HNY at St. Mary’s?

January 1, 2013

Firstly, A Happy New Year to all our friends and readers on Arsenal Arsenal. Whatever happens during 2013 our common Goonerdom will  continue to bring comraderie and banter.

So, thanks are in order on this first day of the year: First and foremost to Peaches and Rasp for providing this forum with the non-stop effort involved; to all the post writers who have given time and energy to provide such sterling entertainment; to the morning crew who make the start of the day so much fun; to the regular bloggers who give insight and humour, and not least to the thousands of visitors who make Arsenal Arsenal such an enjoyable blog. Thank you All.

And whilst we are on the subject – thanks are also due to the stumbling fools from down the road whose inability to win 2 games in a row allowed us take 3rd and enjoy yet another CL campaign whilst laughing at their continued ineptitude. .

Onto todays game. Southampton away. The home fixture must have been an embarrassment to anyone connected to the Saints; we mashed them in a manner which suggested an immediate return to the Championship. They have improved since then as the 3 goals at Stoke give evidence.

All S’ton’s points have been won against the teams at the lower end of the table which continues to be their best survival resource.

I wish Southampton well. They are a good club but today I want to see their players trudge dejectedly off the pitch following another beating by the resurgent Arsenal.

We are doing better; not brilliantly, but better. The defence remains problematic with silly mistakes occurring way too regularly. But the midfield and attack looks very potent and are gelling in an exciting and highly creative manner. Once Jack starts scoring we will have goals from everywhere. Is there a more potent sub than Giroud? He must wonder what he has to do to get a full 90 minutes. The Theo at CF “experiment” seems to be working, and as someone said why on earth was Gervinho given such a run at CF when Theo is clearly the better finisher?

My Team.

arse nyd

Give BFG a New Year holiday before the sterner tests later in January.

The Ox/Theo combo is working very well and when Theo went wide late in the game on Sat, we looked even more dangerous. Nathaniel Clyne is a fine FB but he will be stretched this afternoon. Shame he plays on the right.

But back to the defence. Surely the problems lie in organisation rather than personnel. Gibbs is a fine player who has a glittering future at Arsenal but recently every mistake has been punished. Likewise Sagna, who I can only assume was full of Xmas spirit vs Newcastle, either that or he was smitten by the ‘flu bug which seems to be sweeping through Europe.

Todays explorer (thank you Chary for finding not only a fine fellow but one with magnificent facial hair). My favourite explorers have always been the ice-boys. The physical challenges of the Polar expeditions are unimaginable to us of the central heating generations. We start the new year with one of the most famous of all Polar explorers and a man whose final words remain famous 100 years after his death. Captain Lawrence “Titus” Oates (1880 – 1912) went with Scott to the South Pole – he was the bravest of men. Born in Putney, he fought in the Boer War and was recommended for a Victoria Cross.

In 1910, aged just 30, Oates joined Scott’s Terra Nova expedition to the South Pole. Being extraordinarily fit he was one of 4 men chosen to join Scott on the long walk to the Pole. Their dreadful journey is the stuff of legend and resulted in one of the most famous examples of self-sacrifice in British history. Oates decided he was hindering the return to base camp of the group; he left the tent in a fearsome blizzard saying “I am just going outside, I may be sometime.” His body has yet to be found.

To anyone who hasn’t already done so, may I recommend reading “The Worst Journey in the World” by Apsley Cherry-Garrard, a stirring account of Captain Scott’s doomed quest.

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Oates, Scott, Wilson, Bowers & Evans. Real Men

A successul return to St. Mary’s for Theo and Ox would be a great start to the New Year.

Let it be so ………..

COYRRG

Written by Big Raddy

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Posted by Erik the Red

Wigan’s a Biggun ….. and where’s Myaichi?

December 22, 2012

Lose to Swansea, beat West Brom. Lose to Bradford, beat Reading. Should this continue we may be disappointed by this afternoon’s game. The need for consistency is paramount if we are to be genuine contenders.

Wigan are struggling as they often do at this time of the season; fortunately, they have a knack of picking up points close to season’s end and thus escaping relegation.

Just 80k people live in Wigan which is a testament to the brilliant job done by the management, both at team and board level. Especially as this is Rugby League country, a town where football is for nancyboys. Wigan Rugby club have been World Champions 3 times which is astonishing.

The football club will always be in the shadow of the Warriors but nonetheless are a club to be admired. Formed in 1932 they are the youngest club in the PL.  In 1995 when Dave Whelan bought Wigan they were a 4th Division team sitting 83rd in the 92 club league, yet just 10 years later they made it to the PL. Back in ’95 their average attendance was 1,800, now it is almost 19,000 – a huge success for a small club.

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Remember Me?

I do not  know very much about Dave Whelan but he has done a great job for his club and his support of his managers is a lesson to other trigger-happy owners. Roberto Martinez has also done well given the constraints he works under;  he is destined for bigger clubs and bigger budgets.

As to AFC: The only question is whether AW will continue with Theo playing in the middle. My guess is No – I expect to see Giroud start and Theo back on the wing but with license to venture infield. The problem with this is that Ox doesn’t start and I think he needs to get a run of games to re-establish himself, alongside Jack, as the futures of English football.

Koscielny is fit again but I cannot see AW starting him today. I believe the Kos/BFG partnership is our best CB pairing, whether Mr Wenger agrees remains to be seen.

My Team:

wigan v arse

The 5 midweek signings were a sign of the future for AFC. A sign of the media narrative – that AFC are in crisis and AW has lost support of both the fans and the dressing room, is the obsession about Theo. Please, please, please Theo either stay or go. The uncertainty must be a negative around the club – if we ask the question do you imagine his team-mates don’t? I would send Frimpong round to Dench him.

Right onto the important stuff: Today’s English Explorer. Sir Walter William Herbert (1934 – 2007). Usually our explorers are long dead but Wally Herbert was lucky enough to enjoy The Invincibles. He is described as the Greatest Polar Explorer of our Time.

Herbert , not the American Robert Peary, was the first person to walk to the North Pole – it took two years (1968/9) to complete the 3,800 mile return trip and he was forced to winter on the ice. Peary’s claims have been disputed since Herbert, as the great Polar expert, was asked to write a biography about Peary. He discovered that there were huge discrepancies in Peary’s account of his journey and that it would have been impossible for Peary to complete his walk. Thus Herbert became the first man to walk to the North Pole. Having spent 15 years living and exploring the Polar cap and in the process walked and sailed over 23,000 miles Herbert retired to become a renowned author and artist.  He was knighted in 2000.

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Beard. Moustache. Ice. Knighthood.

My hope is that the euphoria of the players surviving the End of the World scare will promote a fine performance. The Mayans have predicted 3 points.

p.s. Ryo has only played 3 games for Wigan in an injury plagued season. He is currently out with an ankle injury.

COYRRG

Written by Big Raddy

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Posted by Erik the Red

Was Bradford the Worst defeat ever?

December 20, 2012

I was a young man; enjoying school and starting upon a proper social life. you know – the one that happens outside school when you meet like minded folk from other schools. And there were girls. Yes, it was more than just telling your close mates that Gail X was very attractive, it was having the nerve to go and ask Gail X for a date.

But the problem with girls was that they got in the way of football and football took up all my waking time (and most of my dreams). By this time I had realised the need for priorities in life; I knew that going to Highbury was more important than a Saturday job. I knew that listening to Radio London was more important than doing my Geography homework and I knew that Clapton was the heart, Hendrix was the soul and Tamla Motown was the feet.

What has this to do with Arsenal? Well, such a combination was sure to have it’s problems. My attachment to Arsenal was the over-riding feature of my life but girls were coming up fast on the rails. Then this happened …..

Swindon. Wembley. Saturday 15th March 1969.

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I had been going out with Gail for a few weeks. Not got much further than a bit of canoodling but I knew she really liked me and there was potential (if you get my drift 🙂  ). I had my Wembley tickets  and arranged to meet her at Golders Green station after the game.

The journey to Wembley was a victory march. Gooners were celebrating pre-match,; how could we possibly lose to a 3rd Div side? We knew the pitch was difficult but we had Ure and we had Raddy and we had Geordie Armstrong, Bob Wilson and Captain Mclintock. Hard men, experienced Internationals, men who had grown up playing on ploughed fields. You know what happened …. it went tits up.

Post game was a disconsolate walk back to Golders Green (a long way) thinking about the dreadful week to come at school. All my mates were Chelsea, West Ham or Spurs. I knew what was in store for me. I wanted to hide away – even better move to a secret Caribbean island with no contact to the outer world, just a few coconut trees and a Girl Friday. But I had Gail to look forward to.

She was waiting for me by the number 13 bus stop, the one under the railway arch – you know the place. She looked great; miniskirt, platform shoes, tight cashmere jumper and was smiling when she saw me. I was gutted, just gutted by the result. She kissed me, I didn’t respond, she kissed me again, I didn’t respond. Then she said the words that echo around my head all these years later …….  “It’s Only a Game”.

I knew immediately. There was a lightning flash of awareness, an understanding of the path my future life would follow.

“A Game?” I replied. “This is the single most catastrophic event since Adam ate the apple”

I turned and left, walking the couple of miles home. Gail phoned me many times over the next week but I was and remained cold to her charms.

How could anyone not understand the pain a defeat like that can cause to a bleed red and white Gooner? How insensitive was this woman? From this day forward I would protect myself from such callousness (well, at least for a couple of weeks!)

But what was the under-text? It was this: Whatever has happened in my life – and there have been many catastrophies and triumphs – Arsenal have always been there. The camaraderie, the  bond, the facing tribulation with common purpose.

So, when we lost to Bradford it wasn’t the worst defeat in my Arsenal history, it wasn’t even in the Top 20. Sure it hurt but the win at Reading was more important.

I have spent tens of thousands of pounds, lost girlfriends and mates, been scared witless, been hugely depressed and suffered taunts and abuse as a result of my support for Arsenal. But the joy …… the joy …..

Would I change it? To be honest there are some days when my obsession has weighed heavy and I think to myself. – “it is time to let it go” – but I know I won’t.

I made my choice when I walked away from Gail.

What was your worst Arsenal experience?

p.s. Gail later married (& divorced) a cousin of Peaches. He’s a West Ham fan ( served him right 👿  )

Written by Big Raddy

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Posted by Erik the Red

Another Thriller?

December 17, 2012

What to expect tonight? Have we any idea? And therein lies the problem with our current team – inconsistency. No-one, and that includes Mr Wenger, knows whether we will enjoy a night of flowing football and a handsome win or another stumbling, incoherent performance.

Last time out at the Madejski we witnessed one of the most bizarre games in Arsenal’s history. Being thrashed by a very ordinary team in a horror first-half, Arsenal went  on to thrill their fans with late, late goals and loads of them. It was football, but not as we know it.

Do you think we will score 7 tonight? No, neither do I.

The damage done to the confidence of the team by the horror loss to Bradford will have one of two effects; either they will respond by digging in and grinding out a win or they will say, “b*ll*cks, we are better than this and we will show you all.” If it is the latter then the rest of the season could be exciting for us Gooners, however  ……

Reading go into the game rooted to the bottom of the table and on a run of 5 consecutive losses. We have won one of our last 6 (can’t believe I wrote that!)

A return for Theo is very welcome, he hurt Reading in the CC and I expect him to do so again. Giroud is also available and probably welcomed the rest. The remainder of the team is less clear but we can no longer point at injuries as the reason for our inconsistency.

The midfield selection must be a headache for AW; JW is back and starting to show his exceptional abilities yet it took the arrival of Rosicky to gee him up on Tues evening. What with AW’s penchant for Ramsey how will he set up the team? My guess is this:

100a

With Cazorla playing further forward as the support striker. This allows both Rosicky and Gibbs to exploit the left wings and hopefully provide some ammunition for Giroud.

Today’s English Explorer: Clement St. George Royd Littledale (1852-1931). With a name like that he was sure to be a top bloke (love the St. George). His area was Central Asia. A big game hunter, Littledale  collected for the Natural History museum and led expeditions all over USA, and later into the Caucusus and Russia. Always traveling with his wife Teresa, one expedition took them from East from Russia and all the way to Peking. Another was a 1400 mile walk aimed at reaching the forbidden city of Lhasa in Tibet. They got to within 40 miles before being stopped. Teresa became ill and had to be carried 1200 miles back to India to recover. Now, I have tried carrying my wife upstairs and struggled – imagine carrying her 1200 bloody miles!! Littledale was a great Englishman and worthy of further investigation.

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The Peter Storey of Explorers

Will we win tonight? Your guess is as good as mine, but we certainly should beat the bottom team in the table if we have pretensions of a Top 4 finish

COYRRG

Written by Big Raddy

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Posted by Erik the Red

Wenger to Chelsea?

December 14, 2012

Too many words have already been written on the subject of Arsene Wenger, nevertheless BR would like to give his tuppence worth.  I don’t usually write serious posts and this is a rarity (hence no pics or explorers)

Firstly, is Mr Wenger too old for his job? The crux here is that he is two generations older than some of the players and could easily be their grand-father-figure!  Does he understand “Dench”? Of course not.  The question is does he need to? Wenger has never been the arm around the shoulder buddy to the players – he has been and remains a much respected, somewhat distant manager. He has other people to be the emotional rock, though it should be pointed out that AW does create close relationships with his players – just look at TH14. But as an older man myself, I know that the mind is not as open and flexible as it once was, there are new ideas in football and it is the younger men who embrace them. Would a Lambert or a Laudrup be better? Can Wenger adjust to the digital age?

Is Mr Wenger, as has often been touted, tactically naive? Now BR is no tactitian and is not able to judge but a manager doesn’t suddenly go from being manager of the decade to dunce or does he? It certainly appears that AW does get  out-thought by the top European managers, SAF seems to have the hoodoo over him and has beaten us with teams which on paper should never have won. The strict adherence to 4-3-3 may be costing Arsenal – right now though it is the team rather than the system which is letting us down.

Is Mr. Wenger’s notorious reluctance to pay big money for star players the problem?  I recall AW stating that there are many highly expensive players who were simply not worth the money ( I believe he was referring to Kaka and Ronaldinho). His preference has always been to shop elsewhere and who can say whether signing Ibrahimovitch (for example)  instead of Giroud would have improved the team. In my opinion Ibra would have had a huge impact, not only because he is a brilliant player but he also takes a huge reputation (and ego) into the dressing room. A few years ago our young players could say they shared a dressing room with TH or PV or TA or DB …. now? ?  To be a big club we have to have big players and the biggest one we have at present is Theo, who isn’t even a first choice England player. We need to sign someone who can attract other quality players to the club.

Please Mr Wenger, I beg you – buy a World Class player – forget the wages, forget the fee because if we want to see kids wearing Arsenal shirts around the world then we need a name to hang the team on.

Is Mr Wenger responsible for the poor performances of late? Damn right he is. One may well say that it was the players who caused the embarrassment at Bradford but who bought/nurtured them? Who picks them? Who motivates them?

Mr Wenger is not above criticism nor should he be. Of late he has made costly and inexplicable mistakes in his transfer dealing; he continues to use players out of position causing uncertainty and frustration. Worse, this team seems devoid of inspiration and football intelligence. Who can one look to when a team which includes the imagination of Cazorla, Wilshere, Arteta, Rosicky and Diaby does not create goal scoring opportunities? Since when have Arsenal been a team who play with a target man, a tactic not used since the days of Wright? And if we are forced into this tactic because of a dreadful shortage of strikers – who is to blame?

I am not questioning AW’s continued reign as Arsenal manager – I remain convinced he is the right man for the job. He has the experience, the courage and the skill to take us back to the top but something has to change. The transition of Arsenal from being a football club to an American owned Corporation has been painful and for some fans unacceptable but in the words of Paul Weller “This is the Modern World”. Those asking for “our Arsenal back” are deluded – it has gone forever. If it has been hard for the fans imagine how difficult it has been for Mr. Wenger. My hope and expectation is that Arsene will see out his contract and leave on a cloud of love and appreciation to become a National manager .

My final point is this and it is a question to those with an “Arsene Out” agenda:-

Chelsea have been looking for a manager who will develop their youth system and get them playing attractive football – they have been looking for many years now. Do you imagine that Roman hasn’t had his men approach AW? It doesn’t take much vision to see how quickly AW would build a team with the brilliance of Hazard, Mata etc allied to an open cheque book. What would you think if the next manager of Chelsea was one who was pee’d off with the complaints from the minority of Arsenal fans and decided to take a  last, huge financial payday at Stamford Bridge?

Arsene Wenger – next Chelsea manager? It is not beyond the realms of possibility.

Would that make you happy?

Written by Big Raddy

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Posted by Erik the Red

Arsene Wenger’s Magic Hat?

December 11, 2012

Bradford. Seems an age since they were in the Premiership, and yet it was only 11 years ago. Today they sit 65 places below us. having had 17 (yes – 17!) managers since Mr Wenger came to Arsenal; Chairman Julian Rhodes has employed 9 managers since 2004! Current manager Phil Parkinson was an Arsenal scout and remains a fan.

Checking through some of the stats (kelsey kindly provided many yesterday) one fact stands out, tonight is Bradford’s 31st game of the season (we have played 24). That is a heavy workload and one must ask how is it economically viable? Plus, how can they do it with such a small squad?

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The Romford Pele scored the last time we played Bradford(PL )

Having beaten Wigan in the last round Bradford will be looking to add an even bigger scalp tonight, can they do so? What do you think? Could a weakened Arsenal team really lose up in the frozen North? Even playing second strings AW will field a team full of current Internationals, however tonight will be about fight and spirit, not just talent and skill. Put these two teams on an indoor training pitch and AFC would win every time but tonight Bradford will be spurred on by 23,000 fans, their biggest crowd for 50 years, and they will not go down without a fight. The question is can we match their passion?

My Team:

bradford v arse

Whether the above team has enough attacking potency  is open to question and perhaps we will see Ox start in place of Eisfeld. We are likely to get a sub appearance from Gnabry – a young player who is very highly rated by Mr Wenger. This could be the final game for Arshavin and Chamakh with both available for sale in January.

Today’s English explorer: Augustine Courtauld. (1904-1959) This young chap was another ice specialist. Trained as a stockbroker and son of the industrialist and art collector, Samuel Courtauld (the Courtauld Institute)   he was typical of the English loony explorers. Greenland was Courtauld’s area  and he once spent  5 months on his own during a Greenland winter observing weather conditions. The highest peak in the Arctic region is named after him, Mount Augustine.

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Preparing the Valley Parade pitch for the visit of Arsenal

It would be a monkey off the back should we win this cup. OK it isn’t the silverware we would choose but nonetheless it is a trophy and one all the PL clubs compete in. Furthermore, it was George Graham’s first trophy and one which was the springboard to greater glory.

Embarrassing if we lose, a semi-final if we win. Well worth fighting for.

Written by Big Raddy

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Posted by Erik the Red

West Brom Ahoy!

December 8, 2012

To put today’s game into context let us start with the “crisis” of form. Two big wins then AV away – where once again we played a team just about to improve upon a poor start (check both Norwich & AV post-AFC), Villa are not a bad team and getting a draw was OK, Everton were above us in the table and unbeaten at home, a draw acceptable, then the Swansea game…….

Swansea were excellent last Saturday; according to their fans it was the best performance they had ever seen from their side. Laudrup was ecstatic, as well he might be. We got beaten by a better side on the day – yes, on the day – Swansea are not better than Arsenal and never will be.  Instead of damning Arsenal’s performance which seems to be de rigeur for some, why not applaud what was a fantastic team performance from Swansea? There was not one area of the pitch that they were second best, so hats off to Swansea for giving any football fans an enjoyable afternoon.

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Saviour or just Irish’s Dream Man?

What is my point? Well, it is this . at the end of the game Arsenal left the field to the sound of boos echoing around a 30% full stadium. Thankfully, a few hardy souls stayed on to clap Swansea and applaud our boys for the effort they put in.

Do the remainder of fans only go to the Emirates to watch Arsenal win?

And yes, I do know this is our worst start since the Moses brought down the tablets.

But enough of this, let’s look at today’s game and see how the Mighty Arsenal are going to win and shut up the boo-boys. To start with they are going to have to win without Pod, Theo and Bacary, 3 important cogs in our attacking machine (?). The return of Tomas´and Jack mean we have a dynamic midfield particularly with Ox likely to start. Solidity in defence and a patient approach will, as ever, be important – basic individual defensive mistakes cost us last Saturday and they must be eradicated.

Tactics are beyond me, so I hope JM will make an appearance and make some suggestions, but if we are to play 4-3-3, where does Rosicky play? So, I am going for a highly improbable 4-4-2 based upon nothing more than the fact that Gervinho played the whole game in Athens

My team:

arse v brom

And what of WBA? Is their season going to fall away after such a wonderful start? Why should it? WBA will be good opponents this afternoon,they remain 5 points ahead of us in 5th (they would be 4th but some some miscreants with the same points and GD are alphabetically ahead of them). Steve Clarke has carried on the good work started by Hodgson and despite losing their last two games WBA are a tidy side.

Today’s English explorer: Matthew Flinders (1774 -1814) Learned his trade sailing with Captain Bligh (though not on The Bounty), Flinders was the first man to circumnavigate Australia and identify it as a continent. Flinders was also the man who suggested the name for the new land (Australis). After his ship ran aground on the Barrier Reef, he sailed 700 miles in a small cutter back to Sydney and then returned to pick up his crew, a superb feat of seamanship. He also spent much time in South Australia and founded Melbourne. There are over 100 places in Oz named after Flinders. He died at the young age of 40 in London.

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A freshly shaved Mr. Flinders

When we win this afternoon it will be Arsenal’s 250th home win in the PL. Let it be so.

COYRRG

Written by Big Raddy

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Posted by Erik the Red

Olimpiacos and other Narratives

December 4, 2012

Two draws followed by a painful home defeat. How will Mr Wenger react to this poor run of form? He will send out a second rate team and pray for a draw.

We saw in the home leg how good Olympiacos are and they have a 100% home record in the Greek Super League. which they lead by 10 points.  On that rain-soaked night in October we struggled, particularly in the first half when Olympiacos showed why they are Greek Champions. We eventually won 3-1 thanks to a good performance from Gervinho and a lovely Ramsey finish in the final seconds.

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This is an important game for Olympiacos who will be eager to achieve a Europa Cup place, and with Montpelier taking on Schalke they must be favourites. Add in the noisy and colourful home fans plus our 3-1 loss last season in a similar situation and you can appreciate my concerns. For once, BR thinks Arsenal will lose.

Would losing be costly? If Schalke win first place is beyond us and I believe they will win in Montpelier, so we are likely to finish second. Not really a problem. But at what cost to the morale of the team, is it in their interest to be sent out as lambs to the slaughter? Is it sensible to have young players remember that the first time they played in the first team they lost? Trouble is, the resting of the first team is more important than winning tonight, it is the reward for early qualification.

My Team:

oly v arse

With Rosicky coming off the bench on 60 mins, and some young fresh legs to replace Gervinho and Ox.

Today’s explorer: Darwin’s mate let us down at the weekend, let’s hope this chap brings better luck. Francis Light (1740 – 1794). Founder of Penang, Malaysia. Born in England, his father was unknown but he was lucky enough to be taken in by a wealthy aristocrat who had him educated as a naval officer (oh yes ….). For 10 years Light travelled around the Far East being based in Phuket (nice work if you can get it) before leasing Penang and developing Georgetown.. BR has spent many a happy hour in Penang so thank you Mr Light.

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Further proof. No facial hair, no Title

It would be wonderful if tomorrow we were writing about the fighting spirit and never-say-die attitude of the team. We may not win but make us proud boys.

Written by Big Raddy

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Posted by Erik the Red

Home Kit 2013/4

December 1, 2012

Who would have though Swansea at home would be approached with some trepidation?  Not me and I guess not you either.

Have we cause for concern? Swansea play attacking football and at their own ground can be formidable, as we found out last season (3-2 loss). The bookies make us 4/9 favorites, so they think we will win but Swansea are on a fine run – just one loss in 9 games and they have just beaten WBA, no mean feat.

Cyberspace has been full of irate Gooners wanting “their Arsenal back” over the past week, a protest which will continue today with the BS March. Good luck to them if their protest results in a change of attitude at Board level but I fear the management will turn a deaf ear. Think Leveson Inquiry and David Cameron. There is no profit in change and until there is nothing will happen.

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Lord Leveson sporting next season’s home kit

It should be an exciting game this afternoon; two teams committed to attack. A Swansea side with Michu, Routlege, Hernandez and Dyer to test our defence and Theo etc enjoying the open spaces of the Emirates. Swansea are unlikely to parcio ar y bws (I once had a welsh wife). Thankfully Hernandez is injured – he has been in excellent form. Michu has scored 9 already this season. Dyer at 24 has finally grown up and looks dangerous; with the need for a new winger looming AW may be tempted.

Much is made on these shores of Michael Laudrup, he is football royalty. Alongside Schmeichel he is consider the best Danish footballer ever, and it should be recalled that in 2000 Spanish fans voted him the best foreigner ever to play in Spain which is some compliment . He has made a good start at Swansea, but  a brilliant footballer does not always make a brilliant manager (Bobby’s Charlton & Moore, Maradona, Pele, Gazza! etc). Time will tell but Micky has Laudrup as the next AFC manager and from a purely personal viewpoint I would be very happy with that (every AFC game would be shown here).

My Team:

arse v swans

My hope is that we go allout from the kick-off. If we play well for the first 20 and the final 20 we will win. The away tactic of playing Ramsey gives no assistance to Giroud, we need width to exploit his talents. No Ox in this lineup – perhaps AW will start him in place of Wilshere as JW started at Goodison.

I could bore you with stats and tactics and permutations but there are others who do it so much better.

Our unbeaten run has coincided with the stories of derring-do from English Explorer’s. Coincidence? I think not…… Today’s chap is Joseph Dalton Hooker (1817-1911) Dalton was a botanist and explorer. Charles Darwin’s best friend and Director of Kew Gardens. Places he explored are many – Antarctica, the Himalayas, Australia, India, Tibet, Palestine, Morocco, the Western USA, the list is extensive but then he did live a long time. An exceptional man in an era of brave,  remarkable men and a man who enjoyed the full benefits of extensive facial hair!

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A Lifelong Commitment to Facial Fuzz

This is a tough game and a severe test of our aspirations, a win will set us up for a Merry Xmas.. Come on Arsenal win it for SlimGingerGooner who today will enjoy his first trip to The Home of Football.

COYRRG

Written by Big Raddy

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Posted by Erik the Red

To Goodison and Beyond.

November 28, 2012

Lovely club Everton. Good manager,  proper ground and fans, history, decent board, solid team with some much-in-demand players but ….. they would sell their grandparents to get 4th, something we spoilt Gooners have started to sneer at.

Would you be happy if Moyes took over from Mr. Wenger? I thought not.

If you were Moyes and had a chance of getting a CL spot would you sell Fellaini, Jelavic and Baines in January? No, I thought not.

Do you think, apart from Baines and Fellaini, that any Everton players would be first choice for Arsenal?

So why are they above us in the table?

Everton have won one out of their last 7 PL games, however they have yet to lose at home this season. We have a fine recent record at Goodison, something AW will be looking to continue.

The return of Theo and JW will add much to our team and hopefully give some thrust  to our attacks, something lacking at Villa. I feel for Ramsey who had a decent game on Saturday but will always be in Wilshere’s shadow.

My Team:

Mr Wenger is prone to adding an extra midfielder when we are playing away but I hope he takes the risk of attacking from the off; we have been awful in the first 20 minutes for over a month. Ox was poor last week and must do better if he is to force his way into the starting 11.

Given the power of Fellaini and Jelavic I would play TV rather than Koscielny, conversely Kos has been back to his best and we haven’t conceded in the last two games.

Today’s English Explorer: May I introduce you to George Vancouver (1757-1797) who explored and surveyed the Pacific coast of North America from Oregon all the way to Alaska. Like  many explorers of the time he had a penchant for naming things after himself – Mount Vancouver, Vancouver Island and 2 Vancouver cities (Canada and USA) plus the Vancouver Peninsula in Australia, He learned his trade on two trips with Captain Cook to Australia and Hawaii aboard the Discovery.  Vancouver died young at just 40. He is buried in Petersham, Surrey.

No facial hair. No title

Arsenal are on a 5 match unbeaten run. In order to make it 6 we shall  have to be resolute in defence. I expect the game to centre upon who wins the midfield battle, Arteta’s return to Goodison will fill him with enthusiasm and hopefully be the springboard towards a victory. Set pieces could well be the key. Scoring has not been a problem but we really have to be more accurate with our crossing – in Giroud Arsenal finally have a player who is excellent in the air, let’s use this ability and make sure there are enough runners into the box to capitalise on the knock-downs.

We can win this ……

COYRRG

written by Big Raddy

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Posted by Erik the Red

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