The Fairy Tale Without The Happy Ending
Nov 29th, 2011 by 'holic
Such a shame. As the big stars looked on the understudies were asked to produce a masterpiece of a show, and so very nearly did it. Make no mistake this was a professional performance, not a pantomime, but in the end the writer of the piece regretted producing his work with a blunt pencil.
The evening was pure theatre. Ali Baba arrived with his forty mercenaries, among them the ugliest of the sisters who seemed to suffer at the hands of the merciless derision handed out by a baying audience. Urged on by the mob it must be said the Gold-Children gave as good as they got for much of the performance. In the first act the Dashing Prince that is Oxlade-Chamberlain, ably assisted by The Two Brothers, Frimpong and Coquelin, hinted at better times ahead.
We could, indeed should have been ahead when The Shadow ghosted in at the far post but snatched at the chance. Then the Dashing Prince unleashed something special from distance which against a shorter custodian may have turned the tide. Although our very own Jack is still weeks away from returning full of jumping beans, the beanstalk kept Ali Baba’s boys on stage, and I thought was more worthy of the Oscar that was presented to the other giant after the curtain came down.
The second act provided more of the same. We saw even less of Tom Thumb’s twin sister and her new mates, but the Three Apprentices and their supporting cast lacked the killer final lines. As the author of the piece said afterwards the happy ending, that had been a long time coming, turned into the stuff of nightmares. A short delivery from the wings turned into a tragedy, as a swift riposte saw the previously stagestruck Aguero turn into the Goose That Laid the Golden Egg.
The introduction of Thumbelina for the Dashing Prince with five minutes to go was a strange piece of direction, I thought, but then critics always think they know better than the professionals, don’t they? At the finale a full-house vented their displeasure at the Silent Princess one last time.
So another season of beer productions has come to an end, and decisions have to be made about where some of the masterful young apprentices will ply their trade in the new year. Will another few months of understudying in bigger productions be right for them, or should we consider allowing them to take up temporary assignments as travelling players? Even more importantly the company will need to consider joining the bidding for a new leading man. We looked just a little lightweight at the front of stage tonight.
630 Responses to “The Fairy Tale Without The Happy Ending”
Thirst.
Disappointed in the result but not by the boys’ performances.
Lots of positives, Oxlade-Chamberlain (sorry but there’s only one Ox – Entwistle), Frimpong and Coquelin all look like great prospects who will be in the first team squad very shortly.
Other good performances from Miquel and Djourou (at right back), Benayoun and Kos.
The main worry is that Park & Chamakh’s performances showed that apart from RVP the cupboard is bare in the striking department. This position is where Wenger MUST splash the cash in January if we are to challenge for silverware/a top four spot this season.
Finally good to hear that odious little shit Nasri soundly booed every time he got the ball, he was completely anonymous throughout and the crowd deserve a lot of credit for that as well as our midfield.
Been taking lessons from BtM, Holic?
I had to check out the author.
New striker in January please, but well done the Young Guns. I would only loan out the young Spaniard. I think the other 3 are good enough for the first team now, albeit introduced gradually and not all at the same time.
Beers all round, apart from a BM for H2H.
Well written Dame ‘Holic…
Holic,
Thanks as ever for the report.
For me this game was a joy to watch.
I thought we pressed very well.
I thought for once, I saw an Arsenal team that genuinely worked its bollocks off throughout the game from the front.
I was hugely impressed with Coquelin and Frimpong – who worked hard, if not somewhat naive at times. Kos was wonderful too.
Yet despite the fact that we largely dominated play, were defensively sound and controlled large tracts of possession – we ultimately deserved to loose. Why?
Well we simply didn’t create enough chances to capitalise on. When we did, we didn’t have the requisite firepower up front. Citeh did. They arguably created one chance – from which they scored. Johnson, Dzeko and Aguero we involved in a movement that was so slick – it could almost be described as Arsenalesque in its manner of execution: 1 -2 -3 bang – game over….! If we scored that goal against any other team – no one would have batted an eyelid, because it would have been expected from a Wenger team.
Johnson, Dzeko and Aguero cost the fat end of 100m. Up front we had Chamahk who we signed on a freebie and Park who cost 2.5m. That was the real difference tonight.
Just like the stars of tonight’s fairytale – almost bloody first. Honsetly I think it’s time we sent the skinny frog prince and Rasputin’s nephew back home come January – they have most definitely turned back into pumpkins.
Most bizarre report ever. And I should have already been asleep
The home support was magnificent, but the boys gave them plenty to cheer about.
The midfield triumvirate worked tirelessly and with great skill and determination. Frimpong may well be why le Boss appeared not to show any interest in Scott Parker. Coquelin will one day be one of the Arsenal greats as will the tricky speedster that is Oxlaide-Chamberlain.
Kos is becoming the great defender I always believed he would and Miquel put in a decent shift at left back.
Park worries me a bit, he seems to lack strength and pace and heading the ball is completely beyond him. What Chamakh’s problem is I don’t know but he was coughing, spitting and wheezing his way through the game. West Upper is quite correct in saying that we need a couple of decent strikers; if anything happens to RVP????????????? Perhaps you will get your chance soon Theo?
Agree with all here and in the previous drinks that we need a new striker. Was surprised that AW didn’t have one of the young ones on the bench but all three youngsters were midfielders. If the Arsh can’t get a beer cup start, then I guess we won’t be seeing him after January. That is what can happen when you go out and spend big money on a star name, I suppose.
Chamakh from the fairy godmother. “You CAN go for the ball.”
I loved the grin on Arsene’s face when the lady boy was mentioned during the post match interview and how it expanded when he said “di$appointed!” 😀
The difference tonight for me was Aguero! Bring on the first XI fixture!
Heartenned by many of the performances but lord do we need a striker to replace Chamakh. Park is keen but doesn’t look like the answer.
Evening all. Sorry if you don’t like the abstract tonight. Whole night was just theatre, with the bad guy thrown in for good measure.
Under the circumstances I thought we were largely exceptional. Shame the front two didn’t do it for us. Park still learning, Chamakh I love but can’t help thinking he needs regular games he won’t get with us.
Oh, and Nasri, you are one pathetic cunt. That is all.
Oxlade-Chamberlain did a great defensive job tonight to go with his attacking play. What are the odds for him to start when Gervinho departs for ACN?
Great post Holic!
Shame indeed we were the better team but we all know that it doesnt win you games. So march on Beer Cup can wait for yet another year.
Nice Report Holic 🙂
Well , I can only really join the chorus expressed so eloquently by the Guv’nor .
There are some defeats that have you spitting feathers , there are some that leave you bemoaning your luck , but there are some defeats that leave you thanking the stars that you are privileged to be a Gooner . Tonight was one such occasion .
The Defence , led by the magnificent Kos , ( how superior did he appear when Aguero , the short fuck , was on the wind-up) , left Flappy with not a meaningful save to make all night . Kudos should also go to Schillachi who had an error-free night and a very switched on Djourou . Young Miguel , after a slightly fraught start against the very talented Johnson , held firm and managed to impose himself on the game to such an extent that Johnson was rarely seen in the second half until the goal , by which time the young Spaniard was taking a well-earned rest . Given that he was not playing in his usual position ( is he even left-footed ?) it was a remarkably assured display from which he should take great heart .
Of the remaining six , it was the teenage trio , rather than their more experienced teammates who should take all the plaudits .
Frimpers looked to have learned some important lessons from his early season skirmishes , and the Joe Frazier aggression always appeared measured and controlled , whilst his distribution and first touch seemed to have gone up several notches . And if he aimed a little verbal tirade at the chinless lesbian at the end , then an even greater doff of the cap .
Coquelin , for me , was magnificent . If he was caught a little static for their goal , then I’ll forgive him that for he covered every blade of grass out there tonight , and matched that work rate with precise and always forward looking distribution . Both he and Frimpers will be pushing very hard in the weeks to come .
The jewel in the crown , The Ox . Balanced , direct , genuinely two-footed , tricks a plenty , pace in that crucial five yards from a standing start , committed and built like a small tank , he gave the City back line a torrid time from start to finish . Already looking a better bet to understudy Flipper and Theo than the increasingly peripheral AA , what a player this boy can be .
On the downside , whilst not doubting the effort of Benny throughout nor the fact that his contribution and impact improved as the game went on , I felt he always flitted around the margins of the game and never really threatened to be a game-changer .
Both Park and Chamakh gave it their all , and we can’t ask for more than that , but neither threatened (save for the solitary effort of Park in the first half ) , and I would join those calling for a quality striker in the January sales . Our season will be significantly derailed should , God forbid , anything happen to RVP .
City , to be fair , always threatened a solitary moment of quality , and so it came to pass . The effort , drive , and no little skill was not therefore rewarded with the right and just result .
So what ! We are The Arsenal , and they are just another corruptly-funded Johnny-come-lately bunch of nomarks .
Keep the Faith .
So….. It was a pleasure being in the company of some new top Gooner mates this evening. Please step forwards and take a bow Glenn w and his lovely sister Laura. Brilliant seats in The Nortbank Lower were secured courtesy of Mr.W and the pre-match drinks were enjoyed in the warm atmosphere of The Arsenal Supporters club where a £1 entrance fee allows you to buy a round of 3 Guinnii at just £7.50 – great stuff! We were joined by Top Man Snowy to help get the evening off to a rockin’ start.
The performance from our team of young guns was worthy and satisfying. Kos helped to steady the centre of defence with yet another masteclass performance where he put The Ugly $ister in his pocket and showed The Vulgarians how to defend without the need for a £150k weekly pay-packet.
The only noticeable weakness was in attack where neither Chamakh nor Park impressed. Like others here, I’m hoping that Santa Arsene delivers an able replacement for RVP because it looks like we don’t have one.
I thought the kids did great and deserved something to takeaway from the match tonight, they certainly didn’t deserve to lose. The ADV support was as poor as ours was good. All in all, I felt proud to be a Gooner tonight. All that was missing was the result.
The quad is dead, long live the treble.
COYRRRs!!!!!
Rarely have I left the Grove after a defeat without feeling any real anger. However, this day was one of them.
Home Beer cup games are always looked forward to in my house. They generally mean that the kids get an airing and have a chance to get to a game. It also gives the kids an airing on the green carpet.
Everything was in place. The same parking space, the same train, the same hot dog from Fat Arrys and the prog form the same seller. What could go wrong? Pre match was dedicated to the sad loss of Gary Speed. We can all have our own views on various clubs etc but football is a universal language.
The game kicks off to the universal chorus suggesting that dear little Sami bore some resemblance to female genitalia. “What are they singing dad?” I am asked by my 8 year old. “Don’t know son, don’t think they like Nasri,” is my retort. “I’m not surprised, he betrayed us.” Quite correct but best he does not learn language like that just yet. Further chants suggesting that he preferred money to football followed. It was nice to see the little toad have an uneasy time. He clearly was not happy.
The game itself had many positives. Kos has continued to improve. I have always felt that he has struggled more when he has been expected to play the lead role. This is something he has clearly made big strides with. The CoqPong midfield combo worked tirelessly and showed real promise. Considering the experience of those they were up against I though both can be proud of their performances. Young Alex is definitely on the way to stardom. He is already terrorising good players. There was one period when Citeh had four around him such was the threat he posed.
Then, just as we seemed to be on top Citeh did what Arsenal of about 7 years ago used to do. They broke with pace. A clinical move and a clinical finish from a genuine class act and there was the game gone. In the end the quality up front was the difference. I have said all season that we have no cover if RVP gets injured. Surely tonight just underlined that? I don’t know what has gone wrong with Chamakh and I have seen absolutely nothing to explain why we brought in Park.
Great crowd noise tonight. My last home game was the Dortmund victory. Citeh fans could not be more different if they tried. Quiet to a man and only vocal in the last 5 mins. Hardly surprising when you consider that they have only had one shot on target in 3 visits to the Grove. How they justify that strike rate with the money they have spent I have no idea. They are not a football club anymore, they are a rich man’s toy. At best, a franchise. Nothing more than a posh KFC. Who the fuck can get excited over a deep fried drumstick?
So the journey home was not full of disappointment. More of one of pleasure strangely enough. Young players had stood up and were counted. It was refreshing to hear that Nasri had had had words with Frimpong at the end. From memory The Pong was hardly complimentary when Nasri departed? Cult hero in the making? You’d better believe it.
6X please maestro. I feel a touch of Devizes nectar is called for. Oh no it isn’t. Oh fucking yes it bloody well is.
Great report holic.
Keep the faith.
You saw it like I did guys. I’m sure I know the W’s from years back iS. For a brief while mainly seventies I was a Supporters Club fixture.
TaBS, and Arthur, thanks for the mails. Will respond tomorrow, hopefully.
Hello Steve, I have a feeling it was a better game to be at than to watch on Sky with the fuckwitterry of Hughes and Redknapp minor. Fucking painful they were 🙁
takeabowson, you hit it right on the nose: “….but there are some defeats that leave you thanking the stars that you are privileged to be a Gooner. Tonight was one such occasion.” So proud, so proud of the boys. Holic, great post…I too had to check to see if you took the night-off and let BTM loose. It’s great that the second string has such talent and are producing, makes for great competition for the first teamers as they hear footsteps coming-up from behind. A seasoned striker is on the menu for January. Cheers all.
They both are holic. Neither both being at the Grove ensured that two villages were missing their idiots for a few hours. Perhaps a future app could be for holic commentary on live matches. There would be a mad rush for studio guests direct from the bar.
Now there’s one to ponder…….
Nice post ‘holic.A touch of variety to the usual high quality stuff. I think I like it, abstract as it is.
Slightly hurt by our loss last night, mostly ‘cos of the effort most of the guys in Red & White put in. We didn’t deserve to lose that game, but I guess that’s what you get for trying to write a masterpiece of a fairytale with a blunt pencil.
Was very encouraged by the performance of the youngsters though.
And please, I think we’re done waiting for Marouane to wake up or Park to click, we fairly desperately need an able deputy for Robin in January.
Just in from the match and haven’t a huge amount to add – the above drinks say it all.
Dead proud of the lads tonight. After a build up which stressed the formidable, expensive (and indeed formidably expensive) nature of the City second string, several of the best players on show wore red and White and hardly cost a penny.
Coquelin and Frimpong were superb tonight, and showed enough to make less pressing the issue of how we will rest Ramsey, Song and Arteta in the weeks ahead. Le Coq was my motm but you have to love Frimpong’s tenacity and by the sound of it he exhibited more of the same in the tunnel. I actually noticed him leaving the field right behind Nasri and from where I was sat it looked as if he leant in and dropped a few choice words. Well done that man.
Speaking of the money-hungry little toad, he was clearly rattled by the abuse he received, no surprise given the lack of bottle he consistently displayed in an Arsenal shirt and his form since leaving. He’s rapidly becoming the latest cautionary tale in the big book of “why you shouldn’t go chasing the money”. I look forward with relish to his omission from the French Euros squad.
Slightly surprised we didn’t get to see Diaby tonight, but hopefully he’s being saved for the weekend – I thought Arteta looked like he needed a rest on Saturday and lord knows he’s earned one.
I also suspect that we are witnessing the death rattle of AA as an Arsenal player. Sad to see, since he has all the ability in the world and is mad as a box of frogs, but he was woeful in the Fulham game and it feels like a parting of ways is becoming inevitable.
Elsewhere, our need for strikers is glaring. I like both Park and Chamakattack, but both were quiet tonight. Fair enough if you’re finding your feet/out of form, but the work rate really wasn’t there and City’s defenders weren’t pressed nearly hard enough.
Finally, a word for City: Underwhelming. And several words for their fans: classless, deluded, poznan dancing cnuts.
It looks like we’re all singing from the same hymn sheet, there’s not much above that I don’t agree with. The young guns did themselves proud and if it weren’t for a couple of very good saves in the first half, we may very well of been in the hat for the next round.
Nice reports from our on the spot ‘holics and an entertaining post from the guv’ner, although personally, even though I agree he makes a great Ugly Sister, I see the chinless one more as a Widow (T)wanky. 🙂
===
I’ll take that beer Zico mate, BM is strictly an afternoon breakfast beverage.
Cheers.
Cheers ‘Holic. I’m hoping that Glenn and his sister might make a brief guest appearance at The Tollie for the Everton game.
Tabs & Steve T (original) – great to see that we all saw the same game. Never have I left a defeat feeling quite so alright with the world. Another positive is that it gives us just a little more bandwidth to focus on the bigger competitions
tabs – looking forward to meeting up Saturday week. Will give me a chance to prize from you the so far unspoken extra McClintock morsels once the beers start flowing 😉
‘holic, if Le Boss, asked you to submit a list of 5 strikers, one of which he should consider signing in January, which names would be on your list, in order of preference?…
I think basically we all feel the same way about our performance against City. Effort was in abundance, unlucky not to score but nothing but pride for our boys. Man City are not all that. They spent all of that money but somehow still ended up with mostly overpriced second-tier players that received a run for their money from our academy products.
London Pride all around for those in the bar
UTA
Lolz, allow me to take my mask off 🙂
@28, I heard Podolski is on our list?
Nice main post from Stuart Hall 😉
It’s late, again – I’m too late, so have only got as far as TABS @17 who has saved me the trouble of writing anything further – agreed, every word, great post.
Evening (?) TS – glad you had a good night – sounds like you met some class posters tonight. . .
zico, Tabs, TS, H2H, Lars – good work in previous drinks, and thanks for not booing at my petro-puns 😉
Syph Bladder – great piece in prev drinks. The style smacks of ‘Shaft’ to me – is that you again bt8bbgfg ?
zico / Dr F / Dr Z / “confused” – us ? Trev / Dr T / Mr T / PHW / Per ? 😉
Thanks all for the great match reports. I was detained and couldn’t make it to see the match live but it sounds like great theatre and a series of fine performances from our youngsters. Trev, Syph Bladder is not me although the time of day is about right so I would be a logical suspect. 😀
Nice touch Holic. No storey book ending but memorable performances by the youngsters and Kos was outstanding (as usual). Now for the villains in this tale. Kuhn Aguero is a snotty faced little brat and I too reveled in the manner Kos handled him. Roberto Mancini has lost any respect I once had for him. Post game interview was a sham, he gave no credit to Arsenal. Now here is where I seem to stand alone. Mancini should of taken Nasri off at the start of the second half. But to Sammy’s credit, he didn’t pull a ‘Tevez’ and he doggedly finished the game. Who knew Mancini could be so sadistic.
Syph was me Trev 😀
Thought I’d see what the syphilitic FIFA idiots get up to when not trying the make the game as corrupt as can be….
I have to say, it feels weird to say this but I’m actually satisfied and content after tonight.
Obviously not with the result but with the effort and the realization it would bring to the first team that a trip away to City isn’t that scary.
City played internationals at every position apart from GK and were outplayed by a team of youngsters and fringe players.
Joe – I disagree.
City did not create, in fact they had a torrid time against Kos and Squillaci. They did create one chance from our naivety.
We on the other hand did create chances by Park, Ox, Gervinho, Chamakh etc.
On the striker front, I was discussing with Zico in the previous post what a good bit of business it would be to sign Podolski for 20 million.
He is up there with the best in the world in terms of potential and pedigree and has over a 100 (!!!!!!) caps for Germany.
Signing him and selling Chamakh to PSG for 10 million along with AA to whoever is willing would be magnificent business.
Lovely report `Holic. I got really lucky to find a top quality stream that sounded like the 2 uber-pro Arsenal commentators were in the middle of the (wonderful) crowd. I wish I could have understood more it really felt like the russian supporter’s club was broadcasting.
We deserved to win this one but such is football. The lads were playing exceptionally well but (maybe a bit influenced by the russians on speed) the one player that did really stand out for me was Le Coq. He combines grit, vista and wonderful passing abilities. Ox is one for the future no doubt about it and so is Frimpong both of them ready for ever more frequent apparitions. But Coq is definitively ready right now, I can understand his frustration at not playing enough games.
Of all things I hope Arsene learned from this game is that we have at least 16-18 players than can play in every single game. Coq can and should rotate with Arteta so the latter can last a full season. Same for Frimpong and Song, Ox could see a few more games too to rest Theo. I don’t remember a B-team so full of promise in the last decade so my hope tonight is that Arsene will take notice and do away with the B-team concept so that we won’t run out of steam come March. I’m certainly not the only one thinking that had this midfield played against Fulham rather than the jaded A-midfield we’d won the game.
Pretty please Arsene?
Many mentioned Kos’ performance, I have been a strong fan since day one and I believe as much now as I did then that there’s much more to come from him. Also kudos to Squillaci, a very strong display that must not have been easy considering the circumstances. Well done!
Steve T: do you remember our little discussion about attitude a while back? Don’t know if you share the feeling but after feeling reassured I really start to get impressed. Win or lose they look like real battlers.
I absolutely love this photo…
http://tinyurl.com/87jdyze
Tabs@17: On the button. Agree with every word.
SR@37: I thought their non-international keeper (and cheapest player?) was their MotM. Pulled out a couple of big saves in the first half and didn’t do much if anything wrong all game. Even sounds like a pantomime villain.
Agree that the FrimCoq is a more than capable substitution for the SonArt midfield. I guess AW was reckoning on a Saturday/Wednesday rotation for the next couple of weeks with SonArt playing the league games and FrimCoq in the Cups. Maybe we could have got away with resting SonArt against Fulham and Man City, playing them next weekend and then resting again for the Greece trip, reckoning that the FrimCoq could have handled two games in four days, but it would have been a gamble.
I’m pretty sure AA will be sold in January.
I think it was Saturday that ultimately confirmed it to AW that AA should be offloaded.
The fact that AA didn’t start yesterday means a lot. You could argue that Park and Chamakh need games but so does AA and he didn’t get it.
I’m quite sure he’ll be sold, and I have no problems with that. But only in case we bring someone in. If we sell AA and Chamakh and not bring anybody in, that would be a huge failure.
I would be very surprised it that’d be the case.
If we do bring someone in, Podolski is the ideal one for me.
We’ll have the world’s first left footed duo! 😀
Why on earth is Stewart Robson still receiving wages from ATVO?
What needs to be done for Ray Parlour/Stephen Hughes to be the regular co-commentator?
I can’t hear Robson anymore, I just can’t.
Had I wanted an anti Arsenal analyst I woulda watched Jamie Redknapp and that lot.
And yes, his analysis is anti Arsenal. Trevor Harris on the other hand is absolute class.
Morning. What zoco said @3!!!
Right, now coffee and kids….
Apologies Matt. I have had several conversations about attitude over the last year. Please remind me.
Nice to see you back by the way. I have missed your thoughts.
For anybody who doesn’t hate City yet.
This is from their fans yesterday:
“van Persie is ours, van Persie is ours, you’re our feeder club, van Persie is ours.”
Found myself some new porn
http://motd2u.blogspot.com/2011/11/robin-van-persie-100-goals-dvdrip.html
Great report oh no it wasn’t OH YES IT WAS loved it I also loved the atitude from most of the team thats how you play football skill, speed and ATITUDE = HEART you might get beat but you ‘ve put everthing you have, into the game if you do your very best no can complain SIMPLES !!
Heh ‘Holic, good twist. Disappointed but most impressed by the performance of all but the front two.
All I want for Christmas is my two front men!
And in that post Snir, @ 45, is confirmation of what I posted yesterday – it has taken Manchester City fans less than one season to become as unbearable as their neighbours, an attribute which at least gestated over a generation.
Fucking noisy neighbours indeed.
TS – glad to hear the HT driver is still on the payroll 😉
Played ‘holic
Behind You!!! – Re that performance on all the important points
The kids – Who were more than alright – warmed the cockles.
AND i really do mean it when i say we’re best out of there. We’ve got the Champs League and making sure we qualify for it again to concentrate on – with one of the thinner squads of the top lot. So i’ll be looking forward to the Liver mob – among others? – overstretching themselves for relatively little.
Our front 2 though!!! Did Will-he-ever-comebakh-Chamakh get a decent touch/create anything all game. And you’re right Park is still learning – but so much to learn still. Can’t help thinking AW might have made a mental note re him that goes something like – ‘Park – Must Keep Off The Grass’
‘All I want for Christmas is a new front two’
Onward and upward – in the comps that really count
uReDS!
What a pleasant day yesterday. I spent some time with TS watching and admiring some young class acts that shows us much more than we had a right to expect from them, and plenty of promise of future fun. Then I stopped watching the German women under 20s (google ‘playboy’) and enjoyed watching arsenal too 😉
Oops bath@48 apologies for appearing to try to extract a smile from similar tooth gag. Have a filling you won’t mind though, it’s just that i read ‘holic then got stuck straight in …
Difficult to find Park in space – wonders about fairly aimlessly in crowded areas, if anything seeming to get in the way of others when he should be driving forward. ‘Tis so the lad needs lessons still from the experts.
On a positive note – Frimpong looks like he can cover Song with gusto now. He’s learned his early season lessons well. Well done son.
tabs@17: amen to every single word in that post.
Still incredibly proud of the effort and attitude of the whole team last night. Kunt Aguero and the chinless (and spineless) twat gan just go fuck themselves. They can buy all the trophies in the world but they can never ever buy real class.
Oh to be a Gooner.
Dunno about you lot but I thought Shitty played almost exactly the same as the last time they came to the Grove. Scared, negative tactics, absolutely craven without the ball – sitting back with two banks of four whenever we attacked, they looked exactly like those other spoilers Blackburn, Stoke and their ilk.
World class? My arse!
Everything needed to be said has been said already. As Matt said Coq really impressed me a lot. He passes crisply and his first touch is great
Camberwell, it’s one of Mancini’s widely known tactics. He used to do it when he was at inter as I recall when they visited their title rivals.
I want the first team now to get back into the groove quickly. League is the only thing we have to concentrate on until Jan/Feb.
A win at wigan is very important
Morning All
zico @ #49 – It’s good to know that the controls of the HT Mk II are in such safe hands 😉
Trev @ #32 – I did indeed. It was thoroughly enjoyable night all round. All that was missing was sending those ADVs packing with their tails between their legs.
Matt @ #38 – Good to see you back mate. Another high quality post from you. Agree with all the points that you raised. OxCoqPong are ready to be weened into the first XI and Coq may be good enough to be a regular. What we don’t know about is his attitiude on the training pitch but from where I was sitting/standing last night, he looked the real deal as he did when he played at The Sh*thole.
Snir @ #45 – A few of their cheeky young’uns were singing similar sh*t as we crossed the bridge into The Stadium. Back in the day, that sort of behaviour would have met with a very swift kick-in but of course we are all civilised and grown-up now and have far bigger fish to fry. Just goes to show, money can’t buy you class or decent supporters. I’m sure half of the support that they brought to the HoF was disillusioned, plastic Chel$ki supporters who fancied a glory-hunting trip across London. I prefer to view the ADVs as a club where we rip them off for tons of cash by selling them our cast-offs 😉
PS: And well said Lars @ #53 and AL @ #50 too.
Refreshments are on the bar for all who want them.
Love the style of the post today ‘Holic, sums up the game most eloquently 😉
iStorey @ 18, the quad is dead, long live the treble! 😀
Absolutely love it, that’s the sort of positive thinking we need 🙂
Steve T @ 19, nice one from the eyes at the Grove 🙂
I have to agree with Gedo @ 22, and by succession, master tabs @ 17, I personally haven’t seen the mighty Arsenal lose live but if I had gone to this Quarter-Final match, I would have been proud to be supporting the Arsenal, we played a great game, basically excellent reactants but no products produced (a bit of chemistry for you there ;))
Snir @ 45, I feel sorry for the true Manc Blues that see the corrsion oil effect that is engulfing their club, but their voices are swept along by the mercernary fan wave who have picked up the scent of a potential trophy haul.
And strangely, the 1st time I used my Red membership to access Arsenal Player Live Voice Commentary, we lose. It was a bit negative as well (more excitement when Kun’t Aguero scored than in the whole match) so I’ll re-consider next time, it was behind my Sky Sports 2 stream time-wise as well…
There was a lot of noise. Samir was talking in French, Manu wasn’t. They didn’t touch.
Haha.
Right, this morning was bizarre. India connected here via VNC, at times it looks like it was some bad streaming, with them seeing nearly 1 minute later what I was doing locally.
It also ended abruptly after nearly 4 hours. Half an hour later got an e-mail saying they didn’t mean to end the call, that it was an accident, they tried to reconnect and didn’t manage.
India will be India 😉
Bah, think I’ll take it relatively easy this afternoon and leave early-ish.
Still a bit gutted we didn’t win yesterday, but hopefully it will be for the greater good.
I think I’ll have a drink of….Lars’ choice now.
AL @52 “Park in space” heh! 🙂
http://twitpic.com/7m1vzp/full
Thought you mighty like this piccy Holics!
Working from home today little Gooner is rather poorly!
Heh, Snir – your photo @39 doesn’t show – it says that “appeas to have no style” !! Seriously 🙂
AtG – hope that little Gooner boiunces back quickly!
Afternoon All ,
A bit of the morning after the night before feeling today . Notwithstanding all the huge plusses of last night , and that it was , after all , only the Beer Cup , I’ve still got that ” bugger bugger bugger ” feeling . Oh well . Onwards and upwards to Wigan .
Gedo , Trev , Ned and Lars , cheers for the kind words .
TS – The drinks pretty much got the banner headlines of the Frank Chat . The rest was either stuff that would already have been well known to all (eg the fight in Lazio ) , or stuff that I am ashamed to say has disappeared into the recesses of my drink-addled brain . 🙁
However , in the interests of nabbing one of those Banana Rums off you , (which appear to be all the rage at the moment) , I will of course maintain at Everton that I still have lots to spill 😉
Steve T and N7 – Great match reports . Very much enjoyed reading both .
Matt – agreed . I think Frimpong , The Ox , and especially Coquelin , will all get games over the busy up and coming xmas period .
Snir @39 – Afraid the link didn’t work for me , but if its the same photo up on Arseblog today , then that photo should be held up as a salient reminder of what can happen when you sell your soul for wonga and leave the Glorious Red and White . Who will remember Nasri in 10 years ? Not us , and judging on last night’s performance , not anyone at City . He is a strange mixture of terror and petulance in that photo .
Dr Z @49 – Agreed . Those “Feeder club” chants have brought me to the conclusion that Kompany’s days at The Speedo Massive are numbered .
Wind @58 “master tabs” ?????? Should I start calling you Grasshopper ? 🙂
And Ollie is back on the good stuff – excellent news 🙂
ATG @ #61
Great pic. I think he’s telling Na$ri that the only way is up? Wish Arthur Jr. well.
Wind @ #58
Thanks for the kind words.
Ollie @ #59
I think you need to start chronicling your own diary on these pages. You could call it “Peed Off At Work”? Have a good day! 😉
Thanks for your kind words Holics! He’s asleep bless him!
tabs @ #63
Heh! 😀
Agreed. I’ll keep believing that you have extra Frank Fables and you keep thinking that I’ll be bringing a hipflask full of fruity rum 😉
Drink or pipe sir to wash away The Vulgarian blues?
Frimps having a dig at Na$ri funny as hell….
http://www.oohtobeagooner.com/watch-frimpong-say-fuck-you-to-nasri-and-challenges-him-to-a-fight/
Just got back from the pub. Was watching Arsenal Ladies play against Kobe INAC team in a fundraising event in Tokyo. Game ended 1-1, lots of thrills and spills to be seen. Arsenal Ladies were pretty hardcore but seemed to have trouble coping with the speedy Japanese ladies…
Seemed like they raised some money though so all’s well that ends well I guess…
Smooth pint of Guinness TS – cheers – just the ticket .
Arthur – cheers for the link , have to say the fella who owns the site is a better lip-reader than me !
Will Shaft be making a play for the sexy Arsenal goalie Canons ? 🙂
The scene : a sanitised office in a retreat somewhere in the Home Counties, and the scrutiny of Dr Feelgood continues:
In depth interview # 1
Dr Syko Babble: “So I believe you’ve been having some bad dreams of late? You know, our dreams can tell us so much about ourselves, it’s the interpretation of them that……”
Feelgood (interrupting) : “Pah, dreams. My life is one fucking nightmare at the minute. I can’t move without looking over my shoulder – MI6, Seth Blabber, the Yakuza, if it weren’t for Roxette I’d never get a beer. I’m even beginning to get nostalgic about Wolfgang Smallballs…….”
Dr SB (calmly) : “And Wolfgang is one of your many “friends”?”
Feelgood : “Not exactly. It’s just that he was around when things was normal. I just want things to go back to the way they were…..”
Dr SB: “And is Wolfgang with us in the room just now?”
Feelgood (rolling his eyes) : “Fuck, not you as well. Let me see, are you wearing heels? Fancy a swim, perhaps? No Wolfie is NOT in the room, else my back would be straight up against that wall…..”
Dr SB (trying to stem the agitation in the patient) : “Would you like to tell me what’s in your briefcase?”
Feelgood : “Hey, is that one of them metaphorms? Or just a crap chat up line? You’re NOT wearing heels are you?”
Dr SB (serious voice) “No I’m genuinely intersted in what you have in that briefcase?”
Feelgood : “Just what you’d find in any Executive’s briefcase. Let’s see : Agenda for next D L meeting, Passport, Contacts Book, Magazine (for an AK 47 Kalashnikov), love letters……and a big wad of money.”
Dr SB: “Would you like to tell me why you carry so much money?”
Feelgood (proudly) : “Business works that way, people can be bought, Governments manipulated – never understimate the greed of your average Manchester citizen…..”
Dr SB : “With Waddington’s currency?”
Feelgood : “The Feelgood Foundation is a flexible organisation – we deal in all the major currencies……”
Dr SB (switching tact) : “Tell me about your childhood……?”
Feelgood : “Before or after my dad went to jail?”
Dr SB : “Your father went to jail? What for?”
Feelgood : “He rolled a five and landed on “Community Chest” ……..
To be continued….
Hehe, he might just do! He likes the goalscorer Beattie because she’s a bit hefty and good with a football 😀
And she wears the number 14, what could go wrong?
Another brilliant instalment Dr Z , I hope you’re storing all these 🙂 🙂
Better than Jackanory . Have one on me (or Lars actually) 😉
I think the goalie is a little too skinny for Shaft’s liking though 😉
But she is cute that being said. Pulled off some Szczesny-esque saves as well!
Off to check this Beattie out Canons . Good in the box ?
Don’t mind if I do tabs.
Frank’s Fables, eh? 😀
🙂
Hmmm , Beattie a bit scary Cannons . Wouldn’t fancy my chances in a caber tossing comp with her .
I’m with tabs on this one about Beattie, I wouldn’t risk it for a chocolate biscuit in this case 😉
Tabs @ 69 I think that number suits you 😉 heh…
I agree his lip reading is just pure class!
Liking the development in the latest Feelgood Files, a walk down Memory Lane for the good doctor perhaps?
Hehe, she’s alright fellas! Saved our pride in Japan she did 😀
As a fan I think I should show her my gratitude and maybe my moustache?
Dr Z brilliant read a drink is in order for you!
Love that clip of Frimpers challenging Na$ri to a fight. Na$ri is so rattled by the incident he starts to give Squillaci a back massage to just to calm \it{himself} down. Also I think he shut his twitter page down so Frimpong couldn’t Frimpong him through the interweb.
Ok Canons , will suspend judgement until I see her in full flow , But I’m still in young Emma’s corner .
Wind@79 , don’t reckon you’d get the chance to perform for a biscuit in this instance , reckon it would already have been snaffled by our No14 😉
In the cold light of day, I am now very gutted that we lost yesterday. Would have been sweet for our reserves to beat their extremely expensive reserves.
Hate them Oily cunts and they were ‘lucky’. And I hate Nasri.
And of course I hate Tottenham and I hate Tottenham, but that’s a different song.
Not sure where it started or how, but if I get the gist of it, I’m with tabs.
Emma Byrne. Well she’s ‘holic’s anyway 😀
Who says Ollie ? I’ve been trying (unsuccessfully) to breach Emma’s defence for years . Is the Guv’nor pulling rank ?
Hehe, that’s why you should chase after fat girls. Never anyone standing in line….unless you’re in the Caribbean 😀
CoR.
Chase fat girls?
That would be a short distance race, hardly worth the effort, especially considering the prize. 😉
===
Afternoon ‘holics.
I’m still not too miffed about yesterdays result, bigger fish to fry and all that.
had a look at the comments on the link @67 a lot of Citizens acting the fool there, I told myself I wasn’t going to get involved, but I may of been lying (I’ll see)
No sign of a hangover or even the slightest trace of a boilk this afternoon, so it’s straight on to the lager, there’s one on the bar for whoever’s up for it.
From the Files;
Dr SB : ”Your father went to jail? What for?”
Feelgood : “He rolled a five and landed on “Community Chest” ……..
😆 😆 😆
Yes please, H2H! 🙂 Bloody patients driving me nuts
In for an early drink at last.
Feelgood @ 71 – one of the best 🙂
Lays a casual ball out to the left wing, just over the half-way line . . .
NBN –
agree that rotating SonArt for FrimCoq would certainly be a possibility.
However, I find myself, for some truly inexplicable reason, wanting the second combination to adopt the name of CoqPong . . . 😉
Maybe I shouldn’t start drinking so early . . ?
Another great diary extract Dr.z @# 71. Please have another Guinness on me when you’re ready, or in a glass if you prefer 🙂
Nobody showing for the ball – sprints to pick up his own pass – looks up and plays it into space (not into orbit) . . . .
Storey appears from nowhere, hacks down 3 defenders and bustles into the box . . .
Afternoon Trev, good to see you in here in ‘real-time’ for a change.
Celebrates
Runs onto the ball, plays it back to trev, tnen scoots to the top of the box…
Another great TS assist! 🙂
Leaps like a salmon onto Storeys cross . . . .
To celebrate with Joshua…!!
Cheers for the beer H2H .
Trev@95 heh 🙂
Picks up the ball on the left , stops dreaming about Emma Byrne , beats the full back with a contemptuous ease , and floats one to the far post
Greedy bastard ! Where were you while I was doing all the hard work . . . . 🙁
Goes to the corner with TS, Trev, and scruzgooner. The fans roar in celebration at Joshua’s first century.
😀
It’s not pretty but it’s effective….
Applies to all sorts of things really 😉
fucking hell – later than a Chopper Harris tackle there 🙁
Morning all. Drinks all around.
😀 @ oily cunts @ 86!!
Frimpong likes a bit of a dingdong!
Well in Joshua.
Congrats Joshua.
Any other century virgins left out there?
Afternoon Trev, early doors for you mate.
Well in Joshua , with a nod to Trev for some lovely build up play
CoqPong, Heh.
That should keep any right minded attackers at a safe distance.
You can firget celebrating with me – took it right off my head when I was in the better position . . . No-one likes a goal hanger . . 🙁
Apparently Cameroon didn’t qualify for the ACN so song will stay put in the new year! It may do AA good to get a run of games alongside Benny when Gee- o ups and offs! Think chamakhattackgetyourmojoback, would do well with a run of games in the ACN!
The Ox on the other hand will be excellent to rotate with ‘Teeo’ in due course!
Heh at City calling us a feeder club.
Kolo: Still a good defender, but getting old.
Clichy: Decent LB, but capable of some dreadful mistakes. I’ll take Santos any day.
Adebayor: Currently playing for Spurs. Enough said.
Nasri: Half a season of brilliance for us. Completely anonymous yesterday (he was so out of it that there were hardly any boos in the second half).
“forget”
H2H – indeed – have to go out for a bit now.
TS @108 – heh 🙂
Apologies, Trev. 🙁
Cheers IClaudius – like the new (?) moniker too –
Dr. Z – amused und unnerved in equal measure – still
Talking of stills and measures and that lark – drinky anyone? Bitter for me please – Guv
It’s still, still fine with me that we’ve left the crap cup to others to fight over – like some wassernames fighting over something really shite (a la one of Feelgood’s metaformythings) – while we pare our season down to what’s really important
UREDS!
Ollie @ 86 Of course you hate the Totts. Nurse Wolfie, Leg Rash, and I are working on their collapse right now. BTW, you kinda strike me as a James Bond sort of character. Cheers!
Fine spot Trev – CoqPong – dirty tackle anyone?
TS@114…at least one, here…
Well in, trev!
119Goonertown
I hope AA can climb out of the rut he’s in, but the latest signs haven’t been promising, so if it were down to me I’d replace Flipper (while at the ACoN) with the OX, imagine the fun to be had with him and Theo changing flanks whilst supplying RvP in the middle.
I’ll have another lager and a clean pair of shorts please.
Am I the only one who gets that warm, tingling feeling down their spine when our goalie leaves his line, running for all his worth, perchance to score a goal? Never ceases to excite me.
I think Steve T (the original, thank God) may have copyrighted “CoqPong” a while ago. Be careful or he’ll have Lonestar suing you for intellectual rights etc…! 🙂 Between us we also decided that FrimCoq sounded too much like an activity that would appeal to Nurse Wolfie…..
Hi AL – thanks back…. I was just playing with the moniker as I’ve noticed this whole “i” thing taking of, and I want to join in with my new phone! 🙂
Right, who’s round is it?
It’s not THAT early, is it?
Anyway fuck it I’m off, not answering any queries now.
And Lester @ 123 – glad you were amused. No need to be un-nerved. Feelgood is being cared for by professionals. I mean Dr Syko is a world renowned psycho-therapist.
Isn’t he?
H2H – thought about that combo initially, as that would be fun, fun, fun…can they handle the left side? As I understand it Ox is two footed, same AA who prefers to be on the left!
Heh Ollie @ 130, very good. 🙂 🙂
Oops, pardon – Great spot Steve T – CoqPong – filthy tackle anyone?
TS @ 96, tempting as it is, I’ll have it in a glass. 😉
You must introduce me to our ’employee of the month’ on the 10th. It’s promising to be quite a gathering 🙂
And good to hear FG is in the capable hands of some old pros –
slopes off to a quiet bit of the bar to have a word with himself
New phone CG – well played. Now i don’t know if it’s true – but I heard that when the club made the mighty RVP Captain – they presented him with an iiPhone
phone ringing you say – i’ll get it
I’ll have whatever AL is on…. seems like strong stuff!
Oh dear, Bendy has no manager. Good luck Mrs. Doubtfire!
Well in Joshua @100
Scruzgooner, your ‘lurk’ was almost perfect but you must adjust for a early silding challenge to knock the ball into the box (#98 = Century!) at normal bar times 🙂
Steve the Bruce sacked –
’tis a ye olde football truism that strikers get the manager the boot. Nick plan B for Bendtner here’s lookin’ at you kid!
More of the ‘mental strength’ stuff for me please barman!
TV quotes about re-signing on the official site:
“I think people think that if things are going difficult it is going to be better at another club.
“For me if it’s not going as you wanted at the beginning it doesn’t mean you have to quit. It’s always easy to quit and go somewhere else. I feel there is some belief in this team.”
Spoken like a true leader of men. Are you listening Na$ri and Cesc!?
Sorry everybody, I don’t know why the link doesn’t work… Anyway it’s the photo on arseblog today.
That photo makes me extremely proud that we have players who are willing to step up to people who are disrespecting The Arsenal.
Lester @134 I’m always up for a CoqPong
Heh that photo is pure class!
Snir et al,
Frimpong gets my “Man of the Week” award for that little cameo. Go tell it to the girls you lesbian……
Steve Bruce, couldn’t have happened to a nicer transvestite – good riddance Mrs Doubtfire
TV quotes – a leader of men. Respect.
Pint please – A day in therapy is thirsty work 😉
Ta TS @ 57 – (am catching up on the drinkshh properly now) and you’re right too TSh – it’sh the treble from now on. It’s got a better ring to it anyway –
http://youtu.be/0irL1M15DH8
Doc C @129. Thank you for remembering. I was and always have been very proud of my CoqPong.
😉
Nothing wrong with a transvestite Dr Z . 🙂
Anyway , Bruce didn’t go the whole hog . Thought He could just slap on a dress and mosey on down to his corner shop like a cat walk model .
As if it was as easy as that !!!! Make-up , J-C’s , matching handbag , hip wiggle . You’ve gotta get the basics right .
Bruce never looked good in a dress (or indeed in anything other than a cardboard box) .
Leave it to the Professionals , Bruce .
Maybe with all this new spare time on his hands , he might finally learn how to apply a bit of lippy .
Cinzano Bianco please Barman .
Evening chums,
Great to see everybody in such good spirits.
Talking of which…
Cheers 😉
Fuckin ate tottingham!
Ah, Wolfgang welcome back.
Someone was talking all about you today 😉
Well apologies, I’m sure. I was unaware of Steve T’s CoqPong – but no longer. Still think it’s good anyway 😉
Well I am the stuff of dreams Dr Z 😉
As for CoqPong , lets not go there Darlings !
Evening Holic .
Goonertown – you ate Tottingham ? Bet that was rank . I’d go for a tactical heave if I were you .
Too cheesy 😉
Just for the hell of it, I’m claiming the original rights to a few more Coquelin pairings.
CoqSag – Bacary
TosCoq – Santos
OxCoq – AOC
RamCoq – Aaron
CoqArt – Mikel
AichiCoq – Myaichi
CoqAuVan – RvP
ArsCoq – Arshavin
CoqPark – Hampstead Heath
What a versatile signing he was !! 😉
Into everybody’s life a little ray of light shall shine.
LWC’s 0-1 PAOK Salonika in the Johnstones Paints Europa Trophy
Make that 0-2
Go On you Greek beauties 🙂
Evening Holics
I tell you you never work from home you try even harder that way!
A drink for everyone in the bar!
Just noticed that Holic come on Saloniki 🙂
Channel 5 until Frozen Planet then.
Evening Arthur.
Trev!!
CoqAuVan – Genius! 🙂 As for CoqArt..!!
Worthy of a drink. Lars?
Seems like no european spring for VDV and his “best north london team”
‘Holic –
how will you be sure you’ve switched from White Hart Lane to the Antartic – a barren place full of lumbering animals and waddling birds 😉
S’true, Trev 😀
Cheers CG – one for yourself – need to warm Lars’ wallet up for Everton on Saturday week 😉
Heh Trev, hope you’re still on this form come Saturday week.
I love your, err, coqs. 🙂
Harsh penalty and red card. Poor sods. 🙁
1-2
Trev,
Just wait till he pairs with Per Mertesacker… 🙂
Or our goalkeepers for that matter: Almunia (ManCoq) and Fabianski (FabCoq)…
Joshua –
heh 🙂 The possibilities seem endless. . . .
Trev , you truly are the King of the Coqs 🙂
And a big heh @165
Go on The Greeks .
Tabs –
Lars’ new wallet is on the bar – help yourself old son 😉
No doubt one of the American ‘Holics will be along shortly, with all the Keystone Coqs . . . .
Right, Frozen Planet for me . . .
Tottenscum playing on a Wednesday?
Must be the Champions League?
What? Oh.
Joshua heh 🙂 Good job Emmanuel Petit and George Armstrong (RIP) are no longer playing !
Trev @157: great work! 😀
I have to say, Steve Bruce’s cheeks were always a bit too puffy my liking. 😉
Cheers Trev .
Evening Ollie , and heh 🙂
Of course there are some pairings that would work better in French.
Like CoqAne (with Aneke)
Hey Ollie, only working part time these days? 😉
Steve T, your CoqPong is getting around the Arsenal blog websites… 😀
The scene : Dr Feelgood is still “in residence” somewhere in the Home Counties, and back in the familiar sanitised office, he is now seated at a long rectangular table, and opposite him sits Dr Syko Babble. The psychiatrist is accompanied by a pretty blonde girl, whose hair is pulled into a long pony tail. She appears nervous and avoids making eye contact with our manic maverick….
In depth interview # 2
Dr Syko Babble: “So, “Mr” Feelgood, earlier, we started to discuss your childhood and you were intimating that your father’s incarceration had some…….”
Feelgood (interrupting) : “So, MISTER Bubble, as I recall, you were trying to get into my briefcase. Some people would see that as classic Floydian behaviour!!”
Feelgood sits and smiles, very pleased with himself.
Dr SB : “You probably mean Freud, and no, I was…….”
Feelgood (interrupts by shouting over SB) : “Freud? Didn’t he play for Germany? And the Lily White C***s? God, I hate those Lily White C***s…….”
Dr SB (struggling to get Feelgood’s attention) : “Now, ……going back to the jail……”
Feelgood (panicking and interrupting again) : “What for? I haven’t done anything wrong!…… For ages. Actually I knew a guy who lived in a jail. Mexican bloke. Sweaty bastard…..”
Dr SB (wearily) : “OK, we’ll start from the beginning, tell me about your childhood memories?”
Feelgood : “Okay. I remember my train set,
I remember old mother Feelgood playing lead guitar at Woodstock,
I remember putting a hotel on Trafalgar Square …..actually that might have been this morning,
I remember when rock was young…..,
I remember Roxette did it in the library …..Colonel Mustard, with the spanner, Or was it Colonel Sanders?. Or Captain Kidd? (Feelgood frowns).
I remember remember the 5th of November………”
Feelgood’s voice trails off and he stares into space……and then looking up, and at the girl, animated, he says “……and I remember the Blonde Girl from Sainsburys”.
Dr Syko Babble is now writing feverishly in his files, and says sharply…
“Eureka. The Train Set! Tell me more about the train, was it a happy train?”
Feelgood (sinisterly) : “There is only THE Happy Train…….. (looking over at the girl) and whilst I remember, you see I haven’t forgotten ………
I remember…….
The Feelgood Tapes…..”
The pony-tailed blonde blushes profusely……….
To be continued….
Heh Trev. It looks like you’re on a roll today! As for Coquelin himself, what else but the Coqinator?
Dr. F, That is top qualiteee. 😀
heh zico @181, you cheeky coont
Goal for Crystal Palace against Man U.
And goal for Man U against Crystal Palace too, apparently 🙁
A penalty for Utd at Old Trafford? When things were looking grim?
It’s a travesty, isn’t it Fergie?
Zico
Didn’t they get a penalty against Barcodes on weekend as well?
I think some people are being a little unfair to Park and Chamakh. It’s hard to be sharp when you’ve hardly played, plus the lack of creativity from the midfield did not provide them with any service, which they desperately needed. Had either Rosicky or Diaby been available, they might have provided that creative outlet that could have made the difference.
I don’t remember him saying any of THEIR penalties being a travesty Arthur.
Maybe just my memory though – I can’t be expected to remember everything 😉
Dr F @183 – Fantastic 🙂 🙂
Monkey boy chimps it over the bar…
chips….
I mean chips…
Been watching too much Attenborough, Holic? 😀
Arthur: the pelanty at the weekend was the other way round, no?
(amazingly… or did THEY also score from a pelanty?)
was it a banana shot Holic ?
That game against the greek was always going to be a potential banana skin, ‘holic.
😀
leaving it for iPlayer, zico. Less than twenty minutes before I join in the plate chucking …
Planet of the Bales
can’t ignore the open goal can he ?
Oh yes he can 🙂
Lightning quick that was!
Well in Part-Time Ollie! 😉
I wanted to provide you with an assist, tabs, but didn’t expect the free drink from the barman in the middle.
Access Denied! 🙂
and I’m sorry that is a sending off! How is that scum still on the pitch!
Wind,
obviously winds up his alarm clock,
set to go off near each century mark,
and then blows off elsewhere
only to come back lurking as we all get giddy drunk…….
Yellow card?
Could Wind and nottabs be related then?
Well in Ollie – for such an unselfish player (Bobby Pires of the drinks ) , it’s a pleasure to see you hit the back of the net 🙂
Come on the Greeks , 7 to go . Going for a kebab if they hold on .
kebab, hmmmm.
Thanks tabs, I’ll wait for the countdown to see if Spuds lose before bidding my goodnights.
Is this not over yet?
Palace ahead!
Get in!
Chilli sauce me up 🙂
Tonight, Matthew, I will mostly liked to be called Dr Zorba 😀
No-one can stop ‘um – doh!
kebab time then, tabs?
Excellent. Goodnight all (let’shop Palace can hold on, not putting much money on it though)
One had to be
At the old LWC
To see such a great victoreeeee
Wasnt it luverleee
Doh
Haha, excellent zico 214
And indeed AL.
Don’t Tottenham know they are trying to kick Greece out of Europe? I mean, kick the whole country out of Europe, much less one second rate football club. Maybe they should try to concentrate on the big picture?????????????????????
And good news from Wind . This evening just keeps on giving !
Not what you have seen much of lately.
Credit to the Greeks 🙂
TABS – I applied the middle finger for that heave, worked a treat! 😉
Think I’ll stick to ‘hating’ the scum!
To take Trev’s ifty nine at 157 up to the full 11
FabCoq – Flappy
Coq/Sack – Per
U Mighty Reds!
pardon – nifty – though ifty sort of fits i s’pose
I’m worried about the Feelgood Boy.
He used to be such a pleasant lad,but he has changed,for the worse unfortunately.
Now when you see him in the street he looks dishevelled,his eyes are bloodshot,he has this furtive look about him,never looks you in the eye,and is always looking over his shoulder.
He seems frightened to me.
As i said to Jim the other day,i blame the parents,his father Freddie,
and his uncle Fabian,were both N’er do wells,running that chemist shop down the Mile End road in the 60’s and 70’s,more like a drugstore if you ask me.
Fabian and Freddie were always off on ‘ Trips ‘,and i don’t mean holidays.!!
Of course the Feelgood boy doesn’t do himself any favors with the company he keeps.
His friend the Smallballs boy is a bad influence,dresses outrageously just to get attention,and always looks at you with that German haughtiness,you would think he would show a little humility,especially after losing 2 World Wars.!!
The other friend that l feel leads Feelgood astray is the Storey boy,whenever i bump into him in the street,he always has this supercillious grin on his face,and has a slightly manic look in his eyes.
He gives off a sense of frustration,as if the village is too small for him,but he doesn’t know how to escape.
I am convinced the 3 of them burgled Mrs Jones’s house last month,
Her best silk underwear was taken,along with her new Jimmy Choo shoes,and her cosmetic case full of lipsticks and eyeliners.
Quite what the 3 of them would want to steal all those Ladies personal items for, i do not know.
I fear things are going to get worse before they get better.
Diary entry ends.
Didn’t expect to see you down the Dales, Clive.
Heh, quality stuff.
Give my regards to Mrs D and I’ll get a message out to the Home Counties, passing on her “concerns”. You’re on your own with the other 2 deviants though 😉
Mrs Dale , a wonderful new addition , now we can get to the bottom of this Feelgood character . Usual brilliance Dr Z 🙂 🙂
Goonertown – Glad to hear it . very difficult to ingest , that tottingham fare 😉
Ah Clive , apologies , but the same applies . Usual brilliance 🙂 🙂
Think The Arse/Coq Allstars would have to play a 3-2-5 by the looks of it …
looking at that – tactically – i’m not certain – but i think they might have to go with the long-ball game
Phew , thank God for Mrs Dale . I was reading those Feelgood Files , and even I was beginning to think I was merely a figment of somebody else’s imagination 😉
I’ll have a mixed kebab please for both results I suppose and plenty of chilly sauce, salad and those pickled green chilies.
A pint of mint sauce to wash it down with :O
Dr.Z – find myself re-unnerved re the FGFs – A happy train ending indeedee
Ollie, nice work – the double C with ‘planet of the Bales’ re the king of the S.wingers …
I believe i’m quoting Charlton Athletic Heston accurately from the wee filum you mention above: “Get your filthy sp@rs hands off me – and the Europey effin cup”
Whats all this then? I go away for a drive and arrive at my destination to discover that both bitches have been bashed tonight!
Think i’ll have one of those kebabs to go if that’s how we’re celebrating! 😉
Tabs@ 75: with a h/t to iCG@51, surprised you aren’t checking out http://www.kckrs.com/womens-u-20-german-national-team-does-playboy/
Trev @95, CG@129: Maybe we should put it to a vote at the bar.
FrimCoq?
CoqPong?
PongLin?
FrimLin?
PongCoq?
Coq Frim?
LinFrim?
LinPong (or for ‘Holic’s daily nostalgia dose, LinPong iddle I po)?
Any other combos for the lists?
Mark you, if Steve T has a copyright on CoqPong, may be we should make it one man one vote with him being the one man with the one vote. FrimCoq may, indeed, be a line of Speedos.
Also, why, Trev, wouldn’t you start drinking so early?
@157 and others@ various: Now I see why. Completely coqamamie…..
ABB@128: I’d be more excited if it was Szcz than Flappy. If that last second corner came over to either of them, Flappy would do a Chamakh. Szcz would take no prisoners.
Dr Z: Top notch, and welcome Mrs Dale.
Tabs/Nurse Wolfie,,
thnks buddies,your alter egos are not too shabby either.
The Feelgood Boy at 71 & 183,excellent stuff.
Zico @ 226,
You are too clever for your own good.!!
Fergies face was a picture tonight after Palace made his lot look very 3rd rate.
Reasons to be cheerful.!!
The Sweeper.
Holic, My geek had to set up a new account for me. Guess with my recent move, things got screwed up royally. You can reach me
siskindtheresa2@gmail.com cheers!
Zico @ 207, maybe you need to see Dr Syko Babble, I’m sure he can ‘sort you out’ 😉
And Ollie @ 208, me and tabs may be of the same vein, but we aren’t related, conjoined or the same person 😆
take a bow son, and let it go 😉
NBN @235: Deelightful video. I vote for Selina Wagner of VfL Wolfsburg.
Trev. That was a thing of beauty. In my humble opinion you really are king of coq.
Wait, ‘nottabs’?
Ollie, have you been to the medicine box in the Quackery again? 🙂
zico 🙂 again.
Clive @ Mrs Dale – great stuff Sweep.
Cheers Ollie, 8ball.
bt8b@239: Some nifty tricks, too.
As there seem to be some copyright issues in the bar tonight, I will be examining all Coqs, first thing in the morning, to see which of them stand up to scrutiny.
I thank-you 😉
Zurich, Switzerland. Shaft is sitting in a fondue restaurant with empty dishes in front of him. He is applying moustache wax to his enormous handlebars. He is also wearing a black beret and a pair of dark sunglasses. He places his tin of moustache wax down on the table as a huge, sweaty man with soiled clothing walks in the restaurant and sits at his table.
Shaft: What the f*** happened to you man? Is that vomit on your shirt?
Carlos: Aye Caramba, you’re not going to believe what I just saw on my reconnaissance mission at FIFA headquarters…
Shaft: What did you see?
Carlos: I infiltrated FIFA dressed as a Heidi, just like we planned and made my way to the hollow wall behind Blatter’s office. I had just started the recording devices when Platini walked in for an impromptu meeting. They talked for a bit and then they had an English baby for breakfast! Man, I just vomitted everywhere…
Shaft: This is some medieval shit right there man. Forget about that though, did you get anything?
Carlos: Si amigo, I got something I think you might like very much…
Carlos produces Blatter’s diary from inside his shirt and places it on the table.
Shaft: I see you still haven’t lost your touch. Let’s move out. Go get yourself cleaned up, I’m going to get to work.
Carlos: About time, I thought your job was tending cattle, the type of girls you be chasing…
Shaft: Heh, you don’t know what you’re missing man. It’s like free money, you can’t hate on that. Just grab as much as you can and wipe your face with it, is what I say.
Carlos: Hahaha!
Shaft and Carlos exit the restaurant and head west in the direction of the Limmat river. A few minutes later a well-dressed gentleman with Groucho Marx eyebrows enters the restaurant and sits at the same table that Shaft and Carlos were at. The man notices Shaft’s forgotten tin of moustache wax and then peers through the window into the dark night. A waiter comes over to take his order.
Waiter: The usual for you today, sir?
Djourou: Not today, I’m in the mood for something a little more….American.
A Gooserholic Golden Egg of Pantomimic Proportions.
I heard that whenever Frimpong and Coquelin head out for drinks, Francis always gets in the way when Emmanuel approaches the ladies, a regular Coq-blocker 😉
*gets coat and rides a dusty camel out of the bar*
Home defeats at Old Toilet and Shite Fart Lane, some excellent laughes and some new alter ego’s in the drinks.
Good times.
Can’t wait for that first Van au Coq, a goal by Van Persie assisted by Le Coq. 😀
Bt8b @249: I’d raise a glass of van rouge to that.
Junior partner plotting revenge:
http://www.britishblogs.co.uk/images/552492.jpg
Trev, I burst out laughing looking at the computer screen at work reading that! Brilliant 🙂
Dr Z, love the new Feelgood files entries 🙂
So, palace knock out the mancs eh? Not too shabby
When Francis and our No 1 goalkeeper converse, do they speak CoqNey?
Only when they’re Coqolding NBN 😉
*What does that even mean?*
Trev: waiting for you to take a run at the Reserves pairings. There is FreeCoq, CoqBot, WattCoq for starters.
After, they can retire for Coqtails, CoR.
Maybe with a Coqapoo or two?
TABS and TS: Thanks for the kind words. It’s been very frustrating not to have much time in the last few weeks bar for the Arsenal games which brought me all the joy I needed.
Steve T: Never mind, hopefully we’ll have very soon the opportunity to resume our banter 😉
`Holic: I share your shadenfreude regarding Spurs but I can’t help thinking it’s not going to make out league run easier. I’d rather they’d get more opportunities for injuries and exhaustion. Still it’s delightful and pitiful at the same time for a club with CL pretentions.
Who’s seen this then? Done by arseblogger Gooner79 and published on ArsenalVision. (only have the embedded html, so aint got a clue how this post will turn out)
Happy birthday Arsenal.
Dial Square was formed on this day, 125 years ago and played their first match on December 11.
125 years of class.
Ahhh SG – when they were South London’s finest. Still waiting for those pesky transport links to improve ahead of their return home …
Happy B’day The Arse!
I’ll help myself to a toast of red wine for Dial Square.
Or should we all drink a glass for each year of the club’s existence?
It’s been a while since I’ve done a Centurion…
Quiz time, why was the team originally called Dial Square?
Boy, did I choose the wrong night for going to bed ridiculously early! Thought about watching some footie but decided to go to bed at 9 because I was so tired and didn’t want to get upset from having to watch Sp*rs and ManU win… though I do think it would be good if Sp*rs qualifed for the knock-out stages, I want them to have many games to play after Xmas and wear down their squad a bit.
Have to say that I am not that bothered that the CC would have looked quite winnable for us had we gone through. City and Liverpool playing each other twice in January can not be a bad thing for us, we need all the help we can get in the chase for fourth. Liverpool have probably benefitted quite a bit from not having European games to play.
Trev@167: unfortunatley, I will not be able to attend the Everton game but I will try to make arrangements for my wallet to be sent over 😀
Feelgood Files@183 and Mrs Dale@225: massive HEH!
Right, got to do some work now… drinks all round on my tab!
‘Cause the workers who formed the club worked in the Dial Square workshop.
It was changed to Royal Arsenal on 25/12/1886.
It then changed to Woolwich Arsenal in 1893.
To The Arsenal in April 1914 and Arsenal in November 1919.
Thank god for Wikipedia albeit it is like a self-assist 🙂
Lars mate, you gotta stop with “chase for fourth” nonsense 😉
Nice one Snir, 125 glasses of wine for you on the bar 😉
Thanks CoR – Wikipedia is a self assist but since it’s common knowledge (can be found everywhere) and it can be found on Arsenal.com we can say it was a dribble in the box rather than a self assist 😀
Or would they be The Coq and Arsenal Allstars? – Hmmmm – much to ponder today … taxi!
I’ll have to read back my books when I go home tonight, but a quick google around suggests Dial Square was founded in October 1886. Although the first game was, indeed on December 11th as you say, Snir.
I see no mention of December 1st :s
Great link Esso @ 259 😀
So the deeply indebted get dumped out of the cup by lowly Palace and the Sp*ds are turned over by FC Pork Souvlaki of Greece.
Why the hell couldn’t this have happened in the league!
Ollie – I saw that October thing too but I saw a tweet from Darrenarsenal1 yesterday that the club report the 1st of December as THE day.
I don’t tend to take everything he writes as gospel but when it comes to history, I tend to take his word, as he’s got loads of historic programmes and actually helped the club with its data collecting towards the anniversary.
I’ll look for the tweet.
Now am I going to go on a Sp*ds blog and start giving it the large about how shit they are? Er, no because I’m not 9 years old.
Just going to sit back and enjoy it for myself (greedy I know – anyone else want to join?).
Ollie – https://twitter.com/#!/DarrenArsenal1/status/142152850829606912
That’s a new tweet…
This was the original one I saw on the 29th of November.
https://twitter.com/#!/DarrenArsenal1/status/141419867277492225
One of my favourite things today…Darren Ambrose’s vicious 35-yard belter against the Scum at Old Toilet. Wanna see some footballing gold?
http://101greatgoals.com
If Francis got a chance to play basketball he would be Coq a hoop.
Coat on…..
Snir, here’s a link from the club .con
http://www.arsenal.com/history/laying-the-foundations/-royal-arsenal-formed-in-woolwich
In it :
Word got around and 15 men came forward, each prepared to pay sixpence to help start up a club. Danskin added another three shillings himself and the club bought a football. It was October 1886.
And I would debate the value of those tweets: one mentions 1890 AGM, the other 1891 AGM 😉
Only kidding. The above .con link doesn’t talk about official club ‘formation’. Although it says ‘the club’. Implying it was a club already. Go figure.
Doesn’t matter much. Happy to not have an official date or for it to be December 1st.
One could also argue that said AGM in 1890 or 1891 just put ‘December 1st’ as a date because they needed a date for official/legal paperwork but that there is actually nothing to substantiate that something actually happened on December 1st to justify it.
4 or 5 years after-AGM hardly sounds like ‘proof’ to me.
Yeah, I saw that today Ollie and was rather surprised.
I assume that it was December 1st when we got the shirts from Forest and were registered in the London FA for the first game on the 11th.
As I said, I usually take a lot he tweets with a pinch of salt but when it comes to history I tend to believe him, especially as I noticed that the club’s statistician gets a lot of info from him.
Now then Snir, as our official Wenger protege (you know everything about every player in Europe) I thought I’d get you started on your January mania…… assuming it is a given that we need a proven goalscorer to come in to the squad….. who should it be?
Podolski or…..?
‘The club’s statistician gets a lot of info from him’.
I’d be very wary of the club’s statistician.
If the club’s grasp of statistics is similar to their grasp of the alphabet, or if it comes from the same sort of source…. 😀
Anyway. 125 years of the best club in the world is what matters!
Don’t incite him, Dr C 😉
But it’s fun, and I’m bored….:)
Ollie – Let’s just raise a toast today and on the 11th. I wouldn’t say no to drinking twice 😉
Mr. C – A goalscorer? Hmmm I’d cut my hands off for Podolski, I’d also grab Sow, and try a cheeky bid for Huntelaar and/or Di Natale.
Lavezzi is looking to get out of Napoli after his girlfriend was mugged at gunpoint and is a very Di Natale/Tevez like player in terms of engine.
I’d also try a cheeky bid for Andre Schurrle, the Leverkusen forward.
QPR tickets sorted
Guess I’ll have to decide at some point whether I spent New Year’s Eve in London or on the train.
Good idea Snir. The drinks are on Lars anyway.
Cheers Ollie.
Would you take Moussa Sow for Arsenal ?
It’s a difficult one, Snir. I think it could do a job, but I’m still undecided whether he’s Drogba-good (unfortunate, but to use a strike who played in France and was efficient in England – the other one I can think of (TH) cannot be compared)) or more Gignac-like.
He’s not set Ligue 1 on fire this season.
It’s too late now, and we never had enough money (even if he’s in a bad patch in PSG now), but I’ll say it again: I’d have been happy to have Gameiro on board.
it? He
Anyway, if we’re going to sign someone in January, better not sign someone who’s going to the ACN, no?
Giroud perhaps a good idea (or, again, is he the new Gignac?)
(I can feel lurkers’ eyes all around)
But anyway Gamiero said he doesn’t wanna play in England and that’s why he signed for PSG. Always said that was his intention.
I’m all for signing TH14. If we get Podolski I’ll be on the moon. What a player he is.
And he seems to be interested… Or at least that’s what people would have you believe.
Haven’t seen too much of Giroud to judge but he didn’t impress me.
Schurrle really impressed me. I’d take him.
Morning All 😎
Loads of people seem to not want Podolski, but I wouldn’t dismiss him.
Of course, the big problem is to try and get someone who is both great and ‘happy’ to not play much, given how good Robin is…..
A beautifully flighted cross from the man in Speedoes …
Happy 125th Anniversary the mighty Arsenal!
And Wind and the man in Speedos celebrate in front of the clock end 🙂
Heh, top lurking, Wind.
Well in Wind ! Supreme lurking .
Now to read the drinks .
Checking .con, you’d think they’d have something on today on top of the Everton game celebrations if they really acknowledged December 1st as the founding date.
I rest my case 😉
Why would people not want Podolski? Seriously, what kind of reason is there?
He would –
1) Prove ambition to RvP.
2) Provide cover up front (can definitely play the RvP role).
3) be in contention for rotation with Gervinho, Theo, OX, Yossi for the wing positions.
4) He can play in a 4-4-2 which AW already tried against City.
He would be perfect, just perfect.
(That is of course in case we don’t bring TH 14 😳 )
I’d prefer a short term loan for TH just to see him in a 125 year Arsenal shirt. He deserves to be a part of the club in this milestone year.
Messers Ollie and tabs, thank you for the kind words involving the art of lurking, I learned from the best 🙂
heh tabs, this is the only bear where you read drinks rather than, er, drink them.
Although, as they say : In Vino Veritas.
bear? bar.
Ollie – I thought about that one too, but then again, they didn’t have anything in October as well, so your case isn’t rested 😀
If they are planning to do something for 11/12 it’s plain wrong because the club played its first game on the 11th but was formed before.
I nearly nearly nearly mentioned a TH loan as the rational option.
Snir, I’m on the same wavelength as you and you’ve finished selling Podolski to me also.
I agree with everying Snir has said @ 305, us signing Polodski would almost make my season, re-signing the King of Highbury would make it in full 🙂
He’d be the perfect striker partner for the Captain in a 4-4-2, and would make a excellent addition to the team in general.
We could move on Chamakh in January if need be and have 2 strikers to help burden van Persie’s load.
Ollie – Only 30 days to go till Transfer Window opens… 😆
I think that’s because there’s no definite date in October, Snir, it would be too vague.
So they’re using the only known actual historical date which is December 11th.
My case rests again :p
Although…..
http://www.blog.woolwicharsenal.co.uk/2010/10/25/dial-square-fc-did-not-play-its-first-match-on-the-isle-of-dogs-the-evidence/
….there’s always people for revisionism/conspiracy theories.
Nobody knows when we started: we’re club of (proud) Mystery!
Snir 312: I’m sure the various Quacks and Nurses will be on Red Alert!
Ned @235 ze Germans eh ?! Nice link 😉
Clive @236 – Cheers mate . I will look forward to hearing from Mrs Dale again soon .
Wind @241 – One of the regulars posted as nottabs for a while to parody my hopeless century attempts . Oh the struggles I have been through , I could write a book 🙂
Mr T @244 heh 🙂 and nice work Shaft 🙂
Snir @260 and Ollie – Cheers for the Info . I had always thought it was Christmas Day , so I’ve learnt something today . Or have I ? 😉
Mr C – what were you thinking ? A bit of complacency on the patient care front there I think 🙂
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARSENAL !!!
tabs, speaking of thath, did we ever find out who nottabs was? 🙂
Mr T, Nurse Wolfie, Nurse ABB……. don’t worry, we’re just doing a little test run on the subject…..
not me
The usual inmates are manning the cuckoos nest, I see…
http://www.football365.com/faves/7344295/TV-Heroes
Oh dear. This kind of started well (though to be fair I don’t really know the first two, so maybe not) until it stumbled into the cunty with Balague and ended with the totally ridicule by praising Chris ‘pelanty’ Waddle as a fine pundit.
And more ridicule from FIFA
http://www.football365.com/news/21554/7344518/Five-English-Players-On-The-World-XI-Shortlist
Evra? He’s been fucking shite for at least two years.
Not that there aren’t other names who shouldn’t be there.
At least Robin is in that list.
Did someone mention Quacks and Nurses. Reporting for duty. As an official talent scout for Wenger, I’ve talked to ACM’s Ibrahimovic. He’s really interested in playing for Arsenal. Oh happy days!
Cheers for the links Ollie . All that early Arsenal stuff is pretty interesting , although slightly surprised that a History of The Royal Arsenal , the Works rather than the Club , doesn’t throw up something more definitive .
Lars , nope , the cad never did reveal himself 🙂 From memory , my money was on various regulars , all of whom denied being not me . Which means they were me ! I was prepared to vouch for the fact that they were not indeed me . It all got very confusing .
Just add my tuppence hapenny to Snir’s increasing heart rate . Podolski would be a decent bet , but at 20m , I’d want to see the majority of that fee recouped from the sale of players who we might find hard to shift because of the wedge they are on – AA , Chamakh etc .
As for TH14 , Come on Guys get real . He is , on his own admission , no longer good enough . To have him around the place is great , but to suggest he should sign , is in my view , deeply flawed . Leave us to our memories of someone who was , for 3 seasons , the finest player in the World .
I see the bar opened right through last night! 😉
Well in at 300, Wind. Just as your name suggests you would be, you seem to be a very quick study in the science of lurking. 😀
If we’re on the subject of History today , I would be thrilled to hear from all Holics (esp those abroad or for whom Arsenal was not a natural choice) , as to their own History as to “why Arsenal ?” .
The reasons for why I ended up a die-hard Gooner are pretty ordinary . My paternal Grandfather was from Preston and was a Bus driver on the London-Blackpool Route . This necessitated an overnight stopover in London which my Grandmother became increasingly agitated about (!) , and in an effort to keep the peace , my Grandfather got a job with London Transport and moved my Grandmother and my father (a babe in arms ) to Arnos Grove in the early thirties .
My Grandfather’s two abiding passions in life were Preston North End ( the proper Lilywhites and not the c*nts down the road ) , and Lancashire Cricket . He soon started going to Arsenal as his “2nd” team , and was accompanied by my father as soon as he was old enough to go . As a Londoner in all but birthplace , my father suffered from no conflict of interest when Preston came to town and was immediately a Gunner .
My Grandfather , for a period , also went to Spurs ( he used to work Saturday mornings and you took your football where you could get it ) , but had an immediate antipathy to them “it smells a bit over there son ” , and used to root for the visitors .
By the time I came along , there was no doubt who I would be following . Whilst it helped that we won the Double in my first year , the knowledge that my father would have rather seen me as a 5 year old street urchin sweeping chimneys for my survival , than support another side was , I think , the overriding factor !
My Grandfather died 15 years ago . After over 60 years in London , Arsenal had largely replaced Preston in his affections , but he went to his grave still proclaiming that Tom Finney was the greatest player that ever lived !
Thank God he made the right choice when he adopted his North London side .
The Scene: We are somewhere in the Home Counties, and Dr Feelgood walks the well-tended grounds of his current residence. He has a visitor, and they are both deep in conversation…….
Dr Feelgood: “……..and as mad as a box of frogs. They seem to think it’s all in my head. This psycho fella is a piece of work, let me tell you. Nice bird though…..kept asking me about the old man. Oh and so predictable. They are either wanting to get into my wallet or my briefcase. God, I could get all that at home……”
Edwin : “The important thing is that you’re getting plenty of rest. Roxette was really worried about you. As was I.”
Feelgood : “Rest. Pah. Do you think Bill Gates worried about rest when he was building his Microwave empire?”
Edwin (in a pitying tone): “Have you got everything you need? Do you want me to bring anything next time?”
Feelgood (ignoring the question): “You know, this place isn’t all that bad. It’s given me time to do what I do best, and that which has been sorely neglected of late…..”
Edwin : “Which is?”
Feelgood : “Brainstorming, Edwin. I’ve already had a great idea this morning….
Edwin (under his breath) : “I bet that died of loneliness……”
Feelgood (continuing) : “And by the end of this week, the plan to get back on board the Happy Train will be fully formed..”
Edwin: “About that…….”
Feelgood : “I want you to add an item to the agenda for the meeting on the 10th. It can be brought up under Any Other Business.”
Edwin: “What is it?”
Feelgood: “Identifying Executive Stress”. We need our own version of “The Red Zone”.
Edwin: “Your own stressed out experience gave you this idea?”
Feelgood : “Nah, I went down to the so-called recreation room, and it turns out its a fucking library. I asked the guy there if he had any flesh magazines, and he said, snootily, “We only cater for the well red”.
Edwin (shaking his head) manoeuvers Feelgood back inside………….
To be continued
Dr F – fantastic 🙂 🙂
I am totally with tabs @ 323 – TH14 thanks for the memories but we all need to move on.
I’ll have Podolski please.
You in return can have the bodysnatched and TGSTEL as part payment.
“I bet that died of loneliness” – that Edwin is one sarcastic bugger!
He sure is Lars.
Too clever for his own good, as the Sweeper would say.
But who will save the day…..?
Heh, it rhymes 🙂
Whilst Dr Feelgood is in recovery , I’d like to put myself forward as acting Chair(wo)man of DL Ltd .
We all know it’s not a figment of Feelgood’s stressed out imagination , and the company won’t run itself you know ! There’s a trip to Wigan to think about .
My first decision would be pay rises for all medical staff , and the instalment of vanity units in the Gents .
I’ll also tell my story (I’ve told some of you at the Tollie but I don’t think I’ve told it in this bar) of how I became an Arsenal fan – the long and short of it is that Arsenal played a pre-season friendly in my old home town in northern Sweden back in (I think) 1988 and that’s probably where it started even though it took until about ten years ago for me to realize that Arsenal was and is my team. One of the clinchers was also visiting Highbury for the only game I ever saw there when we played Blackburn at home in the FA Cup in 2001. Wiltord, Adams and Pires scored in our 3-0 win, and if I am not entirely misinformed that goal by Adams was his last ever goal as a professional footballer.
Hello Holics…big fan of the blog and the regulars as u seem to see me thru the day with the so many drinks on offer…If I may add to the Podolski topic I think he is a quality player but personally I feel he would suffer just like Arshavin reasons being Podolski is a player who strives on added responsibility or him being the man just like he is at Koln… He struggled at Bayern coz he was in and out of the team…I don’t think he will settle for the same role here at Arsenal with Van Persie defo first choice… Look at how he performs for the national team even when he is rubbish for Koln. Its coz of the faith shown in him by Low. He tends to suffer when that is not shown to him, same thing happened this season when the captaincy was stripped from him, he struggled even though recently he seemed to get back to his best at Koln. So personally I feel he may struggle here but then again Wenger always manages to pull off some sort of Magic like Kolo Toure said…I always leave these Transfers to the greatest manager to sort out
I second that emotion, Nurse Wolfie, although it could prove a little gymnastically challenging if you are (theoretically) over me (and Mr T) and under me (and Mr T) at the same time.
We’ll persevere…..
If you feel like giving me…..
Good point , well made Mr C 🙂
Cheers for that Lars , and Hello Ugandan , good to see you back . Have a beer on me , the pair of you .
The sound of coughing and spluttering coming from the Home Counties is deafening.
I hope you all (Wolfie and the Misters) are sure you know what you are doing. I mean, would you want THAT on your conscience? 😉
Conscience ?? What’s that then ??
Afternoon All,
Right then first things first:
HAPPY 125TH BIRTHDAY ARSENAL FOOTBALL CLUB!!!
Here’s to another 125 years of Up The Arse!
We love you Arsenal, we do 🙂
Back soon….
Thanks TaBS for yo generosity….God knows i have worked up quite a thirst…and its always a pleasure reading your drinks..
Cheers Ugandan , and Afternoon TS .
My story of “Why Arsenal” is a little convoluted.
I’ve always felt playing sports was more fun than watching so I never watched football on TV growing up. My father has always been a die-hard Arsenal fan though and would watch the old Division 1 games on most weekends but I could never understand the appeal. I then proceeded to spend most of my life either playing football or practicing karate blissfully unaware of the adventures of the red and white army.
For most of my life my father and I were not on good terms but as I started getting older I felt like I should try to repair our relationship and getting into Arsenal seemed like it could be a good way to do so. I had lost interest in martial arts by this time and so I started watching the Arsenal on TV every now and then. Year by year I would get more into it and the more I learned about Arsenal the more I liked and the more I watched. My relationship with my father is a lot better now. In fact, I think out of all the children in the family I am probably now the closest to him.
Besides the fact that it was something that my father and I could share, Arsenal is the only club I could ever contemplate supporting. I’ve always been ABU because all Man U fans are cunts no matter which country you find them and back then in Trinidad it seemed like if you wanted to support a team you had to be a Man U fan. Arsenal is a classy and innovative club with a rich history as a working class club that is still able to mix it with the big boys around Europe. I love the fact that we’ve always been considered underdogs or overachievers. We work hard for our success so that when it comes it means more and that can only be respected and admired.
My first game in the flesh was in the 2009-2010 season against West Ham but I hope I can get myself down there again soon for some more red and white loving in the best stadium in Europe.
Arsenal now and forever,
Amen
My historical connection with Arsenal will be included in my next in-depth interview with Business Week.
PS – Tell Smallballs he is on very dangerous ground….. 8)
Somewhere around 1999, my family began following football. We were living in Kenya at the time, and the sport was starting to take off (the English Premier League in particular). The two local channels broadcast matches from time to time.
Most of my family picked up the sport before I did. My middle brother started supporting Manchester United, who were doing quite well. My other chose Chelsea (in credit to him, this is well before they became a Russian club), probably because he wanted to be different than his brother. My dad came to support Manchester United. (Side comment: apart from a few tense moments durring matches, my brothers and I are actually quite close and get along well.)
So we started watching more and more football. I still wasn’t sure who to root for. I didn’t like Manchester United too much – but that was likely from my desire to be different than my brother. I occasionally hoped Chelsea would win, but didn’t care too deeply for them. Then I chose the Arsenal.
Maybe it was that sense of independence – the desire to be different than everyone else in my family. Maybe it was the class and history – although I’ve only started learning about that in recent years. Maybe it was the success of the team – although I didn’t know much about it when I started following. Maybe it was the cannon or the name. I really can’t say for sure. Memory is a funny thing sometimes.
But I chose. And so I am, and so I will remain, an Arsenal fan.
Cheers to tabs, Lars and CoR for the stories. And I shall eagerly await the arrival of my copy of Business Week. 🙂
TS, why wish that birthday today?
See the debate above. Posts 263 to 313 (interspersed with the usual nonsense 😀 )
Sorry 260 not 263
Nurse Wolfie
“conscience” is an interesting phenomenon. Often displayed by liberal do-gooders and what not. The same ones who don’t like us experimenting on patients etc.
Absolute nonsense.
Don’t worry though, you’re in no danger of being exposed to any such thing in The Quackery.
😆 I see the Holics have decided to bleach since our young guns stunned shitty!
Heh!
I’d like to wish a Happy Birthday to Arsenal even though it may not really be their birthday, confusing stuff, made even more confussing by Ollie and Snir. 😉
259 Esso.
Cheers for that, wicked choon.
305 Snir.
A few more pro’s are.
He’s made more then 90 appeareances for ze German manschaft.
He’s only 26
He wouldn’t be cup tied.
The cons are very well documented by Ugandan Goon (334) I myself can’t see him wanting to play second fiddle to anyone and throughout his career he’s been a player that always needed to be “the man”. 20mil is a large chunk of change and an unheard of fee for AW to spend.
As for Thiery, (various) I watched him, on the box, play in a few MLS games including the play offs, it was magic to see him and he was, quality wise, head and shoulders above most of the other players on show, what he’s lost in speed and movement he more then makes up for in vision and technical ability. However, the MLS is not the PL and I think a return could only damage his reputation, by all means have him around the squad, he can pass on invaluable experience to the youngsters, well almost everybody really. But for the rest, we should all remember him for the player/legend he was.
327 TFF.
Where do you find the time? Good stuff.
326 tabs.
No fancy story from me, I’m afraid, it was pure a question of geographical location birthright.
Born in the Hanley Rd Hospital, spent the first few months of my life in a basement appartment on Manor Gardens before moving to the Harvest Estate (across from the Tollie) on the Hornsey Rd, a Holloway boy born and bred.
For those unfamiliar with the area, check out this pic (the block of flats on the top right hand side. There was only ever going to be one team for me.
332 Nurse Wolfie.
How very dare you? I fought last week to uphold the integratity of your male genderdom.
ps The pc term would be Chairperson. 😉
====
Next round’s on me gents, get ’em down ya.
pc??? pc????? WTF is going on here?
Cheers to all for the wonderful stories of Arsenal beginnings. I’m orginally from the US, but due to my father’s academic sabaticals had the fortune to live in the small town of Winsum in the Netherlands when I was a youngster. It was there that I developed a love of football and not coincidentally a passion for Dutch football. The first team I really followed with a passion and still do was actually the Dutch NT.
When they started showing Premiere League football with regularity on TV back in the late 90’s (Fox Sports World anyone), I was instantly drawn to Arsenal by the presence our Lord and Savior. I have been a die hard fan since. Never made it to Highbury but I have been to the Emirates twice and hope to go back in the Spring.
I would just like to echo something CoR said as well. It was not what originally drew me to the club but I love being an Arsenal fan as everything the club has achieved and will achieve is done the right way. Through beautiful football (at least in recent decades) and financial prudence. That will make the success when it arrives (this year!) all the sweeter. I feel like that sense of perspective with a nice touch of the HT is what makes this blog and it’s drinkers such quality.
Happy Birthday Arsenal!
Cannons @ 343, if you ever rekindle your interest in the martial arts, then I suggest you get a ticket for when Stoke come to town 🙂
H2H @ 351, I assume at the point you posted (4:49pm) you had not yet had your BM breakfast and therefore were still not quite wide awake. Time is a commodity that Feelgood has plenty of, having been taken out of circulation for his own good.
You ask a valid question however, and one that my employer may be asking as well 😉
i’m leaving now: another half-day off 😉
Cannons , Joshua , H2H and Bearded – cheers for the great stories .
H2H , quite right , a man should never be afraid to reveal what’s in his Speedoes , a man is a man is a man is a man , even if he does have a sexy hip wiggle and enjoys the nickname “peanut bollocks” 🙁 “ChairMAN” it is then , just until Feelgood is feeling better of course .
Mr C – Thank you for your observations . I knew I would find a kindred spirit in the Quackery . “Conscience” , I have found , is a nebulous term invented by those who don’t enjoy themselves seeking to impose a set of rules on those who do 😉 As joint senior partner of The Quackery you will of course understand this better than most . Right , show me the next patient and let the Good Times roll .
Nurse Abb (acting secretary) , tell Feelgood , he’s in no position to tell anyone what grond they’re on (dangerous or otherwise) , given that he’s been on the couch for the last week , and his feet haven’t touched terra firma .
A round of Cinzano bianco’s to celebrate , then we will crack open the CMC and work our way through the ‘erbs . For free . Hurrah .
Oh dear . Grond = ground .
Nurse Smallballs, your provocation of the patient is really not helping matters.
I mean, “free”, really…… 🙁
Sorry Doc Babble , but while the cat’s away …
Can I offer you a job in the Quackery ? You would be reporting in the first instance to a Mr C and a Mr T . The pay would be very good , but that level may depend on the speed of your client’s recovery 😉
Ok so here goes.
As y’all know, I’m quite young (I think I’m the youngest in this bar) so first loves stick as a little kid.
I was 7.5 years old when the 94 WC was played and having developed an obsession to football and Maccabi Tel-Aviv through my dad (my parents are divorced and I guess that was my way of getting close to my dad when I was a little kid. To this day he is my best friend, my mom is my other best friend) I had the time of my life watching football everyday.
I remember watching Holland and immediately falling in love with DB. It was exactly that, I couldn’t breath for a few seconds when I first saw him touch the ball.
He became my favorite after Avi Nimni.
It was during the summer vacation of 95 that I went to my grandparents and watched the newly formed Sports Channel.
I’ve never seen it because my house didn’t have cable so I was on the moon being an 8.5 year old finding ways to watch his passion – football (as a kid I used to watch wherever it was broadcasted. I remember my grandfather laughing at me for watching Egyptian football with Arabic commentary, but I didn’t care as long as I was watching football).
I was flipping through the channels and landed on Gillete World Sport which thankfully had subtitles on the new Sports Channel. DB’s transfer to Arsenal was covered on that segment and remembering my love for him I decided that Arsenal is my club outside of Israel.
I moved to the US in 96 (till 98) and had a hard time following The Arsenal as Internet was just starting and ESPN didn’t care for football.
Once I came back to Israel it was always my team and I would play FIFA, Pro Evo, CM and FM with them but since the EPL was shown on a pay per view channel I had a hard time watching a lot of the games (those against the lesser teams). I wasn’t a streaming expert back then and in fact there were no streams back then.
I always followed the Arsenal and the scores and watched what I could (big EPL games and UCL) but it was in 08-09 (after I finished the military and had a job of my own so I got all the sports channels) that I started changing my schedule of the day for Arsenal instead of adding Arsenal to the schedule.
Haven’t missed a game since and it’s only getting stronger. I actually told my dad something which almost gave him a heart attack- that the love I have for Arsenal is now equal to the love I have for Maccabi and not because the love for Maccabi dwindled but because the love for Arsenal grew stronger. A lot stronger.
Usually it’s the other way around and I support teams because of my dad but for him he started following Arsenal with the hope that they do well so I’d be happy. Over the years I made him an Arsenal supporter.
For him to say he’s a fan/supporter of another team apart from Maccabi takes a lot but I did it and he is now. He’s already been to 2 games at the Emirates with me in 09-10 and he’s coming this year for 2 games as well.
I love you Arsenal, I do.
I forgot to mention that Coquelet was on offer for lunch today.
Nice stuff Snir .
Nurse Wolfie, you clearly are not familiar with the autocratic oath (or something).
Good pay, eh?
Nice post Snir.
What games do you and Mr G Snr have planned?
Dr Babble ,
Very good pay ( in the short term ) , perhaps longer if you can keep Feelgood indisposed . Exact terms to be negotiated with Mr C and Mr T , although I can offer you all the ‘erbs you could wish for , an executive pipe with the monogram FF , and the latest model of briefcase for the working man .
What say you ?
@Ollie: I for one am thrilled to learn that we have a club statistician. Nothing wrong with theories and opinions but it can only help to have some hard cold facts thrown in the mix.
As for this riveting “why Arsenal” series, I regularly have to confess that I’m a glory hunter. I made a few trips to London in the late eighties and got to follow Arsenal at the pub with my mates at the time. After that game http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQmO3S2eLPE there was no turning back. For life it seems.
Rumours that Chamakh attended a demonstration yesterday so he could learn to strike are unfounded.
Fully off topic but for those of you with an interest in music along with the Gunners might want to know that the tour for the Hillsborough Justice Campaign featuring Mick Jones and a boatload of guest stars kicks off in Cardiff tonight. It’s for a good cause and is sure to be excellent fun, the tour also takes in Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Sheffield and London.
Thanks – Here’s a link http://www.theclashblog.com/justice-tonight-kicks-off-and-we-should-never-forget-hillsborough/
Wolfgang, draw up the contract and let’s have a glass of wine ……
Nice stuff Matt . I must have watched that game hundreds and hundreds of times but I am still always amazed by –
1. There was a time Bouldy had hair .
2. 5 of the Liverpool XI had ‘taches and they hadn’t even done it for Charity .
3. I always think Mickey is gonna miss and still get quite teary when he doesn’t .
4. The class of Arsenal with the flowers and the donation to The Hillsborough fund ( though how times change eh – £25k would just about pay a week’s wages of a squad player now !)
Tim – lovely stuff on your own blog .
whoops , 370 was me .
Dr Babble , excellent news , will leave the contract to Messrs C and T , as they wouldn’t want me to impinge on their turf , but we can certainly crack open the Red .
Cheers and welcome to the fold 😉
The scene : a sanitised office in a retreat somewhere in the Home Counties, Dr Feelgood continues to be an object of great interest to the house Consultant, Dr Syko Babble, and his assistant, the Blonde Girl with The Ponytail. The medical staff have erected a flip chart with an image on each separate page and are about to embark on the next step of therapy:
In depth interview # 3
Dr SB : “OK Mr, sorry DOCTOR Feelgood, we are about to show you a series of pictures and we want you to shout out the first word that springs to mind the moment the image is unveiled…….”
Feelgood (excited) shouts : “Clive! The Sweeper!”
Dr SB : “What? We haven’t started….?”
Feelgood : “Sorry, thought I saw some Pixies…..”
The Blonde Girl with The Ponytail starts sniggering…..
Dr SB (flustered) : “OK, err, let’s err begin…” and turns to the first picture,
a scowling John Terry……
Feelgood : “C**t!”
image : mountain gorilla
Feelgood : “Lily White C**t!”
image : Lily Savage
Feelgood : “Smallballs!”
image : Robbie Savage
Feelgood: “Big girl’s blouse!”
image : Roger Moore
Feelgood : “Jaws!”
image : killer shark
Feelgood : “Feck, I forgot to clean the swimming pool…..”
image : swimming pool
Feelgood : “Smallballs!”
image : A jail cell
Feelgood : “Twitch!”
image : taxman
Feelgood : “Evil!”
image : The Devil
Feelgood : “takeabowson!”
image : hell
Feelgood: “The Tollie, closed!”
image : Roxette
Feelgood : “Rottweiller!”
The patient at this point starts to shake and 2 muscular gentlemen are invited to enter the room. Dr SB looks over to the Blonde Girl with The Ponytail and sees she has taken copious notes, and he seems well satisfied with the exercise. Dr SB asks the 2 gentlemen to escort Feelgood back to the Recreation Room…..
On his way out, Feelgood takes a picture out of his wallet and throws it toward Dr SB and says…
“I was a bit surprised you didn’t have one of him…….”
SB looks at the picture, (dog-eared, but clearly, the well known face of one Arnold Schwarzenegger)
And Feelgood says without being prompted : “I’ll be back……….”
To be continued
tabs @ 370: schoolboy error
Hello team,
It’s excuse Thursday again, but a good reason for nothing tonight. Just did the arsecast for tomorrow. See if you can spot the deliberate mistake I chucked into the conversation 🙁
To all those posting their ‘Why Arsenal’ stories on this Blog,
Many thnks for your memories,very enjoyable.
Tabs,thnk god your Dad didn’t like the mob down the road,we would never have got to meet all your ‘Alter Ego’s ‘!!
Most of the regulars on here know about my Arsenal life through my
‘ Father and Son ‘ post from some time ago,Holic will have it in his archives somewhere,
But what i didn’t mention was that when i was very young,Dad was still working full time and sometimes was away at w/ends,so i used to regularly go and stay the w/end at my Grandparents,on my Mum’s side,who lived at Shepherds Bush.
So no prizes for guessing that ‘Pop’ was a QPR supporter,so i actually spent just as many Saturday’s at the Bush watching QPR as i did watching the Arse.
So the thought has crossed my mind that if anything had happened to my Dad in those early years,i could have become a QPR supporter.!!
Thankfully Dad stayed fit and healthy and the rest is history.
The only negative about going to stay with the GP’s at the Bush,was that Nan and Pop always went to Church on a Sunday morning,so of course i had to go as well.
The pews of course were very very unforgiving on the bottom of a little 4/5/6/7 year old,i could never sit still.!!
So Nan had to take a cushion for me to sit on ,so my little bum wouldn’t go numb.!!
cheers
The Sweeper.
My Nan had a brother who used to travel across town to watch the hoops every other week, Clive. Silly old sod 😉
Thanks guys,
Zico…
It’s actually that Geuli dad and my two brothers are meeting me in London in March for Anfield and Newcastle at home 🙂
That Feelgood Boy At 373,
I am convinced all your mental health problems, lie rooted deep in your childhood,
I am currently having long discussions with Mrs Dale re her Diaries and her memories of you,the Smallballs boy and young Storey.
A lot of it is truly shocking,even to a hardened veteran like myself.
i will have to ‘edit’ some of the more horrific elements to avoid distressing any of the more sensitive souls on this Site.
I also have to think about the ‘ Privacy’ of Smallballs and Storey,who visit and post on this Site regularly,and may not want the truth of their early life with you exposed to the world.
I have some seriously hard decisions to make in this regard.
But i will post some snippets soon.
Cheers,on behalf of Mrs Dale,
The Sweeper.
PS Feelgood,Dwarves not Pixies old son,Dwarves.!!
Christ Holic,
First it was Golders Green and now the Hoops,
Whatever next.??
Evening Holic , will look forward to the Arsecast with extra relish this week !
Hello Clive , great little story . Rodney Marsh et al , when you were at QPR ?
Feelgood – another great episode 🙂 A Devil ? I’ll settle for that as long as its prefixed with “saucy” and not “red” 🙂
We were a strange family, Clive.
I’ll leave the story of the craziness of war when you have a German great-grandfather and a Cockney Pop for another day…
Clive @379 🙂 🙂
A bit like the foundation of Arsenal, the day I started supporting The Arsenal is a bit of a mystery to me.
The day I got definitely hooked though isn’t.
My sister’s now ex-husband (who was only her boyfriend at the time of the events) is a massive Gooner.
Still I don’t know what day I heard the Arsenal mentioned first, but my first conscious memory of an Arsenal result was one summer when Arsenal beat France.
Some years later I seem to find only the trace of Arsenal beating France 2-0 in February ’89.
So don’t ask me why I was always convinced that I saw the score in the summer and that it was Arsenal London 4 France 2.
And no, I must have been nearly 16, but was sober.
Still, always thought Arsenal was a fantastic and original name for a football club.
Anyway, from then on, I started following Arsenal results and players checking the football results in the monday papers in France.
Got offered my first Arsenal shirt for Christmas 1991 (1990-1991 Champions, you can still catch me wearing it at some games, yes it still fits despite me being fat).
Remember Ian Wright getting the Golden Boot in the last game of the season and me reminding it to people who thought Gary Lineker was the only English striker in existence.
Anyway, my first game at Highbury was Arsenal 2 Leeds 1 in August 1993, one of the first game in the new North Bank.
We picked the tickets from HMV in Oxford Street earlier that day.
And there going down the steps in the lower tier, wow! That was it.
Arsenal, meet Ollie. Ollie, meet The Arsenal.
Yes, the team had Hillier, Selley, McGoldrick, etc. and my second game was only a home draw against IFK Brondby over a year later, but I think Highbury itself just nailed it (if there was any doubt).
And I’ll stop here because I want to keep it short and the idea, I believe was just about ‘how you met the Arsenal’.
Just for the anecdote, despite the split, I still see my ex-brother in law and his new wife and kids from time to time. I brought him to the Tollie a few times over the last few years, although he’s relinquished his ST this season, but his sons are Junior Gooners so he’ll still come to the odd game.
And my sister (now back in France) is with another Gooner though it’s more a coincidence than anything else as she’s not particularly into football or Arsenal. They have a young daughter who got her first Arsenal teddy bear from me last Christmas 😉
Lovely stories. It’s amazing to see all the ways we come to support the club. We’re all so different, yet come together under the same banner.
Heh Ollie , fantastic stuff .
God Holic
Another German connection,
You’re not somehow related to that Nutter Smallballs’s family are you.??
@ 381 – THE devil
Not “a” devil. There’s a (nether) world of difference 😉
Good stuff, Ollie and The Sweeper.
Tabs
Rodders was but a toddler when i frequented the Bush with Pops.
I look older than i was,and feel younger than i look.!!
Cheers.
Dr Z – Oh ! 🙂
Clive – understood 🙂
Now then , can we put The Sweeper in for the Century ?
Picks the ball up after elbowing Barton in the face , sees The Sweeper ambling forward , and plays a 40 yarder out to the left wing …
Sneaks in, kicks Nasri in the nuts and plays the ball square……
tabs @ 314, the wisdom flowing out of that book would be a wonder to behold 🙂
bt8bbgfg @ 325, nicest compliment I’ve been paid all day 😀
Well Snir, you’re not exactly the youngest patron of the bar, I’m barely legal in all honesty, I beat you out by about 7 years, but anyway.
When I managed to overcome the potential brainwashing to support Manchester United by my oldest brother and my passing infatuation with Rangers FC (probably an defence mechanism to cope with the Red Manc Brainwashing mind you), I was able to consciously choose at 7-8 years old, of sound mind and awesome body;) to support the mighty Arsenal. I think the turning point was a 4-2 loss to the Red Manc’s back in ’02 I think, the battles Vieira had with that bastard Roy Keane, Thierry Henry’s brilliance, Bergkamp, Lunjgberg, I’ve been a loyal gooner ever since.
Having no North London heritage (born in Walworth, moved to Peckham), I was one of the unlucky ones not to be able to have visit Highbury as no-one in my family was Arsenal, all Red Mancs and one in-denial one time T*ttenham fan, but from the first time I saw the mighty Arsenal play, I’ve been in love ever since.
I’m the 1st Arsenal fan in my immediate family (Dad takes a passing fancy at a good result, my 2nd eldest sis grew disillusioned with Henry (and his sexy(?) legs leaving, soon joined the gaggle of United fans, claimed life-time allegiance before I was even born ‘rolls eyes’, youngest brother a shameless gloryhunter) but I’m blazing a bright trail for the Arsenal, my little sister has been the light and we defend the glory of the Arsenal against the Manchester hordes with valor and honour, long may we continue 🙂
In light of 375 I forgot to say:
‘Fair enough ‘holic, you were the only one in this bar who was there when the club was founded’ 😀
Picks up the ball and drills it off Nasri’s nose while he is lying on the ground. The ricochet pings back out to the wing right into the path of…
Takes H2H’s simple but effective pass in his stride , pausing only briefly to give Nasri another stamp on his nether regions and sweeps it out right …
Spots the Sweeper’s marauding run forward.
Waits to pick the right time for the pass.
apologises to Bearded for getting in his way , charges after the ball and makes good by sweeping it back into the middle …
overhead bicycle kick!!!
Nicks Nasri’s wallet and places the contents in Lars’ wallet.
Knocks it forward…
I saw that, Ollie 😉
Heh, great century, H2H.
Am I barred now, ‘holic? 😉
I believe the youth of today call that an “epic fail”. Congrats H2H…. help yourself to whatever is in front of you…..
Damn, thoughts with the Geulis, I see that Maccabi Tel Aviv conceded a last-minute defeat to Besiktas.
Apparently the sweeper’s marauding run took him right past the goal off the pitch and straight to the bar where there was already a pint of his choosing waiting for him on Lars’ tab.
Well in H2H 🙂
Wind @393 , nice story , keep The Gooner flag flying .
Ollie @405 – Oh Dear 🙁
heh Bearded! 🙂
Bearded @406 heh 🙂 Probably an OJ ( freshly squeezed ) though I’ll wager
Oooh, sorry about that, in off the big wallet.
*Offers a round for the bar and goes back to “work”.*
Dr SB….. I have been checking my back log of emails (I am exceptionally important, don’t you know?) and I have seen Nurse Wolfie’s appraisal (!) and recommendation of you.
Now, of course, all of this needs to be rubber stamped, but quite honestly, old boy, keep that Feelgood fucker locked up in a “hospital” for a good while and we can easily come to a working relationship.
What? This? Oh for fuck’s sake, it’s just a cigar!!!
Banned, Ollie?
From here?
Take a look at the nutjobs that would be left if I banned you 😉
I literally hate Quaresma.
He should have been sent off for body checking (no, I’m not kidding) one of our players off the ball… He only got a yellow for that!
Body checking!!!
He did score 2 stunners though… one in added time of the first half and one in added time of the second half.
Fucking cunts those Turks.
Well in @ 400 H2H, Dutch Blood ftw!
And unlucky on the miss kicked bicycle-kick Mr C, the lurk was just off on that one… 🙂
Re: Dr. F @373: Major heh heh hehs.
Re: H2H @400: Quite a landmark achievement for the man from the block of flats at the top right of the photograph. 😉
Ah , Mr C , glad to see you’re taking time out from attempting impossibly athletic attempts at Goal , and that you have considered Babble’s application .
I think he could prove an asset once he’s been schooled in the correct ingredients required for “a good smoke” .
Got to say, Smallballs, that I’m feeling a little sore after those acrobatics.
Damned nearly ruptured something or other.
Now then, pass the pipe and me slippers…. Tell me, does Dr SB advocate prescribing hallucinogenics?
Thanks tabs mate.
As long as there is ‘Wind’, the Gooner flag shall fly 😀
Snir and Wind (possible the most literate 17 year old ever?)…. great stories/ The same to CoR, Clive et al.
Really good reading.
I was a lost and wandering Bournemouth 9 year old in 77-78, looking for a home. The football bug (as in choosing a team) had just bitten. I requested advice from my father (North Finsbury, out of Grandfather Catalan, also N Finsbury) as to whom I should pledge my allegiance.
My father, being the modern type, responded, “whomever you like, son. But Arsenal are very good.”
That was it – decision made. Then, as now, I pretty much took my Dad’s word as gospel. After 3 cup finals in my first 3 years I thought he was a genius. And then the mid 80’s started………
H2H, I don’t want the chinless cnut’s blood money in my wallet 🙁
Lars. It’s not his anymore, I half inched it fair and square.
Just see it as giving back to the (holic) community and get a round in from his, sorry, my ill gotten gains.
If it makes you feel any better I Frimponged him while I was walking away. 🙂
Sorry – wine clouding the brain; N Finsbury was, in fact, East Finchley! 🙁
Some lovely posts there. And some bloody funny ones too – top work, all the usual suspects and assorted alter egos…. 😉
I think I’ve mentioned here before how I found my way to supporting by far the greatest team the world has ever seen, and it isn’t nearly as interesting as the posts above so I won’t bother repeating it.
However, I do have to say I’ll always be a little envious of those posting above whose first memories of football are of being taken to a game as a nipper, mainly because as an army brat growing up overseas from the age of 4, I never got the chance to do that.
And to my shame, once I had moved back to London, and my old Dad had retired here, I spent rather too much time working my way up the exams/uni/career ladder instead of spending time with him watching the game he loved. Looking back it wouldn’t have killed me to take him off to see his beloved Newcastle when they were in town somewhere, and to my eternal regret I never did.
So it always makes me smile when I read in the drinks of people taking their kids to a game. Great stuff. And for those of us for whom it wasn’t a family thing, as ‘chosen’ families go, The Arsenal really can’t be beaten.
And Ollie @ 384 – top indoctrination work 🙂
Clive
My second team, back in the days of Panini stickers etc, was always QPR, too. I still look out for their results…. no idea why.
Time nearly right for the ‘holicdad post I should have done before now.
A year on New Years Day.
Thank Christ we are with the grandkids this Christmas, but QPR will have to go, I’m afraid…
Just had a chance to look at the drinks for the first time since this morning – some lovely stories. Think i’ve told mine on here before but here goes –
I’m a South Londoner brought up by a pride of lions (Millwall supporters to the uninitiated). But fortunately for me – come the 1971 cup final my 5 year old self gets dropped off at my Nanny Smith’s place in the Old Kent, to watch the match. There my dad’s younger brother David gets me and my cousin Sean to choose “Arsenal or Liverpool?” – I, of course, choose Arsenal and become completely gripped by the game.
Then when Charlie bangs in his famous winner I go nuts until I realize he’s collapsed on the floor and his team-mates can’t seem to get him up. My mood goes from ecstasy to total upset as I think my new found hero has seriously hurt himself – and I burst into tears and had to be calmed down and put right by the grown-ups. But from then on I was hooked.
There you go you young’uns – supporting The Arse – agony and ecstasy more-or-less simultaneously in equal measure – almost always.
UREDS!
Mr C , Pipe , slippers and some Californian .
I don’t think Dr SB prescribes hallucinogenics – I take this as a plus – more for the staff , 😉
Pardon – ‘old kent road’
Snowy , Catalan , – Great stuff .
Wind , H2H – heh 🙂
AL – Brilliant 🙂
Good point, nurse. Excellent point. Keep him tied up with all that babel whilst we self-medicate to kingdom come.
Now then, we just need Mr T’s approval and off we go. Think we all know who his second patient will be…. just hope he knows a bit about Maccabi.
Here, take a hit of this……
Does Jermaine Defoe do drugs? It can’t be possible that he believes they’re gonna win the league.
They’re …. Spurs.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2068531/Jermain-Defoe-takes-Jack-Wilshere-3-000-bet.html
Ta a big bunch tabs – find i’ve gone a wee bit misty-eyed
Ewwwww (looks a bit camp spelt like that, but there you go) to be ahhh gooooooonaaaaaahhhh!
*big lug*
That’s some heavy gear Mr C . Lovely-jubbly , think I’ll go and put my speedoes on ..
Wish you would, dear. We have an image to preserve after all.
*puff puff*
My early attraction to Arsenal, as I have mentioned in the drinks before, was through black and white television pictures in the early 70s. I vaguely remember seeing highlights of the (original) double cup final and yet I only saw Charlie in yellow and blue in 1971 through what was presumably Shoot! magazine.
My original favourite in those years was Ray Kennedy and I was gutted when he was transferred to Liverpool (who even then, I had a bit of an antipathy toward, for no reason other than I used to loathe Emlyn Hughes).
Fast forward to 1978. I was unemployed.
My mate had just moved to a job in Islington as a trainee occupational therapist. One weekend, for some reason, I decided it would be a good idea to hitch hike from Edinburgh to London to see him, and drink beer. I had a fantastic night of pub rock in the Hope and Anchor on the Friday night and on the Saturday we rolled up at Highbury and I paid x shillings to get into the Clock End.
Arsenal that day had a young Irish midfield player playing who caught my eye. I recall Willie Young having an absolute stinker. I remember Pat Rice and Pat Jennings playing, I also seem to remember the team having Stapleton, Sunderland and Supermac on the park as well. And yet I’m sure the game ended goal-less. We played Middlesborough.
I saw a number of games that season (all at Highbury) but before we made it to Wembley my wanderlust had taken me to Dublin (female involved) , where I watched the cup final in an overfilled student crash pad on the North Circular Road, not too far from Phoenix Park. I was one of two Arsenal fans in that place, the others, for reasons I cannot remember, were all rooting for Utd, and I came close to getting a shoeing for celebrating in a less than magnanimous fashion.
One other memory from that season that springs to mind, is my mate, who had elected to stay in London for Christmas phoning me very drunk as we had played Spurs the Saturday before Xmas at the Lane and whipped them 5 nil. Strangely he moved to the States in the 80s and the last I heard had forsaken not only Arsenal, but the beautiful game itself.
I saw a few games in the 80s, mostly forgettable, and just as Arsenal got good again, my life had moved on to a different trajectory and I missed out in seeing all the glory years live and had to settle for silverware by proxy. Or as it was known in our house, television.
Not all are happy about moving from Highbury, but for me, it’s been great – tickets are available and it has happened at a time when I can afford both the time and money to travel and see the team in the flesh.
That and the discovery of this blog really means that the Arsenal adventure is only just beginning.
And the great posts just keep coming . Great stuff Dr Z .
Shoot Magazine ! Wow . Is it still going ?
Zico – don’t know why but an image of Withnail and I flashed into my mind whilst reading that!
Great stuff. Does somewhat explain Dr F’s “issues” too…
Dr F has issues
(of Shoot!)
somewhere in his attic. 🙂
Talking of Shoot magazine, I remember being elated when they “signed” Clive Allen to be one of their weekly columnists; finally a regular source of news from one of my Arsenal heroes! A couple of weeks later and that hope was well and truly dashed.
Still, there but for the grace of God etc….
Played Dr. Z – Willy Young having a stinker?!? Did big Willy ever play as well as that?
Mr C , easily a top ten film in the history of cinema .
“We want the finest wines available to humanity. And we want them here, and we want them now!”
” I must have some booze. I demand to have some booze!”
Awesome zico, even though I had heard some of it before. Should have made a post of it.
“i’ve a bastard behind the eyes”
Heh AL,
I was trying to be kind.
People keep asking me to remember stuff at the moment, it’s very tiring…. 😉
A small price to pay , Mr C , for not having a c*nt within our ranks . Thank god Mr Allen never got to turn out in the red and white in a competitive fixture .
El Catalan @ 419, glad to know you enjoyed my story and also, thanks for the literacy plaudits, still to this day don’t know how I pulled off an A* at English Literature GCSE, but as our captain surely knows, when you’ve got the talent… 😉
Always a great story such as yours when you hear of someone coming out of the wild, spiralling, footballing desert to the beautiful oasis that is Arsenal FC 🙂
Cheers everyone,
Dr Z(ebedee) time
PS Holic, looking forward to the Arsecast tomorrow even more than usual – and the 6 pint preview 🙂
Ollie – Your case can’t rest.
Since you pulled out the heavy artilery and brought the big guns to this debate.
Look what I found (from the same website you previously linked to) – Tony Attwood’s making the Arsenal –
http://www.blog.woolwicharsenal.co.uk/2011/12/01/happy-125th-birthday-arsenal-1-december-todays-the-day/
I think I won 😆
Don’t know if big Willy reads this blog – but if you do i want you to know i was only kidding above. I have great respect for the way you/he made maybe a thimbleful of talent go a relatively long way, alongside a talented lad called O’Leary. I in no way remain bitter that your laying the winner on for whoever it was v Ipswich in the 1978 cup final, which i was at, caused me to shed tears for 2nd and last time (up to this point anyway) over an Arsenal match.
UREDS!
“The sky bruises – it is (good) night once more” – Uncle Monty – certainly, quoting Bill Shakespeare – i think?
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/CR0ZxXr0gae34cydqwyk5I6qcIcQlTyDX2vLu1Jnp9Y?feat=directlink
If you zoom in, you’ll see the date being mentioned in the report.
AL
“Come on lads, let’s get home, the sky’s beginning to bruise, night must fall and we shall be forced to camp.”
I fear Uncle Monty might be one of Wolfie’s heroes . 🙂
Holic,
It will be good to hear your on the Arsecast tomorrow. I know at times blogs manages to get ex players and some wonderful Journos – but for me, I always find it most interesting when it involves people like yourself, Stillman and other bloggers. I don’t contribute as much as I’d like to on this blog but I read all the comments eachday. And I guess as a result of that, one comes to respect the opinion of some people over others. I can’t always say I agree with whats said – but its always informed and interesting. What more can anyone expect of life?
Tabs,
I started supporting Arsenal in 1978. I was 7 years old (Im quietly told ’71 was a great year for more than one reason!). The primary reason I started supporting the club was down to the the number of Irish players playing for the club around that era: Jennings, Rice, O’Leary, Brady, Stapleton, Nelson, Devine, Neill………I guess there was some sense of belonging. The ’79 “last minute” cup final was the first game I have a complete memory of. I used to make it over 5-6 times a year. These days I have a couple of smallies to raise and a-far-too demanding job – but I still try to manage the occasional weekend away. This site is a truly wonderful blog. It has as much to do with its proprietor as to the people like yourself who contribute to it all. Long may that continue.!
Good work tabs – just got back up to qualify that quote,or at least my explanation of it. Feared some might think i was attempting to turn the finest football blog known to humankind (that excludes you,you Manc and spurs c@nts) in to some pseudo Channel 4 Arts discussion programme thingy. Wanted to make the point, that Uncle Monty makes a point of telling us whom he doth quote, or in my case paraphrase.
Fine, fine filum indeedee and Wolfie’s picked a good ‘un there
Thank you Joe, I only get wheeled out for when we have lost a game 😉
Not too polished tomorrow for various reasons, but bless him Blogs spots my deliberate mistake and makes nothing of it 🙂
His production skills will be tested to the full, as usual when I am on…
That’s if my memory serves me well tabs – hich it does less often these days –
nice story Joe – i used to go a lot when those Irish lads were the mainstay of the Arsenal team, and it wasn’t uncommon to see an Irish tricolour being waved on the Highbury terraces in those days. Which was actually quite a ballsy thing to do at that time
oops – which it does less often these days
Confirmation from club – http://www.arsenal.com/assets/_files/documents/sep_11/gun__1317384612_Arsenal_Holdings_Plc_Announcem.pdf
Arsenal Football Club was born out of one man’s vision to help his work colleagues break free from the daily grind of life in the Woolwich Armoury.
David Danskin had an ambition to build a community of people with a kindred spirit and aim, namely playing football, having
fun and being together.
December 1st 1886 was the date. The Royal Oak public house in
Woolwich was the venue.
‘holic – your second mention of the ‘deliberate mistake’ has got me intrigued. Will Blogs keep it in and if he does any prizes for spotting it?
Joe , great story , and to echo your words , long may this wonderful Blog prosper !
AL , Uncle Monty was indeed a fan of The Great Bard …
” It’s true, I crept the boards in my youth. But I never really had it in my blood, and that’s what’s so essential, isn’t it, theatrical zeal in the veins. Alas I have little more than vintage wine and memories. It is the most shattering experience of a young man’s life when one morning he awakes and quite reasonably says to himself “I will never play the Dane.” When that moment comes, one’s ambition ceases”
And on that note of crushed thespian dreams , I too must retire . 🙂
Night all .
Excuse my relative naivety but I’m only familiar with Arseblog through this site and ibelieveinarsenal, so what’s the Arsecast, when is it time-wise and is it live?
Arsecast is Arseblog’s podcast.
Every friday.
Not live, recorded on the Thursday.
Snir, The Royal Oak public house is where AFC was founded, you say? It’s quite amazing how many positive things happen in bars, isn’t it? 😀
Why did I start supporting Arsenal? I can’t quite remember, to be honest. Too many drinks have intervened. 😉
Wigan away. Sounds like time for a gutsy performance to make the trip home worth the while. Hopefully, it’s also time for the RVP goals parade to continue on its merry way. Either that, or time for one of our other goal scoring suspects to step up and be counted.
“‘Why Arsenal?’ you ask? Well, I was once in a pub in London and I heard some old cats talking about this club filled with skilfull red and white asses. I got myself down to the club right quick but instead of finding some fine booty I found me some fine footy. Can’t win ’em all I guess….
Anway, seeing cool cats like Rocastle, Thomas, Wright and Henry on the football pitch showing their skills kept me coming back for more. The one thing I think missing in the modern game is huge moustaches though…”
Good man, Shaft. 😉
Mine must be the most random reason there is to support Arsenal! The year was 2005 and FIFA 2k5 was quite the rage in our college. We used to have these one-on-one games skipping classes a lot. Well, the team that I chose was Arsenal (not least because they were rated 5/5 , having been the ‘Invincibles’ a year ago:) ) I went on to become the best FIFA player that ever graced the halls of our hostel:) I mean, how could I lose with Pires, Henry and Bergkamp banging them in for fun?:) Since then, I have been a die-hard gooner, and have learnt much about the club and it’s history thanks to you holics! You see, Arsenal have not won anything since I have become a fan, though I had the pleasure of seeing us brush aside Juventus, Madrid and Villareal on the way to the final of the Champions League that season. I sincerely hope I am not the reason (I tend to automatically jinx the teams I support, or so goes my theory).
Here’s to winning something very soon!
You’re not the jinx Baltimorean. I believe Cesc was. Barca now in crisis!
Hey Snir, I found something you might be interested in here.
http://www.arsenal.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=514854#ixzz1fLwOLRdK
I’ve already seen that CoR.
Tim Stillman also wrote in his column yesterday on Arseblog that the day was December 1.
I guess we can’t really ask for more when there is a report of the 1890 AGM stating that the club secretary “Mr Osborne” saying that the club was formed on December 1 and this year’s financial report states in the overview that it was December 1.
That’s two documents from the club confirming that it was December 1.
To be honest? I don’t really care anymore. I love Ollie for being the one not to conform with the popular thinking and already proposed to celebrate it twice so we can drink some more so have yourself a drink on me.
Ollie – you get as much drinks as you want, my wallet came in to replace Lars’ at Halftime.
CoR – I would literally LMAO if we win a trophy and Barca doesn’t…
😆
Great why Arsenal stories all. Mine is not so exotic – local lad having been raised on the sun-dappled uplands of the NW postal districts before being fated to roam the world like some condemned Flying Dutchman. In those days football was played at 3 pm on a Saturday afternoon whether you were a professional or an amateur. I would always rather play than watch so didn’t make it to Highbury too often. First time I saw the team in the flesh was at Hendon’s old Claremont Road ground for a London Senior Cup game. Ian Ure played so that dates it. 3-1 to the Arsenal, I think it was, revenge for Hendon winning 4-3 at Highbury in the same competition a couple of years earlier. They played at Highbury twice that season and won both times. Got to love Hendon, though, for stuffing the Spuds 6-0 in the LSC five weeks before the first ever North London derby. There’s not many as know that.
Hehe, I am already lulzing at the troubles befalling Barca this season 😆
My middle name is Schadenfreude after all…
Every Arsenal fan needs to watch this video.
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/blogs/mirror-football-blog/Arsenal-s-125th-anniversary-video-and-picture-special-article837114.html
It’s either on the mirror website or on the Arsenal Membership videos on Arsenal Player.
AL, TaBS
Monty, you terrible cunt.
Wind
I demand three things of you today.
Read arseblog
Listen to the Arsecast.
Watch Withnail and I.
All three shall enrich your life.
North Bank Ned
Small world.
I used to live down the hill from Hendon Football Club,
I went to Clitterhouse Junior School and then to Whitefield Sec Mod.
Never saw a game at HFC though.
The only times i went there was on Sunday afternoons,when me and a few mates used to have Wanking competitions at the back of the Terraces.
One of my pals held the World Hand Speed Ejaculation record for many years.!!
Cheers
The Sweeper.
Oh. Dear. God.
Snir, I’m afraid my case rests in the exact same way as before.
If the only document ‘December 1st’ is based on stems from 1890, it’s hardly a proof.
It may have just been convenient then for administrative reason to place the date at the start of a month.
Given the first mention of a match report on Dec 11th, the date couldn’t be placed later. Not placing it before may have its advantages (tax or else). I find it highly unlikely that the club foundation was made on Dec 1st.
and until someone can actually unearth an authenticated document from Dec 1st 1886, allow me to have some serious doubts.
Completely unrelated, but Remember your tweeter source that alleged that Wenger had told him something about RvP contract negotiations at the AGM?
Turned out to be utter bollocks. I am highly sceptical about cheap or ITK journalism based on the author’s sense of self-worth.
I haste to add I mean that for your sources not for you as I’m sure you’ve understood.
Ollie – I mean, what more do you want if even the club sees it as the official date?
It’s on this years financial reports.
And even if they only chose December 1 because they had to since they played on December 11 (despite you linking that piece by Attwood doubting the existence of that game) – does it matter why they chose that date? As long as they chose that date, then that’s the date.
It’s like the way people have a hard time figuring out if their date is from their first date or their first kiss 🙂
True, that twitter thing came out to be total bollocks but I’ve come to find that twitter has actually been more accurate than not (once I’ve done a personal filter and decide which users are credible in my view) so I actually quite like twitter.
Unrelated – Has any of you ever had a rough drinking session and slept in the car and when you woke up your ear was totally numb? How long should it be before it goes back to normal? It’s Friday and it’s been numb (with various degrees of numbness… It’s not THAT numb today, but still a bit tingly) since Monday morning… Have to say, this is scaring the shit out of me…
Loving the stories about how everyone found true love, that is, The Arsenal. I might as well share mine. Growing up in Jamaica, we had only one television channel at the time (early 90’s). On Sunday afternoons, they would show one game and highlights from the rest of the weekend games. During this time, most Jamaicans(my household included) loved Liverpool as the legendary John Barnes was tearing apart the league at the time and he was born in Jamaica. However, as I started to follow the league more closely, I fell in love with Arsenal and this coincided with the arrival of Arsene and I’ve been in love ever since. I now reside in The United States and continue to follow the Gunners keenly. I haven’t been able to come over to England to watch a live game as yet, but hope to do so very soon. Gunners4life!
Can I immediately award the Post of the Year to Clive for 478?
There are loads of fellow commuters wondering about the laugh-out-loud-guy (yet again),
Superb, Sweeper. Feelgood wants to offer you a lifetime seat in the D L Ltd corporate box.
Be careful though when Dr F offers to put you in a box. 😉
Yes it does matter to me, Snir, as I prefer truth to propaganda 😉
‘It’s on this year’s FINANCIAL reports’ tells me all I need to know. 😉
Anyway, let’s agree to disagree.
For the ears, the quacks will have an opinion. Maybe you ear’s just blocked and need syringing or something. It’ s happened to me before, not drink-related.
heh indeed for Post of the Year. Has this record been beaten since?
I think we should be told.
Overdrinking can tend to disrupt the peripheral nervous system temporarily Snir, but you should be alright after a while.
Drink lots of water, get some sleep and/or maybe wash out your ears with a warm saline solution. Maybe don’t sleep on the gear box next time too 😀
internetinnitus ?
Zico you old scoundrel you,
thnks for the compliment.
It was all good clean sticky fun.
Only one rule,
you could only play with your own,not someone else’s.!!
Compliments on your ‘ Why Arsenal ‘ story,
although as a mere 40 yearer,along with Tabs,you are a bit of a blow in ,compared to me.
Cheers
The Sweeper.
Yosh, leaving the office and this bar for a bit. Will check in later with real beers in hand….or pissed drunk and partially blind 😉
Snir
My advice,
Have a good Wank,!!
That should clear the problem up,
If it doesn’t,repeat the exercise until your ears start to glow.!!.
Cheers
The Sweeper.
More good stories from all overnight as to Arsenal beginnings .
Mr C , I feel a whole day of Withnail quotes coming on 😉 If there is a more quotable film I’d like to see it !
Nice link Snir .
Clive @478 – heh , well you outdid yourself there !! Didn’t guess for a moment where that little nugget of history was heading . Laugh out loud stuff . I’m with Ollie , does the record still reside in Hendon ? 🙂
Come , come , Chaps , I think its common Knowledge that I am the biggest wanker in the world these days !
on Abou Diaby…
It is a slight muscular problem, he’ll be out for around 10 days.
Play 10 minutes, be out for 2 weeks. Hmmm, I have now officially given hope on Diaby’s fitnes.
Shame, a player who will have missed out on a great career. He should probably retire now…
Your stories for why you support the Arsenal have made great reading, Holics. Shame my own reason is just, well, lame so I won’t bother regaling you with it!
CoR – what would awhile qualify as? It’s been numb (albeit not as numb as it was on Monday) for a few days now…
Clive – Great advice mate, but I will never be able to beat Gareth LeCunt’s record…! I think I should just aim for the top 4…
Snir @ 462, thanks 🙂
Shaft @ 466, heh 😛
Calatan @ 477, will do all 3 but the 3rd seems a bit dodgy (made before I was born)
But your wisdom can’t be denied!
The Sweeper @ 478, I am in awe 😀
Camberwell come on, tell us,
I wanna know… 🙂
Drives up-field, looks for a (Scruz)gooner…?
Lays off the ball to the outside of the box….
Well according to strict footballing rules of allegiance, I should by rights be a Colchester United fan, but I was never into the beautiful game as a kid and if I had been I probably would have chosen Ipswich Town…because there was always a ‘Town mug in the kitchen cupboard when I was a nipper (tenuous? Just a bit).
Brought up on a diet of rugby (no football played at my somewhat Victorian secondary school), hardly anyone even talked about footie at school.
I’ve built this up too much already…long story short, I got to 20 or 21 and suddenly decided I wanted to get into it and knew the first step was choosing a team. I’d heard that some distant uncle had missed my parents’ wedding to see the Red and White play at Highbury, plus my mum was brought up on Highbury New Park and that pretty much decided it.
I should add that at this time of choosing, I had no idea who was top of the table or had won last season’s silverware…
Good grief. Did I just get the 5th century WITHOUT self-assisting??
Holic, stop the press. The breaking news is MASSIVE!!!
In fact, by way of celebrating I think I’ll grace you with my take on tomorrow’s game.
Difficult to predict this next one, but I reckon ‘Wiganer’ give ’em a run for their money!
I’ll get my cloth cap and whippet.
heh , well in Camberwell ! 🙂
502? Isn’t it time to declare if we want to avoid a draw?
Surely some stolen identity at 503? 😉
Tabs @ 491
Said record holder sadly went off the rails,
Took to blowing up the toilets at selected underground railway stations.
Served a prison sentence from memory,but where he went from there
i have no idea.
But he was awesome,he was already half way there,before most of us had fished ours out of our trousers.!!
Cheers
The Sweeper.
Clive , blimey , this boy had it all ! 🙂
Well in Camberwell 🙂
Proud to assist you on the road to rehabilitation Camberwell 😀
Wind….. just trust us on this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5EmCKbWS6c
Yes Wind, since getting my debut non-assisted century I feel I have, in the words of Morpheus, “taken my first step into a bigger world” 😀
The scene : somewhere in the Home Counties, the sun rises over the grounds of the retreat where he is currently ensconsced and Dr Feelgood requests an urgent meeting with Dr Syko Babble, and his assistant, the Blonde Girl with The Ponytail. Dr Babble has asked for the 2 muscular gentlemen to attend also……
Interim interview
Dr SB : “OK, Feelgood, what’s this about?”
Feelgood : “I have to leave. Things to do, people to see, places to be.”
Dr SB : “That’s not going to happen.”
Feelgood : “You don’t understand. I have to take the Road to Wigan Pier…..by rail.”
Dr SB : “Preposterous. We haven’t even got to the next stage of your therapy. Which reminds me, have you taken your medication?”
Feelgood : “Roxette took my meds away from me before I arrived here.”
Dr SB : “I meant the medication sent from a colleague in Catalunya, the peerless Dr C?”
Feelgood (lying) : “Yes. Anyway, all I want is a few hours away, just a relaxing train ride to see my, err…….cousin, in Lancashire.”
Dr SB : “Out of the question. You need to be here for the handover this weekend.”
Feelgood : “Handover? What handover?”
Dr SB : “Oh haven’t you heard? I’ve been offered another job, couldn’t turn it down really, as its more in my specialist area – Herbal Medicine. More money too, seemingly.”
Feelgood : (Looking at the Blonde) “You’re not taking the girl, are you?”
Dr SB : “I offered to “take her away from all this” but she is a consummate professional, she insisted in staying and I quote “so there is at least some continuity of care…..”
The Blonde Girl with The Ponytail smiled and blushed simultaneously, and gave Feelgood a furtive look. Feelgood in recognition, smiled in return. He then turned to Dr SB and said
“You know what? Good! I expect they’ll replace you with someone who knows what they’re doing. Someone to replace Babble’s rabble. (Heh, it rhymes….). Can I…..
Dr SB interrupts and says in a sinister dark voice : “Oh they’re going to replace me all right. You’ll see…..”
Feelgood : “Right, well bring him in. I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse….”
Dr SB : “That won’t be possible – he’s flying in from overseas sometime tomorrow”
Feelgood removes his worse-for-wear iPhone and calls Roxette…..and the following one sided conversation is heard:
Feelgood: “Yes, I know I agreed, but Wigan away….think of the…..pies!”
Roxette : Inaudible (and at length of course)
Feelgood (child-like) : “But it’s not fair. I want to go to the game. I want to party like its platform 49…..”
Roxette : inaudible (for 5 long minutes)
Feelgood : “Oh very well then. Remember and bring me my sunglasses – these white walls are blinding.”
Feelgood fumbles with his iPhone hitting every button in an attempt to terminate the call, and then sits silent, defeated.
A few hours later, an alert goes out that Feelgood is nowhere to be found. The 2 musclebound gentlemen head for the medical supply room but he is not there. After searching everywhere, he is eventually found by The Blonde Girl with the Ponytail in the grounds of the estate. He is sitting by the riverbank, his feet,shorn of socks and shoes, dangling in the water. He is frowning as if he cannot quite comprehend his environment.
Blonde (soothingly) : “So there you are. I thought you’d legged it. What are you doing?”
Feelgood : “Rox said I could pick up the game in a stream……”
To be continued
DR Z 🙂
Spuds home game is now an early sunday kick-off.
February 26th.
Good Morning Holics
As someone who has never lived in London ,I had an odd way of becoming a Gooner.
I went to primary school ,in Norfolk, with a lad called Terry Bush, who subsequently played football for Bristol City and cricket for Somerset . He was a mad Blackpool fan and the year was 1952.
He was convinced that Blackpool would win the FA Cup that season and I being a 10 year old brought up on village and then 3rd Division South games at Carrow Road , decided to find a team that I thought might beat Blackpool and for some reason chose Arsenal.
We of course got to the final and lost to Newcastle but I stuck with the Gunners and eventually persuaded my father to take me to see them at Leicester in 1958 and again in 1959 where I met up with some lads, who were my age, and went to every match, home and away. Among this crowd was a lad called Peter Hasler, with whom I became quite friendly.
My first game at Highbury was in December 1959 against Burnley , we were 2 up at half time but lost the game 4-2, nothing changes!
In the early days I went to Highbury once a month. In those days the train fare was £1.6p (old money) when I was earning the princely sum of £6-10s a week!
Dad was happy enough to take me to some away matches , a dreadful cup tie at Rotherham springs to mind and I will always remember the Peterborough cup tie in 1965 when we lost , my brother and I having been to their home match the previous week to secure a ticket.
I cried at the 71 cup final when Charlie scored the winner right in front of me, ( incidently the ticket for my seat on a bench cost only
£3-00)!
Now I sit on a padded seat on the half-way line in comfort. Whether it is as much fun as it was in the old days ,when I had to get to the ground when the gates opened just to get a seeable position, is hard to say. However, the anticipation is just the same and I have met some wonderful people on the train and at the games whom I am pleased to call my friends.
As always COYRs
Great stuff, Delia!
Brilliant Delia.
£3.00.
By the way, you will always meet wonderful people on “the Train” 😉
Delia @514 – wonderful story . Thank you .
Dr F – usual excellence 🙂 🙂 Have a beer on me .
Holic , just listened to The Arsecast . Great stuff , well played ! Usual common sense and insight . Your deliberate mistake had me struggling , was it edited out ? Don’t want to give away too much , for those who haven’t listened yet , but if I say “Z” , do I win a Savile Rogue scarf ? 😉
Delia
wonderful story.
I am proud to say i was also one of the desperate and dateless that
attended the Peterborough cuptie along with my dear old Dad.
I always remember sitting at the train station near their ground waiting to get home,and 2 old Biddies in Peterboro colors came and gave me a cuddle because i looked so sad.!!
I was only a poor wee bairn.!!
Cheers
The Sweeper.
No Spoiler please, tabs.
And I seem to have donned some ‘angry man’ clothes as I am irritated by Savile Rogue basically abusing the generic colour scheme to pretend they’re selling scarves to fans of club X or Y. Basically, since I believe they’re putting no distinctive items on their scarves, they’re assimilating us with Stoke fans. No thanks.
No drink for me please…..but something from the underused Green Tin 🙂
Morning All
Late to the party as usual which I’m going to blame on being rather busy and having a delightful dose of man-flu (Aunty B’s Slammers prescription working just fine Dr.C).
Really enjoyed reading the stories about faling in love/the first time with The Arsenal. Cheers to all who posted, top men one and all.
Extra cheers to tabs for taking the initiative to do this.
Mine is very simple. Was taken across the marshes on a Saturday spring afternoon where my paternal grandmother lived (Hackney for you out of towners) by my old man in either 69 or 70 to watch us beat WHUFC 2-1 at home. The first glimpse of that emerald green grass and the red and white kit from what became our usual vantage point in the West Stand Lower had me hooked for life.
I remember the WHUFC team almost as well as the mighty Arse players: Fat Frank’s Dad, Billy Bonds, the legendary Bobby Moore and Clive Best. I also remember being just a little scared at the roar made by the Arsenal supporters when we scored our goals. I had never heard anything like it at the tender age of 4 or 5.
Perhaps a little more interesting is how the StoreyDad became a life-long Arsenal supporter. He was raised in Hackney by his mum as his dad had passed away whilst he was still a baby. Tough times back in the ’20s. From where he grew-up, the obvious teams of choice would have been Leyton Orient or the aforementioned West Ham. I’ll never know for sure how he came to support Arsenal becasue, to my shame, I never asked him. However, back in those days and as he was growing up, his social life would have been centred around his family many of whom were emigrating (heh) from the East End to the more affluent parts of NW London and Middlesex. I know one of his cousins who did this and he became and still is a big supporter of The Arse. I’m sure this was a big influence on his superb choice of football team which, thank Dennis, he passed onto me and which I am now passing onto the StoreySon.
I’ll always remember my dad’s tales of the glorious Arsenal sides of the 30s. I’m fairly sure the likes of James, Drake and Bastin represented a golden time of fottbal to my dad. I think he also enjoyed the early 70s, not just because of the double year, bit because it was a time when we would sit regulalry together in The West Stand Lower of a Saturday afternoon and enjoy cheering on together the boys in red and white. Happy days. *wipes tear from eye*
Phew, just caught up with all the action since last night…
H2H, well if you properly Frimponged him then I guess I feel a lot better!
Really wonderful to read all the stories about how the Arsenal came into our lives. Some rather touching stuff in places, I have to say.
zico, I think Clive deserves the award for post of the year again for 490!
@495: Snir, not sure how long is a while mate. But if it’s just the result of a night out then you shouldn’t have to worry too much. I’m an alcoholic too though so you should take my advice with a grain of salt and a shot of tequila 😀
Ollie @505 – schoolboy error 😉
No spoilers from me .
Shame about the Savile Rogue scarves . We just cannot be lumped in with Stoke . It’s just not right ! Think I’ll stick to my 1977 Canons scarf .
TS @520 – Lovely stuff , great post .
Clive @518 Ahhhh !! If only those old biddies knew what that “wee bairn” would later get up to in Hendon eh
Morning Lars .
Ollie , now as long as that Smallballs fella hasn’t snaffled it all , I’ll join you at The Green Tin . Roll ’em up old son .
And so yesterday I had the feeling it was friday and today I feel like thursday.
Well in the end, I’ll have the full week, whatever the order.
The Scene : Carlos Kickem’ard and El Jefe are hiding in the wings of The Royal Palladium , watching the final throes of Dawn French’s Royal Command Performance . El Jefe absent-mindedly twirls a pair of handcuffs in the air , whilst Carlos checks that the pillow-case he is carrying is of sufficient stretchiness :-
Carlos : As if I haven’t got enough to do without this . Trip to Wigan tomorrow . I’ve got to check the HT to make sure that there are no stowaway whippets , advise happy travellers about diet and activities whilst in Northern Climes , silence any talk of Rugby League , and make sure there’s enough London Pride to go round . All this whilst Feelgood’s been committed , and Prof TES is complaining of man-flu , the jessie ! That Smallballs bloke , he’s taken it upon himself to take the reins . Decent enough bloke , though a little weird , but he can be a right pain in the arse . (Ed note . heh!) He’s dished out the CMC goodies for free and now he’s running around doing impressions of David Wilkie . Feelgood had his faults , but he always got the money rolling in . I don’t mind telling you El Jefe , I’ve got a bad vibe , and now this !
El Jefe : Well , why are we here Carlos ?
Carlos : Bloody Shaft . Told me he wanted a woman of mirth . Someone who likes French . I thought , sod that , why get someone who likes French , when you can get the real thing . Quick El Jefe , she’s coming off …..
*Some time later Carlos , El Jefe and Shaft are back in Shaft’s lair . Dawn French is sat on a chair in the corner , with the pillowcase over her head .*
Shaft : You cats took your time . So who have we got here ?
Carlos : *proudly* Dawn French , Shaft . Female japester . In short , the “woman of mirth” you requested .
Shaft : What is it with you cats ? Don’t I speak English ? A woman of Girth , I asked for , a woman of GIRTH .
*Shaft walks over to Dawn French and removes the Pillow case*
Shaft : Hmm , I can see that despite the well-publicised weight loss you’re still a bit of a fattie . This has worked out pretty well . Come on Sugar Lips , you an’ me got some hot lovin’ to do . Well done boys , you can take the rest of the night off …
Carlos : 🙂
El Jefe : 🙂
Shaft basks in the afterglow with a Cuban cigar clenched between his teeth. He is like a lion after consuming a buffalo in the savannah.
Shaft: Sugar Lips, that was amazing but you gotta see yourself out now, babe. Shaft got work to do.
Dawn French: Ooo, Shaft, always so busy…au revoir.
Shaft: Later babe.
Shaft checks his cellphone. There is a voicemail message recorded on his phone. He presses play and puts the phone to this ear.
Voicemail: Shaft, Carlos here. You distracted me with your gordo girl stories outside the fondue restaurant and I forgot to tell you…while I was behind the wall in FIFA I hear Blatter mention that there was a spy in the Emirates. He didn’t say who it was but we gotta move extra careful from here on out. Any idea who it is? Anyway, did you have a good time with the French broad? Sorry if she was a little small, will get you a three hundred pounder per usual next time. Hasta luego amigo.
Shaft: Heh, 300 pounder…that’s still too damn skinny.
Some truly remarkable postings going on these past couple of days:
Clive: Loved ‘Tales From The Dales’, absolutley superb. As for the episodes of mass-debating, only you could ‘pull-off’ an ‘explosive’ story like that. Top posting from the one and only Sweeper 😉
tabs & zico: How do you fellas find the time to do all that writing? Brilliance and psychosis in equal measure. It all fits in perfectly at this bar 😀
Trev: Loved Le Coq and bull antics of yesterday or was it the day before. With able contributions from a number of other regulars. Hilarious! There’s way too much cock and bull going on in here these days, heh! 😉
Ollie: Re Arsenal’s birthday. Accept your erudite arguments of course. What swung it for me was that Tony Attwood also acknowledged yesterday as the birthday of the club. Although I’m not a great fan of his style or his website, I do believe him to be something of an expert on the history of The Arsenal.
NBN: Fantastic post at #473 plus other recent contributions from your good self. As Clive knows, I spent much of my youth around Edgware, Colindale, Hendon, Brent-X, G.Green, etc. and so loved your memories of HFC (and Clive’s mention of Clitterhouse….titter ye not) 🙂
Drinks for all are on the bar. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, what an extraordinary corner of the internet this is.
*doffs cap to The ‘Holics, one and all*
tabs/Dr.C/others?
Are we going to do this Withnail thing? One of my all time faves.
‘Get in the back of the van!!!’
‘Don’t attempt anything without the gloves’
‘Very, very foolish words’
etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. 🙂
So what times are ‘holic going to be in the pub next saturday.
I’ll have to book my ST ticket this weekend.
Ollie @ #529
See my 3rd Withnail quote at #528 (only joking of course) 🙂
I’m certain some will be waiting for the doors to open. Not me of course, I’m just a Billy Two-Pints 😉
TS
How DARE you?
And….. “we’ve gone on holiday by mistake”. 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD2P9Px3enI&feature=related
Dr.C
Oh yes! That chestnut…brilliant 😆
‘We’re not from London you know’
Shaft – Brilliant and touche 🙂 🙂
Ollie – How does 11 30 sound ? what’s that … a bit late ? I hear ya .
TS – “Right, here’s the plan. First, we go in there and get wrecked, then we eat a pork pie, then we drop a couple of Surmontil-50’s each, means we’ll miss out on Monday and come up smiling Tuesday morning.”
Dr C?? Dr?????
How DARE you???
tabs – Excellent!
‘I demand to have some booze!’
Put it that way, I’ve become a bit lazy on saturday mornings.
These days I aim for 1pm arrival.
But if there’s a big enough swing in favour of earlier and no significant price difference one way or the other for the train ticket, I may, just may opt for 12pm (only one train every hours I’m afraid, so 11.30am is a no-no :D).
I was a bit toooo wasted for the Fulham game, but then that was a late kick-off.
Ollie @ #536
Are you trying to sell it to yourself fella?
Go on… you know you want to. Don’t worry, we’ll look after you and make sure that you don’t drink more than is adequate 😉
*cough, splutter*
Come now Catalan @ #534
As instigator of the name, you’ll always be Dr.C to me 🙂
Or are you going to change your Twitter proile to Mr.C as well? 😉
Clive@478: If you never saw Hendon play, it must be true what they say…
& @518: Did those two old biddies in Peterborough know what they were cuddling?
Tabs@491: Just for the record, Claremont Road was in NW2, so technically that would be Cricklewood, not Hendon. Honor where honor is due.
Delia@514: Terrific tale. It was different watching from terraces.
TS@527: I have idea why I would have been there, and it was the only time I was there, but I once saw Pat Jennings score a goal at the old Wingate stadium that got knocked down when they built the M1. It was a Sunday charity match and he was playing for some All-Stars XI. Long punt from his own penalty area. QPracticing for the one he would score against Alex Stepney.
Haha, great stuff again NBN 😀
Without Googling, wasn’t Pat playing for that other lot when he scored his goal-kick goal vs Manure?
*hopes he is wrong*
Dear Mr. Smallballs:
I continue to be intrigued by your consistent usage of Speedoes in the plural form, to the point that I find myself driven to inquire as to the reason. Is it because you find it necessary to wear more than one swimsuit at a time, or perhaps for some other motive? I have already taken it upon myself to explain the reason for your usage of Jimmy Choos in the plural form, assuming of course that you are in possession of more than one foot. Do I assume too much, or too many? 😉
Admiringly yours, etc., etc.
TS
Ahh….. good point! 🙂
Allow me to profer a pipe of peace…. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K0Esd1-ZEE&feature=related
TS@540: Sadly he was. I thought that when I saw him do it, he was still with Watford, but having Wiki-checked the dates that seems unlikely, if not impossible.
Another top clip Dr.C, thanks for sharing 🙂
Never mind the pipes of peace, it’s the golden pipes stuffed full of the GT’s freshest that I’m interested in.
I feel the CMC is being sadly neglected these days so let’s put that right, starting now 😉
Delia @ 514, True Storey @ 520, beautiful, moving ‘storeys’ 😉
Dr Z, excellent Feelgood Files @ 511, loved the end 😀
hehe, thanks tabs, have a pint of bitter on Sugar Lips’ tab ;D
TS
True again – far too much drinking going on. In honour of Withnail, let’s get the drugs out!
The Carlos/Shaft collaboration was sublime!
Keep it coming 😉
Sugar Lips vs Hot Lips.
Who wins?
At what time do we know if Szczesny will start growing his hair?
Cheers Wind @ #545. ‘Twas straight from the heart mate.
Dr.C @ #547 – Splendid! Now, who knows how to roll a Camberwell Carrott
NBN @#543 – I think Pat was one of the very few greats who crossed the Great North London Divide and yet managed to stay in the affections of both sets of supporters. Of course, when I use the term ‘supporter’ w.r.t. that lot I think of 9 year olds, or grown men and women with the mentality and communications skills of 9 year olds who spend most of their time hanging upside-down either in trees or caves. Did I ever mention my pathological hatred of anything LWC? 😉
Dear Mr 8Ball @541 ,
More than one swimsuit at a time ? Good Heavens , no , what on earth gave you that idea ? It would break all the conventions of “how the modern man looks good on the beach” , or indeed anywhere else for that matter !
I can do no better than direct you to the following . Please note the correct usage of the plural in the title . Please also be good enough to complete the survey with answer (a) .
http://uk.askmen.com/fashion/fashiontip_500/594_wearing-speedos-sachin-on-fashion.html
Whilst I have on particularly cold December days be known to wear a nut-sack warmer whilst whiling away my time on the North Bank , ( You will appreciate that on a cold day , a man of my build cannot afford to lose any further weight in that area ) ,I cannot for the life of me understand why you might think I might resort to two sets of Speedos .
Yours Singularly ,
Wolfgang Smallballs .
This from top Gunner Andre Santos, presumably on the flight up to Manchester:
http://yfrog.com/mnmttjj
So now we know why he doesn’t run back sometimes. It’s not the 60 tabs (heh!) a day, he can’t f’in well see where he’s going! 😉
Heh, splendid. Thanks for the picture, TS.
Do you get spammed on BBM?
Some totally random (I’d say) person says they want to add me but the name has no familiarity and nobody told me they’d try to connect me via blackberry.
So I think it’s a ‘Bugger off ya spamming coont!’ case.
Danny: The joint I’m about to roll requires a craftsman. It can utilise up to 12 skins. It is called a Camberwell Carrot.
Marwood: It’s impossible to use 12 papers on one joint.
Danny: It’s impossible to make a Camberwell Carrot with anything less.
Withnail: Who says it’s a Camberwell Carrot?
Danny: I do. I invented it in Camberwell, and it looks like a carrot.
🙂
Ollie – Sugar lips every time ! That line just leaves’em drooling 😉
Cheers Wind , and thanks Shaft , I most certainly will ! 🙂
And to celebrate the previous post :
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b1/Colin_McRae_Subaru_Impreza_WRC.jpg
#555 Ollie? That’s worthy of some sort of celebration, surely?
*passes what’s left of the Camberwell carrott to Ollie*
*finally gets an opportunity to plug into The Arsecast*
It was only in reference to M*A*S*H of course though, tabs.
TS – that picture – do you reckon our Brazilian has been at the Green Tin ? With the headphones on and the grasp of the imaginary wheel , it looks like he’s pretending to fly the plane !
Not sure I have a photo anywhere, but biggest joint I remember had 24 papers and a whole packet of fags in it. I mean on top of the obvious main content.
Splendid tabs @ #556.
PS: I prefer the weapon behind Colin’s (RIP) Scooby 😉
Ollie@559 , ah , straight over the top of my head 😳 🙂
tabs @ #560
I’m convinced that Mr.Santos lives IN the GT.
Anyone who has his sort of income but chooses to drive a Smart Car with lime green paintwork to work (vs the usual footballer fare of blinged-up, white monster 4x4s) is a top nutter in my book and more than welcome to join us in this bar anytime he wants to 🙂
… and eats fish and chips !
Biggest joint ? …
http://wacuum.blogspot.com/2011/10/weed-biggest-joint-ever-rolled.html
… now you’re talking 🙂
Heh. But can you actually smoke it?
‘Wacuumairs Radar Blogolda’, eh?
That could never have been written by a wacko stoner. No, never. No chance at all. Nope.
Brilliant Arsecast BTW. ‘Na$ri’s got a ginormous ar*e’. Heh! ‘Been having dinner round Kolo Toure’s house.’ Double heh!
….. AND HOLICCCCCCCCCCCCCC!!!!!!
Dunno Ollie, but you could give it a damn good try 🙂
What I do know is that after a couple of puffs , the last thing on your mind would be taking a photo 🙂
Shouldn’t you follow your master tabs and not post any arsecast spoiler, TS.
Some of us are still at work, you know 😉
Very good point, tabs! 😀
Ollie
Apologies for spoiling, entirely unintentional old boy.
Like you, still hard at it and am able to multi-task i.e. listen and type at the same time 😉
It’s Friday evening. Anybody fancy a quick game of ‘Where’s ‘holic’?
What a load of overblown bollocks this Euro draw is !!
Had some Ukrainian dancers who I would say had a slight look of AA about them , except they moved considerably faster , and now we’re having to suffer some tone deaf ugly singer . Sounds like Miss Piggy on acid .
Mornington Crescent perchance ‘Holic ? 😉
Er…….. the pub Holic? Just a wild guess of course.
TS wins. Said it would be a quick game 😉
Celebrates like he’s claimed the sixth century 😀
Dunno Holic, you’re not much of a drinker and I’m surprised to see with that pint of Guinness 😉
*See you
That’s it Snir. Jump on a plane next Wednesday 😉
Id I’d had time to play I would have said what TS said at 572.
Hardly the hardest game indeed 😀
oooh, has that draw started, tabs?
Calatan @ 477, got on a computer for the 2nd time today, 1st time for more than 15 minutes so I’m going to try to make a dent in your list for me to do 🙂
So Holic, is my illustrious 500 going to be immortalised in your next blog?
You missed the fanfare, fun and frolics when I stuck it in the back of the net WITHOUT the self-assist…
Still talking utter bollocks Ollie . Haven’t seen such an example of stilted conversation since I tried a few lines out on Baby Spice . 🙁
Ah! Camberwell. Got any more carrotts? 😉
And the troops are gathering for the big push towards 600 …
Excellent Snir @ #578. I’m rehearsing something similar:
‘Surprised to see you in here ‘Holic and not drinking tea?’
Szczesny taps it out to Santos who doesn’t fancy it much (on account of losing his glasses) and toe-pokes across to The Verminator…..
Oh dear.
Oh dear.
Good luck whoever gets 600. I’m on pint three. Preview could be gobbledygook.
Oh very dear.
What’s up Dr Z ?
France in with Ukraine , Ireland in with Spain .
He’s trying to endear his way to 600th I reckon, tabs.
More German Cuntery. Addressed mostly to colleague but I’m in copy.
Still 6.45pm and it’s ‘Do you think you can do this (tedious task) for me? I am out of office monday and tuesday’.
I think the answer should be what the Pope said to the wanky Tottnum Hotspur who went to Rome to see him.
No idear. Vermy bombs forward and releases O2TC…..
Sorry guys, silly season statred at mid-day today.
Wasted 🙂
Evening all.
Been catching up on the drinks for what seems like hours, some excelent “why Arsenal” stories and conformation that our beloved club really is a world wide phenomunem.
More alto ego craziness then I can shake a stick at, many laughes and great vids (thank’s Snir for the 125yr one) Still got quiet a few to catch up on, so I’ll quickly get the drinks in and continue.
Assist?
Assist?
Ollie @595 heh 🙂
Sweden in with france
Scores!
Or not 😉
Dr Z @598 heh 🙂
And a first century for me… priceless
Fuck off 8)
Bloody hell, I nearly scored too.
I don’t want to be gready as I already claimed No 1 and the 400, so well in oliver.
No long-haired Szczesny then, I see.
Poland vs Russia though, tasty.
England with a relatively easy group.
Group of Death is Holland Spain Portugal and Bendtmark.
Who the feck is “Oliver”?
Poncy, or what?
🙂
Germany Holland Denmark Portugal
France , Sweden , Ukraine , England .
Poland Greece Russia Czech Rep .
Spain , Ireland , Croatia , Italy
TS @ 601, were you attempting to travel back in time? :O
Freedom!
Silly competition – injuries are us 😉
So I’ll be hoping for Sweden and Ukraine to qualify?
Unlikely to happen…
Heh! Excellent Oliver. I love these hotly stalked centuries. Getting the timing right is about as easy as herding cats. 😉
Good win gays:)
(makes printscreen of the century, attaches it as a desktop background) )
Smug Oliver no less.
Why is he not in the pub?
The nation deserves to know……
Bloody hell, I let 600 go past me in an hour (5:12 BST0), but as I took the 3rd century, I can have no complaints, so well in Oliver! The 1st is always the best 🙂
And if Camberwell’s 1st clean century gets immortalised, i think my EPIC struggle to lay claim to my own 1st century deserved its own mention in passing ‘Holic, the acknowledgement in the 1st comment was very moving in my emotional state but as I say, why have Orange Juice when you can have Apple? 🙂
No offence intended to be caused to the Sweeper, its just how I feel about the very touchy subject (not the maiden century, Orange vs Apple Juice ;))
Well in oliver . Superb lurking .
Dr.z
Have you enjoyed a few ales this afternoon? 😉
Thanks holics, gays and santos, sorry ziko again, off to training for the 700.
I’d think so True Storey, looks like he’s gone away with the medicine fairies or so….
Also, lovely point @ 615, too right 🙂
I think I can go now, just keep some work for the weekend….
tabs@584: speaking of Spice Girls, I have a mate here in Stockholm (an expat from Kent called Dave) who claims to have boinked Geri Haliwell before she was famous. He also says that he, as a 13-yeard old, got a smelly finger off Samantha Fox while on a summer holiday in Pontins and that he was once propositioned by Joanna Lumley after some sort of amateur dramatics production in which he acted together with Hugh Laurie. I’m not sure I believe him, because fitting in with the theme of some drinks today he’s also quite a committed pot smoker…
Lars WTF?
And Storey asks me bout my afternoon?
Yes, afternoon ales. That’s what they was…….
Oliva @ 622
f*** off and come back when you have learned how to spell, you lurky c*** from lurkyland……
Dear Oliver (oliva)
I was kidding
TS was egging me on….
Anyway, as I was saying to Roxette,
Don’t. Just don’t.
You’ve got me on, milk ‘n’ alcohol…… 8)
Five pinter >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
So, you find my spelling skills funny Zicoine Xile, is gays the word that is bothering you or assist? 🙂 Practice my friend, and mental strenght, that is all you need for such one-of-a-kind-century. And from now on I’ll call myself lurky oliva on this bar, is that ok?