Permanent Revolution or Eternal Continuity?
By Tony Attwood
Some fans, it appears, like change. Lots of change. Lots and lots and lots of change.
As long as it is the right sort of change, bringing forth trophies and the like. Some like continuity, perhaps seeing the longer term picture. So it goes.
Some change of course is welcomed by few. Change in the model of Liverpool circa 2007, for example, where the promise of a new stadium and a championship winning team turned out not only to be false, but a way of using up vast amounts of money without actually reaching any end, is generally not wanted. But at the time of the promises it appeared good.
So it was interesting to consider the bid for Arsenal which would wipe out the stadium debt and put vast amounts of money into Mr Wenger’s hands. Generally speaking it was seen as
a) true – there was lots of money out there and the middle eastern states are throwing it around in the longest run-up the World Cup has ever seen.
b) not of the Liverpool variety but of the Manchester City variety.
There is actually nothing to say that the bid for Arsenal was real and true, apart from the word of the Daily Telegraph, the newspaper that (in a manner that it did not explain) got the exclusive.
I began to wonder about the truth of the story of the massive investor from the Far East when I read the bit in the story that said, to paraphrase, this is the only chance Arsenal have. No deal now, and you will never see this amount of money available again.
The implication was that Arsenal were on the slide, and this was the last chance saloon. This deal won’t pass this way again.
It seemed to me a little odd to speak in that way, in that in the modest number of negotiations I have been involved in that’s not quite how it is done – at least not publicly. Of course this may have been a different type of offer, but even so it struck me as odd. If, as the Telegraph suggested, a deal of this magnitude would not be there in the future, for in the future Arsenal under its present leadership would spiral downwards and thus be worth a lot less money, then why not wait a bit and pick up the club on the cheap.
In other words, why not let the club slip into mid-table obscurity (where it has after all spent much of its existence, apart from during the Wenger era) and then pick it up for a lower amount, and have more to spend on new players. After all surely a lot of managers would be willing to take on the club with such a heritage, and rescue it (with a war chest of billions) from its spiral into decay.
So in one sense the deal didn’t quite add up.
And then there was the speed at which the story vanished from the Telegraph’s web site and indeed from everywhere else. For such a major story it did indeed go away incredibly quickly, and now there is little left of the story. They came, they saw, they made their bid public, and then they buggered off at high speed.
In fact the life span of the story was rather like that of most transfer stories that we come across, and as we know, most of them are fantasy.
As for Arsenal, the revolution has come, and gone. Which leaves the question, was it ever real? And if it wasn’t real, what was the point?
Presumably the point was to destabilise the club a little, turn more fans against the current ownership, and all just before a fairly important game. In that regard it probably did quite a good job, for I have read precious little saying, “what happened to that story?”
But having done a good job, there is every chance that there will be other takeover stories of the same type around. After all we never quite knew who was proposing the bid, there was no back-up evidence… in fact everything was set in such a way that it made the Arsenal owner and directors appear in a poor light for not even entering into negotiations. If Arsenal quickly return to the sort of power it had in the first half of the Wenger reign, the story will be forgotten. If not the directors and manager will be blamed for letting the golden apple of the sun slip away.
But there is more, for the attempted coup also had the effect of contrasting the stability of Arsenal, with its long term manager and provision for the future in terms of the stadium, and Chelsea with its approach which has many of the hallmarks of constant revolution.
Now there is something to be said for the thesis that by and large the philosophy of Trotsky rules in some football clubs.
While the approach of endless, endless change has found no base at the Emirates, at Stamford Bridge it is blooming. For here the constant reform through the replacement of one manager and much of his back room team by another manager and cohorts has become a way of existence. Interestingly this is supported by many Chelsea fans who are calling for the current regime to end sooner rather than later. Hence the story of a takeover at Chelsea would have had little impact, because change at Chelsea is endless.
So at Chelsea Jose Mourinho could be hailed as the new and old hero. But Trotskyism had two aims and at Chelsea they end up as two paradoxes: to create an established organisation that thrives on constant revolution, and to represent the needs of the supporters (workers). But if you measure Chelsea’s managers under the present dictatorship by success in terms of games won, endless revolution has given the fans three of the least successful managers of the current era out of the last four.
But the problem with constant revolution is that it can be bring chaos, often when stability is needed, especially if the owner moves from one extreme (the hopelessly unpopular manager) to the other (an incredibly popular manager) – a hero of the masses. In that case, Zola for Chelsea fits the bill. Or maybe Gus Poyet (although connections with Tottenham would be difficult for the Bridge).
But there is another side to the coin. Yes, a manager makes a fortune if he turns up for a short term stint at Chelsea, especially if unlike the current incumbent the contract is not for such a short term. But I am starting to wonder if we might not soon enter the stage where the Chelsea contract is not wanted but some of the top names. Why go there, only to be kicked out in the next bout of revolutionary fervour?
At least at Arsenal, whoever eventually replaces Mr Wenger will know that they will be in a club that is utterly and totally stable. Where even what may have been a PR devise invented by a bunch of fans of the Permanent Revolution model, has been shrugged off without any effect. “Same old Arsenal” can be a sign of dislike, or a mark of respect.
On this basis Michael Laudrup would probably prefer Arsenal to Chelsea, as would David Moyes. As would Morinho who would love the absolute power and stability that Arsenal gives. That would leave Chelsea with Fabio Capello or Manuel Pellegrini at Málaga or John Terry. And don’t laugh too much at that last idea – Permanent Revolution means in part giving power to the workers, and in the Chelsea model this is exactly what has happened.
So it is indeed possible that the wheeze of the notional bid for Arsenal from unnamed people, which reached the Telegraph through unnamed sources, and which may well have been, well, just a wheeze, might actually do Arsenal a bit of good. It was shrugged off, there is no revolution. At Chelsea however, the revolution (and with it the turmoil) continues, Trotsky rules, the workers (on the pitch) close ranks and promote one of their own.
Recent posts
- Arsenal Day, and the vultures are circling.
- Respect; rather forgotten but still needed
- Where did we concede our goals? – part 2
- How did we concede the goals this season?
The books…
- Woolwich Arsenal: The club that changed football – Arsenal’s early years
- Making the Arsenal – how the modern Arsenal was born in 1910
- The Crowd at Woolwich Arsenal FC: crowd behaviour at the early matches
- Royal Arsenal: from the Common to the Manor. Coming next.
The sites from the same team…
-
- Referee Decisions - just what are the refs up to this season?
- The Arsenal History Blog from the AISA Arsenal History Society
- Untold Dylan - the music, the lyrics, the meaning
- Looking for a terraced house in Northamptonshire?
- School sports minibuses: providing your child’s school with a bus
- The Massage Centre, serving Northants and Rutland
- Teacher News – UK schools from the teachers’ perspective
- UK Education News - rolling news service
The English media is pathetic, noone has the balls to call a spade a spade. That was a red card all day, more like de jong’s challenge on alonso in terms of the kind of contact made. They never defended rvp like this.
Mourinho is a sad little whatnot, he’s courting of that job at OT must be sickening to Real’s fans. Pathetic.
@Stuart In theory it is possible but in practice a club like Arsenal would have to demonstrate either financial loss or lost market opportunities. Which would be difficult to do given Arsenal sound financial state and expanded brand presence since the rules were introduced. More importantly any judgement against FFP would most likely be limited in scope. Something like ‘since FFP rules cannot be universally enforced across all UEFA member countries due to differences in commerce and tax laws they cannot be enforced in individual case’. Which pretty much limits application of the ruling to that potential City or Chelsea case. I it comes to litigation and it is a big if don’t expect broad class action case.
The English media are hilarious. Compare and contrast with rvp and the neck grabbers of barca. Can see bale signing for Utd, take cover, the mother of british media wankfests!
On balance it was red card but for me you saw for probably the first time in many a year Man Utd not being given the 50-50 type decisions and in reality it made me smile.
Racism is a terrible evil, and is not tolerable in any circumstances. However, as soon as a ref goes against United, it becomes permissible.
I see the Daily Mail’s headline is “You Turkey”
So that’s it, he’s just an idiot from Turkey with the brain of a Turkey. Nice one DM, knock yourself out. Or knock one out and knock yourself out, to continue Mandy’s theme.
Actually I think they’ve pulled it now…to continue Mandy’s theme even further…
In my uneducated view the red card to Nani was a bit harsh however as it was reckless and dangerous foul the ref was within his rights to send Nani off. I think that Nani’s attempt to fake injury once he realized he was in trouble had aggravating effect and might have influenced the decision.
A player, substitute or substituted player is sent off if he commits any of the
following seven offences:
• serious foul play
• violent conduct
• spitting at an opponent or any o….
“Using excessive force” means that the player has far exceeded the necessary
use of force and is in danger of injuring his opponent.
• A player who uses excessive force must be sent off
Hope we avoid real next round, that ronaldo looks a bit useful, especially the way our defence is at the moment! . As for the sending off, nani was high, not sure if he meant anything or not, maybe some would say harsh, but as I say, compare and contrast………this is Europe, not a Webb dowd dean friendly league
Above you see the letter of the law as Dean knows them
Kicking someone in the stomach with your studs is dangerous. You can easily kill someone in fact, Fergie. ;-
Serious now. It is dangerous and then it doesn’t really matter if there is intent (in fact intent doesn’t matter at all). When you endanger another player his safety on the field you should get a red card.
But in the PL no ref thinking about his future will do this. But yet again we see the difference between refs under the guidance of Mike Riley and the ones under the guidance of Uefa.
In most countries such attacks are always punished with a red card. I see players being sent off in most countries for fouls that are not even called in the PL.
I have seen some people say that it was a disgrace to give this game to a Turkish ref. I wonder why? Why are Turkish refs not good enough by default?
I think that if you are a Turkish ref and if you see on what they have to stand up against in some of their local derby games you know that such a ref in most cases is a strong person who doesn’t give in to the crowd that easily.
Maybe that is his disgrace.
I didn’t see the whole match, in fact I only put it on after 64 minutes as Real Madrid was waiting for me to tune in to start scoring. But I did see Rafael sticking out his arm to prevent a header going in from Madrid after a corner. That was a fine example of an outfield player using his arms like a keeper to stop the ball. It should have been a penalty to Real Madrid and it was still 1-0 at the time.
So he surely didn’t give it all to one team in the parts that I have seen.
Poor squad selection from Fergy IMO.
leaving out Howard Webb tonight was understandable but surely Mike Dean should have made the bench at least.
Poor judgement.
And if I may add another about the not given penalty for the Rafael handball. It also should have been a red card against Rafael.
Stopping the ball going in goal with your hands is a red card offen;)ce.
Maybe that was what made SAF so angry and maybe that was what Ferdinand was trying to say to the ref when he was clapping his hands in front of the ref at the end of the game. He was just saying : he pushed it out with his hands and you missed it.
Two goals in quick succession…. I think SAF needs to learn how to defend.
So now we will have the entire English press supporting the Arsenal as we are the last hope of English football in the CL??? Will they?
Walter,
Interesting to note as well, if I remember right, how the commentators reacted to rafael handling the ball: “great stop from rafael”
@Walter
You hit the nail on the head there. The high kick is always considered dangerous play at European/Internatonal level, whilst it is tolerated in our domestic leagues. The ref overall did OK and was very lenient on the ManU players when they surrounded him at the time of the incident and then mocked him at the final whistle. Mourinho made sure that the incident didn’t completely overshadow HIM by leaving early and then by his brief toe-curling interview at the end.
Regarding the Telegraph article it does seem a strange coincidence that it came out just after the result at WHL. I feel that it is a rumour constructed by some dissident person or group to create a bit more mischief for the club.
Anyway as the last surviving Premier League club in the Champions League the price has just gone up!
Think we need this Turkish ref to help out in our league. We may have had less snapped limbs and stoke and Sunderland would be in the conference league, adebayor would have been sent off again last weekend. Vidic and rooney would rarely stay on the pitch. Shame the way scholes career would have panned out for such a talented player…..Ramires Essien drogba and terry would have been sidelined for decades…and maybe we could have relied on diaby after selling song….in this parallel world where refs in England had done their jobs
SAF too upset to speak to media = AW throws tantrum and sulks(media definitions)
Actually after viewing the replays I have to change my ‘a bit harsh’ opionion. The ref was spot on and in replay the foul looks even nastier. Btw Adebayour was sent off against Arsenal for a similar offence and nobody including Spurs fans had much problem with the decision.
A bit of a weird night of football for me tonight,
I broke from tradition and decided not to drink alcohol, instead I sat on my Turkish carpet drinking my Turkish apple tea whilst timing the game on my genuine fake Rolex acquired in the market town of Kusadasi, Turkey.
I thought it was a magnificent game and the “best team” won, so I’m off to celebrate with a Sish kebab and some Baklava followed by more of that scrumptious Turkish Apple Tea.
LOVELY.
Hmmm talk of the devil,cleverly stamps drogoba in the chest and the ref grins this is not mike Riley chiefdom where evra kicks the ball and ref scratches his balls,here you kick the ball you get a yellow card those are the rules of the game.Furgus runs from his kingdom but stops knowing that if he dare talk to the liner or ref arrogantly as he always does to his refs he will be gone for 5 matches,he just claps his hands i liked that. Red card!what the heck??Vanpe$ie kicks the ball even before the whistle he gets a red card that is okay,Lehman the best keeper arsenal have ever got(unbeaten in the 21st century)is red carded dubiously and its okay! Give us a break. Furgus tell your boys the champions league is different from your chiefdom, there are people who know the rules of the game out there simple. And let all the world know that The Arsenal is the only team in the whole of UK still in the Champions League,as the so called big teams who have bought good players are OUT.So is buying a solution!May be yes or not the ball is in your court.As of today i have not seen anywhere in any news paper a crisis as it was for us the last time we where beaten. Morons have to know that in a game they have to be winners and losers its part of the game not a crisis wake up MWANGWAMPAS.
@dan he was shaking like a zombie you remember the barcelona match ? This was even worse his mouth could not move his eyes where red he could not stand but if it was the Professor guess what!The morons could be saying he has lost it but for Fugus they know if they talk shit they will never get the chance to go to oldtoilet again,just imagine such utter crap.
I see Ian Wright, among others ,has taken the bait !
“There’s a sucker born every minute.”
― P.T. Barnum
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article4824542.ece
P.T .Barnum ,again -
“Opinions are like assholes; everyone’s got one.”
Earlier in the season Torres was booked for a high tackle against Man Utd. When he later in the game was given an incorrect 2nd yellow card just about every Man U supporter was arguing Torres should have been given a straight red for the early high tackle. The two incidents were near enough identical .Strange how opinions change
Only saw the last half hour but what a cracking game. A real pleasure to see top top quality players, the kind that Wenger claims we buy, and compare them to our top top quality team. Real Madrid looked like they’d cut our meek team to shreds and even with ten men Manu had a good go.
Modric was superb and he turned the game. Bet Spuds’ fans were sick at losing him.
The red card seemed fair to me. It was great to see Fergie lose his rag and to see RVP fail yet again on the big night.
One thing I think we can see is that our fragile team is a million miles away from being serious competitors in the CL.
I wondered when Red Rupert would pipe up.
He probably needed a bit of time to compose himself after last night.
@Micko
Unfortunately rupert (depressive Russian AAA sewer rat) is always ready to attack the club in the most sarcastic manner that his script writers can manage.
Think Man Utd and the media should stop banging on about the ref after last night.
Man Utd should worry about their own performance rather than blaming officials for yet another European defeat.
Real Madrid were far too good on the night, would have been 4 or 5 if Ronaldo wasn’t so selfish.
Beaten by Galatasary, FC Cluj, Basel and now R Madrid in the last two seasons, this from a team that is running away with the EPL. Doesn’t say much for the stature of the Premier League.
This is also illustrated by the fact that all 2011/12 champions have at least seven players who are present in each of the three most used line-ups. This figure is up to nine for Juventus, Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City. The latter club is the only title winner where the three most fielded line-ups do not include the same defenders. From a success perspective, this clearly confirms the importance of reducing player turnover in defence as much as possible
http://www.optasportspro.com/en/about/optapro-blog/posts/2012/guest-blog-player-turnover-best-practices-at-big-5-league-level-by-raffaele-poli,-head-of-cies-football-observatory.aspx