Nacho’s Starter Satisfies Gunners Hunger For Points
Mar 16th, 2013 by 'holic
A mixed day for the English in South Wales ended with the Arsenal supporters enjoying their journey back across the bridges rather more than the rugby union fans. Aaron Ramsey in particular will be savouring the events of the day. The former Cardiff City player came on for the final twenty minutes at the Liberty Stadium with the score goal-less and played a key part in the Gunners clincher.
Arsenal started brightly and just five minutes in the recalled Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was denied an opener by the crossbar. Swansea have a well-earned reputation for playing the game the right way and it is no surprise that they too had a couple of half chances, but first Rangel and then Michu failed to hit the target. At the other end Santi Cazorla was denied by the excellent Vorm before the Ox struck the bar once again.
I had the advantage of watching a half decent stream made all the better by the lack of any commentary, just the noise of the crowd, most of which was coming from the magnificent travelling Gooners. I don’t know what the ‘professionals‘ were making of it, but my take was that the Ox was looking the liveliest player on the park in the opening half. Santi Cazorla too looked back to his most influential, but thereafter our most solid perfomers were in the back five.
A word for Abou Diaby who appeared to be getting some stick on social media sites. I totally understood that but I also have to feel for the big man who is still trying to get himself back up to the pace of the Premiership after so many lay-offs courtesy, I’m sure, of one diabolical Dan Smith challenge. He didn’t actually do much wrong, but his lack of urgency due to rustiness is giving people a rod to beat him with. Providing he steers clear of Twitter that seventy minutes this afternoon will not have harmed him.
The second half provided more of the same. In the end the stats will tell you Arsenal shaded all of the most important numbers, but with less than twenty minutes to go that looked like being scant consolation. The arrival of Gervinho and Rambo for the tiring Oxlade-Chamberlain and Diaby gave us an extra burst of energy. Before long we had the advantage that was so vital with Tottenham and Chelsea facing home matches tomorrow. Giroud took a couple of attempts to control a Cazorla cross and Nacho Monreal notched his first Arsenal goal with a deflected effort past Vorm.
The single goal margin could have caused more nerves on another day, but in time added on the Gunners were rewarded with a second, Gervinho applying the finish having been put clear by Ramsey. That was a great moment for a couple of players who have been rounded on at different points of the season.
After the final whistle Arsene Wenger summed up the importance of the result.
“We will know at the end of the season how important this win is, but we knew as well the win was absolutely vital for us…We kept going and refused to drop points. The players knew what was expected.”
This was on paper as tough an away fixture as remains for us. Just four are left, plus five at home. Doubtless there are twists and turns ahead as pressure builds, but for this weekend we have done all we can. Props to the manager and his players for that. We could ask no more.
266 Responses to “Nacho’s Starter Satisfies Gunners Hunger For Points”
Top of the shop!
2nd!
Returns to sneak third
Played “h.
Big WYN!
Basking.
Pardon -“‘h”
Splendid result and performance,against a good side. Good also to see Liverpool continue thier help,although Everton not feeling as generous.
Flipper has been remarkably good in his two recent cameo’s.
First rain here in Auckland for two months — hope the test match survives.
Nice write up Guv!
*dons top hat and tattooed gown*
8) U Reds.
Good stuff ‘holic, was the first really deflected? I didn’t notice.
Ox did indeed look lively, not afraid to have a shot either, but must work on his passing, he gave away possession cheaply on a number of occasions, but we’ll let that slid for today.
I thought Swansea started a lot better then us and almost caught us out a few times with through balls, but we got better as the game progressed and ran out deserved winners in the end.
Kos was top at the back, Fabby had one rush of blood, completly misjudging a cross, but he’s now two clean sheets for two and you can’t ask for more then that.
MotM for me was Santi, he was majestic, much more influential when he starts in the atacking midfield role.
I can understand the frustration around Diaby. He can go from subliem to frustratingly awful in seconds, sometimes it’s like watching two completly different players, it’s madening. The real issue is that he’s never really ready, he always comes straight into the team even though he’s visably rusty, plays a game and a half and is out again, that’s no good for the team and I think that’s why the sympathy is starting to dry up. I’ve said it before and I’m sorry, but I think it’s high time we pulled the plug on Project Diaby unless he can prove that he has what it takes to get a serious run of games under his belt and not the start stop start stop sequences we’ve been getting over the last few years.
Still back to the positives and there were many, most of all the clean sheet (luv it) and the three crispy, nouriting, dreamy, lubbly jubbly points. 27 more up for grabs and we can get them all.
COYG’s.
We were the people of the Beltane, Dr z π
Heh π
Drink!
Nice one H2H…
The two diabys are abou and terrence trent. I don’t like it when the later turns up to play.
Cheers Guv’.
Heh Pip. I suppose we’ll have to lower our Great Expectations. π
Nice one ‘h!
A good all-round performance to follow a top performance in Munich. Bodes well for a strong finish to the season and CL qualy!
A word on the back 5: Capable!
Sadly we’ve now got to contend with another international hiatus just when the lads are getting a head of steam on. Hopefully the resumption against Reading will return a fully fit squid with the same momentum. COYBGs!
By the way ‘holic, like H2H states, I don’t think there was a deflection to Nachos morsel contribution today; he kicked it into the ground and bounced over the on-rushing swans past Vorm! The scuffed ones always seem to Nestle in the Corner! Yummy!
A fully fit “squad” too! π
Relief, is what I feel most after having survived another close one. Not close in that they threatened our goal very often, but there was the feeling all the way through that someone was going to cock-up and gift them one. Which always tends to encourage opposition…
I must have been feeling the tension cos my neighbour rang and asked was I all right? It was Sunday morning here as I watched the (recorded) game over my breakfast, and apparently my ‘frustration’ could be clearly heard through two brick walls and the garden space between us!
As for the game no-one was particularly outstanding. Jenks had a good game, but nearly did gift them one. Diaby was less diab(y)olical than usual (but why was he there anyway?). Ox was bright and threatening, so why was he, not Theo, subbed? Theo seemed to spend the game dreaming of whatever Mel had promised him as a special treat for his birthday. The defence went awol less often than they sometimes do. Another blank sheet for the older Pole between the poles, well done that man.TR had his usual strong game on the bench…
Pool and Mansewer lost (2nd place still a possibility?), but Everton didn’t and they’re still within 2 points and playing well.
Please, Arsene, spare my nerves and buy some top quality in the summer. What we have is good, but not good enough by our own standards (that is by standards you yourself set when you first arrived). Rumour has you have a Β£70m kitty available. Spend it on 3-4 players and we’ll be fine. I wouldn’t even dream of suggesting who you should buy. You know a bargain when you see one … just find us a Β£30m striker bargain, a bargain DMF for Β£15, and any combination of Β£25m for a bargain CD and keeper, okay?
Oskar
Oh Holic, thanks for throwing a little love AW’s way. Truly believe he looks at his lads as more than a commidity (Diaby). My supervisor at work follows Arsenal. He says “Arsenal are a good team”. By God, we are. Bursting with pride, Holic.
Cheers for the report holic,happy st Patrick’s day to all 3 points in the bag thank you v much.how can chambo be tired after 70 mins?pampered.com.he should be still running.
Great day out, great result.
Two clean sheets, for our best ‘keeper, in a week.
Nicely done.
Nice one H, thanks.
Failed as usual to find a working stream and relied on titbits from SSN.
Now for MotD (ugh) and then a bit of Sky.
Don’t care, at all, how good or bad we were. We won. End of.
Alright Tone.
Glad you had a good one. Wish I had come π
Really think the clean sheets come from a little more organization at the back, players tracking back, not to mention Kos in there…with a little luck have you…but Fab has done the job. I think we only gave away one free kick just outside the box which is good to see.
Still don’t understand why Rosicky isn’t in there, makes no sense to me whatsoever. Nothing against the Ox or Diaby (well, maybe) but we are at the point of the season where we need to drive the knife in and TR7 is the man for the job in my view. He presses the ball and is clinical going forward, much more aggressive for me.
Hopefully everyone comes back from the break without any body “breaks”.
COYR!!
One thing to add before we’re up on MotD, I thought the ref did really well today, controlled the game and as often as possible let it flow, solid performance. (don’t get to say that often)
Valid point H2H. That mean looking ref @ Bayern, disrupted the flow of our game!
Just celebrated with a couple of Slovenian lagers, not my usual tipple but I can`t get down the pub `till tomorrow. To join the Diaby debate, he`s a brilliant player at his best, but we haven`t been getting the returns from him for some time now. Will someone enlighten me as to how long his contract has to run.
Why do I watch MotD ?
We’re on last or second last, as usual, and Alan Shearer has less of note to say than my sofa.
Is he taking license payer’s money for this ?
Last couple of games we have seen some steely determination in our defense..Also fair play to the team spirit. Szcz celebrating with Lukasz.
That is the way we should be playing.
Biscuitbum (adore your moniker!), I don’t know about Diaby’s contract, but I thought he improved as the game went on. TR and him are totally different in style and approach. Pace the former and calm assurance the latter.
MOTD`s pundits are now so poor they spoil the show, and I actually press mute when that prick Savage is on. No wonder Lee jumped ship.
Cheers Arsa.
Alan is Shear er, crap.
Trev, I was just thinking the same, his analysis, if you can even call it that, is almost child like, Stevie Wonder could see the shit he’s pointing out, pathetic.
How shit were L’poo and Manure? π
Oh, here we go.
Ooh, penultimate game we are. Such an honour.
MOTD – Here we go………
Hi Trev. Sajit good to see you back here. Call me goofy, but I really believe that the holics might just be the X factor in our winning the remaining fixtures. I believe the players do read blogs (wouldn’t you) and are looking for honest, constructive feedback.
Cheers ‘holic. Good piece.
Nice report Holic onwards and upwards and 3 nice very important points in the bag, lets hope this is a long unbeaten run to the end of the season.
Biscuitbum@26 Is that the famous Lasko your drinking?
“A word for Abou Diaby who appeared to be getting some stick on social media sites.”
Goodbye?
π
Spoilt us they have.
It’s all over! π
Hey, they didn’t say how long it is since we won anything.
Anybody know ? π
Hi nurse, I’m over to Sky now for the extended highlights.
It’s not something they like to talk about, Trev.
Hey H2H,
L’poo were awful and ManUre struggled to beat our next opponents at The Ems.
Shearer is a disgrace. Bloody buffoon.
Perry Groves on Sky.
Much better.
Ah, thank goodness.
“The last time Arsenal needed the key to the trophy cabinet was in 2005”.
I was wondering. Wankers.
The last time a commentator didn’t say how long it was since we’ve won a trophy was eight years ago. π
Whisper it softly but RvP has not scored for like 8 games now (I think).
Maybe the longest inform run in the history of footie is coming to a close π
Natched up!
So drunk i barely got home. Good win against good opposition. 100% satisfied. At least by football.
I saw santi at his best, held my breath a bit longer as i saw gerv score(he can do that?), then i saw the scoreboard say 2 to the arsenal, how about that. Payback’s a b*@#!
We have cut Diaby so much slack because of hat awful injury but it was in May 2006 just a week before Lasagnegate(part1)- we may need part 2 later this season.thats nearly 7 years of frustration and disappointment. And that’s just us!
Sadly ( and it is very sad) we have to face the fact that his lack of ability to stay fit will ultimately mean he can’t ever get up to and stay at the level we need him to be at. So I would bid him a reluctant farewell or sell him to Spurs. I still believe in Ramsey though.
Sp*rs scare yet?
*scared
Pfft
I think putting Diaby in the same class as Adebayor or Bentley or other noxious cunts we’ve sold to Sp*rz, indirectly or otherwise, is monstrously unfair.
Morning all,
Esso knows…
Yeah, agreed with Esso there. I have weak spot for Abou because as Arsene said, that lad did nothing wrong. He has great attitude, does everything he should on this level. He has only been victim of an atrocious assault..that is his only “sin”.
He has shown what player he can be at the start of the season and I have no problem with giving him more time to prove he can be still valuable asset (remember what was written all over the internet about TR7 before his last years rejuvenation?).
What irks me a bit though that right now we are in the crucial part of the season and Abou is everything but in form, while we have a player who, so far this season, did not put foot wrong when he played sitting on a bench who is capable giving our side exactly what it misses in absence of Jack.
why don’t my drinks appear?
ah it works now, it didn’t seem to like my other fake address.
It was a wet but happy weekend!
Agreed about what you said about Diaby too, ‘holic.
(even if I think there’s little chance of him having a prolonged period of fitness so have given up on his Arsenal career)
No room in the car to pick you up yesterday π
Two 2-0 victories abroad in a week, not bad π
Now for another dreaded interlull…
Is it not St Paddy’s day?
I exceptionally see no mention here, on arseblog, on twitter, anywhere!
No Guinness for ‘holic.
I think that’s what a happy win does to people though, forget about everything else.
Will be celebrating ‘Let’s get pissed’ day later, Ollie π
Those with eagle eyes should be able to spot me and WestStandStone on match of the day.
Just before the first goal on the replay (though to be fair. you’d probably need to know where we are).
And after the final whistle, though you have to get the timing right to see me as I get quickly hidden in the hug with Tone and Fishwick then you can only see the top of my head.
Good stuff, ‘holic!
Another away game to opponents who don’t lose many at home, another solid 2-0 win, and another solid defensive performance from just about the entire team. Flappy didn’t have a single save to make, and bar that Michu effort, could have stepped away for an Irish coffee to combat the wind and rain. π
All in all, bar a slightly disappointing game from Theo, we did what we had to and got the job done. Rambo and Gervinho combining for the clincher was a nice touch from the football gods, given how much flak they’ve both copped this season.
We go into the interlull on the back of two away victories, two clean sheets, and much to be happy about. We do not have to stew in our own bile and anger about a disappointing defeat or draw, and I’ll wager the likes of the Daily Fail will send their anti-Arsenal machinery into overdrive seeking to manufacture fake stories to get hits.
Now, all we need is for Fulham to do us a favour a rip loose another bolt from the sp*ds’ wheels, and the weekend would have been as perfect as can be.
Onwards and upwards.
Top o’ the
morningafternoon to ya all on this most green white and orange of days.Definetly wouldn’t put Diaby in the noxious cunts catergory, still think he’s taking up a team place that could be utilised better.
Ah Ollie’s at chez Woo, that explains something I saw on the Arses of Tim Stillmans column that confused me. (mrswoo- Ollie actualy)
So, cheering on Fat Sam’s and Shrek Jol’s teams today. It’s a dirty job………
Afternoon all,
Anticipating this afternoon’s London derbies with a degree of calm, but cheering on Sam Allardyce – blimey, this is getting confusing.
The old brain is only just getting over hearing a load of L’pool names playing against a team in all red on MotD last night.
And how bad was that programme. Plumbing new depths every week.
I think I’m still drunk.
Just thought I’d let you know.
Trev’
Yesterdays MoTD means that all standards of badness will have to be remeasured. Not only was the bottom of the barrel scraped, it was sanded down, penetrated and probed undeneath to find a new layer of awful, and that’s me just being kind.
Al Sher ah, the pundit/terorist hell bent on destroying any shred of credability that show still had, was so stale, so boringly one dimensional, so infintile in his observations that he made Dion Dublin seem to have the intellegence of Stephen Hawking, at one point I even started to imagine, god forgive me, how much better the programme would of been if Lily Savage was there instead. *shudders*
It’s like watching a horrific motorway pile up, you know it’s going to be bad and you should avert your eyes to save yourself the future nightmares, yet still some morbid part of you feels compelled to watch.
The one solace I can find is that I live abroad and don’t have to pay a tv licence, I’d be even more pissed if my tax money was been used to keep that couch potato in shirts.
Happy St Patties, Holic n holics ! π Delighted to see holics we haven’t heard from,in awhile π Have a terrific day, everyone !
Yesterday was one of those days that you’ve gotta love. A damp miserable day that made the tight confines of the Away Juicer of choice all the more welcoming.
There is no rhyme nor reason that dictates whether the juicer will be full. The biggest games are sometimes ignored whilst other run o’ the mill games can bring the crowds out. Yesterday, the Juicer was full to overflowing and the experience all the better for it.
I have to say I was slightly surprised at the line up Arsene went for. I had mused beforehand that the Ox might get a run out, but Diaby’s inclusion and Rosicky’s omission was, if not baffling, then certainly an eyebrow raiser. Oh to be a fly on the wall at London Colney.
I thought the first half was a great advert for Premiership football with both teams trying to play on the deck in difficult conditions. At this stage of the Season, however,I have no interest in great adverts. It is all about the 3 points. Swansea shaded the half in my eyes. One could only admire their willingness to close down high up the pitch whilst always foraging for openings. I thought the two clear opportunities they created were much more than half-chances, and on another day would have at least forced Fabianski into action. Swansea’s period of dominance was however bookended by two tremendous efforts from the Ox who looked lively and played on the front foot throughout. As the half drew to a close we were just beginning to establish ourselves as the more dynamic side.
At half time I wasn’t sure what to think. I had thought that we were largely second best and was perturbed that we were not pressing high enough up the pitch, seemingly content to allow Swansea to come onto us. On those rare occasions when we had harried them in their half, a Cazorla piledriver and a chaotic passage of play in their area in which Theo should have done better had both almost resulted in goals.
Second half was a different story. Swansea tired, and we bossed it from start to finish. Jenks recovered from a suicidal pass in the first half which might, and perhaps should, have resulted in Swansea taking the lead, to put in a series of inviting crosses. Kos and the Bfg had locked our back door. Arteta and Diaby kept Swansea pinned in their half for long periods.
At the heart of everything was Santi. Man of the match by a country mile in my eyes. Those wondrous feet of his were constantly to the fore, always wriggling out of tight situations and never surrendering possession.
Half chances came and went, and it was just getting to that time when the clock in the left hand corner of the screen had ceased to be a friend. Ramsey and Gervinho were now on, and whilst Arsene can now point to the score with a knowing smile, I freely admit that at the time I was one of those wondering aloud why the Ox had made way instead of Theo and why, yet again, Rosicky was not being utilised.
Diaby got a lot of stick in the Pub. I personally thought he had a good game. A lot of tidy work in midfield was overlooked because he failed to find an end product after a couple of mazy runs. For what it’s worth, I’d keep him, even if we are only to get 15 or 20 games from him. Our mistake I think, is a reliance on him with no similar back up when his fitness is never going to be better than iffy. Go out and buy a replacement Arsene, keep Diaby, sit back and watch them fight it out.
I was in mid curse at Giroud taking the ball off Theo’s(?) toe, when Nacho scuffed the ball home. Cue a proper old-fashioned celebratory bundle. Wide-eyed grins, flying Beer, and manly bear hugs all took place to a soundtrack of guttural noise. The little pocket of hitherto smug LWCs retreated to their corner suitably silenced.
I was fully prepared for the usual gut-wrenching last 10 minutes when we’re hanging on. In the event it didn’t happen, we kept the ball well and other than a couple of minor scares the time passed in relative comfort. Fitting then that it was the two much maligned subs who broke away to provide the icing on the cake. Hands up all those who thought he’d miss? Hand up here.
He didn’t. Well played Gerve the Swerve. The acclaim that the second goal brought was one of relief, an acknowledgement that for yesterday at least, there would be no sting in the tail. A job well done. One down, nine to go.
A good day.
Martin Jol, do us a favour today, and I promise not to call you a fat ugly troll for at least two days. There I said it.
Before I forget …
“2-0 to the Arsenal for those of you feeling optimistic. 1-0 to the Arsenal for those of you not feeling quite so chipper.”
Think it’s only the second one I’ve got right all season, so have to make the most of it!
I am available for Palm readings all week.
Come on the Cottagers!
Nice one tabs.
*posted while admitedly nodding to the Gerv hand up question.*
Haha, Cheers H2H.
Wolfie,
Cottagers and Irons this afternoon. Think I may need another pseudonym. π
Strange indeed that we let come onto us in the first half, as I heard AW saying that we would play the same game as in Munich and press them up the pitch.
Not surprised, by the way, to see anyone earning compliments from your good self for “foraging for openings”.
Some things never change ….. π
Hand up here too, by the way.
I still thought he was going to miss it on the replay ! π
Heh
*raises hand*
Trev – A few hehs there, Haha π
Afternoon Lars.
HT LWCs 0-0. Crap game. Bale hobbling. All good so far.
*Hand up here as well*
Both, actually. Indicating that if the goalkeeper had spilled it I thought he would have missed the second time as well. So well done Gerv!
Fulham won’t win this game. Just can’t see that happening. But clingint to the belief it might end in a draw!
It’s like there’s a Mexicam wave going on with all the simultaneous hands being raised here. π
Afternoon tabs, enjoyed your account of the game. I don’t, however, find the decision to not play Rosicky very baffling at all because he probably can’t handle playing two games in such quick succession. I also think Arsene got the subs spot on, Gervinho and Ramsey changed the game slightly but decisively in our favour and to then bring on Gibbs to shut down their right wing was a good move.
Fair points Lars.
The point you make about Rosicky is a good one.
As for the subs, I have to agree with you that they all worked well. At the time however, I was doubtful. Shows what I know!
Agree with you Toby. Hope that Fulham show a bit more adventure this half, and that Berbatov finally remembers that he’s now playing for Fulham rather than Tottenham.
You can all put your hands down now! π
Excellent report, Mr Holic. These days I opt invariably for either i) no commentary and splendid silence or ii) television with ArsenalPlayer commentary – biased as hell, of-course, but the kind of bias that brings with it a feeling of shared joy (or woe – I don’t listen to the woe though).
Very splendid week. A great pleasure to meet up with Lars, the beautiful Anna and Ollie the irrepressible in Munich. Sadly the result put the nail in the coffin of top three, 20 peaches and one trophy though. Absent the trophy (and Bradford, Blackburn, Bayern at home all still sting), the other two remain distinct probabilities.
Excellent, good natured banter between our fans and those of Bayern. A pleasure to be allowed out of the ground at the same time as the home fans and to travel back into the city on the same underground train completely without incident. (The occasional traveling Gooner singing “Your support is f*cking shit” while waiting for the train deserved the raised eyebrows and tired “Just go home, Gunners” comments from the locals.)
Excellent win at Swansea. I can’t add to any of the comments in your post or in the drinks other than to voice astonishment at any criticism of Diaby. I thought some of his ball winning, positioning and passing was quite excellent. Oh for a ten game contribution from him to end the season. He’s a keeper for me.
It was pleasing too, to see Lukas Fabianski return to the team. I have never shared the opinion that “Flappy is no good” and we need to buy some over-the-hill old guy to keep Wojcieck “under pressure”. As if holding down a position in goal in front of a huge global television audience watching for his very next slip isn’t enough.
I had some time with Mr Gazidis in Munich. What a pleasant, polite (and surprisingly young) man he is.
Life goes on.
Yeeeessss
Nice one Berbatosser!
BERBATOV!!!!!
How could I have doubted you π
1-0
Come on Fulham!
Berbatov. Nice.
Footy Gods are smiling on us
YES! Thank you, Fulham!
Thank you Fulham!!
That’s three losses on the trot, not a club in crisis, just our neighbours reverting to type. π
Moving on to the next ‘Ham now then!
#wobbling.
The Spud collapse is on.
Said it last week and see no reason to change my mind. π
Come here Dimitar, I wanna give you a manly hug.
And as for you Mr Jol, you big-boned beauty! (for 48 hours only).
I could watch miserable LWCs crying into their hoodies all day.
Lovely.
Drink up!
Hahahaha. Woo hooooo haha. Oh my. Woooo hahaha *gasp* haha woohoohahaha *deep breath* haha……..
Repeat very hour today.
Mind the crack you bottlers
Them wheels are getting wonky already.
woohoo , TY Fulham .. come on west-ham , please get a draw
Very= every
Hahaha woohoohahaha. π
Boom
Slaloms upfield Santi style with the ball glued to his foot. Spots the opening and plays a perfect through ball…
Well in Toby.
Well early tabs. π
Glad we’re on the attack again so soon after scoring! 96 passes or so and we’ll be able to score again! Keep it going Tabs!
I think tabs just tabsed the tabs position π
I see agent Senderos had successful mission.
It is your turn agent Chamack, If only that fat chewing gum decides to allow him.
Tabs is starting the run at 200. Go on you beauty. π
Tabs @102,
That’s a very dramatic way to take the ball back for a restart. π
Don’t think we can expect the same courtesy from the Spammers. π
West Ham are the worst side in the league at the moment.
And Chamack can’t get in their first team.
Sad.
Haha, cheers boys.
Ahem … a little bit late there. π
Well in Toby!
lurky, I haven’t seen anything of today’s game but I’d agree that at the moment West Ham could very well be the worst team in the league.
Thought our old mate Senderos and especially Hageland (apart from missing an open goal) were outstanding today.
Tottenham were so poor. Adebayor is hopeless. Oh and Bale limping. Nothing too trivial I hope.
Altogether now …
Oh when the wheels come falling off … π
Worst team in the league?
I’ll see your West Ham and raise you a Stoke. They are fucking (Nathan) Dire. Horrible to watch, bunch of clubfooted mongtards who are managed by a cunt.
And they smell of poo.
H2H: I agree with you when you put it like that…
“a half empty White Hart Lane boos the team off” ……. from Sky SN.
And this is their best season since colour television was invented.
The team is very deserving of their fans π
Time you started saying what you mean H2H.
I’m choosing to postpone the Fulham appreciation until we take the 3 points off them next month.
I know it has only been 30 minutes but:
Hahahaha. Woo hooooo haha. Oh my. Woooo hahaha *gasp* haha woohoohahaha *deep breath* hahaβ¦β¦..
Terry the despicable, is on. I don’t know how, but they will concede now.
http://i.minus.com/iba88WdAqGnp90.gif
Back home, not a bad weekend really π
Just goes from bad to worse.
Daniel Levy on his way home …
//www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8guSoWOafkI
Another go …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8guSoWOafkI
If we had done what we should have done and beat that rabble at the crumbling dump, we would now have been two points ahead with a game in hand instead of still in a quite difficult situation. Bloody annoying, really.
Bloody hell, just seen that tackle @121.
That is an assault. Appalling.
No need to rehash the past, Lars. What is done is done.
The last two game days have been good to us, let’s keep it up, and hope the sound of wheels breaking loose gets heavier.
Been a long time.
Terrible tackle that.
So that’s all right then :-s
Wow, I cringe when I see that tackle…ouch. Other than becoming nauseous from that assault, the weekend keeps on giving so far, we win, sp*rs lose and I manage to win premier cup in fifa 13, now sipping Pilsner Urquell happily…good days:)
True Ollie, I should practice what I preach in that regard.
Great posts form Tabs……..hic!
Thanking you Sir.
Excellent TaBS, and BtM. Thank you π
Lars@125: Or at Norwich, or home to Swansea. Or one or two more. But, as Ollie says, what is done is done (or what was not done remains undone). Can only look forward now. Eye on the prize. Nine games to go. Twenty-seven points to be won. Every single one needed. If we get the lot it will be our biggest points haul since 2007-08.
St. Totteringham, tormented by self-doubt and spiritual angst, spending his time in silent meditation in a Trappist monastery for much of the Winter, is slowly finding back his assured ways of being in this world as he prepares for the annual pilgrimage to North London. π
Ned: that was a slip on my part, I am otherwise very much a “we can’t change the past” man! I can assure you I am only looking ahead now.
Cheers ‘H.
Heh Faustus π
If dropping Woj and the skipper makes the rest of the squad realize that everyone has to play for their place in the team, then that is no bad thing. AW can be ruthless when he needs to be. Perhaps he should have been sooner. Kos and the BfG are our best CB pairing anyway, so that perhaps wasn’t such a hard choice, but dropping Woj for Fabianski was gutsy.
I never doubt you for a minute, Lars.
130 He did get booked apparently
So thatβs all right then :-s
From the Beeb;
McManaman was not punished for a high lunge on Haidara and Magpies assistant John Carver was sent off after trying to confront the forward at half-time.
No booking.
I suppose we’ll have to wait to see what they say on MotD……..:mad:
π‘
Lars,
as you are a “can’t change the past man”, would you like to have your earlier post deleted. π
heh Trev
Well he didn’t get booked at the time.
There was no sign of a booking from the ref and no on-screen notification.
Can’t wait for Shearer the Headstamper’s verdict.
Trev, now you’ve got me all confused π
For your delectation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4jaPsrdKhY
Oh that’s just tremendous. Berbatov you little beauty!
Plus we have a game in hand?
Do you hear that? That’s the sound of thousands of washing machines set to ‘Heavy Soil’ in the Seven Sisters Road area. Tomorrow morning there’ll probably be a run on 3-packs of boxers at the local market. Gap will be safe though. Do they even have a branch in that shithole?
Very disappointing from Roberto Martinez who I normally like.
Puts the tackle down to “enthusiasm”, and even comes out with the “hasn’t got a bad bone in his body” bollocks. Utter bollocks.
One of those times when the culprit should be banned for the duration of the injury caused.
Top 152? Team bt8bbgfg, like Arsenal, are definitely headed in the right direction. π
Agreed Trev.
That wasn’t a tackle, it was aggravated assault.
I am a posy git at times but don’t take this the wrong way. I was on a plane earlier today between NY and Fort Myers and they showed our game at Swansea in full. I had just seen the blessed result from the Cesspit and was perturbed to hear the commentators,one of whom was Barry Horne, say Spurs were out of sight in the League. Oh no they’re not. I had a squizz at their fixtures and they are worse than ours as are Chelsea’s. I really think third is not beyond us. Anyway I thought with the huge benefit of hindsight we played really well yesterday. We completely neutralised Swansea who have great attacking flair and Santi,Nacho ,the Corporal and Ox were particularly good. I won’t mention Diaby as I upset everyone but he did prat around his house in one of LWC’s shirts. Anyway lets hope he can stay fit and come into form.
I also won’t mention the weather here because it is gorgeous but I am supposed to be working. COYG
Thundertiny. It must be the Florida tropical air making you overly optimistic. Have those Latin American beach bombshells been affecting your thinking? π
It seems like something of an oxymoron that Far Outlyerz should have to settle for mid-table mediocrity in the You Ropey League. At least we have the best cheerleaders. Latin American beach bombshells every one. π
Koscielny and Fabianski, that’s the ticket. I should apologize to the guvnor for trying to tempt him into placing a cheeky bet against the two of them starting in the team against Swansea. Good thing the guvnor is wiser than that.
As I’ve been telling Tabs and Dr. C – I’m certain we’ll get at least 3rd, maybe even 2nd (if City keep on playing like that, who knows).
This defensive system is beautiful and I love it. It is exactly what we need as we know that the players we have are good players. This system will definitely cut out the “goals conceded due to individual errors” in which we lead the league.
Spurs run-in is hell. They have Swansea away, Everton at home, Chelsea away, City at home in the next four games.
Chelsea have Soton away, Sunderland at home, Tottenham at home, Liverpool away in the next four games.
We’ll leapfrog them both.
As for worst team in the league – Stoke are on 34 points. Wigan are on 27. I would really love it if Stoke would be relegated.
SG: Hate to say this but I can see Chelski taking 10-12 points from those four games; the neighbours not more than five or six. As Dr F implied, the St. T isn’t so much going to the collapse as the collapse is coming to St. T.
NBN – You see Chelsea beating Liverpool or Spurs? I don’t.
Liverpool are shite against the big teams but always seem to give it a real go and fight. Plus, they’ve only lost twice at Anfield, to Man U and Arsenal.
Spurs nicking a draw the bridge would be great.
And as for Soton away, that’s a tough place to play, just ask City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and even United (got bailed in the 90th minute by the Dutchman).
That’s what so great about the Premier League, there is more chance of the big teams dropping points than there is actually a chance of a guaranteed win for the big teams.
In away games I mean.
That’s why it’s perfect that we’re at home next game to Reading while Spurs are away at Swansea and Chelsea are at Soton.
Fine review Holic.
Sadly no time to back drink. I am sure I’m missing a good read.
Welsh Swan for supper on Saturday was enhanced by the chicken beginning to turn rancid on Sunday. Hopefully the rot will really set in now.
COYRs.
Trev, ‘holic. That tackle is at least 8 games ban, probably more, in France, whether the ref has blown for a foul, given a yellow, red or nothing.
Let’s see how the FA does.
(interestingly, I think it’s the League who’s in charge of these things in France, not the Federation).
Ollie, the FA will do, well, sweet FA about it. I am quite sure that they will find that either the ref of the lino saw it and claim they canΒ΄t act just like they did when Balotelli tried to end Song’s career about a year ago.
Morning all
Have sadly been out of the bar all week as I had to go attend a work conference in Barcelona.
Flew in last Monday night and was stood waiting to collect my luggage when I spotted a familiar figure next to me. It was only Lee Dixon. Managed to compose myself enough that I didn’t do anything too embarrassing, but the sighting immediately filled me with a great tidal wave of hope and optimism, and I set about texting every Arsenal fan I know: “Everything is going to be OK, I’ve just seen Lee Dixon”.
My faith in Lee’s magical powers suffered its first serious threat just an hour later when I reached the hotel, hooked up the wi-fi and discovered that Jack was crocked, Chesney was benched and that rumours were flying that we would field a B team in Munich. Also attending the conference were a platoon of Bayern-loving Germans, and I had visions of a week of pain and mockery.
But the moment passed. I took a deep breath, reminded myself that we are the Arsenal, and that this is the point in the season where a true Gooner needs to stand tall.
Forty eight hours later I found myself spluttering with delight as Wenger sold the press a dummy, we stuck two goals past the “unbeatable” Bayer and the “second string” players put in top, top performances. So good to see Kos back in the defence: our second best player last term and if he can find even a semblance of form he will be a major asset for the run in. Also good to see the HFB score an important goal in a big game. Chuffed to bits.
Back in England on Friday night, and spent a very pleasant afternoon on Saturday watching the lads take down the Swans with relative ease and with a new air of defensive solidity that suggests something may just be starting to click.
Better still was to follow yesterday afternoon as I laughed my way through the LWCs’ “effort” at home to Fulham. Three defeats on the spin, oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. Still, at least they didn’t massively start counting their chickens after the derby, eh?
Happy days over here. Arsene has played a blinder all week (even rotated a couple of players on Saturday), Jenks looks a club legend in the making (loved him slapping down the moronic Stelling the other night), the LWCs continue to demonstrate that they are the masters of the run-in shit-out and Chelsea have a couple of months ahead packed tighter than a Japanese subway train.
Top four, a bit of a spend in the summer (I’m still hearing Capoue and Jovetic – please let that be true) and a real crack at a trophy next term.
God bless Lee Dixon and COYG.
PS – In case it hasn’t been posted yet: https://twitter.com/jackloudon/status/313346475646124033/photo/1
Oh, and good to see that the Dutchman’s legs appear to have gone.
Can someone get that ticking clock logo up in one of the tabloids as we count along to his minutes without a goal?
250k a week – you’re having a laugh…
if the video our defenders watched was a recording of Gary Neville’s MNF assessment, and whether they sat open mouthed, wondering why they never get such such insight and coaching out on the training pitch?
Behind the 8 ball- yes of course they have but we look unbeatable from this distance!
I’m starting to think 2nd is nailed on and if United hit a really bad run? No the drinks aren’t that strong!!!
That tackle may very well be punished;
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21823350
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Good stuff from our roving reporters TTG and N7
Afternoon all,
Bath in fine form with his birds @162.
Nice report N7,
And yes, it is good to see Kos back in the defence. He looks quite hard in a “what-the-fuck-are-you-looking-at-Stan Laurel” kind of way.
And it seems the whole defence is now altogether better prepared since watching videos of themselves and deciding that they need to, a) talk to each other, and b) expect the opposition to try and pass the ball through the actual gaps between them to try and score goals.
Tremendous news indeed. What a shame this recourse to the latest technology didn’t occur 6 months ago.
All will be forgiven, however, if the last six months’ performances all turn out to be nothing more than an incredible con trick to make the Spuds traditional end-of-season agony just that extra bit unbearable.
A shame that the Happy Train, after it’s recent wash and valet, has to be parked up now during the final Winter Interlull, just as a head of steam was building nicely.
The manager thinks that Gervinho – does he have any other names ? – will be a major force once we get back on board in a couple of weeks time.
It’s pretty certain Reading will never have seen his like before – neither have most of us – but if he can continue scoring and bamboozling the opposition into defeat then no conplaints here.
Just, please Gervais, limit your bamboozling skills to the opposing defenders. π
Afternoon All
Nice reports and diaries from The Barman (as usual), tabs, N7, etc.
Lars @ #164 – I have a feeling The FA might actually do something about this latest horror challenge. I’ll admit to thinking Wigan as an unlikley source of these assaults as they generally like to try to play football but like others here, I’m very disappointed in Martinez’s defence of his player.
Trev @ #170 – Up until Saturday I was thinking that Reading at home was one of the easiest games in our run-in, however, given their decent dispaly vs Manure and their desperate need for points for Premier League, it might be a sterner test than it looks.
Great week for the Arse and let’s hope all our international players come back to us safely.
Yep, the run-in is not easy as it ‘looks’, TS.
QPR away may be very tough too.
Dr.z
Re: our new ladies team manager.
Blonde, blue eyes (not green) and a familiar accent.
Did you or ‘The Foundation’ have anything to do with this appointment? π
No worries about Reading TS.
My daughter coming to that one and she has an eye for goalfest.
TS, glad your Arse had a great week, btw;)
Actually, I shouldn’t have put a “winky” on that one. π
Oh, I didn’t …
Heh! @ Ollie our newest TV star.
I’ll ask you to sign my programme the next time we meet in The Tollie, if that’s OK with you, or will you now be drinking at Annabel’s post match?
Agree re: QPR-ha-ha too although they might have been ground into submission by then…. here’s hoping if only to see that w*nker go into Twitchcon 10 again.
Trev – Hehs! There has to be a joke waiting to get out of ‘Arse’ & ‘winky’…
I’m always extreamly wary about counting our chickens, so to speak, when it comes to the title run in, or in this years case, the top four run in.
Yes, at a quick glance it would seem that we have the easiest run in, and I’m sure that all the “experts” will be telling us that every chance they get. We should win against x or y because on paper we are the strongest team.
But here we go,*cliche alert*, football isn’t played on paper. The whole “easy run in” and 3 point gimmes”is a myth, a bit like Stoke being entertaining, John Terry showing his good side or a power shift in North London, yes, statisticaly seen it might happen, but history and common sense should show you that it probably won’t happen..
You only have to look at last seasons run in to see the pitfalls. West Brom away aside, we had taken 3pts from a possible twelve, which included a 3-3 home draw to Norwich and a 2-1 home loss to Wigan. Who are, coincidently, two of the teams in this years “easy run in” too.
This isn’t a team that let’s complacency creep in, no, it’s more like we roll out the red carpet, put those Hawaaien hula things round it’s neck, while streamers hang from the ceiling with a big fuck off sign saying “Welcome Mr Complacency and Family”. We are the kings of taking the so called lesser teams for granted, so any talk of an easy run in must be quashed.
Fuck who the Chavs or LWC’s have to play, it has to be about us and not them, we need to focus on our results and not theirs. (Not to say we shouldn’t party like it’s 1999 everytime they fuck up) *cliche alert II* We have to take it one game at a time and beat who we are up against. To underestimate ANY opponant will be to our own detrement, the teams in the bottom half are fighting for survival, they won’t go down without a fight so we’ll have to be up for every game. In other words, hang up the No Vacancies sign and if Mr Complacency or any of his scabby relatives come a knocking we can tell them to fuck off up the road or south of the river.
I still think, with the right application, we can do it, but only if we stay true to the progress we have made and keep focusing on keeping the defence tight and defending as a team. I repeat, look after the defence and the front will take care of itself.
St Totteringsham Day here we come.
Afternoon All,
Dave Whelan is a fucking disgrace. I don’t know if the FA have the power to charge Club Chairmen, but if they do, he should be charged asap. The Wigan player took the ball as “clean as a whistle” apparently. Fuck off you tripe-eating tripe-spouting twat. I have often thought that Whelan’s avuncular exterior conceals a grubby little cunt who spouts xenophobic nonsense and other self-serving shit. Today he proved it once and for all.
I’ll also join the chorus in condemning Martinez’s post match comments. I like the fella, but he got it badly wrong. I hope he has the intelligence and good sense to retract, apologise, and tell it how it was. Unlike his Chairman, at least there’s half a chance Martinez might see sense.
How to demolish all the extraneous goodwill that exists towards your Club in less than 24 hours. Ridiculous.
Trev @149 -heh π , and another heh at the Kos /Stan Laurel comparison @170.
N7 @165 – Welcome back and good stuff.
TS @171 – Cheers.
H2H @180 – Heh at “a big fuck off sign saying welcome”. Not much of a welcome! π
Agree with you and others about our run in. I think a few (Snir !!!!! π ), are getting ahead of themselves. Talk of third at this stage is fanciful, talk of second fantasy. Let’s slide into 4th and take it from there.
Our run in is not easy. I fully expect us to tonk ‘Arry’s mob (hopefully to send ’em down), but the other 3 away games are all against sides that are far happier at home than away. West Brom, Fulham and Newcastle. None will be easy.
Of the home games, Everton and the Mancs will be stern tests. We’ll tonk Reading, and should do the same to Wigan and Norwich. Both teams though have surprised us at the Ems before.
It’s all about what we do. Always has been. Tottenham will drop points. Just a question of making sure we don’t do the same.
Hmm..apparently according to interview TR gave to czech media he got two rather big knocks in the match versus Bayern..might be the reason he did not play against Swans, I hope he will get through international break without any fuss and will play more for us.
H2H, great post@180!
“Tottenham will drop points. Just a question of making sure we donβt do the same.”
Exactly. We are un an upward trajectory at the moment but we have seen many false dawns this season. At this moment, if anyone would offer me fourth spot I’d bite their hand off.
I am firmly with those who say that there is no such thing as an easy run-in. Teams react differently to not having anything to play for or being in the relegation fight. Some teams play their best footie ever when the pressure is off, some teams just stop bothering, others thrive under pressure like Wigan of the last few seasons while others crumble completely like Wolves last season or Brum the season before that.
Cheers for the reply tabs, but…
It’s a big fuck off sign that says welcome, not a big welcome sign that says fuck off, that would be daft. π
==
Eandty, that may be so, but it just begs the question why he was on the bench if he was not ready to play? I really can’t understand the thinking behind putting a half crocked player on the bench. Are we really that short on numbers? Plus, if he’s carrying any kind of knock why are we allowing him to travel for international duty?
Sp*rs pulled Dawson and Lennon quicker then you can say “looks like a SAF tactic”. They’re taking no chances, why should we?
Thanks Lars.
tabs @ 181 has it spot on.
We need to focus on our own shit. My sense is that our rivals will drop enough points that if we perform as we should we will secure that all important top four berth.
It’s also very true that we have seen many, many false dawns this season.
Only a few weeks ago, we beat Sunderland 1-0 away with 10 men, surviving a second half shellacking. Chesney was imperious. It appeared a corner had been turned, and that the much discussed, but rarely seen mental strength had finally been located.
The following game we lost to Blackburn at home to go out the cup. The game after we got thumped by Bayern.
One game at a time, defend as if your lives depend on it, fight for those first team spots. Fuck everyone else.
COYG
D’ohlan
Paul Merson has a history of substance abuse. You should remember this when you read his piece in the Daily Star on Saturday about new Reading caretaker boss Eamonn Dolan.
‘READING will have an old friend of mine in charge at Old Trafford today – and if he wins, they should give him the job permanently. I grew up with Eamonn Dolan at Arsenal. We used to play in the youth team together and he was always staying round my parents’ house at weekends. He’s a good lad who knows his football and when he talks, you listen. The players will work for him, and he will be with them.’
What a lovely testimonial. It is also a very odd testimonial because there’s nothing on Eamonn Dolan’s Wikipedia page to suggest he was ever with Paul Merson at Arsenal. On the contrary, Eamonn Dolan’s career appears to have begun at West Ham…at roughly the same time Eamonn’s twin brother Pat was at Arsenal.
In fairness of Paul, he obviously remembers very little before 1995. Mediawatch is kind of impressed he remembers that he was at Arsenal.
N7 – just a quick note on the legend that is Lee Dixon.
It’s a Friday night early in 1997 and I’m in my local with some mates – The Embassy on the Essex Road in Islington.
Who should be sitting at the table next to us but Lee with his Mrs.
We’re all massive Gooners but decide to leave him be and enjoy a night out without being pestered.
However, we had a game on the Sunday lunchtime and he was solidly in the first team at the time so we were interested to see his ‘refueling’ habits.
Well, to say the bloke liked a booze would be an understatement. He was absolutely pounding back pints of Guinness along with whiskey chasers. He must have put back a good 8-10 by the time he stumbled out at closing time.
I was in the North Bank, lower tier, row A on the Sunday and Lee was playing right in front of me. I can’t remember the opposition but I can recall that we won with a clean sheet and Lee never gave his opponent a look in; he was an absolute monster all game and didn’t put a foot wrong.
As I said – legend
Yeah H2H …I wonder about the same thing. Also its worth a note that when questioned about his future in Arsenal and if he is not frustrated about his situation at the club, TR replied with “I will sort my future somewhere on the beach some day…right now the future of the whole Club is at stake and thats all that matters.”
That lad really is a Gooner through and through.
Well I was going to post tonight, but if I look above then it would have been an overly wordy build on…
Dave Whelan is a fucking disgrace…How to demolish all the extraneous goodwill that exists towards your Club in less than 24 hours. Ridiculous.
Tabs #181
You only have to look at last seasons run in to see the pitfalls. West Brom away aside, we had taken 3pts from a possible twelve, which included a 3-3 home draw to Norwich and a 2-1 home loss to Wigan. Who are, coincidently, two of the teams in this years βeasy run inβ too.
H2H #180
We are un an upward trajectory at the moment but we have seen many false dawns this season. At this moment, if anyone would offer me fourth spot Iβd bite their hand off.
Lars #183
One game at a time, defend as if your lives depend on it, fight for those first team spots. Fuck everyone else.
N7 #186
Cheers fellas. It seems I am no longer needed around here π
Ah, but ‘holic, the mark of a good, no, great manager, is knowing when to step in and when to let the team play…
Enjoy a drink then, ‘holic! π
(and note that we also had QPR away at some point)
I am listening to the Graham Parker albums I bought last night.
Yes, that’s right, bought.
I am no longer knock-off Nigel π
Graham Parker Albums?, on vinyl as well?
Nice one Eandy.
I see that Woj is doing the decent thing too;
http://www.football365.com/news/21554/8576232/Szczesny-I-don-t-want-to-leave
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‘holic.
Don’t be so hard on yourself, we’d be lost without ya. π
====
Ollie
I realised that QPR away, which we also lost, was also in last seasons “easy run in”, but as it was sandwiched between a seven game winning streak and wins to Man City and Wolves, I didn’t think it was prudent to making my point.
Oh Wolfie…. Something to add to your Christmas wish list.
http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/337566
Well thank you NorCal.
You can pop by to shake your beans anytime sweet thang! π
Wolfie,
If you recall, I have your ” beans” in a jar on my desk at the quackery. You can stop by and I’ll give yours a shake. π
And a thru ball to tabs who started this move some 90 drinks earlier….
H2H @184 Haha π
N7 @186 – Cheers and totally agree. One game at a time.
H2H @187 – Haha. Merse just needs to shut his trap sometimes. Most of the time actually come to think about it.
Great LD story Tim. Fair play to him.
Holic @190 Heh π
Had forgotten how some of this fella’s goals used to make me laugh out loud …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA6GlpqmVjY
Gooner Ref – No, I’m a modern old coot. Downloads after watching the documentary from BBC4 Friday on iPlayer last night.
Get me, down with the kids π
And well finished tabs.
And it’s in!
Runs over to the crowd in celebration, gets passed a Kalashnikov surreptitiously, runs over to the Directors box and shoots Dave Whelan, taking his head clean off.
Well in Tabs. Much better aim then last time. π
runs over to the Directors box and shoots Dave Whelan, taking his head clean off.
As clean as a whistle? π
NorCal, great assist, beautifully timed.
Heh Mr NorCal you sure know how to make a girl an offer she can’t refuse!
I’ll be right over. π
Haha H2H π
Where did all these posts come from?
Well in tabs.
Great Kanu vid.
Heh, H2H nails it@205!
And well in tabs after the longest build-up ever!
I do hope the Kalashnikov bullet hits the ball first, “cause that’s a big thing”. As long as you get the ball at some point you can take a tomahawk to his knee. π
“And well in tabs after the longest build-up ever!”
Been a while since you heard that, eh mate ? π
“He must have put back a good 8-10 by the time he stumbled out at closing time.”
Well, that’s an old school footballer. Hats off.
Not like pussy boys loaded with energy drinks.
Restore the spirit.
You couldn’t make it up.
If myself, Joey Barton, Ryan Shawcross or Lee Cattermole or anyone else with a reputation for tackling had made that challenge, then there would have been people saying ‘throw the book at them, they are a disgrace’.
Does Robbie wankhammer Savage really think any real football supporters consider him as a hard tackler.
Laughable cunt he is. Proper coward.
Apologies lads and ladies, but that is unbelievable.
Wasn’t s’posed to come around here tonight. You know, life, and everything. But a little bird whispered in my ear that we’ve just scored after 97 passes, which must be something of an Arsenal record.
Good work Tabs!
Lest anybody start taking ‘holic’s virtual magic bar for granted, I have a song to offer in tribute to the barman and all the crazy drinkers out there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl9bvuAV-Ao
π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π
To be fair ‘holic, Lily Savage can compare himself to Barton, Twatamole and Lenny..
They’ve all played for shit teams, won fuck all and are decendants of the Vaginasaurus-Rex (aka biggest c-units on the planet)
They’re also all pretty hard………………… of thinking.
Thank you bt8bbgfg, but I suspect the ‘holic relevant track is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdLIerfXuZ4 π
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the greatest Who vid of all time.
An excellent vid, indeed. Congratulations, ‘holic on your 1,300th post.
Wolfie grinding his beans again?
Go old school, ‘Holic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BmkBroiw1s&list=AL94UKMTqg-9DtGXEy4jLXrrNcwTJkEhLK
‘holic 216 : wow, just wow!
Whats up with this speculation we are after Peter Cech? That is most unlikely transfer to happen…ever. He is good goalie, actually keeping pretty high standard for a long long time, but it would be like if we wanted to buy fat Frank. Just not going to happen lol.
This interlull is dragging badly.
As if an interlull being in full swing wasn’t enough, I have also caught a cold. Bah.
Time to move somewhere warmer, Lars π
LOL etc
Venky’s are turning Blackburn into a laughing stock.
I’m sure there’s a joke in there somewhere. π
===
Get well soon, Lars.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21839361
Michael Owen to retire?
From doing what?
heh H2H.
Holic,
One for you mate, and all other Holics who were going in the sixties. Nearly three years before my debut, but I’m guessing you were there.
You might have seen it before, but I hadn’t seen it, so it might have escaped your notice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-KTrP5MAD4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEpBElSHqhk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxgGzo9wDvg
I will resist H2H. π
Get well Lars.
Spuds a one man team ?
It seems without Bale’s goals they would have win one of their last fourteen matches.
Spuds to win Champions League place ?
Since England was given a fourth CL place in 2001-2, the teams in the first four places on the vernal equinox (tomorrow) have gone on to win the CL spots at the end of the season.
With one exception.
In 2006, Tottenham were in fourth place on March 20th, and were still there at the beginning of the day of the final match of the season.
With no other way of blowing it, they went and had Lasagna for lunch. π
Oh, forgot to say,
Stats from a piece by Matthew Dunn in today’s Daily Express – a generally heart warming read. π
The collapse is on.
Cheers chaps!
Heh@H2H π
Holic, that thought is really appealing… I am pretty sick of this winter (it snowed heavily here yesterday, someone has forgotten to tell spring it’s time to come out of hiding now), I can not for the life of me understand how anyone can like it when it’s cold. Cold weather can just go do one as far as I am concerned!
Lars,
30 miles from here was under snow last week as well.
One week ago it was 0C here. π
Still rather cold here though rain has replaced snow.
My calendar tells me Spring starts tomorrow……… Yeah, right….
Magic H2H,
That bbc article manages to pick out Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat by Liverpool in the Cup Final.
Did I ever mention that I hate (most of) the sports press ?
Two weels ago, here, it was pushing 15C, I went up to the attic to bust out the terrace chairs and tables, less then a week later it was -4C and covered in snow.
Global warming can go suck donkey balls.
Trev.
I was so surprised to read that Littly Mickey was still alive that I must of missed that bit.
Maybe Arseblogger had a point today about that attention span thingy…..
I’m not so sure what he was getting at as I didn’t finish reading the whole article. π
H2H,
Oiy tink de Arseblogger has severeal points most days. π
Inter-bull shit. Bah
But at least it is warm here.
Sorry all. 8)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-21842269
heh
Fuck off, NorCal π
Jedi marriages Ollie ? That’s a sabering thought π
Has to be a Free Church in Scotland otherwise nobody would go π
Heh Trev.
Ollie, it only seems fair that they can marry couples as the chance that they will get married themselves is virtualy nil.
NorCal, what Lars said. π
Well then take this , bitches!
http://youtu.be/QBQ63qb21po
a couple of reads worth it this morning.
first, a hilarious look at stoke’s existential crisis, reiteriating many of the points (not least about tony pubeless) we’ve made here at the bar about the pleasures of watching stoke football:
http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/espnfcunited/id/4286?cc=5901
and then a great little snippet to follow on the chezza and rozza articles above, this time about our bfg:
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/soccer-am-not-leaving-arsenal-says-angry-mertesacker-135901599–sow.html
excellent vids above, i’ve never seen that version @220, thanks ‘holic. and i was hoping you were returning to vinyl (i am restoring a 1950s turntable at the moment)…
and yes, norcal, fuck….oh, wait. never mind, it’s warm outside here in the monterey bay, too π
The FA failed again. They need to get a grip on their BS. Player protection should be more important. Why would Messi or Neymar want to come to a league that does not punish danger to the players health and career. I agree that it is a contact sport, but dangerous play that breaks limbs should be punished.
Bah.
NorCal, that is indeed a shocking decision.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/mar/19/callum-mcmanaman-fa-massadio-haidara
I am fully behind Newcastle on this, the rules have to change. They are completely hypocritical since they can change decision where the ref saw the incident but punished the player. How the everloving fuck can they claim that that is not “re-refereeing of incidents.”? The simple answer is of course that they can’t, the real reason is that they want to be able to keep the big names on the pitch as much as possible. Sporting integrity? Yeah, right.
unbelievable, really. the linesman only partially sees the “coming together”, and they can’t punish the unpunished? yech.
This is becoming a parody:
http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20130319/fa-charge-john-carver_2281670_3115208?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
So they can charge the assistant manager for telling McManaman a few home truths but they can’t charge a player who could have ended a fellow professional’s carrer.
*sarcastic applause towards the FA*
Afternoon All,
A good day to let off some steam I must say.
– The FA decision on Macmanaman is beyond risible. It just makes their whole method of retrospective action appear to be a nonsense. John Carver on the other hand has been charged. Now I recognise that Carver is an enormous Cockhead, but did the Ref not see what he got up to? Sent to stands yet still charged. Difficult to find yourself on the same side as Derek Llambias on anything, but very hard to disagree with anything he has had to say on the matter.
– No more playing time for Michael Owen means much more punditry time for Michael Owen. A sofa of Shearer and Owen. How can one possibly listen to that pair of monosyllabic flat-toned cunts without reaching for the disco biscuits? Bollocks.
– Peter Odemwingie clearly going potty. Cock.
– Who gives a flying fuck about Rio Ferdinand? What a weapon that man is.
That is all. For now. π
The FA really are pathetic, with their so-called ‘rules’.
“A sofa of Shearer and Owen.”
Oh. My. God. :puking smiley thingie:
What’s Odemwingie done?
Four days from now it appears the weather might rise above the freezing level to a pitiful 33 degrees Fahrenheit. Please don’t punch me in the nose while I’m waiting at the bus stop or the frozen thing might just fall to the ground!! Better to punch some noses of those blokes waiting at the other bus stop that’s always mentioned on here!!
Lars, O has been tweeting constantly about how “hard done by” he’s been since the transfer window debacle. Some of his tweets don’t make sense. Likened the episode to “putting your CV into the Vatican” whatever that means. He has also taken to retweeting ridiculous advice given to him by the fake Eboue account! π
http://arseblog.com/2012/04/wolves-preview-the-fa-are-negligent-liars/
This never gets old.
Sadly.
tabs: ah, I see. He does seem to have lost a few cans from his sixpaxk…
What I find fascinating is that somehow the FA managed to let us believe they were actually reviewing the incident.
Whichever way, I’m sure they’d still have given him 3 games max.
The Eyserric thing is only a couple of weeks old. Yes he got a red card.
But was given 11 games.
Possibly his tackle was worse, but McManaman would still have had at least 8 games I reckon.
In France, no fuss, no need for the media to replay incidents, no Sky Sports, but the League does its job.
Players accept the sanction.
There was no saying the guy was mean, the tackle was just as ‘unintentionally’ bad, the words ‘not that kind of player’ may have been uttered, but still the sanction was swiftly delivered, with a minimum of fuss and no appeal was made.
Photoblog >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Cheers for the link Scruz, no one enjoys reading about Stoke’s misery more then moi, it also backed up my claim that Stoke are the worst team in the PL (this year), however I’m afraid I had to stop reading when Charlie Fester Adams was refered to as a skillful player.
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F.A = Fail Always.
Totaly ridiculous.
I knew of the stupid rule that if the ref saw it and deemed it unworthy of action that it couldn’t be dealt with (absurd in itself) but since when did the linesman get that power? That Newcastle player was assalted, plain and simple, intention has nothing to do with it, nor does “he’s not that kind of player” rubbish. If I get in a car and injure someone I’m responsible and liabel, it matters not a jot that I didn’t mean it or if I haven’t got a malicous bone in my body.
If this is supposed to be a joke, then I don’t get it.
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Peter Odd and Whingey by name……..
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Tabs, disko biskits? Arsenic/cyanide more like. π
If I was able to consign three things to Room 101 they would be
– Stoke and all their idiot fans
— Robbie Savage
— Adrian Durham
Life without Stoke- that would be very special. No more 6 foot 5 inch thugs, no more managers pratting around in baseball caps and everyone in the Premier League being able to play proper football.