re-immerse myself in the digital world π
Hoping for good luck for Bayern 1st Leg UCL Tickets, got free Periods at College 1 & 2 on Tuesday so I’m going to be rooted to a computer trying to snaffle one of the remaining Β£62 if any are left for Red Members from the Silver Members, good thing I’ve been paid (twice in 2 weeks, 1st time since I started working w00t (Y)) so I can be in the frame for those and also take my sisters who helped me get my current job out for Lunch tomorrow, I’m a good brother hehe π³
I had totally forgotten that Pocchetino had played a season in Bordeaux.
Unlikely to see any snow at the moment here, I’m working in a cave (but not one with wine, more like a bunker).
Afternoon all… getting close to Arthur oΒ΄clock….
Ah… Dr F, so no need to waste funds on those fancy tests I saw advertised in the Lance(t)ΒΏ
Quackery in-joke alert…
Ollie – lost track – where are you living now?
Testing is for softies…..
One fo the joys (?) of the weather is that the kids are off school, as a result Sky Sports News gets left on all day
They are just reporting that Theo has agreed to ‘sign da ting’ 3 year deal allegedly…
Does this count as a new signing?
I thought we had a very good first half and an outstanding second half. Broke that Swansea hoodoo. Theo didn’t score when he should have but I thought he worked hard and gave us width. The double pivot worked really well, and Coquelin may look back on that as his break-out game. Or do I mean “break-in”? Jack was amazing. Arsene needs a new coat or zip handling lessons.
@ btm
loved your match report, hilarious.
@ Wind, you poor love! Still, you just being in the vicinity was enough to swing it for us, eh?
@ cdoyle
totally agree about Ramsey. He’s does a job for the team and he has such a strong mentality as well. He seems to top the charts for key passes which should have led to goals if the chances had been put away.
Love your comments in general, by the way. Well expressed and sound points.
@ abb, firstlady
hiya! (wave)
**
Theo has now signed, but only till June 2016, so we could be doing this again in 18 months’ time.
– he’s does
+ he does
BBC Sport – Theo Walcott signs new three-and-a-half year contract at Arsenal worth Β£100,000 a week.
Its finally over, Theo’s 2nd Best Paid after Podolski’s Β£107k a week, lets kick on with reinforcing the squad π
Wind, I believe that this season for the first time, there is a number of seats reserved to Red Members even for CL games, so log in on time, there will be some!
Wind influences the results depending on how close he is to the Emirates, FunGunner influences the signings of our players when she returns to the bar, how are you Fun? π
Yeah I think the vicinity thing helps haha π
Thank you Ollie! π Gonna go for East Stand Lower or North Bank Lower.
@ Wind
ha ha
Don’t say that, you’ll find yourself chained to the Henry statue with a feeding tube for the rest of the season…
I’m well, thanks. You?
@Fun, ooh scary! π
I’ve been well, exams finally over, looking back towards getting into the normal groove of things instead of sleeping at 4:30am and waking up at 7:30am or staying up the whole night for the morning’s exam X_X
Good to have you back regardless π
Adkins sacked?? WTF??
Un-fuckin-believable.
First he takes them from nowhere to the PL and then after a shaky start in the top flight, which is only natural, he steadies the ship and gets them out of the relegation aream only to get the tin tack.,
If that’s not proof of doping in football, I don’t know what is……
Well, I do, there’s Rooney, Terry and Barton. Big dopes the lot of them.
@ Wind
Thanks, Wind, good to be back.
Good luck with the results. Have yourself a drink on me.
@ H2H and everyone else who mentioned it
Can’t believe the Adkins sacking, either. They’ve got Charlton-itis – underestimating a very good manager and thinking “he’s taken us as far as he can”. I know nothing about this Pocchettino bloke but John Cross says he was sacked after “leading” Espanyol to the bottom of the league. Perhaps this is about the souring of the personal relatonship between the manager and chief exec?
Zico on form @138 and 148 π
Proper back knird now as all my afternoon patients are snowbound. Much like yours I imagine Dr C – if you are about.
Wind 174, sorry to piss on your parade after having lit it up, but I realised I slightly misread your post.
I only meant there would be tickets, not necessarily lower tier (there may be a few, still but very very few). Didn’t realise CL home games were Cat A either so I hadn’t paid attention to the Β£62 bit π
So, Feo done sign da ting.
I’ll look on the brightside by saying that this is the first time in a while that a player reaching the end of his contract has been “persuaded” to stay, so lets hope that bodes well for the future,
And to young Mr Walcott:
It’s time to step up to the plate, son. No more consistancy in patches bollox, you’d better work your knackers off. I, like most gooners can be pretty forgiving when it comes to players descrepencies, but I don’t like the fact that you held our club to ransom, only your very very best will now be acceptable.
Dr C, I see you are, indeed, around. Good day, to you…
Theo has signed ?!
We can get some money for him now then. π
*ducks under hail of flying bread rolls*
Ollie @ 181, I’d take any seat, just that Lower Tier is generally cheaper, you know what I mean?
And I’m not certain about CL Home Games being Cat A @ Β£62 upwards, but that seems to be the general consensus from people I’ve asked.
Dr Z,
Please see post 182 and the suggestion that “young Mr Walcott is allowed no moe consistency in patches….”
What a fine addition they would make to the CMC , namely Consistency Patches.
I suggest you order at least a gross – like now !
Wind,
Hate to confirm your worst, but ALL Champions League games are
Cat A. I won’t remind you what that means for me ….. π
Pochettino is an anagram of “no top ethic.”
Fitting for their board.
I still haven’t seen anything official about Theo so I’ll reserve my right to not believe it until it is there on Arsenal.com…
Ollie. Champs lge games have not been cat A from memory. I am guessing that a competitive game against Bayern will always be a Cat A.
Not .con, but pretty reliable;
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21078962
Cat A used to be CL, Spuds, ManUre, Scousers, Chavs and Wet Spam, ’til they went down and were replaced by Citeh.
Can’t be sure about this season, but that is how my season ticket was calculated.
Steve, you are correct. This is straight from the Tesco burger’s mouth:
“UEFA Champions League and FA Cup fixtures will be based on A and B pricing.”
http://www.arsenal.com/membership/buy-tickets
There is no doubt, however, that BM will always be Cat A so agree completely with you on that one.
My doctor told me I have to watch what I eat, so after having a Tescoburger I’m off to Ascot.
Oh, pardon me.
They’ve clearly changed it then. FA Cups used to be included in our 7 cup ties and were charged as Cat B. I’ll keep quiet now. π
Those of you who are in London, how much has it snowed? Any risk of the game on Sunday not going ahead?
Brings the ball out of defence…
…goes past one player…
…and another one and hits an early cross from halfway into the opposition half…
Bang?
The Rocket!
I took a pack of beef burgers back to Tesco because they smelled bad.
“What’s wrong with these ?”, I asked.
“They’re off !”, the woman said. π
Begrudgingly congratulates FunGunner as he takes the glory for the tabs position π Nice assist Lars π
Trev @ 187, boo! π
Work at 5pm, later all but I’ll be around (Thank God for Mobile Internet!) π
Trev π
That bounced off my head and over the keeper, but I will be describing it later as take-down and curler into the top corner.
Thanks, Wind and thanks for the assist, Lars.
Lars – it’s snowed a fair bit. Started snowing heavily at about 9 am this morning and has only just stopped now, 6 hours later.
It’s fairly deep in some places, but it’s not like the place has ground to a halt.
Whether the game goes ahead will depend, I suspect, on how much falls over the next 48 hours or so, and how well equipped the Chavs are to deal with unfavourable weather.
Fingers crossed it’s on – I’ve a feeling this is a good time to be playing them.
Lars N7 and others. Thx for the comments on doping and Football. I did remember a few of your references and I agree that the masking technology seems to stay a few steps ahead of the testing.
Interesting topic.
Enjoy the day.
Cheers
Theo is official and on the .com. Can we now improve the squad? Please Arsene. Please just give us something to prove you are trying.
Theo has signed. It’s now in dot com.
So Theo has signed.
Forgive me for being underwhelmed.
Ah, I see it’s now official that Theo has signed. Quite happy to be wrong about him leaving.
And speaking about leaving I shall now leave work and go home. That build-up play for the goal took my last bit of energy!
Cheers for the update, N7.
Lars. 4 inches of snow here now. The UK is officially shut.
Welcome home Theo.
No idea what took you so long, but glad to see you anyway.
I am very much with Trev though.18 months to shape up and prove he is worth it or sell him for big bucks. In fairness there have been big improvements in recent times.
Glad to see Theo signing, although he had quite a stinker against Swans, I think there is still great potential for him to develop.
The thing is that at this wages he should start delivering rather sooner than later. Also I am really interested what is going to happen now in terms of his position on the field. Will Arsene continue to play him down the center after he finally signed, or was it indeed just part of the tactics to make him “sing da ting”?
I personally think that he is usefull as a main striker only against certain opposition, starting on the right and drifting infield to capitalize on Girouds hold up/link up play (which he is excellent in…still admiring his assists for recently LJW but also for Gibbsys/Poldis screamers) suits his game much better in my opinion.
First bit of pretty good transfer news in a while.
I know some are underwhelmed but hey, he’s the top scorer and to be fair to him he’s not exactly having a shit season.
Basically since Vieira, pretty much every single will-he-won’t-he transfer saga has ended with “No, he won’t”, so I’m kind of chuffed about this one.
Contract experts : Does this mean Theo can wrangle for a pay hike after 18 months? that is ,if he backs up his pay hike with goals and assists ie.
Eandy,
I agree with your thoughts above. I also think that Giroud can drift our wide or sit deeper at times during a game to give theo the middle. Thus changing shape briefly for theo to use his pace thru the middle.
Heh Trev.
I heard Tesco waas branching out and making starter courses that will be marketed as horse d’oeuvres.
Meanwhile there will be an investigation into how beef founds it way into any of their meat products.
Well, I did say I thought he would stay.
BEST I.T.K EVER. π
H2H. π
Remy hasn’t chosen QPR for the money, apparently.
No, I don’t believe it. All these footballers take us for mugs.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/theo-walcott-signs-new-long-term-contract
It’s on .con now so it’s official!
Ollie, did all of our comments above that it was on the dot com not count cause we didn’t post the link? π
Agreed CG.
Whatever our reservations about Theo as a person and a player, it’s nice to see the good guys win for a change.
Hopefully this marks the moment when our fortunes changes and the exodus of talent will cease. It has to be good news that the club now has a core of young, British talent who seem to enjoy playing together and all of whom are on long term(ish) contracts.
Looking forward to the first summer in ages without a “will he/won’t he” transfer drama hanging over us (touch wood).
Sajit – Theo can push for a pay hike at any time, same as any footballer. The contract simply improves the club’s negotiating position, both with Theo and any third party that comes looking to buy him.
I bought some meat balls from Tesco.
They were the dogs bollocks.
As competition Primark have confirmed that their leggings will all have camel toe.
π
π
Ollie 223.
I find it hard to understand how a relegation fodder team with a ground capacity of around 18,000 can pay a guy 80.000 a week. Twice what Newcastle, ground capacity 50,000, offered him.
Heh, Steve T.
It just gets worse for Tesco. Would you believe that traces of zebra have now been found in their bar codes.
Just saying like.
H2H,
Is it not the same way that Chelski and Manchester sheikhi pay their players?
Or is QPR headed the way of Rangers and Portsmouth and Leeds?
H2H
Quite a few of my family are Rs fans.
They are under no illusions: if they go down this year they could well be headed for administration. Their wage bill is utterly ridiculous: their keeper is on 100k a week (apparently we asked about him and couldn’t afford him), Jose Bosingwa (who doesn’t get a game) is on 80k a week.
It appears that the owner (who seems a nice bloke, but knows sweet FA about football) has concluded that what’s needed is one last round of massive spending in the hope it keeps them up. All looks a bit kill or cure.
The media has cheered them to the rafters throughout this preposterous round of spending. A club that was last in administration less than a decade ago and which has a stadium with less seats than Phil Dowd has chins.
Modern English football in a nutshell. I hope they stay up for the sake of the fans I know, but really… yeesh.
If someone asks you how you want your Tesco burger cooked you can not now say medium rare. The correct phrase is now good to firm.
π
Snow everywhere, should have been liked this over Crimbo but hey at least it’s the weekend.
Do we know if the game is still on against bus stop in Fulham?
Enjoy the snow holics!
No, NorCal, I just didn’t read any of them π
Elsewhere it is so easy and ridiculous to get sacked, but us however barren our trophy cabinet has been , collecting dust along the way, the manager has always enjoy great trust from the board, his job was never on the line nor he will readily resign with no silverware in sight since the past 7 years. What contrasting fortune!
Just thinking. If Theo stays for the duration of his contract he will probably be entitled to a testimonial. How bizarre is that?
Cheers Oskar, NorCal, Oxon, N7, Lars, Fun, and everyone else. And special thanks for the Yank jokes to peruse over my morning coffee. In case you were wondering, I take it black, with a splash of jingoism. π
Re: Doping: I’d be really curious to see how sophisticated the tests for EPO are. It seems like the natural choice for a sport in which you basically run non-stop for 90 minutes. Unless you’re Berbatov.
Re: Theo: I think this is across-the-board positive. If Theo becomes the player he has the potential to be, 100k is a wise investment. If he doesn’t, there’s leverage for Arsenal to at least get a decent fee off of him. Plus, I think it’s been clear that Arsene is leaving behind the more flattened pay structure, and this is a shout in that direction.
What will never cease being storage to me is that Feo just signed a deal for roughly $8 million per season, which is roughly what a good veteran reliever in baseball (not a glamor job) or the eight-best player on a decent NBA team gets paid. And yet this is considered extraordinary money by most English, in spite of the fact that the Premier League is the biggest money-making operation in the world this side of working for Goldman Sachs. It seems to me that there’s still a strong belief that the teams themselves should be in for most of the spoils, as opposed to the players, which seems at odds with a country that I perceive as being quite a bit more pro-labor than my current place of residence. If I remember the last annual statement, Theo will be paid in a year what Arsenal makes in five home gates. Call me crazy, but that doesn’t seem completely out of order.
Steve T,
I thought you asked Tesco to cook it medium Mare. π
Glad Theo signed. I believe with Theo on the right, with Podolski left and Giroud in the centre and Jack, Santi, Diaby/Arteta to support our attack, we are certainly dangerous. Fellani is also an option and great addition. Its the defence we must sort out.
Halim,
Maybe our board – and I am no great fan – recognised that no other manager would have kept us where we are, with no money to spend.
Maybe, no other manager would do the job, knowing there was no money to spend.
And, yes, the Adkins sacking is plain daft.
Back to back promotions, consolidating in the Premier League having quickly found answers to their early problems – what more can anyone do. Poor chap.
Glad Theo signed as well and I hope he will use it to give even more from himself when on the football pitch. None of this well I signed I can take it easy bollocks please!
Let’s bring on the chavs!
Cdoyle,
Numbers for American players in our sports are often difficult to compare. A bit apples to oranges. In US sports we rarely see a cash ” transfer fee. It is usually a trade of player(s) for players. Or teams wait until someone goes into free agency before picking him up.
Also, the number of basketball and baseball games compared to actual number of players on the teams results in a higher gate receipt per player and thus a bit more revenue to spread to the players. They are very different structures in my opinion.
A bit meh about Theo deal to be honest
I just hope we bring in another attacker in this window
“I have made it clear from the start that I wanted to stay at Arsenal”
So says our LANS, one Theodore (or is it Theobald?) Walcott.
Um, quick question. Is that strictly true or is it a load of platitudinous bullcrap? Has he really “made it clear” all the way through? Hmmm….
The Jenkinson legend grows. Only player at training with the bollocks to wear shorts in that weather
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/46662/arsenal-train-ahead-of-chelsea-pictures
NorCal: Certainly the idea of cash transfers instead of asset swaps differentiates the markets slightly, but this is sort of my point: It seems that football fans have less of a problem with transfer fees than salaries. Maybe my perception is off.
I’m fully aware of the vagaries of the American sports market (it used to be my job to know these things), but the differences aren’t great enough to explain the fairly massive gap between the top earners in the various sports. Lionel Messi and Ronaldo make basically $18 million apiece, and are the two most popular athletes and the two most popular teams IN THE WORLD. Dozens of American athletes make more per year in salary than either of them, some almost twice as much. That’s not down to revenue βΒ this is Barca and Real Madrid we’re talking about βΒ that’s down to a culture in which it’s expected the athletes themselves will only reap a portion of the enormous sums that are trafficked in the competition for their services.
The questions to be answered :
was the signature space on the centre or the right hand side of the page?
was the hand-writing even and true or did the ink only show in patches?
did the contract have a clause for 10 smug interviews per season?
As for 100k a week? For Theo?
Jings.
N7 @ 233
If those figures are correct, they deserve all they get (including the messiah, Twitch).
As I said earlier, some clubs……
The only positive I take from Walcott signing, is it puts to bed (for 18 months) the “selling club” blah blah that the media keep creaming in their pants about.
But 3 years is not a “long-term” contract so the whole saga will be back on the back pages before you know it…..
Sorry, not the only positive, but the main positive.
Some, will see his salary as fair market value….
Life isn’t fair, old Ma Feelgood told me manys a full moon ago….
Anyway, Theo, time to start earning the wedge, Sunday lunchtime.
Oh, and look!?
Pub-time! 8)
Cdoyle,
Points taken. I still think the structures of the leagues and markets are different enough that it is hard to compare.
As for Barca and Real, they are not run with the best efficiency in the world. I believe in the middle of the financial crisis there were thoughts that if Real defaulted on some loans the banco Santander would have owned the rights to Ronaldo and Kaka. They may be the biggest but neither is flush with cash. I believe Barca are paying for Cesc one orangina at a time.
zico @251
If he doesn’t deliver we will sell him in 12-18mo and recoup at least what we have spent on the contract extension. If he makes the progress we all wished he had already made then we will probably try to extend again or else sell him for big money.
Either way it’s better than another ‘another top player quits Arsenal to win things’ story.
Heh @ NorCal That’s a lot of Orangina for Feo to drink.
I am in a parallel universe.
England is snow-bound, and the sun was shining all day in Edinburgh.
Cold as a witch’s mammary mind…..
Tesco have just released a new range of burgers. These will be called the Fernando Torres. They are 100% pony.
Be careful the buds on the runners in your orange grove aren’t chilled by that witches tit, Zico. Will spoil the summer harvest:-)
Quite a few of my family are Rs fans
And you admit this freely? π
Kidding aside, it looks like another Pompey waiting to happen.
H2H
Very true. They all know it and were gutted when Twitchy took over: like appointing a fox as manager of a chicken coop.
Gives a bit of perspective when I hear people moaning about our situation.
When asked if they knew their beef burgers contained horse eat, the Tesco spokesman replied Neigh.
N7.
Yep, if you need your clur taken to the edge of fiscal meltdown then ‘Arry’s your man.
==
Heh Uply, at least their burgers offer a stable diet.
I’m not going to get involved in Tescoburger jokes. This is not a moral stance or a criticism (or praise) of the standard of those jokes. The decision is based purely on my inability to think of any.
Good news about Theo ‘signing da ting’. I think I’ve been becoming less and less confident that he would the longer things have dragged on. One question, however, to the bar at large:
There seems to be an acceptance that this is a 3-year contract. What’s the basis for this? The .con just says “a new long-term contract”, is this dotconspeak for three years – if so, please cite precedents – or are we all just believing the bad things we read on hostile sources, as usual?
I’m still not convinced that we’re going to sign anyone in this window. I thought the most likely signing would be a Theo replacement; that’s clearly not required now, but I will be pleasantly surprised if we actually strengthen. According to taste, you may believe that this is complacency or an indication that the club had had to make contingency plans against Theo’s possible departure and were unable to devote the effort necessary to plan for the possibility that he would stay. Of course, if it were the latter, you’d be able to complain about the club’s failure have sufficient staff to plan for all eventualities. Me, I’ll just close with
COYG
It’s getting quite white here now.
Heh at the multiple horseburger jokes.
Lot’s of white stuff around here too, Ollie.
But we’re not expecting snow until Sunday. π
I was very hungry the other day, so I had two Tesco burgers on the trot.
Lars π
I thought I had heard them all.
Anybody here do Hungarian? The preview is elsewhere tonight π
http://chelsea-fc.blog.nepsport.hu/archives/2013/01/18/Gunners_know/
Steve@213: I did remember you words about the way you handle adverse weather when I saw some pictures from England earlier today on the news π
I like the “He’s just a fat Spanish waiter”picture on that blog.
Chelsea fans are all the same, wherever they’re from. π
Holic, I did actually come up with that one myself, something which I am embarrassingly proud of π
heh H2H.
And heh ‘holic too.
And I’m certainly not clicking on that link that has ‘busstopblog’ in its name.
Lars 267.
Did you bolt them down?
You’re my translator, Ollie π
H2H, I did but I didn’t like the taste of them so I got a bit sulky.
π
‘h Google Translate does a fine job on that blog. So fine, in fact, that you feel you might be able almost to understand it if you just made the effort.
Today Swindon, tomorrow Budapest, next week THE WORLD
Mwah ha ha ha hahhhhh
I think all these horse burger jokes are pony ( that’s pony & trap rhyming slang for non Londoners
Oxon knows π
Oxon..you are back home ok from N.Lincs ?
I would hate to think the drawn out saga of “sign da ting” has any bearing on any other transfer activity or apparent lack of fit . If Theo had not signed, perhaps they would have then gone out and looked to purchase a replacement , if such a player was available ( maybe Zaha),
Personally, I still believe the squad needs strengthening in some areas but it appears our management may prefer to go with what we have already. If this remains the case until the window closes, it’s looks like a big gamble to me. Although it is not the best time to buy new stock during the winter window, I would be surprised if no “super quality” players were available, particularly bearing in mind the poor financial position of many clubs. Is the will there or is it a case of old habits die hard.
@ 259
Spoke too soon – blizzard in the Seat of Kings.
So bad, I couldn’t go straight home and have sought some shelter in the Elizabethan π
π
Back home safe and sound thanks Upply. I’ve been having a happy rant about how the weather reports I was listening to didn’t resemble the conditions I was driving through that closely, but I’ll spare you most of it. Suffice it to say that the M1 was snowy, but by no means undriveable. I appreciate that others may have had different experiences.
I’ve got to disagree with you about whether or not Theo signing a new contract has any bearing on the club’s transfer activity, but perhaps you didn’t mean to say what I thought I’d read.
I do agree that the squad could be strengthened, you wouldn’t have to twist my arm much to get me to say that the squad needs strengthening, but not at any price.
I’m afraid the tired old argument that bringing in a new player means not being able to play another one who is already in the squad, who is younger and needs the game time still carries some weight with me.
It saddens me to see respected, and respectable, posters here repeating the same old selective quotes that can be seen all over the meeja and the blogosphere.
I see that old Walrus Face made some remarks about penalties following the Spammers match at Old Toilet on Wednesday night and has now been charged by the FA.
I’ve got to sympathise with them – should they charge media darling Allardyce or should they allow someone to go unpunished after drawing attention to apparent refereeing inconsistencies in favour of Chewy McP.
I can’t say I’m surprised with the way they jumped, but it was a nasty position they found themselves in.
Presumably they’ll find a way to make it up to Fat Sam next week.
(Can’t keep two rants to myself, I might do myself a mischief :-))
I’ve heard they’ve opened a new Tesco’s in Canterbury.
I’ll buy it, Toby…
Have they really?
Chickens FC? WTF?
Sorry ’bout that joke. Wasn’t too far fetched (since Lars already started talking about gaits) but it just wasn’t funny. I just had to saddle up to show off my knowledge when it comes to gaits. That is what you get for trying to make hay…
Haha, cheers Oxon. Seriously. Getting acceptance for that is unexpected.
Thassit, ‘nite all.
I actually do ride from time to time. Mostly on icelandic horses. Yes, they are a tad smaller than your ordinary warm blood, but they’ve got two extra gaits – tΓΆlt (like a walk, but as fast as a canter) and flying pace (like camels, moving both feet at one side of the body at the same time). Makes it a bit more interesting! It’s not just about going faster and slower but actually hitting the right buttons to get into the right gait as well. I’d recommend it for all you armchair generals.
Yeah, but how do they taste?
Like they’ve got no footballing brain.
The horse burgers were also found in Iceland frozen food stores….most appropriate Toby. π
Guess you end up with a dose of the trots. Ahh 300 approaches…hooves it upfield ……
Or even hoofs it upfield …..
Hehe, actually, on Iceland they’re quite liberal about eating their horses. It’s not a big deal which I kind of like. They don’t raise horses just to be slaughtered but if they are a bit strange they eat them instead of selling them on to some poor chap. Makes for healthier horses and healthier meat than we’ve got in most other parts of Europe I’d say.
As long as no-one tries to pull a “spurs”-joke, please, continue on the current theme.
I don’t want any jokes about Pepe REINa either. That or a any jokes about SPURS would really stirupp trouble.
What the heck. I don’t usually get cared here.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!
*Takes the yellow, whacks himself on the buttock with a whip, runs away into the sunset*
Nice one Toby π
Arthur, think on a basketball π
Well in Toby….you may be grilled by the Dubious Goal Committee though. You seemed to rather enjoy the whipping π
Missed the self assist. I may have to delete some posts, but then I would be guilty π
Touch of the Wolfie’s there @301, Toby.
“cared” should’ve been “carded” and thank you ‘Holic and Uply.
And if I do have to present my case before the DGC, I guess I will just have to promise to mind my MANEers.
God. Now the jokes are really bad. Just can’t stop it with the TINKERign.
I need more wine. Yes. That’s the solution.
I’ll get some more liquid red and a fag, be back in a few. Not ready to make nice nor go to bed, so I hope to have something to work with when I come back. And yes, NBN, I felt that as well.
For your imbibing pleasure….
http://www.chicksaddlery.com/page/CDS/PROD/9900/GWB925?
Match preview. Worth the read for the second sentence of the third paragraph and the third and fourth sentences of the final paragraph.
http://www.footballeconomy.com/content/two-funding-models-clash-bridge
Glad Theo signed! I have a feeling we might see one more person come in this window as well.
NBN, that is SO bloody tacky.
…hoofever, I do kind of like the bottle holder.
And CoR, I’m sure we’re going to sign one player during this window.
Having that said I’m not sure it will be Cavalry… eh… Cavani.
NBN….interesting read. I suspect the gang of 4 are making sure that while the focus of Platini’s FFP is on the front door, they are covering any escape route the Oligarchs will try to make though the back door.
As for the centurion not expecting to see the Arse dominating the football scene as in the 1930s, for sure nothing in the foreseeable future but who can predict where the game will be in 10 yrs or more and will the financial position of some of the top clubs be solvent?
Just seen the whole Swansea game again, and we were even better than I thought on Wednesday. Sure, it was a weakened Swansea side but we never gave them the chance to breathe, particularly in the second half. It may be a coincidence, but it looked like the more defined 4-2-3-1 formation helped us win a hell of a lot more balls higher up the pitch because we were almost never overrun in midfield. Either the Coq or Diaby were more or less always there to mop up or at least delay Swansea long enough for the rest of the team to re-shape. I hope we play the same formation on Sunday, this could quite possibly be the way forward.
Yo!
What’s up?
Glad all the horseplay is over…
[sorry…]
BMBD
Snir – your thoughts about the AFC Conference Championship. Will TB#12 defy the Right Reverend Ray in his “ordained” Superbowl ring?
Good to see you CoR.
BMBD
Hey everyone! Good to see you too!
Is the snow going to affect our fixtures this weekend?
While postponing games would lighten our January I reckon it would destroy some other month so hope nothing gets cancelled…
Good to see you a bit more lonestar and Cor. Hope the snow does not postpone the match. Chelski have looked beatable again and have internal striff. January looks to be our toughest month. If we can climb out of January in good shape I feel we can get a good run going.
Cheers
Just my opinion department:
If Theo Walcott had been playing for another club and we signed him today, it would be heralded widely as the start of Arsenal getting on the right road.
Been checking out this player we signed today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idOJUIYintc
I laughed when I saw that his goal against Chelsea was number 1 8ball! That goal was hilarious. Hope he gets some more against the blue bastards this weekend.
Alreet, I’m off to work on some comic illustrations for my portfolio.
Catch youse lot later…
Bt8b@322: several against Chelski. Hope that is a good omen.
Lars @314: looked more like 4-2-2-2 for much of the better passages of play, a modern version of the old AW favorite, 4-4-2.
Uplympian@313: in a 100 years, the big four will probably be from the metropolis states of London, Shanghai, New York and SΓ£o Paulo.
Theo has done a smart deal. Three and a half more years for AW to turn him into the finished product of the world-class striker he thinks he already is, then a big-money move at 26-27 just as he hits his prime years, either to a Prem money bags or a top European side. Three more seasons at a second top club in Europe, if not quite so top, lucrative but playing less. Then with his pace going in his early thirties a final big-money move to an emerging league, either the U.S. or Asia. If he had left now, without finishing school, he’d just end up as another Jermaine Pennant.
Howdy, Norcal.
Just saw the Oprah interview. Lance is such a pustule. Needs more lancing.
BMBD
Let me get this straight.
Nigel Adkins,Southampton manager with the best winning percentage of any previous manager of the Club since God was a boy,is summarily sacked,after a run of only 2 defeats in the last 12 games,and a great point at Chelsea on wednesday,coming from 2 goals down.
Grubby Chairman,[nowhere to be seen by the way,when Adkins gets the chop ] says decision was made ‘ to secure the long term future and stability of the Club’.
Replaced by,?? an unknown Argy whose claim to fame is to be sacked by Espanyol after guiding them to the bottom of La Liga.!!
So not only have they hired a new manager,they now have to hire a full time interpreter to translate,as his English is non existent.
Absolutely staggering.
Ned: I’d rather say it transformed into 4-1-3-2 on a few occasions because when Theo went a bit further up one of Diaby and the Coq pushed up a bit but then again you could call it a 4-2-2-2 (or more precisely 2-4-2-2 or even 2-2-4-2 when the full-backs really pushed on) as well I guess. But the main formation was 4-2-3-1, and the main thing is that if we play this well we’ll be in with a very good chance of beating Chavski π
(I am of course not expecting us to hammer Chelsea in the way we hammered Swansea, but if we play in the same way with the same attitude then we will certainly create enough to give us a good number of scoring chances.)
Sweeper, “staggering” is indeed the word to describe it.
Wouldn’t have happened at the Ramblers Clive.
I hope they go down now.
Morning all,
NBN @327 – hopefully, if Theo refuses to sign in good and proper time, next time, he will be sold long before that 3 1/2 years is up – in fact, just 18 short months from now, and long before he is 26 or 27.
In the meantime, count me right out of any speculation !!! π
Indeed Clive, absolutely staggering.
And so is Zico – probably. π
I don’t, Steve T. There are so many more teams I’d like to get relegated.
It doesn’t deter from the utter stupidity of that dcision.
Morning all,
Decidedly wintry in the souwest. Where vehicles travelled yesterday are now frozen tracks on the side roads. We are praying the shopping arrives, but preparing the huskies to go and fetch some π
Blimey,
As I finish typing the shopping appears, van gingerly reversed to the gate.
Well played Mr Sainsbury!
I thought we’d sold Van Gingerly already.
Good stuff, ‘holic. Bon appΓ©tit! π
@ 334
Not quite staggering. Slipping, yes.
But then it was a blizzard π
Nice to have a large American/Other Side of the Pacific Continent in the Bar this early morning, long time since Snir, CoR, Lonestar & NorCal were in the bar together. NBN, are you in America right now?
This is apparently a message Adkins left for the Southampton players:
https://twitter.com/SimonPeach/status/292381833591664640/photo/1
I have JUST understood Toby’s “new Tesco’s in Canterbury” joke @286. 15 bloody hours it’s taken me! I must have been more tired after driving home yesterday than I thought. (Sorry to bring this subject up again.)
I see that we still believe that Theo’s new deal is for three-and-a-half-years. Again, why? Pravda simply says “a long-term deal”.
Oxon;
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21078962
H2H, thanks for the Beeb link.
Before the announcement, there was, if not a general feeling, then at least a significant minority view, that it would be official when, and only when, it appeared on the .con. The same criterion is always applied to transfers.
The official source says Theo’s new contract is “long term”. Therefore, I believe it is “long-term”. I’m happy to accept that three-and-a-half years is generally described as long term. If someone can tell me that Pravda specifies the length of all contract up to three years and all contacts longer than four years, then I’ll happily accept that Theo’s new contract will, indeed, run for three-and-a-half years, but until then I am disappointed to watch fans constructing tenuous theories based around that specific length of contract.
The BBC article doesn’t mention any sources. I therefore consider it speculation. The article includes a review of other recent transfer activity which is generally considered to have weakened the squad. I therefore consider it to be hostile.
I beg all drinkers here not to base their whole view of Arsenal FC on hostile speculation.
(I feel I’m back near to peak ranting form. YMMV)
Cheers, Wind.
Groceries delivered, ‘Holic? Now THAT is advanced capitalism.:LOL:
Ready for us to roll Chel$ki on the morrow.
COYRRRs
BMBD
When we all get to peak ranting form. Is that when Arsenal move to the top of the table? And what is the exact causal effect in play here? π
Huskies resting after bringing the groceries home to ‘holic’s place:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-szvKI6SY-Lk/TXdqG9EyAuI/AAAAAAAADJo/65EEc1HPwQg/s1600/alaskan-huskies.jpg
Oxon,
Personally I have based any comment I have made, which accepts Theo’s contract as being 3 1/2 years, on the BBC articles. I believe they maintain some vestige of impartiality and are not automatically hostile towards AFC.
Personally, too, I have said I don’t want to start even considering speculation as to what may ………….
In the meantime, do allow yourself to relax now and then and try not to base your whole view of all Arsenal fans as hostile to the club.
They’re not, you know, despite the odd nutter.
Just sayin’ ……… π
Trev,
You’re suggesting I try to shake off my persecution complex, aren’t you? It’s a big ask…
Missed all the early posts *damn*
Just like to add, what a fantastic 2nd half performance by the lads.
Jack was outstanding and I am delighted for him, after such a long lay off I will admit I was worried he would not return the same player. Game after game he is getting stronger and better.
Bring on Chelski !
Afternoon all,
Heck of a back drink. Excellent stuff from all the usual suspects.
Funny old week. Kos shooting us in the foot on Sunday followed by a much needed win on Wednesday. Loved the deployment of both Santi and Jack in the front 3 behind the striker – gave us much more fluidity than we have had of late.
Theo signed. Blimey I got that one spectacularly wrong! As usual!
That shouldn’t stop us from shopping,(we are self-evidently short), but agree with The Sweeper when he said the other day that the likelihood is that the money will probably be better spent in the Summer.
As for Southampton, words fail me.
Welcome back Tabs,
Agreed about the fluid formation. I have to admit I was a bit bemused after the Swansea game to see so many comments, so enthusiastic, about our formation(s), ‘cos I was there and couldn’t really think what our ‘formation’ had been.
That second half was almost back to the AFC version of total football, and even the first half saw Thomas Vermaelen cutting in off the left wing to cross the ball.
And whilst not ‘blind AKBish’, that second half certainly convinced me that AW has not ‘ lost the dressing room ‘.
Square pegs in square holes.
Funny what that can do.
Cheers Trev and indeed re the square pegs. Thought Santi looked happier out wider than he has done for a while, though in the second half he seemed to pop up everywhere.
Jack rightly took all the plaudits for his stellar performance, but ‘Holic knows. Santi was, in a less obvious way, equally impressive. His instant control, his balance and his ability to spray the ball out wide with both feet remain wondrous. Our new 100k man could also learn a thing or two from him about trying to win the ball back when it’s lost.
Indeed Tabs and Trev.
If the players we have are utilised in their, let’s say, prefered positions (not you Theo) then this team could be a lot stronger then we have seen over the last few months, tomorrows line up will tell us what AW has learned, if anything, from the Swansea clash.
I’m off to see some live footy myself tonight, one of my punters has a season ticket for AZ and his neighbour can’t make it tonight so I’ll be filling in for him. AZ Alkmaar v Vitesse Arnhem, kick off at 20:45, no idea what to expect, but unlike in the U.K it’s permitted to drink beer on the terraces, that’s all I needed to know. π
Afternoon folks. Some excellent posts above, and some top horse puns as well. And hear hear Tabs and Trev about the square pegs – couldn’t agree more.
Very glad the news that Da Ting being signed seems to be being generally welcomed. Personally I’m delighted – one more replica shirt I can still wear π
Trev – per your point about the allegation made by some that AW has “lost the dressing room” I caught an interesting piece on the SSN website yesterday morning, before the signing was announced, and apologies if anyone has shared already (I haven’t done a full back drink yet):
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/12040/8403305/Striking-ambition
I realise all players have to be careful what they say about their current Managers, but Feo’s comments about who he listens to, and his comments about the Boss, certainly seem seem genuine and heartfelt. That the players recognise all the crap the Boss has to deal with when they screw up is very heartening. Look forward to them all doing something, errr, consistently consistent about it…
Anyone else visiting the Bus Stop tomorrow?
H2H, enjoy the football (and the beers) tonight.
Snowy, enjoy the football tomorrow. Wrap up warm. I shall be all nice and snug in the away juicer of choice. π
Tabs @ 356 = lightweight π
π
I want a mauling of the Chavs! A mauling..
Hey Snowy,
Keep warm. There might just be a little celebration tomorrow to assist. π
Oh, and somewhat relieved all the horse puns are finished.
No longer feel handicapped by the need to chase Lars, pun for pun. For a few days though it did make quite a grand, national passtime, that many people were joining in.
Still, it didn’t last fur-long.
Just out for a meal at the moment, and it seems they want to take my starters orders.
Hey Snowy, if it’s too cold at the bus stop tomorrow, you’ll all have to hurdle together. π
Snowy, with the weather conditions, nobody will notice you’re there! π
Horse puns mane ever stop.
Pie and mash, yum >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>