Where are we after almost a decade of this?

The hype is an important factor in the decline of the game. It gets tired. Watching so-called super stars being very, very ordinary. Dull.

I lost interest a long time ago too in finishing 4th, but its now become one of simple practicality, thats all there is too it:


1) We need to pay off the stadium debt asap - CL footie increases the revenue

2) We need to keep Jack Wilshere for as long as possible - CL footie should be the bare minimum for a player like him

3) We need to attract good players - CL footie retains some attraction

4) We need to lay a foundation for the next manager - so he can have something to work with


So debt, Wilshere, attraction, foundation. DWAF. Thats where we are after almost a decade of no progress, bar 2 finals and the odd rare title challenge unfortunately, just trying to stop it from becoming worse rather than moving forward at the moment.


The football holds little interest while we are in this long-term state, because in reality we all seem to be in a long term wait for the next manager. AW has basically become the caretaker manager for now, keeping things ticking along before we can move to the next level again.


Theres no guarantee that a new manager will be successful, but its hard to deny that a change/refresh, some new ideas in terms of tactics, motivation, defensive organisation all over the pitch has been needed for some time. I don't know how many more times I can take seeing oppo players sprinting though our middle or having acres of space to dribble/pick out passes with no one closing them down as a team, covering spaces and working together to press. Remember Wilshere at Chelsea closing down with his arms wide asking for help, and no one could be bothered? Remember Rooney sprinting through the middle and Denilson casually jogging back? Its been happening for years and its still happening. It happened yesterday as well against West Brom.

As awful as it is to admit it, and even though he has lucked out on Bale who has won many games on his own this season, its the difference between Redknapp and AVB, who seems to have learnt his lesson from the arrogance and trying to change things too quickly, upsetting the old boys club at Chelsea (although they have their share of the blame as well).

Gallas admitted in an interview that Redknapp was very attack minded, and AVB was more tactical, studying the opponents more closely and reflecting it on the training pitch. It seems to be working for now at least, thats the type of change I'm talking about.

where are we? nowhere. a big shiny stadium with fuck all to show for it.

this is not the club i grew up loving.

Yeah I don't think people should be criticised when they say they can't get excited about us finishing 4th. Yes, getting one over Tottenham does mean something, but in the wider scheme of things it just highlights how far we have fallen that all we have to look forward to every season is St Totteringham's Day. The football on display has been distinctly mediocre as well, while in the past, even though we made horrendous cock-ups defensively and faded as the season reached its climax, there was still some outstanding football to look forward too (07-08 and 09-10 are the best examples). This season, we are predictably out of all cup competitions before April but also our football is pretty boring as well. Watching us resorting to hoof the ball forward against WBA was painful. I know we had 10 men, but Arsenal teams of 8 years ago would show much more composure, but I guess this is what happens when you sell of all the players with winning mentalities.