The transfer window is open again. While I expect and hope for some frenetic activity on the Arsenal front in the coming month, not too much is happening as yet. Some good news is coming in with the speculation that we’re almost there with Thomas Vermaelen, who seems to be a good solid buy. Consequently there isn’t too much to write about as yet as I don’t want to devote too much time on Madrid and Kaka.
Hence I’ve decided to do a bit of thinking aloud. No controversy or Chelsea bashing here this time unfortunately, so I just expect some good clean U/A feedback and comments on this one.
I have this friend X, Arsenal fan, lived overseas in England for a good part of life. X is very intelligent and generally makes a lot of sense. Even if X had to go and decide to date a United fan, X picked a very good friend of mine, Y (who’s United leanings are incidentally the ONLY slur on Y’s character) X and I were having this conversation one fine day and things drifted towards this blog and Arsenal speak in general. To slightly paraphrase but to essentially quote X:
“It’s a good thing you guys decided your target audience is going to be Indian. These Brits cannot for their life understand why some people behave like they were born (say) in the Emirates”
Brits 1-0 Akshay
Basically what X meant was the Brits cannot understand why I, living in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India cry my eyes out when the Arsenal Football Club loses a Champions league final or celebrate wildly when the Arsenal Football Club wins the league for that matter. I guess I can see their point of view… kind of. Take me for example. The closest I’ve been to London is West Bangalore (a whole 77 Degrees East of London and approximately 8026 kilometers away) and yet stupidly, (to them Brits) my emotions swing along with the club’s fortunes.
Brits 2-0 Akshay.
However just because I see their point of view doesn’t mean I agree with them.
I love the sport. Football is a global phenomenon. It transcends every boundary man can conceive of. To draw a rough parallel, Football is Vishnu and Vishnu’s avatars are the various clubs. Some worship Rama, some Krishna and so on with their favorite gods. Ergo I worship the Arsenal football club.
Brits 2-1 Akshay
India, though it has a multitude of football clubs sorely lacks the money and the quality that the Barclays Premier League has to offer. I’m pretty certain if Cesc and co. were playing for the Mylapore Mosquitoes (Credit: Ducky) I’d support them equally wildly. And I’d curse the day the Adayar Angels are promoted to the top flight of the SBI Premier League (them being the obvious derby rivals). Hence we are forced to turn to the West.
Brits 2-2 Akshay
The number of English players right now in the BPL is as low as the number of Americans who can repair their washing machines without calling the aforementioned city at roughly 77 Degrees E for assistance (Yes there actually are a couple of smart enough Americans). Therefore, just because they club has their stadium close to where Harry Quinn lives doesn’t give him the god given right to solo fan hood. In any case, there are almost as many sardars in London as there are Harry Quinns (That is a heck of a lot of Harry Quinns). So if the Brits can cheer when Eduardo scores, or curse when Ronaldo misses Why can’t I?
Brits 2-3 Akshay
Yet another parallel. The recently concluded IPL. I vividly remember one memorable interview of a young boy sporting the Rajasthan Royals colors. When asked why he was supporting the Royals he replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world:
“Because Greame Smith is my cousin”
If so many South Africans can support the IPL because their countrymen or relatives or both are playing in the tournament, why can’t we support a team in English football? After all Bhutia made it to Bury F.C and Chettri had trials with Coventry. It may be just a matter of time before some Mukherjee or D’Souza plays alongside Lampard or O’Shea. The best part is we’ve clearly pissed around and marked our territory. It’s the Indian Premier League whereas the BPL is NOT the British Premier League. You get the point.
Brits 2-4 Akshay
Full Time
sadly the religion analogy fails miserably in making its point. I mean there are followers of Krishna, followers of Rama But i dont think Krishna followers abuse Rama with the language that kind of spoils the very spirit with which the language was developed. Offside! 2-3.
And well very obviously Bhutia’s going to Bury did not increase the appeal of the premier league. Less so if we consider Chetri’s case. Lame Finish. Expect a corner at best.
When people in the lands of the Dark continent are able to follow the PL, i dont think the Brits would have any problems understanding why Indians do it unless they are total fools. Well..what do you expect from the people of the country which thought playing cricket would be a good idea. Brits -72- Indians 109
dei donkey. chumma don’t start da. the religion analogy was a very rough one as i have disclaimered. Just to show how divine the game of footer is
And i didnt say Bhutia and Chettri going is responsible for the BPL’s popularity. I said it hopefully is a prelude for bigger things. And it also gives us a legit reason (when drawn against the IPL thing) to follow english footer passionately.
point taken…
dai machi pack up all tis nd watch de gilli danda tournament da….rombha scene da dai…ella elizabethu raani paerenunga….
Dei…….
dude, it is definitely more to do with individual players/coaches than the club itself….i wudnt really care for say the Cavs or Lakers without LeBron or Kobe. same goes for every sport on the global scale…sport transcend all boundaris except the ones it originates from. imagine the plight of a Chelsea fan residing in North London
Agreed. But that is what STARTED you off da sample. I started supporting Arsenal because of Henry and Vieira and Pires and so on. Yet even now when they’re all gone my passion for the club has multiplied. Now no matter who comes in or goes I’ll still support the Arsenal.
Maddy,
Samples gotta point there…I dont know seriously if i d still continue follow the PL with the same passion that i have now when Fergie retires.
I am sure i shudnt be telling u this u quit F! after Schumi left. Without Wenger, the Arsenal could be a totally different proposition.
ohh yes…that too….but the point is that Arsenal has always had an influx of stars and the presence of Wenger. Plus their style of soccer has remaind ever entertaining. We’ve also spent a lot on club jerseys and it would be a shame to throw away things that have a combined worth of a Marijuana farm in lovely Gokarna ( both sentimental value and monetary value . Mind it! )
I dont think there were enough Raptors fans outside Canada once Vince Carter left. How many people continued to support France once Zidane left? How many people even remember a club called Leeds? And will anyone ever support the MIMP (Maharashtrian IIT Madras Party) once I leave?
The last question’s futility aside, I am pretty sure we will spend long hours alone in the darkness pondering over the future of my soccer support once Wenger and Co. leave. Think about it…swap the current Chelsea squad and the current Arsenal squad and think about whether you would have supported Arsenal with the same fervor as you do now?
And by stars I mean to say good players.
And of course, 20 year old Brit footballer Walcott from Arsenal is definitely more famous than 26 year old Indian footballer Irungbam Surkumar Singh from East Bengal