By Tony Attwood
A recent Red Action email to subscribers commented particularly on the massively improved atmosphere at Arsenal home games, during this past season.
The email was extremely modest in its tone, saying that of course the improved atmosphere was more to do with team success than what they did, but Red Action does, in my opinion, deserve a lot of thanks for its activities within the ground.
Now I was struck by the contrast of this upbeat message not just with the normal negative droning of the AAA but also with the way the papers, even now, cannot let go of the “number of years since Arsenal won a trophy”.
The Telegraph, which has now overtaken the Guardian as the literate housepaper of the AAA even used the moment of Mr Wenger’s signing of a new contract to hammer it home again by separating his career into sections.
But this is not new. For in the early days of Mr Wenger’s reign at Arsenal they ran the same trick, so that every football commentator spoke primarily of how many red cards Arsenal had had since Mr Wenger took over.
Now what links these two issues is the fact that the media pumped out the same story day after day after day, but (and this is easily missed) without any context.
In terms of trophies it was never announced how many years any other club had gone since winning a trophy, nor in the earlier barrage about red cards was it ever said how many red cards other managers had gathered during the same period. “Arsene Wenger’s 50th red card” they screamed without saying how many red cards other clubs had picked up in that era.
Since the “years since a trophy” issue is still being hammered at us, I thought I’d actually set the record straight on how many years each club has had since it last won a trophy.
But as I put it together I saw that a lot of clubs had the League Cup as their last trophy – a competition that Arsenal, until recently, reserved for the, well, reserves, thus reducing their chances of winning. The League Cup is a major trophy, but still, I thought it would be interesting if one omitted that from the records also. In the column dealing with that I have noted what they won, prior to the League Cup.
And lastly, I wanted to see what happened to clubs after they had won a trophy. The reason for this is that there are many who suggest that Arsenal simply want a top four finish. The 17 years of the Champions League appearances is not a trophy in itself – but I wondered if the alternative for some clubs was a major trophy – and then a drop. And it turns out that is so.
If anyone asked me what was best – top four, no trophies, or a trophy and decline, I know I would go for the former. But I guess the AAA disagree.
Here’s the table… Man City and Arsenal excluded, having won trophies this season. And if you wonder what happened to some other famous names, quite simply even if you include the League Cup it is over 26 years since they won a major trophy.
| Seasons since trophy | Club | What was won | Seasons since trophy excluding league cup | Where are they now? |
| 1 | Chelsea | Europa League | ||
| 1 | Wigan | FA Cup | 2nd tier | |
| 1 | Man U | Premier League | Out of Europe | |
| 1 | Swansea | League Cup | 89 years – 3rd division | |
| 2 | Liverpool | League Cup | 8 years – FA Cup | |
| 3 | Birmingham | League Cup | 120 years – 2nd division | Owner in prison, just avoided relegation to 3rd tier |
| 6 | Portsmouth | FA Cup | 4th tier | |
| 6 | Tottenham | League Cup | 23 years – FA Cup | Regular 5th/6th |
| 10 | Middlesbro | League Cup | 19 years – 2nd tier | 2nd tier |
| 12 | Blackburn | League Cup | 19 years – league title | 2nd tier |
| 14 | Leicester | League Cup | 1 year Championship | Just promoted to Premier |
| 18 | Aston Villa | League Cup | 33 years, 1st division | Up for sale, mid to lower top tier |
| 19 | Everton | FA Cup | regular 5th/6th | |
| 22 | Leeds | 1st division | On edge of bankruptcy | |
| 23 | Sheffield W | League Cup | 84 years, 1st division | |
| 24 | Nottm F | League Cup | 34 years European Cup | Championship |
| 26 | Wimbledon | FA Cup | Split into AFC Wimbledon and MK Dons |
Funny old game.
- Woolwich Arsenal: The club that changed football – Arsenal’s early years
- Making the Arsenal – how the modern Arsenal was born in 1910
- The Crowd at Woolwich Arsenal
The interesting thing about the ‘trophy drought’ term is that it came around by 2007. So only about 2 seasons after Arsenal won the FA Cup in 2005, the media were already building it up to be a disaster. Interesting how you don’t see any sign of that with Liverpool or Spurs. Even though Arsenal have actually achieved more than those clubs in the trophyless years.
My belief is that the media knew the stadium spending would hurt us for a bit and took a chance in printing the trophy drought stories so early in the hope that they could make it a running story. My fear is that they actually affected the sequence of events through their narrative.
On a different subject wenger agrees new deal! Wooooo! 2017
Shard
Exactly.
Within 2 years not only did we have the ‘no trophies’ crap start but we had the likes of Wright encouraging TH14 to leave us.
He has since done the same with RVP.
We had the same with Vieira and Cesc.
We are already getting the same with Ramsey.
As much as I hate the way the ex Liverpool players infest the media at least they would never betray there own Club by encouraging the likes of Gerrard to move on for a chance of a title.
It would not enter there heads to do such a thing no matter how tough a time Liverpool where having.
Same with Spurs. I think it was the Mail actually ran a campaign to try and keep Bale at Spurs.
The scum media actively run campaigns to unsettle our players and try to get them to leave.
The some papers actually accused us of holding Cesc ‘hostage’.
The anti Arsenal agendas in the media are many and varied.
Wright, Robson, Merson and Smith to a slightly lesser degree are an embarrassment to arsenal and more importantly themselves, and should never be aloud near our Club.
Personally, with that nasty piece of shit Wright I would erase all traces of him from the stadium.
Horrid human being.
jambug
Wright has a lot of favour with the older Arsenal fans I think. To me Ian Wright was not anything special since I only started watching in 97-98. But I think Wright is to some older fans what Thierry Henry is to me. SO I can understand why he gets the leeway that he does with some.
All the same, the difference is that Henry has never slagged the club off. Wright has and continues to do it. Whether it is pettiness and anger at being shunted out or a lack of understanding, I don’t know. I would guess the more extreme utterances are simply a way to be heard in the media. He might not believe half of it.
I actually met Wright last summer. Well, I say met, but he was fairly sloshed and had an obnoxious security man with him, making Arsenal fans all line up to have their picture taken with him. Wright did not say a word to anyone, and came across as arrogant to me. Ray Parlour was a contrast in that he was very nice to talk to and very down to earth. Parlour was actually much more an Arsenal hero of mine than Wright. So I was overjoyed to meet him.
Right on target jambug, most ex employees of the club are double crossing w*****s.
There are three categories of ex Arsenal pundits/critics call them what you will, as I see it. We have the red hot antis such as the ones you mentioned who are all a frigging disgrace, then we have the ‘lukewarm sit on the fencers’ such as Dixon, McLintock, Winterburn, Graham, Parlour etc and then we have the definitely pro Wenger, and regrettably the only ones I can call to mind in this department are Bob Wilson who is an absolute diamond, and Thiery H.
Ray Parlour is a strange one, I get the impression that if he didn’t work for Talkshite he would stick up for the club a lot more forcibly, but he probably has to tow the party line for his own good. I would love it one day if he finally cracked though and gave that skunk Durham a piece of his mind instead of cowtowing to him all the time.
I am afraid we play right into the media’s hands by supplying this ready stream of ex staff only too keen to stick the knife into their former club and manager.
There is always a silver lining to any dark cloud. If moving to a new stadium means that you have to go a period of time trophyless (and that seems now to be 100% true for everyone that has done it) think what’s going through the minds of,say,Spurs fans and management who can’t win a trophy in their existing stadium and, history would indicate, will go backwards when they do finally move to a new one.
Maybe that’s why all they do is talk about doing it in order to appear to have ambition but never seem to actually get round to doing it?
@Shard
I know what you mean about the ‘older’ fans and you are probably right. The thing is, I am an older fan at 50 something.
The thing with me is I detest disloyalty.
Loyalty, honesty and hard work are the characteristics I hold most dearly.
I know it takes all sorts to make a World and we don’t all hold the same values, which is fine. But they are the most important to ME.
That is why I love Wenger so much, and detest the likes of Wright with such venom.
@Mick
“I am afraid we play right into the media’s hands by supplying this ready stream of ex staff only too keen to stick the knife into their former club and manager”.
Exactly.
Arsenal as a Club have to be more pro active on this issue. Any ex players who are proven serial critics, who actively disrupt and undermine our club, Arsene Wenger, and the fans, should be made aware they are not welcome at the Club. More importantly, current players should not be made available to any media outlet that follows an overt, chronic, anti Arsenal stance. I know that doesn’t leave much, but that is what I believe we should do.
@insideright
“Maybe that’s why all they do is talk about doing it in order to appear to have ambition but never seem to actually get round to doing it?”
So true.
I find it pertinent that you should use the word AMBITION. One of the things I have always found so unfathomable from the AAA’s is there constant accusation of Arsenals lack of ambition.
What the fuck is taking on the challenge of building yourself a brand new £450 Million Stadium, within your own means, if not one of ‘THE’ most ambitious projects ever embarked upon by a football Club. Mind boggling ignorance.
Tony
“If anyone asked me what was best – top four, no trophies, or a trophy and decline, I know I would go for the former. But I guess the AAA disagree”
You don’t have to be AAA to disagree with that statement unless you believe the vast majority of Arsenal fans World- wide to be AAA.
However exaggerated and over the top the “trophy drought” narrative was, it was factually correct and it was highly unusual for a club of Arsenal stature to go 8 years without winning one.
There is of course the smal matter of what you might consider a ” decline “.
If it’s winning a trophy and getting relegated then of course it’s a no brainer but if we are talking extremes , then how about finishing fifth or sixth and winning the CL that year . Technically it’s a decline in standings but you still get to play in CL next season.
What made the “trophy drought ” into the’ 400 pound gorilla’ it had become was Arsenal losing to lower league opposition in cup competitions to often to be considered a ‘ giant killing’ . Another thing was Arsen Wenger himself stating on more than one occasion that the “trophy drought was uneccaptable ” and the club was doing everything in its powers to end it.
And lastly, it was Arsen’s unwillingness to spend the resources available to him in recent years to maximize the chances of winning trophies.
In any case. , it’s over now and anyone bringing the trophy drought issue in any shape or form in the near future will have exposed themselves for having an anti- Arsenal agenda, unless of course they bring it up in a purely statistical manner and include all other clubs in their narrative.
Tony
I wouldn’t bother debating with Tom Tony because he just ‘fucks off’ the moment you highlight the inaccuracies of his argument. Isn’t that right Tom?
Off topic: I just read now that AW has signed ‘da tin’. That will be the most promising 3 years ever. Congrats Arsene, Congrats Arsenal, Congrats Untolders.
AAA and the media can go to hell.
COYG
@Tony do you have a table of red cards / team /manager/no of games?
There are many things that need to be rubbed in the faces of the press particularly The Telegraph, Sun and Daily Mail. All excellent examples of toilet paper that would not get you cleaner.
It has been so long since we won a trophy!!!
Who was that manager that just signed a 3 year contract? The Frenchman who brought the beautiful back into the Game.
Tom
Remember saying this:
“Lets have a roster of players Arsene trusts enough to feature in games they should be able to feature in, like in the League Cup against lower opposition, instead of playing our Ozil’s and Ramsey’s in those games and then acting surprised when they break down from fatigue”
Do you remember that?
You may also remember my reply.
Ozil did not play a single game in the C1C,
Walcott did not play a single game in the C1C,
Wilshere and Ramsey played ONE each.
In ALL 7 Cup games before the final:
Wilshere played just 3
Ozil played just 3
Ramsey played just 2
Walcott played just 1
Not only that but out of those 7 games, 4 where against Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs and Everton.
The last time I pointed out the nonsense you was talking you conveniently vanished.
Perhaps now you are back you could perhaps clear up exactly what you did mean.
Menace, the “50 red cards under Wenger” was one of the issues that ultimately led me to set up Untold – but I delayed as I had other projects on at the time, and you would not believe how many hours a day running a blog takes up. Unless you do it.
At the time I did have the stats, but no more. Given time I could pull it back together but time is not there.
So sorry no, but I know, because I checked just before writing this piece, that the stories were as i remembered them – “50 red cards under Wenger.”
George Best was on Sky at the time as a pundit and Spelling asked him, quoting that figure, “What does that tell you about Arsenal George?” and he said, “They are a bunch of dirty cockney bastards”. Snigger, snigger.
Beware press stats that are incomplete – it is the basis of a lot of press commentary, and it is invariably based on lies.
Im on my phone right now and its not easy to type, and despite the Warning to not engage how the hell can arsenal often have lost to lower League opposition when the only time it happened in wengers reign was last season?
Arsene Wenger – LEGEND ! Nuff said !
Premier League: 1997–98, 2001–02, 2003–04
FA Cup: 1997–98, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2013–14
FA Community Shield: 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004
(Including 2 doubles )
1 GREAT AND GRAND SPANKING NEW FUCKING STADIUM !
What the fuck have you AAAA types achieved ?
Go on tell us , gives all a good laugh !
@Jambug Wright was a brilliant footballer for Arsenal. Sadly he missed out on intelligence when he was born. Many of those who act as pundits are similar. The few that do have a modicum of intelligence move on to better positions. Loyalty is not an easily available commodity. Humility even less so.
What amazes me is Wengers courage, patience and total dedication to the Game. He is a wonderful human being. His application of balance financially and sportingly has brought Arsenal to the forefront of sporting excellence.
@brickfields 3 doubles – 2 league & FA cup; 1 league cup & FA cup.
1 Great and Grand state of the art training facility.
Menace
“What amazes me is Wengers courage, patience and total dedication to the Game. He is a wonderful human being. His application of balance financially and sportingly has brought Arsenal to the forefront of sporting excellence”.
Well said Sir !
@ Menance – Joining in the ride after 1971 – I do admit that I missed out on the first double ,but in my defence , I stood firm and faithful and was finally a winner in 1979 .
The tears of joy in the manner we won in 1989 was the peak for me . All that came later were all sweet cherries !
In a divorce court a woman requested the judge: “Your honor, I want to divorce my husband.”
“But why?” asked the judge.
She replied, “Because he is not faithful to me.”
The judge asked, “How do you know?”
She replied, “My lord, not a single child resembles him.”
That 1989 victory – how many days were we top of the league?
I I heard the news about Arsene’s new contract on BBC radio at mid-day, immediately followed by the reporter saying “I wonder how Arsenal fans will react to that news?” –ie a heavy hint that it would not be well received. Then another reporter said “well, he’s only just won the FA Cup after a 9 year trophy drought, but this deal will last until 2107, ie 21 years in total.. that is, if he see’s it through”!!!!
So, the adverse spin has not ceased, even for a moment.
sorry 1998!! not 1989
Goodnight ,guys , I leave you with the unique logic of Dogbert ….
http://www.bah.org/~greg/images/dt_dogbert-bah.gif
@ Menace – All I remember that we went ahead after the win at Old Toilet ,and never looked back ! OVERMARS !!!
WOO HOO , HOO !
John
Wankers the lot of them.
Tom
“Another thing was Arsen Wenger himself stating on more than one occasion that the “trophy drought was uneccaptable ” and the club was doing everything in its powers to end it.”
Now why would he say that Tom when all I’ve been reading for the last 8 years was that he thought 4th spot was a Trophy.
Well either it was or it wasn’t. What is it?
But that’s the thing isn’t it when it comes to Wenger, people just take whatever suits them.
You say:
“And lastly, it was Arsen’s unwillingness to spend the resources available to him in recent years to maximize the chances of winning trophies.”
And what finances would they be Tom ?
My last one .It rang a bell !
http://www.gdargaud.net/Humor/Pics/Quasimodo.gif
Far too much attention, in my opinion, is being given to those who are paid to criticise our great Club and continue to do so as a source of income.
It must be remembered that the media who employ these people, do so mainly because of the abrasive comments they make.
Even in the views expressed on this and other sites, it is those of an anti-Arsenal nature which will receive the most militant responses.
In short, controversy will bring out the best and worst of folk.
When it comes to newspapers and TV, the wider audience is treated differently.
People buy newspapers for a number of reasons. Cricket enthusiasts will buy the Telegraph whose coverage of that sport is best of all.
Some buy for other reasons, political bent and horse racing come readily to mind.
Newspapers must sell to survive and on the football front it is controversy, scoops and headlines
which will improve circulation.
What is often forgotten by the reader is that much of what is published is merely the opinion of individuals, coloured in accord with the editorial policy, handed down from on high.
It is of no more importance and value than that.
TV is no different. It needs ratings and viewers will tune in more to the outrageous pundit than the one using quiet reasoning.
And that is why, in my view, we should stop defending our corner and giving these anti-Arsenal types the attention and publicity they crave. There is nothing worse for an habitual criticiser
than to be ignored.
In the words of the old song, therefore, we should “ignore the negative and accentuate the positive”
Just now I am feeling very optimistic for our immediate future.
We have an excellent team that AW has carefully put together, AW will be staying for at least the next three years and can build further on the excellent base. In addition, the financial position is improving – and lets not forget that the financial restrictions associated with building the stadium were punitive – so I am looking forward to the team going on to further success – despite the media and PGMOL!
nicky
“What is often forgotten by the reader is that much of what is published is merely the opinion of individuals, coloured in accord with the editorial policy, handed down from on high.
It is of no more importance and value than that”
Sorry nicky but I don’t agree. I think it is of immense importance.
The media, like it or not ‘form’ opinion.
The media set out to ‘form’ an opinion that Arsenal are a bunch of whinging foreigners.
They create an environment whereby teams can kick us at will without fear of reprisal. How many broken legs. All our own fault.
They create an environment whereby a Referee can ignore 4 blatant penalty shouts in the full knowledge he will not be held to account.
The pressure the medias tone, agenda, whatever you want to call it, puts on officials to treat us in a certain way should not be underestimated.
I confess it is highly debateable as to whether making a fuss about it actually does any good, but equally saying nothing certainly wont make it go away and the fact is, until it does we will NOT get a fair shake from the Referees.
I still think the invincibles really shocked them, although if you listen to the pundits and commentary from that time, they were ALL bursting with superlatives about Arsenal. One of my favourite ones was, “There is just no word invented yet to describe what we are seeing”, i think it was Gray who said this a few times?
So the reason why i think that this comes from above is this: How can those same pundits who lauded Arsenal and were fair in their comments, all at once change, not just 1, or 2, or even 3 of them, but ALL of them at once?
Fear of their jobs i think when they were given the agenda to follow.
ANYWAY, Arsenal has done things it’s own way and continue to do so, Arsenal has set records in nearly every thing they have done, even the stadium(listen to the Contractors praise the planning of Arsenal in the video Arsenal Stadium on you tube).
We are on the brink of setting new records, i expect us all to be there with/alongside Arsenal in this new era.
COYG.
@Jambug,
Your last para says it all really. At the end of the day it’s all about words.
I remember a prayer I was taught as a young lad, which went something like this “God give me the knowledge to change the things that I can, to accept the things I can’t and the wisdom to know the difference”.
Only technical assistance will one day give us the integrity of control on the football field, for which all right-minded people yearn.
nicky
Sorry to sound argumentative but I even doubt technology would work.
I talked about this the other day.
My point was, during the final we all saw the 4 non penalties. The view on this site, including most of the naysayers, as well as just about everyone I have spoken to since, was that they where all very very good shouts.
Yet despite this, the post match analysis by ex pros, ex Referees and hacks of all shapes and sizes, looking at the same pictures we all saw, was that NONE of them where penalties.
Technology can only work if the people looking at it aren’t as biased as the referees and pundits we have now.
I see no reason to believe why things will be any different just because they are making the decision looking at a tv replay.
Maybe I’m wrong nicky but as you will of gathered over time I have very little, if any faith at all that we will be getting a fair crack of the whip any time soon, technology or no technology.
@jambug ‘They create an environment whereby a Referee can ignore 4 blatant penalty shouts in the full knowledge he will not be held to account.’ Not quite correct. You should have added ‘but will be praised for his blindness’. I felt like adding a few expletives but my vocabulary gets the better of me.
The simple reality is that these racist shits that form the media, FA & PGMOL are able to get away with their hatred for a Frenchman who has taught them how to play football within the Laws. So much has been hidden by the red card count and trophy less period while the subliminal mention of his race pokes fun at Wenger.
It takes a lot of observation to see how clever these bastards are.
Nicky
You said people get paid to criticise the club and continue to do so, agree. It also got me thinking could that be why it’s mostly British ex-gunners who usually stick the knife in; contrast that with the non-english ex-gunners like Thierry, Lehmann, Gioberto, Eboue… you know these players will defend the club whenever they’re asked anything about the club. Even Vieira who now works for our direct rivals hardly comes out with such negative stuff as the Mersons and the Wrights. Is it a money thing, or just a lack of spine? Difficult to say..
Fantastic news about the manager signing, the future is bright!
@Al,
I’m afraid the Alan Hansens’ of this world will always be more welcome to the media than those who submit reasoned thinking.
“Abrasive” is the In Word.
@Jambug,
We are not that far apart.
My vision is that technical advancement will be such that no human hand will be involved in controlling play on the field.
Not in my lifetime but rest assured, it WILL come.
Remember, once there was no such thing as sliced bread 😉
@Al, I read your first para again.
It’s not quite that people are paid to criticise Arsenal.
What happens, IMO, is that as soon as ANYONE expresses a controversial view on any matter, thought to be of public interest, they are seized upon by all forms of media as a source of income, ratings and the like.
That is why I feel that we shouldn’t rise to their bait.
Arsenal’s top flight pre-Wenger average finishing position: 7.8
Arsenal’s top flight average finishing position in Wenger era: 2.7
Yet some moronic idiots will tell us that………..
Oh bloody hell, I can’t be bothered with the dimwits anymore.
Nice stats and infographics here for you great Untolders:
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20140528/table
If technology is to be used for matches then it should not be specifically for the benefit of after match analyses (as seems to be the suggestion here), but for (as far as it’s possible ) instant reassessment of contentious issues. Really, who cares what the so called pundits think, they’re just highly paid no no’s who’s opinions amount to absolutely zero. Goal line technology has proved itself invaluable, and so should instant replays of technical issues like the two that lead to goals in the Cup Final. This (Untold Arsenal) is the one blog that focuses on incompetent refereeing and it should be campaigning for really, really serious tech at all football matches and i’m very surprised that it doesn’t, but having said that theres’s nothing that can be done about judgemental decisions. If a ref or lino decides it’s not a penalty or yellow/red card or whatever, then no amount of tech will make any difference on the day.
Excellent as usual, Tony. Highlights a very pertinent point regarding the media and their ways.
I agree with Al. The foreign ex-gunners do not seem to have a bad word to say about Arsenal. But I also think that those who suggested that the ex-Arsenal players who work for the English media have to toe the party line. I would go one further with this debate – but probably only guys like Walter would be able to answer.
How does the English speaking world (football world) (i.e. England/Britain; American (ESPN for example); Australia; various other Commonwealth nations that use English and English sources in their media) view Arsenal? The answer for England or America or Australia (where I live) is that they have a very poor opinion of Arsenal – albeit based on lies and nonsense.
Now how about the non-English speaking football world?
Russia?
Germany?
Italy?
France?
Spain?
Holland?
Brazil?
Argentina?
Japan?
Etcetera…
I have seen Russian feeds or Arabic feeds on the internet where the commentators are excited and thrilled by the Arsenal way of playing football. Yet Skysports and their ilk commentate on the same match with a great hatred and bias and utter lack of appreciation towards the way Arsenal play football. So I believe this unique and vicious assault on Arsene Wenger and Arsenal Football Club is exclusively in the English speaking world.
Since they are so quick to criticise Arsenal let us see how they fare at the world cup.
Australia – out in the first round.
USA – we shall see.
England?
note: ESPN has gotten alot better this year and I have not really seen crazy vindictive levels of Arsenal hatred from most of their team. Although in their ongoing review of the 32 countries competing in the world cup in 2 weeks they had written up possible starting 11s – Koscielny left out for France even though he is probably first on the team sheet and OZIL left out of their possible starting lineup for Germany…errr – some of their writers and pundits are excellent, others are ludicrously useless.
One a side note, I have enjoyed Jambug’s efforts to engage Tom in a debate and Tom running off because he cannot back up his disingenuous comments. Its quite hilarious. 🙂
Thanks for your efforts on calling out the resident spreader of untruths, Jambug. I would not have the patience.
We Arsenal supporters in Malaysia have to endure the same crap in the sports media as those in other English speaking countries .
The newspapers quote The Sun ( really ?) while the sports commentators sprout the usual garbage of the British media.
As Arsenal were celebrating the FA Cup win , the commentator says something to the effect of ” …Arsenal have finally won a trophy after xxxx number of days !”
That is why I don’t listen to Malaysia’s Astro (ESPN/FOX/STAR SPORTS, etc)commentators , ‘experts’, pundits , ex-players as well as the live game commentators .The joy is immense !
I’m looking forward to dumping Astro and to subscribe directly to Arsenal’s Live TV channel .My money will be for a very worthy cause and no doubt well spent.
While on the subject of right and proper tits and boobs…
http://www.funfunky.com/girls-that-bring-glamour-soccer-t35436.html
And some golf and life quotes…
Check out this video on YouTube:
http://youtu.be/OFPeb9JBqfg
The unwanted erection – adult humour – come on , you KNOW you want to to find out !
http://www.jokeoverflow.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/image0011.jpg
The cunning linguist…
http://www.jokeoverflow.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/image0062.jpg
True fans ?
http://www.jokeoverflow.com/picture-jokes/sports/lance-armstrong-fans
For Gord – Somewhere in ye olde Canada …
http://www.jokeoverflow.com/picture-jokes/animals/bear-skin
Here’s an interesting fact you will never see any of the media publish.
Before Arsene Wenger became manager, no Arsenal goal had been awarded Goal of the Season. Since becoming manager there have been 5 Arsenal goals given the award.
1997–98 Dennis Bergkamp v Leicester City, Filbert Street, Premier League, 27 August 1997
2001–02 Dennis Bergkamp v Newcastle United, St James’ Park, Premier League, 2 March 2002
2002–03 Thierry Henry v Tottenham Hotspur, Highbury, Premier League, 16 November 2002
2007–08 Emmanuel Adebayor v Tottenham Hotspur, White Hart Lane, Premier League, 15 September 2007
2013–14 Jack Wilshere v Norwich City, Ashburton Grove, Premier League, 19 October 2013
For the full list of Goal of the Season winners see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goal_of_the_Season
Sav from Australia
Very elusive and slippery customer that Tom, when he wants to be.
But rest assured he’ll be back when he’s trumped up some other baseless rubbish to throw at Wenger.
I’ll be waiting 😉
Funny captions needed – do your worst !
http://www.jokeoverflow.com/picture-jokes/sports/soccer-fisting
My contribution – ” Shitty stuff Manure ! “
@Brickfields “Come out Alex! I know you’re in there.”
@ menace – you be bad ! 4 stars !
Tom, Jambug is so on the money about you. On several occasions you have spouted your inane drivel as if it was gospel and your so-called facts are so full of shit. Then when Jambug and others has proven you totally wrong, You run and hide like the moththerfucking cowardly piece of fucking shit that you are. I come on this site for it’s pro- arsenal slant and motherfucking moronic assholes such as yourself, Rupert, Sperez, and others just piss me the fuck off. Opinions are one thing but you and your fucking ilk post bullshit garbage without any factual basis to it. Then you run and hide like the eunuch you are. Grow a fucking pair of balls you fucking asshole moron.
Bill from Manhattan
It is you who is a fucking moron Bill , you Tourrets Syndrome impersonating cretin. Just because you consider something to be a fact , it doesn’t make it so outside of this blog you imbecil and just because I refuse to angage in a cyclical argument on certain issues where there’s no chance of changing anybody’s point of view anyway, it doesn’t mean I run and hide you dipshit .
When Tony chooses not to reply to mine calling him out on what I thought was his mistaken assessment of the ‘Suarez saga’ after Wenger himself said so, I don’t throw a fit like a girl who got felt up at a high school dance but just move on with my life.
Here are some of the ‘facts’ you and your ilk consider beyond reproach;
Arsenal would be winning PL and CL titles if it wasn’t for the Europe – wide conspiracy to keep them down. Now should I spend even one second arguing this point, it would’ve been one second lost to a more important and more productive goals .
As for me being a ” muththerfuckin, cowardly piece of fucking shit ” ,
I’m gonna be in New York the second week after the World Cup and if you feel so inclined to perhaps straighten me out , I can make myself available.
Here’s my number 773-294-1142
Your move , billy boy.
It’s getting a bit toxic here isn’t it! Please stop insulting each other (all three of you).
Tom, You fucking idiot, All i am saying is you are a coward. You fucking post your bullshit as facts and when people call you on it and prove your so-called facts are nonsense you hide like the fucking bitch that you are. That is a fact not fiction. Your actions on this site have proven what I say is true. I have noticed you never answered Jambug reply about your drivel about our team over- playing our star players in the cups. Whatsa matter little Tommy we all are waiting for it. No response from you yet. You hid for two fucking days you goddamn bitch and when I point it out you whine like a baby. Here is another fact you fucking moron, It is real easy to play tough guy in the anonymity of cyberspace. I’ve made my living hurting motherfucking drunk and sober assholes like you for close to twenty years. I am quite proficient at my job, You don’t really wanna travel down that path you asshole. Happy To see a fellow Arsenal supporter will be in my neck of the woods and look forward to meeting you. Not gonna call the number you posted cause it is most likely wrong or disconected you stupid fucking asshole. There are stupid fucking morons like yourself whose mouths are always writing checks that their asses cannot cash. Seen it thousands of times and haven’t been wrong too often. Lets meet and I am always honored to buy a woman a drink, Even in your case you bitch. If you wanna dance we can dance you pathetic motherfucking douch-bag
Call a truce!
This is ridiculous isn’t it! A writes something that B doesn’t agree with, so B insults A, and A doesn’t respond so B starts getting puffed up with righteous indignation and self explodes and then C joins in and insults A in an even more unpleasant manner. These are (presumably) grown men who will now probably start bullying me, but this needed to be said.
hahahhaha:) Gods how childish, havent seen anything like that since I was a kid in School years ago, never mind the Language.
Here’s a toast to Wenger signing a New deal!!
jambug
May 30, 2014 at 4:59 pm
Tom
Remember saying this:
“Lets have a roster of players Arsene trusts enough to feature in games they should be able to feature in, like in the League Cup against lower opposition, instead of playing our Ozil’s and Ramsey’s in those games and then acting surprised when they break down from fatigue”
Do you remember that?
You may also remember my reply.
Ozil did not play a single game in the C1C,
Walcott did not play a single game in the C1C,
Wilshere and Ramsey played ONE each.
In ALL 7 Cup games before the final:
Wilshere played just 3
Ozil played just 3
Ramsey played just 2
Walcott played just 1
Not only that but out of those 7 games, 4 where against Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs and Everton.
The last time I pointed out the nonsense you was talking you conveniently vanished.
Perhaps now you are back you could perhaps clear up exactly what you did mean.
Dear Jambug
I was gonna let you relish in your belief of proving me wrong and not respond to your numerous posts but the narrative has since escalated due to your unwillingness to drop it and certain other posters chiming in with their unpleasant remarks as well , so here it is.
On the surface you might think you are correct with your stats proving Arsenal star players’ minimal exposure to domestic cup competitions but you need to look at the bigger picture here.
Let’s take Ramsey for example . While it’s true he only played one C1C game against Chelsea, you need to look at his involvement before and after that game . Fact is , Ramsey was involved in 18 games in total before the C1C Chelsea game and 12 after , before he got injured on Dec 26.
To compare it to another world class box to box midfielder from our direct competitor – Yaya Toure played in 24 games in the same period against Ramsey’s 31 games . That’s 7 games more in one half of the season.
You don’t have to be an expert to know these are some staggering numbers.
Now I don’t have a problem with Arsen playing his best eleven against Chelsea in a lowly C1C but he needed to give players like Ramsey a break either before or after. He didn’t ,even though he later admitted he saw Ramsey ” in red zone”.
And as far Ozil is concerned, he played in 46 games this season without the proper preseason , coming from the league with a Winter brake to one without. Again , compare him to a playmaker from a direct competitor – David Silva ,having been used to the PL ,played in 41 games in total against Ozil’s 46 in total.
Especially the game against Coventry City 4:0 ,stands out as an unnecessary involvement . Playing Ozil against a lower league team at home a couple of weeks after he would’ve been coming out of his Winter break at Real, was an eyebrow raiser for me.
Now of course , I realize none of what I’ve just said is going to make a bit difference whatsoever with you or any other UA regular, who believes getting kicked is the only reason for Arsenal players’ injury problems and not overplaying them.
Cheers !
Tom
“On the surface you might think you are correct with your stats proving Arsenal star players’ minimal exposure to domestic cup competitions but you need to look at the bigger picture here.”
No Tom, not ‘on the surface’ I am right. Full stop.
You mentioned the Cups. I proved you wrong.
As for the bigger picture. Fine, lets talk about the ‘bigger picture’.
I concede that Ramsey Played a lot of games. Maybe too many. But unlike you I try to see why, and contest that Wenger would not of played him so much unless he felt he had to.
And what’s more I contest the following extenuating circumstances will of had a lot to do with it.
From day one of the season, right up until Xmas, we was without both PODOLSKI and the THE OX. From the 5th of September to the end of the season we was without Theo.
So, from very early on in the season Wenger was without the Three players that give him the ‘Pace and Power’ you are so keen on.
So, now we are down to Wilshere, who has to be treated carefully. Cazola, who we also lost for a month through Sept/Oct and Rosicky, who we also lost for a month in Sept.
The only 2 of our attacking players that remained fit the entire first half of the season was Ramsey and Ozil.
And guess what. They both played a lot of games.
Well spotted.
Now, me being me I’m prepared cut Wenger a bit of slack, that given a bit of better luck with early season injuries, he WOULD have rested Ramsey, but alas, given the limitations he was under, as well as the tremendous form Ramsey was in, he obviously felt it wasn’t possible.
In hindsight, which of course is a wonderful thing, a costly mistake, but I contest an understandable one.
But, unlike me, you are not in the game of cutting Wenger any slack what so ever, are you Tom?
Jambug, so it would be in everyone Arsenal’s interest to take great care when signing future players to carefully consider their injury record and avoid any that may add to our woes on that front? I hope that’s a lesson learned.
andy1886
So who did Wenger buy that was injury prone then?
Was Theo injury prone at Southampton?
Was Ramsey injury prone at Cardiff?
The OX?
Wilshere?
Ozil?
I don’t know.
You tell me.
As you are intimating Wenger has lessons to learn with regards to this I’d appreciate you enlightening me as to his previous mistakes, just so I can be sure you’re not, you know, making unsubstantiated allegations.
@jambug
andy seems to be going down the snide route – reminds me of someone! The other person also reverted to the snide route when unable to construct a sensible argument.
@jambug
Andy1886 was grasping at straws until your last post when the straws completely turned to dust in his hands. Great argument sir! We can ‘hope that’s a lesson learned’ for Andy, but since he has an agenda, he’s not looking to learn anything.
Wright is an out and out thicko.
Bob Wilson certainly is not.
Paid agents would have patience to waste time on blogs because they are in fact being paid to make believe arguments and generally try to lead circular baseless supposition. Or else I can only see malice as a motivator to undermine. Which one is Andy, I wonder?