Farewell To The Boleyn
Apr 8th, 2016 by 'holic
There are a number of reasons why seeing us win at Upton Park feels good. This Saturday gives us the opportunity to begin to avenge the unique double they achieved against us. The Hammers were the last team to beat us at Highbury, and the first to beat us at the Grove. Now it’s our turn.
This is our last visit to Upton Park before they go to the massive public gift that is the Olympic Stadium. Few non bubble-blowers who ‘enjoyed’ the unique atmosphere at the Boleyn ground in the seventies will shed a tear at its passing, although I anticipate most scribes who missed those days will bemoan the loss of another piece of our heritage in romanticised tributes.
Forty years ago getting to, into, and away from Upton Park required a degree in camouflage and undercover training. Those who accepted the challenge would discover that in all four sides of the ground you had to be sure not to know the name of the Gunners left-back. I can see you old boys nodding!
Of course it’s changed since those dark days and a new generation of Gooners have, if not an affection for, a bond with the Irons in the form of a shared dislike of all things Tottenham. The travelling Gooners will once again prove that they are the best in the top flight making a proper atmosphere at a venue where once that was ill-considered. It’s one of the positives of the modern era that matches like this provide a positive experience for supporters of both sides.
It is perhaps fitting that the last trip to there is one of the most important of all for Arsenal. If you listened to the Bergkamp Wonderland Podcast this week you will know that the thinking is that we need to win all seven remaining fixtures to stand a chance of winning the Premier League. Even that may not be enough but frankly anything less would make it all but impossible rather than unlikely.
The team news is encouraging in as much as there is a possibility that Aaron Ramsey and Matthieu Flamini may be fit to join the squad, although it would be a genuine surprise if we changed the starting line-up that played so well against Everton and Watford, other than to reintroduce Petr Cech for David Ospina in goal. The hosts will be at full strength after Cheikhou Kouyate’s red card against Crystal Palace last week was rescinded.
We have to remind ourselves that West Ham too are hunting a Champions League berth and are just three points behind fourth placed Manchester City. What may help us is they are days away from an FA Cup replay and may not be keen to put their bodies on the line with at least one day out at Wembley in prospect if they can beat Manchester United. That said the close proximity of West Ham to us is not forgotten by Arsene Wenger.
“We do not only look in front of us, we look behind us as well, because we are chased by a group of teams who can make it very difficult for us.”
The ‘holic pound
It’s Grand National and Masters weekend, so value punts are the nature of the beast. I’m hoping we play freely as in the last couple of matches and thinking West Ham will play their part in a goalfest. I have 2-4 to the Arsenal at a very tasty 55/1. That would set the weekend up nicely!
So that is it for another Friday evening. I’ve enjoyed watching the U21s, complete with Jack Wilshere for 65 minutes, and Tomas Rosicky for the first-half, beat their Newcastle counterparts. Now it’s time for the rest of the England Ladies match against Belgium.
Whatever you are doing this weekend, have a good one, ‘holics.
90 Responses to “Farewell To The Boleyn”
Goodbye Upton Park.
Oi Oi Oi!
Rory Mac to win 0-1.
Not 2-1 IBtM? 🙂
Ah, or Oh, Upton Park.
I forgot myself for a split second over there when we won an FA Cup tie, 3-1 if memory serves. It was a night game and I somehow, at a very young age, allowed myself to be talked i to sampling the delights of the West Ham North Bank.
George Graham scored, I instantly and absent mindedly jumped and shouted and spent the next however many minutes returning from the “middle of next week”, whence I had been punched by the giant standing behind me. My youth and relative scrawniness had proved no barrier to him and his mates from giving us a good kicking.
The tube journey out of Plaistow was a complete nightmare – trains halted and rumours of a West Ham gang trying to put one Gooner through a tube window ……
Horrible place, horrible ground, horrible mob, often horrible days.
I hope we don’t change the starting line-up tomorrow. The last two games have looked like we had rediscovered some pace, shape and purpose to our game, moving the ball out of defence and through midfield so much more quickly.
A repeat of the Everton performance, please, and a 3-1 win to the rip-roaring. ??
You brought back the delights of the Boleyn ( which it only started to be called a few years ago) Holic. It really was a very nasty place to be shipwrecked in the seventies.
Having said that West Ham did us the massive favour of despatch ing Spurs on Lasagnegate day and thoroughly enjoyed it as the Bobby Moore Stand resounded to 4-2 to the Arsenal and the Bubbkes anthem was sung on the North Bank!
Bilic has transformed them and it’s an acid test for us tomorrow. It looks all over a draw to me which isn’t much use to either club so instead I’ll predict a 2-1 to the new glowing Gunners who have played very well in the last two games. Elneny and Coquelin must stop Payet in midfield and Ozil should have a lot of options upfront . The more I think about it , 2-1 to us sounds good! I shall be at the wedding of a Gooner. What awful planning. He has asked me to cough when we score. Let’s hope there’s an epidemic of coughing in Hertfordshire tomorrow!
Hate it when you get those ‘suspicious activity’ popups that lock your browser up.
There I was, minding my own business on goatporn.net and I get hit with that!
I had no idea our game was on the box tomorrow.
Ladies football content – England are poor.
As if by magic, they score.
I’ve still got it. 🙂
Hehe 🙂
nice one ‘hol
place was a shitehole
even in my somewhat meagre 30 odd+ years ago
populated by cunts
first place i saw “riot horses” UP CLOSE at the tube
got grief for a miniscule wee cannon on me coat
and got a good thumping when the cunts heard me accent
as i intimidatingly walked home on me own one evening
(lucas avenue for statisticians like ned )
with me groceries just bought
liked living there the rest of the time
to be fair though ?
upton pk not plaistow
yup
what trev and m’lud said
horrible fuckin place
though
i’ll stand my ground
when the fubble wasn’t on it was ok
where i was
and cheap
i wonder why ?
cheerio
joe brolly on bigotry
http://www.derryjournal.com/news/columnists/brolly-s-bites-north-men-south-men-comrades-all-my-arse-1-3674549
joe brolly on bullshit
http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/joe-brolly-mindfulness-gurus-put-my-bullstometer-in-overdrive-34301432.html
joe brolly ?
?
Only went to Upton Park once, in the late ’60s. A year or two before the Inter City Firm but a nasty place, even then. Never seemed to warrant a return visit.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=jxQbvSjQy9A
R.I.P. Merle Haggard
i will endeavour to shut up now
sorry ‘holics for shitting in your treehouse
https://youtube.com/watch?v=tVFpEfFPHrQ
The Mile End mob Ned. Fun characters. My first lone venture was 1970. 13 I was. Not realising, I wore a yellow and blue scarf on the South Bank. Brave of such big old units to pick on a just-teen eleven stone if drenched, eh?
Last time we lost at UP was back in 2006,when that jumped up prick Pardew,got in Arsene’s face when they scored a long ball goal that won them the game.
We have won 8 and drawn 2 of the last 10 league games played there.
They were absolute rubbish against Palace last week in a 2 – 2 draw,gave the ball away with monotonous regularity,and generally played like a Sunday Pub team.
So sod’s law will dictate that they will come out and play like world beaters against us tomorrow.
They haven’t lost at home since August,which is some record for them.
So the law of averages suggests a loss is coming.
If we start with the same positivity that we showed at Goodison,and take our chances,i think we will knock them over.
Only change would be Cech,his longer reach will be needed if Payet gets any free kicks within distance.
Don’t know what substances you have been ingesting H,to come up with a 4-2 scoreline,but there will be goals,and as mentioned in your preview,hopefully some of the players will have one eye on the cup replay next week.
Now if only Sunderland can pull 10 rabbits out of 6 hats and surprise Leicester.!!
One of my best friends is a bubbler. Or is that an oxymoron? More accurately it’s his wife with the disease, he himself is a cottager – in the Fulham sense, not the park loo frequenting one. Lovely people, but nuts the pair of them.
Easy win tomorrow. Like Watford their minds will be elsewhere. I hope OG gets to start and expect Alexis to make up for some indifferent efforts since his return by hammering ’em. And another long-ranger from El Niño.
Cheers Holic.
It’s always Upton Park in my book…the only Boleyn I’m aware of is Anne and that had an unhappy ending – may there be a repeat. It’s been a happy hunting ground for us of late and hopeful we have every chance of this run continuing.
As Clive suggests, the only change should be Cech for Ospina ( who has played well in his absence). The old idiom “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it” should apply. This current team is playing with much more mobility which plays to their strengths. The basis of this being the Coq-Ney axis and could be the way forward. Scoreline 2-0 to the good guys.
COYRRR
Unlike others,my memories of Upton Park are only good ones.
Going there in the 60’s with the Old fella was a pleasure,they played proper football,always entertaining to watch and by all accounts,to play against.
To see the likes of Bobby Moore,Geoff Hurst,Martin Peters et al, pre and post the 66 World Cup,was always one of the highlights of the season both home and away.
fuck it
*tumbleweeds*
http://www.thejournal.ie/bruce-springsteen-cancels-north-carolina-gig-2706434-Apr2016/
another
just tell me what i think i should say and i’ll say it scenario
what you think or don’t think
is mired in the fear that
you might use the wrong terminology
to back up what you said
about what you are afraid to
put yer foot in wrong terminology wise
clear as fuckin custard
oh and of course
apparently
“strap one’s hands cross one’s engines”
is the new old
.
feckin eejit
play the concert and shut yer fuckin hole
multimillionaire slabbering
will not help another poor soul
confronted with
“wrapping their legs round those velvet rims”
.
dickhead
hire bouncers
heap big smart clouds them
.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=c3TQocdjt9A
stupid internet
me and herself fer bbc4 at 3
fuckin champion band
she’s in her bed but a good drag on her big toe
should get her downstairs in no time at all
amazing the purchase ye can get
with a length o washing line
of course i jest
one whiff of hot chocolate in her ears
she’ll be dancing like a goodun
down here in seconds
if i wanted rid of her i couldn’t
get
slainte no late night gooners
#22, The people of North Carolina better keep their politicians in line or its going to get very quiet on the music concert front.
Springsteen takes a stand against this bigotry and hatred of a segment of citizens in the USA. He’s keeping the pressure on North Carolina until they repeal this stupid law
I worked with the Ramones for 13 years, you wanna know who KKK is written about? You probably know.
if ye were Monte
i’d listen to ya peaches
but i’m too old and smart
for nonsense
and i worked with the Ramones
near hand 40 years ago
didn’t buy it till 77
so
i put money in Joey and Dee Dee’s
brudder machine
paying the way for
1-2-3-4
numpties
where’s The Arsenal ?
sorry ‘hol
seems i have made it ok to d dog da big dog innit
.
i asked before
doing it again
zap me for a month
i have a whole new loada shite to learn for work
and fuckin shit i am finding it difficult
to get it into my memory
so
cheerio ‘hol
fer a month
please ‘hol
i spend too much time here
cheers big man
cheers big man ?
Nope
cheers big man ?
Nope
cheers big man ?
see above
lazy bollix
cheers
?
big man
realizing the error in my plan
it’s Saturday
can you bar me anyway for Monday
(weekend please)
(clive and the tartan frock wearers will approve)
not joking
couldn’t be bothered
to sign in to my email address
to privately ask ye ‘holic
when you can
please do
i need sleep and knowledge
and a young people’s brain
brain no longer a sponge
think of poor esso
his hands can no longer pick up a can
without relief and pain
beep
beep beep
beeeeeeeeep
sorry hol
off to bed
?
Definite good night
Slainte and see ye all shortly
Clive@20: that would have been when Ron Greenwood was manager of the Hammers, and they did indeed play proper football. Greenwood had been George Swindin’s assistant at Highbury for three and a half years before taking the job at West Ham in 1961. Wonder what Arsenal would have been like in the 60’s if he, and not Billy Wright, had succeeded Swindin in 1962.
Everywhere was thankfully different in the 60s Clive. I even enjoyed watching West Ham of 64 (FA Cup) and 65 (ECWC).
I hope all is well with you.
Slainte cba 🙂
Remind me when the month is up.
Nice preview Guvna and lots of interesting drinks above. I have never been to Upton Park and from the accounts of the Holics I now no longer regret that omission.
While you were being maltreated on the terracing at Upton Park, I was being chased along the London road by angry Tims and along the Copland Road by rabid Huns after famous Aberdeen victories.
Pity the Dons couldn’t repeat the achievement of a famous away victory at the slum of the Jambos last night and reduce Zico’s smugness.
Here’s hoping the Arsenal deliver on that 4-2 triumph the Guvna has backed.
COYG
#believe
Apart from the five at Leicester, we haven’t scored more than three in an away league game this season (and the four against Watford last week was our first four in the league). But I see the odds are shortening on the 2-4 for today. Perhaps the ‘Holic pound really knows.
Anyone know why Ospina keeps his place with Cech on the bench? Just don’t get it …
Ospina v Andy Carroll……ouch! Hope Arsene knows.
COYRRR
So, two sensible bets on the National, Many Clouds and Holywell. Then fun little each-way punts on the Arsenal trio, The Romford Pele, Goonyella, and Rocky Creek. 🙂
That’s 12.5% of the field. I must get something!
Ospina, Bellerin, Koscielny, Gabriel, Monreal, Coquelin, Elneny, Iwobi, Ozil, Alexis, Welbeck
Bench: Cech, Mertesacker, Chambers, Gibbs, Ramsey, Walcott, Giroud
Scoring first against West Ham is the key. It will be very difficult to come back against this WH team which is very well organised and they have some very talented players too. The last time they kept the ball very well after they went ahead at the Emirates and frustrated us. So, hope the right Arsenal turns up.
The ref, Pawson allows teams to get physical, I only hope we have some fair refereeing.
West Ham almost score. Come on!!
Should have been a red for Carroll…
COme On!!!!!!!!
Get in, Ozil!!!!!
Sanchez, yeah.
Shit, Carrol scores just before half time.1-2.
Carrol on fire. 2-2.
The usual pathetic shit.
Well …. should be an interesting second half…!
Well well, how very Arsenal.
I think we played a pretty decent half though considering.
Stuck on a train. 2 nil up and now 2 all? Again?
Nothing at all against Ospina but why is Cech not playing???
On course for 2-4
Got away with that one a bit. It was a foul but what is the keeper doing?
Fuck’s sake.
A hat-trick by that cunt.
Actually an own goal by Gabriel, who has been shit
Arsenal are done.3-2. Leicester and spud fans must be terribly happy.
3-2 down and two disallowed. What a shambles.
Here comes the first terrible substitution. We need goals mate, get Giroud and Walcott on
Cynic, that pretty much sums up our problem right now.
Koscielny!!!!
Get in Kos
Nice finish that.
Fucking SHOOT
Fuck off. You shouldn’t lose a 2-0 lead away from home if you’re a serious football team.
That’s the end of that then!
Feels like a loss drawing after we were 2-0 up. At least we fought for a draw.
Pleased with fight at end of second half.
Very unpleased with lack of it at end of first.
It’s gone now………Hope Leicester get over the line ahead of the umentionables and we also poach second from them at the death.
Clever of Bilic to take heed of Arsene’s press conference when he said he would keep an unchanged team. With no BFG in the line up there was an obvious case for playing Carroll and it worked perfectly!
Don’t think any of our side played particularly well. It was a very frustrating afternoon all round, loosing those two goals just before the interval was criminal.
West Ham didn’t take any prisoners, thought we were a bit weak in the 50-50 challenges but that is nothing new.The Ref missed quite a lot, not all of which was in our favour.
That game encapsulates our season. Profligacy up front and sloppiness and weakness at the back. Getting back to 3-3 shows enough fight to keep us in this title race. Come on Manure and Sunderland.
Taking time to calm down. Going to an end of season party first.
If only someone had foreseen a six goal goalfest 😉
Whose season has ended Guvna?
#still believe
Today was a deserved 3-3 draw and a draw was not entirely unpredictable given that both teams were looking for 3 points.
In truth our problem is not today’s performance or result but remains the games at Manure and v Swansea. We were diabolical in the former and bloody unlucky in the latter.
Today we had 5 minutes of sloppiness at the end of a half we thought we had won but in the second half after the rocky start showed good spirit to get back to 3-3 and with a bit of luck might have won it.
Hope City don’t catch us..!
Plain and simple – we’re not good enough to win the worst Premier League I can remember.
Cynic@87. Nail smashed firmly on the head.
As Bath also states, that is not just about today. It’s not just about this season. It goes way back.
At least when I now come into the bar there are those that actually now get that we are not good enough, rather than looking to elsewhere to lay the blame.
I wonder is Stan bothered to watch?????
You moved cba! I’ve blocked that one too.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>