Beginners Luck?
By Shane
April 6 2021
There was a bit of a poker boom in Ireland sometime around 2005 or 2006. Don't ask me why or how because I don't know, but I do know that suddenly every swinging dick on the island with two hands wanted to use them to hold cards. Myself and the lads were no different. Every Friday night we'd huddle around a table in one of our houses and play until the early hours of Saturday.
Even when people were knocked out, they'd stick around just to see who won the grand prize of 25 euros at the end of the game. I'd dropped out of school and didn't have much to do during the week at that time, so eventually I stumbled across the miracle of internet poker - and Paddy Power poker, more specifically. The very first tourney I played, I beat about 100 people or something and won. The computer screen lit up with fireworks, like when you win in Solitaire. I can't remember the prize, but I do know it was substantial enough to make me think I was brilliant at poker. Well I was elated. Google will tell you that Dublin is 8,000 km away from Las Vegas but in my mind, I was there. In my mind, I had just discovered a career. Thing is, I've never won another poker tournament and gave up trying about 10 years ago. When you achieve something that logic suggests you shouldn't have achieved, you're either a prodigy with a very bright future in that field or, in most cases, probably just a jammy bastard. I was nothing more than a jammy bastard on that occasion and the more I think of it, so is Mikel Arteta.
Beginner's luck is real. It just is. If you Google it, you'll find this description: "Beginner's luck arises from a disconnect between the player and the pressure of the game. A novice player is inexperienced and consequently is not expected to do well." And considering Arsenal are 10th in the Premier League, on course for our worst domestic season since 1995, is it fair to ask now whether our FA Cup success under Arteta was an indication of him being the second coming of Pep Guardiola, or simply a reflection of the lack of pressure on him at that time - beginner's luck?
What do you think?
Beginner's luck is real. It just is. If you Google it, you'll find this description: "Beginner's luck arises from a disconnect between the player and the pressure of the game. A novice player is inexperienced and consequently is not expected to do well." And considering Arsenal are 10th in the Premier League, on course for our worst domestic season since 1995, is it fair to ask now whether our FA Cup success under Arteta was an indication of him being the second coming of Pep Guardiola, or simply a reflection of the lack of pressure on him at that time - beginner's luck?
What do you think?
Beginners Luck?
Posted by: Arsenal Times (IP Logged)
Date: 06/04/2021 09:44
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:04:08:22:26:41 by Padre Pio.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:04:08:22:26:41 by Padre Pio.
Re: Beginners Luck?
Posted by: Boston Gooner (IP Logged)
Date: 06/04/2021 10:16
"๐๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐. ๐๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ, ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ป๐ผ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด."
Re: Beginners Luck?
Posted by: CazOnARola (IP Logged)
Date: 06/04/2021 10:22
It was the football gods within the FA smiling upon him with that Kovacic feed card and the actual gods smiling upon him with the pulisic injury and the pandemic resulting in no fans in the stadium in the proceeding season. This saved him in Dec.
He will need that same luck in Europa of he is to survive his time here.
Fans will kick him out next year in Dec if this continues
He will need that same luck in Europa of he is to survive his time here.
Fans will kick him out next year in Dec if this continues
Re: Beginners Luck?
Posted by: Gunnersingh1 (IP Logged)
Date: 06/04/2021 10:57
Caz Auba and his gang will throw him under the bus much before the fans can voice their anger.
If Arteta hasn't gone before next season Auba will.
I'd prefer Auba to go as anyone downing tools is not a player you should keep, no matter how many goals he's scored for us.
If Arteta hasn't gone before next season Auba will.
I'd prefer Auba to go as anyone downing tools is not a player you should keep, no matter how many goals he's scored for us.
Re: Beginners Luck?
Posted by: Boston Gooner (IP Logged)
Date: 06/04/2021 11:00
Quote:Gunnersingh1
Caz Auba and his gang will throw him under the bus much before the fans can voice their anger.
If Arteta hasn't gone before next season Auba will.
I'd prefer Auba to go as anyone downing tools is not a player you should keep, no matter how many goals he's scored for us.
"๐๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐. ๐๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ, ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ป๐ผ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด."
Re: Beginners Luck?
Posted by: CazOnARola (IP Logged)
Date: 06/04/2021 12:06
Quote:I agree.. My mom hates Auba lol. She is absolutely disgusted with his work rate and attitude when things are going bad.Gunnersingh1
Caz Auba and his gang will throw him under the bus much before the fans can voice their anger.
If Arteta hasn't gone before next season Auba will.
I'd prefer Auba to go as anyone downing tools is not a player you should keep, no matter how many goals he's scored for us.
Id rather we sold Lacazette, Auba, Willian, Xhaka, Torreira, etc go young like dortmund. You need players that have some hunger.. We are filled with pensioners.
Re: Beginners Luck?
Posted by: Merlion96 (IP Logged)
Date: 06/04/2021 13:42
Just a dumbfcuk of a manager who is part of the negotiation to offer obscene amount of money to Auba and Willian.
Was it upon advice from Arsene Wenger to Edu and Arteta:
"Look here, that was how Ivan and moi kept Mesut Ozil at Arsenal."
Both are "beginner's luck" that AUba's and Willian's agent knew how to exploit a beginner.
"To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.โ Saint Thomas Aquinas
Was it upon advice from Arsene Wenger to Edu and Arteta:
"Look here, that was how Ivan and moi kept Mesut Ozil at Arsenal."
Both are "beginner's luck" that AUba's and Willian's agent knew how to exploit a beginner.
"To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.โ Saint Thomas Aquinas
Re: Beginners Luck?
Posted by: BootyDaddy (IP Logged)
Date: 06/04/2021 16:31
I reckon you need to say dumbfcuk of a manager a couple more times, Merl.
"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results".
- Albert Einstein
"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results".
- Albert Einstein
Re: Beginners Luck?
Posted by: Padre Pio (IP Logged)
Date: 06/04/2021 16:55
Quote:BootyDaddy
I reckon you need to say dumbfcuk of a manager a couple more times, Merl.
I think if Merl doesnt think he is good enough he should come out and say so, instead of hedging bets with all this dumb stuff
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
Re: Beginners Luck?
Posted by: mapleleafgooner (IP Logged)
Date: 06/04/2021 17:10
Quote:Padre PioQuote:BootyDaddy
I reckon you need to say dumbfcuk of a manager a couple more times, Merl.
I think if Merl doesnt think he is good enough he should come out and say so, instead of hedging bets with all this dumb stuff
To be fair, Merl does call Wenger a "snake oil salesman".
Re: Beginners Luck?
Posted by: Padre Pio (IP Logged)
Date: 06/04/2021 18:06
Quote:Yes he has a soft spot for WengermapleleafgoonerQuote:Padre PioQuote:BootyDaddy
I reckon you need to say dumbfcuk of a manager a couple more times, Merl.
I think if Merl doesnt think he is good enough he should come out and say so, instead of hedging bets with all this dumb stuff
To be fair, Merl does call Wenger a "snake oil salesman".
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
Re: Beginners Luck?
Posted by: weedz (IP Logged)
Date: 06/04/2021 21:23
I get your beginners luck claim, Shane and thereโs some truth in it, but I reckon itโs MAs over-thinking of tactics and game plan in a squad situation.
Long story short, we havenโt got the squad, to implement want he wants to do and he needs to simplify his tactics.
Dani isnโt Iniesta and shouldnโt be expected to be able to play like him.
The other problem we have with our squad is that, in general, weโre slow.
Outside of our forwards we lack pace across the squad and Iโm not just talking about sprinting.
Iโm talking quickness of thought and passing.
Passing out from the back is a problem area thatโs down to the fact that our defence canโt pass out quickly enough.
2 or 3 pressing opposition should not be able to out position 4 or 5 defenders, but they do because our passing out is too slow and predictable.
Look at the absolute facts.
Rookie manager
A squad thatโs been reducing in quality, constantly since 2005.
Poor club management and an owner who simply doesnโt care.
Lucks played its part, but itโs the reasons Iโm giving, that have played a larger part mate.
PS I enjoyed your article Shane. Cheerz
Since the end of WW1, 1919, when the FA restarted its 4 tier football league, with Arsenal fc in the 1st div, thereโs only ever been one club to have never been relegated from Div 1/ EPL.
Arsenal fc
Letโs keep making history
Long story short, we havenโt got the squad, to implement want he wants to do and he needs to simplify his tactics.
Dani isnโt Iniesta and shouldnโt be expected to be able to play like him.
The other problem we have with our squad is that, in general, weโre slow.
Outside of our forwards we lack pace across the squad and Iโm not just talking about sprinting.
Iโm talking quickness of thought and passing.
Passing out from the back is a problem area thatโs down to the fact that our defence canโt pass out quickly enough.
2 or 3 pressing opposition should not be able to out position 4 or 5 defenders, but they do because our passing out is too slow and predictable.
Look at the absolute facts.
Rookie manager
A squad thatโs been reducing in quality, constantly since 2005.
Poor club management and an owner who simply doesnโt care.
Lucks played its part, but itโs the reasons Iโm giving, that have played a larger part mate.
PS I enjoyed your article Shane. Cheerz
Since the end of WW1, 1919, when the FA restarted its 4 tier football league, with Arsenal fc in the 1st div, thereโs only ever been one club to have never been relegated from Div 1/ EPL.
Arsenal fc
Letโs keep making history
Re: Beginners Luck?
Posted by: younghansolo (IP Logged)
Date: 06/04/2021 23:56
I completely agree. It was a mixture of luck and enthusiasm. @#$%& and vinegar.
I've been convinced since autumn that Arteta is taking us nowhere. He hasn't got control of the players or his ideas.
And his luck ran out very quickly.
It's time for him to actually learn his trade like s good gambler if he wants to stick around after The luck has run out.
I've been convinced since autumn that Arteta is taking us nowhere. He hasn't got control of the players or his ideas.
And his luck ran out very quickly.
It's time for him to actually learn his trade like s good gambler if he wants to stick around after The luck has run out.
Re: Beginners Luck?
Posted by: Flava (IP Logged)
Date: 08/04/2021 14:55
Iโm still in the โArteta Inโ camp...do your own joke Shane. He needs to win the Europa League though
My biggest worry is he was part of the decision making team that gave Aubameyang a new contract and Willian a 3 year deal.
If Wenger or Emery had us in 10th Iโd be throwing my toys out of the pram so obviously Iโm a bit of a t.it!
My biggest worry is he was part of the decision making team that gave Aubameyang a new contract and Willian a 3 year deal.
If Wenger or Emery had us in 10th Iโd be throwing my toys out of the pram so obviously Iโm a bit of a t.it!
Re: Beginners Luck?
Posted by: Merlion96 (IP Logged)
Date: 08/04/2021 23:23
Quote:Padre PioQuote:BootyDaddy
I reckon you need to say dumbfcuk of a manager a couple more times, Merl.
I think if Merl doesnt think he is good enough he should come out and say so, instead of hedging bets with all this dumb stuff
He is dumbfcuk of a manager and must be replaced come summer.
Else, even those youngsters he claimed he developed will turn against him.
In the last 10 minutes, you can see Auba is not playing for him and just to show him that when he decided to play in the 10 minutes, he can turned it on. This is player's power.
Why the team declined so suddenly with Odegaard commenting "the players are not buying into his idea"?
Tonight proved my point isn't it?
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