Go For It Boss, Please
Dec 18th, 2018 by 'holic
It’s been nagging away at you all day, hasn’t it? I know it because it has nagging away at the hordes of Gooners on social media all day. Does Unai Emery understand that large numbers of us expect our strongest fit starting eleven against the Middlesex Nomads in the Carabao Cup quarter-final? Hector Bellerin and Sead Kolasinac have joined the injury list, and Skhodran Mustafi is 50/50 so it would be best to err on the side of caution with him.
For what it’s worth, which is pretty much nothing, I think Unai gets it totally but will go his own way regardless with a team he thinks might be able to do the job. That’s based on nothing other than a hunch that he has an unflinching belief in his priorities, and that is no bad thing.
The performance and medical staff will have a view too about what is an acceptable load for the key players as the fixtures pile up either side of Christmas. They are supposed to have drilled these players to a peak they did’t reach, allegedly, under the Arsene Wenger reign. Let them prove it then.
I would play Laurent Koscielny, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, and Nacho Monreal in a back three in front of Petr Cech. Ahead of them Stephane Lichsteiner, Granit Xhaka, Lucas Torreira, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles. A recall for Aaron Ramsey in the centre joined by Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang, both behind Alexandre Lacazette.
My hunch is that Mohamed Elneny and Matteo Guendouzi will get a start, as could Mesut Ozil, Emile Smith Rowe, and Eddie Nketiah. I’ll wager it has been nagging away at Unai Emery too. Will the visitors come with a full strength team? It is likely it will be very close. They haven’t much strength in depth. Pochettino knows a trophy is missing off his cv and the combatants on Wednesday evening are just three matches away from a Wembley Final.
It’s going to be a nervous day tomorrow, for certain.
The ‘holic pound
As I looked at the prices it dawned on me that a punt I used to use in the North London derby had come in the 4-2 Premier League win just over two weeks ago. They say lightning never strikes twice in the same place, but actually it really does. The Arsenal to be losing at half-time, but win in 90 minutes, is available at 28/1 in a couple of places. I’m on it.
Mourinho-ho-ho-ho
I cannot let the opportunity go to have one last chuckle at the specialist in failure’s sacking by Manchester United. There are millions of reasons why he may have engineered the situation, but he is unlikely to get another high-profile job with his reputation in tatters. Meanwhile Pochettino is keeping his lips sealed about the Old Trafford vacancy. Tottenham need money for the new stadium. A big money double deal for Pochettino and Kane might appeal right now?
Have a good one ‘holics.
114 Responses to “Go For It Boss, Please”
Cheers H!
maureen
?
Evening gentlemen.
Don’t mind admitting I am nervous about this one. I yearn for the days I used to rip them a new one in the previews and we always backed me up. Oh for Paul Robinson to be in goal for them again. ?
What is specialist in failure in Portuguese? In case you were wondering Google Translate said especialista em falha, except it said it in capital letters ESPECIALISTA EM FALHA 😀
4-2 will do very nicely, but I prefer 5-2 personally.
I think this may go to penalties and you toss a coin then. I will always take the Arsenal of course . They will have Gazzaniga in goal we will have Cech . The Totts are not resting easily tonight.At OT Solskjaer to take over as caretaker with Poch in the summer is the big shout. They won’t get CL next season so need to make a statement.
I think Ned read Sunday very well in the previous drinks . I’m disappointed by our defending and our starts but Emery needs time to pick his own men .
Did anyone see Sterling’s penalty in the shootout tonight? It summed him up perfectly. A player who you can’t rely on when you need him. He did a pathetic Panenka over the bar.
So it’s Blackpool away in the 3rd round of the FA Cup. We get at least 5000 tickets, on sale from tomorrow starting at 5 credits but rapidly dropping. I’d guess any silver or red member can get tickets for this.
I’m in.
Oh I do like to be beside the seaside
Oh do I do like to be beside the sea ….
C100, I am already looking forward to an epic away day report complete with beer soaked fish and chips. 🙂
bt8 how about a Goonerholic charabang? 27 crates of brown ale in the boot?
just opened a bottle
rhubarb wine
.
.
.
amazing
start of the year and
the notion
that eldest is 37
.
.
.
i dunno
well i do
and
i salute ‘holic
for
putting up with
my entire family history
.
.
cynic
(kitkats
Poundland
are 4 for the entrance fee )
(standard , white or orange ……….
o r a n g e
O R A N G E !!!!!!!!!!!!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HztRDFJ4qU
any hoooo
echooooo what thunder T
echo oooood
what i saaaaid
.
.
how’s clive
the fucker ?
.
horse of a man i’d wager
bored
BORED
with
the lifelines
i’m throwing chucklechops
.
.
.
PROPER GOONER
.
where are you you cunt ?
running out of targets here
.
mind you
i spent this evening
NOT THE FIRST TIME
discussing
aviation
racism
surface mounted pipes
and cladding
turns out , cynic
nobody wanted to talk about brexit
?
i dunno
i had my famine finger pointing ready
.
.
you English bastards
yer a shifty bunch
especially the scottish
they’re practically welsh
I’d play the team that you like and forget about the hunch bunch, Holic.
.
.
buncha
what i’m guessing
would be
GEEEEEEZAAAAHHHHHHZZZZ
Eldest is 37? Bunch of youngsters.
btm
is there an alert
when
Scotland
(praise be unto her)
is mentioned here
.
.
d’ye wanny buy some o mine
fuckin doin ma head in
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gN8l_zEyvB0
Arsene knocked back offers from Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich to build the Emirates and support Arsenal’s drive to a better place.
I wonder if Pochettino will manage a similar level of loyalty. Will he stay or will he go now? I’ll wait until the Holic Pound shows its colour.
.
.
.
.
and so
the jessica Fletcher in all of you
should’ve arrived
at the destination
I’M SCOTTISH
Wales is geographically, horticulturally and intellectually closer to Ireland than we’ll ever be. And no Welshman nor Irishman has ever played the accordion like Jimmy Shand. The facts speak for themselves.
but
“in many ways , my dear people”
.
.
KLAXON
.
.
“aren’t we all a little bit Scottish?”
.
.
.
(lack o sunlight apparently – shortarsery abounds)
Jimmy FUCKIN Shand
.
BRILLIANT
hearty smiles around and about
?
.
here’s a wee bloooooooooop
for cynic
.
.
.still divided
grass roots
if i see Union Jacks or
Scottish flags or mostly
it appears Israeli flags
i know that
as a man near six
i would not be welcome
(not least because of my – merely belonging to HANDSOME)
.
but
i don’t shilly shally
i don’t mess about
i don’t get bored of me
LIKE THE FUCKIN REST OF YOU
fuck in
DOOOOOOO
YOOOOOO
(honestly have a word)
TWATS
(
an
that’s
Isn’t it
Just about the best thing about Koscielny is that I would be surprised if more than a handful of us had ever even heard of him before we signed him from L’Orient. From that beginning he went on to become our best defender of the last decade, and an Arsenal legend.
Charabang. Sounds like something we don’t have round these parts. 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_g6YxkSqL20
Cantankerous and a touch belligerent where Tottenham are concerned. Clive, I mean. Good man and I hope he returns soon.
@34 brilliant and other wordly
other worldly, meant to say
21
bTm
.
ahh yeahhhh
*boooommmmm boooommm booooommm
let me hear you say grandson *
.
.
.
grandson
.
still shy
not quite sure of his surroundings
bought me a jar wi my money
AND
did it in the secret vowel code
i do not understand
.
.
you can fuck off
ya wee shite
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
(proud)
.
he wouldn’t have the good looks i individually beat into my nuts
but
hey
and/or
ho
davy davy davy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqOSQvvj1ug
*has grandchildren who can legally borrow money off me and buy me a stout cos they know their grandfather loves them but as soon as i fuckin say i can’t understand a fuckin
single solitary sausage they say* ,
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vkYiCdn834
.
.
.
.
baff – neither the time nor the place
cynic – just stop
me
reminding them
that the Scottish
are named after
an Irish tribe
.
.
.
baff going – yes and no
cynic going – fray bentos
?
cynic
.
can you imagine
another country
not leaving you alone
torturing you
saying
do this or do that
.
.
.
.
.
it’s not recorded OFFICIALLY
but
the GLEE
that European nations
are experiencing
standing
not together
but
IN FRONT OF
us
has been
a long time coming
and
THEY ARE LOVING IT
.
.
.
“how’s that B word workin out for ye”
.
who caused this ?
stupid fuckin arrogant shitheads
that’s who caused this
ooooooh
bTm has it right
pick the ticks
off the backs
of your nearest
and nearest
That’s about the best 11 we could
put out just now Guvnor, though
I’d swap Aaron for Mesut.
Personally, I’d go with
Cech
Jenks, Sokratis, Medley, AMN
Guendouzi, Elneny,
Mkhi, Ramsey, Iwobi
Nketiah
.
football ?
REALLY ?????
.
.
.
.
i’m emoting like fuck here
and
organixin
ma rosin
is essentially
what i should be
(A pretend twat who lives behind the ill fitting/deserved tuxedos
Not sure what I was watching at 34, but I liked it.
This is how I imagine cba back in the day…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2DrZhOBO9o
Fine preview, sir. Those days when that lot turned up just trying to keep the score down we’re truly wonderful. Those days will return. Meanwhile I totally agree with your selection. This is never a game for kids. Let’s win this and then rotate the squad heavily over the next two PL games in anticipation of a fit and rested first team for the Anfield trip. COYG
Interesting comments to mine when I said today doesn’t matter as much as saints did or Burnley will, I stick to it as much as I despise spurs. That in no way means I won’t be willing the boys on and wanting us to win, it just was so disappointing to lose on Sunday especially when it went as per script, totally irritating. Additionally, Cb needs to be an upgrade to what we have is a given and we won’t get any unless we pay the top top dollar and when there is a need, we need to. Look at the difference a van dijk has made or a fit Alderweld does. Johnny Evans 30 million was the best we could try?? incredulous, go for a Benatia or a Ruggani for double the amount or do a Sol on Toby, it is that desperate now.
Jose gets 22.5 million payout to leave, he must have built a fortune like this, asshole. We got Torreira for that money. Ole Gunnar coming in a super sub to replace him is more likely to be warming the seat for poch to come in the summer. I just hope he relegates them before that, he did that with cardiff afterall right.
Giving you a breather, cba. I hope you understand. You go to places we sometimes don’t understand. I wish you all the best.
I think my head agrees with you
Vinay.
Fortunately the simple solution of
winning both is available:)
Get it done Unai.
Blackpool tix done. Anyone else going?
Sadly not Coutryman. I’m supporting a Charity rugby match that day. Blackpool is a long way home at that time of night. I hope it’s a happy journey !
Only the Daily Mail could come up with this headline about one of our old boys. Who doesn’t leave a striptease club on a horse from time to time ?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6512227/Ex-Arsenal-star-Andrei-Arshavin-leaves-striptease-club-horse-tightly-hugs-two-women.html
Nice preview H. I had a massive chuckle at Maureen. Of course, none of it will be his fault and if Poch ends up there then in will be even funnier.
I’m actually making it tonight. Have no idea what will happen and it’s realky hard to call without knowing what teams either side will put out. Hopefully we can teach them another lesson whilst remembering it’s approaching Christmas and they are homeless.
On a more serious note, has anyone heard from Clive? I’m not sure if I’ve missed something on here but I do hope he’s fit and well.
Steve,
Clive has been worryingly absent for some time.
I expected him to post if he was ok after some of our young guns figured recently. I do hope he is ok
Cheers TTG
Holic, if no one has already done so, coukd you possibly drop him an e mail from the details you have? I don’t know if anyone has a contact number for him???? It would be nice to hopefully hear that he is fit and well.
I’m afraid I already have Steve, and there was no response. ☹️
Arsenal: Cech, Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Xhaka, Monreal, Torreira, Guendouzi, Ramsey, Mkhitaryan, Iwobi, Aubameyang
subs: Martinez, Lichtsteiner, Koscielny, Elneny, Willock, Lacazette, Nketiah
Who’s playing where?
A couple of unusual sides out tonight.
Xhaka at CB in a 4 , no Ozil and Laca on the bench .
They have Kane benched and Davies at CB.
We need to look at what our team will be after half time as that is when we try to win matches. That front three of Auba, Ramsey and Laca crunched them last time. I expect them to be reunited.
Ozil is getting a very harsh lesson from Emery !
BJ
C
AMN. P X M
T. G.
M. R I
A
I think
No Ozil in the squad today.
Cech, Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Xhaka, Monreal, Torreira, Guendouzi, Mkhitaryan, Ramsey, Iwobi, Aubameyang
Subs: Martinez, Koscielny, Lichtsteiner, Elneny, Willock, Lacazette, Nketiah
Except for Laca, a not strong bench.
love thy neighbour
come on you gunners. that’s got to be enough to take these losers. and ksn, i don’t know, koz, licht, and elneny aren’t exactly chopped liver, and we know willock and nketiah (and emi) can do the job.
looking at their bench they have two players of note, one of half-note, and four WTFs…
and they’re starting dele the diver, so we should be fine 🙂
*prepares to enter a a Sp*ds pub. IfI don’t emerge at least you’ll know what happened. *
*splashes bt8 with the holy guinness before he gets to the door*
if they touch you now they’ll burnnnnn.
oooh, sweet move down the left, iwobi combining with aaron, aaron sends shot just wide of far post.
poch’s sartorial choices are those of a teenage boy. not to talk badly about teenage boys.
we’re getting in amongst them due to hustle, they haven’t really had a sight of ours…
Mkhi misses a golden chance to score one on one with the opposing goalie.
damn it mikhi, not straight at the keeper!
fuck. terrible defense. we have been even or above, and they get a goal like that. offside, too.
Our defense is shit against anyone with pace. They are playing better than their previous outing against us and taking their chances while we have missed two similar chances. 0-1.
to be fair, socratis slipped, but son was definitely offside, by a lean.
And Moss is a c.nt
Totts well on top. Arsenal midfield isn’t gelling. Massive gap between Xhaka and Monreal. There is an outball there every time and Son exploited it . Not looking good at all.
Their goal was not offside from the angle we were shown on tv, Scruzgooner.
Refs are pro Totnum, and Moss is a cunt, so a double whammy.
In my view Mkhi was fouled and it was a penalty not given.
Iwobi off Laca on asap please
Almost in by Ramsey.
How many more chances do we need to score??
Come on now
How did Sokratis miss that? Head like a threepenny bit.
Guendouzi to be subbed, also on a yellow so to be safe
We improved as the half wore on and were unlucky not to equalise but the balance of the side doesn’t look right. I expect Laca to appear very soon but without Ozil we haven’t got much creative flair on the bench. I’d put Ramsey in the hole behind Laca and Auba.
We need much more oomph, our game dropped after 10 minutes and the Totts bossed the game until they scored .
Arsenal players shaking their heads at half time knowing they shouldn’t be behind at half time. We created a lot more clear cut chances but didn’t take any. They had one shot and took it clinically.
A little bit of luck our way in the second half and we should take them.
Playing ok, not finishing well again.
Big 2nd half required.
COYGs!!!
We look dodgy at the back. We are not nearly clinical enough and my old favourite, zero width.
Need to sharpen up second half.
If you pause at the 6th second I think it shows offside position for Son
http://arsenalist.com/f/2018-19/tottenham-goal-0-1-son-2018-12-16.html
ksn, it looked like he was leaning in the shot i saw, but it really doesn’t matter, that’s a close enough call not to be made. it really shouldn’t have happened.
at least the holic pound is still on 🙂
Dino pound. Ramsey to score twice.
Just win Arsenal.
COYG
If anybody played him onside it had to be Xhaka. Another one for the Xhaka lovers to ponder
Spuds supporters none too happy about connection problems in the bar. sitting next to a pretty girl tho.
gotta run to a meeting, then home, then off to bali tonight to meet our niece for christmas. won’t be sure of cell service, not sure i’ll be around much until the new year, even just reading.
everyone here have a wonderful holiday and a happy christmas, and much joy and peace in the new year. and many, many arsenal wins.
COME ON YOU HOLIC POUND!
Happy Nee Year to you too Scruz!
Gone to 3 at the back
O-2. That’s it then.
COYG
Happy new year, Scruzgooner and enjoy your holds.
Eddie Eddie Eddie!
We missed and missed and now trying to force it, a bit headless from time to time
AMN not yet what we require as a wing back.
Basically they are mugging us off knowing we have such a square and porous defence . I hate Alli but that was a great finish
Someone in the crowd threw a water bottle(?) at Alli and it him on the head. No call for that.
Alli winds me up too. But whatever prick just threw a bottle at him needs to sort themselves out. That is just appalling behaviour. The worst thing I’ve seen tonight by a long way.
Enjoy your holidays, @98.
how can anyone enjoy holidays after this?
jesus
bollocks
Very unlucky today, the score just show it.
Lot of work ahead for Emery, especially on defence and shooting.
Not the first time we are losing to spuds, SSY. You will have to assume they will lose in the semis?.
@107, very unlucky today and the score just does not reflect that is what I meant.
They look a bit too battle hardened for us tonight. We look raw and naive Absolutely agree with GSD that whoever threw that bottle is a complete idiot. First moment in Emery’s reign where he will face some questions .
His changes haven’t had the impact they usually do tonight
Caught at the back twice.
Didn’t take our chances.
Bollocks sums it up well.
Burnley at home is as good
a game as we could want
to get going again.
Ken
They deserve it tonight .
We’ve not put any pressure on them in the second half
Sorry Ksn!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>