The Anger Games (Part 1)
“Ooh to… Ooh to be… Ooh to be a… Gooner! Ooh to… Ooh to be… Ooh to be a… Gooner!”
The Emirates crowd is finally in full throat, urging the Arsenal to bring it home, to seal the deal… It's 3-3, the final minute of extra-time, and they have watched their beloved team squander an early two-goal lead to lowly Fulham; then fall behind; then claw themselves level.
Once again, this confounding team are looking at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, under the strained gaze of their angst-ridden Michelin Man manager, whose arm-flapping gesticulations have almost reached lift-off level. Things are as bad as they've ever been: twenty-, thirty-year records are falling like tent-poles in the wake of this season's under-achievers, threatening to bring the entire circus big-top crashing down around them.
Arsenal never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. They seem intent on sliding steadily towards the ignominy of mid-table mediocrity. It's like a game of Snakes and Ladders, but without the ladders.
Snakes and Adders.
But forget about all that for now, as plucky substitute Arshavin races (against the clock) down the left… cuts in towards the box… fires a cross in towards our waiting striker… But, no! The horror! A leaping Fulham defender suarezes the ball out of the air – denying it its rightful destiny in the back of the net via Giroud's beautiful head, which is one goal away from a hat-trick…
Stunned silence, then… HANDBALL! The stadium's indignant, nay, furious appeal can be heard on the Space Station. All eyes turn to referee Dowd, who is waddling toward the action like a stuffed, black, potbellied pig. The game isn't over 'til the fat guy blows, and this fat guy really blows. Expectations are not exactly high. Dowd raises the whistle to the part of him that oinks and…
…points to the spot: PENALTY!
The entire stadium spontaneously ejaculates erupts. The relief is palpable. Dignity and Hope may survive this assault after all. Everything will be OK in the end – and if it's not OK, it's not the end. (Arsenal's motto of the past few years?) It's our first home penalty in the last 26 league games, a chance to steal 3 points, leapfrog Spurs and start our weary climb up the table to our beautiful bronze podium.
All eyes turn to Giroud, who is in smoking form. He could take the penalty with his head and score, he's that good. But Oli makes no apparent attempt to assume responsibility. Santi is interested, but he loses out to the Lego-haired Mr. Dependable, Miki Arteta, who looks eager to avenge his shocking defensive error at the other end of the pitch.
It's Redemption Time. In fact, to be precise: it's Redemption Extra Time.
The eagle-eyed Arteta places the ball on the spot, and locks his poker-faced lasers on his chosen target, as Schwarzer performs his orangutan routine in goal. The world holds its breath. The whistle blows.
Arteta glides in, blasts the ball toward the bottom right corner. It's a decent strike, but even as it leaves his foot, it's obvious that Schwarzer has guessed right. Left. You know what I mean… His low dive and long reach intercept the ball's path to glory, and it is palmed harmlessly past the post…
The crowd groans. Arteta crumples in a heap. Schwarzer bounces in elation, surrounded by adoring teammates. The final whistle blows. Arsenal players look on in horror: they know what comes next…
The Emirates Stadium lights turn black. Forty blazing halogen beams explode into action, pointing skyward like a giant wigwam skeleton. A deep and thunderous Beethovenesque chord churns the crowd's innards, as the spotlights slowly lower and converge on the prostate Arteta, pinning him to the pitch like a dead swan.
There is a single scream, cut short, as black stormtroopers tackle Arteta's beautiful wife, who is trying to run across the pitch to save her husband. A shudder of anticipation runs round the stadium like a Mexican wave. Like rubber-neckers at the scene of an accident, they are too afraid to look, but too curious to look away. After all, this is the Emirate's first execution since the Black Bag Brigade took over. The first time that the call for heads to roll will actually be answered.
Pity that it's Arteta – he's a popular figure. But rules are rules, and past achievement counts for nothing in this new age of immediate retribution. It may seem harsh, but, as the BBB explained in the Matchday Programme: at least fans will finally get some closure for the pain they suffer weekly at the hands of these molly-coddled, unmotivated chokers.
Arteta's death will take the edge off the sense of frustration and worthlessness that shrouds Gooners after every senseless loss, each clumsy draw. It's justice – Wild West style. If you don't like it, go watch curling. It's Natural Selection, Survival of the Fittest. And it's the key to restocking Arsenal's silverware cabinet.
A sinister, hooded figure, draped in a giant, black silk bag – slowly glides toward the center circle. A single beam picks out the unmistakeable puffy jowls of Black Bag Brigadier Piers Morgan. A mouth-hole miraculously appears in the pasty mess masquerading as his 'face', and a thin, whiney voice, that in different circumstances would be utterly laughable, emanates from it:
“Ladies and Gentlemen. Gunners. Welcome to the Age Of Instant Gratification. You have spoken with your “Boos”, and the Black Bag Brigade has listened. You have brayed for blood, and we will deliver. Right here, right now.”
The opening trumpet fanfare of Strauss's 'Also Sprach Zarathustra' rises out of the silence, and the subsequent orchestra blast coincides with an explosion and puff of smoke on the centre spot. And as the timpani pound their ominous dum-dum-dum-dum-dum-dum-dum, a shiny silver guillotine rises miraculously from the pea-green earth.
A pair of giant stormtroopers drags Arteta across the pitch toward the guillotine, as Piers Morgan's pie-hole continues:
“As is tradition… Or will soon be… We are extending an invitation. An invitation for the real cancer, the true scourge of our beautiful club, to come forth and meet his destiny…”
The cameras pan in on the ashen-faced features of Arséne Wenger, who is watching helplessly from the sideline, his eyebrows raised in disbelief, bottom lip quivering. The Arsenal figurehead looks exactly like that: a sun-weathered, salt-water stained, piece of driftwood – torn from the bow of a noble galleon, and spat ashore by an unforgiving sea.
Piers' voice barely contains its reedy venom…
“Only your … esteemed … manager – Arséne Wenger – can save your beloved Miki from his inevitable fate…
“So, what'ssss it going to be, Arssssséne?” Morgan hisses. “We can't make you leave. We can't force you to do the honourable thing…
“You were once a beloved leader, but you have brought shame and embarrassment to our club… Your tactics, your selections, your leadership.. They're a disgrace!”
Piers swirls and points to the glistening blade.
“Will you take your rightful PLACE?”
Morgan spits the last word so loudly into the mic that the million-watt subwoofers pop, and the wide-eyed Emirates crowd jump visibly in their seats. The screen magnifies Wenger's discomfort, as he considers this indecent proposal. He looks at those surrounding him for support, for guidance, but is met with blank stares.
The realization sinks in. That – like Gandalf, or Dumbledore, or Yoda – at the moment of reckoning, Le Prof must face the beast alone. The silent Yankee owner; the bloated, toady, board members; the preened, pampered players; the AKB faithful… they are all too spineless, too comfortable to come to his aid. They are behind him – but only so that he can shield them from the vitriol and the hatred.
Arséne clenches his jaw. The lid of the water bottle in his hand pops off in his tightening grip. His baby-blue eyes sparkle, and the signature wry grin lights his face. He nods. And in a quiet, steady voice that shatters the dark silence with its clarity and conviction, he says, “I will.”
Piers Morgan's face is dissected by a smiley slit. He motions for Arteta to be released, and beckons for Wenger to approach the guillotine.
But there is no need. Wenger is already marching forward to meet his fate. As he passes Arteta, their eyes meet, and Wenger gives him a barely perceptible wink.
Arséne arrives at the centre of the pitch, and refuses the hood offered him by the Black Bag Brigadier, whose customary smirk now twists his face in a snakebite snarl. Wenger kneels and places his neck on the velvet-lined lunette. The crowd draws an audible breath.
Piers Morgan, in a theatrical flourish, slides up to the guillotine and, as he reaches for the release handle, he turns to the Black Bag Brigade.
“It gives me great pleasure to announce that Wenger… is… finally… OUT!”
He pulls the handle, which releases the mouton, and the blade slides down, gleaming and hissing, to meet Wenger's pale neck. On the massive screens around the stadium there is a blur, as Wenger's head tumbles to the emerald grass, spouting blood, which pools and glistens in the spotlight – bright scarlet.
Arsenal red.
-~<+>~-
(End of Part One)
-=<~>=-
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New post: “The Anger Games”invinciblog.com/?p=422Please R&RT if you enjoy. Ta!
— invinciblog (@AFC_Invincibles) November 11, 2012
Blogger's note: This blog is satirical. If you don't know what satire is, then perhaps it's best you don't comment on it. I do not condone violence. I'm against the indiscriminate use of guillotines, especially in public places. I'm not a Wenger-Outie, or an Arséne-Knows-Bestie. What I am, is someone who values constructive, proactive debate. And I'm always up for pushing boundaries, provoking, stirring up emotions in the hope that they inspire dialogue.
Football on the pitch is an art, enjoyed on an emotional level by fans. Football and club management are more scientific in nature. I don't profess to know anything about running a club. What I do know is how little I know. I may be mistaken, but I have an inkling that most of the angry voices out there, clamouring for Wenger's head on a stick, belong to people like me: passionate about their club, desperate for trophies, but probably not qualified to run a football club.
I posted a tweet yesterday that got a lot of responses, some pretty vile, others more courteous. It was a joke – in the vein of Jack Handey's “Deep Thoughts”:
Stop saying “#WengerOut“.Do you have ANY idea where we’d be without him? Do you?Well I do. 19th, with 5 points. Tweeting #WengerBack
— invinciblog (@AFC_Invincibles) November 10, 2012
It was meant to help bring about the realization that our demands have consequences, sometimes unintended and undesirable. It's so simple to say “Wenger Out” – but what then? It's like burning the lifeboats on a sinking ship because you don't like their design… I'd like to see every #WengerOut tweet accompanied by #ThenWhat? It's amazing how few of the WengerOuties have a reply…
Nothing is simple:
Someone has to win. Sometimes it won’t be us. A LOT of money is spent on winning. By buying top players. Often ours. Discovered by Wenger.
— invinciblog (@AFC_Invincibles) November 10, 2012
It is likely, in my humble opinion, that whoever ultimately replaces Wenger will find himself up against the same wall. Won't we look stupid then?
Thanks for reading.
29 responses to “The Anger Games (Part 1)”
Leave a Reply to Terry Norman Cancel reply
Madge says: I love it but I want AW to come back to haunt Piers & all the black bin bag, moaning minnies &
Shut them all up. Frighten the shit out of them.
Ot rise from the dead like Lazarus !!!!
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batmandela says:
Anger Games: Resurrection
I have an idea this might tie in with trophy acquisition..;-).
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batmandela says:
Thank YOU for the feedback. Nearly 2000 reads and only 2 responses can be a little disheartening! :-/
Terry Norman says: You pro Wenger lot piss me right of! Your just like the board and Wenger, you crave mediocrity and that’s what you have burdened the rest of us with. A winning mentality originates from the top I.e. the board and the manager, but our board and manager are quite content with 4th place and not to be winners. So how can anyone expect our players to be winners when neither the board nor manager are? Success breeds success, winning breeds winning, mediocrity breeds mediocrity tell me where you think the Arsenal sit these days? Furthermore, you lot remind me of the band that played as the mighty titanic sunk into the depths and history. Get real, open your eyes to what’s actually going on over the Emirates. And one last point read, not listen to, the post match comments of your ‘great leader’, they read like a rambling baboon made them.
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batmandela says:
Not sure if you read to the end… I’m not pro Wenger. I’m not anti-Wenger either.
Sounds to me like you have a gripe with the board and owners too. What makes you think whoever replaces Wenger won’t face the same obstacles?
Besides. The “Wenger Out” bit is easy. What follows it? That’s what I’m open to discuss. And don’t just tell me “let’s get Guardiola”. Let’s get Messi then at the same time.
And if you’re gonna suggest getting Usmanov to bankroll a win or two… Really? You want us to be Chelsea? Or City? What’s to say we won’t be Liverpool. Spent millions, gone through managers and still doing worse than we are.
How about a proactive suggestion or two? That’ll impress me more than the ranting.
And please don’t presume you know what I feel or think. You don’t…
That said, I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Hopefully you got some satisfaction having your nemesis beheaded?
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Furthermore, you say “0lease don’t presume what you feel or think” I didn’t say either anywhere, yet you do exactly that with me! Believe it or not there are managers out there who might consider managing Arsenal, that’s a sign of how far we have fallen they might!, i’m thinking of David Moyes etc. Anyone who even thinks of Arsenal and Pep together is deluded, absolutely no chance in hell! And you don’t need to sell your soul to compete, look at Everton built by Moyes on a shoestring. Now you may say, this isn’t gonna win you trophies and it may well not, but if you think this is what I’m about you have totally missed the point. Sure I’d like us to be successful again, but just as important is a club with ambition, a winning mentality, players that wear the shirt with pride, run honestly and transparently. I see nothing of those traits, can you or anyone else say they can? Wenger has had his day, he’s tired and directionless, he gets Steve Bould into manage the defence and within weeks he’s there ‘just putting out the cones’, he simply will not delegate, other managers have worked out our tactics, we have no plan B, sometimes I think we have no plan A. Wenger is the face of the side on the pitch, the focal point for much anger but my real anger goes higher, it’s with the board! Perhaps if Wenger had grown a pair and insisted on being left to,manage the team, rather than the clubs P&L, we wouldn’t be such a divide club as we are today.
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batmandela says:
“You pro Wenger lot piss me right of!
Your just like the board and Wenger, you crave mediocrity …
… you lot remind me of the band that played as the mighty titanic sunk …
… your ‘great leader’… rambling baboon…”You’re telling me that those comments don’t presume how I feel or think?! LOL.
I apologize if you feel that I presumed what you were feeling or thinking – but in my defence, I did say “..it sounds to me like you have a problem with the board…” and then above you summarize your comment with “…[my] real anger goes higher, it’s with the board!”
I brought up Guardiola and Usmanov because that is the common ‘next step’ for the #WengerOut bunch. I don’t think I was wrong in assuming that you were in the anti-Wenger camp from your opening statement!
I’m glad to hear that you aren’t just in it for the trophies…
It also seems to me that you have an issue with the players that are representing Arsenal right now. Their performance, their attitude. I’m with you on that…
If you get a chance – read the article I linked to in the comment below. It’s pretty interesting…
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Terry Norman says: Firstly, let’s talk finance. I never asked anyone to bank roll Arsenal. The club produce enough revenue to finance itself I.e. if it wasn’t being milked. Here’s a fact for you, the directors personal wealth has increased by £540 million since 2008, how much has been invested in new players over the same period?
I didn’t suggest anyone to replace Wenger, but there are many more managers out there who are tactically more astute than Wenger, install some passion and a winning mentality into their players, something Wenger is clearly unable to do.
If you think I’m being unfair concerning Wenger’s post match comments, read them yourself and then tell me otherwise.
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batmandela says:
Like I said before – I’m not a Wenger fanboy. I also run the Invinciblog Forum (see the link at the top of the page) – which sprang from the death of The Gunning Hawk. There is obviously more room there for healthy and extended discourse – so if you’re interested, by all means sign up there and we can discuss the solution to our clubs woes…
Point is: I am constantly criticizing Wenger and the board -Wenger for his stubbornness in tactics, his tendency to stick to out-of-form players, whom he often plays out of position – and the board for behaving like fat cat pigs at the Arsenal trough, and the owner for showing no signs of competitiveness or interest in the club succeeding.
Here’s the interesting thing though: David Dein is everyone’s hero and they want him back – but he also made £17m off of a £392k investment. selling his shares to Usmanov. Also – don’t forget that he is the one who suggested that Arsenal sell to Kroenke. The board disagreed and ousted him, only to do exactly that a short while later.So: regarding the huge payouts and dividends, the increase in personal wealth created by ballooning share prices: that’s what happens in capitalism. It’s the same in all big companies everywhere: the board, shareholders and CEO milk profits while the lowliest members (that’s us, I guess) foot the bill.
At Chelsea and Man City you have sugar daddies who use their clubs as personal playthings. But look at the Glazers – sucking the wealth out of Man U… And, as I mentioned above: the Liverpool saga. The Beautiful Game is a mess right now. And I’m not sure what the solution is.
Last year I ran an Occupy Arsenal campaign – and it wasn’t entirely in jest.
I’m sad that the old Arsenal, including Highbury, has been swallowed up by the modern game. I think that we over-extended ourselves by building and moving to the Emirates, although I do think that it has given us a platform to become a great club of the future. Sharing Wembley with the FA would not have worked. And staying at Highbury would have crippled us in the long run.
I don’t think it takes a genius to see that there had to be some belt-tightening to survive the past few years. It is amazing that we still managed to do as well (poorly, depending on your outlook) as we did.
It was the arrival of the Sheikhs and Mobsters and the huge injection of wealth that screwed everything up though… Because there was no way we could compete with the £1bn in transfer fees that clubs were suddenly spending. And the wages that top players were being offered meant that we could no longer hang on to our players. And the youth we were developing were becoming top players. It was unfortunate, and, I believe, unforeseeable…
One last point though: I think you’re being disingenuous by not placing a fair portion of the blame on our poor results on the inconsistency of our players.
You say the winning mentality comes from the top: what Arsenal need is a real leader on the pitch. Fabregas wasn’t it. Van Persie was, briefly. Vermaelen isn’t. At the end of the day – the players should be able to go out there and play their games and earn their wages. Some of them aren’t good enough, sure, and were bum signings. But the good ones come at a cost that we can’t afford.
So, what to do? We can’t run in to Arsenal Place with pitchforks and torches. And we can’t behead our manager…
We have to come up with something reasonable. And doable…
Thanks again for your comments.
Terry Norman says: One last point, did you listen to the ‘great leaders’ response when he was asked on MOTD if he was interested in Berbatov? Apparently he didn’t even know he was available, joke!
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batmandela says:
You’re right: it is a joke. I doubt that Wenger was being serious.
Berbatov leaving Man U was all over the news last transfer window if you remember. Fiorentina thought they had him – he didn’t pitch for the meeting in Florence. Then Juventus bid £5m for him and pissed off Fiorentina. Then Fulham made a last gasp bid for him on deadline day and he went there because he had been with Martin Jol in his Spurs days…
Kim Jung Wenger can be pretty evasive in his interviews, and it irritates me too.
I wouldn’t say the man is a baboon though – in his defence: he does have Masters Degrees and speaks five languages.
mel ber says: Well, I really enjoyed that. Looking forward to Part 2 – which, I presume is the ‘What Then?’ part.
Very curious about the wink. What has Arsène got up his sleeve (now that he’s apparently without his head)?
batmandela says: @Terry: Here’s a great read that goes into a lot of depth about the Wenger Years. There are plenty of facts, figures… Check it out if you have time.
Terry Norman says: Sorry, I Only just read your replies, they hadn’t come through and they are ‘spot on’! He might have 5 degrees, I’ve only got one, but read his comments, anyway enough said on that. Right, let’s hang on to not just our top players but some of our old pros, the’re in demand everywhere except the Emirates. Build a team from the players we have sold and we’re up there with the best. Do you remember when Chelsea came calling for Henry, sorry no deal, can you imagine us turning that sort of money down today for anyone? Again,sure we need leaders, but we need that throughout the club s well. The players are inconsistent, but most are being played out of position and probably are totally confused by our tactics, I know I am. Have you ever seen an Arsenal defence, and I’m not just talking about the invincibles, in such disarray and it’s been there for all to see for years. Today we keep the ball, but possession never won games, and we lack any penetration. But these inconsistent players are those that Wenger has brought together, were they so inconsistent at their previous clubs, if so why did we buy them, if not whats happened to make them such?
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batmandela says:
Ha! Sorry – your above comment only came in after I replied to your other post! It’s a comedy of errors…
I think you’ll find we agree on a lot of things. Identifying the problems with Arsenal right now doesn’t take any degrees! The hard thing is finding solutions.
You mention Moyes. I think he’s brilliant. I’m not sure that he’s much better than Wenger though. As a total package.
Like him or not – Wenger seems to have a good reputation among players. And I do think Champion’s League qualification is good for the club – it helps us attract decent players.
I have to run now – but I’ll try and come back later to discuss this further with you. Or – as I said – there is the forum.. 🙂
Terry Norman says: So your other readers can see the full extent of just what the Directors of Arsenal are doing I’m going to take this opportunity to,give a little example. Firstly,mature the share price has increased, but the Arsenal share price has doubled while the rest of the FTSE 100 has remained quite flat. Secondly, imagine me and you buy a football team for £10 ie £5 each so there are 2 shares. Now we decide to build a new stadium, so go to the bank and get a £10,000 loan. Now rather than me and you take the loan, we put it in the name of our football club, sound familiar! Over the years the club pays the loan back and now has a nice new stadium, worth £10,000. But me and you own that football club, so in effect we own the stadium. So,our shares now are not worth £5 each the’re worth £5,000 each, nice business if you can get it. Is it any wonder the Arsenal share price has ‘bucked the trend’ when it’s given an accumulated wealth return like that? So our directors have not once put any money into the club, not that I can see, they pay the loan back cos that is in effect putting that money into their pockets. If they wanted to invest in quality new players, don’t want to bank roll it then have a ‘rights issue’. That money can for to building the squad and the debt does not increase by a single penny!
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batmandela says:
Excellent point!
Welcome to capitalism! (Venture capitalism?) the realm of Bain Capital and the Romneys of this world.
As I said earlier: “It’s the same in all big companies everywhere: the board, shareholders and CEO milk profits while the lowliest members (that’s us, I guess) foot the bill.” – that’s through exorbitant ticket prices, merchandise etc.
We pay for it. They own it. Nice work if you can get it! 😉
Terry Norman says: Like yourself I wish others would contribute, nothing like good open honest debate. Last thing on the Directors, sure it’s capitalism but why do so many gooners swallow the spin that originates from them?It’s that I find hard to swallow, cos they accept it without question. And when HW said at the AGM ‘thank you for taking an interest in our affairs’ I nearly blew a gasket!
Wenger does have a good reputation amongst younger players and why wouldn’t he, he puts them on ridiculous contacts, paying them so much we can’t off load them.
CL is a blessing and a curse to the Asenal as far as I’m concerned. Great because it generates extra revenue, that should be invested in the team but isn’t, and as fans we can see the likes of Madrid and Barca. But a curse because it has bred mediocrity, no longer Is our goal to win anything, it’s simply to qualify for CL and let’s be honest, we’re only there to make the numbers up these days.
If CL qualification is that great an achievement why don’t we see 3rd 2012, 4th 2011 plastered around the Emirates? But if we won even the Capital Cup, it would be up there straight away. I think that speaks for itself really..
And does CL football really attract top players and do they see qualification as a success, answer NO! What top players has it attracted, Sahin even went to Liverpool, and when Nasri, RVP left didn’t they say they wanted success? Obviously CL qualification wasn’t deemed as ‘success’ to them was it?
All I have always said and wanted is this, an Arsenal that has ambition, players that have pride in wearing the red, yellow or whatever colour it is these days of the Arsenal, a manager who is tactically aware and knows where he is looking to take the club and it’s supporters. A board that supports the ambitions of its supporters, players and manager. But please don’t anyone tell me ‘AkB’ or ‘KtF’ without explaining why.
All i’d ask is anyone who blurts out ‘KtF or AkB’ is this
Why should I keep the faith in something that hasn’t worked for over 7 years and doesn’t look like ever working?
Why Accept a strategy that has divided the supporters of the Arsenal like nothing that has ever gone before?
It is for the reasons that I gave above that I will be on that protest march, prior to the Swansea game, because that is the ‘Arsenal I want back’!
Now I’d ask, if your not on that march, what Arsenal is it you want?
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batmandela says:
>> “…why do so many gooners swallow the spin that originates from them? It’s that I find hard to swallow, cos they accept it without question. And when HW said at the AGM ‘thank you for taking an interest in our affairs’ I nearly blew a gasket!”
Because I think there are a lot of sheeple out there, happy to swallow the official line. They’re the kind that are honestly surprised when Fabregas or van Persie leave…(You know when I thought van Persie was going to leave? – When AW subbed the Ox for Arshavin against one of the Manchesters. That look on RVP’s face was pure Balotelli!)
>>Wenger does have a good reputation amongst younger players and why wouldn’t he, he puts them on ridiculous contacts, paying them so much we can’t off load them.
I don’t think it’s just the younger players… But that’s not important really.
>>And does CL football really attract top players and do they see qualification as a success, answer NO! What top players has it attracted, Sahin even went to Liverpool, and when Nasri, RVP left didn’t they say they wanted success? Obviously CL qualification wasn’t deemed as ‘success’ to them was it?
Most players selecting a club in the Premier League seem to want CL action – or maybe the media spins things that way, I dunno. Regarding the Nuri Sahin affair – that was us being shot in the foot by Mourinho. And in retrospect – I don’t think paying £12m for a player on loan for a year with no buy option would have been good business. Nasri and RVP went to CL clubs – I don’t think either of them would have gone to non-CL clubs. And for that reason I think Theo won’t immediately run off to Liverpool, although that may be his first choice.
>>All I have always said and wanted is this, an Arsenal that has ambition, players that have pride in wearing the red, yellow or whatever colour it is these days of the Arsenal, a manager who is tactically aware and knows where he is looking to take the club and it’s supporters. A board that supports the ambitions of its supporters, players and manager. But please don’t anyone tell me ‘AkB’ or ‘KtF’ without explaining why.
It is for the reasons that I gave above that I will be on that protest march, prior to the Swansea game, because that is the ‘Arsenal I want back’!
Now I’d ask, if your not on that march, what Arsenal is it you want?You have no idea how much I wish I wasn’t ten thousand miles away in South Africa. Or before that in LA for 16 years… I’ve been an Arsenal supporter since the 80s and never been to a match. Never got to Highbury. Still haven’t been to the Grove. If I lived near there I’d be at the AGMs without a doubt. I’m rather political when it comes to these sorts of things.
I’d probably be at the march. But I would definitely not be shouting AKB or KtF or even Wenger Out – until I had a clear idea of what it was I was trying to replace him/it with.
This is all a natural progression of the Occupy Movement into Football. It went through banking and housing. It’ll keep going. And hopefully the people who are spiritually invested will get what they deserve. 🙂
I’ve appreciated your feedback and comments. All very enlightening. It’s good to be engaged. Thanks.
Terry Norman says: One final point, if you believe that, which I forgot to comment on earlier is this, when I said ‘You lot piss me off…..’ I was actually referring to those people who had posted their support for the ‘learned one’, not your good self because your piece didn’t come down on either side.
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batmandela says:
Ahh… OK. I think I took some of those comments as being directed at me. It makes sense now. My bad!
Terry Norman says: I don’t think I’ll be chanting ‘Wenger out’ more ‘we want our Arsenal back’!
Like many on that march I’ve never protested against anything previously, particularly over the Arsenal, but from other Arsenal sites I’m on, feelings are running pretty high.
From comments I’ve heard & read from other gooners, those who attend away matches, there was some pretty abusive comments aimed at Mr Wenger and the board, particular at Norwich. These may not be construed as constructive, but how else can fans vent their anger & frustration?
I’m sure there are plenty of pro ‘keep things as they are’ gooners on here, yet they remain quiet, why? At least one person on here called us ‘moaning Minnie’s but please let that person explain why we shouldn’t moan. But again, please don’t talk in terms of trust & faith cos that’s the only argument I hear. And to be honest, that’s not really an argument, is it?
People I know submitted questions for the AGM, but not one was raised. It was a completely staged managed affair with lots of ‘back slapping’ from those that skip merrily to the bank each time the outstanding debt is Paid down. And, while the manager continues to shop at ‘Aldi’ for his next signings, the board will be rejoicing on the dividends that they will undoubtedly take this year. Food for thought, if further money wasnt taken out the club, maybe Mr Wenger, rather than looking through the window at Harods and dreaming, could actually open the door, walk in and actually shop there.
Terry Norman says: I also read that link thank you and I suggest anyone interested in Arsenal do the same. Signed up to you blog, so looking forward to locking horns again at some point. Keep it up!
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batmandela says:
If you’d like to be engaged with a group of pretty level-headed Gooners who enjoy a good discussion and aren’t split along loyalist lines -we’re all allowed to cross to and fro at times – you know, like in real life!… Please sign up for the invinciblog forum at http://www.invinciblog.com/forum
We’ve had 1.5 million hits – been going for 10 months…
You’re more likely to get a decent discussion going there than in the comments on this blog – which is hardly read, tbh. (It’s not exactly arseblog – know what I mean?)
Terry Norman says: What about this and I throw it open for discussion. Good managers delegate, they get specialists in and give them both backing and credit.
Clive Woodward did exactly that and England won the Rugby world cup He wasn’t threatened or frightend by these specialists and he concentrated on what he was good at, overall management of the team!
Why can’t we have a Seaman coaching our keepers, Steve Bould, Dixon, Adams to coach our defence, Viera, Brady the midfield and Henry, wright or Berkcamp the forwards. Then Wenger can oversee the lot.
I’m sure others might think other players should be involved, I only throw those names out there as examples.
Tell you what, with those guys on board there is no way Santos would have emerged unscathed, for the 2nd half, from that old Trafford dressing room.
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batmandela says:
Bergkamp’s contract with Ajax is coming up for renewal soon. But do you think his fear of flying would be a problem? I personally would love to see him back at the camp…
Terry Norman says: Who wouldn’t? He can always get the ferry or drive to France and get the Eurostar, no excuse for ‘the great one’ not to be part of the set up. Tell me it wouldn’t give the whole place and the fans in particular a massive boast ie to have the genius that is Dennis around the place.
I’ll be on the forum, soon!
[…] Pitchfork and torch sales are up. So are black scarf sales. And apparently Cleaver & Gush – (Purveyors of Fine Guillotines – By Appointment To Her Majesty The Queen) have had an inordinate number of hits on their website. Which can only mean one thing: […]
Leave a Reply to Terry Norman Cancel reply
I love it but I want AW to come back to haunt Piers & all the black bin bag, moaning minnies &
Shut them all up. Frighten the shit out of them.
Ot rise from the dead like Lazarus !!!!
Anger Games: Resurrection
I have an idea this might tie in with trophy acquisition..;-).
Another linguistic feast and very, very funny. Thanks. 🙂
Thank YOU for the feedback. Nearly 2000 reads and only 2 responses can be a little disheartening! :-/
You pro Wenger lot piss me right of! Your just like the board and Wenger, you crave mediocrity and that’s what you have burdened the rest of us with. A winning mentality originates from the top I.e. the board and the manager, but our board and manager are quite content with 4th place and not to be winners. So how can anyone expect our players to be winners when neither the board nor manager are? Success breeds success, winning breeds winning, mediocrity breeds mediocrity tell me where you think the Arsenal sit these days? Furthermore, you lot remind me of the band that played as the mighty titanic sunk into the depths and history. Get real, open your eyes to what’s actually going on over the Emirates. And one last point read, not listen to, the post match comments of your ‘great leader’, they read like a rambling baboon made them.
Not sure if you read to the end… I’m not pro Wenger. I’m not anti-Wenger either.
Sounds to me like you have a gripe with the board and owners too. What makes you think whoever replaces Wenger won’t face the same obstacles?
Besides. The “Wenger Out” bit is easy. What follows it? That’s what I’m open to discuss. And don’t just tell me “let’s get Guardiola”. Let’s get Messi then at the same time.
And if you’re gonna suggest getting Usmanov to bankroll a win or two… Really? You want us to be Chelsea? Or City? What’s to say we won’t be Liverpool. Spent millions, gone through managers and still doing worse than we are.
How about a proactive suggestion or two? That’ll impress me more than the ranting.
And please don’t presume you know what I feel or think. You don’t…
That said, I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Hopefully you got some satisfaction having your nemesis beheaded?
Furthermore, you say “0lease don’t presume what you feel or think” I didn’t say either anywhere, yet you do exactly that with me! Believe it or not there are managers out there who might consider managing Arsenal, that’s a sign of how far we have fallen they might!, i’m thinking of David Moyes etc. Anyone who even thinks of Arsenal and Pep together is deluded, absolutely no chance in hell! And you don’t need to sell your soul to compete, look at Everton built by Moyes on a shoestring. Now you may say, this isn’t gonna win you trophies and it may well not, but if you think this is what I’m about you have totally missed the point. Sure I’d like us to be successful again, but just as important is a club with ambition, a winning mentality, players that wear the shirt with pride, run honestly and transparently. I see nothing of those traits, can you or anyone else say they can? Wenger has had his day, he’s tired and directionless, he gets Steve Bould into manage the defence and within weeks he’s there ‘just putting out the cones’, he simply will not delegate, other managers have worked out our tactics, we have no plan B, sometimes I think we have no plan A. Wenger is the face of the side on the pitch, the focal point for much anger but my real anger goes higher, it’s with the board! Perhaps if Wenger had grown a pair and insisted on being left to,manage the team, rather than the clubs P&L, we wouldn’t be such a divide club as we are today.
“You pro Wenger lot piss me right of!
Your just like the board and Wenger, you crave mediocrity …
… you lot remind me of the band that played as the mighty titanic sunk …
… your ‘great leader’… rambling baboon…”
You’re telling me that those comments don’t presume how I feel or think?! LOL.
I apologize if you feel that I presumed what you were feeling or thinking – but in my defence, I did say “..it sounds to me like you have a problem with the board…” and then above you summarize your comment with “…[my] real anger goes higher, it’s with the board!”
I brought up Guardiola and Usmanov because that is the common ‘next step’ for the #WengerOut bunch. I don’t think I was wrong in assuming that you were in the anti-Wenger camp from your opening statement!
I’m glad to hear that you aren’t just in it for the trophies…
It also seems to me that you have an issue with the players that are representing Arsenal right now. Their performance, their attitude. I’m with you on that…
If you get a chance – read the article I linked to in the comment below. It’s pretty interesting…
Firstly, let’s talk finance. I never asked anyone to bank roll Arsenal. The club produce enough revenue to finance itself I.e. if it wasn’t being milked. Here’s a fact for you, the directors personal wealth has increased by £540 million since 2008, how much has been invested in new players over the same period?
I didn’t suggest anyone to replace Wenger, but there are many more managers out there who are tactically more astute than Wenger, install some passion and a winning mentality into their players, something Wenger is clearly unable to do.
If you think I’m being unfair concerning Wenger’s post match comments, read them yourself and then tell me otherwise.
Like I said before – I’m not a Wenger fanboy. I also run the Invinciblog Forum (see the link at the top of the page) – which sprang from the death of The Gunning Hawk. There is obviously more room there for healthy and extended discourse – so if you’re interested, by all means sign up there and we can discuss the solution to our clubs woes…
Point is: I am constantly criticizing Wenger and the board -Wenger for his stubbornness in tactics, his tendency to stick to out-of-form players, whom he often plays out of position – and the board for behaving like fat cat pigs at the Arsenal trough, and the owner for showing no signs of competitiveness or interest in the club succeeding.
Here’s the interesting thing though: David Dein is everyone’s hero and they want him back – but he also made £17m off of a £392k investment. selling his shares to Usmanov. Also – don’t forget that he is the one who suggested that Arsenal sell to Kroenke. The board disagreed and ousted him, only to do exactly that a short while later.So: regarding the huge payouts and dividends, the increase in personal wealth created by ballooning share prices: that’s what happens in capitalism. It’s the same in all big companies everywhere: the board, shareholders and CEO milk profits while the lowliest members (that’s us, I guess) foot the bill.
At Chelsea and Man City you have sugar daddies who use their clubs as personal playthings. But look at the Glazers – sucking the wealth out of Man U… And, as I mentioned above: the Liverpool saga. The Beautiful Game is a mess right now. And I’m not sure what the solution is.
Last year I ran an Occupy Arsenal campaign – and it wasn’t entirely in jest.
I’m sad that the old Arsenal, including Highbury, has been swallowed up by the modern game. I think that we over-extended ourselves by building and moving to the Emirates, although I do think that it has given us a platform to become a great club of the future. Sharing Wembley with the FA would not have worked. And staying at Highbury would have crippled us in the long run.
I don’t think it takes a genius to see that there had to be some belt-tightening to survive the past few years. It is amazing that we still managed to do as well (poorly, depending on your outlook) as we did.
It was the arrival of the Sheikhs and Mobsters and the huge injection of wealth that screwed everything up though… Because there was no way we could compete with the £1bn in transfer fees that clubs were suddenly spending. And the wages that top players were being offered meant that we could no longer hang on to our players. And the youth we were developing were becoming top players. It was unfortunate, and, I believe, unforeseeable…
One last point though: I think you’re being disingenuous by not placing a fair portion of the blame on our poor results on the inconsistency of our players.
You say the winning mentality comes from the top: what Arsenal need is a real leader on the pitch. Fabregas wasn’t it. Van Persie was, briefly. Vermaelen isn’t. At the end of the day – the players should be able to go out there and play their games and earn their wages. Some of them aren’t good enough, sure, and were bum signings. But the good ones come at a cost that we can’t afford.
So, what to do? We can’t run in to Arsenal Place with pitchforks and torches. And we can’t behead our manager…
We have to come up with something reasonable. And doable…
Thanks again for your comments.
One last point, did you listen to the ‘great leaders’ response when he was asked on MOTD if he was interested in Berbatov? Apparently he didn’t even know he was available, joke!
You’re right: it is a joke. I doubt that Wenger was being serious.
Berbatov leaving Man U was all over the news last transfer window if you remember. Fiorentina thought they had him – he didn’t pitch for the meeting in Florence. Then Juventus bid £5m for him and pissed off Fiorentina. Then Fulham made a last gasp bid for him on deadline day and he went there because he had been with Martin Jol in his Spurs days…
Kim Jung Wenger can be pretty evasive in his interviews, and it irritates me too.
I wouldn’t say the man is a baboon though – in his defence: he does have Masters Degrees and speaks five languages.
Well, I really enjoyed that. Looking forward to Part 2 – which, I presume is the ‘What Then?’ part.
Very curious about the wink. What has Arsène got up his sleeve (now that he’s apparently without his head)?
@Terry: Here’s a great read that goes into a lot of depth about the Wenger Years. There are plenty of facts, figures… Check it out if you have time.
http://www.thefootballnetwork.net/main/arsenal-/s378/st179629/wenger-at-63-an-audit-and-history-2004-12
Sorry, I Only just read your replies, they hadn’t come through and they are ‘spot on’! He might have 5 degrees, I’ve only got one, but read his comments, anyway enough said on that. Right, let’s hang on to not just our top players but some of our old pros, the’re in demand everywhere except the Emirates. Build a team from the players we have sold and we’re up there with the best. Do you remember when Chelsea came calling for Henry, sorry no deal, can you imagine us turning that sort of money down today for anyone? Again,sure we need leaders, but we need that throughout the club s well. The players are inconsistent, but most are being played out of position and probably are totally confused by our tactics, I know I am. Have you ever seen an Arsenal defence, and I’m not just talking about the invincibles, in such disarray and it’s been there for all to see for years. Today we keep the ball, but possession never won games, and we lack any penetration. But these inconsistent players are those that Wenger has brought together, were they so inconsistent at their previous clubs, if so why did we buy them, if not whats happened to make them such?
Ha! Sorry – your above comment only came in after I replied to your other post! It’s a comedy of errors…
I think you’ll find we agree on a lot of things. Identifying the problems with Arsenal right now doesn’t take any degrees! The hard thing is finding solutions.
You mention Moyes. I think he’s brilliant. I’m not sure that he’s much better than Wenger though. As a total package.
Like him or not – Wenger seems to have a good reputation among players. And I do think Champion’s League qualification is good for the club – it helps us attract decent players.
I have to run now – but I’ll try and come back later to discuss this further with you. Or – as I said – there is the forum.. 🙂
So your other readers can see the full extent of just what the Directors of Arsenal are doing I’m going to take this opportunity to,give a little example. Firstly,mature the share price has increased, but the Arsenal share price has doubled while the rest of the FTSE 100 has remained quite flat. Secondly, imagine me and you buy a football team for £10 ie £5 each so there are 2 shares. Now we decide to build a new stadium, so go to the bank and get a £10,000 loan. Now rather than me and you take the loan, we put it in the name of our football club, sound familiar! Over the years the club pays the loan back and now has a nice new stadium, worth £10,000. But me and you own that football club, so in effect we own the stadium. So,our shares now are not worth £5 each the’re worth £5,000 each, nice business if you can get it. Is it any wonder the Arsenal share price has ‘bucked the trend’ when it’s given an accumulated wealth return like that? So our directors have not once put any money into the club, not that I can see, they pay the loan back cos that is in effect putting that money into their pockets. If they wanted to invest in quality new players, don’t want to bank roll it then have a ‘rights issue’. That money can for to building the squad and the debt does not increase by a single penny!
Excellent point!
Welcome to capitalism! (Venture capitalism?) the realm of Bain Capital and the Romneys of this world.
As I said earlier: “It’s the same in all big companies everywhere: the board, shareholders and CEO milk profits while the lowliest members (that’s us, I guess) foot the bill.” – that’s through exorbitant ticket prices, merchandise etc.
We pay for it. They own it. Nice work if you can get it! 😉
Like yourself I wish others would contribute, nothing like good open honest debate. Last thing on the Directors, sure it’s capitalism but why do so many gooners swallow the spin that originates from them?It’s that I find hard to swallow, cos they accept it without question. And when HW said at the AGM ‘thank you for taking an interest in our affairs’ I nearly blew a gasket!
Wenger does have a good reputation amongst younger players and why wouldn’t he, he puts them on ridiculous contacts, paying them so much we can’t off load them.
CL is a blessing and a curse to the Asenal as far as I’m concerned. Great because it generates extra revenue, that should be invested in the team but isn’t, and as fans we can see the likes of Madrid and Barca. But a curse because it has bred mediocrity, no longer Is our goal to win anything, it’s simply to qualify for CL and let’s be honest, we’re only there to make the numbers up these days.
If CL qualification is that great an achievement why don’t we see 3rd 2012, 4th 2011 plastered around the Emirates? But if we won even the Capital Cup, it would be up there straight away. I think that speaks for itself really..
And does CL football really attract top players and do they see qualification as a success, answer NO! What top players has it attracted, Sahin even went to Liverpool, and when Nasri, RVP left didn’t they say they wanted success? Obviously CL qualification wasn’t deemed as ‘success’ to them was it?
All I have always said and wanted is this, an Arsenal that has ambition, players that have pride in wearing the red, yellow or whatever colour it is these days of the Arsenal, a manager who is tactically aware and knows where he is looking to take the club and it’s supporters. A board that supports the ambitions of its supporters, players and manager. But please don’t anyone tell me ‘AkB’ or ‘KtF’ without explaining why.
All i’d ask is anyone who blurts out ‘KtF or AkB’ is this
Why should I keep the faith in something that hasn’t worked for over 7 years and doesn’t look like ever working?
Why Accept a strategy that has divided the supporters of the Arsenal like nothing that has ever gone before?
It is for the reasons that I gave above that I will be on that protest march, prior to the Swansea game, because that is the ‘Arsenal I want back’!
Now I’d ask, if your not on that march, what Arsenal is it you want?
>> “…why do so many gooners swallow the spin that originates from them? It’s that I find hard to swallow, cos they accept it without question. And when HW said at the AGM ‘thank you for taking an interest in our affairs’ I nearly blew a gasket!”
Because I think there are a lot of sheeple out there, happy to swallow the official line. They’re the kind that are honestly surprised when Fabregas or van Persie leave…(You know when I thought van Persie was going to leave? – When AW subbed the Ox for Arshavin against one of the Manchesters. That look on RVP’s face was pure Balotelli!)
>>Wenger does have a good reputation amongst younger players and why wouldn’t he, he puts them on ridiculous contacts, paying them so much we can’t off load them.
I don’t think it’s just the younger players… But that’s not important really.
>>And does CL football really attract top players and do they see qualification as a success, answer NO! What top players has it attracted, Sahin even went to Liverpool, and when Nasri, RVP left didn’t they say they wanted success? Obviously CL qualification wasn’t deemed as ‘success’ to them was it?
Most players selecting a club in the Premier League seem to want CL action – or maybe the media spins things that way, I dunno. Regarding the Nuri Sahin affair – that was us being shot in the foot by Mourinho. And in retrospect – I don’t think paying £12m for a player on loan for a year with no buy option would have been good business. Nasri and RVP went to CL clubs – I don’t think either of them would have gone to non-CL clubs. And for that reason I think Theo won’t immediately run off to Liverpool, although that may be his first choice.
>>All I have always said and wanted is this, an Arsenal that has ambition, players that have pride in wearing the red, yellow or whatever colour it is these days of the Arsenal, a manager who is tactically aware and knows where he is looking to take the club and it’s supporters. A board that supports the ambitions of its supporters, players and manager. But please don’t anyone tell me ‘AkB’ or ‘KtF’ without explaining why.
It is for the reasons that I gave above that I will be on that protest march, prior to the Swansea game, because that is the ‘Arsenal I want back’!
Now I’d ask, if your not on that march, what Arsenal is it you want?
You have no idea how much I wish I wasn’t ten thousand miles away in South Africa. Or before that in LA for 16 years… I’ve been an Arsenal supporter since the 80s and never been to a match. Never got to Highbury. Still haven’t been to the Grove. If I lived near there I’d be at the AGMs without a doubt. I’m rather political when it comes to these sorts of things.
I’d probably be at the march. But I would definitely not be shouting AKB or KtF or even Wenger Out – until I had a clear idea of what it was I was trying to replace him/it with.
This is all a natural progression of the Occupy Movement into Football. It went through banking and housing. It’ll keep going. And hopefully the people who are spiritually invested will get what they deserve. 🙂
I’ve appreciated your feedback and comments. All very enlightening. It’s good to be engaged. Thanks.
One final point, if you believe that, which I forgot to comment on earlier is this, when I said ‘You lot piss me off…..’ I was actually referring to those people who had posted their support for the ‘learned one’, not your good self because your piece didn’t come down on either side.
Ahh… OK. I think I took some of those comments as being directed at me. It makes sense now. My bad!
I don’t think I’ll be chanting ‘Wenger out’ more ‘we want our Arsenal back’!
Like many on that march I’ve never protested against anything previously, particularly over the Arsenal, but from other Arsenal sites I’m on, feelings are running pretty high.
From comments I’ve heard & read from other gooners, those who attend away matches, there was some pretty abusive comments aimed at Mr Wenger and the board, particular at Norwich. These may not be construed as constructive, but how else can fans vent their anger & frustration?
I’m sure there are plenty of pro ‘keep things as they are’ gooners on here, yet they remain quiet, why? At least one person on here called us ‘moaning Minnie’s but please let that person explain why we shouldn’t moan. But again, please don’t talk in terms of trust & faith cos that’s the only argument I hear. And to be honest, that’s not really an argument, is it?
People I know submitted questions for the AGM, but not one was raised. It was a completely staged managed affair with lots of ‘back slapping’ from those that skip merrily to the bank each time the outstanding debt is Paid down. And, while the manager continues to shop at ‘Aldi’ for his next signings, the board will be rejoicing on the dividends that they will undoubtedly take this year. Food for thought, if further money wasnt taken out the club, maybe Mr Wenger, rather than looking through the window at Harods and dreaming, could actually open the door, walk in and actually shop there.
I also read that link thank you and I suggest anyone interested in Arsenal do the same. Signed up to you blog, so looking forward to locking horns again at some point. Keep it up!
If you’d like to be engaged with a group of pretty level-headed Gooners who enjoy a good discussion and aren’t split along loyalist lines -we’re all allowed to cross to and fro at times – you know, like in real life!… Please sign up for the invinciblog forum at http://www.invinciblog.com/forum
We’ve had 1.5 million hits – been going for 10 months…
You’re more likely to get a decent discussion going there than in the comments on this blog – which is hardly read, tbh. (It’s not exactly arseblog – know what I mean?)
What about this and I throw it open for discussion. Good managers delegate, they get specialists in and give them both backing and credit.
Clive Woodward did exactly that and England won the Rugby world cup He wasn’t threatened or frightend by these specialists and he concentrated on what he was good at, overall management of the team!
Why can’t we have a Seaman coaching our keepers, Steve Bould, Dixon, Adams to coach our defence, Viera, Brady the midfield and Henry, wright or Berkcamp the forwards. Then Wenger can oversee the lot.
I’m sure others might think other players should be involved, I only throw those names out there as examples.
Tell you what, with those guys on board there is no way Santos would have emerged unscathed, for the 2nd half, from that old Trafford dressing room.
Bergkamp’s contract with Ajax is coming up for renewal soon. But do you think his fear of flying would be a problem? I personally would love to see him back at the camp…
Who wouldn’t? He can always get the ferry or drive to France and get the Eurostar, no excuse for ‘the great one’ not to be part of the set up. Tell me it wouldn’t give the whole place and the fans in particular a massive boast ie to have the genius that is Dennis around the place.
I’ll be on the forum, soon!
[…] Pitchfork and torch sales are up. So are black scarf sales. And apparently Cleaver & Gush – (Purveyors of Fine Guillotines – By Appointment To Her Majesty The Queen) have had an inordinate number of hits on their website. Which can only mean one thing: […]