{"id":12355,"date":"2025-12-03T07:06:01","date_gmt":"2025-12-03T07:06:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=12355"},"modified":"2025-12-04T00:34:21","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T00:34:21","slug":"bees-surprisingly-have-a-bit-of-a-sting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=12355","title":{"rendered":"Bees Surprisingly Have A Bit of a Sting"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"getty embed image\" style=\"background-color:#fff;display:inline-block;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;color:#a7a7a7;font-size:11px;width:100%;max-width:550px;text-align:center;\"><div style=\"padding:0;margin:0;text-align:center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2245035386\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div><div style=\"overflow:hidden;position:relative;height:0;padding:117.62376% 0 0 0;width:100%;text-align:center;\"><iframe src=\"\/\/embed.gettyimages.com\/embed\/2245035386?et=cFxg7wbtRYJhPVgqzX4UMg&amp;tld=com&amp;sig=422kEtBIELpWCOEl05ipTfa3fDL6JCXG7bPRDa2NC5c=&amp;caption=true&amp;ver=1\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"550\" height=\"594\" style=\"display:inline-block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;text-align:center;\"><\/iframe><\/div><div class=\"getty embed image\" style=\"background-color:#fff;display:inline-block;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;color:#000000;font-size:12px;width:100%;max-width:505px;\"><div style=\"padding:0;margin:0;text-align:center;\">Time to play against his old friends?<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Back to Business<\/strong><br>A week of big games, and Spurs, has gleaned seven of the nine available points, coincidentally the same haul that was taken from our three away games just before the last damned interlull. I believe most of us would accept that four wins and two draws in November is not to be sniffed all things considered. No doubt there will be a little disappointment at the dropped points away to Sunderland and Chelsea but we should keep in mind that we are unbeaten in 17 games now and that regular runs of 7\/9ths will win us trophies come the business end of the season. Also, someone please send a large gold star to whoever actually said those fateful words \u2018I know, let\u2019s buy Mikel Merino\u2019. He is a very useful little engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A Busy Christmastime for The Arsenal<\/strong><br>Anyway, after Bayern and Chelsea, next up is a more mundane midweek match-up with Brentford, not quite a Bavarian giant or top of the table clash but it will, if won, provide the same three points. It will also kick off a busy December when we will have to fight on three fronts in 8 matches over just 27 days. Six of those matches are in the PL, 18 juicy points are up for grabs. &nbsp;I would very much like to hoover up most (all) of them because whilst the common mantra of \u201cno easy games in the PL\u201d is mostly true, some are less equally difficult than others. In other words, to move from George to Ron, these six games present an opportunity to open our legs and show our class to our rivals. &nbsp;What the two draws in November did illustrate clearly enough, in my own opinion, is we cannot go to the well too often with the same XI. I recognise Mikel has been managing astutely as ever, using substitutions strategically and giving rests where he can \u2013 and to be fair so I think did most of the national team managers during this break \u2013 but it is time for a few to put their feet up for the next game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, although several of our shiny new wonder squad have got broken already by the relentless churn it is time for the hardy few to bloom. What does that mean in terms of feet on the pitch? Well for me it means this XI<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Raya<br>White Saliba\/Mosquera Hincapi\u00e9 Calafiori<br>\u00d8de N\u00f8rgaard Rice<br>Saka Gy\u00f6keres Martinelli<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In truth, I would be amazed if MA named that exact XI. &nbsp;but we have a tricky game at Villa at the weekend where we will need a <s>stronger<\/s> different XI than we need for Brentford at home. I read back and then changed stronger to different as actually that\u2019s a good, strong team! The point is of course why push our luck by starting the likes of Zubi, Timber, Merino and Leo? I accept an equally good case could be made for resting Declan, Bukayo and Cala too and I am sure Mikel and his team are well aware of who needs what. &nbsp;As long as we can rest at least four or five of the players who came through all or nearly all of the November games plus went away with the national teams, we can then rest a few of the others later in December in some of the other er\u2026 less equally difficult games like Wolves, Bruges and Palace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, in summary for December all I want is to rotate\/rest effectively, rake in points, and advance on three fronts \u2013 who said football supporters are demanding?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Is Brentford in Middlesex?<\/strong><br>Yes, the unimaginatively named town is at the confluence of the Rivers Brent and Thames. It\u2019s also, despite what anyone may tell you, in Middlesex, just like Teddington and Spuddington. At this point I was about to suggest that Teddington would be, by some distance, the best of those three to visit but I just remembered this new idea my Auntie B told me about \u2013 it\u2019s called fact-checking apparently, and it\u2019s what you do instead of just making stuff up. It\u2019ll never catch on, but anyway I bethought me to give it a go and after extensive research mine eyes were opened to the glory of the once, and perhaps future, County Town of Middlesex \u2013 take a bow Brentford, and take that Teddington and Spuddington! &nbsp;It was also once home to Pocohontas and John Quincy Adams, though not together I hasten to add. A long list of Illustrious visitors includes the likes of Julius Caesar, King Canute, Edmund Ironside and Prince Rupert, who all stopped by for a battle or two over the centuries. Nothing much has happened since then it\u2019s true, though Rat Scabies is currently resident I believe, but at least they had their 15 centuries or so of fame. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Brentford FC<\/strong><br>But I suppose I should also briefly tell you something about Brentford the football club. Founded in 1889 by a bunch of wimpy rowers who didn\u2019t fancy rowing in the winter, they have won nothing of note in 136 years of trying. Although, given they are above the Spuds these days perhaps their fans can give us a chorus of \u201cChampions of Middlesex, you\u2019ll never sing that\u201d and we can all laugh happily together. Now, usually at this point I would respectfully address some of the failings of whatever opponent we happened to be playing, however Brentford have confounded many a pundit this season by maintaining their mid table place despite selling attackers Mbeumo and Wissa, goalkeeper Flekken and of course their captain Christiaan N\u00f8rgaard. Their previous manager had surprisingly decided to take a step down in life this summer but the club then took the bold step of appointing set-piece coach Keith Andrews in his stead. A recipe for disaster on first glance (I should \u2018fess up that I plumped for 15<sup>th<\/sup> in the Predictathon) they in fact currently sit comfortably in 10<sup>th<\/sup> driven largely by excellent home form (16 of their 19 points have been accrued at home) and the goals of Igor Thiago (just above half their 21 goals). Encouragingly their away form has been poor but we really do need to be aware as Thiago is certainly on a roll \u2013 hence the title of this piece. &nbsp;However, unless Andrews has a surprise or two up his sleeve &#8211; and from what I have seen this season they haven\u2019t fundamentally changed their approach &#8211; I think we all know how the game will go. They will be aggressive, organised and pressing hard, we will need to break them down and attend to matters defensively. So\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What will happen?<\/strong><br>Passing swiftly over the events of last season\u2019s home game against this lot, we do generally, over last few years, have a good record at home to the Bees. I see no reason we cannot win this one too, a clean sheet thrown in would be nice \u2013 by the way, we will shatter the Man United record of 107 premier league games without conceding three goals in game if disaster does not strike. I would of course take a 4-3 win and no record in fact, but much prefer a more sedate 3-0 from this game. Be good to see Viktor back on the scoresheet as well, plus a late cameo from Jesus if at all possible please Boss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Enough of what I want. As always, have a great time to all the Holic\u2019s lucky enough to be there and for the rest of us watching on some form of media, well, let\u2019s hope we have a great time too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>COYG!!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Embed from Getty Images Time to play against his old friends? Back to BusinessA week of big games, and Spurs, has gleaned seven of the nine available points, coincidentally the same haul that was taken from our three away games just before the last damned interlull. I believe most of us would accept that four [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12355"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12355"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12355\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12364,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12355\/revisions\/12364"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12355"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12355"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12355"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}