Pretty sure any top 4 team which started the season as badly as we (Arsenal) did would get the same treatment. 1) Manager makes statement that if we lose both key talked about players, we can't be taken seriously (paraphrasing). 2) proceed losing both players. 3) Make last minute transfers, again. 4) Make a **** start to the season, including an 8-2 loss to team you want to match. Take the name "Arsenal" out of it, and there still wasn't much more news-worthy[1] to report on those days was there? [1] and by news I mean stuff that gets you more views, ad revenue, comments etc.
Chelsea must be the most persecuted club. Apparently we only beat Barca because of luck, we wouldn't have beaten Spurs if the 2nd goal didn't count, every commentator wants us to loose, MOTD hammers us, newspapers (bar Telegraph and Times) despise us. It's pretty horrible. I always thought Arsenal got off lucky.
The Guardian are okay as well. But when I got back listening to the commentary was cringe, they usually always root for English teams in Europe but never us, the disappointment in their faces at FT was there for all to see. Don't even get me started on MOTD, last season we won 6-0 consecutive weekends yet weren't shown first either time but the first game of the season we lost we were shown first even though it was a boring 1-0 game and on the same day there was a London Derby, Arsenal had lost 3-2 at home to a newly promoted team and Liverpool were held 2-2 in a highly controversial game.
No manager was ridiculed in this country the same way AVB was. Point to one article that has criticised 'Arry for losing a 13 point lead or criticised United for their poor showing in Europe? City are the only club that have dressing room bust ups apparently, every Chelsea player hates the manager, RA picks the team, every Arsenal player wants to leave.
This may sound bizzare, but the media just appear to be anti-london when it comes to football teams. The only reason Spurs are darlings is because of Harry, when he buggers off they'll be down with the rest of us. The Northern clubs (namely United and Liverpool) seem to get the favouritism from the media, the London bunch are portrayed as the bad guys.
It's always been that way. Football was traditionally a Northern sport and the FA wouldn't let Southern clubs in at first. Northern Grit vs Flash Southerners.
It shouldn't matter about tradition though. The south east has the majority of the succesful clubs in english football, the majority of media outlets are based in the south east, surely they should realise that London is the football capital of the UK, and clubs from London should be treated better.
Are you on drugs? The ****ing media **** themselves over you. 1) Man U 2) Liverpool 3) Arsenal 4) Sunderland 5) West Ham Chelsea nearly got in for the media loving after the Barca match. They played **** and played ****ty tactics and they milked themselves over it.
Barca had 1 shot on goal and 1 shot on target when they knocked us out yet not once did anybody criticise them or say they were lucky, the consensus was that football triumphed
OK here are some truths that may hurt: The media is biased. There is corruption in sport, and especially football. The banking industry does steal your money. There is corruption in politics. There is manipulation of the stock market. etc, etc... You might like to pretend that there isn't, but history does not back you up.
Drogba did what was necessary to win, he beat Barca at their own game. I actually had a running tally, Drogba vs Busquets, Drogba won 11-2 in dives.
Drogba has always been a master cheater, he's a pathetic footballer. I think he's been the worst ever seen in the PL ever (for cheating). He even beats your old player Pires. Pires cheated for penalties and fouls, Drogba does it to stop the game. Lying prone on the ground not moving is disgusting and I think insults people who suffer serious injuries. Him lying on the ground causes the ref to stop the game indefinitely, especially after the Muamba incident.
