You Can’t…Be Serious
Jul 26th, 2012 by 'holic
It’s been a sunny day. I have been quaffing large quantities of Chilean merlot in the garden. It could be any day this week as the wettest drought on record has turned into something even hotter than an Indian summer. Now that isn’t strictly true. This couldn’t be any day this week for it is the eve of a pre-season friendly (cough) in China against Manchester City.
That means this is a dangerous post to have to write. The combination of heat, alcohol, and the opponents for this marketing opportunity means I may have difficulty avoiding the word that is contained within the town of Scunthorpe many times over. The meeting is a godsend to the journos packed off to Beijing to cover events. Mancini is pushed to comment on his club’s thus far unsatisfied tapping up of the Dutch bloke who has made his feelings about Arsenal abundantly clear. Surely he can’t do that, can he? I said can’t.
Mancini blames Brian Marwood, a former Arsenal employee now shovelling petro-dollars into his deep, deep pockets for failing to seal the deal for a player who is still under contract, lest we forget, at the Grove. He can’t do that, can he? I said can’t. Patrick Vieira, a former Arsenal employee now shovelling petro-dollars is on the blower to Marwood almost hourly one would imagine. “Can I announce his signing yet?” “No you can’t”. “What was that?” “I said can’t”.
It is something of a disappointment though that I will not learn the Chinese version (the bulk of the Chinese crowd are expected to be Arsenal supporters) of the latest incarnation of the KC and the Sunshine Band hit “Give it up”. Unfortunately, Samir Nasri can’t (I said can’t) be in Beijing as he has an appointment with the French Football Association after another summer of appalling behaviour by the former Arsenal employee now shovelling petro-dollars into his deep, deep, pockets.
That fact highlights the fact that both managers have weakened squads out for what one would have assumed would be pretty important pre-season preparations. It is very strange that we will have one match, in Cologne, to bed in the new boys before the serious Premiership business gets underway again. (Edit, a point made already I see by Amy Lawrence earlier today).
That can’t be right, can it? (I said can’t).
393 Responses to “You Can’t…Be Serious”
Arsenal News 24/7
1st?
top two?
heh, scunthorpe.
weakend squads on a friday. at least that’s al-citeh’s squad.
Heh Holic, very nice 🙂
What. The. Fuck. This article means nothing. I mean, seriously, it means nothing. It is simply the paranoid drunken ramblings of an idiot, mixed in with anti Man City chundering. What’s with the play on the word ‘can’t’? What are you trying to say? Please tell me. It is so nonsensical that it has made me weirdly curious.
Uhh, City haven’t spent a dime on transfers this window.. nor have they sold off anyone. Mancini is not happy about this — it’s not limited to his disappointment over RVP not getting done. There’s more to the world than AFC.
Good job Bib has got a Bib on account of all the dribble
It’s not an article pal. It’s a blog. Go read a proper journo if you want your sky blue testes tickled.
Oh my God, do you Arsenal fans never stop going on?
It’s not other clubs fault that any half decent players want to leave.
And stop going on like you’re ethically run – City take money (willingly) off the Sheikh, Arsenal rape it out of their own fans.
Bib,
You can’t.
You utter can’t.
Absolutely brilliant post ‘Holic.
It asks enough questions and is philosophical enough in nature to approach the level of Podi’s old team-mate Immanual K.
Some feckers seriously need to lighten up! That was well funny, thanks you drunken old soak. 🙂
Arsenal v Southampton tickets= £25.00
Oil City v Southampton tickets = £55.00
Yep, those sheiks really are soooo generous to the ordinary punters innit.
Tetchy these ex-Chelsea fans, ain’t they?
SM sounds a bright one.
jp, i guess they must have just given adebaywhore to the LWC’s, then? oh, wait, yeah, they did.
of the three anyway, tabs. too bad “manchester city” is going to be flung (like monkeyshit) around by newsnow to these can’ts.
I was going to respond to the cants above but realised I couldn’t top the acerbic response shown @ # 8.
Beers for all – payment via Stockholm. 8)
feeder club.
I was being a bit sarky Scruz 😉
Nothing in the title to suggest it’s got anything to do with the cants. Reckon they monitor all Gooner blogs.
The Cants are obsessed with us I tell ya, obsessed.
Hoho shadow dweller.
You are what is known in the trade as a plant, only in your case it wasn’t deep enough.
You can’t beat it…
Oh and a Joey as well. Gonna have to get the Industrial cleaners in tomorrow.
lol, tabs, i guess newsnow *would* bring the can’ts out of the woodwork. but i think they monitor based on the keywords or the text in the body.
‘holic @8 and 21, here’s another bottle of merlot for the cannons. thank lars.
@19,
Its THURSDAY!!!!!!!! Run along, its football time, hahahahahahahaha.
Oh my, several villages seem to be missing their idiots tonight.
Where have all the “can’t tell my bottom from my arm joint”s come from? And where have the gone?
*waves*
Nice one ‘holic
their all a bunch of can’ts
Oh dear, ‘Holic, seem to have hit a little nerve, don’t we ? 😉
The Poznan impersonators from the plastic club who live in the stadium that was even built for them by the council, are such a touchy bunch.
Wonder why ?
I think it was a point made by almost everyone, ‘holic.
The rain’s coming back soon so all will be back to normal soon.
*waves*
Brilliant response @8 by the way ‘H. 😉
Hello mrs 😉
Hope all is well.
Alright Trev? I think we will skip the punfest on this one. Let the imagination run riot but keep it there.
@Dexter – 26 Jul 2012 at 10:46 pm
You UTTER can’t ! How the Fek can you post about City ripping off punters for tickets…. you UTTER UTTER UTTER can’t.
I have two season tickets at the eti-stad ( home of the champions and best attacking team in the can’try) for me and my number one sprog. COMBINED cost £585. I’m now waiting for a gooner can’t to respond with the price they pay for a good middle tier pair of season tickets…… COME ON YOU CAN’TS lets have it.
Hello ‘holic. The Chilean Merlot produces good results! The new Guinness of the 2012-13 season? Just think what a Chilean Merlot binge can do for the ‘holic pound!!
tublu, yeah, you got us.
come back after a sustained run of 16 years in the champions league, another 10 titles, and five more fa cups, and see what your tickets cost. oh, wait, that’s right, you won’t, because manchester city, money though it has, current titleholders though it’s called, is still only the *second* best club in manchester…
Oh no, the cants are apparently allowed to breed as well!
Unbelievable.
@35 scruzgooner – are you saying a sustained run of winning fek all in the chumps league generating cash for your club is a reason for putting prices up ? please explain the logic. oh, and you forgot to mention how much your season ticket costs.
@36 takeabowson – really ? is that it ? your contempt for breeders smacks of clapham, is that where you’re to be found of a summewrs evening ?
nah, tublu, just that you’re a big mouth representing a small time team who struck the lottery. and that lottery money cannot buy class (as you so eagerly show), nor will it buy a sustained run of success.
i already said that you were right, those ticket prices can’t be beat…if you like watching can’ts among can’ts.
Tublu, why are you here? You need to go back to the bottom of the pond, mate.
You and your kind would be can’ts but you have neither the depth nor the capacity to give pleasure to others.
‘and that lottery money cannot buy class’. Neither can no money…the fan of the team who boos its own players (eboue), makes obscene chants at their manager and so on talking about class. yer fans are horrible when they aren’t sitting in silence at your library esque stadium.
Punfest ‘Holic ? Sorry, lost me there ?
Who knew ‘holic has so many admirers among the Citeh following? They’re just like termites coming out of the woodwork.
scuzgooner, another response with no facts, guess you don’t bother having a season ticket. i don’t understand the old ‘no class’ argument. what defines class in your world ? MCC member ? black 4×4 outside your mews ?
how about enlightening me on ‘small time team’ since you are a font of all that is wise. small time means what ? fewer league titles ? where does that pitch the mighty woolwich wanderers amongst the likes of Rangers, Celtic, Liverpool, Trafford town etc .
Maybe small time means attendance ? hmm no, that won’t work either, check out the record attendance for a league match in this country.
i understand your frustration of course, 7 years winless must be really hard to bear. i can’t imagine how my club would cope.
Yep, contempt, that’s it.
Oh and Joey’s back for more comedy.Haha.
Loads of time for you tublu. Well played. Must save you a fortune buying that cheap season ticket at the Council Ground as opposed to what it cost you to go to the bus stop in Fulham.
For a grand I get right next to the tunnel and seven cup ties paid for.
You cant’s haven’t played seven Champs League games yet, have you?
Does anyone have the foggiest what he’s bleating on about? No thought not.
i understand your frustration of course, 7 years winless must be really hard to bear. i can’t imagine how my club would cope.
The real Citeh supporters know what years more than that with fuckall feels like you dumbass can’t.
How is Surrey these days?
nicely done, bath.
and joespur, two things. first, learn to write in english. i am not sure what language that post was written in (must be some LWC-specific pidgin). you seem to imply that arsenal fans’ lack of class is shown by arsenal fans making obsene chants at their manager? uh, right.
and second, at least we don’t call other arsenal fans culturally derogatory names. how about you go play with tublu at the bottom of the pond, if you can climb that far out of the mud…you can call each other anything you wish.
hey, tublu, if you want FACTS, go troll on le groan…or wait for leg rash to show up, he’ll stuff a few right in your suppurating can’t…
yer fans are horrible when they aren’t sitting in silence at your library esque stadium
The same stadium you pathetic twats vacated half an hour from the end this season when you were ripped a new one one pal?
He just cited an attendance in 1934 to disprove present day accusations of smalltime!!!
Keep going son, this is comedy gold.
Blimey, the sewers must have exploded in Mancchester.
Feeling good about your lottery financed title lads ? Clearly not.
How many have landed here for a row before a pre-season friendly, for god’s sake ?
gh , for a grand you get to sit there on your own ? you are of course correct. We haven’t played 7 chumps league games yet ( do you actually enjoy those ? i’m really not that keen, portuguese divers, mad euro refs etc. incredible UEFA hypocrisy of heineken being the main sponsor but you can’t have a beer at the game, not for me) but we’ve won it the same number of times as you (does that make us equally classy?)
Any other City fans want to discuss trophy hauls?
How about another LWC? I really love you shadow dwellers…
Tublu. Class is defined by making one of the most attractive art deco stadiums in the thirties. Class is defined by winning three consecutive titles by playing counter attacking football. Class means not having a player who gives cash to tramps on the streets and prostitutes on the corner whilst his gf is pregnant. Class is not something you will ever know. Thanks for your understanding and I await your reply
Tabs, he thinks you’ve got no class.
Show him yer ermine lined Speedos. 😉
The only team to leave the stadium earlier than the Spuds.
Spoilt brats or what….
tublu, I really like you geezer. You stand up for your new team.
You will have seen me if you came across town to see the Arsenal v Citeh game this season.
I was one of the 57000 doing the Poznan 😉
Interestingly Citeh fans used to be reasonably civilised individuals who used to be capable of interesting discussions about football. Suddenly these reptiles in sky blue have appeared. They make manc scum look civilised. It’s almost a morality tale about the corrupting effects of filthy lucre.
As for the Spudz twat, what can you expect from vermin?
Most of this lot must be related to Joey Barton – judging by the way he sacrificed his team to let you lot win the league. 😉
Has anyone from Tottenham not realized the only reason they are not a feeder club for the likes of Chavski and Shitty are that historically their players aren’t good enough? Arsenal a feeder club? Do one. It’s not surprising we’re having interest and movement in world class players. I could spell out why the current financial state of world football impacts this, but I fear I don’t have the time or crayons to satisfactorily explain it to you.
Things change and with the new rules coming in, this ‘may’ be a thing of the past. One thing I do know, looking at the skip Spurs play in, even the new rules might not exactly help you compete with teams like us. The allocated money on our stadium and infrastructure is a long term commitment to the Arsenal fans, rather than the gusto of the chavs and mancs who have been at it like an ADD kid in a sweetshop. Short term marvelous, but honestly, can anyone in Manchester spell ‘Malaga’? Per$ is irresistible in this regard, being bright and shiny, but 10 Million a year? They can suck that and I bet that sweetie tastes sour all the way down.
Again, with all the nonsense and stick we’re getting over Van Per$ie they’re conveniently not talking about the issues Bale and Modric are they? Not for me to add ‘lol’ to that but anyway. Best thing they’ve had in years and interesting to see if those two, arguably the best thing they’ve had since, well forever are there come kick off.
I look forward to the new season, not just because it’s a new season, but because it’s another chance to cheer on the Arsenal, like my dad, his dad and his dad before him. Lest some forget, one player doesn’t make a club and its not only the players that kiss the badge.
Merlot? Awfully kind of you… don’t mind if I do.
armed with some FACTS, he returns.
gosh, yes, tublu@44:
all time, arsenal is third on the list with 13 league titles and 8 runners-up finishes (21 times first or second), behind manchester united (the *classy* team in manchester, and that’s saying something) and liverpool.
al-citeh? that’d be 13th on the list with 3 league titles and 3 runners-up finishes (6 times first or second). that’s behind (among others), get this, sheffield wednesday (in league titles, and they haven’t won the league since 1929-30) and wolverhampton wanderers (tied for league titles, but wolves have come in second twice more, last title in 1958-1959), and you’re in a tie with huddersfield town for both, and *they* haven’t won the league since 1925-26!
and in the premier league era, what does the all-time premier league table say? since your lottery winners have only played in 15 of its 20 seasons, it’s kinda tough to compare, but you’re in the top quarter…10th of the 45 clubs who have played in the premier league. and arsenal? 2nd. imagine that.
do you like apples? how’d’ya like *them* apples, blue-balled boy (taking from both “good will hunting” and our very own ‘holic, there).
Bath – that’s two pretty fine comments up there.
Bath is the man 😉
I try. Fueled on fine red wine tonight.
COYRs
Aristotle – great stuff !
Keeping my Speedoes firmly hitched up Trev 🙂
He doesn’t strike me as the sort to have a handle on the latest catwalk fashions 😉
Hopefully it will be time to walk the whippet soon. Reckon his chips’n gravy need digesting.
Son No.1 must be so proud of his troll father.
pints of the stuff, bath?
@67 🙂
It may have already been said but it appears certain can’ts know they’re being talked about.
Very nicely done Bath 🙂
Just a couple of bottles, courtesy of the Royal College. Need to rehydrate now to avert the morning headache. Nytol.
Seems this thread has arrived in the basement, not sure I want to join in with woolwich wanderers and spuds hatred. i’ll leave that to the experts. classy banana and racist songs at the eti-stad after adebarndoors goal by the way.
couple of responders seem to be assuming I’m a new blue… not sure where that came across, I bought my first season ticket in 1981 when we were truly sh1te. and I’ve never lived in laaarndon. I’m a city fan which almost invariably (up to now) makes me a manc.
You also missed the tongue in cheek reference to 7 long years without a trophy and how we would cope. I wonder how many of you can’ts will still be around if you have to wait for another 29 years for an FA cup or 37 years for a league title. bet you’d fit on a bus.
Yes!!! My club’s got a sugar daddy. Bout time. I’m going trolling baby…
Pretty good defensive work yourselves gentlemen. Nothing like an organised defence, eh?
Aristotle – Philosophy at its finest if you don’t mind me saying.
@73 – don’t confuse us with Chavski fans.
awww, tublu, how about telling us all your thoughts on those facts you asked for i posted?
or is that the “long wait” you think we won’t take? would take, but won’t need to…
Quite right tublu. I would never have followed my shower of shit through two trophy droughts of seventeen and sixteen years. Glory hunting can’t me…
1981 – He’s a baby !!!
I saw Summerbee, Lee, Bell, Doyle, Marsh et al.
They were all cants too led by that cant Allison.
Joe Mercer was a great bloke though, I’ll give you that.
I think some of us know the tongue in cheek joke but just didn’t laugh tublu. As for your calling our argument touch a level of basement level, that’s rather disingenuous. I think many of us have made valid points but you’ve resorted to belittling them.
Do trolls actually turn blue in the face and if so does this explain tublu?… discuss 🙂
Blue Loon, he’s always standing alone …
@62&78 scruzgooner – you sound like a trafford fan. Why would we care about what you’ve won in the past ? they constantly sign off with champi9ns and I really don’t get it. I’m honestly not interested in other clubs, even ones that had their own little adventure with filthy lucre and financial doping to bump up the trophy count, cant.
of course you lot were more classy than just the financial doping, you managed a dodgy league election as well. nice job, top-classy almost.
@80 tabs, I said first season ticket 1981. I saw all of those players as well, i also saw some of them on May 13th taking part in a classy ceremony where the club involved past players in a bit of a hand-over, very nice.
Nah cants among cants. End of.
“honestly not interested in other clubs…”
and, yet, you’re here. what tabs said.
Tublu, how about gillingham in the play offs and the dodgy ref? City fans always forget thAt one
81 Les, i didn’t respond to your earlier post cos i didn’t have a strong opinion on much of it. yes library ( are we allowed to call it that or is that considered trolling ?) was a nice stadium. Yes you played nice football, we’re told, not watched a pathe news reel recently. someone earlier had a bit of a blurt about me harking back to 1934 but it’s ok for you ??
Don’t come the ‘class’ argument with mario cos he poked a prossy. don’t you have a statue of Tony Adams outside your rather swish new stadium ? wasn’t he prisoner 876478647865 at one time ?
You’re clearly interested enough in Arsenal to be trolling on an Arsenal website.
Condemned by your own words.
I have zero interest on ever going on a Shitty website.
Yup Tony went to jail. And won four titles. One more than your total then?
Joey Barton (cough)
can’t.
89 tabs, have you heard of news agregators ? I’m only here because this appears on newsnow man city search, apparently because a bunch of classy woolwich (where IS that by the way?) fans were having a bleat about my club.
Good Lord, I haven’t seen this much sense since Blackadder stuck a couple of pencils up his hooter.
Wibble wabble wibble wabble.
‘Bout time you disappeared then Wibble boy.
Heaven forbid Citeh ever move across the city from Maine Road.
Then those Woolwich jibes will hurt.
Can’t.
anyhow I’m off now, I’ve quite enjoyed this, some intelligent input (and not all from me) on here. i may come back next time you’re talking about my team. night john boy.
tublu, how about these names, ring any bells?
kelvin etuhu, joseph anthony barton, ched evans? assault, assault (among others), and rape?
And get the council to fund it.
Cant.
…and we are not in a council house, Andy.
ooh, nearly missed @95 both andy gorams. We moved BACK to where we started. don’t comment without a bit of research, can make you look a complete can’t. 😉
Thank fuck.
I knew that whippet would shit on your carpet eventually.
Night Wibble boy.
Nice one holic.
I’ve got a gooner mate who peddles Chilean plonk, actually very good Chilean wine and I know how difficult it is to string words together after a tasting (?).
To be precise I can’t speak too highly of your post
With the help of the Council.
Cant.
Thought you’d gone Wibble boy?
You started in a stadium paid for by public money.
‘Kinell. You really are taking the piss. Fair play pal 😉
Thanks Les 🙂
Good craic tonight.
The difference between a blog and an article.
G’night all. Even you tublu 😉
oh fek, will it never end. @97 scruzgooner. I never said all of our ex players were saints. i simply pointed out that slagging balotelli off for some very minor infractions was a tad hypocritical when you all prostrate yourselves at the feet of a bronze tony adams (hasn’t lost a yard of pace).
and FFS using a tired old trafford town ‘council house’ jibe should be beneath you lot. facts are inconvenient little buggers aren’t they. city offered to buy the stadium, the city council declined because we pay more than the stadium is worth over the duration of the contract. The council take 50% of the revenue of ticket sales over the capacity of Maine Rd. they’re happy , we’re happy, be happy for us.
“I’m only here because this appears on newsnow man city search, apparently because a bunch of classy woolwich (where IS that by the way?) fans were having a bleat about my club.”
And he promotes their cause so well. 🙂
You really can’t make this stuff up can you. Thick cant.
Oh Geez is Wibble still here?
Contempt is turning to concern. Are you having a nervous breakdown?
Can’t you get the medication cant?
Tublu might want to look up the record attendance at a league game as well before shooting his mouth off….yes, it was Maine Road.
The attendance was 83,260.
The match was played on 17th January 1948.
It was a game between…wait for it…Manchester…I said WAIT FOR IT…United…and..
Arsenal.
That’s right – the record attendance for a football league match in England is held by Maine Road…for a Man Utd / Arsenal match.
Right…I’ll get me coat. Or go to bed. One of the two. Suggest you do the same, Tublu…
heh, funny, that. tublu, no one mentioned balotelli, except you @88&106. and it was *you* brought up tony adams as evidence of our lack of class…and now poor tublu, you can’t drink the lees of the glass you poured yourself.
goodnight, can’t.
i’m really leaving now. enjoyed most of it (the exceptions know who they are :o( ), look forward to another meeting soon ( after we spank your sorry arses (can you see what i did there ) in the birds nest thing later today maybe). I used to like arsenal but you’re all a bit mean now. I had some very happy memories (when my team was sh1t) of you nicking FA cups off trafford ( i tried to grow an alan sunderland perm in homage) on several ocaisions and a rather splendid smash and grab at anfield.
good night all, and both of you Andys
If there’s anythink inheritedly wrong with spending a billion bloody quid or four of someone elsie’s ripped off tanners on a bunch of greedy bleedin’ bastard, already ridickulously rich footballers and the slippery coat hangers on that cling to there top hats and tails, so that titles can be stowed away upon us like so much unearned, undeserved, hollow, shallow, shitty, oilly, greasy, mucky, sticky stolen swag – then i’ve not noticed nowt and neither ‘as no-one that knows me neither – so there. Makes me lowd and prowd to call meself a no-nonsense northern knitwit/numbnut/knobhead – it does. BLOOMING FACT! In ma bleedin’ opinion!!! To call it any other way amounts to a great big steaming pile of stinking bloody pigs bollox – it does!!! Now where did ah put that egg, bacon and chippy butty
More goodbyes than Carlos Tevez, young Wibble.
FFS rhyle, do you really think that’s NEWS ? CANT. you’ll find a higher attendance than that and it doesn’t include our tennants ( we were busy saving them from extinction after Uwes’s grandad bombed old trafford) We bailed them out of the shit on several ocaisions, there wouldn’t be a trafford town if it wasn’t for Manchester City. but I guess you knew that as well didn’t you.
I defect a certain style @112 🙂
Nope…the only attendance at Maine Road higher than that was in a 1934 FA Cup game. Try again…
Another Goodbye @114 My moneys on another 3 (at least)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMFHs5-22kM
@110 scruzgooner – read @56 Les .
One!
A tad cheap maybes – but then they’re worth it…adidas amigos!!!
Citeh’s two heaviest home defeats in the Premiership were inflicted by Arsenal. Just saying.
Option 1 – sell out to corporate suits who flog your club around the world and don’t give the tiniest shit about history, tradition etc., build a frankly horrendously ugly new stadium with no personality whatsoever, 5 years later realise that you need to pay lipservice to tradition and erect 3 hideous and hilariously made statues, print some names on the side of the ground and sellotape a clock to a metal girder. Watch and make grand and hypocritical ethical statements as this now becomes the model for others to follow.
Option 2 – find one of a handful of individuals sufficiently remorseless to steal a nation’s wealth for his own personal enjoyment, get him to piss it away into a football club he has never heard of, in a country he doesn’t know, and watch him stroll around as people lick his boots and say ‘yes, sir’. Watch as said individual dies/is arrested/is overthrown/loses all his money, and the football club ceases to exist.
Not sure where ‘class’ comes into it. This is football.
you gooners are becoming even more bitter than the rags.
try pointing the finger at the reasons your players want to leave, not the clubs they leave to.
@ Limpar’s Wand: Seriously?!?!
None of the preceding long-winded drivel by the various clueless Mancs & LWC’s offended me as much as your asinine comments above. What the fuck are you drinking dude?
Sheeeeeeiit…
Just wasted 40 minutes backdrinking the inane comments Merc Shiteh Sheikh trolls.
Let me make a final tally:
Manchester v London…I’ll take London.
Antifootball v actual attacking verve… I’ll take the verve.
Splashing cash willy-nilly v spending what you earn…ok, I’d take the cash splashing – I won’t begrudge you that one.
But all you trolls who you are, and you know who we are… and, if you are really honest with yourself…really honest, you know you’d rather be us. (To think there was a time when I actually tolerated citizens…bah, rubbish.)
FACT.
Just remember, the Super-Ego lives large, but the Id remains.
I can’t even be arsed with the Spuds.
BMBD
@ 88 Why are you not celebrating your skipper’s new six year contract at citeh instead of bashing Arsenals greatest of all time, Tony Adams. Now to celebrate Mr Adams, here are some of my favorite quotes from The Man himself. “I will sign every contract Arsenal put in front of me without reading it.” and “Play for the name on the front of the shirt, and they’ll remember the name on the back.” and then there’s this one, kinda sums up Tony best “My parents gave me the greatest gift I could have wished for and thats fight. I’m a fighter, knock me down and I get up again…”. Well played Tony, you earned that statue and a place in my heart.
Lonestar: Funny you should say the following..
“Splashing cash willy-nilly v spending what you earn…ok, I’d take the cash splashing – I won’t begrudge you that one”.
Here’s is an interesting blog about a time when it was the Arse who were the dirty rotten bastards flashing their money around:
http://www.7amkickoff.com/
What goes around come around 😎
Holic has been in fine form dealing with these can’ts, lottery winners and pond dwellers. Comedy gold! He didn’t even need any of the other holics’ assistance. Well played Guv. You had me rolling on the floor.
Holic, Enjoyed the bit about Nasri (chuckles). Funny though how I remember things…in the Euros, when England played France, Samir accidentally knocked the OX down and immediately went over to him and helped him up, patting him on the back. He’s still got a bit of a hold on me, I’m afraid. Bad-tempered rug rat that he is.
Cracking post mate and gutted I missed out on the antics. Fucking sad maine line wankers. Never got near us in fucking years. Now they dangle their bling from a council house window and claim to have a heritage. Never liked Citeh and certainly never belonged to the ‘they aint united so they’re all right’ camp, but they never really bothered me that much, cos I like said the cunts never showed at our place. Met a squad of ’em on holiday in Rimini in 84. One of ’em had a kid’s rubber ring shaped like a duck, on his head. With MUNICH written on it. Suppose we should n’t be too surprised at the lack of braincells.
Nice post ‘holic
..and of course cracking rebukes by Baff, holic and tabs! I don’t understand these can’ts, why go trolling on other clubs’ blogs?
Ha ha, Esso…priceless!
I’m with you ABB, I still kind of like the chinless wonder. I don’t even feel too bad about that Dutch bloke.
Still angry that Spanish bloke, however. But what can you do with cants… g’nite all
BTW, its another FFF. Fuck off Shitty.
BMBD
What a depressing round of drinks to encounter, first thing.
Have sent for some industrial-strength disinfectant.
Wow yet another arsenal blog bleating about city, there’s one on newsnow nearly every day, I used to think you were a classy club, you now seem like a bunch proper whiners!
You lads really can’t, I said can’t (I’m guessing that passes for humour down your way), be so bitter bout becoming our feeder club, you’re board and shareholders are loving it – embrace the petrodollar lads!
Oh, I can’t believe it!
Seriously, what is it that makes people go onto a blog of a team they don’t support and expect all to bow before them? Yes yes yes, newsnow and all that but surely the name “goonerholic” must be a bit of a hint for non-Arsenal supporters?
This was a rather depressing set of drinks, to be honest. Let’s go back to not feeding the trolls, shall we?
Day shift troll repelers. On deck! NOW!
Guess it all just means that we have to add Mancini’s mob to the anyone but list…..
We’re bound to be infested after the match report of the friendly (whoever does it) is posted, as well.
A bit of judicious deleting of the trolls wouldn’t go amiss, howsabout it, H?
Oh for fucks sake…. You drunken idiots are bleeding fantastic… You other ones fuck off… As the moniker says (even the Dutchman) IF YOU DONT WANT TO BE HERE LEAVE!
I’m Arsenal til I die
Arsenal til I die
I know I am
I’m sure I am
Arsenal til I die
Ah spoilsports! 🙂
Lars and Dr Z are just peeved they missed it 😉
Not really tabs,
Normally I catch up with the late night drinks (and get a laugh) on the way to work.
The above was fairly bereft of humour imo, and not even the Reverend donning fancy dress was enough to lighten the tone.
It’s hardly a fair fight either – taking on the remedial class and calling it sport 😉
Oh FFS.
What is it?
National Plankton Day?
City fans.
I am sure there will be a few more in here today. Even though I really loved the slugging in here earlier, I just need to approach this from a different angle. Now, I am going to post something I’ve posted earlier, in the latter stages of last seasons, so some parts might feel a bit out of place in this discussion but I still feel it’s quite valid.
To sum up what it was about it was about Arsenal inviting Usmanov on the board and letting him funnel money into the club, much as the situation you got going on.
I do not expect you all to agree with my views on the world, nor do I expect every single Arsenal fan to be with me on this, but this is my take on why your club has become something hideous, and why I feel for you, because I promise, and I don’t just say this, I really wouldn’t want to be a City supporter at the moment. And I hope you can see the truth in that, at least that I actually feel this way, when you have read it. Some parts are above Usmanov, some are about Abramovich. Some are about the Sheikh. All could be about your owners.
Happy reading.
——————————————————-
I wouldn’t like to gamble with the club in that way economically, but for me there is also another side to it. I’m not a big fan of the mega rich. I don’t like it that we have a world that allows for those to exist. I don’t know if we could stop it, I don’t know if it is a good idea, but I know I don’t like it.
I know that “rich” and “poor” means something only when you compare them. I do know that if you doubled the fortunes of every person on this earth, the only thing that would change is that the prices of everything should be double. There isn’t an endless supply of money, if so, money wouldn’t mean anything. That means that for one person to be filthy rich is for others to be filthy poor.
The only reason for Usmanov to have 18.1 billion dollars is because other people don’t have them. You think the working conditions that Metalloinvest allows Gazprom workers are good enough?
People have been mistreated and probably died for Usmanov to have his 18.1 billion dollars and I do not want those money going to overpaid mercenaries wearing the Arsenal shirt. I don’t want us even being near that money. I want him out of the club. Now I do not think that Kroenke is a saint, and much of the same applies to him, but in my (perhaps narrow minded) universe Usmanov is the greatest villain here and I’ll start taking a stand against him.
Now, call me a communist all you like, I don’t consider myself that far out on the scale at all, far from it, but the money going into the pockets of the people on the top 100 rich list are insane and I don’t think the world is better for it. There has to be boundaries on what is acceptable.
I do not want our club to be part of the connection that funnels funds out from Russian workers backs and to the pockets of the Nasris of this world. I’d rather us play in League 2. And I really mean that.
Our club is funded on principles and taking care of people and that has to stretch further than the pitch and the borough.
For me being self sustaining is also a way to lessen the impact of money going from people who haven’t earned the money in the first place to people who don’t deserve it in the second. “Yes” I can hear you say, “but wouldn’t that mean that WE have to pay for everything with our salaries instead?” Why, yes it would. And proudly. Do not scream for huge sums from investors. That isn’t pretend money even if the sums sound surreal. It is real money that could be used for other things than inflating the footballing bubble even more and making agents rich.
I can not for the life of me understand how Abramovich is laughed at in the papers when he throws money on his pet club. I cannot understand how they see him as erratic and funny. They shouldn’t be writing footballing articles about him, the should be writing financial articles about him and do some proper digging. And the people taking his money as wages, full well understanding where it comes from, should be ashamed.
Fuck it. I’m fed up. Missing out on Champions League? I’d miss out on it ten times in a row to not be owned by Abramovich. My worst fear isn’t waking up and hearing that RvP have signed for Barcelona. My worst fear is waking up and reading that we are about to sell our shares to somebody who have blood on his hands. I’ll support the Arsenal through the leagues, I could not bring myself to watching the games, us having players on the field, payed for by someone like Roman.
Never forget that people like him, and don’t get me started on Manchester City and their owners, are affecting real peoples life, controlling waste corporations and running dictatorships. This is real. Nothing is made up. This is where the money comes from.
Just never let Arsenal end up in the hands of someone like that. Please.
——————————————————-
Now, as I said, I don’t expect you lot to agree, and I’m not saying we’ve been complete saints throughout our history (we’ve had a manager or two getting fired because of earning some extra money on the side for one) but what you are doing is really affecting many more people than the football affects.
You’ve become part of a big part of what makes the world unbearable for millions of people getting mistreated and I can’t for a second see how you can be proud of that.
Puritan!
Oops, sorry forgot the 😉
144 and 145 was to Dr Z 😉
Toby,your article was an excellent read first time round and loses nothing on second reading.
Great stuff.I fear however that The Blue Loons just won’t get it.
Esso 🙂
For anyone reading my 142 – it was in response to a LWC who has been subsequently launched.
The Trollminator has struck!
No sex, no drugs, no wine, no women,
No fun, no sin, no you, no wonder it’s dark.
It’s enough to turn a Doctor, Japanese.
Haha 🙂
Everything under control.
Vaporising gun at the ready!
Come and ave a go if you think you’re hard enough 😎
I am a bit of a puritan myself I realise after reading my post at @143 again…
Anyway, isn’t it time for a drink soon? I hear we’ve got a game against some Mansour XI in just a few hours.
Toby @143
Fine post, I’ll support those sentiments.
That tublu sure took a long time to find the exit.
Who’s scribbling the match report today?
takeascoopson?
bath @ 153
Speaking from experience, it’s not as easy as it looks 😉
Morning!
Did I miss anything??!! 🙂
Now then, Arsene´s comments overnight are interesting… new formation?
Discuss…. or not. As you see fit. I´m not too fussed really. Need to be more assertive my psychologist tells me. Perhaps. What do you think? 🙂
Like Zico I have just caught up on the train into work. Tublu? What a boy. First season ticket in 1981. Bless him. Second one in 2008.
I undetstand the Citeh boys playing with their knobs a bit and getting excited. But they have to realise that despite their council abode that nowadays all they are is s franchise. Nothing more than a posh KFC. It does not matter how much you throw at the place. That is all it is.
Class???? Really???? You can put lipstick on a pig……… It’s still a Fucking pig.
Not me Dr Z .
I imagine The Guv is taking an extended lunch break?
Toby, charge the drinks to my tab as usual. And as tabs said, great post the first time round and equally great this time.
Only one point though: all filthy rich aren’t scumbags, far from it. Many do give enormous amounts away to help the less fortunate.
There are ways to curb the power of money in the game, but as long as FIFA/UEFA are in the hands of criminals (yes, criminals – taking bungs is a rather serious crime) we’ll never get there. It would, I am quite convinced, in fact be rather easy:
1) Stricter limits on squad sizes. 22 (or something similar) senior players in a squad and if you have 22 and want to buy a new one you must sell one (not loan him out, sell) first or buy him out of his contract.
2) Reduce the number of subs to two per game and no more than four players on the bench in a single game.
This would make it virtually impossible to hoard players Man City-stylee, and it would bring the wages and transfer fees down. And it would, above all, spread the top talent across more clubs which would make for a more competitive league.
Morning Mr C.
Dr Z @155 🙂
Good thinking Toby. Let’s get the Bloody Marys in, easy on the green. Talking of which, where is H2H? Is he building another Bar?
SteveT 🙂 Lipstick and a pair of Gold earings. Still a fuckin’ pig!
Halfday innit 😉
Great post Lars.I would also add no loans for the U-23s.
Sorry that should have read no loans OTHER THAN the U-23s.
Excellent Guv 🙂
Seems The Guvnor has been reading Sian’s blog. Innit.
Lars, I absolutely agree that not all filthy rich are scumbags. My point is rather that I think the system that lets people become filthy rich is the problem. As I started out the post, since money is finite, for somebody to be filthy rich, someone else has to be filthy poor and I’m not fond of that balance. I have no problem with some people earning ten times more than somebody else, if they actually provide something good for humanity by their actions, I just can’t see the point of some people earning tens of thousand times more than others, even if they are nice chaps. There just isn’t any point in it. I think it is inhumane.
I’m not one to scream for a total end for capitalism (even if I’m getting closer and closer to that sentiment during the present world climate). Rather, I just want people to take notice, look at the world for what it really is and at least acknowledge that we do have some problems in the world. We might not be able to solve them overnight, and some bads we might just have to live with. But we shouldn’t encourage these bads to become a bigger part of football than they already is.
So please, City fans, stop putting Sheikh headwear when going to football games, celebrating that you are getting money from somebody who is a member of the ruling family in a country that in the CIA World Factbook is listed with truths such as:
Suffrage: none
Political parties and leaders: none; political parties are not allowed
I think it is twisted and I fucking want it to stop.
Ps. Oh and speaking about having shitloads of money, thanks for the drinks Lars. I’ll have a few since you have the wallet open. And Messi, if you please. Ds.
Heh, tabs@163/4 – I did originally have a passage about that as well but realized that if you have to sell players when the squad is full then no-one would want to loan anybody out anyway. I assume that very few clubs would have squads that aren’t full, and in any case clubs like City/Chelsea etc would never have squad places to spare.
Catalan: I think 4-4-2 would be interesting. I’ve never bought the “4-4-2 is dead” line, people have been saying that for 25 years and I still haven’t heard of any funeral.
Lipstick on a pig.
Last time I used that phrase I couldn’t open my left eye for three days.
You wouldn’t like her when she’s angry….
Toby… Money is finite? Says who?
Gold or other commodoties are finite, hence their worth. But money is just a concept. If one man is a millionaire it doesn´t mean that another has to be poor
It is infinite. Like love. Like the universe.
*sits back and tokes on his early morning present from PiK*
CG, I don’t know if I am to answer seriously or not, but I think I’ll go with something in between.
Money isn’t finite per se. It, as you say, is only a concept. But the simple truth remains – If everybody got their salaries doubled, everyone wouldn’t be twice as rich, prices would just be twice as high. The truth is somewhere in between, of course, the two concepts that money are finite or infinite. But still, you know what I mean, so I won’t go on like you meant it as a serious discussion. Just wanted to clarify it, mostly for the sky blues that might be lingering. The modern economy is a hard thing to grasp, and I’ve noticed it is even harder for people with an unlimited amount of money to realise how it actually works.
The lesson is for them, not for you mate.
So if we were to play 442 with our present personnel, would it look something like this?:
Szzccs
Sagna
TV5
Kos
Gibbs
Theo
Song
Arteta
Flipper / Santos
Giroud
Podolski
With injuries, Poldi can move out wide to accomodate Theo playing off Giroud, which is the only way I can see hijm working as a “striker”
If Chamakh stays then this would suit him much better if he comes on to sub for Giroud.
Add a fit Diaby, LJW and a newly signed Cazorla and then we can really start mixing it around.
Nice to have the options, at least.
Toby
No worries – I was merely provoking philosphical debate. Which you answered succintly!
*passes dooby to Toby. Sips on an H2H breakfast special*
PS Toby. Never. Ever. Take me seriously. 😉
Money is infinite?
Best get me a bigger briefcase. 8)
No mention of Oxlade Chamberlain @ 172?
Second season syndrome?
Heh, CG, I know, it’s just that this is kind of a sensitive subject to me. That there are actual people that come here and try to suggest that us not yet having made Ashburton our home to a hundred percent is a bigger crime than accepting money from dictators to further the fortunes of people running around in blue shirts kicking a ball about. I love football and I love having a good ol’ row over which team is the bestest but this is beyond that and that the citizens aren’t standing on the barricades over this is unbelievable. Now, they probably don’t need my endorsement but if they did at least I would applaud them if they win the league again.
Financial doping is one thing, but winning the league with blood money is another. But I guess I would keep my eyes closed as well was my club taken over by rulers of countries who won’t let their population vote.
Erhm.
I really need to cool down and talk about the possible 4-4-2 instead, right?
I’m like the Snir of football economics. It’s easy to wind me up over it.
Oh and if you are reading this, Snir, nothing meant by it, I absolutely admire your passion when you get worked up over a perceived (most of the times true) betrayal.
🙂
Zico.
Think Ox will be its option off the bench and in case of injury. Don’t think he would get into that starting XI. Yet.
Good to hear that Aaron looked good when he came on yesterday. Back to his best would be great for us.
Well… Left midfield maybe?
Toby. Informed passionate debate is what makes this bar so addictive.
That and the CMC.
@ 179, right.
Your thoughts, (being a local), on Cazorla?
Ha! Seeing as how I was about to ask what Sahin is like as a player, I think you can gather that beyond Barca I know pretty much fuck all about La Liga. Other than it is dull.
So, Sahin anyone?? Attacking? Defensive?
On me head Sahin!
I’ll get me coat.
Apparently CM. Snir no doubt will give a full report. #IKN
Makes sense with Jack, Rosicky, Diaby injury doubts and no Yossi (*sniff*)
Lars @168 – But you would still have to loan the kids out surely?
Obviously not to Man City, Chelsea, but to likes of Bolton,Cardiff,Watford et al as we have done in the past.Would Wilshere have made it at Arsenal without that initial loan period at Bolton? Probably, but his chances would have been significantly lessened. Those less talented than Wilshire (Coq?) wouldn’t get near the first team without the benefit of a loan.
The one out one in policy is an interesting concept but would it work in practice. Wouldn’t the end result be that Clubs would only offer one year contracts (save for the very best of players), for fear of having a lot of players they can’t offload, and that every summer there will be an auction for almost everybody.
Net result might be that players end up playing for 9 or 10 Clubs as the norm, and that any attachment to individual players becomes a thing of the past?
Not arguing that the above would occur. Just interested in your hypothetical new rules and how you think it would pan out.
Cracking bit of back-drinking that.
Hilarious the blue trolls that drag their knuckles over here so they can do their best to wind us up with vulgar, childish boasting of titles and money. When we pulled their shorts down at the Ems and spanked their bare bums red raw, where did I go to celebrate? HERE, with like-minded people celebrating the same thing, not to a Man City blog to gloat over the vanquished – it’s the kind of behaviour that’s on a par with that of the kid at primary school who brings in his brand new Millenium Falcon on ‘bring your toy’ day at the end of term; and doesn’t play with it with his mates, he takes it over to the nippers he dislikes, shoves it in their faces and taunts them about it.
I still remember kids like that and even at the age of 7 I was above that kind of conduct. In fact this very topic would make a cracking blog post, hint hint, I’d love to hear someone’s reasoned take on it.
Right, now that I’ve contributed can I start setting myself up for a shameless self-assist on the double C? 😀
Either Theo or Gervinho playing as central striker in the first half. Interesting…
Santos… is there any position he can´t play?? Actually, does he understand the concept of “position”??
Love him! 🙂
Dear Robin
In: Poldi, Ollie, Sahin (prob), Cazorla (hopefully).
Which begs the question; just which direction were you hoping the club would move in, exactly?
Turnip.
By the way folks…How did arsenal.com choose Frank Stubbs, did they set up a competition to find ‘The Blandest, Least Interesting Blog On The Internet’?
Anyway… all pie in the sky until anything confirmed by Pravda.
Now for the guys who are actually playing for us today…..
Up the Arse!
Oh and CG, that reminds me (sorry, I’ve suddenly got verbal diarrhoea after keeping my mouth shut for weeks – while still reading blog + comments)…
It’s actually a relief not to read updates on each time Robin takes a piss three times a day at the mo, but I do wish he’d be a good egg and, you know, hurry up and f*ck off. It’s starting to get on my tits a bit and making me a tad nervous about pre-season prep being disturbed by a wantaway gold digger.
Team looks alright. I have no idea how the midfield will work with that attack, but it will be interesting.
This midfield is probably what we will start our season with, isn’t it? Arteta and Song are pretty much nailed on, and with Rosicky and Wilshere out and Ox not there yet, I would guess it is between Ramsey and Diaby, and Diaby has more experience and also will have trained with the team more than Ramsey being at the Olliympics.
I never used to mind Arsenal fans and I’m sure the majority of them are still decent enough people but some of the pontificating on here is pathetic, not to mention downright hypocritical. Some of you moan about the ethics of Sheikh Mansour but when are Arsenal going to be punished for their wonderfully ethical owner Henry Norris colluding with football league chairman John McKenna in order to gain Arsenal a place in the top flight, despite only finishing 5th in Division 2, nearly a century ago? Not only that, but Norris’s cash then went on to poach the best manager of the time, Herbert Chapman, from the best club in the country at the time, Huddersfield Town and this in turn led to Arsenal taking over the mantle of being the most successful club in the country. That’s as clear an example of “buying success” as anything that Mansour or Abramovich has done. Oh, and let’s not get started on Danny Fiszman’s not inconsiderable cash injection in the 1990’s – even Tony Adams alludes to this as giving Arsenal a better chance of competing with the top clubs in the transfer market.
Some of you seriously need to get a grip and learn about your own club’s history before spouting about others.
coffee half down, computer on table, iPhone on lap, ready fir some arsenal @ 5 am…
howard Webb? at least we got sian massey, too.
Bored at work, sneakily fired up the ARseplayer.
Howard Fucking Webb? Jaysus, don’t they have local refs?
I wonder if he’ll manage to fuck us up in this friendly as well.
Outside of the boot flick to his team mate…
if theo’s wanting a raise, perhaps he should use this preseason to show why he is deserving of one?
Boom!
http://bit.ly/PQdzNX
Sneaky-Shaolin-poacher-warrior-style.
Well in Toby
Nice, Toby.
Song looking really off today so far.
Cheers!
And oh, M18CTID, we’ll have a chat about it after the game mate! But, instead of calling me (since it’s mostly me that has been going on about the money here I guess it is me you refer to) hypocritical, you should see that I did write “I am not saying we’ve been saints all the time.” There is nothing hypocritical about it. I know what we’ve done, and I know that of some things I do not approve. It’s just that you do it in a way that is bigger, badder and frankly, worse way, for people OUTSIDE of football and that for me is the problem. But I’d gladly have a proper chat about it after the game if you’re willing to keep the discussion on this level. You seem to have your facts straight.
I just want you to think about this in the meantime – do you really believe it is enough to say “other has done the same” if you think something is bad? The 50m that Fiszman injected in AFC probably came from his diamond business. I do not know if his business was clean. Diamond businesses don’t have the reputation of being clean. But 50m was quite a bit of money then, but is still nowhere near what is being spent now from certain clubs, not just MC. Point being. Even if other clubs have had money input from shady characters (not conceding Fiszman was one, haven’t researched him well enough yet) before, is that reason enough for you to accept money from a dictator?
In short – are you proud of the money you are getting from that man? Do you want it to continue even if you know how he gets the money? That is the question. If you can answer that truthfully we have the basis for a discussion.
Anyway, enjoy the game!
We are really shooting like we mean it today.
meh.
All in all, a good first half. We’ve made some good runs, kind of miss someone to finish the moves, but we’ve got our three best forwards at home. Other than that, it has just showed what we already knew, that Jenks and Walcott isn’t that good combination. Yet. We have a few more games before the start of the season, and since those two are probably the ones to get the chance out there they have to work on it for a bit. We look much more solid with Sagna and Theo out there.
But, yeah, good half, and it seems like we are starting to get into some kind of shape. Except for Song, but we all know what he can do, just not his day today.
Back to work for me. 🙁
Thought we looked good for the most part. Their second was offside.
Love Santos – what a spirit.
Diaby doing well. I love Arsenal, I do !
Reasonable Half – gave as good as we got for 40 mins. Defensive failings gave ’em two soppy goals in the last 5.
Gervinho looked pretty sharp I thought.
City are just such villainous cunts, it justs pours out of their very core.Comical. The Premier League should make them all wear Dick Dastardly moustaches.
Even their bloody bench is all ex-Arsenal. Kidd, Platt, Marwood.
Jokers. 🙁
By the way has anyone seen a City shirt in the crowd? Thought not.
Just a parochial Club,one step up from Wigan, several steps down from Wigan.
ahem … several steps down from Preston North End 🙂
Oh and Stewart Robson makes your ears bleed and your brain ache.
What a cant!
Toby, regardless of the politics of Abu Dhabi, as far as I know there is nothing underhanded in how Sheikh Mansour has made his money. Would I like to live under a dictatorship? Not really, but I’d hardly put the rulers of Abu Dhabi up there with, say, Adolf Hitler and by all accounts the standard of living of your average Abu Dhabi resident isn’t too bad at all. Personally, I’d say our previous owner Dr Death (Thaksin Shinawatra) was a considerably more unsavoury character. And besides, Sheikh Mansour does business with plenty of well respected Western organisations – if he was really such an odious character would they deal with him? And without trying to sound facetious here, if the Sheikh’s money is so “dirty” then why have Arsenal FC trousered the thick end of £70 million of it since the summer of 2009?
I’ll also add that this isn’t just about investing huge sums of money into the playing side of Manchester City FC. He’s also investing in the whole infrastructure of the club and the local area and as someone who lives in East Manchester I can assure you that the place is a total dump that is in desperate need of regeneration. Serious question here mate – what’s so unpalatable about that?
As for Fiszman, I wasn’t suggesting he used “dirty” money to invest in Arsenal – my point was highlighting the fact that outside cash from a rich benefactor was used to strengthen the club. It was in response to those that accuse City of buying success while ignoring that their own clubs have benefitted from a rich owner or benefactor at some point. I’ve no interest in how Danny Fiszman went about his business and made his fortune and in any case, anyone investing their money in a football club should be lauded rather than criticised. That’s always been my opinion and it goes back long before City lucked out with the ADUG takeover 2008.
At the end of the day Toby, you and I are football fans that follow our club first and foremost regardless of who the owner, manager, and players are. Morals and ethics don’t come into the minds of the vast majority of football fans when it comes to supporting their team. I never asked to be saddled with 20 years of Peter Swales’ embarrassing chairmanship just like I never asked for us to sign a whole load of awful players down the years or dare I say it, owned by a cash-rich Emirati who has made the dreams of many long-standing fans come true.
Thought SR had been binned?
Anyway, enjoy the second half mate – I’m sorry we’re winning 2-0 lol. I’m checking the stream on our official website every now and then but I’m also supposed to be working as well so can’t be seen to take the “p” too much!
*Decent City fan found shock horror! *
Fair play, and good debating.
A pint for you, M18CTID. And one for Toby too (did you ever pass back that Dooby?) 😉
I sense you’re speaking too early, Dr C.
I still don’t see any appeal in posting on other club’s blogs.
People are strange.
Actually 2-0 half-time in a pre-season friendly and coming on even for a mild gloat sounds Spurs-like level of decency to me in fact….
Oh I didn’t see there was a 215. I’ll focus back on work, sorry 😛
I’d say accumulating wealth in a country where your family rules the entire country and nobody can say anything about it IS an underhand way of making money. There is a reason why people ruling and making laws aren’t allowed to do real business in democracies. Not saying that it works perfectly and that there isn’t a lot that needs changing over here but saying “It’s not Hitler” isn’t that good a defence in my book. You can be quite a few shades nicer than that bloke and still be a tad dubious.
But I do agree with you that Shinawatra wasn’t that nice a character.
I really mean this, it is great that investment is going into East Manchester. I have no problem with that per se. My problem is rather in my belief that the money is the money of the people of the UAE and that I find it unpalpatable that Mansour sees it as his right to spend enormous sums of it on whatever he wants, be it East Manchester or Nasri’s agent. In the end, for me, it really is down to how the money was made. A bit of financial doping will always be in the game if we don’t change quite a lot around in the rulebook, but when all the signs are that the money comes from people that in one way or another has had other people suffer for their fortunes spends it on something as silly as footballers, it just winds me up.
Which leads me into my other point. No I do not think that people spending the money in a football club should be lauded. I do not think football has been made more enjoyable for it. I believe that money should be invested in several other things before it is invested in football. I believe football will be just fine anyway.
And of course you are right that morals and ethics don’t come into the minds of the vast majority of football fans. I just think that is a shame, because I believe that those parts are integral parts of football, just as it has always been an integral part of any myth of valiance and victory. It really helps the dramaturgy and also, frankly, it also helps real people if you conduct yourself in a proper way. I would not want my football to be payed for by people on the other end of the globe, and on their broken backs.
Having that said, again, it is great that Man City is taking care of it’s neighbourhood. Arsenal does that as well. I just wish that the reach for conducting in an ethical way would be a bit more global. By all clubs, not just yours.
So I guess what I am saying is that football is making me sick. It’s like the Gentlemen Clubs of old. A place where people can induldge in whatever they want without being disturbed by reality, and I can’t see eye to eye with that. That my anger is mostly directed at your club at the moment is because right now you are the worst perpetrators when it comes to accepting that kind of money and that kind of system in football, which I really think the fans should protest against. So, I have no problem with your club in general, but I can’t see how you can just shrug and say “I don’t care how they get their money.” Because how they get their money will be connected to your club and now you represent that. Especially since you seem to be a nice bloke (or blokette, you shouldn’t assume).
And as Catalan says, well played this far M18, I hope you understand that if something I say comes across a bit harsh it’s down to frustration with the world and people in general and not you.
On to the game. Good game this far. Quite a even first half, our right hand side hasn’t played more than a few games together earlier and really need to get their act together before the new season starts. I would say we have been the better team in the second half, but you lot still look dangerous. I’d be surprised if there aren’t a goal or two left in this game.
Re: Tabs @212. Not a City shirt in the crowd? I guess they are thinking local, not global then?
Mr C. Sorry. I needed it to be able to write that long a post. I’ll pay for and roll the next one and make sure it stays with you a little longer.
zico, I’m listening on ARseradio (can’t have the scren on), doesn’t sound like SR to me. Maybe he works for ESPN and someone’s watching on that?
Toby. You more than earned it! Impressive posting!
http://www.arsenal.com/arsenalvmancitylive
Stephen Hughes then? Sounds a bit like Jackster.
I was hoping he’d make it at Arsenal all those years ago.
Ollie,
That probably explains it.
2 parties deserving of each other 😉
Toby, I agree with a lot of what you say but with regards to the issue of spending money that arguably belongs to the people of the UAE, what needs to be understood is that the wider picture is that the Sheikh and his family are investing in various businesses across the globe so as to raise the profile of Abu Dhabi, particularly when the oil runs out so it could be argued that the benefits for future generations of the citizens of Abu Dhabi will be very beneficial as a result. The Manchester City “project” (actually I hate the word project hence I’ve stuck it in inverted commas) is only a very small part of this but the long-term aim is to use the club as a vehicle to promote some of Abu Dhabi’s businesses while at the same time it promotes City as a club. The Etihad sponsorship deal is a case in point – people scoffed when it was announced but I think it’s fair to argue that even at this early stage the profile of the airline has been raised as a result of City winning the Premier League and the profile of the club has been raised by having Etihad’s name on the player’s shirts, the stadium, and the rest of the land that the club owns.
In an ideal world football clubs would still comprise wholly of players drawn from the local area and owned by local businessmen but that ship has sailed a long time ago and everything about top level football is now global. Indeed, your own club are in the throes of a possible power struggle where both incumbents are foreign.
Also, just to clarify mate – as for me lauding people who invest money in football clubs, I fully agree that there are other things that are far more deserving of investment but I meant it in the context of people who take money out of football clubs. I might not like our red neighbours but I find it disgraceful that the Glazers have taken circa £500 million out of the club since 2005.
Heh at Citeh practicing timewasting subs in friendlies….
Right, what have we learned?
I’d say two things:
1) Man City really has a mean water polo defence.
2) We’ve had some good players out there today. I’m feeling quite positive for the new season. Some good running, gunning and passing today. If we can either get Sagna back quick or get Jenks and Theo as a duo defending as well as attacking and if either Giroud or Podi hits the ground running, I think it will be an exciting season. And that’s not even mentioning players like Jack coming back. Oxlade was immense today, really looking forward to seeing him grow this season. Good game, and well done to City for finishing off two of the counters they got on the left. Looking forward to the first competitive game against them this season.
liked the play, liked the spirit, and the newcomers, in general. miquel for bartley made the difference, and eisfeld looks for real. le coq, too.
but for a bad 5 minutes, we outplayed, or played them on par.
Na$ri suspended for 3 games (with France, not £ity).
Some good points there M18, I confess. It’s always a fine balance when it comes to dictatorships saying they want to make the transition to something more modern and saying they, as a country, aren’t ready for it yet. In your view, what they are doing is actually preparing themselves for that day. I’m still not convinced and the times that has actually happened as promised through history are quite few. Most of the time power has been wrestled away from the rulers who just has too much to lose by letting go. I’m still not sure of their intentions and I still can’t stand how it is effecting both the world game and people all over the world (now, dragging in people like Abramovich, who of course, you don’t need to answer for). I am still seeing people that unfairly are ruling their country, getting an unfair business advantage, using an unfair amount of money to get an unfair advantage to promote the long term status quo of the current situation. But I am open to the suggestion that they are, in some wierd way, want to do some good in the end. I’d just rather they gave men and women the right to vote instead, see?
As you suggest Arsenal is in a bit of a fix regarding this at the moment, which I wrote about in the long post that started all this, where I at length discussed Usmanov. I hope that he won’t any more power over my club, because that I would oppose, even if he did throw money to Wenger.
I really did not want to bring this to the level of how the game works in a global world, for me, the game is past the point of no return when it comes to globalisation and just signing players from your area. So for me, what is important now is to cling to other things. When you are losing your local character you must stand for something else.
I think Arsenals way of standing for good ethics, taking care of people from the borough but also taking care of people all around in the world, promoting charities from Haiti to Chernobyl is a good way forward. To stand for giving and not taking. That I am proud of. Of course, my club makes mistakes, and sometimes doesn’t conduct ourselves properly, but it feels like we are trying to do it at even the most trying times. This I really respect. This for me is important for it is the one constant in the world of football that is left. What your club stands for. What the badge means. Players come and go. So do owners and managers. Even fans. But I am just very happy that Arsenal this far has chosen a way to navigate into the future that resonates with me.
And I think we are meaning the same thing now when talking about people “investing in football” so I won’t disagree with you anymore regarding that.
Thanks for the game, as I said earlier, looking forward to the next one.
If Giroud or Poldi hit the ground running, how long do you think they will be out?
I’m here all week 😛
M18CTID,
Blimey a half decent post from clearly a half decent City fan.I was beginning to worry that you were an endangered species. Anyway, worthy of more than the short shrift given to your trolling mates last night.
A debate about “clean” and “dirty” money is a good one, but I don’t know enough about Abu Dhabi to really expand on both your and Toby’s posts save to say that the diversion of funds from a State in which many still live below the poverty line to enable one football Club to steal a march on other football Clubs is amoral at best.
To my mind, however, that debate misses the crucial point as to why City are held in such contempt by all, outside parts of Manchester and probably Chelsea. At the end of the day, we are all football fans, and the influx of unearned cash at City in such vast and extraordinary amounts as to render any comparisons with Fizman’s initial investment in Arsenal meaningless (paid back by the way), has so skewed the market that the future of other football clubs (not Arsenal thankfully) is precarious at best in their race to keep up.
At its end, and it will come to an end you know, when the Sheik loses interest or has his nose put out of joint at some perceived slight, or dies, or considers that the job is done, your Club will probably be no more. Might be years away , but at some point, the baton handed down from City father to City son will be at an end. Think about that for a moment.
I know it, the Bundesliga knows it and the rest of the football world knows it. I suspect even you, in your heart of hearts know it otherwise you wouldn’t be here on an Arsenal blog trying so very hard to convince us otherwise.
And not forgetting Manchester is a DUMP!
In the end, what I am saying is I would like City supporters, as well as Arsenal supporters, to use their moral compass as well and realise the effect football but also the people controlling football has on the world and to demand answers and fair play. Not just for football as a sport but also when it comes to the money going into football.
Just as you don’t accept a player that doesn’t try hard enough for the shirt, just as you don’t accept a manager that can’t find a style of play that suits what you stand for, you shouldn’t accept owners that you can’t stand for.
And even if it might well turn out the Sheikh is the nicest man alive, I would demand some answers and not just accept the money without asking questions first. That, in essence is what makes me mad. The complete ignorance some supporters (some of them Arsenal) shows when it comes to what they are prepared to lose for just winning some silverware. And you can always sacrifice what is yours, but that some people are prepared to sacrifice other peoples well-being for some piece of metal makes me sad. It’s disheartening to see how quick questions like these fly out the window when someone shows up with a bag of money.
And this is even without even touching on the points TABS mentioned, which I, as a football fan if not a human being, is very angry with as well. I have just tried to keep my part of the discussion away from those values as they have been well documented by others and succinctly presented again now by TABS. It riles me up, and the combination, well, it really makes Man City unbearable for me. That’s just how it is. And I guess how it should be. Doesn’t mean I can’t stand any citizens though. As previously said, you seem to be one of the proper ones.
Oh, and cheers Zico! Since I’m being the polite and diplomatic one today I’m glad someone is upholding the time honoured tradition of just trading some good old insults. Football needs that as well as a moral compass.
Thank fuck for zico, short and to the point.
I really can’t be arsed reading long posts right now 😀
I love your honesty Ollie. Honesty is pretty much what I ask for in the long posts. See, I gave you a summary just there!
Enjoyed the game. By far the best side in the second half, though City might have added to their lead with the odd breakaway.
Jenks and Gibbs had good games. Miquel very impressive in his natural position. I can’t see the Ox being kept out of the side by Theo for anything but the very very short term. How his shot that rattled the inside of both posts stayed out I’ll never know. Chamakh had a tidy second half, and Aneke had another good little cameo at the end.
Good work out and some very encouraging signs despite what Stewart Cuntchops says (he was on ESPN Dr Z).
Great to see the whole stadium rooting for Arsenal. They knew enough to distinguish the goodies from the baddies in this little drama.
Something from Mediawatch:
The Charlie Sale ‘Lack Of Self-Awareness Award
Writes Martin Samuel in the comment section of The Daily Mail:
‘Can the moaning now stop? Not the moaning about the Olympics. The moaning about the moaning. The constant caterwauling drivel of people so up themselves they presume to tell the rest of the country what to think, say and feel over the next two weeks.’
I liked the bit about the National Anthem furthe up in the same page too.
By the way , beautiful and polite touch from the Arse to have the names of the players and sponsors written in Chinese on their shirts.
A touch of class way beyond the understanding of our filthy-rich opponents.
So: what zico said at 228 😉
I will be using my moral compass very shortly.
It always steers me toward Magnetic North *
*Must remember to tell the landlord about the name change for the pub*
Nice stuff Toby.
Right, off to start practising for The Opening Ceremony Drinking Game 😎
Hah, Zico, you’ve soon earned a yellow for consistent professional foul-punning. This is your final warning.
Magic. Recorded the game on V+, but the brains of the operation turned the fucking thing off at the wall 🙁
Oh well. Report tomorrow then …
Afternoon Holics
Pity about the score, balls lost in mid-field and young full backs caught out of position .
I thought we played some great football ,particularly in the second half but with City putting 10 men behind the ball and relying on the counter attack, we found it impossible to break them down.
There was plenty of enterprise in shots from the edge of the box, with their keeper pulling off a number of excellent saves. AOC was very unlucky with his effort that came off both posts and the youngsters who came on in the second half showed promise.
What we didn’t have was the artist who could thread through the “killer pass” from the edge of the box to a lethal striker. Whether we have either back at the training ground ,working on their fitness, is debatable. I dare say there are signings in the pipeline but a “Cesc” clone is needed to turn our possession into goals!
I am pretty optimistic that we can make a good showing in the PL and CL this coming season and can’t wait for 18th August. To keep me going I’m off to the Olympic 1/4 final at Wembley on Saturday week and will of course be wearing my Szczesny shirt!
As always COYRs ( my 60th season as a Gooner)
@ 246
Wait for me!
Don’t need a compass – I need a Roxpass. 😀
RIGHT THAT IS IT ZICO. YELLOW!
‘holic, in the words of the Neighbour (who, shall I say it again, sounds like Stephen Hughes): FFS!
Stop YELLing, Toby.
Right, I’ll stop hOLLIEring.
‘Holic:
http://rapidgator.net/file/28102140/First_Half_-_Friendly_-_Man_City_v._Arsenal_-_27-07-12.avi.html
http://rapidgator.net/file/28106226/Second_Half_-_Friendly_-_Man_City_v._Arsenal_-_27-07-12.avi.html
Heh, good work, Toby.
What time do the Ollimpics start?
Anyway I’m off.
Thank you Cantor. That is great. Looks like the free downloads take a while, but at least I won’t have to wait until tomorrow now.
Cheers,
‘holic.
Ollimpics, heh 😀
Hang on
Arsenal have played today.
Reportedly signed a good player (if only on loan) from (one) of his other teams, Real Madrid.
And we´ve not heard a peep out of Snir.
Told you something weird was going on. Did you listen to me? Ooooh no….
Main Event in the Ollimpics?
Drinking triathlon of beer, wine and hard stuff. 😉
Nobody at all on the road, Hooray!
@ 260
On YOUR watch too.
Questions are sure to be asked. 😐
I believe that security is Carlos´responsibility?
Ok, back in the bar after having been otherwise engaged all afternoon, could only see the first 20 minutes of the game.
tabs@185: you could still loan out youngsters, the cap would apply to senior players. I’ve also thought about the risk of one-year contracts becoming the norm – but that could happen today as well. Even Roberto Mancini has been to told to sell before buying (which makes we wonder for how long the arabs really want to keep funding his shopping out of their “own” pockets, by the way). Also, players would be reluctant to sign the short-term contracts because they want security.
Toby and tabs, well debated and cheers to M18 for behing like a civilized human being.
The White Knight of football, John ‘Teflon’ Terry has been charged by the FA.
@ Trev:
“Even their bloody bench is all ex-Arsenal. Kidd, Platt, Marwood”.
I suppose we ought to feel proud that the richest club in the world – with the world at their feet and hundreds of other clubs to emulate – chose the Arsenal as their model. They have taken PV4; they want all our players; they have starting to go to Austria for pre-season. What will they do next?
🙂
Only read the first 25 posts or so … What’s with all the infidels? Can’t you find a proper Man Shitty blog to troll?
Singing i i yippie
i i yippie
i i yippie yippie i
Evening all. Second half hasn’t downloaded for me, so will watch on Arsenal Player tomorrow, and combine report on today with preview of Sunday.
Sing up Esso 🙂
Sounds like an excuse @ 270 – bet the Neighbours have just uncorked the Chilean medicine….
Benfica just scored a lovely corner against Real Madrid. It’s 3-2 to them at the moment. If you want something to do before the Ollimpic opening ceremony, have a look! 35 minutes left.
Evening Holics and any lurking citeh fans (smiles benevolently). Congrats on your win. Delia and Tabs, thanks for sharing your take on the match (haven’t seen it yet). Hot topics? One year contracts…horrors! And Tabs, please don’t become too attached to Miquel (having him tested for Barca DNA very soon). Appreciate the good work our legal eagle has done on providing updates on JT and Nasri (silly grin working its way across my lips). And Mr C, so you are very serious about NOT being serious…I see (chuckles). Now to try the links (thank you Cantor). Oh, one more little thing (inhales deeply), Toby sorry for any confusion yesterday I might have caused, you see, sometimes a girl’s just got to have some fun!!!
And no, Sahin isn’t in the squad.
If you hate Tottenham Hotspur clap your hands
If you hate Tottenham Hotspur clap your hands
If you hate Tottenham Hotspur, hate Tottenham Hotspur, hate Tottenham Hotspur, clap your hands.
*thunderous applause*
*rigorous hand clapping from up here*
Heh, arsebeatbarca, it’s how it is s’posed to be. It is still a bit foggy for me, everything, but things usually are during the summer.
Anyways, 4-2 now. I’m really having some fun of my own.
And well done Esso! That always cheers me up. *clapping his hands frenetically*
*synchs up the clapping with the fellows at 275 and 276*
Too posh to clap with me, eh, Ollie? 😉
My hands hurt. Can I stop now?
Looks like you posted while I was posting, Toby!
@ 280
Are you blind yet? 😉
LWC’s have been applauded at the Lane, at the Grove, at Upton Park and the bus stop in Fulham. No doubt about it. They are the most clapped out team in London…
You’ll just have to do some extra clapping then Ollie.
20 minutes left til the games starts! This summer really has been quite sport-centred this far.
They fully well deserve it ‘Holic. What a bunch of stars.
Thanks Esso … now then:
Who’s that team they call the Arsenal,
Who’s that team we all adore …
🙂
Holic: I must say you have been in top, top form the past few days. Is it the vino? – seems it makes you a lot lighter than Guinni …
😎
5-2 to Benfica. Kind of makes me feel even better about todays result. Not saying I still can’t see some positional faults regarding our full backs, but well, if Real Madrid lets five goals in during a pre-season friendly, it’s no capital crime to let two in.
FT – 5-2.
Off to the Ollies! See you lot later!
I never would have thought so but it appears we didn’t drop three points from today’s game. Time to celebrate!! Who has the doobies??
May I point out that
We hate Nottingham Forest
We hate Tottenham too
We hate Manchester United
But Arsenal, we love you.
Arsenal! Arsenal!
Thank you
And it’s Arsenal
Arsenal FC
They’re by far the greatest team
The world has ever seen.
Give us an A
You guys have got the fever, love it! Oxon, you must find a way to fit Chelsea in your little ditty. Now, I just read the match report at citeh’s club site. Here are some excerpts from said write up. “Arsenal won the first battle of the day with perhaps 3/4 of the Chinese spectators wearing replica Gunners tops”. Then it took a nasty turn, “The majority had the temerity to even boo club ambassador Mike Summerbee when he paraded the Premier League Trophy (on the pitch)”. Showing what little class this club has, the article described the weather conditions, bringing up the smog…come on now, is that anyway to treat your hosts! Then I reread AFC’s write up of the match. No derogatory comments directed at citeh or the hosts. Class is permanent and so is our love for Arsenal.
I’m too old for all this clapping shit 😉
Blisters and exhaustion 😎
I’m a cynic, natural fall back position, but anyone from these Isles not moved to tears at least twice during the opening ceremony has lost the will to live.
Danny Boyle is a fucking genius- Pretty Vacant !!!!!- and today I am so so so proud to be cockney, to be English, and to be British.
And I don’t say that too often.
Of course, I’m pissed as well 😎
No takers for the A then? How about this?
Give us an R
Just realised I’m in with a chance of the 300.
Will hang about 😎
I’ll give you an S Oxon
Eeeeeeeeeeeeee
Scores!
Boom!
Great post TaBS – agree with every word – clearly not pissed at all 😉
Lars the bronze, Tabs the silver, Abb the gold!
Blast it. I was mortified to find that I’d started with A on an odd number, then onto evens with the R and some bad sports got in with longer-than-one-letter replies.
Well in ABB
Give us an E
E
Beautiful Nursie.
Great goal, and I couldn’t think of anyone better to bang one home on such a great day for GB.
Outta here – more drinking and some twatting awaits.
Thanks fellas. Steps off the podium proudly.
Give us an N
I want to marry Danny Boyle.
Speedo man and genius.
When I say marry I mean only if Bobby Pires doesn’t respond to my daily propositions (obviously).
Oh, tabsed it! Well in, abb!
And tabs, I’m normally not on to be very bothered about such ceremonies but that was fucking brilliant.
Thanks Lars! ‘N’ it is Oxon. Hi wolfgang!
Totally agree tabs. It was original, moving, daring, proud and yet self-deprecating, humorous and just a a little bit mad. British eccentricity. Like no other opening ceremony there has ever been, I would think. Brilliant, Mr Boyle.
You said it so much better than me Fun!
Lars, so glad that someone not from these Isles agrees.
I tuned in ready to play a drinking game and laugh at “British eccentricity”.
I was so so wrong. Absolutely blown away.
“And didst those feet …”
Eat your heart out China!
Abb – @294, insightful, thanks Nurse.
Only caught glimpses of the opening ceremony but have it recorded to watch later.
It did look amazing though – considering reports were that it wasn’t going to be anything lavish.
Agree Tabs – very pride inducing. A brilliant history lesson. The whole thing looks stunning.
If you went to the archery today, hope you remebered to
take a bow son. 😉
Well said FunG.
Meanwhile, back at the spellathon…
Give us an A
Ill give a full review tomorrow. But has already been said, absolutely the best way praise your own nation is through a mixture of seriousness and silliness. Never seen anything like it. Absolutely brilliant. Loved it how the Blake theme (quite naturally) got picked up during several phases of the ceremony as well. Top marks from the swede with the lesser wallet.
Hark now hear the Arsenal sing
The tottenham run away
And we will fight for evermore
Because of Boxing Day
A!
Give us an L
Brady, Brady, Brady, Brady,
Born is the King of Highbury.
Fuck ’em all, fuck ’em all
United, West Ham, Liverpool
We are the Arsenal
We are the best
We are the Arsenal
So fuck all the rest
A for Oxon. Thanks Trev. FG, the opening ceremony is supposed to show @ 1930 in the states, looking forward to it! Watching reruns of yesterdays game in the mean time.
Harry Redknapp told me Tottenham were great,
I said Liar …. . . . . . .
Can’t keep up with you Oxon, L it is then! Esso, Chelsea, we must not forget them!
A tad slow there ABB, or was it a speeling misteak?
What have you got?
All together now…
(Note to self: NEVER do this again)
Anyone know why the Mozambique flag was being carried by Ca$hley Hole?
Beat up the Chelsea
On the Boxing Day
. . . . .
Just for you Nurse. Can’t remember the rest . . . . . ?
Go for it Esso.
ARSENAL, just for Oxon!
Stamford Birdge is falling down, falling down, falling down
Stamford Birdge is falling down, poor old Chelsea
Fill me up with Red and White, Red and White, Red and White
Fill me up with Red and White, poor old Chelsea
Trev, feel much better now (whew)! Wigan is my new back-up team!
Esso, by jove, you’ve done it lad, cheers!
Stamford Birdge, love it! Good work Esso
Trev@325 ,
FUCKIN’ FUCKIN’ LIAR 🙂
Esso 🙂
Fulham can stay at The Cottage
Southampton can stay at The Dell
And as for Tottenham Hotspur
They can go to hell – to hell,
And we’ll drink, drink together
In front of The AFC,
And we’ll drink, drink together
Infront of The AFC.
tabs, while there might have been one or two cultural/historical references that I did not get, I did get enough if them to be quite blown away. It was visually stunning, the music was perfectly complementinh the visuals and there was a quite clear narrative to the whole thing. And it takes huge cojones to mix humour and serious stuff like he did – it’s very easy as a director to just go for one or the other and play it safe but Boyle did not take the easy way out. And how he got that rather political bit about the NHS past the IOC bung takers I will never know. It really was a Best if British and if Boyle does not get knighted after this then he never will.
Lars – another Brazilian ? Complimentinho ? 😉
And the wanky Tottenham Hotspur went to Rome to see the Pope,
the wanky Tottenham Hotspur went to Rome to see the Pope,
the Wanky Tottenham Hotspur went to see the Pope,
and this is what he said,
FUCK OFF
Who’s that team they call the Arsenal
Who’s that team we all adore
Oh we’re the boys in red and white
And we’re fuckin’ dynamite
And we’re gonna show the world the way to score
FUCK OFF TOTTENHAM!
Lars, agree with every word, (as per usual 🙂 )
Trev: yes, he’s a back-up player that is useless on his own but working with someone else he really produces the goods!
Arsenal Arsenal.Arsenal
Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal
Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal
Arsenal AR-SE-NAL
@342 beautiful!
The soundtrack to the entering teams, bearing in mind it has to appeal to all, is beyond words – wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!
Eat your heart out China,Sydney,Athens,Atlanta,Barcelona,Seoul,LA, Moscow,Montreal,Munich,
and that’s as far as I can remember 😉
We still rule the fucking waves 😎
Mexico City, Tokyo, Rome, Melbourne, Helsinki
Clearly not appropriate to go back beyond 1952
Well Mick Romney, do you think we’re ready to host the Games now. ?
Beijing, Barcelona, Sydney, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Soeul, Munich, Atlanta, you’re boys took a hell of a beating !!!
Trev @ 345, Mick who? He’s a loser. Can’t stand the man, smears Obama any chance he can. Seriously hope he doesn’t win, will take us back more than 100 years, if he does.
This is pure GENIUS.
He asked yesterday, abb, if we were ready to hold the games. I guess he just found out ! 😉
Mitt, Trev. Mitt Romney
Yes Trev, saw the interview with Piers Morgan asking him about his comments…pitful.
as in ‘pitiful’ (yikes, Ollie could be lurking).
Oxon, I’ve got me ruler, put your hands out now!
Yes I know Oxon, but he was accidently / deservedly referred to as ‘Mick’ in the aftermath of his comments.
Be gentle, Abb
Laughs. Just waiting to see the opening festivities. Suppose I could research the Ashley Cole flag thing, though.
(Second note to self: Don’t be so quick to take the Mitt.)
Abb, I hope this doesn’t spoil the surprise too much…
Someone is about to light the cauldron.
Mick and Aftermath just means The Rolling Stones to me.
Aftermath? Is that the lesson following sums?
“One day we’ll be able to tell our children, our grandchildren, that we got it right”………..Sebastian Coe.
And indeed you most certainly did get it right…!
From an Irish Paddy amongst the holic brethren, may I respectfully doff my cap and offer my respect. I hope every person from the UK is walking a little taller tonight……
In a time when the Olympics needed a little warmth, a funky sense of well being…..a feel-good factor….some credibility….and a sense of personality…you did the games proud..!
What a fabulous display and sense of achievement.!
I like to think that somewhere within every Arsenal fan, that same sense of appreciation and value about what sport is all about – is prevalent tonight.
Just watched the cauldron-lighting, I have to say I’m impressed. Far more impressed than I expected.
What kind of twunt calls himself Mitt anyway?
This has been a triumph. An absolute, utter, self-confident triumph.
I have no more words. I am so proud.
Oh Joe, well put mate. Watching it now.
Well said Joe.
A truly brilliant opening.
FunGunner, if you’re still there, hi! Really excited to witness this.
That’s put the cap on a truly wonderful Opening Ceremony. Who’d have thought they round it off with 57,000 people singing
We hate Tottenham and we hate Tottenham
We hate Tottenham and we hate Tottenham
We hate Tottenham and we hate Tottenham
We are the Tottenham haters.
Night all, it’s well past midnight here in Blighty.
UP THE
A R S E N A L
That’s Danny Boyle’s knighthood in the bag, then.
Great stuff, Joe. I agree that there are many parallels with Arsenal values – diversity and inclusivity were not just platitudinous terms tonight. They wer living, breathing ideals.
We’ve been to West Ham, and we took the North Bank,
We’ve all been to Chelsea, they ain’t worth a wank,
So take my advice,
There’s nothing as nice,
As kicking the fuck out of Tottenham.
Joe fantastic fantastic post.
I can honestly say I have never been so proud to come from where I come from where I come from from where I come from ….
Muhammed Ali – don’t even get me started – all time hero- greater than Arsene, greater than Ray Kennedy, yes … even greater than Bobby Pires.
Danny Boyle – you fuckin’ Legend!
Goodnight all.
That was absolutly wonderful.
Me being a swede, raised with Marry Poppins, Phillias Fogg and Monty Python. Found my Jeffrey Bernard, read my Evelyn Waugh, Shakespear and my William Blake, laughed at and not with Oswald Mosley, been to places as diverse as Waterloo (the very one in Belgium, don’t get ABBA mixed up in this!) and Culloden, listened to the Kinks, The Jam and the danced to Northern Soul at the Uppers Mod Festival at the Rocket, Hollway Road. I’ve seen the bloody Royal Tattoo in Edinburgh, had a curry that made me sick in Burmingham, taken a broken bottle to the foot in Liverpool (missed the face by a distance), climed the bleeding Ben Nevis, been on the HMS Victory, seen my sister get her MA in the Royal Albert Hall (they designed the torch by the way, former students from the Royal Collage of Art), been thrown out of the Notting Hill Arts Club after seeing the worlds oldest DJ playing Ska for an entire evening whilst drinking only absinthe (me, not him), slept in the same house as Eric Liddell in Drymen and of course followed the Arsenal over land and sea (and Leicester) –
I must say I don’t know why, but even I felt fucking proud.
You brits aren’t perfect but you really bring something special to the table. This self-deprecation you got going is what makes you shine and I fucking love it.
Wonderful ceremony, some parts bragging and rightly so, but in the end, just a celebration of people everywhere which few countries could pull off without looking cheesy, and you did it all with humor. Never seen anything like it. Loved every minute. Again, please!
Nite Tabs, sweet dreams lad. Here in the states, we’re now at the Industrial Revolution presentation…absolutely beautiful thus far. The vision and imagination is beyond my scope.
Wow Toby, tears in my eyes. Poets all of you.
Errata:
1) Like everyone that has been to or is from Birmingham, apparently I can’t spell the name of the place. Henceforth it shall just be known as Brum.
2) I loved every single minute of it except for the part when someone was doing a salute you shouldn’t do when the Germans entered, albeit with his left arm, but still in a very, very purposeful way.
Good evening all.
Proud to be a Londoner tonight. That was astonishing.
Have a great weekend, ‘holics.
Very generous Toby – kind words.
Hey ‘Holic, maybe you could do one of your history pieces telling us how things were in the Industrial Revolution 😉
For you Trev…..!
The Thierry Henry of the track…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D56ZAvcxN0
Trev @375 Holic already retired by then 🙂
@ Toby:
“You brits aren’t perfect but you really bring something special to the table. This self-deprecation you got going is what makes you shine …”
… you say it how I felt it mate. Wondrous ceremony. I love the humour: from the Queen jumping out of the helicopter to Mr Bean in Chariots of Fire. I laughed and cried in equal measure. I didn’t think Beijing could be beaten, now I feel that these games will be among the best ever..
Mr. C – Real Madrid is not my other team, it’s a team I prefer over Barca to win La Liga.
My only other team is Maccabi Tel-Aviv
Just finished watching the opening ceremony and thought it was great from Kenneth Branagh to J.K. Rowling and on and on it was a fantastic reminder that “special events” can be really and truly special events.
Morning ‘Holic & ‘Holics
Spectacular ceremony last night. Proud to be British.
Was there a football match yesterday? 😉
“Good old Arsenal, we’re proud to sing that name
While we sing this song, we’ll win the game”
(With thanks to Jimmy Hill)
HAGW all.
Looks like I missed a decent ceremony for once.
‘holic 374 I thought you were in Swindon? 😉
Some random thoughts the morning after…
Did I enjoy the ceremony Yes.
Does it make me feel proud to be British Rather more difficult. There are certainly some hugely talented Brits, but I’m not sure that I fell any more comfortable getting all nationalistic in support of them than I do when some other Brits kick a football around. Curiously I don’t feel the same difficulty being supportive when yet another set of Brits put on white clothes and chase a smaller ball around.
I’m happy and a little surprised that anyone in a position of authority was willing to back such a show, but again, I don’t really feel comfortable coming over all nationalistic about it.
I’ve heard that the Washington Post described the ceremony as the world’s biggest in-joke. Well, it may well have come over that way, and in-jokes are somthing of a national speciality. It doesn’t always happen, but I hope that if anyone was confused there were people in the know who were happy to try to explain some of them. There are some remarks earlier up that suggest this happened last night and I’m delighted to see them.
Do I think Mitt Romney (and his alter-ego Mick) is a buffoon Yes and no. Politicians rarely say what they think. Usually, they say what they are advised is the thing that their hearers would most like them to say. In this case, in a country full of reports predicting imminent Olympic disaster, I can see why those advisors might have thought that joining in was a good idea. If that’s what happened, then his advisors got it massively wrong. Predicatably wrong too, I think. People in the UK generally like criticising the way things are run and they have much to complain about. Equally, however, they are prone to turn very quickly on any outsider who has the temerity to do likewise. The fear must be that should Romney come to power, he will continue to seek advice from the same people.
Did I enjoy the torch relay Well, no, I don’t think I did. I kept remembering that the relay had started with Hitler’s games at Munich in 1936, and that the sight of people rallying around a flaming torch had rather more to do with Nazi idealogy than I felt comfortable with. Against that, not all the torch carriers were visions of Aryan perfection, but no, on balance, it wasn’t for me.
Why am I writing this on an Arsenal blog Who the fuck knows?
Put the nails away GT, I won’t bring this up again before Christmas at the earliest, nor will I engage in any further public discussion before then.
Just stumbled across this hilariously biased report of the game v City yesterday:
http://www.journallive.co.uk/newcastle-sports/football-news/2012/07/28/61634-31490812/
It’s so poorly written it is actually funny. Take this bit:
“…allowed a City squad still lacking its Euro 2012 contingent…
…Wenger had most of his senior players available”
Yeah, it’s not like we had Rosicky, Mertesacker, Sagna, Podolski, Giroud, Ramsey and Wilshere back home in England, is it?
What a plonker.
…oh, and Koscielny as well.
Oxon, I was thinking just that. Well I am not British so it’s easy for me, but the jingoistic zeal that seems to be accompanying the acknowledgement that the ceremony was great certainly makes me uncomfortable.
Flag waving always makes me recoil, whether it’s British, French, German or other.
See that twat Piers Morgan’s tweet for instance.
TABS – There are plenty of decent City fans about just as there are plenty of decent Arsenal fans about. The trouble with the Internet is that those that tend to shout loudest and are more extreme in their views get heard above everybody else and it leads to some people tarring everyone with the same brush.
As for your points, you start off well but you fell into a common trap towards the end about the possibility of the Sheikh “getting bored”, pulling his investment, and leaving the club up shit creek without a paddle. I implore you to do some research into the Sheikh’s plans for the club because believe you me, the medium-long term future of Manchester City couldn’t be in safer hands. The plan has always been to invest heavily at first which in turn leads to success on the pitch which in turn leads to a raised profile which in turn leads to drastically increased revenue for the club without the need to rely on the owner’s cash to prop it up.
The days of eye-watering losses of £190 million-plus are long gone and I’d hazard a guess that, providing things continue to go well in the pitch, City will be making a profit in 3-4 years time.
Now if the Sheikh were to withdraw today I’d accept we’d be in a sticky situation but the club would still survive comfortably, albeit with the possible need for a firesale to raise money. If he were to pull out in 5-10 years time the chances are that the club would’ve grown so much by then that we won’t be reliant on his money in any way whatsoever so the impact will be minimal at worst. As it happens, people need to realise that he’s in it for the long haul and stop being so naive as to think that he’ll one day “get bored and walk away”. Seriously, do people really believe this or do they just say it to make them feel better?
So in short, your assumption that City will one day die as a club because of our current owner is a little bizarre to say the least mate. I can assure you that City were far more likely to go to the wall when Peter Swales was busy running the club into the ground or when Shinawatra pushed us close to administration. So, no, I don’t in any way buy your theory that I know “deep down that our club will one day be no more because I wouldn’t be on here trying so hard to convince you all otherwise”. I’m on here because I saw a link to this blog on a City forum and felt compelled to debunk a few myths that opposition fans (not just Arsenal fans of course) have about the club I support (one being that neutral fans across the country didn’t want City to win the league – despite the money, the vast majority still wanted us to win it ahead of our neighbours) As it happens I don’t have to justify myself to anyone and I could just as easily have come on and hurled a shed load of vitriolic abuse (as some of our lot have done) But that’s pointless in my eyes and it’s far better to try and engage in a constructive debate.
Anyway, I’ll leave it at that as I’ve droned on a bit too much plus there comes a point with these discussions that while some common ground can be reached, we’ll always tend to agree to disagree on certain aspects no matter how passionately we argue our points. And despite the deterioration in the relationship between City and Arsenal fans over the past few years, many of us still view an away game at Arsenal as being more pleasant than an away game at Tottenham. Also, nothing that has happened of late will ever alter my view that May 26th 1989 remains my all-time favourite non-City/non-England footballing moment.
I do agree with both you and Oxon, Ollie, or rather, I would, most of the time.
I just think that for once a ceremony that is meant to celebrate a country managed to avoid most of the usual pitfalls and in the end celebrate human achievement, but through a British lens rather than being all about Britain. Sure, it was a history lesson, but one that included the suffragettes as much as the military, one that celebrated the NHS and not just the police, that showed things that long since has stopped being just british, like the Beatles, Harry Potter or Peter Pan or even Shakespeare, things that are part of the worlds popular culture now, that we can all reference. I believe it was a ceremony of not just “look at us and all the good things we’ve done”, even if that of course is part of it, but rather a way of showing what binds us together, over borders, in much the same way as the games themselves are supposed to do. Of course, inviting the “inventor of the Internet” fits perfectly, but the Rolling Stones also did bring people together back in the days, over borders and in small villages all over the world as long as there was a radio and the possibility to pick up Radio Luxembourg.
That for me did the ceremony more than bearable. As previously stated, I loved it, because it was, in the midst of all that pomp, very human, very inclusive and this, I believe is what Brits should be proud about.
And what impressed me, as I said, is that I didn’t feel the flag waving was for celebrating the nation in that imperialistic, nationalistic way, but rather celebrating all the good things that just happened along the way. Not the grand, planned things, but rather the little things that just happens when people go about their lives. It was punk music, writers jotting down the notes for their first book about a wizard on the bus. It wasn’t just Lawrence of Arabia.
And there was humour.
Wow. This was a long speech, and from a Swede at that, but I just wanted to explain my take on it. Nobody is less nationalistic than me, perhaps that is why I enjoyed it so much? I just found it to be about people from just one of the nations in the world, not the nation itself.
Thanks for the Nordic perspective Toby. I feared that we would get some cheesy offering but was pleasantly surprised. It was crazy and brilliant but for the reminder of degeneration, failing powers and mortality that McCarney brought to the proceedings with his failing voice. But maybe even that was deliberate. I think Danny Boyle did rather well and managed somehow to get some nice political points past the PC thought police.
Well put Toby. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
M18CITD,
Cheers for the response mate, appreciate it.
As for your first para, I couldn’t agree more.The earlier light hearted jibe was only ever meant as a poor attempt at humour, and a dig at the internet warriors. My God, we have enough of them at Arsenal!
As for the main body of your post, I will also admit that as regards that part of my post that you requote, it was nothing more than mischievous hyperbole.
That said, I would still maintain that your Club still essentially remains at the whim of one man, and that is always dangerous. Ask Malaga. Your earlier post spoke of that dreaded word “project”. All projects come to an end, and it’s my view that there will come a time when City will cease to serve the functions of your Sheik. You are of course right when you suggest that by that time City might be self-sustaining, but I would suggest that that is extraordinarily difficult to achieve once you start with the business model that you have done. Abramovich is still having to pour money into Chelsea, a number of years after it was forecast that they would be self sustaining.
Anyway, as you rightly point out, there will always be a point where opinions diverge. That’s what makes it all so interesting.
Cheers for mentioning May 26th ’89. It’s my favourite moment too !!:wink:
Cheers mate, a beer on the Bar awaits you.
Arsenal fans, what is your opinion on the way your club gained a place in English Footballs top division? Are you proud of bribing your way to the top despite finishing 6th in the 2nd division? Are you proud of the way your club kick started its success by buying a full championship winning team?
Football didn’t begin with Sky, or when you were born. ArTake a look at your own history and the way your present has been built as opposed to pathetic remarks about “petro-money”.