Robin Gives Suarez Something To Chew On
Mar 3rd, 2012 by 'holic
Sometimes when you least expect a day to go well for you, it gives you the most gloriously unexpected pleasures. The morning started better than I had envisaged when Emmanuel Frimpong made a hilarious appearance on Soccer am, or whatever it may be called these days. I am not a regular viewer. For those who suggest we should keep him out of the limelight can I point out he has not been given a chance by Arsenal because of his media presence or skills of oratory. The boy is a footballer, potentially a very good one, who shares an upbringing with so many kids today. They connect, so let them.
By the time kick-off at Anfield had come around the teams had been announced. We were unchanged from the eleven that humiliated the best Tottenham side in fifty years last week, and Steve Gerrard was missing for the hosts. Dalglish had predictably dropped Carroll to match our shape, presumably hoping to choke our lines of supply and hit us on the break or at set pieces. The problem with that is that we appeared to be thinking along similar lines, and the game had a subdued start as a result.
The hosts were encouraged to be more and more bold as the opening half progressed, and almost turned their territorial advantage into a lead when one Luis Suarez darted into the box, got his front teeth stuck in the turf and catapulted over nothing at all, clutching his leg and screaming for a splint to hold his shattered limb in one piece until it could be pinned back together. So concerned was I with the poor sod’s damaged dentures that I missed Mark Halsey pointing to the spot, presumably having dabbled in some hallucinogenics in his dressing room just prior to the start.
Step forward the Pole in the goal to twice deny Kuyt from the spot and then the rebound. “That should stir us from our slumbers” I thought to myself. “What could possibly go wrong now?” My answer arrived when the Kos, our best defender this season, topped an unusually shaky first twenty minutes or so by shanking a straightforward clearance inside our near post. It’s hard to be objective when that sort of thing happens and you are still raging about an earlier injustice, but in truth Liverpool deserved the lead.
Indeed they should have held it, or even improved on it, in the remainder of the half. Then Bacary Sagna made a rare foray up the flank, clipped a delightful cross into the danger area, and the skipper freed himself from the feeble grasp of the aging Carragher for an unlikely equaliser. Both posts and the remarkable Szczesny kept us on terms at the break. Scallys know a thing or two about mugging, and must have feared the worst at this point.
They had good reason. The second half started disastrously for the Gunners however when Arteta, so influential for much of the season, was sparked by what I can only describe at this point as an ‘interesting’ challenge by Henderson. Arteta had no clue the Liverpool man was there as he turned innocently into some part of Henderson’s body. The man in red had Arteta clearly in vision all of the time and the rerun on Match of the Day is needed before I can add to that. The former Evertonian was stretchered off (to a generous round of applause, cheers Mickeys) to be treated in hospital for concussion.
Would you believe it? Abou Diaby came on as the replacement, and very quickly got forward to slightly underhit a shot that had Reina scrambling a little more than seemed necessary. Sadly Diaby felt his hamstring a little later and the Ox was sent into the heart of the midfield. An interesting choice, but one that got the visitors on the front foot and definitely in the ascendancy in the latter stages.
Now many may remember the aforementioned Reina as the individual who forced a Barca shirt over Cesc’s shoulders in a jolly little jape as the Spaniards celebrated their world cup win. He, and the embarrassing Suarez, were about to discover that karma will seek you out and find you wherever you are. In the first of eight added minutes Song ventured forward, produced the chip of the day to the inside left channel, and Robin van Persie executed an outrageous volley past Reina’s right hand at his near post. It was as if the ‘keeper was put in a straightjacket at that moment. It was just a delicious treat to watch the Gunners steal the points in such a fashion. Remember Cardiff 2001, Mickeys?
So I get to reel out the line that is reserved for the once or twice a season that Lady Luck bestows her fortunes so generously upon us. If the mark of a good side is one that can grind out a result when far from their best then today we were world-beaters. Liverpool will play worse and win, we will play better and lose. At least they made a real contest of the game, unlike our shambolic neighbours last week. It is hard to be magnanimous though when the only real threat they possess is a theatrical, odious piece of work. A true diving diva.
Any comparison with van Persie was shown today to be quite absurd. His qualities as a striker at the top table in world football were again emphasised, but his merits as a captain were highlighted when he handed the man of the match champagne over to Szczesny, who has endured some shaky moments of late, as young players do, but who was again immense today.
And there was one final silver lining to the end of day clouds as well.
What a surprisingly excellent day that was.
266 Responses to “Robin Gives Suarez Something To Chew On”
A surprisingly excellent day indeed, Holic! Excellent report to boot.
If Andy Cap Carroll is worth 35M – Robin Van Persie is priceless – and for everything else there’s Arsene Wenger!
Arsenal sailed the Mersey ferry to Scouseland for a first Anfield encounter with King Kenute and his 100M+ megaspend. The cash-splash has paid off bigly. The Diddy-Men have nixed a SIX year trophy drought and Starved Scousers are enjoying beer cup glory after a penalties defeat of a D1 side from the Welsh valleys. Dalglish could have bought WALES for 100M!
So Scouser’ tails were up and wagging their hardest since last bonfire night in Toxteth. Dalglish had his “F*ck Offs” ready for Arsene and the officials. Suarez had his tumbling gel in his hair and Andy Cap had his pantomime horse outfit on. Liverpool were unbeaten at Anfield this season. The stage was set for a thriller.
We had Maca the Scouse Moron and Ian In The Dark as commentators. They kept repeating the same thing! “Will RVP be here next year?” MacSMo chose to commentate as a Liverpool fan. I lasted about 8 minutes then switched to A-Player with a 30 second delay. Infinitely better. Why impose failed pundits of a moronic persuasion on a public whose interest in soccer is growing? An insult to “us Americans”.
On paper, Arsenal looked by far the stronger team. For once, our injury list was smaller than the opposition’s. But right from the first whistle, it was fairly evident that the team’s mind-set was distinctly Milanesque infused with interlull hangover. Our passing was poor. Our ball winning poorer and our ability to hold onto the ball was virtually non-existent.
Despite that, Walcott came closest in the early skirmishes. And although Liverpool had more of the ball, they didn’t look like scoring. Then, enter Uruguay’s finest. Suarez squirmed past Kos. Tried to take it past Wojcieck, lost the ball then dived over the Pole’s foot. Very clearly NO contact, but he rolled and screamed as if his shinbone had been Shawcrossed. Szczesny’s double save was brilliant. Justice done.
Sympathetic to Liverpool’s inadequacy in front of goal, Kos gave them a hand and, not for the first time, screwed an unstoppable shot inside Wojcieck’s left post for another unnecessary error, in a long season of unnecessary errors.
Now Van Persie only cost 2.5M, but he’s worth at least twenty Suarez and fifty Carrolls. It’s great to have our full backs playing again, and for the 2nd week in a row, Right Back Bac’s contribution was critical. His beautiful in-swinger flashed off the chocolate head as Robin ghosted past the aged Carragher like a pirate ship in the mist. 1 – 1 at the interval.
We had drama a-plenty in the second half. Arteta was hospitalized. Diaby made an injury cursed cameo. Arsenal sustained a lot of end-productless pressure. Throughout, Downing had been dangerous on the left. So, Kenute – showing why he’ll never make it as a real manager – took him off and introduced the Welsh Wonker. Thereafter, we were going to win.
Alex the Ox entered and inspired. Flipper replaced the hapless Benayoun. Then, the icing on the proverbial cake; a perfect through ball from Alex Song was volleyed home spectacularly by the two million pound man. Immediately, Kenute brought on his 35M pound man – AndyCap Carroll. And that panicked change signaled the end of Liverpool as an attacking force.
Carroll was singularly entertaining. Not as a striker but as a pantomime horse. The man has the head of a horse, absent the brains, and the first touch of Red Rum’s two front hooves. When Arsenal spend 60M in the summer, lets all pray that it isn’t money swilled down the gurgler on the likes of AndyCap. 35million??
Liverpool were the better team on the day. Arsenal fought hard but were poor overall. Robin Van Persie is brilliant and he and Szczesny were the differentiators. Arsenal will play better and lose, we have done so several times this season already. The three points and fourth place are not one bit less welcome for that.
The “Club in Crisis” sails on spectacularly as Andy Feathered Boa and King Kenute count their wasted pennies and perhaps their remaining days as PL managers. As for Arsene Wenger? There is only ONE.
Great win today, hope to see you at villa Holic for a few swift bushmills 🙂
First drink.
I mean non-report one.
Or not even :p
Great management news Holic.
*boilk*
“A theatrical odious piece of work” I was searching for something similar. You nailed it there. He is a difficult little chap to like isn’t he?
I love Karma me.
On days like this anyway. Nice post Holic and riposte, BtM.
I’ll try one of them Old Toms you were showing off last night, Holic, if there’s any left? 😀
And great point about Frimpong and the media…. I Unfollowed someone on twitter today for that reason. I think you know who.
Now we just need United and Sunderland to give a couple strong performances, right?
Cheers BtM, great write-up. Could have saved me my rushed ramblings.
You bet I’ll be at Villa, Jay, ready to imbibe 😉
One Old Tom left zico. I’ll have to go and buy more tomorrow. It is bloody gorgeous stuff.
I hope you mean the utter cunt who is Piers Moron, Catalan?
Suarez really is a despicable human being. He clearly has talent. He also has a personality – shame that it’s the type of personality a Middle Eastern dictator would reject as too unpleasant. Dived for the penalty, made cynical tackles that could have caused real injury and has a face I really want to slap and that even a mother could not love.
Great writeup as usual ‘Holic. Glad the management’s adventure turned out well.
Guinness, MotD and a smug smile for me this evening.
Two hilarious recaps of the game, Holic and BTM, great stuff.
When Diaby came-in and made the turn, surged forward I thought wtf, he’s gonna score, but no….feel bad for the guy, he just can’t stay healthy. Really was pleased how we defended after we took the lead, they really had no good surges forward during the final stages of the game.
Aside for Sagna’s cock-up pass, it’s amazing how good we can be when we have our fullbacks back. Kudos to Gibbs, stayed out of trouble the entire game. Thought Kos was great except for you know what.
Given the early am start (US) I watched the first half of the West Brom/Chelsea snore fest and fell asleep on the couch. I woke-up just in time to see West Brom take the lead and hold on for the three points.
This game reminded me of how some teams play us, little time on the ball, absorb the pressure and hit us on the counter. It was role reversal today.
I’d like us to pull a miracle out of the hat in the CL on Tuesday but I think we need to rest the whole lot because we still have a lot of work to do in the PL for fourth. COYR!
Excellent write up Holic and BtM. Wonderful news on the management as well. Suarez’s theatrics were perfectly summed up when his heel was clipped at one point by I think Arteta and he proceeded to roll around on the floor grabbing the front of his shin in agony. Anyway enough of the negativity. Brilliant result and wonderful to see the team on winning side of a game where they generally ceded much more territory. It feels like we are more often on the other side of those games. Now time to spank Milan 5-0!
Heh. Can’t unfollow someone you’ve never followed!
No, this lady was being just a little too right on with her politics. Fair enough but pffff when she says the club should stop him talking. Freedom of speech when it suits….
Stylish summary maestro.
Good news on the management too, I hope? Excellent.
Just watched the game again on tape. The penalty is a total joke. This time, while Arteta was on the ground, the incident was played again in expanded slow-mo. I listened to MacSMo and IaTD start from:
“Should SzCzesny have seen red?”……..to “there wasn’t a touch there was there?”……….to “there was the littlest, littlest touch” (MacSMo)”.
MacSMo couldn’t even bring himself to admit that Woj had CLEARLY pulled his leg back and there was absolutely NO contact.
THat Henderson, from nowhere, collided with a static Arteta is suspicious. Only he knows his motivation. There is no way that he didn’t see him.
The most annoying thing about the penalty for me was that Halsey had such a poor view of it, he could only have guessed about the merits of the decision but was too gutless to do the right thing.
2 games, 2 dives. It is olympic year I guess….
An excellent day all round.
Glad to hear you had two good results today ‘holic.
Three points; ithat’s all that matters.
A proposed solution about the Uruguayan: at the start of every match, he should be issued a yellow card, on “general principles”. He should then be told right away that if he tries any his crap he’ll be sent off!
Real worry on the midfield/frontline front; as well as Rosicky, Benayoun, and Arteta played against Spuds, the collective were that poor this week. And now Arteta and Diaby look to be out for some time…we now have more healthy fullbacks than midfielders!!!
What’s the solution for Tuesday and beyond? Ramsey has to come back in. Throw Yennaris and/or Ozyakup in the deep end? Is Lansbury recallable? Play RVP, Ox, Gervinho, Park, and Chamakh all together, as AW has (jokingly?) proposed?
BtM – I don’t mind McManaman because he makes no pretense of being neutral. Compared to what we could have (and have had), Darke and McManaman are fine, good even, comparatively.
Excellent write ups, ‘holic and BTM, thanks. Guv, glad to hear the mgt is having happier times. A round of speckled hen for the bar, on Lars’ tab.
BtM @ 1 – excellent account.
BtM @ 17 – we had Jamie Redknapp committing the family skill of perjury with exactly the same interpretation – he definitely saw the slightest contact. So convincing was he that Smudger even said, “It’s amazing that the unsighted Mr Halsey got the decision right.” I hope he was being ironic.
Dr Z,
Song trod on Jail Bird Joey at Newcastle. No real harm done. (Not acceptable of course). Song gets reptrospective red card. Arsenal drop two points, lose Song for three games (and we know what happened then).
Two penalties. Cameras show two dives quite clearly. NO retrospective action. Arsenal lose one goal. Guts ensure no points loss. I’m all for retrospective yellows as a minimum.
See you for the Villa game. City too? I have a feeling the City game may be the one that kills their (City’s) season.
Wonderful news Holic, all around. Perfect weekend thus far, just hope Sir Alex delivers as well. He owes us a favor or two!
This is one of the oases of good sense on the Net. One of my Scouser friends believed this was Karma for 2001 and the exhibition of basketball from Henchoz. I thought it was a nice piece of revenge for a lucky win at our place in August. We had a cock up own goal then and outdid it this time.
Szczesny was terrific ,this was the best performance by an Arsenal goalie at Anfield since 1991 and if anyone remembers that gem from Seaman it is a fitting compliment.That boy as ability and bottle and the confidence of someone who knows he is very good.
RVP was ,as ever magnificent and Diaby and Gibbs who we find is injured (surprise,surprise) were as ever terminally fragile.
We can scarcely put together a credible team for Milan.might we legitimately field the boys on Tuesday?
Spent almost £60m on 2 new strikers and scored a total of 30 goals in the PL only 5 more than RVP and 25 less than the whole Arsenal team. The return of King Kenny.
I love this write up…nice and funny….am happy we won.up arsenal.
BtM @ 24 – Villa yes, City no.
At want point, City was the preferred fixture of the two, but Roxette bagsied the Doc Martens for the Easter Weekend 😉
Just watching again. Szcz shows his character not only with his saves but by being the only man to go over to Kos after the og. Picks him up and pats him on the back with a quiet word. Probably not “you cunt.”
Feckin apple – at want point = at one point 🙁
Just to complete my day, I decided to switch RvP and go with Silva as my FFL captain against Bolton, but he didn’t play.
My vice-captain will therefore get his points doubled. That’s RvP 😀
What a finish from RvP for our winner. Pure class.
Hope that second silver lining is good news re the Management, ‘Holic. Best wishes to you both, as ever.
Evening Holics
It’s been a great day on my 70th Birthday. Three precious points at Anfield and Roger beating Murray in the Dubai Final,plus a delightful supper with friends and relations.
Our mid-field were AWOL in the first half and there was little protection for the back five. Suarez is a truly despicable character. His dive was even more blatant than the one last week.However, my man Szczesny made a fantastic double save ,as good as anything I have seen this season or any other come to that.
Then there was another of our weekly defensive lapses. Gibbs was caught out of position in our opponent’s half. Liverpool broke away down our left and Kos, in an attempt to clear the shot on goal, somehow managed to slice the ball passed WS13 into the net.How many OGs have we given away this season?
Then out of the blue we had a breakaway down our right. Sagna’s cross was perfection and there was our hero getting his head in front of Carragher to make it 1-1! Hope of a point returned but I admit we were fortunate to go into the interval level.
Kos and TV5 tightened things up at the back in the second period but poor finishing by Liverpool and great keeping by Szczesny kept the score level. Theo had our best chance when he fastened on to a good cross from Gibbs, only to be thwarted by Reina’s legs.
This was a very physical game. Arteta left the pitch on a stretcher following a clash off the ball and went to Hospital. Fingers crossed his injury is not serious. Poor Diaby, his replacement, didn’t last long and left the field with a hammy problem. The locals got restless and come the lengthy added time Song chipped the perfect pass over the top, a la Everton, and RVP was there to side foot the volley inside Reina’s near post. “RVP he scores when he wants”. There was even time for an Ox pile driver to just miss Reina’s top corner.
We won on a day when we didn’t play well BUT we had Robin and WS13 which were the difference, my joint MOTM.
Happy days, see you all at the Ems on Tuesday night.
As always COYRs
The cowards at the BBC did not even show the Arteta incident. Pathetic, MotD is garbage, has been for years. Dying on its arse like another anachronymised show; TotP!
Happy Birthday Delia.
Great stuff as always neighbour
Happy birthday Delia
Delia, your contribution to the drinks grows every time you appear. Thank you, and I am glad you enjoyed your birthday.
Thank you neighbour.
Mahoosive thanks to all for your kind words and thoughts.
Downside is we appear to need a taker for our prime Milan tickets as Dom is abroad.
Any thoughts?
Love this shot. Says it all.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27453474@N02/6803317392/in/photostream/
Our players and fans have given so much credit for Liverpool’s dominace but Arsenal have dominated many matchs for many years but eneded up losing and all you hear is “its about winning when you don’t play well” . Today we did that and we should be proud of the whole team instead of praising the scoussers for their dominance. And to hear Dalglish going on about them deserving the 3 points is bit pathetic, He has been long enough in the game to know its about who scores more goals. If you miss your chances you deserve what you get. It is as simple as that.
Missed the last half hour due to FA Vase attendance (we lost 4-3) and then found my video tape filled with black, as I’d taped a blank channel instead of the football. I saw the volley in Ant-o-Vision on Arsenalist but had to wait for MotD to see it properly. Well worth the wait though, as was Robin’s interview about nicking it.
I have a funny feeling he is going to stay, you know. With Cesc his professed love for the club never quite rang true. With Robin van Persie it does. I hope that feeling persuades him to stay as much as the pay packet, prospect of a testimonial in his next deal etc etc…
Neighbour, advertise in top?
Champions League was presented to me as a fait accompli…
Alternatively, do we have any well-heeled Essex Gooners who fancy a pair to the Milan game at cost?
‘Holic, BtM, Delia, excellent write-ups, a privilege to read.
Great news about the management ‘Holic, all the best 🙂
I hope you enjoyed your Birthday Delia, seems like you had an excellent day 😉
Arsenal where played off the park. How Liverpool didn’t win this match by 4 goals is a mystery. Sooo many clear cut chances! Play like this against Milan and it will be a repeat of the San Siro. Van P outsanding!
excellent news ‘holic…I’d been wondering and hoping for good news…..
agree on the write up…..though I think we more than matched them in the 2nd half….Liverpool seem to lack the team cohesion more than we ever did at bad points this season — but— just check our record this season with two proper full backs – it’s very impressive – top 2 form
Happy birthday Deliah..!
Holic really glad to hear there’s positive news about your better half..
A really excellent result today – this gives us a real chance of a top 4 spot.
I’d suggest we husband our resources carefully against AC Milan, we would need to beat them by at least 4 goals (perhaps more) to get through, that ain’t gonna happen. So there’s no point in risking key players we are going to need in the remaining Prem games..
Is “Bergkamp’s The Man” on Twitter too?
Missed the game due to being at a bucks night, so put the game on record and have just sat down and watched it.
Easy to assess that we were not at the races. Ball retention was an issue but then again Pools inability to finish has been on show all season and it helped us greatly today.
Szczney was outstanding all game, Gibbs and Sagna are making a massive difference both in defence and attack. It makes you wonder where we would be if we had two fit fullbacks all season. RVP is world class and is only getting better, let’s move heaven and earth to keep him on the books.
Absolute shame about losing Diaby, he looked composed and really brought control to our midfield when we really needed it. I think we should put the queue in the rack for the Milan game and rest RVP, TV, Theo, TR, Bac and Song.
Holic good to hear you had positive news all day and happy bday Deliah. Come on Arsenal.
‘Holic, very happy to hear the good news!
Delia, slightly belated Happy Birthday wishes!
A quick breakfast and then off to the airport. I have had much worse early Sunday mornings!
‘Hols-
Great news regarding the missus. You guys take care.
Many fine returns, Miss Delia.
Scousers can go suck on it. (Richard @47, Arsenal were played off the park? Really? Please, do me a favor…) Kenny-the-court-jester can stop moaning. How any one can support a cheating, diving, racist cunt like Suarez is beyond me. I’ve lost all latent respect for the mugsmashers. They truly are the Spunks of the noorf.
Win the next match, boys. Win the next match.
BMBD.
Happy belated birthday Delia. Nice post..
Happy birthday, Delia.
We were outplayed in the first half, but rode our luck and hung in, where once we would have imploded. An equalizer born of class and a far more competitive second half kept it level. Then another touch of class for the winner. So fair play to the team.
Looking at our second goal on the replays, if we had given it up, we would have been castigated for defensive fragility. Song given too much time on the ball in midfield unchallenged. Centre backs allowing RvP to split them. Defence pulled all over the place and out of shape. No tracking back to cover. Keeper beaten at his near post. Yet do we hear a peep about Liverpool’s defensive failings?
Happy post-birthday morning Delia!
Having taken Dr Z and Ollie’s fine advice re “manning up” and “look in the CMC” I am happily boilk free.
Hair of the dog – who knew?!
Brendan @51 – I agree, Diaby made a big difference when he came on, especially as Arteta wasn’t having his best game.
Henderson knew what he was doing. Probably wanted a little shoulder to shoulder charge rather than knocking him out. MOTD – pathetic kop out. Not for the first time.
Arthur…. darn you for overtaking me in the Holic League!
And who’s that Flanders boy sneaking up behind me???
Come on Newcastle and Wolves…. much to play for!
Oh, and *cough* manure too……
NBN
to be fair, our defence is meltdown woeful far too freqently (luckily Spurs could not defend either last week but their early chances were almost comedy value ridiculously Do Arsenal even have any defenders and if so where the f are they?)
Song would have passed it if he had been closed down and RvP’s movement was good to create a half-chance that most strikers could not have got on target. That would barely register as bad defending at AFC
And to be even more truthfu –
Lpool can defend as badly as they like for the rest of the season, it shouldn’t help us at all, whereas our woeful defending is what is most likely to stop us getting 4th/3rd (i can dream)
Good news all round ‘holic. Mugged those fucking scouse cunts right off. Happy Daze!
Chris @58
Have a drink fella, sounds like you need it. Lars’ account
glad to here there’s lots of good news flowing today
i was stuck in bed with the flu (real couldn’t stand up stuff) and didn’t have the energy to find a stream let alone open my eye. oh wo is me! it left me with 5 lives commentary! the Welsh jewel robbie savage and Mr positive Alan green. when its all you’ve got, needs must. anyway their narrative seemed to consist of how arsenal dive and cheat to get free kicks. ignoring the penalty which even they said had no contact. they literally spent about 5 minutes talking about arsenal diving rather than saying what was going on on the pitch just before arteta came off. by the way Henderson didn’t touch him at first then was totally innocent according to them. anyway just pissed me off a bit. commentators on the bbc are ment to be neutral. the result blew all of that away! well done the lads. how many times have we been lambasted for not taking our chances. i hope we see the calling cup team out against Milan well enough of a team not to get spanked. that’d let the verminator rest his injury etc….
the world doesn’t feel to bad this morning so if anyone’s game. hot todies for breakfast?
Glad for you and Mrs ‘H mate. Cracking day yesterday. Hope the Mancs can do us a favour today.
Got to rest the remaining first team vs Milan, although pulling it back would be amazing, the fight we have in the league is vital for the club’s future and so has to take precedent.
Agreed Herbie
Rest RVP et al…. give Chamakh and Fabianski some game time and some amazing experience for some of the youngsters – Miquel, Yannaris and maybe even Afobe.
There will be no pressure on them, and they can only learn. The first team have already lost the tie (and you know I’m not defeatist) so they can have a go….
Re: BtM # 17, it’s infuriating that most match reports INSISTED on qualifying the ‘collision’ between Henderson and Arteta as ‘accidental’. Bullshit. Henderson sees Arteta in front of him, clearly lowers his shoulder, and charges into Arteta in order to try to get to the ball. ‘Innocuous’, ‘accidental’ ‘bump’, my arse. Am I being ridiculously biased for thinking match commentators spend significantly more time declaiming the innocence of foulers when the “foulee” is an Arsenal player?
Also, the spot on Suarez’s tibia a few inches below the knee must be a medical marvel. It can cause excruciating pain whenever a goalkeeper’s shinpads (air-)brushes it or whenever a Belgian defender needing a quick yellow card makes a challenge. Given the increasing sophistication of dissembling (the Rooneyesque ‘shot-by-a-sniper’ school of acting seems almost silent movie era in comparison), I believe Premier League referees should be given courses on the mechanics of falling and of how pain is caused, preferably by being kicked in various parts of the body with varying degrees of force. Yes, a summer-long course would do the trick quite nicely.
Well done Robin, well done Szczesny, well done Arsene, well done the boys and girls of TTF.
Perfect post ‘Holic. Swipes at the Mickeys (esp. the Freddie Mercury look-a-like), swipes at the LWCs and thanking lady luck who decided to smile on us yesterday afternoon.
The beaming smile on RVP’s face in his post match interview said it all for me. Streaky Bacon’s sour puss was also quite satisfying, if anyone ever deserved a mugging….
Two brilliant back-to-back results. Four back to-to-back championship wins, the last three all coming from behind. Whisper it, there seems to be an element of mental fortitude building now. I think our Captain Vantastic has much to do with this.
The faint whiff of St.Tott’s Day is still in the air. We’re starting to stake a claim on fourth spot. Third, given everything that’s happened this season, would be a great achievement IMO.
A speedy recovery to Management.
Happy birthday Delia.
Agree with Herbie and Dr.C re: The Milan game.
Hope Snir and his family are enjoying their trip, yesterday must have helped.
Bring on The Barcodes.
Have a good Sunday all, drinks all round on my tab.
Morning folks. Would have loved to have posted when I got back from Klanfield yesterday but sadly the sofa sniper got me within minutes of getting home zzzzzzzzz……
Great post ‘holic, and best wishes to the management for a speedy recovery from the latest.
Delia – another perfect post – and happy belated birthday!
Snir – great to meet you at last. Sorry I couldn’t make the Tollie after, but see you there Tuesday, and meanwhile, have a great time in Madrid.
After seeing a shameless robbery in Liverpool yesterday, hot on the heels of a spanking of our noisy neighbours last weekend, I find I’ve really rather acquired the taste for gazing upon a humbling of the terminally smug. Roll on Tuesday, a red card inside 10 minutes for Ibra, and a famous victory for our Kindergarten 11.
Enjoy your Sundays folks.
Sofa sniper, heh.
Top man Snowy.
NB52 has just scored for Sunderland….
George Leekens, the Belgian coach, claims that he and the Belgian medical staff thought Vermaelen 100% fit on Tuesday. It beggars belief that a national coach is unaware that one of his best players was nobbled by Scott Parker in one of the most watched games worldwide this past weekend! After being made to listen to the despicable, repugnant Roger Vangheluwe, former bishop of Bruges, one begins to wonder whether sheer bloody-minded obtuseness has become a national characteristic. And ‘Holic, hope the silver lining turns to bright sunshine – all the best to the management.
TGSTEL strikes.. This could be a magnificent week.
Waiting for the mancs to put paid to the spuds title hopes.
I Would love to see how the scum players handle pressure for the first time in the season after that, with the almighty gunners breathing down their neck.
COYG
Seem to disagree with most on here, but I’d stick with a first choice 11 for Meelan and see what happens….
They’re not actually that good IMO and an early sending off (cheers Snowy) would make things very interesting.
And we have a 6 day rest before the Newcastle.
bstrum – no matter how maddening it is that TV played, I’m not sure it does much good comparing the Belgian coach to a guy who was guilty of child abuse. Or indeed suggesting that referees should get kicked about a lot. Both are rather distasteful things to say.
Villas-Boas has gone.
Hmmm … The ref kicking idea seemed fair enough to me 😉
Charlie, I entirely understand where you’re coming from regarding Vangheluwe. However, I was referring to the breathtaking obtuseness of the public statements he made, not what he was supposed to have done (it is deeply upsetting that he wasn’t prosecuted and was allowed to retire peacefully). Still, the deeply repugnant nature of it all does overshadow everything so the reference was misplaced. As for the referees getting kicked, please! In fact, getting kicked about on a football pitch does give you an instinctive understanding of the mechanics of fouling and how the body reacts to them. It makes it far easier to spot diving and fake injuries.
R.I.P. AvB.
I am firmly in Wasp’s camp. Send out the first team at home on a REAL football pitch against Milan. Let’s not take our foot off the accelerator.
We have to build on the momentum. Take our chances. Create our destiny.
As Georges Denton said L’audace, L’audace, toujours L’audace.
We can’t win if we don’t try.
Those of you with the heart to backdrink will find that I laid out this precise scenario immediately following the debacle in Italy. We can do this.
WE CAN DO THIS. Don’t put on the handbrake. Just WIN THE NEXT MATCH.
BMBD.
Well defended, bstrum. I agree with you. Too often, we fall victim to overlooking nuanced agruments – I think we are worse off for it.
BMBD.
*arguments*
Damned fat fingers.
BMBD.
Where do I sign up to do some referee-kicking ?
Delia, Happy belated birthday, lovely lady. You are my idol.
This from the BBC:
Roman Abramovich’s gamble on the 34-year-old has spectacularly backfired, with Villas-Boas paying the price for failing to deliver silverware (he has been manager for a whopping 11-months!).
Who will want to be a Chel$ki manager now? – Only whores and money grubbers…oh where’s Maureen? (0;
What an hilarious afternoon ! Larceny on a grand scale . Could King Kenny’s face have got any longer ?
Dismayed that we were not able to use the pressing performance against the LWCs as a blueprint for yesterday’s performance . We were unfortunately back to playing with the handbrake firmly yanked up , but hey ho , a win is a win is a win , and I laughed so hard at the end , my head fell off .
The win should not blind us to some of our failings on the day . Song and Arteta were poor in the first half , and behind them Kos was having one of his more uncertain afternoons , no doubt perplexed by the continual and serial cheating of his buck-toothed opponent . Benny was anonymous , Whilst Gibbsy was directly responsible for their goal when he needlessly advanced upfield when Benny was already occupying that territory , and left us woefully exposed when possession was surrendered . Nor was this the only time that this occurred . He’s a talented lad , but he’s gonna have to start thinking a little harder , if he’s to make the position his own , even presupposing he stays fit .
On the plus side , Schez was superb and seems to have come through the New Year stutterings which he went through , RVP was magnificent (must be only second to Messi in the World game at the moment) , Bac had a very industrious game down the right , whilst Rosicky never stopped probing even though he had one of those afternoons when nothing really came off for him .
Much improved after the break . Song was able to impose himself , and he was ably assisted by the returning Diaby . We had glimpses of the player he should have been had it not been for that thug Dan Smith . I hope he is able to recover and begin yet another comeback .
There were still harum-scarum moments in the second half , but the greater chances fell to us , And I can’t really say I was surprised when we nicked it , it just had the feeling of one of those days . How I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall to watch Snir’s celebrations !
I love beating Liverpool . Their cheating racist scumbag centre-forward , their classless keeper , their monosyllabic spendthrift of a manager , and most of all their squeaky self-aggrandising moustachioed fans .
Yes a very good day !
Put the first team out against Milan and give it a real go , at least for an hour .
Happy Birthday Delia .
Abramovich mouthpiece Avram Grant on BBC Radio 5 live:
“Roman Abramovich gave you all of the tools you needed to succeed and said do your job.
“He loves football very, very much and wants to achieve the lot. He’s spent a lot of money to achieve the best.
“[Chelsea have] unbelievable facilities; the best in the world or one of. Roman wants Chelsea to be the best in the world or one of the best in the world.”
Erm…best in the world…seriously?
“It’s Amen Corner for Andy Feathered Boa as Chelsea hit an all time Fairweather Lowe. If only Paradise was Half as Nice. We’d rather have you (Jose)”
“Tra-lal-la-la-lal-la-la”……..repeat ad-infinitum all the way to LaLa Land at the Bust Stop in Fulham.
Shit!…..I had hoped to expand upon this theme in the drinks over the balance of the season. It’s tough enough to find any new material without the Kremlin dumping its talent with this amount of frequency.
Still, I feel a “piece” coming on, Holic. Stay tuned.
TABs: yesterday we failed to maintain any semblance of shape in midfield – a look at the charts on Zonal Marking will confirm that. Last week against the S**** we kept a wonderful shape of five across the middle (after of course the chaos of the first 30 minutes) with Walcott attacking the inside right channel. At Liverpool he was back wide and wasn’t getting much change out of Jose Enrique. The only time he came inside he drew Enrique with him thus making space for Sagna for that cross..
Happy Birthday Delia
I see AvB is gone.
How does that song go again?
‘What a waste of money’.
If you want to feel safe, then go to church. However, if you are feeling a bit frisky, and I believe AW is, then our ‘A’ team will start against the Rossoneri. Rocky said it best,”Remember who you are, what you are and who you represent. Amen Rocky.
Cheers iLoneStar…As for Maureen, GT, I think there’s only one position he wants, and that’s floating on top of an unlimited pool of oil money. After (almost) all hope for the title ended, I was half hoping that Man City would win the title just so that the Arabs wouldn’t have the excuse to fire Mancini and hire Mourinho. But it probably won’t matter whether they win the league – getting eliminated from all cups will be justification enough even if they needed one. I’m afraid that the league will once again have to suffer the sneering, preening one strutting in front of a fawning English press. It’s going to be awful having to put up with a man who, unless it offends Charlie’s sensibilities, I would say shares most of the characteristics of a moderately successful street pimp.
If it is “a disaster” as Arsene said, not to qualify for the Champions League next season, then we cannot afford to take a gamble playing key players on Tuesday.
Put the youngsters out and give them a taste.
nice one TABS. We saw it identically. I have to take exception though with “second to Messi”. He is second to no one on the planet at the moment. See you for some Villa and Shitty I’m hoping?
Not sure how much of a ‘gamble’ it is, given we don’t play before the following monday.
Do not take a chance with players in the ‘red zone’, but beyond that?
And fuck it, tabs may be around: we’re gonna win 5-0, but not with the ‘B’ team.
Golazzio
BG crunches the enemy and chips the ball to Ollie.
The jammy bastards (0;
They specialise in doing what we did yesterday. Playing in a somewhat indifferent manner, lucky breaks in defence then winning the game. We should do it more often when we have an off day. Not great to watch but effective.
Ollie, Vermaelen crocked last week, van Persie not 100 per cent to name but two.
We’re kidding ourselves if we think that a team like Milan are going to roll over – it’s not as if they have Paul Robinson in goal 😉
Finishing 4th should not be the extent of our ambitions – the ideal has to be to finish 3rd and avoid any qualifying tie, particularly given the european championships this summer.
3rd is currently 4 points away – the LWCs have just conceded in a game they have been well in front. Shame. 🙂
Clips a well-weighted pass out to wing. Over to you Wind?
Feel kinda bad for AVB, too young, the players didn’t want to play for him, the fans weren’t with him, and the owner didn’t back him. + he was assisting us in our hunt for CL football in the 2012/2013 season!
I agree with zico. Dead rubber, play the kids. Rest RvP and TV5 at least. No point blowing the league position with injuries.
Have it.
Strikes it on the volley from outside the box…
Bang 🙂
Poor! 🙂
My assist attempt never went through, ty for the effort Lonestar 😉
Arrives to find the party over…… 🙁
flipping internet..hung up at the wrong time…sheeet..nice one bath (made up for yesterday)
Was taught opportunism by GT yesterday. He scores when he wants.
Zico, we have to GO for it mate.
Let’s show those prima donna bastards what we’re made of. Amen, ABB, amen – if you’re scared, say you’re scared…then go to church 😛
BMBD.
Nice Bath!
BMBD.
It’s nothing to do with being scared – it’s called looking at the bigger picture and being pragmatic.
Milan are top of the Italian league for a reason…..
Tuesday: I would go for it to see if we can do something to redress some balance in our confidence against them. If we lose then no one expected us to win anyway but…..
GT @84 – Hi , not sure I entirely agree re Walcott . In the first half , he did make a couple of excellent runs in the inside right track , but such was the hesitancy in our passing , he went either unseen or ignored .
In the second half Theo spurned 2 good chances from a central position .
Whilst I bow to Zonal Marking’s expertise in regard to “team shape” , I felt it was our inability to both close and pass quickly which differentiated the performance from the one against the LWC’S rather than any real difference in shape .
Just my opinion .
BtM – Cheers and I stand corrected . RVP numero uno 🙂
Will be at both Villa and City so will look forward to chinking glasses .
Right back to the borefest that is Manure and the LWC’s . Really hope the LWC’s fall apart in the second half .
Golazzio 2
This is too wonderful for words (0;
Now the goal difference has to be fucked. We want 6.
neighbours crapping it. Manure shit but two up.
TABs of course there is also the argument that Liverpool played really well in that first half. Once we got in the game a bit we gave ourselves a chance. Our captain made the difference after our Pole kept us in the game…that’s what we need when we are not on song..
and erm…FOYS..
Want to open an inquiry into the state of the refereeing in this bar recently 😛
Barman, when you’re free? 😉
Well played ‘holic and BTM – and good to hear there’s even gooder, good news, ‘holic.
King Kunt Kenny (aka – KKK) – your boys took a helluva mugging – you miserable, mithering mug – ahha! Still basking…
the Milan question – great debate, finding it tricky to make me mind up. But Ollie’s we don’t play for nearly a week swings it for me, i think – give it a go for an hour, maybes. But if we lose anyone one to injury, and the tie – my mind is changed – precisely at that point.
Sweet match sum up tabs. The s***s struggling at shite cart lane – A. Young (gooner) makes it three
Up The Arse!
The Gooner scores the 3rd!
The Mancs are singing: ‘Harry for England’ Classic (0;
Zico, yes but.
I’d like to see us go for it. We only need to win 4-0 then take them on penalties 🙂
If Milan has a weakness, it’s probably pace. I wouldn’t mind seeing us field an eleven built for speed rather than comfort.
Fabi
Bacs Kos TV Jenk
The Ox Song Rosicky
Walcott Park Gervinho
But from what Robin was saying on Saturday. He wants to play and he wants to score.
If only Theo could play as well as A.Y
Ive not seen ‘appy ‘arry this chuffed for, ooh it must be 7 days
The lwc’s hearing our footsteps, feeling our hot breath on their boil-filled necks. One more goal for mancs today without reply and it’s even on goal differential and 4 points back! Skeleton crew for Milan, blood the young’uns, rest the weary for the Geordies.
Adebayor, Adebayor, he tries for 3 months, but not anymore
What a near perfect this weekend is turning out to be….
now off to the beach!
OK I now feel confident that we will be celebrating St Totteringham Day this season (in Early May is my prediction)..
He gets to turn Arsenal’s 7/8 year trophy hiatus around (potentially) by moving back to super-Cali – and he gets to go to the beach on Sunday afternoons (i think) hmmmm – i believe southwark and bermondsey may have its limitations.
Fuck. Defoe the C**t
Crap, Defoe makes the goal difference with the sp*ds back up to two.
Must agree with you, takeabow, seemed that not pressing quickly in the midfield was the big difference from last weekend. No intended criticism of Song and Arteta, but they seemed tired from the beginning, the former justifiably having played a tough mid-week game on a poor plastic pitch in the heat of Guinea Bissau.
As for Milan, both arguments make a lot of sense but not playing might leave a lingering sense of inferiority and unfinished business for the senior players and lower their self-belief. Arsenal is a far, far different team when they play on a football pitch rather than on farmland and even a win by an insufficient margin will help restore pride. Plus, six days until Newcastle seems like ages during this jammed up schedule, and hate to mention this, but the schedule could clear up a bit without cup games…COYRRG, 6-0 to the Arsenal…
@ And Lester….
If only it was down to me…but I like to think I help somehow from so far way….I went down to the English pub/shop in San Diego last night and they had a good selection of Arsenal stuff. Got nice Arsenal crest keychains for myself and the little boy – he of course wanted the flag, in fact he was asking who I was watching this morning and I explained Man U / Scum and wanted him to support Manchester. He shouted ‘NOOOO’ and walked away (confused).
Yeah – 80f today so heading out in a bit (10am here)…..
I really need a new Arsenal coffee mug…..specially for the 445am KO like yesterday…
BtM 121: and if Robin wants to score….well we knows what happens 😉
Peter Drury: “I have never before seen such an empty White Hart Lane during a football match”…HA HA HA HA HA HA
Hey Tim – i’m sure (if any one had the time) it could be scientifically proven that your move and H2H’s return to the bar have contributed to our upturn in fortunes. I’m prepared to acknowledge that there may have been other factors – but…And that coffee cup should be on its way, shurely.
Plus your boy sounds like he knows what he’s doing. And 80f at 10am – it’s not quite that here – yet!
And they lost – 3rd place?!? I’m with Zico – rest ’em
Yeah…and when I left London we signed Bergkamp…I almost called the shipping company and said send my stuff back to Chiswick immediately….
I’ll stay put til we win a trophy……in fact I’ll stay anyway.
What a great weekend….and Chelsea keep showing us how lucky we are to support the Gunners…
AL @ 126, I agree with you about the Southwark Limitations, Peckham hasn’t had much sway in our drought for me either, I watched Pscore that penalty at a Friend’s birthday party in 2005, having moved from Walworth/Kennington in ’03.
Best I can swing for is Peckham Pulse Healthy Living Centre! 😛
AL: You are only partially correct…whilst its indisputable that H2H’s return has brought us more flair going forward and Tim’s move to sunny California has brought a certain ‘gravitas’ ..I can only believe that its really my “secret weapon” – which of course I can’t discuss publicly until AFTER St. Totteringham Day – that has made the real difference (0;
Wind @ 134 glad to see that you too are keeping The Arse south london fires burning too – apparently they’ll return this way when the transport links get sorted. Nice to see them doing OK in the interim.
And GT – your secret weapon – of course, it should’ve, should’ve been mentioned. And as i said on an earlier post, post your ’78 FAcup revelations – well, frankly, i don’t know what to think!?!?!
Zico @ 109 – I meant no offense, by the way 😉
I would jsut like to point out that resting the first team against Milan is the strategic equivalent of playing an individual game with passivity (with the handbrake on).
We all appreciate the team when the selection is aggressive, and the players play aggressively.
To not give our visitors a go at home (at least for the first 60 mins), to my mind, is a tacit statement of satisfaction with the status quo. The lack of belief that, for as poorly as we played in Italy, we have the talent to play that spectacularly at home.
All we have for the run-in is audacity. When we are not playing well, the players need to mask it with aggression. That audacity comes from playing with the knowledge that the boss believes in your quality and will not crucify you for a mistake. We should give them a chance for redemption.
The fastest horses are useless, if you don’t allow them to run.
It reminds me of the task Caesar faced at the Battle of Pharsalus v. Pompey. A week or so earlier, in a not so small engagement, Pompey’s men thrashed Caesar’s legions to within “an inch of their lives,” and many of Caesar’s vaunted legionnaires fled from the field in shame. Indeed, Pompey could well have ended Caesar’s career (and life) had he followed up on the advantage.
Pompey’s troops were well supplied and Caesar’s were starving. On to Pharsalus, and before the engagement, Caesar motivates his troops by, amongst other things, reminding them of the shame they felt after losing an earlier battle to Pompey. Caesar’s troops were clamoring for battle (not unlike RvP and Chezzer) – the result…well I think you know the result 😉
Let’s give it a go! Up the Arse!
BMBD.
Enjoying the drinks like never before this season.
This is good news re Arteta:
Arteta’s recovery has been swift and the player already has an eye on Arsenal’s next opponents in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.
“I want to be available for this Tuesday against Milan,” he added.
If we play a Carling Cup side against Milan, accepting the game is already lost, what does that do to our newly recovered ‘mental strength’?
Cheers AL , you gonna be at Villa , City ?
Bstrum – agree with you re the Milan match .
I’m sorry but I just don’t buy this “we cant risk any injuries” malarkey. If we adopt that attitude then these players would never train again let alone play . They are paid to play football , let ’em play . If they get injured , so be it . You can’t manage a team on ifs and buts . We have nothing to lose and everything to gain . Winning breeds winning , win the next game (even if we can’t manage 4) , and then think about the Newcastle game after that .
Play the A team for the first half and see where we’re at . Still 0-0 or we’re down , bring off the big guns . 2-0 up however , and at the very least Milan will be soiling their very expensive Designer underpants , and the risk of injuries was justified .
A word or two about our London neighbours . Watched the LWC’s today . Another game where Harry was horribly exposed . Modric on the left ? An Emperor with no clothes methinks . Just because ‘Arry can run a Fruit and Veg stall all the while singing Knees up Muvva Brown whilst playing keepy uppy with some jellied eels , does not an International Manager make .
As for the relentlessly appalling Peter Drury words fail me , I wish they did him . He decided very early on that his script would be that the LWC’s were playing some super stuff and that the Mancs had stolen it . It was a script that he stuck to , notwithstanding all evidence to the contrary . The LWC’s forced De Gea into one good save in the first half , and one good save early in the second .
As soon as the Mancs scored the second – (and from a defensive point of view you’d have to go a long way to see a worse goal , imagine the outcry had it been an Arsenal defender who had switched off in that way ) – there was only one Team in it .
Implosion beckons for the Tiny Totts , and I’m off to unpack the Bunting .
As for Chelski , one can only raise an eyebrow at the sheer crass stupidity of it all and the classless farce that that Club has become .
Putting all Club loyalties aside , I actually quite liked AVB . He was clearly intelligent , articulate and wanted to play football in the right way . Ranged against him were a cabal of over-the-hill players , and an owner who had neither the patience , the intelligence or the decency to back his man when the going got tough .
Abramovich paid approximately £15m to release AVB from Porto . He has presumably paid about £4/5 mill in wages to AVB , and will presumably have to pay another £15m approx to pay up AVB’s contract . £35m for 8 months work . Good Businessman my Arse ! Thank God we have not (as yet) gone down the same road .
Win Lose or Draw , They are a Joke of a Club .
Lonestar, I agree with you — I think not allowing the key players the chance to redeem their pride and enjoy a relatively pressure free home outing against a good European side might actually end up being a discouraging stance for the rest of the season. Why try so hard to qualify for the CL if we are not going to give it our all?
Unless any of them are in the proverbial ‘red zone’ we should start with the first eleven, and give it a real go. If we are not at least up by two goals in the first sixty minutes, take off the key players.
Starting with an inexperienced side against a very shrewd and well-organized Milan may also backfire in terms of Arsenal’s poor performance and result and the crowd will turn against the team and the momentum can be lost in the league as well.
Any time I sing from TaBS’ hymn sheet, I feel I MUST be correct.
Bring on the Rossoneri – let’s do ’em.
Drinks on the bar for whoever wants ’em. Lars, where’s that tab of yourn?
BMBD.
Cheers, Doctor 😉
BMBD.
AL: I was young and foolish in ’78 so that accounts for that Cup Final but the ‘secret weapon’ was in operation all through the early Wenger successes…I only remembered the formula after digging deep into my memory in the despair of the Milan/Sunderland debacle. Gladly since then I have been very disciplined and I must say that it has reaped dividends (0;
Tabs, I too think AVB conducted himself very well, if a little naively and sometimes bit too eager to express his point of view to the hyenas of press. He has a great managing career ahead of him and he may be able to look back at this time as crucial leaning experience.
The prospect of the Chelsea management reuniting back with their favorite clown and the consequent circus in English media looms large. But this time around would they be able to go on another shopping spree which is what, primarily, led to their prominence?
Oh, i’ll be there tabs “with tim flowers in my hair”
And chelski cluuub in crisiski – crasski as you says… (won’t do the ski thing here, as may be pushing it)
ps with tabs now – don’t rest ’em. For a bit at least give ’em a go – seriously, we’ve got to – no?
still baskingski!
GT – looking forward to St. Totts day to find out
Very funny summing up, goonerholic, and props to BtM as well.
And as for this…
“Just because ‘Arry can run a Fruit and Veg stall all the while singing Knees up Muvva Brown whilst playing keepy uppy with some jellied eels , does not an International Manager make”
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Hey Doctor Faustus. Just want to let you know that I am still enjoying your insights. Good job ..
P.S. from the other day…no Cricket for me…Football is my only religion (and a bit of LA Lakers when the spirit takes me)
@ tabs
Agree with this as well – “Putting all Club loyalties aside , I actually quite liked AVB . He was clearly intelligent , articulate and wanted to play football in the right way . Ranged against him were a cabal of over-the-hill players , and an owner who had neither the patience , the intelligence or the decency to back his man when the going got tough”
“Abramovich paid approximately £15m to release AVB from Porto . He has presumably paid about £4/5 mill in wages to AVB , and will presumably have to pay another £15m approx to pay up AVB’s contract . £35m for 8 months work . Good Businessman my Arse ! ”
This is what people do with money that they have not had to earn.
Dr @ 145: That was of course Le Boss’ problem for many years – being far too honest with the media. The cunts don’t want truth they just want a ‘sound bite’ so that they can make a sensationalist headline: “Whining Wenger Moaning Again”…AVB fell for that too…
Say what you like about SAF, when they piss him off he just tells them to piss off and boycotts interviews for a few weeks..
Evening all. Thanks again. You know why. Management in for another night but provided no reaction to her first food in a week she’ll be home tomorrow night.
Milan preview will therefore be another late one.
Some of you are changing my mind about what side to play.
GoonerTerry, thanks. 🙂
Growing up in a feverishly polytheistic culture, not only I battle with too many gods but also follow a large number of religions to be able to keep my days straight. 🙂
Have been meaning to ask a question to you and other old-time goners: in the pre-Wenger era (but for a time for which match videos are available in stores or in Youtube) which are the years when Arsenal played most aesthetically pleasing football, trophies or not? Just an attempt to educate myself about the history of the club.
FG / TABs: Could not agree more. Come the revolution in Russia – and Putin is out of power the People will go after the Oligarchs…we may have to wait but it will happen one day surely..then Abby boy will get what he deserves..(0;
“The People United will never be defeated!”
Good news ‘holic
And apropos of eff all – there’s an AVB lookie likeie comp on here at 1.15. Knew he reminded me of someone/something from somewhere. AVB for Austria Vienna – why not. Still basking
http://youtu.be/m9WdUgn0
Lonestar,
If I recall correctly, Crouch was playing for Pompey?
Dr F: Without doubt the early Wenger years produced the best football the world has ever seen – IMHO of course. Freddy, Pires, DB10, TH14 (or even Wrighty before him), PV4, Petit et al used to devastate teams inside the first 20-minutes…it was effective & beautiful at the same time…
Others may have a different opinion of course..
Comrade GT – we must always be careful about spreading socialist propaganda in this here fine establishment.
The streets are always watching/listening…I mean, you wouldn’t want to be characterized as a Daily Mail reader, would you? 😛
Many apologies TaBS, but I couldn’t resist that one. 😉
Glad for the good news, ‘Holic…here’s to continuing the positive trajectory.
BMBD.
Oops – won’t ‘ave it – sod Ultravox and Vienna – bring on Milan
BtM @ 156 –
Ha! A master of wit you are… 😀 I’m glad someone appreciated the historical diatribe.
Yes, I believe Suetonius commented on a particulary gangly individual present at the battle on Pompey’s side. He tripped and the resulting confusion led to the rout 😉
BMBD.
I’ll say it again… This Meelan team are nothing special.
(no idea how they’re top of Seria A)
Aliadière starts.
Campbell not (as usual, he doesn’t play much, hasn’t impressed much)
Holic , great to hear the good news re Mrs H . All the Best to you both .
I agree with Lonestar and Dr Faustus . Let’s get those hymn sheets out and start belting it out 🙂
Dr Faustus @145 -m Yep I think AVB will have a good career , if he still wishes to continue , bearing in mind Abramovich has made him seriously wealthy in 8 months . You’re right that the Circus beckons for it’s greatest Ringmaster . I think it will prove a mistake for both Club and Maureenho .
AL @146 🙂
Cheers FunGunner and agree with your conclusion @150 .
Lonestar @158 – 🙂
Villa gathering promises to be EPIC.
Indeed Ollie. We may need to fit a stomach pump in one of the carriages 😉
Haha
Tabs@140: “I actually quite liked AVB. He was clearly intelligent , articulate and wanted to play football in the right way.”
What was he doing at Chelsea in the first place then?
If the Special One does return to the bus stop in Fulham, it will only be to prove Abramovich was wrong to sack him the first time. Hardly the firmest foundation for an owner-manager relationship.
‘Holic: good to hear of the improvement of the Management. Best wishes that it continues, and speedily.
Lonestar it would be a stretch to classify the Daily Fail as a Socialist propaganda rag..but you are American and so don’t know that! (0;
AVB would make a fine successor to AW when that time comes, me thinks. Would it be too outrageous to suggest that Arsenal does something that happens in the corporate world, take him on as heir apparent with, say, a one season transitional overlap so he can get to know the club and vice versa before AW steps upstairs, or retires. The timing isn’t bad, as it happens. Or would that be too rational for the hire and fire, think about it afterwards world of club ownership?
Wasp@161: you are right, though they are wiley, and probably sufficiently so to smother the rampant attacking play we’ll need to overturn a four goal deficit. That said, we seem to be making a habit of come-from-behind wins of late…
Lorient sub, still no Campbell at 1-0 down.
I give up.
GT@169 – Touche, mon ami, touche! 😉
Ned@170 – you have read my mind. I very much like AvB. He is intellectually curious, passionate, and (best of all) audacious – I never could understand his sojourn with Chel$ki (aside from the Gazprom pounds). I think he would be a great understudy and a perfect replacement for AW in a year or two. His youth would be a good fit with ours.
That said, the fit makes so much sense that AvB will end up in Manchester. What with IPA’s incompetence and all…over to you Ivan.
BMBD.
Ha ha ha…great stuff TaBS @140! Regarding Maureen, got to forward this:
March 1 (Bloomberg) — The following is a roundup of stories from U.K. newspapers
“Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has no plans to manage his old club Chelsea, the Daily Mirror reported, citing a waitress in a London restaurant…”
So there you have it. The waitress has spoken. IMO, Mourinho will only go for the Arab money because he only takes on jobs where the decks are stacked: Chelsea right after they had set up the Russian money laundering operation, Inter when the other big La Liga teams had been docked points, Real Madrid when they were again committed to desperately spend money…
I only had to say it.
Now he comes on.
Ollie – you are a glutton for punishment, boss. 😉
BMBD.
Oops, obviously didn’t mean La Liga @174…
Ah, Holic, I may need to move to pastures older, where my musical references at least bang a gong.
All you youngsters around here probably think that Amen Corner is on a golf course somewhere and Andy Fairweather-Lowe is that little bald fat bloke who used to play inside left for Ipswich Town.
But wait. There’s still Clive! O’ Sweeper – Where art thou?
2 mins to go. Campbell has hardly touched the ball.
Oh what a day, nay, what a weekend! I am now at the hotel room, slightly (and by that I mean quite) drunk on beer and very, very happy. Earlyish flight over, watched MoTD while in the air, Heathrow Exepress to Paddington and then a taxi to the hotel where me and Elisabeth, a girl who is my friend but not my girlfriend, checked in and then immedieately turned around to take the tube down to Parsons Green to meet up with Martin (my mate that a few of you have met at the Tollie) and then down to Craven Cottage to see Fulham-Wolves. And fuck me, that was a cold and windy experience! Though I am not sure which was worse – the weather or the Wolves defense… 5-0 it ended, and then we headed off to try to find a pub with a tv. We had seen the final score up at Sportsdirect@StJames@MikeAshleysArse and wanted to see Looting Town lose as well to complete the weekend. We took the tube up to Notting Hill Gate and found a pub where at least we could get warm, but no footie on the telly so one pint and then we moved on. We walked towards Bayswater and as we walked past a hotel we saw a tv with the Spuds game on in the lobby. 1-0 to manure, which put a smile on our faces. We then found a pub with the game on, and it was 2-0! We only had time to order a round and then all the screens went black, but the sound was still on and we heard the third goal go in. Broad smiles all round and a near-perfect weekend of results was a fact. We hung around for another pint and then called it a day and now I am trying to stay awake lomg enough to catch MOTD2 to hear Harry Yappyapp blame everybody but himself. And after that I intend to sleep like a bloody log!
Think I may have been waffling on slightly incomprehensibly for long enough now, so goodnight all and see you later!
BtM @ 178 –
I have it on good authority that there are a myriad number of Amen Corners currently in existence: (1) Augusta National Golf Club and (2) in almost every African American church 😀
*I’ll be here all week*
BMBD.
Ned @170 – A good suggestion perhaps , though I’m hoping Arsene carries on until he’s eighty . Mind you , by then , AVB should have garnered enough experience ! 😉
Right , off to watch MOTD2 , which I have to say , I’m looking forward to immensely . LWC’s getting tonked , the North-East cousins kicking two shades of sh*t out of each other , and a nice little recap of RVP’s magnificence .
A quick heads up to all UK based Holics . BBC2 tonight straight after the football is a Documentary entitled “QPR , The Four Year Plan” . It is a behind the scenes look at Flavio Briatorre’s stewardship of the Club , and has garnered rave reviews .
Amongst the highlights promised is Flavio texting his manager during the Game as to the substitutions he required !! You get the flavour .
A salutary lesson as to what occurs when extreme wealth meets stupidity meets megalomania within the confines of a football club’s Boardroom .
For those Holics based on foreign shores , no doubt it will run on BBCi Player at some point .
Really nothing to report: Aliadière looks better than Campbell, but Lorient were abysmal anyway, especially in that second half, so context didn’t help.
Lars – Heh 🙂 Sounds like a very good day .
Doctor F
For my money the 90/91 side played some great attacking football….really good wing play and very tight defending. We only lost once all season in winning the title (at the bus top in Fulham) and that side would compare favourably with most recent Wenger models in my mind.
That team also had spirit in buckets – the sum of the parts not as impressive as the team ethos. One of my favourite seasons ever – it was sad to see the 87-91 team start to get broken up/age – Rocastle, Davis, Thomas, Limpar to name a few.
Stands out in my memory too as I went to every home match and most away games that season. I thought it would last forever (the dominance) and we did follow up with a cup double and European success and the George Graham was gone, Rioch served one season and you know the rest with that French chap….
1994-5 might have been as bad as we got….
apparently John Sitton being lined up to replace Pat Rice.
Who is this imposter “Dr F” and does he have any drugs?
On the debate regarding which team to play on Tuesday, if RvP gets so much as a broken fingernail, then I’m sending the boys round!
Duly noted, Dr. Z – I mean Dr. F…err, whatever moniker you answer to 😉 Duly noted.
Now have a drink with me to celebrate the most unlikely of comebacks since Rocky took down Drago…
BMBD.
Isn’t Drago the bad one in Harry Potter?
And there was only ever one Rocky…..
Just sayin 😉
AL @ 136, 😛
Lonestar @ 137, thanks for the history lesson 😉
tabs @ 140, excellent piece mate 🙂 Putting all club loyalties aside, I liked AVB as a manager, got to agree with you there, hopefully people will see the Chelsea manager job as what it is, a poisoned with crude oil chalice.
Dr Faustus, I wholeheartedly agree with GT @ 149, you get better and better mate 🙂
NBN @ 170, interesting thoughts, ones that I to a degree like 🙂 Wenger wants to pick his successor I think, AVB would make a worthy candidate potentially.
Lonestar @ 173, similar thoughts on AVB.
Lonestar @ 181, heh! 🙂 African-American Churches, good times 😛
tabs @ 182, I’m watching it now and loving every minute!!! 😀
ladyarse.co.uk/2012/03/exclusive-behind-the-scenes-at-the-chelsea-managers-initiation-ceremony/#
And this is an excellent article about Behind the Scenes at Stamford Bridge, the tri-speak made me start laughing uncontrollably for ages 😆
Italians are Hilarious.
QPR: The 4 Year Plan is showing me this.
Morning all.
Have been back drinking for what seems like a week.
Brill weekend. 3rd is there for the taking, didn’t think i’d be saying that a month ago.
I say full strength and go for it v Milan. Virtually a week off afterwards. 9 days off after that.
Best wishes to the management holic.
Where’s Steve T? Haven’t seen a post from him in this bar.
COYRRR’s 😀
See, Streaker on the Pitch in the Banana Hammock! Classic 🙂
No Steve T & No Clive’ The Sweeper’ Waterman for some time now indeed Mark…
Comes staggering down the pitch, hitching the ball centrally towards wind.
Feints to the left, heelchop to the right, bursts into the final third. Looks for Scruz around him…
Continues to stumble forward looking for space ahead.
Blasts it into the net!
Falls over after clipping it to wind for the goal, arms pumping the air!
Wheels away to find Scruz to celebrate, jumps on his back in front of the North Bank, and it goes wild 🙂
Congratulations Wind and Scruz…you two are nutters. Fabulous team effort for the goal.
Cheers, Wind. You are special, mate!
@196 – I think the Sweeper may have been “re-incarcerated.” 😉
Where you at, Snir? I hope your radio silence means you and your brothers (and perhaps your Dad) are sullying your reputations with strong drink and questionable women.
Shaft and Cannons have also been silent for a bit, hmmm?
Speaking of questionable – a joke:
God originally created woman with three breasts. Upon noticing the violation of symmetry, the Creator removed the middle breast. Eve, holding the aforementioned breast, questioned, “What the hell am I supposed to do with this here useless boob?” and *Poof* man was created.
*Where’s me coat?*
BMBD.
First – glad to hear the much better news ‘Holic.
Second – BtM “Robin wants to play and he wants to score”
Then score he will ‘cos he scores when he wants.
As for the team on Tuesday, I would go for the strongest team possible.
You don’t get tired when you’re winning – they all say so – and I have already paid out a non-returnable £100 on my season ticket !
I can do without Flappy, Squelchy, Djouey, Chammy and Parky thank-you very much.
Will be too late to make The Tollie but a definite for next Monday. Another reason to field our best team – they have practically a week to recover.
5 – 0 ? Come on REDS !!!
great win on the weekend,always good to win when the side does not play so well,RVP what can you say and Szezny showing what will be the norm in years to come.
tabs, it certainly was!
Agree with those that sympathise with AVB. Seems a decent chap and it gets even more ridiculous when you think about the fact that he was hired to rebuild the team.
As for tomorrow, I’d say play the strongest possible team without risking too much. I think I would rest RvP unless he is 100% fit, and as Trev says you don’t really get as tired if you keep winning. I think that even if we do go out, just winning the game itself would be good.
Trev, it’s not about having time to recover – we are one injury away from Squillaci or Chamakh for the run in.
Seems a no-brainer to me. Obviously in the minority.
Most on here seem to think that there is a chance, albeit an outside one, of winning this tie if we “have a go”. Cloud cuckoo land – we need to score 6 as I don’t see us keeping a clean sheet.
Anyway, Arsene will no doubt “respect the competition” and give you all what you want. I hope I am not on here on Wednesday saying “I told you so…..”
Just catching up on drinks after connect probs here
Amen corner – there is one just outside Bracknell – used to use it as a short cut to work when Andy FL was singing – now an isolated backwater stuck between 2 of the many roundabouts there as I remember
Delia belated Happy B’day – only 9 months til mine
‘Holic – good news re management – keep the pecker up
Re tomorrow, I will only be satisfied starting as strong a team as possible, just to show what we are capable of, then bring super sub Robin on to finish them off with 5 minutes of extra time to go
A.N. Other View From The Bridge – why not…
Below is an interesting article re AVB’s tenure in charge of the money-launderer’s wrecking ball of cash and general c*ntishness. Jury still out, maybes, as regards his coaching talent.
And I can’t help wondering at an apparently intelligent fellow appearing that eager to jump into a bed of shite with that lot, meself – at a time when many were suggesting he was coaching’s new next big thing, and so presumably he had choices. Arguably v suspect on the judgement front.
Assume he went there ‘cos they offered to drown him in dosh (as well as build ‘the project’) – they did that. Now he’s gone and i don’t feel too sorry for him meself. On a human level no-one wants to see someone fukked over – but then everyone who’s worked for ABM/chelski has been – soooo…there.
Now over to the next valueslite, greedy bastard willing to be shafted with Abramovich’s dirty money.
Ahem – i might be able to make meself available mr. Abramski, and i’m currently fourth in my fantasy football league – a european spot no-less. Plus i think me and fat frank would get on like a big neo-georgian (not that sort) mansion on fire.
http://gu.com/p/36v9h
Still basking!
Having backed both sides of the argument re the Milanotsoeasy tie – i fully intend to be back here on wednesday saying i told you so, mostly to meself
six nil zico? 4 nil and pens will do nicely thank you very much ;
And Lester, court jester.
Delighted to hear you’re around for Villa, AL.
There’ll be no room, nor cause for “I told you so’s” after tomorrow night.
I’ve got a feeling…
Regardless, everyone in this bar has, Aw’s, the lads, and each other’s backs – right?
I’m off…extremely long night in the office. I’ll be back in a couple hours.
BMBD.
Mark, don’t think I said six “nil” 😉
Pulling no-punches invoking the Squillachi principle Dr. Zee, shrewd positioning (you, not him – for sure).
But it’s still the champs league, and we’re still, just about, in it. So i reckon – on balance – the club will give it a go for a bit. You’re right we could yet live to roo (can’t remember how to spell roo) the day injury-wise, but AW was never the most pragmatic, plus they come across as a bit of a smug bunch of swede-pony-tail-and-iffy-beard-combo-led-wankers who just might be headed for a long overdue 5 nought whopping at our place – in my well-considered red-tinted opinion
If we pick up injuries to key players and go out – will that have been a price worth paying? No, almost certainly not. But at this point in time – before the fact/s – yer gotta give it a go – enchyer?
Cheers Dr. Zee @ 212 – can’t wait already. And to be honest am more excited, and certainly more expectant re the barcodes match-off, in the hope that the boys’ll set things up sweetly for the Villans (did someone mention a poss st. totts day. i know, i know that would be too, too much to ask – a foolish thought). See you there – sir – with pints aplenty.
more excited/expectant etc re barcodes than milan, i meant. now to eff orf – am getting too involved already, already.
I am in the “Give it a go” camp. At least for 60-70 minutes, play the first team if they are fit. I don’t believe we can overturn the deficit but a win against Milan at home will definitely be a real boost for the rest of the season
Having said that, if the likes of Arteta, TV5 are not fit, don’t risk further injury
I don’t think any of them would listen if Arsene told them to sit this one out as well 🙂
I predict an entertaining game, but we will concede. So the tie is impossible
@ 216
I think we have a game against Everton before Villa and after the Barcodes AL.
Glad to see you’re excited already though 😉
too true zico – i meant in terms of games what i myself will be hattending – though not hattending the milano match-up. hope that’s made that much more clearerer
and did folks get to see the bbc2 doc on qpr last night that tabs mentioned…
was never quite sure where i stood on the silent stan vs uzbeky stan front – due to a lack of any definitive info and being caught between two – ahem – stools, and all that. But after watching last night think i’d rather have a hands-off billionaire than a hands-on, firmly gripping the manager’s scrotal sack, type one
the premiership really seems to have become a kind of Dodge City for the ridiculously rich in some parts – where will it all en
In a “d” ?
no – a ? visual gag luv
*whoosh*
Excellent write ups ‘holic and BTM. Van Persie’s goal was a thing of beauty and great to see our keeper single handedly keep the opposition out. I want us to win on Tues to keep the momentum going but maybe best to let the kids out to play and enjoy themselves…
I feel if we finish 3rd and sign some quality players and players with character Rvp would probably stay and we can push on…
** Arteta, Benayoun, Diaby ruled out
** Rosicky doubtful for Milan clash
** Van Persie will start against AC Milan
** ‘If Milan can score four, so can we’
** Wenger – I feel sorry for Villas-Boas
** ‘Sczczesny is an outstanding talent’
** Wenger – We have to gamble against Milan
** Gibbs – It’s a chance to restore pride
We don’t have any midfielders fit!!!
Torn to bits re: tomorrow, just can’t see it happening I’m afraid. And yet, and yet…what if we went 2-0 up inside an hour? Stranger things have happened at sea. And on a football pitch.
It’s a strange one all right, Camberwell.
I’d be surprised if we kept a clean sheet though.
Exactly Ollie, I say sack it right off. I’m sure I’ll be pilloried for saying this, but the idea of beating them 4-0 is just dreamland.
I will have my tastiest hat and favourite condiments on hand when I watch the game though, just IN CASE the unthinkable happens.
…and in case you were wondering, Encona sauce and ketchup.
“Wenger – We have to gamble against Milan” @ 225
If we assume the stake is the £25million or so that we will lose out on if we don’t qualify for next seasons champions league, (and I won’t go into what that would do to RvP contract negotiations) the odds are about 20 to 1.
Based on our track record, the odds of picking up a significant injury we can ill afford, I suspect, are somewhat shorter.
“We have to gamble.”
Part of the reason we are in the (league) position we are in is because AW foolishly gambled with Santos in the qualifying stages.
Arsene is an even worse gambler than I am, and that’s saying something.
Sorry folks, I just don’t see it – we forfeited our right to gamble with our inept performance in the first leg.
Dr Zee: I almost agree with you…but the Santos ‘gamble’ was just Wenger’s mis-placed sense of fair play…he said in the aftermath of the injury and lost in the dead rubber to the Greeks that he wanted to play fair with the other teams – who still had a chance to qualify – by fielding a fairly strong side – and Santos, he also felt, needed games. In retrospect it was foolhardy to gamble on our only fit fullback but who can fault Le Boss’ sense of decency…This case is different: This is all about psychology…if he leaves the bogey of a heavy loss over the team just hanging there without giving them a chance to redeem themselves (especially if the team wants to have a go) then that trumps all other considerations..Have a go and go down in flames is infinitely better than skulking away with our tails between our legs when Milan comes to the Emirates..
btw god afternoon to you and other Holics in the bar…anything interesting happening? Better do some back drinking..
the real shame/pointlessness of the Santos thing was that we were already through – done and dusted, so there was actually nothing to gamble for.
Here i reckon it’s a bit different – not much maybe – as it’s still ‘only half-time’ – and i think the the Italians were starting to tire towards the end of the first-half.
But you’re right Dr. Zee a key injury would be calamitous and could do our champs league re-qualifying chances terrrible damage, and get AW awful stick from some quarters. Still, if he puts out a weakened team you can bet yer bollox them same quarters’ll still dish out the stick
if we win or go down fighting with a moreorless full side and pick up no big injuries it will have been the right decision – if we pick up injuries it won’t have been. who’d be a manager ay? Erm, apart from just about any of us given arf a chance/the experience and the expertise. And talking of chances plainly the maths don’t look good for us but…pi in the sky – i know
Sense of fair play – pffft….
Well someone really managed to convince me to work for them.
I wasn’t that fussed about doing the interview for a start, but that’s decided now.
With a little luck I may be involved with some UK work.
Otherwise, I may have to miss many Arsenal games over the next couple of seasons.
I’m with AL.
If I can get at least 4-0 against Milan on PES in 3 attempts I’ll let myself dream
Ollie @ 234
You should never let work get in the way of a good time
Dr Feelgood – 1986
Takes risks when he wants…
Takes risks when he wants…
Arsene Wenger, takes risks when he wants.
I hear you Zico. If we can’t field a full-strength midfield, then I don’t see much sense in putting RvP in danger. I guess that makes me a disciple of yourn now.
*I still believe we can do them*
Win the next match.
BMBD.
Heh, nice one, Zico.
Let’s just say that if I’m away far, travel will become EVEN MORE expensive.
Mind you if I save on expenses by not being at home, it might balance itself.
And then, of course, came Jamie Redknapp’s comments before that game, in which he called the decision to leave out his cousin and Cole as having “all the makings of managerial suicide”.
That’s clear then. However, Mediawatch can’t help noticing that – with both Lampard and Cole in the side – Chelsea lost to West Brom on Saturday.
Strange.
Hughes writes: ‘Villas-Boas’s treatment of Frank Lampard was equally bizarre, as Chelsea’s leading scorer has never been given an explanation for his repeated omission from the team…’
Firstly, we do despair slightly at the idea of a 33-year-old professional footballer being so very precious that they have to be given a lengthy briefing on their manager’s decision, and wonder why they can’t just do what the f**k they’re told.
Secondly, it’s a myth that Lampard has been ‘repeatedly’ omitted. Lampard has made 23 league appearances this season (20 starts) – only Petr Cech, Ashley Cole and Juan Mata have been in the team more frequently. He started games against Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle. Indeed, arguably the one big domestic game for which he was available and not picked was home to Manchester City. And Chelsea won that one, so that was hardly a managerial cock-up.
Hopefully, for his sake, the next manager will be sure to run everything past delicate Frank.
And more
Don’t let me talk myself into this but if the whupping of the LWCs happened after a dreadful week where it seemed we couldn’t even pass the salt at the dinner table, couldn’t keep a Custard Cream in a biscuit tin and had the cohesion of oil and water – is the unthinkable imp ossible?
Sherlock Holmes always told Dr Watson: “Never confuse the improbable with the impossible!” So we have to acknowledge that we COULD give them an unimaginable battering but will we? Just look at our defending at the start of The Battle of Monkey Ridge, one little slumber party like that and we’re not just dead and buried – our headstones are covered in moss and our wives have started new families.
Lonestar @ 203, thanks mate 🙂 And that’s a very funny take on the creation of man! 😛
The Sweeper, re-incarcerated? I don’t believe it… 8)
And @ 213, damn right! 🙂
Ollie @ 234, as long as you feel you’ve made the right decision, have no regrets 😉
Tim @ 185 — many thanks, I have seen a few footage of that team in youtube. I will hunt for DVDs if they are available on this side of the Atlantic.
Dr Feelgood @ 187 — the mere nomenclatural coincidence — and en entirely unintended one at that — doesn’t give the species the right to treat each other with such cynicism. As Arsene just said, let us not be skeptical. 🙂 About the moniker, think Goethe, think Mann…
zicoinexile — I fully agree playing Santos — and Vermi for that matter — in that meaningless away match for the sake of fair play was a very dangerous gamble that backfired. But not letting the top players get a chance to redeem their pride and prove themselves would be a hugely negative step. Players like RVP and Sagna and Vermaelen may then wonder what is the point of pushing so hard to qualify for the next year’s CL anyway? Even if we don’t make the improbable happen, if we can pull of a victory with a good performance then that would improve our confidence and courage for the rest of the season. We do need those two attributes as we cannot perform consistently at high quality with this team as has been evident.
Camberwell @ 242: You made me drop off my chair..that’s like the funniest post since Feelgood partially blew up his mansion (0;
Speaking of which: What bug has flown up Dr Zee’s ass? Since last week that bug has been going around..I got a touch..then Clive ‘The Sweeper’ Waterman before the Spuds (which it seems that he has yet to recover from) ..and now the venerable Dr Zee…must be that weak and insipid Bejan beer he seems to prefer..(0;
AL: Find myself agreeing with your every word these days – that’s some trick after last week. Read the ~Guardian article by my namesake and I must say that its a good read. Even some of the comments were good.
While I actually don’t give a shit about what happens to Chelsea, and feel somewhat vindicated by my stubborn refusal to criticize our own owner and management model…I can’t help feeling that the sacking of AVB is such a tragedy for young aspiring managers who are thinking of making a career at the House of Doom. Who the fuck will go there now? Plenty is the answer! Money makes us all whores…but Abramovich has set Chelsea up for failure. Wining & Dining his senior players on his yacht whilst failing to publicly back his managers has directly led to the undermining of several managers – even Moureen in the end. It seems as if he is a little star-struck. But what do I care? I hate the cunts anyway..(0;
Dr Faustus, I am aware of the literary association, but ask around, there is only one Dr F 😉
No one is going to change my mind on the other matter though.
I can see most disagree with me. For my part I’ll agree to disagree with you and anyone else who thinks playing for pride is worth a rat’s fart in comparison to the bigger picture.
Dr Zee: What’s a Rat’s Fart worth these days? just asking like..
GT – we aim to please! 😀
Dr Faustus: I recommend the DVD double set: Arsene Wenger’s Magic Hat. It tells the story of Arsenal’s 2001-2002 Double winning season. It includes the bonus feature of Boring, Boring Arsenal which charts the course of our 1997-198 Double Season is a must have for those long, long closed season months. You should be able to get it on Amazon..
I don’t think it’s about pride, Zico.
It’s about spirit, elan, initiative, audacity, even momentum…all those intangibles that we’ve been sorely lacking. It’s about giving the boys a chance to take the bit, step up to the plate, and try to set things right.
It’s also about avoiding the cold clarity of the rational calculus. I think everyone agrees that missing out on CL play would be catastrophic. But I think we’ve gotten to this point by playing without thinking of the odds or the consequences. his can, rightly, be viewed for good or ill – such is the tendancy of inflection points.
And, make no mistake about it, we are at an inflection point. St. Totteringham’s Day and third place are there for the TAKING. But the team has to go take it. Dare we show the temerity to reach beyond rational ideas and try to do something unprecedented in this return leg of the CL?
Or do we stand pat with what we have? Do we behave conservatively and shepherd our “strength?”
I’m not sure if this team has the maturity to be conservative. I think (or atleast, I thought – until I heard the injury news) this current team responds best to idealism. If we can field a full strength midfield, then let’s go for it.
Then again, I’ve been known to frequently wager all my chips on a drawing hand…IF (and what not).
BMBD.
Damn you, Wolfgang. How very dare you jump over Midnight Marauders in the HT League.
Where are my sequins? I need to be able to hear you sashe about.
BMBD.
Dr Zee: If you haven’t seen this its worth a watch. Hayley Wright is everything I look for in a woman: She’s good-looking, She is a Gooner; and she has a filthy mouth.. http://youtu.be/BnIMFTwmiCE
Anyway I am boycotting Goonerholic until AFTER the game tomorrow. Don’t ask me why you fackers because its just none of your business..
Wenger – Resting players is not an option
Well that’s made it clear.
GT @ 252 – she definitely is easy on the eyes and ears…lucky man who grasps her hand, indeed.
BMBD.
i just down arrowed through all of this
pausing only to adjust my hosiery and purchase poultry
Howdy ´holics.
Great weekend for the Arsenal, the mugging of the smashers was briliant, ´king Kenny complaining (well I think he was complaining, I can hardly understand a word that comes out of his north n south) made it all the sweeter. RvP once again the main man with two top notch strikes, but Woj was my pick of the bunch, some amazing saves coupled with the way he pulled Kos up after the own goal making him firm MotM for me.
With L´pool 10pts behind, the Geordies also obliged by dropping points in the Toon and Wierd derby, a couple of observations from that tie;
After watching the Toon-Weird derby I came to the following conclusions;
Lee Clatermole should of been sent off twice for that 1st minute challenge.
Tiote’s got a wobbly jaw, even though Sessignon (silly boy) did make contact with him, he fell to the floor in a fashion that even Suarez would of been proud of.
Jumpy O’Neill is a much better manager then Mrs Doubtfire Bruce,but he still needs to teach his players how to tackle cleanly.
Alan Pardew has also done a great job at Newcastle and I’d almost started to respect him, until he reminded me yesterday what a classless knobend he can be.
Bendtners crime fighting mask doesn’t really help conceal his true identity.
°°
The day was only getting sweeter as I watched ´apless ´arry´s team of pretenders get whacked by the deeply indebted. It´s all going pearshaped for those who find themselves on the rat infested end of the Seven Sisters Rd. Only 4 points behind you now Spuddies, be afraid, be very afraid.
The Chav´s had ofcourse surrendered 3 points to the Baggies the same day as we beat the bindippers, which spelt the end of the road for AvB. I agree with most above, he seemed like a decent enough chap. In search of success, ironically and hilarously, Chelsea have now gone from the Special One, to a guy who brought them to a CL final, to a World Cup winner, to a Champions League and domestic double winner, to an Europa League winner to the guy who got couldn’t cut it at W.B.A. Surely a lowpoint in their long and illustrious 8 year history.
If Rafa gets the job next, I’ll probably die laughing.
A round of beer for all you fine gooners.
GT @ 249, I am actually familiar with AW’s early days, starting to watch Arsenal with some interest when DB10 joined and then became a fan later. I do not have that particular DVD though and I will watch out for it. My original question was about any free-flowing Arsenal team in pre-AW years. Tim made some nice suggestions and I will hunt around.
zicoinexile @ 246 — it is not just pride for pride’s sake, not just hubris. It is about audacity and maintaining a momentum. There is no way the senior members of this squad will not lose their faith and confidence in Arsene if he tells them to stay out of this game. If you read RVP and Sagna and others, they really want to prove themselves after the catastrophe at Milan and if Arsene tells them to ‘save themselves’ they would have every right to think what for.
The outcomes in football are not logical, any team’s achievements in a season are not all due to the rational planning, and I think not playing the full strength team in this match would be a tacit admission of a lack of ‘enough’ quality from Arsense’s part which, however true it may be from a purely logical perspective, doesn’t inspire a group of football players.
Also, as for injury concerns, this is a home game at a familiar velvety pitch, and the likelihood of any injury is as much as in the next one against Newcastle.
Doctor Faustus knows.
So with all the injuries and the Boss’ divluging that he would start RVP and really go for the game (a position I and clearly most above agree with) would this be the line-up tomorrow
Woj
Bac Kos TV Gibbs
Song Rosicky AOC
Theo RVP Gervinho
I would be really exited to see the attacking potential of that group with Theo, AOC, and Gervinho running at the Italians from everywhich angle while the capitain finishes all the opportunities they will create with clinical precision.
dear sweet mother of all that’s good and holy in the world
there’s no danger of anyone puttin a word limit on their spleen vent
.
Bundoran’s Yer only Man
Personally, I think it’s a load of old bollocks (258).
I agree a player could get injured just as easily against Newcastle as against Milan. But I heard the same argument after Santos got crocked against the Greeks.
The point is the Greek game was meaningless – and this game is close to meaningless. Our defence conceded soft goals against the LWCs, could have lost quite a few against the Mickey Mousers had they the craft to put their chances away and indeed we have lost soft goals all season (feck we even managed to concede to Blackburn at home with their solitary effort on our goal).
I love Arsenal, and I love the way Arsene tries to get us to play the game. But the dream that so many seem to think possible requires us to be offensive AND watertight at the back, and the evidence in front of our eyes all season concerning the latter is there for all to see.
I’m past caring who knows and who doesn’t – I just don’t want to be lamenting another un-necessary injury on Wednesday morning.
I love the passion and the will to prove a point, but I have to say I’m in Zico’s camp on this one.
The CL basket is not where we should be placing our eggs, if we play offencively Milan will just do the Italian thing and shut up shop and try to pick us off on the counter.
We are now, after a hell of a lot of huffin’n’puffin’ the masters of our own destiny in the PL. We have a slight cushion at 4th and have the marshmen firmly in our sights because we’re on the ascendency and they’re in a rut.
I’d love to be wrong, but to pull back a four goal deficit against an Italian team maybe a bit too much to ask.
Evening Kev 😉
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I’m totally with zico on this one. Can you see us keeping a clean sheet? No, nor can I.
So how many goals are we going to score against that very impressive Milan team (no longer the ageing team that we and the LWCs humbled in recent seasons) that will sit back and hit us very effectively on the break?
I would love us to beat AC Milan 7-1 as I saw someone suggest on the Arses earlier today. I would love it if we turned that embarrassing defeat around.
However I am simply going to pray:
(1) that our key players survive intact,
(2) that we put in a performance that makes us forget the abject performance in the first leg
and
(3) that we achieve a fine victory to regain a bit of face.
A win that turns around the 0-4 deficit is as others have observed, improbable rather than impossible but I don’t think it’s worth crocking one more key player for that slim chance.
Evening All ,
Bearded , the Boss has hinted that he might play around with the formation tomorrow . Might be wrong but this suggests to me that he is toying with Chamakh coming in for Rosicky who is struggling with a knock , and playing the Captain in a more withdrawn role .
Dr Z @various – Good stuff above , but you haven’t convinced me 🙂 Any kind of win will build on momentum , irrespective of whether we ultimately go through (unlikely at best) . As for injuries , as others have mentioned , they can happen at any time , and fear of them is not in itself a reason not to at least give it a go .
AL @220 – That QPR documentary was extraordinary wasn’t it !! If the script had been presented as a comedy pilot , it would have been written off as too outlandish .
GT @231 – I don’t think the Santos “gamble” was merely a result of a misplaced sense of fair play . Santos still needed game time , he was still only on the cusp of fitness , and it was AW’s ill-fortune that the injury occurred in that game .
Ollie – Nice stuff from Mediawatch . 🙂
Camberwell @242 🙂
Lonestar @251 – The Speedo Massive were looking very good but were left to rue the Dempsey brace which re-established the lead at the top .
H2H and Dr Faustus – Nice stuff .
Nice little piece from the unlikely source of Radio 4 for some easy listening …
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01cvkc1/Fever_Pitched_Twenty_Years_On/