Comments on: It is all to easy to forget that players mature mentally too

By: Pete

Pete — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:20:56 +0000

Johnny Hoy, every single player in the world that is good enough to play for a top club went through a period in their career where they were not ready.

My point is that through that period, you have to support the player and understand that they have not peaked yet, physically or mentally.

It is very rare for a team to peak together, and often a bad idea, as the following years are a nightmare. Therefore you will always have players in and around the squad that are building towards the future.

I get frustrated with fans that cannot and will not accept that.

By: hurley

hurley — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 07:53:36 +0000

Excellent article. / Applauds!

By: johnny hoy

johnny hoy — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 07:44:07 +0000

Maybe if the club lowered the price of season tickets whilst we’re waiting it might help. You’re rationale is deeply floored, these chaps didn’t start on their career paths at eighteen or even sixteen, they started at eight or nine years of age. If they’re not up to it they shouldn’t be playing for Arsenal. Or should I say if they’re not up for it: they shouldn’t be playing for Arsenal. Nor ought we be expected to patient, we pay for too much for all that nonsense.

By: bops

bops — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 07:01:08 +0000

Well said Sir.

By: Pete

Pete — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:35:22 +0000

Thanks for the comments. gh, that was beautiful.

Dharg, agreed on the first two blogs but Arseblog is right at the top of my daily reads, I find he is always constructive in his criticism. ANR, on the other hand, is becoming more like a caricature every day.

Erik, Walcott is the latest in a long line, and just needs a run. I’m optimistic about Stoke, especially given their mammoth cup tie last night.

By: Erik

Erik — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:27:53 +0000

Hey Pete,

Great post mate… is pretty much the way I’ve always felt.

Like GH said… we should try treating these players as family and be more understanding….

Like with Walcott, I hear Arsenal fans at work saying we should sell him… I mean wtf? The very few games he has been in form he has been superb.

People forget that if you get injured for 10+ weeks and come back to work, wouldnt it take you a couple of days to get back in the rhythm of things?

These players dont have days, they have 90mins…

The only player at the club I am unsure about is Sylvestre, simply because I have never felt comfortable with him at CB so far, anyone got any stats on how many clean sheets with have with him in defence?

I am really happy to see Sol back as well, he seems to have lost a little bit of pace but still a rock, error at Porto was unfortune but I guarantee you that next time he is in the same position he will take charge of the situation and clear the ball for a throw.

I work with 6 Arsenal fans and they all think we wont win at Stoke, I think we all too quickly forget that team in the 3-1 FA Cup defeat had JET, Coquelin, Treore, Sylvestre, Fabianski, Eastmond….

This time we will definetely have a better squad playing and beleive that we HAVE to win.

By: dharg

dharg — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:53:51 +0000

Pete,

Hear, hear.

Patience in all things seems to be a dying virtue.

I am gobsmacked by the amount of criticism our players/manager receive from supposed Arsenal blogs.

I know about LeGrove and ANR but even Arseblog has turned into the most negative of blogs. Every post is either downright negative – Fabianski is not good enought, ditto Denilson, Diaby is injury prone, AA is lazy etc etc – or players are damned by feint praise.

And when you challenge them its “we can’t affect fans thinking” “its only a blog” But they continously reinforce the negatives.

Imagine what a club Arsenal could be if we all pulled in the same direction. And we will be because Wenger believes, most of the board believe, the team believes and thankly I still think most supporters still believe!!!

By: Livi B

Livi B — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:21:19 +0000

Well said that man! I would go one further and say we can help the kids by not being so negative…the belief starts from the fans.

By: Fabgooner

Fabgooner — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:11:46 +0000

Great post; I have nothing to say that you haven’t already :P

By: chengiskhan

chengiskhan — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:56:42 +0000

Great post. Most fans are pathetically impatient when it comes to our club and our players. Everyone wants instant success in an era of Abrahmoviches and Emirate capital groups. Anyone with half a brain can see that what Wenger has constructed in the last 5 years is nothing short of miraculous. The team we will be watching 5 years from now will simply dominate world football.