If blokes, or women I hasten to add, want to cause havoc, or scrap even before, during or after a football match, it’s likely they’ll find a way regardless of location. The FA, in my opinion are kidding themselves if they think moving a North London Derby out of town or a potential title winning Red v Blue derby in Liverpool will made a difference to what happens on the day. The country is in lockdown, or rather a relaxed lockdown but regardless, large crowds of people are not allowed to gather. Although one could argue that the British beaches have proved that not to be the case as sun and sea worshipers have clearly been leaving their two metre measuring sticks at home on the mornings they set off on their long journey to find a place on the sand.
Seriously, the real football fans will be at home watching their team play the game. There’s more likely to be a party atmosphere in Liverpool which the local constabulary can focus on breaking up, whilst in North London, only bragging rights are at stake as both clubs are about as far from winning the title any time soon as I am from The Emirates Stadium. Still, at least Arsenal have a young and dynamic manager who has learned from the best whereas that lot down the road from us might have a brand new stadium, but they have some old has been coaching them. Seriously, I doubt very much whether any football fan would bother going to a ground when there’s nothing to see. Liverpool can have their little bus tour when some kind of normality returns and the speed in which this government is relaxing the lockdown rules, that could be sooner rather than later. There’s even talk of getting fans back through the turnstiles, (yes I know that doesn’t go on much these days but you know what I mean) as early as next season.
Personally, I think everything is suddenly moving to quickly. Of course we can’t all stay shut in forever and the economy needs a boost etc but give the human race an inch and they’ll take a mile. But that’s just my opinion.
To end on a bright note, there’s a great article in the Daily Mail today. Honest! I’m a big fan of Martin Keown anyway so perhaps I’m biased but he’s been chatting away with Dennis Bergkamp. That’s got your attention hasn’t it?
This is just an extract, but you can read the whole article HERE:
Bergkamp can still recall every detail of his first day at Arsenal. Seeing the marble halls. Sitting to the left of manager Bruce Rioch at his unveiling while a highlights reel plays on a projection screen. He even remembers the video’s background music – ‘This Is The One’ by The Stone Roses. Then he was introduced to Highbury’s pristine pitch, a stage where he would become a symbol of elegance. Except there was one problem.
DB: There was a small wooden plank laid out because the groundsman told us we weren’t allowed on the grass.
MK: That was Steve Braddock. ‘You might be Dennis Bergkamp but you ain’t allowed on my pitch until Saturday!’ He was a perfectionist, Dennis, much like yourself.
DB: I laughed about it. Here was a really passionate guy who wanted to do well. He won a few awards for that pitch, so we can’t blame him.
I included this particular extract because our home fixtures are extremely important every season. They are for any club and that’s not just because of the fans but the turf too. It’s made perfect for the style of football each team wants to play which was in many ways, as important to Arsene Wenger during his successful era as the players he’d assembled together. How many times have we heard or read about how other clubs either let the grass grown a little bit before teams who play quick passing football arrive, water the pitch too much, or too little? More than once that’s for sure.
The pitch always had to be perfect for Arsene Wenger and thanks to Steve Braddock and his team, it was. Paul Burgess too I believe after he took over but moved to Real Madrid in 2010. There’s another discussion to be had there….
But not over the music playing in the background on the video which Dennis remembers to this day. How appropriate was that?
Have a great weekend guys, stay safe.
Morning all.
Hi Rico,
Dennis-what would we give to have him at his peak now?
Still, at least we did have him, and what a Player he was.
Love the little bit about the pitch, because when I did the stadium tour, I remember being amazed when told nobody can step into the surface without permission of the grounds man, including Wenger!
I thought the guy was joking but no, he was deadly serious!!
I guess that’s why it’s so perfect every week.
Hi Scott, I think our pitch is famous worldwide. Or at least it was when it was winning awards.
Wonder if our injuries got worse as the groundsmen changed. Just a thought.
Rico, it’s really hard to say but we know our players get kicked from start to finish.
Maybe a few factors.
I meant the muscular ones Scott. Lol
Hi Rico and All Scott I am not surprised that they would not let you on the pitch I used to do security at The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and when they did let fans on the ground after a match you would spot people with plastic bags grabbing a hand full of turf to take home as a souvenir especially from the centre circle and the goal square
And yes the groundsman get very cranky when people go on the ground with out there permission during stadium tours or after a game.
Must admit I don’t blame them after all they are the ones who get blamed if player get hurt for the ground conditions and all clubs want there grounds to be one of the best in the world.
Hi Rico and both down under 🙂
Thanks for the post including that link to the Keown/Bergkamp article. That was a great read!
John Hartson picked Bergkamp in his greatest XI of team-mates… loved what he had to say about him –
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52789196
You mentioned Rioch also, I saw this about him earlier –
https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/18485666.bruce-rioch-regrets-leaving-bolton-wanderers-arsenal-1995/
In all honesty, I was never overly keen on him, Wrighty all the way hey, Rico?! 🙂
Hi Rico.. I’ve gone into moderation, as I posted a couple of links!
Well, the scousers have started bragging already…. 🙉 haha!!
Eddie is 21!! Happy Birthday!
Luiz wants to go to Benfica
Omg how exciting was lift-off?!!! Amazing! Godspeed Bob and Doug..
Hi Geoff, Sue. Sorry about moderation Sue, I was out and about as it was so quiet here. Seems very few people want to talk about Arsenal these days which is hardly surprising really.
No worries, Rico 🙂 I don’t blame you.. have a breather before June 17, hey?! Then HH will be bombarded!!
Sounds like a good idea Sue… 😆
Morning all.
Rico, it’s football in general to be fair.
Not much to talk about until things kick off again.
I can’t wait…..
I’ve got a picture somewhere of being on the pitch just after the clock end was developed .I had
a day in executive box with Terry Murphy and went on the pitch after the match .If I ever find out how to do it I would post it .
That’d be great to see, Potter.
https://mobile.twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1267337582062399490
Is it really a year already. Seems like only yesterday when Jose Reyes died… ☹️
The Mail say Arsenal have offered Aubameyang a new contract. I’d have thought the club would have offered him that long before now..
Hi guys.
Potter, I crept onto the pitch at Highbury too, I was tucked in behind Paul Durkin, (I think) he’d refereed our match against West Ham (I think) when Cole cleared off the line, although it’d crossed the line quite clearly. Good job there was no VAR back then.
Not Durkin, it was Steve Dunn…
Crept onto the pitch, Rico?! Tut tut 😂 I bet it was lush!! That is something I’ve never done..
Steve Dunn ? Quite a bit to hide behind and I bet you were near the centre circle because he hardly ever left it.
It was very green Sue.. lol
I was pitch side lawfully I hasten to add..
Ha ha Potter, that explains why he missed the ‘goal’. His side kicks must have been as bad.
You know Kev` always has a good word for Newsnow, well today on newsnow is a blinder, first let me check that it`s not April 1st…………….nope!…………anyway according to newsnow………………………
So Scott, put Skippy back in the bush ! 😆
😂😂
New post up now