A Lifetime Of (Usually) Beating The Enemy
Nov 15th, 2017 by 'holic
As international breaks go that was probably one of the more bearable ones. The release of 89, superbly documented by our expert film reviewer in the last week, has distracted from the usual tedium of the interruption of club football as well as our defeat at the Emptihad.
Gradually though the focus is switching back to yet another North London derby by which Arsene Wenger will be judged. I may be wrong but it feels as though so many matches against the neighbours of late have come off the back of disappointments elsewhere.
Won 58, Drawn 40, Lost 40. That’s the record of League and cup encounters between the two clubs in my lifetime. The derby matches are the first I look for when the fixture computer results are published in June. These are matches that still stimulate all manner of emotions, even to this of us approaching middle *cough* age.
There have been many memorable ones. The title-clinching matches at the marshlands in 1971 and 2004. The FA Cup semi-finals of 1993 and 2001 and the League Cup semi-finals of 1968, 1987, and 2007. Then there was the small matter of beating them 5-0 at the Lane in 1978, and then winning there the following season with six reserves picked during that cluster of FA and European Cup-Winners Cup semi-finals.
There was a spell between 7th November 1999 and 22nd January 2008 which comprised of 12 Gunners wins and 9 draws. The neighbours, sweet FA. Writing previews in that nigh-on decade was incredible fun. Much Micky (not you Hazard) was taken.
Last seasons defeat at the other end of Seven Sisters was our first in five matches but we have only won one of those as well, with three draws separating them. That hopefully isn’t a pointer to the result on Saturday. I’ll preview the match on Friday evening and as usual the ‘holic pound will be revealed.
The international break itself will be remembered by some more fondly than others. Both sets of boys in green will want to forget it as soon as possible, but Alex Iwobi pulled on the green of Nigeria and scored twice in the eye-catching demolition of Argentina, 4-2. Mesut Ozil gave a midfield masterclass against France, for whom Alexandre Lacazette scored both goals in a 2-2 draw. Eddie Nketiah scored five goals in two European U-19 Championship qualifiers for England. Not bad, lads.
I mentioned 89 in the opening paragraph and the screenings are now in full swing. I’ll not apologise for reminding you that the dvd is released on Monday and can be ordered from Amazon simply by clicking the link in the sidebar. Thanks to those who have already done so, and those of you who are about to having been unashamedly pleaded with again.
61 Responses to “A Lifetime Of (Usually) Beating The Enemy”
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anyhoo ?
Good man cba. ?
that i am ‘hol
that i am
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it’s both a gift and a burden
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anyhoo ?
Nice appetiser for the Derby although that’s a game that barely needs one! I hope and believe that Santa’s elves may use the sidebar to purchase the 89 DVD for the head of the family, one TTG this Yuletide. That is certainly the hint that is being dropped very heavily by yours truly.
One interesting rumour doing the rounds is the hiring of the Borussia Dortmund head of scouting to replace Steve Rowley. He has a stellar record of under the radar signings and it is the only way a Kroenke owned team will compete effectively with the best clubs. Just the manager to sort then.
It does appear that Gazidis is manoeuvring behind the scenes. Wenger’s reaction will be interesting. He has been very close to Rowley for years ( in a work context of course)
Nice retrospective on the biggest game of the season so far. Let’s do them good and proper!
Saw 89 earlier this evening. A most enjoyable experience. Looking forward to the arrival of the DVD next week for a second view.
It would be good if the boys in the dressing room were put through the same induction that LD2 received before his first NLD. I sincerely hope they have been but suspect that there’s only a faint ghost of that culture left.
COYG
Fingers crossed for a few fit
footballers.
oooh , hello sailor !
Kane has scored 20 goals in 24 games against Arsenal. Why is this is ?Wenger is the reason. His straight forward styl e is one reason.
The other is his defence.He has never been known to fix the defence
even when his side is shorn of many injured players. Can you remember the 8-2 mauling.In that game he shd have played anti soccer ie park the bus. The problem his ego.He thinks if the other side can score 2 ,Arsenal will score 3 or more like Keegan.
If his position is reviewed at season’s end,despite his denial,I for one and many othe r fans would be happy to see him manage a national team.
like buses they are
BUSES
A lifetime of mostly good results is not enough, ‘holic. We need this Saturday lunchtime of a good result, not to mention tactical nous and excellent performance, but you know as much. COYG, stuff the marshmen and hit ’em where it hurts.
no tissues for me for sAturdAy
or Any dAy
i’m A hooligAn
john f***ing peel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5HU0OEiBlw
Apropos previous drinks and the stress applied to reading the football results which gives away the result … does anyone remember which comedian did a skit in which he read them with the stress in the wrong place? Very funny, but I’ve Googled every way of finding it I can think of without success.
D’ye ken John Peel, SSY?
It’s that time again. Whatever happened to … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8I4cG_Fxjo ?
Vinay in the last drinks,
Yes, I knew it wasn’t your point,
I was just rambling 🙂
I thought everyone loved a sailor.
You sailorist.
@15
Chris, I remember laughing at
that skit!
Not the nine o’clock news from
memory.
Chris,
Just watched it – would attach the
link but haven’t mastered that skill
on my iphone sadly. But I think
it’s probably not the skit you’re
thinking of.
No, it wasn’t the Not The Nine O’clock News sketch by Smith and Jones. Nor was it Michael Bentine or Hugh Laurie, both of whom also did hilarious variations on the football results theme.
I remember specifically the wrong stress. Like “Tottenham Hotspur 3” with a rising intonation, followed by “Arsenal (with a down stress suggesting less than 3 and a loss) 6”. I’m almost certain it was a radio programme as it wouldn’t work with the scores on screen.
Meanwhile, if you have 20 minutes to spare, spend it with the immortal George Carlin … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVlkxrNlp10
Interesting score there @22. Sounds like a cracking game. 🙂
Good morning people
I’m really not sure what midfield combination we can use to beat sp*ds comfortably.
It all points to one thing: Our midfield is crap.
I’m really getting this impression that Goretzka(if Schalke would want to cash in on him) is coming in January, else summer on a bosman.
Also, I see the possibility of a Draxler-Alexis swap in January.
Anybody following Kolasinac on social media? He seems to drop the above clue
This is the Mel Smith reading of the football results that Chris isn’t thinking of:
https://youtu.be/YWY2Bs2VYJs
And this the Michael Bentine one
https://youtu.be/-fub3Z1n2jc
I don’t think Alexis wants to go to PSG, NGooner, and I don’t think Draxler is the answer to our problems anyway.
One report suggests Moaninho was watching Emil Forsberg while his Swedes were seeing off the Italians. If he ends up at OT I shall be royally pee’d off.
Meanwhile, according to some were are considering Sterling again. I hope not.
I haven’t seen us linked to any player I’d want to see in an Arsenal shirt for yonks.
Neither do I think so too re Alexis – PSG – Draxler – Arsenal.
However, I really hope that Goretzka happens.
Similar situation to Kolasinac last year… I hope our scouts and negotiators did a good job there. Very young nice midfielder
Chris @15. I remember it well but not well enough to tell you who did it. I am sure you are correct that it was a radio show.
I have to drive back from full time at my daughter’s under 11’s away match on Saturday morning to be back in front of the TV at 12.30
Match finishes at 11.45 and the AA route-finder thingie gives me an estimated journey time of…45 minutes.
Suspect I may be in line for my first speeding ticket for years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qsv41JdbubY
Chris,
If we sign Nabil Fekir I will be very chuffed indeed. I’d also like Draxler or Goretzka but the priority is a monster in midfield.
That could be Goretzka but haven’t seen his defensive work enough.
Fekir is the dog’s b………s believe me.
He could sit on the bench with his mate Lacazette at all the big matches?
Been waiting for somebody to give Speedy Gonzalez some deserved recognition. 😀
@26. Mel Smith reading of the scores is very funny if not complimentary about those towns and cities. Some of the words used to describe them are: nowhere, boring, dreary, obscure, anonymous, deadly, dull, hideous, ugly, nonentity, godforsaken, depressing, derelict. Swindon doesn’t come off very well but Tranmere probably gets bottom spot. I wonder how he might have described England if he were reading the results of the international friendlies. 🙂
Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld (hamstring) and midfielder Victor Wanyama (knee) remain on the sidelines and will not feature in the north London derby at the Emirates on Saturday. (from the BBC)
Two of the players I would have wanted out. Unfortunately, they have able replacements.
If we sign Nabil Fekir I will be very chuffed indeed.
So will I just for the amusement of hearing this when he gets subbed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4j-LkDxZsbk
Just in case you were wondering about the derivation of Tranmere, Wikipedia tells us this: Its name was given by Norwegian Vikings who settled and colonised Wirral in the 10th century. Tranmere in Old Norse is Trani-melr, meaning “crane (bird) sandbank” or “sandbank with the cranes”.
It sounds like Tranmere was a bit nicer eleven centuries ago than it is described today, speaking from a somewhat distant perspective.
I think that, like Tranmere, most places were almost certainly a bit nicer eleven centuries ago in the absence of overpopulation and non-biodegradable refuse although their residents were almost certainly somewhat more violent, disease ridden and short-lived.
I guess there have to be some trade-offs, bath. Given a choice between the refuse and overpopulation of today or the violence, disease and death of the 10th century, I would point out that we still have those last three problems in considerable degree today. 🙂
Agree totally bt8 with your preference. However the trends in population and pollution are not at all encouraging whilst the improvements in general violence, incidence of untreatable life altering or shortening diseases (notably of infective aetiology) and short survival due to disease, accident, poor nutrition etc have been (hitherto but not necessarily permanently) colossal.
I didn’t even know Mad Jens had written a book
http://www.decoubertin.co.uk/Lehmann
After a long time looking forward to watching the game with a sense of optimism. All this power shift crap just makes me think we will get a performance of the lads. I sincerely hope the team out there realize what this means and more importantly why we need to win this at all cost. Just wish to see Mesut/Alexis and Lacazette start again but chances are Iwobi/Danny instead. Arsene go broke, we dont mind a 5-4 again.
Speaking of centuries and centuries ago, I wonder how long it would take this prehistoric creature to do away with Harry Kane, Delli Alli and Christian Eriksen in one savage mouthful.
https://www.local10.com/news/weird-news/rare-prehistoric-era-shark-found-off-coast-of-portugal
Can it play the holding midfield role?
DVD ordered and am taking” the boys” to Cambridge for a showing of the film on the 29th December for their Christmas presents.
Been to the tennis a couple of times this week so haven’t given much thought to Saturday’s game as yet but this is a must not lose encounter.
How we achieve that result will be difficult unless we have a fully fit Kos and Mustafi available and a midfield duo who don’t go on walkabouts and respect their defensive duties.
Anyone interested in the Cambridge showing of “89”, its taking place at the Arts Picture House at 1pm.
Our expectations are a sign of our belief in the current team. Frankly I’d take a draw in a heartbeat at the moment but that may be because the thought of us losing against THEM is too tough to contemplate .
Cynic
Can you imagine Fekir’s nicknames or the abuse he will get from opposing fans? You idle Fekir etc.
I heard about Jens’ book last week. In it he said he got a look like daggers from Ferguson when he took his seat in the stand after being sent off. Who would have thought SAF wanted us to win the Champions League?
They’ve been publishing excerpts
from Mad Jens book in the online
Torygraph this week.
One was about that Birmingham
game where Gallas lost the plot
and then had a fight with an
enraged Gilberto in the dressing
room after the game. A bad day
and right up there with my worst
memories as an Arsenal supporter.
But i’m glad to hear Gilberto
called Gallas on his pathetic
leadership that day.
On a more cheerful note it seems
Kos, Mus and Danny are available
– although I hope Laca will lead
the line. OG’s injury is short-term
and back in training on Monday.
And a bat raised for the 50?
Yes, indeed it was.
And some cautious optimism on
the return of Santi too.
I’d like Fekir too. Short, technically
good, had some injuries – a
perfect fit. Can score though and
knows Laca.
A better bet than Draxler to me.
Fekir’s name reminds me of the immortal Jonners (Brian Johnston), cricket commentator supreme who told the story of a a Pakistani bowler called Afaq Hussain, whose first name was a bit of a minefield for commentators.
Afaq hadn’t actually been selected for the current test but Jonners decided to confuse fellow commentator Rex Alston by repeating Afaq’s name over and over. Sure enough, eventually a new bowler was introduced and Alston unthinkingly announced “We are now going to see Afaq from the Nursery End.”
Surprisingly I found a first round FA Cup match live on TV this morning (evening in England) featuring my old home town Leatherhead away to Billericay Town. I hadn’t seen the ‘Tanners’ play since I left UK in 1967 when they were in the Athenian League having climbed up from the Delphian League, via the Corinthian League, in my time. Now, apparently, they are in the Isthmian League. Go you good things!
And I can happily report that despite Billericay being strong favourites Leatherhead came from behind to win 3-1.
I once played a local primary schools football final at Fetcham Grove (Leatherhead’s home ground). All I can remember is mud feet deep and wearing old fashioned heavyweight boots that you couldn’t unglue from the ground never mind kick a ball more than a few feet in the conditions. I think we lost, although I doubt there’s anyone alive who could contradict me if I said we won!
Interesting to see Jermaine Pennant playing for Billericay in the above match. Also Paul Konchesky who played 15 times for England under-21s as well as twice at full international level.
Good result for Leatherhead Chris
as Billericay are apparently the
PSG of non-league football
They’ve got an ex-spud, O’Hara,
too.
Leaving in 67 means you missed the
glory days of the Leatherhead Lip
then. It’s a little known fact that
Chris Kelly was born in Epsom,
same as me 🙂
I had a folk club in Epsom, Matt, early ’60s at the Railway Hotel. Paul Simon played there c1962 before The Sound of Silence was released. It was an adjuct to my rock club in Leatherhead.
In fact Paul Simon might have been killed courtesy of us when, after his gig, we drove up to the Victorian Sporting Club in London for a spot of Baccarat. On the way the car Paul was in hit the kerb at speed and flipped. No one was seriously hurt. The car was driven by my good friend Gordon Bennett, later to become famous as the Tai Ko Seng (He who delivers) hero of the phosphate miners of Christmas Island. They made a film about him in Australia … http://shop.nfsa.gov.au/big-brother-of-christmas-island
Gordon is now buried on Christmas Island in a marble tomb in a Chinese temple on the edge of the rainforest overlooking the ocean and westerly sunsets. To this day, on the anniversary of his death in 1991 (from a heart attack brought on by a bottle of scotch and 2 cases of beer plus 2 packs of cigarettes A DAY), the natives bring him gifts of cigarettes and beer (which they consume of course). It’s a lovely spot, well worth visiting. Like Epsom back in the day. 🙂
That’s a nice reminiscence
Chris 🙂 I like Paul Simon so i’m
glad he survived !
As you say Epsom was a nice
place. I used to live down the
road in Worcester Park, another
nice enough place way back when.
Not so much now.
The Victoria Sporting Club takes me
back. My Dad was a regular at the
VSC kalooki tables in the 60s
and I’ve still got his old members
card. When he first started his
business things were slow and
he used to supplement his income
at the card tables. As a kid my
ambition was to be a professional
gambler 🙂
Said Gordon Bennett’s place of burial sounds worthy of Captain Cook himself! Don’t know anything about Epsom or Leatherhead but I did meet a girl in Guildford once.
not long now ?
gonna be noisy
.
.
please fuckin god
.
COME ON YOU REDS !
BETTER RED THAN DEAD!!!!
Bring on the marshdwellers! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>