Comments
A night at the Emirates
2009-02-17 00:06:51
What a joy it must be to support a team close to your home. Here I am, just gone eleven, and I'm home after watching Arsenal give a football lesson to Cardiff, a bit like Burnley gave a lesson to Arsenal when we dumped them out of the Carling Cup. Now we get the chance to do the double, in the next round of the FA Cup.
I didn't mention this to my Cardiff hosts, but I was kind of hoping for Arsenal, partly for the aforementioned geographical reasons, but also because it is worth an extra million quid to us in gate money. Yes, it is a big and beautiful stadium. They also played some beautiful football, but only because Cardiff let them.
It is so different watching football when you don't have all your emotions tied up in it. I was sitting next to Neil Kinnock who, at least until the third goal, was in a state of high anxiety, shouting to the players as though he were the coach.
I texted the Burnley chairman's wife to tell her the directors' box seats were really comfortable. I will be in the away end when we play there. I prefer it there when Burnley are involved. But the view tonight was superb, ditto the pitch, though the atmosphere was very flat at times. I felt pleased for Eduardo to come back and score a couple of goals. His injury was horrific and there must have been times he worried he would never make it back.
I certainly hope he plays against us - because if the alternative is Robin van Persie, then I really would start to worry. Now that is a player.
According to messages coming in as the match went on, Setanta said I was there on a spying mission for Burnley, which really made my day. There is nothing better than setting a strategic course, as per my blog this morning, and then seeing it come to fruition.
Anyway, when I do my top secret report for our manager, Owen Coyle, I will say that if we play as we did against Chelsea - high tempo, in their faces, don't let them settle, play like we think we're at home - then we have a chance. If we sit back and freeze like Cardiff did, we've had it.
It was nice to say Bonsoir to Arsene Wenger. He came up to the directors' hospitality suite and said hello to everyone and was his usual suave and charming self. I've met him a few times and I think he may be a bit wary on account of my friendship with Alex Ferguson, but I think he has been a fantastic addition to English football and to London life. I also love the fact that he wears really smart expensive suits, but when it gets chilly on the touchline, he puts on that Arsenal anorak.
Finally, I must tell you about the Ghanaian taxi driver who drove me to the match tonight. He was called Edward, and such a nice chap. When I got in the car, he asked me for an autograph and I went one better and went in the house an d got him a signed copy of my audio book (The Blair Years) to listen to when he is sitting around waiting for fares. He said he was a big Labour supporter and he loved so much of what the government did. When I asked him if he thought we could win again, he said obviously it was difficult because of the economy, but he felt people did not like the Tories. ‘David Cameron is a lightweight,' he said.
It's getting out there, I would say. People are getting to the point.
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MPs expenses - time for party leaders to meet againPublish date: 2009-05-09 09:50:19
Should happiness replace prosperity as national goal?Publish date: 2009-05-08 08:43:23
Musings from a sleepless nightPublish date: 2009-05-07 07:33:49
Darren Fletcher - an injustice that has to be rightedPublish date: 2009-05-06 09:52:29
Maggie's legacy not as great as she thinksPublish date: 2009-05-05 08:33:02
Here's hoping Cardiff is metaphor for CameronPublish date: 2009-05-04 09:38:30
More Mr Benn and Co pleasePublish date: 2009-05-03 10:03:00
Going Fourth with JPPublish date: 2009-05-02 18:25:41
Journalism - print first, think laterPublish date: 2009-05-02 09:10:01
In praise of two poetsPublish date: 2009-05-01 10:26:36
JP hits the road againPublish date: 2009-04-29 18:52:11
My night with Eddie IzzardPublish date: 2009-04-29 10:53:25
Explaining the 50p top tax ratePublish date: 2009-04-28 09:22:53
George Best and Martin McGuinnessPublish date: 2009-04-27 09:02:35
Cameron confused over indepdendence and impartialityPublish date: 2009-04-26 12:20:56
Guide ro Marathon running part 2Publish date: 2009-04-25 11:01:34
Good signals on coal and the OlympicsPublish date: 2009-04-24 10:45:28
Tips for the London MarathonPublish date: 2009-04-23 17:29:27
Missed the Budget, saw why it matteredPublish date: 2009-04-22 23:09:31
Football good, politics bad. AllegedlyPublish date: 2009-04-22 00:00:24
The Great Wall gets greaterPublish date: 2009-04-21 09:55:22
Two sides to police storyPublish date: 2009-04-20 11:39:54
Budgets, Balls, billionaires and Susan BoylePublish date: 2009-04-19 12:31:45
Do muscles have memories?Publish date: 2009-04-18 09:44:44
Bring back standing at footballPublish date: 2009-04-17 14:50:22
When Facebook friends fall outPublish date: 2009-04-16 12:29:16
Guardian sightings and the email and bath plug agendaPublish date: 2009-04-15 11:32:16
The spin is all in the prismPublish date: 2009-04-14 09:22:41
A setback, not a crisisPublish date: 2009-04-13 12:55:19
The real lessons from Damian McBridePublish date: 2009-04-12 10:49:47
Will English always be the dominant language?Publish date: 2009-04-11 10:02:02
On the pipes and what makes a ScotPublish date: 2009-04-10 11:06:20
John Prescott lazy? NO WAYPublish date: 2009-04-09 09:11:31
David Frost is seventyPublish date: 2009-04-08 08:48:38
The Speaker, BBC2, tonight and tomorrow 8pmPublish date: 2009-04-07 14:25:31
Obama, colds and being woken by Korean missilesPublish date: 2009-04-06 11:59:24
When a call matters more than protocolPublish date: 2009-04-05 11:33:42
Green Cities Champions LeaguePublish date: 2009-04-04 10:19:53
Could Cameron have delivered the G20 deal?Publish date: 2009-04-03 10:11:59
Of Benn and BonoPublish date: 2009-04-02 08:21:16
Memo to Sarko - allez vite a LondresPublish date: 2009-04-01 08:46:17
Happy April Fool's DayPublish date: 2009-04-01 01:44:05
Eurostar, Le Monde and a thought for the G20 sherpasPublish date: 2009-03-31 09:17:22
Why Kevin Rudd made an impactPublish date: 2009-03-30 10:24:41
Pre-G20 hype matters less than post-G20 processPublish date: 2009-03-29 13:17:28
The Damned UnitedPublish date: 2009-03-28 10:37:04
A hobby horse, a plug and a bit of sportPublish date: 2009-03-27 10:22:23
Cloughie - he had a lot to be big-headed aboutPublish date: 2009-03-26 09:38:36
A sad sight of the old fearing the youngPublish date: 2009-03-25 17:03:07
Post-modern, post-structural, or bullshit?Publish date: 2009-03-25 08:18:02
Learning the right lessons from ObamaPublish date: 2009-03-24 08:53:15
Lazy Dave needs to keep an eye on lazy KenPublish date: 2009-03-23 11:16:14
Farewell favourite restaurant, hello hometownPublish date: 2009-03-22 08:18:09
Dave, Danny and have the Tories really changed?Publish date: 2009-03-21 08:55:13
Life beyond Dover ...Publish date: 2009-03-20 10:11:21
My friends in The New Statesman - Fergie, Fiona, Tony, Sarah, Kevin, 'Dacre,' and a great GB idea for the G20Publish date: 2009-03-18 10:38:22
Iraq, Iran, GB, Obama and diplomatic chessPublish date: 2009-03-17 10:07:13
The Age of StupidPublish date: 2009-03-16 08:27:13
Is all change good?Publish date: 2009-03-15 10:00:06
The pressure of being a post-modern sex godPublish date: 2009-03-14 10:00:55
Cameron still hasn't sealed the deal with businessPublish date: 2009-03-13 09:21:49
Stand up for social workersPublish date: 2009-03-12 08:31:17
Surely Malcolm Tucker could have told Armando Ianucci ... You can't spin a spinnerPublish date: 2009-03-11 10:58:25
Start of a new approach from Labour?Publish date: 2009-03-10 09:54:12
A peace process still strongPublish date: 2009-03-09 08:21:05
Day of destiny for the real footballer of the yearPublish date: 2009-03-08 09:21:06
Private advice to Peggy Mitchell - the leaked note in fullPublish date: 2009-03-07 08:17:21
Boris, the Tories and the tummy-tickling poodle pressPublish date: 2009-03-06 09:49:37
A day in the life of the self-obsessed TV reporterPublish date: 2009-03-05 07:55:47
GB - good speech, well deliveredPublish date: 2009-03-04 19:31:05
Notes on the environment, a role in EastEndersPublish date: 2009-03-04 10:58:56
She may be my 'wife' but it is time to rebut!Publish date: 2009-03-03 10:52:59
Some speeches matter more than othersPublish date: 2009-03-02 12:04:45
Mental health and the Carling Cup FinalPublish date: 2009-03-01 09:08:17
Inside the chocolate factoryPublish date: 2009-02-28 10:23:59
GB on the G20, JP on Jeremy KylePublish date: 2009-02-27 09:14:36
Charity and the credit crunch, please give generously!Publish date: 2009-02-26 08:55:12
Why oh why are the Tories not home and dry?Publish date: 2009-02-24 09:44:59
Me, Dermot and ten top songsPublish date: 2009-02-23 10:02:19
Names round-upPublish date: 2009-02-22 08:43:39
What's in a name?Publish date: 2009-02-21 09:58:14
Editing the New StatesmanPublish date: 2009-02-20 11:42:36
Salute Peter M’s proper use of the F wordPublish date: 2009-02-19 09:58:58
Labour's communications challenge for the NHSPublish date: 2009-02-18 10:34:39
In praise of KeighleyPublish date: 2009-02-17 14:33:57
When marriage is testedPublish date: 2009-02-16 13:36:35
Spare me the myths and the whiningPublish date: 2009-02-15 13:29:50
Dave Cameron - is that all there is?Publish date: 2009-02-14 11:11:55
Boris Johnson: F is for ...Publish date: 2009-02-13 07:55:10
The Cameron vacuumPublish date: 2009-02-12 14:48:33
Lincoln, Obama, Blair and the 24 hour media culturePublish date: 2009-02-11 10:28:47
Eighteen interviews later ...Publish date: 2009-02-10 19:24:45
Time to talk about Time to Change on NewsnightPublish date: 2009-02-09 22:47:49
So that’s what they mean by online community?Publish date: 2009-02-08 12:12:51
First blogPublish date: 2009-02-05 15:23:57
olli issakainen
2009-02-17 15:56:17As a Finnish Burnley fan I watched the FA Cup game between Arsenal and Cardiff with interest on Finnish television. When the picture of Alastair Campbell and Neil Kinnock was shown our commentator said that they were probably directors of Arsenal FC.
Grant Blowers
2009-02-17 10:11:47Ah, Alastair! As I was in my seat at the Emirates last night, I briefly thought of you (it WAS briefly, the third goal captured my attention!), in the directors box - it must have been pretty good! But, such a shame it was with Cardiff!
Come on, I know you're Burnley 'till you die, but it's time to start supporting the team of your adopted town and support the Gunners on a more regular basis. You can't keep it to riding around the stadium on your bike! Come and be a Gooner!
Alina Palimaru
2009-02-17 03:20:28Glad to see you enjoyed all the football!
Speaking of signed copies... what is the status of the plan to sign some books (or anything for that matter) for us little people?
Alina
Adrian
2009-02-17 00:22:55I was walking home through the crowd this evening and they seemed very subdued (this was before the game). Last week I walked through the crowds, at about the same time, for the meaningless Brazil/Italy game and there seemed more excitement then.
I'm not one of the "money has ruined football" crowd, but it does seem to be that Arsenal's shift to a bigger and more expensive stadium hasn't come without a price.
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