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In Other Words

Jun 23rd, 2013 by 'holic

In the absence of tangible news I have been out and about asking my musical influences what their take is on the Arsenal rumours of the day. Of course in reality they know no more than the rest of us, but they do have opinions that I respect. Some of them were clearly ahead of their time.

On Gonzalo Higuain

“I don’t wanna, I don’t wanna, I don’t wanna, I don’t wanna, I don’t wanna wait in vain”, Bob Marley.

On Marouane Fellaini

“Just one try and you too will be sold. It’s called ‘Le Freak’, they’re doing it night and day. Allow us, we’ll show you the way” Bernard Edwards and Nile Rogers.

On Ashley Williams

” Ooh, I just know that something good is gonna happen, and I don’t know when, but just saying it could even make it happen” Kate Bush

On Tony Adams

“Some say the view is crazy, but you may adopt another point of view” David Bowie.

On Wayne Rooney

“You scumbag, you maggot, you cheap lousy faggot” Kirsty MacColl

Can’t argue with any of that.

Thanks to Yogi’s Warrior

Just a quick thanks to Yogi’s Warrior over at the excellent A Cultured Left Foot for giving me the chance to add to his store of excellent articles in his “Our Favourite Match” series. You may recall our very own TaBS wrote an earlier piece about a trip he made to White Hart Lane, so I followed suit, albeit covering a match from a few years earlier!

Come back later this week for another journey into my past, and a chilling memory. Things didn’t always go our way.

Posted in tongue in cheek | 230 Drinks

230 Responses to “In Other Words”

  1. on 23 Jun 2013 at 10:24 pm1Double canister

    First?!
    What type on opening hour is this ‘holic?

  2. on 23 Jun 2013 at 10:26 pm2Uplympian

    Excellent stuff ‘holic. Barcelona have only got one song πŸ˜‰

  3. on 23 Jun 2013 at 10:27 pm3Double canister

    This isn’t mine, but I love it:
    Wake me up! Yaya Sanogo!
    You’re so much better than that c@nt from Togo.

  4. on 23 Jun 2013 at 10:39 pm4TommyD

    GH & MF within the next 10 days and then we
    can talk about some real rock n roll…I think I have the
    last 20 years covered!

  5. on 23 Jun 2013 at 10:46 pm5Oxon Gooner

    Misses out on CL place – this is NOT a financial disaster

  6. on 23 Jun 2013 at 10:56 pm6Thundertinygooner

    ‘Holic
    For Gooners of a certain age that December ’78 match was amazing fun.Your report reminded me Sunderland scored eight against the Scum. Funny how some of our players get goals against them. Charlie Nicholas couldn’t stop scoring against them and neither could Adebaywhore. Thierry was excellent in upsetting them too and he never lost to them. Theo is developing a nice habit of scoring against them . Lets hope Gonzalo gets the taste too.

  7. on 23 Jun 2013 at 11:06 pm7Double canister

    Arsenal 2013-2014:
    “Harder, better, faster, stronger”
    Daft Punk.

  8. on 23 Jun 2013 at 11:12 pm8Double canister

    “The Hi Gui Ian sleeps tonight”

    I’ll get my coat…..

    awimbaway awimbaway.

  9. on 23 Jun 2013 at 11:29 pm9Oxon Gooner

    “I really doubt this is the right side of the force
    You better grab onto some hope
    Cause you are going to need it as we go
    Keep on fighting ignorance with even more ignorance
    You’ll see that sometimes the hand of fate must be forced
    ”

    Power Shift by Sonic Syndicate.

    Must be Sp*ds.

    COYG

    Nite all

  10. on 23 Jun 2013 at 11:33 pm10dkgooner

    Tony Adams was much nicer when he was on the booze.

  11. on 24 Jun 2013 at 12:30 am11bathgooner

    Nic Bendtner : “You can go your own way.”

  12. on 24 Jun 2013 at 12:46 am12Double canister

    Bath – for Nic:
    “Whose going to drive you home tonight?”
    The Cars.

  13. on 24 Jun 2013 at 1:27 am13Oskar the dog

    Arsenal 2013-2014…

    The gods are in the heavens
    The angels treat us well
    The oracle has spoken
    We cast the perfect spell
    Now it begins, let it begin
    Clean-up Time!
    Show those mothers how to do it

    – John Lennon (Clean-up Time)

    Oskar

  14. on 24 Jun 2013 at 1:42 am14Oskar the dog

    Doug Ibbotson, Trev? (previous drinks)

    Close … it was actually Derek Ibbotson, 4:00 dead, when finishing fourth (!) in 1958. He’d actually set a new world record 3:57.2 the previous year.

    Oskar

  15. on 24 Jun 2013 at 2:27 am15behind the 8 ball but gunning for glory

    I don’t want to wait in vain could apply to quite a few highly desirable players, but the choice for Wayne Rooney was about as appropriate as you might find. πŸ™‚

  16. on 24 Jun 2013 at 5:50 am16Serotonin

    Arsene Wenger on Transfer Rumours

    If you study the logistics
    And heuristics of the mystics
    You will find that their minds rarely move in a line

    So it’s much more realistic
    To abandon such ballistics
    And resign to be trapped on a leaf in the vine.
    Brian Eno

  17. on 24 Jun 2013 at 7:18 am17Oskar the dog

    Jack Wilshere

    “I get knocked down”
    – Tubthumping

  18. on 24 Jun 2013 at 9:27 am18Camberwell Gooner

    For Higuain:

    ‘Every step you take’

    – The Police

  19. on 24 Jun 2013 at 9:33 am19Camberwell Gooner

    From Wenger to UEFA:

    ‘F*ck you I won’t do what you tell me’

    -Rage Against the Machine

    This could well be the best silly season game ever invented.

  20. on 24 Jun 2013 at 9:40 am20Oxon Gooner

    An oldie but goldie –
    George Eastham: “I wish that I knew how it feels to be free“, Nina Simone and others.

  21. on 24 Jun 2013 at 11:19 am21arsabeatbarca

    My selection for Tony Adams. ‘ For what is a man, what has he got ? If not himself, then he has naught. To say the things he truly feels ; and not the words of one who kneels, the record shows I took the blows – and did it my way! ~ Sinatra

  22. on 24 Jun 2013 at 11:53 am22Oxon Gooner

    TTG – I assume you heard that the presser isn’t today – it’s next Monday, when the window is officially opened. I understand there will be some very exciting news. (My emphasis.) I also hear that a local firm who produce inflatable bananas have taken some very large orders from a North London address. Can’t say any more for the moment.

  23. on 24 Jun 2013 at 1:08 pm23Cannons of Rhetoric

    Ooo, edgy… The artist formerly known as Holic? πŸ™‚

  24. on 24 Jun 2013 at 1:42 pm24Holloway2Holland

    This one for all the twonks on Twatter who make up crap, pretending to be ITK just to get a little bit of attention and to the “journalists” who pick it up and try to fob it off as “news”.

    “How do rumours get started?

    They’re started by the jelous people….

    I bet there’ll even be rumors floatin’ around on Judgment Day
    I’ll think I’ll write my congressman and tell him to pass a bill
    For the next time they catch somebody startin’ rumours, shoot to kill

    Look at all these rumours surroundin’ me every day
    I just need some time, some time to get away from
    From all these rumours, I can’t take it no more…………

    Stop (Stop) spreadin’ those rumours around
    Stop (Stop) spreadin’ the lies

    Timex Social Club.

  25. on 24 Jun 2013 at 1:54 pm25Holloway2Holland

    Nice piece over on ACLF, ‘holic.

    Wasn’t there, it was a school night wasn’t it? which makes it all the rarer because it was caught on camera, to my mind that wasn’t a usual occurance back then. Or am I wrong about that?

  26. on 24 Jun 2013 at 2:04 pm26Thundertinygooner

    Oxon
    That all makes perfect sense. Good dummy by the PR boys there
    By next Monday speculation will be going through the roof!
    Thre won’t be a banana left in North London

  27. on 24 Jun 2013 at 2:06 pm27Thundertinygooner

    Oskar @14
    What an amazing time by a dead man. What could he have achieved if he’d been alive?

  28. on 24 Jun 2013 at 2:08 pm28Trev

    One for Niklas Bendtner,

    The Moody Blues. – Go now.

  29. on 24 Jun 2013 at 2:10 pm29Trev

    On all transfers,

    There’s a kind of hush,
    All over the world ……

    Hermans Hermits …. Yes, I’m ashamed to say. πŸ˜‰

  30. on 24 Jun 2013 at 3:02 pm30takeabowson

    Good stuff ‘Holic, and lovely piece over on ACLF.

    H2H – It was a Saturday 3 00 kick off. Saturday before Xmas if memory serves.

    Hehs at all the lyrics stuff.

  31. on 24 Jun 2013 at 3:03 pm31Cannons of Rhetoric

    Trev, “No More Drama” by Mary J. Blige dedicated to the neverending Bendtner transfer saga πŸ™‚

    So tired, tired of this drama
    No more, no more
    I wanna be free
    I’m so tired, so tired
    No more drama, no more drama
    No more drama, no more drama
    NO MORE DRAMA
    NO MORE DRAMA
    NO MORE DRAMA
    NO MORE DRAMA
    NO MORE DRAMA
    No more drama in my life
    So tired, tired of this drama

  32. on 24 Jun 2013 at 3:26 pm32Trev

    On Gareth Bale (to his agent)

    “Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana
    Daylught come and me wan’ go home”

    Harry Belafonte

  33. on 24 Jun 2013 at 3:49 pm33Trev

    On a serious note for a minute, attention all seems to be on potential arrivals at the club.

    It’s not exactly news but, to get the squad into a healthy state, it could be said we have to clear the decks of –

    Mannone
    Fabianski
    Squillaci (gone)
    Santos
    Denilson (gone)
    Diaby (decision to be made / probably keep one more season )
    Arshavin (gone)
    Chamakh
    Park
    Bendtner

    Does anyone have any updates on the above ?

    Does anyone know the current situation regarding Miquel and Djourou ?

    The longer you look at the sheer numbers of squad places occupied by the above last season, the more fortunate it becomes that we had our best season for injuries in a long while, and the more miraculous that Arsene Wenger managed us into a top four place at all.

    Any info, anyone ?

  34. on 24 Jun 2013 at 3:49 pm34Holloway2Holland

    Cheers Tabs.

    Your memory is much better then mine, waaaaay too many disco biscuits in the 90’s. 😎

  35. on 24 Jun 2013 at 4:13 pm35Holloway2Holland

    Trev.

    Many of those didn’t take a squad place because they were on loan.

    Back up keepers are always a tricky thing, because which decent keeper is going to want to sit on the bench?

    Three are indeed gone, so that’s a start.

    According to Arseblog, Park is at Bootcamp (In the Army Now) and Djourou is linked with Hanover.

    Diaby we have to keep due to his contract, but I don’t think he’ll be fit until December the 10th meaning he’l be out again around Christmas. I really hope he’s not included in the first team squad.

    Santos will be rolled out on loan somewhere and my best bet for Chamakh would be to donate him to the scientists who are looking to make the world a better place by improving the strength and reliability of hair gel.

  36. on 24 Jun 2013 at 4:15 pm36Cannons of Rhetoric

    Good laugh to be had here. What a tool!

    http://www.theshortfuse.com/2013/6/24/4458952/stewart-robson-arsenal-arsene-wenger?

  37. on 24 Jun 2013 at 4:30 pm37takeabowson

    Trev,

    To risk playing the “Snir” role, for which he mercilessly took the piss out of me yesterday I have read the following in various gossip columns ;-

    Mannone – Wanted by Sunderland as a replacement for the departing Mignolet. Mooted fee Β£2.5m. At that price anyone would obviously bite their hand off so one has to doubt the veracity.

    Fabianski – I hope we keep him. I realise I’m in the minority with that one though. I suspect that Arsenal, still sensing the potential, want more for him than buying Clubs are prepared to pay. It does look likely however that Cesar is on his way, given his stated assertion that he is staying in London ( there doesn’t look any other viable alternatives for him apart from Arsenal if that’s the case), so suspect that there will be movement after the Confederations Cup. I have my doubts though that we are trading “up” if this happens.

    Santos – On his way back. Arsenal considering an offer from London Zoo, although Thailand Wildlife (leaders in the Elephant Football League) remain favourites. Arsenal will have to pay Santos off to get him off the books.

    Diaby – Even if you wanted him gone (I don’t), he’s going nowhere. No-one will take a punt until he’s recovered. From memory his return is pencilled in for October.

    Chamakh/Park – Arsenal would need to pay both off to get rid. Loans the more likely option for both.

    Bendtner – Billy is likely to turn down offers from Man Utd, Chelsea, Madrid, Barcelona and plump for Eintracht Frankfurt. Principally because the City’s streets are “one-way”, and because the kit matches his pants.

    And this concludes the Daily Round up! πŸ™‚

    H2H,

    Haha, one of the great qualities (amongst many others) of a disco biscuit is the accompanying loss of memory πŸ™‚

  38. on 24 Jun 2013 at 4:49 pm38Trev

    Cheers Tabs, H2H,

    In general, that’s about where I thought we were but I hadn’t heard the Mannone / Sunderland link.

    I thought the Cesar stuff had died a death and, like you, what I’ve heard of his recent form is worrying.

    Looks like more ‘wait and see’ then.

    Cheers fellas.

  39. on 24 Jun 2013 at 4:57 pm39scruzgooner

    this is excellent. i believe he was just asked what he thought of the idea of bale leaving scum:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=sLos2HMjs28

  40. on 24 Jun 2013 at 4:58 pm40bathgooner

    I thought there was a fairly firm steer that Cesar is going to Roma.

    On a more dodgy note, I believe that there is a cloning fusion experiment using Park and Chamakh to determine whether this will produce a semi-competent footballer.

  41. on 24 Jun 2013 at 5:09 pm41Ollie

    Not sure how this works : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23026870

    Official announcement and the Emir is addressing the nation tomorrow. Someone said we get a national holiday out of it but I have no clear idea….

  42. on 24 Jun 2013 at 5:17 pm42Ollie

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23026870

    It says so here, actually.

  43. on 24 Jun 2013 at 6:00 pm43Cent'Berry

    Good evening all, was partially away throughout the weekend, I see you’ve all been having a good time. Have we signed M’vila yet?

  44. on 24 Jun 2013 at 6:10 pm44Oxon Gooner

    Wait until next Monday, Cent. I mustn’t say more.

  45. on 24 Jun 2013 at 6:36 pm45Thundertinygooner

    Cent
    Next Monday is going to be awesome.
    Bale will be unveiled along with another surprise signing and Bendtner is going to sign a new five year contract so we won’t have to buy an inferior striker like Higuain or Cavani.
    I’m sure we are all delighted to see Nicky back where he belongs.

  46. on 24 Jun 2013 at 6:43 pm46Goonerholic

    So you are getting an extra Ollieday mon ami?

    You can get stuck into the booze along with…

    Oh.

    Sorry πŸ™

  47. on 24 Jun 2013 at 6:53 pm47Thundertinygooner

    Trev
    The load of old dross we accumulated really does need to move on. Santos,Chamakh and Park will need to be given away or heir contracts paid up. We may get a small fee for Bendtner ( nothing like his true worth of course) and a few million for Djourou who is going to Germany. Frimpong and Diaby are both problematical as always injured and if we add to the midfield at least one of Coquelin,Yennaris or Aneke will probably leave and another go out on loan.
    While Wenger is praised for his good housekeeping a look at your list and the terms thy are on shows a team haemorrhaging income which could be very useful at the moment.

  48. on 24 Jun 2013 at 7:47 pm48behind the 8 ball but gunning for glory

    Arshavin can laugh at us all he wants but we can laugh right back at him because the club of rejects and washed up has-beens, Anzhi Makhachkala, is probably the only club willing to sign him, that is if they do the unlikely deed of ending up taking a stab at the loser. Off to the end of the earth, Andrey. Daily practices in Moscow before flying to a different time zone for your home games.

  49. on 24 Jun 2013 at 7:48 pm49behind the 8 ball but gunning for glory

    By the way, thanks for the good times you gave us, Andrey. They were good ones but I only wish there were more.

  50. on 24 Jun 2013 at 8:27 pm50behind the 8 ball but gunning for glory

    ‘holic that was a great game and your account was excellent. A lump of coal for the Totties. πŸ™‚

  51. on 24 Jun 2013 at 9:46 pm51Cent'Berry

    Cheers Oxon and TTG, I see we might have a chimp in the room that day, I can confirm that I prefer the chimp to Shrek.

  52. on 24 Jun 2013 at 10:45 pm52Oxon Gooner

    Cent@51, the Shrek rumours are a brilliant piece of misdirection from the club so that we’ll all be even more amazed when the truth comes out on Monday. One hundred and fifty-six-and-a-quarter hours and counting.

  53. on 24 Jun 2013 at 11:12 pm53Goonersince54

    Cent’Berry
    A word in your ear,you are still very young and easily led,
    But Please don’t jump on the bandwagon,and start repeating the childish/bigoted comments made by some on this blog,in reference to Gareth Bale.
    Despite repeated chastisments from me,they continue with their thoughtless,tiresome,snide remarks.
    Can you imagine how players like Mario Balotelli feel when opposition supporters [ low lifes really ] call him monkey,throw bananas in his direction,and generally behave appallingly towards him.??
    He is only one of many,that have to put up with this blight on society.
    In spite of all the really good stuff on this site,this is still for me the one thing that really really disappoints me.
    What disappoints me even more,is that Holic himself hasn’t seen fit to reign it in and send several serial offenders to the Naughty Corner.
    This is a fantastic Site,and we have all made a lot of friends through it,virtual and Real life,let’s not allow it to be despoiled by comments from people who should know better.
    You might all think it is good harmless fun,i can assure you Gooner Terry for one,would be singularly unimpressed.
    The Sweeper.

  54. on 24 Jun 2013 at 11:39 pm54takeabowson

    Sorry Clive but I don’t buy that at all.

    Calling Gareth Bale a simian is not racist in any way and to portray it as such is at best ridiculous and at worst offensive.

  55. on 24 Jun 2013 at 11:46 pm55Holloway2Holland

    Mr Waterman, sir.

    I have nothing but respect for you, so I shall tread carefully.

    Throwing bananas at a player of African origin is indeed hanus, racist and should be beyond anyone who thinks themselves a part of modern day society.

    However, Mr Bale, the brilliant footballer that he is and I really do rate him, has a remarkable resemblance to a Roddy McDowell charachter from a popular series from the 70’s. I really don’t think you can equate the jibs that are thrown his way to throwing bananas at those of the darker persuasion. I’m sure that if anyone on here was truly abusive, in a manner that was unbecoming of this fine site, that the landlord would sort him/her out sharpish.

    Bale has chimp features, Rooney could be Shrek’s cousin, Santi Carzola looks like Mighty Mouse, is that really so bad? I look like a pot bellied pig, those who comment on that fact are met with a smile from yours truly and a zinger back refering to his nose/ears/low IQ/whatever.

    Coming from the same area and frequenting the same places as Gooner Terry I can’t imagine how such banter would offend him, However, If this really offends you then I offer my sincere apologies, but, with all due respect, I think you are making a mountain out of what hardly can sumount to a molehill.

    But, as a comprimise I will offer you a diferent zing, our lillywhite friend also has an uncanny resemblance to a Toy Town resident;

    http://images.football365.com/13/05/480/Gareth-Bale-Noddy_2952933.jpg?20130531164019

    A fruitjuice of your choice is on the bar, sir.

  56. on 25 Jun 2013 at 12:03 am56bathgooner

    Noddy looks much. much brighter, is far, far more handsome, has no problem with gravity….ever, and absolutely detests bananas. He is also a friend of Mr Gollie. πŸ˜€

  57. on 25 Jun 2013 at 12:04 am57bathgooner

    I decline to mention Big Ears.

  58. on 25 Jun 2013 at 12:04 am58bathgooner

    Oops.

  59. on 25 Jun 2013 at 12:05 am59Holloway2Holland

    Q. Why do elephants have Big Ears?

    A. Because Gareth Bale refuses to pay the ransom.

  60. on 25 Jun 2013 at 12:05 am60Trev

    Clive,

    I invariably enjoy what you have to say in the bar but you have seriously misread the situation this time.

    The comments to which you refer are in no way directed at Bale’s race or colour. That would, indeed, be as ridiculous as it would be offensive if such remarks were directed at anyone for those reasons.

    To bring GoonerTerry into the argument is, I believe, irrelevant and unnecessary. He is held in genuine affection by all who have engaged with him in this bar, for the lovely fella he is, and completely regardless of any other consideration.

    I have regularly asked after his state of health in here and written to him on more than one occasion through the back channels.

    Sorry, Clive, but you are seeing offence where there simply is none – at least for the reasons you are suggesting.

  61. on 25 Jun 2013 at 12:31 am61Cent'Berry

    Goonersince54 @53, I understand your concerns and I can assure you that anytime in the past that I’ve referred to Bale like ‘that’ I did not intend to be racist at all or insult his person, it was all done with a humour filled mind set. It might interest you to know that I’m a black man myself, born, raised and still living in Africa.
    I render my unreserved apologies to you, GoonerTerry, and anybody else who is/was offended by such utterances. I will never support any attempt to treat any human being in an unfair manner irrespective of his colour, appearance or background. Cheers.

  62. on 25 Jun 2013 at 12:43 am62Goonerholic

    Clive, see 55.

    Accept the difficulty 2D communication presents.

    Hope you do too. You are a top friend to all here, and I mean all.

  63. on 25 Jun 2013 at 12:46 am63Trev

    Cent,

    I think the fact that you joined in with those jokes proves the absence of any racist connotations whatsoever.

  64. on 25 Jun 2013 at 12:50 am64scruzgooner

    mr. waterman,

    as one who has very obviously been a “serial offender” in the monkey-boy stakes, i find it odd that you would bring in race to the equation, not least by comparing the situation to that of mario balotelli. while i have many reasons for detesting mario, the hue of his dermis is not one of them (neither is the cut of his jib, but that’s neither here nor there). as much as i detest mr. bale, while likewise admiring his footballing acumen, were he of similar hue to mario i’d never tread anywhere *near* any kind of insult that would impugn his race or his family of origin. if nothing else i’d insult the cock on a basketball team he plays for, and his reasons for doing so, etc. for you to bring that in is like bringing hitler or nazi references to an argument…insofar as they are pot-stirrers with no basis in the actual situation

    as for gooner terry, while i may have stepped afoul of him due to certain unknowning, insensitive comments i made about the death of a friend of his, i rest assured i haven’t ever, nor will i ever, offend him on account of *his* race or family of origin (or ANYONE’s, for that matter). given his status on this site, and the known reasons for his unfortunately rare participation here, i feel that’s kind of a low blow to throw; likewise to the balotelli reference, it has nothing to do with the situation.

    however, not considering either of the above, i am sorry that my jibes from northern california that take into account the acreage of mr. bale’s ears, his pug nose, and his vacant expression (not to mention his imagined knuckle-dragging) have offended you, and make your time here less enjoyable than it would if “serial offenders” such as myself stopped using simian references to the lily-white cunt. i am not offended by the same things, but can imagine how repeated offense i might take by other things again and again at such a fine site as this would cloud the joy i take in visiting and participating here at the bar. as i had not realized it had offended you *so* much before your latest, i’ll stop doing so from here on out.

    best,
    bill kasper, gooner since ’99

  65. on 25 Jun 2013 at 12:52 am65scruzgooner

    holic @62, absolutely all. saddened to think otherwise.

  66. on 25 Jun 2013 at 2:40 am66Oskar the dog

    Even allowing for the Planet of the Apes context I too object to Bale being called a monkey.

    But referring to him as Simian is not the same as it refers to a member of the order of higher primates to which humans also belong.

    Monkey is specific to one of the sub-orders, while Simian is a far milder pejorative, more akin to calling him a Neanderthal.

    Oskar

  67. on 25 Jun 2013 at 7:36 am67Oskar the dog

    I might have expressed the above more succinctly. In short we are all Simians, so calling Bale one is actually pretty meaningless.

    Personally I find far more objectionable the way some here use ‘cunt’ with such regularity. Indeed I object to ALL of the words George Carlin sent up so hilariously in his legendary ‘Seven Dirty Words’ routine (Google it if you’re the one person on the planet never to have heard it).

    It’s okay to use obscenities for occasional emphasis, but their regular use becomes monotonous demonstrating a singular lack of semantic acumen, imo.

    Oskar

  68. on 25 Jun 2013 at 9:14 am68zicoinexile

    Well, I think John Terry IS a cunt.

    Yours unimaginatively,

    Dr Feelgood

  69. on 25 Jun 2013 at 9:30 am69Oxon Gooner

    Re: The debate on he who must not be named from up t’Seven Sisters Raod.

    I was upset last night when I Clive’s remarks above. I’m still rather defensive about them as I’m not sure how much I have transgressed.

    A defence is offered above that, given the skin colour of the player in question, no offence can be meant or taken by the allusions or words used. Unfortunately, this defence doesn’t hold water. Consider the most famous epithet applied to That Team, and their supporters: the infamous “‘Y’-word”. The same argument could be applied – that since the majority of their supporters do not, in fact, profess the Jewish faith, no offence can be intended or taken. This latter argument is clearly nonsense and, to be fair, is never advanced. Surely the same ridicule should attach to the similar argument when applied to our Welsh friend?

    Finally, if references to bananas are to be discontinued, how should we refer to the player? “He who must not be named” doesn’t quite hit the spot; the J. K. Rowling reference is to one wielding enormous, evil power. Perhaps we should use the name of one of his hangers-on? I’d propose Wormtail, but this, too might give offence.

  70. on 25 Jun 2013 at 9:39 am70arsabeatbarca

    Gareth is talented. But predictable. With Gervinho, well I’m always sitting on the edge of my seat, saying c’mon on lad, YOU can do it! πŸ™‚ You guys all write so well. My grammar and spelling is atrocious ! But what I dislike most about my offerings is that they are so ‘me’ centered. See, I’m doing it now! πŸ™ And then I’m also rude but it is because I’m shy. A few days ago, Arseblog did a piece on people talking just for the sake of it. Took that one to heart …. πŸ˜‰

  71. on 25 Jun 2013 at 9:48 am71Oxon Gooner

    Jeez, abb – give it a rest! I’m still smarting from Clive’s attentions, now you turn on me?

    πŸ™‚

  72. on 25 Jun 2013 at 9:52 am72arsabeatbarca

    Heh Oxon ! πŸ™‚ Zico and company too ! Miss everyone πŸ™‚

  73. on 25 Jun 2013 at 10:03 am73Ollie

    http://www.marx-brothers.org/watching/posters/5_1.jpg

  74. on 25 Jun 2013 at 10:10 am74Oxon Gooner

    Ollie- your link doesn’t seem to work from the UK – I’m getting a message that “Remote linking is not available for images from http://www.marx-brothers.org“.

    Cue transatlantic cousins discussing its extreme hilarity πŸ™

  75. on 25 Jun 2013 at 10:15 am75Ollie

    I’m sure you can just about guess what it is.
    I can guarantee it won’t provoke hilarity, as it is a picture and not a whole film πŸ˜‰ <—- there's a clue :p

  76. on 25 Jun 2013 at 10:17 am76Oxon Gooner

    Ah! Ding! :-0

  77. on 25 Jun 2013 at 10:19 am77Oxon Gooner

    1 Down: Commercial simians, by the Marx Brothers (6, 8)

  78. on 25 Jun 2013 at 10:25 am78arsabeatbarca

    A horror movie poster is what that link got me! Umm, ‘Invasion Of the Body Snatchers’ (the original) and ‘Village of the Damned’ are two of my favs πŸ™‚ Ok, I’ll be good πŸ˜‰ In other news, Snir has a new avatar. Quite nice πŸ™‚

  79. on 25 Jun 2013 at 10:34 am79Ollie

    Indeed Oxon! Heh at smiley replacing ‘8’ ‘)’ though.

  80. on 25 Jun 2013 at 10:36 am80Oxon Gooner

    Oops. Well spotted, Ollie.

  81. on 25 Jun 2013 at 12:14 pm81arsabeatbarca

    Arsenal do seem to be holding out an olive branch to TA, as they are featuring some of his articles about Kos and Per. What I can’t understand, is how they failed to reply to him personally, when he put in his bid for Chairman. Must be missing something on that, as it just doesn’t seem quite right all the way round. But olive branches are are a good first start, don’t ya think πŸ˜‰ Have a good day holics, I’ve got homework to do πŸ™

  82. on 25 Jun 2013 at 12:22 pm82takeabowson

    Oscar @66 – I’m sure you’re right, but I think most people would have had the nous to realise that I used the phrase “simian” as a catch-all moniker for monkey-boy, chimp, ape, etc.

    As for use of the word “cunt”, it is a perfectly good English word, one of the best in my opinion, given its adaptability. It was good enough for Chaucer, D H Lawrence, and Peter Cook. It is therefore good enough for me, and I will continue to use it. If you wish to be offended, that is your look out. Offence is taken not given. It’s use, whether regular or not, betrays neither a lack of imagination nor a lack of “semantic acumen”. As Dr Z so aptly showed above, there are times when nothing else will do.

    Oxon @69 – Your initial defence absolutely does hold water. Calling Bale a monkey-boy is not analogous whatsoever to use of the “Y” word in a racist context. The fact is that some of the Tottenham crowd are Jewish, and they may or may not take offence as they see fit at the use of the word. As an aside, it was noticeable at WHL this year that whilst the use of the word was, if not completely eradicated then certainly much diminished from years gone by in the Arsenal section, it was chanted regularly and vociferously by the home crowd.

    To be racist, you must, by it’s very definition, reference race. Calling Bale a monkey-boy does not reference his race in any way, but merely his comical likeness to a chimp.

    Far more analogous is the Jeff Stelling crowd calling Phil Thompson “big nose” on a weekly basis on Sky Sports. Are they being anti-Semitic because the phrase “big-nose” has often been used pejoratively by racists to insult the Jewish people? Of course not. They are merely taking the piss out of their mate for having an inordinately large nose. Racism doesn’t come into it. Context is all.

    I look forward to Clive’s pieces in here as much (perhaps more) as I do the pieces of any other contributor. I love his wit and his take on all things Arsenal (even when I don’t agree with him), and have told him so on many occasions. His @53 however was as misconceived a piece as I have read in here.

    Desist by all means from calling Bale a chimp if you do not wish to further offend Clive’s bizarre sensibilities on this point, but let’s not pretend that it’s Racism or anything approaching it. To continue in that fiction is an insult to those that suffer the very real forms of Racism still so sadly prevalent in the World today.

  83. on 25 Jun 2013 at 12:32 pm83Ollie

    *applauds tabs at 82*

  84. on 25 Jun 2013 at 12:45 pm84Goonerholic

    I wish we would sign some players, get the season started, and turn our guns outward again…

    Stir crazy, we are.

  85. on 25 Jun 2013 at 12:52 pm85Lars

    Amen to that, Holic.

  86. on 25 Jun 2013 at 12:53 pm86True Storey

    An enormous disturbance in The Force last night I felt.

    Late or super spicy my supper was not.

    Neither partake did I on a raid extraordinary of the CMC.

    What could it be?

    Comments, past and present, misinterpreted they were by a dear and sage virtual friend.

    Let not the Gooner from Galaxy 54 that is far, far away take offence.

    Contribute he does greatly to the mirth in this corner of The Empire.

    Man of Water, do not turn to The Dark Side. Pretty please. With a light sabre on top.

    Up The Jedi.

  87. on 25 Jun 2013 at 12:56 pm87True Storey

    Unlike you to be even vaguely impatient Maestro.

    But like you, I do miss The Arse of a weekend.

    COYRRRs!

  88. on 25 Jun 2013 at 12:59 pm88True Storey

    BTW, Stir Crazy, what a great film that was πŸ™‚

  89. on 25 Jun 2013 at 1:30 pm89Ollie

    at True Storey, heh I say.

  90. on 25 Jun 2013 at 1:39 pm90zicoinexile

    John Terry, cunt he is.

  91. on 25 Jun 2013 at 1:45 pm91Camberwell Gooner

    Jesus wept (whoops! Is that sacrilegious?), we’re reducing to discussing whether calling Bale a monkey is racist? And if it’s ok to label him a cunt??

    Look at the jug ears. Observe, if you will, the wide mouth that struggles to curl up at the corners. Consider the large, strong chin. Physiologically, they may be compared.

    Now turn your attention to his on-field behaviour. Mull over the 4 or 5 bookings he got for diving last season. Recall that he genuinely tried to defend this diving in a statement. Lastly, read the articles about his plans to trademark his ‘heart shape’ goal celebration. There’s only one thing all of that makes him.

  92. on 25 Jun 2013 at 1:58 pm92Uncle Charlie

    We’re in the Champions League, Bale stays in the Chimp-ions League.

    That will make Spurs a potential banana skin, mind.

  93. on 25 Jun 2013 at 2:09 pm93True Storey

    Hehs! above πŸ™‚

    Proof that you do find good things via Twitter:

    http://t.co/1EQt0aDluI

  94. on 25 Jun 2013 at 2:54 pm94Cannons of Rhetoric

    Hey, nobody defended Keown when they called him The Missing Link and Monkey Boy back in the day!
    I think this amazing image sums up Bale in a nutshell πŸ™‚

    http://greatrednorth.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/bale-diver.jpg?w=510

  95. on 25 Jun 2013 at 2:55 pm95scruzgooner

    now, just maybe, we will “get higgy widdit”…http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/story?storyId=1484379

  96. on 25 Jun 2013 at 3:10 pm96Trev

    Nice clip TS. Are there really people that wouldn’t have him back ?

    Cannons @94,

    That is funny. Funny because it looks so much like him that you have to look twice to be sure …..

    And for no other reason at all.

  97. on 25 Jun 2013 at 3:14 pm97Cannons of Rhetoric

    πŸ˜€

  98. on 25 Jun 2013 at 3:20 pm98Holloway2Holland

    Wise in the words of the Jedi, thou are, young Storey of True.

    ====

    Shame about the misunderstandings in the bar, but hey, these things happen, we’re all adults (well most of us πŸ˜‰ ) so I’m sure we’ll be able to settle our differences in a mature manner.

    I’m pretty sure that none of the regulars would come here with the pure intention of offending another regular, trolls are ofcourse always in open season.

    I don’t agree with everything I read here, some views I may find a bit extreame too, but again, this is an open forum and even if we are like minded in many ways, we still are all very different individuals from differing generations, cultures, creeds, with different morals and/or standards, education and upbringing, theres bound to be some friction every now and again, that seems to me perfectly normal.

    Ofcourse the boss has his rules of what will be tolerared and what not. Racism is not tolerated, neither is personal abuse of Arsenal people, incl’d fans and visitors of this site. Serial offenders and trolls are soon weeded out and banished back to the rocks they crawled out from, this is a good thing. However, there still must be room to disagree. We can’t get to the point that whatever offends one person must be sanctioned. You can only take P.C so far before it becomes 100% censorship and nobody wants that, right?

    There are a lot of colourful charachters on here and sometimes colourful language is used, that’s what makes it so much fun here. Take that away and your just left with a bland soulless version of a blog, with censored, spineless, tailored opinions (a.k.a blogs on the BBC Football page)

    Right, that’s enough preaching from me. *steps off soapbox.

    Okidoki guv, a taste for whoever fancies one, on me. Cheers.

    Have we signed anyone yet?

  99. on 25 Jun 2013 at 3:33 pm99Camberwell Gooner

    CoR – Exactly, heh.

  100. on 25 Jun 2013 at 3:35 pm100Holloway2Holland

    BAMSKI!!!

  101. on 25 Jun 2013 at 3:37 pm101Camberwell Gooner

    You’re welcome!

  102. on 25 Jun 2013 at 3:41 pm102Doctor Faustus

    tabs @ 82: I have always thought that the least offensive way to make fun of someone is to invent such sobriquets for them that are, on the plane of evident scientific reality, obviously incorrect.

    Least offensive and yet highly effective because the target of the joke and his sympathizers then have the infinite well of their imagination to draw upon and construct realities to justify the hurt triggered by patently inaccurate characterization.

    It is quite devious that way, and at the same time innocent.

    Childlike simplicity meets the cunning of a totalitarian police state. πŸ™‚

  103. on 25 Jun 2013 at 3:45 pm103Holloway2Holland

    *High 5’s Cam’ *

    Heh @ β€œget higgy widdit”

  104. on 25 Jun 2013 at 4:24 pm104takeabowson

    Whatever takes your fancy Faustus. Humour is always subjective, and each to their own.

    Whether calling Bale a chimp is received as either rip-snortingly funny or ridiculously puerile wasn’t really my point.

    My point is that it is not, and never will be, racist.

  105. on 25 Jun 2013 at 5:22 pm105Doctor Faustus

    tabs @ 104: My perspective on racism (and what is not) seems to happily agree with yours.

    However, there are people who demand that old texts, including that of great literature, be updated to remove any reference to the ‘N-word’ even when not used in any prejudiced manner. And not all of those are just after cheap point scoring, though many are, but some are actual victims of racism in practice. I do not agree with their perspectives, but at the same time it is hard to ignore their claim of authentic personal ‘feelings’.

    But as you and H2H have so eloquently put, you cannot really have lively and open discussions, not to say playful, without ever causing anyone any reason to take offense. I personally prefer no restriction on one’s vocabulary …

    BTW, my earlier post was not about the subjectivity of humor but efficacy of inoffensive comments as put-downs.

  106. on 25 Jun 2013 at 5:31 pm106takeabowson

    All fair Faustus.

  107. on 25 Jun 2013 at 5:42 pm107Trev

    Oh dear,

    Intellectual justification of a non-event.

    There must be a philosophical standpoint to describe that.

    In the meantime, put me down for what Tabs said @82. It would take a damn fine argument to shoot that to bits.

    Come on you REDS !!!

  108. on 25 Jun 2013 at 5:48 pm108Trev

    So, while we’re at it ( or not, as the case may be )

    Here is my philosophical take on life –

    “To be is to do”. – Socrates

    “To do is to be” – Satre

    “Do be do be do”. – Sinatra.

  109. on 25 Jun 2013 at 5:53 pm109Oxon Gooner

    Whilst there will always be exceptions, I think that not giving offence is a good general guideline.

    Evidently Clive is offended by some of the terms used to describe five-times booked for diving, former Southampton left back, and possible Arsenal target, G Bale.

    Now that this fact has been drawn to my attention, I shall attempt not to refer to him in those terms in future.

    I offer no guarantees how successful my attempts will be, and shall certainly continue to mention yellow-skinned fruit with slippery peel whenever circumstances require it.

  110. on 25 Jun 2013 at 5:56 pm110takeabowson

    Trev πŸ™‚

  111. on 25 Jun 2013 at 6:01 pm111True Storey

    Tremendous rumblings in The Force I still detect.

    The 3-bean salad for lunch this time I will blame.

    Harmony, be restored it must.

  112. on 25 Jun 2013 at 6:02 pm112True Storey

    Trev always does it his way. Carry on Dr.T.

  113. on 25 Jun 2013 at 6:03 pm113Garsguns

    Tabs @ 82 2nd paragraph excellent my man from now on I can say fuck off its good enough for d h Lawrence it’s good enough for me.goes to google d h Lawrence.

  114. on 25 Jun 2013 at 6:17 pm114Cent'Berry

    What if Ancelotti decides Higuain is a part of his plans?

  115. on 25 Jun 2013 at 6:18 pm115takeabowson

    Haha, glad to be of service Garsguns πŸ™‚

  116. on 25 Jun 2013 at 6:19 pm116takeabowson

    Then we’ll buy somebody else Cent.

  117. on 25 Jun 2013 at 6:27 pm117Cent'Berry

    Heh, TaBS, we will probably do that, I’m just imagining the meltdown(and speculating who that someone else might be).

  118. on 25 Jun 2013 at 6:28 pm118Garsguns

    Fook me sideways tabs his wiki page is like the yellow pages the man was a genius is there noting he didn’t do.

  119. on 25 Jun 2013 at 6:31 pm119zicoinexile

    Well he did Lady Chatterley, the lucky bastard. πŸ˜›

  120. on 25 Jun 2013 at 6:34 pm120Holloway2Holland

    Gareth Bale, 23, will tug on the heart strings of Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy in order to clinch his dream move to Real Madrid.

    Full story: Metro

    Well I suppose that means he’s staying, as everyone knows the Spertz chairman is heartless.

  121. on 25 Jun 2013 at 7:25 pm121Cent'Berry

    Heh @120.

  122. on 25 Jun 2013 at 7:40 pm122Garsguns

    πŸ™‚ 119

  123. on 25 Jun 2013 at 7:48 pm123bathgooner

    Applauds tabs @82

    and CoR @94.

    This bar is a broad church and tolerant of many views but you are all fucking wrong about Bale. He is no monkey as he has no taile, he’s an ape.

    Here endeth the lesson.

    A bottle of Ardbeg 10yo on the bar for all the regulars.

  124. on 25 Jun 2013 at 7:52 pm124Thundertinygooner

    Well I never I’ve missed the debate on that very good- looking not remotely simian chap Gareth Bale.
    I well remember poor old Tony Adams one of the finest centre halves this country and certainly this club has seen being labelled a donkey and no- one except us got too offended. Above all Tony rose above it .The chiding of Bale is part of the gallows humour that football fans all over the country use and is no way racists
    On another tack I cannot believe the Mail think we are unwilling to pay Fellaini Β£75k a week.. This guy would be our record signing and frankly all big signings come with a total bill of around Β£50 mill or so. The board are very naive if they dont expect a top player to demand top wages.What do you expect him to ask for.?I believe the Mail are meddling here to wind Arsenal fans up,something they do regularly.This is the paper who said we could afford Rooney’s demands last week. Sadly the Mail writes garbage which is then recycled by numerous websites giving the impression there is some momentum to the story.I don’t think the British press knows what is going on especially with a club who keep its cards close to its chest. Sadly I think they have been assuming that Juve are out of contention for Higuain without too much evidence. I hope tomorrow my pessimism is not justified.

  125. on 25 Jun 2013 at 7:54 pm125Uplympian

    Very generous of you Bath but with this lot here, that will go down quicker than a simian’s simulation πŸ˜‰

  126. on 25 Jun 2013 at 7:58 pm126Ollie

    hark at the archeologist.

    And yes to Ardbeg πŸ™‚

    Sorry, I can’t.

    Weirdly, when I got back to my car earlier today, there was what looked like an empty carton of Heineken. Of French-speaking origin judging by the printing on it.

    Fuck knows how it got there. I don’t suppose anyone drank that celebrating the new emir, so most bizarre.
    Its original content certainly couldn’t legally be anywhere around there.

  127. on 25 Jun 2013 at 7:59 pm127Ollie

    TTG, any paper is to be ignored when it comes to transfer rumours.

    More than ever I have joined the school of ‘If it’s not on arsenal.con, it’s not real’.

  128. on 25 Jun 2013 at 8:04 pm128Holloway2Holland

    French speaking Heineken?

    I’ll have to ask my rep from the brewery to hook me up with some of that. πŸ˜‰

  129. on 25 Jun 2013 at 8:13 pm129Ollie

    haha πŸ™‚

  130. on 25 Jun 2013 at 8:35 pm130Ollie

    I seem to have relatively steady interweb tonight. Bizarre. Maybe they’re all out celebrating the new Emir.

  131. on 25 Jun 2013 at 8:37 pm131Ollie

    Sadly, you all seem to be away.
    Bah.

    Till next time.

  132. on 25 Jun 2013 at 8:59 pm132Trev

    Hey Ollie, I’m here – just.

    Hope you’re enjoying dry, dry Qatar.

    Oh well ……. πŸ™

  133. on 25 Jun 2013 at 9:01 pm133Trev

    Evening bath,

    Thanks for the bottle of 10yo Ardbeg.

    Is that still or sparkling ? πŸ˜‰

  134. on 25 Jun 2013 at 9:12 pm134Ollie

    Heh Trev. I’ll go and put my head in the sand

  135. on 25 Jun 2013 at 9:15 pm135behind the 8 ball but gunning for glory

    I just know I wouldn’t want to get into a bidding war with Real Madrid. Not really a war you can win, is it? If Bale wanted to come to Arsenal, which I sincerely doubt, the equation could be slightly different, but let’s be realistic. A s*mian c*nt he is and is likely to remain. πŸ˜‰

    Cheers chaps and chapettes. πŸ™‚

  136. on 25 Jun 2013 at 9:15 pm136Trev

    Juventus have agreed a fee for Carlos Tevez.

    Guess that takes them out of the “race” for Higuain.

    If there is actually a “race” on for Higuain, I can only be glad we’re not just strolling after him.

  137. on 25 Jun 2013 at 9:19 pm137behind the 8 ball but gunning for glory

    And here’s the latest score from the Transfer League:

    Transfer News 0 Transfer Rumours 1

  138. on 25 Jun 2013 at 9:21 pm138behind the 8 ball but gunning for glory

    Sorry, Trev. I guess your drink qualifies as “Transfer News” so the latest score is Transfer News 1 Transfer Rumours 9.

  139. on 25 Jun 2013 at 9:25 pm139Trev

    Sky Sports Breaking News, 8ball.

    Not even they make everything up.

  140. on 25 Jun 2013 at 9:42 pm140scruzgooner

    h2h@103, just to make sure everyone is in the same amount of pain… ;).

    http://www.artistdirect.com/video/will-smith-gettin-jiggy-wit-it/27747

    bath, cheers. i could use a drink.

    tabs@82, ts @various yoda hehs, camberwell, faustus, and others, yes.

  141. on 25 Jun 2013 at 10:06 pm141Thundertinygooner

    Lets just hope Citeh don’t now go for Higuain!

  142. on 25 Jun 2013 at 10:13 pm142Trev

    I’d still quite like Benteke.

  143. on 25 Jun 2013 at 10:14 pm143Charlie

    Fenerbahce booted out of next season’s CL, which means they’re no longer possible opponents for us in our qualifier.

  144. on 25 Jun 2013 at 10:17 pm144Trev

    Who takes their place ?

  145. on 25 Jun 2013 at 10:18 pm145Cent'Berry

    …Which also means Tottenham can get back into the UCL

  146. on 25 Jun 2013 at 10:21 pm146Trev

    Why Cent ?

    Won’t it be the next Turkish team in line ?

  147. on 25 Jun 2013 at 10:23 pm147Holloway2Holland

    It can’t be Sp*rs.

    Only 4 teams max from one Asosiation, otherwise they would have been in it last season as well as the Chavs.

  148. on 25 Jun 2013 at 10:23 pm148Cent'Berry

    Trev, apparently it’s something that has to do with Uefa’s co-efficient system of awarding points or something like that, saw it on Twitter today didn’t bother reading further.

  149. on 25 Jun 2013 at 10:25 pm149Charlie

    Actually, all it means is that Bursaspor take their place in the qualifying round before ours:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013-14_UEFA_Champions_League#Third_qualifying_round

  150. on 25 Jun 2013 at 10:25 pm150Trev

    If it’s on coefficient that must rule the Spuds right out. πŸ˜‰

  151. on 25 Jun 2013 at 10:37 pm151Ollie

    On twitter, Cent? Say no more. And goodnight.

  152. on 25 Jun 2013 at 10:43 pm152Steve T

    Evening all. Comparing Gareth “the diver” Bale to a chimp I would suggest is more offensive to the average chimp. I mean, can you imagine it? The average zoo chimp? If its not bad enough being banged up all day, every day, you now find out that you look like Gareth Bale??? That’s no way to treat a poor defenceless animal.

  153. on 25 Jun 2013 at 10:55 pm153Cent'Berry

    Oh dear, I’ve been conned! Just went back to check the account that tweeted that ‘news’ and found he’s a Gooner who was trying to wind up Sp*rs fans.

  154. on 25 Jun 2013 at 11:22 pm154Trev

    Just need to ask yourself why an English team would be given the place of a Turkish team, Cent. No real logic there. πŸ˜‰

    Especially an English team who only ever play on Thursday nights. πŸ˜‰

  155. on 25 Jun 2013 at 11:24 pm155Holloway2Holland

    Dear o dear. What is the world coming to when even Twitter can’t be relied upon as a credable source. πŸ˜‰

  156. on 25 Jun 2013 at 11:33 pm156Cent'Berry

    Trev, school boy error from me.

    Heh @H2H.

  157. on 25 Jun 2013 at 11:47 pm157Goonersince54

    Well,what a shit storm i stirred up yesterday.
    I thought i would wait 24hrs,so every Tom Dick and Harry could have their say on the matter,and they did with Bells on.!!
    I read every post after mine without flinching,but with a growing sense of profound disappointment.
    After all the predictable bluster,outrage and indignation at my comments,i find myself sadly, in the Minority of one.!!
    My Old Man always taught me that once you make a stand on a subject that you believe in,that regardless of what comes your way because of it,you never ever back down.
    So i reiterate here,that i don’t resile from anything i wrote yesterday.
    Everyone else is entiltled to their opinion as well,as they have done in their responses.
    So i will not add further fuel to the fire,but will retire for the rest of the Summer,enjoy 2 weeks of Wimbledon,and the 5 Test Ashes series against the Old Enemy,and then who knows after that.
    Au Revoir
    The Sweeper

  158. on 26 Jun 2013 at 12:29 am158Steve T

    Clive. Nothing wrong in having an opinion or being in a minority of one. Trust me. My views have more than once fallen into that category. Your old man was right. Stand up and stick to what you believe in. The world would be one terrible place if we did not do that. It would also be one big bore if we all held the same views.

    Wimbledon bores me to death. The prospect of 5 Ashes Tests and the Lions down under reignites the fire. Stick to your principles my old friend. Enjoy whatever it is we call summer these days, but don’t be a stranger.

    Keep smiling sweeper man.

  159. on 26 Jun 2013 at 12:35 am159Goonerholic

    As one who travelled through Ramblers territory every other week to play in Mill Hill, come back soon my friend. You will always be more than welcome here.

  160. on 26 Jun 2013 at 12:55 am160Steve T

    Clive. If you want to serve up a shit storm just say what a compete knob Fabregas was and how you would never want him back in an Arsenal shirt. That has certain regulars running for the door having soiled their undercrackers.

    πŸ˜€

  161. on 26 Jun 2013 at 2:46 am161Oskar the dog

    Tabs … I have never been offended by anything posted here, chiefly because I only take offence at attacks on me personally and none have been made, so far anyway. I have certainly never found your contributions anything but witty and erudite. I just view the use of certain Anglo-Saxon expressions as unnecessary and almost always … well, lazy. Unnecessary because they are usually grossly exaggerated or simply sarcastic (the lowest form etc), and lazy because there are ways of criticising that can ridicule more effectively.

    ‘Monkey’ as a pejorative is a difficult one. Use it against a black man and it most certainly IS racist. That should mean it ISN’T when applied to a white man, as I assume Bale is (although with DNA ancestry mapping today he may well find some black in his origins). However, since it is invariably used as a racist epithet these day, and seen as such by so many, you run the risk of being taken for a racist by the majority when you’re not. And that may not be how you like to be seen, although more likely I suspect you really couldn’t care. πŸ˜‰

    Personally I wouldn’t want to have to justify the words I use all the time, however grammatically correct.

    As for the historical perspective, times change and so does the language. There are plenty of things people used to say which have gone out of fashion and I see no reason to continue the use of obliquities which people find hurtful or insulting – except for very occasional shock value.

    On the other hand I object strongly to rewriting history simply to accommodate modern sensitivities. As in The Dambusters movie remake where Guy Gibson’s black Labrador had his name changed from Nigger to Digger. That’s like making a movie about The Crusades and casting the Muslims as civilised and the Christians as the barbarians … no wait, that’s really how it was!

    Oskar

  162. on 26 Jun 2013 at 3:41 am162behind the 8 ball but gunning for glory

    Just when Clive takes a valiant and reasonable stand he takes off for the Summer. Say it ain’t so Sweeper. I assume the Secure Unit has its unique attractions of course but how about keeping us in check before we go completely off the boil? πŸ™ πŸ˜‰

  163. on 26 Jun 2013 at 3:44 am163Limestonegunner

    As a medieval historian, I would say that despite the obvious biases and anachronisms, the Kingdom of Heaven captured an important dimension of the Crusade period when it represented the advanced and refined qualities of the medieval Middle East.

    We loved your memory of a fine match at ACLF, ‘Holic. Hopefully Yogi will invite another contribution and you’ll be gracious enough to oblige!

  164. on 26 Jun 2013 at 3:51 am164Limestonegunner

    I’ve had a lot of experience with and responsibility for confronting racism in the university context where issues of language always are wrestled with rather intensely. Calling Bale monkey boy etc… is insulting and demeaning of him (but isn’t that the point?!). It might be tasteless or juvenile. But it isn’t necessarily racist as it is not a general characterization of a group on the basis of its “race” applied indiscriminately to an individual perceived to be a member of that group. It is actually a very specific comparison that has nothing to do with his race. My two cents, anyway.

  165. on 26 Jun 2013 at 4:06 am165North Bank Ned

    Late entry for TGSTEL: Wizz Jones’s “The Legendary Me”

  166. on 26 Jun 2013 at 4:13 am166North Bank Ned

    Clive, if you are still there, take heart from these words of George Washington, “it is better to be alone than in bad company.”

  167. on 26 Jun 2013 at 4:14 am167North Bank Ned

    And to the Guv’nor @159, well said.

  168. on 26 Jun 2013 at 8:20 am168Lars

    H2H: if I am not mistaken, UEFA changed the rules after the Chelsea/Spurs situation so if the same thing happened again then the PL would have five teams in the CL.

  169. on 26 Jun 2013 at 8:40 am169Oskar the dog

    Interesting perspective, Limestonegunner. For historical accuracy I would place Kingdom of Heaven right down there with Braveheart, Blackhawk Down, Gladiator and Pearl Harbour (in recent years) … all colourful, fun diversions but with only a remote resemblance to what actually happened.

    Oskar

  170. on 26 Jun 2013 at 8:44 am170Oxon Gooner

    Lars@168 I think you’re mistaken.

    As far as I remember, UEFA changed the rules after the Liverpool situation so that neither the PL nor anyone else would ever again have 5 seam in the CL.

    Over to someone with incontrovertably good memory or the tenacity to dig out the actual facts.

  171. on 26 Jun 2013 at 8:45 am171Oxon Gooner

    seam? seam! “teams”, obviously.

    D’oh

  172. on 26 Jun 2013 at 9:01 am172Lars

    Oxon, I just checked the rules and they are still the same. Maybe they just talked about changing the rules but in any case it’s still a four team maximum.

  173. on 26 Jun 2013 at 9:33 am173Lars

    And speaking of nothing: Steve, Trev, tabs and zico – you have mail (in case you hadn’t noticed already πŸ™‚ ).

  174. on 26 Jun 2013 at 9:36 am174Trev

    As far as I remember . . . . . . .

  175. on 26 Jun 2013 at 9:37 am175Trev

    . . . What were we talking about . . . . ?

  176. on 26 Jun 2013 at 9:46 am176Camberwell Gooner

    Oxon, I’m pretty sure Wenger is allowed 5 “seams” in the CL. Otherwise how would his coat (made from recycled boiler lagging) be held together?

    Thanks for the taxi number, I know where the door is.

  177. on 26 Jun 2013 at 9:51 am177Trev

    Arseblogger’s piece today is wholly indicative of the fact that, although it’s all starting to happen, nothing is actually happening at all.

    I think.

    I do, but not too much at this time of year, ‘cos it hurts.

    It’s Dick’s Law, you see, which states that “if a two day job can take four weeks – it will. At least. Oh, yes. Ouch !”

  178. on 26 Jun 2013 at 9:51 am178Trev

    Cam πŸ™‚

    Seems you’re right. πŸ˜‰

    That’s six.

  179. on 26 Jun 2013 at 10:01 am179Oxon Gooner

    Camb – Don’t forget your…… ….coat.

    Oh, well.

  180. on 26 Jun 2013 at 10:10 am180Trev

    So, I have awarded myself a day off today, in the event that anyone is remotely interested..

    And a day off means a chance to scout round the best of the blogs to catch up on all the news that MUST be happening by June 26th. Surely.

    As reported above, Bloggs is in fine form reporting, er, nothing.

    Yogi has an entertaining round up of, er, nothing.

    To arsenal.com then ….. After all, the real news is always there first.

    Arsenal.con are, in fact, running a video of . . . . . . .

    someone cutting the grass !!!

    Ye gods ……..

  181. on 26 Jun 2013 at 10:19 am181True Storey

    Trev

    A day off? Excellent!

    ….To be spent trawling the blogs and such for Arse news? Get out into the sunshine my friend where there is, I’m told, a whole real world that you can interact with using all 5 senses.

    Enjoy and see you soon.

  182. on 26 Jun 2013 at 10:22 am182True Storey

    Mill Hill Maestro? Where? I was raised no more than 3 bus stops away on the 113.

  183. on 26 Jun 2013 at 10:27 am183Trev

    With nothing to read, then, I think I will start a campaign, borne of boredom but which could well become a necessity.

    With all the “comings” we need, and the “goings” to accommodate them, I wonder how the negotiating team are going to cope with the workload.

    Mr Law has, reportedly, been in Spain working on one top secret deal all week. With him tied up, who is looking after all the other business that needs to be done ?

    What we need is more Dicks.

    But who can do the job ?

    The top bloggers are all busy reporting the news (?) but who can get out there and make the news ?

    There may be a few spare idle Dicks over at Le Grove but, otherwise, we need a campaign.

    A march on the Emirates. No bin bags, no black scarves – just our very own poster boy, Wolfie, carrying a huge banner proclaiming –

    “WE WANT MORE DICKS”.

    Feel free to use that as a guest post, Holic.

    What ? Oh …. πŸ™

  184. on 26 Jun 2013 at 10:39 am184arsabeatbarca

    How does a lady follow “What we need is more Dicks!” Oh dear … Morning everyone, and I do mean EVERYONE! πŸ™‚

  185. on 26 Jun 2013 at 10:49 am185Trev

    The march will start at 1.00 pm, this Saturday, at the top of
    St John Thomas’ Road. πŸ˜‰

  186. on 26 Jun 2013 at 11:01 am186Ollie

    Lars 168: I am confused: didn’t they change the rules after the Liverpool/Everton situation so that the PL can NOT have 5 clubs?

  187. on 26 Jun 2013 at 11:03 am187Ollie

    I think the rule they have changed or are planning to change (but I think it’s been acted) is that the winner of the EL now goes into the CL. And I believe that only in that case, if that winner is, let’s say, English, but not top 4, there would be 5 clubs in CL.

    But then, maybe I’ll carry my backdrink from 168 on (forward) and see it’s already been said :p

  188. on 26 Jun 2013 at 11:05 am188Ollie

    Or maybe it’s still only 4 and team placed 4 in that case misses too. Can’t remember, I have a vague memory that they didn’t make it clear at all but that the debate was, naturally, all over twatter.

  189. on 26 Jun 2013 at 11:09 am189Cent'Berry

    Good morning all.
    Various hehs above.

    Trev, I’m doing the give-yourself-a-break-from-work thingy too, haven’t even gotten out of bed.

  190. on 26 Jun 2013 at 11:23 am190Camberwell Gooner

    Trev, Oxon, hooray! Silly season would be unbearable without a good pun.

  191. on 26 Jun 2013 at 11:26 am191Ollie

    http://www.francefootball.fr/news/Brechet-a-bordeaux-off/381504

    I’ll be honest with you, I’d probably be happier with signing Squillaci.

    Could be an even tougher season for Bordeaux…

  192. on 26 Jun 2013 at 11:34 am192Limestonegunner

    Oskar, in the details, certainly, and gets a great deal “wrong” but it does a better job than many in actually using history to wrestle with certain critical issues present in the evidence and experience. We should think of it perhaps not as a portrayal recreating or representing the experience than as a dramatic narrative version of a historiographical set of issues.

    The director’s cut merits this description and even includes some rather little known episodes inspired from both Arabic and Latin chronicle anecdotes. but the theatrical release is pretty schmaltzy, just a cartoonish action film! The popular revolution Balian effects in Jerusalem is pretty hilarious. And even in the director’s cut you do have to suffer through much but it is much more sophisticated as an exploration of cross-cultural encounter. A better medieval crusade movie is certainly possible. I give Ridley Scott credit for not caricaturing the Muslims as evil terrorists in the aftermath of 9/11. That was a bit brave given the context.

  193. on 26 Jun 2013 at 11:40 am193Camberwell Gooner

    Every time I read something about Giroud’s first season my internal pressure rises by a few pounds per square inch.

    What the hell is it with these journalists, I haven’t read a single column inch about the OG that doesn’t put him down for being ‘misfiring’, ‘not up to the task’ or ‘disappointing’.

    It absolutely drives me round the twist. These days when you buy a striker, he has to hit the ground running and score no less than 20 goals in his first season or that’s it. He’s a flop. Not up to the task. Can’t cut it in the Prem.

    Give the guy a break, he’s stepped up from Ligue 1 to the Prem, forging new partnerships in a new team in a new league in a new country. Is that enough newness for you?!

    He got 11 goals and 3 assists last season, a solid if unspectacular start which he’ll doubtless improve on next time. Here’s a selection of a few other strikers’ stats:

    Aguero – 12 goals 2 assists
    Torres – 8, 6
    Rooney – 12, 10 (ok that’s a lot of assists…)

    You can talk complete bollocks about anything if you remove the context.

  194. on 26 Jun 2013 at 11:43 am194Cent'Berry

    Been a while I scored a goal here so I will be lurking…

  195. on 26 Jun 2013 at 11:45 am195Trev

    Hear, hear, Cam.

    Too many Spuds amongst the journos.

  196. on 26 Jun 2013 at 11:49 am196Cent'Berry

    ‘You can talk complete bollocks about anything if you remove context’ …and once it’s Arsenal related there will always be ‘fans’ who will swallow it hook, line and sinker.

  197. on 26 Jun 2013 at 11:52 am197Cent'Berry

    Starts a passing move from the midfield…

  198. on 26 Jun 2013 at 11:53 am198Oxon Gooner

    “You can talk complete bollocks about anything if you remove context“. Very true – however, I take pride in talking complete bollocks even when taken in context. It’s a gift, you know.

  199. on 26 Jun 2013 at 12:01 pm199Cent'Berry

    Alright, I will just take the assist and celebrate it like a goal.

  200. on 26 Jun 2013 at 12:05 pm200Holloway2Holland

    Lurks one in.

  201. on 26 Jun 2013 at 12:06 pm201Oxon Gooner

    Well in, H2H. Played, Ollie.

  202. on 26 Jun 2013 at 12:15 pm202Cent'Berry

    This is me celebrating that assist http://25.media.tumblr.com/cf6d91bd87838dabd76063a138442e8c/tumblr_mo1z6qJug81r03eaxo1_r1_400.gif

  203. on 26 Jun 2013 at 12:16 pm203Cent'Berry

    Well in H2H!

  204. on 26 Jun 2013 at 12:21 pm204takeabowson

    Clive – Nothing wrong with disagreement mate. They are generally far more interesting than accord. I for one will certainly miss your interventions. Enjoy your Summer, (the Cricket should be fun), and hurry back.

    Oscar @161 – Cheers for the response and thanks for the kind words. I better understand now where you are coming from on the use of the old anglo-saxon but I’m afraid I think that we’ll still have to agree to disagree. I’m very much of the view expressed by Faustus @105 that there should be no restriction (with perhaps the exception of racial insult) on language. No word (with again the exception of racial insult) should retain the power to shock. They are but groups of letterings. If overuse curbs a word’s power to shock, then I am all for it. And as said yesterday, when one wishes to express contempt, (an emotion that I feel all too readily when considering some of the main characters in the Premiership soap opera), then nothing (imo) quite does the job like “cunt”.

    As for Bale, you are quite right. If his ancestry revealed a black background then my attitude would change immediately. But as far as I’m aware it doesn’t, so …

    Other people’s perception is always a risk you run, I think, if you express any kind of view. Curry favour with X and you’re bound to piss off Y. I’m afraid I lack “ze mental strength” that you kindly ascribe to me. Far too vain I’m afraid. I do very much care what other people think of me, especially on a subject such as racism in which the boundary between right and wrong is easily drawn. I think (or at least hope) that I am not alone in having this weakness. Show me someone who says they don’t care, and I’m pretty sure I’ll show you either a sociopath or a liar. Ultimately however, and because you can never please all the people all the time I hope that sticking up for what I think would override any other consideration.

    Heh at your last paragraph πŸ™‚ . I’m of the view that all Religions are barbarous, but that, as they say, is another story. πŸ˜‰

  205. on 26 Jun 2013 at 12:23 pm205Wolfgang Smallballs

    Trev @183

    Now there’s a campaign I can get behind, or indeed show my behind! πŸ˜‰

    Well played!

  206. on 26 Jun 2013 at 12:29 pm206Cent'Berry

    The way TaBS puts my thoughts into better words than I can muster, well played sir! Not sure about that last paragraph though.

  207. on 26 Jun 2013 at 12:34 pm207takeabowson

    Heh Cent, we’ll agree to disagree on that one πŸ™‚

  208. on 26 Jun 2013 at 12:40 pm208Cent'Berry

    With all pleasure mate.

  209. on 26 Jun 2013 at 12:49 pm209takeabowson

    Lars,

    Cheers for the mail and have responded.

  210. on 26 Jun 2013 at 1:12 pm210Poppet

    Hello All. Song tunes and the lack of football put me in mind of Napoleon XIV, “They’re Coming To Take Me Away”. Roll on the Ashes and apologies for constantly being after the event with my ramblings …

  211. on 26 Jun 2013 at 1:55 pm211Uplympian

    Oskar & Tabs. I’m with the view that sometimes the use of industrial language is laziness but sometimes its most appropriate Viz “John Terry is a cunt” is the perfect description and cannot be improved upon.

    It is certainly only 4 teams from the EPL entering the Champions League otherwise the swamp dwellers from down the road would have been in it last season but for the unfortunate win of the ECL by Chel$ki.

    Trev…is that the march being led by Ivor Biggun?

    Well H2H for the 200 with a nice assist by Cent ( no doubt learning from the assistmeister Ollie).

  212. on 26 Jun 2013 at 1:55 pm212Ollie

    Hello

  213. on 26 Jun 2013 at 2:12 pm213washed up in france

    French speaking Heineken?
    After a few beers I can speak french fluidly.

  214. on 26 Jun 2013 at 2:22 pm214scruzgooner

    the distance between me and French language is too far…at least a few million light beers away…

  215. on 26 Jun 2013 at 2:30 pm215Oxon Gooner

    Oh Lord. Sorry Cent, well in for the assist. Ollie – I’ve got my congratulations in early. Don’t let me down.

  216. on 26 Jun 2013 at 3:05 pm216arsabeatbarca

    Ollie, be careful. What if that Heineken was ‘planted’ by some evil doer out to frame you. Seems too random that of all the cars, it was found by yours … and I shudder to think what the penalty is for alcohol related offences there. Hope I’m just being paranoid !

  217. on 26 Jun 2013 at 3:22 pm217Ollie

    There weren’t many cars then, and hard to frame someone for an empty box near their car, when there is no beer in the car or in the hotel room!

  218. on 26 Jun 2013 at 3:23 pm218Ollie

    I’m never a big fan of rental cards advertising that they’re rental cars though, but a big Hertz sticker marks mine (and others) out for sure, that’s true.

  219. on 26 Jun 2013 at 3:29 pm219arsabeatbarca

    Ollie, In Florida, rental car companies are NOT allowed to mark their vehicles as rentals. This stemmed from a tragic incident years ago by a family that got lost in Miami while on holiday and were murdered πŸ™

  220. on 26 Jun 2013 at 3:58 pm220arsabeatbarca

    Anyway, off to take a nap (work tonite). But before I depart, feel compelled to add to what Tabs (so very eloquently, I might add) and others, have addressed to Clive. Mr Sweeper, your father was absolutely spot on. Some things are worth fighting for ! But so are you! So in this vein, I ask you to reconsider. Compromise is not so bad, is it ? I miss Nonny and FunGunner. They both brought something unique with their ideas, etc. I feel the same about you, too. Pretty soon Arsenal will let us know when OUR Stone is placed. I want you here, when Holic, announces it. Please.

  221. on 26 Jun 2013 at 4:35 pm221scruzgooner

    well, the united states has joined the civilized world in yet another way. thank goodness.

  222. on 26 Jun 2013 at 6:42 pm222thundertinygooner

    Apparently we’re in for Higuain-hadn’t realised that.That DickLaw moves in mysterious ways. Higuain should be signed up by Christmas. Actually I suspect the delay is due to either the fact that Higuain is on holiday at the moment (cue the Mail hunting him down to a Buenos Aires nightclub where he will no doubt be found gyrating with some sexy senoritas-never sure whether the Mail approve or disapprove of this sort of thing. Well actually they disapprove of everything remotely sexual . ) The other reason is that July 1st may be the new financial year at AFC and it makes sense to put the expenditure in there when the new deals kick in. Sir Chips probably has to sign it off.
    So sorry Dick–Trev is right we need more Dicks and our one is a Law unto himself.
    That’s why the Bale signing has been put back to Monday too.And Sanogo -the tabloids hoped that one would break down-“So No Go for Sanogo!” Now we will have “GoGo Sanogo”.
    They should be paying me for these gems.

  223. on 26 Jun 2013 at 6:46 pm223Oxon Gooner

    Stand by for Oxon’s booze-related Qatar story…

    Here it comes, you have been warned…

    So, when I was in Qatar, ahem, many years ago, if you had a residence visa, you were allowed to sign up for a liquor licence, which entitled you to go to the government sponsored liquor store on an allocated morning, once per month and spend 500 Riyals (approx Β£100) on drink. (I think I may have signed something saying that I was registering as an alcoholic or something like that.)

    The tipple of choice in the darts league, which is what passed for a social life at the time, was Heineken and the 500 Riyals would get you about five cases plus a bottle of wine. I got the Ramada Rennaisance to clear out my minibar and stashed the beer there.

    This all worked very well until one month I was driving onto the site – a power station – when the armed guard at the gate pulled me over to check the contents of my boot (trunk for our American reader). As I leaned over to pull the release, it struck me that I had failed to remove my beer ration for the month. While the soldier rummaged around, I tried to remember what I’d heard happened to people like me, but after a rather long 30 seconds or so, he waved me through. I have never seen anyone look quite so fed up as he did, mind.

  224. on 26 Jun 2013 at 6:49 pm224Oxon Gooner

    TTG@224 – How much for you to consider keeping the gems to yourself?

    Good to hear that the GB swoop is still on track – it’s odd that there’s been so little about it in the mainstream media. Anyone would think they don’t read Goonerholic – say it ain’t so!

  225. on 26 Jun 2013 at 7:45 pm225thundertinygooner

    It will be trending worldwide come Sunday evening. But they heard it here first. Apparently there was a concern that Bale expected lots of monkey based insults but his agent convinced him it would be merely dogs abuse. Fee is undisclosed on a long-term contract

  226. on 26 Jun 2013 at 8:39 pm226behind the 8 ball but gunning for glory

    Never really spotted tty as a raving lunatic before now. πŸ˜‰

  227. on 26 Jun 2013 at 8:42 pm227behind the 8 ball but gunning for glory

    … unless he’s got good information, that is.

  228. on 26 Jun 2013 at 9:30 pm228thundertinygooner

    BH8B
    I kept my nutter tendencies well hidden till now. I can’t reveal my sources but they are every bit as reliable as the Star,Mail,Express,Sun,Mirror,Sky,TalKsport and Myles Palmer.

  229. on 26 Jun 2013 at 9:32 pm229Oxon Gooner

    More so, TTG, more so.

  230. on 26 Jun 2013 at 9:35 pm230Goonerholic

    More bad memories while we are all in a bad mood πŸ˜‰ >>>>>>>>>>

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