Why The Gooner so negative?

[kulastu]

Hello to one and all! My name is Stu, I'm 31 and have been reading The Gooner since 1990-91 season (I think I bought the first colour issue as it goes). I have read the Gooner regularly ever since. It used to be the premier Arsenal fanzine. The reason I have joined this forum is to find out if anyone is feeling the same about The Gooner as I am? For the last 2-3 years The Gooner has slowly but surely become more and more negative, when I read it these days it makes me spit blood at the amount of negativity there is! Does anyone else feel this? Is it just me or is The Gooner now the most negative fanzine in history? How can we expect to better the atmosphere at home games when our no 1 fanzine does nothing but put the club down all the time.... I long for the day of picking up The Gooner and it actually bringing a smile to my face once again. I have actually boycotted the publication since Xmas last year because it's more anti Arsenal than the normal media (ok I going too far now but just trying to make the point). Anyone would think when they read the Gooner (and also most of the online articles) that we have been close to relegation for the last 3 years! Please please please please can we have some positive articles this season? I may even start buying again if it went back to how it used to be instead of just filling the pages with people moaning over and over again. I love Arsenal; i thought The Gooner was supposed to as well. RANT OVER. Cheers.

[mrgnu1958]

im putting 1 of my Artistic pictures in the next edition matey.
That should liven it up for ya

[kulastu]

im putting 1 of my Artistic pictures in the next edition matey.
That should liven it up for ya

Nice one that's a start eh! hahaha!

[DB10GOONER]

Another one for the rose tinted brigade, so!! Augie is gonna love you, mate!!


Ha! Great first post BTW. I wouldn't agree that the Gooner is overly negative, just a bit more realistic than most other fanzines and any of the happy shit the club release. Probably because most of the contributors are of a generation that saw how truly aweful we can be, given half a chance!!

Still, you are entitled to your opinion and you won't get barred from here for expressing that opinion...

Welcome and enjoy the craic.

[REB]

maybe its you
the gooner just says it as it is, and if people want to write the truth then all the better,its not the official arsenal mag where the world of arsenal is full of joy and trophies, and the ruth is there is a fair bit wrong with the club and i for one enjoy reading proper writing by fellow gooners who aren't afraid of going against the grain

[DB10GOONER]

im putting 1 of my Artistic pictures in the next edition matey.
That should liven it up for ya

No you are fucking NOT mrgnu. No. No. No.

[SPUDMASHER]

Hello to one and all! My name is Stu, I'm 31 and have been reading The Gooner since 1990-91 season (I think I bought the first colour issue as it goes). I have read the Gooner regularly ever since. It used to be the premier Arsenal fanzine. The reason I have joined this forum is to find out if anyone is feeling the same about The Gooner as I am? For the last 2-3 years The Gooner has slowly but surely become more and more negative, when I read it these days it makes me spit blood at the amount of negativity there is! Does anyone else feel this? Is it just me or is The Gooner now the most negative fanzine in history? How can we expect to better the atmosphere at home games when our no 1 fanzine does nothing but put the club down all the time.... I long for the day of picking up The Gooner and it actually bringing a smile to my face once again. I have actually boycotted the publication since Xmas last year because it's more anti Arsenal than the normal media (ok I going too far now but just trying to make the point). Anyone would think when they read the Gooner (and also most of the online articles) that we have been close to relegation for the last 3 years! Please please please please can we have some positive articles this season? I may even start buying again if it went back to how it used to be instead of just filling the pages with people moaning over and over again. I love Arsenal; i thought The Gooner was supposed to as well. RANT OVER. Cheers.

You can't say things like that around here

Kev, TS, IHH and the rest of the mods (including rebel) will be round to sort you out don't ya know.

In fairness, I think the perceived negativity is a direct result of reading other fanciful publications filled with propaganda manufactured by the club itself. The Gooner doesn't fit in with the clubs "the whole world is rosy so come and pay us £8k for a ticket to watch our under 12's" ideals. It tells it as it is, wart 'n all. Personally I don't want to read about how fabulous everything is when we all know it isn't. I don't want to be spoon fed more lies by the a***holes that are running the club I love.
Admittedly, there should be a bit more light hearted stuff in there too. I've heard that there is going to be a new regular feature called "Happy Days" that is being written by Augie. I'm looking forward to it.

[gus ceasar is a legend]

Not sure I agree with you there fella but even if the the fanzine is more negative surely that only follows the less then positive state the club has been in.

Only four years ago we was Invincibles where as now we are a club short on money and devoid of real depth and quality in our playing squad. Takeover talk, comings and goings at board level as well as massive PR disasters have more than taken the gloss off.

So maybe the fanzine is accurately reflecting the state of the club and the feelings of supporters. It is written by Gooners after all so I wouldn't think there is and hidden agenda with it.

Still plenty of humour and positivity in there!

Welcome mate but simply, if you don't like the content don't buy it!

[Rob]

Not sure I agree with you there fella but even if the the fanzine is more negative surely that only follows the less then positive state the club has been in.

Only four years ago we was Invincibles where as now we are a club short on money and devoid of real depth and quality in our playing squad. Takeover talk, comings and goings at board level as well as massive PR disasters have more than taken the gloss off.

So maybe the fanzine is accurately reflecting the state of the club and the feelings of supporters. It is written by Gooners after all so I wouldn't think there is and hidden agenda with it.

Still plenty of humour and positivity in there!

Welcome mate but simply, if you don't like the content don't buy it!

Well put Gus.

Face it Kul, if you want unremitting 'puff' read the club programme. Nothing negative there. But how close it is to reality and what the average fan thinks is another matter ?


Two very good articles in the current Gooner by the Highbury Spy - whose somewhat intemperate approach I don't always agree with, but this time he does have a point.

And another excellent piece by Jon Spurling who wrote 'Highbury The Story of Arsenal in London N5'.

There always seems to me to be something in the Gooner to make you think.

[kulastu]

Not sure I agree with you there fella but even if the the fanzine is more negative surely that only follows the less then positive state the club has been in.

Only four years ago we was Invincibles where as now we are a club short on money and devoid of real depth and quality in our playing squad. Takeover talk, comings and goings at board level as well as massive PR disasters have more than taken the gloss off.

So maybe the fanzine is accurately reflecting the state of the club and the feelings of supporters. It is written by Gooners after all so I wouldn't think there is and hidden agenda with it.

Still plenty of humour and positivity in there!


I agree with your comments, I'm not saying I want it to be all sweetness and light, far from that. I just want some positive stuff written, a fine example is that of Emmanuel Eboue, not my fav player by any stretch of imagination - he was awful last season - but after one game a centre midfield hge gets slated. Sorry but I thought Eboue had a good game Saturday - infact it isn't a thought it's fact. So why are poeple moaning when he plays ok? That is the sort of negativity I want rid of. I want people to say what they think of course but let's try and go against the grain and be positive when it is required. It is so easy to be negative, just read the papers. But we finished 3rd last season 4 points behind ManUre, Hleb has gone and Nasri is in which I think will more than make up those 4 points as he is so much more direct than the Hlebster. I honestly think we can challenge again this season - no I KNOW we can challenge for the title this season. All I'm saying is if we had a bit more of a positive outlook maybe we could improve the atmosphere at home games cos Saturday was terrinble. I know the Stewards don't help with the making you sit down even if you are in the back row - which is me - but if we were all up on our feet making a noise they couldn't say anything. I just think the negativity has gone a bit far now and is reflecting in the crowd. The Gooner can help improve this. Not by lying but just by being a little bit more positive. Ie comment on positive things as well as the negatives.
One other thing: how do people on here feel about Ian Wright? His comments the other week about DR7 turning in his grave at what is happening at the Arse was a disgrace. I think Rocky would be well proud of the younger players coming thro.

Welcome mate but simply, if you don't like the content don't buy it!

[DB10GOONER]

Wrighty got slated on here for his comments about Rocky. And rightly so.

[REB]

and of course we are all sweetness and light on here

[DB10GOONER]

Not sure I agree with you there fella but even if the the fanzine is more negative surely that only follows the less then positive state the club has been in.

Only four years ago we was Invincibles where as now we are a club short on money and devoid of real depth and quality in our playing squad. Takeover talk, comings and goings at board level as well as massive PR disasters have more than taken the gloss off.

So maybe the fanzine is accurately reflecting the state of the club and the feelings of supporters. It is written by Gooners after all so I wouldn't think there is and hidden agenda with it.

Still plenty of humour and positivity in there!

Welcome mate but simply, if you don't like the content don't buy it!

Well put Gus.

Face it Kul, if you want unremitting 'puff' read the club programme. Nothing negative there. But how close it is to reality and what the average fan thinks is another matter ?


Two very good articles in the current Gooner by the Highbury Spy - whose somewhat intemperate approach I don't always agree with, but this time he does have a point.

And another excellent piece by Jon Spurling who wrote 'Highbury The Story of Arsenal in London N5'.

There always seems to me to be something in the Gooner to make you think.

I think you'll find there is a fantastic article about mercenary players in there too...

"Insightful... original... brilliant... groundbreaking... genius..."

Just some of the words used by Arsene Wenger to describe that article. Wenger's words, not mine...

[gus ceasar is a legend]

I really do not understand what most of that has to do with The Gooner?

The perception about Eboue is based on his performances last year added to the fact he is a coward and a cheat!

Your views on how the addition of players will make up the points gap is fine if that is what you believe but why not write into the fanzine and express your thoughts there?

You ask why The Gooner is not being more positive but what are you doing yourself to help with this? Not a lot from what I can see!

[Basil is a Gooner]

DB10 - are you Alex Fynn?

Seriously, the Gooner is a realistic publication that prints what Gooners submit (I know this has been said).

There are always "glass half full" and "glass half empty" articles.

Plus we need something to be postive about.