Astonishing, Amazing, But At What Cost?
Apr 1st, 2010 by 'holic
Quarter to three. Holloway Road is cold and grey. I’ve made it though, and nothing can keep me from the game now. A quick burger for lunch and in the pub to quench my diabolical thirst. I quenched it rather well, too.
In the pub are a father and son, without a ticket but praying to find a pair. I hope they did, given that from my vantage point there were clearly swathes of empty seats in the East Upper. I suppose the club will blame corporates for not using them, but if UEFA cannot get people to watch Arsenal versus Barcelona then they should drop their ludicrous demands for gratis tickets on Champions League nights.
An hour still to go as I make my way into the ground and upstairs in the lift. The days when I could make the ascent up the south face of the Grove without oxygen are long since gone. I’m amused to find the bookmaker has a tiny office. Don’t upper tier people gamble? The ‘holic pound is wagered, and then I make a mythical discovery.
I’ve been told many times about the chicken balti pies in the Grove. When you are usually in the lower tier, however, I can tell you the only bloody snack you ever get down there is a hot-dog. They have a full menu on display, but whatever you ask for you end up with a hot-dog. I can now confirm, after four seasons, that the pies do exist, and they are indeed very tasty, which is just as well given the four pounds price tag.
By now I am assuming that everybody on the planet has seen the game, or at least the highlights, and has formed an opinion about it. A match report is not needed, which is just as well because you will have had a better view of proceedings at home if the producer was on his game. All I can add therefore is a sense of what the atmosphere was like, and how the crowd in one section of the ground reacted.
First off I have to say a massive thanks to the South Upper. I have been up there before and it can be a tad quiet, but tonight large numbers were giving it some, and never mind that tickets were over fifty quid, we were going to stand throughout. This was ok by me although it may have contributed to my altitude sickness.
What made that vocal backing so impressive was the fact that from the first whistle of the first half to the last, Barca wouldn’t let us play with their ball. On the tube afterwards the discussion was all about were they that good, or were we that bad! For my money, and plenty seemed to agree, we have to hold our hands up and say that they were, by some distance, the best visiting side I have seen in those four years at the Grove.
And yet we were level (and yes, thanks to Manuel Almunia). It was therefore a bitter disappointment, but not much of a surprise when they took the lead (oh Manuel!) and doubled it not long afterwards. I have yet to see the highlights, so the question of offside will probably have been put to bed or addressed elsewhere. Fifty yards back and a hundred yards in the air is possibly not the best vantage point from which to form the opinion that the referee was shafting us big time.
Not that he didn’t make a string of diabolical decisions that we could see quite clearly. Why is it that in Europe, and the Premiership, Arsenal players see yellow for their first foul, while opponents seem to benefit from some sort of unofficial totting-up procedure? Am I paranoid? Barca were so good they didn’t need the extra three men.
I should perhaps at some point make a reference to the gamble of playing Gallas, or even the early departure of Arshavin, rapidly becoming the new hate-figure with the boo-boys. I would sooner comment positively on the players who mattered. Like Theo Walcott, for example.
I was watching with Darren from Arsenal-Land, who made the point very early on that we should use Theo from the start at the Nou Camp because Barca had so many players in our half that there was oceans of space behind them. He was proved right earlier than he thought. Theo’s pace gave them a puzzle they couldn’t solve when he arrived with just twenty-four minutes remaining. That first goal was a lifeline we hooked onto, and it drew the sting from Barca for the first time.
Cesc Fabregas. What can one say? As I type it is possible his season is over, and you know what I said about that beforehand. What emotion he provoked. A booking for his first challenge and those of us who realised that would rule him out of the second leg understood his reaction entirely. Balls of steel he showed when planting his penalty to level the score. The steward with whom I was now standing (long story!) said, “He’ll go to the keepers left”, and we all agreed because that is where he hits all his penalties. Valdez went left, the ball did’nt. Will a second scan in the morning reveal a heavy price for that moment of magic?
That leaves the arrival of Thierry Henry. Now Robert Pires was given an astonishing reception at the Grove when he played for Villareal, but it is easy to be magnanimous when you are winning. Thierry came on when Barca were leading 2-1, and the Gooners showed first astonishing class, with a rousing rendition of his song, then delicious humour as he was booed on his first touch. Brilliant, funny, classy. I love Gooners!
That is already too much. I should mention the possible ramifications for our title challenge, and the second-leg of this tie, of all the injuries tonight. I fear the worst. Does that cover it in four words? But I wouldn’t have missed tonight for the world, and any recriminations can wait.
I’m going to unashamedly thieve my closing sentence from Martin Wroe on Twitter.
2-2 draw against best team In the world: that’s no disgrace for Barcelona.
101 Responses to “Astonishing, Amazing, But At What Cost?”
Just got in from the game. Some of those lads in red must have bollocks the size of space hoppers. Don’t know many teams that would have come back from that and got something our of it. At the end I thought that we were the most likely to nick it.
A fantastic game of football and sometimes you just have to hold your hands up. the 44th minute was a massive turning point for me. That was the first Barca pass that went awol.
Full credit to everyone. We have played possibly the best club side in the world and battled to the the end. Very proud to have been there
I’m still drunk but hey………
Just watchwed all the interviews……………….
I hope thre is something on the other side that can help us……
I’M PROUD TO BE A GOONER…!!!
Holic apologies great write up………..
All lovely Almunia, what was he doing off his line?
Too much to make the final blamw but he really needs ot step u all those decent saves to start with.
COME ON ALMUNIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Some at my work needs to eat some humble pie!
Arthur, you’ve had a better night than me, I reckon 😉
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I dont think I did the wole management hates me!
Great blog yet again mate. I concur with pretty much all said. Amazing that we are still in the tie given that it looked like we were Bolton v Arsenal for the first 20. But we ARE still in the the tie and the doom mongers should not forget that fact. I for one am delighted as I am shelling out shed loads for the return leg!
Football is a funny old game I don’t need to tell you. A carefree Arsenal that HAVE to score away from home is a dangerous animal. Nothing to lose, virtually written off by all the hacks etc. Superb. That’s when we do it. Anyway, we’ll see. Like I said, nothing to lose.
Hope AA23 is fit. Do not understand the boo boys. But never will. This said group change their mind sometimes within a mere half of football. Some in front of me this evening left with 81 mins on the clock. Enough said. Although it looks like panning out to be another potless so near yet so far season it’s a long way from over and the little bit of luck that all teams of whatever genre or ilk need may yet just shine on us.
Or maybe not. We will see.
I will still be there loving it whatever happens. Unlike some who should just stay at home, pay for whatever upgrades, HD, 3D, shit they can get and slag Wenger off in their own domain.
Amen.
Anyway chaps tiime to close some eyeball……….
I love you lot despite the result 😉
well maybe our lads now realize that in fact they can beat them.
their defence is rubbish even with puyol and pique! if the lads would have realized that a bit earlier… maxwell is a dog and alves an ape (at least defensively) and what was nasri doing all the time? he didn’t give any support to clichy was to central when we defended ffs. other than that i think we did a fairly decent job getting back from 0-2 against one of the best sides in the game today
recipe for the return leg: start theo, scare those fullbacks, maxwell/abidal will loathe the return leg already! don’t be awestruck again and go for it!
oh and bye the way, great write-up holic! gives the unfortunate ones a real good picture of what being there would have been like! top top blog!
As usual mate you write in a way no other fucker does, and it means a lot to us, Cheers ‘h.
Cesc is a fucking legend.
Cant say more about him right now.
Evening Sajit.
Thanks all for some more head-swelling words.
G’night all.
My journey to the game took me via the Auld Triangle. A few scoops and chat about the impending team news left us already on the edge of our seats. I entered via my usual turnstile with the thoughts of a previous holic blog. The nostalgia trip. The tales of DM’s, roughty toughty type behavior, beer beforehand and Bovril during. Imagine my surprise as the first sight I see is a small bearded man and his friend carrying a coffee and a packet of Minstrels????? Clearly not regulars.
What was to follow was a fab night. Last season we would have crumbled under that pressure. And yes, at times Barca really were that good. The fact that we continued to fight and continued to try and play speaks volumes for this squad.
Disappointed with the fact that Arshavin and Willy departed early. Surely the fact that both left having suffered reoccurrences of injuries previously sustained tells us something? I am sure that it forced Wenger’s hand and restricted any potential changes.
Loads of plus points. Nic worked hard up front and set up both goals. Can not add anything to the way you have described Manuel. Sami was wonderful. Clichy worked his nuts off. He was under the cosh at the back but still found time to make telling runs. A special word also for Denilson. I thought he was fantastic when he came on. Full of energy, and really started to take control. Theo? More of that please young man. A fantastic cameo.
Let’s not kid ourselves. This is not giving a goal away in the last minute at St Andrews. That is a game against the big boys. We have weathered a massive storm, taken it on the chin, fucked up for both of their goals and still come out fighting. The crowd was magnificent and hopefully contributed to a wonderful night. I am sure Rocky would have been proud.
Great reception for TH14. Well deserved. I am sure he understands the bond better than most.
So onwards to the weekend. We lick our wounds and see who is fit. Bring it on is what I say. If we can muster that spirit then we shall have few problems. Then off to Spain. Can you just think for one second how they will feel with no centre halves having just watched us go one up??????
London Pride for me please? The most appropriate drink in the world at this moment in time I feel?
Keep the faith.
Dammit, ‘Holic,
That last parthian shot was absolutely classic! It is indeed credit to Barca that they were able to keep level with the best team in the world; even without all the referee assistance. Our team is pure class. Regardless the result of the second leg or the remainder of the league season, I am so proud of each of them (including – poor, poor Manuel) – but especially Theo. Perhaps the members of the BBB who are now piling on Andrey, will think back on how they treated Theo so unfairly (perhaps those who dish on Vela will remember this, too).
Anyways, best to everyone. Everyone needs to keep their heads up. There’s a lot a football left to play.
‘holic, your old school perspective projected upon the modern game makes for a unique insight. However, why are we in such a position, as one of the world’s top clubs, that we’re constantly rushing back players from injury, for them to break down again? This has been a pattern for quite a while now. When will it end? I genuinely ask, not slagging off the team I first went to see as a little ‘un in ’81!
What about a shout for Denilson?! He was one of the few who actually realized that the first pass you consider (with body language) is not the pass you make – Because three Barca players are already moving in that direction! Admittedly Barca were less, er, enthusiastic by the time he came on. But you could see the street smarts in Denilson that Arshavin, Diaby, Song, Bendtner at first and even Eboue didn’t play with tonight. Cesc didn’t either at first, but I put that down to the injury.
Costly indeed. Let us count our wounded and then reflect. It could turn out to be a great result, or a very costly (let’s hope not meaningless) draw.
Either way, well done to the lads for the claw back.
Alves had too much room to get at Clichy who nearly always had two men. Only when Walcott came did he have to stay back and that gave us some ascendancy. Denilson was made for this football, not strong enough for the rough and tumble of Premiership but good enough in a purist game, Diaby the opposite the power he has shown recently was shown up by the speed of foot and thought of the Barca midfield.
The Gallas decision was clear when Thomas and Alex could not stop the ball into Ibra. I don’t know how you can blast Almunia — one time he charged forward, one time he held his line: it doesn’t matter when the striker has the quality of the Swede.
After today, anyone think Cesc will go?
Great game…..unbelievable game….
I think Guardiola had a few Chateau Lafittes with SAFFA this week…..his tactics were perfect.
Starve us of possession, and come out of the blocks like greyhounds.
Almunia was incredible, saved us a 5-0 trashing.
Barca are defensively suspect.
Rosicky would be good against them in midfield.
Bring it on.
No…….he’s got a heart of Oak that boy
night Holic, my friend in London says the news on Fab isnt good..(infact its very bad)
Totally gutted.
love your work Holic!
What a rollercoaster, I don’t think Barca could’ve played any better than they did in the first half.Nasri central, with TR on the left,and Theo wide right.Exhausted but plan to be even more exhausted next week.
Love the post `Holic. What a whirlwind of a game, I’m still buzzing big time!
*waves insomniacally*
Hull beware!
Thoroughly enjoyed your post, ‘Holic. Thanks for that. Some quality commentary from several others too. Steve T, your coming up nicely on the rails just inside Matt, We’ll make an Ade fan of you yet (smile).
You guys have said it all. I did manage to watch the first half in a nearly deserted Sports Bar in Houston with two Barca fans and a Dane who supported Inter (go figure). Then had to fly home so a fairly agonising 5 hour break before I was able to watch the second half.
We’ve got to be very happy with the result on the day. All the commentary was around the great benefit of the mountain that is the two goal away advantage. I’m missing something am I? That’s only a benefit in the event of a 0-0 or 1-1 draw over there isn’t it? No way it’s going to be either.
I was pleased to see the rythmn return to the midfield with the entrance of the Sultan of Swing, the Samba King from Sao Paolo. Thought Clichy had one of his best games for a long time. Much, much more of that please Theo! Cesc, just magnificent, son. Song was better in mid-field than CB and I’d start Sol in the Nou Camp.
I’m optimistic. I think we’re going through. We can win there by one goal. It’s all it will take. Two away goals for the absence of the two P’s? I’ll take it.
Proud to be a gooner!! No questions.
Barca is known for closing down opponents quickly. You can just recall their performance in the CL final last year. They just simply dwarfed Man Utd. But tonight our fighting spirit is excellent. Just proud to be a gooner.
Sorry about the second post, got a bit too excited there.
…We have had some great captains over the years, but for me, Cesc (and I don’t really care where he goes in the future) for some of the things he’s done this season (and not just scoring goals) has to be right up there. What a player he is!!! He’s dosen’t just exeptional football skills. He’s a true leader.
Wish him all the best and hope he hasn’t done too much damage.
P.s. great post as usual ‘holic.
Barcelona based on the first half performance,shd have have been at least three goals up. But thanks and no thanks to Alumunia,Arsenal were two goals down. The thing is our goalie can be a hero and a villain.
Fortunately the gunners managed to draw.I’m afraid the game at Barcelona will be too much for Arsenal although Barca will mis some key players.Alumunia is blowing both got and cold. A more consistent performance and Arsenal will stand a very good chance of getting to the sf.
“Cesc is a fucking legend. ”
+1. Done and done.
Seven games to go including Barcelona. It seems our season will be decided against Spurs or City and with the injuries we are carrying a draw against each would be the best we can hope for.
From where I`m sitting it seems unwise to consider van Persie, Gibbs, Djourou,Ramsey, Gallas, Fabregas or even Arshavin as serious conteners for the rest of this season. So, we must include Rosicky, Walcott, Eduardo and Vela. For me our strengths rest with Eboue and Walcott down the right and Nasri and Rosicky down the left, Bendtner in the middle, he seems to be the fittest of the lot.
Eduardo and Vela are just names on the team sheet now and haven`t played enough to justify any thing other than bench selection, and I can`t see that changing come next season. Unless Wenger can convince them otherwise they should consider moving on for the sake of their own careers.
From Guardiola himself:
“Last season we won many prizes, but never played away in the Champions League like we did here,” Guardiola said. “We took the ball and never allowed them to play.
“It was the best 45 minutes since I became a coach. Against Bayern Munich [in the Champions League quarter-final] last season we had four chances and scored four goals, but this was the best 45 minutes my team have played.”
“We’ve given a good image of how football should be played and I’m proud of my team,” Guardiola said. “My team’s performance was good and I will sleep OK. We created many chances and it’s just a pity because we had a chance to take a bigger step towards the semi-final.
“We could have won, but could have lost as well. But everyone who came to the stadium and watched the game will have enjoyed it, which is the point. We play football because we want to give happiness to people.
“It’s a big mistake to be defensive. It’s more risky not to take risks. Always you have to attack. If you’re winning 2-0, you have to try for 3-0. That’s what I’ve tried to put in the heads of the players from the first day I met them until the day I stop being their coach.”
@Aussie Jack: we have 6 games remaining in the league and 4 games left in the CL so that’s 10 games we have to win not 7. And given our track record what are the chances of avoiding injuries? I can’t see how Vela and Eddie will not feature and possibly Eastmond too.
I would be dejected if Vela did move on. With him and Walcott on the wings we will instill a deadly fear into our opponents. As for next season I think Vela should be given the chance to challenge Arshavin, imho that would be the best way to get both players to perform to their best.
All day I have been trying to put into words how u feel about this game. Should I be this happy about a draw at home??? Then I cane to this blog and you guys all covered it perfectly. I live this team more than I can describe in words. If they somehow pull it off in Barcelona I don’t know what I will do…
I dont really feel as positive about this as many. Imagine how we would have felt after totally annhilitating the opposition with a shot count of 22 to 6 only to walk away with a draw? We could easily have lost this game by 10 goals. We were so nieive in the first half it was embarrassing.
Two things happened in this game, 1.Barcelona played brilliantly in midfield especially and upfront. 2. Apart from Cesc, we played very badly in midfield- could not string a pass together- passed into touch more often than in 10 EPL games.
Virtually nothing worked for us in midfield for 2/3rds of this game.
We simply have to rediscover how to play more effectively against a side that can pass and move more effectively than us. If Chelsea can close Barca down without the ball, so can we.
All the usual suspects were not the usual suspects- Denilson is more effective in this style of football than in the EPL and Vermaelen and Gallas did not play at all well in defence?
Just to give you a picture of what it can be like to support Arsenal here in Sweden – the Swedish papers are absolutely creaming themselves with joy today over the two goals by Ibrahimovic. Both our major evening papers (well, they do come out in the morning but call themselves evening papers and they are both tabloids in the Sun/Daily Whatever/etc vein) have reporters dedicated to following Barcelona and their arse-licking of “the greatest club in the world” is sickening, they are at times more like Barcelona fan sites than news papers. The British media may be totally unbearable at times but let me tell you it is not much better elsewhere.
Anyway. Our boys made me extremely proud last night. The first bit of the game was possibly our worst of the season, but to come back to pinch a draw despite almost everything going against us (and fucking hell, that ref was truly awful). We have seen a few really great comebacks this season, I have to say, and while Barcelona are still firm favourites I don’t think they’re quite as confident anymore. In all honesty I think they will probably win it, but we are far, far from the lambs waiting to be slaughtered that many (mainly non-Arsenal supporters) seem to think and to me it would not be a surprise at all if we could nick it.
I assume, though, that we will be without Gallas, Arsjavin and Cesc for the rest of the season. Arsjavin is probably the only one we have a chance of getting back, if Cesc has a fractured fibula he won’t be playing again this season – probably not even in the World Cup. And last night was probably the last we saw of Gallas in an Arsenal shirt, if he would have wanted to extend his contract he would have done so by now, I think.
To finish things off, I just want to join the choir and express my appreciation for yet another fine piece of writing by the ‘Holic.
I wish the second half was more like the first half result. That would have been good.
And like others who have mentioned Denilson, I would like to say a few words about him. He might not be as strong as Song, but he can read games, can keep the ball and can draw some cheap fouls. He does the little stuff, that helps us to keep the ball. He didn’t make any assist but he helped Arsenal to keep the ball. In this team, there are only three players who can keep ball and don’t panic under pressure, and they are Fabregas, Nasri and Denilson.
I was disappointed that he didn’t start.
Also we let Barcelona play for 70 mins and they scored two goals, where as they let us play for 20 mins, and we scored two goals. So, it would be fair to say, we are far more clinical team than Barcelona. And if they had let us play for longer, we surely would have won.
Next week, I want front six made of: Denilson, Nasri, Rosicky, Eboue, Bedntner, Walcott. The team has got a chance to make a history. They should draw some inspiration from Fulham’s success, I suppose.
What are the odds that this tie would go to a penalty shoot out?
Big spanking red gonads!! this team has them, we have been written off so many times this year, but this group of players keeps coming back, injuries, freak goals, bad games, we’ve had them all but we are still in with a shout in the two competitions that at the start of the season we all want to win, it may end in glorious failure but every single player left on that pitch last night proved last night that they do have the bollocks. Great post holic, bring on the camp nou!!!!!
Big shout out to the grove last night as well.
More like f**king embarassing!!
Great post, and about spot on on all points sir.
Arsenal for the larger part of the game were `pwned` to use internet gaming terms. As my Yid mate kept reminding me by text and calls at half time & as the two goals went in.
Thanks to Arsenals never say never attitude this year and a performance from a captain that must have balls like fucking melons the text dried up..
I bet wolves & spurs are shitting it about now…
Up the gunners!
Fuck Me,
Sorry for the language holic” but thats the only way i can express how good barca were for the first 45 minutes last night to say it could have been a masacre is an understatement they should have been over the hills and far away, now i watch Spanish football and that was better than ive ever seen them produce now they are always good but never that good !!
Id also go so Far as to say last night may turn out to be a turning point in Wengers thinking regarding this side ive never seen him so despondant after a game it was like finally he had realised this team needs help in certain areas Now i like Nick but he has not got the pace to play up top on his own Barca could defend from 35 yards out knowing we could not get in behind meaning we were totally dominated in the midfield area with the extra bodies they could move forward, dito the flanks Maxwell and Alves could move forward at will again knowing we didnt have the pace to hurt them it was only after Walcott came to the party they dropped deeper finally giving us time and space to play a bit,
The Reason i feel that about Wenger and his faith in this side winning things is last night he got everything he could have wanted in a football match ie opponents that play, good pitch, no thugs and a home game but again we came out like startled Rabbits,
We have been Dismantled by Chelseas Strengh
Whacked By Man Uniteds Tactics and will to win
And now totally outplayed at our own game by a better version of us which i think will hurt him the most, !!
This side dosent need a major overhaul but it needs certain Ingrediants added to make it a side capable of challenging the above 3, We need a new keeper, centre half, and forward at the very least thats before we even take into account departures in the summer having to take your best player and holding midfielder (up to that point of the match) out of position to plug another gap says everything about our supposed strengh in depth,
Anyways onwards and upwards we are still in the tie and wouldnt it be very Arsenalish to go out there and turn them over when everyman and his dog gives us no chance 🙂
Ive heard it Said Barca in April resembles Copenhagen in May 😉
Good morning ‘holics. Thank the Lord I took today off. I think several large particles are smashing into each other in my large hadron intestines.
“Thierry came on when Barca were leading 2-1, and the Gooners showed first astonishing class, with a rousing rendition of his song, then delicious humour as he was booed on his first touch. Brilliant, funny, classy. I love Gooners!”
Loved the moment!
Come on You Gooners!
What a game! I had to watch it with the sound turned off due to ITV commentators. Enough said.
Barca were amazing. They passed and moved like we can do and created swirls of triangular action that were mesmerising.
Maybe that’s why we stood off and didn’t close them down so that they had acres of space to do their stuff. Remember at the beginning of the season when we scored for fun? Everyone said that we were closing the opposition down from the front, just like Barcelona. Well we’ve forgotten how to do that, for whatever reason.
Arshavin was woeful. I was surprised to see him on the right wing, surprised to see him tackling back (badly) and horrified to see him trying to dribble it out of our penalty area, only t be dispossessed and allow more Barca pressure. When he went off he looked relieved I thought. Eboue was far better and I felt relieved to see him come on.
Bendtner had a great game though. He set up Theo’s goal and set up Cesc’s chance for the penalty. He also crossed in for Diaby from the wing who had a decent chance. He might have done better himself on one header, but he caused problems. Barca’s defence in first half left him isolated at times and he was unlucky not to score on one occasion.
I really wanted to see Denilson try a long range effort though. That might have casuede some problems.
It was an epic game. Barca can be beaten, but we’ll have to show up and without some key players that might prove to be too much.
Morning holic. Morning btm. Guardiola has just said that that was the best barca have played. And they still could not beat us? Very much looking forward to wolves at the weekend.
Hangover from hell but hey it’s worth it…
They really put some pressure on us in the first half and hey they couldn’t crack the Almighty Arsenal…
A bit of a blunder yet again from Almunia but we responded well I reckon, Guardiola is playing mind games and you know what let him carry on but he should really look in deep that his Barca is not as strong as he thinks!
Steve T
If this was the Best Barca I’m definitely looking to the return leg.
I’m going to relax now day off today you see and I will pray to God Cesc has not broken his leg.
Puyol and Pique are rubbish as i pointed out a week ago as Barcelona like to come forward and attack but can,t ride the pressure as so often happens in the Spanish La Liga ,where the opposition score two goals in a 4-2 loss ,it can be done by Arsenal with just a few minor tweaks to the team .
Great game proud to be a gooner we indeed are the best team in the world. Thanks for the blog it’s the best around.
Very nice write up of a truly great and atmospheric night at the Grove, ‘holic.
Sorry I missed you last night.
Still hoarse from shouting at the tv, how biased was the referee and then in turn the commentary team.
But enough moaning, how effing awesome were Barca for 70 minutes, simply mesmerising and a real pleasure to see them at the Emirates.
Pure class and humour as you said Holic in the Thierry greeting and booing 🙂
But oh my god did we look a different proposition when Theo came on, I’ve criticised both he and Andrey recently but also I have shown some sympathy as both have been carrying knocks and I’m not prepared to knock Andrey for last night, He has looked worse the longer he has carried on with his injury and really he should have taken time out a few months back when it became obvious he was playing through pain, I’m not moaning but seriously guys Arsene got it wrong again.
We allowed Barca to outplay us and as someone mentioned earlier we were playing like that ourselves at the start of the season, And why is it the players no one really fancies as true Arsenal players were the ones to really cover themselves in glory, Bendtner was simply put outstanding and never looked like he was outmatched, Denilson came on and showed he can be a really classy sensible player, Theo was immense from the moment he came on, Diaby looked a little unsettled but maybe it was a starstruck day for him so i Can forgive that too, Clichy should by now have shown all his detractors just why we love him so much and were prepared to forgive his errors as they too were down to recovering from injury.
This was truly a clash of the titans and we won, I know it was a draw but seriously we won, This was the best anyone can recall seeing Barca play in recent memory (even Pep thought so) and still they could not leave with a win, now we are going to be missing some key players out there at the Nou Camp, But guess what, so are they, we just need to rediscover that 2nd half of the 2nd half performance right from the start and we will win, I’ve been accused of having too much negativity so hopefully this post will show really I’m as much of a realist as a rabid fan, This is a completely winnable match and I just get the feeling we are going to pinch it by that glorious one-nil to the Arsenal
Come on you rip roaring free scoring never boring Gunners!!!!!
There was another good thing to come out of last night Know we now we know what 90% of the League feel like when they are playing us and dont get a sniff of the ball,
As the Man above says they were trully mesmerising at times Ive never seen a team move the ball at such pace and over such large areas in the blink of an eye, They were pulling us one way only to make 10 short passes then flick a 30 yarder out to the opposite side leaving the man in oceans of space pure brilliance !
Holic youve been around a bit longer than me have you ever seen a team play with the vigour and ability as what Barca displayed for the first 70 minutes last night?
Hopefully Cesc gets some lessons from Vermaelen on walking out a broken leg. With that advice he should be right for the weekend. Or maybe the Verminator is a cyborg sent from the future that can only be stopped from playing by the ref..
Apart from us, chippy, there was a Russian side, Spartak I think, who came to Highbury in the eighties and beat us 5-2. They were a fast pass and move side who would have given Barca a game. We wore the hideous green and blue, I think , while they wore red. Throughout the second-half a mesmerised Highbury crowd was singing ‘Come on you reds’ and we gave them a standing ovation at the end.
I know Almunia was at fault for the first Barca goal. But wtf was our defense doing letting Ibra go right past us so easily, twice? We’ve been guilty of this the whole season. It’s amazing we’re still contending with our defensive frailties.
Nothing hideous about the Subbeteo pitch kit Holic 🙂 What were they thinking lol,
Cool thanks that must have been early eighties as i wasnt going regular till about 85-86 and i dont remember seeing us getting hammered by a russian side, on the brightside i suppose a footballing lesson once every 25 years is not bad lol
Sometimes youve just got to hold your hands up and say fair play i very much doubt Barca will play better than they did in that first half again,
Sounds like typical Arsenal terrace humour the one we love !
Love the last twitter line ‘holic!
Looking forward to seeing you soon.
After last night I now see the interest in (need for?) Chamakh – He’s faster than Bendtner, right? I really rate the potential of the big Dane but could see last night this limitation of his, his lack of quickness at the highest level. (He also seems a bit unable to get on the end of low crosses to the near post – also a question of pace, or timing?) He did grow into the match, however. The point may be that three big men with three separate strengths (VP technique and delivery and left foot, DB target man and link up, and Chamakh a more athletic target man in the Adebayor-lite mould) may help the squad get through an entire season. Two can play at once and all three can come on when drawing 1-1 at home or away as the opposition defends deep.
Love that last line, ‘holic.
Ah alright, I’ll have one last Guinness and pretend it’s still yesterday evening, cheers!
Cesc out for the season. Oh dear.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/injured-fabregas-ruled-out-for-the-season
“Denilson completed the most passes of any Arsenal player, despite being on the pitch for only 46 minutes. This is in line with his good recent form, including his incredible 100% passing display against West Ham.”
From here:
http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/03/31/arsenal-2-2-barcelona-passing-statistics/
I’m not too impressed by their explanations of tactics but they have neat stats.
I hope Cesc will be able to play for Spain in the WC. I know it would probably be better for us if he did not but the guy deserves it so much I would be gutted for him if he was forced to miss it.
Frankly I am even more worried that we will have to miss Gallas too. Would be hard to come against Lyon in the final with Sol and Silvestre if ever TV gets injured…
Time for Sami to step up to the plate and take over from Cesc, Rosicky to take over Nasri’s role and Eduardo to get a bit more game time…. COME ON ARSENAL!!!!!
Wow all of you who were there are lucky dawgs indeed, at least I got to watch it live in my living room although I had to listen to the Barca love fest via “Fox Soccer Channel-USA” those people are turd-burglers!! Has anyone heard the latest news on our captains leg?? I heard it maybe broke, wtf, whats next for Petes sakes….. So they got 2 away goals, big deal, why can’t we do the same at Camp Nou, we sure can…even w/o Cesc or Gallas. My only concern is why AW played them both when they weren’t 100% fit, look I know Cesc at 50% is better than 80% of other Mid-Fielders, but we have lost him for the return leg and possibly the rest of the Prem season if it is broken. Why can’t we have all of our starting 11 on the pitch at the sametime, we lose Cesc and gain RVP (soon)… I think Ebou’e was lighting in a bottle last night, he bombed down the wings and Barca had no answer fer’him, the same goes for Theo, electricity all around!! Those 2 should start in Spain next week, ya’ think?? As for Almunia I know he goofed on Zlatan I.’s first goal, BUT and thats is a big but, if it wasn’t for him in the 1st half they could’ve knocked in 4 or 5, it really could of been Barca 5 Arsenal 0 at halftime, so don’t knock Manny too hard he did play well for a big portion of the match. I’m sorry to ramble on Holic I just don’t know what to say about last night, I’m happy on one hand that we came back, but upset that they got 2 away goals on us, and away goals are the killer in the C.L. no matter wew are still in it to win it. One more thing I’ll say and It was said by Kurt Gibson (LA Dodgers) in the 1988 World Series and he said: “How Sweet It is!” thats for the Arsenal boys that gave it all last evening… I dont drink Holic, so I’ll go fer a Yuhoo (strawberry pref.) thanks for letting me ramle fellow gooners, you are the best by a longshot!!!
Fabregas out!!
Who’s gonna replace him?
Wilshere recalled from Bolton ??
Get on the phone Arsene– now!!!
@f4phantomphreak: your style is hard to read but I’m with you on FSC. They are unbelievably against us, relentlessly. As soon as I switched to another channel my perception of our performance changed radically. From now on I’ll watch the remaining 4 games only in languages I can’t understand 😉
It’s time to focus on Wolves now. With our usual luck Wolves are on fire at the moment. It’s not going to be as glamour as the Camp Nou game but it’s as important in our quest for silverware. As hard as it will be I am sure the players will find the rquired motivation to dig deep and grab points over our main rivals.
GO GUNNERS!
CMON you GOONERS!
What’s your thought on a VELA, Nik, Theo front three for when were chasing, which undoubtedly will be the case. Pace, Finishing and power. Seems a good front 3.
Hopefully Vela gets some game time against Wolves on SAT. I really believe he can be our dark horse at the camp nou.
@Bektas: in a big year, two at the max that front line will terrorize anyone. Unfortunately Vela has not been playing much this season and it would be really unfair to expect him to perform in such conditions.
Then we have to learn from Barca, they press very high and even Ibra is working at getting the ball back. The problem with the Vela – NB52 – Walcott front line is that they would not press enough and that’s why we will probably see Eboue and/or Rosicky start (bar more injuries).
And don’t forget, if we pass Barca (that’s a big if, granted) then RvP could be back in time to help in the following rounds.
‘holic good to see you again and thanks for the Theo credit there.
There’s two ways of looking at last nights match. You can consider that at times we got pulverised and are seemingly now strong underdogs in our visit to the Nou Camp. Or you can look at the positives that we came from two goals down against the best football club side in the world playing at the peak of their game, and we did so with the significant handicap of 6-7 crocked players.
As I mentioned to ‘holic at the game clearly Wenger didn’t fancy the alternatives at the back to Gallas. He doesn’t fancy Silvestre or Campbell against Messi, and nor did I! Wenger had two choices. Play Song in his best position and risk Gallas or play Song and potentially compromise two positions. I personally argue the Gallas one wasn’t so clear cut as an error on Wenger’s part, but it is if anything an admission that we are horrifically short in strength in depth in centre defence. Senderos, Gallas, Silvestre and Campbell I think will make way in the summer although there may be some value in keeping Campbell if only for his know how. Then we need a centre back ala Vermaelen capable of playing 90% of the matches. Gallas cannot do that and at £90k plus for me that’s too rich, a regular starter will help continuity across that four as well.
Cesc choice was a blunder – regardless of the injury he was in no shape to play in this high tempo game and carrying players as we were we had little chance to get close enough. Nasri in the Cesc role was the obvious solution for me. Our best player by far a little wasted out wide in my opinion.
Had we rested Cesc he would have been fit and fresh for the Nou Camp and been able to contribute to the tie. Looking forward positively Walcott and Nasri must start, Nasri in the Cesc role. Centre back a huge dilemma. I would go with Campbell at Nou Camp and play Silvestre at the weekend. That way we get Song in his proper position for 90 minutes.
jt, sorry I missed you. Thanks for the pic. I will have to get on the virtual wine stores and order some 😉
So many international veterans out for the season… Cesc, Gallas, RVP , possibly Arshavin. Along with Gibbs, Djorou, and Ramsey… April fools perhaps?
excellent blog, captured the moment very well.
before the game i was just pleased to have got a ticket (very long story) and wasn’t very hopeful of a positive result. However, during the 2nd half when we fought back it felt as if anything was possible. Great atmosphere, when Henry was warming up in front of us we sang his name for a good 3-4 minutes.
keep the good blogs coming!
57 Goonerholic: hopefully the season doesn’t end when the Premier League does 😉
Holic,
Today’s post is pure class. You have excelled yourself. An excellent description of the experience. I’ll buy you a big one for the pleasure that gave me if our paths ever cross. Here’s to a miraculous performance in the Camp Nou. Let’s win it for Cesc, Will, Andrei, Aaron, Robin and Johan! Have I missed anyone out? OOO 2 b……..
2-2 And we were unlucky
Unlucky to come up against a team on top of their game and then some. Pep said that was the best display he had seen from his side since he was in charge. ” Nuff Said”
The one thing I was worried about was a slow start, I said in previous post that we couldn’t afford to do that but we couldn’t start any slower if we tried. I think Madouser had come on and gave our team the evil look and turned our team to stone. They were like statues in the first half, regardless of how good Barca were we helped are down fall in the first half by a total lack of movement and allowing them too much time and respect to pick what ever pass they felt like. Barca, well I cant think of any more superlatives than have already been said on this blog.
Almunia had his game of the season and thank God for that as it could have been 3-0 in the first 15 minutes and not one gooner could have complained. After 25 mins I thought that this could be a very embarrassing result for us. But Almunia and last ditch defending kept us in the tie in the first half, we couldn’t string two passes together and Barca were at the races from the off, closing us down any refusing us space. Two things we didn’t do, my son turned to me and said “I don’t like this we cant even get the ball”
I turn to him and said “if we can get to half time 0-0 and have one of Arsenes legendary team talks Barca will not be able to keep this pace up”
Unfortunately he wasn’t even in his seat before we conceded and the team talk turned to dust. Barca started the second half as they did the first and 1-0 down in the first 23 seconds. Luckily the lads heads didn’t go down and started to get a foot hold in the game. Again a cheap ball over the top and we were undone again not the best defending you will ever see.
Then enter Theo stage right and made a instant impact and 2-1 a life line into the game. Theo is a impact player at the moment and what a impact. If he starts a game he disappears for alot of the game and makes little contribution, he will get more games in the final run in due to injuries and I really really want him to grab this opportunity with both hands and show that he is a player for all occasion’s that ever gooner wants him to be. He has the talent but needs the application now and he will reach the heights he is capable of.
As the game progressed Barca tiered and we grew stronger by the minute, some of the Arsenal one touch football led to a straight out and out penalty and red card for a clear foul and stopping a goal scoring opportunity. Up step Cesc the lion heart with one leg and PICK THAT OUT ! If the keeper could get to it he would end up in the back of the net still holding the ball. That is the sort of power Cesc put into that shot and the injured leg could take no more. If Cesc was only 50-80% fit how come he covered more grass than any other player in a Arsenal shirt. That is what disappointed me most about the game, that are captain injured, unfit and barely able to walk put in more effort than anyone else.
If the team put the same effort in as Cesc we would have won this game, he didn’t even want to come off with a broken leg THAT IS A CAPTAIN THAT IS A LEADER.
When we were down 2-0 nil I had a feeling that we was not out of this and to come back too 2-2 was a fantastic achievement. I only wish that I could sit here and say that the whole team gave 100% but they didn’t. Was it nerves or just one of those games but that was not the Arsenal I know and love. But to only play are game for the last 25 minutes is very disappointing. If we lost 3-0 and the whole team gave their all I would have no complaint.
Now I have depressed you all or angered most of you I will go through the positives.
2-2 is a great result, it means a 1-0 to the Arsenal is very achievable, if any of you read my posts you know how positive I am most of the time. I know Mr Wenger will sit down and break the game down bit by bit and show the players just were we went wrong. I also do not think Barca will be able to repeat that performance. I am not saying Barca got lucky or that their style of play was a fluke its just a repeat performance of that magnitude will be a big ask. They will have their main 2 CB out big boost for us, but no Cesc for the rest of the season is a real blow. Arshavin out is what he needed to get his head right and get some rest. When he went off that is the first time I have seen a injured player RUN down the tunnel. Gallas out is what we have come accustomed too at the end of the season and Sol and Song can fill in very well.
The away fixture is only 5 days away and again I still believe we can go through, but only with a full team performance with everyone giving 100%. Sorry for such a long post.
GOONER TIL I DIE- COME ON YOU ARSENAL
nothing this season again.
Evening.
Yowzer – where to start?!
Haven’t witnessed something strange and odd like this In Europe since 94. Smudger wellying it. Tin hats on. Dig in. Wave after wave of attacks. But only this time we nicked it 1-0. And i might have had something in my eye that night.
A lotta lurv goes out to the boys last night. That ‘ol’ Ali ‘rope a dope’ requires courage, strength and a pinch of nuttyness. If they were boys before then they have come of age.
Almunia. Oh Almunia. You don’t know whether to kiss him or slap him?
And so to Spain. Will we be the bull? Or the Matador? Who can tell.
We must tame another hungry animal soon. The Wolves smell blood.
And they are hungry.
All I’ve got to offer is my texts from yesterday…..what a night…what a team. How I love this side, we truly are made of something special no matter how we end this season. Beginning of something amazing I’m certain.
Fabregas starts…..what a gamble…surely having him nearer 100% for 2nd leg makes more sense?….
we are being destroyed….
two great saves by the morris dancer already…
17 mins – almunia 5 great saves…seriously
Shots probably about 16-2….
Thank god Henry didn’t start…we’d be well behind….
Got a bit better last 20 mins…..lucky to be 0-0….
3 words – we were shit – but still in it….
They missed some real sitters and the good shots were saved….
Clichy + Sagna not getting forward due to risk….
Song worked out messi after a bit but now was moved to the back to replace Gallas…
we can’t be any worse in the 2nd half….fitness will tell…tactical subs now not an option…
Theo is scaring them…..
Theo has scared them…Goal!!
Puyol a red…..Pique misses 2nd leg also….
what a comeback….
Some quality posts there, ‘holics. Apart from you pete, pick your game up mate 😉
Evening Gents.
Wow what a game that was, as an Arsenal fan and lover of the beautifull game, I most say that Barca blew me away, they really were that good, we were totally out played in the first half I haven´t seen anything like that in years, they were like Arsenal+ on steroids. But unbelievably we weathered the huricaine and with thanks to Almunia, who lets be honest, was awesome, we somehow managed to go in for the break at 0-0.
Keeping me company as I was watching was a crate of Hollands finest, which was taking a good hiding, hic, but I was more intoxicated by the footy on show, then the copius amounts of beer I was swigging. As the second half began I thought if we could just frustrate them a little while longer then…………………………………..
I hardly had time to blow the froth off of my, especially for the 2nd half, poured beer when disaster struck, Ibra lobbed the onrushing Al and the deadlock had been broken…… Damn!!
It would be easy to point the finger (which I have numerous times this season) of blame, but if it wasn´t for his heroics we would of been dead and buried, so I just thought come on you reds, were not done yet, there´s still a whole half to go.
Just like my drinking, the Barca pressure didn´t seem to let up, although we were begining to show brief flashes that we could get back into it, but once again with a pin-point pass the Sweede was in and I must admit my heart sank a little as their second was powerfully smashed against the onion bag.
Still, I´d been looking forward to this game since the draw and I was determined to enjoy this feast of football. Theo was coming on as another cold one was being cracked, I raised my glass to our young talent and slured at the screen “Cwmon Twheoooo, schow em wot ya got son.”
Well, if ever there was a definition of “ìmpact sub” needed, then this was where you could find it. With a burst of pace that would of had Usian Bolt saying, “cor, he was fast” Theo was in and we were back in it. I must say the last 20 minutes was a rollercoaster of emotons, the return of TH14 was awesome and finally the “match” that we were all hoping to see was in full swing. Chances were falling at both ends, and maybe it was the Dutch beer filling me with dutch courage, but I honestly thought we could do it.
Five minutes to go and all of a sudden Christmas came early as the ref not only gave us, what I can only describe as a great big present neatly gift wrapped with a bow and a card, a red one, but that wasn´t for us, it was for Puyol.
Cesc stepped up, ball went in, I lost my mind!!
I was pinching myself, how much had I drunk? Had we really just pulled off a comeback of Lazerus proportions?
YES WE HAD!!
The final whistle, which I can only guess many fans would had been praying for only half an hour earlier, came too soon, we had them on the ropes, we could of done ’em. Unfortunatly in my euphoria I hadn´t noticed the extent of Cesc´s injury, a major blight on the evening, but I´ll discuss that another time.
This was a briliant fight back, team spirit, togetherness all the cliches actually meant something and was on show for the football loving world to see.
Damn I was proud of the lads.
Scouring the media today many say that Barca threw it away by “taking their foot off the pedal”, I like to think that they just couldn´t keep up with the tempo and we took advantage of this and caught them cold.
Next up Wolves and then the 2nd leg, Come on you Reds.
//////////////////////
I was at that Spartak game too ´holic, we did indeed take a butt kicking, the thing I remember most was how hard the North Bank (I was in the clock end that night) cheered for some of their latter goals, I even think there was a sarcastic “we want 5” (or 6) chant going on. And yes, that green/blue strip was unfortunate to say the least.
A pint of lager to wet the whistle please barman.
Cheers.
Actually H2H, for the Spartak game I was in the East Lower for some reason. Might have nabbed a freebie of one of the players which we often did in those days.Thank fuck there was no internet back then. We tried everything to replace greedy-bollix Stapleton when he left. Ray Hankin, John Hawley, John Kosmina, Rafael Meade, all cheap or homegrown, then we spunked half a million on Lee Chapman. He might have been on target with Leslie Ash, but herds of cows used to have a whip round to buy the useless bastard a banjo every Christmas before having targets painted on their arses. We would have broken the web about then.
Lee Chapman, What a plank.
That was definetly the bottom of the barrel, not only was he useless for us, only scored 4 in two seasons, but when we got rid of him he came back to haunt us.
If the brain cells that the old pop haven´t destroyed are serving me right, I think he returned to Highbury with Sunderland and scored against us. I think he scored against us when he played for Leeds too.
Same again please sir to help banish those memories……….
God it makes me grateful for what we´ve got now. 🙂
Found this gem from Rubin Kazan’s coach Kurban Beryedev (they won against Barca in the group stage):
“I studied all Barcelona’s games in the Spanish championship. The game against Valencia [a 0-0 draw] was the most helpful to understand them. I noticed that Xavi and Andrés Iniesta – key players in the team – almost never drop back to their own penalty box. This style of play in the midfield creates free space for shots from the middle range. Our midfielders were told to shoot on sight. It’s also good to have a player in this area who constantly tries to hold the build-up of Barcelona’s attack in the centre of the midfield. It was Alejandro Domínguez who was playing this role, always dropping from the forward’s position to confront Yaya Touré. And Domínguez did a great job. I don’t think we could have beaten Barça without him. Barcelona like to use the whole pitch. Their full-backs, Dani Alves and Eric Abidal, tend to play wide and leave some space in the centre. We were ready to organise our counter-attack through that area, so we waited for the right opportunity. That’s how the second goal came in”
Someone asked me outside the ground after last night’s game – “what did you think of that then?” The reply, after long reflection was an enlightening – “I dunno”
“Numb, amazed, frightened by the prospect of next Tuesday, excited at the prospect of next Tuesday after 20 astonishing minutes of Theo” – where do you stop.
Just hope the leg-freezing awe inspired by Barca is out of their bodies when we kick off on Tuesday, and Theo has his non-tangly feet on.
What can possibly go wrong.
Fabregas’ class and nerve for that penalty are incredible. What a player, what a sad loss for our last games.
Super post ‘Holic – you never fail to lift the spirit.
Matt and F4P,
The good news? Us “Yanks” (you know I’m a transplant) get to see EVERY Gooners game on the three channels at our disposal. I haven’t missed one game in the last five years.
The bad news? Wee Lulu MacSparry and all of the other tonks who seem to have a pathological hatred for Arsenal/are completely inept/are, at best, morons.
I’ve checked. There is no feed-back mechanism for any of the three channels. Complaint opportunity is nil. Opportunity to recommend ‘Holic as FSC/Plus/ESPN resident expert nil/nada/no go.
You’re probably right, Matt. Gol TV in Spanish, crowd noise and Goooooooooaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllll! is likely the only answer.
So, who would I pick for the one goal victory we need in the Nou Camp? (Were going to get that ‘Holics. You have my word).
My Pal Al
Eboue, Sol, Verminator, Clichy (No doubts about Sol or Eboue).
Song, Diaby, Den – Rythmn King, Swing Sultan, Samba Sensation
Nasri
Bendtner, Eduardo
Two planned subs from;
Walcott, Arshavin, Rosicky
That team’s easy. Now, let me scratch my head a bit for Wolves. Eduardo needs a run out before Nou Camp so he’s in. So is Vela.
Fab is out for the rest of the season. Does this include the final in Madrid as well or is it only the EPL??
Fabregas and Gallas out for the rest of the season. Hopefully RVP and Sol can step in their void. But its also high time Vela and Edu start some games cause nasri and rosicky would be needed in midfield now. So we have options but the people on the bench need to get their act together and quickly.
And cant wait to get Szechzny back at the club. Him and Manone for next season.(Cant expect wenger to buy loris from lyon) flapianski should be sold and almunia moved on, he has had his time in the sun, he wont get any better but only worse than last night.
@ Matt # 86. great info there. thinking about song I’m the holding role and sol in CB would be ideal to give Denilson license to roam closer on the attack and pick up the ball from song take a touch and keep firing screamers all day on Valdes with theo ready to pounce on the rebounds.
@ BtM # 88 As I said before , that is the ONE luxury of being a yank and a gooner, EVERY match is shown on either FSC, Gol tv, or FSP (rip setanta america) . No streams for us, except for maybe the odd Carling Cup match not shown on the tele : )
I see this as an opportunity for the likes of Eduardo, Vela and Fran. Last season Macheda helped United at a crucial part of the season. What he did was more than just ensure 6 points. He probably won them the title .
Who is going to be Arsenal’s Macheda? I guess its unfair to ask someone like Fran and Vela to fill the void but how I would love that!
just commenting on the cost of this one game, the cost of this game was enormous obviously.
Realistically (or maybe pessimistically) it would be reasonable to expect Barca to do what’s required in the second leg and progress. But the one thing that’s sticking with me is the words Guardiola had after the game regarding the first half being the best he’s seen his mob play. Let’s face it.. they were fantastic, and we struggled (probably a combination of nerves and them playing so well). But if that really is their best half, and they couldn’t score against us, and eventually went home with a draw, that has to give the lads some real confidence.
I think this team spirit they keep showing is one of those ingredients missing previously. Gives me great faith that even if we end up with no silverware this year, the team is growing in stature.
Imagine if we got lucky with injuries this year!
Answer – Arsenal, Lucky, Injuries
Question – What three words cannot belong in a sentence together
It is important to accept that the difference between Barca and you lot was magnified by poor planning. Your article is superb. But the content still makes me cringe.
Well Phabragassed is now history and your season will be over by the time you reach the lane. I see revenge!! And its blue and white!!
Enjoy your last trip into Europe and pray for a miracle. We can still catch U and beat U
COYS!!
Cusop are you another lost spufd soul?
Please stick to your forum!
It’s ok Arthur.
He is the rarity of all rarities. A good ‘un.
Prepare for St Totteringhams Day, Cus. You know it’s coming 😉
Hahahahaha “Holic”its still statistically a possible fight until the end this year. Arthur I shall be gone shortly, the Holic and I love to clash swords unfortunately spurs have not been as successful in the league.. But we make a cup final every year, do U still remember what its like. I will say I wish Holic had a change of heart an came over to the Lilly Light where angels dwell, unlike …. Rant Rant!!
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