It’s The Middlesex Boys Annual Trip To North London
Nov 17th, 2017 by 'holic
It seems there isn’t a media outlet that isn’t hyping the latest North London derby to the highest peaks. I’ve just watched Sky Sports half hour preview show. I’ve been reading in various outlets all day about the shift in the balance of power, and who the world and his dog would pick in a mixed eleven. What value that has is anyones guess.
We can’t escape the fact that for the first time since April 1996 the team from Middlesex visit North London having finished above us in the preceding season. For twenty one seasons they rarely got close enough to smell our exhaust fumes. How their joy would have been tempered by our third FA Cup Final triumph in four years.
Silverware is their Achilles heel, and well they know it. Until they have put a trophy in a very small cabinet at the new White Hart Lane then finishing above us once will ring very hollow. Those words, the new White Hart Lane, loom large in their thoughts. The cost is set to reach nearly three times the cost of the Grove, and the financing is not at the advantageous rates we were able to negotiate.
They will have to fill their new abode week in, week out, but the public transport links are already poor for the capacity of the old ground. An extra fifty percent of capacity will test the will of people to make that awful journey regularly.
All of which matters not a jot tomorrow. It, and the way match, are the fixtures most of us (and them) look for first every season. Part of me wants to accept that they are the media darlings of the moment, they are the better side, they do go into tomorrow’s match full of confidence. Then I look for cliches. The form book goes out of the window for THE derby. Only for over twenty years it rarely did.
We know pretty much how Tottenham will set up tomorrow. Hopefully Steve Bould and the manager would have been working very hard with the defenders given the record that former junior Gunner Harry Kane has against us. Yet almost certainly we will have been looking more at how we set up to play the glorious attacking game we see so rarely these days but are still capable of.
In recent seasons, Chelsea last season and Manchester United before that, we have produced an Autumn performance of pure domination of a close rival. Could this derby be that fixture for this season? Who would be best placed to deliver that performance?
Petr Cech is certain to start in goal, and presumably a back three of Laurent Koscielny and Nacho Monreal around either Skhodran Mustafi or Per Mertesacker will seek to protect him. Hector Bellerin and Sead Kolasinac should patrol the flanks either side of Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey.
It is the front three who will cause the manager a sleepless night. Alexandre Lacazette’s ommision at the Emptihad looked a bad call when he eventually came on as substitute and scored. If recalled then the likeliest pairing behind and alongside him would normally be a shoe-in for Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez. Their inconsistency this season, coupled with their contract situation probably means that options have been considered.
Alan Smith tonight suggested starting Alexis but bring Jack Wilshere in to replace Ozil in the hole. There is another candidate. Alex Iwobi was preferred to Ozil at the bus stop in Fulham and enjoyed a sensational performance against Argentina in the week. I really haven’t a clue, but we will all be hoping the manager gets his selection right.
The ‘holic pound
The Arsenal are marginal favourites over ninety minutes but the shortest correct score odds suggest a 1-1 draw again. I’ve a feeling about us producing our autumnal extravaganza with the visitors contributing to a breathtaking goal fest. I’m splitting the pound between two long shots. 3-1 to the Arsenal at 16/1, and 3-2 at 22/1, look particularly attractive.
It will be an early start to the day thanks to the lunchtime kick-off, but that will allow for a generous post-mortem/celebration in the local hostelries post-match. Familiar faces will lift each other or party hard depending on the outcome. I’m looking forward to seeing you if you are going to be there.
Have a great one, ‘holics.
84 Responses to “It’s The Middlesex Boys Annual Trip To North London”
A pneumatic drill and ripped up spuds
That’s entertainment!
Cheers H!
Great preview maestro! Wish I was going like back in the old days but work calls… it always does =D
the mighty WIND !
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it’s an omen
?
Great preview. Feeling a bit more optimistic today let’s say 2-1 to the Gunners!
Only one solution for a lunchtime kickoff. Get out of bed three hours early to get the drinking started. COYG
Jealous.
Enjoy maestro.
No Ozil please.
Nice preview H. Hope the journey up is not too arduous. Let’s hope it’s celebrations afterwards and the Middlesex boys are sent packing back to their council ground.
Again lucky enough to be heading to Twickenham. The day will start with a train to Whitton, followed by breakfast and then on to the pub to watch the game before heading off to Twickenham.
Enjoy boys and girls. We all know it will depend on what Arsenal team turns up although if they need motivating for this one then they deserve shooting. Hopefully they will all understand what this is about and will provide us with a performance suitable for the occasion.
Up the Gunners. Time for some proper spud bashing.
the mighty ZICO !
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it’s an omen
?
I did that pick your combined XI thing and shockingly found five Arsenal players in it.
However the formation I used was four-four-fookin-two and in that the right back and left back is easy (Bellerin/Monreal) and so are the wings (Walcott/Alexis)
I had to put that total arsehole Dele Alli in and also Harry The Mumbler Kane.
Fifth Arsenal player? Cech. Lloris would get in, but he’s French so fuck that 😉
Fine preview Guvna. I would prefer that your 3-1 punt comes in tho’ 3-2 would do nicely. Actually another 5-2 would be better than both. Hope to see you pre-match. If it’s 5-2 I’ll buy you a post-match consolation too.
Slàinte
COYRs
In a combined all-time Arsespuds team I could only find spud room for Jimmy Greaves … with Pat Jennings and Sol Campbell on the bench. 🙂
The mighty CBA!
It’s an O’mental.
You people are, and always were, astonishing. Thank you. I have a big beg coming next week, and a new competition.
This is a match where you have to fight for the right to play and where a commitment to our traditions will help deliver the correct result. I’m with Alan Smith and would start Jack in MF allowing Rambo more licence to go with his instinct to go forward. Remember who you represent, fellas.
Cynic
You found a place for Walcott ?? ???
Cech
mus, kos, nacho,
hector, xhaka, ramsey, kola,
ozil, alexis, laca
subs osp, mert, rob, elneny, jack,
nketiah, danny
my combined XI
14
?
.
15
“a big beg” ‘holic
is what the womenfolk of belfast carry stuff about in
.
what’s in yours ?
*crosses fingers for free beer*
Good read, ‘Holic. 3-1 would do very nicely — and anything above three even better. As Steve T says @9, it will depend on which Arsenal team turns up, as ever.
1996 was the last time we beat the neighbours 3-1 at home in the League. An Ian Wright penalty on 28 minutes and then the legends that are Adams and Bergkamp with two goals in the final two minutes.
3-2 home wins are rare beasts. There have only been two: 1921 and 1984. More common are 2-3 home defeats. There have been five of those: 1897, 1960, 1963, 1969 and 2010.
TTG – I always will if the alternative is Welbeck or Iwobi. Combined with our total inability to defend in any system, it is suicide to leave goals on the bench the way we are doing.
You want to win games, you have to have players who can score goals in the team. For that reason I would not pick Iwobi, Welbeck or Ozil ahead of Theo. Ever.
I know that will get sneers but I don’t give two fucks. You can all sit and watch Ozil wander about looking disinterested if you like, and kid yourselves he is a great player.
I’ll take Theo every time, because he may look poor sometimes (mainly because while he’s making runs in behind, his team mates are passing five yards square so they can have a wank later over their completion stats) but he will score goals.
Which is the point of the exercise.
I like that analysis cynic 🙂
Cech
Nacho Kos Mus
hector, aaron, xhaka, kola
ozil, alexis, laca
Osp, mert, Ash-N, Coq, Iwobi,
Jack, Danny,
Team pretty much as expected
I suppose.
Come on Arsenal…
Spuds are in fine form but I hope we thrash the media darlings.COYG.
Why is Mike Dean, the spur supporter’s, appointment to ref the match not surprise me.
Get in!!!!! Mustafi.
Really surprised at how well we’re playing. Deservedly in front.
great header Mus.
So far so good!
Sanchez!!!! 2-0.
Siololololooo
Get in Alexis!
2-0!!!
fucking yes
Why can’t we play with this tempo and aggression most weeks?
Really playing well.
They are abject but we’re great today.
Siololololololoooooo Arsenal!
Great first half good tempo some passes going ashtray but we scored two good goals, more of the same in the second half please!
Cynic
Excalty same question not sure why we can’t get pumped like this for every occasion.
We’re getting in quickly, not
lettting them play at all. Great
stuff.
Xhaka yellow is a little worry,
he mustn’t get suckered 2nd
half.
COME OOOOOON!
I’m doing Poznań in my living room with my brother in law! ?
Wow.. the balance of power has really shifted….it’s mashed potatoes for supper.
😀 😀 😀
Comentators on tv are shite biased as usual…
Up The Arse!!
These spuds are great actors.
Will be disappointed if we let them in from here.
Deluded sub
wouldn’t have done that either
just inviting pressure
Take Xhaka off brig Wilshere on and should have swapped Lanca for Wellbeck
Ozil is MOM for me at the moment, but again… why can;t he be like this more often? He’s been superb.
Just hope he doesn’t take the next ten games off after this performance.
should of killed the game
on that break
still playing well though
That was unexpectedly brilliant.
Don’t rest on your laurels now, keep pushing it like this.
Please note – the only empty seats in stoppage time were Tottenham seats.
Hahhahahhhahahah
😀 😀 😀
Happy with that, turned up,
fought for all we worth and
won. All that we asked for we
got today 🙂
Well done boys, well done.
If only that Arsenal turned up every week.
Thank you very much that was a very pleasant way to start my morning. Big performances all around, and defensive solidity to boot.
Hello again all.
I was offered tickets to this one but turned them down. Bugger.
UTA
Hey Pangloss, You have been missed but it is good to hear from you just in time for a celebration. 🙂
Huge win and great to see the way we played them off the park. Next is a trip to Burnley which will be a different kind of challenge and a potential banana skin.
Spurs looked spent from the start and the way we pressed and harried them was terrific. They don’t seem to have the squad to compete in both the league and in Europe. Looks like another washout of a season for them.?
We showed great energy and were the more creative team. The only disappointment was that we did not add to the tally. Xhaka had a poor game but the rest had a good outing. More of the same please.
It’s nice to be back, bt8.
I had been starting to think about taking the LWCs seriously. Never a good position to find oneself in. Maybe Good Times are just around the corner.
COYG
To temper the enthusiasm a tad we have to hope Swansea will at least draw in their game against Burnley for us to have more points than the Clarets when we face them.
But we beat Tottenham, took three points, and left them with nil, nada, niente, nought. 😀
Phase 1 complete
the mighty CYNIC !
.
it’s an ozil
?
.
.
the mighty pan G !
.
it’s a hello
?
.
.
.
the mighty ARSENAL !
.
it’s an AMEN
?
.
.
.
.
YEEEEEE HAAAAAAAAAAA !!!!!!!
Beautiful, just lovely.
Wasn’t unduly worried before the game but expected the pretenders to at least turn up.
Great game.
Forever in our shadow.
UTA
Whoa! What a performance. Got my weekend started great. I am just going to enjoy this win..
Good afternoon yourself, Mr Arsed.
….i just don’t think you understand
he’s Arsene Wenger’s man, he’s better than Zidane,
We’ve got Mesut Oziiiiil….
Welcome Pangloss
Lovely to have you back – especially on such a happy day ☺️
Hard to find a stream down here in the land of Alexis Sanchez. But a well deserved win from all accounts. And Spuds and Pocchetino have some nerve flogging Mike Dean after all the gifts he’s granted them down the years against the Arsenal.
http://prntscr.com/hc4pwq
What a pleasurable afternoon that was! ? Top, Top Performance befitting “The Arsenal”! ?
My wee boy and his friend enjoyed it immensely too! ???
Filled with pride at what we all saw! Must’ve been the Spirit of “‘89” imbued within one and all! Mind the up-coming gap ya Lillywhite Cunts! ? ?
UTAAD&AN!
AFCOF!
Come on ya Barcodes!
Give Alexis and Ozil whatever the fuck they want to stay-on, if you really do want to build-up something special “once again” up top Arsene, between them and that unbelievably intelligent and equally “World-Class” footballing talent that’s called Alexandre Lacazette! He’s a tight and very compact pocket-genius! Exceptional movement! Proper “team-player”!
The table is so tight. That loss at Watford costs.
Thanks TTG. Please excuse the late acknowledgement – I have been preparing the family Christmas puddings which are now ready for 8 hours steaming tomorrow.
COYG
Give Alexis and Ozil whatever the fuck they want to stay-on
Not until both of them do that week in, week out. One game like that occasionally is not good enough.
Phase 2 complete. This could be fun this evening.
Arsene Wenger tactical masterclass. Spurs snuffed out faster than the Flying Scotsman on a braw, bricht, moonlit nicht. Only one team was ever going to win that one. The North Bank was rocking.
Nice to catch up barkeep. That facial fungus doesn’t show you off in your best light though. A touch of the Albert Steptoes maybe? Stylish afters, Bath and Ms Bath.
And I saw Theo! He’s selling Christmas scarves at Finsbury Park. Presumably to fund a small percentage of his £140k pw. Better than slumbering, ducking, diving and cluttering up the right wing I suppose.
let’s see the same tactical masterclass at Turf Moore.
don’t think so but right now i’ll take that scarf.
o oh
here we go
a son of the Irish Scoti tribe
whence the deep fried got their name
talks complete sense
and politely so
FUCK OFF
clearly vulgarity has strained through too many ferry journey s
.
.
come back when you have distilled your views
to grunt sized lumps
thus retaining
the sectarian joy we all adore
.
ya fuckin
etc
Hello H.
Hello All.
We won! And played well! I love it. And spuds can do one. Just like every other day.
My missus has lived off Holloway Road for 4 years. No interest in football. Whatsoever. Arsenal to her has just meant traffic and hassle.
Today she started referring to Arsenal as ‘us’. I am going to marry this woman.
Drinks all round!
T**e a** ***E a***n
never afraid to speak my mind
the mighty GSD !
.
it’s an omenasaurus
?
Job done. Shit flushed.
Good work gents.
Message ends.
the mighty BATH !
.
pretending be
.
the mighty REV !
.
it’s a mugging
?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>