If it’s not Project Restart, it’s transfer rumours which fill the sports pages. There’s a really good article in The Athletic which covers all things Premier League return and according to author, there is still a long way to go before all twenty clubs agree. Playing the remaining fixtures at neutral grounds is a stumbling block.Then there’s the financial side of the game. All is not rosy it would appear and again, if the article is factual which I believe it is, the days of big money being ploughed into the game might be over.
Extract from The Athletic:
The second explicit conversation about money was what Premier League chief Richard Masters referred to as “an update” on the broadcasting situation. This was just as thorny as curtailment because he told the clubs that Sky Sports and co are asking for the best part of £340 million back, whether the clubs play out the rest of the season or not.
This will not have gone down at all well, as most clubs believed the deal they were being offered at the start of this crisis was: play the remaining games, by any means necessary, and the broadcasters will not demand a pro rata rebate of £762 million on the games they have shelled out for this season. Apparently, that deal is no longer on the table.
Without the multi million pound television deals, youngsters coming through club academy’s are going to be crucial for the game. The signings from overseas will surely continue but a £72m deal for one player like Pepe is probably a thing of the past. I think it is for Arsenal in any case. You know what, that doesn’t really bother me one bit because every club, or certainly the majority, will be in the same boat.
Arsenal’s Academy seems to be set up really well under Per Mertesacker and we appear to have a lot of youngsters waiting in the wings. We might see one or two from the under 23’s make a surprise appearance should the restart ever take off but it’s more likely to be next season. Then the next crop will be knocking on Mikel Arteta’s door. So it goes on. But knocking on the door is very different to taking a chance by the scruff of its neck and making it count.
Alex Iwobi did until Arsenal thought Everton’s cash was too good to refuse, understandably, Bukayo Saka certainly has but it seems he now thinks he’s too good to stay at Arsenal although I really hope he proves me wrong. Reiss Nelson would probably have had a great season had injury not got in the way so similar to Eddie Nketiah, next season could be a good one but Joe Willock and AMN this season has been a struggle, certainly under Mikel Arteta. Maybe both will be afforded another season to prove themselves, maybe not if a good offer comes in from another club this summer. I don’t count Martinelli or Guendouzi as academy players but I’m sure they’ll both be at Arsenal next season.
As it stands, the last academy player to really hit the headlines over a sustained period of time is Jack Wilshere. Many of those headlines came after he’d suffered yet another injury, one or two because of his naughtiness or cheekiness, others though because he was a bloody good footballer who loved the club. But for an injury ravaged career, he’d still be at the club now and probably wearing the captains armband. Instead he’s at West Ham, injured. I think he and Abou Diaby will go down in Arsenal history for their injuries. Not their fault I know.
Who could ever forget this?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DOthjrB2JvQ
Possibly one of the best team goals Arsenal scored during Arsene Wenger’s final few years at the club. The build up was great, Jacks finish, superb. First time, outside of the left boot, so very Jack. Football was robbed of a great fifteen years or watching his skills, Arsenal were too as of course were England. But as he said in the picture at the top of this post, the Premier League was and still is, quick so when the late tackle on his left ankle arrived each time, there was the excuse. There was no excuse though, not really because just like with Abou, once the vulnerability was documented, both players might as well gone onto the pitch with a target on their ankles.
Abou Diaby eventually retired from the game after years of trying to become strong enough to play but for Jack, there’s still hope that he might play again for West Ham, the team he supported from a kid. I hope so but he’ll always be an Arsenal man in my mind.
Hopefully, so will Bukayo Saka and in ten years time we’ll be talking about his Arsenal career. Just without the injuries.
Stay safe guys.
Hi Rico and All The way Arteta likes using the younger players, if we do sell I think it will be the older one so he can build a young team that have more hunger in them to prove they can make it. and this will also help our bank account for the future.
I would like to hear how the transfer season will work in regards to players loaned out for one season,
Will we be able to recall loan players or will they have to stay where they are until this season finishes.
Quiet day Geoff….
Morning all,
It seems it’s all about keeping the young guys grounded and focused.
With everyone around them telling young men how good they’ll be and how much they’ll earn, mates and girls hanging around them for their own reasons, it must be difficult for them to keep their eye on the ball.
Money has caused this.
18 year olds earning thousands of pounds a week is a ridiculous and explosive situation, but if we don’t pay them, they leave.
Quite crazy, really, that this is the scenario but all a club can do is play this game.
Scott your write about the money these 18 year old earn if I was in charge of the soccer world I would put a cap of say twenty thousand dollars maximum per week for all players under 20 years old and hopefully this would help to keep them grounded and a better chance for club to keep them long term or get what they are fully worth if they sell them
Hahahaha Geoff,
20k a week wouldn’t keep anyone grounded-or it shouldn’t lol
Best system I’ve seen for these scenarios is apprentice jockeys in Australia.
They’re give a wage while indentured, and all prizemoney and rising fees above that are out in trust for them, so when they’re 20-21 years old, they at least have SOME sense of living in the real word about them.
No system is perfect, but I think that one is pretty good.
Hello Hello any body there i’m typing from they other side of the world. must be a very slow day.
Good morning Geoff, one problem with setting a maximum wage for young players is enforcing it. There will always be clubs circumventing the rules by making payments to players families or providing living accommodation, transport or even employment for their family members.
In addition, fixing the wage level, on an international basis would be impossible. What would seem reasonable in say Australia, would be a fortune in many third world countries.
Hi Cicero mate what these kids today earn playing sports is unreel just one weeks pay could feed a family for a years even in Australia there are people and I guess in England who are struggling to put food on the tables. yet these young players have money thrown at them by different clubs,
Just too busy to get involved , I need a litigation lawyer to help solve a few problems , . Do we have anyone ?
I’m here Geoff, just have nothing to say… 😂
There will always be clubs circumventing the rules by making payments to players families or providing living accommodation
It used to be a fridge or a colour telly !
Sorry Potter, can’t help you there. 😕
Not to worry , it was just a cry for help. Our tenants have gone and wrecked the place .
That’s bad Potter, we had a similar experience with our very first tenant, she did a moonlight owing three months rent, but her mother had signed as a guarantor, so we did get the back rent paid and could keep the deposit, but it took a month or more to redecorate and replace half of the kitchen fitments. The letting agents were useless. Since then we have used an on-line company called Landlords Direct to find new tenants and we “manage” the tenancies ourselves. It works very well.
The fact that your tenants have wrecked the place give you grounds to evict them and sue them for damage repairs and lost rents. Choose your solicitor carefully and keep chasing him for progress reports.
Best of luck mate.
Dele Alli got burgled yesterday!……….aparrently the burglers laughed at the sight of his empty trophy cabinet and stole jewellery and watches instead!
Football tomorrow! BT sport are showing all 9 fixtures in the Bundesliga over the weekend!
I can’t wait Sue.. 😜
Hi Rico 😁 the whole world will come to a standstill!! I’m predicting a goal fest!!
Hi Sue, on a serious note, the PL will be watching closely I’d imagine. Along with many other leagues.
No news from the English League?
Don’t think so Jm. It’s still in the “too difficult” tray.
League Two clubs have voted to end the season early.
New post up now