We all form opinions based on our knowledge of particular subjects. Most reasonable people would accept that if this knowledge is limited , then the value of our opinion is similarly limited. Why then does it appear that this simple equation is not applicable to football ?
I believe the reason is that people way overestimate their knowledge of football.
It also seems to me that the more someone knows, the less sure of their conclusions they are. In other words the more stupid you are , the more you believe your opinions are correct.
People write blogs spewing their ideas about tactics , line ups and formations sure in the belief that they are right. Then they go back to their totally unrelated jobs (if they have one) or carry on with their homework.
A rough guide in judging a bloggers worth is simply to look at the comments section. I understand the “birds of a feather flock together” and generally the majority of regular posters will be of like mind to the blogger, but when the comments are clearly written by halfwits, its reasonable to assume the blogger himself is none to sharp.
Of course there are exceptions. Its possible that the blogger is smart enough to have identified his market and exploits their stupidity in order to further his/her agenda, whatever that might be.
The value of these bloggers opinions is seen as being tied to the number of readers or followers. If they are getting 10.000 hits per day it could mean no more than 10.000 idiots agree with what is being said.
Unfortunately what these bloggers say is taken as gospel by those least able to think for themselves .
There are hundreds of Arsenal bloggers and the vast majority of them are so far up their own ares that it defies belief. There are of course exception who are balanced, knowledgeable and informative ,some are even funny . I wont list any ,in case I leave some out, and you know me, I don’t want to upset anyone.
Its spread now to Podcasts. Dozens of them all giving their opinions on Arsenal matters , as if they know what they are talking/shouting/ranting about.
Strikes me everyone wants to be Arseblog. Well here is the thing, he was in first and you wont be.
I just wish everyone would stop trying promote themselves and get on with supporting the club.
If you are a blogger and get upset by people questioning your credentials, here is an idea, include your CV in the next blog you write. Lets see how qualified you are ?
And yes, I am aware of the irony of a blogger moaning about bloggers.
Positively Arsenal 
In other words the more stupid you are , the more you believe your opinions are correct.
ahahhahaaa . .bingo!
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if we as arsenal supporters had any dignity we would have already found the pedros and the arse2mouses and the gunnerblogs and yogis and arsenal truths and would have exposed them as the jerks that they are……even arseblog …he has banned me many times for ridiculing the cretins who call for wenger’s head at every bad result.
they are not interested in who is ethically correct in supporting the club ..they care about their blogs…NOT THE CLUB. they are more interested in allowing whichever jerk is online to express an opinion ( no matter how stupid) rather than rallying fans in support for Arsenal, our cause, our players, our policies.
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Lovely and very true, I particularly the “so far up their own arse line” How right you are about the self important, oh-so-serious, leading the mob from the back bloggers we know so well.
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single fan in possession of a good(ish) idea must be in want of a blog.
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People are sheep and follow what everyone else says like the blind fools they are unable to form there own opinion. Bloggers actually agree with other bloggers without any foundation in a subconscious of bloggers-in-arms ritual. If you read the blogs from a year ago, the consensus was that Ramsey was not fit to wear the Arsenal shirt – just like they used to say about Alex Song when he started. Two years ago, they all screamed that Mertesacker was the worst defender in Arsenal’s history. And now these MORONS berate Ozil.
This is the truth – 99% of bloggers DON’T GO TO GAMES!
They sit watching a dodgy stream and think they are experts.
They genuinely believe they know BETTER than Wenger.
They believe their opinions are so superior that they have to bestow it to the nation.
Unfortunately, this nation is so stupid it takes everything it reads, be it in a tabloid, a blog, or the utter rubbish from pundits, as gospel.
Myles Palmer is a perfect example of someone so completely deluded in his own bizarre megalomania that he categorically thinks he’s smarter than anyone at the club. This is also the man that in the last 2 transfer windows CONFIRMED from his ultra reliable ‘inside knowledge’ that Fabregas was returning, Fellaini had signed a 5 year deal with us, and this January a German and an Italian had SIGNED! All rubbish! He berates Wenger with every breath yet continues to sell his book about Wenger for his grubby paws – a bit like the bitter snake that is Stewart Robson who lies about what happens at Arsenal, as proved last season when he said he knew ‘for certain’ that Bould & Wenger had fallen out, forcing Bould to come out and state that that was a lie. Now he has come and out says he knows that the ‘Germans’ are unhappy with Wenger’s tactics. Utter lies! He knows NOTHING about what happens inside the club because he has NO contacts inside the club because he has been absolutely ostracised by the club for inept fabrications.
It is absolutely killing people like Myles Palmer, Stewart Robson, Adrian Durham etc., that Arsenal are top. They cannot handle it. They are desperate for Arsenal to fail to satiate their smug hatred. It will make them more foolish than they already are if Arsenal will the title. In effect, they will be unable to say ANYTHING again without looking like the frauds they are.
To paraphrase a smart man – Better to say nothing and have people think you’re a fool, than to speak and confirm it.
Wenger might not know everything – but he knows more than you.
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The truth hurts
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WOW JACKFACT
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Who wrote this George? It’s brilliant.
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I did Mel, Are you being sarcastic?
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A few years ago I tried to convince the positive bloggers on ACLF to ignore the doomers and not respond to them at all.
Unfortunately, people gave them the response they needed and more and more venom spewed onto the site. It continued to the point that I gave up completely.
It was only when Frank told me about this site that I started to get interested again.
All I really want to say is don’t read that other crap and you’ll be happier for it
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No,I’m not-I didn’t see your name at the top!-bloody hell…try & pay someone a compliment!
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Ha, Ha, Ha! I see George is going to make a lot of friends today.
As Bob Marley said “the truth is an offense and not a shame.”
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just wrote a long post with many salient points only for my boy to throw a paddy cos he was beaten on fifa and switch the internet off …….little shit
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(0( A _ or _ B
Hay GEORGE. very nice writeup and thats a FACT JACK…
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Four kinds of people in the world.
Those that know & know that they know.
Those that know & don’t know that they know.
Those that don’t know & know that they don’t know.
Those that don’t know & think that they know.
In my life , I always found the fourth kind the most difficult & frustrating bunch of the whole lot to deal with.
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Lovely stuff George, agree with every word.
Also super comment from JackFact
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The difference between Arsenal and Chelsea is we don’t drop points away that much.
Moaninho used the whole repertoire tonight. I knew once he put Torres on, they were going to drop points. Et voila. That’s twice now. First against West Ham and now West Brom. I’m going to put $1000 on us. Fuck the bookies.
By the way, Matic is just a lefty version of Obi Mikel. And Salah is nothing out of the ordinary. Pepe Mel and Steve Bruce are the ones who bought the best in this transfer window, as far as I’m concerned. Long and Jelavic. And that Thevy kid, wow! Kid looked the business.
Tomorrow it’s us against the Red Shit and the Blue Shits against a resurgent Sunderland.
If the boys feel as pumped as I do right now, they’re going to fucking pummel the Mancs.
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im looking for the “failure to go 4 points ahead while rival arsenal plays tough home game” articles on that little horse rider, or the “lack of focus costs two points in title race” , do you see anything?
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didn’t say earlier that this is another excellent, hit the nail on the head, post. Unfortunately there are many people in this world that believe any line they are fed, i think they are normally called sun readers.There are some people like robson who just have a grudge against the club and use any chance they can to put the boot in.
Talkshite and that dickhead durham have no talent and so have to try to present crisis or controversy to keep their radio show alive, true journalism has never been anywhere near the place.
This is the same reason that all foreigners are lazy, everyone on benefits is a fraud and any comment left of centre is communist. The media take a dim view of knowledge and take ignorance in such high regard.
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Nice one George – and typical excellence from Muppet on Monday.
There certainly seems to be something about online Gooners that sets them apart from their more ‘offline’ counterparts. Social media seems to act as an amplifier – everything is exaggerated, including the stupidity of some fans and the wisdom of others.
Meanwhile, the majority of fans will most likely see the Liverpool experience for what it was – a particularly bad day at the office made far worse by the cumulation of our injuries and our opponents sparklingly good form.
That the Arsenal zeitgeist will again swing back in favour of the club will be demonstrated by any kind of win v Manure tonight coming on the back of dropped points for the chavs and citeh.
Happily the cancellation of the Tube strike should ensure a full stadium.
The only anxiety centres on the apparent fragility of some of our weaker fans should there be any kind of in-game set back. A repeat of the Villa meltdown would be the best thing to happen for all our opponents – and they know it.
And that’s the real problem with the critical blogs; it leaves us more nervous about the supporters ability to properly back and support the side than the likelihood of a decent team response.
Had we had four days of online cheer-leading instead of the usual investigative forensics, we’d probably all be better prepared.
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is every single post here about the “other moaning bloggers”?
and the comments the very same. people feel strongly about certain things, best let them be.
we are having a wonderful season and have a wonderful chance to go on top today. Surely that could(should?) have been the topic for discussion today?
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So, back in our own hands then… a victory and we are back on top where we have proven we belong this season…
@ Arshavin23
Its really cos the “other moaning bloggers” have been OTT with their criticisms this season as though Mn city and Chelsea are unbeatable and would never drop points again… For all the world class strikers Chelsea has, its a defender that has scored their last 2 goals that i immediately remember so it means it is possible for strikers not to score on some days, its not enough to say wenger out or if we had bought a striker in January we would have won all the remaining matches… see that Ozil is taking some time to adjust, having his ups and downs as is usual with new players and so one wonders why they think the new striker would have have same settling in phase
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Yea let’s talk about tonights game instead. I’ll start. Rvp is a cunt. Discuss.
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would have have = would not have
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7:19 Dupsffokcuf “Lovely stuff George, agree with every word. Also super comment from JackFact”
This
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“is every single post here about the “other moaning bloggers”?”
No. Why are many blogs setting a narrative that never discuss’ the footy?
That Is the question.
Not many blogs had comments as interesting as those from Muppet’s and G69’s hours after the game discussing who outtacticed what.
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Oops, wrong name ,,, that was me
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Bit harsh Arsh. Everything is discussed on this forum (a brief perusal in past posts and comments should suffice), including some of the best football tactical issues I’ve read in recent memory. One factor, amongst many, is the OTT Arsenal blogosphere in the wake of the black swan/perfect storm at Anfield. The thing is, the thing is … the facts don’t support the conjecture. I’m not sure we take a rigid attitude to what we should be talking on here, a bit of this, a smattering of that.
Tonight though, Arsenal go top. Simple enough. But not. Form-wise, even after Anfield setback it should be a doddle. But Yoo have form against Arsenal as does JvC (mind you, we HAD a pedigree against Pool, oh well). I fancy tonight’s game has some very simple issues. If Arsenal perform to expected standards, defensively that is, Yoo will by lucky to escape because we always create the chances to score. Yoo have a much better team than most think, but are going through a sickly patch. I suspect (a) a Moyes-like structured physical midfield parkbus encounter with Fletcher in the cockpit (b) a SAFesque and Chelsea clone counter attack strategy to get the first goal (c) machine gun start a la Pool (I think Moyes will just say, hell why not, lightning strikes twice?).
On our side I expect: (a) vigorous defensive display involving 11 players (b) Tomas to start (c) Giroud-Ozil to put in a shift-plus (d) 90 sustained minutes of concentrated football (e) no “over-reaction”, which is immature, will not help and the manager might point out is counter-productive against canny types like Fletch the Scots beast and Rooney the neckless one.
Beware JvC, that turn and left foot shot, plus Rooney on the break! Any team can score against any team in EPL (on their day, one good move), surely we know this.
But, I would really not like to be the travelling side (weather wise) or the opposition to Arsenal coming off the weekend rebound. No, no, no … I would not. Yoo might find they are playing what seems like 12 players, because Santi will become double-trouble.
But we know what it is we all want, our heart’s secret desire, innit?
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Pace. It’s important, I’m a self-declared expert *coughs* on the topic.
Even when shot of confidence and out of form Gervais had his uses.
Bayern Home game, he did well when he came on.
‘Coll mentioned Vermaelan. TV5 & LK6 have had many good games together before Tommy’s injury horrors & journey back to form, a shame he got injured in his last game. Many teams have tried to target and get in behind PM4. All but one or two have failed but it’s good to have the options, the variation. (shhhh…Arsenal still have a squad!).
Teams that have tried to use their pace against the Arsenal use their FBs like Everton or like Liverpool have forwards who split and attack in behind the FBs.
And former Groaner pin up D.Moyes? ManIOU will have been practicing their corners, FKs and crossing. Getitinthemixer!
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Right, here we go boys. A great opportunity against Manure. I dont know why you guys have not played well against Manure for sometime now. I dont know where this fear/respect comes from. Maybe it is not fear, maybe it is just bad luck, slow starts, etc. Doesnt matter from now on. We have the best fucking Midfield in the country and are miles ahead of theirs. It is time to restore order. I dont care if they have 5 beefed up, amped up phil jhoneses in their midfield, press us, harass us and get away with fouls. You will run rings around them and score goals. You will show them the Arsenal spanking.
You are not going to let any of them score tonight. Not that perennial man-child Rooney, not Judas, not Dively Young. Nobody. No fucking own goals either. I am looking at you Laurent.
Tonight, we set a new tone. From now on, the one team Manchester United is most scared of facing should be Arsenal. From now on, every time the Arsenal fixture comes around, all of Manchester should groan.
Play as a team. Play for each other. You are all great players. Do justice to that. Have fun on the pitch.
Come on fucking ARSENAL!!!!!!
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Well there’s an enormous storm – supposedly the biggest of the winter – hitting the UK as I write, coming in from the west. It’s already breezy here in north London but winds are predicted for 70+ mph depending upon what time it hits.
Recipe for chaos, if ever …
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I suspect I will know have a shrewd idea after about five minutes what we are about tonight. Open slowly and hesitantly and we invite the Mancs into the game, and thy are not so totally clueless, even under Moyes, to turn down so generous an offer.
But if we start steady, not all out handbrake off stuff, but keep the ball, probe the wings, put the doddering Evra and the jittery Rafael under pressure, test De Gea early in the air, NO lying on the ground waving your arms at the referee, steady grinding rhythm, then we will have the game by the balls.
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Further to recent discussion on safe standing, interesting news from Bristol:
http://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/article/20140212-safestanding-1354602.aspx
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Hear, hear, PG. Had to be said. It’s the scourge of Arsenal.
The inversely proportional relation of expertise to certitude is found everywhere that people are passionate about something. Some will see that as a mitigating factor. I don’t.
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The only thing I’m worried about tonight is the wind.
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Wind blowing through Berkshire gustily at the moment but already a sense that it has done its worst – which should mean that by kick off time The Ems should be relatively OK (18mph forecast), and no rain/light rain only so as long as the pitch has stood up condtions should be reasonable.
Keep trying to work out what side I would pick tonight to ensure more pace and always end up sulkily missing Ramsey and Walcott. Despite his lack of experience I’d be inclined to play Gnabry somewhere, if only to confuse the commentators and defenders alike if Oxlade lines up too.
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ZimPaul
Nice mention of Black Swan problem.
Sense current/past form irrelevant tonight. Two top teams (and think of the composite side you could pick, especailly if you were being neutral) slugging it out with all still to play for for both sides. Will it come down to a moment of skill, a lucky break, a decision – or simply who wants it most? Something of all those things I suspect.
Guess I picked the wrong week to give up sniffing glue.
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black swan? mila kunis? brilliant. saw the wrestler as well on monday..aronofsky knows!
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Like to see more leadership from the senior players with more communication on the pitch. Something we really lacked against Liverpool. Also worried about the way we bomb forward with full backs leaving the CBs exposed with just Arteta to help cover. Wasn’t just against Liverpool when we where chasing equalizers, we did the same against palace, most notable in the first half. It works ok against palace but against a big team it’s suicide because they will always have the quality up front to punish us on the break.
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I always used to think its a great tactic to get a shot on goal in early exchanges, or a run on goal for fun, just something speculative, maybe testing. Don’t even ask the manager, it’s on field stuff. Then trot closer to Gea and give him the biggest, broadest smile.
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All the team needs is the desire to beat the crap out of the Mancs. That is pretty much it. If they go after this game with the intensity it requires, they’ll be top of the league this evening.
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Anyhow, if we lack a bit of confidence (which I think highly unlikely anyway), imagine Yoo – as a team – after their diablo run of late. Good idea to shatter that confidence to pieces as early as possible with sharp, crisp passing and keep ball.
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One other thing and then hop on a bus 3000 miles and get to the ground in time … I wish. The players hated it, and themselves after Liverpool. Now the prize (back to top) is hanging in front of them like a ripe avocado, ready to fall (after a couple of days, perfect on buttered toast, I find, with mango pickle, salt and pepper). In other words, the incentive our side will be exceptional for this encounter. Not survival, not pride, not hope, not put up a good show; but regaining top spot, nice and juicy and real.
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it doesn’t matter how we do it we just need the win tonight even if we have to rely on the wind to blow the ball in the goal. all the crap from the liv game will be dead in the water if we walk off the field top tonight. COYG
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As we contemplate the team for tonight’s showdown here is a blogger who makes sense in his critique of Ramsey vs Wilshere at http://www.wearethenorthbank.com/talented-mr-wilshere/. It will be very interesting how Arsene sets up the team and if Rosisky starts.
I would love reading your feedback.
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O COME ON YOU GUNNERS
JOYFUL & TRIUMPHANT
O COME YE, O COME YE
TO THE EMIRATES
COME & BEHOLD WE
SMACK THE MANCS LIKE B*TCHES
O COME LET US ADORE THEE
O COME LET US ADORE THEE
@ THE EMIRATES TONIGHT!!!
Time to reach really deep and smack all the naysayers!
ARSENAL>..WE LOVE YOU
OH ARSENAL > MY DEAR
ARSENAL> I BELIEVE IN YOU
AND I DON”T REALLY CARE
WHAT ANY CONTRARIANS THINK IS BLOODY IRRELEVANT
OH ARSENAL
OH ARSENAL
OH LOVELY ARSENAL!!!
Lets kick some arse tonight!
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@Aman that was a rubbish re-rendering of a beautiful hymn…
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thanks for the wilshere link makes sense love the post & many of the comments especially jack fact nervous ahead of this match but we’ve always had bogey man mid table teams, ha. come on arsenal! love these boys!
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Up against a 4-5-1 yet again.
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Oh come on boys I’m dying here
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Much better start in spite of a spot of insanity from Arteta
Decent first half, neither side quite clicking – pleased to see Giroud breaking up Vidic
Just have our noses in front thus far – I suspect both defences will tighten and hang back even more
A snap shot or something similar required – Santi ?
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