Wigan Apply Kiss Of Life To Dying Tradition
May 11th, 2013 by 'holic
And so Cup Final morning came and the horror of the place it has taken on the calendar became all too real. Nobody captured the whole shambles better than Yogi’s Warrior on ACLF. Distraction was provided by Chelsea’s visit to Villa Park at lunchtime, so much more important to supporters of three London clubs. What was the late kick-off all about? I know it is great for people on the East Coast of the United States to get to watch the game live at lunchtime, but for supporters of the clubs involved the option of a day return on the trains was rendered impossible.
The build up, such as it was, took the cringeworthiness of the pre-match ‘entertainment’ to a new low. From the close up shot of some diva’s left breast, through the torture of an alternative operatic rendition of Abide With Me, to the signs proudly proclaiming the association with Budweiser. The Football Association’s flagship competition was holed below the waterline. We waited for oil money to provide the last rites and an entirely predictable return on a billion pound investment.
Someone forgot to tell Wigan Athletic. They became the second club in my lifetime to rise from non-league to lift the famous old trophy at Wembley, and thoroughly deserving of the triumph they were. They worked harder than their illustrious opponents and were rewarded with a flying header from a set piece, just like Wimbledon twenty-five years before them. In ninety unmissable minutes they single-handedly saved the most famous cup competition in football from total ignominy.
The post-mortem started immediately with Roy Keane sharing with us his view that City lost today as a result of under-investment in the team. Really. He said it. There are a billion reasons why that is an incredible summary. Wigan Athletic’s team is reported to have cost eleven million pounds. Let that sink in for a moment. It will be used, and not without some basis in reason, when I and others express a desire for Arsenal to devote more of their undoubted financial clout to strengthening the squad. We should still do that, but today City gave the clearest example yet of why spending an arm and a leg doesn’t guarantee you anything in football.
That was not the only lesson to be learned from the day, for at the end of the Cup Final the winners should be able to chuck copious amounts of alcohol down their necks before jumping on an open top bus ride through their home town. They should then head off to the beaches of the world to bask in the glory of being FA Cup holders. This should have been a remarkable finale to an unremarkable season, but no. Now they have to get over their euphoria and get their professional heads on again to fight for their Premier League status in two final matches in a week.
That we have to beat them to keep Champions League football next season in our own hands is not lost on any of us. If we do what we have to then Wigan face the ultimate last day of the season heartbreak. To get relegated and then win the Cup Final makes for a decent summer. To do it the other way round because the FA sold their soul would be incredibly sad.
So well done Wigan. At least the fans (where did they all appear from!) can celebrate long into the night, and probably a good chunk of Sunday as well. Thank you for salvaging something of the magic of the Cup, if all too briefly. Without wishing to be unkind I hope you have lost that sparkle on Wednesday morning, having been condemned to last day torture. Don’t blame me for thinking that way. Blame the governing body of our game for slaughtering their own golden goose.
Not Only, But Also…
InΒ town on Monday night? Want a really good laugh or several? Then get yourself to the Comedy Store for another great evening in aid of the Homeless FA. All the details are here. Now, all together after me…
Balls to homelessness.
Android?
Big thanks again to Arthur who has updated his brilliant Goonerholic android app. Click on the android logo in the sidebar for the link.
Still he has received not a drop of Guinness for his work. I will have to do something about that the next time we play in Reading.
What?
Oh…
262 Responses to “Wigan Apply Kiss Of Life To Dying Tradition”
Too right ‘holiday a great competition has been rendered a postscript to the season by TV scheduling and coverage that plumbs the depths
I of course meant ‘Holic. It’s so sad to look back on what a marvellous day it used to be. Though Wigan fans might not agree!
It’s a trophy……
I heard the Keane comment. I must admit I saw it as a monster piss take from a United man. I thought he was twisting the knife and saying exactly what you have said Holic. That money guarantees you nothing. It has to be in the right hands.
I posted this in the last round of drinks. Thought it was worth an airing…..
I have just been out and had the radio on in the car. Citeh fans on the radio moaning and whinging. Not an ounce of humility. All moaning about the strength of their squad and how they need to spend. βWe need to buy Cavani, Bale and Wilshire.β What an arrogant bunch of tossers. Deluded ignorant twats.
Spot on Bath. The victors today were the proper football club. The spoilt brats have been sent packing.
Well said ‘holic. I spent much of last week wondering why the Cup Final was happening on the same weekend as a full League programme (or what would have been, without the postponements of the finalists games). Then I spent most of the morning wondering why I wasn’t in the least excited about said Cup Final. Then Wigan pissed on the FA’s evil plan by actually making a game of it – more than that they stuffed it up the oily blue mooners. Didn’t the FA try this a few years back before going back to the proper order of things by playing the Final the weekend after the end of the season?
I’ll be sorry if Wigan lose on Tuesday and go down because of it; Martinez seems to be a decent bloke who sends his teams out to play the game “The Right Way”. I hope Wigan manage to hang on to him.
That said, I hope Wigan go down big stylee on Tuesday night. If QPR can get their act together tomorrow then we can put right the damage by dealing out similar treatment to Newcastle United next weekend.
Come On Arsenal. Two more matches, two more wins and we’re there.
Keep the faith guys and gals; we’re almost there.
U p t h e A r s e n a l
Bloody wordpress(?) I meant to put in three spaces between ‘p’ & ‘t’ and between ‘e’ and ‘A’. Lets try again:
UP THE ARSENAL
I might already have mentioned this in the last round of drinks as well, but I believe our best weapon at this point in time is to ditch the lasagna and just send Wigan Lars’ credit card.
“Lads, lasses and village idiots”. Haha, that was a good one Holic. Well played.
Oxon, I believe it was moved at the behest of UEFA who require the stadium to have been unused for a set time before hosting the Champions League Final.
The FA should stand up for their own competition and say bollocks. Our Cup Final is on the last Saturday of the English season at 3pm, and you parasites can have the stadium a week later.
Bollocks to Platini.
I’m a Spurs man all the way but I have to agree with your very well written article. Yes of course wigan should be in holidaY mode now instead of scrapping for survival. It’s us-the fans-and the splendid players that Wigan had out today that make the game. It’s the administrators with their civil servant attitude that doo their best to spoil it.
Your fans are pretty reasonable all in all so I hope you give Wigan a good round of applause on Tuesday, but sorry i’ll be praying you lose
Hey Holic and holics. FA cup not broadcasted Live on all channels I have. If if it had been, would have missed it cause I work this weekend. Delighted Wigan won. Arthur, if I have get a cell, will be sure to check out your app ;). I have been leary of Wigan, and for good reason. We will have to put pressure on them non stop, to win. Toby, last set of drinks, your comment about money, spot on. And non union labour. That’s why I made no comments about Puma becoming our sponsor. If you google any of them, and ask the right questions, you won’t like the answers. Hopefully, somethink can be done about sweat shops. I’m a realist and know if you look close enough at just about anything, you will be let down.
Nice post ‘h.
Toby, Lars’ wallet is too big to be ‘sent’ just tell all the pubs in Britain to put every drop of beer, sent down a Wigan throat, on Lars’ tab.
Well done to Wigan but I’m not too sympathetic with regards to their relegation. They have had plenty of seasons to shore up their squad. I say applaud them before the match and then stuff them back where they belong. The Championship.
Fine review Holic. Divine justice. Football won thus afternoon, evening.
Like Steve, I think Keane was taking the piss.
Thanks al.
We will of course give Wigan a guard of honour on Tuesday night. Seems we have to do that at every home game now π
Goonerholic – as per usual it’s the FA’s own fault. They spent far too much money on Wembley so they now need to exploit it as much as possible to get that money back. So they grasp the offer of two CL finals in three years (with all the awkwardness that causes to the fixture list) and they ludicrously hold all the FA Cup semi-finals there etc.
Anyway, what the increasingly predictable FA Cup desperately needed was a shock victory in the final. If Man City had won today they and Chelsea would have carved up six of the last seven finals (a depressing thought if there ever was one). So well done Wigan – especially for making Man City look stupid.
Steve Kean definitely took the piss at Blackburn
Me coat Sir.
Abb, I know. And I mean, most hunky dory english owners of football clubs or sponsors have made loads of money from kicking downwards as well, so this is not me living in rosy rosy land. I know how much crap there is in this world. All I am saying, and what I believe you are saying, is that we can just try to stay away from it as much as possible. Football is supposed to be a distraction from the wrongs in the world, and not a playground for people benefiting from them. Football is amongst the most important things in my life. And that is why silverware at any cost, isn’t.
“Iβll be sorry if Wigan lose on Tuesday and go down because of it; Martinez seems to be a decent bloke who sends his teams out to play the game βThe Right Wayβ.”
Lets not get all teary eyed here and maintain some historical perspective. Wigan have come to the Arsenal any number of times and frankly wasted time from the 20 th minute, engaged in falling over and rolling around only to have Lazarus like recoveries when they have had goals scored against them in the last ten, inspiring the keeper into a hitherto impossible action of taking goal kicks from the side the ball went out and generally being able to recover from tackles almost immediately.
Lets congratulate them for winning the cup. But lets not engage in sentimentally tainted revision of just what they’ve brought to our matches serially over the last few years. We have to beat them. If they go, the league will be none the poorer.
Clockendrider knows.
toby
thanks for the love
its heartfelt i know
it’s not often i get it
and
lets face it
not from someone called toby
thankfully its on t’interwebs
cos
bein shown someone called toby
would cause my old timbers to creak
in person
or
indeed
out of hours
praise the lord and pass the ammunition
Actually I am a little confused now. I remember there was that thing two years ago about Wembley not being used for two weeks before the CL final or something, but this year there’s two playoff finals next weekend, just a week before the CL final. So have they scrapped that rule? Either way, will be interested to see what the FA does next season, the World Cup means the season has to end early, but will they try to juggle the schedule so they move the FA Cup final back to after the end of the season? Guess we’ll find out next month when they do the fixture list.
And have drink on me Al Granville. I consider myself a mostly non-hateful and understanding supporter, and even if I consider Arsenal to be the greatest creation known to man, I most of the time can appreciate both good football from other teams and also good values from said instances. Having that said, I have a hard time not being a bit spiteful against Spurs at the business end of the season, especially a year such as this with such a close race. So hearing you being able to walk right into ‘Holics bar and be so polite and well spoken really warms my heart. I wish you two losses, of course, but right now I do it in the nicest way possible. Always have time for rival supporters such as you!
Toby, well said ( as usual ). Nite everyone.
Charlie,
Of course it could just be the FA making rules up on the hoof and the lazy media being led by the nose and too supine to ask the questions you and I would.
Who’d have thought it……
‘Night Nursie.
Nite Cent. Plz be careful on your walks at nite! (Twitter) π
isn’t nice great
no
nice is nice
great is great
No problems Nursie, God’s got my back!
Clockendrider,
Bang on. Martinez is a decent man and probably over achieves given the size of his club, but some of their tactics at The Grove have been a disgrace. Their spinning of ‘that’ tackle on Newcastle bloke the other week wasn’t too clever either.
But well done to them today – you cannot deny their spirit.
Holic,
Good write up and states well what a sideshow the FA have allowed a once national institution to be reduced to.
Whoever you supported, Cup Final day used to be an entire day in front of the telly if you weren’t actually at Wembley, which of course,
al granville, we usually were π
I was enjoying the main post until –
“Were rewarded with a flying header from a set piece”
No sleep tonight then………
Cheers. π
Toby,
cba’s love comes mostly in the form of friendly nibbles from
Atlantic cows and dogs.
Don’t toy with the poor fellow’s human emotions ……
Oi vay,
Robbie Savage on MoTD ‘explaining’ why players deserve red and yellow cards. π
Clockender – fair comment. I didn’t say there was anything rational about my generally favourable attitude towards Martinez and Wigan.
Actually though, if Wigan want to come to Ashburton Grove and “park the bus” I say good luck to them; we should be good enough to break them down anyway. (Well, that’s what I say some time after the event.)
We don’t tend to get all high-and-mighty when teams go to Old Toilet, or the Bus Stop or The Cottonopolis Municipal Stadium, get ten men behind the ball and win after a lucky breakaway. I’ve supported Arsenal for long enough to remember times when that was the only way we could manage a win against the leading clubs.
I would be sorry to see Wigan go down; I’ve got nothing against them. I’m sorry to see Reading go down, probably mainly because they are my nearest team. I’m delighted to see any team managed by Harry Redknapp getting relegated but otherwise I have nothing against QPR. I’d like to see the back of Stoke, but I’m a forgiving sort and if they shipped out Shawcross and gave Pulis the heave ho, I’d be happy to think of them once more in terms of Gordon Banks and George Eastham, and of course a couple of Cup Semi-final wins in the early seventies and even tonking us 5-0 in the first double season.
Finally, I’ll come out of the closet and say publicly that I’m happier to have Tottnum in the premier league than out of it – my perfect season includes them avoiding relegation by the skin of their teeth on the last day of the season. There’s nothing sinister about this, it’s just that I prefer to stuff them twice a season in the League rather than once-in-a-blue-moon in a Cup competition.
Sorry all, this has turned into a longer ramble than I intended. It’s getting late – I’m off – night all.
COYG
Oxon,
I’ll join you out of the closet and say that I’d rather have the Spuds in the Premier League than out of it.
As you say, stuffing them twice a season is fun, as would be watching them barely avoiding relegation. But removing them from the division would take all the fun out of the rivalry.
Supporting Stoke tomorrow is going to be very uncomfortable. A victory for them will knacker the Spuds, but also guarantee them safety – if that hasn’t already happened.
I honestly ‘can’t be arsed’ to look. π
The menu for tomorrow:
Stoke the fires, roast the Spuds, raise a Newcastle brown, and pray for our just desserts on Tuesday night.
That’s the game flan, er plan.
Talking of menu, Trev, at kick-off time we are heading down to Marlborough to buy some proper beef for our Sunday roast.
Watching the two biggest clutches of cnuts on God’s earth playing each other is just not an option…
…and I endorse the sentiment that ‘rider knows.
Chuffed for Wigan today, but the pie-munchers have no place in the top flight.
From memory they only brought 600 supporters to our place last season.
Well done today, now do one…
Trev, we don’t have to support Stoke tomorrow, we just have to will Tottnum lose, look at it that way and you will feel better.
Holic,
“Well done today, now do one”. π π
Actually Cent, Holic’s right.
Two hours of my life is too much to give up to watch the Orcs kicking the Divers.
Swim and steam for me.
Great article and messages. I hope Wigan’s success is celebrated in the press as it deserves. Not just one day but it would be good to get some momentum behind what was possibly the second most watched annual football game.
Personally I was up to 3am watching it from 12000 miles away and I loved every second (I am sure I am not in a club of one).
I was hoping for extra time and penalties going ad infinitum before Wigan finally hoofed two over the top to give Manshitty an undeserved win … and setting Wigan up nicely for Tuesday … but heyho. We’ll just have to do what we should do and do them comprehensively with our far better team.
And if they play 3/4/3 as they did today it should play right into our wingers hands (feet?), providing Theo has one of his better ones.
Whatever, there’s always an anti-climax after a major high, so I’m not expecting much resistance.
I like the look of McManaman. Not sure we need another winger, but he’s got class. Benteke is a bit of a curate’s egg and I think we could do better. He has the look of Adabarndoor about him and would be better placed screwing up at the Spuds.
Oskar
Holic you are so right that it was an unmissable 90 minutes. David slaying Goliath and all credit to the Wigan players and Roberto Martinez. The moment the winning header flew into the top corner of the net was unforgettable for a long suffering group of supporters who can enjoy this victory for the rest of their lives.
Hey,
I had said yhis long time back here, that we will get James McCarthy from Wigan this summer and by the time we will get him he’ll already be FA Cup winner. So, I am really glad they won today. And they just didn’t win it but won it in style. Awesome awesome game that was. So now, lets give them a guard of honor and send them right back to championship. Then get James McCarthy from them and send Hector Bellerin, Tomas Eisfeld, Serge Gnabry and Andre Santos to Wigan and help them get straight back up.
P.S. Does Ryo get an F.A.Cup medal?
That’s when I realise I posted on the wrong drinks last night.
*boilk*
“Well done, no do one”. Nothing much to argue with there. We just have to beat them on Tuesday and I’ll be bitterly disappointed if we don’t. Sure, they beat us at home last season and they beat City yesterday but we have a much better team than they do. Cliched as it may be it is all up to us to get the job done, it really is as simple as that in my eyes. They are 18th for a reason after all.
I echo multiple sentiments above.
Cast your mind back to their 1-0 win at the Ems last season. The first game I went to that Arsenal lost (that makes something like 4 wins and 1 loss).
And yes, their timewasting was absolutely pathetic, the minute after their goal went in they pulled out every little cheat’s trick in the book. Much like those c*nts Hull City, who once scored in the 5th minute against us and from the 6th to the 90th their keeper was moving through treacle.
So, er “well done, now do one” – how very succinct! Thanks for showing up the oilers, hope we absolutely stuff you on Tuesday.
I’ll have the half century then.
G’morning ‘holics.
*Applauds lucky charm ‘holic *
You were right about the shirts, Ollie.
face washed
feet combed
time to greet the day
morning all
have a goodun
tell ’em i sent ye
Morning All
Congratulations Wigan, you deserved your Wembley moment.
Our performances of late (Fulham/QPR), give me little confidence for Tuesday night. I for one will need to fortify myself with more than a drop of the amber nectar to last out the 90mins.
We need to stamp our authority on the game from the off and not let them into the game. The lack of fire power in front of goal is a worry and please let the two players who attack defences have more than 10mins on the park. We cannot fail,Thursday/Sunday/Monday football is unthinkable!
As always COYRs
Absolutely spot on ‘holic.
What a load of crap the anthem and abide with me were
Wigan though were terrific and thoroughly deserved their win.
The FA Cup could still be a top class event if only the FA gave their own trophy the respect it still deserves.
Credit to Dave Whelan and Martinez.
Morning all.
Devil, I actually remember you said that. Not that I see us moving for James McCarthy though.
Gin. I’ve had.
Could everyone please talk in lower case letters?
Morning all,
So, according to today’s Telegraph, Emmanuel Adebayor wants to “kill” Arsenal and then HE will decide his future.
When I saw that my first reaction was to try to think of something witty and, at the same time, highly demeaning to the Togolese Tornado – well, maybe for 10 minutes every four years.
Then I decided I couldn’t possibly better the idiot’s own efforts.
Classless, ignorant prick.
Guess that will have to do then.
Morning cba. π
Feet combed ?
Oh yeah, it’s Sunday.
I’m still to see anything from the game. Been scouring the channels but nothing so far. Possibly on Canal+ tonight before the Lyon vs Qatar game
thought clichy was much improved now that he is a champion. Ha Ha.
enjoyed his clueless performance yesterday.
i remember reading about their pre season preparation in the alps or something. and how they managed to get the village to stop their early morning bell chimes so that the players sleep would not get disturbed.
hate what football has become these days.
DB10, if that is true about the bell chimes then it is absolutely ridiculous.
You would have to be dead inside not to get any joy or pleasure out of that Cup win yesterday.
We have been on the wrong end of more than our fair share of “upsets” over the years, so it was most pleasant seeing it happen to the sand-puppets.
So much for not watching football yesterday – I had so much guinness during and afterwards that I now feel dead inside…… π
I’m with you zico! And we watched some of your countrymen with gloves after the game.
Was entertaining.
Great goal there by Vydra (somewhere Eandy is dancing)
@Cent, thanks.
Btw, can anyone confirm or deny on Ryo getting FA Cup winner’s medal?
@ Ollie, Saw that one. I hope if one good manager goes down(Roberto) another comes in Zola. Even though, he played for Chelsea, I’ve always been a big big fan of his. Absolutely wonderful player and a very good person. And I am looking forward to seeing Almunia in PL once again.
Get in 1 nil to the Orc army
Come on.
Would have much preferred Stoke to take the lead with the last kick of the game so Totnum wouldn’t have the chance to score after that but beggars can’t be choosers so not going to complain. Not going to watch the first half either, will wathc Watford-Leicester to the end first…
Adebayor is really killing us out there.
God, I should not jinx it as Lars did yesterday…
What did I do to jinx anything? I never said I though Villa would win it.
It’s ok Toby, we knew it was going to happen. But Stoke looks lively, who knows … π
Nice goal by Vydra for Watford to level things on aggregate.
You were adamant you wouldn’t jinx it, which in itself is a jinx. It was a double jinx. A jinx within a jinx. But we forgive you. We are all friends here.
Seriously, I’m as… non-fond… of Stoke and their fans as the next Gooner, but I must say at least they are making good noise today.
Charlie Adams had a very decent looking (stylish) tackle awhile ago. Very nice.
Almunia saves a penalty in the 97th minute and in the next attack Watford make it 3-2 on aggregate – there are fans all over the pitch but the game isn’t over yet!
Fantastic double penalty save in the dying seconds, Watford go up the other end and win it.
That was the best finish to a game ever. At least one Almunia has played in. I am so fucking happy I saw that.
I mean, sure, it wasn’t Anfield ’89, but, 97th minute, double save from a penalty, ball doesn’t go out of play, Almunia doesn’t even get it under control. Instead a counter attack and a great goal. Exciting stuff.
Actually, the one thing Almunia was always good at when he played for is was penalties. He saved quite a few in his day, most memorably the one from Robbie Keane in 2007 in that game that Bendnter later won us when he headed home that corner after having been on the pitch for just a few seconds.
And now Abb?
Charlie Adam sent off? Well, not going to watch the rest of the game then. No point in watching Totnum get the winner.
Hey NorCal ! Feel sorry for Charlie, he was working his socks off. No malice in his tackles.
Mancini sacked
I’m with Lars. You can feel the goal coming. Can’t be arsed to watch it. Or is he? *drumroll*
zico, quelle surprise!
I made a big mistake earlier: seeing the 92nd minutes and things level on aggregate, I thought I’d watch the end of the Grand Prix and switch back for extra time later.
D’oh!
So with new captains at the helm of Manu and Citeh, Arsenal will be at an advantage. That’s the way I see it. And of course Chelsea with you know who. Kinda looking forward to that, in a wicked sort of way π
Abb, I think the new manager effect can work both ways, of course I hope it works out the wrong way for all of them.
Yes Cent, quite right. Chelsea quite used to it by now, too. Still think it could be beneficial for us. Depending on how our summer goes, of course. And where we finish!
Agreed
Cba, are you lurking?
I FUCKING HATE STOKE!!
And there it goes. Gonna need to win both our games.
Hey ABB. hope things are well with you.
Well NorCal, untill Ade scored, was feeling pretty chippy. Now just resigned.
Ars-ist……..
Fuck Stoke
I hope Mrs Wigan is still hungover on Tuesday.
Unfortunately, it was coming. Stoke we’re barely holding on. They are very poor and even I could get a few dribbles in against them.
hangover or not we must beat Wigan!
Well, technically, we could lose to Wigan as long as we win against Newcastle and Spurs draw against Sunderland. But, yeah. We’ve got to win against Wigan.
And oh, quite happy with my finish for the goal, btw.
Hope as many of you holics can join us at this here watering hole on Tuesday! Best bar in cyberspace π Time for a nap and thanks for such good company (mean that, you know).
No surprise in Stoke, we still need to win our 2 games.
Let me guess, Stoke conceded a late goal?
We know the job we’ve got to do. It’s in our hands. Just do it. Cannot rely on other cunts. End of.
Well in Toby.
Always assumed we had to win our last two so not really surprised, but that both Stoke and Villa contrived to have a player sent off annoys me. Then again they may not have held on regardless, so I really shouldn’t let that bother me either.
Just win our last two games and break the hearts of those fucking cunts. What greater motivation can there be?
GO WIN, ARSENAL.
Not surprised either. We need to come out strong. Wigan will come out with emotion but will tire if we take the game to them.
Well in Toby!
bath@112 and NorCal@113 knows.
Has City appointed Pellegrini already?
If Newcastle hold on today then they will be safe after we relegate Wigan on Tuesday.
A drink on the bar for all you mothers out there.
just wanna say
stoke so fuckingdissapointing and spud get that bloooooodythree point
uh really hate when i give a shit, or much like begging another team to help us. this is so delusion.
oh better team for next season please be come trueβ¦
make my bettersleepβ¦
pleaaaseee be comeee trueee
CYOG!
six fuckingpoint is a must!
*sigh
Norcal knows @117
Actually, NorCal, Newcastle are safe if they win today. Aston Villa play Wigan in the last game and a win for NUFC will take them to 41 points, i.e. above both Wigan and Villa.
In fact, as things stand at the moment the only two teams that can still be relegated are Wigan and Villa. All the others are safe, Southampton have a much better goal difference than Villa so a draw will take them too above both Wigan and Villa with one game to play. They can still finish below Wigan but that would mean that Villa were still below Southampton. Well, in theory they could go down on goal difference but that would require Southampton to lose by more than at least 12 goals. The same goes for Southampton, so I guess a bet on 0-0 in that game wouldn’t return very much money…
“The same goes for Sunderland“, of course…
Just switched over to Sunderland-Southampton, it seems none of them have done the maths becuase they both seem to be chasing a goal. A rather stupid thing to do, I must say. Well, unless they expect to lose the final game by 12+ goals of course.
It seem I am talking to myself in here π
That’s all well and good, perhaps, seeing as I left out an “s” in “seems”.
OK, I’ll shut up now!
Lars, Thanks for that explanation.
I’m with ya Lars. Cheers.
Wigan and villa last day. Wow. Serious pressure. I actually would have loved to see several teams relegated before those two.
Arsenal till I die
Yep, disappointing that one of two footballing sides (Villa only this season since the O’Neill long ball era) will have to go down while some less entertaining sides stay up. Pity the Orcs are safe.
Talk about congestion. One goal and Sunderland move from 16th to 11th.
Results not looking good for Wigan. We will put them out of their misery soon.
Jaysus, just seen the Spuds goals. Shocking defending. Match must have been fixed surely π
Southampton equalise, making both teams safe again. It seems they haven’t done their maths at the Stadium of Light because both teams appear to belive that they have to win it to be secure. Unbelievably poor management on both parts there.
Nice one ‘holic.
I read the post at around 6 o clock this morning on my way back from The Hague (BOOOOOOOIIIIIILLLKKKKKK) on my android, thanx Arthur!!!
Couldn’t agree more on the devaluation of a once proud instatution, I can honestly say that I had no idea that it was on Saturday, it simply passed me by. If I was being completly cynical I might even say that ol’ purplenose made his retirement statement just to steal a bit of Man Citehs thunder in the build up to the final, but here there was absolutly no coverage at all so it wouldn’t have really mattered.
Congratulations to Wigan, enjoy it, but Tuesday you’re going down!
Whoa, the Newcastle keeper sent off – and Krul is injured so we will, for the second season running, be playing the third-choice keeper in our last game. What are the odds of that? π
Good news Lars. A wee break that I think, as long as Krul can’t be rushed back.
…that is, of course, assuming Krul doesn’t make a miraculous comeback.
And we will be playing *against* a third-choice keeper, of course.
It is I who shall don the cap of stupidity. Sunderland are on 38 points before today, not 39 so they are NOT safe at 1-1.
They are if our lads do their fucking job.
Lars,
I’m not sure a draw keeps Sunderland safe. They would be below villa and only 4 points above Wigan. Wigan wins both and Sunderland lose to sp*rs and they are down, right?
But we are going to beat Wigan!
Game over at the Stadium of Light. Southampton are realistically safe.
30 seconds to go at Loftus Road…
NorCal, see my drink@138 π
Newcastle won it, so they are safe too.
Lars, I think you mean your drink at 137.
Heh to Ollie and Lars. π
Only fair that we should meet a third choice keeper, I believe we used ours for quite a few games.
I’ve seen most of the last two games that Sunderland have played and there is NO WAY that they can get someting from Totnum in the last game. They are awful. Absoutely, dreadfully awful. They flickered briefly at St James’ Park but other than that they have, if anything, become worse since Di Canio took over.
Well it’s shit or bust for both teams on Tuesday.
Wigans poor goal difference means anything other than a win and they are down.
Anything other than a win for the home team and its out of our hands.
Two cup finals.
Arseholes gonna be 5p/50p for next 180mins.
Lets fooking ‘ave it!
Ollie: yes, depending on when this is I mean 137 π
NorCal: good point, hadn’t thought about that. We played Mannone for something like eight league games I think. Cost us valueable points too, the two he cost us v Fulham and the one v Norich away would have been rather handy at this point…
NB1: the pressure on Wigan will be enormous. This is a situation that they have never really been in, they have been the plucky underdogs and all of their “great escapes” have never included games where it was win or bust.
It could be a really, really nervy affair. I confess to bricking it just by thinking about it.
Hesitate to mention this but I turned the Orcs vs Divers on at 72 minutes, 1-1.
Thought “come on Stoke” – rushed out to throw up, and then thought “I can’t stand 20 minutes of this just to watch Tottnum win at the death”.
“Why are you so agitated?” asked Mrs Trev, who pretended to listen as I explained what a complete and utter tosser that Adebayor idiot is, and, I said,
“Even the Spuds fans all hate him ‘cos he’s so lazy and useless – so he’s bound to go and score the winner for them …….. “.
Well, cheers Lars, Ollie. Clearly whatever jinx bug you had was contagious. π
Lars,
I have a nasty feeling that Tuesday night will become ultra tense due to our notorious handbrake.
I could well imagine instructions being to pass the ball around and run the legs out of Wigan before we try to win it in the last 30 minutes.
I think I might stay at home ……….
A positive thought and then I’m off to spend the day with mothers.
When we win both our games and Everton give Moyes a parting performance, third is ours. Cheers all.
Oooh Trev π Don’t do it again.
Trev: “I could well imagine instructions being to pass the ball around and run the legs out of Wigan before we try to win it in the last 30 minutes.”
Me too. But whatever we do it will be a nervy affair. Though I think I might have said that already π
But seriously, we couldn’t really have asked for more than this. Our last two games sees us face first a team that has to attack (i.e. no parked bus) and then in the last one we will face a third-choice goalie playing for a team with nothing to play for and a reportedly very fractioned dressing room.
Yes, it’s a massive cliche but if we don’t get six points from these games we really don’t have anyone to blame but ourselves.
Doesn’t happen often, but I agree with Lars @ 153
Wow, Evian’s 4th goal. The guy scored from his own half.
And this confirms Brest going down.
Yes no more Nice-Brest next season.
Lars, a good point. Wigan don’t have the luxury of being able to play their normal brand of bus-parking, slow-motion-throw-in crappy football, they need goals. Could well be a thrashing.
Trev, you dare not stay at home, you’re going to that game and you’re taking that 9-year-old Angel of yours along.
Ollie, that must have been some goal, was Almunia in goal for their opponents? Oh, well…
Trev @ 149
This is not a time for faint hearts.
Dutch courage on sale at The Tollington – no half-measures! π
We were always going to need to win all our games, results elsewhere change absolutly nothing, the Sp*ds are still LWC’s and Stoke are still clubfooted mongtards.
Wigan are going to have to come at us and with our new found defensive fortitude that should suit us fine, keep our heads, play our game and we will doom them to the drop. It’s going to be nervy, not becauseI have any real fear of Wigan, it’s just that this Arsenal doesn’t do easy, nervy is our forte, but we get there in the end.
Van Pussy truly is an unscrupulous little twunt.
I hope we win the title next season for no other reason than to wipe that stupid grin off his boat race.
Dickhead.
Cen’t, don’t diss Almunia, his penalty save led to Watford qualifying for the play-off final.
Ok, just seen Vydras goal from todays game and now thats some technique you have to have to pull this thing off, awesome.
Ollie 162, I know he did, mate, that’s why I used him for the joke
Lovely picture of Koscielny celebrating a goal for Lorient, as a background to St Etienne coach after their defeat there.
They really have taste in that club.
Heh Ollie, the world would become a sad place if we coudn’t find a time to diss Almunia. π
Heh
Am I correct in thinking that today’s results mean that, realistically, Wigan now need to beat us to have a hope of staying up?
I know the mackems are four points ahead, but their goal difference is far better.
My big fear on Tuesday night was scores level in the final ten and Wigan defending in numbers. Much better if it’s going to be a scrap, as I fancy our defence over theirs.
Orcs result not a huge shock after they went down to ten. Fuck it – we’ll have to do the job ourselves.
Here’s my forecast: win in midweek and we’ll finish top four. Drop points and I don’t see us getting yet another final chance.
Huge game in the offing. We’ve had more rest, we’re at home and we’re a better team. Get the crowd right behind the lads, no faint hearts and let’s drive a stake through those LWC hearts.
COYG
Just seen the Bordeaux vs Nancy goals, ‘holic.
Oh dear, Carrasso for Nancy’s first…
N7, mathmatically seen, Wigan could draw with us and still stay up, but they’d need to win their last game by a ridiculous margin, realisticaly anything less the three points and they’re doomed.
Villa and above are all safe.
It’s a bit of a catch 22, we beat Wigan, relegating them, meaning Sunderland have nothing to play for on the last day against the undesirables, Wigan get a result, means that Sunderland have to go full out against Spertz but it’s not in our own hands.
I prefer the first scenario ofcourse. Fuck what the rest are doing and do what we have to do.
Stakes, hearts, scraps on Tuesday night ….
Am I going to a football match or the local butchers ?
Yes Cent, of course I’ll be there.
Have rearranged some work zico – should be at The Tollie by 6.00 – and NO half measures ! π
Totally agree H2H.
And Newcastle are safe either way, so there’s no reason for their players not to spend the next seven days fighting amongst themselves.
Really looking forward to Tuesday night. Hopefully the whole place will be rocking – we have to see this as a massive opportunity to stick one right up the neighbours.
Trev @ 171
Just don’t tell me you have an offal feeling about the Wigan game.
No offal feelings here N7.
Wigan will not save their bacon at The Grove. We’ll roast ’em and stick one up those Lily Livered WCs.
You should have realised that as a man who knows his onions. π
That’s certainly not tripe, Trev.
We dare not fail, H2H.
The steaks are too high.
Your turn N7 – chop, chop.
So, hang out here for the punfest or watch PSG? Sure, they could win the league tonight, but I’m still not sure it will be that intestine.
Nah, I’ll watch the game. The quality of the puns haven’t exactly been spleendid as of yet.
The speed of this punning is never fast enough, however brisket seems. π
You lunging for more then, eh, Trev?
I believe I should get extra points for entering, me not being a native speaker. I know quite a bit, but I’m no auricle!
Not to worry Toby – aorta be going anyway. π
OK, what are we on meat or bodyparts?
Now, that’s a question you wouldn’t usualy dream of asking…..
Unless to enquire what Suarez was chewing on. π
Bah – nipped out of the bar for a minute and missed a pun flurry.
Not bad so far, though I veal we could do better.
Don’t know H2H, go with your gut feeling.
And heh.
As much as our defence has been carrying us over the past few weeks – if we start slowly on Tuesday we will be playing into Wigans hands. Wigan not only showed some serious spirit against Citeh but they also got their tactics spot on hitting them at the death.
We need to be assertive and helter skelter from the start and go all out to put a few past them and not leave things to chance at the end. Itβs going to be very difficult because with their recent results, they wonβt be afraid of us. A sustained high tempo should see them fade toward the end but only if we make them work β and that of course means itβs going to take a serious shift β and for us to show some efficiency in our finishing, which has been anything but efficient of late.
Sure enough, our defence of late has been strong β but if we’re honest, weβve been very lucky too!
Not sure if I missed bar chat on this earlier, but… since it’s all over Twitter, can I just say; please…. no Rooney.
Am I correct in thinking that the Dutchman has now scored from open play in only one of his last 17 games?
Back drunk.
We done all.
And to quote the purenosed @unt:
Football, bloody hell.
With you 100% there Joe @186
Ready for the 2Ton?
Tasks for the next week:
1 Beat Wigan
2 Best Newcastle
Tasks for the 4 weeks after that:
1 Sign a top level striker, winger, holding midfielder and right back, an experienced keeper
2 Sell the dead wood (you know who they are)
Qatar score.
I think I might just about want them to win tonight as it gives Lille a slight chance to get 3rd (which they really should be in, but they’ve fucked up when losing that 3-0 lead vs Sochaux then losing their next game 4-2)
You around on Tuesday, baff?
Still negotiating with the bathlets. I will be in London. Are tickets still available?
Not sure baff. Though I believe they went to General Sale.
How does one access ticket exchange?
Found it. None left. Looks like I have to beat up a bathlet to get a ticket back π
Butcher’s knife slash at it.
Boom – I live for nights such as these, not necessarily trophies – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85yvT9jXs5Q
Same as normal buying of tickets, but there seems to be no Ticket Exchange for Wigan.
Well in Toby
Bath@192.
Bath knows.
Bath, keep checking ticket exchange. They do keep coming up.
Actually watched that just 20 minutes ago. However much I realise that Chammy won’t win us any silverware, and however much I want silverware, I’ll always be grateful to each and every player contributing on a night such as that. These games, along with the low points, are what constitutes your narrative with your football club. Yes, of course I want Chammy to leave, but I’ll remember the important goals he scored.
MNB. I want us to win every single game and every single trophy. I also understand that football isn’t about winning every single game and every single trophy. It’s about WANTING to win every single game and every single trophy. What actually happens… well, that’s kind of always up in the air, however much money you’ve spent.
QSG win and are therefore champions of France.
Qatar and Monaco to fight it next year, that’s the French League for you π
Now I’m not superstitious – but if any other vibe could portend to bring the ill winds of faith for Tuesday – I read that the referee is none other than Mr Michael Leslie Dean………………
This means a higher than usual propensity of someone being sent off, or a penalty being awarded against us or statistically less than 10% chance of winning given his record with us to date. In short, he is the very last human being on the planet I would want near the Ems on Tuesday night.
In a day when we watched Van Cunt throw both arms around Purplenose and practically lick his arse on live TV while collecting his Β£80m league medal (because his little inner boy wanted “to win things”) – the only other thing that could have made me feel more nauseous was the prospect of Dean refereeing the game on Tuesday.
So its 11 v 12……and now I have absolutely no doubt that we’ll need to score at least two goals because Dean will contrive to screw us the first opportunity he gets.
Well in Toby and nice post @204.
Joe, Mike Dean huh. Didn’t think I could be anymore nervous, but now I’m terrified! Yet again my fingertips are moist, as I try to wrap my small brain around the excruciating prospect of us ending up with just ten men on the pitch by the end of the match. Theo please, give it every thing you have. I think it was his second goal against South Hampton, the one where he was fouled, got up and scored (My absolute favourite Theo goal), that’s the kinda mettle we need from him and the rest of the lads. Do that, and we will win. Oh yes we can ! π
Arsenal. Played 36, points 67
Wigan. Played 36, points 35
There is a reason why we have accrued twice as many points as Wigan through the duration of the season so far. Time to man up, stand up and be counted. If I had a choice I would rather Wigan stayed up. Unfortunately for them, I don’t. If we play as we should then quite frankly I couldn’t give a monkeys who the ref is. Not even a Jasper Carrot lookalike should come between us and a convincing victory.
Bring it on people.
Frankly if we were playing Barking Girls 2nd eleven I would be nervous but we can’t blame anyone else if we don’t win these last two games. We need to start fast and keep the tempo high without wildly over committing players. A night for TR7, Ox and Theo to do the biz. It will be squeaky bum time and no mistake because Wigan will be really up for it. If only the Orcs had taken at least a point today. I have still have a funny feeling that a completely useless Sunderland team might do us a favour on Sunday.
Pardew claims he doesn’t mind if we win 4-0 which will have the reverse effect as they will now be eyeballs out to ensure no- one thinks they are slacking. It’s all too much pressure for an old git like me.
Spot on Steve T.
Fuck all this hand wringing. Roll on Tuesday night.
COYG
Also, two points about Wigan
– Last week they lost to a Swansea side who have been coasting for the last few months. They are where they are in the league for a reason.
– They also lost to Bradford.
No excuses, let’s complete part one of Plan ‘Screw over the Spuds once again’.
We are at home against a team that ran their legs off at the weekend. A team that are third from bottom. With the greatest of respect to Wigan, if we can’t take 3 points on Tuesday then we don’t deserve top 4. Then we go to play a team that has struggled almost all season and who we scored 7 against earlier on this season.
No excuses. Let’s see who really wants it.
Not to mention a team who let in six goals against Liverpool. Liverpool!
Steve T, I don’t care if we deserve it or not, mate, I just want us to get it!
It’s down to us Cent. All in our hands. It’s as simple as that.
Focus for 2 games. Get the 2 wins an Bale Hotspur are back to the Thursday Sunday routine again.
What Steve said at 213. Simples.
I know Steve T, I just want us to get it deservedly or not, so long as we don’t cheat.
I’m right along with you Steve T. No excuses. If we can’t beat these two horrible teams to secure a top 4 finish, we simply don’t deserve it. Over an entire season, the league table doesn’t lie, thus, Wigan and Newcastle are in their respective positions for that reason. Likewise, come May 19, if we finish 5th, that’s what we deserve and it wouldn’t have shit to do with that cunt Mike Dean.
Impec and if we’re 3rd place then we would have deserved it, right?
Spot on cent. We will end up where we deserve to end up. We know we have more than enough quality to win both games convincingly. Now lets just hope we have the balls for the final push. Lets see if we really do have leaders in the making.
Steve T knows! Goodnight fam.
Cent@220 – Following the logic, of course, if we finished in 3rd we’d have deserved it.
Phil Dowd is ref for Newcastle !
Just kidding !
I hope ! π
No comment. I don’t want to jinx us.
Oskar
‘their’?
Gentlemen.
Thier was a point yesterday when Shawcross and Ade squared up and in so doing rubbed together. I was oddly reminded of a Lesbian Porn scene.
What can it mean?
In spite of the fact that Charlie Adams gained an assist against the Tinies, I was struck by what a truly horrible excuse for a footballer he is.
Then the stupid bastard got sent off and handed the game to the enemy.
I watched the whole game. Tortuous. The touchline antics of Pubis are an embarrassing disgrace, especially if you are half good at lip reading.
The day Stoke get relegated cant come soon enough for me.
Our situation reads well on paper — win two and we are there.
Why then, is my bottom so flatulant?
Dear The Truth.
The Point?
A : Loadsamoney.
Helpful in attracting top players.
Credability.
Status.
Sporting Competition.
Thats the Truth
It looks like the Brits are way ahead of the Yanks in celebrating Mothers’ Day. The Brits did it March 10 and we didn’t get around to it until today. In any case, Happy Mothers’ Day to all. π
Holic’
Just as much as u learnt a lesson in the FA cup that investment doesn’t guarantee success, I want u to go to Germany to a certain club called Bayern Munich and learn another lesson. Bayern did not sell an active first team player since Micheal Ballack in 2006, and invest heavily by buying high profile players like Nuer, Dente, Alaba, Ribery, Robben, Mandzuki, Gomez etc and recently Gotze, still holding unto home grown players like Muller, Toni Kroos, Lahm n Schwarztiger. Today everybody would tell u they are success. Man City spent and won the league last year.
They only way we can come back to winning ways like Munich is when we start acting in them.
Hold unto our first team players and also bring in guys like Rooney, Jovetic, William, Cesc, Corchia n Tiote.
Steve T@216: not to mention that Team Bale would most likely no longer be Team Bale any longer come August if they finish fifth.
36 hours ’til kickoff v Wigan. Just get the three points.
Naija, does ‘holic actually run the club then, or just write a blog about it in his spare time?
Reaction by a SCFC fan to the weekend’s “performance” posted for a chuckle… π
How silly of me its so obvious now you point it out that its the poor decisions by refs that is the reason we are the lowest scoring most negative and boring team to watch in the league, That we sign poor quality players at the last minute with no time to gell, that we lack any creativity, Ideas, ability to unlock defences, push on and drive home an advantage and kill teams off, that we go away from home and wave the white flag before we get off the bus,that we are afraid to shoot, that we cant get the ball forward quickly, that we cant keep posesion to save our lives and when we have it that we cant pass the ball to another stoke player, that plan A B and C is hoof it and hope that something drops. That we are not producing, signing or using talented exciting promising young players.
Fed up of excuses, fed up of happy clappy rimmers, fed up of this season fed up of Pulisball.
I have supported Stoke through some of our darkest days and will so forever more. Im not attacking the individual players but its more than obvious that there are several in the squad who are way out of there depth. The methods and tactics by our Tone are a relic from days gone by. We still look like a small time club trying to play in the big league. Tone clucking on to the media about how far we have come, 6 years in the Prem – yes well done – great but FFS its time we started acting like and playing like a Premier League team. We need a change of direction and some good Premier League standard players sent out to attack and entertain.
Forgive me Delilah but I just cant take any more (pullisball)
Pulisball, heh.
Reading through the first paragraph of CoR’s post above I was struck by some echoes of points I’ve read elsewhere, about another team:
“its the poor decisions by refs”;
“we sign poor quality players at the last minute with no time to gell”;
“we lack… ability to unlock defences, push on and drive home an advantage and kill teams off”;
“we are afraid to shoot”;
“we cant get the ball forward quickly” and
“we cant keep posesion to save our lives”.
There’s even a whinge about how similar plans B and C are to plan A.
It all seems sadly familiar. Still, to judge by the lack of comment, I guess at least Pulisball includes playing with width.
It truly seems that there is more to unite football fans than there is to divide us.
[I freely admit that I’ve carved from the quotation anything that doesn’t fit my thesis, but if you can’t quote selectively, then what is the point?]
Naija – Rooney? Really? A small part of me would die if he joined us.
A couple of things:-
1) Two dumb -ass sendings off really cost us this weekend. Benteke and Adams. Neither were necessary in terms of their action and context. Just confirms really that too many “professional” footballers have too little between their ears. Amateurs really.
2) Goalkeepers – throughout this (and last season) many were calling for new goalies at the club, either as replacements or “mentors”.
Schwartzer cost Fulham a goal through a walkabout at the weekend – not for the first time this season. Begovic went walkabout and gifted the Chavs a goal. Both have been mentioned frequently on this forum as an improvement on what we already have. What are they going to teach what we already have? What would have been the outcry if one of our own had committed a similar blunder?
Funny then that Aluminium was the weekend’s hero.
Be careful what you wish for – Jack Kelsey still the best.
UTA.
Gentlemen.
Thier was a point yesterday when Shawcross and Ade squared up and in so doing rubbed together. I was oddly reminded of a Lesbian Porn scene.
What can it mean?
It could mean that you have some nasty arse movies in your collection. π
Afternoon all.
Not sure where all this Rooney speculation is comming from. Realistically there are probably only two choices for him if he were to leave Old Toilet. One would be to swap red for light blue and join up with the city’s rivals, the other would be life at the bus stop.
For those putting Rooney on their wishlist, there are two tnings you got to ask yourself;
Can you see us paying, what seems to be a spent force, two ton plus a week?
Can you see Wazza taking (at least) a 50% pay cut?
If the answer to those two questions are no, then you should be able to reach a logical conclusion. I’ve got nothing against Rooney, I still think there’s a decent enough player in there, but he’s nowhere near as good as his hype suggests.
And while we’re on the subject of Rooney, it warmed my heart to hear those great supporters, who according to Slur Purple of Nose, always give their returning former players a heroes welcome, whistle and jeer at a player, still in the shirt, as he collected his League Winners Medal……..
Yeah, you guys are a class apart.
H2H – a big heh, and a ‘good post’ @240, 241 above,
Numbers assuming the thinly disguised anti Arsenal, wind up window cleaning, schizo merchant hasn’t been hanging around.
Sorry, but haven’t had time to back drink.
Hmm, which to choose? “thinly disguised anti Arsenal, wind up window cleaning, schizo merchant”, “MNB”… “MNB”, “thinly disguised anti Arsenal, wind up window cleaning, schizo merchant”.
“MNB” has it for efficiency and ease of typing, but I have to say “thinly disguised anti Arsenal, wind up window cleaning, schizo merchant” has a wonderful, almost lyrical, quality to it.
Marvellous display of fawning sycophancy on the BBC yesterday as I heard the assembled pundits – sorry, can’t remember whether on TV or radio – laughing off the eight year refusal by Slur Alx Ferr’ssn to give the interviews to which he was obliged, as just his stubbornness, hahahaha..
Still, deep joy, he has gone.
Well, no doubt except for the weekly, prolonged camera shots of him taking his seat in the directors box, while over energetically masticating another great glob of chewy comestibles.
Followed by more of same every time they score or anything at all happens on the pitch. Eeeuuugghh ..
I’m afraid you’re spot on there Trev. We’re never getting rid of him, he will refuse to just go…
He’s herpes personified. π
H2H -what a mental image!
Training pics hint that Abb’s boy, “Gerve the Swerve” might get the nod up top ahead of Poldi tomorrow.
impec, i was just thinking about the team lineup. wigan is going to be heavy-legged, and at the end of a three-day bender of winning spirit.
let’s roast ’em. gervs left, theo center, ox right, with tr7, santi, arteta and the usual suspects at back; start gibbs. tv5, lukas, corporal, jack, aaron, fabs, and monreal on the bench.
just run the hell out of them the first thirty minutes, keep width, let santi and tr7 cycle at the top of the final third, and press press press when we lose the ball. they’ll break down, and we’ll score a crapload. they just won’t have the legs.
Let’s not have any regrets.
When Mark Clattenberg blew the whistle at the end of that abject afternoon at Spurs, how many of us thought we’d still be staring at a CL spot with two games to go, and one that can be delivered by our own exertions?
A constant refrain of late has been if we can’t beat these two teams…..then…….etc but psychology has as much influence as physiology at this stage of the season, mental strength as easily sapped as the expected weary limbs of the visiting cup winners.
It is this contest that we need to emerge victorious in first and foremost tomorrow, and despite Arsene’s constant exhortations to the contrary, has been our achilles heel in recent seasons, always subject to sudden rupture. It is part of the Manager’s role to ensure the players go out in the right frame of mind, and yet so often we have been lamenting “not properly focused, blah blah blah”. But we really have no excuse tomorrow. All the hard work of a season comes down to two games of football.
Wigan have to go for it, and supposedly that should suit us. I watched them a week ago and witnessed as hapless a defensive display as I’ve seen since Almunia and Squillaci last tangoed together at West Brom. But going forward they are dangerous, and even more so at set pieces, where they have a few big lads. Indeed, the way Man City defended (or rather didn’t) the corner from which they won the cup reminded me of another team fond of zonal marking!
We know what we have to do, so let’s get into them from the off!
There is no room for shrinking violets, handbrakes, defensive brain-farts, tippy-tappy-afraid-to-shoot-sideways-surfing. Get the ball into their last third, quickly, directly and often. And when you get there, fucking shoot! Put their defence under pressure and they will panic. The plucky underdogs will have their well-wishers from every quarter, apart from our own (and Villa and Sunderland, I guess), and not least from Murdoch’s mob, if Sky can digress for a minute from their Alex Ferguson wankathon that is…..
Well, we are the Arsenal so fuck all the rest. I’m looking forward to seeing some of you the right side of the Tollington fence.
Tomorrow could be a great night. Tomorrow belongs to me.
And you.
Don’t sweat the Ferguson wankathon.
It’s the media’s way of building up Utd and the new man so that they can take him out at the knees when they suffer a wobble come winter.
Personally, I think it’s great – yeah, you’re the best club EVER! with the best manager EVER! All that TRADITION! And STABILITY!
Nothing can go wrong. Nothing can go wrong.
After years of having the press and refs fawning over them, I suspect the kid gloves are (finally) about to come off.
COYG
Well said, zico. Wish I could be at the Tollie and the ground too.
Nice one zico.
That’s the spirit, zico! We need that kind of attitude.
Mus say that the last couple of days I was depressed as hell. Today, after a good sleep, my confidence is slowly returning. We can beat both Wigan and NC and I don’t see any good reason why we won’t.
Scruz @248: I see your logic regarding the starting lineup but I don’t see Arsene benching Aaron at this point as he’s been very consistent during our good run. I think it might be a swap between Poldi and Gerve.
The only other change I envisage, is possibly Gibbs in for Nacho. Arsene seems to prefer playing Gibbs at home due to the added dimension he gives us in attack. Monreal is a bit more cautious as it relates to attacking. Nevertheless, whoever plays down our left side need to be on their game as that kid McMannaman seems quite a handful. We have to watch him as he’s dangerous. He murdered Clichy on Saturday and Clichy is a good 1 on 1 defender, despite being prone to game-changing brain farts.
About the starting line-up, I think we should start with Theo down the middle and Ox on the right.
Poldi is not yet having much joy in the hold-up play and imposing himself physically on the defense and hence Theo would do no worse in those aspects, but he will bring with him the confidence of recent scoring. Theo even though not as clinical a finisher as Poldi is still very good and all throughout the season he has put chances away and hence he gets my vote before Gerv, who can be brought on around an hour mark against a tiring defense if we need goals.
This lets Ox start and I think him, along with TR7, can be crucial in setting the tempo early on. Press high up, run at the defense with ball on feet, and shoot given any chance.
Also Gibbo if fit should start as he is better equipped to win the foot race against the speedy wingers and also can contribute more going forward.
Dr Faustus: I agree with you about bringing in the Ox and playing Theo down the middle. It’s obvious that Poldi isn’t 100% but Arsene keeps denying it.
The Ox should start ahead of Gerve in my opinion. We will need his directness down the flank.
It seems Abou Diaby is only three weeks from full fitness ….. Oh.
impec and faustus, re gervs i think just the opposite (surprise!)…poldi’s strength and hammer will be better used against a tiring defense, with gerv having run them down.
but either way, a win, a la zico.
In case you missed this
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2171366/Manchester-City-order-13th-century-Austrian-church-stop-ringing-bells-avoid-disturbing-players.html
With Wigan needing to win, there should be more space at the back than normal (i.e. they can’t afford to park the bus). What price Theo playing centre forward again?
Something tells me he should get a decent number of chances to run in behind (although to be fair, this is me speaking, and I know sweet FA about the mechanics of tactics…with my rudimentary understanding, I guess if Wigan want to have any chance of winning they’ll need to attack, which would leave gaps in front of the defence, while if the defence try to push up to stay in touch with midfield, their line will be dangerously high, which would also suit Theobald – seriously, if I have this wrong, enlighten me…) π
lads, lasses, and repetitive moo moos >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Camberwell, I think it will be Vermaelen up top.
Ok, that wasn’t entirely serious π
Kidding aside, there is definitely a case to be made for thinking that Theo could get opportunities to run in behind. But I think it will be Poldi with Theo on the right as usual, which could arguably give Theo even more room to move in since it tends to be more difficult to mark players running in from out wide.
But whoever plays it’s probably very important to get the first goal so they can’t revert to bus parking mode.