1929-30 Remembered: Chapman Lands The First Trophy
Mar 6th, 2013 by 'holic
It seems a good time to remind people that Arsenal once went 44 years without winning a major trophy. That included a seventeen year blank after moving to a larger stadium. It came after Herbert Chapman, rightly now revered, had gone five years without delivering the trophy Arsenal supporters craved. A piece I originally penned for Arsenal-Land in November 2007 covered that first successful season for the Gunners at the start of the decade that saw their status soar worldwide. Thanks again Darren for letting me reproduce these pieces here.
When Herbert Chapman arrived from Huddersfield Town in1925 there was a degree of surprise among the football watching public of the day. The Yorkshire club had landed two Football League titles before Chapman’s shock departure, and went on to collect the hat trick in 1926, ironically pipping Arsenal in what to that point had been their best season.
He had taken the reins at a London club without a major trophy to its name, but the ambitious Chapman knew the regard in which he would be held if he could bring success to the south.
The runners-up spot in his first league season in charge was followed twelve months later by a first FA Cup Final appearance for Arsenal. In a major shock, however, Chapman’s hot favourites fell to Cardiff City at Wembley.
By the summer of 1929 Chapman needed to find a playmaker to replace Charlie Buchan, who had retired a year earlier. By good fortune Alex James, one of the truly outstanding players of the era was made available by his club Preston and Chapman was quick to pounce. A fee of nine thousand pounds sealed the capture.
As so often happens with big money signings though, the Scottish international was not an immediate success. Although Arsenal won five of their opening six fixtures there followed a slump in form so dramatic that by Christmas the talk was not of the title, but of relegation. The Christmas matches saw Chapman tinker with his side, most notably bringing in a reserve inside forward, Cliff ‘Boy’ Bastin, on the left wing. James confidence remained low and when Chelsea came visiting in the third round of the FA Cup, he was sensationally dropped.
The decision proved to be the correct one, as in pouring rain the Gunners triumphed 2-0 to earn another home tie with Birmingham. Still without James the home team appeared to be cruising at 2-0, but City rallied to force a replay at St Andrews.
The following morning Chapman revealed the extent of his man-management skills, calling to collect James and take him to Highbury for special training. James returned to the side for the replay and Arsenal won with a Baker penalty.
Successive away draws in the fifth and sixth rounds gave Arsenal extremely difficult ties at Middlesbrough, where an impressive two nil triumph was overshadowed only by the three goal drubbing of West Ham at Upton Park.
The semi-final draw could not have been kinder. Hull City’s fight against relegation from the Second Division would surely not hinder Chapman’s progress to a second Final in three years?
Fifteen minutes in Hull’s Harrison took advantage of a goalkeeping error to open the scoring, and shortly afterwards Eddie Hapgood, the Arsenal left back, sliced into his own net. As the halftime score flashed around the country all ears were turned to the radio commentary from Leeds. This was a sensation in the making.
The score line remained unchanged until ten minutes from time when David Jack reduced the arrears. Just two minutes later James played a slide-rule pass to Bastin and Arsenal had survived the shock.
The significant moment of a bad-tempered replay at Villa Park came when David Jack struck a spectacular volley to take the Gunners back to Wembley. Between the two ties Jack had captained England to a 5-2 win over Scotland, and Alex James. When the sides had last met at Wembley, two years previously, James had inspired Scotland’s ‘Wembley wizards’ to a 5-1 triumph.
Relegation had ceased to be a major worry by the end of the season, but it took a couple of spectacular results in the closing fixtures to lift the side to fourteenth place. First Sheffield United were crushed 8-1 before the trip to Leicester, where Arsenal recovered from a 3-1 half-time deficit to draw 6-6!
So to Wembley, and one can only imagine how proud Chapman must have been as he led his current side, Arsenal, out at Wembley to face a side he himself had largely constructed at Huddersfield.
Town were unquestionably the favourites. They fielded seven internationals while Arsenal were forced to field a reserve goalkeeper, Charlie Preedy. At lunch though a plan was hatched that would determine the contest. James agreed with Bastin that the first free kick in opposition territory would involve an exchange of passes between the two for James to shoot at goal. His colleagues chuckled. James was not a prolific scorer of goals!
Seventeen minutes in James was fouled. He played the ball to Bastin on the left wing and advanced to smash the return pass into the back of the net. It was time for the Gunners rearguard to do their job, and they did so.
As the game unfolded there was a sign of things to come in the sky over the stadium as the German airship, Graf Zeppelin sailed by almost unnoticed. It would take more than the ill-fated blimp to distract Arsenal on the greatest day they had experienced to date.
Seven minutes from time James relieved pressure on the Arsenal goal with a long pass to centre forward Jack Lambert who muscled his way through to score the clincher. Skipper Tom Parker may have been the man to lift the famous old trophy, but few would argue that this special day belonged to Chapman and James.
For the supporters too, memories of years of struggle, the move to Highbury, the loss to Cardiff three years earlier, were finally banished. By the end of the thirties football would have temporarily halted thanks to the Second World War, but the sadly deceased Chapman would have made Arsenal into a dynasty, with five League Championships and a second FA Cup to their credit.
179 Responses to “1929-30 Remembered: Chapman Lands The First Trophy”
That will do me
Runner 7-up please
Champions League..?
Me too.
You Ropey League for me then 🙁
‘Holic,
Thanks for another great history read. A great club. One to always be proud of.
Thanks again for this bar and its colorful patrons.
Cheers NorCal.
h2h
always a pleasure
i’ll as always have just a pint – i’m not a greedy man – of fizzy whiskey
its real – just ask the barman – oooops
picked on a wrongun this time didn’t i
i’ll knock ten crests out of it
nope
ok
pint of green spot then
fuck sake
no
smart arse aren’t you
😉
Lovely post.
I’ve got a great “On This Day” about Chapman later this month. Something I have never read before and stopped me in my tracks when I read it.
oh
evening ‘hol
in intentionally not intending to be my usual drunken verbose self i appear to have failed
you have my blessing to loose the hounds
they’ll never find me though
i’m in donegal at the minute
fuck
.
hello hounds
I’m looking forward to that then, Andy…
Evening cba.
Thanks Ollie.
Alright H2H?
Heh @11
And is Sake good looking? You seem to “cuddle” with her frequently.
1929 ‘holic
what row was your season ticket for that year then ?
i’d bet iffin you were that old you’d remember too
i have difficulty from game to game
i saw young nacho warming up on the pitch and hadn’t a buggerin clue who he was
came to me eventually and my number begins with 4
oy jealous of your recall vey
Fine guv, thanks….
I didn’t mean to scare ya with the 7up order, it was just my (horribly failed) attempt at an humourous suggestion for 2nd drink.
Great piece sir, I read somewhere that our first league title was actually the first time a Southern team had won the First Division, is this true?
psed. I’ll have a beer and a round for the bar please.
yum yum pig’s bum
‘holic
can i have my pint of crested ten in a dozen small glasses ?
It is H2H 🙂
One more can’t do any more damage I suppose, cba 😉
Him or George Graham anyway.
But they’ve all just been keeping the seat warm for The Greatest Manager We Will EVER Have
Chris Kiwomya!
say what you mean ‘holic
what are you trying to incinerate
Masterful Holic.
So many familiar names and dates – but all put into context.
Thanks, great stuff.
I’ve told you enough times about that book.
smiley winky face that moves
dunno how to do it
but i’ve seen it done
and know it exists
so
one of those
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DndK5hZBgu0
this is only a wee bit about you
Good post, Guv.
Been trying to watch the CL footie tonight but both games are unbelievably boring. And just as I write that Valencia go 1-0 up with a proper belter of a shot!
The post about Chapman’s first win, however, was anything but boring. A very good read!
Yeah, I’ve just switched off, Lars.
Evening off football. Bordeaux vs Benfica tomorrow (don’t even know if it’s home or away)
I had exactly the same Lars/Ollie.
I got the PSG game on in the background, but it was so tedious that I staryed paying attention to the Bilrart matches (I have two tables) going on on the otherside of the bar, I’ve also got a nice freshly painted wall in a backroom if the excitement gets too much for me.
======
PSG now equalised and it looks like they might both have to play.
just watching a one of many explanation documentaries about “punk”
there is no starting point
all contributed before
but iffin you want and have to have a startin point for the trademark buzzzsaw sound to erm start from – it can only be johnny joey dee dee and tommy , shirley ?
Hi holics. Holic, this piece makes me appreciate the good run the ‘modern’ Arsenal have enjoyed for so long now. Your inclusion of the German airship, sent shivers down my spine. Really made an impact with me.
excellent history lesson, thanks ‘holic.
i hope it helps put into perspective for more modern arsenal supporters (as abb calls them) the gift we’ve been given over the past 16 years.
and something for the bar, when you can’t decide between drinking guinness or eating something:
http://news.yahoo.com/guinness-not-just-pint-glasses-anymore-170654990.html
Must add, I enjoyed those who talked about fans of other clubs, esp. Leeds 🙂 Ollie, Juve 2-0 😉
Hi scruz 🙂 cba, if you’re still here, you make me smile. Now you join a long list of holics who cheer me up, when I need it the most. Cheers to the best bar in the world. 🙂
Great post holic. It has so much more when it is an eye witness account from the heart.
🙂
Yellow card, Steve 😉
Just a yellow?
I think he showed intent to harm 😉
steve’s lucky ‘holic’s nottaturk.
Heh, no one knows which football team Winston Churchill favored (though he did own a team). Spill the beans, Holic, ha ha 🙂 Sinbin, here I come ! 😉
Great and timely piece thanks.
I would really like to have someone have a word with my complete lack of confidence in AW please. It has gone for a Burton. TBH in was on the wane, having been serioiusly derailed after the CC final and subsequent piss poor relegation form.
But now? It has evaporated to such an extent that even IF Wenger had serious dough to spend AND actually chuffing spent it, I STILL wouldn’t have faith in him to improve things on a consistent basis.
I think his time is up, this seasons end; give him a statue and say merci beacoup, you were an amaxingly loyal and brilliant manager, but you know, all good things and all that.
Thanks and really sorry for the downer post. 🙂
Ok Norris. Yesterday we wittnessed some of the most childish behavior by top level managers, the world has seen. One went into hiding after his team lost. Coward. The other berated his own team even though they had played well. He did this to get the attention he so craves. Self centered son of a gun. Wouldn’t want either of them near our club. Like many, I’ve given thought to what it will be like, when AW steps down. Chelsea come to my mind. Horrors.
Thanks abb. I thought Mourinho was simply putting himself forward for the United job (self serving c*nt that he is). And fergie’s blanked the media for years, especially when he doesnt have one of his puppet refs to help him out.
That all said, I still think we should be looking at some fresh faces at the club, from board to manager, coaches and players.
steve’s lucky ‘holic’s nottaturk.
Speaking of which, even though I said it wasn’t necassary to do an anagram of yesterdays ref’s name, I couldn’t resist;
Cuneyt Cakir = Crikey, a Cunt.
Norris, my support for Arsene comes from the knowledge that even as he, just like every human being, has his flaws he is STILL best suited to the managerial role at our club, at the moment. He doesn’t do too much tactics and seems to have his favourite player(s) who he always plays no matter their form e.t.c. But in the end, do we really know of anybody else in this world who we can trust to have done better in the same circumstances we’ve continously found ourselves over the past few barren years? Looking at Arsene’s record over the years it’s quite evident that he’s not really the type of manager who will tweak his team on the spot and win a cup game; he is more of a manager who will fine-tune his team to be better than every other team in the long run (I personally think this is why the invincibles didn’t win the UCL but strolled the league), If he was the former type, we would have certainly won a few Cups in the past 8years but i bet you we won’t have been consistently qualifying for the UCL over the past sixteen years, I believe we all know the consequences of failing in that regard, i think the board knows this too and that’s why they prefer him to any other manager.
H2H @41, or better still- A crikey cunt.
Yellow card?????? Yellow bloody card?????????
Right, I refuse to speak to the media for a week. Fact.
🙂
Norris, Yes we desperately need changes at our club so we can be the best we can afford to be. No doubt AW is revisiting some of his decisions that have baffled us. I just dread the time when another manager takes over. The inevitable comparisons, the media circus (I’d bet anything the press will then go on about how great Arsene was). Cent, thoughtful work there @ 42.
Steve T. 😆
Thanks, Nursie.
I follow a Leed’s fan on twitter. Leed’s have won 4 games in a row now. Prior to that he was always tweeting/RT ‘Warnock’ out now! He doesn’t know what he’s doing, etc., etc. Since they have been winning, he doesn’t mention the manager at all. Curious, heh 😉 Nite peeps. Keep the faith! 🙂
Heh @ 45.
Nitety nite Cent, Steve (no media, huh 🙂 ) H2H, you’re the barman, right now, fill up their drinks. Bye folks 🙂
Goodnight Nurse and all you other beautiful ‘Holics.
Cunty van Horse Placenta can suck a horse’s ****** for all I care.
So which burgers are they in? 😉
Cent
I would love you to be my line manager if If I fuxxed up at work
Bring back the team photographs with the uniformly folded arms and we’re sure to win a trophy. 😉
I have decided that due to the outrageous treatment that my deputy, BTM will cover all of my media commitments. Just as soon as he is out of rehab.
Very nice read Holic, wonder when The Arsenal will be able to go on a galvanising FA Cup run like that again? 🙂
Chapman truly was a man motivator.
I see Steve T did the classic joke.
My work here is done 😉
Fine historic piece, maestro.
You are a bloody archive mate.
Should we take David Dein so we can remind the locals of the good old days?
/Agent Orange joke
Bobpat @54, thanks for the compliment.
Demonising
Headline from The Daily Mail website: ‘Graham Poll: This terrible trend of demonising the referee has to stop.’
Other headlines from The Daily Mail website:
– ‘The Cakir hit-list: The Turkish ref has a history of punishing Premier League stars…’
– ‘What happened when Sportsmail tracked down ref who stunned United with Nani red?’
– ‘ Revealed: The amazing stats of card-happy ref who sent off Nani – and he follows Ronaldo and Real Madrid on Twitter’
– ‘Referee Cakir might have felt Ferguson and Ferdinand’s wrath at Old Trafford, but he should be thankful he wasn’t subjected to this…’
Any comments, tabs? 😉
Bunch of cunts Ollie over at The Fail, but then you knew that! 🙂
I have told them that I now own my own Image rights, and they have to pay me 5 million pounds if they want to publish another picture of me. They have yet to get back to me.
Tough night for Fergie on Tuesday.Can’t help thinking that somehow the experience has almost imperceptibly aged the old cunt.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BEqhGEcCMAA2UD7.jpg:large
Afternoon All.
should we buy him? At £20m he’d be reasonably cheap. I know his wages are stupid and we’d never pay them, just pondering.
Far better than anything we currently have, supreme cunt though.
@fternoon y’@ll.
Heh @ 60.
==
@tabs, great pic of him leaving the stadium. Old (Public) Toilet.
@64.
Never happen.
With the wages he’d demand his only real choice would be one of the fossil fueled clubs.
That’s if (and that’s a big if) he choses to leave the IOU
🙂 @the pic Tabs.
@64 – why do you think ManUre might be willing to let him go?
Not forgetting he is an objectionable thug who ended the Invincibles run with his cheating. Shirt sales would not be great. 😉
Plus they already run out of pies on match days as it is. 😉
Good afternoon Gents.
I’d like to know what you guys think of my musings @42, thanks.
Heh @ 68.
Trying to cheer myself up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuKva8GUwBk
Not sure it is working
Jinxer strikes again, at work 🙁
Some tool account problem, I just sent an e-mail saying that I was able to keep the token even if nobody could log in again, which was true.
3 minutes after I sent that, session failed.
Beyond belief…..
Questions:
Since when are you allowed to crowd and sarcastically applaud the ref at the final whistle?
and
What on earth did Arsene say to the ref after our game in the Nou Camp to get him a touchline ban? Presumably it was far worse than whatever Ferguson shouted repeatedly at the fourth official and ref on Tuesday night? I see he’s only being charged for skipping the post match presser.
What Utd are moaning about, I have no idea. They’ve got off lightly, as usual.
OK I’ll absolve myself of that one, someone was resetting the accounts 🙂
heh tabs 63
Cent,
Quite a task to unravel your @42.
Basically I agree that AW has done an amazing job to keep us in the CL all those years, especially the last five.
I’m not sure about your point on tactics.
I think his tactics, for a long time now, have been governed by the players available to him which, in turn, has been limited by finances and injuries.
I think if he had the players he might well be more of a team “tweeker”, as you put it. He was well known for throwing everything at the kitchen sink to get a result in the days when he had those match winning substitutes to call on. Recently, however, he has not.
I think the reason he has not won more cups of late is that he has had a policy, or been forced by injuries, to field a high proportion of youngsters in cup competitions, who have gone out of the competition as soon as quality opposition has been encountered.
I believe that has had far more to do with our ultimate failure than his lack of tweeking.
The reason he hasn’t won the Champions League – is that the quality of opposition is consistently far higher than the domestic league, once you reach the knockout stages.
We did get to the final in 2006 – so he is clearly capable of getting there – and were unlucky with the circumstances that resulted in our loss. We have also been knocked out more than once by some terrible refereeing decisions.
So, again, I’m not sure the lack of tweeking is a massive factor.
He is definitely a team builder and evidently extremely cautious with the finances.
That is why I believe the board like him as a ling term safe pair of hands.
I feel that the board has had a big influence on many of his decisions in the last three or four years but I am not goung to comment on them any further.
I tried to put a reasoned argument forward on that subject a couple of days ago and got jumped on from most sides, for apparantly accusing the owner of things I didn’t actually say, and having a go at Joe for “not standing in the rain”.
Again, that wasn’t quite what I said, or intended, as I like and respect what Joe says on here.
There are some that will not tolerate even suggested criticism of certain things though.
Ttg and NorCal wrote extremely informative pieces on American ownership – see them for the gist of what I was getting at.
Cheers.
N7 speaketh the truth, as usual.
@various above (and beyond)
Mr Wenger has been one of the greatest managers the club has had, certainly the best in most of our lifetimes, I have been 100% behind him and will be forever greatful for what he has achieved, however………..
Nothing lasts forever, time goes by, circumstances and situations change.
With great remorse, I feel we are coming towards the end of an era, we have evolved as a club over the last few years, but as a footballing force we have stagnated, lost ground even. Now, before someone rightly points out that the goalposts have been moved due to the influx of the petro dollar, I’ll say, I fully understand that, there are a few clubs that we can’t match when it comes to wages-transfer fees etc, however a club of our standing, experience and recources should easily be the best of the rest, but we aren’t, not be a long shot.
Not having unlimited recources in the transfer market shouldn’t necessarily mean that you are unable to compete, yes it makes it harder to win the league, but to be all but out of it before December shouldn’t be exceptable for a club of our stature.
We had a nice little COC cup run, we went out to a lower division side, these things happen, it’s all part and parcel of the game……..
But to then, just a few weeks later, manage to once again be beaten by underdogs in the FA cup, at home non the less, surely then, questions must be asked?
We literaly throw games away due to keystone-esque individual mistakes or by just plain forgetting the basics as a group. I know as a statistic we have one of the best defensive records, but that just supports my theorey that you can use statistics to show what ever you want them to show. If you look at all the goals we’ve given away this season, how many of them have been truly great goals, unstopable efforts? Not many, a very (worryingly) large percentage of them could/should of been stopped.
If you let in goals at one end you can always offset that by scoring at the other end. (case in point Manure ited) But we seem to have lost the art of doing that too. I find it hard to believe how a team that can stick 5, 6 or 7 goals past a PL team, can fail so miserably against lower division teams and other PL teams. It can’t be a personel issue, because these players have found the net, so it must be a line up or tactical issue, this too is worrying.
Over the weekend we suffered defeat at the hands of the dispicables at the shithole. It’s always hard to take losing to that mob, that it was pretty much self inflicted doesn’t make it any better, but yet again, these things happen………..
But why, why, WHY must we then be subjected to the whole “I’m worried about our mental state” bollox?!?!?
With all due respect, fuck the fuck off with that shit. That’s just adding insult to injury. That’s not what we want to hear after losing to our bitterest of rivals leaving us 7 points adrift with 10 games left to play. No, what we want to hear is how the players are gutted and will work their over privilidged arses off, shedding blood, sweat and tears and doing whatever it takes to get us back on track. All this sissy mamby pamby defeatist pussy attitude makes me sick to my stomach. Where is their pride, where are their balls?
We need to spend some f-ing money. That seems to be the collective thinking, do this and we should be better, personaly I don’t think it will help much. Believe it or not, we have spent a shit load of money over the last few seasons. Look at our first team, it is barely recognisable compared to that of a few years ago. Our outlay for a numerous amount of players is carefuly hidden behind “net spend”, meaning that we’ve brought in (money wise) more then we dished out, but what we have dished out is a pretty tidy sum none the less. We’ve acquired some dross, some average but also some pretty decent players, full internationals at the right age with a good amount of experience, yet we are still struggling and positions that have been crying out for reinforcements (for years) have been left unfilled. Once again, the warning signs are flashing.
To say that no-one could have done a better job under the circumstances is a stance based on opinion and not fact, once again I love him for what he has done, but in all honestly I belive his powers are waining and we really need to start to look towards the future without reminising too much over the past. Once again this will lead to the enivatable, “but who’s available” arguement. Are we really so indoctored that we believe that there is not another man on earth that could fill his shoes? Think back 20 years ago, who would have possibly thought that an almost unknown from the J-League could take us to where we are today? There are always other options
This is not a Wenger Out post, this is just me trying to make sense of what I’ve been witnessing over the last few years and trying to convince myself and others that a change might not be the end of the world but maybe a grand new begining. Personaly I’m willing to give him a little more time, but I want him to lose the defeatest attitude that is spreading lke cancer throughout the club, I’d also like to see him delegate a little more, share the load with coaches that could bring some fresh ideas to the way we play, our formation and tactics. Maybe a move upstairs wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, but knowing AW he will honour his contract before deciding about anything, I just hope that by then his legacy is still intact.
Drinky from me if you managed to get through my rantings.
Arsenal Forever!!!
Cent 69, the above was for you. (a.o)
Cheers H2H,
I have come to some of the same decisions in my mind. A change is needed and I just hope AW and the owner/ board realize it.
I personally think AW will not leave voluntarily until his contract is up next summer. Will the board force him to take a step back and bring in major help, or do we keep hoping it will turn around on its own?
“Mediocrity and inertia”have been thrown around the last few weeks. We need someone within the club to break this trend and soon or it is only going to be harder to do later. Complacency and a lack of ambition to really “go for it” has saddled the club and is riding it hard.
Change for the sake of change, and spending money for the sake of spending money are what liverpoo tried. We need to be careful about how we approach things but we should not be paralyzed by the thought of either.
We need to be careful about how we approach things but we should not be paralyzed by the thought of either.
It took me about six paragraphes to say what you achieved in one scentance. 🙂
Thanks Trev, H2H and Norcal for responding. Just like H2H, Norcal does justice to all my conflicting thoughts with the last pragraph of his post @80.
Barman, I will now have that drink H2H offered me @78.
Af’noon.
I hate being the bringer of bad news but GET WELL SOON Benik Afobe – anterior cruciate has ‘done for him’ at Millwall. At least he can now shuffle back to the welcoming bosom of London Colney and he no longer has the likes of Harry The Dog for company.
Trev, measured & excellent @ #76.
Nice rant H2H @ #78. I fully agree that talking about ‘a mental state’ issue is a very strange thing to do in front of the meeja. I fail to see how that can have any positive impact on the team. If anything, some of them could start to use it as an excuse.
More alcohol please barman. My comrades appear to be a little dry.
Dart night tonight TS.
I’ll be as wet as a fishes wet bits. 🙂
Ronaldo said he did not want to get into any further debate on the subject, but he would be keeping an eye out for United’s results from now on.
“I have no words for this gentleman, except that I hope the team he manages always loses,” he added.
I always loved Ronaldo. The Brazilian striker who when at his best was the best in the world. Looks like SAF is still bitter he scored a hat trick at the old toilet.
heh, nice one NorCal
Bloody hell I’m tired, I probably need a beer. Barman, a pint of Doom Bar please.
Give him two. 😉
For those who remember the tackle during St Etienne vs Nice?
11-match ban. That’s how we roll. No 3 games ban like for Taylor or Shawcross.
Cheers TS.
“With all due respect, fuck the fuck off with that shit” – H2H @78 !
Hope you never lose respect for me mate. 😉
It does seem a very odd thing to come out with tho’, i.e. the whole mental strength thing.
Very confused message anyway as the quotes I read said “I am afraid how the team will react if they lose to Bayern. How do you absorb those blows.”
Then, “We will manage the end of the season, we are very experienced at that.”
Ouch!
Hey Lars. I’m off out myself now. Going to have 14 yoghurts and get completely mullered. 😉
14 yogurts?
I think you will become more “cultured”! 😉
Thanks for the history ‘h – Herbert wins the “best Chapman The Arse ever had” comp by a street longerer than the Holloway Road, even.
Fine read @78 H2H – the defeatism stuff defo chimed here.
Evening all.
Thanks for your kind words and fine debating again.
Benfica vs Bordeaux now, ‘holic 😉
heh, I see the Bus Stop lost in Romania
Oh God, thought I’d take a look at proceedings down in Dingy Hole, hoping to see the Spuds get bashed.
Bloody Bay-all has scored already after 6 munutes.
Wait for the test match now then. Sounds like that might be more fun.
That ground looks like a disused barracks.
Good stuff NorCal
Trev.
With all due respect, I would never fucking let that fucking happen…
I fucking respect you to fucking much. 🙂
===
Cheers Rev’.
===
Evening guv’
Up against a higher division team here in the darts…
I think a few drinks might have to be spiked.
Fine debating skills are about to go bye bye. 😉
A mediocre pass with little inertia up to Ollie for a pre-assist…….
Shoots…
…and it’s in!
Bale booked for simianulation – again.
Why Gareth ? Because you dived, you twat.
Out of the return leg now – less chance of an overuse injury there then. 🙁
Don’t be so modest, NorCal: great assist!
Well in Lars!
Ooo! Lurky Lars grabs one.
Nice finish, or swedish. 😉
Trev, perhaps that’s what he meant when he said he was diving to avoid injuries then 😉
Well in Lars
Must be Ollie. 😉
And Benfica score 🙁
Heh@105
Nice finish Lars…….you took none of the pace of the pass and put it away 😉
Have a good evening all. A weekend without Football may be a blessing for me. My eldest turns 16 on Sunday. It’s going to be all about her. Not that she doesn’t think that already! 😉
A 16 year old girl NorCal ?
Your problems are all over ! 😉
Cheers chaps, at least getting the century provides a tiny crumb of comfort in this (footie-wise) mostly miserable week…
evening ‘holic and ‘holics various
spurs are playing – its all i can do to contain my disinterest
.
in authentic italian style – herself crumpled some tesco cheese and onion crisps atop my tortelloni
turns out its gorgeous
still think she shoulda asked though
women !
can’t live with ’em
.
the light misty rain really brings out the neanderthal in bales eyes
*girly giggles*
Tortelloni cba ?
Is that just one tortoise ? 😉
brilliant
a proper laugh was had at that one , trev
up there with –
pokemon – a jamaican proctologist
😆
Proctologist has had a hard day at the orifice. 😉
Trev, you mean he felt totally bummed out at the end?
in other but somewhat cruder jokey terms
i took my girlfriend up the shitter this afternoon – strange name for a bar , but she seems to like it
‘
i do apologise ‘holic
Ollie/Trev: apparently, in the You’re Ropey League any yellow cards from the group stage is not carried over to the knock-out stage so Monkey Boy is not suspended in the next leg.
OK, I’ve only seen the goals (watching a sort of Europa League version of Sky Soccer Saturday but where you actually get to see the goals) and a few chances but Inter seem determined to make our defending look rock solid.
Bordeaux playing a lot better than I have seen them lately, but sadly still a goal down. Badly missing a proper striker.
Lars, I genuinely have no idea, but since everybody seems to have said he’s suspended, I suppose it appeared on the screen.
Also, since they have played a knock-out round already, it may not be his first of the knockout round.
first booking. So I suspect he WILL be suspended.
Ben K’s shot straight at the ‘keeper. Shame, was a golden opportunity.
http://www.francefootball.fr/matchs-en-direct.html#!/match/75/289475.html
Heh, this right now shows 3 goalscorers for Spuds but
‘Tottenham 0 Inter 2’.
Look at my twitter timeline for pictorial evidence.
6 balls, 6 wickets.
Next over. I’ll stop now.
Heh trev @ simianulation
AL to the rescue! Briefly.
Goodnight folks.
In the middle of a battle against a team that plays three divisions above us.
Their captain asked at the bar for a cranberry juice.
I asked, as a concerned patron should, if he was having problems with his menstrual cycle.
This could get messy. 👿
just saw paloma faith singin on telly
why such a beautiful talented woman has to sing like she’s got a mouthful of american 40’s jazz diva marbles in her gob – amazes me
does she order pie and mash in that made up accent
“D’you want liquor , paloma ”
owwaaaaaoowwwww oooooo eeeeee extra cotton club vowels etceteraaaaaa oooooooo aaaaaaaa
“yes please”
h2h
you appear to have discharged your duties more than appropriately
you are to be commended
Simianulation just now tweeted by Arseblog
she’s on again in a red rubber skirt
dear sweet mother of all thats good and holy in the world
she’s a beautiful woman , innit
#134
never trust a mick
@ 136 – some of my closest relatives are them. And you’re right.
AL, so is Arseblog nicking my material now?
Have never looked at Twitter ?
Trev – I refuse to believe that such a distinguished fellow of Arse letters would nick another’s gag – jus’ simulation surely.
or similaration…
or somethink.
How very dare he! 😉
Leave it to the Brits to bring out the truly significant point of this news story. Jedi mind meld may be a mixed metaphor but it may be just what it takes. 🙂
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-21637500
My Dad went to the 1930 Cup Final and to the day he died insisted that Alex James was the greatest Gunner of them all.
Referring back to years without a trophy and equating it to Wenger’s drought is either dishonest or disingenuous. The Arsenal as we know it was created by Chapman from 1925 and, despite a couple of FA Cup semi-final appearances for Woolwich, the years prior to Chapman were developmental years. I lived through the 17 years without a trophy between 1953 and 1970 and the differences to today are manifold. Smaller clubs had a real chance of being champions (Wolves, Burnley, Ipswich etc) which is,sadly, no longer the case. The big clubs have, right across Europe, made football uncompetitive outside of the huge clubs and, for much of that period and for all of the pre-1930 period, there were only two trophies. During the trophy-less 17 years we had one manager die and three sacked as we strove for success. We didn’t win anything but we were always trying to. Now we have a manager who aims for fourth and and has put together years when we have been gutless under pressure, which is the exact opposite of our previous triumphs. Whether you are pro-Wenger or, like me, cannot stand him it is ridiculous to compare today’s greed-is-good football to days when Brian Clough could win the League with two different clubs (like Chapman) and be Champions of Europe two years running with clubs the size of Nottingham Forest and Derby County.
By the way, David Jack was signed for a world record fee and James was almost as expensive. It’s called ambition.
Damn pinterlull – already looking forward to when fixtures come along thick and fast – like a sp*rs winger (copyright Goonerholic site, circa 2010-11 season)
UReDS!
so is Arseblog nicking my material now?
He ape-reciates a good monkey pun.
Is there a Friday pre-game press conference?
Oh 🙁
Sounds familiar :
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/-the-day-chapman-and-james-triumphed-
😉
Heh Ollie.
Going to be a wierd weekend this one, still, gives me time to do other stuff I like, like…………eeeer……hold on…….eeeeer……..
Fuck it, it’s gonna be a wierd weekend.
Ramgun, I’ve been pondering something in my mind for a while now then I read your post and thought maybe you can help me answer the following question; if we bought 3 players for an average of £30million each this summer and still end up potless for the next 5years, would you consider that as been successful?
Cent. It’s a pretty decent question, but in relation to the post from Ramguns I feel it is a bit of a moot point.
As far as i could tell, he was talking about being ambitious. Success is never gaurenteed no matter how many big time Charlie signings you make, but as the saying goes, you have to speculate to accumalate.
Once again (imho) it all boils down to the “are we being the best we can be” mantra.
More and more are begining to believe we aren’t.
H2H, I believe we’re not the best we can be at the moment, what I don’t understand is when people talk about showing ambition by spending big, I believe we should be showing our ambition on the pitch and I don’t really care how much we buy or pay a player, so long as they are delivering the goods and we’re not mortaging our future to pay them, it’s fine by me. It’s all like the ‘holic pound, we land some we lose most. The key, i think, is finding a balance we place our bets and not lose all our coins in one fit of over-ambitious betting.
Letting the regulars know in advance, I’m not gonna be on here in the bar much in the next 3 months guys, gotta finally get real and push for the grades that I want for myself and need for University. Funny, I haven’t missed a drink since I started ‘drinking’ regularly back in 2011 or so, but backdrinking, as noble an art as it is, is uBer time consuming 😕
So I’ll be studying like you lot [except Mr T 8) ] down Guinness, relentlessly 🙂
Chapman was not royalty. He took only the reins at Arsenal not the reigns.
I owe you Peter, as nobody else had spotted that glaring error in over five years. Your dedication is to be commended.
Some would suggest that indeed Chapman was Arsenal royalty, and I would not argue with them.
Cent@150.
If we bought 3 30 million pound players, added them to this squad and still did not win anything then I would probably expect at least one change of manager.
H2H knows.
Good luck Wind.
Should add, notwithstanding, that your description of the Chapman era surpassed Brian Glanville’s “The Real Arsenal” version. Just happen to be finishing that book off now. Who can forget Brian’s Sunday Times missives from Italy in defence of catenaccio (if that’s not an oxymoron) but this book is very surface history. Was expecting a more in depth examination of football politics, team chemistry issues, boardroom thinking or lack of it. Brian was such a lucid critic of the game in the 60’s and 70’s here was a chance to revisit his analyses and report on the state of the game, while still showing Arsenal as the one remaining beacon of light and hope for humanity.
There are reportedly a number of factual errors in the classic books that many of us now use to inform us of times past.
Sadly those who were around in the early days are few and far between to check their recollections these days. The ‘holicdad was a treasure trove of memories that I can no longer tap.
Wind, best of luck with the studies!
Hello Cent,
If we spend the amounts you mention and really compete for trophies but they elude us I don’t suppose that in the modern world you could claim to be successful. No complaints would come from me if our club does its best to genuinely compete for trophies whether we win them or not. I cannot stomach the lack of ambition, other than financially, that has led to such spineless collapses for years. David Jack and Alex James helped make Arsenal great by being great players. Herbert Chapman identified the players who could do that and backed his judgement. He aimed for the top. If Arsenal aim for the top and the players show heart and play as if they care then I will applaud them whether trophies accrue or not.
Wind, give it your best shot then come back to the bar better educated than the rest of us 😉
Wind, Goodluck with you grades, mate.
Steve, I agree with you, the solution to our problems lies not just with the manger, players or board, but with a combination of all three of them and some other variables beyond our control. Rectifying the deficiencies present in all of this Variables (including the board, manager and players) is a gradual process not a ‘spending-money-to-show-ambition’ process. I believe we’re already undergoing this gradual process, are we the best we can be? Not yet, but we’re working towards that.
Unfortunatly, spending big and showing ambition go hand in hand in todays football biz, there’s more emphasis on it now then in the past, but as Ramgun attains to, it’s not a new phenomenum. Spending big is no guarentee though, for every Rooney and CvC there is a Torres and Carroll. A lot of our problems are due to perception and the noises that are coming from out of the club.
We are told year on year that we are making a profit, the home faithful pay the highest ticket prices, yet our squad is still dangerously thin, in some positions, totally anorexic.
We’ve also been told that “4th place is like a trophey”, it’s not, it’s a cash prize with a chance to win more cash. Some think that statements such as this degrade us, it’s like we’re are admitting that 4th is the best we can do and this is for many fans just nor acceptable.
Personaly, I don’t care if we make the so called marque signings, as far as I can remember we never really have operated in that way, Bergkamp and Nicholas being the odd exceptions,I’m happy that we finish in the top 4, although I would like to see us challenge at the top for longer, what gets me down, as I’ve said before, is all the crap about how the taem are mentaly tired or fragile or whatever the poor little lambs are feeling at that particular moment.
It is the managers job to rally them, no matter how much they cost and get them playing with confidence. If he can’t do that……………..
Hi Ramgun,
thank you for taking time to respond.
I’d like us to splash out and compete at the highest level-and I believe the board, manager and players would love that too- but the main obstacle is that our margin for error is too small that if we spend that kind of cash and fail we will hit such lows that Liverpool’s current position will be a high for us.
Our collapses over the barren years have been painful to me-and I believe the board, manager and players too- in as much as there are players who, I think, do not care as much as fans do, I still think the club generally aims high but has to pass through hell to get to heaven. I perfectly understand you if you don’t think so though.
Best of luck Wind, give it your all, son.
H2H, I think the problem is that Arsene, sometimes, tries too hard to make us understand that the players care and are hurt when we lose games.
The ‘fourth place is like a trophy’ thing is him, yet again, trying too hard to attach importance to something we all knew was important in the first place.
Congrats ‘H on your piece being used by .com. Well deserved, great read.
Good luck Wind.
On an entirely unrelated note, anyone remember Jerome Anderson, agent to the stars in the eighties? He was, I think, Mr Arsenal, as far as anything agenty went on. He was most notable for securing a contract for Charlie Nicholas with Leather Jockstraps Plc and standing up to that nasty Mr Graham when Graham Rix was told off for wearing an earring to training. He was also sadly, unless my memory deceives me, the dumpling who gave Darren Dein his first crack at a bit of agenty work.
For that last reason alone, I rather enjoyed the following link. I mean, we all enjoy a bit of a boogie, but some people (Jerome being one) just don’t seem to twig when they are making an utter twat of themselves. And thank goodness for that. 😉
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2289981/Charles-Sale-Football-agent-Jerome-Anderson-performs-tantric-dance.html
Anyway, I’m off to take a disco biscuit and have a tantric dance with the corby trouser press.
Bale “honoured” to be first statue in the development of Shite Hart Lane.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BEyOkjDCUAAREOf.jpg
😆
Afternoon tabs, that one deserves a drinky to wash down the dissy bizkit
tabs… 😉 Care for a guinness?
Also, H2H, Ramgun, others- thank you for your contributions in this thread. Well stated points and well taken. Cheers.
Haha afternoon H2H, PiK, cheers for the drinks.
Feeling a bit dehydrated after all that dancing 😉
Hmmm, disco biscuits…
Best of luck, Wind! I’m trying to finish my degree as well, and this bar is the best/ worst for it!
Tabs,
Can’t decide whether to laugh, cringe or cry at the tantric video. Why would you post a film of yourself doing that. There are some truly strange people that inhabit the world of football.
Wind – good luck with the exams – and the three month exile.
Bet you don’t last out. 😉
heh, they have ballgirls in St Etienne tonight.
Wonder if it will mean more wayward passes 😉
Ball girls?
Are they Thai’s?
Getting worried about your mutual promotion deal with the Mail, TaBS 😉
Heh ‘H 🙂
No idea why he should do it in the first place Trev, let alone post it! 🙂 I blame Sting. When in doubt, always blame Sting.
Anybody know how to open up a Corby Trouser Press? I seem to have become “entangled”.
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