Twenty Years Ago Today

[Bradywasking]

Twenty years ago today Arsenal FC sacked George Graham...possibly the worst day of my 43 years supporting the club. Accepted why the club had to sack him, even if I did feel he was a scapegoat for a culture of that time, and also felt his time was coming to an end anyway as his magic was fading, but he was the man that not just challenged but beat the dominant Liverpool of the time. He put pride and discipline back into my club and lead the club after the two point deduction of 1990.
He set his team up to their strengths and at the end of his reign we were a cup team , great memories of Wembley 1993 and Copenhagen 1994. A great Arsenal manager who I hope history remembers for his achievements rather than his demise .

[augie]

I agree 100% with you buddy - GG is still the best Arsenal manager of all time

[Perryashburtongroves]

Twenty years. Bloody hell. With him in charge of the team over the last 15 years, we would have won three league titles, a few cups and I really do think, a European Cup.

[nut flush gooner]

I agree 100% with you buddy - GG is still the best Arsenal manager of all time

Bit nostalgic to call him best Arsenal manager of all time. The season in which he was sacked we slumped to 13th in the league, in fact after regaining the title in 91 we became a cup team and didn't get anywhere near manure in the EPL. Cup winners cup was a good win when we where absolutely pummelled by Parma but held on.

GG's defining season was challenging Liverpool's dominance in the league and creating that magic moment that we will never forget but mehh best Arsenal Manager ever, I would still have him behind Chapman.

[StuartL]

not even a mention of sgt pepper ?

George was the one who took us from also rans to champions, created the Arsenal that everyone hated again, put some pride back into being The Arsenal and played some scintillating football all at the same time.

Was my era of going home / away / Europe and absolutely loved it

Rocky had steel to match his panache, Smith was an industrious team player but topped the scoring charts at the same time.
The fullbacks, WInterburn and Dixon knew when the time was right to overlap / go forward and we had midfield that provided cover protection where needed (Richardson, Davis )
Stick a bit of flair in with Merson, Limpar, Wrighty and a rock solid defence with the best keeper in the land at the time (seaman not lukic) behind them and you had a team that was very hard to beat.

We won the league at Anfield, not just on that night but on goals scored, so don't fall for the dour, boring Arsenal shit pedalled about, we were a joy to watch at times bit could also see out a game if needed to.

Over reliance on Wright cost us and I agree that George's reign was coming to an end anyway but was very disappointed with him in what happened, it may have been commonplace in the game but it was still putting club money in his pocket.

[Clash]

not even a mention of sgt pepper ?

George was the one who took us from also rans to champions, created the Arsenal that everyone hated again, put some pride back into being The Arsenal and played some scintillating football all at the same time.

Was my era of going home / away / Europe and absolutely loved it

Rocky had steel to match his panache, Smith was an industrious team player but topped the scoring charts at the same time.
The fullbacks, WInterburn and Dixon knew when the time was right to overlap / go forward and we had midfield that provided cover protection where needed (Richardson, Davis )
Stick a bit of flair in with Merson, Limpar, Wrighty and a rock solid defence with the best keeper in the land at the time (seaman not lukic) behind them and you had a team that was very hard to beat.

We won the league at Anfield, not just on that night but on goals scored, so don't fall for the dour, boring Arsenal shit pedalled about, we were a joy to watch at times bit could also see out a game if needed to.

Over reliance on Wright cost us and I agree that George's reign was coming to an end anyway but was very disappointed with him in what happened, it may have been commonplace in the game but it was still putting club money in his pocket.

Fantastic post mate, I loved the early years of the Graham era more than any other.

Interesting that you mention us being labelled boring because it used to make me laugh when the media and other fans came out with that lazy, ignorant rubbish. Much in the same way it makes me laugh now when we hear how great we are to watch Give me the passion of the Graham teams every fcucking time!

[Non flying Dutchman]

not even a mention of sgt pepper ?

George was the one who took us from also rans to champions, created the Arsenal that everyone hated again, put some pride back into being The Arsenal and played some scintillating football all at the same time.

Was my era of going home / away / Europe and absolutely loved it

Rocky had steel to match his panache, Smith was an industrious team player but topped the scoring charts at the same time.
The fullbacks, WInterburn and Dixon knew when the time was right to overlap / go forward and we had midfield that provided cover protection where needed (Richardson, Davis )
Stick a bit of flair in with Merson, Limpar, Wrighty and a rock solid defence with the best keeper in the land at the time (seaman not lukic) behind them and you had a team that was very hard to beat.

We won the league at Anfield, not just on that night but on goals scored, so don't fall for the dour, boring Arsenal shit pedalled about, we were a joy to watch at times bit could also see out a game if needed to.

Over reliance on Wright cost us and I agree that George's reign was coming to an end anyway but was very disappointed with him in what happened, it may have been commonplace in the game but it was still putting club money in his pocket.

Also my era,
Great post, Well said mate

[clockender1]

I dunno if he was the greatest but he was a giant - alongside chapman.

He built the foundation and ethos for Wengers triumphs. Attacking wise he became too cautious after the EC loss, but we were a brilliant cup team.

To play Devils advocate though, some would say that the youth set up and year class was inherited by him too - Adams, Keown, Merson, Cole, and the three degrees, but he did add Bould, Dixon, Winterburn at the back and marwood and smith up front - all real quality IMHO.

To me George brought back the good old days to the club and made us a force again, and I'll be forever grateful for that era at Highbury and up until 2005.

[markyp]

I agree 100% with you buddy - GG is still the best Arsenal manager of all time

+1,the man has red and white blood running through his veins,he was Mr Class and smooth everything Wenker isn't.GG i still love you

[Red Snapper]

I loved GG. I'm from the '71 generation but he eventually deeply disappointed me. Not for the bung, not really for ending up in N17 but entirely for taking the Leeds job with DOL as assistant. I have hated Leeds with a passion since the Revie thugs days and I couldn't reconcile him being there. I may be over it now!

[A11M11]

Was that after the Collins / Bremner assault on George Eastham , that's when my hatred of Leeds and Revie in particular started.

[Nos89]

Twenty years ago today Arsenal FC sacked George Graham...possibly the worst day of my 43 years supporting the club. Accepted why the club had to sack him, even if I did feel he was a scapegoat for a culture of that time, and also felt his time was coming to an end anyway as his magic was fading, but he was the man that not just challenged but beat the dominant Liverpool of the time. He put pride and discipline back into my club and lead the club after the two point deduction of 1990.
He set his team up to their strengths and at the end of his reign we were a cup team , great memories of Wembley 1993 and Copenhagen 1994. A great Arsenal manager who I hope history remembers for his achievements rather than his demise .

Great post. Last Arsenal manager to win a European trophy...now there's a thought. Built the defence that won wenger his first 2 league titles. Lost only one game in '90/'91 championship winning team. I reckon that team would beat the invincibles 1-0. Not a pioneer like chapman but I would certainly put him above wenger in terms of desire. GG would not have settled for 4th with no trophies. He'd rather finish 7th and win a cup or two, which is more of a fact than rose tinted glasses. 6 trophies in 8 seasons. My favourite period was after we lost to Wrexham in '92. We just played the most exciting football I'd seen starting with the 7-1 thumping of Sheffield Wednesday.

[VAVAVOOM 14]

Great post. Last Arsenal manager to win a European trophy...now there's a thought. Built the defence that won wenger his first 2 league titles. Lost only one game in '90/'91 championship winning team. I reckon that team would beat the invincibles 1-0. Not a pioneer like chapman but I would certainly put him above wenger in terms of desire. GG would not have settled for 4th with no trophies. He'd rather finish 7th and win a cup or two, which is more of a fact than rose tinted glasses. 6 trophies in 8 seasons. My favourite period was after we lost to Wrexham in '92. We just played the most exciting football I'd seen starting with the 7-1 thumping of Sheffield Wednesday.

The Invinicbles are by far and away our greatest ever side - different calibre.

[Peeman]

Great post. Last Arsenal manager to win a European trophy...now there's a thought. Built the defence that won wenger his first 2 league titles. Lost only one game in '90/'91 championship winning team. I reckon that team would beat the invincibles 1-0. Not a pioneer like chapman but I would certainly put him above wenger in terms of desire. GG would not have settled for 4th with no trophies. He'd rather finish 7th and win a cup or two, which is more of a fact than rose tinted glasses. 6 trophies in 8 seasons. My favourite period was after we lost to Wrexham in '92. We just played the most exciting football I'd seen starting with the 7-1 thumping of Sheffield Wednesday.

The Invinicbles are by far and away our greatest ever side - different calibre.

Ur probably right that they are our greatest ever side. But not by far and away.

I wouldn't dismiss that 1990/91 team that went 1 game undefeated when Adams went to jail, got 2 points deducted for the old shatford brawl because the year before we were also part of a brawl for taking no shit against Norwich. Back then we weren't no "soft touch who don't like it up em". We loved it up us (inset KingJason reference). Limpar for me was just as good if not better than Overmars and Super Bob. Merse was none too shabby either and Smudger knew where the goal was.

Also wouldn't dismiss the 1997/98 team or the 2001/02 team.


Player for Player it probably should be the 2001/02 team coz we had part of "The Back 5", Cole , Vieira. Super Bob, Dennis, Henry. (Alot of the players who would be on our greatest team of all time)

Or then again the 1997/98 team had "The Back Five", Dennis, Overmars, Vieira and Ian Wright Wright Wright.


Fuck me I love us

[VAVAVOOM 14]

^ I don't think the 97/98 team was on quite the same level of The Invincibles; we finished with only 78 points at a time when the league was significantly weaker.

Good shout about the 01/02 team though; they had essentially all the Invincible players + a couple other key ones (Adams, Seaman, etc.). I just rate the 03/04 side higher for what they achieved and the style with which they played - plus Henry was at his absolute pinnacle.