# 2015-16 Barclays Premier League Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 3, 2015, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837 "2015-08-03T01:08:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 29
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/562 "2016-05-17T18:49:24Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > By the way, **mascaroni** , what’s up with tossing around Woolwich all the time, as if you think you’re getting in jabs with it? What, do you think there’s something about Arsenal’s past residency at the Royal Arsenal that’s somehow shameful or embarrassing? I have news for you: It isn’t. Hit a raw nerve have I? Your lot Dial Square bribed your way into the top division at our expense. My Grandad fought against that sort of thing, although I think it was Germans rather than Gooners. Same principle though… _“In Wenger we trust”_ ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/563 "2016-05-17T18:55:53Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > Really? Is that the best you’ve got? That’ll do for this season… > [@](#): > > Number of seasons played in the Champions League: 18 Stan Kroenke will be happy, won’t he? Money Money Money… ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/564 "2016-05-17T19:15:32Z")
> [@mascaroni](#): > > Hit a raw nerve have I? Not in the least. That was the point of my post. We honor our past, and the critical importance of the Royal Arsenal to the security of Great Britain. > [@](#): > > Your lot Dial Square bribed your way into the top division at our expense. Not confirmed. But anyway, the move was made and the name had already been changed to “Arsenal F.C.” by then. Also, _that was over 100 years ago._ Stop livin’ in the past, man. > [@](#): > > My Grandad fought against that sort of thing, although I think it was Germans rather than Gooners. I thought that was the First Boer War. > [@](#): > > Same principle though… At least our crest doesn’t include a horrific symbol of animal abuse. As yours does. > [@](#): > > _“In Wenger we trust”_ Amen! A great manager, a great man. Arsenal fans owe him a lot. As do, frankly, anyone who is a fan of the Premier League, since his innovations pushed the entire league into better, more artful and interesting football. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/565 "2016-05-17T19:28:22Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > At least our crest doesn’t include a horrific symbol of animal abuse. As yours does. No, yours has a WMD. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/566 "2016-05-17T19:34:46Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > No, yours has a WMD. It’s called artillery. War is horrible, but at least has served the purpose on occasion of defeating evil. What noble achievement is associated with cock fighting, exactly? ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/567 "2016-05-17T20:39:18Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > We honor our past… I’ll give you that, even though there’s a missing ‘u’. I actually worked on the Emirates Stadium and I have to admit I was impressed with the way they incorporated some of the stuff from Highbury, not just the clock, but some of the marble from the entrance is now seating outside the ground. To be honest, I’d rather you finishing above us than that club near Fulham. BTW… If you’ve never seen it… check out the 1930’s film _The Arsenal Stadium Mystery_. Not a great film, but features players of the day and the stadium. Whoops, I’m being nice to a Gooner… Piss off back to Woolwich! Sorted. ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/568 "2016-05-17T21:03:45Z")
I think the deal with the Woolwich thing is that, while in America we’ve gotten used to greedy owners packing up their franchise and moving somewhere where they can make more money, that’s Just Not Done in England. The only other case I know of is Wimbledon AFC moving to Milton Keynes, and it seems that everyone still hates MK Dons because of that. Hence the resentment has lasted much longer than it would have here. By griping about shit that happened over a century ago, we honor our past and take pride in our club’s long and storied history.😛 But the main factor is probably that “Woolwich” is one of those words it’s just fun to say. Woolwich. Woolwich. **Wooooolwich.** I’m cracking myself up here. On another note, now that the situation at Old Trafford has turned out to be farce rather than tragedy, I can use the line that this was the first time all season we’ve heard the words “explosive” and “Manchester United” in the same sentence! ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/569 "2016-05-17T21:23:01Z")
> [@Thing\_Fish](#): > > I think the deal with the Woolwich thing is that, while in America we’ve gotten used to greedy owners packing up their franchise and moving somewhere where they can make more money, that’s Just Not Done in England. The only other case I know of is Wimbledon AFC moving to Milton Keynes, and it seems that everyone still hates MK Dons because of that. > > Hence the resentment has lasted much longer than it would have here. By griping about shit that happened over a century ago, we honor our past and take pride in our club’s long and storied history.😛 Yep, this is correct. The “Go back to Woolwich” is about the fact that Arsenal originally were from Woolwich, but left to Highbury in 1913 because it was a richer area. In England that’s just not ok. In addition, it’s a bit of taunt that asserts Arsenal is actually a more lower class club than it presents itself as (because Highbury is richer and more upper class than Woolwich). So, they moved and are ‘putting on airs’ at the same time - which is the basis for the Woolwich taunts. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/570 "2016-05-17T21:29:10Z")
I know the history well. I just have encountered zero fans who are in any way hurt or embarrassed by these “taunts.” We’re bemused that anyone would think so. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/571 "2016-05-17T21:37:31Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > I know the history well. I just have encountered zero fans who are in any way hurt or embarrassed by these “taunts.” We’re bemused that anyone would think so. What makes you think the taunts are for you? They are mostly because we think it’s funny. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/572 "2016-05-17T22:05:46Z")
Indeed. I mean you think Chelsea fans are hurt or embarrassed by “Chelski” taunts? ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/573 "2016-05-17T22:15:25Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > …the fact that Arsenal originally were from Woolwich, but left to Highbury in 1913 because it was a richer area. In England that’s just not ok. In addition, it’s a bit of taunt that asserts Arsenal is actually a more lower class club than it presents itself as (because Highbury is richer and more upper class than Woolwich)… Sorry mate, but that’s a load of bollocks. ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2016, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/574 "2016-05-18T04:25:52Z")
My Mum’s family are from the Woolwich area, and in fact I was born only down the road in Maze Hill. TBH I think part of the reason people still make the connection between Arsenal and Woolwich, is that Woolwich Arsenal station (named after the Royal Arsenal) is still the main station in Woolwich, even though the arsenal and the football team are long gone, so you still have that tangible connection. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2016, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/575 "2016-05-18T05:12:52Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > What makes you think the taunts are for you? They are mostly because we think it’s funny. Fair enough. Proceed. > [@Asympotically\_fat](#): > > My Mum’s family are from the Woolwich area, and in fact I was born only down the road in Maze Hill. TBH I think part of the reason people still make the connection between Arsenal and Woolwich, is that Woolwich Arsenal station (named after the Royal Arsenal) is still the main station in Woolwich, even though the arsenal and the football team are long gone, so you still have that tangible connection. Indeed. It’s part of the history of the club! ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2016, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/576 "2016-05-18T10:08:07Z")
> [@Thing\_Fish](#): > > I think the deal with the Woolwich thing is that, while in America we’ve gotten used to greedy owners packing up their franchise and moving somewhere where they can make more money, that’s Just Not Done in England. The only other case I know of is Wimbledon AFC moving to Milton Keynes, and it seems that everyone still hates MK Dons because of that. > > Hence the resentment has lasted much longer than it would have here. By griping about shit that happened over a century ago, we honor our past and take pride in our club’s long and storied history.😛 > > But the main factor is probably that “Woolwich” is one of those words it’s just fun to say. Woolwich. Woolwich. **Wooooolwich.** I’m cracking myself up here. > > On another note, now that the situation at Old Trafford has turned out to be farce rather than tragedy, I can use the line that this was the first time all season we’ve heard the words “explosive” and “Manchester United” in the same sentence! Horwich moved to Leigh first RMI and then Genesis. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2016, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/577 "2016-05-18T12:30:12Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Horwich moved to Leigh first RMI and then Genesis. Thanks for that. I’m sure we all love to keep up with the fortunes of semi professional non league teams from Lancashire. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2016, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/578 "2016-05-18T13:37:54Z")
> [@Thing\_Fish](#): > > But the main factor is probably that “Woolwich” is one of those words it’s just fun to say. Woolwich. Woolwich. **Wooooolwich.** I’m cracking myself up here. I’m imagining you alone in a darkened room with the computer, TV and radio unplugged, rocking on a chair: “Woolwich…WOOLWICH…hahaha! (sob)”. If your freshest joke is over a hundred years old, then it’s fair to say you don’t have a lot of material to work with. I think the joke about the team coming third in a two-horse race much funnier, and it’s as brand-new as freshly baked bread (although tapping into a rich comic tradition that spans the ages). ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2016, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/579 "2016-05-18T14:03:52Z")
> [@mascaroni](#): > > Thanks for that. I’m sure we all love to keep up with the fortunes of semi professional non league teams from Lancashire. Lower league football: All the passion, none of the posers. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2016, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/580 "2016-05-18T14:10:23Z")
What’s hilarious is we have fans from two fabulously wealthy clubs arguing about who sucks more when both of them finished 10 points behind the 5000:1 long shot. All fans of the big clubs ought to stfu and hang your heads in shame. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2016, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/581 "2016-05-18T14:46:59Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > What’s hilarious is we have fans from two fabulously wealthy clubs arguing about who sucks more when both of them finished 10 points behind the 5000:1 long shot. All fans of the big clubs ought to stfu and hang your heads in shame. You’re not wrong. But also there’s a bit of being charmed by an amazing story and the “if we can’t win the league this year, good thing it’s a ‘Cinderella’ and not, you know, our rival.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837.md?page=28) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837.md?page=30)