Summer Of Legends, Chippy And Seve
May 7th, 2011 by 'holic
The summer of 1979 I’m thinking about today. At Wembley in May the sun shines on one Liam Brady as he almost single-handedly destroys Manchester United in the ‘five-minute-final’. For one 22 year old the little Irishman with a magic wand for a left foot has become the finest player ever to pull on the famous red shirt with white sleeves.
Football season over I get up early a few mornings to sneak onto my local golf course with a half set of Macgregor irons, a Dunlop two wood, and a double-sided putter. I go from side to side, rarely finding the cut grass. Wrists are strengthened as ball after ball is chopped out of elephant grass and gorse. This bears no relation to the game played by Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson, but I like it!
The Open Championship is played at Royal Lytham and another 22 year old shines in the summer of legends. The youngest winner of the Championship in the twentieth century smashes it around the links in a route not entirely intended by the course builders. He smashes it from side to side, rarely finding the cut grass, and a generation falls in love with him as he hits miraculous recovery shot after miraculous recovery shot. He plays a sublime form of the game we mere mortals recognise.
Three months separate the young Spaniard and I, and the day after the Championship I finish work early to go and buy the Slazenger sweater that must be a contributory factor to his genius! For the next decade Seve Ballesteros wins much more than the Arsenal, and is the significant on-course contributor to Europe finally ending the domination of the United States in the Ryder Cup. Two more Open Championships and two green jackets are secured. Wherever Seve is to be found on the golf course, so are the largest number of fans, no matter where in the world you are.
So forgive me please, if the preview of our penultimate away fixture this season plays second fiddle to the memory of one of sports true greats. I don’t mind admitting this has been a teary year for me. I’m hoping Seve will be teeing it up in the morning with Henry Cooper and ‘holicdad on the course upstairs that features the eighteen greatest holes in the world of golf. You will need to give ‘holicdad a few mulligans, Seve.
Under the circumstances I really do not feel inclined to share my opinions on Tony Pulis, Ryan Shawcross, and the ‘supporters’ they so richly deserve. Suffice it to say the ‘holic pound is being ventured on a result that is yearned for by the heart, and definitely not the head. Stoke City 0 Arsenal 5, it’s 100/1 with Stan James. I’m on it, although they have limited my stake, somewhat disappointingly.
Membership Renewals
Those who follow me on Twitter know I wasn’t best pleased with what the club website was telling me about silver, red, and JG’s renewal fees for the coming season. There seems to be some confusion about what exactly was paid by who, and why last year. I will wait to see what the numbers finally are before commenting further, but Arsenal, be wary. As I said onΒ yesterday’s Arsecast, it cannot be right that individuals who can and do afford ATvO subscriptions today will actually save money under your proposed charges, whilst those who cannot, or do not, are forced to pay excessive surcharges in order to cover the inclusion of the new streamed channel.
I speak as one who will benefit from those changes, which is clearly not right. I can afford a few extra bob. You are in danger of alienating families and younger supporters who cannot. Come out and confirm your intentions. Engage in a dialogue with those who will be penalised, before it is too late. PLEASE?
117 Responses to “Summer Of Legends, Chippy And Seve”
Can’t do vino but a nice cold San Miguel to raise to Seve please ‘holic
What a great idea, Johnno. Think I’ll go and get a pack of SM, and a bottle of Spanish brandy for later.
RIP Seve.
Will be sorely missed and fondly remembered by many.
For us ladies, Seve was mesmeric – I remember my Gran in ’79 (aged 63 by then) was transfixed by him and Gary Player found himself at number 2 in her affections, notwithstanding she and he shared South African heritage. I will never forget it and have myself been charmed by Seve ever since. Sorry for the delve into the personal – I will raise a glass of of El Vino to him later.
Not a problem, Poppet.
All lovers of Seve are welcome here today.
Thank you ‘Holic. It was when I started supporting Arsenal (and one GA Gooch) too. They were happy days (nothing like a 6 year old glory hunter …). Right then, back to the real world!
Small world, Poppet. One of Goochie’s early team-mates at Essex, Graham Saville, was a regular at Arsenal. Top, top man. He used to sort me out tickets for Essex regularly.
Nice piece ‘holic…
I’m awake for some reason @ 530am and was watching the QPR promotion party and then the BBC half time report finally shut up Garth Crooks to share the sad news about Seve.
Far too young…tragic start to the weekend.
Pulis…Shawcross…Stoke…..let’s dismiss them on the pitch for the sake of the sport…
Wow. One of my happiest days was going to one of Goochie’s last matches at Essex. The stewards were astounded that I wasn’t there to see “one of the younger lads” and let me into the clubhouse, arranged for me to meet my cricketing idol and sat me by the bit where the players walk right next to you going to the crease. It was only topped by turning round up to the balcony later, getting a smile just before he sent me a signed cricketing gift. Incredible.
Great piece ‘holic
Sad news about Seve
Looks like Graham remains a Gooner π
Very nice piece, ‘Holic. Hope holicdad’s eye is in on the putting green and not in the sand.
Thank you gentlemen.
Cathartic this piece was.
Ahh. The other G is why I have a soft spot for West Ham. Anyway, must be off before my other half gets irritated with my tapping away!! Have a great day (all).
Well said ‘Holic – Seve was one of the greats and is a sad loss. RIP.
Little white golf balls are eating into my Goonerholic time and seem to be draining inspiration. I can only manage a couple of recycled paras before I go off to hit some.
Stoke are closely akin to an irritating block in your plumbing system. Or a putrid lump that causes your bog to gurgle, burp, fart and overflow. A suppurating, seething mass of maggots that causes your septic tank to seethe and smell and soil your geranium patch, just when youβve invited your mum round for lunch on a sunny Sunday and the sausages are simmering sumptuously on their skewers
Stokeβs mission is to frustrate and spoil your day, no matter what the occasion. Why, oh why, are we burdened by this talentless heap of stone-dwellers, from underneath a potting stone, in the barren wilderness of the black country? Wolves, Blackpool, West Ham, Everton β anyone really (except Hull) β just not Stoke – is what this League needs.
I like the sound of that 5-0 at 100/1. May just get on it myself. The BtM Crystal Ball, in the meantime, is hoping. Hoping for a repeat by Wales Number One of the excellent contribution made by Aaron last weekend. Hoping to see the Verminator make his first appearance since, oh…1896, hoping for a Chelski victory at the Deeply Indebted and hoping for 3-1 to The Arsenal.
A mid-morning Guinness on this fine, but sad, Saturday morning Holic while I reflect on Seve on the 18th hole at St. Andrews.
Ballesteros was one of my top favorites too and it’s a sad thing that leaves us so early but he leaves wonderful memories. Certainly no one ever made the green jacket look as good.
Seve played everywhere on the course bar the fairways something that I have emulated but without the powers of miraculous recoveries !
His charisma and smile engaged any one with a true love of sport – he was the ultimate cavalier and will be sorely missed.
In that vein let’s hope that the team that tries to play football the right way triumph over the long ball , long throwing Neanderthals ! Come on you reds.
‘Holic – I thought you actually had shared your opinions on the Stoke “supporters” – in the bit about the “eighteen greatest ….holes in the world”. It was just those four missing letters!
There was some suggestion on the radio that Stoke fans are planning to boo Aaron Ramsey for not accepting Shawcross’ apology for smashing his leg to bits. Apparantly, we should not boo Shawcross any more because “all he wants to do is get on with playing football”.
Funnily enough, I believe that was all Aaron Ramsey ever wanted to do.
What a bunch of unbelievable scum they are – from their apologist chairman down to their knuckle-dragging “fans”.
On the off-chance any of them have tuned in here, may I personally recommend you fuck off.
‘Holic – not wanting to sully these thoughts with my previous post, continuing warm wishes to you and ‘holicdad.
In my own experience, I found these sort of sad events much magnified for a year or two.
All the best.
Vino tinto please barman. Some Blackpool fish & chips on the side, if you have a good catch?
Seve brought “cool”to golf. RIP.
I’ll have one of those San Mig’s please.
happy st totteringham’s day ‘holics!!!
Sixteenth season in a row!!! Happy St Totteringham’s Day everyone….and it was secured in fine fashion
Happy St Totteringhams Day, ‘holics all.
happy st totteringhams day!!
Happy St Twitcheringhams day – wasn’t his face a picture?
FIOS you cocks.
Just logged on – and what have we here? St Totteringham’s Day, it would seem! I raise my glass to all around me safe in the knowledge that their spineless gobshite fans will not be on here with their usual brand of childish banter.
And speaking of Some Of The Most Massive Cunts In The World (TM), may I just take a moment to echo Trev’s invitation to any Stoke fans that may have dragged their knuckles into the bar. That’s right cave dwellers, turn around and run the fuck along!
Cheers Holics all!
Didn’t realise until yesterday that Seve had deteriorated so much and deeply saddened by the news of his passing this morning.
It is quite unbelievable what this man has contributed to the the world of golf and in particular to us Europeans, in providing a challenge in what was the all to predictable one-sided Ryder Cup. How that has now changed and the legacy he leaves behind is immense.
A golfer with great passion. class and dedication, a human being being with matching qualities.
God bless you Seve and CoYRRR’s.
Hatred is a strange thing in football. Ok, this may well be blasphemous but when I saw that tackle tonight, I felt sorry for Bale, it was a ligament/tendon/ankle snapper, it wasn’t mistimed, it was disgusting and I hope Adams gets the book thrown at him.
Thing about hatred is, you only have 100% to spread around. I allocate my 100% as follows:
Ferguson 99%
Rooney 99%
Pearce 99%
That doesn’t leave me much more hate, but drawing on my reserves, the remaining 3 million % goes to that fucker who will take to the field tomorrow with the backing of the Stoke maggots, average IQ in the low 60’s, who think poor Ryan is hard done by because Ramsey refused to take his phone call. Well, I hope Song goes lunging in with a ligament/tendon/ankle snapper and renders the bastard paralysed from the neck down. I hate him so fucking much….
As I said, hatred is a strange thing. No apologies.
Oh for the days of sitting on the wooden boards that were in between the edge of the East stand terrace and the advertising boards how a young boy was transfixed at being so close to his heros
I’m afraid those days are long gone and the club have fallen into the age old trap of gains for now whilst not thinking of the tomorrow, Greed is slowly killing the club we love let’s hope someone somewhere realises before to late,
Great post Holic, thanks – genuinely upset by the passing of Seve. Probably the first sports star that “I wanted to be like”. Thanks for the memories, and the style.
Happy St Totteringham’s Day everybody !
Bottle of San Pauli Girl please.
onions, great to see you here, maestro.
Thanks Catalan. Seve will be laughing his socks off at me tonight. This Spanish brandy is dreadful, but I’m going to beat it π
Ha! Show his fighting spirit, and get (it) up and down in two…
Over here they have a horrible habit of drinking their brandy and whiskey with coke. Can’t get into that at all…. I’ll settle for a nice bottle of rioja reserva, and remember flashing Spanish eyes, clenched fists and slazenger jumpers.
PS.. my wife has two of the above…!
So buy her a jumper as well π
Happy St. Totteringham’s Day, ‘holic, while (by your time zone) you still have 2 minutes to celebrate.
I hope you got my various clarifying posts on the membership prices, ‘holic…..
In other news did the MC get spilled in Paris.
I inadvertently stumbled across the Happy Train tonight.
Back on the local RER, brass bad, loads of people cheering and clapping. Surely it’s now what suburban trains are supposed to be?
Might be very drunk but trust me it was real!
Nightcap please?
brass bad? brass band of course.
So who’s the guilty part? Zico or TS? Happy days anyway.
And a special happy proper St Totteringham to you all.
Of course, not so happy now I have found Bordeaux lost 4 0 at home but hey-ho. Let’s beat SToke and the world will feel fine again.
Catalan, Please don’t make me any more jealous of those Spanish eyes than I already am, which is plenty I can assure you!
Ollie, Down in New Orleans they have a lot of brass bads and they’re trying to get more so I wouldn’t worry too much.
Cheers bt8bnn. I seem to be far away from NO though. Seems like it was students from the local engineering school too.
As I said, i suspect fraud on the MC. π
Engineers, brass bands and no pharmaceuticals? I would rather suspect not. On another note, it must have been another disappointing day for JNGEFC (just not good enough, sometimes known as Sp**s).
Sorry BT8BBNN – but Holic’s suggestion has inspired me to get her one of those slazenger jumpers, along with a little flappy mini golf skirt – get her out on the range and admire her swing…
Still, got to watch out for those fists.
Back from Canvey, nice to be one of the youngest at a gathering for a change. Nice piece on Seve ‘holic, always loved that bloke. Not as much as Chippy obviously.
Didn’t realise you went with ‘holic there, Esso π
What was your local course, ‘holic? You know, the one you owe the green fees to… π
It was Maidenhead at the time Snail. Park up half way round, but don’t tell ’em π
Glad you had a great time, Esso. The tweets were entertaining…
Right people. A wrap of today’s punts. I have 5-0 at 100/1, and a little nibble on 5-1 at the same odds, plus a punt on Aaron Ramsey to score at any time, that at 5/1.
Be lucky.
Maidenhead, eh? They can afford it then. I was hoping you would say it was Temple GC, where all the ams from the pro-ams used to gather. You know the ones, Wogan, Brucey, Tarby, etc.
Anyway, all the best for your punts today. I have a feeling you may be there or thereabouts…
Cheers.
Lots of sub-plots today.
Ramsey is playing, a big hurdle for him. I hope he gets through it professionally.
Will they have next week on their minds?
Which team will we play? The one who showed so much commitment and determination last week, or the overpaid, underperforming team that cant defend that we have seen so manytimes?
Will Shawcross get injured and be ruled out of the cup final, God, I hope so.
My pound is on 4-1 at 25/1.
I wonder if mr shawcross is feeling a certain amount of trepidation today; just a couple of weeks away from almost certainly the biggest game of his life, surely it must be in the back of his mind that a slightly late or over zealous tackle could end his wembley dream.
wouldn’t it be oh so cruel if a last minute totally-innocent (but just a millisecond late) ‘without a doubt going for the ball’ challenge by van persie, resulted in a ruptured ankle ligament & poor ryan carried off the field in tears on the same stretcher that aaron ramsey departed on, on that fateful day.
i for one will be praying for the poor lambs well being; after all, he’s just not that sort of player is he.
Arsenal
Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Djourou, Gibbs, Song, Wilshere, Ramsey, Walcott, Arshavin, Van Persie
We lack a bit of height against their tall thugs.
Afternoon All,
FIOS Cocks! And always will be.
God I hope we smash the the team that includes the *dons Blogs Arshavin accent* “big monster, who break Ramsey leg”
5-0’s a good’un ‘Holic
COYRRRs!!!
Fuck off Stoke City supporters…..booing Aaron Ramsey all game for having the rudeness to have his leg snapped in two last time he played your knuckle dragging team
Hey Catalan, Those Spanish fists may bring another element to the equation, be they flirtatiious fists or no …
Please fucking get back in this to shut them cunting cretins up.
Shocking display so far we dont know what to do with the ball in the final third1
COME ON ARSENAL!!!!!
Can’t really see us scoring three but a win should be doable as long as we don’t concede any more corners or throw-ins.
COME FUCKING ON!!!!
That’s it for me ladies and gents.
Oh my fucking GOD!
I can’t stand to watch.
Come the fuck on!
Should of been 3 nil down now! What the fuck are they playing at?
I hate stoke.
Fucking cunts.
come on Arsenal…..need a goal at the very start of the 2nd….get some momentum
that was brutal
The team selection was wrong. I said @ 55 we got no height. Need to bring on Chamakh or Bendtner, or both, and play them up front, RVP on the left.
Chamakh time….absolutely
How are we supposed to get a goal when Arsene doesn’t see how fucking predictable we are.
Every shitty team knows how to play against us, yet we always play the same possession based toothless crap against 9 defenders.
We are away from home ffs ! Let them come at us and play on the counter! When will we ever fucking learn?
Arsene, you have to do better.
I haven’t felt this pissed since that second half capitulation to the cunts down the road. And that’s saying something .
Come on Arsenal. We can’t lose to those cunts !
Have to say, Stoke are so comfortable, worth their two goal lead. It’s a bit embarrassing really.
Only got ourselves to blame. As much as we HAVE been unlucky with decisions in some of the collapses (Newcastle springs to mind) today we have nothing to hide behind. This is heartbreaking to watch. It really pains me to say it but I have lost faith in this group of players. As a group that is. They all seem to be nice people and good footballers but this isn’t working. It feels very sad because they are just missing one ingredient or so, but that is, and will continue to be their undoing. Even when they are playing badly as today, I really believe they are worth more than this and I can’t help to not just blame them for it but the people that sends them out on that field with something missing. And I am sure WE deserve more than this. I’ve lost faith.
Having that said, I still would love to go to the Villa game next weekend since I will be in London then, send me a note if anyone got a spare ticket or two!
Chamakh won’t shoot to save his life. Let’s unleash the greatest striker in football history (TM) instead; at least he has the balls to shoot.
Hooray, Bendnter AND Chamakh. Surely it cant get any worse.
PLEASE don’t stick the greatest striker ever wide on the right
I hope city’s mercenaries stuff them. And I’m being polite here (the Grimbergen isn’t working yet)
There’s been about 45 seconds of football in the first 5:30 of this half….let’s see if we get that back.
I can’t bloody watch this anymore Szczesny boots the ball up high what the hell for!!!!!!
It sounds like everybody is seeing the same game. Well, maybe not Arsene?
The good news is we aren’t wasting Bendtner on the right.
The bad news is we are wasting him on the left.
Shocking absolutely SHOCKING!
The Stoke Neanderthals are OlΓ©ing us now? I can’t stand it any longer..
that young Pennant looks good…Wenger should sign him …. π
Van Persie is class…
Ohhh my word!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We score and then concede…AGAIN
Sometimes it just isn’t your day.
If anyone was wondering if Djourou is sufficiently good…today was your answer…I like him but his positioning/tracking is like a 6 year old
Disgraceful showdown from our Gooners nothing to add, like Steve T would say I agree completely SAME OLD ARSENAL SAME OLD I’m afraid!
Roll on next season too many disappointments throughout this one for my liking….
Wow
Alot of hesitation today
Two games to go!
Same old same old. Pathetic and embarrassing.
Sad thing is that I am really not surprised.
We are not good enough.
But hey! What do I know? I haven’t worked half a day in football..
Arthur. You beat me to it.
Look on the brightside after another limp performance at least they won’t have the front to increase next years ticket costs Oh π
Awful Awful performance.
Simple misplaced passes, players tripping up over air, Walcott involved in the game twice, Arshavin making up the numbers, bad defending etc etc. At least we can’t blame the ref, he had an excellent game.
And Manure are already winning.
Bollocks.
Chippy is right though. Those notices about increased tickets and membership were just Stans idea of a joke to make us laugh at the end of a disappointing season. I think the proper notices showing a 5% reduction will be sent out next week.
Stone,:)
I’ve always stuck up for him before because he Is a world class talent but I’d love to here the explanation from someone at Arsenal as to why he’s so fat he waddles like a Duck at the mo and was blowing through his arse after 15 mins, Im sorry but at a top class football club that cannot be tolerated it’s the height of their proffesion not a holiday camp.
Chippy,
I agree. Perry Groves was on the radio this week trying to answer the “What is wrong with Arsenal?” question. He reckons the backroom staff have just got it so easy and they need a complete shake up.
In other news….Chelsea have simply collapsed in the opening 22 minutes
Tim,
United have hit them with Pace and power !! they were the days π
Stone,
Something somewhere certainley needs shaking the whiff of complacency at the club is becoming a stench,
@ Chippy…..you mean we used to be able to counter quickly? Seems lost in the mists doesn’t it?
We’ve learned this season that we can beat the best teams again at least. Now how to go about beating the carthorses again? Incidentally we had 1 shot in the first half with Arshavin walking up the wing and 11 in the 2nd switching to a 4-4-2 (sorta)
Tim,
Sure does- it was thrilling in full flow too- much easier on the eye than this play 30 passes whilst ambling forward only to lose it on the edge of the box or hit a cross to a centrehalf or corner flag π
Your stat dosent surprise in the slightest playing more than one up front stretches the defence as they have more than an isolated figure to mark, As for Arshavin he looks like he’s our very on Fat Jan Molby π
On the tube. Need generous helping from the medicine cabinet. Tired. Frustrated. Wish I could correct what is wrong with the team.
Back later.
I always record the games in order to watch them again and analyse without the emotions flowing, but I just cant this time. Just so flat.
Stoke City 0 Arsenal 5, itβs 100/1
MY ASS !!!!!
This is the problem with our STUPID ARSENAL BLOGGERS…FUCKING OVERHYPING EVERY SHIT OUT THATS THERE…
FUCK IT !!!
Got a 12 pack in the beer fridge. May very well devour the lot. Look out for some incoherent posts later π
Waitin’ Around To Die
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTGKzWDakK8
Devour? Do you ‘devour’ beer?
@a gunner
Take it easy now. A hard fought 2-2 might well have made us proud, but we all know that todays performance merited todays result. Football teams, even the best, have always lost the odd game, and noone expected a five nil pasting of Stoke. Last of all, I suspect, ‘Holic himself. If anyone in the whole world of Arsenal bloggers never overhype the team, and really do know that things sometimes blow up in your face, and that this is part of the game, it’s ‘Holic. I know the man can take care of himself but I get bleeding mad when abuse is hurled in the wrong direction. Of course, if we expect us to have a divine right to win games just because we are The Arsenal, we will be let down time and time again, but I can’t see that was ever the case here.
I remember it well…..sigh
We’ve got no pace except Walcott and invariably he’s ready to cross before we’ve got a soul in the box.
Jan Molby was arguably more acceptable as the game wasn’t played at the same pace back then….it’s remarkable though that Arshavin simply isn’t fit enough. He’s only played about 3 hours of football in the last 7 weeks. He without question has amazing ability but I’ve never been happy with his signing due to his age and no experience in our league, or La Liga or even Bundesliga. He’s been found wanting let’s be fair.
In a back-to-front way it sums up why Wenger is hesitant to drop 12-20 million on anyone….look at the results when he has done so? (Who am I missing)
Wiltord
Reyes
Arshavin
His best signings are the less expensive ones
Henry
Pires
Llungberg
Sagna
Gilberto
Petit
Van Persie
@Stone Roses
Heh, but of course you do.
It will carry you on through it all –
Devour like a waterfall!
I knew Mr Holic’s 5-0 was rubbish. That’s why I went with 4-1, and if we had scored 3 more goals, and Stoke had scored 2 less, I would have won!
@106….get a grip…..it was 100/1 for a reason….’holic wasn’t suggesting it was a likely result any more than the oddsmakers were….moreover it isn’t blogs such as this that make us lose 1-3 to Stoke…..
some good news….first transfer confirmed: Denilson to Dagenham (Dagenham Den) for Β£175,000
a gunner
Stay there. I am going to talk to a few charities to find out how much it will cost me a month to support the building of a special school in Columbo.
‘holic…I’ll match your contribution