Hello (It's Good To Be Back)

Saturday, 03 January 09, 07:03 PM · Comments(7)

So this is 2009 and after a rather limp finale to a year that promised so, so much when it began, the Gooners were back in the groove today with a 3-1 win at home to Plymouth. I wasn't at the game, I haven't seen the game and, as I was coughing my way down Hounslow High Street and then eastwards on the Picadilly Line as the game took place, I didn't listen to it either.

I did get a text from Ben Ingber though, telling me at half time the game was "dull dull dull. Nic is shocking". I guess 4 second half goals, though sadly none for Nic the Shocking, would have livened things up somewhat. Pleased to hear that RvP was skipper for the day and marked the occasion with a couple of goals. If the gaffer is going to make Robin skipper on these occasions, what is wrong with making him the captain in the absence of Cesc? Yes, I know I'm not his biggest fan, but I'd rather we gave the captaincy to someone who's actually good enough to do his job in the first place without giving him extra responsibility. Robin does at least show the kind of attitude us Gooners demand from our players, overly so in some cases.

Apparently, Mickey the Fish got injured today, plus ça change, which led to Keiran Gibbs getting an hour outside of the Carling Cup. I have no idea how he did, but here is a player you feel might be worth a closer look, I feel sure his athleticism would serve us better down at left back then the decrepit old manc at times when Clichy is unavailable.

It's been an interesting kinda week, without net access enough to post here, I did at least read about Kolo Toure's transfer request- what? Due to the break down of his relationship with big Willy G- what the hell? The consensus I have picked up is that if Gooners were to choose between Big Willy and Fat Kolo- they'd take the fat boy anyday of the week. I'm going to say fuck that, I'd rather have the world class quality of William at the back. Not that I want rid of Kolo, but the Kolo Toure of 2008 is not the player that we expected him to be four, or even two, years ago. Part of that may be attributable to the Gallas effect, part of that is almost certainly due to the devastation of malaria, but this Arsenal team isn't good enough to carry passengers. And it seems to me, that is exactly what Kolo has become. For his spirit, enthusiasm and obvious love for the club, I really hope he gets himself sorted out and stays. Of course, if he were to depart, he would leave Gael Clichy as the sole surviving member of our 2004 squad of untouchables. Which is staggering. And saddening, I think it may even be called (whisper it) asset stripping.

Not content with his- and I use the following term advisedly- Christmas present, mentioned here, to Gooners, the lamentable John Cross has followed up with a piece quoting nobody, but saying that Arsène doesn't like the fact that he's being criticised by the fans and so may be off to Madrid, taking the catalan prince with him in exchange for a £25m contract. I don't even know where to begin with bullshit like that, but I would like to think that after 20+ years as a football coach, 12 of them as Arsenal manager, the gaffer has enough about him to take criticism at face value and not pick his ball up and take it home, or to Madrid, just because he's in a bit of a sulk.

Round 4 awaits. More tomorrow, maybe.

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Tags: The FA Cup 08/09, Kolo Toure, Robin van Persie, Arsenal

Topics: The FA Cup 08/09, Kolo Toure, Robin van Persie, Arsenal
Live report for: Arsenal vs Plymouth

Posted by RocktheCasbah | Comments (7)

7 Comments · Add yours

1. JamrockRover Wrote: | 16.23GMT | Jan 4, 2009

Wenger is going nowhere. He would be crazy to join Madrid.

2. JamrockRover Wrote: | 16.25GMT | Jan 4, 2009

The choice of song in the title, although apt, is a little scary considering Me Gadd's exploits.

3. JamrockRover Wrote: | 20.16GMT | Jan 4, 2009

Did I see your blog on Arsenal Mania ?

4. Tam Wrote: | 05.02GMT | Jan 5, 2009

Happy new year! Good to see another blog. Thought you might have just given it a bit of a break over the holiday period.

Here's hoping 2009 is better than last year was for the club. I'll always remember 2008 as the year in which we blew two title challenges.

5. RocktheCasbah Wrote: | 14.54GMT | Jan 6, 2009

Yeah, I used to write articles over there all the time, but the lag between writing and publishing got a little silly, so I picked up my toys and brought them here. They still use my stuff now though (as you can see) and I get ripped by people who pick up one thing they disagree with and blow it out of context.

Btw, I was thinking (sad as it is for a Blur boy to admit) I was thinking more of Oasis with the title for this piece. It seemed apt anyway.

6. JamrockRover Wrote: | 15.01GMT | Jan 6, 2009

Reply to RocktheCasbah:

Yeah, I used to write articles over there all the time, but the lag between writing and publishing got a little silly, so I picked up my toys and brought them here. They still use my stuff now though (as you can see) and I get ripped by people who pick up one thing they disagree with and blow it out...

I thought Pulp blew Oasis out of the water with "Different Class". What an album and the concert to go with it was fantastic too.

7. RocktheCasbah Wrote: | 15.09GMT | Jan 6, 2009

Missed out on seeing them live, nearly went to see them at Finsbury Park in 97 but had begun to arrange my 21st and couldn't switch the dates. Gutted, especially as a load of my friends went to the gig anyway! (They came to my party after) Think His N' Hers was a better album in retrospect, but still..