Baltimore World Cup Soccer @ Slainte Pub

Or The Return of LeChat, at least to this blog spot.

I know several people have asked me when I was going to restart the normal spot but there have been several life changing issues over the past few weeks that I won’t go into. Excuse the run on… and the sentence fragment. It seems like my own 2011/12 season has been just as rocky and incoherent as the Arsenal’s.

Personally, I’m waiting for the world to end. S*urs may finish top 4…

I’ll let that sink in for the gooners and wannabes out there…

And now for the knife:  They may even finish above the Arsenal.

I guess the only possible good thing to come out of this is Good Ol’ ‘Arry is doing himself no favors on the stand. If you haven’t been following; allegedly Mr. Rednapp decided to take a few quid as a bonus for the Crouch deal. Not a bad thing on it’s own, however putting in an “investment” account in Monaco and not reporting it on your taxes is something a little, let’s just say, suspect.

Reading a few reports from the Guardian, I swear it sounds like something out of a Guy Ritchie movie. I know I’m not doing it any justice. So, as a rule I don’t trust any geezer who owns a pig farm. Ol’ ‘Arry might be one to own a pig farm or two.

More locally, has anyone noticed the excitement around the pub lately? No, well I guess I’m the only who pays attention. We have quite a few new faces showing up in the crowd; some falling right in step and others still lingering in the periphery. It’s good to have new blood, especially once they’ve lasted a few weekends and learn to order a pint without stuttering.

As SlainteLOSC stated, ‘No one is going to bite you.’

I hope to see everyone out this weekend and to Mr. Suarez…. no biting

Let me first address some things -

To all my Liverpool friends and fans. I hate that you aren’t in the top 4. Seriously – for some odd reason it really bothers me. It’s like Ireland not being in the World Cup. It just isn’t natural. Maybe it’s our pub, maybe it’s the patience you’ve show us City supporters — maybe it’s just that Irish Dave needs a break. But either way… all love.

To all those Arsenal, Man U and Chelsea fans out there. Cheers on a great year. I feel much closer to the soccer community in Baltimore simply because of your good will and good times. It’s been a fun matriculation of laughs and drinks.

And cheers to Slainte for making an atmosphere that makes every weekend something to really look forward to in the Baltimore Soccer bubble. It truly is a special place and you all deserve a big hand – except Willy… he’s French.

The video – some of you may have seen me jet in with a video camera on Sunday morning. Don’t worry – it’s not incriminating… it’s a video we are shooting for the game on July 31st – it’s a Soccer Fan’s guide to Baltimore.

With all that said – Tottenham and Man City play on wed. – be there. Support the gas kings – crown us the new bouncing baby money bags of the world and join the regime now… because when we take over in 3 years — I’ll have a list of who was there to support us in the beginning.

I’m not going to go into detail about who is playing and who isn’t. There are so many wildcard variables leading into this – that personally I’d rather just see a fight to the death between Mancini and Redknapp. But – if they have to play – let it be at home and let Vincent Kompany score the winner. Because I will not get bogged down in nuance for the biggest game in the Blue Moon realm in 31 years.

Love – overlord.

Well – after our Nil Nil love fest at Slainte – it appears it’s time go back to our seperate corners and watch the end of the season.  Only 2 things to play for now – 4th place for City, Villa, Tottenham – and I guess Liverpool – if the other 3 teams all die – and then the big clash between Chelski and Scumbags – I mean – who to root for there? I guess… Chelsea… but I mean – it’s like rooting for Lex Luther or Skeletor – - does it make a difference?

It was also nice to see that City fans outlasted the Arsenal fans on Saturday – I could probably credit that to 3 things – 1. Their absolute LOVE of me and my usual fandom (sarcasm)- 2. The fact that they don’t have anything to play for… or 3. It was just a really nice day – - we had a full house but not too many die hards outside of the City boys, Scoot, beardy – and the Mayor of Fells with BittyGunner and Roscoe with Johnny from Karate Kid – With that said – we had a great time… there were laughs, politically incorrect jokes, shots, hugs, but alas… no goals – so it was a lot like kissing your cousin for 90 minutes.

Well – with all that behind us. City. Damnit City! You are killing me with only 1 point out of United and Arsenal. 2 years ago – that was acceptable – now… it’s just not – especially when we were at home for one. Offense has been not only absent the last 2 weeks – it’s been downright stymied by an awful lineup choice. City are in control of their own destiny – with a game in hand against both Villa and Pool and a head to head against Tottenham next Wed. (I will be back at the pub for that in FULL FORCE) – If City win out – we go to the big dance – if we don’t then – i’m sure the Mayor and Flash’s owner will come up with some more chants to make fun of us kicked City fans – but we’ll laugh all the way to the bank soon –

Lineups -

………….Fulop
micah..toure..kompany../zaba
……..de jong…Barry………
swp………tevez…Bellamy……
………….adebayor……………

Our new keeper instills no confidence in me what-so-ever . But the way Kolo anf VK have been playing I’m ok with that — I think Jono  may have worked his way to the bench with last week’s performance and IF I EVER SEE VIERA on the pitch again – I’ll smack someone – that may have been the worst lineup choice I’ve seen all year – so Robbie Manc – get it together this week and let’s get these 3 points going into wed. fixtures.

In Football anything can happen – so – predicting scores is pretty useless – but I’m going 1-0 City in a yawner – see you at Baltimore’s Best Soccer Bar.  Would love to see someone write up ‘Pool v Chelsea – that’s on Sunday.

Best – ManCity

The perfect storm was created for the fans of Man City and Chelsea this weekend. The perfect storm of pain – Chelsea needed us to win – and even if we didn’t they needed to hang on – we obviously want to beat United already riding our 14-2 cumulative over our last 3 and were counting on Chelsea knocking Tottenham further out of 4th.

City, with the highest hopes in years, were brought down from their inflated pedestol by a 93rd header from ginger face. Neither team played exceptionally well – and I feel City deserved at least a point – but United played 9 men behind the ball all day – and shut down Bellamy and managed to neutralize Tevez. A shame there weren’t too many goals in the game – the pub itself was charged for a nice 3-2 game – in the end – the 93rder was just devastating to the boys in blue. It was great to see the pub -for the first time ever – 50/50 between blues and reds – testament to the plights of both teams I guess – -

So how better to drown your sorrows after a 93rd minute Derby Day defeat than to root for Chelsea? (ranks right up there with getting slapped in the nards) “No way they’ll lose.” – ugh -

Chelsea swiss missing the mattress wasn’t really on my radar. And for my day not to be completely shot they had to take it Tottenham – White Hart Lane is usually a lukewarm place to play at worst. Spurs fans aren’t exactly known for their tenacity or support – but – that team has some sick talent. I can’t wait to watch Modric playing for City next year and would love to have Corluka back at right back any time he wants – - lol – I’ll let a Chelsea boy or Tottenham – whatever they are – talk about their game I just wanted to extend a giant – pfffftttffftttt to you for laying an egg yesterday when I needed you most.

On to next week- Arsenal this weekend – don’t really know what more I can say about that game right now. I’m just on board for the ride.

Right about now, I have decided that suppressing memories may be a good thing.

Seriously, a loss to the Spurs is the last thing any true Gooner is willing to accept.

It was worst than (insert your own horrible disaster here)!

I remember exactly where I was… standing by my co-workers desk complaining about how my head and how my wrist were hurting. Then I realised that my body tends to fall apart and give me warnings when something utterly catastrophic has happened to a certain North London club.

It is the end of the world, my friends, well at least towards the end of the season as 2012 is fast approaching. Volcanoes in Iceland causing havoc, earthquakes in and around the Americas, flooding in Rio, and Spurs beating the Arsenal.

What’s next?

I figure the only positive thing that may have happened is that Crystal Palace Baltimore has their home opener this weekend. Some summertime football fun to look forward to outside of the World Cup. The 35rs are planning a tailgate around 5PM and the game is at 7PM. I personally know a good deal of pub supporters will be out, so come and join the fun and festivities at UMBC.

Switching gears for half a second, there is a great article in the Guardian about the beauty of the offside rule. LINK

Til the next debacle we call a football match gets along.

~LeChat

Just wanted to share the video of that incredible goal. I let you debate about Rose’s future… But yesterday at the pub, everybody agreed on the magic of the goal!

I would have to say that this weekend(Saturday for me) at the pub was pretty legend.

Aside from the show the Chelsea boys put on – there was a last minute goal to get the Gooners hopping,  Sunderland beating Tottenham to give Liverpool a better chance and move City to it’s rightful place in the top 4. And then there was the City slaughter of Burnley at Turf Moor. All this happened in one day and lead to lots of laughs and a general great time for all.

I think one of the best things were the times when we were all outside at half – and people walk by to read the breakfast menu – and sometimes we lure them into the pub – and EVERY TIME those people say along the lines of the same thing: “I can’t believe a place like this exists. It’s awesome.”

I have recently been bringing my friend Chris down to the pub. He’s new to the entire Soccer world – but if there’s one thing I know about Chris – when he likes something he gets pretty wrapped up in it. And to see his face there this weekend for a good ole’ classic Slainte Row between 2 power houses at 7:45 AM – I think he became an official convert. As a matter of fact I know he did – we’ve been going to sporting events since we were teenagers and I know now – he’s been converted as an official evangelist of Baltimore’s best kept sports secret – Soccer at Slainte -

It is the ONLY place in Baltimore where you show up at 7:45 AM, have a pint, and see truly knowledgeable and excited fans that represent every team (not just one team in particular *wink at that other place). The chants, the food, the regulars, and just the entire atmosphere were really on point this weekend.

As a matter of fact – we had two happenstance moments:

1. A Chelsea fan got up at 6 AM to drive to Baltimore because he “would never ever find a place like this in Harrisburg.” and it is “completely worth it.” -

2. A friend of mine who is a United fan – had his friends enjoying breakfast at Koopers run over to see if a short, fat guy in blue with a paper boy hat on was making a fool of himself – and of course I was – and of course it was predictable that they would find me.

All of the things above make the pub that we all adore that much more inviting to return to over and over again. Cheers to all the lads and ladies! Top time as always.

Later this week - look forward and I mean – REALLY LOOK FORWARD to my review of the upcoming City v Birmingham game and… I would love to see some of you fans out there that can string 3 words together- get on here and really round out the field for opinions and entertaining stories. Contact Willy or myself so we can sort you out.

Onwards and upwards – especially in the table – B

Oh and cheers to Frenchy II (Seb) for coming in and taking photos -