Monday 23 May 2011

Welcome to the Riverside

So another Premier League season passes by. A good one, I reckon, if not in terms of quality then definitely in terms of thrills n spills.

Yes, Man U ran away with the title in the end with the tiresome inevitability of a British woman’s defeat in the first round of the French Open. (‘French Open’ always seems to me to be a contradiction in terms, by the way... like ‘US Intelligence’ or ‘mature student’)

And Man City managed to somehow fund a FA Cup/Champs League double from the loose change down the back of an Abu Dhabi sofa.

But the real drama came down among the dead men on Sunday. At one point it was like a quartet of lemmings jostling for the best cliff-top position, all of 'em desperate to revisit the Riverside!

And in the end the downward dogs are Blackpool (shame! weren’t they sweet with their nice passing, Pippa Middleton-coloured shirts and their complete lack of wealth?) and Birmingham (hooray, that’ll teach them nasty bully-boys to steal a trophy of the delicate artistes at the Emirates!).

Actually Brum bagging the Carling was the footy equivalent of ‘The Only Way Is Essex’ pipping Downton Abbey to the BAFTA.

'In all earnestness I put down the demise of the Blues to the most unpropitious ailments acquired by Messrs Dann and Zigic, vagazzle'

So here’s my summation of the season, club-by-club.

ARSENAL: Fell away like a Viagra-starved knob, didn’t they? Even the Arsene evangelists are losing faith now. Wives are walking Islington streets to pay for their husband’s season tickets and still he won’t spend some fucking money. 6/10.

ASTON VILLA: Houllier’s got a dodgy ticker so let’s not be too hard on the bloke. This team has a lot of English talent in it. Which explains why they’ve struggled so much. 5/10

BIRMINGHAM CITY: Europe here we come! Brum, brum, put-put, splutter, pffff! Not a word of support offered to McLeish in the build up to Sunday’s match. I’m amazed the increasingly pink Scot is staying. Hopefully they’ll return playing some recognisable footy.

BLACKBURN ROVERS: Sacking Allardyce was the second dumbest decision I’ve witnessed. Can’t say I watched a single game they played this season. Someone said Chris Samba was huge this season. And last year he was Luka Modric, I suppose. 4/10

BLACKPOOL: Defended like easily fooled toddlers. You could get round they’re centre-backs by tapping them on one shoulder and running round the other. Great entertainment, mind. I wish they’d remained.

BOLTON WANDERERS: Osteopaths in Bolton are out of pocket since Owen Coyle reintroduced the notion of grass as a surface on which to play footy. Incidents of neck-ache have gone down 90%. Still like my missus, they’re not averse to the odd hump and just cos it fizzled out doesn’t mean it was a bad year.

CHELSEA: Ah now here’s the dumbest, crassest, shoddiest decision of them all. Ancelotti tried his best to get this one-paced, shiftless bunch to get their act together. Then Abramovich yokes him to Fernando Tourist who were it not for a puddle would’ve finished the season goalless. Grrr. Is it any wonder we don’t like the Blue Meanies?

EVERTON: Moyes still butting the glass ceiling of the top four. They are the thin soup of the division – very poor starters. If he can get them to win a game before September they may get somewhere. Like 5th.

FULHAM: Sparky’s worked wonders when he’s not getting all chippy about not having the Citeh job anymore. Think they’ve improved since the Michael Jackson statue. I’ve looked closely at it and it moves like an Arsenal centre-back.

LIVERPOOL: ‘Place your hands upon me and I will HEAL you now!’ Okay King Kenny shrugs his shoulders and does the Glasgae grunt thing, but that’s what he’s really saying. He’s revived damp squibs like Meireles and Maxi Rodriguez (surely that’s a hairdresser, not a footballer) and not a Nando or Stevie G in sight – although I reckon you’d find it tough to keep Andy Carroll out of Nando’s. Next year, who knows? Maybe 5th!

'This is just the beginning - soon ALL mercenaries will wear sky blue!'

MANCHESTER CITY: I know, I know. First trophy since the Late Cretaceous period, hard to begrudge the fans, you’re just jealous, etc. But it’s been bought. And come the transfer window, they’ll be like them seagulls in Finding Nemo. ‘Mine, mine, mine, mine!’ Makes you shudder for the future of English football.


MANCHESTER UTD: Pretty ordinary weren’t they? And lucky too. Tsk. I think 19 is enough. C’mon Glazers it’s time to reveal the masterplan. Then the fans can get the Norwich kits on and start from scratch. Hasn’t done AFC Wimbledon any harm...


NEWCASTLE UNITED: Chris Hughton. Well you could tell he wasn’t right for the job. That promotion raised too many hopes, I reckon. Pardew’s come in and lowered expectations - and I reckon that’s Ashley’s new tack. His head’s not as fat as it looks.


STOKE CITY: Bit narked they were so poor in the Cup final. A lot less 1D than previous seasons. But the Rory throw is still the most potent weapon. Which is fine. We all like keepers to look stupid and the Delapidator does that beautifully.


SUNDERLAND: Okay, does Steve Bruce know what he’s doing? No. I reckon if you could pull off that mask of a much-broken nose there’d be a tiny little Steven behind it squeaking ‘Help me! Help me! All my players are shite!’ 2012 relegation candidates, I tells ya.


TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR: Larvely European adventure, Arry! They put it right up Johnny Foreigner, bish-bash-wallop! Actually Spurs were the division’s most entertaining team. But there’s a lot of chaff with the wheat still. One top striker and some centre-backs who can walk unaided, v much needed.

'No I don't believe I ever have been to Liverpool. I fear you're confusing me with Boro legend David Hodgson'

WEST BROM: Roy Hodgson. What can you say? Liverpool just seems like a bad dream to him now. (As Middlesbrough does to many a tourist). Old Davwos still knows his onions. They might start to feel at home in the PL by this time next year.


WEST HAM UTD: Another classy dismissal by Sullivan n Gold. Jeez, didn’t they’re used to be a gentlemanly way to sack people. Even that tough old scrote Lord Sugar doesn’t drag his apprentices down a tunnel and tell em they’re fired. West Ham oozed talent and indifference. Even Scotty Praker’s side-parting lost its edge by the end. Dismal.


WIGAN ATHLETIC: No I dunno either. They are the hold-up stockings of British football, no one knows how they stay up. If N’Zogbia goes, things’ll be well tough. But if they keep this up, they’ll get fans coming to the ground and everything.


WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS: Gone for all money at 3-0 down against the strangely lively Blackburn and still they clamber back out of the swamp. It’ll be good to watch Mick’s shock of grey slowly receding further up his pate next season. Happy for him.

On the whole though, there’s nowt for Boro to fear in season 2012-13. We should beat any team that comes down in 2011-12. Sigh.

293 comments:

  1. Looking forward to next season already!!!!

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  2. When are AFC Wimbledon due in?

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  3. So who'd win the next season then?

    I reckon it could be

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  4. Robbo - not a single tourist has ever visited Middlesbrough - true.

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  5. great stuff Robbo, when does footy start up again then? Is it prediction blog next or is there more cricket and tennis to suffer through?

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  6. I think that was a fair assessment of each club's season Robbo. Be interesting to see how the promoted clubs fair next season. Can't see Norwich staying up, although I'm sure they'll take points off some of the bigger teams. I guess we'll see how serious the owners of QPR are over the summer, and how much they splash the cash. I expect to see Wigan, Wolves and Blackburn down there again next season though, along with Norwich and whoever wins the play-off.

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  7. Nice one Robbo, however, if you're gonna give a grade, then grade them all please.

    Here's my take(if you don't mind sir)

    Arsenal; Were up in it untill the CC final, after which they were like charity working hippys, giving everything away.

    Aston Villa; Over the last few years "the 5th/6th place specialist", some bright spark thought; "hey, let's get rid of O'Neill and go for broke". Broke is what they got.

    B'ham City; The curse of the CC may of fucked Arsenal, but it totally gang-banged B'ham. Europa League is scant consilation for a soon to be Championship team.

    B'burn Rovers; The Indians came and took away the only reason that they were a mid-table team, Fat Sam may not be to everyones liking (not mine for sure) but he kept them in a reasonable position. Steve maybe Keen, but he is totally out of his depth, they were lucky that a few other teams were worse.

    B'pool; Olly is as mad as a box of frogs and that is how he set his team out, they didn't care who they were up against, they went for it. Shame that they're gone and I hope they return soon, but I doubt it.

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  8. Bolton Wanderers; Owen Coyle has come in and turned a bunch of cloggers into a decent footballing team, keep Sturidge and add a decent midfielder (or two) and they could be one too watch next term.

    Everton; Just like Villa, they were also the quintacential 5th/6th placed team. I agree that if they could ever get started before the season was a few months in then maybe they could challenge, but I think that Moyes revels in that underdog role, he only ever shines when the chips are down.

    Fulham; aka The Mark Hughes Redemption, manyb thinkhe was unfairly treated at Citeh, but I believe that this is a club much more suited to his skills. All due respect to what he has achieved an if he is there next year (he'll probably bog off to a higher profile gig) then they may just finish higher next term.

    ps. If any of you ever visit Craven Cottage please do me a favour by chanting; "Your not singing anymore" at the MJ statue. Thanx.

    L'pool; A year ago the laughing stock of the PL, Woy came in and never stood a chance, King Kenny took over and turnec a two man team into a bunch of winners, luckily for him the members of the two man team were injured (ST Stevie) and flogged off (Torres) in the deal of the century, shame that they wasted 35mill from the 50mill on an injured and also highly over-priced Caroll, expectations will be high for next season as the Mickey's continue to live by the oldest phrase in football- " there's always next year"

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  9. Man Citeh; The proof that money can buy success, a bunch of overpaid and with many, over valued mercenarys, Mancini has got them winning. Most of the time tedious to watch, but the Blue side of Manc land won't care a jot. Now that they've qualified for the CL the sky is not the limit, but just the bottom of the iceburg. Expect every player that has ever blew his nose in front of goal to be linked to them in the off season. It's the end of footy as we know it and a sad state of affairs, but in todays money talks era of football the blue mooners can shout loudest.

    I was trying to do this alphabeticaly, but some how I missed out;

    Chelsea; Started the season with a bang and were odds on favourites to retain the title, inexplicably went though a bad patch and were written off by everyone and their mothers. Made a comeback of epic proportions and if not for the loss at OT may very well of snatched it. The sacking of Ancelotti is yet another nail in the coffin of the PL. The Roman Empire is creul and void of class, I've recently read that van Basten has been linked with the poison chalice, believe me, he wouldn't last until xmas if he got the job. The Special One is looking to the skys like Batman awaiting the Bat signal. (easy now Bells)
    Maybe no trophy this year, but still managed to top the fair play league. (playing away obviously didn't count)

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  10. Good read Robbo, especially loved these:

    “(‘French Open’ always seems to me to be a contradiction in terms, by the way... like ‘US Intelligence’ or ‘mature student’)”

    “Then Abramovich yokes him to Fernando Tourist who were it not for a puddle would’ve finished the season goalless”

    But what’s with:

    “You could get round they’re centre-backs” — “their” not “they’re”

    “didn’t they’re used to be a gentlemanly way to sack people” — “there” not “they’re”

    @Holloway2Holland — I’m sure it’s pretty late where you are, but unless these were deliberate mis-spellings:

    “Hippies”, not “hippys”

    “quintessential”, not “quintacential”

    Sorry guys, just trying to be the English language teacher I never got to be. And you can tell me to “just fuck off” if you feel like it. I’m a grown man, I can take it.

    I’m not Anonymous — I am “Profile”

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  11. Man Utd; A one man team, his name, Sir Alex Ferguson. Love him or loath him, there's no denying that the man is the greatest manager the PL has ever seen. The phrase "that the sum of the parts is greater then the whole" typifies this seasons Man Utd team He gets the best out of all his players and instills a winning mentality into even the most average member of his squad. I don't care what anyone says, they were worthy winners and deserve their 19th crown.

    I'm afraid I can't finish now, drink is starting to take it's toll. I'll be back this afternoon for N-W.

    But before I go..............

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  12. Reports comming from Iceland about a vulcanic ash cloud are just an international cover up to hide the fact that it is in fact a cloud of smug eminating from North Holland.

    Schipol and all nearby airports have already been shut down due to the smug, something to do with a HtoH fantasy football league according to reports on CNN.

    More to follow.

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  13. Help me! Help me! All my players are shite!

    Haha the best.

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  14. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  15. "Profile".

    I can't spell or type for shit and make no apologies for it, you wanna impress me, then post your comments in Dutch. (which I also can't spell the words in properly. ;P)

    Anyways...

    BOooIIIIooIIoIIIInNNNNNNnnnnnGGgggg

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  16. @ Holloway2Holland - Ik weet zeker dat het vrij laat waar je bent, maar
    tenzij deze zijn opzettelijke mis-spellingen:

    "Hippies", niet "hippys"

    "Typische", niet "quintacential"

    Sorry jongens, gewoon proberen om het Engels leraar heb ik nooit
    moet worden. En je kan vertellen dat ik "gewoon fuck off" als je het gevoel dat
    het. Ik ben een volwassen man, ik kan het nemen.

    Ik ben niet anoniem - ik ben "Profiel"

    (Apart from search, It's the only thing I use Google for -- hope the translation is not too crappy.)

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  17. Morning all and good blogs by both Robbo and H2H

    too many excellent analogies but liked this

    Bpool...You could get round they’re centre-backs by tapping them on one shoulder and running round the other

    Just as it happened on Sunday by Park

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  18. Morning!

    Nice blog Robbo. So it seems to me that its Arsene Wenger's karma that made this season's PL turn out the way it did.

    It is going to be a long summer with lots of stories from all major clubs. I believe every club has some rebuilding to do and hence there will be some major signings to look forward to.

    If that doesnt happen there's ofcourse tennis, cricket and F1!

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  19. Chelsea may have to wait unil October for Hiddink, 64, to join them as he does not want to break his contract with Turkey, which runs until the Euro 2012 Championships - however, qualifying finishes in October and Turkey may not reach the finals.
    ---

    they call it the fun clause.

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  20. Former Chelsea star Jason Cundy has branded his former club's £50m signing of Fernando Torres from Liverpool in the January transfer window as "naive".
    ---

    naive?

    WTF? Did they got confused by how many or if any 0s were put next to the 5 on the check they wrote?

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  21. Ash cloud my arse. City had the FA Cup parade last night, and dusted the trophy cabinet.

    Jedi

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  22. Lets hope Obama's visit has a rather more pleasant start than Bush's state visit

    At Heathrow Airport in England, a 300-foot red carpet was stretched out to Air Force One and President Bush strode to a warm but dignified handshake from Queen Elizabeth II. They rode in a silver 1934 Bentley to the edge of central London where they boarded an open 17th century coach hitched to six magnificent white horses. As they rode toward Buckingham Palace, each looking to their side and waving to the thousands of cheering Britons lining the streets, all was going well. This was indeed a glorious display of pageantry and dignity. Suddenly the scene was shattered when the right rear horse let rip the most horrendous, earth-shattering, eye-smarting blast of flatulence, and the coach immediately filled with noxious fumes.

    Uncomfortable, but maintaining control, the two dignitaries did their best to ignore the whole incident, but then the Queen decided that was a ridiculous manner with which to handle a most embarrassing situation. She turned to Mr. Bush and explained, "Mr. President, please accept my regrets. I'm sure you understand that there are some things even a Queen cannot control."

    George W., ever the Texas gentleman, replied, "Your Majesty, please don't give the matter another thought. You know, if you hadn't said something I would have assumed it was one of the horses."

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  23. Sergio Aguero wants to leave Athletico. Sign him up quick Mr Levy!

    Nice to see Fabio has carried out the cull of the England squad that he promised post-World Cup. This new back four of Johnson, Terry, Rio and Cashley looks good, and they should be around for the next 10 years at least. Plus I'll be excited to see Barry and Lampard in midfield. About time they got into the team. Just a shame that Rooney is banned - I'd have liked to see him form a new partnership with Crouch.

    Fuck off Fabio.

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  24. Fucks sake - now I'm anonymous. I can't post on my profile for some reason.

    Noel

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  25. ARSENAL: Implosion 101. Bet Arsene still won't buy a decent keeper/CB/Midfielder with presence in spite of the end of season fuck up they've endured.

    BIRMINGHAM CITY: Should feel guilty as we lent them Bentley. Would have been fine if only they had someone who could score a goal or two.

    BLACKBURN ROVERS: Deserved to go down really after booting Allardyce. I'm fed up with owners who have fuck all patience and fuck all football knowledge. Oh well, next year perhaps.

    BLACKPOOL: Entertaining didn't do the team or manager justice. Sad to see them go, though they're fairly well set financially given they spent around 18p while in the Prem.

    BOLTON WANDERERS: Very much a team in transition. Should have finished higher up the table if the players didn't go on holiday with 6 games to go. Coyle's got them pointing the right direction so they should kick on next year.

    CHELSEA: Ancelotti's too good for this team.

    EVERTON: Crap start, strong finish, much like last year. Can't help but feel Moyes will struggle to tread water if he has to sell any more players off to balance the books.

    FULHAM: A good end to the season once they got their goal scorers back from injury. Losing Hodgeson hasn't really hurt the team as badly as I thought it might.

    LIVERPOOL: Kenny's doing to Liverpool what 'Arry did to Spurs two years ago: Taken a broken team and quickly turned things around. Should be a force to reckon with next year.

    MANCHESTER CITY: Fuck it, they won something. Could win the title next year if they play like a team and play with some of the attacking flair they're quite capable of using.

    MANCHESTER UTD: Title 19 and a resolute 'Up yours' to their detractors. Hernandez was a steal. Need to get the chequebook out if they want to keep ahead of their noisy neighbours though.

    NEWCASTLE UNITED: Damn, they survived and thrived, in spite of Ashley booting Hughton and selling Carrol. Solid season, in spite of the Fat Bastard's best interference.

    STOKE CITY: Solid season overall. Pulis is slowly building upon the firm foundations he's laid down since getting Stoke promoted.

    SUNDERLAND: Are they going to kick on or are they going to be relegation fodder next year? Can't tell. Would be nice if the team turned up in the middle of the season next year.

    TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR: Had some good times, even if it did come to a sticky end. A young talented keeper, a couple of indestructible CB's to shore up the defence. A midfield that good is crying out for a decent striker or two though. Anything less will see the team go backwards I fear.

    WEST BROM: Fine start under Di-Matteo before an injury crisis caused him to become unstuck. hodgeson's a safe pair of hands for them next season.

    WEST HAM UTD: How not to run a team 101. GRant had no chance with the trio of fuckwits in the boardroom undermiming him at every turn. Why fucking hire him in the first place if they didn't think he was up to the job. Quite rightly relegated.

    WIGAN ATHLETIC: A fine result for Martinez and co. Glad to see the chairman stick by him when the odds stacked up.

    WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS: Improved on last year. I'd imagine every Wolves fan now has hair the same shade as McCarthy's after the last day's madness.

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  26. ah..next season's predos and transfer gossip time. I'm not sure if we have enough money or depth to make a fight for the title next season, but we should defo make a fight for a CL place. An excellent striker in suarez with a decent partner in carroll (when fit),4-5 youngsters coming through really well (kelly,flanagan,robinson,shelvey,spearing), a decent amount of cash to spend in the summer and no european distractions.

    None of that is going to matter of course if citeh sign up ronaldo, messi and kaka for a 100 million each.

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  27. good blog robbo gutted as a blues fan that we went down but that said it was still our best season since I,ve been born. I don't understand all this its more important to stay in the premier league bollocks, we won a cup, only our second cup in our history and I'd bet me wedding tackle we will be back in the PL before we win anything else, blues players should be happy they have a winners medal cause wearing that shirt I doubt there will be another for them. Call me old fashioned but surely its more important to win something than just survive ........

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  28. being old or old fashioned is the very manifestation of having survived...

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  29. but I agree, I'd rather the team go for broke, burn the bithces and try to win every tourny they compete in than play it safe simply coz that way a fixed amount of cash lands year after year in the bank account.

    But, the risk...

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  30. 'This bloody ash cloud is going to be polluting the skies over Teesside. Will we notice?'

    A rare improvement in the air quality over Teeside? Yeah, I reckon you'd notice Robbo. :)

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  31. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/9495163.stm
    ------------------------
    Ridiculous! How can Thierry Henry not find place in that team but Didier Drogba does?

    Also, barring van der Saar and Shearer all others have some fame in cheating.

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  32. Sir Alex Ferguson's 2007/8 Manchester United side were chosen as the outstanding team of the decade, ahead of Arsenal's 2003/4 'Invincibles' and Jose Mourinho's 2005/6 title winners.
    --------------------------
    Again not hard to disagree. United came close to going unbeaten this season (this statement will be agreed by few Man U players like Nani, Neville and Rooney who proclaimed during the season). It is difficult to go unbeaten in whole season as we know hence the vote should have gone to Arsenal Invincibles 04

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  33. @Spitfire said... "but I agree, I'd rather the team go for broke, burn the bithces"

    Burn the bithces? I think most footballers would rather fuck them, don't you think? Or, were you on about burning bridges (as in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HsrqzkywSg)

    I’m not Anonymous — I am “Profile” (Ik ben niet anoniem - ik ben "Profiel" in Dutch)

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  34. bithces / bridges? same difference.

    they rest one leg on either side and plenty of water flows through...

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  35. Yep it's back, for some reason I couldn't post, I kept returning to my dashboard as Anonymous, wierd.
    ------
    Ha Ha, Profile, nice try son, unfortunatly Google Translate sucks donkey balls when it comes to translating scentences. 10 out of 10 for effort though.

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  36. Where was I? Oh yeah....

    Newcastle; Started off well enough and got some points on the board including a credible win at the Emirates. Ashley was not pleased with all the positives so decided once again to turn the media spotlight on himself and sack the man responsible for promotion and their resonable position in the PL. Despite his best efforts to fuck it all up (appointing Pardew) the barcodes managed to end up mid table, but I'm sure after a nice summer break Ashley can return refreshed and ready to balls up another campaign.

    Stoke City; I'm not a fan of how they play and I think Pubis is an 'orrible excuse of a person, however, what they do, they do well and are a hard team to beat. I gotta feeling that they will do well in the Europa League next term if they can clone Rory Delap (or get a few more squad players in)

    Sunderland; The departure of Darren Bent coincieded with the colapse of Brucies team. Their final league position of 10th doesn't do their bad form justice.Luckily they had enough points on the board to be reasonably safe before their capulation.

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  37. Just wait till the continental referees yellow card the long throw out of Delap.

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  38. Tottenham Hotspurs. The meejas darlings, 'Arry must have the cleanest knob and backside in the whole of Britian with all the sucking and licking going on down there, he can't do anything wrong can he? Weren't we all told that Spurs would overtake Arsenal and be the new top 4 team from N London, yes we were. Don't give me any of that "Oh look how well they've done to compete with the big boys" bollox either, they've been spending big for years too. All credit for their run in the CL, but the Arse, Chelsk and IOU do that year in and year out and still manage to remain in the top 4. With the squad they had and 'Arry Almighty as coach they should of done better. But what really takes the jam out of my doughnut is that Spurs season has been catergorized as a succes and Arsenal's a failure even though, with the exception of the CL, we bettered them in every competition.

    West Brom; The forever yo yoing team have finally decided to take a break and hang around for a while. Under De Mateo a good team to watch, under Woy a solid team. His rise up the table was nothing short of spectacular and a redemption for his short and unfortunate stay on Miseryside.

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  39. West Ham; I've got nothing against the Hammers, I always thought they were a well run club, that was until the Porn Kings took over and rodgered the club with a nine foot dildo. They undermined the team and the manager in the red tops and got what they deserved. They'll undoubted lose all their better players and have to start from scratch next year. Good luck filling the Olympic stadium in the Championship.

    Wigan; In relegation trouble virtualy the whole season and pulled off an escape trick that would of left Harry Houdini scratching his head thinking how the fuck did they pull that off? Fair play to the chairman for sticking with Martinez, but they'll have to better next time around otherwise a bottom three finish is what awaits them.

    Wolverhampton Wanderers; The Wolves fans, like the rest of us must be wander... err, sorry, wondering how in the name of ecky thump did the Yorkshire Pudding manage to keep them up. 3-0 down at ht at home on the final day of the season to one of your relegation rivals would usually mean your doomed. They stood up and showed great charachter to claw two goals back and ensure their survival. Another year in the top flight, but unless there's a vast improvement it may be their last.

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  40. Hey Star. Nice revue......

    What about Villa though?? ;)

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  41. Spit, he will get away with the long throws...
    It's the cleaning of balls that won't be tolarated on the contanent.

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  42. 'An indiscrete Sir Alex Ferguson is caught whispering that he wants a journalist who asked a question about Ryan Giggs banned from future Champions League final press conferences.'BBC report

    And they wonder why people are ABU ! They're [their? there?]not they're anti Fergie. Bully with no grace and I'm praying for Barca to stuff his lot. He's unbearable now. What will the cloven hoof one be like if he wins - doesn't bear thinking about.

    Ah well.....good read as always Robbo, but stop taking so long between postings. Especially now the footie season is almost over.

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  43. OK so we now know who did it to Imogen, so what?

    and as just reported on Sky, a bunch of masked men attacked paparazzi parked outside RGs Home good for them, even if they are Manu fans

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  44. How the fuck did I miss Villa? I copied Robbo's blog, deleted his summary and added my own because I couldn't be arsed to list the teams.

    Villa, hmm ... got a shitty hand with O'Neil walking out just as the season was about to kick off. Houllier's a capable manager and assuming he's fit enough to continue he'll take Villa back up the table after a this season of transition.

    If he doesn't return? Well they've a decent squad and there's no shortage of decent managers out there to take the job on.

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  45. G'day all

    Just testing to see if I can post today.

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  46. Real Madrid are interested in Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna, 28, while Zenit St Petersburg want 29-year-old midfielder Andriy Arshavin back in a £7m deal.
    =============================================================

    St Pete can have Arshavin back but Real can fuck off... Sagna was our best defender this past season, that's not saying much I know... they are welcome to Clichy, although they may have to battle Inter for his signature.

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  47. Wayne Rooney's baby son Kai missed 'a sitter' during Old Trafford celebrations for their record-breaking 19th league title, failing to net from one inch
    ================================================================

    Does this really warrant a place in print... even on the beeb gossip page... and now in here.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Fuck me, after seeing Giggsys wife for the first time I can see why he likes to play away.

    ReplyDelete
  49. 40 mill for Aguero ... well that rules Spurs out.

    United seem to have gotten De Gea to replace VDS. Take note Arsenal, Spurs. It doesn't take all of time to get a good keeper in.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Heurelho Gomes's future at Tottenham is in further doubt after the goalkeeper reportedly told former club PSV Eindhoven he wants to rejoin them.

    ----------------------------

    Good, that's one off the books then.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Having been given the night off by his club for 'family reasons', Mario Balotelli was caught on camera throwing water bombs at a meeting of Serie A club chiefs in Italy on Monday while his Manchester City team-mates were on their FA Cup victory parade.

    -------------------------------

    A week wouldn't be a week without that dickhead doing something dickheadish.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Arsene Wenger has dropped a major hint that he is ready to make a spectacular move for Karim Benzema. Wenger says a move for Real Madrid's French striker "doesn't seem impossible" even if it would represent a big change in transfer policy for the Arsenal manager.
    -------------------------------
    I am waiting to hear a few big names at center back and defensive midfield roles. Benzema yes but certainly not on priority. We could have snapped him up few seasons earlier as well which we didn’t do. Wenger getting priority wrong again. :(

    ReplyDelete
  53. I think Arsenal will have a fight on their hands to land the 4th.

    ManU, Chelsea, City, Liverpool and perhaps spurs too will all strengthen their squads no doubt.

    Looks like Nasri may end up at OT and Clichy at Anfield.

    ReplyDelete
  54. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13537084

    Love the last sentence.

    ReplyDelete
  55. jacksofbuxton said...
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13537084

    Love the last sentence.

    ------------------------------------------
    good one,
    and yeah he 'fell' on it ...

    ReplyDelete
  56. I never liked the piece of crap of an excuse for a pseudo culture or so claimed

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13509220

    ReplyDelete
  57. So players I'd like Arsenal to get rid of

    Denilson, Diaby, Squillaci, Almunia and if Fabregas cant be bothered much, him too.


    Players I'd like to add to the squad.
    Schweinsteiger, Per Mertesacker, Neven Subotic and Lukas Podolski.

    ReplyDelete
  58. Apart from Schweinsteiger, the rest wont be as expensive any avg. english footballer.

    ReplyDelete
  59. Ringo Starr has apologised for saying he missed nothing about his home city Liverpool.
    ---

    WTF? Whats there to apologise?

    I trust him to know fully well, he'd be missing lots of stuff had he been living in Liverpool...

    ReplyDelete
  60. Spit,
    A few names added
    SELL on Priority – Rosicky, Denilson, Eboue, Almunia, Diaby, Bendtner
    SELL for money – Fabregas, Clichy

    BUY on Priority – Shay Given, Brede Hangeland, Felipe Melo, Per Mertesacker
    BUY as back up – Samba, Wayne Bridge
    Big name signings – Lukas Podolski, Karim Benzema

    Retain – Arshavin, Nasri and Vela

    ReplyDelete
  61. I wouldnt sell Eboue, he's our only cover for RB.

    Nor will I sell Bendtner but Roscky may well be put down.

    on your to buy list:

    wayne Bridge? really? "finger weg" as the germans say

    Samba? may be.

    Felipe Melo is over rated.
    Hangeland past it.
    Say Given wouldnt be sold to Arsenal.
    Benzema is a good striker not a top striker. I'd rather hold on to Bendtner than splash over 25 million for benzema

    ReplyDelete
  62. would be worth a punt to buy Al-Habsi from Bolton.

    No club is supposed to have two decent goal keepers and bolton seem to have three (no club is supposed to have three decent goal keepers also)

    ReplyDelete
  63. Djorou can be put as RB in case needed or we have Song as well.

    Wayne Bridge just to keep the "English players" count so that we abide by FA rules. As it is West Ham are relegated and I suppose he would rather play in PL than Championship.

    Benzema - Even he is not on my radar, but just that rumor about him today prompted me to put his name.

    But above all, we need someone who can teach our players to shoot from 25-30 yards and a doctor who can fix up players with steel limbs.

    ReplyDelete
  64. Trotts,

    One for you later,
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/13539995.stm

    ReplyDelete
  65. Yet another end of season thingy here
    http://sportdiscuss.wordpress.com/2011/05/25/english-premier-league-season-review-201011/

    ReplyDelete
  66. Afternoon peeps.

    Spitfire said...
    I think Arsenal will have a fight on their hands to land the 4th.

    -----
    This should be the official PL end of/pre season slogan, sponsered by Barclays.

    ----
    SS11, I'm glad you're not in charge of transfers at Arsenal. Felipe Melo was voted worst player in the Serie A not so long ago, as for suggesting Wayne Bridge?!?!? Come on!!! People have been killed for less. ;P

    Bendy will probably go now, Í think he wasn't really given a chance, played way to often out of position. Look at his goals to appearances record and I think you will be surprised, his goal return was pretty good. Still, I won't be crying or anything if he does chose to leave, but I will keep an eye on him ços I'm sure he won't do too bad.

    ReplyDelete
  67. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13532690.stm

    ------------------------

    So we'll definitely have one keeper next season then ... provided he doesn't go near a bloody motorbike.

    Wouldn't bother me if he becomes our first choice keeper, he seems a safe if ageing pair of hands between the sticks.

    ReplyDelete
  68. Holloway2Holland said...
    SS11, I'm glad you're not in charge of transfers at Arsenal.
    -----------------
    Hahaha. I didnt see that coming. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  69. Roger T.

    That article is another bit of proof for my "'Arry can do no wrong" theory. He gave them a 9/10 and voted them team and manager of the season.

    What are these pricks on?

    Spurs won NOTHING and dropped out of the top 4, how is that not construed as a failure?

    ReplyDelete
  70. And the fabulous european spur adventure ended in a rather humiliating 5:0 loss to Real madrid.

    Sure they beat the holders Inter Milan but so did Schalke and they rubbish.

    ReplyDelete
  71. Star, I always thought he was a pretty decent keeper, way too good to play second fiddle to Gomes, I'd mentioned that before and was laughed out of the discusion... Well who's laughing now eh?

    Not me, that's for sure. Arsenal fans can't throw stones when they too have fragile as glass keepers.

    ReplyDelete
  72. You cant buy English - they are expensive
    You cant buy Brazilians - they are indisciplined
    You cant buy Italians - they dont like to play in PL and its not suited to them
    You can buy Germans - but they are too young or untested at top level
    You can buy Dutch - they are not tested at top level
    You can buy Spanish - I dont know names
    You can buy French - thats our bread and butter land.
    You can buy Portuguese - I dont know names, also hardly tested at top level.

    From which league do we get players then?

    ReplyDelete
  73. Exactly Spitmeister, still let's not let facts get in the way of the meeja's chance to swallow some more 'Arry jizz.

    ReplyDelete
  74. You can't buy players because Citeh's got them all.

    ReplyDelete
  75. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/13544347.stm

    So, the only man that stands up to Septic is put up on charges, well played Blatter, a perfect move taken from the "Totalaterian Rule for Dummies" handbook

    About time that Warner got his come-up-ences (oo-er) though.

    ReplyDelete
  76. Holloway2Holland said...
    as for suggesting Wayne Bridge?!?!? Come on!!! People have been killed for less. ;P
    -------------------------------

    Less than wayne bridge ? is there such a thing ?
    ------------------
    Holloway2Holland said...
    Bendy will probably go now, Í think he wasn't really given a chance, played way to often out of position.
    ---------------------------------
    You have got to stop giving bendy excuses H2.He is not the leading striker he thinks he is. He is not going to win Arsenal anything and you need one more striker of the RvP calibre. We are more than willing to sell trade you Ngog for Clichy :)

    ReplyDelete
  77. that should be sell or trade you *.

    Is it just me or does anyone else have to hit Post Comment 3 times before the comments actually posts. May have something to do with the fact that i use an AIM id to post.

    ReplyDelete
  78. I went on mastermind the other week and my specialist subject was manchester united. John Humphries said 'Question 1, which player is known as the welsh wizard?' I said 'I couldn't say...
    He said 'Correct, Question 2...'

    ReplyDelete
  79. Bendtner will be a good player AH, I'm sure of it, he's still only 23, although I'll admit he talks the talk a lot better then he walks the, well you know what I mean. I'd love it if we got another player of the RvP caliber, not injury wise, but goalgetting wise, heck, I'd even settle for RvP being fit for a whole season.

    I'd rather we gave you Clichy for free then trade him for Ngog.

    ReplyDelete
  80. and thats why I would rather we have Podolski.

    He's currently at Cologne where he enjoys a rep ala Stevie G.

    slapping people (e.g. Ballack) and getting away with it, swearing at camera etc BUT if he is away from that place, sa he was at munich a couple of years ago, he seems to do alright.

    and he shoots from outside the box too

    ReplyDelete
  81. AH, I use a google id and I've had problems over the last few days too, I had to open a new account last week and I've already had over 500 hits/views on my profile, which seems a bit wierd.

    Noel could only post as Anon the other day and I think Bo's been having problems as well. I think (total guess of course) that the problems lie within the Blogger system and not with you.

    ReplyDelete
  82. Holloway2Holland said...
    AH....the problems lie within the Blogger system and not with you.
    ------------------------------------------
    Well, just goes to show that there will always be a first time for everything.Thus far, the problem was always with me.

    ReplyDelete
  83. I guess since the failed attempt at updated the servers that lead to the polish dad taking over the blog every thing has been left knackered on their systems.

    hopefully they'll get it solved soon.

    ReplyDelete
  84. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/13539995.stm

    "Bolton have confirmed the release of Johan Elmander, Jlloyd Samuel, Joey O'Brien and Tamir Cohen following the expiration of their contracts.

    Boss Owen Coyle said they were being let go for "footballing reasons"."

    In other words, they were no good at it.

    End of the line for Mandy, Trotts, watch out, I have a funny feeling there's a Bendy about. (Him + cash for Cahill)

    I base that transfer prediction on absolutly nothing, but please feel free to copy and paste it all over the internet, I'd love to see it reappear on the gossip pages over a few days.

    ReplyDelete
  85. Manager Roberto Mancini has flown to Abu Dhabi to speak to chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak amid a breakdown in relations at Manchester City

    ---------------------------

    What's the betting those clueless morons will sack Mancini for giving Citeh their most successful season in a generation?

    ReplyDelete
  86. mornin' all, yes H and SS, I read it with interest earlier. 18 goals in 82 games, what a waste of dosh. Fortunately we bought him with the profit on Anelka to Chelsea so that's us and Liverpool that benefitted from Roman's deep pockets.

    Al habi habsi (Wigan player of the season) is a good 'un but how much longer will Jaskeleinen keep going, he's 74 next month. You could buy him for 20 million and Cahill for 30? Please no, we can't swap a mandy for a bendy!

    Does that nice sending off last game for us mean that Sturridge can't play for the first three games next season for Chelsea!

    ReplyDelete
  87. Any one else heard? Apparently, Citeh has offered €180mil to Madrid for the gelled tumbler. Have the Arabs really got that much money to waste?

    ReplyDelete
  88. Apologies, I forgot to greet one and all. But Robbo does write a good blog, even if he has problems with his spelling, and sometimes his grammar. Still can't believe that Hiddink and van Baston are on the hit list for Chelsea.

    ReplyDelete
  89. I hate this criminal asshole for an excuse for a human being but he's been NUFC's best player of the season.

    what the fuck is the club doing?

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/13546072.stm

    ReplyDelete
  90. Beau, don't start a sentence with "But" and don't, whatever you do, put a comma before "and" - you'll have the Robbo grammar police visiting in the middle of the night. The rest of us don't give a shit but they're proper fuckin' sticklers.

    ReplyDelete
  91. Beau, yes I heard and yes they are.
    --
    I just read a rumour that Ol Twitchy may be wanted at the Bridge. 'Arry the Chav 'as a nice ring to it.
    -----

    Spit, it may be because Barton got more negative press then Ashley.
    Mike won't put up with that shit.

    I liked this bit;

    "He wants to play as well as he can for Newcastle this year, and get the club where they belong which is top five."

    Comedy Gold.

    ReplyDelete
  92. But I always do that Trott, and there's nufink wrong with my grandma.

    ReplyDelete
  93. and blog's grandma even invent internet

    ReplyDelete
  94. Bendy will probably go now, Í think he wasn't really given a chance, played way to often out of position. Look at his goals to appearances record and I think you will be surprised, his goal return was pretty good.
    =================================================================

    I think you are a victim of Bendtner's self belief H2 ;)

    G'day all

    ReplyDelete
  95. Thought it best if I change my image too.

    ReplyDelete
  96. My list of Arsenal outs: Denislon, Clichy, Bendtner, Rosicky, Diaby, Squillaci, Almunia... possibly Arshavin but he may have just had a bad year and may be worth another year.

    Players that do not seem to want to be at the club: Nasri, Fabregas. If they want away, let them go.

    Players to bring in: Anyone that will give 110 peercent week in week out, has been weaned off the bottle, that is not a total wanker off the field (or on it), that wont demand a million dollars a week, that can manage to get on with his team mates, that can score goals if a striker, that can defend set pieces and that can pass accurately.

    ReplyDelete
  97. Cool pick, you go there Bo.

    Never new there were sex dolls for dogs available too.

    Doggy style gone commercial.

    ReplyDelete
  98. BojanglesInOz said...

    My list of Arsenal outs: Denislon, Clichy, Bendtner, Rosicky, Diaby, Squillaci, Almunia... possibly Arshavin but he may have just had a bad year and may be worth another year.

    Players that do not seem to want to be at the club: Nasri, Fabregas. If they want away, let them go.

    Players to bring in: Anyone that will give 110 peercent week in week out, has been weaned off the bottle, that is not a total wanker off the field (or on it), that wont demand a million dollars a week, that can manage to get on with his team mates, that can score goals if a striker, that can defend set pieces and that can pass accurately.
    ---

    Bo, your last para:

    I'd say most of Arsenal's players do fulfil the criteria and one more.

    they are not very good.

    ReplyDelete
  99. I had to create a new profile to get back here Spit. I thought it only fitting to change my image too... besides I have lost the old photo.

    ReplyDelete
  100. Not sure if I would agree Spit... I wouldn't say they all give 110 percent... certainly not every week anyway, there are still a few that are still on the teat and they definately cannot defend set pieces.

    ReplyDelete
  101. Wales 1 v Scotland 3

    The Scots finally found someone they copould beat.

    ReplyDelete
  102. (1249) Former England defender Sol Campbell is leaving Newcastle along with Shefki Kuqi.
    ---

    how come footballers married in Newcastle leave them for other guys?

    First Cole, then...

    ReplyDelete
  103. Arsene Wenger has dropped a major hint that he is ready to make a spectacular move for Karim Benzema.
    ======================================================

    Can somebody please tell Wenger that there are other nationalalities that play football other than the French.

    ReplyDelete
  104. you don't have to have astonishing powers of insight to realise that there might also be a few Liverpool and Manchester City fans cheering for Barcelona on Saturday night.
    ====================================================================

    ....and at least one Arsenal fan.

    ReplyDelete
  105. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13544347.stm

    I'm sure there's plenty of bribery going on within FIFA,but what a coincidence that Bin Hammam has been dealt this card just as he challenges Blatter for the top job.

    ReplyDelete
  106. well Birmingham look set for a tough time ahead.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/mattslater/2011/05/birmingham_city_set_for_the_bl.html

    Not like its ever happened before, has it?

    ReplyDelete
  107. Agreed Jacks. Warner has been caught by the BBC with his hands in the till on more than one occasion, and Bin Hammam lead the Qatar WC bid of such obvious merit that it won. Both may well have been involved in corruption but a few hours in "Honest Sepp's" kangaroo court just before an election against him is not the way to find out.

    As what is our sweet FA doing? Sweet FA. At a time when football needs strong leadership, they appoint a man whose qualification was Chair of Man City when they were a complete shambles. A man who makes Alan Sugar look like he knows what he's doing (as a Spurs fan, believe me, that's an achievement).

    Jedi

    ReplyDelete
  108. Noel said:

    Still can't post from my profile. Pain in the arse.

    State of Origin game 1 didn't disappoint lastnight, apart from the result, but that was hardly a surprise. Good old punch up at the end too, just for good measure.

    SS, I'd also like to echo other comments on here - Wayne Bridge?????!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  109. Noel, if you are using a google profile, trying visiting your iGoogle page or dashboard and follow the blog from there.

    ReplyDelete
  110. p.s. I like your profile name, 'Pain in the Arse'

    catchy. for a Spurs fan, apt.

    ReplyDelete
  111. will miss blackpool's fight in PL

    ReplyDelete
  112. what, the ash cloud's eaten you all?

    ReplyDelete
  113. Bloggers up the duff again, maybe that's why it's been so quiet in here. I had to take a pretty big detour just to be able to post this.
    Sort it out please tecnodweebs.

    Noel, just set up a new profile, Bo and I already had to as well, the dashboard page will just send you in circles, tippy tappying around like an Arsenal attack.

    ReplyDelete
  114. Is this motherfucker working?

    ReplyDelete
  115. See, swearing at the damn thing always gets results.

    ReplyDelete
  116. Shame the same can't apply to magically getting my workload to sod off.

    ReplyDelete
  117. Maybe it's just us here on the continent Spit.
    How are the anti smoking laws in Iceland? Must be pretty pointless trying to enforce them with all this volcano bollox going on?

    ReplyDelete
  118. Stars here too, the 'fire boys survived, speaking of which...

    Hoi Blogs, where u at?

    ReplyDelete
  119. Sister Nobili looks rather doable... (the sister part of the name means summat other than that)

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13559219

    ReplyDelete
  120. more on her from sun

    http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2369324.ece

    ReplyDelete
  121. C. Cole dropped from the judges panel for being too Geordie

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13558288

    ReplyDelete
  122. erm, yeah ash.

    the greenies do beat on about the cars and what comes out of the exhaust but it turns out, nature loves it some fags and if we wont give to to her, she'd roll up one of her own.

    ReplyDelete
  123. Spitfire said...
    Sister Nobili looks rather doable... (the sister part of the name means summat other than that)

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13559219

    ----
    Lap dancers maybe the way to actually get people going back to church.
    The vatican need to reconsider.

    ReplyDelete
  124. they might have to change the seating arrangement a bit.

    the current ones in most churches is more for the high class crowd with a large central stage and orderly seating.

    although, they got a head start on small cabins where two people may have some privacy...

    ReplyDelete
  125. guys, its been all a BIG misunderstanding... and nothing more...

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13545386

    ReplyDelete
  126. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13559384.stm

    This little nugget from Blatter smells rotten...

    "Meanwhile, Fifa president Sepp Blatter, writing for the Inside World Football website, stated: "I take absolutely no joy in seeing my friends and colleagues of many years dragged before the ethics committee.

    "I take no joy to see men who stood by my side for some two decades, suffer through public humiliation without having been convicted of any wrongdoing.

    "Nobody is guilty until a judge has found him guilty beyond reasonable doubt."

    Nothing like reading between the lines there then Sepp.

    ReplyDelete
  127. So cunticus corrupticus looks like he's going to win the election by eliminating his rival in a series of bribery allegations ....


    Those who dwell in glass houses Sepp ....

    ReplyDelete
  128. Arsenal have pulled out of the race to sign West Ham midfielder Scott Parker and are now looking to land Lille's 20-year-old Belgian international Eden Hazard.
    ================================================================

    Of course, always take youth over experience.

    G'day all

    Have a reduced set of posters in I see... Not sure what is happening at Blog Spot... I was asked (apparently by Google) to give my mobile phone number in order to verify my old account, hence my new account. Maybe a number of other posters have hit the same problem but haven't bothered opening a new account.

    ReplyDelete
  129. United left-back Patrice Evra says Samir Nasri would be a winner if he left Arsenal for Old Trafford. France international Nasri will be out of contract at the Emirates in a year's time.
    ===========================================================================

    I think with Nasri and Fabregas, we are seeing one of the problems with not winning trophy's in modern football. You dont have to be a mental giant to realise that it is difficult to keep hold of your better players simply because they want medals as well as moolah. At least with Arsenal, we still have a big enough name to draw a few decent players into the squad but a few more years in a trophyless wilderness may make it a little more difficult to do so. Even worse we may become a selling club.

    ReplyDelete
  130. I gave my number Bo, all they do is send a tekst with a code, didn't do much good though, still had to open a new account.

    I'm glad we're not going after Parker, his experience consists of too much time spent on the physio bench of low and midtable teams. Other that that Eden Hazard has a much cooler name.

    ReplyDelete
  131. (Bio ) Hazard is what we need. Plenty of Peter Parkers already at the club.

    Re the Blog: its notthe posters' fault Bo.

    The host service of the blog (blogspot) is having troubles lately.

    apparently some dimwit was incharge of relocating the servers to modern hardware and faster network but they fucked it up so royally FA is in talks for having them restructure

    ReplyDelete
  132. I wouldn't give my number... I wasn't sure if it was a genuine Google page. I contacted Google about it but received no response, so I created a new profile instead.

    It wasn't so much that we had given up going for Parker as it was putting youth first at all costs... just wondering if we have learned anything from the past few years.

    ReplyDelete
  133. Well if Nasri is indeed going, Citeh will put in about 100 million for him, just coz they want everyone. With that amount of money you could easily buy 2 Torres', Bo.

    ReplyDelete
  134. The headline for this report
    http://www.arsenalinsider.com/transfer-news/2516-arsenal-sign-barca-duo
    captured my interest but I should have realised that it would refer to two kindergarten kids.

    ReplyDelete
  135. Cheers AH, two Torres is really what we need at Arsenal.

    ReplyDelete
  136. From tha Arsenal blog "The Grove" in a message to Wenger.... "Here’s a list of players that need to go, if they are as great as you say they are we would raise some serious cash. Almunia, Eboue, Clichy, Denilson, Rosicky, Squillaci, Denilson, Bendtner and at least 80% the kids you have out on loan, they’ll never make it. And stick Song, Koscielny and Chamakh on notice."

    Apart from Eboue, my thoughts precisely.

    ReplyDelete
  137. The Grove (or Le Groan, as it is also known) is the worst so called Arsenal fan site on the web. They are a bunch of shit stirrers and the comment sections are filled with ubermongs. "Fans" who delight in bitchin' about everything, I wouldn't be surprised if they were Spuds in disguise.

    They're talking about getting rid of 8-19 players. Who's gonna replace them? How long will it take for their replacements to fit in?

    These are just a bunch of dumb kids that have spent way too much time playing their football manager games and think that have scouting skills and knoweledge of the game because they watch clips of potential new signings on You Tube.

    I don't pretend to know who's going out and who's comming in, but I know that wholesale changes usually don't happen and when they do they don't usually work.

    ps. These are the same guys that wanted to get rid of Song, Nasri and Walcott not so long ago.

    ReplyDelete
  138. Oh and Bo, do they want to get rid of Denhilson twice? ;)

    ReplyDelete
  139. Not sure about them wanting to get rid of him twice H2 but I sure as hell do ;)

    ReplyDelete
  140. I think they missed out a player too... I am also hopeful that Diaby has played his last match for us.

    ReplyDelete
  141. I have just done a round of Arsenal blogs... at least the ones I know... and a general consensus shows the players above are the players most mentioned in the clear out lists.

    ReplyDelete
  142. My comp internet decided to bugger off on strike for a few days, but finally recovered it tonight.

    So it seems the main talking point is the revamping of the Arsenal team
    The get rid offs are quite clear, tho IMO bendy should be kept, he has confidence
    CB,defensive MF and a back up GK for Szczesny are the needs

    ReplyDelete
  143. Spitfire said...
    C. Cole dropped from the judges panel for being too Geordie

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13558288
    --------------------------------------

    No wonder Wet Spam went down if Carlton Cole was busy worrying about his place on American X-Factor.

    And I'm not anonymous. I'm Colch but can't be bothered to set up a new profile at this time of night.

    ReplyDelete
  144. tone1947 said...
    So it seems the main talking point is the revamping of the Arsenal team
    The get rid offs are quite clear, tho IMO bendy should be kept, he has confidence
    CB,defensive MF and a back up GK for Szczesny are the needs
    -----------------------------
    I've been looking at our team and I think for next season we need a new GK, 4 new defenders, 4 new midfielders and 2 new strikers. But apart from that I think we're well set.
    Colch

    ReplyDelete
  145. Kolo Toure handed six-month ban for failed drugs test

    ReplyDelete
  146. I wonder what he would of got if he had passed?

    ReplyDelete
  147. Ok - so we had a debate as to whther we would wanna win Euro or Olympics at footy. I think we plumped for Euros.

    But who woulod we rather won on Saturday - A Home Counties based team or a team who give their shirt sponsorship for free to a worldwide charity to overcome poverty? Not that Im biaised.

    ReplyDelete
  148. Next year, they're gonna be sponsered by the; We bribed our way to holding the WC Nation so let's not think that Barca are all saints.

    Still, since Evra's been shouted his cum filled mouth off again, i hope he gets beaten so bad that he cries. But I also dislike those cheating Cuntalonians, it's the old poo sandwich v glass of piss conundrum.

    Messi deserves it, he's a good, honest player, but on the otherhand I'd like to see Van Der Sar end his distinguished carear on a high.

    Neutral it is then.

    ReplyDelete
  149. surgical strikes on Wembley, where's one when you need one?

    ReplyDelete
  150. As long as it's not a US surgical strike on Wembley Spit... Everyone in the stadium would be quite safe, I'd be concerned for those living in the area though.

    ReplyDelete
  151. I'd be concerned for Yarm Bo if the US were doing it. Probably get the High St mixed up for a Big Mac - then again from 30000 feet easliy done I expect.

    Special relationship - special my arse
    Finger buffet - .................

    ReplyDelete
  152. Followingborohurts said...

    But who woulod we rather won on Saturday - A Home Counties based team or a team who give their shirt sponsorship for free to a worldwide charity to overcome poverty? Not that Im biaised.
    -------------------
    mornin' Lads,

    Shirt sponsorship:

    I have it from a semi (based on their fast approaching total senility) reliable source, that Unicef CEO Carly Stern gets $1.2 million a year, plus expenses, Rolls Royce etc. 5 cents of every dollar donated goes to the cause.

    A noble gesture indeed on the part of Barcelona.

    AIG on the other hand lost 95 cents of every dollar invested. Tough choice on that basis!

    Come on UNITED! (and lend us a player or two please).

    wtf, now mine is messed up too? Can Andy Smart get this sorted out Robbo?
    Trotter

    ReplyDelete
  153. nevermind, now it's working!

    ReplyDelete
  154. Nice advert on the back of The Times today for Paddy Power with Imogen Thingy in a Un**ed shirt.

    Didn't miss a trick there.

    The only mistake they've made is saying money back if Barcelona win,whereas it should have been if Giggs fail to score.

    ReplyDelete
  155. Rafael and Fabio da Silva's mum forced them to reject Arsenal before they joined Manchester United as she was "adamant" that they should not sign for the London club.

    -----------------------

    Mother knows best, as the addage goes ...

    ReplyDelete
  156. How now brown cow. Testing. Testing.

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  157. Wahey! I'm back. I knew if I did nothing it'd fix itself. Wise words passed down from my dad's mate who used to be in charge of reactor temperatures at Chernobyl.

    ReplyDelete
  158. Apparently, Robbo and CC were not the only ones that couldnt be on the BBC any more, for one reason or the other.

    After Caroline Cheese, the best female commentator on football (the only female football commentator on football ) at the BBC left some time ago and now Jonathan Stevenson will be 'doing' his last game for BBC on the CL Final.

    Why get rid of the people who knew what they were doing and have the likes of Bond, wilshire and McNulty hang around?

    Is it because these 4 made the others look bad?

    ReplyDelete
  159. I have noticed that the only Un**ed representative we have left here with us is a Bolton supporter... what happened to all of them... PSB, Ngog etc?

    ReplyDelete
  160. think problems in posting is keeping some people off Bo.

    it always eases off in summer.

    Why stay in when you could sit outside in fresh air and enjoy a couple of drinks?

    ReplyDelete
  161. The Un**ed supporters haven't been around for a while Spit... even Rod has gone AWOL.... I think they have got fed up with the lack of love for their team in here.

    ReplyDelete
  162. Naa,

    think they are just busy. I reckon Ngog has a new job, adam is busy bcause the economy is recovering and since he works in work-placements, reckon he's busy too (he was here last week though) and rod has a job...

    ReplyDelete
  163. Morning everyone!

    I had gone scouting for a left back for Arsenal. Seems to me after all Wayne Bridge is not a right player. Ok I agree.

    How about these 2 players
    Fabio Contreao (Benfica) or Aly cissokho (Lyon)

    ReplyDelete
  164. Morning everyone!

    I had gone scouting for a left back for Arsenal. Seems to me after all Wayne Bridge is not a right player. Ok I agree.

    How about these 2 players
    Fabio Contreao (Benfica) or Aly cissokho (Lyon)
    -----

    How about Kieran Gibbs? And Tom Cruise?

    Both better than Bridge and are already Arsenal.

    Moving on to the more serious problem.

    weak * (GK + CD + CM + CF) = No Trophy

    ReplyDelete
  165. Gibbs take place of Clichy and we need a back up. Cruise is still young and can be sent on loan and get first team experience.

    weak * (GK + CD + CM + CF) = No Trophy
    No GK wants to join Arsenal now first preference is United as there's vacancy at OT.

    ReplyDelete
  166. Signs of the start of the seasons.

    Autumn.Leaves turning colour,nights drawing in,children back to school.

    Winter.Frosts,bare trees,dark nights.

    Spring.Daffodils,lambs gambolling in the fields,first shoots of growth in the garden.

    Summer.The sound of leather on willow,endless school summer holidays,bbqs,Arsenal fans listing all the players they need to end their trophy drought.

    ReplyDelete
  167. Yes Jacks. Its a lonely, 'orrible place we Arsenal fans are in.

    The eternal entertainment without rewards at the end of the season.

    Very nerve wrecking.

    ReplyDelete
  168. Nani has been playing the "Messi role" in training, while Michael Owen has been playing in the style of David Villa.
    --------------------------------------------

    I doubt very much that Michael Owen has been playing in the style of David Villa.

    ReplyDelete
  169. Seeing as Arsenal and what they should do over the summer is the subject de nos jour,I'll throw in my twopenneth.

    Sell Fabgegas back to Barcelona for £40m.This endless summer will he/won't he is a distraction.Get rid.You've got Wilshere to take his place.Look at how well he performed for England in a more forward midfield roll

    Goalkeeper.Nothing wrong with Szczesny,he'll be stronger next season.

    You've missed Vermaelen and Van Persie.

    That's it.

    The controversial bit for me to put forward is the manager.The missing ingredient for Arsenal is the ability to win when they aren't playing well.Un**ed always pull it out of the bag,even when they've been poor.I suggest it's time for fresh blood at the very top,shake things up a bit.Decent manager just left a job in London through no fault of his own.

    ReplyDelete
  170. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13574338.stm

    As welcome as it is,it'll be swept under the carpet.

    Teflon Blatter will survive again.

    If ever there's a nuclear attack,I want to be stood next to Blatter as he always survives.

    ReplyDelete
  171. jacksofbuxton said...
    You've missed Vermaelen and Van Persie.
    ---------------
    There in lies the problem. We know we have players who often get injured during the season and we need back up for these players.

    And regarding the controversial part, the question is who do you bring in?
    Agree with moving Wenger to take care of Youth Academy affairs but no Ancelloti for me...

    ReplyDelete
  172. jacksofbuxton said...
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13574338.stm

    As welcome as it is,it'll be swept under the carpet.

    Teflon Blatter will survive again.

    If ever there's a nuclear attack,I want to be stood next to Blatter as he always survives.
    -------

    not sure its a bright idea Jacks (though you might be glowing in the end) as thats exactly how Blatter survives.

    In this case, he'd use you to shield himslef.

    ReplyDelete
  173. I'd welcome Ancelotti as Arsenal manager very much.

    He is a top class manager who was a top class player and won at all levels.

    Also, he's good 10 years younger than Wenger and I think Wenger can take another role in the club that would allow him to continue with club building and leave the match winning to Ancelotti.

    ReplyDelete
  174. BojanglesInOz said...
    The Un**ed supporters haven't been around for a while Spit... even Rod has gone AWOL.... I think they have got fed up with the lack of love for their team in here.
    ---------------------
    mornin' lads,

    Don't worry Bo, you'll see plenty of them if they win on Saturday night!

    COME ON UNITED!

    ReplyDelete
  175. Nooo, you gotta let Wenger finish the job and win some trophies again before he retires or sack him now. He can't stay around and watch somebody else win the trophies! He'll end his days like Mrs. Faversham in a darkened room dressed in his Fly Emirates shirt, kicking water bottles at imaginary little evil-doers while watching re-runs of the games that ended their involvement in various competitions!

    ReplyDelete
  176. alright Trott. Wenger can stay. But only because you asked...

    ReplyDelete
  177. That's an awful lot of games to watch.

    Will he live long enough to get through them all?

    ReplyDelete
  178. Havisham Trott, Havisham :)

    Eee, a few hours' work and then a 3 day holiday for me.

    ReplyDelete
  179. BojanglesInOz said...
    I have noticed that the only Un**ed representative we have left here with us is a Bolton supporter... what happened to all of them... PSB, Ngog etc?
    -----------------------------------------------
    And not even a regular Bolton supporter to boot, but an American resident trotter.


    Anyhoo, since Liverpool have obviously gotten their transfers all sorted out, let me throw in my thesis on what Arsenal need.

    1. Keep Wenger. His consistent track record speaks for itself, and as he has semi-admitted, he realizes his mistakes and is willing to spend a bit of cash, he is smart enough to fix the issues.
    2. Dont go overboard with clearing out the team.
    3. Get rid of Fabregas and Nasri. Anyone who threatens to become a Mascherano or Torres needs to go asap. Also a route for more money coming in.
    4. Players to come in: Huth,Roger Johnson,Scott Dann, Leighton Baines,Charlie Adam,Aguerro.

    ReplyDelete
  180. I am tempted to bet a quid on Arsenal signing NOONE (not the player) this summer.

    ReplyDelete
  181. take note wenger, winning stuff also brings in shed loads of money albeit lupsum as opposed to hatching players out of eggs that may or may not do well before they are sold or released for free

    126 million is nice sum. Win the CL and Arsenal are debt free faster than you can kick a water bottle.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13528250

    ReplyDelete
  182. Havisham? blimey, I'd best get me dickens out and read.

    COME ON UNITED!

    ReplyDelete
  183. dont take your dickens out in public. Its impolite.

    ReplyDelete
  184. Noel said...
    Nani has been playing the "Messi role" in training, while Michael Owen has been playing in the style of David Villa.
    --------------------------------------------

    I doubt very much that Michael Owen has been playing in the style of David Villa
    ====
    Probably more like Ricardo Villa (age 58)

    I wanted to say Aston Villa, but remembered that they had scored lately.

    ReplyDelete
  185. Interesting piece.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-13457303

    ReplyDelete
  186. jacksofbuxton said...
    Summer.The sound of leather on willow,endless school summer holidays,bbqs,Arsenal fans listing all the players they need to end their trophy drought.
    -------
    Indeed, all of a sudden, the temps rise and every Arsenal fan seems to know what's best and the names of mediocre players that have had half a decent season at a crappy club (take a bow Scott Parker) get bandied around and made out to be some kind of saviour and the best thing since sliced bread.

    The finger pointers come out with pointy fingers pointing in the direction of the usual suspects, who supposdly are to blame for all of our shortcommings, lack of trophies, global warming and basically all that is wrong in the world. Now, don't get me wrong, there are quite a few players on that list that I don't believe are good enough too play for Arsenal, however, most of the time they weren't even playing, or asked to play in a role that was not their forte, so how can we blame them?? Because it's easy that's how.

    In my humble opinion our weakness lies in our mental fragility, far too often we either crumbled or just didn't turn up against the so-called weaker sides. It's not a crime to have an off day, Utd have them to, but they have spirit and an instilled winning mentality, that we unfortunatly do not. It's great that we beat Chelsea, Man U and Barcelona, but if you drop points to two newly promoted clubs at home and go on a dismal end of the season run, then it's all for nothing.

    It's all very well bringing in new players,but unless our aproach to attitude in training changes, then what's the point? The biggest shape up needs to take place behind the scenes, for example, why are so many of our players injured so often? And why in the name of all things holy can't we defend a set piece?
    Once again, it's easy to blame the CB's, but shouldn't set pices be defended as a unit? We have no defencive organisation and the plan seems to be "panic" any time a ball comes into our box, surely the blame then lies futher then just the players but in the coaching and training methods?

    To sum up, we can get rid of a, b and c, and bring in w, x and y (not z, because he's lazy) but unless something changes behind the scenes then we'll just be debating this again next year and as Einstein said; "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results".

    ReplyDelete
  187. Brilliant post H2H.

    Now what I am going to do is cut-paste this to notepad, take a print out and stick it on my office desk.

    Thanks for those insightful words!

    ReplyDelete
  188. H2..if you guys ever find out the reason for the injuries, be a good lad and let liverpool know as well. Maybe not playing in Europe will help us out a bit this season.

    ReplyDelete
  189. Rafael and Fabio da Silva's mum forced them to reject Arsenal before they joined Manchester United as she was "adamant" that they should not sign for the London club.
    Full story: Metro
    -------------
    I can see the family resemblence

    ReplyDelete
  190. I feel honoured SS11.
    ---
    Will do AH, but I doubt if we will.

    ReplyDelete
  191. Barcelona pair Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol took a photo of Cesc Fabregas off the wall at Arsenal's training ground - then posted a picture of themselves gawking at it, on Twitter.
    Full story: Metro
    ----
    We let those mongs use our facilities and this is the thanks we get. No Classalona.

    ReplyDelete
  192. Dont Puyol and Balotelli really really piss you off, in ways that even cristiano ronaldo couldnt manage?

    ReplyDelete
  193. Scott Parker is the saviour, the messiah, best thing since sliced bread!

    ReplyDelete

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