Arsenal are still my top club
by pdb on Feb 16, 2012 1:25 PM EST
in Opinion
Email
Print
We all lived through yesterday, and we all read the SBNation piece about Arsenal's perceived status in the Big Club Club this morning. There's nothing more to talk about there. I'm choosing to turn those frowns upside down, and choosing to write about how Arsenal are still, and will always be, my favorite non-baseball sports team.
I've been a fan since 1992ish. I've seen a lot of awesome things, and a lot of not-so-awesome things. This is the nature of sports - there's always good and there's always bad. But the other constant is me - I have been a fan no matter what. I express my displeasure - and I'm sure my non-soccer friends from the early days are thrilled that I now have the internet to bore with my ramblings rather than boring them with things they dont' care about - but at the end of the day, I'm still watching Arsenal all the time, I still read news about Arsenal, and I still care very deeply about something that can by its very nature never care about me in return. Is that weird? Sure it is, but it's also a lot of fun.
Sports are supposed to be fun. They're a diversion, an entertainment, a way to forget the bills and the mortgage and the cat vomit on the carpet and the annoying coworker and all that stuff. The problem is, sports are also tribal; my tribe is better than yours, your tribe is all a bunch of losers, etc. Those two concepts don't jibe for most people - they can't get past the tribalism because they see it as part of the fun.
Don't misunderstand me - I can be as tribal as the next person. I am, after all, the person who changed the desktop of the computer of a person I had never even met at a friend's office one night because it had Tottenham wallpaper on it (I put up a big picture of Tony Adams. It was brilliant). But at the end of the day, I take that for what it is - a bit of fun. If he had done the same to me, I would have laughed.
I guess what I'm saying is, when you read articles like this morning's SBN piece, read it and disregard it. Do not let other people define how you see your favorite team. Do not worry about how other people feel about Arsenal, or where other people see Arsenal's place in the fictional strata of Big Clubs or Top Four or whatever else. All that matters is how you feel, and all that's important is that, no matter what, you are still an Arsenal fan. That's what's important.
Arsenal are us, and we are Arsenal. Nobody else matters.
50 comments
|
8 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Heartily rec'd
Let’s beat the hell out of Sunderland this weekend. WEMBLEY CALLING.
Now with mustache guarantee!
Nice piece.
This should transcribed to every page for every team and have the same meaning to all, it’s just a game, enjoy your wins eat your losses and move on.
by Timothy Winning Voyles on Feb 16, 2012 1:58 PM EST reply actions
Sport & Life
Everyone here probably likes multiple sports, or even other forms of competition too, and we all know that you can’t win all the time and to be a real fan you must take the good with the bad. Arsenal has given us countless fantastic memories and moments, even just this past weekend, and you’re cheating yourself and the team if you forget that. Life has ups and downs, so does sport, and it’s my understanding that when you support a team or a group you do not give up and change allegiance due to a challenging spell- especially when the pro’s outweigh the con’s. The future is still bright friends
There's always next year ; }
by Tomcat13 on Feb 16, 2012 2:10 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
I think we should just talk about the cricket instead.
You know, it’s only a month and a half until the County season starts!
Managing Editor, OnceAMetro.com
I tried to watch and read about how cricket works for so long, and I still just don't understand how that game works
So I’ll just stick to watching the Cubs suck Americana Cricket year after year…
UMD Bulldogs: 2011 NCAA DI Men's Hockey Nat'l Champions; 2008 & 2010 NCAA DII Football Nat'l Champions
I find that I can explain cricket
It’s a ball throwing and batting game. One team has 11 players, including a “bowler” who "bowls (pitches). Then there are 2 batters, one on each wicket. One is hitting, the other is waiting for the ball to be hit. When the ball is hit (in any direction), the other team try and hit the wickets( 3 poles) when the player makes a run to get the player out. A run is both batters running to the opposite wicket. You can be caught out. A “home run” is worth 6 points. If it hits the “boundary” it’s 4. Most points wins. Each team gets a certain number of bowls. And it takes forever. England sucks here, too.
Let’s go back to talking about soccer.
by Adnan Ilyas on Feb 17, 2012 10:10 AM EST up reply actions
Don't they have the choice to run or not run as well?
Like if you hit the ball, and it doesn’t really go that far, you can just not run and thus not get out and then they have to bowl again? I feel like I read that once.
Captain, there are doubt''s...
by Match Day 5 on Feb 17, 2012 11:53 AM EST up reply actions
yes, but thats really not that important
point is, you bowl a lot for a long time. Depending on the game type, your objective changes. If It’s a long game (a “test match” that lasts several days, these are the basis of rankings" you just want to bat for as long as possible without getting out. (cricket doesn’t change sides based on outs. Instead it’s pitches. I believe 10 outs and you lose.) While bowling, you want to prevent the team from scoring/ get them out. In a shorter game, like those in championships, there are a limited number of bowls before the game is over, so each team is trying as hard as possible to get as many points as possible. Getting out doesn’t matter so much because there isn’t really enough time.
by Adnan Ilyas on Feb 17, 2012 12:13 PM EST up reply actions
That's really interesting
Like in the baseball homerun derby where you get 10 outs. You could theoretically hit 2000 homeruns or even a million.
Captain, there are doubt''s...
yeah, that's why cricket games have such huge scores
but it’s really a big deal when it’s really really tight. Those can be interesting. I think Pakistan won a world championship on the last bowl once.
Seriously, you need to come home.
Captain, there are doubt''s...
by Match Day 5 on Feb 17, 2012 11:49 AM EST up reply actions
I liked cricket before I came over here.
Managing Editor, OnceAMetro.com
by Ben Schneider on Feb 17, 2012 12:36 PM EST up reply actions
I watched a couple guys play once on the SU quad.
It was an awesome thing to see but I had no idea what was going on.
Captain, there are doubt''s...
by Match Day 5 on Feb 17, 2012 12:59 PM EST up reply actions
see the whole point of my piece is that you don't need to care about such things
Worry about Arsenal. Let Spurs fans worry about Spurs.
I'm also a Leafs fan.
Things could be so, so, so much worse.
In any case, I found many hours of entertainment last night teaching my cat how to play soccer. If I ever figure out an nice and easy way to upload videos from a mobile phone (not sure I want to go to youtube) perhaps I’ll post some of our training for the joy of all.
He’s got pretty good reflexes and getting better at dribbling up and down the hall. Loses control roughly at the same rate as Walcott.
So, apparently I can now be followed.. but no stalking. @alsonamedphil
My dog is too lazy to kick a soccer ball
She in general won’t play. She’s lovable and obedient, but she just won’t do anything…
I only started to follow the EPL about a year ago.
For a while I drifted without any allegiance to a specific team waiting to see which one pulled me in. Since the 8-2 thrashing at Old Trafford and after seeing videos of the supporters there cheering and singing after the game I’ve been an Arsenal supporter. This faithful attitude is what really drew me in and it’s good to see it alive here.
Honest question from a Spurs fan.
Regardless of all the less than perfect results this year, you guys are a fine club. However, with all the upheaval that has been going on with the owners and players leaving, AW has been an anchor on the sideline. Why has there been so much talk about him losing the plot this year? A bit unfair, don’t you think.
Tottenham Hotspurs, Penn State, and Winthrop are the only things that made me cry in my adult life.
by Tottenham Makes Me Cry on Feb 16, 2012 4:29 PM EST reply actions
It is unfair, but that's the nature of every sport everywhere
People look for scapegoats, and managers are both easy to blame from a fan perspective and easy to fire from a board perspective. I certainly think that Wenger has some work to do – his tactics yesterday were shockingly naive and nowhere near what I would have expected – but people that say things like “how is Wenger still employed” and the like on the back of a bad game like yesterday don’t really see the big picture.
Say, for example, Wenger does get fired today. Who would replace him? Is there seriously an available manager out there that is better than Arsene Wenger? I don’t think so. I don’t think this will always be the case, but right now, in the midst of this ridiculous populist WENGER OUT ragesplosion* that seems to be afflicting a non-zero percentage of the fanbase, I can’t see a better alternative out there.
*I’m angry too, I just don’t think firing the manager is the answer
Regardless of the score line
I don’t think Wenger got it completely wrong yesterday. Once you were down 2-0 though, the tactics had to be thrown out.
Wenger head has been called for since a certain match up in Manchester, how long before he says screw all this? Just like with ’arry, after this summer maybe Wenger just decides that the France job is better for his mental health than Arsenal?
Tottenham Hotspurs, Penn State, and Winthrop are the only things that made me cry in my adult life.
by Tottenham Makes Me Cry on Feb 16, 2012 4:48 PM EST up reply actions
It's been on the chopping block well before that game
I believe Wenger’s next job isn’t a managerial position. My money is on an advisory role, probably with a Ligue 1 team (PSG).
"I know you're from Middle America, and sometimes you feel like you're representing more than just a school or a conference, maybe an entire group of American citizens out there."
by Twin Cities Hawk on Feb 16, 2012 4:52 PM EST up reply actions
I meant to say with certain sections of fans, it's been on the chopping block
"I know you're from Middle America, and sometimes you feel like you're representing more than just a school or a conference, maybe an entire group of American citizens out there."
by Twin Cities Hawk on Feb 16, 2012 4:53 PM EST up reply actions
That would be weird to see him as
He’s a good guy to hate and I would miss having my third favorite person to hiss at.
Tottenham Hotspurs, Penn State, and Winthrop are the only things that made me cry in my adult life.
by Tottenham Makes Me Cry on Feb 16, 2012 4:53 PM EST up reply actions
Word on the street is that he might just take up a position as a scouting director at PSG
I don’t think he’ll manage anymore though after Arsenal, especially not with the French national team. He loves to be able to communicate and teach his players on a constant basis, especially the younger kids he brings up. The national team sees it’s whole team only a handful of times a year, and only a few of those players are regular NT starters
UMD Bulldogs: 2011 NCAA DI Men's Hockey Nat'l Champions; 2008 & 2010 NCAA DII Football Nat'l Champions
Bingo
Once you were down 2-0 though, the tactics had to be thrown out.
That’s been an issue with me as far as Wenger goes for many years. He has no Plan B because of an unshakable faith in his Plan A which, to be fair, when it works works fantastically well. It just doesn’t work 100% of the time and he won’t adjust to in-game realities very well in a lot of cases.
Is that a new problem or a common problem?
I haven’t watched enough Arsenal to know if they have that “fighting” spirit.
Tottenham Hotspurs, Penn State, and Winthrop are the only things that made me cry in my adult life.
by Tottenham Makes Me Cry on Feb 16, 2012 5:03 PM EST up reply actions
Chelsea away this year
We were down 1-0, tied it up, down 2-1, tied it up, went up 3-2, they leveled, then we scored two in the final minutes.
It’s there, even within the squad this year. Not sure how to explain last night, though, in terms of their spirit.
"I know you're from Middle America, and sometimes you feel like you're representing more than just a school or a conference, maybe an entire group of American citizens out there."
by Twin Cities Hawk on Feb 16, 2012 5:06 PM EST up reply actions
It has been a problem since the mid 2000's in my opinion
The thing was, it wasn’t ever a gigantic problem because Plan A has always worked very well. But now he doesn’t have the players to execute Plan A to his satisfaction, but he has yet to evolve.
Indeed, it's beyond unfair
There’s a large part of the fanbase that forgets Wenger brought the club back from mediocrity (aside from a couple of titles under Graham). While it’s not healthy to live in the past, it’s also not healthy to assume the man hasn’t a clue how to manage a squad of youthful players.
btw, thank you for the comment.
"I know you're from Middle America, and sometimes you feel like you're representing more than just a school or a conference, maybe an entire group of American citizens out there."
by Twin Cities Hawk on Feb 16, 2012 4:47 PM EST up reply actions
It's a common problem we, over in Spursland are dealing with.
A lot of newer fans showing up and not knowing what it was like before the “good times.” After reading that “horrible” Nick Hornby book, you guys for the most part seem to handle the success well.
I’ll try not to troll too much on this site, but I will do some casual ribbing every now and then.
Tottenham Hotspurs, Penn State, and Winthrop are the only things that made me cry in my adult life.
by Tottenham Makes Me Cry on Feb 16, 2012 4:51 PM EST up reply actions
I shudder to think how good Spurs will be when you ditch the clown and get someone good.
Managing Editor, OnceAMetro.com
by Ben Schneider on Feb 16, 2012 4:58 PM EST up reply actions
What clown?
But if Pep, Guus, AVB, or maybe two or three English managers were truly available…
Tottenham Hotspurs, Penn State, and Winthrop are the only things that made me cry in my adult life.
by Tottenham Makes Me Cry on Feb 16, 2012 5:05 PM EST up reply actions
Redknapp is an idiot.
Spurs have done well the last few seasons in spite of him. If you don’t believe that great players can get you most of the way, all I have to say is: Avram Grant.
Managing Editor, OnceAMetro.com
by Ben Schneider on Feb 16, 2012 5:08 PM EST up reply actions
my condolences
Chuck Norris doesn't need a bat.
he just roundhouse kicks the ball out of the park.
by bearcatcardfan on Feb 16, 2012 5:10 PM EST up reply actions
Before my time, but sad to hear.
My indoctrination began at a Mets-Cubs game in ‘96, I think. And it’s been mostly downhill since then.
Managing Editor, OnceAMetro.com
by Ben Schneider on Feb 16, 2012 5:16 PM EST up reply actions
Uncle Avram had his moments
Tottenham Hotspurs, Penn State, and Winthrop are the only things that made me cry in my adult life.
by Tottenham Makes Me Cry on Feb 16, 2012 5:12 PM EST up reply actions
YES
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
Future Mrs. David Freese ♥
St. Louis Cardinals 2011 World Series Champions
YES?
SBN Bloglist:
The Short Fuse (Arsenal, EPL)
Sactown Royalty (Kings, NBA)
by silverace99 on Feb 17, 2012 11:28 AM EST up reply actions
Boo.
And here I was ready with:
I’ll have what she’s having.
Joke. Ruined.
So, apparently I can now be followed.. but no stalking. @alsonamedphil
You should feel bed.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
Future Mrs. David Freese ♥
St. Louis Cardinals 2011 World Series Champions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
