As Noddy Once Sang, Kos I Luv You
May 19th, 2013 by 'holic
Getting the tone of the piece is extremely difficult when results go against us. I am only just realising it is just as hard when things have gone gloriously, deliciously right. An hour of juvenile baiting of the neighbours on Twitter is all well and good (and huge fun too), but then that nervous energy that has been expended starts to hit home.
The mind is awash with conflicting thoughts. We must invest in the team this summer so that we don’t find ourselves in this position again. This was the worst Arsenal side of the Wenger years for me, but how do I square the circle that those who have played ten unbeaten Premier League fixtures since the debacle at White Hart Lane had even bigger plums than Jonas Gutierrez finished with today?
At the first whistle today we came out positive, but created little. Bacary Sagna’s best cross in a long time sailed across an empty area. Newcastle found their feet and it is fair to say had the better opportunities to open the scoring. With Per Mertesacker having a rare nervous day we were grateful on more than one occasion to see the leader alongside him, Laurent Koscielny, snuffing out the danger.
Our clearest opportunity was cut short by an erroneous offside flag as Lukas Podolski bore down on Steve Harper, tears still in his eyes after receiving a standing ovation from the Geordie faithful. Newcastle, prompted by the slippery Ben Arfa, were looking a far cry from the team that only escaped the threat of relegation when we beat Wigan.
I don’t know what Arsene says to the team at half-time these days, but he may care to consider giving the same speech an hour earlier. We started the second-half looking much more of a threat. Harper denied Theo Walcott in the opening seconds and seven minutes in was picking the ball out of the back of his net.
The thirty million pound goal, as it is destined to be known, was scored by far and away the outstanding performer on the day. The finish was that of a supreme sniffer of half-chances. Laurent Koscielny’s deft flicked volley brushing Harper’s temple on it’s way into the goal. For a second there was silence, and all eyes turned to the assistant referee. No flag. “YEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGH!” The management came to witness the banshee in the flesh. I was doing what passes for a jig these days. Sawdust must have been falling downstairs.
Those who visited the drinks just before kick-off will have seen that I had a late back-up punt on 1-0 to the Arsenal. Now all that stood between me and collecting was the longest 38 minutes of my life. By my reckoning the referee added about three hours. A handful of chances were traded and Newcastle ramped up the pressure as the ninety minutes finally officially expired. News that the neighbours had scored didn’t help, so many stings in the tail have there been in recent weeks in the lower leagues.
Then another “it’s up for grabs now” moment. Theo slalomed his way through the thinned ranks of the home defence, goal at his mercy, and hit the post. “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAGH!” The management, fearing the worst, came galloping in again. “They haven’t?”
“No dear, they haven’t”
Finally we took several Kruls over a corner kick and the whistle blew to confirm our top four berth for the sixteenth consecutive year. The immediate reaction, a mixture of relief and elation. Don’t tell me fourth place isn’t important, but neither is it a trophy, I know. Tonight it matters not a jot, and hopefully some will now consider the words of Gary Neville in the aftermath. His praise for what Arsene Wenger achieved once more despite having a net spend of nine million pounds in ten years (or was it the other way round?) was fulsome.
I’m not saying Arsene knows best, or whatever cheap and worthless label some want to apply. He was a Laurent Koscielny goal away from facing justifiable questions about his future. and yet the weakest first-choice eleven he has had to work with battled for him over the closing weeks to deliver what for me was a surprising and welcome achievement.
I would argue we should have splashed a bit more than we have in the last eighteen months, but then again I am itching to see us take advantage of the incredible position we have put ourselves in. To have built that stadium and maintained a place in the top four is commendable, but this summer gives us an opportunity to make a statement about where this club is going.
Nobody, surely, wants that future to include yet more scraps for third and fourth place with one hand tied behind our back.
Today though, it will do.
385 Responses to “As Noddy Once Sang, Kos I Luv You”
O2BAG!
First
Spuds slayed again
Almost 2 am, need to sleep. Work tomorrow, but Arsenal, bloody Arsenal made my night already. I’ll try to summarize the season for some of our players and what we’ve learned about them:
Woj: young, needs to work on distribution and footwork, responds well to competition, capable of producing match-winning saves.
TV: club captain, struggled for form this season (perhaps being left by RvP impacted him somewhat?), sometimes commit to challenges too early and in dangerous positions. Left in the bench for second part of campaign, hopefully he rediscovers the fire in his belly and come back Verminating like the gladiator he truly is next season. If anyone can put up a fight for form and starting spot, he can. Remember Newcastle at home last year?
Sagna: sometimes showed a lack of pace, but never a lack of effort. Crossing needs work, capable of playing in CB like a hero, contract almost up. Is this goodbye? Surely he is the most consistent player for Arsenal in the past 5 seasons.
Per: Merte-backer was the highlight of his season. And of course the two goals against Spu*s. His intelligence and reading of the game complements both TV and Kos. One our best players this season without a doubt.
Kos: Had the final say like he did last season. The difference being, this time he helped Arsenal marshal a strong defensive unit in the second part of the campaign. Scored vital goals, most notably against Mancity and Newcastle!
Gibbs: Improved defensively throughout the season, and showed attacking threat and end product upfront. Will do well to avoid injuries next season. Scored a cracking goal against Swansea.
Arteta: Held the armband in TV’s absence, and consistently played like a true skipper. Adapted well to his role as a midfield pivot, and defended briliantly whenever we needed him to.
Rosicky: just like last season he came to life near the end of the campaign. Only aged 1 year footballistically in the past 2 years since he only played half a season in both campaigns.
Santi: our most exciting signing for years. His hardwork, graft and technical briliance encapsulates the Arsenal team this year. POTY for me since he carried us over the line when we need someone to step up offensively.
Jack: great player, true gooner, has time on his side. Looks very special whenever he’s fully fit. Welcome back Jack.
Ramsey: hardworking, endless engine, always improving, fills all the gaps in midfield and does all the dirty work for our team. Needs to work on his decision making and final ball, but he surely has time on his side.
Poldi: a decent first season, popping up with crucial goals. His Thor hammer against the Hammers springs to mind, and what an important equalizer that was when you consider the circumstances. A very efficient finisher, you don’t remember him missing too many chances at all.
OG: the plan B we always craved for in the last 4-5 years. Always works his socks off for the team, won countless headers in both ends of the pitch. Looks like he enjoys scoring goals, and with 17 to his name this season, next season might be a big one for him. Scored more than a certain Drogba in his first season in England.
Theo: improved his decent tally from last season with more goals and more assists. He can go from magical to frustrating, but his finishing has been superb this season. Even on his off days, with him in the side you always feel like he can score when given the chance. He also signed da ting earlier in the season.
I would do reviews for OX, Nacho, Gervinho et al but it’s almost 2.30 now. Have a great night Gooners. We all deserve to celebrate a little given the amount of ups and downs we’ve had to deal with.
I just like the things you do!!!!!!!!!!! Kos is BOSS!
Great review, maestro.
Sawdust falling from the ceiling – you weren’t jumping enough…..it should have been the oak beams, mate. 🙂
I’ll share a bottle of Ardbeg with you the night and anyone else in the bar who is not yet horizontal.
Job done, party tonight, then the building for next year.
ESSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
On it mate, on it 🙂
Aaaaasggggghhhhhh
The spuds spot…
Top write up.
Lots of people retiring or leaving today, from Fungusmoan to Mark Halsey, but Wenger will still be here next season.. I just hope we DO chuck a shit load of money at the squad (in terms of new players rather than wages!) and build, otherwise the platform in place and all the restraint, with attendant “suffering”, will have been a waste.
On the last Guinness before hitting the celebration Islay, bath 😉
great post, holic. my yelp when Webb blew it over woke up my lad, and brought my wife running. my nails won’t grow back in a month, I tell you.
A legendary pic from OG:
https://mobile.twitter.com/_OlivierGiroud_/status/336196419318853632/photo/1
Levy to Andre: “LOOK WOT YOU DON!”
And now I’m slowly entering the town of Oblivion.
This time, next year we’ll be….
One for the gayers, that.
Arsene photo from previous drinks
http://imageshack.us/a/img24/9730/1600xb.jpg
Come on you gooners!
Silly, silly spuds.
Since after this team beat Swansea, I remained confident we’d juggle boiled shit into the nostrils & mouth of 5pur2.
Told a friend they only ‘spurring to shit’.
Nothing else Justified my confidence and words like this afternoon.
Now we own two trophies next season. Arsene knows what needs to be done & must do it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27453474@N02/8753765705/sizes/k/in/photostream/
How in the name of Dennis did we do that?hope the rock the non believers are under is warm.no excuses from here on in bring in arsenal players,lets fucking have all the cnuts next season.there turn for transition.thanks holic for the season,well played.never in doubt.cough cough. 😉
Hard luck to the lads down the lane. Always the bridesmaid, never the bride: in 2006 they literally pooped their pants at the thought of finishing above us; last season they finally attained the holy grail of ECL qualification, only to see it cruelly snatched away from them by the boys in blue and this year, Gareth Bale disUnited again fell at the last hurdle. It’s all so sad, I just can’y stop laughing.
Massive respect to the Pipmeister! Miss you mate.
Have to admit Dawson’s interview afterwards was fucking mega. You came second – well fifth actually. Wanker!
I’m feeling The Noize on St.Tott’s.
Top, top, top quality final post of the season, Maestro.
The Sp*rs baiting on Twitter continues….er….unabated
UTA! FOYS! FIOS!
Several crates of Guinness Foreign Extra Stout for everyone here! It’s been one helluva season, ups, downs, and pull-your-hair-out moments. Somehow, we have managed to confound the critics and the nay-sayers, and we’ve achieved our bare-minimum requirement yet again. Now, we have to work on augmenting this squad so we can mount a serious charge for a trophy next season. With the new deals for the kit and the sponsorship kicking in, hopefully the handcuffs will come off Arsene and he can get the players he wants and keep the core of his team together.
I believe we will have much more than a top four finish to celebrate come the end of next season.
I fucking love this club.
Can I ask that we treat our neighbours and rivals with the deepest respect and remember that we triumphed by the thinnest of margins. Bad luck LWCs. Ha bloody ha!
Now that most insincere of condolences is over it is too soon for a detailed critique of the season although Derrick ha made an excellent start. Most of us are too jaded and/ or pissed to do justice to any coherent analysis.
I’m going to open some celebratory Bushmills although I was quaffing Lagavulin earlier.
Its ironic that an Arsenal team criticised for being so defensively fragile should effectively creep over the line because of excellent defending over the past 10 games. The man to heap particular praise on is Koscielny who is about a good a defender as exists in Europe at present. He is a huge help to Mertesacker, much more than TV was at the Swamp if you can remember that disgraceful performance.
Big steps forward for Theo, Rambo and Gibbs and good first seasons by our four big buys although only Santi totally convinced over the whole season.
We now await a close season that will tell us much about whether criticism of the stewardship of the club is unfair or totally justified. I will suspend judgement until we see the moves that are made but its all about a statement of intent now.Gary Neville astonishingly seems to have become a mature and balanced critic since he moved into punditry and I would echo almost everything he said. This close season may well confirm if Arsene has got enough fire in his belly and clarity in his head to drive us forward.
Well done you Gunners!
Perfectly reported Guv, thanks for always been the voice of reason in times of despair as well the voice of caution on days like this, more power to you sir. Here is to more successful years ahead.
On a side note, Milan have just over ten minutes to score twice, or they’ll be suffering last day CL qualifying heartbreak. Fiorentina (who would be possible opponents for us) will leapfrog them into 3rd as it stands.
And on the main note, hooray! Try again next season Spuds.
Played ‘h. Up The Arse!
You absolute beauties!!! Job done lads – like some sage said, it’s not a trophy but it’s better than the alternative.
Absolutely scintillating form since ‘that night in Munich’, with a defence tighter than a duck’s A-hole. Still can’t help thinking what might have been if, um, Vermaelen had just taken the season off and we’d had a couple more strikers.
And as another sage said (in the drinks above), it’s their turn for transition next season – for the first time in ages we don’t have some cuntish super club looking up the skirts of our standout performer because, as ANOTHER sage said (OK OK, this post is more derivative than something from that copymerchant thetruth) this is more of a team and less of a one-man show.
No sales and a couple of signings and next season will rock. Oh and Sp*rs? Don’t ever change, you are routinely hilarious.
Mr Bure knows! Btw I will have I will have a botlle of Gulder…or five.
Splendid piece Holic. I completely agree with your assessment of the current Wenger squad, which in some way makes the surprise of the achievement all the more satisfying. If today was one of Wengers most important matches as Arsenal manager, then the business he does in the summer is even more critical. Time to regain your place at the top of the European football ladder Mr Wenger!
Busy in the bar… I posted this in the last drinks waaaaaay too late;
List of names who said Arsenal wouldn’t get top 4: 😳
Alan Hansen
Arry Redknapp
Alan Shearer
Lily savage
Piss Morgan
Galen Bale
Glenda Hoddle
Ray Wankins
Niall Quinn
Raheem Sterling
Geoff Thompson
Graeme Souness
Emmanuel Adebuydirtyhoar
and last but most definetly least MNB (the cunt)
Thank you very much and go fuck yourselves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
======
Catch up later when I wind this Arsenal induced party down.
Finely pitched post, ‘Holic. Much work to be done in the summer, to be sure, but for now celebrations are in order.
I’ll raise a glass to Berkamps The Man and his splendidly loyal predictions!
One outa three aint bad!
In fact– I’ll take it!
Next year……….
Spuds will never be as close again.
We will be closer to the top.
Chelsea in dis- array!
RVP’s glass ankles return.
Its all terribly exciting!
The season concludes with yet another brilliant report from the gov’nor.
Now a quick bite to eat and then what I presume will be quite an enjoyable back-drink 🙂
(oh, but before I go – Laurent Koscielny, take a massive bow son! Without the shadow of a doubt our most important player in these last games.)
Charlie @ 25: AC Milan through. In a roundabout way good for us as we won’t have an Italian (the Udinese ties were very close ) team to battle with in the CL qualifier (Milan as us both being seeded) and if we are really after Jovetic this would make it easier.
H2H @ 30: And how can you forget A Village-Bratwurst’s solemn proclamation about the ‘downward spiral’ 🙂
It appears that the Guardian sent an LWC to review our game: http://m.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2013/may/19/arsenal-newcastle-arsene-wenger
God I love watching the manager prove the media doubters wrong. They were blatantly DYING for us to slip up today. Piers Morgan can cock off as well.
I bloody love you Arsenal.
Ps – can we please start the spending earth this summer? Perhaps with a certain unsettled Catalan genius with Arsenal DNA?
Feckin’ eh!!! Never in doubt! H2H says it best; “go fuck yourselves” you doubting cunts! COYBG! Onwards and upwards for next term!!! Took a day off in expectation; gonna get hammered with the management – kids at their grandparents! Lovely Jubbly! 😎
Wenger aht!
You know I’m right. Not won as much as Redknapp, Hughesy, Phil Brown.
Gutted for me Spurs, I am.
Oh Holic. Funny way you have with words. Turning them into feelings. How you do that! 😉 Big shout out to your Management 🙂 Dare say, she makes many a sacrifice to share you with us. xx So glad you mentioned Bac’s cross ( it was so tidy). I’m a bit loaded on Long Island Ice Tea at the mo, but basking in the warmth of my Team and this magical haven. God bless xx
What a season. Fair play to Spurs for not choking this time around, but them’s the brakes! I love our new-found solidarity at the back, although I can only say that now after suffering mini-heart attacks in most of the final games of the run up. If we keep our main squad together (especially Kos, f*ck off Pep), and add a couple, then who knows? I firmly believe that we finally have a real platform to build from.
It’s a lovely day today. It’s warm and sunny, but that is merely coincidental.
Failage – Super stoked to read your comment.
It’s true, next term could be seriously exciting. Enjoy the partay down under!
By the way, in case it didn’t already get said today: respect to Steve Harper.
20 years, great servant and knows when to let one in!
Spuds fans when they thought Newcastle had equalised against us:
https://twitter.com/VZeniou/status/336170493356961793/photo/1
MOTD live down to their usual standards. Broken hearted by our qualification it received scant attention, What a set of old has beens on there!
Notice to all spuds. We`ll always be there to blight your very existance. We`ll always be there to piss on your dreams. like genital herpes we are here to blight you forever!
MoTD, like much of the media, clearly gutted. LOVE IT.
Heh Dr Faustus.
I no speako Porkandcheesey, never understood a bloody word Maureenio said either. 😀
How come Utd have pulled away from Arsenal since 2005 and won many more Trophies.
What a day. Started out with a party for a two year old, which was very pleasant and included both wine and BBQ, went on with us getting that coveted CL-spot, and has now ended with a World Cup gold. Happy enough.
Got a good feeling concerning next season, and at this stage, it’s all that matter, whatever the actual outcome of it. Que sera sera.
Well said Toby. Que sera sera, indeed.
Nice one Holic.
Tottenham in the rear mirror, normal service has been resumed.
Been a long day – I’m going to feel like roadkill in the morning….. 🙁
Who is that imposter?
Oi pal, I hate Arsenal more than you.
Follow The Troof.
Accept no imitations.
No i dislike Wenger not Arsenal, big difference
Are Real Madrid going to sign this fella?
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=donkey+kong&client=safari&rls=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=aVCZUeexPKuY0QWdg4DYAw&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1271&bih=626#imgrc=UKLosh8zh4ghqM%3A%3B0dxB7aGDudSJZM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fimages2.wikia.nocookie.net%252F__cb20081014001744%252Fmario%252Fimages%252F2%252F28%252FDonkey_Kong.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fmario.wikia.com%252Fwiki%252FKong_Family%3B720%3B600
Quite right. Get him aht.
Let us down again.
What is this egg all over my face? You have it too.
This gets better and better. Apparently, the Spurs support started cheering because Alan Sugar tweeted that it was 1-1 in our game.
What a collection.
As has been proven an heavily financed Team is a recipe for success.
Yeah, spend money. It worked for QPR and Newcastle, didn’t it?
Wenger aht!
They spent what Abramovich would call loose change.
Koscielny bangs it in off the side of the keeper’s head. About as intricately planned a carom as this I expect.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz65AOjabtM
Think I will leave the new Gorams to entertain us for one night only.
Abramovich spent a shit load of dosh to end up 3rd, 2 points above our frugal manager.
They also went from winning the champions league to winning the ugly mother of all bridesmaids. If you are so amazed by their accomplishments there is room on their bus I’m sure.
Oh and man shitty? Yep a few hundred million quid to finish 5 points above and no trophies. Great that innit? Glory hunters needed at both those clubs. Do twaddle off.
That’s some wacky troof.
Yea right Guv, allow the palace jester to entertain us as we drink to achieved goals and future success just like Roman monarchs did in centuries gone by, there is a reason we were once addressed as “The Royal Arsenal”. Cheers.
Mmm. Maybe keep an eye on this. There are more Troofs than Gorams 🙂
Barking, you lot. Barking …
Oh Lars, thank you for reminding me to vote for Kos; MOTM! Be right back folks…plz cont. to post your thoughts, etc! Cause I’m gonna gobble them up. History in the making and you all play a part 😉
Wenger’s not very frugal when it comes to his own salary.
You forgot to mention Utd they’re heavily in debt, yet it hasn’t halted their spending spree.
91% votes going to our Kos! 🙂 Now bits n pieces… Rev Al, I’m winking at you. You know why 😉 Thanks Mate. Toby, delighted you had an all round terrific day. It’s contagious, this optimism, cause it is reality-based. The best kind! N7, proper tribute to Steve Harper. To be fair to him, that was a really hectic goal, difficult to react to. Derrick 🙂 Well done!
Wenger definitely decides his own salary unlike every single other person in football. Wait What?
Ah yes…….leverage the club. That’s the way to go and when it goes pear shaped? Administration can’t be that bad, right?
United is a special case. They have a commercial ability that only one club in the world has and as such they have found a way to leverage themselves to the hilt but still make the payments. Few others in the world can accomplish that. Maybe the 2 Spanish clubs because of their ridiculous TV rights that screw the other teams in la liga and maybe Bayern. That’s it. We leveraged ourselves in a different manner to pay for the grove. Those lean years are just coming to an end and the new commercial deals should ramp up from here. The fact that we have been able to stay in the CL despite the atmosphere around us is remarkable.
None on here think that all is perfect at the club or that changes should not be made in how we proceed from here.
What we don’t get is coming in this bar with a clear agenda, and spouting rhetoric that is incongruous with the Arsenal way, or continually putting down the club even when we have won.
I get that you don’t feel that 4th is an accomplishment. We all view it as a minimum, but still as an accomplishment.
And if you can’t get any joy out of the club winning on the field then please fuck off.
Fucking
seriously
out
of
my
box.
Ave it you lovelies.
He appointed the current CEO and is due a bonus for hitting his targets of qualifying for the Champions League.
Man is right. Wenger appointed the American, not the American owner. Venga and Gazidas are the best of buddies.
Both aht!
Normally close ther bar/restaurant @ 21:00.
We’re still giving it large!!!
Luckily set MoTD to record, can’t wait to see those tossers cry……
*Back to the drinkys.*
You can’t run Arsenal like a business, “the best business model is a successful football Team” (Uli Hoeness)
Spare a thought for the author of that article on the Guardian website. Clearly, it killed him to have to watch us win the match and sink the SS Gloat.
Holic,
another fine season as the voice of reason, celebrated by your fellow ‘holics, the Arthur Guinness corporation and most of the whisky (and the whiskey) manufacturing fraternity.
It’s been a pleasure and a privelige, as usual.
Looking forward to the summer’s activity and reading about it here.
Hope you and the management enjoy a good few months.
Cheers old chap. 😉
Gazidis is from South Africa but was brought up in the UK.
So no American connection then.
Apart from the MLS obviously.
Wenger aht!
Play nicely you lot.
Truth, the real one. Give it a rest fella.
You cannot enjoy being a figure of ridicule?
Never mind The troof 2, your attempts to discredit thetruth have been proven spurious.
Your sterling defence for Wenger had more holes in it than a tramps vest.
Never Mind Those Other Fake Truths. I Am The Real Truth. It Says So In My Name So It Must Be So.
Lucky Arsenal. We only just squeaked in again, and with, as ‘holic says, “the weakest first-choice eleven he (AW) has had to work with”. Things have to change, and not just a couple of star players.
If anything is grindingly obvious about the current side it is the inability to find players with quick accurate passing, never mind actually retaining the ball for any length of time. I lost count of the number of short or ill-directed passes we made long before half-time. And it was players of the class of Santi and TR7 who were most at fault today.
I’m not saying either should go, but AW needs to focus on this aspect more than practically anything else (except possibly shooting on target!).
As I have been endlessly pointing out for most of the season (and finally recognised by many others here) our defence is not the problem, it’s not scoring when we need to, and half the difficulty in that is strikers not getting the ball when and where they need it. How many times did Theo look for a quick pass inside today only for the ball to go behind him out to no-one on the wing? Several times he could have got in on goal with a better placed pass. We need to get our passing game back. It used to be AW’s trade-mark, but we haven’t seen it for years now.
And that has to be down to the players currently in the squad.
Thank Dennis for Kos, scorer of the winning goal on the last day of the last two seasons. That about sums it up for me … our best defender having to rescue us up front as well. With an assist from his CD mate too!
Oskar
Oh….. You are right. Silly me. Spurious. You win. I thought this was a discussion but you obviously have soooper doooper debating skills and called me spurious.
Enjoy your misery. I bet Wenger will stay.
I’m not a “Wenger knows best” kinda guy but I am sure he knows more and better than you.
NorCal
Wenger will stay, and for as long as he wants to. And most of us are relieved to know that as a fact.
Oskar
Cheers Oskar. Hope you had/ have a great day.
I fed the troll and for that I apologize to all.
I’m still smiling. Hope the summer business keeps me grinning.
A great day indeed, NorCal. Not just Arsenal but the cricket and rugby league all went right this weekend. My Aussie league team beat the Auckland Warriors by practically the same score as NZ scored in the cricket (62 to 6)! When I take the dog to the dog park my Kiwi friends will be getting the ribbing from hell, bless ’em.
I’m now looking forward to AW doing some great business EARLY in the lull so we can get going from the get-go in August. I have great hopes for 2013-2014.
You have a good one too.
Oskar
From the previous drinks…
NorCal: Thank you. Great to see you too. In truth, especially after today’s result, things are actually pretty good!
To everybody else…
Feck me, I am HAMMERED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No Guinness, no Irish single malt, just a shitload of Hardys Oomoo…
Feck it…It’s red, isn’t it?!??!
OOMOO FOR ALLLLLLLL 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
NorCal…
Glad you fed the troll. Twas most amusing!
Very emotional close to the season for me. First live matches seen and then a result like this to end it all. Experienced the full range. Thanks for helping to make this season so special, H. Always love reading your take on things.
To many more!
Will we win the (mini) league if we only count the last 11 games?
…And so the valiant boys in red and white prove they have what it takes to send the filthy Spuds demon back into the filth where they below.
That’s all for tonight boys and girls.
Tune in next season for more “We Always Top the LWCs” brought to you by the Royal Arsenal starring The Majestic Eleven Gunners.
And finally, Happy St. Totteringham’s Day to all, and to all a good night!
below=belong
doh!
Looking forward to a celebratory dinner tonight when I’m treating myself to a large T-bone steak and a bottle of 2007 Paritua 21.12 … http://www.paritua.com/newsDetail.php?id=5412
… to be followed by a few balloons of Delamain Vesper … http://www.delamain-cognac.fr/us/
Oskar
“I want the truth.”
Lurkers are among us, they are everywhere….
*jumps into the air like a rat getting its tail stuck in a trap and boots the ball into midfield*
“YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUFF!”
“You can’t handle the truth.”
Morning ‘holics.
You mischievous little scamps 😉
Boom
WagKnob ahhhhhttttt
Lovely poachers goal there. Woke up, in bed, on the phone, had a refresh of the site, read the last few drinks I didn’t read yesterday, “oh, 99, don’t mind if I do!”
Now, to fall asleep again? Head hurts.
Morning all. Only just properly read the post and drinks. Holic, top stuff. I echo every word. Kos head and shoulders above everyone else yesterday. Now the real work starts.
Have a good day. Truth MNB? Perhaps you would be better suited in Manchester or at the chavs????
It’s started.
Flipper to Lyon being reported?????
Fangs for everything.
😀
The troof is, Stoke players are really classy….
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/stoke-city/10064569/Stoke-City-launch-investigation-after-pigs-head-is-left-in-Kenwyne-Joness-locker-leaving-striker-fuming.html
Oskar – glad to see that you haven’t forgotten one of our local best drinks in your celebs.
At this stage, I can only look through rose tinted glasses at 4th place, and marvel at the way we crawled over the spuds to get there.
For the first time in many years there has been NO team totally consistent over the whole season IMO, and I await the stats to show a higher level of lost matches by every team – how else explain such bunching of teams throughout the league.
I hope and pray that we spend for cover in so many positions but a top scorer is a necessity above all
Enjoy the summer all of you reds
Next up for me is ARsenal’s Japan tour.
Any of you lovely folk coming across for that??
Truth.
I just wish I had your wisdom.
The Tooth @110.
Best. Pun. Ever.
I just didn’t see that one coming. Absolutely dental. Wish I had it in me as well. And that is the hole tooth and nothing but.
Oh, and we should really buy some bracers for the Spuds, because they seem to have a bit of a problem with a gap.
That clearly needs filling…….
Great ‘Holic!
I got tickets booked for Arsenal’s game against Indonesia, CoR.
Hopefully most of our first team players make it into the travelling squad to Asia.
You have tickets already??? Tickets for the games in Japan don’t go on sale yet. Might have to consider camping in front of a convenience store the night before they do as they are sure to be in high-demand…
You can’t handle The Tooth….
WagKnob aaahhhhhhttttttt, now.
Just in case any of us have forgotten the roots of yesterdays festivities, a small and timely reminder:
http://arsenalarsenal.wordpress.com/2011/05/10/hundredth-anniversary-of-st-totteringham%E2%80%99s-day-and-its-origins/
Up the Arse!!
And let’s not forget our Arsenal Ladies who are in their own FA Cup final next week as well as the semis of the Continental Cup series.
GO YOU GOOD THINGS! One day soon the guys are going to emulate you … we hope.
Oskar
Ooooh I wanna dance with Koscielny!
Top day out on Tyneside with top man snowy and some great arsebloggers!
The chanting at the final whistle was brilliant.
Ollie knows. The Tooth will out.
It’s happened again, it’s happened again, Tottenham Hotspurs, it’s happened again.
Useful link here re: who we might get in CL qualifying next season:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IH1gXrq4GkDC93S40aP0AU9Z3lZuMUyVakI5x4kXB8g/edit
What a beautiful, sunny morning here in Macedonia.
I am in such a good mood that I showed my missus pictures of Giroud and Kos celebrating in their underwear. Naked Giroud is the only way I can make her interested in “our’s club affairs”.
A special mention for me as a manager in Fantasy League, supreme ruler of the Happy Train You Ropey League. Thanks for the invitation ‘Holic.
One more thing. Despite Kos being the head and shoulders above anyone else yesterday, I would like to mention one humble fella, with emo haircut, running his socks from the first till the last minute of the yesterdays game.
Rosicky I salute you, and I admire you.
One of the reasons we overturn this season. Perfect player and symbol of Arsenal, the only link between the pretty football Arsenal generation and this new more concrete Arsenal generation.
I only hope that despite his age, he well get a new improved long deal this summer, and stay here for many years, just like Dennis. He deserves that.
Lurky, Congratulations on winning the You Ropey League!
Congrats on the back-up punt by the way, ‘holic.
Glad I wasn’t aware of it though, or I’d have been bricking it even more in the last few minutes of the game 😉
And what Lurky said about Super Tom! 🙂
Who’d want to handle the truth? Not me, I’d get my hands dirty.
Settling in for a summer of bantz with all you fine folk in here (with an obvious exception, you know who you are, the door’s over there junior).
“Why are you celebrating you imaginary trophy?”
(Quote various bitter Spuds)
Well, it’s not like them lot would have celebrated had we fucked up, is it? I mean, it’s not like they more or less did a lap of appreciation and threw their shirts into the crowd at Shite Fart Lane after they beat us in the der… oh.
Many of us said after that derby that we still had the chance to finish fourth but that we would probably have to win at least seven of the remaining ten. It turns out it was even worse, eight and a draw would have been the bare minimum. But we did it, we won more points than any team in the league from that point on with eight wins and two draws and we have now given ourselves a better chance to build on this team and get closer to the top next season.
And the way various Spurs players and managers have been yapping on, is it any wonder we engage in a bit of schadenfreude? 🙂
How massive a disappointment is this for Sp*rs? Here’s one expert opinion:
http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/spurs/champions-league/news/redknapp-tottenham-need-cl-football_85073.html
Superb work Mr Tooth 🙂
Morning all. White shirt under red slipover is the dress code of the day. LWC’s at work all know what it’s about. Saying nothing. I just have a smug sneer as I pass them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub8gfyPIGxs&feature=youtu.be
Spurs Fans
Know
Your
Place.
YeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaH!!!
But….
*BOILK.
But…
a happy, well worth it Boilk. 🙂
Time to play catch up.
For God’s sake what is it with the media and their frankly discomfiting fawning over Sp*rs? Listen to this shit from Football365:
“It’s very, very difficult to be critical of Spurs and Andre Villas-Boas after they achieved their record points total in the Premier League and amassed more points than any other fifth-placed team since the top flight was cut to 20 clubs.”
Well, how much did they spend to fail to reach the Champs League again this season? You might want to start your criticism there.
“This was another collapse – to an extent – as Spurs failed to take advantage of their seven-point cushion over the Gunners following victory in the north London derby on March 3.”
To an extent?? Failed to take advantage??? Let me help you out here. This was another monumental implosion. They didn’t ‘fail to take advantage’, they did their annual bottle job, they cocked it up royally. Again.
They really should have finished above us this season and last but they’re just too flaky. How would Wenger put it?
“They lack a bit the mental strength” I think.
Camberwell, I think “monumental implosion” is perhaps a little harsh on them. To be fair we made it very difficult for those cunts with an excellent run of results that neither they nor we saw coming.
James Lawton in the Independent is back to writing bitter rubbish again. He mentions Bayern outclassing us in the first leg but then seems to forget about the second leg. Same old papers really.
The Spuds didn’t fall apart like they did last season, but they still clearly got a case of the wobbles immediately after beating us – losing to Liverpool and then to Fulham gave us an opening and hope that we could still catch them.
From man walking upright to chimp walking on his hands.
http://s3.photobucket.com/user/stking/media/stefanfreund_zpsed2b68ce.gif.html
UC, fair enough, perhaps that was a little harsh but the point swing was only 3 less this time than last time.
I guess the question is, how many points do you have to lose before it’s called a collapse, and at what point is this termed an implosion?
A few random thoughts:
(i) What happened to Spurs?
Two things. Firstly, their defence has been sh!t all season. 46 goals conceded. More than Stoke. More than any other team in the top 7.
How on earth Vertoghen is making his way into team of the season lists is beyond me. Lloris looks OK, but the full backs are pony.
Secondly, and more importantly… the Europa League. Immediately after the NLD, the thought occurred to many of us that our best hope of 4th was for the LWCs to assume that the battle was over and that they could split their focus between the league and the Europa. And that’s exactly what they did.
I think their manager needs to take some of the blame. A more seasoned gaffer might have looked at his squad, realised that we weren’t finished yet and concluded that top 4 was the absolute priority. But Villas-Boas has won the Europa League before – he has an emotional affinity with the tournament and he knows it’s a great CV builder.
I think he put his needs and desires as a manager ahead of those of the club, and it bit him on the arse – sure, there was no collapse, but Bale pulled them through time and again, and the rest of the team looked dead on its feet. If they’d sent out B teams in the Europa we may well not have caught them.
(ii) The media reaction
Utterly hilarious.
Arsenal have had an average season. Arsenal have sh!t players and a bad manager. Why are they celebrating 4th, it’s not a trophy (tell you what, in that case why not ask the LWCs why they’re so gutted today? Or Milan why they celebrated the same way last night)? Arsenal have the same old issues. My personal favourite, from the Guardian: Cheikh Tiote repeatedly exposed the paucity of the Arsenal midfield.
Suck it up, the lot of you. You wrote us off, you wrote the manager off (again) and you were all fucking wrong. Nut up and admit it, instead of looking for cheap digs.
(iii) The players
I have enjoyed this season more than any other in a good long while.
Why? Partly, because i’m a masochist. But mainly because after years of watching gifted but lightweight child geniuses fail to show the requisite bollocks at crucial moments it was a distinct pleasure to watch a far less talented ensemble graft themselves sideways to get us where we needed to be.
We looked a bit of a mess at times early in the season, but pretty much since Xmas there have been very, very few games where it felt like we just rolled over. We showed a lot of nerve and a bucket load of grit, and we ground out results like a team of champs.
My suspicion is that it is easier to build a winning team from a solid foundation of good defence and organisation – simply augment with a bit of stardust. It’s a lot harder to drive steel into a team of talented powder puffs. I honestly believe that if we sign well this summer we have the raw ingredients for something quite special.
Particular shout outs to the BFG (who was the only ever-present member of the back 5 and has to take a bit of credit for our improved organisation and solidity), Kos (who has the potential to be the best centre back in the country next year if he can start like he has finished) Arteta (who has had his ups and downs but was a fricking rock in the run in – would that we’d signed him 4 years earlier), Ramsey (major step up, still rough edges but what an engine and as brave a player as I’ve seen wear the shirt in a long time), Santi (genius), Theo (still frustrates the shit out of them, but the stats don’t lie and he stepped up in the run in – further improvement next season please, I think he has 25 goals+ in him with assists to boot) and Giroud (tough first season, but never less than whole-heartedly committed and gave us something we’ve lacked. More goals next term would be nice).
Also a major, major shout out to two old pros: Rosicky (who came to life once again in February and was a huge influence on our season in the end) and particularly Bacary Sagna. Yesterday may have been the end of the road for Bac and he’s definitely dropped a level since the leg breaks, but what a total warrior the man has been. Utterly committed from start to finish, clearly loves the club. Give him one more season please Arsene – I think he has it in him, and it will help Jenks.
Respect to all the others I failed to mention. This was a team/squad effort if ever there was one.
(iv) The manager
I can understand how he frustrates. I can understand how people might think he has refused to spend, to our massive detriment.
What I simply cannot understand is anyone who cannot see that he is a tremendous manager. His handling of the run in has been simply impeccable, and for all the “stubborn Wenger” accusations he quite clearly changed tack after the NLD, both in terms of personnel and how we set up, and the decision to do so saved our season. 11 games, 9 wins (including the only away win at the Allianz Arena this season, I believe), 2 draws. 1 goal conceded from open play. When the going gets tough…
His consistency is phenomenal and I suspect that no other manager could have guided us through the last 9 years on this budget.
My hope is that the cheque book will now swing open and that we will get to see what Arsene Wenger can do with money to spend. Given the managerial departures around us, this summer is a huge opportunity to push on, and one which I hope we will not waste.
Sorry for the long post – good to have got all that off my chest. Feels fcuking majestic to be a Gooner today. Can’t wait to see what the summer will bring, can’t wait for August, can’t wait to get back in the stadium. Magic.
COYG
it definitely feels like one today.
So much so that when I read the bit on Arseblog about Fabianski having played five games, my immediate thought was, “Does he qualify for a medal?”
Oh dear.
N7,
It gets a bit repetitive saying “great post N7” but, sir, you have surpassed yourself there. Every word.
I and others have said all that about Wenger before and, particularly yesterday, about the budget, and still we have the likes of ‘the truth / tooth’ or whatever, who cannot appreciate what the man has achieved.
And unlike some other twitchy, bescarfed, overfunded and undertalented managers, have you ever once heard Arsene Wenger bemoan the lack of resources available to him over the last ten years, if you include the planning and enquiry stages of the new stadium.
Sure, the ‘mental strengths’ and ‘great spirit’ speeches have grated at times, but what was he supposed to do with a television camera in his face and a microphone up his nose. Not to mention some of the half-wits waiting to jump on the first hint of negativity ?
There have been times over the last two seasons when I’ve wondered if a change might not be the best thing, but I’ve become really proud of our manager and the fight shown by our team this season, despite some less than brilliant performances.
He has earned the chance to show what he can really do, now that he can finally “spend some fcuking money”.
Morning all.
Holic,
I apologize if I crossed the line last night. No intent, maybe just a bit wreck less.
I also want to thank you and the fine patrons here in the bar. Great season in here discussing all things really. I had the honor of meeting a few of you in person this year and I hope this coming season to repeat my pilgrimage to the HOF and meet some more of you under the brollie.
Again, thanks Holic. This bar simply enhances the Arsenal experience.
Cheers. Line em up!!
2 00
Can’t get my shit together. All this faffing. Nervy resignation to the footballing fates.. Can’t even concentrate on the cricket. Sod this for a game of soldiers. Going down the pub.
3 00
Couple of pints in, that’s better. Que sera sera. Familiar faces give their predictions, from a breezy ” no probs, 4-0″ to a wearisome “at least we’ll be in Europe whatever happens”. Keep your own counsel son, try and look calm, and have another pint. Reject the offer of a seat, too nervy to sit still. Time for another fag. Out into the sun. Everthing’s gonna be alright. Isn’t it? My brother turns up. This might get messy.
3 30
Got the team. Arteta plays. Good news, risk worth taking. Poldi retained, radiating Germanic confidence. Good. Always feel better when he’s about. Strong bench too. Come on Arsenal! Back in the Pub. Another pint. Only thirty more minutes to fritter away. Tick tock … tick tock … tick tock.
4 00
The Pub is full, but not uncomfortably so. Give myself a little pat on the back for deciding to stand. Arsenal are on the big screen. To the left a small TV is showing the Tottenham game. A small gaggle of Tottenham fans are huddled around it. Why isn’t their TV in black and white? This is it. This is it Arsenal. A guttural roar. COME ON YOU GUNNERS. It is taken up by the massed Gooner ranks. This is an Arsenal Pub and the LWCs better believe it.
4 15
Fucking come on Arsenal. Impressed with the pressing and how we’re playing the game in their half. Not impressed with our failure to make any serious inroads into their penalty area. Come on Arsenal, it’s a third choice keeper for fucks sake, take a chance, make him work, have a poke. Per, Per Per, why have you chosen today to have an off day. Thank Christ for Kos. What a defender that boy is. Have another pint.
4 30
This is fucking unbearable. No easy win today. Why oh why can’t we just be 6-0 up after half an hour. Is that so unreasonable? Arteta off, bollocks, still a gamble worth taking though. Ox on? Surprised. Jack obviously not fit enough to play an hour. Keep the ball Arsenal. Believe in yourselves. You’re better than this mob. Least the LWCs are quiet. Don’t look at their game son, don’t fucking look you muppet. All about us. Always has been. A little roar from the corner. Have to look. Have to laugh! Bale’s been booked when he might have had a pen. Hahaha, you reap what you sow monkey-boy.
4 45
HT. Pint. Fag. Garden. The LWCs are already there. “Well you were shit then!” says one. “Thought you were watching your game?” I grin back. Predictions are made. “Tottenham will definitely win their game” I say. “Bale will get you out of gaol for the umpteenth time. We have to up our game. We have to win”. All about us, all about us, all about us. Repeat it like a mantra, but where the fuck is that goal coming from? The LWCs return to the Pub. “I’ve got such a bad feeling about this” I confess to my brother. “Shut up you stupid cunt, we will be fine.” he says. Good call. I shut up.
5 00
Go on Theo son! Go onnnn. Aaaaargh, unlucky. Made the keeper work, all you can do. This is better Arsenal, this is better. More direct, more incisive. Tomas is finally getting hold of the ball, what a player Ox is gonna be for us next season. Gotta find a way of getting Santi and Poldi into the game. Keep pressing Arsenal, the goal will come.
5 07
Played Bac, bought a free kick there. “Here we go mate, one-nil, Kos, you watch” I say to my brother. He nods silently. Good delivery Theo, well up Poldi, Kosssssss!!!!! Is he onside? Yes of course he’s onside. The Pub explodes. COME ON ARSENAL! “Haha, what did i tell ya eh, what did I tell ya?” I say to my brother in mid bearhug. “You’re a fucking genius” he says. I decide to ignore the clear sarcasm in his voice.
5 30
Why the fuck have we dropped so deep, why? why? why? This is killing me. Great tackle Per, great tackle. Why are you putting me through this Arsenal? Pass me the knockout gas, I want to go home. Bloody hate football. “We scored too early mate”, I tell my suffering brother. “Will you just shut the fuck up?” Good call mate. I shut up.
5 40
Suffering in silence. Another pint. We are ok. Looked better. Keeping the ball better. 5 minutes to go plus injury time. A lifetime. Newcastle have created nothing. But we’re still one Ben Arfa screamer, one executed set piece, one goalkeeping blunder away from disaster. Still, at least there’s nothing from the tiny Spud corner. Cant help glancing over. Every time I look, it appears that there has been another near miss. Don’t bloody look. All about us. All about us. All about us. The travelling faithful come over loud and clear. COME ON ARSENAL! COME ON ARSENAL! Needs a two goal turnaround. Surely we ain’t gonna fuck this up now?
5 45
Nearly there Arsenal, nearly there. A whelp from the corner. Oh for fucks sake Bale, not again, just hurry up and piss off to Madrid. One nil to Tottenham. No margin for error now. Four minutes injury time? Four fucking minutes? Fuck off Ref. “There’s gonna be an Aguero moment here, I can feel it. Always said we’d lose it in injury time.” “Aguero doesn’t play for Newcastle though does he, you bloody moran” says the voice of reason.
Go on Theo, go on, you’re through, go on son, stick it home, seal the deal. The Pub is ready to explode. Yeeeeeee, arrrgh Theo, you fucking cunt. How did you miss? Newcastle are going to go up the other end and score now, and my misery will be ALL your fault.
Don’t dive in Gibbsy, DON’T FUCKING DIVE IN. Oh for fucks sake. Free kick to Newcastle. Stand firm Arsenal, one last push, don’t you dare concede. Don’t you fucking dare. Great header, great header. Out out out. Here we go. Keep the ball. Well played Ollie. Corner to us. Keep the ball Arsenal. Time’s up Ref, TIME IS UP. He’s blown, we’ve only gone and done it. Know your place Spuds! Know your place!
4 55
“Thought we played well. Never in doubt” I smiled.
“You’re fucking unbelievable”
“Haha, Ill get the Beers in shall I?”
“First sensible thing you’ve said all day!”
HAPPY ST TOTTERINGHAMS DAY ALL!
Great post N7.
And props to the Guvnor for a great match report, as per usual. The model of consistency.
A glass raised to you, take a bow son.
Ha ha – tabs, that’s magic! Summed up the whole afternoon. Nicely done.
N7 and Tabs, a double whammy of legendary posts. Respect to the pair of you.
N7:
It’s a lot harder to drive steel into a team of talented powder puffs.
Heh! elegantly put.
Tabs:
You painted a picture. While you and many others were browning their boxers down the boozer, I was casting furtive glances at my smart phone while making polite conversation with extended family over tea and cake.
Again: something has got me excited about next season, I think it could be a breakthrough of sorts.
I have to say the weather was better in Newcastle!
It just shows how extreme things have become when tabs jr is deemed to be the voice of reason 😛
Excellent posts btw @ 140 and 144
Cheers for the kind ones NorCal and N7.
Thanks Camberwell, and props to you for getting through your family gathering. Not sure I could have done the same.
Dr Z – Haha. Actually Junior was a bit subdued yesterday. Turned up with a swollen arm after coming off his bike on Friday. Whilst he was happy to go along with my prescription of “Beer, and lots of it”, he was clearly in a bit of pain.
He’s just phoned me. Turns out he’s fractured his elbow. Kudos to him for getting through a packed juicer and all that that entails, and drinking until late.
“No way I was missing that” was his reply to my suggestion that a serious sesh was probably not the best way to go with a broken arm. 🙂
Some great posts above (N7 and tabs in particular).
Journey back seemed a lot longer (presumably because of no rum), journey up went very quickly.
Splendid atmosphere at the final whistle. It was very tense, but unlike so many times in recent years there is so much more confidence at the back, and we didn’t invite too much pressure as I feared at some point with half an hour to go.
It was all set up for a catastrophe, late Tottnum winner, Feo hitting the post. However confident, there was always the sense that it would take one fluke, as said by tabs, to fuck it all up.
It was all set up for last minute heartbreak, but it didn’t happen.
All about us keeping strong.
Happy St Totteringham everybody!
Get well soon tabs jr –
sounds like a ruse for not putting hand in pocket 😉
Heh Dr Z, maybe 🙂
Good stuff Ollie. Must have been great to have been up there.
n7, this is for you, you see through mine eyes @140:
http://www.hark.com/waynes-world/wayne-wayne-garth-told-me-about-the-show-man
oooooh, to be a goooner!
tabs, that was epic, as well. mine was so different to that:
7:45 am wake up, stagger out of bed, fighting boilk.
7:50 am put water on for coffee, stagger to wc, stagger back to kitchen, turning tv on on the way. make coffee, drink a pint of water and have an advil. go lie on couch.
8:00 am start twitching nervously, bite nails, drink coffee, bang head against pillow of couch. write series of posts to the bar, glad to at least have virtual company to go through this with.
8:47 am go to wc, make more coffee and some cheese toast. pay no attention to the little voice in my head that says “weeeee’re not gonna score”…
9:02 am back on the couch, eat cheese toast, feel a pang of hope on the way we set up after the break. finish coffee, finish cheese toast, put dishes on floor.
9:08 am say a prayer that we score from a freekick, calling on all the ghosts i know to mark the barcodes and let one of our lads free to knock it in.
9:09 am jump up screaming and pumping my fists (couldn’t do the silent scream, and fuck it, if they’re not up by 9 not my problem) as kos kung-fu’s in the winnah.
9:10-9:47 am writhe and twist and bang my head against the pillow, alternating with muttered cursing and “come on you fucking gunners”. posting to the bar along the way, though i was shaking so hard it was difficult to iType.
9:48 am stand up as theo approaches their goal, ready to explode, having heard about fucking bale’s goal…then grabbing handsfull of hair and cussing a blue streak when theo hits the post. continue standing, continue imploring.
9:51 am take it to the fucking corner!!!
9:52 am the final whistle. jump up and down, yelping like a small dog, yelling like a madman. fuck off you spurs, you cocks on a basketball, you foul-smelling heaps of bottom droppings…
9:53 am laugh at my son who staggers out of his room asking “you ok dad?”, tell him what’s up and enjoy his sleepy-eyed thumbs up before he heads back to bed.
so, not quite as many pints as at a pub, and much earlier in the day, but the rest of my day (and night) were bathed in a rosy-red glow…
Heh Scruz, good stuff 🙂
Hey holics! 😉 Scruz and Tabs, yes indeed. Think we can all identify with some of that!!! Trev, thank you for putting in a fair n balanced word for Arsene. Ollie, as always, enjoyed your Twitter Traveling Reports 😉 NorCal, no worries @ 143 🙂 Lurky @ 124 Your bit on Tomas and beautiful football, very nice. Bit of a let down today. When your spirits soar, they eventually must plummet or at least come back to earth. News that Gervinho might leave us, makes me sad. Was hoping he might get one more chance with us !
yeah, one of these days tabs i’ll actually get to watch a game after a good pub session, then i’ll know what y’all are talking about. that’s 90% of my watching, right there (with variations as to breakfast, sobriety, time of day, and success). the other 10% is midday games (like the ’06 cl final) where i take a few hours and slag off work…but still don’t drink because invariably i have to go back. now, if van quisling hadn’t been sent off and we’d been afforded a proper chance at destroying barcelona, drinking would have certainly ensued and i never would have gone back to work.
gotta find a game next season where norcal comes down to the city, pik comes across the bridge, and we hook up at a local arsenal bar to watch with other gooners over guinness breakfast.
http://i.imgur.com/wgkmm1D.jpg
my favorite from:
http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/in-pictures-arsenal-fans-rib-tottenhams-misery-with-mind-the-gaps-jokes-mock-bales-heart-sign/
It was brilliant tabs, shame we had to get the train back out, and as we were on the one after, hardly saw the other-side-of-the-Tollie crew.
As always top draw stuff from the boss, cheers ‘holic.
==
Nice one N7 and Trev.
==
Excellent journey through the roller-coaster of emotions I’m sure we all felt, narrated by tabs, good stuff. Heh @ Scruz
==
I’m in the throws of a Bank Holiday Weekend, so I haven’t got the time to post anything of substance, I’ll give it a go later or tomorrow.
You’ve been warned. 😉
And Nice one Ollie!!
The three funniest questions, in my personal opinion of course, on the Ask Gareth Bale twitterathon:
(See http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/arsenal-fans-troll-gareth-bale-during-askbale-twitter-qa/ for the entire list.)
1. whats your favorite loss arsenal 5-2 or arsenal 5-2 ?
2. How does it feel losing a 10pt lead again?
3. did you move into football because it pays more than diving?
Scruz those were funny pics too. 🙂
Well H2H, you put a smile on my face, just now. And your unwaivering presence at the bar on game days, always gave me some courage! There were times I was tempted to go and hide in the bathroom during some of our games. The rationale being that if I wasn’t watching, we’d win ! 😉 Oh well, time for a nap, gotta work tonite 🙁 Have a good one holics and try to be nice to your Spur’s mates 😉 Key word ‘try’ 🙂
great twits, bt. your no. 1 was my fave, though how many bananas from milan is also good.
speaking of top bananas, any word from the sweeper lately?
N7@140: very very well said, have a drink on my tab!
tabs@144, I see you were as calm and reasoned as I was during the game 😉
(it may be noted that I texted tabs at half-time saying I had a bad feeling about the game…)
And tell jr to get well soon.
Cheers Abb.
Scruz @160 – Sounds like you have a plan there! 😉
Cheers H2H. I will look forward to reading your take on yesterday’s events when you get some time.
Lars – heh. Missed your text at the time. Just gone back and read it. Yep, that was EXACTLY how I was feeling. 🙂
Will pass on your good wishes to junior – thanks mate.
Good stuff from N7, TaBS and Scruz, gave me so many chuckles.
Let the summer commence.
Old historical guff from me I guess.
Any regulars fancy penning something, email it in.
Experience tells me my decision not to get too involved with pointless transfer speculation tends to eliminate much of what passes for news until the new season is with us 🙁
Heh Tabs, nice one. That was my day, except I wasn’t in the pub, and therefore had to hug meself when we scored, but you know what I mean.
Cheers abb.
Sorry about Gervy, but really.. You know…. 😉
Have we signed anyone yet ? 😉
Heh Trev, cheers. All’s well that ends well eh! Nice stuff at 142 btw.
Evening ‘H. Should have that much-promised but never-delivered Anfield 89 piece for you shortly. Maybe for the 26th? 😉
Scruz @168. John Cleese asking the questions in the Ask Gareth Bale twit-a-thon would probably work out the best ….
And Gareth, How long HAVE you been a twit?
hahahah this ..is …brilliant 😀 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thHplRvfACs *jumps mockwagon*
Anyone heard from Stewert Robson????
Toothless twat.
bt, he could do the minister of funny dives feat. monkey boy bale. carries a banana peel in his pocket, it doesn’t even need to be underfoot for him to fall…
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/loan-watch-bendtner-returns-for-juve
Tabs and N7 I really enjoyed your posts. Isn’t it funny the agonies we all go through. You can’t wait for games to start and then you can’t wait for them to end!
I have only one tiny point to raise n7. You are absolutely right about Spurs and their defence and we have generally defended well as the stats show. Amazingly I have a little grandson who is currently a Spud cos his dad is. I must and will convert him. It it means I have seen a bit of them. Vertonghen is excellent and way better than anybody else they have in defence. Walker has been shocking this season and they missed Sandro a lot as Parker is rubbish.
I saw Lawton ‘s article and he is well out of touch although he tipped us for the League three years ago because he considered Wenger a genius!
I think we may never really know exactly how good Wenger is until he is gone. He may have lost his mojo with some of his signings but I suspect he is fronting up for a Board that is economical with the truth .
History may reveal just how remarkably he has built this club financially. This summer will be very interesting
scruz @179. I can see it now. 🙂
Great stuff Tabs, N7 and others.
Tabs jr sounds to have the mental strength! Can we sign him?
Thanks Holic and Holics for making this a fun year.
I dont post much, but read regularly (I read better than I write!), and always get a smile from my visits here.
So who do we play next?
Is this another interlull?? 🙂
Cheers from Pa.
Abb, Gervais is going nowhere. That story from is made up.
Cheers, PaGooner. Seldom has an interlull sounded so good.
Ollie@180: apparently bendtner has injured his wrist. How could that possibly have happened….
On a completely different note, let’s not forget 20 years ago:
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affaire_VA-OM
The fact that Bernès is now a powerful players/managers ‘agent never stops to amaze me.
‘Holic, we lap up the historical guff. Bring it on.
And a long cool one for you for everything you’ve written this season just done.
heh Ned.
When you see it on the telly, you know there’s 3 minutes left when Theo hit the post.
When you’re in the stadium, the clock stops at 90 and you don’t know where in the 4 minutes you are.
Seriously, as I said earlier, everything was set up for a dreadful heartbreak.
The players kept their nerves very well, Newcastle didn’t have a sniff there in the last few minutes.
ttgpp, one thing that shouldn’t really be doubted anymore is that, genius or not, he’s still a fucking excellent manager, and when you remember the shit some people (seriously…)said like ‘oh he’s lost the dressing room’, it’s fucking funny how the players seem to still like him and grind out results.
The pleasant aspect of these last two months, even if some of the football really wasn’t pretty, was the sense of togetherness than somehow permeated.
Interesting post about some of the stats that are less trotted out.
http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/tacticsandanalysis/id/1410?&cc=5739
One interesting one is the number of last ditch tackles where we come out very favourably- that’s if you think we should be making them. Giroud missed the second most big chances over the season second only to ………RVP! That’s an interesting stat!
What’s the Point of Arsenal Being in the Champions League?
Arsenal’s Wage Bill £52m
Spurs’ Wage Bill £20m
Arsenal 4th Place
Spurs 3rd Place (just one point behind)
Enough said.
You Mugs are Happy to Just Finish Above Tottenham?
(Arsenal’s Revenue Is More Than £100m/Season Greater Than Tottenham’s). You lot are truly pathetic.
At least Roberto Martínez doesn’t wear a puffer coat and certainly not in mid May. He’s also at least won the FA Cup in this current decade.
How long before Jack Wilshere jumps ship and plays for a proper football club that can win silverware? Let’s sell LJW this summer and turn a tidy profit.
Quite right pal.
Spurs third place.
They are mugs, aren’t they.
About time the mugs that read this stuff did something about the revenues. Agree, pathetic.
Anyone watching Game of Trolls?
Personally, i’m just surprised Piers Morgan has this kind of time on his hands.
It’s your fault Lurky and N7.
The man said so, and he is the cleverest bloke here.
Mugs.
All of ya.
ITK he is.
You can all give it large but the fact is, the tooth hurts.
WagKnob aaahhhhhttttttt
😀
Dum Dum Durham. Spot on goat cheese.
WagKnob is more.
Blah blah blah..,,
Glory glory spuds etc
This time next year etc….
.
He’s only gone and buried it……
Aaaahhhhhhhhh . Has he fuck.
I’m hurting. Proper toothache.
The reason Ranieri failed to win the Premier League Title in his first season under Abramovich was because of Arsenal’s unprecedented unbeaten season.
Truth Boy Truth Boy,
Give us a song.
Truth Boy,
Give us a son.
Truth Boy, true Gooner legend.
WagKnob aaaahhhhhtttttt
You know it makes sense.
What annoys me about Wenger is that we took a first leg advantage from our tie with Chelsea back to Highbury and still managed to blow it.
You lot are to blame.
End of.
I am the way, the life, and the trooth.
No one can handle the truth.
Truth boy knows. We lost a game to the chavs 9 years ago. WagKnob aaaaaahhhhhhhtttttttt
That defeat alone should have cost Wenger his job
Yeah
Should be gone.
What did Wenger ever do for us?
Apart from the sewers, and the roads, and the stadium, obviously.
Yeahhhhh Truth boy knows. Sack WagKnob because we lost a game. Bring in Ranieri. Go Truth Boy. I’m with you, not these mugs.
If Ranieri is not available you should do it. No one can handle the truth. You would be awesome.
Give us a song Truth Boy. We need a sign. Something to show that we all follow Truth Boy.
Guide us Truth Boy. Deliver us to the promised land.
Some brilliant comment in the earlier drinks (before the trolls arrived). Do I detect some professional writers among the bar regulars? It’s quality such as this which attracted me to this bar and I see I will have to up my own game to compete!
Not that it’s a competition, just informed opinions shared amongst friends (and some flies on the wall who really need swatting).
I’d like to endorse the popular opinion of the boss, and to say that if all of us were sweating on the result just imagine what was going on in AW’s head and stomach. I wouldn’t have been him for quids yesterday … until that final whistle when he could truly relax for the first time in months. His hair has gone from black to iron grey in his time in charge of North London’s finest, I’m just surprised it wasn’t snow white by the end of yesterday.
Let’s hear it for the greatest, and now longest serving, manager in the EPL.
Oskar
What about the FA Cup Semi-Final debacle in 99 and the Vivas blunder which cost us the Double.
…and did you know that Alan Pardew is now the second-longest serving manager in the EPL with, let’s see … nearly two and a half years at Newcastle!
Oskar
Spend billions. Buy Pele. Lead us Truth Boy. We are all counting on you.
You mugs. You can’t handle the tooth……
Sack him in 99. Then again in 04. Truth Boy knows. Get double rid of him. WagKnob OUT OUT.
Of course what would really make the mood complete would be to provide Bale with CL football next year, without having to change his postcode…
Oskar
I’m just highlighting sloppy defending, it’s been Wenger’s achilles heel during his whole tenure with Arsenal.
thetruth,
Just once I’m going to attempt to indulge you, in the hope that you might still be capable of thinking with an open mind.
There is a very good book titled Head First by Tony Buzan, the psychologist who has worked with Steve Redgrave, amongst others, which methods are detailed in another volume titled Head Strong.
Head First has also been divided into a number of subjects, each of which has been separately published. I would strongly recommend one of those – The Power of Spiritual Intelligence – to you.
It has nothing to do with religion, but a lot to do with how you look at things in general, and how you evaluate, interact with and behave towards other people.
Look also at his work on ‘meta negative thinking’ and see if you recognise anything in your own thought patterns.
You might find a way of altering your behaviour and outlook.
Maybe you don’t want to and, personally, I couldn’t care less whether you agree with anything I say or not.
But take a look and have a think. You might even start to enjoy yourself a bit more.
jaysus, oskar, keep that diving monkey well away from us. milan seems a bit fine for him, with the bananas and all. or maybe anzhi metalahahaska. no champions league, but he’d get to retire early.
Go Truth Boy. Sloppy defending. You highlight it. No one else has to put up with it. Nor should we. WagKnob aaaahhhhttttt. Truth Boy in.
Maybe you could recommend the book to Arsene Wenger.
To be expected really.
Just fuck off instead then.
Sorry Holic,
First and last attempt to engage the troll.
Trev,
I came to the same conclusion last night.
😉
A cinderella story to beat all other cinderella stories? Very interesting and worth a read.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22595371
Hey folks, having a good one? I watched this earlier and felt it was interesting and decided to share. Apologies if you’ve already seen it or can’t be arsed to hear more about the end of the season. Blogs is in it though 8D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEY2K4sGZns
By the way, are there any songs for Koscielny?
If not, should we work on one over the summer as homework? 😀
We have won the mini league (last 10 games, since NLD)
Mighty Gunners 26 points
Chel 23, Liverpool 19, ManC 19, Manu, Sp** , Everton 18.
Lets do it for 38 games from August this year.
BTW, anyone want to get back Song and Cesc? I thinks that is a seamless strengthening
A HK Gooner: Our goal differential in those 10 games was 19-5 including 4 clean sheets. A performance to build from I would say.
Aah scruz, but think of how the neighbours would appreciate us giving their favourite catarrhine son more CL football. Remember how they loved it when Sol came down the road? Imagine that times ten! 😉
And those screamers that were the only thing keeping them afloat would be most welcome on our score-sheet doncha think? Imagine if he’d been potting them for us not them this year 🙂 … Tottering Coldspuds would have been fighting for survival in the Premiership, never mind threatening the natural order of North London football!
Oskar (needs an emoticon for ‘baleful look’)
Aaaaaaagggggggghhhhhhhhh.
My hero, Truth Boy, unable to offer any kind of defence to Trev’s suggestions. Now we know what happens to those with a shit defence?????
Truth Boy aaaaaaaahhhhhhhttttttt
WagKnob back.
I hate Bale but it was the most hilarious turn of events if he comes to us! It would definitely be worth it to sign him on the cheap and offload some deadwood on them just to see their tears of unquenchable sadness 😀
*was=would be*
Morning all.
Looks like I have missed a right royal bun fight.
Some great and entertaining stuff above.
Alright then, how about:
Feed the Kos and you won’t score,
Feeeed the Kos and you won’t score!
No?
Cannons. He won’t come to us. However, what would be funny is if all of the media were fed a story that we were preparing a bid, that we had spoken to his agent, talks at an advanced stage etc. The comedy value alone would make it worth the effort.
Haha! Just the thought is having me chuckle over here Steve!
Do you know how crazy the LWCs would get if that were to be leaked to the media? They would probably react like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzhH900EjgE
The story would need to be leaked along with a big re-hash of how we brought Sol to Arsenal. They would go nuts, especially if Arsene came out with something like ” he is a player I like, I won’t rule anything out.” It might also gets the likes of Madrid interested????
What would be funny is AVB to Madrid rumours, followed by chimp boy being his number 1 target.
Just had a stroll around the rumour circles and it seems RM are indeed interested in AVB and the Chimp, and according to the Mirror they are also looking to sweep the decks clean of the likes of Adepaymore, Dempsey, Parker, Gallas, etc. Should we put in a bid of some pies for Hundredstone? Every team needs a chubster I reckon.
You’re all mugs, every last one of you.
Except Adrian Durham and Der Troof.
Pathetic, holics. Following a manager who wears a puffer coat. In mid May of all times!!!!!!!!!!
If it was October, it would be fine!??!!
And look at Martinez, a trillion, zillion times better than Wagknob. He’s consistently, year in year out, kept Wigan in 16th place and this time around he’s given you even MORE reasons why he’s better!!!!??!!
Pointless Arsenal being in the Champions League, they never get past the first round. And now look, Spurs have finished 3rd. Holic out, most sAnE fooTbol FFanzz blaM tHiS on yOOO…
Pathetic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Holic, on the subject of penning posts, would you like 800 words agreeing with the truth, in the style of Glenda Slagg?
CoR: I wanna dance with Koscielny….
Piss poor weather here, I want to go back to Newcastle.
Alcatel-Lucent offers a holistic approach to managing the mobile experience
Holyfuck, what’s with the holistic shit?
Morning ‘Holics
N7 @ #140
That was the post of the season for me, absolutely tremendous.
A summer of drinks on my debt laden tab for you.
Cheers and Up The Arse!
PS: STILL laughing at and baiting The Tinies. The LWC (actually a decent chap) who normally trains with us on Monday evenings was strangely absent yesterday. I’m going to carry on wearing my Arsenal shirt on Monday evenings until he returns.
I´m a bit partial to being holistic.
*SeeWhatIDidThere* ?? 😉
One of the most interesting statistics from Arsenal’s season is that in their last 16 games they took 39 points. That total is higher than in the last 16 games during their ‘Invincibles’ season of 2003/2004
I’d argue we didn’t need the points then, we did this season.
Still, some consistency we need to build on.
Jesus wept, can you believe some fans? Too many people like thetruth out there…Copied from a letter to F365:
“He [Jose] has never been one to entertain, nurture young players or care about the team on a long term basis. Elements needed to sustainably stay strong as a football club. Essentially, hiring him would mean stepping back to where we were pre-jose in 2004 and restart a cycle that is trophy laden but so expensive and strips the dignity off us. Every team he joins (and inevitably leaves) follow a certain cycle that spirals down after a peak. Benitez has left a good foundation (can’t even believe I said that) and we can build an alternate future, or re-live the past. That said, the man does win trophies.”
Paraphrasing: he’s not interested in bringing through youth talent, his approach costs too much money and takes all the class away from the club. But hey, he wins trophies! So that’s alright then.
Winning silverware at the expense of, er, everything else. What a dream.
Camb@242 (10:36). I don’t know about ‘holic, but I’d be absolutely delighted with 800 words agreeing with thetruth in the style of Glenda Slagg. Can we have it as a drink if ‘holic won’t bite?
Quite the split personalities, aren’t we? There are more truths than Gorams!
Holistic eh? Does that mean you get a free head massage with every AL product?
Glenda who?
Embrace The Tooth holic. You know it makes sense.
😀
Quick visit for a swally. Thanks for the heads up TS@244, on my quick mini-back drink, otherwise I would have missed N7@140.
What a post!
Post of the season for me too.
Nice one N7 – a large ‘virtual Ardbeg’ is on the bar for you, mate.
heh ‘holic
Blimey, quite the bunfight as SteveT said! I think Mr Truth is best left alone to his own self-imposed bitterness but heh ho.
Cent @171 – Cheers mate.
Ttg @181 – Agonies indeed. One can’t help wondering just how different all the drinks would have been had Newcastle grabbed a late equaliser. Such fine margins.
Pa @183 – Thanks for your kind words. Haha, don’t think Junior would be much of a signing, can never get him out of the Pub for a start! That said, he would be very cheap, and he is injured, so you never know … 🙂
Well said Oskar. No-one, but no-one, suffers more for this Club than AW.
If I had bet a Spurs fan 50p in 1995 that Arsenal would finish above them, then agreed to double or quits then they would now owe me over £131,000.
Deluded fuckers.
http://www.francefootball.fr/news/Le-barca-presente-ses-nouveaux-maillots/372573
To be honest I was quite surprised that with all the weird away kits they’ve had, they’d never tried to have one with the Catalan colours in it.
This one is only logical really.
Ollie. In that picture the players don’t seem too happy about it. Whether “it” is their new away kit or not I can’t say but what a lot of grimacing faces. Another case of success and happiness being like oil and water?
Ttg @181 – Agonies indeed. One can’t help wondering just how different all the drinks would have been had Newcastle grabbed a late equaliser. Such fine margins.
tabs: Newcastle 1 Arsenal 1. So said Mr Sugar on Twitter 😉
SteveT – Haha. Their “delusions” are what makes them “special”. I hope they never change. 😉
Ollie – Logical perhaps, but still bloody horrible! No Fabregas in that promo pic I see.
Ollie – Indeed. I see he was squirming yesterday, lovely! 🙂
Oxon, Love to! Get on it next week.
Holic. Please read:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenda_Slagg
Stories circulating about Napoli closing in on Rafael Benitez. Not surprising that the home club of the Italian mafia is interested in a manager who has been training in the hotbed of the Russian mafia.
Nice try Trev, even if it was a futile endeavour. I may of recommended “Clifford the Big Red Dog”, but as red probably isn’t his/her colour I’d have to go with “Everyone Poops”. That should keep it busy for a few months.
==
I’m with Oscar, I’d take Bale in a heartbeat, yes he’s a diving, cheating, Curious George (while I’m on kiddies books) looking fuckstick, but most of that is amplified because he plays for the enemy, there’s no doubting he’s a very good player, way too good for that mob.
==
Excellent plan Steve T, the wind up of the century and if I’m not mistaken the reason Twitter was created, 😉
==
Very sweet of you abb, and nice one Tabs, I’ll see if I can shake something out this afternoon.
Jurgen Klopp says some interesting things.
http://www.football365.com/news/21554/8725559/Klopp-Happy-At-Dortmund-Bemoans-Kagawa-Use
Pulis leaving Stoke?
Gutted, was hoping he’d take them down next season.
Bt8bb4gfg, Nice link.
Cheers for the link 8Ball. Very very impressed with Klopp. Perfect fit if and when the French genius decides to call it a day.
Pulis out. Would have preferred him to be leaving in personal ignominy, but I’ll take it. Just no room in the game for cheating cunts like him, or at least there shouldn’t be.
I hope we never see him or his stupid cap again.
Way to cap the season?
I think Trev is more than cap-able of starting a punfest out of the Pulis situation.
Pulis sacked – caps off a season of unparalleled dross.
Unable to improve – Pulis peaked too soon.
Hats off to the chairman. 😉
See where Pulis’ next job is – if he gets one.
Hey Ollie,
You were punning while I was penning. 😉
Pulis Leaves in Fit of Peak !
Came to report Pulis leaving Stoke, put it in the wrong drinks and it’s a Warna anyway.
This is a rather amazing stat:
1 – Arsenal only conceded in the final 15 minutes of one Premier League match this season (v Swansea 2 goals). Stamina. via @cameronjones_
Retweeted by Orbinho
Why the hell were we so worried in those last few games? Clearly we had no reason to 😉
Like many others I think it would have been a lot more fun to see Pubis take Stoke down to the Championship but him leaving is a good thing regardless. And maybe now they can find someone that at least makes them play football? Then again it will probably be Martin O’Neill or Colin Wanker who takes over so… no, won’t hold my breath for that to happen.
I think it is a bit funny that Trev put in a hat-trick of drinks while doing cap puns 🙂
Look, you work for the Guardian, and sometimes you see your colleagues and think: ‘Oh no, the same old thing every day.’ Maybe you want to go to the Sun? More money, less work. More photographs, [fewer] words.”
Heh, hard not to like Klopp.
heh Lars.
Cap duly doffed.
Hehs at Trev and Lars 🙂
Durham! Truth Boy! Now you see ’em – now they get ejected!
Everything in its rightful place.
Funny thing is football.
I don’t think one word or phrase could describe it fully, it is so many things to so many different people, a sport, a passtime, a vocation, a job, a hobby, a distraction, a passion. It brings us highs, it brings us lows, joy and pain, euthoria and dispear, those who see it as “just a game” don’t really get it, do they?
The last few weeks have been the wierdest end to a season that I can remember, I recall saying, a while back, that the most important thing for us was to tighten up at the back and keep clean sheets, I was told that the pursuit of three points was the most important thing, I begrudgingly agreed even though I believed that the two went hand in hand. Woj was dropped, a decision that at the time I thought was a bit harsh, Fabby was brought in and did a fine job, even though he had me turtling for most of the time, yet his stats don’t lie, they read very well, but as I’ve always said, a stat will only tell you so much.
We had a change in attitude, the cavalier, high up the pitch, devil come what may attitude to defending was replaced by a deeper lying, pragmatic, shape keeping, not just a back four but a solid defensive unit, it felt like we had decided that shooting ourselves in the foot wasn’t the best way of having a pedicure and took steps to remedy our short comings, the resuts, when viewed on paper, are pretty amazing. Unbeaten in the final ten, six away wins, five clean sheets……. that’s titlewinning form!
Good stuff!! Right!?
Okay, now to stir the pot…….
How many of you can honestly say you enjoyed every minute?
I can’t speak for anyone else, but for me it was torturous., every game since Swansea, that inate fear of failure that gripped us all, that horrible feeling that St Totts Day may not be celebrated this year. Even in last years run in, I never doubted for a second that we’d finish above the Tinys, that they would implode, even though we were also doing our best to throw it away. This year was different, every single game was like the last few minutes of a sudden death cup final, we were literaly balancing on a razors edge, no margin for error, no room for a slip up, to quote that great wordsmith Baldrick; “We’re not at home to Mr Cock-up.”
I watched the last few games, especially the finale, not so much with hope and anticipation, more with angst, like a child viewing Dr Who, only daring to peak out from behind the sofa, terrified of catching a glimpse of the Daleks, dreading to hear an unfavourable scoreline from Shite Fart Lane, tantamount to hearing the schrill cry of “EX-TER-MI-NATE”. This wasn’t fun, it was gut wrenching, sweat pouring, pants pooping, heavy pacing swearing at the TV, banging on the table, excess nervous swigging on beer – FEAR, plain and simple.
I thought when Kos put the ball in the back of the net (be honest, how many of you thought it was going to be disallowed?) that I would feel better, the opposite occured, I got even more antsy. It was now so close I could almost taste it. I screamed at every misplaced pass, groaned at every touch the opposition were allowed, I was literaly sweating buckets, fidgeting like Twitchy Redknaap in court, the punters in the bar must have been thinking, what a nutter.
87 minutes gone, Trev counting down on the drinks, the unthinkable happened and Galen had scored at the Swamp, NO NO NO NO NO!!! This was getting to be too much. OK the 90 are up we should be home..,.. The board flashes 4 minutes extra time…. Where the fuck did that come from???? The clock seemed to be going backwards, the whole concept of time seemed to be lost in the Vortex that was St James Park…… Hang on, there goes Feo, go on son, you’re through, wrap it up, yes that’s going innnnnnnnnNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO, fuck, fuck, fuck!!! It was about that time that I think I had a mini breakdown, a kind of blackout, it was like I was in a bubble, I was watching the game, but I wasn’t, I can’t really explain it, it’s like my senses shut down to avoid inevitable pain, I just stopped staring at the screen, walked behind the bar, tapped a cold one, downed and slauntered back towards the box. At that very time we had won a corner, I suddenly snapped out of it, fear was replaced by belief. Just keep it in the corner lads, come on, that’s it, hold on to it. *whistle blows*
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!
It was a total release, more relief then joy. We’d beaten the odds. Like I give a fuck that this was the so called “minimum requirement” we did it and we did it in a way that was so anti Arsenal (for lack of a better phrase) that it still hasn’t really sank in. For those taunting us that we celebrated like we won a trophy, yes we did and fuck you very much, if fourth place is so unimportant then why is there such a fuss made about it in the media when they (as usual) think we’re going to fall out of it. The Spuds would have partied like it was Nineteen
Ninety NineSixty moddafokkin One if they had got it, it would have been a “massive achievement” for them even though we have been told by all and sundry that they are the better team, the better squad, ME-EE-EH.The worse wanker I seen speaking on the subject was the MoTD terrorist/pundit, Al She Ra, what a cunt, the biggest prize he’d ever won was the anual Owner who most looks like his Potato Award, to be fair though, he has won it an unprecedented 17 years in a row. Not one positive word came out his knobgobblin’ mouth, Hansen waded in with the table doesn’t lie, even ol’ Big Ears, an ex Spud FFS, tried to say what an amazing achievement it was that we had qualified for the CL again, but not that waste of shirt Al, no no, he just made a snidey comment about how we didn’t take points off the top 6, well done you fucking couch cabbage. Oh by the way, the LWC’s took more points off the Chavs and the Mancs then us….. Where did they finish again? Oh yeah, prick!!
I’ve been pretty swamped since after the game and I haven’t really had time to check out many reactions and to be brutally honest the magnitude of the achievement hasn’t really sunk in yet, I’ve got a few of the last games recorded so now that the overweming sense of dread has subsided I wil watch and maybe even enjoy them.
Yes I do realise 4th place is not a trophy, but it certainly feels like one this time around. It was a season of ups and downs, I’m glad it’s over, but at the same time can hardly wait ’til we start again.
Football eh!?
Top top stuff H2H. Agreed with every word.
I don’t.
Maybe it’s because I was there, but, on the last day anyway, I wasn’t as painful and gruelling as last day of the previous season.
As I have put a few times above, it was all set for us to fail, including a late hitting of the post, but frankly, while not at all celebrating until the whistle went, the game unfolding below me told me Newcastle offered zero threat, and apart from a couple of minutes around the 60th when I feared we’d start to defend too deep, I have to say that while aware that it’d only take one screamer or one fuck-up to ruin it all, I never felt that scared.
West Brom (I wasn’t there), Fulham and QPR were far scarier.
Following the West Brom game through intermittent ‘multiplex’ coverage last year (and sober) made me suffer an enormous lot more.
h2h, excellent. hell yes. love “al she ra”, sounds like a 20-something blonde channelling a 35,000 year old he-god (thanks to doonesbury for the memories).
al-citeh and the yankees create the 20th mls franchise. to be called “new york city”. i can just imagine their crest will be a chicken sitting on a big apple.
http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1455830/man-city-yankees-co-own-mls-franchise-new-york?cc=5901
ollie, i think it was the “sober” that caused you the pain. it certainly did me sunday.
Wenger out. Pulis in.
As I read everyone’s reports of the game it just makes me smile. I picture people from all corners of the world watching, feeling and reacting the exact same way while watching The Mighty Arsenal play a game of football.
All over England hundreds of thousands jump in the air in unison. At the same time 8 time zones to the east I too jump out of my seat and let out a “yeeeeesssss”!
In Holland, an Arsenal fan bangs his fist on the table as Cisse blazes over from the 18 yards out. Simultaneously, I too am smacking the table with an audible thwack!
In the wee hours all across Australia people are screaming at their TV’s for Theo to “Shooooot”, he does and the world together screams “yeeesss-aaaawwwww shit” together,as one.
Arsenal Bloody Arsenal till I die!!
Cheers all.
Excellent post H2H!
When Theo went clear and hit the post, that was the most agonizing thing that I went through this season!
Haha, football indeed
H2H, great stuff! I have downloaded MOTD and will watch it in a bit, I will take pleasure in seeing Al She Rah squirm and suffer because we didn’t fuck up 🙂
Tabs@144 Haha, excellent post
” 8 time zones to the EAST”?
Wow, just realized I must live in China. 😉
Spectacularly poor from Houllier on French TV.
They’re talking Cuntski right now, and he’s peddled out the exact same shit that some rag (can’t remember if it was the Sun or Daily Heil, but it was quoted in F365 Mediawatch a few days ago) put out about ‘points per game’ between Di Matteo and Benitez pointing to Di Matteo being a bit better.
I thought he was supposed to be a clever person?
How many of you can honestly say you enjoyed every minute?
Does anybody really enjoy every minute of any game? But I get your point, it was agony. When Theo hit the post I had to leave the room and go upstairs, I was convinced Newcastle would score. Didn’t see the last few minutes and was dreading looking at the tv when I came back in case Bale was swinging by his feet from a crossbar.
Then Gary Neville, as usual, in the post-match put all of my Wenger dismay firmly in perspective. We still don’t know, and probably never will, how much of the selling high and buying cheaper to make a profit was down to him alone, or caused by circumstances. But I still think that it was him, simply because we had published accounts and board statements that said, “We’re rich, spend it”.
I guess if he doesn’t spend this summer, we will know that it’s him.
But all frustration aside, to spend so little over a long period and still keep the level reasonably high is remarkable management. Now we’ll see if he wants to put the pressure on, or keep cruising. I hope it is the former.
Houllier is now sucking The Special Cunt’s cock.
Which fucking channel are you watching, Ollie? 😉
And, thanks for the kind ones gents.
H2H that is a four-midable post (see what I did there?!).
I especially enjoyed the response to the Sp*rs’ taunt about celebrating like it was a title. Pure fucking sour grapes, they would have had an open top bus tour and a fucking DVD box set if they’d pipped us, did you see them when they heard Newcastle had equalised?
An ex-colleague of mine (LWC) posted “Red with rage at a certain team’s undeserving qualification for the CL”, and I actually restrained myself from responding, even after she put on my wall this time last year: “Damn your ridiculous one-man team.”
If that isn’t asking for a merciless ribbing I don’t know what is, but I keep my mouth shut because I find 90% of the slanging between football fans extremely puerile. Which is what I love about this bar, even in the face of the most retarded, childish screaming you’ve got someone like Trev (for instance) calmly advising thetwat, I mean thetruth, to read a book about meta negative thinking.
My kind of people.
PS Trev if you’re reading this I’d love the chance for a chat about the value of ‘going meta to your thought processes’ because it is fascinating.
PPS Feeling the love right now. Lars, put it away, this one’s on me!
They’re rolling out the cunts on C+
Some cunt ‘doesn’t understand Arsenal celebrating’.
AWKWARD!!!!!!!!
http://footymemes.lockerdome.com/media/107781005
http://www.francefootball.fr/news/Sanogo-va-quitter-auxerre/372714
Plays it forward, Santi style, off his favored foot (you pick)…
Brilliant H2H, adding to a great deal of quality in here.
Shame our unipolar Canuck chum popped up in the middle of it.
Could have had a weeks worth of posts out of the drinks 😉
BAMM
…and a superbly assisted century to boot 🙂
Clinical H2H.
And great post as well.
Cheers.
Nice one Cam’.
====
Cheers guv’, twice. 🙂
Before I forget…..
Nice to see TW back in the drinks, welcome back sir.
Cheers PaG’
Excellent stuff H2H,
I didn’t particularly enjoy the game or indeed the run in, generally, but then it has not exactly been a vintage season whichever way you look at it.
I suspect that the relief felt at the final whistle was as much a realisation that we would be spared the infestatation of Multi Name Boy and his ilk for the next three months as opposed to actually celebrating “achieving” fourth place.
For me, we need to make a minimum 4 major signings over the summer because a club with our profile should be more competitive than 17-20 points off the top of the league.
The consistency of results since Bayern, and the defensive stats in particular, gives a great platform to build on, but our ins and outs this summer will define whether we are back amongst the big boys next season or whether we are playing in the mini-league below alongside the perennial bridesmaids aka Tottenham Hotspur…..
I see ‘holic got on the .con blogs
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/as-noddy-once-sang-kos-i-luv
Are you my agent, Ollie 😉
Nick Hornby summed the whole agony of watching football up very well in Fever Pitch. I remember Don Howe complaining in a cup semi against Liverpool that we scored too early! Sunderland scored in the first minute for us and Dalglish scored in Paisley time. I really think old Don meant it because we had a lead to defend for ninety minutes. Eventually we won through after the third replay scoring late on in about the 20 th minute !
I think the point is you invest so much emotion in your team you always imagine the worst and hope for the best. I really believed we would do it this season and I agree last year at West Brom was far worse because we chucked two in within the first fifteen minutes. Fortunately Goal Machine Kos bailed us out.
I have been told by a good mate who is well informed that Jovetic is a done deal but alarmingly it is appearing in some very unreliable newsfeeds so I am not getting too excited. Arsenal always sign one attractive looking addition about now- Rosicky,Nasri,Podolski Gervinho??
and this looks like a very possible one. I can’t believe we will sign Higuain and Jovetic though although Chamakh,Park and Bendtner( and Afobe? ) may be on their bikes. I expect we will hear something if season ticket renewals start off slowly.
Fuck it, €25, even if it’s on a Friday night (so I hope I can make it though not 100% sure yet), tickets seem easy to buy so first French Cup final for me since 1987, hopefully same winner (I went to league Cup final when Nancy beat Lorient with a Nancy-supporting mate).
Nice post H2H@278
Agree 4 top, top additions are needed to turn this squad into challengers, Zico @305. Time we pulled away from the perennial bridesmaids.
from steve bould’s/arsenal facebook account:
“Arsenal have met Fiorentina’s €29m (£25.4m) valuation and that a move seems set to be completed. [Tancredi Palmeri]”
stevan jovetić, come on down!
or is that just rumor mongering?
Heh, ‘holic.
With all the drinks you ply me with, it’s the least I can do 😉
Where is Snir when you need him hehe, Jovetic sounds really tasty, he has some pedigree built in Fiorentina although I was not really impressed by him when Montenegro played against us in pre-Euro playoffs to actually get there.
I am still not convinced he is that kind of player we need, another Montenegro player from italian club though, Mirko Vucinic would be awesome signing, really clinical striker. But who am I kidding, if Arsene is willing to spend that kind of sum he has to be good and Arsene has to believe he will improve our squad.
I hope he will turn out to be another Santi-esque signing.
H2H. A wonderful read.
Quality!
GoonRambler @GoonRambler 9m
This should be sung at the Emirates RT @philipwalhed “Wake me up, Yaya Sanogo, I hope you’re better than that cunt from Togo”
TUUUUUUUUUUUUUNE!
Eandy, Mirko Vucinic is a clinical striker? I will have some of what you’re smoking sir!
H2H great drink somewhere up there.
Heh @ Esso
Props to the tunesmith….whoever that may be.
I absolutely hate Wham! so no thank you, so this chant is a no go for me.
😉
Got to confess.
I don’t understand why Jovetic is worth that. Not the type of striker we need.
Emporers new clothes? Convince me I’m wrong please.
I have no idea, ‘holic. I haven’t seen him play. At all.
Some people say he’s exactly what we need. Some say he isn’t so that doesn’t enlighten me much.
I get the impression from the various stuff I’ve read though, that he’s not the out and out striker we may be missing.
I’m jumping on ‘holics wagon. I’m not convinced (for 30mil) either.
He’ll have a hell of a lot of pressure on him at that price.
Great tune Esso. I hope it catches on.
I see that L’pool are going to make a statement of intent, they’re going to try and steel Toure away from Citeh………
Oh hang on…………. It’s Kolo;
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22609295
Paddy Agnew is an Irish based journalist of repute in Rome. Writes for the Times here and is generally called upon to give opinions on most Italian current affairs including sport.
When asked about Jovetic, he said that he was a player of considerable ability and value. Originally came from Partisan Belgrade where he played senior football for them at 16 and captained them the next season. He’s not a target man per se, but a 2nd striker / creative midfielder who has been compared in style to a younger version of Baggio & Platini for his dribbling & control. He plays off both feet, scores goals, has good pace and at only 23 is bound to be expensive. Apparently Juve are extremely keen to sign him but Fiorentina will not trade with a competitor.
So I think there’s a lot of smoke about this signing to lend some semblance of credence to it happening.
My guess is that Wenger will also sign an out and out striker to provide some cover for Giroud with Sanogo filling a squad/development role. I also hope we sign a defensive midfielder.
They probably have some of Neil Ruddock’s shorts left H2H, so it makes sense.
😆
H2H @278 – superb post. All of it.
I simply don’t understand the surprise in any quarter over the celebrations at the final whistle on Sunday. Still, absolutely any excuse to slag off The Arsenal will do, eh ?
And, as you said H2H, can you begin to imagine the mayhem that would have ensued had the Spuds done it.
Winning and achieving against all odds – 26 points from a possible 30 in the Premier League – being told constantly by the media, and the fans, players and manager of your biggest rivals that you are going to fail – your brightest prospect ruled out for the rest of the season – your main striker unjustly suspended for three of your last four games – knowing that you simply dare not lose – and then you do it.
If you can’t celebrate that then you don’t understand the game, the club or it’s history. Stop talking about it and go and do something else.
NorCal,
Yes, interesting to think how many corners of the world were simultaneously reacting to those events.
Camberwell,
Thanks for the mention and the interest.
The Head First book is excellent. I think that you, as a teacher, would really enjoy it. That ‘meta negative thought’ process is an interesting one, and a difficult one to overcome. Well worth a read though.
As a teacher, you would really enjoy the section on “The Power of Creative Intelligence”.
Esso – good song. 🙂
Speaking of Liverpool, H2H, they apparently now have the fifth longest serving manager in the Premier League.
Brendan Rodgers has been there 10 days less than 1 year.
The manager turn over in the EPL and football in general is mind blowing. I saw if Partdeaux is fired that AW will have been in charge longer than all 19 other managers COMBINED. That’s just stupid. I don’t always agree with everything he does, but the stability he has given us over his tenure is a key in why we have been so consistent and stayed in the top four.
Drinky H2H or are you back on the wagon? I went to the gym today and it convinced me I need to drink more, exercise is really hard on my body. 😉
Epic drink @278, H2H.
Well said, Trev@329. That 10-game run in was along a knife’s edge all the way.
Once again, thank you all for the kind ones. #humbled.
Good stuff Trev,
if the tables were turned the fallout would of been of nuclear winter proportions. Open top bustours (with gasmasks ofcourse) would have been arranged. A cloud of smug eminating from that dirty swamp would have engulfed North London in a cock smelling stench that would of been unbearable. Mind the gap slogans would of appeared in the sky like the Batsignal while DVD’s would have rained down from above, with extra’s including “watch Tom Hundredstone eat all the pies”, “Adebarndoor’s greatest misses”, “Dawson doesn’t Creak (the first captain in years not to do so)”, “Galen Bale’s – Dive Hard with A Vengencance” plus an exclusive interview with a fan, that had lived through the last campaign that the shadow dwellers had finished above us, – Grandad MacFossily Ancientcunt.
The media toss monkeys would have climbed out of their spunkbucket and jized all over us with tales of the team that ‘Arry built. Powershift would of been the word de jour, AvB would have been dubbed A.O.K. Waddle, Hoddle, Donald Duck’s other nephew and any other cunt that had donned that filthy rag would of been called up to have his say, hell, they probably would of had a seance to raise Gazza from the grave.
Fucktards like Al She Ra and Lily Savage would be knobswashbuckling on the MoTD couch while Chav n Dave tunes were belted out in the background, telling us how they predicted that this would happen, ‘cos Wenger didnt know what he was doing and Sp*rs had the better squad and how much they deserved it. Dogs would purr and Cats would of barked, the four horseman of the acopolypse would of been saddling up and preparing to leave that big McDrive in the sky.
As it is; 4th place is not a trophy so let’s not over do it. 😕
Jovetic is a perfect replacement for Arshavin. I rate him highly, even higher than certain Goetze. He has decent speed, decent stature, perfect technique, not afraid to shoot from distance with both feet, , clever and intelligent, can dribble opponent, can play in the hole, can play on the wing. He has Arsenal all over him.
Some are afraid that he scores to little for attacker (he scored 13 goals this season for Fiorentina). Well, Cazorla in his last season with Malaga scored 9, with 5 assists. And that was his best season in Spain. He scored 12, assisting 13 times for Arsenal in his first season, fitting perfectly in our system. Imagine Cazorla in his second season, having one more player with similar abilities around him.
Is he worth 30 mil.? If you asked that question 5-6 years ago, the answer would probably be- no. In this times, when PSG gets Moura for 40 mil, Bayern gets Goetze for 35, Chelsea Torres for 50 etc, when you want quality you must pay. Simple as that and we all know it.
Is he going to be the only attacker we buy this summer? I don’t think so. He can lead the front line by himself against certain opponents in Italy, but not in England. My opinion is that Chamack is going back to Bordeaux so we are after one more attacker, barring Sanogo, and that would be probably Higuain.
Norcal, I’ll take that drinky mate, because just like the Tiny Totts push for a top 4 finish, the wheels have come well and truly off of my wagon. Ah well, there’s always next time. 😉
==
Lurky, I’m overweight and have a funny accent, I could be the perfect replacement for Arshavin.
Thank for the info though. 🙂
H2H@333 just made my yesterday and today.
Lurky, you make some very good points re Jovetic, I will be absolutely chuffed if we got him + another striker, if we get only him I will still be reasonably happy because I don’t think our squad needs too much surgery to compete next season.
Thanks Lurky.
Hearing all that, but if we are spending that on one player then I still want an out and out goalscorer.
If we are ready to splash the cash for two big names then ok. As long as we still fill the obvious gaps with value signings.
H2H, haircut is the most important ingredient for a perfect Arshavin. Tell me you share same hairdresser and I will believe you 🙂
Cent, I would like him, plus another attacker- prefer Higuain, big strong defensive midfielder (Capoue, Gonalons, even that boy from Wigan I forgot his name), experienced right-back if Sagna departures (Piszczek would be awesome), and maybe experienced goalkeeper if Fabianski decides to leave. If I am greedy I would take that midget Valbuena from Marseille for the rest of that 100 million we are supposed to spend. Ha ha! 100 million my arse.
You are welcome ‘ Holic, and I agree of course, a natural goal scorer is a must buy this summer.
And goodnight all, busy day tomorrow.
Lovely stuff H2H, Fever Pitch/Liverpoo 1989 all over again. I confess to recording the match and fast-forwarding (x30) the last 20 minutes or so just watching the score box. Even Theo’s fail didn’t spoil the enjoyment and satisfaction watching it back afterwards. I can only imagine what went through your head (and gut) in real-time after he missed, knowing just KNOWING that a Toon goal was now inevitable.
Oh, and as for “shooting ourselves in the foot wasn’t the best way of having a pedicure” I dunno if that’s an H2H original but I’ll pay it anyway. 😉
Thank you someone for explaining Jovetic’s role, cos his goal-scoring stats aren’t exactly Jimmy Greaves, and I thought that was what we needed. Hopefully OG will step up next season in a perfect partnership. Or Poldi, who I believe is our most instinctive striker.
Don’t forget the Ladies next weekend in their FA Cup final, plus the semis of the Continental Cup they’re also involved in.
Go You Good Things!
Oskar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7wCfttJVnQ
Gotta love twitter – Jovetic goes from “done deal” @ €29m to “Arsenal baulk at the £25m price tag for Jovetic” in the space of an hour.
In other words, they know sweet feck all…..
H2H@333: more great stuff, you’re really on fire 🙂
Lurky, thanks for the info on Jovetic. Still not sure if we really are going for him, but considering the fact that the rumours just won’t go away I think we have at least made an attempt to get him.
‘Chelsea Torres for 50 etc, when you want quality you must pay.’
I’m not sure Torres is the best example!
Also ‘perfect replacement for Arshavin’? Heh, who?
Zico knows.
Perfect replacement for Arshavin???? I would go with Tinky Winky.
H2H @333. 🙂
How many of us were begging Arshavin to happen that winter? All of us fans, seem to forget what a player he was at his peak. We seem to forget high hopes Arsene had for him. He is shit now, but how many of us thought that he was the best Arsenal player in his first half season, playing in the hole, on the wings, later even as a CF. He did not fulfill expectations of the club, was lazy, disinterested, that is why he is gone. And that is why Jovetic is the perfect replacement for Arshavin. He is here to become a player Arshavin was supposed to be.
And by the way, I do not see us paying 30 millions for him, so all that news that he is already a done deal is nonsense. I would like it to happen, but I don’t see us paying more than 20 mil., and I guess that is why all those Chelski and Juve stories, as Fiorentina are trying to up his prize.
Some great posts above.
Lurky – good knowledge on Jovetic. The “Arshavin replacement” comment sounds about right. Do we assume he’d play left wing if he arrives?
He looks a decent player to me, and I’m inclined to trust the manager’s judgement here – particularly if Juve also want him.
I suspect that we’re currently involved in the usual attempt to wear Fiorentina down over price. Anywhere between £20m and £25m sounds about right to me.
Be interesting to see if we bring another forward in. I suppose the thinking might be that if Jovetic goes left Poldi can spend more time in the centre, which wouldn’t be the end of the world assuming he’s fully fit next term. Would also leave Giroud room for further growth.
Failing that, I hope we have a look at Benteke. I heard a whisper last summer that he’s an Arsenal fan, he’s young, he’s a handful and I wonder if we might be able to pick him up at a reasonable price.
The Cesar rumours persist. I asked my QPR supporting family members for some more comments on him last night and got this:
“He’s on £90k a week and we need him off the wage bill”
“He looked a superb keeper in the first half of the season but faded badly, almost as if he lost interest. Good shot stopper. Doesn’t come for crosses nearly enough”
“Will want first team football as it’s a World Cup year”
“Rumours he’s the player Redknapp was talking about as having been fined more than he’s earned this month”
“There’s a great keeper in there somewhere”
Didn’t fill me with joy, although at least the transfer fee is cheap (zip).
http://www.francefootball.fr/news/Pires-vers-l-amsud/372817
Maybe he’ll go to the other Arsenal.
Never have I been happier to celebrate St Totteringhams Day.
I shall apologise to all of my fellow gunners and gooners for my (never rude or disrespectful) dismay at Wengers lack of tactical nous and spending.
I cheerfully admit that whatever he did to turn us around after the loss to Spudvania was absolutely gut wrenchingly wonderful to watch.
I have high hopes for a few improvements and replacements for next season, onwards and upwards for my beloved Arsenal.
Most of the time I can’t stand football365, they’re generally a bunch of sanctimonious, hypocritical twats (= journalists), but from time to time they can do a job. This made me laugh:
History Lesson
Tony Pulis of course went out with a self-congratulatory bang, desperately clinging onto the slightest sliver of a silver lining.
“We’ve just created another little bit of history,” Pulis ‘proudly declared’ (not our words, but those of the Stoke Sentinel) after the Potters’ 1-1 draw at Southampton on the final day.
“I’ve just been told that’s the first time we’ve finished outside the bottom six in the top flight for five seasons on the bounce. It’s a new achievement for us as a football club and a fantastic record.”
Do you know what other little bit of history you’d just created, Tony? Your lowest points total in the Premier League, that’s what. Well done. Round of applause. And goodbye.
Nice to see them giving some who really deserves it a good kicking!
Sorry all, I’ve tried to italicise my quotes and failed every time. This is retarded of me but I actually can’t work it out. Can’t wait to have kids so they can show me how to do this shit.
There is more money than quality in football, these days
Well, that is a bit of a doozy, right there, Arsene.
Is he right? Or is this a manifestation of someone who’s afraid of the responsibility of spending someone else’s money? (Not a trait that I can empathise with, I have to say).
That particular soundbite has had my head whirlng these last few days. It got me thinking about the sense of expectation that is about to be unleashed by a combination of finishing where we did in the league, and the taken-as-read existence of the famed war chest.
Arsenal have never been more under pressure to spend some f***ing money.
Assuming it is there, what evidence is there that we will get a return on the investment?
I started to think of past examples where Arsene “spent big”, going as far back as Francis Jeffers and as recently as Andrei Arshavin. His transfer record in terms of purchases is truly a mixed bag. For every Koscielny there’s a Squillaci/Luzhny/Stepanovs.
It is beyond question that Wenger can spot a player, in most positions, at any rate. Spotting a player and him making a difference to Arsenal though is an inexact science. Where Wenger has been at his best is taking undervalued players like Henry and providing the platform for them to become great.
So do we need a war chest or do we need the old Wenger who could find a diamond in the rough?
I would argue that there is still plenty of quality to be found throughout Europe although there may be some merit in the lack of (quality) argument if you restrict it to British shores. Maybe that was what he meant. Or maybe he simply meant that the Oligarchs had the ability to outspend us.
As ever with Arsene, it is never totally clear what his public pronouncements mean, so we are left with a vacuum that allows le Groan to interpret the statement as “Arsene (or Arsenal) refusing to spend what is there.
This summer, will it be any different?
Are we going to spend big and if we do……?
I took “more money than quality” to mean that there are a lot more clubs looking to spend a fortune than there were 10, or even 15 years ago.
Previously, you’d have had Utd, Madrid, Barca, the Milan clubs, Juve, Munich in the big spending category.
Nowadays, you have all the above, plus the likes of Chelsea, City, PSG, Monaco, that Russian comedy team, etc.
The talent pool is pretty much the same, but there’s effectively less to go round.
And instead of getting second choice on players among English sides, we get 4th (because we can’t outspend the oil clubs).
None of the above should be an excuse this summer, mind you. It is what it is and we need to deal with it if we’re going to move forward.
I thought Chelsea were that Russian comedy team…..
Ha @ zico
Yeah, them too.
Hey zico,
Yep, anything that can be interpreted as “we can’t find the necessary super-quality” or, “we don’t have the resources to compete”, sets me decidedly on edge.
Can but hope.
You might find this interesting. Also some links to the right you may like.
http://thequietus.com/articles/12339-dr-feelgood-exhibition-lee-brilleaux-memorial-walk
…and so it starts. It’s going to be a loooooooooooooooooong summer. Here’s hoping we get the temperatures to match.
Oxon (seriously considering media lockdown).
Feelgood you say…….?
*slips quietly under table….*
http://www.francefootball.fr/news/Les-joueurs-de-la-juve-dopes-en-1996/372883
Afternoon all,
Still smiling here, still basking in the glow of St Totteringham’s day, and nothing like our old friend Graham Roberts to make a total tit of himself on Twitter to make that grin get wider and wider. What a clunge that man is.
H2H @333 – On fire mate! “Grandad Macfossilly Ancientcunt” had me laughing out loud. Top stuff. 🙂
Jovetic? – Agree with what N7 and Eandy had to say. I haven’t seen enough of him to have an opinion of my own, but all the reports I have read of him are, rather like those that described Santi before he arrived, uniformly positive.
Bottom line is he’s a very good player, and you can’t have enough of those. I suspect anyway that if we did buy him, it would be in addition to rather than as the main forward. Perhaps in addition to someone like Higuain? Whoever we buy, he must have the twin attributes of great technique and pace. For that reason, a purchase of someone like Huntelaar, an out and out goalscorer, but an often static and lazy operator, fills me with horror.
What I do think the arrival of Jovetic would mean is that any hope of an imminent Fabregas return would be a forlorn one. That will of course delight probably as many people as it would disappoint.
Price? Unlikely to get an established star now for anything under £20m unless there are special circumstances (Cazorla). I would have thought £25m for someone like Jovetic is about par. If Arsene has decided he’s the one and we have to spend a few extra mill to land him, then so be it. Isn’t that what all this recent hoarding has been about? So that we can finally go the extra mile? Time to trust your judgement and push the boat out Arsene.
Even at that price, our mooted budget (I know!) allows for another quality forward and a quality DM.
Dr Z – I just took his comment at face value. That because of the influx of cash in the game, most (if not all) players are vastly overpriced, and it is therefore very easy to spend a vast fortune a la Liverpool or even Stoke, and not get the requisite quality.
Lurky, excellent posts on AA.
He’s fallen out of favor now, but he’s a brilliant footballer – when played as a central playmaker – which is his natural position and where he played for Zenit and the RNT. Memories are indeed short, and football is a fickle mistress.
Personally, all this spend the dosh, replacements and improvements …that’s BS. That sounds to me like, “Phew … we made it the CL, now lets replace the whole squad.” That’s just a friendly way of saying hey!… let’s be a mini-Citeh. And with team chemsitry and familiarity finally built up, noone in their right mind would seek 4 new first teamers. Or a new keeper. We’d virturally be starting over in August. Again – which is in large part what put the kabosh on this past season. AW has said we need to strengthen, and he is right. But I’d curb the enthusiam a bit.
Agree with the holic and others that major player inflow is NOT all that likely, all that necessary, or frankly, the answer. A goal poacher, maybe a def. mid, and sort Sagna’s situation ASAP b/c Jenks aint yet ready for prime time every weekend.
The above sounds rather negative, but honestly, its not meant to be.
Cheers holics.
Apologies, when I said Eandy above, I meant Lurky!
I might, of course, also agree with Eandy, but I don’t think he’s said anything recently!
😳
Can’t we bring Arshavin back as a cuddly mascot for the kiddies?
In other news, at the 3rd time of asking, I may spent some time in Qatar.
During the off-season, despite the ridiculous heat, I don’t mind so much as it can’t make me miss games. Fairly concerned it could significantly eat into August though.
Have to agree with the epic poet Homer there.
I’m convinced this squad needs fettling, rather than a full exhaust system replacement. Someone to share the load with Ollie G, maybe a decent understudy to Arteta and a central defender.
Look at where we’re sorted:
– on the wings
– attacking mid
– left back
– keeper
Just a few choice additions to give us a bit more depth and why shouldn’t we run the Mancs close and at least go further in the domestic cups?
PS – Good riddance, Pulis, you cap-wearing cunt.
Hahaha tabs, actually you could agree with me aswell, since I indeed commented on Jovetic thing, glad to know you are thinking about me subconsciously though 😀 *flattered* 😀
Ha! I knew I had it in my head that you had commented somewhere on him 🙂
Phew!
Evening All
H2H – Two hilarious mega posts, agree whole heartedly with all the sentiments. LWC DVD sales/thefts would be through the roof by now.
Esso – Brilliant song for our next signing (?). I do hope that c*nt from Togo stays in N17.
Stop endorsing that wham song.
(shame, it’s a great adaptation, heh)
Don’t worry about the heat in Qatar, Ollie – you won’t be spending much time outdoors.
Well, I remember exactly where I was when that Wham song came out. In a Macy’s in NYC. They had screens showing their video. All us girls had our eyes glued to the screens, swaying our hips to and fro. Catchy tune 😉 Ok, nuff said. H2H @ 278, The Word! And @ your 296 That was more than ‘akward’ 🙁 Trev @ 218, fascinating premise (hope it will help me, as well ). NorCal @ 284 That was just the pick me upper, I needed, Bro 🙂 Ttg @ 191 Cool stats, some really surprised me. Homer @365, 2nd paragraph. A + . Just one or two new signings. Proven goal scorer #1 for me.
Never seen jovetic play, but the reports I have read indicate that he is a player. Would love to hear Snir’s views on him, or someone who watches serie A
tabs, for every bitter “why are you celebrating” tweet, article and such the joy gets even bigger. Unlike many others, I got great enjoyment out of seeing Al She-Rah on MOTD, and I thought both Hansen and Lineker were relatively sane in their assements.
But the most hilarious argument must be “you only made it because you had such an easy run-in”. Oh, is that so? And here was me thinking that all teams played each other home and away over the course of the season…
But let them stew in their bitterness, it only makes it more enjoyable 🙂
Ollie, go to Qatar and while you are there, take the opportunity to start a revolution so the qataries have to stop funding PSG and Barca 😉
Superb links Mr Rollmopped. Thank you 😉
Still in Polska
Jesus do they ever stop drinking here…………..
Indeed Lars 🙂
I even had some sap say to me yesterday “You are declining every year, we are getting better every year”.
Gotta love ’em.
Well written piece on Jovetic from a Fiorentina supporter.
http://giancarlorinaldi.tumblr.com/post/51060371360/stevan-jovetic-time-for-fiorentina-to-say-goodbye
TaBS, nice link, read it earlier today via Twitter. The latest rumour is that he is off to Juve, personally I think we’ve made contact and The Viola are trying to start a bidding war with the Juve stories.
Rumours, rumours Cent 😉
No idea if we’ll get him, but I think he’s a good player (going from all the reports).
Get your nostalgia fix >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>