Given I could barely leave the house in the days after my father died, I was somewhat surprised to see Frank Lampard back to work for Chelsea so soon after his mother’s death.
This picture was taken after Lampard scored the winning goal by a penalty kick against Liverpool in the Champions League semi-final on Wednesday.
The photograph and this article by Simon Barnes on grief and football are extremely moving; they explain why I’m a fan.
The beautiful play award goes to the Arsenal.
I love a come back story.
PS
If Obama might be compared to Arsenal (pretty football, touching, on occasion, the face of brilliance in how to orchestrate a campaign), then Hillary Clinton is Manchester United, fighting for every blade of grass.
Football’s one thing, being President is another. I admire the never say die mentality.
As for McCain? He’s Teddy Sheringham.
While I was in the nose-bleed seats for the match today, I never begrudge a ticket to see the Arsenal.
We all thought Arsenal would kill this game off after the second easy goal in the first 15 minutes of play. It looked like boys against men and while Sunderland fought bravely on, they seemed well out-classed and in for a drubbing. What were the songs again? A smugly sung “Are you Tottenham in disguise“? and “What’s the score, Keano”? (to the tune of “There’s only one Keano“).
Arsenal took their foot off the gas and conceded a cheap goal to Ross Wallace right before the half. Arsenal usually come out stronger in the second half, so the Arsenal fans were silenced when Sunderland scored right out of the traps.
Arsenal now were the ones struggling and I thought Sunderland might just pull off a win. Arsene Wenger brought on Theo Walcott. The kid is as fast as greased lighting. He connected a pass to Van Persie for the winning goal and the relief was palpable.
There was some drama in Roy Keane’s technical area, which I will have to get a better look at during Match of the Day tonight.
What ever it was, it won’t be anything like the old days.
While I can’t abide Chelsea, I was sorry to see the way in which Mourinho was fired. Does Abramovich think Avram Grant can produce better results at this stage of the season?
It all reminds me of a local authority “restructure”. You know, the guy not quite qualified, but chummy with the boss “yes man”triumphs while the guy who’s delivered the trophies is made redundant, leaving the carpet soaked with blood?
Have I mentioned I can’t stand Russian oligarchs coming to this country and buying up football teams?
David Dein, you’ve sold your ass to the devil.
I know Peter Hill-Wood wants to to keep Arsenal in the family, but at what cost? David Dein’s been forced off the Board, Henry’s off and Wenger next?
Utter disaster Mr Hill-Wood. But hey, enjoy clinging on to a shell of once was.
UPDATE
I am amazed at the denial of Arsenal fans and the MSM as to what exactly we have lost and why. “Oh, it couldn’t possibly be about David Dein”. Why not? David Dein seems to be the only bod on the Board who understands that you have to spend cash to get players. Arsenal will always be also-rans unless the Board splash the cash. The Board have no cash as they spent it all on Emirates Stadium. In walks a loathsome American (Stan Kroenke) who has cash, and the Board tell him to get stuffed. David Dein leaves. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out that there’s no cash to spend on players and Arsenal aren’t going to cut it again this season. It makes perfect sense for Henry to want to be with a team with a chance at a trophy or two. Hello Barca!
While we all know Arsene Wenger is the Warren Buffett of football managers in that he can find an undiscovered gem and make him into a super-star (al la Henry), even Arsene needs some cash to spend. Even new boys Sunderland are buying players this summer- but we’re not because we can’t afford it?!
Somebody should tell the Arsenal Board about the dangers of having champange tastes on a beer budget.
I’m taking a momentary break from my break to salute Arsenal Ladies’ win of the FA Cup, the Ladies’ Premier League title the European title and the Community Shield.
Unlike their Arsenal gentlemen counter parts, Arsenal ladies take their chances and know how to finish.
Back to the books.
Regrettably, I didn’t see my friend Noel at the Arsenal v Manchester City match at Emirates Stadium tonight. I was in row three and it looks like he was a few rows up from me.
I like sitting in Block 23. All the uninhibited singers are there and I enjoy the frisson of sitting near the away supporters. May I just say that the Man City guys were on the edge and the police made their way up to see them on several occasions. This inspired renditions of all the great songs.
SONG OF THE MATCH
Arsenal to Man City fans: “We pay your benefit, we pay your benefit, we pay your benefit, we pay your benefit”! (to the tune of “La donna e mobile” or “Fuck off Di Canio)
NB American friends, “We pay your benefit”=our taxes pay for your welfare check.
I was at the Emirates tonight and all I have to ask is: What is happening with Arsenal at the moment?
Arsenal had tons of chances that everyone seemed reluctant to take. When Arsenal finally scored, the belief that they could seal a victory was palpable: the place was electric. However, Hleb subsequently got suckered into a “foul” about 8 minutes before time, PSV got a free kick, scored and it was over. The lights may as well have gone out; every Arsenal fan was speechless.
Could it be any worse: Crashing out of the Carling Cup, The FA Cup and now the last thread of hope, the Champions League vapourising before our eyes? Yes; and it was the unexpected ignominy of listening to the well rehearsed and jubilant PSV crowd (a bunch of Dutch guys for godssakes) singing the chorus of, “Always look on the bright side of life” to us that really topped it all off. Brilliant.
UPDATE
Freddie Ljungberg said: -
“You need to be disciplined. The game was for 90 minutes, we had to concentrate for 90 minutes and we didn’t so we were knocked out, which is very hard to deal with at the moment”.
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