We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
posted by gooner71 @ 10:08 AM
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
45 Comments:
Sanchez Watt and Jack Wilshire have both been given starts today and have already made the Barnet keeper work to keep the ball out. Rosicky is captain today in the absence of Cesc which is a nice touch.
The alarming thing is that our central pair is Gallas and Djourou, with new boy Vermaelen playing wide right and Silvestre playing wide left. I consoled myself at the end of the season last year that I'd not have to suffer the sight of Gallas and in particular, Silvestre again in a Arsenal shirt.
Ooh, Tomas jynking his way through their back line and just tried one move too many. Shame didn't come off.
And then Barnet nearly head one in at the other end. A sloppy corner giveaway is compounded by leaving some big guy completely open. He rose like a kipper out of the pack and headed it just over. My telly screen is so small I couldn't see who was responsible. Lets just say Silvestre. He can't be really in the frame to play much.
Morning, Gooner! I'm on board. 365 is asking the question "Has Ade joined Citeh?" this morning. What's your best guess?
Arshavin is buzzing around, not yet getting the ball on the left in dangerous positions. Wilshire is pinging it dangerously in the direction of Watt, who may well feature in the Carling if he keeps this up.
Funny, after many passes, who makes a forward run? Djourou. Get back you silly bugger!
I certainly hope so. I really don't see why Citeh wants him and my take is that he's been given the green light to piss off from Arsene.
Now if someone came in with 25M for a player like Manu who was completely uncommitted to the cause last season, wouldn't you bite their hand off?
I wonder if this isn't Manu taking his time before ultimately committing to another season, possibly to scupper a move for that boy Chamahk who Le Boss seems keen for. Even though he's been a tosser over the past 2 seasons, I don't see Wenger dropping him to the bench next season. He scored 16 for us last campaign.
I bet he stays.
A bit of rough stuff from Mark Randall. I thought he'd already made arrangements to go on loan somewhere so I'm surprised to see him.
Vermaelen is not 5'11 like his press said he was. I'm sure I read that he was 5'11 and he's barely taller than Arshavin who is a confirmed short-arse. What's going on?
I'm on Iraqgoals and the feed is very clear, but the screen is silly tiny. What you on?
I'm still eating breakfast but I'll pop onto to Iraqgoals when I get done with me crunchy raisin bran.
Every time I see this kid Wilshere, I get a stiffy. I know he's young, but where's the harm in him featuring more. What other manager would contain such a talent without giving him a little more leash? I can't understand it.
Oh, a pass just missed coming off from Tomas that would have had Watt walking the ball in. More match fitness and that will happen.
Though, steady on. This is Barnet.
We've settled into a nice possession game, but Wilshere in particular is trying searching balls over the top to Watt. This is not likely to impress Wenger who wants more intricate ball play.
Arshavin not featuring in this set-up. Maybe he's suffering a bit in conditioning from the summer break. But Silvestre on in the left back position isn't much of a foundation to build upon. Arsene, Silvestre? WTF?
Again, Wilshire, who dropped deep, picks the ball up after it came loose, and then went on a 40 yard run through their midfield, but passed it a bit off-pace for Rosicky who rushed his shot and had it go quite wide.
I'm concerned a bit because from the goal kick, Barnet's striker won the ball and nodded it down to one of their blokes who hit a pretty decent shot about a foot over the ball. Almunia had it covered, but the defenders are really not concentrating.
Silvestre's got to go. He's just not up to the task any more.
GOAL! Arshavin finishes off the move. Good movement from Arsenal starting with Wilshere striding forward and passing it forward to Sanchez on the wing who waits patiently for Arshavin to catch up and passes it square across a defender for Andrei to finish with a tap-in. 1-0 to the Arsenal.
Well in, Andrei!
Shit, Barnet equalizes because none of our defenders attack the incoming cross and Yakubu for Barnet just heads it in. And there's the whistle. 1-1 at the half.
I'm not happy at all with this defensive performance. It's early days but Gallas and Djourou aren't looking capable, and Mark Randle is looking even odds for an early bath. He'd have a caution at least by now in a proper game and it was his very rash tackle that lead to the free that Barnet scored from.
The story of the match so far is Arsenal taking it to Barnet bum-rush style in the first 15 minutes, and then later on controlling possession with final passes that are understandably rusty.
But defensively we're all over the shop. The central pairing haven't won anything in the air and better opposition would have capitalized on their chances there. Barnet have struck from central areas of the pitch and Randle should be breaking things down without committing the fouls that are giving them chances to prey on the hapless Gallas and Djourou.
It's possible that we've changed the entire squad. Barazite who was on loan at Derby has a go that looked like got blocked with a hand. Play on is the decision. Jay Simpson, Gilles Sunu, Jay Emmanuel Thomas, and Vito Mannone in goal are out there now.
365 have updated their main webpage story to "Ade takes medical" so it looks like Citeh are going to get their man and all the Gooners will have their wishes come true this morning.
The question now is - how does Sparky pick a front line from this lot:
Adebayor
Bellamy
Caicedo
Robinho
Roque Santa Cruz
SWP
Maybe he'll go all Ossie Ardiles on us and play the lot. Richard Dunne won't be happy with that but I will. Looking forward to some 8-3 thrillers at Eastlands next season.
GOAL! This looks like the youth squad, and they look very aware of each other. Cruise is out there too.
Wow, Barazite who has stormed his way about the pitch since the half started scores. Emmanuel Thomas's shot was blocked, Barazite picks up the rebound, rounds a defender and wellies a curler inside the far post.
2-1
Bob, he's been through 2 medicals with City already. He's had enough hernia checks that the South Yorkshire Vice Squad are likely to step in.
I won't be convinced just yet, thank-you.
My favorite, Frimpong is on. And some young bruiser named Eastwood who just leveled their scorer. Ooof!
Tell you what, these kids are giving the Barnet squad everything they can handle.
Oh, there's another sight I didn't think I'd see. Eboue with his earbuds in, baseball cap, snapping his gum on the bench.
Dang, his name is Eastling. I was thinking that the terraces would have a field day if this boy came through the ranks.
Luke Ayling getting a go. And Coq-Au-Vin as well.
Dooooo-oo-ool, Craig Eastling...
Dooooo-oo-ool, Craig Eastling...
(Ennio Marcone "Hang Them High Theme")
Vermelen has moved into the center and he's looking like that's his position. He's too slow to replace Sagna on the right. Better.
Simpson was on loan the second part of last season too, and looks just as bright as when we saw him destroy Wigan in the Carling.
Bararite's been napping ever since he took his goal. Might not be ready for prime time, but Gilles Sunu is making his case very well. He's rampant.
Right, West Brom was where Simpson was last season. His pace nearly got him in there but the keeper was off his line quick-like.
Aha, Eastmond is this kid's name. Craig Eastmond. He's tough and I like him.
Barnet have subbed off 5 players and their reserves are not up to it. I'd like to see our boys put them to the sword now.
Unbelievably, our boy Cruise's first name is Thomas. Top Gunner! Mission Possible! All The Right Moves.
Love the Ennio Morricone theme for Craig Eastmond.
Still no luck with Iraq Goals. Are you on the first or second link?
Vermaelen earns his crust. Cruise tries to clear it but gets charged down. Vermaelen steps in decisively and put is out for a corner.
Shit, again the corner is not dealt with, it come back out, they play it back in, and in the scrum they stick it in. 2-2 and completely against the run of play.
Their equalizer is nearly answered by Emmanuel Thomas who with only the keeper to beat, doesn't deliver a composed finish and puts the ball wide of the post.
I'd probably adopt Barnet as my side if I lived in London. Would be QPR if they didn't have the mega-billionaire owner.
Finally got the stream up on Atdhe. Not keen on the Arse away kit at all.
Tom Cruise, eh? More like "Risky Business." Make sure he doesn't spread the Thetans about the dressing room.
Conor Henderson is now on. Curious, he's a defensive midfielder, very young.
I'm surprised that Arsene got out of bed for this one. Surely Pat Rice to do the honors and allow the boss to sleep in on a Saturday.
Ahhh, where was Simpson to tap that cross in? That he'd not made a run to get there will not have impressed. Luke Ayling who is playing center half started that by striding out of defense and looking like he knew what to do putting in a pass wide to Sunu.
Full-time: 2-2. What about that one, Gooner?
Nice move up the left for the first goal.
Not keen on that defending for Barnet's first from the free kick.
Where's that Barazite geezer from? Nice second goal.
Ah, what was the keeper playing at on Barnet's second?
There you are mate.
No, Le Boss has no life other than football. He's known to watch our reserves away if he can get there.
Peep-peep-Peeee-eeep! 2-2 is the result.
Overall, this is just exercise after not playing football for months. But the way Barnet brought pressure upon our defense is alarming because just that sort of soft center is the same old story we've suffered before. Honestly, on this showing, just strengthening with Vermaelen is not going to be enough.
Right, time to take the temperature of the outdoors.
We've got a home match tonight against the Crapids, so I won't be online for the Nats versus Panama. Go Team USA!!!
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