We are cooking!

KP–just read about the latest cock-up, or should I say cock-out, by the former Spurs and current City RB…one has to wonder what’s behind the seemingly habitual fucked up actions of this clown, especially considering the fact that everyone and their brother knows that very few things in public life go unnoticed nowadays…is he just an out of control egomaniac who doesn’t give a flying fuck or does he have some sort of diagnosable chemical imbalance that becomes even more heightened when under the influence..either way consequences are required, as the previous hand slap option has clearly failed to register

as to our previous discussion regarding JW, I think it’s important to reiterate the fact that we functionally replaced WIllock with Lokonga, as the fee we received from Newcastle was not too dissimilar from what we paid for the young Belgian…so my point wasn’t that I felt JW was the missing link to unlocking our flailing offence, but he was clearly better prepared to help in that regards than the unpolished Sambi…not to mention, the notion that we didn’t have monies in the coffers unless we sold the likes of Emi and Willock is absolutely ludicrous in retrospect…just another club-spun narrative so as to justify the rather unjustifable, from a footballing perspective anyways

TRVL
Sambi was punted onto us by Tets’s old Man City protégée Kompany wasn’t he? I’m still not sure about whether he has a future with us – the current prognosis can’t be positive given all the other runners and riders (including the sinecure offered to the geezer from giza) . He seems to have made an impact at Palace, where he can only get getter under Vieira’s guidance.

In essence, he started quite strongly in N5 but then got Arteta’ed, ie fucked and bombed. I would be surprised if he’s not already on the summer sales list. As with too many others during Tets’s reign, we’ll probably be hit for a loss. Fine Arteta the exact amount of any amortised deficit!

KP—the whole scenario is rather analogous to when a horribly mismanaged multi-billion dollar corporation receives a massive governmental bailout, in that MA/Edu’s ineptitude cost us a considerable fortune, due to their piss-poor asset mismangement and propensity to pay above the number in the transfer market, yet somehow, someway they not only received a king’s ransom, they were likewise given substantial raises…now if we’re able to secure the title and find a way to compete for things next season, these financial misdeeds will likely become little more than a footnote in the annals of the Arsenal Football Club, as winning is usually the ultimate cure-all

personally, I will judge them according to their actions or lack thereof when it comes to getting our house in proper order, which includes all facets of organizational life…this simply can’t be a one-off gig, especially after the monies already invested, as our expectations must align with those of the big boys and not with the LC’s of the footballing world, which means there must be tangible growth year-in and year-out…keeping in mind, that if they do accomplish these very arduous tasks, I will have no problem whatsoever eating my words…in fact, I would like nothing else, as this would mean that we would have gotten our Arsenal back

Romero sent off for the spuds. Who could have seen that coming?

Analogous to when a horribly mismanaged multi-billion dollar corporation receives a massive governmental bailout

Over here, that might mean paragons of the free market economy such as tricky dicky Branson or the so-called brain behind Dyson vacuum cleaners (a significant donor to the Tory party naturally). Two of the biggest blood suckers in UK industry, both if whom avoid tax by living abroad. Neither are backwards in coming forwards when it comes to cheap or free UK government money or dodgy privatisation related subsidies.

Marc and I are poles apart on economic and industrial policy, but I’m certain he’d agree with me that these two are massive parasites that help to keep his and my tax bills high.

the PSG experiment continues to fluonder when it matters most…in a way I wanted them to progress now that Neymar has been removed from the equation, as I find his antics on the pitch rather despicable, even though he’s undoubtedly a highly skilled individual…their performance today, much like in the first leg, was rather listless and lacking in any notable invention, which seems difficult to fathom considering their current roster…maybe there’s something to the whole narrative about how Ligue ! doesn’t properly prepare one for the rigours of the Champions League…I’m more inclined to believe that for far too long this club has tried to assemble a team made up of largely self-serving individuals who simply lack the togetherness that’s generally required to win the day against a more cohesive well-managed squad…no wonder no manager/coach can survive more than a couple campaigns in the French capital

on a side note, is the Spur’s Romero the most brain-dead fuck on the continent…his record of yellow and red cards for appearances made is unrivalled…he’s even surpassed our bull in a china shop former skipper…say goodnight Spurs!!!

flounder

Wicked! This moment every season arguably means more than when we enjoyed beating spurs in the league.

Another trophy less season. 1961 since they won the title. Fewer spuds fans with each passing year who were alive to witness it. They are THE biggest underperformers in English football. Lovely.

TRVL

Or it could be a case of

Properly run, historic big club beats oil kleptocracy packed with cynical, disinterested money grubbing turds. And (still) my main man Serge Gnabry scored.

KP—Britain’s got nothing on my North American corporate brethren, as you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting some unjustified rich c**t who pays no taxes and who’s whole business model depends on loopholes and corporate welfare gifts from the state…not only do the rich get richer, but they do so on the backs of those with the least to give…when the covid gig hit and the government tried to help those “most” in need, 70+% went to the richest 10%…of course, they all have lawyers and accountants on retainer who spend every waking hour finding ways to fuck the system for the sole purpose of stuffing their respective boss’s already overflowing pockets…of course, this form of unbridled greed knows no geographic boundaries, but I do feel that it’s become an elitist sport nowadays in my part of the western world

Too true… And to think most voters in the west are sooo thick they think that slightly tweaked versions of capitalism are the only games in town at election time. There are huge numbers of working class tory voters, mainly in England, who’d rather trust corrupt representatives of the ruling class than do their own reading of economics and how the class system works against them. That’s why this country is profoundly fucked. In return, all they want is for the government to find and identify through the right wing media a group that these lumpen idiots can punch down on, eg. single mothers, non-White people, those who survive on benefits etc etc.

As dear old Karl Marc might have said. ‘I told you this would happen.’

Freudian slip. Karl Marx and Marc – they’re so alike!

if that doesn’t get Marc’s ears burning nothing will LOL

KP

I think historically, the class structure came about when William defeated Harold in 1066.
He carved Britain up by giving 25% of the land to aristocratic friends (French, obviously), 25% to the Church, and kept 50% for himself.
I watched a documentary ages ago on Channel 4, and apparently the French still own 20% of GB, so quite how Brexit works in that scenario is beyond me.
Because of the power wielded by the invisible super-rich 1%, KP, I don’t think socialism would be tolerated in this country, which is why they poisoned and hounded Jeremy Corbyn out of the Labour leadership. He was far too radical and wanted to give/help people far more than our greedy capitalists allow. Even Knight of the Realm Keir Starmer is playing ball by not allowing Corbyn back into the party.
The whole of our philosophical structure is rooted in our insatiable Imperialism, and we exist in a never spoken of totalitarian state controlled by Plutocrats who are never seen or heard in the public domain, who are responsible for everything that stinks in Britain today.
Brits are one of the most oppressed people throughout humanity, and it is all enforced by a sycophantic right wing media, who hate anyone who hasn’t been to Oxford, Cambridge or Eton.
Just my opinion, KP, but I’m a simple man.

PS: Boris showed us how easily the public are controlled and manipulated, and gave us a peek into a dystopian future with all the lockdowns whilst he and his Tory mates partied hard. Allegedly, traces of cocaine were found in 11 of the 12 toilets in Westminster.

TRVL & KP, I believe corruption has always been in any sport you can bet on or manipulate. It’s just another big hurdle ethics committees have to look into. However, since much of the world has clamped down on money laundering, as you chaps said they corrupt accountants just get more creative.

The government here replaced the ministerial government in a bid to reduce corruption. However, the senior military are not trained to be the best government ministers; only keeping the army well drilled and ready for action at a moment’s notice since Burma’s last attack in 1765.

Talking to a chief of police friend he told me the police can no longer accept gratuities for offenses, where before it was unspoken that the police could add around £300 a month to their salaries that way. It was something everyone accepted with a smile.

Many years ago I was driving from Udon Thani to Bangkok and got stopped 5 times by being caught by police in ghillies’ suits laying by the side of the road. None of the vans by the side of the roads with small square holes for the camera you see in the west. Thais being kindly folk flash oncoming drivers to warn them as they go past the police stops further down the road.

When I got out of my car the 5th time and produced my previous 4 slips for £5 fines I did my “seriously 5 times in 400km?”. They thought this was hilarious and of corse made me pay another £5 because the police captain said in fits of laughter that I still hadn’t learnt my lesson.

Now the flashing oncoming cars to warn of speed traps is illegal and now have officers taking pictures of the cars flashing.

Although this may sound a bit absurd, the police are smart and cordial with the public in normal settings. When they have to do their job they are ruthlessly efficient. The Tourist police will always do their best for those in need.

You wouldn’t see migrant boats being allowed to land here. Thailand’s immigration is very good at carrying out their procedures of keeping unwanted aliens out of the country or returning those who slip the net across the Mekong.

Wherever there is money to be made there will be corruption, and I bet all of us have been glad of being able to pay corrupt people of some kind for some passage or pass or to unsee a minor transgression?

Hi Herb, good to see you here again.

Cocaine is epidemic in the west as ecstasy was and probably still is. Was one of the reasons I left the music industry because of having to deal with coked business people. It’s not a far stretch to say most clubbers and those out in pubs at the weekends are full of recreational & prescription drugs, Glues and all sorts.

How do Dr’s survive being on call or awake for 36+ hours? Ditto special forces to keep uber alert for days without sleep.

It probably won’t surprise you to know I have never voted in an election. Why bother? Politicians lie for a living. The best liars make Prime Ministers. Manifestos go out of the window once they have the seat of power.

When it comes to nationalities I’m a bit of a person mongrel with various nationalities incorporated in my persona as well as various blood ties. I was destined for faraway shores after watching the Lotus Eaters: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066682/

That TV series shaped my life for sure. The White Lotus doesn’t compare, but is funny as a modern day Lotus Eaters comedy version.

In today’s world we have to accept the various drug cultures and hope parents educate their offspring adequately. I have seen it all in 9 years in the music industry and corporate and onwards losing good friends along the way.

I’d hazard a guess that WOKE people only want pure narcotics, as anything less than pure would have to be cancelled.

I leave you all with a tune that typifies today to me with its lyrics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LemG0cvc4oU

TRVL – Didn’t America wash dollar notes and get back a few tonnes of coke? I remember it being an astronomical amount reported in the press.

Not simple Herb, wise through your years, but tainted like the rest of us.

I will say this: expat life if affordable, is the best of both worlds, as you’re unaffected by your chosen country’s politics unless the country turns xenophobic. In Thailand’s case we have a very high level of private health care again if affordable and a fraction of there USA medical care prices.

My adopted father hated being abroad or any holidays: he just wanted to be in his garden. Yet when I brought him out to have bypass surgery the NHS wouldn’t give him at 82, he lived a further 5 years taking 14 holidays including Singapore and Malaysia with this full time nurse/carer. He’d wished he’d made the move earlier.

Never too old to live a free life in another country, Herb.

Herb and Tony,

Great stuff lads. I enjoyed reading your thoughts. The idea that social division began from the Norman invasion is thought-provoking. Can you point me towards anything you’ve read on that or seen? I’d only set my mind back as far as the industrial revolution and the British empire but I get the point that society has been creating artificial divisions between people almost forever, often at the point of a gun or earlier form of weaponry.

That corruption thing is mad in certain countries isn’t it Tony? The lid is being lifted on how far it is seeping down in Britain although I maintain here that as you both say it is led from the top. In other places, it is rife. The top guys set an example by creaming millions and turning a blind eye to people at the bottom of the hierarchies all taking their little cut too.

I once got stopped in a car in Mexico in the late 80s. I had no small denomination notes to give the copper to get rid of him so in my best diplomatic language flourished this big note and said, ‘I only have this note, I don’t think what I did (some bullshit made up around a set of traffic lights) was too serious. He replied,’don’t worry mate, I have change’ extracting this mega wad of money and giving me about 90% of the value of the note back in little ones.

I’m getting daily more cynical. As I think you both know, I’m planning on moving to Catalonia at some point in the next 2-3 years where similar problems exist to here of course. However, I’m planning not to immerse myself in local news and although I speak Spanish and some Catalan, I’m looking forward to letting a lot of stories about the nastiness and corruption in life simply wash right over me. It’s a bit harder in your native country of course. Dumbing myself down in order to enjoy the simpler things.

Herb – you seeing any potential pitfalls at craven cottage this weekend? I’m toying with a return to Deepdale (brilliant football ground for spectators) to see the Bluebirds against PNE but discretion (and a heavy cold) might be the better part of valour.

KP good one about Mexico and the1066 part from Herb got me to thinking, too. I lived in that neck of the woods before leaving Blighty for good.

On my first ever visit to Thailand I was driving back to my hotel on the coast from Phuket town not drunk, but happy on empty roads. Near to the coast on this little windy road I saw a light up ahead flagging me to stop. To my sorrow it was a policeman offering a lovely big smile asking me if I drinky drivey.

Letting my window down further, as I only had it open the usual 2 inches, my alcohol aroma breath permeated through him. At which he said 2000 Baht. I thought WTF sure here and gave him the money.

He said no drinky drivy again, it very expensive here, just before I drove off slapping the wheel saying I fcuking love this country £40 brilliant!

When I got back to my hotel the valet saw me grinning from ear to ear and asked why I was so happy. I relayed my jubilant story only to be told, oh no sir you only pay 500 Baht for drinking. With that I laughed harder and told my inquisitor that it was worth the £40 to have the story to tell.

I will never forget Drinky Drivey and that big smile etched in my memory for all time.

Looks like it’s HD Prime for us tonight as our satellite provider doesn’t have the EL or domestic cups. Only CL and PL, France, Spain and Italy leagues.

We’ll have to stay up late for the game.

I don’t know about you guys but the league has to be our priority. I’m not say throw the EL cup, just use the bench and the best of our Hale Enders. Of course Bolagun and Patino would have been useful options to bolster our threadbare squad.

Emery made the mistake of prioritizing the EL cup route to the CL when he should have gone all out for the league title, especially missing by one point. The lesson is there to be learnt.

If we’re really candid here we should have the players to challenge hard for both EL and PL title, but we don’t because …………

Fulham’s game selection will depend on who’s available after tonight’s game if Arteta wants the double. Would you bet against Arteta thinking that?

See you at the game lads.

Hi Tony
It sounds like you’ve had a lot of good influences around you and lived a full, happy life, which on a human level has to be applauded and celebrated.
There’s so many childish keyboard warriors who lack any real sort of human connection or empathy, and for many of them, football blogs are their only form of interaction, and outside of their dubious opinions, have no idea how to respectfully converse with other people.
Personally, I think yours is a great story, and one which many starting their journey could learn and take inspiration from.
Hi KP
I’m reading a book called ‘An Utterly Impartial History of Britain – (or 2000 years of Upper Class Idiots In Charge)’ by John O’Farrell, which provides me with a mine of information.
I think the PL has been incredibly weak this year, so many of the traditional top six are having a shocker, although I sort of understand it with Liverpool after last season. United are in recovery mode, Chelsea should have kept Tuchel, and Tottenham are Tottenham, just happy to be included in the conversation.
The knock on effect is that it makes Fulham appear better than they really are.
It would be embarrassing for us not to beat them, they’re a small club relying on castoffs from bigger clubs and Mitrovic, who I’ve never really rated, but pressure does strange things, and as each game is chalked off, the pressure on Arsenal and Arteta will ramp up massively.
I expect a win KP, but it’s Arsenal so a draw wouldn’t surprise me. A loss is just unthinkable.
Preston and Deepdale are woven into this country’s football folklore, and another famous club who have spent far too long in the football wilderness and away from the top tier. I think some of that applies to Cardiff. After chatting with you on these forums KP, I look out for Cardiff’s results, so good luck if you get there KP.
Before I depart, a quick hello to Almunia, haven’t seen you comment for a while so I hope you are well.

Herb
I think having kids late in life and having the time for them more importantly has kept me in touch with the world’s reality, which I have to say is very worrying for the future. Orwellian life will be a way of life in the future with what’s left of the planet. The violence on the streets in the UK is shocking and very scary for the elderly I would imagine.

It’s all alien to me I’m afraid. I know if I flew down to Bangkok any day and went out anywhere in downtown I wouldn’t see or have any problems. It’s a safe city as is most of Thailand bar the deep south.

I’ve been trying to start a biog of Saladin of The Crusades era. I really enjoy Conn Iggulden & Bernard Cornwell and a few others that bring historical fact to life. Ken Follet is good for medieval trilogies based loosely on historical fact if I remember correctly.

At least we have The Arsenal and our families and friends, which is all I need in my life these days.

I agree with your Fulham sentiments, especially in this topsy turvy season.

Looking forward to tonight as well to see what Arteta is planning. By his selection tonight we’ll know of his intent.

Meanwhile on LG, there’s some heavyweight cuntage and ignorance being spouted by racists all trying to deny their racism. Pedro is a complete bastard for not tackling it – a lickspittle making money out of pernicious views and club propaganda.

Certain prevailing moods in the UK continue to rush to the bottom in the morality stakes. We’re now a nasty swivel-eyed country of poor, whinging little Englanders full of fear. So much so I regret spending 30 years of my life trying to make the UK a better and more open minded place in the eyes of the rest of the world. Facism is once again on the the UK’s doorstep and this time it’s being welcomed back instead of resisted. I’m glad I live in one of the more progressive bits of the UK but picking on poorer and more vulnerable people has become de rigueur here for many. It’s also sad that, present company excepted, many Gooners now sound like Chelsea and Millwall fans.

Herb—as a former HIstory Prof, albeit only for the better part of a half decade, I would normally take issue with some of your rather presumptous historical hot-takes, but the longer I live the more open I’ve become to the notion that what was generally presumed to be a given no longer passes muster…I’ve always been an avid skeptic of top-down driven agendas, which have traditonally dominated the historical landscape, minus Beatrice Webb and some incredibly exhaustive bottom-up slave-related historiographies, as the old adage “to the victor goes the spoils” has nothing whatsoever to do with the credibility of said accounts, even during eras when piety reigned supreme…in fact, the vast majority of any “real” history lives between the lines and it’s up to contemporary historians to sift through the rubble and provide the necessary context so that the most viable conclusions can be drawn

ultimately I’ve come to surmise that beneath it all there exists a most cyncial yet increasingly irrefutable belief that given the opportunity anyone would act in a similar fashion, thereby supposedly justifying the actions of the powers that be, seemingly no matter how self-serving and/or heinous…of course, there are exceptions to that rule when they involve some inherently pyschotic characters, like Hitler or Jim Jones, who’s monetary motivations are entirely secondary to their primary objectives, but beyond that life has become a tiresome pissing contest that preys on our most thirsty and depraved inklings…serenity now anyone?

Cheers Herb
I’ve read some John O’Farrell in the past. I think he morphed from a leftish comedian into a joke and speechwriter for Tony Blair (some pedigree – not! Although anyone who could make Blair look human deserves a medal). I might try and find a copy – cheers mate.

I share your analysis about ‘one f in’ Fulham. They’re no great shakes. I quite liked Leno (as an upgrade on Cech, Ospina, and our friends Almunia (the real one!) and Flappy) but I’m glad he’s on their side now.

Yeah Deepdale feels like a properly historic place although the ground is completely new now. Last time I was there, I had the vibe that I was standing where millions of others had been before me. Last time I properly had that feeling was seeing Arsenal play at Notts County in 91/92. The exact opposite of watching games at meccano bullshit venues like the liberty (Swansea) , brittannia (Stoke) and – the very worst – the madjeski (reading) just off the M4.

Thanks too for the kind words about Cardiff. They’re sort of getting under my skin (not like Arsenal of course) despite having a dreadful season. They’ve improved under Lamouchi and thanks to there being 3 weaker teams, their position looks a little less dire than a month ago. I’m subtly trying to persuade one of my kids to join me so I can justify it in my mind!

KP—on Bill Maher’s “Real Time” this past Friday both Bernie Sanders and Russell Brand were guests and I think you might enjoy what was on offer from both the former, who’s the most beloved “socialist” figurehead in the US, and the latter, who made some very poignant parallels between the rise of Trump and the underlying forces behind the Brexit movement…of course, none of this was revelatory in nature but it’s very rare to hear such topics being discussed by more cerebral types on national tv, regardless if you agree with everything on offer or not…Cheers

You tuning in tonight Tony? Don’t forget our feline bringer of good fortune! I hope his stitches have full healed by now. Still makes me wince to imagine it.

TRVL
I’m mixing up a jug of Kool-Aid as I type! You watching later?

PS the thing about Bernie sadly is that he’s hated by the upper echelons of the dems as much as the GOP. Same goes for Ralph Nader before him.