A little bit about me and how I ended up a Arsenal fan as no one supported Swansea in the 70s as they were in the old 3rd division.
I was born and bred in Wales to English parents who were working in Swansea. So most friends of mine supported Chelsea or Leeds united as they were the main clubs in the early 70s. But this man made me a gunner, a certain Mr Charlie George and this iconic picture.
I’m sure as you all know that was the winning goal against Liverpool in the 1971 cup final at Wembley. So, as I did not support a club at the time, it was Arsenal for me and I have been an Arsenal supporter ever since that day.
Arsenal will have to careful as Swansea play some good football and a neat passing game and they are expecting a full house down at the Liberty Stadium. The stadium doubles up as a rugby pitch for the Ospreys so the players will have to play on a not so perfect pitch.
The stadium is about 3 miles outside the city as the old Vetch field was in the middle of Swansea right behind the prison. You had better believe this, they are all thinking its game over before we turn up and the locals are ready to turn us over. Lots of my mates are season ticket holders at Swansea and they have being give me a ribbing all week. And the ‘Jacks’ will sing to Arsenal fans in welsh. The locals are called ‘Jacks’ after a pub call the Swansea Jack which is no longer in existence.
If we play like we did against Southampton this lot will turn us right over, but hopefully Mr Wenger will get it right for this one as I would love us to go on a cup run. A good cup run may motivate a few of the players. Will he play the younger generation in this match? He may do as a few looked jaded and tired against The Saints.
I would give OG a run out as he needs a start here’s his chance and he has not had many starts. He can rest the Pod I think from this one and play Walcott up with OG. I would play this team against Swansea and I’d play 4-4-2. If we lose I may move to Cardiff. We are not going to win the EPL this is our only realistic chance of a trophy this year,so come on Arsenal, play the swans at their own game, pass and move .
We will see Big Raddy’s team selection tomorrow, this is my preference:
Subs I’d use a few of the youngsters.
After the FA cup weekend we then have 3 hard EPL matches against City(h), Liverpool(h),Chelsea (a)
I would take 5 points from those games. Before that’s let’s knock these Jacks out of the cup so it can give us confidence.
I’ll round off by saying thank you all for accepting me onto this site and I feel very honoured to be asked to do one post. It is my first and I hope it’s ok.
Much love
Written by Sheep Hagger
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Good idea with the 4-4-2. Perhaps maybe a diamond midfield, with coquelin replacing santi and playing deep, and rosicky at the head of the diamond
Squillachi? Wtf?
Well done sheepy, not only is your name in the list of authors but you’ve received your first ‘wtf’ 😛
I was surprised to see Squillaci in your line up, I wasn’t sure if it was your ironic humour or maybe the idea that putting him in the shop window might encourage another club to buy him.
why squillac instead of sagna
Great work Sheep
A “wtf” is so much milder than the sort of comments I always attract 🙂
Many English people who moved to The Valleys back then were Hippies. Given that they named you Sheep, can we make an assumption?
A not so perfect pitch? You obviously not seen a match played at the liberty then!
Fine post Sheep. Nice to hear stories how people become Gooners,
Squillaci is a strange choice for me, but hey, its your team pick.
I was at Wembley in 1971 to witness Charlie George score the winner for us against Liverpool. Also went on a stadium tour last year and he signed my yellow shirt for me. We could do with him in our side today that’s for sure.
Morning thanks for the comments
Yes Squillaci he’s going anyway so let’s see if he can perform for one last time,we may then get a better price.
I would not play Sanga as his last few games have been a disgrace for Arsenal.
Regarding the pitch it can cut up easy as it rains a lot in Wales,and having big rugby lads play and train on it,don’t help .
And yes I have been to the Liberty Stadium.
Regarding Hippies no I’m not one neither were my parents.
Hope that explains.
Much love Sheep Hagger™
“The locals are called ‘Jacks’ after a pub call the Swansea Jack which is no longer in existence.”
Really? If you’re going to state ‘facts’ then you need to do some more research mate. Inaccuracies undermine any other argument you may make.
You can’t be serious Sqillaci in the team? Unless you really want us to be turned over.Where is Jenkinson for right back for you to go for someone on the verge of leaving us.
Here’s an idea Dai, if you think you can ‘educate’ us, why not explain where the author has got it wrong? This is a friendly site and we have paid Swansea the respect they deserve
Oooo dai what’s wrong with the jack statement.
They are called Jacks due to a sailor who drunk in the Swansea Jack and he was some kind of hero apparently he saved a dog from drowning.
Many years ago
Much love
Sheep Hagger
A very good debut Post, Sheepster! Well done to you! 🙂
It was a very illuminating piece of writing which gave an intriguing glimpse into your background, your reason for choosing Arsenal as well as casting a light into your psyche, or perhaps into your psychedelic origins! 🙂
Your choice of Squidly is no surprise to me, as when all is said and done — you is bonkers!! 😀
Much love — from, Glic
I’m not fussy on KJ either he’s got a lot to learn and he won’t learn much with this squad.
He would be on the bench
Dai the Ram is making sheep’s eyes at you Sheepy — pay no notice!!
Them, Jacks play it rough!! 🙂
A noted pub in Swansea is named Swansea Jack, in honour of the dog. A popular nickname for natives of Swansea is “Swansea Jack”, and many people believe that this name also stems from the famous dog. Others claim that the derivation is from the nickname given to Swansea’s sailors, who had a reputation as skilled and dependable mariners. Another theory is that the coal miners of nearby coalfields called the miners from Swansea “Jacks” because their lunch-boxes were uniquely made of Swansea tin and called Jacks.
Much love dai the ram xx
A few issues here. I don’t think this guy has ever been to the Liberty,or Wales. Yes they play rugby on it,but the pitch has won awards for it’s high standards and so has the groundsman. The Jacks are not named after a pub,and the fans are not taking this game for granted,far from it. We have one eye on next Wednesdays cup semi final with Chelsea,so will not put our full team out.
I hope the Arsenal fans get a better welcome than we did a few weeks ago,where we were blocked from entering the pubs surrounding the ground by foreign bouncers,one pub blatantly stating “no welshies allowed”. Substitute “pakistani” for “welshie” and they’d be up before a race relations board in quick time.
Sheep Hagger
I live over in Skewen (between Neath and Swansea for non locals) and know what you mean. The Jacks reckon the victory and passage to the 4th round is in the bag.
Complacency could get the better of them. The Liberty is a good playing surface and the Swans style of play will suit an open attacking game. I can see lots of goals but hopefully victory for the Arsenal.
Are there many Gooners come down to sample the nightlife the day before?
Sadly I am off to Munich first thing in the morning, otherwise I was going.
Keith, that is pretty shit to be treated like that up at Arsenal.
I could understand it if it was Cardiff 🙂
I know you have your eye on next week’s Semi, but i have to echo Sheep Hagger’s comments. It may just be banter, but the Swansea fans I have talked to think this is won already.
For someone who lives in Swansea, sheep hagger does not know his facts, the Jacks as we are known comes from a local dog renowned for rescuing people from drowning and there is a statue of him on the promenade. He also states the pitch will not be very good because it is also used for rugby, is that why our groundsman has been named British groundsman of the year twice in the last couple of years and to further sheep haggers lack of knowledge typical of someone that supports a team 200 miles from his home town, its the same groundsman that advised Arsenal when laying the pitch at their new stadium.
Support your local team
Jack
I agree with that. Given the amount of rain we get down here and the fact the Ospreys also play on it, the surface in the Liberty is absolutely superb and puts a lot of the sole use grounds in the Premier League to shame.
Keith, if what you say is true – and I have no reason to disbelieve you – the sign barring Welsh people was quite clearly racist, and you should report it. There is no excuse for that.
What also concerned me, was that you said “foreign bouncers” were preventing you from getting into the pubs.
What makes you think they were foreign?
How do you define ‘foreign’? Are you aware that the majority of the population in London are now of immigrant descent or were born abroad?
The “Jacks” nickname came from a dog called Jack who saved a number of sailors from drowning in ship wrecks in stormy weather in Swansea Bay. There is a statue of the dog situated on Mumbles Road opposite the St Helens cricket ground. Origionally the term Jacks was used as an insult to Swansea rugby fans by the Turks(Llanelli) and the Scum (Cardiff) and over the years became a general nickname for anyone from Swansea. Swansea fans have long been proud to be called Jacks and down here it is a term of endearment,
BTW the first football match I ever saw was Swansea v Arsenal at the Vetch in the FA cup around 1964 and I have supported them ever since
Never be a Jack fan I’d rather be a bluebird .
Some say the jack title was after was named after sailors some say a dog .
You keep on more than Mrs Sheep.
I have never been to Swansea, but from the contradictory comments from the visiting bloggers – I wonder if they have either? 🙂
Tegwyn,
I am too lazy to look it up, but I don’t think Arsenal played Swansea in 1964. Did you get beaten by the ‘Pool in the quarter or semi final that year?
Speaking to a man who knows, I understand Arsenal got knocked out of the FA cup 0:1 by Liverpool in February 1964.
Sheep you are an uninformed disgrace to your country and place of birth. No wonder your misses has a go at you!
Lol cheers Swansea.
The game Tegan seen I think it was in 1968,but I may be wrong .
1968 Swansea Town 0 Arsenal 1
http://www.arsenal-world.co.uk/cup_competitions/1967_1968/fa_cup/index.shtml
Morning all
Well done on yout first post for AA Sheep.
Nice to see patthegooner again (the original 6/7 who were involved in different degrees to set up AA used to blog with him on LG).
I don’t care a jacksy what they are called or who plays tomorroww, I would just like to see every player give 100% and IMO it is not a foregone conclusion that we will lose in fact I am thinking that a draw might be the outcome.
Out of interest Swansea has the highest unemployment in England pro rata to population. The oracle (my wife told me) 🙂
I expect Swansea does have the highest unemployment in England. Probably close to 100%, as Swansea is in Wales, not England.
Youth academy nurtures top soccer stars
Many soccer fans believe that Barcelona’s professional team is the best there is. Some even think it’s the best collection of players ever assembled in the sport’s 150-year history. Bob Simon profiles the Spanish “football” club and the training system it built that produces such gifted players that nearly 70 percent of the current team is manned by its graduates. Simon’s report on FC Barcelona will be broadcast on 60 Minutes, Sunday, Jan. 6 at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Spanish football columnist John Carlin says right now, Barca, as many refer to the club, is the “best football team in the world.” But he goes on to say that they may be unmatched in history. “There are a lot of people…serious people in the game, who believe this is the greatest football team that has ever been since the rules of the game were drawn up in a London pub in 1862 or three,” he tells Simon. The club has won nearly every top level title there is to win in the sport — taking home 14 out of a possible 19 trophies in the last four years.
One reason Barca is so good right now is its star forward Lionel Messi, who, at 25, already has broken major records, including scoring 86 goals in 2012 beating a 40-year-old world record for most goals in a calendar year. He and 17 of the club’s 25 players came out of Barcelona’s recruitment system, which began in the 1970s. Stressing academics, sports and discipline, the academy, originally housed in an 18th century farmhouse called La Masia, is difficult to get into and easy to be kicked out of. Says La Masia alum and Barca star player Cesc Fabregas, “I was very lucky and I am not just talking about the football. I am talking about manners, values, education at school,” he tells Simon. “The only thing is, you have to study a lot…they are very strict, but it’s worth it,” says Fabregas, who came to La Masia when he was 10. Asked by Simon how a Masia student would fair if he were more inclined to go out for good time than to train, Fabregas replies “You’ll be out, very, very quick.”
Perhaps the greatest alum of the Barcelona system is Messi, see video below, who came in as 13-year-old boy from Argentina. Twelve years later, he is regarded as the best soccer player there is and he may well be the best ever. Messi is famous now, but his attitude about the game hasn’t changed one bit. “I enjoy football in the same way I did when I was a little kid,” Messi tells Simon. “And I love playing. I love winning the games. I love scoring and I keep loving it all.”
Hi Kelsey, it has been a while, I am too busy with work, so have not been blogging for a while. I still read them though.
I can believe that about Swansea. It is pretty much at the end of the M4 and not many big companies get this far down. There are a fair few call centres though and there is a lot of money being pumped into it, so things are getting better down here. I live here but work the other side of Cardiff,
What are your thoughts on this David Villa chat? I would take him even at 31, he is still a top player and can probably do a job for another 3 years. It is just so un-Wenger-like though. I just wish we would show a bit more ambition and bid for Jovetic or Cavani
GIE, (from yesterday)
Thank you for the clarification on the home grown rules. It’s great that Jenkinson will become “home grown”
It would be wonderful if AW were to emulate Barcelona’s youth project.
SH,
Well done on your first post, you may be right with Squillaci but I hope it’s Jenkinson – certainly not Sagna……..
pat,
yes I would take him but we have this over 30 rule which appears to be different for every player
going back to unemployment it’s strange that the mumbles is a very expensive and much sought after area
That’s an interesting read, GN5, thanks for that.
I suspect that clubs like Barca and also Ajax who are famous for their own football academies, also rely on a fantastic scouting system.
They both can also tap into the South American markets for young players because of the different immigration qualification rules on the continent, and particularly with the Spanish ‘parenting’ status of ‘ex-colonies’.
I was rabbiting on this morning, on Bergkampesque, about the need for Arsenal to review our current youth system. I do not mean a wholesale change, necessarily, but to try and get in centres of excellence by ‘pinching’ top rate coaches from Barca or Ajax etc.
Arsene said this week that he admired S’hampton’s youth scouting set up which had produced players like Bale, Theo, Luke Young and the OX. If our own system had produced them it would have saved the Gunners a packet in transfer fees.
What and how are they doing it, and can we copy them?
We, ourselves, have produced Jack, Gibbs, PingPong, Chezzer and Le Coq, but with the money invested in youth over the years the Arsenal management must have hoped for more ‘higher quality’ kids, coming thru, although there will be some prepared to say ‘why bother, if they are likely to be hoovered up by the Manchester Mafia without a serious change in our contract structure?’
Though we don’t have a good track record buying from Everton, who just announced a loss I would take baines,fellini or Jagielka in a flash
Jovetic I meant, i think
Well done Sheep for your first post. I thought it was very interesting although you seem to have touched a nerve with some of your neighbours. I too can’t go with squilacci and feel if not jenkinson then I would go with either Coquelin or yennaris for RFB. I believe either of these would do better in this role than Squilacci even if they are less experienced than him. Anyway heres hoping for more Sheep posts in the future.
I’ve heard that Fellini directs the game very well. 🙂
Nice stuff Sheepy.
About 10 years ago i went to Swansea with the lads on a four day beano. I was amazed at the surrounding beauty of the place. Sandy beaches, amazing gaffes built on the hills surrounding the town, realy stunning.
Its a real shame when you see a place like that then realize the lack of work opportunities and prospects, especialy for young people.
On the plus side, i did very well up there. In the space of four days two different welsh beauties fell in love with me. But then, who can balme them hey? hahahaha
Nice post, Sheepster.
Let me get this straight. The locals are called Jacks after their habit of jacking up cars, nicking the wheels and leaving them on bricks. 🙂
Woof
I really thought the Squiddly selection was your ovine sense of humour shining through.
Has he any history of playing at right back?
Much love
chas
These welsh beauties who fell in love with you, Terry, what breed were they? Old Welsh Woolies, Black Headed Owens, Eastern Friesians?
Do tell!! 😀
Hi Chas, 🙂
I once worked with a guy who came out of his house one morning, got into his car and drove off, only for the car to tip over.
It was in West london — must have been a Jacks Awayday Caper, if you are to be believed! 🙂
Much too much love!!
Sheepster,
I’m not sure I should have called you that.
I can’t get this song out of my head now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-2eHfmBZ5E
Not many good looking women in Swansea.
But there are loads of fit chicks in Mumbles which is the posh part of Swansea.
No wonder terry scored 2 chicks from Swansea.
Much love
The ovine Sheep.
What did u call me no worries.
Tee Rex song Jeepster,lost me .
Two down – XXX to go…….
…………………………………………………………………………………
Djourou agrees loan move to Hannover 96
Johan Djourou will join side Hannover 96 on loan for the remainder of the 2012/13 season, subject to the completion of regulatory processes.
The Switzerland international has featured 144 times for Arsène Wenger’s side in all competitions since making his first-team debut in a 2-1 League Cup victory against Manchester City in October 2004.
A valuable squad member throughout this time, the 25-year-old showed his versatility last season when moved from his favoured central defensive position to deputise at right back for long spells.
In Djourou’s two senior appearances this term, he has captained Arsenal to Capital One Cup victories over Coventry City and Reading.
Alright, RA (as Sharkey would say).
Some chap I’ve just been working with was p*ssed off that someone had sawn the exhaust from his Volvo recently. He said it pretty worthless and wouldn’t have been the part the thieves were looking for, which was the only saving grace as far as he was concerned.
I called you Sheepster, but it wasn’t funny the first time.
Off see u later
Hi GN5, I have reinstated the IN/OUT widget to show the current state of our January maneuverings … as you say, 2 out, hopefully a couple more
Epidemiology, is all I can say to you, Chas! 🙂 And to Sharkey!! 😀
My friend was unlucky, the thieves had nicked the two tyres furthest from the curb, and the drivers door was nearest to the pavement, outside his apartment.
It was a double whammy because he was a student, and very impecunious, so he had only got 3rd party insurance, so when he unknowingly drove off the bricks, it caused a lot of expensive extra damage, and cost more to repair than the car was worth.
At work we all laughed, at first, but it wasn’t funny really.
The thief probably only got a few quid for the tyres.
Seagulls 2 – Coalmen 0
Red Arse early in my management career I had a young Geordie salesman working for me in Manchester who was it seemed incapable of arriving on time for the 8 O clock Monday morning breakfast sales meeting, so much so that i told him “be late for the next one and you are out on your ear”.
Of course come Monday there is no sign of the young man, mid meeting the phone rings and I see my secretary convulsed with laughter, she rings me on the sales office phone and says desperately trying not to laugh, its Vaughan you must talk to him.
I do intending to tell him to return his company Mini and collect his stuff, I had had enough.
Before I can do so, he says boss you aint gonna believe it, I went down extra early to make sure I wasn’t late this morning, opened up the car and then realised some lousy Basket had nicked the drivers seat, I know Mini’s are small but i cant reach the pedals from thr back seat.
Needless to say with an excuse like that he lived to fight another day and was extremely successful.
Hi Rasp,
Lets hope you have more entries to make on the widget.
Typically I’m disapointed with the transfer windows, even though I resist from speculating on the blog I always have high hopes and end up feeling low.
Can this be the start of the new dawn?
Sometimes, when I hear all the arse licking comments regarding the brilliance of SAF when compared with our own inestimable manger I recall a poem I memorized in my youth.
In fact, at a difficult time in my life, it gave me a deep insight into fame, fortune and the overinflated regard for passing human achievements.
That is a poor explanation for a wonderful poem, so here goes;
Ozymandias
I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: `Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.
And on the pedestal these words appear —
“My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!”
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.’
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Wow.
Dandan,
With the quick wit to come up with an excuse like that, true or not, in difficult circumstances, the guy clearly was a natural salesman. 🙂
In a mini, I think I could probably manage to drive from the back seat!!!! 😀
Nice work Sheep.
I was at Wembley ’71. Great day.
I wonder if that well known cat fancier, Micky is around?
As a doggy type, I think this is very touching! 🙂
A man wrote a letter to a small hotel in a Midwest town that he planned to visit on his vacation.
He wrote: “I would very much like to bring my dog with me. He is well-groomed And very well behaved. Would you be willing to permit me to keep him in my room at night?”
An immediate reply came from the hotel owner, who wrote:
SIR: “I’ve been operating this hotel for many years. In all that time, I’ve never had a dog steal towels, bedclothes, silverware or pictures off the walls.
I’ve never had to evict a dog in the middle of the night for being drunk and disorderly. And I have never had a dog run out on paying a hotel bill.
So, yes, indeed, your dog is welcome at my hotel, and if your dog is prepared to vouch for you, you’re welcome to stay here, too!”
Hand on heart, which of you catters ever heard of a similar equine eulogy? 😀
That was a really good read Mr Sheep
I have learnt a lot about Swansea today, thank you.
DD, GN5 and ?? might relate to this. 🙂
Discussing the changes in living standards from the old days, I heard this from a distant relative in his 80’s — oh my!! Hope he was kidding!
“When I was a kid my mom used to send me down to a corner store with $1 and I would come back with 5 lbs of potatoes, 2 loaves of bread, 3 bottles of milk and a hunk of cheese, 6 eggs, a box of tea and some coffee beans!
You cannot do that now.
Too many fuckin’ security cameras!!”
RA:
Unfortunately I can’t relate to that – we never had any money!
So, GN5, you’re saying my family were the only entrepreneurs in the 40s? 😀
Arteta, Cazorla have started all EPL games this season and so I think we should bring in Coquelin and Rosicky.
Podolski has started all but 1 EPL game so maybe take him out and bring OG in for orthodox 4-4-2.
Firstly we are not known as jacks because of a pub, second, we do not sing to opposing fans in welsh. Third, arsenal will NOT find this game as an easy chance to progress. Fourth, this guy is from Swansea and knows nothing about it. Armchair supporter if you ask me.
RA;
We had no money but never went hungry – we were not entrepreneurial just great “foragers”
GN5, 🙂
You are right 78jack I’m an arsenal arm chair supporter .
I can’t go to the stadium as I can’t get tickets son.
Much love
Sheep
Ps manure losing
When I’m old I’m going to tell my grand children .
When me and u gran were young all we had was sky + and the Internut,
In 30 years time we will have jet pacs and electrict cars ,they won’t have heard of 4 star petrol.
United’s FA Cup campaign hanging on a thread here. cmon west ham
The only hope we have is man poo have 2 average keepers, goalies for my American friends🐏
Are you fking kidding me. Van persie scored.
So u r telling me that swansea fans don’t sing the famous welsh song.
Hymns and arraiads ar heed yr nos.
Come on son
Much love sheep ™
U forget I’m bi lungial
I can speak English and welsh .
Games like this where I wish we just kept Van Persie and forced him to play out his contract. Ffs.
I hate man poo they always get a late on
We are jacks because of a dog called jack that used to work with the lifeboat service and was awarded medals for saving lives the pub was named after him. u sure u live in swansea coz none of us expect to turn u over as the chelsea game is much more important and we will probably rest some key players
Good read Sheep, 71 cup final before my time but I’ve watched it like any good Gooner should.
What has amazed me recently with Swansea fans is their criticism of their team and moaning that I have seen on Twitter, some of the more down to earth Jacks keep reminding the moaners what it was like in Division 2.
Should be a good game but I won’t be watching as I will be in hospital serving an eviction notice on the bump that has outstayed it’s welcome in Mrs Exile. Time to face the world little Gooner….here’s hoping he/she comes out on a win. If we lose I’ll put him/her on media lockdown.
Hi, GIE, 🙂
I shall think of both you and Mrs Exile, tomorrow.
As a mere male I cannot imagine how scary the whole process must be for the Mrs, but she has all my best wishes for a speedy delivery!! 😀
Let us know the sex, weight etc, ASAP! 😛
Dave Seager @goonerdave66
Great ball by Giggs but only 4 players in world could have taken that down in stride and finished it. Messi, Ronaldo, RVP and Giroud!!
These moaners u refer to are the dickheads who turned up after the play offs u shoulda heard them after drawing to chelsea we played shit etc comical really plastic jacks but even these can become real supporters eventually most of the cling ons are leaving now the novelty has worn off congrats on the baby gooner good luck with Ur season after tomorrow and the author of this article is definitely lying about a few things.any real jack knows this won’t be easy and our playing surface is nearly perfect rugby players DO NOT train at the liberty just play once a week there sorry sheep but you valley boys need educating
How revolting is it watching that vile dutchman scoring week after week for someone else 😦
Bitter? Moi? You bet.
Well done Sheep – you’ve popped your AA cherry!
Nice Post – and what a great way to start supporting Arsenal – Charlie’s goal in 1971.
It’s going to be tough tomorrow but if the “good” Arsenal show up we’ll have too much for the Swans.
peaches…it makes me feel sick when I watch him. its not good for my health.
ava g8 day tomorrow
Nice one Sheep. Why not Jenkinson though?
I’m bitter too peaches. What annoys me more though are the arsenal fans who use him, every time he scores to get at Wenger/Kronke/Gazidis. Makes me sick and it’s getting boring.
You know what’s even more revolting? Look at his celebration after he scored that 90th minute goal. Celebrating like he’s the king with that smudge on his face, prolly cause he knows he IS one of the best around.
smug*
Funny how the mancs (and some on LG) used to say shrek was better and none of our players would get in their team. He’s carrying them now. fucking skagheads
I’d like to see him smudged. hope shitty win the league
A Jack it’s nice to know that plastic fans are not a preserve of the big clubs…..to be fair we have come to accept them at the Emirates but it is one of the perils of the modern game.
Chatted to quite a few Swansea fans on the way out of the Emirates, most seemed sane and were enjoying the win for what it was, and in no way getting carried away with their recent successes. It was quite heartening to hear most of them predict we would be back up there..”.too good not to be in CL” etc. Was good to have some sensible chat with other fans.
Although I know things happened during the game that weren’t so good (a tomato ketchup bottle being thrown into your end from the upper tier was one claim. Which I thought summed up some visitors to the Emirates, popping in on their way home from Sainsburys 😦
GiE – I see you and the Mrs are going for some ‘childbirth persuasion’ tomorrow, best of luck with that, I’ll be thinking of you.
It’s my first born’s birthday today and I can honestly say i do remember every minute of her entrance into this world.
Hope you both can stay calm, it’s an amazing time 🙂
Good luck Mr and Mrs GIE.
Thanks for the well wishes everyone, no guarantees it’ll arrive tomorrow, as soon as I know I’ll share 🙂
GiE…Fingers crossed for a great day. Baby born and The Arsenal win. Take care.
Good luck GIE
I wound a few locals up today
Up the arsenal ,
In not going out tomorrow I may get duffed up by a few jacks.
Ill watch it on Espn .night
Were named the jacks because of a heroic golden retriever named jack that saved many of lives at sea, the pub however is named after the dog(jack), you could even google this, he saved many of lives at sea when he was alive. Sadly he is dead because it was about 100 years ago and that would mean he would be 700 years in dog years.
GN5 I was interested in that article on Barca you posted up earlier today, in my view the ability to have Barca B playing in a high standard of competition must help them and other Spanish clubs develop talent.
Also it shouldn’t be forgotten that there is not always a space for their young protégés at the club, Cesc came to us, Pique to United before later returning with more experience.
I wonder also whether it is the ultra competitiveness of the PL that prevents the top clubs here doing the same. Ferguson achieved a lot with a crop of youngsters that came through in one team….but since Giggs, Beckham, Neville x2 and Scholes I don’t think they’ve brought much of their own talent through to regular first team football, may be Cleverly now emerging is the first who looks likely to be first name on the teamsheet.
Terry came through at Chelsea but he has been the only one. City developed Richards in their current team. Liverpool Gerard. I would love to see more young players progress from our Youth setup and I thought Bouldie’s appointment up the ladder along with Banfield would see more feature. I actually think this is the one area Fergie does well, he may not have brought players through to be first team regulars but he keeps them in the squad and gets the best out of them instead of buying squad players.
Match day. Are you excited?
This shows how to shag up a prematch atmosphere with hideous tannoy music.
Immediately the sound system is turned off the rendition of “Harry’s got a horse” is deafening.
Best wishes to The Exiles today.
Morning Chas
Rosicky to start?
Midfield and attack:
Gerv Olly Theo
…….AA Ros
………..Coq
Oh for a top DM
“700 years in dog years”
Made me smile.
Indeed hoping Mrs.GIE and Arsenal both deliver today.
A word of warning to anybody who will have to stream the game. There are a multitude of very official Government looking warnings floating around Europe that will block your computer and ask you to pay 100 euros to be released. This is a very deep piece of malious software which only an expert can get rid of . beware.
Hi Woolly Sheep, 🙂
That was quite an interesting debut for you, and I bet you were not expecting that level of antagonism!!
The odd thing is that some of them kept correcting you – especially about the heroic dog reference to the Jacks, buy said pretty much the same thing in different words.
At least one of them said you were lying about Rugby being played at the Liberty ground, but then others were saying it is — and you and they were right — it is! 🙂
Very odd, but amusing!
Stay away from the ground today, because if a Jack spots a sheep wearing Arsenal colours you are bound to get sheared.
Very best of luck to Mr & Mrs GiE, hope the stalk delivers today … the big question is – if it’s a boy, will you name him Jack (after Wilshere of course 😆 )
Rasp, have you changed your e mail address ?
Morning kelsey, no, my email is the same (the one that starts with d.1. ) I’ve just had a look in my in box and nothing from you?
I sent it on the 24/12/12 strange funny it showed d without the 1
I know a new post is due but the team selected will show Wenger’s intent on this competition. I have a feeling he won’t do the obvious and drop/rest Sagna but start again with the same 11 as last week.
nothing from the 24th kelsey, can you send me a test email pls?
Done
Thanks kelsey, got that one but not the one from the 24th?
This is not the time to debate the subject but I see Wenger has not changed his mind about his ‘socialist attitude to wages’. It is this ridiculous concept that has caused us to lose our best players and make it impossible to move on players who no longer make our bench. This statement alone confirms my belief that he is out of touch with modern thinking and should be replaced…..
…“We don’t have a big gap between what our players earn at Arsenal. We are more a socialist model and vulnerable because of that.
Having got that rant off my chest, I am delighted to announce today’s ….
…. New post ……
Morning
I knew the jack was a dog,I did it for a laugh and YES I got the perfect reaction from the hostile Jacks.
Not going to game today I will get duffed up by men in white tops.
Espn for me it’s only a tender for a month.
Much love
Sheep
Firstly, nobody has said that rugby is not played at the liberty, it was said, and correctly so, that training was not done at he liberty.
Secondly, the OP sounds like a massive dickhead.
1 he knows nothing about what us genuine supporters believe will happen today.
2 he is back tracking on the true meaning of “jack”
3 he says that the pub is no longer in existence, it is, as the photo shows, it’s just no longer in use.
Aftert reading some of the tripe on here, I hope we turn you lot over again, just like last season here and more recently at the Emirates, and yes a ketchup bottle was thrown from the upper tier, it hit a young girl I believe.
On a plus side, I was chatting to a few or your fans at the Emirates last month, they really need to sort out your ticket prices, shocking how much you guys have to pay.
That is an awful read. We are not named after a pub, the pitch was better than the emirates last season and us Jack’s don’t think we’re nailed on winners.
OUr pitch was voted best in premier league, better than old Trafford, arsenal or Chelsea’s. We’re called Jacks , probably, because of our seafaring links, Jack tars. Swansea sailors were held in very high regard by admiral lord Nelson and were welcomed on any ship back then.
We hope for a win but don’t expect one. The person writing this must live in the valleys and inhaled too much coal dust.
Do some research and get your facts right.
Since we are on the topic of pinging, this is yet
another reason given by WordPress users of why they prefer this blogging platform.
You want to sell yourself, not to degrade yourself. Remember you can use
Wordpress as a regular website.
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