Much Ado About Nothing
Dec 19th, 2010 by 'holic
The alarm goes off at half past seven. First stop the bedroom window. “Jabbas, it didn’t miss us”. Cup of tea and check Twitter. This is a situation in which social media is such a good tool. North London is fine. The local radio talks of train cancellations if guards and drivers cannot get in. At nine the taxi arrives. “Let me know when you get there”, the management thinks I’m off my rocker.
Of course the fact that this snow was forecast hasn’t persuaded the local authorities to start gritting before 7am when the snow is already a couple of inches thick. A slow taxi gets me to the station where the day starts to get better. The train is only delayed by fifteen minutes. I upgrade to first class for a fiver, bargain, and get back to Twitter. All is looking good in North London, and I can confirm when I get there just after eleven that the approaches to the stadium are being gritted. It’s definitely on.
Having purchased a new hat from the Armoury I stroll along to the pub. Let’s get this party started! It’s about now that things start to go a bit Pete Tong. No sooner have I taken my first gulp of the delicious, creamy Guinness, than the snow starts to fall. No ordinary snowfall though. This is almost a blizzard within minutes of starting and the tables in the pub garden that were clear, quickly get buried under an ever-deepening white carpet.
Twitter brings the news. Police are talking to the Arsenal staff. The deluge that had started just half an hour earlier causes a postponement. As the news breaks in walks a mate who is on a day trip from Paris for the game. I have to say though that we are royally looked after. A free pint and sausages and chips are circulated, much to everyones delight. It’s as good a place as you could wish to be until the last Eurostar departs. Whiskey and whisky is added to the Guinness as we discuss just what we were going to yell at the Stokies. We start to wonder if we have drunk too much when five (or was it four?) Santas join the festivities. Good to meet you, Gaz, Jon, and the boys.
My journey back is delayed as there are few trains running from Paddington, but eventually one leaves just after eight and I hit First Class again. Far less fortunate is a poor Eurostar traveller as he is stuck behind a broken down train at Ebbsfleet and isn’t destined to get home until five on Sunday morning. The management has her initial thoughts confirmed. “Mad, barking mad to even set off, the pair of you.”
To be fair I can only recall travelling to a postponed game at the Arsenal once before, and that was in 1971, so I reckon if that is going to happen every 39 years it is a chance I will be prepared to take again. When, and if it does happen again it’s a fair bet I will be in the pub, necking Guinness and chasers with a crazy frog!
64 Responses to “Much Ado About Nothing”
I’ll have a pint of that! Your day sounds better than mine, half hour to get Blackstock road, cars slipping everywhere in the blizzard, texts from her ladyship telling me to come home etc. Game called off. Three hour drive home in awful conditions.
Hope the Chelsea-Utd game gets postponed to sometime in midweek when the CL games are imminent.
Re Barcelona, well I would be a robot to not get excited for the game. But it’s excitement bordering on terror at the moment. Let’s hope that they have peaked early, as you say.
Lovely stuff.
A free pint, and sausages and chips ? Where is this pub ?
nice one
Tell me mr hollic, are you the gentleman who was in the Tolly sitting to the left of the gents under the telly?
I believe I met you with my 2 brothers and dad.
We were the ones who within a minute of walking in the pub created a a puddle of lake sized proportions as the snow fell from our coats.
Good to see you yesterday ‘holic…the santas were certainly there but just 4 out of 5 ;-). The santas took their trail of destruction to Angel and needless to say it ended in the small hours of Sunday morning.
Do you serve paracetamol barman?
Danny, not so sure about gentleman, but yes, that was I. You were not alone in bringing the snow in though. I’ll bet Martin was busy with the mop this morning š
Lovely job on the post. My mind was able to picture perfectly your free sausage and the Tollie’s tables – this time without umbrellas on fire!
‘holic
a great report when I didn’t expect one….and for once nobody can blame Clichy…(or can they?)
You’ve just reminded me, BtM.
Is there any change in your plans for Dec 27, or is HolicDad still taking preference over the Bus Stop? I’m flying over on Dec 23, looking forward to seeing us go top. (I’m assuming that Arsene will be using his contacts “upstairs” to ensure no repeat of the blizzard).
Would be good to meet up. In any case, have a great Christmas and I’ll look forward to a sherbet at the Tollie in 2011.
Sorry I could n’t make the panto, even if it was cancelled. A date in 2011 beckons instead, I reckon mate.
Glad you enjoyed your day inspite of the cancelation, I know the Tollie well, (having lived across from it for the first 16/17years of my life) Have to pop in next time I’m over.
A round of cognacs to warm all us ‘holics please sir.
Cheers.
Sorry BtM,
‘holicdad’s situation is such that I definitely won’t make Chelsea. Wigan in January and Barca in Feb are my next two, unless grandkids want to see Wolves game.
I’m sure we’ll share a dram in 2011. I’ll look forward to it.
Esso, good job you didn’t turn up mate. Travel back our way was bad enough. Must have been chaos heading south.
I remember attending the corresponding fixture to yesterdayās game last season. Stoke had nothing much to offer other than an underrated Fuller upfront, from my vision from the upper north stand, courtesy of my season ticket buddy. As for Rory De who? There was not enough room for a running jump, despite Stokies chants of “All we do is throw the ball”. Those damn long throws were in effective.
Andrey the giant told the story by bobbing and weaving through the Stokie defence before tucking away one of his trademark side shots from the left with his right foot. After Cescs sky rocket, it was Rambo who ironically came on as a sub to put the game to rest.
As for yesterday I arrived at the barbers for the usual morning session for around 08:45, 45 mins later than usual, to having to tell my hair cutting counterparts and nervous fellow gooners the many reasons why we are in with a chance against the best team in the world.
On the way home I stopped at the wanted music shop at the top of my road to collect my two 1978 Roy Ayers albums only to leave the store to falling snow flakes at around 10:30ish. Although the new home has it’s many perks, the compromise to attend 3’o clock games I haven’t attended before meant I was on my way back looking forward to placing my usual faithful of at least 2 goals and fancied Nasri or Arsh back on the score sheet for this one, whilst I tune in to yet another dodgy stream.
But within minutes of stepping back inside the house snowflakes were falling faster than Patrice Evra’s indirect apology to Arsenal for his misquoted words after one of the toughest non-training sessions he had faced in his career!
I switched it over to Sky Sports to the message that the Chavs and the other Reds up North had postponed their match. To which I logged in to the A.com home page to discover the reason why Lee Mason had to call off our game!
I then switched it back to Sky Sports to hear Mersy saying teams very rarely win their game in hands, but missed his theory as to why Arsenal could take advantage of this with one less game in hand and a good position on the table.
So with the bets for this week consequently postponed I decided to lower my Christmas spending a little and to concentrate on entertaining the Goonertown Family from the confines of the new home on this snowy afternoon! Hmmmm? How about some Roy Ayers in the back ground?
Another Frothy black one Holic and whatever the rest of the Holic family want to drink!
Evening All,
Anyone for a rusty nail? always warms the soul š Sounds like a good day was had by all even tho the game was off !! Only time I can remember turning up to be told it was of was against Norwich I think. walked out if Arsenal station to be confronted by the densest fog I’d ever seen early 90s but may be wrong. Making an effort for the small club in fulham as long as the snow relents š
Only once every 39 years ‘Holic? Jeez, postponed games due to snow are a way of life up here š
We’re now into week 4 of what you guys experienced yesterday and I can’t plan my next trip to the Grove due to airports being closed north and south of this great land, with depressing regularity.
I should have gone to the cricket. š
(Speaking of which, Catalan, are you out there?)
Anyway Goonerholic, glad to see that you didn’t let the postponement keep you from the black stuff, top man!
I foresee plane loads of Japanese fans arriving in N5 to watch this young man. Better get some Asahi Superdry on tap at the Tollie, ‘Holic? Marketing side of things apart, looks like he might be quite a prospect.
“His name is Ryo and he………….” (Her Nellieness tells me this to to the tune of some band called Duran Duran. I’m not admitting to knowing that).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1r8hJr7f6k&feature=rec-LGOUT-exp_fresh+div-1r-1-HM
Great stuff ! The only way our players could get any smaller was to start making Japanese copies of them !
A large one (of anything) please barman.
Holics –
Just to those who may have doubted, Chamakh has since come out and backed up my theory that our mental approach to big games needs work.
He said: “If we had been a bit more confident and told ourselves we could beat them, then we could have got the result we needed.
I am not scared of Chelsea or United or any other team in the league [but] those games need to be approached differently as the pressure is also slightly higher but itās up to us manage this and to raise our game. We need to defend and attack and manage our stamina better.”
I feel that mental preparation should not be underestimated.
I would ask you for a whisky now, ‘holic, but I fear a non-alcoholic drink is in order….
*ouch*
Is that the sound of an arm being twisted?
Thanks for the company and for the taking me back to St Pancras.
I was seriously fucked š
Christmas spirits were definitely there š
Heh!
You are more than welcome Ollie.
Goonertown: “I feel that mental preparation should not be underestimated.”
Amen to that. I am 100% convinced that the only thing standing between this team and massive success is the right kind of confidence and mental attitude.
Hope everybody has got home safely and that poor Glennw isn’t still stuck at Tescos – I mean, if only it had at least been in a pub but bleedin’ Tescos? That’s just bad luck!
Pint of John Smith, please!
Lars –
That’s what I’m saying. I’ll get that JS barman!
Evening Holic
I trust it is only old age that is wearying your beloved Pater.
From your previous blogs i am assuming Holic Senior is from the Class of 27.??
Not a good year for a future Gooner to be born,what with Cardiff and the new jersey excuse.!!
So 83 going on 84,and a very tough life if my Dad’s stories were anything to go by.
But they bred them tough in those days,so i sincerely hope the Old Fella is around for a while yet.
Cheers
Clive
Evening All
Anyone catching BBC SPOTY? Our Cesc is helping out with the proceedings!
Bit more Clive, 88, and yes, a tough upbringing. It’s a little bit more complicated than old age. Fingers crossed here.
Thanks for your good wishes.
TS –
Hi mate. I saw Cesc and found it interesting that when asked he said the Spanish squad were successful because they got along very well.
I hope I’m not going too far by adding this quote from Cesc our Captain regarding the issue of mental confidence.
“”I think the difference on the night was that we were scared of losing but they were not scared of winning. That was a big difference that played in our heads,ā he told the Guardian.
āSometimes we seem scared of losing these big games ā we don’t really go for it and we’re tempted to drop back and see what the opposition do.
āWe look to see if we are capable of beating them by what they are doing and how good they are on the day, instead of us going forward, causing them problems and dominating the game ourselves.”
Much like his manager, Fabregas doesnāt doubt Arsenalās quality but he believes that his team-mates must overcome their psychological demons to be successful in the future:
“They [United] were more aggressive than us,” added FĆ”bregas.
“They have the belief that comes from not losing at all [in the league] this season. That gives you a lot of help mentally.
“I’m realising more and more that football is all about confidence and mentality. Sometimes you do the right thing but, if people tell you it’s not right, you start believing it, even though you were right at first.”
On that note I believe it is more than important that we back the lads in winning the Beer Cup this season as it could prove to be the spring board that the whole club needs, this season and beyond!
I think a hot cup of cocoa will be in order!
Well you did have an epic trip holic. Funny but unless you are a genuine fan no one actually gets what we will go through to get to games. A tad more local than you I was lucky that I received the news on the way to the station so managed to abort early. But I have 3 tickets for the away game at Wigan. Taking my 2 kids up for their first away game. Was very much looking forward to it. Hotel booked etc. Proper Daddy day out. I am now spending most of my time checking weather forecasts hoping that it warms up a few degrees just so I can still get there. As a nation we are shocking at dealing with poor weather.
Goonertown. Interesting at 28. Seems to me we might wish we had kept a few senior players or added some experience? Lacking leaders when it counts????? Hmmmmm. Never heard that one before.
BTM. The tollie for the Chavs is a good place to start. Free chips etc and a decent brew. Bring some of those Brazilain lasses you keep talking about.
Holic. Best wishes to pops. Hope he is doing well.
Steve –
I hear you. As they say, our work (in progress) is never done!
GT – It’s definitely a mental thing. This long break might help, don’t know. I woke up this morning thinking we were a better i.e. more consistent team last year but we were also in a worse position in the league this time last year (I think). Very strange season so far. Really hard to call but that’s what makes it so compelling too. I think we’ll win one or both of the domestic cups this year. That will at least give us the taste for silverware. CL & EPL are going to be very tough for us as we are. Maybe AW can pull a couple of rabbits out of the hat and turn it all around just in time.
Have a great week ‘Holics, it’s nearly Crimble after all š
TS-
I hear you mate and I totally agree!
Enjoy your week too!
Goonertown @28 – interesting comments from Cesc, which I hadn’t heard.
He seems to have summed it up pretty perfectly to me. Let’s hope that in his capacity as captain, he can urge his team to do the right thing then.
They certainly didn’t look as though they believed they should be top of the league when they played at Old Trafford.
How much longer will it take though?
They all say the right things in interviews but don’t do the right things in the big games.
These are not kids any more.
Time for some tough talking from somebody.
Trev – I do wonder if for all Wenger’s talk – and now Cesc’s talk too – of mental fragility, who is it in the dressing room who gets them psyched up? Eboue’s apparently the joker and the one who has them all over for dinner, but I get the impression that Cesc does his captaincy by example. Which is all very well, but someone needs to get the lads fired up for these important games and make sure that we play our own game.
Also, how much of this mental fragility is something of our own making? It becomes a bigger issue the more we talk about it. If it’s constantly in the players’ minds then it’s going to be an issue whether we like it or not.
I didn’t like the manager’s comments about how Miyaichi and how “it’s important that we’re represented in Asia”. We should sign players for footballing not financial reasons.
Off topic.
A gooner from the Bangalore chapter of Arsenal fan’s won Barclay’s most passionate competition.
The Premiership trophy was flown down to Bangalore and there are some awesome pics on facebook..
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=313019&id=196680710629
Well, at least someone in an Arsenal jersey gets to lift the trophy. š
I know a couple of those guys. Very nice blokes.
most passionate fan*
Oh fuck, so many typos when I post carelessly. Kindly ignore / forgive the grammatical errors.
@Steve T: I’m totally swamped by work duties these days, I can only find the time to watch the games and read `Holic’s reports but still your mention of “genuine fans” got me startled enough to react. Surely you meant local fans?
And still enough time to wish all the best to `Holicdad who was kind enough to answer my questions here a couple of years back.
Morning to all Holics this very chilly Monday morning.
Day off work today and tomorrow infact as well, some home DIY is order just in time for Xmas I believe.
Sounds like some of you had it really tough coming back home on Saturday and I certainly felt for you on the day.
Best wishes to Holicdad I hope he feels much better now.
Goonertown, Steve-T & TS
Some good points raised
Like others I believe the only thing stopping this team from winning a BIG game is the mental composure and attitude like you say, we are usually looking at the opposition to see what they will do to us, once they score we try but we all know where that ends up.
It takes one win of one of those BIG games and we are back in business perhaps Cesc is trying to urge some of them before Bus Stop in Fulham come to The Grove. On that note I would love to come to the game but the prices on tickets exchange are rather scary.
Beer Cup is also very important for this group, hopefully we can win this thing and it will give them an insight of what winning and lifting a trophy feels like.
Keep warm Holics and have a great day!
Hi Holics,
I haven’t seen snow in my life..I thought that was like a sad thing š
Now, I have to wonder…
Boring day at work.
Cheers
Interesting comments by Cesc on the mental side of things, which I think we are all agreed on.
Maybe Arsene and Cesc could sit down with Martin Johnson one day for a chat.
http://www.londonbusinessforum.com/events/giant_leadership
Here are a couple of quotes:
In the World Cup Final, when Australia levelled the scores with 90 seconds to go, Johnson said he and his men didn’t panic or lose heart, but simply focused on “controlling the controllables”. “When I got back to the huddle, I looked around the core of our team and I knew we were going to win,” he said. “There was no big talk, I just looked at their body language: there were no chins on chests… It was the most simple 20 minutes of my rugby life. I didn’t have to think about whether guys were doubting themselves or doubting the team. We all trusted each other.”
He recalled a match against the All Blacks in New Zealand about four months before the World Cup tournament where, after about 50 minutes, two England players were sent to the sin bin. The “big talk” from the coaches was simple, “Tackle them,” an obvious point that got everyone grinning. “What got us through the next 10 minutes probably wasn’t even verbal,” Johnson said. “The little talk got us through: looking at the guy next to you, giving him a nod.”
Like many of you, I feel we are equal, if not ahead on ability, but behind on the winning mentality. Of course Cesc isn’t quite as ugly and scary, but I’m sure he could take a few things on board!
@Zico. Cricket? Nah, heard it was snowed off….!
Matt. Sorry, just read it over again. It was not meant to sound like that. The point I was trying to make was that if you have a ticket for a game you will make every effort to get there, despite friends and loved ones classing you as bonkers, and despite all the advice from the emergency services. I am sure that none of us this side of the pond would have left our front doors for anything else. For some reason football is different. It was not meant as a dig to all of those genuine fans who live in all parts of the globe.
Trev, Arthur, Catalan & everyone else –
We have been Gooners for a long time and we all remember when we had the most feared team in the Prem.
I hear pundits all the time say when he looked at the team sheet they’d not want to play certain members of our teams in the past.
I don’t think we are far off at the moment either. We have to strike the balance between confidence and complacency and the rest will follow
But I believe it is a club wide thing, from the Board to the supporters.
We need to show why we are the best squad in the prem right now and capitalise
The ironic thing is player for player, we actually do have the best starting XI in the prem right now!
I challenge anyone to tell me different. We can go through each team man for man and see where we end up!
Lars@23, yep I did finally escape from tescos, arrived home at 02.30. As steve t said, I would do the same again, if it was work I would be on the phone to say I couldn’t make it but going to watch the arsenal you simply put on extra pair of socks and throw a shovel in the boot. Different subject, clichy or Gibbs (when fit) I say play them together with Gibbs in front, I think it would make us more solid at the back, block the opposition from getting down our left side and still give us plenty going forward. What do other holics think?
Glennw –
We did it against Legia, Villa and Also used Gibbs in front of Traore during the Beer v West Brom!
We won all three matches!
Our Festive Members day’s been cancelled
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/statement-festive-members-day-cancelled
Glennw, glad to hear you made it home alright!
And I agree with you, playing Gibbs in front of Clichy is something I would also like to see us try. Sure, Gibbs would not provide the same amount of trickery and unpredictability going forward that Arshavin does, but he would as you say provide a hell of a lot more defensive cover and also, considering how ineffective and wasteful Arshavin has been lately, I don’t think we would notice much of a difference going forward. And of course it wouldn’t hurt that in Gibbs we would also have a wide player on the pitch who can actually cross the ball without hitting either row Z or the first defender nine times out of ten.
Lunch-time pint of Boddingtons, please, and a drink of his choice for Glennw!
Glennw – I’m with you for that – maybe even for the Chelsea game? Start a petition or something! Or just have a drink….
Holic a nice galss of mulled wine please sir.We did have a game postponed around 91 against Norwich due to fog> I was in the robbie crusoe at stoke newington when it was called off.
Lars, cheers will join you in a lunchtime boddies, goonertown, 3 out of 3 sounds good, not sure we could count legia game a success from a defensive point of view, Catalan gunner maybe we should do it other way round, pull up a table get the drinks in then start a petition, one other thing regarding AA, I still think we get best out of him floating around behind a frontman but lot of competition for that role
Re, games called off not counting stoke& Bolton, I seem to remember a midweek cup match I think, v Leeds being called off because of snow also v Birmingham because area round highbury to icy both games in 80’s I think, also remember the foggy Norwich game mentioned earlier and yep I got to the ground for all of them
Glenw –
with that formation and Szczneys 1 goal in four games, that could be the way forward. At least we have that luxury at the moment. It makes us even more potent!
Regarding the Bolton games last season. I didn’t actually make it to the stadium because it was a week day if I recall. The announcement re, the postponement came whilst I was at work. The game went ahead the following week with an all new match day programme to go with it (I still haven’t got my hands on the original one).
But at the re-scheduled game I was a few seats from the front and remember shouting as loud as my voice box would allow when we were 2-0 down! Rosicky was the man with the plan that day and he eventually got the first goal. He drove the attack forward with an inform Cesc and a once fit TV5.
We won the blighter 4-2 and we all left the stadium top of the league with smiles on our faces!
An Evian should do it Holic!
Cu’mon you rip roooaaaring Reeeeds!
@Goonertown: so we actually have played GIbbs in front of the defender? Interesting, that shows that Arsene has also got the same idea.
Re: postponed games, it’s not quite the same but two seasons ago when we had our FA Cup game v Cardiff postponed, several of us decided to go to the pub anyway. When we got there we told the staff to put on the Unbeaten DVD which we already had lying around there, so there we were, about fifteen of us, watching that DVD and drinking beer and it ended up being a great night despite the cancelled game.
(News from the world of non-postponed games: Everton just scored a real beauty of a goal at Middle Eastlands! They are 2-0 up after 18 minutes of play and it is a fully deserved lead.)
Pint of John Smiths, please!
Lars
Well done to Everton, this means a great deal to us we are still sitting 2nd in the league.
I have just finished painting and decorating the house (living room, corridor and landing) took the whole bloody day, that’s what you get for having kids…well kid in my case but all the same.
I need a pint of something very cold please Boss…a pint of Staropramen would go down a treat I think…anyone else fancy a drink?
Lars & Arthur-
Well done Everton even with a man sent off!
Yay we have played Gibbo there generally used as defensive insurance when we’ve had everyone fit. We lost Gibbo for most of last season which also affected his WC chances.
I’m still up trying to put the finishing touches to Little Goonetowns Christmas Prezzies!
(Think I will need to narrow it down a bit)
Another Evian should do it!
Work in dah Morning
Yawn!
Holics,
What’s little Jack doing troubling some old cabbie in the middle of the night if Sun is to be believed?
Hope he isn’t any kind of trouble..
So, we are still second since Everton turned the Sheiks over 2-1.. Good news.
Cheers
Another word from the boss. One misconception is that the Boss never addresses the needs of the squad!
I for one hear the boss speak like this tirelessly more than once a week!
It’s up to the players to take heed!
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/-season-can-be-great-if-we-learn-lessons-
Yes, i might as well have a drink.
Of your choice.
Some good points going on re Clichy and Gibbs playing in tandem.
It has been easy to criticise Clichy lately, but you do have to feel sorry for him with the often complete lack of help he gets in defence.
It’s always easy to see from the stands, but at times he must wonder which way to turn next, as he so often finds himself with an extra man to defend against.
The pair of them are very determined runners, a quality which may make up for the lack of trickery.
Since Arshavin has forgotten how to shoot, what would we be losing.
This all assumes, of course, that Gibbs is fit . . . . . . like, ever . . . .
For the ignorant such as myself, can anybody explain how Miyaichi gets a work permit but Wellington does not. Or is Miyaichi to go out on loan for years and years as well ?
In any event, as we and Spain both belong to the EU ( the land of equal opportunity ), why is it ok for Wellington to play in Spain and not here in England. I don’t see how this can be legally sustained.
Are there any politicians out there with the answers?
So Niklas has been Bendying the ear of the press once again.
At the end of the season we will have to see how well we have done, where we are, and where I am, he says.
Where he is, is at one of the best football clubs in the world, and, in my humble opinion, is more than a little fortunate still to be there.
Instead of making direct and oblique references to the number of games he is given, I would like to see a little more of his energy spent on the pitch, making the manager’s job a little harder when it comes to selecting his strike force.
This Bendtner ground has been covered at various times before in his career, and many of us have done our best to encourage him during matches when he has been having lean spells.
At the moment in his current form, it does not seem like the best time to be making noises about his position at the club.
To me, it seems like Arsenal Football Club without a jogging, mis-controlling, mis-firing Bendtner, would be a bit like the neo-proverbial fish without a bicycle.
Sorry Nik, but a bit less verbage and a bit more sprinting and throwing yourself at crosses wouldn’t go amiss.
Trev-
Clichy was Left back of the season 3 years ago. You don’t just lose that over night.
Clichy has had the burden of the Birmingham game hanging over his head ever since.
Otherwise how is it that before that, his lack of confidence was non-existence?
More defensive cover would definitely give him a boost!
I’ve noticed Nasri helping him out too!
Trev- Our players need to do their talking on the pitch!