To boo or not to boo, that is the question
I have decided to forgo this week’s Arsenal Week in Review piece. Let’s be real for a moment and just agree that not much has changed since last week – except the whole Emirates Cup thing. But it is the result of that Emirates cup thing and the ensuing fan reaction that I wanted to discuss today.
In only the 4th pre-season game (keep in mind pre-season game) after the Gunners relinquished yet another lead, this time a Kyle Bartley own goal, a rather vocal section of the Arsenal faithful started to boo. That’s right they booed. Now for my confession, even though it was a pre-season game, if I was there – I’d have booed too. As it was I turned my TV off in disgust.
Today, as I ventured to the twitterverse the tweets were rife of supporters at each other again with fans questioning the validity of fans who boo the team. Yes, the old chestnut – they aren’t true fans if they boo – was rolled out. Now we have had many discussions about the types of fans there are in the Arsenal universe, but lets be clear about something – they are all fans. How someone responds to the teams actions is entirely up to themselves and how they do does not deserve to be ridiculed or questioned.
I have some pretty opinionated readers here. Some of the more “rabid” discussion participants are in one camp or the other – firmly. I may not agree with their points of view but I will defend – every time – their ability to voice their opinion. That is why I took to twitter to defend those who booed.
Before I go on and readers claim then I am not a real Arsenal fan let me tee it up this way – I have stuck my neck out lots of times recently defending Wenger and offering that Wenger needs to be given this year to fix things. If he doesn’t I will gladly lead the revolt.
So as I waded into the discussion, I was told we should all blindly support the club, that chastising the players, manager or the club was wrong, especially when they needed our support. Booing I was told was senseless and that those who did it were glory-hunters because they would gladly cheer the club when it did well. Players needed to be protected and supported. How do I think they fel about being booed? How does that motivate them? I couldn’t believe what I was reading.
I’ll deal with the booing fans in a second but booing effecting the players? I don’t mean to diminish the opinions of those fans who talked to me about this. But these are players who earn more in a week than most earn in a year. They are professionals and have to deal with adversity every day in the sport they play. Dealing with booing fans should be the least of their concerns.
Now back to booing fans. Let me explain something about those people who boo. These are likely people who have been long-time supporters for the club, their life-span of supporterdom probably expands well beyond Arsene Wenger and even George Graham. They’ve seen the good and bad and want the club to avoid the bad. When they see what is going on and feel it is taking the club in the wrong direction they want their voice heard. Especially if they are asked to pay the prices they are asked to pay to see the club.
Many of those thousands of fans aren’t on twitter or don’t have their own blogs to make their voice heard. The way they do that is to sing the chants they’ve known forever, scream in defiance when Tottenham fans show up at the Emirates, scream their bloody heads off as the away fans and BOO ardently when the product on the field and the actions of the management off it do not seem to address the failings of this club that are clear to everyone who watches.
Booing is every bit a part of fandom as cheering. They are the yin and yang of it. Without one there cannot be the other. And a fan has a right – no an obligation to make his or her voice heard when they feel the need to voice their opinion.
Sure, it was only a friendly. Yes, every year we won the damn poxy Emirates cup we’ve fallen apart – so maybe we’re do some karmic luck. Who cares, the problems this club had at the bottom of the season last year are still there. We couldn’t hold a lead – against lesser opposition.
We clearly dominated the matches against Boca and NYRB. NYRB didn’t have that much of sniff. 1-0 to the Arsenal would’ve been nice in front of such a crowd. Except we got lazy again, we let the chances happen in the waning minutes and frankly for the last 5 minutes before the goal – you just knew it was coming. And you knew, given the environment the boos were coming too.
Look, I know there are some fans that see nothing wrong with Wenger, the players and the club. The feel everything will be fine, we are Arsenal after all. God bless them that they can remain so positive. I applaud them. I also know there are fans that believe the club is about to enter an abyss from which there will be no return and Tottenham will be better than us for the next 20 years unless we change completely. Bless them too, they keep us real. Finally, bless the fans who understand that there is good within the club but there are also problems that exist that need to be fixed. They praise when it’s won and criticize when it is warranted. That is where I find myself and I try to maintain a voice of reasoned sanity when I can.
This club called Arsenal has a big tent for all of us. Regardless of how we voice our opinion. To shut someone down because their opinion differs from yours – is ridiculous and childish. To fail to acknowledge that those who boo have a right to boo is akin to being a child with your fingers in your ears screaming “I CAN’T HEAR YOU LA LA LA LA LA LA.”
Rather than chastise a fan with a differing opinion, why not accept their opinion for what it is, their own. Then have a friendly “discussion” about it. There are merits to every argument and you might be surprised by what you learn from it. But to claim they are any less a fan than you only shows ignorance and stubbornness.
As for that poxy cup – bleh – who wants it anyway – even if it was good that Henry got it.
Until next time – stay Goonerish!!!
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Do you remember when … we regularly would be playing in the Charity Shield match? almost every season for a while…
on the old Arsenal America there was even a debate on whether we should PURPOSELY lose the match, because it was a well known “fact” that whoever won that match, didn’t win the league!
pretty amazing how long ago that seems… and Fergie strengthens his team, still could add a really good player in Sneijder… and is watching Arsenal and Chelsea do NOTHING of note on player acquisitions this Summer… he’s gotta be thrilled. It appears his only real threat will be from the same City… ManCity.
@stag133,
Oh I remember those arguments about the Charity Shield.
Those days, even when we lost, we might have been unhappy about tactics or whatever, but we were ALL very proud of the team. No questioning ANY players work-rate, commitment. There was no “pointless” player. ALL the players were lovable.
Past tense now.
@Fred, I agree, I never recall questioning a players “EFFORT”… or them doing stupid things on the pitch, because there were LEADERS on the team that took care of that… it would not be allowed to happen with Adams, Vieira and the like in the team.
Our debates were … is Parlour good enough? what does he bring? Freddie isn’t the same after the injury… Pires lost a step after the injury, do we replace him? Reyes is a crybaby and misses his Mom, but he runs his ass off, do we sell him.
Now? its HOW CAN YOU CONTINUE TO PLAY: Almunia, Denilson, Rosicky, Squillaci, etc etc
On another dire note: it looks like CITY might STEAL SNEIJDER from United… that would make them an even BIGGER threat… the players they have on the bench and sidelines might finish mid-table…
(we used to say that about Arsenal as well, not any more)
Do you remember when … we regularly would be playing in the Charity Shield match? almost every season for a while…
on the old Arsenal America there was even a debate on whether we should PURPOSELY lose the match, because it was a well known “fact” that whoever won that match, didn’t win the league!
pretty amazing how long ago that seems… and Fergie strengthens his team, still could add a really good player in Sneijder… and is watching Arsenal and Chelsea do NOTHING of note on player acquisitions this Summer… he’s gotta be thrilled. It appears his only real threat will be from the same City… ManCity.
Steve, I was not being sarcastic but trying to state facts :) Ivan and Arsene are running a very public comedy club so I figured I should get serious :)
I saw bits of Udinese last season and enjoyed watching them although most of my enjoyment was due to Sanchez and Di Natale but Sanchez ain’t there now so not sure how things will shake out but Di Natale amazes me. A few years ago I was certain he would leave for another team but he is still there and manages to score some very nice goals.
Arsenal’s seasons are usually defined in March or April but all of a sudden August seems happening. Too fast. I had a busy soccer filled summer of Copa America and now the euro season is upon us. The Bundesliga kicked off today with Dortmund starting off on the right foot and the charity shield takes place this weekend. Of course, if there was more delay in the season starting, it would have meant more non-activity for Arsenal’s transfer season. Fergie is probably happy as even he expressed surprise at Arsenal’s lack of activity.
So we are gonna try to beat Udinese without Fabregas, Nasri, RvP, Walcott, Wilshere and Diaby (LOL) ….
But with Chamakh at the apex and a midfield of Rosicky/Song/Ramsey???
We wont create ANYTHING. And the very few we do create will be of no use to the donkey we have as a main striker.
It might be hard to believe but our squad is actually significantly WORSE than last year.
Udinese will definitely get one or two good away goals at the Emirates. Then they will go home and defend all day against our toothless attack.
If Di Natale is in the zone they could even smash this sorry team home and away.
Guys, there is no redemption for this off season debacle in terms of getting ready for the new season with a stable and organized squad. It’s especially frustrating since we have an extremely difficult start to the season with the CL qualifiers sandwiched between top EPL teams like Manu and Liverpool.
Bringing in new players now might help come January, but outside of a Ronaldo or Messi, new players will have to learn the system and will take some time to adjust to the style and the players around them.
From Wenger and Gazidis failed promises of early signings, the constant speculation around Nasri and Cesc, raising of ticket prices, Wenger and PHW slagging off the fans, failure to address defensive frailties and our poor pre-season performances, this is our greatest failed chapter in modern Arsenal history.
Based on our meltdown at the end of last season and certainly not improving the squad, it is certainly possible a poor start could see us spiraling down to being a mid table team.
Our only consolation is that Chelsea and Spurs have failed to do anything significant in the transfer market. Having said that, Chelsea still have a significantly better squad than us and an extremely smart, tactical coach in Villa-Boas.
All this means we will be fighting for 4-6 place in the EPL if we are lucky.
@Caribkid,
I agree with your points, but I dispute the cliche that a new player will have to “learn our system”.
That is one of the lies Wenger incepted into the fanbase.
There really is nothing spectacular about how we play. Absolutely nothing.
For example, Gervinho came in and already looks like the most promising player in the squad.
As long as the player is fast, hardworking and has half a brain, he is already a top 3 player in this team.
CK and sachin trying out some Stag-like sarcasm (below)…..At least they haven’t gone to the double posts and (empty) threats about refusing to watch (or comment) on the Arsenal…..Sorry Stag (and the others), I feel your pain and it’s about time for another YAMA group hug. It’s tougher when your heart is out there on your sleeve…..
Udinese in the CL playoff is very interesting, esp. with RVP and Nasri suspended for the first leg in London. I watched a little Udinese last season and was always impressed by some of the talent on display and by their lightning fast pitch. They (too) appear to be a selling team and some of their most impressive players are now gone (Inler, Sanchez, Zapata). Maybe they’ve got internal solutions that made the sales possible……(LOL)…..They’ve still got Di Natale up front and Handanovic in goal so unless we create a ton more chances than they do, it could turn on a piece of luck or two. Based on my recent memory of Arsenal play I can’t recall us making lots of chances…..
It’s all coming to a head. The Cesc-aga will have to end by the first leg. (CL cup tied and sold to Barca is the saddest of all possible scenarios, IMO.) FlamNasri should either sign or get sold on now; keeping him prisoner seems both stupid and antithetical to the Arsenal profit machine–I don’t get it, perhaps someone smarter than me can explain it. All of it points to continued disrespect for the supporters and it’s almost impossible to speculate on what is really happening in the boardroom AND the dressing room. And some of the reports from members day are hard to decipher—The 7 a side was dominated by our wantaway (Bendtner) and Afobe, who appears headed to League One (Sheffield Wednesday) on loan….
Happy Friday…..
@HighburyTerraceSteve, haven’t watched Arsenal kick a ball yet… not live… just a highlight of Titi setting up the Emirates Cup winning goal.
and…
not planning on watching at all if we make no moves or just moves OUT of Cesc/Nasri.
you can have it all to yourself…
I won’t waste my time.
but they have 8 days to completely transform the team…
keep the faith.
arsene knows.
@stag133, Funny stuff….Schwarzer all over again….It gets worse every Summer…..At least last season you waited until Sept. 1 to say your goodbyes…..(But then you came back….Weird….Not watching but still commenting….also weird….So I guess you haven’t said your good-bye yet, this time…….)
For the record, what do you really want to see? Surely you’re being sarcastic about 8 days for a total transformation of the team (Even City, beloved City, haven’t totally transformed themselves, despite barely pipping us for 3rd)….. What would equal satisfaction? Is there anything that management could do that would be enough? In the end I suspect it’s all about results. If Arsenal (miraculously) could get up and win the league or make another CL cup run…..might that pique your interest? Or are you prepared to say that even miracles of that sort wouldn’t suffice?
While it’s easy to label people (me, I guess) as AKBs and then lash out at them (us?) as the problem, I really think that most “supporters” are pretty damn upset and baffled by what they’re (we’re) seeing. At least I’ve come around to see a big moneymaking scheme with Silent Stan set to cash in on his biggest cow yet (with kickbacks to AW and the current board perhaps) at which point maybe we’ll finally get the new manager and some Uzbeki rubles and get in there (alongside City) for some real transfer targets, maybe?…..
Another thing I’m not sure I understand…..Is your “support” predicated on keeping the “prisoners” (Cesc/Nasri)? To me it seems like insanity and I’m just trying to figure out what (WTF) management is thinking on those accounts. A mercenary playing out his contract and a miserable “Capitan” (no matter how “professional”) seem CERTAIN to undermine any notion of “collective belief,” not to mention on-pitch results….While I love “world class” players playing for Arsenal, if their hearts (or wallets) are elsewhere, it seems very uninspiring…..
In the end, internet pronouncements (booing?) notwithstanding, what can we really do? I guess blaming those who aren’t booing or who maybe try and take pleasure in some good results (or performances or players emerging who will soon enough get bought by City, of course) is another option…..Still, it seems pretty sad and I think your strategy of finding other teams to support (esp. ones that are getting doses of big outside money—Why not ManCity, BTW?…..) as you say you’re doing seems most appropriate…..Good luck on that……Though those of us (idiots?) committed (for whatever stupid reasons) to the Arsenal are the ones who REALLY need some….
@HighburyTerraceSteve, HTS…
I want ACTION. I want to see the club actually ADDRESS the issues in some respect. No more bullshit, no more smoke screens… and enough of the increased prices, new kits, and NOT spending on the team. I have had enough of this over the past 3 or 4 years… I’m simply not buying it, literally and figuratively.
so, what would do it for me?
MAKE MOVES. Buy a legitimate CD… Cahill is my choice, but Samba or Jagielka, OK … fine.
By Mata… or a PROVEN player or TWO or THREE.
On Cesc / Nasri…. honestly, I don’t want them at the club if they don’t want to be here… not interested in watching more half-hearted efforts. Why we are holding them hostage? I don’t know, and don’t care why.
The problem is, if we sell them, and they might be our 2 best players… is that there is the distinct possibility we will NOT replace them, and the money goes into the clubs coffers…
FU*K THAT. If that happens… I will consider ending my support of the club…
and on that… I have supported Arsenal for close to 20 years… 15 feverishly… traveling to London for matches EVERY YEAR, sometimes 2 times a year… for 10 years in a row…
that is the DEFINITION of support or a “supporter”… I can tell you I am not wealthy by any stretch… and for years, I saved my money and vacation time to GO SEE THE ARSENAL…
I love the club… but this isn’t the team I chose to support… this is utter bollocks… the fans are being shit on… in my opinion… there is no Arsenal FC without the undying support of the fans… the regular Joe… who supported the club at Highbury, and thru some dire times, does not even get a 2nd look by the AFC right now. They are viewed as suckers who will show up regardless… and they focus is on the periphery fan… the corporate boxes, and the out for a day at the match people… and THEY ARE IMPORTANT TOO… business wise, they are essential…
but when you piss all over your base fans, don’t REALLY listen to what they are saying… then it gets people angry.
When you sell people the same lies every off season, every January… it gets people angry…
I’m ANGRY.
I still love the club, but not the current regime…
and not the direction we’ve been headed in…
CHANGE GONNA COME. It will happen.
Having said all that… I enjoy football… and I enjoy the smaller teams and stadiums…. and the feel and the REAL football support they have… so I do follow Charlton Athletic… I like QPR… and I will watch lower division matches… they play with passion.
I “like” teams from every league… so the French League is being shown on Fox… cool, I’ll watch…. I like PSG, as I’ve been the stadium… and they are the club that usuaully fails to live up to their promise… I’ll watch football, just not Arsenal…. consider a boycott… a hunger strike of sorts.
I hope they win every match… 38-0-0…
but I KNOW we are in serious trouble this season… and its the fault of a few… board and manager… and they need to be REMOVED quickly… if the club is going to have success on the pitch.
I am NOT interested in their financial success if they have no success on the pitch.
Sport is business, but if you are an owner who’s trying to make profits by owning a team… you SHOULD NOT be an owner, if that’s the most important goal.
WINNING TITLES, TROPHIES, CHAMPIONSHIPS is what a good owner is about.
We’re lucky here in New England… CHAMPIONS-VILLE.
All 4 major sports teams have won titles in the last decade.
The owners are TRYING TO WIN… not concerned more about MAKING MONEY… if they can do BOTH, Utopia…
But the Red Sox owners put A LOT back into the team… the Patriots and Celtics do everything they can up to the Salary Cap… and the Bruins won after many years of trying to make profit over winning the Cup…
It’s simple… I’ve said it before… and I am not the originator…
I heard it from the stands and in the pubs around Highbury…
“I WANT MY ARSENAL BACK”.
@stag133, Fair enough and no sarcasm nor blame placed anywhere but where it should be placed……This could easily be the best, most impassioned and certainly the longest thing I’ve seen you write here (even without the 2nd post)….. Extremely well done!
And here’s the part I agree with the most: “Sport is business, but if you are an owner who’s trying to make profits by owning a team… you SHOULD NOT be an owner….” Exactly. The filthy rich need to give back to the world, not play a game where money is the only way to keep score. The more I learn about Kronke the less I like him, and it’s becoming rather criminal what the board is doing on his behalf. AW’s stance on Nasri’s free agency, while stupid (IMO), at least is a thumb in the eye of the owner–If a sale is forced (after cup-tying Samir) it would be an opportune moment for AW to step down with some grace…..(Likelihood = 0%…..)
Like I said, all signs point to Kronke’s ownership being a short term deal with a record profit at the tale end and Arsenal becoming the North London version of Chelsea—a result that would be ironic in the extreme for the likes of Peter Hill-Wood, et. al., and very different than what seems to be going on up in Liverpool with the Red Sox people (though I have my doubts about what they’re doing, of course)…..
Finally, I’m glad to hear that you are still supportive of the team and are hoping for good results—If I’ve learned anything in my (relatively) short time watching football it’s that results are often unfair but, over time, they are the only thing that matters. Arsenal should be heading downwards this season, IMO, but you never know, and (for the moment at least) I will continue to hope for the best. Who knows, a little luck in these (very) tough and crucial matches on the front end plus a teeny bit of follow through on some of the transfer talk and a little positive momentum (“collective belief”) might build…..
At the very least we should know a lot more by the end of the month…..
@HighburyTerraceSteve, HTS…
I want ACTION. I want to see the club actually ADDRESS the issues in some respect. No more bullshit, no more smoke screens… and enough of the increased prices, new kits, and NOT spending on the team. I have had enough of this over the past 3 or 4 years… I’m simply not buying it, literally and figuratively.
so, what would do it for me?
MAKE MOVES. Buy a legitimate CD… Cahill is my choice, but Samba or Jagielka, OK … fine.
By Mata… or a PROVEN player or TWO or THREE.
On Cesc / Nasri…. honestly, I don’t want them at the club if they don’t want to be here… not interested in watching more half-hearted efforts. Why we are holding them hostage? I don’t know, and don’t care why.
The problem is, if we sell them, and they might be our 2 best players… is that there is the distinct possibility we will NOT replace them, and the money goes into the clubs coffers…
FU*K THAT. If that happens… I will consider ending my support of the club…
and on that… I have supported Arsenal for close to 20 years… 15 feverishly… traveling to London for matches EVERY YEAR, sometimes 2 times a year… for 10 years in a row…
that is the DEFINITION of support or a “supporter”… I can tell you I am not wealthy by any stretch… and for years, I saved my money and vacation time to GO SEE THE ARSENAL…
I love the club… but this isn’t the team I chose to support… this is utter bollocks… the fans are being shit on… in my opinion… there is no Arsenal FC without the undying support of the fans… the regular Joe… who supported the club at Highbury, and thru some dire times, does not even get a 2nd look by the AFC right now. They are viewed as suckers who will show up regardless… and they focus is on the periphery fan… the corporate boxes, and the out for a day at the match people… and THEY ARE IMPORTANT TOO… business wise, they are essential…
but when you piss all over your base fans, don’t REALLY listen to what they are saying… then it gets people angry.
When you sell people the same lies every off season, every January… it gets people angry…
I’m ANGRY.
I still love the club, but not the current regime…
and not the direction we’ve been headed in…
CHANGE GONNA COME. It will happen.
Having said all that… I enjoy football… and I enjoy the smaller teams and stadiums…. and the feel and the REAL football support they have… so I do follow Charlton Athletic… I like QPR… and I will watch lower division matches… they play with passion.
I “like” teams from every league… so the French League is being shown on Fox… cool, I’ll watch…. I like PSG, as I’ve been the stadium… and they are the club that usuaully fails to live up to their promise… I’ll watch football, just not Arsenal…. consider a boycott… a hunger strike of sorts.
I hope they win every match… 38-0-0…
but I KNOW we are in serious trouble this season… and its the fault of a few… board and manager… and they need to be REMOVED quickly… if the club is going to have success on the pitch.
I am NOT interested in their financial success if they have no success on the pitch.
Sport is business, but if you are an owner who’s trying to make profits by owning a team… you SHOULD NOT be an owner, if that’s the most important goal.
WINNING TITLES, TROPHIES, CHAMPIONSHIPS is what a good owner is about.
We’re lucky here in New England… CHAMPIONS-VILLE.
All 4 major sports teams have won titles in the last decade.
The owners are TRYING TO WIN… not concerned more about MAKING MONEY… if they can do BOTH, Utopia…
But the Red Sox owners put A LOT back into the team… the Patriots and Celtics do everything they can up to the Salary Cap… and the Bruins won after many years of trying to make profit over winning the Cup…
It’s simple… I’ve said it before… and I am not the originator…
I heard it from the stands and in the pubs around Highbury…
“I WANT MY ARSENAL BACK”.
@HighburyTerraceSteve, haven’t watched Arsenal kick a ball yet… not live… just a highlight of Titi setting up the Emirates Cup winning goal.
and…
not planning on watching at all if we make no moves or just moves OUT of Cesc/Nasri.
you can have it all to yourself…
I won’t waste my time.
but they have 8 days to completely transform the team…
keep the faith.
arsene knows.
Udinese in the CL.
They could definitely take us out.
wouldn’t that be a kick in the ass.
might not be a bad thing at all.
Yeah not that concerned. Without Sanchez or Zapata the club lacks bite. But, RvP is out on a Red Card, Nasri out on two yellows.
Though the funny part is that Cesc is likely to be named to the squad before he is sold to Barca. How about that sell him and make him CL ineligible.
@DaAdminGooner, We wouldn’t make him CL ineligible if we were going to sell him, as his value would plummet …
and, why would we do that to the player, because he doesn’t want to play for us any more?
nah.
sell him and be done with it.
@DaAdminGooner, We wouldn’t make him CL ineligible if we were going to sell him, as his value would plummet …
and, why would we do that to the player, because he doesn’t want to play for us any more?
nah.
sell him and be done with it.
8 days away now.
there is ZERO possible good reasons why Arsenal have waited this long to sign players… unless of course, we don’t really plan on doing so…
what positive comes from waiting until a week or less before the season starts, let alone when its already started…
If we LOSE early, panic … price just went up… if we win a few matches early, Wenger will say “we’re fine as we are”…
If we are actually in on Cahill, Samba or Jagielka… or the laughable idea that we’re in on 2 of them! WHY HAVE WE NOT SIGNED THEM YET? WHAT WOULD WE BE WAITING FOR?
I’ll be sticking to … NOT WATCHING ARSENAL, if nothing happens in the next 8 days…
I watched QPR last year as much as I could, and they got promoted!
now, I’m watching NOTT FOREST in the Championship, and PSG in France… they just spent big bucks… I like them to win Ligue 1… and they are on Fox this weekend.
Oh, and some of you don’t get it…. we are LUCKY as fans to have Wenger and the frugal board… we’re financially in great shape, and its only been 6 years… you expect to much for the highest prices in the world for tickets… go buy one of the 125th Anniversary kits, and be happy… we will probably play some really pretty football at times this year… and think of the “good business” it will be when we finally sell Cesc and/or Nasri… good profit – good business, everybody wins.
8 days away now.
there is ZERO possible good reasons why Arsenal have waited this long to sign players… unless of course, we don’t really plan on doing so…
what positive comes from waiting until a week or less before the season starts, let alone when its already started…
If we LOSE early, panic … price just went up… if we win a few matches early, Wenger will say “we’re fine as we are”…
If we are actually in on Cahill, Samba or Jagielka… or the laughable idea that we’re in on 2 of them! WHY HAVE WE NOT SIGNED THEM YET? WHAT WOULD WE BE WAITING FOR?
I’ll be sticking to … NOT WATCHING ARSENAL, if nothing happens in the next 8 days…
I watched QPR last year as much as I could, and they got promoted!
now, I’m watching NOTT FOREST in the Championship, and PSG in France… they just spent big bucks… I like them to win Ligue 1… and they are on Fox this weekend.
Oh, and some of you don’t get it…. we are LUCKY as fans to have Wenger and the frugal board… we’re financially in great shape, and its only been 6 years… you expect to much for the highest prices in the world for tickets… go buy one of the 125th Anniversary kits, and be happy… we will probably play some really pretty football at times this year… and think of the “good business” it will be when we finally sell Cesc and/or Nasri… good profit – good business, everybody wins.
Bartley goes out on loan to Rangers. Squid is still the man, so who needs another quality CB.
Either Cesc or Nasri is going to go, so who needs Mata. Ryo will do if he gets a work permit.
Bendtner going so when RVP gets crocked we have our stalwart Chamakh. So, who needs another CF.
We have both quality and depth in the likes of Diaby, Ramsey, Atshavin, Rosicky, Mannone, Frimpong, Jenkinson, Traore, Afobe, Vela, so why do we need more players coming in.
Plus, with the cash from Nasri or Fabregas, Bendtner, Clichy, Almunia and Eboue, and not having to pay salaries for Bartley and Denilson we should once again win the “Transfer Sweepstakes” title. Having so much cash in hand maybe Kroenke or PHW will refund the ticket increase money.
We could also rake in some more money by sacking Gazidis and his 12M management marketing crew since they are obviously not creating more revenue than they earn. Gazidis, based on his inability to negotiate contracts, who needs him. We can get Steve Bould, Pat Rice and Arsene to do that.
Another great money saving idea would be to have the Board Members and coaching staff pay for their match day tickets. Surely they can afford it more than most, if not all fans.
There is no problem here guys. When Chamakh and Gervinho goes the ANC and RVP is crocked we can easily start Afobe in his place with Ryo and Walcott on the wings.
Also, Joey Barton would be a great buy. Sign him up on a free transfer to a two year contract with a club option for a 3rd and 4th year. The great thing about Joey is that all of our players will quit smoking cigarettes right away and if they don’t put in the effort on the field he will choke and bludgeon them to death. Plus, he can teach them how to Twiiter and provide much needed education on the sayings of Orwell and Churchill.
Don’t worry guys Arsene and Ivan ( if he doesn’t dire himself) has it all under control and as long as we don’t get Rubin Kazam in the CL qualifier we should be assured of being more than profitable this season by virtue of our inordinately complex financial model and have an outside chance of winning the CC.
Keep the chin up guys. If the churn is 4000 a year and we have 40,000 in waiting we can still make money for 10 more years. By that time the debt will be repaid in full and we will still be financially solvent playing to crowds of under 30, 000.
At that point we could sell our Stadium to Tottenham or West Ham for megabucks and get their’s in return as partial payment. Makes Great financial sense to me.
Also, we will still have a chance of getting into the Europa League, winning the CC and a slim outside chance of going to the CL via the Fair Play awards.
WHAT MORE COULD A LOYAL ARSENAL FAN ASK FOR!
Up the ARSE!!!!!!!
So young Kyle is off on loan again. Maybe that was the plan after all and such a decision was not made in lieu of the weekend. Still the weekend will stay as his last contribution for a while. Arsenal are amazingly quick in sending young players out on loan but buying players is another matter. Of course, if all players out there were worth 500,000 then Arsene and Ivan would have them. But anytime a player is quoted as more than a million, the two stop in their tracks and work out a scheme where they send offers in increments of 200,000. Then they are shocked to get their bids rejected. Ok I hear PHW shouting for me to shut up and let the two experts do their deals. Who knows, this time they may offer 200,001 more. But no rush really. Aug 31 is a lifetime away.
@sachin,
Or 200,000.50 more.
So many players out there, where does Arsene begin?
He sees this one, is about to deal him in
Then the player says “I’m happy here with my friends”
The rejection got Arsene thinking and that’s when he said
Where them quality players at?
Ivan, where then quality players at?
So go get them Arsene, we can all be friends again
@sachin,
lol, nice… Guetta’s french as well, who knows, it might catch on…
@OziKenyan, thanks. Hope it catches on and is directed both at Arsene and Ivan questioning where them players at that were promised especially by Ivan. Might as well include PHW in that as well.
It’s a little bit hilarious isn’t it.
I mean, Jagielka & Cahill are hardly Sol Campbell calibre signings are they are and yet we seem quite incapable of wrapping up the deals in a timely manner. Wenger’s Scrooge McDuff persona has created an inability to conclude deals in a sensible fashion.
Sure, on paper, when trophies are ignored, and all your doing is a bit of simple arithmetic, ‘transfer fees paid minus transfer fees received’ it looks good. But that simplistic analysis never gets to the heart of the matter. Every year we penny pinch on the deals that ARE the difference between winning and not winning. I can’t believe for a moment that if Jagielka (say) was a priority target that we can’t sign him early in the pre-season. He’s NOT a mega star, he’s a good solid player – no more. So why not clinch the deal? Honestly, is (say) saving 5m for a key addition really money saved if we end up either not getting the player, or, at best we get him a day or so before the season starts? Where’s the economy in that?
And what message does all this send to Cesc Fabregas a player who we’re told loves 2 clubs? If we changed our practice for (say) 2 seasons and ‘bought early’, even if it cost us 10m extra, wouldn’t that translate into a massively strong message to a player like Cesc who, to me, seems genuinely to love Arsenal. This penny pinching retarded transfer practice is just so wholly short sighted. I honestly believe Wenger has serious limitations in being able to commit and go full out to sign a player. His own tightness is a bar to him getting the players he needs to make his vision work.
@Kiwi,
Very well written Kiwi.
Reminds me of the day when we refused to pay half a million (extra) on a bargain price of 14 million GBP to get Xabi Alonso, and finished 3/4 points short of winning the Premier League.
To boo.
That is the answer to the question. The problem is that the players are only the proximal cause of the team’s woes. The ultimate cause is the manager, the ownership, and the board. If there were a way to boo them without booing the players… that would be the ideal situation. I suppose you could direct the boos, or some sort of chant, toward the director’s box. That’s what should be done.
No news on transfers but Kyle Bartley signs a contract extension…..
WTF!!! All the talk about action in the transfer window and this is what happens!!! Rewarding a kid for scoring an own goal and costing us a trophy!!!!
I guess he’s tall and he’s English so maybe that’ll help when (inevitably) we have to loan him out, given that his salary is astronomical while his confidence is the opposite, having been crushed by the boos that he caused…..
I am only joking here but there does come a point in hearing the reactions of supporters that you have to wonder what would actually constitute satisfaction…..
And on the topic (to boo or not…..) I’m more of less with CK. I know that I’ve booed professional franchises (the Golden State Warriors) for putting out an inferior product and indulging a head coach (Don Nelson). And I followed that up by giving up on the club permanently. If that’s not your bag I think it’s more effective holding up the placards, wearing some sort of off-color scarf or ranting on the interweb. And by “more effective”, I mean “not effective at all”…. (Also, I love Sachin’s notion of stoney silence at the stadium…..) Seriously, if you WANT the team to fail, booing seems about right. If you want the team to succeed and you’re in the stadium, putting as much pressure on the opponents (the other team and the ref) seems a better use of one’s voice.
That being said, our situation seems dire and we need some sort of action or clarity before the “cup final” matches begin. The latest news is that any deal for Jagielka is dead and the one for Mata is on life support while bluster still remains that we’ll keep our prisoners, Nasri and Cesc, despite the insanity of doing so. Truthfully, I wish I was away from the computer as some sort of shoe needs to drop and it just won’t happen…..
Finally, I’ll weigh in on the Chamakh idea. His game tailed off, big time, when refs stopped buying his clumsy dives. At that point maybe he started trying to “adjust to the English game, by turning full on galoot. I think he can do a job for us with his hold up play and stroking sideways balls to Theo or Gervinho on the break; in other words I like him far better as a sub when we’ve staked ourselves to a lead (wrapping RVP in bubble wrap for protection). And, of course, he is a big body, who might be useful defending set pieces. Obviously technically inferior to Bendtner, at least his lack of confidence is in line with his abilities and his first touch and pace are no worse. Neither is going to be a starting CF for a serious club, but Makh might do better as a role player…..Just thinking about it makes me miss Emmanuel “born offside” Adebayor…..(Who knows, maybe Joel Campbell is the answer…..)
Have we signed Joey Barton yet? AW might be just the man to turn the lad around…..
11 days til the opener… I think the masses are gathering near the stadium, so … like the rumor that we’re gonna get BOTH Cahill and Jags… to quiet the fans.
I heard from a mole that we are in for Messi, Ronaldo, and Eto’o… we’re going to spend 120 Million to get them… basically our profits over the last few seasons.
I mean, it wouldn’t begin to fix the defensive problems we have, but the rumor should keep the fans happy. I mean… “we tried, nobody was willing to sell, and we won’t overpay… transfers take time”.
For me Chamakh is a bit like Arshavin, neither were 1st choice in my view, but both have a legitimate role as squad players. Our problems, which are several, include a reliance on crocks which elevates the squad player to the vital.
Champion teams have a core and a style that together fuse a compelling mix. IMO we have neither. Our core is inadequate as is our style. Any team with RvP at the apex is doomed. The centre of defence has no core, GK has no core, Song is a marginal choice. On style, ours is too slow and lacks verve. And our mentality is weak.
That’s why I think an infusion of Mata, Cahill and Jagielka (which would cause Verm to go to LB) many well almost work. I’m still not convinced about RvP at the apex nor Sneezy at GK….
@Kiwi,
I think it is quite unfair to be comparing Arshavin to Chamakh.
Arshavin might not show it often, but at least we know he has raw quality – which he only now shows in bursts.
I really can’t say the same about Chamakh.
Maybe in a 4-4-2 and in a team with accurate crossers he would be quite useful. But in our setup, he is hands down rather embarrassing.
As for Song, he should be a BACK UP at best. He is slow, lacking bite, lacking hustle, lacking quickness in thought and fouls way too much. And getting to the second half of seasons, any tom, dick and harry could just stroll around him like he was Denilson or something.
If he were at Man U they would have sold him off.
@Fred,
You’re right, Chamakh and Arshavin are very different players. That said, to me they are in the same category – squad players who can play a valid role. It’s not Chamakh’s fault that Arsene’s Arsenal can’t cross a ball. If/when we can he’s pretty effective at holding it up and sniffing around the box. He started ok, he scored goals and didn’t look out of place. Then RvP came back (as he’s inclined to do) and Chamakh got wholly marginalised and seemed to lose confidence.
Same thing happened to Arshavin the year before. RvP was out (notice the theme) and Arshavin had to play at the apex!! Arshavin played continually and was flogged (due to the bevy of crocks), late in the season his form declined and he ended up coping a lot of criticism. My point, is that neither player should be core – a first choice starter – but because of the crockiness of the attacking squad (particularly RvP) they end up being mission-critical.
Song has a laid-back style about him and unfortunately it is enhanced in this pedestrian team. I’d prefer to see intensity at DM, but let’s be honest the whole team and style we employ lacks intensity. Song often plays an ok role.
I’d get rid of the following 10 players before worrying about those 3…..
Bendtner, Vela, Rosicky, Denilson (oh yeah, we tried but we pay him too much to get rid of!!), Diaby, Eboue, Traore, Squillaci, Almunia, Fabianski
I’d also get rid of RvP and Nasri – although they’re for different reasons. RvP is a faulty cornerstone and Nasri has played his cards.
Chamakh?
I’ve been saying since Xmas that the guy is garbage and Bendtner is far superior. That shows how truly bad he is. The one thing he has is decent fitness and lithe limbs that enable him to be a decent runner in away games when teams try to compress us in our half. He’s also decent in the air I suppose but far from the powerhouse he was made out to be beforehand.
The fact Wenger is apparently ignoring his embarrassing displays once again shows how much this whole thing is more about him and his ego than our best interests. If he was acting in our best interests Chamakh would be getting treated Bebe style by Arsene. Unfortunately only Fergie has the balls to treat players with enough ruthlessness to provoke a response down the line.
As for Chesney – he will be a disaster next season. Almunia at this point is a better keeper. The thing is, we’re so in need of a hero and someone who looks like they have a pulse at Arsenal that we build up any old player who looks assured and passionate. Chezzer has that (along with JW) but it’s a shame he doesn’t have the ability to back it up. That goal he conceded against Stoke was cringeful but because it was him he gets a pass.
Apart from a select few, such as Lehmann or Grobbelar, most top keepers are quiet and unassuming, but have a natural presence. Wojeich tries too hard. I also find it hard to overlook is woeful attempts to save penalties last season.
@Mazza,
Yup, yup. Meanwhile, a certified solution to the GK problem for the next decade just went quietly for 5M (despite AKB protestations that no quality players exist for cheap).
By the time, the average sheep comes around to the Chesney problem we would already be in complete free-fall.
To be fair though, I was one of the first to actually be excited by his emergence. I saw him punch one cross to the half way line in a random CC match in September and I was overjoyed. Then I saw him come out and catch a corner …. and I fell for hype! That is what years of watching Almunia and Fabianski does to you.
As i have said before, I have never and will never boo the players of any team I support because I deem that to be counter productive.
I would however, bring large placards voicing my displeasure, stop purchasing memorabilia, organize demonstrations, write nasty letters, create an Internet petition, organize a match day “no show” of fans, etc.
Once they start getting adverse international media attention and get hit in the pockets they will have to reconsider their approach.
Who is right? Not quite sure there is any right or wrong here, just perception in how to deal with a problem.
Our grand chairman, Peter Hill-wood, has once again demonstrated total senility and lack of understanding when he tweeted (didn’t realize the cunt even knew how to spell Twitter):
“‘As Arsene said, we are looking to buy some players but we are not going to do our business in public. They are going to have to be bloody patient – as we are.”
This man has no concept of PR whatsoever . His arrogant and autocratic stance only further cements King Arsene’s ability to further fuck up this team without challenge from his peers and in so doing, alienate it’s fan base..
What is truly puzzling, is Kroenke’s silent posture on the whole matter.
@Caribkid, As an experiment, I would like to see fans mimic Stan by being absolutely silent at games, no cheering or booing. Just pure silence. Although home fan silence will only mean the away fan noise would boom, which will feed the away team. If somehow the away fans could be persuaded to be silent, then the experiment would be worth it but there are some away team fans who will never stop shouting. Since Arsenal games always “sell-out” even if some fans do not attend, a silent statement is the only way to emit that empty stadium feel. Back in 2002, when Arsenal lost away to Juventus in a near empty stadium, it was a strange sight. There were under 9000 supporters and the whole match didn’t feel like a real game with something at stake. Some players can ignore booing but can any of these Arsenal players accept silence?
@sachin,
Great idea. The sounds of silence.
@Caribkid,
That might make more of an impression if the Emirates didn’t already seem half asleep for most matches. If it wasn’t for the booing, I wouldn’t guess 1/3 of them are alive.
@Caribkid, thanks CK.
Am I the only one worried about the Chamakh problem?
Honestly, that guy is the most pointless player in the squad.
The very definition of a blunt “striker”.
A lot of fans dislike Bendtner, and I agree he should go, but the Dane offers FAR more than Chamakh. So why is he staying?
Imagine losing the creativity in midfield when Nasri and Fabregas leave. And then RvP has one of his little injuries and then BAM we have to use Chamakh.
We would struggle to have more than 2 shots on target let alone come close to scoring actual goals.
Maarten Stekelenburg (goalkeeper, 28 y/o, 6ft 5in, over 200 games, vastly experienced) just moved to Roma for FIVE million pounds.
That’s right FIVE million pounds !!!
So for that price we could have had someone of his aerial, penalty box dominance, someone of his vast experience to set us up for TEN years.
And you guys keep on talking about Wenger buying both Cahill and Jagielka? You guys really have no idea how far into his wonderland Wenger is.
@Fred,
Fred its not the people out here talking about the multi-player push. There are a few outlets talking up that story line. From the press to some of the more respected blogs. So forgive people for talking about what everyone else is talking about.
I don’t blame the team for going for Steklenberg – they want to give Szczesny the clearest shot at being number one. Mostly everyone agrees – event he likes of Seaman, Wilson and Lehmann all agree this kid has it and should be given the chance.
So I’ve got no issues passing on him. What I want and I think most people want are central backs. We get that sorted with Premier League ready talent I will be happy with our defence.
Just because someone is available doesn’t mean it makes sense to go after him.
Sure we’ll hear – oh he’s unexperienced, he’s young. All of it is bollocks. Szczesny made one critical error and some other smaller ones. Its not any less than the likes of Lehmann or Wilson did. As a matter of fact Wilson had a gaffe very similar to Szczesny’s in that cost Arsenal a cup. They proceeded to go out the next year and win behind Wilson. In this case I believe it is right to let Szczesny go out as the number 1. Bring in an older more seasoned GK to be a mentor and push but give the kid the chance. He will never get the experience or get the chance if it is not given.
@DaAdminGooner,
The fact that the press is talking about an incredibly improbable transfer rumor does not mean a sensible fans should believe it. This is Wenger we are talking about.
We do NOT owe Chesney ANYTHING. Maybe at another club that already has it’s s^&t sorted out, they can afford to take a gamble on such a crucial position but NOT for us. We just have way too many problems.
Also, this is a player who has threatened to leave several times even before turning 20. What prevents him from bailing out on us in a few years anyway after we have spent years waiting on him to come through?
Arsenal owe him NOTHING.
Personally, I used to think he was solid and he had his chance to really shine last year, but his performance was average – and I’m not counting the few blunders. I was just all happy he wasn’t Almunia bad.
So while we have big question marks in CB, LB, DM, AM, and upfront, we also have to cross our fingers and PRAY about the GK situation as well, when we could have just settled that position once and for all for five million?
It might be good for Chesney. But not a good deal for Arsenal.
In the past, we had a top 3 keeper in Lukic. And we went out and bought the top keeper in Seaman.
No guarantees Chesney will even make top 10 in the EPL.
Ah well.
@DaAdminGooner, Why would we go strictly with unknown commodities… Sneezy, Fabianski, Mannone… when we could have had Steklenberg for a 5 Million GBP song… this goes back to the cries of NOBODY IS OUT THERE for SHORT MONEY…
No, they are out there, we just NEVER get them…
5 million is CHUMP CHANGE… and Keeper is possibly the most important position on the pitch… can definitely win or lose you matches, as we definitely have watched over the past few seasons.
The actions and in-actions of this club just BOGGLE the mind at times.
Just read ANR, Myles suggests that Jagielka and Cahill are BOTH signing. It made me think – would I get excited? What would make me excited about Arsenal this season under Wenger? Howa’bout this:
Mata RvP Gervinho
Wilshere Song Fabregas
Vermaelen Cahill Jagielka Sagna
Sneezy
What does that do?
– keeps Cesc, and gives him a better quality mate in Mata than Almunia
– rids us of Nasri, 2 very average seasons followed by half a decent season and he’s treating the club like trash. Take the 20m and invest it in a winner like Mata
– Mata and Gervinho should add a bit of freshness and penetration to an attack that has dried up and become pedestrian
– I know we’ve still got the crock van Persie – but hey, ya gotta be realistic
– Jagielka and Cahill are EPL hardened English pro’s who if we entered a decent period again would likely happily play out their careers with Arsenal (they’re 28 and 25 – they could be a partership for 5+ years)
– buying 2 CBs allows us to move Vermaelen to LB (why else would we sell Clichy and not replace him?), LB would give Verm a bit of freedom
– GK’s still not flash
Would I be excited – yeah I think I would with those 3.
@Kiwi,
+1
@Kiwi, If we were to get Jags AND Cahill… moved Vermaelen to LB, AND kept Cesc… AND bought Mata?
OK.
I’d be THRILLED.
I’d be backing the moves 1000%…
it would address a lot of the defensive issues.
But I think the liklihood is VERY LOW with what we’ve seen from Wenger and the Board…
and WOULD THAT MAKE CESC WANT TO STAY?
I’d prefer Nasri that WANTED to be here, to Cesc (or anyone) that wanted to go.
12 days.
and we’re still guessing…. still talking about maybes… still chasing ghosts…
BOOING.
Yeah.
Call me crazy, but how exactly does that make anyone less of a fan… it happens DAILY in American Sports… so does that mean American Sports fans are NOT REAL FANS?
If you boo a COLLEGE athlete, I think your a JERK… they are kids playing a game…
But I’d put some of the US fans of US Sports on the rabid level with ANY Euro-weenie soccer fans!
The idea that booing a team = not being a real fan is ABSURD.
@Kiwi, with that, even I might get my hopes up for a bit. But I fear another bargin hunting session is in full swing and come deadline day at most 1 more addition may arrive but right now not even expecting that.
Balanced and nicely written DAG.
The most you can say with intellectual honesty is that booing is impolite. That’s it. Customers have a choice, they like the experience or not. If not, they have a limited range of options – walk with their feet or voice their displeasure. To me, there is a sense of rightness about booing – it adds meaning to the applause.
Barcelona, that mammoth of a football club, their fans boo. Are they “not real supporters”? Get away, Barca in so many ways are the gold standard of what a footballing powerhouse is. If we set aside our petty rangling for a moment over their transfer loosening practices – then be honest, they ARE the standard. They play superb football, they have a history of playing with style, they sign swoony type stars, they grow their own stars, their fans live and breathe the game, their fans even own the club. And they boo when they don’t think the manager or board or team are cutting the mustard. It’s called real accountability. No where to hide. If your a winner they extol you, if you start failing see ya later baby. Isn’t that the appropriate way to treat some of the most extravagantly paid people on the planet?
Contrast that to the world Wenger has created. There is NO accountability at almost any level. And in his world to boo is a sin. It’s a nonsense. Our players are perpetually told that ‘next year’ is ok. Is that a winning culture? It’s become patently ridiculous, and the evidence shows that nothing whatsoever will change under Wenger. He IS the seed of the problem, his vision, his preference, his style, his team, his squad, his reluctance to buy, his refusal to bring in complimentary coaches, his decision to persist with Rice. Why wouldn’t the crowd start booing?
Wenger’s told everyone in his smug way that he knows best and to judge him “in May”, then May comes and he explains it away and offers some vague assurance that “he knows” and will attend to it. Six years later I’d say with 100% confidence that the squad is worse than before. We have at most 3 ‘stars’, 2 of them want to exit and the 3rd is a certified crock (RvP if you can’t guess). Get the boo’s happening and let the manager and board know what we think of their arrogance and dismissive attitude.
@Kiwi,
We’ve had this conversation, like so many others that deal with aspects of handling disappointment with Arsenal, a bunch of times. Simply, I disagree that there’s anything impolite with booing as an expression of disapproval.
You don’t like the expensive dinner you paid for, you send it back. The windows on your brand new luxury car don’t roll down all the way, you have the dealer fix it on his dime. You pay top dollar to watch the same disappointing, underwhelming, underachieving football, you boo. Because you have no other recourse. They’re keeping your money. And you can’t send Eboue back.
It’s part of sport. You’re there to be entertained. If you are, you cheer. If you’re not, you boo. If anything, supporters at the Emirates have been either extremely patient or too focused on their wine and cheese to notice they should have been booing for a couple of more seasons than they have already.