Memories Shared As Arsenal Bounce Back
Apr 16th, 2014 by 'holic
“See that man on the wall. He is why you are named Patrick.” It is pre-match, and Dr C is showing his young son around the Arsenal for the first time. I feel privileged to be a part of that day. It’s an emotional one for all sorts of reasons. The Hillsborough 96 were commemorated before kick-off and whenever we host West Ham some of us are reminded of another who never came home from a football match. Patrick and his generation are the future and thankfully football is a much safer inheritance for them.
A short stroll around the North Bank terrace outside the ground provided a first view of the stone that we purchased for Gooner Terry. A huge thanks to all of you who contributed.
The game itself offered up the oldest of footballing clichés, a true game of two halves. Five changes were made to the side that booked a return to Wembley on Saturday, including a welcome return for Laurent Koscielny and a first start for Kim Kallstrom. The visitors certainly carried the greater threat in the opening half. We can thumb our noses at their direct approach, but Andy Carroll is a clear advantage when playing the Fat Sam way, and it took some determined defending to nullify his menace.
We weren’t without opportunities ourselves but they were few and far between. Olivier Giroud came closest to opening our account before the visitors snatched the lead as the half was drawing to a close. Nocerino cut in from the right flank and although Wojciech Szczesny managed to save from him the rebound was headed home by Jarvis. There remained enough time, however, for Lukas Podolski to level the scoreline having been set up by Santi Cazorla, back to somewhere near his best.
I’m not sure where the team found some semblance of form and confidence in the second-half, but find it they did, and treated us to the best forty five minutes of football at the Grove since the FA Cup quarter-final over a month ago. Ten minutes in we had the lead. Thomas Vermaelen lofted the ball into the box and Giroud killed the ball with his left foot before nutmegging the ‘keeper with his right. It was a sublime finish and lifted both team and crowd.
Podolski might have netted a second from a free-kick, but he was only going to be denied until the 78th minute. Substitute Aaron Ramsey headed Giroud’s cross into the path of the German and a left foot volley high into the net ended West Ham’s resistance. It was no more than he, and Arsenal, deserved.
So there was much to reflect on as I killed time in the bar at Paddington awaiting the last train home. Hopefully the second-half performance, allied to our progress to the FA Cup Final, will enable us to build a little momentum over the crucial closing stage of the season. If we can keep Per Mertesacker and Koscielny fit then that solves one of the issues of recent weeks. The improvement in Cazorla and Mikel Arteta was also evident and welcome. Biggest of all though may yet be the boost that Giroud must have got from his twentieth goal of the season.
An emotional night, indeed.
459 Responses to “Memories Shared As Arsenal Bounce Back”
Howdy ‘holic
Gooner Terry’s stone looks great
Really nice thought
2nd
Top 3
Why podolski doesn’t get more game time or a full 90’s more often is beyond me. He has a natural eye for goal, more so than Giroud, although Giroud’s finish was class.
I thought Kim looked good,
Ramsey looked great and hungry when he came on
Santi and more noticibly Arteta both looked significantly improved
Great win!
Nice summary, maestro. And good to see you last night.
That second half was a big step back to our old selves.
Good atmosphere in the ground too.
No recidivism now, please.
JFW,A! azs.
Podolski is so frustrating. He is a natural old fashioned inside left but we don’t play that position.
He is certainly not a wide left player, though he generally puts in a lovely cross when in the wide left position at the opposition bye-line. However he has no real pace (a 10 second burst is all he can do) and no dribbling skill of note. When he tracks back he can barely get up to join our breakaway attacks (if swift – and until last night that has been rare recently anyway) and when the ball is lost in an attack he cannot get back if the opposition break quickly. Though to be fair he does track back and contributes cover for his full back when he can.
However he is our best striker of the ball. If we played 4-42, he would be ideal on the left of our lead striker – but we don’t. When called upon to lead the line he was awful – no ball retention and too immobile. While Arsene continues with 4-2-3-1, he will remain an enigma.
Ramsey is back !
Ozil is back soon !
Bath
I feel as though he hasn’t been given enough support or belief from Wenger. Getting pulled off at the 70th minute mark 90% of the time or coming on in the 70th minute must be very frustrating and won’t fill him with confidence.He is a quality Germany international with over 100 caps and over 40 goals for his country. I just think he needs more game time and should be used more tactically.
You are right about his position out wide though. But as you said he has been slinging in a rather tasty ball from the wing lately.
Montreal @7
I heard Ozil will be back for FA cup final!!!
Can’t wait!
I’d stick him at the left corner of the D of the opposition penalty area, tell him to make sure he’s always onside and ask him to move within an 18 yard diameter circle. Our mobile ball players could pick him out and he could crash the ball into the net on a regular basis.
I don’t know whether to be more impressed by KK’s performance or by the fact that someone got this together so fast:
http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/kim-kallstroms-impressive-performance-for-arsenal-v-west-ham-individual-highlights/?
It was Rambo’s deft header assist for Poldi’s second goal that made my evening and sent me home a happy Gooner.
The first 40mins is best forgotten, being an encore of Saturday and had we not equalised before half time goodness knows what might have been.
Where the increased tempo came from,in the second half, from those who were out on their feet at Wembley, was surprising but Santi, Arteta and Sagna responded admirably to what ever was said in the dressing room at half time.
We scored 3 really good goals and it was great to have Kos back, who quashed any threat there might have been from Carroll.
With the likes of Ozil, Rambo and the Ox available for Sunday, our chances for snatching that 4th spot away from Everton look a bit brighter.
Seems I have cheered up!
As always COYRs
Lovely to see Billy McCullough at half, I remember seeing him in 1960 playing with his N Ireland colleague McGill at Highbury. Those were really dark days in my Gooner life.
Cheers holic was a pleasure to enjoy the match with your good self last night.
So, who’s up for writing the guest post, food blog style, about how to make the perfect lasagna?
Holic and holics
How fitting that Gooner Terry’s Stone coincided on a day we remembered and honored the 96 fans who were taken so tragically.
Holic, we thank you for having given us the chance to pay Terry the respect he so much deserved. His stone is beautiful, much like the man himself.
Nice one guv’.
Cheers for the photo of the stone, a touching and apt tribute,
Good to hear Dr C was in town, it’s been too long since he’s been here.
Speaking of long absentees and stones.
HELLLOOOOOO NURSIEEEEEEE. 😀
Good to see you back, we’ve been asking about you, hope all is well.
Resuming my discussion with Trev from the last bar…
So, I’ve re-read your original post and I apologise again for my b) and c) of last night. I don’t think I just made them up, I think they are probably a vague memory of the drinks following your post and probably shouldn’t be attributed to you, and certainly don’t appear in the piece. Sorry.
My a) – “Young players are a little more prone to injury as their bodies haven’t filled out and toughened up” – I think does appear in the article but doesn’t do it justice since it also suggests
d) Arsenal’s style relies on light, fast players with good close control of the ball, and that such players are more than usually prone to injuries.
You point out that the predicted times for players to recover don’t match very closely with the actual times and question whether this is due to poor performance of the medical staff or the communications staff.
Finally (although first in the piece), you provide a lot of detail about the processes which lead to injuries, particularly in younger/lighter/faster players which I found very interesting, and for which I thank you.
Is that a better summary?
abb- great to see you. Welcome back.
An already gloriously sunny and beautiful day here in Stockholm has just been made ten times better by finding a drink from abb! I do so hope all is as well as can be with you, nursie.
And it does warm the heart to see the Terry stone finally in place.
Re Poldi.
Bath knows, his summary is pretty much nailed on imho.
He’s not a bad player, in fact he could be a great one, just not in this team and definetly not in this system. He’s not a winger, never has been, never will be. We all know that Arsene likes to tinker with players positions and he has his own views about how and where he sees them fit, but with Poldi he has got it wrong, this really is the proverbial square peg in a round hole.
For those crying out for him to be played as the spearhead of the attack…..
Do you actually watch our games?
He’s had a few starts there and it didn’t work at all. again, not entirely his fault, it’s just a system that doesn’t cater to his strengths. I said it last night and Bath touched on it above, he’d be much better closer to the centre in a 4-4-2, feeding off proper wingers. He has the strength, tactical nous and the finishing ability to make that work. His second goal last night offers futher proof of this. he started the move from the middle, his natural instincts carried him into the box. The HFB was then the left “winger” his cross back into the centre found Ramsey who knew that Poldi was were any forward thinking striker would be and BAMMMM, goal.
Poldi could definetly work, but I believe it would require some change in our shape and tactics, if Wenger is willing to do that, I’m not so sure.
Fabulous to see you back abb 🙂
Cheers all ♥
But I’ve been here all the time … 😉
Grading your homework, erm, mean comments (ahem) !
Stellar I reports by guest holics 🙂
Wind, I’m going to tackle yours, now. Saved it for a rainy day 😉
Trev, been thinking of you. Feel bad I teased you a way back. Really hope you are feeling better!
Depressed Gooner, big hugs for you as well. xx
God bless Arsenal and our beloved Boss, Arsene xx
DK – cheers for posting the Super KK vid, a very enjoyable watch.
He really looks to be a solid holding midfielder, he’s tall and strong so adds those much-needed features to our midfield.
But as I see it those are not his only attributes. I have to say I really like his passing technique, it looks assured and quite high quality. He showed he has a nice range: he can pass it round the corner, play it with the outside of his boot, keep it short and simple, play through balls, curl it along the ground into a team mate’s path. Other than that he also looks quite unflappable and even has a decent shot on him. Added together, all that suggests he could be a better than ‘just good’ addition to our midfield.
Starting to feel a little man love for our Super KK.
abb,
Just great to see you back. Hope you are making a good recovery.
I don’t even remember you “teasing me” whenever, but I’m pretty sure I would have got my own back. 😉
Good to see Terry’s stone too. Cheers Holic.
Sorry to have missed Dr C though.
Right, time to see what Everton can do.
With Ramsey’s penetration we are starting to look threatening again 🙂
Reading Porco’s comments on KK left me feeling I was rather intruding where my presence was not entirely welcome. 😉
Pangloss – a much better attempt. 😉
Had to check on my phone but good to see GT’s stone!
😉
So, it seems you have been missing me ?
Great post Holic! Abb nice to see you here again! 🙂
Thanks Trev – Did I miss out anything significant?
Great pic of Gooner Terry’s stone. Wonderful to see and to take a moment to remember a good man.
Nice insights and memories from Delia and Bath. It was indeed lovely to see Billy McCullough ( Flint to those of a certain age) . We were defensively hopeless in his era. He liked a tackle and was good going forward in the more restrained way full- backs did in the 1960s but I think he would struggle to make the present squad.
Bath describes Podolski well particularly the point that is so frustrating. He is our best finisher but is not a lone or central striker because he can’t hold the ball up. Giroud also illustrated the very best and worst of him last night. Dennis himself would have been pleased to get his goal. Ut he owed us after the pathetic flick when through in the first half. I would also refer to a point N7 made recently that his absence has illustrated the value of Ozil to the team. I think he will tear Hull apart on a pitch like Wembley in the Cup Final and we miss the pace he brings to our passing. Don’t rule out Diaby from making an appearance soon either. While the poor fella is only a heartbeat away from an injury wouldn’t it be amazing if he figured positively in the final?!
Finally it was terrific to see Aaron Ramsey back. His dynamism is sorely missed. Whilst Rosicky and Kallstrom had decent games our whole attacking impetus changed for the better when came on.
As Zi said last night Tony Penis/ Pubis will be the toast of the bar come 10 o’clock when Palace frustrate Everton.! The pressure starts here Martinez
Agreed it was great to see Billy McCullough back last night and looking well.
For those who weren’t reading back then I did this piece on him a while back, http://goonerholic.com/2008/01/thank-you-billy-mccullough/
if podi does not fit our system, why buy him? did arsene know?
Big shout out to the long missing: Abb, Dr. C
Great to hear from or about both of you and I hope all is well in your parts of the world.
Great report ‘holic and thanks for the picture of the Gooner Terry stone.
A feel good atmosphere on the way back????
Great to have you back , ABB! I trust this means we will be treated to a steady diet of your presence?
BMBD
abc11633@37 A couple of explanations spring to mind:
a) Wenger thought that Poldi would fit the system, or
b) Wenger is an idiot.
Take your pick.
The whole point is just that – formation!
Arsene claims that modern football dictates using just one striker.
To hell with modern football then.
Ever since Kanu, AW is trying to implement a tall striker in the team. Adebayor, Bendtner, Chamakh, Giroud and now Sanogo. None of them was, or will be, a great striker. I had high hopes in Bendtner and I even thought he will reach the standards of Klose or Luca Toni but that will never happen. I was very fond of Kanu and now Giroud but that is not the solution, if, of course, we are aiming high.
We need a striker(s) who can produce at least 30 goals per season.
AW did tried with some, not so tall, strikers like Lupoli, Aliadiere, Caballero, Vela or Jeffers and that didnt worked.
I say get back to 4 -4 -2!…with two fast and not so tall men up front like Podolski and Walcott. With those two lads up front we are looking at 40 – 50 goals from the couple, at least.
Or bye new ones. Remember Wiltord. He was natural striker but forced to play on the right of the midfiled. (Of course in those days we had dynamites up front) but he scored close to 50 in 4 years.
Giroud should stay, of course, but let us bye at least one short fella to play the “shadow” striker or even two, and sometimes, depending of the opponents, we play 4 – 5 – 1 (with Giroud) and sometimes 4 – 4 – 2. (with two other strikers).
We are waaaaay too predictable up front, for years now.
When you’re younger, you are more willing to take a risk and I think that’s the problem with AW nowadays.
And more Gnabries in the future, less Sanogos. (Sanogo is good for the bench not for the pitch and Gnabry can play as a “shadow” striker). I am not saying that Yaya is bad, far from it, he can move, open up smart and so on but he will NEVER be great striker and we desperately need one…or two.
8ball –
FeelGood Inc. never went away:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pls_luhVdAw
We just let bastards steal our sunshine. Time to take it back. ABB brings out my sanguine side.
BMBD
abb, so glad to see you here! I hope you are wellest, and will be stopping by more often. you have been missed.
holic, lovely tribute to GT. pass a tissue please, something in my eye…
C’mon Scruz, you and I both know that is the beer… 😛
BMBD
Lonestar. T’riffic video. 🙂
Re: BMBD. Atletico is making real progress on that front. Knocked them out of the Champions League and four points up with five games in league play including one head to head confrontation to come. I would say it could be one for the ages but that makes it sound like an exception when I am looking for it to be the new normal. 🙂 🙂
Yippee!!! Abb is back.
Hope everything is good, birdie 🙂 We missed you here.
@41 SSY
Sums up a lot of my thoughts. We are too predictable and rigid if we only have a single striker!
That was why I was calling for Poldi to be played in the middle against the hammers (and not for every game as a single striker!). It would be good if we could mix it up a bit in terms of formation to keep the other teams guessing or to change tactics when it warrants.\
But thats that, am sure when we have Ozil, Theo, Jack etc. all back we will be a force to be reckoned with. Now if we could only do something about those seasonal recurring injuries….
Up The Arse!
Abb. Sorry for that anti-Barca diatribe. Nothing personal against you or any other Barca follower. I do have to say I admire Puyol as maybe the best defender of the last 10 years and it is sad to see him calling it quits.
ha! lonestar. beers are on me 🙂
Have to say I get a little irritated reading about all the things Poldi is not. What he is, is our most natural finisher when played in a role that suits his talents.
He is not a back-to-goal lone striker, a left winger, a link up man, an auxiliary left back or stand-in laundry lady.
Somehow or other, this reported misfit earned 100 caps for one of the most successful international teams in the world before even reaching his supposed peak years.
Surely our multi-layered scouting system must have had a look at what he could and couldn’t do before laying out around £12 million quid on him at a time when we weren’t supposed to have around £12 million quid.
There have been some great conversions of players during the Wenger years – Petit from almost retired centre back to midfielder, and Henry from under utilised Juventus winger to the best striker in the world, spring immediately to mind.
But it doesn’t always work.
Podolski, playing in a position that suits him, has some more than decent stats if memory serves. If he is a shit left back, don’t play him there. If a 4-4-2 suits him well and he scores regularly in that formation, play him in that formation. Especially if injuries, the dreaded fatigue and suspensions mean we cannot put out an effective 4-3-3.
I may have missed something, but I don’t remember a constantly bulging opposition net being a good reason for keeping the German out over recent weeks.
It seems to be generally accepted that players need a run in the side to gain match fitness and time to develop an understanding with the other players around them. Why is this guy seen as any different ?
This season has heard a constant cry of “we only have one goal scorer”.
Actually we don’t. We have another bloody good one who is never allowed to play as one.
Here’s a clue to why Poldi’s position is as it is.
Wenger on on playing two up front…
I am tempted but I have so many offensive players, who all want to go in the middle, and Lukas is the only one who is really a wide player. Rosicky is a central player, Cazorla is basically a central player, and when you don’t have Walcott it’s very difficult to do that.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20140415/boss-on-poldi-giroud-ozil-and-victory
“He’s a natural finisher, that’s always why he’s difficult to position on the pitch because you would want him in the box in front of goal and as well wide,” Wenger told Arsenal Player.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20140416/wenger-podolski-s-movement-was-better
Lovely to see you back among us, abb!
Trev, great points about Poldi. I think he does present a conundrum to Arsene. And source of the problem is the tactical formation. I think the theory goes, especially in European nights, that no team can really sustain creativity all throughout the season playing 4-4-2 anymore because they get dominated and overrun in the midfield. If you don’t have the ball you cannot create chances (that is the theory). We don’t play classical 4-3-3 anyway, we play a 4-2-3-1 formation where players like Santi, Ozil and Rambo are supposed to share the scoring burden. Another reason we cannot sustain 4-4-2 for any long period is of course the paucity of real physical-technical central midfield player.
Poldi, as you, H2H and others have astutely pointed out, is indeed a very classical inside left forward in a 4-4-2 formation. His early success with Cologne and Germany was as a central forward but recently his ‘limitations’ (perceived or real) have made him a second choice in the Germany line-up to more mobile, pacy and hard-working forwards like Reus. And his goals per games have also dried up somewhat in the national colors.
However, in PL, especially when we no longer have Theo to give us the menace and speed down the win to convert 4-2-3-1 to a genuine 4-3-3 in attack, and our midfield play becomes ponderous and lacks incisiveness, especially against teams that do not have great midfielders, 4-4-2 is a very viable option and Giroud and Poldi have a good enough understanding to make that work. This team is matured and experienced enough to be able to play in multiple formations.
To be a little critical to Poldi, I think he has not really tried to grow as a player. He is quite excellent in what he does, actually one of the best, but by now he should have added a few more dimensions to his game. Say a better hold-up play, or dribbles, or pick up a bit more pace to be really effective as a left winger. He has great talent but maybe Arsene sees that lack of progress as something frustrating.
For all who moan about Podolski’s workrate, have a look at Mata when he is not on the ball. How much did he cost over his last two transfers.
I don’t think Wenger has managed Podolski at all.
If we only have players that fit one system, then that’s on Wenger too.
PS nice to see you back, Abb.
For the avoidance of doubt, I’m with Trev @ #50 🙂
Interesting piece in the Times from Marcotti today. Sorry I can’t link to it as I don’t subscribe/ I did the old fashioned thing and bought the rag.
The FFP sanction may be a fine but that fine can take the form of a salary cap, e.g. a club £50m over the set amount of debt, currently £37m over 2 seasons to 2013 can be fined £1 for each £1 over the limit, i.e. £50m. They are aware that for the cash-rich owners this is like a parking ticket so it will be a mixture of a straight cash fine and a wage cap, e.g. £40m cash + exclusion of £10m worth of players, i.e. players earning up to £10m in that season. Part luxury tax and part wage cap is how he describes it. Punishments will be stiffer for clubs that fail to co-operate or attempt to deceive the auditors.
Liverpoo are not currently listed as they are not currently in a UEFA competition. However having lost £90m in the past two years, they are thought to be going to have even more of a problem than Chavski next season.
It’s going to be interesting watching the wriggling and squirming. And of course from the Mickeys, the whining.
Great to see you back abb. Hope you are in fine fettle, lass.
Nice pic of Gooner Terry’s stone, H. I didn’t know it was going to be ‘unveiled’ last night or I would have made the pilgrimage after the game.
Trev – check out the latest edition of the Tuesday Club – you are famous. 🙂
That sanction could bite hard. Especially linked to a transfer ban.
Shitteh players are the best paid in global sport according to the BBC:
“Research conducted by ESPN The Magazine and Sportingintelligence found City pay an average annual wage of £5.3m to its first-team players, which works out as £102,653 per week.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27046221
Zico – when are you next at THOF?
…and sounds like good news on the Jam Tarts, finally?
On another note, Fulham Players Call Season Ticket Holders To Thank Them For Renewing:
http://imgur.com/gallery/X0OwbYO
Comments are hilarious! 😀
Zico,
Cheers for the “heads up” – I hate that ohrase – and how do I find it. I’ve heard of it but never been there. 😉
Bath @55 re the Mickeys – 🙂
@6 Bath, fully agree with your opinion mate. Podolski is a bit of an enigma. Plus I agree with DrF that his progress is minimal. I believe AW bought him for all the qualities he has (nose for the goal, ability to score from distance and from free kicks, excellent crossing; add to this a wealth of experience playing for Germany and…there you go) but AW expected him to improve some other aspects of his game (i.e. one-on-one, link-up play, positioning, use of right foot and, yes, defending). I did not see much progress from Poldi so far but last night Wenger commended his positioning which is really positive. However, Poldi should do more. Modern football is about continuous development and it does not tolerate indifference when it comes to development. Of course, not everyone is able to perform such transformational change like Henry or Petit but I guess the key ingredient is EFFORT…demonstrated effort to enrich your game. My suspicion is that Poldi is a bit stubborn in that department and that may well be the reason for Wenger to ship him off in the summer. I would love to be wrong on this one, of course.
As far as I remember, Podolski was bought as a replacement just prior to the inevitable departure of van Persie who, if you recall could also play out wide or through the middle up front.
The only difference was that van Persie, being more skilful, was able to transform himself into a lone back-to-goal striker.
I don’t recall van Persie ever being called out for failing to cover the full backs.
I think Podolski has had a rough deal from the manager and, to be quite honest, too many fans.
The real issue with all this ” failing to cover the full backs” stuff, is that we don’t have any defensive midfielders who do it.
I don’t really understand when those duties became the responsibility of the forwards.
Trev.
Well said, sir, at sixty five and sixty six.
Baff,
I had planned to get to the West Brom game until Sky hijacked it and moved it to the Sunday.
Not sure if I will make it and thus I guess next season.
Toying with the idea of heading to the Tollie to watch the cup final with fellow soul mates. Some tough negotiations with Rox ahead though. 😉
And @ 60 – off the critical list but very much still in intensive care.
Trev, you need iTunes.
Any the wiser? 😉
And I meant to say @ 57, you are famous too Holic. 😉
bath, at 55, marcotti has an article on ffp here as well. same one?
http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/espnfcunited/id/13759?cc=5901
Great piece ‘holic, lovely stuff! Magnificent tribute to Gooner Terry from the inhabitants of this great institution, which surprises me not at all.
Great stuff from Dr C – my boy’s named Patrick as well!
And lastly and by no means leastly, fuckin’ excellent to see Abb, back on the case. Love you Darling!
Trev @66.
I agree, it’s like complaining tat Woj doesn’t score enough goals.
Welcome back yourself, Esso. Sorry to hear of the unpleasantness…
8ball – it’s only taken 3 years or so, but the “BMBD-hoodoo” appears to be having effect. Everything crossed here.
BMBD
Well
Bugger
Me
Who
Should
It
Be
But
Nurse
Abb
.
Howdy
.
🙂
@65 and @66 Trev, I think we can forgive lone strikers for not contributing to defence but the equation is changing my friend. Just look at Mandzukic in Bayern.
However, wide players must be able to make some contribution or else the fullbacks will get exposed and will not play as offensively as we would like them to play (Monreal against Wigan). I think it was here that Theo received a lot of stick for not being able to offer more in defence. However, I am sure Theo understands the need to improve and I think he did improve.
Suarez chases and disposes people, so does Rooney, even Navas. Poldi should do the same.
By the way
Thats my startin 11
Heh @ cba
I watched Podolski live when I went to Cologne – best player on the park by a distance and he scored a fantastic winning goal from his starting position on the left hand side of the park.
Never once did I think though that he was a wide player in that sense and certainly when we bought him I did not expect him to play as someone who would be expected to spend half his time doubling up to assist our defence.
The truth is that it is Wenger’s reluctance to flex from the way he sets up the team that is as much to blame as it is Podolski’s so called reluctance to learn.
And if we had more than one way of playing, we would’ve suffered fewer serious humpings this season.
In my not so humble opinion. 😉
Nice bit of pontification over sherbets prior to the match in the evening sunshine last night with the distinguished holics present. I’m loving this summer weather. I think I recollect seven new players needed to replace the departees we anticipate? And did Steve T really 1) say that he thinks we need a striker? And 2) get a round in??
Excellent report. I was feeling distinctly glum until we equalised. Nice to be able to respond so quickly to the Bubble Blowers’ taunts of “Are you Tottenham in disguise?” with a nice chorus of the same. Didn’t they look glum? Second half was very much better. With two of the missing five back on the field, we looked much better.
I was delighted when we signed Poldi. I really expected a lot. For me, the guys been a huge disappointment. I keep reading about the number of caps he has. Why then doesn’t this man of massive credentials help a team lacking in confidence and its five best players to elevate its game rather than hiding and shirking for most of the time he’s on the field? Lack of ball control, poor passing capability (nil with right foot – if he turns inside from the left the ball only ever goes backwards), poor ball retention, stupid tackles leading to free kicks in dangerous areas. If you haven’t got the skill set you wont achieve as much irrespective of formation. I don’t think that he merits comparison with RvC from a skills perspective. Having said all of that, no one would be more delighted than me if he rams these words back down my thumb?
West Brom is likely my next game. Some sea and sand beckons.
Chamakh starts for Palace – they must be down to the bare bones.
Let’s hope he does us a favour.
Interesting differences of opinions about Podolski.
I said something in the last drinks similar to Trev@66. It doesn’t make sense to me to have a player with certain strengths and then not play to them. Instead, he’s being asked to improve his weaknesses. As someone else said recently, I don’t remember Bobby Pires supporting his full-back much, but maybe that was because Gilberto Silva was patrolling the area in front of the back four. Similarly, in the pre-invincibles team, Petit and Vieira were doing the job.
So it shows that Wenger has set up teams in different ways, all according to the personnel at his disposal. Maybe the absence of a specialist DM the last couple of seasons (rather than a converted one, Arteta) makes the difference.
So second on my wish list for the summer is a (top, top) specialist DM. (First of course is a top, top striker.)
BtM – Enjoy the sea and sand….I hope it’s somewhere nice. Sorry not to have had more time for a pre-match natter yesterday. Hope to remedy that at West Brom.
Zico – if the lottery fails me, I think pre-match at the Tollie followed by live screening in the North Bank Lower is my plan for 17 May.
DK – your wish list is the same as mine – let’s hope it’s the same as Arsene’s.
No question, that’s exactly what we need and what we should invest big bucks for.
Yet the same can be said for the last 2 years (and 4 windows) frankly.
Bath – that’s buggered it – we’ll end up with 4 miniature midfielders.
Tricky, attacking midfielders, that is.
palace one up!
Come on f*ckimg Palace!!
I know I shouldn’t be saying this but here it comes:
Come on Palace, Pubis not included.
8 ball heh?
It’s hot at the top Roberto.
I got the City game on. Wes Brown amost took Aguero’s leg off and the ref did nothing.
is chamakh playing as a midfielder?
70% possession to Everton.
Palace no corners and only one attempt at goal.
That’s football.
H2H I saw that too disgusting
From the Guardian MBM:
“Yannick Bolasie powered to the byline on the right and hit a low cross into the six-yard box which was pushed out by Howard. But only to Chamakh, whose neat touch set up Puncheon. He still had a lot do, with a number of players and Howard between him ands the goal, but he curled a wonderful, controlled first-time effort with his left foot into the bottom-right corner. That’s a great finish.”
puncheon off the post? very nearly 2-0.
Everton has no answer to Bolasie…he just hit the post. That guy is strong and skilful. Chamakh assisted for the first goal. Largely unseen after that.
bg, i couldn’t tell puncheon or bolasie. thanks.
Bosnian@64: Stubborn probably is a good description. Or inflexible.
For instance I am always puzzled why Poldi never switches wings. Theo now does it regularly, Ox does it, Santi or TR7 when they are stuck in the wings they buzz around all over. Poldi has a great left foot so why doesn’t he join in the attacks on the right side — not always, but choose moments or certain types of positions — to demand the ball, cut inside and then curl one in. The much maligned Theo has started to get a lot of his goals like that from the left flank, drifting horizontally on the pitch and curling one with his right foot. Except for free-kicks and the odd headers I don’t recall Poldi scoring one from the right side of the pitch. We have a pretty senior and experienced team now, if Poldi chooses to drift right and demand the ball someone will ensure that his side is covered (most likely the left full back would stay back ). He would score many more
I would like to see Poldi switch positions, ask for the ball more, be more assertive and influence the game more.
dink.
SG, I am watching it on the internet live…broadcast from BeIN 4.
bg, i’m watching it too online, just couldn’t tell which player struck it…no sound on, listening to music 🙂
Dr F@99 Last sentence – good point – me too.
Nice one scruz.
@99 Dr F, excellent point! Inflexible is probably the more accurate term. I am ready to forgive him a lot for as long as he does what he did last night. But being flexible and more versatile is for his own good.
@102 SG, the commentators I listen to are actually not so bad…otherwise I would do the same as you.
hey holics, any of you guys got a any links for goodison or la Coupa del Ray ( ?)
Chris, here is the link I am using for Goodison: http://cdnx.livetv.sx/webplayer.php?t=ifr&c=205210&lang=en&eid=225572&lid=205210&ci=1&si=1
cheers dk, i think that’s what og was trying yesterday in the first half 🙂
bg, yeah, i’ve just found the commentators on american networks to suck donkey balls. so i generally don’t listen to them unless it’s after a win and i’m watching again, or if i have no choice (at a pub, etc.).
H2H and I did predict the demise of Everton as we flat track bully our way to the CL, last night. I hate Pubis’s football but boy has he organised that side well and they are playing lively stuff with two wingers. Sadly Chamakh and Jerome are the spearheads !
chris, if you’re in the us and have cable (neither of which i believe apply to you), nbc sports live extra is hosting the gig. you can sign in through your cable provider account and watch for free.
0-2 Palace
PALACE TWO UP!!
Great – they’d just be denied a penalty.
be = been
two!!!
Get in 2 nil
Tony Penis, if you keep this result tonight, I will never ever call you Penis again.
@h2h, hotter yet for roberto and co…
Job almost Dann.
pubis already wasting time. “walk it” he’s yelling on the throw-in.
4th is ours!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Get in there Palace!
Poldi is inflexible indeed. When he tries to dribble past a player he gets stuck as if he was rooted to the spot.
yeah…CP 2 nil, the gods are smiling on us again 🙂
lukaku resorting to diving to get the freekick.
crap.
Come on Palace! Feckin’ A! 2 – 0. Up the Arse!
1:2…Naismith.
Thanks for the link info Bos and Scruz. Come on Palace, find your inner Ian Wright !
Come on Palace do the effin pretenders to our CL berth.
Feckin’ Chelsea reject! Loan system is bullshit! No worries! 4th will be ours!
everton coming way to close. the next twenty minutes are going to be long.
3 – 1 yayayayyay
1:3 Jerome….yesssssssss!
Palace 3-1
Yes Yes Yes. Come on Palace 1-3
JEROME!!!
Jarome, what a goal….luv it
god, i hate tony pulis.
but COME ON PALACE!!
PALACE SCORE
But Palace got to be alert…Everton will throw everything at them now
Sunderland equalise against Citeh
Who is that Chamack fella playing for Palace? Looks decent
Chamakh off. Solid display.
Tony Pulis, I’ve always liked him 😉
Heh. Know your place Everton!
Top 4 is far from guaranteed and they haven’t even played the Manchester clubs.
wash your mouth out chris. 😉
porco, i hope they lose to united and beat city, barely. if this game ends as it is, it doesn’t really matter what they do, excepting i’d like to see them knock city down to 4th. all we have to do is win our final four league games…which, based on watching today’s, is NOT a guarantee.
and now everton get a second. poor palace defense.
Loooong ten minutes now. Come on Palace!
City Choking, Palace shaking.
Sunderland take the lead WTF!!
Scruz, in a minute I’ll be standing by with scrubbing brush and bucket of soap suds, because if Pubis pulls this off I am going to say some really rather nice things about him!
goodness, if results end as they stand it was a hell of a midweek for us flat track bullies.
wolfie’ll hose you down afterwards, porco. ooh, errr.
Wise to wait for the whistle P R !
Bugger. 6 minutes of injury time at Goodison.
The Lesbo gets one back 2-2
six minutes. wow.
Six minutes!
Bah.
BMBD
Actually Chris, I just remembered he defended Shawcross repeatedly.
NEVER forget.
Yeah you’re right Porco, He’s a cunt.
crazy scores at the Etihad and Goodison.
As Arseblog would say !
Ha HA Mirallis !
Long time reader… and used to be a contributor. Not so much these days.
As the son of BTM they are big shoes to fill in the literary stakes.
Lovely drinks and pre-chat with the might holic, steve T, Bill and bathgooner!
Thanks Steve T for the drinks !!
Nice to see bathgooners son again, and i believe I did say i think it may be 3-1 if we get an early goal?!? Didn’t quite work like that – but the result came anyway.
Nice read…. Thanks all for a nice evening
COME ON PALACE!
get the yellow speroni.
come on, whistle.
there it is. PALACE!
Feck Pulis and feck off you toffee nosed scousers . We are The Arsenal !
What the line will be at Le Grove:
“WENGER OUT ! PUBIS IN !”
END! we will play CL again.
wasnt expecting CP to win at everton today……the most i was hoping for was a draw. It is now in our own destiny, surley we cannot let this slip now…….finish 4th and win the FA cup would be a delight considering our injury list and the run we had last month,
Tony Penis I will keep my promise and will never call you Penis again. You know Mr. Penis, it was very uncivilized from me calling you Penis in the first place.
The Oil Sheikhs’ title hunt may have petered out with this result.
Told ya Everton would blow it and that was supposed to be their gimme.
It is indeed tough at the top and although we all may let out a little sigh when Arsene bangs on about mental toughness, tonight proves that without a winning mentality you won’t get anywhere.
Ofcourse, nothing was decided tonight, but at least it’s back in our own hands. With Citeh bottling it too let’s focus on third, we need to finish with a bang anyway, so why not!?
YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Lurky, stop calling him Penis!
Don’t be a stranger, typicalgooner.
Haha! COYG.
Was that Pulis having a bite of cereal as the final whistle went? WTF
This run to CL spot, it is harder than it seems, no? So many pretenders, so many predicted changing of guards…
We need to win at Hull by any means, and then I think the rest of the results will take care of themselves with us having two home games to follow and Everton playing ManU after we play Hull.
As much as I dislike Pulis — his defense of Shawcross remain unforgivable — his CP side is actually an improvement over his Stoke. They play a bit of football which his Stoke side absolutely refused to do.
If only we had taken all the points at Stoke, against Swans at home and at the Baggies, despite all those other big away losses we would have still been at the races.
Suck it up Everton! Although the Citeh game doesn’t look so difficult for them now. Teams down the bottom are tricky at this time of year. Monsieur Wenger please note!
As Trev said the other day. Won’t say I told you so. But I told you so.
Make no mistake, there’ll still be twists and turns, both in the title race and in the race for the CL. But it was a good week, no? We’re in a cup final, we came from behind to beat the Hammers, and with Everton dropping 3 points we’re back in sole possession of 4th place. That’s worth a pint, no?
Win the next one. COYG
Let’s not get carried away lads, Hull away on Sunday is far from being a banker…
Cheers palace
good souls
cheers for wrighty too
🙂
Welcome back typical. I did enjoy the pre-match chat immensely.
with ozil back next weekend I think we should be able to dismantle Hull
TTG@177: YaYa would be back in time for Everton’s city game, I think, and that makes a lot of difference.
But now that the equation for us has become straightforward so no excuses, no complacency and no drop in effort.
Hey ho, back to work…
Heh, frank @170, he said “petered.” He said it. 😛
BMBD.
Bosnian, I am with uncle Charlie, I don’t think it would be that easy. You might just be right and hope we dismantle them (and in the process secure a bit of psychological upper hand before the FA cup final) but they are technically not yet safe from relegation and will put up a big fight for points. We should play with confidence but also awareness about the opposition’s abilities, like the way we played against the lower teams in the first half of the season.
Uncle Charlie @ 179 – nobody here has suggested it was in the slightest.
Not too bad, considering: Top four finish, FA Cup winner and celebrating Saint Totteringham Day in April!
@ Dr F 176 (great post btw)
I have a hypothesis about why TP’s Stoke never tried to play proper football.
They were cunts. Fairly simple when you read between the lines, really.
Glad to see there are some cautionary drinks, despite the excellent turn of fortune thae last two days.
The Fat Lady is still off-stage warming up.
Don’t count yer chickens… we gotta put in a right proper shift this weekend! Game by game! Let’s do it!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great result for Palace it doeas help us and it’s up to us now again!
Barca keeper looks like he belongs in a Mexican cartel movie rather than a football pitch. Sorry if I offended anyone just a joke! 😉
Porco Rosso @ 188: 🙂
They actually still are. And have found an equally suitable manager.
Doc, I agree with you and Charlie. We need to be at our best but I think with Ox, Ramsey and Ozil available the quality should be firmly on our side. Of course, there must be no complacency. CL is at stake so I think they will switch on from the first minute. Also, I think the return of Ozil will have a huge psychological effect.
So given Palace’s result, how annoying is our 3-0 defeat up there ? 🙁
Saint Totteringham Day is getting closer and closer
Trev
It very annoying embarrassing too I think. I think Man U at home should have been won too!
i don’t know where the idea hull are going to be simples came from. just. win. each. game. five more. for themselves, the result of winning will take care of itself.
Oh Trev….I didn’t see that coming! Spot on, mate.
trying for the assist
Scruz
No game in the PL is simples this is the best league in the world come on. I can’t believe you can call it simples!
Villa at home in the first round is also a big pile of shit.
atg, no doubt. that was my point: every game counts, and every game is going to be difficult. get through them one game at a time, don’t take the opposition for granted, and win each game. the rest takes care of itself.
Yet another phantom goal 😉
Lonestar @184, that took plenty effort. So don’t be sneering at it, haha.
What Uncle Charlie said at 179. The one thing you can rely on with this team is its unreliability, so hold onto your skirts and prepare for a hell of a ride until May. 🙂
Bale just had a run of his life
Bale just made something unbelievable. 2:1 Real
Sorry Arthur!
All good BG all good fella 😉
the last minute draw at swansea, the manu loss and draw, and the villa game are 10 points that would have come in handy right now. i’d love to hear the sputtering coming from all those who know better than arsene had we accomplished that, especially given our woefulness against liverpoo, the sheiks, the bustoppers, and these here toffees.
That Ronaldo looks like doll don’t you agree?
Realistically speaking, only the Chavs can stop Liverpool now.
Realistically speaking, if we win our next three, we can play the reserves at Norwich.
But this is not a realistic world – this is football.
“There’s many a slip twixt cup and lip” as me old gran used to say (or would have I’d known me old gran).
Oh how we miss Theo…. !
Let’s go for 3rd! City look complacent today and they have a tough run in too!
scruz @ 210: Add to that the away loss at Stoke (they played shit, we player shittier), and the nervy 1-1 at WBA (well they were playing well at that time, but still) …
My only what ifs of this season are: Rambo fit, Theo fit. That is all.
IF I’d known me old gran
@ Dr F 192
It seems you’re quite right.
*touches ear mic, listens intently*
…and ooh, hang on. News just coming in…yep, that sounds fairly final to me ladies and gents…ok this just in: the investigation into every level of the club has concluded and…bear with me a moment…yes, I can confirm. They’re still cunts.
When it come to our injuries…I just don’t know what to say. When was the last time AW had a full squad fit?
come=comes
Three more wins out of our remaining four games should seal 4th for us. Would prefer 4/4 though, to be on the safe side.
We showed no mercy to sides the quality of which we shall meet in our next 4 matches. And our team is coming to a near-full strength. We have plenty experience in the top 4 scramble.
The odds favour us. Let’s produce the matching performances,!
Flamini back, Özil hopefully ready for 20 or so minutes, Ramsey should be able to start, the Ox will hopefully have rested his groin enough to contribute and we are in a position where we have the chance to put some real pressure on Everton who kick off their home game v ManU after we have played Hull.
If nothing else things look a hell of a lot brighter than they did just a few days ago. We ain’t dead and buried just yet.
Good evening in both senses of the phrase.
Well done Palace.
It’s back in our hands. Please let’s keep it that way.
Pity the Oilers couldn’t beat the Makkems. Now it looks like the even more unpalatable choice between the Mickeys and the Rentboys. Their game in hand keeps them in it and makes them difficult to catch but let’s hope they can raise their game for the Toffees.
My only “what if” is “… we’d signed Suarez.”
(yes, yes – I know I argued vehemently against buying the cheating little cnut at the time, but I’ve changed my mind.)
faustus @214, completely agreed on the what ifs. that we’re even talking about what ifs of this nature belies how freaking close this team is to being able to challenge for top honors, besides the FA Cup.
gracious, i hope arsene stays.
However much I stretch my imagination, I can’t see us getting better than 4th.
So I’ll have to settle for an FA Cup Final win, CL qualification games in August and a spending spree in the summer (could be less likely than 3rd place if previous form is anything to go by).
truly, dk, i couldn’t imagine palace getting a result here, nor sunderland against the sheiks. so it’s all to play for now…or, as has been said, “it’s up for grabs now” (at least the CL places and the FA Cup). 🙂
Agreed scruz – wasn’t counting chickens – just being a sunnysider 🙂
Crazy busy at work, so sorry if this overlaps with the stuff above I haven’t had a chance to read, but here is my two-and-sixes worth:
1) What a delight of a goal from Giroud. Real class. His whole displayed bristled with the class he showed early season. Really pt one on those people who doubted his quality or blamed him for our recent collapse. Very happy to look a mug on that one.
(No apologies from me on being passionate about The Arsenal, win or lose, so any I told you so merchants can go service their sisters instead of boring me with it.)
2) We showed balls. Again. Getting that goal back before half-time was crucial. What’s past is past, but credit to the team for stopping a disappointment becoming a true calamity.
3) Aaron Ramsey. Nuff said.
4) Giroud’s flickering of early season form (that firs half chance we c=will ignore) has refocussed my recriminations. Ivan Gazidis. Who the fuck is this guy and what does he do? This tart was out in Vietnam and Indonesia and wherever we beat pub teams getting his picture taken when he should have been signing strikers. Why the living fuck was a CEO front and centre of the promo work? No one wants to see that slap head fuck. His job is like a referee’s, so long as he does it well no one even notices him. The 17th biggest bank in Nigeria? Malt beverages? How about Higuain you walloper. This guy has hung us out to dry and even worse left Arsene to take the flack. We should run this fucker out of town pronto and not bother asking where his handbag is first.
5) Give Podolski the ball in the box. He scores. We all know that. No point going over old ground, but playing your best finisher, who has limited dribbling skills and doesn’t really fancy defending left midfield I uses I will never understand.
6) Everton. Mug team. Fuck em. Bunch of no mark cast-offs from the landed aristocracy and their usual collection of serfs.
7) Liverpool will be unbearable. Chavski is what they are and we know what they are. This is going to be sickening…
8) I’m writing a letter to Gazidis, he won’t get away with this. That fucker will pay. He will regret the day he crossed El Puno.
UTA
dk.
I count chickens in my backyard but not until the final whistle. Still think Everton might not be ready for prime time. Just hope we are.
Re: PUno @229. Your best ever drink. 🙂
i counted my chickens this morning, and we had lost one to a fucking raccoon. made for a weird night, being woken by chicken screams… 🙁
California chickens. The most dangerous kind. 😉
My local club done us a favour tonight!
Now you know why I love my favorite club
Long live the eagles!
😉
Sorry i meant local. not favourite. doing three things at once!
😆
Re: Lars “ain’t dead and buried just yet.”
Who woulda thought??
Epic rant El Puno @229. Go get him boy.
Re: Our injuries
Premier lague is a different league this league plays to the last second if it’s Hull, Sunderland or even relegated Wigan!
If you look at Barcelona they managed to keep their players healthy enough and most of them are small players with also smaller athletic phisique and more prone to injury, perhaps that’s why Messi got injured after playing so many seasons injury free. Fabregas went through to a smilar phase with us. However if they played in our league that is a different story all together. They would certainly suffer more than we.
Yes we have players that have the same issues hence Rambo, Walcott and Gibbo are out for pretty much most of the season but the only diffrence is we can’t keep the fit and healthy. I think the club needs to approach this one as it keeps on happening season after season.
Good thing we lost that Carling Cup final. Just look what happened to the winners.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27055963
Just saying like 🙂
I thought we were going to be able to handle the injury crisis until Theo went down. That is when I knew we were facing a major crisis.
ATG @238
I think you are entirely correct there. Plus referees let much more physical challenges go here which ups the violence level considerably. Iniesta and Xavi would be crocked half the time.
zico,
just finished listening to that Tuesday Club podcast.
Their recollections of my ‘piece’ were pretty condensed, but interesting that it had been noticed.
There was one almost thrown away comment that someone had referenced the article on the phone-in but was cut off. That seems to fit fairly well with the response to the article by an apparent insider in the drinks who was, to say the least, a bit defensive.
If, and it’s admittedly a fairly big ‘if’, there is a shut-this-up attitude to that piece going on, it is quite remarkable. The manager is calling for every single possibility regarding our injury situation to be explored, I write a theory on a blog, and it’s met with aggression and blackout on a phone-in.
Sad, more than anything. Again, IF it is the answer, what does it matter who comes up with it ?
I’m quite happy to go and have a chat about it ………
And if they went to Stoke that would like a Rugby match 🙂
Trev
And so you should!
That’s very disappointing re the insider Trev.
Oh no ATG. Under Sparky, Stoke are now the ‘new Barcelona’.
El Puno @229,
when you say you’re “crazy busy at work”, I presume that is somewhere within the diplomatic corps ? 😉
Bath
Ha Ha too right!
Now that the least offensive of the top 3 has dropped behind in the race, the choice between a shit sandwich and a turd smoothie remains. On balance I have decided that a Chavski win will be the less offensive, i.e. the shit sandwich.
I still think Liverppol will do em!
And now that the great manager Martinez who so comprehensively outthought Arsene Wenger has been outthought by Tony Pulis, there’s but one thing to say:
PULIS IN! 🙂
I can’t lie, I feel like I terribly let myself down for doubting Arsene in the 2 weeks after the 6-0. Serious moral hangover from that. Thank god he is the man he is and will be big enough to forgive me. I am lucky to have him.
This may amuse no on but me, but I’ve started my PI work on Gazidis. Wikipedia was no use, but google image threw up some interesting hits:
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fsky.pd.ak.o.brightcove.com%2F165012893%2F165012893_2031042897001_901868133-140-1355330829474.jpg%253FpubId%253D165012893&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww1.skysports.com%2Ffootball%2Fnews%2F11670%2F8329159%2Farsenal-chief-executive-ivan-gazidis-issues-apology-to-fans-after-bradford-defeat&h=270&w=480&tbnid=-wQWJyEGuJ91uM%3A&zoom=1&docid=FWzKiISdGrJAyM&ei=RgtPU93_EqWd7gbhvIDoDQ&tbm=isch&client=safari&ved=0CKYBEDMoPTA9&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=676&page=4&start=56&ndsp=23&biw=1351&bih=696
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FGMEgv.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reddit.com%2Fr%2FGunners%2Fcomments%2F15v4ym%2Fivan_gazidis_during_the_transfer_window%2F&h=306&w=400&tbnid=z9m85lMaY91C-M%3A&zoom=1&docid=zpaGhlKHj5aUAM&ei=3gtPU83AEaXy7Absv4GIDQ&tbm=isch&client=safari&ved=0CIwBEDMoLDAs&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=1031&page=3&start=35&ndsp=20&biw=1351&bih=696
Night all.
UTA
Oh yeah, and I guess I am late to this party, but what a giggle that Diame fella is. Really missed a trick there 😉
#InternetScoutsKnew
Bath, I take this personal. You prefer Chavski to win? Maureen, Terry and Ramirez? All the newborn fans that take success and spending for granted? Anti football to win? The Russian oligarch and his dirty money to win?
No hard feelings but I prefer Liverpool. At least their football is more pleasing to the eye.
Ah but you have forgotten the offensive Scouse supporters from before 1990. You may however have recently seen Thompson, Fowler, Hansen Owen and Lawrenson (less bad) on the box. Think of them smelling of stale piss and armpits leering about 5 European Cups, whining about their ‘great club’ and its entitlements and holding the hubcaps and radio from your car.
The Chavs are simply despicable knuckle dragging reprobates. Much easier to dismiss.
El Puno
I’m not too sure I’m undertanding where you’re coming from this?
undertanding = undestanding
Apolgies miss read your post a little trying to watch Agents of SHIELD at the same time. Nice PI work indeed 🙂
No work untill tuesday next week ….
If anyone has not seen the goals from teh Evertonian game there you are:
http://www.meczyki.pl/skroty/35631/everton_crystal_palace_fc_23.html
BTW it’s russian! 🙂
ATG. Thanks for the clip. Crystal Palace are playing for their lives! Maybe we should emulate??
If there was anything to emulate then perhaps YES we were shit on the day and tehy had a game of their lives but it’s football….
UN F…….. predictable…..
Baff @ 256, I almost spat my milk out over your description of the Micks.
You know.
Chel$ki it is, then.
BMBD
… as long as they get done in Europe. I shudder to think…
BMBD
Urghhhhhhhh Chelski!
Makes me sick sorry…..
Thanks Arthur 🙂
Chris
No no no….. John fuckin Terry??? Urghhhggggg
Lurky, I am with Bath, forget about the style of football etc. Chelski is a known enemy with known vectors in the footballing equation.
Liverpool has millions of secret ‘fans’ all over the world who are just hiding under the stone and a little ray of sunshine and they will come out in numbers. You will suddenly discover your girlfriend’s father had a man crush for Ian Rush and would now want you to switch over your allegiance. Otherwise no messing around, no sire.
Or you are walking back home from a night out with the boys wearing your favorite Arsenal scarf and suddenly a group of shaven headed hooligans would attack you, steal your scarf, spit at it while saying that scarf has no European pedigree.
But most importantly, as Bath said, we would never hear the end of it. I know a few here in Boston and back in India and HongKong — and they are just waiting to burst open in their smelly jubilation.
Fuck Liverpool.
Evening all.
Well, what a 24 hours that was. A delayed arrival at the Tollie as I had arranged to meet BTM. That is always expensive so the cash point it was. Pre match chat was thoughtful and interesting. Nice to catch up with some top Gooners.
Great report Holic. I think most saw the same game. Garbage for the first 40 mins. Much much better for the remainder of the match as we ran out deserved winners.
Then the news of the GT stone. A fitting tribute. Then an appearance from abb. What a lovely surprise. I do hope all is well your end Nursie??
And then, as if by magic, Everton decide to lose at home to Palace.
Hull at the weekend. Time to turn it on and give them a right hiding. Not just for the 3 points but also for a morale boosting win ahead of the cup final.
Bring it on.
DF
I disagree FUCK CHELSKI!
Just to support my argument!
Chelski have hooligans for fans!
Their manager callded ours a complete failure!
IS that not enough?
ATG @ 273: That doesn’t need saying. Well in my opinion Chelsea is so vile , and so famously vile, adding a PL to their name is not going to make any difference to us.
But Pool actually competes with us for the mindshare of prospective fans and for those who are naturally disinclined to fall for City’s or Chelsea’s ways. They are a known ‘traditional’ English club and if they win the title we will be repeatedly punched with the reminder that they could win the title without oil money etc. (yes, you and I know that it is not that simple, but that would be the prevailing narrative).
If Pool wins, we Arsenal supporters would really hear no end of it.
Also, many thanks to ‘Holic for sharing the photo of GoonerTerry’s stone. It was a privilege.
DF, fair comment
I disagree beacuse I have a cousin who thinks Chelski are the best thing what happened to EPL!
I know there is history but to be honest with you times change and the league show why we are where we are and why Pool are going for the kill!
Anyways this is peanuts ! NIghta all!
Can’t count on City to do anything right…
If Liverpool wins, the crowing by their scummy lot will put actual crows to shame, so let’s hope the Chavs rein them in.
Btw North Bank Ned, thanks for the Poldi stats in the last bar mate!
I’m a big Goldi Poldi fan, despite his apparent deficiencies. Hoping he helps fires us into a good position over the next month and a half
Hate it when the dreaded >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> comes almost immediately under my post, as happens regularly when you write from the underside of the planet. My pearls stamped into the mud, so to speak. Hence this comment for dkg repeated from last drinks…
Good luck with the editing, dkg, you’ll have your work cut out there. My pet hates are people who spell focused with two ‘s’s and who write ‘here here’ when they mean ‘hear hear’.
But it’s more pronunciation that bugs me. I’m from a generation which pronounced words like harass, communal, pergola and respite (among others) with the emphasis on the first syllable. Now practically everyone stresses the second syllable. The same people now pronounce the last ‘t’ in traits when, being an adopted French word, it always used to be pronounced ‘trays’. But you can’t say they’re wrong because language is a living thing, constantly changing. If it didn’t change we’d all be talking like Chaucer, whose English looks like a foreign language to us today.
Öskar
Back to Poldi. As Trev reminds us he was signed as a replacement for RvP, a left-footed striker who played on the right. So why, as Dr F reminds us, has Poldi never played on the right, where cutting in would put him in great position to strike at goal? It’s a mystery I’ve been hammering for ages. ‘Wrong-sided’ wingers have had huge success in recent years, Robben and Ribery being the rage at Bayern currently and our own Overmars and Pires a generation earlier.
Why Poldi never switches wings as suggested is another mystery, I have to assume he’s under orders. If so it’s another question mark against the boss to go with his minimal use of our best striker.
Öskar
Oskar @ 280: English is definitely the most most malleable, evolving, varied and wonderfully polymorph of all languages. The sheer number of words and phrases collected from all Celtic and Latin languages and then from the melting pot of all the colonies (including America), and the conflict of precision and ambiguity that such a variegated collection encourages make it the most mystifying of languages.
And then the creative spirit of people from ‘other’ (even though there is less of the cultural other in the mostly connected world but there is the linguistic ‘other’) who then attempt to sculpt different textual landscapes. Rushdie was once asked about the plethora of Bombay-fied words and phrases in his novels, and he gave the counter examples of Phillip Roth who generously sprinkles his wry prose with the obscurest of Yiddish words.
But more than the words, it is just the very different ways of approaching the language that these different writers bring in — each inheritors of unique cultural modalities — to English that continue to shape its evolution.
What Dr F said. 😉
Öskar
CoR@279: どういたしまして
One thing that amuses me, Dr F, relates to what is known as American English. You often hear people berate what the Yanks have done to our language with their drawling vowels and phoneric spellings. But academics will tell you that Americans actually speak an English dialect which is much closer to English as it was spoken in England before the Mayflower sailed, and it is us who moved the language away from them in the generations since.
Just another reason to be careful when criticising anything to do with the way language is written or spoken.
I used to be a pedant, but now I’m pissed I cannot be one.
Öskar
*phonetic
Oskar @ 281: “I have to assume he’s under orders. “. I would ask why you will make that assumption. 🙂
I don’t think Arsene gives his players such stringent directions about the part of the pitch they can play in. He is rather infamous for asking his players to find solutions on the pitch. When we are not playing well, the game is drifting Poldi by, the onus is on him to be proactive, demand the ball, move to right (everyone else in our team playing in the wings interchange), cut in etc. Even someone who is much maligned as lacking mobility like Giroud regularly move to left or right flanks and have a few good assists or pre-assists from both.
I think that lack of proactiveness, the desire to influence the game when it is passing him by, to offer himself more for the ball are some of the things that Arsene had hoped from Poldi to become better at.
I don’t think Poldi has really done justice to his talents, just compare him to the new breed of German forwards and their hunger, mobility and work rate.
Re: Oskar @280. There There. 🙂
Oskar @ 285: “I used to be a pedant, but now I’m pissed I cannot be one.” Well there are other fields to exercise your pedantic tendencies in, like Football. 🙂
Also you can switch your focus to the Francophone world, where stronger feelings about ‘correctness’ are still very much in vogue. My Parisian friends dismiss the French spoken by people in Montreal as ‘Hillbilly French’. 🙂
A more interesting aspect is how linguistic structures in turn influence the culture, and the modalities of discourses. A great example is the extraordinary difference in the post-war era Philosophical writings between the French speaking and the English speaking world and only very few being able to really inhabit both these worlds.
A Badiou or a Barthes is almost inconceivable in English.
Hate to admit it but Pool is probably my second favourite team. A long way second of course, but they had great teams in their ’70s heyday playing wonderful football. If Giroud and Walcott could ever emulate Toshack and Keegan we might yet achieve what they did.
I have no problem with them winning the title if we cannot. Certainly better than the alternatives.
Öskar
Modalities warning.
Any English philosopher adopting a stance as far left as Badiou would find it hard going, Dr F. We leave that to our writers.
But since I rarely read any philosophy I’m not qualified to argue with you. Didn’t Barthes play for Man U? 🙂
As for Poldi and instructions I agree he could use his initiative more. I was offering an explanation for him not doing so. But playing him on the right, or at least trying him there, would have to be AW’s decision.
Öskar
NBN@ 291: 🙂 . Twice. Only. You cannot fool the repetition police it seems. 🙂
Oskar @ 292: That was Barthez of Fabian who graced the ManU goal when we used to shake them around a bit (happy days). I was talking about of Roland Barthes…
Yes, agree with you that especially in that lean period it was very much worth a try to play Poldi on the right wing.
‘Night.
There can be many modalities, NBN, as many as there are of people to create them.
Mine have been honed in a career as a writer. No, nothing literary, just whatever clients would pay me for in the commercial world.
Öskar
Sleep well Dr F.
Öskar
Our constables remain ever vigilant, Dr F.
Fine words butter no parsnips, Otd. Take the money and run. It is probably a diminishing sum these days as it is.
Can’t let a discussion about philosophy slip by without this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur5fGSBsfq8
Not philosophical.
But existential. Well in, bt8b.
wow, what a 24 hour period indeed and what a week.
as they often say in cricket, its a funny game….
having ozil back with ramsey soon to add some direct penetration and additional ball holding skills and add some needed support to cazorla will bring much relief and quality back to the middle of the park.
the part of our game that is sorely being missed is our speed out wide and ability to get in behind defences. hopefully the OX will be back soon and I hope that arsene gives gnabry another go in the other front wide role.
For me, I would be playing the German hammer (poldi) down the middle in an old fashioned right on the last man forward facing striker, to just kick us home to 3rd or 4th spot and an FA cup win.
one point I read in a much earlier drink is about how world class forwards truly do bully the opposition backlines.
even though, I am not a fan of suarez diving theatrics and biting, he is a bully of backlines. he dominates the scoring zone for Liverpool and just creates general panic at the back. Poldi is not as dynamic obviously and not as fast as suarez, but he is a brute up front. he doesn’t get pushed off the ball with his strength and his left foot is truly a sledge hammer that rarely misses. agree with others earlier, under what conditions or playing style does your main goal scoring threat need to track back so much that he no longer is a goal scoring threat.
drogba was a good example of always in the go zone and the goal zone to cause damage and panic to your backline.
lots of good football to look forward to now…
Parsnip buttering is underestimated, NBN, few occupations are more relaxing. And unlike slaving over philosophical treatises you can always eat the by-product.
I think I can say, without undue modesty, that I used to be conceited but now I’m perfect.
Öskar
Having Özilla back may well result in more chances created, aussie, but as I have repeatedly said creating chances has never been a problem for us. It’s converting a higher percentage of those chances where the problem lies. We had 27 shots at goal against Wigan, but only one goal. If Özil creates another dozen, so what if none end up as goals?
If he could actually score a few more himself he might yet prove a decent signing for us.
Öskar
Oskar
From watching our midfield since Ozil has been out, with the exception of the second half on Monday night, you can surely see what he brings?
It’s not a coincidence that our worst sequence of performances this season began after Munich away.
Creating chances has never been a problem…
I must have been watching a different team these last god knows how many weeks….
Everyone has been poor during the period, N7. Özil was very good early in the season but faded badly through mid-season and was downright poor in the games before he was injured.
He has it in him to be a great player but I doubt his commitment to being more than a flat track bully. He sure looked like he’d given up on several occasions.
For me he always was a luxury player we didn’t really need, and the problem remains scoring goals when we simply have to. I believe he could be better at that than he’s shown to date, if he got himself forward more often. But simply creating ever more chances to be wasted isn’t going to get us anywhere.
Öskar
Really, zico? 27 shots at goal against Wigan for just one goal.
I was referring to the past several seasons, not just the current one. Poor shooting has been our major bugbear since Henry left, bar the one RvP season.
Öskar
@Oskar
Ozil, even a not at top form Ozil, makes people around him better. He prompts them with his passing, he makes sure we keep possession and, most of all, he drives us forward.
Watch what happens to the midfield within a couple of games of his return.
off topic- Bale again proving that he is fantastic player and was in the wrong team, that goal was fabulous and in a final shows how much the guy has improved, he has outperformed neymar completely the whole season.
The DNA boy booed off yet again and substituted within 60 min, hahhaha serves you right, moron and no we wont take you back.
Palace helping us, but hull this weekend wont be easy but then everton play united so i see a draw in both games ours and theirs.
City gifting the league to pool i so hate pool but will it be chelshit in the end? if they beat pool at anfield its their title to win then, also pool go to selhurst park, who knows what may happen there.
Lastly can we dream of a 3rd place? i know lets secure 4th but we can dream right.
Re that article 8ball linked to @237 above.
What I find truly shocking is that a BBC staff writer has written an entire article about Brimingham City without mentioning the team they beat at Wemberlee (other than in the side bar) or the number of years that team has gone without winning a trophy. I notice that said BBC staff writer works for BBC News rather than the Sport department, but it’s hardly an excuse.
COYG
[This drink brought to you for Uply’s benefit. I’m back on form :-)]
N7 Oskar etc…
It’s a difficult job but somebody’s gotta do it 😉
Top four all the way from here now hopefully!
Need to get over the finish line on 17 May, then start the real debating!
😉
Morning Holics.
Spot on Trev @ #50 re: Poldi. I had a similar conversation with several in The Tollie after the WHUFC match. For all his perceived lack of defensive cover down the left, I think Arsene has failed him too. Whatever the truth, we certainly are not getting the best out of what most would agree is our number one (or at least number two) finisher in the team. He’s also a relatively fresh pair of legs. Play to his strengths, Arsene. Pretty please.
Dr.C, wherever you are, sorry we couldn’t quite get the timings right on Tuesday. We gave it a good go though. Brilliant that ‘Paddy’ has now been introduced properly to The Arse.
UTA!
@282: NBN, 日本語じょうずですね!
It has been a while as they say, CoR.
Looking at the run-in for the top four, Vinay, it looks like Chelski and ‘Pool could end up with the same number of points, so it would all come down to goal difference, which would tip it to the Scousers. Chelski’s visit to Anfield will be critical to the outcome, but I see it being a draw.
I do not know what to wish and pray for, i hate chelshit and mou, i despise pool and their whole bunch, who to choose between devil or the dead sea!!!! Why did you not win the league dear Arsenal??????
and lo
like gun totin bunker plonkers
the stockpilin’ starts
.
ireland dry
all day tomorrow
.
enough swally bought
to pickle a hippo
today
.
best be on the safe side
.
*buys hippo*
*joins stampede*
cba –
I hope
once the hippo’s pickled
you’ll have enough left over
to avoid the
effects of dry ireland
good point
well made
pan G
.
*exchanges big hippo*
*rejoins stampede*
*hippo lite*
Vinay – Allow to answer that one for you. Anyone but Pool! Trust me!
All hell will break loose if they do it!
*gains ground*
.
“Full fat hippo totin’ eejits! ”
.
*owes pan G a pint*
Jeez cba
.
Are you sure
There’s enough
for the hippo
and me?
Back drinking……
Abb…fantastic to see you in the drinks, your good nature shining through as per normal. Hopefully we will see you more regularly now.
Your well being is in our thoughts & prayers.
Esso…great tale of the Wemberlee visit en famille (my 2 “boys” share both your names 🙂 ). My first Arsenal trip to Wembley many many moons ago was against “dirty” Leeds of the Revie era. There was a fair bit of “fun” with their supporters outside the Green Man.
Glad also to see that Flint McCullough still going strong. What he lacked in skill he made up in the dark arts, especially against the swamp dwellers down the road. Things were so bad in those days, that at times him and Ted Magill were the only 2 international players in the team ( and they were Northern Irish 😉 ).
Wind..good to see your student priorities are sorted properly – football and beer first 😉
Great result from Everton last night, I think better of Tony Pubis now, but he is still a Cnut…..1 notch down from mega status.
Pangloss, your fortitude in monitoring the standards at the bbc is above the call of duty. However, any organisation that has McNulty as it’s chief football writer, Green as it chief radio commentator and the SaS (Shearer & Savage) as it’s main pundits on MOTD, really shows you the level they are now operating at 🙂
Finally ( thank God you all say), I tip my hat to all the regulars on here – too many to single out – whose knowledge, humour, passion for the club make this the best gooner blog in the blogosphere ( top of the tree courtesy of the maestro himself ).
cba
the hippo you mention
drinks pints of heavy
I assume
If changing your swine
watch out for the bull
they charge too much
down at the old bull & bush
unless it’s a large Black Bush
Cheers
.
pan G
thats between
thee an he
.
About to watch the recording of Everton 2 Crystal Palace 3. How fun it is to know the result ahead of time. 🙂
Seeing as AW has already tried the ants and hornets, and in light of all the criticism about his not having a Plan B, I wonder if he will try the hippos next. Mobility could be an issue but nothing he can’t sort I’m sure.
I believe it was Dinah Washington, in years gone by, who sang “What A Diff’rence a Day Makes”, she wasn’t wrong, was she? 24 little hours (well closer to 26 but let’s not nitpick shall we) after we kicked off to Fat Sam’s Wet Spam (speak eaaasssy) with our season apparently in tatters, we are now, once again, masters of our own destiny.
Lady Luck has apparently tired of pissing all over our chips and decided to shine some good vibes on us. Our wounded are slowly but surely emerging from the depths of the treatment room and a resemblence of form is also returning to those that had lost it.
Let us not look this proverbial gift horse in the mouth, but grab this rare and welcome opportunity with both hands. It’s all up to us now.
Arsenal Bloody Arsenal!!
El Puno @227.
I like the cut of your gib, young fisty, my boy. Great rant. 🙂
H2H, 100% correct with the Dinah Washington. Classic.
Sunday will I think be D for destiny day.
A good result at Hull will give us a big lift in both competitions.
If the unthinkable happens we could be back in jitter land with the bugs though I like to think that the mental strength shown in the penalty shootout and the determination shown at the end of last season will see us through once again.
Nice piece here on FA cup final ticket availability through the 20th century.
http://thearsenalhistory.com/?p=8275
I haven’t read it yet Bath, but just clicking onto that link brought memories flooding back when I saw the old cup final vouchers that you had to cut out of the match day programmes.
I remember pasting the vouchers onto the special card you got (also in a programme) I also remember queing up the hill on the old Clockend to get my ticket for the 79 final, also remember doing it a year later for the Wet Spam final, which, again if memory serves was only a few days before the final due to the marathon semi final saga against the bin dippers. Strangly enough, I have no recollection of getting the ticket for the 78 final, nor for the LC ticket in 87.
The great thing about getting tickets via that system was that I always got a ticket in the singing area, always upper tier behind the goal, good stuff.
Heh H2H,
I was in those queues too clutching my full sheet of coupons. So far from the turnstiles it seemed impossible there would be any tickets left.
Uply, – good stuff @323.
H2H/Trev,
I remember the coupons and the queues and the excitement/terror when that envelope dropped on the mat-like exam results!
I wanted to comment on a couple of back drinks.
Firstly the title. Liverpool are by no means a perfect choice for the winners-on this site only we are! But their manager isn’t an arrogant prick, they play MUCH better football than Chelsea and they have played without fear this year. So I have to go with the Scousers.
Secondly after the events of last night people seem to have warmed to Wenger after a severe spell of frostiness after Saturday. I don’t see how Everton losing makes him a better manager. I very reluctantly have concluded now is his time although I completely respect the views of those who want him to stay. But I cant see how you can change your mind after Palace’s win! That was something I thought might happen as Palace are no pushovers now. But lets not credit Wenger with the glory.
The ideal scenario is that we win our last five matches of the season and Arsene bows out on a richly deserved high note. In reality if that does happen I am sure he will stay. I’d love to see Vieira recruited as his no.2 with Bouldy staying as Head Coach for two years so that Paddy can step into his shoes when he finishes the next contract. He could then step up to the Board and is such a principled and decent man that he would allow Vieira a free hand. We then have a real Arsenal core to the coaching staff and Arsene can pass on his immense wisdom to Paddy with Bouldy working with them. That might be an elegant solution for the Board –and the fans.
0-1 down in the Youth Cup
Aye – losing 3-1 on agg. right now. Note – away goals don’t count at any stage.
It’s not looking good.
Here’s a stream for the youth cup game:
http://www.hdfoots.com/chelseatv-live-stream.html
Hey all 🙂
It’s good to see abb & CoR back in the drinks, its been far too long.
Sorry Holic et all regulars present on Tuesday for not making the Tollie pre or post game, but I couldn’t pass up the chance to meet Dr C & his great kid Patrick, so after I emerged from Arsenal Tube Station, it was straight to the Arsenal Supporters Club to meet them along with tabs, Top Man Snowy & Glenn who I hadn’t seen for a while since I met him very briefly 1 or 2 NLDs back.
I’m of the opinion that all the kids of Holics are great by association to their parents, regardless of age relative to me. This opinion started after I met NorCal’s kids and has been perpetuated onwards since, and Patrick wasn’t an exception to this opinion, good as gold 🙂 Glenn got me my 1st Guinness from draught & I can now say I’m a firm convert to the ways of the black stuff. As Snowy described it, it functions as “a meal in a glass.” Upon drinking my 1st pint, the claim “Solids are for softies” suddenly had a lot more clarity to it 😆
I missed kick off for the 1st time in a while if not ever, which was a shame but a worthwhile price to pay to indulge in such scintillating conversation with friends.
As others have noted, our first 40 mins looked like we were still feeling the effects of 120 mins + PKs on Saturday, and before we went behind to that Jarvis’ header, KKs wayward passing worried me no end. I was pondering, towards the end of the 1st half on the basis of his performance so far how Podolski could have legitimately complained about not getting to finish 90 minutes more regularly. And then he proceeded to shut me up by restoring parity to the scoreline!
We were far better in the 2nd half, Källström found his passing range seemingly resulting in less misplaced passes from the heart of midfield. Ramsey’s introduction gave us a much needed forward thrust, which resulted in Podolski’s 2nd as he assisted it. Both 2nd half goals were exceptional for me personally, Giroud showing the strength to hold off the defender after he killed the ball from Vermaelen dead on his left peg before finishing with his right, and Poldi selling the defender at market by dropping his shoulder and moving to create room for a shooting chance which he took with due aplomb 😀
After the game, it was back to the ASC to meet Dr C, Little P, Snowy & Glenn for more Guinness and very interesting tales of times in Spain from the Holics around me. After Dr C w/Patrick & then Snowy had to leave, me and Glenn got to have a proper chat over many drinks that ended up going on till past 12am with me, him & Paul the barman remaining only, Bully having departed a while back as well as his long time friends from the ASC, Jack-o & Christine 🙂
I learned some interesting facts, for example, did you know the ASC is the oldest supporters club in England and possibly the world? (Established 1948(?)) I didn’t before Tuesday 😉 So here I am now at the Emirates for the 2nd time in 3 days, cheering the Under-18s on, 3-1 down on aggregate & 1-0 on the night after a very soft goal to concede wormed its way into Josh Vickers net. It’s not beyond them to turn it around, but it won’t be an easy task at all. Regardless of that, Up the Arse!
Trev.
I was there early, mainly because I lived on the corner, but I still had to wait a good two hours.
Ttg
I must admit, begrudgingly, that if the bin dipping fuckers win it then they deserve it due to the way they play.
Darts night tonight……..
Drinks on the bar.
I’d rather see Liverpoo snatch it than Chelsea by a long ways. But first I’d like to see Suarez bite Mourinho’s head off.
I think the Prem should go to the club of the last man standing at Anfield once the field and the dugouts are strafed from the air by the Royal Abu Dhabi Air Force.
Just back-drinking.
bt8b@341 … and then spit it out in the can and flush.
Otd: Didn’t expect to make any difference on last drinks – as I said, just had to get it out of my system.
US English: I have some software written in New Zealand. When I was installing it, it automatically wanted to install in Danish because that’s where I am. So I went in to change the installation language and was given a choice of “US English” or “Proper English”. I’m not usually fussed about which side of the pond the language is from but have to admit I had a wry smile at that one.
My other story about US/Brit misunderstandings comes from travelling with a group of people from Munich to Athens back in the early seventies. We were overnighting at a youth hostel and a British girl, who didn’t have an alarm clock, asked one of the American guys if he could come and knock her up in the morning. He looked at me with a “Did she really say that” look on his face and I did a quick translation.
Poldi: He may have scored two goals, but he was not in the best of moods, often complaining about bad passes. I too think he could be a bit more pro-active on the pitch. Theo continually swops back and forth. I don’t think AW has a rule about it. Let’s hope Poldi reads this blog. And scores a hat-trick on Sunday – from whichever side of the pitch.
Coupons in the programmes – I knew some people who bought several programmes every week, just in case we got to the final. Ah, nostalgia, dontcha just love it.
Of course, those were the days when you could go to a game of football in the afternoon, take your girlfriend to the pictures in the evening, buy her some fish and chips wrapped in newspaper on the way home and still have change from half a crown.
Watched the Youth Cup-profoundly depressing. They were in complete control throughout. The excellent Akpom was almost completely isolated and the individual quality of the Chavs was depressingly superior.
Surprised that Carl Laraman is staying on in the new youth set-up.A lot of regular observers of the team believe we could do a lot better
Talking English again. From the AFC website:
“Wenger praised the work Bruce has done with the Tigers to steer them clear of safety …”
Steer them clear of safety – an interesting concept.
The yanks speak better Englandish then wot we does.
It’s a slang thing.
Just saying like. 😉
Good to see ye, CoR.
BMBD
dkgooner. Interpreting that sentence for you, it sounds like Bruce took the players to a place where they all got venereal disease. After that, he probably told them to “man up” or some similarly renowned phrase from the annals of “man management.” 😉
Just feckin win Arsenal, just feckin win.
Is it just me that sees the blog in a tiny font until clicking for drinks, at which point the main blog loads in its normal font? It happens on the Macbook and the desktop. Oddness. Been like this for a few days now.
Sorry if it has already been mentioned.
P.S. – Roberto Martinez needs to make his mind up. A few days ago there was no pressure on them and they had nothing to lose, the pressure was all on us. After losing to Palace, it was the pressure of being in the top four. Full of it.
Cynic yes the font has changed Holic must of been playing with the settings or code.
Holic?
Arsene: I dont care about Chelsea! 🙂
Font on the main page is “Times” within post “Verdana”
I have noticed that too but thought perhaps it was done due to so many posts being published. So that you can see more on the page.
Thanks for the kind words NBN, Wind and Lonestar!
I’ve been keeping up with the posts but because of my free time has been going into trying to create comics, I’ve been unable to partake in the drinks too much, especially because many of you always say what I want to say before I get on here! Nobody needs an echo right? 😀
Martinez is playing silly ming games and just because he’s at a better team don’t mean he a perfect football manager! Ok he won the FA cub but also got themm relegated! I think he should just well….be quiet!
apolgies about those spelling mistakes trully terrible!
Just a reminder of what it’s all about! COYBG! Up the Arse!
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lXAZJ28s1rU
He has been battling many diseases for a while now, so this comes as no surprise, but of immense sadness to all his fans. Gabriel Garcia Marquez died today at the age of 87. Through him and Borges I was introduced to Latin American literature, and then was addicted to it, and followed its various subterranean streams to other wonders.
RIP, maestro!
Roberto Martinez, as has become the norm with the world of football, believes in his own hype too much. He is a promising manager, and is quite good at making him team play attractive football. But even before he got Wigan relegated the few years prior to that his team used to just escape by the skin of their teeth. If he thinks aiming for a top 4 for Everton as a rank outsider is ‘pressure’ then I must say he is nowhere close to ready for a step up.
An extraordinary coincidence that, dkg, about knocking her up in the morning. A very dear friend of mine Alan Dean was a bit of a lounge singer back in the ’40s and ’50s in England, and then went to America where the great music critic Leonard Feather described him as ‘The greatest thing to hit America in years’ … http://jazzpro.nationaljazzarchive.org.uk/interviews/AlanDean_4.htm
Alan recounted a similar experience to your friend while at a NY party where one of his (young, fit) backing singers asked him, in front of everyone, if he would knock her up in the morning. This was a supper club environment not rocknroll, so shocked expressions all round apparently.
I’ve had debates with Americans about their distorting of our language, but they invariably claim to have taken over the world with it. Until I point out that English English is not only one of the official languages of the United Nations but also, among others, of India/Pakistan and its 1.5 billion population. That usually shuts them up.
Öskar
Amen to your 361, Dr F. Few true giants stride the world, but he was one.
DKG@345: What about the days when you could buy a thru’peny bags of chips and still have change from a tanner?
*whistling past the graveyard*
BMBD
Good to see you have grasped the concept of knockout football, pasty. A pity you don’t appreciate the drama of it. You think the cup should just be handed to winners of the Premiership, right? It would save a lot of bother, aye.
Öskar
NBN #368. I can remember the time a mate and I had a night out in Spain, got totally off our faces on rough red and soda water (essential additive to make the red drinkable), and spent less than two shillings the whole night. The same trip we engaged a man to row us in his boat across the estuary at Passages San Juan (near Spain/French border), a journey that took about half an hour from memory. I offered him a handful of Spanish money, he took a one peseta note (worth a penny-halfpenny at the time) … and gave me change!
Öskar
Cynic – its not just you on the Font front at all. I blame Bath or ATG! All the problems started after their guest posts.
Wind – excellent reportage as usual. Does Baz (AKA the half and man at aways) still get in the supporters club? Lovely bloke and used to write for Gunflash, the old SC publication.
Esso
He used to wear the home and away outfits spliced together in the days when they didn’t change every year! Quite a character but Arsenal through and through like your good self and the majority of our friends on here.
Yeah, my limited appearances mean I aint seen him for a while. Hoping he’s still fit and well.
Morning all. First things first. One of ours is an absolute star. You know who you are. Massive thanks.
Second, the funny font business started last week on a cut and paste. I’ll write today’s preview in Word and copy it across and hope that solves the problem, otherwise it will be a plea to a WordPress expert at the weekend.
Have a great Easter, those that celebrate it, and a fabulous weekend if you don’t 🙂
Cup final wilson sorted then mate?
🙂
dkgooner – several good chuckles above. 🙂
Heh! @ cup final wilson. 🙂
Holic
Re: Font on the main home page perhaps there is a code somewhere that has not been closed hence is picking it up.
WHåt FöNt pRœblèms ?
Heh font wars, and I’m not to blame for once!
ATG: thank you for the good result against the Walrus when I switched back on after flying back to N8!
now, Arsenal, please just win all the next games…no exceptions…and we’re through…enough of this last minute, by one point, stress and drama…it’s the least you owe the Boss after these past few months (somehow, maybe it was indeed the voodoo of the pundits, but I always felt while we were top earlier in the season, that it was like a glass house, fragile and ready to shatter, and sadly, shatter it did…maybe, because I want the win so much, every game was approached with angst…but they were such thrashings at the hand of Pool and Chelsea…I still struggle to understand those outcomes)
for my tuppence worth to the discussion…having long pondered on’t…even though it would be unbearable to have to listen to ‘You’ll never walk alone’ ad infinitum, along with Steve G tears, and the baying of the job seeking lot (as someone on here posted a couple of rounds back – still laughing at that , must admit :0 ) I gotta say, better if Pool win it, then the completely unbearable thought that Maureen and the bus stop win it…except of course, if the bus stop win it, then there is still mileage to be got out of, well, we don’t have the money to spend the way they do, yadda yadda…decisions decisions…ummmm ( still, I guess the Man City fans must be wondering how theirs lost the plot too…)
Have a good Easter ‘holics!
Trev
Exacly my point what font issues? 🙂 Happy Easter too all Holics!
Have a good one!
Peter you welcome!
Anyone here in a shabby-genteel, loosely fitting tweed jacket?
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/17/fashion/soccer-particularly-englands-premier-league-growing-in-popularity-in-new-york-creative-circles.html
Is there nothing the NY Times can’t sound condescendingly pompous about?
NBN
I wonder where were they last season?
Uply @ 323, you know it! 😉
Esso @ 369, thanks mate, and funny that you ask, I saw him pre and post game in 1/2 of this season’s home and away kits in the Supporters Club, but with the pre modern Arsenal crest… :s (Apparently he goes to George Graham’s tailors to get them made). He looked as fit as a fiddle!
Glenn told me about how he’s an architect and that a certain (Arsenal?) show came into his house for an interview, and he showed them the toilet in his house that he crafted himself with the T*ttenham crest on the bottom of the bowl so everytime he does a shit, he shits on T*ttenham! 😆 :’) My opinion of him took a massive spike upwards after hearing that story 🙂
EUREKA!
Afternoon all.
I see you got the font fixed, guv’. 😉
That other font was so small it took 3 trips to the optometrists. 😉
blue sky
barbecue
howdy ‘hol an all
if ye were all here
ye’d have first pick
the meats various
and
a big swally too
.
Buttons
.
now
light coals
retaining dignity
and
eyebrows
.
hope
four legged
neighbours
don’t understand
the savoury aromas
.
happy easter all
.
I thought Holic had reduced the font size to save some of the space that cba wastes ? 😉
Probably peering up where the sun don’t shine, ATG.
Trev now you started it 🙂
Holic top man easy peasy I can see 😉
Wind @ 384. When I supported my 3 through Uni, I knew my money wasn’t being wasted and was going on beer & footie. They were brought up proper like 😉
Trev….on medical matters you are the font of all knowledge 🙂
How’s the knee performing – are you able to go further afield yet or are you still homebound? Also cheers for your 333 .
Sun mental
factor duffel coat applied
.
oh
and
trev
.
oooooohhhhhhhhhh
.
get you
🙂
.
hope yer knee’s
ready an roarin
for action
ya mad bollix
.
love this place
.
As you kind folks are asking, the knee is taking it’s first tentative, wobbly steps without a crutch but only indoors. Outdoors is still crutch territory.
Uply @ 392, heh, heads on straight all around 😉
Good to hear about the knee Trev. *thumbs up*
Oh, go on then 😛
Darts down the right wing with ball seemingly glued to foot, plays it into…
Runs towards the byline lays it to
Wind, who cuts in and lofts the ball towards…
Bangs one in with the crutch !
Whey! Well in Trev 🙂
s
a
u
s
a
g
e
s
.
all lined up
on my two inch wide
four mile long
grill
.
Joins in celebration….
Can I have a hot dog please cba ?
Trev using his crutch to redirect a ball????
horrid article from the times. makes it sound like a popularity contest where you win only if you get the terms right.
wind, is baz selling duplicates of his toilets? he could fund his half jersey fetish for years.
glad about your leg, trev. you have any thoughts on how long a hyperextended knee (basketball) should take to heal? I’ve been limping around for a week, it’s still giving out at times when I stand up.
can’t wait for the game Sunday, let’s hope it fulfills Easter’s resurrective terms for our boys.
Yes
chris
you can
.
enjoy
Scruz,
It depends what you did when you hyperextended it.
Hyperextension is not an injury in itsself but could cause other injuries ranging from torn hamstring insertions, to torn cartilage, to torn/split alar fold ( the half ‘H’ shaped synovial membrane ) which runs through and lubricates the joint. The best way to test for the latter is to passively hyperextend it again. If the alar fold is torn you will find yourself somewhere through the ceiling !
If it’s only bruised or inflamed it should feel significantly better after 7-10 days of regular ice treatment and lots of gentle movement.
If it continues to give way after that it’s probably going to need a scan.
Notice I didn’t say “3 weeks”. 😉
Trev
Great goal with that dogdy knee! 🙂
OK – having tackled English grammar in the last drinks, I will now venture out into the minefield of pronunciation:
http://www.forvo.com/word/tom%C3%A1%C5%A1_rosick%C3%BD/#cs
http://www.forvo.com/word/szcz%C4%99sny/
http://www.forvo.com/word/kim_k%C3%A4llstr%C3%B6m/#sv
Fun innit?
Thanks chef 😉
OH, and Happy Easter all.
May all your bunnies have big
ears
May all your eggs be chocolate.
Trev
Back for the Cup Final?
cheers, trev. basically knocked it backwards and a bit sideways, having to stutter step on landing from a jump straight up. mostly hurts on the outside back of the knee, right at the tendon you can feel coming down from the thigh; pain extends into the calf. nothing really sharp just achey and occasionally trick.
three weeks! 8)
Quite a few chuckles at the afternoon’s drinks 🙂 The preview will either be a six pinter tonight, or a hungover job in the morning. This beer garden appears to have a force field I am incapable of escaping 😉
Re: dkgooner @410. Good work on the pronunciation front. But I find your research deficient in the area of Szczesny’s first name. 🙁 😉
‘holic You have once again outdone yourself on the Arsecast. Did you do that one from beer garden?
Agreed Scruz @ 406! 🙂
But sadly I have no idea, and on the basis of exclusivity, I’d say probably not 🙁
lol, wind. we just have to dedicate some research time, then. they’d sell them at the armory, i’ll bet.
Heh, bt8bbgfg, no. That was a one glass of red wine production 😉
Have we got Huddlemore and Liverstone sorted then?
Up on a high promontory above the mighty Mississippi River where I decided to walk the dog upon seeing we are having one of the least inclement days of the year so far. Birds chirping and trees budding so can green leaves and the signing of a world class striker and defensive midfielder be far behind?
http://www.forvo.com/word/wojtek_szcz%C4%99sny/#pl
Wojtek Szczesny 🙂
To bt8bbgfg ,
The majestic Mississippi , the beautiful Mississipi , the river of all dreams.
With Ozil and Ramsey , Arsenal attack will be like the Mississipi , we will win 3-0 against Hull .
Well in Trev @ 400. However, unless you were wearing your jock strap, probably even more painful than your knee 😉
Holic, if you are in your local area, busy watching the Badgers disappear perhaps 🙂
Conspiracy theorist me?
I find it amazing that this ridiculous story has been circulating that an ex- Arsenal player has been training in Syria for Jihad. It transpires that the rumour was about Lassana Diarra. How is he classified as an ex- Arsenal player. He was with us for five minutes, made a handful of appearances and then agitated to move. He has fine this throughout his career. I make it he has played for Chelsea, Arsenal, Portsmouth, Real Madrid, Rubin Kazan and now he is with somebody else. But because it is a potentially unflattering link he is classified as an ex- Arsenal player. Utterly ridiculous. It now turns out it was an unknown Portugese player . No story there unless he had a trial for Arsensl.
Trev@400: That the Almost Ran of Crutch?
A ballsy attempt for the ton Trev. 😉
Re: ATG @424.
http://www.forvo.com/word/that%27s_right%21/#en
Was going to say “that’s more like it” but “that’s right” was the closest they had. 🙂
Montreal Gooner,
Majestic, beautiful and best of all, since a few weeks ago, unfrozen too. 🙂
Thought I’d add this one since many broadcasters still aren’t coming close to pronouncing Santi’s last name correctly, getting the wrong consonants in the wrong syllables, etc.
http://www.forvo.com/word/santi_cazorla/#es
ttg,
I won’t make the Cup Final, no. At the moment I couldn’t even contemplate the journey, and then there’s the possibility of trying to sqeeze into a seat, at the top of however many flights of stairs ….
Better for our chances if I keep as far away as possible – 100% loss record for me at Wembley.
If that trainee terrorist is a Portuguese player, it is obviously Amaury Bischoff P.I (Potential Insurgent) as he is also an ex-Arsenal player.
Effing ridiculous.
ATG/BT8B
http://www.forvo.com/search/wojciech%20szczesny/
You two really fucked up, didn’t you?
Top drinking! Cheers all round. Especially to Trev, really hope the old battle of wounded knee is getting a little bit more winnable every day.
Might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you like Sasha get a load of this;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4DgPQbIdsY
Ha Ha – me too 🙂
http://www.forvo.com/word/wojciech_szcz%C4%99sny/#pl
It is thanks, Esso. The improvement curve is a bit spiky though.
Drugs is the answer! Even though I’m now limited to lager and the odd puff.
Not sure if anybody noted that the Holic Bar clock just turned a milestone by passing the 53 years mark since Spurs last won the league. Just a reminder that St. Totteringham’s is just around the corner. 🙂
I had an odd puff once 😉
bt8b@439: That’s surely worth a wee dram.
esso@435…at last, we know what our ex-ponytailed keeper has been doing with his time:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuQSlgKkeaY
Wee dram is good. 🙂
Several wee drams are better. 😀
The first time in a decade that neither Barcelona nor Real Madrid won the title. Now that would be something to celebrate for anybody who supports non-behemoth clubs.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27042886
Next up for Atletico is Chelsea in the CL. Message in the ear of the Atletico players: Just win your next game.
Time for bed. I leave you with some real music by a man for whom the word ‘genius’ is totally insufficient:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTI_z714dOo
Barcelona have apparently heard about the dreaded three weeks, and have opted to announce a conservative estimate of four weeks out for Neymar. Good thinking?
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27079805
Esso, I gigged with Sascha way back when.
DK, all music is real music whatever the genre or how it’s made. In fact there are only really two sorts of music. Music you like and music you don’t like.
Heh @ Cynic
Still got it, you old cunt you!
Cynic
I did too 🙂 good old days 🙂
Cynic@440: So did Wolfie.
FöNt pRœblèms, Trev? I think we should sign him!
Öskar
No, Oskar, he’s not the right type. 😉
Impressive, Trev. Top, top, form.
I’m quite font of him myself, Trev, a capital fellow. Especially if we could also get his teammates Arial Black and Franklin Gothic. They could really make headlines for us, providing they steer clear of lowercase joint and don’t end up in the gutter.
Öskar
*joints
Morning Holics!
Beautiful morning here in sunny berks! Hope everyone has a lovely Easter and that St Totteringham’s Day will come even sooner 🙂
Sunderland please wipe that smile of Maureen’s face and those thugs fans!
UTA
Good punning Oskar. 😉
Cheers Pangloss.
Sunny in Herts but brass monkeys. Great football weather – shame it’s wasted on the Spuds.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>