North London Derby – postpone everything for tomorrow

Ambarish I hope nothing dreadful has happened to you, give us a yell.

KP
Thanks I was just about to start looking for a replay. Having read LIR this morning I won’t bother.
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LIR
So Arteta fluffed his Euro lines again; something he has a an astounding record of losses bar PSV, of course, who were woeful but won’t be in Eindhoven.
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It’s not like we played our reserve side with our usual starters on the bench in case we need to smash the emergency glass in panic rather than an in-game management that puts out fires and improves the side tactically.
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Not a word of it. Arteta showed last night with his line up (I didn’t see the game) what I imagined happened on the field and once again proved he is not up to the level required and never will be.
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He’s too mentally and emotionally flawed to be successful at the highest level. He’s the young ‘Tinkerman’ level capable of isolated small glory, but needs many others to fail throughout a season to win the PL, where he had that chance last season.
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Will Arteta surprise us against City? I can’t see it, can you? I mean City lose 2 in a row in the PL?

Ambarish you ok?

TRVL
With our similar minds we rarely get to speak on football terms. How’s life in Canada, was it a good summer? I gigged in Toronto, Montreal and naturally Vancouver back in 79 and 80 and have never been back – not by choice though.
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In my music days I did the run from San Diego to San Francisco, but never went on up to Nappa. So That is on my hit-list with Mrs T and hiring a supercar for 10 days. Then Portland we have friends and on to Grunge city to fish fro mud sharks from our hotel balcony, and drive up to Vancouver and across Canada probably by train. Would make for a good retirement trip. My Wife is in America each year for business, but not where I’ll be talking her.
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I also like Laughlin on there Colorado river by the Davis dam.
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It’s Vegas by the sea sort of and a 90 minute drive north up the I 15 I think through the Mohave dessert. The Native Indian res across the river at Bullhead City where I got baked with an almost 2-meter Native American Indian named Ulysses – it took a moment to get my head round that one and the chicory type herb was one fo the strongest I’d ever tasted.
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I spent some time talking with Hopi people up in the Palm Springs what we’d call small mountains. I went back a few times to talk about their culture and lives where an 80 year old tribe leader made me a silver bracelet of he told me equilibrium where the gold and silver etchings hand carved of a picture old tribal life that are a perfect match in equal design.
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Really a remarkable piece of Native Indian jewelry that I had valued in London back in 96 for then it was £1200 and the Hopi leader would accept more than US$300. The weight of the silver and gold told me it was worth far more alone when I told him that, he said ‘even better it goes to you’ very few people come here more than once. Your Interest is an honest one.’ He added ‘This will help you find peace in your life and never let anyone wear it wear it as it carries your? (I can’t remember the word he used).
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Something I’d never sell and Junior has his eye on.
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I can imagine we are feeling the same as all Gooners; sick of Arteta! I don’t think there is any other way to put it. Arteta has and is a system of failure. By that he will never win at the highest level where results like last night will always dog him, as will run ins with his trusty few who he’ll eventually break.
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Just looking at the stats the in-game Management meant Saka had to come on for the poor performing Vieira at 34 minutes. Then our usual frustrating Artetataball until Lens scored in the 69th minute, and then Arteta panicked, and put on White, Nelson and ESR at the 70th minute (probably no warm up being reactive subs), expecting them to pull a rabbit out of the hat, and win the game.
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Except the 2 with any chance of scoring were the 2 rustiest players on the bench with too few minutes to be on the type of form needed.
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Wash, rinse repeat!

It wouldn’t surprise me if ESR doesn’t start Sunday. Putting my Machiavelli hat on it’s a typical nasty Arteta move to be his way to assuage ESR supporters, such as myself and all here. It’s a win win for Arteta only because if ESR fails to help facilitate a win or better score the winner in 2nd half added time, Arteta will say that he’d been saving ESR for that game with special training ALA Sterling back in the day. It wouldn’t make any difference if ESR played well because Havertz would be #8 the very next game.
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If City deal with a ring rusty ESR where he needs to be subbed off, Arteta will harp on that’s why he’s not ready, and we need to buy. What? Another Havertz? I’d hear you all say. Arteta loves throwing players publicly under the bus.
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ESR will be consigned back to the bench for the rest of the season bar cameo appearances when absolutely needed.
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No one, and I mean no one, not even Josh can tell Arteta anything about being manager of the team; he knows it all, even when he didn’t, he still knew it all.
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He’s still convinced he’s 100% right about Havertz and Vieira, and as I said at the beginning of the season, we will suffer because of it, and not be challenging other than for 5th.
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As Mike MacDonald (?) said on LG, we are worse this season because Arteta hasn’t replaced our midfield properly. Losing Xhaka meant losing a leader on the pitch who was our Swiss Army knife man: he couldn’t do much wrong and balls bounced off his shin for goals with Xhaka beaming his megawatt smile last season. Then trying to morph into an unpredictable side has only confused our players so far this season. Every other team are rubbing their hands when playing us, and not the Arteta hand rubbing with imaginary wins.
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Mikel has blown Partey up trying to play him at RB, which has meant no Partey at the party and Rice is not the same player Partey is. Rice is an excellent 6, but at poor 8 for what is really required for our game. For West Ham he was outstanding more for his athleticism than 8 or 10 passing qualities. After all, Rice is a very mobile CB, so 6 and CB makes Rice perfect for us.
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For Arteta’s tactics to work, he needs a quality #8 who can play equally a well as a #10 who is defensively sound. ESR is the nearest we have to play that way: Trossard not far behind him.
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Havertz, it’s clear now he’s a false 9 or nothing. He’s too weak to play #9 and he’s not built mentally to be tough and skillful in duels playing the slide rule pass Vieira can only manage to play every 6 games or so: very Ozileasque.
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Havertz for the most time looks like a giraffe on quaaludes. Vieira can only be played when it isn’t too windy in the stadium. Was it windy at 34 minutes last night? I do understand now having read the match reports that Lens did in fact put the wind up us throughout the game.
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I don’t know why but when I think of the French I always conjure memories from Allo Allo.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arz5XoMF5NM
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YQwJGouKE4
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Some light relief for us suffering Arteta PTSD where unpalatably the football illiterate is still in charge albeit with the Damocles Sword hanging over his laser hair cut.
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Is that is what you meant by cunt AF and Marc? I often get confused because Arteta is so hairy around his mouth saying the most cuntish things in post games.
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Maybe he’s more French being from next door from Spain; they like hair apparently the French. Sorry to anyone who is French who would feel highly insulted at the pursuance of the possibility of Arteta being more French than Spanish. For those super insulted I’d like you to know I’ve moved and am armed.
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So? What’s the answer other than getting a real experienced manager with a cool winner’s CV who speaks good English and likes dogs, so Edu and Win feel comfortable.
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I was just thinking how does Arteta ask for a reference? He can only just about manage a one season out of four showreel, and a lucky FA cup win if you watch it again. Ah well that’s a Him problem and RM currently fancy De Zerbi like the rest of us.
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Get Partey as fit as possible and use him sparingly with Rice/Trossard/ESR. The latter 2 can improve on Xhaka in the final 3rd.
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The new manager would be able to choose whether he wants a defensive MF or an attacking one even in the same game using subs. However, the game plan has to be there where it’s been missing all season where last season it wasn’t with Xhaka and more importantly Partey. I mean Mikel couldn’t learn that we were derailed by the losses of Partey and Saliba last season, could he?
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We have to get our TW right Arteta said in July and again in August for good measure, and he fluffed it like the ends of the last 2 seasons.
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Our back 4 hasn’t changed because KT is out until Xmas as usual. Zinchenko can’t defend; been saying that since he arrived. He’s all over the park except where he needs to be at LFB. Everyone has to cover for him, and why? He’s just an ok squad player as he was at City at best.
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Arteta buys a RB who gets injured being kept in the game too long, in a utility player’s role. Arteta’s mistake was Timber fitted in seamlessly in short time, and Arteta didn’t assess effects on the lad for his physicality with the increased speed and brutal attention players get when being kicked off the park of the PL compared to the Dutch League or he did, and he disregarded what he was warned about. Who knows?
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Arteta buys Havertz for 5 roles Mikel proclaimed so enthusiastically. Enough said!
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Arteta buys Vieira: Enough said!
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Arteta doesn’t like ESR for some unfathomable reason.
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He prefers the sub standard Vieira and Havertz who can only score when given a charity penalty.
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That sums up why we have been scraping most results and drew with Spuds. Our MF is still broken and our manager was a midfielder. Let that sink in.
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Keep it real Gooners and have a good one.

some great points Tony, as per usual…the fact remains when you properly ignore all the usual nonsense being spewed by his most ardent admirers, some simple truths emerge:

(1) MA’s still a one trick pony, who has neither the tactical nous nor the requisite hiring practices required…how many times must he be outmanaged by supposed lesser lights before this finally sinks in?…somehow he’s spent another 200+M yet we’re a lesser side for it

(2) we’re hardly a deeper squad than last year, except in goal and at the DM position, if and when Partey’s fully healthy…we signed absolutely no one of consequence up top, instead he opted to re-up Nelson, whom he doesn’t trust, rightly or wrongly, and retained depth pieces like Vieira and Tross, who are being deployed in a nonsensical manner, like yesterday…don’t even get me started on what might have been had he not wasted 70M on another one of Chelsea’s sloppy seconds…we needed someone who could pick a pass in the final third and/or clinically finish, instead he thirstily wooed someone who has neither in his toolbox…does this unbridled arrogance remind you of anyone? I’ll give you a hint, it rhymes with Farsene Fenger

on a more personal note, all is good on this side of the 49th…it appears as if you’ve spent some time in 3 of our 4 most populated centers…I’ve lived in 2 of the 3, albeit for relatively brief periods, and all have a wide array of night life possibilities, likely due to their uniquely diverse populations and drawing power when it comes to the under 25 crowd…I presently reside some 2 hours from Toronto, so I’ve made countless trips up the 401 for concerts, sporting events and fine dining/shopping purposes, but I would never reside there on a permanent basis as it’s too frenetic for my liking…that said, when I want to blow off some steam and release my inner Hunter S. Thomspon, it’s the perfect landing spot…with this in mind, I just want to apologize to anyone and everyone who’s had the misfortune of encountering my alter ego on one of these rather destructive excursions to the 6…Cheers

Thanks and brilliant as ever TRVL, you’ve really found a place to call blog home. We’re all the richer for it. Same KP, Killroy, Marc, Hoopah and not forgetting the readers with our blog mentor, Ambarish, who seems to be AWOL. It’s a great place to drop into especially when Almuniaisnomore makes a rare appearance. I hope is all well in Blanrney land Almunia. I often think of you as I tap the keys with LIR words. 🙂
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Like you VL, I avoid cities unless dining preferring the country or in our case a more secluded and quiet part of the city. I’ve always thought I’d live in a warm or hot climate for my retirement to keep my blood circulating better, but I’ve also always hankered for rural Cornwall or Jersey/Guernsey and even a nice part of wales to retire with Europe at my doorstop once again.
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At least if I can talk Mrs T into that, I can buy cars for their real prices without 300% luxury tax. A work in Progress with Mrs T, but it would also give our adopted daughter and Mrs T British passports after 3 or 5 years residency. Probably easier for our daughter if she works in the aerospace engineering industry in England.
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I don’t remember much about Toronto other than racing the road manager down the road that runs along the lake with Charlie as my co-driver , so probably similar to you TRVL although my apologizing was for band members from time to time.
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As talking about last night game is painful a question for you TRVL: have you ever taken a sports car you own onto a race track, and if so, I’d love to know how it went? First, I’ve never owned cars with 0 to 62 in under 3 seconds only watched in in car reviews. Obviously, some EV cars can duo ridiculous speeds from starting and emptying the battery just as quickly. I couldn’t do it if I’m honest and it’s never going to happen in Thailand.
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You strike me as a guy who also gets baked on pure adrenalin when taking your life into your own hands as you would on a race track or in the octagon.
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Anyone else done same or similar?
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The thought of it really appeals. Maybe I should do a day at Brands Hatch and learn to drive better first. Leave Le Mans for a while I think. 🙂

In other news I’m all for Klopp’s call to have the Spud’s game replayed. In fact I’m really happy for both teams to play all the extra games they can; losing the finals of course.

Tony

Does anyone think the 2001 FA Cup final should be replayed after one of their players handballed on the goal line?

Tony-I went to a Toronto-based private school, largely for sports-related reasons, for the better part of 2 years, until I was summarily expelled for a whole host of rather unseemly and violent actions…I was clearly intentionally acting out, as I wasn’t a fan whatsoever of either their corporal punishment predilictions or the fraternity-like douchebag environment, but along the way I made a few close connections, a couple of whom I still speak to on a fairly regular basis

two of those individuals had strong ties to the automotive world, as one was the son of a dealership mogul of sorts and the other’s father had a nationwide chain of automotive shops…during that period it was rather common for those within that industry, with the required means, to form racing teams, both for marketing purposes and because they were wannabe race car drivers…the fact that they couldn’t fully realize this dream, due to their obvious age constraints, oft-times led them to push their eldest sons into the racing gig…as such I spent a decent amount of time in and around some of the most prominent tracks in North America

now I did have the opportunity to drive a Mustang 5.0, Viper, NSX and a Supra, two of which had nitrous boosters, during the days proceeding a race, and on race day I twice got to be in the pace car…both of my buddies enjoyed some brief professional success, but illegally deferred monies from Ford Canada and varying addictive issues ultimately derailed their respective “dreams”

I loved dipping my toes into that realm as I was always a adrenaline junkie, which included motorbikes, go-karts, sprint cars and four runners without speed restrictor plates…not to mention, that world did seem to be a magnet for the ladies, which was the “cherry” on that oftentimes fucked up sundae…Cheers

My word TRVL I was pretty sure you’d had been on a race track due to reading between the lines about you in general, but that sounded awesome. You’ve whetted my appetite to do a day at Brands Hatch with Junior one day.
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Junior likes the Supra at £100K+ here with only 100+% luxury tax, and I rented a Saleen Racing Team Mustang from Beverley Hills rental to go down to Palm Springs in as JB’s manager had arranged the Ritz Carlton for 5 nights to decompress from living in studios and rehearsal rooms. When I pulled up at the RC, on its own road of course, the valet captain asked if he could keep the car on deck as it suited the hotel’s image.
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I’ve done things in a tricked up Fortuner that has defied laws of something keeping up going up mountains filming a MC club’s ride who waits for no-one. Run’n’gun filming only.
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I’m also looking at sorts cars for the first time in my life, but should I buy one, it’s not going on the track, here or anywhere. Like you, I’d be happy racing others’ insured cars.
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One of my MC brothers built a full race simulator that is also an excellent fighter jet cockpit where the seat really does move in sync with what you’re seeing on the screen. I was rubbish at the racing. Watching the Gran Tourismo movie I realized just how bad I was. Yet on roads in real life it’s much different for me anyways.
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Back to footie and kudus to Eddie Howe’s bar codes who taught PSG to play European football last night, and I would suggest Arteta, too, if he could only get past his narcissistic “No one is better than me persona”. Sad truth is there are too many better than Arteta.
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Mbappe to Newcastle next me thinks, where Arteta didn’t think we needed a 20+-goal a season striker and that Havertz and Vieira are LMF (8) and good enough for The Arsenal.
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Same shit different day!
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Marc
LG are all in tin foil hat mode as deflections of our loss. Even dickhead sounded defeated in the few words I read of ‘it’s just a bump where bump’ where I always hear in Inspector Clouseau’s French twang saying beurmp from the shot in the dark movie.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebkY0u1-NKk
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Sadly we lost Peter Sellers too early in life who died of depression really. So many comedians are depressed in real life, but at least the late great Tommy Cooper died midway though a performance.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ7V1naP8wI
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Simple humour is always the best. Have a good one LIR.

From Guns Of Hackney firing salvos as per his norm and always right, well, er sort of.
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“Arteta’s last season I think. He’s spend hundreds of millions, made this team 100% his own, he literally has no pressure except for what he creates himself, our fanbase is pathetic and apathetic…I mean, Arsenal is the easiest job in world football IMO. Zero bars being set. What exactly was our goal this season?
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We didn’t buy a forward and now Saka is running on fumes and will 100% be out long term. Then what? Magic Kai stepping up and banging in 20 for fun? Eddie? The Havertz deal (along with a few others) would normally trigger an internal investigation for fraud but at Arsenal, it’s just Mikel being a genius. Ozil cost Arsene a job in a round a bout way and I can see Kai doing the same thing for Arteta.
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City will be very pleased.”
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Licking lips and getting their betting pool for goal scorers and how many sorted? I would if I were Pep’s marauders and Pep. Only a fluke event or another VAR catastrophe of Pool and Diaz proportions will see us getting 3 points this Sunday even at home. Then there is there is the mounting knocks queueing up in the medical room.
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If Saka needs a scan on his hammy, then he should be nowhere near the starting 11 and bench Sunday or her will end up another Timber type casualty caused by Arteta, because to play Saka is the same as he did with Timber, and risk the knock or light strain becoming a full blown tear and a long time out, which Saka needs but won’t get.

how many scored*

Tony

If Saka can hop Arteta will start him on Sunday because going into an international break after 3 really bad results will put him under a lot of pressure.

Crazy thing is starting Saka will only intensify the pressure and have people asking why when he goes off injured and its 6 – 8 weeks out.

Marc
For 4 years Arteta has had a very narrow mind even though he coins the term Galaxy brain. He’s far more myopic than that. Mikel believes he can put together a band of brothers better known as pets who train the Arteta way to perfection. He believes narcissistically that they will all tear their ACs if it means Arteta glory.
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That’s his vision and why he’ll always only be able to get about 6 to 8 core players all singing I believe in harmony. The rest are not yet believers and therefore run into dark areas with their cult leader generational Mikel the 1st.

Tony

I can’t make up my mind whether Arteta’s a chancer who knows he’s a fraud and just takes the view he’ll keep spinning until he’s sacked and then repeat and rinse somewhere else or if he’s a total fucking lunatic with a messiah complex who actually believes what he’s peddling.

Neither are good for the club although a bullshit artist is easier to recover from.

Marc

The second one – definitely.

Marc
I echo KP the 2nd one no question.

I really didn’t need either of you to reinforce what I was hoping wasn’t true!

Tony-of all the vehicles I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing there’s only 4 that I would have ever recommended, for the purposes of everyday travel: 1994 Acura Legend, 2003 M45 Inifinti, 1996 Mercedes SL500 and anything Mini, preferably S-model…I always struggled to let go of any of these former vehicles, as they were all fun to drive and relatively maintenance free…I’ve been dissappointed by most cars, minus the MIni, following 2005, although I did have an 2007 Aston Martin V8 Vantage, which I greatly enjoyed, until it was rear ended by a garbage truck after only 6 months of owning it and I never replaced it, due in large part to the insurance costs involved

as for our club and it’s resident megalomaniac, it appears as if he knows only one way to get shit done and he’s willing to take us all down with the ship rather than seek out any viable alternatives…upon watching several lengthy clips of other CL fixtures I noticed one common theme, clincial finishing by those who won their respective matches…just imagine if instead of Rice, we offered the same or a bit more for Bellingham, targeted another forward with goals in his boots(65), kept Balo and sold Eddie, then found a suitable cover piece for Partey(45)…the spend would have been the same, but the results could have been vastly different…keeping in mind, this isn’t an attack on Rice, who’s clearly a high-end DM, but certainly not the most pressing positional concern if we were intending on keeping Partey and Jorginho, which most didn’t think was going to occur

TRVL
I had a mini cooper Sport rebuilt back in 1975, and I have to say that was such a fun car to drive. THE SL was always on my hit list I never managed to own; only drive friend’s versions. Same with the Aston Martin I was sold on since Goldfinger’s DB5 but never have even sat in one. I won’t be getting the DB12 at £640k here either. However, That is my dream car so Mrs T and I have been discussing buying a property in the west country in the UK where all cars under £300k will be affordable; I would spend more than that. Things you have to do to fulfill a passion. I don’t like the Vantage interior but the DB 12 has really make moves to bring the exterior beauty to its interior.
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I had an M3 that was fun in later years, but stuck mostly to E Class Mercs for business. Junior wants The C8 Vette in the UK, so we’ll see.
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I think Mercedes have dropped the ball with the new AMG Roadster with sports model out next year you might like:
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https://www.mercedes-benz.co.th/en/passengercars/models/coupe/new/amg-gt.html
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https://www.mercedes-benz.co.th/en/passengercars/models/cabriolet-roadster/sl/overview.html.
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it only coming in soft top. Should have a targa top or a metal folding roof. The new amp get looks worth investigating.
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Football wise we are getting what the club deserves, but not the fans. I’m convinced Arteta is falling apart inside even if he loos mentally strong on the outside; it’s all for show with the poker face.
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I expect us to get trounced Sunday at home no less unless we park the bus. Then we might scramble to nick a point as other lesser clubs have done. Arteta is no match for Pep. Anything more than a point from this game and it will be an act of divine intervention or VAR doing a Pool in pour favour; what will the LG wearing tin foil hats say then?
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I think they only put the tin foil, on their heads so they can get in touch with themselves. AFC Forever is their leader and thus the biggest wanker with dickhead close behind, right Marc? 🙂
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TGIF and with the dire football I thought a couple of jokes wouldn’t go a miss.
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Little Red Riding Hood was on her way to see her grandmother in the forest.
Her mother warned her “Don’t walk through the forest, take the path, or else
the Big Bad Wolf will catch you and suck your tits dry!”
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Little Red started towards her grandmother’s house but decided to take the shortcut through the forest anyway.
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The turtle stopped Little Red and warned her “Turn back
and use the path, because if the Big Bad Wolf finds you, he’ll suck your
tits dry!”
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Little Red was almost there, so she kept going through the
forest. Sure enough, the Big Bad Wolf jumps out of nowhere and tells her
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“Take off your shirt Little Red Riding Hood – I’m gonna suck your tits
dry!!”.
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“Oh no you don’t”, yells Little Red, as she pulls up her skirt,
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“You’re gonna eat me just like the story says!”
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Your girlfriend is ugly when…

(1) She looks out the window and gets arrested for indecent exposure.
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(2) As a baby, she had to be breast-fed by the family dog.
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(3) Even mosquitoes stay away from her.
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(4) She startles the animals at the zoo.
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(5) On Halloween, she has to trick or treat over the phone.
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(6) She makes onions cry.
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(7) Her ass looks like two pigs fighting over a box of milk duds.
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(8) Her armpits look like she has Don King in a headlock.
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(9) The plastic surgeon wanted to add a tail.
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(10) When she was born, the doctor slapped her mother.
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Have a good one LIR

wouldn’t spend more than that*

amg gt*

Base calling ambarish? You ok? Anything we can do to help with the blog?

KP
Are you going to Cardiff to see the Watford game or is Prontypridd v Haverfordwest a closer bet. Hopefully a win for the Bluebirds and Haverfordwest will ease your embarrassment of Pep putting the pretender to the sword.
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Marc
I was wondering if you’re going to the game with hope springing eternal. Not sure what I’d do, but I guess you’ll get the score soon enough so might as well witness it first hand would probably be my thinking.

Hi Tony

Neither unfortunately (and I may struggle to be back in time for the City game). It’s my mum’s (Ma Kroenkephobe if you will) 80th birthday this weekend in a not so sunny corner of the east Midlands so I’ll be singing the family song in Saturday with my brother (who’s a CFC supporter… So some possible banter value there.)

Enjoy the game Marc – you never know. Which is a million miles from erudite football analysis as usual from me. I’ll keep in touch over the weekend.

Tony

I’m going on Sunday but don’t expect anything other than a spanking – only a 2 nil loss would probably be a good result!

KP
it’s a tough one but mums always trumps our needs, and it’ll be good for her to see everyone together. Keep and eye on your phone I guess and try not to launch into whatever you’d launch into if ESR scores the winner in added time. I know I would but I’ve got an excuse and it would be accepted bar Mrs T who with similar issue would rip me a new one. Oh the irony of ADHD. It should be call ADParadox!
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I see Spuds getting 3 points, Chavs maybe 1 point and Brentford getting something from Old Toilet. Have to hope West Ham topple the bar Codes at home and the really tough game to take a stab at is Brighton home to Liverpool – what a game that is going to be if I haven’t cursed it. Simply put we need Brighton and De Zerbi to take the points or at least one with Pool dropping 2 just before we take on City.
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Someone said the best thing we can do with Havertz is put a city shirt on him on Sunday. .
That really cracked me up. Take a bow son if you’re reading this best put down so far.
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Marc
Stranger things have happened, well, not that strange actually, so there’s always the first time. Ok, maybe next season. 🙂

Reality check . Looks like City had a full measure of the apprentice as they goaded him out

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/guardiola-arteta-postecoglou-man-city-31121113

RM don’t want him now either; they like Dezerbi, Hoopah. No one is believing his ravings any longer. Just need Josh to wake up and smell the coffee or what the City game.

Tony-I was exceedingly fortunate as I had several connections in the automotive world, especially a good friend who made a fortune bringing supposed “lemon” cars from the storm belt in the US to Canada at a vastly reduced price…I’ve never purchased a vehicle right out of the box, for obvious depreciative reasons, so I could usually buy a car for well below market value, drive it for a year or two, then sell it for a small profit, as I was incredibly meticulous when it came to upkeep related issues…of course, it helped immeasurably to have a childhood friend, one of the guys I referenced earlier, who would deal with all my mechanical needs in the evenings, after his shop had closed…we would get baked and shoot the shit…I miss that luxury now, as he retired on his 50th bday and moved to Arizona

as for Sunday, the one thing we have in our favour is the absence of Rodri, which should never be underestimated…of course, our record against Pep, with his former underling in charge, suggests that we will be hard-pressed to secure any points in this fixture, but stranger things have happened…City didn’t look great against the Wolves, albeit they outplayed them for considerable stretches, and they weren’t at their best mid-week, when some class finishing saved their blushes, but to think they might have 3 below par matches in a row seems a bit of a stretch…not sure what our lineup will look like, considering our potential injury concerns, but the fact that we don’t currently employ any players who can logically replace either Marts or Saka, means that this could be a rather scrappy, narrow affair, at least on our part…I’m trying to remain somewhat positive, but MA’s continuing tactical struggles are making it exceedingly difficult to do so…Cheers