Today’s post is by Blackburn George
It all seems so obvious …
If there is a stick to beat Arsene and Arsenal with then it appears to me that there are multitudes of halfwits ready to pick it up and brandish it with a flurry.
The opinions of agenda driven plebeians are picked up, digested and regurgitated as facts. Theories are accepted and embellished if they in any way make the club look bad. Rumours are started and accepted because dimwits want to believe them.
I’m sick of it and the moaning cretins who do it in the name of passionate support.
My old friend and ally Shottagooner (@shotta_gooner) said this and it exposed several of these misconceptions in a few short lines:
“Such a brilliant morning-after in my part of the world. That glow in the cheeks after a night of …. watching Liverpool, the pundits favorite, simply choke on hubris and self-entitlement at the hands of Tony Pulis and Crystal Palace. What the hell were they smoking in the dressing room at half-time?
Karma is a bitch as many of us said on twitter last night. The lying and cheating in the Suarez buyout affair for one. Even more galling was the gloating that they were succeeding without oil-money despite having the 4th largest net transfer spend in the league since 1992 (£287M according to transferleague.co.uk) was a stick the Arsenal 5th Column and the media was swinging heavily at our club.
All myths exposed and defeated in 10 minutes.
I must save a word for the pundits who are now hopping on the bandwagon of critics of Liverpool defending. Such amazing hypocrisy. I was monitoring the game online on the Guardian’s M-B-M service and later saw replay on America’s NBC network and all were urging Loserpool to go for more goals and put pressure on City.
Turned out very well, didn’t it.”
The thing is, it was not that Liverpool fans were churning out this drivel, or even that pundits were.
Oh no, our fans were at it with gusto.
Brendon was being hailed as a tactical genius, and that was evidence that Arsene was not! How is that looking now I ask you? Roberto was a similar cut above poor old inept Arsene, until he managed to lose 3 of 4 games at the business end. All the time our moaning fans were happy to ignore the fact that both were playing far fewer games than us and we had catastrophic injuries.
Then we have Maureen, dishing out masterclass after masterclass. A serial winner who couldn’t come up with the tactics to not get beaten by Sunderland at home, evidently can’t out-tactic Fat Sam (or even score a goal) – again at home – let alone Norwich.
So all these genius managers that are better than Arsene failed, despite the advantages they have had.
We have some malcontent going on Arsenal TV telling the world that Stan wanted to increase prices by 8% and had to be talked down. (No mention of the heroes within the club who talked him down, even if it were true).
When I challenged this and suggested it was no more than shit-stirring in order to make Stan look bad, I was told:
“We have people in high places at Arsenal who told us!”
Of course they would not tell me who these high people were, I suspect because they don’t exist. Now it is accepted by thousands of fans as fact, simply because some moaning malcontent said so.
FOR NO OTHER REASON; NO FACT, NAMES OR EVIDENCE OF ANY TYPE.
The AST had an analysis done (I suspect they were disappointed with the results) which proved beyond doubt that Arsene overachieves every year (with one exception) but this actual evidence is ignored in favour of a purely fictional notion that he does not.
Detractors point to the wage bill, claiming that we are the 4th biggest and therefore should expect to be 4th. They conveniently forget that we have a huge staff because we are NOW a huge club.
But more than that they disregard transfer spend as if it is totally irrelevant.
However, a big wage bill is the result of big spending in the transfer market. Simply put, big transfers in, expect big wages, and get them. So it’s the transfers that drive the wage bill. Not the other way around. Therefore it’s transfer spending that is the main measure of where a club should expect to finish. Not wages.
The wages are a reflection of the transfer spend! Got it now?
This though does not suit the detractors so it’s disregarded.
A stick, a stick – my kingdom for a stick!
We have experts telling us how much we have in the bank and jumping to conclusions about how and when it should have been spent, without one iota of knowledge of what plans may have been made – let alone cash flow considerations.
Don’t get me started on the pricks organising protests.
Just who the hell do they think they are?
All in all, it’s sad and pathetic what is going on.
You can tell George exactly what’s going on via Twitter @Blackburngeorge
Positively Arsenal 
Boardroom power struggle. Simple and straightforward. Anyone able to help is being paid off. Including the media and our own blog sphere.
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And ARSENAL PR department???
No where to be seen. Again.
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WBA and Sunderkand would be fools not to play for the draw.
Arsenal are going to field a realitivly weaker team adainst Norwich, and if there is a hope at all for the Canaries on Sunday, you would expect Delia’s boys to fight for it.
Diaby and Wilshere would not be relatively weaker in MF, but are just coming back from injuries. You all know what I mean.
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We have a PR department, really?
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The BINGO directed at SWALES1968.
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Lukas Podolski is running it.
#aha.
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No offence taken Goonerkam *winks*
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DC
the canaries fighting or not will depend on them knowing the result of the game between baggies and black cats. A Sunderland win will kill off any hope they have of survival. They do have a couple of players ( hackers) in their team who might step on to the pitch with clear intention to injury and make our FA CUP experience a more difficult one . If you know what I mean.
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Loads of empty seats at the ethicilesshad tonight, and I’m not even looking at the half full away end either.
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I see the Citeh fans have joined the protest on ticket prices – plenty missing at the Emptihad
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You’re stalking me !
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I for one see absolutely no problems with the tiny 3% raise in three years. It should be a source of pride and being part of the collective that is making THE ARSENAL what it is now and for years into the future. It gives the fans a feeling of empowerment to know that they are contributing are are a major source of the collective effort.
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DC 😉
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If Villa could score, they’d be winning this game. *winks*
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Citeh showing a lack of moral fibre tonight
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Talented players, very talented players some of them but a lack of collective will or direction
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Nice to see Citeh having to work for their title-winning victory/draw.
Sunderland showing their best form of the last ten years – should ensure our visit to Norwich is a dead rubber.
*taps nose*
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They seem to be looking worried about impending pay cuts, Anicoll.
That, and the fact Jack Rodwell will be playing European football for them
Next season.
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I think Poyet a strong candidate for the Citeh job this Summer
Gets his players to turn up in matches that matter
Used to working with a limited budget
Ticks the boxes
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This is very, very good:
http://efootballnet.blogspot.ie/2014/05/in-defense-of-wenger.html?m=1
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(0(
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Jazus, if 82 points wins the title this season I will be crying into my Guinness glass all summer long.
A bit more than normal anyway.
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Come on Weimann there begging for it
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Class A shit goalkeeping from villa there.
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Clearly my earlier comments were unwarranted
Manuel Pelligrini is a genius
Go on Weimann
Begging for it
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“I am sorry but hearing season ticket holders whine about a 3% increase is just very annoying to me, kind of like listening to people of privilege whining about how expensive their already expensive and exclusive toys are getting.”
I don’t get it either! No one wants to pay more for anything if they can avoid it, but ultimately you have to decide what is more important to you and allocate your budget accordingly. No one is entitled to a season ticket at a price they can afford. Football is a business as well as a game. You can’t be crying for top talent and then crying because you are being asked to contribute to buying and paying for it!
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Steve Gerrard, Gerrad
He fell on his effin arse
He gave it to Demba Ba
Steve Gerrard, Gerrad
A little ditty being sung by Citeh fans
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More genius from Pelligrini – the way Guzman fell on his arse there a tactical triumph – Poyet might think about the Villa job ?
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Jovetic is an interesting player – a nonenity this season but top top tattoos
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Yaya on the other hand
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ANicoll,
Jovetic? One of the players the expert fans used as a stick to beat dithering Wenger and the incompetent board.?
He’s ended up as just a makeweight at City.
Nothing special.
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Nothing special ? Looks like the poor man’s Gervinho
Or in Citeh’ s case the rich man’s error
All down to Fat Sam now – I look forward to Andy Carroll inconveniently sticking his elbows into the light blue carousel on Sunday
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Wow. Got to the main post late. Excellent George (and Shotta).
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Pheeeew. triumphant Sunderland take away any reason why the canaries would come at us like thugs and with intent to injury. Hear that Charlie?? You piece o sh•••.
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I kind of feel for the people protesting the price hike on season tickets. I know people who bought season tickets for the Miami Heat when they were absolute shit. Since Lebron showed up, these people have been pushed aside like so much rubbish. Now Heat games are nothing more than a scene where a bunch of shallow idiots, who know absolutely nothing about the sport, go to be seen. If that’s happening at the Emirates, then it’s not good. The club would be foolish to alienate the fans who toughed it out through the good and the bad. That’s just my opinion.
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Super Post. BG,
That was an enjoyable read and your frustration poured off the page.
I do not always get too upset with these people as I think they are not all dimwits but many are adult babies crying because they feel frustrated themselves as they see it as their ‘human right’ to want, ney, to demand that Arsenal should win everything.
The wage thing is an example of ‘facts’ being used to suit contrary complaints.
1) They say we have the 4th largest salary/wage base and that = 4th place.
There is no logic to that or it holds that we should forget about all other expenses and just pay salaries.
When, as a club, we then pay the highest salaries we will be the champions.
2) They say that we have lost out on many good players because we are ‘frugal’ or ‘mean’ and won’t pay the required salaries.
And so it goes on – one childish whinge after another.
There is really no way, or point, in arguing with people like that — so why bother.
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Gains
This is something that has happened with every top team in the UK, it’s not exclusive to AFC. I’m not sure it’s possible to address this through one club.
Saw this book on the shelf of the Gunners pub, the wiki blurb refers to AFC but the title of the book refers to ManU: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatre_of_Silence:_The_Lost_Soul_of_Football
In Germany it is the state and local government (I think) not the clubs that have helped to guarantee cheaper tickets, though that could change in the future. If politics and football don’t mix then what in the blazing saddles were the the chap from Thailand and now the sheikh doing with Man City?
If people really want to get angry about ticket prices it would be refreshing to see them admit that tickets have been pricing out London teenagers since the turn of the century, and that has always bothered me. Strange, but this does not compel me to put a bin bag on my head. I can’t help it. Fortunately we have Mel who managed, possibly with some help, to sort out cheaper tickets for the young ‘uns, too late for me *sobs* but it’s a step in the right direction.
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Clearly there is something smelly about some of these malcontents, self-declared PR gurus who can be observed to support Usmanov but not AFC, PR experts who excel in making themselves look like twats? What is staggering is how much effort these Experts on money, football, writing and PR put into avoiding any mention of the melodramatic deathbed handover from Fizman to Kronke. Very strange. I’d have thought, being Experts an’ all…
Of course we would expect the man from Wal-mart to attempt to wiggle out of any imposed binds. It is why they were imposed in the first place. On Fizman’s deathbed. I imagine that there is not as much room to wiggle as Stan would like, hence the deal.
I don’t need an inside arse in the boardroom to work that one out.
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What happened to the club once known as Glasgow Rangers was given absolutely no coverage in the media till after it had happened, although there were sources available. Money laundering and worse over many years. Rangers were one if not the biggest clubs aside from ManU in the UK. What happened to the club once known as Rangers is a tale to be told.
Currently fans of the former football club are being asked to buy season tickets which are being used to pay off interests on debts, something like that. They have no money for next season. Shockingly inept and or corrupt, the new club is only in its first season! Yet one of the fudgers from the parasitic entity that occupies the site of the former Rangers was invited onto the BBC to appeal for gullible fans to give him their money, not telling them or anyone listening that the there is no point in them buying the tickets considering where the money is going. This is the same media that is constantly critical of Arsenal Football Club, the prices etc. but they are allowing swindlers on to make live appeals for gullible peoples money? At least AFC are still very much a football club, not a zombie club, we will see more and more of those.
So of course the reactions of many to AFC are disproportionate. We can’t deny the power of the wider media, especially ‘free’ London papers with ‘Arsenal bloggers’ writing for them that are owned by, wait for it, by Russian oligarchs! It would be foolish to ignore that.
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Fascinating FINS, fascinating. Following the story of the once proud Rangers closely. And in regards your second point ” just follow the money trails baby ”
and leads is going Into a winding down again. (0(. simply tragic for the supporters…
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Kam
Not one of the twenty four hour radio or TV sports/football stations have properly carried the story about what happened to Rangers. Or Birmingham. Or…
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We’ve all heard the Groaners groan over PL wages. Well, here’s a funny thing. I could be wrong, but ‘Arry’s QPR (relegated) had a higher wage bill them this years Atletico Madrid! Heh.
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corr. Danny Kelly, a 5pur2s fan, might have mentioned the above once or twice on his radio show, that’s about it I think.
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What happened to Rangers was David Murray became overly obsessed with Celtic’s European Cup success in 1967, and made a ridiculous statement, saying that for every £5 Celtic spend, Rangers will spend £10. He took loans from the RBS to fund a massive spending spree of over £90m in three years, most of which Dick Advocaat wasted. Rangers were £70+m in debt in 2005, which Murray didn’t address.
Rangers were slayed by David Murray’s egotistical pursuit of the European Cup, and throwing good money after bad. Had the money been spent properly, and they’d won the much coveted Champions League, they wouldn’t be the shambles of a club they are today.
Murray then took off and sold to Craig White in 2011. The reason Rangers were placed in Administration was because White refused to pay an outstanding tax-bill of £9m.
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And all this takes us back to GG and the eventual arrival of AW.
In the nineties relatively minor bungs on transfers were accepted practice in most places, except of course at Arsenal Football Club. Which is why GG got the boot, for what Neymar’s dad would describe as peanuts. AW was not involved!
I wonder why the Experts on Arsenal Football Club have been confused by the marriage with AW for so long? Do they not know the history and character of their club? Why do they refuse to acknowledge the reasoning behind the clubs fiscal policies, even if they don’t agree? Strange, is it not?
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Great tactics from the City manager last night.
Pre-match tactical meeting:
MP “Yaya, David, you boys ok?”
YT “Yes.”
DS “Si.”
MP “Excellent. Let’s go!”
I wonder how many Experts lauding Martinez or Rodgers or Mourinhio have compared the similarities (& the smaller differences) in the tactics over recent seasons between the Arsenal squad and the Arsenal B team squad (City!). The city fans I met after the recent game enjoyed the description of their team as the Arsenal B team.
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That is the disappointing thing Fins.
George, despite being caught up to his elbow in the till was not sacked until the club were forced into it by the results of an FA enquiry. And the bung on the Jensen transfer was £285,000 which at the time was not peanuts for a manager on a salary of £300k a year.
George in fact had returned what he described as an “unsolicited gift” to Rune Hague and carried on in the job.
He was allowed to continue, and to engage in transfer dealings such as Glenn Helder and the legendary Chris Kiwomya (!!!) , until the FA stepped in and forced the board to sack him as it was clear that GG was facing a long ban.
I never felt the club dealt with GG correctly – either sack him immediately for dishonesty or stand by your man
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Anicoll/Andrew, thanks for the extra information.
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I liked Helder. He was quick! Vengaaaargh sent Glen on loan to Benfica and replaced him with Marc Overmars. Who was quicker!
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double canister
May 7, 2014 at 8:55 pm
there is a comment in there that deserves to be made into an article
“When the Arsenal Board decided to build the Stadium and told Wenger there would be NO BIG money for transfers for eight years. Wenger did not jump ship like other managers. He stayed and took us limping into Champions League. He did so by selling some very good players to pay for the seats that your fat arses sit in at the Emirates
What most of the lower IQ Arsenal fans forget is that we, yes we, do NOT have the spending power of the Oil Clubs, We cannot go into a transfer and spend money we cannot recoup in ad revenues or ticket sales.
Here is the conundrum for the brain damaged. You scream “Why won’t Arsenal just spend a Bazillion gazillion pounds?” Then the same lame brains turn around and weep, “The ticket prices are too high.” WTF you want? Arsenal does not sell Russian gas to the EU or Oil to the Open Market. We have to be prudent with purchases.
Now the main point. We were shepherded through the dark days of “reduced potential” by Wenger; he brought us here over some very rough times while preserving our standing. Now that the Club has money, I can’t get why the oxygen deprived fans want him gone. Wenger was offered some serious cash to jump ship but remained LOYAL. It is time that he reaps the benefits of the good cash flow days ahead.
The Board has hidden behind Wenger, he is the face of the Club; they are never exposed to scrutiny, Wenger has never complained. He has taken all the arrows from the poo slingers and refused to blame anyone else. He has my respect; I want him to sign another contract for three years.
Instead of pleading like Eunuchs for a new coach, consider us blessed. We have a world class coach. I would bet some disgruntled fans want David Moyes to replace Wenger; such is the insanity that prevails here.
Now I hate ranting against a fellow Gooner, but like any large family, every once in a while you have to tell a drunken cousin at dinner “S T F U !”
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But for the fact that I love my club so much and I wouldn’t want us to fail, I would be pleading with Wenger to leave. He should leave and let’s see what magic the new man will do with our meagre resources (in comparison with the teams that we are competing with).
Every Spurs fan that I know agrees that the reason why Arsenal has dominated them over the last 2 decades is because of Arsene Wenger. Players have come and gone from both teams and to be honest, there was a time during ‘Arry’s reign when their team was slightly better than ours but the only reason why they’ve always trailed us is because of our much maligned manager. Many Spurs fans will celebrate the day that Arsene leaves us and it is for this reason that I have the strong suspicion that many of those lobbing crap at our manager and demanding his departure on the Internet are Spurs fans in disguise.
I would wish that the genuine fans antagonising Wenger get their wish but unlike them I won’t cut off my nose to spite my face. I want Wenger as our manager until he retires. I never want to see him manage another club, ever.
Thierry Henry once said that it will be strange to see another person in the Arsenal manager’s seat and I agree with him. Nothing last forever, so sooner or later, Arsene Wenger will cease being the Arsenal manager. I just hope that when the time comes, it won’t be because of some moronic attention seeking idiots.
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A brilliant post George. Excellent.
Unfortunately, life is full of idiots and our great club simply reflects society. The advent of social media has allowed anyone to create a blog or twitter account and use it to spread hate, dressed up as opinion.
Anonymity allows the intellectually challenged to swear at and abuse anybody who dares disagree with their warped opinions.
What kind of fool blames every Arsenal injury on the manager? What kind of brain dead lunatic denies the impact the stadium made on our ability to spend?
What kind of fool does not recognise that they are extremely lucky to support The Arsenal, a club with heritage and class like no other. They do not deserve this club. They are idiots that do nothing but undermine our achievements and seem to get some perverted pleasure form moaning and whining endlessly.
For as long as I can remember this club has always received negative press. The media deliberately goes out of its way to ignore what is one of the greatest achievements in modern football. To have built a new stadium, sold our best players and still have the net spend of a mid table club while maintaining Champions League status is just incredible. 9 years without a trophy ignores true success.
I love this club. I hate those idiots.
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