What is the point of it all anyway???

[LDG]

I'm a gooner through and through. First match 1987, through thick and thin, good times and bad....I'll always support them, and will always hold the club in my heart.

But I'm just not interested in football anymore. It's a fucking disgrace what is going on right now.

I'm not talking about our poor form, or anything to do with on the pitch matters. Grounds are soulless, prices are extortionate, there's a disconnect with fans like never before.

Anyone who is a fan, will obviously be going through hell right now watching our lot huff and puff and fall down....but is it all really worth it?? I mean, if they don't care....what the fuck are we doing caring?? I still do, but that's not the point.

I'm starting to really consider switching my attention to Barnet or something. So I can actually enjoy supporting my team again, and have some sort of connect on a Saturday.

Of course, this is all well and good having a nice pretty idea....but I know I'll be sat in front of the box, or in the ground for the next embarrassment....why the fuck do we go through it??

How do people really feel??

[Flavs]

You on the rag?

[Flavs]

You should come to away games mate it would reinvigorate you. Home games are shite because the ground is soulless.

But yeah go to a few lower league games and its a completely different game, this is why i still go and watch county every now and again its like going back in time 15 years.

[LDG]

Yeah, been to a few away. Last one was Pompey. That was dire, but the fans (all around tbf) were awesome.

Used to love going down the Dell to watch us beat the fuck out of Southampton too....

Some ways, it's more Arsenal to be going through this at the moment though....just wish we had the bouncebackability we had 10 years ago.

[dazthegooner]

Remember going to see us against Wimbledon at plough lane years ago (we lost 1-0) when they scored it showed how many Arsenal fans were there because only a quarter the sadium cheered :lol:

[I_Killed_Kenny]

i agree, slowly but surely i am falling out of love with the game. i only get excited when its about an hour before kick-off nowadays but til then the whole thing is disappointing. but i will still be there giving it for the arsenal. tortured love i guess.

btw do you have to pay to be on the away scheme? or can any red member get tickets for away games as i too am considering only going away now.

[Flavs]

btw do you have to pay to be on the away scheme? or can any red member get tickets for away games as i too am considering only going away now.

I am part of the Yorkshire Arsenal Supporters club so get my trips that way. Where do you live? There maybe a supporters club near you

[I_Killed_Kenny]

I am part of the Yorkshire Arsenal Supporters club so get my trips that way. Where do you live? There maybe a supporters club near you

i live down the road from the stadium in lush green lanes harringay! lol

i havent ever looked into away tickets so no idea if you have to join or what

[IBK]

Its a good thread - because it asks essentially why active football fans follow their team. You are clearly not a glory hunter - so its not a question of having to win trophies to support your team.

But with the current Arsenal team, many Gooners I know are losing interest because:

- We have become an extremely boring team to watch. There a few moments of genuine excitement (if you discount the heart-in-mouth moments when the opposition get anywhere near our goal). For all our sideways and backwards passing possession there are few genuine chances created these days. Even our free kicks and corners tend to yield little prospect of a goal.

- There is a lack of drive; industry; passion - all those elements that make football, as a relatively low-scoring sport, interesting.

- There is a mix of utter frustration and nervousness that leeches enjoyment out of what we are seeing.

- We have been starved for years of the excitement generated by a real WOW signing.

- There is a massive disconnect between team and fans. At AFC this is not just a symptom of the modern game, its the result of the repeated lack of transparency as to what the club is about, its intentions, what the plan is, why the bizzare things we have seen are happening. There is a real arrogance about how the club sees its fans - basically a 'how dare you question the club when you have it so good' approach. Nowhere has this been more apparent than in AW's reaction to being asked challenging questions by the minority shareholders or AST. Any statement by the club is so spun out of existence that I am not surprised that there is so much scepticism about the board's true intentions.

- The ownership saga has, in its own way contributed to this disconnect - because it has resulted in a dogged adherence to the status quo. So we are left in the farcical position of having 2 multi-billionaire owners, yet not a penny of investment on the playing side. Basically, the stadium project has done little more than make us an asset rich club that is attractive for a shareholder, not a real investor in the club.

- The atmosphere at the Emirates is, basically, shit as a result, partly, of all the above.

Certainly - this has reduced my connection to love for AFC, and therefore football in general.

[Flavs]

We are also missing a lovable character we can all adore, most teams have at lest 1 us? Wilshere might become this if we dont sell him to Citeh in the summer but as of now we have nothing, we are a team of gray skinned dullards who are about as exciting as listening to Letters and WMUG discuss their sex lives

[I_Killed_Kenny]

We are also missing a lovable character we can all adore, most teams have at lest 1 us? Wilshere might become this if we dont sell him to Citeh in the summer but as of now we have nothing, we are a team of gray skinned dullards who are about as exciting as listening to Letters and WMUG discuss their sex lives

what - with each other?

[Flavs]

what - with each other?

Well they are christian

[Kano]

I'm a gooner through and through. First match 1987, through thick and thin, good times and bad....I'll always support them, and will always hold the club in my heart.

But I'm just not interested in football anymore. It's a fucking disgrace what is going on right now.

I'm not talking about our poor form, or anything to do with on the pitch matters. Grounds are soulless, prices are extortionate, there's a disconnect with fans like never before.

Anyone who is a fan, will obviously be going through hell right now watching our lot huff and puff and fall down....but is it all really worth it?? I mean, if they don't care....what the fuck are we doing caring?? I still do, but that's not the point.

I'm starting to really consider switching my attention to Barnet or something. So I can actually enjoy supporting my team again, and have some sort of connect on a Saturday.

Of course, this is all well and good having a nice pretty idea....but I know I'll be sat in front of the box, or in the ground for the next embarrassment....why the fuck do we go through it??

How do people really feel??

fans have far more personal access to footballers than ever before. you cant meet them in a pub for a drink of course like the 'good old days' but if i was a footballer, i wouldnt want to put myself in that situation.

interviews galore, training access and of course twitter put the fans in touch unlike years past

if arsenal were doing better then none of this shit would matter

[I_Killed_Kenny]

Well they are christian

is that a ruling in the commandments then?

[Flavs]

its the 11th commandment mate "thou shall bum young boys without shame or prejudice"

[I_Killed_Kenny]

its the 11th commandment mate "thou shall bum young boys without shame or prejudice"

sure that wasnt just wenger

[LDG]

fans have far more personal access to footballers than ever before. you cant meet them in a pub for a drink of course like the 'good old days' but if i was a footballer, i wouldnt want to put myself in that situation.

interviews galore, training access and of course twitter put the fans in touch unlike years past

if arsenal were doing better then none of this shit would matter

Don't agree. Went to every match season before last, and we pretty much won every game, scored loads and played well in the most part.

It wasn't anywhere near the same connect with the fans as it used to be.

It's nothing to do with results.

[Marc Overmars]

The sport has been killed by it's governing authorities.

Football. :lol:

Awful sport.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

I'm a gooner through and through. First match 1987, through thick and thin, good times and bad....I'll always support them, and will always hold the club in my heart.

But I'm just not interested in football anymore. It's a fucking disgrace what is going on right now.

I'm not talking about our poor form, or anything to do with on the pitch matters. Grounds are soulless, prices are extortionate, there's a disconnect with fans like never before.

Anyone who is a fan, will obviously be going through hell right now watching our lot huff and puff and fall down....but is it all really worth it?? I mean, if they don't care....what the fuck are we doing caring?? I still do, but that's not the point.

I'm starting to really consider switching my attention to Barnet or something. So I can actually enjoy supporting my team again, and have some sort of connect on a Saturday.

Of course, this is all well and good having a nice pretty idea....but I know I'll be sat in front of the box, or in the ground for the next embarrassment....why the fuck do we go through it??

How do people really feel??

Totally agree with this, you could watch even Fulham and you'd enjoy them right now. We deffo need a player that will lift the fans somone who we can chant and sing his name that has not happend in a while even before this season.

Football as a whole not just us is boring especially with the top teams it seems to be about money these days so the connection with the fans disappere quick just look at Tevez for example , who used to have his name chanted now where ever he goes he won't be loved as much because of his behaviour.

This all started when football became a business not much of a sport these days.

[fakeyank]

There is a massive disconnect between team and fans. At AFC this is not just a symptom of the modern game, its the result of the repeated lack of transparency as to what the club is about, its intentions, what the plan is, why the bizzare things we have seen are happening. There is a real arrogance about how the club sees its fans - basically a 'how dare you question the club when you have it so good' approach. Nowhere has this been more apparent than in AW's reaction to being asked challenging questions by the minority shareholders or AST. Any statement by the club is so spun out of existence that I am not surprised that there is so much scepticism about the board's true intentions.

:gp:

I dont think it has anything to do with prices. We are basically run by a smug manager and probably an even cuntier board. In the early nineties, we werent beating all and sundry but from what I hear, we still had the supporters come in. The reason I think that happened was because prices were more reasonable and more importantly, you felt the players gave a damn about trying. With the squad of the last 3 seasons or so, you just dont see the desire and passion in the players. Its like watching a team filled with Berbatov's and Arshavin's... no matter how brilliant they are on their day, supporters relate more to a player like Kuyt, Park, Wilshere who will bust a gut.

If Arsenal starts doing well, I am sure you (LDG) will be back feeling excited about watching them. Hell I am ready to pay top $ to come and watch us play even if we are 15th in the league... all I ask for is some fuckin commitment from the players. I just do not see that and thats why I have no intention of going to a game when I come to London this coming February.

:(

[Boss]

Nothing wrong with football.

If Arsenal weren't shite this thread wouldn't exist.

[LDG]

:gp:

I dont think it has anything to do with prices. We are basically run by a smug manager and probably an even cuntier board. In the early nineties, we werent beating all and sundry but from what I hear, we still had the supporters come in. The reason I think that happened was because prices were more reasonable and more importantly, you felt the players gave a damn about trying. With the squad of the last 3 seasons or so, you just dont see the desire and passion in the players. Its like watching a team filled with Berbatov's and Arshavin's... no matter how brilliant they are on their day, supporters relate more to a player like Kuyt, Park, Wilshere who will bust a gut.

If Arsenal starts doing well, I am sure you (LDG) will be back feeling excited about watching them. Hell I am ready to pay top $ to come and watch us play even if we are 15th in the league... all I ask for is some fuckin commitment from the players. I just do not see that and thats why I have no intention of going to a game when I come to London this coming February.

:(

:woohoo:

You're right though.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Nothing wrong with football.

If Arsenal weren't shite this thread wouldn't exist.

That is balls - don't be so dismissive of the OP. There have been similar threads to this in the past along with concern in the way the game it is going.

In my early days following this Club, the results and the football were often painful to watch, but there were heroes and they had a connection with the fans and us with them. That is why there were often Testimonials for players, they stuck with the Club and the Club and its fans wanted to reward and show appreciation for them.

Nowadays I couldn't give a fuck what transient money grabber and his agent comes or goes from the Club.

[Cripps_orig]

There are a lot of things i dont like about football but i can see TEGs point. If Arsenal were better then i really wouldnt care much about whats going wrong elsewhere.

However we are a bit shite so the things that are wrong are highlighted more.

Money - Chelsea and Man City not having to work at all to get to where they are and having it handed to them

Negative football - Step forward Fat Sam, Teams that set up not to lose rather than to win has infected football and the long ball tactic which the shiteass clubs ie Stoke, Blackburn etc are awful to watch but is lauded by muppet pundits who are the same to critisise when the National team does it

Corruption - FIFA, UEFA, Barcorruptlona, Mancs, latter 2 would be nowhere near as successful if not for the refs and their respective FAs. Sooner they are caught out, the better. I can see people rolling their eyes at this but it happened to Juventus who are as big as Barca if not bigger in terms of trophies

Ticket prices - This can be directed towards Arsenal as i dont go watch any other club as clubs in the PL bore me and lower league football is pub team level.

Wenger - Killed football for me. All the BS he has spouted, the failed project, making Arsenal a laughing stock and so much more has arguably made me turn off football than all of the above.

In short, Wenger just fuck off

[Master Splinter]

Apart from the petulant bit towards the end, Ach's post sums it up well.

Football is an absolute farce.

Tennis :bow:.

Bowls :bow:.

[Syn]

IHow do people really feel??

I don't think we'll ever get 'non-commercial' football now. As GB said above, testimonials are becoming less and less common because footballers at the top level treat it like anyone would treat a job...they'll stick with the club as long as they can't do any better...as soon as they can, they're off. I don't blame them. They're foreigners - why would they have any connection with the club? With higher ticket prices (it's not just Arsenal, it's everyone bar the lower leagues), football is becoming less of a family thing.

I've basically grown out of it. The only way I can see myself getting excited about football (and Arsenal) again is if, in a couple of seasons time, we have slid down the table, become a mid-table (or worse) side with a new manager that adds some personalities to the team - a good mix of local players with some self-respect, pride and real mental strength (not the Wenger kind). The only 'personalities' in the squad right now are: RVP, Wilshere, Chesney. 3 players out of 20 odd. 1 or 2 of them are usually dead anyway. We need a squad of personalities - players that want the ball and will fight to make something happen. Wilshere's performance in the CC final last year was the only memorable Arsenal player performances of recent years (memorable for the right reasons, of course...or else Almunia has a collection of them).

[Özim]

For me Wenger is a big part of why I don't enjoy it anymore, his policies, his lies, the dum style of football he adopted 6 years ago, the types of players he's been signing in that period, the blind faith, the failure to acknowledge obvious flaws, the excuses, the getting f*cked up the arse by player after player and still never learning etc etc

The board are also a big reason, IMO they just take the p*ss, their blatant disregard for what the fans care about is not unlike what some might say commonplace in football, I don't know many clubs where the fans are basically told to like it or lump it when they're paying large amounts and not only signing noone of note but achieving no success on the pitch.

Ultimately though Wenger has indulged them and he's the one that built the team and has chosen the style and tactics (if they indeed exists at all in Wenger world), might have been a good manager once upon a time but nowadays he's living on reputation...some people still see him as some sort of messiah but I have nothing to thank him for, after all he's runined my enjoyment of the game I once loved and thus I have no respect for him.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

For me Wenger is a big part of why I don't enjoy it anymore, his policies, his lies, the dum style of football he adopted 6 years ago, the types of players he's been signing in that period, the blind faith, the failure to acknowledge obvious flaws, the excuses, the getting f*cked up the arse by player after player and still never learning etc etc

The board are also a big reason, IMO they just take the p*ss, their blatant disregard for what the fans care about is not unlike what some might say commonplace in football, I don't know many clubs where the fans are basically told to like it or lump it when they're paying large amounts and not only signing noone of note but achieving no success on the pitch.

Ultimately though Wenger has indulged them and he's the one that built the team and has chosen the style and tactics (if they indeed exists at all in Wenger world), might have been a good manager once upon a time but nowadays he's living on reputation...some people still see him as some sort of messiah but I have nothing to thank him for, after all he's runined my enjoyment of the game I once loved and thus I have no respect for him.

Think the OP was talking about football as a whole not just Arsenal. if wenger has runied your enjoyment in the game then you really need to get our more. However if he as runied your enjoyment in Arsenal then fair enough. there is plenty of football to enjoy still it may not be arsenal but its footie.

from your frustation your more fan or Arsenal then football itsself if that makes sense.

[Boss]

That is balls - don't be so dismissive of the OP. There have been similar threads to this in the past along with concern in the way the game it is going.

In my early days following this Club, the results and the football were often painful to watch, but there were heroes and they had a connection with the fans and us with them. That is why there were often Testimonials for players, they stuck with the Club and the Club and its fans wanted to reward and show appreciation for them.

Nowadays I couldn't give a fuck what transient money grabber and his agent comes or goes from the Club.

Not really balls. The day football 'died' for most should have been in 1992/93 when the PL was formed but no one complained then because we were still one of the top guns.

Posts seen on GW have all been after Arsenal started getting shite (2006 onwards) so 'similar threads' don't really have much merit. Although I was very young when I used 606, I don't remember much complaining about how much football was changing etc etc when we we winning stuff. We were still getting outbid for top players and there was still a shitload of money in the game (mainly due to Man U, Real Madrid, Barcelona and the Milan clubs - RM pretty much got their stadium for free and everyone remembers Man U mega spending on Veron, Ferdinand, RVN and later Rooney) and there was still financial doping, it's just on a much more exposed level now.

As for testimonials, again it's all about people getting nostalgic. We don't have testimonials because players don't stay at clubs for ten years anymore; more importantly Arsenal players in particular don't have testimonials because Arsenal don't win trophies so they can't be bothered to stick around. Winning breeds 'heroes' and a 'connection with the fans', don't think many on here worshipped players in the 60s and 50s when we weren't winning much.

Testimonials in the modern game that will happen soon: Terry, Lampard, Gerrard, Carragher, Giggs, Ferdinand - that's just the English ones off the top of my head. Testimonials are hardly a commonplace happening in the game, even ten years ago and although we're garbage we could still have testimonials for players like Van Persie / Almunia / Djourou (3 years left) or could have had them for Fabregas / Eboue (8 and 7 years respectively) it's just that no one would want to see them because they haven't really won anything.

Winning changes everything.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Not really balls. The day football 'died' for most should have been in 1992/93 when the PL was formed but no one complained then because we were still one of the top guns.

Posts seen on GW have all been after Arsenal started getting shite (2006 onwards) so 'similar threads' don't really have much merit. Although I was very young when I used 606, I don't remember much complaining about how much football was changing etc etc when we we winning stuff. We were still getting outbid for top players and there was still a shitload of money in the game (mainly due to Man U, Real Madrid, Barcelona and the Milan clubs - RM pretty much got their stadium for free and everyone remembers Man U mega spending on Veron, Ferdinand, RVN and later Rooney) and there was still financial doping, it's just on a much more exposed level now.

As for testimonials, again it's all about people getting nostalgic. We don't have testimonials because players don't stay at clubs for ten years anymore; more importantly Arsenal players in particular don't have testimonials because Arsenal don't win trophies so they can't be bothered to stick around. Winning breeds 'heroes' and a 'connection with the fans', don't think many on here worshipped players in the 60s and 50s when we weren't winning much.

Testimonials in the modern game that will happen soon: Terry, Lampard, Gerrard, Carragher, Giggs, Ferdinand - that's just the English ones off the top of my head. Testimonials are hardly a commonplace happening in the game, even ten years ago and although we're garbage we could still have testimonials for players like Van Persie / Almunia / Djourou (3 years left) or could have had them for Fabregas / Eboue (8 and 7 years respectively) it's just that no one would want to see them because they haven't really won anything.

Winning changes everything.

Do you see that paragraph in bold?

Stick the money element in that para as well and that illustrates my point exactly and demonstrates that the football I got into changed immeasurably from the one you got into.

The change has not been for the better.

I've hated footballers and their sleazeball agents and what they have been doing to the game for well over 10 years and have been pretty fucking consistant about that.

This game needs a fucking financial implosion to sort itself out - but that is never going to happen.

[Flavs]

Money


that is what has ruined football at the top level. Agents, Billionaires, Sky, The champions league, business concessions, premium seating, TV rights, mercenary players and an absence of leadership from FIFA/UEFA/The FA.

Was talking to a Wimbledon fan the other day, a real one, and he said the best thing they ever did was split from the McDons and start again, i am pretty sure the reds of Manchester would say the same. I envy them. Without going all romantic and nostalgic about having a pint with Kenny Sansom after a game or jumpers for goal posts (isn't it?) the game has become very much like an Apple product...it's very shiny and whizzy and brilliantly marketed but when you get down to the nuts and bolts of it its just the same as the old stuff just a bit broken.

[Özim]

Think the OP was talking about football as a whole not just Arsenal. if wenger has runied your enjoyment in the game then you really need to get our more. However if he as runied your enjoyment in Arsenal then fair enough. there is plenty of football to enjoy still it may not be arsenal but its footie.

from your frustation your more fan or Arsenal then football itsself if that makes sense.
When I saw football I mean Arsenal, but as a fan that's what you want to watch your own team. Watching other teams play is OK but you can take it or leave it.

The world cup and euros' being the exception.

[Flavs]

Winning breeds 'heroes' and a 'connection with the fans'.

This part smells very much like poo

[Olivier's xmas twist]

When I saw football I mean Arsenal, but as a fan that's what you want to watch your own team. Watching other teams play is OK but you can take it or leave it.

The world cup and euros' being the exception.

Fair enough then you have a point, thought you may have meant AW was spoiling footie as a whole

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Money


that is what has ruined football at the top level. Agents, Billionaires, Sky, The champions league, business concessions, premium seating, TV rights, mercenary players and an absence of leadership from FIFA/UEFA/The FA.

Was talking to a Wimbledon fan the other day, a real one, and he said the best thing they ever did was split from the McDons and start again, i am pretty sure the reds of Manchester would say the same. I envy them. Without going all romantic and nostalgic about having a pint with Kenny Sansom after a game or jumpers for goal posts (isn't it?) the game has become very much like an Apple product...it's very shiny and whizzy and brilliantly marketed but when you get down to the nuts and bolts of it its just the same as the old stuff just a bit broken.

:gp:

totally agree flavs

[fakeyank]

Not really balls. The day football 'died' for most should have been in 1992/93 when the PL was formed but no one complained then because we were still one of the top guns.

Posts seen on GW have all been after Arsenal started getting shite (2006 onwards) so 'similar threads' don't really have much merit. Although I was very young when I used 606, I don't remember much complaining about how much football was changing etc etc when we we winning stuff. We were still getting outbid for top players and there was still a shitload of money in the game (mainly due to Man U, Real Madrid, Barcelona and the Milan clubs - RM pretty much got their stadium for free and everyone remembers Man U mega spending on Veron, Ferdinand, RVN and later Rooney) and there was still financial doping, it's just on a much more exposed level now.

As for testimonials, again it's all about people getting nostalgic. We don't have testimonials because players don't stay at clubs for ten years anymore; more importantly Arsenal players in particular don't have testimonials because Arsenal don't win trophies so they can't be bothered to stick around. Winning breeds 'heroes' and a 'connection with the fans', don't think many on here worshipped players in the 60s and 50s when we weren't winning much.

Testimonials in the modern game that will happen soon: Terry, Lampard, Gerrard, Carragher, Giggs, Ferdinand - that's just the English ones off the top of my head. Testimonials are hardly a commonplace happening in the game, even ten years ago and although we're garbage we could still have testimonials for players like Van Persie / Almunia / Djourou (3 years left) or could have had them for Fabregas / Eboue (8 and 7 years respectively) it's just that no one would want to see them because they haven't really won anything.

Winning changes everything.

:gp:

Pretty much