A Surreal Day
Jul 29th, 2019 by 'holic
It really was. I enjoyed a couple of pre-match Guinni with Matt (good to meet you) and James, and gratefully received a ticket for the Burnley game, for which thanks, Tone. That there were few other people there I knew was a bit of a surprise. Matt and I had intended to watch the second-half of the womens match against Bayern at least, but having watched the first-half on the television we were persuaded by James to have another pint instead.
Inside the stadium there was something of an eerie atmosphere. Most of the lower tier appeared to be taken, but upstairs and at box level there were lots of empty seats. It’s the holiday season and a pre-season friendly which probably accounted for a crowd of around 40,000.
Very much a womens squad team couldn’t recover from going a goal behind to Bayern, unfortunately. The visitors did look worthy winners over the 90 minutes but it will be interesting to see what the result might be if we draw them in the Champions League later this season with a full-strength side.
The men looked solid indeed in the opening half of their match against Lyon. Bernd Leno returned between the sticks and was well protected by a back four of Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Calum Chambers, and Nacho Monreal.
We were forced into an early reshuffle when Alexandre Lacazette, rumoured to have started with a bandaged ankle, but was taken off in the 12th minute after treatment and he was later spotted in an air boot. Unai Emery disclosed post-match,
“We are thinking it’s not important, he decided with the doctor and with me that it is better to take no more risk.”
Henrikh Mkhitaryan started in fine form, creating opportunities for Lacazette and Willock before seeing a spectacular volley of his own superbly saved by Lopes. The Lyon ‘keeper denied him another twenty-yard volley moments later. He finally teed up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to give us the lead with another volley. At this point we looked likely winners and only the margin was in doubt.
We had reckoned without the effect of a raft of second-half substitutions which robbed us of much of our first-half fluency and cohesion.Encouraged, Lyon contributed more to the contest and were level with a Dembele header midway through the half. The introduction of new boys Gabriel Martinelli and Dani Ceballos lifted us, and the former thought he might have won it for us only for the referee to award a handball decision against the young Brazilian.
The controversy didn’t end there. Lyon broke from the free-kick and Dembele was one of two players who looked suspiciously offside as he advanced for his second goal. Despite my questioning the assistant referee’s parentage at the end of the day we would much sooner have those borderline decisions going against us in pre-season and not when the Premier League gets underway.
A solitary pint with Steve and young Alex (nice to meet you too), followed by a pie and chips, and I was home at a civilised hour. There will be better results in the weeks to come, especially if we can reproduce the form of the first 45 minutes.
36 Responses to “A Surreal Day”
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Glad you had a good day Holic.
It is always disappointing to lose ( twice) but as Liverpool showed pre-season results are of little consequence. We are so busy off the field this team might look a shadow of the team we attack the season with.
Did you try the Camden Ale? I’m told it’s a big improvement on the Carlsberg !
[…] Original article: https://goonerholic.com/2019/07/a-surreal-day/ […]
My friends, someone is playing with us. Not only are we salivating at the thought of Pepe this week, but there are strong rumours that Monaco would like to buy Mustafi. For €30m.
It’s not the despair, I can take the despair. It’s the hope that I can’t stand.
Despair.
?
maybe that’s how we’ll afford pepe.
please, monaco, how about £25 mil and a bag of chips?
I have a vague recollection of someone asking for the Europey League code, but can no longer find it. We are now six strong. Anyone else coming back?
I will be there!
Nice stuff H but I’m very much with TTG. What’s the Camden Ales updates???
Priorities dear fellow.
Mary/herself. How is the big fella? I do hope there is more positive news from the cba camp?
I’d take 25m bags of chips.
It’s worth more (literally) than £25m
Nice one, ‘Holic.
Pre-season is the only time where it is really true that the performance counts more than the result.
30 million euros for Mustafi? Surprisingly, at the low-end of his valuation range. But fire-sale is better than no sale.
I really hope we don’t have to pay Monaco more than 30 million to take Mustafi off our hands.
Holic,
It was me asking for the
Europey League code Guvnor.
And thanks for the report as
always!
Fine report, sir. Did Ceballos impress you?
He certainly did, bath, but it would have been a surprise to not see a new player give it all for 20 minutes. There is something of Santi in him, looking to get the ball forward at every opportunity. Let’s hope we don’t coach that out of him.
Steve T, I can’t afford the beer prices in the Grove. When you buy me a pint in there I’ll let you know what I think. 🙂
Matt, I emailed the code…
Is this a private party or is anyone allowed to join!?
re: Europey League code
Thanks for the code Guvnor.
I will try to join this week.
According to Ornstein we are
trying to sort out the Kos
mess and we’re trying to
push a reluctant Mus out
the door. That seems best
for us and them.
Not much time to get a CB
in so hopefully we have a
cunning plan.
Best of luck to both Kos and
Mus if they leave.
Hello Goonerholic I messaged last night but I’ve been told I mustn’t have . He is doing much better but he has been keeping stuff from us . But he is doing much better the antibiotics worked but he’s still in. Ok cheerio
Your having a laugh, Holic!
“Steve…….when you buy me a pint in there………”
You’ll have more luck at the Flying Pink Pig bar on the stadium roof 🙂
I’ll see you for Burnley (Spuds too if you’re going) and will happily buy both you and Steve a pint of something wet. Promises, promises.
is today the day we see pepe over the line?
mary, glad to hear it. tell the lazy bastard this music is for him: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWOzUzJd6wM
Is this a private party or is anyone allowed to join!?
re: Europey League code
Open channel D, please…
For Mr Norris, not I.
And never mind that stuff at Drink 21, this is bound to do the trick for cba.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcSlcNfThUA
One way or another…
Mary. Great news. Please tell the dolly old goat to rapidly get his act together and to get his lazy arse back in here.
Holic. If the prices are anything like the cost of the last time that you and Bath took me to the cleaners then we are all screwed.
BtM. The earliest I’m likely to make The Grove is the Palace game, and thanks not confirmed as yet.
Another pair of classics for cba
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gJZ3zaJ_88
Mary,
Thanks for filling us in with the good news. That is one miracle so he only needs one more. 🙂
Excellent news that cba is on the mend, Mary. Tell him the denizens of this fine virtual hostelry are all rooting for him – even the Scottish ones!
Hi all. I’ve not been able to post here or read the comments as much as I used to so no surprises I missed the news on cba. Anyway, I hope he defeats whatever ails him and be back here soon.
hey, cent, welcome back!
Thank, Scruz.
What bath said about cba @27. Good to hear he is on the mend.
Looks like Pepe has done the deed then.
Great news on cba – good to
hear the drugs are working!
Seems like we’ll be playing a
fairly young team tonight
against Angers.
Thompson and Medley are
included among the defenders
where we look pretty thin in the
ranks. I hope no injuries and a
good run out for everyone.
Just in case you were wondering, Pepe has pace, power, and possibly pinpoint passing to go with his perfect persimmons.
A winning draw! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>