Arsenal Stable As Holiday Approaches
Dec 9th, 2012 by 'holic
The final home match before Christmas usually provides the opportunity to share a brief few moments and some tasty morsels with a top Gooner and his family. This year was no different. Bubbles, rioja, and some very tasty nibbles set the general air of well-being. To the pub I went to locate my temporary neighbour for the day, one Take a Bow Son, the Daily Mail’s poster boy.
We dominated the game itself from the off. I recall Gervinho, Santi Cazorla, and Jack Wilshere all going close around the incident that livened up the first half. I am fortunate enough to sit within view of the touchline monitor and yes, Santi dived it confirmed within seconds of the incident. Mikel Arteta put right the wrong of his miss from the spot against Fulham and we were on our way.
One cannot avoid commenting on the dive. I wish we wouldn’t indulge in it, but that would put us in a minority of one. It is once again noticeable that there is a marked difference in the coverage of such incidents when good honest English lads are involved. I don’t think Santi is being painted with the Suarez brush here, but he has certainly leant (is that a word?) up against a fence freshly coated with the stuff. Stinking furriners coming here and polluting our game, and all that stuff.
I have to say shortly afterwards I thought we survived a pretty blatant handball in the box by Per Mertesacker. When Lady Luck decides to smile on you it tends to come as a beaming grin rather than a subtle smirk. Some would say you make your own luck, and Arsenal certainly deserved the advantage at the half.
As the mid-point of the second half loomed into view we doubled the lead. Again it was a penalty, but there was no doubting the award after Brunt upended the much improved Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Arteta again smashed it down the middle. Little did we know at that point the second consecutive ‘holic pound was secured. I have to say if Lukas Podolski had his shooting boots on the punt would have been lost. The irony of the day was that a better performance than we have produced of late yielded no goals from open play.
So TaBS and I strolled back to the pub for a rather cheerier dissection of the afternoon’s events than we have become used to. The traditional free issue of sausage and chips was a more than welcome contribution to the general air of optimism around the place.
This one win is just that. There are still things that concern, but if we can get on a run that brings more valuable victories before the opening of the transfer window there is yet a chance that we can channel all of the emotions of recent weeks into a power for good. Come on now, this is a season of virgin births, and all that.
257 Responses to “Arsenal Stable As Holiday Approaches”
Title there for the taking.
COYG
π
Cheers for that ‘holic! See you in the New Year some time.
Well – let’s start with Reading.
Top four !!
Well played ‘h – that all seems fair enough re what i saw too – really enjoyed future cap’n Jack – again.
Psed – had just dropped that below over the post – just as you were calling time.
Has the barkeep been sighted in the Swindon area, or thereabouts β yet?
Right, iβm readying to go the local pond ( erm β pub) to break the ice and take the plunge for me regular post match-day Sunday swim; diving head-long into a livener compulsory (no known penalties apparently) β splosh! Up The Arse!
Morning Holic,
Footage showed that the BFG was, in fact, being fouled as his hand went up at the ‘penalty’ incident. The non-award was indeed a correct decision. Couldn’t see us being given one both ways – not even with Wolfie in the crowd !
“the season of virgin berths” is also the season of Virgin trains. π
Not that I use them, but any excuse for a bit of nonsense, eh. π
Fine summary, barkeep. Good to see you in fine form yesterday – much like LJW…..on reflection, not that much like LJW actually. π
That’s vergin’ on the ridiculous, Trev π
π
“Sausage and Chips” –
Would have been a decent moniker for Podolski and Vela – if only he hadn’t left. π
An excellent game thanks to a glorious performance by our midfield triumverate, the ignoble moment of Cazorla’s dive aside. Hopefully, when we are confident enough to beat opponents on a regular basis, moments like that won’t recur.
The midfield and the team’s energy and pressing game won the game. I even managed to tolerate watching Gervinho.
However, the energy will be hard to sustain with a limited squad (not numbers but quality).
I hope we see the front six who finished the game playing more regularly together. Le Coq provides a fizz to the team and the technical ability of Arteta, LJW, Rosicksy and Cazorla in front of him could terrorise opponents.
I thought they’d banned touchline monitors a couple of seasons ago
There is one slap bang in front of us Nonny. Within seconds yesterday both benches and the fourth official knew it was a dive.
It is doubtful technology would be used in such circumstances though.
Good stuff Holic, looking forward to catching the final 25+ mins of the match I missed on Player when the full 2nd half is out π
A good win yesterday, and a deserved one!
We all agree that basically pressing high on the pitch won us the game.
For all the bashing Gervais gets in this bar, it was him and Chambo doing the hard work on the wings, defending higher on the pitch.
One of the basics in football as I remember is that you can go high on the pitch to attack as long as you are sure that you can instantly make a run and come back to defend.
You need speed on the wings to do that. It is one of the qualities of Gervais and Chambo pair. Speed and technique.
It is Barca’s way, it was suppose to be our way.
Imagine what it would look like, if you want to implement pressing tactics, and on the wings you have Ramsey and Podolski. Ok, you don’t need to imagine, just watch any previous Arsenal game this season.
Moving Wilshere as a ATM in the second half helped a lot, but I give credit to Gervais for this game. Yes, he is nervous in the final third and miss clear chances sometimes (but so does Podolski and Giroud), he hesitates to much (so does Ramsey and Jenks), does not have decent cross (so does Sagna and half of our team) etc.
But he always drags 2-3 opposition players on him, leaving space for the rest of our players. He is direct, always proactive and positive in a game play.
He played as a winger yesterday, doing all the hard work defending, and managed to drift in to quite decent positions to score. As a forward. He did not yesterday, but he will in the near future, no doubts for me on that one.
Bearing in mind the Christian nature of your post , H maybe Santi should have Lent against the fence?
Mer-cy
UTA!
Trev @ #9
Heh! Plus, brings back memories of Whizzer & Chips (Theo & Vela)
Notice how clam it is in here today. The D&G w*nkers are only happy when we’re in a media induced crisis.
I find all the hype surrounding Santi’s dive sickening. I remember Welbeck winning a penalty for manu earlier this season (against Wigan if I remember correctly) with a much more blatant dive, making it seem like the GK touched him when the contact was miles off. Hernandez missed the penalty I think, but there was no furore regarding Welbeck’s dive. Why?
Simply because the commentators did not make such a big deal out of it, and the media focused on other things instead. What about Valencia’s dive at Anfield? The media certainly shut up about it. Last season we were given 0 penalties at the Emirates, in fact before Fulham our last penalty was against Liverpool 2 seasons ago. Should I even mention how many bad refereeing decisions went against us 2 seasons ago? Bramble’s push on Arshavin, Arshavin’s goal wrongly ruled offside against Sunderland, that rollercoaster game against Liverpool, the list goes far beyond this.
Refs make poor decisions when it comes to penalties. I read in an Arsenal blog made by a certified referee (can’t remember the name) that refs made 70% correct decisions regarding penalties, this is just not good enough. If players are genuinely fouled in the box and doesn’t get a penalty, then why shouldn’t they try to exaggerate a contact when one has been made, if only to tell the ref that he was indeed fouled? Santi expected to get clipped yesterday, replays clearly show Reid aggressively swinging his legs, only to miss him by a hair. In fact we can’t even be 100% sure Santi did not get touched at all, and if I was expecting to be clipped and saw a defender swinging his leg at me, I would’ve been imbalanced and prepared to go down as well.
We all know penalty decisions in the PL are far from perfect. In fact some teams are consistently benefiting from these decisions. When somebody tugs a striker’s shirt in the box, some refs give pens, others not. We hear commentators say, “on another day, he could’ve got the penalty” — but surely this is not good enough? I’m sorry but I don’t feel remorse for what happened yesterday. If bad decisions are supposed to level out in the end, we are due a whole lot more dodgy penalties. And don’t blame our players for playing for the penalty, not unless they are diving like Bale or Suarez and playacting. Blame the refs for not makinng the correct call. And if they need help from technology, blame FA for being slow to implement them. I might be biased, I am an Arsenal fan, but I’m just truly sickened by the media’s witchhunt of Santi and Arsenal.
Sorry end of rant here!
Derrick,
Well said, Sir. Totally agree.
dkgooner thinks my comparison with Bale’s diving is “meaningless”, but I think the comparative reactions of all branches of the media are anything but.
I have said before that I am bewildered by the collective hostilities of the various media to a team that always tries to play football, and a club which tries to exist within it’s means.
If any of them ever happen upon this bar, maybe they could explain what it is about our club that they are so scared of, or why they hate us so much.
If the press really hated Arsenal, they would have been hammering the club far harder and for much longer about being happy to not win anything. Arsene Wenger would have been under far more pressure over his job for a start. Even now there hasn’t been a serious attempt to move him on by the press, yet other managers have been constantly undermined by newspapers and tv when they have hardly warmed their chair.
Press hatred of Arsenal is a fan invention.
Afternoon All,
First of all, I am indebted to ‘Holic for the ticket and his top-notch company throughout yesterday. His seat really does offer a first class view of the proceedings, even though the proximity to the away benches did have ‘Holic sweating on whether his temporary neighbour might get him banned! π
Great to see all the other ‘Holics both pre and post match. Thank you Bath for the Christmas drink, just the ticket Sir.
As for the game, not much to add to ‘Holic’s excellent report and what others have had to say. Good to see Jack back to something approaching his best, both Ox and Gervinho enjoying much-improved displays, and the Defence having a pretty scare-free afternoon. Rosicky got another cameo under his belt, and when he is back to full fitness I wouldn’t be surprised to see Santi pushed wide to accommodate him.
The willingness to win the ball back much higher up the pitch was evident throughout, and when the team works as hard as it did yesterday then they will get very few complaints from me.
So back to The Tollie and a much more relaxed atmosphere than we are all used to of late. After all the Holics had disappeared, I shared a couple of Pints with Tim Payton. I was surprised at how friendly he was, and even though we disagreed on many things, the chat was never less than cordial. I would love to be able to tell you what he had to say, but I’m afraid I was pretty banjaxed by that stage. Oh well!
Thanks again ‘Holic for the ticket, much appreciated.
What better way to beat the Sunday boredom than to book a flight to London? No, thought not. Hotel and flights booked for the Man City game in January!
I’m not sure it’s a media witchhunt. There were only six Premier League games played yesterday and nothing much interesting happened in terms of results or incidents. Even Torres scoring his first ever penalty was considered newsworthy.
So, the context was as follows:
1. Arsenal are a ‘club in crisis’ and desparate for a victory to ‘save’ our season.
2. At 0-0, let’s face it, Cazorla decided to dive with either no or barely any contact with Reid’s left foot and fell to floor grasping his anke in considerable pain.
3. So the narrative becomes ‘cheeky foreigner cheats… it’s part of their culture .. it’s considered good technique to deceive the ref into awarding a penalty’
Not sure about ‘media witchhunt’ but perhaps some of the comments on Sky this morning have a racist undertone. Let’s face it, even if ‘sly foreigners’ brought diving and simulation to our version of the Beautiful Game, little Mickey Owen, Stevie G, Ashley Young and Joey B*rton all embraced it to good effect.
Personally, I don’t like it and at my most pragmatic, I suggest diving is saved for big matches at crucial moments, not in the first half of a game against WBA, when the score is 0-0.
Heh tabs π
A note on squad depth: the Man City central defense in the game v ManU now consists of 100-year old Kolo Toure and some 19-year old I had never heard of before the game.
Nonny,
Press ‘hatred’ towards Arsenal may be an invention. But it is a fact that Arsenal stories sells and gets high view. And what sort of story sells more than a negative criticism of Arsenal? A team that not so long ago was considered PL’s best, now happy to pocket 4th place trophy?
An article saying Suarez or Santi dived makes for a more selling read than Manutd getting a decision in their favor again, nevermind their players diving. In the same way an article saying Arsenal won courtesy of a dive is far more interesting (and is a lazier write) than analysing the game or where we improved as a team. The British press would also more preferrably refer to Bale as their British Ronaldo than as a diving, playacting ape. When decisions go against Arsenal, the media would rather focus on how we stumble yet again than focus on the ref’s decisions.
So yes, media hatred of Arsenal is an invention. But the witch hunt of Santi and how the media enjoys portraying Arsenal as a club in crisis isn’t. It simply sells, I guess.
Nonny
Press hatred of Arsenal is long standing and (fairly) consistent. I don’t think it is as far reaching as it once was simply because the red tops aren’t the only choice for the average fan. ‘Lucky Arsenal’ became ‘Boring Arsenal’ and then ‘Violent/No Discipline Arsenal’ before now settling as ‘X years with no trophy Arsenal’
Ask Tony Adams how the press treated him.
The London papers waved the banner of Chelsea, Spurs and even West Ham…The Manchester papers – well you know the rest.
The Daily Mirror and The Sun without a doubt had a long standing campaign and when I was growing up no Arsenal supporters I knew would touch them.
With all that said – the Cazorla incident we can do without but they’ll have far more fun if we fail to make top 4. However we will be letting them down on that one.
unrelated, but for those of you who are forced to seek streams for matches…Bloodzeed is back at last (sopcast) – HD quality matches – hope he sticks around
Was great to meet the lot of you that I met yesterday and great to discuss the match with you as always, Holic.
I’d say it was great to experience that on my last match, but as luck would have it I’ve just secured myself a trip to Bradford. And unless something goes wrong with my flight, that will truly be my last match, hahah.
Everyone’s covered the match well enough. What a difference a week of rest can make, yeah? Reading reports that we’ve secured a pre-deal for Huntelaar, but also hearing that he won’t leave til summer. I’d say we need two players to come in this Jan to really sure up our squad and give ourselves the best shot we can at top four/a cup win.
It’s all gone off in the Manchester derby, but if you’re going to celebrate last minute goals near to opposition fans, you’re going to get stuff chucked at you.
Nasri shits himself, RvP takes advantage to win it.
Clichy gives the ball away, van Persie takes the free kick, it deflects off Nasri and in… (and Joe Hart commits the cardinal goal-keeping sin of leaving his corner of the goal)
To be fair to Hart, without the deflection he has that well covered
I don’t really give a flying fuck about which Manchester team wins the league, but City losing their unbeaten run is good. Anything bad that happens to them is good in my eyes. Well, at least as long as it does not affect us negatively at the same time of course π
Other commitments meant that I was unable to join the Tollie gang. I made it to the ground for about 2.30, walked in and was greeted by my Gooner buddy who had already secured a double helping of the pint and a pie chaser deal. Not a bad way to start the day.
I agree with you holic and many others re the game itself. It was a match we really dominated from start to finish. We looked secure at the back and played some great stuff in midfield. Arteta worked his socks off again. Great to see TR back in full flow. The game seems to go up a gear when he enters the fray. That said, the stand out player for me was Jack. He is a terrier of a player with wonderful ability. He has a little nasty streak that no doubt will be his downfall on the odd occasion. But that streak also helps make him the player he is. He was a constant threat throughout the whole game.
My one negative was that for all out quality we did just did not make their keeper work anywhere near enough for me. We missed guilt edged chances that one day may cost us. That is something I am sure can be worked on. A quick word for Poldi. How he managed to chip that shot over the bar from 4 yards was pure class. I have no idea how he managed to do that. What skill the man has.
The Santi dive was a blatant dive and regrettable. I hope he learns form it and I sincerely hope it is a one off.
I must say that I am not one who buys this media witch hunt stuff. Yes we have had bad reports, but with some of the PR that has come out of the club over the last few years we can hardly say we are totally blameless? Sometimes we feed the media junky in abundance. I have not seen a paper today but I would expect Santi to be criticised for his dive. As stated above there was very little yesterday to excite the headline makers so I would expect it to be quite prevalent. I would also expect it to die a death very quickly. From memory didnβt AW earlier this year to call all blatant dives to be punished with a ban???? I am not sure we help out cause when he comes out and says that there βwas contact.β Letβs all be very honest here, if that had happened to us then we would have all be up in arms about it.
Yesterday was a very important performance as much as it was a victory. The crowd where I sit were up for it form the start. The performance showed heart and spirit. I think the fans are far more likely to be supportive in those circumstances. Zico, you got your wish.
Onwards and upwards.
Keep the faith.
The invincibles record safe for another year.
City beaten for the first time this season and their unbeaten homr record comes to an end.
PLus they’re out of Europe before Christmas.
What a waste of money. π
Nonny, he does – but the keeper must never never ever leave his corner to duck in behind the wall. If the ball goes over the wall then hats off to the shooter, but if it goes in the other corner then it is always a goal-keeping error. If you look at the replay from behind the goal, Hart moves in behind the wall and doesn’t see the shot and this is the reason he reacts too late to get to the ball.
So glad we sold Clichy and Nasri…utter idiots
At least we don’t have Gael giving away matches like that any longer. Didn’t notice who scored the winning free kick…. π
City unbeatable? Don’t make me laugh
Hey holics. Holic was more then a wee bit curious how you would broach Santi’s dive. Think you got it right. We’ll pay for it though, no doubt π Although all our lads earned their pay, the standouts for me were Jack, AOC and yes, Gervinho π It would have been a glaring miss if you had not brought up our lack of goals in open play. The one valid criticism game commentators get right, is that we don’t put enough players in the box, to anticipate our crosses. Frustrating, but surely an easy fix π As always, delighted you and the holics had a jolly good time at the Tollie π
Abb. Gervinho was poor yesterday. You could not fault his effort and he got some stuff right. But there was virtually no end product and his air shot summed up his afternoon for me.
From the outside looking in, I can conclude that (much of) the British media sucks. It’s all about sensationalism and scandals, negatives get much more coverage then positives and they are institutionaly racist/xenophobic. I don’t think they just target Arsenal, I think that they are equally cuntish to all clubs, they’d rather throw dirt then offer praise. I will admit that foriegners are branded cheats faster then their homegrown counterparts.
Nasri is an idiot. RvP still has it, unfortunately. Sigh. Life goes on and all that…
Hi Steve, Lovely write up, esp. enjoyed your take on our feisty Jack ! π What a lad (beaming with pride). As for Gervinho, yes he needs to work on his finishing…as does Poldi and OG, sad to say π What I would ask all holics to remember, is that he just recently started playing again (after coming back from ankle injury) and has already shown improvement in his game π
I watched yesterdays game again this morning.
We were much better then we have been lately and played a good pressing game, although we do tend to surrender pocession way too cheaply, a lot of sloppy passing which can be improved upon. We created some nice chances but were pretty wasteful in front of goal, but at least we’re creating chances so I’m sure we’ll improve.
Much has been said about Gerviniho, but I covered that on the last drinks so I’ll leave it at that. I thought the Ox put in a highly improved shift, Woj was solid and you can see that his confidence boosts those in front of him and a clean sheet will be good for all of them.. There’s not much I can add about the midfield trio that hasn’t already been said and I thought that Giroud worked tirelessly for those around him.
The one thing that could of spoilt the game was the sub standard officiating, I can sympathise a bit with Clarke because he was right, the ref was truly awful, but he was not just bad for the visitors, he was just as bad for us too. A lot is going to be made of Santi’s oscar winning performance (and rightly so) but how did Brunt manage to stay on the field?
He was on a yellow when he took out AOC, if it’s a penalty, then it’s a booking and he’s got to go. Apart from that there were fouls going on all over the pitch but he was waving them away and some of the ones he did blow for he decided only to give a free kick like he was scared of taking his card out of his pocket for fear that a blackbird would stoop down and nick it, taking his hand off in the process. (not sure if that’s really the reason, but you catch my drift, right?) There was a period were I thought he was going to lose complete control of the game when Giroud squared up to that ugly Olson sister. The FA need to sort it out because that guy wasn’t fit to take charge of a PL game.
In the end we got the three points that our highly improved performance deserved. We didn’t let West Brom play, that’s not because they were bad, but because we did the basics right, long may it continue.
Onwards and upwards and all that.
just received this in my spam box
Dear Manager,
(If you are not the person who is in charge of this, please forward this to your CEO,Thanks)
This email is from China domain name registration center, which mainly deal with the domain name registration in China. We received an application from HongYuan Ltd on December 4, 2012. They want to register ” goonerholic ” as their internet keyword and China/Asia (CN/ASIA) domain names. But after checking it, we find this name conflicts with your company. In order to deal with this matter better, so we send you email and confirm whether this company is your distributor or business partner in China or not?
Best Regards
John
General Manager
Shanghai Office (Head Office)
3002, Nanhai Building, No. 854 Nandan Road,
Xuhui District, Shanghai 200070, China
Weird,has anyone received anything similiar?
I don’t open spam.
π
Bollocks, Sperz 1-0 up at Goodison.
Pelanty for West Ham… scores and it’s 1-1 at Upton Boleyn Park Ground Stadium Arena.
H2H,
I agree with most of your points. I rewatched the game last night while putting lights on the Christmas tree ( I was a bit distracted) but I thought our pressing up the pitch was excellent. I will also say I would love to see our number of interceptions from yesterday as compared to other games because we forced them into a ton of poor passes. I home on a different day our finishing is better. A couple of times we should have just passed it into the corner of the net instead of taking 2-3 touches and trying to blast it into the goal. Poldi in particular could have easily placed in the corner. And don’t get me started on Gerv. Yes ABB he was better and more lively yesterday but that does not equate to good.
3 points. 2 away games against Wigan and Reading that with the same application will produce points. Lets go get them.
Own goal by Stevie Me puts Stratford Ham FC 2-1 up.
NorCal, the number of interceptions would indeed be very interesting to see. I felt like we won a lot more balls in their half than we have in any game recently.
H2H. Spot on about the British press. They have no accountability, that is half the problem.
Abb. I think the problem with Gervinho is that he is just not good enough. I would love to be proved wrong but I just don’t see it.
The thing is, with Poldi’s miss you get the feeling that was an exception to the rule. With Gerv, it’s almost like him finishing is the exception, and missing the chance is the rule. I truly hope I’m wrong with the latter, though. With better decision making he could be a special player.
The spuds aren’t having a great evening.
Me on the other hand am making some whisky mustard whilst looking at their misery. Really puts me into the christmas spirit!
Oh the neighbours. π
Everton won it with two injury time goals, quite impressive really. As they showed against us at Goodison, they are a quality squad with great spirit. Of course we will still be looking down on them come the end of the season, though!
Oh, what a turnaround at Goodison, Piennaar makes it 1-1 in the 90th minute and Jelavic just made it 2-1 in the 92nd. That means that Everton go above us in the table, but Tottenham dropping points is good. Maybe a draw would have been better, but if any team had to win it I’d rather it’d have been Everton…
Heh, I see three others pointed out the same thing while I was typing π
Bahahahahaha that was marvelous. Over on the Arses, I showed up at 1-0 and said “everton really are useless” about a minute before Pienaar scores, scratch that “everton really are excellent” and then they get the winner “everton really are BRILLIANT”
Spuds really are a bunch of bottlers
An Arsenal win, a nice couple of hours at the pub after the game with a bunch of good mates, flights and hotel booked for my next trip over, and then Spuds go from 1-0 up to 2-1 down in injury time.
All in all a rather good weekend, I’d say!
Steve T,
Think you might have misunderstood my post yesterday and the fans that I was referring to. π
Lars @ 58
See you at City 8)
Splendid, zico!
So if wet spam hold on then they jump above us and we are 8th. However, the teams above us are:
Manure: we lost at the toilet
Man Shitty: tied at etiad
Chelsea: lost at HOME
Everton: tied at Goodison
Spuds: won at HOME
West Brom: won at HOMe
Wet Spam: won at Upton
Against those above us we are currently 3-2-2 first time thru.
3 of the games were at home. Only home loss was Chelski.
Now then we need to take care of business next in and week out but I don’t think that is as bad as some think. We need to improve. We are not firmly sitting at the top but only one team is and they have lost 3 games this year already. They just don’t have the ties that the rest of us do.
Spuds have bitten large on the text. Started to get right out of their pram. Had to remind one that they are and never will be considered rivals, only neighbours. After further biting I had to threaten him with a history lesson. Not had a reply to that one?????
Zico, I know the ones you mean. It was just that from where I was it was positive from the off. It was good to see considering recent events.
Diame just blew his west Hammy. Big blow for them.
L’pooh equalise against Wet Spam.
‘pooh get another.
Diami goes out and le poo have scored twice, coincidence?
Yes.
Heh. Probably. But he is their midfield general and presence.
But probably not why they dumped the lead.
You could say the same about Enrique (importance wise) NorCal, Spam got two when he went off too.
Fat Sam went from 7th in the PL to 11th in the space of three minutes.
Coincidently the same amount of time it takes him to eat 7 + 11 pies.
Heh. 2 points off fourth. What crisis?
4 points seperating 4th from 12th.
It’s gonna be an interesting festive period with the games coming like Aaron Lennon, thick and fast .*
*Arseblogism.
Fine post, Guv’.
I apologize in advance for this rant, but I have to letitgo.
So I caught the final 15 minutes of the Mancunian derby, and I have to say that it makes me angry. Some bits (like Royal Perdinand getting tagged by the Balearic, I mean, Citizen slingers – serves you right for celebrating away from home like a turd) made me laugh, but mostly it just made me mad.
How could we sell HIM to THEM? How? It is just absurd and the more I see, the more time that passes… the more absurd the decision becomes. The Dutch Bloke is personally responsible for at least 12 Manure points this season. (Please don’t bore me with the semantical argument that Manure might have won those games without him. I fully understand that point. My point is that, but for our idiotic decision to sell HIM to THEM, HE would not have been the source of those 12 points for THEM.)
I understand selling him. We had to. Indeed, once it became clear that he was a noxious weed, I advocated it. Just as I advocate ridding ourselves of FEO and anyone else who doesn’t want to play for us. But, my word, we shouldn’t have sold HIM to THEM. The “insiders” at the Tuesday Club have said that the Skunk told Wenger the equivalent of “right, look, I want to be sold, and I want to go to United.”
Why didn’t Wenger just tell him, “Listen, here, boy. You may well be sold. But it damn sure won’t be to United?”
I’d have rather we paid his wages and banned him from the club for a year than to sell HIM to THEM. I mean it’s certainly no less wasteful than paying Chamakh’s and Arshavin’s wages and never rotating them onto the pitch. Jebus.
Ok. Rant over.
Hey, wasn’t it funny to see that free kick loop into the net off Na$ri’s boot. I laughed and laughed and laughed; almost as much as I laughed when that coin pinged Perdinand’s brow (now THAT was a money shot π )
BMBD.
it’s just one win and whether we like it or not it came about by cheating. It’s nothing to get excited about, go on a run ? we all know the answer to that.
Sorry dave dave, but if you can get absolutly no joy out of a win and can’t even be the least bit optimistic then I don’t know why you bother mate.
Lonestar Gooner I share your frustrations as well. We had the option of deciding what to do with Voldemort. Selling him to Manu was definitely the worst option. Why would we pocket an extra 5-10 million to gift our direct rivals such a boost? It still baffles me till this day. Everytime he scores for the Redscums it somehow feels like an own goal from the Arsenal.
Argh.
Live and let go and all that…
Lonestar,
I get your rant. I have felt similar at times, I also think that sitting him on our bench for a year and paying wages maybe could have been a loss we could have absorbed except then he would have left for free at the end of this season, and that would have been a 25 million pound loss that we couldn’t just write off.
As to the why Them part? We they, in the end were the only ones willing to pay us what he was worth. And one of only 2 ( them and their neighbors) that he would have accepted to go to. In the end he and all other players are self serving twats that the clubs only rent. The day of legends left on a Boseman.
“If the press really hated Arsenal, they would have been hammering the club far harder and for much longer about being happy to not win anything. Arsene ”
Was gonna leave this but I cant.
You – Nonny- really have n’t got a fucking clue – well about the english football press at any rate. They (the english 4th estate) have castigated ‘our’ (I use that term loosely) club for as long as as I can remember, which is actually back to 70’s. We never have and never will get a fair press from those cunts. They have slaughtered us for anything and everything the club has ever been involved with, or deemed to be involved with. At any level. And they continue proudly to do so.
So, having experienced this for the best part of 40 years, I find it more than a little annoying, that someone like your good self, thrusts this back down my throat, on the basis – ‘they must be cunts they have n’t slagged Wenger off enough’, every time I come on here.
I dont doubt you’re an Arsenal supporter and (maybe) I’m sure your heart is in the right place. But to just keep coming on here, sprouting the same (dull and boring) agenda, when there’s plenty of other places you can go and do the same, is getting right up my nose.
Finished.
Ah Dave,Dave.
Cheerful as always. Did you think we would “go on a run” last year?
Watch the games, enjoy them if you can, if you can’t then maybe women’s beach volleyball is a better sport for you. It is Usually an enjoyable game no matter who wins!
Dave, Dave strikes me as the type to bemoan refereeing decisions in women’s beach volleyball.
π
Those woman volleyballers are pretty unsporting……….
I’ve never seen them swap shirts at the end of a game. π
Spot on Esso….English press hate us and have done since I was old enough to borrow my Dad’s daily paper…end of story
Nonny likes to stir it up methinks…he has an agenda of that there can be no doubt. When we finish 3rd or 4th he’ll still be annoyed cos we didn’t win the league.
Derrick and NorCal,
Thanks for joining me in me ruminations. As for our fellow “supporters,” might they be wind-up merchants in disguise, it’s best not to join them in their dark places.
Good one, James.
Drinks on the bar fellas.
BMBD
Well said Esso.
The ‘holic pound is on top top form!
And the weather’s so much better in the PyrΓ©nΓ©es than here today.
@ 83
Sounds familiar π
Oh so Podolski played after all?
http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3518794/first-team/arsenal-v-w.b.a.?tab=report
Oh, Sagna too?
Esso: bang on the money — your not the only one bored by Nonny
Good evening,all.
I choose to ignore Nonny.
I choose to ignore dave,dave.
Our boys worked their socks off yesterday and got the win their hardwork deserved.
Gervinho wasn’t the best but he definitely played better than he has done in a while and deserves to be encouraged by Arsenal supporters. Wilshere is ace,Ox played his best game so far this season,Santi dived,Giroud worked his socks off,Arteta was reliable banished a penalty demons,Verminator is coming back slowly,Per did handle the ball but he was fouled prior tothat and the ref rightly called the foul,Sczczeny is a boss in his box,Sagna is solid,Gibbs is coming in leaps and bounds,Arsenal looked improved and are climbing up the table,Cent is a happy Gooner.
He (Nonny) is quite entitled to his opinion. Just seems to me there’s plenty of other places said opinion would serve better for a coversation starter than here. Then again I’m not here that often, so I’ll just shut the fuck up.
Nonny Old Son,
If BTM thinks I am a 24 carat Pessimist,
Fuck knows what he thinks you are.!!
Cheers
The Sweeper.
@82
Heh, now those are some shirts I wouldn’t mind Santos trying to get at half time.
Esso, @78 and @92,
Don’t shut up, at all.
You are spot on, in my opinion, and illustrated a lot more detail than I went into. The trouble with the “press don’t like us” argument for Nonny, is that it doesn’t lay the blame for everything squarely enough at Arsene Wenger’s door.
Nonny, try Le Grove if all you want is for everyone to agree with you. Any opinion is welcome here, but folks here tend to have a mind of their own and won’t agree with you just because they are bored with your persistant and endless anti Wenger ranting.
Just my opinion. Sorry, Holic, if I am speaking out of turn.
Hey Trev, had a good day yesterday?
Evening Trev
Trust you are well and looking forward to Christmas,Not.!!
On the subject of the first penalty yesterday,apologies if it has been raised in previous drinks,but my only concern would be with Ref’s having long memories, when they find out they have been dudded,and as with Suarez,who admittedly is a serial offender,is that when Santi does have claims for a legitimate penalty that the ref doesn’t give it,which hopefully won’t come back to bite us.
Olliesque
Thanks?
Well in Norcal!
Blimey, I thought you’d leave me enough time….
Well done, Cent&NorCal!
A quick strike counts the same.
Thx cent.
A great cross from Cent sets up NorCal who finishes with aplomb!
@ #53 – Whatever happens, they ALWAYS Sperz it up.
@ #74 – Great idea! Go on a run. A very, very long one.
Esso – Top man. You have the straightest bat in here. UTA.
Right, that’s the D+G element dealt with for the day.
*Bows to the fans and applauds them*
E knows
Evening TS
I do think you are being a bit harsh on the D&G’s.
Perhaps i am one of those in your mind,but i defend my right to call it as i see it.
We all know everything is not rosy in the Arse garden this season,and any dreams of challenging for the Title would appear to be a distant memory already.
Being relentlessly upbeat is a commendable trait,but it cannot disguise the shortcomings and failures we are currently experiencing.
So if others voice those concerns,they deserve to be heard,not driven away with vitriol and scorn.
That’s what makes this such a good site,with various opinions,some negative,some positive,which we all debate with considerable good humor 99% of the time.
Long may it continue
Cheers
The Sweeper.
Cent, why don’t you space after a comma? π
And did you ever end up reading my Sp*rs/Montpellier matchday experience posts? (19/11/12 & 23/11/12 were the days they were posted on I think, towards the 200s in their respective bars.)
Hello Wind. I think it’s too late in the day for Cent to start reading those things π
Also, lovely assist for NorCal’s goal mate π
Evening Clive, lovely post.
I do not see you as a D+G person at all. I also agree that EVERYONE has a right to express their views.
I would like to think that I look at the club that we love with both eyes fully open. There is much to be concerned about right now, however, when I look around at our rivals I see even bigger disasters waiting to happen there.
We’re a l-o-n-g way from being able to challenge for a title but that’s been true for two about years now so I’ve reset my expectations and if we can cruise into 3rd or 4th spot this season and grab a piece of silverware then I’ll be quite content in terms of on-field performance.
I shall take your comments on-board and shall tweak my harshness button out of respect for your good self.
Cheers are returned with interest.
Hey Ollie, I wouldn’t foster something like that at this time onto Nonny or dave, dave, let alone Cent! π
Well said Clive my good sir, you take the good and the bad together and you get a reasonable forum for debate π
Hey Mates π Did I ever mention one of my favorite reads of all time is ‘Fahrenheit 451’ ? Interestingly enough, Ray Bradbury was later to claim it was not about censorship but people thinking more for them selves. Either interpretation works for me π
Clive,
I too have been quick to respond to a few of the less optimistic supporters here. I have had days where I have been critical of the coach, the board and the team but I have also tried to enjoy it when it is positive. The ones that I am quick to jump on are the ones who can find no pleasure in the club or the sport.
I shall work on my ” just ignore” mentality.
Cheers to all.
Nonny, try Le Grove if all you want is for everyone to agree with you. Any opinion is welcome here,
Plainly it isn’t welcome, as your post and several more on here today proves. You lot want everyone to agree wth YOU actually, as anyone who doesn’t is routinely told to fuck off, in so many words.
So I will.
One final thing though. With some Arsenal fans it is quite obvious that no matter how long they keep licking the windows, things never do get any clearer.
Enjoy your season.
Wind @110, your correction is noted, mate. I was in the NYSC camp when we played those two games so i didn’t watch them and couldn’t join in the drinks no thanks to lack of satelite TV at the camp and dodgy internet signal on my phone, respectively, that said, I will venture into the archives and try sharing your experience of those matchdays.
Now Nonny! Don’t you dare go, please. Mean that π I enjoy your unique sense of humor, oddly enough it cheers me up on my’dark’ days. Please reconsider.
TS
i KNOW your heart is in the right place re the Arse and i enjoy your good humor in your posts,
and as the President/Chairman/CEO/CFO/CIO of the Happy Train, your remit is to be Cheerful Charlie Chester whatever the circumstances.
Otherwise the Train would be fucking empty.!!
But as @ 118,Nonny now feels unwelcome on this site,and he isn’t the first to throw in the towel.
Not that i am blaming you,but sometimes we do get a bit precious and protective on here.
I am sure Nonny like everyone who follows the Arse,only wants what is best for the Club,but it comes across as moaning all the time.
We do need a balance to be kept,so that when we do storm the Ramparts and Citadels of the Opposition,and come home with the Silverware,we can rejoice in the conversion of the Nonny’s of this world.
Yours as ever
The Sweeper.
Don’t go Nonny….healthy debate is good.
I’d love to know which decade you found the English press to be pro-Arsenal overall. It could have been back in the 50’s I suppose.
I’d love to know how you think we can get more out of our current squad.
I’d love to know what ‘Wenger Out’ would leave us with – especially mid-season. Convince me it’s a good idea rather than a knee-jerk moan.
We’re not as good as we were, we’re not going to win the league this season, the last time we were genuinely capable was probably 2008. I’m not that happy about it but I’m convinced we’re in position to get much closer in the years ahead if we hold onto 7 or 8 key components. I’d like to know if you agree with any of that?
Would prefer not to see a feeding frenzy, please. Why does everything online have to be so personal?
This place should be one of respectful debate.
No problem with Nonny. Don’t agree with a word he says, but he doesn’t make it personal and he says what he thinks. Fair dos.
Anyway, wasn’t posting about that. Was posting to say that I hope all those who coated a point at Goodison as not good enough a couple of weeks back feel suitably daft today. Fucking horrible place to go right now, as the LWCs just discovered. A draw’s as good as it gets up there at the minute.
Makers of their own doom they may have been today, the LWCs got turned over indeed by the Blue Merseysiders.
It’s been hard to be a gooner lately, but as with all things in life we have our ups and we have our downs, our good times and our bad times. We all have our different opinions, hopes, solutions and general ideas about how we think our club should be run, but that’s all it is really, ideas and opinions, not a single one of us (as far as I know) has any real power in influencing anything.
There’s a lot posted on here I agree with, an equal amount that I don’t, but hey, that’s what places like this are for, right? As long as it’s done respectfully everyone should get their chance to have their say or, by the same application, their counter say.
Let’s not forget that in the end we all want the same thing and that is for OUR Arsenal to be the best.
Next round is on me.
Wind!!! Just finished reading your “Montpelier report” so basically you were having a shit day till Norcal and his lovely kids came along and took you out of your misery? I kid, I kid, what a long post that was! You generally gave a good account of your day, I must commend your ability to recollect and describe past events in details,it also goes to show you were really excited and enjoyed your day out at the home of football,couldn’t stop laughing at the way you described your ball to balls moment. I quite enjoyed a few of the posts that came after yours, especially Oxon’s summary of your post. It’s already past twelve in Nigeria so i’ve got to catch some sleep, I will seek out and read your “report” of the North London Derby tommorrow. Good night,mate.
Hear, hear ‘h – all for reasonably intelligent/respectful debate.
That’s sometimes made tricky though when the agenda driven (both the swivel-eyed, stuck-record, 1-D Arsene hating le grove types, and, at the other end – the one-eyed, talibanner-waving, cultishly needy, Arsenal started in 96ish – Arse-nazis) drown out decent debate by incessantly beating their one-note drum with their supposed absolute certainties (yeah, right) re our club.
In the end that lot could potentially make a difficult debate about something we all care about big-time, all the more – ermm – difficult to have – in a civilized stylee befitting of this fine bar and fine barkeep. IMHO!!!!!!
Truthfully though – i don’t reckon it would be allowed to get out of hand in here. The standard – i believe – was set some time ago.
URedS!
point taken ‘holic….
Will just ignore certain comments (despite the fact they never offer any solutions, supporting ideas or alternatives, just constant moaning and apparent dislike for everything about the club, with the exception of their own support). In truth I’m sure such viewpoints are mostly written to get a reaction.
Wind,i bet that announcer at the clinic pronounced your surname as ‘N\Gawk\ee’.
Just managed to catch up. What Clive said really. Can’t add much more to that, or to H2H above. It seems strange to me that there is a debate about a perceived unfair treatment from the press in recent days when our very own freedom of speech is called into question.
I am very much with H2H above. We all have different views and opinions, and long may that last. I for one enjoy immensely trawling through the drinks to see what others have to say. Long may it last.
Up the Gunners.
Tim, knows. Now i’m off to bed for good, goodnight, ‘Holics.
Some superb stuff yesterday. Frankly, the Baggies were never in it and it could/should have been a much higher margin win. Nice to see the squad slowly re-asssembling, having our goalkeeper and two first choice full backs available makes a big difference. As does the availability of two exceptional MF players in Jack and Thomas.
Despite not yet fielding our strongest team (I still expect that to happen in January), we’re the only club in England still in all four competitions and 5 points off third place at this stage of the season is good going and a gap we’ll bridge comfortably. AND we’ll get to see Thomas Eisfeld this week.
Two/three out and two in over the January window. Top four, one trophy. Great time to be a Gooner.
AL, I’m trying to place myself on your scale of shame. Swivel-eyed or Arse-nazi? Tough one! π
Apologies for the infrequent, vanilla contributions, gang. Life appears to be in conflict with Goonerholic at the moment.
Nonny,
You have used my quote as the reason for your “exit”, and gone on to say that you have been told “to f*ck off”.
Well, this is not my blog, and I wouldn’t tell anyone to f*ck off.
You have omitted to include the bit I said about any opinion being welcome. What gets wearing is the constant anti Wenger agenda and I, personally, don’t think the manager, whatever his faults, deserves it. The suggestion to try The Grove was a genuine one, as they seem to share the agenda while many here clearly don’t.
You would be surprised to know that some of us at The Tollie yesterday were having a long discussion about how bad some of the “Arsenal nazis” are on some other sites, where you simply cannot express any doubts about the current regime.
Constant sniping really serves noone though.
Purely, as ever, in my opinion.
Perhaps a hybrid….do we prefer ‘Arse-Eyed’ or ‘Swivel-Nazi’
Both sound charming….
Hey Ollie @96 – certainly did.
Clive @97,
I am well thanks, and glad to see you appear to be in fine fettle too. Not altogether sure what your Christmas reference was though ?
I imagine Swivel-Arsed could prove useful in certain social situations
A good defender is always swivel-arsed.
Heh BTM
Norcal, i can barely think of a better sobriquet for some our finest. One day, p’raps, it might pass into coaching parlance when manager’s etc. assassess a particular player/players: “and is he appropriately swivel-arsed for the position?”… who knows.
Cent @ 127, haha, glad you enjoyed reading it, my ability to recollect pales in comparison to the barman, I do it a day or two after relatively free of the influence, he does it within 12 hours on most occasions and let me not get started on the history posts π
@130, probably lol, a bit more ‘gok’ maybe π³ Blanked it from my memory out of annoyance π
pardon – managers assassassassess – of course
Alex Song ~ a good read
http://sportwitness.ning.com/forum/topics/alex-song-says-that-arsene-wenger-s-difficulties-hurt-him-and-he-
Thanks for the report ‘holic. I watched the first 70 minutes and have the last 20 recorded for viewing later tonight. Ever the optimist, I’m hoping we can build on this and get better as the weeks go along.
Eisfeld v. Bradford on the menu? Sounds tasty.
Tim@142: nice to read that Song says he wouldn’t be at Barca if it weren’t for AW, but not sure how I feel about there being no sign of him feeling he owed AW anything in return.
AL: I’m sure Wolfie’s could add a touch to your definition of swivel-arsed.
Oops.
-‘s
Having watched the highlights again on Player, I am even more a fan of Giroud’s abilities.
His positional play was superb, he always put himself in potentially goalscoring situations. Gervinho in fact had two relatively easy chances to assist Giroud. One when Cazorla put him through on the left, and the other when he decided to pull the trigger from just inside the box to draw a decent save. On the latter, I’ve only noticed that Giroud was to Gervinho’s right, unmarked, onside, and just needed a simple layoff.
Cazorla’s tumble for the penalty was made possible from Giroud’s pass to the left. There was even another occassion when Giroud played a brilliant one touch layoff to Gervinho, only for him to completely miss the kick. I didn’t appreciate at first how good the touch pass from Giroud was.
Just on a sidenote, I don’t remember Giroud scoring with Gervinho in the starting eleven? I sure hope they both work on their partnership. Something to continue working on I suppose.
Off to work now, have a good one all.
Curses, no BtM report, complete with references to Baggies, and pantaloons, and knickerbockers π
I’m not-so-active for a week or two and suddenly the regulars are having a little brawl. Come on you lot. For me, this season is kind of crap as of yet, but there are still a few good things. In the end, you remember the 7-5s and the 5-2s. Football isn’t just about seasons and trophys, it’s often about moments, and this team really is delivering moments. Hope the rest will come as well. In the meantime, no more mean time, please? A drink for everyone, barman, and one extra for Nonny, someone I don’t agree with too often but always makes me reevaluate my thinking! Like a good assistant coach should, eh?
Ned – I would be surprised/shocked if he didn’t pick that one up – and, ermm, run with it…
*Holding his bat aloft he removes his helmet (I know, I know) and acknowledges a light smattering of applauds from the early morning crowd as he ventures deep in to Alistair Cook type territory*
Oops, pardon – deep into Alastair Cook (I know, I know).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20592977
Schocking: Messi didn’t score in July! π
Holic. By BTM’s standards his post was pants.
Morning all.
This week, I shall be calling myself ‘Ollie & The Brass Monkeys’.
Good name for a band, don’t you think?
Tim. Interesting from Song. Not sure we will ever know the real reason for his departure.
Trev nails it for me @ #134.
BtM is an Arse national socialist, who knew? FYI, vanilla is one of my favourite flavours π
Clive @ #121, I agree. I am absolutely not responsible for prima donna behaviour and I am also fully capable of moaning with the very best of them. Constructive criticism (like yours) promotes very reasoned debate in my experience.
Wind @ #125, are you Yoda in disguise?
Good weeks to ALL ‘Holics: past, present and future. ‘Tis the season on good will is it not?
Baggies = wide pants?
PS: For all kinds of good reasons I really, really, really, really hope that we beat ‘Bratfud’ this week.
I don’t think I could stand an Arsenal COCup headline…
Steve T @ #154 – Stand-up young man, stand-up π
Oui Ollie, les pantalons trop gros
True Storey @ 157, in tune with the force, you are 8)
Teach me you will.
Lots of reports today saying Huntelaar in for 4 million in January. I must say that if there is any truth in it then that would be a great bit of business.
4-4-2 with Giroud Steve T? (Just encouraging your speculation.)
Top form this morning, TS! π
With Henry on the bench??????
Where is the width going to come from?
My reservation about Huntelaar is that I wonder if he only works a big fish in a small pond. At Schalke he is the main striker, but he hasn’t worked where he has not been, and there is also a lot of talk about him being a twat of the highest calibre. Then again, that could of course be total bollocks.
As easily as we climbed from 10th to 6th we can now go from 6th to 4th . I`m pretty confident we will play champions league football next year . But seeing RvP winning a title for United and seeing how we`ve become a team competing for 4th place (which is what Tottenham are) is a real pain . Yes Henri will score a couple of goals in the cup before we make an exit and yes Giroud and Poldi might score 30 goals together this season but christmas came early for this team . Back in 2004 . and never since
Cheers Mon.O. From those enormous pantalons, perhaps? π
Steve T, nice thinking although I would also like to see an Henry-mentored Akpom raring to go from le bench.
Red Is. – I don’t agree with everything you say but you put it very well. Pull-up a chair please and have a drink on Lars’ tab.
Huntelaar for Β£4m? Very tidy bit of business if true, but it will mean a return to the ego *in the dressing room* days of the club, + he’ll be cup-tied, making him the domestic competitions striker and Giroud the UCL striker, unless we revert to 4-4-2 and swap Podolski or Theo ( π ) in on a Tuesday or Wednesday night… 8)
The beautiful game
http://imageshack.us/a/img715/3903/tikitaka.gif
(With thanks to Blogs for that one)
@ #172 Gone has he. High enough are not his wages. Careful must he be to bang not his vagina when exiting.
At Yoda speak heh I say.
TS. I think Henry at the training ground is just full of positives for both young and the slightly older players.
I am not really fussed about egos. Am ego can be managed. For me, huntelaar at 4 million is an absolute bargain. His loathing of rvp may also just give him an added incentive to succeed with us?
Nothing more than speculation at the moment of course.
Cheers True Storey
While I appreciate that some of my recents were quite bleek , I am a gunner in blood and heart .
Steve T: “His loathing of rvp may also just give him an added incentive to succeed with us?”
Hadn’t thought about that, but that’s a very good point. And as I say, the talk about him being a twat may very well be bollocks. Or maybe it was true but he has since matured, he wouldn’t be the first footballer to have the penny drop once he approaches 30.
Like you though I still consider it to be nothing more than speculation. We’ve been linked with him every time he has been rumoured to be on the move so let’s just see what happens.
I will be gladly proven wrong on Huntelaars rumoured behaviour in dressing room, 4m for striker of his class is absolute bargain if true indeed. He is proper footballer, no doubt about it, but as I stated before here, I worry for the dressing room atmosphere should he really join us.
Good point about the fact that he does not go well along with RvP, so if he joins I want to see meaty clash of them two when we play Manure at home. Poldi/Sahin banter really did not materialize when we played poodlians so this one might be fun to watch.
Maybe SΓ©bastien Frey will be available? π
Late I am to the bar this morning.
Ba, your thoughts are? π
Catalan, would like to see him in Arsenal shirt, on the other hand he seems to be injury prone and I am not sure if we need another player like that, but when you look at van Pigsty going without injury for so long now (considering his previous years with us), it might aswell turn out like that.
He is a good striker, but also might be bit too costy for Arsenes liking.
For one wise old codger is there room in here , Yoda, so off you must fuck π
Heh! Knows Yoda.
Lars. I think there are many pro’s that are total twats and with egos the size of a house. I am not sure that one more will make too much of a difference?
Psed – since no-one was asking – it’s four from four at The Ems for me so far this season. Goals for 14, goals against 3.
From where I’m sitting the title’s ours to lose!!! Oh!
‘holic 183, haha!
Offended, I am. Fuck off, I shall but Holic pound, I shall not place. π
Watching the highlights, while it is fairly difficult to establish whether there’s any kind of contact for that first penalty, the fall itself doesn’t look like one from a diver from me.
Of course I am biased, but still π
heh Yoda, superb.
It’s actually funny, having seen the second penalty, which looks like more contact, AOC’s fall is more of a dive-looking one, heh.
Wasn’t Yoda that young winger AW tried to sign a few years back.
And Podolski was clearly in on the ‘holicpound π
Ollie. Sadly the first one would give Tom Daley a run for his money.
He certainly has the right height, Steve T
That he was…
Oh bugger. I’m at it now…
Heh@183!
nutmeg
chip
lunch-time! And off!!!!!!!
Nippy and intelligent if I remember rightly.
AL. You should be ashamed of that.
Oooooh, double self-assist for Lester there!
Greetings all,
Great result at the weekend. Nice to see what a little application, fresh legs and a positive attitude can do.
Steve, Lars
I’ve given my usual cold shoulder to most transfer rumours but when L’equipe go on record about Arsenal transfers, they tend to be pretty accurate if, for example, their previous reports on Giroud and Poldi are anything to go by.
So Huntellar looks like a real option and as you say Steve, at 4m – its a right bargain. When he was at Ajax – his goalscoring stats were off the wall scoring 36 goals in 45 appearances in 07/08. His subsequent moves proved to be less fruitful. At Real in 08/09 in 20 appearances he scored 8 goals. In Milan 09/10 in 30 appearances he scored 7 goals.
A point of note here though is that he was only given 1 season at each of these clubs, who then got rid of him – which to my mind is always premature when players move clubs, cultures, languages, family etc…. The stats at Real were for only half a season – as he only started 13 games that year and was cup tied in Europe having played for Ajax that season also.
His first season at Schalke 10/11 he scored a respectable 13 goals in 35 appearances in his first season. But the following season 11/12 in 48 appearances he scored 48 goals which by any standard is most impressive. This season in 20 appearances so far – he’s scored 10 goals and I don’t think we need to be reminded about how good Schalke are.
He’s right footed, but with a reasonable left peg too, is good in the air and technically good on the floor. He does lack pace – which is a concern (but then, so too did Robin!). Having just turned 29 – with a little patience – he could be a really good addition and at 4-5m, represents little risk. It comes as no surprise that Wenger is interested if the reports are true.
Hi, this is my first comment so i dont know whats rite to talk and wat not, but I am a arsenal fan for last 8 years, & I love the team, I watch the game far away from where u guys do , but I still like think it looks as beautiful from here as it does from there π
As per the game I agree with almost everyone that we played our hearts out to win this game, we were intercepting, diving, winning balls & playing well in the third but were not able to convert from open play (unlucky i would say), but all in all a good 3 points….
Jack was brilliant, arteta steady, & Ox n gervs lively… verminator shld talk more control of his defence , he looks burderened with captaincy at times, but i guess thats part n parcel of captaining the great Arsenal .
Good game…. lookin forward to next one..
cheers to all….
π
BLimey, was I dozing?
Shame on you, AL, utter shame.
No goal and no assist credited.
Joe, L’Equipe can write some bollocks too…
Hate to say this, but Sunday showed that Fergie is getting his money’s worth for his Β£24 million.
Sadly, Ned, I don’t think anybody could have much doubt about that, and that’s why the treachery of the Dutch Cunt is hard to bear.
Yoo and a Hoo, ‘holic.
It’s ok – from the Oxford dictionary.
verb (past and past participle leaned /liΛnd, lΙnt/ or chiefly British leant.
*waves*
A Much needed and well deserved three points against a well organised side – Weve now got a nice run of games in which we should be looking to take at least 12 points of the possible 15 on offer – If we do we will be well placed going into the transfer window and with a few good additions things may look a whole lot healthier !
*waves at mrswoo who very kindly kept me informed of the going-ons on Saturday!*
Ermmm, ummmmm, ermmm, burrrrrghhhh!
*Muffled protestations emanating from the sin-bin*.)
IndianGooner, welcome to the bar π
Nice to see you, to see you nice IndianGooner π
What can one say that live hasnt said so much better by Clive, regarding the ups and downs of being a Gooner for such a long time
Is there a way of not getting stressed by the Reds – answer Yes – if AW turns the hype of this squad that he churns out weekly into a team that wins 100% of its games – OK the stress will continue :), together with the outburst of aggression if(when) things go wrong!
Talking of aggression, I didn’t watch the 4th city derby yesterday, which I gather was very good until the last score(r) – but the after-taste of the coin throwing took me back to a visit to Sheffield for a cup match in the 70s, where, being in the upper tier that day, and not wearing any favours, my overcoat was cut open by a sharpened coin – from which set of supporters I have no idea – so no progress there
Is there a way of improving Premier League Football, to eliminate the aggression, greed and marketing/profit driven motives maybe, but clubs as Rich Man’s toys isnt the answer – neither is F**king Pl*tini League or whatever its called
Can our American pals say something about the ownership/funding and players drafting/salary structure of the American Football model – is it better than this mess we find ourselves in?
Gooner til the Cognac disappears
oops typo – should read ‘Clive hasn’t said’
If it’s all true…
The simple fact on Huntelaar is that the transfer fee would represent about a fifth of what RvP went for. Surely worth a go – does anywhere mention how long of a deal he is seeking.
For a player considered the second best striker in the Dutch team for quite a few years the price seems really low. Remarkably he was born in the same week in 1983 as van Persie.
Ollie,
Of course L’Equipe can also write alot of bollox – but the point I’m trying to make is that when you think about it a little and look at his stats, price, age and ability – there might well be more to this than the usual shite rumours.
We have to play back to back matches against Citeh and Chelsea in mid January – so Wenger will want a striker signed as soon as possible as we’re clearly short in that area.
Tim – thats the real comparison to make I feel. If we do sign Huntelaar I would be most interested in seeing how he compares with RVP – at a fifth of the cost..!
heh Bruce
Happy Monday to ya.
The whole RVPenis v Huntelaar so called vendetta has been lost in translation I feel, they don’t despise each other, they were both in competetion for one place in a starting XI, enemies- not really, rivals – yes. But as has been mentioned by numerous (including myself) above, the meedja like to embelish, molehill to mountain style-y.
This article from a respected Dutch magazine, with the views of Hollands most popular (I can’t stand him) analysists/pundits) Tries to dissect why Oranje were so bad at the WC.
http://www.elsevier.nl/web/Nieuws/Sport/342129/Redenen-voor-falen-Oranje-ruzie-arrogantie-en-egoisme.htm
It basically says, that no one trusted v Bommel, they called him “assistant trainer” (due to his father in law v Maarwijk)
RvP and Affelay had enormous egos and looked down on others who were at smaller clubs, Affelay was the most hated with RvP a close second.
Huntelaar and Fanny Fart were not happy because they weren’t in the starting XI and Robben was the only one who thought he could make a difference.
====
After the WC there was ofcourse an inquisition as to how it all went wrong, fingers were pointed in all directions, but when HUntelaar was blamed by one or two, others came out and said that that just wasn’t true;
http://www.voetbalprimeur.nl/nieuws/item/sneijder-huntelaar-geen-onruststoker
This was from Sneijder, saying that KJH was not trouble in the dressing room and could not believe what he was reading.
Personally I’ve been torn about KJH, there’s no doubting his record, he can score goals. If I had to classify him I’d put him in the mould of Ruud v Nistelhorse. I wouldn’t call him a skillful player and by no stretch of the imagination is he fast, but as a target man he is one of the best and he will always be a handful.
With all the pro’s and cons taken into consideration and if the price that is been quoted, 4-7mill, is right, then he would be an absolute steal. Let’s put it this way, adding him to the squad is not going to make us weaker is it?
Given the choice, I’d snap up Huntelaar only for the off chance of him scoring against united at the Ems to dent united’s title hopes, and then celebrating in Voldemort’s face. A 4m punt to make this golden moment possible is definitely worth it. Come on Le Boss, you owe us this much π
I know, it’s high time I forget that Dutch faker…
Thanks for the Dutch perspective, H2H.
Welcome to the bar Indian Gooner…………..
Hold up… Didn’t we already have an Indian Gooner?
I think it was Indie Ian Gooner…..chap called Ian from Rickmansworth who collected old records on Rough Trade and Factory.
Heh Tim.
Lars @169′
“he hasn’t worked where he has not been”. ?!? π
Brucie F – “nice to see you, to see you nice”. Yoda or Brucie.
Welcome IndianGooner, you’ll soon get the hang of it.
Just log on and give it a Goa. π
Tim, H2H,
I know an Indian chap who collects old records. He’s got,
George Michael – A different Korma
It’s my Chappati and I’ll Cry if I Want To
Johnny Nash – Tears in my Pilau
The Beatles – Paperback Raitha
Poppadominique by The Singing Naan
π
Well TS, have you ever worked where you have not been? π
π
It’s Trev time!
He may be spicing things up, but I think he’s just trying to curry favour with the new guy.
Talking about music Trev, I’m thinking about taking this one for a spin just to get into the feeling for tomorrows game:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DMlxrGIi8U
Everyone with me now: “Up in the hills above Bradford, outside the napalm factory…”
And oh, sorry, tried to think about a good pun as well, but no rice.
Daal be an Indian-food punfest, right?
I’m pretty surprised that the Ferdinand incident from yesterdays derby is getting so much coverage.
Isn’t it typical of Manchester City to just throw money at a problem?
Heh H2H
H2H @ 235,
Haha Very Good !
Not sure why anyones surprised at the shenanigans in the Dutch Camp they have the same problems everytime they get together π and have had for years will never fulfil there potential because of it !
That’s true, Chippy, Oranje have been their own worse enemy too many times.
You guys are pun masters, with Trev as the King π
Wind,
Today I think that makes Trev the Rajah. π
NorCal can be high adviser as well π
I wanna be a high adviser too. π
Are all the ‘holy-ics fans of Indian food? π
I masala, harsha, I do like good Indian cuisine.
Love it ! I give Lars a hard time at 226 and he blames TS.
Should I tell him the true story ……..
H2H @235. π
Toby – can’t open that link on the iPad – have to look later.
Hey NorCal, you well ? Rajah, over and out. π
I didn’t realise we were only 2 points behind 4th.
Now really is the time to get a good run together.
There I’ve jinxed it.
We’re only 2 points ahead of 12th.
Un-jinxed it. π
Harsha. I do like to splash on a bit of coriander chutney now and again. π
Excellent work, H2H, cheers ! π
Wait, was that supposed to be a pun? I’m not sure I can come up with one but maybe I should have said chuck on a bit of coriander chutney to provide some alliteration at the very least.
Of course we like Indian Food with players like;
Pat (Basmati) Rice
Bacary Saffron
Aloo Diaby
Vindalookas Podolski
Shame we never bought Tony Currie
each of whom can play tikka-tikka football when needed
You have to admit that Indian food is both Bould and Devine
Good evening, all.
If i talk about Indian sex movies now, does it mean i’ve turned this discussion into an Indian pornfest?
Trev@245: I did apparently misread who wrote that! Strange this is I got NorCal and someone else mixed up the other day too, am I suffering from some sort of reversed Andy Goram syndrome?
Indiaed, Cent. Indiaed.
Korai blimey that was bad. Sorry for that.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Thank u guys for the warm welcome π
Ignasi Miquel ???? y is not given a first team chance ahead of meade….
i know he is injured lately but earlier as well he was given an opportunity…. doesn’t he deserve more after what he has done for the reserves & under21???
what do u guys think??