“It was utterly moronic and shows that, for some people their time in the spotlight has become more important than the good of the Club…We fans have a huge role to play in getting behind the manager and the team for the rest of this season and beyond.”
Following on from Matt’s excellent post yesterday and in preparation for this afternoon’s fifth round FA Cup clash I thought I’d offer us all a bit of comfort. The above quote is the kind of comment we might expect from one of the PA crew, beset as we are by organisations who purport to represent us, vehemently anti Arsenal blogs who claim to be like us and bannerwankers who apparently just need a hug and understanding. But it may surprise you (it may not after all I have no special insight beyond my glass balls, you can find this stuff on the net just as easily as I can) to hear that this is taken not from an Arsenal fan but from the first response of a Blackburn Rovers supporter to news that his club’s resident ‘action group’ are miffed at the appointment of their new manager.
The dickheads we all have to put up with on the internet and for some of you sadly in the stadia where our boys go into battle might genuinely have some cause for alarm if our club had endured the recent history of today’s opponents. I’m not talking about the managerial merry go round, the owners and meddling back-room boys, nor the fact that the club is being sued by a former manager or that horse meat is being served in Lancashire schools. Oh wait, sorry over enthusiastic scanning of the headlines in the Lancashire Telegraph there, disregard the last bit. No the utterly horrifying news greeting Blackburn’s fans this morning is that the club have failed to keep David Bentley from returning to their playing staff. The midfielder who once compared himself to Dennis Bergkamp… Oh Jesus. Give me a moment. Just typing that makes my spleen start to hurt. Ahem. Right here we go. The midfielder who once thought he’d be as good as Dennis Bergkamp…
Aaaaaaaaaaaargh.
The young footballer who once set his sights on emulating the inestimably brilliant Dennis Bergkamp, but who ended up not good enough even for Spurs, is returning to Ewood Park on loan for the rest of the season. You see, some people think we have it tough but the guys who George shares a bus with have to digest not only the fact that their kids are eating Shergar but that their home town club has to have that rodent faced little underachiever in their side not just once but for a second go around.
Don’t you feel just ever so slightly better about your life now?
If not, just the simple fact that it’s FA Cup fifth round day should give you a scintilla of pleasure, a slight shiver of spinal sensation at the prospect of a home tie in the country’s premier knock out competition. There’s a whole lot of guff spouted about the devaluing of cups and Arsene not caring enough about this particular tournament but our record in it is second to none. Apart from a team I refuse to acknowledge that is, so second to none as far as I’m concerned. Arsene always looked pretty chuffed at winning the thing and while the Champion’s League and the way qualification for it is organised has altered the balance of power so that in our minds we have to shoe horn in a top four finish to the old hierarchy of European Cup, League Title and FA Cup, there is enough history to keep the pursuit of the old trophy an exciting prospect.
I’m trying desperately not to slip down memory lane into one of my nostalgic diversions. I haven’t mentioned Ronnie Radford, Wrexham, Jim Montgomery, Bobby Stokes, Dave Beasant or Bournemouth in ’84. I’ve been good haven’t I? We have of course been on the receiving end of our fair share of cup upsets and we have to take them on the chin, they are for many old romantics (whatever happened to the new romantics? I suppose they became old in their time) what makes the competition special. I’m not mentioning any of the above mentioned because I’m sure you all have your own FA cup memories both happy and sad and don’t need to read of mine. We can share in the comment section. This flim flam is really only the lure to draw you all here, the light around which us Positive Arsenal moths can gather, the real meat is in the comments as far as I’m concerned.
There are of course FA Cup memories which will bind us all together depending only upon our age. Charlie George lying flat on his back and gazing down at his erection after one of the best ever FA cup final goals and poor Geoff Barnett unfairly carrying the can for letting the loathed Leeds beat us the following year. The sense of utter disbelief when we lost to Ipswich being wiped out by the crazy ending to the 1979 final against United. And the bitter return to Wembley where we somehow contrived to let West Ham score their ping pong goal and beat us the following season. There have been finals which didn’t concern us but nonetheless stick in the mind. I’m certain I only need say Keith Houchen and Gary Mabbutt and many of us will remember diving header and own goal with a warm sense of satisfaction.
As I say I shan’t meander down the roads of my memory for that is a sad habit into which us old men must take care not to fall. I merely wish to set the scene so that you all can relive and share past glories and failures in this venerable competition.
Of course the cup isn’t all about traditions and the past. These days it has a different but no less important attraction. It is a chance to slip out of the suffocating “3 Points A Must” straight jacket of the Premiership and experience life in a different arena. Points are not at stake and a defeat elsewhere for a hated or feared rival means they can be scratched, torn from the wall chart and need not pose us any future threat. Today we are likely to see a different side take the field. There may be old faces returning to the line up from the treatment table as they rehabilitate or youngsters staking a claim in order to alleviate an injury crisis. Fringe or bench players have a chance to shine as their first choice colleagues are rested ahead of supposedly sterner tests. This all gives the FA Cup a feeling of being in a different place, of stepping outside of ourselves for a day and seeing the world through an altered perspective. Of course we want to win, I’m not for a moment suggesting otherwise. I don’t care too much about the league cup but I sure as hell want to win it every year. But there is a tangible relaxation of the weekly grind, of the usual pressures and it is replaced with the allure of cup glory, the promise of a May moment in the Wembley sun. There is the chance of something special at the end of the season, a way of forging a link between these players today and Charlie George’s hard-on and for that reason alone today is a special day.
Positively Arsenal 
Nice post Steww! 6 hours to go and I have already started drinking!
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Steady Sav! Save some for the game.
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@ Frank February 16, 2013 at 8:23 am
I looked at that link, but it says the Germans killed all the Africans. I thought it was supposed to be the other way around.
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I am sure ZP will enlighten us, Sav. You might want to lay off the sauce for a little while longer, old chap.
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Excellent stuff, Steww. You reckon they have filled all the holes in by now?
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Let’s wait for our correspondent in the north, he can tell us.
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Three o clock. Saturday. Arsenal at home. Marvellous.,
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Perhaps Positively Arsenal could take on a sort of Breakfast Time/Frank Bough/Grandstand theme? George could be Frank Bough.
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Hi Frank,
Yeah ZP will explain the history bit.
As for the drinking, well Saturday night is rum night and Karaoke. I plan to be in a very good mood come kick-off at 2am. Wish I was going to the game. One day soon, I hope.
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Morning everyone!
Excellent scene-setter from Mr B.
I always had my doubts about Bentley but not on account of my lesser known talent spotting ability but more because he always seemed to put more effort into his haircut and styling than anything else. Photographers sometimes say that if you can put an obvious caption to, say, a portrait (eg, “Big Nose/Knobbly Knees etc”) then there is probably something wrong with the photograph. So too with Bentley; he was supposed to be, primarily, a gifted footballer but all we ever really saw was a succession of ludicrously over-engineered haircuts.
One almost feels sorry for Blackburn at missing out on ‘missing out’ on Bentley. But their fans, at least in recent years, haven’t come across as the most supportive bunch so that makes it difficult, for me, at least. No doubt they’ve been sorely provoked by their Indian owners but they seem to have lost all pride in their club, respect for themselves and each other.
It’s a slippery slope …
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steww why the insults buddy? why call our arsenal brothers, dickheads? wheres your nietzche education gone i wonder? i think it was rousseau who said it best …..i kid i kid i kid … 🙂 great stuff stew and you can go down nostalgia lane anytime man…far more educational than immanuel kant’s orphans telling us about the “my old arsenal back”
and i luv sav too
“He is someone pretending to act in a reasonable manner but instead being an insidious agent of the Wenger-out campaigners – not overt, but subtle, which is far more dangerous.” puahahaha ..right on bro! i laughed so hard when tim wrote last night about the BW not being offensive with their actions….. i suppose he finds it acceptable that idiots can hold up banners essentially telling wenger to eff off in the stadium he built for the fans…. apparently we should show respect to these people even though they do not show respect to the club, its stuff and players…forward thinking i suppose….
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Peter is in disgrace for biting people so his nose bag is staying on today. Lady Neena farted in my face whilst I was checking out her shoe…but that is OK because we always win when that happens. These days it is best to keep your horses indoors if you don’t want them to end up on a supermarket shelf so I am off to the game on the tube today. Hen and Chickens anyone?
Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal
Waaan Arsene Wenger…there’s only Waaan Arsene Wenger…..Waaaan Arsene Wennngggeeerrr…there’s only Waaan Arsenen Weeenngggeeeerrr.
Oo oo ootobe…oo to be a goonah
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Ok I am off to the game
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Wonderful writing again Steww
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Horns of a dilemma, George?
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Thank you George. I finally replied to your email. Apologies for lateness.
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Up for it today – snapped one garden fork before 10 am – tear into them
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Stew
Because I upset you yesterday with the Mike Riley video you thought you would get your own back by reminding me of the 1980 final. Bastard 🙂
Excellent stuff
Bentley? A high roller name (see what I did there) for a dickhead
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Now I’m in a ‘Black’ mood
I’ll get my coat
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I wonder if Fabianski will be in goal today. He played in the U21 game t’other day
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Lovely writing steww!
So what line up do we expect today?
Szcsezny; Nacho, Mertesacker, Koscielny(Iggy), Sagna; Ramsey, Coquelin, Diaby; Poldi, Giroud, Ox
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dupps – I forgive you.
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Fabianski in goal. Fullbacks Jenks and Nacho. Centre backs Per and Iggy. Midfield Abou, Tomasz, Le Coq and Arshavin. Up front Gervihno and The Ox.
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But don’t bet against Akpom up front.
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jenks is suspended, no?
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Enjoy the game, those who are going!
Lovely piece, steww. The FA Cup is magical, isn’t it? You really feel anything is possible (except us going out, please, football gods).
I can’t see Akpom starting, but I have a sneaky hope that he will be on the bench – he has really stepped up his game in the last couple of youth/U21 matches, and of course scoring for England U19. Fabianski has played literally one game (u21) since recovering, so it might be a bit soon to throw him into a rambunctious FA Cup tie.
I heard that AW practically got down on his knees to beg Bentley not to leave, but he thought he knew better. He wanted to be the next Davd Beckham but he didn’t have the work ethic or the PR nous – it was all about hair gel and posing for him. Great picutre of Bentley, I’d recognise that anywhere.
Also steww belated thanks for letting me out of the PA holding cell – I only saw your email today as it had gone into my junk mail folder. (Nothing personal, just the over-zealous operation of my email security protocols.)
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Having done my daily promo of PA on Twitter, I’d like to go back for one moment to yesterday’s debate with Tim “Little Dutch” Stillman which I read with interest while “busy” on the job. At the onset, although I am only acquainted with him via his contributions to various Arsenal blogs, I generally find him to be thoughtful and open-minded and not prone to hysterics and sensationalism. But I found his characterization of this blog as furthering divisions among Arsenal fans by being somewhat cult-tish, extremist and overly tribal worth my response. Not being a great student of the great philosophers, I can only rely on my experience and with Arsenal blogs in particular.
Surprise, surprise, you find most of these blogs reflect the existing divisions in the Arsenal fan base. They range from the cartoonish glory-hunting spend-spend tosh at Le-Grove to the glorification of Wenger at Untold Arsenal and everything in between. Everyone of these blogs, including those in the middle-of-the-road, exercise some level of editorial control over their identity either by controlling the content of the main post or by regulating the comments section. Unsurprisingly, those who consistently and most virulently attack Wenger in particular, fringe blogs like Arsenal Truth and Arsenal News Review, do not permit a Comments section. How ironic? But these blogs are consistent in one objective, they espouse a certain point of view in the hope of gaining the support of their readers.
Positive Arsenal, is no different (George may differ). In this case the editorial control exercised by George et al is based on specific experiences. Obviously most of us here were former constants at ACLF, where over time the editorial position has changed. It is no longer positive support for the manager and his policies but an open counting down the days to the end of his contract. Where there used to be a lively debate by different points of view eventually became a daily grind with the pessimists and doubters of AW’s policies who are now the acceptable voice of that blog. My experience there offering confirmation that the position of a blog in the continuum of Arsenal supporters will eventually reflect the editorial line of the blogger. It is therefore inevitable that those of us who believe that now, not later when trophies are in hand, is the time to actively support the manager and his team have gravitated to Positive Arsenal. (BTW – I was never binned and read YW daily and some here continue to post on both blogs.)
In conclusion, we are no different from any other blog, except choosing this as our soapbox to share our point of view and influence the discourse. The trick is to keep the debate just as lively without losing sight of the mission to be positive supporters. That is where people like Tim and others who are honest supporters can keep us on our toes rather than being intimidated by the passion and fervor of some contributors.
Just my overly long point of view.
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great post again today and shotta you are very wise and make some excellent points, looking forward to today although cant make it there, but with monday and wednesday taking my money perhaps its best. everyone whos going enjoy and coyg
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Jack is on the bench today with Lukas and Santi apparently
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Is Jenks suspended from the cup is he? I didn’t realise. Bugger. Shotta, you have always been a calmer more sober and sensible person than I. My problem with people debating and raising the opposite point of view here rather than anywhere else online is that this is a bolt hole. It’s like a cosy little snug away from the bar in a country pub where there are just enough seats for like minded friends to gather and enjoy a bit of banter.
We can go to the bar if we want to hear other ideas or perspectives and argue our corner there or shrug and walk away and leave them to it. I like it in the snug, I don’t mind people accusing me of elitism, cliquery, cultism or anything else. Let them stand out in the car park and shout and cry to their hearts content we are happy in here.
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Sav. There were two major rebellions in Tanzania against German colonial rule, the most famous (in European historiography) being the Maji Maji 1905-07, led by the prophet (or spirit actually) Bokero, that engulfed almost the entire country in any number of skirmishes, ambushes, sabotage and bloody “hunt them all down, shoot on sight” reprisals by the Germans and their askari against various local populations. In it’s wake some 200,000 to 300,000 Tanzanians (about 15-20% of the population) was killed or died from forced removal, concentration camps, hunger, slave labour and the like. The Tanzanian version differs from the German in that the Tanzanians understand a coordinated national uprising uniting diverse tribes, out-gunned (quite literally spears against early machine guns) it was defeated; and the Germans see chaotic, sporadic murders by uncivilised blacks needing to be “taught a lesson”. According to Tanzanians, the lions of Songea developed their taste for human flesh (it continues famously today) from the sheer number of corpses in German reprisals.
The precursor to Maji Maji however was the WaHehe uprising in the 1890s, in the South, in many ways never controlled or put down. Here is a report of the famous battle near Kondea, a small battle, much revered by Tanzanians up to now, from Tanzanian sources, as near enough the same as related to me near the sight the battle when I visited in 1997:
“After they burned at least large villages in the area and killed 3 local chiefs, 500 or more Wahehe warriors with spears and shields and few rifles moved into position to ambush the German column near a small hill. The Germans continued to move forward and did not seek sheltered ground. The Hehe took their spears and charged when the column was close enough. The Germans fired one or two rounds before they were overwhelmed. Their Askari panicked. In ten minutes most of the column was dead. Their rearguard escaped and occupied a hill, put its flag, and sounded their trumpets to call their wounded and survivors. The Hehe set fire to the grass around the hill to encircle the rearguard and frighten the survivors. The Germans and their askari then ran quickly in the direction of Kondea and as many as the Hehe warriors could find, they killed. 350 well armed German and askari soldiers died that day, alongside some hundreds of WaHehe. The Germans sent large numbers of their soldiers to defeat the Hehe after that, but were not able, since the WaHehe went to remote areas, and continued to ambush the German forces for many years”.
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Excellent post, Steww.
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Zim – sounds like classic guerilla warfare tactics. Fascinating stuff thank you.
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Thanks bradesque7 mucho appreciato
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Arsenal team: Szczesny, Coquelin, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Monreal, Diaby, Rosicky, Arteta, Gervinho, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud
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quality bench as well
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Apart from 7 or 8 names pretty much as I predicted.
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Thanks, ZimPaul for the quick history lesson.
Fantastic side out – big day for Le Coq. So happy to see Little Mozart starting.
@ shotta
very good points but I will come back to you later. I’m cooking and listening to the match commentary, so got my hands full
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I’m working today but if anyone can take pity and post up the key moments in the game that would be jolly civilized.
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Andrew twitter or here?
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ive got she wore a yellow ribon film on in the background 🙂
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come on arsenal!!!
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Ideally here, save me from reading the hysteria when (if) we haven’t scored six by half time – cheers Bud!
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Think it’ll take time to settle it’s a makeshift side.
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7 minutes in and we’re starting to settle. Putting some passes together. Ox TR7 looking bright.
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1st chance from a freekick headed over the bar.
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Mike Dean being forced to give us some decisions.
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13 minutes in not much to report Andrew. One break out after good tackle from Nacho, couple of corners but not worked the goalie yet
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Whats up family?
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The OX looks up for it!
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