Jovetic & Lewandowski lined up, Make Diaby Captain & has Usmanov finally convinced his doubters?….

Yes, I am serious about Diaby!

Vieira            –   Captain and then gone
Henry            –   Captain and then gone
Fabregas      –    Captain and then gone
Van Persie     –   Captain and now going…

Give Diaby the armband and then next summer, we will all be devastated to hear he wants to leave because the club he loves and will always support, lack ambition.

Maybe Spurs will want him by then, after all, he already has a shirt…..

Actually, what about joint Captains and add a long list of players that we all know that should not be wearing the Arsenal shirt, you all have your favourites…!

Onto the pressing matter of Alisher Usmanov and Red & White Holdings. No doubt everyone has by now read the letter that R&W have sent to Stan Kroenke and some will not be happy, however, many of us will be.

If you haven’t it’s here 

Make what you want of the contents, again some will agree and some will still say that they don’t want ‘his sort’ near the club.

Didn’t PHW once say that about Kroenke?

This current board has made a lot of money selling to KSE ad now maybe Kroenke, having borrowed money to buy The Arsenal, he sees fit to accept an offer from Red & White Holdings and make a huge profit on the back of his Arsenal shares having done sweet FA for the last 18 months.

There are so many unanswered questions from our owner,  we lack direction we lack a vision, we lack him telling us the fans where he wants to take the club, why does he not address our concerns and doubts?

Was it not the last AGM he stood up and said I am not sure what you want me to say?

Is that what we need to hear from our owner?

We want to hear your ambitions for the club Mr Owner, we want to know that you want us to be number one or at least be able to compete to be number one.

Are you so out of touch with what the fans want?.

Do we really want an owner that sits by and is re-active rather than pro-active?

Are we happy with a board full of dead-beats and old has beens who are happy to eat drink and be jolly at every home game at our expense?

We need a board that is forward thinking, one that has ambition and knows where we need to be to be able to compete in this very competitive market.

Are people happy to just sit by and say well what can I do, I can’t have a say in this, my opinion doesn’t matter?

Well it does!!!

Fans matter, we keep the club afloat believe it or not and we make a huge difference as to what goes on at the club.

Do we want change or are we happy to sit and watch things pass us by, is the club being honest with us, have they the last 6/7 years….?

Do we see a future in Kroenke or do we want Usmanov in?

Are people happy to just sit and see our club stagnate.

I for one am not one of them, I know a takeover won’t/can’t happen overnight but if it could, I truly wish it would.

The last part of the letter said a lot about what this so called ‘bad lot’ are about and what their aims are:

It is simple. A debt free club, with a big enough war chest to buy top talent players who can hit the ground running and who can complement the club’s long tradition of developing young players and homegrown talent.

Together they can help the club win the most prestigious trophies – because it is the trophies which are the crowning achievement for everybody at the club.

Finally and reflecting our long-term commitment to the club, we will continue to purchase more shares in the club from anyone who wants to sell them to us.

Also in order to formalise our long-term involvement with the club and put an end to any speculation over our position, we, as the co-owners of Red & White, will proudly retain our holding in the club as a long-term investment for ourselves and our family members to benefit for generations to come.

We want the absolute best for the club and will do what is necessary to ensure the success of the club that we all love.

Isn’t that what most Arsenal fans want?

It doesn’t sound to me like this company/Alisher Usmanov is going away does it, nor does it sound like he wants to breeze in, breeze out and destroy the club in the time between does it?

No, this sounds like someone who respects the club, its history and the fans.

A man who want Arsenal Football Club back where it deserves to be, and that is not scrabbling around on the last day of the season, in hope we pip Spurs to a Champions League spot…

Titbits:

Fiorentina forward Stevan Jovetic and Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski are being lined up by Wenger and Theo Walcott wants to follow Robin van Persie out the door because he has lost one of his buddies.

Oh, and Terry Burton is back as reserves team coach, good, a ‘proper’ Arsenal man who will hopefully drum into the younger players, just what it means to play for a club like OURS!

 

Have a good day all……

0 thoughts on “Jovetic & Lewandowski lined up, Make Diaby Captain & has Usmanov finally convinced his doubters?….

  1. rico says:

    Hoorah, we have signed a 6′ 3″ goal keeper….

    Shame he’s 15 years old!!!

    Moaning all…..

  2. Ric The Gooner says:

    I want Usmanov in, if it is the choice of having a cold hard chairman with drive and passion ala Abramovich or selling our best talent every year and being content with failure then I know which I choose.

    Also RVP and Theo out – Lewandowski and Jovetic in. Hmmm I would take that at this point.

  3. rico says:

    AU certainly isn’t happy Ric, shows he feels as we do, every summer we are losing top players, and not all of our choosing.

    I could deal with it more if AW/IG told us it was their decision to sell them for whatever reasons, but players constantly making that choice to move on because we are lacking ambition is wrong…

    Like i said in the post, I’d welcome AU tomorrow, in fact, make that today…

  4. rico says:

    Welcome Tallam,

    sadly, I am starting to believe he is already in, which in turn makes me believe that AW knew RvP was leaving a long time ago which is why he didn’t hang around getting Podolski…

  5. Shard says:

    It’s easy to critcise from the outside. The board sold their shares to Kroenke only after Usmanov arrived on the scene. despite Usmanov offering MORE money. As for self serving statements, the fact is that Kroenke was on the outside wanting to buy in as well. He never made statements damaging to Arsenal. Only Usmanov has done that, and has done that continually. His whole approach has been to bully, (blogs as well who reported on his past), and he’s only made promises of what he thinks we all want to hear. The current board has its faults, but Usmanov is a malicious bully, who also has only his best interests in mind. Not the fans’, not the club’s. His own.

  6. rico says:

    Shard,

    can’t say I am fussed about AU and his history, what matters it what he could bring to the club, and suggesting his comments are self-serving is a tad harsh imho.

    He has made it clear he isn’t in this for fun, it’s a longterm plan which he intends to keep in his family for years to come.

    Roman is no saint i’m sure, but I bet every Chelsea fan loves him being their owner…

  7. Nuelezeh says:

    Hmmmm oh gunners.pls wenger sign lewandowski,and m.vila pls.and a left back.in lyon’s cissok.

  8. Gunner-Mac says:

    Morning all. Denilson for captain next season or maybe squillachi,bendtner,diaby,chamack,song,fabianski………
    Usmanov IN Kronke OUT.

  9. Satan says:

    The para you pointed out is quite something. I have never ever heard of any football club take overs go so crazy. I mean, he seems to want to buy shares at any price. Doesn’t he?

    Btw, my stance on this one is let AU have 48% of shares and SK have 48%. Rest of them with AST. I think that will bring some transparency to the matters.

  10. Shard says:

    I never brought up his history to say that’s the reason I don;t want him as an owner. (Ideally I dont want Kroenke as owner either) His statement, including, but not just limited to its timing, is ENTIRELY self serving. It is a piece of PR propaganda designed to show a share of concern with some fans, and the statement itself doesn;t stand up to much scrutiny. I could go into the details but I deem those things to be self evident. The idea of the board and Kroenke being in it only for the money is just one example.

  11. rico says:

    GM – you sure there are no more to to add 😉

    Morning Lee..

    Shard – he can afford to, not sure joint owenership would work, the two guys don’t get on and look what happened at the dippers….

  12. Lewis says:

    Morning all. Great post rico. Just read that article in its entirety for the first time and it does appear that they are just saying what we all want to hear to get their foot in the door, but then again that is their perogative and saying the right things is a damm sight more than KSE are doing as rico pointed out. ‘ I’m not sure what you all want me to say..’, I mean wtf! And shard KSE and the current board are also in Arsenal football club for no other reason than there own interests so Red and White are no different in that respect. AFC must be an exciting proposition from a business perspective, it would just be nice if the football side of things was also an exciting prospect.

  13. Satan says:

    @ Rico

    What say? with 48% holding both will have some sort of control and every time the AST’s vote will be a tie breaker and they can dictate terms as well.

  14. markzever says:

    why is it that we lose our best players and struggle to sell the deadwood,I wonder who our star player for next season would be and if he would also leave,as for Theo am speechless just like RVP……..Nasri 6months of good form and he’s off,RVP one full season without injury and he’s on his way out,I thought the Euros thought him a lesson but no I was wrong

  15. Charlie George aka AK says:

    Rico, i’m not under any illusions about Ursmanov.
    But Wenger is still great friends with David Dein.
    And Dein is still in bed with Ursmanov.
    Whilst Wenger recently said, did he not, that he had no objections to having Ursmanov at the club…

    Is Wenger wrong then?

  16. Satan says:

    Btw, AU’s statements are quite contradictory: In the same statement he talks about club being Debt free and then talks about having a huge war chest.

    Its only possible if we run Ponzhi scheme as United has decided to.

    Or, we make world and Government and UEFA all big fools. I do know a trick or two in that manner. But I don’t know if he’d want it that way cause it costs a lot.

  17. rico says:

    Morning Lewis..

    But equally, they could be saying that because that’s how they feel. AU reportedly goes to our matches, he is a fan, maybe he feels the way we all do and suffers like a true fan.

    Unlike the silent one overseas….

  18. Lee says:

    Thing is Lewis, we’re not that far away from an exciting football team….but it’ll never happen if we have this annual exodus of our top players!

  19. rico says:

    Shard – in an ideal world, neither would be our owner but for me, and not trying to suggest i am right as its only my opinion, under Stan we go nowehere as it seems.

    Under AU, we will keep up with the others and will finally stop loosing all our better players..

  20. rico says:

    Morning AK, thanks

    AU, DD, AW – imho, they are all in this together, DD holidays with AW, DD tells AU all that AW tells him and so it goes on…

    As much as sometimes AW infuriates me, maybe he too has finally had enough of our players leaving. Cesc last summer hurt him badly I think and maybe after his comments on AU, he is ready to have a new boss 😉

  21. mc says:

    Charlie is Usmanov still buddies with Dein? I thought he severed ties once it became clear the board wouldn’t deal with anyone associated with David Dein. What is DD doing these days…?

    Satan – if AU bought out SK he could turn the existing debt in to equity in much the same way RA did with Chelsea. AU has also suggested in the past about a rights issue to pump money in to the club.

    An open question to all – is Van Persie playing the same game Rooney did with United or do you truely believe he has decided to leave. I personally don’t think its a money thing, he’s just seen Clichy, Nasri, Arshavin, Eboue etc leave the club and win championships in the first season they have left

  22. rico says:

    I’m still not convinced it would work satan, having two owners who will disagree on the way forward will bring unrest – the AST may have a vote, but they wouldn’t be involved with everything would they…

    One or the other for me 😉

  23. rico says:

    mc – DD left for one reason i believe, and that was so AU would have a ‘better chance’ to get on board without him.

    Should AU buy out Stan, bet you the first man in the door would be DD…

  24. Lewis says:

    That where i was going with that statement lee, with RVP and a DM I would have been excited for the season. Now they need to get the best price for RVP(not to city) and use that money and more to get us excited!

  25. Lee says:

    Totally agree that RvP should be sold abroad and a quality replacement bought immediately plus a DM then we’ll nearly there….

  26. stevepalmer1 says:

    Morning all, Well Robin going not much of a shock after all the mans a genius he needs to find a club with ambition just like Cesc did, how many trophies has he picked up since he left 🙂 Alisher Usmanov what do we think of his statment, Always be wary of Russians bearing gifts, Multi billionares have a habit of getting what they want in the end, bit suprised he hasn’t offered Kroenke an offer he cannot refuse why sod about buying one share at a time when you have all that dough sitting doing nothing. Theo Walcott, well what can i say, Theo do us a favour and go and find your future if you have to wait and see what Van Persie does before you make a decision then bugger off and sit on some one elses bench. You are a luxury we cannot afford i for one won’t miss you, go and run down another blind ally for another club, but hang on you have to find one first or have you got your mind set on following Robin. moan over.

  27. rico says:

    But will they Lewis, thats the million dollar question…

    If we really were looking at M’Vila, why haven’t we signed him, the player said ‘after the euros’ – yet nothing.

    IG said early signings, does that mean Pod and Giroud are it and it seems the club have put all their effort into the RvP situation yet they would probably have realised he was a gonner…

    Ok, there is still plenty of time, but pre-season begins on monday, any signings need to be in asap…

  28. Satan says:

    @MC

    He has said he would convert Debt in to Equity? He’d buy club, he’d buy our Debt and then convert this into Equity? Really? Then such decision can’t be a business decision. Can it be?

    @ Rico

    I like such idea cause neither of one would let club get ripped off. And ultimately AST will have say. I wouldn’t have any of them sole majority share holder since after that they can treat AFC as their very own play ground.

    But the thing that stuck me most is AU can’t check accounts of the club even after holding 30% of shares. That is just absurd. What have they got to hide that they wouldn’t even have him see accounts?

  29. rico says:

    Re RvP, good question, if he decided to stay though, how would we all feel?

    Personally, I’d be pleased, nothing he said has shocked, and it’s probably how most ‘realists’ feel…

    Re where does he go, ultimately he will choose, AW may try and sell him to an overseas club but i doubt that will happen as his family are settled.

    My own view is that he will end up either at Utd or Chelsea…

  30. Lewis says:

    Scary thought Rico. If that is the total of our transfer buys then it truly is time for change.

  31. frednerk says:

    Terrys Burton a great signing for us,you might not think so 59 year-old,this is a change in direction,
    we are changing our style of play I think.

    Carrying on from yesterday,we have to keep Rvp to his contract,who gives a crap about 20mil we don’t invest it….so why are we saying sell him..let the players see that if you sign a
    contract you honour it..why only get rid of the good players,when the crap players hang around to see out the remaining years.
    We will soon see if Rvp is a gooner or not(5 YEARS OF INJURIES)

    Contracts over 4 years must be reviewed after 2 years,every contract should have games incorparated into this(Injuries excluded) how do we do it,letting players dictate,if a player wont sign a extension to his contract why do we want to keep them.

    The sad part of all this for is, Arsenal Surpporters don’t have a clue whats going on anymore, Kroenkes more concerned about basketball than soccer,and wengers arsehole has gone,he don’t know if he should stick or twist,you only have to see him on the touch line during games.

    We may well be playing a longer ball game this season.

  32. rico says:

    Morning DG and Steve

    Just Stan DG, I take it you don’t mean the goonster 😉

    Lee – I hope he fancies the corrupt italian league myself 😉

  33. W.A.T.H says:

    Morning all, Think people must be aware that what AU is saying regarding a war chest is that a rights issue creating equity is the most self-sustaining thing a club can do as it doesn’t create any debt.

    As for people going on about the letter being opportunistic well of course it is…! If you have an opportunity in business to make the most of a weakness from your competitor then you take it..! Simple and as for Au saying the right things least he saying a lot more than we have ever heard from the silent owner…! How a letter stating factual point is destabilizing is beyond me… loosing our best players and having crap commercial deals is destabilizing…!

  34. rico says:

    fred – i think burton is a top signing, like i said in the post, a gooner so with him, Bouldy and Banfield – we are getting the arsenal back into the players and from a young age…

    As for keeping RvP to his contract, Stan will worry very much about losing £20M….

  35. Lewis says:

    loosing our best players and having crap commercial deals is destabilizing…! Nicely put WATH.

  36. Lewis says:

    I’m at a total loss as to why we have yet to address the 49 conceded goals last season. Yes bould is in, that will help, but surely a player or 2 is needed defensively.

  37. Satan says:

    @ W.A>T.H

    I am not so sure with Rights. It can be easier way to keep hold of AFC at cheaper price. I won’t bet on that.

    I’d rather wish to see his companies sponsoring AFC. And the sponsorship price should be sky high. That way we’d be able to debt free money.

    There are other ways but all those are kind a illegal. So I won’t suggest that but they are great and can work in practice.

    P.S. If AU was owner, with his reputation all he had to do was to go to RvP and have tea, and he’d have signed a new contract.

  38. rico says:

    You and most of us Lewis, DM would be a good start…

    And their are a few out there for grabs if we don’t mess around with insulting bids for them….

  39. W.A.T.H says:

    That letter has brought up more constructive points in one go than anything Stan has said in 4 years of being involved with the club…!

  40. Scott from Oz says:

    A few months ago,I suggested a clause be included in every players contract that his last year should be on half wages.
    Ok,it’s obviously too late for RVP,but what if it was?
    Knowing his own fragile body,he’d have extended his contract months ago,without question,rather than risk injury and losing half his wage.
    Either that,or the club would have known months ago he was intending to leave,so would not have been in this quandary right now.
    A brilliant suggestion,if I might say myself 🙂

  41. mc says:

    Regarding the point on not being able to see Arsenal accounts. We all can see them. If you look at the numbers you can see that when the property income dries up our model relies on us having to sell players to stay in the black. We are well behind the top clubs in the commercial / marketing stakes and this is where we have to improve. What the management don’t get is you need performance on the pitch to build the commercial side. Who wants to w buy a shirt / mug etc of a mid table team?

  42. Satan says:

    @ W.A.T.H

    Our commercial deals are age old. The only new deal is I guess of Nike, if I am not wrong.

    It belongs to a time when we needed funding and they knew we did so they had more bargaining power. I don’t think now we’d have same kind of deals. If we do then we damn sure need to check accounts and that to not of club alone but of individuals involved in those deals.

  43. W.A.T.H says:

    Satan, if you don’t agree with the rights issue creating equity it’s mentioned on AST and by Tim Payton..!

    It’s why Stan refuses to do it though as then he’d have to whack in his own money…. Doesn’t that tell us everything we need to know about the man and his visions for the club?

  44. W.A.T.H says:

    Satan, even those age old deals were rushed as we were in a panic and didn’t get the best possible as all the board wanted was to get the ground built so they could sell out…! Still not an excuse is it..? mismanagement yet again and poor decision making from those at the top..! Tied themselves into those deals as well how ridiculous…!

  45. Satan says:

    @MC

    There is a big difference in being able to check Accounts with vouchers and everything with how and who have authorized what etc. and seeing final P&L and B/s.

    By looking at B/S, you may feel there is something wrong but until you have proof you can’t say anything and if I am not wrong he wants to find out such proofs.

  46. W.A.T.H says:

    Scott, your idea is sensible and practical which is exactly why it won’t work… Players agents would have a tantrum and never allow such clauses to be put in… Just imagine…………. 😉

  47. Satan says:

    @W.A.T.H.

    I don’t mind Rights issue but such rights can be very bitter sometimes. I mean I don’t mind if rights are issued at Intrinsic value or better at prices AU is ready to buy shares. But if there is a right portion in it then it would make holding of current owner stronger at a cheaper price. So I am not sure about motives of owner.

  48. Scott from Oz says:

    RICO,how does Stan lose 20 million if RVP stays,since he never takes a dividend???
    Everyone carries on about the other sugar daddies simply handing over money,but it’s not true.
    Abramovich actually lends Chelsea the money they spend,not gifts it to them.
    Citeh is in the same boat.
    Nobody writes them blank cheques as such,it’s all repayable.
    I think too many of us,and we’re all guilty,spend too much time believing we know how the club should be run,when I don’t know of anyone whose qualified to run a billion dollar business……I stand to be corrected though.
    We are supporters of the club,and we all claim to be supporters regardless of what happens,so why isn’t that enough??
    Most of us at some stage claim to know better than Wenger,yet I don’t of anyone whose managed a Premier League side…..again,we’re ALL guilty.
    When is just being a Gooner enough??
    We all seem to spend a lot of time attempting to solve the clubs problems,but wouldn’t it be nice for a change to see all our efforts spent just supporting the eleven on the pitch??
    I await those responses saying its all out of love for the club,but telling us who should and who should not own the club is just ridiculous!!
    We have no say in it whatsoever,so what’s the point??
    We should be talking about anything but this.
    Not one person can even guess at what Usmanov wants to do with the club,so to suggest he’d be better than silent Stan is crazy.

  49. W.A.T.H says:

    Satan, IF both owners contribute it doesn’t favour one over the other and the club frees up cash does it not..? that would work..!?!?!

  50. Joeh says:

    Looking purely at goals.. – 37 (RVP) – 11 (Theo) + 18 (Podolski) + 25 Giroud + 14 Jovetic + 30 Lewandowski = +39 goals!

    I know they can’t all play at the same time of course, but they’re all pretty young and are only going to get better, whereas RVP has reached his peak and can only decline.

  51. rico says:

    Scott – when i say Stan, i mean the club and no way will Stan let a play stay when we could get £20 M for him…

  52. Scott from Oz says:

    Rico/Wath,we should simply lack an dealing with player agents….scum of the earth.
    Can’t stand them.
    Oh,and please don’t respond cruelly to my previous post without acknowledging the fact that I admit to being as guilty as anyone.
    Let’s talk football guys,not ownership….
    Bloody transfer window.

  53. W.A.T.H says:

    I think your wrong Scott, we do have a say in who runs the club… Our fan power as Adam said yesterday is stronger than you think, we provide said owner with income if that dries up the owner/club is stuffed so would have to listen to the general consensus would he not..?
    Yep we do not know the ins and outs but when sales and deals affect how the club is run we are not stupid enough not to see how it affects the club so we can obviously voice an opinion and ask pertinent questions..? The way “it seems” the club is being run is not one I like so I’d like some answers from our board as t where they see us going and a reply of sustainable business model isn’t gonna cut it anymore as that just isn’t enough these days and they need to take their heads out the sand.

  54. W.A.T.H says:

    Scott, ownership is far more important than the transfer window mate, look at Leeds, Rangers, Liverpool etc etc……. like it or not it’s a fundamental issue and mega important, it affects everything.

  55. STV says:

    Moaning gooners.. rico it’s been a while hw r u.. Shocked to hear that from RVP.. is there a thing as loyalty ?!
    how everything else going on Arsenal corporation??

  56. W.A.T.H says:

    Seeing as the club obviously knew vP was leaving months ago are Pod and Gir replacements for vP and Theo or do you reckon we’re yet to see vP’s replacement…?

  57. Scott from Oz says:

    Wath,I’m not saying Stan is a great owner,but gee,nobody can tell me for certain that Usmanov has he clubs best interests at heart.
    If he made some locked in guarantees,then I’d jump on board.
    I do not hold Wenger accountable,nor do I hold Stan accountable for anything happening at the club.
    I have the crosshairs fairly and squarely on the board.
    I’m probably just frustrated with no bloody football.
    Right now,I’d be happy waking up at 3 am to see Squllaci,Chamakh and Denilson donning the shirt!

  58. rico says:

    Scott – ownership is current and topical, its out there to be discussed. It’s extremely important to the way the club goes forward, or not as it seems right now…

    As for the fans view, of course it matters, we are the ones who pay to watch….

  59. Satan says:

    @ W.A.T.H

    Right issues are tricky business. Its like this lets say AFC’s shares are of Intrinsic value 1000. Now we are into issuing rights and board’s and shareholders’ consent is to be taken. Now, they all say that we have been loyal shareholders for years so shares should be given to us at 750. 250 is rights part. In that way we’d get cash but we’d get lesser than what we should have, it will dilute the book value and also the present shareholders will have stronger hold at cheaper cost.

    This is the reason why I don’t favor rights. If I am the owner then hell I would love to get right shares. This is the reason why shares prices go higher on the announcement of rights issue.

  60. Scott from Oz says:

    Wath,our club is in the best financial position of any club in the world,so doesnt that say our owner is doing a great job??
    We can’t have it both ways.

  61. STV says:

    Fine, thank you just took a break thats it 😉

    Since we are on the subject of running the club, anybody tell me what Ivan Gazidis has been doing??

  62. Satan says:

    @ Scott

    Mate, that’s what I said earlier. Had AU been owner, all he had to do have Robin renew his contract is go to his house and have a cup of tea. That is all. He’s the man we need to deal with such players leaving. I guess that’s the reason no one leaves Chelsea until Roman wants them to.

  63. Scott from Oz says:

    Wath,I’d loooove to think RVP’s replacement is yet to arrive,but who knows.
    I don’t think we need another striker,I reckon a CAM is priority 1 right now,followed by another CB so TV5 can become the worlds best DM,Mark Schwarzer,and we’re winning the league next season.

  64. Satan says:

    @ Scott

    What W.A.T.H is saying is it could have been better. Much much better. And that would have been at the expense of multi billion corporations and not season ticket holders.

  65. W.A.T.H says:

    Actually Scott if you really look deeply at the books and accounts then we are most definitely not the best run or in the best financial position of any club in the world and far from it. For many reasons said above our revenues are poor compared to many, our debt is sustainable but that does not mean we are well run in generating income at all and thats where many of our problems lie.

  66. Scott from Oz says:

    You could be right Satan.
    Imagine RVP waking up with his favourite horses head on the bed…he’d extend quick smart lol.

  67. Scott from Oz says:

    Wath,don’t things change dramatically in a year or two on those grounds though?
    Aren’t we one of two PL clubs to make a profit last year?
    Spanish football is 3 billion in debt.
    We seem to have plenty going for us.

  68. Scott from Oz says:

    Wath,I concede to have never looked deeply into the books or accounts though,so I do stand to be corrected.

  69. Satan says:

    @Scott,

    I doubt that would be necessary. All big Daddy would have need to do is say in Brando style, I heard you are not renewing your contract? lol..

  70. Lee says:

    Kolo Toure is looking forward to RvP’s arrival at citeh….err why he never gets a game for them!!!

  71. W.A.T.H says:

    Scott, a lot of the “big” commercial deals are up in the next few years so in this world wide economy you as a big corporate sponsor what would be your criteria for spending millions in a sponsorship deal? You have plenty of choice when it comes to teams worldwide so you want value for money of course and you want a team that is competitive with star players i would imagine… Now look at Arsenal at the moment, can you hand on heart say that we are an attractive proposition for you to spend 20million a year on to sponsor our shirts…? The answer is surely “NO”….! success on the pitch breeds success off the pitch and if we don’t speculate to accumulate i think we not gonna be that better off when these deals come up for renewal.

  72. STV says:

    Funny we have many deserving captains !!

    IG what a // when you hear rvp saying iam going to discuss with him about my future, you take he is gone.

    I fancy Huntilaar (as I fancied villa VDV cahill ) He could be even better..

  73. Satan says:

    @ W.A.T.H

    It depends who you’re going for. I mean look at Liverpool, after such showings L’pool has got best deal after Nike snubbed them. For that matter even Newcastle. They got hack of a deal. There are plenty of up and coming companies who want to be big. We need to find them and not just the ones who are already so big.

  74. W.A.T.H says:

    Satan, if AU comes in it’s easy, one of his companies sponsors us for mega millions, problem solved..!

  75. W.A.T.H says:

    No mate don’t listen to that shit you know that but I did read it somewhere that we wasn’t a happy chappy…!

  76. rico says:

    That’s interesting Wath, wonder why RvP said what he said about talks when he gets back…

    Lee – I saw that too, good on Frank i say…

  77. Satan says:

    W.A.T.H

    Exactly. That’s how we should get money from him. Its like how Sheikh decided to give 300mln to change name to Etihad from Eastlands.

  78. W.A.T.H says:

    Problem there Satan is why would he plough money into the club when stan can then take it out…? It’s def the way to go buy at this moment in time why would he bother, he won’t..!

  79. Scott from Oz says:

    Wath,Arsenal are still a massive club worldwide,regardless of how we’re travelling,and we’re not travelling that bad.
    Rico,I can tell everyone in writing I intend on buying the club and investing one billion dollars per season,but it means nothing Neil it means something,and that would only happen if he becomes our owner.
    If that happens,it could well be too late.

  80. Satan says:

    Personally I think even Carlesberg won’t mind giving us sponsorship.

    For me if we can get other deals better then its UNICEF or UN. I mean c’mon we are the perfect example of world peace where a French man manages English club and for him 11 players of different nationality go and play and play for each other then who else could be better?

    Arsenal for World Peace.

  81. rico says:

    Somehow Scott, I think AU isn’t messing around, if he takes over, you sit back and enjoy the media having to announce our signings….

    I know I will…

  82. W.A.T.H says:

    Scott, we are still a massive club, imagine a board that showed some balls and ambition and bought in a few star names to go with what we have then have major sponsorship deals up for renewal people would be falling over themselves to hand us over millions and millions…!

  83. rico says:

    Satan – Carlsberg wouldn’t, because if Carlsberg did football, they’d be ……

    And that isn’t us at the moment 😉

  84. rico says:

    Just think though, if AU takes over, our stadium could be renamed to:

    The Red & White Stadium 🙂

    Got to be better than The Emirates ……

  85. Satan says:

    @W.A.T.H

    To win fans over he’d do that. He has to have us on his side. And 20mln a yr for him is not a big amount. And he’s not giving that money in free, may be during that time he’d buy stake in some English telecom company and go on with his business. He’d earn massive amounts if it goes that way.

  86. W.A.T.H says:

    maybe Satan he sees winning the fans over simply by sitting back and watching the board slowly stuff up little by little as the fans turn on the board then when he invests he solely reaps the rewards ?

  87. Scott from Oz says:

    Sorry Rico,we agree to disagree.
    I don’t want to sell out just to win trophies.
    Wath,again,I blame the board,and nobody else.

  88. Scott from Oz says:

    Sorry Riso,I wasn’t suggesting you want us to sell out,but I think it could be the case If Usmanov takes over.

  89. Kenneth says:

    I have over the years complained about Arsene’s model. . . He just seemed to have lost the plot a long time ago without realizing it. A club as big as Arsenal now a laughing stock amongst other small clubs as every year comes with identical situations with no real changes in place to deal with such short comings. Sad really.

  90. W.A.T.H says:

    Scott……… Stan “IS” the board mate…..!!! Majority shareholder and as such the board are there at his request he allows them to run “His” club…!

  91. Scott from Oz says:

    Laughing stock…..what a crock of crap.
    Other clubs have more respect for Wenger and our club than most Gooners Kenneth,so don’t tell lies for the sake of it.
    Look at any other clubs fans forum,and comments about Arsenal are mostly envying our model.
    Have your opinion,no dramas,but stick to the facts.

  92. Scott from Oz says:

    I know Wath,and the LET Wenger run his race too.
    They are guilty due to their lack of leadership.

  93. GoonerB says:

    If Walcott and Song are indeed linking their Arsenal future to RVP it doesn’t say a lot about their characters as adults. It all smacks of the way a teenage clique would behave. They need to man up and realise what a great club they are at with or without RVP at it.

    We were saying yesterday Rico about the club being decisive. I would start with these 2. Show them the deal and give them 1 week to sign otherwise secure their replacements and sell them. We can’t afford to let them and their agents drag it out and mess us around while their potential replacements are snapped up by other clubs while we dither waiting to see what they will decide much like last year.

    I would also be decisive on RVP but in the complete opposite way and hold him to the last year of his deal. I was critical of his statement yesterday and how it undermined the club and fans that he professes to love but I would still not just offload him as a result. It has to be what is best for the club from this point and I believe AW has been buying players to buil a new look attack around him next season.

    I look at it this way; We are unlikely to now get more than £20m. I am not exactly sure what his wages are now but let us say £80kpw. If rumours are to be believed we were offering £130kpw and a £5m signing on fee for a 3 year deal. If he stays on his £80kpw next year rather than the new deal then we have saved £7.6m and still had him playing for us for a year, or if you look at it another way, a third of how long we would have had him with the new deal. This front third is also likely to be the prime bit of his next 3 years. Once you factor in the £7.6m saved to have a world class player next year the £20m doesn’t look so much. If he goes free at the end of next year then we just have to swallow it. You win some you lose some but he is close to 30 then and we have had the benefit of Podolski and Giroud being bedded in and the Ox with another year under his belt.

    It will be much easier to assess what type of forward player we need to bring in to replace his leaving next year than it is now, after having the benefit of seeing how the balance of our forward line is this year. Jovetic and Lewandowski look more like lead the line strikers to me and I am not sure that is what we will need. By the end of this year my gut feeling is that we may be happy with Giroud and Podolski doing this role and one of the above 2 would represent an overload of this type of player in our forward department and leave us unbalanced. My gut feeling is we will require more of a deeper lying forward player. The type that has pace and goal threat, the ability of a skilful midfielder, and can play the wide attacking role or the number 10 type role, a bit like how RVP initially was (and in my opinion should still be, as a number 10).

    All this changes of course if a massive bid of £30m minimum comes in but I think this unlikely, and for me £20m just doesn’t make it worth selling him this year. You never know next season with us may just make him see things differently and we don’t know who has been saying what to him behind the scenes that has clouded his view about Arsenal Other players have alienated themselves more than this before before making a complete u-turn and I for one would let bygones be bygones if the situation eventually swung this way. I think the view that he is already gone is premature and their may be a couple more twists in his story yet. Philip Auclair, who I think always talks a lot of sense, basically said as much on talk sport and I am maybe inclined to agree.

  94. STV says:

    I think it’s became clear as a day that AW is not the one causing Arsenal problem those behind door using him bait.

  95. Satan says:

    @W.A.T.H

    I hope he doesn’t die before watching that. But many times he seems just like one of us. Just wealthier. I hope it is true.

  96. Lee says:

    I beg to differ Scott, I think that people respect the old AW and the annual departure of our top players is a massive joke!

  97. Scott from Oz says:

    I’m a broken record,I know that Lee,but the board should be telling Wenger to spend.
    They don’t,they take no responsibility,yet Wenger bears most of the brunt of criticism.
    I do try,but I cannot for one second understand how people blame an employee for what is wrong with any business,corporation or club.
    Wenger a merely an employee and again I ask why people blame him when the board empower him totally….or do they?
    He’s on 7 million a year…would you want to risk that by speaking out publicly against the board,especially when you absolutely love the club and understand the repercussions?
    Maybe part of his job description is to be the cannon fodder for fans and media alike.

  98. Scott from Oz says:

    I’m off to bed guys.
    Big day tomorrow….let’s hope my boy Highbury Lad offers up more than our board do as far as competitive spirit goes!!

  99. STV says:

    I wonder why he’s not fedup with these!! There were no offseason with such positivity in years and suddenly we’re in free fall.. it stings.

  100. rico says:

    Glad you like the new stadium name, i may email Alisher 😉

    Internet is doing funny things in all the rain ;(

    Scott – i would, today if we could, and AU won’t ruin the club imho…

  101. rico says:

    Kenneth – we have become a bit of a laughing stock, ridiculed by all and sundry as we sell our best players..

    The media love it….

  102. Scott from Oz says:

    Thanks Wath..
    Rico,he may be the best thing ever to happen the club.
    I’m just wary,that’s all.
    Night all.
    Go the Lad.

  103. rico says:

    Hi GoonerB –

    I don’t think for one minute they would go becuase RvP is going, I just think they both see things the same way as Rvp does.

    Neither are world class stars and both could be easily replaced, but for me that is no the way forward.

    There a 6/7 playrs who need to be sold off long before Theo or RvP, and both of those should only be allowed to leave IF they are replaced with better players before hand.

    Which again goes back to will the club do that….

  104. rico says:

    Scott – thats fair enough, but i too am vary wary/concerned over what this current idiot of an owner is doing….

    Good luck tomorrow, sleep well…

  105. Satan says:

    @WATh

    Lets hope for the best. The most feasible solution for me is pass a resolution to offer new 10% shares to AU at the highest prices. That will definitely spark a war.

  106. Potter says:

    To all those saying hold him to his contract .How many games will he be injured for again ? It won’t work , he has to go.

  107. Lewis says:

    Certain sites saying clubs won’t go over £15 mill for RVP, if this is true. Keep him for his final year.

  108. W.A.T.H says:

    That won’t happen though Satan as Stan currently makes all the rules…! AU said issue shares at 15000 per share thats inline with what he been paying and him and Stan buy 50% each… Stan has refused this..! That would cover your doubts over share values as well then eh…?!?!

  109. W.A.T.H says:

    Hi Potter, how’s you… Any news snippets on the share tie up that we discussed as being in place with Stan that we thought would be up in April…?

  110. Satan says:

    Rico

    Stewart Robson resigned from Arsenal T.V. Finally, he’s gone. Hated he’s commentary so much.

    W.A.T.H

    SK sounds like scared businessman then gutsy one. He should sell some and tempt AU. Best ways to earn awesome profits.

  111. Wasiu says:

    Lets make an example of rvp by making him play in the reserves this season, forget the cash for him that may never be re invested it will show him not to bite the fingers that fed him also the others will know that AFC isn’t messing about, no single player will hold us to ransome anymore a season whthout top flight football will seriously hamper a career and mess with your valuation

  112. W.A.T.H says:

    Satan, the thing is with the fact SK paid what 11k for his shares and AU been paying 15k SK would make a massive profit in any case if he selsl to AU as AU would have to pay him 15k per share for his 63%…! That’s a shit load of money for doing very little in 4 yrs..!

  113. rico says:

    Ah, sorry Satan, guess his remarks about Theo earned him the sack, although he says resigned 😉

    I can’t stand him either, no matter how good a tactics man he is…

  114. mikeB says:

    I don’t like Kroenke, I can’t stand Usmanov, and I hate what is happening to football at Arsenal and all across Europe.

    I truly believe that what we are seeing with City and Chelsea will, in time destroy football, or certainly as we know it. I had hoped that ‘fair play rules’ would deter, but all they seem to be doing at present is to motivate ‘shabby deals’ and ‘so called’ financial creativity.

    I am sick of the media in this country, creating mischief for Arsenal at every opportunity, and sick of the people who manipulate that mischief for their own ends.

    I am sick of players who fail to take responsibility for their clubs not winning trophies, and blame everyone but themselves for their own failures (stand up Adebayor, Fabregas, and Nasri). I think RVP did a great job last year, but as with Flamini, he had one great season, after so many disappointments, and suddenly forgets all those earlier years when the club stood by him.

    I think MOTD and SKY Sports are shamefully biased, despise that fat couch potato Jeff Stelling, spit blood whenever Lineker or Hansen open their arrogant mouths, and don’t get me started on Paul Merson.

    I think FIFA is corrupt, UEFA incompetent, the F.A. out of touch with reality, and our own board in need of a frontal lobotomy.

    I understand the frustrations, but despair of Arsenal fans that see United 800 million in debt, City and Chelsea as little more than rich men’s toys, and yet want the same for our proud club. I don’t see integrity and success as mutually exclusive. . . just more difficult to achieve.

    I love this club, and have done for over fifty years, and I think Wenger is the most accomplished football manager we have ever seen. I hate the ‘lynch mob’ mentality and empty vessels, who jump on any negative bandwagon in pursuit of their own ignorant agendas, but I do sometimes wish we could buy someone, somewhere, and somehow, without me immediately having to ‘look him up’ on Wikipedia.

    Annual rant over. . . Have a nice day

  115. Wasiu says:

    As for usmanov his letter made a lot of sense until it became patronising over the rvp issue, anyways usman over kroeke all day

  116. Satan says:

    Rico,

    He’s gone. I told you we are club of good people. We hardly give any one Sack. Look at A.W. lol.

    I am just glad he’s gone. I remember the 5-3 match against Chelsea, I had watched it on both Arsenal T.V and Chelsea T.V. I’d admit I preferred it on Chelsea T.V.

  117. Potter says:

    Hi W.A.T.H. Nothing new Kroenke @s got them tied in tight. I heard that he had to borrow to make the purchases and hasn’t paid in full yet. However I have no idea if that is true so take a pinch of salt with it.

  118. Satan says:

    @ MikeB

    Europeans government can’t afford to implement FFP. They will lose so much revenue if it happens. They would rather have every rich man his/her own toy and fight. They would love that.

  119. Ryan L says:

    The letter obviously has it pro’s and its con’s but I think the one overriding pro is that it asks questions that we as fans have been seeking answers to for some time now, but we are easily ignored in terms of providing answers to, this letter is out there now for everyone to see and by its very nature demands a response, whether it gets one and what it is, remains to be seen and will probably tell us a lot about the characters currently in power at our club. So if nothing else it will be very interesting to see what happens next.

    I have aklways been of the opinion that questions why the current board are still in situ, they have held back the team (not the club) for personal gain, subsequently profiteered and yet are still there directing the future of our club – wtf !!

    The other positive of the letter is that it re-affirms that Gazidis at face value is incompetent and a liar, mind you, we only need to look at last summer to know that.

  120. rico says:

    Hi MikeB, I would reply but it seems you have had your rant and then gone again?

    It’s a shame football has gone this way, but I guess that is life, as for City and Chelsea, if you can’t beat them, join them…

  121. W.A.T.H says:

    Rico, we def do not have to become a citeh or a chelsea to beat them…. taking things to the extreme like that isn’t necessary. We just need an extra boost to add to the current model but on the current model alone we can no way compete while spouting that FFP will clear the playing field as it’s not going to happen.

  122. Adam says:

    The only issue concerning Robin now should be how much Arsenal get for him. Also I am at a loss to understand how Usmanov owning the club constitutes “selling out”.

  123. Micko says:

    Afternoon all,
    Lee, the old AW, I often wonder what happened to him, some say he retired to Strasbourg years ago, who knows the truth.

  124. rico says:

    Wath – I was being a tad ironic tbh, AU has made it clear he doesn’t want to ruin all that was and is Arsenal – but what i mean is to be able to sign a couple of really good players aswell as youth etc, to be able to compete and to be able to attract major sponsers etc etc…

    I would hate for us to sign Mr UZWXY and Z just because we could afford too, just buy what we reall really need….

  125. Adam says:

    WATH. I agree with your 12.49. Arsenal are a very, very different club to either of those. Problem is that it suits people’s argument to raise them whenever Usmanov’s name is mentioned.

  126. rico says:

    I reckon between £18 – 20 miilion Adam, and that’s if one of the money bags clubs go for him. Not sure Fergie would pay that for RvP with his history of injury but Roman or Floopy bonce might…

    AU = selling out, I don’t get that either, imho, it would be taking the club forward on all fronts…

  127. Adam says:

    Rico. Definitely. I think I am doing too much agreeing today but the power of your logic makes me nod like a sloppy Labrador.

  128. W.A.T.H says:

    I said it last night Rico, have a sneaky feeling Fergie will really try and nab vP from Citeh…!

    It’s an easy argument for people to throw up the chavs and citeh Adam just to shoot down AU… Like we ain’t been sold down the river already when Hill-wood and his custodians sold to the yank…! laughable..!

  129. rico says:

    Afternoon Micko, 🙂 re AW, but I think if things were to change, he’d be right back out of retirement

  130. rico says:

    😆 Adam, t means we are all singing from the same hymn sheet, that’s all …

    Yes your scribble did arrive thank you…

  131. rico says:

    Wath – I reckon the Chavs might try for him since losing Drogba…

    If so, i’d try and get Lukaka or Sturridge from them in the deal, or a straight swap for Torres 😛

  132. W.A.T.H says:

    So who are we buying in the pound shop to replace Theo, Song and vP…? Ideas anyone…? 😀

  133. rico says:

    Walcott – Hoilett (free ish)
    Song – Nzonzi (cheapish as relegated)
    vp – ( no-one, Pod is already in)

    😆

  134. W.A.T.H says:

    I’d def take Torres Rico, I’d also go get Moses from Wigan to replace Theo… As for Song, easy… M’Vila or Capoue..!

    Adam the argument has little to no merit when those two were both nearly 50years without a championship, they needed a complete makeover hence hundreds and hundreds of millions spent, we are nowhere near needing a complete makeover and could have a competitive team for less than 100million and that would include money and savings from moving on the deadwood so an owner would in essence need to invest prob around 50million, hardly earth shattering is it not will it get us into huge debt when commercial deals are renewed and that extra revenue kicks in from a team that looks competitive !

  135. Micko says:

    Wath, Theo and Song have never had it so good so wouldn’t want to go anywhere anyway and we bought RvP’s replacement last February.
    We’re done and dusted for the summer.

  136. rico says:

    Have you guys read around other websites today, real mixed bag of views, some are quite rude about AU…

  137. rico says:

    You didn’t ask who I wanted Wath, you asked who we are going to get…

    Capoue
    Belhanda
    Schwartz (spicy)
    Torres/Sturridge in RvP deal

  138. W.A.T.H says:

    Sites rude about AU, would that be the same sites that kiss the backside of the current board Rico………. I wonder why…!

  139. W.A.T.H says:

    Rico, Moses is a Gooner if we stepped in late we could still get him…!

    I also like that little winger at Fulham the Swiss?? kid.. Freid…?

  140. Adam says:

    I see Kolo has torn himself away from the local KFC for long enough to encourage van Persie to accept the Arab shilling. Nice of him.

  141. rico says:

    I know, shock horror eh Wath, heads in sand I guess….

    Didn’t know Moses was a Gooner, get in there then i say…

    Don’t know the guy from Fulham…

  142. rico says:

    They were Adam…

    Until he’s announced as having departed – there is always a chance he could stay Lee….

  143. Micko says:

    Clint Dempsey could be back on the radar again now, ticks all the boxes, a mate of mine at Fulham reckons they won’t be able to hold onto him, he’s looking forward to a relegation dog fight next season.

  144. frednerk says:

    We have 2 players for each position,i would have thought Rvp would play in the D.BKAMP role this season,with a view to play 35 games,
    love to know what T-verm thinks,he just recently signed a long term contract,after talking to Rvp his best mate,
    Rvp is doing what every arsenal fan would like to do,
    Tell the club to wake-up,we need a few men to fight for the team.
    last season we saw Rvp take on the hard boys after some games,he was on his own,
    I wanted to run on and help him a couple of times.
    why do we like Oxo..he has a pair bollocks..that why
    we need a team to stick to gether when the going gets tough,
    Barce are not a hard side,but look how there stick to gether to get decissions.
    If he go’s my guess is that we would replace him with link player not a striker.

  145. Micko says:

    Scousers ? news to me, think he’d do a decent job for us what the the two new additions up front as well, teach Gerv a thing or two as well.

  146. Lee says:

    Boring isn’t it….novel idea lets keep our best players by showing proper ambition, it’s not like it’s a cheap day out at the Emirates (R & W Stadium)?

  147. rico says:

    Just what AU was saying Lee, and I liked that he considered the fans pockets…

    The R&W stadium deserved to be graced with a few better players….

  148. Merlin96 says:

    AFTERNOON PEOPLE….

    Let’s cool down a bit as there is a fiant hope that Arsenal FC will finally grows a pair of balls..if Wenger is adamant that RvP will not play for an English club, and only clubs out of England.

    Else he can jolly well rot in the Reserves…or play wholeheartedly for Arsenal FC.

    It will show up Kroenke as just a carpetbagger, out to drain Arsenal FC of its cash and has no long-term plan whatsoever for Arsenal FC.

    If Kroenke sells RvP to ABu DHabi, then all you all homegrown Arsenal fans should boycott all matches at EMirates to show what you think of all those Yankee carpetbaggers.

    Otherwise, Kroenke and Gazidis will just larf at Arsenal fans as like a heroin addict, you need yoru regular weekly fix…

    Start by boycotting Armoury…..and all Arsenal merchandise sales…

    DOubt it..as FC United is an extremely good example..and Glazer Family are still reapaing massive profits by using Mancurians money to buy Red Devils..

    Jimmy Goldsmith: “You use other people money to make money!”

  149. Devilgunner says:

    Good Afternoon Fine Folk.

    Another good discussion going on today it seems spurred on by a good article.

    Some here might say that what RVP is doing is a wake up call for the club. My take on it is that it is not a wake up call. He has his own agenda. And I think that his own agenda is to get his own mates in. He wants more dutch players in there and suddenly the place is awash with French and German languages. Then there is the question of his wages. At the end of the day its how much he gets in his pocket which matters.

    Regarding Theo it seems that he wants to up and go since his best mate is off.

    Well unless he goes to the same club that RVP goes then he is a filthy hypocrite.

  150. devilgunner says:

    Hi Lee how are you mate?

    I will and will not be sad to see Theo go. I am sad because of what might have been. He was never used in his proper position, only sparingly. he was never given an extended run there.

    However I feel that like some others he has used AFC only as a stepping stone. And he has never developed tactically (that may be part of AW’s fault). Yet the OX has shown better tactical nous than he has ever shown. Even Capello was screaming tactics at him at the England training. So that partly removes AW’s 100% fault. He is a headless chicken when it comes to tactical awareness.

  151. W.A.T.H says:

    What did you reckon on the email Lee..?

    Modric to Real…. why…? i find that strange…! Afternoon Dev !

  152. devilgunner says:

    And if we get either Jovetic or my favourite Lewandowski instead of RVP/Theo I would be very happy.

    Myself???? I would gladly give Theo to the scum…….provided they give us Kyle Walker in return.

  153. Lee says:

    Got tied up with fixing some libors! 😆 Interesting stuff WATH just getting more and more depressed about things Arsenal at the moment….and unless we get wholesale changes at the top this will continue!

  154. devilgunner says:

    Hi W.A.T.H.. U ok mate???

    The italian and spanish sites are all awash with the news of Modric to Real. And one of Kaka, Diarra, Alonso, Sahin and Granero must be moved on. Hopefully AW has the sense to go for either Alonso or Sahin for the DM position. I would like to see Alonso come to the EMS

  155. W.A.T.H says:

    Am fine Dev hope your good matey, We missed out on Alonso a few yrs back Dev…. that boat has long sailed me thinks…! Top player..!

  156. Joaquim Moreira says:

    hello gunners!
    So any more news?
    Denilson extend loan to s.Paulo (he will be not next cap!)
    postphone summer game in Nigeria… nor t good too
    We won yesterday! Congratulations girls!

  157. devilgunner says:

    BDW Lee. It seems that you enjoyed my joke on Theo this morning on yesterday’s post!!!! 😉

  158. Lee says:

    yep Dev!!! I appreciate that all these contract issues are not piss easy to sort out BUT players demanding big salary increases or waiting for player “x” to sign before committing themselves, wtf do they think they are???

  159. Merlin96 says:

    Theo?

    20 minutes cameo – one goal, one assist..and suddenly he is on par with Messi, Ronaldo, Mario Gomez…… 😆

    We don’t need a blind alley runner who can dribble past his marker…and got less assists than Song.

    We have OX…..and Benik Afobe to takeover at right flank.
    Plus certianly, a new buy if he goes.

    If he has two brain cells that can form a synapse, he will relsih the challenge to step into RvP size 16 boots with hisi size 8 foot and try to grow into it…especially his contract negotiation is “pay me more”..and not “to win trophies and titles” elsewhere.

    Geoff Hurst handed in his transfer request.
    On hearing that Martin Peters had handed in his transfer request, he withdrew his.

    When West Ham was relegated, Trevor Brooking spurned all offers and vowed to stay with West Ham to fight for promotion.

    FA CUp FInal: 1st Div Arsenal vs 2nd Div West Ham..who won? :mrgreen:

    Gone are the days we had loyal players who played for the badge.
    You can only blame Arsene Wenger for mollycoddled his bunch of french poodles, pretty boys and bottlers for the last 7 seasons such that we have only whores playing for Arsenal FC, treating Arsene Wenger as their pimp who showed them the ropes, nurtured them and coached ’em to walk the streets like a puta to attract Spanish waiters, Russki Sugar Daddies and sheikhs.

    Karma and it is all about balance.
    We had 7 years of exhilarating one-touch one-pass breathe-takign football from all those french courtesans…..
    And in return, tiem to pay the Piper with 7 years of crass whorish behaviours from those courtesans nurtured by Arsene Wenger at a young age…you know that classic Leslie Caron “GiGi”…and Maurice CHevalier singing “Thanks Heaven for leetle girls……”

    That is what Arsene Wenger had been doing and Arsenal FC is suffering the consequences of nurturing and grooming french and english courtesans and spanish puta..for Spanish puta-loving grandee, Russki Sugar Daddies keeping a harem of CHelsea Rent-Boys and camel-shagging sheikhs..@#$%&##

  160. devilgunner says:

    Merlin……….I couldnt agree more. 100%. especially this line…We don’t need a blind alley runner who can dribble past his marker…and got less assists than Song.

  161. Merlin96 says:

    Yes, D_G.

    Fancy that.. Arteta-Alonso with Song as the creative playmaker.

    ………………………………….Lloris

    …Sagna……Mertesacker…….Koscielny……Santos

    ……………………..Alonso………………..Arteta
    …………………………………..Song

    ….OX………………………..Giroud…………….Poldolski

    I am expecting the worst with WIlshere out for the season and Rosicky being Rosicky with his hamstring injury…..

    Look at our bench:
    – Szczesny
    – Vermaelen
    – Djourou
    – Miquel
    – Gibbs
    – Jenkinson
    – Bellerin
    – Yennaris
    – Coquelin
    – Tmas Eisfield
    – Aneke
    – Benik Afobe
    – Gervinho
    – Conor Henderson
    – new buy to replace Van Persie?
    – new buy to replace Walcott?
    – new ACM?

    Injured Players returning in October?
    – DIaby?
    – Rosicky?
    – Wilshere?

    Is that the reason Van Persie gave up on Wenger when he might very well ahd told RvP he is not buying anymore and really has a title-winning squad now? :mrgreen:

  162. Merlin96 says:

    Yes Adam, but not with us.

    Theo is good with English teams that play Direct Football with him deploy like Michael Owen..and mdifielder that cna spray long and accurate balls into space and diagonal passes behind defenders where Theo only needs one push and one spin to run free..and with hsi deadly, low and accurate shootings….he will score 20+ goals per season if he is deployed centrally with direct passes..instead of titty tappy 30+ passes Crab Football aorund the box….

    Theo thrives with Direct Football…not “tiki taka” Barca Lite style at Emirates.

    Rodgers at Anfield will coach Theo better than Wenger.

  163. Satan says:

    @ Devil

    Lets hope we get Kaka if VP is leaving. We had this discussion earlier as well. If Kaka wants to go to WC2014 his best chance is with us. People say his wages are over the board but from what I had heard his wages are around 1,17,000 pounds i.e. less than what we’d give to RvP. Plus his shirts sell will be huge. Other than that he’d help us penetrate more market.

    @Merlin96

    I think we should do an Italian job and beat others..lol 😉

  164. devilgunner says:

    Alonso would give us what Pirlo is giving to Italy and Juventus.

    Regarding RVP I will say it one more time…..he is a pawn who will be sacrificed for the best of AFC. With his money AW will strengthen other areas. The same with Theo. AW has reached his goal……that is of making RVP and Theo saleable assets which will fund his third team. Yes….you can count the Togo lump Clichy and Nasri among those pawns also. His only regret was Cesc. The rest have all been pawns to be sacrificed on the altar of the 3rd team. And some of the pieces are already in place.

    Let’s say he manages to wank 20 to 25 million for RVP and another 20 million for Theo if there is more than one club. He may get LLoris, Capoue, a DM (alonso) and an CAM and a winger. So it will be a summer of two out and 6 in. YES A FECKING SIX in. I might be dreaming but it can go that way.

  165. Satan says:

    @ Merlin 96

    Where is Rambo man? He was one of our best player till Christmas. And for all Song’s assists, don’t think he’s cut out for that. He’s just not that.

  166. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Theo is important for the team and RVP we must wait. Arsenal doesn’t sell him for 8 or 10 millions. He can plays with us until the end of the contract and then it’s time to fly out to China or USA

  167. devilgunner says:

    Afternoon lady of the house.

    For Theo to stay AW needs to change his tactics and formation and above all the style of football.

  168. Lee says:

    Don’t give up the day job Rico!! 😉 I’m dropping the shoulder catch you fine folk later!!!

  169. rico says:

    I too believe Theo’s best days are to come, and are just around the corner – I really hope he stays and it could very well be, that in the aftermath of VP comments, he’ll get a little seetner in his pay packet to ensure he does….

  170. Merlin96 says:

    If Theo leaves, then what I suspect that he is a bottler and mentally fragile is proven true.

    Theo should seize the opportunity to bargain with Wenger that:
    1 – Make me the Main Man as what you promised me when I was a 17 year old that you see me as a central striker.

    2 – I am 23 year odl and I will sign 3-year at 100,00pw.

    3 – If you refused, fine, give me a Cashley COle Deal:
    – I will sign one-year extension at 100,000pw.
    – SUmmer 2013, I can leave to a club of my choice as long as the transfer fee is 20-mil.

    If Theo wants to play in WC2014, it is best he continues to develop at Arsenal FC by playing regular football as a starter, and as central striker.

    AFter all, he is only 23 year old and 26-year old if he stays 3 more years at Arsenal.

    Then, he can leave with the fans’ blessings if we are still trophyless for the next 3 seasons..and Wenger still grooming courtesans for sale to fatten Kroenke wallet.

    Theo does not need to leave this season….just sign a one-year “Cashley Cole” Deal to prove he is no bottler and a money-grabbing whore wanting to earn double or triple his salary as a CHelsea Rent-Boy or a camel-shagging shiekh’s bung-hole.

  171. devilgunner says:

    Merlin, why dont you become involved in club football. you would make a cracking advisor. Even as a manager you would flourish mate. All that you say makes a lot of sense. And you are a practical man.

    You are a man who I would want beside me in the trenches mate.

  172. rico says:

    ‘bottler and mentally fragile’ – thats harsh Merlin….

    maybe he wants to play central, just as Sturridge at chelsea keeps saying he wants to…..

  173. Merlin96 says:

    Satan says:

    July 6, 2012 at 4:23 pm

    @ Merlin 96

    Where is Rambo man? He was one of our best player till Christmas. And for all Song’s assists, don’t think he’s cut out for that. He’s just not that.

    ________________

    I was celebrating his sale to FUlham 😆

    I don’t rate him..just a mediocre Bristich midfielder whose passings are predictable, eaisly anticipated and intercept..no pace to track-back against counter-attack.

    Too many touches to spot an opening and does not have that peripheral and tacticla awareness once he receives the balla nd instinctively pass it on to launch a swift counter-attack….or hold the ball to wiat for an opening.

    Remeber that horrid quick break like 3 Arsenal players versus one defender..and he managed to pass to that defender!

    Rememebr agaisnt Chelski where he received the ball in our half, dwelled on it looking for a pas..and was robbed from behidn by Torres, not once but TWICE.

    Rememebr hsi panicky reaction at the box when surrounded by defenders…did not have the calmness or skil to hold onto the ball…but preferred a Hollywood back-heel or rushed his pass blindly into space?

    Ramsey?
    He let himself down by fialing to impress when he was the “Main Man” in 2011, dreadful, his head satrted droping and simply lost confidence and self-belief…till Rosicky came along in 2012 to turn aorund our season.

  174. rico says:

    What did you expect Lee, two good ones in one day, what could follow the R&W 😉 😉

    Safe journey home and have a good evening….

  175. Joaquim Moreira says:

    from http://www.eurosport.com
    In the middle of last season I was at the Emirates to watch Arsenal take on Everton. With the game drifting towards inconsequence, Alex Song lobbed the ball forward into the visitors’ penalty area. Running on to it with Rolex timing, Robin van Persie leapt off the ground and, connecting on the volley with his left foot, hammered home the sweetest of winners.

    The response from the home fans to the goal of the season strike was instructive about where Arsenal stand these days. It was a wonder effort, magnificent in its daring and execution. But for many of those who pay their money to watch regularly at the ground, it was one filled with nuance and poignancy. What worried so many in the ground that day was this: what happens when RVP is not around? What happens if he gets injured or worse fed up and disappears elsewhere? We had just seen how he was the man who made the difference, the player who turned nondescript draws into memorable wins. Where would the club be without him?

    Well, the worst pessimistic fears of those who found their moment of celebration compromised have just been realised. In the modern way of things, Van Persie has announced on his website that he will not be signing the new contract proffered by Arsene Wenger. He had some waspish things to say about the set up at Arsenal, about the block on ambition caused by the club’s financial management. Clearly he wants to be elsewhere, drawn not so much for the money that is on offer at Manchester City or Barcelona.

    But by the prospect of being surrounded by sufficient talent to ensure that the rest of his career is not as free of trophies as it has been up until now. Whether he stays around to see out the final year of his contract remains to be seen. Though it has to be said that the gap between what Arsenal publicly insist when discussing such matters and what eventually transpires, has been blown ever further apart by the history of players like Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri (both of whom, incidentally, have shown RVP the way by winning plenty since they departed north London).

    For Arsenal, Van Persie’s defection marks the final arrival of the crisis many have been predicting for years. The slow drip drip leakage of talent has reached its nadir. The second most significant shareholder (and a man regarded as poison to the current board) Alisher Usmanov, has made plain his thoughts in an open letter.

    His belief is that the club’s insistence on placing financial responsibility on the manager by demanding that he sticks to the kind of budget that would barely cover the valeting bill in the Etihad players’ car park is undermining the chances of success. Usmanov would like to see the current debt wiped out by a new rights issue. That such an instrument would also strengthen his position is surely just a coincidence.

    Arsenal’s problem, however, is not theirs alone. What this summer is proving is that, in the Premier League, being properly financed, sensibly administered and self-sustained is nowhere near enough to compete with the bottomless moneypits at City and Chelsea. Wenger’s conjuring trick ability to secure Champions League qualification year after year may well represent the apex of possibility when every player on his roster is only a couple of good seasons away from disappearing elsewhere.

    The disappointing news for the Emirates regulars is that the way in which Van Persie was unsettled by the promise of fulfilment will not be the last. Theo Walcott, Alex Song, Tottenham’s Luka Modric: really anyone who fits the requirements is a reachable target. Even Wayne Rooney. Wenger has bought very well this summer. Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski are both excellent players. How long they hang around in Islington is another matter.

    Usmanov’s solution is one of refinancing. Remove the debt incurred by building the Emirates and thus release the biggest matchday receipts in league into the transfer kitty. It seems a simple solution, and one which might well appeal to those who could not wholly enjoy Van Persie’s goal for fear of what lay ahead. But given it requires the existing board to put their hands deep into their pockets, it is unlikely to find voting favour any time soon.

    Until it does, Arsenal, like Spurs, Liverpool, even Manchester United, will find that their assumptions about where they stand in the hierarchy have been distorted. There is nothing new in this. The game has always been about money. It is just that these days, for Arsenal, even being in a financial position way beyond any that could have been dreamed of a decade ago is simply not enough.

  176. Merlin96 says:

    Hey, D_G thanks for the compliment.

    I am a free sprite, an anarchist at heart, that can’t stand being confined in a fixed role and constrainted in a rigid organisation.

    I refuse to toe the line such that I am branded a “loose cannon” or “maverick” at best.

    I practise Devil Advocacy, but I do not worship the Devil :mrgreen:

    Rico sure find moi controversial at HH 😆

  177. devilgunner says:

    I am off for now mates. Got to go out with the family for the evening now.

    Cu all Fine Folk.

  178. Merlin96 says:

    J_M, be careful of teh USmanov Model which mirrors Abramovich and those shiekhs exactly.

    Usmanov will start with asking RvP agent:
    “How much you want to make your whore stays at Emirates Brothel – 200,000pw? 250,000pw? Name your price and just fill up this blank cheque.”

    Then you don’t need Arseen Wenger but Per Guardiola who will have unlimited budget to buy the players he wanted…liek Mourinho.

    On seocnd thought, better get Mourinho a she is a proven winner who dare to buy two worldclass players for every positions.

    That is Usmanov Model, my friend, as in “How to spend billions to buy titles and trophies fro Dummies”

    Like Milan 80s, Real Galactico and Mourinho Chelski, Usmanov will want instant success by buying the titles and trophies…..

    That was only one Abramovich and one Mourinho..

    But now, we have many “mini-Mourinhos” in Lewis’ Tiny Totts, John Henry’s Liverpool……and Abramovich Chelski and ABu DHabi CIty to compete with Usmanov Arsenal……and no guarantee that you can buy titles as only one billionaire will be successful to buy a title every season.

    Wait fro Asian Druglords and Chinese multi-billionaires start buying ENglish clubs like a trophy hanging over their fireplace….

    That Malaysian asshole had done it with Cardiff..changing Bluebird to a Red Dragon…worse if that Red Welsh Dragon starts to lok like a Red Chinese Dragon..for luck of course….

    SO if Usmanov buys Arsenal..he may wnat to change it to “WHite Russian” for luck……like “C’mon you lily-white AK-47!”

  179. rico says:

    Hi JM

    I feel quite sad having read that…..

    Ha ha merlin, not always 😉

    Have a lovely evening devil…..

  180. Long Suffering Gooner says:

    I just heard a rumour that we have signed Hugo Lloris from Lyong for 12m quid. anyone else heard something similar?

  181. Adam says:

    Arsenal and Chelsea are as different as PL clubs can be in terms of their history, their achievements, their style, reputation, stability, manager and managerial appointments, requirements, fan base, stadium and just the whole atmosphere surrounding the club. So, how Usmanov, who seems very aware of these things, would have the same business model as either Abramovich or the sheikh is beyond me. I think that anyone who watches Arsenal and the way that Wenger works understands that the club needs nothing like the investment that Chelsea and Man City got. What Arsenal require is the ability to compete in the transfer market for what they need, when they need it and to be a really viable alternative for when a great world-class player becomes available. At the moment they are not. Wenger would still decide who comes and who goes but the quality of player he could afford would mean no more Chamakhs and players of that ilk

  182. Adam says:

    Lee. You old Bon viveur you. I have been invited to lunch at The Square this week but a, busy. Shame, because I have heard it is great.

  183. rico says:

    LSG – that rumour is certainly going round, what a waste of money I say, we need others more than we do wasting money on a very average keeper..

    DM
    CB

  184. rico says:

    Well said Adam – all we need is 3/4 additions who are better than what we have, the other two clubs needed a massive overhaul to the cost of millions and miilions – what do we need to spend – £80 million?

    £30 million (at least) of that can be generated by player sales

  185. rico says:

    Heading off for the day, off to the local 🙂

    Nighty all, stay safe and catch up tomorrow…..

  186. vernat1066 says:

    What as disrespectful as trashing the club in public? I agree that it is crude but I agree with him, Fear Uncertainty and Doubt (FUD) tactics not a way to how you are one of the good guys

  187. Scott from Oz says:

    Who is really behind this seemingly systematic attempt at destabilising our club……that should be the question on the table.
    RVP’s statement followed immediately by Usmanovs letter.
    Think about it…….not what,but WHO links these two together??
    Morning all.

  188. W.A.T.H says:

    Pretty simple Scott the letter from AU wasn’t written overnight they were waiting for the appropriate time and the vP statement was making the most of an opportune moment…!

    Funny that Vernat but what is trashing the club in public by merely highlighting what the board have failed to do over the last few years ? I’d call that factual points that need to be answered…! If you wanna ignore the fundamental points then fear uncertainty and doubt should be your number one priority when it comes to where next from silent stan…!

  189. Charlie George aka AK says:

    Diaby…

    He will save the day…

    Riding to the rescue.

    Like the 5th Cavalry…

    Er, what did happen to them?

  190. Charlie George aka AK says:

    Anyway Wath, now that i’ve cheered you up, I have to go out for my evening stroll.
    So i’ll see ya in the morn.
    Niight mate

  191. HeartOutWithaGoon says:

    Morning Rico. Well the saga continues with Hill-Wood speaking out against Usmanov for urging the club to spend… I can’t help wishing he was still on the board but I also can’t help thinking about the fact it is his son that has brokered all the deals for Arsenal players to Citeh and no doubt he is doing the same for RVP.

    Newcastle have slapped a 20m price tag on Tiote- I wouldnt pay that but I’d be tempted to test their resolve as he is an established player approaching his peak.

    My main concern in buying an RVP replacement is that it would be a bad idea to have another new striker that has never played in the EPL and we’d been counting on three forwards all to not just settle but make an instant impact.

  192. rico says:

    Morning HOWaG ( how can i shorten that ) 😉

    DD – I think most see him as the answer but that won’t happen all the time Stan is our owner i suspect…

    Not convinced we will replace RvP, other than Podolski

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