Arsenal Till I Die

 

Im sure that I have bored most of you who frequent the Back Bencher before home games last season with tales of great nights at Highbury. But to put you in the loop, I think I know more about the Arsenal than most other supporters, and from talking to fans of other teams, im pretty sure that I know more about there clubs than they do. English football only allows us to belong to one team. I never got a choice with my team. as my late father used to say to me " If I was born when my big sister was (June 71), he would of named me from 1-11 of that amazing Arsenal team that won the double that year. My mother wouldnt of been to happy about it, but dad was a die hard.

 

Were all real supporters of our teams, but I guess its to what level you would descirbe your support your team. I was with Arsenal through the terrible times in the 80s, when the team was crap, and played route 1 football of by passing the midfield, and hoofing it straight up the big centre forward, and defending like crazy a one nill lead.

 

Then Stroller Graham turned up, and the team although sticking to the one nill to the Arsenal theory of the past, started to play better football. Sure the defence was rock solid, and used to put there arms up in there sleep!, but the players changed. Passers, like the late great Rocky Rocastle, Thomas, Limpar, Marwood and alike, and ever journo said that Arsenal were a one dimensional team.

 

Then after George was a silly, silly man over the Pal Lydersen affair, and Bruce Rioch was dumped by the board, we got Arsene Who?, none of us on the North Bank could believe that we were getting a Frenchie, who been in all places Japan, managing an ageing Linekar at Grampus 8. But at first we werent impressed by him, but then in his first full season the trohphies started coming, and the play changed. Sure the majority of the team were the same, but the place had changed, and so had the attiudes of the senior players at the club. Wenger got so much more out of Adams than anyone else would of been able to get from a player that was young in years, but old as  a drunk. Personally, I would of been ok if the board had sacked Wenger after the cup final defeat of Newcastle, with us 2-0 up, he could of and should of brought on Wrighty to say goodbye to his beloved fans. But Wenger didnt, and this would still to this day be the question that I would love to ask him.

 

The team now bears no resembalance to the 70s or 80s, apart from the style that players like Van Persie have that remind us older fans of players like Liam Brady, who was 20 years ahead of his time, and its ironic that Wenger has him as the head of the youth academy, as he understands that you have to bring player through to love the club, and to be proud of the heritgae that has gone before them.

 

Its funny that all the big name players that have departed all have said quite openly that Arsenal will always be a major part of there lives, with the execption of Anelka! But Henry, Petit, Overmars, Bergkamp and many others regually express there love for the place and for the fans that love and worship them.

 

I dont see to many of the current lot doing what Adams, Oleary and Rice have done by serving one club for there enitre careers. I would like to think that Cesc and Kolo will, but who knows as the game now is alot different from when these legends started, and loyalty to one club seems to last about 4 or 5 seasons. Maybe with the execption of Giggs at Utd.

 

Honestly, if we make the Champions league final, it will be a long trip to Moscow, but one that I would undertake with pride, and to all you other fans out here. Its a trip that we should all make together.

 

I think its ashame that we devalued the FA Cup to play a reduced side, but ask Wenger honestly what priorty he puts on each competition, and he would say that same as Fergie, Raffa, and Avaram. The league 1st, The Chapions league 2nd, The FA Cup 3rd, The Carling Cup 4th. I kind of agreee with him, but to me there is no day in the English football calendar as FA Cup 3rd round day. I love the fact that some prem team is going to get whipped by a total allso ran team from the 2nd division of the Coke Championship or worse! Yes, I was there when Wrexham did us, that really was the most horrendous journey home that night. There have been others like York City on the slopping pitch with them beating Lukic in a last minute penalty. But every prem team has been there. Even Utd lost at Bournemouth and Sutton doing the then cup holders Coventry in 1988. Even I guess The Crazy Gang beating the Culture Club in the final was a day that will never be reapeated in my humble view.

 

The game is now about money, and making stacks of it. The fun may well of gone, and the clubs may well be exploting there hard pushed fans for every penny they can. But we all as fans will still pay the money, and buy the shirts, becasue we all have a love for our teams, yes even you new Chelsea fans, who only support them becasue that had a winning team. You lot are the ones that the clubs really want, as your trying to buy your way to supporting them, and your always trying to prove how much you love them. The real fans remember the bad old days, when Chelski couldnt buy a goal, and they used to sit in the newest stand in England, made out of corragated iron and plastic.

 

Anyway guys and girls. Whatever team you have choosen to support, learn about them, know there great players of days gone by, compare them to todays players, look at the differences between how the club was viewed then to what they are now, and we as Premier league supporters, should always remember that were just one bad season from dropping out of the most lucrative league in the world.

 

See you all next season for more laughs, tears, passion and pride at Phoenix home games.

 

Ciao

 

Dean 

 

This was a man who inspired me as a youngster. The way he changed his game after his injury, so that hit 40 yard passes instead of running at people which was his trade mark.

 

DAVID ROCASTLE, LONG MAY YOUR NAME BE CHANTED BY US WHO WERE PRIVALLAGED TO SEE YOU PLAY. Oh Rocky, Rocky, Rocky Rocky Rocky Rocky Rocky Rocastle. Gone but never forgotten.

This is an English football forum. Sure there is an Arsenal thread, but if Dean wants to say something specific, then he is more than welcome to start a new topic to say it. No point burying it in the current arsenal thread when all he wants to do is share his passion with everyone.

 

Here is some constructive criticism for you Jose, if the topic has Arsenal in the title, don't read it, your not going to like it regardless.