Regression And Delirium
May 3rd, 2016 by 'holic
Well, that was very funny, wasn’t it? I think last night provoked the most astonishing range of emotions, and that it ended with most of the football world delighted was a bonus. For one evening the warring factions of Arsenal social media were united by a shared hatred. Great, I thought, I can write all about it tomorrow.
Then I woke up this morning and saw Arseblog’s observations and realised I was too late. I was particularly taken with this part,
I know our season was a huge disappointment, but if you canโt enjoy what happened last night then youโre dead inside.
Therein lies the rub. I know several, this old boy included, reverted to childhood last night. Our interactions with supporters of other clubs are formed in the classrooms and playgrounds of schools. When you lose you know who is going to be giving you the biggest grief and intense rivalries spread from these early experiences. When you win you delight in the reprisals.
So forgiveย us our collective regression as fury at what was unfolding at the bus stop in Fulham turned to despair, then hope, then glee, and finally complete and utter hilarity. There is no doubt that our friends and neighbours would have been giving it to us had they clung on, or if the bottlers had kept a grip on their tempers and sought a winner they could well have scored had they maintained any semblance of discipline.
Talking of which it will be very interesting indeed to see what action the FA will take against two clubs already warned about their failure to keep their teams under control this season. The points deduction we received in 1991 (we still romped to the title so stick your two points up your bottle) was for far less than the scenes witnessed last night.
Forgive us too, Leicester City supporters for enjoying the plight of our friends and neighbours before paying tribute to you for a remarkable triumph. In any season whoever is top after 38 matches are deserving and worthy champions.
I will repeat what I said the other day. We may be very disappointed at our failure to maintain a challenge for the title when our traditional rivals have suffered a collective cold, but had you suggested we would finish above a team that lost just three matches all season most would have agreed not. Please don’t let us down and lose your last two matches now! What you have achieved is a once in a lifetime experience on a par with Alf Ramsey’s Ipswich Town lifting the titleย at their first attempt in 1962. Congratulations.
For one night it was fun to be a Gooner again.
161 Responses to “Regression And Delirium”
Double ton in the last drinks but under the chevrons. One for the dubious double tons committee?
Well said, ‘Holic. Hasn’t been too much fun this season.
Smaller scenes in 91 and a smaller audience than the global game people watched last night.
Yes last night was a corker. It was an exhilarating game but it felt really odd to be cheering on Diego Costa. I remember in 1990 we were on a warning because of a scrimmage in a home game against Norwich ( a game where Dixon got two and O’Leary one) . The football world came down on us and Arsenal got in a pre- emptive apology . The Marshmen are nowhere near as classy but you can bet a pound to a pinch of shit there will be no points deduction because they know the beady- eyed Levy would have a flotilla of lawyers out in force to fight it.
Among other London fans the Spuds are the most disliked team . I was at West Ham yesterday and they really dislike the LWCs almost as much as we do.
I have a friend sending me updates on the U21 semi. Apparently Santi is playing out of his skin and has set up the goal that gave us the lead.
Now 1-1
Also very true, D. Good to see you in here, mate. ๐
Now 2-1. Willock has them both. 10 mins to go
If the match had gone on for another 15minutes.. there would be enough players left at the end to fill only one team.
It was pretty clear that the ref did not want to send anyone off for fear of spoiling the spectacle. Talk about inconsistent standards..
Nevertheless, would expect to see a few players banned after reviewing the replay.
As it stands currently Huth and Fellaini are being charged for that very public ‘Sex’ act if you would believe one Van Balls…!
Be really interesting to see what sort of action the FA takes for ‘gouging’ and ‘slapping’ from the videos.
@Dino: indeed, 10000 miles from there all the kids at my son school are only talking about Leicester
@TTG: Wouldn’t it be funny if the current Citeh manager went further in the CL than their next one?
@BB: Don’t forget the stamping ๐
Now that’s how you beat Bayern. Don’t want to hear anything about anti football.
Give me Simeone any day any time.
SAG
Do you see what Simone did to the fourth official? Nah I would never want a manager like him at Arsenal! What a complete plonker!
Well you can have him all for yourself, he’ll be available in the stands for the final seeing as UEFA don’t like their officials being punched.
The match could have gone either way… thought Bayern were unlucky when Mueller missed that crucial penalty.
Credit to Atleti, they took their sole chance.
I think Oblak is at least as good as Neuer…!
Simeone spanking Uefa.. hahahha! He must like the stands… he keeps ending up there!
๐
Yea he went too far there. I still want him though, wishful thinking of course.
They just beat two teams that have combined to score God knows how many goals against us the past two seasons. I will love to be the one going to the final that’s for sure. Show me a young coach out there that’s is perfect or always calm 100% of the time. He does go over board every now and then.
Simeone had a great night tonight. Bagged a sweet goal, great assist, several key stops, moved the ball well, used space intelligently, showed steel in the middle of the park. Oh…er… no. He did none of that. Griezman, Torres, their keeper … players that deliver – did that and stuck to the game plan (i.e., defend well and counter-attack a Pep team).
Simeone has done very well, no doubt. But, easy answers go with easy questions. What cures the ills of AFC surely isn’t that simple. And don’t get me wrong, if a change of manager is what AFC needs, then surely that must be done. I’m just anti-jingoism, anti-PiersMoganist, and contrarian by nature.
Still, I’m happy to see Pep-the-Mighty, Pep-the-Allstar-Manager, Pep-I-Never-Saw-A-Worldclass-Footballer-I-Couldn’t-Get-To-Play-Pretty Well blootered out of the CL. Even with the money invested, talent at his disposal, and an alleged peerless reputation, he still fucked it up. Apparently, making the CL final (no less winning it) isn’t all that easy.
Brilliant refereeing as well.. something we sorely need!
And no, I don’t have the answers.
But I do recall not all that long ago when folks were screaming to buy: Bony, Willian, Oscar, etc. And Michael Laudrup was being touted as an AW replacement. Remember Laudrup?…I barely do.
@BB: Brilliant as in giving a penalty for a foul clearly outside the box?
@Matt
Contact made outside..but if the foul continued inside it is still a penalty if i am not mistaken.
And even if that was a mistake…that’s the only one i saw and he kept the match under control and allowed it to flow.
In my opinion still better than the majority of the refs that officiate our games, but that’s just me.
@BB: It’s not a penalty, only part in the box was Torres body. That said I agree with your sentiment, he kept the game under control without too much interference.
I would never want a manager like him at Arsenal!
I wouldn’t mind his results, but the man himself can do one.
Turns out the guy he punched is from his own staff so it’s somewhat OK guess.
Cynic- You cant have it both ways lol..
It’s the semi final of the most prestigious club competition in the world. Give the guy a break. He does go crazy on the side lines too often, I will take him over any coach that sits on the bench all the damn time that’s for sure.
20 yrs ago,a young hungry manager came to Arsenal and revolutionized the Club.
Cleared out the deadwood,turned out dated training and eating methods on it’s head,and gave us our time in the sun.
He took us to places we never dreamt of,with some of the most enthralling football on the Planet.
2 yrs ago,a young hungry manager was appointed down the road and revolutionized the Club.
Cleared out the deadwood,changed their training and eating methods,and honed them along with Leicester,into the fittest players in the league.
He has given their fans their first moment in the sun for many a long year.
Yes,they fell at the final hurdle,but they played some good football,have scored the most and conceded the least goals this season,are in the CL next season on merit,and most importantly will now be able to attract the best players available in the transfer market.
Anyone in the bar who thinks they will be a one hit wonder is dreaming.
They are only just getting started.
We will be in a fight for our lives next season for a top 6 place, let alone a top 4,if we don’t conduct some serious surgery on our current squad,and invest in some serious quality replacements.
Matt. So it turns out Simeone has a hired punching boy?
Atletico into the Champions League final for the second time in three years. Not too far from a dynasty.
Yes, Clive, we could do worse than nick Pochettino from the neighbours to succeed AW. In fact I don’t think we could do better.
Those refusing to acknowledge Leicester’s extraordinary season claiming they couldn’t care less who wins if Arsenal doesn’t are just miserable gits, imo. Personally I don’t give a fig who wins if we don’t either, but I’d happily give a whole orchard of them to the foxes for denying the neighbours’ right to remove ‘holic’s clock.
Tick tock, Totts, it still tolls for thee…
‘Hols, no matter what, it’s ALWAYS good to be a Gooner.
Now let’s win these last two games and keep the scum where they belong.
BMBD
Heard Spuds were winning 2-0 from my wife so ignored the whole game as it was just far too depressing.
One text from a Chelsea supporting mate about 10pm “I bet you loved that !”. Decided to do a “Likely Lads” and ignored all media for nearly an hour to avoid the score and then tuned into Match Of The Day later on just to see what had happened…it was just pure comedy gold. Almost as funny as that Likely Lads episode itself.
Nice one Guvna.
That truly was an excellent evening’s TV viewing. The dejection followed by elation experienced by all sentient members of the human race is a far better sequence than the reverse emotions experienced by the pond life from up the seven Sisters Road.
I can fully relate to your final observation:
“For one night it was fun to be a Gooner again.”
Lonestar @32, it has not been nearly as pleasurable an experience as usual to attend our home matches over the last 3 months for all the various reasons discussed on here over that period. It’s all become a bit of a chore really. It may indeed be far easier to be a Long Distance Gooner at the moment.
Sounds as if we don’t need to hire a manager, just the firm that makes the CryoAction machines that allegedly kept Leicester’s stars fit. Their crocks do three minutes in its ice chamber while ours spend three weeks in the Colney infirmary.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leicester-citys-title-triumph-how-11281692
Interesting piece in today’s Standard about what it would take to dock points because of onfield activities. It’s never been done in the Premier League – only because of failing to fulfil a fixture (Middlesbrough 1997) or financial irregularities (Portsmouth 2009/2010). Of course we were dinged in 1990/91.
This took me back
“It is said that a key factor in the Football Associationโs decision to dock points from Manchester United and Arsenal after a mass on-pitch brawl in 1990 was that the game was broadcast in 64 countries.
The Gunners were deducted two points and United one after a feisty game finally boiled over in one ugly second-half flare-up as Nigel Winterburn launched into Denis Irwin with a tackle so late it missed print deadlines.
Irwin and Brian McClair kicked Winterburn as he lay on the floor before punches were thrown in a shoving match that lasted 20 seconds.”
Oh you can stick, your two points up your arse
You can stick, your two points up your arse
You can stick your two points
Stick your two points
Stick your two points up your arse!
Happy days!
Plus in our case it was our second on pitch brawl in less than 12 months
We’d just got warmed up! That team knew how to party!
Totally understand your point, Bath. I’d still lease my right arm to have the chance to regularly visit the HoF.
One day.
bath @34, it might be easier, but it’s also been a chore to rouse myself at 4:30 or 6 am to watch games like sunderland and crystal palace. usually i have half a dozen games on the dvr i’m wanting to rewatch, and this year i have none. small beer against the ยฃ cost to travel, go, eat, etc. at a live game, but in the world of lazywoods it gnaws at me.
i am glad i’ve not been even remotely able to get to live games; i’d be going angry at a subset of the support, and that’s no way to watch the game. hell, i was flipping off the sign holders, via that oh so expressive medium of tv, for their inane stunt at minute 12 this past weekend.
Also, Bath, it’s not quite so simples to be a Long Distance Gooner nowadays. For some off reason, more than a few ‘mericans have been bamboozled into supporting the scum.
Every weekend, when the Little Lady Gooner hits the pitch, I see more children’s kits with cocks-on-balls. More and more, I see deluded adults with LWC shirts walking the streets of Dallas.
Cruz, Trump, Sp*rs…I’m all at once confused, saddened, and concerned.
BMBD
by the way, that moan in 40 has been trademarked. i mean, really scruzgooner. ๐
lonestar, that was the theme of my ride into work this morning: confusion, sadness, and concern over the state of affairs of state here in the usa. add that to a certain pall over the joy of arsenal, and this first world life i live is just a little less sweet than usual. again, trademarked. ๐
Scruz! When are you traveling to Big D, mate? I know, I know… I owe you a trip out west. Actually, I will be in So Cal in the near future. I’ll send you a note, maybe we can link up?
Clive, we’ll see about Totnum. I certainly agree that they have been playing well for large parts of the season, but they have also had a season where almost everything has been going their way. They have had virtually no injuries to key players, they have had an extraordinary ability to face opponents missing their best players, they have had a number of soft penalties while opponents have been denied penalties against them (what does Verthongen have to do to concede a penalty???), they have had virtually no European football (yes, they were in the Europa League but in the group stages they played more or less pub teams so rotated heavily for all those games) and opponents have also taken far too long to start adapting their style to nullify them. WBA did it, we did it at the Lane and a few others also did it. They do have massive potential for next season, there is no question about that, but they also have the challenge of CL footie for which they will not be able to rotate to the same extent. I would also not at all be surprised to see, for example, Real Madrid going for Harry Kane and if PSG offer bid bags of money for Eriksen he could very well be tempted too. They have had a fantastic season and may build on that but I think it is just as likely that they revert to style and finish somewhere just below the top four.
We should, speaking of that lot, also not forget that as shit at these last few months have been and despite them having their best season in decades, we are only three points behind them. Take away their offside winner at Watford and give us our wrongly disallowed winner against Liverpool at home and we are above them – that’s how small the margin is. And yes, if my auntie had bollocks and all that but that is not the point, the point is to illustrate how two very narrow decisions over which neither club has any control can change things. I would also wager that if we’d have swapped Kane for Giroud, we’d have been so far ahead of them that we’d have already had our second and third helpings of lasagna and Leicester would not be celebrating just yet. We absolutely and definitely need to improve, but I would argue that we need far from the wholesale changes many others say we need. Arteta is arguably already replaced with Elnenny, Rosicky with Iwobi and we can hopefully replace Flamini with something better. And, of course, we need to replace Giroud with a striker who can move around much more than he can. I have always liked him for his attitude and hard work but he is not getting any quicker and there is no way we can rely on him as anything even resembling first choice if we want to win the league.
Well if you elect Trump it won’t be the first time you’ve had a complete arsehole as President. I mean…
โI have no purpose to introduce political and social equality between the white and black races. There is a physical difference between the two which, in my judgment, will probably forever forbid their living together on the footing of perfect equalityโ
*ahem*
๐
lonestar, any time. how far south? and, since D isn’t usually on my radar, I don’t honestly know. but we’re getting our van together, and will be travelling the west fairly freely once the kid’s off to college, hopefully successfully, and D might be on the map ๐
if you get anywhere within a couple hundred miles i’ll be there if i can!
lars, your sanity is overwhelming.
cynic, yours, not so much ๐ if we’re speaking of arsehole politicians, i think just about every country can claim more than a few! and while that quote was given in truth, his actions that came after and the sacrifice he made paid that debt in full.
Cynic @46 –
Nice job lifting a quotable passage without taking time to digest the entire presentation. To wit:
“and inasmuch as it becomes a necessity that there must be a difference, I, as well as Judge Douglas, am in favor of the race to which I belong having the superior position.โ โฆ โI have never said any thing to the contrary, but I hold that notwithstanding all this, there is no reason in the world why the negro is not entitled to all the rights enumerated in the Declaration of Independence-the right of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I hold that he is as much entitled to these as the white man.”
That bit of clarification follows the selected quote you presented. Mr. Lincoln may have had his faults when discussing racial equality – man of his times and all that – but I think I can give him a pass, what with the Emancipation Proclamation and what not…
Mendacious presentation of quotes to serve a questionable rhetorical end, however, is not quite as excusable. Shame on you, sir. Yellow card.
For the record, I am not an unqualified Democratic party supporter either, but there is a substantial difference between the alternatives. End of my political distraction.
BMBD
Sorry I forgot Americans have no sense of humour.
Bath@34: I, too, would lease Lonestar’s right arm to have the chance to regularly visit the HoF.
C100 @38: Love the line “a tackle so late it missed print deadlines”.
cynic, when you share humor, i’ll laugh, especially if it’s funny.
Excellent observations Lars. And great post Lonestar @49.
BTW I don’t underestimate the aggravations entailed in being a long-distance Gooner. I have found it hard enough on the odd occasion when on vacation in Oz and in China. I think I would rely on my hard disc if I had to do it on a regular basis. However while I appreciate the privilege of having watched us regularly in the flesh for a quarter of a century, I would prefer to watch our current travails from the comfort of my sofa with a glass of fine red wine or aged single malt in my hand rather than listen to the bile of the self-entitled morons who happily remain a minority, despite the recent media speculation.
Evening all, so City in the Bernebeu. Let’s see if they can get a result. Wouldn’t mind another feisty affair. This seems to be the week for them. I do hope Aguero and Kompany don’t pick up injuries that will keep them out for a couple of weeks… ๐
Evening Guvna.
A hard fought 0-0 after 120 minutes followed by a stressful penalty shootout and a deflating miss by Nasri would go down quite nicely though I don’t object to them having to face down the Atletico hard men in the final after the same hard SF either.
Cheers H! Loved that on Monday night. 2 teams I absolutely loathe, kicking fuck out of each other.
I’m not so worried about Lily White Cunts next season either, like Lars. At the end of two seasons at Arsenal (one not a full season) Wenger had won a double; Pochettino CL qualification, once. We’ll see how they progress. I’m convinced their full backs will get found out next season, and the high press, which can be passed around, if set up to do so, will longer have the element of surprise. Also if they do start building a new stadium they will have to sell players, like it or not. They cant really buy anyone massive without destroying their current wage structure.
We’ll see how the cunts go.
Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha out!
Lonestar @41 and 44.
Somewhat confusing, switching back and forth between Cruz and Scruz.
Just so long as it is not Trump. ๐
Agree with most of what the remarkably calm Lars @45 posted…
But I would much rather retain Giroud as the third choice striker behind the new 35 goals a season guy and Welbeck. Three outright strikers are required if you want to fight on all fronts and also consider chances of injury. I would not want us to gamble on Apkom or a similar youngster as our third striker.
Also Ramsey has been completely written off by many in this forum and in many other arsenal discussions. But we must remember that when he was much younger, Wenger always deployed him in the no 10 role. That position is where his best attributes are suited to. Whilst we have been lucky that Ozil hasn’t been injured a lot this season but Ramsey would be the ideal back up for that position. He also did a job whenever he was asked to play wide by the manager. The whole idea of a strong squad is to have players like Ramsey who always put in a shift and play in multiple positions. Therefore those saying that he should be sold are completely wide off the mark.
SSY@58: The monks say his honorary name scans perfectly to “We’ve got Denis Bergkamp”: Sri-vaddh-ana-prab-ha. But as songs go
Srivaddhanaprabha,
Srivaddhanaprabha,
Srivaddhanaprabha,
Srivaddhanaprabha.
isn’t that great.
Shame Kompany gone in the fetlock. ๐
Extra time now not an option.
Frankly Citeh were pathetic. At least we went to Barca and had a go. They weren’t good enough, in fact anywhere near good enough over two legs. And they have a Euro failure coming as their new manager!
bt, i hope you’re the only one EVER to confuse me with ted cruz. he’s a nasty piece of work, whereas i am a mild-mannered faun of the redwood forest (HA!).
DG@60: fair point about Ramsey. We can’t have it both ways over the bench: complaining that we don’t have one of any quality and then saying we should sell off the squad players because they can’t make the starting team.
So it could well be that 2016 will be the year of Leicester and Trump.
Could be worse: imagine if it were Sp*rs and Trump ?!?!
And as preposterous as it may seem to the (mostly) reasonable patrons of this bar, Trump has a real chance, especially against Clinton. The minds of the electorate will be swayed by who they think will be more entertaining, so people will vote for Trump because of that!
Good to see you back in the Bar Lars,
and a good post to come back with.
Also in an albeit smaller riposte from Esso.
I do like the stamp of Pochettino though,i think he is the real deal.
As always i reserve judgement till the transfer window closes at the end of August before i decide what expectations i have for the new season.
With the new managers,and massive amounts of dosh being added to the PL mix come July,it is going to be the most interesting transfer market for many a year.
Great to see you too Clive. Don’t tell a soul, as I did on last week’s ABW podcast, but I would take Poch now. It won’t happen. Arsene gets at least his final year of this contract. Why ‘howl at the moon’?
Very true H.
But hey,what do we know,when an old fossil like Claudio can motivate a team of no names to win the EPL. ?
And another old fossil is about to take over at Bayern. !
Can Arsene give us one last hurrah. ?
Here’s to NbN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBqXXmPqyoA
Tottenham and Chelsea charged with only three counts of improper behavior for the travesty on Monday evening. Is it any coincidence that FA also stands for FUCKING ASSHOLES??????????
Since US women are inherently left wing and will vote against Trump in droves (or simply not vote at all if RW) it would appear the Repugnant party has shot itself in the foot and given Bill’s missus a free ride into the WH.
Unless the Dems could nominate this outstanding young woman to represent them and so make the pres election a total farce … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww
I’d vote for her! In preference to Trump anyway… ๐
Chris. I could probably find a New Zealand lass as dumb as that. Well, wish I could but that is another matter entirely. ๐
Aussie lasses being a bit sharper than that on the (w)hole, I find.
Never mind.
As a (naturalised) Aussie myself, bt8, I can only assume my best Francis Urquhart demeanour and say … )https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oz8RjPAD2Jk ๐
…which should have been https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oz8RjPAD2Jk
I’m in full agreement with Clive, Poch has the attributes of a great manager in the making and I’m ready to bet they will be competing hard again next year. Sure they could be hampered with the CL but then Thursday nights in Belarus or Sweden aren’t much of a better situation to deal with.
I really doubt they’ll sell any player this summer but as Lars said if they did it would be for and obscene pile of cash and you can bet Poch won’t let them squander it like they did with Bale’s 100M.
As for luck, nothing says it will stop next year. And perhaps it’s not all down to luck but better preparation too. Let’s also not forget they have been dreaming of CL for years, they’ll be really fired up.
So yes top 4 will be a tough battle next season. Mourinho and Guardiola with loads to spend, Klopp starting to make Liverpool at his image, Conte managing a Chelsea team with dreams of revenge, Leicester can certainly not be discounted nor can Spurs. That’s 6 contenders without us already.
Finally to that list I’d like to add West Ham, I think Bilic is also doing an admirable job at West Ham. He took a team of mid-table plonkers under Allardyce, added a couple smart buys and despite bad luck with injuries managed to get them close to the CL. Actually the best thing that could happen to us would be West Ham grabbing the 4th spot at the wire. If we win against Citeh, with Manure being Manure these days, West Ham clinching it is quite likely. The summer shopping spree of both Manchester clubs would be severely impacted if they were both out of the CL. Fingers crossed for West Ham!
Holic and Clive would take Poch at Arsenal, I would too but I think I’d even have Bilic before him.
Then who knows, we’re not that far either, a few astute buys along a top striker, Wenger with his back to the wall and we might be in contention for the title.
PoAchettino?
Bayonne Jean is right in that it will be a closer general election between Trump and Clinton than many imagine. It may come down to what extent the GOP establishment is prepared to hold its nose to get the White House back and which of the anyone-but-Trump and anyone-but-Clinton camps is more motivated to come out to vote.
Clive@68, โHolic@69: Pochettino is showing all the makings of an outstanding manager. The bookmakers have him at only 50-1 to succeed AW, however. Ronald Koeman, Joachim Low and Roberto Mancini are the bookies favorites.
SSY@72: ๐ You can see why the monks didnโt give up their day jobs.
Cheers Clive and others.
Don’t leave it so long next time Lars.
The only Scandanavian contributor to the Bar. !
I will try to contribute a bit more, Clive. I’ve simply not had the energy to say very much lately, it simply felt a bit pointless to go over the same arguments again and again. But now that we at least know that the rabble up the road won’t win the league I can breathe a bit more easily again ๐
I like pochitteno, i think he did an excellent job with southampton and continue to do so with spurs; but he to succeed Arsene, no thank you. I need someone far more ruthless for that is what this team lacks.
Among the managerial names, Koeman looks realistic. Mancini has had a history of player revolts( tevez) and Simeone wont leave athletico. Drajan Stokovic is one Wenger has ear marked but i have no idea of the man’s pedigree. Tutchel wont leave BVB and i dont think so one season is a fair indication of him. This is all under the fact that Arsene aint leaving this season and this discussion should ideally be for the following one.
Madrid derby at the san siro and i for one would want athletico to win. I love Zidane, for me the best player to play the game but atheltico the team has been excellent. That backline and their coordination is what we need.
Will it be a deflated city or a desperate on this sunday. I think the later as they need to win to secure champions league. Imagine pep comes to see no ucl. If we get something sunday, a win against villa could mean 3rd and that could be a small consolation to a disappointing season. Now can we start with Jack/Santi for the game and rest ramsey.
apropos of things recent, fans of politics. and Leicester.
http://www.newyorker.com/cartoons/daily-cartoon/bonus-daily-cartoon-leicester-city?mbid=social_facebook
Madrid Derby what joy. Another game of attack v defence. I can’t imagine anyone wanting Atletico to win they are anti- football. I rarely support Real but I hope they win 44-0.
I find the whole Pochettino thing interesting. They seem able to build a new stadium with no financial restrictions at all because of the TV deal. We had to scrimp and save for years. This might suggest we built our stadium ten years too early. We could have retained Henry, Pires et al and not dismembered the best side we have ever had.
Nice one scruz. I suspect that Jamie Vardy’s intellectual qualities may be on a par with those of the Donald but the rest might be able to do a better job. The world would certainly be better with Claudio in the White House than Trump with his finger on the nuclear button.
I have to differ on the Madrid derby TTG. I regard Real alongside Barca and Bayern as the three ‘ugly sisters’ of European football with their track records of manipulating their domestic leagues to ensure their dominance. Whilst I am not one of those who would regard Simeone as a legitimate successor to Arsene, I do hope his hard working, somewhat Bolton-esque team put the final ugly sister to the sword (literally if necessary) and make it a hat-trick for a Cinderella (if somewhat brutish) team. 44-0 would do nicely. ๐
I’d also have Porcottino in a heartbeat.
Oh Yaa!
Yaaaaa!
I’d have him even if he finished below us this season! That he’s the real deal is backed by the clear consistency in his work during the significant time period of two years that he’s been at the helm of our glorious neighbors.
In fact, I’d have him right now, or any one of: Astion Billas-Boas, Owen Coyle, Launrdup, Roberto Martinez, Garry Monk, Brendan Rodgers or Juande Ramos.
Oh pants- I wouldn’t want to have anyone on that list. Really? that’s how undesirable you think Arsenal have gotten. I wouldn’t even take them as assistant coaches.
@90,
Oh well, at least we both agree that we’d take Porcottino, no?
He would definitely win any title that may collectively be laid on a plate to us by the bigger teams!
Nice one, Scruz!
BMBD
SCG@85: made me smile.
Trump v Clinton is rather like Atletico v Real. It comes down to which one you loathe least.
Eduardo with the goal for Waxtap at Sevilla in that other semifinal.
Would you want a manager (Pochettino) whose most impressive signing was made by someone else, and who paid ยฃ22m for Son?
Bayonne Jean, I take it you’re a yank, like me and utterly embarrassed at the shit-show that is our electoral politics?
Meself, i’m only political enough to have the understanding that this election is a total trianwreck. When I think of the coming election day, and whatever vote I must cast, I throwup a little in my own mouth.
Right now, we yanks are “entertaining,” sort of like a fun house: a little unnerving and somewhat entertaining, but mostly annoying as hell.
If a slide-rule pass is spot on, can it be beaten by a pocket calculator pass?
Cynic. God knows what he would pay for the father and holy ghost but being Argentinian he is probably Catholic and if so will have thought about it. ๐
oh sure. Poch its good with me.
Shoots – scores -slides to corner flag in a Henry-esque glide. ๐
Well done, bath. Nose for the spectacular. ๐
Well in for the ton, Bath. Will there be a statue?
Homer: alas, as Yanks, we can take solace in the fact that we have been blessed with a trove of televised footie as a distraction from Donald Trump, who is an even worse piece of excrement than a person who would be cobbled together from a combo of Mourinho, Pulis, Terry and Septic Bladder. We can watch every single match in the premiership live, most key matches in La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1, live or on short delay. And this summer there’ll be complete coverage of the Euros and Copa America, where we can follow Alexis. And after a short break for the Tour de France and holiday in early August, back to being able to watch every premiership fixture live.
Thank the Lord for footie for providing that isle of sanity.
“Toute nation a le gouvernement qu’elle mรฉrite”
“Une nation a le Donald qu’elle mรฉrite”
?
i always thought Daffy the classier duck
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7Xrw0gbnNuU
@TTG & Bath: Speaking of promising young managers it may be a bit early but Zidane’s tenure has been quite exceptional of late. Took a couple months to adjust to the team and get them to play as a cohesive unit with fluid transitions. He looks like a fast learner who did benefit a lot from working along Ancelotti. After he found the right tactics to counter a Barca at the peak of their game, he got his team to reduce the gap to the top by 11 points in 2 months.
Real looks like the weakest team of all the opponents faced by Atletico on their way to the final but Zidane may well be the one who finds the key to unlock their catenaccio. I certainly hope so.
@Trev: The beeb has a really good in-depth article about fitness at Leicester. It’s eye-opening to learn that even smaller clubs are using everything from “space-age” techniques to psychologists.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36189778
Looks like we could learn a thing or two from them. May not be only luck after all…
104 –
J. de Maistre
.
105 –
C. be Arsed
one one one
much better than a ton
*whoops an’ hollers*
“In your face , baff”
two two two ‘s
too far away
fuck that fer a lark !
.
*secretly sets alarm for 221*
it appears i have
downed tools and puck up the jug
at the right Friday
but the wrong five to five
SLรINTE-JACK
The man is back ๐
Any news on Spurs? Did they accept the charges?
Ox gone in the fetlock again and out of the Euros, not that he would have gone anyway. Probably.
So Arteta might be joining Guardiola at Mancity as a backroom staff. Why cant Wenger give him that same job at the club? Its not like he or his backroom staff have been doing shit anyways. I have this feeling that Wenger doesn’t want anyone that would have a different input from his. That’s just my observation, I might be wrong but I doubt it.
Dembele has accepted an FA violent conduct charge..
Hope he gets a six match ban minimum!
PER out for us and Silva, Zabaleta, Kolarov and Kompany out for them for Sunday.
Let’s win that one… a crucial match!
“I might be wrong but I doubt it”
Words to live by, those.
You might be wrong, but I doubt it
I might doubt you, but I’d be wrong. Or would I?
It’s 50/50 but there’s only a 30% chance of that.
Summer is a bummer.
Talking of 50/50
https://twitter.com/SundayChants/status/727893059938058240
well
cynic
50/50
????
i went south yesterday to the north to vote
afterwards
i returned to the south in a northerly direction
.
Irish politics, eh ?
*daily mail chuckle*
.
interesting though
should one vote where one lives
or where one is from
.
i held my original vote
cos it’s more important there
than
pothole filling committees are here
.
anyhoo
UP THE ARSENAL
I know why not Mikel with the backroom staff/ Model professional, brilliant guy and except for the nice guy image looks a perfect fit. We already lost Viera to them and now Mikel, makes me wonder why????
Draw on sunday is not a bad result right. I mean win is perfect but an away fixture at the liberty for them whereas a home game against villa for us could mean third place. No i dont think so we will finish 2nd.
Madrid derby and i love zizzou beyond words but sense it will be athletico.
Talking of europe/a, the atmosphere at anfield was a fair indication as to what wenger meant we should be like pool fans. I despise pool but got to give it their fans, they are indeed their 12th man.
cba @127 speaking of going south to go north
this is the second time in my life living in a crescent of the mighty mississipp oriented in a cereal bowl shape.
upshot of this is i can go west, south, or east to cross the river
voting unfortunately is not affected by this geographical oddity
as the polling authorities live underneath the surface of the water
and detect all bodies moving across the surface with the intention
of voting multiply on both sides.
๐
grip on their tempers? semblance of discipline?
little chance of any of those things happening, ‘holic. ๐
If I am not mistaken that is Danny Rose throwing Hiddink to the ground. If they suspend Dembele for 6 games then how many could this one be?
http://www.teamtalk.com/news/watch-hiddink-knocked-to-floor-during-chelsea-v-spurs-brawl
howdy bt8
best wishes from me and mine
to you and yours
?
.
vote early
vote often
vote in super-submarionation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2d9QZFdW8uQ
Matt@110: thanks for the link; interesting read about Leicester’s use of sport science. They seem to have pulled off the trick of getting the conditioning, the training and the medical side all working together.
In case you missed it above, this has more on the ice chambers
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leicester-citys-title-triumph-how-11281692
howdy cba and happy summer to you and yours
interesting stuff on the submarionation front. ๐
i kid you not but a fox just appeared outside my window with the intent of scaring my chickens but i had a couple of tricks up my sleeve and the fox now has greater respect while the chickens are safely out of the hot afternoon sun but i decided to name it claudio ranieri but the fox at this point has been out-strategized and out-tactified. ๐
Was that a little Thunderbirds reference you slipped in @130, cba?
Was thinking the chances of an away seaside gambit next season for the traveling Gooners will be increased if Brighton defeat Middlesbrough tomorrow. But the towns near Middlesbrough along the North Sea apparently have decent beaches of their own, just not sure the sunbathing will be any too pleasant in January or thereabouts.
Average January temperature in Redcar (near Middlesborough) is only 1โ lower than in Brighton.
Are you organizing the expedition then, Ned. ๐
Sad for Ox but I doubt he would have made it anyway and if he did play he would have been injured. If I were Gazidis I might approach Wenger and look at how much we pay Ox/ Jack/ Theo / Gibbs and Ramsey per 90 minutes completed. Based on the last three years too much!
Neither Theo or Ox are fit for purpose and we might as well cut our losses. Frankly Campbell and Iwobi are more productive and Young Willock looks superb and we also have Gnabry. With both boys you wonder if they went to the wrong club. Theo was never going to replace Henry and Ox has never established himself in the side ( partly because he is so often injured).
I think we may have more departures than most are expecting but it is not Wenger’s way to have a wholesale clear out
Matt
You made a good point in earlier drinks about Zidane . He might confound the theory that great players never make good managers. I was impressed with the discipline Real showed at Citeh. I think I’d settle for a 0-0 and make sure of third but I believe if Liverpool win the Europa League they go straight into the Group stage and the third team in England face a play- off. And really finishing second would be brilliant. ?
Checking on this I understand if we finish third we will go straight into the CL group stage
bt8
round about these parts
foxes are blasted on sight
their bloody/poisoned carcasses
thrown to the edge of the field
the maggots for to moulder
.
drape that fur stole round yer neck now
ya titanic passenger
talkies harlot fuck !
.
thanks for the best wishes
?
and
yup ned
twas
?
Yes, cba but do you name the foxes first? ๐
was out from early
admittedly sideways
just a brilliant walk
.
here-road-beach-road-road-beach-road-here
.
wee tunes player speaker
in pocket
no size
but loud enough
for me and the encountered beasts
to enjoy the music
and
each other’s company
however passerby fleeting
love cows me
from a distance
they’re big
.
fuckin hate sheep
nervous nellys
if they are scared they baaaaaaaaa
their lambs come running
and start brutally suckling
instead of just the lot of ’em running like fuck
and i’m guessing the ewes’ teats would benefit too
strange bit evolutionary nonsense
.
i’m guessing it’ll be filtered out
by one renegade
and they’ll all follow like sh..
sorry ,
.
LIAM !!!!!
.
what was i saying ?
.
just had to put
50p in the gooner meter
traipsing down donegal roads is great
cars hate you – livestock stare through hedges at you
was wearing me new creepers too
apologies
dandapperC
i shit on you
Pochetino threw three possible trophies – League, Fa and Europa in order to “win the league” – is that the mark of a great manager or a severely misguided one ?
Evening all,
I will have a look at the ‘fitness’ links – been a bit hectic here for a few days.
Basically, I have said enough times that our injury situation is not just down to luck. It’s only my opinion and I won’t bore anyone with it again.
Unfortunately, our young British core is physically Donald Ducked. They cannot stay fit and should not, therefore, be occupying valuable squad places if we are seriously challenging for top honours. According to our owner, of course, we are not, so there may not be any urgency to improve the situation.
Our young Brits cannot honestly be relied on to last even one half of a football match before getting injured again. They’re lucky if they get through training these days. To admit it though has a massive impact on their value as assets and it becomes a very costly exercise to replace them. (I seem to be getting the hang of this business, er, business).
The question is, would there be any takers anyway ?
Quite apart from a transfer fee, there is the matter of paying these far from top-top players over ยฃ100,000 per week.
Btw, The Spuds did handle the pressure rather well on Monday evening, did they not ? ???
New Day – He can only throw them if they had a chance to win them, and they had fuck all ๐
Dembele gets 6.
Madness.
If he was playing for the Ramblers and did that,he would have got
Man of the Match. !!
Pochettino says they are not a soft touch anymore.
After watching a replay of the Chelsea game,i thought i was watching Viera/Keown and the old gang at Man Utd back in the day.
Not a backward step from any of them.
I’m looking forward to the 2 NLD’s next season already.
A tough competitive Spuds next season,means the other top sides will no longer be looking at easy points against them,and will have to fight tooth and nail to get any points out of them home or away.
I think we need at least 3 tough, seasoned top liners next season,just to keep pace with the other top teams.
Arsene must accept that fact,and act on it.
bt8b@137: just as soon as I can get the huskies harnessed to the sled.
cba@141: yer sly old fox.
clive@151: what we most need for next season is someone who can stick the ball in the back of the net — and do it at least 20-25 times.
Plus a bit of steel Ned.!
If it’s a given that our back 5 are set in stone,then with Ozil and Sanchez, that’s 7 spots taken already.
If we sign a striker,and we assume Santi will resume his role in the deep lying midfield,that’s 9.
Wilshere/Ramsey/Coq/Welbeck/Iwobi/Walcott/Ox/Giroud,assuming none of these are moved on,will all be vying for the last 2 spots.
Going to be a few unhappy campers.
and i forgot Elneny.!
just back from a jar
treacle black sky
piercing torch beam
brilliant
.
walking isn’t a crime
it’s cheap and
good
walking is cool
unless it’s hot
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/667921/Pochettino-Hiddink-Chelsea-Tottenham-Battle-Of-Stamford-Bridge-Premier-League-News
Mauricio Pochettino fears “unprofessional” comments by other teams “acting like supporters” led to the Battle of Stamford Bridge on Monday night.
———
So it continues….!
HAHAHAHAHAHAH!
156
8ball
?
Have we stopped at any point recently to consider that if we can contribute to keeping Citeh out of the CL we’ll be putting a massive one over on our ‘friend’ Pep.
That’s my personal trophy aim for this season!
the lure of free beer too much
?
accompanying manu visitors t’bar
to collaborate and watch the cunts
hopefully delia’s master bakers can empty them
Afternoon all. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>