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An Interview with the Arsenal Manager-a young fan's story
Jake's earnest young features were frozen in concentration as he studied 2 newspaper cuttings intently: they had corresponding dates but were from different years and told two very different stories:
AMPONSAH WHO?The Independent Sunday August 20th 2006
By Sam Wallace (Football Correspondent)
Arsenal 2
West Ham 0
A barnstorming start to their new season this may be but the sell-out crowd in the newly open and magnificent Emirates Stadium will have to suspend disbelief for a while yet to see how their unknown new manager, Ben Amponsah, will fare amongst the Premiership big guns......
Rossi Wonder Strike Required to Break Buffon ResistanceThe Independent Sunday 17th August 2008
By Glenn Moore at Old Trafford
Manchester United 1
Arsenal 0
It required a goal of the highest calibre by wonder-kid Guiseppe Rossi to overcome the resistance of Arsenal and more specifically his countryman Gigi Buffon-the latest and perhaps most important acquisition for Ben Amponsah's assault on the Premiership and European Trophies. Two years ago we all wondered where this passionate and most intelligent of Managers had come from. Now, after steering his side to within a whisker of the Champions League trophy and holding onto 2nd place in the league for most of the season, we wonder no more: Ben Amponsah has arrived and though it may seem strange to be lauding him after a defeat to his Arch rivals from Manchester, you only need to have seen the performance of arguably the best goalkeeper in the world to see the huge significance of this purchase.....
The hot sunlight of an arid August afternoon was streaming into his bedroomn and as Jake lay full length on his bed he turned onto his back to access the shade and reading this he let his thoughts wander. He remembered his Dad waking him up a couple of months previously telling him to turn on Arsenal TV-quickly quickly! He remembered hearing that there was a new master for his beloved club and that there was a significant threat that the new Chairman, Arsenal fan, Dan Saunders was considering replacing Ben Amponsah, who's return so far to Arsenal's trophy cabinet was-well-um precisely zero.
It hadn't happened. The fan protest (initiated and organised by none other than one Jake Patterson-17 and true young Gunner) was so passionate and virulent that Saunders had had to do a rapid volte-face-Amponsah was to stay...for the moment. Jake had remembered crying with his Dad when he heard the news. Tears of relief that turned to tears of joy when he learnt that the Board had given Amponsah £38m for new signings. And with them he captured the final piece in the jigsaw: a goalkeeper that could, by his presence, make the difference between a third and a first place finish in the League and the difference between the runners up and the winners medal in the Cups.
Sneijder and Buffon were in: they would shake things up, Jake thought as he adjusted his glasses and munched on an apple. He got teased for being bookish but despite his rather pretty scholarly appearance there was a deep seated inner conviction about the boy. His most steadfast-and one he had thought for some time was that the Arsenal Manager was a genius...his ambition: to secure a private one on one interview with him.....
03-09-2007, 02:41 AM
An Interview with the Arsenal Manager-a young fan's story Post #2
Walking the dogs was a pastime made much more bearable when Jake could pore over and study the Arsenal Programme notes and Team sheets. It meant he sometimes walked into people and things and it had got him into trouble on at least one ocassion but Jake, rightly, figured his pretty-boy looks and glasses would avert all but the most thuggish of elements.
It was an impressive squad and one that would get stronger as the season progressed: there was now top class cover in all positions and some very impressive youngsters coming through. No doubt about it Jake mused, as he meandered after his leaping Alsation, Ben Amponsah was indeed a genius....
‘Calm down Jake!’ Jake’s Dad was trying his hardest to soothe the frayed nerves of his excitable young son whilst Jake, for his part, waved the newspaper article around, gesticulating wildly in his rage.
‘Lawton doesn’t know the meaning of even-handed-that Man U supporting piece of ****! He can NEVER see the good side in Arsenal-always the worst. I mean look at this Dad-look at it!’ He wafted the headline in front of his Dad and continued his rant:
ARSENAL STROLL TEMPERED BY LOSS OF BUFFON The Independent Thursday 21st August 2008
By James Lawton, Chief Sports Writer in Salzburg
Salzburg 1
Arsenal 3
Arsenal treated this game like a playground stroll but were jolted by the news that the 14th minute injury to Gigi Buffon will keep him out for a month……
‘I mean I ask you Dad-we treated it like a playground stroll did we?’ The hot flush that Jake’s anger had brought to his cheeks made him look like a little comical and it was as much as Matthew Patterson could do not to burst out laughing. Past experience told him that this would result in a Vesuvius-like eruption from Jake that he really would not be able to control. Still at least he could pretend to study the road and keep his eye on the driving: he had learnt to shunt Jake and his little tantrums into the background.
".....it’s as well for Ben Amponsah that the Dutch International goalkeeper, Maarten Stekelenburg, was on top of his game pulling off a string of fine saves to remind his manager just why he invested so much faith in him at such a relatively young age for a goalkeeper...."
‘f*****ing ridiculous!’
‘Jake! Don’t swear like that or I’ll turn around and we’ll head straight back down the M6!’
‘Sorry Dad.’ Jake deflated like a burst balloon and fixed his gaze on the motorway. They were headed to the Reebok to see Arsenal vs Bolton on a cloudy but dry August day. The weather was somewhat fresher today than it had been of late-the whiff of Autumn in the air.
‘I mean who wouldn’t buy Buffon given the chance…’
03-20-2007, 12:06 PM
An Interview with the Arsenal Manager-a young fan's story Post #6
Authors Note: I am effectively writing this story as I go along and its from my FM07 game (with latest patch). Had a bit of an up and down 1st season and ended 2nd-a long way behind a rampant Chelsea but hoping that my recent signings will swing title in my direction this time around.
Hope you enjoy all-the angle that I am taking with this story is a different one (unlike my last 'Steel City Messiah', which was very much in the mould of flipsix's 'Leaving the Past Behind'-my inspiration). Hope you all enjoy and send me any feedback you want-I always appreciate it :thup:
03-27-2007, 12:13 AM
An Interview with the Arsenal Manager-a young fan's story Post #9
Jake was a boy in a hurry. He’d spent all of Friday at College in a state of high distraction or, more like what his friend Gemma called, ‘that Ben Amponsah dream mode state!’ The fact was that his idol, the Arsenal Manager, was being interviewed by Garth Crooks on Football Focus that Saturday, the 20th of September: a date that was now etched indelibly in Jake’s young mind.
‘You’re not sweet on him are ya?’ Gemma had asked in that annoying way that girls sometimes did. Jake wasn’t annoyed though-he wasn’t listening: the reports into how Arsenal were likely to hammer a Newcastle that had started the season in a typically shaky manner, were far more interesting than his irritating friend.
‘Cos you don’t show any interest in girls do you?’
Jake smiled as he read the article:
AMPONSAH WARNS BUOYANT ARSENAL AGAINST COMPLACENCY The Independent Friday 19th September 2008
Brian Viner writes:
Quote:
Ben Amponsah has warned his side against complacency in their upcoming home fixture against a struggling Newcastle. Amponsah has stressed that Newcastle are a team that could cause Arsenal problems but that his team should beat them if they play to their best: surely an understatement given that the Gunners have now notched up 9 goals in just 4 games at the Emirates and, the freak defeat against CSKA aside, have looked utterly dominant in their newly expanded 75,000 seat stadium……
‘You’re not listening to me at all are you?’ Gemma moaned.
‘what? Oh sorry Gem-listen I’m going home-have to prep for tomorrow’s interview and all that’ And with that Jake beat a hasty retreat.
'PREPARE!! Prepare? What for? He's a bloke Jake-just a bloke!.....' She wailed at his rapidly disappearing back.
Friday night passed agonisingly slowly in a way that only seemed to afflict Jake and some of his friends: his Dad was never bored….He tried to pass the time in guessing what Garth Crooks would ask: Can Arsenal win this season after 2 seasons of no silverware at all? Is Henry still up to it? How is Buffon settling in and is Sneijder over-rated? What about the talented youngsters like Traore, Denilson and Walcott-would they get an extended run in the 1st Team this season? What’s the relationship with the new Chairman and Board like now? So many questions but would Garth ask the right ones?
Sleep was hard to come by that night as Jake’s active imagination went into overtime-tossing and turning was an occupational hazard whenever Ben Amponsah was in close proximity and boy did Jake feel close…..
03-27-2007, 02:02 AM
An Interview with the Arsenal Manager-a young fan's story Post #10
It was a pleasant September lunchtime as Jake sat glued to the box in his bedroom: first the melodious strains of Football Focus and then the presenter Maniche with the talking Heads, Lawrenson and Shearer (God he was sooooo boring!)
‘Good afternoon all and welcome to Football Focus. We have with us today Mark Lawrenson and with him Alan Shearer. Over the next few weeks we’ll be looking at who are the most likely challengers for the Premiership title this season as well as which side is most likely for the drop. And who better to start with than the Team that is widely tipped to lift the Championship, Garth Crooks is with Ben Amponsah, the Arsenal Manager. Garth....'
Jake was now sat hunched forward inches from the TV. His Dad, who was about to watch the same programme from the comfort of the living room, stuck his head through the door and shouted 'Jake! Don't sit so close to the TV! How many times?' He might as well have been talking to a mute....
'Thanks Maniche. Ben, what a pleasure it is to be here in the newly expanded Emirates Stadium-what's your view of this magnificent arena?'
Jake groaned 'Oh Garth what a facile question!'
'It's an amazing place to call your home Garth for sure-a truly wonderful theatre and stage for my team to showcase their skills.'
'And you've got a pretty good record here so far this season-you beat Salzburg 5-0 in the Champion's League Qualifier then Fulham 2-0, Villa 2-1 but what happened in your first Champions League game?'
Ben Amponsah shifted uncomfortably in his chair and looked away as if contemplating some painful memory. 'Yes that was an anomaly that game. Look at the stats Garth-it was a game that we dominated but we had a young goalkeeper in Kasper Schmeichel and the team just never really got going. Fact is we had 14 shots on their goal with 6 on target-it's no conicidence that their Central Defender got man of the match with the goalie not far behind. The whole situation wasn't helped, of course, by Thierry missing a penalty in the 12th minute and then having to go off injured after only half an hour.'
'Yes let's talk about Henry and injuries: he's already been out for a couple of weeks at the beginning of the season with a twisted knee and now he's dislocated his shoulder and will be out for a month-you're striking options are still severely limited without him wouldn't you say?'
'You're such a tit Crooks!' Jake exclaimed. That was one question he'd kind of predicted though...
Ben Amponsah smiled humourlessly, 'Garth, no man a whole team makes-you know that and whilst I would concede that Thierry brings much to the Team in terms of not only his goals but also his link up play, it is also true that there are others who can fill that slot.'
'Like Walcott? He is widely seen as a direct like-for-like replacement for Henry-'
'Theo is very young but he does have many of Thierry's attributes-there is also Sanli Tuncay and Robin Van Persie of course, both of whom are interchangeable and can play on the left wing too'
'Of course-Tuncay especially looks like he could score alot of goals this season-he's scored 5 already. The papers say that you had been tracking him since before you were appointed Arsenal Manager?'
'Yes that's true-I am a great friend of Arsene's and we still keep in touch: I did have an inkling I was going to be asked to take over but Arsene was the person who tipped me off about Sanli so he deserves the credit for that one-not me.'
'You have an impressive squad Ben, who are likely to be the stars this season?'
'They can all do well Garth but I am expecting great things from Gigi Buffon, of course-also young Wes Sneijder, Tomas and Aliaksandr Hleb, both of whom I have asked for more goals from this season. Add to that the promise of Micah Richards, Armand Traore, Justin Hoyte, Denilson, Niclas Bendtner and Theo of course and you have a pretty solid squad. I am very happy with them.'
'I'll bet you are. And getting to the all-England final of the Champion's League against your arch rivals Chelsea-what was that like?'
Now it was Jake's turn to remember painful memories.
'Getting there was great Garth, losing to Chelsea was as bad as it gets to be honest....'
'It was an epic game though-you must have felt you were in with a chance when Henry scored after only 10 minutes?'
'Yes we did but they do what Chelsea do and came back very strongly to equalise and tnen take the lead. The equaliser was due to a howler from Stekelenburg, of course, but I was hoping that Cesc's goal on the hour mark would enable us to kick on-in the end they were too strong and scored two late goals to take the trophy-disappointing.'
'You've said that losing makes you feel ill-much like your predecessor did but was it worse losing to Mourinho's men?'
'I admire Mourinho's achievements-it's his manner and methods that I question. sometimes a little humility and modesty can be a good thing don't you think Garth?'
And there was that smile again: the type that never reaches your eyes Jake thought.
'And back to your youngsters: young Cesc Fabregas does not seem to be firing on all cylinders again this season and nor did he last season-what's wrong with him?'
Ben Amponsah looked uncomfortable again-he almost looked, Jake thought, as though he was at a loss to explain why the young Spaniard, who had looked truly World Class the season before last (and before that), was now looking distinctly ordinary. At least this was true for both club and country-maybe he had peaked too soon?
'I think Cesc needs games-he will improve-he is still only 21 remember-don't be in such a hurry to write him off.'
'But you seem to prefer playing Rosicky and Richards in the centre-the graft and the craft as they are sometimes called.'
'For the moment Garth.'
'And Buffon? 3 Clean sheets in 5 appearances-only 2 goals conceded so far-is he the key to your season?'
'Well that's certainly what the papers are saying eh?' Amponsah laughed with some humour now. 'It was a 2 year hunt for Gigi-I got my man in the end. The Board was most generous.'
'Yes the new Arsenal Board: you'd been under the cosh for almost the whole of last season with rumours and innuendo and at least one prior takeover attempt-what was that like?'
'I tend to concentrate on the matter at hand but it did become rather distracting by the end. It was something of a shock to be told by the new man after last season ended that my position was being considered. In the end it seems that I have fan power to thank for my reprieve.' And at this point Ben Amponsah looked square at the camera and said 'especially you Jake Patterson....'
Jake couldnt breathe, the voices faded into the background: his hero had namechecked him-had he just heard that? Dizzy? Hot flush, walls crowding in-ground rusing up to meet him.....
'JAKE! JAKE!' It was his father's voice-a cool fanning on his face-strong hands lifting his head. Memories flooding back.
'Dad, did he? I mean-'
'Yes Jake you silly moo-yes he did just check you. Christ you gave me a fright there son!'
Jake wasn't listening-he shut his eyes and smiled a smile as wide as could be and let himself relive the memory again-bliss..............
An Interview with the Arsenal Manager-a young fan's story 
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