Early leavers are not fit to wear the replica shirt (11/4)

Post by **gooner.ed** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 10:59 am

usual thread starter... i suspect we will continue getting correspondence on this issue as long as it's a problem. basically there are too many people wanting to get away without spending time in the stadium or the surrounding area after full time. so some bolt early. funny thing is, if everyone did leave at the same time, then everyone would still probably get away as quickly, but those furthest from the exits would be further back in the queue for the train. and they don't want to wait. or does everyone leaving early need to get to work for the saturday evening shift? have a drink in the pub! eat a bag of chips! watch arsenal tv's post match show! go visit the massage parlour within spitting distance of the armoury! the options you have to while away 30 minutes until the queues are gone are limitless!

Rajweb · Post by **Rajweb** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 12:03 pm

I've always shared this view but recently I'm not so sure. My view on it has always been, you've bought the ticket to support your team so stay there and do it until the final whistle blows. While I know that I won't stop doing this, I really don't blame the people who do leave early. We pay so much money to go and watch a team who only frustrate us and make us miserable for the rest of the week. We cheer them on while they waste chance after chance and for our troubles we are treated with a horrible tube journey back home. It's not as if the people who left early on Saturday missed anything. At least they got to sit on the tube. Personally I think the early leavers are more fit to wear the replica shirt than some of the useless jokers who wear the actual shirt and run around on the pitch.

stearmaster · Post by **stearmaster** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 12:07 pm

rajweb, thats poo, i left at the final whistle and got a seat on the tube, and i didnt go to a pub or nething left on FT and straight home bia tube and BR train on both, no need to leave early in my mind

WGC Gooner67 · Post by **WGC Gooner67** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 12:21 pm

Get your facts right NO rail problems? Try living north of Finsbury Park. If you did you would know of the problems us fans are having No trains running between Stevenage and Barnet as your not aware this makes travel difficult for some of us. I agree with you fans should stay til the end but before you say everything in the garden is rosey please get your facts right.

GoonerBen · Post by **GoonerBen** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 1:37 pm

I NEVER leave early but always leave straight at final whistle and almost without exception, every single game i queue for about 10 minutes at the absolute most to get into Highbury and Islington station and the rest is a pretty standard tube journey to get back to my place in north london. Unless your a fan heading to the back of beyond like warwickshire then there is NO excuse to leave that early.

When you do get caught up in that police blocking roads shit then it maybe takes an extra 20 mins, half hour but if you live in london, come on thats pretty standard to add onto a journey especially on a bloody staurday.

STAY AND SUPPORT THE TEAM, THEY NEED A 12TH MAN NOt A RAPIDLY EMPTYING BOWL FULL OF PrAWNS!

mjstones · Post by **mjstones** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 2:07 pm

I agree that people should stay til the end. Why pay the money to watch a game and then leave before it finishes???? You wouldn't do it in the cinema. I live in Hull and whenever we can me an my mate come down to watch the game and we ALWAYS stay. I dont even think i've left the pub early during an arsenal game. It reflects badly on the club and the team. Old trafford has such a good atmosphere and so does anfield. They dont empty with 15 minutes to go. Early leavers, chill out, have a post match chat and a beer. Whats the rush? PS Just read an article that says our new american shareholder likes to spend money if needed. He seems to genuinely like sport aswell.

Gooner_mojo · Post by **Gooner_mojo** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 2:24 pm

Totally agree with this article.

Some of our supporters are a disgrace. Part-timers, new breed, prawnies, whatever you want to call them, they are a complete embarassment. I started a thread about this issue after the mass exodus at the end of the PSV game. But on Saturday there was no excuse whatsoever to leave early. Our unbeaten record at the new stadium was under threat, and the team needed our support right till the very end. Don't people realise our support can give the team an extra 10% or more in their performance level. But no, everyone walks out when we're only 1-0 down against west ham. A goal at the end might have come if we gave the team that extra bit of support, that wouldn't got a us a crucial point in the race for 4th and kept out unbeaten home record. Walking out early just says to the players - 'we give up on you'.

Rilo II · Post by **Rilo II** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 3:42 pm

I'd love to hear all the excuses for why the stadium is half empty 5 minutes before half time.

If getting a seat on a tube, not queueing at the station or for a beer at half time is more important than whats going on on the pitch, then you shouldn't be at the game. I find it incredibly selfish that people know they won't watch a whole match will still get a ticket or season ticket and stop someone who will stay unil the end. If staying means it takes longer to get home so be it. After Villa away recently, an hour after leaving the car park I could still see the stadium, the traffic was so bad. I got home at 3,30 and got up again at 6 for work. It was hard, but that's the price I paid for following my team. I'm sure one late night a week / fortnight isn't that hard to take if it means watching your team til the end. I'm sure seeing Henry's winner against united made getting home an hour later worthwhile.

As I said, if supporting your team is causing enough inconvenience that it means you wont stay til the end, don't be so selfish and let someone else have the oportunity to support the team they love.

donaldo · Post by **donaldo** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 3:50 pm

Great article

I go back to the Blackburn cup game which kicked off at 12.30pm. These so called fans were leaving with 10 mins to go.What was their excuse for leaving? the score was 0-0 they couldnt use the i had to catch last train one which is always dragged up.The game ended at 2.20 pm!!!

How do you think the players feel when the stadium is a quarter empty with 10 mins to go with the game level. The Bolton game kicks off at 3pm can someone give me a reason why these fans have to leave at 4.35pm.There is no excuse for ever leaving early.

MK Gould · Post by **MK Gould** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 5:21 pm

I have a suggestion. This week lets not just let our neighbours say cheerio at 1640. Stop them & ask why they are leaving early and then we can all report back on Sunday with our findings. What do you think?

Maybe 38000 capacity at Highbury was not enough, but 60000 at the Grove is too many. Maybe some of those going this season are just there because they can afford to be or are curious, but maybe they aren't that committed (didn't we have similar problems at Wembley...)? Maybe the 2nd or 3rd season at the Grove will see these "fans" drift away. Maybe, it would even do us a favour if we speeded up their departure by having a couple of indifferent seasons? Maybe UEFA cup next year would help?

stearmaster · Post by **stearmaster** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 7:53 pm

im gonna stop some1 and ask y r u leaving 5 mins before then end, and

Gooner_mojo

What do u mean by newbie???

if u mean a newbie as in gettin to more games then they did last season then im a newbie as i have only just become a member coz i finally have a job and can offord it, and i stay till the end, and sing my bollox off till the end, and even walkin down to the station i do......COMMON U GUNNERS!!!!

MK Gould · Post by **MK Gould** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 7:41 am

Stearmaster, you are excluded from the survey. Given that you are sitting in with the Bolton fans then I'd be delighted if they felt the need to leave early!!!