Morning all.
Football seems on course to suffer a massive financial hit but I wont feel too sorry for the Premier League if it does. For too long now, footballers have been overpaid, transfer fees have been off the scale ridiculous and fans have been nothing short of ripped off for tickets, season tickets and merchandise. Will I shed a tear if Mesut Ozil logs into his online banking to find a £150k deposit made by Arsenal rather than his reported to be usual £300k? Will I heck! Same goes for the rest of the squad who are multi millionaires by now and the rest of players across the top league in English football. These guys won’t have to worry about their next mortgage payment, the electricity bill, or other utility bills, nor will they have to think about freezing their Sky or BT packages because for far too long now, they’ve been rewarded handsomely for playing a sport they love. Once or maybe twice a week. You and I could probably live a comfortable life earning what they do in sponsorship alone, let alone a monthly salary. I’m talking one month here, not twelve and certainly not the amount they earn from a three year contract. If they had a heart, they’d have already offered to give up one months wages so their respective clubs could ensure the rest of the staff don’t go without, after all, they are the hub of the club. Those who look after the ground, the training facilities, the pitch, the changing rooms, the chef, the administration staff, the tea lady. They are ones who need looking after right now.
If every footballer in the world donated a days salary to the NHS or whichever medical organisation in the country they are playing in, the battle against this life taking virus would perhaps be easier.
Coronavirus has hit the world, sport, not just England and certainly not just football so perhaps now would be a good time to change. If the much anticipated pay cut comes, keep it. Drive down player wages to a more reasonable level, a far less obscene level. Introduce a salary cap for each division and at each grade. By that I mean age group as it’s absolutely ridiculous that a player still in his teens can earn £190k a week.
August 2019. Highest paid teenagers as reported by the Daily Mail.
Jadon Sancho, 19 – £190,000-a-week
Vinicius Jnr, 19 – £190,000-a-week
Rodrigo, 18 – £76,000-a-week
Ryan Sessegnon, 19 – £70,000-a-week
Joao Felix, 19 – £58,000-a-week
Moise Kean, 19 – £53,000-a-week
Phil Foden, 19 – £30,000-a-week
Reiss Nelson, 19 – £30,000-a-week
Callum Hudson-Odoi, 18 – £22,000-a-week
Takefusa Kubo, 18 – £17,115-a-week
What difference in salary between Kubo and Sancho and in my opinion, the salary Kubo earns at Real Madrid is still to high. And no, I’m not envious, not one bit. Well, not really, not much, honest….
Morning all.
New post up now
Hi Rico that’s wright Kroenke never took money out of arsenal, arsene wenger kept giving it to him for advice on how to stuff our club
unless I’m wrong I remember reading that Kroenke wanted Arsenal to pay him for the privilege of playing one of our premier league home matches at his stadium in America to help raise money for the new stadium
It came down swiftly, the crane which crashed at the SoFi Stadium construction site in Inglewood, Calif., on Friday.
But according to SoFi Stadium officials the mishap won’t delay the $5 billion venue’s timeline, which includes being ready next season to host the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers.
Before the squads raise the curtain on what promises to be among the world’s most celebrated stadiums, singer Taylor Swift will christen the linchpin of the NFL’s return to L.A. with concerts on July 25-26.
The Rams and Chargers are expected to play August preseason games at SoFi Stadium, the completion of which was already delayed a year because of the amount of rain the region received in 2018-2019.
That circumstance forced the Rams to play an addition season at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum and the Chargers to stay an extra year at the Dignity Health Sports Park.
Today In: SportsMoney
The mishap at SoFi Stadium, which didn’t result in any injuries, occurred when a crane was being moved. During transport it collided with another crane and it knocked the stationary one over in the venue’s parking lot. The 70,000-seat structure was not impacted.
The sports and entertainment complex which spreads over nearly 300 acres and is being built by Rams owner Stan Kroenke already has an impressive list of sporting events scheduled, with this year’s LA Bowl, matching teams from the Pac-12 and Mountain West Conference, recently added to the list.
This is the stadium that Kroenke has invested 1.6 billion dollars for . He has sold the naming rights for a further4 billion to SOFI an investment bank meanwhile he bought out his Arsenal shares on borrowed money.
However with the way the stock markets are permorming of late and the price and use of oil collapsing things from this list may well be different .
https://www.businessinsider.com/the-richest-billionaire-premier-league-owners-2019-8?r=US&IR=T#1-manchester-city-owner-sheikh-mansour-30-billion-12
Same the whole world over , Too many chiefs and not enough indians.
Kev, more staff then players at clubs now and I’m not talking about stadium staff….
Should I say more hangers on?????
Yeah, I get that Scott, although at the same time I haven’t got a problem with players earning a good living from doing something we can only dream of, but the people running the game are to blame, the associations, the PFA’s, the club owners/directors, the trustees, they’re responsible, they let the control of the game slip into the hands of the agents and now we have what we have now!
But I’m not just blaming agents, the greed of people in the game has caused all this as well, plenty of CEO’s are earning a fortune, I wonder what kind of salary Raul is on, or Edu?
We are told that we need all these people running things, but I do wonder how true that is?
Kev, money has done a more damage to sport than it’s done good, that’s for sure.
Kids now want to play for Real or Barca, not their local club even if that club is West Ham or the like.
Parents are telling them how much they should earning, I won’t start on agents, and it just becomes about how much they can earn.
Morning All…
Football has suddenly become one of the least important things in my life, I just can’t help but feel totally unmoved by the prospect of the current season being abandoned or being played behind closed doors.
There has to be something really wrong with our society when Jaydon Sancho earns the same in a week – a week, what 6 nurses earn in a year.
As far as a wage cap, forget it, people like Raul, Mendes, Gazides, they’re all mates, you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours, they’re all on the gravy train, they all earn a fantastic living from this monster and we as fans feed it.
I look at a club like West Ham for example, they always punched above their weight, but they had a brilliant youth academy and were famed for developing their own stars.
But I look at them now and I wonder who most of their players are, where they come from and what enormous wages they’re on playing in the Olympic Stadium.
How many of the West Ham players give a shit, Mark Noble perhaps but he’s a dying breed, the West Ham squad is full of players passing through, looking for their next big contract, the West Ham players have no connection with the fans, there’s no Billy Bonds or Trevor Brooking or Alvin Martin in their squad, it’s full of mercenaries and that shows itself clearly on matchdays.
West Ham are just one example, you can replicate that across football.
I wonder if football will ever truly recover from this?
Adam, he definitely is a quality human being.
Potter, true and I don’t follow NFL so really have no idea how he’s positioned there.
Powerful words from our manager who seems like a really proper person.
That depends on how his Lis Angeles stadium pans out.
Morning all.
I can’t see Stan even contemplate selling atm.
If he were to sell, he’d surely wait until football is being played and the income starts rolling in this boosting the value of the club.
He doesn’t need the money so he will ride things out.
Our head coach has now recovered from the virus, but says it remains absolutely crucial for everyone across the world to play their part.
“We are living in a unique situation, so I think all of us are trying to react to the situation that is coming on a daily basis and trying our best to overcome the situation,” Arteta told Arsenal Player.
“First of all I would like to send a message to all the people who have lost their loved ones, those who are suffering in hospitals, having difficult moments and are sick – we have a massive gratitude to everyone who is involved in healthcare, in hospitals, people in services, people trying to provide food, transportation, everything that is so relevant to us.
“And please to everybody [in the UK], we are a little bit behind other countries, for example Spain, where I know the situation they are living at the moment, and while we are having the opportunity a little bit to minimise the risk, I encourage everybody please to be responsible and stay at home as much as possible.
“That is all we can do from our position, we don’t have the ability to help others in other circumstances, so please at least stay at home and do what is required.
“We have to try to help the NHS as much as possible and we have to give the opportunity to the elderly people who needs this more than anybody else to get the treatment they require. We have to slow the process down and the virus down, so please stay at home.”
People should be “emotionally more open” after the coronavirus pandemic, says Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta following his recovery.
Arteta, 38, tested positive for the virus on 12 March but has since recovered after self-isolating.
“We are in a world here where everything is social media, everything is a WhatsApp text,” the Spaniard said.
“But how important is touching each other, feeling each other and hugging each other?
“I miss that with a lot of the people I love.
“We have to be emotionally more open. We have to tell each other what we are feeling.”
Arteta reported feeling unwell after it was confirmed Evangelos Marinakis – the owner of Greek side Olympiakos, who played Arsenal in the Europa League in February – had coronavirus on 10 March.
On Thursday Arteta said he was feeling “completely recovered” and urged people to follow the government’s advice on staying at home.
“It’s one virus that is putting the world aside and it’s transforming everything that we prioritise in life. So we have to take that lesson,” he told the Arsenal website.
“We cannot just in two or three months’ time – if we are able to get over this quickly – forget about this, because it’s so important.”
Arsenal players were due to report for training earlier this week after competing a two-week isolation period, but their return has been postponed.
Arteta said his main concern was his three children after his wife and their nanny contracted the virus.
Arteta self-isolated in a room and a bathroom for two or three days but his wife fell ill shortly afterwards.
“I am a very positive person and I try to take the moment to say OK, what can we take from this?” he said.
“I haven’t had the opportunity to wake up with my kids and dedicate my time and listen to them.
“We are in the household together and we are really enjoying those moments as well.”
Unfortunately it does have a major bearing on the problems being suffered by all including football
Thanks Wavy. Yes, I’d imagine the Walmart family have done well.
I did say Coronavirus comments would be binned Lc.
Yes Rico, in the last month or so. After the recent boom in cupboard storing all the food you can get in your house ASDA May turn a bit of a profit and Walmart may change their minds and take it off the market.
Then again?
My first comment edited and another binned!………………..I give up, stay safe and well all, if not I will see you all in hell, you will recognise me as I will be the one sitting on the naughty step! hahaha
I wonder why they are trying to sell Asda, is this recent do you know Wavy?
Of Walmart, they are actively trying to sell ASDA. What will the Kronkes’ cut from that be, I wonder?
And what effect will it have on the arsenal? If any at all?
Interestingly, all football below national league level has been ended. Seasons declared void.
I know Adam but what’s mine is yours and all that.. 😂
Seriously though, I can’t see Stan selling up, not unless his businesses elsewhere suffer badly and he needs the money. After all, he’s made it clear he’s staying long term, as has Josh. ‘We’ can like it or not, I’m of the opinion that he is here to stay.
Stan isn’t Walmart though Rico but his wife is one of the family. I doubt if he will sell too, but if the right offer came in? From what The financials say, most, if not all the PL clubs are for sale, if the price right. And there’s the rub.
Absolutely Adam. I think the world of sport is up in the air right now and not just football. But, I do think we’ll see a number of clubs fold because of what’s going on. Certainly in the lower leagues.
Arsenal should be ok if the club really does have an enormous slush fund as reported. I’d imagine Walmart are doing ok through all of this so I doubt he’ll think about selling up, especially if the clubs value decreases.
Rico. Conventional wisdom would suggest that, with reduced revenue streams comes a drop in the value of the club. There’s going to have to be some sort of reset on the way and this may include players wages. Kroenke has a problem and it’s growing every day. He’s not alone in this obviously but who survives and in what financial shape they are in is going to be relevant. Arsenal need the Kroenkes to be strong but that won’t stop the usual and incessant criticism of them, regardless of what they do.
Are Arsenal more open to a takeover bid right now?
Hi Geoff, SK doesn’t really take money out of the club does he?
At the moment Kroenke owns the club 100% . So what we get from Sky in effect goes into his coffers as does every bit of income .
Footballs finance will not be the same at the end of this as all clubs everywhere will eventually go to the wall if there is no income.. Furthermore as we know it is more than a sport it is a collective social event and just as we in our thousands want the best for Arsenal so do the few hundred that support lower league teams . For too long they have suffered because their income stream of producing players for the buy on fee has dissipated as players from other systems have been bought .
It is quite possible that crowds will not be the same , people may be wary of large gatherings for some time.
Few years ago gate reciepts paid for the wage bill , but now that has gone out of the window . The money from outside sources far outweighs it and money needs to be reorganised to stop it spiralling out of control.
I wonder if this virus hangs around too long which of the bigger clubs find them self up for sale. especially if top earning players refuse pay cuts
Hi Rico I agree with capper young players fees and transfer fees but I would also add that all sponsorships or gifts are included in that fee and cap what a player manager can charge young players and there clubs.
I have no problems with arsenal having there own channel but only on one condition that is 100 percent goes to the club and not in kroenke’s pocket.
I know we don’t like some off them but I have not yet herd any form of sports talking about the official getting paid
I would Potter, I’d much rather that than give my money to the club than Sky Sports etc.
The club did have a television channel but when the broadcasting company went down the pan, so did our channel but I’m sure you remember that although I can’t recall the name of the tv company.
Utd and Liverpool still have their own channel but I think to access it, their fans have to pay extra to Sky Sport.
Morning all
Yes i agree about the wages being to high some players earning more in a couple of days than most people earn in a year.
I also remember reading something about Wayne Rooney a few years ago, it was about how much he got in sponsorship per week and listed 6 of his sponsors.
I can’t remember all 6 but coke / Gillette and either Adidas or Nike were 3 of them and they were all paying £60,000 to £70,000 per week.
Not sure what he was getting paid by man utd but that’s got to be £2,000,000 a month.
Nice work if you can get it.
Just to add at the time i read it i wanted to be a jug earred twat for a month, that’s what money can do to you.
I misread your comment Wavy so I binned my reply. 😂
No big house clauses allowed. After all, clubs are accountable financially…
Would we pay for Arsenal tv if it was a safe stream to our houses and the money went to the club. I believe that this was the first scenario considered by Kroenke when he bought the Arsenal media rights at the beginning of his buying campaign.
How much would you pay per match ? Would people be altruistic and pay per person watching or would we all pile into one person’s house. ?
Something on these lines might break the tv hold on the game and I am sure that maybe provision could be made with lower clubs to be feeder clubs supported by their premier league partners . Say Arsenal with Boreham Wood , Tottenham with Barnet .
A restructuring would make sense . Food for thought.
Morning all
Trouble with pay caps is that they are ‘negotiable’. There always ways round them. A big car here, a house for your parents there, holidays abroad somewhere else.
I mean, Phil Foden on 30k, I don’t think so. He’ll be picking up all sorts of bonuses here there and everywhere. Quite legitimately, I should add.
I dare bet that our child playing first teamers are earning all sorts beyond their regular salaries, in perks and presents!!! How would the club keep them happy and away from the tempting arms of other more generous clubs? Loyalty only goes so far!
Well, got that off my chest, some of it at least. I’ll. shuffle off to my much neglected allotment. Usually it’s bereft of all human life, as well as produce, so I can socially isolate with relative impunity, whilst only disturbing the slugs and snails!
Stay safe, keep healthy and we can all blog again another day.😎
Thanks Rico. I needed a moan.
Thanks Andrew. Couldn’t agree more.
Good post rico, morning all. More and more in recent years I’ve become annoyed at wages when for example Nurses can’t earn in a year what the lowest-paid footballers earn in a week. That’s a pretty sick society. But seeing some of the recent videos of the sacrifices nurses are making, brings it home even more. But I doubt anything will change, football = money until the bubble one day bursts.
That’s what I’m suggesting Scott, a universal pay cap and transfer fee cap.
Rico, the problem with a salary cap is it has to be universal else it weakens the League-players will just go elsewhere.
This is the time for all clubs-even just through Europe-can take a breather and make a stand imo
I do think there’s an argument for salary grading.
14-16 years, 16-18 years and 18-20 years. Age at contract renewal to count. After that a cap on both wages and transfer fees. Football needs to fight back and remove the power the likes of Sky Sports have. Just my opinion though and in reality, the power television companies have is only likely to get stronger.
This is the kind of time these overpaid footballers could give something back I think. Just a days salary as suggested in the post could go a long way.
Morning all.
Football and ridiculous salaries are on thing, but agents making a fortune when they supply NOTHING, and produce NOTHING for anyone but themselves is where I’d point the finger.
Maybe there is an opportunity for clubs around the world to take stock and get together to stop these exorbitant wages!
It’s ridiculous that an 18 year old can earn 5 times more in a week than a nurse can in a year FFa.
It’s actually repulsive!!!
Would help if I could spell Gynecology! hahaha
Thanks Rico and hope all HHers are fighting fit.
What`s the bible saying?…………………easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man getting into heaven!
Do you know the worlds richest 1% own 50% of the worlds wealth!………
Good to see that the government is going to do something for the self employed, my son pays two different national insurances and tax, so deserves the same as any employed person working for a company!
Have some sympathy for our Spud fiends…..sorry friends…..us gooners have so many re-runs of League wins…..cup final wins to watch, yet our deluded neighbours have what?…………watch a re-run of the season they were in a 2 horse race to win league and came 3rd!