Gunners Monster Munchen
Oct 21st, 2015 by 'holic
It was the best of times. That’s all. No Dickens style rider. From the pre-match aperitifs, through some wonderful Italian food in good company, to one of the most emotive nights the Grove has hosted, it was a special day.
That it was such an un-Arsenal like display, but one that harked back to the best of the nineties Gunners European performances, made it all the more sweet for some crazy inexplicable reason. I wouldn’t want to watch that week in, week out, but as a pragmatic approach against the best-equipped opponents it is something we have been crying out for in the barren years. Rope-a-dope was never so satisfying, but this was rope-a-dope ultra.
Born in Manchester last year, Arsenal’s adoption of a solid defensive plan with rapid counter-attacking when allowed was honed to perfection on a relatively balmy October evening. What made it all the more impressive is that we survived a Bayern storm in the opening half. Both full-backs were clearly being pinpointed as Arsenal’s weak link. Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal often found themselves double-teamed as Alexis and Aaron were being pulled around by some intelligent movement by the visitors.
After some early scares for the less experienced Bellerin Arsene Wenger made a slight change, allowing Mesut Ozil to perform a little more of a covering role. At the heart of the defence Bayern floundered on the twin rocks of Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker, although they in turn had the benefit of the shielding offered by Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla.
We let them have the football until they felt compelled to run down a blind alley and then we countered. They bossed the possession statistic all night, but the better chances were fashioned by us. It was an absorbing watch punctured only by the need to ‘do our bit’ and burst into raucous song.
The empty seats at the start of the match
The Bayern fans added to a wonderful atmosphere. The much-heralded protest against ticket prices was observed by around a quarter of them, around 700 or so would be a rough estimate. They replaced the banners that occupied their empty seats five minutes in and earned a warm round of applause from a lot, but by no means all, of the home supporters.
Some of them must have wished they had stayed outside. On the couple of occasions they fashioned chances they found Petr Cech in magnificent form. His first-half save from Thiago was breathtaking from sixty yards away. I look forward to seeing it again. A second-half tip over the bar from Lewandowski will bear further inspection too.
At the other end also Manuel Neuer was adding to the goalkeeping masterclass keeping out goal bound efforts from Ozil and, more memorably, Theo Walcott. Theo worked his socks off but again found playing with his back to goal a challenge. However he most certainly kept the central defenders on their toes and looks more and more comfortable in the role as he adjusts to it.
There were moments of near farce as Bayern were reduced to playing walking football in their own half, almost begging Arsenal to come out of their oh so protective shell. The Gunners responded by having a breather, or strolling round their own half as if to say “Well come on then, come back down here and let us take it off you again!” It added to the theatre of the night.
The introduction of Olivier Giroud for the last quarter of an hour proved a masterstroke. Immediately he started winning the balls played from deep and bringing others into play. More importantly he got the breakthrough for the Arsenal when he judged the flight of Cazorla’s teasing free-kick better than Neuer and knocked in what may prove to be the most important goal of his career to date.
The second, thrillingly crafted by Bellerin who was sensational in the second-half, and finished by the mercurial Ozil, created mass confusion in the stadium. Why were we celebrating? Had the final whistle blown. No, fair play to the first fifth official I have seen do one of the jobs they were put there to do, it was a second goal. The killer of the ‘holic pound too, but I wouldn’t have wanted the match to end differently.
The journey homeward, and for much of today, was an opportunity to bask in the glow of a remarkable night. The only dampener was discovering that Olympiakos had won in Zagreb, and if they win the return on their own turf in a fortnight they will have nine points with two matches to play. It means we could really do with something from our trip to Munich. Let’s worry about that in a fortnight though.
On Tuesday night we proved we have the abilty to compete with and defeat the best in Europe once more. Let’s savour that delicious thought a little while longer.
168 Responses to “Gunners Monster Munchen”
Ping!
A great perspective of a great game. The first half was simply breath taking and it reflects that the game is so wonderful when two teams decide to play to win. Bayern were good, Arsenal were better and more so hungrier.
It all happens again in two weeks time. Till then the small matter of Everton, Sheffield and Swansea. COYG.
Pong!
Ottimo
Perfetto
Mi piace molto.
Good stuff Guvna.
Pig! (Ping Pong Pig – my son’s favorite bedtime story)
Cheers, ‘Holic. Thank you for a splendid write-up. I had to work late yesterday, so I missed the “live” stream. Arrived home only to find I forgot to tape the match. Fox saved my blushes by replaying the match at midnight, so guess what I did…yada, yada, yada, I’m really tired today.
What wouldn’t I give to have a night like the one you described, ‘Hols? Good food, good drink, great company, sumptuous football, and a kick-arse atmosphere.
*sigh*
Oh well. Perhaps I’ll be able to do it when I make partner…or when the kids are older…or…
BMBD
Cheers H. The food, company, football, result and entire experience last night were right up there with my favourite all-time matchdays. Top three for sure.
The report was definitely of the game I saw. Having watched BT’s extended hour-long highlights I had to wonder what it was they were seeing. If we play our game then we are called naive, if we keep it tight we are unambitious and outplayed. Bunch of dullards treading a tired path of cliches through games. Worst thing is that unlike all the good tricksters they haven’t even got the brains to know they’re full of crap.
The whole team were immense. I lost count of the times that they ALL shuffled 10 yards across the pitch as Bayern knocked the ball about. Shape held. Not many gaps appearing despite some incredible off the ball movement from Munich. That must have been the highest quality match of football I have seen live.
The Neuer save was amazing. Cech quality too. I have never been in the Ems with an atmosphere like that. Throat is still hoarse today- totally worth it. The full-backs were excellent. Bellerin is so good for his age and, like Rambo, if he makes a mistake he never goes into his shell next time around. Which against Douglas Costa is likely to come pretty soon- he is a bit good, like.
We beat one of the best teams (the best?) in the world. By playing our tactics to perfection. The entire club gets dogs abuse when it goes wrong. Time to hear from the boo-boys (and girls) now. Just quite how good was that?
I’d say we are the greatest team the world has ever seen. In fact I’d sing it. Again. And again. At the top of my voice. With the 58,000 on either side of me if possible.
Talk about one of the good days.
Nice title by the way boss.
Thanks for the report holic,great performance by the team last night and also a big well done to the boss.i was one of the first to moan after our defeats in the CL this season so I have to and I’m delighted to give credit were it’s due.my pennence for moaning the TV froze on 71 minutes of the match so that thought me.still ain’t seen the goals!
Cheers GSD,
I’m still wondering if I should ‘fess up to eating dinner with a green dinosaur! Superb evening. Thanks to bath and BtM and friends too.
Evening all. 🙂
Dinner?
Heretic(s). 😛
Still basking here too.
After beating BM,every fan is assuming Arsenal will qualify for the next stage. We have to have a sense of perspective.
Assuming the French team get a point in the return leg the gunners cannot afford to lose to BM.That would put the French team at the 7 point mark.
We have to assume the gunners can win the two remaining games.In that case the French team need only a winfor their game with BM.With BM virtually through to the next round they could take it easy against the French.
You never know. The gunners will be a greater threat to the Germans shd the former get through.
See the logic. Of course things can hopefully turn positive for the gunners.
Terrific title Maestro, matched by a very accurate report which reflected the game I saw. GSD makes a good point about the media almost wanting Arsenal to fail so they can lay into Wenger. His critics have seen in most of the big matches we have played recently that we can adjust our tactics superbly and only a cheat like Costa can unhinge us using illegal methods. What we must eliminate is the complacency and mediocrity that creeps into our play against ‘ easier, more limited ‘ opponents like Monaco, Zagreb or Olympiacos. That’s a big problem we need to sort in Europe and at home.
Citeh, United twice , the Community Shield and now this performance showed what we are capable of. It’s not always comfortable watching but last night with Cech as the last line of defence I was reasonably serene throughout. I loved the spirit of the game. It was honest, not deceitful, high quality, intensely interesting and absorbing, football at its finest. Frankly it was well worth what we paid last night.
George Gunner
Who are the French team?We have Croatians and Greeks in our group?
Lovely write up of a very full day. A win like that certainly makes the day pass easier!
Dear george. Nobody I know is assuming that…
Good evening sir. Tabloidtastic title. Nice write up too.
Nice piece Guv.
Longer drink, written before reading the above – honest – coming soon.
COYG
AJ 🙂
It was brewing all day, regardless of what would be written afterwards!
Amused by the mysterious “French team” that have become imposters in our group thanks to George! I’m assuming French is just shorthand for any pesky foreign team?!
Agree with ‘Holic that no one is assuming we’ll qualify just because we beat Bayern. We’re simply enjoying a great victory – and sometimes in life you have to enjoy your successes when they come along.
I reckon we’re going to need a minimum of 6 points from our last 3 games….Assuming Olympiakos beat Zagreb at home, and if we did unfortunately succumb to Bayern away (not saying that will happen), then we’d need to beat Zagreb (H) and Olympiakos (A), and trust Bayern will beat Olympiakos at home in matchday 5. All variables, but the least we can expect after our desperately poor start to the group.
Hats off to the boys yesterday, and here’s hoping the confidence and belief generated by toppling one of Europe’s two best teams, will rub off on a cracking autumnal run!
This is be a LONG drink. By all means disagree with it. Feel free to argue with me (or amongst yourselves) about it. But, please, don’t complain about its length. If you dislike long drinks, you would be well advised to skip to the next one.
I haven’t been around here for a while.
I’ll admit I was rather hurt by the response to my last contribution, especially from Trev. I wouldn’t normally bother to name names, but Trev has previously complained when I use terms such as “some people”. I won’t name-check the other principal responder.
I promised myself I wouldn’t be back until the team won three consecutive matches. They have, so here I am.
A personal statement: I appreciate that the ethos of this bar is that one should treat other drinkers with respect. I understand this to mean that everyone is entitled to express their opinion, confident that they will not be treated disrespectfully as a result. Whilst I agree with that, I’m less sure that I believe that drinkers may repeat that opinion, in the same terms, many times, and that their readers may not express some irritation. I would propose a handy hint that if you find yourself writing “As I have said before” or the like, you may at least be approaching the limit of reasonable repetition.
Whilst I’m getting things off my chest…
I can think of four potential sources of revenue for a professional football club: i) The owner, ii) broadcasters, iii) other companies, probably by way of sponsorship and iv) the fans.
Now, I have seen frequent drinks calling upon Silent Stan to put his hand in his pocket. Fair enough, but I have seen complaints approximately as often about the amount of money that, especially Abramovitch and the Al Mubarak family have ploughed into Chelsea and Man City. I’m uncomfortable about the lack of consistency of these sets of comments.
A lot of money – a hell of a lot – comes into football from the broadcasters. I’d be happy to take any more money they were prepared to push the way of the clubs, but realistically they are unlikely to want to do that without getting something in return, very likely they’ll want more say in when matches are played. The bar doesn’t like that.
The next on my list of possible sources of money is sponsorship; I’ve read complaints that the Arsenal commercial team haven’t done as well as they should when it comes to negotiating contracts for sponsorship. I’ve no idea how correct this concern is, and I’ve also read that they have been getting more from the sponsors recently. All this is fine, but I’m a little chary about sponsorship in general – I dislike the idea of sponsoring the team’s training shirts, I dislike the idea of having additional sponsor’s logos on the matchday shirts. I can’t think of anything else that we might be able to get sponsored, which is probably why I don’t work in the commercials team of a large company.
Finally, money might come from the fans by way of season ticket prices, ticket prices or coffee/beer/food/programme prices. Naturally enough, I’m not happy about money being raised by this means.
I don’t have an answer. I hope the above illustrates that the problem is hard. I am maybe a little less patient than I should be with drinks that suggest the problem is easy. Perhaps I’m not; I certainly have few regrets about my lack of patience.
Finally, some random thoughts about last night’s match, which I was able to attend courtesy of a season-ticket syndicate including my sister-in-law, her son and his brother-in-law.
I think I thoroughly enjoyed the match; the whole thing is, however, something of a blur. I recall the ref blowing his whistle in about the 94th minute and asking my sister-in-law what had happened – had Arsenal scored again or had he just signalled full time? The mystery was only solved when Bayern kicked off and the ref did indeed blow for full time a few seconds later.
I hadn’t heard the “We’re the North Bank/Clock End” chant ping-ponging from end to end before. It’s good isn’t it? I tried to start a “We’re the West Stand” section without success. I thought it would have been really cool if the fans in the SW corner had started to chant “We’re the Bayern, We’re the Bayern, We’re the Bayern Ger-man-ee”.
I was highly distracted when Ramsey went off. At first, I thought the Ox was wearing thermals. A few minutes later, there was a perceptible gap between the bottom of his shorts and the top of his socks. A few more minutes later it was “the thermals” look again. I couldn’t resist and watched him for a while to try to work out whether the gap was appearing when he hitched his shorts up, or disappearing when he hitched up his socks. I never cracked it.
Overall, it seemed like an old-school Arsenal match. Under the cosh at times; defending competently, certainly competently enough not to concede; and won by a scrappy goal (or two).
COYG
A whole team of HFB’s in our group? Must’ve missed ’em so they couldn’t be that handsome. 😉
When the world seems to shine
like you’ve had too much wine…or beer.
That’s Arsenal!
Either that or you really have had too much wine…or beer
Still basking. Actually bought a cigar today. Last night was an incredible match of football, and I was very lucky to be there as the bearer of my ticket had a family emergency. Luckily able to get the tiicket reissued at the ground.
Fine report, Holic, and a tasty title for a crunch match.
I thoroughly enjoyed that – watching us inviting Bayern on and feeling pretty confident, after ten to fifteen minutes, that we were not going to give an unnecessary goal away.
At first, I have to admit to being a bit dismayed at the way we sat back and allowed them so much time and space on the ball. However, sitting so deep did compensate for Per’s lack of space and there were shades of the old George Graham marshalled defence as the players shuffled left and right, shackled by the short lengths of (invisible) rope they used to use on the training ground. Shades of Steve Bould, surely.
The speed of our counter attacks was fantastic, not always playing the best final ball but Bayern were frightened. We also recovered our shape very quickly after an attack broke down.
We did begin to look vulnerable in the second half as we were unable to hold onto the ball up front and a roaming Costa stretched our defence to breaking point.
On came Giroud and the game changed instantly. The ball was held up, a physical threat to Neuer at a set piece and one of my all-time favourite songs rasped across the stadium – “One – Nil to The Arsenal”.
Terrific performance from the whole team. Terrific tactics from the manager. Terrific support from the home crowd. Terrifically pleased that the numpties who left eight minutes early missed the second goal !
And what can you say about Hector Bellerin. Sprinting round the opposing full back in the 94th minute to lay a brilliant assist at the foot of Mesut Özil.
The lad is absolute class. If it’s true he doesn’t like the weather in London then Arsene should make it a priority to
adjust it to his liking before he eventually hangs up his manager’s coat.
One of the great nights for sure.
Just what our not-so-new-any-more home needs.
Pangloss
Welcome back, I was hoping nothing untoward had happened to you and delighted you were able to attend yesterday. It was a bit iof a privilege for any of us to be there. A great night.
I welcome your contributions because you are a contrarian thinker who sees elements of arguments others , including me, don’t often appreciate.
I won’t give detailed responses to everything you raise but some aspects are well worth responding to
Kroenke
You raise the interesting paradox of not wanting to be financially doped but resenting an owner who doesn’t invest in the side. It’s a very good point and made me think. I am very underwhelmed by Kroenke because this is a disparate cash cow for him, part of a big( and fairly mediocre ,in the U.S. ) set of franchises . Several American friends don’t see him as one of their most entrepreneurial sports magnates. Several people at the AGM felt that we had gone back to the bad old days of Pravda like communication and Kroenke said not a word allowing Wenger to draw his fire.
Whatever you say about Abramovich or El Mansour they have great passion for their club. It is their preoccupation and you get the impression success is very important to them. Kroenke needs to convince Gooners he shares their passion. He’s got a big job on there.
TV is a conundrum. I love a nice Saturday early evening game on the box as long as it’s not us at home. I think more consideration should be given to away fans and their travel challenges.
Agree about the other two points , it’s hard to strike a happy medium on sponsorship. We charge too much for premium games and the protests last night touched a sympathetic nerve among many home fans.
As for last night’s game, it was a cracker and I too thought the game had ended when everyone went ballistic. Glad it didn’t as that could be a vitally important goal.
The North Bank/ Clock End chant was in operation for many years at Highbury and has been translated to the new stadium without changing the words.It was particularly loud last night and evoked real passion. Recent support at the Grove has been good and it’s interesting that Citeh could not reach their capacity tonight , falling about 10,000 short. That’s not the mark of a big club.
As a Feo fan it surprises me he’s hardly been mentioned, seeing as Bild rated him our best player, alongside Ozil…
As for the blog title, Horror Bags were best. I hope they never get relaunched though as things like this are never the same.
I’d hate to buy a packet and think to myself… “Fangs ain’t what they used to be”
Pangloss,
I do actually enjoy your posts too.
My response, which you referenced, was made while I too felt very aggrieved by your remarks, calling those of us who dared to criticise a very poor performance all round as ” lazy Monday morning quarterbacks” and telling us to “get over it”.
Your own words were what I quoted back to you at the time. Clearly, they had the same effect on yourself.
However, i’m glad you got to share such a great night and look forward to the reappearance of your ” contrarian” views ! TTG’s words, not mine !
Had a chance to try this Belgian sour beer during the game yesterday, one glass in each half as a matter of fact.
http://www.omervanderghinste.be/en/our-beers/cuvée-des-jacobins
Quite satisfactory. 😀
TTG, from previous bar,
When Ramsey went down, he immediately signalled that he had to come off. That would indicate a tear – a “twang” in the hamstrings rather than a tightening. His gait suggested a hamstring although I’ve seen no confirmation.
Last time I saw him walk off at The Emirates with a hamstring tear, he was walking better than last night. He was out for four months.
Impossible to guess how long he might be out for, so I will. We are probably looking at 4 – 6 weeks, judging by his immediate reaction.
Will he suffer repeatedly from hamstring problems in his future career ?
Unfortunately he already is.
Bt8, that’s one of Ned’s monks on the bottle. ??
Thanks Trev, you’ve confirmed my worst fears. Ramsey is not a quick healer as we know from the past.
I don’t think this is as big a blow as losing Cazorla or Ozil as Ramsey was in my words ‘ a spare dick at a wedding ‘ in the first half on Saturday. I wish him a speedy recovery and perhaps the rest he might be needing.
Cynic, I thought I had given due respect to Theo. A centre forward in the traditional sense he isn’t. Neither was TH14, and Theo is some way short of that yet. He is growing into the job, no doubt, and owed his lack of an opening goal last night to an unbelievable Neuer save. The fresh Giroud though terrorised the pickled onion flavoured ones. Perhaps we have stumbled on the best use of them both? Theo exhaust them, Giroud bully them for 15-20 minutes?
Scampi Fries…
Fair do’s. You may have an email in mo…
Cod balls…
Trev, no question where they get their inspiration for fact gathering then. 🙂
If they don’t send you to debtors’ prison they tie you up to a chain to watch for approaching hurricanes while everyone else evacuates town.
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/oct/21/mississippi-debtors-prison-poverty-lawsuit
As a matter of fact it sounds like the perfect retirement gig for Mourinho, Costa and Dean.
A drink for AW and the team first, then all the drinkers here. And the world, while you are at it ‘holic 🙂 Let’s hope we keep up the momentum not get too cocky, and put our heads down and keep winning. COYG.
You can bet your house BM will start the 2nd leg like a greyhound from the starting block. I have seen the gunners overwhelmed in such matches. To recall: Spurs against Arsenal in a lc sf some seasons ago and the FA cup qf against rf. In both matches the gunners were swept past with contemptuous ease and lost heavily.
2015 gunners may have more steel but you never know.
Maybe Wenger may decide to park the bus.
The stats showed BM dominating in both possession and shots.However dominance in such areas, as Wenger has found to his cost,doesnt translate into wins.
Hopefully the gunners will attack and defend as a unit. NO one shd go awol.
Trev@31: It is keeping them off the bottle that is the challenge…
Nobody’s mentioned it, since it was ultimately irrelevant, but what a miss that was by the Ox to a wide open goal from three yards out on the rebound from Mesut’s strike/Neuer’s “save”. Had the fifth official not been helpful, the only one who would have been pleased was ‘holic, as that alltimer of a miss would have secured the wager.
And ‘holic, that was actually the second time a fifth official did something helpful at that end of the stadium, as it was the fifth official who made the call on Ospina’s howler vs. Olympiakos. Though saying that was “helpful” is a real stretch.
For the return leg, with Aaron out, maybe AW should go with the Oscar lineup of Giroud up front with Theo on the right. (I’m finding Oscar’s drinks more agreeable since he dropped the umlaut.)
Morning all.
Nice write up boss man.
The Grove was rocking on Tuesday night. It was a fantastic night and a great atmosphere. Bayern looked very dangerous early on. I like Bellerin a lot. He has developed magnificently in a very short space of time. Tuesday was no exception. I thought that at times Costa gave him a footballing lesson. But the plus is that it’s a lesson he will hopefully only be taught the once.
Our strength on Tuesday was our all round team performance. It’s probably the most cohesive we have played all season.
All in all it was a great nights football. I’m not quite sure why after such a night we are back debating money issues and the like? We will all have our opinions and no doubt they will all surface again. But having witnesses two dreadful performances in Europe surely now is the time to sit back and savour the feast that was on offer on Tuesdsy night?
It’s still out of our hands somewhat and we will need results to go in our favour. But after the first two matches if we get to game six needing a result in Greece to qualify then I will very much take that right now.
Enjoy boys and girls. Our unpredictability is still what hurts us. Hopefully we are beginning to turn the corner.
Latest I read on Rambo is 4 weeks??? Considering 3 weeks normally means the best part of a season, I dread to think what that means. Fingers crossed.
“I won’t name check the other principal responder.” Go on Pangloss. Name and shame. Put us all out of our misery.
:-).
Drinks on the bar all round for those still buzzing.
Can’t even do a smiley face anymore??????
🙂 🙂
George, that league cup game v Totnum “some years ago” was almost nine years ago. Not a single player who played in that game remains at the club so perhaps not the best example.
Steve: actually, technically speaking we still have progression in our own hands. All we have to do is win all three remaining games and not only would that see us through, it would actually place us top of the group. Can’t see any real difficulties in doing that, can we? 🙂
Morning Lars. None at all my old friend. I like your style. I’m sure that George will remind you of the result the last time we went to Munich??
Top the group and Maureen ends up in the Europa having finished third because of a dodgy penalty decision??? Now that would be worth celebrating.
Lars @43, first paragraph,
Excellent historical knowledge, mate, and an excellent hysterical point made too. ???
Steve T – oh, go on – do tell ! Who ? ?
Top notch report H,a night to live long in the memory.
Going back in history,
Pat Jennings at 32 years of age,was looking for a new challenge after being on the outer at WHL,we gave him one,and how he responded in spades,giving us some memorable performances over the years, to remember him by.
Anyone privileged to be in the crowd at the 4 titanic FA Cup semi finals against Liverpool back in the day,were rubbing their eyes in disbelief at the incredible saves he made.
But that was the norm for this quiet unassuming Irish International.
He was a truly great goalkeeper.
Fast forward to this summer,and Petr Cech,another keeper, a year older than Pat,is also looking for a new challenge after being ousted from the Number 1 spot at the Bridge.
Arsene has given him one,and after just a few short months at the Club,he has already proved what a Colossus he will be as the last line of our defence.
After years of Goalkeeping comedy capers by those who shall remain nameless,how refreshing it is to finally have a supremely talented unflappable class act patrolling our penalty area,and as evidenced by his peerless performances against Liverpool and Bayern just to name 2,he has raised the expectations of Arse followers around the world,that we can after many barren years,finally mount a credible challenge for the PL title.
Long may it continue.
Can’t even do a smiley face anymore??????
That’s because you put a full stop after the bracket with no space. Shocking amateurism on the smiley frnt.
Shocking amateurism on the typing in English front by me there 🙁
Great review. Epic evening.
Excellent report Guv’na and drinks from all & sundry. Regretfully have yet to see the match – hopefully when I return UK but a brilliant performance (containment) and result. Tues evening was Capts cocktail night etc on the vessel so plenty of extra reasons to get some in 😉
Currently in Bilbao – just off to do my culture vulture stuff at the Guggenheim but would swap in in a heartbeat to have been at the Grove on Tuesday. Back on terra firma next week.
Wonderful Review Holic.
Well said Clive about Cech. He’s a wonderful player. I think we forgot what is was like, or how important it is, to have a proper GK. My blood pressure is lower too.
Interesting article in City AM about gate receipts
http://www.cityam.com/227016/arsenal-generated-second-highest-gate-receipts-revenue-in-europe-last-season-ahead-of-third-placed-manchester-united?
The table is fascinating and adds some justification to those who might feel we should be higher up the European pecking order in playing terms, and having beaten Bayern Munich , it does suggest we are capable of becoming a European powerhouse.
This underlines the concern I and others feel about Kroenke. The sustainable model is well- established and is churning out regular profits whilst building up a monstrous cash reserve ( the biggest in world football). What is that money there for? The ground repayments are amply covered, so there is an awfully big war chest for recruitment.
Any Holics with a knowledge of languages have any idea what the German media have made of the game and result?
*drops line and settles down by the lake*
*simultaneously basks and fishes for more reasons to bask*
There is nothing to make of it in German, GSD, except –
“ZWEI – NÜLL FÜR DEN ARSENAL !
ZWEI – NÜLL FÜR DEN ARSENAL ! ………. ”
?????????
Attempting to grasp the difference between BIG MONEY and AWFUL MONSTER MONEY.
TTG. Thanks for the link. A very interesting article and I agree that our high gate receipts should make us a monster to contend with, if our other revenue “streams” (rivers?) are anywhere near where they should be. I have only one problem with the headline. Arsenal are not actually ahead of Manchester United in gate receipts, if this sentence in the text of the article can be believed:
“United’s Old Trafford home is only club ground in England bigger than the Emirates Stadium, and its capacity of 75,653, helped United generate £3.2m on an average match day – more cash per game than Arsenal.”
Possibly last season Arsenal had more gate revenue due to Yannited missing out on Champions League home matches, but if the article can be trusted we are behind them on a match-by-match basis, and would be considerably behind them had they qualified for the Champions League so last yeer’s end of season gross gate revenue total would be a numerical anomaly that was exaggerated in the headline. If that makes sense.
Cheers Trev. Top answer!
More journalistic accounting sleight of hand in the headline of this article:
http://www.cityam.com/227011/arsenal-champions-league-prize-money-earnings-near-10m-following-bayern-munich-win
In the body of the article, check out the meaning of the terms “paycheck” and “performance-based prize money” which on a game by game basis in the group stage are tiny compared to the guaranteed per-match payoff of £8.8m for each team that competes in the group stage. Of course the winning teams will earn more in the next round but that is beside my point. And again my point is about misleading headlines. In this article if you only read the headline,
“Arsenal Champions League prize money earnings near £10m following Bayern Munich win”
you come away with the impression that our win last night made a difference of nearly 10m when in truth it made a difference of just over 1m. None of this is to suggest that winning or accumulating monster cash reserves are inot important, just that accurate headlines are also important. Sorry for changing the subject. 😀
Uply @ 50
Are you a pirate?
*Asking for a friend*
Any Holics with a knowledge of languages have any idea what the German media have made of the game and result?
I only know that Bild thought Oil and Theo were our best players and Koscielny and Ramsey the worst, that they marked Bayern players low and that the higher the mark you get with them, the worse you played.
So Theo and Ozil for 2, which is good, and Ramsey and Kos got 4, not so good.
Oil? Fuck this soft Mac keyboard 🙁
Fuck’s sake…. for 2? Piss off and learn to type, Cynic.
Cynic- so they marked Bayern players as playing well?
I thought they played well- which made the result even better.
Oh, and learn tot ype, will you? Wink.
Cynic. Good performances get lower numbers than bad ones? German confusion all around then. 😉
Free speech should count for something, even for Citeh supporters. I would think anyways.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34603517
Sad news about Johan Cruyff lung cancer. I would be surprised to found out if he is or was a smoker during his playing career.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34602348
Cynic- so they marked Bayern players as playing well?
They scored them high and so rated them low.
Bloody German logic.
Ziss is vye it took you so long to crack ze Enigma Code,
Vee heff vays off making you confused ! ? ?? ?
HAHAHAHA!
Cheers Cynic. What a system. If my French class reports had worked the same I’d be bloody fluent… Nest pass?
From Sky Sports, filling in the BBC story’s gaps:
“Cruyff, who won three consecutive European Cups and three Ballon d’Or awards during his time with Ajax in the early 1970s, was a smoker until undergoing an emergency heart bypass in 1991. After the surgery he became the face of an anti-smoking campaign.
Wasn’t following things between times …
GSD@53: The Süddeutsche Zeitung, Munich’s regional paper, has taken the defeat with an equanimity that would do the Guv’nor proud. It is not a crisis, the paper said, “just because at times fog briefly obscures the sun in an otherwise clear blue sky”. The general tone of its reporting is that Bayern wasn’t played off the park, that Neuer only makes a mistake every few years and it usually in a match that doesn’t matter, and that Arsenal played well, pressing like Klopp’s Dortmund at its best with Ozil — “a fragile, alien princeling” — having an outstanding game.
Interestingly, a pre-game feature on Ozil reckoned he was playing the best club football of his career with Arsenal. It also made the point that he is more effective with Walcott ahead of him than Giroud.
http://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/mesut-oezil-weichspueler-mit-neuer-kraft-1.2699302
NBN, I don’t read German well but between the error-strewn Google Translate and my interpretation that article seems to credit Coquelin with Ozil’s recently improved club form, not Walcott. (??)
Not sure if the article was online in its complete version. There seems to be a quote from Ian Wright, and it could be about Walcott or someone else, but Walcott’s name is not in the article. The Ian Wright quote is unintelligible to me and/or out of context. Please help with my German deficiency!!
Cheers NBN. Prodigious work- much appreciated.
Here is the Google Translate version of the Suddeutsche Zeitung overview of the game. I have left GT’s idiosyncrasies intact as they add a certain “Ich weiss niche was”:
England amazed by Aliens
The city of London had spruced suspicious in the past few days, it was downright deceptive nice weather in the British capital. Then a storm followed by the name of Arsenal and as the passed by, returned finally get some normality. Drizzle of that fine variety of dripping a below the Hutkrampe – “it’s raining cats and dogs”, as the English say, and indeed the whole day.
The staff of FC Arsenal will be the matter for their club is this deep gray autumn day probably the most pleasant of the season so far.
The 2: 0 of the north London against Bayern in the Champions League fueled a mood upswing, which has held at the “Gunners” for weeks catchment. One might say: Arsenal feels after months of quarreling finally back like a real giants. And because Per Mertesacker is the captain of this team, now echoing his fanatical words from that night for: “This has so nobody expects us,” said the German champion before the gangway in polished BBC English, “it has mated everything but You need such a day to beat Bayern. ”
Mertesacker spoke not only as an Englishman, he also played as a: uncompromising, combative certainly, Header outrageous. He goes so far as one of the few defenders in the history of the sports year 2015, did not shoot five goals against Robert Lewandowski. Bavaria Pole not even shot a hit – and that was because of the order, the manager Arsène Wenger had given his team. Rear threw themselves enthusiastically into the London every ball, front started Mesut Özil, Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott at least a half-time at every opportunity the counter-Inferno.
Many looked like BVB in its best phase under Jürgen Klopp: assault with football system. “We had to win at all costs and have today made a lot of effort and discipline,” said Wenger, “Bayern had the ball more often, but we wanted to beat them in Umschaltspiel.” They succeeded admirably, because Özil got one of those days when he was “like a lightning clever mechanic lubricates the gears”, as the Guardian reported in a detailed ode to the Germans. With his lead to 2: 0 are many people on the island called Özil, this “fragile, aliens princeling”, back into memory.
Ironically, against Bayern, against which he created 18 months ago when 0: 2 had experienced in the Champions League first knockout round its moment maximum submarining. But England is surprised not only about the resurgent Özil – but also about Manuel Neuer. Meanwhile madness parades had initially fear of the invincibility German keeper nourished before the world champion then next attacked evil.
From a ‘horror error “was to be read, the Times saw even Neuers” world-class performance ruined “. And the Independent speculates: “Maybe Manuel Neuer is not the world’s best goalkeepers.”
Particularly haunting the sheets dealing with the good-bad-dialectic of the Bayern goalkeeper. His millennium defense against Walcott’s head to admire the British, his blind flight at 0: 1 comment sardonically: “newly created the laws of physics upside down, but the songs of triumph on his brilliance lay at the end in ruins,” writes the Daily Mail, while the Daily Mirror noted: “Manuel Neuer frustrated the Gunners – but suddenly he behaved as if he were his own namesake and would wait tables in a hotel in Torquay.”
The temporary job in the southern English seaside resort (yes, so what is there) should be spared the Munich after all. And secretly the British would of course only be happy if it in the Kingdom such a reaction would be as strong goalkeeper Neuer. The Häme it is in fact like the weather: deceptive thing.
Here is another gambol through the GT version of SDZ’s reaction to Tuesday night. Seems that Neuer was not at fault but rather they were overwhelmed by a car park!
We are in big trouble
Lovers of car parks should not miss the trip to London’s Emirates Stadium miss it expects them there the charm cool functionality. In dim light and car exhausts it obscures one in the catacombs of the arena while easily the senses, for it compensated the accuracy of signage. “Players” and “Officials” is written on the output from the player cabin – the Englishman take something very accurately. Manuel Neuer is not. He strolled on the wrong side of the gears maze, which was clearly visible in all air pollution.
Neuer is among the Bayern stars the intrepid, it would even be trusted to traipse through a passage, which is entitled “only Royals”. But so far it came after the 0: 2 (0: 0) of the German champions at Arsenal fortunately not.
“I need at 0: 1 just stay on the line, then does not happen,” admitted the goalkeeper, as he made to reporters in the park house ambience a little company. Such a lapse like Olivier Girouds Daddeltor to 1: 0 (74 minutes) passes an otherwise insurmountable as Neuer at most every few years – and most of then is not the opponents Arsenal, but Mönchengladbach. Mostly it is then also not too much, but this time he had “through my fault these unnecessary defeat initiated,” said the 29-year-old.
He had jumped on a pass catcher ready over because it had mate Thomas Müller and a tangle of Arsenal players simply deprived of sight. Ironically, the same Neuer had kept his team previously with two world saves from Mesut Özil and Theo Walcott in this game. And to complete the point-rich presentation, he was also at Özil’s lead to 2: 0 (93) at the center. Again an impossible thing had kept Neuer – only stop behind the line. Allegations the keeper therefore had no listen, that would have been measured.
Team boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said full gentleness that “something can happen,” coach Pep Guardiola made it clear: “. We did not lose because of Manu” This insight led to the real problem of this eventful night in London, because it actually was not at Neuer.
It was rather that the Bayern despite overwhelming dominance, despite 69 percent of the ball and despite numerous occasions from the “great chances” -Güteklasse not produce results brought about. Guardiola dared in his analysis even a discourse into the metaphysical, as he said: “Sometimes you score, sometimes not, just as today – that’s Mysterious in football.”
Attempts had it yes: Phased Munich jostled quite towards the goal, they combined with a kick, a little Tiki here a little Taka since, this beautiful Schnixereien of Douglas Costa, the English in the stadium “Ouch” and “Ooh” generated. Thiago, Arturo Vidal, Müller, Robert Lewandowski – all earned themselves opportunities. But no one wanted to clean their attempts. And so remained as knowledge only those frustrating that you wanted to have actually long been eliminated: This highly talented team lacks in the absence of their injured Nutcracker Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben and Mario Götze to Brachial solutions in the offensive.
Guardiola sounds the alarm
Was apparently already at 2: 1 against Augsburg and most recently at the unglamorous 1: 0 in Bremen. “We have had enough chances, played well, but the door does not hit,” said Neuer. Thomas Müller wrestled with the fact that you “always stupid because without goals is” and ever felt “so a defeat weird, because we have not already lost long.”
But these were only small alarms compared to what Guardiola takes from this encounter: “. We are due to the many injuries in ‘Big Trouble'” Not for the first time accused the Catalan so much about the current weakness of his team.
The coach are the oomph deficits did not escape despite the new dribbling faction Kingsley Coman and Costa – he knows that especially Robben Torgler at top level is irreplaceable. But these seals must also only get back into shape after weeks of waiting. Not to mention the now eight-month break Ribéry. So ended up staying only one conclusion: This trip to the north of London had been worth more than for fans of gray, stuffy car parks.
Thanks, Bath. The other article NBN mentioned, the feature on Ozil, does more than credit Coquelin, it says Ozil’s better performances are also due to his strikingly muscular torso and his move back to the central role behind the striker.
Brachial solutions in the offensive?
Is that their latest excuse. 😀 😀 😀
That makes three consecutive clean sheets with two of the three earned against Manchester United and Bayern Munich. With our back six (Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal and Coquelin) in place, we could be poised to continue this excellent run if we keep our defensive focus. I wonder what has changed from the previous five games when we allowed ten goals. The only personnel change of note is Cech instead of Ospina, who allowed five of those ten goals. It would be unfair to lay the blame on Ospina only but we have improved our defensive focus overall and we must keep it that way.
Deep doo doo or deep Dada?
Bath….brilliant “translations” – I can picture Ronnie Barker reading those.
Zico @ 50……………I am a pirate in need of black gold and considering organising a boarding party to raid the cruise ship on the adjacent berth and search for some guinness 😉
Uply. Is its home pory Dublin? If so, I say go for it!
pory = port
Not sure if my eyesight or my fingers are harming my typing accuracy the most. Lack of proof reading could sneak in to a photo finish.
In any event Uply please do update us on your progress.
So after the 15th viewing, I’m not quite sick of seeing those goals go in against BM.
AW on the Ramsey hamstring and his playing in the dead rubber for Wales vs. Andorra:
“With the international break, the fact that he played against Andorra certainly cost Bale and him as well.”
Played the entire match; what was the point, Chris Coleman?
Bath – amazing translations. Into which language, exactly ?
“Brachial solutions in the offensive”.
I presume the “offensive” has been added as an extra case – nominative, accusative, genative and dative not being confusing enough. . . . . .
wie zum Teufel habe ich verpasst , dass ?
According to Google translate this is what Neuer said right after Giroud scored. 😀
Guten Abend my little Hot Sausages !
Ich kann tell you vot vee sought of ze metch !
Vee hed ze grosse trouble getting into England – as usual – finding alle ze French ports occupied by tausende von foreigners.
Our hovercrafts were all full von eels and ze trains all had zer passages blocked up the Tunnel.
Unser team was also sehr surprised viz ze Arsenal formations, und ze fans were disappointed. No Podolski für starters, und all ze blitz quick youngens embarrassing poor Shabby Alonso. Zat is no ways to treat an old Mann.
Und vot is zis mit Arsenal all in ze positions staying und defensive machen für ze lives ?
Not one single time did vee see Coq dribbling. Schrecklich ! ?
Trev, If zey only vanted to see Podolski zey should have taken ze train in ze oder direction to see him score for Gala against Benfica.
http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2016/matches/round=2000634/match=2015710/postmatch/quotes/index.html
Happy birthday Boss, Arsene Wenger may have had his critics and his stubbornness but the man has defined the modern day Arsenal. Anyone who questions his sincerity towards the club cannot be considered a fan at all. This maybe his last hurrah but boy he is definitely trying his best to go on a high. The premier league win should be the perfect send off to the great man, that is assuming he is not renewing his contract.
Indeed Vinay. Many Happy Returns Mr Wenger. Here’s hoping the silverware comes pouring in as the season progresses.
Heh @ Trev’s German Stunt Double.
Verrrrrrry Interesssssting……….. but schtoooopid! 🙂
bt8b@74: You are right that the Süddeutche Zeitung article notes the importance of Coquelin in lightening the load of Ozil’s defensive duties, giving him more opportunity to play to his attacking strengths. It also says that Arsenal set up with two fast and mobile forwards, i.e., Sanchez and Walcott, takes more advantage of Ozil’s passing skills than when Arsenal sets up with a target man in the penalty area, i.e. Giroud. I only highlighted the Walcott/Giroud point given the discussion in the bar of late. So it is not Coquelin vs Walcott but the set up.
GSD@74: We just get up late at Castle Ned and read the papers. Tough work, but somebody has got to do it. 🙂
Big heh to Trev’s German Stunt Double @90.
Donaudampfschifffahrtselektrizitätenhauptbetriebswerkbauunterbeamtengesellschaft, which Google Translate bafflingly translates into English as Donaudampfschifffahrtselektrizitätenhauptbetriebswerkbauunterbeamtengesellschaft is all I can say to that.
A bootless Okaka scored against the spuds..
Make some sense out of that!
😀
howdy ‘hol
howdy ‘hols
and
howdy Up
nice one 🙂
bar the stout drought
🙁
shite state of affairs is that
*distracts judgemental ton*
“POLICE”
shite fuckin band
if there’s a more
pointless shite than sting
yet to be advised of his
unforgiveable omission from my list
cocky bleach haired
cod-jamaican geordie turd
did black lace agadoo any reggae covers ?
just as credible and better hair
Happy birthday to the boss!
@Trev and all: Shad Forsythe is a wizard! Our injuries are half they were last season
http://www.arsenalreport.com/posts/injury-stats-massively-improved-from-last-year-forsythe-has-done-wonders
sorry ‘hol
at it again
tendin’ towards talkin’ ’bout
the arseholes
rather than
The Arsenal
haircuts too
makin a right Nicholas o’ mesel’
🙂
*googles 100 worst football mullets fer a laff*
mind you
nowts changed
sjust they’re all at it
young jackie boy
looks like someone
freefalls from a goodly height
to part his world war haircut
wi a spade
iffin he grew a beard
he’d be servin’ ye
a Slapback Long Tall Sally
with a twist
and
a reposession order on yer
un-designer-bearded house
*original sheep*
even real sheep look different
as do cattle
hate sheep
assholes
baaastards
Yellow card, stout drought! 🙂
xactly ‘hol
i’m a man of measure
controlled
as age has gone on
i become less lairy
but not ready for mary
i was horrified on Up’s behalf
“MIDDLE OF THE ETC ETC WATER”
nor any stout to fuckin drink
.
Grrrrrrrrrrrr
Himmel Trev!you speak Latvian like a native.
That Europa League looks a cracker.I’d love to see us in that. Thursday is a quiet night at Chez TTG so I’m all set. Spurs may be out by the time we enter though ?
mind you
or blaaa
my latest batch of porter
is rotten
jeez
can’t work it out
still gonna drink it
possible repeat
of the outside lavvy incident
a possible though
but
🙂
Don’t do it cba. Definitely not work the risk.
i did ask son of a mate o mine
he couldnt understand
shockin bitter it is
tainted prob
after brewing was near done
by fruit fli?es
or
one o the enormous
flying livestock
there is about here
they all stand
round the side of me house
leather jacketed
their compound gambling eyes vacant
pitching coins against the wall
its payback baff
fer me clumsy drunken
scottish pointy-atty-ness
ye are a proud nation
am proud to have scot relatives
😉
😉
Me too 🙂
can ye do anything? baff
please!!!!!!!!!!
PLEASE!!!! Q!!!LLLLFFFFTKJDUGDDG
.
*frntnrsssppttt*
“YE AREzzzz DEALINzzzz WITH ME
NOWzzzzzzz BAFFzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
A glass of black nectar and the whiskey of your preference on the virtual bar, cba and waiting for your visit to the Tollie.
*bzzzzzssssss*
😉
tollie top of me list big man
🙂
Ned, big heh! Yourself @96. ?
Not as exciting as I had hoped but Wikipedia has this to say this about the genitive case:
In grammar, genitive (abbreviated gen; also called the possessive case or second case) is the grammatical case that marks a noun as modifying another noun.
So if I read it correctly, the genitive case noun in the following phrases would be Arsenal’s: Arsenal’s win over Bayern Munich, or Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Bayern Munich, or Arsenal’s convincing 2-0 win over Bayern Munich. My only question: If the definition of genitive case is possessive case, why don’t they just call it the possessive case and have done with it? No raising my hopes that genitals would come into it or any other harm done.
ZZZZZZZZZZZ
*cleans wings*
.
🙂
*breaks cover and sticks on me dinner*
it really is only so long before a feed o dinner is called for
wha?
who said spuds?
Just something Trev mentioned earlier cba but as absent members of the grammar POLICE might have pointed out, he didn’t spell the word correctly.
Sting a member of the grammar POLICE? Who is to say?
Spuds with turmeric = Yellow bellied potato.
Just hope it doesn’t have anything to do with the noisy neighbors.
Quique Flores. Nice enough man but I have a feeling he could be out of his depth. Also needs a beard shave.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34562061
Must be thinking about dinner myself. On first reading it looked like Quiche Flores. Either dinner or my appointment with the optometrist. 🙂
Summer session beer they call it but very enjoyable it you ask me.
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/287/49092/
If so, it may be time to switch to something a bit thicker because the cold weather is around the corner. Only a 20% chance of rain when the youngsters go trick or treating on Halloween, and not that cold lucky bastards. 🙂
Grammar police returns …
… not that cold. Lucky bastards.
Grammar police return ….
returns would be their empty bottles
Here we are again, happy as can be…
(I’m finding Oscar’s drinks more agreeable since he dropped the umlaut.) – BJ (#40)
Kind of you to mention, BJ. Interestingly I’ve noticed a distinct improvement in the performances of that ‘fragile, aliens princeling‘ with the ‘strikingly muscular torso‘ (according to quotes above) whom I have been wont to citicise when I was umlauted. Should I claim some credit?
Oskar
Oskar you are the new after hours favorite I see. Perhaps your criticism was the princeling’s inspiration for his now strikingly muscular torso?
Trev empty bottles not so inspirational today I’m afraid …. sorry if I’ve gone over the line.
My only question: If the definition of genitive case is possessive case, why don’t they just call it the possessive case and have done with it? – Bt8 (#122)
While the genitive case usually indicates possession there are exceptions, Bt8. A simple example would be Ferrari’s cars where the cars are not owned by Ferrari only made by that company. Genetive is more relevant to languages other than English, so required when referring to their grammar.
But it’s a dodgy area capable of endless debate. I’d stick to football. Arsenal’s game plan, for example, placing a high value on possession.
Oskar
Trev@131: Excellent. Police is one of a few English collective nouns that should only be used with a plural verb.
He does seem to be fitter these days doesn’t he. The Prem is a much more physical league than La Liga and hopefully he’s now up for the weekly grind as well as the international show pieces. He is the man most likely to find our strikers – especially the defence-splitters that only Theo’s speed can reach. I agree that there is an understanding developing there and just hope AW gives it time enough to flower.
Good to see him on the score sheet again too. Still room for improvement there.
Oskar
Or it could just be those tight Puma shirts!
The shirts are 100% polyester according to worldsoccershop.com
Lycra is about the only material that gets much tighter but it is apparently less durable, i.e., more subject to wardrobe malfunction which Ivan is doing his best to avoid. Any other questions?
Cheers H!
Massive heh @ Trev and his hovercraft full of eels! Pythonesque one might posit?
First visit this season to the TNHOF on Saturday.
CANT
FUCKING
WAIT!
Good man Esso.
Hope to see you, if only at the railings. 🙂
Whisper this but we could be top of the league on Saturday night.
NO JINXES PLEASE!
We will struggle to beat Everton after our exhausting efforts on Tuesday.
Yeah, they’ll obviously hammer us 9-0..
In other news, Arsene Wenger says he will cry if they get rid of Christmas fixtures to have a winter break. CRY!
You and me both mate. There’s two things that make Christmas for me and that’s Arsenal on the telly on Boxing Day (as we always seem to be, even if that’s just my imagination) and …. fuck it, there’s only ONE thing. 🙁
Saying things that contradict your previous public statements can be fun and give you a sense of personal liberation. I should know because I have a long track record of it. Now, as Cynic says, Arsene Wenger has decided to do exactly that about one of his previous pet peeves, the congested holiday period football calendar in England. Not only that, he is saying it in dramatic Mourinhoesque style, saying he will cry if the calendar is changed. Meanwhile, Mourinho is calling the referees “weak” and “naive” to quote Wenger exactly. Something is not quite right about his one …
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34615140
Pardon my grammar at the end of 146:
about this one, not his one.
Pardon my spelling in 146 and my word choice inn 147: spelling, not grammar. Over and out.
Forgot to ask to please pardon my loquacity.
Cheers for the report H.
Sounds like one of those legendary nights out.
Pleased to report the Guinness drought is over. Found a bar in La Rochelle this lunchtime aptly just 100 yds from Rue De L’Arsenal! Mind you eur 6.40 per 500 ml a bit steep (frog bastardos).
To further improve my already good humour, just seen latest Maureen interview in which he states he will no longer give jokes in his interviews – only strictly football matters – as apparently the media are no longer blowing up his rectum. The irony is that most of his previous serious comments were considered jokes by the rest of us.
Everton web site claiming it was the Toffees who beat Bayern Munich in midweek, not Arsenal. Disinformation tactics to what end?
http://www.evertonfc.com/fixtures/2010-to-2019/2015-2016/barclays-premier-league/arsenal-vs-everton
On second reading not incorrect after all. Conspiracy averted.
“The Gunners will be in confident mood heading into their fixture with the Blues after securing an impressive 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.”
Uply, Crossing the border to France seems to have been a good strategy. Well done. 🙂
Bt8
I do the misprints, then the corrections and then the corrections of the corrections, still mis- spelt ! You need to get your own shtick !
A drink on the bar for you of your choosing
TTG. 😀
From the department of odd odds.
SkySports offering longer odds on Kos to score on a header (16-1) than for Mert to score on a header (14-1). Their odds on our fullbacks to score on a header are currently unadvertised.
bt8b: even odder odds. Coral is offering the same odds on Santi scoring against Everton as they are on Joel Campbell. Unless they know something about rotation we don’t yet…
NBN. If there is a typo on their website does that count in the better bettor’s favor? 😉
Worth checking into if they offer a bet about Santi or Joel being the likelier to score. 🙂
bt8b@158: you would have to consult m’learned friends in the bar on that point.
After the other night Theo’s odds should be the biggest of all when it comes to scoring with the noggin.
NBN. Excepting you, me and Cynic it looks like our learned friends are out in the betting parlors doin’ some more learnin’
I am watching The Pink Panther Strikes Again. Again. Absolutely hilarious.
It still remains in the seriously dwindling category of farce that is better than Mourinho’s unprecedented output this season.
Heather Rabbatts voices the concerns of many people in football after some shocking decisions by the FA. Now the FA are investigating her for doing so.
But this is no longer not shocking at all. Fool me once…
The FA are fools at best and I suspect the truth is much darker. A murky collection of vested interests that couldn’t give a sausage about the game of football. Their attitude to their role in serving our game makes fools of us all.
How do we justify or explain this to non-football people? I’m ashamed for football.
Nothing like a dose of FA medicine to bring me down with a bump after the wonder of Tuesday night. A truly great experience which was well worth the money. But those who govern football behave in such a way that, for me, even nights like Tuesday now come at too high a price.
‘No longer shocking at all.’
Extra negatives reflecting how glum this story has left me.
We’d better stuff Everton tomorrow. I reckon Hector will be full of confidence and might try a few shots over the next few games- a third club goal on the cards? That would cheer me up some!
GSD, Here’s one for you along with a thirst quencher of your choice. 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU0H2RbNXzU
bt8. My hero- you nailed it sir.
I’m only on the tapwater *feels Dr. Z’s disgusted look* so why don’t you go ahead and drink whatever mine would have been?
Cheers!
Preview time (hic!) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>