The year is 1849, and somewhere concealed among the windswept rocks on the The Isle of Lewis, a Chess Set was discovered. People with large foreheads and sticky out hair did some thinking, and worked out that these finely carved pieces were of Norse origin and probably made in Sweden during the twelfth century.
Interestingly, one of the reasons the people with large foreheads and sticky out hair came to this conclusion, was because they reckoned some of the pieces were modelled on some fearsome Scandinavian warrior mercenaries called The Berserkers. These lunatics were known for entering the arena of battle stark bollock naked and ripped to the tits on hallucinogens. Now I am not suggesting our boy’s rock up “tackle out” with “faraway eyes” for the next game, but these Beserkers did set me thinking.
I made a comment following the terrific win at Sunderland that I thought the combination of Mert going off, combined with them scoring actually helped us. The forced substitution of bringing on Ramsey and dropping Song into defence, together with a nothing to lose scenario, seemed to me to liberate us. I am not saying we went beserk, but we appeared to start playing with the handbrake off. We played with more of a “let’s go get ‘em” attitude.
What then followed was games against Spurs and Milan. Two down against the former before the handbrake came off. With Milan, it was a whopping four down at the half way point, at which point we simply took charge.
Unlike the Berserkers, we cannot employ liberating mind altering medicine, but why the difference when all should be lost. It appears that confidence returns. But surely conceding a goal should have the opposite effect, shouldn’t it? Perhaps it is simply by removing the pressure, you are suddenly in the “nothing to lose zone” where our warriors feel less restricted. Not unclothed but loosened up in the mind.
In other words, what we’re after is some Controlled Berserking. As this is a football blog, I suppose I need to add some tactical bollocks to add meat to the way I think we could achieve this. What was the effect against Sunderland of removing Song from the midfield into the back four and adding Ramsey? The answer is no specialist or appointed DM. I do have my own reservations about the need for a DM type of player when playing with two deeper midfielders, and I have also stated here before that in the longer term I see Ramsey and Wilshere filling those two berths adding more fluidity to the team. Looking at the second half of the tie against Milan and we did not deploy the usual defensive shield of Song and Arteta with one Creative in front. It was one defensive in Song with the combination of Rosicky and The Ox in front.
Now that we finally have a solid centre of defence, in conjunction with returning specialist full backs, perhaps there is less need for the two defensively minded midfielders. Could it be that by selecting a more attack minded midfield, that Arsene is indirectly liberating the team and effectively saying we have nothing to fear, so let’s attack?
All of this reminds me of the words attributed to Marshal Ferdinand Foch: “My centre is giving way, my right is retreating, situation excellent, I am attacking.”
I think that as we enter the final stretch of the season, the dynamics of many games will change. A point will be of little use to some teams, and for as long as a game remains scoreless, they will sniff an opportunity. We need to find a way of getting teams on the back foot right from the off, not when we go a goal behind.
Chess is a tactical game, and while you need to have the confidence of knowing you are solid defensively, you need to be free from inhibitions, tight clothing and a fuzzy brain in attack. How do we get The Berserker Spirit into our boys?
Written by MickyDidIt89
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Great post Micky for grave-yard Saturday.
Tuesday night was a combination of having to go for it, having a solid defence and having an energetic, super talented Ox in the hole to run box to box. Wengerball really only works with the hand-brake off so I’m looking forward to us going Berserk for the forseeable future.
Well Didit, you have gone and done it! 🙂
An excellent cerebral Post linked neatly to ‘football bollocks’, as you put it. Now if we follow your berserk plan — that is to say your plan for berserking our opponents — not that your significant plan is berserk, we will carry all before us!! 🙂
Micky simply marvellous.
How we have come to get this new found confidence is anyone’s guess, maybe it is that someone found the handbrake and managed to release it maybe it’s the full backs, maybe it’s the reemergence of TR7 as a forward looking attacking midfielder.
Maybe it’s just we have always been simply brilliant but like a coiled rattle snake we have been waiting to strike.
And maybe it is us fans who have finally let them go. Just spoke to my Dad he said the atmosphere in ground against AC Milan was so good they have booked tickets for Toon, City and Villa. Jealous moi? Yes extremely!
Excellent, Micky.
Ripped to the tits, we’s coming to get you spuddies!
http://twitpic.com/8udepe/full
Morning all,
Thanks Micky for atypical educarsenal post 😛
I’m a great believer in momentum and the elusive winning mentality. It’s what makes the difference between making a comeback and folding at the end of the season. I do think this crop of players has more about it than last year and I get the feeling that the dressing room is far more relaxed and cohesive thanks to Robin’s captaincy and the lack of wantaways.
The fans could also be berserkers. Last Tuesday we did what the foreign fans do to us when we play abroad – whistle and boo whenever the opposition has the ball. Come on lets make the Grove a bearpit and scare the crap out of the unfortunate visitors.
Hi chas, I think we should take a leaf out of Fergie’s book and take every opportunity to wind up the spuds. Their confidence is paper thin and the pressure is already getting to them. A lot of their fans I have spoken to are already resigned to finishing below us. Come on you toffees 😆
Great Beserker pic Rasp. Thanks.
Just to clarify, here are some midfield formations:
Bad for Beserking:
…Ros
Arteta Song
Much better:
.Ros Ox
…Song
Future Beserking:
…..Ox
Wilshere Ramsey
Can I quickly address a question posed by the award winning Glic Monster in the late hours yesterday.
He asked how can the Spuds offer ‘Arry a new bigger contract and £50m to spend on players?
First a quick look at the Arsenal and Spuds key financials for 2011, just to give some perspective.
Accounts to 2011 (£millions) Totts Arsenal
Turnover 163.5 225.4
Salaries and other Expenses 91.1 124.4
Operating Profit/(Loss) (7.2) 21.9
Profit/(Loss) before Tax 0.4 12.6
In brief, Glic, the £50m the Spuds are talking about for incoming transfers, can only come from three sources.
(1) A healthy profit on player sales in the summer.
(2) A huge increase in commercial revenue. (Sponsorships).
(3) An injection of capital from Mr ‘Billionaire’ Lewis, by way of a loan.
As you can see, with less than £1m profit in 2011, Spurs are barely breaking even, despite an increase in revenue by qualifying for the CL last year, and usually post losses each year unless they sell players.
I hope that goes someway to meeting your Lordship Glic’s request for one of your minions to offer an explanation of the Spuds promise to ‘Arry.
I remain your obedient Cuckoo accountant – when TerryM is playing with his telescope!!
Sorry, about the figures wandering over the page — I cannot format them, so unless Rasp can edit them into columns, it is tuff luck!! 🙂
Why do I get the feeling GliC will have some interesting Beserking ideas 🙂
Thanks for comments. I’m afraid I’m off out for the day.
Three points nearer the Spuds by monday night. Nice.
Have a great day all.
I just did an image search for beserker and got some weird tantacle porn. I’ll leave it to chas 🙂 Great post Mickey.
Arsene wenger should allow oxlade chamberlain to play a full game instead of prematuredly subsituting him halfway into a match.
Beautiful post Micky. All our fullback players are back. Arteta and Ramsey are back too. Now, we have our destiny in our hands. Third spot is attainable. Go for it boys. We are solidly behind you. Up Arsenaaal.
Nice post Micky. As much as I have stated lately that I am bored with the Wenger years I do feel that we are on the verge of a great team here with both talent and work ethic. Before the game against spurs that prat Hoddle stated that RVP was the only Arsenal player who would get into the spud team…… I look at the squad for next year and see a side very capable of winning the league.
Chesney flappy
sagna/jenks kos/BFG TV/KB Gibbs/Santos
Arteta Jack Rambo TR Lansbury Pingpong
Theo Ox Gerv Ryo
Podolski RVP Afobe
It does make me wonder exactly who or what we need to buy in the summer ?
Prob more selling/giving away to be done than any additions.
Maybe just maybe this guy Arsene does know more about football than me ?????
Beautiful post Micky, and I especially like your ‘tactial bollocks’. The future midfield formation, once Wilshere and Diaby are back and fully fit, will be one big challenge for Wenger.
I prefer us to play with one DM, and two attacking midfielders upfront when we play at home, and in most away games I rather play with two in front of our defence to give us more solidity, whilst using the space that opponents tend to give us to our full benefit. Our away-record last season was fantastic and we can get back to that level again now.
The prospect of Song as DM and Jack and the Ox as the two advanced, attacking midfielders is mouthwatering for me. But, I also like your Jack and Ramsey in front of the defence and the Ox in front of them in a 4-4-1-1. Diaby, Rosicky, Coquelin, Frimpong, Arteta would give us a good bench.
With the arrival of Podolski, RvP might move into the hole area and 4-4-1-1 could become the new formation in 2012-2013. Ah, what delightful dilemmas! 🙂
Top stuff Micky. You should write more often about tactical bollocks – you know your onions! 🙂
Chas: ‘Ripped to the tits, we’s coming to get you spuddies!’ 🙂 🙂 🙂
Never has sexy football been explained better!
Thanks for the post Micky, though i am the first to admit that I am no guru on the best technical set up depending who we are playing.
Does anyone know the folowing.
Who is out of contract this Summer
Who has a year or eighteen months left on their contract after this season
What length of contract does the rest of the squad have.
I believe Almunia is out of contract, benyahoun is on a one year loan.Djourou has just signed a new 2 year contract
great post Micky, can always count on you to add some humour to any subject. People have been saying for the last few seasons that we play within our shells at the start, but if a team scores a quick one against us we take the handbrake off and get going.
I agree with your point in regards to not needing a defined Defensive Midfielder type. The way football is going (and sports in general) athletes are multi-talented and play in many positions. Look at players coming through like Yennaris, Wilshere, Coquelin and so forth (even midfielders from others teams like M’Vila, and Schweinsteiger), they can do both seamlessly, whereas players like De Jong, Mascherano will be phased out unless they evolve their game. I like a future midfield of Ramsey, Wilshere, and Coquelin.
In response to your podolski question:
I’m probably not the best person to ask simply because i’ve liked him as a player ever since I saw him in the German team in 2004 playing along side Klose. I like strikers with a left foot cannon and i think he would play well along side RVP. Whether it be converting RVP to the Dennis role in a 4-4-1-1 i’m not sure (do you dare chance a RVP who is on fire? Although i think it won’t matter because RVP is that good he can score regardless, and is amazing at finding a pass) or playing in a 4-2-1-3 playing out on the left with RVP centrally and the Ox/Walcott/Gerv on the right. At the end of the day Arsene barely gets it wrong and he would have scouting him for quite a while now.
Out of 10 i’d give him a 8.5 (once again biased a bit), but i feel he will work in our system really well, can play left or centrally, is clinical, a cannon of a left foot, and seems to have a good head on his shoulders. Also if BFG and he can sweet talk Bastian into coming over then i’ll be as happy as larry!!!
Enjoy your day Micky
Exceptional bit of writing Micky.
I think this team is hesitant. I think the reason for that is technical as well as mental.
In interview Arsene often breaks it down to the three zones. Mental, technical and physical.
Mentally this team have been stronger than the last few years, they have survived at the expected level with less talent in the squad.
The technical side has been altered and tinkered with all season. We went three months without and full backs and we are a narrow team. Without midfielders scoring too and that is bound to change the patten an tempo of your game.
On the physical the players that have come back, Gibbs, Sagna, Vermealen have understandably started games slowly, only to be seen like against spurs putting the body and mind on the line by the half hour mark.
In short, I think a crisis point in a game helps players forget about a niggling groin injury, it helps with a fear of failure that’s be hanging over the club since last February. This is a side that has spent a season knowing if RVP doesn’t score then they won’t get more than one, so they go swimming with a lifejacket.
Time to take the life support off, we are a good team again.
At moments like that, 2-0 against the enemy. A man has to do what a man has to do.
Barum, good line-up there. Did you leave Song, Diaby and Coquelin out on purpose?
I agree with you, we do not really need to buy anybody anymore. Maybe another right-winger as it looks the Ox could be best used in the middle and an injury to Theo and the Ox could leave us short there. I read Robben wants to move away from Bayern and with Arsenal recent philosophy of mixing youth with experienced players, it could well happen. It might also be on RvP’s wishlist 🙂
@ TA
Robben, i wish! although combine Diaby and Robben together and you might just get 15 games a season! Robben on form and fit is unstoppable!
Oz, agreed – it would be a gamble, and I am only dreaming aloud. The likes of Gervinho, Theo and Ryo could learn so much of him though!
Total, Dont know why I forgot didnt put Song down and I did forget le Coq. Diaby however is a waste of a squad place for me, I believe he is an unfortunate chap who has missed his chance. ( I dont think Arsene agrees though so i’m sure he will be keeping the docs busy for another year or two yet). I do like the sound of Robben though, He would bring a lot to the club.
Oz – think you are right about podolski’s quality. I watch the German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish and Russian league(the mrs particularly loves that one) round ups and in all of those leagues Podolski it one of the best fits for Arsenal.
He is tough and a fighter, he has a hammer shot and decent pace. He is versatile which will be his downfall at Arsenal because I think he will find himself moved around a lot as Wenger pretty much indicated yesterday. Think he will be a big hit though.
I think I spells the end for Arshavin and Chamakh which will be exactly how they cover the cost of Poldi.
Our front three will come from RVP, Theo, Ox, Gervinho, Podolski and that doesnt sound to bad to me.
BarumG, that is the big question re Diaby: will he finally get fit or keep getting injured? Wenger wont give up on him yet, you are right.
I wouldn’t mind seeing the Arsenal ladies team go BESERK.
Assuming RVP/Theo/Rosicky all stay and assuming people stop factoring Djourou out of the squad. He might be rubbish but he’s signed a three year deal so get used to him being around.
Out: Almunia, Squillaci, Denilson, Arshavin, Chamakh, Bendtner, Beneyoun is going back to Chelsea.
That saves us around 25m a year on wages at least and we will get something for them. They have all been frozen out in one way or another.
In: Poldolski plus a genius, don’t mind which one Goetze or Hazard or a cheaper option in the Dutch league called Ole Toivenen.
We could even break even.
Mormimg all Well done Mickey thank you.
Total for me Diaby is a must keep, look at the difference he made in his Cameo last week, they said the same about RVP and look at him now, Diaby is a warrior who smashed his ankle in an Arsenal shirt and that fact plus his undoubted skill says he must like Edwuardo be given the chance to succeed which in my opinion he will do.
Did any one see L G was saying yesterday we need five new players. Right 🙂
Hi Jamie, where would you play this genius and who would you be leaving on the bench when all are fit? A midfield genius would mean leaving out two/(three) from Ramsey, (The Ox – could play on the wing), Jack, Rosicky, Diaby (when fit again)? I am assuming that Song, Le Coq and Frimpong compete the DM role.
DanDan, I agree with you. How is your wife doing?
She is fine thank you TA, wants to go shopping need I say more 🙂 thanks for asking
Best indication of full recovery DanDan! 🙂
I would love to be proved wrong DD but I disagree with you. Mr marmite imo is a failed project who like so many thousands of other wanabe footballers just has to realise that it isn’t gonig to happen. As I said before though Arsene will continue with him probably until he finally dies of old age. On a serious note though, when is he contracted until ?
Great article. Totally agree with it.
In the past few games we’ve seen our midfield become the ( previously missing) highly skilled – industrious engine of our team.
A rejuvenated Rosicky is showing us the skills and energy that has been missing for a couple of years and he has scored two well taken and important goals.
Song seems to have come out of his shell and has become our mid- field bully with a velvet toe.
Arteta is the calming/ steadying influence that has allowed Rosicky and Song to be more rampant and take more risks.
My fear is that this is all about to change now that Ramsey is fit.
It cannot be argued that he is a hard working player who both loves and gives his all for the cause. The issue in my mind is that he makes an art out of slowing the team down, speed of thought and one touch football are not his fortes – but that is what is needed to break down stubborn defences. Ramsey, unlike Song, rarely makes the “killer” pass and the majority of his passes are either sideways or backwards therefore slowing down our momentum..
I hope I’m wrong but I’ve there have been too many games, so far, where he has run him self silly to no avail.
this is funny!!
http://www.talksport.co.uk/magazine/big-picture/2012-03-09/balotelli-and-nasri-fight-mancini-demands-respect-fergie-eyes-kit-man-and-wenger-does-scarecrow
Where as I can see your point G5 I cant agree with it. To me Rambo is a fantastic player and is still finding his feet. I think he probably is more of a swap for Arteta of the trio but he is class and in time he will be great.
I agree Barum, Rambo is a future star no doubt about it. Poor kid got his leg destroyed and hasn’t played a full season yet people ride him off. There is a reason speed and arsene think so highly of him, and it will be justified soon enough. G5 to say Ramsey cannot pick a pass is ludicrous, look at his passing range at the start of the season. Give him time
@ Dandan
glad to hear everything is in order.
Oz,
Ludicrous is a “passing range” going backwards!
Great comments Jamie.
I’d like to see a quality older keeper come in for almunia just to give a few pointers to szcz and shea, perhaps a coach/playing type.
For your list of outs we can easily fill the void with reserves and in coming players.
Almunia—new keeper
Squillaci—miquel
Denilson—Yennaris, Aneke, Lansbury, Coquelin, Frimpong
Arshavin—Ryo, Pod
Chamakh+Bendtner—Afobe, Campbell
Plus you bring in Diaby, Wilshere and any purchases and things are looking very spiffy indeed!.
I must of been snoozing during those 4 assists then G5
Oz, one would hope that he makes the occasional successful pass – but the reality is that he slows the game down with his indecisiveness.
I happen to like both his character and his level of commitment and I am also hopeful that he will improve – but I’m talking about the present time and I continue to maintain that if he plays we will risk achieving 4th place and the CL.
Right now we should not break up a winning combination and risk losing our momentum.
we stick up large posters of greedybayor, na$ri, etc all holding wads of money laughing there tits off surrounded by trophies and medals.
plus the crowd should be proactively forced by the club to be the best fans ever at home.
http://t.co/uTRs2q99
Marvellous, Micky
You’re a credit to the long line of Didits.
My wife is part Viking and when she goes berserk it’s terrifying.
I would love it if AW picked up your metaphor and used it instead of his usual “handbrake” line.
He could say: “Well… I think to start with the players were not channelling their inner beserker, but then when that Northern Monkey kicked Robin it all came out and we berserked the bollocks off them. I have always believed in the mental strength of this group of players. Now I know they are just mental.”
Ryo assist for Bolton. 🙂
I hope that clunge barton gets relegated. Did you see the assist by our Japanese maestro?
Ryo Miyaichi now has more PL assists than Stewart Downing.
Good afternoon. Just settled down to watch the last 10 mins of the Bolton game – that Ryo looks the bizniz, works the ball so well in tight spaces plus that pace. He could definitely be an interesting inclusion in our 2012-13 squad.
The wind has more assists that downing. The only thing he beats are women
Ryo named man of the match by Neville……. Magic
Sparky is pissed off LOL shame……
Ryo MOTM!!!
いいですねえ！みやいちさん。 barton おまんこですねえ！くっそたれですよ！
Jack Wilshere @JackWilshere
What did I tell you lot about Ryo…!? What a player and MR Coyle is only going to make him better!
GM, barton おまんこですねえ！LOL 🙂
Interesting to see others have been thinking about the squad next year – I’ve just got back from a business trip and precisely the same thoughts have been flitting through my mind. Must be all that optimism flooding through the Gooner psyche.
I see Barum mentioned Kyle Bartley for the unit of CBs. Good call, but there is also the termendous Ignassi Miquel. I wonder if Wenger will feel he should retain an older head like Djourou alongside one of Miquel and Bartley rather than have the 4th and 5th choicers both be young’uns. I’d like to see Djourou (plus Squilacci) moved on but Wenger may be more conservative about it and may retain Djourou.
The Lansbury question remains. He does look good but I have a feeling he’ll move elsewhere, maybe not this summer but not long after. I reckon Coquelin will move too.
And I’m sure Fabianski will move this summer. Being number 2 to Sz for both club and country will force it.
I’d like Benayoun to stay but he’s right that he needs to move to a lower level club in order to get game time. Chelsea should suffice. 😉
Sounds magnifico re Podolski. Big challenge for him, to show that’s he’s not a one-club man and that he can succeed at a big club and outside Germany. He may need a lot of looking after from Wenger and some love form the fans to get the best out of him. But he has buckets of talent, a proper penalty box striker. And for alternatives, hopefully Joel Campbell will get a work permit and Afobe gets promoted.
My predictions for the squad:
GK: Szczesny, Mannone, Martinez
RB: Sagna, Jenkinson, Yennaris
CB: Koscielny, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Miquel, Bartley
LB: Gibbs, Santos
CM: Arteta, Song, Wilshere, Ramsey, Rosicky, Frimpong, Diaby, Ozyakup
AM: Walcott, Gervinho, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Myaichi
F: Podolski, van Persie, Campbell, Afobe
I still wonder if, assuming we ditch Arshavin, Chamakh, Bendtner, Vela and Park, we should sign one more attacking talent after (hopefully) Poldi’s signing is done. Gervinho hasn’t exactly pulled up trees this season, though he could well do better in his second season. There is not a chance in hell we’ll be able to sign Goetze but signing Robben would be epic. Hazard could be interesting too. But if we don’t sell Walcott and we do bring Campbell in, my guess is we won’t sign anyone after Poldi. It would already be a big squad after all.
As others have said, plenty of selling to do this summer, there could be as many as 10 or 11 sold.
Gunner5, spot on with your assessment of Ramsey. Unfortunately, his style is more like the old `English Style’ of football. Unimaginative and rather boring.
Great post micky.
How do we get the Berserker Spirit into our boy`s ?. Well It just so happens that I`m currently working on a new “Award Winning ” potion. The hard part part Is trying to Tie down Mrs glic and taking some of her DNA, being one third Berserker, one third Klingon Warrior and one third PMT she`s F**king Scary !.
Thanks Redders. That makes It clear, They haven`t got a pot to piss In !
Thanks also to Oz and gm.
I love gm`s oxymoron comments, they`re Blunt but straight to the Point ! 🙂
And a bleedin’ marvellous post that one, Controlled Berserking, that’s what we want. Cheers micky.
What’s an oxymoron?
QPR have dropped into the relegation zone I’ve nothing against them but I can’t bear barton
Bendtner scores against Liverpool! Bit of an afternoon for the players out on loan.
GM, I live in QPR territory and the atmosphere round here was great when they got promoted. But everyone including his mum hates Mark Hughes, and as you say, Barton ain’t about to win many popularity competitions, so there will be plenty who’d be happy to see them drop out of the PL. And from the looks of their run-in, they look doomed.
gm,
A deafening silence, A pointed blunt, Living dead, an original copy, A Totnumb trophy cabinet ! 🙂
Or Merse’s classic: unbelievable belief.
bindippers are losing lol
I ubderstand glic thanks. My right click isn’t working in the comment box.
Bugger, Chavs score.
26May, I had forgotten Miquel, I agree he does look like a fantastic prospect.
Oh and Reddawn……wtf ??????????
Can’t have everything 26 a dippers defeat and even with the win Chavs can’t leapfrog us 😀
We’re waiting for our best result an Everton win 🙂
we need the chavs to win to get the scum out of the top 4
😀 GM that’s the spirit
I think I`ve been Stereotyped !. I was called to Mrs glic`s Aunties(RiP) house as the beneficiaries could not find any of the valuable stuff, ” Your a cockney, you should have no problem finding It “, I didn`t know whether they were complimenting me or taking the piss !. I dont know If I should have felt good or embarrassed as within Ten minutes I had not only found a Safe and cracked the combination but had found a metal chest and picked the lock. The safe was empty but the chest was full of gold and jewellry. Dodgy Cockney, now how many times have I been called that , It never goes away !
ps, true story
One Aaron Ramsey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLe–U-TF-M&feature=related
DALGLISH OUT ! 😆
I bet Ricardo Fullers not that type of player
http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/gif-ricardo-fullers-senseless-stamp-on-branislav-ivanovic-chelsea-stoke/
HI all
Shame about the chavs win but it’s true we do need them to push the scum out of the top four 😉
With it being David Moyes’ 10th Anniversary at Everton you would hope his players will be up for mashing some spuds wouldn’t you 😆
An Arsenal fan’s comment @Goal.com:
ARSENALFAN92 LONDON
16:42 10 Mar 2012
You know your team is shite when Bendtner scores against you
🙂
DALGLISH OUT ! XD
Anyway ……. we need a post for tomorrow if anyone fancies writing a small something to start the day off with a smile 🙂
GiE,
Ouch !, I think he should change his name to : Branislav Ivano… chance of fathering again !
😀 GliC
JELAVIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1-0everton
Great, great post Micky, may I say I think it is your best to date.
Red card for Podolski today – 3 games less to play!
Great stuff Micky. For me there are 2 forms of Beserk.
1) “The delirious Beserk”, like when i ran down the street in just my underpants screaming “Champions” in May 89, with Mrs Terry in hot pursuit, syringe and sedative in hand.
2) “The nasty Beserk”, like Totnumb fans will be in May when they finnish empty handed and fifth in the league. This should take the form of them smashing up there own gaffs, attempting to assault an animal, and ending the night in a straight jacket screaming “Fifth Horatio, f…..g fith”.
win on Monday and it’s 1 point lol
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha 😀
Shouldn’t laugh …… schadenfreude and all …….. but ……
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha 😛
Spurs had 62% of possession and 24 attempts on goal. And lost. Ho ho ho!
Almost in our hands to get above them now.
But it’ll be us at Goodison soon – Everton have now beaten Chelsea, City and Spurs there, so it’s going to be a challenge to win. But if we do win, that’ll just go to show the real quality that’s been hiding in this squad.
St. Totteringham Day Confirmed???
As of 24-10-11
Let’s all laugh at the journos!
Nike its definitely become a feint possibility after talk of a seasons postponement due to it being a bit boring these days…..clearly Arsenal decided to spice up the race for St Totts
Wrighty counting chickens
https://twitter.com/ianwright0/status/178555976021053440
Did Bale dive again?
Well, being an old fashioned type, I think it’s wonderful to see Spurs showing some respect for tradition. They realised they were in danger of violating St Totteringham’s Day and they immediately went about dealing with the situation. A tremendous effort.
Sir Harry of Monaco, I salute you!
If St Totts happens this must ring out round the Ems
Jeez I’m puttting some miles on my car this week*
Long drive to Devon to shake MIDI’s hand and buy him a pint this evening.
My two fave lines (from so many):
“our boy’s rock up “tackle out” with “faraway eyes” for the next game”
“I suppose I need to add some tactical bollocks”
* Its Oz doing Monday’s pre match right..?? 😦
Is that Oliver Holt really a journalist….or is it ‘Bolt’ the cartoon dog with super powers.
Liverpool to finish fourth….yeah sure, whilst dropping points like confetti and playing poorly to boot
Lol Chas…me and my son have just had a good chuckle at that.
Love the song GiE…absolutely love it.
The blowing of their lead ws on my mind earlier….also glad to know its a rot that we ourselves started !! 🙂
DanDan – “Diaby is a warrior who smashed his ankle in an Arsenal shirt ”
So so true…..and that really needs to count for something. I agree that his cameo last week should have spoken volumes to those who doubt his quality.
As others have said its not like we don’t have a shining example of why we persist with some injury prone players. 25 goals plus 9 assists in the PL alone…?? Guess who…lol
Did anyone else hear the Bolton announcer refer to Klasnic as ‘the return of the goal machine’..??
The goal he scored today was his eight of the season in the PL. Lol
Great assist from Miyachi though.
Ok, last one.
“wants to go shopping” – thats her as right as rain then DanDan, and I’m really glad to hear it
Laughing Gooner.
GLIC Terry GM and the rest of you crazy lot….
Having finished reading all the comments I can confirm there is some real comedy genius in there.
GLIC are you related to Victor Frankenstein..??
Truly awful book btw, some redeeming features in its ‘sicual commentary’ but a plot full of holes you could steer a tanker through. And don’t even start me on Branagh’s film adaptation…self serving tosser
Wahay!
Plane’s just landed and I’ve just read Totts result.
Peaches – I have a post.
Possibly Sharkey, But am I the Created Monster or the Monster Creator and Is there any difference ?.
I, like the Mancini Monster ( not the Italian Ponce one ) have caused unrest in the AA village and may have to flee to safety !.
GLIC
the peasants are coming with pitchforks!
Totts may have had a lot of attempts on goal but it sounds as if they were pretty much pants for a large chunk of the game.
Don’t they face the Chavs next?
Just looked it up, Rocky. They’ve got the Orcs at home, then chavs away.
Rocky you should read some of the Spud fans on twitter (who knew they could operate computers!) you’d think that they are under achieving when in reality the fans have actually been sold a story by the media that their team was actually title contenders…..reality bites.
@ sharkespeare
a sad face at the prospect of my pre-match, oh well at least TA is excited (one out of 50 isn’t bad!) haha.
Oz, Sharkey is a bad traveller and he is anticipating having to travel to Australia to buy you a drink… 🙂 So you better right a good one haha 😉
right = write, am too pissed so better stay of computer! Night all 🙂
haha nite TA.
It definitely appears to be falling apart for Liverpool and Tottenham. Everton are a very tough prospect at Goodison, notorious for giving one or two good chances a match (like we saw at THOF), even worse with jags coming back from injury
Cheers Chas
Neither of those are easy games for the Totts.
GiE
You’re on the money there – they string a few decent games together, the press wet their pants cos they all love having a beer with ‘Arry, and the poor old Spudders lapped it all up.
How did Isaac Newton discover gravity? He was sitting under a tree when a Spurs title challenge fell on his head 🙂
Cheers for the clarification TA.
Rocky 10:16. Isaac Newton. Lmfao
Comment from a Spuds blog: “We’ve totally imploded. Harry is tactically clueless, the FA will be thanking their lucky stars they havent committed to him yet. My guess is we will not qualify for the champions league and we all know the Arse boys will finish above us. Just like last season Harry dosent have the know how to finish the job. No way should Levy offer him a new deal. Go and get Mourhino, Redknap WILL NOT get us to the next level people.”
Hate to be the voice of reason but we haven’t played our game yet, lets save the bragging for tomorrow.
Rocky, And we thought gooners were fickle !
Very sensible Barum.
We can’t take anything for granted and even if we win on Monday night we’ll still be behind the Spuds.
Doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy their result today though 🙂
How you doing VCC?
I’m good rocky. How are you?
It’s okay Barum Toon are a team on decline. Conceded 13 goals in their last 4 away games.
Last 3 matches: DDL
We will rip them apart!
Rocky, still regret not meeting you in Niagara. Maybe one happy day at the Tavern. lets make a deal and meet after we win the premiership next year and have a fantastic AA party to celebrate.
Me too VCC
I doubt I’ll get over this season now, but will definitely make it over some time early next season (our 2013 Championship winning season 🙂 )
Party at the Tav sounds good to me!
I have to get some sleep Now Rocky. Need to get up early to watch my Son play his debut for his new team tomorrow. Hablo Pronto.
Nite VCC
Hope your son has a great game.
Wow, thanks Rocky, you’re a star 🙂
No problem Peaches – I was flying back from a work trip so I wrote it at the airport and on the plane. And it was before I knew the Spuds result, which only served to reinforce the point…
So a newspaper owned by the Abu Dhabi Media Group has claimed that RvP has already agreed a £10.9m a year deal with Shitty.
The paper is called The National and the article is by a guy called Darren Castles. Some say he has got the name of RvPs agent wrong but what I think we should do as a club is complain to the FA about tapping up, the lines may be blurry but most right minded people can see through who might own the Abu Dhabi Media Group.
We should just find darren castles and cut his bollocks off.
GM
Pithy genius, as always 😀
Yes, you can hold him down Rocky whilst i constantly punch him in the face, allowing GM to give him a special cut
exactly GiE, and now other “media” sources will run with the story. I think the only way we can guarantee the media doesn’t link him with Man city is if he punches mancini and nasri in the face. Sounds like a good plan to me
I say let’s count our chickens now and mercilessly take the piss out of tottenham.
Gooooooood Morning,
And that is because I’ve only just learnt Totnum lost!!
Thanks for comments. Was out all yesterday, and did not check results beynf 5 0’clock as I thought Everton game was today.
What a brilliant wakey up surprise.
LB,
Have to agree with that. Let’s get counting chucks 🙂
GiE,
I do think that Red Action idea of inverting the Spuds slow When The Saints anthem is genius.
Is this what you mean GIE
City offer record pay deal to lure Van Persie
(Peter Tarry)
ROBIN VAN PERSIE has been offered a contract by Manchester City that promises to make him the Premier League’s best-paid player. City’s proposal, which sources close to both the club and Van Persie say has been accepted, is worth £10.9m a year. If he signs, the prolific Dutchman will become the fifth Arsenal player to join the league leaders in three seasons.
At £210,000-a-week, the contract would place Van Persie on top of the club’s pay scale once Carlos Tevez is sold this summer. A transfer fee will have to be agreed but, with the striker’s contract entering its final season and City offering almost £100,000 a week above the pay ceiling at Arsenal, the north London club will be presented with another dilemma. They sold Samir Nasri to City in almost identical circumstances last summer. The Premier League’s richest club outbid all other suitors by agreeing an £8.4m annual pay package with Nasri — who was entering the final year of his contract — and waited for Arsenal’s board to override Arsène Wenger’s opposition to a sale. Van Persie, 28, has scored 25 goals in 27 Premier League appearances this season, underlining his status as the top flight’s leading marksman. Soon after the campaign started he stated his intention not to discuss a contract extension with Arsenal until the season ended; that remains unchanged. When Roberto Mancini was asked about Van Persie in midweek, the City manager said: “At this moment [he] is one of the best strikers in Europe with [Lionel] Messi, [Cristiano] Ronaldo and with Sergio [Aguero] and Mario [Balotelli]. If there is a good player who wants to leave a club, then we are interested. But if this player wants to stay, we don’t have any problem. In my opinion, Van Persie will stay at Arsenal.”
Wenger, who has seen Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Adebayor, Gael Clichy and Nasri move to City in big-money deals, said: “We will not lose anybody to Manchester City or to anybody else because we want to keep our players. We want to keep Robin van Persie, that is clear, we will do everything possible to extend his contract.”
Though Wenger has said his interest in Lukas Podolski is independent of Van Persie’s future, Arsenal are close to securing the German international to provide a striking alternative. Podolski, 26, was the subject of a failed bid in January but is expected to join for £10.9m from Cologne this summer. Van Persie is represented by Darren Dein, who negotiated the exits of Cesc Fabregas, Thierry Henry and Clichy. The son of former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein, the agent also represents Adebayor and Alex Song.
Highest Premier League earners
If van Persie’s deal, believed to be worth £10.9m a year, with Manchester City goes ahead, it would make him the best paid player in the Premier League. Below are the annual pay packages, before tax, including loyalty bonuses, for the highest paid footballers in Britain:
£12.6m Carlos Tevez (Man City)
£8.4m Yaya Toure, Samir Nasri, David Silva (all Man City)
£8m Wayne Rooney (Man Utd)
£7.8m Fernando Torres, Frank Lampard, John Terry (all
That is the fallout DD here is the original piece which says RvP has provisionally agreed …… FRONT BOTTOM!
http://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/manchester-city-strike-agreement-for-arsenals-robin-van-persie
Hi dandan,
Bit depressing, however, I was at a party all day yesterday and did spend about an hour on this subject with three others (one of them a Gooner) and none could agree on what price Arsenal would get for him given his age, contract state and the fact that once again we would have a player with only one destination in mind.
I think he will stay and be on 200k a week at Arsenal 🙂
Morning. 🙂
I think that RvP bollix is blatant undermining tactics and if we discuss it, it gives it legitimacy and has its desired effect.
TA already proved he’s staying. 🙂
The National name our friend Darren Dein as the agent, but twitter seems to suggest that’s off base.
Chas I agree, I’d like the club to complain about tapping up though just to put a line in the sand.
Yesterday I saw people saying they wouldn’t celebrate the spuds losing until after Monday night.
Why on earth deprive yourself of 48 hours of joy? 🙂
I really don’t understand that masochistic, puritan way of behaving.
Morning all.
Well the article dandan posted is allover the net.If true Podolski is a direct replacement, yet the article gives every fine deatil except the bottom line,how much would city actually pay.
No one player is bigger than his club, EXCEPT in this case,based on present form.
I honestly believe that RVP is not only generated by money and unlike Cesc in his last few months, RVP looks a real captain and is adored by players and fans alike.
If i am wrong he is the greatest actor we have ever had.
For the first time this season we are on a role, and now we have to put up with this for the next three months.
my advice to Robin is to have a cup of coffee 🙂
Its a pain in the Arse on a Sunday morning though GIE. Why do I not like City.
Is Podolski at the same stage of his contract as Robin?
Morning all
@ chas
yes 1 year remaining
It is a nuisance, heres hoping RVP has a coffee with Arsene early on because i can’t handle it dragging on all through the tournament.
Morning all
In my book it’s always ok to celebrate a spud loss whether it affects us or not 😀
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
TA,
Interesting that Arry’s head movements/eyes are similar to Robin’s from your interview!
But Chas, ‘Arry’s eyes move independently of each other, so how can you tell? 🙂
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