Special thanks to Sparxs_TV for the cover pic and some more images from the Arsenal game. He runs a YouTube channel @WereTheNorthBank.
What did we expect – to play Dortmund in Quarter Finals, PSG in Semis and Barcelona in finals? Nope, that’s not how you claim the Champions of Europe trophy. The ties we got is what happens to everyone else in CL. Bayern in QF, Madrid or City in Semi, and any of the Dortmund, Atletico, Barcelona, PSG in finals. I would say reaching to the finals is tougher than winning it but
to be the best, you must beat the best.
And it’s the same for Premier League. Liverpool and Man City are going to make it as difficult as you can imagine, and the only way to win is to beat the current champions Man City at their home and win against the likes of Chelsea, Brighton, Tottenham (lol), Man United in the process. Tough? Yes – very. You would need everything by your side, fitness, form, luck.
We passed Porto test in the shootouts. They parked the bus, drew our players out of shape and played a game to frustrate us. I was vocal against Odegaard and was hoping to see ESR play in that role couple months back. It seems the Captain has not liked it. He was brilliant, passionate and created that goal allowing us to beat Porto. Our penalty kicks were spot on, Raya made 2 great stops and almost stopped a third one as well.
The thing is, we looked hungry for a win for the whole 120min and in the shootouts. Odegaard chest thumping showed what it meant for the boys. Saliba’s celebration after the game was one of the funniest and at the same time an intense celebration. To qualify to quarter finals after 14 years is an achievement and to not stop here is the ask.
What’s next? 3 very tough games in Champions League and 10 more in PL. You win these 13 games and you get to write your name in the history as an Arsenal players. Is it tough? A lot. Is it possible? Fuck yeah.
When the players show the urgency and enthusiasm to win something and believe in it, we fans are more than happy. It’s a sport and a loss is acceptable when it comes with a fight. Last season, we gave away the Premier league title and the manager as well as the players were responsible for that. They have improved and hanging in there, not going down without a fight this season. To anyone’s saying fighting on two front is difficult, it’s not. 13 games with a fit squad, and belief to win is more than enough.
Right, I woke up and chose positivity. It’s gonna be boring 2 weeks till we play City on 31st March. We will beat them. And for a morning chuckle, let me remind you that Fulham were playing Willian whom we let go for free more than a year back and Tottenham still managed to lose 3-0 against them. And they were talking about winning the league couple of months back. How can someone be so delusional, lol?
Ambarish
I can hear your chest thumping from here. There is a difference over last year – Rice.
Thanks for your comments KP – it is hard work changing the mindset of water companies, large organisations, Government departments and so called action groups.
Tony – good news about your results. Your fitness regime sounds intense. With 5 stents fitted it sounds as if your metabolism is the problem. My aunt who is 86 has the same problem. Triple by-pass op a few years ago – still plays tennis 3 times per week, has a good diet but body cannot cope with cholesterol.
Tony, KP, TRVL – we returned from a local village event last night – my wife switched on the box – a recording of Sinead O’Conner performing on a Jools Holland program. Occasionally the camera scanned the musicians – the guitarist looked a lot like Andy Fairweather Low.
Ambarish – Brilliant piece considering where we are at this point. Your writing goes from strength to strength. Just a maths-related point – I reckon we have 5 matches to play to win the CL!
The euro dimension this season means we’re slightly advanced from the last one. It’s a great position to be in. I’m dreaming of both but the opponents are formidable. What I want to see is continuing fight and commitment from the squad, backed by – and this is the most important bit – Senor Stubborn el Bastardo devising workable strategies and team selections that will be able to adapt to conditions/opponents and give us the chance to win. Time now for everyone to earn their millions. High stakes, squeaky bums whatever. Putting aside my enduring dislike of him and his awful personality, it’s a good time right now. I was so fucking proud of the way the boys composed themselves and executed those pens. It took me back to that CWC semi final win against Sampdoria in the 90s.
I won’t be saying this in ten day’s time or so because the tension will be rising, but I’m enjoying the lull in Arsenal activity right now knowing we’re close to the very top of the footballing tree.
https://youtu.be/2gj9-_xUfEo?si=qhIAxnyguY493SyT
I couldn’t resist… I loved that team. Seaman’s save of the last pen against Attillio Lombardo (who ended up at Palace?) is etched in my memory.
https://youtube.com/shorts/Rmn6APZoDaA?si=dv2_EWEL_scrL93a
More recently I enjoyed this from the Porto game too. I think Havertz was exhibiting a teutonic rather than a gallic shrug when Conceicao was crapping on about bring pushed. He clearly should have got out of KH’s way in the first place. The kid is growing on me…
Just had a very pleasant electronic hour with some bands from Sheffield – Heaven 17, Cabaret Voltaire and the Human League of course. These lads and Joy Division/New Order kept me sane in the 80s while I was trying to make sense of life while living in Ethiopia and Nigeria. Luckily the diplomatic bag kept me supplied with Vinyl!
Oh, and Norwich’s finest in the guises of the Farmers Boys, Higsons and Serious Drinking (the band and the activity).
Norg
Yes I have the making cholesterol for fun genes. I’ve got one plan B for my LMA and then it’s a redo bypass. I have begun talks with my cardiologist about stem cell grow your own sort of thing, which he’s looking into. The last stent was a triple through the RMA and a branch with 3 interventionists working for 5 hours while I watched. I’m happy in the gym and the music pumping; it’s going to be interesting to see what my enforced hiatus has limited my body to with aging?
I developed an advanced abs routine very few can do, so that’s my first target with junior this week.
Kudos to your aunt at her age. My lungs are shot to run around so I use battle ropes for HIIT training that is intervals of 30 & 60 seconds. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNXP3XnS60s I used to do an hour with my wife and junior taking turns. That will be a grueling journey back to fitness.
KP
Cabaret Voltaire – wow – had forgotten all about them. The Pet Shop boys are my favorite with Marc Almond and Depeche Mode in there. Did you get to listen to Hurts?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TttjeXZYE8
First album was excellent with a live DVD from Germany worth the look. Same production values as the Pet Shop boys.
The beauty of that music recording was that it is all done by DD (direct injection) without the need for mics. External mics can be used in later mixes by recording separately in later takes. Roland Synth drums are excellent as used by Gary Wallis (Pink Floyd) with Schiller
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pc6C_a1uUy8 use headphones
Finally on music my all time love is Enigma. There is nothing better with incredible productions and top session people from around the globe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slJTgauUtDc
Good post Ambarish I’m ever hopeful and as Norg says the difference this season is Rice freeing Ode et al to produce.
KP
In the 80’s I was still living in the 70’s with music. Tony mentioned Ian Dury – he headed Kilburn & the High Roads in the early 70’s. They were a really good pub band – I saw them quite a few times in the early 70’s.
When you were in Nigeria did you get into Afrobeat / Fela Kuti?
As it’s Sunday let us all give thanks to Fulham for spanking the Spuds in fine fashion.
Ambarish
Thinking about your CL comments I sat and thought about if we had City and I thought that playing City in the PL away or home I don’t fear them unless Rice was injured. However, in the CL?
I think Pep will outsmart El B over 2 legs. Ditto Madrid over 2 legs they just have too much quality compared to Havertz, Trossard, Vieira, Jorginho. We’d need a fit Partey & Rice pairing in midfield. A fit and up to game speed ESR would also do well against Madrid I feel.
Sadly, ESR is neither so will continue to warm the bench unless we get serious injuries to Ode and Rice – not that ESR can play Rice’s role. Few can to his current level.
I think we are now at the stage where we look at our priorities? Can we maintain and full frontal assault on both fronts: CL & PL? As far as I’m concerned, the PL has to be our main focus with each game being a cup final for us.
The potential 5 games to win the CL is a pipe dream for us at the moment. We scraped past a decent Porto who are far from our best level. Bayern, Madrid/City 2-legged games will take too much out of out exhausting 10-game run in. The final is after the season ends I believe so is not a concern until then.
We have an uphill battle to to keep pace with Klopp emotional charge for the PL trophy where every player will bleed for Klopp and leave everything on the pitch, such is their love and respect for him. Can we say the same about White, Cedric, Havertz?
It will come down to belief, heart and blood sweat & tears to lift the PL trophy at the end of the season where I’m not sure City have the heart or cohesion as we saw KDB tell Pep what he thought after being subbed. Pep later went to talk with KDB, which was interesting as El B would have reacted differently me thinks.
Can we win 10 cup finals with all the rest and recuperation we’ve had this season? I say yes. Teams fear us home and away now including City and Liverpool who are showing us the respect we deserve after our slow start.
As long as Rice, Ode, Saliba, 2 Gabs stay fit and in the green zone I can see us beating Pool to the trophy.
That and Zinchenko is kept warming the bench, as Kiwior has come of age the last few games he’s started. He’s still raw but is a fast learning from what we are witnessing.
What do my learned friends say?
Chelsea just cut through Leicester like a blowtorch through butter.
Hopefully the match later will be worth a watch.
Zinchenko on the bench is his best position. Kiwior is a good signing and in a couple of years will be part of a back three.
We can dream of progressing further in the CL and I think be have the team capable of progressing to the semi’s – and then it will be tough.
RIP Steve Harley of cockney rebel fame and “make me smile”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAoaVU3-ve0
Tony
Another polio sufferer.
NORG
Its going to be interesting to see what position Timber was actually bought for. He can play in several across the back but from what I’ve read he’s predominately right sided – I don’t think he’s got the height to play CB in the PL so was he bought as a replacement for Zinchenko?
Marc
Timber is the fast right full back that can attack with ease. The attacking full back needs to be the fittest in the team. A fully fit back 6 or 7 will allow interchangeability – not sure that word appears in El B’s vocabulary.
NORG
I did see Fela. It was in the very late 80s at his own club called ‘the Shrine’. In Ipapa (or Ikeja) which is a suburb of Lagos. It really felt like a special night. I was there with a group of (white) colleagues from work. We were welcomed in and got no hassle whatsoever. Got into loads of conversations with people and had a few bottles of gulder which was the local lager. I also remember smoking quite a bit of draw with these colleagues who I’d thought were pretty straight-laced. One of the madder nights out with fellow civil servants I have to say.
There was also a lively vinyl scene in Nigeria. The pressings were really thick a bit like 50s and 60s vinyl at home. I bought all the Fela I could get my hands on. Nigeria was nuts and fun in equal measure. Played loads of football against local teams too.
KP
I am envious. In November 2019 I was in London for a meeting which was due to finish at 7PM. Seun Kuti was appearing at a club (cannot remember where in London). Admission was only £18. Unfortunately the meeting over ran by 2 hours.
A friend of mine was in Santiago, Chile a few years ago and Seun was appearing with Newen Afrobeat – apparently they were fantastic.
meanwhile at Old Toilet Liverpool are in front. Taxi for Mr Ten Hag.
Get in ManU equalise in the 87th minute.
Tony
I didn’t realise Steve Harley was only 73. Very sad.
Fucking hell ManU manage to equalise again 3-3.
3-3. Who do we want to win this? I’m ambivalent.
Might be nice to watch a penalty shootout this week that’s rather less nerve shredding.
The sheer number of cunts involved with running football is staggering.
Young player scores to put his team in front in the 120th minute takes his shirt off in celebration and gets shown a second yellow.
Why don’t we suck all the joy out of the game completely? If the ref had any balls he’d have copped a deafen and claimed he didn’t see it.
I’ll bet you a cold beer on a sunny day that the Semi Final draw is City vs ManU and Chelsea vs Coventry.
A ManU vs Chelsea final should actually be a good game they both are all over the place but they might as well just put City’s name on the trophy now.
come on Coventry.
I didn’t chip in on the Ian Dury conversation the other day. Those first two albums (were there others?) are fantastic. New Boots and Panties and Do it Yourself. A wicked, truly brilliant songwriter. My all time favourite tune out of many beautifully crafted compositions is ‘This is what we find’ in which he describes a series of eccentric older people in parts of Britain. The one about Tony Green from Turrnham Green wiping his dog’s bum after it’s ‘laid a cable in a sandpit’ is wonderfully vivid.
Enjoy…he’ll ultimately be remembered as a poet.
https://youtu.be/L9Js_nrrtHo?si=VxQ4vWLlUUHkVWF8
KP – thanks for the link – I have just played it and then the other links You Tube brought up. Amazingly it also threw up a track by Vinegar Jo. In the early 70’s I lived in Muswell Hill. The area was band land at that time and Vinegar Jo lived along the road. Robert Palmer still had long hair and had not started wearing his suit. Elkie Brooks was fit.
There’s an old grey whistle test clip somewhere of Vinegar Joe. Yeah, agree about Ellie although I could’ve done without hearing that ‘Lilac Wine’ and ‘Pearl’s a Singer’ phase of her musical career. But I bet it paid the bills.
It was shocking when Robert Palmer died – he was still pretty young. How he went from VJ to singing 80s rock tunes is mystifying. I liked that cover he did of Marvin Gaye’s ‘ecology song’. I used to have a girlfriend and we’d laugh our heads off about the ridiculous lyrics to ‘I didn’t mean to turn you on’ (as if it was some kind of freak accident). Music in that era was easier to enjoy on the one hand and harshly criticise on the other. I wouldn’t be surprised if Tony has crossed paths with one or both of them.
We went to a party at their house one Saturday night. I can remember a couple of people being carted away in an ambulance. Elkie was on the prowl – you never know Tony may have been at that party.
He probably knows David Hepworth who was one of the Old Grey Whistle Test presenters. When we bought our first house David and Alison lived around the corner and they had their eldest daughter at roughly the same time as we had our daughter. The two girls were best friends up until we moved away from London.
Hepworth and Mark Ellen kind of supplanted whispering Bob if 8 recall correctly. It’s only really BBC4 these days broadcasting archive material (the Jules Holland thing is too eclectic for my taste) but back in the day we had OGWT and Rock goes to College plus the Word on Channel 4. Music feels dead and wholly derivative these days – talent shows or bust.
Just based on our recent conversations NORG, I’d bet good money that you also have a soft spot for Dr Feelgood. Tony (who knew them) and I have a real fondness for Canvey Island’s finest.
The London Pub Band scene in the early 70’s was good – really good. Dr Feelgood were part of that scene – Wilko seemed to have a style all of his own. We used to go to a pub in Finchley (cant remember the name) but it always had good acts on there (I saw Dr Feelgood there). In 1975 I saw a US band there – cant remember their name but Kate Pierson was their singer – a few years later B52’s appeared on the scene.
OK everyone… Break over. Time to start the drumbeat leading up to a rather important game at the weekend. 🥁🥁🥁
KP
Arsenal Women vs Chelsea Women? or City vs the good guys?
Hi NORG
I watch the women’s team often, and despite the talented players in the squad, they don’t quite seem at it this year. Too many occasions when they concede first and others when they look like flat track bullies. They also got a hammering last time out against Chelsea and going out in the early CL stages was awful. The stats from the Villa game yesterday tell it all. AV – one chance, one goal. But some of the players seem like great characters. Little and McCabe are my and the twins’ favourite players. Is your meeting in Madrid still on the cards?
Hi all just to chip in before we get back to the serious shit. No, not at the party or knew the people you talked about. Met Stevie Nicks who came up on my sound desk in Frisco in 1980 on a Madness tour. I started my sound career with Lee Lewis Reformer who many regarded as better than Lee of Feegood fame.
Norg if you saw Lee Lewis at Dingwalls or the other london circuit pub gigs yours truly was in the desk learning as I went. I’d do gigs and then head to nearby studios and rehearsal rooms to further my sound education.
Wilco was speeding 24/7 and as dramatic off stage as on. I much preferred Gippy Mayo who took over from Wilco.
Gippy was a really cool guy and married a girl, Leslie a trader, whose flat I often crashed at between tours in St Johns Wood. Had a very enjoyable music scene with them in the 80s.
I’m seriously thinking about adding a studio to this house or building a new home with one. The costs are much reduced and it’s in the acoustics where you save money on correction tech. It’s time for me to get creative again and I’m not sure I’ve got the the energy to road trip around the world with my cameras.
I’ve been too involved in family life to know what’s going on where Junior has been accepted to a top international BKK school for mathematical engineering sciences run by a leading university.
I honestly didn’t know how he’d do with his ADHD making his focus really difficult, but he enlisted help from his band of misfit brothers who take turns staying overnight who pulled all nighters with him. Really nice kids with off the charts IQs. Looks like I’ll be spending more time in BKK.
I saw a headline Saka was injured and sent home.
I’m in Ubon Ratchasima after 2 nights in Udonthani where a good Thai female friend has just beat breast cancer with alternative treatment in Japan. I’m looking into the retirement homes and medical wellness spa with a couple of Thai doctor friends.
Same in Ubon. The north is perfect for such ventures as you’ll know well KP. Already got land on the Nan river in Nakhon Sawan which is widely believed to be the next capital in 20 years time with the climate issues. Bangkok is only a meter above sea level. There are a lot of ostriches in BKK.
Sorry I digressed. No idea about the City game other than it’s a must win.
Almost 2am and sleep is not far away. Loved the music chat which Norg you add great value from your perspective and stories.
See you all at the weekend.
Fela Kuti another forgotten great. Hotel California has just had a remix in BluRay where the mix lit my room up more than Pulse by Floyd. A calibrator tool par excellence. Yello did the same with their top tunes.
Handsome is the first Dury IP and very rare. Lee from Madness had 2 copies he was so taken by it.
Good night 😴
Tony
I expect the sound you have is unbelievable compared to what we listen to. I can remember being drawn to Zappa and Miles Davis in my late teens because of the musicianship of both bands, carefully orchestrated by their leaders. At the time you could follow a certain musician through a song – it would probably sound fantastic in your ‘special’ room.
KP
Madrid is still on the cards if we progress. European grounds usually have a good atmosphere but I have never been to RM. My favourite for atmosphere is the Velodrome in Marseilles.
Norg
https://www.amazon.com/Hotel-California-Anniversary-Deluxe-1Bluray/dp/B076BWHMDP
https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/yello-issue-a-dolby-atmos-edition-of-their-latest-album-point-on-blu-ray/
Above are just 2 blu-ray’s that will light up any good room that has good acoustics and good tech. The tech side is purely down to budget and ears. No point spending on the best if you can hear what you’re paying for.
The budget and extremely good option for line source is Alcons:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/emTEdt31RKM
Trinnov is essential as your processor: https://www.trinnov.com
Its 3D mic is sensational for filtering out poor acoustics in a room and compensating. However, if you build from the ground up or redesign a room and have the best acoustic treatment you can’t use the Trinnov 3D mic because it can’t find imperfections and so makes some up. It really bugs the Trinnov engineers who a really cool people to deal with.
My friend Steve and I took 32 hours with 5 mics including the 3D to tune my room manually.
Wisdom Audio is levels above Alcons and is perfection personified, Luc, the MD, just picked up more awards for their ceiling speakers.
I can’t speak highly enough of the quality and service you get from Wisdom & Trinnov.
You become part of a very small audiophile family. If you experience an issue with Trinnov they will be online and looking through your processor’s architecture looking to fix from Paris, as they’ve done for me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKMCz1b2RxE
Another brilliant track to test your music. Steely Dan was the more understandable Zappa for me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4HI1_LTWIk
The Alan Parsons Project has real pedigree. Alan was assistant engineer on Sgt Peppers and the main engineer for Dark Side of the Moon. His music is complex and simple but always sounding immersive.
As I mentioned before, book an appointment with Habitech and if you do, I’ll see if Steve is available to do your demo with you. Maybe, even do some speaker shoot outs to test your ears, such as isolating 12k htz and see if you can hear. Most can’t.
It would be a great day out and you’d learn all you needed to decide if you want to go that route. I just had idiots here who didn’t even know how to install a L3 Wisdom speaker.
You have the best of the best in Steve and someone you’ll really resonate with.
It depends on how you want to relax and what you have in your life’s network. I have music and photography as my biggest love outside of my son & daughter. If I’m in my home, I’m in my room – if i’m not sleeping or in my office.
One of the reasons I’ve been MIA here is because Mrs T and I have agreed amicably to end our 19 year marriage. Consequently, we have much to divide and that means I will have some new investing to do.
Retirement looks to be a few years away again.
I’ve got plans for my new house that will have a recording studio and separate “Room”. If possible I’ll add a photographic studio to play with Hasselblad & Phase One. It will be situated in the north on elevated ground.
It’s kind has come at the right time as my son has just gained entrance to a university run international school for mathematical engineering sciences. He wants to be a robotic architecture designer engineer.
I’ll be in BKK much more and maybe rent a serviced apartment.
I’ve always extended the offer to Marc, KP, Almunia, Ambarish and TRVL, which I’ll happily extend to you, that you ever come to Thailand for a holiday then you’re welcome to visit and stay if I’ve built my new home with studios. I’ll be adding a condo above the studios.
Whether you decide to go a “Room” route or just enjoy Line Source with Trinnov it will depend on your ears as they will dictate your budget. The Trinnov is a processor bar none. Around £20K for a 24 channel but 32 is needed if you go full Wisdom.
Unfortunately, in the cost sense my ears are still perfect or as good as Steve’s as we tested each other often in the 32+ hours.
One for you Almunia if you check in The Irish Rock Story a Tale of 2 cities./
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5089890/
Also a brilliant watch if you want to really learn the real origin of the blues with Robbie Robertson
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6333080/
Back to football I just read Walker and Stones are doubtful for Sunday’s game. Whether this is the usual gamesmanship who knows.
I have a good feeling about Sunday and will pop back at the weekend. I’m looking at investments in the north and a place to situate my new how.
I’ll get to watch the game and comment on may Laptop most likely.
Speaking of the Blues this is a cool mix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebfOo2vWEz4
Have a good one guys
house*