I love watching a good game of football, and thats exactly what The Arsenal and Manchester City(the league champions by the way) served up to us yesterday.
Am I disappointed we didn’t win ? Yes, I always am.
Am I disappointed with our performance? Hell no, I thought we were fantastic.
I really don’t understand how people can suck the joy out of the game. It’s beyond pathetic the way fans ignore the good things and focus on the negatives. Why watch the game if you don’t appreciate the aesthetics of it. Just read the result in the morning paper if the result is all that matters.
Completely against the run of quite superb play we went a goal down. Flamini was at fault and they scored. But don’t all goals come from mistakes? Yes it was a poor goal to concede, but what went before was not instantly erased.
We then scored two wonderful goals and perhaps should have gone on to win. Sadly we let in another poor goal which if not for Wojciech Szezesny’s supreme athleticism in getting a hand to it, Flamini would have nodded clear. A bit of bad luck on top of a bit of bad defending and it was all square.
We then rode our luck for a short spell and in the end I was happy with the point.
Hey, we are unbeaten and looking better, much better, much much better.
Plenty to be optimistic about if you ask me.
Jack was quite simply outstanding.
Alexis is looking every inch the player we hoped he would be.
Danny looks a fit.
Some, like Ozil and Aaron, are not up to their usual ridiculously high standards but I’m sure it is just a matter of time.
I loved the way we played yesterday. How could I not?
Right. below is a bonus from @anicoll5 with his recollection of the fixture some 50 years ago
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My heart hoped for the home win, and on the balance of play it could have been. Citeh are however a wily serpent, slithering and striking around the defensive shield and it was not to be.
My head, to its credit, had settled for the draw. As I left the house in the morning, trotted after Steve towards the stadium and finally settled in my seat at 12.40 it was certain the points were to be shared.
How !?! You cry – such certainty of a draw, such a limit of ambition, so little of the Positivistas joie de vivre – it cannot be.
Well it was the cycle of history turning my friends. Fifty years ago was my first game at Highbury ( I know I have bored you with this theme before but stay with me a little longer).
The sun on that day shone in 64, it shone as bright yesterday. I sat on the North Bank, actually on the terracing but as I was by the fence at the back and the ground was half empty it was easy to see the action. It was a time of rosettes and rattles, and dark clothing, men wore dark clothing. I sat yesterday in the North Bank, wedged tightly between Arsenal fans other than when the goals went in and we popped up like a seed pod bursting. Some fans yesterday wore short trousers as they used to be known, clad in replica shirts mostly. In 1964 no adult owned shorts, let alone wore them out of doors irrespective of the weather. In 1964 I wore short trousers to the match (undoubtedly), so Ah – ha.
To be honest fifty years ago watching the tiny figures whizzing round miles away was pretty much beyond me and I suspect my mind wandered pretty soon. I persuade myself these days I know and understand a little more of what is going on, but I am prone to self delusion. Those replay screens have saved me from moments of embarrassment more than once.
And on that day many years ago you know what happened on the pitch ? The opposition scored first, the crowd groaned and tutted. Had I been more mature I expect I would have heard a few discontents muttering about Billy Wright. Our brave Arsenal lads battled back, then late on Joe Baker scored what in my mind’s eye I can still see as an excellent strike from outside the box in front of my North Bank perch to level the contest, and both sides went at it to the end. Some long forgotten referee blew his ceremonial silver whistle and the players exited for a plunge in the communal bath and for our visitors a fish and chip supper on their long, long journey back to East Lancs by stagecoach.
And “So What?” concerning all this misty eyed sentimental reminiscing you ask, what relevance might it have to yesterday’s events ?
Well just to say that I do not think that football has changed very much. Players were exceptionally talented athletes 50 years ago compared to the men and boys on the terraces, and they are exceptionally talented now, another breed. They are dedicated to their craft. If they were not they would be the same as us, and spectators in the theatre.
The geographical origin of players has changed, and it was pleasing to see an old Arsenal player called Johnny McLeod on the pitch at half time (who even pre dates me) talking about how he had persuaded his former Hibernian teammate Joe Baker to sign for the Gunners. From what I saw on the pitch yesterday the joy of playing, the excitement of scoring, and the frustration of letting in a goal has not changed for players or fans. Admittedly the notion of Joe Baker ripping off his shirt after his goal to reveal a perfectly rippling torso would be from another Universe compared to Alexis yesterday, but Joe had his moments, in a 1964 kind of way. Eye contact, manly handshake, firm but friendly pat on the shoulder, you know the form.
That I do not think the attraction of watching a real contest that had lured me to Highbury fifty years ago and has kept me returning year after year, though not always week after week, since has changed very much.
Every single game is a clean slate which will be won or lost by an unknowable amalgam of physical skill, game intelligence, perseverance, organisation and always of luck. Luck in some games consists of a few grains, in others it is delivered by the bucketload.
If football had changed, or the object of my affections had changed then my life may have been different. Nothing has changed, other than the colours perhaps. The flame burns bright. My appetite for the game, for the Arsenal and for the contest is as sharp as it was then. I suspect the hunger may carry on in the future as long as there are sunny days like yesterday, great players, great contests, though perhaps not for 50 years.
I thank you.
Positively Arsenal 
it was a poor game from the arsenal last night. from the positive and negative followers, there is very few good to be taken from the game and the performace.
but it is not true that we have all eleven players perform woefully. some had their best game of the season while some others put up a decent show. but at the very highest level, all you need is a couple of passengers and underperforming players in your team to get found out. dortmunt are a very good side and we were lucky to finish the game with such a face saving scoreline.
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Foreverheady, but it sort of has been happening pretty frequently against top opposition, especially away, last season. That’s what’s concerning. Not sure why. I thought we had quite a good side out there. You see the quality of Sanchez, for example–do they come better than him, really? We can still win this group so no need to panic, but it is a real blow to see our team so thoroughly defeated by Dortmund. Hope we can defeat Villa with a convincing performance and restore some confidence. Villa have been playing well so it could be a tough away game.
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szcz had his best game since the shield. per as wll since the start of the season. gibbs and bellerin were lively on the wing. bellerin in particular gave a performance that bellies his age ane experience. he will do well to inprove his defendin though. and he has time in aboundance to do that.
wilshere was the only good thing about our midfeild. he gave his all and his ankle. i’m still waiting for ramsey to return from the break. welbeck missed couple of good chances but he never hid. he gave hid best and his finishing will improve. alexis will do well to trust his team mates and pass the ball when necessary.
for the others………
ROSICKY MUST PLAY NOW.
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An unpleasant evening and the usual waking thought of “was that just a bad dream” ?
I then reflect it has not been since April the 7th I had that same queazy thought so it is hardly an epidemic of misery. I have watched game after game of important contests then and the players have performed well and got the result required. As previous posters have made the point a good team does not become a bad team overnight.
The great thing about following Arsenal under AW is that is that every game is important and the next one at Villa will be the focus for the remainder of the week.
The Midlanders doing surprisingly well so far and from the highlights I saw of their trip to Anfield deserved their three points. Villa are however one of the clubs, if not the club, against which we have our best away record in the PL. No too much fear therefore as we travel north.
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Shit happens. On to the next match. Still alot to come from this team.
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Saw the game on a delayed basis last night. Not a good day at the office obviously. We were simply not up to the speed of Dortmund. I wondered how much that match vs City over the week took out of us. That was a humungous game physically and emotionally.
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Great great piece.
http://untold-arsenal.com/archives/37906
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I know foreverheady! To be fair, what hurts more than the loss (and performance) is the ammunition that the groaners now have to attack the club, manager and team with. These arse-wipes have been praying for an opportunity like this to “prove that we’re not good enough” and “Arteta is not the answer” ! I mean, it only took a draw with the BPL defending champions for armchair managers to start crooning about “squad deficiencies”. I’m just sick of it all.
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You can understand how excited the Groaners are though Santi surely.
Waiting for all those months for us to lose a serious football match before they could pipe up.
It much have been very frustrating for them.
Long may it be until they can spew their bile again.
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Santi
First defeat in fourteen games away to good opponents who tonked Real Madrid 4-0 there not so long ago, three games in three years in Dortmund, one defeat. Terrible. Doomed!
Of course it’s no surprise that those who can’t admit to themselves that they want to be Gazprom fans will react like this. We saw it after the last 5-2 over Tottenham! They couldn’t even celebrate that result. The manager wasn’t sure he could play Ramsey at home eighteen months ago because of the abuse directed towards the player.
Be nice of they got as angry about all the not-given pens, the stamps on ankles (Arteta and Debuchy already this season etc.) the things which actually cause the injuries that they like to groan about. But that would mean they’d have to actually talk about the Football (IBSF!)
Zombies led and fed by trolls.
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It must piss them off that we only lost by two.
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It was always obvious that Arsenal would miss the much abused Giroud/Big Lump/Plan B in a tough away game when the opposition were going to try and push and shove their way through the game.
This is interesting
Dzeko:
2010–11 15 2
2011–12 30 14
2012–13 32 14
2013–14 31 16
2014–15 4 0
Giroud:
2012–13 34 11 4
2013–14 36 16 5
2014–15 2 1 0
OG’s first season blues were no way near as bad as edin. And he’s matched him well since.
Undeniably a big loss, but when trolls narrative dictates he’s rubbish, what are the poor sheep going to do?
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hahaha Gains
I was thinking very much the same today.
Dortmund were better than Arsenal last night, comfortably so.
I can live with that at this stage of the season.
The style of Arsenal’s away performances hasn’t changed much I the last year – we are still very open to teams who press up on the midfield.
I think the away draws at Everton and Leicester represented the team coming to terms with the tactic a bit, if not exactly countering it.
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sorry, re-edit:
Showing League apps. and goals only:
Dzeko:
2010–11 15 2
2011–12 30 14
2012–13 32 14
2013–14 31 16
2014–15 4 0
Giroud:
2012–13 34 11
2013–14 36 16
2014–15 2 1
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There was one particular rugby tackle on Jack last night that pissed me off, at about 65 minutes.
Arsenal were racing away on a counter attack and Jack was pulled to the ground right in front of the ref – noting given, he just decided that Dortmund could have the ball.
Jack was fuming, and so was I.
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TalkSport had Penis Morgan, the so-called true Arsenal fan, on at drive-time giving it full bore against the club and Wenger in particular. Penis, being the nasty pieece of work he is, was in exultant mood as he could blast the club for losing to little Dortmund. Conveniently forgetting that two years agoBVB were in the Champions League final, having smashed Real Madrid 4:0 in the semi-finals. He was happy to trot out all the WOB talking points playing to a fanbase who are now taking for granted the 17 years this club has been in the Champions Legue and having suffered for the 1st time in 11 years defeat in its opening game.
The idiocy and over-reaction is so transparent. If we give in to such fickle, wobbly thinking then we can only blame ourselves if we become like Forest, Leeds, and Villa, former European power-houses, who today have a snow-ball in hell’s chance of ever getting into the champion’s league.
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Where is Hunter?
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.
BVB, played at home, last Saturday. Their recovery time would be over 72 hours,
The Arsenal, at a stretch, could claim the same recovery time. But,
The itinerary, which I have not verified, would be on the timeline, arrive London Colney, travel by coach to London Luton, ETD (?), arrive ETA (?) Dortmund, coach to Hotel, etc. etc.
I would suggest that the recovery time for The Arsenal players after ManCity game, would be barely 48 hours.
Too many bloggers, do not give a “toss”, for the method of travel, or the time required, to fulfill fixtures.
Limestone Gunner, over 2 years ago you requested info on the Arsenal Broadband Ltd. I am now looking into this company.
The Yogi fellow, lied to Fungunner, on July 6th, 2012 at 9.25pm and 9.36pm., about this company and Arsenal Holdings plc. The Yogi fella, knows “bugger all” about how the Arsenal operates!
Dear Passenal,,.. please skip as you know you dislike the L.s.d.
I am relying on PG’s good nature, to enlighten LG on Arsenal Broadband.
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NOTH I don’t know what you are on about.but I’m not inclined to believe the Yogi fellow is in the habit of lying.
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so, man city lost in Germany… what are headlines from the fair weather fans?
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The Chavs dropping points against Schalke at home is the biggest story for me.
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The mystery of the Missing Hunter ?
I remember a conversation and a dispute between two regular contributors?
I remember suggesting they both step away ?
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You haven’t killed him have you Gains ?
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GP
I’ve been wondering myself where he has gone.
I’m beginning to suspect George’s new patio extension may not be all that it seems.
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I think the results of each English club in the UCL this week should dampen any fans sense of entitlement about BPL teams having a divine right to perform well in Europe.
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At least our under 19s beat Dormund 2-0….
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GP, yeah… right back at them… that was good response from the young uns
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City lucky to get away with conceding just the one goal, but fair play to Hart who played as well as Szczesny did last evening. They look very short of options at the moment and I can’t believe they didn’t strengthen this summer when they had a chance to. Yaya looked disinterested and lacking in any passion and they have problems up front: golden opportunity at the death for Aguero to salvage a point, and that’s why you really do need to invest in quality strikers. Can’t believe they let Negredo go without bringing anyone else in: almost negligent.
Chelsea dropped points at home against a Shalke side that you would expect them to beat, and again they look decidedly short of options up front with Drogba not quite his old self and Costa apparently not capable of playing two games in a week. Was due diligence done there spending that amount of money on a known injury risk, especially as their back up striker had already failed a medical? Decent goal from Fabregas, but somehow telling that he wasn’t able to inspire his team to a win when life was a little bit more competitive.
Expecting the papers to have a field day tomorrow.
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A confident Gervais tearing it up with Roma tonight
City have a tough group!
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If Scotland declares independence and a new Scottish government allows Celtic FC to reintroduce safe standing areas, will the AAA continue to blame AFC for the lack of such things at Arsenal? (The answer is yes)
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Fin, well said about Giroud. We are better when he’s on the pitch.
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Well, I’ve just done a quick trawl of the news and apparently City were brave and unlucky to concede such a late goal after a near perfect performance, and Mourinho is praised for managing Costa’s unfortunate injury so carefully.
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Plucky City FH Plucky – that’s the word
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giroud has been key to everything good about the team since he arrived. hes not been injured, gave us presence in the box, gave us goals, assists, help to defend on set pieces, help other players around him to improve their games. his ability to hold up play for the midfielder to arrive is the reason ramsey, cazorla and podolski scored so many goals.
despite some lies that his lack of pace was the reason ozil have assisted fewer goal, his injury has proved the reverse. olivier have actually help ozil in games especially helping the team to defend when needed which obviously isnt the strong point of ozil.
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According to the Guardian Chelsea were ‘overpowered’ in midfield
At home, by a team sitting joint bottom in the Budeslegia
Who would have thought it ?
And all those CMD beasts in blue !
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Andy Nic: Well that is interesting: Chelsea “overpowered”. This football game is a lot tougher than we have been led to believe, and it does seem to me that there is a lot of evening out between the sides going on. A lot of sides in all leagues have very good players these days, and all I can say about that is it’s probably not a bad time to be a bookmaker.
None of which is to say that we weren’t distinctly average the other day, and I suspect we will never know the real reasons for that, so many of them being imponderables and unknowables.
A furious debate going on in the Head household at the moment: divorce lawyers not quite called in yet, but sense , that like the Ox are ready and waiting. She who must be obeyed is convinced that it’s all Jack Wilshere’s fault, that his need to be dominant has a detrimental effect on the others, that he is a force of negativity. ( She says these things as she knows he is a player I rate particularly highly).
I gently point out that the only real change since last year is the arrival of Sanchez, and wonder whether his need to drop deep and find the ball wherever it may be – and his unwillingness to pass to anyone else once he has possession of it – is unbalancing the whole style of play ( I say these things because I know of her fondness for all things Alexis.)
I expect we will see a few changes on Saturday and wonder whether we might see a place for Campbell sometime soon. If not now, when? Because of the two very hard games (and the travel) and because we also know that Saturday will be about as physical as it can get (Villa are out-stoking Stoke this year) I would go something like this.
Szczesny
Flamini
Per
Chambers
Monreal
Coquelin
Diaby
Rosicky
Oxlade
Cazorla
Welbeck
I think that Ramsey , Wilshere, and Ozil all need a week or so to let their recent niggles properly heal – and Alexis could do with a rest I think.
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FH
are really serous about this line up?
this is what we’ll likely see
cc, per, kos, gibbs
arteta, ramsey, ozil, santi
welbeck, alexis
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the COC match will like see something like
ospina
bellerin, chamber, kos, monreal
flamini, diaby, rosicky
ox, sanogo, cambell
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making the top four this season and COC trophy to go with the shield will be a successful year for us. it is achievable. we should be serious with the COC as many of the top teams may want to focus on the league.
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sagna was really poor yesterday. thats the worst i have seen of him EVER. kept falling and sliping all over the pitch. the lack of playing time must really be taking its toll on the usually reliable bac.
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I definitely think we miss Giroud’s defensive presence on set pieces in the box. Good defensive header in there–possibly our best.
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Interesting team, FH. I think Kos will play–he isn’t injured is he? So the question is Flamini or Chambers on the right? Or Bellerin? I’m sure one of the latter two will feature there in the League Cup–which I am excited to attend. I hope Campbell and Rosicky play Tuesday. I’d be happy to see the Ox, who looked very lively, Cazorla and Rosicky come in for Ozil, Ramsey, and JW (who might need to nurse that ankle…). Let the others rest, train for fitness, and get focused for possible service in the NLD, perhaps.
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People on here don’t seem to understand that a 2-2 draw followed by an away loss to a top European side is a disaster demonstrating irreparable weakness.
Without getting rid of the manager and speeding large amounts of money, I can’t see how ManC are going to survive.
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Poor old Ballack is chatting more bollocks.
He’s not bitter.
Or jealous of Özil’s bauble. Nope! Not in the slightest.
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I hope that our Hunter is trolling Gazprom blogs. Being productive.
Pointing out the lack of gr*t and effort shown by the F Word as he dilly dallied and dithered before losing the ball that led to the Arsenal hopeful’s run to set up the Arsenal reject to score against Gazprom. Good stuff. Not quite as good as a back heel on the edge of his own area to a future teammate,but he’s working his way up I think. Finding his true ‘form’, hehe.
The F Word is nicking an’ F’ing living. The Gazprom fans will find out for sure after Xmas, the infamous half season slump as alleged by Bunga Bunga Barcelona. Or just a twang in the old hammies. We shall see.
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LOL… Merlot… well sported that but for it being 1-0 and 2-0 we and man city essentially had the same experience in at the weekend and in Germany and ours was cos we have not sacked the manager and bought a monster DM and their cos they were unlucky… lol…
any chance.just any chance to jump on the team and manager and all perspective is lost… i dream of a 9-0 defeat of A villa with a hat-trick each from the front 3 and hopefully the team would have bought back a few weeks of peace, hoping the next batch of dropped points will not be any time soon.
\i I just dont get why a game cannot eb assesed in its own merit rather than being a reflection of the last few years where we have conceded from all set pieces and in all away games although ironically we did win 1-0 in the last yr fixture but being arsenal that is nicely thrown out since it does not fit the permanent away crises narrative
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F-word is doing well for himself and his new club. i wish it is our strikers getting on the end of those assists. i have nothing against him other than leaving us in the first place. we chose not to sign him because the manager felt we have a better player. he will do well anywhere because he is good at what he does. i hope he gets injured soon.
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Well as many of you have observed we are still waiting for the over-reaction to the expensively assembled City team being comprehensively out-played by Bayern. Where are the cries of:
– Embarassing and numbening
– Manager signing wrong players and then playing them out of position
– It is pointless qualifying for the champions league
– Team needs players with more grit like those of the 90s (euphemism for kicking)
– No top English team should go to Germany and be outplayed by their best clubs
Still waiting.
As for the great, well-balanced Chelsea team with Jose getting all the right signings being held to a draw at homeby the 3rd best team in Germany, words fail me.
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Interested to hear what you come up with, Notoverthehill, though I don’t understand the rest of your message. So thanks! (I think!)
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NOTH is good value, I always appreciate what he has to say.
According to ze German WC physios two days is the minimum recovery window, on the borders of the Redzone™. This understanding affected why and how they constructed their base at the WC
I think NOTH means the numbers elsewhere were inaccurate, so that is fair comment. If he’s not impressed by the “airtime” given to disingenuous people attacking the club with spurious and uncredible gibberish that cannot be justified or defended by any grace or logic, then that is also fair comment!
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