The Kids Are Alright
May 2nd, 2011 by 'holic
I’m inspired.
By friends new and old. Thank you for your company, and your whisky!
This was a day to treasure in an end of season that has seen us contrive to snatch misery from the brink of glory. Yet it had started with some considerable surprise when the team news reached the pub and Aaron Ramsey was in for Cesc Fabregas. “Arsene is going with the players he will have next season”. Instant judgments were passed, but to be fair Cesc has not looked fit of late. This was a brave, and as it turned out a match-winning call by an under-fire manager.
From row 25 in the Clock End upper the game panned out as if on a tactics board. Jack Wilshere and Ramsey ran the show for Arsenal. Foy kept United in it with a remarkable performance which included denying a nailed-on penalty for the Vidic save, intercepting a through ball, and most telling of all, a blatant body check. The patience of the referee, one Mr Rooney, was wearing thin.
At half-time the chat was about we have seen this before. 45 minutes of Arsenal domination, but few clear-cut chances. Then something happened which brought out fighting qualities and a belief that has been lacking since the Carling Cup Final. We took the lead! Ramsey, set up by the impressive Robin van Persie, applied the sweetest of side-foots into the corner, and over fifty thousand Gooners celebrated wildly.
Normally that would prompt a nervousness in crowd and team alike, Strangely I didn’t get that impression at all. True, United raised their level, attempted to get back even a point that would have made the title a virtual certainty but the Arsenal back four were having a good day, virtually eliminating any threat from the odious Rooney and his colleagues. Owen pleaded for a penalty when hit by a stray but vicious butterfly. Surprisingly the award was not made. Foy will probably have his bonus docked for that.
Now although the two young central midfielders ran the show, a word too for Bacary Sagna. His distribution was not faultless, but he owned his side of the field. It must have been a relief for him to take Nani out of his pocket at the final whistle. Glasses were raised to his performance in the pub afterwards, where friends old and new basked in the afterglow of a performance that has come too late to salvage the season, but which promises much.
I hear those saying “If only…” and we all understand that, but for once, let us just enjoy the rarest of good feelings. A win over United. Let it be the starter for many more.
172 Responses to “The Kids Are Alright”
Ah, a new post
*reads*
Yeah, just enjoying the win. We all know that the team isn’t the finished article, and that some new blood is needed, but I can’t understand people who are still critical even after a win like yesterday’s.
the future is definitely bright..barman..tonic and lime please
Foy tried his best to the 12th united player. his 18 game unbeaten utd streak has been broken by the mighty Arsenal.
Side note: song was masterclass yesterday
and a cuppa coffee please…just after lunch here 🙂
The attitude was spot-on yesterday and the win was well deserved. Some great challenges from Kos and Song nullified the Rooney threat.
Well done boys, just take that into the final three games and claim the nine points on offer.
CoYRRR’s
Agree with Audi that this was a result to be enjoyed but the squad does need strengthening and if it doesn’t happen next year will be same old same old…
Great result and performance.
Disagree with you ‘holic on the Owen non-penalty, Clichy got away with a rake down his leg – normally we get punished for that but the Lino and ref had to even up their woeful decision in the first half.
My only hope is that, unlike following our three other big wins, we take heart from the performance and run with it.
Arsene has to use it as a platform to build from and get us back to where we belong – that red band round the inside of the Emirates has had too big a gap for too long!
Am really looking forward to the summer, I think the transfer dealings are going to be fascinating as the 25 man squad/homegrown rules start to bite as some of our ‘kids’ get past the 21 year inclusion age and squa space weds to be created. Combined with the impending financial regulations, strategic signings are the order of the day.
Come on The Arsenal!
I’ll raise another early glass to that Holic 🙂
I woke up this morning and just wanted to say I was proud of our lads out there yesterday.
Arsenal is a club for life where players can build careers, just like those previously who have won titles.
All of this talk about players jumping ship because of coming up short for silverware is folly to me.
To me the team put alot of what was wrong this season, right yesterday.
They showed what has made a lot of us big them up as the best team in the prem.
Although I never thought Cesc was leaving us last season, I have the same feeling this season too. But I’ll leave this discussion for another day.
As for today, I just want to enjoy another important landmark victory in the usual way…
…with my tab behind the bar 😉
hmmmm? I’ll just take a look at the breakfast menu for now 😉
Oh, and a pint of Piriton for my hayfever please barman!
Good win. And an important one. But, it’s too a little bit too late. Still need some changes. Coyg!
Which player does Ramsey remind you of most? (From any team, era etc)?
We will be back stronger next season and I agree let’s enjoy this win, especially when we haven’t beaten those Mancs including their REF for some time now!
Onwards and Upwards, yes it could of been a different tale to tell, perhaps our team needs more time to show true Greatness!
Top blogging Landlord as always, so I raise my glass for this awosme WIN and remember season ain’t over yet! There is little hope we all know that but we also know this season has certainly been a bit of a strange one.
I also think it was one missed penalty apiece. However, in ours Vidic should have been sent off, which would have changed the structure of the match.
I so agree about Wilshere and Ramsey, but don’t forget Alex prowling behind them. The difference with the whole team is that everybody was working hard for each other. The three games that spring to mind when this has happened are all home matches: Chelsea, Barcelona and Utd. THAT to me is the most frustrating thing from this season. When we want to we can do it, we just need to do it more often.
COYG
We owned United, that’s all that matters.
Cheers.
Berbatov was a couple of feet offside on Michael Owen’s penalty claim and was clearly involved in the play because he grabbed Koscielny and prevented him from clearing Rooney’s pass. The correct call was an offside on Man U, never a penalty…
Really inspiring performance yesterday:
Let’s hope it encourages a lot of people to leave their black scarves behind for the Villa match.
May I offer you all a drink today?
DC –
XI v XI meant they had no excuses… 🙂 Cheers!
The victory was sweet, but has left alot of mixed emotions, sometimes i go back and feel that if we dint have those serious of draws we would be in pole position or just behind utd, with them having to face chelsea, but now its just as a consolation and a monkey off our backs, yesterday we played like a real team, defending and attacking, rvp getting in the face of Ferdinand, Song standing up to the ever disgusting wayne rooney, chezzer commanding his goal like never before, Arshavin sliding and dispossessing the like of nani and valencia, rvp winning headers against vidic..
Then there seems to be a clear msg to the likes of Fabregas, i am not willing to buy the part that he was pulled out at the last minute and ramsey was thrown into it. Is this a msg we dont need fabregas, or is this a msg from wenger to fabregas that he needs to pull his socks up and start playing in the team than give excuses of his hamstring injury clouding him. or was it a msg to show him that we do have the talent and is only time before we click into gear. A msg to the rest of the team that when we play like that we are indestructible, and quite frankly we were superb on the night.
GT
You could say most of the game it was XI V XII (Foy the CUNT)
🙂
That ‘holic man always leads me astray.
Coffee please.
Aman
Cesc hamstring has never really healed I can understand how much an injury like that can hold you up. It’s more of a mental strain as you know if you push harder it will happen again. He’s played shit loads of games so and he’s still a young lad. Give him a break and if he is willing to go then I thank him for all he has done for us, he’s after all a top lad and top football player. Also I believe he aint going nowhere but I will leave that for now we will I’m sure find out during teh summer.
For now early drinks all around!
The patience of the referee, one Mr Rooney, was wearing thin.
Mwahahaha, superb!
Hope your head feels better soon, Holic. I’m sure the pain is worth it, mind:-)
Scotch and Coke please,
Nice to see Slur Alex back to his demented best. Ah but you see our penalty and automatic sending off wasn’t really because it was hard for the ref, lino and most of the fans it to see whereas Owen’s swandive theatrics were as clear as the red nose on his face. Marvellous!
It is nice to see Demento back though. He had gone away and that is a worrying thing; he only ever rears his ugly head when the Arsenal are perceived as a threat. And some of our supporters think we’re not moving in the right direction? Fine, I can understand why but I don’t want a bar of it. We are not that far away. It’s an exciting time to be a Gooner, not a bleak time.
We’ve made life a bit more difficult for the Mancs, the league is now in jeopardy and I would suggest if they can only borrow the ball off Arsenal from time to time yesterday then they may just struggle a bit during their Wembley appointment later this month. Good luck with that fellas, you will need it.
I won’t hear a word of negativity today, the boys were great and the win was fantastic. We haven’t beaten those pricks in a while, hopefully everyone can enjoy that for what it is.
ArthurTheGooner
I too hope for the same, i just hope that this performance stirred him more towards to us.. 😀
Just seen the game again on ATVO and my dear, Steward Robson is a very bitter man at the moment. Constantly trying to correct the commentator (who’s name is escaping me at the moment) and trying to put him on the spot. Also, saying things like “We’ll be saying that quite a lot today – Vidic clears” just two minutes into the game, being on Szsc’s back every goal kick that doesn’t fall to an Arsenal player (even if the kick is long enough) and also saying “Eh, what is Arsene moaning about” when he is standing up in the technical area about a minute after the goal, not even being close to berating the fourth official.
Respect the man and sure, just because it’s ATVO doesn’t mean all the reporting has to be one-sided, but still. Just creates a very tired atmosphere to the game.
Thanks ‘holic that’s a good one
It cleared up something for me – I had thought that the ref was the balding one in black
Far be it for me to criticise SAF, but as was said on MOTD2, he had run out of midfield players to counter our youngsters, so the above ref had to play very deep,
Also forgive my fading memory, but that linesman that RVP was talking to was familiar from previous non-given incidents was he not
Cognac tonic please barman
Haha. Great stuff, ‘holic.
Only coffee for me today. Need to get some work done.
Quick correction: Clichy challenge was definitely a foul, but definitely on the very edge of the area. Not a penalty. Could’ve been a red card though.
Personally I think that we don’t beat teams like Bolton etc is because they battle more than Utd did yesterday. Carrick, Nani, Park etc., hardy put it about like Boltons midfield & forwards (Davies) do….. You can almost see our players wilt against the sides who tackle hard. Utd without the likes of Scholes & Fletcher were soft. And surprisingly Utd were very lethargic going forward yesterday. Hardly any pressure was put on our shaky defence who tend to crack at the mearest sign of pressure.
Yesterday only papered over all the fundemental problems that has been so obvious all season, and Wenger is already using it to argue his – no purchase policy with his usual “it stops youngsters from being able to be played!” I am sick of his b*llsh*t, young players do not win trophies – class and experience do, and until he sorts out the crap average players out of the squad and replaces them with quality then it is always “oh well next season will be the one!” I still hope for a new manager as I did last season and the season before, but I am sure that all we will see and hear is more Wenger crap!
@ Matt
Care to share the identity of this new manager you think we should get?
Serious question.
Arsenal Show The Real Me
Fortunately, grandson Henry’s arrival meant that Sunday morning was spent catching bluegills. A first fish was caught – a big moment for the young fisherman. Unfortunately, I was unable to take my planned seat at the Emirates. Would Steve T and the Kids blast up the home support’s volume and drown out the feckwits without me?
Watched the game on tape. Frankly, my adrenalin level was low. I was very confident we’d win this one. I have been for some time now. The disappointment, of-course, was that I’d been expecting this would be the game to bring us within three points with a Chelsea win next week taking us level on points at the top.
We’ve been the better team in most of the recent encounters with the Deeply Indebted. We’ve played them off the field then been suckered into losing goals that have made a VERY ordinary, tired old side, assembled at massive expense, look passable. Holic rope-a-doped it in the preview.
There were times today when it looked like this might be another such occasion. In terms of threat level, Man IOU were approximately on par with some of the heavyweights who’d come to play for a draw in recent weeks – Sunderland, Liverpool, Blackburn and the likes. (That’s maybe a bit hard – unfair on Blackburn). But Arsenal made it look like hard work all the same. Jack Wilshere should have scored within 3 mins but dragged an easy chance wide. “Blackburn again”, I thought.
There was MUCH to feel good about though. Most importantly, Arsenal ran the mid-field. Aaron Ramsey was immense – the Man of the Match by a mile. Wilshere and Song alongside him had excellent games. Wosjciek had little to do but did it seamlessly and the back four had a fine game – although Squillacci’s arrival on the scene caused a couple of unnecessary rumbles.
Van Persie tried to play the twin role of provider and striker, Nasri dribbled and swiveled and Theo was Theo. Going forward, our build up was crisp – but not quick enough to threaten Manure’s back four because, nearly every time, they had time to assemble and prepare, as we strove to web a gossamer fine thread through an ant’s arsehole.
We’ve taken to flighting high balls into the middle as our primary alternative method of attack (searching for Ade’s ghost?). They rarely come to anything but from a Walcott effort, Vidic punched the ball nicely off Robin’s head (in a “hand of Satan” incident). Dead penalty and a straight red – but as with so many of the reffing conundrums we’ve encountered this season – it wasn’t given.
Our goal, when it came, was an emotional thing of beauty. The Welsh wizard pushed the ball wide to Robin. Van Persie painted a Dutch masterpiece on the right top corner of the canvas before pushing the ball to Ramsey’s right foot for an unstoppable slammer past their experienced goalkeeper (Do 41 year olds really let goals in?? Well I never – thought it was only 19 year olds who did that.)
Man IOU huffed and puffed but were as effective in their scoring attempts as they are at paying off their $900M debt. Arsenal ran the clock down nicely and it was a REAL pleasure to see the Famous Red Grouse, Old Purple Nose, going apoplectic on the touchline while Arsene coolly sipped his vodka-martini, shaken, not stirred. The thunderous boom of nasal blood vessels popping ALMOST drowned out Steve T and the Kids roars of delight. But not quite. Block 70 was R.O.C.K.I.N!
Holic, you were much more charitable in the preview regarding this lot than I could ever be. I have to say it was a pleasure to see Evra come to the training academy and get a real lesson. Poor old Foy, Rooney was so far in his ear all day – he’ll be draining Shrek spittle out for weeks to come.
Sounds like a great night in the Tollie. A belated Guinness on Zico’s tab please, barman.
Danish @ 33 – Magic! This is the kind of stuff we love you for. First time I’ve seen you on here after an Arsenal win and you’re very welcome.
Danish, you seem a bit out of sorts today 😉
Fill your boots (glass) 🙂
Danish, you alright mate? Have a drink on me as well as on Zico! Glad to see you in this mood!
Well done DanishtheMan
Sorry you couldn’t make it BtM. You’ll have gathered I was already pretty drunk when I called you. Hope I didn’t sound toooo incoherent 😉
cognac: now that you mention it, wasn’t that the same lino that called that ridiculous penalty against Clichy at the Old Toilet in December?
Anonymarse: seconded, the initial contact was outside the box so no penalty. And as bstrum said, Berbatov was offside and interfered with play so even if it had been inside it should not have been a penalty in any way.
My daughter burst into my bedroom this morning.
“Dad, dad, he’s dead!”
Surely it could only be one of two people to provoke such a reaction.
“Who? Sir Alex Ferguson or Ryan Shawcross?!!!”
Was a tad disappointed to find out it was neither 🙂
ATG @ 20
Oh yeah almost forgot about their MOTM!
Tha Coont!
Matt – if we’d lost yesterday or shipped another late equaliser/Man Utd winner you’d have been going nuts. We win and . . . you’re still complaining. Nobody is saying this means everything is OK now, we’re just happy that the team put in a good performance and that Man Utd are now sweating a bit, if they lose to Chelsea next weekend they’d be looking at blowing a 15 point lead (and that would be somewhat hilarious regardless of our own issues). And frankly if Man Utd didn’t apply much pressure to our defence that shows how poor they were.
Danish Gooner @33, great writing!
Shame we havnt played like that more often recently, thats the kind of spirit and work rate we need more of.
Beer for me ‘Holic
Good to see you yesterday, ‘holic
Lager please barman. Since Lars was sneaking around United headquarters this morning, please put in on the tab from Foy’s docked bonus.
@ Aman. Playing Ramsey and Wilshere in midfield gave us a slightly different shape than when Fabregas plays: 4-1-4-1 instead of the with-Cesc 4-2-3-1. We seemed to have better balance as a result, minimising the counterattacks with which United have hurt us so often in the past, and it also anchored Song in the DM role, where he snuffed out Rooney.
Nice one ‘holic, glad you enjoyed the day.
Jack and Aaaron were massive yesterday. I also enjoyed watching Woj command his area, he really is a keeper wise beyond his years.
Also good to see was the effort put in by Arshavin when he replaced Nasri, I can’t remember the last time that I saw him so commited in the tackle. Overall it was a great team performance and just what the docter ordered.
Hilarious to read today the mancs berating the ref and saying how he cost them points, the only way he could of been better for them is if he had headed in a Nani cross.
I’ll have a lager to kick start my afternoon please.
Cheers.
Pleasure as always ‘H, despite my regulation hangover before we’d even started!
If you can’t enjoy a win over united, then you may as well give up and go home. Actually looking forward to the last three games now, when before i just wanted the season over.
Now I dont care what happens for the rest of the season. This match means that much for me.
Woodbine in ‘turning up hangover in the Tollie’ shocker 😉
Holic – Excellent write up!
Enjoying every second of this victory and once again (after last season) going crazy of “what could have been”.
Hang on – is Danish Gooner the real Danish Gooner? If you see what I mean? Great stuff @33, and fair play if you are who you are.
Confused… need a beer.
Nice write up and a great result. I agree with a lot of what has already been said above.
Woj has started to make a difference in goal. He just has more of a presence and dare I say it but a touch of arrogance about him as well. I am not sure he is too bothered with reputations. I agree with you holic, we seemed as solid as we have in ages. I also think that this was a poor manc side. How the fuck are they 6 points ahead of us?
Someone asked above who Aaron Ramsey reminds you of as a player? For me he reminds me of Bryan Robson. If he can turn out like that then I wont be complaining.
I thought many had their best games in ages. Bacs has already been mentioned. JD and Kos looked solid and Song had his best game in months. He makes such a difference when he plays like that.
The fat granny shagger got pelters. His Mexican buddy was made to look average and yes we did boss the middle of the park. Neither keeper really had a shot to save but quite frankly for one day I really can not be bothered.
It all just goes to show what might have been if only etc etc.
Danish, whilst it goes without saying that your presence was missed you will be pleased to know that there was not a feckwit to be seen or heard. And that includes the two buffoons who sit a few rows behind me. Even they were in positive mood. Wonders will never cease.
Onwards and upwards
True Steve T. I was sitting in a block I’ve never sat in before (116 above the away fans) and was quite pleased to not really hear any moaning once.
There are still some bizarre cries of ‘shoot!’ when a player is 35 yards from goal and surrounded by 3 opposition players, but somehow it felt like a better atmosphere than at most recent home games.
Read the post and all the comments but no mention of Kos. He was immense and though it was a big ask to step up into the PL this season he is going to be a rock for us next season.
Seen that lino’s face too many times this year ….. mostly involved with our poor decisions as far as I can remember. Champers on ice for St Totteringhams Day though!
I have been having a fever and sore throat for the last couple of days. I shouted myself hoarse when ramsey scored. I have noticed that when i am sick arsenal play better.
Tea for me, ‘holic. Need to get well.
Evening all,
The hangover head has been replaced by raging abdominal pains. Think I’ll skip the stout tonight 🙁
Ollie led me astray again…
Ah, the man from Bristol is back. Good luck ‘holic. Have a quiet evening 😉
‘Holic-
Best footie-related posting in the U.S. regarding bin-Laden:
Obama 1
Osama 0
Hmm….eerily similar to fixture result on the same day in North London:
– a devil slain
– taken out by gunners
and of course
– a victory for those in the right!
Have kept out of the bar all week, not wanting the despondency induced last weekend to result in useless negativity from myself.
I turned up at The Grove yesterday and couldn’t fail to notice, pre-match, how quiet the crowd was. I’ve never known such a lack of excitement before a game vs ManUre.
Quite a pleasant surprise then, to see how good the crowd was once the game was underway.
I think the fans were ready to accept whatever came our way yesterday, knowing that nothing could be addressed until the summer anyway.
What came our way was an excellent performance of skill, discipline
and aggression, and a first half that saw ManUre completely outplayed.
Of course, the media would have you believe that United simply had no spark. What they also didn’t have was the ball.
Not only should Vidic have seen Red, but I counted three yellow card offences racked up by Shreck in the one incident following his hauling down of Jack W.
Firstly, there was the foul on Jack.
Second was the straight in the Foy-face F-word tirade at the awarding of the yellow card.
Third was the deliberate kicking away of the ball.
Result ? One yellow card, of course, and a hilarious round of “Fat Granny Shagger”.
But back to the performance, and there were many of the qualities of the two home games against Chelsea and Barcamoana on display.
So – do you love or hate this team, capable of brilliant highs and shocking lows ?
Personally, I’m exhausted thinking about it. I’ll go for celebrating a terrific performance, and congratulating Aaron Ramsey on a super comeback and a winning goal.
Cheers ‘holics.
Screw the what-ifs and could-have-beens. I was at it myself in the drinks yesterdayand to everyone else’s credit I was rightly ignored.
Just roll the following around your palate and savour the elegant, velvety bouquet; the power of the tannins; and the smooth, oaky finish: “we sent united packing. Shrek got bugger all change and went back to his shitheap looking like a bulldog licking piss off a nettle, as usual. And rambo got the winning goal.”
Only one drink will do for me holic: a bottle of Argentine malbec and a glass for whoever wants to share it with me.
Apologies this is a bit off topic…but also a nice look back at 93/94 from my other blog:
http://www.worldservicebulletins.com/bin-ladens-death-leaves-a-big-question-unanswered-was-he-an-arsenal-supporter/
One of our best league performances of the season, yet only two shots on target, one of our lowest in the league this season. Just goes to show how immense the defending was. And, at the risk of raising my head above the parapet, Squillaci did not put a foot wrong when he came on in a high pressure situation..
If there is one criticism I can think of, a couple of times Jack could have taken the shot but didnt. That is one facet of his game that needs working on.
I watched the game again, have to say Ramsey was just fucking unbelievable, with the added satisfaction that he chose to come to us instead of them.
We are so fucking close, just so close.
Gonna quaff a few tonight and cheer Judd Trump on.
SR, I watched the game again too and our back six were immense, including SZCZ and Song. Very fitting that Ramsey scored on many counts, not least of all because Sore Alex tried to sign him.
Camberwell Gooner, I would love a glass. Cheers Gunners!!!!
Like Danish, I strangely always had good feelings about this match coming up, and it’s very true that we have been the better playing side against them SEVERAL times of late, with no positive result to prove it. SZCZ moves from strength to strength in my eyes- I think we have found a real winner for the long term and may have shored up a key problem that has plagued these last few seasons. I think his contribution will be huge to any title we win coming up. In any case, Sunday was a great day. I.e Rooney the Cunt- why is it that our English players have so much more class than theirs?
Friends, I suspect that Danish is a Danish Gooner, not necessarily the Danish Gooner.
I hope to be proven wrong because his conversion suggests he is on the road to Damascus as you read this.
yes, truly, a very fashionable win what we needed earlier in the season though, but we have to enjoy the win and look forward to winning the rest of the games and play for the league next season.
Stone Roses, spot on about Squilachi and LJW, please join me in something from the top shelf.
CoYRRR’s
Am I the only one who thought Jack was better than Aaron and was MOM?
Snir, You may be splitting hairs on that one. Why don’t we look at them as a dynamic duo who may be leading us to multiple championships beginning very very soon.
bt8bbnn – I don’t mind looking at them that way, but I’m not ready to part ways with Cesc yet 😀
Snir, I’m not letting Cesc go either but have to steel myself for the possibility and the summertime media onslaught of speculation. The development of the dynamic duo can help that way too, I do not despair. Cheers!
Evening Holics – just dropped in to say how quiet it is in here when we get a decent result. Just shows you…..
Anyway pints for BT8BBNN, Snir and all the usual supects.
Pity I’ve got work in the morning – getting quite used to these long holiday weekends….
On another note, well done to Norwich on two successive promotions and a return to the top flight next season.
bt8bbnn – I don’t think anything can’t beat what we went through last season. Every thing that will go on this summer will look silly and lame to me apart from an official announcement which I have a feeling would come only after next season 🙂
I’m afraid beating Utd on Sunday does fuck all for me,consolidating our place in the top 3,so what.??
Senderos,Cygan and Luzhny could have played yesterday and we would probably still have won.!!
That’s how crap Utd were.
How they are top of the League is beyond me.
I am still grieving over Liverpool/Spuds and Bolton,
I probably won’t recover until after the Summer,it’s still too painful to think about.
WE SHOULD BE CHAMPIONS,BUT WE’RE NOT.
So a pox on yesterday’s result,i prefer to feel bereft about not what might have been this season,but what SHOULD HAVE BEEN.
I am going to book myself back into the ‘ Secure Unit ‘ for the summer,i need some Rest and Peace and Quiet.
I have a feeling AW might be joining me there.
Bollocks to it all.
You can either drive yourself nuts over everything, or accept it, take it on the chin and move on. Your call.
Clive, We’ll miss you fondly and make sure you are well fed in there. If AW is your cellmate we shall expect a full report on his summertime plans, so be ready for our cross-examination. Enjoy the rest and relaxation!
Clive – I feel your pain, but I took Charlie’s approach. Really can’t do much about it, can we :\?
A friend of mine just talked to me about next seasons and targets we should seek, and Kun Aguero looks like a perfect fit to our team, sort of an Arsenal Luis Suarez.
From here in sydney
watching at 1am i too got the feeling that United were not going to score in the last ten minutes gain, even with the ref’s help.
Agree with clive that am thinking what should have been- about 6 points clear at this stage.
still with ramsey and wilshere feel that we can improve.
I have a feeling that frimpong will rise to the top next season.
3 games to go and then some sleep over the weekends until august when we all are refreshed.
go the gunners
With as funny as it sounds, I don’t really see a lot of CB options in the available transfer market that are better than Koscielny or Djourou.
I’m not at all convinced (like the British media) that Cahill is better than the two.
Charlie, I’m also glad to see Norwich City return to the top flight. The last time they were up they provided a lot of entertainment, similar to the attacking style of football employed by Blackpool this season. Hopefully we will see both clubs in the top flight next season.
So good to see the faithful have returned to vespers. Gooners, there may be only one team in the top twenty in the world that would dare to play a midfield whose average age is 20.66. That is an achievement of the highest order so if sometimes it doesn’t work it’s okay to be disappointed, but hold the hate.
i’ll admit i sink to levels of despair when my beloved team loses a game, but who else would i rather support? let me see: the billion dollar babies with the fighting mario? the geriatrics with the dull style of play but an oh so expensive striker he could pay for our entire starting eleven? how about the two play actors from the easy league that are propped up by bank loans?
it’s now apparent that most teams that play us are playing for a draw and hope we don’t score first. the day we sort out the central defence situation (and the verm’s return should be very helpful), clone theo on the left wing (ryo is not yet there) and unleash jet to dribble where we can’t pass, you may yet see another invincible team.
we don’t need to buy a goalkeeper. if Szczęsny’s newfound ability to kick into the final third is anything to go buy, something has changed. one dribbler the way hleb used to be, one defender maybe, the promotion of frimpong, bothelo and bartley and you will be toasting with a 23 year old ron zacapa
Clive,
Sounds like you’re having a Nineteenth Nervous Breakdown and are in need of an Emotional Rescue, my man. We’re all hurting but You Can’t Always get What You want in this world and you need to let these Tears Go By like you managed to do The Last Time after the Newcastle result got Under Your Thumb.
The Dice are still Tumbling and we’ll be like Wild Horses for the final three games. So don’t expect any Sympathy from this Devil. Start Me up…..one of us is still a Street Fighting Man and there’s no need to Gimme Shelter, I’ve got Sticky Fingers and they’re looking to grab some Satisfaction from all we’ve suffered this season.
Dispense with the Black Paint and look out for the girls walking by dressed in their summer clothes. Don’t close your eyes until that feeling goes……you’ll feel a WHOLE lot better.
no mention anywhere around the blogesphere that St Totteringham day has arrived, ok maybe not mathematically 100% certain, but with such a wide margin in goal difference, as near as damn it
How do you tell Djourou who’s been arguably our best player that he’s not good enough and we’re buying a CB? How do you tell a player who shut down Messi, Drogba, Suarez and Hernandez that he’s not good enough and we’re buying a CB?
I’m starting to understand AW, this ain’t as simple as it sounds, looks or feels.
Snir, Djourou is a massive positive in our season’s ledger sheet, and looks to have a magnificent future in an Arsenal shirt. He’s good in the air, good on the ball, and made the right challenges all season. Next year with him, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Sagna, Clichy, and Song healthy we could have the best goals against in the league. AW keeps talking about an extra year of maturity starting to bring rewards and even now I can see it coming to fruition, gradually but surely enough with Wilshere, Ramsey, Walcott, Nasri and Djourou having made great strides this season. One or two key signings to bring the depth we need and we could be home.
BTM @ 85.
I cannot top that.!!
10 out of 10.
Cheered me up no end,
But i am still going to book into the Secure Unit where i will spend most of my time in the Healing Temple,which is only accessible to
Old,World Weary Gooners like myself,who were born in or before the middle of the 20th century, and can recite the names of all the members of the FA Cup winning side of 1950 off by heart.
Us faithful few are a dwindling bunch,but despite our despair,we are the Keepers Of The Flame,as we raise our weary heads in defiance of
Father Time one more time from our Zimmer frames.!!
Beating United is an unfamiliar feeling isn’t it?The match was in some ways similar to the 1-0 loss at ot.A good performance by ramsey,he’s going to be a star.nice finish for the goal.I think cesc would’ve missed from that postion.
But i don’t think we’re ready for a ramsey-jack-song midfield yet.Why should we spend all these years developing cesc only to let him go and replace him with a younger version?I think the same team will be good enough to win atleast 2 trophies next season with a defensive coach of some sort.maybe an experienced def mid could come in with song relegated to the bench.
I cant shake off this evil,impure feeling of wanting chelsea to win the title.Maybe manure drawing the next 3 games along with chelsea getting thrashed 3-0 in the final game of the season will help.
Difficulut conundrum indeed, Snir. I was wondering that sort of thing myself yesterday.
And I would rate Sakho over Cahill, but still, I don’t know any club who can keep 4 top central defenders happy.
-u
well i said it B4 i new this players can do it i knew they had it in them i new arshavin could run and tackle like young a 15 years old and finally i knew wenger was the lock and keys. On sunday i saw a different wenger with a different belive he wore a suite and was wearing a smile looked composed and this immediately translated to the boys they where runing tackling and tracking back somthing i have not seen arshavin done 4 quite a while now. They where helping each other and wenger was not throwing bottles guys how i wish majority of this squad should be kept wenger should be focused on winning the league anf 4get about the finicial aspect of the club he should forget about past glory or making Diaby a new viera as u all can see this guys are differnt and unique from the unbeatables the players can do it wenger should wash there fears away and make them winners he too should have winning in his mind and the throphies will start rolling in
Excellent – we’re beginning to play Championship Manager now. But in a sensible way. I’m in the summer mood for it now, but the more I think about it, the more I think that we only need a few additions (and move a few on; with thanks, not hate).
In my mind the goalie spot is sorted for the next 15 years, so that’s one less thing to worry about! Hmm… maybe Arsene has a plan! 🙂
Just received my ‘125 Years In The Making’ flyer through the post promoting the new Arsenal kit. IMHO, the new crested cannon is an improvement on our current logo but each to their own. Would also have preferred that we kept the white neck but you can’t have everything.
Still feeling really proud of our defeat of The Mancs and the way in which we out-played them. Like Clive, my joy at Sunday’s result is tinged with so many what ifs and onlys.
In the meantime, I’ll keep praying to the gods of football for a Chleski defeat of Manure on the weekend and that both teams then go on to draw both of their final two games. Most importantly, I’ll be praying for 3 wins out of 3 for our remaining matches. Futile maybe but that rotund lady is still in her dressing room the last time I looked.
Cheers all.
@ True Storey- 95
logic and common sense says it cant happen…but heart begging for it
imb @ #96
I know, I can’t see it happening either but, as you say, the heart wants what the heart wants.
Lunchtime refreshments all round please Mr. Barman.
loved how we killed the mancs. what infuriates me was tht this was supposed to be an EASY-RUN-IN
m no pundit but i just believe we need more defensive experience & when i start to think bout it not a lotta names come to mind. quality names that is
OR
am i missing something here
Afternoon all,
Not great to be back at work with my digestive system still rebelling against something on Sunday.
Given I have never had a problem with Malt and Barley before then the culprit was either the First Great Western bacon baguette, or the Grove chicken balti pie 🙁
Storey: and if the miracle doesn’t happen, wouldn’t it still be terribly sweet to see us win on Sunday thanks to one goal each from Ramsey and Vermaelen?
wouldn’t it be nice if we are 3 up & Arsene to brings on Lehmann and he treads on a few Stoke toes :0
Lars #100,
Oh yes! Just for Aaron to get a few minutes playing time and win some challenges vs Sh*wcr*ss would be heart-warming stuff. That and a big-nil result for the boys in yellow 😉
I think I’ve missed the Swedish lunch hour so please take a rain-cheque for a pint o’Boddies after work.
Holic @ #99,
I’d hazzard a guess at the FGW baguette. Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase about rains and running on time 😉
Milk o’Magnesia for you Barman. Cheer yourself with the thought of what it must be like to be an LWC supporter today: Sitting in 6th, 12 points behind the big team in N.London and with 4 remaining fixtures inc. Liverpool and Citeh. Forever in our shadow – heh!
… bollox…. Trains not rains!
imb @ #101
I’d rather see TMG just walk over to Pubis and punch him in the neck for moaning too loudly and wearing an offensive baseball cap.
Just the thought of that team of rugby playing mutants lifting the FA Cup makes me shudder.
Holic. …. The bacon sarnie bought on a train has a certain “ring” of suspicion to it.
Talking of TMG…. I highly recommend following @Mad_Jens on Twitter. Quality violence!
Let’s just hope the bacon baguettes and chicken balti pies don’t drive ‘holic into the secure unit along with Clive, be it healing temple or otherwise!
Storey: speaking of those neighbours of which you mention in your drink at 103, today it struck me that at no point during the season did they find themselves ahead of us in the league table with both teams on equal number of games played. I even checked the tables as they looked after each game to make sure I was right, and there were three occasions where we were tied for points which was after the first, seventh and eight games but goals scored (first day) and goal difference (seventh/eigth) kept us above them but other than that they were always behind us on points. Our second game saw us beat Blackpool 6-0 and we moved into second place and since then we were never out of the top four at any point – in fact, we have hardly even been anything other than 2nd in the table until after Bolton away and for a few times early on in the season – while they were actually never in the top four with all teams on equal number of games. Never!
Let me repeat that: Not once all season have they, the media darlings with the supposedly amazing attacking play and great defending by Dawson and Gallas and being the self-proclaimed pretenders to the Premier League throne, been in the top four. Not. Once. All. Season. And they won’t be either, unless something really extraordinary happens in their last four games.
Think I’ll have lasagna for dinner tonight.
@88 – bt8bbnn – That’s exactly what I’m saying. Djourou has been amazing this season. Koscielny has shut down all these big time players.
How do you tell them to drop to the bench cause they’re not good enough?
You’re saying that with that defense we may have the best goals against record but isn’t it a consensus around the country that we need a CB?
Just saying that it isn’t as simple as it sounds “buy buy buy” and we’ll be world beaters all of a sudden.
@Snir…. personally, IF IF IF TV5 is fully fit, then either add Bartely (pending knackered knee) or a.n. other CB to JD and Kos (both with a full season’s experience), and I am happy enough with those 4 CB’s.
Just think we need TV’s leadership.
Lars @ 109 = great stuff. A pint of your choosing. Boddingtons?
Cheers Catalan, that one will go down great along with the one Storey promised to get me @102!
Lars & Dr.C @ various,
Some quality posts there which brought smiles to my face. Cheers to you both 🙂
PS: What’s with the lasagna? Did I miss that memo too?
Snir @ #111,
I’m with you re: TV5, LK6 & JD20. One more purchase for proven quality with experience would be just perfect IMO. Agree, it’s not just about buying, far from it otherwise we could all do the job, right? 😉
CG – That’s the thing, how could you tell those two players to drop to the bench when one is arguably our best player this season and the other shut down the top strikers in the world?
How do you justify it as a manager? Experience needed? Leadership needed? According to what you’re saying all we missed is TV5’s leadership.
So, my question is, as a manager how do you justify to those two CB’s that they’re not good enough and they’re dropping to the bench?
I’m in the opinion that in the crunch time it was the offense who let us down against Liverpool, Sunderland and Blackburn.
I’m just thinking out loud, he may be able to sign a good CB, but I’d rather have a strong one like Samba than a technical one like Mertesacker.
How on earth do you keep 4 CB’s happy is beyond me.
Snir,
Allegedly, competition improves the breed. A poor game or two and your more than able replacement is waiting to take your place. then you’ll have to fight like mad in training to get it back.
It’s not just about The Club keeping the players happy (we’re already good at that), it’s about the players keeping The Club happy. Kennedy put it far more eloquently….
Personally, I think the team needs more of this internal competition to help us to develop that winning mentality that we all want to see displayed on the pitch.
Djourou player of the season? I think he has come on but has still to convince me that he has the physicality to last the distance of a full premier league season (very brittle) and also still has the occasional nightmare (thought he was awful in the Bolton game tbh). With Vermaelen fit, and iron out some of the rash aspects to his game, I would be quite happy with TV and Kos next season, but hey its only my opinion.
Our player of the season?
Jack, surely?
I meant iron out the rash bits re Kos, not TV by the way.
@114 TS.
I believe Lars is refering to the famous Lasagnegate incident that “robbed” the Tiny tots of a top 4 finish;
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article714521.ece
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-503620/Tottenham-consign-lasagne-gate-history–Ramos-finds-time-pose-bride-groom.html
Pint of Lager while I’m here please sir.
Zico – That’s why I said “arguably” 🙂
Mine is Jacky, but you could say it’s Djourou or Nasri.
Agree with you re Bolton, he was horrible, but wasn’t Nasri bad during times this season?
TS – Competition does improve the breed, just ask Clichy :D.
I just hope he brings the right type of CB cause we do NOT need another technical CB.
At the risk of repeating myself, I fully agree with Snir’s 115 😉
Player of the season I’d say it has to be Jack for me.
I think there’s a massive case that’s not be stated enough for Van Persie.
He may have missed a chunk of the season before December, but he’s delivered nearly every game he’s been on the pitch.
Now i don’t know if I’m still suffering from sunday, but I’ll have a pint of Guinness please.
H2H @ # 114,
Ah yes, shame on me for forgetting that incident. So, lasagnes all-round on St.Totteringham’s day?
Snir @ #120,
Someone with proven experience and used to winning would do it for me. And I would repeat that for any of the signings that we may or may not make this summer.
TS – “someone with proven experience and used to winning”
Amen brother.
Any lasagna left?
zico,
It’s dish of the month on the HT buffet car accompanied by a cheeky little bottle of sour grapes 😉
‘buffet car’, eh, TS? Has ‘holic not taught you anything with his bacon baguette?
It’s pretty close for my players of the season but here goes,spreading my awards around a bit.
Player of the first half of the season – Nasri, then Chamakh
Player of the second half of the season- RVP, then Schezzer
Player of all season, Wilshire. then Sagna.
Goodbye Ruby Tuesday – Almunia and Denilson
Please try to play more than 2 1/2 games before being stretchered off – Diaby
Most erratic – Arshavin
Worth at least £300 m on the transfer market – Bendtner
You don’t get poisoned on the HT Ollie – unless you’ve a cock on yer shirt 😉
Alternate player of season voting in my make believe world where everyone had played 38 games:
RVP
Szczęsny
Wilshere
Walcott
Sagna
Nasri
I know…they haven’t and they didn’t and it doesn’t matter but I think that’s the heart of our strengths today. I’ve omitted Cesc on purpose and also because I don’t think he’s been 100% at any point all season.
My last post was over 70 posts ago and since then we’ve moved on to dodgy Bacon Sarnies, Lasagnegate and new CB’s…
…phew! 🙂
Still 3 more finals to go for me 🙂
Jack has a strong case for POTS though IMO! 🙂
That fucking bastard Pierce has put Wilshire in the Under 21 Who Gives A Fuck Squad. Cant Wenger do something,take a contract out on him or something.
Ollie @ #125
Double heh! But zico has an excellent answer @ #127 which I fully endorse 😉
Hope your travels to the Ems at the weekend were not of the ‘8 hour plus’ variety. Sounds like you had fun with the gang.
Pearce is a knob but Jack could buy himself loads of brownie points from the Gooner faithful by developing a 3 week flu’.
Or he could just talk to Theo about what a bad idea the U21s is for someone who has broken into Arsenals first team.
tim @ #128
Yup, they’re my top 6 of the season too, all for different reasons.
If LK6 continues to improve at the rate he’s been doing then he’ll be in next year’s list.
Wooden spoon is a toss-up between Al and Deni, bless…. or as SR put it “Goodbye Ruby Tuesday”. Harsh but probably fair.
SR @ #126,
What about come back of the year award? Got to be Rambo.
… and none come back of the year to TV5 🙁
Love your blog ‘holic, in the good times and not-so-good times.
Good to know you were leading the chants with the onions crew in the noisy Clock End upper (row 6 Block 123). My first home game in ages.
To be honest I was one of the few of us, along with RVP, who spotted the sly Vidic stonewaller in the first half but who cares, justice was done in the end. A great win considering what we’ve been through these last couple of months.
We flew back today and as I was on baby-onions duty I didn’t realise that none other than the great Stroller was on the same plane ! Managed to get his autograph by the luggage collection point and exchanged pleasantries. Georgie said “great win on Saturday” (I guess old habits die hard – I really didn’t have the balls to correct his chronological error). Instead in awe I told the great man that we showed that same attitude he had instilled at the club all those years ago.
One-nil to The Arsenal, and may there be many, many more.
Pint of guiness for my damaged vocal chords, please barman.
For fucks sake.
Pearce: ‘I’ve got a duty to care for English football’
Evening all, next new post will be determined by if I can sort out a new router after work tomorrow. Second poxy Belkin in a couple of years has gone pear-shaped on me today 🙁
Definitely buying another make this time.
If there is a football team more despicable than Barca out there, Id like to know who they are.
Re: Snir @105, if TV5 had been healthy this season, how many people would be calling for Arsenal to get a new CB? Similarly to what you are saying, this summer if TV5 is fully recovered and Koscielny and Djourou are fit too, are we going to realistically go into the market for a better fourth choice CB than Squillaci? Or does it make sense to go into the market for a first or second choice CB and push one of the others down to constant bench sitting status?
Should have been Snir @110 and 115. Didn’t mean to confuse anybody …
TS 131. Not too bad. Token 45 min delay with a weird train swap in Lille. Great day all round but holic is very dangerous for me 😉
Onions? Onions?!?! Only one onions? You didn’t tell me you were around this weekend. Missed you again. Next time hopefully we’ll meet.
Sorry, Barcelona haters. I can’t wait to see Manchester United pronged in the CL final, and the bt8bbnn banknote says that is exactly what will happen.
Why do Barca feel the need to dive, cheat, pressure and con refs to win games? Aren’t they confident of their footballing skills?
I am absolutely convinced its more than just player behavior which makes them behave like that. It has to be something they do in training. For example , take example of Mascherano. I hardly remember him cheating while he used to play for Liverpool. However, now he dives and cheats all the time!
An absolute disgrace to football, they are. And worst part is that , in between all their theatrics and conning they play some breath taking football.
Sajit @ # 139
a few names come to mind 😉
LWC top 4 dreamers, the russian’s plaything & the retards from the red side of manchester
take your pick 😉
Sajit and IMB, while you debated the pros and cons of whether Barcelona are the most despicable of them all (IMB seems to be winning so far) I was watching a replay of Sp*ds v. Arsenal and despite my earlier praise of Djourou for his season-long performance I must say he was poor that day and Koscielny was the stronger of our two CBs at nearly every turn.
Agreed….I like Djourou in the air more than when he has to cover gaps and turn…..I think the ceiling of what Koscielny can become is higher and his rash tackles diminished as the season plodded on. We’ve been spoilt by Sol, Tony, Bould and Keown – I don’t think either are anywhere near that level….the question whether they can get there. Even a younger Kolo Toure was firmer or is that my rose-coloured doing their thing?
Barca….those two semi-finals (not to mention games versus us) have made me almost want Mancs to win…but in truth I don’t want either side to win. Strange…..
Tim Merrick @ # 147
i agree with u there. also i feel Kos has a better last ditch tackle than Djourou
but i would prefer it if Barcelona really stick it to the Mancs…hate those scum.
Hello ‘holics,
I agree with Snir, Ollie, 8ball Re: the centre back situation.
I reckon Arsene won’t buy a CB this summer unless he sells and that should be the least of worries for us.
We have definitely improved in defence in my opinion from where we were a year ago
A cover for Song is a necessity. A proper experienced signing there is a must because Denilson is just plain shit.
Also, I would like a striker who can be a poacher. RVP,Chamakh, New signing would form the line up for me next season
Clichy- Sell or keep? debatable for me
Cover for Sagna? I think yes
Also, Keep Cesc! It would be stupid for him to leave at this stage me thinks
Drink on Lars’ tab then 🙂
Cheers
Harsha @ #149,
All good but would definitely want us to keep Clichy assuming that he’s just as passionate about staying. He often maligned and I think, underrated.
Is he the new Sammy Nelson? 😉
Just read through a series of post in my honest opinon we really do not need any CB’s as someone has already said, but we do need the following -:
a. A cover for Clichy and i have already read in some reports arsene has already signed someone, it was from villa or blackburn dont quite remember, however another kid, we need a decent enuf LB, or like i have said many times throw in JD and Kosc as CB and put TV5 as LB, he might turn to be better than Ashley cole, in such a case then we do need another CB, however the idea of Cahill really doesnt fit with me overpriced, overrated and inconsistent in my books, Jagelika would do v nicely.
b. A def cover for Sagna, although he is strong as an horse, misses games usually through suspension alone, need a good RB, Eboue not good enough really..
c. A cover for song somehow denilson, diaby not gonna cut it there, Heard Frimpong would have been that replacement until his horrific injury at the start of the season which has kept him out. So do we need a melo?? Ramsey and Wilshire arent DM’s.
d. And this season in alot of games our offense has been a problem we need an Eduardo, a goal poacher who is in the right position at the right time all the time, Chicharito has it, I really cant come up with names atm hopefully u guys can..
Cheers
I just spotted the interview on Adotcom where WS tells how Lehman has helped him with Goal keeping advice.
WS letting the clock run down at the end of the game on Sunday was true classic JL.
I think it will be good if JL could stay on as coach as was suggested when he returned.
I believe he will stay with us to do his badges so hopefully that will entail him to school WS & Co some more. 😉
Just noticed Don Balon releasing the tape of the interview with Cesc and I just don’t what to make of it.
To be mad or not, I just don’t know. He’s right in what he said but he made AW look like a fool cause his words were NOT twisted.
This whole thing sounds fishy to me…
SG
Is there a link to that tape interview ?
Havent found it yet, as I’m on my iPhone and not my laptop.
But le-grove claims he heard it, and while I don’t agree with his views I don’t think he’d lie.
Okay I checked youtube but there’s nothing there yet
150True Storey
Harsha @ #149,
All good but would definitely want us to keep Clichy assuming that he’s just as passionate about staying. He often maligned and I think, underrated.
Is he the new Sammy Nelson?
———–
If he moons the North Bank then your question will be answered and all shall be revealed, literaly and figurativly. 🙂
Sorry for being in the dark, which specific Cesc interview are you talking about Snir. Can you please give me a gist ..
158 Sajit.
A quick google of “Cesc Fabregas Don Balon interview” should bring you into the light.
Oh that one,,,. Ok got it.. I had read this.. just didnt know it was Don ballon interview.
Thanks for that H2H.
Anyway, well, although I agree with what he said, I don’t agree with going out and questioning the club’s policy publicly, this is the exact same behavior from AA23 that pissed me off last season.
Could it be that the players are no longer (or at least starting not to be) AKB’s anymore? Could it be that they are questioning the manager more and more? If so, we’re in big big trouble for next season.
SR –
I agree with what you’re saying about players questioning the club whilst they are still on the payroll.
But then why would AW come out and say that Don Balon misrepresented Cescs’ statements if he didn’t have a firm belief this was the case?
I’m not trying to say that this tape doesn’t exist. But we all know tape recordings can also be edited.
Cesc still hasn’t come out publicly and spoken negatively about Arsenal yet to my knowledge.
According to the Arsh, his statements were also “lost in translation”, after he apparently was seeking a move.
Although any player who gives an opinion about how he feels his team can improve isn’t really doing anything wrong in my opinion, I reckon if he blatantly comes out and publicly undermines or slag’s off his club or team mates is being out of order.
Releasing the interview now is akin to shit stirring, whatever’s in it.
Couldn’t give a rat’s arse, fuck the media, all of it Spanish or other.
H2H @ #157
Just for old time’s sake (again):
http://www.arseweb.com/people/ex/sammyn.html
Heh!
Snir @ #161
Too many ‘could it bes’. I recommend a cup of camomile tea to help calm the nerves coupled with a huge ‘pinch of salt’ 😉
I’m also with Ollie @ #163. It’s well timed (from the media’s perspective) and targetted sh*t stirring. The media are feeding off Gooners’ concern for their captain based on the shenanigans of last summer. They want to step and repeat. Ollie’s approach to it all, IMO, is the most sensible.
TS.
Luckily I was in the Clock End for that game.
Ollie.
Indeed, a pox on all those vultures.
TS – You know what ? Let me adopt that approach. If I could I would also join the “Secure Unit” but I would literally go crazy there 😀
All you all really want is another round, right?
Well, barman, if you’re not too busy fixing your router, drink of their choice to the fine gentlemen above.
Did someone mention beer? I too have adopted the “fu*k ’em all” approach to the media.
Whatever happens will happen, and in the meantime I have better things to be worrying about; such as what’s in the medicine cabinet?
As well as regretting our lapses that have left our league challenge in tatters, what can you say when a team as bad as Schalke make it to the last 4 of the Champions League?
I suppose looked at another way, with a couple of decent signings, if Man Utd can get to the final with the squad they have, then there is no reason why we can’t next season.
Still can’t lose that feeling “if only” though.
Pass me the Prozac, Catalan 😉
I hate routers. We have 4 computers constantly linked in our house, and went through three different makes of router, then lucked out on Netgear, which has kept us going three years with only the occasional reset.
Okay on this occasion I’ll take a Guinness if that’s alright 🙂