TFG
It has been a while since I wrote my last piece. The will has been eroded on an almost-weekly basis of late and, with a number of contributions following the end-of-season collapse, I felt that I had very little to add. The game against Aston Villa was, in football terms, agonising, the pain exacerbated by the embarrassing “lap of appreciation”. Looking around me at the swathes of empty seats, I was reminded of my very first piece submitted to The Online Gooner.
Having ventured to make predictions in the early part of the season, I looked back over my thought-process at that time, although there is no desire to trumpet “I told you so”, rather, an unhappy compulsion that the eventual outcome of this season had been signposted both during this campaign and over several previous seasons.
Having critically reviewed all of the articles which I have written, and making mental notes, I found myself constructing my own “end-of-season review”. If I may share the introspective, I have sought out some cathartic release in sharing my hindsight. Accordingly, this piece is heavily populated with links. The intention is not to reiterate all that I have said, but simply to highlight some ideas and to comment where I have felt it appropriate.
Vote this Sunday (5 May 2010)
At the time, I think that a number of people took considerable umbrage to my suggestion of a choreographed walk-out after 80 minutes, during the final home game of the season before last, against Fulham. A year later and not only was the stadium two-thirds empty, but abusive chanting and booing preceded the traditional lap around the pitch.
Arsène Wenger was said to be shocked at a meeting with shareholders during the season before last when, among other accusations, it was suggested that Silvestre was a “geriatric”. The disquiet has magnified considerably since then and it is now hard to argue that the manager and Board could be anything other than acutely aware of the growing resentment. Actions speak louder than words. Expectations, priorities and policies need revision, however painful the process.
Don’t read this if you think it will offend… (11 May 2010)
"The construction of the Emirates Stadium meant that for many years we could not spend a lot of money. Our financial situation has greatly improved. We are finally able to buy the players we think we need."
In response to this explanation from the manager, I asked “What has Arsène Wenger learned from this season? Will he admit that his experiment, whether borne of necessity or singular vision, has at best been only a limited success? Assuming that any financial shackles have been somewhat loosened, who is on his shopping list and who might we no longer need or carry?”
The questions do not seem to have been answered conclusively, and the need for redress is increasing in direct proportion to the dissatisfaction – especially in light of the recent decision to uphold a 6.5% increase in ticket prices.
So, when was the “tipping point”? 16 May 2010
I attempted to analyse the origins in the change of fans’ perception which has largely resulted in a divide of opinion across the spectrum of support. No statistical analysis can definitively explain the recent lack of success, but it appears that Arsene Wenger himself takes more than a passing interest in accumulated data. Notwithstanding the reduction of quality, the table reproduced at the top of this page shows a deficit of 46 players with first team squad involvement until the end of the season before last. Coupled with another statistic which I recently read, suggesting that Arsenal used the fewest number of players in all league games last season, the high incidence of lengthy injury lay–offs becomes more understandable.
Comments made by Ivan Gazidis and by Arsene Wenger respectively shortly before this piece was published are more open to question (if not ridicule) than ever:
“The entire focus of the Club is achieving success on the pitch – that’s what we exist for………Our fans are much more than customers or consumers – they are part of the Club – and the strength of our relationship with our fans will define our strength as a club. We’re deeply engaged with our fans listening to how we can improve their experience and interaction with the Club…”
“We want to improve our quality this summer. It is not necessarily a large number of players that we need to buy but I believe you don't win the title when you concede 40 goals. Leave the transfer business to me and when you come back in July for the Emirates Cup you will see.”
At the conclusion of this season 43 league goals were conceded, many of which would have humiliated Sunday park players. There has been no improvement in final league position and currently rumours persist that more than one established player will leave.
“Arsenalisation” continued (The renaming of the stands and reintroduction of the clock) Part I (31 May 2010)
A historical piece, by way of introduction to a successive piece, which I had not planned to submit three months later! As John Lennon once said, life is what happens to you when you are busy making other plans.
“Arsenalisation” continued (The renaming of the stands and reintroduction of the clock) Part II (31 August 2010)
With reference to the ongoing Premier League Fan Surveys, I highlighted that, “according to survey results, when asked, 73% of fans anticipated that the recession would have at least a moderate impact on their spending over the next 12 to 18 months. However, only 6% thought that it would significantly affect their purchase of tickets, with equally minimal impact upon their spending on football related items/activities over next the 12 to 18 months, compared with the previous 12 months.”
“The average fan within this catchment has been attending games for 17 years, with at least a third going to games for more than 25 years. There is clearly a strategic requirement for clubs to encourage passionate, loyal support in succeeding generations. The F.A. National Fan Survey, conducted at the end of season 2006/2007, may therefore raise a potential concern – if we accept that just 6% of Arsenal fans were 24 or younger (of 24,419 people asked). This represented the second lowest figure, surprisingly or not, behind Chelsea.”
I concluded: “For me, the crux of the matter is this: so far as the Club is concerned, does “Arsenalisation” mean profit maximization or giving the institution back to the fans as true custodians of its traditions? There is an inherent danger of a move towards becoming an almost exclusively corporate organisation and it is my enduring hope that this “Arsenalisation” is not, in fact, a thinly veiled and exploitative venture – rather, the building of infrastructure to make us a truly competitive force with a strong brand and identity for years to come. Otherwise, Arsenal will become a completely sanitised Disneyland of football. Maybe that is what the Boston Consulting Group recommended.”
Now is the time to consider expectations (7 September 2010)
“If nothing has been learned from last season's collapse, it never will be. Whilst other clubs set their own benchmarks, we are again invited to postpone judgment until May.”
“With the definition of success no longer limited merely to silverware, what other successes would constitute a prosperous campaign?
On the pitch, I would consider improvement in the fundamentals a portent of success:
• The ability to concentrate for 90 minutes every game,
• Linked inextricably to concentration, a meaningful reduction in "soft" goals conceded,
• Better management of injuries (although I recognise that luck, referees and the integrity of opponents make this unlikely),
• Sad as it is to have to ask, 100% commitment throughout the squad. There are individuals who are content to coast, whilst others strain themselves - quite literally - to maintain a standard,
• Team selection based on form, rather than hierarchy,
• Evidence of less profligacy in front of goal - for the sake of a pass when a shot is clearly on.”
