A new Kaiser in the making: The Divine False Nine.

TotalArsenal

ALL HAIL KAISER KAI.

I’ve always liked the name, Kai. It is of Welsh origin but has its roots in many languages. In Swahili it means “loveable”, in Te reo Maori it means “food”, in Hawaii and Japan it means “the sea”. In North London it means “we have quite some player on our hands”.

Chelsea FC have a habit of letting go young players who they don’t think can cut it at the Bridge, think Salah and DeBruyne. Just like Liverpool and City have done, I think we are starting to see a reject mature into a genius.

Football history tells us there has only ever been one Kaiser, and that is the great Franz Beckenbauer. What a talent he exhibited, calm, graceful, fabulous movement and positional sense, a prince among footballers, up there with Pele, Cruyff, Eusebio, Best and Charlton in that 60’s -70’s era. I see some of those traits in our Kai. While he has some way to go to be included in the pantheon above, let’s look forward to seeing him as he enters his prime years as a footballer. He’s contracted with us until he is 29. 

Sir Alf Ramsey is reported to have said, “I like genius in a player, but it must wear sweat on it brow”. Kai’s talent is soaked in sweat, his work rate is exceptional, (PB might give us the stats) his role as a false 9 seems uninhibited. We see him defending like a centre back, chasing, intercepting, tackling and linking like a midfielder, he gets out wide and is proving a fine centre forward. Perhaps The Arsenal doesn’t need to fork out 100 million for a striker in the summer?

Volz, Mendez, Eisfeld, Malz, Gnabry, Mustafi, Leno, Podolski, Ozil, Mertesacker, Lehmann… We’ve had some good ‘uns (pun incidental) but our Kai may prove to be the Kaiser of them all.

By Stu.

114 thoughts on “A new Kaiser in the making: The Divine False Nine.”

  • A fine post, Stu.

    I think you are spot on, he could well become our best German signing ever.

    Kai is industrious, with a great Audi diesel engine. He cajoles and hassles, he runs and runs, and he connects up our play all over the pitch. He is unpredictable and he is our loose element in the system. He is like the lead guitarist in a band, who can start a solo at any time.

    And I think he will play a big role on Wednesday.

  • Big game today, boys. Villa are also playing in Europe and of course did so on Thursday, so they should not be fresher than us. The game on Wednesday should not be considered as it is all about OGAAT and three points today. Come On You Rip Roaring Gunners! 🔥🔥🔥

  • To carry on with TA’s “musical” metaphor … There’s this wonderful English expression, “to grow on someone” – a nightmare for French translators. There’s no way you can end up with anything but a pompous betrayal of the terrible, ruthless poetry of English simplicity and directness.
    The one songwriter who’s grown on me – and keeps doing so – is Townes Van Zandt. The first time I was made to listen to him, I wondered what the craze was all about, but there was an unmistakeable something in the lyrics that made you think giving him a second chance was certainly worth a try. Now, not one day goes by for me without listening to at least one of his songs.
    Will Kai be remembered as Arsenal’s fans’ Townes? He certainly has grown on all of us. The last time he set my teeth on edge was away at Porto. I found him ponderous that night and wished MA had taken him off – but it probably was the team’s worst performance of the season, and as a CF there’s not much you can do on those days. It’s hard not to think of Ollie when watching him play now, with less power and hunger for goals, but more class, skills, vision, versatility; there’s an edge to his game which I din’t notice first, but which I like a lot now, too.
    He’s made headlines for such a long time that it’s easy to forget how young he still is – I certainly am among the ones guilty as charged on this. He’s already very mature for a 24-y-o, but I have a feeling the upcoming Euro might complete the process. The Arsenal might end up benefiting from a successful run of the German team in June. I’ve often noticed how success at international level with the national team had considerably improved French players who were “just” above-average professionals before that. They were transformed by a Euro, or World Cup title, as though they came back from it with some kind of aura protecting them from ever suffering from any drop in their level of confidence – and what I’ve seen of the German team lately was impressive, I think they have a pretty good chance of making it to their first title in a long time.
    Now, the best Arsenal German player, ever? I don’t know – Jens, Per, Mesut, Lukas … Kai are such exceptional players, and so different from one another that I don’t think I could ever be able of choosing between them; what I’m sure of is that the five of them together would have made up a half of an extraordinary team. Thanks for the German passers-by you’ve mentioned, Stu – always the historian you are. I hope some of them will read your post, they’ll know that they’re not forgotten, and that “once a Gooner, always a Gooner” is not an empty shell of an expression.
    As for today’s game, well, we’ll all be nothing but bags of nerves before every single one ’til the end of the season from now on, won’t we? I think we – the Heroes – are clearly superior to them – the Villains – but football is the one team sport where such superiority might prove to have not meant that much, eventually, and Coote at the whistle is a big worry …
    COYG

  • Ouch that didn’t go to plan. Our first loss in 2024 comes as a surprise 😲

    It’s all about how to react now, starting in Munich. I think Mikel did not get the first 11 right, but that’s easy hindsight stuff. He will have to be more ruthless for the next couple of games. All to play for and well done Villa and Emery, a deserves win.

  • Out of our hands now, but if Liverpool can lose at home to Palace then City can still drop points.

    Arsenal alternatively cannot afford to drop anymore.

  • Some of you may have vague, fuzzy memories of this team, that left a barely significant trace in the history of this club:

    Lukic

    Bould-O’Leary-Adams

    Dixon-Thomas-Richardson-Winterburn

    Rocastle-Smith-Merson

    … at this point in time, and exclusively for Bergkampesque, I give you now the XI that, taking inspiration from these ghosts from Christmas pasts, will save our season come Wednesday:

    Ramsdale

    White-Saliba-Gabriel

    Tomiyasu-Jorginho-Rice-Kiwior

    Saka-Havertz-SmithRowe

    Come on, George’s spirit, visit Mikel’s; root this b….y inverted FB dogma out of his stressed, Pep-downtrodden mind, and on this brand new tabula rasa, imprint the words of your immortal prep-talk:

    “Everyone’s expecting us to go out and attack. Forget it. I have my plan. Make sure it is 0-0 at half-time and then we’ll get the first goal.”

    … and this time, one goal is enough, so please make it be scored at the 90th + 3 or 4, so my jump off the couch can beat last season’s, when Reiss scored the beauty … well, which was to condemn him to a life in Arsenal’s dungeons, actually, but that’s another story of course, let’s keep being focused on the upcoming Munich miracle …

    Remember, you read it first!! (and honestly, I don’t think you’ll read this anywhere else …)

    COYG

  • Your great post deserves much more responses, Stu. Looks like early Spring lethargy!

    An 11 without the Ode is blasphemous, Legall. But nice try. 🙂

  • Rumour has it he’s injured, T. … so why not try something different, play mind games with Tuchel … and give our Viking a chance to fully recover? However disappointing was sunday’s result (and it sure was) I, for one, don’t think the title race is over … but we’ll sure need a fully fit skipper if we want to score the needed strike in the last frame.

  • It deserves a Pulitzer, Total. 😉

    And, I am entirely happy with a limited response if it contains the de Maupassantian quality provided by that fella from Rouen, who, with his second offering conjured up the spirit of ’89, a spirit which happily and welcomely haunts my home spreading its great wings over me, always reminding me that no cause is lost even in the lair of the fiercest of opposition.

    I refuse to entertain the banshee who screeches in my ear the memory of that horribilis hebdomada in the April of our Invincible season. That week ended with a 4-2 victory over a team in red. Let’s banish the banshee. Let’s heed LeGall’s channelling of Michel de Nostradame, adopt George Graham’s tactics and emerge from Munich singing 1-0 to the Arsenal with a bloody red scalp hanging from our belts.

  • Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu, Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice, Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.

    Subs: Ramsdale, Partey, Gabriel Jesus, Smith Rowe, Nketiah, Kiwior, Trossard, Vieira, Nelson, Elneny, Hein, Zinchenko.

    Good morning gentlemen. Kommt schon, ihr Gunners.

  • 0-0 at half time. All going according to George Le Graham’s plan…

  • Double O dear.

    I guess if the last week were a secret agent, that would be its number. 

  • I guess we are all hurting a bit and that’s why it is quiet. Here’s hoping for a win v Wolves away to get us going again. I am proud of the boys whatever happens next. 🙂

  • But now I look at the night
    And it don’t seem so lonely
    We fill it up with only two
    And when I hurt
    Hurtin’ runs off my shoulders
    How can I hurt when holdin’ you.

         The gospel according to ND69

  • Hey Stu, we have such high hopes with this team,and,when they don’t deliver it hurts, but they have come so far in such a short period. Today was about bouncing back and that is a great, well deserved win. Indeed sweet as honey 🍯

  • Not yet, mate. We fly into London on May 6th.

    Any news of GN5? Also missing the likes of Eris, PB, Jay and Ox10. Trust they are all well.

    Good match against a brave young Wolves side. Our boys did us proud with so little turn around from the physical and emotional demands of the previous week. Declan Rolls Rice has a Merlin under that bonnet of his, such power and strength.

    A wounded Chelsea midweek and the Lane on Sunday. What a week to look forward to. Udogie is out for the season which helps my belief that we can emerge six points the better. COYG.

  • Hi, guys. Trust you’ve all been holding up well.

    My Mom passed away last Tuesday, after being admitted to a hospital about one week before. For 3 weeks now, we have had to keep an eye on her when her health deteriorated without warning; which took its toll on me as I have hardly been able to do anything else, including taking in footie.
    We are making funeral plans now and I may be a bit off grid for a while. Please, have us in your prayers at this time. Cheers.

  • So sorry for your loss, Eris.

    Lifting you and your family up, mate. Psalm 116: 15. Lyebiye li oju Oluwa ni ipakoja awon eniyan mimo Re.

  • Oh Eris, I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your dear mother. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. We are all there with you my friend. 🙏💛

  • Thanks, guys. I appreciate all the kind words and prayers. God bless you all.

    There you go again, Stuart, regaling me with prayers in the local dialect of “Yoruba”; Mom is Yoruba too. 👍

  • Dear friend, Eris, when you have a moment and feel up to it, please tell us a bit about your mother: who she was, what she meant to you, how she lives on in you, etc? 🔆

  • Open game with some excellent football. Just missing the quality finish tonight, other than the Tross of course. Come on you rip Roaring Gunners

  • It’s a day for Sir Chip, and Elvis Costello…

    Men come screaming, dressed in blue coats
    Shake you very gently by the throat
    One’s named Poch, one’s named Alfie
    Five to nothing against the Chelsea…

    Superb. Come on you Seagulls.

  • My condolences to Eris, for his loss. I can imagine that football is hardly a priority in such times, but hopefully the trash of Chelsea could make life a slightly more bearable.

    Stu, sorry for not responding to your fine post. I’m on a kind of sabbatical now from writing, but I follow the discussions here if I can.

    Unfortunately the work-rate or individual pressing is not too quantifiable, so I couldn’t contribute to your point with such stats. But Kai has nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to running distance, that is for sure.

    Big congrats to Xhaka for becoming German champion (against all odds) in a – so far – unbeaten team, for being the highest utilized (most Bundesliga minutes) player of this insane performance at Leverkusen and generally for upgrading his image at 31 from backup CM in England to the indispensable leader in the surprise team of the decade.

  • The Fall of the House of Scouser …

    “Thy soul shall find itself alone

    ’Mid dark thoughts of the gray tombstone—

    Not one, of all the crowd, to pry

    Into thine hour of secrecy.”

  • Costello, Poe; I love this site. Let’s add some Bowie…

    The city of Liverpool is “Blue, blue, ‘lectric blue”…

    Now, come on Brighton.

  • Am I the only one to actually think of “Smudge” when watching Kai play CF?

    There’s the height, the flankiness, the left-foot, the goal output now, of course, but there’s more …

    At the start of the move ending up with Trossard’s goal Tuesday, there were these few steps back, away from his CF, to put himself into the exact space where Bukayo could find him, then this deft touch with his so-called “weaker” foot (Alan’s right foot could be deadly) to get Partey into the groove … the whole move hinged on the part Kai played in it.

    How many times could the same be said of our 80’s-90’s legend (spoiler: a lot)? Or is it just me getting old and enjoying strolls down memory lane a little too much?

  • From Brighton Rock, to Brighton Toy Balloon, real quick

    Time to call it a night

  • Brighton Brittle.

    Yeh, mate, he does have something of “Smudger” about him. Who can forget Smithies part in the second goal at Anfield in ’89.

    Early on Kai reminded me (as I mentioned in a post way back) of Martin Peters. A goal scoring ghoster who could link midfield and attack.

    Nice song to go to bed with, LG. I went to bed with the below.

    To start the day with a 5-0 win over Chelsea and finish it with some William Butler Yeats. Tis the stuff that dreams are made of.

  • Apparently Barcelona are interested in Gabriel Martinelli…

    And I’m quite interested in an Aston Martin, but that ain’t happening either….

  • A lady walks into a Aston Martin dealership. She browses around, spots the Top-of-the-line Vanquish and walks over to inspect it. As she bends over to feel the fine leather upholstery, she inadvertently breaks Wind. Very embarrassed, she looks around nervously to see if anyone has noticed her little accident and prays that a sales person doesn’t pop up right now. As she turns around, her worst nightmare materializes in the form of a salesman standing right behind her. Cool as a cucumber and displaying complete professionalism, the salesman greets the lady With, “Good day, Madame. How may we help you today?” Very uncomfortably, but hoping that the salesman may just not have been there at the time of her accident, she asks, “Sir, what is the price of this lovely vehicle?” He answers, “Madam, if you farted just touching it, you are going to sh#t yourself when I tell you the price.”

    Any thoughts on the Dutchman slotting in at ‘pool, Total?

  • Hi Stu, it’s a big gamble by Liverpool, and also by Slot. Definitely talented and the football his teams have played is good, but it is a huge step up. I think it is too early, just as it was too early for Ten Hag.

  • Sublime piece of music and choreography, Total. Magnificent acoustics, do you know the venue?

    Forest have a good record against City at home. 1-1 last season. Come on the Garibaldis…

  • Take that, you Cheaty! Come on, Nuno, it’s up to you, now

    Partey at this level is like having our own private spring TW

    Ain’t that 3rd goal vintage Smudge for everyone? Kai even looks … happy, now – how amazing is that?

    Only Leandro T. looks a bit under the weather to me, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the 4th were his, so …

    COYG!!

  • Phew. I must have paced the living room 100 times in that last few minutes.

    My fave moment is Declan being abused by that rabid Tottenham fan as he took the corner from which Kai “Smudger” Havertz scored our third. Declan turned and looked back to the corner where that fan looked the biggest dork in London. THE BIGGEST DORK IN LONDON!!!

    Spurs can take points off City.

  • Declan Rice, Declan Rice, Declaaaaaan Rice, we got him half price…

  • Arsenal U21 1 ManUtd U21 0

    Butler-Oyedeji – the lad had been on a dry spell for quite a while, excellent timing for a goalscoring rebirth

    COYYoungGuns

  • AFC 2 MUtd 0

    Henry-Francis.

    So happy for him; I like his “true grit” an awful lot

    Dinner time now – will be back asap

    COYYG

  • Had my glass of burgundy wine in hand before, was about to turn off the computer when Cozier-Duberry made it 3-O

    O what a night …

  • Which platform do you watch this on, LG? Did Obi-Martin get a run out?

  • Burgundy wine along with a ManUtd thumping, how’s that for an exhilarating combination?

    5-0 as I write this (Butler-Oyedeji scored another, and Nwaneri on the score sheet thanks to a pen …)

    “Watch” is too big a word, Stu … I turn on my VPN, type “live streaming u21 arsenal manchester untited” and use whatever link works for as long as it works … It’s great fun, though, another trip down memory lane for me, reminding me of the time (something like … 50 years ago!!) when I tried to tune in on a listenable shortwave broadcast of Arsenal games on my parents’ radio, on Saturday afternoons).

    Some goals were things of beauty, that I can tell though; Henry-Francis’s because of the team move (tikitaka stuff), and Cozier-Duberry because of the brilliance of the scorer …

    5-1 now, but who cares? Chelsea or Brighton next time – whatever my radio memories may be, I could do with a quiet, uninterupted video night!! Are you reading this, Arsenal.com?

  • Thanks LG. During my mission years in Africa I used a short wave radio to follow Arsenal. It used to draw quite a crowd and there remains today a substantial number of Gooners in KwaZulu-Natal as a result. My message was “Arsenal is next to godliness”.

  • No Chido tonight, mate … a slight disappointment that was, but Jack’s bunch are taking on You-Know-Who U18s tomorrow, so I have a feeling he might have put his foot down about this.

    The peaceful, easy feeling in Arsenaldom before tomorrow’s game makes me feel uncomfortable – they’re a very good team, Bournemouth, they won’t park their bus and have players upfront who can hurt us …

  • Yes, Ami, they are well coached, on a good run and have strikers who love a ball over the top. A test for Gab and Will. Tho’, I cannot see Mikel allowing the Eagles to be played in the dressing room prior to kick off.

    Down here in the antipodes I’m hoping for “Just another three point sunrise”.

  • Mick’s face on its way to being carved into the palms of his hands …

  • Brilliant game, just missing a goal or two. Just love the tempo, ingenuity and penetration. Come on Bukayooooooo

    1-0 to the Arsenal

  • Such beauty.

    They walk in beauty, like the night

    Of cloudless climes and starry skies;

    And all that’s best of red and white

    Meet in their aspect and our eyes;

    Thus mellowed to that tender light

    Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

    Right, I’m off to the airport. See you in London, Kevski…

  • Who said Kiwis were flightless?

    It’s something like a 24-hour flight, isn’t it?

    Toulouse-Harlequins, the Champions’ Cup semi-final might be a thrilling way to spend 90 of those minutes (Sunday 15.00, UK Time) – Toulouse were on fire in the 2nd half of their quarter-final against Exeter:

  • Stu, I’ve emailed Total and asked him to forward my email address to you, not sure if he received it, but if you didn’t Frank, maybe you’d be so kind.

    Look forward to meeting you in London Stu over a nice cuppa…

  • Yes, sorry Total, thanks for the message and I emailed Stu today.

    Man Utd are a shambles but you can bet that they’ll play like champions when we visit this coming weekend…

  • I remember, only recently, when Arsenal under Unai Emery, in the midst of that initial unbeaten run, visited Old Toilet to play a Man Utd team horribly out of form and of course we played like a park team and made them look like prime Brazil, lost the game somehow, lost an on-form Holding to a cruciate and then just hopelessly disintegrated, so I’m taking nothing for granted.

    But if we don’t go to that Salford tip and turn them over this time then we’ll never win up there…

  • It’s not entirely fair, but Manchester United is without their entire (!) CB contingent.

    Against Crystal Palace they had Maguire, Lindelöf, Shaw, Varane, Martinez and Malacia all injured – apart from McTominay, Fernandes, Marital and Rashford who happened to be also unavailable. Neither of them were even on the bench. They played with AWB as RB and Casemiro as CB for crying out loud. It was a $hit$how and they were hammered by mid-table Crystal Palace big time.

    Even if they will be able to heal half of the missing contingent they are likely to get their @$$es handed to them by Arsenal this Sunday. Which worth a bit less than if we could defeat their best XI at Old Trafford, but I will not complain. We have been at the other end of the stick several times. Fortunately now is not among them.

  • We did have a few injuries too, on that trip in 2011/12. We had Armand Traore, Djorou, Carl Jenkinson and Coquelin starting. At the time, they were not starters. We also had a bunch of kids on the bench.

    I fully expect Man U to play out of their skins against us, but even with a fully fit squad, we should get the 3 points. Oh, how much better if we get a cricket score over there to wipe that (8-2) memory away.

  • Guys, nnice to see you have all kept things ticking over here. I have had to go through this period of grief the best way I know how to: be with family.

    Thanks for all the kind messages, again. I appreciate you all.

    TA, iI mmay just consider that request (about my Mom) but it may be too long for this platform. Thanks, all the same. You are so kind.

  • Yes Eris, maybe it might have been a good thing if Harry Kane had in fact joined Man City

  • I get the point you make, Kev. We may just have had an easier run to the title this season and the previous one. 😜

  • It is not entirely Arsenal related, but I just read a decent joke about are next opponent and arch rival. I hope you will enjoy it, unless you have known it already.

    Erik ten Hag walks into a bank to cash a cheque. As he approaches the cashier he says, “Good morning, Miss, could you please cash this cheque for me?”

    Cashier:”It would be my pleasure. Could you please show me your ID?”

    Ten Hag: “Truthfully, I did not bring my ID with me as I didn’t think there was any need to. I am Erik ten Hag, Manager of Manchester United”.

    Cashier: “Yes, I know who you are, but with all the regulations and monitoring of the banks because of impostors and forgers and requirements of the legislation, etc., I must insist on seeing some ID.”

    Ten Hag: Just ask anyone here at the bank who I am and they will tell you. Everybody knows who I am.”

    Cashier: “I am sorry, Mr. ten Hag but these are the bank rules and I must follow them.”

    Ten Hag:”Come on, pretty please, I am urging you, please cash this cheque. Is there anything we can try to work things out?”

    Cashier: “Look sir, here is an example of what we can do. One day, Tiger Woods came into the bank without ID. To prove he was Tiger Woods he pulled out his putter and made a beautiful shot across the bank into a cup. With that shot we knew him to be Tiger Woods and cashed his cheque.”

    “Another time, Andre Agassi came in without ID. He pulled out his tennis racket and made a fabulous shot where the tennis ball landed in my cup. With that shot we cashed his cheque. So, sir, what can you do to prove that it is you and only you?”

    Erik stands there thinking and thinking and finally says, “Honestly, my mind is a total blank… there is nothing that comes to my mind. I can’t think of a single thing. I have absolutely no idea what to do. I don’t have a clue.”

    Cashier: “Will that be large or small notes , Mr. ten Hag?”

  • That’s kinda the way I was thinking Eris 😉

    This evening I sincerely hope that Leverkusen give Aston Villa a right old kicking…

  • Jorginho signing on for another year is good news, it allows Lewis Skelly time to develop among other things.

    I know it’s a long way off but it would make a nice change if we got a home draw against a lower division team in the first couple of rounds in the League Cup next season.

  • Very good, PB. 😉. Great news on our Italian maestro, too, Kev.

    Just arrived in Taunton after a lovely couple of days up on the Grand Union Canal in a mates long boat. Glorious May in England, o yeh.

  • First saw that joke on a WhatsApp group today, PB . Still had me in stitches seeing it again. Man U now have Lisandro Martinez and Rashford back in training, it is reported. As far as I am concerned, the focus should be on getting the W and we will be good.

  • Eris, it was just a suggestion, and I understand where you are coming from. I hope you will have good support in dealing with your loss over the coming year.

  • Not giving Smith Rowe much, if any, playing seems to me to point towards his certain departure as much as anything else, you can’t sell an injured player in the summer so you wrap him in cotton wool until June 1st. It’s why I think that Thomas Partey might still stay for his final year?

  • Sad news, for sure, TA. Glad to know you still keep abreast of news concerning foreign ex-players of Dutch sides. Last I heard, Tijani is recuperating, but Ibrahim didn’t survive the crash. May his soul rest in peace.

  • I heard the same, but Titjana is apparently badly injured. I saw him play for Roda JC regularly, and he had such joi de vivre.

  • That wwill be a fair description of the man, all considered. He was a member of the golden age of Nigerian football. Tijani failed to make Nigeria’s national team to the USA 94 World Cup, only because Westerhof had decided on his full squad and felt Tijani would get his time to shine, being a youngster at the time. He also didn’t want Finidi to be under any pressure, I imagine.

    I hope he recovers from this, back to full fitness.

  • Over to you, Tottenham. Playing for Europe, can you win the league for us at White Hart Lane?

  • A nervy but deserved win and I am proud of the boys. Now we need Pool to beat Villa so Spuds have something to play for on Tuesday.

  • LG, Big Will has got to be flirting with being in the top five Frenchmen to play for Arsenal…

  • I wish Deschamps (as well as TH14!!) agreed with you, Stu …

    William’s such a gifted lad, and he keeps improving too, focus-wise in particular. The only caveat about him is I think he could score more – but he will. Our 2024-2025 back-four Ben-Bill-Gab-Tim will be fearsome, I’d say they’re bound to be the 21st century fab-four if I wasn’t afraid of rubbing Kev the wrong way because of the reference to Mersey. We missed the Ajax lad a lot, imo, but I guess we shouldn’t complain too much, given the number of injuries Newcastle-Liverpool-Villa-MU-Brighton-Chelsea etc. had to do with; the PL looked like an attrition warfare this season.

    Should Cheaty and You-Know-Who draw tomorrow, we’d be in for a finale next sunday that’d be almost too perfect an ad for the League. Our boys today didn’t look like they believed in it very much, though …

    I hope you’re having a great time in London, mate; if the New White Fart Lane isn’t off-limits for you both, Toulouse will be taking on Leinster there on the 25th, but I guess having one or three beers while watching the game in Kev’s favorite pub will do, too …

  • I’m now down in Somerset, Sarah’s family home. I’ll be in Cornwall with my son and grandkids on Saturday, hope to watch the denouement in a Padstow pub. Plan to catch up with Kev later in the visit.

  • A bridge too far for the ladies today, I guess. Still, it may be a different game in the second leg.

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