Get your coat arsene you useless twat!

[Percy Dalton]

I'm not sitting on the fence - but I agreee with both.

Percy always said you were a bit of a knob! Or was that you bit off his knob...?

Percy knows all............................... Fuck all.

I know your nickname isn't Curly!

[I Hate Hleb]

From memory, the terms 'Realists' and Rose-Tinters' sprung up a couple of years ago (during 07/08 season?) with regards our chances of winning the league. Comparable to the 'Glass Half Empty/Half Full' analogy.

It wasn't initially a term of abuse but did become more so as people's frustrations with the manager, team and each other spilled over. Even more so when every conceivable excuse was used to defend what some thought was 'their corner' - especially the questioning of one's loyalty if they dared criticise.

I'll even admit to using the term 'Rose-Tinter' myself as a thread title and in posts during the past, but largely from the 'Optimist/Pessimist' angle, and not as a means of trying to prove 'I was a better fan' - which can sometimes be the case with some optimists. Although I will concede that as events proved us 'pessimists' right, one or two of them might have across as having a 'I know more than you' slant, even if that wasn't my real intention.

The one thing everyone has to remember is the analogy that another poster (sorry, forgot who) wrote a little while back: that us gooners are a 'family'. And just like any family, we will have our disagreements, arguments and sometimes even fights. This is and always should be allowed.

However, should an 'outsider' cuss or have a pop at our family - i.e. Arsenal - then we rightly take them to task and vehemently defend our 'family', even if we believe they might have a point. Because it's not their place.

I also believe the over-the-top abuse of Wenger and certain players should stop. Criticise to your hearts content but there really is no need for some of the abusive name calling some members resort to. It adds nothing to the debate and, if anything, loses sympathy for your argument.

Apart from the occasional WUM/troll, this forum has a good mix of contributors and all sides of the debate usually get aired. We are all deeply passionate about The Arsenal and ultimately want the same thing. If we retain that passion whilst losing some of the hate, then this forum will be all the better for it.

[Its Up 4 Grabs Now]

And their is the rub. The simple fact of them going to something regularly does not qualify them as being more informed at all. The opportunity is certainly there but that doesn't mean that the opportunity will be taken advantage of as many people simply do not understand the game.

Similarly, there is the argument that with modern multi camera coverage you will see far more of the critical elements of the game on TV. Personally, I'd take being at the game over TV coverage any day but must admit to having sometimes not seen a key moment in a game I'm at because of poor view or crowd jostling (olde days ) etc and have had to watch the TV highlights that night to see what actually happened!

You mean when you’re standing there on your tippy-toes, on a stool, on top of your seat & the person sitting 2 rows in front of you’s blocking your view?

Your gonna label me a ginger now aren’t you?!

[MM99]

Although I will concede that as events proved us 'pessimists' right,

Not necessarily, as quite a few 'pessimists' have predicted for the past two seasons that we would finish outside the top four, so surely they've also been proved wrong?

But overall a very good post and i agree with the rest of it.

[DB10GOONER]

And their is the rub. The simple fact of them going to something regularly does not qualify them as being more informed at all. The opportunity is certainly there but that doesn't mean that the opportunity will be taken advantage of as many people simply do not understand the game.

Similarly, there is the argument that with modern multi camera coverage you will see far more of the critical elements of the game on TV. Personally, I'd take being at the game over TV coverage any day but must admit to having sometimes not seen a key moment in a game I'm at because of poor view or crowd jostling (olde days ) etc and have had to watch the TV highlights that night to see what actually happened!

You mean when you’re standing there on your tippy-toes, on a stool, on top of your seat & the person sitting 2 rows in front of you’s blocking your view?

Your gonna label me a ginger now aren’t you?!

Yes. You ginger crunt. It says in the Bible; "And verily and yea, though shalt not suffer a ginger to live". Not my words, my orange haired friend - the words of some bloke that wrote them words!

Ginger.

[I Hate Hleb]

Although I will concede that as events proved us 'pessimists' right,

Not necessarily, as quite a few 'pessimists' have predicted for the past two seasons that we would finish outside the top four, so surely they've also been proved wrong?

But overall a very good post and i agree with the rest of it.

Yes. But, to use a political analogy, they're on the 'left wing' of the pessimists - i.e. 'extremists' in much the same way as certain members on the right flank of the AKB crew are 'fantasists'. Although there were plenty of genuine fears that we might end up outside the Top 4 among the more reasonable pessimists, due to our lack of spending and the strengthening of other clubs.

I think we 'moderates' on both sides of the spectrum and those in between, which I would hazard a guess is the vast majority, shouldn't take the views of either side too seriously.

[MM99]

Although I will concede that as events proved us 'pessimists' right,

Not necessarily, as quite a few 'pessimists' have predicted for the past two seasons that we would finish outside the top four, so surely they've also been proved wrong?

But overall a very good post and i agree with the rest of it.

Yes. But, to use a political analogy, they're on the 'left wing' of the pessimists - i.e. 'extremists' in much the same way as certain members on the right flank of the AKB crew are 'fantasists'. Although there were plenty of genuine fears that we might end up outside the Top 4 among the more reasonable pessimists, due to our lack of spending and the strengthening of other clubs.

I think we 'moderates' on both sides of the spectrum and those in between, which I would hazard a guess is the vast majority, shouldn't take the views of either side too seriously.

So the pessimists are Labour, the rosetinters are Conservative and we are Lib Dems?

[I Hate Hleb]

As I was typing the analogy I just knew someone would point that out!!!

[treygoony]

ONE ARSENE WENGER

[highburyJD]

the old blokes who sat behind me on East Upper had probably been to more games than all of us put together
and they still didn't have a clue

[marcengels]

the old blokes who sat behind me on East Upper had probably been to more games than all of us put together
and they still didn't have a clue

Sitting below the director's box will do that...