As I walked back to Finsbury Park Station last night amisdt the litter and gloom, I wondered what the reaction would be ?
The usual stuff - "Wenger Out" - "Wenger must stay" - "Addy Out !" - "RvP must stay" - and so on.
And by the time I got the 10.57 train I was pretty convinved that we would soon hear a chorous of "It was all OUR fault..." for whatever reason.
Sure enough, bang on target the posts arrived.
Let's examine this. We are terrible supporters and we don't sing enough.
Probably quite true. But if every Steward jumps on ever fan for standing up and the Club bans flags with national emblems - Yes I am aware they have just relented !! Well done AFC - and if there is a desire on the part of the Club to take the money but almost regret the presence of the man/woman who has parted with it, what do you expect ?
If our Club with it's 60,000 seats was 1/2 or 1/3 empty - like 'Boro or Blackburn - then fair enough.
If we never took our allocation for away tickets - (I believe we sell out every time) - then fair enough.
If we had failed to invest in Bonds for the old North Bank and it was not built - fair enough.
If we failed to make the transition from 38,500 Highnury to 60,100 Emirates - fair enough.
As for the - "You leave early and you aren't a true fan" - (heavy implication - "I am " ) "even though I don't go and therefore don't financially contribute and therefore don't, or seldom, pay these players vast wages but still feel inclined to bitch at those who do" kind of supporter - I am afraid my understanding falls short.
Watch the Real v Barca game ? 6 - 2 to Barca ! How many Real - (real ??) fans stayed to the end ??
How many Barca fans were there 8 years ago when Real stuffed them and the Barca fans waved handerkerchieves at the Nu Camp to demand the President quit ?
Must say - I have yet to see that in 45 years of following Arsenal.
Seen Newcastle recently ? Seen their rows of empty seats ? Liverpool fans booded the team off after a 0 - 0 this season which kept them top of the Prem.
My point is that we are no better and no worse than the others. Just the same. Perhaps less vocal. But more contributary - financially.
It's what the Club does or does not do with our money that matters. And if fans who pay wish to arrive late or go early, they have every right so to do. Just like every other fan elsehwhere.
If you think otherwise - force yourself to the front of the Season Ticket queue - it ain't hard. And stay to the bitter end. Just like some of us did on Tuesday night and clapped the Mancs off the pitch.
