UNTOLD ARSENAL

Transforming yourself is important.  You feel down, but you have to go out and play football or sell computers or write wonderful pieces of literature - so you have to reinvent yourself - and then those around you.

The master at this art is Mr Leavy at Tottenham Hotspur.   The masters at not doing this are most Arsenal supporters.

Tottenham are now created as the Team of the Future who will win things this year, and march forward into a new stadium.  Arsenal are the failures of the present, unable to mount a sustained challenge for anything, doomed to an eternity of nothingness.

If we just pause and compare Tottenham’s plans for a new 60,000 capacity ground, with Arsenal’s there are some interesting points to note.

Tottenham’s great achievements of the past few years are a League Cup win, and getting planning permission for a training ground.  Oh and they also got into Europe 3 times, and sacked the managers who did it.

When Arsenal proposed the move to the Ems, they did so on the back of quite a bit of success (I won’t bore you with details of doubles and things) and quite a bit of research.  For example, in order to prove that they could fill the Ems they played Euro games in Wembley for 2 years - and packed it with 75,000 supporters.

They got planning permission, and then worked with the local transport system to improve access to the ground.

They also worked on the basis that if they got 50,000 average to each home game, and played in the Champs League once in every four years, they could pay the mortgage.

Tottenham have not done this sort of work - no point using Wembley because they don’t play in the Champs League.  No point building a “Champs League once every four years” in because they don’t ever play in the Champs League.

Arsenal paid for the ground on mortgage loans - like you and I pay for our houses.  This is money at low fixed rates of interest.  It is hard to get - and Arsenal only got the current deal after showing the lenders after one year that they could fill the ground for every game. So even with all Arsenal’s research and success they still had to play in front of full houses for a year, to get the terrific deal they now have.

And that was before the credit crunch.  Mr Levy of course will have none of that - simply because he can’t have any of that - there is no cheap mortgage money around for something as speculative as a new Tottenham groud.   His stadium will be paid for using “sponsorship” money.

So what about transport?  Arsenal has 3 underground stations serving it - and still permission for the ground went down to the very last health and safety meeting.  Tottenham meanwhile is a notoriously awful ground to get to.   And remember planning permission will only be granted if the police and safety authorities think that 60,000 nutters can be moved in and out of the area safely.

But the question the finance people will ask is exactly the same as Arsenal.  Will they get 60,000 for each game?   Tottenham says yes, because they have a waiting list of 20,000 people for season tickets.  I find that hard to believe, but let’s give them the benefit of that.   I think I am right in saying that the current ground has 22,000 season tickets, so that would mean that they could sell about 35,000 seasons for the ground (some always vanish when it is time to pay up).  But that would then leave them with no waiting list - so as fans drift away (for example after a poor season) they would not be selling out.

And then, how much of the remaining 25,000 would they sell each week?

A few years ago, during my divorce, I had to give up my season ticket as part of what we middle class divorcees like to call “financial restructuring”, and since then I’ve used my 2 silver memberships at Arsenal.   But I went back on the season ticket waiting list in 2000, and I am still waiting.  Even after much of the waiting list was removed by moving to the Ems I am still waiting.

I suspect that Tottenham in the EPL could get 40,000 a week, although in the Championship they would probably be closer to 30,000, dropping to 20,000 if it wasn’t going well or they were playing Barnsley.

And they are trying to do this in a very difficult market.

But what is so clever about it is that an away draw against a team whose supporters think they are having a naff season, and the announcement of an idea (the stadium is nothing more than that - the money is not in place, nor is the planning permission) is cleverly transformed into a reason to be cheerful.   The fact is that the ground is unlikely ever to be built, because no one is likely to lend them the money, and the transport system in that part of London is awful.

But even if they did, they wouldn’t fill it, and so they wouldn’t be able to pay for it.

So they would go bust, and vanish from the horizon - possibly emerging as TH (2009) Ltd, with a 10 point deduction and no new stadium.   I personally welcome this and so hope that they do build the new stadium as quickly as possible.

At Arsenal, total financial stability, the best ground in the country, sell-outs at every game, and a stunning young team results in moaning and groaning.

We, the Arsenal supporters, have done this.  We’ve written our team down, claimed disaster, said its all over.  Now the team themselves are doing it.

All that happened was that we drew with Tottenham.

That’s not disaster or the end of the world.  It’s simply a draw with Tottenham.  We’ve had them before and the world didn’t end.  (At least I don’t think it did).

I started this blog as an experiment just around a year ago.  The experiment being to see if anyone was interested in following a different sort of approach to commenting on Arsenal - one that backed Wenger, covered issues that others didn’t bother about too much, including the financial background, and which maybe included a spot of humour.

The blog now has a monthly audience of between 50,000 and 60,000 people - that is 50-60,000 people read at least two pages of the blog each month.

I’ve only just begun to realise that this is quite a significant number - somehow I imagined that all the other blogs were getting 250,000 a month, and I, as the new kid on the block, was gradually picking up the pace.

Turns out Untold Arsenal is fairly much up there with the big boys - and getting an audience that others are quite interested in.

Obviously I write this blog for fun - and the fun is quadrupled by the comments I get in - both to the blog itself and directly to me.     It really does mean a lot when there are compliments - and I take note of the criticisms too - although the racist abuse I could do without.

Anyway, I’m writing this for two reasons.  One is because, as Bob Dylan would have said, in the aftermath of last night’s game, “I need something strong to distract my mind”.

The other is because I am looking to see if there are any other related projects that could sit alongside this blog.

One thing that is on the way is a book about the end of Woolwich Arsenal and the move to Highbury.   I don’t think there is anything around that is detailed on this topic (it is obviously covered in passing by all histories of the club, but the real detail is missing).   The research is more or less done, and I’m really into the book itself now - it should be available next year.  (Incidentally if you do know of a book that covers that period in detail do let me know.)

That’s easy for me, because I earn my living as a writer.   But I’m also looking for anything else that could be associated with the web site.  This is not to say I am going to turn this into a full-scale shop - the whole point of the blog is that it is a blog.   But rather, instead of just having a couple of ads that lots of other blogs have on their site, I’d like to try and have different things, things that are original and which reflect the “difference” of this blog.

So, if you have anything that is not widely avaialble elsewhere and you are looking to market it, please do write to me (Tony at Hamilton-House.com).  I won’t be coming back and saying, “fine - you can advertise here, the cost is ££££”, but rather talking about a commission on sales or something like that.

Here’s one idea I have had: t-shirts with slogans on that are 100% different from what everyone else has.  I don’t have any background in t-shirt manufacture, but if you do, maybe we could talk.

Or indeed if you have an idea which you haven’t yet started bringing to market, we could talk about that, if you felt able to share it with someone you don’t know.

Overall, what I am trying to say is this.  Readers have kindly said over time that this blog is unusual and different.  So what I am thinking is - let’s go further.  Let’s try and develop not just a blog, but some products that are different and unusual, and which might appeal to Arsenal fans.   This site would then become the home of Arsenal seen from a different point of view.

Therefore just a simple rule: if the product (or something very much like it) is already sold in the Arsenal shops or on-line, that’s probably not what I am after.  But if it really is different, then maybe some of the readers here (who by definition like an approach that is a bit different from the norm) might like to buy them.

If you think that I’ve finally lost it, gone over the top and disappeared up my own backside, then fine - you are not alone in that point of view.  But if you see what I am rambling on about, and you have an idea, do drop me a line.

Many thanks for reading.  Last night was a bugger, but its nothing that a 16-0 victory against Stoke and a few glasses of red wine can’t put right.

This is not the only day I have felt bad about football.  Like when we lost to Wrexham in the Cup - I can still remember the feeling the next morning.  Took me days to get over that.

Or when we lost 6-1 to Manchester Bankrupt (or Manchester U as they were known in those days).   We were (I think) 1-1 after Henry scored, and then it fell apart, with Grimandi desperately being pulled out of all positions and having no central support.   Apparently Wenger went utterly spare at half time - and I suspect he did as well last night.

I felt just as bad when we lost at home to Leeds, and so lost the title.   That turned out to be one game before the start of the 49 run as far as I remember (contrary to popular belief I don’t sit at work surrounded by my Arsenal handbooks so I can’t look it up).

Strangely I had a similar-ish feeling when we drew 2-2 with Bolton in the Unbeaten Season itself.   Bolton were playing a terrible game of rotational fouling and Fat Sam was on the touchline just below my place, screaming as his players to get stuck in.

So, last night, it was the same.  Great joy turning to terrible sorrow - and the lovely article which I thought was a real scream having to be scrapped.

It was stupid playing - Clichy buggering about and falling over, Eboue thumping the ball up the field from whence it came back straight away.  You remember how Henry used to take the ball into the corner flag and hold it there - where’s that gone?

But on the positive side -

a) we have no problem scoring goals

b) we do have a solid midfield and defence

c) Almunia had a really bad time of it, but that is rare - he is a good keeper who has saved us over and over again.

d) What we lack is discipline and organisation - and if there is something that Wenger can instil in players in discipline and organisation.

So when it comes down to it, what we lacked was discipline and organisation, and those can be instilled.  Maybe it needs a bollocking and a half.  Maybe it needs a new captain.  I don’t know, but then I am not the manager.   But I can tell you, it is much better to be in this position than in a situation in which the obvious answer is that we should be buying a new team.

What we, as supporters, have to do is accept that we drew, try not to look at the league table for a moment, and ensure that we give them everything against Stoke, and then have another celebration of football in the Euro League.

In a couple of weeks time Eduardo will be back in the squad, possibly playing as a sub in the Wigan league cup game, possibly being a sub in a subsequent league game.

Either way, assuming none of the others gets injured in the meanwhile this will be our forward situation

Adebayor, Van Persie, Eduardo, Bendtner, Vela

With as backups: Walcott, Diaby (I still have to keep watching the video of the match in Turkey to believe it, but yes, there he was).

This is, by any stretch of the imagination an amazing collection of players - although it was interesting that last summer a number of commentators wanted us to buy MORE forwards on the grounds that

Adebayor was leaving, van Persie was always injured, Bendtner just wasn’t up to it (I know one moment doesn’t make a player but the pass from B. to A. for the second goal against WHU was a wonderful moment), Vela was unproven, Theo wasn’t a centre forward, Eduardo might not come back at all, and who is Diaby.

The problem is keeping everyone happy. Before the assault on Eduardo he was looking brilliant, scoring some extraordinary goals, and complementing Adebayor perfectly.

And now?

It will mean that from December onwards we can rotate players much more than ever before, and as and when Adebayor hits a non-scoring period we let him sit it out. But whereas Vela and Bendtner would have expected the leading role in the league cup they might not get it.

It certainly is fortunate that we didn’t go out and buy yet more forwards. And indeed the same could be said to be an emerging truth with the midfield - the ceaseless demand for one or two midfielders now looks a little misplaced with Denilson and Song both able to slot in next to Cesc, and Rosicky now scheduled to return in December. Bishchoff is making progress, and there has been wonderful contributions from Ramsey and Wilshere.

And then there is Diaby.  When I saw him, before the assault at Sunderland, I thought he was a magnificent, natural centre midfielder, but when he returned from injury he never quite seemed to have it.  I feared the worst for him after another injury at the start of this season - and that just shows what little I know.   The way he is at the moment, if Cesc got injured you could probably play Diaby alongside Denilson and have a very effective central midfield pairing.

You know, I think this is looking quite jolly.

There are two interesting reports doing the rounds today.  One is that the FA have put out a statement about chanting by Nottm Forest fans against Dave Jones who is manager of Cardiff City.  It says, “We strongly condemn any chanting which contains foul and abusive language or is of a homophobic or discriminatory nature.”  They say they are gathering information.

Then there is the story that the Scottish FA has warned Rangers that points will be docked if there is more inappropriate chanting by their supporters.   By this they mean the Famine Song which is about the Irish potato famine of the 1840s and includes the line “The famine is over, why don’t you go home?”

George Peat, the SFA’s president, is talking with the SPL and the police.

Uefa have already punished Rangers for the supporters’ “poor conduct” at Villarreal.

Now let us turn to the action by the police, UEFA, the EPL, Portsmouth FC, and the FA in relation to the appalling behaviour by Tottenham supporters at Portsmouth.   Here it is…

(Quiet isn’t it).

Making some sort of sense of what these Tiny Tott characters say can be a bit of a time-consuming job. Indeed I’ve been working at it all day and I still can’t quite make it work.

Mr Daniel Levy, that jolly nice fellow-me-lad who “runs” (I use the word lightly) one of the more minor footballing clubs in the north of London, said this..”We have achieved too much over the last seven years… to allow this to be overtaken and thrown away overnight.”

So, seven years worth of achievement.   That must be…Well fortunately Mr Levy gives us some clues.  It includes 3 entries into the European Diddly widdly cup for clubs what don’t quite make it into the Champs League (like Milan).  Winning the UK cup for reserve teams, which the Tiny Totts cheat at by putting out their first team (and then holding wild all-night parties because their first team manages to beat our under 9s team in the semis).  Oh yes, and training centre planning permission.

I kid you not - Mr Levy actually quoted “training centre planning permssion” as one of the “achieved so much” things worth noting.So there you have it - 3 trips to Europe, winning the Little Cup, and planning permission for a training centre.   That’s it in seven years.  It is success.

All except one little thing.  It is a detail and I hardly dare mention it, but just for completeness you understand I thought I really ought to add.   You see, the jolly fellow under whose leadership most of this happened - the Euro qualifications, the building of the team capable of beating Arsenal’s children, and so forth - was Martin Jol.  And he was sacked by… Mr Levy.

Anyway, makes you think about Arsenal’s achievements over the same period.   Unbeaten Season, that sort of thing.   Still better not boast.

Police services report that most of North London is now back to normal following a night of disturbances.  A senior officer at the Met apologised to local residents and said that his officers were taken by surprise.

“Two sets of celebrations took place at once, and we really hadn’t expected it,” said DCI Yard, of the Yard.   “On the one hand there was a bunch of supporters of one of the smaller football clubs in the metropolis celebrating the fact that their club had reached Derby’s total of wins, as established last season.

“Unfortunately this event coincided with the annual Sack a Manager Day in north London.  A lot of people got rather excited by this, even though it is a very regular event,” said Mr Yard.

He also assured those living locally that there will be more police on the streets next October when “our ‘Ary” is shown the door.

Elsewhere with round about one quarter of the season gone we can reflect on the curious finding that only one of the Big Three clubs is in the top three - CSKA Fulham.   The other two places being taken by clubs that have never won the EPL: Liverpool Insolvency and Hull.

Arsenal are above Manchester Bankrupt (and will stay above them even if the Bankrupts win their game in hand), one point behind Chelsea and four behind Liverpool I.  With 75% of the games still to go it is not too bad a position.

Considering the multiple grindings of the teeth and general fedupness of Arsenal supporters throughout the summer, where the demands were for the signing of 2387 mid-fielders and another five strikers, Arsenal have managed to leave out players such as Van Persie in Turkey, and Denilson and Adebayor in the east end, and still get results.   With the return not just to fitness but to form of Diaby, and with Eduardo, Bishcoff and Rosicky yet to play at all this season, the flexibility of the team is looking reasonable.  What’s more Ramsey, Vela and Wilshere are all just slowly emerging, and have much more to give.

There is a story that Eduardo is going to come on as a sub in the diddly widdly cup against Wigan, which should add to the fun.  Bischoff is playing in the reserves, and is now up to playing a full game, and Rosicky should be seen again after Xmas.

In fact rather than there being a shortage of players, it now looks as if there are too many.  Still the situation of that rather amusing Mr Bentley should be quite a lesson to one or two of the more excitable junior members of the squad who might think of leaving if they don’t get to play every weekend.

(Isn’t life just that little bit nicer when we beat the little London teams?)