I agree. But I am worried about the short run and Spurs actually winning something this season. As Keynes' said "In the long run we're all dead".

The bloke just comes across as tough but fair minded and utterly mature.

Really admirable.

Hi Decaf. Interesting that you mention John Maynard Keynes’ comment. I’ve heard it described as a ‘grab the moment’ philosophy. I’m with you that Tottenham actually winning something under Conte this season concerns me. I think it’s entirely feasible.

Maybe not the Premiership though I do believe that rather than write it off as a fight for third behind City and Liverpool, England’s other biggest clubs (by which I mean currently Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and I hate to say it but most of all Manchester United) should not write City and Liverpool as non-catchable.

Football changes. I remember Leeds being brilliant. I remember Aston Villa winning the European Cup (the Champions League). I recall Everton being a huge club. Of course they are still big clubs. But they show the fragility of football status or club size.

I look on things a bit differently to Rich, whose opinions I may not always agree with but do respect (even when he goes nutty about referees). I try to see the worst case scenario in things because it hopefully won’t be as bad. I still blame Swindon for that. They were a third tier team and my dad told me we should win the 1969 League Cup final.

Anyone who knows anything about Arsenal’s history will know what happened. I still dislike Swindon Town to this day. Without following their fortunes if I hear on talkSPORT that they’ve been relegated, I’m delighted.

Tottenham winning something this season, Conte staying and building on to further success? I’d like to think it may be unlikely but it most certainly isn’t impossible.

The incomparable Brian Moore saying “ and that is that “ as Don Rogers slots in Swindon’s third goal and dagger in our heart unfortunately stays with me over 50 years later. F the ‘Horse of the Year Show”. Gooners of my generation will get it!!

Just watched the fifth episode. I had quite forgotten the astounding double yellow card thing for Martinelli at Wolves. Another outrageous and unprecedented decision.

I suppose to counter my own argument the biggest risk is as you say above and that Conte may be convinced that managing in the Prem is really where it’s at and decided to stay at a smaller club here that go back to Inter or Juve.

Spurs have a great chance of one of the domestic cups is they go all out for it. They’ve shown they can beat the best teams in one off games, but if they rest players in the early rounds they could get a surprise.

I think to play against spurs you have to do one of two things.
1) go for the deep block and invite them to break you down. They don’t have naturally creative players in tight spaces and they struggled with that last year
2) take them on with a high press but you have to go man for man on their back 3, so playing a proper front 3 otherwise they have the spare man and two quick passes to lane and then Son and they’re through your high line you had to push to support your press.

A post by a jealous envious crusty old clag who doesn't know the difference between a waltz , foxtrot and the limbo .

As it happens I really don’t, apart from the limbo I suppose.

I've watched a few things on Arsenal's tactics and there have been gradual shifts in Arteta's time. Right now when we have the ball he is developing a 2-3-5 formation, where the CB are always the back 2 and the 2 full backs tuck inside to support Partey to make a midfield 3 block. Then you have the 2 No.8's joint he front 3 spread across the pitch making it as wide as possible. It is very, very attacking but allows for overloads against defences, or overloads on one side of the pitch before a quick switch to the winger on the opposite side (who stays wide) and has a 1 v 1. The 3 in midfield become important if we lose the ball as you aren't exposed right through the centre of the pitch, your opponents have to filter it wide wish is far less dangerous on the counter. All very interesting (to me at least)

Seen a rumour out of the blue about Man City trying to sign Tierney. Seems very odd.

There is no way we should sell him to them unless, a) they offer silly money (like £70-80m) and b) we have a replacement lined up

Spurs are potentially a really big club, with an attractive brand, just enough history, London home, etc. There is a very real danger that short term success might stick.

I think Keynes was saying something similar.

Whenever it's rumoured that Man City are after one of ours, I always assume it's Saka. I'm sure it will happen one day. I wondered when they sold Sterling.

After the disaster of losing to shitbag Leeds the year before, when Madeley and Charlton flattened Furnell so Cooper could score into an empty net, Swindon looked to be a breeze. Made the loss to them all the more painful.

Not sure we ever expected to beat Leeds but we - I - was utterly convinced we'd stuff Swindon. Easy. That was a hard lesson to learn, but it certainly prepared me for a lifetime supporting the Arse.

The Leeds one in 1968 was my first cup final. Disappointing to lose but like you I never expected us to win it.

I actually attended dancing classes . The Bosa Nova was the latest rave .

Decades later my mother pestered me to have a dance with her at some function ; three minutes in she delivered the verdict ... ""You cant dance ""

to which I replied ....... "Well you asked me ....... I was quite happy drinking beer talking sh***ght with my mates "

Only cup final I attended was versus West Ham . I did expect us to win , on paper I thought we had a far superior team yet I'd say on the day we were out thought , outplayed all over the pitch .

They played one lone striker David Cross , there was confusion we had O Leary Young Nelson and Rice across the back marking one bloke .

With Stuart Pearson withdrawn into midfield they stifled Brady

I really didn't rate Terry Neill's tactical nous and I think it showed that day . We got smashed against Ipswich and nearly threw the Man U final away by Terry's decision to give Steve Walford an appearance .

I was in the West Ham End as well ... although the Kiwi accent ensured I didn't get beaten up .

Very interesting.

I’m rather like you in that respect then. I did go to dancing classes at Uni but with the sole intention of getting to know one of the girls on my maths course rather better.

As it turned out I got to know her rather more than I did anything about dancing.

That dance used to be called 'The Quaker', LTG.

Twice around the floor then outside for yer oats.

Hi Decaf,
The actual odds of Spurs making it to both CL semis and the final appear more enhanced now with Conte. Mainly as Conte's more determined to prove it can be done where other managers failed. Naturally, hopeful Spurs get knocked out in the earlier stages of the CL, but won't be surprised if they're not either.

Saturday's match has Darren England as ref, with Mike Dean on VAR.

It makes sense that probably Zinchenko and White are the two best suited full-backs for this inverted midfielder role, Zinchenko especially.
Tierney will be needed in plenty of games as I think he's still a better natural defender than Zinchenko, and Tomiyasu is still a more natural right back than White - but it is great to have the competition and flexibility in the squad to allow Arteta to deploy his tactics how he wants.

Just out of curiosity I looked on the Arsenal site to see if there were any tickets available for tomorrow’s game.

Just the one. At £234.15 a real bargain. Ouch.

It is not just Arsenal struggling to offload players. Spurs have loaned out Lo Celso, bought for £30m, started about 30 games for them, now out on loan with no option or obligation to buy. He's still only 26.

I'm enjoying the documentary but some of the season low points are tough to relive again.

Arsenal v West Ham U21s live

Marquinhos starts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzH3UF-zFvE

Marq on a hatrick at HT

Mesut Özil lost 7-1 on his first appearance for Istanbul Basaksehir's reserves. He joined Basaksehir last month after his stint with Turkish giants Fenerbache came to an abrupt end. He has not played a senior game since his suspension by Fenerbahce in March.

Dunno why he doesn’t retire gracefully. Gave the impression he no longer enjoys playing so why waste time playing for Istanbul Basaksehir’s reserves. Stinking rich so he doesn’t need the money, and he turns 35 in a couple of months.

Gonna be hard watching Aubameyang play for Chelsea. He’s also bound to *%^@*** score againest us too right.

Oh the sweet irony of this photo.

Anyway, rumors abound Trump was trying to give the Saudis nuke plans, which is part of the FBI search of Mar-A-Lago. Yeah, it sounds like something that could only be in a Tom Clancy book, and it may be BS but you know what? With Trump, I can believe it. It was any other former President, Obama, Bush, Biden, even Bill, it would be laughable but.....hmm.

And you know what? If it was proven true, he'd still have a fairly large following. Yes, many would obviously abandon him but there are a yet unknown but it would be far, far too many people who would explain it away as some 3 dimensional chess move that we don't know the full reasons as of yet, but will be revealed when its time. Yes, the same 25% of the public who believed Elvis was still alive years ago when a survey was conducted, are some of the same or the offspring of said people.

We are no longer a rational, functioning republic. Modern day similarities to the last years of the Roman empire.

Anyway, friends who support other EPL sides are singing our praises and I know one American fan of Liverpool saying with some luck we may even challenge for the title for a few weeks or even a couple months. I asked him if I may have some of the pain killers he must be taking for some ailment that has made him loopy.

I think Tottenham look the best for 3rd based on their summer and how they were last season. I am not sure what incarnation of Chelsea will emerge as the season progresses. They are the unknown. It's fairly safe to assume Man Utd will struggle, especially against mid table sides who will catch them unawares. However, they will raise their game for the likes of us, and other top 5 top 6 sides.

For me if it happens it’ll be a ‘shrug shoulders, who cares’ outlook. Aubameyang is 33 so way past his best, which may have something to do with Barcelona being happy to move him on. Which I assume they must be if he joins Chelsea as I’ve seen reports he’d prefer to stay where he is.

If Chelsea do sign him I’ll consider it less of an upgrade for them than would be the case with various other strikers, including if they bought Tammy Abraham back. If he scores against us, what matters is the result. If we still beat them I don’t give a damn. If his goal wins them the game or gets them a draw in injury time, I’ll then be bothered.

A new book for sale.

https://www.legendspublishing.net/produ ... s-of-1991/

It is a reminder of just how unique we are. Another example of special treatment from the authorities

a mid-match brawl that led to the only points deduction to have ever been given to a club – before or since

Unchanged lineup as expected. Will be a difficult game - Leicester putting out a strong looking 11.

Thanks Soc

Xhaka playing more forward these days than I've ever seen him, he lacks that extra yar or two of pace. Good runs but not enough pace to take advantage of through balls.

Leicester really should have scored. Ramsdale to the rescue.

Jesus!!!! 1-0