A new season but same old problems...

I went to my first away game in 1981. 30 years ago this very season. On average I have been to around 15 away games a season, so that is somewhere in the region of 450 games. I have seen some truly awful ones too. Cup defeats at places like York and Wrexham, 6-1 league defeats at Everton and Man. United and more 0-0 draws than I care to recall! However I cannot remember enjoying an away game less than this one.
Of course it was not supposed to be like that. The first game of the season is always about optimism and looking forward to the nine months of football ahead, but even before kick off up at St. James's Park the atmosphere was somewhat muted. Many fans, it seemed, had given up on the team and manager before a ball had even been kicked. Not us though. Oh no.
So I set off from my new flat in Darlington with my three lads in tow, looking forward to the new season. Emerson (8) and Ryan (16) were both in their new 125th anniversary home shirt while myself and Rees (18) opted for the new blue one as we headed for the station for the short trip up to the Toon.
Arriving in Newcastle with still an hour and half until kick off we decided to pop into a local pub to catch the scores from the other games on the TV and have a pre-match soft drink to loosen up the vocal chords. Our first point of call was O'Neill's opposite the station but we were told kids were not allowed in. We were met with a similar response at The Lounge just up the road so we decided to cut our loses and walk straight to the ground and get a drink there instead. Emerson always likes to get in early anyway as he enjoys watching the ground fill up.
So we arrived at the away end at 4.45 and climbed the 300 odd stairs up to the concourse area. Anyone that has been to the away end at Newcastle will know exactly what I mean! Usually by now the atmosphere would be rocking but not today. To say it was subdued was an under statement. All the talk was of Cesc and Samir's imminent departures and a lack of new signings, although personally I was looking forward to seeing our one major new signing, Gervinho, make his Premier League debut. We made our way up to our seats and saw the players warming up. With no Jack it meant a midfield of Rosicky, Ramsey and Song supporting Andrey, RvP and the new Ivorian...still a very good side though.

Emerson, Ryan and Ress before kick off.

As kick off approached the atmosphere did begin to build and Emerson was already enjoying himself, singing, dancing and waving his arms about as he loves to do! My favourite part of the whole season is seeing the teams come out for the first time and after 30 years that excitement never wanes.
Perhaps the doubters would have been silenced had Gervinho scored inside the opening two minutes, but he fluffed his lines and slowly an all too familiar pattern developed. We passed and passed and passed but failed to deliver a final ball. Without Cesc, Samir and Jack we lacked ideas and while Gervinho looked lively, I cannot recall their keeper having to make a save in the first half, despite us having 90% of the possession.
But unrest in the stands was already evident with the chant of 'Samir you're a c**t' gaining momentum. Thankfully Emerson did not really understand as he asked if Nasri was playing. 'No,' I replied. 'So why are they singing his name?' he asked. I just thought it best to change the subject!
Of course I was not joining in with that nonsense as he is still and Arsenal player, and you cannot blame him for wanting a move. I guarantee all the idiots singing that song would not turn down a better job offer with better pay and prospects. Why should footballers be any different? And we will get top dollar for him...

Second half about to get under way.

The second half did not produce any better football but it did at least provide some talking points on the pitch. Alex Song did what we all wanted by stamping on that odious twat Barton, who then ran off to tell the fourth official. What a hard man he is. But that was only the start. With about fifteen minutes left Gervinho was clipped by Barton in the penalty area and went over, all-be-it rather dramatically. The referee, Peter Walton, waved away our appeals and Barton took the law into his own hands. After picking on Diaby last season he was at it again as he grabbed our new boy around the throat and tried to lift him to the ground. Now I'm not saying Barton is racist or anything but there does seem to be a pattern developing here...I'll leave you to join the dots...
I actually felt sorry for Gervinho as if you were in a new country and were being manhandled by an idiot with a stupid haircut the likelihood is you too would react. He did with a little slap that sent the tough guy falling down as though he had been shot and Walton produced a red card. No not for Barton but for Gervinho! Genius! As the Ivorian sadly trudged off the pitch all hope we had of a winning start went with him.
The idiots in the away end wasted no time in venting their feelings with chants of 'spent some f**king money' directed, presumably, at Wenger
I really wanted us to score at this point just to see how he would react. Would he shut up and celebrate or stand by his principals and continue with his moronic chanting? What do you think? The fickle twat would have no doubt have been singing 'we're going to win the league...'
The final whistle blew and while I was frustrated we had not won a game we had dominated I just could not understand the boos that were ringing out around me. The guy in front was of course one of the first to jump on this bandwagon too but before I could say anything the guy next to me jumped in and started having a go at him. Soon others were joining in and I have to say it was sad to see Arsenal fans fighting and arguing amongst themselves. It's the first game of the season for crying out loud...No it's not new players we need but new fans, fans who appreciate what we actually have, not these glory-hunting morons who do not understand anything about football.

Not even a drab 0-0 draw can curb his enthusiasm!

So a rather sad end to what should have been a great day but no doubt these scenes will be repeated throughout the season unless things change behind the scenes, which, lets face it, is unlikely.
Luckily Emerson still enjoyed himself and his synopsis of the day was that he was disappointed we hadn't scored but he was blaming the ref for not giving us a penalty! That boy knows more than fans three times his age...
After our usual stop at McDonalds to reflect on the days events we returned home just in time to catch the highlights on MOTD. Yes it was a penalty, yes Barton should have been sent off (again!!) and yes we lacked a cutting edge, but hey things could be a whole lot worse. We are financially stable, we are still unbeaten despite being down to 10 men away from home and as Emerson said, 'Gervinho is pretty good ain't he?' Yes he most certainly is...