You knew I will do this at some point.
Gary Neville, former Manchester United defender and now a pundit at Sky, has partnered with them for ‘The Overlap’ where he discusses football and Premier League. In recent days, he has been very vocal about Manchester City winning the league and Arsenal not having that winning mentality to push for the title.
Recently, he decided to be the celebration police and went on record to say – ‘It’s too much emotion, too early for Arsenal, to be that desperate and to celebrate that much with half the race still to go, it’s not a good thing. After the Aston Villa game, I can understand how big of a moment it was, but that level of celebration was quite desperate, quite early. There was a lot of celebrations at the end of the game. The emotions are something that’s a negative, it’s not a positive for me in a title race.’ — Well, there’s only 12 games to go, and we are still on top, with 5 point lead to the Manchester City. There are fans invested in teams for 60, 70 years, from the day they were born. They follow it religiously. These fans then celebrate every little achievements of the players on the pitch, support them through thick and thin, sing for the 90min. What if the players gets emotional after a win? It’s not CHESS for fu*k sake.
On a different day, in the 24th game week, he said: ‘I thought City would win the league and United would finish second two or three months ago. To be fair, I’m not going to change my mind on it. I still think City are going to win the league even though Arsenal, the closer it gets… but 14 games is still a long way to go. I still think United will finish second.’ — Well, I saw United losing 7-0 to a mid-table Liverpool. Even if United win their game in hand, we would have a 11 point lead over them, with only 12 games to go. I don’t see how they are going to finish second.
And at the end, this is what I found on Twitter. I am sorry for the screenshot, I usually embed a tweet but I needed to keep it future reference. Tweets can be deleted, screenshots lives forever.
G. Neville, responding to an Arsenal fan –
There are 5 stages of grief – denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Mr Gary was in denial state till last week, he was angry we have been winning for whole 26 weeks, he can’t bargain and I’m pretty sure, is depressed after the Liverpool game. He is getting into the acceptance mode, come the end, I will share his pic in an Arsenal shirt, with ‘Champions’ written all over it.
Right, I hope he takes it as lightly as he thinks others should take what he says. This is a dark art which he has mastered. Hate spreads faster, and he always knew the Arsenal fans are bigger and better than Manchester ones, so he picks up the club and try to keep himself relevant by talking non-sense about it. He can’t do it for City because if you pick up one pebble for each person supporting City, at Chalkwell beach, and keep it in your pocket, you will have the second pocket only half filled.
So yeah, here it is…
We are STILL ON TOP OF THE TABLE. We celebrated our win against Bournemouth like it was our last game on this planet, and we will do it again for every win this season. We sing for whole 90, even when we are behind. It’s just the beginning and IT IS WHAT IT IS, Gary.
If you are reading this, repeat after me – And it’s Arsenal, Arsenal FC! We’re by far the greatest team. The world has ever seen.
Hi Herb
Phew, I’d just be leaving Preston in a traffic jam if I’d gone. 220 miles from home. I think I dodged a bullet. Another supine away display and another red card for a GK. Two in two games…
Almunia – get your old sondico gloves out of your garage mate. Cardiff might need you between the sticks at home to WBA in the week! If you need a UK super agent, I’m yer man!
Yeah Tan’s aura (if it can be called that) hangs around Cardiff like a miasma. There’s a deep seated culture where everyone except the fans is going through the motions. It was ever thus. They imagine they’re too good to go down and so the gravy train continues to roll but they’re flirting with it this season. Cheers for the kind words Herb – luckily my ‘real’/main football love are cutting the mustard.
Wow, Steve Borthwick looking completely out of his depth, 3-27 at HT.
PS
I was at the first game when they went back to playing in blue (against Fulham in 2015) . Old geezers and women crying, a feeling like thousands of people had just been released from gaol etc.
England Rugby team is in a deep swamp of piss.
I’ve not played rugby for years, but it seems England’s backs seem incapable of tackling in defence nor breaking lines in attack. Forwards making continuous errors and lacking strength/bottle.
Recording the City game and can’t watch more of England making schoolboy errors of basic handling. It’s embarrassing.
France has rebuilt well and play fluid fast rugby they are a good bet for the World Cup.
Time we had a Kiwi manager for the England team. Eddie was getting stale.
1250 am here good night 💤
You made the right choice not going KP, as you say there are definitely three clubs worse than Cardiff.
Wigan are over reaching, they’re a League One/Two club, Huddersfield have fallen off a cliff since their relegation from the PL, and 74 year old Neil Warnock isn’t the answer. The other side below them, Blackpool have this unusual habit of being able to climb up the leagues all the way to the PL, and just as quickly fall back down again. They’re on a downward spiral again, because like Warnock, Mick McCarthy should be retired.
It could get nervy though, Cardiff have a 6 point buffer with 10 games left, but it should be enough.
It looks like Cardiff need a huge gear change this summer though, KP.
Yeah, you can’t just rock up and change the whole clubs identity, it is something ingrained in the community and at the core of the club’s formation, which I imagine has been established for well over a century by now.
Herb
Warnock and Mccarthy have both managed Cardiff in the last 5 years. Warnock was loved, MM was an absolute disaster (I have to be careful not to offend Almunia because he did a rather good job for their NT 20 odd years ago!) But they are both woefully out of touch. I think Cardiff should stick with Lamouchi but you’re right, he needs to bring in his own players.
I don’t dislike either Warnock or McCarthy, they’ve both had decent careers, Warnock in particular is a bit of a national treasure in the football community, but all managers have a shelf life.
I must admit, I vaguely remember Warnock at Cardiff – (was that in the PL?) – but Mick McCarthy’s I don’t remember.
Anyway, hopefully, onwards and upwards with Lamouchi!
England absolutely smashed 10-53 at Twickenham.
We really do have an unfathomable amount of arrogance in our DNA.
Yeah, Warnock got them promoted (for a season) and then hit his marching orders pretty soon after the start of their post-relegation season. MM came later and did his usual – completely bypassing midfield and whacking it into the channels. Grim fare.
Don’t know if you’re watching Palace but Lokonga is playing some nice stuff. The biggest complement I can pay is that he’s looking Partey-esque!
Should be an interesting fixture tomorrow considering the bevy of potential absences…looks like Jesus, Eddie, Leo and possibly Ode won’t be available, so that likely means a midfield triumvirate with at least 2 of the following 3 players, Xhaka, Jorginho and/or Vieira…just imagine how terribly sad it would be if Willian were to get the best of Jorginho in a match of upmost importance…I’m a big fan of Craven Cottage, which should suit our tactics, if we have the personnel to properly press high, otherwise we could be in for another squeaky bum affair
just wanted to reiterate my support for all those members of BBC Match of the Day team, both in front and behind the scenes, who were unwilling to kowtow to the absurd demands of the powers that be…hopefully this political charade will be sorted sooner rather than later, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that weren’t the case, as neither side appears to want to blink
as per usual, the more I dig to get some injury updates, the less I learn…so who the fuck knows what our lineup will look like come kickoff…here’s hoping that our starting 11 will include our regular back 4, Partey and Ode in the midfield and maybe even Jesus up top…certainly not holding my breath though
Morning all – You have to feel for Paddy and Palace keeping City at bay for 77 minutes and could well have held misfiring City to a 0:0 if Elisse hadn’t switched off too many times. I felt Eze was the better selection.
You have 2 ways to prevent Haaland from scoring: cut the supply at source or from getting to Erling. Palace restricted Haaland to a Penalty because of Palaces aerial supremacy just taking the ball off Haaland’s head or making him blasting shots high, wide and handsome.
That seems to be the way for Paddy’s Palace.
What I felt was good that came from the game was Lakonga’s play. He seems more assertive in his play showing more confidence under Paddy. He worked tirelessly where his reading of the game is improving.
Now we have to make sure we get 3 points from Fulham. The ‘who’s fit’ mind games cards have been played and we wait until we see who Arteta has selected and then wait to see where he’s playing the starting 11.
KP – I understand and feel your Cardiff pain. Apart from being a cool and friendly city it’s large enough to regularly fill a large Newcastleesque stadium. Probably not cool enough for a potential dick swinging wanna be Middle Eastern country to buy. I’ve watched it grow since the 70s to the 90s through various mostly day business trips and some gigs way back when. A lot of money has been invested in the city, so you never know. Will China be next to throw their financial might behind a club? I doubt London or America would like that 🙂 .
TRVL – Thanks I’ll take your advice and order Crypto.
No predictions today but the Brighton v Leeds game was good fun and entertaining end to end football.
A song from the Small Faces: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXeRB-3nDR8 sums up our afternoon here.
The less said about English rugby the better right now. Eddie did an old Red Nose hanging in 3 years too long. Clive Woodward is my go to pundit because he always speaks sense with no personal agenda. Bothwick is out of his depth.
Just when it’s World Cup year: how very English of the English old farts running our game.
I don’t get the Lineker love in as he’s an ex Spud. The only irony is MOTD is 25 years out of date. Says it all when Jimmy Hill and his compatriots are all dead and the program is still running. The worst thing is you Have to pay for it with the BBC – there is no choice other wise you go to prison where you can get the BBC free.
I think offer Jim Jeffries the hosting gig. He’s funny and clueless about football, which the latter sums up the show barring Wrighty who always talks sense and could maybe co-host the show with Jim as being Jim’s guru.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rR9IaXH1M0
For me the funniest guy on the plane!
planet*
I can’t shake this feeling Arteta will cock it right up – quite simply we’re in a position where with away matches at Liverpool and City still to play we’re likely going to need a minimum of a draw away to City and very little room in dropping points anywhere else.
Dropped points in matches like todays just won’t cut it a win is essential.
Marc
I share your concerns. But at least some good news with the availability of players for today.
Never been to the Cottage. That area around the changing rooms makes it look like a suburban cricket club.
Marc & KP
Add me to the worried list. Today is a must win if Live Score is to be believed the team starting:
Ramsdale
White – Saliba – Gabs – zinchenko
Xhaka – Partey – Ode
Martinelli – Trossard – Saka
No surprises for subs and no Jesus.
ESR needs game time and far better than Xhaka. Pets are pets I guess with Arteta. KT could have played LB and Zinchenko instead of Xhaka.
Tony
Jesus is on the bench. Agree 100% on ESR if we don’t give him game time he’ll leave.
Just saw that Jesus is on the bench.
Every time Jamie Redknapp opens his mouth my “twatometer” goes off the scale and breaks.
I really wish he’d shut the fuck up its costing me a fortune to repair it.
That through ball from Xhaka was exquisite. Watch how he delays it slightly.
Fuk. Like Herb said, VAR kills the joy and spontaneity but if he’s a few mils off, he’s off.
A goal scored for a change from a corner.
Playing like we believe we are there to win. Can see more goals for us.
2 nil Fulham don’t look like they can deal with us.
If you’re a team who are making Xhaka look top class you have issues!
Their left back did a Kiwior
Second, headed goal from Martinelli. Fulham defender was atrocious
Anything City do we can do better.
Fulham only have 1 player who dribbles – we have 4/5.
Xhaka being Xhaka
Some beautiful passing and moving today
Xhaka’s like a diplodocus – it takes 5 minutes to connect his brain with his limbs
We need to convert one of these chances before half time. Fulham are a better team than this and a half time kick up the backside could see a very different second half.
3 nil kills the game.
totally taking advantage of Leno’s obvious set piece frailities, which looks to be an actual tactical decision based on the manner in which we’re setting up in the box from corners…if sa, I applaud the manager for pursuing this course of action…as I’m writing this, I’ve just witnessed a shocking cockup by Xhaka, who’s basically been unmarked for the better part of 30 minutes
just imagine if we had a more clinical presence in front of goal…based on my calculations, from a proper “eye test” expected goal perspective, we should have scored at least a quarter century more goals on the season