A Sunday Firecracker
posted by The Blue Devil @ 10:27 AM
Lakenheath Old Boys
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!
Sunday, April 02, 2017
Lakenheath Old Boys
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!
Contributors
Previous Posts
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- England v. Lithuania Live!
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- Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 29 Update
- You Pick the England Team!
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189 Comments:
Good morning, Bob. Great minds think alike. I made the same exact decision. Sounds like a great choice.
Morning, MUR - we are wise sages when it comes to a lie in. Welcome - it's great to have you on board for what promises to be a fascinating match. Any predictions?
This is a big match – one that could have huge consequences for both sides’ hopes of qualifying for the Champions League. Arsenal stagger into this fixture in dreadful form. Their last win in the league came against Hull City on 11 February. Their two other victories since have been in the FA Cup against non-league teams. There is disarray on the pitch and deep discord off it.
Morning Boys
Watched some of the early match... didn't miss much!
Goal at Wembley.... Coventry City are two nil up against Oxford! Miles away from safety are going to win a trophy!
I will miss the kick off of the big one. I have to pick up Jon. I'll be back quickish!!
The teams news out of the Em:
Arsenal: Ospina, Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Xhaka, Coquelin, Walcott, Ozil, Welbeck, Sanchez. Subs: Gibbs, Gabriel, Giroud, Iwobi, Martinez, Elneny, Maitland-Niles.
Man City: Caballero, Fernandinho, Stones, Otamendi, Clichy, Jesus Navas, De Bruyne, Silva, Sane, Sterling, Aguero. Subs: Bravo, Kompany, Zabaleta, Nolito, Kolarov, Delph, Toure.
Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands)
Morning, UWS - I didn't even know that match at Wembley was going on.
Good morning , UWS. Hope you are around for the big one. I'm predicting a Citeh win at the EM and cursing in the streets of Alex.
Sky are reporting that Ivan Gazidis met Arsenal fans’ groups at lunchtime today and told them that the club shares their concerns and that the last six weeks have been a "catalyst for change." Is that the dreaded vote of confidence for Wenger?
Could well be - Gooner has told me he just doesn't want a hiding.
Correct. Coventry is wearing their way to being two up in the second half of the EFL Trophy Final vs Oxford Shoes, but should be concerned with bagging some L 1 points in their slim survival bid. Formerly known as the JPT.
Some exciting news. Celtic have clinched their umpteenth SPL title as early as April 2nd, winning 0-5 at the Queen of Hearts. Other than the split in a few weeks, what is left to capture the interest of the fans?
Teams in the tunnel now. Monreal having a bit of a chat with his Spanish colleagues.
Not exciting at all up North of the Border. The SPL is a joke.
Citeh come into this one in third, two points behind Liverpool, but also two matches in hand on them. A win today would obviously put them back in third. But they also have a match with the champions elect Chelski on Wednesday to consider.
Arsenal are currently lying in sixth, three points behind United but with slightly better GD. A win today would put them back in fifth, but they're seven points off the pace for that CL spot.
They're off from the EM.
And we're away at the Emirates. Arsenal in their traditional kits and Citeh in dark blue and yellow socks.
Navas is in an unusual right back role today and he commits the first foul.
Ozil to float one in early doors - collected by Willy Cabs.
If Citeh win at Chelsea in midweek and the Spuds win at the Swans then the Spuds will be only four points behind Chelsea two and a half weeks ahead of an FA Cup semi meeting
Citeh and the Gunners meet in a cup semi in three weeks.
I didn't realize until recently that Leroy Sane is Germany's bright young hope up front. The new multicultural football game can confusing. Very few Gunter Netzer's around any more.
Oh - Sterling was in on goal there but Ospina shut him down well. Citeh with a bright start here.
Aguero just offside as Ospina was there to block just in case. then Sterling beat the offside trap , but Ospina was there to block and it stayed in play.
Oh - almost a carbon copy for Arsenal with a dangerous ricochet that just went wide from Welly.
GOAL! End to end stuff and Sane rounds Ospina and scores!
Then Welly the same at the other end of the pitch as he turned Otamendi then a clearance cannoned off him just wide.
Only four minutes in and Sane is put away by Ginger Winger. Mustafi had allowed acres of space and Sane did well. Very cool finish.
0-1 Citeh!
I hope this keeps up - it's been a thrilling start to this match.
GOAL !!!! SANE BEATS GERMAN TEAMMATE, MUSTAFI THEN ROUNDS OSPINA FOR AN EASY FINISH TO GIVE CITEH THE LEAD JUST BEFORE KOS COULD CLEAR OFF THE LINE.
Citeh look dangerous on every counter attack.
Nice finish from an acute angle seconds after the Wellie miss, a long ball from De Bruyne caught out Bellerin, who was beaten for pace by Sane , who rounded Ospina and finished from that angle.
Navas continues to have difficulty in his new role. Yellow card for a nasty one on Monreal.
A Spanish tussle as Navas with his second poor challenge, this time on Nacho.
I guess it's looking like EL footie for the Gunners in what seems to be their worst season in Arsene's tenure.
Oh - off the post from Silva! And then saved by Ospina. Citeh really peppering the Arsenal goal.
Nearly a second for Citeh . First , a shot cannons off the post , then Ospina superbly saves the rebound.
This could get ugly for Arsenal and Wenger unless the Arsenal back four tighten things up. I'm not sure who the leader might be to change things on the pitch.
Looks like real hiding for the Gunners today in front of their discontent fans.,
I sense that the "Wenger Out" posters are about to come out.
I guess Mustafi is one of the few somewhat vocal Gunners on the pitch.
Agreed. They may become more numerous.
I am back.. missed the goal!
Nocito Curse?
The EFL Trophy Final becomes exciting as the Oxford Shoes are used to pull one back against Coventry, making it 2-1 in the final ten minutes of regulation.
Arsenal are showing a bit of grit in midfield. They’re popping the ball around with vigour in midfield and have snapped into a couple of tackles too. City are soaking it all up quite comfortably though.
Welcome back. I'm sure you will see plenty of goals today.
Is that the old Johnstone's Paint Trophy?
Theo doesn't know why he was excluded from the England squad? Playing like Cleo didn't tell him anything?
It sure is , mate. Surely , the Sky Blues would prefer some L1 points.
You can hear the frustration in the Emirates crowd every time a pass goes astray.
What is our resident Gooner's thoughts on Wenger?
I don't know how I would have been with SAF? He made the mistake saying he was retiring near the beginning of the century. Everyone stopped playing... he reversed his decision and won the league 5 more times and the CL
He went out the right time having won the league and knew his team was starting to drop...he knew it. Players that used to be fringe players were starters
Cleo the television psychic, MUR?
Gooner thinks that Arsene should have retired and been moved into an upstairs role years ago. He thinks it's sad that Wenger will have to suffer the indignity of a sacking after a quarter century of service to the club.
Bellerin heads out a cross from Navas for a Citeh corner.
I was thinking of Cleo Lane. He's anything , but psychic if he thinks he should be anywhere near the England squad.
Oh - Beaker had a chance on the turn. Tame shot easily saved by Willy Cabs.
I agree with the Gooner. In any walk of life, if you linger too long then you lose every time.
Britain's greatest ever jazz singer - nice reference, mate.
Wenger still may have the chance to leave gracefully.
Willy Cabs says that Ozil is a passenger!!!
The Boat Race starts soon
Delayed because of some WW2 bomb found....it hadn't exploded for 70 years!!!
COME ON CAMBRIDGE!
Better from Arsenal - they're working their way patiently back into this one.
Cheers, mate. Wenger is being given the chance , but isn't taking it.
Agreed. Ozil had a shot block and the Gunners forced a corner.
Coventry won a trophy at Wembley thirty years ago and are a minutes away from that today
Willy Cabs said that Ozil was short on the fare!
Andre Marriner letting a lot go in this match.
Can someone tell me when blue clashes with red.... I hate all these kits...show some pride in your club colors!
United alway wear red when they can.... except for the visit to St Etienne... red doesn't clash with green!!!
I HATE IT
COVENTRY HAVE WON THE CHECKATRADE TROPHY
That looked a great tackle by Fernandinho on Alexis. Never a penalty. Great decision.
Alexis goes over in the box but Marriner judges it that Fernandinho slides in fairly to nick the ball away.
Thirty years after their last Wembley triumph. A shame they can't get any league points!
I agree with you, mate. Citeh should be wearing what Kate refers to as their "little boy pajama sets."
Coventry and Oxford met three seasons in the top flight between 1985 and 1988. How times have changed!
I agree too. No need to change their kits. It didn't happen when we lived there . Why now other than for evil commercial reasons?
Granit Xhaka picks up his requisite yellow card.
Xakha Khan with his requisite booking as he was off key with that foul on Ouchamendi.
Granite is anything but the Rock of Gibraltar!
Otamendi giving the fans a glimpse of his awesome thigh tattoo.
Navas fouls Alexis again. He's getting close.
Navas foul Aelxis just outside the Citeh box. Alexis needs to keep his mouth shut and stop officiating.
The free kick from Alexis comes to nothing. Arsenal don't have a lot of targets.
A horrible free kick from Alexis goes harmlessly out of play. He should spend more energy on set pieces than arguing with the ref.
Isn't Wenger a target?
Now Sane concedes a free kick near the Citeh corner flag.
Boom boom - I suppose he is now.
Sterling wins a corner off of Nacho.
Stones heads wide from the corner.
Cheers, mate. Citeh can throw some Stones at Wenger!
Fernadinho clears for a Gunners corner.
GOAL! Theo stabs home the equalizer!
1-1!!
Walcott ties it up
City seemed to have stopped for offside
GOAL !!! THEO TIES IT UP FOR THE GUNNERS!
Not offside
A scrappy goal really. Comes from a short corner. Poor defending from Citeh and when the ball came back in, Theo was first to it.
1-1.
oooh, City almost retake the lead right away
Oh - off the post from Ginger Winger's shot! The game is breaking open again.
THEY DO
WIDE OPEN THREE TIMES!
Unusually poor Citeh defending from a short corner. A deflected corner was headed away then headed back in and Citeh were caught napping as Theo shot past Willy Cabs.
GOAL! Aguero puts Citeh back in the lead! It's almost as if they can score whenever they want.
GOAL !!! CITEH REGAIN THE LEAD A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER AND A MINUTE AFTER A SHOT DEFLECTED OFF OF KOS AND THE POST.
That's 14 goals for Sergio now. Seven goals back on The Chunk at the top.
It's like watching a "Carry On" movie. After DeBruyne had a shot deflect off of Kos and on to the post , then Ozil gifted possesion to Silva , who played a one with Sterling . He was tackled and the ball broke to Aguero, who shot past Ospina from a narrow angle.
A pair of minutes of stoppage time according to Alexis.
Who do you want in the Cup Final?
Repeat of the 2002 Final?
Repeat of the 1981 Final?
North London derby?
All Blue Battle?
OH!!! Inches over by Theo.
Oh - Theo almost grabs his brace there. Nice little ball in from Alexis and Theo tried a dink on goal.
Walcott on to the roof of the net!
Looking at the replay, he should have done better
HT
Citeh 1-2 up at the half.
Yaya on for Sterling
We are off
NBC just made the kick off... very Fox-like...knock it off
The second half is underway from the EM as Yaya is on for Fernadinho
Agreed. Unusually poor from NBC and Yaya for Sterling
The musical Gunners have brought on Peter Gabriel for Kos and that's Kos they sucked in the first half.
Fernadinho booked for a foul on Wellie that was not very Wellie done./
Back on for the second half and Fernandinho picks up an early booking off Andre Marriner.
I was reading an article on Yahoo about three good reasons to retire early. The first reason is that the future is uncertain. I'm guessing that Arsene did not read that article.
Welcome back, Bob. Greta to have you around for more of the banter. You missed a couple of substitutions.
Aguero wide with a near post header off a cross from Navas.
Oh - Aguero was free in the box but put his header well wide. A big miss.
Otamendi heads out a cross from Navas for a Gunners corner.
GOAL! Mustafi puts Arsenal level again! Desmond at the Em!
DESMOND!!
MUSTAFI AN EQUALIZER
GOAL !!!! DESMOND AT THE EM AS MUSTAFI HEADS IN THE CORNER.
Arsenal don't score a lot of goals from set pieces but that was a classic. Good delivery over and Mustafi leapt well to nod past Willy Cabs.
2-2!
Nice corner from whoever took the corner. Was it Alexis?
Time for City to score then?
Will Cabs took a back seat in the Cab?
I agree, UWS - it has seemed as if Citeh could score at will in that first half.
I'm sure that a visit by Desmond in Alex is a pleasant surprise for the Gooner, Simon, and Dad.
I think it was Beaker with the assist from the corner there.
I'm sure Chelsea players and fans are pleased.
Some great Citeh foot work then a cross from Navas is cleared for a Citeh corner.
Great save by Ospina
The corner is headed away then Ospina superbly saves a long range rocket from Fernandinho.
Great save by Ospina there from Fernandinho's blast.
Ospina still down from that shot.
Thanks for the clarification. About time that the Beaker made a contribution to the Gunners. It's been ages.
This time a cross from Ozil has tons of hang time and is sent to Willy's Cab
Mustafi is booked for a foul on German teammate, Sane.
Peter Gabriel clears a cross from De Bruyne for a Citeh corner.
A kiss hit corner from De Bruyne finds Ozil.
SANE goes on a run and wins a corner off of Bellerin.
Navas nicks the ball off of Alexis from the corner then crosses to Aguero , who has a free header easily saved by Ospina.
Ollie on for Theo , whom he calls Stan , saying this is a fine mess you got us into.
Arlo seemed a bit surprised that Arsenal had scored so many headers this season, but isn't that Giroud's stock in trade?
And here is the man himself, replacing Theo.
Agreed. I guess, the Gunners are associated with the short passing game, trying to always score the perfect goal.
Looks like the linesman needs a pair of cheap sunglasses.
The final roll of the dice from Arsene as Iwobi is on for Arsene.
Sorry, being doing odd things around the house
Will there be a winner
Sorry . Iwobi for Wellie.
Back after enjoying a tuna melt that was dispatched at my side. We're nearing the climax of this absorbing match.
I thought there would be. I'm guessing a late winner. Conte must be asking the same question.
I still think that there might be a winner here.
Welcome back lads. Sounds like Bob was having an Arsene sandwich.
Ozil with a chance... strange reaction between him and the keeper!
Awful by Ott
Citeh get away with Otamendi miss judging a long ball. as Willy Cabs jockeyed the Beaker out of play, informing him that he does not yield to pedestrians.
Did you have a long "Honey Do" list this weekend, UWS?
There’s a feeling to this game now that both sides might be happy with a point. Neither side are going for it like they were just before and just after half-time. Or maybe they’re both knackered. The pace has certainly dropped.
This score would keep United in fifth..as if it matters
Coq Au Vin, on a yellow , with a naughty challenge on De Bruyne. Lucky to still be on the pitch
Not really Bob... I am actually home alone... well Jon and Tom are upstairs....just cleaning stuff up and trying to get Shadow from delaying his walk!
Inside ten minutes for someone to break the deadlock here.
LOL, Bob. Sounds like a busy lunch time.
Why is Shadow stalling - it's beautiful here today. Mid-40s and bright and sunny. I'll be out in the yard later.
Citeh, knowing that hey play at the Bridge on Wednesday, may be conserving energy
Im stalling the walk!!
The sun is out here too
Muggy, breezy, and in the low 80s here. Took Sparky before this game to avoid the heat.
That makes more sense.
I have a faculty meeting on Tuesday afternoon and I'm not that bothered that I will be missing United Everton.... they have been really annoying me
I agree with UWS. It appears that United , the Gunners, and the Toffees will be playing EL footie next season.
Good lord that's hot for early April. It's been a mild but long winter here. The trees aren't really budding yet but we've got our daffodils up.
I think that looks likely.
I think fifth does matter because fifth place automatically qualifies for the group stages of the EL while sixth place has a pesky two legged playoff match at the beginning of the season.
It's been like that a good part of our winter and early Spring. Unusual even by our standards, but not too much for April.
Iwobi gets into the area but blasts over the top. He should have at least hit the target.
Zaba on for Silva, indicating that Pep seems content with a draw.
Accuweather says it's 61 and sunny in both London and Mildenhall. Isn't that unusually warm for early April for them?
Three minutes of stoppage time to come.
Mustafi wins a free kick as we enter three minutes of Alexis stoppage time.
75,000 at Wembley's match today
Well done fans of Coventry and Oxford
Navas can't get the ball over but wants a pen
He's useless getting the ball over... not good for a wide man
Agreed. Great for the EFL trophy Final.
Last chance for the Arsenal now.
Desmond stays for good at the Emirates
Have a good rest of the day... Shadow can have his walk now
TTFN
It finishes Desmond and mutual respect between Pep and Arsene as both exchange hugs.
That's it - Citeh will remain in fourth, a point behind Liverpool in third. Arsenal will stay in sixth, two points behind United.
Enjoy the rest of your weekends, chaps - I'll talk to you soon.
Cheerio!
Cheers, lads. Enjoy the rest of the weekend . If I cannot be around in midweek then I will for sure next weekend.
CHEERS!
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