Not So Rapid Transport System
Jan 25th, 2012 by 'holic
I’m rather fond of the bits that are attached to me by various means. My eyes, ears, teeth, and all external attachments south of the border are treasured possessions. The draw for the fourth round of the FA Cup put those rather special attributes at risk. How do I explain we have three home games on the bounce.
So like all red-blooded males firmly in charge of their household I offloaded my ticket for the visit of Villa and told the management that wild horses could not part me from her on that day. Have I made a bit of a tactical error though? The visit of Blackburn a week on Saturday promises to be a journey from hell, with the Victoria line closure cutting public transport capacity to the game.
I’m encouraged to see the club are taking steps to stretch out the departure of supporters after the match. It is clear they have gone some way to understanding the link between cheaper beer prices and holding large numbers of supporters captive. However the lower concourse is a bit fresh the first weekend of February. I therefore have an alternative suggestion.
Clearly a subsidy is being paid to the catering franchisees to provide this service. Do me a favour. Spend that money instead subsiding the beer prices at The Tollington, the Twelve Pins, The Gunners, The Barn, The Herbert Chapman. The beer is better, and we will be warm, and able to watch afternoon games and vent our frustrations that way. In these testing times you will find a rich and unusual vein of warmth and gratitude to the club.
Now of course if you have seen the categorisation of the piece you will know that is not an entirely serious suggestion (although I wouldn’t dismiss it out of hand!). Perhaps we have missed a chance to emulate Villa though. They are laying on free coach travel for their supporters to the Grove this weekend. Perhaps the following Saturday a fleet of buses from the environs of the stadium to Kings Cross might help to further reduce the pressure on the Picadilly Line.
That will also have the added benefit of getting more people out of the area quicker so I can buy more of the subsidised beer before it runs out.
Perhaps one of our partners might be persuaded to provide a fleet of their brand new DS5 vehicles to assist with the evacuation of the area? I have to say my Citroen C4 Picasso will celebrate a birthday for the first time shortly. I am a sucker for sponsors products, as I have said before.
That’s it. When all the buses have cleared the area bring in a fleet of DS5’s for test drives from the Grove to, say, Kings Cross.
Perhaps not though. Too many people would have been throwing £3 pints down their neck for that to work.
Oh well. Back to the drawing board.
347 Responses to “Not So Rapid Transport System”
Arsenal News 24/7
Guinness and one for yourself.
Now, to read.
First perhaps ?
Come on then boys and girls. We need to lighten the mood. What ideas have you for easing the potential transport carnage on Saturday week.
This could be fun 😉
Boo hoo .
Well in Dr Z 🙂
Nice post Holic . Cheaper beer gets a thumbs up from me .
And there was me going to go straight home afterwards.
Suppose I could swallow a quick shandy, just this once. 8)
Tricky one Holic .
Perhaps everyone should cycle in ? Geoff would obviously need to be on hand to make sure everyone is utilising their helmets in the correct manner 😉
Heh @ 6.
I prefer to re-cycle 😉
All pubs and curry houses to be subsidised ’til Tuesday . Monday sick-notes to be provided by Club .
You’re getting the hang of it now boys. Ivan and his team are keeping a round the clock watch on the suggestions and the best ones will be used.
I am all up for half-price subsidised tapas from El Molino as well…
You need alternative transport AND beer?
Who you gonna call?
All ticket-holders provided with a James Bond back-pack . After sinking requisite six pints , hover above stadium and parachute in . Anyone not puking gets a free Burger and Chips .
Post game all ticket holders provided with an eight pint voucher to be spent at their juicer of choice , before hovering home . Local police to declare an amnesty on drink-hovering .
@10 heh 🙂
Erm, they lock us in the Tollington till Sunday when normal tube service is resumed?
Police turn blind eye to current draconian licensing laws…..
I think we should all skip to and from the game .
Heh, I like the James Bond-style hovering! That would be awesome, especially if you are seated high up in the upper tier, it takes bloody forever to get up there when walking!
Use the Piccadilly will be my solution, ‘holic.
I fear it may be overcrowded though.
Instantly declare that the Olympics will be in Paris not London, thus rendering the upgrades and engineering works unnecessary.
Hang on, that’d bring the chaos to Paris and I’d still not make the game.
Noooooooooooooooooooo! (guaranteed 3 points though, sorry about last sunday)
And wot? Will you not be there on sunday, ‘holic? 🙁
I thought you were just sitting in a different block.
Now I’m confused.
Blackburn I am in Block 5 Ollie.
This Sunday I am hoping to have sobered up from the one just gone 😉
Oh. Well this sunday I aim to remain sober in the pub.
Can’t afford drinking, being back in the evening and customers from South Africa in the next morning.
Somehow I’m really glad they postponed by a week, mind.
Tony Adams to drive everybody home in a relay system ?
Fly home on Vito Mannone’s nose ?
Near enough nine. Out comes the Burns night Talisker.
Oh whisky! soul o’ plays and pranks!
Accept a bardie’s gratefu’ thanks!
When wanting thee, what tuneless cranks
Are my poor verses!
Thou comes – they rattle in their ranks,
At ither’s arses!
Fortune! if thou but gie me still
Hale breeks, a scone, an’ whisky gill,
An’ rowth o’ rhyme to rave at will,
Tak a’ the rest,
An’ deal’t about as thy blind skill
Directs thee best.
PHW to get his sumo gear back on and bounce everybody home Big Daddy stylee ?
Heh, Holic @ 22
The Bard liked his whisky. And women.
Shame it never caught on. 🙄
Holic, were you wearing a Holic 55 shirt last Sunday?
Nice ode Holic .
Anyone caught on CCTV abusing AW last sunday have to give piggy-backs to the rest of us to our destination of choice . Whips allowed .
Depends if you want to hit me, Jersey?
I’ll stick with the Eurostar, thank you, tabs 😀
Heh 🙂
‘holic I have a question about that ad: Is that the only trick Van Persie knows? 😉 Half-priced tapas do seem to be a suitable accompaniment to half-priced beer, I must say. We’re gonna win the cup, says my dog. Woof, woof also, in his less lucid moments. Cheers!
Jersey not part of Scotland, surely?
Saw you walk past to your seat – sure got a bit lively by the tunnel.
http://www.francefootball.fr/#!/news/2012/01/25/213139_intoxication-alimentaire-pour-chamakh.html
First he gets denied a clear penalty (you can take the man out of Arsenal, you can’t, etc…) and then he got food poisoining.
Things are not improving for Chamakh at the ACN 🙁
Lively by the tunnel? Is that to say that ‘holic got the rock star treatment, Jersey?
People were a bit upset. Shame we take it out on each other sometimes. Enough old heads around to keep it sweet.
Ollie, Intoxication alimentaire can’t be any worse than the Aliadiere equivalent can it?
Harry Redknapp’s dogs to organise everyone and make sure we all get home safely .
Oh , sorry , I forgot International Financiers don’t do crowd control .
Well, that’s another trophy that’s slipped through the lesbian’s hands.
Still, it’s not about the money,eh, Samir?
Must admit, was impressed with Liverpool tonight – played with great intensity and tempo and the City midfield and back line couldn’t deal with them.
zico: City sans Yaya Toure and Kompany is only about half the team they are with them. They’ll have Kompany back the next game, though.
Maybe so Lars, but Liverpool playing like that for the rest of the season would make our challenge more difficult.
Thankfully, they are as consistent as us. 😉
I’m surprised that Holic didn’t attract the Arsenal Groupies after blatantly revealing his identity!
Fortunately it’s mainly us old heads around that area Holic, but nonetheless, it wasn’t pretty.
CoYRRR’s
The Redknapp trial is going to get very interesting very soon. There will be pages and pages of legal jargon. For those looking for a more abridged version should look for daily updates from Harry himself on Twitcher.
😉
Holic. You have used half a post to basically say that you bottled it.
The Blackburn kick off time is a right pain for me I must say. My tip for afterwards is this. Set up a mini Glastonbury on the pitch. A few bands, pitch a tent and get trollyed. Happy days. That or just put beds in the Tollie.
He had arrived in the ‘New World ‘ and was as bemused as Columbus.
He involuntarily put his arm across his chest,as if to check that the
‘ Documents’ were still there,safe in the inside pocket of his Jacket.
He had done this run many times before,but never to the New World,was that why he felt uncharacteristically nervous.??
He went through Customs without a hitch and emerged into the brilliant sunshine of another California day.
His thoughts turned to the man he was going to meet this evening,the elusive ‘ Mr P ‘.
After all these years was he finally going to meet the man who had led friend and foe such a merry dance.??
Holic, a fine verse @22,
Fair fa yer honest sonsie face,
Grear Chieftan of the blogger race,
Aboun them a ye tak yer place…
Enjoy your Talisker, mate
Mines a Glenmorangie
Here’s to the immortal memory of the ploughman bard.
And picking up your theme….
‘Appy ‘Arry to give all Gooners a piggy back from the stadium/nearby pub to Kings Cross as expiation of his guilt.
The queue will be even longer than the usual one for the tube and it’ll take him 5 days so they’ll have to extend opening hours and lay on food and camp beds as well.
Also his ticker may give out but to save it, we can offer him a cab back to the Grove.
Transportation issues you say?
Plenty of space on the Happy Train as Dr.Feelgood will testify.
Tickets availabe from the usual outlets.
25% discount for all those customers/passengers willing to supply their own medication.
Discount?
Erm, yes, we accept payment by Card. 😉
Discount, datcount, we’re not too fussy….
A Burns Night tale . . .
While on a walking holiday in Scotland, Will Shakespear and his friend Tim found themselves, quite by chance, in Rabbie Burns’ local.
A row soon broke out as to who was the better poet. The landlord suggested a competition to find out.
If they agreed, each of them would have 10 minutes to compose a poem, that would include one word of the landlord’s choice.
They quickly agreed and set about writing their verse, which was to compulsorily include the word “Timbucktoo”.
After 10 minutes they were called to order and it was decided that Rabbie Burns would recite his poem first.
Amidst huge cheers, he stood on the bar and began to read:
Last time when on the Isle of Skye,
I saw two ships go sailing by,
One was red and one was blue,
Aye, they were bound for Timbucktoo !
The pub went berserk. Cheering, clapping, dancing on the tables, and singing their hero’s name.
Somewhat nervously, Will Shakespear climbed up onto the bar to begin his own verse:
Last time when we were down in Kent,
Tim and I a-roving went,
We met three birds from Waterloo,
So I bucked one and Tim bucked two !
* ok, coat please *
I saw two ships
“Is it cos I is cockney ?”
Clearly a watertight Defence .
Don’t know why tha last line duplicated – stoopid compooter 🙁
Trev 🙂
Cheers Tabs 😉
Bucking excellent Trev 🙂
Holic
I would have a giant sleepover on the pitch on Friday night.
Pitch a couple of giant tents ,lay some tarpaulins for ground cover,and switch on the undersoil heating to to keep everyone warm.
Then i would distribute leaflets to all the males over 16,which will make up about 90% of the crowd,and tell them that April April and her 47 Cousins,are providing free Hand Jobs behind Kings Cross St Pancras Station after the game.This will be on a first come first served basis.
All the Girls are Guaranteed to be Ambidextrous,but please bear in mind that the girls arms will get tired with all that double pumping,so those that arrive late are not guaranteed to get the same ebullient service as those that arrive early.
Please note,free tissues will be provided.
Please note April also provides a child care service whilst the adult male is being pleasured.
No Transport provided from the Ground,so everyone will have to jog to the Cross,which should see the fastest Exodus from a Stadium in history.!!
cheers
The Sweeper
Er… that was me not Edwin, Trev 😳
Is it Ok to mention that due to ticket price hikes and transfer policy/funds etc. – some fans are all right re transport as they’re quite sure they’re definitely being taken for a ride by the board – no? Thought not.
Failing that i hear Liverpool have an enormous £35,000,000 donkey they’re not using much at the moment – maybe we could borrow it
Heh! Trust Clive to come up with the best solution. I can hear IPA typing furiously now. Expect a call from Ivan in the morning Mr.Sweeper. Not sure they’ll stretch to free tissues as well though 😉
Clive 🙂 🙂
The simplest ideas are always the best !
@56 THAT has to be the best solution.
Erm, Clive is it not on a first served, first come basis?
Steve T knows.
Bottled it totally.
Those who have met the management will know.
The scars never heal…
though think Clive may be on to something
Great poem Trev – Waterloo was my manner for a fair bit in my formative ones – i might know the fair maids of which you write
Only slight downside to Clive’s solution , as far as I can see , is that no-one will actually hang around long enough to see the game .
What game? Who cares? 😉
🙂
Hi TS, Lester – cheers.
All hail the eternally dark mind of The Sweeper.
I’m afraid, I’m very afraid 😉
Boys
This will be a true test of loyalty to the Arsenal,or the lure of April and her 47 Cousin’s firm wrists,not to mention their very dirty talk to help you along the way.
i did suggest to April that she impose a 2 minute limit per person,to avoid holdups,but she just smiled sweetly at me and said,
” Darling,nobody apart from you,has ever lasted that long,it is a point of honour with me and my Cousins ”
I bowed to her superior knowledge as she led me to the bedroom to try once again to break the 2 minute barrier.
Cheers
The Sweeper.
The less than year old ‘holicmobile, with personalised number plate courtesy of Arseblogger Motors, Dublin 7. 😉
Clive.
I am sure that it was April that said that your carnal activities reminded her of the SAS. In and out without anyone noticing…
😉
No income tax, no VAT.
No points last week off Man City.
Future’s grim, he’s looking pale,
Harry Redknapp’s off to jail……………………………….
😀
Steve T You are on message and on meter. 😀
Dr. T and Sweeper your creativity knows no bounds. 😀
Steve T
Glad to see you haven’t lost your sense of humour.!!
But i have to own up and confess that when April goes to work on me,i switch off my 2 Hearing Aids,so all her dirty talk falls on Deaf ears.!!
Holic
Are you sure that’s a grown ups car.??
it looks like Mr and Mrs Dwarf’s car to me.
Was it road tested by the Hobbits.??
That’s the spirit Clive. Just lay back and let the worm burping begin.
Dwarfs????
Did you know that in a recent survey 6 out of 7 dwarfs said they weren’t Happy.
🙂
Fuck Sky Sports.
That’s the spirit Snir.
There you have Clive getting his todger tugged by every tom within a square mile of Kings Cross, and then you enter the bar with a fuck Sky Sports?????
It’s a right old orgy in here tonight.
Snir
Send me your address and i will send one of April’s American cousins round to see you.
You seem permanently miserable these days,which can only mean one thing.
And it’s not the Arse’s poor run of form.!!
Snir and his family are coming over for Newcastle.
Guess what game got put back to Monday.
Let’s have some consideration.
My family will probably go back to Israel on Monday (can’t extend the trip by even one day) meaning they’ll miss the Newcastle game.
I’ll probably make it, even though it might mean my teacher will drop me from my class due to the stupid attendance policy at my college.
I guess I’ll just have to smooth talk her out of it 🙂
Re: Sweeper @76: Devious.!!
Looks like we’ve got ourselves a few bards in ‘ere!
Nice write-up ‘Holic, The Sweeper’s genius @ 56 swept the rest away, sorry all 🙂
‘Holic knows how to travel in style as evidenced by his pic @ 70. The only thing is, it may be per usual of him to travel into the window seat of the ‘Holicmobile, the management seems like someone to take the reins (or would that be the wheel?) 🙂
Snir @ 80/84, unlucky about the Newcastle game, I knew it would be dire for you as soon as I got the e-mail from the club. Match-day organisation has gone all tits up as far as I’m concerned. I’m sure its only a matter of time until the kick-off for a game I’ve got a ticket too is changed to a Monday or Sunday that I can’t make leaving me no choice but to flog the ticket using #Arsenal_Tickets. Fooking Sky and ESPN.
There once was a man called poor Harry
Who thought that the tax man was scary
Now he’s going to jail
All because of a trail
That his bulldog forgot to bury
What an enjoyable experience back drinking from yesterday to today.
High 5’s to Dr Zee, TABs, Ned, Steve T, Trev you are all reaching new heights. Wind thanks for you defense mate – I am still not certain what I said to upset him. But whatever it was it will not happen again..
Clive you dirty bugger – that’s all I am going to say..
Holic my suggestion would be to show re-runs of Porridge on those giant screens, drink the cheap beer (and pie for the extra fiver) and tell jokes about ‘ol ‘Arry….
Speaking of which..I can’t believe the prices of things in the U.K. now. When I read the ‘discounted’ prices on offer for the Blackburn game I realized that those prices are about 100% more that I remembered paying for beer when I was there..
Scene: The court having adjourned for lunch, Harry and his team of Solicitors retreat to the pub across the road. They take up seats in a dimly lit corner and in hushed tones a rather frantic conversation ensues:
Harry: Can they ac’ally do that?
Solicitor #1: There is nothing in the law that says they can’t I’m afraid..
Harry: Fackin ‘ell…I’m shagged then innit?
Solicitor #2: I wouldn’t worry though Harry, any evidence they garner from the dog’s exhumed body will be strictly circumstantial and you can be assured that we will put up a very robust argument to have it thrown out..
Harry: But can’t we get one a dem injunctions or sunnick to stop dem from digging up poor ‘ol Rosie?
Solicitor #1: We’ll try but it is in our favor to have them to go off on some wild goose chase trying to prove that Rosie’s brain was not developed enough to operate those bank accounts…as I said we are pretty confident that any such evidence would prove inadmissible..
Harry: But you don’t understand..ya see Rosie isn’t buried dawn the bottom of me garden..
Solicitor #2: Then who’s buried there then?
Harry: Let’s just say its not an animal innit?
Solicitor #2: Good Lord Harry! Then where is Rosie buried?
Harry: She ain’t dead! She’s a tax exile living in the Bahamas..erm…under an assumed name…
Solicitor #1: Why did you not disclose this before Harry?
Harry: Who would believe me…
..to be continued..
GT@89: top notch. And thanks for your kind words @88. Only one way to go from the heights…
Clive@56: (cue Harry H. Corbett voice) You dirty old man.
Clive: this might help you along…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36773474@N02/4957903937
There you go Ned: http://youtu.be/360QSBwwvLM
GT@93: they don’t make them like that any more…
Oh here’s a better one Ned: http://youtu.be/X1VgcxE9Lpw
Hey Ned as we are here…eh?
Perfect!
Could be the old one-two…
GT crosses for Ned to…
Welly!
GT talking to the press after the match: Yes he scored when he wants. I enjoy playing with him so much…er no I haven’t heard the rumors that the Arsenal are in for him..
Great assist, GT. This team is unstoppable. Better than Galton & Simpson. Fortnum & Mason. ‘array & Rosie…
aaah Rosie…hard not to shed a tear for ‘ol Rosie..
May the old girl RIP. Least she deserves after a life with ‘arry.
So what do you think old Harry’s up to claiming that she’s alive and living in the Bahamas? Do you think he murdered her for her money?
Rosie is the brains behind the gang. ‘arry is just the fall guy. She set him up.
Where’s the Screws of the World when you need em? This sort of thing would be pie for their mash..
He gets suckered into going to Monaco to set up the account after she got Mandaric to rewrite the contract cutting ‘arry’s 10% cut on transfers to 5% so they ‘have’ to do an under the table deal to make up the difference. Her paws all over this to my mind.
News of the Screws? Mailbox full. Game over.
Crime Boss Rosie…has a certain ring to it doesn’t it…I think I might try to work this into my next episode (0;
Ned I think that you are on to something here mate…Can’t believe I never made the connections before..
Look forward to reading all about it…
Ned: Thanks for keeping me company…going to truck off to bed now…early morning school run and all that…take care & nice volley for the 100…see you later..
Sleep well.
BACK IN BLACK
Shaft is navigating his way through the streets of London with his hands tucked into his warm pockets as the wintry air cuts him to the bone. He mutters, partly to himself but mostly to noone in particular, in a voice that brings to mind a angry dog enraged by hungry ticks. He turns off into an open cemetary and walks toward a ongoing funeral but stops on an low incline about four hundred metres away from the proceedings. He is observing silently as Thierry Henry wearing a dirty grey suit approaches him from the west carrying a battered newspaper and a satchel. They shake hands silently and Shaft takes the satchel.
Shaft: You weren’t accompanied I hope.
Henry: Not a chance. I’m insulted you even ask.
Shaft: Can’t leave anything to chance in this game we’re playing son. Shit’s about to get real ugly…make Clive Allen look like Brad Pitt…
Henry: I know, I know. Helluva place you chose to meet.
Shaft: I’m not sentimental but with two of our assets being rendered useless I thought it appropriate.
Henry: Chamakh has never been quite the same since he got burned has he? We’ll miss the Morrocan but there seems to be hope that he’ll recover before the final stage of the mission. I think our Russian friend has been completely compromised though. Do you think this is all part of Control’s grand scheme?
Shaft: How should I know? I’m just a cog in the machine, like you man. Anyway, I got word from our man down at the court. The case seems to be going as planned. The prosecution is acting on everything we provided them and the gooners are experiencing a lift in spirits. They seem to be enjoying this more than your brilliance against Leeds.
Henry: I think we got him bang to rights. What do you think?
Shaft: I don’t know. We left them with a wealth of evidence but we left it too late I reckon. He’s still got the popularity…the press are even labelling him the “most successful English manager” but the jowly fuck can’t even hold a light to Brian Clough!
Henry: So what do you think will happen?
Shaft: I’m thinking, suspending sentence for tax evasion but 6 months for numerous counts of Twitchcraft.
Henry: I’d be happy with that.
Shaft: Me too. Hey, I’m off to get my moustache waxed. I’ll be in touch.
Henry: Adieu.
Shaft exits the cemetary and walks west in the direction of a nearby tube station. He enters a coffee shop, orders a black coffee before asking for use of the facilities. While in the bathroom, he opens the satchel and removes an Arsenal magazine from within. He holds the magazine up to flourescent light and then proceeds to separate the front cover and a tiny note drops out. It says, “Cover blown. Meet at secondary. Dein intel false. Djourou possible mole. Carlos” He burns the note and drops the ashes in the toilet and flushes it. He looks at the team photo of Arsenal Ladies as he leaves the stall.
Shaft: Mmm, that Laura Harvey could wax my moustache anytime…
suspending= suspended 😉
Blessed Shaft…now gotta sleep (0;
Twitchcraft, heh.
The Redknapp
One upon a Sunday dreary, while I pondered taxes weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of contract law,
I was twitching, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my office door,
“Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my office door–
Only this, and nothing more.”
Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the ‘morrow–vainly I had sought to borrow
From Daniel Levy, a loan for tomorrow, tomorrow I’ll be needing more
More of that facking Champions League money init,
Only that and nothing more…
There I sat, gently weeping with my son on TV speaking,
When again I heard a tapping, tapping at my office door.
“Who,” said I, “is taking the proverbial piss?;
Let me see then, who the fack it is, and this mystery explore–
Tis surely a reserve and nothing more!”
Open here I flung the wooden thing, when, without a word of greeting,
In there stepped a stately man of the saintly days of yore.
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, stood in front my office door–
Stood and said, “You’re nicked sunshine, it’s the law.”
CoR@119: brilliant. Could only read it Poe-faced.
Thanks NDN, a Guinness for you my friend!
Is it too early to make a raven-like flight towards 200?
Or are we not to self-assist, evermore?
Clive has nailed the transportation solution!
Steve T@72: hahaha, that is absolutely brilliant!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/gallery/2011/dec/20/the-gallery-2011#/?picture=382498057&index=28
Snir, hope everything sorts itself for the Newcastle game.
Some great poetry from many contributors, made for a great read this morning – nothing like getting a few proper laughs in the morning before getting started with the day’s work.
Well booted in, NBN at 100.
Good to see Real Cunts didn’t win yesterday (I know Snir will not agree, where’s he gone? Is he doing some signings for us?) and are still bitter cunts.
I’m just hoping Barça can claw back the League advantage, but they’d need to be playing them every week.
Not so good to see that the Newcastle strikers have done their best to ensure they’re back in Geordieland as quick as possible.
I would love us to sign a striker in the next few days. I fear it not happening 🙁
Joshua @ 87, quality limerick! (I think?)
GT & NBN @ 99/100, yet another devastating flowing move in attack leading to the goal, well in to the both of you.
I miss my usual strike partners, I’m getting the itch… 8)
Shaft’s back! 😀
No mention of the King Shaving off his Beard then? 😉
CoR @ 119, amazing flow man, a delight to read 🙂
Unfortunately Snir the fans are the last people the tv companies consider. I am gutted for you. There must be a load of mad geordies as well who had booked the trip. 8pm on a Monday night is crap for everyone. You have my sympathy.
It might be a mad scramble for tickets for the Spurs game.
20 minutes to go.
I hope it’s because want to be there to cheer the squad against the scum.
Not that it’s people willing to pay good money to jeer and boo.
I am actually terrified after what happened last weekend, not sure how the trauma can be healed now.
What do we need? Early goals on sunday?
CoR – The Bar Bard – no?
A pick-me-up please barman. Not the type Clive’s been suggesting (ahem) – it’s a little too early for that sort of thing in my book
Ding, ding – day 4 – more of ‘Arry’s ducking and diving/bobbing and weaving to come.
I must say it’s terribly decent of s***s to lay on such top-notch quality entertainment for us goonaaahs! during these tricky times. Hats off! Credit where it’s due (no, not that sort of credit in that sort of account – H)
UREDS!
heh AL
4 minutes.
Scum tickets sorted.
A small fortune indeed.
Sagna back in full training today, I see. That is great news, that should mean that he could be available for Bolton away next week and maybe even a place on the bench on Sunday.
oops – manor not manner nor manna or manamana neither – muppet!
Good news re Full-Bacary Sagna – Larsene knows.
Psed – the other day went lookin’ about the blogosphere a bit (i don’t often) to see what else was being writ (cor’s influence).
On 7am kick-off (i think – piss-poor memeory etc) there were some interesting stats re Pele’s old side/the slightly bonkas Brazilian – Santos. It seems in the games he played for us he made the most tackles and interceptions of any Arse player, and came 4th (i think – see above) in terms of passes made.Plus there were goals and assists the like of which our FBs haven’t produced much of in recent times.
A Santoast to the boy – he too is sorely missed!
Sign of the times. Just got a ticket for the NLD after half eleven. I think a price ceiling has been reached.
Afternoon All ,
Steve T @72 and @79 🙂
Snir – That’s tough . Sky Sports are indeed c*nts . Go to the game and blame your absence on horrendous flight delay would be my considered advice .
Joshua @87 🙂
Fantastic stuff overnight from GoonerTerry , Ned and Canons .
There’s no hope for NLD tickets on a Red Membership, I’ll try again next season on a hopeful Silver Membership.
Some people say “Just make a Junior Gunner and take advantage.” But I know its not right.
Re: Shaft @115: A crescendo of suspense!!
Re: CoR @119: The true bard, you are. 😀
Re: NBN @100: Quite the hot streak you are on young man. 😀
Wind, I got mine on a red membership an hour ago, and they appeared to have plenty left, all areas orange.
Re: GoonerTerry @89: And Rosie’s water dish is constantly refilled with a pink tropical drink known as a Bahama Mama, innit?
The comeback begins.
Didn’t pull a muscle, don’t feel any particular back pain.
Scored a goal. But to be fair I played mostly in goals where I did a couple of uncharacteristic mistakes.
Anyway, we’ll see how the body feels tomorrow, but I’m reasonably happy of the comeback after 6 months without sports.
Afternoon all.
Still coughed like a bastard though, so not completely healed on that front.
‘holic, I think Wind means lower tier or club level.
Wind, keep your eyes peeled, Ticket Exchange might be your friend.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/41724/stats-pack-get-your-pre-match-facts
Given that none of the ‘stats’ in the page refer to him, does the picture implies that Coquelin is back for sunday?
http://www.football365.com/mediawatch/7457464/Mediawatch
Massive heh, worth it if only for the first bit 😀
to digress slightly, but only slightly as its cost related, i resurrected this article from last summer. one forgets how much more we are being fleeced by the board than other supporters. it is laughable that we pay 80% more than united supporters (who themselves have a grievance at how much tickets have gone up to repay glazers debt). and the london is expansive argument only goes so far – chelsea and LWCs are 50 cheaper than ours. it is frankly scandalous. still, at least we are winni….
and btw Gooner Terry. I appreciate your apology on last topic. glad we put that to bed. enough enemies out there without going at each other !
Thanks for the kind words everyone! Drinks on me with my powerful yen in pocket 🙂
Cor, I read it out loud, very impressive!
Holic, Nice ride, I have to say. Best let the Management do the driving, though. Cheers!
Thanks honey!
Your welcome Cor! Now Clive @ 56 Hmm. Does this mean you will finally come to the Ems. If so, I’m all for it! BTW, is very good for the prostate gland and all that, you know.
Tickets for NLD secured. Now off to secure flights from Dublin…they can’t be more expensive then match tickets….can they?
There was an old man with a twitch ,
Who wanted so much to get rich ,
But when the Taxman did knock ,
He stood in the Dock ,
And blamed it all on the bitch .
TABs heh…I hopes this never ends…longest trial in history (0;
Paul Kagame, president of Rwanda, backing off his call on Twitter for AW to go. Now saying he just called for change at the club, whether of people or things.
Wonder how many other heads of state are Gooners.
Tabs@154: 🙂
Cheers GT .
Ned – Isn’t The Queen a gooner ? Is she still Head of State ? I lose track . 🙁
One would think The President of Rwanda would have rather more important things to worry about than (a) a twitter account and (b) Arsenal’s transfer policy .
Tosser !
Ned @ 156: Just heard a very funny interview on BBC World Service with a Kenyan journo: the BBC interviewer was trying to get him to say that it was highly unusual for a sitting Head of State to weigh in on a football matter…the journo was like “huh?? this is not football matter, this is Arsenal!” …”we are all Arsenal supporters – more than 60% of East Africa – the president, the prime minister, most of the government, all of us!” …”So we feel that we can weigh in on any matter that impacts so many of us” …He would have gone on and on if the BBC interviewer didn’t cut him off (0;
And here comes that all-important “I’m a f*ckwit” Defence !
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/tottenham-hotspur/9041797/Harry-Redknapp-I-cant-spell-and-I-write-like-a-2-year-old.html
GT – That is a startling statistic . 60% of East Africa ? Any idea why ?
Heh at GT, Shaft, COR, and TABS.
GT, The advantage of the trial ending is that Harry may actually go to jail. I think that would offer nearly as much comedic value.
TABS, the defense part may not be true, but the rest…
Joshua , heh 🙂
Spurs’ website down, going to be revamped. Why?
GT@160: heard the same interview. I guess there is a reason the club’s summer tour will be to Africa (albeit the other side).
Tabs@158: don’t know. It didn’t come up in conversation last time I was at the Palace. Ah, well, gin o’clock.
Tabs@161: when you look at some of those Spuds teams ‘arry puts out, I’d certainly believe he doesn’t know how to fill in a team sheet.
Ned 🙂
Abb – Who cares ? 😉
Next time , I bang in one for a century , I think I shall celebrate like this …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QieyCqOVb-M&feature=relmfu
Tabs, Great video!
Sooo ‘Arry’s defence team are calling bankers in to the witness box as character witnesses. N-N-N-Nice move lads – W-W-Wot could possibly go wrong with that!!??!!
http://youtu.be/clWdn0tsLo8
Tabs 161: magic!
ihb 146, please take into account that ST at Arsenal include 7 cup ties, which I don’t believe is true at other clubs.
7/19 that’s still 36.8% more games to account for.
atotxa (you nearly sound like the train station in Madrid), I would love to see the day when i pay less for travels than I pay for the match ticket.
Well, on the proviso that it’s travel going down, not match tickets going up, of course 😛
After my marvelling at Kenyan customers/colleagues being Gooners last week, the interview with the Kenyan athlete in the programme, and now this, it seems to be a very trendy subject.
Hey Ollie. Now my whole point about their site being retooled is that I believe from memory, that Harry is listed as manager on the front page.
“Those explanations, the Crown say, are contradictory, inconsistent and lack credibility,” [Prosecutor QC] Black said. He went on to say that “at the heart of the Crown’s case is the fact that no tax was paid.”
GoonerTerry responded: “Well I dare you to find anything contradictory or inconsistent in the accounts I have so far given Sir!!”
…He can’t read…he can’t write..and his team is fucking shite…
Arseblog Exclusive: http://arseblog.com/spurs-team-sheet/
😆
To feed the old positional debate (I think it was on the arse) and the question of whether Yennaris is a right back or not.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/yennaris-right-back-role-suits-me-well
AL @ 171: Wicked (0;
Joshua @ 177 That’s what I’m talking about! Too funny.
This trial (the real one and GT’s) is comedy gold, just can’t work out which one is real and which one made up.
Sp*rs fans must be Sooooo proud! 🙂
Comedy gold indeed. I wonder if that’s taxable.
*get’s coat*
TABs @ 162: I was astounded myself – I have no idea why this is so….A couple of years ago I was in Calgary and met an Ethiopian who told me a similar statistic about Gooners in Ethiopia..
It begs the question though: Why are we not touring East Africa this Summer? …no disrespect Hurricane )0;
CS @ 181: After reading that Guardian article I am not so sure myself…(0;
Ops..CG sorry…
Heh TaBS @ 169, although they couldn’t really complain if they got a kicking after that…..
Plenty more where that came from Mr C . This team appear to have it down to a fine art .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqjCcMz5qG4
Joshua @177 🙂
GT @183 – Amazing stuff . Who’d have thunk it ?
Ollie, like I said last week, I’m not gonna be posting after losses because that’s when all the guys that come here only when we lose post and I get too wound up so I just avoid it.
The abuse that AW gets all over the Arsenal twittersphere/blogosphere is disgraceful and I’d rather not see it. He is after all the most successful Arsenal manager of all time. Minimum respect is deserved in my opinion.
Sorry, didn’t disappear to make any signings, but we’re getting Sagna and Jacky back, they’re like new signings!! 🙂
tabs 187, fuckin’ heh
Worth going along for the celebrations alone Ollie 🙂
‘Holic @ 139, what?! Nooo!!!! I’ve been pissing about all day :'(
Ollie @ 143, are you psychic Ollie? Your boss must be extremely aggrieved if you’re moving to another department 😉
tabs @ 154, I would stand and applaud, but I’m on a moving 88 🙂
GT @ 183, mate, why apologise? The Arsenal are touring my home country this summer, wherever did you get the notion that I’m ‘East’ African? West African man, Nigerian and Proud 🙂
Good policy Snir, indeed.
I just avoid any football topic on some other forum and give this place a bit of a breather, but generally here after a couple of days, you can rely on the regulars to make the right posts and take it positive.
Not been too much on twitter either, but I was totally shocked and still am horrified by the booing sections at the game on sunday.
Again, if it was at the final whistle, not my thing, but I can understand, but when it happened, utter disgrace and damaging to the team and spirit etc.
In fact I am terrified at what could happen over the last few weeks whatever the situation, it sets a precedent of horrifying cuntishness.
Nearly makes me wish the Ox hadn’t started the game at all.
No, I’m not, Wind, you told me so in these here drinks last time I suggested there were tickets left (for next sunday’s game I think)
tabs @ 161, hahaha! 😆 One of the funniest things today, I’m actually in shock although I shouldn’t be surprised at Harry 8)
Ollie @ 193, Ahh, Well… 😳
That’s actually quite pre-emptive. I’m still impressed, even if you lack telepathy 🙂
Cheers Wind @191 and 194
Btw , I think GoonerTerry was apologising because he was suggesting an Arsenal trip to East Africa (given the seemingly massive support) , rather than to Nigeria .
Got any idea how African support breaks down ( different countries for different teams ?) , and why there is such a huge swell of support for The Arsenal in East Africa ?
Chips it forwards….
Rapid transport problem? Try this:
http://www.toplessrobot.com/future%20tech%20%236.jpg
Takes the Catalan pass and sends it toward Castille …
Puts it on a plate with a pinpoint cross …
Let’s see that toilet celebration again. 😀
And finds the back of the net ! 🙂
Runs off to do toilet celebration with Mr C and 8ball .
Great minds 8Ball … 😉
Fools seldom….
Ah, one of those intended crosses that ends up being a spectacular, if fortuitous, goal!
Great work, tabs!
8ball,
I’m going to have you for trade description – you can’t post a link saying “topless robot” and then just have a picture of some trekkies.
Not good enough, sir! 🙂
Ollie – Whilst I don’t agree with the booing, I am more hurt and offended by the “you don’t know what you’re doing” chants.
Class from Holic’s prodigy…
http://arseblog.com/2012/01/there-exists-a-mythical-place-named-middle-ground/
Cheers Ollie 🙂
Snir 207, I’m 100% with you there; that was yet another level of shock/horror to me!
Wind @ 191: As I discussing the 90% Arsenal support in Kenya & East Africa I suggested that Arsenal should be touring there instead of Nigeria…that why I said what I said mate – geddit?
Snir
It seems i nearly got yellow carded by Holic in the back drinks for winding you up about being miserable lately,which was somewhat exacerbated by the change of date for the Newcastle game.
I know how much i looked forward to going to the Arse with my Dad,so i can imagine how disappointed you must be.
No offence intended,and hopefully you will get another chance to attend a game with your Dad in the future.
A shame though that you cannot attend the Blackburn game,as i am sure you would have derived some serious pleasure from
April’s double handed backhand ‘Vice’ grip,which has been at No 1 in the Hand Job, Best Grips Hall Of Fame Chart,for 197 weeks in a row.!!
Cheers
The Sweeper.
…. a dark, dark place… 🙂
* As I was..
* I dunno wassup with me today – 60% support (as heard on the BBC)
GT
I thought maybe it was some patios… but clearly it was just you having a bad day.
You could have blagged it…. 😉
Clive – I think April would have derived pleasure from me 😉
When I said I get wound up, I didn’t mean by the regulars, it’s all those people who only post after we lose and bash AW as if he is a tax evading cunt.
AW is my role model and I take great offense whenever people bash him personally only because we didn’t win a trophy for 6 years.
There’s more to it, and everybody knows that, but some people prefer to ignore it so they can hurl abuse at the Boss.
Oh fuck, forgot Newcastle was a Snir game.
That change of date is a real annoyance (doubt I’ll be there now), but for you it must be a lot worse.
Ollie – It kinda messes up the whole trip but we (my father, my two brothers and I) will be at the AC Milan at home game so that’s somewhat of a consolation.
I’m gonna be at the Liverpool game when my dad and two brothers go to Real Madrid – Espanyol for my brother (he’s a Real fan).
And I’m gonna stay another day in London to go to the Newcastle game but my family will already be on their way to Israel on Monday.
More than football, you’ll still get time with your Dad and brother – football is the icing on the cake. The cherry on top, if you will…
I’ll have to find someone from here who can give you your Arsenal 125th birthday programme, Snir. Don’t know if ‘holic is doing midweek games.
Ollie – are you not gonna be at the Anfield, Milan or Newcastle games (isn’t the programme at your house?)?
Most probably won’t be indeed, Snir.
The programme is indeed chez moi, which mean I’d have to bring it at an earlier game to give it to someone who would be sure to give it to you (simple, innit?).
Simple, I’m just surprised you won’t be at any of those games…
Did I mention that I hate Barca?
I HATE Barca…
They beat Maccabi in the Euroleague today (the basketball equivalent of CL).
No worries – We’ll meet again in the Final Four.
Bunch of cunts.
Navarro is the Basketball team’s Xavi therefore he’s a cunt.
I won’t be at Milan or the Barcodes, I’m afraid.
TS or TaBS are favourite for courier duties possibly, Ollie and Snir?
Midweek games are a pain in the hoop 🙁
I fully agree ‘Holic. It’s a long time since I’ve been able to attend a mid-week game as it’s so hard to get away from work in time for kick off and then I’m knackered the next day because I don’t get home till 1am. It has to be a lot more special than the barcodes. I might make an effort for Milan.
Oh my.
I hope this rumor won’t be like the Arteta one.
Jack’s season’s over…
Snir
you’ve been on the money with all your other rumours,
if Jack’s season IS over,then so probably is ours,as he is the only creative spark we have in midfield that can turn a game when things are tight.
I cannot find anything on the Net,so where is it coming from.??
Clive – Twitter.
But like I usually do, I filtered it out and it seemed to originate from reliable people.
Apparently the rumor goes that AW will reveal it tomorrow at his presser that LJW had a set back.
You know how much I rate Jacky… I already said that he’s one of the best midfielders in Europe and he’s gonna be one of the top 5 players in Europe in 3 years if not number 2 after Messi.
I’ll be devastated if it’s true.
Re: Catalan @206: You have a legitimate gripe about the Trekkies photo, there being no topless robots in sight even if you wanted to see any. I hope you like this one better:
http://www.comicsbeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/201103111649.jpg
tabs @ 196, no problem, and thanks for the GT explanation. I’ll add my thoughts to my response to his 211.
Well in for the century @ 200, top class! 🙂
Catalan @ 206, thanks mate, saved me a click on that link oy yoy! 🙂
GT @ 211, I get it, sorry if I annoyed you, cold hands & weather blur the mind when I’m posting on the road. I simply think that the Arsenal are touring Nigeria because of the proven support, especially with Kanu playing for us which I read in a Telegraph article somewhere, maybe someone posted it above. I’m not trying to say that there isn’t Gooner Support in East Africa, but the logistics of a tour over East Africa would be quite difficult I believe, security is just the tip of the iceberg I would believe, even I found myself worried about our team in the eventuality of a tour of Nigeria, my country still has many problems, especially in the North where Religion ignites many fracas between Christians and Muslims. It will have to be a meticulously planned affair indeed.
In relation to tabs’ point about the breakdown of african countries club support, I believe that the more players from said country that play for a certain club, the more the country will lean towards it. Ivory Coast for example, I’d say they lean more towards Chelsea due to Drogba majorly and Kalou to a lesser extent although Gervinho could be slowly pulling it back for us. Ghanaians will watch one of the Boateng brothers at AC Milan, and maybe have even followed Gyan at Sunderland before he left. Frimpong will garner some attention for us from them as well.
For the North African countries, their players tend to stay in their countries to play in their own league, Egypt the prime example. It varies though as Chamakh and Tarrabt are.at Arsenal and QPR respectively.
The Sweeper @ 212, I listen to your tales of April in astonishment and fear 🙂
Thnks Snir
You won’t be the only one devestated if it is true,i imagine Jack will be more than disappointed himself,along with plenty of Gooners.
But i guess until they put Jack’s body under serius pressure physically,the medical staff are no wiser than we are as to whether the injury has healed properly.
Ba Humbug.!!
bt8b @ 232,
http://www.footballkitnews.com/4081/leaked-arsenal-kit-2012-2013-new-arsenal-away-jersey-12-13/
Next season’s away kit.
I have to say Nike are really having problems coming up with new ideas…
2 different rumors.
One says late March/early April and the other says season’s over.
We’ll just have to wait for tomorrow’s presser.
GoonerTerry @89, CoR @ 119 – great stuff.
Tabs @154 🙂
Steve T – the “dwarves” survey was excellent 🙂 🙂
Snir – Sorry to hear about your Newcastle plans – fans don’t count any more.
The JW rumour is extremely worrying. He already had surgery on the ankle after the last breakdown, so if this still hasn’t worked, what’s next ?
Depends, of course, on what the problem is, but if that fracture has still not healed, things cannot be good ? 🙁 ?
Snir: If that was true it would be very bad news for LJW considering the impact of such long spells on the sidelines have for the development of young players.
As for our season it won’t make much of a difference. It would have been really unfair to expect him to be our savior after 9 months off the ball. As for the creative spark it means we’ll see more of our 2 pitbull pups Ox and Coq which I’m really looking forward to.
@Catalan: Thanks for the link. Tim Stillman is a great blogger.
SG@236: it looks boring.
If anyone thinks they can do better, Adidas is looking for a football kit designer http://www.footballshirtculture.com/kit-design/football-design-job-at-adidas.html
Wind @ 233: What gave you the idea that I was annoyed at you? That’s as crazy as Harry being innocent! Interesting comment re national support for teams that their player is involved with…but it still does not explain the apparent Gooner obsession in East Africa…I bet it all started with a famous figure and then everyone just followed that person. Its like that scumbag Usain Bolt support for United, all of a sudden Jamaica is full of little copycats..
We should do something like Cameroon’s ACN shirt, with a big face of Tony Adams on it.
http://www.footballshirtculture.com/12/13-kits/cameroon-2012-african-cup-of-nations-puma-home-football-shirt.html
CG could have tried to blag but you lot are too sharp for that! Best to come clean and admit wrongdoing – hear that you fuckwit ‘Arry? Yes was not having the best of days earlier…but I had a little snooze so I am good to go now…only trouble is you lot are all asleep – well except for the night creatures who lurk about keeping me company until all hours…I wonder who’s about this evening?
btw who on here knew that the Redknapp family grew up as Gooners – three generations of them? Yes old Harry is a Gooner: used to come with his old man. Probably knew Holicdad I reckon. So is the son Jamie. If word of this gets out its going to fuck up all the fun we’ve been having at his expense….
Snir: Seems like you are still going to have a great time in London with the family, as well as, seeing some quality footie…Totally agree about the doomers who only turn up on here to muddy our waters…fuck ’em I say. Don’t let them spoil your peace man..
Ned heh…Cameroon are the style leaders when it come to kit. Who can forget their jumpsuit of a few years ago?
GT@246: is that the one The Sun had a no 9 in its list of the 10 worst strips? No 2 is familiar.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/top10s/article862610.ece
NBN, You know it’s an African shirt when you have two lions and one puma on it. Not sure why they couldn’t manage at least one elephant though. 😉
bt8b: 🙂
But here is one with an elephant on it http://www.worldsoccershop.com/29415.html
Worrying rumour about LJW. He has been mighty quiet on Twitter these past couple of days. Also worrying.
Also, why do the African teams all have these names like the Ivory Coast Elephants, the Cameroun Indomitable Lions, the Angola Black Antelopes, the Tunisia Carthage Eagles and the Moroccan Atlas Lions? European clubs have nicknames, but countries aren’t usually known by anything else but the colour of their kit, e,g. Les Bleus for France or the Azzurri for Italy.
‘Holic@your original post: From Jim White’s column in the Telegraph:
Clive Tyldesley made a wise observation about modern football this week. And it was nothing to do with that night in Istanbul. Chairing a debate on 20 years of the Premier League organised by the universities of Brighton and Coventry, the ITV commentator summed things up by asking his audience of students and academics whether anyone actually enjoyed the game anymore.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/jimwhite/9039432/Jim-White-Love-affair-Premier-Leagues-mega-rich-stars-have-lost-touch-with-their-disillusioned-supporters.html
Re: NBN @249: Very interesting and a close-up inspection appears to reveal not one but two elephants on that shirt. Which means you win the prize of two peanuts!!
bt8b@252: how very kind. Do have one.
@154: Tabs, you truly are the master of digital comedy 😀
@236: New away shirt looks pretty lame I must say but maybe when someone has it on I might change my mind…
@243: GT, I don’t know much about Usain other than his track exploits, but how come you think he’s a scumbag? Btw, when I was going up everyone was a Manure fan because of Dwight Yorke. I still hated them even back then though regardless of Dwight…
Fan vitriol for their stupid clubs is everywhere, it seems:
http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/oddballs/888520-bayern-munich-score-social-media-own-goal-with-new-signing-stunt#ixzz1kb058UV6
Enough procrastinating by reading the papers. Got to buckle down to some work….
Pint of bitter to accompany my allotted peanut please, barman. 🙂
8ball – thanks for cheering me up with the photo. You are back in favour, sir!
Snir – thanks for depressing me with the rumour. You are out of favour, sir! 😉
Nice work through the night, everyone. Have back-drunk. Now off to watch some cricket.
PS – the early 90’s were not fashion’s greatest moment, were they?
Ding, ding – day 5 – and ‘Arry Yappyapp’s defence is looking shaky. He needs to cover up more. Go on my son!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/9042952/Theo-Walcott-looking-to-pen-upbeat-chapter-in-his-football-tale-with-Arsenal-and-England.html
Look at what Theo says about Jacky… That he can be better than Cesc.
I’m not sure he will be, but surely Jack is one of the most talented in Europe.
Nice piece.
Snir. I have spoken before to people connected to the club. It is widely thought that at the equivalent age that Jack is the better player.
Snir, that Theo article was a really good read.
Interesting that Arshavin seems to read books on politics before a game. A degree in fashion design, strong interest in politics, career as a footballer and a part-time misogynist…he would be a barrel of laughs in a pub I think 🙂
Steve – I get what you’re saying, but as much as it hurts me to say it – Cesc will have play his prime/peak years with better players at Barca than Jack will at Arsenal.
Meaning basically that he will reach more and improve himself a lot more…
You know how it goes…
Cesc is history. He displayed how committed he was to the club in the summer. He has gone and will only ever be an ex player in my eyes. Nothing more.
Jack is one for the future. What we have to do is ensure that his future remains at Arsenal.
http://www.francefootball.fr/#!/news/2012/01/27/092415_hazard-ancelotti-ca-donne-envie.html
Oh well, our Belgian friend will most likely end up at PSG then.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/reserves-news/sanchez-watt-joins-crawley-town-on-loan
Not our new striker then.
snir
i think most think theo is a busted flush at least as a footballer. he manages his PR very well though – how many chances is he going to get with us and england ? will be interesting to see who else really wants him if he hardballs on contract. this is no rvp or cesc or even nasri. possibly dogleash – he has acquired a bunch of english strays
And what Steve T said at 265.
Snir
Cesc himself says the same – that at the same age Jack is better than he was….
GT @ 243, I think it was the ‘geddit’, geddit? 😉
And I don’t think I can explain the East African Support either, an interesting phenomenon regardless 🙂
@ 245, 😮 no way!
And about Usain @ 243, I have to throw my lot in with CoR @ 254.
And thanks for the Link Snir @ 236 .
Interesting to see, that potential Blackcurrant stripe. First kit like that in a while for me.
Hi to North Bank Ned, just curious to know what the reference is to the photo, which I took by the way. Leyton Orient Fan here by the way.
91North Bank Ned
Clive@56: (cue Harry H. Corbett voice) You dirty old man.
on 26 Jan 2012 at 4:30 am
92North Bank Ned
Clive: this might help you along…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36773474@N02/4957903937
GT: Found it interesting that you referred to the world’s fastest man as a scumbag. I wonder why. Is there something to your reference other than him being a Man U fan?
Interesting indeed……..
NBN – But England are nicknamed The Three Lions…
I think the nicknames for the African countries are fantastic, for me they conjure up the flamboyance of African cultures (I’ve never touched that continent, just an impression I get from the outside looking in…).
Worst nickname in the whole of world football? The Socceroos, god I hate that name – it’s so naff! It sounds like it was invented by a delegation of 14-year-old girls…or it could be the title of a children’s cartoon broadcast at 7:30 am on Saturdays on CBeebies.
Nigeria’s nickname is awesome, the Super Eagles!
Sounds like a squadron of fighter jets.
quote from theo today
“”As players we need to look at ourselves. We need to take responsibility. The last few games haven’t been good enough.” pot, meet kettle and colour chart”.
‘quote from theo today
“”As players we need to look at ourselves. We need to take responsibility. The last few games haven’t been good enough.” pot, meet kettle and colour chart”.’
How can it be a pot-kettle-black situation if he is saying ‘we need to take responsibility’ – that doesn’t make any sense.
Camberwell Gooner, Take the Masai tribe for example who live in Kenya and Tanzania. Young warriors proved their worth by spearing a lion. Fortunately, this practice is on the decline. Sadly, so is the lion population, as with all the big cats there. The increasing desertification of land caused by climate change and over population has wrecked havoc with wildlife in general. Throw in bush meat hunting and poisoning by farmers, well, the picture is grim. Sorry to be so glum and spoil your images of Africa.
charlie
they say its a poor joke when you have to explain it but i thought that one was quite simple. clearly not.
when the kettle called the pot black it was derided because it was criticising someone else for being what it was itself . the lats person that should be calling on players to “look at ourselves” or “take responsibility” is walcott. these are things he should have been doing for most of the past 100+ games. geddit ?
Steve and CG – how on earth did you get that from what I said?
All I said is that I think that Jack wont have a better career and be a better player than Cesc. I did not say anything about who was more talented at 19 or who’s future is at Arsenal. We were talking about Theo’s claim that Jack can be better than Cesc and I am not sure I agree with that.
Trev, CG – non Arsenal related but how long does it take a person with a high ankle sprain to be ready to go? And what limitations in his movement will he show, if any?
Snir
Touchy! 😉 Wasn’t having a go at you, I promise! Just throwing stuff into the conversation.
Oh, I forgot, it’s Feisty Facking Friday!
Over to Dr T on that one – he’s the expert. I’m the spinal quack!
Snir , Holic @226 – Won’t be able to be at Newcastle game , but likely to be at Milan . Still waiting on a mate , but if I’m there quite happy to be a courier .
8ball @232 – Redemption !
Wind @233 – Cheers for the explanation .
Matt @241 – seconded . Tim Stillman is excellent on all things Arsenal .
GoonerTerry @245 – Fairly common knowledge over here that ‘Arry was a gooner , though he downplays it given his position . Didn’t realise son Jamie was though . You certainly wouldn’t guess it from his “punditry” .
‘Arry’s Gooner background won’t stop me laughing at his trial though , in much the same way that I wouldn’t be able to breathe for laughing , if Pedro from Le Grove ever caught his bollocks in a mangle . 😉
Ned @250 – Probably because of the exoticism of the wildlife involved . The England Cocker Spaniels doesn’t quite have the same ring does it . 🙂
Trev @238 Canons @254 – Cheers .
Ollie @266 – I’m no transfer expert , but I will be staggered if Hazard stays in France .
The tennis and the Cricket as precariously balanced as Little Jack’s ongoing fitness it seems .
Ihb @281 – “Geddit” ? Not really no . I think the clue is in the word “ourselves” ! Geddit ?
Jack news is a blow. There goes our season
Fuck
Fuck indeed !
The Scot breaks back. Both players look knackered
It’s not so much the amount of injuries that we get that concern me – as has been pointed out, other clubs like Manure suffer too. BUT the amount of breakdowns and setbacks in recovery does seem ridiculous.
Has anyone come back earlier than expected??
Just an outsider looking in.
CG @ 289 Unbelievable isn’t?! I also worry about Bac having the hardware left in his leg. The cold, damp weather is sure to set off an inflammatory response. Jeezers, creepers!
tabs, courrier job noted. Of course it also requires you to be at a game before that, but I think you’ll be at the LWC game, right?
As for your possible staggering act, PSG’s bottomless pocket and continuous CL qualification now assured (given they are – for a while?- the only plaything of rich people in France) has completely shifted things as far as ‘staying in France’ is concerned for the best players.
I was going to say ‘best French players’ but of course Hazard is Belgian… ;D
Quite a picture you paint there, abb @290 😉
Meanwhile, no tie break in the fifth set
289, yes I think Djourou came back earlier than expected last year (didn’t do him or us much good, he wasn’t the same).
I think there was another time in his first season when Vermaelen came back practically immediatly, despite rumours (OK there were only rumours I guess) that he had a fissured bone.
MG@273: it was a double reference to a couple of earlier drinks by Clive, one about his plan to relieve post-match traffic congestion at the Emirates and a football match he had played in at the Burroughs when a schoolboy in 1960. I don’t know whether you have visited this bar often, but not a lot of it makes any sense until you have been here a while.
The photo looks quite recent from the bus in it. Does it have a backstory?
Well Murray bottles it
It’s a Djokovic vs Nadal final
Jack set back confirmed by AW in his presser.
Harsha , little bit harsh surely . Magnificent match , up against a fantastic player . He got very very close .
He has had a little setback that is under investigation at the moment so I cannot give you how long he will be out for. At the moment he is seeing a specialist and as soon as we know more we will communicate. It sets him back a little bit but for how long I don’t know. It is the same foot but a different problem to the injury he had surgery on back in September. But is it an inflammation? We have to wait a little bit.
That sounds sooooooooo much like season over in Arsenal terms.
SG@296: that is disappointing news. But better to get him right than have him become the new Diaby.
Ollie – not sure about LWC’s yet , but will be at Blackburn .
Take your point re Paris St Germain and their money , but still doesn’t have the kudos of The Premiership or La Liga .
Well in, Tabs.
@284: we’d be the Arsenal Weakfish, the way things are going.
Harsha @ 292 Hey! It’s just the end of the world as we know it. Now if I hear one more pundit proclaim Arsenal uses their injuries as an excuse, I’ll knock on their door and given them one right in the kisser.
Heh , and drills in another goal , whilst merely trying to keep the ball in play .
Nice assist Ned . Gathers in teammates and goes for the Fishing celebration 🙂
Well in Tabs, expert lurking.
NBN – that was exactly what I thought about.
This piece of news is extremely worrying especially since its a new injury to the one he suffered in September.
After what Theo said in his interview that the injury could have been career threatening I am properly terrified for his career.
To have that player have a Diaby career would be a crime (which it already is for Diaby)…
Completely unintentional 8Ball 😉
Re: Camberwell @275: Correct you are about the Three Lions. Maybe England is a country in Africa? 😉
Not too sure about the origin of the Three Lions, actually. Maybe the organizers looked around at the alternatives and said, “We had better not call this team the Three Turnips?”
8 Ball@ 307 Well Sarah Palin thought Africa was a country, so anything is possible.
Snir, calm down 🙂
I know Jack’s season is probably over but no reason to compare his situation with Diaby’s just yet
Tabs@297 He had two break points to go ahead when it was tied 5-5 in the fifth set. Agree though that he played really really well
8Ball @308 – Coat of Arms of Richard The Lionheart , I believe .
Harsha – He did indeed have those break points , but still wouldn’t say he “bottled” it .
Ollie @293
Wouldn’t really count TV5 coming back early as a success! He was out again pretty quickly.
8ball – following on from TABS,
There also used to be lions kept in the Tower of London, I believe… kind of a royal security system. Not sure which king, probably Henry VIII.
Are you a Murray fan, tabs? 🙂
Not really Harsha 🙂
Just felt , like you said earlier , that he played very very well .
Good player though he is , I think it is his misfortune to be playing at the same time as three of the all time greats .
Oh been back drinking (literally with my big mug of tea) and it seems that I have a bit of explaining to do:
CoR @ 254 & Impeccable1 @ 274: When I call Usain Bolt a scumbag its because he is the biggest Manure supporter in Jamaica! He is always wearing their shirt. The last time I saw him in a restaurant I told him that I felt like ripping it off – he said “if you can”…(0;…Don’t misunderstand me, I love him like everyone else when he is on the track – what a phenomenon – but as soon as he crosses the line the thought of him being a scumbag comes flooding back into my mind…
CoR @ 263: Arshavin is not that funny when I have heard him on Arsecast (0;
Ned @ 251: Love that Telegraph article. My feeling is that football fans are no different than everyone else. People generally speaking are getting fed up of being taken advantage of. The revolution is not far off I tell you. Unfortunately most of us football fans pour all our hopes and desires into our teams and when our team loses we take it as a personal insult…the world has changed, so are we the people…The socia media has given everyone a public voice and so what would have been a little football or a small political skirmish nows get amplified hundreds of times and then makes the back or front pages..This has changed in my lifetime: it used to be that we only talked about what we were told by the media…now the media are just amplifying what we are saying on blogs or the social networks…
On a related matter: I was listening to a story on the BBC (where else?) about NHL teams in North America that employs “enforcers” who’s only job on the team is to just fight bare fists during games. Several of these guys have committed suicide over the past 5-years but the NHL authorities are reluctant to put a stop to it because its so popular with the crowds…. well how soon before we go back to the Gladiatorial Games as a diversion to the public’s pent up anger?..
GoonerTerry ,
If I had to dress up like an NFL American Football player on a weekly basis , I think I’d commit suicide .
That , or join The Village People , one or the other .
Dedicated to TABs @ 284:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~BREAKING NEWS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The scene was more Carnival than hostile but the emergency services responding to a call still had difficulties getting through the throng of people who had gathered, some laughing and dancing around, some hurling abuse..Eventually police, fire & ambulance crews were able cordon off the unruly crowd from the target of all the abuse. From what the police were able to ascertain it is understood that during some routine DIY work at his home, a popular blogger from an online football forum, had caught his penis and scrotum in a mangle and was in terrible pain. He had managed to get as far as his window and was calling out for help but the pain made him delirious and he used quite a lot of expletives… early arrivals on the scene thought he was only engaging in his usual banal and hysterical rantings that he’s become known for. It was not until some time later – perhaps an hour or more- that he was able to scrawl the word “HELP” in his own blood on the window. Some good Samaritan among the crowd must have called the Emergency Services. The latest we have heard is that the emergency crew have gained entry to the home and is attempting to extract [name withheld] bollox from the mangle…we will bring you apdate as of when we receive it. Now back to our regular programming…
National Hockey League TABs…please pay attention old boy…
@319 GT 🙂 🙂
GoonerTerry @319 heh 🙂 Still laughing here !
And thank you for the dedication . In the circs , it is only right and proper I dedicate my next song to you … 😉
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS9OO0S5w2k&ob=av2e
And @320 – Ah , apologies . I say tomarto , you say tomayto ! 🙂
Abb @ 282, ultra downer… 🙁
Well in tabs @ 300, he scores when he’s not necessarily looking… 😉
@ at 315, I’m with you on that point, truly accursed luck he has. I thought he was done and dusted in the final set 5-3 down but fair play to him for that spirited comeback. He’s improving, that’s for sure.
On Sagna resuming light training, I’m very happy, would say our injury problems are coming to an end but with Jack’s latest developments, that’s not the case :'( Not holding out for a CL final run anymore, I’m done with the dream. Hopefully the team will cement 4th at least (harsh realism) and go the distance in the FA Cup.
Apparently ‘Arry is ” a giver not a taker ” .
Noted , Sir 😉
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/tottenham-hotspur/9044128/Harry-Redknapps-home-at-risk-after-losing-millions.html
GT @ 319, a good laugh mate although I haven’t read/experienced Pedro or Gareth’s cuntery first hand on the good tabs’ advice so my laughter can’t be multiplied 🙂
Certainly a “giver” in the comedy stakes .
The Trial that just keeps on giving ! 🙂
TABs @ 322: I did use to train and hang out at the Y’s gym in Tottingham Court Road…what are you implying?….(0;
Wolfie @ 324, I knew that he was a cunt, and a wheeler dealer, and a Artful Tax Dodger but not a complete idiot. Shame on me.
Hi Holic, sorry but meant to give you a nudge on Theologist at Huntingdon this afternoon. A nice little winner at 7/1 earlier.
God bless Theo I reckon.
Wind @ 325: I have never, ever been even tempted to click on their site. Among football forums I only read Goonerholic, Arseblog (Arsecast a must), Cultured Left Foot, 7AM Kickoff, Young Guns and sometimes Untold Arsenal…that’s it. Like Snir I am afraid I would probably just spontaneously combust in environments like that…freedom of speech I agree with but I certainly don’t have to listen to it..
Wolfie @ 324: Well that puts poor old Arry at a distinct disadvantage if he does end up in the clink….he may have to rethink his preferences…
GT @327 – Nothing Sir . Just joshing . Referred back to my 318 . 🙂
GT @331 – Indeed . One might consider that after a brief sojourn at Sp*rs , ‘Arry will have to learn how to be an “Arse boy” all over again !
Good work Wind and GT , for not giving that pair of clowns the benefit of your click . Life is so much more tolerable without witnessing their bile .
Have to say I have broken my own rule on a number of occasions when things are going well , just so I can harumph at the massive u-turns going on .
In more troubled times , it’s an absolute no-no .
Patrick, fancy letting me down like that, especially as I have some ammunition in the accounts at present 😉
Few pints of Nigerian lager hitting the spot as I watch Niger v Tunisia in the battle cruiser.
I have been knocked out of the goonerholic FPL cup, I see
Sorry Harsha, but as there is as yet no prize you are only missing out on false glory 😉
Right, I just checked the Happy Train Fantasy League, and there must be something wrong with it. It just has to, because… it says I got more points than anybody else in the league last weekend! That just can’t be correct 🙂
Typo, Lars, surely 😉
I agree.
The Feelgood Foundation demands a re-count. 😉
GT@317: a return to the days of bread and circuses!
When you read this death list of active NHL players, you wonder why anyone would ever pick up an ice hockey stick. Some pretty gruesome ends.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ice_hockey_players_who_died_during_their_playing_career
Mark you, with all that kit they wear, hockey players can’t enforce like this classic:
http://www.anorak.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/vinniejones-paul-gascoigne.jpg
In a time of full-back famine and striker scarcity, might playing 3-1-4-2 be our salvation at both ends of the pitch? Interesting piece in the Guardian by Jonathan Wilson on the newly fashionable formation, which might be well suited to the players we have (when, if ever, all fit): http://gu.com/p/3443y
Szczesny
Sagna — Koscielny — Vermaelen
Song
Oxlade-Chamberlain — Arteta — Wilshere — Santos
Gervinho/Walcott/Arshavin/Ramsey — van Persie
NBN, Stick Vinnie Jones and Paul Gascoigne into that 3-1-4-2 and we just might have a go!!
Hockey 😳
Tabs song and video @320: Classic and genius. 😀
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