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!
We got an early peek at Manchester United last night. Today, it's Arsenal, Chelski and Spurs' turn to show off their wares ahead of the 2010/11 season. Join me this morning for on-line coverage of Arsenal v. Barnet and this afternoon at 4 pm for ESPN2 coverage of Spurs v. Earthquakes.
posted by The Blue Devil @ 9:22 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!
357 Comments:
I've got coverage of the Arsenal match via Arsenal TV through Atdhe.
News of the UK this morning that former Spurs boss and current Ajax supremo Martin Jol has taken the Fulham job vacated by Roy Hodgson.
The kickoff at Underhill Stadium has been delayed ten minutes, so I've popped on a Atdhe link for Chelski v. Palace.
Good morning Blue Devil. I noticed that Crystal Palace and Chelski are playing as well.
You beat me to it :)
Morning, MUR! Now there's news that the Chelski kick-off has been delayed 15 minutes. What's going on in London?
Nice crisp clear audio for the Chelski match. You can hear the chant of "Who the f&*k, who the f&*k, who the f&*king hell are you?!"
I am not sure! Is it the weather? Perhaps traffic! At least it will give me time to eat breakfast.
Typical Chelski!
No headline news for London. I can't think of what the delay is.
Actually I think it may be the Palace fans having a right old sing-song. I heard a round or two of "We're only here to hate Chelsea." Nice one!
Here we go at the Em... Underhill.
Here we go with the ArsenalTV coverage then.
Marvelous - I can't believe that we're in the middle of July and watching Arsenal, Chelski, ManYoo, Liverpool and Spurs all in the same weekend. Bloody hell!
No Chamahk from the offing? WTF, Arsene? We didn't get up early to watch the likes of Coquellin!
That's amusing. The tunnel at Barnet isn't wide enough for two sets of players!
New boys Maroune and Laurent start the bench. Rosicky has a new haircut and is the day's captain.
Underhill looks like a non league ground. Almost like your local small town family ground.
Emmanuel Frimpong - love that name!
Very interesting. Laurent does get a start. Maroune on the bench.
Nordviet also.
I think Barnet are in the Blue Square Premier, no?
Oh - Arshavin is in! And he has scored within 90 seconds!
1-0 Arsenal - easy, easy, easy!
Easy, easy, Arshavin on the end of lovely one-two from Rosicky and slots it home.
No they are in League 2. I lost the link for Arsenal vs Barnet, but Chelski and Palace are about to kick off. New signing Andy Dorman starts for Palace. A former Rev? Chelski is playing a reserve team with the exception of Cech,Alex,Essien,and Mikkel.
Oh Traore put another cross in that looked threatening.
Andy Dorman - indeed a Revolution old boy! I'm glad to see that he's found his way to England after many years in the wilderness, but we miss him at the Gillette.
Thomas lets one fly and it's beaten away by the keeper.
Ooooh, a stinger from JE Thomas just beaten away by the Barnet keeper.
MUR are you watching http://atdhe.net/21216/watch-barnet-vs-arsenal.
The Bees with not much sting yet.
Boom boom!
Palace were nearly 1-0 up as Ambrose's teasing cross was nearly put into his own net by one of the young Chelski players. The corner from Ambrose was cleared and Chelski broke through De Santo who shot straight at the keeper.
Interesting statement that none of our players have names on their backs. Rosicky and Vermaelen playing in their usual shirts but I wonder how much to read into that.
What nationality is Nordviet?
I have the other match because the Arsenal match is not loading on my computer.
How do Chelski look, MUR?
Frimpong wearing the number 4? I think that's just asking for a Marca article to be written.
Oh - Frimpong did well to run around the back but his cross was straight at the keeper.
Who's your usual #4?
Nordviet is Norwegian. He's been around the club 2 years or so. Commentator says that Eastmond's progress has kept him from kicking on.
Fabregas
Traore looks like he spent the summer in the gym. Lifting weights instead of kick-boxing like last season.
GOAL! Jay Simpson gets #2 after some nifty work from Wilshere.
2-0 Arse!
Lord, that really was easy again.
Thomas on a run gets his shot blocked, Wilshere picks up the rebound and just waits and waits until Simpson gets free of his market and Jay gets his traditional goal against Barnet.
Chelski have a young inexperienced team . It is still 0-0. The almost og has been the only clear cut opportunity. Six of the Chelski starters are players we have never seen.
Frimpong is looking imposing with his midfield play. It is Barnet he's shining against, but still, good to see someone like that in the squad.
Naughty challenge from Barnet on Nordviet. He looks a little shaken up by it. We cherry-pick these mugs to play in the pre-season so that's very much out of order.
Oh - Vermalen has one cleared off the line for #3.
Nordviet linking up well for a shot that's blocked from Frimpong.
Then Simpson with a nifty reflex header that is parried away for Vermaelen to have a bash at.
All Arsenal at the Underwood.
That was a nasty challenge from behind on Simpson there. The Barnet boys are going off script a bit.
Wilshere is impressing me. He looks like the Bolton experience has matured his play.
He and Frimpong linking well.
Do the Arsenal ever do any US tours? And if not, why not?
Still 0-0 from Selhurst Park. The players are playing like it is a friendly. Di Santo and Sturridge are starting up front. On this performance, Drogs and Kalou have nothing to worry about. I have the Arsenal audio while watching the Palace match.
I wonder if Nordviet is more natural on the left? He didn't fancy crossing it with his right foot there and chose to cut back to get the ball on his left.
Traore gets in behind again and rifles a shot in low that the keeper beats away.
I quite like the look of Di Santo but he doesn't have the power of either Drogs or Anelka or Kalou for that matter. Sturridge should be looking for a loan deal - he's a long way back.
I now have the Arsenal match. The announcer stated that Nordviet was on loan to Nurenburg this past season.
How long before Wilshere gets into the England set-up?
Wenger has said that the tours with long-travel times are not good for player conditioning. We play Barnet, then hike over to the Austrian Alps to play a couple of Austrian sides before going back to London for the annual Emirates Cup.
Honestly, I don't know why any Premiership club wants to play an MLS side. We've beaten every one of Leeds, Forest, Spurs, West Ham and we mullered Celtic. It's hot as hell, we're in mid-season form, and have players that are looking to get noticed by English and Scottish scouts.
I hope after at least one solid league season with Arsenal. Jack has a whiff of superstar entitlement about him.
Before he went to Bolton he was subbed in a preseason game last year. Didn't like it, rang up a mate on the mobbie, and left the stadium. He got bollocked for it, but it does speak to a bit of an attitude that wouldn't be improved by a senior level England cap
That makes sense, Gooner. I didn't realize that even a youngster like Wilshere had that kind of entitled beahvior. Amazing...
Oh - Wilshere had a big target to aim at there from 18 yards but skewed it wide right.
Too bad. After good interplay between Arshavin and Thomas, Jack appears in space but screws it well wide. Replay shows he scuffed his contact.
Stuart Robson? I don't remember him at all. He must have been playing during the Dark Ages of the 80s when it was impossible to follow the game.
Wenger makes sense. Man United will be playing the MLS All Star team in Houston at 7:30 in the evening. It will be about 90 degrees at kickoff time and very humid.The players do not see those playing conditions in England and Landy is in mid season from.
Wilshere used to have a FB page which has been taken down. The photos of him big-pimpin' and street-talkin' were not to be believed.
Profile pick was him shirtless, big BBall cap slung down on his head, with the requisite gold chains. It was definitely him and really alarming.
I always imagined that EPL sides played against MLS sides in order to attract a bit of American business (sell a bit of merch, e.g.)? But you make a lot of sense in what you say, Gooner.
Stuart Robson played for the Hammers and the Gunners in the 80s. I think he made his debut around 1983.I think I remember that my last year in England
Good morning fellas
I am watching the Open from Windy St. Andrews on the telly
I get some links going after some pancakes!
I remember Stuart Robson
I would have loved to have seen that Wilshere FB page. It sounds classic - I had no idea he had such chavvy instincts.
Robbo's an ex-player from the early 80's. Midfield grafter. Took Brian Talbot's spot if I'm remembering correctly. I saw him in the team against QPR when Merse made his first team debut.
Morning, UWS! Pancakes and golf, eh? Sounds like a good time in Glenville. Throw some blueberries in those flapjacks for me, eh, Kathy?
It was equal parts funny and cry for help. Glad it's gone.
Oh - Frimpong hits the bar! Terrific strike - had the keeper beaten all ends up.
Bit of lemon juice and powdered sugar on my flapjack, please.
Sorry - that was little Arshavin with the shot against the bar. Nearly his brace.
Nearly 3-0 as Arshavin's curling shot hits the bar after great work by Frimpong.
Arshavin was on that one that hit the bar.
That's typical French nonsense from an Arsenal fan. Next you'll be ordering up a crepe with Nutella.
Good morning UWS and Gooner.I had pancakes yesterday. A great breakfast.
Great break from the back, good running from Arshavin, Wiltshere gives Simpson the easiest of finishes for his second, our third.
GOAL! Jay Simpson gets his brace! It was all down to a great run from the excellent Wilshere, though.
0-3 Arse!
I beg your pardon. I believe you'll find that order listed under "Swedish Pancake" at IHOP. I would have asked for lingonberries too, but they're hard to source.
That's half-time. Arsenal giving local neighbors Barnet a right hammering here at the Underhill. Things looking bright and sunny in the Arsenal squad.
Halftime and 0-3. I missed the goal. It is easy for Arsenal as expected.
I am back from my pancakes. Delicious!
I had the normal syrup this morning but I normally I have pancakes with lemon and regular sugar.... luv it
I didn't post the Arsenal squad today.
Lukasz Fabianski
*
Havard Nordtveit
*
Thomas Vermaelen
*
Laurent Koscielny
*
Armand Traore
*
Emmanuel Frimpong
*
Tomas Rosicky
*
Jack Wilshere
*
Andrey Arshavin
*
Jay Simpson
*
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas
THANK-YOU!
French pancakes would be with garlic and two Gitane cigarettes on the side.
I see that Cost have been drawn against minnows from who knows where!
When is the CL draw? I hope Spurs get an easy draw.
I was reading Henry Winter's Diary on Telegraph website. It was only part 1 today. It went through the US match
"Jokes begin: Q: What’s the difference between Green and the oil disaster off Texas? A: Green got a cap for his spill.’’
I see that Arsenal host AC Milan on July 31st and Celtic the following day. Those fixtures should be entertaining. Theo Walcott will play the second half.
That Rob Green joke doesn't work any more. BP finally capped the spill the other day, thankfully.
Second half starting up with ten changes for the Gunners.
The second half has begun. Both teams should make plenty of changes.
Wholesale changes predicted,
Eastmond, Mannone, Djourou, Gibbs, Miquel, Walcott, Henderson, Lansbury
Nasri and Barazite too.
Nice run through by Walcott but the chip was wide.
Bollocks! Walcott can't finish his chance and Barazite heads over from the corner.
Nearly 4-0 as Nasri put Walcott through,but he should have done better with the chip. Credit to the keeper. Barazite headed the corner wide.
Arsenal playing the ball about for fun now.
Chamakh is on as well. That's an entire new XI.
Oh - Theo got to the by-line and pulled back but Chamakh wasn't following in.
Theo shot just wide. Both managers know the Gunners have won and are merely assessing players.
Good performances from Frimpong, Wilshere, Thomas, and Simpson which will help their cause this year. (clap! clap! clap!)
And well done Flappyanski for not throwing the ball in your own net. Can't believe he's not on the bench for good.
I'm watching Djourou in particular. You would imagine that he'll be first choice with Vermaelen.
Oh - Theo took the ball down well and fed Chamahk. Straight at the keeper with the shot though.
What about Billy Gallas - is he for the off?
It is still 0-0 at Selhurst Park . I'm glad I was able to load this match in the first half.
Every time I see Barazite, he's playing undemanding opposition. That said, he looks nearly ready. I'd like to see more of him this season. He'll have to compete with Nasri, Rosicky, Eboue, and Diaby, but I'd still like to see it.
That can't be good for Chelski. This could be a tricky season for them. They'll welcome Essien back but I wonder what effect the World Cup failures will have on the likes of Terry, Lamps and Anelka.
That's the idea. Both Gallas and Campbell are out of contract. I think Eduardo is too.
I wonder too what Drogba's elbow fracture, rushed repair, and ultimate disappointment will have on his morale too. Hopefully, it'll have him reading Sylvia Plath and Elizabeth Kubler-Ross.
I am not sure what to say about the Chelski result. They are playing what is in effect a reserve side. There are some young inexperienced players who have never played an EPL match. It may be a decent result under the circumstances.
The Chelski players are probably looking forward to the EPL season so they can get their minds off the World Cup. It may have the opposite effect.
Mannone off to give the Polish lad a chance.
Poor Manone. Szezny is introduced. Why Vito isn't in the frame, I can't understand. Why Flappy isn't handed a broom and pan and told to start sweeping, I also don't know.
It might do, MUR, but I'm wondering if some of the big-time England failures won't get booed and barracked at away matches (e.g., Becks after 98)?
I'm sure none of Chelsea's WC players featured, and nearly every one of their players either went to SA or were out due to injury.
Nasri quickly onto a Barnet mistake and makes them pay. 4-0 Arsenal. Easy and good to see that kind of killer instinct.
GOAL! Samir Nasri is left alone in front of goal after a disastrous blunder in the back from Barnet. Slots home easily.
0-4!
I agree. Rooney,Terry,Green, Cashley,and Milner seem likely targets for the boo boys. It might set an example for future England players.
Looks like Chelski finally scored - anyone see the goal?
DAH! I just left the streaming video and I miss another goal!
Where's UWS gone - pancake induced coma?
I kind of expected Walcott to be storming today. I would imagine that he was disappointed to miss out on the WC and has a point to prove. He looks positively relaxed and unfussed here against very poor opposition. Odd.
It was nearly 1-1 as Kelvin Andrew was through ,but blasted his shot straight at Hilario
Oh - Chamahk was nearly in there after Theo's run.
Likewise, Chamakh is in stroll-mode. Look there, just shouldered off the ball when he could have been much quicker to get himself set for a shot.
Any idea who scored the Blues goal, MUR?
Better. Chamakh takes a difficult ball down well, but blazes high and wide.
Speaking of casual, we've got Pat Rice in shorts on the Arsenal bench. Put those pasty gams away, Pat!
I am not sure who scored for Chelski. I missed the goals. Chamakh shot high and wide after he did well to control the pass.
Rice must be enjoying the pleasant summer weather in London.
Theo did well to get onto that ball and cross it - cleared out.
Did anyone else see the funny story about Blatter receiving a civilian honor from South Africa?
They presented him some medal. But they'd obviously got his full name off of Wikipedia because the award was presented to
Josef Sepp Bellend Blatter.
Bell end. Ha-ha
I'm not sure that Pat owns any mens clothes. I think his closet is packed with Nike training gear and trainers.
Nice jab at Steve McLaren's expense, talking about his new "German" accent for the Wolfsburg job.
Nasri beats the Barnet player with pace and guile before being hauled down.
McLaren will never live that down.
It's his "do I not like that" legacy.
Still 0-1 at Selhurst Park. That match is running four minutes behind this one.
Balls! Henderson puts it on a plate for Barazite, but didn't get there in time.
Oh - the ball from Gibbs was lovely, Henderson rounded the keeper and crossed but the ball went straight across the line.
The gunners win 0-4. Time to catch the last few minutes at Selhurst Park.
Full-time: 0-4. That'll please Arsene. Plenty of depth in the squad and a few first teamers (Arshavin, Nasri, Theo) in lively form.
The jury's still out on Chamakh for me. I'll look forward to seeing him again.
I'm off to the office to get a couple of hours in but I should be back for the Spurs kickoff at 4. I'll look forward to the pleasure of your company then.
Chelski defeat Palace 0-1. Not a single second of added time. I will see everyone for the Spurs match. Take care.
Peep-peep-peep.
Nothing conclusive to draw from this.
Good performances from Frimpong, Simpson, Thomas, Wilshere, and Nasri.
We took our foot off the gas in the second half which might have denied Walcott a platform to shine like the players in the first half did.
Still, 4-0, a good performance overall, better than last year when Barnett put 2 by a new Vermaelen led defense.
Right, shave, shower, and shopping to do before seeing Le Roi do over the Scum in NJ this afternoon.
Cheerio, it's been fun.
Right - I'm back for the afternoon tidbit of Spurs against the San Jose Earthquakes.
I really hope that Glenn Beck tunes in to ESPN this afternoon hoping for some minor-league baseball only to find that the channel is showing a fairly meaningless pre-season warm-up between a Premiership side and an MLS no-hoper. It should make his head explode with rage.
Hello BD. I agree with your statement regarding Glenn Beck. I am not too fond of the anti-semitic remark he made the other day. I guess that can be for some other time.
Uh oh - looks like we may be pre-empted here by Open golf from St. Andrews. UWS would approve but I'm not happy.
I agree. Should we go to www.atdhe.net.
The match is not online. There is an interview with Crouchie instead. Is the match being delayed?
I can only imagine what Glenn had to say the other day. What a prat!
Yeah - I tried that too. No one seems to have the stream right now, alas. It's 9:07 in Scotland - surely the round has got to be just about done for the day, right?
Looks like Mike Tirico is wrapping things up finally as the sun is setting in Scotland. I suppose that Mike took a quick flight from SA to Scotland for this one. What a life!
Here we go with the coverage, then. Cue Glenn Beck's head exploding!
I explained to my wife that dusk is around 10 PM in Scotland during the summer. There was still that last bit of sunshine. I think the match will begin momentarily. I wonder what Arry is thinking?
I do remember those long summer evenings in the UK with fondness.
I would love to see that. There should be an EPL match on in place of the Super Bowl and World Series just to spite him.
The disadvantage was that dusk occured at 4 PM in the winter
Is Elizabeth a Texas native?
I remember those short days too - we'd always have to cut soccer practice short in the winter.
OK what the Scooby-doo is going on?
Golf??? Golf FFS??? Where's Le Roi charging around and putting a sword into Spurs.
No she was born in Massachusetts and moved to Pensacola when she was seven. She moved to Mexico when she was thirteen and has lived in Texas since the mid 80s. Where is Karen from?
Hello Gooner. The match has been preempted by golf.
Is their a Heidi rule about golf? What could happen if they cut away now? Jesus, these barbarians.
SHUT UP AND TURN ON THE FOOTIE!!!!!
Finally!
It's here. The teams are ready to kick off.
Karen's from South Carolina originally but is a frequent traveler too.
Golf should be exempt from the Heidi rule.
The scum brought Monkey-man Bale!
Here we go with the match straight from the kick-off. Blimey, it looks steamy there. Better they than I.
I thought the were playing NY today. These are the Quakes.
Spurs in traditional white and the Earthquakes in blue.
Is that Fatty Huddlestone out there? The lad should be making his own gravy by half-time in this heat!
Double-T in the booth.
It may not be too hot in San Jose. It's like a humid oven in Harlingen.
Yeah - it's San Jose today. The Red Balls match is next Friday night at 8. Let's hope for some ESPN coverage of that one too.
Fatty may lose some much needed weight today. Arry's face is beet red today.
Ditto in DC. I had to turn the A/C down, way down today.
Oh - I cannot imagine playing at mid-day in Harlingen in July. It must be like running on the surface of the sun! Didn't they play some WC 94 matches at noon in Dallas?
The stadium appears to be on a college campus.
Cudicini in goal for Spurs then.
They did in both Orlando and Dallas. I do not do any outdoor activities between 11 AM and 6:30 PM in the summer.
They did in both Orlando and Dallas. I do not do any outdoor activities between 11 AM and 6:30 PM in the summer.
Robbie Keane shot well wide after a hand ball. I thought he had been transferred to Celtic or was that a loan deal?
Yes - I think this is UC Santa Clara's Buck Shaw stadium that the Quakes play in. They've got a proposal in for a soccer-specific stadium in SJ now.
I loved the old Quakes stadium, which we visited once or twice on trips back to the States in the 70s.
The San Jose attack has lacked any creativity. The Spurs defenders having an easy time.
The latest on Robbie is that he's in talks with Villa. With Martin Jol coming in next season, he may be surplus.
Speak of the devil, Keano sneaks in at the back post and sticks it in but is ruled offside.
Robbie Keane's goal is ruled out for offside after a great short corner.
Keane was on loan to Celtic. It looks likely that Jol will make him his first purchase at Fulham though.
It's blistering hot here today, too, but probably not by Texas or DC standards. With no one around to offend, I'm down to my boxers in front of a fan, enjoying a cold IPA that Gooner left behind last weekend. Cheers, mate!
That 113 is the biz, no?
Townsend shoots wide from a narrow angle when he should have passed.
It is, indeed!
Don't feel too bad. With the girls in summer camp, I roam around the house in my underwear all day. That is with the air con running.
San Jose starting to give Spurs something to think about now. They've won a corner now.
The new Spurs sponsors seem to be something called "Autonomy." Never heard of it?
That shot from Corrales took wicked deflection. I think he played in Norway prior to playing with San Jose.
What a run and dribble by Bale. The cross was caught by the keeper.He really improved at the end of last season.
Townsend has made several runs down the left, but the final passes have been wayward. That could be down to inexperience.
Cor - Harry does look like he skipped the sunblock application today. He's roasting out there. Someone get that man a hat!
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