Eight Games To Go, So Let’s Put Judgement Day On Hold
Apr 8th, 2011 by 'holic
“It is important we realise this team is absolutely amazing for what they do at their age. One day people will understand that, but at the moment, I am not sure many people do.”
I don’t want the manager of my football club to come out eight matches from the end of the season and coat off players in public who have got us to second place in the Premier League and still in with a chance (admittedly slimmer than it was last week) of lifting the main prize. I too hope history will indeed look back on Wengerball 3 as a success. Let’s go and prove it.
I say that as one who is assured that at the start of this week you were anything but defending those same players within the confines of Shenley. That is right too. They let you down, and they let us down last week. I agree wholeheartedly with you when you added today,
“What is important from now until the end of the season is we give absolutely everything.”
If only you had stopped there. Supporting your players in public and asking people to judge them when time has been taken to introduce a degree of perspective. Making it known that you expect them to give their all for the remainder of the season. But no. You had to give those who seek to be aggrieved, who revel in bile and diatribe, a gift. Perhaps Nancy Sinatra had such a situation in mind as she sang, “And then I went and spoiled it all by saying something stupid like…”
“Now it is a crucial moment where we have to trust these players and not listen to some opinions of people who have not worked half a day in football.”
May I suggest, as embarrassed as I am of some elements of our support, that you did not mean to say something that has given them half a reason to be personally affronted. I would like to think you were talking about members of the press pack assembled in front of you, but it will be in their interests to further stir up the hornets nest among those who currently feel understandably frustrated after a month of disappointment on many fronts.
We could do without this turbulence around the club as we go into eight games that could yet see the biggest competition open to us landed. I have said before, and will say again, the time for judgement comes at the seasons end, not now. ‘These players’ that you refer to have now to prove themselves worthy of said trust, because from where I was sitting last week a number of them were just going through the motions. That isn’t good enough.
I would like to work half a day in football. I would give my right bollock to work for Arsenal for half a day. I would like to explain to those who have excited and frustrated in equal measure why fans who have to budget carefully to get to follow their team year in and year out feel mighty riled by performances like last Saturday when so much was at stake. I want to tell them how much those who wore the shirts before them made us proud as punch as we revelled in titles and cups galore. I want to tell them why we cry when they lose to a shower like Birmingham in a Cup Final, why we idolise some of them one minute and then scream blue murder at them the next. Bugger it, I want them to play with the handbrake off every week, and if we get caught by a sucker punch or two, then c’est la vie.
Most of all I want to win another fortune on the ‘holic pound this week, so hang it all, I’m going radio rental. I am hoping we will play our full part in an end to end thriller against a Blackpool side who have shown passion and workrate every week, it seems to me. I’ve grabbed the 50/1 at Stan James for a 4-2 away win. This just could be a crazy game, and I love that crazy price. (That’s a lot of crazy!)
And Arsene, leave the crazy talk to Ian Holloway afterwards please. Learn from him too. Rip into the press, the FA, the referee, FIFA, UEFA, anyone you like, but don’t say anything that may be construed as an attack on your own fans. Not even Olly would go that far.
And supporters. Stick to the job description please and support. Most still do. I’ll join those whipping up the baying mob at the season’s end if we see any repeats of last Saturday, but until then let’s unite against those who enjoy our apparent opposing factions when second in the table. Please?
No Texts Please
Quick request for those who delight in texting me before, during, and after games for one reason or another. As the game takes place I will be sitting down to a pub roast with those attending the re-uniting of what remains of ‘holicdad with ‘holicmum. I will therefore record the game and watch it as live late afternoon. My phone will be off for most of Sunday as a result. Save your pennies, and send your comments in to the drinks that follow this piece.
Cheers ‘holics.
118 Responses to “Eight Games To Go, So Let’s Put Judgement Day On Hold”
That’s tellin’ em Holic.
All the best on Sunday, btw.
Cheers zico.
Song for The last eight…
Great tune – who says 70s music was crap?
For some reason it brings back memories of aggro in various “discos” back then….
Very appropriate for the run in then – time for some fight!
Guinness for me and drinks of choice for any late night patrons who have a thirst.
THAT was truely Churchill esque!!!!
Come on you rip roarin reds! And get behind the lads arse fans. The rest of you can get fecked!!!
Ah, the early seventies disco, skins or smoothies and greebos. Fizzy lager and lime. We skanked, all shook their heads, then handed out a few slaps, or slap and tickles if you were lucky!
Another age, mate 🙂
Cherry red DMs, sta-prest, shrink-to-fit Levis, a quick feel through the jersey…..another age indeed 🙂
Excuse the rambling old fart at the bar….. 😉
The one serving, you mean 😉
Never mind the Carling cup defeat… that pales into insignificance alongside the 2 record performances…First, defeat to Spurs in 20 odd years (not only at home, but after being 2 nil up). And, best of all a new EPL record set at Newcasle, throwing away a 4 goal lead.
Every one expects the odd defeat & odd bad day but this season we’ve been a complete embarassment at times, in a way that i don’t see other top teams (under) performing. It’s not that we’ve lost or drawn games, but the way in which we’ve lost or drawn games.
Damn, Holic, what you been drinkin’!? Got you all fired up, telling us fans where to line up and getting Wenger sorted out- this is great stuff, man. Sign me up, and please pour a little of whatever has wetted your palate.
Cheers!
If you never fall you won’t know how to pick yourself up. Be glad that things aren’t worse, grateful for healing, and thankful for the Fans who lent a hand.
i cant believe people are this insane to be complaining, requesting the manager be fired, saying his youth policy is a failure (look at their continuing improvements at their age-theyll be better next year. time is completely on Arsenals side), wanting ridiculous unbelievable transfers in mass quantities (if we transferred 10 players in and out it would take another 2 years to get where we are now bc those players know nothing about the arsenal way, and would take forever to mesh talent with each other-like Man City), and are going ballistic like the world is coming to an end. WE ARE 2nd and the season isnt over. Finishing 2nd is a success and everyone at the start of the season who was saying wed be 4th or worse would have jumped on 2nd in a heartbeat.
Really-get a life. The world isnt coming to an end bc we look to have lost the title race. were still 2nd. Weve achieved soo much and the squad is guaranteed to be better next year. Yes, Wenger should invest in maybe 3 or 4 players which will add significantly to the team. But this is not a Crisis to call for sackings. Chelsea had a horrible spell, Man U started the Season drawing everything, Man city has underachieved, Liverpool started horribly, and tottenham have well underachieved. Everyone has gone through bad spots this year. Support your team and well get out of it. IF we dont and we barely get any points from now until the end…then somethings very wrong. Now…theres only something a little wrong that is fixable now and in the summer. When we beat chelsea and Barca these same doom and gloomers crying about everying were praising arsenal…but thats sports.
Nicely done ‘holic.
I had to delete an entire post after minutes of typing, I was trying to explain what I’d give to work for Arsenal – not the right………..oh, damn your PG rating ‘holic 😉
I think Wenger was directing his anger towards certain ‘blogsperson’ or certain Journo.
Up the Arsenal!!
pires, Not sure what ‘holic has been drinking, but judging by the title, judgement day may be at hand. Not wanting to be caught drinking cheap wine on judgement day, barman could you please make mine a fine bordeaux red?
Thanks ette.
The PG rating only applies when using foul and abusive against Arsene, the team, or ‘holics.
If you want to have a good cuss, then do it 😉
Hey bt8bbnn!
Judgement Day is in May. Time now to drop the attitude and back this team. Plenty of time to pass comment on them in the summer…
‘holic, Agreed about the timing of Judgement Day which does not need to be force fed to anybody! Also agreed about the need to back this team in the final eight games come hell or high water. Original comment slightly forked tongue in cheek, if you will. Please make that another glass of fine bordeaux red, though!
Okay then………I won’t be giving up my right bollock to work for Arsenal for obvious reasons 😉
Still ‘holic, Wenger has a point………he is human you know, with ears and eyes…..he can read all the crap being written about him and the team. I sometimes wonder if some fans think he’s a robot with no feelings at all? Well at least they should thank Jebus it wasn’t me, otherwise I would have quit midway and told all of them to go screw themselves…….he’s loyal and that has to count for something for fucks sake.
Anyway am off to support the Arsenal the best way I know how – buy those TV rights.
‘Holic for Manager of AFC!
Sod it, let’s go for Prime Minister!!!
Seriously good post ‘Holic. Been away from the web for a few days and I think it did me some general good. First thing I read is your post and, well, it did me a LOT of good!
Thank you for reminding me and a lot of others exactly what really matters…
“WIN THE NEXT GAME” (although the next 8 would be nice ;))
Cheers and good luck with the “crazy”. I actually think that you may well be onto something there!
Evening Holics,
My goodness is it Friday night already?
Barkeep may I have a darvon and two rootbeer “Hope” floats?
Well gents, bracing myself for another round. No matter what happens I will always be Arsenal. So hopefully we’ll win.
Time to go back to my headbox ’till Sunday.
clip-clop clip-clop clip-clop
come on shawcross , you can do better than that , we’re still on the beach , and i need to make it back to the hotel for a deep fried mars bar and chips .
clip-clop clip-clop clip-clop
ok shawcross , last warning , if you dont start clip-clopping a little bit quicker , then its the whip for you my son and no mistake .
clipclopclipclopclipclop
still not good enough , shawcross , but i’ll go easy on the whip , cos i know you’re not that kind of donkey .
Look to the Lights , shawcross , for that way , redemption beckons !
Come on the Arse !
ette, Despite skysports reports to the contrary, Wenger is indeed human, with human failings even, and the occasional outburst should actually be excusable at least by those who claim to be Arsenal supporters, I’m sure you would agree!
@bt8bbnn dude, you really need to get a shorter name! I totally support Le Gaffer’s right to have a rant every now and then, and I fully expect the moron blogs out there to twist his words come morning.
Twist away it was I say.
My kingdom for a Blunt and em… all three points if you will.
Break them off some size 12 Gaffer.
I think that’s size 48 UK?
On second thought,make that a blunt, all three points and an all expenses paid one way trip to Hillary McQueens secret hideout in the Orkneys.
Rather than anger I am feeling deflated after the recent performances. Wenger has come out fighting in his press conference yesterday and I would love it if the team shows the same fighting qualities as the manager on the pitch for the next 8 games.
I did get to hear the 3 episode podcast on ‘Online gooner’ whose guests consisted of Phillipe Auclair, Amy Lawrence and Tim Payton. It was well worth listening to them. Phillipe and Amy(instinctively) were of the opinion that Cesc may leave the club this summer. If that were to be the case then Wenger sure has his task cut out this summer. A couple of big name signings would sure bring back the bums on the seats at the Emirates and the fans may grudgingly accept the ticket price increase.
apple core
can’t you see arsene is up to his old tricks. we are second now so he is placating by saying 2nd isnt a disaster. but i can assure you we won’t finish second. in fact depending on what happens at old trafford on tuesday we may finish 4th.
and please let’s not go on about how young they are. a) they are not, on average, and b) young in itself is not an asset. they either have it or they don’t. look at wilshere. being young doesn’t hurt him ? conversely is walcott really much better than he was 5 years ago when he burst on to the scene ?
IDKA
The answer to your question is i think … … yes !
Cheers, ‘holic.
Good sensible piece on arseblog today too.
My phone shall keep a respectful silence on sunday, all the best to you and yours.
Irish coffee to start the day, please.
takeabowson.
really ? how ? he is still not a regular – not someone we look to in the big games. often an impact sub. maybe marginally more focussed but 5 years ago wouldn’t we be looking at “promise/youth” and expecting rather more.
my point is that development does not happen naturally with time – certainly not proportionally and often not at all
on this blog i go on repeatedly about where is our mental strength and ask who are our winners. I cite united as the standard and often get shot down as “pro united”. well, i am not alone. one of our legends seemingly agrees with me
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/lee-dixon-i-was-so-honoured-to-represent-arsenal-i-stole-my-peg-uniteds-players-have-a-similar-pride-2265358.html
IDKA
My answer was slightly tongue in cheek and hope its taken in the spirit it was intended . Cant disagree with you one iota on ze mental strength point .
As for Theo , would have agreed with you up to the start of this season , but the boy was flying when he got injured and has only had one game back . Big games – Barca at home , Chelsea at home …?
Gotta fly … All the best
takeabowson
i think we agree he needs to do it a lot lot more. he had big games before (liverpool in ch league 3/4 years ago)
anyway good to talk
chelsea dreams to be 2nd so next year they can play CL
chelsea invests a lot of $$$ to achieve this goal
man cty dreams to be 2nd so next year they can play CL
man cty invests a lot of $$$ to achieve this goal
spurs dreams to be 2nd so next year they can play CL
spurs invests a lot of $$$ to achieve this goal
…..
many others have more urgent dream than the dream to be 2nd : that they can avoid relegation
Lets hope What A Friend falls at the first and then fails a drug test and its owner is jailed for 3 years. Sounds plausible.
Bonus. ‘holic pound was refunded last week because game finished goal-less.
Now reinvested on the National in a scattergun approach.
Big Fella Thanks
The Midnight Club
Arbor Supreme
Good luck ‘holics.
Big Fella
The Tuesday Club.
Never heard of that third one, but good luck with the various pounds.
State Of Play because I liked the movie.
I would have done Dont Push It as Tony McCoy is an Arsenal fan, but the odds are crap.
Good luck to everyone except those with What A Friend.
Late night last night, lads, at the Scottish Embassy in Washington for Scotland Week. Free bevvy. Magic! Remind me to invite you over next year Zico, you can buy me the mythical pint then : – )
Hence late post below.
Holic, try to enjoy a day that will no doubt be filled with ll kinds of emotions and memories tomorrow.
Good stuff ‘holic.
I was pretty pleased with last weeks media blackout as I feel that now’s the time to stop all the talking and the rhetoric and get on with it on the pitch.
Anything less then total balls out on Sunday will just not do. Our boys need to show us that they are as passionate about the club as we are. As I’ve previously mentioned I can always forgive a lack of skill or that we weren’t good enough, but I can not/will not abide a lack of effort. It’s not the worst thing in the world to lose/draw a game as long as the players have given it their all.
So come on lads, give the shirt your all and I’m sure we can finish off this term positively.
It’s cider weather so pour me a pint please.
Cheers.
Arsenal take a Surfin’ Safari to meet Blackpool’s Beach Boys in wave lashed Lancashire on Sunday. Instead of the Magic Bus they’re sailing on the Sloop John B from Southend Pier in search of some Good Vibrations and illuminations to light up the back end of a season that’s flickering disappointingly. Will they sound a sweet four-part harmony, or suffer another flat note as shoals of shiny Seafarers look on? Will their surfin’ come to nurfin’? Will they be Heroes or Villains?
Will Blackpool Tower in a Tangerine Dream and leave Arsenal in the shade, looking like the rear end of the donkeys on the west sands on a wet Wednesday during the Glasgow Fair Fortnight? Or will they flounder like flatfish and melt like strawberry ice-cream sundaes as the sun sinks low over a red-hot, red-clad, Red Action array of gleeful Gooners.
Will Blackpool LiLo? Will they be as far out of their depth as Chinese cocklers in Morecambe Bay when the tide comes in? Or will Arsenal take the bait and fall hook line and sinker echoing previous weekend outings that have been filled with more twists and turns than a pie and mash fueled roller coaster ride on the Pleasure Beach train.
The BBB have already made up their minds. No waiting for the end of the season for them. They’re hoping this will be no promenade along the Pleasure Beach, no candy floss-filled Tunnel of Love affair. They’re looking for a Punch and Judy show, where “Bingo!”, AW gets banged on the head by Punch Holloway, as waves of Seasiders promenade majestically up the pitch toward Almunia like Blackpool trams in grateful glee.
They’re willing a roller coaster ride through the Haunted House with nasties jumping out at every turn. “Boooo!”, Bendtner, “Boooo!” Diaby, “Booooo!”, Denilson, and right on through the squad they go. Another reason to hammer one more nail into the big wooden cross they’re building. Another nail to hone for coffin duty.
They’re taking their buckets and spades with them, not to build great castles in the sky but do dig a hole for the captain of the ship, and bury him with “He didn’t know – we want King Kenny” as a marker. Arsenal’s twelfth man (from hell).
The BtM crystal ball has become more than a little bit jaundiced. Not by the team for which it has the highest possible regard. Not for the manager whose accomplishments are monumental and whose dignity remains entirely intact while many around them expose their raggedy arses. The cause of the yellowing jaundice is the bleaters whose only solution is to fire the boss, sell the team and go deeply in debt.
The ball’s flashing “Away Win” and I’m happy for that. It can’t quite reach Holic at the top of the tower with 4-2, but it’s stretching to 3-1 for the Gunners as the Team of 23 looks to go 8 Mile and ‘em in ‘em I’m placing my faith.
Away win says the ‘holic pound, away win says the BtM crystal ball, but these things don’t just happen due to prognostication so come on Arsenal, prove them right!
Pleasure to read as always, BtM!
And do I dare offering you a drink this early then? 😉
Ollie, maybe a wee hair o’ the dog would work. Go on then.
I agree completely ‘holic..
Time to judge is at the end of the season..
Come on Arsenal!!
BtM @ 37 – was in DC last Thu/Fri – see how the Gods tease me?
Nice to see we got independence and we have our own Embassy in DC 😉
Oh well, my horse came fourth. Shame that two died, real shame.
Put my pound on a 3-2 win tomorrow. Really we should tear them apart, the team with the best away record playing the team with the worst home record. Trouble is, we aren’t in ‘tear apart’ mode. Any win will do but 3-2 will pay for a nice Indian.
I see the Famous Red Grouse, Old Purple Nose is wetting himself with glee that he’s managed to open up a ten point lead over Arsenal. Not bad – and he’s ONLY had to go 600M in debt to do it! Talk about buying silverware. Man IOU, Chelski and now, Shitty are the masters.
Ten points. So it’s clear. Arsenal need to win their two games in hand to close it to four, beat Man IOU at The Emirates and watch as Chelski get revenge for CL dismissal by beating Manure in the League. Won’t happen?? I think it just might.
http://www.united-latest.com/1/post/2011/03/manchester-uniteds-finances-continue-to-deteriorate.html
I have read the AS interview on the BBC web site. Not sure it is our manager’s finest hour, but like everyone else I am not quite ready for the post mortem. That time will come, but not now. And I am certainly not going to join the knee jerk reaction club.
I would suggest that the performance on Sunday is almost as important as the result. I did say almost. We know exactly how blackpool will play. We need to be up for it. If we are not then the consequences are just unthinkable.
4 – 1 to the mighty Gunners. I can’t for the life of me see how we will keep a clean sheet.
Onwards and upwards.
Holic, for once, in my humble opinion your choice of song was pants. A shocker.
Zico, All, Holics,
NEVER come to DC without letting me know you’re in town. Beers on the deck and dogs on the grill, man, all served up by Her Nellieness in her halter top!
@Bergkampstheman
Nice analogy, weird, creepy and too correct.
But what can be done? Any fan base especially a club this big is going to include some fans who aren’t well… very good supporters. But they buy tickets too and, Arsenal jerseys and, tee-shirts, pies,pints the lot.
So they have to be suffered distateful as it may be.
Perhaps it’s Non-judgement day we should be waiting for.
and 3 points on Sunday. 3 that is.
PS. The stawberry ice cream thing is a way icky picture dude.
You’re giving my treat-sack big willies.
As for tomorrow I’ll stick the pound on the 3-2 @ 18/1 due to noticeable absentees!
Wenger also said that we have a better defence than Manure and that nobody mentions it. So I did my research and low and behold the old Proff was right! Even on the same level of games (29 each). I wonder what else he could be right about? Who knows? I’m sure a lot more than those who have worked less than half a day in football!
Drinks all round!
Oh and come on you RRR!
Due a win, in fact desperate for a win and again, the points are there for the taking. If the heads are focused, it will happen and give these boys some much needed confidence.
An pint of your finest Guinness please barman.
CoYRRR’s
BtM, Mighty kind invite of you. Mind if I come tne same day as Eboue?
BtM @ 49 – that’s a pity – I didn’t realise that DC was your US stomping ground – I had beers on my own on the Thursday too!
We both know the Diggers so give me a shout (via Holic) nxt time your home
Btm
on the day of the grand national I don’t reckon you took much notice of the 4.45 at randwick in Aussie where a horse going by the name of My Kingdom of Fife squeezed home by a neck at the very nice odds of 150/1, no I wasn’t on it either though I did have the national winner at the much skinnier but still nice 14/1. Drinks all round please holic I’ll leave my winnings on the bar, cheers
I am 100% sure he was directing it at the press…
Still so so disappointed I can’t barely talk about The Arsenal without being disgusted from these last couple of weeks so I’ll just stop now.
Up the Arse….
Glenn, sorry your post got trapped by my aggressive spam filter for some reason. Probably envy at those odds of 150/1.
If only… 😉
After the first good night of sleep in a month, and enjoying the miracle of CG junior 2 sleeping in past 9.30….. have leisurely digested the drinks.
Reading about Her Nellieness in a halter top has perked things up a bit too.
Holic, all the bst for today. Laughter and tears, I am sure.
The rest of you… anyone for a refreshing early morning glass of cava to wet your whistles?
Catalan, I’ll have a pint of Boddingtons to calm my nerves (which, actually, usually only serves to make me even more nervous but there you go). Woke up this morning having a really bad feeling about the game, hope I am wrong. We’ll have to hope that Cesc is closer to his best this time around and that we can find our scoring boots again.
‘Holic, best wishes for today.
Steve T: “We know exactly how blackpool will play. We need to be up for it. If we are not then the consequences are just unthinkable.”
Very, very true. Blackpool will be up for it and they will attack us. This will give us plenty of opportunities to punish them with counter-attacks, but that will only happen if we do our job properly.
morning all ,
Seen the lights and beyond .
Shawcross safely tethered in the stables and eating bales of hay , ready for the long trip back to the smoke .
Just time for an early morning livener – drinks of your choice for all the pre match scribbles .
3-0 to the Arse – walcott (2) and Fab . Lovely .
Fuck, Lehmann starts.
Jesus -can we keep anyone fit?!
Come on Arsenal!!!!
I am 100% certain Almunia would have spilled goal in in those first 15 minutes.
I forgot how fun it is to play against relegation battlers that actually try to score and not play for a 0-0 with 30948902348 men behind the ball.
Eboue’s left foot rocket will it strike again??
Oh my god, we are so wasteful.
lol no comments for a while, dumbstruck? we’ve scored 2 goals in the 1st half so far and have conceded none 🙂 …. i hav’nt felt this happy about our performance for 4 – 5 weeks …woot! go ya gunners!
Glennw,
“My Kingdom of Fife” and you didn’t back it? Oh yea of little faith!
Most things from the magical, wonderful, mystical Kingdom start at odds well outside 150/1 (and that includes our horses, greyhounds, bridies and fish supers) and go on to do great things.
You’ll know better next time, but be careful, lightning rarely strike twice in the Kingdom – unless of-course you include Zico’s magical ability NOT to be in the vicinity when there’s a pint to be bought.
: – )
watching on Bulgarian satellite (dont ask) having missed last two horrid results
18 minutes of squirmimg and dodging (by the team and me) then 2 classic centre-forward goals (from our two best attackers)
RVP and Sami then start a series of horrid misses
Classic Bugar comment on Diabi’s booking “xxxx realy stupid xxxx” which really cheered me up
I hope and expect that we can now keep a clean sheet in 2nd half (can but dream
COYR
BtM crustal ball smiling smugly in its lair – but the way things are going here, ‘Holic could be on a winner at 4-2.
Diaby is by far my MOM, scored one, made a lot of chances and created the third from our own defensive third.
Howdy Holics,
Too early for a toddy but the third goal is quite the tonic.
Good to see Crazy Jens back there. I think the lads are afraid to be afraid around him. Young Jack does not look very good for the second game running. Too much room on the left side of our box. Why is Clichy marking 2 men? Can we get some help out over there?
@Cognac I’ve a Croatian feed, I don’t understand a word but the picture looks like footie.
OK Nasri off here comes Master Gibbs the left side defensive help we need to see this one through.
Hooray for BtM’s crystal ball!
And what Snir said at 70. Robin in with a shout too.
my dream of clean sheet didnt last long
In the end it was comfortable for a change
I didnt think ref did enough to protect players from both sides from attacks from behind, and Jack, Cesc and Sami were getting hard hits quite often
@Leftcoast – I understood that we won on the Bulgar satellite, was it the same for you?
Fabregas, you are a joy to watch.
MotM by a distance for me.
There we go!
Jens clearly showing that he hasn’t played in a while, or perhaps it’s just showing that I haven’t seen him play in a while (he always used to do these “take ball and man or just man”-thingies didn’t he?). Anyways. Loved to see him back. Having that said, I’d probably be harsher on him had he been Almunia, I’ve got enough self-awareness to realize that.
Good win, exciting game, could have ended 4-1 to us or 3-2 to them. But we got the points and bloody hell does it feel good.
So, to the important things – I’ll be watching the Liverpool-game in Granada, Spain, and I’ve never been there before. Anybody know of a Sports bar there? I need a place where you want to sit for quite a few hours since I’ll probably be watching El Clasico there as well (When in Spain…).
Lastly, a shameless wish for myself. I’ll be in London during the Aston Villa game, I’d love a pair of tickets for me and me missus, but I applied just two days late for tickets via Arsenal Sweden. If there is any chance anybody has two tickets to spare I’d love to hear from you! I know it’s a big ask, being the last home game of the season and all, but I thought I’d put it out there, coming from a regular visitor of this fine establishment.
Cheers ‘Holic and ‘Holics, we did well today! Not THAT well, but well enough!
@cognac,
3 croatian points mate,
Are you on the post-game phone in at the official site?
@ Behind the 8 ball Will that do?
Phew, job done, but not before we tried yet again to shoot ourselves in both feet with a double barrel bazooka.
And can anyone please tell me which idiot decided to poke a fat finger in the eye of the god of fate by giving Mad Jens, of all people, an Arsenal keeper, of all things, the number 13 shirt?
Did they also get him to smash a few mirrors while walking under a ladder while a black cat crossed his path before he came out?
All things considered I thought he did quite well. 🙂
Seriously though, an important three points in the bag and IOU still in sight. Today is a good day.
Round for the bar please squire.
Cheers.
Lehmann – Breath of Fresh Air…
Koschelny – Ok
Squillaci – Lethargic most of the times – still NOT commanding
enough
Eboue – One of his better performances but was sloppy a
couple of times
Clichy – FUCKING POOR & SLOPPY
DIABY – Man of the Match
Wilshere – Is becoming softer & softer
Cesc – Passing come back to life
Nasri – Trying to overdo things
Arshavin – Invisible
RVP – Part 2 of Nasri – trying to overdo things
Walcott – Much needed variety !
OPPOSITION – RUBBISH !!!
@80
Opposition rubbish? You do realize that they could’ve won that game right? We should be happy with the win and proud of the boys. As for your sloppy players, they did their jobs well enough and we wouldn’t be with three points were it not for their effort.
Seems like some folks are never happy. They groan when we lose they groan when we win.
Barkeep, more egg in my beer please.
I hope Liverpool are rubbish and we sloppily win 3-1.
That will do quite nicely thank you.
It looks like we have already cut that 10 point IOU lead by 30 percent. Once the ball gets rolling, it rolls quickly so let’s stay on that happy train not to get bypassed.
@80 dont say that the guys were sloppy
Blackpool set out to do a job and mark out of the game key players, which they did quite well. It was good that Diabi and Eboue were able to deliver whilst the oppos concentrated on the others
(Re Clichy, he is often isolated in a match and this allows easy outlets on oppos right wing)
Well said Cognacgunner! Short, concise, correct. We might have been a tad suspect at the back after the 2-1 goal (and for the goal as well!) but that the players have some ghosts in their heads after some recent games is only to be expected. We dealt with it and got the job done. That means I’m happy enough.
@cognacgunner
Why is that? How is it that hey always had an extra player coming in late on the left hand side of our box?
It was clear that “sloppy” Clichy had too many players to mark but it took until late in the games for Gibbs to come on and take away that open area.
@behind the 8 ball but not nasri
Boy the happy train hasn’t made a stop here in many weeks. Leave us hope regular service has been restored.
Anybody here about Silent Stan buying the team?
(Sky sports news rumor)
@leftcoastgooner
Fair enough, but for me, I meant, “sloppier than what sometimes happens during a game of football”. We had our sloppy moments, sure, but nothing spectacular (except for Clichy facing-the-goal-episode) and most of it nothing worse than we see other teams do week in and week out. Had the game ended differently, I might have seen it differently, but that’s not to say that my view on it now isn’t closer to the truth than what I might have thought. Erhm. If you understand me. Anyways, a drink of your choice, Sir! All half-arguments gooner-to-gooner should be ended by a drink!
Correct you are mate and….
Cheers!
@ TOby- so do I just need to argue something with you and you’ll be a round? I am a little thirsty, so let me see… 😉
@Toby; You know nothing.
Pint of lager please… 😉
That was a nice Sunday tonic 🙂 Popped onto my betfair account and had a few shillings on Diaby so double delight and the next rounds on me !!
So Silent Stans made his move carnt say it’s a surprise but what it means I’m not so sure just crossing everything that it’s not one of the levaraged buyouts cos that in laymans turns stinks !! Talking of Lehmans was nice to see the mentalist in technicolor once more his handling is still top notch.
Toby, have you seen this?
http://www.arsenal.se/index.php?view=article&id=3446%3Abiljetter-finns-liverpool-och-villa&option=com_content&Itemid=23
I don’t know if anybody has applied for the Villa tickets, but it could be worth it to drop an email (I am assuming you are both members).
Clichy was, even taking the constant numerical disadvantage taken into consideration, really poor for most of the game. He was a good two yards below the central defenders playing the Blackpool player onside for their goal.
And I quite don’t know what to think of the Mad German. I was expecting the worst, but he came up big a few times but then again he could very well have been sent off which would have meant having to play an outfield player in goal. Let’s just hope that Szczesny can play next Sunday!
Diaby had one of his good games, why can’t he be this good more often? Wilshere looks increasingly knackered, overall he had a rather good game (that assist for the second goal was a beauty in it’s simplicity) but he looks like a player who needs a rest. But do you think that fucker Stuart Pearce will care about that come June? Not bloody likely. Cesc coming back much closer to his best, still rusty but several brilliant passes that other players really should have done more with.
Anyway, a deserved win overall, and one major step closer to the celebration of St Totteringhams Day has been taken. It will take a lot to catch ManUre, but we’re not dead yet.
Pints all round!
The good.
Diaby first half. Why cant he do that all the time, he has the talent.
Fabregas second half.
Walcott.
Eboues goal!
Squillaci, thought he played ok.
The ref, lets face it we got away with two certainly and maybe three penalties
The bad.
Cliche
Arshavin
Shooting
The ugly
Fabregas waving that fucking pretend card. Even the commentators said something about it.
The funny.
Mad man. Did you hear him in the tunnel asking the ref for extra protection for pensioners? I think Blackpool should have provided him with a port-a-loo behind his goal.
@Chippy
Brilliant punting Chip. I got 33/1 on a two goal win against ManU(re) in the FA cup and lost a weeks wage.
Henceforth I shall consult with thee.
I agree with Lars about Wilshire, he is looking like he needs a rest. Hasnt he played more minutes than anyone else? He also seems to get the shit kicked out of him every game. If Song is back next week, and with the way Diaby played today, there is a strong argument to rest him. And Wenger needs to stand up to Pearce (and Wilshire himself) and tell the both to shove any thoughts of the under 21’s.
Young master Jack looks a bit jaded indeed.
Perhaps a U-21 Tournament would be just the thing.
They shoot horses don’t they?
LCG – very poignant comment, and a bloody brilliant, and harrowing, movie.
So I take it for the most we are all satisfied…so good! 🙂
Drinks all round 🙂
PS: I wouldn’t have minded being say 6-0 up with 10 minutes to go seeing how RVP played in goal! Provided we had a keeper for next week mind! 🙂
Goodness me Stone Roses. You are showing our age.
Leftcoastgooner,
More luck than judgement mate he was just to big a price so thought it was value 😉 Dont follow my tips it will lead you to the poor house !! Saying that if Cabrera wins the masters I’m in clover backed him 2 years ago at big odds 😉 So from that moment on I felt oblidged to always back him lol.
ok , shawcross , points in our picnic box , its time to go home .
Missed the happy train home , the lure of that final candy-floss proved too great .
So if anyone sees a greying and very happy gooner clip-clopping somewhere on the M1 , halfway between celebration Corner and Delirious Drive , stop and give us a wave .
Come on Shawcross , fire the engines up , there’s closing time to make .
Have a good night all .
LCG – I could pretend I only seen it on DVD, but sadly, no. Probably last saw it 30 years ago, I may well look it up again to see if it has stood the test of time.
G’nite takeabowson in the sticks,
Have a pleasant journey home.
As for me the-mother-in-law is here so I must pay respects
Night all!!
No sir it stands the test of time. And who knows but that time may yet return. So keep your dancing pumps old timer.
Night.
I’ll have an argument with anyone if it means more drinks for us all!
@Lars
Just got back to becoming a member (as I’ve said earlier, been a member before, a few years back), but well, kind of just missed out on those tickets. Got in now and they were gone. Oh well. Cest la vie. I’ll keep my eye out on the forum now, since well, I am a member again! I’m Toby there as well, please send me a message if you see something!
Stone Roses, I don’t really understand the uproar over the imaginary cards. Why is that any worse than just mouthing off to the ref? I just don’t get it.
And we did indeed get away with one penalty, the other two I think the ref got spot on. And if whoever-it-was had missed the open goal, it should still not have been a penalty because they got the advantage. The Koscielny tackle in the second half should have been given, though in defense of the ref I thought the Blackpool player made the most of it when I saw it in real time. It took me three or four replays to see the contact. The one in the first half was, I think, definitely not a penalty.
And since we have RvP’s Right Foot in here, maybe he could invite Eboue’s Left Foot to the bar as well?
Here comes the fucking takeover… http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/9453736.stm
He seems to be a nice enough guy, but don’t they all? Gutted. Actually. Not over Stan himself, but rather that we won’t have plurality in our ownership anymore.
Shit shit shit, I did not want Kroenke.
He owns an NFL and an NBA franchise. They make many millions in profit. If he expects the same from us then we are fucked. I dont understand where he could be going with this.
If you haven’t seen the post match with Jens you really should. I’ve never seen him quite so happy
http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/life-without-football-boring-for-arsenals-jens-lehmann-9005380/
Perhaps he’ll be the rabbit’s foot we’ve not had !!
Yep, just watched that interview on the BBC website, lovely, I love Jens.
My mind is stuck on one word – leverage. Fuck
Really worried about the takeover talks. An LBO is exactly what we don’t need now.
Kroneke is in house… 🙂
Maybe soon time to go shopping!
I fear the only shopping we will be doing is the lowest interest rate on the debt. The total cost of a takeover is about £900 m. The assets are worth £550m, so there’s £350m of what they call ‘brand’.
I read Kroenke is worth 2 billion. Is he gonna blow half of it buying us and then throw another 100 m in for buying players?
Didn’t Ambromovich write off the 700 million debt Chelsea owed him? Maybe Stan the Man would be willing to do the same! Or would that mean we would still owe? Surely not!
holic, can’t you do anything to let that pair of vile and despicable spoilt pricks at Le Moan know they do not speak for proper Gooners. Today is the last straw from them scumbags.