The team news contains a surprise.
We know what every Arsenal player can do.
We know each player in detail, having watched most of them for years.
Thinking about that started reflections about when I started as a football reporter at school and at Manchester University.
In Hertfordshire, travelling around with the Stevenage Athletic Under-16 and Under-18 teams that played Barclavians, Hatfield,London Colney, Carlton, Icknield, Ludwick and Harpenden, I began to hear comments in the dressing room that I heard again later as a student in Manchester when we played in Nottingham, Birmingham, Liverpool, Sheffield, Wigan, Prestwich and many other towns.
The first was, “We played the football, they scored the goals.”
Almost as often I’d be told, “You can only play as a well as you’re allowed to play.”
Thinking about Leicester City , about Mahrez and Vardy and Huth, and a counter-attacking team that often plays an old-fashioned 4-4-2 formation, I keep coming back to those lines, especially: You can only play as well as you’re allowed to play.
In previous posts previewing today’s game, the old beatnik neglected to mention that midfielder Kante is a one-man army. Would like to see his stats on his ball-winning in the last 25 league games. And Kante uses the ball so well too.
The 4pm game is Man City v Spurs.
Pochettino says,”We believe we can win.” So do I.
In fact, I’ll be amazed if Spurs don’t beat them.
Hope you’re having a nice Valentines Day.
I’ve been given a chunky packet of M&S Love Treats and they’re good: raisins smothered in creamy milk chocolate with peanut and butterscotch pieces. I’ve only eaten about 20 so far while I’ve been typing this and decided not to give any to the robin who sits on the handle of our kitchen door. I gave him and his mate some cheese, cut into slices and then squares, at 8a.m. And then they came back about 10, so I had the last croissant and chucked all the flaky flaky crumbs onto the patio.
No Love Treats, guys. Well, maybe I’ll slice one up before kick-off and you can share it….