We Are Ten
Sep 15th, 2016 by 'holic
It’s a modest sort of a Thursday. Quiet, unassuming, not much in the way of new Arsenal happenings to stir things up.
Sure, there are the tailwinds from Tuesday’s draw in Paris. I still don’t know why Granit Xhaka and Olivier Giroud didn’t start. Depending on who you listen to we either won the lottery because Cavani couldn’t finish a sentence, or we showed resolution and spirit to come back from a dreadful first-half performance and it’s a good sign that we can recover from the depths we plumbed early on.
I’m taking a pinch from column A, and a pinch from column B, and actually I am just relieved that we came out of the match with something for everyone to claim the side of the right.
Ten years ago today it was similarly quiet news wise. The popular press were talking about the potential for Arsenal to be taken over by a predator and how the board of the day were giving assurances that it wouldn’t happen. Hurrah. We hate change. That surely would never happen?
And how do I remember it as if it were yesterday? Because it was the first day I cobbled together some clumsy words and published them as Goonerholic.
It drew one comment, probably the only reader on the day! Thankfully things changed fairly quickly as friends from other forums and blogs popped over and the drinks began to take shape.
I owe huge thanks to THE Arseblogger for his support, encouragement, and friendship in those early days and ever since. Also to Darren from Arsenal-Land for letting me foist a piece or two on people before I took the plunge.
I owe a number of you too for your contributions which have helped to plug those pregnant pauses when there really wasn’t a lot else going on. Thanks all. I have never had the bloody-mindedness and sheer determination that is necessary to produce a daily post, 365 days a year, as Arseblogger and Yogi’s Warrior will tell you. They have my unending admiration.
In recent months I have had the opportunity to contribute something to the good folk at A Bergkamp Wonderland too. Their blogs, podcasts, and post-match radio shows provide an almost comprehensive look at things Arsenal.
A lot has happened in those ten years. Good friendships have been forged. Arsenal have veered from near brilliance to frustratingly appalling. Much like the last fifty-something years really.
And (a Champions League and a Premier League or two aside!) I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Thanks all.
80 Responses to “We Are Ten”
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Cheers Dave.
Been a pleasure reading it.
Well mannered considered opinion amongst the ranting elsewhere.
Here’s to your counter not needing resetting before the 20th anniversary
Congrats holic
First (or so)… And first (or so) to say “You’re welcome!”
Happy Drinks Day, ‘holic!!
Congrats
Best.Neighbour.Ever
I’ve got something in my eye…..
Congratulations Holic,
Always a beacon of sanity amongst so much white noise.
Here’s to the next 10.
UTA.
Happy Birthday Holic,
Sincere gratitude for a decade of wonderful reports, insightful education, camaraderie and entertainment. I’ve had the privilege of meeting some of the people who comment on here in those 10 years and gentlemen all to a man, especially snowy 🙂
Your a top man.
Top work on the decade fella, I’ll be raising a pint of Orilands best cider after work in your honour, and certainly not because I’m a total lush.
Happy ten-year anniversary, mate!
Happy anniversary, ‘holic. Thanks for sticking with it because it has been so much fun. 😀
Nice one ‘Holic. Here’s to at least another 10 more!
Keep her lit ‘holic, not a regular in your drinks, but I’m a regular reader, thanks for your talking sense in these mad days
Congratulations ‘holic. This blog has given me much pleasure over the years and I have enjoyed contributing the occasional comment from my perch on the North Bank and the odd away game. This and Arseblog are my only regular stops to the point that they are bookmarked although I dip into others from time to time. May your health stay strong (us old fellas seem to be seeing the Doc a bit more than previously!) and always remember that a little of what you fancy does you good!
“All your life you wait, and then it finally comes, and are you ready?”
~ Anthony Doerr from ‘All the Light We Cannot See’.
Cheers Dave xx
Congratulations ‘Holic. Remember whete you put that immature malt when you staryed publishing? Now’s the time to break it out!
COYG
Nurse!
Impressive. Thanks for all your edifying work.
Happy Birthday Goonerholic !
and many happy returns !
To sum up what you’ve created, I feel compelled to repeat my old line –
Virtual Bar – Real Friends.
Big Hello to abb !
Thanks Trev, and indeed how lovely is it to see the most popular of the ‘holics, and our most calming influence.
Thanks abb xx.
My goodness, ♥ you all. What a colorful group of characters ever to grace us with your presence xx
Happy birthday, ‘holic!
Keep up the good work.
Top work ‘holic! As long as we don’t repeat the 60’s pain we should be fine
10? I had you down for older. Happy blog birthday, sir.
Happy Anniversary Guv! This place has been an oasis for us all through the roughest of times. I’m very grateful for this establishment. Looking forward to the next decade. Cheers Top Top Man!
Hey Nursie!
is there a free bar ?
I’ll drink to celebrate this.
Well done Hols
Happy Anniversary!
Cheers H!
Nice to see congratulations from so many old faces as well.
Here’s to another 10 years Maestro!
Bawston, Dino, Pip, Esso. Now that would be a night out. Thanks fellas, means a lot.
cba, the bar is always free for you sir.
Impec1, broglie, and 300hz, and all of you, thank you so much. I’m very grateful, and very lucky.
P, you’re missed.
Less is more, H*, we don’t need gravy every day.
*Compare the first blog’s drinks to what follows and see the wisdom 😉
Happy Anniversary.
And Cynic too. Woohoo! 😉
I wish I was drinking this week. I would toast you all. 🙂
Well played Sir, from the building site up the road!!
Congrats on the 10 years ‘Holic – keep the good work up!
Great, fabulous, fantastic.
Congratulations on ten years ‘holic! Always enjoy your reasoned calmness amidst the storm of the Arsenal blogosphere/twitterverse. You bring the same wise perspective to ABW. I read and listen to more Arsenal blogs and podcasts than is probably good for me and yours is an important voice of balance in the maelstrom. Cheers and here’s to the next ten!
Congratulations, ‘Holic, you are gem, here’s to the next 10 🙂
Dave, thank you so much. Now you and a select few on here will understand how much that is appreciated.
Gregoire, Vina, Matty, Kristjan. Thanks to you too. This place is nothing without readers. Trite, some may say, but nonetheless true for that.
Congratulations, Guv’nor. Not only for the sanity of your writing but also the lunatics you have attracted to the bar. As Trev said above: virtual bar; real friends. A glass of the finest claret raised to ten gone and the next ten to come.
Cfpb, or as those that know, nacanfpb, many happy ones. I didn’t realise until today your birthday falls on this anniversary. Cheers mate.
Femi, Dubs, Jackster, Bogie. It’s been a lot of years since the heyday of the Arses and top. Thanks for your good wishes, so appreciated.
Bayonne Jean, Noosa, Joe, Lars, bt8, Countryman, Panglossdroid. Thanks for sticking with it through thick and thicker! 🙂
Brian T, Darren, Archie, 900ft, broglie. Cheers all for making the effort. I’m very grateful, thank you.
And Ned, one of those who should have been named in the piece. Your contributions have always been welcome, my friend. Indeed it is a virtual bar with real friends, and long may it stay thus. 🙂
Congrats ‘Holics!and more ink to ur incisive pen;gud work bro , ua appreciated especially we readers outside d shores of Britain.C’mon get on wit d gud work;congrats again.
Congrats Holic. I admire your balanced way of expressing things. Have certainly mentioned it in the past. Wish you all the best and that you can add another 10 to the last 10 years.
Thank you austinpaul.
Kaymo, you are always too kind, thank you. Not sure I have another ten in me. Let’s see. 😉
Congrats fella.
Evening H
Many happy returns. Congrats …. As you know, many a friendship formed through this medium. Truly thank you for providing a light of sanity when I was cast adrift!
P says hi!
R
Happy anniversary and many happy returns, mate. This blog has been the biggest influence on my Arsenal education over the years. Thanks a lot.
Too bad I can’t drink today, as I have work tomorrow, but I will definitely raise a bottle to you tomorrow evening.
On this anniversary night let’s enjoy another crash and burn by the special one. Made even more enjoyable by the fact that the winning goal was a clear yard offside.
congratulations, holic, and happiest of anniversaries. you’re always here with a level head, a keen eye, and a way with the pen. thank you.
nurse! so glad to see you here!
and as has been said: virtual bar, real friends. i’m glad to have met some of you, and hope to meet more of you in the future. here’s to the ones who weren’t so lucky…*hoists glass*
Congrats and many thanks to the Landlord and all the regulars in the bar.I rarely comment being the surly misanthrope that I am, but have been visiting from very early days coming to the bar via arseblog and have enjoyed many hours of taking in the atmosphere. Once again, many happy returns and long may your doors stay open. Cheers !
Dr C, Cent, scruz, Tapera, thank you. I can’t until next Thursday, but I will make a point then of toasting absent friends.
Thank you too chris. (Almost!) all are welcome here, especially those from Arseblog. I owe the people that write, build, and read over there a big debt of thanks for getting me up and running in numbers. 🙂
I read a number of Arsenal blogs but I like yours the best. You have always been able to put a balanced view across. Reading the posts from other holics has been a pleasure too. Hardly any profanity yet very good points raised across the board
Thanks for sticking with it through thick and thicker!
But we’ve never signed Barton and Danny Mills..? 🙂
In other news I went into my local non league club yesterday and found an Arsenal programme in the office, signed by Charlie George, Frank McLintock etc. Stealing it crossed my mind for a little longer than I like to admit.
It was more tempting than the box full of iPad Air 2s that was under the desk.
Congratulations ‘holic on 10 years of top notch blogging. I have followed you most of this time and have always found you to be the sense of reason amongst the mayhem that surrounds the blogging / twitterati goonerdom. Your prose, humour & good nature shine through.
Having met your good self and some of the regulars who frequent this establishment I can only say you are indeed a gentleman & a scholar.
I raise my glass to your good health and the next 10 years. Cheers!
Well done H. Many congratulations. 10 years of such quality is quite some achievement, and something certainly to celebrate.
Virtual glass raised in Essex. Real glass to be raised against The Chavs.
Keep it up my old son.
Thank you, Canon. Very kind of you to say so.
Uply, Steve, what can I say? Apart from thanks to you both, and roll on the Chelsea pints. 🙂
Happy Anniversary H
It’s been a pleasure.
Some great friendships forged,fierce arguments had,all in the name of
The Arsenal.
We’ve lost a few along the way,as is the nature of things.
I will raise a glass to absent friends,especially Gooner Terry who i still miss to this day.
July just gone was the 3rd anniversary of his passing,and i still have the picture of him sitting in the helicopter with a big smile on his face,which you posted in the bar back in the day.
Holic Dad i am sure,would be very proud of you,and what more does a Son ever want to do,than make his Father proud.
I won’t tempt fate by saying here’s to the next 10,rather just appreciate your Bar,as long as you keep doing it.
All the best
The Sweeper
10 years! You get less for mans-laughter. (I’d like to deadikate that pun(?) and the joy/s & pain/s in mine, & yorn, & everyone else’s mighty Arse (erk at me – psed, at this point i fink i may’ve begun to’ve lost me way somewhat), to Trev – who like your somewhat sooopah, forever clArsey self, remains well worth a reed – always xx.)
UTGH!
Holic,
Hearty congratulations!
You did a very good thing ten years ago and have continued to do it regularly ever since.
Thankyou for providing a haven for sensible opinions and a beacon of light and good sense .
A lot of us are very grateful!
Happy Decade!
..and many many returns!
Best drinks in town are here.
😀
A decade is it sir barman, and me only finding you about 4 years ago. How much I have missed. But what I’ve found makes up for a lot stuck here downunder. Congrats to you for persevering and for maintaining a standard of excellence when the temptations must have been many to say exactly what you were thinking over the years.
As for ‘cobbling together some clumsy words‘, if that were ever true (which I doubt) your words now are always erudite and cogent and more than fit pearls to cast before … well, anyone.
There’s a crate of Guinness with your name on it in the great hereafter. But no hurry, aye.
Happy Decade drink, ‘holic!
Fancy a pint and a few cheeky scotches, old friend? Possibly over the New Year’s Eve game?
Slainte, a round of celebratory bushmills for everyone.
Congrats ‘holic, and thanks for providing a refuge of reason and (in)sanity.
Late to the Anniversary Party, I’m afraid. No reasonable excuse either. Hope the tea and scones were good, Guvna. No sore head this morning, for sure.
Heartfelt gratitude for your labours and wisdom. Long may the doors to this fine establishment remain open and welcoming.
Slàinte mhath, chiel.
Many happy returns Holic. You sure are keeping it real, as well as virtual. I think us overseas Gooners really appreciate the human touch in here, especially as we can’t make it to the Ems very often. This bar brings it all to life. Sláinte and thanks again.
Congratulations, Holic on the 10th anniversary of your great blog. The only place I visit after an Arsenal loss.
Please send me your email address, Holic.
Thanks once again.
Congrats Holic! You have given Arsenal fans from all over the world an avenue to express their views on everything Arsenal the greatest club on earth. Once again thank you sir. I DONT KNOW HOW YOU DO IT.
Congratulations Holic on your 10th anniversary. I am so glad I found you and all fellow Holics who drink in this bar. No day goes by that I fail to pop in for quick one!
When all hell lets loose elsewhere on the web I can always depend on your considered views. I consider myself an Arsenista not always appreciated but certainly not derided in this great institution. Thank you so much.
Congratulations Holic. I’ve been following your fine blog for about 9 of them and even had the pleasure of meeting you briefly through the railings back when I was Camberwell Gooner.
Keep up the good work!
Relative newcomer but enjoy this blog immensely.
Always balanced and fair on all matters Arsenal, and best of all the more ‘lively’ discussions never descend into the puerile name calling that I occasionally read (and totally ignore) elsewhere.
Side tangent discussions about music, other sports and going out on the grog are also very enjoyable.
Cheers ; Keep up the good work !
Dave,
A big thanks from me and Dr Feelgood.
Roxette still thinks youre a figment of his imagination and for once she’s wrong. 😀
Nice to see a visit from some missed but not forgotten, internet warriors of the past, too.
See you next month.
More big parts of this places history.
Lovely to see you, and thank you, Goonersince54, And Lester, TTG, BB, Chris, Steve-o, Potsticker, the wonderful bath, Scgooner, ksn, SAG, Delia, Porco, NDR, and maybe last chronologically, but very far from being least, the mighty zico.
I’ve been very lucky with the people that have passed this way. 🙂
10 yr old runnin a bar ?
.
unbelievable !
.
away an draw pictures of boobs
and eat monster munch
like a normal youngster
.
*despairs*
“Stoke said they would speak to the FA about a “potentially inconsistent approach” from match officials to managers leaving their technical areas.”
Let me ask you, as an impartial observer of the situation: Do you think it would be prudent to allow the Stoke manager out of a confined area?
Congratulations ‘Holic, the best football blog out there.
And in this wonderful occasion, a toast to the memories of the wonderful GoonerTerry whose pleasantries and perspectives I still miss.
8ball clearly sparky was born an angry wee man
to an angry wee woman and an angry wee man
he played as an angry wee man
now he manages as an angry wee man
.
he’s an angry wee man
.
pay the wee snotter no fuckin heed
Onwards and upwards >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Belated anniversary greetings sir!