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!
Can Arsenal make the Davids even more grumpy this morning? We'll soon see as they kick off at the Emirates against a resurgent Liverpool looking to close the gap with United at the top of the league. As for the FA Cup semi final kicking off simultaneously - is anyone excited to watch Bolton and Stoke? Didn't think so....
posted by The Blue Devil @ 10:37 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!
155 Comments:
Here's the team news out of the Emirates this afternoon:
Arsenal: Szczesny, Eboue, Koscielny, Djourou, Clichy, Diaby,
Wilshere, Walcott, Fabregas, Nasri, Van Persie.
Subs: Lehmann, Song, Squillaci, Arshavin, Gibbs, Chamakh, Bendtner.
Liverpool: Reina, Flanagan, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio, Kuyt,
Spearing, Lucas, Meireles, Suarez, Carroll.
Subs: Gulacsi, Cole, Kyrgiakos, Maxi, Ngog, Shelvey, Robinson.
Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands)
Very interesting. If you look at the Arsenal bench today, I think you see the fire sale that will be going on this summer at the Emirates. Arshavin, Bendtner, Gibbs and others are surely headed out of the club in the summer transfer window.
Arsenal start the day some seven points behind United at the top of the Premiership. However, this is their game in hand, so they could reduce that deficit to four points with a clear win against Liverpool.
Pool on the other hand are hoping to come within two points of Spurs in 5th. That said, they'll have played two more matches than Spurs at the end of the day. The Europa League still looks like a vain dream, unless the FA intervenes on their behalf.
Stan Kroenke in the stands today having a look at his new playthings.
The Emirates looking in fine fettle today as we get close to kickoff time.
I am here but I won't be around for the whole match. I have practice with the boys at 1
I am trying to get control of the TV for the Prem Match and I have the Cup Semi on the Computer
Bloody hell - it's Efan Ekoku on board alongside Alan Parry for the commentary duties today.
Morning, Dave! How are you, mate?
The Semi has started
Bolton attacking the same way United did in the first half
I am not bad. Still a little bummed about yesterday
I just hope United get back to their winning ways on Tuesday
Lost my link for the semi
Arsenal earn an early free kick opportunity off Suarez.
Oh - Diaby came close to notching Arsenal's first with a header from Nasri's free kick.
I take that back... Stoke are attacking the same as United
Good morning. Halfway through the work day. I'm the only one in the building. Celebrating Celtic going to te cup final next month!
Efan is full of praise for Martin Skrtel's shirt-tugging prowess.
Well done, Celtic! Morning, Someone!
Got a nice link for arsenal/liverpool.
LiverSox call for a Pen
Noting doing!
LiverSox have a really good record against the top three
Free kick to Pool now....
Suarez bends one toward goal but it's an easy one for Szescny.
Quick break through Suarez with the overlapping Lucas wins a corner. Liverpool look lively here.
Suarez has been getting into spaces one-on-one with Arsenal defenders really well. Djourou did well there.
Carroll unmarked at the back of the area. That's a danger for Arsenal.
Finally have another link for the semi
http://kiwii.co.uk/
Bolton should have had a penalty for a foul and handball!
Arsenal can't leave Carroll alone like that. Got away with one.
STOKE TAKE THE LEAD!!
Etherington with a lovely goal!!!
Raking shot there from Theo causes real panic in the Pool area after it's parried out.
I suppose I'll live to regret not watching the final. This one will probably end up 0-0 and the final with be 5-4 or something like that. Just my luck....
So, Stoke show United... Berbatov... how to score in that net!
Etherington with a nice left foot shot to the bottom right on the goal
Walcott gets of a good shot that Reina stops. Young Flanagan made a good play to get the ball safe
Arsenal starting to show some drive forward.
What do you mean? Why aren't you watching the Final?
Are you watching this one?
I said yesterday... City play Stoke are schedule top play each other in the Prem League the same day as the Cup Final... they may BOTH be busy
Great passing from the Arsenal but no real penetration as of yet. It strikes me that they don't have enough weapons up front.
The Stoke fans are on the same end as United's were
It's Diaby again with a great header that crashes the bar!
The Arse hit the the crossbarl
No - I'm just watching the Arsenal v. Liverpool on FSC. Can't be bothered with Stoke v. Bolton. They're both rubbish sides.
RVP over a free kick out wide left...
It's cleared out again.
TWO NIL!!
HUTH SCORES IN THE SAME SECTION OF THE NET!!!
17 minutes gone and Stoke are in heaven!!!
There's an odd couple - Fergie and Don Fabio seated together.
Cap and Fergie sitting next to each other... Can either speak English?
LOL - Nice one, Dave!
Aurelio has gone down grabbing his hammy. He may have to come off.
Stoke fans going potty.... boom boom
Pool Academy prospect Jack Robinson coming on to replace Aurelio.
Fabergas with an ambitious cross that Rena snatches with walcott and Nasri waiting to pounce.
Another good one - you're on a roll, mate.
King Kenny busy smiling away.. what's up with him being so happy!
LiverSox have to make a change
Thank you very much
During yesterday's build up, they had a bit about Stoke and they talked to one of my favorites... Jimmy Greenhoff... boy has he changed!
I just think King Kenny is enjoying being in the role and having the ability to give some Merseyside born lads a chance. That's important for a club, I think.
Did the Greenhoff brothers start at Stoke then?
RVP sticks one home but is ruled offside.
I wonder if he wished he had stayed at Liverpool the whole time? He started his Liverpool managing career at Anfield in 85
No, Jimmy did. I always like him when he was there and was thrilled when he joined his bruv at OT
Why does Alan Parry feel it necessary to pronounce Luis Suarez's name "Soo-are-ez."
Oh - Fabregas should have taken more advantage of Suarez's sloppy ball there.
Nice move by the Arse but Fab shanks his shot
I'll take a nil niller at the Em
Pool youngster John Flanagan goes through the back of Nasri and picks up the first yellow card.
I'm sure you will. It would leave Arsenal six points behind you lot and level on matches played. Would you be calling the engravers then?
STRUTH!!!
THREE NIL!!!!!!!
K. Jones with the goal
Only 29 minutes gone
Great clearance from under the bar by Carradona.
You're watching the wrong match mate
What are Bolton playing at?!!!
Some Bolton fans are leaving already!!!
Stay and support your fans!
Well, I don't know. This one's at least competitive. It sounds like it's game over after half an hour at Wemberley.
Stoke are playing well
Goals goals and goals
Skrtel upends Eboue and gets a yellow for his trouble.
RVP taking the free kick....
High, wide and 'orrible.
Stoke have never made an FA Cup Final
THey have made two League Cup Finals but that is it
Have they got the magic towels out at Wembley?
The web page that I have says that they made the semis in 1898-89, 1970-71 and 1971-72
After the last two, it says they came 3rd and 4th! What does that mean. Did the losing semi final teams play?
Great Arsenal move but three Pool defenders converged on Theo as he sprinted free.
I've never known there to be a 3rd/4th place match in the Cup. Do they flip a coin?
Wow.. I never knew it but the FA Cup did play a 3rd/4th place play off from 1970-1974! I don't remember it at all!
The FA Cup Third-fourth place matches were played to determine the order of third and fourth place in the FA Cup. They were introduced in 1970 replacing the traditional pre-final match between England and Young England. They were generally unpopular and were only played for five seasons. The 1972 and 1973 matches were played at the start of the following season and the last five days after the final. The 1972 match was the first FA Cup match to be decided on penalties.
April 70 Man U 2 Watford 0
May 71 Stoke 3 Everton 2
August 73 Wolves 3 Arsenal 1
May 74 Burnley 1 Leicester City 0
I am stunned... I have no recollection of this at all
Bugger... just lost my link
If they aren't careful with all of these home draws, Arsenal could get caught by Chelski who are merely two points behind them at this point.
I have no memory of those either, but remember that those were the days when we only got three or four live matches a season on the telly!
Is there any advantage to finishing second rather than third when it comes to CL qualification?
I think the top three qualify automatically these days. It used to be the top two
Oh - how did that not sneak into the net from Eboue?
I'll take this score end please!
1 added minute at Wembley
Half-time whistle goes at the Emirates. Lots of pretty football but as usual no goals at the Arsenal.
Suarez almost gets in the way of that throw out
Would that had been called dangerous play
Half time.. long may it continue
Half time at Wembley too
Stoke 3 Bolton 0
three goals in 19 minutes
The bloke on ESPN UK used my potty line!
Back for the beginning of the second half....no changes at the interval.
You should have put a copyright on it, mate!
Second half just underway at Wembley... Bolton make two changes
AGAIN.. all the empty seats by the benches... Wembley really has to do something about that
WHy didn't Nasri turn and shoot from inside the D
ooh Suarez goes close for Sox
Liverpool have come out of the traps looking for something now.
I thought Bolton were going to win this
Of course, I thought United would win yesterday
Of course, I thought United would win yesterday
There's something really wrong with Andy Carroll here. He's gone down awkwardly and this could be his season over.
Carroll hurts ankle... could be really hurt
Attendance at Wembley over 75,000 plus
Hope he is okay to come back on and score the winner
Blimey - Carroll is trying to carry on. Good on him!
If the score stays the same, United will have a 6 point lead on Arsenal and 8 on Chelsea with six games to go
If Citeh finish fifth and win the Cup, then Bolton or Stoke DON'T make Europe!
And now Carradona has been pole-axed. What is going on. The other players are looking really nervous. Stretcher is out.
THe physio is laying down flat on the ground
How did this injury happen?
There will be a lot of time added for this
King Kenny doesn't look too concerned
Stuth... neck brace and oxygen
Kyrgiakos to replace Carradona then. Looks as if Carra is receiving oxygen on the pitch!
Kenny seems happy enough about it - what's got into him today?!
Man City vs Stoke City ?
Forgone conclusion... did anyone see the League Cup Final?
An old-fashioned drop-ball to get us going again after a long delay.
That match will all depend on how Mancini sends out the side.
Caradona was hit by his on teammate... at the 55 minute mark
Surely he will go all out to win it
When will they play the league match? Probably midweek next week is my guess
Alan Parry thinks that Arsenal supporters are impatient, but honestly, they are the most frustrating side to watch at times.
Probably - that match won't have any bearing on anything at that point though. Both sides are safe.
ooh... Stoke should have scored again... twice
FOUR NIL!!
Walters has scored another one.... same side of the net again!
Great finish
Carroll coming off
Carroll has trudged on to little effect but he's coming off after all. Shelvy coming on in his place.
We'll now get four goals in the last twenty minutes here at the Emirates then.
Good news that Carradona is sitting up comfortably in the dressing room.
I missed that news
RVP got behind the back four for once but ballooned his shot over.
I have to leave for practice... bugger
Take care Bob.... hope to talk to you on Tuesday
Wilshere's been quiet today and Nik Bendtner is on for him. Arshavin on for his 100th match for Arsenal to replace Theo.
Cheerio, mate - have fun!
Arsenal's defense are looking a bit nervy all of a sudden. Suarez was nearly in there.
Alex Song coming on to replace Diaby. That's a welcome sign for the Gunners.
Into the last few minutes of what's seemed an interminable nil-nil draw from the off. Should be around 10 minutes of stoppage time as well.
Oh - RVP had a chance to win it there but hit the keeper instead of sticking it home. That's the sort of chance that Robert Pires used to stick between keepers' legs routinely in years past. What a miss!
Fabregas with another errant pass and I can hear an irate Arsenal supporter in the stands saying "you're shit!" What a turnaround for the Arsenal captain. He's bound to be off in the summer.
Oh - now it's Suarez who's profligate in front of goal. He received the ball near post but blasted it into the crowd when he could have squared it. Kenny's not happy.
Eight minutes of stoppage time to come. That's a fraction of what was lost. But I'm just as happy to see this one wind down. It's been fairly tedious.
Free header for Song and he never gets over it.
Five minutes of stoppage time left
Blimey - Stoke have added a fifth goal! Walters with his brace.
The game is starting to stretch out a bit with just a couple of minutes left to play.
Full time at Wembley - Stoke have won 5-0 and will be looking forward to a return trip to the nation's capital in a few weeks' time.
Bloody hell! Penalty to Arsenal. Jake Stearing has brought down Fabregas in the area!
RVP lining up to take the pen....
And he slots home!
1-0 Arsenal and the shirt comes off!
The usual yellow card for RVP for the celebration but he won't mind. Arsenal now keep their title hopes alive. They come within four points of United. That'll make the Davids no ends of grumpy on this Sunday afternoon but Gooner and Simon will be dancing on the ceiling.
Time is up but they're playing on. Liverpool claim a pen but it's just outside.
Free kick to Arsenal but Lucas has picked up a yellow for remonstrating for the pen.
Last chance saloon for Pool. Suarez is behind it. It's really too close to be fair.
Suarez blasts into the wall and it runs clear. No, Eboue has brought down Lucas. A bit of a dive for sure but Andre Marriner has given it!!!!!
Wow!!!!!!!
Dirk Kuyt has a chance to level it. Wenger is on his knees on the touch=line.....
Kuyt scores. The whistle blows.
Kenny comes to Wenger for the hand-shake and Wenger shrugs him off. Kenny tells him to "fuck off." Will he get a ban?
Well, there were about 95 minutes of sheer tedium followed by five minutes of bedlam here. Wow!
Wenger of course is having a go at Marriner when he should probably just get off the pitch. I'm sure that this one will be talked about for some time to come. I'll be waiting for the air to clear at 555 E. Nelson Avenue before calling. Condolences to the Gooner.
WOW!!!!!!
Kathy called me as Arsenal scored and said it was the 95th minute!
AGAIN... WOW
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