I Want Justice For My Big Willie – Young That Is
Jan 11th, 2011 by 'holic
Ipswich.
Even typing it makes me shudder. Let me take you back to the 1977-78 season, and we should start at the very beginning. I went on holiday on Saturday 13th August, 1977. A week of sun, sea, and Watneys Red over the water in Hayling Island. Exotic stuff. The following Saturday I took old chuggaboom (my twenty year old Austin A35!) on the tortuous journey from south coast to east. It didn’t like it much, but somehow we made it. Away games at Ipswich couldn’t be missed back then, and the first game of the season would give us a chance to take the town over again.
The game proved to be remarkable for a couple of reasons. Firstly, an astonishing delay when a torrential downpour fell from what had been a glorious summer sky. From memory the players were taken off for twenty minutes or so while the tide went out again and hostilities could resume. Secondly this game proved to be the first of two particularly ugly bookends to the season. Ipswich took advantage of the mucky conditions to nick a 1-0 win against the odds. Nobody realised the omen that was to prove to be for May 6th, 1978.
Arsenal stormed through their FA Cup campaign that season. Sheffield United, Wolves, Walsall, Wrexham and Orient were each blasted away at the first attempt, with the Gunners grabbing seventeen goals in the process. Malcolm Macdonald, Frank Stapleton, and Alan Sunderland, were about as potent an attacking force as you could wish to see. Ipswich needed a replay to see off Bristol Rovers in the fifth round as they reached their first FA Cup Final. To say Arsenal were hot favourites was a huge understatement. A bit like in this Carling Cup semi-final coming up.
The day itself left me with few memories, and those were bad. Next to no pubs opened in the vicinity, so from the early hours of Saturday we were drinking warm ale from cans. A companion had a bottle of wine, and promptly disposed of it via the escape hatch while queuing to get in. That should have told me to get out of there, but no. In we went and unfurled the blanket with “Willie’s Got Ipswich Beat-tie” painted on it. (Kevin Beattie played for them. If you don’t know who Willie Young was, google him!). My Butcher’s coat proclaimed the Cup-winning Gunners.
Ninety minutes of torture later the turnip-munchers were celebrating the unlikely single goal triumph, and we were left wondering what had happened to the much-vaunted strike force. Supermac had failed at Wembley before, going missing as Liverpool thumped Newcastle 3-0 in 1974. Stapleton would let us down again, walking out on the club and forcing us to accept a tribunal fee for as good a striker as there was in the early eighties. The feeling of utter desolation we had experienced against Leeds six years earlier was put into perspective. This was much worse. Beaten by the bastard Archers.
So forgive me if this preview isn’t a preview at all. Sometimes all rationality goes out of the window. We may have beaten them many times since, but I want to see those Suffolk bumpkins well and truly humiliated over two legs. I’m not even going to take a tactical view, or assess the likely side we will put out. We will batter them because we have to. For the sake of all of us who witnessed those games in 1977-78 we have to rip them a new one, and so the ‘holic pound is on 5-1, a scoreline that has already produced one tidy tickle for me this season. Forties is widely available, even fifties if you shop around. Get on it with any sum you can afford to lose!
Revenge will be Willie’s!
Thanks Again – You Lot Are Special
I have to say a quick thanks to all the wellwishers today. It wasn’t the best of birthdays, for obvious reasons, but an avalanche of messages on Twitter, Facebook, here, and Arseblog, were really lifting. Thank you so much. You cannot begin to understand how much it meant.
151 Responses to “I Want Justice For My Big Willie – Young That Is”
Kir Royale please, ‘holic. And have one yourself
Have a good one holic, victory tomorrow will be your present
Goonerholic,
Love reading every single one of your posts immensely.
Wish you a very Happy Birthday, keep up the good work. I have never met you in person but I am sure your father would be extremely proud of all you have achieved.
If you ever need any help with Arsenal tickets please let me know.
Jonny the Gooner
I was at Wembley that day.It was a 1-0 massacre.Only the woodwork(they hit it 3 times) and a magnificent display by Big Pat kept the score down to 1.One save from a Burley header is one of the best i have ever see.We just didnt turn up.
Happy Birthday ‘holic
Loving the butcher’s coat
but 12 months later we beat Man Utd 3-2 then we go and do it all again by not turning against 2nd division West Stam.Typical Arsenal
A happy birthday to you, ‘Holic. I’ll take a Guinness in your honor (grab one for yourself as well).
I hope we take the game seriously. It’s a fantastic chance for some silverware this season.
Happy Birthday ‘holic! We must beat the turnip munchin twats! I also had the great misfortune of going to Wembley, must admit though; they smashed us, it was a 1-0 slaughter.
Unlike the last of our trio of consecutive Wembley Fa Cup Final appearances v West Ham, one attack, one header (ever) from Trevor Brooking. We totally outplayed West Ham, but were outdone by luck and Terry Neill’s lack of tactical nous.
Oh Come off it Willie Young showed his class with that lay-off to Osbourne.
To be fair Arsenal that day were outplayed by Ipswich, a familiar result would be encountered by every english team for a few years. You were merely the first of many.
How times change. Though not entirely:
we had to beat West Brom last time to play Arsenal in the that game, and guess what……
Arsenal were flying high that day, Ipswich had been flirting with relegation with no real stars (apart from Beattie) oh look who has the stars and who is flirting with relegation……
Ipswich lost their last game before the final by 6-1
Spooky huh!
Not that my glasses are that blue tinted that I think history will repeat itself, and besides it’s over two legs.
Great blog anyway I hope you have fun for the same reason we had fun at Chelsea, because we sang all game and drank some good ale.
Little known fact; one of my first ever beers in the US of A was a Watney’s Red Barrel. This was the early 90’s mind you, but still, odd that you bring it up. In my mind, it was fantastic stuff, probably would taste like turnip juice now though.
Happy birthday!
Many happy returns, Holic.
Pint please.
Happy birthday ‘Holic and thank you for the best football blog.
@Tim Regester,
Good luck tomorrow etc. but your team from ’78 included a lot more than just Beattie (great player that he was)
IPSWICH TOWN:
GK 1 Paul Cooper
DF 2 George Burley
DF 3 Mick Mills (c)
MF 4 Brian Talbot
DF 5 Allan Hunter
DF 6 Kevin Beattie
MF 7 Roger Osborne
MF 8 John Wark
FW 9 Paul Mariner
FW 10 David Geddis
FW 11 Clive Woods
Substitute:
MF 12 Mick Lambert
Manager:
Bobby Robson
Talbot and Mariner both went on to play for a really good team. They were all good players, to be fair, and thoroughly deserved victory. Tomorrow, may be a bit different????
Welcome Tim. Great to have your input. To be fair Paul, we look at that side now and realise how good they were, but in May 78 they hadn’t shown anyone what they would become for the next 5/6 years. We were expected to win at a canter. Only with the benefit of hindsight do we acknowledge what a fine side that was.
Always late to the party *sigh*
Happy birthday, Holic.
I’ll have the same thing ‘Blogger’s having.
I do remember being a bit nervous, but you’re right holic, we were expected to win. As we were against Swindon…
It’s good to get opposition opinion without any mudslinging and such.
Cheers chaps, Holic is more or less right, that team were far less well known then. It wasn’t the perfect side which I don’t of course need to look up Cooper, Burley, Mills Butcher, Beattie, Thijssen, Muhren, Wark, Brazil, Gates, Mariner.
But the differences between then and now are huge we have not seen a team tear us apart as Chelsea did for about 10 years, I hope it is a close result at full time tomorrow, will make the Emirates game much more fun for everyone.
Have Fun (just not too much tomorrow)
And lets not forget John Wark did go on to beat the Nazis as well
Not that I’m expecting it, but fun to me is double figures π
You’ll excuse us if we’d rather have it wrapped up soon as, we’ve had a few shall we say ‘disappointments’ after not putting games to bed this season already.
Actually pretty glad we’re not playing the Ipswich team listed, some pretty robust tacklers in that lot if memory serves!
Didn’t see blogging royalty slip in there π
Have a Talisker, Blogs. Not as peaty as Laphroaig…
Ipswich 78 the game that made this 13 y/o cry. Batter them boys,then get West Ham in the Final and kick the crap out of them as well as exorcise all those demons so I can move on with my life…that is after we beat Valencia in the CL Final
By the way…
It’s dance time, and if you can’t dance to this you are not with us anymore
If you are into your dance music you should be heading to http://www.jfsr.co.uk/ They have upped their standards, so up yours!
Happy birthday, ‘holic. Mines something from the Black Isle, and a double of what ever you would like. Many happy returns.
Cheers Snail,
You at the Wigan party?
I think we were going to go to the Wolves game next, need to buy the tickets tomorrow. Last time we saw Wigan it was a tight 1-0 and Eboue was taken off to avoid any trouble. Is Wigan a special occasion?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/9358589.stm
Makes you proud to be an Arsenal fan.
Evening all, and many happy returns for- well, yesterday now ‘Holic. Macallan for me please, and one for yourself if you can manage a quick nightcap.
Looks like that Verminator tshirt’s not getting worn any time soon… Shame.
It’s been said on other blogs, but I sure wish Keane would have stayed in charge for one more week, so that Arsene could be all patronising when we beat them and the ax finally fell. Maybe he’ll have an opportunity anyway?
And happy birthday ‘holic. Serve yourself one of those flaming drinks to celebrate
Many Happy returns of the day ‘holic.
Belated heartfelt condolences too.Apologies, I was stuck in the middle of nowhere and just got back today to the drinks and arses.
Your trips down memory lane always make fantastic reading.Hope we put away our early chances and you get a good return on the ‘holic pound.
Great post on Piswich sir ! We will hopefully hammer the buggers tonight as a belated birthday present for ya !
That was an awful day. However, my resounding memory of that season was Stapleton and the fact he betrayed us in such a way. I have watched players come and go over the past fifty years, but none rankles as much as Stapleton. I am constantly surprised at my emotions when his name is mentioned.
The Archers β like that one.
Hey there Holics,
I have an extra ticket for the away section on Saturday, I’m selling it at cost price, anyone who is interested please drop me an email – Snir_Geuli@hotmail.com
It’s a ticket I bought for myself but it’s very probable that I’ll get a ticket from Avram Grant to club level (if I don’t then the offer is off obviously, I should have it, so consider the offer as on for now).
Very many happy returns, ‘holic.
I truly hope the team does it for you this evening!
You’ve stirred a few unpleasant memories there ‘holic. It was my first Wembley final and what a let down. It rained hard the night before and then the sun came out on cup final day, as it always did, and the humidity in the old stadium was stifling. Our team played like a bunch of stiffs and were lucky to get out with a 0-1.
I fancy a cool, clear, pure German lager, your choice, please.
Another fantastic post as always Mr Holic, but what’s especially good about this one is it really puts tonight’s game in much more of a context than I ever could have imagined. You see, on 13th August 1977 I was still 3 days away from actually existing!
I believe that calls for a triple of your choice. On me of course.
Kir Royale for me too please….good shout KT!
Hope your birthday wasn’t too bad…xxxx
I wept and wept at the 1978 Cup Final.
It’s one of my least favourite football memories, your first losing final.
don’s right. The 1978 Final was a 1-0 mullering. Pat Jennings played Ipswich on his own. I was watching the game in a bar surrounded by Tottenham fans (Long story. Don’t ask!). They were desperate for us to lose, but still very fond of Jennings and every time he made a save it was greeted with cries of “Great stop Pat. You bastard!”
Watney’s Red Barrell? That was total gnats piss and the ‘Red Revolution’ ruined nearly every pub in East Anglia in the 60’s until CAMRA sorted it.
Aah! the carrot topped Willie Young. I really want us to smash Ipswich Town – town, note not city although they keep trying to get city status. As if! There’s only one city in East Anglia with a decent football team and they’re called the Canaries.
We mustn’t be too cocky or complacent though or we may get a nasty shock, Ipswich have always been jammy buggers.
I have to admit though that side of 78 was bloody good and Beattie, although he always seemed a bit thick when interviewed was a great talent who’s career was cut short by injury. They also had one of the best managers ever to grace the game in the late, great Sir Bobby R. Respect!
Irish coffee please, ‘holic
I was there too – I was 13 and it was my first season travelling up from Sussex to watch the Arsenal. I remember the Cup Final ticket coming through the letterbox and jumping around the front room like crazy. Sold a bunch of records to raise funds for the day out. Went with a bunch of Sussex Gooners including Al, who later offered me a floor to sleep on in Paris after the 2006 European Cup Final.
In 78 I remember a cabbie outside Victoria Station telling me, ‘Don’t worry son, you’ll be back next year,’ which was no consolation then but of course we were.
I also tried to make it to Ipswich away at the beginning of the season and got lost on the Underground – but that’s another story.
I’ll be watching in the pub tonight and it feels like a massive game to me for this team. COYR!
Holic –
It sounds good to hear you back to your best again.
I do hope we take over the town again tonight!
Hmmm? I see what you mean Holic. It has started slightly wet this morning. I remember the match against Citeh a couple of weeks ago when the ball wouldn’t find the back of the net. Conditions looked abit slippery that night.
I can see what your saying regarding the similarities Holic. Us favourites tonight. Them not doing so well.
Turnip munchers? hahahaha
I say we disinfect their lawn with weed detergent and plough them a new pitch!
Cu’mon you Goooooneeeeers!
For all Gooners travelling tonight, beware the duelling Banjos π
Morning ‘Holic & ‘Holics
Fantastic write-up ‘Holic, so many memories. I’ve never been able to forgive Ipswich for beating us and by the way they had their fair share of decent players: Wark? Talbot? a young Mariner?. However, we were crap. Still, the following season sort-of made up for it vs Manure.
Hope you had a good birthday y’day given the circumstances (mine’s 9 days before yours) and let’s hope we can do the buisness tonight because they will try to give us one helluva game.
Here’s to watching Big Guns blowing mucky tractors to smithereens π
Coffees all round please Mr. Barman.
@ Zico
…and squealing piggies!!!
… and being complemented for your “pretty mouth boy”….
Shudder…
Just to note that any Arsenal fans wishing to pay their respects to Sir Bobby Robson can easily do so as the statue is opposite the Cobbold stand you will have this evening.
As for being Jammy buggers, an accusation levelled at us only in Norfolk. We were apparantly lucky to win the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and Football League, despite the fact that we had 14 seasons in Europe unbeaten at home (a record that still stands) and have beaten in the past in Europe Real Madrid, Barcelona (twice), AC Milan, Inter Milan, and a plethora of other sides.
Naaaridge meanwhile have won the Milk Cup and had a handful of European matches.
Their food may be better but even Delia chooses to live in Suffolk.
We have better beer at our ground (Adnams on draught) A trophy room rather than broom cupboard and have given England their most successful two managers.
The downside of Suffolk is the number of Wet Spam fans who live here, way too many to be healthy my home town at one point had an eel and pie shop and Tescos feels like Barking.
Please can Tim be out token opposition fan, whomever we are playing? Well informed, polite, humerous, actually worth reading….
..”our”
england beat aussies on last ball with last men in
tense or what
Mr. Regester
Glad to have you over! Will lift a drink to you at the end of the game regardless of outcome. Hoping for a fair game and for more than a couple of good goals. After your little cameo here I’d almost even wish for a goal for you lot but we are The Arsenal and clean sheets doesn’t come our way very often so I’ll take any we can get.
Here’s to a good game tonight!
Adnams, Tim? The Cobbold’s will be a turning in their resting places!
Hollic, I always enjoy reading your blog on my way into work but I have recently been unable to download you page on my smart phone. I notice that you have been having trouble, would it be this that is still kepping me out? I am currenty on my home PC.
I’ll have a horlics please as I have to get up at 3.45am to watch the game.
[…] you need to know why this fixture means a little bit more to the older gooners, read this by Goonerholic if you haven’t […]
Elvin King of the Ipswich Evening Star gives an interesting perspective upon tonightβs fixture!
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/-it-s-a-chance-to-get-the-fans-back-on-side-
GiE,
If you were using your phone to try and open GH on the 2nd chances are you are caught in a server firewall block. Something went silly that morning. Send me the ip addy of the phone and I will have the hosts release it.
Cheers.
Hi Holics
Re; the CB situation. The boss says:
“If the opportunity turns up we will fetch it but, if not, I believe we can cope…
…We have solutions internally with Ignasi Miquel, with Alex Song who can play centre back and with Squillaci, who should come back very quickly.
If we find somebody at the right level we will do it, if not we will continue like this”
I understand the compromises the boss has to make but if we learnt anything from last season and the RVP situation, it’s that one more major injury after the window closes will finish us!
Catch 22!
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-the-centre-back-i-am-searching-for
Warning, all gooners going tonight via Liverpool st station, Hamilton hall pub at station full of English defence league looking for trouble, just overheard some mouthing off about being ready for the arsenal and wanting to whack someone and taking on the old bill, not a nice bunch, do yourself a favour and stear well clear. On a happier note; happy birthday for yesterday holic, hope the team produce the right result to mark it, I’m going and can’t wait, think it will be a cracking atmosphere and a spanking win for us
Goonertown,
I believe that statement was made to look like we’re not desperate for a CB. If sounded like we need a CB, the price would rise at that instant making it difficult to sign the player we want at the right price..
So I feel the statement is the best possible one..
LWC cowards looking to pick off shirters I expect, Glenn.
Very likely holic, same sort of mob were there before England v France recently and I know a lot of them were millwall that day, not a nice start to your day if you bump into them.
Damn these LWC cowards!
IG – yeah I didn’t think of it that way, this time!
Either way the price goes up!
Hi Holic
That game was my first ever cup final watching my beloved Arsenal, I’ve hated Ipswich ever since then, I hope we really turn them over tonight, let alone over 2 legs. I want to smash them.
BTW hope you have a really happy birthday!
RVP, Jack and Aaron have all travelled to Ipswich!
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/12012011/58/carling-cup-team-news-gunners-worries.html
Sounds like Cesc is there too!
http://twitter.com/cesc4official
Cu’mon you Goooneeers!
Thanks for the squad updates Gt, very helpful.
Thought it’d good for the nerves TS!
After more than a week without my daily dose of Goonerholic, for known ‘holicdad’s passing and unknown technical reasons, I trekked to my local public library to check on the blog and found three unread posts waiting. Goonerholic withdrawal symptoms having reached a crescendo this outing was unavoidable but timely as it turns out. Happy birthday ‘holic it’s great to see you’re back although I saw many of your posts on Arseblog. The bt8bbnn management and resident technowizard will have to see to the reason for the continued unavailability of your blog on our home computer. Up the Arse and let’s manure on those silly tractor boys!
bt8bbnn,
if you are still there, please email your ip address to gooneratgoonerholicdotcom because the problem is with the server firewall. They will get you back on if you can get me that info. Cheers.
nasri
Good to see you back in the bar. Does this also mean that we’ll be wanting to harrow the daft Manure later this season? π
Drinks please Barman, lager for me and whatever nasri is using to quell his pre-match tension….
‘Holic
Can you recommend any streams for tonight?
Cheers big man
Team in, heads-up:
WS
EE JD LK KG
D CF JW
AA NB TW
Thoughts anyone?
I’d say starting Cesc was a pretty serious statement of intent….
Yes Dr. C. It’s a good sign that we’re taking the TBs seriously. Good stuff…
Still on detox or can you be tempted by the fully-stocked bar?
Pretty strong team – lets finish it tonight! π
… it certainly should be enough to do the job!
Assuming the attitude is right TS, I agree.
Time for Fab 4 to lead by example and show his world cup credentials π π
Aye Zico!
Substitutes
55 Shea, 40 Eastmond, 48 Miquel, 16 Ramsey, 17 A Song, 11 Vela, 29 Chamakh
Streams anyone???
TS .. the detox has been changed (downgraded) to only drinking with food. Eating a lot.
No spirits though… got to have some kind of moral fibre!
Dr C, back on the slippery slope I see. Good man π Lager?
As long as you’ve got a packet of crisps to go with it….!
I’ve waited to do this one for a while….
Barman? Two pints o’ lager and a packet of crisps please π
The team seems to click. You can often see it at the beginning (bar an abject second-half performance as in against Spuds) when we’ll play a good game. And this is looking good so far.
RVP
A goal for us would help to settle the nerves….
Arshavin to score it, TS π
Mmmm, good call.
Personally I’d be happy if even young Wojciech popped one home!
How about the next virtual round on Walcott (you buy) or I buy if it’s The Meerkat
EbouΓ© to score the equalizer…with an own goal.
Don’t, just don’t…
Edgy stuff now…. COYRRRs
COYRRYs!
Spotter’s badge for RVP π
Mmmm, we need to raise our game and adapt to that ploughed field of a pitch.
Koscielny hat-trick in the second half.
Ok maybe not.
Barman, a good ole Erdinger for me, and something strong for TS.
Ta RVP, a very large single malt please….
That was a poor first half hope for better this one !!!
Belated Bday wishes Holic I know it’s probably no time for celebration but I’m sure the old man would have liked to see you with a beer in hand and an Arsenal victory to cheer on,
Oh dear…
COME ON ARSENAL!!!
COME ON ARSENAL!!!
Bunch of softies!
Come on Arsenal! Come on Arsenal!!! WTF!!
Shocking absolutely shocking!
ATG, It wasn’t that good π
Fuck.
errr… what just happened?
So much for trying to give ourselves an easy run out in the second leg.
I’m not going to post anything more tonight. I’m not going to post anything more tonight. I’m not going to post anything more tonight. I’m not going to post anything more tonight. I’m not going to post anything more tonight.
We were FUCKING dire, worst than any Championship team, enough said!
No desire from the start what do you expect? I don’t want to hear any excuses from Wenger.
None of those players showed that they played in a semi final none! Deeply disappointed in everyone of them they let us down big time!
Atg – totally agree – naming no names who were bad but young Jack played well for no reward
the rest should be playing for Ipswich – or maybe they were
well played the blues – you got the win you deserved
we can only play better – but will we
Credit to Ipswich, they deserved to win – but we were rotten.
So easy to defend against – everything has to go through the eye of a needle. And comic book defending.
Not amused.
I will leave it at that.
What will Arsène say to them in the dressing room?
nuff said really…ooh one small thing wenger pack youre bags and get out….
Surprised? Sadly, no.
Disappointed? F*ck yes.
Almost inexplicable. Incredibly frustrating. Just not good enough.
A great shame from a team packed with so much talent. The mental issues are clearly still there.
I love my team but….
No-one is frightened to play us anymore and it’s clear to see why.
After you, tomstoned.
absolutely shameful.
lazy, can’t be arsed performance. the buck stops with the manager.
i’m beginning to think his time is up
wigan, leeds and now this. can’t motivate players anymore
Poor. This from Twitter. @Giveajot – “Watching Arsenal is like visiting a sick relative in hospital. You hate hospitals but you have to go because its one of the family”
Not all the time but sums up tonight’s performance.
The players have a huge responsibility for tonight’s performance, and indeed all our games. Too many people absent out there when it counted.
As usual the ‘Wenger out’ idiots come out of the woodwork. Criticise the (really) crap performance all you want, but pull that rubbish and I’ll zone out.
Eboue is going to play right back two games against Barcelona.
We certainly have the capacity to turn them over in the home leg but Jewell will be their manager then and he has done us in same competition at same stage. We need to destroy them early it we could well be out.
And on that optimistic note… Pint of Tolly Cobbold please barman.
Spot on Charlie. Thanks and couldn’t agree more.
Sorry for the last one. I’m no hater, as young americans say, but the thought is somewhat scary after this game.
I told myself not to post anything. Ill be back tomorrow.
Hope you enjoyed the game Tim R! You deserved the win, no question.
@Toby:
I actually agree with you re: EbouΓ©.
charlie….dont know what to say…wake up….a hard earned draw against Leeds…loosing to Ipswich….wengers youngsters whipped 1-10…+ alot of crappy performances…and dont bring up the chelski game…we won..ok..but honestly against the weakest chelski team for many years…
playing almunia…no CB…allowing a player who do NOT want to play for the Gunners as captain…more interested in finances than Our Beloved Arsenal…not investing in the team..keeping utter sh*t players like denilson..bendtner….depending on crocks…
and if you had be just a little more concerned…look at what happened to wenger in France…Japan..
full of tactical errors….giving away games…blatant lies…
wenger Was a great manager…no doubt…but the man has lost it…many years ago…
but im happy for you living up there in lalala land..
Yes it’s very good here in the land of the sane tombstoned – where were you on here when we beat Chelsea by the way?
Sorry about that ‘holics, the commentators were right though Ipswich thoroughly deserved that victory just like Leeds deserved one last Saturday.
The difference was that on Saturday we had our reserve team out and today we had almost a first team out.
Their plan was simple defend with 10 and attack with 1 latching on to long balls,it is one that we see so often these days and I am becoming so used to the result that it doesn’t seem to even effect me anymore.
Now I know that we still have another half at home with probably a full strength squad but we should not have needed that.
I though Kos and Djourou were pretty decent as was Gibbs although we defended for much of the match with just one of the two centre backs and that was the highlight for me.
Again Arshavin went missing for the game and I do feel for Vela that with his first two touches he made Fulop have to make a save. Surely Andre needs to take a nice vacation to Dubai to recharge his batteries as the footballers seem to these days. Why does Vela get so little game time when others seem to be undropable?
Nick oh Nick! when you pass the ball outside the box make a run ANYWHERE! No Mr. Ideservetostart passes the ball and stands there. More application needed. As soon as Chamakh came on the difference he makes was there for all to see, he drops deep and makes runs. Has he been carrying a knock or something because for me he would always start ahead of Nick.
For me the worst sign was Fabregas, I was in shock, i don’t think I have ever seen our Captain fantastic play so poorly. I think had RVP or Nasri been playing he would not have taken so many corners or free kicks but damn I don’t think one made it to anyone, they were either blocked by the first man or sailed far beyond. I am sure he wont let us down in the return leg but wow he had a shocker.
Time to put it behind us and look to Saturday and a buoyant WHU, Green to have his customary world class game against us but 3-1 Arsenal!
I’ll be there cheering on our lads and trying to forget tonight, Saturday can not come soon enough!
give it up charlie….dont make this shameful display about me mate…give credit where credit belong….you are so far up…wengers..that you cant even admit the truth….grow up…
I was at The Ems when we beat Chelski and we were immense. We would have beaten Farca that night.
We’re all bitterly disappointed tonight and rightly so.
Clamouring for the head of our manager at this stage of the season is an incredible way for a supporter to think and behave.
True story…
yes its pretty much always like this with wenger isnt it..give him time..give him time…my oh my….all i can say is..AKB*s is taking one H*ll of a beating these days…
furthermore its not surprising that defend the old man…some thinks he cant do anthing wrong…
and as long as he keeps filling the pockets of the board and himself well he’s safe…
but what the heck who cares about winning right ?
The most damming thing I can say is that I’m surprised that so many are surprised !! This team has shown on so many occasions that it can produce results like tonight that it now comes as no shock, something needs to change at the club. I still think Wengers the right man but he needs a spring clean and needs some Fresh players and maybe a fresh number 2 to inject some oomph into the place as it seems so stagnated, Players don’t seem to give a shit and play with a carnt be arsed I’ll still be here next week attitude in my view selling one or two may be the kick up the arse the others need.
Full-Time: Ipswich 1, Arsenal 0
Arsenal have set it up nicely in both domestic cups – the second legs will be worth watching!
After recent performances, my expectations for this team are modest, so I wasn’t even necessarily frustrated watching the match.
The team feels like it’s missing a few pieces. The build-up play tonight wasn’t good enough to create a goal.
wow what a disappointing night. dont know where to go from here. the same bloody mistakes. why do they never learn? do they not listen to the manager? or does he not tell them clear enough?
tomstoned,
You’ve stated your position. You’ve backed it up with the facts you find important. Why chide others for stating theirs and backing it up? You’re here to discuss, I assume. But disdain for any disagreement with your johnny-come-conveniently to the conversation when we perform like shite opinion makes no sense to me. Sit down, have a drink, and listen in between sharing your thoughts, my friend.
Pint of Guinness please, I hate nights like this.
Chippy and Usama,
I know just what you guys mean. Aside from (usually) RVP, Fabregas, and Clichy, it’s often our newest players that seem to show the most love for the badge by playing their hearts out. Who will lead them if they’re ‘elders’ play with so little passion?
Sorry, meant 433, not usama. But I hear you too, usama.
Good result. Will make the secong gMe a good one. I have
y ticket for the final Nd looking forward to that too thought Ipswich played quite well tonight.
Tombstones. Wish you were under one, mate. You don’t drink with Danish by any chance, do you?
pires is king mate..
first of all great name :…but accepting displays like tonight…well…
tom, you are entitled to your opinion, and are welcome to explain it, but if you stray into the field of personal abuse you will join a very select band of two I have banned from here.
Genuinely, that is intended as a friendly warning.
Bergkamps the man…
touche mate…great reply….and me i hope you live a life full of joy…
goonerholic…of course cant say i have offended anyone ?…maybe by calling some AKB*s…but i didnt think that was abusive ?
Just a friendly warning in case you were tempted, really.
I’m proud to be a AKB. It’s no insult to me, but you are welcome to try and reason with me.
We’re all Gooners.
Guys let’s be real here and stop making these childish like excuses for the team and Wenger. Both got it completely wrong, Wenger for allowing his players to think this was going to be a walk in the park and for the team for letting his manager and fans down like that.
Just because they lost to Chelski 7:0 don’t mean shit but obviously for some of our wonderful players it appreas that they would overturn them with a finger flick. WRONG you have to earn your place earn your right to play in the final and if you can’t give a shit in the semis then what is the point?
I disagree with those who say there are positives from this awful performance, there are none, nada!
We better wake up for the EPL game against West Ham because I tell you things are looking very dark from where I’m standing!
Have a good night everyone I have nothing more to say about those who keep on making same mistakes over and over and over and over again and disappoint with such abysmal displays!
Tom
For you information I’m neither an AKB nor an AWO.
I am an Arsenal supporter of 40 years, have seen umpteen highs and lows and I believe is reasoned and substantiated arguments.
goonerholic mate..
Thx…and its not intended as abuse…we differ in opinons…in my view wenger has lost the plot years ago…thats if we still are in the game to win…if we accept that The Arsenal has become a pretty nice financial institution…well i agree we’re the best :—
in my opinion wenger has gone from being a superb manager to a sad excuse for one…and goonerholic you know maybe more about wenger than i do..still look back at his years both in France and Japan ..same thing happened mate…starting brightly…then ..nothing…
we could bring up alot of question marks…sticking with almunia…..defending..keeping crocks…some crazy tactical errors against f.ex Wigan…i think wenger has become more interested in finances and things that dont necessary have anything to do with playing..and that is a big mistake…whe Dein left..wenger changed mate…
we need a manager that cares of ONE thin ..winning football matches..nothing else..
maybe wenger could be allowed to keep a job at The Arsenal…but not as the manager…
True (Peter)Storey mate..
we differ in opinions..lets leave it at that…
i came here for some sanity
what the hell
shitpissbuggerfuckbollocks
:]
Perhaps I should have stayed quiet, indeed I have very little voice left and my ribs hurt from singing all game.
You had the majority of the possession but we defended like demons all our 11 players.
I didn’t expect history to repeat itself but it did. We had all the shots bar three I think, we perhaps should have got a second goal.
I have a permanent grin.
My view on Arsenal, passing was good but no final ball, but you looked lightweight, no power, no passion as if your players expected your passing game to naturally bring results. But it didn’t. We know it can do, so why no passion, no power and so many downturned heads even before we scored.
All to play for at the Emirates. Game on……..
Fair enough, Tim. Congrats, but see you at the Emirates!
Tim, you are welcome to join us on tonight’s post. Having said that, I am off to Bedfordshire.
G’night all.
Sorry for the economical rant but I got to get it out- how can someone not be f’ing bothered to give it there all getting paid Millions and being cheered like f’ing angels from heaven week in and week out. I know they face pressure, they’re just human, etc. but I seriously fight for my shit pub team every weekend because I care and because it’s fun and because what else are you gonna do. I honestly don’t give two shits whether it’s cold or they had to take a little bus ride further than they want or whether they’re ‘only’ playing Ipswich or ‘only’ playing Carling or whatever the f-ck, I seriously cannot fathom the degree of laziness or righteousness that comes from the distinct lack of effort shown by many too often. I love this team, I’m behind them fully next game and all that, but I feel bewildered sometimes…
Shot of Jack, por favor.
Forty-fourteen on the 11th ‘holic? Sorry I missed that one mate, happy birthday! I myself turned twenty-eleven on the 9th, had hoped Leeds would give me a gift (being the 9th when it kicked off here down under) but there you are. I had to settle for a new cricket bag (get in Mrs. Ox!) and a crushing victory in our domestic cricket comp being not out at the close of play. I may not be called upon by the Aussie selectors anytime soon (though consider it they should) but if you see a young lad named White pad up against your lot at Lords in 20 or so years time you can rest assured he will know how to play the short ball; White dad and grandad will have made sure of that, and we’ll get those Ashes back then!
I fully expect Arsenal to rebound in style against Wham this week, they owe you and me both a birthday present. Until then…