Just for Ark

I have had a request by a good footballing friend/mate of mine to have a direct link to my Soccer-Footballing blog, World’s Most Beautiful Game. My friend’s/mate’s name? He goes by Ark, but I nicknamed him Arkysatan because of his knack for getting under the skin of religious nuts otherwise known as Christians. 🤭😉

Anyway, Ark can’t seem to find his way back to my soccer-footballing blog to talk about the incredible sport when our teams are playing. Hence, this page is for him and his wandering aimless ways. Ark/Doug here’s the specific link to the The Chatter Box on my soccer-footballing blog so we both don’t take up tons of comment-space on our regular blogs and on Nan’s blog especially! She can be harsh and brutal to us soccer-footballing freaks who get out of hand talking sports-ball on her blog! 😄

67 thoughts on “Just for Ark”

    • That was my prediction as well, for your boys. Villa are in a bit of a slump now after losing to Club Brugge yesterday after losing before to Tottenham and Crystal Palace. I’m a bit shocked as I’m sure Roger is too. 😄

      Yes, I’m nervous about being at Stamford Bridge. If my Gunners want to keep the Top of the Table fascinating this season, your right… they MUST starting winning and dominating like they did last season! 🤞

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      • When you look at the way Palmer is playing, 7 goals 5 assists and Jackson… 6 goals three assists. They will be a handful. Arsenal better arrive with their Game Face on.
        As for Villa. As I said yesterday we should betl alright but they will be bruising for it on Saturday after Bruge. So caution is the watch word. Or at least be a little wary,

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  2. 5-2!

    Like wow! Almost playing like proper team.

    I have a dear friend, Chris, from my time when I lived in Chester who is a lifelong Hammers fan.

    He now lives in Australia.

    I am guessing he is not a happy bunny this evening!

    😂

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  4. 3-0! Damn, son you must be grinning from ear to ear this morning.

    Well done that team.

    Now… As Toto once sang…

    “…. meet you all the way..”

    Can they make the final?

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    • I was thrilled beyond belief! And all three goals were spectacular, were they not!? Declan Rice’s two free-kick gems and Merino’s first-time booter? I was giddy over the moon yesterday! 🥳🤩

      The Final? Well, assuming Real Madrid doesn’t kick the shit out of us back at the Bernabéu, then if we make it past PSG or Villa, which I like our chances there, then meeting possibly my other adored team, Barcelona, will be a very hard ask. I don’t know, I’m not highly confident to win it all, assuming we get past PSG/Villa. 🤷‍♂️ On paper, the full squads, we are equally as good as PSG and only barely better on Villa. We’ll see. 🤞

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      • Was a good game. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Would have been a fairy tale finish if Dowman had scored but kudos to the lad, he played well and that was a deserved penalty after that excellent dribbling run into the box.
        And an acadamy grad.as well.
        😊
        So, Gunners top of the pile. Makes for a nice smiley weekend for you Mister D.

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            • It was a game and a half.
              Grimsby lad 2-0 for almost the entire game then Mbueno pulled one back close to the whistle Mcquire headed home the equalizer.
              What made it even more dramatic was Grimsby were denied a third goal after a terrible line call!
              Both goals were attributed to errors by Obana but in his defense… he had no defense.. They were awful.
              Cunha had a chance to win the pen shoot out but Grimsby’s keeper made a superb save.
              It was 12-11 when Mbueno stepped up…. and fired it against the crossbar!

              How long will Amorim hang on to the manager’s hat is anyone’s guess.

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            • Wow. Haven’t been able to keep up with European football as well as I have in the past—marriage, prepping to move to new place, getting Sandy moved here from Chattanooga, TN, a 16.5 hr trip one-way and two days so not to go bonkers crazy or asleep at wheel.

              So are Man U out of the Carabao Cup then?

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            • Ah yes, I remember that drill very well. Ugh. 🙄 But it works for quicker reflexes. My drill was a slightly different version. I was facing a goal-sized wall and my head coach was behind me throwing/rolling the ball to hit the wall and I would have to react, fast. Sometimes he’d get up close to the wall, right behind me so that I had very little reaction time. But still… it greatly improved my reflexes, all good!

              However, on top of that fantastic, effective drill, my Brasilian head coach (and former goalkeeper himself down in Brasil) drilled and drilled and drilled in me FOOTWORK! Over and over and over where eventually it was second nature to get in at least ONE quick shuffle sideways then “thrust” (upper thigh) to reach shots literally up into the upper-90 or off the far post. If I had time to get in TWO fast shuffle steps (then thrust upper thigh at ball) I would do that. Add to that drill coming out a bit more to cut the angle of distance to the ball… Ark, I was literally getting finger tips to those shots in the corners! I shit you not! It worked about 65%–70% of the time if not more. I’m not kidding.

              Sadly, I don’t see too many 6’2″, 6’4″, or 6’8″ keepers having ANY great footwork. They merely leap from where they’re standing and almost always NEVER get a finger on those “corner” shots. 😟🤦‍♂️

              I don’t get it. WHY aren’t goalkeeper coaches teaching this footwork!!!!!???

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    • Yes, FINALLY in the 89th minute!!! Geezzz. But I kept saying over and over, “THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU Jordan Pickford for your f*ck-up and decision to come out off your line” 😁 Bad horrible decision on his part.

      And the 16-yr old’s goal at the end? Wow, what composure he had, eh? 😉

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          • I reckon the whole team is out of sorts, but Mo seems to be taking more flak than most.
            The style of play is slow, side to side and at times verging on pedantic.
            It highlights even more the role Trent-Alexander played and how that role is missing.
            I will follow tonights tie with a high degree of trepidation.
            I caught the highlights of the Brentford-Wolves game. 2-2. If you can find highlights watch it.
            What a game! Fast paced, end to end attacking and exciting to watch. One of Brentford’s goals was a real cracker!
            Thomas Frank must now be kicking himself for ditching Brentford for Spurs and look where that got him. Short term fat paycheck and he is out in the wilderness.
            I hope United dump Carrick… He is the best thing they’ve had in years. Can’t be having with a decent Man U.
            😉

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            • Agree with everything you say Ark. And I can’t wrap my brain around WHY L’pool board management let Luis Díaz go—he and Mo, Ekitike, and Isak would have been a super lethal front-line. Wow. And yes, Trent-Alexander is another big miss though Dominik Szoboszlai is a world-class, multi-positional talent… BUT he is more prolific in attacking midfield, yes?

              Didn’t catch the Brentford-Wolves match. If I find free time to watch the replay I will, but I can’t promise.

              Very sad about Thomas Frank, but then again, he should’ve known how ill and dysfunctional the Tottenham front office and board have been the last 2-4 seasons. That’s on Frank. 🤷‍♂️

              Once again we are in agreement about Man U and Michael Carrick. I would LOVE to see Spurs and Man U get relegated to the Championship! 😄

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