13 September 2013
I’m running really late this morning, what with having been out dancing late last night, and with the anniversary section of the blog taking longer than normal (its the anniversary of Ian Wright breaking of Cliff Bastin’s record).
So this is a quickie, before the posting of the first proper story of the day later on. Instead of a story here is a little bit of inward-looking-ness. (There’s no such word, but who cares).
The transfer window is the time when all blogs and newspaper web sites get their highest readership, and last year during August we got 750,000 visits in one month. Amazingly (well it amazes me anyway) Untold got 800,000 over in August this year.
Of course some of the people visiting might have got here by mistake and then shot away at full speed, but the stats we have show that a very high number stayed on for enough time to read the post, and many actually looked at two or more articles during their visit. So people do read.
And thus I’d like to take this moment, before I shoot off to the office, to thank everyone involved – particularly Walter for his ceaseless help and support in running a blog in what is either his second or third language (I’m never sure if he counts Flemish and Dutch as two separate languages, because they both sound the same to me – sorry Walter). And I want to thank everyone who writes for Untold now, and has written for the site in the past. To keep the site running as it is, needs a whole team of people and I’m so grateful that so many fans of the club feel this effort is worthwhile.
We’ve published 3,645 articles since Untold started, some of which have gone by unnoticed, some of which have really caused eruptions in the fabric of football-time-and-space. Mr Wenger has twice quoted jokes of ours, and used the phrase “rotational fouling” in a press conference – a phrase which started on this site. And now it has become commonplace for bits of original work we publish to turn up in other places. Indeed only last week the Telegraph published some material on the number of football coaches in England – a story that was first written up here, way back.
So we’re noticed, which is nice, because it would be a shame to put in all this effort and for no one to know we are here. We are making waves in certain quarters too. And we are a counter balance to some of the negative visions of Arsenal that circulate on the internet and in the press and on TV.
It’s all done for fun, because we enjoy it, and because we want to. Of course if you ever want to write an article for Untold, just email me: Tony.Attwood@aisa.org There is information about writing for Untold here.
Oh and don’t forget the History site, which is also growing apace, and the regular anniversary feature that appears on the home page of this site.
Thanks for reading – normal service will resume after I’ve had breakfast.
Tony Attwood
Congratulations and well done , guys ! Thank you Tony , Walter and the regular contributors for doing a great job .
Untold Arsenal is where I get most of my information about Arsenal in particular and football in general .
I normally don’t go to other sites unless a link had been put up here by the usual gang .Again thank you .
I try to keep the site healthy and sane with the usual doses of humour and occassionally repost e-mails that may not seem relevant to the topic in hand at first ,but has a positive and uplifting message .
Maybe Arsene , Ivan or Silent Stan may use some of my jokes or messages in the future !
Keep up the good work !
Arsenal are under constant attack by sky rags and blogs pretending to be arsenal support such as Myles arsenal fans need to fight back
Well done Tony and Walter…I think your biggest accomplishment has been the undidactic way of supporting the club and the manager. I discovered this site after the 8-2 loss at old toilet as I was finding it hard to answer some of the questions in my head…I was guided by Arsenal.com and the rest as they say is history. I think it was one of the articles by Tony which helped my fight the doom and gloom that was being dished out by every media outlet.
U guys do an amazing job everyday and if on days I am not able to visit Untold…I do feel that something is missing! Well done…
Congrats guys 🙂
Congratulations Tony!
Yeah well done Tony and team, I can honestly say that you guys kept me from going mad during interlulls and of seasons. You have always cheered me up when I have been out in the big bad world and come a cropper on some dirty Arsenal blog (le groooooaaan)where they slating the club, you cheer me up!
I want to thank you Walter as well for the Ref Reviews we know you are making an impact so keep it up, even if it bores me lol but so does finance and see how important that is!
So here is to 160,000 hits a month!
COYG!
Thanks guys for this little haven of sanity in a vast dessert of insanity.
Tried to find another word for “inward-looking-ness” but i think the dictionary needs to be changed for i’m sure you did not mean any of these:
circumscribed
isolated
parochial
petty
bigoted
closed
confined
contracted
cut off
detached
illiberal
inward-looking
limited
narrow
prejudiced
provincial
restricted
secluded
separate
separated
sequestered
Why is looking inside of oneself so negative? But we know what you mean even if there is no word for it. Any suggestions?
Media shit bags at it again!!!!
What I want to know is how come Wenger spending £40 Million somehow equates to him haveing to deliver a title/trophy or he has to quit?
What I want to know is how come Wengers press conference yesterday somehow equates to ‘Win a trophy or I quit’ ?
I mean considering how much City (£100 Million MORE), Chelsea(£100 MORE, and this against a backdrop of Maureen whingeing about being accused of ‘buying it’. Honestly you could’nt make it up) and even Spurs (over £100 Million).
So despite all this the media have somehow construde to put ALL the pressure on Wenger. WIN OR QUIT. Thats there words, not Wengers.
Even at this time when things look to be at least on the up the media can’t stop with there relentless agenda to try and drive Wenger out of the PL.
In a way I suppose it is at least a backhanded complement, because if they honestly think Wenger, by just buying the ONE ‘Marquee’ signing, against Citys, Chelseas, Utds and now even Spurs MEGA spending, should win the PL, they really must believe him to be a genius !!!
The reason I mention this is because as much as I agree that our refs are a disgrace and need exposeing for what they are, incompetent, biased baffons, I feel it is a loseing battle because as far as I’m concerned the refs are just following an agenda that is set in the media.
Until that anti arsenal, anti Wenger agenda is stopped, the way we are refereed will NEVER change.
You can highlight the injustices of a referees bad/bias performance as much as you like, a la Taylor in the Villa, but when it’s us…NOBODY GIVES A SHIT.
I love untold.
The work untold does is amazeing.
The loyalty to Arsenal and Wenger is heart warming.
Alas until somehow the hatred towards us in the media abates we havn’t a hope of changeing a thing. As the biased, warped, interpretation of Wengers press conference yesterday proves, nothing has changed in the least !!!
Well done, and for your loyalty over the years.
On another point, I think it might be a little alarming that Wenger is not negotiating a new contract, normally he would by now.
Maybe those at the Arsenal ‘Supporters’ Trust wound him up by telling Arsenal not to negotiate a new contract with him during the transfer window (when we clearly weren’t anyway) wound him up.
Fact is Wenger took a lot of stick for not spending before (WHEN WE DIDNT HAVE ANY MONEY) and now that we do have some, and he has spent some, a lot of people owe him an apology for the way they had a go at him. He was only doing what is best for the club and sacrificing his own chances of glory (when he could have moved to Madrid, Munich, Milan etc etc) by agreeing to work miracles on a pittance of a transfer fund for 8 years.
Seriously Tim Payton, you owe Wenger an apology. You don’t speak for me. You are not the God of Arsenal fans. If Wenger leaves because of you then you will not be welcome at the Emirates.
We need to show Wenger that us true Arsenal supporters want him to stay
Gunner
Well said
@Gunner
Agreed.
@Tony/Walter
Congratulations & keep it going. Untold has become a leading light in the campaign for fair play for all.
Congratulations Tony & Walter, please keep up the good work.
I obviously meant Buffoons but Baffons will do, infact they’re worse !!
Keep up the good work and long may it continue.
Frequent reader, seldom poster, well done lads.
@Tony, you’ll have to thank the stupid ignorant Arsenal hating media for that. More they do their stuff, more readers will visit us. After all this is the blog where sanity prevails….
On a different note, has anyone seen the new BBC Price Of Football Survey??
They have seemingly been a bit more balanced although they could have been much better. All they seem to have added in is that the Arsenal ticket also includes cup games without offering a breakdown per game cost.
Congratulations and many thanks, Tony, Walter and all the team.
Scarcely a day goes by when I don’t check out Untold for a bit of sanity in a mad world.
Maybe they don’t like us cos they think we are a big club with a great history, we won trophies with great teams & manager, but actually believe that we did have loads of money and debt (stadium) just like the other irresponsibles out there. But think Wenger is stubborn and wants to be different by using ‘kids’ and trying to make stars which is just one thing he does. The epitome of arrogance in their eyes, so they get pissed at us for not buying big named talent like the other big clubs and proceed to do us in!
Almost like them saying, ‘the epl is the biggest and bestest comp in world and we need the big players to step up and show the world that we are the best, by spending and keeping up with europes big clubs.
Does that make sense?
(Just stood at station near where teens smoking pot, think I am stoned.)
Maybe despite some saying we do it all wrong…we might do something right? 😉
Amazing numbers. Numbers that make you wonder for a moment where do all these people come from.
Well done Tony and Walter, the work that goes into this site from both of you is massive. I read the articles every day and can’t help but nod my head in agreement at what is being written.
Long may it continue. Keep up the great work and here’s to a million visits in a month by next August!
Congratulations
Untold is the best read!
Congratulations Tony. This time next year Untold will be a millionaire in visits.
Not surprising really as its the one place to come to for informed and objective comment on football in general and a deeper understanding on all matters of the present Arsenal.
Then there is the research on the true history of Arsenal and being prepared to question the unfounded claims about the past.
For a word for ‘inward-looking-ness’ how about ‘inside look’?
‘Forward Arsenal’ ‘Forward Untold’.
Tony & Walter…..congrats for your faithful and loyal service to the Arsenal. The word you were looking for is either ¨introspective¨ or ¨introspection¨.
I don’t post much, but I read a lot. This is the best Arsenal blog out there for my money.
Came here for the first time after watching the highly engineered 4-4 draw at Newcastle, when the media praise of Newcastle’s spirit and total ignorance of what I thought was an obvious fix left me questioning my sanity. Turns out I wasn’t insane after all. Thanks Untold for boldly calling the Emperor naked when no one else will.
800.000 visits and not one apology from the AAA for the site supporting wenger through the great and not so great times . Time and time again unconditional love and support for the club and the manager. Taking abuse and threats it must give you great pleasure to have so many loyal followers
Well done
Sometimes you’re like the man by the window .
Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room’s only window.
The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation. Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window. The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.
The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.
As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene. One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man couldn’t hear the band – he could see it. In his mind’s eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.
Days and weeks passed. One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.
As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone. Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall.
The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.
She said, “Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.”
The strength within ….
I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. ‘Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death.
Leonardo da Vinci
You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.
Marcus Aurelius
Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others.
Plato
Congratulations Tony and Walter on your success. I frequently visit your site , not because I agree with you on all things Arsenal and it makes me feel good to find affirmation like some posters here, nor because I disagree with you and intend to tear any one down to prove a point. I read and judge each post on its merits as I do with everything I read regardless of the author. I’ve been commended in the past on my responses when they aligned with the general views of this site , and I’ve been told to f..k off and never come back when they didn’t . One thing for sure, it takes a lot of hard work and effort to do what you do and for that I thank you. Keep up the good work!
Tony and Walter,
Congratulations and continued success. It is great to be in a forum were true love for The Arsenal dominates!
Congrats Untold! More grease to your elbows.
By the way, Tony, I got another granddaughter today. Lucky me. Congrats, once again untold. I call her baby “‘Untold’ Arsenal”.
To Tony ,Walter and the ref’s to all the team at Untold Arsenal, my sincere gratitude in providing this wonderful thought provoking web site ,congratulations keep up the good work from Gooner Murphy & Friends
Congratulations to Tony and Walter and the rest of the Untold team. Well done and keep up the good work. Truly a different perspective from most blogs, an ‘untold ‘perspective’. I have learnt alot from Untold over the years and long may you continue to enlighten and inform us all.
Thanks to Tony, Walter and all involved at Untold. An inspiring positive oasis in a desert of depressing negative blogs.
Congratulations this site is big and as you imply, you never know just who may be looking in! Keep it up your club needs you!
Well done Tony Walter Dogface and everyone else.
The Daily Mail is probably crapping their pants.
Who would have thought reason, debate, communality and un-sensationalized opinion would triumph over all the things the mainstream media represents and which the Daily mail has come to epitomize…..?
@Para:
http://blog.emiratesstadium.info/archives/31224/comment-page-1#comment-668698
surely the word is introspection ?
And I would add my congratulations to worthy growth of this site.
REAL journalism is good to read.
May I (an occasional contributor) add my congratulations and thanks to all concerned.
I always thinks that on of the main reasons for supporting a football club is to add joy to your life – something rarely (never?) achieved by moaning and groaning about things which are barely understood anyway.
Untold is a great expresser of that joy and an excellent provider of greater understanding.
Keep it up!
Most people like positivity. Some love to try to bring down these optimists to their level, but together they equal 800,000 visitors. Thanks for helping the best arsenal blog, pessimists. We couldn’t have done it without you.
Congrats to all of Untold!