A bad run, but at least we’re having a laugh..

First off, apologies if this is not up to the usual Allgoonerdup standard but in the spirit of helping out my mate Tommi Gooner, I thought I’d give it a crack and write a post.

It has been an embarrassing couple of weeks. Let’s start with Hull shall we? Well what can I say, it was just one of those games where you just wanted to bury your head in the sand and hope it all went away. Evidently we took the game for granted, and judging by Hull’s recent performances it was a pretty stupid mistake to make. Hull are not Derby, they didn’t come up expecting to be the whipping boys, they had a game plan, they stuck to it and it paid off. I take my hat off to them for that. Most, dare I say, teams that are beneath us, the Wigan’s, the Boro’s, the Fulham’s, that visit us at the Emirates stick 11 men behind the ball, close their eyes and hope for the best. Hull defended well, very well in fact, but they’ve got a bit of fire power about them too and sure enough after a scrappy goal from us they were 2-1 up. And what a cracker the first one was too. Was it as good as the one he stuck past Sp*rs (more on them later)? Debatable, but a cracker none the less. However, this does not detract away from the fact that we were poor that day. We lacked passion, ideas and the Arsenal favourite, finishing touch. Walcott after his fine England performance is still lacking that extra something in my opinion. He’s good on the ball, he’s sharp and fast and can play across the box well. What I think is letting him down is his first touch. On more than one occasion he could have been clear though if it hadn’t of been for his first touch. He’s still young, improvements can be made. Sooner rather than later one hopes. Adebayor, bless him, looked like he didn’t want to be their. He may as well have stuck his Power Ranger jim-jams on and went back to bed.

Eboué was his usual self after a more promising start to the season, and our back four seemed like they were experimenting with a new zigzag formation. Fabregas looked pretty good for the most part, and pulled a cracking save out of the Hull keeper with minutes to go. Cesc just seems one of those players that, even when having a bad game can still look good and will keep going to the final whistle. We need more players like him. Again, taking nothing away from Hull, but that game should have been over before it started.

Onto the Champions League where we recorded our first and a fine group stage win of the season. Sticking four past Porto is not easy, and I foresee a tougher game when we travel to their pasteur's. However it was a decent performance and a decent enough retort to the debacle at the weekend. My only beef with that game is ITV, who surely have THE worst commentary team going. It was like a combination of poor Lawro jokes and the laughable commentating talent of John Barnes.

And then their was Sunderland. One of those “beneath us” teams I was talking about. I can’t say too much about the game as I didn’t catch it. I was in France that day (where incidentally I was wearing my Arsenal shirt. When in Rome (or Calais). Whilst purchasing my yule beverages by the case load a French chap walked past, pointed at my shirt with a smile on his face and went “Oosinal”. “Yeah” I went, whilst returning a smile. Then he went “ze French team”. I thought for fook sake, it’s bad enough getting that at home, but in France too, well that’s just too much. So I kicked off... well I didn’t but I would have it hadn’t of been for the fact I forgot my passport and was touching cloth as to whether I would get back home or not. I did in case your wondering... anyway) but I caught some of the game on MOTD. A harshly ruled out goal, which could have changed the end result, but that’s football. I can see why it was called, but video replays would have allowed the goal to stand. I’m still not sure whether I’m in favour of them or not. Sure it would have helped us out on that situation, but it could bite us in the arse too. Fabregas once again showed his class and how, like Gallas, can grab those vital goals when they are much needed. The boy is truly a wonder, and I’m hoping that the recent tabloid gossip linking him with Barca next summer is all just that, gossip. Surely Alexander “The Bench Warmer” Hleb won’t be enough to lure him back to Spain. Let’s hope not anyway. Personally I can’t see him going for a good couple of years, but I have no doubt he will end up back their at some point during his career.

Now the phrase “every cloud has a silver lining” is proving true more than ever with London’s family secret that is Sp*rs. All the jokes have done the rounds, the rumours of the sacking of their savior have hit the papers but no one has figured out the problem. I think I’ve figured it out, but lets keep it to ourselves in case they catch wind of it and pull themselves out of the bottom 3. Their manager, Mr Ramos, can’t speak English. Their assistant manager and interpreter, Gus Poyet, who can speak many a language and talks all the time hence the nickname he gained at CSKA Chelsea 'Radio' is obviously not translating all the instructions properly. Either that or he is picking up some 'interference' (boom boom). So all the instructions and game plays are lost on the "players" and are subsequently running round the pitch like headless chickens. It’s the equivalent of a two year old child with a speech impediment trying to tell their Mum who is blind, deaf & dumb they they need the toilet, the end result, the child pisses themselves. Unlike all us Gooner's who are pissing ourselves laughing.

Hope this has been good enough. If it has I’ll have another crack after the international period where I hope I’m talking about Walcott and his fabulous first touches.

By Steve Ward

'Thomas - it's up for grabs now' - Where was you?

As part of this season and trying to tie in with all the 20th anniversary shenanigans of that famous last minute championship win, allgoonerdup.com is doing a 'JFK where was you moment'. But obviously the moment we're doing is - 'Thomas - it's up for grabs now' moment. Every Gooner knows where they were when that goal went in and we're going to publish your tales. The idea is to do one Gooner's piece a day, so get amongst it and send your emails in via the contacts page and mark the subject line 'Thomas - it's up for grabs moment'. I'll be doing some sort of fancy graphic and that just to give the piece some 'air play'. Get your emails in and we'll get the ball rolling with your 'Thomas - where was you moment'. Hopefully your tales of that wonderful night will get other people sharing their 'Thomas - it's up for grabs now moment'!

Girl in a shirt

Allgoonerdup is looking to give the Goonerbabe page a bit of a boost and we're going for a 'Girl in the Shirt' approach. Do you have any pictures of your girl in the shirt or girls get yourself seen on the Goonerbabe wall and send in your own pictures. Lets get this party started right. Send your pictures in and tell us your name, favourite player, favourite all time player, favourite drink and if you have anything else to declare to babe@allgoonerdup.com

Win a new tee...

That's right you can be the owner of this spanking brand new bit of kit 'The Joy of Cesc' from our Online Shop.

All you need to do is tell us, and keep those eyes peeled people because we're changed the question, on what famous 1970's book is the tee 'The Joy of Cesc' based on? Simple? Great - now get involved and let us know your your answer, name, address and t-shirt size via the contact form and mark it 'T-shirt competition'. Lovely, job done.

Competition ends 20 October 2008.

Goof luck Gooners.

Son of Allgoonerdup comments section

As well as the main site Allgoonerdup has the comments section Son of Allgoonerdup courtesy of WordPress. The stories on the main site will appear on the comments section so you Gooner's will have the pleasure to have some banter with one another and see just what the general shenanigans of the day is, let your fellow Gooner mates know about it too and lets share in all things Arsenal. You don't need to sign up, there's no long drawn out signing up process either - so jump on and have a skive when the boss isn't looking.