I’ve always thought that part of the culture of supporting a football team was the banter in the days before and after the match.
Before the match… Who’s injured? Who’s going to play? What formation? Who was good last match and who was crap?
After the match… Who played well? Who wasn’t worth his place? Who should we buy? Etc, etc.

At first, in my younger days, these discussions would have been at school and as I got older in the pub or at other Gooners’ houses. Because we were with other Arsenal supporters any criticism of the team was allowed. We didn’t necessarily agree with each other, but anyone else’s opinions were allowed. Of course, if a rival supporter dared to say anything negative about Arsenal, they were immediately told where to go.

I’ve been supporting Arsenal for 40 years and for various reasons I’m probably not as passionate about them as I used to be (mind you, anyone who knows me might disagree with this statement). It is more difficult to be as passionate for all the reasons that have been well documented before on this site:
1) Almost impossible to feel any rapport with most of the players nowadays
2) Lack of real atmosphere at many games (it used to feel like one for all and all for one… WE are the Arsenal so f**k all the rest)
3) The diving and fart-arsing around that happens in matches
4) Television overkill
5) The ridiculous situation at Chelski and now at Citeh
6) I’m older and have other important things in my life (maybe!)

However, Arsenal is still a huge part of my life. (I’m spending over 1200 quid on a season ticket for a start!). The Gooner website’s forum enables me to share my opinions and read the opinions of others in the “safety” of knowing that we are all devoted to the same thing. We all want Arsenal to be the best (rarely you might get a rival supporter on the forum). That is what a forum is all about. Football brings about lots of different feelings and viewpoints, and it’s good to have somewhere to air them, as well as with your family/mates, etc.

Unfortunately, some people do not seem to understand the concept of a forum and instead of agreeing to disagree with someone’s views, they make ridiculous personal attacks and tell people to f**k off and support someone else. If a rival supporter had a go at Arsenal, then this would be quite valid, BUT on this forum WE ARE ALL ARSENAL SUPPORTERS.

So could those people whose only argument is to tell others to f**k off, please find out what a forum is and then use it appropriately.

Supporting Arsenal at the moment is difficult enough as it is!!!