This room... there's something about this room. And that guy over there-- I know him! But from where? When? It's a strange sensation, like we've all been here before.
And of course, we have. Arsenal and their bright new [boyish-looking] foreign star are visiting White Hart Lane for a showdown, if we can call it that, with Tottenham Redux. Robbie Keane makes his debut (again) today and does so as captain, which just makes the whole thing that much more bizarre. But as with truth and war, this type of moral ambiguity doesn't play so well during a relegation battle. So I'll stash it until things are more.. emmm... comfortable. (Note: Arsenal not expected to play Arshavin. Tottenham not expected to play well. Prediction: Spurs 2, Arse 2)
Elsewhere in London, West Ham play host to Man. U. in a match they will lose either 0-1 or 0-5. I'll put my money on the former if only because the Liverpool fans are so heavily invested in the outcome and everything for them this season is a blathering, teary-eyed melodrama. (Prediction: Manchester United 1, West Ham United 0)
Update! Lingering is threatening to liveblog this, so beware...
The fixtures and squads after the jump.
TOTTENHAM vs ARSENAL -- White Hart Lane -- 8.30 am
Tottenham: Cudicini, Gomes, Alnwick, Corluka, Dawson, Woodgate, Assou-Ekotto, Chimbonda, Lennon, Huddlestone, Jenas, Zokora, Modric, Keane, Pavlyuchenko, Campbell, Bent, Bale, Taarabt, Rocha, Giovani,
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Toure, Clichy, Nasri, Denilson, Song, Eboue, Adebayor, Van Persie, Fabianski, Djourou, Gibbs, Wilshere, Vela, Bendtner, Ramsey, Arshavin..
***
WEST HAM vs MAN U -- Upton Park -- 11.00 am
West Ham: Green, Neill, Collins, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami, Parker, Noble, Savio, Collison, Cole, Di Michele, Boa Morte, Lastuvka, Lopez, Spector, Tomkins, Tristan, Sears, Kovac.
Man. Utd: Van der Sar, Foster, Kuszczak, Brown, Eckersley, Ferdinand, Vidic, O'Shea, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Scholes, Fletcher, Gibson, Giggs, Park, Tosic, Berbatov, Rooney, Tevez, Possebon.
Anyone got a link for the Arsenal/Spuds game? I am reduced to watching the infomercial on FSC and wondering what the fuck? myp2p.com has dried up with their EPL links.
ReplyDeleteCome on you Reds!
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ReplyDeleteLet's keep links to streams a little more on the QT!
ReplyDeleteMy bad.
ReplyDeleteThat was no foul on Ade.
ReplyDeleteNo problem, Jape.
ReplyDeleteThat was a bullshit call on the Arsenal goal. At least Eboue has showed up for this one.
And right on cue Eboue gets a yellow for yapping at the ref.
ReplyDeleteWow, looks like Eduardo is on the bench along with Arshavin
ReplyDeleteEduardo had a bone sticking out of his sock and yet he's back before Rosicky.
ReplyDeleteBleh, Arsenal can't seem to keep possession, and Clichy keeps getting beaten by Lennon on the right.
ReplyDeleteSpurs can't keep this pace and intensity up.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of hamstring injuries
ReplyDeleteOh man - Ade just blew a hammy.
ReplyDeleteCould the midfield look worse right now? When Eboue is the best one out there it may be time to really worry. And there goes Ade. This is ugly.
ReplyDeleteOh jesus you've got to be kidding me
ReplyDeleteWell, fifth it is
ReplyDeleteWhat the hell was that for anyway?
ReplyDeleteThey just showed the replay... Modric tripped him, and then Eboue lashed out his leg and took down Modric. It was deserved, I'm afraid.
ReplyDeleteGod I hope Arshavin is fit and Eboue never plays again.
ReplyDeleteIt's only a matter of time before Clichy concedes a penalty.
ReplyDeleteAny guesses on when we see Arshavin? Has anyone heard anything on his match fitness?
ReplyDeleteI'd guess that, if he's on the bench, than he's available. I bet he comes in for the last 15-20 minutes.
ReplyDeleteEboue is a complete asshat. What an incredibly stupid thing to do when you're already on a yellow.
ReplyDeleteAnd Lennon's pace is killing Clichy.
Watching the replay of the red, it was definitely deserved. Watching my non-English feed it seemed like he got it for taunting Modric, but that tackle was really bad. That is the Eboue we have come to know.
ReplyDeleteAnd I can't wait to see Arshavin. And Eduardo. Really anything to mix it up at this point.
The more I watch Eboue's sending off, the more I want to punch him in the face. The lack of subtlety, the back slapping of Pavs, getting into it with Toure. I don't see how he can be back next year.
ReplyDeleteYeah, my feed is in Italian, so I wasn't sure if he got it for the tackle or something he said after, but it was deserved.
ReplyDeleteAnd my Italian feed of Eurosport at half-time has discussed NHL, NASCAR, and A-Rod.
Halftime question from a yank - what's with the kids heading out with the teams at the beginning of matches? Did they win the local pass, punt and kick competition? The chubby kid who led out Liverpool yesterday made me laugh - he was almost big/old enough to look like a player in his kit.
ReplyDelete@Goat: I agree. Like a schoolkid, he walked away like he'd done nothing wrong, kept patting Modric on the back. The whole thing was just pathetic. He clearly has the physical talent, but Eboue simply doesn't have the temperament (that's putting it nicely) to be at a Premier League club.... or at least at MY Premier League club.
ReplyDeleteAlright. 45 minutes, down a man to even have a sniff at the Champions League.
ReplyDeleteModric, I mean. The yellow was for kicking Modric while he (Eboue) was on the ground after being fouled.
ReplyDeleteEboue's sending off was ridiculous behavior. They should make him walk home from WHL in his kit. What a tool.
ReplyDeleteWell, at least Pavs has no idea where the goal mouth is.
ReplyDeleteAwful shot from Pavs.
ReplyDeleteWho is the color man on Setanta for this game? He's annoying as hell.
ReplyDeleteThank the lord Pavs can't finish. He just abused Kolo on that one.
ReplyDeleteC'mon lads, get optimistic! You're playing Spurs!
ReplyDeleteVan Persie will get plenty of stoppage time at the end to score the winner/equalizer.
Any changes at the half? My feed went down for a couple minutes.
ReplyDeleteFrom the Guardian:
ReplyDelete"Sometimes, Wenger is very angry with us but that is normal," Eboué says. "He is like our dad so we try to make him happy, because at the moment it's very difficult for him. We know he is going through too much pressure."
Daddy is not going to be happy.
Eduardo warming up.
ReplyDeleteEduardo is warming up on sidelines according to Setanta.
ReplyDeleteI admire Aaron Lennon's tenacity...in maintaining his shave eyebrow look.
ReplyDeleteDid Robbie just miss a certain goal? No change there, then.
ReplyDeletePavs and Eli Manning: Separated at birth?
ReplyDeleteSpurs' last touch is shockingly awful
ReplyDeleteAnd yeah, I think I will liveblog United/West Ham
ReplyDeleteBeware, Darren Bent! One prolific striker being swapped for another!
ReplyDeleteIf you put Pavs/Keane/Bent/Defoe together as one person, they'd be decent. Currently, however, they're all individually useless.
Corner for Arsenal first in game.
ReplyDeleteRvP had a good effort there...
ReplyDelete... this game is heading for 0-0.
Spurs do look like surviving the drop, though. Palacios has given them a decent defensive shape, the likes of which Huddlestone couldn't manage. Frees Modric up to do whatever it is that he does.
ReplyDeleteDid everyone fall asleep? Die? Was it something I said?
ReplyDeleteHow did Song miss that?
ReplyDeleteMy feed has pulled an Eboue and after a strong start has completely let me down. Any suggestions?
ReplyDeleteGametime: try searching for u stream tee vee. on that site, you can look around
ReplyDeleteCorluka off, Chimbonda on... it'll make not a lick of difference.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I just found a new one that seems pretty strong. And in English!
ReplyDeleteBonus! You lucky devil.
ReplyDeleteHow long does Wenger wait to sub here - 10 men must be getting tired.
ReplyDeleteDangerous free kick for Spuds
ReplyDeleteMine is French, I think. Their florid language is doing nothing to make this game more attractive, sadly.
ReplyDeleteJape: he must do it soon. What's the harm in 10+ mins of Arshavin? Look at what 15+ mins of that wonderful man Torres was able to do.
ReplyDeleteSaved by Almunia.
ReplyDeleteMines in French too - I find it entirely listenable despite that I don't understand a bit of it.
ReplyDeleteSo who should we sub for? RvP is consistently our most dangerous player... my vote is Denilson...
ReplyDeleteI've just been informed 5 of Arsenals last six league goals have been in the last 10 minutes of matches. There is still hope.
ReplyDeleteI would agree Denilson. He has looked pretty decent today however. Almunia having a nice day as well.
ReplyDeleteThe fine folks in Iraq have some Goals in English although it's been spotty of late.
ReplyDeleteWenger appears to be playing for the draw. Still should sub for Denilson.
ReplyDeleteShit, go big or go home. Midfielder off, Arshavin on. Try to put some pressure on a backline that's known for being not-that-good.
ReplyDeleteArse need three points. Need. A limp draw at WHL does nothing.
ReplyDeleteClichy down with cut to head.
ReplyDeleteGibbs on for Clichy
ReplyDeleteGibbs - never saw that coming.
ReplyDelete88 minute for those without a feed.
ReplyDeleteI saw that Spurs supporter picking his nose!
ReplyDelete4 mins of added time
ReplyDeleteModric looks and plays like he's dying of tuberculosis.
ReplyDeleteWhen was Arsenal's last league goal? It feels like a loooong time ago.
ReplyDeleteThat's 2 Song should have had.
ReplyDeleteTwo huge saves on both ends. Cudicini on Bendter and Alumunia on Modric.
ReplyDeleteHuge save by Almunia!
ReplyDeleteALMUNIA!
ReplyDeleteAlmunia MOTM for me (barring a late winner...)
ReplyDeleteGame. 0-0
ReplyDeleteGuess I can't complain about the nil-nil after Eboue's shocker.
ReplyDeleteAnd there it is. Spurs look much improved, but Wenger needs to shake things up a bit.
ReplyDeleteCome back in 30 for a West Ham/Man U liveblog, if you can handle it. I fear United will score 4 and make all our teams look hopelessly inadequate.
Sucks that the Arse didn't take all 3 but given the way the game played out, they're lucky to take 1.
ReplyDeleteWell the only good thing that can come of this is Eboué gets dropped. Complete tool.
ReplyDeleteSpectator: yeah, considering you played an hour with 10 men, not too shabby at all!
ReplyDelete2 points from two matches with spurs. I think catching Villa is a pipe dream. Chelsea on the other hand...
ReplyDeleteJape: it just confuses me more that Wenger didn't use the January window to find more able/competent defensive middies. Instead a months-long romance with Arshavin finally gets resolved, but still... NO COVER IN MIDFIELD?!?!
ReplyDeleteJape, I've thought that after several matches this season but he still finds his way into the starting lineup.
ReplyDeleteStay tuned for Man U's workmanlike bullshit in 30 mins
ReplyDeleteWell earned point considering. All the blame for this one goes on Eboue's empty head. He gets a little sand in his vagina and then gets himself sent off with his antics.
ReplyDeleteAde and Clichy's injuries were killers... forced AW to replace with less skill and I guess he decided he needed his defensive mids more than getting in either Arshavin or Eduardo.
Eboue shouldn't see the pitch the rest of the season.
Let me just close by saying, Spurs are the most utterly inept team to ever play in the Prem. All that money and they can't even beat a team with ten men, let alone look more threatening than a team with ten men.
ReplyDeleteGoat, you gotta figure he has Wenger's kid tied up in some basement in the Ivory Coast or something.
ReplyDeleteI was amused by the numerous arsenal blogs outcry when he got booed at the Grove. Here in NJ if you suck you get booed heartily and no fan seems upset by that type of "support".
Nah, it wasn't so much Arsenal blogs as the pundits who were complaining about the boos.
ReplyDeleteOh, and to conclude, I'd rather be five points away from the Champion's League than two points away from relegation.
Spectator, We had our chances. Alumunia was immense at the end to deny us three pts. You should be happy with the pt. I am not distraught and I disagree with your assesment of Spurs. We have some new players so I think the quality will come soon. The Int'l break will help us as well. Good draw for your lot, 10 men draw is better than being up 4-2 at home with 4 minutes to go and cocking it all up. I would like to say I feel bad about Adebayour and I do for him as he is quality but anything that keeps your lot away from CL is quite alright in my book
ReplyDeleteThis is the 05/06 season all over again for Gunners, but with less talent.
ReplyDeleteAas for Eboue, I've tried to defend him, but he can fuck himself.