Nic’N’Mix Strong Enough For Another Sweet Treat
Dec 4th, 2013 by 'holic
Five changes, including a recall for Nicklas Bendtner, got the supporters chatting before kick-off. Was it disrespectful, dangerous even, possibly underestimating the opponents? The first response arrived just a couple of minutes in when following some superb build-up play on the right Carl Jenkinson crossed for Bendtner to head home. The perfect start.
The opening thirty minutes or so saw the Arsenal midfield produce an astonishing and mesmeric display. The only surprise was that we didn’t add to that opening strike although Aaron Ramsey in particular made every effort to tie things up before half-time. The Welshman was clearly given a free role and galloped up in support of wave after wave of attacks orchestrated by Tomas Rosicky, Santi Cazorla, and Mesut Ozil. Cazorla, Laurent Koscielny, and Ozil also saw opportunities come and go.
There was something of a mini-revival by the visitors as the end of the half approached. Thankfully the best opportunities fell to Tom Huddlestone, hardly the most clinical of finishers, and we had an advantage to carry forward.
The second-half started as had the first. Within two minutes a second goal arrived, Ozil combining with Ramsey before slotting home at the near post. Again the midfield started to weave beautiful patterns in front of a bemused Hull defence. Those who have been eager to see how a fit Cazorla and Ozil would combine were given some delightful glimpses of the future. Whisper it softly, this midfield really is starting to look as good as anything I can recall seeing down the years. Behind them Mathieu Flamini rode shotgun. Hull had no chance of coming back from two down.
It was a minor frustration however that, as in the first period, we weren’t able to add to our advantage. Cazorla, Ramsey, and Bendtner, all had a couple of opportunities to give the scoreline a more realistic look. Make no mistake, 2-0 doesn’t convey the comprehensive nature of this victory.
A few words in praise of the Dane are in order. The derision that greeted his selection across social media sites, and doubtless the bars around the ground too, was plentiful. That isn’t surprising, but it might have been wiser to get behind the fella before he seized the opportunity presented to him. He knew a poor performance would result in stick coming his way, and responded with a full shift and a goal to remember, simple though the finish might have been once he got in the right place at the right time.
Emergency services tonight are awash with reports of pigs flying over edible hat shops. Some enterprising entrepreneurs could have made a fortune selling portions of humble pie outside the ground after the final whistle. Fair play Mr Bendtner, who has had many cringeworthy moments and a fair few forgetful displays in recent years, but this was not one. The applause that greeted his substitution with less than twenty minutes remaining must have sounded like music to his ears.
A word too for the boss. His selection gamble clearly paid off. The strength on the bench was a useful back-up if it all went wrong, but the eleven he started with continued where those who had played so well at Cardiff left off. Still four points clear at the top of the Premiership with only five games to the mid-point of the season. This squad looks capable of sustaining a challenge. There, we can say it. It won’t be won by anybody until May, but we do look more than capable of being involved in that final shake-up.
A good night, wouldn’t you agree?
340 Responses to “Nic’N’Mix Strong Enough For Another Sweet Treat”
First?
Second!
LIDEROWNIA
Get’s third a trophy as well? 😉
Fourth of course 🙂
Definitely a good night, Guv. Great summary of the game too. Cheers.
Great double for the lad from Oxfordshire, notching the treble-ton in one bar before opening the scoring at the next.
In other news, another routine 2-0 win by the Arsenal in a match they should have won easily and another fine report by the proprietor of this excellent establishment. It’s up to everyone to decide for themselves whether to be delighted that this team keep on going out there and getting the job done, or whether to rend their clothes and gnash their teeth over the way this team fails to score a hatful of goals.
Me, I think I’ll go with delight. They say you can only beat what’s put in front of you; they don’t say anything about scoring a hatful. I would far rather Arsenal keep winning by small margins against everyone rather than steamrolling some times and losing narrowly to others.
COYG
B52 should’ve gotten that brace. Great job, boyos. Win the next match.
BMBD
Wow, comentary wanking off to Suarez’ goals. Sure nice ones, but he’s still that disgussting cunt who bites opponents ffs!
NO GLOATING ……..from Arsene and the playeres!
iLonestar Gooner tooooooooooooooo right!
Nice round number
Lineker is going to eat his crisps!
Great report by the way ‘Holic
Pangloss knows @7!
Datsyuk,
The last time I saw four goals of that quality being scored was Arshavin at Anfield. And I am being biased. If I was objective, I would say that Suarez was probably the best 4-goal haul I’ve ever seen. You can diss Norwich all you want, but the goals he scored were all about raw talent and not about poor defending. Everyone will talk about his first, but his third goal for me on the half-volley was just majestic.
It just bends my head how some people don’t rate this guy.
Fantastic news, the boys just keep on rolling and it’s a shame I didn’t have a chance to watch any of it.
Fair play to B52, as a result of his shift I heard they were strapping on the ice skates and having snowball fights in hell.
What’s that? Did you-nited lose? Wahahahaha again, let’s see the pundits pull positives out of this one, after their queueing up to kiss their arse because the Leverkusen “had result announced their return”.
Exactly the kind of result they would have called a flash in the pan when Arsenal did that.
Oh and can anyone enlighten me on our current league position? I haven’t looked at the table in ages.
“result had…”
Liderownia Porco, liderownia !
Shane Long ………………penalty
Datsyuk with studs
“but he’s still that disgussting cunt who bites opponents ffs”
You joking right?
What else he needs to do, for some to realize that he is the best striker in the PL. By large margin. He doesn’t play for Arsenal, and bytes opponents, but that just won’t make me less objective. Either Arsene, I am sure.
Fast and good report ‘Holic. Thanks
Joe
I know and I do rate him. But we also all know what comes along with all his ballplaying brilliance don’t we
Lurky
Don’t you fear that he may disrupt all this harmony and freedom our team seems to enjoy AND need?
Robbie Fowler says yes.
That’s the last time he’ll be on MotD. 😉
Excuse my manners.
Top report ‘holic, thank you.
Suarez may well be the best striker in the land but I still don’t want to see him in Arsenal colours.
Indeed H2H, respect due to our landlord.
To make myself clearly understood, I would love to get a striker with the footballing quality Suarez brings as long as it isn’t Suarez in person. If not possible to get one without the other than it’s none for me
Liderownia.
Night all.
Well, we may need to go into that another time. Got some sleep to catch. Take care all you lovely gooners 🙂
A GREAT night, I would agree, Holic. Just home. Still buzzing. Superb atmosphere in the ground on a beautiful crisp December evening. Excellent start to the month.
Looking forward to Suarez’ arrival and to the consequent pub crawl with Zico and Bath around West Fife’s garden spots. (I think we need to add Lochore to an already pearlescent itinerary, men?).
30 licks for the Nick critics.
Suarez’s goals were indeed superb but Norwich were standing off him so much, probably because he goes down so easily. You have to close down a player like that quickly and not give him the time to be brilliant. And the one he scored from the free kick – how was that a free-kick to Liverpool? Should have been the other way.
Joe – about Jenks in the last drinks – I think you’re being a bit harsh on a young player who has shown tonight that he’s learning. No, he’s not the quality of Sagna but Bacs has 9 more years’ experience. I’m also not saying that Jenks is going to make it but he’s going in the right direction. I thought his decision making tonight was a great improvement, even if the quality of the opposition was poor.
Good night you happy Gooners
Good to see you BtM. Will you be there on Sunday?
I agree with Datsyuk w.s. – Suarez is a brilliant player but how long would he stay if Real Madrid starting making eyes at him behind Arsene’s back?
I think if RM can raise the money, they’ll buy him in January.
@23 Datsyuk
In all honesty I don’t fear that he may disrupt our harmony. I think he will fit perfectly.
Just back from the match to frosty Kent. I predicted 2-0 last night when I thought OG would be playing upfront. This could in other circumstances have been anything. I went with a Hull fan who was bewitched by our football,particularly early on, but depressed by the chasm in class between the sides.
I watched Ozil very carefully tonight and I think I’m learning what a remarkably efficient player he is. Virtually every pass carries menace and when he gets in the last third his delivery is deadly as was his finish tonight. My mate was also hugely impressed by Koscielny as he played with immense concentration and got even more depressed when Arteta came on . ‘ Don’t you ever run out of brilliant midfielders he said as Wilshere and Arteta arrived.
I knew TGSTEL was a world- beater because he kept telling us. Nice header, great cross and a decent performance although he is very slow and his second touch is a tackle. But a bright move by Wenger to rest Giroud.
Lots of buzz in the ground about us signing Berbatov. We were speculating on unlikely strikers who we could sign as back- up for half a season.we came up with Berbatov , Crouch and Campbell at Cardiff who could all do a respectable job in extremist. Berbatov is lazy but has exquisite touch and experience. Crouch would do a decent impression of Giroud without being as good in the air and Campbell is classy with good movement. None would cost the earth.
Holic is right about this midfield. It has astonishing variety and great personality. With better striking back- up we can win the League. Theo showed in his cameo he lacks the physicality to play there but we have a good goalie, fine defence , sublime midfield and an excellent striker. Not a bad set- IP at all.
The other big question is whether United can get the Europa League!
Nice report Holic. Strong performance all round apart from making our superiority turn into a goal fest. The right players were given a breather – now roll on the Toffees on sunday.
The only place Suarez will fit perfectly inside our club is in the trash cans. And that’s if our staff starts using the trash cans in place of toilets.
“I would love to get a striker with the footballing quality Suarez brings as long as it isn’t Suarez in person”
I would agree with the first part, and not necessarily care about the second. I couldn’t care less who it is – so long as we have a striker to make the most of this midfield. On that point, I tend to agree with Holic in that this would well be as good a midfield unit as we’ve ever seen at the club !
dkg,
Thats a very fair comment. And I couldn’t but agree that since Jenks has arrived, his improvement has been fantastic. I don’t doubt for a second his importance as a squad player. I’m just not so sure if he has what it takes to make it as a first team regular. I’m inclined to say the same about Theo. But I don’t want to accentuate the negative – because its a time that we rightfully should be so very proud and heartened by the team this season. What really makes me buzz, is the defensive discipline this team is currently showing. The clean sheets make all the difference and rightfully place us as potential contenders. All we need to do to get over the mental barrier and beat Citeh / Chelski. We failed to pass a test even Everton passed at Manu..!
Ttg,
I’m happy to hear you mention Berbatov because I’ve long thought that he’s a very realistic option. I think he’d be a great signing. He’d be available to play in the CL, has experience at that level and arguably a point to prove too…!
TTG @ 38 — Interesting back-up options but I don’t think any of them can surely be a candidate for signing because they have neither the quality (Berba is well past it and even at his best was a bit of a luxury player) nor the promise of youth (a la Sanogo) to join this squad on a long term basis , if at all only for a loan deal.
If Poldi is back in full fitness, and Bendy can maintain focus and consistency whenever called upon then should we worry too much about signing a back-up for just the sake of it? If we really want to be safe a loan deal (like the rumors about Morata even though at this time there seems to be nothing to it) sounds more likely.
I am really waiting to see Poldi come back and playing with full fitness. I know he wasn’t that convincing as the central striker last season but I think with this midfield to support him if he is fully fit he will cause havoc even as a central striker.
Fantastic summary holic indeed.
Absolutely Nothing to add….
other than to agree that our midfield is so exciting to watch at present .
cazorla, ozil and ramsey are on fire and the speed and precision that they move the ball is indeed mesmerising.
Even better when rosicky, jack, theo and artetta just chime in off the bench wow, we have a real deal squad.
A bundy rum for arsene please barman…… Make it a double.
Back from the Emirates now.
A fine report Holic – I would only add what a brilliant addition Flamini is to this side. When we are defending, his arms work as hard as his legs, directing everyone into position in every possible direction, covering anyone pulled out of place and constantly patrolling between the back four and midfield.
If Flamini has a nickname I would imagine it’s ‘Polyfilla’ judging by the number of gaps he fills.
Miss Trev was not disappointed by the ‘meagre’ tally of two goals. The final score could have been almost anything and there was absolutely no application of the handbrake tonight.
Great atmosphere in the ground, including a well earned round of applause for TGSTEL, a resounding rendition of “Only one Arsene Wenger”, and several rounds of “There’s only one Pat Rice”.
All good to hear.
dkgooner,
Completely agree with your @33 regarding Carl Jenkinson. Nothing to add.
Show me a reserve who has played ONE game this season who would have come in and done any better. Or one already as good as Sagna who would sit on the bench every week. I know right backs have to be fine defenders probably first and foremost, but in the modern game they have to be useful attackers too.
I would suggest Jenks is already a better attacker than Bac.
Sorry, I seem to have added quite a lot, actually.
It’s December. We are still top of two leagues. Toffee, anyone ? 😉
Cent @ 40: Arsene talking about Bendy in the post-match interview: “In our job it is important to be open-minded and never form a final judgment about someone”.
I agree with everyone about Suarez: technically an excellent player, a very good goalscorer, good link-up player who is also hard working, and yet carries too much of a history of negative on-the-field-behavior.
However, how and whether he fits in this Arsenal side I would leave to the judgment of one Arsene Wenger. He had thought about it seriously enough to push a serious bid at the beginning of the season so I do think there may be more in the case of Suarez’s reputation than meets the eye.
Arthur, hope you enjoy your Tyskie or Zywifc if they take your fancy.
Why exactly does anyone think that Liverpool will suddenly capitulate and sell Suarez to us in January when they were utterly determined not to do so in August ?
He is clearly a huge talent. His past behaviour has been ridiculous rather than dangerous, and preferable, to that extent, to someone like Shawcross.
More concerning would be the likelihood that he would want to leave again as soon as Real Madrid came calling, making a huge buy out clause a necessity.
But we all know that. Just as we know it ain’t gonna happen.
Doctor F et al
Respect your judgement but forget Bendtner as an option. My neighbour in Section D is friendly with a coach at Hale End and he tells me that we haven’t heard the half of what TGSSTEL has been up to . There have been many other cover ups. He is not an option and I don’t think Poldi or Theo are either. Any striker we buy has to be able to start and add something and I’m more in Joe’s camp onBerbatov. Sometimes a transfer can revive a player and for Berbatov it would be a massive change to be in a club that play like Arsenal currently are.
I believe there is not a hope in hell of signing Suarez but if Wenger wants him I would back his judgement. After all since he came back he’s been as good as gold- and he is the most exciting striker in the Premier League by a country mile.
Arsenal są liderami ligi!!!
Great post Holic!
Still top, Chelsea’s jammy win was upsetting but still the Arsenal tank rumbles on. I was worried we’d do a Liverpool against Hull but despite the multitude of changes we looked the same–disciplined, productive and full of creative ability.
Honestly speaking, I’m not going to worry about results anymore because if they keep working as hard as this even if we don’t finish first I will extremely proud of the team we have become.
Up the Arsenal!
P.S. Old Trafford is really the Theatre of Dreams….for visiting teams! Long may this continue! MNB must be fuming because I’m sure he’s a manc troll…
trev, i am against suarez joining us, because he’s shown himself to be a pretty vile personality. the bonding in the team is strong, and i wonder how anyone with such big boots would feel to join us in january, let alone someone clearly as nuts as suarez.
that said, you’ve got a point about the buyout clause. IF mr. wenger wants him, and gets him, add 25% to the purchase cost, ride his goals for a half a season, then let madrid pay the buyout. we could win a double, or a treble if his form for us was to be equal to that for the scouse, and making a little dosh on the sale would keep the board happy.
then, buy a striker who can meld with the rest of the team and not be an avowed wantaway in the summer with the augmented proceeds.
and, sir holic, excellent writeup (and good call about the reserves stepping up in the last column). i trust management is doing ok, and that you’re not suffering the lack of a successful ‘holic pound on the drinking front. if so, there’s always lars’ wallet.
Just in, too tired to post except to say there was champagne football on view, loved it, pity about the host of missed chances. Hull were well and truly out classed.
Night All.
Yeah baby!
NorCal! Thanks for the moral support yesterday 😀
Everton away fans at Man United taunting Moyes with chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning.” Nothing like good humor, I always say. 😉
Another tidbit of a confusing fact for the Stewart Robson denizens and their mantra of “Arsenal are not good at defendin” :
Arsenal have allowed three fewer goals than any other club in the Premier League. Not good at defendin MY ARSE!!
Do the knuckleheads in MOTD finally accept that we’re title contenders?If this wasn’t a display of championship winning form then I don’t know what is. Bendy’s goal was well taken and his touch can only improve.It can’t get any worse. Ozil n Santi weaved their way all over Hull players and Ramsey again was neat and tidy.
The backup strikers mentioned by Thunder are intriguing.I’m in Berbatov camp. Always liked him as a player though he’s no Giroud when it comes to defending and tracking back.His touch is ridiculously good and he’s a competent finisher.This season he’s been bad because I suspect he’s gotten lazy considering the talent that surrounds him and he might be thinking like Bendy that he’s the greatest striker for Fulham .This move could regenerate his stagnating career.
We do need a backup striker. Poldi when he was fit was played in the wings where he’s better tbh and also saw few game time when compared to Giroud last season. Bendy isn’t exactly the person who inspires confidence but I hope this display turns a page.
Very Ozil-esque report, ‘Holic. No overelaboration but every point telling.
Thought TGSTEL looked very ring rusty, for all that he put in a shift. If he could get match fit he could still be a decent Premiership striker.
Would have liked to have seen a few more goals given the dominance. A four or five nil scoreline would not have been unreasonable. I don’t think after the first 10 minutes Hull would have believed they could get to half time only one down.
Echo all the praise above for Flamini. Looking an evermore inspired signing.
It’s LIDEROWANIA ffs guys. At least it was the first time you posted it Arthurgooner. Has some Liderowanian been complaining about your Liderowanese spelling?
Öskar
What about Levazzi, the out-of-favour Argentine international who can’t get a game at PSG, as a January striker signing?
As for Suarez I believe AW would have him in a shot for the buyout figure in January. And after his first hat-trick at the Ems all hostility to the transfer would evaporate from the terraces.
I have no doubt that with LS and quality cover for Merts/Kos we would have the best squad in the EPL, possibly Europe.
Öskar
great to us us so dominating against a PL side. its fine that we did not rack up a cricket score. it will come.
We need bendy to be more match sharp if we are to keep getting the points. Good for Arsene all his changes worked to a peach. Thought Santi would have wished for a better performance. Hope he unleashes that against the toffees.
We should be able to get through these upcoming games. Everton never easy but if our attitude is right we should do the business.
And what about that united team. they are by no means finished but boy does it feel good to see them so clueless. seen some of their fans complaining that the ref never game them anything last night. no doubt they were hoping for some of those gift penalties they have got used to.
COYR.
Cheers holic! Any striker coming in must not disrupt the obvious synergy that this group of players is creating. So for me, its either a world class option – almost definitely not available in January, or no one. Berbatov looks a moody git to me. Very unlikely to see him charging around putting a full shift of closing down in, as TGSTEL did last night fair play to him. Of those mentioned above, I would see Crouch as the best option, in terms of fitting in and maintaining the team work ethic. Never thought I would utter those words.
Game was live only on the HD channels on TV and me possessing an archaic SD television had to stream it online.
However, just a tip to all you guys, in case you are capable of some internet skullduggery and can bamboozle the website to believe you’re based out of the Indian subcontinent, no better stream out there than the one on starsports.com. A proper PPV legal stream with all the options of rewinding the game and watching it again et al. Definitely would recommend it
@35, Mr Holic – Ye, with Her Nellieness in tow. Hope to see a healthy sprinkle of Holics pre or post-game.
I’m still hoping to be off to Napoli next week too but Arsenal are making it extraordinarily difficult to get a ticket. I’ll try again today. However, should anyone happen to have a spare one tucked behind their ear, in a shoe box under the stair etc, I’d be very happy to take it off their hands 🙂
EPL Matchday 14 review in brief: Ozil and Ramsey beginning to show telepathic understanding of each other. Match was virtually a training session. Other teams should start getting scared of everton. Villa nt all about Benteke. Bardsley is ‘Fool Back’ I must say. Had a horrid time with hazard. AVB lucky. City and Swansea had a good day. And Suarez! Hmmmm. That is not the only time we’ve seen some1 score 4goals at anfield is it?…. Btw Do u guys know each other personally?. Why do I always feel like Ibrahimovic in the barca team?
Rather fine picture on the front page of the BBC site of Martinez apparently giving the finger to David Mouse. They’ll probably take it down when the spot it, so go have a look now.
Hmm, I wonder if I can reproduce it here…
COYG
That’ll be a “No” then 🙁
Welcome EM, not everybody has met but a large number have. We tend to worship at the same church 😉
BtM, great that both of you are coming on Sunday. I look forward to buying you a refreshment of choice.
Esso,
Berbatov is a moody git, there’s no doubt about that, but I don’t think he’d ever be viewed as a long term option or threat to Giroud per se. He would just be a back up striker that could be relied upon to do a job. He has proven pedigree & premiership experience that we could possibly buy in January and wouldn’t cost a whole lot either. He’d be available for the CL too. Ticks alot of boxes as an interim option until the summer if you ask me.
Trev,
We’ll agree to disagree on Jenks. I’ll be more than happy to be proved wrong but I just don’t think he’s the man to fill Sagna’s boots. I actually think Bellerin is a better talent but whether he’ll be ready or not only time will tell. And I wasn’t suggesting that Liverpool would capitulate and sell Suarez. I was merely pointing out his talent, which above all else, is what should be the primary consideration. I doubt we’d be back in the market for Suarez given how he reneged on his declarations of intent during the summer. But football is a crazy business and no-one knows what will happen. Who’s to say, for example, that Perez will buy someone like Falcao and close the door on Suarez? One thing we learned very clearly during the summer, is that when you enter the market for top players like Rooney or Suarez, its not just about the money.
@Joe You’re welcome to Berbacunt. Personally would n’t have him within a country mile of our club or team.
Shearer’s problem is he’s too thick to understand the difference between ‘can win the league’ and ‘will win the league’. He even seems defensive when asked that question every week after another Arsenal win as though saying yes would mean he is going back on his prediction Chelsea will win. No one is saying Arsenal will win the league. Far from it. But it seems hard to watch this team and think that the other question of ‘can’ has any other answer than yes!
You got to love Özils twitter “Three games, nine points, 7:0 goals – Winter-wonderland in London.”
Also word about Jenks Joe, he was not at his best yesterday, by any means and thats understandable given the fact that he has not played regulary.
But, take a look on the games we played during the start of the last season, when Bac was out injured, Jenks had proper run of games and watch him especially against Man City away, and then tell me that he does not have it in him to become regular RB for us. I think he has, he is young, and will only get better.
Great report, H. You called it as I saw it too, a good night indeed.
Joe@16: pfft, it was just dumb luck on all four goals 😉 I think you are a bit too harsh on Jenkinson. The opposition may have been poor, but he still played with intelligence and calmness. Shit opposition never stopped the likes of Traore, Hoyte and Squillaci from cocking up badly!
Porco Rosso@17: Exactly the kind of result they would have called a flash in the pan when Arsenal did that.
Amen to that. That Leverkusen result is yet another parallel between them and us in 2005/6 that I talked about a while ago in this very bar. We also had our fair share of false dawns that season like beating Middlesbrough 7-0 at Highbury, and if it really is true (though I still doubt it very much, it is worth noting that no denial has yet been issued from neither RvCunt nor ManU as far as I have seen/heard) that the Dutch bloke has handed in a transfer request then this may be the start of a much bigger fall for ManU than I thought would or even could happen so soon. They are now in serious danger of being left out even in the race for fourth and the implications that could have financially for them are HUGE. They may have their millions of sponsors but they also have a massive debt to service, and it is also most likely the case that most of those sponsors will pay them significantly less if they fail to qualify for the CL. They may be only five points off fourth at the moment, but they were also only five points off the top, one point behind Chelsea and one point above ManCity just three games ago so their trajectory isn’t exactly pointing skywards at this point. We’ll see what happens, but they certainly are in a right pickle at the moment.
Several: Berbatov? Ber-fucking-batov? Have you seen Fulham this season? I have seen them quite a lot for some reason and he is not just past it, he has got on a bus and taken two trains further away and is now in line waiting for an available cab. I appreciate the “maybe a move to a top club would lift him” argument but have you already forgotten how he sulked his way through his last year at ManU? Like Esso I wouldn’t have him anywhere near our club.
Oh, and as for MOTD I must say I found Gary Linker’s comments about Arsene last night quite funny. He clearly disagrees quite strongly with Hansen, Shearer and the others about our chances of winning the league.
No to Berbatov for me.
Our current team works their bollocks off for one another. You can’t stick a stroller like Berbatov on top of that, much less one already past his prime.
I think the need for a striker is not as desperate as has been made out. Let’s see how a fully fit Podolski gets on in the role – he looked pretty handy there for Koln.
As far as other options go, we will need every penny we’ve got for that £55m bid for Suarez next summer. Whatever his flaws he would be the final piece in the puzzle for this team, and we would become a genuinely terrifying outfit.
Great result last night, lovely to see proper rotation going on and the lads coming in doing such a great job. Also lovely to see the Mancs get beat – they appear to be in real bother.
COYG
lars knows re Berbatov.
El Magnifico, ‘holic knows @70.
I’d like to make my position on Suarez clear. There is no denying his massive footballing talent but there is also no denying his bad side. I don’t have a problem with people calling for us to sign him, what irks me is when people want to gloss over his bad side simply because he is capable of scoring a shitload of goals. How can we all condemn Bendtner’s attitude then turn around and gloss over Suarez’ antics? What has Bendtner done wrong that Suarez hasn’t done worse? I’m all for giving people 2nd chances and I’ve asked for 2nd chances in my life too but let’s not start saying things like ‘he will fit in perfectly with us’ just because he scores goals because it’s akin to a parent saying their kid can continue been a thief so long as he/she brings home the loot. I’m sure none of us would bring up their kids that way.
Great report, Holic.
I love the pigs flying over edible hat shops.
Maybe Piebury Corner should produce a Nic Bentdner Xmas Special?
Fine effort by TGSTEL.
Can’t see AW bringing in another striker in January unless someone special lands in his lap.
Job well done last night. On to the next task.
i might sound like a greedy, spoilt brat who just got a porche for my brithday gift, but want a Lamborghini, but we could’ve and maybe should’ve scored more. i was a bit annoyed with the scoreline at half-time with a lot of intricate passing without the goals. in the past, such situations had become arsenal’s undoing- the opposition soaking up the pressure, but responding by equalizing or leading against us in the dying minutes.
perhaps i’m also turning my jealous head towards man city’s demolition of teams at the moment with a bit of worry against our game coming up against them. yaya toure and aguero are on fire at the moment, and we’ll have to take care against these two in that game
having said all that, i gladly take the 2-0. what’s more, we got it done with several key players rested for the visit of everton this weekend. everton would be a tough game. they’re really thriving under roberto martinez with the likes of delefeou (?), barkley and the monster, lukaku in imperious form.
we’ll have to be at our best. fingers crossed.
Berbatov?
Jeez, pass the mushrooms.
Most pleasing aspect for me last night was another clean sheet.
We now have comfortably the best defence in the Premier League (10 goals conceded).
Defences win titles. Simple as that.
For all the waffling on about Giroud, it’s Mertesacker who we need to make sure we keep fit.
Cent #78
I’m in the same boat. I know I started this discussion last night with my comment.
My #9 was probably more directed at the guy with the microphone getting all excited and praising a player to heaven they all, and I really mean the whole sick bunch that is meedja, wanted to get quartered and burned like a witch in the middleages just a few months ago.
All other things re Suarez have probably been said above and I don’t think we should get in an arguement with each other over a bread that is not baken.
I wanted to stick my hand into the hat and come up with Huntelaar again. Just to find out he is out even longer.
Maybe in summer anyone?
No worries, Datsyuk, I’ve never really been convinced about Huntelar to be honest.
Afternoon to you all on this, a (still), table toppingly day.
A mighty storms a brewing here, winds already at gail force 9-10 and are expected to rise to 11-12, 😮
Time to baton down the hatches……..
Unfortunatly I have no hatches, not too well stocked in the baton department either, ah well, it’s darts night this evening so I’ll just down as many beers as I can and hope for the best. 💡
Huntelaar, meh!!
I have all of that at the moment H2H, and snow.
Stupid global warming…..
Berbatoss?
Nah.
I won’t disagree that he may, with the emphasis on MAY, be capable of doing a job for us, as he would recieve way better service then he currently does and he still has a strikers touch, but, as mentioned above, he wouldn’t do any of the dirty work.
What Esso and Lars said about his attitude, that, for me anyway, would be the biggest reason to steer clear.
Suarez.
I’ve made my feelings clear about how I feel about him as an individual.
As a player he is in top form and undenyably very, very good, although apparantly not good enough to score against Hull and i don’t remember him doing much against us either (Churlish, I know. 😉 )
However, with Man U and the swampies doing far worse then any of the so called experts had predicted L’poo will consider themselves in with a real chance to grab a top 4 place and a CL bearth, that’s what they want, that’s what he wants. The Mickey Hierarchy (try saying that ten times really quickly after a few bevvys) will know that he (LS) is paramount to the team if they are to achieve this ambition, there is no way in hell they will let him go in Jan’. If they do finish top 4 he’s staying, if not, he’s off, but not to us, nor to anyone else in the PL.
While we are playing this futile, but amusing way to pass the time, transfer guessing game, a word to those who were praying that we would bring last seasons flavour de jour, but ultimatly flash in the pan, C Benteke, who due to his not so breathtaking form was dropped to the bench yesterday.
That would be the Aston Villa bench.
Indeed zico.
We are definetly getting the short shitty end of that particular stick.
When is our part of the globe going to rid itself of the wet, stormy, windy and get the warming bit!?
People c’mon!!!… Are we still afraid of making a statement. Place a bid for Suarez and watch what happens. Its like the more he scores, the more we resign to the fact we’re not getting him. I mean we had Ozil, dint we?. Bid for him. Bid for Cristiano if we have the money too. Its not a crime. Lord knows we could do with a Messi too. Una just turn Suarez to holy grail haba!!!
Don’t mind my nigerian turrets but that’s how passionate I am about the next window. COYG!!!
H2H
Very true.
I spent most of the summer hoping we’d sign Fellaini and Benteke. Thank god I’m not the manager.
Just goes to show: Arsene knows (much more than we do).
Lots to do at work today, but not busy enough to stop me from booking my next London flight – I’ll be over for the Fulham game on January 18th!
Windy, cold and sunny here. Very strange combo. Stay safe you Holics in the eye of this storm.
Berba – meh. Huntelaar – bleugh. Suarez – missed boat.
What N7 said re Per.
No-one (and winter) is a-comin’ in.
Nice one Lars!!
Got my eye on Fulham as well Lars 🙂
Never understood the hype about Benteke to be honest – every time I watch him he is caught offside 95% of the time the ball goes toward him.
I’m with N7 on the striker front – I don’t think we are as bad off as everyone is making out.
If Bendtner can make a contribution, surely we have a right to expect a major contribution from a guy who has 111 caps for Germany and 46 international goals.
We just need to get him fully fit.
N7.
Was pretty much in the “mind not completly made up” brigade when it came to Fellani, due to his tendancy to blow hot, but then cold.
I wouldn’t have said no to him though, just didn’t think the price was right.
Must admit that I didn’t expect him to be as bad as he is at Manure.
I’m a poldi fan, was before he came to the Arse, I still believe we haven’t seen the best of him. he may not be able to hold the ball up like giroud, but we should have more then enough guile in midfield to cut our cloth accordingly.
Feo could also do a job, bu again we’d have to change the way we do things.
Bendy did a good enough jod yeterday, plus we’ve still got that guy from the Wham lyrics to come in.
All in all, we are not in too bad a shape, which leads me to speculate that those expecting a brand spanking new striker may be a little dissapointed.
H2H
What I will say about Fellaini is that I started the summer wanting him in, but was unsure by the end.
The fact that he had a well publicised release clause at not much more than Everton paid for him and yet still no-one tried for him suggested to me that there must be doubts about his ability on the ball. We’ve all seen since his move to Utd that those doubts appear to have been well-founded.
Regarding Benteke, I’ll be interested to see where he goes from here. Last season he was an absolute monster from January to May (I think his goals per game was among the best in Europe), playing for an awful Villa side. This season I gather he’s been played deeper by Lambert, which seems to have killed his form completely.
He’s still very young, so he has time to turn it round, and I still half think he could do a job for us, although suspect Arsene has his heart set on a genuine world class centre forward come the summer.
Totally agree with zico on Poldi. The guy can clearly play centre forward and Germany don’t hand out caps in that quantity to just any old slouch. I think the media have simply forgotten that he exists.
Sorry, this off topic but may be of interest:
Any gooner wanting a really handsome Christmas present (either for yourself or a very special Gooner friend) could do worse than bid for a first UK edition of Fever Pitch inscribed by both Nick Hornby AND also by Michael Thomas on the “It’s up for grabs” page. It’s lot 339 at Dominic Winter Auctions on the 12th December. http://issuu.com/jammdesign/docs/dw101-106?e=1975639/5817314
Within this lot there’s another USA 1st edition copy of Fever Pitch. In addition, there are various other books (some signed) of Hornby’s.
Signed copies just by Nick (and no Mick) of the 1st UK edition are currently being offered for upwards of 500 pounds. Estimates for this batch 200-300 pounds.
Strikes..
H2H….hope there’s no damage to people / premises from the storm.
Better consume as much of your stock as possible to minimise any potential losses 😉
I recall (just about) discussions in the Tollie in which I gathered LS is not on your Christmas card list. Like you I think the discussion here in the drinks is merely chewing the cud as Liverpool will not be selling Suarez in the upcoming window, and certainly not to us…not even for £40 million + 2 ! In fact I don’t believe Arsene will buy or loan a striker in jan – we will have Lukasade back up and running shortly, and NB 52 as a further back up.
As for berbatoss, I go along with those who believe his lack of work ethic would un-balance the team. Fergie found him out many moons ago at Yanited and only played him as a last resort during the last 2 years of his stay there. Interestingly, both of last seasons must have strikers, Falcao and Levezzi are apparently unsettled at Monaco / PSG respectively and may be available at the e
Aargh…bloody IOS 7 hypersensitivity strikes again……I will finish…..
“and may be available at the end of the season”.
And well in H2H….the glory position is mine though 😉
Cheers Ups.
I’ve taken the necessary precautions, now to just sit it out. Have had quiet a few cancelations (2 clubs, billiarts and line dancers) due to the storm and the fact that it’s a holiday here today (Sinter klaus). Still, like I said, the darters will be here in a bit so the lager supplies will take a hit.
Well taken goal, H2H! Hope you get through the storm OK.
zico, excellent! Hope to see you there, then 🙂
I must admit I was one of those who wanted Benteke. However, in my defense I (at least that is how I remember it, hope that is not just wishful thinking with the benefit of hindsight!) always said it was as a backup for Giroud.
H2H……I can think of a lot worse places to be than in a well stocked bar sheltering from a storm. 🙂
Benteke – the jury’s still out on that one, needs more than 1 season to be a £20m + striker. There again I always though Fellaini is what we needed so what do I know ( how nice he is bombing at Yanited ). In fact what I do know is that lots of Guinness is good for you and Arsenal are the greatest football team the world has ever seen – that’s enough to be getting on with for now 🙂
Just would like to give a big round of applause for Nacho’s performance last night and for his efforts in what has to be a trying season for him, given the lack of regular shifts. Having the ability to come in for short spells and provide both an attacking threat and defensive nous stamps him as a valued professional who we’re lucky to have.
To these eyes, he’s the Arsenal’s best “proper fullback”; these types are really hard to find in today’s football.
H2H – total agreement with your # ninety seven post.
And the Cprl. Jenks debate is an interesting one. Sagna is my favorite player. By a mile (not to mention the man crush issues, but thats for another thread). He’s a world class defender (and he finally remembered how to cross a ball this year).
Jenks is not as good a Sanga, period, at least not yet but he’s got bags of talent and continues to show improvement. Now when he goes in or is on the squad sheet I no longer think, “oh goodness no ….” Am behind Jenks 100% – he’s gonna do well for AFC.
A real irony just occured to me: last season, everyone (pundits to peanut gallery) said, well now … that HFB sure is H, but he just doesn’t score enough. Not clinical. Waste o’ money.
Now, less than a year later, the same folks are saying, well now … without that HFB you lot are right fucked for goals.
Football is awesome sometimes.
Cheers all.
Well that’s it then. LS is not leaving. Answers my stupid rant… What to do? What to do? 😐
Sagna can cross?
In church, maybe.
Our weakest link going forward in my opinion – but despite some concerns I had on a number of occasions last season, defensively he has got back to his best.
I can remember two decent crosses he put in at Old Trafford – other than that……nope.
Be happy for some statto to tell me otherwise of course 😉
Bayonne Jean – good point, well made.
zico is on Nelson. 🙂
Zico 111….our Merkan friends will be stumped with that one 😉
zico @112 – I always suspected Horatio was a bit of a Wolfie what with the name and the Hardy stuff. Never had your card marked for that tho. 🙂
BJ….also agree with you. Nacho has had just a few sub appearances along with the odd start. Rather than look disgruntled at his situation, he has put in an impressive shift on every occasion and now given the boss the headache / luxury of 2 impressive left backs in the squad.
Bath 114 heh….for sake of common decency though, I won’t expand that thought any further. Mind you we are all basking in the glow of the good ship “Victory” 🙂
I guess Moe ain’t a happy bar steward at the Old Toilet today. *chuckles*
http://cdn1.hark.com/images/000/002/621/2621/original.JPG
Seems Baff was stumped too, Ups. 😀
Certainly was.
Bath….too much anti imperialistic propaganda at uni or scotch or more probably both 😉
Well I see I’m getting lambasted on the Berbatov front…! 🙂
I still think he’s more of a short term, back-up option than people give him credit for. Time will tell.
I really do believe Wenger is going to spend big money on a striker but it’ll probably be in the summer. Wenger is in the twilight of his career and wants to build a team to win the CL. And the way the team is currently sitting – the GK is sorted, the defence is looking great, Midfield is just buzzing, but we’re short a top class striker. The kind that can make a difference at the very highest level.
Nice to see all the humble pie on Fellaini and Benteke 🙂
Good call on Nacho, Bay’.
Hey Joe (nice song btw)
I was one asking for Fellaini back in the summer. So knowing what we know now and that we actually did bid for LS tells me that I maybe should leave all this transfer stuff to the only one that really knows 😉
I suppose Wenger developed Suarez in to the player he is.
and so the lineage will begin:
http://news.arseblog.com/2013/12/arsenal-announce-kroenke-jr-as-new-board-appointment/
maybe in 100 years we’ll be talking about stan the way we talk about samuel hill-wood and his descendants.
Henry would have been good with or without Wenger at Arsenal.
Datsyuk
That’s exactly it, isn’t it?
You only have to look at old Arsenal message boards to see what a disaster it would be if the club ever submitted to the whims of the crowd.
Owen Coyle as the new gaffer. Julio Cesar in goal. Chris Samba and Ashley Williams (who?) at centre back. Fellaini in centre midfield with Yann M’Vila. Ramsey nowhere near the first team. Benteke up top.
The mind boggles. Thank god he never listens to us.
N7
But that will probably not stop me from letting you all know my stupid thoughts from time to time 🙂
lol, n7. perfectly said. owen freaking coyle, talk about flavor of the month. why not ian dowie or nigel worthington?
scruz@132, I think Coyle was flavour for rather longer than a month.
Didn’t he do a good first job at Burnley and then at Bolton before moving to Wigan? I was quite surprised he got the bullet and thought he should have been given more time. This all from a vague memory of the results he achieved at other clubs rather than a close observation of what he was doing at any of them.
Back to Nacho; here’s something to munch on:
Suppose you had a situation where Sagna is still carrying a hamstring into the fixture at Eastlands vs. the Abu Dhabis (touch wood that he doesn’t). Your right back could be:
a) Jenkinson
b) move Flamini to right back
c) play both left backs, with Nacho on the right side
What would AW do? Probably go with Jenkinson.
What would you do?
BJ
That’s an a) for me
I have no clue if Nacho would feel ok on the right but even if so, still an a)
Go with Jenks as well Bayonne, for the reasons I mentioned above.
Sorry ‘Holic
116: Nobody has shown us shit! That’s why we sit top of the table 🙂
122: Hey, feel free to feel sorry for whoever you think you need to. Maybe want to start with the team you support or yourself 😉
126; 130; 134: We all know Wenger is crap. Still top of the league! All the other managers really are way better eh?
Alright then
*on my way to the cellar to get that rat poison*
***NON-ARSENAL RELATED ALERT***
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/winter-olympics/25213838
With so many hours set to be devoted to coverage of the Sochi games, the tough questions need to be addressed now. Who will win the gold medal for extortion? Silver for bribery? Bronze for embezzlement?
bayonne, jenks for me with matty and mikel double pivot ahead of the defense.
Don’t feed the troll.
It only makes him masturbate harder.
Maybe Andre Marriner can be a luge judge at the Sochi games, with his tendency for bias and all? The only difficulty from his point of view would be that Arsenal have not submitted an entry in the luge competition.
http://blog.emiratesstadium.info/archives/32772?
Totally with Zico re Sagna.
Back to his best as a defender – generally an awful crosser of the ball.
Agreed also about Nacho – very good mature defender, very useful going forwards.
Honestly a bit bemused by some of the orher posts in here today.
What is the point of saying Jenkinson is not as good as Sagna ?
As a defender, nobody would expect him to be – as an attacker, he is already better. He is showing real signs of learning from past mistakes – even Tony Adams used to make them – and not repeating old errors. After a game or two for adjustment, he has always done well when called on for any extended period. He is a determined, committed backup player who may ultimately not be as good as the Barca schooled Bellerin, who looks a great talent, but at the moment the manager clearly sees Jenks as the preferred option – probably because of his superior physical strength.
Waffling about Giroud ? Who was ?
He is as important in his position as any other player in the side, as we are constantly reminded by every expert on the planet. And he makes a huge amount of defensive clearances too.
And yes, I do rate The BFG hugely too. Brilliant player.
That is the great thing about this team – there are loads of players who are great in their positions, and all very important to the team.
To talk about waffling about Giroud denigrates his worth to the side and is pointless. He seems an almost unique player, integrating play around the box, holding the ball up, winning almost every aerial duel, assisting, scoring, defending, pressing, generally working like a dog. Anyone under valuing his contribution has not been watching.
The more selfish style of Suarez would certainly make us different but would it, as a team, make us any better ?
And who wanted Owen Coyle as manager ? I don’t remember any great clamour for him to be appointed – or have I not been paying attention.
We have a real squad at the club now, and everyone is making a very good job of doing whatever he is asked. Comparing reserves to vastly more experienced internationals seems a bit bizarre to me.
Even Bendtner put in a shift last night, and good on him for that, bearing in mind that he is probably no more thrilled to still be here than we are to have him.
We all seem to appreciate the importance of spirit and harmony in the dressing room. Some of the comments in here today wouldn’t do a lot to maintain it.
Not to say they shouldn’t be made. I just don’t understand them.
Rant over – time for a lie down.
zico – cross in chruch. Well done. And i walked right INTO that one.
I see Sagna has one assist (from a cross I believe) and it seems to me that his crosses into the box have been much better and actually finding OG this season. For support I cite Homer [me] and his Guinness soaked memory from watching Arsenal football matches.
Statistically speaking, however, the likelihood of life on earth is so infinitessimally small and the concurrence of events required for life to spring forth defy logic, or easily grapsed numbers. Yet, here we all sit.
That’s all I got at the moment.
Trev – fair points all.
But, if I’m not mistaken, one of Arsenal’s strengths as of late is its defensive solidity. Sagna is a key part of that. And yes, saying that Sagna is better that Jenks may be pointless because that little observation is clear as vodka. Not that its a comparison, that is obviously not the point.
I too trust the gaffer’s view that Jenks is premiership material and he will in all likelihood be first choice starting fullback in the near future. Just not yet. Given the competition for spots in this squad, the team spirit and commradery is pretty amazing. That’s as much down to AW as the character of the players themselves, i should think.
Pretty much spot on Trev and as far as I am concerned regarding Giroud, he really is turning into our very own “Drogba” kind of player..just more handsome and less cunty.
@Trev
Waffling about Giroud was a reference to the MOTD mob/anyone else looking for excuses to write us off, as opposed to anything said in the bar.
Very pleased to see praise for Nacho who is an excellent left-back but seems an excellent club man too-as is Jenks. The Gooner this month carries a story that haven’t got stuck in a major traffic jam he ran three miles to get to training on time.
Also I hear very good things about Vermaelen’s attitude. Unlike RVP he appears to be a captain in more than name despite the threat to his World Cup place. The gelling of characters like these together with Flamini, Arteta and Mertesacker appears to be a huge influence on the stability of the club.
last word on Bendtner-he does NOT fit into the above category and is nowhere near good enough to make an exception for!
Fair enough, N7, my misunderstanding.
I’ve given up listening to them – bitter nonsense.
“those expecting a brand spanking new striker may be a little dissapointed.” – H2H #97.
———————————————————————–
I tend to disagree, H2H (and not just with the spelling). We have done remarkably well so far this season, better than most here would have predicted if they were honest about it. And in consequence of that we are positioned to take the next step up earlier than we might have been.
By which I mean that in terms of potential football success we have as much to offer currently as any other club in Europe. Those seeking Rooney-type salaries may still have to look elsewhere, but there is every other reason for the best of the best to look at us seriously. And we should grab the opportunity to plug the gaps in the squad while it exists.
As I mentioned earlier I see two obvious gaps, cover for Merts/Kos at a level better than TV, and the much debated Giroud support. I have no serious suggestions for the first, but, according to rumours, Cavani, Falcao and Suarez are all unsettled to various degrees where they are, so if there are musical chairs to be played in January we should at least put out a chair and hope one of them lands on it.
I’d still prefer Suarez, who also has the bonus of not being CL cup-tied, but would be over the moon with any of them.
Öskar
Quoting a tweet: Some people inspire individuals. Some groups, tribes even nations. There are very few who inspire generations… RIP Nelson Mandela
el magnifico. generations, and generations to come. rest in peace, madiba.
Believe it or not, Bendtner could make several more very important contributions to the success of our season. Our opposition will be regarding him with much more seriousness than some of the Arsenal supporters, for the present anyway
Amen to that guys. A truly great man has passed on
RIP Nelson Mandela
Raises glass to Mr. Mandela…
Re: the Jenks debate. Seriously guys? The kid is obviously a terrific athlete and though he’s not yet up to Sagna’s level he has all the right ingredients: works hard, shows excellent intelligence on the field, loves the arsenal, and his trajectory over the past 2 seasons has been due north. While he has shown the inevitable rustiness a couple times this year, he’s never felt like a liability. And what a cross for B52’s goal!
As Arsenal fans we should never be too quick to write off the potential of our young players. Especially with an example like Aaron Ramsey to constantly remind us of our own folly.
A truly great man. RIP.
I think Jenkinson is class! After Ramsey and Gibbs, his endurance is phenomenal and his crossing is better than Sagna. He makes mistakes from time to time but he always works hard to make it right.
Great backup for Sagna.
Long live the Corporal Jenkinson!
And R.I.P. Madiba
RIP Mandela. An inspirational leader (and terrorist and friend of dictators) who led his people out of the wilderness of apartheid to their Promised Land, and then sold them out to global free marketeers. Whether South Africans en masse are any better off as a result is moot.
An important historical figure, but hardly the saint many paint him as.
Öskar
Otd: to your earlier point, which striker wouldn’t want the sort of service that he would get from our midfield?
The Corporal would probably be in the starting line up of 75% of Premiership sides. And if he was, and so got a consistent run of games to hone his game, you could probably up that percentage to 90%. He is a Premiership quality full-back beyond doubt. Sagna is rightly first choice because he has much more experience, and that matters for a defender. He has a hatful of French caps for a reason. Just as the BFG has an even bigger hatful for Germany. Like Trev, I have been a fan of him from the outset. Some of us old lags in the bar will remember watching Bobby Moore. When it comes to pace, he would have made Mertesacker look like Usain Bolt, yet Moore was one of the greatest defenders.
Exactly, Ned, there’s no reason top talent wouldn’t see us as a top place to showcase their talents. There are still limits to what is reasonable for us to pay, but we’ve played ourselves into a position of real strength when it comes to what we have to offer.
Öskar
Oskar, we can certainly take this debate to another forum, but I have to call bullshit on your descriptives in 156 vis-a-vis Nelson Mandela. I know of no credible evidence linking him directly to terrorism, each of our governments have at least been “friendly” with dictators at some point in time, and, while I’m sure we all know Mr. Mandela was no saint, surely he is closer to sainthood than 90% of us.
Political rant over.
BMBD.
Oskar @ 156: Your politics notwithstanding that comment extraordinarily bitter and disrespectful to the memories of a giant of a man whose great achievement was to rise above the petty sectarianism and bitter vengefulness…
Read his own comments about how he wanted to be remembered — “as someone who did his duty” — and read comments from everyone who came in contact with him and then you will see how inappropriate (baseless if I may add) your little dig was.
You just made yourself much smaller, nothing touched the great man’s legacy…
RIP Nelson Mandela…..a true icon and a hero for me growing up. He didn’t just free the oppressed. He freed the oppressors too.
Yellow card Oskar
Oskar @ 156: I can’t believe you actually wrote that, what a sad man you must be to not recognise a truly great mans legacy. Maybe you’ve spent too much time in dreary NZ!
In other news, the cricket has been very enjoyable today. Arsenal top of the league, Aussies all over England in the cricket, ah yes the natural order has been restored!!
Good morning all, let me raise my glass to one of the greatest men to have ever walked this Earth: Nelson Mandela. Rest in peace, Sir.
Oskar
I think the millions of South Africans who could have been slaughtered in the bloodbath Mandela could easily have started are DEFINTELY much better. His demeanour post Robben Island is one of the most important factors in bringing peace and racial equality in South Africa and bringing it back into the community of nations. This man is possibly the most inspirational human being to live in my lifetime.
Your assessment will be deeply offensive to many as it is to me.
I must disagree with the tone of response to Oskar’s comment. Mandela was a statesman, which is a type of politician. As a politician, you aren’t doing a proper job if you don’t attract opponents and opposition.
That said, I disagree absolutely with Osckar’s sentiments. I would find it hard to put my feelings about Mandela into words, and attempting to expess them, at this hour, and using this “keyboard” is beyond me.
RIP Nelson Mandela.
I wanted to write about Nelson…but not force you to read it…hence my own blog
http://www.theclashblog.com/nelson-mandela-leaves-us-but-keep-him-inside-you/
*passes by* *sees oskar’s comment* *shakes head* Well his name says he is a dog, doesn’t it?… *moves on*
Disagree strongly with Oskar, but he’s entitled to his opinion.
I think Mandela’s legacy is strong enough to withstand a bit of criticism on the Internet.
163
Down Under
Congratulations- the tide is turning, a reminder that sport is cyclical hence our rerun to the top.Its just difficult to work out what the length of the cycle Spurs are in is. Soon to be 53 years and counting!
Down under @ 163
Why denigrate NZ as “dreary” simply because you disagree with Oskar? Is that the bird of irony that just flew by?
Shit comment Oskar. Very shit. Indeed.
Calm down guys, I believe the greatest strength of the patrons of this bar is that we can politely disagree with each other without resorting to taking sly digs at each other. Let’s keep it that way.
That said, I absolutely disagree with Oskar’s viewpoint.
As the old saying goes, politics and internet don’t mix, those are my two cents regarding this.
Also there with Cent that major factor why I enjoy frequenting this bar is the general politeness and open-mindedness to discussion, even when some of the opinions are going “against the stream”.
Nothing sly about what I said. Don’t do cheap shots meself. There’s right wing crap all over twitter calling Madiba a friend of terrorists blah, blah , blah as though that was his only contribution to the world. Sad I have to read it on here as well.
Esso knows
Agreed, Esso. I didn’t have you in mind when I made the comments about people taking sly digs at each other. If you check earlier comments you will see the posters I was referring to.
Sky News Newsdesk @SkyNewsBreak 6m
Premier League says a minute’s applause will before each of this weekend’s matches to remember Nelson #Mandela
Retweeted by gunnerblog
Don’t remember them doing that for Bin Laden.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTe2k3EpM9Y
Noosa: simply because NZ is dreary and bleak and full of kiwis! IMO
Can’t see anything sly about calling someone out for an inappropriate and completely disrespectful comment myself.
Calling someone out for a disrespectful comment is good but if you end up insulting the person you’re calling out then you’re no better than him in my eyes. Two wrongs don’t make a right.
Chill pill time please folks. Agree entirely that a very special and historically important figure was taken last night. Very disappointed by some of the negative stuff I have read here and elsewhere.
No problem with the debate as it has remained largely respectful. Thinking of the man himself we should perhaps move on and think of the positives of the future rather than the negatives of the past.
Thanks.
I have the pleasure of drinks with Sir Chips and Ivan at the AISA do on Monday. Is there anything Holics would like me to ask them should they give me any time?
I have of course got ninety three questions of my own ! Certainly I will. be getting the latest info on who we are about to sign in the forthcoming window ( not).
The bright shining light of a source of inspiration for countless millions has been sadly extinguished.
RIP Nelson Mandela.
And so it begins.
http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/barcelona-scouts-have-been-tracking-arsenals-aaron-ramseys-last-4-games-with-eye-on-january-bid-daily-mail/
That one’s been doing the rounds for a while now, Porco, pay no attention to it.
Porco Rosso
You can clearly see that they do not know anything about what they are writing when you just take this out of the article:
“with Barcelona not even technically in need of a midfielder of Ramsey’s profile”
Now name one manager in the world that would not love to have a Ramsey on fire in his team within a second 🙂
Apparently Italian Serie A clubs are required to set out all their transfer fees paid, length of contract and extent to which the transfers have been amortized in their financial accounts. Admirable transparency which the Premiership should emulate. No more of this “undisclosed fee” nonsense.
http://www.financialfairplay.co.uk/latest-news/player-contract-disclosure-a-lesson-we-can-learn-from-the-italians
Cent @ 173 & 181: I stand by my clearly articulated explicit condemnation of Oskar’s offensive remarks. He is entitled to his political opinions, I am entitled to my humanist worldview.
India and South Africa have deep political and historical ties in the modern era, growing up in India in the eighties and nineties he was a hero to our generation, and he remains an inspiration to us today. In a time ravaged by the cult of enlightened self-interest and nothing more Mandela — just like his great friend Dalai Lama — stands apart as an example of just what and how much can be done in a single human life.
The posts I had in mind were 163 and 168, I felt they went a little too far with statements like “what a sad man you must be” and “well his name says he is a dog, doesn’t it?”
Dr. Faustus knows.
BMBD
The posts I had in mind were 163 and 168, I felt they went a little too far with statements like “what a sad man you must be” and “well his name says he is a dog, doesn’t it?”.
Regarding Sagna and Jenk: I think one of Sagna’s great strength is his ability to tune his game according to the team’s needs. He brought out the best of Theo despite Thoe being rather iffy defensively. Before Giroud came onboard Sagna was our most commonly used outlet from the goal kick. Szczesny -> Sagna -> Theo template was a common pattern and Sagna’s excellent heading abilities and defensive discipline even when in a very advanced position used to ensure that despite the inherent danger of Theo losing the ball now and then we didn’t use to be caught out.
Also playing with Theo most of the times meant down on the right wing we only very rarely saw a run by Sagna deep in the penalty box and then a cut-back, something that is now a staple of both Gibbo and Monreal’s play on the other wing.
Sagna’s crossing tends to get worse deeper he gets into the opposition 1/3 and the angle of the cross become more and more acute. Sagna is a decent enough crosser from a less forward position from which he can generate a better whip (the we should have scored crosses in Man U game were good examples).
I think Jenk would become a wonderful RB for us. He has the athleticism, speed and already a venomous cross. His passing has really improved in last two season but it is his heading (which can be really bad under pressure) and defensive shape where a lot of work needs to be done. But he is not even twenty one, and in the next couple of years he should be growing in leaps and bounds.
The little of Bellerin I saw I have to accept that technically speaking he looks more accomplished than Jenk — actually he looks more accomplished with the ball on his feet than even Gibbo — and seems to be a great promise especially going forward. But he will need to learn a lot about defending as well.
If Sagna were not to sign a new contract, I am sure Arsene would bring in an experienced and accomplished RB to given Jenk competition as well as training ground examples.
@TTG 183. No direct questions, but if you could ask them to pass on my sincere thanks to Peter Hill Wood for his sterling service to the club, I would be much obliged.
Politics and religion.
Two subjects people find almost impossible to discuss face to face with all the nuances of intonation and facial expression.
Over the internet, where opinions tend to distill at either end of the spectrum, the exercise becomes hopeless.
I make no pretence at great knowledge of Mandela, but if he stood for anything it must have been forgiveness and reconciliation.
To me, that renders falling out about him, after his death, at best unnecessary.
And just so we are clear; I DON’T agree with Oskar.
Ttg – What Esso said @194.
Esso,
About bloody time, if I may say so !
Pre-assist
Bang!
Cheers Cent. 😉
Boom!
Well played Trev.
Your bang preempted my boom.
golazo?
lolz
Well in, Trev! And N7 in the glory position.
Cheers, N7.
If you’re going to bang, better to do it as quickly as possible before the chance has gone ! 😉
Trev nails it at 195 re: Mandela.
“What a pass that was from Cent! Had 3 of his teammates itching to get a foot to it and apply the finishing touch. In the end Trev made the connection and sent the crowd into wild celebrations.”
Thundertinygooner
Can you ask Ivan if it does what it says on the tin ?
I can then recommend him to Keith Dover. 🙂
Wenger: “Nelson Mandela is a huge example to everyone, not only in sport but worldwide for his democratic attitude and forgiveness”.
Cent @ 210: So you forgive Suarez then and now will embrace him in open arms in Arsenal colors if such a chance was to present itself. 🙂
Just kidding … but forgiveness doesn’t exclude forthrightness and an embrace can be aware of the distance that separates forever. To judge and yet not to be judged — the utopia of an unconsolable conscience.
zico@209, wolfie would probably like it if you recommended him to Keith’s brother Ben.
re oscar’s opinion @ 156, I offer a round of drinks to the bar in memory of madiba, with a double for oscar in brotherhood. he *is* entitled to his opinion, as am I entitled to vehemently disagree with it…bridging that gap represents madiba’s work.
Re: TTG @183. His favorite chips shop? 😉
RIP Nelson Mandela and long live his legacy of a free South Africa.
I think some people have misconstrued my initial remarks about Jenks V Sagna as some sort of put down for Jenks. What I said was since Jenks has arrived, his improvement has been fantastic. I don’t doubt for a second his importance as a squad player. I’m just not so sure if he has what it takes to make it as a first team regular.
This is not a denigration of Jenks. There are some seriously talented players on the bench these days and more coming up the ranks, so Jenks is in very good company as a squad player I feel and thats the way it should be.
But I do have reservations about this ability to replace Sagna, who has been in my mind, one of the most consistent and underrated performers at the club since he arrived and indeed one of the best right backs in the game in recent times.
The attack v defensive balance was always tipped in favour of the attack in recent years until the second half of last season, when pragmatism replaced idealism and we grafted out a 4th place CL berth thanks to largely to our defensive shape. Mr Bould gets a lot of credit for that I feel.
This season, our fullbacks retain shape and still get forward to attack. This season we have learned that the two are not mutually exclusive of each other. And it has yielded great results. One of the very BIG reasons why, in my mind, is because the full backs prioritise their defensive responsibilities in retaining shape and take less risks in getting caught on the counter attack by being stranded up front. It’s strong defences that win leagues and cups.
The true reason for Podolski’s lengthy absence can now be revealed. See picture.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/team-news-who-s-fit-to-face-everton-
Secret tongue replacement surgery.
@215,
Wenger: “Bacary Sagna is short so he will not be in contention”.
Guess that rules out Wilshere and Cazorla then. 😉
Trev. Sagna’s scalp tissues have been compacted by the pounding of African beads against footballs propelled at high speeds. Regeneration is expected to add several millimeters to his scalp height, at which point Wenger can be expected to say he is no longer short. 😉
Unnamed U.S. TV conglomerate has finally decided that one of Arsenal’s games is worthy of being broadcast on one of its TV stations so no streaming required this Sunday. Will miracles never cease. In case anybody was wondering I have not been pleased with the coverage of said unnamed entity. 🙁
@P H-W 198.
Heh! Hope they’ve got someone lined up to polish your bust regularly.
Av we bort n.e 1 yet?
🙂
8 ball @ 218: where are you in us and who is the cable operator in your area? I have seen all of Arsenal’s pl games in either NBC sports or NBC or NBC premier league package in the Comcast on-demand service here in Boston . It is for CL I have to use the fox soccer to go streaming service as fox sports 1 has not shown a single Arsensl CL match this season and Comcast doesn’t carry Fox 2.
Trev,
You and I don’t always see eye to eye but your 195 was excellent. Wholeheartedly agree. Bravo. A round on me for that little gem of wisdom.
Faustus, Thanks for the comment. Comcast here too but doesn’t “on-demand” mean paying extra each time the game is not on one of the channels in the package? This has been the case a big chunk of the time but the Everton game is on NBCSN. Next time the game is “on-demand” I will check into my options.
Quite right iLonestar Gooner, discussions about Mandela belong in a different forum and I apologise to anyone (anymany) I have offended.
But I stand by what I said “An inspirational leader … who led his people out of the wilderness of apartheid to their Promised Land … An important historical figure”. To which I could add a brave man who had the courage of his convictions.
Whether some of his tactics were wholly supportable and whether the mass of South Africans are any better off as a result of his later political compromises, are questions for historians and those prepared to consider ALL the facts.
Back to the football?
Öskar
Some here may remember that I am occasionally critical of the BBC. I thought I would share the gem I heard on the Six O’clock News on Radio 4.
The item dealing with the World Cup draw started “England’s odds for next year’s World Cup lengthened after today’s draw saw them pitted against Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica…”, and finished “England go to next year’s competition with expectations much lower than in 2010, but there will be huge disappointment if they don’t get through the group stage” (or words to that effect).
Honestly, does no-one proofread this stuff?
Perhaps I should add that I have a very broad view of what constitutes terrorism which include not only the many dictators and fanatics who deserve the accolade but also most of the recent US presidents, half of Israel’s prime ministers, Tony Blair, a number of Nobel Peace Prize winners and too many others to list on a site where such views are inappropriate.
I was just trying to provide a little balance to the outpouring of roseate panegyrics currently flooding all media.
Öskar
I will be astonished if we get through the group stage, Pangloss!
Öskar
Interesting comment from AW from today’s presser on loans; he’s in favor of having players on loan to other premiership sides allowed to play against the parent club.
I cannot agree with Le Prof on this one. You have the likes of the Chelskov Oilers and the Eastland Abu Dhabis being able to populate upper mid table sides with some quality players (Exhibit A: Lukaku) so that player can cause damage to their main rivals in the league, which is wrong to begin with. If they were allowed to play against the parent club. maybe AW would not try to affect his loaned-out player’s performance against Arsenal, but could you imagine Mourinho or Abramovich being so high-minded if a Lukaku were able to play against Chelsea? I’m sure Abramovich would remind his charge that he has several ex-KGB acquaintances who would gladly review his performance vs. Chelsea if he by chance had a blinder.
Policy should be loans are allowed to top level sides or below in other countries’ leagues, or only to championship or below sides in England.
Hi everyone, I’ve missed you all.
Holic, A good mix of journalism and story telling. And the symbolism was bovine 😉 When YOU talk about our midfield like that … looking upwards, as we speak.
Good to see you abb 😉
Pangloss@225: It is not proof-reading so much as basic editing. The BBC seems to be getting worse and worse at that, and not just on its Sports Desk.
Cheers, Homer, and have a half on me. 😉
Esso,
Since you mentioned my bust, the job of polishing it is yours, old boy – provided you have the equipment to do it.
Dr Faustus@193: Excellently put. Neither a word to disagree with nor to add.
Hi, Nursie.
Still winning, I hope.
PH-W@233: Does this mean that Lady Nina is no longer giving you the occassional buffing?
Good stuff Trev @ various.
*waves to Nursie*
What Trev said, abb.
Missed you too, Nurse. What Trev said.
Apparently thousands of dyslexics have today been laying wreaths at the doors of Nissan Main Dealers.
Hi Holic, Likewise. Thanks Trev. Doing ok!
I also wanted to say that Mr Mandela had been so ill for quite some time, it was like he was a prisoner, all over again. Only this time his body was his jailer. Now he is free … again. xx
Not at all, Ned, but can’t have too much of a good thing.
Lady Nina still does a very good spit and polish.
Ok, Cent, H2H, and NBN ~waves~ 🙂 But please, no worries!
Just my 2 cents worth;
I’m a Jenks fan. I believe given a run in the team he would step up and be equal to the challenge, yes he’d probably drop the odd clanger here and there, but that’s all part and parcel of the learning curve all defenders go through.
Ofcourse I’d put Sagna in before him, but I think that’s a moot point, you’d have to be quite barmy not to realise that his wealth of experience makes him the obvious choice, but it sure is good to know that in his absence we have Jenks waiting in the wings raring to go.
This may be a bold statement, but I truly believe that if, god forbid, something was to happen to Sagna and Jenks got a long run in the starting XI he’d give Roy Hodgeson some food for thought, I mean, who in their right mind really would want to take Kyle Walker to a WC finals, he’s so bad he makes Glen Johnson look like a viable option.
Glad to hear it, PH-W, as long as you are getting full service and not just a lick and a promise…
P H-W. Get to fuck you old spunker.
And hello and a massive hope you’re keeping well *mwah mwah* to abb.
Right back at you Esso! Hope all is well with you, as well.
Per loves “been Arsenal” http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/10501748/.html I love him too.
H2H,
I made exactly your Jenks-Walker-Johnson comment to someone today.
Personally, I think Jenks is already better than both of the other two.
Can we have more from the Germans, please? http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/mesut-ozil-interview-arsenal-move-2898057
Cent, Quick question re your guest post. This viewing centre, is it open to the public? I wonder if it is a place for community activities, as well. Did google as you suggested, cool wheels!
Abb, viewing centres are open to everybody who can afford the meagre fee(about a fifth of a pound on the average) they charge per-game. They’re individual businesses so they’re not used for community activities.
Abb, not bad thanks Darling. Got a few problems but aint we all! Some more than others. Keep spreading the happiness babes.
Oh I see, Cent. Thanks for your answer. Don’t think we have anything like that in the states. Unless you include sports bars with a cover charge. Makes me appreciate what I have too. Quite a scramble for you, but you’re young (just be careful at night). Nice bit on Ozil, he’s dreamy. 😉
Esso, I see you! Awe, I hear you lad. I’m praying for everyone here and other places as well. xx
Nice links, Cent.
No worries, Nursie, I’m back in my city now so security at night, and generally, isn’t really a problem in my part of Nigeria.
Good to know that Cent. Nice link about Per, as well.
Thinking of opening up a local viewing centre. And they said I’m not an entrepreneur. 😉
Oskar: Growing up I was taught that if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing. Perhaps an aphorism you might heed.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25257001
Morata says he feels Ancelotti trusts him. It could be an exact quote from Ozil three days before he decided to leave for Arsenal.
Lol. If everyone followed that dictum, chrisgooner, there’d be a lot less drinking in this bar.
I was taught to look at both sides of an argument lest you become so ill-informed that you’d better say nothing for fear of exposing your ignorance.
Nothing personal intended by that, or anything else I’ve posted.
Call me an iconoclast.
Öskar
Must get up early tomorrow to see Newcastle take the latest three points away from Moyes and his boys.
H2H, the dreaded England is a fate I would wish on my worst enemy!
Injuries, abuse from England fans and the media intruding on his life probably won’t help him at this stage in his career. I do think he is better than Walker and Johnson and will be in the mix in the future, but just hoping he fully develops first.
BayonneJean, I don’t agree with loan players playing against their parent club either. Too much scope for corruption. “Give us an easy time and you get a bonus, son” is something that could easily happen!
Although, there was someone who was on loan at ManCity or something many years ago and put their parent club to the sword in a prem or FA cup match and got fired (permanently transferred)…can’t remember which player it was now but it was hilarious at the time!
“Dreaded England call-up*”
Doh!
Latest transfer rumor: Moyes planning January swoop for Leon Osman and Tim Howard to save Manure Champions League place.
NBN @ 234, thanks.
abb, nice to see you.
8ball — actually if you are already subscribing to NBC Sports Network in your Sports package at Comcast you should be receiving all the simultaneous matches free of charge. Go to the On-Demand menu-> Sports and Fitness -> Premier League and then you will see all the other matches — that are not being shown either on NBC or NBCSN — listed. You can choose any one of them. However, you cannot record those in DVR but they will stay to be viewed for a few more days.
Also, you can watch all of these matches from NBC Sports web-site if your broadband provider is also the cable provider and you already have the NBCSN in your cable package. If not, you will need to log into your Comcast Xfinity account and may be able to access the NBC Live Extra package from there…
Dr. Faustus. Thank you for the detailed information which I intend to follow as best I can. If I’m lucky this could mean my streaming days are over or significantly curtailed. 🙂
Two very nice pieces in the papers on Per and Mesut. The Telegraph piece on Per is particularly good. I have been very impressed by the professionalism and intelligence of a lot of our overseas players. This goes back to Dennis and our French players and tends to contrast with the top English players. Lampard aside the best current English players tend to be nowhere near as bright or communicative as their foreign counterparts. At least John Terry isn’t in the England frame anymore.
Going back to our Germans it is obvious they are very settled at the club and Mertesacker especially seems to have developed the positive culture in the dressing room. The team spirit which has been positively impacted by adding some mature professionals is magnificent and you sense it is a happy ship . I think Flamini has added much to the onfield professionalism.
Per seems to enjoy the ethos of Arsenal and buys into it . My friend and neighbour who went to the members Day commented on what a friendly and likeable person he was. He is a Big Friendly German! and the quieter Mesut seems to enjoy the experience of being here according to his tweets. Both pieces are worth a read.
On the Jenks debate I think he is a gem in terms of his dedication and will improve the most consecutive games he gets. He was superb at the Etihad last season. But I think Belkerin might be Wenger’s Plan A for that position.
Cheers for that TTG. Had seen the Ozil one but not the BFG article. And what an article! What a man! Restores one’s faith in football and footballers in general, as well as making me incredibly proud he plays for Arsenal.
Totally off topic but I had to laugh at what the London Evening Standard called their “guide to England’s Group D opponents Costa Rica” by one Joe Krishnan. I quote:
“The Costa Ricans will struggle to get out off the so called ‘Group of Death'”
That’s all folks.
Really in depth analysis – plus the guy can’t even spell “of”, or end a sentence with a full stop.
Just been doing a bit of back drinking.
Good to see we got the Jenks and Suarez questions sorted 🙂
Berbatov – best one word joke in years.
If we’re going to play the same system, we need a back-up for OG. Yes, Bendtner is slow and has the turning circle of a juggernaut but he knows the Arsenal way, the rest of the squad seem happy with him and OG is not the quickest. I though NB put in a much better shift against Hull but he has to do that everytime he comes on the pitch and, as we know, he doesn’t always do that. Maybe he was inspired by starting and getting the early goal – who knows what goes on inside the guy’s head? AW doesn’t. Sanogo is still injured and Akpom is still too raw so Bendtner it is.
I don’t think we’ll see anyone coming in during the January window, barring something extraordinary happening. It’s a very tight-knit squad we have at present so I can’t see AW disrupting that with idlers and nutters.
Otherwise we have to play it different and we have the squad to do that with Podolski and Walcott. I still think Theo is more dangerous coming in off the wing – shame he can’t see that. He was our top scorer last season playing on the right. He’s never convinced in the middle. But those two could play up front and we go to 4-4-2. And keep the crosses a bit lower.
Sorry ‘holic for plugging an advert on here but this one has to strike the heart of every Arssenal supporter and especially the ‘holics. Of course I thought of Cent when I saw all the African scenes. I only found it after I saw it on the telly just now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XftQYv7jluc
Oskar, please don’t flatter yourself. You’re no iconoclast…you’re simply wrong.
BMBD
…and back to football…
Thanks.
Afternoon all,
Football indeed, and isn’t it fun to anticipate yet more strife for the Mancy Muppets – it can only be a matter of time before the Glaziers decide on a more ‘Hull Tigery’ moniker – as they line up against the Newky Brown Nobodies of Normandy, while the glorious Gunners prepare to chew up and spit out another load of old Toffee.
A sticky toffee, they may prove to be, but I will expect a positive punt for the Holic pound, and it could well be Werther gamble.
Now that’s Original ! 😉
Watching Man U v Newcastke and the Dutch Skunk looks really unhappy………Good!
By the way, the email from Mr Levy to Senor Villas Boas at the end of the Arsenal Gentleman’s Review over on Arseblog is very funny.
And another ‘by the way’, did anyone else note the look of profound disgust and disappointment on Mr Levy’s face as Sandro scored the Spuds’ second goal last week, ridding him of his own chance to
dis-appoint his manager ?
Priceless. 🙂
Afternoon all.
Ha Ha Newcastle one up at the Old Toilet.
Van Pussy goal disallowed.
Bliss!!
Note to United fans. Keep Thursday nights free!
Why ttg?
There’s no Europa League place for finishing 8th. 🙂
Evra, men against fecking geezers! Hahahahaha!
The boos ring out at OT…
music to my ears.
Newcastle just flushed the Toilet.
Oh Moe.
Beaten AND ugly.
Well done, Geordies. 🙂
Old Toilet is now a place for other teams to take a dump! Loving it!!!
United were bad, real bad, clueless in fact. The little boy inside of whathisname must of been having a nap, because he may not as well been there. Maybe still suffering from the injury, so well done Moyes for keeping him on until the final whistle.
Which was a sound that a large portion of, according to Fergiscum, “the worlds greatest fans” didn’t get to hear due to the fire drill that must have taken place around the 85th minute.
Trev. On that Cabaye goal I was loving the announcer’s fine use of alliteration in “desperate dive by David de Gea” and especially when they played it in slow motion. 🙂
What’s the worst case scenario if Wenger was replaced, fans moaning, “at least he got us in the top 4.”
ManU is shit! 2 points in 4 games now! Long may it continue!
Let’s face it, ManU fans are all plastics and trolls who can’t bear what’s going on at the moment. Let’s hope they all spontaneously combust and do the world a fucking favour.
From the way the stadium was empty from kickoff I’d say many already have! Their support is an embarassment
One word:
Liderowania! 🙂
Saints and Orcs just leveled their fixtures….keep it up!
I wonder what the odds are on Moyes getting sacked and Fergie stepping in as caretaker? I know Moyes has a five year contract, and nobody would have expected him to win the League due to the re-building thats needed. But make no mistake about it, not qualifying for the CL will be absolutely unacceptable in Manchester, especially if it means Liverpool qualify. And the way things are going for them now, that is a very real and substantial risk.
Ferguson should have had some input into the appointment, but they’ve obviously allowed him to have far too much say. Would David Moyes ordinarily get the Manu job without a track record at European level, let alone a track record at a domestic level, if Ferguson had no say?
What a goal by Osvaldo
http://twitpic.com/dnwmj4
Manure are going down with Palace and Sunderland
Noone will miss them when they’re gone. Except MNB
anti-Chelsea goal alert alert alert
Joe.
Fergies gone, done and dusted.
It would be madness to come back, he sealed his legacy by winning the league, he went out at the top. leaving behind an ageing team with a rotting midfield. The rest of the squad, except for the forward line is not much to write home about either. In fact, it’s a testiment to his managerial skills that he managed to win with this squad.
Moyes has been brought in, when most were expecting a Maureen type appointment, Fergie was having none of that as he thought the man to be an oaf, a peasant not fit for his beloved club, but maybe deep down he was afraid that somehow Jose may have taken some of the spotlight away from him, SAF the great manager he was, has also got to be one of the most self important people in the universe. it was always about him.
They’ll probably stick with Moyes, I mean, seriously, what option do they have? Get rid of Moe (think of the financial hit they’ll take) and bring in who? I can’t think, off the top of my head, of a top class manager sitting on the couch at home twiddling his thumbs waiting for the call from the Glaziers.
On the other hand, failure to finish in the top 4 would be catastrophic, I’m no financial whizz kid, but I do know that the loss in revenue would be a big hit, they have a good annual turn over, but have to pay ridiculously high yearly interest payments to service the debt that the Glaziers pilled onto the club during their take over. No CL, would also probably mean a loss in sponser revenue too, the foreign/new market fan base wouldn’t hang around too long either (a dip in shirt sales etc) not to mention that it will be harder to attract the top talent, not that players are knocking down the door to join Moyes’ charges as it is.
All in all. they are on a very slippery slope, they’re far from doomed, but the feel good factor is gone and once the rot starts setting in there’s no telling how far down they could fall. How long has it taken L’pool to get back to the Top 4? Oh yeah, there still not quite there yet (looking better this year though). They even finished out of te Europa League places last year. Could Man U survive such a hit?
Interesting times, the schadenfreude value alone is priceless.
Get the fuck in!
Come on Stoke
Fuck me, the orcs take the lead!!
Saints draw! Hold on, Orcs!
Wow @today’s results.
I love that Man City et Chelsea are still considered the title favorites after continually dropping points to mediocre opposition. If it was us it’d be “defense and consistency win titles” blah blah blah
As for Man U…
what a pleasing set of results so far this morning.
Huh, perfect results.
Big, big chance tomorrow!
Oh Joy!
What a way to start the weekend. Finally the orcs won, can the Saints make it an even better one? No! But t’wasn’t too bad a day. Top of the pile.
Can’t wait for tomorrow now. Am betting my house on this one 😛
What a chance that hands us for tomorrow. Some pressure taken off by all the poor teams that were non oponents to us if listening to all the “experts” 🙂
Always liked Stoke.
More comedy here!
http://m.bbc.com/sport/football/25282245
If Carlsberg done Saturday Results – What a lovely set of results that is !! Win tomorrow and that takes a fair bit of pressure of the Chelsea and City Games – They will go into them knowing failure could be terminal now that’s pressure, Whilst we can play our game !!
Happy Days now for a nice Curry and some Golden Nectar to celebrate !!
CoR
A lot of “IF’s” and no answers from Moe. Sounds great in my ears 😉
Pundits on Dutch TV laying into Moyes.
Not because they are shit, but because he over played van stapleton. He stated in an interview that he was only ready to play 70mins at the most, but had no choice to leave him on because they were chasing the game.
The little boy must be throwing a tantrum because he has an ouwy.
About ManU, many of the core diehard set of fans who have been through the club through thick and thin are not surprised that much. I have a friend here in Boston who grew up in Ireland supporting ManU since childhood and even at a time when Pool was winning everything and ManU was at best a mediocre team, and he has been telling me for last few years that Fergie is making a mistake not rebuilding the team. Even when they were winning the league last year it was plain for everyone to see that this is probably the weakest league winning ManU team in PL, ever.
He also told me about a strange rumor that Moyes is not playing Zaha at all due to some personal reason involving Zaha’s close relationship. I don’t quite believe him but that shows when things are not going well, they tend to go worse…
Totally unexpected slip by Chelski. Conceding six to Stoke and Sunderland suggests they are much weaker defensively. If we can win tomorrow it puts huge pressure on Citeh ( eight behind ) when we play them. We could also be significantly ahead of Chelsea when we play them. And if we beat them we would be in a fabulous position. We one just need the tiny Totts to be skewered at Sunderland.
If we’d got Suarez AND Ozil…..!
I’ve never rated Mourinho unlike you mugs who were eating out of the palm of his hand 8 years ago.
Also, whisper it softly, but is the great Jose of ‘best modern tactician’ fame finally losing his ‘touch’? …When was the last time any Mourniho team conceded six goals in two matches?
PL has changed so much in the last half a decade…every team can play a bit of football and no one is so easily intimidated and most teams have coaches that have a good grasp of tactical formations. Caught bits of the Man City game, good football again by the Saints…Osvaldo used to score a few like that for Espanyol as well, very nice goal…
Dr.F- there has been a rumour that Zaha has been ‘ dating’ Moyes’ daughter. Zaha has come out on Twitter and said that there is no truth in this rumour and he has never met her.
I was interested driving home from our game on Wednesday to hear all the London accents from United fans complaining. This is a club that with their highly leveraged position could implode financially without CL football which will cause a lot of the ‘ stars’ in the current team to want to leave.
What a dose of schadenfreude there would be in Nirth a london if we won the title and they missed the CL! That’s what Im asking Santa for this Christmas!
319
Ozzy
I hate the guy but he has won titles in three countries and the CL with two different teams. So how could he have done better than that?
H2H@302: Excellent analysis…and I believe Ferguson’s tenure should be reevaluated if ManU goes down that path because of his hubristic negligence in team building (not that we care a jot, of course 🙂 ) in the later years. And it also shows how just extraordinary a job Arsene has done rebuilding Arsenal squad so many times without spending anything…
To be fair to Moyes, he didn’t have the services of last year’s most consistent ManU player in Carrick in the middle of the field…and now it makes sense why no other top club really went for Fellaini despite the release clause. Good player but probably not of the type to thrive in very big clubs.
Moyes, ofcourse, is not completly blameless.
SaF surronded himself with good trainers etc, DM coming in and getting rid of all the coaching stuff was not exactly a master stroke.
ozzy @ 323: I always disliked Jose’s brand of football, and always thought he was overrated for the Chelsea years but in his Inter Milan years no one can question the results he got…it needs a very special cunt to do what he did with Inter’s team psychology and playing with such ultra-defensive mentality in CL but those Inter teams were defensively and tactically very very good …
The problem is he would not be able to make Chelsea play like that with the team he has got and also because the football cannot be ‘boring’ anymore…
So um…trolls, etc.
H2H @ 327– yes, of course, also the fact that all throughout the summer his recruiting process was flabbergasting (to ManU fans, was very amusing to us 🙂 )…
Anyway, who the fuck cares…let them all self-annihilate …
Arsenal, a club that stands above all in all aspects…
It is fun to watch though, Dr Faus’. 🙂
H2H @ 331 — Yes, fun of course, especially given the lack of any balance (forget humility) when they were winning as if there has never been any other ‘good’ football club and as if Ferguson is this some kind of mythical figure…
But I won’t write off top four for ManU, a bit of winning run and Pool-Everton etc. would stutter sooner or later.
Hi footy warriors 😉 Interesting results today. Sets us up nicely for Sunday (but not taking anything for granted, oh no!).
Lurky, Great goal, including his ‘prep’ work (does he get the assist as well ).
8ball @ 274 Awe, it made me get all weepy! Got to toughen up, me.
Have Sunday off, so already anticipating watching the game with you holics at the bar. Should be fun. 🙂 ~~
Sunderland one up :D:
Massive fuck up by Lloris
It is getting better. Spuds one down
Amazing opportunity for us tomorrow. Win this one and we go into the two crunch games against the oil clubs with the pressure entirely on them.
Mourinho is making a mess of Chelsea. He’s letting his heart rule his head, hence Terry in the starting XI. Sorry to harp on about it yet again, but the pundits say our squad is shallow and question what would happen if Giroud were to pick up a knock while still touting a Chelsea side who are not in possession of a single half decent forward.
City continue to struggle away, although saints is a tough place to go now. I think they’re our most legitimate challengers.
Utd totally deserve what’s happening to them, and in some quarters they’re still too arrogant to believe the evidence of their own eyes. They looked utterly pedestrian today and they now have a disloyal, sulking, injury prone Dutchman on 300k a week growing beards and briefing against the manager. I think they have to stick with Moyes though. He wasn’t handed a great squad by any means, no matter how much red nose might have tried to pretend that Phil Jones was a world class prospect. If he can make it through this season he’ll be OK.
Oh, and now spurs are losing. Xmas come early.
Blogs is better than the average rumor mill, no?
http://news.arseblog.com/2013/12/report-wenger-seals-new-deal-and-pay-rise/
Hi abb! Love you darling!
Mark Lawrenson claimed on Five Live apparently that RVP has handed in a transfer request! How amusing if this were true. The little boy inside is starting to sulk!
Evening sports fans!
What a delightful turn of events we’ve seen today. Looking forward to tomorrow and what it could bring.
Toodle-pip for now!
Rather quiet in here tonight. I must say I was looking to enjoy a little more Schadenfreude, though if it’s at the expense of Manyoo or Chel$ki I don’t see anything shameful in it. (Go and do a literal translation.)
I think Manyoo really do have old rednose to thank for the position they are in now, as I just can’t imagine any current table-topping Premier League manager keeping on two players as old as Scholes and Giggs. I don’t doubt their quality, but I do question the wisdom of playing them regularly in the first team. There are some out there (although it’s hard to predict what name they’d post under) who will say that we’ve never had players of that class at this club.
Really? Ever heard of Bergkamp? Pires?
What about Henry, they might ask, surely he came back to play for the club? Yes he did, but there were special circumstances – a certain very special player had elected to follow his DNA and return home at the very end of the summer and another lacked the character to resist the lure of the petrodollar. Most special of all, Henry was under contract to another team playing in a league with a winter break and he was never going to be able to stay for more than a few weeks.
The Mancs are right to praise Slur Alex’s achievements, but they must recognize the part he played in getting them where they are now. They need to have the patience and backbone to give David Moose the chance and the time to get them out of it. I very much doubt that they will.
I’ve just checked the final score from the Stadium of Light. Credit to the Tinies for coming back from a goal down; even they have opened up a five-point gap on ManIOU.
And what will tomorrow bring? I don’t know, but I’m pretty certain it will include a committed performance from the Arsenal. That’s all we are entitled to expect; I sincerely hope it will be enough, and it probably will.
COYG
Can’t resist another pop at Auntie Beeb (sorry).
The second item under “Features & Analysis” section below the preview of Arsenal’s match tomorrow is Manchester United: Title rivals will be nervous as momentum builds.
I might regret all this in a few weeks time, but I’m sure as hell going to enjoy every moment of it for now.
COYG
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