Hello all. Apologies for my absence in the week that has seen the return of the dreaded international break. Looking back at the news it seems little of real interest happened.
In the wake of the defeat at Old Trafford the players responded as one would expect. I have to say I felt for the skipper. Thomas Vermaelen found himself back in the side at short notice and I thought gave a very good account of himself. Reflecting afterwards he said,
“We’re still top of the league and need to keep the confidence we’ve had over the last couple of weeks. There’s no reason for that to change dramatically. We’re still confident we can win games and we have a long way to go.”
On Tuesday the boss was persuaded to engage in a Twitter takeover. Cue several thousand tweets about coats and zips. Enough said about that. Wojciech Szczesny spoke of the perception, one I feel that is justified, that he has improved considerably this season. For him any difference is only mental, but I cannot help but feel that he has made fewer bad decisions this season than when he went through a temporary blip last season.
“It comes down to maturity. The older you get, the more games you play and you know how to deal with things, you know how to prepare for things. It is not only about being professional, it is also about being relaxed and you don’t feel that when you have played 10 or 15 games at the top level.”
On Wednesday it was the turn of the excellent Arsenal Ladies to make the news as they progressed to the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 3-2 win in Glasgow. They may have surrendered their league title this season but they continue to be leading lights in the womens game.
By Thursday there was so little news that the usual fabrications about our impending signings in the January window. As ever I have no desire to fuel such nonsense, other than to say I won’t believe Emile Heskey is an Arsenal player until he is unveiled at Highbury House at midnight on January 31st. The players we have got seem to be developing a tight bond, something highlighted by Jack Wilshere.
“We’ve been out a few times. We didn’t do it for a couple of years but over the last six months we go out for team dinners and we meet up outside of football, which is good for the team. Sometimes you just want to get away from football, you want to sit down and talk about life, your family and things like that. We’ve been doing that this season and it’s really showing on the pitch. We’ve done really well this season and towards the end of last season; I think the team spirit plays a massive part in that.”
Yesterday was international day. Headlines were grabbed by Laurent Koscielny for all the wrong reasons. Foolishly he got involved in a spat and a less than convincing slap sent Oleksandr “Linda Lovelace” Kucher plunging theatrically. That is a red card every time, and he will now miss the critical second-leg of the World Cup play-off against Ukraine. Things do not look too healthy for the French, beaten 2-0 on the night.
As if to rescue a pretty bare week this morning Arsenal have announced the signing of a new long-term deal by the ‘improved even if he doesn’t think so’ Wojciech Szczesny. Arsenal have acted in the last year to secure the future of their best young players and it is good to see Wojciech among that group.
So that was the week that was. Have a cracking weekend ‘holics, and thanks for popping by again.
163 Responses to “TWTWTW”
Top Of the league!
A new deal for Woj is indeed good news. Let us hope the club can now also agree extensions for Mertesacker and Sagna, then we’d have a very strong platform to build from next summer.
Nice one maestro.
I like Woj, even with the odd flutter he’s still the best keeper we’ve had for quite a while. He has indeed improved and I believe he will continue to do so. He is still a young enough player as it is, but in keeper terms, he’s practicaly an infant, if his attitude and comitment stays right he could be with us for years to come.
Interesting to note the disparity between the unbeaten Under 21s and the Under 18s who are yet to register a win and lost at home to Chelsea today 3-0. I think we have a super crop of youngsters coming through and we had out today Crowley , Akpom, Iwobi and Jebb who are rated so highly. Perhaps the fault lies with the coaching but it needs sorting
Very happy about Woj. I’m a fan,there are very few better keepers in the EPL
Top-notch Guv’nör. Thanks for not leaving us empty forever.
Cheers, ‘Holic. Great news re Sir Chez.
Good stuff, ‘Holic.
Good to hear about the team meeting up for dinners and the like
again 🙂
NorCal & H2H, its less than a week away now… 8)
SZCZ is certainly among the best keepers out there IMHO. Great business signing to a new contract.
Indeed young Wind, indeed.
With the international bore….sorry break not quite over it was good to read about Wojciech Szczesny signing extended terms.
Too often we bemoaned the wrong players getting extensions and just lately it seems to be all the right players.
We are still top of the league and things can only get better.
Poland, Poland’s Number One!
Greetings from Lochgelly where the pub crawl is in full swing in anticipation of HIS arrival in January. No sign of Bath or Zico though. Didn’t they get their emails?
Greetings BtM and a good man you are. I cannot believe you are actually on a pub crawl in the famed Lochgelly. 🙂
The first nominee in the category of “Best cover of a New World adaptation of a traditional Old World folk song” is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIIiP5HHsYk
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bonnie_Lass_o'_Fyvie
Cheers all.
Wind, I would say it’s all up for grabs here. Less than a week indeed. I leave on Wednesday. Unfortunately I have to work almost nonstop to get there!
Great to here about Woj. I think he made the turn this season. Was hoping to see AOC make that turn too but fear the injury will make us wait another year.
Bring on the ‘Aints. Can’t wait!
Here! Hear!
Disturbing news, Rambo has had the virus all week and is out tonight. Mesut not playing on Tuesday. What’s with our sickly squad?
Let’s hope everyone is raring to go next Saturday.
Should I bring a bag full of flu vaccine with me? Do they not give the flu shot to the team?
Fine summary of the week Holic. Great news on Szcz – he’s already our best keeper since Jens and he’s going to be one of our greatest ever imho. Good news on team bonding dinners, (a solid version of the Tuesday club) though zico won’t be impressed with his “solids are for softies” motto.
BtM sorry I missed Lochgelly….nope, didn’t get the e-mail. I was on a site visit to Danebury Hillfort today and had lunch and a fine pint of ale in the White Hart in Stockbridge. Fine village that Stockbridge is, I’m sure it’s not a patch on Lochgelly. 😉
And here’s a toast to Sachin Tendulka. A fine sportsman and by all accounts, a fine man. Even a non-cricket fan like me can appreciate his achievements, durability and humility.
A case of Macallan is on the bar for all cognoscenti.
Thanks bath, et al. It’s good to be back.
Nice piece Guv’nor. As for “international week” – It’s over; let it go!
One week and counting…
COYG
Would love to be going to that Southampton game enjoy all have a ball and get the 3 points.
International break, no apologies needed 😉
Cheers and the toast with baff.
Evening, everyone. A nice slow rainy evening in the bar…
Look I hate the interlull as much as anyone, mostly because of the often utterly pointless wear and tear it puts on our players. Honestly though, we all need a break even from the things we love the most. Much as I enjoy the Arsenal on the weekend, and much as I miss them during a ‘lull, it gives us all a chance to sit back, pursue other endeavors, and get a little perspective on what has been a pelting season so far (and shows no signs of slowing down).
Let’s not forget, either, that while several of our players are busy this week, most of them are enjoying at least a partial break, if not two weeks off. That’s a very good thing. Arteta, Flamini, Mertesacker, Rosicky, and Ramsey all have the two weeks off entirely. (Ramsey is sick unfortunately, but the upside is that that sickness got him out of playing for Wales.) Meanwhile Ozil, Cazorla, Koscielny, Sagna, Gibbs, Wilshere and Szczesny will play at most one full game, a slackening of their usual Arsenal pace, and several will play much less than that.
Unfortunately Ollie G, the player we would most like to see spend the break in a hot tub with a margherita and a copy of “Stillness and Speed,” will almost certainly play most of two games for France. Cest la vie.
We can look forward, too, to the imminent return of Messrs Walcott and Podolski on the other side of the break. So it’s a rested, rejuvenated, and hopefully reinforced Arsenal we can expect to see next weekend against the Saints. And as rundown as we have obviously been of late, it hasn’t come a moment too soon.
@NorCal16, I’ve wondered the same thing. WTF?
Hi everyone. Holic, very entertaining post. Giggled where it was appropriate to do so 😉 Woj #1 keeper in our league. Proud of him!
Looks like no OX until 2014. Shame. I really wanted this to be a year that he came into his own. Now looks like a dead rubber. Hope he take Aaron as inspiration.
Delia
re our sickly squad,
I think you will find,the virus manifested itself after the Dortmund game,which was played in freezing/rainy conditions.
Then trapped on a plane for a few hours,with recycled air,lots of other people around you,airborne viruses are in their element.
So it is no wonder the players came down with ailments.
Some players got it early,others like young Ramsey,caught it later.
A similar thing used to happen to the Golders Green Ramblers back in the day.
If we say, had to play away at Edgware on a freezing cold/rainy Sunday morning,when you were lucky to have somewhere to change other than at the side of the pitch,when there was no such thing as showers after the game,you just towelled off as best you could,put on some dry clothes,if you remembered to bring some with you,and trudged off to the station to catch the train back to the Green.
So 6 stops encased in a train carriage full of punters,any number of whom could be carrying airborne viruses and the like.
So it was no wonder that several of the Ramblers would fall ill the following week.
Of course this was back in the day when Men were Men,and you copped whatever the elements threw at you with a stoic defiance.
So if it could happen to the Ramblers,tough and obdurate though we were,then today’s little pampered pets have got no chance of avoiding the dreaded lurgy.
Cheers
The Sweeper
Good explanation, Sweeper.
Speaking of lurgy, can you think of any club that suffers from chronic loser’s lurgy? If you were to say Sp*rs you would be correct.
NorCal @ 16: When has ever a flu vaccine protected against all strains of virus in a given season? And I am sure the local mutations in the Ruhr valley are as sturdy as the populace… 🙂
bath @ 18: Yes, Sachin’s extraordinary longevity and consistency is truly impressive. Sachin is of my generation — a few years older than me — and I remember his debut series away at Pakistan where against Akram-Waquar-Quadir he played quite well for a teen-ager. I was just barely in my teens then It is quite mind-boggling to think that he has been playing such a demanding sport as Cricket at the top level consistently for all these years…
TTG @ 4: In addition to coaching, one possible explanation could be that consistent run of results in an Arsenal set-up would always require good understanding between players irrespective of the age group…that is why the U-21 group who (at least the core) now has been together for a while is playing so well whereas the U-18 has lots of new players (like Crowley) learning to play to a system.
Dr Faustus. In a short answer: never. It only covers the three most common strains from LAST year. I get your point but we have been hit by the flu twice already this season. Seems a bit unlucky. Just hope they are getting the energy booster in their Jamba Juices. 😉
And the immune system booster too. 😎
NorCal @ 29: Yes, definitely unlucky.
A personal anecdote: I have been living in Boston nearly fifteen years now and before our son was born never took the flu vaccine and despite spending considerable time outside in the winter never caught anything major.
We started taking flu vaccine with wife’s pregnancy and last couple of years the pattern of relatively healthy winter — for a New England resident — remained. But now that the boy has started to go to day care he is bringing home truly exotic strains and we have been already floored twice this season despite the protection of the vaccine. 🙂
Maybe it is the parents in the Arsenal set-up — young Jack? — that are the blissfully unaware vectors? 🙂
Cheers Holic! See you on Saturday.
Dr F @31 – good point there. A more senior colleague observed to me many years ago that he and his wife began having cold-free winters when the children left home and I can readily concur.
However do we know it’s ‘flu’ rather than Norovirus which can steadily work its way through groups in close contact?
I knew having all these doctors here will come in handy one day. Cheers gents, I’m learning.
Morning chums,
Hope you are all well.
Looking forward to it, Esso.
Sadly catching the flu twice is not all that hard as I managed it in early October and early November 😉
And I am definitely not a young fit footie player 🙂
@Bath
Trust me the norovirus and flu are easily distinguishable, I was unlucky enough to catch the norovirus just before Christmas 2010, I would not wish that on even the Spurs team 🙁
Good to see you back, Holic.
Good to have Szczesny on a long contract – he’s definitely a keeper. 😉
Mrs Trev used to be a swim teacher and tennis coach, and was constantly picking up cold and flu bugs in the damp environment packed full of ankle-biters. After she gave up the swim teaching the incidence must have dropped 80-90%.
Just sayin’.
Still the Interlull, then. 🙁
I’ve never had the flu virus since I stopped climbing up the chimney. 😉
Aaron Ramsey has tweeted that the reason for his absence from the Welsh team was a tight hamstring not the flu but assures us he will be fit for next weekend. Similarly Ozil is being rested with Neuer and Lahm as Low already believes they are core squad members and he wants to try other non-core options.
I didn’t watch much of the England game but I am told that LJW veered between brilliant and poor whereas the Milners and Cahills varied between poor and worse. Lampard was apparently even worse and Gerrard has been showing signs of age this season and is to my mind overrated although I wouldn’t go as far as Alex Ferguson. I think the media having built LJW up a little prematurely are trying to destroy him. He’s only a young lad and needs time to develop and to get free of persistent injuries.I suspect a rather silly conspiracy is afoot to rubbish him .
Heh at the Chimney.
Yes unlucky but not unheard of. The child vector is a very real concern. The other one being air travel which the team has had to do as well. Maybe that was Bergkamp’s real fear. ;).
On that note I will get on my transatlantic flight and be sure to treat everything with alcohol! 😉
ttg,
Wilshere is not back to his best yet, as we know, but neither is he as ‘bad’ as some critics are trying to suggest.
I imagine he will look a lot better in his England role if and when he is played with some similar players to himself, just as Theo and The Ox have caused havoc for England when they have played together for a few minutes. Twice ?
However, this is England we are talking about and, like many, my only concern these days is that our players return uninjured. and that Lampard, Gerrard and Cole return as injured as possible. 😉
Trev,
Amen to that-nothing trivial I hope!
Evening all.
Less then a week to go of this most tedious of lulls. the same amount of time until I embark on the great journey to THOF, yeaaah!!! Ofcourse to be able to make this trip, comprimises were reached and promisses made, a great barter of goods and services agreed, I basically signed my life, liberty and freedom away. 😉
Yesterday the other half, forthwit to be known as ace negiotiater (or so she would have you believe), decided it was time to cash in one of her gained bargaining chips, which was to be wined and dined in a fancy smancy restaurant, as there was no footy on anyway, I thought, why not, it will be one down. only several thousand to go. 😛
Coincidently I had to be in The Hague yesterday anyway for a party, so I made arrangements to nosh at the City’s newest culinaire hot spot, no mean feat getting a window table on a Saturday night with less then four hours notice, normally some dude with a snotty accent would laugh at you on the other end of the phone, with a hardy snort of derision chastising you for even daring to think that such a thing was possible, luckily I still have a few friends in high places.
In fact, very high places, and here is were the importance of a window table comes into the equation, as the restaurant is in the penthouse of The Hagues highest building, to be precise, on the forty bloody second floor, not too shaby, let me tell ya, very chique, very trendy and not as pricey as I was dreading, to tell the truth it was worth it just for the ride up in the glass elevator………………..
but don’t tell the missus or she’ll want her bargaining chip back. 😈
Nice one, H2H – we promise we won’t tell!
I’ve been ill 4 times in 2 months, a first for me. 2x the dreaded Freshers Flu, 2x something else. Strangely enough there’s a direct correlation between illness and miserableness, who’da thunk it… 😛
Well done H2H.
Mums the word. Glad it was enjoyable and not too pricey.
I guess I can get a pie with meat this weekend then. 😉
Cheers Lars.
NorCal 😆
May even be able to swing for some gravy too.
😎
Got the hotel sorted too.
I’ll be staying at The Pembury on the Sevensisters Rd at the proper end, literaly within staggering distance of the Tollie.
Ha. Good for you. I am a bit worried about my tube ride back to Fulham after the game. I may need to pin my address to the inside of my jacket. 😉
“If lost please return to…………”
“If lost please return to Pippa Middleton”. 😉
My luck I will wake up with a stuffed bear and a naked man in Paddington.
Sounds like this is going to be a heavy one NorCal 🙂
I may be putting people into taxis at the end of the night 😆
Wind,
Just don’t send me to Paddington! 😉
Norcal, it’s purely a coincidence that Paddington is on holic’s route home – those rumours are completely unfounded 😉
With such an all star cast of regular drinkers at the bar visiting THOF and Tollie this Saturday, it’s too much of an opportunity to miss out on and I will call in and show my face (along with wallet of course) to meet as many of you fabulous goonerholics that I can find. It promises to be a fantastic day out. Lars wallet may break all records 🙂
H2H, I earned my brownie points with the management this interlull weekend by finally finishing laying the patio….only been waiting 18 months.
I haven’t had a single bout of flu since I became a pensioner and started receiving a free flu vaccine injection every year. Mind you, I rarely if ever suffered from flu before that come to think of it…
Anyone else remember the good ol’ days when young Theo scored a hat-trick against the krauts? Frankly I’m glad we won’t be getting coverage here cos I expect it to be embarrassing.
Will this interlull ever end? 🙁
Öskar
Golders Green Ramblers, Clive? Sounds like a jazz band or a group of old hikers!
But I remember similar experiences from my days representing Chessington Rhodrons Social Club First XI c1960. Changing out of wet, muddy and sometimes bloody kit straight into whatever you turned up in … urgh.
Öskar
Oskar, I have rarely suffered from the flu and none since becoming a “mature” citizen. Most memorable bout was back in jan 1965 when I went up to Peterborough on the day of Winston Churchill funeral and we got humiliated in the FA Cup (lost 2-1). I went straight home to bed with the flu. The only good thing was I didn’t smoke for a week and I didn’t start up again – apart from a celebratory half corona.
Hey Oskar – reminds me of the old film –
“One flu over – the crook crew’s next” 😉
I suppose I am the only one who has not a clue about the reference in ‘holic’s title to this piece. WTF I could understand, but TWTWTW?
8ball,
It was the abbreviated title of a television program from a time when only Holic was alive called ” That Was The Week That Was” or TW3. It was a bit of early satire featuring David Frost if you’re familiar.
Aha. TW3. Of course. 🙂
Thanks, Trev. 🙂
TW3 … hence Panglossdroid’s ” It’s over; let it go!” at #20.
Here is the theme song, an adaptation of which, incorporating topical satire, commenced every edition … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkX0X7kHpHA
Öskar
How old do you have to be to remember that? How old does it say I am that I recognised it immediately?? 🙁
Öskar
For the young ones who have never seen real satire on TV or heard it on radio or read it in print, here is an example of the kind of thing TW3’s writers got away with before ‘political correctness’ emasculated public debate … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOKqzJJvEOw
The Americans were not amused…
Öskar
So the weekend’s over and it’s Punday again, Trev? I missed your movie reference earlier which, I have to say, was pretty Ratched as puns go. Do you remember the old Kung Flu TV series? 😉
Öskar
Hi Holic’ — intersting that you jokingly made a reference to Emile Heskey — he is currently plying his trade in Australia – he was ON THE BENCH for the Newcastle Jets last week — got on as a late sub — making his debut in the same league (Hyundai A League) for Perth Glory was a certain William Gallas — the first Frenchman to play in Australia (football that is).
Consider yourself informed.
Oscar — I have lived in NZ for the past seven years — not one cold — recent visit to Blighty — full of cold for a week!
I know youve got your eye on a houseboat in London — you wont like it buddy! — I couldnt wait to get out of England — mind you, you might speak better Russian than I.
Clive@26: There were no other sorts of Sunday mornings in Edgware apart from freezing cold/rainy ones.
Just been listening to an interview with Sachin Tendulkar and his ambition to bring power and education to India’s villages. Such an articulate and thoughtful man. Deeply impressive, especially compared to the mindless soundbites you get from most sportsman.
NorCal@53: sounds like a night out with Carlos and Wolfie.
Theme song by the Floo Fighters, Otd?
Oskar…..as an oldie I remember TW3 well – it was a breath of fresh air as it was anti establishment, which mirrored us young guns at the time.
The intro was sung by Millicent Martin who I think was a floosie in the original Alfie film with Michael Caine. Or should that be flusie with the other topic on this thread 😉
Each to his own, IF. I was born and bred and lived 24 years in England (before 26 years in Aussie and 20 here in Wellington) and would be back to London, or Sydney, in a shot, if I could ever support the far greater cost of living in either.
NZ is a nice place to visit, but I only live here due to unlucky financial circumstances allied to poor relationship choices I made in the early ’90s. Yup, it was all the fault of a woman!
My siblings and their progeny are all still in England, and I spend quite some time in the UK asoften as I can afford it. The houseboat is a compromise relative to living costs in UK, although I do rather like the idea.
Öskar
Nice pair of legs, Ms Martin, aye Uplympian? I will always remember her from a West End show called “The Lord Chamberlain Regrets” which I saw with the love of my life on our first date. It didn’t last, but was memorable while it did – the relationship, ie, not the show. Actually neither, since the show flopped as well.
Jeez, the stuff you read here when there’s no football!
Öskar
Cheers Oskar. 😉
IF @69,
If we’re talking about the flu here, shouldn’t that be Emile Husky ? 😉
Sir Trev:
Mesut Advil
Theo Walcough
Wojciech Szczsneezy
GoonerTonic
Stevie Cold
Over to you maestro….
ÖtD@65 – thanks I was beginning to fear that my rather limp pun had escaped everyone’s notice.
If you get any responses to your “How old does that make me…” questions, please keep them to yourself.
Morning all… what to do on a miserably wet day in Catalonia?? 🙁
Lars @ #2 – When is The BFG’s contract due to expire???
@ The Sweeper – I think you’ll find that the real men hail from Edgware.
A little off topic, but just to say that I saw Sigur Ros play Dublin on Saturday night last and it was an amazing experience.
I say that because they’re currently touring the UK.
NorCal @16 Rumour has it that they actually gave the players the flu shot last week… and lo and behold….!
I have no way of knowing if that is true or not, but there are statistics out there suggesting that you are more likely to get the flu if you have had the vaccine!
Mind you, there are statistics for every side of every argument….
Can we have some footy please (real Arsenal stuff, not dull meaningless internationals)?
TS@78: I think he’s got next season to go as well, but I’m not sure. He’s been here a bit more than two seasons and pretty much all contracts Arsenal sign with players under 30 seem to be for four years.
ÖtD@67 – Ah Millicent Martin – there’s nostalgia for ya!
Apropos of satire, my translation of piece on Danish website:
FCK (FC Copenhagen) offer Bendtner job as a ball boy
Bendtner’s remarks that he would like to end his career at FCK may now become a reality. The city’s team have just offered him a contract in the position where they have most need for him – the touchline.
It was a flattered Ståle Solbakken who was responding to Bendtner’s offer to work for FCK: “Nicklas is a nice guy, and I’d really like to help him come to the club. But I have juuuuust a little difficulty finding a place for him in our starting line-up … sooooo … dum-di-dum … It’ll have to be as ball fetcher,” he told sports journalists from BT and Ekstra Bladet (local tabloids).
The Norwegian coach has now come up with a highly lucrative three-year contract for him as the person “responsible for retrieving misdirected crosses”. If Niklas Bendtner says yes to the contract, he will become the highest paid ball boy in history, with a starting salary of 130,000 kroner (£15,000) a month and his own regular table at the nightclub Zen.
“The high wage is because we had to act quickly,” says Ståle and continues: “If Bendtner would like to finish his career here, we have to lure him with a large sum of money, otherwise there is a chance of him turning us down, which will result in his career coming to an end all by itself.”
Despite the fact that the striker is not good enough to get in the starting line-up, Ståle has complete faith in him coming to terms with his new position: “We know he’s usually not the type to chase the ball, but I think we can easily change that with a little training. Besides, he’s also good at intercepting misdirected crosses as a result of his time with Rommedahl in the national team. And no-one knows the touchline better than he does!”
PS. Nick came in for some criticism from the Danish team manager for his lack of effort in the recent “friendly” against Norway (= England-Scotland “friendlies”). He was subbed at half-time. NB claims he was another flu sufferer and hadn’t been able to train fully since he came over for the match.
Cheers Lars @ #81. Both he and Sagna are surely crucial LANS for us?
I’ve heard that Sagna has been offered a contract but the term is still up for discussion. Could just be a BS ITK rumour but one thing’s for sure, we need to sort him out one way or another this season. Fingers-crossed that he and the club can work something out together.
Heh! TS @75. 🙂
Sick puns, innit !
Don’t forget our very own NorCalpol,
and Thomas Vermaelen our Phlegmish defender
or Mukas Podolski ……
Night NURSE !!! 😉
or Vicks Achers, Mesut Özill, Mikel Artetack, and the ever present Tomas RoSicky…….
Where is Alex Oxlade-Chamberpot when you need him ? 😉
I see Chris Coalman is to visit Real Madrid to broker a deal that could see Gary Bale miss friendlies but play in all the important games as Coalman accepts that the “Spanish club will not want the world’s most expensive player placed at constant risk”. (Daily Express)
Now rearrange these words into a well known phrase or saying –
“Fail. Me. Words.”
And all other international managers should feel free to place all of our players at constant risk just because they are not the world’s most expensive.
Cheers.
Trev 😆
Trev 🙂 🙂
Ridiculous, if true, about Bale.
Although, if Coleman bends over and takes it from Real and Fifa fail to intervene it will set a precident that could see all big clubs, us included, refuse to release players for meaningless games (that’s at least 80% of them, 99.5% as far as I’m concerned).
Ronaldo would never turn out for Portugal and our Mesut could say nein to the manschaft, but really, how can you determine player value?
It can’t be just in monetary terms, because that would make Torres one of Spains most valuble and Andy Carroll unmissable for England.
If it’s measured as value/importance to a team, then surely the HFB is more important for us then bale is to Real?
This one has can of worms written all over it if Coleman can’t cut the musterd at the negotiating table.
TGSTEL
The Greatest Speculation………….;
http://metro.co.uk/2013/11/17/nicklas-bendtner-tips-himself-for-barcelona-or-real-madrid-move-4189872/
I think dkg’s story is far more believable.
Hello ‘Holic.
Thank you for the post.
Looking forward to catching up on Saturday.
Thank you Poppet,
I am looking forward to Saturday too. Quite an event it will be with possibly the biggest ‘holic gathering to date…
Bendy is going to be at the gathering, WOW 😉
I think the Tollie has a No Samurai policy, Dep’.
===
Uply coming too?
Nice….
Santi Coryza, Lucoz(ade) Fabianski, Olivier Atchoo, Yossi Benilyn…I’ll get me coat
Surely TGSTEL’s line was said very tongue in cheek. Even the most deluded footballer on the planet isn’t that deluded..surely???
Millicent Martin was indeed an adolescent fantasy . Married Ronnie Carroll who was a crooner who played for the Showbiz XI. So short of football on TV were we that they used to televise their games live on ITV. Boy were they crap matches
not sure if anyone seen this already, but it is actually quite a good fun XD http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/unclassic-commentary-theo-and-the-ox
Nigeria just gave Italy some footballing lessons. It’s half-time now at Craven cottage. If we end up winning the game I will be overjoyed but if we Sp*rs the lead and lose the game it will be just another meaningless friendly for me.
Might as well…
Lurks again
That lurk was too long for me, got bored 😛
Well in H2H, and nice assist Cent 🙂
Well in, H2H!
Cheers, wind, are you watching your countrymen give Italy a game?
Well lurked in H2H
I have broken two toes, one of which is also disjointed. It hurts 🙁
(though I guess as long as the doctor doesn’t come back with a verdict if three weeks out I should be ok 🙂 )
Well in H2H, “he scores when he wants” 🙂
Indeed looking forward to meeting (for the first time) the guv’nor and all the holics in the Tollie this Saturday.
TTG, I remember going to a Showbix XI v Boxers & Jockeys at Highbury around 1960. It was good for autographs, including a relatively unknown actor named Sean Connery – Dr No had yet to hit the screens !
Lars…sorry to read of your foot injury, at least your drinking arm is un effected. Presume you accidentally dropped your wallet onto your foot. 😉
Eandy thanks for the link @97, I had a lot of chuckles watching that. Good stuff from our media team and of course Theo and Chambo.
We are going to need another umbrella.
Sorry to hear about the injured toes. Wish you speedy recovery.
Uply, heh @ Lars accidentally dropping his wallet on his foot.
Up, if it had been my drinking arm I’d have used a straw 🙂
Lars you are a professional – all eventualities worked out in advance 😉
Bendtner on next club.
Just to put the record straight, he was asked about where he saw his career continuing. His answer was:
“If I could decide, Real Madrid or Barcelona.”
British press of course leaves out the first bit.
Bendtner’s relationship with the Danish press is, to say the least, strained (though maybe not as bad as with the North Bank). He feels they don’t cut him any slack and he said to them the other day before the friendly, “I’m only talking to you because I’m contractually obliged to and I’ll only talk about the national team.” He seems to have forgotten the last bit very quickly.
Just done a quick back drink.
Is there an interlull?
Sorry to hear about the toes Lars 🙁
Cheers Cent, the toes will heal pretty quickly. The fractures take about two weeks to fully heal, so I’ll just have to be a bit careful for a few weeks.
Lars I imagine your toes and your wallet were both covered by an umbrella insurance policy? 😉
Sorry to hear the news.
Lars, one is bad enough, but 2 at the same time, that really has to hurt big time 🙁
Ouch, hurty Lars.
Broke one once. Hobbling is ok 😉
From an Arseblog News interview of Santi Cazorla:
[on his own contribution, he said, “Joy, inside and out. I love to laugh, even in difficult times I’m trying to bring positive thoughts. They say I always laugh, but it is a way of seeing life. And I think my football is like that, happy.
“The important thing in any dressing room is to have respect, and Arsenal is like that. We have a mix of youth and experience and we laugh a lot.”]
This guy has a great attitude, and I think it is infectious.
@Trev85
playing catch up
mathew flumini
mesoup ozil
laurent coughcienly.
@H2H The Pembury! Fuckin’ excellent! It used to have iconic status for Arsebloggers as was used by many for ‘EWA’ get togethers. ‘EWA’ stands Everyone Who’s Anyone and this weekend is shaping up to be a Holics’ version of aforementioned EWA. What time you checking in? I’m in The Pins to start with on Saturday. Fancy a swift half in there before strolling down to The Tollie?
sleepwalking or just a night trip?
http://news.arseblog.com/2013/11/szczesny-injured-while-szcznoozing/
Ouch Lars. Good luck, take care.
Ouch Lars.
Two broken toes and fourteen pints of Guinness – that’s enough to make anyone limp on a Saturday night. 😉
Cheers all, it doesn’t hurt that much today. The doctor said that once the swelling goes down I won’t feel much at all. Well, in the toes that is. I will still feel nervous when Arsenal are playing, for example. After all it was only two broken toes, not a lobotomy.
Heh! Not sure ‘iconic’ accurately reflects the quality of the Pembury, Esso 😉
Bring a tool box and some anti-bacterial wipes H2H 😉
The Pembury has been done up so it might not be as bad as it apparently used to be. I’ve never stayed there but I’ve walked past it many times on the way to/from my hotel a bit further up the road and about a year ago there were a lot of builders scurrying about at the Pembury. It was even closed for a while so I suppose it must have been a fairly major upgrade.
Sitting here watching Australia v costa rica
1-0 to Aussie. Tim Cahill scored
In the Costa Rica side on the right wing is Joel Campbell
Not doing much to be honest
Is he still on our books?
Thanks Lars, H2H will be relieved then. Good news for many travellers.
Sydney: he is, he is at Olympiakos on loan. I don’t expect him to ever play for us, he doesn’t seem to have been able to deliver on the early promises that made us sign him.
Afternoon all.
The Pembury didn’t look too bad, reviews weren’t awful either, it fit the bill of being close to the, Tube, The Tollie and in an area I know well. Plus, although it was advertised on it’s own site for £140 and round the €180 mark everywhere else, I managed to get an en suite room for €58, meaning more tasty beverage tickets in the ol’ sky rocket. 😉
Lars, sorry to hear about your toes, I’ve done mine in quite a few times, nothing to do about it except walk it off (sounds wierd, I know) You staying around Finsbury Park again this time? If you are we’ll see if we can limp/stagger back up the Isledon Rd after chucking out time. 🙂
Esso, I’ll be landing at City around 9ish, will then take the tube to Finsbury Park, dump my (very small) bag at the hotel and I’m good to go. I was planing to hook up with NorCal somewhere in the area, he wants to be there early doors too, I’m sure we can arrange something if ‘holic would be so kind as to share our particulars (oo-er). If memory serves the 12 pins is across from the Blackstock Rd, which would be in the vicinity of The Amoury, right?
*I see it’s not the Amoury, but Arsenal Finsbury Park, whatever, a club store.
When I was a kid there was only one and it was the size of two broom closets. 😉
H2H,
You’re in for a surprise if you venture into the new Armoury then. It has about 20 checkouts now, with a whole range of children’s and ladies wear, mugs, keyrings, teddy bears …….. you get the idea …
@132,
I believe the Amoury is some kind of love shack. 😉
Heh, definetly if you say it in a french accent.
H2H: that’s the one, right next to something as unique as a fried chicken shop and a kebab joint 🙂
My usual hotel is called London Highbury Hotel, but this time I will, believe it or not, be staying at the actual Highbury! This trip is an Arsenal Sweden event where a shitload of Swedes will be flying over and me and a few others have found an apartment that you can rent at Highbury. That’ll be quite cool, I have to say. In other words, I will not do the now rather familiar Isledon Road stagger this time – unless I forget where I am staying and just do it out of habit of course 🙂
Interpretation of the meaning of Lars’ broken toes is as follows:
First broken toe = Arsenal win over Southampton.
Second broken toe = Sweden eliminate Portugal.
Watching Arsenal and staying at Highbury. Well played Lars. Well played. Hope the toes recover quickly.
Hehe, actually ..I have put some money out of fun on tonights results, including France and Sweden progressing, so Zlatan better conjure some of his majix..
Lars
Toetal sympathy for you mate.
Staying in the apartments at Highbury is quite a feet.
Hope you heel really quickly…..
…..but 2 weeks to repair a fracture? Your Viking blood must have top, top, top quality repair genes floating in it so please be sure to drop by the LC Infirmary and offer a transfusion for The Ox, Diaby et al. More powerful than horse placenta in a hyperbaric chamber?
I think we need a professional medical opinion.
Is there a doctor in the house???
Or each broken toe could represent one of the two yellow cards to be awarded this evening to Cristiano Ronaldo for diving.
Heh TS, I should have seen the foot-related puns coming, nice work 🙂
I wish I did have top, top regenerative genes but bones do generally grow back together quite quickly and especially small ones like in the toes.
8ball: I don’t break any bones for Sweden, that’s only for the Arsenal! I will watch the game tonight but I can honestly say I won’t be bothered at all whatever the outcome of it all.
My ankle took an extra month to heal because at first I refused to believe it was broken and hobbled around on it for two weeks 🙂
Good luck with the toe healing, sounds weird though 😉
Lars. It can be well and truly said in that case that you have taken two for the team. Above and beyond the call of duty. Flaminiesque, even. 😉
http://sportwitness.ning.com/forum/topics/arsenal-given-gundogan-hope-as-he-remains-coy-dortmund-will-sell-
Once again.
Best website for foreign reports.
Possibly in the category of failing to starve the troll. If so, with my apologies but nevertheless an interesting read since Stewart Robson turns up almost every other time Arsenal are on TV in the U.S., spouting nonsense.
http://www.blog.woolwicharsenal.co.uk/archives/8335
Afternoon all,
Mr Storey in need of a doctor ?
Thought I’d offer my help with the broken toe situation, so popped in for a bit of digital communication and to plantar few corny puns in the bar.
My advice Lars – just get on with it and ignore the pain, old son.
Sorry if that seems a bit callus. 😉
Hope that hit the nail on the head for you. 😉
Hehs! @ Dr.T
Clearly, he misses Yossi Bunionoon.
I’ll fetch my coat.
🙂
TS, you can have my coat too, I will just wear Mesut and tie.
Heh!
@ Holic. Mate can you DM/Text me H2H contact details? Cheers.
Heh! Cent punning too ! 😉
Trev in disguise?
Please Talus the foot puns are over! 😉
Esso, H2H, ….
I’m up for whatever on Saturday. My slates clean. Arsenal all day.
I also left a chunk of Sunday unplanned in case I do find my way to Paddington! ;).
I will probably hit the armoury on Friday so that I don’t have to keep up with the merchandise on Saturday. I’ll be looking for Christmas gifts for the family.
Plane leaves in just over 24 hours!
Cheers, Trev, TS
and Ollie. Hard not to get involved once in a while 😉
Have a great time in London, Norcal.
Looks like Mertesacker just scored against England(he is Germany’s captain for the day BTW).
Should we be happy that Per scored?
Thanks Cent! I plan on it. Hope you get to make the trip sooner rather than later.
Sounds like I might have to learn some Swedish. There’s going to be a Viking invasion!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Nice one from the BFG, trying to watch the French game at the same time, thought their 2nd goal a mile off-side. All our boys are on the bench, let’s hope they stay there.