PROTEST AT W.B.A. GAME

[MK Gould]

My review of the protest:
I have no problem with Club level. Many of them have been supporting Arsenal as long as I have - but just have more money - and they bring in a huge amount of revenue. It could be argued that they actually keep down ticket prices for the rest of us. But there is a danger that protests such as this alienate fans who largely agree with its main aim(s)...

And I have no real problem with the fact that our owner is American, or even that he wears a very ill fitting wig.

And...I can even live with a 3% price increase. The problem isn't so much the increase it is the price itself. But surely this is something where we should be joining forces with fans of other clubs over as our prices are just in line with other London clubs. And, as many have already pointed out, it's often cheaper to watch Arsenal play at home these days than away - providing it's not against one of the category A teams!

For me, our protests should focus 100% (probably more like 60% yesterday...) on the lack of investment in the team i.e. something that everyone can agree on! We should continue to focus on Kronke (his lack of attendance for a start...!) and henchman Gazidis - inside the ground and out! What about a banner at Wembley?? Not about red herrings/divisive issues though like the 3% or Wenger!

[clockender1]

Anyone remember the banners and the chant you can stick your fucking two points up your arse sideways to a highly red faced GRAHAM KELLY ?

yup . was standing on the clockend singing that - for the princely sum of seven quid :



funnily enough, i don't remember gloating at the mancs much. more venting at the FA.

i was told you could very clearly hear the "you can stick your fucking two points up your arse" on TV.

[Dan_85]

Well done to the guys taking part in this.

But I went today and IMO something needs to be done inside the ground, whilst the game is being played. I wouldn't have even known there was a protest at all today, seemed just a happy atmosphere around there to me. So that's probably how it seemed to stan, gazidis etc

Agree with this. I think the next step has to be to take things inside the ground...

[Ultimatum94]

Protest was severely underwhelming imo.


Taking the piss out of Kroenke by doing 'the Kroenke' just defeats the whole purpose of our voice being taken seriously.

A load of people arrived at the mini roundabout opposite the Armoury but when everyone realised it was just the matey BSM everyone just rightly fucked off.

Their methods of crude and loud protests, such as yesterday, are counterproductive to our aim of having a real influence and say on the board when the minority are taking the fucking piss out of them. If you wanted to appoint someone for promotion in your business, fuck no are you going to employ the prick who got it off with your only daughter in the disabled toilets during the Christmas lunch party. They are really minuscule in the great scheme of things when barely a hundred, I know Swansea had a much greater following but that was due to the really serious state the Club got itself into concerning what was happening on and off the pitch, out of 60,000 are showing open discontent towards the board and the relatively peaceful atmosphere during the games.

I haven't got anything against the BSM but their just on the other side of the spectrum to Tim Payton's AST. The club doesn't take the AST seriously cos they know they're only a minority organisation with their own self-interest.Their both undemocratic institutions who claim to represent Arsenal fans. They're partly right but they do not represent ALL of the Arsenal fans so what needs to be done is to set up a quasi-body of Arsenal fans, elected and don't know how it'd be done, who would represent us fans rightly and would have an insider status within the club and direct access to this mythological Board that everyone vents at but rarely hear from.

[Gunner Rob]

a few people shouting on a roundabout is pathetic.

the only way to even begin to take on the club these days is to look at it from their point of view.
Arsenal is not a football club, it is a brand and you have to hurt that brand to start changing things.

a visible protest is required at the Emirates at one of the big matches, for example v Liverpool or United, a match that has real global appeal. a protest like that might start to get them thinking but don't forget the club are quite clever with the big matches these days
1) the prices are astronomic and so those likely to protest have been priced out of these games and
2) the manager makes sure that the big games at home are rarely lost even if that means playing for tedious draws such as v Chelsea and United this season

[TheCook]

Protest was severely underwhelming imo.


Taking the piss out of Kroenke by doing 'the Kroenke' just defeats the whole purpose of our voice being taken seriously.

A load of people arrived at the mini roundabout opposite the Armoury but when everyone realised it was just the matey BSM everyone just rightly fucked off.

Their methods of crude and loud protests, such as yesterday, are counterproductive to our aim of having a real influence and say on the board when the minority are taking the fucking piss out of them. If you wanted to appoint someone for promotion in your business, fuck no are you going to employ the prick who got it off with your only daughter in the disabled toilets during the Christmas lunch party. They are really minuscule in the great scheme of things when barely a hundred, I know Swansea had a much greater following but that was due to the really serious state the Club got itself into concerning what was happening on and off the pitch, out of 60,000 are showing open discontent towards the board and the relatively peaceful atmosphere during the games.

I haven't got anything against the BSM but their just on the other side of the spectrum to Tim Payton's AST. The club doesn't take the AST seriously cos they know they're only a minority organisation with their own self-interest.Their both undemocratic institutions who claim to represent Arsenal fans. They're partly right but they do not represent ALL of the Arsenal fans so what needs to be done is to set up a quasi-body of Arsenal fans, elected and don't know how it'd be done, who would represent us fans rightly and would have an insider status within the club and direct access to this mythological Board that everyone vents at but rarely hear from.

The protest was not organised by the BSM though?

[Ultimatum94]

It doesn't matter who organised it.

My argument is that the protest was what the BSM normally conduct with their loud and crude chants. Although, I've got to admit I did join for 10 minutes, it is NOT what's going to get the Board's attention. Like what Super Rob said above, we've got to hit them where it hurts and that's their brand. We've got to do something distinctive and unique during one of the Category A games, probably a pitch invasion or a super banner that encompasses all of the North Bank/Clock End to get the attention of the broadcasters first. The TV broadcasters are everything as it allows us to convey our message beyond the spectrum of the fans at the Ground but worldwide.

Hopefully, and admittedly a dream, once we've hurt the 'brand' enough then the Club would have to come to the fans and set up an official Arsenal fan body where we can have a direct influence on the board with veto powers and conducting club policy as without the fans' money then they'd probably fold over within the decade with the ever-increasing player wages.

I fully respect the BSM but they're methods are not helping our actual cause. The media, newspapers and pundits, are so anti- Arsenal there's no point in going that direction.

[clockender1]

a few people shouting on a roundabout is pathetic.

Rosa Parks was just an old black lady on a bus, but she sparked desegregation in the USA.

you have to start somewhere, and if you keep at it, the movement grows.

[Ultimatum94]

a few people shouting on a roundabout is pathetic.

Rosa Parks was just an old black lady on a bus, but she sparked desegregation in the USA.

you have to start somewhere, and if you keep at it, the movement grows.

Exactly, and the movement evolved into more than an old black lady on a bus. They then went massive with Montgomery, Selma and the March of Washington. It also went down the legal path where they fought to amend their rights and won significant court rulings that would change the futures of African Americans forever.

What I'm trying to say is that the Board know there's discontent. We now need to up it to the next level and stop with the petty protests outside the stadium taking the piss out of the very man we are trying to persuade. He's never gonna sell up as long it's lucrative and I doubt he gives a shit about being the scapegaot as he's on the other side of the Atlantic.

We've got to hurt his commercial brand, Arsenal...

[StuartL]

It doesn't matter who organised it.

My argument is that the protest was what the BSM normally conduct with their loud and crude chants. Although, I've got to admit I did join for 10 minutes, it is NOT what's going to get the Board's attention. Like what Super Rob said above, we've got to hit them where it hurts and that's their brand. We've got to do something distinctive and unique during one of the Category A games, probably a pitch invasion or a super banner that encompasses all of the North Bank/Clock End to get the attention of the broadcasters first. The TV broadcasters are everything as it allows us to convey our message beyond the spectrum of the fans at the Ground but worldwide.

Hopefully, and admittedly a dream, once we've hurt the 'brand' enough then the Club would have to come to the fans and set up an official Arsenal fan body where we can have a direct influence on the board with veto powers and conducting club policy as without the fans' money then they'd probably fold over within the decade with the ever-increasing player wages.

I fully respect the BSM but they're methods are not helping our actual cause. The media, newspapers and pundits, are so anti- Arsenal there's no point in going that direction.

If only there was a prestigious event that we were going to be in shortly that was televised worldwide and watched by millions that we could use to our advatage .......



Got it ! The Emirates Cup of course

[TheCook]

It doesn't matter who organised it.

My argument is that the protest was what the BSM normally conduct with their loud and crude chants. Although, I've got to admit I did join for 10 minutes, it is NOT what's going to get the Board's attention. Like what Super Rob said above, we've got to hit them where it hurts and that's their brand. We've got to do something distinctive and unique during one of the Category A games, probably a pitch invasion or a super banner that encompasses all of the North Bank/Clock End to get the attention of the broadcasters first. The TV broadcasters are everything as it allows us to convey our message beyond the spectrum of the fans at the Ground but worldwide.

Hopefully, and admittedly a dream, once we've hurt the 'brand' enough then the Club would have to come to the fans and set up an official Arsenal fan body where we can have a direct influence on the board with veto powers and conducting club policy as without the fans' money then they'd probably fold over within the decade with the ever-increasing player wages.

I fully respect the BSM but they're methods are not helping our actual cause. The media, newspapers and pundits, are so anti- Arsenal there's no point in going that direction.

Yet ANOTHER fan's group? Surely that is exactly what we DON'T need to dilute the fan base even further. Get involved in the AST, go to all the meetings, take your own ideas and you will soon get noticed and taken seriously. The AST is made up of the people who care enough to get off their own arses and try to make a difference, however difficult that may be, and I for one salute them for trying their hardest - they have plenty of critics, but most of those critics are loudmouth gobshite malcontents on the internet - get down there and get involved.

If you can't or don't want to get involved, then just let them get on with it - too many divisions in the fanbase is having a massive negative affect.

[MrT]

Excuse my Captain Obvious moment here but nothing will change until the overwhelming majority decide enough is enough. If people are willing to fill the stadium every week it shows they are happy enough to pay the ridiculous prices, support a washed up manager and generally not give a shit how the club is run.

[Theoperator]

Excuse my Captain Obvious moment here but nothing will change until the overwhelming majority decide enough is enough. If people are willing to fill the stadium every week it shows they are happy enough to pay the ridiculous prices, support a washed up manager and generally not give a shit how the club is run.

To a point of course thats true, but the club are charging what they can get away with. If the crowd hadnt been mutinous at The Villa game would Ozil have been signed?

If the club are aware of a growing unrest they will possibly be less likely to charge the earth, just 1p less.

[clockender1]

given the gestapo tactics inside the ground, the bear protests are all you're left with.

either you have to mob up inside the ground and stand your ground against the AKB's & stewards, or you take the protests on the road - away games, the store at brent cross etc.

the day the new kit goes on sale is the day to demo outside the club stores - with banners etc. and let the media know.

hurting the club in the pocket is the only way they'll sit up and take notice - other than booing the team after more big losses, which unfortunately have all happened away.

[SPARKSY]

a few people shouting on a roundabout is pathetic.

Rosa Parks was just an old black lady on a bus, but she sparked desegregation in the USA.

you have to start somewhere, and if you keep at it, the movement grows.

I really hope you're right.
However, most of the support inside the stadium now is men/women aged 40 years plus and the overwhelming majority just don't get excited like those of us on here.

I mean, we are on here discussing the club beacuse we care and we support.

Unfortunately, most of those who go to the Emirates just can't be arsed about it all. They pay the money, have a moan and go home.

When we used to march down Avenell Road back in the day it was kids and 20 somethings with a bit of passion, something sadly lacking at the ground these days.