Post by Bernard's briefs on Oct 21, 2003 10:27:15 GMT
Hi folks
I made the mistake of sending a long rambling e-mail to the mailing list
before writing this week's piece, so those on the list might well have
already read (if they had nothing better to do) many of the sentiments
expressed below
It is really annoying writing my piece for the paper, when we have a
Champions League game on a Tuesday night, knowing that it appears in print
the following morning. There are only so many variations on the 'By the time
this paper is propped up against your cornflakes box we will either be
celebrating our success, or coming home with our tails between our legs'
theme.
Although Moscow would have been my choice of the two trips to Eastern Europe
having never been there before, after the euphoria of Saturday's triumph and
as the day draws near, I wish I was going to Kiev. I have a feeling that the
confidence drawn by Henry, Wiltord and Pires in their 4-0 demolition of
Israel and the strong performances of Ash and Sol in Turkey, followed by
what was really the first league performance this season where we've seen
signs of some of last seasons attacking verve, I am feeling a lot more
optimistic about obtaining a result against Dynamo.
Prior to Saturday's game I would have said that a draw would have been more
likely to be on the cards in Kiev because I would have expected the sort of
tentative performances seen in our first two Champions League games. However
I now feel that after such a dominant second-half performance, we can expect
them to take the game to the Ukranian side and Dynamo will be forced to
produce a more than decent performance to prevent us winning. And after the
miserable ending to an extremely interesting trip to the Ukranian capital
for our calamitous last match there, it would have been great to be present
when we set the record straight.
I think Saturday was about the first time I can recall seeing Bobby Pires,
beat his man and take the ball to the bye-line before whipping in a
threatening cross and there are just the slightest signs of Dartagnan
returning to something like the imperious form prior to his knee injury.
Although it is hard to imagine Pires eradicating his fast developing
reputation for "wimping out" of challenges (according to Paul Wilson in
Sunday's Observer - and there was me hoping that I was being hypercritical
and it was all in my head!!) but he can have Babycham bottle as far as I am
concerned, so long as he continues to conjure up crackers like we saw at
Anfield on a more regular basis.
And whilst the sight of Titi Henry tackling back is far from unfamiliar, I
wondered if I was dreaming when I saw Wiltord doing likewise. What more
proof did we need that we wanted victory far more than the individualistic
Kings Road collective. I certainly can't recall Crespo doing likewise and
while Saturday's victory won't rank as the greatest or the grittiest
performance in Gooner history, it definitely highlighted that it doesn't
take too much to want it more than Ranieiri's motley collection of
mercenaries.
If I was a betting man, I might be wondering whether I could get a price on
a deposal double, Houllier and the poor put-upon Claudio. Or perhaps the
safe money should go on the turkey outlasting both as this fickle game of
ours could see them both stuffed long before Xmas
Meanwhile I might be gutted not to be joining my fellow Gooners at the match
tomorrow, but the dodgy disc in my back will be grateful to have avoided the
long voyage. Although I should be smart enough by now not to ignore the
signals shooting down my vertebrae which suggest I've spent more than enough
time at my keyboard for one day, so I better bid you all adieu
Peace & Love
Bernard
I made the mistake of sending a long rambling e-mail to the mailing list
before writing this week's piece, so those on the list might well have
already read (if they had nothing better to do) many of the sentiments
expressed below
It is really annoying writing my piece for the paper, when we have a
Champions League game on a Tuesday night, knowing that it appears in print
the following morning. There are only so many variations on the 'By the time
this paper is propped up against your cornflakes box we will either be
celebrating our success, or coming home with our tails between our legs'
theme.
Although Moscow would have been my choice of the two trips to Eastern Europe
having never been there before, after the euphoria of Saturday's triumph and
as the day draws near, I wish I was going to Kiev. I have a feeling that the
confidence drawn by Henry, Wiltord and Pires in their 4-0 demolition of
Israel and the strong performances of Ash and Sol in Turkey, followed by
what was really the first league performance this season where we've seen
signs of some of last seasons attacking verve, I am feeling a lot more
optimistic about obtaining a result against Dynamo.
Prior to Saturday's game I would have said that a draw would have been more
likely to be on the cards in Kiev because I would have expected the sort of
tentative performances seen in our first two Champions League games. However
I now feel that after such a dominant second-half performance, we can expect
them to take the game to the Ukranian side and Dynamo will be forced to
produce a more than decent performance to prevent us winning. And after the
miserable ending to an extremely interesting trip to the Ukranian capital
for our calamitous last match there, it would have been great to be present
when we set the record straight.
I think Saturday was about the first time I can recall seeing Bobby Pires,
beat his man and take the ball to the bye-line before whipping in a
threatening cross and there are just the slightest signs of Dartagnan
returning to something like the imperious form prior to his knee injury.
Although it is hard to imagine Pires eradicating his fast developing
reputation for "wimping out" of challenges (according to Paul Wilson in
Sunday's Observer - and there was me hoping that I was being hypercritical
and it was all in my head!!) but he can have Babycham bottle as far as I am
concerned, so long as he continues to conjure up crackers like we saw at
Anfield on a more regular basis.
And whilst the sight of Titi Henry tackling back is far from unfamiliar, I
wondered if I was dreaming when I saw Wiltord doing likewise. What more
proof did we need that we wanted victory far more than the individualistic
Kings Road collective. I certainly can't recall Crespo doing likewise and
while Saturday's victory won't rank as the greatest or the grittiest
performance in Gooner history, it definitely highlighted that it doesn't
take too much to want it more than Ranieiri's motley collection of
mercenaries.
If I was a betting man, I might be wondering whether I could get a price on
a deposal double, Houllier and the poor put-upon Claudio. Or perhaps the
safe money should go on the turkey outlasting both as this fickle game of
ours could see them both stuffed long before Xmas
Meanwhile I might be gutted not to be joining my fellow Gooners at the match
tomorrow, but the dodgy disc in my back will be grateful to have avoided the
long voyage. Although I should be smart enough by now not to ignore the
signals shooting down my vertebrae which suggest I've spent more than enough
time at my keyboard for one day, so I better bid you all adieu
Peace & Love
Bernard