As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
Everytime I see Paul Merson talk to the press, he seems to be either extremely positively unrealistic about Arsenal, or the other extreme .. the man knows no middle ground. Currently he is waering his negative garb, and he is spewing some terribly pessimistic assessment of Arsenal ...
Does this man have no brains ? Can he not see that his opinions can create doubts on the youngsters at Arsenal .. especially, as confidence is the only thing in question for them, because we know for sure they are skilled. If he supports arsenal, his opinions should be expresssed intelligently .. so, its not about his disagreeing with whats going on, but the general extreme manner of his comments ...
Please, please, please someone tell this tosser to shut the fuck up (pardon my french) ... I don't remember him being so invisible in his days anyways .. perhaps he is back on the wagon .. yes ?
I agree merse hasn't been the most positive talkers of arsenal in recent years, but i feel ur comments are a little 'exaggerated' considering the lad was a terrace favourite and to some extent a legend for the club. Everyone has a right to speak their mind, and merse does, whether he thinks about it first or not, and prob says things he shouldnt' - lets be honest if he was a great thinker, or had a greater iq, he would prob still be managing.
As for his negative comments affecting the players (currently on tour), i somehow doubt it affects them that much - or in other words, would you read comments merse had to say about u if u played for arsenal? prob not, and besides i think the coaching staff and players are clever enuff to brush it off as mere garbage.
I personally disagree with many ex-gooners such as merse, winterburn, dixon, even henry and ljungberg publicly criticising the club, it might be what we need, but its certainly not the arsenal way.
read wat charlie nicholas has 2 say on the sky pages 2day .. he,s far more positive then merse ever is, think merse has this thing that he cant be nice 2 arsenal on sky our he,l lose hi cushy number,, in the arsenal mag [ which i buy 4 the kids, honest ] hes very pro arsenal,, guess whos ever payin him at the time
I think he might be back on the booze (Sorry Merson but..) because he seems to just follow the crowd last season chelski was his favs now its the mancs, now i don't listern to anything he says. I'm not saying he should say we will win the league and be the best i just think he souldn't be so negative about every little thing thats going on at arsenal. Also merson stop calling it highbury then strait away saying sorry emirates we know what you mean anyway
I'm extremely worried about this season and have no problems telling people that I am. Why can former players, who may now be supporters, not do the same? It just so happens that it's not my mates listening to Merson but TV cameras and journalists. He is well within his rights to speak out about the state of the Club.
tompfarrell wrote:Are we not all doing and feeling the same?
I'm extremely worried about this season and have no problems telling people that I am. Why can former players, who may now be supporters, not do the same? It just so happens that it's not my mates listening to Merson but TV cameras and journalists. He is well within his rights to speak out about the state of the Club.
Merson was a gunner for many years, so I am sure he has internal contacts within the club ... The level of his recent critisms should be channeled through his link to the people who need to hear it and can act on it. Thats the problem .. not the level of critism, but the audience.
As per TomKingsbury's assertion that it would have no impact on players, this is untrue. Here is an arguably arsenal legend saying to the world that these guys are not good enough ... Don't forget these are younger, less experienced players who have not fully established themselves ... Putting negative focus on them is bound to increase the pressure on them and create doubts in their minds ... In my humble opinion, this is wrong and irrespensible on Merse's part ...
Last edited by gunners-need-steel on Thu Jul 26, 2007 6:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
He is a legend & could easily fit into a Arsenal XI
Shame he didn't stay longer really as he was 1 away from the 100 club & after a good season Wenger sells him & Hartson off
Maybe he still might be pissed off bout that god knows but if he's writing for the Arsenal mag & does the super saturday with Charlie Nic at least show some support
I'm losing respect for him fast