Hi the legendary Arsenal fans. Im doing a dissertation for my degree course and would be grateful if as many fans could answer my questions as possible
1. How long have you supported the club?
2. What reasons do you have for supporting Arsenal?
3.What is your opinion on the number of foreign players in English football?
4.Would you prefer Arsenal to play more english born players in their side and be less succesful as a club?
5. Do you think Arsenal should invest more money in their youth setup rather than buying foreign players?
Thanks again and I would be grateful for as many responses as possible.
Winning with foreigners?
Do we just answer in here??
Oh well I am anyway...
1. As long as I can remember...I'm 16 so....15? 14?
2. My dad is an Arsenal fan, has been his whole life. So it follows on.
3. I have no problem with it. If only English players were playing in the EPL then it wouldn't be the best domestic league in the world.
4. No.
5. We do invest in our youth system...haven't you noticed?
Oh well I am anyway...
1. As long as I can remember...I'm 16 so....15? 14?
2. My dad is an Arsenal fan, has been his whole life. So it follows on.
3. I have no problem with it. If only English players were playing in the EPL then it wouldn't be the best domestic league in the world.
4. No.
5. We do invest in our youth system...haven't you noticed?
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SPUDMASHER
- Posts: 10739
- Joined: Mon Feb 26, 2007 10:07 am
- Location: London Euston
- Contact:
1. 30 years now (I'm 39)
2. I was born just off the seven sisters road so it is my local club.
3. I don't think that there is a problem particularly. I think that it is something used by the media to excuse the weakness of national team. It is important to remember that England didn't win anything from 1966 to the foundation of the Premier League in 1992. We didn't have foreign players during that period so who's fault was it then?
4. Definitely not. I want my club to be successful. If we could do that with an exclusively English team then great but it is not realistic to expect it in this modern world. Those that call for exclusive English or limited foreign are simply xenophobic. Football clubs today have to operate as commercial businesses (except Chelsea). We have to select the best people for the job regardless of race, colour or creed. Nobody would comment on our policies if we were a legal firm or accountancy. It wouldn't matter to a soul if we were all chinese then. As a business Arsenal has the right to operate in whichever way it feels best to be successful (within the law). Any attempts to restrict the employment of foreign nationals could contravene european law.
5. Our youth set up is the most misunderstood organisation in football today. We have a tremendous youth structure at Arsenal and invest heavily in it. Many of the players in todays premiership/championship have come through that system, David Bentley is a perfect example. At the end of the day the cream will always rise to the top. Many of those that have come through our youth system but have not been deemed good enough to play for Arsenal are foreign players. It's not just English players.
Good luck with your studies
2. I was born just off the seven sisters road so it is my local club.
3. I don't think that there is a problem particularly. I think that it is something used by the media to excuse the weakness of national team. It is important to remember that England didn't win anything from 1966 to the foundation of the Premier League in 1992. We didn't have foreign players during that period so who's fault was it then?
4. Definitely not. I want my club to be successful. If we could do that with an exclusively English team then great but it is not realistic to expect it in this modern world. Those that call for exclusive English or limited foreign are simply xenophobic. Football clubs today have to operate as commercial businesses (except Chelsea). We have to select the best people for the job regardless of race, colour or creed. Nobody would comment on our policies if we were a legal firm or accountancy. It wouldn't matter to a soul if we were all chinese then. As a business Arsenal has the right to operate in whichever way it feels best to be successful (within the law). Any attempts to restrict the employment of foreign nationals could contravene european law.
5. Our youth set up is the most misunderstood organisation in football today. We have a tremendous youth structure at Arsenal and invest heavily in it. Many of the players in todays premiership/championship have come through that system, David Bentley is a perfect example. At the end of the day the cream will always rise to the top. Many of those that have come through our youth system but have not been deemed good enough to play for Arsenal are foreign players. It's not just English players.
Good luck with your studies
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Chunky The Gooner
- Posts: 2732
- Joined: Sun Sep 10, 2006 6:19 pm
- Location: The Kebab Shop
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Red Gunner
- Posts: 5778
- Joined: Sun Nov 18, 2007 6:25 pm
- Location: London
Re: Winning with foreigners?
Since I was 13, I am 17 now so for 4 years.1. How long have you supported the club?
They are in London and my friend supported them so I got interested in them.2. What reasons do you have for supporting Arsenal?
Couldn't care less. Foreign players have made English football great.3.What is your opinion on the number of foreign players in English football?
No way, why would I or any Gooner want Arsenal to be less successful, for the sake of playing English players.4.Would you prefer Arsenal to play more English born players in their side and be less successful as a club?
We have one of the best youth setups in England and we hardly waste a lot of money by buying foreign players. I think we spend as much money on our youth setup as we do on foreign players.5. Do you think Arsenal should invest more money in their youth setup rather than buying foreign players?
Re: Winning with foreigners?
1. As long as I can remember. Been going since I was 5, so that's 16 years.PremWatch wrote:1. How long have you supported the club?
2. What reasons do you have for supporting Arsenal?
3.What is your opinion on the number of foreign players in English football?
4.Would you prefer Arsenal to play more english born players in their side and be less succesful as a club?
5. Do you think Arsenal should invest more money in their youth setup rather than buying foreign players?
2. I live in North London and my whole family support the Arse.
3. They're there because the attitude of young English players isn't good enough.
4. No.
5. No. Our youth set up is one of the best in Europe.
1. How long have you supported the club?
Answer : 32 years
2. What reasons do you have for supporting Arsenal?
Answer : When I started supporting Arsenal we had nearly a team full of
Irish players and being a plastic(god I hate that phrase) and
living in North London there were always going to be my team
3.What is your opinion on the number of foreign players in English fball?
Answer :It makes it watchable. I remember the good old days when the
league was made up almost entirely of british & irish players & to
be honest the technical level of skill was crap
4.Would you prefer Arsenal to play more english born players in their side
and be less succesful as a club?
Answer : Are you having a laugh
I do not care where our players
come from as long as they are good enough to wear our jersey
5. Do you think Arsenal should invest more money in their youth setup rather than buying foreign players?
Answer : No. In fact as many on this forum will testify I believe that we are not spending enough on the current squad and again as above I do not care where our players come from as long as they provide the much needed strength in depth & quality
Answer : 32 years
2. What reasons do you have for supporting Arsenal?
Answer : When I started supporting Arsenal we had nearly a team full of
Irish players and being a plastic(god I hate that phrase) and
living in North London there were always going to be my team
3.What is your opinion on the number of foreign players in English fball?
Answer :It makes it watchable. I remember the good old days when the
league was made up almost entirely of british & irish players & to
be honest the technical level of skill was crap
4.Would you prefer Arsenal to play more english born players in their side
and be less succesful as a club?
Answer : Are you having a laugh
I do not care where our players come from as long as they are good enough to wear our jersey
5. Do you think Arsenal should invest more money in their youth setup rather than buying foreign players?
Answer : No. In fact as many on this forum will testify I believe that we are not spending enough on the current squad and again as above I do not care where our players come from as long as they provide the much needed strength in depth & quality
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Cus Geezer
- Posts: 1869
- Joined: Sun Feb 18, 2007 6:09 pm
Re: Winning with foreigners?
1. How long have you supported the club?
23 years (WHU v Arsenal Oct 84 to be exact)
2. What reasons do you have for supporting Arsenal?
Je sanguinis
3.What is your opinion on the number of foreign players in English football?
Understand that having open borders would be as relevant and practical to English football than it would to any other industry.
However most of our players are from within the EU, thus have a right to be here in England even if they were merely handing out the London Lite at tube stations. English players have equal access to playing on the continent to make the grade, but don't seem to want to.
4.Would you prefer Arsenal to play more english born players in their side and be less succesful as a club?
No.
5. Do you think Arsenal should invest more money in their youth setup rather than buying foreign players?
They already do. A lot of these players are dotted around the 4 divisions
23 years (WHU v Arsenal Oct 84 to be exact)
2. What reasons do you have for supporting Arsenal?
Je sanguinis
3.What is your opinion on the number of foreign players in English football?
Understand that having open borders would be as relevant and practical to English football than it would to any other industry.
However most of our players are from within the EU, thus have a right to be here in England even if they were merely handing out the London Lite at tube stations. English players have equal access to playing on the continent to make the grade, but don't seem to want to.
4.Would you prefer Arsenal to play more english born players in their side and be less succesful as a club?
No.
5. Do you think Arsenal should invest more money in their youth setup rather than buying foreign players?
They already do. A lot of these players are dotted around the 4 divisions
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TheOne2Smooth
- Posts: 3799
- Joined: Sun May 07, 2006 11:45 am
- Location: Leyton by way of Hackney
Re: Winning with foreigners?
Supported the club since birth Where I was guided by my very Wise father to Support the ARSENALPremWatch wrote:Hi the legendary Arsenal fans. Im doing a dissertation for my degree course and would be grateful if as many fans could answer my questions as possible
1. How long have you supported the club?
2. What reasons do you have for supporting Arsenal?
3.What is your opinion on the number of foreign players in English football?
4.Would you prefer Arsenal to play more english born players in their side and be less succesful as a club?
5. Do you think Arsenal should invest more money in their youth setup rather than buying foreign players?
Thanks again and I would be grateful for as many responses as possible.
See above also Arsenal are the greatest team in London so that also helps
If more foreigners mean seeing players like Bergkamp Henry Vieira and Cesc yes please
What like Hiller and selley yes please!
Arsenal youth set up is the best in the country at the moment look at the England under 18s Arsenal had 3 players in the squad thats more than Man utd Chelsea and the spuds
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I Hate Hleb
- Posts: 18632
- Joined: Wed May 16, 2007 3:36 pm
- Location: London
Re: Winning with foreigners?
1. NEARLY 40 YEARSPremWatch wrote:Hi the legendary Arsenal fans. Im doing a dissertation for my degree course and would be grateful if as many fans could answer my questions as possible
1. How long have you supported the club?
2. What reasons do you have for supporting Arsenal?
3.What is your opinion on the number of foreign players in English football?
4.Would you prefer Arsenal to play more english born players in their side and be less succesful as a club?
5. Do you think Arsenal should invest more money in their youth setup rather than buying foreign players?
Thanks again and I would be grateful for as many responses as possible.
2. THEY WERE MY LOCAL TEAM AS A KID
3. DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM IF THEY ARE QUALITY. ALL THE TOP FOREIGN PLAYERS USED TO GO TO ITALY OR SPAIN. NOW SOME ARE COMING HERE AND THAT IS GOOD FOR OUR GAME. I AM CONCERNED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW MANY AVERAGE FOREIGNERS ARE COMING OVER.
4. NO!! EVERYONE THAT PUTS ON THE SHIRT IS AN ARSENAL PLAYER FIRST AND FOREMOST. AS LONG AS THEY PLAY FOR THAT SHIRT AND THE FANS I DON'T THINK IT MATTERS WHERE THEY COME FROM.
5. RATHER THAN SWALLOW THE MEDIA LINE ABOUT ARSENAL AND YOUNG ENGLISH PLAYERS, IF YOU DO A BIT MORE RESEARCH YOU WILL FIND THAT ARSENAL ARE AMONGST THE BIGGEST SPENDERS ON THEIR ACADEMY AND YOUTH SET-UP. YOU WOULD ALSO THEN FIND OUT THAT ARSENAL HAVE A CROP OF 13 OR SO GOOD YOUNG ENGLISH PLAYERS ALREADY IN THEIR YOUTH AND RESERVE TEAMS. IF THEY PROVE TO BE GOOD ENOUGH, THEY WILL MAKE IT AT ARSENAL - REGARDLESS OF THEIR NATIONALITY. IF THEY ARE NOT, THEY SHOULD STILL BE SUFFICIENTLY TALENTED ENOUGH TO MAKE A CAREER IN THE GAME ELSEWHERE.
1) Nine years
2) First team I ever saw and was in an Arsenal supporting area at the time
3) Welcome, make yourselves at home as long as they are here legally. They have helped improve the game immensely in England and raised the standard for the English players to improve. How can we not love them? Sure some are trouble but probably far less of a percentage then English players are trouble.
I would encourage English players and managers to try their luck abroad, expand their horizons and see if it helps improve them as players/managers.
4) No. As long as they play with 100% and are good enough, I don't care if they are from Brighton or Mars.
5) I wish the Fa invested as much time and money as Arsenal have under Arsene to the youth set up. So many players coming through, we have 2 former Arsenal players in England squad. Hoyte and Walcott have been in England U21's regularly over past year as has former player Muamba, U19's has Gibbs and Lansbury, Jay Thomas, Gavin Hoyte, we had 3 players at U17 world cup and euro championship and 5 players in the victory shield so we are trying hard on a domestic level while just looking at players produced by the club of whatever nationality, it has done great work.
2) First team I ever saw and was in an Arsenal supporting area at the time
3) Welcome, make yourselves at home as long as they are here legally. They have helped improve the game immensely in England and raised the standard for the English players to improve. How can we not love them? Sure some are trouble but probably far less of a percentage then English players are trouble.
I would encourage English players and managers to try their luck abroad, expand their horizons and see if it helps improve them as players/managers.
4) No. As long as they play with 100% and are good enough, I don't care if they are from Brighton or Mars.
5) I wish the Fa invested as much time and money as Arsenal have under Arsene to the youth set up. So many players coming through, we have 2 former Arsenal players in England squad. Hoyte and Walcott have been in England U21's regularly over past year as has former player Muamba, U19's has Gibbs and Lansbury, Jay Thomas, Gavin Hoyte, we had 3 players at U17 world cup and euro championship and 5 players in the victory shield so we are trying hard on a domestic level while just looking at players produced by the club of whatever nationality, it has done great work.
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stearmaster
- Posts: 5367
- Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2007 4:00 pm
- Location: ENFIELD, N.LONDON
1. How long have you supported the club? since my first game, guess i was 8 or 9 so 11 12 years sommin like that
2. What reasons do you have for supporting Arsenal? family
3.What is your opinion on the number of foreign players in English football? not bothered
4.Would you prefer Arsenal to play more english born players in their side and be less succesful as a club? as long as there good enuff to get in the team dont bother me
5. Do you think Arsenal should invest more money in their youth setup rather than buying foreign players?
2. What reasons do you have for supporting Arsenal? family
3.What is your opinion on the number of foreign players in English football? not bothered
4.Would you prefer Arsenal to play more english born players in their side and be less succesful as a club? as long as there good enuff to get in the team dont bother me
5. Do you think Arsenal should invest more money in their youth setup rather than buying foreign players?
1. How long have you supported the club?
A: 30 years
2. What reasons do you have for supporting Arsenal?
A: Arsenal are one of my two local teams (in terms of where I grew up), the other being Spurs - I grew up in Muswell Hill and Wood Green. I chose Arsenal because I was born very close to Highbury, but I could easily have gone the other way!
3.What is your opinion on the number of foreign players in English football?
A: I have no problem with it at all. I only wish British players (especially the younger ones) showed the same professionalism and desire to improve themselves (as opposed to their bank balances) by going abroad as young Frenchmen, Spaniards, Africans, Dutchmen etc etc. Foreign players have brought new levels of talent, maturity and professionalism to the English game, which is undeniably much better for their involvement. British players need to rise to their challenge, both in the English leagues and abroad.
4.Would you prefer Arsenal to play more english born players in their side and be less succesful as a club?
A: No. I don't care where Arsenal players are from. When I started following Arsenal, in the 1970s, most of the first teamers were Irish, and I didn't care about Englishness then, so I see no reason to now. I just want Arsenal to play winning and beautiful football. The harder question would be winning or beautiful football - having suffered George Graham's post 1991 nightmare, I would go with beauty over winning.
5. Do you think Arsenal should invest more money in their youth setup rather than buying foreign players?
A: I'm very proud of what Wenger has achieved in bringing through unknown players, but we don't need to increase our levels of investment on the youth side of the game, save to the extent necessary to stay ahead of UEFA player qualification rules (something Chelsea have completely ballsed up - watch next year). Without upsetting the balance of the squad I would like to see some recruitment of established names, and given our finances, this could mean seeing us spend vast sums on one or two of the very best players, which I think would bendit our younger players as well as add to our quality.
A: 30 years
2. What reasons do you have for supporting Arsenal?
A: Arsenal are one of my two local teams (in terms of where I grew up), the other being Spurs - I grew up in Muswell Hill and Wood Green. I chose Arsenal because I was born very close to Highbury, but I could easily have gone the other way!
3.What is your opinion on the number of foreign players in English football?
A: I have no problem with it at all. I only wish British players (especially the younger ones) showed the same professionalism and desire to improve themselves (as opposed to their bank balances) by going abroad as young Frenchmen, Spaniards, Africans, Dutchmen etc etc. Foreign players have brought new levels of talent, maturity and professionalism to the English game, which is undeniably much better for their involvement. British players need to rise to their challenge, both in the English leagues and abroad.
4.Would you prefer Arsenal to play more english born players in their side and be less succesful as a club?
A: No. I don't care where Arsenal players are from. When I started following Arsenal, in the 1970s, most of the first teamers were Irish, and I didn't care about Englishness then, so I see no reason to now. I just want Arsenal to play winning and beautiful football. The harder question would be winning or beautiful football - having suffered George Graham's post 1991 nightmare, I would go with beauty over winning.
5. Do you think Arsenal should invest more money in their youth setup rather than buying foreign players?
A: I'm very proud of what Wenger has achieved in bringing through unknown players, but we don't need to increase our levels of investment on the youth side of the game, save to the extent necessary to stay ahead of UEFA player qualification rules (something Chelsea have completely ballsed up - watch next year). Without upsetting the balance of the squad I would like to see some recruitment of established names, and given our finances, this could mean seeing us spend vast sums on one or two of the very best players, which I think would bendit our younger players as well as add to our quality.
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lisa_gooner
- Posts: 174
- Joined: Mon May 22, 2006 12:44 pm
- Location: ex-pat in Sydney, Australia
1. How long have you supported the club?
Since I was able to understand (aged ~4 yrs?), so 24 years now.
2. What reasons do you have for supporting Arsenal?
I was born nearby, in Harlow, Essex. Harlow is a new town, built from nothing in the 1960s, so it is full of Londoners! Almost everyone in Harlow supports Arsenal, Tottenham or West Ham, depending on their family history. My Granddad was born in Shorditch, so it is in the genes, also my older brother adopted the Arsenal due to influences at his school. So I am a Gooner by a bit of geography, genetics and good fortune.
3.What is your opinion on the number of foreign players in English football?
It is great. All the English players seem to do is get paid too much, go out drinking and getting themselves into compromising situations, or whingeing about foreign players and complaining that they "don't get the opportunities". I would agree with Cesc Fabregas' recent comments - you make your own luck in life. How many young English players are taking the plunge and moving overseas to learn their trade? Young teenagers from all over the world are moving to the Premier League and learning a new language, just to get their chance. And they deserve it for their sacrifices and hard work.
4.Would you prefer Arsenal to play more english born players in their side and be less succesful as a club?
NO!!
5. Do you think Arsenal should invest more money in their youth setup rather than buying foreign players?
I think Arsenal work very hard on their youth squad, and have a number of English players in the youth ranks. The thing is, Arsenal Football Club is not the FA. It is not responsible for the England Team nor for 'positive discrimination' towards English-born players. It is the responsibility of the FA to develop English football, not the clubs.
Good luck with it, cheers Lisa
Since I was able to understand (aged ~4 yrs?), so 24 years now.
2. What reasons do you have for supporting Arsenal?
I was born nearby, in Harlow, Essex. Harlow is a new town, built from nothing in the 1960s, so it is full of Londoners! Almost everyone in Harlow supports Arsenal, Tottenham or West Ham, depending on their family history. My Granddad was born in Shorditch, so it is in the genes, also my older brother adopted the Arsenal due to influences at his school. So I am a Gooner by a bit of geography, genetics and good fortune.
3.What is your opinion on the number of foreign players in English football?
It is great. All the English players seem to do is get paid too much, go out drinking and getting themselves into compromising situations, or whingeing about foreign players and complaining that they "don't get the opportunities". I would agree with Cesc Fabregas' recent comments - you make your own luck in life. How many young English players are taking the plunge and moving overseas to learn their trade? Young teenagers from all over the world are moving to the Premier League and learning a new language, just to get their chance. And they deserve it for their sacrifices and hard work.
4.Would you prefer Arsenal to play more english born players in their side and be less succesful as a club?
NO!!
5. Do you think Arsenal should invest more money in their youth setup rather than buying foreign players?
I think Arsenal work very hard on their youth squad, and have a number of English players in the youth ranks. The thing is, Arsenal Football Club is not the FA. It is not responsible for the England Team nor for 'positive discrimination' towards English-born players. It is the responsibility of the FA to develop English football, not the clubs.
Good luck with it, cheers Lisa
