Many Arsenal fans allowed themselves a brief moment of schadenfreude at Old Red Nose and the karmic nature of his exit from the European Cup. Or whatever they call it these days. OK so some people went beyond the briefest moment of schadenfreude and into a full orgy of delight. Given their history of benefiting from atrocious refereeing decisions and the Purple Veined One’s reaction to a shopping list of favourable, erm, ‘mistakes’, who can really blame anyone for at least a smirk? Anybody need a particularly pertinent example? How about when Eboue got sent off for bumping into Patrice Evra. Seems that the old fart thought that was a perfectly acceptable decision at the time, so he can’t really complain about what happened on Tuesday night can he? Obviously he was disappointed at being beaten and Maureen seemed disappointed at beating him if his post match comments are to be believed but there wasn’t anything to play for after Sunday anyway.
Surely both managers were aware that the result last night ceased to matter once The Spuds had been crowned kings of the solar system in perpetuity. Hanging on by your fingernails for an undeserved home win by the odd goal has by universal acclaim become reason enough to proclaim them The Lords of the North London, England, The World and all galaxies known and unknown to man and woman kind. They have a player who only Messi is the equal of and the balance of power has now firmly shifted in their favour. Yep, after only one result decades of football history can now be consigned to the dustbin.
It has been a comical week to sample the sports media in this country. And bear in mind that the Spud love in isn’t merely an Arsenal fan obsession, I’ve read similar complaints from supporters of other clubs without our specific axe to grind. “Why “one Liverpool fan asked on twitter “do we all have to love Spurs now?” Why indeed ? Beats the shit out of me. Also why, when I drove back on Tuesday night after thankfully missing the football, did I make the mistake of turning on the car radio? BBC 5 live had all the characteristics of one of those communist television stations playing sombre music 24 hours a day on all channels because the great dictator had just died. The outrage and grief was still pouring out when I hopped in behind the wheel the following morning. Have they been up all night, I wondered? Whining and wringing their hands over Real Madrid’s dastardly impudence in getting the last great British representative knocked out of Europe. Forget that once more we are still in the competition and they are out of it. That didn’t merit a mention. No, it was as if ManUnited TV had taken over the BBC. I know we moan about perceived injustices against our great club, but we’re fans, a one eyed bias is entirely natural and in fact precisely how things should be. But why was Nicky Campbell so terribly distressed that the team from the land of Corrie got beaten? Again, it beats me.
One Manure fan said yesterday that we as Arsenal fans have a collective screw loose because we always try to make every issue about us. I pondered on this comment for a while, wondering if maybe there was a grain of truth to the accusation. “Same old Arsenal” as the terrace chant goes, “always appropriating events more properly pertaining to supporters of other clubs and seeing them through the prism of an Arsenal perspective” Doesn’t really scan that, but it is interesting to hear a different complaint about us as supporters. We always make everything about us. The point was swiftly made that for them to complain about poor refereeing after all the help they’ve had against us in the past is certain to make Arsenal fans at the very least blow a raspberry. But it’s more than that. It’s more than the old ‘We’re all affected by poor decisions and as such all have a vested interest when officials get it wrong’ line.
When you really think about it the simple unvarnished truth is we are absolutely 100% bound to make it all about us. I only care about Arsenal football club. When you boil it down if there is a sporting story and it cannot be in some way made relevant to AFC, well, frankly my dear, I don’t give a hoot. This how the thought process goes: Lance Armstrong? I’m pretty confident Arsene wouldn’t tolerate drug taking in fact didn’t he just call for mandatory blood tests? See? It’s that simple. Bloke breaks world diving record ? Yeah right just like that fat cheat Rooney when he dived to rob us in match #50.
Think for a minute of the hideous alternative to us making it all about us. We would have to sit and discuss the relative merits of players from other clubs. To do that with the slightest degree of accuracy we’d have to build a foundation of knowledge about them and to do that we’d have to watch them play. A lot. I wouldn’t want to trot out media fed clichés about a club, its manager or playing staff and so would need to really study them in order to form valid opinions. Well I don’t know about you but I have enough of a problem keeping up with the Arsenal first team squad, not to mention maintaining tabs on the upcoming youngsters, to have the time or energy to start compiling dossiers on footballers from elsewhere on the off chance that they might make the news. Talking of youngsters what about Nico Yennaris interception dribble and volleyed goal in the Next Gen yesterday. That was all the more incredible considering he was wading waist deep against the tide when he did it. We’ve not seen much of Nico since his brief flurry of appearances in the first team but I still think we have a great young player on our hands there.
Which kind of ties in with my main point. It’s like when the transfer tittle tattle starts up and I’m left adrift bobbing on the speculation ocean. It’s partly because I don’t care until a deal is done, can’t be wasting time speculating on speculation. But it’s also partly because I’m far more interested in watching the development of our own youngsters, about whom I actually know a little bit, than I am in discussing players from other clubs who I only see when we play against them. I’m always bewildered how people know so much about this transfer target or that brilliant young championship player. Unless or until they play for Arsenal they don’t actually exist in any real sense. They’re just a scattering of pantomime villains, gits and vaguely remembered faces for the most part.
You see it’s simple for me. I don’t need to make the news about us. It really is, and really always has been, all about Arsenal.
Positively Arsenal 
MORNING STEWW
CONGRATS TO NICO AND THE NEXT GENERATION KIDS….
WELL DONE…
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You are a star, Steww. Brilliant.
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Morning all – nice read Steww, honest and to the point as usual.
Can’t quite believe the summer transfer window is just starting to hove into view.
Thankfully the small matter of The Ashes will help on the distraction front. Could still be a long summer, though its interesting to see the mega-bucks takeover of Arsenal story appears to have died down a bit. A case of a premature silly-season yarn escaping early?
I do wonder if the media’s current attempt to go after Arsene is partly fuelled by a desire to have something to write about at length when there is little else going on after May?
Just a thought.
Personally I think they are way off-beam; far more likely we’ll see Red Nose booted upstairs following Maureen’s masterful delivery of his job application during his interview on Tuesday night.
“The best team lost.”
My arse.
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I have to say that that comment from the Real Madrid manager was one of the most sycophantic utterances made by a manager in modern times. I wouldn’t want the creepy, wheedling little bastard within a million miles of our club.
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Steww
Are you telling me that you are biased towards The Arsenal? I don’t believe it.
Excellent post. No middle of the road stuff here thank you very much.
As for Maureen Yo’s comment one can only think, “What a (sycophantic) plonker”
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I would not mind if there was a grain of truth in what Maureen said.Madrid were totally dominant from start to finish.
The respect that drunken old Scotsman get is bewildering
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Excellent work Stew. How they know so much about other players? FIFA on their PS3s and Football manager. In other words, they haven’t got a clue.
I agree with George, Maureen was full of #*%@ to say Utd were hard done by. It all but confirmed for me that he’s their next manager.
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Lovely bit of writing Steww – you don’t stint on the quality do you ?
Not really sure what to make of Jose’s very brief post match comments on Tuesday as unless he and I had been watching a different match he knew that for long periods of the game the Mancs had been clinging on, and in the end fell off. The better side won no question.
Tongue in cheek ? Who knows
I would however probably cut the man a bit of slack as his team had over the previous seven days beat Barca in the Nou Camp 3-1, did them again at the Bernabeau on Saturday then pushed it hard up blue nose’s arse at Trafford Park on the Tuesday
I would probably be in a fairly mellow mood myself
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“I only care about Arsenal football club.”
Amen to that Steww.
If Maureen is to be their next manager, and his behaviour on the touchline did seem to be one long 90+ minutes job application, I would say he’s the perfect replacement and it’s truly a marriage made in heaven, in that much like his predecessor, he’s a man of no class whatsoever. I agree with Frank, wouldn’t want such an individual anywhere near Arsenal.
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As Jose only manages clubs who are financially unrestricted I doubt Arsenal and he will have many dealings in the near future.
I have to admit though I have warmed to him over the years. I might not like what he does, the way he presents himself, the way he sets his teams up to play, the way he squabbles with other clubs and manipulates the meeja
But he does do it rather well
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Great piece Steww.
I watched the game and at the time I actually shouted at slur Alex as he almost comically stumbled at a rate of knots down those steps, “sod off what about Eboue!” because it was the first thing that came to mind. So I guess I do sort of live vicariously as a gooner through other teams when we’re not actually involved but that’s the way things are I guess and always will be with me and many.
also agree with all comments regarding maureen.
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I didn’t for one second imagine he’d ever end up at Arsenal ‘Coll! Too much sacrifice, living within your means. It’s about “him”. He’ll only go where there is money = success = personal glory. He’s the antithesis of AW (probably explains some of the animosity). I can’t warm to his antics though, for some reason, and wouldn’t relish seeing him back in Blighty.
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How slow can it be?
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fantastic steww..i still cant stop laughing with the fergie/mou media love in …and the desperation of media to present the tie as a world cup final between the two most “respected” and best in the biz….. …… laughing laughing laughing !!!!
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Fantastic job stew, the bbc are catching up with talkshite in the race of lazy, biased sensationalist football coverage, whoevers doing the hiring of pundits for a kick off should be un-hired himself. Great to see little Nico from Leystonstone score yesterday , I hope he doesn’t follow in the footsteps of the last Arsenal supporting full back from east London that played for us, I think he could be just as good though,although I think Nico plays DM as well.
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i would like to thank the turkish ref for exposing united and their class…the scenes with fergie ready to pick up the ball under his arm and walk away and rio clapping like a ten year old is just…….soooooooooo good to watch.
i wonder how the w(h)ine was post match between them two great and wonderful chaps….
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Excellent post, steww
“I’m far more interested in watching the development of our own youngsters, about whom I actually know a little bit, than I am in discussing players from other clubs who I only see when we play against them.”
Ha ha! Exactly.
“I’m always bewildered how people know so much about this transfer target or that brilliant young championship player. Unless or until they play for Arsenal they don’t actually exist in any real sense.”
No bewilderment necessary – 90% of the time, they don’t know much.
@ arsenalandrew
“I do wonder if the media’s current attempt to go after Arsene is partly fuelled by a desire to have something to write about at length when there is little else going on after May?”
That would be reason enough for them.
Bang on about Mourinho, Harry F.
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And talking of refs, I thought the Italian ref in the NextGen game was ridiculous as well. Not so much the yellow cards he gave out, but the other free kicks which he doled out whenever Inter Milan wanted them.
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Steww, you are good bro. The writing on this blog is crazy good!
I am with you, as an Arsenal supporter it is all about Arsenal. What else should it be?
I am a bit busy today, will be back in a little.
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I wanted to post an excellent comment that I read on footytube. He does make a mention if United supporters but I saw past that and looked at the bigger picture.
Flitocious
“This is a note from an Arsenal supporter to other Arsenal fans and I will post this everywhere I think fit.
First of all, fans, you are part of the reason why Arsenal players lack the morale! I hate each and every game, arsenal fans pick on a specific player to blame for a loss, a draw or even a WIN!! Come on! Yes they are professional players but more so they are HUMANS. Sometimes I wish I had the arsenal team and man utd fans. If I was a
player at Arsenal I wouldnt want to play for Arsenal fans. This hypocrisy that exists within some Arsenal fans is undoubtedly RIDICULOUS!! When the Walcott saga existed these “fans” were like, SIGN HIM UP! Now the same “fans” are dissing him saying he should leave. Like seriously?? The team was playing really well though Van Persie and Song left. The level of Morale in the Locker room was top notch. Until a spell of bad runs started and fans looked at people to blame.
I am an Athlete and I know if fans cheer at me, I would play my heart out (Wilshere). My golly if Wilshere had a bad run the same fans would turn against him.
If you are asking for an example take a look at Sagna.
He is one of the best right backs in Arsenal. The best in the premier league last year and this year everyone is against him! Come on!!
Gervinho is a very skilled player that lacks belief in himself. Why you might ask, let me tell you; The FANS!
Arshavin!! My GOSH he was and is an exceptional player and he gets CRAP! at arsenal.
Sorry for writing this but I had to vent my frustration on some Fans as I know not all Arsenal fans are the same. I also wrote this so others who share the same view to voice it out to others. I would love to see an Arsenal Match where the FANS cheer them on whole game from start to finish.
Bring the SPARK BACK AT ARSENAL!! BRING not DESTROY the Arsenal SPIRIT!!!
Always Proud to be a GUNNER!!
I conclude by saying I believe in Wenger, I believe in the Players and I believe in Arsenal.
In Arsenal we trust”
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sign him up paul – n !!! clearly one of us 1
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Hunter, I posted this link under his comment. Hopefully he will join us.
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100 % stew the world is red and white and every sentance starts with ARSE thats a given.
josie maureen wants the manure job and thats the only reason he was so nice (sticks fingers down throat)
i really like nico as he has not been given the red carpet ride through the youth system and every improvement and achievement is based on hard work i would rather have a team of nicos in my ARSENAL side and come fourth than buy 25 world class players and win the league
paul-n
i wonder how many tortured souls are out there needing salvation and the panacea that is this wonderful blog
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I think Mourinho knows what sort of treatment he is in for when he returns to the prem, Hence the Fergie love in, He wants an easy ride from fergie’s back-pocket refs.
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arse_or_brain, I know it. It feels good to know that you can come on a blog and not read endless amounts of ignorance. People will find PA, in time.
This goal is nuts.
http://www.sabotagetimes.com/sabotage/videos?id=4331&tit=Unbelievable%21+The+Best+Goal+You%27ll+See+All+Season
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mourinho is two people in one body.
outside football he is the most delightful and kind person.
as a footballing manager he is simply a cunt. in the business of footballs cunts do well. so well. he is a desperate little man with a huge ambition and no class.
he is not a bad person, that i am quite sure of.
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That was quite slimey from Mourihno. Instead of celebrating he is up Fergie’s behind.
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He knew it would get him talked about. He likes it.
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i think you are right Steww.
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Meanwhile. Waaaaaaaaaay back in 2005:
“Following recent comments attributed to John Terry and those made by Jose Mourinho on Chelsea TV after this week’s Carling Cup semi-final first leg,” said the FA in a statement, ” the FA’s position is that we are aware of these reported comments and they are under consideration.”
Mourinho said: “Sir Alex was really clever, if you can say that, at half-time by putting some pressure on the ref. In the second half, it was whistle and whistle, fault and fault and cheat and cheat.”
It is the use of the word “cheat” which may lead to action by the FA. A precedent was set earlier in the season when Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was fined £15,000 for branding Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy a “cheat”.
…..But despite appearing to call into question Barry’s integrity and neutrality as well as Ferguson’s conduct, an FA spokesman confirmed yesterday: “We are not taking any action over Mourinho. We have looked at the comments and we have decided that no further action is required. That is the end of it.”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2005/jan/14/newsstory.sport8
Maureen was described by Crespo as having an alter ego in front of the cameras. Of being likeable away from the meedjah glare. I get the impression that he has more then two faces. This does not make him an evil human being. Or chameleon. Just boring.
Creepy could also be a fitting adjective.
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But Plonker is the best!
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Just read that Ryo is back. Hope he gets a game over the weekend.
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http://livefootballvideo.com/highlights/spain/la-liga/real-sociedad-vs-real-betis
Vela and Cambell. Lets get Campbell in and bring Vela back home.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ccZxvIvFnnU
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Good performance from both guys there Paul. (Carlos and Campbell not Rodders and Delboy. Although they were great too)
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Steww, with youths like this coming through, people should be excited. It seems to me that AW’s last plan (though forced to some extent) will be better than the previous ones.
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Nice links you guys. Enjoyed watching Campbell and vela.
Enjoy your weekend everyone. Even without football le ARSENAL..
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Internazionale of Milan
One of the great European football clubs with a classic unmistakeable kit – blue and black stripes black shorts – classic
Tonight they turn up looking like Bristol City
Play like Bristol City
Disgraceful
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Excellent work once again steww. That’s why I can never get these ‘objective’ fence sitters.
Thanks for the match link Paul – it’s a shame that Vela probably doesn’t want to come back because he is really playing well and Campbell is looking promising for the future too.
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Anicoll, I think you are missing the point – it is the fear of St. Bale of Tottnum that has led to them turning up in disguise in hopes of not getting crucified. How are they doing in their league? Perhaps they have sent the ‘B’ team over?
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Passenal, I actually think Vela does want to come back, from some of the comments I have read. I think he wants to prove himself.
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Here is a article on him.
http://www.sabotagetimes.com/reportage/vela-could-return-to-arsenal/
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You might be on to something there Passenal
Less than three seasons ago Inter deserved CHampions League winners
Tonight playing like a lower half Championship side
The monkey god has cursed them
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21705671
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hehe, well spotted adam. jose laying the foundations…networking … and yes i agree anicol he might not be a bad person in his private life but the fact he has aimed for his success via totally cuntish manners leaves a negative feeling. What did it for me was his disrespect to cruyff and wenger. you cant say such things unless you have a sinister motivation. fergie and mou belong to the school of “win at all costs” and when you believe that it means youre even prepared to throw rules class and ethics out of the window just to get a trophy….a trophy for which again each of them has spent millions….and still tries to manipulate things outside the four lines of the pitch
i understand competition, i dont understand competing like a cunt, swearing at everyone else, ordering your players to kick the opposition and generally bring the game into the kind of battles that have nothing to do with the actual sport of football. i might get slated for my purism but i believe in winning because your supremacy cant be doubted. i want the champions league and the epl title and the cups BUT i want to win them because of my superior football, not because i exploited and manipulated some opportune momments. i want to win with triangles, one twos , flair and quality and passing the ball to the net, not kick legs, dive and surround the refs and linesmen like a thugg putting pressure on them to favour me in the next call. fergie won it in 99 and to this day he still dont know how. otto rehaggel won the euro with greece ffs and stelios from bolton and played with two and three strikers yet it was labelled “the death of football”, mou does it with a roster of 200m and world class players from pos1 to 11 and is praised and called a hero…… thats bollocks.
perhaps youre right ..football is an area where cunts do well, but i thought that wenger destroyed that concept long time ago. when wenger was accused for cheating he offred rematch…can you imagine fergie and mou ever doing something like that? lol…
i also dont agree with the notion that youre allowed to get aggressive and overphysical against teams with more flair and quality than yours/. they do it all the time ( fergie/mou). play the game the right way and lose if you aint good enough, there is no shame in that, why kick my legs ? why bring the battle of the pitch onto the cameras? they are afraid to let things unfold on the pitch and constantly try to influence with indecent means….
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People talking about Song coming back. Well, he is done at Barca, that is for sure.
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More idiotic racism in Italy, at the NexGen match yesterday.|
http://hereisthecity.com/2013/03/07/mn-arsenal-nextgen-win-over-inter-milan-marred-by-reported-racis/
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Excellent points Hunter @ 9.06 pm
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Hunter, always excellent stuff.
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There is an inappropriate connection the general public don’t know about Jose Mourinho and its kept well away from the mainstream media, and that’s his connections with the agency Gestifute. That’s who represents him, Same as Cristiano Ronaldo, Coentrao, Di maria, Pepe, Carvalho all currently at Real Madrid.
Now I could list all the players he has signed from the same agent that represents him but it would take awhile (Chelsea- Deco, Ferreira, Hilario, Carvalho, Tiago, Bosingwa just to name some) the one thing I will tell you is that in his career he has only ever sold one Gestifute player (he must have really pissed him off).
Even when he was at Porto he was signing Gestifute players some he has signed on multiple occasions, with transfer fees running into the hundreds of millions, over his relationship with this agency. Even when he was at Inter he was signing players from this agency. Queresma from Porto to Inter £21 million, and by the way he now plays in the UAE.
It was reported that on average Porto do NOT own 80% of their playing staff and that they only remain competitive via third party ownerships.
We see everywhere that Mourinho has been his agent has brought players in or has a history with the club already. Some of the largest transfers to happen recently involves Mourinho’s agent, A certain Mr Jorge Mendez.
The only time Arsenal have done any business with this man was over Carlos Vela, Hope some of the media reports start to make sense.
Cannot begin to tell you how damaging Mourinho & Jorge Mendez are for football. (anyway Rant Over, Sorry).
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