Alex Steine
“Imagine no Invincibles.
No 49ers, why?
No 'Doubles' to boast of.
Just mindless pundits on Sky.
Imagine all the Gooners,
grieving for yesterday.
Imagine there's no countries,
sending their best one or two.
No European competitions,
and no star men too.
Imagine all the Gooners,
bleating into their fleece.
I would say you're only dreamers,
playing with a pop gun.
Wishing to still be at Highbury.
Dreaming of being number one.
Imagine there'd been no Arsene.
No Dein, Ivan or Stan.
No need for Suarez or Higuain.
Above us City/United of Man.
Imagine all the Gooners,
sharing equality with Sperz.
You may say I'm a dreamer,
but I'm not the only one.
I hope some day you'll join us,
and AFC will be as one.”
This is just a response to yesterday’s article, not really the other side of the same coin, but a different take on our situation. Still as a self-appointed aficionado of the Beatles and John Lennon I couldn't allow for the disservice done to 'Nowhere Man', apologies Joe. The point is this, I think much of everyday existence is a straight line thought process. I want new garden furniture, so I shall get some. 'A' to 'B'. Simple and succinct. We demand, we expect. We pay the price so give us what we want. This is where dissension occurs because sometimes that contract of exchange is out of kilter. People perceive it's a little, or a lot out of balance. It's then that the problems arise. Divisions arise and our fan base and society is split, between the 'little or lot' perception. I had a friend who lost his job, and when listing his requirements asked if what he wanted would be considered too much. He'd mentioned house, car, TV, meal out, football on telly, holiday... I told him no, but to never ask the question in Ethiopia. The point is that people expect different things and once voiced woe betide anyone who suggests otherwise because the frustrations are transferred onto the other party.
I recognise the fracture in the club as the two factions of, those for and those against a change of manager. How the two sides imagine themselves as a percentage is anyone's guess, but probably both think they are in the majority - if proven otherwise it is because others aren't wise or courageous enough to follow their lead. The harking back to the 'old days' is a red herring. People are always people and will react to outside stimuli, so the giants of yesteryear would be very similar to today's players in mentality, and guess what? The fans of the 'olden days football' would soon begin behaving like today's wilful, and perhaps negligent young. Times change, and people's behaviour with them, it is happening constantly, and will continue to do so.
The unhealthy aspect of the symptoms displayed in AFC's current polarisation is that the side wanting change are like a dog with a bone. They rail at circumstance and are met with an alternative view. Then it just seems to go around and around. For example, I do not want a change of manager. Someone asks why and I say because of this and that. The discussion becomes a debate, then heated. Along the way veiled barbs are delivered, and why? Due to a difference of opinion. If I am anywhere and a person says 'should we change the manager?', I would say no and offer reasons. I would not expect rudeness because then I would disengage. Nobody tells me which team to support, which player is the best or the worst, or when we should or should not change the manager. I make these decisions, for myself, based on clear evidence before me and my interpretation of such! I offer politeness and courtesy, I expect, no, demand, the same in return, or the conversation ceases. Isn't that a template for all of us?
There is no respite, sadly. Those disgruntled, drawing on times past, grass being greener on the other side, and their infinite grasp of the underlying problem and how to dispense with it, is here to stay. It is a malaise of today, and sadly, as I said, it isn't going away anytime soon.
