Crystal Palace v Arsenal – 3 points to grab

Crystal Palace v Arsenal – 3 points to grab

Well, I don’t know why only Arsenal games are on weird timings. I prefer weekend because you don’t have to think of tomorrow. It’s a midnight one here in India, finishes by 3am and on a Monday.

But, it’s not going to stop us from watching and supporting the team. City has made our lives difficult, from now on till the end of this season, every game is going to be a must-win because Pep is brutal.

Palace won their first game against Sheffield and shouldn’t be taken lightly. The one good thing is their is no Zaha, he loved to make our life difficult and usually ended up on scoresheet. Under Roy Hodgson Crystal Palace has a brilliant track record. They warded off the relegation towards the end of last season, and during his tenure, they have managed to keep an average of 15 shots per game. They surely are going to test of defence and I hope Arteta don’t do a Arteta again by playing Thomas at RB.

Team News

Timber is out for long. Jesus is still unavailable. Zinchenko might make it today and I would personally like to see a back line of White, Gabriel, Saliba and Zinchenko / Tomiyasu depending on Zinny’s availability. Rice + Partey in the midfield with Odegaard in advance role. Saka and Martinelli on either wings with Nketiah up top. There is no need to be fancy, I understand the need to be un-guessable (if that’s a word) but putting Partey at RB hurts more than it benefits. Taking out Gabriel from starting XI means Saliba is playing on his non-favorite CB side, Partey is unsettled at RB, Midfield is devoid of Partey’s brilliance and it’s all a mess. Movement of Partey to the midfield when we have the possession is the only thing you can take it up as a positive in this case, but it makes us week in defence.

Stick to basics.

We have enough bench support, Kai, ESR, Trossard can play in any advance position, Kiwior can have some game time, Raya will most likely make the bench today. Tomiyasu and Tierney are back to fitness.

Talking of our RW, Saka scored one in the first game against Forest and it was a marvellous goal. He is best in his position in the world at the moment and has started or played as a sub in our last 81 PL games! Now that’s an unbelievable thing, maintaining that fitness and form for more than 2 seasons in a row. He plays PL, cup games, closed door friendlies and if I organize a 5-a-side in my neighbourhood, I’m sure he won’t deny playing in that too. Brilliant kid, best in the world currently, I wish him well and hope we provide a platform where he can win big things.

Mikel was particularly happy with Saka and has things to say about him.

on Bukayo Saka’s development:
I think it keeps growing year by year, and you set him new targets and he sets himself new targets and new demands and he seems to complete those. He’s extremely hungry and willing to learn and improve and become the player that decides the game every three days, and that’s what he has between his two eyes. He’s a very focused boy and he does everything to do that – the way he trains, the way he prepares himself, the way he lives his life. I’m very happy so he needs to keep doing what he’s doing.

source : Arsenal.com

Wrapping Up

Mondays are hell, but hopefully it will end well for us Gooners. Don’t forget to share your thoughts about potential starting XI and predict the score against Palace. I would love some clean sheet and 3-0 for Arsenal would make me happy.

108 Comments

  1. Aitcho

    Mb, I’ve seen Mumbai City are facing Al Hilal in the Asian Champs League West Section.

    Do you think it’s possible matches like this will raise the profile of other teams and leagues in Asia? From memory, there’s two or three Saudi teams, some Iranians and a couple of Uzbek teams.

    Neymar coming to Mumbai is sure to be a big deal. Getting out the group and having games with Benzema or C Ronaldo would also surely be big draws. Do you have any idea how competitive Mumbai City are likely to be? I assume the smart money is on Hilal topping the group with the other three trying to nab 2nd but in truth, I don’t have much of an insight on Asian football and wouldn’t have paid much attention if not for Indian acquaintances flagging it up. They seem excited.

  2. Aitcho

    Tony, thanks for reminding me about Tyrece John Jules. I’d forgotten about him with his various loans, out of sight and all that.
    I’d watched him a few times with the youths, over the years. He was usually one of the more eye-catching players along with the likes of Saka, Hutchison and ESR.
    He’s flirted with the first team and repped England at all levels up to u21. Perhaps this season he’ll get some time somewhere in the cups or even easier CL games but I think it’s going to be a big task for him to get any meaningful minutes. He might be another Robbie Burton.

    His family are no slouches, one of his uncles is Cat from Red Dwarf and another a respected barrister on the London circuit.

  3. The Real Vieira Lynn

    Tony—in regards to Balo, unless the proposed Chelsea fee is considerably larger, and I mean considerably, I would much rather he plied his trade abroad…based on recent history, we’ve sadly become Chelsea’s trash bin, pre-Arabia of course, so if they’re sniffing around it might be prudent on our part to either keep him and offload Eddie, if that’s even a possibility considering the ridiculous wage he’s been gifted, or get him the f*** out of our backyard

    btw it’s not surprising whatsoever that we’re in this predicament, as I was convinced he would never find his way here so long as Arteta ruled the roost due to the acrimonious nature of his last re-upping…Arteta has proven himself to be an incredibly vindictive man, as we’ve witnessed on numerous occasions, so even though on his first real loan spell he lit it up, he likely would have needed to pot 40 to change MA’s mind, and only then because a large contingent of the fanbase would have gone full Saliba on his a**

    as for any further signings, I kind of agree with KP sentiments, in that unless we make some serious coin with some outgoing periphery pieces, MA should have to prove his worth with whomever is presently rostered…if that means embedding some academy pieces or not selling Nuno and keeping him for LB cover, so be it; in fact, I sort of think he could provide some much-needed width…what I don’t want to see is MA conducting a firesale with some player’s of higher value simply so he can go bargain shopping in the 11th hour…Cheers

  4. The Real Vieira Lynn

    Marc-according to MA, Gab’s recent 2 game benching had nothing to do with interest from the Suadi’s or Real, but simply part of his ingenious plan to save him for the tougher sides, when we wouldn’t be using inverted backs on both sides of the pitch…of course, I very much doubt that he would pass a polygraph on the matter, so I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what happens between now and the closing of the window

  5. Kroenkephobe

    Almunia

    Cheers man. Brighter days are on the horizon. And thanks for the kind words about parenting which is THE hardest thing I’ve ever faced (and that includes being in New Orleans in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina). The twins got their GCSE results today (your equivalent of the junior certificate? ) and they’re thrilled. So are we, so a major milestone passed. One has chosen English for A level so I’m looking forward to revisiting FR Leavis if she gives me the chance!

    I see Biereth (on loan to Motherwell) has also picked up a serious injury. I think our future lies in the many talented kids in our youth system, all of whom appear to have double-barrelled names. I should have done the right thing by junior and called him Michael Kroenke-Phobe.

    What do we all think is a good fee for Flo Balogun – 50 million plus? Monaco seem interested and given that they’ve played hard ball with us in the past, I’d like to see them pay top dollar and give us a buy back option.

  6. The Real Vieira Lynn

    KP-I would be incredibly surprised if we got anywhere near 50 for Balo, as everyone knows we’ve been poor when it comes to selling assets, so why would anyone pay top dollar…furthermore, some will naturally undervalue his numbers from last year, considering it took place in Ligue 1, and it certainly doesn’t help that we’ve been sniffing around for another Striking option yet we appear to have no interest in giving him minutes…Monaco might have been our best bet, as they know first-hand what he could bring domestically, but they would never pony up that kind of coin…I read today that the Hammers might be a possible landing spot, but I just can’t imagine that going smoothly in light of the Rice transfer nonsense…I’m more than a little worried about how so many seemingly obvious outgoings have been left so late, especially knowing our sloth-like tendencies when it comes to getting deals over the line…as per usual, we’re a bit of a messy bitch

  7. Marc

    £50 million for Balo is a pipe dream – if we got £30 odd million I’d be surprised.

  8. Killroy-TM

    Read this on Football 365 and find it spot on and if the papers get it then the opposition managers will definitely be on top of it.
    .
    “Have Arsenal been found out?
    Two wins in two. But unconvincing in both. And in both games holding on for dear life for different reasons in the last 30 minutes. I’m an Arsenal fan but I’m finding watching them to be very predictable and I’m starting to think that they’ve simply been found out.
    .
    They play the same type of keep ball in the middle of the park, then get it on the wings to either Saka or Martinelli, from those positions what do they do? Either pass it back or try to beat a man and cross the ball, or pass the ball back. And without an out and out attacker, they can’t really go direct and they can’t really cross the ball high. I do like Nketiah but he is not at the elite Premier League stage just yet and is too wasteful with chances.
    .
    If you can stop Arsenal attacking directly down the middle then that’s half the work done. Let the wing players have the ball, let them run on the wings, just stop the central players getting involved. And that’s it. I think they’ll struggle to finish second this season with both Newcastle and Liverpool looking strong.”
    .
    There you have it Gents a very reasonable and believable prediction for the season ahead and it doesn’t look good. Best news would be Arteta is gone and we get a proper manager that doesn’t set up game play that has been found out by the opposition.

  9. Morning all
    Some really interesting posts and thinking as to our current TW plight where the DM, sorry sometimes they are informative to a level we want to process, have this to report.
    .
    “Arsenal are prepared to sell NINE surplus players to raise funds for Mikel Arteta with a £72m flop, an academy starlet valued at £40m and a regular in defence last season all potentially on their way out before the deadline”

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12441021/Arsenal-prepared-sell-NINE-surplus-players-raise-funds-Mikel-Arteta-72m-flop-academy-starlet-valued-50m-regular-defence-season-potentially-way-deadline.html

    Obviously, not new news to us and looks like Marc was right about LCB Gabriel. Reasonable enough article.

    Aitcho
    It was fun writing that post and remembering the names and snippets of vivid memories seemingly in Super 8 film, and old TV pictures. Thanks for the info on John Jules’ family he should be set for good advice. What little I’ve seen of him from here, he’s looked one for the future and being from there ESL and Saka stable. I hope he gets minutes so we can gauge him more.
    .
    TRVL
    Totally agree with all your points and I’d prefer Bolagun to Monaco. You knew it as you were writing the words: “I don’t want to see a firesafe”, TRVL, it would happen, didn’t you?
    .
    I don’t know what part of the spectrum Arteta occupies, but that is some serious bat-shit crazy going on between his blocked ears, which means the shit has to come out of his mouth unfortunately. – he never listens, only to himself.
    .
    As far as I’m concerned Rice will be a star for us if his trajectory continues from the Palace game, Havertz could well turn into an Ozil and not fit our system. Timber, cut down in his prime, will be back and hopefully like Overmars after his ACL, because I’d say he came back better, stronger and with his typical feisty edge for a short player.
    .
    Fire sale it is then. “Well who’ll give me £30m (mumbling figures) ……£49 more and I’ll…….£54 over there……. sold to number 139 at the back! And now, ladies and gentlemen, we have a player with such nice calves any respecting PL manager would want in his side. Knows how to say fcuk off ref, in 5 languages but can only add you cnut in 3. 🙂 Time on his side to learn more, though and is excellent doing his “down on his knees praying with shaking genuflecting hands to Arteta, that Mikel teaches all the Hale Enders and benched subs.
    .
    The starting eleven get knee pads for the cute kneeling to receive their coveted shirts pre game.
    .
    “All hail Arteta. Can I get an hallelujah for Arteta”, Stuivenberg cries loudly in the dressing room. Arteta will look on fondly at his boys dreaming of the statue that will be demonstrably bigger than Wengers’. All yours Almunia.
    .
    Almunia
    Thanks for the kind words and sorry to hear you had health issues during the summer. Hope you’re free of them now. Teaching teenagers has to take you to some pretty amazing and gut reaching places. Your posts remind me of my very old then maths teacher at our comprehensive school: Mr Platt with spittle in the cracks of his moth he would set his maths to bombing raids from his Lancaster pilot WWII bombing raids. When he taught everyone listened being enthralled. Not the old bit Almunia, the last bit.
    .
    Starting out in orphanages taught me so much, but sadly my adoptive years were incredibly difficult, too. So much so, that I never wanted to have children, mainly because I hadn’t been taught to be a father, and I was an only child with my mother in and out of hospital until she died.
    .
    A life with a dad who didn’t want me. Just made me driven to have better in my life. I don’t mean to brag, not even humbly, but I’m very wealthy now, and have an incredible life barring my 2 remaining coronary arteries (there should be 3) being shored open by 5 wire baskets. What could possibly go wrong. 🙂
    .
    My point is to any readers here that you can make a difference in your lives. It might not look like it when you look first around, it didn’t for me. You make you luck a little at a time and you will begin to see small shards of bright light at the end of the tunnel, as small life events start to show smallpositive results. Hold onto those and keep adding, and you will get there.
    .
    I did and I’ve met many like me. Just one example I looked up to; Waldo Emerson, I was told, went bankrupt 14 times before he made his first $m, leaving school at 14 with very little to no education. Life is what you make it and a game that the better you learn, the better life will be, as you make better life decisions. I’m no Tony Robbins, because the secrets to success and a happy life are as simple as keeping positive about life and learning from setbacks- something Arteta simply doesn’t do.
    .
    When I met Mrs. T she had adopted her niece at 6 months (it’s a Chinese-Thai cultural thing) I instantly had a daughter. It was a big move up from my German Shepherds. That made the conversation much easier of adding Junior to make a family, and I was all in. No pun intended.
    .
    From then on I realised what family was all about and the rest is history here anyways. Now I savor every day knowing how lucky I am to have real family values and love and mostly laughter in the house. Family? Best thing in the world my friend. 🙂 Hope my movie ideas, I posted for you, pan out.
    .
    KP
    Congrats for the twins’ GCE results; I’m seriously happy for you all. A levels next? Then Uni?
    .
    I read recently that UK under grads are struggling to find work because they been found out that the party animal, uni student isn’t as smart or hungry, as a college diploma applicant or just someone who can’t afford uni. Some simply want to start their careers early because they have the nous. Then, of course, there are the migrants who will need work.
    .
    In Thailand, you have to have a BA to work in the shops in the malls. Some ask for masters; incredulous I know.
    .
    Rant over and back to the footy.
    .
    Bolagun is worth about £30 to £35m, as Marc suggested. Similar age and timing than with Saliba when Saliba was worth that much. Saliba is a phenom. It’s the only reason Arteta had to grit his teeth to keep him. TRVL aptly describes Arteta’s nasty and vindictive side. He who must be obeyed. Arteta always wanting more new toys and Daddy Stan teaching A&E TW economics.
    .
    Kilroy
    Watching the Forest game I said to Junior it looks like Steve Cooper has sussed Arteta out at times; Forest just couldn’t keep to their game plan. Reading your post ratifies my thinking to align with yours and Arsenal 365. Unfortunately, I couldn’t see the Palace game so couldn’t appraise the thinking more. The Fulham game should be more settled as the team, and we can better see what Arteta is trying to do.
    .
    If you read, Clive Woodward, England’s last winner of the rugby WC, you’ll see he’s far than happy with England’s preparations, which is why I see us as having no chance. If England go back to a huge pack driven game, we’ll likely get the wooden spoon. Today’s forwards are scary quick with less bulk overall. There will always be a few huge lumps in the pack with height and weight, and even they are very mobile.
    .
    It’s going to be a great world cup, but I’ll miss much because of the game times. Southern Hemisphere WCs are better for me.
    .
    Seems my ramblings went on longer than I expected. Have a good one LIR 🙂

  10. Kroenkephobe

    Hi Tony
    Some interesting contrasts there. I adore Dr F – the greatest pub band of the 70s. Clapton, on the other hand, was for me a racist bastard who spawned Rock against Racism.

    Brilleaux and Wilco – two originals both sorely missed. Roxette – what a tune. If you can somehow get hold of the full version of this…

    https://youtu.be/oyPfbSnrKMo?si=jB81uYWlR_dEe4gu

    You’ll never regret it. Oil City Confidential by Julien Temple and Dr F based on their history in and around Canvey Island (hence the title). Locals call Canvey a ‘refined place’ for obvious reasons.

  11. Kroenkephobe

    What do you make of Wilco’s style on that guitar – a fender? I could listen to it all day.

  12. Kroenkephobe

    And Tony…
    While we’re sharing, here’s someone I guess you know from your Stiff days duetting on one of his most beautiful songs with another stateside 80s stalwart and T Bone. Be good to know what you think.

    https://youtu.be/hg9fNKBp8eA?si=R0mOKc8oVN-yJsch

  13. KP – I knew then well back in the day. They drank at the Admiral Jellico up the point end of the island. A little known Stiff act was Lou Lewis Solid Senders who was actually as good and some say better than The Feelgoods. I used to do Lou’s front desk at London gigs for him for free as he could barely get himself too gigs. It was a collective thing for him. Every time he went to Stiff Robbo would give him £20 and Lou would find comfort with a bottle.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPGSvLgrtg0

    https://www.discogs.com/master/207914-Lew-Lewis-Reformer-Save-The-Wail.
    .
    https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&sca_esv=559959589&rls=en&q=tralk+talk&tbm=vid&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiHhsug_PeAAxW0amwGHYfHACEQ0pQJegQIDBAB&biw=1497&bih=929&dpr=2#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:8eebc361,vid:lLdvpFIPReA

    Poor Lou was an alcoholic and loved by everyone for the lost soul he was.
    .
    Wilco’s guitar was a Fender Telecaster my least favourite Fender because of its rawness. Springsteen favors the Tele, too. It serves a purpose for that growly type vocals and harps accompanying. His frantic strutting was because he was a speed freak which drove his frenetic rifts. After the Feelgoods I believe he went on to play with Ian Dury.
    .
    Canvey was a hotbed for R&B with Eddie & The Hotrods and Eddie brother who formed Talk Talk. For an island totally 5 mile by 3 and back then a population of around 25,000, it’s a bloody small place for such remarkable talent. Many a good night was had on the Island in the Jellico depending who was off the road. Soon after I was running bands in Europe and America tours.
    .
    Southend was the R&B capital because it incorporated Canvey. Alison Moyet came from Billericay and Depeche Mode just up the road in Brentwood. Not too far away was London, so a good place to play to get known in that genre. Not forgetting Alison Moyet and Yazoo.
    .
    I believe I’m wanted so I’ll listen to your links later and get back to you.

  14. The Real Vieira Lynn

    just a few comments:

    Tony-always good morning reading, especially when you’re in full-on “Tony” mode…don’t ever stop bringing the heat bud

    (1) remember the whole Xhaka yellow card betting fiasco, while it appears as if he wasn’t so much cleared of any wrongdoings, as much as the investigation encountered a serious roadblock due to the fact that the bets were made using functionally untraceable crypto currency…as such I will stand by my earlier statement that he’s a weasel fuck who’s likely made a small fortune off the backs of his asinie on-field antics

    (2) it appears as if Tierney is off to Sociedad on a loan with no obligation to buy…I wonder if we’ll ever truly know what was said between manager and player which led to such a fucked up asset management scenario…when a team shoehorns multiple players, which ultimately led to a season long injury and a red card dismissal, in back-to-back weeks, one has to wonder what made things so untenable…now the papers are suggesting that we will not only receive a small fee but that Real will fully cover his wages, whereas I believe that about as much as I believed that Willian walked away from all the monies owed to him…kudos once again to the PR team for their continued efforts at covering up our manager’s constant dick-tripping maneuvers

    (3) the rumour mill is floating about the notion that we could be in for Schuurs, the Torino CB, as replacement for Timber…this seems fishy, as this player never played a single match out wide, let alone as an inverted backer last season in 35 appearances, so why would he be a suitable Timber cover piece…furthermore, he’s seen his market value balloon from his 9M purchase price just last season to 25M presently, while playing for a bang average Serie A side with rather pedesterian stats to boot…if anything this looks much more like a potential Gabs replacement, should he move on before the close of the window…not a very positive development in my estimation

  15. Kroenkephobe

    The Kursaal Flyers…

    Kin ell Tony. Those stories are priceless. I’d allowed myself to imagine Wilco just had natural Patrick Vieira levels of energy but a few lines of speed just go hand in hand with his playing style and movement. I bet Lee was the same – I love the story about his white suit and how over the years it gradually turned grey for want of a sketchleys! I think the Admiral Jellicoe features heavily in that film iirc. They never stopped touring did they? I think they never got the full recognition they deserved.

  16. Marc

    TRVL

    What makes you think that a breakdown between club and player needs anything more than Arteta being Arteta?

    As for the link to a CB – I’m still getting alarm bells about Gabriel.

    I just have a vibe that Arteta only wants players he’s bought (he’s never brought anyone through from the youth team). He can’t out Saka or Martinelli the fans would go mental but little by little that’s what he’s doing – Nketiah will be on his way soon as will ESR.

  17. The Real Vieira Lynn

    Marc-we’re on the same page, I just think it would be rather revealing if we got a glimpse into the “real” interpersonal skills of our manager in training…we’re constantly being inundated with lip service sound bites from players, both old and new, which I totally understand to some degree, but it’s clear that there’s been a myriad of situations that don’t match this somewhat contrived narrative…if we were privy to some of those in-house ongoings maybe it would require the Kool-Aiders to tone down their rose-tinted rhetoric

    as to the ongoing CB search and it’s logical implications, I’m in agreement with you…the supposed primary target, Schuur, is a 6 3′ CB, who certainly isn’t a like-for-like Timber replacement…the only cause for pause is if MA’s plan is to have a starting back 4 of Partey, White, Saliba and Zinchenko against the bus sitters and White, Saliba, Gabs and Zinchenko against the more forward thinking sides…if that were his thinking then I guess bringing in Schuur could still make sense, even if Gabs were to stay on…that way Tomi would be your primary wide side cover piece and Kiwor and the new boy would provide CB depth…of course, that’s assuming that Holding, Cedric and Tierney were sold and/or loaned out

    it would be difficult for anyone to argue with what you’ve stated regarding MA’s seeming obsession with getting rid of those he’s inherited…at one point I was almost certain he was planning to do likewise with Marts, until he was forced into playing him and he took his opportunity and ran with it, which was not too dissimilar from what transpired with ESR…we know he tried to freeze out Saliba, who would have undoubtedly been sold off if he didn’t have such a glorious season in France, especially considering how much MA invested in White, who was both young and projected to play in the very same position…of course, it’s certainly not unusual for managers to want to put their stamp on things, but most great managers never look a gift horse in the mouth so fucking often

  18. KP – Oil city brilliant:
    Back to Dr. Feelgood I’ve been trying to find a single the band did for Zeppelin’s Swan Song label. You may remember the Song Remains The Same movie, well when released a Dr Feelgood concert was the first movie in the days of 2 movies a show. The Zeps were good friends with the Feelgoods because their managers were long time mates from wrestling I think. I know Peter Grant, Zep’s manager started out as a wrestler. This above mentioned single was The Sheiks of Araby with big Figure and Sparko dressed as arabs on the single’s front cover. Funny how things stick into your mind.
    .
    Cruel to be kind is a blast from the past. Real unicorn pop song.
    .
    I’n surprised and shame on you for your blasphemy for poor Eric C. Did you know he grew up thinking his older sister was his mum. There is a brilliant docu called ‘A life behind bars.’
    .
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXYZt-TRVlM
    .
    You’ll find you may think differently after seeing the docu. Like emotional stories of love and hate, so politics brought so much more anger into the music.
    .
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQeJTfRNpvM
    .
    The last link from you was very cool. Gypie brough so much more to DR Feelgood adding more melodic rifts and longer solos with more grit. They were not really a speedy bunch bar Wilco. I would say like most musicians and bands they had more of a Columbian and Peruvian affinity to recreational supplements.

    TRVL
    Thanks for the nice words. When it flows it just comes until it stops. 68 with so much inside from so much life makes life interesting for me and I hope others.
    .
    As always I totally agree with your collective thoughts.
    .
    More later about the game.

  19. That’s it emails written and can start to think about the game.
    .
    We’ve never lost a game at home to Fulham, so I hope I’m not jinxing that. It’s no secret we’ve yet to settle into Arteta’s new system and the Fulham game may well be the right opponent to find our rhythm.
    .
    Jesus is fit to play so I wouldn’t be surprised if he was included in the starting 11. Anticipation will be high to see how Havertz and and Jesus can gell in and around the Fulham area. .
    .
    Lots of things come to mind, but I think this is a good preview to the game with some excellent facts. Trossard instead of Havertz would be good for me and ESR and Ode sharing the game.
    .
    https://theanalyst.com/eu/2023/08/arsenal-vs-fulham-prediction-and-preview/
    .
    4:0 is my prediction, but you know how bad my predictions are so bet on them at your peril 🙂
    .
    See you at the game LIR

  20. Kroenkephobe

    Hi Tony
    I think we’ll win today but the manner of the victory will be determined by the first 10 minutes. If we play with pace and urgency, rapid passing and less pissing about across the back 4, then I think your prediction could be right. But if it’s ponderous, and Fulham go low block (which I don’t think they will, fully at least) then it’ll be far narrower. Would be good to see Jesus come on and grab a goal. That guy spreads confidence through the team when he’s on the score sheet.

    Yeah, on EC, I’m no fan of his music (although I liked cream) but at least we have him to thank for the rar movement which lit up punk and rock n roll in the late 70s and reduced the threat of the national front.

  21. Kroenkephobe

    Oh and enjoy the game Tony and others. I’ll be using my 75 pound season ticket watching County at home to Caernarfon (home to possibly THE finest medieval castle in Wales). They need a win to get their season going. I’ll watch Arsenal later on MOTD (yuck!). A 6 mile drive – piece of piss!

  22. KP
    A game of ifs today. I’m just going to the positive and hoping.
    .
    When it comes to music I listen to the music first, and then the way the voice is used as an instrument – the lyrics come last for me. There, they influence me the least. It’s why I don’t champion artists for the lyrical compositions; for me it’s all about the feel and production that makes the song come alive.
    .
    That said I can understand the influences you took from more radical and indie bands.
    .
    Punk I never understood at any level anarchy wasn’t for me. Music was my master at those times.
    .
    I was too engrossed in the Pink Floyd, Genesis, Gentle Giant, Spirit, Maze, Kokomo, Camel, Steely Dan and many more. Being an engineer those were the areas I wanted to work in. I was a fan of the new wave/romance and electric pop eras. I can remember ;little of their lyrics but remember the music clearly.
    .
    Stiff had eclectic artists that were typically Stiff. A ragged bunch of innovators that never really hit main stream bar, Elvis Costello, Madness and Ian Dury. Lene Lovitch and Wreckless Eric and other minor bands had small hits.
    .
    I understand your dislike of EC, but feel you’re missing out on some incredible music with lyrics put aside.
    .
    All politicians lie; it’s a crucial part of their work to do so. Manifests are never real just figments of imagination to gather votes then forgotten about. For you. KP, with your years in the foreign office it’s all linked to whoever is in power, and you would have far more interest in governments than I ever could because I assume they affected how the FO operated. Just a guess, KP.

  23. KP – Enjoy the game. I want to take Mrs T to Wales and Ireland and look at the castles and learn their particular history. I really enjoy Euro historical TV series when they have a decent production.
    .
    6 miles? Will you make 4th gear getting home? 🙂 Drive safely now more accidents happen within close proximity to one’s home.

  24. The Real Vieira Lynn

    what a shit show, both with the selections and with that baffling first goal for Fulham…if I was teh opposition I would be pushing to get behind this makeshift back 4 all day long

  25. The Real Vieira Lynn

    surely Gabs must be on his way out, unless this is just another MA doghousing gig…not to mention, Zinchenko simply can’t be relied upon as a regular LB due to his obvious fragility and Havertz seems to have a Eddie-like first touch in front of goal

  26. Ambarish K

    TrVL

    We have got the match day blog love.

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