Where do we stand?

Ambarish-thanks for providing something of import during this loathsome break…just a few rather “brief” retorts to your above comments:

(1) as a meritocrat I would typically agree with your Ramsdale sentiments if it weren’t for a couple mitigating factors, most importantly the fact that Raya has underperformed since arriving in North London…he’s been sloppy at times playing out from the back, he’s not at Ramsdale’s level when it comes to shot stopping and he’s provided very little from a field-stretching perspective…furthermore, I would very much doubt that Ramsdale wasn’t given some assurances, prior to his re-upping, as we all know MA’s predilictions in this regards…now this would be largely a moot point if there was any evidence that a “competition” actually existed, but it appears as if the “real” assurances were only given to the incoming Raya and MA simply told Ramsdale’s camp what they wanted to hear just in case things with Raya never materialized

(2) in regards to Havertz, I wouldn’t be surprised whatsoever if MA utilized him as an inverted LB or RB, as he’s almost run out of excuses for his continued inclusion in the midfield or up top…at least if he were being deployed in deeper-lying positions any conversations surrounding his inability to score would be significantly lessoned…what a waste of space and resources…once again when everyone with a footballing brain zigs, MA fucking zags…this could legitimately become a multi-season stumbling block kind of purchase, as we really needed to a Xhaka upgrade, yet somehow, someway MA managed to find the only 70M player who could seemingly make people like myself, who wanted Granit gone some years ago, wish he was back in the fold

(3) as for the whole Partey “injury”, I have my suspicions about the legitimacy of this particular situation…so let’s dig a little deeper…Partey appears to be on the move in the summer, yet we wanted nothing to do with selling him without a sizeable return, which always seemed unlikely considering his age, injury history and possible “off field” issues…next thing you know he’s being deployed as an inverted LB, which we saw briefly at the end of last season with shockingly poor results…as a result, he received a lot of unjustified criticism from Arteta’s most ardent loyalists, even though the tactics were all wrong…then when it became clear that Havertz couldn’t be deployed as a proper box-to-box midfielder, so we needed a DM tandem, Jorginho was picked ahead of him…just think, the match prior to any talk about his “injury”, he was on the bench as an available sub, yet somehow he picked up an injury when he wasn’t even playing or practicing…personally I think Jorginho inclusion was the final straw for Partey and this is just their way of managing the situation in-house…after all, if he had some sort of long-term “mysterious” injury, why would there be any chatter regarding a potential move come the winter window…in my estimation, he’s just another member of the Arteta doghouse gang

;

Sorry, Ambarish, but my break while Arteta is at the club is in full on mode, and I’m actually happier for it.

My daily blood pressure readings are all normal now and my Garmin sleep analysis is firmly in the good range from fair to poor previously. My hospital has tested my BP cuff and Garmin app readings and they are pretty close and certainly close enough for me to check for certain early warning signs I have to live with.

I’m not as angry in my core that ultimately determines my moods. I’ve given 60 years of my loyalty, love and life to my club. I see A&E as a blip in Arsenals illustrious history and I will be back after A&E have gone if I’m still alive. If Arteta stays a decade I’ll be 73.

They say misery loves company and I want to be upbeat and appositive for my remaining years; I’ve got no room for misery Arteta brings to the poor players.

Other than hoping you’ve sent TRVL my personal note to him, is there a special road in India to drive that is spectacular for pictures/video and yet a safe region to travel by road?

I’m going on a global photographic journey to take National Geography type pictures with people’s emotions being my speciality. I see what others don’t.

I’ve invited a good friend who’s probably the best room calibrator in the world to tune the supercar’s sound system and we are going to hire to drive from Geneve to Lake Como making video and filming.

If you have an Indian road in mind, and want in for the ride, tell me by email. Sometime next year or the year after. I will have gone to Nepal by then.

I have 6 drives in total and I’ve earmarked TRVL & KP for 2 to talk about.

TRVL
I don’t know if photography is on your list of likes, but I’ve been clicking away for 50+ years with decent kit, but now I want to explore Hasselblad’s new offerings and the other Japanese 100mp SLR video and stills I can use Hasselblad lens with. After 5 years I’d love to show in a gallery if I feel the pics are good enough. I’m Alexa and Red aware, too.

I think it would be a lot of fun for us because anyone can take good pics at any age, past 8. My daughter is living proof of that.

KP
I’ll give you my thoughts on the other channel.

Ambarish I feel the world is at such a crazy tilt that football just isn’t the same for me. Maybe it’s just different eras where it was more personal in being inspiring. If your team won, you were happy at least at the start of the following week. It’s all we had really. No internet or SM and 3 channels on TV that stopped at midnight.

As good old Jimmy Greave would say it’s a funny old game. Life is like that, too.

Be well all.

TRVL

I think having two top class goalkeeper is criminal, it has never worked and we all were suspecting it won’t with Ramsdale v Raya. We have seen it earlier with Emi and Leno.

However, we wouldn’t have asked Thomas Partey when we went into the market for Declan Rice, Ramsdale dad asking to be told about Raya incoming is not how it should work.

Regarding the performances, it will be clear in couple of months whether Raya is better than Ramsdale or not. I don’t have any problem with either of them, looks to be of same calibre,.Raya has that calmness a bit but the euphoria Ramsdale brings has it’s own merits.

Upto Mikel.

2. Havertz – we all know Mikel will play him in Goal if there is no other options lol. A Willian Sagar being repeated.

3. Are you suggesting there is bad blood between Mikel and Partey? Very well could be, but I think the manager has just given up.. just like me. Excellent player who can’t keep himself fit so let’s fix that by selling him and getting a replacement.

Hi Tony,

Let me know whenever you are this side of the world. I know exactly a place ‘Leh Laddakh’, perfect for bike rides in cold chilling weather amidst beautiful hills.

Sorry, I haven’t forwarded it yet to TRVL.

@TRVL – let me know if I can forward that and I will. Sorry I can’t use the email address / any other details unless I have the consent.

I thought you would Ambarish I will do my best to take you up on that.

https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=Leh+Laddakh&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

There is something mystical about mountains more than the oceans I’ve always felt.

No worries, TRVL should ask you when he’s free. He said he was happy to earlier.

Thanks for all you do here. 🙂

I want to keep LIR hopeful and I feel I’m unable to do that and I don’t do trolling or like non stop negativity that comes from me re Arteta. When I let on how much it upsets and angers me drawing on past similar feelings, I’m accused of being ‘poor me’. The irony is compelling.

I found I can read and enjoy LIR now in a better way by distancing myself from the reality because I enjoy the posters.

This would be a fun one, KP. Would work nicely for you 4 to 5 days. Patetre?

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Bordeaux,+France/Barcelona,+Spain/@43.9074579,-1.398616,706884m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m15!4m14!1m5!1m1!1s0xd5527e8f751ca81:0x796386037b397a89!2m2!1d-0.57918!2d44.837789!1m5!1m1!1s0x12a49816718e30e5:0x44b0fb3d4f47660a!2m2!1d2.168568!2d41.3873974!3e0!5i2?entry=ttu

Hi Tony

Agreed. Those two routes are beautiful. They offer completely different things according to the time of year. Hope all is well and that your pre-match rituals are going to plan.

I’ve just watched Kroenkephobe junior help grind out a 2-2 draw this afternoon at home to St Clears. He took some really nice Trossard-esque corners one of which led to a goal. Pembrokeshire county second division…the stuff of legends! You tuning in later?

I think we’ve been here before… Win tonight and we’ll be top. The truth of the matter is that we’ve historically blown these opportunities during Tets’s time – let’s have no fuck-ups today.

Tony
Cardiff were 1 down against 10 man Preston going into added time. Won 2-1. Fucking massive result for the Bluebirds! 🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦

Why didn’t I go?

Hey KP life is project and we’re at phase too many to remember so it’s ok. I just watched a delayed City Pool draw and really enjoyed the game. It reminded me more of 80/90s football. The stuff we’re starved of at the top level. When was the last time you got your colour vision checked or is it me? Those bluebirds look flamed red to me.

Not sure if I’ll make the 2nd half and watch it delayed in the morning. Much to tell next week.

Enjoy, KP, TRVL, Killroy and all LIR lifers.

Oh, and Cardiff’s GK today?

None other than Runnar Runnarson. Wonders will never cease!

Your prediction KP?

KP Cardiff may well sign Ramsdale as back up to Runnerson.

2nd half in the morning for me. Same shit different day.

Flaky VAR check. All the 3 were onside when the ball was played

Not too bad an overall display save for Runnar Ramsdale in goal! Funny to see such an erstwhile cocksure goalkeeper with newfound shattered confidence. I think he’s signed his P45 based on that first half. It’ll be interesting to see if they look for a new no. 2 GK or if they muddle through with Hein.

For non UK readers, a P45 is a tax form you’re given when you leave a job. Just to clear up that accounting point.

Hoopah All right mate? It’s fucking freezing in Wales. I hope you’re enjoying some pleasant temperatures in Goa State. I’m going medieval on my own ass this winter and getting sewn into my underwear until Easter.

I think we’ll get a goal ir two in the second half. 🤞

Oh Tony

Those birds definitely look blue on my screen. But red ones will do as well. Terrific result this afternoon.

Expect Almunia to re-brand himself as Ramsdalesaynomore any day now….

Am I the only Gooner who looks at Raya and just sees nostrils? It’s haunting me.

” Am I the only Gooner who looks at Raya and just sees nostrils? It’s haunting me. ”
😄 It is entertaining to be in LiR

Oopsie
Arteta is getting his good old rusty trusty canhão de mar Havertz ready for fire

0-1
Cannon fired one in

By the way who is the cute Arsenal staff ?
Not a medical staff. So who ?

Yes! Good win despite being terrible for most of the second half.

Kai mitt der wunder kopf! Or something like that. Donner und blitzen am Brentford. 🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪

“Expect Almunia to re-brand himself as Ramsdalesaynomore any day now….”

That would certainly improve my world and many more Almunia; your presence and Irish loquacious lilt I imagine as I read your words or imagine your spoken voice with Guinness in one hand.

Then, I can be imaginative sometime too much.

Almunia? You’re greatly missed.

KP
Really happy for you and if Haverfordwest can beat the Cardiff met Tuesday night your trifecta for the week will have your festive setting moving nicely on your football sizzle-meter.

Hoopah

“By the way who is the cute Arsenal staff ?Not a medical staff. So who ?”

Love your comments, but I need a little help here, and no judgment, but the ‘cute’ you’re referring to I feel it would help narrow things down quite considerably if you stated your sexual preference: was the ‘CUTE’ reference about a man of woman?

If your meaning was female you have better odds with less women odds. If it’s a man, the odds are exponentially higher.

If you’re not sure, there are places to go to become sure.:)

However, if your answer is either I’d try the legendary LG arse bleeder: ‘Don Un’. He’s always f**king someone or most likely being f**ked by anything with more intelligence than a slug. With his bleeding arse he leaves a trail for them.

Careful, though, he’ll challenge you to an IQ test once you’ve explained what IQ means. The answer you explain, of course, is: Quantum Idiocy only it’s normally written in Arabic and so written in reverse.

That will confuse Don Un for months, maybe even years. It’s not hard with him!

Game
If you could call it that. That Kai scored the winner in the fading minutes (89th)with a very uncomfortable movement header, says everything about the game and Arteta.

As with City, we go lucky, as we did many times last season – until we didn’t.

We’re top by a point but it won’t last. Why? When you consider the level of football played by City and Klopp’s Pool in the earlier game, you can see they are levels above Arteta’s thinking and ability.

Our level this season is reality wise: 4th, 5th, or 6th. who by then end of this week will be 1 or 2 points behind; a draw or win is all they need.

Same shit different day or Groundhog day take your pick is my summing up of yesterday’s game.

As a people person I’m very happy for Kai because he’s human with what looks like deeper feelings than most it was like he was almost embarrassed he scored, and I felt for the lad.

Watching his body language is a bit like watching Pepe’s. The 1000 yard stare gives away some form of alphabet soup. He’s more the quiet PhD type who doesn’t quite know how to use his gifts at a certain requisite PL speed.

I think Klopp or Pep would get the best from Havertz. Arteta will be bored with him soon enough, but will blame the player and not himself – because Arteta is never wrong unless he’s using ‘poor me’ for sympathy.

Tony
Guess the Guiness was good ..since your piece was too 😃😀

You watching the spuds game Tony? While we’re consumed with Ra-msdale-ya gate, a certain trophy masturbating, balon d’or nominated former GK of ours is steering Villa to an away win. He might be a monumental fucking oddball but Martinez is streets ahead of our two.

Just caught the 70th minute onwards, KP, and enjoyed Emery’s win. I was livid when Arteta sold Emi; it was a defining moment for me with Arteta, and I haven’t been wrong about Mikel since. Mind, Emi has proven to be a twat of the highest order since on more than one occasion, but compared to Arteta, Emi is a Saint and world cup winner no less.

Poor Ramsdale I wholly respect the lad as he’s certainly blessed with some lettering and probably what makes him such a great reflexive shot stopper. He just needs the right meds to calm him and give him more time to focus. Ramsdale’s problems are when he split second 2nd guesses himself after committing to a movement, as he did with the throw that bounce a few yards outside the box.

Problem is I don’t know if the medication Ramsdale might need is on the banned substances stuff. ADHD is often treated with a more active ingredient to speed the already speeding brain but it speeds up the slower parts so the sum of the parts are working together at closer speeds and hence better focus and all round life.

That’s the layman terms. I found that that was the best way it was explained to me by Junior’s Dr.

Ramsdale need Arteta like a hole in the head and I hope he gets out to work with a manager who can get the best for the longest periods out of Ramsdale in a game.

Hoopah who is the piece you are referring to? Have you been playing touch your toes with Sid from LG again. 🙂

Everton in full meltdown victim mode. Priceless. Watch Garnacho’s goal if you get the chance.

Couldn’t watch the match live yesterday as I was still en route back home from a dreadfully painful Black Friday excursion over the border that I promised my wife during our NY/Vegas trip…halfway through this 2 day test of wills I started to understand why there was such a strong police presence at every shopping district we found ourselves traversing, but I digress

KP-totally agree with your Keeper assessment. as there’s no doubting the fact that we had the best of the lot in-house all along but MA not only looked a gift horse in the mouth, he fucking donkey punched him right out the door

Tony-glad to see that you’re still actively engaging with the LIR gang, as it would be a crying shame if you were to exit stage left…I likewise feel for the lad, Havertz that is, in that his frying pan into the fire journey had far more to do with another tragic misreading of the situation by MA than anything of his own doing…that said, his pathetic performances have left him squarely and justifiably in the proverbial crosshairs…only MA could spend such a ridiculous sum on a Xhaka replacement and yet somehow make us expotentially worse in the final third

as for the match itself, I’m elated that we secured all 3, as it was the only saving grace after having to watch another paint drying-like borefest…we’re still a horribly blunt instrument with little flare or end product, minus some rather tidy triangular passing sequences, which ultimately led to nothing of consequence…I get the whole notion of having to defend better as a team, after what transpired late last season, which is much easier to do when one adopts a more sideways-passing possession-based tactical scheme, but without any real directness and us still being a bag of toys on the counter, at times, this hardly seems to be a logical path to greatness…truth be told, that could have easily ended in a 2 or 3-1 scoreline in their favour, as we provided them with several opportunities to turn the screw…in the end, I still don’t see us having the required managerial tactical nous or the requisite finishing prowess to properly compete for things come April and May…so once again, much like during Wenger’s latter years, we’re going to have to rely on the kindness of others, which is always a difficult proposition for one to endure…at least then it had more to do with the Wenger’s unwillingness to properly invest, whereas now it’s all about self-inflicted managerial wounds

TRVL
Thanks for the kind words and I’d miss chatting about our Arteta theories so I readjusted to reply rather than mostly post. That way I allow the warmth of your collective posts to assuage rather than me post from venting, unpleasant at times, by just telling the truth.

I’d simply had enough of that, but thanks to you, KP and Hoopah I’ve found a way I can enjoy writing for the time being.

TRVL
I’m only reminding you because you were ok about us communicating through email. If you still feel this is ok, please let Ambarish know as he needs your permission. There are many things I’d love to chat with you about as I feel you could advise me on something I’d like to get your thoughts on.

If you’ve had 2nd thoughts I understand.

My life is changing quickly, so I need to be prepared in many ways to deal with it. I always find solutions when I understand, that has never been an issue. To find solutions I talk to people I highly respect, as with KP. We enjoy conversing on a variety of topics and learn from each other. That’s probably the most fun part. I hope you take up the offer. 🙂

KP
Thanks for reaching out and helping me inadvertently finding a way to continue here. 🙂

KP your 2 local teams playing tonight. The Met will likely be nasty, I played the London Met a few times playing for the men’s team at 16. They were worse than the local prison team called the saints.

So, Haverford west to rip the Met a new one then!

Cardiff v WBA? Similar form so hopefully home advantage get your bluebirds the points. 🙏👌

Tony-I’m pretty sure I already provided the necessary authorization, but if not, this should do the trick…I certainly never second-guessed the notion of divulging my personal email, that said, as you know I’ve been rather preoccupied lately, so I’ll do my best to respond in a timely fashion…in more recent years I’ve put the kibosh on the data gig when I’m out and about, unless absolutely necessary, so I only check this blog or my email when I’m home and settled…Cheers

as for today’s affair, isn’t it interesting what can happen when we actually fucking attack in a more direct fashion…of course, luck certainly played it’s part, as Tomi clearly didn’t intend on passing to Marts on the far side of the pitch, but with a 5-nil scoreline that matters not…minus the silver platter Havertz goal, which I’ll address in a minute, the other 4 tallies came about as a result of us pushing the play forward and not so much sideways…furthermore, 3 of the 4 required some quality finishing, which we’ve been bereft of for the vast majority of the season…as for Havertz, good on him for potting goals in consecutive matches, but until he starts to display the form that got him to the PL “show” in the first place, I will consider him to be a massive underachiever…the fact remains, his two open play tallies were Xhaka-like, in that he was left unmarked a yard from goal, and we certainly didn’t pay well above the number to simply acquire a younger, less effective version…hopefully we can now rest some of our starters and run the score up even more

two positives on the Havertz front, (1) his movement off the ball has improved slightly in the last two affairs and (2) he actually showed some guile with the ball at his feet about 5 minutes ago…baby steps I guess are the order of the day

TRVL
No worries Ambarish will get to it when he gets a chance.

To be honest I didn’t know we were playing last night. I knew we were playing Lens this week but too many distractions going on in Tonyland.

That’s the CL group sorted so if Arteta brings the right people in in the Jan TW, we might do well in the knockouts.

I guess Mikel can take the butt plug out now Kia has scored 2 in a row. That must have been some dump!

Ah well, I’m afraid I’m off back into Tonyland and life with my spectrum family. Never a dull moment! Few peaceful ones either mentally or emotionally often being tested.

You don’t expect curve balls at 68 right from the outer left field, same as Kai scoring they come out of nowhere one after the other. Yet they come anyway.

KP
Hope the weather is abating in your neck of the woods.

LIR
I think the Wolves game will be worth a watch but the best games are Sunday. I’m sure last night was delirium for Gooners across the globe and the football fun to watch, as it always is against minnows.

4pm Saturday we’ll be back to our regimented ways to save energy to get through up to 100 minutes. Expect horse shoe football at its finites against Wolves.

If Kai doesn’t score Mikel might have to reconsider the butt plug again. You’d hardly notice with the way Mikel walks; clearly glutes to die for.

See you at the game lads

TRVL
No worries Ambarish will get to it when he gets a chance.

To be honest I didn’t know we were playing last night. I knew we were playing Lens this week but too many distractions going on in Tonyland.

That’s the CL group sorted so if Arteta brings the right people in in the Jan TW, we might do well in the knockouts.

I guess Mikel can take the butt plug out now Kia has scored 2 in a row. That must have been some dump!

Ah well, I’m afraid I’m off back into Tonyland and life with my spectrum family. Never a dull moment! Few peaceful ones either mentally or emotionally often being tested.

You don’t expect curve balls at 68 right from the outer left field, same as Kai scoring they come out of nowhere one after the other. Yet they come anyway.

KP
Hope the weather is abating in your neck of the woods.

Morning all
I’ve started planning for next year; something of a first for me as normally there’s not much space left in the next year before I was forced into covid isolation by my cardiologist of 16 years.

Absolutely no idea of timeline this present time, but I want to take my very cool brother-in-law with his equally cool science professor at Naresuan University at least I think it’s science who speaks good English, and she’s really into the chemistry of the plant et al.

If any of you are thinking of joining our photographic jaunt along with finding the best temple balls because that’s where they are made. I would equate this as one of the wonders of this world and very rare in the west and east for that matter.

I call it our joint adventure 🙂 for 2024

To suit everyone’s budget and holistic approach to life the link below offers something for everyone.

https://www.luxuryhotelsguides.com/fullufi=-1022136&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9__b3b3tggMVSKhmAh3UewDBEAAYASAAEgJLaPD_BwE

For me it’s under 4 hours from, BKK, but The Andes another photography stop sadly is a lot further. Maybe come back to Thailand with us and we can see the country, and then fly back home from there or to where ever takes your fancy. Japan is a wonderful country.

Just letting any interested parties know what the agenda for the trip is for us, but if you want to yodel hanging off a peak where you don’t need oxygen masks, I’ll be there to film it.

To set the mood here is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c4KAnQpdGw

Met but never worked for, KP. One of their best songs. Would be a Simply Red cover.

Enjoy your weekends mi amigos

Confidence from the Lens game but Wolves are toothless so could be a home rout.

It’s what we’ve asked for with Trossard at 8 and one touch football to break the low block.

It’s not rocket science but good to finally see.

Now we need consistency

Going to be interesting to see how Mikel manages the 2nd half. If we go in for the kill and score the 3rd goal then we could easy broaden our GD.

If Wolves finally find their fangs and I’m interested to see what our mentality is going not be.

It’s a typical confident home performance, so I hope we go on to make a statement.

What do you think KP? TRVL? LIR?

once again, as was the case mid-week, when we attack in a more direct fashion opportunities are plentiful…whereas when we dwell on the ball too much, at both ends of the pitch, things are exceedingly problematic…as such, I can only hope we will show the requisite balls and continue to push for goals, but I wouldn’t be surprised whatsoever if we sat back a bit, absorbed and looked for counters…it’s clear that some confidence was gained from the 6-9 drubbing, so it would be best if we rode that wave

we haven’t tested the new Keeper nearly enough and as such we’ve left the door open for them to get back into this match, should they find a way to get one past us…we should be in full step on their collective throats mode, but instead we’re a little too complacent for my liking

I would have much rather we had kept Marts on the pitch and had Havertz come on for Tross, who doesn’t supply much on the defensive end and who likewise doesn’t have the pace to impact things when countering

Tross simply had to finish off that chance after such a glorious little pass by Ode