It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single journalist in possession of an empty page must be in want of a story.
And in the absence of a story, he’ll make one up to suit his agenda.
No pride, but plenty of prejudice.
And when nearly all the journalists are in the same predicament, the wave of spurious content will hit us like a tsunami.
One such tsunami this year has been the supposed shift of power in North London footballing circles.
After our 8-2 drubbing at Gorbals Towers many journalists decided that this was the year when Arsenal faced mid table mediocrity (or even a relegation struggle); and as for Arsenal’s manager – well, he’d lost it, hadn’t he? First in line for the sack race.
Fast forward to the end of 2011 and, improbably, Arsenal had hauled themselves back into the top four and some of our national sports scribes were beginning to get the faint whiff of egg on face.
There was going to be no relegation battle for Arsenal. Arsene Wenger was going nowhere.
But there was one straw for Fleet Street’s finest to clutch at: despite Arsenal’s heroic climb up the table, we were still behind that other North London outfit in the league table.
So… no relegation battle, no “Wenger fired”… what’s a poor journo to do in such circumstances?
Aha!
“Shift of Power in North London.” Read all about it!
As an example of lazy journalism, the SOPINL story is like a tree sloth kicking back in a hammock on a beach in the Bahamas. With a big spliff.
A “shift of power” is something seismic. It happened after the Second World War, when the United States emerged as the global superpower. It’s probably happening now, with an ailing USA reluctantly passing the baton to China.
Shifts of power take years to happen and cannot be judged on temporary blips. As the saying goes, one swallow does not make a porn star.
When we hammered the Lily Livereds at The Emirates a few weeks ago the emphatic nature of the victory struck a chord with me. Perhaps I was more sensitive to the issue precisely because of all that has been written about the SOPINL.
Let’s be honest, we have had some poor results against the enemy recently. But when I started to think back through those games I realised that despite occasionally nicking some points off us, the Tinies have never been able to demonstrate what you might call ‘footballing superiority’.
When we lost in N17 earlier this season we were the better team overall and it took a handball and a ‘wonder strike’ to sink us.
Last season we were the better team in a 3-3 draw at Riot Hart Lane (the home team needed a late penalty to get a point) and, at home, we absolutely outplayed them to take a 2-0 lead at half time before giving away three stupid goals (remember Cesc’s handball in the wall anyone?). However, our second string killed them 4-1 at their place in the Carling Cup.
In 2009/10 they were second best again at their place but a goal-of-a-lifetime from somebody called Danny Rose brought them all three undeserved points. I’m not sure what’s happened to Danny since – I heard he was destined for Chelsea, but then his fare asked to be dropped off at Victoria instead. That season, at Arsenal, the Spuds were, again, destroyed: three nil to the good guys.
In 2008/9 we had that ridiculous game where we gifted them a 4-4 draw at the Ems. We were all over them and had created enough chances to be 10-2 up going into injury time instead of 4-2. With hindsight that was the game where we first saw the dangerous fragility of the “Fabregas” Arsenal – a team that could dominate the opposition but still collapse like a pack of cards under pressure. The return fixture was a pretty uneventful 0-0.
Before the ‘08/09 season you just have the long, long unbeaten run against the Spudders in the league, with us dishing out humiliation after humiliation to them.
So what’s my point?
It’s that even though the Skinny Cock Brigade have got their noses in front of us this season, there has NEVER been a game in which, on the field of play, they have shown themselves to be better than us. They have only taken points when we have outplayed them and then shot ourselves in the foot. Even on our off days we have more than matched them, despite the result sometimes going against us.
Quite simply, in most people’s living memory they have NEVER been even remotely as good as us and they are not now.
This has been the most difficult season for Arsenal since Arsene Wenger joined us and we are still miles better than them, as the 5-2 demonstrated.
No doubt some sad Spuds will point to their 5-1 win in the Carling Cup in 2007/08 to disprove my point. Well, yes, that is one game where we were properly beaten by them. But it’s the exception that proves the rule. It was in a season when we had much bigger fish to fry. We were gunning for the title and the weakened team we sent to the Theatre of Screams knew how low the CC was on our priority list. We were chasing the title, the ECL, a top four finish, the FA Cup and the CC in that order.
Still, at least it provided the Spudders with a DVD to cherish.
There is still a very good chance we will finish above them in the league this year (although we can’t afford any slip-ups). We are hitting momentum just as they are beginning to stutter and twitch. We are gaining self belief while they are plagued by self doubt.
They have a small stadium, they may be about to lose the one manager who has been able to get them playing competitively and some of their biggest stars will likely be out the door this summer.
We, on the other hand, have an excellent financial set-up, we have a genius for a manager and we have some of the best young players in the world starting to emerge in a team also laced with great experience.
There is no shift of power. Why some journalists choose to treat a brief run of decent form as proof positive of a SOPINL – while ignoring the macro picture of both clubs’ finances, up-and-coming players, history and so on is completely baffling.
The Tinies have had a decent run of form while we have been experiencing a substantial reorganisation. Theirs is a temporary case of flattering to deceive, ours has been a temporary case of being deceptively flat. It’s all about to change and the natural order will reassert itself.
To leave you with another saying: Form is temporary; Class is Arsenal.
RockyLives
* Note: This was written before yesterday’s Everton-Tottenham game which, as we now know, the Tinies contrived to lose. Don’t you just love ‘em?
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Brilliant, Rocky.
It seems as though you were celebrating the wheels coming off the spud wagon even before Moyes’ men munched the morons. 🙂
http://twitpic.com/8uvb1y/full
Decent article, and I guess it shows how fickle the football journalists, as well as desperate supporters of certain clubs can be.
I hope we are able to continue our recovery (from overall lack of form this season) with a win tomorrow against the Toon army, and take it from there.
In any case, the Totteringham mob I’m sure are now paying for opening their mouths too prematurely (as often happens).
COYG
Great post Rocky. They are imploding and the more pressure we and the media can heap on them the better.
I see Bale was guilty of more diving yesterday – I wonder if he realises how the injustice of his non-penalty against us galvanised the team and made the support even more vocal.
‘arry is definitely feeling the pressure and I’m sure he is secretly fuming that the FA haven’t come running to him for the England job but announced they have 6 candidates. He won’t get the England job, the FA don’t employ crooks.
A fine article Rocky, but a word of warning Gooners, don’t count chickens, we still have Newcastle to beat and we do not want to do a spud, it is in their DNA to crow, that’s why they have a cockerel as a badge and issue DVD’s if they win the toss.
Yes Injuries are going our way at last and having fullbacks has transformed the team. But we have some difficult matches to come, so let’s keep our feet on the ground , whilst getting behind the lads, don’t pile the weight of expectation on them and when St Tot’s day finally does arrives we can start a party which will last right through the close season.
lets leave the ‘celebrations’ until the end of season. still have game to play and we are still 4th. Lets not behave like spuds and get ahead of ourselves.
Rocky, we are going to club together and buy you a “round the world” ticket as flying seems to bring out great articles like this!!
But then you are brilliant, anyway! 🙂
I have been trying to glean some info on players with contracts expiring in the next 2 or 3 years.
It is difficult because there are so many conflicting “facts” out there.
This is the basic list, and if anyone knows there are any clearly wrong dates just say!
The thought came to me that allowing Bendtner, for example, to leave on a ‘free’ this summer does not make good financial management.
Ramsey, Djourou: June 2016
Szczęsny, Diaby, Wilshere, Lansbury, Vela: June 2015
Mannone, Sagna, Koscielny, Gibbs, Denílson, Chamakh: June 2014
Vermaelen, Squillaci, van Persie, Walcott: June 2013
Almunia, Fabiański, Rosicky, Arshavin: June 2012
I have no real confidence in these dates, and of course is incomplete, but it is all I could come up with. [Denilson, Mannone, Lansbury, and Vela are all out on loan – as you know].
Any ideas?
Contract expiry.
Song: June 2013??
Am just watching MOTD from last night, and have just seen Mark Lawrenson ask about David Moyes: “Has anyone done better over the past ten years with the resources available than him?” Now I agree that Moyes has done a top, top job and deserves every bit of respect he gets, and Lawrenson is right that Moyes has done a fantastic job for Everton.
But why don’t the likes of Lawrenson ask the same question when speaking of Wenger and Arsenal over the past seven years? We had six years of no money, but maintained our top four position, had a couple of title challenges and got to a few cup finals, but all we get from pundits is slagging.
Oh well, sod ’em.
Like the article Rocky. Spurs have travelled a long way but whether or not we catch them, they’re busy throwing away all of their good work this season in the run-in. Pretty much as we did last year, finishing fourth in a two-horse race. But if I were a Spurs fan, I’d be just as unhappy about the future. They have too many older players (Friedel, King, van der Vaart, Defoe, Gallas, Parker, Saha, Nelsen) or players likely to leave (Modric, Bale, Adebayor). Walker is a great youngster, Lennon can be dangerous, Sandro and Kaboul are decent, and there’s chat about Livermore. But is that enough? Where are all the other young players to bring through (especially given Harry’s bizarre decision a few years ago not to have a team in the Reserve League, denying a valuable chance for development)? Looks to me like Harry will leave a squad with plenty of question marks on it and work to do. He’s a manager for the here and now, not for the future, and Spurs will pay the price at some point.
And if the FA know what they’re about they’ll look at Roy Hodgson before they give the England job to HMRC’s favourite.
Excellent work Mr Arse. I hadn’t realised Arshavin’s contract is up this summer. So that’ll mean no transfer fee for him, or for Fabianski and Almunia. Oh well, at least we won’t be stuck with their salaries.
Rocky top piece as ever. There certainly was a lot of early season crowing from up the road, and only three weeks ago they were telling us about the “gap”. 11 games to play for the good guys, 10 plus FA Cups for them with their squad getting stretched. I can smell the barbecue lighting fluid in preparation of the St Totts feast.
RA I,be been trying to piece it together too…their is a website which alleges to know contract expiries. All we can do is use AFC pronouncements and what came to pass in deciding what the length of contract is. For example signing an extension normally means 2-3 years from date of signing, signing a Long Term is anywhere between 3-4 years.
This seems to give a good guide.
http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/manuel-almunia/profil/spieler_16621.html
Song 2014 according to that link.
Rambo & Jack 2016
Ox 2017
Also says Arshavin’s contract expires in 2013.
Fantastic post Rocky. There’s nothing baffling about jouranists though. They are generally pond life. I’m not sure if TV’s contract runs out with Robin. I thought he signed an extension recently.
Tv’s is til 2015
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Arsenal-Thomas-Vermaelen-new-contract-shows-there-will-be-no-exodus-of-stars-says-Arsene-Wenger-article815041.html
That’s a great website gie
Since I’m tALKING TO MYSELF. dID ANYONE NOTICE HOW THERE WAS NOTHING ABOUT A DIVE ON motd?
Miquel’s contract is 2013
My contract expires this year
https://twitter.com/#!/Bouchra_vP/status/178816087423582208
Did anyone also notice how tetchy twitchy got wit the MOTD interviewer?
Great post Rocky, and good afternoon GM, hahahah.
I will try to be impartial, and hope that i do not commit sacrelige.
In the last couple of years Harry and Totnumb have done great. They are flirting with Champions league and have a vibrant and exciting team. They also have plans for a new stadium, and theres lots for there fans to look forward to, but power shift?, of course not. let me explain.
Totnumbs new stadium will share space with a mega sainsbury store, low class move again
The area of Totnumb is a horrible dump. Unfortunitly i have to visit the area now and again. My advice to any one having the misfortune to go there is dont.
Totnumb are cursed by having a classier, more powerful, and bettter looking neighbour. This makes them green with envy and causes irational decision making.
Totnumb lack elitieist history. A glorious season for them is winning the FA Cup, accompanied by a shit Chas and Dave song.
Totnumb fans are ugly bastards and tend to be cross eyed. Ive seen many of them on nights out, and they cant pull a thing, with the excepion of there todger.
And probably most important of all, even when Totnumb did have a better side,( in the 1960s i believe), they still had an awful inferiority complex as regards the mighty Arsenal, and believe me, this will continue.
GM I noticed no dive coverage, altho I haven’t seen it as I didn’t watch live….judging by twitter reaction Bale admits he dived….but as I say not seen it.
As for ‘Arry he looked decidedly uncomfortable in that post match….what happened to jokey ‘Arry the media darling.
Bang on the money! So sick and tired of their incessant bleating. Strange though, how since the spanking we dished out and the subsequent other defeats, the crowing seems to have stopped. Journalists and sad wankers who follow the jokers from Shite Fart Stain are cut from the same cloth – shallow, deluded, big mouthed and blinkered. Just remember one thing, the last time they won anything significant was 1961. Nuff said!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17243496
Watch his interview. reall funny
At least he says we battered tham
Fab post Rocky, they sure can hear us breathing down there necks, shame…. the media darlings are choking…. the medias assassination of AFC should cease but it won’t.
Thats a fab contract website GIE cheers.
I was about to comment that we would be expecting money for arshavin in the summer, that site confirmed my thoughts, we will also be expecting monies for Nik52 and Vela, so theres going to be some room and money for transfers in it seems…..
Rocky, great post. The press may continue to say or write whatever they like, the facts are there. There are only two EPL teams in London, Arsenal Football Club and others. In term of club achievements, management, facilities, etc, Arsenal is second to none. If the worst Arsenal team for the past 20 years could beat the best Spurs team in history 5 :0, tell me what are press saying? They should cover themselves with shame.. We need to win our game on Monday to reduce the gap to 1 point. We shall surely overtake them. Up Arsenaaal.
The ‘Arry’ interview is pure gold. Twitching tosser!
That duncan castles is a f++king C. I hope his dick falls off
Thanks for the site recommendation, GIE, that is a good site for player/transfer/contract info.
I started checking sites for info, and didn’t believe the info so went to the second and third and found they were contradicting each other.
Are either of the mancs games on TV
great post Rocky. Good sides are consistent, yet the scum have a couple of decent years and it’s panic stations Arsenal fans the tide is turning. They will always be second fiddle to us. A lot of great comments today as well. Cheers for the link GiE
@ peaches/rasp
post has been sent
Have just found out that myself and Cornwall have over stepped the mark regarding some of our humour and upset some bloggers in the process. It was never my intention to upset any one, and ime certain that this goes for Cornwall to. So, for those who i have offended, please except my apologies.
sorry to hear TMHT, i for one think you two (along with a few others on here) say some of the funniest things i’ve heard in my life.
Who complained TerryM, and what did you say?
I suppose your proclivity for smacking people at bus stops with your slipper is a bit wild, but there are places in Soho where you could earn big bucks for that. Just ask Glic and his award winning Cornish slipper!! 🙂
Good day everyone.
This article wasn’t meant to sound triumphalist. I should have added a line to the effect that my argument stands whether or not the Spuds finish above us this year.
Rocky,
I don’t think it came over as triumphalist at all, but just as a pure statement of fact. 🙂
Terry and glic,
You’ve never overstepped the mark as far as I’m concerned.
Please keep up the good work.
Terry and GLIC
You always brighten my day.
Seems we all agree that you cannot even overstep the mark you ‘orrible duo! 🙂
What a liability savic is.
If there’s a mark I’ll overstep it 🙂
Rocky My remarks were in no way a suggestion that you were being triumphalist, just a cautionary word to all posters in the weeks to come, not to get ahead of ourselves, better to leave that to the spuds. They have a collective degree in it 🙂
Please keep up the good work
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha that ones for Shitty…..second place is on!!! COYRRG
Btw I have no idea of the truth of that website but it has no apparent errors on existing contracts unlike Goal.comwhich suggests RvP is up in 2014
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16koM3Eo4Gg
The title is on now GIE.
http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/massive-decision-from-sian-massey-micah-richards-disallowed-goal-swansea-1-manchester-city-0/
Afternoon all, it takes a great post from the Rock to cut through all the felgercarb (as my avatar would say) the dribbling retards the hacks have written about the glory of the spuds pre Xmas form.
Assuming we have a Tavern widget for tomorrow pout me down as being present and correct for that Raspers.
I want us to be breathing down those N17 looters backs come 9.50 tomorrow. 🙂
It was a good decision Chas. Am I the only one who wants shitty to win the league?
Excellent decision, GM.
I’m quite used to the mancs winning the league so it won’t hurt as much as if fat $ammy Na$ri gets a winner’s medal.
I put the second link up just to show the ponce in all his mercenary glory. 🙂
The widget’s up there chary …….. anyone else joining us for a pre-match bevvy?
Tuesday, Rasp?!!!!!!!!!
Sorry, can’t make Tuesday. 🙂
No we mustn’t want city to win the league. We are one of only 4 teams (I think) to win the prem, and a city win would simply be a bought championship and goes against all the values held by Arsenal.
Sorry Rasp but I hate the other mancs so much more. What is the difference between buying the league and buying the refs? The red mancs are toilet just like some of thier other toilet teams that have won the league.
Cheers Raspers, and I’m even going to stay for the game this time !
You do mean “Monday 12th of March” though don’t you ?
As for the “Arab Camel shaggers FC v ManUre for the title” question – they’re both detestable and I wish neither would win it.
Oops, sorry, I’ve changed it to Monday – so glad its not the 13th
we won a sport called “rugby” apparently
Must be one of those minority sports GM, like synchronised hurling.
Very good decision from Sian Massey. I wonder if Andy Gray will acknowledge it.
If Arsenal can’t win the title in any particular year, I’d be perfectly happy for the real Man City to win it, just not the travesty that is the Abu Dhabi Government’s version, which is just trying to buy the top trophy in English football. Great to see that they may be following Spurs and Liverpool in choking.
I can’t stand Manure, but much as it pains me to say it, I would rather they won the league than Citeh just buying it.
It’s the Citeh model that will destroy the game we all love.
Dandan
Thanks for that. I wasn’t really responding to your comment directly – I just felt that I probably should have made the point in the post that the gulf will remain massive whatever happens this season.
Blackburn bought it and so did the chavs.
who is andy gray? I seem to remember that name from somewhere. hasbeen
I am with the Rock man on reluctantly picking Manyoo for the title, at least over those football by the buck parvenus $Citeh$.
Just wish it was neither of them!
It is an oddity, and just a little concerning, I will admit, but I am becoming more of an Anglophile by the minute, because not only have I come to like 20/20 cricket and some 50/50s, but I have watched the Rugby in Paris, France, today, and really enjoyed it — yelling support for England and cussing the ref!! 🙂
Great and absorbing non-stop game [well except when they get into a huddle and whisper to each other – scrum?] with some real bone crunching tackles and superb athleticism. Come on England!! 🙂
Oh dear, I am morphing into a sports tart. 🙄
Paris, France lol
Ever since I can remember Arsenal have been the one constant In my Life. Everyone around Chiltern Street, Bethnal Green was a Gooner. One of my First memories of Arsenal was the Lasky`s driving away in their Old Vauxhall Victor to a game at Highbury and saying ” when you get bigger we`ll take you”, I was so excited and couldn`t wait to get bigger but In the mean time I would carry on playing my favourite game of ” sitting in a puddle”. Nov 6th `65, my first game, 6-2 beating of Sheff Utd, I had finally shaken off the “puddle period” .
There were a few periods over the years. I had the ” Discovery period “, where I discovered my one eyed monster wasn`t just for seeing who could piss the highest up the toilet wall !. Arsenal were still there.
There was my ” Nunnery period ” where I wanted to shag my mates Sisters !. Arsenal still there.
There was the ” Egyptian period” where I wanted to shag my mates Mummies !. Arsenal still there.
There was the ” Adulteress Period ” where I wanted to shag my mates Wives and Girlfriends !, Arsenal still there.
Quickly followed by my ” Curiousity period ” when I wondered why I had no Friends !. Still Arsenal there.
Before Marriage, Children, Grand Children, Work, Life`s trials and tribulations Arsenal have always been there. They preceed everything In my Life apart from my Birth and My Parents Love. They will always be there .
This Is a great site, but what makes it great ?. The great post`s ( like todays Rockylicious one ) and the bloggers and their one constant factor, The Arsenal.
I had a very kind , polite and apologetic email from Peaches, saying, My humour is causing a bit of unrest in the camp and could i please tone It down, so as not to lose any bloggers ( plural more than one ).
However, Terry Is a better man than me and I will not apologise, the reason being, who do I apologise to ?, I cant apologise as I do not know who I have upset !. This Is a debating site, Have the balls to talk to me instead of hiding behind the “teachers back ” ,” Miss, Miss, glic said something naughty “. I`d expect that from a Spud.
Still the Arsenal are there.
Lucky enough I have been detained and wont have to bother you.
I had heard of a Mystical Land, somewhere near Dartmoor, where a legend of a long lost tribe called the “Shaven Haven Lessers” live. Because of some DNA rogue gene they could only give birth to Girls.
An all women community with one Man. I was curious, what was this mans job ?.
I led a two man expedition, I was helped by the “Legendary Dartmoor Pussie Hunter ” Micky did it.
At a secret Location, somewhere near Lustleigh Cleave between Lustleigh and Becky Falls we were abducted by these beautiful creatures. Their Man was no longer capable and needed replacing, It was Micky or Me . We were told, “you will work one day and rest for seven, These Lessers were gooners and loved their footie, so from Saturday to Thursday was rest and footie and Friday was ” the Day of Love ” ( Now you know where the term ” Thank f**k It`s Friday “comes from ).
Micky and I had a Trial to see who was going to be appointed the aptly named ” King F**king Lucky Bastard “.
The test was who could control themselves the best and not give In and Penetrate one of the Lessers over a 24 hour Torres goal draught period. None of the Lessers had names and were only known by numbers. It was “hard” but It was always going to be “hard”, anything less and you failed !. I was dying to give 1 one and Miicky wanted to give one to 2, the old one two , a good move micky !.
The Chief Lesser, 69, brought the trial to an end and said, ” One of you has failed the discipline test and penetrated one of our numbers, who was It ?”. I looked at Micky and said sorry mate and quickly shouted , ” Micky did It In 89 ” !.
This Is going to be a “Hard” period for me but when the “Hardness” wears off any takers ?
Still Arsenal are there and always will be.
Red Arse. If you understand the rules, you are ahead of 99.9% of the players and spectators and 110% of the Ref’s and I kid you not.
I’m in the Man City camp. Anyone but ManUre win the league.
Oops, should have been ” rest 6 days”, but I`m used to the ” Award Winning” 8 day weeks in cornwall !
and then use that fact to try and lure more of our players away, No thanks VCC, I can live with old red nose doing it, he has at least over the years built teams without continuously seducing his competitors with unearned money, nor has he purchased players he doesnt need to stop others getting them.
One of our proudest claims is that our club has class, shouldnt Arsenal fans show some by accepting that we will be beaten sometimes by good sides with clever managers, who although buying some experience also incporporate talented youngsters in their squad City isnt one of those, Ferguson certainly is.
GM, you cheeky sodski. 🙂
We tend to put the country after the city/town name to differentiate it, because in the US there are any number of “Paris’s” or “London’s” for that matter, and I would hate you to think it was Paris, Illinois, (a very nice city 🙂 ) sometimes there is more than one Paris in a given State. 🙂
OOP’s was not suggesting you lack class. VCC
Dandan, I do try and work out what the ref in Rugby is blowing up for, and realized that it is in reality simply organized chaos. 🙂
The ref today, Alain Rolande, while having a French name, speaking fluent French and having French parents is apparently …………..Irish!!
How does that work? 🙂 Bit like the rules, really.
None-the-less I am growing to love these whacko games of cricket and rugby which are quintessentially English and part of your great heritage!! 🙂
Hi Glicster, 🙂
It was possibly the victualler at the Tavern, together with the boss of Alcoholics Anonymous who complained about the man from Cornwall, in the company of a telescope wielding accountant, accosting pub customers and asking them if they were Lessers or worse, did they belong to AA, and if not – why not! 🙂
TMHT + GLiC 2:27. What’s all this bull shit? This is THE best forum site in the universe. Enhanced by you (and many others) two guys. I promise if you leave I will hunt you both down and stamp a cannon on your foreheads. OK, sometimes the language is a bit heavy, but you would sooner hear this than be deaf. keep it up. When I’m not working I always tune in on this site.
Got to go! Nite all. 🙂
RA
We all know that. It’s still funny though. I couldn’t Imagine England playing France in Paris, Texas though.
Stick at it RA if you live to be a hundred you might begin to understand, we certainly dont
Red Arse , I think you’ll find the referee today was Welsh.
Reblogged this on Gervinho27's Blog.
Red Arse, I have got Into Rugby Union the past several years. Like you, I struggle to understand the decisions sometimes made. For fear of being controversial, I seriously think it depends on the nationality of the the referees (interpretations).
Hi VCC, 🙂
Then who is this Irish imposter? 🙂
Alain Colm Pierre Rolland (born 22 August 1966) is an Irish rugby union referee and former player.
During his playing days as a scrum-half, Rolland earned three caps for Ireland.
Rolland retired as a player at the start of the professional era and began refereeing, with his first Test appointment coming on 19 September 2001 when Wales beat Romania 81-9 at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.
This is well worth a read.
http://www.newcastleunited.us/2012/03/ba-van-persie-and-carroll-a-tale-of-three-strikers-044.html
VCC,
I am supposed to be gone! 🙂
This is a bit more on Roland.
Born in Dublin, 22nd August 1966.
As an ex-pro who is fluent in both English and French, it is hardly surprising that Alain Rolland is considered a model match offical.
Rolland, the son of a French father, was a scrum-half of some repute in his playing days. He made over 40 appearances for Leinster and also earned three caps for Ireland.
Don’t blame the Welsh. 🙂 Really gone now. Bon soir!
Admin of AA. I have had a referendum, votes for and against banning or keeping GLiC and Merry Terry. These are the votes for the “True Arsenal supporters” panel.
Slinging the blasphemous smelly morons off the site 3.
Keeping the humungously funny and entertainly stupid idiots = Far too many to count.
Sorry Red Arse, I thought the ref was Welsh.
Rocky,
Bloody difficult to argue with any of that 🙂
Great read, thank you.
Sorry not around, but you need to make the most of the sun when the little bugger decides to put in a rare appearence.
Must off again.
Nite all.
On the Egg Chasing I don’t mind watching it. What I like is that for 99.9% of the time the players play with what can only be described as good manners. Penalty calls are accepted, the referee explains his decision, the captain can politely discuss it, clarify what the red didn’t like and tell his charge not to do it again, or at least to not get caught at it.
Because the ref explains the decision because the commentators are knowledgable (except Brian Moore) the fans or even the casual observer like me can also learn the rules, without being informed by clueless bias tripe or “experts” who don’t know the laws of the game as we have to put up with in football.
One of my first senior coaches encouraged his children to take up rugby over football, why? Because coaching from young was better, teams were coached in size groups (avoiding the freak of nature steam rollering his age group), rules were gradually introduced, to start no offsides, no ruck etc, and then gradually the various rules are introduced as the players progress. And what he thought was the best thing as soon as a preset point gap (say 30 points) was opened up the game was over. This stopped the equivalent 15-0 thrashings that are so often seen in football at younger levels.
I still love football more though.
VCC,
Stop luring me back!! 🙂
–“Slinging the blasphemous smelly morons off the site 3.”
That’s a bit harsh.
Terry tells me they both use Glic’s award winning Cornish special pheromone after shave concoction!! 🙂
Hi Rocky, another post that hits high altitudes 🙂 ‘One swallow does not make a porn star’! Did you write that whilst looking at a Britney Spears look-a-like stewardess?! 🙂
You are so right re the SOPINL storyline bollocks. Fact is that the PL needs an Arsene’s Arsenal to keep honest quality football in this country. Even Arsene was surprised when he won the manager of the month award last month….
Red Arse. 7:55. Wait till they find out it was you and your two drunken comrades that voted them off.
Leave the country, they know your post code. Also with a telescope as clever and long range as TMHT , watch it.
Hi guys,
Let me just put this all to rest if I may. We receive hundreds of emails every week to arsenalnuts. Some are trying to get links, some wanting to advertise on the site or sell us something and some are from bloggers unhappy about something they’ve read or just telling us we are not running the site properly.
If we receive more than one email on any aspect we have to take some notice. We try to keep it all behind the scenes and will email a blogger if we want to raise a point with them rather than air it in comments.
99% of what goes on in the blog is fantastic. The humour and banter is absolutely a big part of what makes the site tick and long may it continue. No-one is in the doghouse over this and we certainly don’t want to lose any of you over such a small thing. As we’ve said many times its your site, but we have to try to make it acceptable to all who visit us. It is an incontrovertible fact that you can’t please all the people all the time.
All we would ask is when the subject matter involves bodily functions or parts of the female anatomy, you should just ask yourselves ‘would I like my mum to read this?’ before you hit the send button, and if the answer is no – just change it a tad for safety’s sake.
Given todays post I thought some might enjoy this article written on the morning of the NL DERBY. Enjoy
Power shift
Arsenal go into today’s derby struggling to keep pace with a Spurs side chasing their first double over the Gunners in 19 years
One team are the most attractive in the country, whose players are coveted by the world’s best clubs, whose manager is almost universally feted, and whose ambition is beating Mancunian rivals to the Premier League title. The other are an under-achieving, apparently unstable outfit, with a beleaguered boss and bewildered fans. It has been that way for years — except now the identities have flipped. Tottenham Hotspur are the young darlings of football, Arsenal the punchline to old jokes.
A British man has given birth for the first time in history. Ann Widdecombe is now a gameshow host. The world changes. Tottenham have become Arsenal and Arsenal have become Spurs. Today’s North London derby is billed “the biggest in years”. Aren’t they always? Except this time the hype might be right: victory would all but guarantee Tottenham finish higher than Arsenal in the table for the first time in 17 years.
In truth, a shift in power has been under way for some time. Tottenham are unbeaten in their last four North London derbies, winning three. Arsenal were unbeaten in the previous 20, in a period of dominance stretching from March 2000 to October 2009. This season, however, is when the change of momentum really feels like it has gathered pace. Tottenham, having not done so since 1995-96, are outscoring Arsenal in the league (just). There is a pleasing spread of goals in Harry Redknapp’s side, with the almost equal contributions of Jermain Defoe, Gareth Bale, Emmanuel Adebayor and Rafael van der Vaart a tribute to ensemble attacking play. That used to be Arsenal’s forte but now Arsène Wenger is in a situation where if Robin van Persie (28 goals) gets injured his next top scorer is Theo Walcott (six).
“We were once the underdogs but the results over the last few years have gone our way and maybe the boot is on the other foot,” said Michael Dawson. “This is a different feeling to anything we’ve had here before. The team are flying. We’re third in the league, well into the season, and deserve to be there.” What terrifies Arsenal supporters is the fear that this role reversal could be long-term. Wenger did nothing to cheer them — or his own, patently subdued self — up in his pre-match briefing. Initially defiant noises gave way to a plaintive treatise on Arsenal’s fiscal constraints. It did not sound like his meeting with Stan Kroenke, the club’s owner, had inspired optimism that the pattern of recent years — top players outgrowing the wage structure and departing to spoil squad evolution — is going to change.
“I believe there was a rupture in the building of our team. Last year we were very, very close to the top and there was a rupture with losing [Cesc] Fabregas, [Samir] Nasri and [Jack] Wilshere. We could compete with anybody in Europe with our midfield and none of them played, so we had to rebuild,” Wenger said.
“Look, we are in the same situation Europe is. Greece is bankrupt through a lot of mistakes but it is the citizen in the street who will pay. We are in the position where we run the model with our own resources — and to compete with the top-level teams, our fans pay the ticket. At a high price, I understand, but despite that we are far behind the top teams wages-wise and at the end of the day our fans pay for it.”
To the suggestion made by the respected Arsenal Supporters Trust (AST) that the club actually have £50m available to spend on transfers and his complaints about finances are simply to mask his fear of spending it, Wenger reacted strongly. “It’s not true. What is unbelievable is that we run the model like it should be and we look crazy. We spend one pound when we make one pound what are they doing? It is absolutely mad. The whole world is bankrupt because of that.”
Uncomfortably, though, Tottenham have a lower wage bill, their fans pay less for tickets and yet they are doing better. The acumen of Daniel Levy is putting Kroenke under pressure and Redknapp’s talent is raising awkward questions about Wenger. Walcott and Bale were contemporaries at Southampton’s academy and Wenger elected to sign Walcott. Why is it that, now, Bale is the one who has developed better? How come Benoit Assou-Ekotto is turning out a more important player than another young French full-back who moved to London a few years ago, Bacary Sagna? Why is Luka Modric, not Tomas Rosicky, the best eastern European playmaker? Hasn’t Scott Parker improved Tottenham more than Mikel Arteta has Arsenal?
AST believe the renegotiating of Arsenal’s major commercial contracts — with Nike and Emirates, both up for renewal in 2014 — will be a watershed moment. A survey has revealed playing style and tradition are the main things sponsors perceive as attractive about Arsenal yet they are slipping away from being the most stylish side in North London, never mind England or Europe. And as if the fact Sir Alex Ferguson now loves him wasn’t bad enough, now Redknapp is calling for Wenger to stay.
Spurs fans also harbour fears:that this turnaround could end if Redknapp departs to manage England, though there is a quietly growing hope he might still be manager in 2012-13. Kyle Walker is a doubt for today after turning an ankle in training and his absence would leave Redknapp without a recognised right-back to face the in-form Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Younes Kaboul is in line to fill in, with Ledley King and Dawson paired in the centre.
Much of the attention will be on Adebayor, who is poised to start a game at the Emirates stadium for the first time since quitting Arsenal in 2009. “I’ve played against him. He’s a big, strong boy, quick and you know you’re going to be in a game,” Dawson said. “Ade is a mentally strong guy, he has been at places and had abuse before, and I’m sure on Sunday he’ll stay mentally strong.” Both clubs have appealed for good behaviour and Redknapp has voiced condemnation of chants directed against Adebayor in October’s derby at White Hart Lane. However, the reprise of a song Spurs fans were singing after Arsenal lost 8-2 at Old Trafford — “one Arsène Wenger” — would sound almost as cruel.
Hi dandan, I discussed that article with Pat Rice (I’m such a name dropper 😳 ) the day after the game and we had a good laugh over it.
I would enjoy that Rasp. He is one i have not met…… the club were going to tell the young Pat he wouldnt make it, but he was such a tryer and would put in extra training on his own each day that they gave him another chance. The rest as they say is history. 🙂
Dandan, something very similar was said about the young Gary Neville. He wasn’t blessed with great technique but just worked so hard and was always 100% committed to his football and built a very successful career on it. I actually hated playing against Neville as he had an uncanny knack of being able to commit multiple fouls but always just below ‘yellow card level’ and used to get away with blue murder.
Rasp Thats how the Reyes got destroyed by him and his brother
I dont know if you saw Pat play, but he had a habbit when he had seen a winger off a couple of times of making a very rude gesture with a clenched fist at waist level. Naughty boy
Superb read Rocky, proving the point that you can’t have too many posts that put the tinies in their place.
I was more annoyed with Reyes for not finding a way round them………..Henry always managed to find a way to put them in their place.
Pat Rice and Neville were both stoppers first. Footballers second. I commented after the Milan game how good Neville was in commentary, to play the level he did with his lack of technical ability comes down understanding the game tactically.
DD Pat Rice must have taught that gesture to RvP before the LFC game 🙂
Rasp is it possible to add “spoiler” code to the HTML? Sometimes it’s used on film/gaming sites where people are discussing the subject but don’t want others to read certain bits of they haven’t finished the film/game, maybe we could use it as a “sensitive eyes look away now” feature. 🙂
In seriousness both you and Peaches do a marvellous job running this site and it must be difficult negotiating the balance. As always we are in your debt for providing us this little haven of sanity and a place to make our voices heard.
very well said GiE, without this site a lot of us would go insane
it is amazing how gael clichy was seen as a liability at arsenal yet now he’s at city the pundits think he is one of the best performers at LB in the league.
@ Dandan
that article is a complete joke. I loved this comment especially:
‘How come Benoit Assou-Ekotto is turning out a more important player than another young French full-back who moved to London a few years ago, Bacary Sagna?’
hahahaha better than Sagna?! that comment sums up the article really
I know this is an Arsenal site, but just watched MOTD. Seriously something has to be done here, Manchester United have every decision go their way.
Do the FA watch(vet) these games?
Thanks GiE, much appreciated – a Peroni coming your way next time we ‘Tavern’ together.
I don’t think they do VCC. I think they are very naive to everything and sweep everything under the rug. Look at the dives against us, clearly dives but is anything done about it? They get away with murder that lot. In Aussie Rules Football over here we have an Umpiring director who goes over every match and answers questions with the media giving his stand point on controversial decisions. If the Umpire in question made a big error, or a few little ones, he can be suspended and sent to the seconds until he tidies up a bit. The fans pay too much money for games to be decided by poor decisions. Some of the refs in our league have been costing us for years!
Hi oz, we’re having a bit of trouble with your title for tomorrow. I understand the musical link but it doesn’t really connect with the text – had you any other ideas? …… What do you think of ‘Playing Catchup’ with your title under the photo?
Agreed VCC. Am I alone in thinking that Ashley Young went down far too easily to earn United their pen? But then an English United player taking a tumble at OT is rarely criticised by pundits, not like when Jonny Foreigner does it playing for someone else.
of course Rasp, your the boss, whatever you think is best is fine by me.
The reference to the title was only to do with Arsene leaving behind the Pardew Curse and Arsenal leaving behind Newcastle in the race for top 4.
Change it in whatever way
Ah, I see “To Tavern” has now officailly become a verb
I tavern
You tavern (informal)
Nous tavernons
Vous tavernez (formal)
Ils/Elles tavernent
Taverned obviously being the past participle.
I got absolutely taverned last night
Guess who is killing time?
How is Garth Crooksallowed to write drivel for the BBC.
I only read first two players of his team of the week:
“Bogdan: I don’t for one minute blame Bogdan for the goal that should have been. It is his job to keep the ball out of the net. It’s the officials’ job to determine whether it is over the line or not. ”
Actually Garth it’s his job to stop it crossing the line.
“Neville: He still possesses the ability to tackle hard and fair. Very few modern-day defenders can do.”
Hard yes, fair? When he wants to.
Altho I’ll forgive him both as he also picked Myachi, and produced this stat:
“Miyaichi created seven goalscoring chances (including one assist). There have only been three instances of more in an entire Premier League season.”
Bloody impressive stats for the young man.
VCC
That’s why I’d have city win the league. the mancs have cheated thier way to it for too long
Morning all,
Oooo its hotting up in the race for top four spots. Newcastle will definately still fancy their chances as a win tonight would put them just three behind Chavs.
Also, only two goals between Spuds, Us and Chavs in terms of goal difference so a good chance one of the final positions could be decided on that.
So 4-0 tonight then.
Horrible thought:
From my very scientific observations, why do we so often screw up when the fans are at their most optimistic?
Revised prediction:
Arsenal 0-4 Newcastle.
Micky,
Do you want a bag of those Arsenal bits and pieces this evening?
If so, maybe a backpack would be a good idea.
I understand if you don’t want to lug anything about.
Morning Micky, when the fans are most optimistic also tends to be when the team can be over confident.
I would actually be satisfied with a draw tonight, a win would be icing and the cherry.
I’ve got no expectations for tonight.
The game is an unknown play to be scripted in motion.
That’s what makes it so exciting.
All we can do is roar them on and hope for the best.
Chas,
Brilliant that you have not given up on us. I could bring one, but would prefer it if you could hang on to them until I come with Oscar, which will hopefully be Villa.
I would like him to get them directly from you, quite apart from the fact that I won’t be coming straight home after the game tonight.
.
GiE,
Although I think Newcastle will win ( 🙂 ), I want cherries!
Micky,
Fair enough, got a hot date? 🙂
The atmosphere should be crackling like an electrical storm in Jamaica tonight. I love night games.
Chas,
I stress I could easily bring one tonight if they are clogging up you youtube clip station. Nothing should get in the way of that 🙂
Chas,
There will be less of that kind of talk tonight if you don’t mind. I’m bringing my father in law!
Micky,
No rush at all, next time Oscar’s there will be fine.
I completely forgot who you were bringing, soz. 🙂
Gm 1:06.
I would prefer City over ManUre any time.
I simply hate Man U.
Have no fear Micky, Newcastle are cracking, they haven’t played since the 4th but that doesn’t matter we are used to it by now.
Toon will want to win and will come onto the attack, which plays into our hands because we will hit them on the break (Newcastle vulnerable on the break). Look for Walcott to find space in and behind Williamson (their weakest link, hes a lower level defender, and doesn’t bring the toughness that coloccini and taylor shared).
Be optimistic toon are not on our level (shown when the scum belted them 5-0 a couple of weeks ago)
Cheers Rocky for that. dandan’s was a chuckle as well. Tottenham & their fans r a laugh a minute.
I actually missed the shift in power, coz I blinked @ the time. But in all their huff & puff the highest they got 2 was 3rd.
My tip is, spuds will finish the season 6th 😆
MORNING ALL
One to enjoy with your cornflakes gentlemen
Manchester Utd pay penalty over tax deals for top players
Manchester United have settled a multimillion-pound tax bill on behalf of their star players including Wayne Rooney, The Times has learnt.
The resolution by the Premier League champions of a dispute with Revenue & Customs (HMRC) over image rights payments signals a lessening of hostilities between football and the taxman that has spanned nearly a decade.
HMRC has focused on clubs in England’s top league over what it considers tax avoidance of millions of pounds. It reached fever pitch in recent weeks with the collapse of Rangers under liabilities of up to £75 million and the tax evasion trial of Harry Redknapp, the Tottenham Hotspur manager, who was acquitted on all charges.
The crackdown is on schemes that allow a player to receive a proportion of his salary as image rights in a separate company, in some cases offshore, which incurs significantly lower rates of tax. The payments are made in exchange for the club using the player’s image for promotional work.
While legal, HMRC believes that many players have exploited the system to avoid paying the top rate of income tax, which was raised to 50 per cent two years ago. A 2010 court case between Rooney and his former agent revealed that the 26-year-old striker received £1.5 million a year in image rights under his old contract with United. This represented nearly a quarter of his £6.2 million salary at the time.
While HMRC has accepted that a player of Rooney’s stature could command substantial image rights fees, the debate has been about what constitutes a reasonable proportion of total salary.
This remains a grey area, although there will be closer monitoring of the number of promotional appearances a player makes for his club to ensure that the amount ascribed is at least representative. Rugby union is thought to have agreed a cap, which would be harder to implement in football.
There have also been questions about the legitimacy of such a tax structure for lesser known players at smaller clubs. The Portsmouth administration case in 2010 revealed that the defender Sol Campbell’s deal on image rights was worth £1.56 million a year. United is not expected to reveal the terms of its settlement in its next set of accounts but it is understood to be less than the £6.4 million declared last year by Chelsea.
In a bond issue prospectus two years ago, United said its potential tax exposure was £5.3 million but this related to national insurance contributions. The club, like most in the professional leagues, is covered by an indemnity clause in players’ contracts against claims by the tax authorities over image rights. This would require the player to reimburse the club. However, it is unclear whether clubs would pursue the debt or write it off.
Manchester United’s deal with HMRC, which was negotiated separately from a Premier League agreement covering 16 clubs and based on turnover, means that most of the top 20 English teams have settled tax liabilities from 2004 to 2010. HMRC said it would continue to negotiate with clubs yet to settle, which include Manchester City.
Some feel that sport is an easy target. “It should be remembered that in the 2011-12 season the Premier League is likely to contribute in excess of £1 billion to the Exchequer,” Pete Hackleton, a senior tax manager in the Sports & Entertainment Group at Saffery Champness, said.
Face value boosts pay
Eric Cantona was among the first of the foreign imports to recognise the value of his image off the field. The money for image rights is paid into a company set up by the player, which is liable for corporation tax of up to 26 per cent instead of income tax at the top rate of 50 per cent. Some structures allow for a director’s loan from the company to the player, which is liable for only 2 per cent tax as a benefit in kind. The top rate kicks in only when the loan is written off.
When it comes to cashing in the proceeds of an image rights company, capital gains tax can be avoided by a player living abroad for three years and paying the money to himself as a dividend.
In 2000 HMRC lost a case against Dennis Bergkamp and David Platt who argued that image rights were bona fide commercial payments. Under greater scrutiny, however, clubs will have to account for individual appearances of players on behalf of their sponsors.
Chas
Your 6:50 is so poetic it is reminiscent of a Japanese Haiku poem, and deserves to be produced again!!! 🙂
— “I’ve got no expectations for tonight.
The game is an unknown play to be scripted in motion.
That’s what makes it so exciting.
All we can do is roar them on and hope for the best.
Excellent! 🙂
Here’s one I spent several seconds composing!! 🙄
Arsenal score
Spuds tremble
Back to the swamp
Haha, cheers, RA.
Must be matchday. 🙂
Humble Pie time:
A win,Tyneside
Fans are rather scary
Team not so much
DD we have already paid out over our liability a few years ago. I think Liverpool are bricking it over theirs at the moment, but their liability includes the wage loans (that are never repaid) that have cost Rangers so dear…..one of the Tax Experts (RA) might know more, but I believe the wage loan schemes were frowned upon a lot more by HMRC than the Image Rights….I think due to the Image Rights being a bit of a grey area and the Loans being a reasonable tax law that was exploited by football clubs.
Cheers GIE, have a happy Working 🙂
One things for sure DD all PL players agents, accountants and lawyers get very rich from what is a simple game. It’s this money that leaves the game via these structures that hurts football down the pyramid. I wonder just how much the player gains when taking all the fees off, and I wonder how many actually thought about it when they started kicking the ball around for fun in the park.
Take Rooney, he could probably retire at the end of this season and never worry again about money about the media just walk away from it all. Even Theo with four/five years under his belt playing for us on a relatively small wage is probably sorted for life (if he has been sensible). Why do they continue to play, in the main i’d guess not for money. They do it for glory.
Perhaps Rooney does it to be able to afford £1000 a night grannies and £200 packs of Marlboro. 🙂
They do it for two reasons I think GIE One they have dreamed of it since they first kicked a ball, in most cases so have their parents.
Two they know no different and most of them have not got the education, knowledge or training to do anything else.
Could you imagine Rooney with all his obvious footballing skills, doing what Lineker, Neville and co do. Van Persie and Theo maybe both seem lucid and articulate. But they are exceptions
As for keeping on playing year on year, so many cannot handle the spare time and give all their money and more to the bookmakers or keep bad company and god knows where it goes so are forced to move down the league’s
Morning all
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