“It is understood” …. a euphemism for “the reserve team coach’s hairdresser’s boyfriend believes that…….. ” or even more likely “this reporter is stuck for a story line and has made this up ….”.
Summer transfer rumours drive me mad. So much of what we read is pure fantasy, a product of a fertile imagination, the addition of two and two to make five. The examples are endless as seen by the rumoured transfer bar on this very site.
One may believe that these fabrications are innocent but they have a direct affect upon the poor saps who read them, and the reason I am writing this post is because I am one of those poor saps. Today I read a lengthy article on our favourite subject this summer, the will he/won’t he go to Barca saga. In this article it stated that Arsenal were sick of dealing with Laporta and had started negotiations with the incoming Barca President (Rosell) with a view to selling Cesc next summer. My first thoughts were “OK, we get another season”, my second thoughts were “how has this journalist sourced this story?”. I re-read it. No quotes from any one involved, no statement from either club, much innuendo and one “it is understood.” Who understood?
Let us look at the Joe Cole story. Apparently it is almost certain he will be playing at the Emirates next season. Who says so? Admittedly there is some logic to it, the fact Cole is a good player on a free makes him an attractive target for our parsimonious manager, but we are well blessed in his chosen position (AA, TR, Vela) and are we likely to pay €100+k a week to him? Most probably these are stories placed in the press by Cole’s agent to alert other clubs to his availability, using the Arsenal name to strengthen their negotiations. But I am a pawn in their game. I go to work thinking “How will Joe Cole fit into our current team? Who gets dropped? Where will Arshavin play if Joe signs? etc etc.” I can’t help myself!
May I take a paragraph of your time to go back in history?
Around 2500 years ago a Greek philosopher named Plato wrote “The Republic”, in which he looked at the perception/nature of justice within the individual and the State (The Greek Republic). Based upon the teachings of Socrates, he notes that one’s viewpoint is dependent upon whether one is “inside or outside,” that is, whether one has direct knowledge (inside) or one’s knowledge is second hand (outside). His point being that unless one has direct knowledge there is always a tendency towards a skewed version of the facts, and that one bases one’s opinions and perceptions based this mis-truth.
We are definitely “Outsiders” and as such base our opinions upon the fallacies produced by journalists with questionable agendas. ( I must point out that The Republic is a treatise on happiness and justice and I have used a small section of the book to make my point! ).
As I wrote in a comment a couple of weeks ago. “Until you see Mr. Wenger smiling at the camera with his shiny new player holding an Arsenal shirt, it is just bulls**t”
On a serious note, I ask myself this – “If the back pages are full of lies and fantasy, is it likely that the front pages are equally fanciful?” Now that is a frightening prospect
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Morning all
Raddy wrote this post last week but its still topical 😦 and will be for several weeks no doubt.
If you want to re-post any comments about last nights game that appeared on yesterdays post please go ahead.
I’ll see if I can find the story about releasing Gallas, Campbell etc …………
It could be this one that was published last thursday
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/posts/view/139071/Arsenal-confirm-they-want-to-sign-Mark-Schwarzer/
An interesting article but I would say that the rumours and lies are actually the results of an infertile imagination. A fertile imagination would produce something far less derivative and more original. “An insider revealed”-type piece springs from a lazy, dumbed -down brain.
Good article and probably nearer the truth re; our media led country than the writer realises. It is a sad enditement that most of our facts / pert facts are given to us via the Newspapers & TV (who just quote newspapers)..most of the time we dont question even the most ludicrous statements. We all know that Journalists in sport and politics led by the nose by their owners…Murdoch springs to mind, but there are many more who are foreign owned . These people have their own adgendas re; sport and politics ie; “what their view is will be the slant that the press take” whatever the truth. In the case of Arsenal (A) The press in UK is loaded with Journalists who are Northern bred. They have a natural in built hatred of AFC because our club has always refused to get involved with the shady dealings that so many clubs are infamous for ie; Tapping Up players or Refs etc.
Addded to this group are the London clubs with their pet journos who will happily spred the ‘muck’ required to bring AFC down to the level of others.
In the end…it will be the Internet that will bring down the lying Press and hopefully deprive these barons of their propaganda machines…so your website will be very important in future years.
Barcelona FC don’t seem to realise that they are not going to do us over in order to please their fans with a trophy signing for fuck all. We have a 5 year contract on our player. We DONT NEED TO SELL. If cesc succumbs to pressure and publically admits to putting in a transfer request and states he wants to go- WE DONT NEED TO SELL- lets see how he feels in 6 months time. IF XAVI makes 50,000 media statements-WE DONT HAVE TO SELL- what its got to do with him I don’t know . If Barcelona FC want our player tell them to put in a bid we can’t refuse- like 70 m and stop wasting everybody’s time.
Morning all
A clever, thought provoking post BR. It made me realise just how much my own habits have changed when it comes to gathering football news, gone are the days when I used to buy a red top in search of juicy morcel relating to Arsenal, I know full well that a quick wizz through the blogs will give me a far more up to date view than anything written in the news papers.
Morning Gerry
I feel slightly uncomfortable taking this position but I don’t think that Xavi is to blame here, the snake in the grass is the journalist who posed the question: Would you like Cesc to join Barça? To which he innocently said yes, I mean they are friends, what else is he supposed to say. I am sure I am not telling you anything you don’t already realise but that gives the journalist carte blanche to re-print the quote at will or his editor or any other editor who is desperate to fill column inches on slow news days.
I am curious; as things stand do you think Cesc will leave before the start of the new season?
Kelsey
Can you give us a link to the direct quote from Hill-Wood saying that Arsenal have released Gallas, Campbell and Silvestre.
Good old Plato; he can make sense of the crap thats written 2500 years after his death. The front pages of most papers are rubbish. I stopped buying papers a few years ago, yesterdays news is no good especially when its from the “outside”
Good blog
Arsenal have released French defender William Gallas after failing to reach an agreement over a new contract.
Gallas joins Chelsea’s Joe Cole and Michael Ballack as the most high-profile casualties as Premier League clubs release 124 players from their contracts this summer.
The 32-year-old France star had been demanding a new two-year contract on wages of £80,000 a week.
Chairman Peter Hill-Wood said last month: “His demands are extravagant and I don’t think we are prepared to go along with it. He is a good player, but you have got to draw the line somewhere.”
Along with Sol Campbell, Mikael Silvestre and Phillipe Senderos, who has joined Fulham, Arsenal have released six players.
link is todays Sunday Mirror.
Agree with every word BR, but let’s also not forget the role of blogland in all this. There are so many blog sites now and, sadly, most of them pass on any and every made-up story without qualification or query.
Occasionally you can catch a “transfer’ story in its first outing. You read it twice and realise there are no sources and no basis in anything that could pass for sold information. Then, throughout the day, if you keep an eye on NewsNow you’ll see the story repeated time after time as fact.
If the original story started on a national newspaper’s site, you end up with the bizarre spectacle of the next day’s newspapers all re-printing the made-up b*ll*cks as if it were a real story.
Someone at media college should write a these about it.
The best one recently was the nonsense linking us to Pienaar.
As part of the reporting of the build up to the opening WC game AW was obviously asked what he thought of South Africa’s Pienaar. He said he thought he was a really good player.
In the space of a day, that story went from “Wenger has eye on Everton’s Pienaar” to “Arsenal in £18m swoop for Everton’s Pienaar: deal to be made after World Cup.”
Serbia v Ghana HT: Dire
This WC really really needs a good game.
Really good read Raddy we obviously sing from the same hymnbook. We get the media we deserve, I mean how often do we get people on here who actually read Myles Palmer, says it all really mate. Well done
Hi all. Thanks for the timely reminder BR – most of what we read is nonsense. I friend of mine in the media a long time ago told me that he worked in a world which was arranged like a pyramid, but an upside down one. He said that one tiny fact at the bottom supported 10 ‘facts’ which in turn supported another 100 ‘facts’ etc. The internet makes it even easier to build these upside down pyramids in a few hours – then they fall over just as quickly.
Quite the opposite of what we would all like where one fact at the top (e.g. Cesc is staying) is supported by 100s of pieces of evidence below it.
Anyway, I like this story:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1286187/Arsene-Wenger-30m-spender-Arsenal-boss-splash-cash.html?ITO=1490
What do we reckon? Schwarzer looks like a likely move for us, especially given Fulham’s financial state. Jagielka? Maybe? I think there was some speculation last Christmas.
Totally off subject, while waiting for the next World Cup game and having read all the Sunday news papers I was mouching around the internet looking for something to read when I found this clever, funny blog. Try reading the first paragraph, if it interests you scroll down and read the comments, they are very funny.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/stephanieflanders/2010/06/the_bottom_line_playing_the_lo.html
Evening all,
This World Cup NEEDS Germany vs Australia to be a good game, they’ve all been pretty dire so far.
I should know better, but so many different tabloids are saying that Gallas is/has left,that I actually believe it.
evening irish, what’s your take on all this,see my comments above.
Too right Irish. P*ss poor so far.
Evening Kelsey, Rocky.
I think Gallas is gone. His injuries have been mounting the last two seasons and Wenger probably reckons he isn’t worth the risk considering the wages he’s looking for.
The PHW comments (if true) don’t seem to leave much room for manouvre with Gallas. But then who else will pay the kind of money he’s asking for?
Hi RL,
PHW is such a twat that’s why i believe what he said.Paying Joe Cole 130K a week is a joke and will lead to all sorts of trouble amongst the established players.
Looking forward to the game tonight but australia seem to have lined up 6-4-0. All eyes on their keeper.
He’d get a signing on fee at a new club I’m sure so that would make up for it.
Joe Cole ain’t going to get £130k a week at Arsenal.
£80k max.
WG is gone, if Campbell wants more than a game by game contract, he is gone as well
Emile Heskey that is how you take a shot at goal.
Schwarzer could have done better though.
Evening guys and gals. Talk about the game and stop trying to spoil my post for tomorrow 😳
Schwarzer looks quite solid even though Australia have conceded. I see the german Keeper is very similar to Hart in age and experience.
I think Capello has made some poor decisions – taking two players who are injured to the tournament and putting 3 players on the pitch yesterday who weren’t fully fit.
Evening Rasp.
Terrible miss by Klose!
Nice goal by Klose from a super cross, but if Schwarzer comes for the ball, he has to claim it.
Evening irish, He’s just made up for it 😛 I’ve drawn Germany in a sweepstake and so I’m having to support the Fatherland.
Germany are excellent so far.
Mertesacker (sp?) looks pretty solid – haven’t we been linked with him in one of Raddy’s rumours?
You’ve drawn a good team Rasp.
Don’t dis our new keeper Raddy 😉
Ozil has been excellent apart from the dive.
Yea, looks like it irish, I get £200 if they win and £100 if they come second.
We’ve been linked with Ozil too 🙄 come to think of it, who haven’t we been lnked with?
Excellent against a very static defence. The Aussies could get spanked
Emile Heskey 😆
No way will we sign Ozil, not when we have Theo 😉
Yep Raddy – Oz keep trying to play the offside trap and its not working, could be in for a hammering.
The Germans are the best team we have seen so far – at least in this half.
Ozil !!!
Those bloody trumpets are driving me nuts…..
The vuvuzelas Raddy?
Germany are the first team in the tournament to score more than 1 goal. It’s been a pretty poor tournament up to now. Holland v Denmark and Brazil v Portugal should be good though.
Sorry Irish I suggested AW signed Hesky last week…. to go in goal LOL
yeah, the effing vuvuzelas!!
Rasp. It is what happens when Mourinho tactics win the CL. It is much easier to give away possession and compact the play. Negative tactics pay – they won the last WC.
Brazil have taken a very “efficient” team to the WC this year, flair and imagination are no longer their standard.
Let us hope that a team like Argentina or Germany (tonight) can win this tournament
South Korea scored 2 Rasp.
The Chairman of the South Africa Org committee has said he is considering banning those bloody trumpets, due to the angry complaints they are getting from Broadcasters principally radio.
Oh yes irish … trust you 🙄
Hi dandan, I’m thinking of betting your house on a German victory if that’s ok?
Dandan – 😆 I don’t even think he’s capable of scoring OGs so he’d do
Raddy – They might be banning them according to the BBC
I don’t blame you though if you feel asleep after the first Korean goal – this is the first game I’ve actually wanted to watch all of for the quality.
Ref looks like Reyes
I wish they’d played the vuvuzelas while Lazybarndoor was giving his views, but it didn’t matter cos nobody could understand a word he was saying.
Germans have a very good understanding going forward – playing some nice footy.
Evening all – I enjoyed the Argie game but this is more like real life football.
Where’s gnarley 😉
Not a red – he pulled out of that challenge, bad call.
Evening Peaches – probably drowning his sorrows, no Timmy Cahill now either.
😆 rasp – ade as a pundit is the most ridiculous decision
Rasp. I hope you are a big guy the wife is on her way round to see you LOL
Have you seen the new “Rob Green condoms?”
They’re extra slippery and you’re guaranteed not to catch anything!
😕
Lots of red cards – unusual really, Rooney could get one for swearing I suppose
Its Ok Katy Perry was bigging up Rob Green last night on the James Cordon World Cup party
JT should get a straight red for being JT
Evening peaches,
I wonder what the odds are for Klose as golden boot?
Raddy – did you say the ref looks like Reyes? Reyes was as cute as a button – this ref looks scary 😎
DD, Don’t you know – it’s not size that matters 😉
Hi rasp – you must be happy. You do realise that I got South Korea don’t you – I could give you a run for your money 😉
Is Katy Perry your one that looks like Marge Simpson?
Flippin pop stars need to go far away and stop annoying my wick thinking they have an opinion that matters.
Hell is that what I have been doing wrong, now he tells me.
Goals been coming. Could get nasty for OZ
Oh dear.
dandan, I’ve put the kettle on – does she take sugar?
I’m quite happy with my German friends this evening. Ozil for Cesc anyone 😕
Irish you must be thinking of someone else, Katy Perry is dark haired, not a hint of blue, and rather gorgeous. Shes engaged to Russell Brand who’s a huge West Ham supporter – he wrote a great book about being a football supporter, can’t remember its name but all passionate fans of any club should read it.
Lets buy Schweinsteiger – I’d like him in a holding midfield role, can pick a pass too.
The Aussie press in the morning will make our redtops look like a parish magazine.LOL
England better come top of their goup or I think they’ll meet Gemany in the quarters – or am I being over-optimistic?
Its her new look I think.
It will come down to goals scored I think Rasp, and we are struggling a bit in that department.
I stand corrected Irish but she didn’t have blue hair last night – you’re so clever and always right of course 😛
You’re right rasp – the winners of group C – our group – play the runners up of group D and visa versa
😆 Peaches
It wouldn’t surprise me if we didn’t get out of the group. If we draw one game we could be on the plane home.
Andy are you there?
Have you noticed how Almunia has found the confidence to come out and say that he feels his place is secure just when it’s starting to look more likely that Cesc is going to stay 😉
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/405576-exuberant-germans-light-up-the-world-cup-as-they-thrash-australia-4-0
A bit of non-Arsenal blogging.
Evening all…
Another good post Radders.
Good game this evening, mostly due to the well oiled machine that is the modern day German ‘wermacht’ (no offence intended).
What an absolutely efficient unit. Its like an 11 legged spider because the team seems to play with one heart and most importantly one brain. Each player seemed to read and understand the thoughts and movements of the next.
England could learn a thing or ten about pass and move from that team.
Quick game of guess who. Clue, both have played in white
Ball retention, ball retention, ball retention, probing pass, ball retention, ball retention, probing pass, killer pass, goal. Simples.
Long ball to big man, lose ball, defend. Chase ball for 5 mins, finally retrieve ball, long ball to big man, lose ball, defend. Chase ball for 5 mins.
Answers on a postcard.
Night all 😉
Fine summation SS
Nice report Irish
😆 Sharkey – very efficient explanantion of the tactics 🙂
Thanks for reading Peaches 🙂
Must get back into writing match reports.
Morning all.
Thought for the day.
One game doesn’t win a tournament,nevertheless the Germans were mighty impressive last night,regardless of the defensive tactics set out by Australia, from the start.Germany have also had key players missing,yet no one can argue that in any world Cup they are a side that demands utmost respect.
If the PL is the strongest league in the world, how come we don’t see an influx of germans playing in it.They take a winter break, play far less domestic football,and maybe that is a lesson we could learn from.
Morning,
Their star player was Mueller a 20 y.o. Bayern Munich midfield player.
He must have played in the CL Final and yet I cannot remember him at all. Strange.
I know the fuss was about Ozil – who looks very good – but the German midfield controlled the game and they were kids.
As to winter breaks – managers have been calling for one for as long as I can remember and a reduced PL, but TV rules and football must pay the piper.
Morning BR
Mueller did play in the CL final……like a twenty year old.
New post from your favourite devil’s advocate – don’t take it too seriously 😉