Friday, 24 October 08, 02:02 AM
Quite a lot to get through this morning so let's go for it.
The AGM took place yesterday with shareholders and supporters groups present as the club gave its presentation. Some of the main issues in bullet points:
There was more and I'll come to that in a little bit. The main bit from a fan's point of view is the manager's call for more support for the team. He said to those attending the AGM:
You are all very quiet, a little bit like the game on Saturday. It is a recession mood, but it will not last, do not worry. Instead of showing resentment, we have to believe in our team, more than ever because this team will deliver.
But the younger you are, the more you need support and the belief in the quality of these young players. I ask you as well to be proud of them and to show your support. At the moment I do not feel that either from the media or our supporters that this team gets the support that it deserves.
In black and white those are fairly strong words but I'm told Arsene was very passionate when delivering them, not angry or anything like it. I think the headlines saying Wenger has 'attacked' or 'lambasted' the fans are well over the top. Typical media shit stirring, of course.
I don't think too many fans would argue that atmosphere in the ground could improve at times, especially when the team is losing. I touch on this in the Arsecast but there's a level of expectation built by the manager that makes it hard when you're losing to Hull for people to sing and shout. And I think there's probably a lack of belief in the team at times. It's easier to get behind the side when you know they're capable of turning a game around. Perhaps this team is suffering a bit because of that, we're not sure if they can.
Anyway, the manager wants more from the fans, the fans want more from the players. We all want more - but sometimes you have be a giver before you can be a taker. I think that's the message anyway. The AST have backed the manager's calls, saying:
We believe that through the use of giveaways such as red and white scarves, better music and using the scoreboard that the club and fans could improve the atmosphere.
Wenger himself should appeal to the fans for more support. As his performance at today's AGM demonstrated he is passionate and persuasive about his players.
It's an interesting debate and one that I think everyone is going to have a view on. Even the most passionate fans in the world sit on their hands when their team is losing, look at how quiet it went in Turkey the other night, but it would be great if the Grove was louder and more passionate at times. There was a voicemail during the week for the Arsecast which I didn't have time to include on this week's show talking about how away fans were allowed to stand and jump around whereas home fans are more strictly 'stewarded' by the club. Something worth discussing? Remember your thoughts on this or any other matter are always welcome on the Arsecast hotline - details below.
Anyway, there's more on the AGM in today's Arsecast.
In other news Robin van Persie says Eduardo's return is vital and that we need the Crozilian back. I maintain if he hadn't been injured last season we'd have won the league. Obviously we may need to give him time to get himself sorted once he starts playing again. Will he be affected by the injury physically and mentally? Arsene has been talking a lot about what a strong character he is so fingers crossed he can find his shooting boots as quickly as possible. I'm looking forward to seeing him back.
Team news ahead of West Ham sees Gallas and Toure fit again but Sagna's return will not happen until the midweek game against Sp*rs.
Dennis Bergkamp wants to come back to Arsenal and be a coach.
*creams pants*
Watching that interview there on the BBC makes me all wistful and somewhat teary. I love Dennis. Why couldn't he have just stayed 29 forever? WHY?
Right then, today's Arsecast. On the show I chat to Tim Payton of the AST about the AGM, he was there, and we cover stuff like the finances, the property side of things, our wage bill, Kroenke, Usmanov, Arsene's plea for more support and a book handed out by the AST called 'Custodianship at Arsenal'. It's interesting stuff.
As well as that there's a player history from the Man in the Bar and Sylvester reflects upon his debut.
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Right so, that's that. More in the mañana.
Thursday, 23 October 08, 01:31 AM
It's dark these mornings, isn't it? And I bet the clocks are going back/forward soon and it'll be even darker. Is that happening this weekend actually? Stupid time.
A bit of a quickie this morning. We'll start with Theo who says that other teams will be scared of playing Arsenal after seeing us lash five past Fenerbache. You might even suggest that Fenerbache were a bit scared after seeing us stick four past Porto. Theo also reckons the European win will help us focus when it comes to the league, saying:
It definitely does help because the Premier League is important as well. We always want to play well whatever game we play, but we are just looking at every game as it comes, not getting ahead of ourselves and that's all we can do really.
I can't help but think that another Blackburn type performance in the league would do a lot more for us than the European wins. That one game aside we haven't really put anyone to the sword in the Premier League and a good thumping of someone would send a nice message out.
Emmanuel Adebayor talks about winning the Champions League and improving on last season's performance. Perhaps it's a bit premature to talk about winning it just yet. There are plenty of games we need to concentrate on before we get down to the nitty gritty of Europe.
We've got two vital London derbies coming up in the space of three days. West Ham away on Sunday then Sp*rs at home on Wednesday evening. What we've done in Europe thus far is now irrelevant and all the focus must be on those two games. Adebayor will, I suppose, have a big part to play. He has replaced Robert Pires in as much as he's taken over the mantle of the bloke who always scores against Sp*rs. In his relatively short Arsenal career he's scored 6 goals against them so far and with his form a bit patchy so far this term he could do with a big goal or two in the next couple of games.
Arsenal's AGM takes place today with Stan Kroenke expected to attend. There's no word yet as to whether or not the disgusting, fat, Man United supporting Jabba the Hut looking cunt will be there but I'd be surprised. After the usual presentation there's a Q&A session with the floor being opened up to shareholders. The manager is usually in attendance and I suspect today there might well be some difficult questions regarding the spending, or lack of, during the summer.
As always I'll endeavour to bring you an AGM report tomorrow and hopefully there'll be some coverage in tomorrow's Arsecast as well.
Not much else happening so I'll leave it there for today. Told you it was a quickie.