Carling Cup Team In Donetsk? Ukraine Not Be Serious!
Nov 2nd, 2010 by 'holic
Sorry for the lateness of the preview. The new HD box turned up and like any kid with a new toy I have had to get it operational straight away. As any exasperated wife will tell you, that means not looking at the instructions, wiring everything up, hitting the on button on the remote, and phut, nothing, nada, zilch, zip! Only the pillocks who sponsor Chelsea could hide an on switch on the back of the unit as well, twats!
The management has been told under no circumstances is she to put the football on HD tonight. The rabble up the road will not be the first in HD here. That will be Arsenal in Donetsk, trust me on that one.
But what sort of Arsenal side will I be watching in such clarity? It is starting to look as though the starting eleven will resemble more the Carling Cup side than the Premiership team. The wonderful world of Twitter (thanks John Cross of the Mirror) carries the news that Arshavin, Diaby, Denilson, and Song, as well as Fabregas, have not travelled. I can understand the argument that a win would clinch top spot in the group, so we might have gone at full strength. I also don’t doubt that Arsene has faith in his squad to secure at least a point in the Ukraine.
I can even imagine a first choice back five starting behind a squad front six. Jack Wilshere could ride shotgun for Craig Eastmond in double holding roles behind Tomas Rosicky. Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner are likely to start. The left sided role is interesting. It could be Rosicky, with Samir Nasri playing in the hole, but it could also be either Jay Emmanuel Thomas or Henri Lansbury being given some valuable experience in a hostile atmosphere.
Whoever it turns out to be I think they will face a more competent Shakhtar side than the one we saw at the Grove. It will be their turn to come at us, and we way see more of Arsenal being happy to invite them on and utilise Walcott’s pace on the break. Stan James rewarded my crazy punt on Arsenal to win the home leg 5-1, and offer 10/1 against Walcott scoring first. I’m putting some of their wonga on that as the ‘holic pound. As a back-up, I’m also taking a shine to 2-2 at 14/1 with the same firm.
I must resist the urge to back Eduardo to score at any time (23/10). It will be good to see him again though.
Championship Manager Competition Winners
Congratulations to the five lucky winners of last week’s ‘holic Twitter competition for the Championship Manager 2011 game. Regular drinkers will recognise one of the recipients as one of us! I was delighted to see Arthur’s number come out.
The five were @jamezjamez, @chrishoward1982, @HerbieALand, @14will14, @ArthurTheGooner. Well done all. I would love to hear your feedback on the game.
Cheers ‘holics.
91 Responses to “Carling Cup Team In Donetsk? Ukraine Not Be Serious!”
God it’s a bit quiet in here? Is the new HD telly not working Barman?
Will be an interesting evening tomorrow – will have to sky plus it, and try and avoid the score as I’m out gigging again tomorrow night. I think with the players out a draw would be a fine result, and can’t believe that they will be as bad as they were at the Grove.
Diet coke Guv, I’m driving.
Incidentally, whilst I concede that the LWC did play quite well tonite, to listen to that dweeb of a commentator on Sky you would have been forgiven for thinking that they had actually won the Champions League tonight the way he went on.
As was said in the last round of drinks, lets see how they cope in the league after nights like tonight.
Honestly Inter, where’s Mourinho when you need him!
Fabianski
Sagna – Squid – Kos – Clichy
Wilshere – Nasri – Rosicky
Walcott – Bendtner – Vela/Eboue
this team can win against Shaktar away and is anything but a carling cup team
Carling Cup team in Ukraine Holic?
Well, I really Donetsk mate?
I Can’t believe those Neanderthal marsh dwellers have stolen our Sammy Nasri song.
I would like to see Vela given a run out, Jason, but I get the impression he is slipping back down the pecking order again. Hasn’t made a big enough impression in the wide left role, and won’t get a start in the middle ahead of RvP, Chamakh, and Bendtner. In fact JET is probably fourth in line for that role now.
Jason
I’d actually play Djourou instead of Koscielny or Squillaci
I think that is a real possibility, Mug.
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Would like to see Watchit/Wotsit in goal.He likes the ‘atmosphere’ and will make the defence concentrate that bit more. 1-1 my guess
From the provious post: What nice people you all are – was I missed? 😉
@ Holic: How long do you spend thinking up these titles? I’m sure The Sun would pay squillions for your service.
What’s the odds on yet another Tiny Totts video to fill the Xmas stockings of the LWCs?
@ Zico, spot on comment – we’re already 5 points clear of The Spuds and I bet we stretch that by Xmas.
Alright span. Same as mate. Reckon he’ll be on the bench though.
Welcome back to the fold, TS. Slate wiped clear 🙂
HD good. LWCs bad, in an evil kind of way. Harry Redknapp ugly. Butt ugly.
School nitght it may be but it looks like the Gooners are on always on the up!
True Storey knows a bob or two aight? I have had a few but my eyes are already deceiving me a lovelly Curry that sorted me out though….a nice Madras and I’m awake tonight 🙂
‘Holic,
Talking of slates, I’m parched. A round please for anyone still left in the bar and a large one for yourself if you’re in the mood. Ice cold lager for me please.
behind the 8 ball but not nasri
You are always a Gooner Joker ….. 🙂
True Storey so who was a Hansen tonight?
I can think of one but I shall leave it to the experts 🙂
‘Nasri
Apparently he has a really good looking portrait in his loft in Sandbanks. I knew a guy who had a house built there, he was also a crook. :-0
Just want 3 points and we can put this to bed until the new year…..
Beer please barman. Any of that 6X left out the back?
Arthur,
Well, there’s always Twitchy but that’s too easy. I didn’t listen to a jot of footie tonight but my vote would go to Maureen for leaving Inter and letting the neighbours out-play them at Shite Hart Lane.
Love you peeps ….TS a good wind up for sure 🙂
I’m going to have a smoke ….then last Debowe Strong to lift my bones……my closed eyes are calling me 🙂
NIGHT NIGHT EVERYONE…………dream of Berkamps and Thiery’s and most of all Romford Pele……
Night all…..
TS you mean Three Point Lane…. 🙂
Steve T,
I’m with ‘Holic. I think it will be points shared tom night – no shame in that.
Same as Steve. I know we will get the points at home to Partizan, but could have left the last two games to the kids by nailing this one.
We still could, in which case we’ll have to say….
….wait for it …
…Arsene knows 😉
Arthur,
Personally, I’d prefer Nil Point Lane. Bloody neighbours… Rest well.
Goonerholic too right Arsene Knows…. 🙂
Early start tom so night all. It’s been emotional – heh! 😉
Three pont lane has always been the case and there is no other way 🙂
Night night ….too much red Bull on the way home……
Night everyone! 🙂
Alright Arthur. Have they sent the game ok?
I haven’t checked yet to be honest with you I was in Chester this morning trying to presuade some Hollyoaks chicks to comeback down but as soon as they heard Gooner that was it 🙁
Will defo check tomorrow and tanks you once again kind sir 🙂
Aplogies aobout the spellings….Holic ….
Evening Gents.
A good opportunity for a few fringe players and the lads returning to full match sharpness this one, as I posted before I believe we have real strength in depth and with that comes healthy competion for places. I agree that the Shaka’s will be a different prospect then they were at the Grove a fortnight ago, but all the lads coming in will be eager to show Le Boss what they can do and I expect a good showing.
Bendy and Walcott on the scoresheet me thinks, with a helping hand from young Jack.
Lager please sir.
Cheers.
just for laugh….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MrWS0bZqsY&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Chris (THA) The Hawking Arse here,
I peruse the inferior blogs from the lofty heights of my vastly superior blog to see if there is any good stuff that i can plaeger ….playger …….plaijir …. f*ck it, NICK and peddle over at my place as my very own, original ideas (as if I’ve ever had an original thought in my life! My next one will be my first one, F*ck it, I don’t care).
But that old bollocks ‘holic stopped me in my tracks. I pray every night before I go to bed that Denilson will be injured. Holic is saying he hasn’t travelled. Woopee, maybe that means the little Brazilian bar steward is injured? I hope so.
As for Vela, I’ve been preaching for four years now that Wenger needs to learn from me and start Vela in every game!. I admit I know f*ck all, and I’ve never played the game, never even been to the Emirates. But I know too that I know more than Wenger and he never even thinks of listening to me! And here’s old ‘holic saying that Carlos is slippin down the old slippery pole! HOLIC is slippin’ down the slippery pole if you ask me.
Never mind. I’m only in it for the clicks. Just ’cause clever buggers like ‘holic know a thing or two about football doesn’t mean he earns as much dosh as me from clicks and me merchandise sales cos I’m a ledge see and I’ve got loads o’ money. Pity about my spotty arse mind.
Come on over and click on The Hawking Arse. Earn me another quid. I’m only in it for the money and stoopid Gooners don’t get it. They don’t even know I’m true blue at heart. Silly bar stewards.
So no Triple T to grace your HD on its first outing into the real world? I have to urge caution here ‘Holic. You don’t want to go giving yourself a losing HD box. You won’t be able to watch Arsenal play live on it again if its first foot is a losing foot and all the stats confirm that the holic pound is more likely to pound sand in frustration than spring froth in the champagne glass when Deni, Alex and Cesc don’t start.
I’m thinking:
Fabianski
Sagna, Kos, Djourou, Clichy,
Eboue, Eastmond, Jack,
Rosicky,
Theo, Bendy
Bench: Squil,Lansbury, JET, Chamakh, Vela
Zico,
Gigging in Fife? Thought the Raith Ballroom had closed? Not half-time at Central Park is it??
Everybody VOTE FOR NASRI FOR THE PLAYER OF THE MONTH
http://www.premierleague.com/page/Home/0,,12306,00.html
THE BOY HAS TO WIN THIS ONE
forward please to others
Hey guys,
Congrats Arthur for winning…
TS, email me if you need a stream for tomorrow, no chance I’m letting you give up on finding one 🙂
Really looking forward to the game, this could do a whole lot of good to our EPL campaign as a win will have our first teamers rested for the rest of our group stage and have them a lot fresher for the tough November that we face.
Up the Arse!
Morning all.
Quick note to let you know the mail server for goonerholicdotcom has been down for over 12 hours (thanks Google!).
If you have dropped me a line I can’t get to it yet. Apologies, but I will catch up as soon as possible.
‘holic
BTM @ 36
You do make me laugh.
As it happens I have to cross the river for this particular gig, and as for Raith Ballroom, was there ever such a thing (you may be showing your age!!).
Going back to the last round of drinks BTM, I urge you once again, to bring on the Brazilian dancing girls – the pressure is on.
Back on topic, I fancy a flutter on Nasri as first goalscorer tonight.
So did anyone watch the inter match yesterday?
My God what has benitez done to inter? if anyone knows let me know…..
Too bad ‘Holic i had sent some money to your inbox, which was supposed to ‘return to sender’ within 2 hours if not received 🙂
Any way i fancy a win at Ukraine, Theo for a brace.
Am keeping the faith.
Can anyone tell me why the Up For Grabs Boys and that pair of wankers at LeGroan think it is an early kick off tonight, when Arsenal, BBC, and Sky all say 7.45?
OG @43 – that confused me as well.
And the answer is?
It’s 7.45, as you say old, in all the places where they have to know these things. I’m not expecting the live broadcast on Sky to come on at the final whistle…
ette, just text me your sort code and account number and I will do the rest 😉
Zico,
Enjoy auld reekie then. We’ll need to touch base on the music secene there. I was a legend (in my own mind) there in the seventies.
Yep, the Raith Ballroom was THE place in the sixties. Busloads and cattle trucks of talent (and sometimes guys with knives and razor blades) used to arrive from Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Dundee and I used to tootle down from Auchterchoochty. I have some really fond memories (no joking). The original version of the Average White Band started their professional career in Kirkcaldy. Saw Joe Cocker there in 1968. Magic.
If you haven’t heard of it, it must have closed. Pity, I was thinking of taking Her Nellieness for a remininscent romantic swing “roond the flair” next time we’re in the kingdom.
I’ll tell you my I saw the Beatles live story sometime in the future.
Just noticed I missed Nasri from my team selection for tonight. Ooops! He’s definitely worth a flutter. That boy is a star.
Thanks for clarifying ‘Holic.
If only I could get my sky + to record the bits that didn’t have Richard Keys in it…..
Zico…. that’s what the 30x fast forward button is for.
Tragically I have forgotten to set my box…. the last patient is going to get short shrift tonight!
@TS. Good to know you’re not the Messiah.
Catalan,
Definitiely not the messiah my friend although I’m sure that at times I’ve felt like I’ve been crucified -> not in this bar I hasten to add and before I’m instructed to return to the naughty corner/step 🙂
BtM,
I’ve also had the pleasure of a few good nights out in Kirkcaldy getting blootered, but in the mid 90s. It’s a fun place in the summer faether, with plenty of hens looking for their hole (ahem).
Snir,
If I get a chance to go stream hunting tonight (unlikely), I’ll let you know if I get lucky.
@ Jason # 37 – I already did. Didn’t he also win a PFA award yesterday?
@ dino #34,
Classic mate thanks for sharing 🙂
I believe he might have surpassed himself on several occassions in the past few months though….
Listened to his dulcid tones on the radio this morning, crowing about last night’s result and saying soemthing like it was one of the best nights ever at Shite Hart Line – he’s such a cock.
So for that radio performance I’m going to put forward his name for Hansen of the week 🙂
dulcet – b*ll*cks
‘Hols,
‘Hols,
Thanks for your kind words a few posts back, mate. You’re true topshelf.
1-3 to the Arsenal tonight. Only wish I could see it in HD.
(in a whisper) I got a good feeling about this season, boys… (shhhh, don’t tell anybody else)
Mac 12 , please ‘keep; I’ll share with who ever is ready to get ill.
Alas it’s back to LD for me and my streaming fellows…
@Chris: good laugh I must say. He’s hopeless indeed.
Theo will have to score a couple to stop the media gushing about Bile.
I must say Holic Eddy to score at anytime is a wager
Correction: Theo will score a couple but media will keep gushing about Bale…
Matt,
I hope your right and he nicks the first I’m so out of form this season I’ve no idea what I fancy so in the end plumped for Walcott first The Arsenal 3.1 @ a very tasty price 😉 Heres hoping- will pay for my trip to Fontwell on Friday 🙂
BTM – still laughing.
My big brothers used to go to the Kinema – I was however of an age to be still playing “outside” probably 3 and in.
Excuse our Northern nostalgia fellow holics.
And as for this evening, I just want to say COYRRR
The ‘holic pound is landed. I love Shakhtar me 😉
I just heard the West Country erupting from here! Another new toy in store ‘Holic?
Fabianski has a great game so far…
Clichy on the other hand just had a blunder! 🙁
Chippy Clichy just cos you a trip sorry dude….
With just a few exceptions that has to be as pathetic a first half display from an arsenal side that i have witnessed in a long time. Sloppy does not do it justice. Best we buck our ideas up and sharpish.
the arse 3 sort of and the rest 0 but what a poor defence we are showing
Clichy is not playing well and the central defence is outnumbered
AW has some sorting out to do – also why dont they do long fast balls to Theo
We do have this terrible habit of being poor in games in Russia and Ukraine, always frustrating.
Steve T: we played much worse against WBA, at least Shaktar are playing well. We miss Song and/or Denilson…
Walcott is really good though. He deserves a second.
I have never seen a faster team.
Matt. We are shocking. Really poor. The gap between the back 4 and midfield is massive. The majority of 1st touches have been passes. We have been sloppy all over the park. We have no width and have given the ball away more than i care to remember. Their keeper is dreadful and we have hardly tested him. Not impressed at all.
No one seems particularly up for this one.
No excuses Holics this was an awful display, second half was a bit better but we looked we could have conceded each time they went forward.
Fair play to Shakhtar they played very well.
Clichy needs to fucking learn to kick the ball away not play with it he’s done a similar thing in the league as well I miss Gibbs
Not all is lost thou we are still in front we must win both games at home at now, no questions asked.
A
Not impressed either, aside from Fabianski and Walcott but I remember worse. Anyway it’s a pointless debate. Let’s just hope that they’ll wake up against Braga next time.
Shocking. Got exactly we deserved. With few exceptions i thought we were very poor.
Since it seems no one else will say it, Shaktar player very well, obviously they have been stung by their drubbing at the Emirates. A night to forget though.
Matt
I said that Shakhtar played very well and hats off to them tonight…
I’m disappointed we should have at least drawn the game. We are never lucky in former USSR are we know.
One excuse we were without Cesc, Denilson, Song and Arshavin and also Vermalen and Van Persie please bear that in mind. Eastmond did very well for his age but he ain’t no Song
One to just take on the chin and move on (do we ever play well in Russia/Ukraine?), we should still go through so long as we don’t make any silly mistakes in the last two games, and that’s what matters in the end.
Matt. We let Shaktar play well. I do not remember us letting them play like that 2 weeks ago. We were sloppy and let them play. I love Clichy but he needs to rapidly improve.
here watch this everybody and laugh http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wF87vHYDjc&feature=related
Steve T I agree with you he had a fantastic assist on Saturday then to be let down like this tonight. He was in front of the player he had the ball at his feet if unsure kick it out over the live. I don’t know what he was trying to do there I wonder sometimes.
Charlie
Well said let’s take this one on the chin and concentrate on the weekend for now.
and damn this is funny too something to cheer up http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7Rnt5C2qaQ&feature=fvw
Taking away all three members of the TTT obviously made it a bridge too far. I don’t know why somebody saying “take it on the chin” makes me feel better but it does, mysteriously. Not about our performance though.
behind the 8 ball but not nasri
I know what you mean I’m not happy one bit and what pisses me off the most is the fact that we can play way better than tonights performance. We looked slow on the ball, there was one incident where Walcott was just outside the box with a defender in front of him instead of going forward he opted for a vary lazy pass to Bendtner that never found him.
Yet again we tried to walk the ball into the net, Eboue was very poor on that right wing.
The other thing that annoyes me is that as soon as we loose Cesc or Song we seem to be in trouble where we have and we do have good enough players to replace them when needed.
Barman a round for everyone in the bar call it a pre-birthday toast 🙂
Arthur, the lack of Cesc in the team is the common denominator between this one and our loss to West Brom. I doubt he would have let tonight happen if he had been present but the simultaneous loss of Cesc and Song made us a very bad imitation of our best. I’ll share in that round and look forward to a vast improvement on Sunday.
Arthur, 8 Ball and anyone else who may be drowning their sorrows.
Tonight was just very poor. Arthur, you used the word lazy. I think you are spot on. I think that at times our attitude was dreadful. Theo scored a great goal, worked hard but did not achive much. Nic is so short of games and and it was abundantly clear this evening. Both full backs were poor. Centre backs played okay but got no protection from the midfield. Eastmond sadly looked massively out of his depth. I expected much more from the likes of Sami and Tommy. If it had not been for Flappy then it could have been a lot worse.
It all goes back to the age old debate. Is the squad lacking in certain departments??????? You all know my opinion by now so I will not bother repeating it.
Do you know something? I could take it on the chin, get up and dust myself down if I thought we had been beaten by the better team. But we stuck 5 past that lot two weeks ago.
Not good enough. End of………………………..
Very annoying.
The main two culprits for me:
Clichy, just kick it into touch will ya? Why don’t you remember giving the points away at Brum type incidents?
Bendtner needs some trapping the ball first time lessons.
Apart from that there was a lack of cohesion, in fairness probably forced upon us by Shak Ataks enthusiasm, in a game that seemingly doesn’t matter cos we only have to turn up in the other matches to get at least a point.
Where have I heard that before?
Evening All
Only managed to catch the highlights.
Very disappointing for sure but I thought Fabianski was again a highlight for us and what a wonderful goal from The-o after a clever pass out from deep in our area by Jack. I think that was a demonstration of route one footballl Arsenal style.
We seemed to have plenty of chances to at least equalise in the second half but tonight we lacked ze sharpness and clinical finishing, opening goal aside.
I agree with Steve T, we were a better side that didn’t make the most of the chances that presented themselves. We let ourselves down but it’s not the end of the world, we’ll surely qualify. It would be good if we could really learn those (repeated) lessons from tonight in the defensive and must take our chances departments.
Hopefully, we’ll bounce back on Sunday with a good home win against The Toon. They’ll also be smarting from the lashing we dished out last week so we’ll need to be right on our game.
Arthur – premature congratulations (phnar) to you! 21 again?
Barman? If it’s not past last orders a return round from me please.
@ nasri #86
Very good point(s). Despite the depth of the squad that I’ve been guilty of crowing about, without Cesc and Song we do seem to be a very different and much more beatable side.
‘Thought Jack looked very up for it tonight though and so he should with that fabulous contract that he’s just landed himself.
The Fullbacks and midfield were poor…what was Eboue thinking?? did he think he was playing in midfield, he left RB postion exposed…young Eastmond looked way off the pace and wonder why he came back 2nd half…but like was said lets take this one on the chin