Derby Day

Hi Herb
He and I were in the same N5 social circles in the 90s when he was a lawyer, and we played lots of matches together in NE London. The Hoxton – Homerton – Hackney – Highbury quadrangle. I was playing centre half by then (a very agricultural Tommy Caton type who imagined himself as Beckenbauer (without the skills or the fancy boots). Keir, by contrast was a tireless midfield terrier and the off field organiser. We must’ve been over 30 by then. He had bags of energy but little end product (which could have been a metaphor for his tenure as head of the Labour Party until Kamikwase and Leeds reject Truss provided him with an open goal.

But a proper Gooner. I shared a few Saturday afternoons with him on the clock end and he might have joined us in a few forays into Europe.

I’m going to research that Clive Allen issue but I did read somewhere that relations between some London clubs at the time were so bad that we used Allen as a stalking horse specifically to get the great Kenny Sansom on board. I remember when he and Viv were our fullbacks. I thought that pairing would never be bettered until nutty and dicko came along a few years later.

Herb,
The Clive Allen transfer fascinated me. Over a million quid for a teenager in 1980 only to swap him without playing a competitive game? The quick answer is that no one knows. There are theories. Terry Neill himself claimed that the pre-season had shown him that an Allen Stapleton partnership wouldn’t work,a pretty weak explanation. Others have suggested that Palace would only sell Sansom if Allen came the other way and refused a straight cash deal for the left back. A more extreme conspiracy theory is that Palace had wanted to sign Allen from QPR but their chairman wouldn’t do business with Venables who had left under a cloud. Hence Palace and Arsenal contrived to create the complex scenario we all witnessed. Allen himself still claims that he wasn’t consulted and held a grudge against us ever since,often inflicting pain on us on the pitch if my memory serves me right. All in all it was bizarre. If you have Netflix I highly recommend the documentary on the Figo to Madrid transfer. Absolutely fascinating.

Tony,
It’s great to hear from you regularly again,I haven’t checked out your tunes yet but I’ll make time later.
Kroenkephobe,
We should start putting a few quid on our predictions,sure as hell we’ll get them all wrong then. Did you see Wales’ Ryan Day win the British Open last night? He was excellent, delighted for him. It’s hard to take to Mark Allen to be honest.

Kilroy, we have lived to see Federer, Messi,Lomu,Schumacher, Hendry and many other GOAT’S. We have been very lucky in that regard.

https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/10-most-short-lived-transfers-ev

This sheds no light Herb and it’s typical of Allen (who I predictably never liked after he moved on!) to be disingenuous about it. I’m sure he’d know the backstory.

Really sorry K’phobe I didn’t realize you had real audio impairments. I was joking and it must have seemed flippant or facetious.

https://jhaudio.com/iem/JHA-CIEM-LAY1

You can get these IEMs custom made and I’ve had a pair of Roxannes for about 8 years and just gave them to my practical engineer mate as payment for helping out with the preinstall of my LCR and Sub upgrade. He’s flying in and out to help out.

My son is 6’1″ and just 14, so his ears are similar size to mine so I’ll get us a pair of Lalas to share customer to his ears. I promise you you will have no problem hearing because both Lala & Roxannes have 12 drivers in each ear perfectly balanced with virtually zero phase crossing of frequencies. You also have a 4 level bass adjuster for the IEMs. For you that would be crucial I believe. Try them ands see when you’re next at a decent size airport or city.

In short perfect clarity of sound. Excellent on planes if you get them custom fitted.

I’d say, and I’m no expert, but you probably muddle up the low mid timbers of sound, where as the higher frequencies are more clearer even distinct, is that right? In crowds in-doors the low mids are/can be destabilizing the sound waves making it difficult for you to hear your mate’s voice’s lower tones, as they get lost with the others around you, is that right?

If so, both choices I posted earlier would offer clean sound emersion you’ll hear well, especially if you have the speakers raised to unobstructed ear level for the Yamaha suggestion.

For a main system Line source is your best bet because they create an uninterrupted corridor of sound, as you’ll see as you look into Line Source more deeply.

I was always going to buy B&W Nautilus as my bucket list, but a friend in Singapore told me to look at Wisdom first. I also looked at Meyer, as I have 14 Meyer speakers already in my Reference room. It will have 18 speakers in all with the new upgrade. That will complete the audio side for hi res music and all formats for movies and TV sound.

In my mind only Meyer and Wisdom can keep both sound signatures for cinema and elite level music sound. To do this you have to spend US$20k+ per speaker.

https://www.bowerswilkins.com/en-eu/product/loudspeakers/nautilus

Let me know if I can help more, K’phobe.

Herb
I’m going for your third hypothesis, ie ElTelGate. TV was the forerunner to ‘Arry Redknapp wasn’t he? You probably already know this but TV was also a published author who co wrote the James Hazell novels and screenplays under the nom de plume PB Yuill. Hazell was conceived as South London’ s answer to Chandler’s Philip Marlow. He didn’t quite pull it off but they’re worth a read.

Your GOATs grabbed my attention. Controversial or what! 😊 They could keep us going for ages debating the whys and wherefores. Snooker-wise, you’re on the same page as Almunia with Hendry. He loves him. I’m more of a Ronnie follower, not least because he’s a Gooner.

Hey Tony
Nothing you said was even mildly iffy so no problems whatsoever. I’m living with it and have no stigma. It would be far worse if I’d been born with deafness and they’re the people that really need support.

Your description of when I struggle to hear is spot on. I’m looking at the prospect of cochlear implants if it really drops off a cliff. I think apart from conversations in those environments you describe, what I really miss us the pleasure of hearing clear voice and music broadcasts. Your advice is brilliant.

Herb
Those pre game predictions would be fun. Maybe have a go this Friday? Also I didn’t know you were a green baize aficionado – that’s always something good to turn to when Arteta takes us on another losing run! Almunia is a huge snooker fan.

K’Phobe happy to be able to offer something workable. As a guy who had a quintuple heart bypass mid 30s and 5 stents in the last 8 years I’m all for putting things in my body to live longer or work better. If there’s no downside I’d be knocking on the Dr’s door as per your usual ADHD guy devoid of patience wanting to be better.

Herb I guess with LG I wouldn’t be ground down. In then you never knew how many personas Pedro took on so the debates became baseless: just the shutting down of valid concerns povs.

We’ve all got personalities and lives that make fun reading for all. Almunia funny as and a gentleman with it.

It would be great to make this place like an online Tolly Pub type any name thoughts? Then we can make it like a pub having chats about various subjects always with The Arsenal up front and forward. In time I believe people will find the blog and enjoy the history, a bit of banter and great football chatter.

MB you up for that? What say you fellow bin escape artists?

Thanks K’phobe and Almunia for your research.
It struck me as really odd at the time, especially after losing our ‘crown jewel’ Liam Brady.
I don’t know what you both think, but for me, Malcolm Macdonald was poor business. His career was done after two seasons, he never produced on the big stage (anonymous in two FA Cup finals – ’74 & ’78 – and as he was the only major signing in Neill’s first summer, it felt both underwhelming and an appeasement, because although we slightly improved, we were still nowhere near the top.
The same summer Arsenal paid a then record fee for ‘Supermac’, Aston Villa paid £100k for Andy Gray from Dundee Utd, who they sold 3/4 years later for £1.5m.
Apparently Liam Brady decided to leave after the signing of John Hollins because it displayed a total lack of ambition, when you think back, Neill also signed journeymen strikers John Hawley and Ray Hankin, which sort of supports Brady’s claims.
But Terry Neill was a very uninspiring appointment, a safe manager to steady the ship rather than the shot in the arm the club needed.
We needed a quality striker and should have been competing for Clive Allen’s signature instead of conducting cosy deals with so-called rivals.
It’s never a good look when you sell your main striker (Frank Stapleton) to one of your hated rivals without a proper replacement, but looking at the bigger picture, isn’t it incredible how quickly Arsenal dropped completely out of contention after winning the Double in ’71? And selling Charlie George to Derby!
Imagine what might have been with Charlie George and Liam Brady in the same team. With the right manager we may even have won a European Cup, which as Forest and Villa proved was easily attainable in those days.
The curse of having unambitious Old Etonian owners handicapped Arsenal for decades after the war. One of their biggest mistakes was turning their backs on Fergie, after agreeing a deal in the summer of ’86. After what he did at Aberdeen, I believe he would have transformed and revolutionised Arsenal.

Sorry Almunia and Herb
I think i got you mixed up there. A senior moment.

And Ray Kennedy.

We struggled for an identity in those years. But I was in my early teens then so hardly understood. The sadness of Brady’s departure was matched only by the club not bringing him home from Italy and watching him go to the Hammers instead. Given where we’d fallen by the mid 70s, it was amazing that we even managed to reach any finals in the late 70s (even if we lost most of them). I don’t know know if its just me looking back through rose tinted spectacles but I remember the Howe era much more fondly than the T O’N one.

I was no massive fan of supermac either. Am I right in thinking his exact fee was 333,333? Being good on ‘superstars’ (did you get that TV show in Ireland Almunia?) and banging 5 goals in against Malta in an international were not guarantees of sustained success. He was always a NUFC and Fulham legend really. Herb – when did Raphael Meade have his moment in the spotlight? Was it a little bit later? I always wanted him to do well.

No worries K’phobe.
I don’t watch a great deal of snooker but like the WC’s at the Crucible.
I’m with you on Ronnie, for me the most naturally talented snooker player of all time, and to be winning World titles (as well as equalling Hendry’s seven), at 47 is incredible.
The Welsh have produced some fine snooker players too, Ray Reardon (one of Ronnie’s heroes I believe), Terry Griffiths, Mark Williams (great player), and Matthew Stevens. When I first saw Stevens, I thought he would have the kind of career that Selby has had, because technically his snooker was top quality. It was good to see him back at the Crucible this year.

@KP
When I started to have ringing in the ears I went to an audiologist and was surprised what tech can do these days. The hearing definitely improved and the ringing was reduced. In addition he remotely could tweak and adjust the device if needed. However, I decided I can live with the annoyance for the time being rather then shelling out several thousands of dollars. However I can see the time may come when I have to part with the cash or learn sign language.

Hi Kilroy
Hope you enjoyed the game on Saturday. I can’t shake off this image of Klopp shitting himself and playing ‘good old Arsenal’ on the scouser sound system all week so Salah et al will be accustomed to the noise at the Emirates…. Or maybe not.

I get all my ear paraphernalia from the national health service so I’m lucky. They even give me the batteries so it could be worse. As I said earlier, look after your ears as much as you can. Put defenders on when you’re using power tools etc. and draw back from the speakers in clubs and at concerts.

Might watch the E Midlands derby tonight. Should be pretty full-on.

Loved the Saturday game and the punditry afterwards as they finally give Arsenal a nod to finish top 4. Also loved the Disunited derby but especially as Bruno Fucker got yellow carded for yelling at the ref for not stopping the game after Varane twisted his ankle.
I have real high hopes for the Pool game, there is a decline in their defense, Allison doesn’t catch what he caught last season, VVD is not playing up to his last season’s standard and teams figured out bring the attack down the left side as TAA does not know how to defend and is exposed because of Pool’s defense. Plus their attack masked a lot of these problems last season but it too is misfiring. Scoring 3 goals at Anfield and not winning says it all. So I think we can beat the scousers.

Definitely think we can beat Liverpool this weekend,I have watched them a lot this year and I keep waiting for them to click,no sign yet. Let’s hope we don’t offer them a way back to form.
Kroenkephobe, I threw Hendry in there to poke you,sorry!! Also sad to read about your hearing difficulties, getting older is challenging enough. I hope you find some solution or ease with that.

Herb,
You are always linking current failings with historical ones,I find that very interesting. Stapleton = RVP Cesc = Brady would be such analogies. But the real link is with the latter year Wenger’s lack of ambition which many suggest were Wenger losing his touch,but you seem to believe was Arsenal simply returning to type. From that perspective it’s easier to have sympathy with Wenger who,despite his early success, was eventually sucked into the Arsenal way of thinking. Is this how you see it?
Personally I range from anger with the club for their lack of ambition to disbelief with the fans who not only accept it but defend it.

Almunia

If we look at the dynamic and trajectory Arsenal were on after the appointment of Chapman – (who had already taken Huddersfield to three successive titles) – it was a meteoric rise. But he wasn’t held back, the club backed him completely, he went out and bought the best available players of the time, and even transformed Highbury.
But Arsenal were formed in 1886, so to win their first title in ’31 was a long journey.
To get to that point, Henry Norris moved us from Woolwich to Islington in 1913 and tried to merge Arsenal with Fulham for the purposes of playing in the First Division. As a Tory MP, Norris was known for influencing/conducting ‘dodgy’ deals.
People (mostly disgruntled Spuds) use the 1914-15 Second Division table as evidence of Norris’ dishonesty, because after WWI, having finished 5th in Div. 2 (14-15), Arsenal suddenly found themselves in the new expanded Div. 1 immediately on the resumption of football. Tottenham had finished bottom of Div.1 and assumed they’d keep their place, which is another reason they hate us.
But he stopped at nothing to make Arsenal the best, and the results of this are there for all to see. Between 1930-39, Arsenal won Five titles, and three FA Cups. Three titles in succession, and the last time that Arsenal successfully defended a title. How Arsenal never won a ‘Double’ during that period is incredible.
But where after WWI Arsenal arrived guns blazing readying themselves for complete football dominance, after WWII, whatever had motivated and compelled them had gone. The desire and hunger to be the best just wasn’t there, probably because Norris was long gone, to be replaced by Old Etonians, the Hill-Wood’s and Bracewell-Smith’s, who clearly didn’t feel the need to put in as much attention or effort as Henry Norris.
Norris and Chapman went full throttle and blew the opposition away, the Hill-Wood’s applied the handbrake quick smart, and after their 7h title in 16 (football) years, Arsenal went 18 years before winning their 8th, and another 18 years before their 9th.
So from 5 titles in 8 years before the war, to 4 in 43 years post war.
To say the competitive edge was sucked out of the club is being polite, Arsenal’s owners for decades have rinsed their fans on false premises.
But that’s only my opinion, Almunia, I’m bonkers and often haven’t a clue what I’m rambling on about 😁

Or 8 titles in the last 76 years.
Fergie won 13 in 26 years, or 13 in 20 years if you count it from his first in ’93.

Sorry for the long-winded post, I am just confused as to why you move heaven and earth to reach the top, and then casually give it up as though it was never that important.
The two clubs above us in the title count, United and Liverpool have had far more stability and more general football intelligence than Arsenal. United appointed Matt Busby manager in 1948, and within a few years had the best young side in the country. After surviving the tragic air crash that took eight of his first team players in ’58, and being comatosed for months, he would have to rebuild the club again. And he did, finally realising his dream at Wembley just 10 years later.
Liverpool appointed Bill Shankly (from Chapman’s old stomping ground, Huddersfield) in 1959, and they went from strength to strength. After promotion from Div. 2 in ’61-62, Shankly established Liverpool as a major force and built the foundations that led to near two decades of total dominance in England.
Both clubs transformed and put on the global stage by two shrewd Scotsman, whilst Arsenal were drifting into insignificance caught in a loop of appointing rookie after rookie.
The ‘Double in ’71 feels like a ‘Leicester – 2016’ thing, because there was absolutely no clue leading into the season that Arsenal were capable of this incredible achievement, and as soon as it had been done, Bertie Mee tinkered Arsenal into ordinariness again, even flirting with relegation.
Arsenal are a frustratingly strange football club to support, and it has to be said, the pain and misery far outweighs the joy.
As for Wenger, the final straw for me was OT August, 2011, although my resentment towards him began from the 2009 CL semi against United at the Emirates, when he threw 18 year old Kieran Gibbs under the bus putting him up against peak Cristiano Ronaldo. He was arrogant and self-serving, an absolutely fantastic manager when Arsenal were a smaller operation at Highbury, out of his depth on the bigger stage. He left Arsenal in a far weaker state than when he arrived.

Herb I was similar to you at around 2008/9 I started having serious doubts which turned into knowing Wenger had run his race with us and was time for new thinking. The best of the Wenger era was over but Wenger had maintained his power grip on the club.

Almunia, I was waiting for the NLD to see if the Manure loss was Arteta fluffing his lines more than us being found out. Brentford was a good indicator that the old fragility under Wenger had been banished. The Spuds game confirmed we have some work to do with our mental resolve after we let a goal in as we did on Sunday. That last 15 if the 1st half was a concern that I hope we don’t repeat.

Said a while ago that Mane was the wrong player for Klopp to lose; Salah should have gone. By the sound of it Klopp had no choice: Mane wanted Germany. I haven’t worked it out why TA and Robinson form have dropped so much either. VVD is mistake prone now when under pressure and Martinelli & Jesus kicking in after burners running at VVD and Matip is the stuff epsom salts are made from. Our lads will weaken their colons far more than they’d care to admit, especially with Ode, Saka and Xhakaino sniffing around for rebounds and mistakes.

Wouldn’t surprise me if we don’t get another 3:1 win securing all 3 points because we have bounce-back ability in our locker now, intelligent, collective high pressing, playing on the front foot with tempo.

We can and should beat anyone at home now including City. All we really have to concentrate now is our away form.

Let’s hope Mikel buys wisely in the Jan TW.

Herb
I’ve always shared your view that we’re soft relative to the other two legitimately successful big boys in English football. For instance, all those title wins in the 90s and 00s, it would always become apparent early in the following season that we were neither equipped nor had the intention of looking to retain the title. It almost looked like the club saying, ‘we’ve done it but don’t expect there to be another one anytime soon. After 89,i don’t think GG was offered any more funds by the board to replace certain players nor increase the squad in order to mount a serious challenge in Europe. That early exit to Benfica was a grim reminder of our mortality.

I know it’s not popular to say so, but our fans partly bear responsibility. Arsenal supporters as a group have never been as passionate and demanding as Manure and Liverpool equivalents. In essence, we’re huge underachievers.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2022/oct/04/david-squires-on-going-to-the-match-2022-ls-lowry

Changing tack slightly – and for those that don’t read the UK guardian, here’s David Squires’s take on the modern football experience which us unerringly accurate. I love the half/half scarf and the reference to that Brian and Michael tune about Lowry. If you like it, he does a regular cartoon every midweek capturing the ‘zeitgeist’ (wish I had more chance to use poncey German words like that!)

Herb,
I enjoyed your posts,thanks for sharing. They are revealing and realistic even though they are confirming a somewhat pessimistic perspective of Arsenal that many of us fear is accurate,we are not a club who prioritise success on the pitch. Your summary of Wenger leaving the club in a worse state than he found it is a pretty brutal one after all Wenger achieved but I’ve made that same argument myself many times. Ultimately the man destroyed his own legacy which was painful to watch. I also agree with you Kroenkephobe, the fan base has to take its share of the blame. We are not vocal enough to demand better in the way utd and pool fans do. It’s frustrating and difficult to fathom. A fascinating study awaits the person who investigates the psychology of those who throw their lot in with Arsenal! Loved the Squires cartoons, he has a real artist’s eye hasn’t he?
Tony, Liverpool are really struggling and as you suggested it’s epitomised by VVD’s loss of form. Still wouldn’t put money on an Arsenal win though, scouser scars run deep! Am looking forward to seeing Thursday’s game,really hoping marquinhos gets a start,would love to see more of him. Eddie could do with a run out too. Pity ESR can’t avail of the minutes,maybe another look at Vieira?

Almunia
Agreed about Thursday. Barring any slips it should be a fun game and a chance to become an amateur scout for the night. I’m quite hopeful about Marquinhos – he looks and plays like someone in their mid to late 20s. He gives off a string vibe that he’s humble and keen to learn. If he’s mentored properly, God knows how good he could be at that age. We might even catch sight of the lesser spotted Nelson.

Cardiff home to Blackburn tonight but watching this one on the box.

Surprised that Blackburn managed to hold on to the Chilean guy,Diaz,thought for sure he’d move up a level. Watching pool rangers here on terrestrial tv, pool playing well but this rangers team are no relation to the one that got to the europa final. Scousers might get a confidence boost here. TAA has already scored a fabulous free kick. In Ireland if either utd or Liverpool are playing then that is the match televised. Hasn’t bothered me too much in the last few years but when Arsenal clashed with them it used to drive me mad. One year they still showed utd when their last game was a dead rubber and Arsenal were in a do or die final game. Gobshites. It’s early days obviously and Klopp is a master at extracting the maximum from players but that Nunez is looking more Andy Carroll mark 2 every time I see him. Klopp is entitled to the odd mistake but Christ that’s an expensive one isn’t it?

Another great late show for the bluebirds Kroenkephobe, Robinson with the assist. That league is a quagmire isn’t it?
Liverpool flattered to deceive ultimately tonight. Salah is a pale shadow of his former self and nunes,Diaz and jota were very ordinary. No doubt Firminio will start against us,he’s probably the greatest threat,always seems to play well against us.
Interesting to see if there’s any reaction against Simeone at Athletico. Another really poor night for them. The man is a God over there but standards seem to be dropping fast. He was someone I was screaming for when Wenger had stopped competing. A natural born winner. His football isn’t particularly digestible though and I think I’d prefer to do without now.

Leave you guys with this one. Incident during Forest v Arsenal 1979. God I love the Cloughie stories!
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMFFD6rdd/

Hi Almunia
The championship continues to astound. There ought to be no reason why it produces so much drama but it almost never lets you down. Cardiff bossed possession in the first half but created nothing serious. Game drifting away til Harris bangs in a beautiful first timer. No danger of an equaliser til injury time when the ref blows for a Blackburn pen a second before they score! The pen is saved and Cardiff win. And I’ll be off to Wigan (a 400 mile round trip in a beat up but economical Peugeot!) at 8am on Saturday with one of the kids…

Good to know Nunez continues to underwhelm. He’s likely to be judged against Haaland in perpetuity now. Poor kid.

Almunia – I know Manure and Liverpool are by far the most supported English clubs over there. It’s the same throughout Wales. Is it a 50-50 split of numbers or is Liverpool a slightly bigger draw because of historical links. We’ve talked about this before but I hated wandering around Highbury on match days and seeing kids wearing their colours instead of ours.

Great clip Almunia. Hilarious. That’s one of the best stories I’ve heard about BC. Fair dos to Pat as well for carrying the letter around in his jacket all those years (which is almost equally as eccentric). 👍

I didn’t realise the Cardiff game had ended in such drama,all the sweeter for that isn’t it?
I’m going to stereotype now but in general utd fans over here attached themselves to the club during the Fergie years. They tend to be people for whom football supporting is a part time hobby. Their ignorance was matched only by their arrogance. They were a massive clan back in the day but typical of the glory hunters most have disappeared now.
Liverpool fans are far more loyal,knowledgeable and numerous. Incredibly they are actually more arrogant also. Their rebirth under Klopp has been a painful reminder for those of us who suffered them in the 80’s what a shower of knows they can be.
Other clubs are also supported such as villa and Everton with a special mention to a very healthy contigent of Leeds fans. Arsenal fans are not rare but are a small minority nonetheless. Neither City nor Chelsea have made any impression over here at all so at least when they win trophies there are no braggarts to contend with.

Really good to read your reminiscing through the decades. Some I remember, much I don’t, so it makes even better reading. Best I can offer is I lived opposite Chris Armstrong in his Palace days where Palace was a fun ground to be in back in the 90s.

Chris a huge Gooner did the unthinkable and joined the Spuds. He was a cool guy and fellow music lover and all that goes with audio enhancements. His first Xmas & New Years eve with The Spuds he got permission to have dinner with me plus 1, so long as he was asleep by midnight.

Safe to say Chris after doing snow angels on my driveway; he was indeed in deep slumber by midnight still on my driveway. Nepalese temple balls will do that to you after a few bottles of chianti & Tequila.

Needless to say Chris had a game to forget and I got the blame and it was his Temple balls.

You had to feel for Chris looking back as he was from Cardiff I think, and was spotted playing in for a local team Wales while he was a shelf packer at a supermarket or cannery or some such factory.

Nice lad with a sharp mind, but slow, soft, deep voice that often made people think he wasn’t as quick thinking as he really was. I’d long moved away before Chris failed a drug test for cannabis.

Seemed all paradoxical as some players were alcoholics and that was brushed under the carpet until laws got broken. Now cannabis is being made legal in more countries and states in countries including Thailand.

Alcohol and Tobacco WILL kill people particularly the latter. But, only a few percentile get paranoid psychosis who probably had such weakness in them before.

Living in Holland back in the late 80s taught me a lot about many things.

K’phobe I had another thought to solve your music listening in general and that would be to talk to a guy like Nathan Funk of Funk Audio. He custom makes electrics and speakers. Maybe once you know your limitations in more detail speakers with presets geared to your personal needs could be made.

https://www.funkaudio.ca

https://www.stereophile.com – is my go to to do research.

AVS is good for most audio reviews and was where I was directed to check out Wisdom by my friend.
https://www.avsforum.com/threads/the-official-wisdom-audio-thread.3179600/#post-60413690

It’ll give you as deep a breakdown on Line source as you want to go and fascinating.

Tony
Great story. Nepalese temple balls with Chris Armstrong! In my resinous naivety, I had to look up what they were as this image of Thai love beads loomed in my mind! I liked him at Palace and wonder if his time slightly crossed over with Ian Wright (although I recall IW’s main partner as Mark Bright). It speaks volumes about your larger-than-life image Tony that he needed to get Spurs’s permission to ostensibly go on a surreptitious bender chez toi.

I don’t think there’d ever be an anecdote like that on LG or Unsold Anusol except maybe a story from Rich about giving economic advice to Paul Gascoigne or Nigel Tufnell offering pearls of wisdom to Vinny Jones about anger management.

Get one of your kids to get their laptop out and start dictating your memoirs mate!

Almunia
I really enjoyed that insight into who and why Irish fans follow certain teams. I imagine we had a far bigger presence in the late 70s.

We were just neighbors both Gooners with similar interests. We’d often go out for dinner after games. The club obviously thought couple of neighbors having some food and drinks on New Years Eve, what could possibly go wrong? He’s live in gf, Joy was half his size but we managed to get Chris up and in his house and made sure Joy set the alarm.

Told him he’d be golden in the morning, which of course he wasn’t.

Wrighty had already left for George Graham and Chris had his heart on following Wrighty to Arsenal. I think he was supposed to take over sick note Anderson’s place, and be the new coming of Hoddle.

Hi Almunia, KP, Tony and all who frequent.

I should correct my maths before I go on.
Fergie was stopped eight times between 1993-2013, Blackburn, Arsenal (3), Chelsea (3), and City, so apologies, it is 13 titles in 21 years.
KP – I think you summed it up with the whole casual mentality running through the club, and the passive compliance of the fan base to accept, and at points celebrate mediocrity. The Arsenal hierarchy have always appeared aloof with their fans, but with the media too, and it has always been good sport for them to poke Arsenal and make fun of their ‘eccentricity’. Surely, at some point you have to stop supplying ammunition.
Nice to see you rewarded for your long trip to Cardiff and beating a very decent Blackburn side. When you look where clubs like Middlesbrough, West Brom, Stoke, Coventry etc are, it shows just how fiercely competitive the Championship is, and looking down in League One where there’s the likes of Bolton, Ipswich, Derby and Sheffield Weds, so many fallen giants of our national sport struggling.
Almunia – When you asked me to link the current failures with historical decisions I had no idea it would be so long, please accept my apologies.
None of us want to live in constant misery regarding Arsenal, the club and supporters have had some great moments, but we all know there could and should have been many more.
The stark difference between us and Liverpool fans is that they start most seasons legitimately dreaming of conquering the world and a 7th CL trophy, Arsenal fans HOPE the club finish top four to make the numbers up in CL. We are world’s apart, Arsenal fans have been conditioned to dream extremely conservatively.
As Liverpool and United are traditionally predominantly working class areas, I’ve often wondered if it’s something attributed to social class.
I shall endeavor to be more optimistic in my overall view of Arsenal, but I make no promises!
Tony – Great story about Chris Armstrong! You still haven’t told me what you disagreed with me about on LG.

Tony
The story gets even better. If we ever had a big night out – BKK would be a better destination than West Wales I can assure you – I think I’d also believe your advice about being right as rain in the morning. I think I knew from before that you were born in Embra. We’re your family Hibees or Jambos?

I shall endeavor to be more optimistic in my overall view of Arsenal, but I make no promises

Hi Herb
Turd polishing our history is something I reckon you’d never do. So you’re right not to make any promises. You know the subject matter too well for a start! The unalloyed truth is what distinguishes people on here from the mouth breathers and sycophants on LG.

In some respects, our image of relative softness, fairness and sportsmanship is a virtue at times. I’ve always allowed myself to feel morally superior to fans of other teams even when we’re not cutting it on the pitch. My last visit to the Emirates to see us beat Leeds in the Carabao last autumn was a feelgood event. Loads of people from N London of all ages and backgrounds all there to see us win.