The Skipper Carries The Burden Of The Holic Pound
Sep 22nd, 2012 by 'holic
So, fate has me relying on a dodgy wifi connection and an even dodgier 3G hook up. Serves me right for grabbing the last bit of summer on the technophobic coast.
I have a feeling catching the game at City could be an interesting experience. What a game to be sweating on too. The champions trail us only on goal difference after the opening four games. It is too early for the result to be regarded as definitive, but the victors should get a big confidence boost.
Defensively the sides have been poles apart in the opening weeks of the season. While Arsenal conceded their first goal of the season against Southampton last Saturday, City have failed to keep a blank sheet in any of their fixtures.
That would suggest that attack will be their best form of defence, but Mancini tends to go for a more conservative approach against us, home and away. City are likely to be missing Nasri, suffering from a nasty infection in his splintered arse. Wojciech Szczesny is still out for us so Don Vito continues in goal.
An unchanged back four is likely for us, and I would expect Abou Diaby to line-up with Mikel Arteta and Santi Cazorla in midfield. Lukas Podolski is the only player guaranteed a start up front. Perm any two from Gervinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, or Olivier Giroud to accompany him.
The ‘holic pound is going to be punted on Thomas Vermaelen to score at any time. I have a funny feeling he will be leading by example tomorrow in our biggest test thus far. Don’t forget Gunners Gaming are offering to match your first bet up Β to Β£25 (subject to conditions) if you open an account with them. Click on the banner above for more details.
Hopefully this will now post rather than just vanish into the ether. I’m off to get some real Cheddar cheese. I hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend as much as I have enjoyed this one so far.
Cheers ‘holics.
251 Responses to “The Skipper Carries The Burden Of The Holic Pound”
Walks into the bar. Is the only one there π
Davidstow? Two in the bar.
And then there were three….
Happy weekend ‘Holics!
Glad you found some interconectivity Maestro, enjoy the cheese and scrumpy. 2-1 to The Arse for me with plenty of squeaky bum time for us. A tough challenge but we’re capable of it.
Would love to see Farty Harty have to pick the ball up from the back of his own net. I’m assuming Na$ri has gone into hiding just in case Arsenal travel with Frimpong on-board.
Have a great weekend ‘Holics.
PS: Great post from the previous drinks Dr.z, poetic as always π
Does anybody know what’s going on with Bloodzeed?
It keeps on telling me the channel is offline.
It’s still 132927 right?
Mmmm…. I see Snakey Mancini is starting to talk up our championship aspirations. A fine career in politics awaits once The Sheikhs have pulled the plug on the oil pipeline into Stockport.
Another thought: why does Manchester attract so many snakes?
Sixth?
No preview post, Holic ? This one just disappeared into the eth…….
Hey TS – “snakes in Manchester”
It’s the damp, old chap. Like a rainforest up there.
Wind, from last drinks – @188. Heh, π
Actually, two of the 60,000 vs Coventry will be myself and daughter for her first outing of the new season.
I’m not even going to attempt to guess who starts, but can’t wait to see some of our new squaddies who are stepping up through the system.
I do think they’ll be joined by Santos, Rambo, Theo, Yennaris and Kos.
The rest is anybody’s guess.
Maybe Arsene will treat us to a ten minute peak at Jack if we’re comfortable ?
“ten minute peek” , even .
Afternoon Holic,
Nice preview. As you say, the game comes far too early to be definitive. I would go further. It comes too early to even be that indicative.
Notwithstanding this, the usual suspects will no doubt be out and about to lambast everything if the result doesn’t go our way, whilst an equally familiar group will no doubt be proclaiming us as Champions elect if we bring home the bacon.
In truth, all it means is another 3 points (or not, as the case may be), and any prognostications as to the team’s long-term chances will have to wait a little longer to carry much weight.
Rather like you in your last post, I fancy Giroud to make it at Arsenal, but one suspects that he will again make way tomorrow. I would be surprised if Arsene is willing to disturb the front three that functioned so well last week.
As for Mannone, I’m afraid I don’t yet really share the renewed sense of optimism in his abilities. Granted he hasn’t yet made a ricket, but there have been wobbles under the high ball, and I’m afraid that the gobby pole (cheers Sweeper) just gives me more confidence. I hope he’s back soon.
Enjoy your cheese mate. 2-1 to The Arsenal.
From the last drinks…
Dr Z – Great work π
Snir – More awesome vids. Loved the Bergkamp one. The Ian Wright one was really terrific too.
Trev – Cheers mate, I didn’t see the programme so can’t really comment. I agree with you however that, (at least on my reading of the report), the way that Senior Police Officers attempted to manipulate all legitimate enquiry as to what occurred is far more shocking than any decision that was actually taken on the day.
Enjoy ya break goonerholic,today has been boringly long, i guess it is because there is no game, True storey i think it must be the weather on why plenty of snakes like manchester.
Hi Everyone. Hey Holic, Mancini might ‘encourage’ his lads to have a real go at Don Vito, this is a humongous test for our goalie. Fingers crossed. Not worried about us scoring. An exhilarating affair for us all, just the kind of match, I most enjoy cause we’re gonna win! So dust off that trophy cabinet and make some room, Ivan. Have a good one Holic π
The Chavs were drawing 0-0 at halftime with the Rugby club,i can’t catch the rest of the game as i have to travel shortly to a nearby town due to family reasons,hope to be back in time for the game tommorow. Up The Arse.
tabs@10: “As you say, the game comes far too early to be definitive. I would go further. It comes too early to even be that indicative.”
Agreed, the fates of last season of both teams involved tomorrow should teach everyone to not make too much of what happens this early on. We clawed back 13 points or whatever it was to overtake Spurs (and Chelsea while we were at it!) and they came back from eight points behind ManU with just a few games to go (by the way: why hasn’t more been made of the complete collapse by ManU? Just imagine if that had been us…) to win the whole kaboodle.
Also agree on Szczesny. Mannone has some way to go yet, how will he react once he makes a mistake?
Tomorrow will be very interesting and I look forward to the game with some anticipation and I think it will be a good game – but win, lose or draw it in itself won’t make or break our season.
Well played Lars !
Just can’t mention that “13 points on the Spuds” too many times. π
Out of interest, what is the Swedish word for ‘kaboodle’ ? π
Tabs,
Do they still have bacon at Middle Eastlands for us to bring home ? π
I foresee an oily accident befalling the Citeh bench tomorrow, with
Scott SPinclair, Brian SKidd and David SPlatt !!!
Roberto had better hope his Mankini is on nice ‘n tight…..
Trev@15, don’t think there is a direct translation of it π
Is it not ‘kaboodie-doodie’ ? Very disappointing, and what do you mean, you don’t know ! Do you speak Swedish or not ?! π
There’s a picture on Arseblog today of Frimpong trying to scare Jack in training with what looks like some kind of haka ritual. Very funny.
Lars, agree with you agreeing with me π , though Holic makes a good point re the confidence boost that a good result would bring. Winning breeds winning and all that.
Trev π
Just watched the last hour of the Chelsea game. Fuck me they were shite. Hazard was ineffectual, Torres invisible, yet they still nicked a result. I reckon they are consistently luckier than any other side. Oscar looks a player, but I can’t see Chelsea finishing higher than 4th. Tossers.
On the other hand, whilst i was cheesed off to see them grab a late and undeserved winner, anything that makes Tony Penis unhappy always brings me joy.
Anyone else think that as Juan Mata’s beard gets ever more unkempt, he begins to resemble Andy Hamilton more and more?
Trev, the closest would be “shit” (which in Swedish is spelt “skit” and pronounced not too dissimilar to “shit”, but with a long “i” sound), I suppose. You can use that for pretty much anything, like “but where did I put that shit?” or “we won the whole shit”.
Happy with that shit? π
The bus stop boys really are complete douche waffles. Ivanobitch has become almost as weak as terry. Can’t believe I watched the second half, must now go rinse my contacts in terpentine. Found myself wishing stoke held on for the draw
Haha! Andy Hamilton…
Chelsea were so terrible. How can people watch that shite every week?
I also can’t believe Stoke were complaining about that tackle they received. Like typical bullies, they can dish it out, but hate receiving it….
Glad the Saints got off the mark though. Great stuff…
tabs, only saw the last ten minutes of the Chelsea game so unfortunately I saw Cuntley score. But you do have a point about anything that makes Pubis unhappy does have at least a silver lining to it!
Southampton 4 – 1 Villa, told you Southampton showed some potential even last Saturday π
I agree that our captain will be leading by example, but i think this season it will be in the form of a disciplined defensive performance, rather than bombing forward.
COYG
Canons, NorCal, – I can only endorse what you both say about both the Chavs and Stoke. Impossible to root for a winner, my interest began to wane as soon as it became apparent that both teams were not going to fall into a giant and mysterious black hole soon after kick off.
How crap was Michael Owen? How he succeeds in persuading managers (and I use the word “manager” in its loosest sense in any context involving Penis) to part with enormous bags of wedge for his services is one of the great con tricks of this or any other century.
When John Terry was on the touchline about to come on, wearing his usual neanderthal expression, and displaying all the intellect of a BSE-ravaged Bull, I couldn’t help thinking how utterly suited he is to a Stoke shirt.
How awful is Fox Soccer? Their panel led by Barton actually made me laugh out loud such was their collective bellendry. Feel sorry for our transantlantic Holics having to put up with that nonsense.
Lars – Haha, you did indeed. As you know, I didn’t share your half time concerns last week, and really didn’t see Soton’s result this week coming. Very early, but terrible signs already for Villa.
Like some others here, I was weirdly drawn to watch the most boring match ever this afternoon
The stripes played like lumps of wood – with a manager like that no surprise, but what did surprise me was the number of times the Chavs either gave the ball into the feet of the stoke players, or were tackled cleanly by the solid trees, who then carefully passed the ball back to them to try again. One does wonder what the Chavs actually do for practice, since this looked like the worst sort of training possible
COYR – lets show them tomorrow
Tomorrow belongs to Scousers & us.
Hey, Mancs, it’s better to die on your knees then to live on your feet.
Gaaaaaahd it’s slow in the Goonerverse this evening; I may be forced to take drastic measures.
COYG ICDDR
Oxon – ICDDR ???
Funny smell in here – like everyone’s been watching Chelsea or something.
Can’t do it, myself. The sight of Terry, Lampard, Cole, Mikel, actually, any of them, repulses me.
I might just manage ten minutes of a game they are likely to lose, but ST*KE C@TY Β£$%^&*((*&^%$Β£” !!!
Come on Reds !
The keen eyed among you may have noticed that my exclamation of special characters, in the drink above, is a pallendromic arrangement, achieved by holding down the ‘shift’ key and running one’s finger straight up the top row of the keyboard, and back.
Just saying.
Saturday’s are so interesting when we haven’t played π
Oxon – ICDDR ?
Tabs@26: Theo should look at Michael Owen and see his future. Once injury robbed Owen of his speed, there wasn’t much left except memories and thoughts of what might have been.
The monks at Castle Ned cranked up the prediction machine, fed it the data and it spat out a 1-0 to the Arsenal for tomorrow. It then made a rather squeaky noise. What could that possibly mean?
Snir,
See below.
Frankly, I’m so embarrassed at having written “back in the day” in the third paragraph of the linked drink that I’m considering not responding to further requests for explanations.
COYG ICDDR
Oxon – I’d rather it’d have been quiet.
Rumors gathering pace that TV is out with a virus.
Trev@31: []{}#%^*+==+*^%#}{][ back at you.
Trev – Please follow “Snir’s link”
COYG ICDDR
Hello all. Still in the land that time, and more importantly technology, forgot. The chef wants stringing up, but they have Lagavulin. Bath wouldn’t enjoy it, but I am lavishing my life savings on it π
Ahhhhhhh Lagavulin. That is a bloody good idea.
COYG ICDDR
Most of the lands time remembers, ‘Holic, aren’t worth the vist. Enjoy the Lagavulin. I hope it’s the 21.
Blast. All out of Lagavulin – how did that happen? Fortunately I have some Bowmore with which to console myself.
COYG ICDDR
@31 – I was watching Henry IV Part One, rather than Roman the CVNT Part Nine. Enjoyable stuff to prepare for tomorrow’s battle.
Incidentally, I note that neither Ned nor Trev succeeded in submitting a palindromic drink. I wouldn’t dream of attempting a feat that has defeated two such noted barflies.
COYG ICDDR
Oxon, I hadn’t realised that was a task. Does a double gin cout?
Naturally, Ned if you weren’t actually attempting a palindrome, I withdraw the accusation of failure. Please accept my apology.
Barman, a double gin for the Nedster, please.
COYG ICDDR
Oxon: I am assuming we are talking about creating a cocktail with alternating layers of alcohol in the glass that stack up in a pallendromic manner, e.g, rum, Cointreau, Bailey’s, Cointreau, rum. If you thicken each descending layer with increasing proportions of that barman’s standby, gomme syrup, that could work. Not vouching for the taste or after effects.
So, just watched 45 minutes of those Barca c***s and it seems they signed some guy called “Alexei” Song.
Gerry Armstrong. Twonk.
And another thing, the DNA guy is now referred to as “Cesc” but was always “Fabregas” when he wore the red and white.
Murdoch, Sky and all who sail in them. Twonks.
No apology needed, Oxon. A double gin for yourself, if that doesn’t disturb the Bowmore.
@ 31
The sight of Terry, Lampard, Cole, Mikel….actually any of them repulses me
I hate to see a man sick – can I have your ticket for next Saturday then? π
Another approach could be three layers of vodka separated by layers of fruit Jell-O shots, but I think that might be considered cheating.
As would be a simple glass of pop, even if topped by an evil olive.
Trev @ 8, good to hear π
I too, would like to be 1 of the 60,000 along with my mate who goes to my college (she’s going lucky her) but me going to mid-week games when I’ve got college the next day really antagonises my mother especially since it takes me so long to get home (I stoutly refuse as a Gooner to leave a game before Full Time unless some sort of emergency occurs elsewhere, hopefully I never will have to), will have to wait until the 4th Round that should be during Half-Term (assuming that we win on Wednesday which we should π & that its a home draw) to get to my 1st game of the season.
Zico’s arrival makes me think Irn-Bru Jell-O shots might be the way to go.
Zico, am I imagining it? I recall that we wanted to put Gilberto on the back of a shirt but the FA, or some other bunch of c***s, I mean chaps, honest, told us we could only display bona fide surnames, so Da Silva it was. I guess we didn’t bother asking about the Spaniard, who I definitely remember seeing quoted as saying how strange he found it when the crowd chanted “Fàbregas” as that was his father or his uncle – he was “Cesc”. Imagine my surprise when those same chaps (c***s) allowed the dirty Northern scum to put Little Penis or whatever on the shirt of their no 14.
COYG ICDDR
Oxon – pallendromic drinks,
A man a plan a canal Panama
Was it Elliots toilet I saw
Damn – Eliots, not Elliots
Oxon – oh, those kinds of drinks. π
Zico – nice try. Are you down for the Chavs ?
Oxon, I was referring to the commentators – Cesc this, Cesc that.
I thought Barcelona all had c**t on the back of their shirts? π
Trev, unfortunately not.
But there is a plan that involves me, BtM, a sports bar and a strict liquids-only regimen. π
3 points tomorrow, please gentlemen. Eminently feasible. Certainly I expect 1 point unless bad luck or a stroke of genius from an oil fed hired gun hits us.
As to Lagavulin, ‘Holic. I certainly would enjoy that. I do have others that I prefer over the Islay malts (WoB likes them best of all, we discovered recently – just as well I have a bottle of Laphroig on the go all the time at home) but I have no problem with a drap or twa o’ that wee cratur.
Hope you are enjoying your bucolic idyll as much as I am mine.
Slainte.
Finally get a PL game on TV that I don’t have to get up before the sun to see and instead I have to get up and go to work. Bah..
I guess I’ll cover the Quackery tomorrow since I will be covering the “normal” hospital too. ( I’ll also be sure to lock up Ivana).
2-1 is my guess. Poldi and Santi.
Mark Lawrenson on MOTD – thought it was Michael Keaton in Beetlejuice!
Don’t watch alone. π
tabs: worrying signs indeed for Villa, they beat Swansea last Saturday but other than that it seems they have been mostly rubbish so far. Still early doors as you say, but it sure looks like it will be a battle to stay up for them.
But I have nooo idea what you are talking about re: half-time last Saturday. Cool as a cucumber, me! Sorry, what’s that? What do you mean “I’ve got the texts in my phone to prove it”??? No no no no no yes, ok I did send them…
In other news, my Saturday night has been extremely exciting, we’re at the vet with our dog because she needed emergency drip feeding because of an infection she’s got. And let me tell you all that watching paint dry is a barrel of laughs compared to waiting for 1000 ml (that’s more than two pints for you non-metrically inclined!) of some sort of substance to drip out of a bag. Three hours and counting…
Oxon – Gilberto had Da Silva on his shirt?? I seem to remember differently. I’m pretty sure he had Gilberto.
Other news – The Skipper is rumored to be out with a virus.
He has the subs bib in the training pictures as well.
Good to have Kos as cover eh?
You may well be right, Snir. (In case translate.google doesn’t do oxon->english, that kind of means “oops I got that one wrong”.)
I may almost remember that we wanted to put “Cesc” on a shirt and were told “no nicknames, forename or surname only”. Or maybe I’m making it all up. My point stands, however. The FA are a bunch of chaps.
Night all.
UReds!
COYG ICDDR
0-1. Koscielny goal.
Oxon – it changed a long time ago.
That’s why we have Gervinho, Eduardo et al
Drip drip drip drip drip…
Lars – 1000ml sounds a lot like 1 litre to my uneducated ear.
For you metrically inclined chaps , there is a little ditty to help convert –
“A litre of water’s
A pint and three quarters”.
Hope the dog is ok, by the way.
‘Night All.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=the%20drip
Lars,
Is it definition number 1 or 2?
Either way, come see me early tomorrow at the Quackery and I’ll fix you up!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/9559965/Arsenal-midielder-Mikel-Arteta-says-we-need-to-win-ugly-sometimes-ahead-of-trip-to-champions-Manchester-City.html
Beautiful piece with our vice-captain.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/sep/22/abou-diaby-arsenal-manchester-city
And Lars I do hope your dog improves with the fluid
Arteta is very classy. We are lucky to have him. “Panic buy”. Whatever.
Arteta has so much class he could be a school….
Vermaelen carrying the burden of the ‘holic pound?:
http://www.everythingesteban.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/sisyphus-front.jpg?w=264
Cant wait for the game. Cant wait to see diaby do a yaya in the presence of yaya. Same goes for carzola n silva. In short, we are as good as they are.
@NBNed47…still mulling over the bar recepe, the end product seems stronger than anything in Norcal’s medical cabinet.
Morning all.
Feels like a long time since Tuesday.
COYG ICDDR
Cheers all – the dog’s ok, she’s not ready to move to the big doghouse in the sky just yet. We’ll probably have to repeat the process tonight though, but this time I’ll make sure to bring my laptop so that I will have a little more to do than just stare at the dripping water!
And Trev, you are of course right – a pint is just over half a litre and not under as I for some reason momentarily thought. But I mostly wrote that bit about metrically inclined to give myself something to do for 30 seconds anyway. That’s how bored I was π
NorCal, no need for chemical enhancment today, the game v ManCity will get me fired right up anyway! Really looking forward to this one, I think it has the potential to be a proper cracker and I think we’ve got quite decent chances of nicking even all three points. Last season it was a feeling of “well, maybe we can get a draw of we’re lucky” but I feel a lot more confident this time around. Up the Arse!
Ned @34 – Agreed, Owen is a salient lesson for Theo. Of course Michael Owen is a very rich man. Perhaps that is the quality that Theo most wishes to emulate?
Dr Z @59 – You’ll need to be on your guard next week mate. Take your eye off the ball for one second and you might find that your Guinness has been swiped and BtM has whisked you off for a bit of Haddock. π
Lars @63 Haha, your HT texts last week did strike me as a little on the “cautious” side, but as you said at the time, we have been burnt before. I hope your dog is ok mate.
Am I too old to have a favourite player? Is there something a little bit eyebrow-raising about a man in his forties still having a favourite? The answers may well be yes and probably. But if the answers were no and absolutely not, then my favourite by a country mile would be Mikel Arteta. Great player, great bloke.
Lars, good news re you dog. Good stuff.
I share your optimism today, don’t think we’ll lose and may well nick it.
I am now into my seventh day without a fag.
And no, I don’t mean Wolfie has gone on holiday.
The really worrying news however is that I now find myself toying with the idea of a jog. Not good.
Tabs, you’re off the tabs but now I’m back on them :(. Maybe if I too go for a jog I can join ya in a tobacco free state! Not if we’re holding onto a slim lead at the Etihad though, might be too stressful π
tabs, embrace the jogger within!
Well, better get going myself – some breakfast, a shower and then it’s pretty much time to be off to the pub, going to watch the early game there as well.
Heh @ CoR for the Arteta-class joke
Come on Arsenal! Take it to Shitteh today
CoR – Ah, I know that well trodden path sadly. I have no idea what coping mechanisms I can now employ in the event of a nail-biting finish. Of course the Pub does not allow smoking but I have been known to take up a position by the door, sort of half in half out, at particularly stressful moments – Nasri’s pens against the LWC’s in the League Cup springs to mind.
Lars Embrace your inner jogger? π Have a good one at the pub mate
I might jog to the pub later. Does that count? π
Hope the scouse cunts can take something from their game as well, mind
I won’t hold my breath though
I think they might Harsha
August 22: Robbie Savage doubts Arsenal’s title credentials. “Are Arsenal a big club now? Are they going to challenge for the Premier League? No.”
September 21: One month and two wins later, Robbie Savage says: “Arsenal I think are, quietly, title contenders now.”*
*MediaWatch.
Savage is an absolute gift from the heavens for sites like Mediawatch. He is pure Bellendry. How can the BBC continue to justify any further licence monies winging its way to this total cock?
tabs,
Congratulations on your abstinence. All that means though is that you will drink more – for every non-fag break = 1 more beer.
And heh @ 80 – I will be most certainly on my guard.
Savage is to punditry what Dowie is to beauty. 8)
Afternoon Dr Z , I was beginning to think I was supping on my own in here!
Make you right on all of the above contentions π
Hmm interesting half.
Yanited bloody awful and the Dutchman anonymous.
Can’t help thinking that that mediocrity will not be allowed to continue into the second half when they’ll be playing against 10.
Shelvey sending off debatable, although my own view is that anyone who calls himself Jonjo should always be sent off at the first available opportunity.
Manc fans who chanted through the rendition of “You’ll never walk alone” sung for the 96, are pretty fucking poor to put it mildly.
Hi Tabs – I’ll stand you a pint..!
Y’know as well as Giroud has done – I hope we go with Oxlade and Gervinho up front. I think the Ivorian provides pace and makes our attacking a little more fluid from the one game we’ve seen him play this season. I think Company & co would find that more difficult to deal with than the physical approach Giroud brings.
Tabs –
Savage, Robbie or Lily, can’t tell the difference personally, was so excited on 5 Live 606 yesterday, to produce the phrase ‘next level’ and the word ‘investment’, that he repeated his entire answer to a Derby County caller 3 1/2 times before Chapman faded him out and took the next call ! π
By the way, if you’re trying to give up smoking and need a few tips – no, you know what I mean – oh, never mind ……….. π
Cheers Joe, and one back to you Sir.
I’m hearing elsewhere that Kos is in for TV and Ramsey in for Giroud from tuesday’s team.
Bugger 1-2, the hitherto anonymous dutchman from the penalty spot.
Afternoon ‘Holicses
Don Vito rols the ball out to Per who tickles over to Corporal J…..
RVCuunt…!!
On the smoking front Tabs, did you know that non smokers die too…?
Ka- boom
Bang!
Funny how van Pursestrings has developed a Mancy sort of sneer since moving up there. Doesn’t take long, does it ?
Great strike Tabs, but I got the big 1 π
Premature as always. Well in tabs
Sadly I am Joe. I just fear that if I don’t give up the fags AW will never give me the call up π
I still take my shinpads to every game!
Cheers for the assist NorCal.
Cheers NorCal.
Can’t deny that you’ve got the “glory” position Trev π
Johnny Evans does an Emmanuel Eboue, the man to whom ‘poleaxed’ had nothing to do with dropping the keeper.
Afternoon ‘holics.
A combination of being busy and a bit of the man flu has kept me away the last few days. Just caught up on the previous post have to say I can’t understand all the negativity surronding OG either, the link posted by Fun in that piece of shit site the Metro was just typical of the crap being printed and past off as journalism, absolute tosh.
Was a good piece from the sweeper over Smith and an epic from Dr Z, good stuff. As for the original post, I remember all to well those three, Hawley and Hankin meant nothing to me, but I really wanted Chapman to work, but he had an awful time in the red and white. Wierdly the only goal he scored that sticks in my memory was the one he scored, on his return to Highbury, against us.
I’ll have to catch up on this posts drinks later as I haven’t seen any of yesterdays games yet and don’t want to know any results, I’ll also have to go once again into media lockdown just before kickoff due to the cable problem that I’ve been assured, by the cable company gits, will be fixed sometime early next month, which is really quick when you bear in my mind that they first sent someone round to sort it out in June. (&*$$^%#)
Enjoy the game lads and lasses wherever you may be.
COYRRR’s
Afternoon H2H.
Right Good Holics, I’m off to the juicer. Good luck everybody.
Come on The Arsenal!
Well in Tabs.
But don’t let Wolfie get wind of you wanting to give up on the fags. π
Hey H2H, re your (&*$$^%) – you must have seen my @31 and 32 π
Have a goodΓΊn Tabs.
Poor TV – perhaps he has manflu as well. I thought he didn’t look well after Montpellier.
I like our line-up. Nice to see Kos getting a game, shame about the circumstances.
I actually haven’t yet Trev, will check it later.
WOW. SOMETHINGS NEVER CHANGE.united getting all the decisions.
To many spoilers, I”m out ‘holics, latersz.
All the best Aaron, hopefully he can deliver a performance not too dissimilar from our 1-0 win against ManU 2 seasons ago. I’m convinced he’s got what it takes. COYG.
Business as usual at Anfield, ManU getting all decisions their way, and wrongly so. It really got me sick watchin the telly, I felt a little pity for Liverpool. Gosh.
We can win at Etihad, and we can surely win with style. Just so long as we give it our all today. And good luck to Koscielny, he deserves a game, albeit due to very unfortunate circumstances.
@ 116 Derrick
Hear hear, on all points.
CoMOnUReds/purples etc.
It’s about time! Good morning, ‘holics.
Btw, mancs bastards didn’t deserve a point, let alone three. I like Halsey, but he got the big ones way wrong today.
Come on Arsenal!
We look sharp. Good start. Hi everyone.
Jenks with great job:)
Nice work by Gervinho. Hey Eandy.
nice ball, mikel.
Vito, way to do it!
Beautiful run, great set up.
Oh no – good chance spurned. Stay strong, boys!
oooh shame with Gerv!
and hey abb!:)
Great that we’re creating chances, though.
Ok, it was a bad touch, but “the worst in the history of top flight football”?
Sorry abb – hi.
Hey holics, Gerv the Swev everywhere!
Dear heavens, Jenks, great play! Heh Fun!
What is up with Lescunt’s face???
Jenks is putting in great shift so far!
We’re not clearing the ball out effectively, too many side passes.
Breathe folks. It’s a good game!
Some good news – Sp*ds have conceded.
Damn. Let’s get straight back at them.
aw shucks!
Plenty of time left. Vito recovered.
shame about the corner ..needless one that is, but we are still pretty much dominating the game, can see us score in the next half.
Ugghhh. Let’s get off the mark in the second half…
We’s playin damn good – jus’ need to test their dodgy lookin’ keeper some more and it’s in the bag (ish). GwanURedS!
Also starting Ramsey proves to be another master move by AW, hes playing really well.
Lester, sooooo agree!!!
Gerv has done everything but score…
My word what has Bould done to jenks, i nolonger hold my breath when he is on the ball
Nice to see Ramsey at his best, let’s have Aaron create an early equaliser in this half. By far the better team thus far.
Gibbs our most improved player this season.
Eandy, dont knw which position ramsey is playing, he is everywhere! I reckon we should always have this as our away formation
And how great is to have some options in defensive department…Kos slots in seemlessly, not really looking like this is first time our back four is playing together in this set up this season. City didnt show anything so far except that corner which was needless to give away and sloppily defended to be honest, Poldi should have done his job better but happens.
Still…somehow I am not really concerned about us going without points from this game.
Come on Arsenal!!!
Go on, you Gunners!
Good save Vito.
Right time to shake things up – time to switch to red wine. GoOnUGunners!!!
Cmon we can get one
We`re supposedly punishing Theo, not starting him at games and now we bring him on when we need a result? I don`t get it….haha.
Good save Mannone.
Aaargh!
KOS!!!!!!!!!!
Kozzer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YYYYYYYEEEESSSDS
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES
Bosscielny!!
YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYeeeeeEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes.
Stand strong, boys, brilliant, Vito!
Oh my God we were lucky there
God, I been screaming my fool head off. Great save Vito!
Giroud to score the winner. Heard it here first π
Twist or … CoMOnUREDs!
Aaargh again
Hit the target please!!!!!!
Gervinho back to usual standard today. Shite.
Mugging
Gervinho had a couple of decent chances he should have buried.
Well done boys
YeeeeeeHaaaaaaaaaa!!! Me and The Nurse knew (ish). URedS!
Still a point is not too bad.
Some good performances today, but Mertesacker and Ramsay brilliant.
Gervinho drives me fucking nuts.
Breathtaking. Absolutely proud. Well done everyone, not gonna single out anyone. They all did me very proud. What a game. What a team we’ve got.
Well done, kozzer motm, gervs had a day from last season. good job, boys…
Good point, but should have been all three.
Mertesacker MoM for me.
One more point than last year – deserved more, but so proud.
Kos was never gonna lettuce down. (Oh come on – we got a reeeeesult – it’s allowed.)
Agree Nonny, the BFG’s reading of the game was immaculate.
Great goal by Kos, too.
Better team….good point, and not for the first time can you say ‘team effort’ – we’re so improved over last season. Jenkinson – blimey you were good. Per M….how many times each week is he always in the right place?
Yes, we can be darn proud of our team. And Don Vito is no shrinking violet. Derrick you said it for me. Zico, agree about Gervais (diamond in the rough, but he sure can sparkle). You’ll see. Hey Lester π Nite all.
Have to agree that Gerv has been frustrating today, still put in lot of hard work, good team effort everyone, point well deserved. Something tells me though that should Poldi been at the end of that Aarons pass in the first half we would be leading, shame but good point in the end.
Vito continues to pleasantly suprise me, after few shaky moments at the start he got in to game and was really good. And just how good is Santi..that guy is just unbelievable.
I think it’s only fair that we got something out of the game. Last season too we deserved something but got nothing. Gerv is so frustrating..just like adebayor .sure he can do better but his finishing is woeful.
Anybody who thinks giroud does not add anything to the team needs to have his head checked. Won every single header. Monster .
And finally per..what a game from him
We should have won
Gervvy was back to normal, missing very easy chances, not going forward into 6 yard box to receive a cross, poor choice of pass, and so on
Thank goodness for the back four who played out of their skins both in defence and attack, and they were joint MOTM
AW was at fault for not bringing Gervvy off first – he was the weakest player in 2nd half – and for delaying substitution to I think 74th minute
Thank goodness for our French centre forward Kossy
Just heard Alan Green saying we should have won – should I change my mind – no!
We need to play to Giroud’s strengths when he’s on the pitch, more width, a few longer balls and for feck’s sake anticipate him winning that first ball (I’m talking to you Walcott).
He is a genuine target man, don’t expect him to run at people.
Frustrating for us, but what a compliment to Arsenal that Mankini feels he has to play that way against us – even at home.
A tactically disciplined and hard working performance but lacked a little bit of creativity in the final third. Ramsey put in quite a tireless performance, Jenkinson was excellent all around and Per was very solid. Kos did very well except for one or two shaky moments, but the goal was a real center forward’s goal. Santi was delightful as usual, he should take more of those shots just from the outside.
If Gerv had shown a better touch and bit more composure we could have gotten the three points.
Also Giroud could have been brought on a bit earlier to keep the central defenders more narrow to allow Gibbs and Jenk to run in.
Tim @ 192, exactly. I am liking Poldi more at left and Giroud down the middle, and Gerv/Theo/Ox can fight for the right side starter position. Gibbs-Poldi combination works very well and Giroud’s runs open up space for Poldi who really is so much more clinical than Gerv or for that matter anyone else in Arsenal shirt.
Result!! What a goal by Kos! Brilliant pile up too after the goal
We could have won it but for Gerv’s shooting I feel
Still a brilliant performance. BFG is my man of the match
Haven’t seen today’s game yet (just listened on AP) but I think Gerve the Swerve is more effective in the middle than wide.
Anyway – woo-hoo! Really pleased with our comeback. Previously, fluffing our lines in front of goal or being a bit off with the final pass would have led to a loss. So even though we could have/should have won, I feel really happy because there has been progress.
lob into the box…
Bang in? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v13LI_eAry0
Koscielny!
Header on goal!
Played Snircielny, but we all know who got the real prize here… 8)
Well in Snir!
Gervinho could have won it for us.
He tried to play hero ball, and tried to win it on his own, always trying to go past his marker despite not getting the better of any defender today.
Not to mention his missed chances.
Too bad, but still a good point.
He should have been subbed.
True grit and fighting spirit. I’m feeling very satisfied with the overall performance.
A really good result for us. We might well have claimed all three points too but for some poor finishing / final decision making in-front of goal. Unlike last year, howver, this time we did have some end product. Step forward Koscielny.
Kos & Per were absolutely imperious in defence. In terms of nous and ability we did not miss TV5 one bit. We probably missed his leadership a little bit but Per’s communication is also first class.
Jenks also outstanding, Gibbs great in defence but his crossing not as good as Jenks.
But for one mistake, Don Vito did another very good job for us too. He’s a decent backup whilst we wait for our No.1 to return. Two fantatsic saves kept us in the game.
Cazorla mesmerising at times. What a player. Arteta and Ramsey also had very decent games.
Poldi and Diaby not up to their high standards/potentials today. Not sure why.
Gerv was at his frustrating best/worst. Brilliant runs and jinks. Final decision/pass/shot let him/us down.
We’re still unbeaten and, I believe a match for all of the big teams. Next week’s game vs The Chavs will hopefully cement that belief.
Well done The Arse. You did us proud today.
Unstoppable rocket from Snir!
@ 205 TS
Well summed up.
“fantatsic saves” – bloody Serbian keeper. Grrrr.
Cheers Fun & heh! π
FG @ 197 — Gerv is good down the middle against defenses that are not organizationally strong and would let him have lot of time on the ball. If he is pressed for time to make quick decisions in the final third he makes basic mistakes more often than not, just as he did today. Down the wing his mazy runs and ability to cut in opens up space for others. Also whenever he is left to move around down the middle he tends to hold the ball a bit too much and disrupt the passing fluidity. He is yet to master the art of timing, when to choose to run with the ball and dribble and when to bring other players in. His directness is an asset for us, but he needs to pick up these areas of his game to fit in better.
PS from TS:
AND props to our subs for freshening things up when we needed it. Well done Giroud and Fenton (copywright @ArsenalGent).
BTW, how extraordinary has been Jenkinson’s progress! In a couple of years from third division/non-league football to play at this level and with that much quality. Not only the effort and physical abilities, his qualities on the ball, the crosses, the decision making have all been very consistent. Just last year this time Arsene was being mocked about saying Jenk would have an excellent future…
TS @ 205 sums it up for me.
Great team performance, very happy with that. Signs of a happy, balanced squad at long last, and with enough guts to get something from these tough games. Love watching this side, very proud of them – not something that was always true in the last few seasons.
Mertesacker clearly the pick of the bunch. Imperious. A great lesson for any kids watching that defending is more about reading the game than going round clumping people (although it can be about that as well).
Roll on next weekend and (hopefully) a good slapping for the free spending Russians.
Oh, and this: http://t.co/Rt07giZR
COYG
Just seen this, had to pass it on – nickname for BFG – the Merteceptor.
@ Dr F
Fair enough.
@ N7 Gooner
ha ha to that twitpic
***
Au revoir, gooners.
Dr Faustus@211
Very true about Jenks. However, it should be noted that this time last year Arsène would have been mocked had he said the sun rises in the east.
Good performance, good result. Another indication of the progress made since this time last year is that we’re vaguely disappointed only to take one point from the Oily Manc scum.
COYG ICDDR
Just about to tuck into roast beef. Report will follow tomorrow afternoon when I get home. Love the Arsenal, me.
And do I get a sympathy pay out on the skipper’s replacement scoring?
Guv@217 If you do, make sure to take note of the bookie’s name, address and telephone number. Enjoy dinner.
COYG ICDDR
Ars-en-al bloody Ars-en-al!
Ars-en-al bloody Ars-en-al!
SG
I think you’ll find that Gervinho was subbed!!
π
Very pleased with our full backs this year. Both of them are so young and so full of energy, constantly running forwards and backwards.
As for Gervais, he’ll be good. His game is based on cutting from the left to the centre, not the opposite. When he plays at right he is almost useless.
I like the panic he creates, freeing space for other of our players.
Giroud is a mighty weapon, heavy artillery. 15+ goals for him this year, I can make a bet right now. Anyone?
Nice point. Now, beat the Fulham Russians and we are perfect.
Never thought this morning that I’d be leaving this match disappointed with only a point away to the champions, but here we are.
That said, GET IN KOSCIELNY.
The only thing that could have made that goal better is if it’d been Jenks to score it. Legendary performance from him today.
GT – I meant he shoulda been subbed after like 60 minutes. Not 90 minutes.
It wasn’t his best game, but oh well.
Roll on Wednesday.
Still in love with this team.
I’ll take that Ladies and Gents.
Thought we bossed it for large parts, but the question throughout was always going to be would we be clinical enough to finish off the chances that we would create and put City to the sword.
First half there was only one team in it. The outstanding Bfg delivered a MoM performance and once again presented a metaphorical two fingers to his foolish critics who were so quick to write him off last season. He may not have any pace, but he reads the game so well that he doesn’t need it. So much of what he does goes under the radar, and I lost count of the number of times it was his bonce or one of his telescopic legs that snuffled out any danger.
With Arteta and Diaby dominating the early midfield scuffles, rendering Yaya ineffective, Gibbs and Poldi were able to threaten continuously down the left whilst Ramsey was tirelessly ubiquitous on the right. The chances came and were wasted by first Gervinho’s super heavy (morbidly obese actually) touch, and then more surprisingly by Poldi, after great work from the outstanding Corporal Jenks.
Chances squandered, so it came as no real surprise that City, having created the best part of fuck all all game, should take the lead from a corner. Fingers will no doubt be pointed at Kos and Poldi for allowing Lescott to get in between and then above them, but I would blame the keeper. If you see your own Keeper coming, you expect him to get something on it. Mannone got nowhere near it. Still have huge doubts about the young Italian. Hurry back Woj.
Half Time, I couldn’t believe we were down. Denied my half time fag, concerns began to flood in. Another early goal for City and we were dead.
City enjoyed their best period in the opening 20 minutes of the second half, though their best moments were from set-pieces. Thought Kos was fortunate to get away with Aguero’s penalty shout, but it would be wrong to say that there were many real scares.
Up the other end we hadn’t created much. For the second time in a week I thought Diaby’s substitution was delayed too long. I was surprised AW preferred to use Theo to the Ox, and I was also surprised that Poldi was hauled off whilst Flipper stayed on.
Moving Ramsey inside gave us a renewed impetus.At last we were able to enjoy a period of sustained pressure in our opponents half which finally culminated in Cazorla’s terrific strike. Personally I thought Farty Hart got lucky in tipping it round the post, but heh a pleasure delayed is extra special. With the Bfg creating panic at the near post, the ball dropped invitingly for Kos to hammer home.
The Pub danced.
Just time for a horribly miscued clearance by Kos to present City’s best chance of the day, thankfully spurned, and for Gervinho to remind everybody that today was never likely to be his day.
1-1. Good result. No tobacco but still dancing.
I’ve seen Yanited, Shitty and Chelsea in the last 2 days. Nothing to be frightened of Arsenal. Quiet optimism can continue.
Trev @95 – Sorry mate I missed this first time round. Thank you for your support π
We mean business and we are serious for the first time in years.
Arsen: “This is the best Arsenal squad I’ve ever had”
Well, not quite but they are good.
Santi is pure magic.
Always welcome Tabs π
Ten excellent performances today and one lucky fan who apparantly got called into the team as a birthday treat – name of Gervinho.
I know we don’t like picking on individuals but that was one inept display today in every area of his game.
Mannone’s leap into nomansland for their goal – and the defence’s general lack of attack at that corner – worried a bit, but he, and they very much made up for it thereafter.
Diaby not quite up to Liverpool standards but still making good progress.
Apart from their goal, our first half performance was excellent. Very unlucky to go in a goal down at half time.
Second half was a bit more difficult as Citeh used an extra body in midfield, but somehow our ‘surprising’ substitutions turned it back in our favour.
That Wenger bloke’s quite sharp sometimes, ain’t he.
Such a shame that we really gifted them their goal from a totally unnecessary corner. No blame on Gibbs – he just needed a shout to leave it, rather than head the ball out.
Not many teams will do better than that at Middle Eastlands, and if this summary seems to have dwellt on the negative, that is not the intention.
Just think we were so close to taking all three points.
That’s not bad praise in itsself though.
SSY, agreed.
Arteta is a brilliant player too. And Koscielny must be the unluckiest CB in the league not to be playing every week – at the moment.
A game of two halves again. Dominated and conceded in the first; weren’t dominant and scored in the second. A point at Eastlands isn’t too shabby, but, as Trev, notes three points were tantalizingly close.
Yep agree with Trev and Ned. Great result but still an element of frustration it wasn’t more.
Also agree with SSY. Cazorla is so good he actually makes me giggle when I’m watching him.
Cheers N7 and lovely link. He’s such a snake that I’m starting to believe that he and a certain Dutchman may well have been separated at birth.
Trev, you and I saw the same game. I may be a tad happier than you with a single point but am in complete agreement re: Gerv. He needs to get back into the habit of hanging about in the penalty area to help him continue his recent flurry. Decision making is not his forte. Neither was his first touch today.
Fun – Big heh! at “the Merteceptor”. Love it.
The Quakery was all quiet today. A hush fell over the joint as the mighty Arsenal took the field. Unfortunately, the other hospital has been busy and I only was able to catch the first 20 minutes. I thought we were going to be in the clear until Gerv completely flubbed his touch. How do you do that! I am glad to read that we kept up the spirit and wish we had taken all 3.I Will have to watch the match in full tomorrow when I crawl out of this place I call work.
Cheers all. Still undefeated!
Nice one Funfunner,Merteceptor, he did really intercept plenty of their clearcut chances and for that he gets my motm though it is a close call as my favourite arsenal boy got us the point and what a great goal he scored too.
I dont know why the substitutions were delayed as they were, when Giroud and Theo came on we got a new spring in our steps and I think if they had been on longer we may have nicked a win.
TABS I also thought mannone should have done better with the corner since he went for the ball but I will take the point. We are Arsenal and we get to fight another day. Coventry next and then the chavs,Come on gunners.
It is my bedtime so goodnight all.
Right, back at the vet’s for another night of drip drip drip but this time armed with a laptop to help pass the time!
Haven’t yet had the time to back-drink so I might be repeating what others have said, but here goes…
For me it was a great game, and if any team should have won it it was us. Yes, Aguero had that golden opportunity just after we scored but other than that? Not much. It says quite a lot that after we made it 1-1 in the 82nd minute, WE were the team chasing the winner with all we had and City were hanging on for dear life – at their ground, after all the money they have spent on their squad.
There is a little bit of a sour taste that we didn’t win it, but the performance gave me a lot to be proud of. There is something to this team that we have been lacking in the past few seasons, maybe unity, maybe experience or maybe something else. But it seems more like a team so far this season.
Oh, and did anyone see, after about 30 minutes, Mike Dean spitting, puffing and panting and very clearly saying “fuck me!”? The game was obviously played at a pace he found difficult to keep up with, but all the same I have to say he didn’t get many calls wrong at all. No complaints at all about his reffing, he had a great game – not something you can say about Mark Halsey in the Liverpool-ManU game. How the fuck did the pregnant Dutch wanker not walk for his two-footed, straight-legged tackle? Even the two ManU fans that were sitting next to us could not belive he got away with only a yellow.
In any case it was a great few hours down the pub. Great atmosphere and there was an incredibly loud noise made as Kos hammered home the equalizer, seemed like pretty much everyone in there were rooting for us!
That’ll do for now, now for some back-drinking! π
Agree with much that has been written above. In Gervinho’s defence, although it clearly wasn’t his day, he kept plugging away, didn’t hide and presented a constant threat. I thought both our fullbacks were immense, particularly Jenks about whom there was much unfounded pre-match anxiety.
Very unlucky to go in 0-1 at HT and over the piece unlucky not to take all 3 points. A good boost to self belief. Now back to Colney for a double period with Mr Bould as the lessons seem to be working but there is more to learn.
Have to heh the ‘holic pound, so near yet so far.
Watched the game in a pub in shoreditch with the Gooner contingent of the stag party.
Back home now.
Could have won, could have lost, I’ll take the point, and a lot of encouraging performances.
Gervinho was extremely frustrating today, but what baff said.
And despite a pronounced tendency to run into blind alleys or team-mates in the second half, he did very well to create that last minute chance for himself and shoot, shame he didn’t borrow his shooting boots from Santi π
So, the Neanderthal Terry has called time on his international career, saying that the FA decision to charge him has made his position untenable.
I’m confused.
Has the FA got something right?
Too hard to work out now; I’ll have to sleep on it.
Night all.
COYG ICDDR
I too would agree with Bath re Gerv.
I was happy to see him play in the central role because I always felt his pace would cause problems for Company & Co. He had some clear chances – in the first half his first touch let him down, but how many strikers would have had the pace to skin the full backs in the first place? And if he scores the chance at the end we would be singing a far different tune.
Now don’t get me wrong, his touch, his finishing and decision making leave alot to be desired at times and we can only hope that this will come. But his movement causes so much trouble and he puts himself in positions of real threat. And while he missed those chances today, the last time he started he scored two and provided some assists too, so he’s got to be given the benefit of the doubt in my book.
But I’m utterly delighted with the team so far. No-one’s head fell, the spirit continued and we could have even won it at the death. Our defensive discipline and midfield control is just a sheer joy to watch. We’re a much different TEAM to last season in almost every single way..!
on Vermaelen’s absence…
He had ‘flu yesterday, and we left him at home. But Laurent Koscielny had a great game and stepped in very well. We have three classy centre backs, and it is a very difficult choice. Koscielny, Mertesacker and Vermaelen – no matter who is left out can feel it is not right. But I will rotate them and take into consideration the strikers we will face.
But I thought AW is “tactically naive, and doesn’t adapt to the opposition!” Something I refuted last season and done quite a good job showing everybody how much of a non-sense that was. Seems like that quote is just reinforcing that.
Has anyone ever seen Mike Dean and Jasper Carrott in the same room together ? π
We haven’t lost a game yet. So proud. We’ve come from behind twice now. Our back up goalie didn’t retreat. Enjoyed all your comments. I’m firmly in the camp Gervinho will leave his mark. Feel compelled to add that Citeh always gives us a game, always fast paced, plenty of action at both ends. Very enjoyable. Voted KOS MOTM, since it was his first start this season. FunGunner, really think ‘Merteceptor’ will stick, what a game he had. Jenks, love the way he is pushing forward. God, I could just go on and on about how great they were today. And Mike Dean, how delightful he was, leaping up into the air several times to avoid getting in the way.Props to him. Very happy! Now off to work.
Evening all.
Cracking game, and a point away at the Champions who are unbeaten at home in the league since God was a Boy.
A point we would happily have accepted before kick off.
I am also certain that you can bet your life that TV wouldn’t have been the only player suffering from a virus.
In a team environment,something like that spreads like wildfire,so i think you may find Poldi/Diaby may well have been suffering the after effects.
Which may be why they were subbed.
Having said that,but for some poor finishing we could easily have won the game.
Belief now very strong in this group of players,only 2 goals conceded in 5 games,with a 3rd string keeper playing in 3 of them.
All the portents for a good season are there,a strong squad,a happy squad, [ except for Walcott ],and the Chavs next week should be another early stepping stone towards a very competitve season for us.
Tabs,when you have been off the cancer sticks for 7 months,instead of 7 days,then i will be impressed.
It is a foul disgusting pestilence,that is a blight on our Society.
So keep the faith,and your Lungs will certainly thank you for it,if you can stay off them.
Have you bought Nemesis yet.??
Cheers
The Sweeper
Agree with all of the above who sing in praise of the back four. Excellent games all. Don Vito did well, too, save for the somewhat expensive flap. If Arteta had been tighter on the post, he might have got away with it.
Tabs, hark the Sweeper’s wise words. You get your taste buds back, too.
Somewhat snarky report of the game from the BBC. Time to let go of the if only the Dutchman was still there comments, I would have thought. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19614985
Snir @ 239 — if I may, I think Arsene can be tactically as capable and as nuanced as any other manager in the game — including the Specious One — when needed. He just doesn’t make a fetish of the tactical aspects but stresses on the pass-and-movement dimensions as in his mind the game is primarily an entertainment. And also, in his mind, an attacking game based on self-belief and technical abilities have a better chance of winning football matches than trying to decide it all on chalkboards (or iPads), and in that sense he is a football purist/idealist and not a pragmatist.
As you know, there are many reasons why the perception of ‘Arsene the tactically naive’ has become a well-established ‘truth’, primarily the loss of key matches in the last 5-6 years (and not always against stronger opposition on paper) where the young squad was found wanting in discipline. In my mind, that provides no insight in to the tactical abilities of Arsene, but into something else, which is him being probably a little bit more forgiving to his young squad as a form of encouragement compared to what most managers would have done. Him not being as strict a disciplinarian. In that respect, and also in terms of showing faith on the more positive side of human nature of his young proteges, the events may have proved him ‘naive’.
But coming back to tactical abilities, it is almost always a secondary aspect of the game and even when a manager is praised for a tactical win it is not the strategy on the whiteboard per se but the abilities and desire and commitment of the players that make that possible. A case in example was Inter’s CL Semi win against Barca when the Mourinho was praised for his ‘tactical genius’. But it was not the tactics itself — which was rather an obvious ultra-defensive approach — but the willingness of thoroughbred horses like Eto’o to do the donkey’s work. For a long time Arsene didn’t have a starting line up where everybody is psychologically matured enough and with the right hunger and attitude to be able to stay tactically disciplined, and this year he has that, and you would say much less of the type of losses where it was otherwise so easy to blame on Arsene’s tactics.
The delayed substitutions would continue to frustrate us, but I think he the continuous and deliberate insistence on subs only after 60th or even 65th minute has been arrived at based on concrete statistical analysis of the game and is neither a whimsy nor a tactical ineptness that many would have us believe.
When all is said and done, it’s an effin’ good result.
In the final sentence of the third paragraph, I meant “…and you would see much less of the type of losses…”
And the first line of last paragraph, “…but I think the continuous and deliberate …” .
Lars, good luck with the Dog.
Agree with Bath and Joe re Gerv. Just wasn’t his day, but as others have said , he never hid. I also feel that he’s much more effective in the central role AW is currently using him in than out wide. That said, I do agree with Snir. I felt he rather than Poldi should have been subbed.
Mind you as The Sweeper has mentioned there may have been more behind those substitutions than met the eye. I wonder if TV is suffering from the same bug as Theo had whilst away with England?
Snir – I’m not convinced AW will rotate his central defenders despite what he said today . He’s never done it before and he hasn’t done it in the first 4 games, notwithstanding that we have faced the very different challenges of Stoke and Liverpool. I have a feeling that if they all stay fit, TV might be the one to miss out the most.
The Sweeper – You are hereby nominated as chief motivational coach! π
Have a couple of books on the go at the moment Clive, but will go out and get Nemesis when I have cleared the decks.
Ned – agreed on the BBC. The Dutchman was hopeless today and did his best to miss the pen which was his only contribution, apart from nearly seeing red. He’s a great player, but anyone would think he never missed when he was with us. He missed plenty. AC Milan comes to mind. Norwich at home was another one where he missed a hatful.
Good stuff Faustus.
Blindly, the 3G signal is better at night. Muddled thoughts follow >>>>