Hating
Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at 1:08PM I was sent this article (taken from the football365 mailbox section) by an Arsenal fan in peace asking the question the quoted article poses: 'Is it possible that hatred for Man City and Chelsea could ever supersede that of a local rival?'
It struck a chord with him (for reasons apparent in how Chelsea have affected Arsenal in recent years). Does it struck a chord with us? Well obviously it will do - 'Bitter' as we are at the apparent simplicity of being able to compete consistently with the aid of money money money. Sure Chelsea have toned down their spending in comparison to City who are still in a transition and will obviously seek consolidation in the next year or two.
The rest of us (that copyrighted bitterness aside) know that you can hardly compete with a club regardless of the club's unquestionable status prior to winning the lottery if said club are spending the money. They will always sign the better players. It's an easier choice for any prospective signings.
You spend = you show ambition. Relentless and unquestionable and practically unanswerable in terms of said ambition because you can attract any one simply because you are moving in the right direction. Up. it breeds hype and confidence and results.
Let's not be naive about it. A project is always going to best a club that doesn't have the clout on the negotiating table. We're not in the CL, we can't compete wage wise, therefore...see ya. That's very much a broad overview, but if you take a look at some of the signings made by City if we had attempted to step in and compete with them we'd have been brushed aside. You hope the nature of their progression retains an air of instability due to the ego and manner of the foundations being built.
You hope.
They didn't falter last season. Unspectacular and at times with fear to attack, but they got the points. Had we been perhaps more focused, little club Spurs would have taken a further step in breaking the mould and attracting players because of qualification to that compeition.
Personally think Wenger has been cany in the past with their (Arsenal) ability to compete with wages and his shrewd transfer policy, but arguable he has suffered and they are continuing to do so (they appear to be feeding City players at the moment). Although remaining very much competitive, they are not as comfortable as they wish to be.
Here's the article in question:
Hatin'
Jumping on the back of Philip Brady's mail this morning, is it possible that hatred for Man City and Chelsea could ever supersede that of a local rival?
As a youngish Gooner, I waited for 10 years as Arsenal strove to become as good as Manchester United. This was a club that was signing the right players, brining in new dietary and training doctrine, breaking even, not doing a Leeds, recognizing its origins and traditions and gaining momentum through footballing success. We were playing catch up with a club that had had its ups and downs but learnt from its history and overcame its challenges. Man Utd employed and stood by a brilliant manager and had become a formidable machine through its own series successes both on and off the field. A fair fight ensued, one which culminated in Arsenal deservedly becoming United's major challengers towards the end of the 90s and early Naughties and winning in a couple of doubles along the way. So, the future was exciting- 10 years of excellent work by Wenger and Dein et al. had started to pay off and it was time to move to a new stadium and cement our place as a serious contender for years to come.
Then BAM. Chelsea.
Out of nowhere, an overspending, underachieving, upper-mid table outfit gets the deal of a lifetime and subsequently blow Arsenal out of the water.
A comfortable period of transition to the new stadium that we had earned had now become unsustainable as Chelsea bought their way to success in the space of 2 seasons. 10 years earlier and there would have been no Champions League place to soften the blow either.
Now to our North London neighbours.
Through a catalogue of errors with management, player investment and board decisions, Liverpool rightly drop out of the top four. The players, team selections and tactics were all wrong and Liverpool got what they deserved.
No Champions League football. Tottenham, waiting in the wings and the natural heirs to fourth place move up and take their rightful place. Whilst not setting the world on fire, this was where they had deserved to be. For two seasons they had outperformed Liverpool and had earned the right to represent the Premiership in the Champions League. There or there abouts for the past 5 seasons, this was finally a great moment for London and a great moment for Tottenham.
Enter Manchester City.
A pre-packaged sugar daddy's dream club with a shiny, modern new stadium basically handed to them, City became the wealthiest club in the world after a handshake and (no doubt) a few backhanders. Greedily lusting after the Sheikhs millions and having already having made a mockery of the fit and proper persons test with the Shinawatra debacle, they were allowed to prostitute themselves out again and, this time, they made sure it was done properly. Tottenham's second season of outperforming the outgoing member of the big four was lost. Manchester City waltz in and take the glory of Champions League football thus augmenting their ability to sign top quality players (the wages weren't enough at one point) and essentially stealing Tottenham's European revenue stream to boot.
As a Gooner with as much hatred for Chelsea as for anybody else answer me this Tottenham fans- Can you ever hate City as much as you hate Arsenal?
I guess the hate/hate relationship with Arsenal will always remain strong(er) by virtue of history. But there's a hatred that is birthed out of annoyance of the likes of City simply because they are attracting players thanks to their wealth rather than anything else (although I get it, because of their wealth they 'compete' and because of that they are a better option. Cruel cruel world).
Their fans (City) have had it bad in recent years with their yo-yo existence and mis-management so its fantasy football for them to be in this current position of financial power. A club in the shadows can now compete with their dominating neighbour. Why shouldn't they enjoy it? I guess they have a right. Although that underlining arrogance based on luck is what pulls most of us back from patting them on the back.
Clubs like Spurs, we've spent millions but we've done so within our own means. Actually wasted a few million in the process of attempting to climb into the top tier. If we were suddenly 'blessed' with untold riches and able to offer any wage to top top players then power would probably shift back to us if we competed for CL football. Two billionaire clubs become three and so on. Then the power is with the players who can pick and choose based on CL football and which club wishes to pay that extra 100k to claim the signature.
Fair Play Rules might control the insanity (loopholes permitting). Fact is, football is driven by money and immediate feasting on the hunger players have for top tier football. We'll only survive if we consolidate by breaking back into the top four again (as underdogs) and remain there. We're on a knife edge. We can only improve and get stronger by plucking players that are out of scope with the richer teams. But (as witnessed) will always be susceptible to losing them if we can't quite get back into the 'big league'.
I guess I do hate the arrogance that oozes from the likes of City and Chelsea but then again, that same arrogance has always been strong with the Arsenal and Man Utd. Except both are now having to fight pound for pound season in and season out.
Until the state of flux the top tier is currently in is levelled out, we'll have to wait and see. Potential for another 'monopoly' to be birthed. Or perhaps a five/six way team battle royale. Hopefully the latter.
Ironically, if 'we' become part of 'it', we become part of the thing we love to hate. But the silver lining is that we do so without cutting corners. As much as I hate Arsenal for being Arsenal they've challenged without the necessity to lift a passing skirt up and blow their load on anything that moves.
Chelsea got themselves in a competitive position. They then consolidated thanks to the untold riches and attracted a manager who arrived because of said untold riches. City, same thing, but more spending and quite possibly still requiring a manager upgrade. We'll see.
That's modern football. Ah diddums and all that. But I still hate Arsenal more. It would be completely ungentlemanly for me not too and I would be quite disappointed if they hated on someone else more.
Reader Comments (94)
I am starting to hate City more. You can't make the decision-it just happens. Weird cos i love beating Arsenal so much didn't think it was possible to hate anything more.
COYS
no still hate arsenal more! hate em!
Great article Spooky.
To be honest, I think Arsenal fans are weary that if they don't start spending they could be facing a Champions League exit. Who look to be the real threats are Chelsea and City, with United firmly in the top 4 even when they don't make the effort (last season). Those that are guaranteed to threaten Arsenal's livelihood, which Spurs are not (consistently that is), are what're making this particular fan "hate". Backs up against the wall?
On another note, I'd like to see how City will get along without Tevez. Could his departure impact the team negatively? Or is no player truly bigger than one club? In recent times, Tevez has proven that he is. Let's see how Mancini pulls this one off.
Top post!
I find myself agreeing more and more that Spurs and the Scum now, more than ever, have a common link. We're both backed by (relatively) wealthy owners and both play attractive football but we're both struggling to compete against the mega bucks of the new boys. It's so damn frustrating. I'm beginning to really hate city and chelsea for what they've done to the game. I don't like the scum but I will say this for them, they do at least try to make an effort and don't simply go buying up everybody in sight.
A confused Yid
Interesting one, I hate everything about Arsenal, especially their fans, I have the odd couple of goons that I have some good banter with, but it's rare.
However, take the fans out of it, and the history, and my hate for Chelsea as a Club is almost as great, and Man City aren't find behind in the hate stakes. I haven't got time to go into details, but I will liken it to Lotto Lout Michael Carroll, this is what Chelsea are.. Filthy Chavs, who have undeservedly come into money...
I suppose what it boils down to is if Arsenal were playing either of these teams live on Sky, would I ever want them to win, and I would say that 99% of the time, the answer would be NO.
interesting point and I see what he means. You'll of course get plenty of responses that simply say, "he's a gooner so he's a prick" but he makes very good points. Arsenal will ALWAYS be the main rival with regards to locality but if Spurs fans are honest they haven't been a rival in anything other than that in a long time.
That being said though, any hatred will only be reserved for them because of history. Football is going through a massive transitional period which it might not come out of the same as it went in but the one thing both clubs will always have is history and both clubs' are intertwined in a way that Chelsea, Man City, Man United etc will never be.
I personally don't like Chelsea, West Ham and now City much more than the gooners. Not sure I've ever 'hated' them. I don't like them very much but I tolerate them.
I know too many followers of their red and white team and sometimes socialise with some of them - horrible I know, but that's what happens if you come from North London I guess.
And after all, hate is a very strong word. There I've said it.
I hate City more than Arsenal. Sorry. At least Arsenal have earnt their place in the Champions League. City (and Chelsea) were both in financial trouble when they won the lottery, and therefore don't deserve their success. Even their owners don't deserve their wealth, they didn't earn that either. Financial fair play is the only thing that could've stopped this, but City have already circumvented it before it's even come in. Football is terminal.
A while back a guy in Norfolk I believe, won the lottery. The chap was garbage, a real low-life who eventually drunk himself penniless. Imagine for a moment you were his neighbour who'd worked damned hard to elevate himself by frugal and clever means and who in time, obtained the status and estate that reflected those endeavours?. Then overnight, the lottery winning scum-bag moves in. Would you feel envious? no, I don't think so, but more a sense of disgust at the injustice of it all would be more appropriate. About the same as when another club are given a public grant to obtain a stadium unfit for football, which was also paid for by the public to get them out of financial meltdown!
I'll stop hating Arsenal when they're in the Championship. When they're in League One, I might even have a soft spot for them: the local derby with West Ham will be good to watch.
I've got a Gooner colleague who has said for quite a while now that he sees their games against Chelski as the bigger derby than when we square up. He said the same thing, that I really ought to be more interested in getting one over on City.
I politely explained that I'd consider shifting my grudge once the Emirates had been moved to Woolwich, and they'd spent a season in the Championship and perhaps earned a promotion for once in their existence. Bad blood runs deep.
I will always reserve the most loathing for the red mob down the road. I can't say I have much time for Chelski or the Spam either. However this is based on geography and not their wealth. As for the other big teams you'll always have a bit of extra dislike for them as they achieve what you want for your club. If somebody poured money into Villa and they started pushing for top 4 you'd give them a bit more stick.
its an interesting point. But I hate Arsenal a lot more, simply because I refuse to accept Man City and Chelsea as real football clubs, they are just nobodys who've been given a shed load of cash and can buy anyone they want. Arsenal and Spurs has always been about the pride of north London, earning the bragging rights et all. I dont think Man City or Chelsea have earnt anything...
to hate arsenal is our birthright, its part of being a Spurs fan. I couldnt claim to be a Spurs fan if I didnt hate arsenal. Its like having a shit, its natural and something you just have to do. The opposite of hating them would be to like them and thats just not possible. You cant say you dont hate them if you are a Spurs fan. There is no inbetween, very black and white really. Nuff said!
I hate Chelsea more than Arsenal. I have no shame in admitting it. And lets be frank, Arsenal, with all their foreign players, phoney fans, horrible 'pallyness' (their fans always, and I mean ALWAYS, insist on referring to all of their players by their first names. WTF is that all about?), nasty red and white kit and of course proximity - are hard to like. But Chelsea for me are the pits. They represent everything thats wrong with football. I hate them and wish them nothing but ill.
City can a kind of 'meh, what can you do?' attitude from me. They're just copying Chelsea. I only have so much hate to go round.
Great article Spooky.
My personal answer as a Spurs fan to the original question is..No. Having supported Spurs for over the 30 years, I have taken more nose-rubbing from Gooners than any other football team fans...But I actually love the archrivalry and the banter as it shows there is history of passionate supporters and its time I have been waiting for to wander in the pub with my Lillywhite shirt on and actually be able to verbally slap down a noisy gooner (of which i have to say they have gone very quiet recently, anyone noticed this??)
As for City...well...good luck to them, I thought they were an awful footballing side last season and I dont actually see them setting the EPL alight this season either. Strangely though, CL i think they will progress on the back of some very negative Mancini tactics.
So do I hate City fans? well firstly i dont know any yet personally, but i am sure that will change in time to come...but to be honest, you cant talk football unless you know your clubs history, so I am pretty sure that I wont be having any indepth pub conversations in the near future either (funnily enough much like anyone in a Chelsea shirt).
If I have any kind of vents to the throw about City fans, then its frustration at our Spurs side for the capitulation at the end of last season...its was ours to lose and once again i just think City, you lucky f*ckers.
As a City fan I've got to say I love reading the pathetic posts by both Arsenal and Spurs fans. It stinks of jealousy and is quite pitiful to read.
It's a well known fact that life isn't fair. Arsenal for instance have been charging fans season ticket prices three times that of the season ticket prices at City - for many years, and have a bigger stadium. This is ok as it's Landan prices and more people in general are happy to pay the ridiculous cost of a season ticket in Landan. This couldn't happen in Manchester and City fans don't on average earn as much......but now think about it.........Is it fair therefore that Arsenal have a higher income from season ticket sales than the Northern Clubs as they are in Landan???????
The answer is NO it isn't fair - but that's life and football.....get over it!
I think that was my point, no? The fact that I'm always going to hate Arsenal more than you chaps. Sorry for the subtle touch.
I'm pretty sure I mentioned 'that's life'. But hey, choose to ignore it just to validate how BITTER AND JEALOUS we are, right?
Amazingly, after genuinely harbouring nothing but hatred for Arsenal for the last 15 years, I'm now in a position where I simply respect them. They play good football, are set up well, none of their players are overly-ridiculous wankbags like so many at City and Chelsea. So yeah, I'm now at a stage where I *prefer* Arsenal to the others.
It still feels better when we beat them though, just to shut up that last little group of morons who still think we're a tiny little no-hope club.
Personally, to answer the question, I hate city and chelski more than anyone. Arsenal are up there, but they play good football and (recent history only) have got up there in the right manor. Although Chelski did make the CL without the cash, you cant argue that they stayed there because of it, lets face it, Chelski were on the verge of bankruptcy. City however, they were not going anywhere, they were cemented in mid-table, brand new stadium half empty every week. then suddenly... Anyway, I dont consider myself bitter, I genuinly believe I would stop supporting Spurs if we did the same, or at the least only check the table every once and a while. i think a club should be bigger than 1 person, if they are not, they are not a club, they are a toy.
Hate is such a strong word and something I believe you use when naive and in your teens.
Now in all honesty I just think its great how close both teams are and the NLD for me is the best game pound for pound in the the Premiership. It oozes end to end football and cracking goals.
It's easy to dislike a team when they are your rivals and have player like Henry reminding you that you havent beaten them in his time there. those years were so frustrating and they did like to taunt us.
However now Arsenal just dont have those sort of players Nasri aside, they arnt so arrogant and in fact seem to have a mutual respect for the way we play football and also (as Nasri said) think WHL has an amazing atmosphere.
We at the same time whilst seeing City and Chelsea spending close to a billion on transfer fees and wages cant help but applaud the work Wenger has done to keep arsenal competitive.
Even to the point of defending him to some arsenal fans.
Point is there seems to be a growing amount of respect from both sets of fans and as we all mature and realise it is just a game, I for one would quite like to see a continued respect from both sets of fans.
Im tired of vile abuse (too any team). Dont get me wrong beating Arsenal is the best feeling in the world (its not but you get what im saying) that doesnt mean I need to "hate" them.
So to answer the question posed, I dont hate anybody but I dislike City and Chelsea more now than I do Arsenal.
I do think its taken Arsenal's fall from grace along with our rise to bring back a bit of humility from their fans.
It will be great if we can compete at the same level for a long time because the Prem needs these two entertainers to put on the shows.
COYS
I save all my hate up for the woolwich scum that have never got fairly promoted and invented the concept of a franchise club.
My dislike of racist Chelsea, Liam Oasis' City and the porn-merchants WHU all rolled together is like a grain of sand next to a planet sized ball of arse hate.
lots of points to address in your article and will try and gve my opinion to each one...
for starters the "arsenal arrogance" and the myth that they were the first team in the world to start developing players from their academy and now act as if they own the blueprint for any other club who looks to buy and develop young talent. very short memories, and whilst the club has had decent success with its "project" lest not forget that that project took a few years to start... and money was spent in the early Wenger years on the likes of Henry, Overmars, Jeffers, Wright, Reyes, Wiltord and the like and whilst the trasfer sums of circa 10-15million may seem modest now, they were anything but 10 years ago. that spending allowed them to establish themselves as one of europes elite at a time when the CL BOOM was happening across europe. and before anybody says it, i am not suggesting football started in 1998, or with the advent of the premier league, but it doesnt take a genius to work out that the marketing and globalization or the Premier League and the CL have undoubtably had a gargantuan impact on the game
you do make the point that "why shouldnt city enjoy the money". it had to happen to somebody to break the mould of the "sky4", as the CL money had warped the league so much that it took gross mis management by Liverpool Football Club for even Spurs to break in (having spent lets say modestly themselves). and whos to say we havent "earned" it? we have done our apprenticeship in the lower leagues, that "pre-packaged sugar daddy's dream club with a shiny, modern new stadium" had to be re-built from ruins to get that status back after years of mis-management in the 80s and 90s. trundled along with our team of cheap rejects and acadamey graduates to maintain premier league status for years, hey we were due a break of some sort
i do disagree with the "underlying arrogance" remark... of course there is this "new breed" of fan wich may have jumped on the sheiks bandwagon so to speak, but most like me are just enjoying the ride with the same happy go lucky attitude as we had in the past still waiting for all the wheels to fall off, which despite all the money have wobbled soewhat already.
any aggression in attitude certainly from my side is a retaliation to mis-informed, sterotypical purile spouted by some sections of the media, which is then picked up on and assumed as the truth by the more naive supporter, and then it turns into a case of defending the club
Please refrain from calling them the "fair play" rules... i know thats what it says on the tin, but you seem like an intelligent bloke. how you can call fair what is essential a means of status quo for europes elite which is likely to cripple and stagnate most mid table clubs is farcical. a rule which punishes a club with an owner willing to put money into the game but yet is happy to see other owners syphon a clubs revenue to service their own personal extortionate debts... who suffers there? the punter with increased price for his matchday ticket, replica shirt and half time pie n pint
in answer to the article... no it shouldnt, why should it?
I hate Man City, Chelsea and Man U for what they are doing to the game. If Arsenal were playing any one of them, I would be looking for a draw. All four of them are the 'pits of the earth' actually.
Well said frontwheel. Although if you had the choice of taking a baseball bat to Jon Terry or van Rapist, which would you choose?
My dislike for Arsenal has always been strong, but I do have to say that my dislike for City & Chelsea is now stronger.
If it boiled down to the simplicity of Arsenal v Chelsea & Arsenal v City and picking who I'd prefer to win, the answer would always be "draw please" unless one of them losing benefit Spurs directly.
The moment the Sheikh took over at City I started to really dislike them. It was a clear moment that said they were going to attempt to turn the Premiership on it's head. Unlike most, thanks to my grandad being an United player, I have always had a soft spot for them, so seeing the media focus on City's plans to overtake United grates on me a lot.
It was the signing of Robinho that really pushed it though. Here was a player who was at the best club in the world, albeit a little unsettled, but who saw the money City were offering. Other than money, at that point City couldn't offer him anything in terms of CL football, yet he went for the wage packet.
That was when we knew Spurs would only have 1 shot at getting the CL spot - and fortunately we got it.
As for Chelsea, meh, they're now seeing the repercussions of having Roman in charge. Their manager's get barely a season in charge, they buy players the manager doesn't want but has to accommodate because of the fee, and their players are now aging somewhat.
Their world will crash around them soon......... hopefully!
Another season without the CL title and I can see Roman looking to sell up.
For balance, I'll throw in a couple of Mancs in Nani and Milner
So much use of the word 'hate' in one article and the following comments. Wow. Spurs really are small time.
You had your chance last season, and you had your chance to invest last summer to consolidate CL football. Problem was, your manager was happy enough to take his eye off the league in the hope of adding maybe a CL semi appearance to his England CV, and your owner was happy enough to cross his fingers and hope you'd have enough to limp back into 4th without further investment. Added to the fact that your strikers wouldn't hit a cow's arse with a handful of rice, and you were buggered.
Life is tough, move on. We had to watch you bopping around COMS celebrating CL qualification while our season fell apart. We had our turn last season. Get over it.
As for all this nonsense about living within your means - Arsenal have had the benefit of CL money (basically a closed shop monopoly for the best part of ten years - money perpetuating money) and Spurs have been consistently among the highest spenders in the league. How many academy players are first team regulars?
Do me a favour love... pretty pathetic stuff, but we're loving all the bile at City.
I am a moron and support a pathetic boring club who will fall apart
The old 'Keep your friends close and your enemies closer' has come home to roost.
And I lay the blame for this at the door marked 'INTERNET' .......the same reason there has been a cooling of sorts of the hatred between us and our neighbours.
City fans, as you have said, probably (more than probably) deserve/d their day in the sun.
However, they got arrogant BEFORE they'd actually done anything...other than spend.
On several forums I experienced a truce of sorts in NL quarters....sure, we both already shared a hatred of Chelsea for monetary/lottery/locational reasons, but both of us realise we are well run clubs...sustainable and don't take kindly to what is now going on...all our hard work for nothing etc.
That said, I'm over it now and have come to the inevitable conclusion that City will just be the most hated by oppo fans (still trying to copy THEIR neighbours I guess) and the most 'LOV€D' by players.
Was fucking fantastic to hold them back a year though...
I can get back to my real hatred now..all things goon..It's only natural....
Bringbackbananas - I know all too well there is nothing fair about the rules ;)
As a lifetime Spurs fan I'll always rejoice when we beat Arsenal or when Arsenal come a cropper elsewhere. But not quite so much, anymore. Sure it will always be a great day when we beat them, or finish higher in the league - and a miserable day when we lose out to them. I also feel some sympathy for Wenger, however much I dislike him; he's trying to hold onto his top players, despite the big money offered by Citeh, just as we are trying to hold onto Modric. Both Arsenal and Tottenham are trying to hold the line on players salaries, but it now looks impossible to do so given the limitless wealth of Citeh and Chelsea, whose owners can only laugh at what they are doing to the fabric of English football.. Manure paying Rooney 220k a week, thanks to their billionaire support, is another ominous sign for Arsenal and Spurs. So yes, right now i hate Man City, Chelsea and Manure more than Arsenal, because whereas Arsenal are only trying to beat us on the pitch, those three are destroying us financially.
Well done Spooky btw....you have to be THE 'SPURS'blog for attracting oppo muppets.
You should take a look at the money Spurs have spent in recent years. May not be as much as City, but it is still a huge amount.
I hate every thing about you're scummy dirty little club that's set in a nasty part of North London. Enjoy the Thursday night graveyard shift on 5. Cunts!
Let's be honest - it's jealousy not hatred. You may all protest that you'd hate the kind of owner that City have but you wouldn't and don't try to tell me otherwise. I've seen City win the league (yes I'm that old) and I've seen us fall into the Third division (or whatever they call it these days). I've seen us pay record fees and seen us survive on free transfers and loans. I wasn't jealous of or filled with hate for any other club - I was only worried about my own. Liverpool, Spurs & Arsenal have generally been well run clubs, had money to spend, good managers and deserved any success they had. Our fate was a shit chairman (Swales) who was supposedly a true Blue but destroyed our club from top to bottom. We've been trying to recover for that for years and won the proverbial lottery 3 years ago. Now we can think of buying Sergio Aguero instead of Georgios Samaras.
The fact that Arsenal should have been competing for the title but ended up fourth, picking up 12 points is not our fault. The fact that on the 12th of February, Spurs were 2 points behind us with a game in hand yet didn't even finish in the top 4 is not our fault. You didn't get enough points. The fact neither Spurs nor Arsenal have a decent keeper is not our fault (incidentally Joe Hart cost an initial £600k rising to a possible £1.5m).
Interesting that the two clubs making most noise about City are Arsenal & Liverpool. The first of those has resolutely failed to spend money on experienced players to stiffen their spine and the other has spent a lot of money but mostly on rubbish. That's not our fault either.
No one has a divine right to anything in this life. Empires rise and fall, fortunes are made and lost and the same applies to sport. So even if I can't change your opinions let's at least have some honesty here.
Winter. This article has cropped up on the Chelsea and City feeds. Not my intention.
Soz.
Directed to the one Spooky of course!
City aren't worth even thinking about. They're too dull. Even when they sign players for massive money it is dull. They could sign Messi and everyone would be bored. Couldn't care less about what they do.
Same goes for Chelsea to an extent. The thing about them though is that their players are such horrible c#nts that they have become a club that is almost worth hating, but I somehow just can't be arsed to.
Arsenal are pure filth. Plain and simple. Disgusting club with w@nkers for fans, a buffoon of a manager and whining pathetic players. Arrogant nonces.
Although should state - at least some of the City folk are discussing this rather than going all Football Factory on us.
Football success has always been influenced by money and always will be. You folk need to be honest with yourselves and accept that the real reason you "hate" Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester (City & Utd) or whoever, is due to them being more successful than your own club. The "reasons" you suggest are simply to justify coming second to those that you "hate". None of you would care how much was being spent by any number of clubs if your own club were winning trophies.
Wexford Blue - your post makes no sense. You say Spurs 'had their chance to invest in the summer to consolidate their place in the CL'. Thats like me telling you that while you were shopping in Mayfair, you had the chance to buy that £10m house and porsche, but you blew it. Spurs didnt have the money to 'invest' (ha fucking ha - love your comedy use of the word 'invest' by the way - like there is actually some financial reward to signing fooballers nowadays).
The reason you had to watch us dancing in celebration when getting 4th place last season is that our club had painstakingly, slowly, carefully built a really good team over many years, using its own money generated through commercial activities. Thats as it should be. The reason people dont like City and Chelsea isnt jelousy - you are quite wrong about that. Jelousy is what you felt for (and still feel) towards Man U. You are jelous of their achievements, since you both basically started from the same level 20 years ago, but they played the commercial game so much better than you did. What most fans feel towards City and Chelsea isnt jelousy at all, it is nausea and disgust. You were shit forever, but now you've decided to play the game by a different set of rules. How can you not feel disgust for clubs that start a season with a £200m subsidy and then crow about small victories like finishing 3rd in a 4 horse race? You arent playing by the rules and in this country in particular, people dont like it. You can act like a cunt as much as you like but you know its true. Your club did nothing under its own steam since 1968.
As for Danny Blue and his sob story about ticket prices and wages. Boo fucking hoo Danny. Firstly, your argument makes no sense whatsoever, since both Man U and Liverpool generate more in match day revenues than any London club bar Arsenal. Secondly, generating revenues that can be invested into the team is the whole point of football. How can you say its unfair? What is unfair is someone simply bi-passing that, moving the goalposts and putting huge amounts of dubiously acquired money into the club instead. You know, I could make a sickly moralising point about your owners squandering huge amounts of their people's money on footballers when their 'muslim brothers' across the red sea are starving to death. But then, I cant be arsed - you'd probably just call it jelousy
Norman - You have no idea. The reason we hate the filth from Woolwich is that they invaded our turf and then corruptly had us relegated and themselves put in the top division. That has nothing to do with jealousy or money. It has to do with them being c#nts. The same c#ntishness that is carried through to today and embodied in their fans, manager, players and board.
Sorry - forgot to add that the problems in football are not of City's making. Some clubs have always outspent others but the authorities are at fault for not ensuring a level playing field once big money took over football. US sports are much more competitive becasue there are stricter rules about division of revenues and salaries.
Never hated Arsenal- an intense dislike for their habit of beating us on a regular basis over sooo many years. I hate their manager, the most arrogant man on the planet, but in the same breath, have often been left with my jaw dropping with the standards of football they often put on show. But then, when we do beat them and see that twat kicking and stamping water bottles, you cannot scrape the grin off my face for weeks.
United- what can you say? you cannot but admire the machine they have become through sheer will, skill and determination to succeed.
Chelsea? City? Hate? you better believe it!, but in terms of grin scraping, no contest
Perhaps you should form a North London "Superclub", based at the Emirates as it's new and bigger than WHL?
More fans, new kits in, say, Blue, or Green - every fan would need a new one, would create a load of dosh to spend on new players.
Indeed, if you merged the two squads, you'd easily get into the top four, and should win the Carling Cup no problem.
Job done, then you can go back to feeling smug and superior, instead of scared and jealous.
I love hating Arsenal. The very act of hating the Gooners brings me a sense of pride and honour. And I love playing them because I love hating them.
I hate hating Chelsea and City. Even the process of hating them annoys me, particularly City. If the analogy makes sense, football just isn't cricket anymore because of these two. They leave a nasty taste in my mouth, and (again, particularly with City) I hate playing them, because hating them brings me no joy whatsoever. City get on my titties.
Piss off spud scum!
Arsingham United.
Got a lovely ring to it eh?