Bagels’ Own Stuff
Every now and then a game comes along that makes you feel likes it’s your first time at the Lane all over again. Tonight will be one of those games. There’s always a certain awareness in the back of one’s mind when a North London Derby is coming up. Away from home it’s often more a sense of dread but at home there’s the hope, the excitement, the knowledge that we can beat anyone on our day, the chance that today might be the day we put right what has been wrong for oh so many years now and we know how just how good it feels to do that.
It took a week to come down from the high I felt when we finally put the Chelsea hoodoo to rest; the narrow lead, the cripplingly tense second half and our rejoicing at the final whistle as I watched the fireworks in the sky above WHL blur in my tear soaked eyes. I’ll never forget it.
I’ve never seen Tottenham beat arsenal, not live, not there in the crowd and in a way I was glad I didn’t break that duck at the New Library two weeks ago. It wouldn’t have felt right when nothing conclusive would have been won, not passage to the next round of a competition nor three points in the league, but tonight offers the most tantalising of victories. I want to beat arsenal. I really do. It’ll feel fucking fantastic if we do, but this game is about so much more. Tonight I get the chance to fulfil two of my Tottenham ambitions: to be arsenal but, greater still, to go to Wembley.
I want to walk up Wembley way with the Yid Army, Lillywhite shirts as far as the eye can see and a full voice marching choir letting rip the White Hart repertoire with hopes in and heads held high. It’d hurt like hell to lose a final but give me that pain. It would hurt more to blow another chance of getting there. And should we win - well, that’s another bagel altogether.
I’ve been thinking about this game for over a week now. Watching Sunderland was like an annoying warm up act, their set dragging on for far too many songs, the performance ragged and the audience unimpressed. But I sit here now at the end of yet another working night, 4.55am, and soon the sun will be rising on the day that’s given me that secret smile whenever I’ve allowed myself to think about it. I’ve daydreamed the noise of the crowd; not just a derby day noise but a full crowd fever with every single one of us doing our part. We wont need to say a thing. I know the looks I’ll see on the faces of the Lads in Front as they arrive at their seats. We’ll catch eyes, take a deep breath and nod with steely determination of task that lies ahead. There’ll be a cheeky grin on Little Man’s face as he shakes my hand; a little joke to break the tension. He’ll turn to us all and say, “So are we going to win today or what?” We’ll all smile back. And I’m looking forward to seeing Omar because his words still ring in my head from when we lost to our foes back in September:
“We just can’t beat these cunts,” he had said. I wonder if we can today.
I’ve let myself imagine the feeling of a win, the double celebration, and a fast, broad grin takes grip on my face before I can suppress this fraction of what I could taste.
We wont be facing arsenal’s first team but it’s not going to be the reserves either. Gallas will be leading them out with Fabregas, Sagna, Adebayor Hleb, Eduardo and Gilberto all sure to feature at some point in the proceedings. Rest assured it wont be “the kids” who we faced when the final whistle is blown. Wenger wants to give the younger players a chance but he wants to get to the final more.
As for us, it’s as good as we can ask for with BALE!BALE!BALE! the only player who could lift us any further. Didier Zee’s away on holiday but both Big Bad Tom and Steve are back in the side. The former could leave us more open to the counter but he had his best game of the season one-to-one with Fabregas in September and we’ll need his passes to break our visitors down. Keano’s feeling good with 100 on the board - and yes, I was beaming when he dusted off the old somersault celebration. I have missed that so.
So, what are we waiting for? Are we going to win tonight or what? Because tonight is the night we beat those cunts.
The Bagel.
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:37 am
Best of luck tonight, boys.
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:46 am
Not a chance.
The Mighty Arsenal are after this one, and not just to put one more over on our so called rivals, but to claim revenge against Chelsea in the final.
Finals have recently been an unlucky hunting ground for us (FA Cup aside), losing to Galatasary was perhaps a shock to equate to the Mike Tyson / Buster Douglas fight, and we outplayed Barca despite having 10 men, last seasons League Cup final also saw us giving Chelsea what-for for most of the 90 minutes, but still coming up empty handed.
Perhaps Cesc and Hleb on the bench for this one - I see them being used as the (not so) secret weapons. Despite his progress I cant see Huddlestone making the impact he has done against lesser teams, Bale wont make the advances he likes against Sagna, and Lennon doesn’t have a chance vs Clichy.
Should you manage to get chances, it’ll be long range efforts, random connections of foot and ball, searing through the sky, waking up those on the back row.
I see you scoring, but also conceding, it’ll be your lot choking I imagine, another night of disappointment lies ahead, prepare yourself, dont get your hopes up, a fall stands before you.
When you take the early lead, the writing will be on the walls, the last 15 minutes defines this match - I hope you still have enough energy then !!!
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:50 am
Come on you Spurs!
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:52 am
Fuckin’ get in!! Hope we do it.
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:33 am
With his expert analysis of Bale’s chances against Sagna, I think we all have to acknowledge that Ki ki knows what he is talking about.
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:37 am
Lick my bag Ki Ki
Coys
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Morning Lad’s,
Unfortunatly im not going to be there, contimplating caling in sick adn getting a flight…. but need the money for prague!
I honestly feel we will beat them cunts - Come 5:30 im out the door, ot even the hot receptionist, if she was naked is stopping me!
Into the pub Pint off the black stuff and let the battle commence
COYS COYS
Yid Army!!!!
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:45 pm
bagels own stuff… good reference bagel, like it.
January 22nd, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Sorry about this bagel i know its a lil off topic, but something i read on the Irish Supporters Board, very interesting…. (note the response)
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=54929825#post54929825
January 22nd, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Arsène Wenger has announced his 16-man squad for tonight’s Carling Cup Semi-Final second leg against Tottenham at White Hart Lane.
Arsenal squad to face Tottenham:
2 Abou DIABY
3 Bacary SAGNA
4 Cesc FABREGAS
9 EDUARDO
10 William GALLAS
13 Alexander HLEB
15 DENILSON
16 Mathieu FLAMINI
19 GILBERTO
21 Lukasz FABIANSKI (GK)
25 Emmanuel ADEBAYOR
26 Nicklas BENDTNER
30 Armand TRAORE
31 Justin HOYTE
32 Theo WALCOTT
40 Vito MANNONE (GK)
January 22nd, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Fuck, just look at that squad. Such youthfulness with strength in depth.
Time to start shitting yourselves, spudcunts!
January 22nd, 2008 at 3:57 pm
*gulp*…i thought they were goign to play their kids ?!?
fabregas, hleb….we’re doomed. i am selling my ticket and supporting watford.
January 22nd, 2008 at 3:59 pm
That squad is very strong. Oh crap!
January 22nd, 2008 at 4:18 pm
What you see is what you get tonight, beyond Rosicky, we have no one on the bench, a bold move from the professor, but one I’m sure will reap it’s own rewards come the final whistle.
January 22nd, 2008 at 4:36 pm
“Tonight I get the chance to fulfil two of my Tottenham ambitions: to be arsenal but, greater still, to go to Wembley.”
Its funny how without even knowing it, one of ur lifetime ambitions is to be Arsenal, Bagel.
Sometimes I feel pity for you lot. We’d probably give u the complimentary one or 2 goal headstart and then blow your dreams all over WHL.
See u lot tomorrow when I’ll be here again to laff at u lot.
January 22nd, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Of course one of my lifetime ambitions is to be at a game when Tottenham beat arsenal. Absolutely.
The Bagel.
January 22nd, 2008 at 5:07 pm
mrswoo is wrong - that’s not tonights line up
January 22nd, 2008 at 5:10 pm
I wonder if all Gooners spell like that…?
Sadly, an antenatal class until 8.30 is the way my evening starts.
I wonder if she’ll notice if I bring my mini radio in…
Oh, and apparently, according to the Times, Hutton has now decided the Lane IS where he wants to be…
January 22nd, 2008 at 5:15 pm
We may not be favourites but if we play our game for the full 90mins and not 80mins, then we have a chance.
January 22nd, 2008 at 5:27 pm
You’ve had chances for the last eight years.
arf arf
January 22nd, 2008 at 6:14 pm
I’m sorry Ki ki, it is tonight’s line up. Go and look at Arsenal.com. I dare say he’ll keep Cesc, Ade and various others on the bench ’til post 60 minutes. But it’s the squad.
Would I lie.
January 22nd, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Oh Toby! You’re fucking joking me? Can’t you and Mrs The Yid miss this one class? You could do it at home. There’ll be plenty of heavy breathing and trying to remain calm in front of the match. Tell her The Bagel says so.
The Bagel.
January 22nd, 2008 at 7:06 pm
The ratio of gooners to yiddos on this site is getting wrong
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:01 pm
I bet the ratio of gooners on this site is less tomorrow…..!
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Hopefully they’ve all fucked off to “Arsenal.com” to cry together.
One word: Magnificent.
Bagel - Oh how I wish I was stood next to you for that one…I look forward to the write up. Baby due next week, so I was politelt informed the odds of me staying home to watch the match was zero - she did love the second half though. Who didn’t?
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:27 pm
I’m no Spurs fan but after the preview the post match review will be orgasmic…..
Enjoy lads
January 23rd, 2008 at 12:28 am
Our gift to you.
Enjoy.
I knew how AW would play that squad and it would end in tears for us.
But, Hey Ho, once every 8 years. It could be worse.
We’ve got the bloody barcodes twice in the next week and they’ll be up for it.
Onwards and upwards.
January 23rd, 2008 at 12:35 am
It 90 minutes after the event…………….
It was 5 - 1.
Yeah, I know, everyone knows now. But I’m just writing it to see it, ‘cos 90 mins later, I can still hardly believe it.
Best moment? on 61 minutes, we’ve just gone 4-0 up and the world’s greatest fans decide it’s time for a cup of cocoa and an early night. So up they get and slouch out of the Lane en masse, while our entire massed ranks wave them good bye as one. Simply, beautifully priceless. 5-1. There, I wrote it again.
I’ve read the abuse, and the excuses already, but I have also seen one incredibly gracious gooner bigging it up to us. Not such a bad lad.
But I’m looking forward now to africangooner’s promised return here tomorrow.
Come on mate! Let’s read your gloating. Give us a real laugh!
It’s Wembley, Bagel. Get ‘em in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 23rd, 2008 at 1:21 am
No excuses …….. fair play to the scum, enjoy it, i know i would if the roles were reversed
January 23rd, 2008 at 2:06 am
Watching the post match interviews I thought AW lost to GP by a mile.
AW is an excellent manager but was at his excuse making worst, Gus just told it like it is.
Get in there
January 23rd, 2008 at 2:21 am
It was a 4am game and it’s 9.20am now and I’m already at work so I really don’t have anything more intelligent to say about the game, except…..
WE’RE GOING TO WEMBLEY, BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOHOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 23rd, 2008 at 3:24 am
AAAHHahahahahhahahaaaaaaaaaaaaa HA.
Well deserved the fecking victory. Fecking arrogant Gooners thought they’d humiliate us!
Hmm, well, that worked out well for them, didn’t it, Yids?
5-1
LMFAO
January 23rd, 2008 at 3:27 am
Oh, and ‘AfricanGooner’ jokes on you, pal.
Hhahahahahahahahhaha
January 23rd, 2008 at 7:43 am
Congratulations Spurs! Good luck at Wembley!
Do us a favour and beat Man U ok?
(Not all gooners are like AfricanGooner u’know)
January 23rd, 2008 at 8:39 am
See you all down Wembley Way!
January 23rd, 2008 at 1:21 pm
does anyone know when the tickets go on sale??
February 8th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Why do you silly gooners keep going on the class spurs webpage why don’t you bog off and go on a crap arse website you are all acting like kids with no mates but i supose if you are a gooner who would have mate. YOUR JUST A BUNCH OF SADDO’S!!!!
COYS!!!