EPL #9, Going to West Ham

Thank you England for having a different daylight savings than us Yanks. It means I get an extra hour of sleep and can still follow your crazy sports. This Sunday, I did not have to hit the Church until noon. Drinking at noon isn’t even weird.

I arrived solo at Nevada’s around 11:30, to a dismal sight. My normal spot is infesting with Skousers. The Liverpool fans were celebrating their win over Chelsea, and they were hogging the corner where we normally sit. Damn Skousers. I took post at the center of the bar, and waited for Devo and Margaret. I was just left of the West Ham crew, who started the singing early. Good boys. While the rest of the faithful was there, we were spread out, which gave a bit of an echo effect to the songs, but Devo and I brought the noise.

It is sort of sad having Theo being so good internationally, because all the old “Where is your Englishmen/ You need more foreigners” singing has dried up a bit. We in fact have England’s, England’s number one, Green be damned.

The game itself was a tad tense. We had a lot of shots go wide, and could not close at all in the first half. It was a bit of a Goalie game, as both Green and Manuel had huge plays. But it all changed when the man who is always tall took the pitch. Ade made the difference, forcing an own goal (there should really be a stat for that, called fool-making or something) and scoring one outright on a great break. Corn-rows or not, you give him the ball and he will score.

Also, was it me, or was Gallas playing like he has something to prove. Which he kinda does. Prove it William.

I had to bolt out the door after the match, but it was a good win, and it keeps us competitive for the league. It is always good to be at Nevada’s with a bunch of different supporter groups, and even better to win in front of them.

So it looks like I will be at work for the North London Derby, or possibly at a pot luck lunch (don’t ask). So either way, no mid week Nevada’s. I may just watch the game on my computer, distracting the entire office as I scream at a gamecast. Will check back in with you about that.

One derby down, one to go.

Tribute to a Great Gooner: Juande Ramos

As skipper of Gooners in Exile, I would personally like to congratulate Juande de la Cruz Ramos Cano for his great success in bringing joy to Gooners around the world by sinking arch rival Tottenham Hotspurs to the bottom of the Premier League. Thank you Juande for not only spending all of Tottenham's money, but also raising their sad expectations before dashing them down toward the Championship. But you, great gooner that you are, even went beyond the call of duty by keeping Chelsea from taking 3 points at Stamford and losing by 1 goal in 5 of your 8 games which must have thrilled you as you watched those wanky hotspur fans in agony. Ramos, we will miss you. Your mother was twice the whore that Mrs. Redknapp could ever be.  

Champions League: Sticking it to Fenerbahce

What’s better than getting Tuesday off work? Getting the Tuesday off work where Arsenal head to Turkey for some Champions League footer. BooYa.

For the first time ever, I went alone to Nevada’s, as the rest of the Army had work. Aided by some pre-game beers from home and a Blue 9 Burger, I set up shop in the church by my lonesome. Of course, you are never alone Nevada’s. The dreads guy from the Everton game showed up (hereby known as Dreads until I can think of a better nickname/ learn his Christian name), as did Elais and some other of the faithful.

Although if you have to go to a soccer game by yourself, this was the one to go to. It was like both teams met beforehand and decided that it would be more fun if no one played defense. Hell, even Silvestre went for a goal, he just got confused. I had not yet finished texting Mark about Ade’s goal before Theo put one in the back of the neck. Ramsey getting his first goal was just icing on the cake. Also great to see Diaby have a key game (we may have a midfield at some point).

The only complaint, no singing. It has been noted that the Champsion’s League crowd is more subdued than the EPL boys, but this was ridiculous. Two actual British people who sat next to me joined in for a tune or two (It always amuses me that people visit America from the UK and end up in this British bar, it’s like going to a Burger joint in Germany), as well as The Kid (that one Arsenal fan who is clearly underage, but whatever) but that was it. Come on boys, let’s get a little singing in if we are kicking that much ass.

After the match, I took some time and hung out with the faithful. Elais and I discussed Wenger’s strategy over a pint and one of those ‘I’m on Setanta Sports’ skits (which are freaking hilarious). Jack comped me a pint or two as I talked the visiting Brits. Then I went out into the courtyard and talked to Dreads, The Kid, and a female Man U fan who told me that ‘you can’t trust skousers with money’. Life lessons at the Church. I don’t think I had ever ventured into the back yard at Nevada’s, but feel I may have to more often.

It’s good to know that you always got a friend at Nevada’s, as long as you roll with the boys in red and white.

We got two London derbies coming up next week. I am not sure I can make either of them, but hope to post something next week anyway. Here’s for 6 more points come next weekend!

EPL Week 8, Everton

Hello all. New Guest write Ward here, relaying the boy’s adventure for the Everton visit.

Mark and I braved the early morning cold (We have officially hit the point in the season where the warmth of your bed in the morning makes you question your love of Drunk in the Morning FC) to get to church. The Chelsea game was on when we arrived, and to no surprise it was as quiet as a mouse. We took position at the center of the bar, at Jack’s advise, and began chatting up the other Gooners. We met a guy with dreads who had just moved back to the states from London, and was thrilled that there was a place for the footer. A heated debate about the worth of William Gallas broke out (Gallas has replaced Ade as the new Arsenal player the fans love to hate) and I threw in my two sense, mostly defending the guy due to his frequent game-changing goals.

The game was a good one, we came back from 1 nil to take it. The usual rants about the team “poor defense’ and such still stand, but three points are three points any way you slice it. The fans were not as boisterous as usual, which I blame on breaking up the Arsenal group, which usually corrugates at the end of the bar. Also we lacked many key players (Arjun, Devo, The Captain) which did not help. We did try a little “North End of Highbury” but the clock end was about 4 feet away from the North End. No Good.

The Liverpool game was also showing, and there is nothing more fun than messing with the Skousers. Hubris got a song war going, which he won with his “You’ll never win the league when I’m alive” chant. Liverpool fans are fun, because they love their songs, but we hate them so much less than Chelsea and Man U.

With the game done, we hit off 99 Miles to Philly for some sweet sobering cheese steaks.

Coming up next, Champion’s League Tuesday.