It’s Happened Again
Dec 18th, 2016 by 'holic
Both sides made one change at the Emptihad. The Arsenal opted for Alex Iwobi over Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, whilst City brought in Fernando for Gundogan.
As the clock ticked over four minutes we had a dream start on the break. Hector Bellerin sprinted over half the length of the pitch and played the ball to Alexis. In turn the Chilean played Theo Walcott in through the centre for a cool finish past Bravo’s right hand. It was a great run by the England international.
Manchester City 0-1 Arsenal
Sterling’s diving header was a coat of paint away from levelling things up less than two minutes later. The early omens were for an open contest. We were playing a high line and Laurent Koscielny had to be alert to cut out an intended through ball for Sterling who had galloped into space.
Two rapid breaks by Arsenal around the quarter of an hour ended disappointingly, but it appeared City were hanging on by a thread. Midway through the half they were reduced to a wild effort from distance by De Bruyne. It was becoming evident that the Gunners were setting up for a repeat of last season’s rope-a-dope, with the two banks of four providing quite the barrier.
Around the half hour mark Gabriel’s clearance cannoned off the head of Bellerin and forced Petr Cech into a smart save. We took the opportunity to break again, only for Walcott to blaze his volley from Ozil’s wonderful pass over the target. It was noticeable that we had silenced the home crowd.
Walcott had another opportunity from a corner ten minutes before half-time but headed a couple yards wide. Silva’s somewhat ironic and cynical hack at Francis Coquelin to stop us breaking again earned him the first yellow card of the game. We powered forward again but Bellerin’s rasping drive was over the bar again. A second goal was not only desirable at this point, but also deserved.
A needless foul by Alexis on Otamendi gave City a chance to attack but Sane’s cross was put behind for a corner by Gabriel. Worryingly Alexis appeared to have come off worse, and was outsprinted by Kolarov when put free. He limped back gingerly. Iwobi did put the ball into the City net as the half drew to a close but the offside flag had already been raised against Nacho Monreal. That was a shame as the young winger was putting in an end to end shift.
In added time Toure’s header from a corner was fortunately straight at Cech and Arsenal went off for their half-time refreshments by far the happier of the teams, which made what was to follow absolutely baffling.
City made a change at the start of the second-half, sending on former Gunner Bacary Sagna for Zabaleta. They levelled things the suspiciously offside-looking Sane was played in by Silva and he slid the ball past Cech. It was a goal that emphasised Arsenal’s inability to grab a killer second goal while fully in control of the first-half.
Manchester City 1-1 Arsenal
Toure’s yellow card for dissent five minutes into the half was deserved. His animated reaction to the award of a throw-in against him was excessive and unnecessary. At the other end Bellerin sliced another attempt high and wide of the mark. Back came City, for the first time looking capable of pulling us out of shape.
Another Bellerin run at the heart of the City defence was intercepted and the hosts counter ended with Iwobi blocking Sagna’s attempted cross. Just past the hour Silva sent Sane running at Cech again but the Gunners ‘keeper made an excellent save at his near post. The stubborn rearguard action of the opening half had been replaced by us being careless in possession under pressure. Shades of Goodison all over again.
Granit Xhaka was forced to scramble the ball out for a corner as City again breached the defensive line. Fortunately Silva dragged his effort wide of the near post. That was the trigger for fresh legs, and the entirely predictable substitution of Oxlade-Chamberlain for Iwobi.
It changed things not a jot. Sterling, a different player in the second-half, was sent scampering clear down the right by De Bruyne. Monreal allowed him to cut inside and beat Cech at the near post with Silva in an offside position but probably not in Cech’s line of sight. For the second time in five days we had surrendered a one goal advantage in the north-west.
Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal
Giroud and Navas appeared from the bench for Coquelin and Sane respectively. We were again exposed on our left flank and DeBruyne struck the post from an acute angle. Arsenal responded by subbing the sub. Mohamed Elneny replaced The Ox. De Bruyne was next to see yellow for an awful ‘challenge’ from behind on Gabriel as he shepherded the ball over the touchline.
At last we threatened but when Ozil teed up Walcott he chipped woefully over the far post. Encouraged, we poured forward again but Giroud headed off target under pressure from Sagna. Iheanacho replaced Kevin De Bruyne as City attempted to run down the clock.
Elneny picked up our first booking for a clumsy challenge on Fernando. It was a break in momentum we didn’t need. In four added minutes Gabriel also saw yellow for a ludicrous challenge from behind on Silva. Fernando took another yellow for a tug on Bellerin and the game limped to a conclusion.
A second disappointment in a week will spark the same old discussions in the coming days, and understandably so. This should not be a fatal blow to our challenge, but that our soft underbelly was again exposed should lead to the exchange of a few home truths at Shenley this week. We have put ourselves under pressure in the pointed end of the season, and we have to find a way to deal with that pressure. Especially when that pressure is self-inflicted.
179 Responses to “It’s Happened Again”
Rules on a day like today. Please do not use post numbers, and do not give the hard of thinking any oxygen. Thanks all.
I can talk and find reasons why we lost that game, but I cannot find any reasonable reason why Elneny was up there instead of Lucas to replaced the injured Ox. You replaced Winger (Iwobi) with another winger (OX) but then replaced the same winger with midfield player. I just don’t understand…
I wonder what the boy needs to do to convinces Wenger that he deserves to be on the pitch? Not so good for his confidence to be honest…
Bring on WBA…
COYG
We’re still going to win the CL!
😀
We’re ok in the first half but second half was the worst I’d seen this season…there’s no energy at all. Wenger’s half time talk fails to motivates?
@BB I certainly hope we do…
You always sum up even the most disappointing games very rationally Holic and I wouldn’t argue with your account at all. I thought both goals might have been given offside but nothing disguises the fact that ‘ the soft underbelly’ as you describe it was exposed. This Arsenal side seems to lack real competitors and those that are like Coquelin seem to be sacrificed.
I’d like to see more of Perez at the start of games but more than anything else I’d like the team to show the sort of backbone that our great teams have in the past.
I went for a bath so missed all the post match interviews. Was it the referee’s fault again?
Quick report Gunvor as always and a very calm one for that matter I don’t know how you do it.
First of all same old springs to mind and I for one thought we would be over this hurdle it was only against Chelski this season where I saw us play as leaders. The difference is we wouldn’t lay down after we scored the first goal we would push for more quick one touch football, combined pressure from the whole team not just Alexis comfortably won the game for us, however it was the application that we set up for the game that made the difference. December is our new November and in both games we chased, huffed and puffed and came out empty handed.
Everton was there for the taking and we scored and allowed them back into the game same here today. It happens too often to a big club like Arsenal, it’s this really weak mentality that stands out in the crowd because in the second half we looked lost, we couldn’t string few passes together until they scored the second only then thins mental handbrake was off but it was too little to late.
This team is suffering from a massive mentality problem and it happens every season hence we all repeat same old. Every season we deal with the same issues same problems and Wenger has not addressed any of it.
I agree with the poster above Elneny for a winger? When you have a striker on the bench just sums it up for me.
Have a great evening Holics!
A bottle of Wiśniówka is on he bar so what are you waiting for? 😉
A terrible week. Six points worse off to all our league rivals, and back to our 4th place comfort zone.
Disappointing, but loads of matches in the next 2-3 weeks so let’s hope things are looking a lot rosier by then.
Have a great evening?!
Jesus help us all…
I was hoping for 1-2 but I got the old one:two. 🙁
“….that our soft underbelly was again exposed should lead to the exchange of a few home truths at Shenley this week”…….I’m no fan of Gary Nevile, but I’d be tempted to have the team listen to his entire second half commentary as the exchange of home truths unfolds.
Spot-on report, Holic. I admire your ability to keep it on the straight and level while many fall way below the standard you set. Keep up the great work.
Memo to AW: could you please expunge the phrase “mental strength” from all of your discourses going forward? Enough is enough.
I have not posted ony any blog for around 3 years in the feverish hope that winger would have decided to end this nightmare, but he’s never going away is he. Nothing has changed. The biggest club in lo dion continues in a torpor as the club has simply forgotten how to compete. Make no mistake, if Antonio conte and winger swapped places arsenal would be 15 points clear of Chelsea. Our squad is in my opinion vastly stronger than theirs, and last season bore that out. But they are a club built o success, we are still club that has spent so much time covering up for the wilderness years that the manager and a certain abhorrent section of the fan base wants to class this crap as success. The only issue with your blog is saying this doesn’t have to be the end of our challenge. Ladies and gentlemen, our challenge ended way before that. It ended when the regime survived yet another season of underachievement. Indeed it may be provocative to say I but I wouldn’t consider arsenal as challenging if we had the 7 point lead tonight as long as winger remains. The evidence…..every point in the last ten years when we get a sniff. The club doesn’t know what is required to grind to a title…they are run by lazy bloated myopic money grabbing cowards. i
SSY
I was only trying to brighten up the mood fella at the end of the day things in football can change really quickly and if we don’t wake up from this mental handbrake then yes..
“Jesus help us all…”
Last thing to add blaming off-sides is not a good enough excuse if it happened the other way we wouldn’t complain. The first one could only be called off if watched in slow motion a human eye will never be able to see that. Second has more case but still.
Wenger forgot to mention we were outplayed for about 25 minutes and couldn’t complete three passes together let alone have a go at them. Sad but true they looked different class and this was without Aguero and Fernandinio. We had pretty much full squad available apart from Cazorla because Wellbeck is like a new January signing.
well we shit right in the fuckin nest there
.
.
i’ll take half a small liverfull Arthur
cheers big man
No ATG we weren’t missing only Cazorla. We were missing Mustafi too. He hasn’t lost a game in an Arsenal shirt and him and Koscielny combine really well to pass the ball through the lines. The lack of ball retention by the midfield was a worry and so are the injuries to Ramsey and the Ox.
Things in football can change quickly……everywhere except in the unbearable groundhog day world of arsenal you mean.
I don’t see the need to be anything other than rationale about this…its only football after all and I’m sure like many of you I’ve got kids looking forward to christmas. Priorities etc.
But if we are talking about arsenal the only rationale questions revolve around how long are you and the rest of us going to put up with this tyranny. For over 100 years arsenal was a mighty institution. Even in the bad times, we were the arsenal. Greatness was our heritage and we all recognised it. The current hierarchy talks about nothing except how good things are when we finish between 2nd an 4th!!! Ffs….how can they be allowed to get away with it? Talk of past glories is ignored and criticism of a manager who is a decrepit shadow of his former self gets people evicted from games. It’s part of the malaise that comments like mine should be considered negative. What the hell?? What is more positive than saying such is the talent and phenomenal wealth available to our manager that a simple change at the top……the kind of change that would have happened anywhere but our dysfunctional twilight zone, would with absolute certainty have returned the club to former glories. It’s only negative if someone has a perverse preference for the underachieving manager over the club we support. Change is positive when marooned like we are…how can anyone think othetwise?
“…how can anyone think othetwise (sic)?”
By actually thinking.
and spelling
rationale is the one for me though
god help dictionaries when that fuckin giant awakens
Again, no oxygen for the hard of thinking please. Thank you.
i jest of course
but i like talking to you ‘holic
i think you have potential
and
just lack focus and guidance
???
and ‘hol
the James Brown excursion is imaginatively entitled
.
GET ON UP
.
oy fuckin vey
cba = Darth Vader
My name is Jean Michel Jarre.
Please stop using the name of my album without my permission.
Thank you.
i have been feeling a bit chesty recently , cynic
Dear boy…typing on my phone not a pc. I wonder if you are just using typos(what a dreadful crime compared to destroying the heritage of a club by the way) to avoid dealing with the reality of modern day arsenal. No oxygen for the ha if thinking….derisory rubbish. Yeah let’s all back the inertia…..i hope you will be happy to congratulate Chelsea when they pass our record of titles. Because as long as this regime persists, that’s where we are going. That Dear friends is all you are lending your valuable support to. God help someone who would actually urge his club to go out there and stop the rot. But hey as long as you can point out typos or insult someone who actually cares about the club it’s all fine and dandy eh?
Wondering if we could try a different approach, formation wise, considering we got two defeats in a row now and in both of them we had similar tactic. And it is evident it was not good.
If I am Wenger, I would try to do what Conte did at Chelsea after they had back-to-back defeats against us and Liverpool.
For a start a would change the GK. Cech is a decent GK, but I am not sure that his long kicks that are finding nobody are exactly what we need at this point. Ospina is quicker, quite better with the ball in his feet and his distribution is much better.
Then why not try to implement 3-4-3 formation.
I am sure that Kos/Holding/Gabriel (Mustafi when fit) will get us more clean sheets and security at the back. Both Kos and Mustafi are good with the ball and can help Xhaka in transition from defense to attack, something we miss now when Santi doesn’t play.
Gibbs and Bellerin as wing-backs.
One of the most reliable players previous seasons, Monreal is maybe the weakest link for Arsenal this campaign. All our opponents are constantly targeting him, game after game. Why insist on playing him?
Gibbs and Bellerin have the required pace, plus the defensive and attacking abilities to be great in that formation.
Coq/Xhaka in a central midfield, not because it is perfect, but because it is the only decent pairing we got at the moment, at least until Santi is back.
Up front it’s obviously Alexis.
On the left flank Iwoby/Ox/prefer Welbeck if fit(better engine, can track back) and Theo/Lucas on the other flank.
No Ozil at the moment for me. We need players who are prepared to play without compromise and go after every ball, players like Alexis, Kos and Coquelin.
No Ramsey and Giroud too in the starting 11, considering both of them are always playing better as subs than as starters.
This approach will certainly mean a lot less possession, but also far more aggressive and direct football. Not sure we have the best players to do it, but as we obviously have to change something.
eff off short arse
Sleeping Giant
I don’t know how long you’ve supported our club but it obviously means a great deal to you. But please get some perspective. We are a top four club having won the Cup six times under Wenger . We e done the double twice and gone 49 games unbeaten. The man constructed the finest team English football has ever seen. He has reconstructed the club financially and we will really see how amazing a job he has done when he leaves. Please don’t act as if being fourth is akin to being relegated . Some clubs have been raped by their owners and while I would love someone other than Kroenke to be in charge things could be far worse …and almost certainly will be when Wenger leaves.
Fart Vader?
Changing the keeper because his kicks are not good, after he’s just stopped us getting walloped?
Cheers H! And cheers for keeping the blog going though thick and thin, forever and a day.
I think the sort of giant who sleeps for 3 years, then suddenly decides to wake up today, should maybe sleep a little longer, The cunt.
Tough week to be a Gooner Holic.
But we have had plenty of them in the past,and will do in the future.
My thoughts at the beginning of the season were that despite a couple of decent buys in the summer,we were still only a side challenging for the top 4.
Still a few too many players not quite up to the level required technically or otherwise,to be challenging for the big Trophies.
This past week has shown that to be the case.
What the answer is i don’t know.
To be honest i don’t think Arsene knows either.
Must admit i am a bit perplexed that after combining so well with Alexis in Basel and scoring a hat trick,that Perez is nowhere to be seen in the next 3 fixtures.
Will Arsene react positively as Conte did at Chelsea,after a couple of damaging defeats,or will he keep the same formation that has cost us so dear this week.
I guess we will find out on Boxing Day.
But I’m not holding my breath.
Ttg
I completely agree about what wenger has done. He did produce a truly amazing team, nobody would even suggest taking the credit for that from him. But this is modern sport and, quite rightly imo, there should be no place for sentiment. Those great teams were not 5, nor eve ten years ago. That is simply far too long. To grant him an extended tenure on the strength of 13 years ago is obviously absurd. And yes we are a top 4 team but for me that so called status is part of he problem…..it is elevating a consolation prize to the status of the real thing. But it’s not. 4th is 4th. Gg had 2 or 3 4th place finishes on top of his trophy rush, yet I’ve never heard a single word of praise for those ‘achievements’. And quite rightly. Because to mention them in the same breath as his real achievements would detract from the latter. Exactly th same with the wenger 4ths. The club makes so much of them to give the impression that the team is still a superpower in our league. We’re not. Wengers success is embarrassingly front loaded to the 1st half of his reign. Even allowing for the stadium wilderness years, there has been no indication of any kind that he is the man he once was. The last 3 years I have felt our squad was 2nd only to man city’s, who at least dispensed with pellegrini when it became clear his ideas had run out. It is my view that a refusal to recognise the 4th place achievement for what it really is (ie decent but no more)has restricted us fatally and until there is new blood, conceit and arrogance will not allow a recognition of the truth, so we will not allow ourselves to progress. Indeed I think it would have been way healthier got our club if we had missed out on cl once or twice. It hasn’t done Chelsea much harm has it?as a final point, I have been going since 1977 and to be honest some of the games I’ve seen in the past 3 years are as bad as anything I’ve seen in that time(home and away V Norwich 2 yrs ago for example). But I realise things aren’t that bad….but the current stalemate its more frustrating than if we were actually bad. For the last few years I am 100% convinced that appointment of the right manager( and boy were there plenty available, despite what the doomsayers would have you bekieve) would have got us at least 1 pl title. That realisation T A more ambitious club would have led to a change long ago. So It’s exactly because we endlessly consistently underachieving, rather than downright crap, that I’m so wound up. If Wengers lasts any longer there’s no guarantee that a new manager will have a commensurate squad. And as I’ve said, for a manager not even to be able to mount a challenge with cech, alexis, ozil, bellerin, cazorla….the list goes on and on and on……well let’s just say 13 years of this and I simply can’t see an argument for keeping wenger….i don’t like that this is my view, but I don’t see how I could have any other. Indeed , am amazed that any arsenal fan would be hostile to this….you might not agree but it’s not like all of you won’t have at least thought similar thoughts at some stage if you’re honest I’m sure.
Just in after a family day and all sorts of shenanigans. Still got the game to watch which I will do so with some quality Adnams.
I have seen nothing of the game and read very little. However, what I have read tells me that yet again we only managed 1 shot on target. The fact that we scored once tells me that yet again it is the same old problem.
I will watch the game but supporting Arsenal is still the same old rollercoaster. A rollercoaster that at times requires a touch of reality. The honest amongst us will look back at the season so far and reflect on performances and not just the results. With some honesty people might just realise that we are 4th for a reason.
Adnams and the recorded version it is then.
el Z the Caledonian paragraph nazi
must be in chains
cos
the dozy big man’s last post
would shite him the fuck off
parcels of shite
periodically kicked
out the back of a drunk truck
a handier style
but
it takes allsorts
man
I’M MASSIVE !!!
fe fi fo fum
.
i won’t finish that rhyme cos Clive already thinks
we all wear balaclavas over here
.
“silly small person
i laugh at your tiny puny humour”
Steve T
I say you are a brave man!
phew
Sorry. Thought this was a forum for arsenal fans who care about their team, not some rank awful, keyboard warriors stand up wordplay forum.
fuckin giants
Ambydex @ #2, u are right on bro. I have never played soccer/football, but even I could have made a better management decision than that.
Holic on #38 above – “To be honest I don’t think Arsene knows either.” That is really a telling statement from you. If 1 of your employees was running a ship & you sensed that the current challenge is beyond his grasp, what would you do if you wanted the ship to be “righted”?
Do soccer/football teams in England and elsewhere, watch film of their upcoming opponents as they prepare their game plan? How did Leicester City, Chelsea & Tottenham beat City this season?
Substition, what substation??
“Before we think about being nine points behind Chelsea, we have to think about why we have not kept a clean sheet.”
You should have been thinking about it weeks ago, as this is now 12 games in a row in all competitions where we’ve conceded goals and I think the eighth league match on the spin.
Ho-hum
Why are people going after “Sleepinggiant”? Is he/she making things up? Let us all be honest with other and then more importantly agree to disagree if that is warrantied.
I would like to think this is a democratic Arsenal forum for fans to share their views.
but
tapera
nowt says christmas like torch wielding villagers
…or toadying mind controlled zombie acolytes….
What really get’s to me more than anything is the manner we lost this game, we came out for the second half thinking yes let’s hold on to this slender lead and everything just went to the dogs house!
It was in fact an exact copy of the game at Everton, we scored first and let them back in, why on earth is this team playing like this? Does Wenger instruct these players to hold on to one nil leads? This is suicide especially in the PL and you will be punished and not only by the big teams but smaller clubs alike. With Mustafi missing our midfielders had no clue how to handle pressure, why on earth take off Coq when he was one of the hardest working players?
We lost our shape completely it was very painful to watch as they passed the living shit out of us by the box we just stood there watching as if we’re hypnotised!
I don’t m mind loosing a game but to loose like this is unacceptable, no desire, no passion no balls to stand up for yourself and your team mates and most of the club you are representing!
Atg…irritating as Gary neville is, he hit the nail on the head. It’s not that we lose shape….its that when we get our shape we don’t know what to do next. I’ve been saying this forcyears…..our defence tactic under wenger is to take up what we hope is the correct position then passively hope that other team doesn’t score. Complete lack of no use and defensive aggression. But then again in my opinion we haven’t had a top central defender since Campbell.
If you could be Sanchez, taking into consideration how his life @ Arsenal has been, would you sign a new contract, given that you can get whatever Arsenal will pay you if not more somewhere else? I would be more than likely to sign somewhere else given the team’s “ambitions”.
Mesut Ozil shrank from the occasion and wandered around aimlessly and ineffectively – http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38279282
…for the second time in a week. What is the point of him if he cannot step up for more than one game in four? Good luck with your contract negotiations, Mesut, your value has been halved and halved again in my judgement.
Another “Professional” post-match, Guvnor! Salut!
At least one Gunner & Gooner always performs consistently to his/her potential, and is “the best he can be” year upon year! ?
Regarding Sanchez’ new contract, and probably Ozil’s too, he’s probably waiting-out to know who comes in next once Arsene’s tenure ends at the end of this season. I know that that’s what I’d be doing if I was a “Worldie” too. ???
Up the Arse All Day & All Night.
Arsenal Football Club Only Forever.
Two and a half years ago I was repeatedly urging AW to do a deal with Dortmund … Özil and Vermaelen (plus cash) for Reus and Hummels. I can’t help thinking how different things might have been had that happened then. I guess we could still try offering Mesut for Marco, but I can’t imagine Dortmund being as interested now as they would have been back then.
RE sanchez……pay him what he wants(ok not up to the China salaries but equal or greater than pogba and Co. He is the best player in the league by miles and has been since he arrived. Arsenal is London biggest club and we pay some of the highest ticket prices in the world……. dont let anyone tell you we shouldn’t or can’t have the highest paid players too. Indeed I’ve yet to hear a rational argument for not paying him what he’s worth in the modern context. It would have the added benefit of hopefully destroying the despised parity of wages policy that has been in my opinion part of the mechanism used to encourage mediocrity. A total win win and a sign of real intent to break through the self imposed glass ceiling. Don’t hold your breath…..
It could be argued that both their goals should have been flagged off-side, but that wouldn’t explain the general malaise permeating everything we did after Theo’s early neat finish.
Would you believe this was the first time since 2012 that $iteh have come from behind to win … and second time in a week we have done the opposite!
I posted this 10 days ago on Sanchez & Ozil:
I need some help folks.
I am trying to do the math on re-signing or not re-signing Sanchez & Ozil.
At today’s PL prices how much would it cost to sign both of these players from “another team”? Is it fair to say it would take nothing less than 50Mil if not 60Mil in pounds for each player? Would either player take less than 200K per week? (Sorry my keyboard does not have the pound sign). Lets suppose both players signed for 4 years.
In England, who pays the agent (team or player)? What is the average agent fee? Is it a percentage of the transfer fee? Me not know.
So far my math says with a generous/cheap 200K per week = 41.6M. So both the transfer fee (at the low end) + 4 year salary = 91.6Mil + agent transfer fee.
On the other hand if you re-signed the players @ 400K (if not 350K) per week, for 4 years = 83.2Mil.
What value do place on the 2 well seasoned & “marinated” players after you re-sign them? Could they help the team win something meaningful, which could then translate to higher fees from either Nike, Adidas or Puma?
You’d be prepared to pay even more to watch Arsenal play, sleepinggiant? Arsenal’s wage bill isn’t that far off the most paid in the Prem … http://www.totalsportek.com/money/english-premier-league-wage-bills-club-by-club/ … and anything extra could only come from ticket sales.
Its so funny how we argue/complain about the same shit year in year out.
Watching on. Sleepinggiant be careful not to overstep the mark. I’m all for open debate, but not for agenda driven stuff. Ta.
He Marvin Gaye’d his own team.
My team.
Quite right, SAG (#64) … while clubs below us envy our financial clout and the squad we have. Assets they can only dream about. 😉
Hey Chris, I recorded RB Leipzig’s game yesterday. What was the name of the player that impressed you? I have not watched the game yet.
For some bizarre reason I’ve just sat and watched the whole 90 minutes. All very deja vu for me. I’ve just listened to Arsene at the end and again listening to him look for scape goats. Whilst I accept that he won’t blame players in public I must say that I’m getting bored with excuses. One shot on target at Everton and one on target today should be of more concern.
I go back to my previous post above about reality. There were those here telling us all that after scoring 5 and 4 in two games that world domination was only just around the corner. I wonder what they are thinking now? The fact is that year upon year upon year, we fail to address the weaknesses in the squad. It’s days like today and last Tuesday that bring it to the fore. The game I have just watched was poor. For me again we lacked quality and most definitely, leadership.
The Baggies in town on Boxing Day. A win and no doubt we will be champions elect again. A loss and we will be struggling to stay up?? Some perspective and a return to our normal position of 4th may be more likely I would suggest.
Until then? Same old same old….. And sadly, deep down, none of us will be that surprised.
Emil Forsberg is the guy, Tapera. I don’t think the Leipzig game is available here, so please let me know what you think.
53
i went for a shit
don t wanna boast
.
.
TRIUMPHANT !
To competently treat and cure a disease, one must cogently, and honestly, diagnose it first. QED ? ? ?
lend us a fiver
?
i’m good for it
i so am
i also like ham
*blushes*
and SPAM
You can’t beat a good Ertha.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwfTaDkSS4Y
indeed steve
were i not sat down
i woulda run jubilant
through the jealous streets
I know that soccer/football is a different sport, but look at this CBA (collective bargaining agreement) for the NBA. There are about 32 teams, & each has about 13 players on their roster.
http://www.nba.com/article/2016/12/14/nba-and-nbpa-reach-tentative-labor-deal
gonna stick on some professor longhair
.
i have the energy of fuck all’s wee lazy sister
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZNxSOQtQp8
tapera
all apologies
and no lies
.
i won’t watch whatever watcheemecallit
but
as an aside
at school
we played gaelic football
we didn’t play
“that foreign sport”
except for before school
lunchtime
and after
.
but
the point i just discovered i’m making
is
gaelic is an aggressive game
so in thinking back
me and me mates
transposed that anger into the
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH”
!soccer! games
( soccer- hate that word – plastic hardman paddys use it )
i meself was a master of the shoulder charge
politely flatten someone quicker and niftier than you
as they cockily ran goalwards
can’t recall my point
but
merry christmas
and that pointless trip into my life is free
or
you could make a donation in my name
to the christmassiest charity of yer choice
.
.
.
jeez
leave me alone !!!!
what’s everyone lookin at ?
.
fuckin weirdos
I really like this stuff for some mad reason
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKPzDrPn1ho
Possibly posted before but fuck it.
Even been listening to Blackmore’s Night a lot just lately which is surely a sign of impending madness.
You can’t beat a bit of medieval/Renaissance twiddling.
it’s a hey nonny no from me
sorry
What disappointed me the most was the manner in which we conceded both goals. We were playing City away, holding on to a 1 goal lead with 3 pacey forwards and Mesut Ozil to orchestrate counter attacks. And we all know City is vulnerable to counters, just ask Leicester.
So what did we do? Concede two goals to City counter attacks, the first a long ball forward and the second from a diagonal ball to Sterling. How can we let this happen? Shouldn’t we be sitting deep, forcing City to commit men forward and look to pounce on the break?
Im pretty baffled, either with the team’s naivety or the manager’s tactical instructions. 4th and a CL exit to Bayern is a big possibility again – I hope this time Wenger proves everyone wrong though!
although
i made a shite load o mead
not long gone
for a few friends o mine
well
.
rich cunts
her friends
so
to be fair
they’re lucky i didn’t empty me bowels
in it
Don’t ever change, cba.
i do apologise ‘holic
inanity is exactly what it is
and i do apologise
.
ya big cross dressin bar room darlin ?
.
.
.
.
I
being of sound mind
would like to
leave any residual credit due
to
cynic
and
May god have mercy on his soul
aw
fer fucks sake
everyone
can see
i’m charging through the midfield
it’s up for grabs now
cba
right
whatever !
ya buncha girls
dunno why i bother
FUCKIN DAISIES
the lotta ye
i know where ye all live
ask Clive
.
Goonerrr-sur-mer
I don’t
that would be ridiculous
fer fucks sake
*enormous fake laugh*
Ok cba, but i want it back for the Boxing Day sales! I’ve got a nice rabbit’s foot that I’ve had me ? on since Liverpool at home to add up my horse-shoe and four-leaf clover. Al-Right, ya nutter??? I don’t wanna have to come over and have to deal with ya with me black cat! ?
Tell you what; our old club captain Mikel Arteta’s a right classy bloke! He didn’t even celebrate any of his new charges’ scores. Top bloke! ?
“Security!!!!”
Yeah! ?
‘Holic … a bit late but I’ve sent a copy of Max’s first Christmas card to your virginmedia email address.
If only Chris was running AFC. All would be well. Its clear that his sage like intellect and encyclopedic knowledge of the game would be a massive upgrade on the current incumbent.
Where would we find eleven Theo’s though?
Are you having a conniption, IF?
IF, Chris:
I have brought my family to NZ this Xmas – to spend time with friends & family in the sun. I write to you from the bay of islands – where at 5am this morning I awoke to log into the wonderful live commentary that Arseblogger provides for those who want no access to TV etc.
What a truly beautiful country this is. I am genuinely smitten with the places, people and environs so far. How lucky you both are!
I hope you both manage to meet some or all of the crew that frequent the tollington for home matches one day in London as I have. You’ll realise what wonderful people they are too to a man/woman!
Enjoy what you have irrespective of the result – life is too short!
We have a very friendly run of fixtures up to the Chelsea game although with Ox away we are getting up to the top of the injury league again. We get a lot of hamstring injuries and that smacks of insufficient conditioning. Again Ox like at Sheffield Wednesday got injured just after coming on as sub. One really does wonder if we have got optimal fitness and conditioning resources although the handbook lists all sorts of people working in that area. Ramsey and Ox have done their disappearing act. We now await Theo who will surely disappear soon for many weeks.
Enjoy NZ Joe. I’ve only been there very briefly but it is a wonderful place with a climate to match Ireland’s !
“It’s unacceptable to lose like this” Arsene Wenger post match interview.
A day which started off so brightly, comfortable transport, affable fellow passengers, great driver arriving spot on target in the away fans car park, an early goal and away fans in great voice drowning out the opposition supporters, what more could you want?
Well of course I speak of our Arsenal and while their minds were still in the dressing room we found ourselves at 1-1. You just knew from then on there was only going to be one winner and it wasn’t going to be us.
Confidence just drained away. The midfield couldn’t retain possession and our passing went to pot! We were over run and wave after wave of Citi attacks tore through our feeble defences. I hate saying this but after conceding the second goal we” threw in the towel”!
You bet Arsene, it was unacceptable to lose like this.
From my lofty perch behind the corner flag in the far stand it was impossible to see whether either or both Citi goals were off-side. Having seen the highlights, I concede that the first was and Silva was possibly interfering with play for the second, however that is a shot Cech should have saved.
Where was Ozil when you needed him and Granit had a mare. What was needed on days like Tuesday and yesterday was someone to take charge on the pitch and lead the side out of their malaise. Sadly no one comes to mind.
14 despondent Gooners made their way safely back to East Anglia.
Is it worth going through all the effort, without trains, to make the Boxing Day game? Perhaps I will feel more positively by the end of the week.
COYRs
Nice write up Delia. I felt for all of the travelling Gooners yesterday.
My tickets for Boxing Day and New Year’s Day are already with others. I made the decision some weeks ago. The very best of luck if you are going to make the journeys.
Usual venue wasn’t open for business so watched the match in the local football club bar with mostly fans of other teams…
Apart from the obligatory gobby Tottenscum twat they were a nice kowledgable bunch and to a man they kept asking me “why do you lot do this every season?” and saying stuff like “you should be ten points clear with these players…”
It’s happened so many times now all I could do was shrug….felt more like a wake than an exciting top four clash by the end…
Drink for cba, the sanest of us all.
Maybe Einstein didn’t say “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” Doubt it was Wenger though.
http://www.news.hypercrit.net/2012/11/13/einstein-on-misattribution-i-probably-didnt-say-that/
We gave the ball away about 5 times in our half in the first ten minutes after half time. I couldn’t believe what I was watching. Bellerin, Gabriel, Xhaka…all scared shitless of the ball, but clearly also scared shitless of hoofing it away, up over their defence where our guys could show their amazing pace, ease the pressure and then allow us sit back and soak, which I’m kinda assuming was the plan or discussion after half time, though who knows. It was game over after this phase and Sane’s goal, advantage handed over, they didn’t even have to build moves. Now, if that kind of Sunday park football is blatantly obvious to all of us, how come our Manager blames “only” being able to rest for five days after Everton (when, by the way, he blamed the corner decision that was impossible to spot with the naked eye) and two very marginal offside decisions v’s City ?? There’s protecting the players and then there’s pathetic whingeing. We got the handball goal v’s Burnely, get over it. I was quite happy to absolve the team after Everton due to their schedule up to then, but 5 days recovery ? Come on. Also, look at Pep after his team utterly collapsed against Chelsea and imploded at the final whistle. Such class, sucked it up, apologised, move on. Of course I don’t really blame Wenger for that terrible defending although guys clearly are instructed to play it out even in high risk zones, which is down to him and Bould to a huge degree surely. I really hoped we had turned the corner, that the stronger squad could change the mentality, the approach, the mood. Most of all I thought our best squad for years could have given our manager himself some confidence, some poise and some new tools to adapt our game and style. If you have the players, you the manager (and your on-pitch leaders) SHOULD be able to organise some response to turn or at least stem the tide when it’s obviously raging against us. Because this is the essence of all successful sporting endeavour ; fronting up mentally so setbacks don’t become turning points, handling the key moments and pressures, reorganising, regrouping. But after all that, when it doesn’t go our way, take it like a man FFS, front up and take responsibility. And p-llleeease…don’t blame Ozil for Christ’s sake, he has been amazing, is it really his job to defend, tackle and deliver the clean sheets that are the simple difference between us and Chelsea in recent weeks ? Give me a break. COYG.
It’s his job not to hide in big games but he does it almost every time. Big players play when you need them to, not just against the minnows at home.
Even in that first half when we were dangerous he was missing in inaction.
A goal up and looking comfortable before a slow descent into madness and a deserved loss – the second in a week. Is December the new November? It appears so.
Cech – some fine saves but distribution is awful.
Iwobi young and learning but defensively is no better than a training cone.
Ozil and Ox – wtf?
Theo – where did you go after the goal?
Kos – getting good reviews but hopelessly out of position for goals in recent games.
The future is not what it used to be just a few weeks ago. It’s the bus stop’s to lose now.
UTA.
Well let’s just hope the Emirates crowd don’t agree with you Cynic or we’ll make his contract decision very easy for him. He’s an offensive player and he’s a genius. Just because Le Coq was throwing himself around and scrapping, was it ok that he misplaced passes and kept getting caught in possession like many others ? Yes Ozil is a luxury player but this over-simplistic “get stuck into them” idea really pisses me off, I’m sorry to say. Mesut, you are not our “mentality” problem, we love you and we want you to stay man. COYG.
The last 21 away games vs the current top 6…
Won 0
Draws 7
Loses 14
They can’t all have been down to decisions not going no our way? Surely the manager has to take some of the blame?
Sky Sports is not a great place for your stats today people.
Ozil is a top drawer player. A player of real quality. But those who are judging him just look at what he is playing with. When he picked up the ball at Madrid, look at the quality he had to aim at in front of him. Compare that to the quality that he is looking for when he pulls on an Arsenal shirt.
You don’t buy one of the best guns in the world and then use average ammunition.
The day started so well. Beautiful weather, and the satnav decided to ignore the oh so boring motorways and take my son and I across the peak district on our way from Cambs to Manchester. Fantastic views and a lovely driving road. Once in East Manchester the grimmer bits of Moss Side brought back memories of trips to Maine Road. We parked near the canal, walked briefly along it and up some steps to come out right in front of the Etihad (apart from City and Wigan which other grounds are right by canals that you can walk along to get to the ground?). My first trip to this ground and I have to tell you I was mightily impressed. Both inside and outside I thought in an improvement on Old Trafford, in the sister City of Salford. Of course, all the light blue wearing crowd had Mancunian accents so no chance of confusing the two anyway.
Into the ground and the travelling Gooners were in fine voice in the concourse and in the ground. We were lower tier, six rows back, between the corner flag and the penalty area – very similar seats to our own on the North Bank. The stewards, bar one, were very friendly, making the sure the kids could see and the old lady on the front row was OK. There was one unpleasant sod who kept threatening to throw people out if they stepped one inch into the aisle (I was on the end of an aisle) but otherwise fine and hassle free.
The game started and immediately Theo muscled (pushed?) De Bruyne out of play right in front of us. No foul given and rather pleasing to see the new, more muscular Theo throwing his whole ten stone around. Then the break upfield. Theo breaks infield when I was screaming at him to run wide to give Hector an option. What do I know. Hector to Alexis to Theo and a clinical finish. Pandemonium. We were singing songs that would rather come back to haunt us/me later. One nil to The Arsenal. You’re f**king shit. You’ve only come to see the Arsenal. In retrospect maybe it was a bit previous given that only five minutes had gone and it was almost the first time we’d touched the ball.
I’ve seen comments above that suggest that we were strongly in the game in the first half. I can only say that it didn’t feel like that. They had all the ball, moved it really quickly (I thought Silva and DeBruyne were superb) and constantly got behind us both sides. The ball seemed to keep whizzing across our area and only great defending (especially by Kos) kept them from scoring. Sterling should have scored with a header. Half time I thought we were rather lucky to hold the lead.
Second half you all know about. Early goal. I was 100 yards away at ground level so no idea whether it was offside. I do know two things – firstly that Sagna made a huge difference to them when he came on and secondly that Nacho is really struggling against anyone with pace. Time to play Gibbs I think. Cech made some wonder saves and I can’t find it in my heart to blame him for failing to stop a full blooded shot from 8 yards out. The subs were baffling, especially Elneny for Ox. Mesut had a shocker. Amazing we didn’t try the ball over the top more with all that pace – we really didn’t threaten at all.
On the way back to the car we were subject to a lot of good humoured smug Manc banter (we had Arsenal scarves on). They sang songs to us. What were they? Oh yes. One nil to The Arsenal. We’re f**king shit. We’ve only come to see the Arsenal. Not a hint of trouble, just very pleased with themselves piss taking.
As Delia says above, it’s a bloody long way back to East Anglia when you been thoroughly beaten.
Great report Countryman. An enjoyable read.
Joe – If you get to Auckland look me up. perrybd@xtra.co.nz.
It would be great to meet you and share a beer!
Chris – I’m the calmest man in the room. I think most locals would agree that agenda driven hissy fits and I -told- you so-s are your speciality.
Good word though,conniption.
Well done.
Steve T @ 128 – Look at what he’s playing with? He put NO effort into that game at all yesterday, at no point whatsoever. If he can’t be bothered from the first whistle, well…
Sanchez plays with the same players by the way. Compare and contrast his performance with Ozil’s.
To a degree you do have a point in that Ozil only seems to play well when the team is playing well, but that’s not the sign of a top quality player. Really top players rise above the mediocrity of others, as Sanchez did. They don’t find a way to be the worst player on the pitch when they’re needed the most.
Cynic
Ozil is never tracking back if you watch him closely when we apply pressure on a team it all comes from Alexis and the rest of the team follows, there was a moment in the game where Alexis urged everyone to come out but no one acknowledged him and he just waved his hand in despair.
We were completely locked up in the second half Pep instructed his players how to do it he use to do it against us with Barcelona so there is nothing new there. We got scared, panicked and the end result was obvious.
What Wenger will not do is instruct his players when things get tough from the touchline but it was clear they needed something, beacuse we looked like boys v men yet again.
And the Ozil bashing continues unabated! Hmmm….back to re-reading m’ “Roy of the Rovers” fun-nual! ⚽️ ? ?
Odd zoological allusion by AW to the press following the game, in reference to protections of the match officials. Not exactly sure why he said it or why he picked on the lions in the zoo. Must be feeling like a caged lion himself, with the zoo-going members of the media tossing objects at him through the bars.
Must have been dreaming that Martin Atkinson and Mike Dean were relegated.
Delia and Countryman
2 very eloquent posts on your away day adventure at the Etihad.
Had many many similar trips to opposition grounds myself in the company of my father back in the 50’s and 60’s.
Of course as you both know only too well,we weren’t very good back then,so the defeats far outweighed the victories,and there were far more sombre trips home,than there were cheerful ones.
But we had some wonderful experiences in far flung places,and met some really good people,that made the journey home just that little more palatable even after a loss.
You are both what makes a Club special.
The ‘ Stickers ‘ as Dad used to refer to them,those that support the team through thick and thin, turn up to support the players when things aren’t going so well,and they really need the fans behind them,and can express their disappointment as well as their joy in eloquent terms,rather than resort to the lowest common denominator to call out certain players if they are having a bad run and are low on confidence.
I really enjoy reading your posts,along with a few others,that stand out like jewels among the dross.
Long may it continue.
‘Agenda driven’, IF? You mean expecting more consistency from a team that runs hot and cold too often, and in particular the supposed playmaker whose job it is to set the tone? And why are you ‘the calmest man in the room’? Do you have no passion for the team you claim to support? I note you rarely have any suggestions to make yourself about what is wrong and how things might be changed. Clearly you are laissez faire about the way the season is evolving, or simply content to deride others rather than risk expressing opinions that might be proven less than Aristotelian.
Half the fun of this blog is the exchange of views about how our team’s fortunes can be improved, and if we crow when we get it right, so what? Few of us get it right enough of the time anyway, and we know it trust me. But at least it shows more passion than being a sad sack who is never wrong, ever, because he’s more interested in criticising other bloggers than the latest game, its players or tactics.
Joe … NZ is a fine country full of fine people, and the occasional nutter who will kill you soon as look at you on one of its great walking tracks. But frankly, after 24 years here I can’t wait to get away back home to England.
NZ is a disaster waiting to happen with its endless earthquakes all over the country, its latent volcanoes under Auckland and the overdue super volcano in the middle of the North Island that makes all other threats look like a bad day’s weather at the cricket. I’ve had enough of tensing every time the house walls ‘crack’ (a sound that invariably precedes the shaking of a tremor) as they naturally expand and contract. And it’s not like we’ve had a quake in Wellington recently. No, our ‘big one’ is hundreds of years overdue. What we’ve been shaken by lately are quakes in the mid and upper South Island which have been enough to cause several office blocks and a high rise parking building to have to be demolished, plus anything up to 80 other central business district buildings are under inspection with its residents not allowed into them.
Some may consider this the price you pay for living in a politically safe haven with its scenic splendours, relaxed lifestyle and friendly people, but at my age I could do with a lot more of the quiet Surrey village life I deserted 50 years ago.
But if you make it to Wellington, and Wellington is still here, I’d be delighted to introduce you to some of the world’s finest craft beers. You could get an idea by searching out Emerson’s Bookbinder, which is widely available throughout NZ.
And, regardless my gloom and doom, please do enjoy your stay!
G54
Great accounts by all means and most of us are also here week in week out, however wanting your team to succeed clearly states only one thing and I’m sure you know what that is. At the end of the day we all express our disappointment in different ways. I will always pick out on things that didn’t work and throw my two pence into it. I will not single out team performance to one player, however Ozil has not done himself any favours by strolling around. There is a video on Arseblog him doing just that and it’s not a pretty sight for a quality player of his statue.
He was not the only one in fact the whole team under performed in a big way and the body language of some players as Delia mentioned doesn’t give you much confidence especially when things get tough and for me that’s quite worrying.
I’m not sure why every season we are facing same evil demons but this is no longer a blip or a bad day in the office it’s like a curse that we have to deal with every season and it keeps happening over and over. Such words as mental strength don’t mean a thing when a team surrenders like we did yesterday afternoon and this is not for the first time this season.
I honestly thought we were way past that debacle but it seems we are not there is no point talking how we are going to beat Man City let the pitch do the taking and we know how that ended up. I hope our players watched the game tonight at Goodison because this is what hard work and application is all about!
Goonersince54. Thank you so much for such fulsome compliments. I am truly humbled. Unlike you and the Landlord I never had the privilege of going to games with my Dad. He worked three jobs to keep food on the table and never had the time or the money to take his son to football, although he was a handy player (contemporary of George Cohen and on Fulham’s schoolboy books). He now suffers from Alzheimers and is a world of his own. I went my own way as a teenager, and as a student, when I lived just a few hundred yards from Highbury (and was probably at many of the same games as many of you). It was education that gave me the opportunity to, in my 40s and 50s (I’m 59), take my kids to The Arsenal and, for the last 12 years, have my son as my constant companion including the occasional away day and two winning FA Cup finals. We love going away (him especially – he doesn’t have to drive) even when we lose. Next away day for us, along with 5700 other Gooners is to Preston in the Cup. Next home day Boxing Day.
Like those of my generation I find the extreme views on t’internet strange, as, although I’m pissed off when we lose, I find a day or so removes the edge (indeed I find a day off from Twitter gives me a chance to read books and listen to music).
Truly this blog is a place of fellow travellers. We care but, we care proportionally, unlike some of the (to quote the Landlord) hard of thinking.
I am truly blessed that I can watch them in person, with my son, about 30 times per season.
Come on you Gunners!
I have just only found out about Berlin. Our thoughts and prayers are with people of Berlin!
Steve T
I’m dubious about that Sky Stat
I think it means we have played Citeh, Chelsea and Liverpool seven times each and never won.
What about the 2-0 win at Citeh in 2015, the two wins in successive years at Anfield( we’ve only lost once there in seven years from what I can remember) and we beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in 2011 when Van Persia got a hat trick . Sky is very agenda driven but they should check their facts with Ned! ?
Chris. Half the fun of this particular forum disappeared the moment you joined the conversation.
😀
Countryman,
Always a pleasure to read your posts – keep em coming.
UTA.
TTG: You are right about the away defeats to the current top six. The run goes back only nine games (four losses and five draws) since we won 0-2 at Man City on Jan 18, 2015. We have also beaten Spurs and Man U away in Cup games during that time.
Sky Sports are cunts.
That is all.
Except for I miss the old days; the good old days.
Change is coming, sooner than we know it. It started with Brexit, then Trump, then the Italian thing, then Stan fired his American football coach about 10 days ago. Guess who is next???
No more status quo.
Chris, I watched the taped Leipzig game. Emil Forsberg looked good. One game is not enough for me to fairly rate him. The good thing though, is Leipzig play Bayern Munich on Wednesday. The game has been scheduled for my DVR, so that will give me another opportunity to observe him. Leipzig play a pressing style of game, when they don’t have the ball.
I have the Bayern/Leipzig game scheduled to record, Tapera, we can compare notes. I’ve only seen Forsberg three times myself so too early to be really categoric, but I like his strength and determination and his vision. He looks a real footballer to me.
…as importantly, he looks an Arsenal ‘type’ to me, in the Ray Parlour mould.
Thanks Ned
I miss the old days; the good old days.
I miss the days when we had four or five truly world class players in the team.
Highbury.
Frank McLintock on Soccer Saturday.
England could bat through the final day of a Test without losing ten wickets.
Dialup internet
Abbey Crunch.
Snow and proper seasons of the year at the proper times.
George Graham.
3-2-1 with Ted Rogers
I may have lied about one (or more) of those things 😉
There is an elephant in the room, the one who has given us countless loads of joys and the odd sorrow but he is now an elephant which needs to be told out. Sir Arsene Wenger, it is over. You cannot win the league or the champions league with either the philosophy or the personnel you have. City and everton games showed what is apparent; we do not have the balls to win such games.
If Ozil is having demands for his contract extension then we should also include a clause saying whenever he does not perform in big games, he will be penalized. I mean seriously, he cannot be that poor as he was on sunday. The problem is not about being just poor, it is about the lack of effort. Except for Sanchez who really wanted to win that game at all cost? not one i could see with that attitude on the pitch.
Gabriel, theo and ox are not Arsenal standards. They cannot perform week in week out and if theo thinks he can score a goal and then all will be forgotten, then it does not. Monreal is over and i cannot see how Wenger did not see that and sign someone. We just have a set of players who think they can turn up to the game and they will win. They are neither that good nor will they be ever.
Arsenal wont win anything again this season. No, there is no guarantee given by them that they will. As a football team if you consider yourself to be among the contenders, you should prove you are worthy to be so. Arsenal do not look like that at all. You wonder why?? simple- poor attitude and no leadership.
countryman @142. wonderful read.
Has our position in the league table risen due to Ozil being in the team?
A: In the 3 seasons before Ozil we finished 4th, 3rd, 4th. In the 3 seasons with Ozil we finished 4th, 3rd, 2nd but we did we really earn finishing second last season or did Spurs just take an early summer vacation?
Backdrinking makes me recall that there have been many great clubs of the past who are now outside the top flight. Aston Villa, Newcastle, Bolton, Blackburn, Sheffield Wed, Derby Country, Wolves and Sheffield Utd, storied names all, spent at least half the 118 seasons since the old First Division started in the top flight but are now fallen from that pinnacle. Fourteen of the current Premiership league clubs haven’t been able to manage as many consecutive seasons in the league as AW.
Some explanatory background on Kroenke’s firing of his NFL team’s coach, Jeff Fisher.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000755993/article/jeff-fishers-firing-comes-at-crucial-juncture-for-la-rams
Those who want to see parallels with AW’s situation will see them — as will those who see the differences.
Cynic, don’t stop at a packet of Abbey Crunch:
http://www.doyouremember.co.uk/category/culture/food-and-drink
Nigel Slater once did a thing about biscuits on BBC4 and this guy had an unopened packet of Abbey Crunch.
Why do companies keep taking away our good stuff?
Insufficient regulatory stringency?
Indeed, Cynic. McVitie’s is now but a tiny corner of the giant Turkish food conglomerate, Yildiz, so I doubt that Abbey Crunch troubles them at all — even if anyone in Istanbul even knows what they are.
But you could try baking your own:
http://geoffsbakingblog.blogspot.com/2015/02/abbey-crunch-biscuits.html
NBN, thanks for sharing the NFL link.
I had forgotten about Abbey Crunch. Lovely biscuits with tea. 🙂
I liked a nice gipsy cream when I got home from school.
I remember when Wagon Wheels were the size of, er … wagon wheels. I also remember my first job, for which I was paid the princely sum of £2.10s a week.
Yildiz probably think Abbey Crunch is a Brit porn star, Ned.
If Yildiz owns McVities, does that mean Jamie Laing is now longer heir to the McVitie fortune? Someone should tell the girls of MiC.
Wasn’t Abbey Crunch the girlfriend of Stevie G??
For anyone in need of some festive cheer have a read of this. Makes you realise how lucky we are.
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/12/20/tottenham-slash-europa-league-tickets-just-5-bid-avoid-empty/amp/
Savage will always be a savage
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04m2511
Why do they always have to make these podcasts when we go on a bad run, not sure the same applied to any other top club when things didn’t go their way. What a bunch of Hansens!
ATG
One of the many drawbacks of modern football with its social media support is the emergence of some profoundly average pundits like Savage, Owen , Crooks, Sutton et ad infinitude.
I think the BBC employ Savage to wind people up. This is exactly how Leicester City used the useless pillock .
There is too much space to fill nowadays and it isn’t filled wisely.
Reports today that the FBI had no additional evidence when it announced to the US voting public two werks before the election that one of the candidates was under investigation for serious crimes.
Chris@171: Is she your squeeze?
I’ll get my coat…
Chris, not much to evaluate Emil on. He gets a red card in the 30th minute. Ah well, maybe next time.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>