It’s a Bank Holiday here in the UK, a celebration of freedom as the Second World War came to an end 75 years ago. Or VE Day as we know it, Victory In Europe as Great Britain and its Allies formally accepted the then Nazi Germany’s voice of surrender. Nearly six years or war, bloodshed and many many lives lost – including Arsenal’s Herbie Roberts (‘The Policeman’), on active service with the Royal Fusiliers. Jack Lambert was killed in a car crash. Bobby Daniel, elder brother of Ray, was lost while flying and Cyril Tooze – a youth player when war broke out – was killed by a sniper in Italy. Others to lose their lives were: Henry Cook, Bill Dean, Hugh Glass, Leslie Lack, Bill Parr and Sidney Pugh. (AFC.com)
I can’t even imagine how people must have felt when the day of surrender came. Ken Friar has shared his memory.
“There were street parties [when the war ended in 1945] and it was really, really lovely. The relief of people at that time, from having been under such pressure for so many years, most of the men were away at war – it was absolutely dreadful.
“The relief and the joy at seeing people come back out, almost out of shelters, coming out of undergrounds and resuming their life again. It was quite an exceptional time.
“No I don’t [remember how I celebrated], other than joining in. The family joined in with some of the street things that were going on. Cakes were made and things like that. It was really nice.”
Today should have seen street parties in full flow again, flag waving with folks in high spirit but instead were in lockdown so any celebrations will have to be within the boundaries of our own property. But we’re safe…
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yI-FAstLKtI
Trials. A 19 year Norwegian winger called George Lewis is reported to have impressed Mikel Arteta whilst on loan a little while ago. He used to be at Norwegian third-division club Fram Larvik but now he’s a free agent. If the Mail and other newspapers are to be believed, Arsenal are set to sign him on a permanent contract. I know absolutely nothing about this player but research on the Internet tells me he’s not only a right footed left winger, he can play equally as well on the right or as a second striker. If this is true, Mikel must feel the youngster can bring something to his Arsenal squad so despite where he’s come from in footballing terms, he’s free so he’s low risk financially. Plus, there’s a chance he could prove to be a really good player. Like that cheap young Brazilian we signed who many Arsenal fans and football fans in general, are raving about.
The same newspaper reports that Inter Milan want Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and in exchange they’ll give us Mauro Icardi. Icardi has been on loan at PSG where he’s been scoring goals for fun. The same number as Aubameyang funny enough but in one game less. But as we all know, the Premier League is a very different league to all others. Not only because of the sometimes brutal tactics certain managers deploy but there’s little in the French or Italian League which compare with a trip to Sheffield Utd etc on a freezing cold winters evening.
Anyway, Icardi for Aubameyang a potentially good deal?
Stay safe guys, stay healthy.
Good morning Rico. 75 years ago my father was on an anti-aircraft unit outside Sheffield, my mother was living in a part of a bomb damaged house in Paddington London with me, ten days short of my second birthday, my two older brothers were in Dorset where they had been evacuated to in 1941.
Some years ago my mother and I were watching a TV programme that showed the celebrations in Trafalgar Square and outside Buckingham Palace, I asked mum if she had been there, she said she had been working that day in a small factory making military uniforms, as she had been doing six days a week for most of the war. She was relieved that the war was over but would save the celebrations until dad was home and they could get my brothers back from Dorset.
Just for today football has little relevance or meaning for me.
Morning all, thanks for VE Day thoughts rico, Few neighbours going to set cars back and have deck chairs out in front gardens and raise a glass. Recent Thursday clappings, and funeral next door have brought street together for first time in 30 years, slightly ironic at a time when can’t approach each other closely. But nice all the same.
Very good post yesterday Kev, following each of those 5 will be very interesting in which way they go.
Morning Cicero, sobering yet a nice story to read and I hope your celebrations came..
Not a soul to be seen on our street Andrew. Just a lonely UJ flying at the front of our house…..
One of a few things the BBC do well is covering days like today, occasions like today.
Hi Rico and all well written about VE day Rico,
people who keep complaining about our lock down due to the virus should think how lucky we are and know that we can talk and see each other through the internet and catch up in a couple of months then try to imagine what these families and young children went through leading up to VE day not knowing if there loved ones will come home.
In all our euphoria over V.E day we should not forget the people from other countries that took our side and fought with us. My Dad was in the RAF as a firefighter with many squadrons one of which was made up of entirely Polish pilots and of course lets not forget the Anzacs who fought alongside my uncles in Greece.
Hi Geoff.
I did give our allies a mention in the post Potter. 😀
Good Afternoon, Rico, and all,
Really liked your post, Rico, as VE Day is special, not just to those who survived, but for all those, service men/women and the many thousands/millions of civilians throughout the world who died.
There have been some good responses to the Post re VE Day, particularly the personal one from Cicero.
Thank you.
It’s a bit late to have read Kev’s Post, but if I may say so, it was well argued, with a compelling assessment of the ‘5’ and what they need to do to keep their Arsenal careers on track!
It was a compelling read.
I agree with the points made on all those players, tho’ I have to admit I have noticed, and commented on, the distinct lack of pace from our man Belli Button, with the proviso that chronic injuries have been the main cause of that, and time is the main route back to his old blistering pace.
That was never a case of pouring scorn on him, (by me, anyway) he is too much of an Arsenal man for that to be acceptable, but as Rob Holding has found, getting over a succession of injury setbacks can be really cruel.
[I am a vegan, (who occasionally lapses, sadly) but I became so, not for my own health, in truth, but because I find it difficult to come to terms with the brutal slaughter of animals – so each to their own.]
Anyway, here’s to the future swift return to fitness and form for both Belli and Rob. 👍
I did give our allies a mention in the post Potter.
I was being nice to Scott and Geoff.
Super post, Rico 👍 Particularly liked Ken Friar’s interview. Saw lots of parties (& flag waving!) going on, on my way home from work. The patients had a nice day too!
RA.. You’re vegan?!! Really?? But you lapse??!! So you’re not vegan!! 😜
Redders lapse is when he eats a Vegan!……………..so technically he still is a Vegan!.
Hurt my back yesterday!………………on the 4th rep squat of 120 kg I felt it go and dropped the weights behind me .BANG!!!!!……………bent the safety bar!……………been exercising my back since, stretching etc and think I might have got away with it!……………………unlike the old days when the medical advise was to lay on your back on a flat board, you have to keep it active!
Sue,
You are correct, of course, you are either a vegan, or not — I am only 99% vegan so I should not have written what I did. Sorry. 😩
Le Coq
Things going well??
You always make me laugh!!
Touch wood Redders all good, wife is in the love shack in isolation and I have becomme a domestic goddess……………. cooking, cleaning, etc`…………there are these amazing machines that do it all !……………..when the wife get back I will sell them and she can get back to doing it all manually! haha……………………………hope you are ok buddy!
Anyone been watching Gangs of London ?……………….I binged on the whole series in about 2 days!, so I recommend it!
Afternoon or rather Evening now RA, thanks, to you too Sue.
I’m 90% vegan, the other 10% I’m vegetarian… 😂
Hey Le Coq.. I’m still on Ozark – 2 episodes to go…. then it’ll be back to ‘Dead to me’ season 2 has just dropped on Netflix 🙂 You could always get your missus to walk on your back 😀
Haha a vegan for RA would be a mid-morning snack!!
😆 Rico!
How beautiful does the moon look tonight? I thought the supermoon (flower moon) was last night….
Hi Rico just watched youtube and if they are willing to give us some money plus Acardi for Aubameyang then I would go for it depending on Acardi match day fess
Morning all.
As General Rommel once said, if he had to lead an army to take over Hell, it’d be the Aussies.
We’ve never backed away from helping those in need, and proudly back our allies when needed.
Onto Football.
Icardi for Auba?
I can’t really say much on Icardi as I’ve seen very little of him, but he seems to be a high quality striker, and if Auba does indeed want out, it may not be a bad switch, considering Auba is down to his last season of his contract (assuming this season is over).
Does anyone know Icardi’s contract situation?
Icardi’s agent is his wife , a dangerous combination.
30th June 2020 apparently although who knows with whats going on.
Just watching Football Classics on ITV, FACup final 1979, Arsenal vs Mancs.
Hard to believe that it was 41 years ago.
I’ll never forget the looks on my mates’ faces when it went from 2-0 to Arsenal to 2-2.
Then the mayhem minutes later when Sunderland scored the winner…
Highbury Corner the following day was a bloody madhouse as they drove by on a double decker bus and paraded the cup, it was brilliant.
Today health and safety Islington Council jobsworths would never allow it…
I just watched that, Kev… I bet even back then it was sweet beating those mancs!
Those last few minutes were tense, great 3rd goal though!!
So much hair 😄
Yes Sue, hair was a big big thing back in the late 70’s early 80’s…
I had hair to rival a pop star back in those days and the fashions were memorable. 😉
😄 Kev
Happy Birthday to the one and only Dennis Bergkamp.. 51 today 👍
Morning all
New post up now