A Disection of Our Dichotomy – Or a Dissertation on Roast Pig?
Oct 6th, 2011 by 'holic
Regular drinkers will be aware that the provider of some remarkable match reviews is a man for whom the glass is not so much half-full as overflowing. Bergkamp the Man has taken the time to produce a piece that will provoke a few responses no doubt.
Fourteen straight years in which Arsenal never finished out of the PL top four are now dust in the wind. That many straight Champions League qualifications, some tremendous euro-accomplishments, including a narrow ten-man Final defeat, serve as nothing more than a reference point, a new standard of expectation, for those recently initiated in red. Victory in last season’s ‘big four’ mini league isn’t even a memory. Exhilarating home victories against ManUre, Chel$ki and Barca, and a humbling of Citeh’s millionaires at their place, count for less than a goal that wasn’t, but “bloody well should’ve been”.
Herded by snarling dogs with poisonous pens and their own putrid agendas, shepherded by those blinded by envy of the sugar-daddied few, the wool-clad ovine masses meh their judgement. “Arsenal in crisis”. “This board doesn’t care and hasn’t a clue”. “Never has Arsenal been so badly run. Never has Arsenal fielded a weaker squad”. Their solution, carefully weighed, thought through, re-examined, debated and deliberated solemnly?
“Fire Wenger. He’s completely lost it!”
Explanations of this perceived, spectacular fall from grace are more common than maggots in a mid-August dog turd. The youth policy is the cornerstone of most critical wisdom. It’s usually coupled with assertions of miserly expenditure on mature lads “who’ve been around the block a bit”. That leads easily into confidence-sapping criticisms of young players honing their skills and “lack of bottle” explanations for points dropped, games lost when older heads would “definitely” have prevailed. Add a dash of “lack of leadership” from Hee-Haw Hansen, and you have the Arsenal cocktail. Shaken, stirred, but not yet drunk punch.
The rose tinted glasses of retrospect conjure warm memories of average athletes, trained on baked beans, chips and Pale Ale with Bells chasers who, through the mists of time have become demi-gods, capable of miracle moves that wowed the world. And then the final wisdom, “We should have stayed at Highbury – it was just better then”. Really? How many were ever there, I wonder?
Little heed is paid to the changing environment. Expenditure by clubs underpinned by the ill-gotten gains of Russian oligarchs; sponsored by Arabian petrodollars that might be better spent repairing beleaguered Arabian nations; manoeuvered unethically by two clubs in Spain or wrangled questionably by Italy’s Premier between trysts with teenage professionals who never donned football boots over their fishnets, have become the reference points, the anticipated behavioral and fiscal norms.
“F*cking Wenger” and his “miserly band of miserable board members” are pilloried for financial prudence and care for the clubs future stability and economic viability. Rhetorical wisdom – “There won’t be a f*cking club if we don’t win soon”. “We’ll show ‘em, we won’t turn up and them empty seats will get some action” abounds. A pent-up desire to spend, to hock the club, anything to garner an immediate change of fortune, builds and fumes like a bloated hippopotamus’ constipated bowel and howls grumblingly for a torrent of release.
Just spend “us fans” money! “Simple really, isn’t it? Especially when it’s not even your own money, Wenger, it belongs to the club and the club is nothing without the fans”. A kind of logic. A kind of loving.
No one can disagree with some of the sentiment. Yes, we’re unbeaten in the CL. Yes, we’re faring well in the Carling Cup and, so far, we’re unbeaten in the FA Cup J. But our start to the League campaign is not to the standard that The Arsenal have cultivated as an expectation in recent years. So, what’s at the root of all of this? How could things have turned around so quickly? And what’s to be done about it? Fire Arsene Wenger – Is that really any kind of answer? I don’t think so!
Joey Barton’s challenge in the north-east, where Abou’s career nearly ended in his teens, saw Diaby see red and initiated a transition from a rock solid away win to a 4-4 draw that was heard, seen and read, right around the world. A grain fell off our foundation stone, but we were still the only club in Europe in real contention for four trophies – even although one of the sharpest strikers and best defenders in the world had been absent for most of the season till then. The gloom descended further at Wembley, blackened further in the Camp Nou on the night of Robin’s ludicrous red and Bendy’s last minute howler. “Lack of experience” opined the armchair wise.
The only bang at the end of our season was a whimper. It set up a summer of change, discontent, the repercussions of which are still being felt.
Rather than preparing in the sedate, calming surrounding’s of the Austrian Tirol as per the past 14 years, Arsene was compelled to become commercial in Malaysia. Was that beneficial, I wonder? I don’t know, but it was certainly a major change.
It was also a summer of frustration and contradictions:
“The Cesc situation should have been dealt with quickly!” “Barca’s opening bid was derisory, cheeky Spanish scum, who do they think they are?”
“Nasri should never have been allowed to leave if Cesc was going!” “Why did we wait right until the end to sell Nasri? Should’ve sold him in June!”
“Wenger said both players were staying, then he sells ‘em both, that proves we’re a selling club!” “The 60Mill in the kitty needs spending now!”
The purchase of Gervinho, Santos, Park, Arteta and Benayoun didn’t seem to appease the “maturity” preachers. Chamberlain, Campbell, Jenkinson and Miyachi’s arrival sparked the ire of the youth project haters. Conventional wisdom was that everyone else had bought smarter than Arsenal. Really?
So the season began with these additions minus Cesc (deeply regretted), Nasri (25 million or nowt?) and Clichy (place in jeopardy to Gibbs anyway). But not really, Wilshere and Vermaelen, two world-class nearlys were also crocked. Diaby out too. But still, no reason to fear anything. We should be contenders. No question.
Newcastle again. Barton again. Gervinho and Song out for three weeks. Our midfield is now missing four of the best on the planet Cesc, Song, Wilshere, and Nasri. Diaby isn’t fit either. “Wenger should have planned for that” insist the pimpled pushers of the feathered scribe. No problem, Frimpong for Alex against Liverpool. A red card and ten men fall to two offside goals. “He should have seen that one coming. His tactics are crap and Frimpong has no experience”.
Nice wins against Udinese and a very creditable draw against the Bundesliga champions garners little applause and are eclipsed completely by a side sporting Jenkinson and Traore at full-back and Coquelin deputizing for Song and Frimpong. “He hasn’t a clue, has he? He’s lost it completely if he’s ever had it”. “He only bought five players because we lost three points in Manchester” informed the black coated shepherd, with the Spuds shirt beneath, and the bilious agenda of dubious intent.
And since then? Well, to say that things haven’t got better, would be to understate the feelings of most. The horsemen of the apocalypse are riding hard towards us, our pending financial crisis will make Greece look like withdrawal of some kid’s pocket money. We’re sinking deeper than Atlantis, sailing as assuredly as The Titanic. Gooners are demanding immediate action. Insisting on a solution.
The noisiest favour “Wenger out” and “Spend every penny we have on ’class’ “. Many threaten to withdraw the pleasure of their custom from the ground until things improve. Many have already begun to heap confidence-sapping woe on Aaron Ramsey (yes, the same Aaron Ramsey who had his leg scythed and fought back to captain his country and play his heart out for The Arsenal). We’ve seen that before, with Ade, Bendtner, Denilson being the most recent victims of the boo and bleat brigade before their departures.
So, what’s to be done and what’s my prescription. I haven’t got one. I am no Arsene Wenger. But I do know that:
– Anyone who has ever called himself or thought himself a fan of The Arsenal needs to get right behind the team now – in presence, in word or in spirit. Negativity does NOT breed success. Words hurt as much as sticks and stones.
– The club and all Gooners need to get right behind Arsene. The debris of clubs who have sought to turn things around by ditching managers is everywhere to be seen.
– The players need to believe. While believing, they need to play their hearts out. While playing their hearts out, they need to relearn the passing game.
– The new players need to find their feet, gel with their new colleagues and re-instill some of what was lost with Jack, Cesc, TV, Nasri’s absence. That includes the youngsters, Coquelin and Alex Ox at the fore.
Will that turn things around immediately? No, it won’t. This is a time requiring great patience and encouragement, NOT impatience, abuse and unreasonable, illogical demands. All of that is, of-course, diametrically opposed to our world of instantaneous sound bites. “Arsenal will prevail” sells less than “Arsenal in crisis”. It’s the nature of things. But WILL Arsenal prevail in the long term?
“The goal is to make Arsenal Football Club the greatest in the world.”…….. Arsene Wenger, 1/10/2011 ;
That gets my vote, my patience, my respect, my support, my admiration. Include me in.
Arsenal, Bloody Arsenal.
132 Responses to “A Disection of Our Dichotomy – Or a Dissertation on Roast Pig?”
Get in
Holic,
Dr C asked me to ask if he is on the naughty step?
Maybe he shouldn’t include the link that he was trying to send you?
No problem that I can find, Doctor C, and nothing trapped in the spam filter.
Have another go.
Some of the contradictions are downright hilarious, or at least they would be if it was about any other team. The one that always amuses me is the majority (including myself) calling for major changes as it was obvious that squad wasn’t up to it and now that that has happened there are those that are all bemused that we’re not quite firing on all cylinders yet and decrying the major turnover of players, I’m sure there’s a fair bit of overlap there.
Admire the sentiment. Could’ve done with some judicious editing though.
Trebles all round!
Awesome post BTM…what every real Arsenal fan wants right now…a little patience with the team, respect for them, respect for the man who completed 15 years here.
We have the best fans. All of us just need to get behind the team now. All of us.
Rousing post, BtM. What choice do we have at this point? We have to keep the faith. But, it seems so far the support has actually been quite strong this season in the ground where it counts most. Everywhere else it isn’t so surprising gooners feel low. Let’s hope Ramsey finds his form in particular. Might as well link the video to which the last line refers; it still gives me a lift.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXAZJ28s1rU&feature=related
To be fair the support home and away, from what i’ve heard, has been as solid as anything since the great move. Most of the vitriol seems to spew from the self-regarding le blogs we all know about, egged on by a media that understands that this helps give legs to their ‘Arsenal in crisis’ narrative – an unvirtuous, vicious little circle.
Added to this though, is the near-silence of a brand new ownership at our club on questions of future financial policy, touched on by ‘holic in his last post, which creates an unsettling vacuum that those i mentioned above can dump their negativity into – almost unchallenged.
Pint of pride please barman, one in the pump for the hard-working poster and whatever anybody else is drinking…
UReds!
BtM, Great post and barman please give him a drink of his choice on Lars’ tab!! There’s a new standard for measuring putdowns of the dime-a-dozen “Arsenal in Crisis” stories:
“more common than maggots in a mid-August dog turd”
By the way, Arsenal WILL prevail. 😉
Hey BtM,
I was there when we were shit.
And I’m back. Co-incidence?
Its nothing to do with tactics, expenditure, zonal marking. Its my fault.
I feel Arsene should have his own personal decoy – I’m game 8)
Anders, If you had paid more attention you might have seen that Holic did not write the post. Not that you would have agreed anyway, but attention to detail can be important at times for those who are serious.
BtM – Absolutely masterful and thank you for sharing a great piece of Arsenal prose. I haven’t been able to post since having the pleasure of tabs’ company at The Sh*thole so it’s great to be back in the bar with a decent level of optimism being the flavour with notable exceptions from #10 but then what would kind of output would you expect from #10 in the UK? Big hellos to all the regulars, you know who you are
Cheers all!
Oh, and FOYS to the pond-life @ #14. No matter what you LWCs do you will always be the small club in N.London who change manager with the foul smelling wind that blows through your Sh*thole. Deal with it!
Holic might as well have written it. Funny how he’s so good at sticking up for failure but never answers anyone’s valid criticisms of Wenger with anything that’s remotely logical, profound or analytical.
He’s the worst kind of Arsenal supporter. By turning a blind eye to the tripe that is modern Arsenal, he’s helping to ensure an ensuing decade of mediocrity. Thank god for those who question Wenger and the board, who have made a horrendous mess of everything since Dein left. No vision, no ambition, no strategy, just aimless drifting downwards, supported by dumb blogs like this one.
I’ll always back the players though, not their fault. They’re actually a lot better than they think they are, but Wenger’s idiotic tactics and complete lack of motivational abilities ensures they’re only offering 50% of their true ability.
Lotsa words ,some quite big ,hiding an AKB assault on anyone who has a different opinion.WE all support the Club ,but Wenger has to take responsibility and he manifestly refuses to. I hope he can save our season but sadly its more hope than belief.
Lot of verbosity indicating a superiority complex. Tend to agree with northernbof above.
Plenty of people now believe the manager isn’t right for the times we’re in. Believing that is not the reason AFC have been in relegation form for the equivalent of half a season now.
Good thoughts BtM, although I agree with No. 4 Dave.
Seems this post has tickled up some pond-life (referring to the sp@rs support obviously
Zico do you resemble a 6ft 4in’ thin Frenchmen with a permanently furrowed brow, and a worried other-worldly mien, then? Am guessing your accents not perfectly suited – but suppose we can assume body-double/personal decoy is a non-speaking role. Also can you throw water-bottles high into the air, then catch them sweetly on the volley as they come down whilst being watched live by 60,000 odd and a large TV audience? If you can then surely ze job is yours.
UPTheArse!
Holic can you please delete @14?
There are some things that I can’t be quiet about.
AL, its amazing what you can do with smoke and mirrors 😉
TS, welcome “home”.
Snir, I’m sure our the landlord will let senor Kickemhard loose on the misbehaving as soon as he gets an opportunity.
You don’t have to have been born Arsenal to bleed Arsenal.
Fair shout to you BTM ,you put in words what the majority of real Gooners feel.
BtM
Rousing stuff – loved the whole thing.
I think there has been some really interesting back and forth re some of the legit criticisms of the current management on this site over the last few days. It’s important that this stuff is discussed, and discussed like adults (i.e without the text speak and claims that Wenger is somehow unhinged/intent on sinking the whole club).
However, at the same time it’s also important to remember what being a supporter is all about. You can criticise, but you need to ultimately be behind the team. Not praying that they lose so your blog gets more hits and the tabloids keep calling you for quotes. Not mentally slating the manager because you have to go to work on Monday and that muggy LWC sat opposite will give you grief and if only you supported Utd you wouldn’t have to worry about it. And especially not mouthing off on the Internet about a young player who is still recovering from a career threatening injury and is currently running himself into the ground trying to make it happen for the Arsenal, even if he’s making the odd mistake. I find it incredible that I’ve read blog pieces this week which speak more warmly of Adebayor than Aaron Ramsey. Sharpen up chumps – Rambo wants to be here, he’s never disrespected the club and he has a work rate that puts the loping Togolese loafer to shame.
Ultimately, It’s a bit like criticising your own family – it’s not verboten, but you need to think hard before opening your mouth and there’s a time, place and way to go about it.
Anyway, in the midst of it all, it’s good to see a post like this, playing up the positives and reminding us that we’ve got an important role to play in how the season unfolds.
Hats off.
Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! Smoke and mirrors – thoughts inevitably drifting in the direction of the CMC, hmmmmmmm
And nice words N7
UReds!
“…howls grumblingly for a torrent of release.”
Great line.
Evening Holics,
Wie Gehts?
@Holic “Explanations of this perceived, spectacular fall from grace are more common than maggots in a mid-August dog turd.”
Dude, let it out!!!
No sense in going quietly into that dark night.
Very good posting sir, I see I read it because you say what I feel much better than I ever could and almost as well as TABS.
Where is that guy? Is there truth to the rumor that he murdered IDKA and went on the lam?
Anyway tea’s up and I’m off.
WE WILL BE BACK! ’till then,
COYG!!!!!
Sorry Bergy,I see this is your handy work.
credit to you as it is due.
A+
Great article, spot on!
Wow, ‘Ox in the box’ just notched a hat trick in Iceland for the U21’s and we’ve only played 50 mins!
Promising!
My God, maybe you should just use pictures BtM like the safety ones for building sites as your vocab is a bit too colourful for some. Brilliant stuff as always.
The two can co-exist…
Support the team.
Be critical of Wenger.
Hats off to N7 @27: Just like a member of the family, and perhaps almost like a new signing. 😀
Agreed with Snir about #14. Really over the line.
Ox on the box – The Ice-men have taken to jumping on his back and holding on to slow the lad down…looking gooood
Great piece. People like Anders can go cry about it at home. We don’t need that negativity around right now.
By the way, have I said yet today that Tottenham are scum, always will be scum and there is absolutely nothing that can be done about it? Didn’t think so. 😉
Lager please barman, and lots of it. 😀 😀
I can almost feel the catharsis coming on. You know, the moment when the ball stops trickling in the wrong direction and instead starts settling on Van Persie’s sweet spot, and then it keeps on happening?
That third goal from The Ox tonight was briliant. Lansbury had a nice game, good workrate, just like Ramsey as BTM pointed. Looking forward to Wilshere-Ramsey-Lansbury axis next year.
Holic
not sure why you alllowed the ‘ Moniker ‘ @16 to be posted on your site.
If the Canadian vagabond,who has disappeard into the night, gets abuse for his Wenger name play,then i cannot see how 16 is allowed.
not amused
the Sweeper.
A little bit of what we’re missing – future captain jack taking it to the catalan cunts. Not sure about the choon mind –
http://youtu.be/9W8Ie4MyRX0
UReds!
spot on holic! please mates, buy this goonerette a double margarrita and hold the salt (no bloating). i’ll be honest, i’d rather be a gooner then a manu fan anyday. why? because i really enjoy whatching arsenal’s STYLE of play…something most teams lack. even when they are losing, the gunners never fail to display some beautiful futbol. there is so much damm potential in our young lads and i’m very proud of them! we will be in the championship’s league next near, this is certain…just look at serie a right now. both milan teams are struggling, but can you honestly rule out them making a comeback? of course not. the season is too early for such despair.one more thing, victory is always sweeter when it has been achieved over adversity. we shall prevail with dignity, our heads held high.
BtM, you’ve got a new fan.
Fair enough as some commentors have said, there are some problems that can’t be papered over but the general fans still have to get behind the team and Wenger.
I’m not a blind sheep, but I’m no cynic either…
COYG!
Sweeper: I also noticed it but good for you for pointing it out and good for ‘holic for acting on it. This should at least be a bastion where the foulest kind of abuse is not permissible.
‘holics, don’t waste your time quoting post numbers. Clearly this piece will attract people of varying opinions, and it would appear Lilywhite cunts.
They, and all who abuse rather than argue will be deleted.
People like Anders, who just attack me, will survive. Abuse anybody at Arsenal, or fellow ‘holics, and you will be deleted. How hard is that to grasp after all this time.
Great to see you back TS, and thanks BtM for a fabulous post.
psed if anyone bothers watching the youtube lark posted at 43, please be reminded that some soppy c@nt suggested that JW was overrated the other day on this very blog – cue wild laughter –
UReds!
“And so far we’re unbeaten in the FA Cup”
Quality, absolute quality, that’s the sort of stuff that gives me strength to wade through the media’s sea of negativity surrounding us.
And he’s still only n-n-nineteen (that’s his age, not a post number)
UReds!
best post in ages. end of. true fans get behind any arsenal side
Cheers ‘Holic & zico & it’s great to be back 🙂
N7 – Another quality post, good to read.
Anders @ #14 – You make a couple of potentially reasonable points but your execution is poor. Why insult the man who provides you with a platform for your comments? It’s simply poor behaviour and I’m quite sure will not be appreciated by the majority here.
Wolfie, wherever you may be, I’m fairly sure that I spotted a family member in The ‘Dam this week. An elderly gent dressed only in a pair of Speedos & Crocs riding a bicycle. The swimwear was stripey, however, so maybe a distant relative? 😉
ps arsene is a legend lets not even consider what we would be without him. no vieiras, pires or dennis and lots of hilliers lest we forget
I have never in my life seen maggots in a dog turd. In August or any other month, and I’m nearly as old as ‘holic.
Ricey, That is exactly the reason it is a memorable quote. 😀
A rousing call to arms BtM. Have you been watching your Braveheart dvd late at night again? There definitely seemed a touch of the William Wallace about that creation. I see now how powerful words and speeches can be. A touch of the 1930’s in middle Europe perhaps?
I greatly admire your sentiment but you will forgive me if I say that you are a tad misguided. Being critical of the way the club is at the moment is something that seems to be the common toy of the media. Many others as you rightly suggest have jumped on to the bandwagon. I don’t do knee jerk reaction. It would appear that many do. The doom and gloom has descended on our club with ever increasing velocity according to many, and the knee jerk gang have been quick to buckle and take the easy option.
Your attempt to redress the balance is admirable and a joy to read. However I would say that it also alludes to the blind faithers. For me it is somewhere inbetween.
I do not intend to go on forever. If you read my drinks over the last couple of posts you will see exactly where I am coming from. We all have high standards of expectations. Is there a reason why we should not have? We are The Arsenal. We play in the best ground in the league and have the best manager. We have money coming out of our ears and a youth system that is the envy of the world. So why should we not have high expectations?
In April 2010 AW said himself that the squad was not good enough. He said that he had identified weaknesses and was active even then in making us stronger. During the window we signed Chamakh on a free, Koscielny and Squillachi. Now who really thought that those additions were going to turn us back into Champions?
Last season was not great. The same old mistakes cost us yet again. This summer saw the farcical dealings of both Cesc and Samir. We all know that those deals should have been sorted out months before they were. Since the Carling Cup Final in February we have won only 4 league games. A great win against the Mancs is backed up with wins against Blackpool, Bolton and Swansea. So far this season we have 7 points from 7 league games. We are making the same old mistakes, however this year we seem to be unable to create chances in any number. AW himself after 7 games has said that we can’t win the league? Surely not? We are the Arsenal or have we all forgotten that?
The frustrating thing for me is that in my humble opinion a lot of these problems could have been avoided. Again, all of the reasons for that I have detailed in the last week.
BtM. I agree totally about getting behind the team. Anyone that gives 100% deserves that as a minimum. We all need to get behind whoever pulls on the famous shirt on match days. But how many times have I had to say it? Be the best you can be. As a club the minimum us fans expect is to be the best we can be. If that is not good enough to keep up with Russian Thieves or oil freaks from the middle east then so be it. I can live with that. But when you consider that AW said in 2010 that were not good enough then I really do not see that it is wrong now to ask questions. They are not questions born out of a few poor results. This has been building for a few years now and it need not have happened. We have a fist full of new signings all struggling to gel into a team. Of course it will take time. But we also pay the highest prices in the league and have anything between 50 and 65 million sat in the bank. Add that to the revenue being generated on a weekly basis and financially we are in great shape. Are we the best we can be? In my opinion we are not even close to it. Please tell me if you think I am wrong.
In my opinion there are views in either side of the divide that are bordering on fanatical. You have the blind faithers who have their heads in the sand and deny all that is happening around them. Then there are the doom and gloomers, the BBB as you so aptly named them who will not be satisfied unless it was a quid to get in and we had won the league by the end of January.
So where are we then? Well my onion is that we can do a lot better. I was asked once who I thought was to blame. My honest answer is I do not know. What I would say is that I can not warm to either Stan or Ivan. The impression they give me is that both are way out of their depth. Again, only time will tell.
One thing we are all united in is our love of The Arsenal. We may all think differently but our love of this great club is unconditional. It does not matter where we end up, I can’t change my allegiances. It just can not happen. We all need to get behind the team and the manager and also hope that the mistakes of the past are rectified at the earliest opportunities. There is nothing wrong in having an opinion. There is also nothing wrong with standing up and asking questions if you feel things could be better. As Churchill said, “it’s good to have the odd enemy, it shows that you are passionate about something.”
So onwards and upwards holics. Never get your colours.
BtM. When are you over next? We have an appointment that needs keeping and I have a 7 year old that is still waiting for his apple juice and packet of cheese and onion.
Keep the faith.
Steve T- great comment, I’m with you on this one. I love BTM’s passion, spirit and support but I don’t share his views on this. Arsene made an impassioned plea last year for us to judge him atvthe end if the season-I’ll roll with that for this season too and thatcway I think we’ll all know the answer. In the meantime I’m behind the team for every second of every game, always have been, always will.
‘night
Should read…..
So onwards and upwards holics. Never forget your colours.
Thanks Geoff.
BtM – epic post.
I would only say that the support in the stadium has generally been good, and those folks are not as unaware of the manager’s, or the team’s difficulties as some of the keyboard warriors are.
Good to read a positive view after the incessant kicking from all other sides.
On the subject of keyboard warriors, I see there has still been no apology from Cusop for his despicable “kid on chemo wearing a wig” camparison of Mikel Arteta.
Any apology will not, in any case, be accepted by me, as he did not write that by accident, and had ample chance to delete it before hitting the submit button.
He doesn’t even appear brave enough to apologise from behind his keyboard. Sad individual.
TS – good to see you back. Where is Tabs ?
No apologies for reiterating the Cusop stuff, but thanks again BtM for a remarkable post.
N7 – good stuff again, by the way.
Didn’t mention my own viewpoint, but, if anyone cares, I’ll take BtM’s with a healthy dash of Steve T and Geoff stirred in.
I don’t blame AW for the problems this summer, but problems there certainly were. Clearly many of his comments were not aimed at himself.
His demeanour and obvious frustrations suggest to me, a fairly serious divide from the top down.
None of which stops me giving my support to the team.
Trev, BtM and Steve T are among the most thoughtful and are stirred into my mix over here too. 😀
Like a noob, I posted earlier this evening on an old post, so this is a copy and paste job;
Off topic.
I’ve just been to the below site, to nominate this fine blog;
http://not100percentawards.com/
I suggest y’all do the same.
===
Rightio, now to enjoy BtM’s offering.
H2H – done 😉
Hello fellas.
Before I reply I just want to say it’s our Yom Kippur tomorrow and I just want to ask for forgiveness from anyone I’ve hurt in this bar in the last year.
Steve – check your inbox.
Snir –
I can’t speak for my colleague, Dr C, but I will have to think very hard about forgiving you for the stress you caused so many people on Transfer Deadline Day.
I am going to sleep on it . . . . . 😉
Tip of the hat Mr BtM, a very eloquant piece, I love and admire your passion, even though I don’t 100% agree with all your points.
I too consider myself a glass half full sort of chap, I bleed red and white and will support through thick and thin, I still support le boss and honestly could not think of anyone realisticly available that could do a better job. I also believe that this team, with all the new signings needs time to gel and if this is to be a transisitional season, then so be it.
However, Í find myself strongly agreeing with Mr Steve T on many issues, I’ve been reading his posts with great interest over the last few years and he has highlighted over that period that the warning signs were there. On a whole, we have failed to replace outgoing quality, I’m not just talking about Cesc and the chinless lesbo, no, this “problem” has manifested since the break up of the invincibles. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not looking for marque signings or to break the bank, but I still feel (as Steve said) we could of made more of the recources available to us.
I have no idea what happens at boardroom level, so to speculate on that would be an exercise in futility, however there is something wrong at our beloved club, the proof is plain to see, highlighted by all the going ons in the close season.
It is normal that critisism should fall on the management, I don’t believe in spitting bile as I feel that it’s counter productive, but some questions do need to be asked, we need to find a healthy balance between the AKB camp and the BBB’s.
Gentleman (and ladies), we are the mighty Arsenal and we shall overcome, we are THE model football club and are the envy of the world, lest we forget!!!!!
A voddie shot for all.
Cheers.
Nice one Trev.
Snir, I forgive you. 😉
N7, good stuff.
Holic, please pass my email to TS, maybe I can get to the ‘dam while he’s over.
H2H: Goonerholic nomination thirded.
Snir: You are cermonially forgiven; for what I do not quite know but there you go. 😉
Come on Arsenal !!
If this blog was any more epic it would be a 3 hour long movie starring Brad Pitt wearing a skirt and holding a sword. Very well-written BtM, thanks for this.
You mentioned you were uncertain about the Asian Tour. I felt that the Asian Tour was beneficial at that time, it gave the club a chance to be around fans who were overjoyed just to see the Arsenal and escape the negativity in England for a short while. I would assume financially it resulted in some sort of profit as well. Of course not being able to fine-tune some of the players in Austria away from the media probably affected implementation of new tactics but it’s good to try something new once in a while right?
Steve, isn’t the term “blind faithers” a bit redundant? Faith by definition is belief in something without proof of its existence. In any case, I doubt you’ll find any fan that’s blind to what’s been happening for the past few years. I’m pretty sure even the fans who sing “One Arsene Wenger” are simultaneously behind the manager and the club while also fully aware of the problems surrounding us.
Whoever’s wearing the red and white has my full support, once they’re playing their heart out. If I had to choose, I’d rather see 11 “not-so-talented” players playing their heart out than 11 “world-class” players going through the motions.
Arsenal, now and forever more, class without end, Amen.
Excellent post by BtM and a fine drink by Steve T – I agree with both of you.
I’m still positive that Wenger can turn it around. Even though our run of form is dreadful, he has the ability. Maybe that’s just because I can’t stand the thought of someone who has put this club at such heights to walk away in failure. But he is still the person that put us there. He has the knowledge of how to win.
And yet, as Steve mentions, our transfer activity baffles at times. This summer, the lateness of the signings aside, I though we did well enough in bringing in experience. But when the side was so close to the top (fighting for the title), why were we playing with Silvestre in defense?
I don’t have the inside information, so I can’t know what’s happening up top. Seems strange though.
As for the next few games. I wouldn’t mind Arsene playing with a different setup – something more defensively oriented (front to back). Surely it’s worth some experimentation. Boring 1-0’s sound rather interesting at the moment.
And will FIFA ever do away with these pointless interlulls? (Retorical question of course since we all know what FIFA are.)
Snir: You are forgiven for any instance where you were forced to hope Sp*rs would win so Arsenal’s rivals in the table would drop points.
N7 Gooner @23,
Agree completely with what you have said. Well expressed, insightful and balanced post. Cheers.
Joshua, You are right about several things but none more than this: Arsene will have to answer for signing Silvestre at the pearly gates, if not before. 😉
8ball, Still have no idea on that one. Someone must have hit him on the head the day before.
Joshua! That never happened!!! I always wanted them to draw, not win!
Guys, thanks.
I’ll reply on the post after fasting.
Nice one mate (for posting it). By the way the Online Gooner finally shows itself up to be what it is. Dross posted by juvenile pricks. The kind that used to dissapear rapidly when it mattered, having been the mouthiest cunts going, until then. I fucking hate them so much.
Same here Esso. That site has been nonsense for the past few years, almost as bad as Le Grove.
For all those wondering where TABS is,
If i’m not mistaken,he is hard at work on the next episode of BTA.
We await with bated breath.
Good discussion re BTM’s epistle from everyone,but i cannot help thinking we are covering the same ground over and over again.
We all have our own viewpoints on the current and prior travails of the Arsenal,but we seem to be going round in circles,
Each time we find another way to lose a game that we patently should have won,off we go again,repeating the same things we said the last time we lost a game we should have won.
I’m as guilty as anyone,so perhaps it is just a mechanism to let off steam,and bemoan our current lot in life.
We need to win a couple of games very handsomely,if only to change the mood in the Bar.
I’m sure i’m not alone in wanting to forget about all the negative vibes around the Club at the moment,I yearn to wax lyrical about some great football and great goals from our Team,
We’ve got 2 great opportunities at home,against Sunderland and Stoke,to give the ‘ real ‘ fans like Steve T,something to cheer and feel good about,and to walk away fom the Ems with a smile on their faces.
The Fans can only do so much,it’s now more than ever,up to the Players to deliver.
cheers
The Sweeper.
Cannons. It was just a phrase to try and emphasise the point. That’s all.
By the way, if people wonder why I’m singling out the Online Gooner, its because of their latest podcast, which has the temerity to have a go at ‘holic himself as well as the denizens of the drinks.
Please feel free to pop over there and let them know what you think about that. I already have.
Courtesy of Arseblogger himself;……
To save anyone else the bother…….
“You’ve only got to look at every Arsenal website, every Arsenal blog, apart from the … erm … Gunnerblog? It it Gunnerblog? The one where they have the drinks. Please mister, I’ll have a Guinness and all that rubbish
[laughter]
What’s that one called?
Goonerholic.
Goonerholic, that’s it. Apart from Goonerholic, every single website is 100% anti-Wenger. Every comment would like to see Wenger out. The only people who want Wenger to say is those few nutters on the north bank who sang his name after a 3-0 win against Bolton and put the cause back 2 years and Stan Kroenke.”
I’m trying to stir up war against these cunts, I admit it. So just ignore me, but my blood is fucking boiling right now.
Chill geezer,
Everyone is entitled to a view, even if they wrongly claim to represent all Arsenal support. The majority appreciate that far from one hundred percent of the blogs are anti.
It seems to me most, including this one, have been critical when necessary, but the hysterical over-reaction of the frothing few is recognised as such.
Let’s just accept their views are now entrenched and just get behind the club that generates such wide ranges of emotion.
I quite like being considered a radical and anti establishment……feck em all. Especially Gareth.
Haven’t browsed the drinks yet but that is absolutely first rate post, a beacon of sanity in the grounds of the asylum.
It calls to mind that great poem If, and the opening line and a half, coupled with the closing half-line, have never looked so apt:
“If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs…You’ll be a man, My Son!”
Greetin’ bairns take note. Your complete lack of perspective is symptomatic of an adolescent mindset!
Up the Arse, and, er, up BtM (not in that way…)
“an” absolutely first rate post…
Point taken geez. Thing is when someone has a go at one of your mates, first instinct to break their fucking nose. Finished.
Esso, I’m with you in that war.
Where did you get that quote from though? Couldn’t find it on arseblog.
Unless this was 1) your imagination. 2) His real life voice saying it.
😀
’twas in the forum mate. Which is closed except to members. Cliquey cunts like.
Reporting from a sunny garden…. testing! 🙂
Beautiful post BtM, a very good read in these hazy times.
As I’ve mentioned before, I believe that Wenger is caught spinning-plates at the moment and he must be just as frustrated as the fans. He’s the front in “front line”, and I would’ve loved to have seen his face when he had to let Cesc or Nasri go. There were probably quite a few swear words and a “Oh for F**K’S SAKE, not again!” or two thrown into the mix. If anything, he is probably feeling the disappointments more than anyone else related to Arsenal, and unlike us, he’s got no one else to blame publicly.
Add to that the tsunami of instant opinions, thoughtless comments and unchecked information that comes with modern day social/news media (yes BBC, i’m looking at you; and also you, the trolls who come out when the night is at its darkest and coldest – I wonder where you are and what you do the rest of the time. Actually no, I don’t care), and you start to notice the Magical Arsenal Bus is almost totally out of control and loosing vital mechanical bits and pieces along the way, and the driver is doing what he can with what he has – or hasn’t – got.
And finally I think one thing we all agree on is how unlucky we seem to be. Injuries, Robin’s red card, Rooney’s theatrics, quite a few side bars, stupid refs etc. These are the sprinkles on top of the cake. There’s probably more sprinkles than there is cake at the moment. The cherry is the frustration of seeing so much talent and potential getting this close to making it time and again.
Anyway, you also should know that I don’t actually own a $3600 suit (I don’t think I’ve ever owned that much money at any one time in my life) and I’m actually pretty broke. I heard a certain Mr Lars has an open tab, so I’ll ask him a favour and buy a round of drinks to all those who’s glasses are half empty, and to all the regulars of course. BtM gets a drink from my special bottle of 20yo Cognac. (well… at the moment you get an IOU, just remind me when I actually have one. Order whatever you want for now.)
How long has Stuart Hall been writing for this site?
Marvelous words. I’m trying to buy tickets to the next game and I’m not a supporter, didn’t grow up following this football and don’t live anywhere near England.
In many ways you’ve got a unique thing at Arsenal, maybe in the entire world of Sports, with the way the club is run and with That Guy in charge of the team. It really looks like he puts the game of football at the forefront of everything that is done there.
Nobody could have done what AW’s done with your club with the resources he’s had. It wasn’t a fair playing field for years before Abramovich. If he’d screwed up as badly as Fergie (Veron, Kleberson, etc) et al in wasting transfer money then your club may have been mid-table for the last 5-10 years.
No other club is so well loved by non-Arsenal supporters the world over (not that you care, and rightly so) because of the way the game is approached at The Arsenal.
Stick with it you Reds. As Bergkamp says, you’ve got plenty still to love.
@esso#81
To say that the talk on other blogs except this one is all anti-Wenger is wholley inaccurate.
Take a look for yourselves people and don’t trust others to do your seeing for you. There are many who are dissapointed but there are just as many reasons assigned as to why.
The anti-Wenger clique are out it’s true but many other causes have been linked with our current form and not simply AW.
In addition iy has been mentioned by contributors to this blog
(the WASP #33) that it is possible to be pro-Arsenal AND anti Wenger the two are not mutually exclusive.
As someone who supported the club before the Wenger era what I want is a change in the team’s form and fortunes. Whether that will require a change in mamagement, players,tactics or all or none of the above I know not but but at this stage I am willing to entertain a variety of strategem.
@Baz Stuart Hall rocks! Even though he is Mancunian.
Holics, I have a suggestion.
How about we put the navel-gazing and hand-wringing on the back burner…
…and just have a good old laugh at Rooney’s dad the dodgy match-fixer. Heh, give millions of quid to white trash, they’re still white trash.
It reminds me of a Spanish expression the management taught me:
Aunque el mico se vista en seda, mico se queda, which translates as “Even if the monkey is dressed in silk, he’s still a monkey”.
Magnificent.
Great post, BtM. Lovely writing in keeping with the blog.
I am also driven to distraction by the incoherence of the views or demands of some of the fans.
****
@ Steve T
“In April 2010 AW said himself that the squad was not good enough. He said that he had identified weaknesses and was active even then in making us stronger. During the window we signed Chamakh on a free, Koscielny and Squillachi. Now who really thought that those additions were going to turn us back into Champions?”
The strengthening we needed was in terms of players who had to step up when people like Fabregas or Van Persie or TV were not available. The squad wins the league, not the first 11. Your implication seems to be that the three 2010 summer signings have been flops. Squillaci has been disappointing but you cannot deny he had the pedigree – experienced, championship winner, fringes of French national team. As for the other two, it’s subjective but I thought Chamakh was outstanding when deputising for RvP in the first half of last season and Kos was second only to TV5. There may have been other players AW wanted but – you can’t always get who you want (is Snijder playing for ManU?) and if you bring in too many players at once you can destabilise the whole squad, as we are seeing now.
“This summer saw the farcical dealings of both Cesc and Samir. We all know that those deals should have been sorted out months before they were.”
The Nasri deal *was* sorted out to everyone’s satisfaction by February of this year, with negotiations having started the previous autumn. My source for this is Phillippe Auclair who had the information from Nasri’s representatives. Then City got involved, but it was not until this summer that it became clear that Nasri was definitely leaving and not just holding out for more money or some other demand. It’s easy to say from outside, what “should have been” done, but we don’t know what the discussions were. You can see that in this quote: Speaking to Eurosport Wenger said: I was interested in Gourcuff because he was available. Unfortunately, we were in a hurry. We had to have players performing soon. Unfortunately, we were in doubt because it was not certain if Nasri and Fabregas would leave.’
Plan A was to keep both players, for obvious reasons – continuity and the difficulty of replacing them. I’m sure I don’t have to remind you what AW said initially about letting the pair go. So it was right to try to follow Plan A until it became impracticable.
Their replacements could well be JW and maybe Ramsey. That is certainly Cesc’s opinion. Personally, I think Diaby could take the opportunity. Point is, the replacements don’t necessarily have to be bought in.
We do indeed pay the highest prices, but at least we know what we are paying for – the stadium.
I’m not ignoring our problems. We are clearly not the best that we can be – and at the moment there are reasons for that. But you can bet your house that we will continue to aspire to greatness. We are indeed The Arsenal. I don’t have blind faith, I have faith, based on the entirely rational grounds that we have come through rocky patches before, and a world class manager does not become inept over a couple of seasons. And unlike you, I rate the squad. We should undeniably be more consistent but that has been the case for as long as I remember (I’ve only been a paid-up member in the AW years). The Invincibles season was an aberration in that respect, not what has happened since. Since then the league has got tougher, we have built a stadium, the sugar daddies have made players more expensive, etc etc. But we have still managed to compete. For me that ranks as *an* achievement, not something to be taken for granted or dismissed. And as has been said, our luck has been unbelievably bad for four straight years. How many broken legs have other clubs had? How many times have we been able to put out the same back four in consecutive matches, let alone the first 11? How many times in the last year have you sniggered at ManU because of a freakish, game-changing decision or occurrence that went against them?
Are other clubs the best that they can be? Of course not. I expect the fans of every club in the world, except those of the club which is top dog, are rueing the “same old” weaknesses. It’s easy to forget that Arsenal seem to be under a harsh, fault-magnifying spotlight all the time, win or lose, unlike any other English club.
We have some capital, built up over several years. It can only be spent once, so we should spend it judiciously.
that’s the only arsenal post which has find the right issue with us the gunners in these last 6 or 8 months.
Yes, it really hurts when Arsenal looses, when we see so much negativity, bad luck and poor performances, short term decisions (….) and greedy choices (Na$ri) but even me in Afghanistan who has started following this great (not only club) tradition named “The Arsenal” just over 7 years ago, understands the circumstances of the events around the arsenal and its crew (the board, manager and the players) so why not (with respect to all) fans who are so near to the club. When arsenal looses, i cannot sleep at night, my whole day at the office becomes like hell and i want to stay alone, thinking what if this and that… However what i don’t understand is why people get on the negativity and judgement train as soon as we loose… if we win, our own fans don’t give the players the credit they deserve… what kind of support is that??? is that we are the fans.. when and only when we win a trophy??? folks, this is hard times now.. what the tradition, the club and the players need is our full backing…. we will arise this… but let me say this… that it is our negativity which will eventually lead the players to walk out from the club. So I will urge all the gunners to get behind the team and the club, ignore the negative gibes being poured out by those so called media pundits…. etc. Up the Arsenal and as the author said.. “Arsenal Will Prevail”.
@81: Esso, they really said shit like that? What is with bloggers that make them feel they speak for all of us? Pretentious wankers
Boof, eat my goal! Centurion baby!!! 😆
CoR, Being a sour grapes Arsenal supporter I can only say you must have dived. 😉 😀
Well said, oh well said ‘holic.
Nobody has any divine rights to win anything. Don Rogers taught me that when I was hardly more than an ankle-biter.
The Arsenal! Love ’em? Of course we do!
So can I get you a drink this time?
Joshua 71, you said something that has absolutely gotten this goonerette’s knickers in one royal twist. don’t ever, ever NOT ever even suggest arsenal should play a defensive style game. the mere thought sends shivers down my spine. WE ARE AN ATTACKING TEAM.
WE CONTROL THE DAMM BALL! WE ARE KINGS OF POSSESSION! oh, i can’t wait for young jack to be back on the pitch, with fire in his belly and that devilish gleam in his eyes!
Woe is me, destined never to know the sense of achievement, pride and glory in becoming a ‘holic centurion.
Pfff
arsa e barca, 1-0 to the boring boring Arsenal doesn’t get my knickers in nearly so royal a twist as any of these 4-4 or 3-4 scorelines we’ve been having recently. Give me a 1-0 and wedgie any day of the week. 😉
@101: BT8BBGFG, I kicked my standing leg to get the decision. All the cool strikers are doing it 😉
CoR: Truly Devious.
behind the 8 ball but gunning for glory…those are fighting words, mate. just tell that to jack! or to any of the greats, ie gattuso, danny alves, lampard. tantamount to taking a dive. either we fight or just lie down, crying for our mums.
Afternoon all, heard the infamous podcast now. You can calm down again. It was just the Spy, and he has long been critical of the Arsenal establishment in his columns. He’s earned his right to his opinion as he has been watching the Arsenal as long as I have, I reckon. Certainly I remember seeing him home and away back in the seventies. He obviously doesn’t read too many Arsenal blogs, but I am chuffed this is one!
Cheers Steve.
Good to know Holic, have a pint of Pride on me still. Going to head off and find some moustache wax now…
Will be interesting to see how many of the “nutters on the North Bank” continue to shell out hard-earned cash on the Gooner fanzine though…
Never considered it good marketing to completely diss your customers, Ratner stylee.
d e s p e r a t e ly in need of a long island ice tea and a new pair of knickers! oh (gulp) that’s much better now, the knickers can wait. te amo arsenal.
A few years back I traweled the internet for any Arsenal news I could find, over that period I visited many, many sites, almost all differing in agenda and opinion. In the end I picked the two that I liked the best and were closist to my way of thinking, they were the Arseblog and of course, this fine establishment.
I’m not really bothered either way about the rest.
Now how’s about one of those drink thingys, a BM and all that rubbish please. 😉
Did I bteak something?
H2H If you’re broke,apparently this Lars bloke is good for a lend
Well-played Guv’nor – dignified and Arsenal and that – cheap abuse usually end up looking, well – cheap.
psed – on an entirely separate matter – some of my best friends are white trash.
UpTheARSe!
oops – s off end
UreDs!
arsa e barca, I’m want us to be an attacking side and play the possession game (it’s magnificent when we do it well). But when three goals isn’t enough for a point, then I’d rather we put a bit more attention to our defending (even at the cost of our attacking play). If we can regain our defensive confidence, we’ll have the platform to go forward more.
*Enjoys a beer on Lars’ tab. Wishes for a catapult to launch the empty the beer bottle at Sepp Blatter*
Always hated that twat Highbury Spy when I used to buy the hard copy of the Gooner aeons ago. Used to slag Spunky off all the time. Too right he’s earnt the right to be a massive twat.
Think I’m pretty done with things now. It really is all bollox right now.
Oh Esso, wish I was doing Baggies. Can’t you do one of the next two. We need to get slaughtered maestro 😀
(BG is over for Sunderland!)
Holic,
Thank you for this opportunity to hold sway at the bar for a few hours. It’s a privilege to be afforded this air time in your fine establishment. I’m humbled.
Fellow ‘Holics,
Thank you too for taking the time to browse and comment. I read every word of your responses. This had been gurgling up inside me for a little while now and was brought to the surface by a cancelled trip to Bolton, Olympiakos and The Tolly – all washed down with a once full bottle of a fine Australian red.
The bottle of red had its impact and I have some sympathy for those who commented on editorial enhancement! Ahem.
We’ll never get to a place where every Gooner is of one mind on everything and that’s a very good thing. However, to quote Steve T: –
“One thing we are all united in is our love of The Arsenal. We may all think differently but our love of this great club is unconditional”.
Can’t say it better than that, Steve. Worrylngly, I feel our orbits are coming closer together, at this rate our stars will be aligned before the end of the season! 🙂
I am the privileged one, BtM. Thank you for your time and creativity. After the events of this week I am particularly chuffed you shared that with us.
Guinness next Sunday?
fellow holics, ever wonder who is the fastest sprinter, theo or gareth? how to tell raphael and fabio apart? and why did rinaldo not get a red card in the classico when he hit the awesome pep?poor schneider got the boot just for making funny faces behind the ref, go figure. speaking of red cards, this needs to be addressed by BTM at some point. tottaly gotten out of hand.
@BtM
Our orbits are coming closer together?
Dude, so that’s what’s been pulling on my moons.
Whew! I thought I might have got something from one of them spud bloggers.
COYG!
Fun Gunner @97 My point re the signings of Chamakh, Koscielny and Squillachi was this. They were not additions to the squad. We lost 4 centre halves that summer and Eduardo was sold. Those brought in were replacements. Hardly strengthening the squad. I will leave others to debate who were the better players but as I said, hardly additions to a squad not deemed good enough by the manager.
Re the Nasri deal, with the greatest of respect it clearly was not done in February. There might have been talks but that would have been about it.
BtM. I await your Lunar landing. Perhaps the little fella could swap his cheese and onion for a milky way or a galaxy.
FunGunner – good post up there (ignoring numbers as instructed). See, some folks can have a well thought out debate without hating and insulting each other. Yourself and Steve T, of course.
Clive, the Sweeper – agreed – about the going round in circles.
I’ve been working on your idea of the Kroenke ‘post’, but somehow, trying to be funny just doesn’t seem to fit at the moment.
H2H – ditto, re the blog ‘search’. I spent a lot of time hunting around, and while I have a lot of time for ACLF, Gunnerblog amd Goodplaya, I actually don’t have the time to read them all.
Arseblog, and this bar, is it for me these days.
Meeting some of the regulars recently was a real pleasure that can hopefully be repeated.
Can you imagine spending time with a bunch of Le Grove dwellers ?
Couldn’t help but think to myself that I’m absolutely certain that Mr Rooney wouldn’t have profitted at all from his son’s antics on (or rather, off!) the pitch tonight. Which minute did he go in ? 😉
‘Holic, my very careful and sincere phrasing will have precluded the need for the legal men to get involved again, which I’m sure you will appreciate.
Trev, re the Rooney dad scandal;
It just goes to show, if you aint broke, then don’t try to fix it. 😉
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_true_Scotsman
you all should read this…
this is what this whole blog is all about, reinforcing your own perspective about Arsenal. Whenever someone wants to debate Wenger´s tactics and record of success you decry him as a Spurs fan or not a TRUE fan..
conveniently left out of the article is the absolute pummeling at OT. How anyone can defend Wenger after that is beyond me. Look at the team´s record over 10 games.. 20 games.. 30 games?
keep looking at the bright side guys, Man City will end up having a great team of players brought through the Arsene Wenger Youth Program known as Arsenal FC. I´m sick of it, I hope the manager gets replaced ASAP.. but like it or not, me and a lot of other guys still support Arsenal, even if it isn´t joined with an unconditional support for the manager
[…] these same lines here are a couple of brilliant pieces by the Arseblogger and the Goonerholic, kind of about taking a step back and looking at things during this rough […]
Amen
If we were to loose Wenger, it is hard to think about the impact it would have to the club. He is the currently taking the hits for things beyond his control behind the scene’s.
You have Fab saying Wenger is like a second father to him… You look at the youth we have in the piple line and you get goosebumps.
It cost’s 10 times more to fix something than to get it right first time. It will take us longer to get back on top without Wenger… and you have to wonder if every other PL manager is saying it would be a fatal mistake to get rid of Wenger then are we really in a position to question the professionals…
Great article.. let’s stop whining and give the club the support it not only needs but deserves.. show a bit of back bone… Being a Gooner is a lifelong commitment and that means the good and the bad… And no one gets that better than Arsene, he loves the club more than anyone…