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Post by thehothead on Jul 22, 2012 21:30:58 GMT
I've been thinking, why do we support teams ? Maybe its historical/family links, but surely mostly its being in awe of a particular player - the star of the team. As a young and impressionable child you follow the team of your favourite player, Arsenal have always had a top quality player. My first favourite player ever was Liam Brady .. and he was an Arsenal player. If RVP goes this season and if Wilshere is out for the start of the season, who will be our marquee player ? Who will be our star ? I honestly don't think we have one. So will we lose thousands of potential new young fans as a result of us not having any player of note in our team this season  |
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Post by Bergkamp a Dutch master on Jul 22, 2012 21:40:10 GMT
I doubt we will lose young fans - but they certainly will not pester Dad to go to matches unless -- stars'' are playing. Kids like to identify with their heroes..
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Post by Robin van Bergkamp on Jul 22, 2012 21:57:39 GMT
Now you got me there Pal. I was a latecomer to Football. Having been dragged to an FA Cup tie with Wolves back in the spring of 1978 I enjoyed the thrill of being a part of the crowd and seeing Arsenal win through a late Malcolm McDonald goal. My friend was a Gooner so I became one as well.
I think had I been a young starter I would have still supported the team and would have wanted to follow certain stars in the team. I have to say that I don't follow the game that closely as I did F1 back in those days. Cars are more my thing you see but if I were a young footie fan i have to say it would help to have stars in the team.
More importantly for Arsenal is that we have players who can become stars next season since as you say, they are sadly a little thin on the ground. If they can play well as a team then the stars will emerge. Whether they will capture the minds and hearts of fans remains to be seen.
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Post by thehothead on Jul 22, 2012 21:59:55 GMT
But what will make young fans want to support Arsenal BaDM ?? I remember my nephew was brought up near Baron's Court, West London and used to support Chelsea as a nipper, then when Arsenal was Invincible Thierry Henry was his favourite player and he said he was an Arsenal fan. Mourinho changed that and he started supporting Chelsea again.
I remember having a go at him for changing clubs and to his credit he switched back to Arsenal, he was only 11 or 12 at the time. Its kids like this I am talking about - they need heroes, who are the heroes at Arsenal ??
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Post by Jayramfootball on Jul 22, 2012 23:01:16 GMT
We are already losing fans hand over fist. The waiting list for season tickets is now pretty much non existent. I moved up 18000 places in just 2 years, so 18000 people have decided they can no longer afford or want to attend games in a short space of time.
I suspect that 9000 people who will actually pay up are not joining the list each year.
Expect crowds of 35-40k in 2 years time if this continues.
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Post by ammaar on Jul 22, 2012 23:25:11 GMT
You know, sometimes, I really do get depressed when I think about the situation we're in. All the other teams are improving and instead, we're just trying to make up the numbers in Europe and in cup competitions too.
We don't win anything, we show no desire to keep our best players, we're run by buffoons who don't give a stuff about the fans or AFC's on field success and our manager is tactically inept - how can anyone be positive?
The thing is, when I had just joined not606, I was one of the most positive posters on there and I thought we were on the cusp of something brilliant, but re evaluating that and coupled with what's gone on the last two Summers, I can't feel anything but sheer negativity. I can't be positive because there is barely anything to be positive about.
Be honest - can anyone actually see us winning anything this season?
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Post by Jayramfootball on Jul 22, 2012 23:28:23 GMT
You know, sometimes, I really do get depressed when I think about the situation we're in. All the other teams are improving and instead, we're just trying to make up the numbers in Europe and in cup competitions too. We don't win anything, we show no desire to keep our best players, we're run by buffoons who don't give a stuff about the fans or AFC's on field success and our manager is tactically inept - how can anyone be positive? The thing is, when I had just joined not606, I was one of the most positive posters on there and I thought we were on the cusp of something brilliant, but re evaluating that and coupled with what's gone on the last two Summers, I can't feel anything but sheer negativity. I can't be positive because there is barely anything to be positive about. Be honest - can anyone actually see us winning anything this season? No I cant see us winning anything Ammaar. We're in for exactly the same as last year, if not worse. Believe it or not I am trying to be positive, but I just cant find anything to really make me believe we will do anything different. It is very depressing. |
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Post by ammaar on Jul 22, 2012 23:46:03 GMT
I'm just sick of the same boring cycle each year.
I really think that if things are seriously going to change, the Arsenal fans will have to unite and protest outside the Emirates. It's the only way IMO. Fan pressure. People power.
I think that will happen if we sell RvP to City or Utd - that will be the final straw, the fans will be seething with rage.
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Post by Jayramfootball on Jul 22, 2012 23:48:11 GMT
I hope so Ammaar - that's what it needs.
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Post by thehothead on Jul 23, 2012 0:20:12 GMT
When I joined Not606 that followed the previous season where I was pro Wenger and used to argue against the pessimists on the original 606 board. Fellow Arsenal fans that I knew were a bit "knee jerky" and very OTT with their condemnation of Wenger - in my opinion. don't get me wrong I knew he was stubborn and that annoyed me but that was about it.
Then the debacle of the summer ensued and that was it, like a switch, I turned into Mr negative when it came to Arsenal, it was the straw that broke the camel's back.
This summer I have been hopeful and that brought excitement back with the purchases we made, but now its just more of the same and I am not happy about anything.
Kids who want replica shirts, which players are they asking for ? If RVP goes .. who is he standout player at Arsenal ? the kids din't know Wilshere, they haven't seen enough of him. We don't win trophies and we don't have star players.
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Post by Bergkamp a Dutch master on Jul 23, 2012 6:48:56 GMT
will we lose young fans? - No ! If you mean the under 16s. We certainly will not gain new ones.
However we are really losing older fans - followers of Nasri, Fabregas, and now RVP - maybe Walcott too.
'Losing' meaning not prepared to pay season-Ts and not going to home games. The economic situation is hurting - guys need to really believe in possible challenging -rather the opposite signals coming out of Asburton Grove.
To think only 3 years ago we were talking about the things possible to boost seating in the Emirates- measures to add over 6k - even 10k.
Economically crazy currently.
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Post by thehothead on Jul 23, 2012 9:12:46 GMT
So regression is inevitable. We lose young fans because the club have no heroes and we lose older fans who refuse to spend the highest prices in the land for season tickets.
Did anyone see Fergie's article on the BBC dismissing criticism of the Glazers ? He was totally spot on when he said that they have backed him with money when he needed it.
"They have to invest in the team to maintain the value of their asset."
Exactly ... investing in the team to maintain the value of their asset. Common sense ... but not so to the Arsenal board it would seem.
Arsenal need heroes.
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Post by Bergkamp a Dutch master on Jul 23, 2012 9:29:15 GMT
the problem is - I think the Arsenal share value is strong - I believe that is how Kroenke values his investment.
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Post by tufnelltoughie on Jul 23, 2012 16:02:42 GMT
It will be very interesting to see what the attendance is for the Sunderland game, i suspect tickets will go on general sale for that one.
Whilst we may not lose fans, we are losing season ticket holders at an alarming rate, i know lots who are now 'season ticket sharing' to defray the cost.
Where we will lose is that we will not gain new young fans and that will be the problem for those of us long term supporters.
When Kroenke has made his 'fast bucks' out of us we will be left with a shell of a club.
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Post by Robin van Bergkamp on Jul 23, 2012 16:15:40 GMT
Please advise if I'm mistaken but are there not these regular meetings between the Arsenal management and a group of fans, perhaps the AST?
The management as I recall suspended some of the sessions in the previous year or so. If they've been revived, I think it's about time there was some serious accountability required of the management. Perhaps a standup argument between them including Arsene and the fans? Follow this up with endless protests at the Emirates at every home game and in the stadium too. It won't be a protest against the players but one against the board and management.
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