Not The Derby Preview
Apr 25th, 2008 by 'holic
I have to do something tonight about our next fixture because I am just about to jump in a car and head for Devon to celebrate my father’s eighty-sixth birthday. A weekend of good food and wine will keep me away from the world at large.
It won’t take long for football to become the topic of conversation, and our attention will turn briefly to our opponents on Monday. The old chap will talk in revered tones of Raich Carter and Peter Doherty. My memories will begin with the Brian Clough years and the teacher at my school I ribbed mercilessly when we thrashed the table-topping Rams 4-0 in, I think, 1969-70.
We’ll talk of a shared trip to the old Baseball Ground for an FA Cup tie in the early seventies. Those of you of a similar vintage will remember some lively afternoons on the Popside around that time. Derby was always a good day out.
These days they play at the new Pride Park Stadium, although there is little pride in their performances this season. You have to feel for them, possibly promoted before they were ready, they are in danger of recording the lowest ever points total in the Premiership.
We hit them for five at the Grove back in September and Emmanuel Adebayor helped himself to an impressive hat-trick. Anyone thinking this will be a walkover though has clearly not checked out our ‘missing-in-action’ list.
The make-up of the side could change between now and Monday as a result of the clash of the current top two this weekend. At present it looks like we could be going with something like this. Fabianski; Eboue, Gallas, Song, Clichy; Walcott, Fabregas, Gilberto, Traore; Adebayor, van Persie. Do not be surprised if Chelsea win on Saturday to see the likes of Havard Nordtveit and Nacer Barazite starting.
The ‘holic pound has been saved to Monday, and I doubt I will have time to share it with you. For now I am thinking we will win 2-1, and I will be keeping an eye on the odds for Theo to strike first. He is growing in stature as the season approaches the blunt end, and was outstanding against Reading last weekend.
I hope those of you who have tickets enjoy your trip, and that all of you have a thoroughly enjoyable weekend.
I have one last item to pack for my journey. Regulars may remember that Alex James grandson sent me a print of his Arsenal dream team for my dad’s birthday. I cannot wait to see the look on the old chap’s face when he sees it. Those of you who are unfamiliar with Dave James work should click on the link for djcaricatures in the sidebar.
Cheers, all of you.
4 Responses to “Not The Derby Preview”
According to this, Senderos is leaving and Arsene actually has a spending kitty of £64m but is trying to keep quiet about it:
http://tinyurl.com/4q9kqr
Also, fwiw (which may not be much), Myles Palmer is reporting that he just got a phone call from a “reliable” source confirming that Hleb is definitely going to Inter:
http://tinyurl.com/4a548h
Enjoy yourself Holic…. Cheers to your dad from florida.
Pete Doherty? Another one, I guess… 😉
Hope you’re having a great weekend, ‘holic.
Enjoy ‘holic! And best wishes to Daddy ‘holic from the far away land of Singapore. That’s a fab gift btw
x