Guest Post – What size does that work in mate?
May 26th, 2013 by 'holic
On the anniversary of one the great nights in Arsenal history I am indebted to Take A Bow Son for this evocative piece. What were you doing the night St Michael etched his name in Gooner history?
Thanks TaBS, it is a fabulous piece.
It was a question designed to engender panic. It worked. The trap had been set and I had walked straight into it.
It was the Monday after the Saturday. Monday 16th January 1989 to be a little more precise. Lunchtime beers with colleagues and we were, as usual, dissecting the weekend’s football. Among them was my mate Jim, a huge Football fan, a passionate Evertonian, and an inveterate gambler. On the Saturday I had travelled up with Jim to his beloved Goodison Park and watched a developing, yet still largely fledgling Arsenal side at first subdue and then destroy an Everton side that had been crowned Champions only 20 months previously.
Ah The Championship. We were in the 18th Season since I had danced around my bedroom in 1971. An excited six year old who had just been told by his father that he had been at White Lane the night before and had seen my favourite, Ray Kennedy, score the goal to win us the League. In the years subsequent to that momentous occasion, we had threatened to repeat the trick in ’73, but thereafter had considered it rather a good year if our title challenge managed to limp into the New Year.
Nick Hornby wrote in Fever Pitch that by 1989 Arsenal fans had begun to see the Championship in religious terms. You were, he said, either a believer or a non-believer. Well, I wasn’t quite an atheist, (I still allowed for the possibility), but I was strongly agnostic. One could never discount the possibility of course, but as for actually winning it, well, that was something for other clubs, most usually the thoroughly detestable Liverpool.
But with that win at Everton, a 3-0 second half mauling, I had at last recovered my faith and like all born again converts I couldn’t wait to proselytise. On and on I went in the Pub that day. How the defence, led by the superb Tony Adams, was strong enough to repel even the most imaginative attacks. How the new signing Brian Marwood dazzled on the wing. How the elegant Alan Smith was so intelligent up front. How the young Michael Thomas combined such raw energy and silky skill, and how David Rocastle was the brightest star in the English firmament for many a year. I should have stopped there of course. I didn’t. Prompted by a few provocative mutterings of “Arsenal will blow up, they always do”, I found myself offering 10-1 against any other Club of their choice winning the League.
“What size does that work in mate?”
A mention of odds had woken Jim up. Sensing value, he zoomed in on his prey with the stealth of a well-trained Cobra. How strong is your new found faith now eh? Hold firm, or back down and lose face? There was only one choice. I was not to be found out as an heretic so soon after conversion.
“Any size Jimbo.” was my reply, affecting an insouciance that I wasn’t feeling.
“Excellent mate. I’ll have two hundred quid on Liverpool please”
Liverpool?! Bugger! I wasn’t expecting that. He hated Liverpool more than I did. Thought he’d have a punt on his clearly over the hill Toffees. Two grand if I lose! Having only just recently got mortgaged up for the first time it was money I didn’t have. Still, we were 10 points clear at the top of the table and Liverpool, though they had dominated English football for the best part of a decade and a half, were languishing just above mid table. Nothing to worry about. Right?
Wrong! No sooner had we shaken hands on the deal, and Arsenal immediately began to show signs of reaching for the finishing line like a blind drunk on Diazepam. The Liverpool machine meanwhile finally kicked in. Win followed win followed win, and with each Liverpool victory, my angst that Arsenal were blowing it was heightened by the knowledge that I was personally responsible for our implosion. Jim was a kind man, he had a soft spot for Arsenal, he knew my pain, and as stated above, local rivalry dictated that he hated Liverpool as much as I did, but I couldn’t help noticing, as the weeks passed, that his grin was getting wider and wider. One afternoon I even found him perusing a luxury Summer holidays brochure. This was not good. Not good at all.
By Friday 26th May 1989, an unusual date as a result of the horrors of Hillsborough, the top two would play the final game of the Season. A Championship decider, a League game with all the drama of a one off Cup Final. The arithmetic was clear. Anything less than a two goal win for The Arsenal and it was Liverpool as Champions, business as usual, normal service resumed. As for me, my sense of fatalism that Arsenal would never again win the title in my lifetime had long since replaced my January evangelism. Arsenal hadn’t won up at Anfield in goodness knows how many years, let alone by two, and it was time to shop around for short-term loans at what were, at the time, frighteningly extortionate interest rates in order to pay Jim.
The day dawned. A beautifully hot Spring day. I didn’t want it to arrive but it had to be faced. The day when any last semblance of hope would finally disappear, the day that would lead to a long summer of (at least as far as Arsenal were concerned) despair. I went through the motions at work, longing for the time when I could give my full attention to what really mattered. At lunchtime I wandered into the Bookies. Like the Las Vegas chancer playing his last chip, I surveyed the odds. Way too late to lay off Jim’s bet with anything other than a huge loss. Ah well, in for a penny, in for a pound. Twenty pounds on a 2-0 Arsenal win at 16-1 please. It was, however, merely a last gesture of defiance. Did I truly believe? Nah, life is never that good.
5 0’ clock and out of work. Valedictory messages were mixed, from sympathetic good lucks to crowing predictions of impending embarrassment. Five of us met up and tried to make ourselves feel better. A few beers, a sense of solidarity, and then back to my recently acquired small flat on the borders of Stroud Green and Crouch End, approximately 2 miles from Highbury, to watch the game.
Memories of the evening are jarred, like a dream that you know you’ve had, but the precise details of which, are just out of reach. Are one’s memories actual or have they been pierced together from the countless viewings of the subsequent highlights reel, or maybe just an echo of the scene in the film of Fever Pitch which so closely resembled my experience of that night as to be uncanny?
I remember Elton Welsby’s silly jacket and guffawing at his fatuous comparison of Arsenal with Wimbledon. I remember George Graham’s pre-match confidence and the contrasting tension, so thick that you could taste it, amongst us as the game kicked off. I remember our players delivering flowers to all sides of the ground (So classy! So Arsenal!), and I remember both Tony Adams and Steve Bould flying into early tackles to disabuse anyone of the notion that we would be willing bridesmaids at somebody else’s party.
HT 0-0. We had given as good as we had got, but there had been no early goal that we had so craved. Our one clear cut chance, an early Steve Bould header that had been cleared off the line, had disappeared as quickly as it had arrived. There had been no chance to savour the moment, no split second where expectation had soared. Mostly the game had been watched in studied silence by us all, only the odd exhortation or foul-mouthed anti Liverpool diatribe breaking the palpable and taut mental strain that gripped us all like a vice. At half time though, we were still in it, there was still hope. Did we believe? Nah, life is never that good.
Into the second half, and we took the game to Liverpool, I mean really took it. I remember the surge of pride that coursed through me. These boys were taking it to Liverpool in their own backyard. They hadn’t given it up. I at last allowed myself to hope. Foul on Rocky. He reacted, his eyes flashed, he clenched his fist, and he exhorted his friends and teammates to greater efforts. Suddenly the room was abuzz, Rocky still clearly believed, why shouldn’t we?
The ball is swung over, the eye is drawn to Tony Adams flying in like a pyrotechnic helicopter before Brian Moore yells “AND SMITH”, the ball is in the back of the net and we are all on our feet, hugging and shaking, glad at last to finally escape the yolk of suffocating tension. It didn’t last. Liverpool players surrounded the Linesman. GIVE IT, GIVE IT, GIVE IT. The minute seemed to last forever, but Whelan’s scowl at the end of it all told you all you needed to know. The Referee had not succumbed to brazen intimidation. 1-0 Arsenal. We were on our way. COME ON ARSENAL!
For the next twenty minutes I believed. I believed with all my heart. Come on Arsenal, just one chance, one chance is all we need. Ten minutes to go and the moment arrived. Mickey Thomas was found in acres of space inside the Liverpool box with just Grobelaar to beat. We rose as one. This was it, this was it. A toe poke. Straight into the arms of the grateful keeper. NOOOOOO. Desolation spread through the room like an infectious disease. That’s it. Game over. We won’t get another chance. I slumped. We all slumped.
The last ten minutes were played out, at least at my place, against a backdrop of stoic fatalism. It simply wasn’t meant to be. Arsenal looked to have already given it their best and had shot their bolt. In truth, a Liverpool equalizer now looked far more likely than a second Arsenal goal. How much longer do we have to endure this torture? One minute. Who needs a clock when you’ve got Steve Mcmahon? Good tackle Richo, come on Lukic, just lump it up there. Instead he rolls it out to Lee Dixon. What on earth is he doing?
“Arsenal come streaming forward in what surely must be their last attack, a good ball by Dixon finding Smith for Thomas charging through the midfield …” I simply don’t have the words to adequately convey the cavalcade of emotions that ripped through the room as Michael Thomas made his last lung-bursting run and enjoyed a fortuitous bounce of the ball off Steve Nichol. Think long drawn out and badly mangled expletive and you’re halfway there. Hope, fear, excitement, amazement and disbelief all jostled for position. The moment lasted an eternity. Just hit it Mickey, just hit it. HIT IT!
IT’S UP FOR GRABS NOOOOOOW …
The ball hit the back of the net. To say the moment was one of transcendent bliss would be to understate it. I had watched the goal go in but still did not believe it. When I came to, I found that I had slithered to the floor and was under a mound of bodies undergoing a communal epileptic fit.
Did I believe? You bet I believed. One terrifying last minute was seen out, and the Referee blew his whistle to signal that Arsenal, my Arsenal, were Champions. The rest of the evening was a blur. Excited phone calls were made and taken, Champagne was bought on the short walk down to Highbury (I was quids in after all), car horns blared on a balmy spring evening to turn our part of London into Rio for a night and strangers were embraced like long lost brothers as we drank and danced outside the Stadium.
24 years ago today. Half a lifetime for me. I’ve never known a football moment like it, before or since. Our time had come.
It will come again.
325 Responses to “Guest Post – What size does that work in mate?”
Wonderful post Tabs- I was in Denmark with a group of children and missed it live as they didn’t have it on any stations then. When the result came in we had to celebrate with some very sleepy and nonplussed kids who couldn’t believe quite how excited I was.
Great memories
I always read but never post but then Tabs goes and writes this,fantastic stuff from a fantastic fella, no,we’re not related!
What a fantastic post.
Who’s that Mel cunt posting on the drinks? 😉
Tabs, your writing is a pleasure to read. Evocative vocabulary and vivid descriptions transport the reader to that day when I was a snotty-nosed 12-year-old and still some years off being interested in football.
If I can produce a post half as good, I’ll be chuffed to bits.
Absolutely magnificent, tabs.
Cap duly doffed.
Every time I hear a description of that night I get goose bumps. Football will never get better than that!
Wow! Just Wow!! Tabs, take a bow son! I’m off to read it, again.
Sorry Ollie!
Well done TaBs. Enjoyed every word.
I just watched Fever Pitch two nights ago. A magical night I’m sure. I was not yet an Arsenal supporter but am always proud and excited when I think how that season went.
Cheers all
Jesus Christ- what a read that was. Well played tabs.
I was 10 years old that fateful night. I watched the game at home in my pyjamas. When the final whistle went I was able to reach the front door before any of the adults in the room could stop me and tore up the road shouting like a lunatic.
I was young enough to think that stuff like this must happen all the time, and that football was god’s own game and could never be sullied.
God I hated Liverpool back then. What a night.
Lovely stuff Tabs
Tabs, you’re an excellent writer mate. Have. As many pints as you want, on Lars tab of course.
Drinks for Mel too. Need to tempt him back here.
Magnificent read! I was with my Liverpool supporting brother and the jibes were coming thick and fast until the moment MT slotted the decider. The look on his face was priceless! this post brought those memories flooding back. Top post!
Great work, Tabs.
Like you, my memories of exactly what happened that evening are strangely misty. Such as they are, they are the survivors of the best part of two hours of the ultimate torture – listening to Arsenal playing on the radio.
The one thing I do remember is the amazing gymnastic ability I instantly acquired as Michael Thomas found the back of the Liverpool net.
Strangled choking screams competed with maniacal leaping and fist pumping until I eventually collapsed, exhausted, back into my seat.
Personal circumstances were not great at that time. There was no celebratory half – just a hunt for confirmation, from wherever I could get it, that what I had heard really was true.
Nobody won by two goals at Anfield in those days. Nobody.
But we did. Oh, yes we did.
And I knew we really had done it ‘cos, when I got up the following morning, I discovered I was suddenly seven feet tall.
So, thanks Tabs, for that brilliant post.
Without it, I would never have realised again quite how much I had forgotten. 😉
What a superb evocative piece that took me back to that night ..thank you, thank you, thank you.
Hi there! Someone in my Myspace group shared this site with us so I came to take a look.
I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m bookmarking and will be
tweeting this to my followers! Exceptional blog and brilliant design and style.
Excellent post, just brilliant mate!
A fine post tabs, congratulations.
Regular drinkers here will, with luck, have insufficient working brain cells left to remember my having already said that I had gone out for an ever-so-civilized drink with wife and another couple that evening, while I recorded the match. As luck would have it, I was at the bar ordering a round with a couple of minutes left and I was able to hear the last minutes of commentary from the barman’s radio. Having ordered myself a vodka at the start of the round, I was able to drink it while the rest of the drinks were poured and buy myself another to take back to the table along with my broad smile.
Back home to watch the game. I vividly recall the half-time cobblers from the studio panel. The Liverpoo representative conceded that Arsenal had played well in the first half, but were essentially just there to make up the numbers. I’ve never got over the way that the recording finished slap on the final whistle, so I wasn’t able to hear his comments on the second half. Oh well, it could have been worse.
I have always read about “Anfield ’89” but have always regarded it as one of those memorable moments in Arsenal history. Only today I clicked on a 9 minute video on Arseblog and it immediately became clear what Anfield ’89 represents – the build-up to the encounter, the atmosphere in the ground. And I could hardly believe the palpable passion. And I was marvelled to realise that it was ‘The Moment’ in our club’s recent history.
But now TABS has re-lived that day in a mere words that say more than pictures. He gave me goose bumps too.
Thanks mate for this piece.
More proudly a gooner today!
“When I came to, I found that I had slithered to the floor and was under a mound of bodies undergoing a communal epileptic fit.”
Yeah, that’s what Wolfie usually claims in his defense too 🙂
Seriously though, fucking brilliant stuff. There is a pint waiting for you on the bar!
Heh Oxon,
You carried a round of drinks back to the table with a broad smile ?
A broad smile ????!!!!!!
Nothing like unconstrained emotion, eh ?
I hope you at least kicked a couple of chairs over when you got there ?
😉
Heh @22.
Thanks for all the kind ones Gents.
Much appreciated. Humbled.
What a night it was.
Holic, many thanks and cheers for the opportunity.
poor Jim, eh? 2000 pounds snatched at the last minute. thank god!
great piece, tabs. thanks.
Trev, it wasn’t that kind of pub, and it was an ever-so-civilized drink.
A broad smile, yeah. I REALLY let my hair down that night. (Congratulations on being the 1000th person to describe me as anally retentive. :-))
And Andrew @18, not sure you’ll find elsewhere much better company and more measured deliberations on all things Arsenal.
Let my chirpy mood be my excuse – but I am hardly qualified to be the first person to tell you –
Welcome.
Lars – Haha, Wolfie indeed! 🙂
And cheers Mel. Great to see you here. I do have a bit of Irish blood (doesn’t everybody?) if you go back 3 generations, so you never know, we may well be related! 🙂
Great stuff tabs,I was thirteen at the time the joy of going home to my bedroom shared with three brothers all Liverpool fans will never be forgotten.the bit about the team bringing out the flowers at the start,sheer quality from our club.#takeabowson.
Yes, welcome Andrew.
One word of warning:
The regulars here tend to be a fairly balanced bunch. This seems recently to be successfully alienating nutters of both unreasonably positive and negative outlooks.
Enjoy !!! 😉
Awesome, just fuckin awesome Tabs.
I was 19 back then – jumping up and down on my mums sofa me and my dad nearly broke it. (He’s a sad manure fan).
*Flying visit*
Excellent post Tabs.
Barkeep, break out some of the extra special stuff and fill that man’s glass.
Top top top stuff!!! Take several bows big fella!!! Barkeep, give that gobby genius over there a pint of his usual on me! 😎
The best night I ever had as an impressionable teenage Gooner bar none! Think I became a very big man that night too Trev! Easy now Wolfie!!! COYBG!
And it remains a million times better than Aguero last season.
Boring.
😉
Heh, Dr z 😉
Forwarded the article to a handful of non-Arsenal mates. It’s too good not to share and I ran out of Gooners!
Massive thumbs up from all of them and one of them responded “Amazing article. Sums up why any of us watch football.”
Btw – the Aguero goal doesn’t even bear comparison. Try winning it at your rivals’ gaffe (Anfield, no less) on goals fucking scored in a match delayed beyond the regular end of the season.
Almost but not quite fucking it up at home against a side who’ve just survived relegation? With a team that’s cost you half a billion quid of someone else’s money? Do me a favour. That’s not a great football moment. It’s a fucking indictment of the modern game, no matter how much the commentator squeals.
Evening Tabs
Lovely Post.
To think not so long ago when you were contemplating your first Guest offering,you were worried about making too many spelling mistakes.!!
You’ve come a long way since then mate.
In fact i would go so far as to say you are not the man you were when you first posted on this Blog,and that is meant in the written sense only.
From those first tentative steps in Holic World, to your current postings full of cogent thoughts, positives and negatives on all things Arsenal,going against the grain sometimes,when it is easier to just go with the flow and agree with everyone,marks you as your own man.
It is always a pleasure to read your Posts,although i must admit,why someone with your obvious intelligence would debate Zelico,does baffle me.
Also i must call you out on puffing your chest out at 40 yrs of following the Arse.
When you hit the big 50,then you can celebrate,when you are about to wrap your arms around the big 60,then you can really throw a party.!!
All the Best
The Sweeper.
Rox and I had just moved into our first house, although we were not yet wed.
That night was her first glimpse of my Arsenal mania.
She says that I have never come down off the ceiling, not really.
Great night.
Andrew – welcome, don’t believe anyone who tells you the regulars here are a balanced bunch, particularly not one of the regulars. Balanced? BALANCED?? No way Jose.
Cheers again for the kind ones all.
Dr Z – You bugger! 🙂
Cheers N7. You can definitely be my agent (in tandem with Ollie). That Dr C is for the chop! 🙂
Just to add, in case we have any scousers in the bar tonight, wouldn’t feel right to discuss THAT match without adding: JFT96.
It would be an honour tabs. And easy money: this stuff sells itself.
And the Sweeper has escaped from the Secure Unit!
Welcome back, Clive. 🙂
SWEEPER!!!!
Now that really has made my night. Great to see you. Hope all is well?
Thank you for your very kind words. Coming from you that means a great deal.
Yep, seven years to go until I make it to the half century of toddling off to the Arsenal. Just a mere whippersnapper! 😉
N7 – Well said. I second that, as I’m sure would everybody else.
Looks like I signed the wrong fella.
Wonderful stuff Tabs.
Heh, Cheers George. Good to see you.
Tabs, What a rollercoaster of emotions, you nailed it! And thank you for making Tony and Rocky spring to life so vividly. Cheers!
As an old’un ( much older than Tabs and Holic ) I was lucky enough to be at the Lane in 1971 although not lucky enough to get in. Fortunately I got a ticket for Wembley. We have had some truly awesome moments like the aforementioned win at The Swamp , the five minute final in 1979 ( there too) and the win over Everton at Highbury in 1998 and the Adams goal. But the win at Anfield is without doubt the most awesome memory any fan could have other than maybe the United win over Bayern in 1999 ( which was jammy in the extreme) . As others have said it blows Aguero into a cocked hat because of Liverpool’s invincibility. While they were wildly unpopular with us I seem to remember our team getting warmly applauded at the end of the game and most of their crowd staying to watch us receive the trophy. I guess after Hillsborough they had a bit of perspective .
I mentioned before being in Denmark. My brother- in law and I were deputed to take the children to Legoland. I picked a day when I knew the season would be over because I was certain we were going to be champions. We had the shut down in fixtures for two week and then came the defeat by Derby and the draw with Wimbledon and West Ham’s capitulation at Anfield which left us needing to win by two goals.
I flew to Denmark certain we could not pull off that sort of win there and if I am honest I wasn’t completely distraught when I couldn’t find a telly with it on because I thought we were going to have a very sad evening.
We got the children to bed ( my younger nephew was and is a keen Gooner) and I got the Radio 4 news on a scratchy radio at 11 pm ( our 10 o’clock news) . Radio 4 rarely begin with football but they did that night. Joy was unconfined.
On our return I was desperate to watch the game but certain my wife had not recorded it but she had. With two minutes to go my brother- in – law said to me ‘ I know I read it in the paper but I still don’t believe they win!’
Tabs brought it all back with a wonderfully evocative piece of writing . We will never tire of reliving that night- and every time I see it I still think Mickey Thomas is going to leave it too long to shoot!
Cheers Abb.
Lovely stuff Ttg.
My pleasure Tabs
I have been busy with family and friends matters,but have been keeping an eye on the blog.
I haven’t felt the need to post, as you and a few other long term bloggers,seem to be voicing my thoughts about the rather dour performances by our not so illustrious first team squad.
They got the job done in the end,but it sure was painful to watch.!!
I think we all know radical surgery is required in the Summer,
and anyone who thinks 1 or 2 ‘ Quality ‘ additions to our current squad,are going to propel us into title challengers next season is wearing Rose colored glasses.
Evening Dr Z,
Good to see you are still in fine form,although i notice the Happy Train got shunted into a siding as the performances on the pitch went downhill.
It could’t even raise a head of steam for our unbeaten run in.!!
I think that says it all about our current state.
It doesn’t say much for the mob down the road either,that we still finished above them,even with so many ‘ Average ‘ players in our squad.
it will be an interesting Summer.
Cheers
The Sweeper.
Cheers Sweeper, always great when you pop in.
As you say, the run in made for grim, and at times, terrifying viewing, but we got there in the end. I agree with you, as you probably already know, that this side needs rather more than fine-tuning to make a big leap forward.
Let’s hope that the Summer brings some good news.
Now Tabs and Mr Sweeper, don’t you kill my buzz just yet! My rose tinted glasses are firmly in place! And with them I saw a Meerkat scampering in this very bar 😉 And a visit from Mel, a most delightful chap, if ever there was ( kinda like our very own Ollie !) 🙂 And from the last set of drinks, Thank you Steve T and Lars for the warm fuzzies 😉
Heh sorry Abb 😉
Onwards and upwards!
Good to see you Clive.
Hope you’re well. Any news on Terry ?
Looks like the nurse has been smuggling out the meds again. 😉
Welcome back Clive.
Made me grin 🙂
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/rob-atkinson/spurs-whats-the-point_b_3331171.html
Evening Trev
Had a chat with GT not long ago,he is battling,but still hanging in there.
Evening Cent,
Enjoy your thoughts on the Arse,very impressive for such a young fella.
Evening ABB,
Your Rose colored glasses may turn to Black if we don’t buy some serious quality in the summer.
Fingers crossed.!!
cheers
The Sweeper.
Oh and Tabs top marks sir
Trev 😉 Now Clive, have you been reading Tony Adams? He wants at least four new signings! Jeez, we’ll be back to square one with that many newbies to incorporate into our team 🙁 Give me a bonafide striker, a real hit man. The kind whose goals are featured on ‘Goals of the Week’ frequently 😉 We have Corporal Jenks to help out Bac. So that’s covered. Maybe another centre back. Does Woj need a mentor ? That makes three already! Going ballistic here and enjoying it very much! 🙂
Clive, thanks for the kind words, cheers.
Abb, I think we will get, at least, three signings. A CB, a midfielder(probably a DM) and a forward, every other ins will depend on if we move out any of the first teamers that made up to 25 appearances this past season(could possibly be Sagna, Vermaelen and/or Gervinho)
Quality stuff, as always, tabs. You’re such a joy to read!!
Magical post, Tabs. Worthy of a magical title.
Clive: good to see you up and kicking.
Made me laugh out loud, Austrian G (#63).
Made me green with envy and admiration, tabs. As a sometime writer myself (now well retired) I found your vivid recall of that epic every bit as enthralling as Nick Hornby’s. How true that scene in Fever Pitch, the ultimate evocation of Arsenal supporter despair and delirium rolled into one. And yet you had Jim’s pecuniary sword of Damocles hanging over you adding spice to the moment.
You do realise you may never again experience such highs in your entire life? Not even if you happen to look like Fever Pitch’s Colin Firth or get pursued by a lovelorn Gemma Arterton…
Did Jim pay up, by the way? Did he at any time laugh off the bet and offer to settle for a couple of beers? Or maybe you have a Part 2 to amuse us with where he dies a lingering Promethean death for backing the enemy in the first place?
Oskar
Ooops, the Austrian G post I meant was #61.
Oskar
I know several posters noted our Ladies’ latest achievement in the last drinks, but for those who endlessly lament the men’s recent lack of success it’s worth noting what the women have contributed to the trophy cabinet since 1987…
1 x Uefa Champions League
2 x FA Super League
12 x FA Premier League
12 x FA Women’s Cup
2 x FA WSL Continental Cup
10 x FA Women’s Premier League Cup
Well done you good things!
Oskar
I only just went back and read that link @61, good stuff, if I had any Sp*rs mates I would’ve made sure it’s the first football piece they read tomorrow, thanks Austrian.
Excellent work tabs. You have outdone yourself Sir. Impressive indeed!
A brief visit to the bar in between long weekend activities here in US, and what a wonderful treat.
A bottle of Martell Cordon Bleu XO for you Tabs.
I was thirteen, I was an avid football fan but didn’t really use to follow the English game (Serie A, and AC Milan to be precise) those days. My home-city in India is quite football crazy and the local newspaper used to have a small column for English football results. One of my father’s friends used to be a massive Liverpool supporter from his days in England, I remember a vaguely amusing banter between him and another of his friends in the typical weekend get-together where I had learned that the great Liverpool lost the league. I didn’t even bother to remember the name of the other team, I must shamefully admit.
A decade or so later, after becoming fan of Wengerball and then Arsenal, while reading Fever Pitch I had reimagined that weekendfrom my childhood differently, wearing an Arsenal shirt and reveling in the glory.
For many like us who have become fan later in life, others’ recapitulation of these milestones and episodes slowly seep into the consciousness and we end up being nostalgic for a collective memory that we suddenly discovered to have found us.
Cheers Tabs, good stuff. I’ve recorded my own experience of that night on here before. Woke up on the Saturday morning on the floor of The Crown in Sittingbourne. Being slobbered all over by the pub dog – a great dane. Happy Daze.
Hey chaps and chappettes, hope everything is fine on your end.
I loved reading about that magical night in today’s blog. It was an epic write-up!
It’s a shame that with the emergence of the Premiership, the great events of yesteryear seem to go unmentioned in the press. Being younger than most people on here, I had to get myself up to date via the 1988-89 Arsenal Season Review, Fever Pitch (the book and movie), and listening to recounts from holics. Actually being at Anfield must have unbelievable. I heard that the Liverpool fans also clapped us off the pitch as a show of respect for actually pulling it off too.
On another note, I see nothing but blatant lies in the media about our transfer activity. We’re “linked with” or “have signed” everyone that’s available (or already unavailable) at the moment. The media loves trolling gooners because they know we get irate whenever it looks like we miss out on a signing but it seems like we were never going for the targets they mentioned in the first place! Meh…
It does look like we going to have a new 6’3” Frenchman playing for us in midfield though… 😀
Arsenal midfielder Arsene Wenger has admitted his interest in signing Lyon’s 22-year-old midfielder Clement Grenier.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/gossip/
Anyway, is anyone else looking forward to the Championship playoff tonight? It should be exciting. Hoping Watford make it up to Prem as my cousin is a fan of the hornets.
Good banter could be had as we smash them back down (if they make it up that is!).
Just had a back-drink, I guess I can indeed confirm the applause after reading Thundertiny’s post at #52.
Also, what’s going on with GoonerTerry? Is he alright?
Heh Cannons @ that BBC link.
They can’t even be bothered to gossip accurately about The Arsenal. But all this nonsense from the various media sources is just going to make it all the sweeter when we do win the league again.
GoonerTerry has sadly been ill for a long time. Clive and ‘Holic are probably the best bets for up to date info.
If you’re looking in GT, keep battling, mate.
Ttg, nice one @52.
Amazing how fate dishes out the destinations and story lines of a whole community of people across one event. If we had the time and the means, there would be a wonderfully self indulgent, multi threaded film to make of that night in 1989, showing the wheres, whys and hows all those ‘Goonerholic’ celebrations exploded in so many different places at the exact same second.
Trev, I was 21, in my Dad´s bedroom (with him and his Spuds supporting mate) whilst below Mum hosted his 50th birthday party!
The cheers and stomping on the ceiling (even, weirdly, from the Spud) preceeded the Birthday Boy´s belated entrance to his own party..
Strangely, that´s where my memories end….. 😉
Thanks for the info Trev.
Sorry to hear about GT, sounds very serious…
I hope things work out for the best for him.
Speaking about silly season rumours, blogs dropped a link to this site today. Pretty funny to see exactly how wrong the media gets it (all intentional I think)
http://arsenalssillyseason.blogspot.ie/
I must admit it’s pretty funny seeing us linked with all and sundry at times. Helps pass a few minutes while waiting for a train, heh
See, Catalan,
That’s exactly what I mean.
There would be dozens of stories, just amongst the ‘holics, all equally bizarre, well, equally-ish, in so many different places.
Some, in far flung places, would be startling their wives, or husbands, in the middle of the night – apart from zico, that is – others might be on the way to, or from, work on public transport. There would be a myriad different domestic scenes, and mayhem in the pubs during and after the game – see Esso above.
And that doesn’t even touch on those lucky enough to actually be there.
If the Guvnor would be so kind as to write off Lars’ tab, he might even be able to finance the project. 😉
Clive @ 54
Dr Feelgood is on Sabbatical. 😉
Could be good timing Trev; the Holic pound came in nicely yesterday!! 🙂
Props to the Ladies.
I don’t mean that in a lothario kind of way, I mean well done Arsenal Ladies for winning, well, almost everything.
Good to see Clive in again.
Catalan, shhh. Didn’t land the really, really big one, but yes, it was a lovely tickle 😉
Austrian @61 – Fantastic link mate. Made me smile. Many thanks.
Oskar @69 – Many thanks for your kind words. Yep, I’m pretty sure that there’ll never be another football moment like it in my lifetime. The sheer surprise of it all was the thing. No-one gave us a prayer.
As for Gemma, well as the great Peter Cook might have said, she keeps turning up here in her “shortie nightie” … 😉
And yes, Jimbo paid up. His gambling was a problem for him and got him into all sorts of trouble, but he was old school, a bet was a bet, and you never welched. From memory, I think he made money. As soon as the results went Liverpool’s way and the odds on Arsenal began to drift, he had an equally excessive bet on Arsenal, and was quids in either way. He was the first person to phone me, seconds after the final whistle, to offer his congratulations.
There is, however, a very sad postscript to Jim’s story. I have written about him before here, prior to the Everton vs Arsenal game last Season. If you have five minutes spare,and fancy it, it’s drink No.19.
http://goonerholic.com/2012/03/can-the-arsenal-maintain-run-at-goodison/
Faustus – Great stuff.
Esso – Cheers mate. I remember your story well. Brilliant and hilarious in equal measure.
Trev – What an idea of yours that is! What a book/film that would make. Still intrigued as to why you found yourself listening to the radio that night?!
And thanks again all for such kind words.
And last but by no means least – WELL DONE THE LADIES!
Right, I’m off to watch Fever Pitch! 😉
Aaah, was wondering if that was the same Jim as in your previous tale. Tabs, remember being pretty “choked up” (I think I used) at the end of that story.
Nice link Austrian.
Welcome back Clive, a fruit juice of choice on the bar for you sir.
Thanks Tabs for a great piece. 🙂
Yep same guy H2H.
Cheers 8Ball.
Fine account tabs.
The greatest late goal ever on one of the greatest nights ever.
I assume you spent all the winnings on booze and fags.
CoR. I’m slightly favoring Palace as they have been longer out of the division. I’m all for variety in our away days. 🙂
Most of it Bath.
I wasted the rest! 😉
Thanks Tabs – a nice recollection.
Mine was slightly different in timelines. Like TTG @ 52 I had also been at the Lane but not lucky enough to get in. Only got there about three hours before kick-off! We did end up in the fountains at Trafalgar Square that night which was fun but I was wearing my brother’s jacket which I then had to have dry-cleaned which wasn’t so much fun.
By 1989 I was living in New Zealand and live coverage of English football there at that time was basically non-existent but, almost unbelievably, the game was shown live on tv, albeit at breakfast time. With five minutes left to go I was on my feet, jacket on and ready to walk out of the door for work as soon as the whistle blew. Fuck McMahon. And then it all unfolded. If only it had been Jon Sammels cracking the winner then it would have been even more perfect.
But then I didn’t really know what to do. Getting on the turps at 8.00 in the morning was something that was a long way in my past and being so far away was also a little surreal so – I just went to work. Where nobody really cared because it didn’t feature the All Blacks. Or sheep.
Next time (next year?) I’ll be better prepared.
UTA.
I claim the hat-trick of virtual drinkers who were at the Lane in ’71 but didn’t get in. In keeping with my outrageous behaviour described above, my big brother and I took the bus home to catch the commentary on Radio 2 (I think it was no longer the Light Programme in those days).
My favourite memory of that evening, apart from the result of course was the overheard conversation on the way home.
First yoof, festooned in red and white scarf: ‘Ere, if Arsenal win tonight and win the league, let’s go down the ‘Ollloway Road and smash a few windows’.
Second yoof, similarly attired: ‘Yeah, an’ if they lose, let’s go down the ‘Olloway Road and smash a few windows’.
Simpler times, with simpler pleasures. Virtual drinks all round please Guv’nor.
Lays a cheeky one up the middle for the onrushing youngster …
No-one calls me a youngster. (Well, not for many years.)
Push the ball over to the left
Noosa, Oxon,
I think ‘Holic has a similar story to tell re WHL ’71, though if memory serves, he managed to squeeze in at the last with his Dad.
The story that my father told was that he managed to leave work early, (though not spectacularly early), and got to Tottenham at about 5, and said that he could barely move for the weight of people trying to get in.
He queued for 2 and a half hours and thought he had no chance of getting in. The problem was that having got in the queue, there was no chance of either going forwards or backwards such was the crush.
About 1 minute before kick off, he said there was an almighty surge, and he was simply carried along on the tide. As luck would have it, it took him right to the entrance, and he was literally propelled into the turnstile. He always swore that he was the last man in that night.
I was already tucked up and fast asleep. Ah the carefree ways of childhood eh! Only found out the result the next morning, when my father came in to tell me the score. He was bouncing off the ceiling!
And heh at the youfs 🙂
Quick assist with a flick over the defence…..
And wellies it Ray Kennedy stylee
Michael Thomas.
Nuff said.
Haha, Michael Thomas in the glory position.
That’ll do for me! 🙂
Well in Oxon.
Classic, tabs 🙂
Once more on FFP if I may…
I finally got through (most of) that link from the Fail with Samuels and Platini over FFP, not an easy read.
A couple of things sprung out at me;
Manchester City, Chelsea, they make big efforts, perhaps it’s not enough to be inside financial fair play but it is a big effort because they know that we will take a decision next year.
Ok, so they make a big effort….. Really?
Chelsea’s big effort was to spend a gazillion bucks last year and Citehs big effort was to offset spending by means of an extreamly iffy sponsership deal with a parent company. Yeah, they’re trying alright.
Will they get leniency because they are trying?
If you want to buy a Ferrari, if you have the money you buy a Ferrari, if you don’t have the money, you can’t buy the Ferrari. In football if you do not have the money, you can buy the Ferrari, the player and you pay him and everything, and you win – cheating. That is not correct, if you don’t have the money. But if you have the money, everything is permitted because you have the money.
Well like it or not, Citeh and the Chavs HAVE the money, not in the conventunal way, but they have it none the less, so by that reasoning “everything is possible”, including circumventing the rules?
O.K, maybe that’s a bit too simplistic on my part, but the whole FFP just seems like another empty slogan, the likes of “Fair Play”, “Respect” or the biggest empty slogan from the Fifa PR monsters “Say No to Racism”, what a sick joke that one is/was. Multi million dollar companies getting hit with fines in the few thousand dollar range, yeah, that will teach them. 🙄
Samuels played the flat track bully, asked the right questions, but his opinions on what he think should be done were as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike. Distribution of wealth? 75% of CL winners money going to the other 19 clubs in the league? Is football a communist game?
Also, that many leagues are strongly controlled by one or two teams is not a phenomenom created by the CL, it’s been fact of the matter for years, the Auld Firm ruled long before that, as did Bayern, as did Real, as did Ajax, if anything, the new money have given teams an opportunity that they never would have got, be honest, who would have put a single penny on Man City playing in the CL 8 years ago?
FFP may very well have best intentions at heart, it may be a step in the right direction. But as outlined in that interview, there are no level playing fields, from government assisted stadia, to tax breaks, to differing advertising standards of practice, there are just too many factors that make Financial Fair Play seem like an unobtainable pipe dream.
I’d like it to work, but I’ll believe it when I see it.
Great recollections Tabs – no night in football can beat it. I got home from work and allowed my 2 young sons & daughter to stay up and watch a rare event…a meaningful football match live on TV on a Friday evening. In those years Livepool were unbeatable at home (certainly by the Arse) and no neutrals gave us any hope of winning – let alone by the 2-0 margin required. The match was like a blur, we were not being overrun and therefore there was just a chance, just a chance. Smudger’s goal and hope was growing. The dippers seemed to be getting more apprehensive. McMahons 1 minute to go finger and then “it’s up for grabs now”. My kids still laugh at me running around the room like a lunatic for the next 20 mins…yes yes yes yes!!!!
The drinks cabinet was opened and the weekend was a joyous blur. The glow stayed with me for ages. When driving into work on the following Monday, I was listening to Capital Radio and they kept re-playing Jonathan Pearce ‘s commentary of the goal. If anyone has access to post it on here, it will give a flavour as to how 1 half of North London was feeling at that moment.
Tabs…your small flat in N London is close to where I was “brung” up (Crouch Hill), nearby was the closed reservoir with fantastic views down to the City & St Paul’s.
Like many others, I left work very early in ’71 and got caught up in the crush at White Hart Lane and unfortunately did not get in.
Clive, I ‘ve now done more than 60 yrs since my first match, was a regular from ’58.
Once again, thanks Tabs, a great story beautifully scripted. Cheers.
Well in Oxon. You must be younger than I could have guessed. 😉
Well in Oxon for the ton.
Well in Tabs at the Tabs spot too. 🙂
Well in Oxon. And Tabs!
Cheers Up.
I know exactly where you mean. My flat was in a turning off Ferme Park Rd. At the bottom of my road (Ossian Rd) was a small pub, the name of which now escapes me. I have no idea if it is still there. Anyway, it never used to attract any passing trade and was seemingly funded entirely by a small coterie of alcoholics who were all quite mad. It was there that we had our pre-match beers.
Hehs at the 101 congrats 🙂
Ah Tabs,
Your just getting better and better…!!
That was just a sheer joy to read and no doubt took time, patience and skill to put together. Thanks ever so much.
I was 18 and watched that game in my local pub in a small rural village in the west of Ireland where all things Arsenal matter little to most. I’ve always tended to be a quiet type, but to this day when I go home I’m reminded of the time I danced on the bar counter! Salad days indeed. Sadly, one or two of the older lads I watched the game with are no longer with us which has evoked some memories in me.
Cheers Joe.
And indeed – where did all those years go?
Thanks to all for the good wishes above.
To be honest, I’m not sure how to take 8ball’s @ 106. Thanks any way 🙂
Does anyone else remember the competition, sponsored I think by the Evening Standard to write an Arsenal song for the Cup Final in ’71? The winner, to the tune of Rule Brittania, was
Good old Arsenal,
We’re proud to say that name,
While we sing this song,
You’ll win the game
Is it still sung? Tell me it ain’t so. Please, tell me it ain’t so.
COYG
Still sung Oxon.
Not often, but it still gets a rendition every now and then.
Almunia bossing things in the Watford goal?
Too young to remember ’71.
Had been to Wembley 3 times for Fa cup finals (78, 79, 80) and had returned to London (from Spain) for the 1987 League Cup final which was also against L’poo. (like you all didn’t know 😉 )
As fate would have it I had to return to London to get some visas sorted out, this was ofcourse pre 1992 Europe when such things were not as easy are they are today. I’d also just become a father, so while in Blighty had to pick up as many sheckles as possible to send over to upkeep the fam’. Via, via, I’d got a job working part time behind a bar in Archway. I’d arrived a few weeks before the Hillsborough tragedy and had planned on sorting everything out and returning within a month. I didn’t make that much, but the exchange rate was extreamly favourable at the time and the owner offered a full time position if I would stay for three months, as I was staying with my parents this would mean a pretty nice chunk of change to send over. Arsenal being in with a chance of winning the title had absolutly nothing to do with it (ahem).
The game is a blur, I remember very little about the events leading up to it, except that we were well early in the pub “warming up”, I also remember that it was weird that it was on a Friday night and that it was broadcasted live was almost unheard of, bar FA Cup finals and WC games. I remember the, well maybe it wasn’t to be feeling, at HT, I remember the wild celebtations when Smudger nodded in the one-nil, before returning to the nail biting, beer guzzling, almost glass chewing agony of realisation that we were going down fighting.b Until, hold on….. wait….. what…..no……yes…….,surely……go on…….fuck…….cunt……..*&&%$$#@…………….YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Panic, frenzy, disbelief, shock, realisation, hysteria!!!!!!!
How can you possibly explain what you’ve just witnessed, I had seen it with my own eyes, but, still, couldn’t believe it, with literaly the last kick of the game we had become champions. We had beaten the masters (for that’s what they were, make no mistake) in their own fortress, the mighty Liverpool were taken down at Anfield. Pinch me, punch me, step on my Blue Suade Shows, I just couldn’t Adam n Eve it………
But it was true!! Arsenal were the champions of the land and I got to see it, amazing.
The rest is a blur, went on a bender that lasted ’til the bus parade to Town Hall, I’m sure there were many ‘holics, who are now spread over the globe, that were there from Highbury to Upper Street on that day, a day, I know, I’ll never forget.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GssctcuJeqo
(I know I posted it earlier in the season, but for those who missed it)
Uply, our posts have similar words in, like Blur and Smudger and Friday evening and Live Football rarity, all purely concidental, I promiss, it sometimes takes me ages to post stuff, not because I’m a really slow typer (well that too) but due to the fact that I have to stop a lot of the time, work and other such nonsense getting in the way.
However my friend, I’ll think you find that the immortal words “it’s up for grabs now” were from the man from The Big Match, Mr Brian Moore.
Hang on…. Looks like I misread what you posted, forgive me. 😳
Bollocks, got home, saw it was 0-0 in the 113th minute, went out quickly to post a letter thinking it was better to time it thus, got back and see it’s 1-0 to Palace….
Come on Hornets, a little equaliser please.
How was Wemberley, Oxon?
Shame, Watford had chances to equalise, but who took that shit very last corner? That was pathetic….
Boooo…palace 🙁
Didn’t really care either way to tell the truth. Holloway is always good for a laugh though.
Congratulations Palace.
A great read Mr Tabs, in 1989 I was a young man not even eighteen yet who had zero interest in football, I had never been able to connect with the game, it was boring stuff where grown men kicked a ball about in opposite directions for ninety minutes….such a waste of time.
But my Liverpool supporting brother had been really pissing me off that year with his Liverpool this and Liverpool that…..I found myself strangely willing on a team I knew almost nothing about.
And something magical happened, the match played out in exhilarating fashion and I found myself swept up in the emotion and majesty of it.
Somehow by the time the match had finished I was a bona fide gooner, I suppose that makes me a glory hunter in essence.
But without Michael Thomas and Alan Smith and David Rocastle and Tony Adams and the rest of that amazing team I would not be the always supportive of the team (If not always the manager) dyed in the wool supporter I am now.
Funny thing is for seventeen years I had no interest in football and for 24 years I have been a passionate Arsenal man.
Once bitten, forever smitten.
Ollie, thanks for reminding me of my responsibilities. Sorry to relate that I have little to relate. We were at the Bayern end, in the front row of the second tier. Magnificent view! I was a little disappointed – as a well-travelled, worldly broad-minded fellow – how surprised I was that German footy fans seemed much the same as any others. Quite some vibration through the stadium when the singing was going well, and an impressive Poznan from the Dortmund supporters at the far end.
Apparently there was a football much on as well. I found the first half more entertaining than the second, despite all the goals coming in the second half.
So, sorry again folks. I’m never that keen on watching football when I’m not really that interested in the result.
Fair enough, Oxon, must have been a bit of a bizarre experience indeed.
I’ve been to stadiums in Germany where the atmosphere was amazing.
Actually, Ollie, not quite as bizarre as the last match I saw at Wembley – England v Croatia. It came a couple of weeks after that UCL qualifier against Celtic. I was feeling more than usually disgusted by the English sporting press and, quite honestly, was hoping that England would lose to an Eduardo hat-trick. It didn’t happen, obviously, but was a truly bizarre experience as I was surprised to be feeling that way.
Oh well, I’m going to the Cup final on Friday (to be fair, since it’s always evenings, maybe not such a difference from Saturday, except it gives me an excuse to leave work a touch earlier!), €25 but I won’t be a neutral!
Enjoy, Ollie. Any more news on your Qatar trip?
Not yet, but I guess I’ll get news tomorrow.
TABS – great write up!
Must be one of the greatest nights of my life: Managed to get a ticket & a lift for the game, even making it to the game on time despite the horrendous traffic on the M6.
The atmosphere at Anfield was surreal following Hillsborough. The script was written that Liverpool would secure the Double and the crowd knew it.
The Gooners in the ground were hopeful, but we didn’t believe we had a chance until Mickey Thomas poked the ball past Grobbelaar. Pandemonium ensued!
Fair play to the Scallies outside the ground after who shook our hands and congratulated us on victory. Despite the police telling us we ‘were going to get a kicking off the locals’ I think Hillsborough had knocked any thoughts of trouble for 6.
Interesting journey back South with a stop at the services on the M62. Somebody had a camera and many celebratory photos were taken. I’d love to see them if anyone has some copies????
It´s not Jonathan Pearce here, but Peter Jones (his voice takes me right back..)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iM2FLrlnNMc
Not sure how that would of worked out had Watford got promotion. They had 7 (seven) loan players on the pitch. I’ve read that The League have changed the rules for next season due to the fact that they feel Watford had twisted them a little too far.
Add to that the transfer emargo they have until September and it would be hard to see them get anything resembling a decent squad together.
They could buy all the loanees. Udinese fan I know told me the word there is that the loaness are not coming back to Udine.
Brilliant post tabs, what an emotional read. I was 10 months and 1 day old on May 26 ’89. Boy I wish I could’ve watched that game live. Our time will come. Cheers!
But the transfers would be put under the microscope because of the owners connection to both clubs. “The Nursery Effect” or something like that, they’re calling it.
Doesn’t matter now anyway, Palace go up and their best player has alredy been sold.
Lovely again, COYG!
8Ball – Saw the second half and ET and Almunia looked pretty much like Almunia always looks to me. Some very good saves, and some abominable decisions on crosses. Same old, same old. Would have fancied him if the game had gone to penalties though.
I was rooting for Watford, but have to agree with H2H. The closing of that loan loophole that they have exploited this season means that they wouldn’t have been competitive next season.
Mind you, doubt that Palace will fare much better. Zaha looks to have some talent, but he still has an awful lot to learn, chief among them that Football is a team game. I will be genuinely surprised if he plays anything more than a bit part rule at Yanited next season.
H2H @117 – Great stuff mate, and great link. It was so hot wasn’t it on that Sunday. I was right under the balcony. I remember Perry Groves leading the crowd in a rendition of “My Old man said be a Tottenham fan … ” The Mayor looked a bit aggrieved! We then all adjourned to Holloway Rd and got stuck in to the … ahem … refreshment. Can’t remember which Pub it was, probably the first one we came to on the left. It all got pretty messy – we only needed a top up after the friday night! 😉
Cheers Depressed.
Dr C – Great link. Master Broadcaster.
Cheers Derrick.
You’ve just made me feel very old! 🙂
Makes me wonder, tabs.
Marseille players got some suspension (I think) for singing anti-PSG chants when they won the league.
Sakho from PSG, I can’t remember if this has gone through yet, but he got called to some committee for singing anti-Marseille chants when PSG won the league.
Would that also be envisaged nowadays in the PL?
(I’m thinking Szcz would do it 😉 )
Fantastic post. Every memory no matter who or where you were seems to coincide with that one moment of pure bliss. The world must have shook on its axis that night. Well played tabs.
No idea Ollie.
I think you may be right re Szez 🙂
Cheers Noel.
Ollie, Tabs, I think Frimpong would do it too.
H2H 117….another top post from you. I share with you the slow typing syndrome – it’s taken me all this time to type the reply;-) ( actually been playing a bowls league match this evening – old men territory).
May have seen a useful ,experienced back- up keeper today. Guy called Almunia playing for Watford. Looked the dog ‘s b…..ks . Wonder if we could get him. Apparently he has played in a Champions League Final and been Man of the Match in a CL semi- final!
Great link to the Peter Jones commentary, Catalan.
It’s decidedly goose bumps here – that was the commentary I was listening to at the time. Sounds very sedate now, compared to the modern day style.
Is there anything that’s not on YouTube ?
Did somebody make an oblique call for the return of the Happy Train? How about some Happy Train warmup music?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1rkfQ1CCcQ
*tumbleweed*
Have we signed Messi yet?
John Shaft slowly makes his way from the Emirates Control Center down to the underground car park and jumps into his black Camaro.
He adjusts his rearview mirror before applying Beargrease to his moustache, which has grown almost as much as his disappointment with the 2012-2013 season.
A noise from the backseat catches his attention and he whips around sharply with his Beretta Cheetah already drawn.
Shaft: You?!? You’re still here? I swear you’re harder to get rid of than a turtle in heat…
Chamakh: Well, I was leaving but I felt like I should thank you.
Shaft: For what?
Chamakh: You know, for stopping the boss from killing me when I scored that goal against Reading from outside the box. You know how much he hates that.
Shaft: I just figured it’d be easier to sell Bordeaux a live player than a dead one, that’s all.
Chamakh: Still, thanks.
Shaft: Meh. Anyway, you better get going before the boss spots you. He says if he sees anyone from The List still on the compound after 10 o’clock, he’s going to put them in the cage with Frimpong. You saw what happened to Squillaci…
Chamakh pales and shudders involuntarily. He opens the door and steps out of the car.
Chamakh: Alright mon ami. Be seeing you..
Shaft: Um, maybe not in this lifetime.
Shaft turns the ignition and “H.A.M.” starts playing at full blast.
He produces a pair of shades from nowhere and places it on his face before pulling out of the carpark.
Before exiting the gate, Shaft looks at the plane tickets to Madrid he received during his debriefing.
He then drives off, failing to notice Bentenke standing outside of the Emirates office holding a boombox over his head playing “In Your Eyes”…
I was only 2 months old at the time, and lived in South Africa, been a gooner now for 10 years.
This post gave me chills, and I had tears in my eyes at the end.
Our time will come again!!
Nice work Shaft, so as long we get rid of Chamakh we’re definitely signing Benteke, right? I am ITK. FACT!
Oh NO!!!
Spam-bot attack.
Still a better read then what the troll’s spew up on here. 😉
Who you calling a troll?
Heh,
Nice disguise Dr F.
====
In other news;
Martinez resigns at Wigan.
Everton’s new manager maybe?
Or Stoke’s new manager?
Might be better for Martinez to take the Stoke job and turn them into a football team with the support of the Chairman’s gambling empire. It would be a surprise to see them play football after the Pubis years but after all they once had Stanley Matthews.
If Stoke appoint Hughes, as seems likely, I reckon it’ll be more of the same muscular approach.
No, no, no.
Sparky must go to Stoke, he’s the right knob for that job.
They do deserve each other currently, H2H. Marriage made in Heaven really.
However in a perfect world, Stoke would be transformed into a football team and Sparky would be selling the Big Issue aggressively outside the St David Centre in Cardiff.
Heh Bath, in a perfect world Stoke would have been banned from the league for crimes against football.
Even though their fans turned on Pulis in the end, the fact is that they supported and, worse, blindly defended his evil ways for far too long and for that they must suffer.
A nice dose of Hughes coming in and splashing all their cash on utter crap, to add to the utter crap they already have, confining them to the bottom three before they chase him out of the Potteries with their kitchen cuttlery (a.k.a pitchforks by regular folk) should be a nice start to their pennance.
H2H, you have me completely convinced. Divine justice.
Hughes selling The Big Issue?
He’d only let you have one if you shook his hand as well. 😉
Heh tabs. :))
Heh Bath 🙂
I have to say I’m very much in H2H’s corner re Stoke. They are an absolutely hateful bunch. Essential that they have a despicable Manager.
I’m absolutely convinced. I had a brief moment of humanity for the afflicted. It’s over. Fuck ’em all.
Step forward Phil Brown for Stoke!
@ 156
You are the only one who can read my handwriting 😉
Haha Bath, that’s the spirit! 🙂
CoR – Perfect! And nice shaft piece earlier 🙂
Hehs….Tango Man is just a sad cunt whereas Sparky is a full size double your money obnoxious cunt with knobs on. IMHO that is. 😉
Heh Up 🙂
Heh @168.
==
Welcome to the club, Bath. Tabs will send your membersip papers and “Fuck Stoke” badge and T-shirts asap.
==
Uply knows.
Shouldn’t Walrus face be managing Stoke? That’s a match made in heaven right there!
“Sparky is a full size double your money obnoxious cunt with knobs on.”
Hahahaha outstanding!
Sparky is a steam-powered, ocean-going, oversize cunt of astronomic proportions.
“Hughes is a c*nt with knobs on” ………
I’m sure there must be a name for one of those but both the pornographic and medical terminologies escape me.
Meanwhile., “c*nt with knobs on” will do very nicely.
By the way, I’m not certain what all the nasty references to Stoke personnel are about.
I’ve heard many other players, managers and pundits assuring us repeatedly that “they are not that kind of player”.
Even that kindly old retired gentleman from Manchester phoned the tearful mummy’s boy from Stoke, to make sure he wasn’t so upset that it ruined his England call up, after he had bissected all the component parts of our Aaron’s leg.
Nice people 😉
Sparky is also a mean git. I checked in at JFK with Mrs TTG as we jet setters do . I pointed out Mark Hughes with wife and daughter at the next counter to her indoors. He was Fulham manager then. ‘ Really ?’she said, ‘ but he’s travelling in Premium Economy!’ He was happy enough to spend QPR’s money but not his own!Bet he travelled Business Class when the club were paying.
Anyone who remembers Stoke in the early seventies will recall they had extraordinarily hard and unpleasant defenders( Dennis Smith, Pejic,Bloor etc) and very good players upfront and in midfield-Greenhoff, Conroy, Dobing,Eastham and Hudson. They were a mixture of Beauty and the Beast. But boy did I hate them even then. We did them in two successive years in the FA Cup semi- finals? Just can’t warm to them for the reasons others have mentioned. The jeering of Aaron Ramsey who was nearly maimed by Shawcross is beneath contempt. Lets hope they slide out of the Premier League now.
I think the,Conference would suit them fine.
Hey all. Tabs, beauty of a post- I felt the nerves just reading. Cheers!
ttg – Conference for Stoke.
Aviva Premiership would be a better fit.
Camberwell – “a c*nt of astronomic proportions”.
Pardon my ignorance, but is that the same as a black ho………
No, I’m sure it can’t be 😉
I’m in Devon at the moment where life runs around 24 hours behind Sky Sports News, so can some kind soul tell me whether the Hughes to Stoke thing is real or just a continuing nightmare ?
Cheers.
Uply, just realised that was your @170 🙂
Trev, I read on the beeb this morning that he was the “leading candidate”.
GAWD HELP US !
I just googled Mark Hughes to see if there was anything especially embarrassing about him, and it turns out he is Mark Hughes OBE.
What ?!?!?!
No doubt recommended by our favourite aristocrat, Sir Alex. 🙁
H2H,
on the basis that they would be the most deserving of each other 😉
Indeed Trev.
Sparky will be the piss flavoured icing on the made of shit cake that is Stoke City.
So Rodriguez, Moutinho, Carvalho, Falcao, maybe Valdes?
I don’t think the guys who managed to get Monaco back to Ligue 1 are too chuffed with that…
Are there odds on Special Cunt replacing Ranieri there now? 😉
Trev….having removed down to Devon (border Dorset) just a few years back, indeed the pace of life can be slower but more the richer for it.
Mark Hughes OBE = Obnoxious Bell End !
Pointless drink!!
On 2nd thought, may as well add a point. As we Meerkans say, Mark Hughes is a prick.
Ollie….assuming the Oligarch owning Monaco is an Abramovic mk 2, I doubt if he gives a shit about the players. Nothing personal but Ligue 1 is welcome to the “special cunt.
Bt8b 190…..as Wolfie might say, a prick can be useful 😉
Add a point and add a pint.
Sorry to disappoint people, but Stoke with anyone other than Pulis in charge (and I’d include Glen stupid big jawed cunt in that statement ) will be better than Stoke with Pulis in charge. Might sound presumptuous but I cant see either of Hull or Palace touching the sides next season. Reckon Stoke will be fairly safe.
Ups, I’d kind of like him to go there just to see the reaction of Chelsea fans :p
What Ollie said. Reckon the only reason he’s interested in going back to Cuntski is the chance to win Big Ears in yet another different country, – fuck all to do with being ‘loved’. If Monaco could offer him a better chance of that I’m sure he’d snap their hands off,.
Esso,
You are right based on yesterday’s play- off final. Palace were totally reliant on Zaha going forward and Hull under Bruce will not cut the mustard. We can only hope the third relegation spot is Stoke’s but they’ll have plenty of competition – some of the teams down there are dross.
Trev,
I don’t know if the film is still available but it might be instructive to look at an old United v Montpellier Champions League game many years ago. Hughes got their man sent off by pretending to be hit by one of their players but ITV had a close- up at the time and you could see the slight flick missed Hughes by several inches. Even if it had hit him it wouldn’t have done the slightest harm but he rolled around in agony. When people say foreign players brought diving into the English game which to an extent they did, I quote that incident as proof that British players could be deceitful too.
Esso….agree with you about “the Special Cunt” but not about Stoke. They will be equally loathsome with Hughes in charge as Pulis. In fact the Orcs & Sparky is a marriage made in hell!!
Heh Ollie…Chel$ki fans being spurned….role reversal eh. Unfortunately still think he is destined to return there.
Time for a pre pre assist for Ollie to assist. 🙂
Ollie styley…….
Big Bang Podi stle into the net!
Rushed his shot and scuffed it into the net Gervinho style (was looking for a Big Bang Poldi style ;-). )
Cheers for the Olliesque assist H2H.
@198Uplympian
Never said they would n’t be loathsome cunts mate. Just said they (unfortunately) stand a reasonable chance of staying up, cos of 2 complete rubbish sides coming up and their own natural improvement after getting rid of Pulis.
ttg,
with all due respect, I don’t need any instruction as to the loathsomeness of Mark Hughes.
I know he’s no longer everyone’s cup of tea but I reckon Cesc Fabregas had him measured up with his “can’t believe you used to play for Barcelona” jibe.
I know they’re no longer everyone’s cup of tea either, but you have to admit that, before the introduction of Busquets and Pique, they were a team to be admired.
Hughes never has been.
Well in, Up!
Agree with Esso, Stoke aren’t very likely to go down, unfortunately. And them with Mark Hughes is only an extremely minor improvement on them with Tony Pubis.
Esso…I see where you are coming from now and fully agree with you there, and TTG as well. Mind you, some teams I thought would go straight down – the Canaries & the Swans for example and have survived. Perhaps being the Eagles will also keep Palace up by sharing an Ornithological nick-name 😉
I think you are a man with Kentish connections and therefore offer you a
wonderful Bishops Finger…maybe it means something else nowadays 😉
Well played, H2H and Ups!
I shall copyright my name soon.
A bit of an exclusive – Tabs and Zico trying to relax before the recent home game vs Wigan, having strayed onto a Thames bar boat.
(Names have been changed to protect their individual identities)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rbVADWJczM
Heh
And for whoever – 8ball? – was wanting an update from the Happy Train, some footage from Dr C’s original interview for the job in The Quackery.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd1qYxysVEY
Dr. T. It’s a good thing I didn’t swallow 21p. But if I did, you can be sure I wouldn’t tell Dr. C about it. 😉
A former hero of the Happy Train faithful, our very own Kolo Toure, has apparently thrown in his lot with the scourers. I really don’t like saying this, but WHAT A LOSER. 😉
scourers = scousers
But after the Liverpool press is done with Kolo, he may feel as if he had beeen scoured.
All I have to say about this story is I liked the old badge better too, not to mention the old stadium, which pretty much goes without saying.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-22696130
Victoria Concordia Crescit.
Wenger seen at car boot sale looking for players
Well, some really sweet memories from you fellas. Dr Faustus, you so eloquently describe in (your last paragraph) how I felt, as I read each contribution. H2H, what a good memory you have re Tabs’s friend Jim ! Yes Tabs, I remember that very nice piece you wrote on him. Wow…the one and same. Pete the First, you might want to take a look at IASA, perhaps they will be able to help you with those pics. Lots of terrific Arsenal stories from fans there, as well 😉 I went there trying to find the oldest photo of Avenell Road and see if there was more about that poor horse being buried at Highbury … oh yes I did 😉
And then there was Shaft … and Trev. You chums all made for a most enjoyable visit. btw 8 ball, totally agree, Everton should have stuck with their original design, nice inscription.
I think the new Everton design is just lazy. If they revamped it properly, it might have worked but instead they just removed a couple of items and slapped it on…Maybe they only had MS Paint and no Photoshop/Illustrator to use?
I’m sure I can design a snazzier Everton crest in 15 minutes if I were so inclined…
The other worrying thing about this trend is it suggests that a bunch of “consultants” have gotten together and decided that Latin is elitist and should therefore be banned. I say not only “Victoria Concordia Crescit” but in solidarity with the Latin-deprived Everton supporters, “Nil Satis Nisi Optimum.”
Quivis tamen signati sumus?
According to Google Translate, that’s the Latin translation of the ancient English phrase, “Have we signed anybody yet?”
They don’t care about the fans anymore.
If they decide the image needs to be changed (team colours, badge, whatever) it will be changed and marketed to new fans should the old fans stop coming it seems…
They also don’t seem to care about good design either! 😀
まだ誰かを移転されていない?
Have we signed anyone yet in Japanese (or as close as I could get it so that it makes sense in Japanese haha)
We don sign anybody?
Pigeon English, Nigeria.
Onwela onye anyi zutara?
Igbo language, Nigeria.
តើយើងបានចុះហត្ថលេខាលើនរណានៅឡើយទេ?
We sign anybody yet?
A bit late to the party. Just catching up.
An excellent post TaBs. A great read and a great way to start the day.
8ball, removing the latin phrases has nothing to do with elitism. It is because they can not be trademarked, and by extension a crest with a latin phrase can not be trademarked either.
Found this discussion about Falcao and third party ownership pretty interesting. Surely FIFA should be cracking down on this?
http://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/1e8ncw/explaining_the_falcao_move_to_monaco/?sort=old
Morning all,
CoR,
Fascinating detail in that link to the Falcao deal.
I only knew the barest bones of how these “deals” arise but the more you know about the modern day transfer deal, the more surprising it is that any get done at all.
Btw, quivis tamen signati sumus ? 😉
Oh well, nil desperandum.
Nice link CoR.
Third party ownership (rightly) banned in the PL, we don’t want to be dealing with arsewipes like that Kia Jawhathisface character. It’s all very shady, human tradey, like, yes the players get paid, but lose their basic rights.
Falco, Tevez and Masch’ maybe success stories, but what about those who don’t make it to superstardom, what happens to them and their contracts? Are they just thrown on the soccer scrap heap, unceromously dumped because they didn’t make the grade, with no one to look after them anymore?
Veni, Vidi, Bibi!!!
Thanks Down Under But Not Down Hearted,
You echo my thoughts but I have taken down the response as well as the offending drivel from yer man.
Have to say it is hard to make any sort of case for you in the Ashes, but like derby matches at football it isn’t always the expected outcome that transpires.
Years of watching England have armed me with the knowledge that we are only ever one batting collapse away from disaster…
Finaly Alex Song does something worthwhile at Barca;
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/400418/Barcelona-stars-Alex-Song-and-Gerard-Pique-trade-blows-at-La-Liga-bus-parade
Here it is….. (from the beeb):
Former Queens Park Rangers boss Mark Hughes is expected to be appointed as the new manager of Stoke City by the end of the week.
Talks between Hughes and the Potters have gone well, and the 49-year-old is believed to be the Premier League club’s first choice.
Leading figures at the club are of the view that Hughes would be a “good fit”.
“A good fit”
What was that we were saying about c*nts and knobs? 😉
Zackerly, H2H.
H2H:
“Talks between Hughes and the Potters”
Shouldn’t that rather have been “grunts and growls”? 🙂
Heh (@ both above)
Lars, I’m sure there was also the necassary throwing of feaces to secure dominance, until Hughes pawed his x on the dotted line.
There should be the usual ritural sacrafices made on the shires of the potteries tonight, all players (behalve from Jones) well be required to bring there own pigs head, those who are unfortunate to live close enough should be able to hear Shawcross howl at the moon. 😕
True…deal will be sealed when they squeeze each other’s anal glands.
And so it begins… Monkey Boy has issued his come-get-me plea:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22702910
Not at all sure he’ll leave this summer, but I hope there is a long summer of will-he-won’t-he and that he then fucks off about five minutes before the closing of the transfer window.
That one looks like the agent throwing his cap into the ring, Lars.
It’s going to be a gut wrenching summer for those up the filthy end of the road. The will he-won’t he will indeed drag on to the bitter end. Let’s hope it will be a massive distraction.
Even if they do manage to keep hold of him, it’s not going to go away, the meedja won’t let it, they’re going to have to go through the same crap we had with Cesc, Henry and Viera, even though with the latter we were still winning stuff and with all we were always in the CL…. What can Sp*rs offer?? Thursday Night Entertainment, Meh.
Can’t see Levy turning down anything in the region of 50mil, that’s a fucking shed load of cash for any team, especialy one in the Yourhopeless League with players on CL salaries.
Let the games begin……………..
In that article there was a reference to the Neymar to Barca transfer and the sum of £50m.
The first time I saw Neymar, a few years ago, playing for a young Brazil side, he was already being hyped as the next best thing. I remember that everytime he touched the ball, a big girly scream would eminate from the stands, a kind of Beatlemania-esque squeal. He made a couple of fancy flicks and he had a stupid looking hairstyle.
Now a few years on, I’ve seen him a number of times, I saw him play well once, when he linked up with a guy called Fred, who I thought was a much better prospect. The other times was pretty much meh, yes he still did some fancy flicks and the ridiculousness of his barnet had in no way diminished, but if he’s a “worldclass” player then I just can’t see it.
Can anyone please enlighten me?
Afternoon all,
PiK, SteveT – thanks for your kind words.
Have to agree with Esso re Stoke. Can’t see them struggling next season as much as they have done this. Still, as long as I can hiss and hate and swear every time they appear on my vista, (and let’s face it, appointing Hughes as Manager would be a bloody good start), then I’ll be happy.
Trev @207 – Haha, you got that right! 🙂
Lars @224 – Spot on. Understand why the Everton fans are all so upset though, having had a look at the new design. All pretty shabby.
H2H – Neymar? I certainly haven’t seen enough of him to enlighten you mate. Of the bits and bobs I have seen, I have come away with pretty much the same impression as you. All a bit meh. Having said that, he’s obviously pretty special given where he’s going, and I have seen a few outstanding goals on Youtube, misleading though those clips can be. Difficult to see where he fits in with Messi all the same.
Decent article on TV5 I thought.
http://1nildown2oneup.net/the-curse-of-the-captaincy-thanks-tv5-but-time-to-go-quietly/
The writer is more impressed with Gallas than I ever was (I always thought he was capable of going from the sublime to the ridiculous), but overall I think she makes some good points. I too will be surprised if Thomas is still here come Summer’s end.
As for our other erstwhile centre-back Kolo, not surprised City have seen fit to dispense with his services. He was very much already on a downward slide when he left us.
As for Liverpool, well. Reportedly paying an ageing CB whose legs have gone £70k a week? No wonder Clubs go bust.
Nice one Tabs.
As for the Everton fans, well, they’ll just have to grin and bare it, their badge has changed and I can’t see the powers that be changing it back…tough titty.
We had the same, I mean, I felt almost violated when I saw our new badge, looked like a Mickey Mouse version of the former, the latin was gone, the stars removed and the cannon, which was not half the cannon the previous was, was pointing in the wrong direction.
Things change, you move on.
Indeed H2H.
Although I was one of the few, (and still am it seems), who liked/likes our new badge.
Hated the fact that they reversed the cannon, but other than that …
I was never sure why there was such a strong attachment to the old one, other than tradition. It only ever appeared on the shirts in its last years.
I think Wolfie would say he found it a bit “busy”. 😉
Indeed, all the shirts I had as a lad just had the cannon and not the crest on it. I still think that the old crest had a little more style, but as I said… We move on.
I enjoyed that piece you linked to, not sure if I agree with all of it, but I too had doubts about TV’s defencive abilities long before this season, but I was shot down many a time for daring to say such a thing. His goals and the fact that he looks like a cold blooded hitmanclouded many’s judgement.I’ve never questioned his effort, because he always gives his all, but as pointed out in that piece and after this season plain to see (by most) his positioning was sometimes awful.
In the close season I stated that I hoped Arteta would get the armband, I never saw TV as a true leader, a good luitenant, but not a major (if you know what I mean). I still think he could have a future at the club, as back up CB we could do a lot worse, maybe even a switch to a sweeper position may suit his game more, but even then he’d have to do a hell of a lot of work on his positional discipline.
He seems to want to fight for his place;
http://metro.co.uk/2013/05/29/thomas-vermaelen-hints-at-arsenal-stay-despite-frustrating-bench-role-3813933/?
I’d be sorry to see him go, but if we bring in a new guy then I think that will force his hand especially in a WC year which looks like the Belgiums may qualify for for the first time since 1675.
Re: Neymar – like the rest of you, I don’t see it.
However, Amy Lawrence tweeted something interesting on this topic the other day.
Apparently Neymar is one of only 4 players to have scored 100 professional goals before age 20. The other 3? Maradona, Pele and the real Ronaldo.
I guess we’ll soon find out. To me, he looks to have a touch of the Robinhos about him.
Can we have the football back now? I’m experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
Telling stat N7.
Football back? England are playing tonight.
Oh.
Spot on H2H on Vermaelen as far as I’m concerned.
I thought her point about his aerial strength (as well as his early goals), was especially relevant in blinding many to other defensive flaws.
Completely agree with you about the Captaincy. Don’t think it should ever be given to someone who might not be a certain starter. Would have agreed with you on Arteta last summer. Will he be a certain starter next season? Depends who we buy I guess.
cracker read tabs
most enjoyable
brought back memories indeed
mine unfortunately being in a wee front room in upton park with three non-believers
their gloom didn’t dampen my ardour though
.
easy smallballs!
i said ardour
At the risk of handing a poisoned chalice to one of this season’s better performers, I’d like to see the armband go to Mertesacker.
The offensive end of the pitch is full of players who either aren’t sure of their place in the starting XI (Rosicky), are still too green (Theo) or are too newly arrived.
I agree that the captaincy can’t go to Arteta if he isn’t a guaranteed starter, and given his age I’d imagine that Arsene will be looking to phase in a replacement starting next term.
Beyond that, Bac is either gone or has his position under pressure, Kos spent half last season out the team, Chesney needs very badly to be droppable and neither Gibbs nor Monreal fit the bill.
If there’s one thing we learned this season it’s that, of our current CBs, Mertesacker needs to start. He’s got bags of experience, he seems to keep a cool head and he organises that back line.
Having said all of the above, it wouldn’t stun me if he gave it to Wilshere.
tabs, you are not alone – I too like our new badge. It’s a clean design and still has the cannon, albeit in the reverse direction.
Neymar? Seen too little of him to say for sure, think I’ve only seen him in the Olympics last year but I must say he was quite impressive at times. It will be interesting to see how he copes with not being the number one star of the show at Barca, I think it may well take a while for him to adapt. He is a major talent, but then again so have many others been without taking the next step. N7 mentions Robinho which is a very good example, he was also the Next Big Thing but I don’t even know where he’s playing these days.
N7: 100 goals before the age of 20 is really good, but let us not forget that he is one of very few South American talents to stay in his home country for so long. Most of them move to Europe at 16-17 at the latest, and it is of course much harder to score bucketloads of goals here since the leagues are a lot better and the competition for places much stiffer.
N7, wilshere is not yet a guaranteed starter, in my opinion, either.
N7, wilshere is not yet a guaranteed starter, in my opinion.
Haha cheers Cba 🙂
What on earth were you doing at Upton Park? Tut tut, Sir. 😉
N7 – Perfect analysis of the captaincy issues. Bfg and Kos the only contenders other than Arteta. There’ll probably be a make do and mend policy before Jack is ready – more than likely just as his contract is coming up for renewal!
Cent – A fit Jack starts, imo.
tabs 242 I’m with you there!
at 253 too, mind!
Heh Ollie, what time are the Girondins kicking off on Friday?
Tabs, his fitness is a just part of the problem, the main part is that I think our pressing suffers when he plays, especially when he plays behind the striker. He rarely makes those late runs behind the frontman, he always wants to lay back in midfield get the ball then drive at the opponent, this results in a crowded midfield and almost no presence in the opponent’s box. I think he is more suited to the box-to-box role but then Ramsey does a better defensive job than him in that position and it’s not like Ramsey is entirely useless in attack. The best solution will be to choose his position according to the opponents on the day but that will bring instability to the midfield in my opinion.
Also great stuff on Neymar Lars.
Going backwards and forwards here like a … hmm… backwardsy forwardsy thingammyjig.
All valid points Cent, But I’m still sticking to my guns.
If Jack’s fit, he plays.
Easily forgotten now, but when our season was in it’s death throes (Nov to Feb) Jack was far and away our stand out player.
tabs 9pm my time, 8pm yours
(well the young ones are kicking at 5pm my time – Cup final being played on the same day in the same place, Bordeaux are in it too – but I definitely won’t be on time for that!)
Good luck mate. Will give ’em a cheer for you.
On another note, Hughes confirmed.
All together now … Hughes is a … 😉
Cheers tabs.
Hughes and Stoke? Another perfect match.
Looking forward to the post-match handshakes :p
🙂
I remember that Tabs, the kid has obviously got more than just bags of talent, I just feel he still has a lot of development to do before he starts doing it week-in week-out.
…Hughes is a massive C*nt!
Cent @ 250
The fact that Jack is not a certain starter is one of the reasons I think Wenger might give it to him.
He’s clearly the future leader of the team (the manager has said as much), and if he’s on the bench or in the stands then who cares who has the armband? Much less pressure on the decision and takes the sting out of the issue.
And I agree with tabs that a fit and healthy Jack will generally start.
N7, he will definitely get the armband one day, but I don’t think Arsene will give it to him as soon as next season.
Some harsh words on TV5 above – major rant material if I can find the time…… 🙂
Lars @ 249
Agreed re: 100 goals.
It’s notable that, of the four players on the list, 3 of them hit their centuries in the Brazilian league.
I still have my fingers crossed for Gnabry though!
Dr Z – Ah I see the case for the Defence has arrived! 😉
Cent @264 – Fair enough and heh @265.
N7 @270 – Heh 🙂
Just ploughed through that article linked to by Canons on 3rd party ownership. One thing that I don’t understand is that given 3rd party ownership is illegal here, why did Man Utd escape scot free over Tevez when they didn’t “own” all of him? How was the situation different to when Tevez was at West Ham? Genuinely don’t understand.
Anyone?
Cent’Berry at 257.
Excellent points and I totally agree. Jack is becoming a bit of a legend. The Club needs one so badly …. But we are more direct with TR7 – A LOT more. Jack has a creative flash, but not consistent as it needs to be yet.
Oh, and I saw a Fabregas to Yanited rhumor. Surely not!
Fabregas to Utd cannot be permitted.
We have first refusal. We presumably inserted that clause into the deal to avoid PRECISELY this kind of eventuality.
Personally, I think the recent rash of Utd stories is just someone in Spain trying to drum up a bit of interest from North London.
N7, Tabs and Homer, thanks for responding, always nice to hear other people opinion on these things.
N7 knows Re Cesc.
You guys might find this interesting
http://t.co/4FLs6YjTUH
http://t.co/Hc09AofxFu
“It will come again”
Having read this excellent piece, I think “it” may come pretty soon….
http://poznaninmypants.com/2013/05/29/nearly-there-why-gary-neville-must-be-stopped-part-deux/
Ah!! Just seen that Cent beat me to it! 🙂
I typically don’t follow links posted on here. Did this time. This little gem had me institches:
“Just think of THAT horror. We would need to let loose 7,347 Neville brothers on this planet to produce a Neville brother that was not a complete cock. And even then, there is a 5% chance that the non-douche Neville turns out to still be a cock!”
tabs, I can’t remember any specifics but didn’t they have to make some sort of amendment to the ownership deal (like waving certain parts of the ownership deal and stuff) for him to be allowed to move to ManU? I seem to recall there being a bit of a kerfuffle about that before the move was completed.
N7: hopefully you are right about those ManU/Cesc stories. Him moving to ManU would break my heart, plain and simple.
Hey all!
N7, interesting thought about Per. Haven’t thought that one out much, but seems a solid leader. Sorry if this is too fantasy bound, but why aren’t we talking about luring Cesc back? Sure, Wilshere, Arteta, Ramsey, Santi… but look at what Rosicky brought to the side late in the season? I’m a bit tired of worrying about making a youngster ‘wait too long’ by not giving them any competition? Worldclass players- and championships- must add to the desire to be on the pitch, as well inspire some patience. No question Cesc is certainly the best Captain we’ve had since Viera. Maybe I’m foolish, but I can’t see why we’re simply moving on if in fact Barca and Cesc could be open to a move. Adding a striker, keeper, and defender if needed, and that’s team that could complete anywhere.
I honestly have no idea Lars. The article seems to suggest that he was not fully owned by Man Utd …
“Some examples: Tevez and Mascherano were placed into West Ham by their investment group as a way of getting them more exposure. It worked out well in both cases as Liverpool purchased Mascherano (buying out the investment group and giving them a good return) and City eventually ended up buying out Tevez – albeit via Manchester United (who never owned the entirety of his transfer rights).”
‘Scuse the spells… 😉
pik/Lars
I totally agree with you both re: Cesc.
He would improve virtually any midfield, and certainly ours.
His joining Utd would be an absolute hammer blow. Van Persie, I can tolerate, for whatever reason I never fully regarded him as one of ours, but the notion of Fabregas running games at Old Trafford in that horrendous waffle-print monstrosity of a shirt quite simply boils my piss.
He’s a stellar talent coming into what should be his best years. He belongs with the Arsenal, with the coach who made him what he is.
If you look at our league performance, the departure of Van Persie made very little difference. The departure of Cesc turned what was a team challenging on 4 fronts into a team that could barely scrape top 4. He was the heartbeat of the side and he wasn’t replaced, and still hasn’t been in my opinion.
Getting him back would be a wonderful way to announce our return as a major force and would guarantee a steady stream of assists and defence splitting passes – something we struggled with at times last season.
My prediction is he’ll probably stay where he is, so it’s a moot point. But if he’s on the market I hope to god we move for him, and I really can’t see any reason we wouldn’t.
Pik 279, RvP turned out to be a waste of time at the end BUT he was a far better captain than Cesc, IMO.
N7@282: not a word I can disagree on there. My only reservation is that he must be motivated to come back, it can’t just be a way out of Barca because that won’t work. But a committed Cesc would perhaps not make us instant challengers for trophies but it would get us a hell of a lot closer. I do understand that some are upset at him and don’t want him back but we can not really complain that we aren’t good enough and at the same time say that we don’t want a guy who is arguably the best player we could afford.
Re: Tabs @271. Was it the enormous bribes United paid?
Probably 8Ball!
N7 @282 – Very nice. I’m in the “yes please” camp. Like you though I can’t see him moving, or at least I think Barca would be mad to sell him. Can’t see Xavi figuring too much longer in the high pressing game Barca play.
It probably was, 8ball 🙂
TaBS…that was sublime, mate. Thanks.
BMBD
I’m genuinely unsurewhat to think about Cesc coming back. To me, one of the real positives of last season was that we had a team that was a team, rather than something moulded around a single individual. In previous years, opponents believed that if they could keep van Persie or Fabregas or Henry or Vieira quiet then they’d be all right, with Henry and Vieira it didn’t work because of the quality of the rest of the team. I know that we can stop that working again by increasing the general quality of the squad but I’m old-fashioned that way, and I like the idea that the opposition don’t know what to do because there is no obvious talent around whom the team is built.
That said, I’d be delighted if he came back, was truly motivated and hit the heights with us. I can’t see him going to Old Toilet – just like I couldn’t see van Persie going either.
ah, tabs beat me to that comment!
I can honestly see only one reason for Cesc to want to move – apart from Barca forcing him out which would be quite stupid on their part – and that is to be closer to his daughter in London. He hasn’t been a massive hit yet at Barca (though far from the flop some would have you believe), but Xavi is getting on a bit and reasonably Cesc should get more opportunities in his best position in the coming season.
Captaincy is really not up for discussion. Arteta is the first name on the team sheet, unless we go out and buy a complete new midfield. He enjoys the respect of his peers and unquestioning support from all factions of the crowd. No brainer. One season too late.
Cheers Lonestar. Appreciate it mate, thanks.
Oh and by the way ‘cesc is coming back’ is on the same level of likelihood as getting a wank off the pope.
Well, Esso – some of us were alter boys.
Ohhh… really bad taste there. Make that “in really bad taste.”
Right, i’ll get my hat and the door is that-a-way!
Early build-up pass
heh Esso. Agreed. Sick fantasy from some people.
Been dead to me a long long while now.
1-0 to the Boys in Green!
Pre-assist
Giroud flick…
Poldi!!!!
Well in, Cent!
I take equal amount of pleasure in making an assist as scoring (Just call me Dennis).
Nicely finished, Cent… 🙂
Some cunt equalised.
Well in Cent.
Cheers, Lars.
Catalan, thanks for the assist…Dennis.
Cheers, Ollie.
Homer @294. 🙂
Have to say I’m an “old style” badge man meself.
It just smacks of a proper old club with history to me, and I was sorry to see a much simplified modern design without our motto at a time when the plastic Chavs were coming to the fore
I also think it is not insignificant that our reluctance to SHOOOOOOT has coincided with turning the cannon round the other way. 😉
And I too would have Cesc back tomorrow. We need world class players, full stop, and the psychological effect of having him back in the team could be huge.
Sorry Esso, I know you disagree but …….
Oh, must go. Pope pestering on the phone again. 😉
Right some links to read up on.
Just a quick note on Gary Bale.
His agent is, apparently, one Jonathon Barnett who was, of course, instrumental in moving Cashley out of Arsenal to Chel$ki.
Gary would, it seems, be “honoured” to be approached by Real Madrid.
Sit back and enjoy ‘holics. 😉
To be fair to the cannon side, it also used to be the other way in very old times. They were even shooting upwards in very very old days, weren’t they?
In a funny way, I might be Ok with Cesc later in his career. At the curren time? No.
He’d been hankering back for Barça after a couple of good seasons.
Frankly, let’s be honest, he only has to bide his time one or two more seasons and he’ll be a star there.
He quite possibly moved too early, but that’s his fucking problem.
re: Barnett: yeah, I noticed that earlier, made me laugh.
Saw a couple of decent jokes related to that on Twatter 🙂
N7 on Cesc –
“He’s a stellar talent coming into what should be his best years. He belongs with the Arsenal, with the coach who made him what he is.”
Here, here, sir !
Do tell, Ollie.
We can always do with more jokes. 😉
forgotten already, but they involved swerving, tyres and swings.
‘the coach who made him what he is’
This omits the ‘…and who he walked out on’ I’m afraid.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151682782287464&set=a.10150274305022464.376923.639322463&type=1&relevant_count=1&ref=nf
Oh, forget @314. Sorry Holic, could you delete please.
It was a photo of a pint of Guinness – in case anyone’s forgotten what it looks like – from Snir’s Fbook. Seems to no longer be available. 🙁
Hey cba,
I say “good day”
Just driven back from Devon.
It only pissed down
Half the day,
You’d think it’s bloody heaven. 😉
I think Poldi scored the fastest goal ever tonight, scored after six (6) seconds!
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=4v3cUoAqEUM you can watch it through the link above.
So is Poldi not injured after all ?
He actually got two goals and assisted one.
Re TV 5 and Sagna I think we ought to remember the impact that serious injuries can have. I don’t think either player is anywhere near the level they were originally when they joined Arsenal. TV 5 missed a complete season and Sagna broke his leg twice. I was very impressed with Vermaelen’s attitude at the end of the season and reiterated today. He showed great professionalism and maturity when a petulant reaction( can you imagine Gallas similarly? ) could have undermined morale dreadfully.I personally think Kos and BFG are far and away our best pair at centre back and have thought so since the 1-1 draw at Citeh when they were both sublime. I think Vermaelen could be converted into a defensive midfielder in the way that Petit was but he may not feel this helps him in international terms. Sagna played his best game for us last season at centre back at Sunderland where his relative lack of mobility ( compared with his pre- injury situation) was not so evident and his bravery and reading of the game was. I’m a big fan of Sagna and think his attitude has always been good but it may be time to move him on with the Corporal coming through.
As for Gallas I believe him to be about the most odious player ever to wear an Arsenal shirt. Mourinho revealed if he did not get a move he threatened to score an own goal against Chelsea and I can believe it. His display at Birmingham was beneath contempt and had huge impact on that season although that team with Adebaywhore,Bendtner and Gallas was an accident waiting to happen with enmity all over the dressing room.I’m glad he went to the swamp because I could detest him with the ferocity he deserved.
May cut off Trev again here 😉 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Fabulous story tabs, with all ingredients of a good narration. Thanks.
Anyone else noted Seamus Coleman performance this evening? He has all what we need to challenge the Corporal in case Sagna leaves this summer, me thinks. Young, fast, decent cross, can dribble opponent, lacks experience in defense sometimes but recovers well. Only problem is that he may just signed a new long deal with Everton, as far as I remember.
I’m as confused as you, Trev.
It may be tempting to be able to recoup their money. Get your inquiries addressed
before choosing a consolidate my debt company. Consolidate My Debt are
one of the best of all the loans which you borrowed to
continue your higher education? Stafford loans
can be offered at a lower interest rate, though that rate is too high to continue
payments.
Feel free to surf to my blog post transformers the movie