So, I have been giving Arsenal a lot of thought recently.
The kind of thought that one can only have in the close-season when the pressure is off, so to speak.
Free of the emotional influences of the last few and the next few games it is perhaps easier to put the Arsenal world to rights. It is, of course, purely an academic exercise, being a matter of opinion only and whether it makes sense or not or whether you agree with it or not, it will never have the slightest influence on what happens in the real world.
This is one of the great things about football blogs and the rise of the Internet in general. Everyone is an expert and so many could do a much better job than our manager Mr Arsene Wenger. They could pick a better team, devise better tactics, make more astute transfers and generally run the club in a far superior way. This is because they are football genii, sitting undiscovered behind their keyboards in their bedrooms or out of sight of the boss at work.They don’t need to watch a player in training all week to know if he is fit enough for the game and as for substitutions?
Well, Wenger doesn’t come close to them for making that particular judgment, in fact they would start the substitutions after about 10 minutes but it isn’t really those people that I want to talk about, fun though they are. They have always been there and the Internet and the rise of the football blog has merely given them a platform from which to scream their mad message.
I am concerned about Arsenal Football Club because I realise that football today is virtually all about money and the vast majority of footballers these days are whores who will sell their services to the highest bidder.
I am careful not to label all players with this unattractive title but, as far as I can see, there are precious few who, if temptation is put before them, won’t take the billionaire’s money. They would bridle at my pejorative insinuation of course but, as far as I can see, I am not far wrong.
Offer them a couple of hundred grand a week and a tax plan/dodge that lets them keep most of it and they will become badge kissing, religious zealots when on the pitch, forever looking humbly toward the heavens in prayer while simultaneously genuflecting wildly and producing unnatural amounts of phlegm from their mouths which they then launch onto the pitch a moment before ending their visual act of religious contrition by kissing their hand and the bigger the whore they are, the more overt their displays of on-field worship.
I will not name them as I know we all know who they are and indeed our own club has produced its fair share of them although quite how they manage to make such a copious contribution to the sea of phlegm that must constitute the average football pitch these days I do not know.
Perhaps the Emirates pitch is as wonderful as it is because our groundsman has found a way to extract the fertiliser content from the mountains of sputum that is ejected upon it on a weekly basis by such deeply religious men.
Back to the money and it’s totally unsurprising influence on the game today.
I know that, as Arsenal supporters we are well aware of two things.
Firstly, the club’s great history and tradition and secondly Arsene Wenger’s legendary reluctance to put together a squad of high enough quality to genuinely compete for the only 2 competitions really worth winning. I mean of course the English Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.
The age-old question is whether it is in fact Wenger’s reluctance to spend or is the board’s unwillingness to release the money.
Everyone can accept that The Emirates stadium was a major financially limiting factor for the first few years but, from what we are lead to believe, the repayments are entirely manageable now and easily covered by the astonishing match-day revenues. I also think that there is a general acceptance that the “wage-pie” has been wrongly distributed with certain players consuming rather more of it than their on-field contributions would justify.
This alone has meant that Arsenal have been unable to pay the ludicrous wage demands of World superstars even if they wanted to.
Forever stuck in the vicious circle of buying cheap, selling high, the evidence of our “nearly years” is there for all to see and the Man City effect has become the club’s nemesis. Thus we are forced to concede that, despite by some reckonings, being the 4th richest club in the world, we now look at CL qualification as better than winning the FA Cup or the Carling Cup or indeed both.
Financially, this is hard to argue against when you look at the monetary rewards from the pair. But the argument is insidious for the supporter who is forced to pay the highest season ticket prices in Europe to watch a team that he loves while knowing that they have little chance of winning either of their main goals. Catch-22 doesn’t even come close to describing it.
It is probably untrue to say that money guarantees success but no money definitely guarantees no success if we are talking about the game’s biggest prizes. Man City and Chelsea are the living embodiment of that. Chelsea, a club a few days away from financial oblivion because of financial ineptitude before Abramovich, fresh from Spurs rejection (nice one Levy), fell out of the sky with his billions upon billions of roubles and Man City, perennial under-achievers bought out by a Sheikh from Abu Dhabi, populated by mercenaries, including some of our ex-players and projected entirely by finance alone to the PL title.
It’s not really a surprise is it?
So, a bloke arrives from a desert country that has never produced anything except the oil that, by some geographical quirk, spills from its ground, spends something around a billion quid, runs a £180 million a year deficit and wins the PL from the worst Man United team in living memory by a few goals difference. In the background the Arsenal tragedy is still in full swing, being played out like the last act of Hamlet and the questions start about us losing our best player to City, having already lost our best player last year to Barcelona. In fact we have done the same for many years and it looks as if this will depressingly continue.
So, whoever our best player is next year and the year after that. Well, you get the point.
So, the big question.
What, if anything, can be done to arrest the flow of players out of the door as so little seems to be done with the flow of transfer fees in through the door?
Did I hear someone mention Financial Fair Play?
If so it may have been Arsene Wenger as I believe that he has his colours somewhat naively fixed firmly to that particular mast as he has spearheaded the fight against the prevailing wind of financial doping. Platini’s flagship, now gathering more caveats than seems possible, will almost certainly mean that both Chelsea and Man City will not be allowed to qualify for Europe next year and I simply ask if, given the money and people involved, I repeat, given the money and the people involved, can you see that happening?
No? Neither can I, but then years of cynicism have led me to that conclusion and you might well be a more optimistic person, but let’s agree not to pin all our hopes on it shall we?
The conclusion of this is one that perhaps not everyone will find appealing but, in the absence of anything better, I have to advance it.
It is Alisher Usmanov.
Perhaps, considering what we know that money can achieve, we are lucky to have such an insanely rich man actively wanting to buy the club. His huge body looms over the Arsenal through his shareholding position, but Stan, a man committed to the commendable but ultimately unsuccessful self-sustaining model (self-serving model?) will not countenance him or his position on the board. This is probably through the fear that Usmanov sees the bigger picture in much the same way that I have mentioned and that rather distasteful picture means that, unless a fluke happens-and I must concede that it might, we are not going to get anywhere near the PL title for the foreseeable future with the financial model we are now operating under.
In today’s world as we all get poorer, the richest get richer and these are the people who will soon own all the big clubs. It will be a financial arms race epitomised by “Our billionaire’s worth more than your billionaire” and the main beneficiaries will be beautiful, humble, self-effacing individuals like Samir Nasri, Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli and of course great humanitarians like John Terry.
So, Arsenal makes a profit, so what?
The fans, who are the life-blood and essence of the club, want the PL title above all things, or at least the tools to compete for it and the only way that will come I fear will be under the ownership of a man who is so stupidly wealthy that a billion quid will hardly matter. Somewhat sadly, bearing in mind Wenger’s peculiar and now famous utterance that, given £100 million he would give it back, (presumably he has already identified the new Squillaci or Almunia in some minor league), it will likely need a new manager.
This fellow, whoever he is, will probably not be as aware of the history and tradition of our club as dear Arsene and he certainly won’t be around for as long but, with the purse strings released, let the madness commence and let’s start winning again.
Will it happen?
No, I doubt it, but you knew that already didn’t you?
Written by Adam
Hi all,,usmanov and dein in
And add kagawa,hazard,old ex gk,m’villa and vertoghen……the glory days will be back
If we sell rvp and buy cavani/giroud……i will not be mad
Usmanov in. We’re the 4th richest club in the world yet we pay Primark fees for players. Wenger pockets £7m a year, we have dross on 60-70k a week, therein lies the problem..
Good morning Gooners…
Well, was it worth the wait???
I’ll say so…
Well done Adam, now i know why you are a proffessional sribbler.
That, me ol’ china, was a fantastic read…
And sadly sums up the situation we are in…
All i can say Adam, as far as you and your pen is concerned, is, more more!
Morning all..
Phew Adam, that’s a heavy one 😉
Love it, you all probably know my views on AU, the sooner he is in the better, he is seriously rich and moreso than Roman.
If it becomes a ‘my billionare is bigger than yours’ in the PL, then we could be the club with one of the richest…
“desert country that only has produced oil”……surely that’s an oxymoron, what grows in the desert ?
RVP will be leaving, and like Vieira says. I don’t blame him as we are only targeting top 4 every season – which ultimately sad indictment for a club which used to challenge.
We can dream of Alisher and Dein returning, but the “obstinate” Board won’t cave easily as quite a few will be culled in any potential takeover.
The annoying part is that Wenger is part of the spin, claiming we can challenge…..his silence would at least mply his neutrality about our prospects!
Given the choice of winning trophies by selling the clubs soul to a grubby,egotistical billionaire who simply buys one,or keeping a good business model and praying UEFA have the balls to enforce their rules to mongrel clubs like Citeh,Chelski etc,etc,etc,I will choose the latter.
I realise that may not be a popular opinion,but I do not support a club simply for the thrill I get when we win a trophy.
Imagine sitting somewhere in Manchester tonight,wearing a blue shirt,celebrating a League win while deep down you know that the victory belongs elsewhere…..somewhere in the middle east,but far,far removed from your own city…..what a thrill.
I’ve followed Arsenal since 1977 as best I can from thousands of miles away.
Yes,the period of Bergkamp,Henry,Vieira,Seaman,Adams and the rest was great but you know what made it great….the fact it was with a squad BUILT,not BOUGHT.
Those advocating the need to spend are entitled to their opinion,as am I,but the simple fact is we are owned by a businessman,not someone as lucky as Jed Clampett who won the lottery…the black gold type.
The mere talk of Citeh looking at RVP makes me utterly sick.
The mere comments from Mancini telling the world he needs to spend up to strengthen his squad for their title defence makes me even sicker.
If RVP goes to Real or Barca,I won’t be happy,but would understand it.
If he goes to Citeh,he will be no better than Nasri,Cole or any other money grabbing bastard we’ve lost.
If he goes,and it’s still a big if,I would love to walk up,shake his hand and introduce myself,then ask him why the hell he took on the captaincy in the first place?
I truly,truly hope he stays simply to restore my faith in the professional footballer.
You can say what you like about a player leaving for “trophies”,but when was the last time a player went to a massive club to win trophies and took a paycut?
It’s a bullshit cop out.
Tear me apart guys,but it’s how i honestly feel…….I’d rather 3rd or 4th than a cheap,dirty win,and I make no apologies for it.
Adam,that post is not aimed at you or anyone in particular,I just needed to get that off my chest.
The best, most grounded article I have read about Arsenal’s position in a long long time.
Morning all,
Arise Sir Adam,
That was a post and a half, i must admit i just submitted a post to rico on the same lines as this but not to the quality of this one, i hope she files it in the bin after reading this. You have in my mind written Arsenal and Wenger Stan and Usmanov to a tee, even down to the highly religious phlem spitting players who always agitate me. this artical shows the Arsenal as who they realy are as money grabbing bastards that squeeze the last drop of blood from lifetime supporters, they give very little back and and their pathetic excuses grate on the ears after several years of blatent lies i congratulate you on putting Arsenal down in one weel orchastrated post i look forward to you next one.
Top drawer post Adam absolutely top drawer!!!
Scott
What we all have to accept is the world of football has changed, it has been allowed to welcome in rich foreign owners and as Adam says its going to become a competition based on who is the richest.
I don’t know if Stan is any more respectable than AU, after all, didn’t PHW once say that he didn’t want anyone like Stan at our club….
Why is AU deemed to be grubby?
At least he sits at the Ems and watches us play….
Many thanks Kev. I believe Arsenal are sitting at a crossroads. But it is a fulcrum of conscience as well as finance. We would all love to rebuild the squad to a position where it is truly successful again. But the game has changed. In many ways you could say that Abramovich and the Shiekh at Man City have destroyed football in this country as a competitive sport. Financial Doping is a much more precise term than it first seems as it has given Chelsea and City an edge that is not born from anything other than money. The traditional ways of bringing young players through the ranks from schoolboy to professional are long gone. I admire Wenger’s pure footballing philosophy and desire to run a financial sustainable ship but, as I said, I think the game has changed. The only constants are the greed of players and that Patrick Vieira will never miss an opportunity to put the boot into our club as he is still very, very pissed off with the way he was shown the door.
Steve, you sure its for the bin 🙁
7amkickoff
The Arsenal blog from an American perspective
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Arsenal survived relegation by one point
There’s not just one League in England anymore, there are two leagues. Symbiotic leagues which feed off each other, enrich each other, and ultimately enrich the billionaires and millionaires who own, operate, and play in those leagues.
In The League you have 20 teams who play each other home and away, are awarded points for wins and draws, and the club with the most points at the end of the season wins a trophy. That League trophy is one of the most difficult things to get your hands on. In the 20 years that the League has existed just 5 teams have won: Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Blackburn Rovers, and Manchester City.
In addition to winners, there are losers: and while the winners get a trophy, the losers get kicked out of the League.
There’s also prize money awarded to each team in this League. Each place that a team finishes up the table in the League earns £755,062 cumulative. The winners receive £15m and the losers just £755,000. Already the seeds of inequality are planted. Not only do the losers get kicked out of the League but they receive a pittance in prize money.
This League has, however, a soft spot. There are lucrative domestic and foreign television contracts which are divided equally among all 20 teams to the tune of £32.5m.² In addition, all 20 teams are guaranteed that 10 of their games will be played live on television and thus earn them an additional £5.8m.
Among all of their various prize monies, television contracts, and other awards, the bare minimum that a League team will earn is £39m and the maximum which a team could earn is around £61m.
And if a team is booted out of that League, there’s a “parachute payment” of £15m which is given to teams to help them fight their way back into the League. That parachute payment is reduced the year after their first year of relegation and reduced further the year after that but is still a massive payment considering the fact that the league below The League only pays out an average of £1m in prize monies.
For many teams just being in this League is considered a huge achievement. There are two other competitions, cup competitions, that teams play in at the same time as they participate in the League: the Football Association Cup and the League Cup but more important than winning either of those two competitions is staying in the League. It’s even referred to as “survival” when a team avoids relegation because it’s the difference between life and death for some clubs.
This doesn’t mean that winning the FA Cup or the League Cup is completely without merit. Rather that those trophies are considered “stepping stones” to larger, more important trophies such as winning the League. Winning the FA Cup is a stepping stone, staying in the League is survival.
It’s simple math. The difference between surviving relegation from the League and winning the FA Cup is £25m. That’s £25m the club can spend on upgrading their stadium, on buying players, on training grounds, and on making their club better.
But there’s a second league above this League. A super league if you will. And unlike the League, it’s not friendly, things aren’t shared equally, and there are no parachute payments for relegated teams. It is pure capitalism: the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and the have-nots are left to rot in the gutter.
Unlike the League, there are 32 teams from the leagues all over Europe and there is no egalitarian home and away play round robin to decide the winners and losers. Teams are only guaranteed 6 games and £6m. In those six guaranteed games there are bonuses that go to teams who win (£700,000 per) or even draw (£350,000 per). Those six games are used to determine who will go into the next round with the top two teams from each group selected to the round of 16. After that, it’s a knockout competition.
Making it to that round of 16 guarantees an additional £2.64m. That round’s prize money alone is more valuable than winning the FA Cup.
The next round is worth £3.3m.
The next round is worth £3.7m.
And if you win, the prize is £7.9m.
The total prize money up for grabs is £363,440,000. But there’s a hidden prize. One more valuable than the prize money. And completely determined by how powerful your league is. This is what this “Champions League” refers to as the “Market Pool”.
That Market Pool prize money is worth £300m and nearly 25% of that money goes to the four teams from The League. And the League winner, the best team in the best league in all the world? The Champions League pays them 8% of the Market Pool money, or nearly £24m. Just for showing up.
All totaled, if a team were to win all 13 of their games in the Champions League and if they were the champions from The League the payout would be £51,477,360.¹ Give or take a few pennies here and there.
Only the top three teams from The League are guaranteed admission to the Champions League. The fourth placed team has to survive a promotion battle between another similarly placed team from a different league in Europe. This is almost exactly the same system that teams from the league below the League use to get into The League.
For a club like Arsenal, who don’t have the backing of a man who is willing to spend £1bn to win the League, achieving third place and thus securing Champions League football is crucial, financially, to ensuring that Arsenal are even remotely competitive in the League. People wonder why Arsene Wenger prioritizes the Champions League over the FA Cup and even more so over the League Cup but it’s really quite simple.
As I illustrated above, almost no team in England would take an FA Cup trophy if it mean that they were relegated from the League because it’s financial suicide. The same applies to the Champions League, except in an even more direct, more cut-throat, more capitalist way: there are no parachute payments to help a team get back into the Champions League.
That’s why Liverpool have struggled for three years to get back in to the Champions League. That’s why Kenny Dalglish was fired. Winning the League Cup is meaningless if you finish 8th to a team like Liverpool who have aspirations of winning the League and getting back into the Champions League. That’s why Arsenal’s 15 consecutive years of Champions League football is a massive achievement. And that is why Arsene Wenger sat on the bench last Saturday, clutching Pat Rice, and looking like a manager whose team was on the verge of relegation.
Because they were.
Times have changed in The League. The old days when winning the FA Cup meant something have all but disappeared. At most it’s seen as a stepping stone to bigger and better things as Manchester City used it last year. But a manager would certainly never risk relegation from the Champions League places to win it.
Remember that next time someone tells you they would rather finish 8th and win the FA Cup: 8th place is relegation
Have to agree though Adam, your post is really really good, so much so, i think you should write many more 😉
Rico,I wish could lay my hands on an article I read a few months back on our Russian saviour,you wouldn’t want him running our club,believe me.
He’s a law unto himself.
Morning all..
@ Adam, Top post!!
Well said sir Steven.
Arise Sir Adam, gallant knight of Rico’s Round Table…
That Rico, she never misses a trick… [9.56] 🙂
I’m going to ask this question.
Since Stan is a businessman,why would anyone be disappointed or surprised he likes to make a profit in his investment?
It defies logic.
Morning Rico,
After reading that one perhaps i will just read and enjoy 🙂
As long as Wenger is in charge,Arsenal will have little chance of winning the epl and cl.
Don’t do that Sir Stevo, we need your input and love your prose…
Money is poisoning the beautiful game.
The problem is that for the super rich, £1billion isn’t a lot a of money. I know people with that as their cash in their portfolio at any one time.
As such, a cash rich owner can afford to pay over the top wages/ fees. The argument against the financial barriers for the top 6 means that clubs have to overspend in order to break into it. This inflates the transfer market.
The difficulty as an Arsenal fan is, that we as the only top club not overpaying we are suddenly the minority and are now underpaying.by comparison. What will be interesting is how Man City level out their finances as Chelsea have had to do without sacrificing performance. Chelsea failed. The problem is that these sugardaddy owners have clubs with limited support/appeal worldwide. I’m just glad liverpool can’t get their act together, as they should be one sugardaddy’d club who have the income finances to skirt round the FFP rules.
Usmanov should be on the board. The man is excellent in business, Kroenke can use his money to build shopping malls. Usmanov backs intelligent people to build better services. I know which i prefer.
Speaking to A Spurs fan who happens to be a professional coach,he marvels at the way our club is run,and the way Wenger manages.
It has always appeared to me that our own club and manager gets more respects from other fans than our own give in general.
GREAT ARTICLE AND IT’S NICE TO SEE THAT THERE’S A FAN OUT THERE WHO HASN’T BEEN INDOCTRINATED.
Scott. If it was the article which described Usmanov as a rapist who served time in prison and a thoroughly unpleasant fellow then we have all seen it. There was also a rebuttal piece that explained how biased and generally unpleasant the writer of that piece also is and why he had such a grudge. Russian high end business is like the wild west. Do you think that Abramovich got to £8 billion in his 30’s by helping old ladies across the street. My firm hope is that FFP has real teeth because these blokes ain’t going away. High finance and high moral values are uneasy bedfellows.
Scott, it’s a shit sandwich mate…
And i’m sure as hell that i don’t know the answer…
We’re all Arsenal fanatics and all we can do is take what we like/need from the situation we are in and run with it…
AK – that 7am ko post is interesting too…
😆 AK, what are you suggesting 😉
Adam,I am certainly not advocating Ambramovic as a good bloke.
AK,I watch the game to be entertained,and that’s what it’s meant to be,entertainment.
Too many fans take things personally when they’re not.
It’s a game to fans,or it should be.
It’s a business to some.
It’s being destroyed by owners….some of them.
On Abramovich…..his spending has died down big time,and so will the Qataris in a few years.
Sorry,but I’d rather support a side with ethics,and I do.
Id rather support a side with a long term,sustainable plan in place,and I do.
Suggesting Rico?
Don’t ask me to make you a packed lunch maybe?1 😆
Class dismissed. Well done Adam. Next course is about Icarus in his attempt to escape from Citeh by means of wings that his father constructed from feathers and wax.
Morning all.
Ah yes Rico, i see what you meant.
I’m a bit slow this morning… dohhh
SALARY CAP………..never happen,but it should.
UEFA could bring it in,and ban any club from Europe who break it.
Don’t tell me it can’t be enforced,because the cheats will eventually get caught.
Clubs will try,but they get caught.
Scott
I understand your concerns, but the media are nasty people sometimes, if AU was indeed a ‘bad man’ he wouldn’t be free to walk the streets or buy into our club.
Look at how the witchunt took place with Roman and I know I hoped at the time that they would find out something bad, all because he bought out Chelsea but no matter how hard ‘they’ have tried, there is nothing.
I strongly suspect it would be the same for AU..
Personally, I would welcome him with open arms…
quote
” Usmanov should be on the board. The man is excellent in business,”
Yes, ask his victims
As for FFP, its a joke imho – clubs have the next three seasons to break even – the only clubs that will suffer are the ones who are already struggling….
And they are not even playing in Europe…
Thats a good comment there Scott, my own spud mates have said the same.
Personally i know this sounds like i’m bashing the old drum again but i honestly believe that with touchline technology and fairer referee’s we could have a lot closer finishes than we have now, at the end of the day its 11 verse 11 and all the teams in the league can win at any given time but after all the games i viewed on the box this year i have been amazed at how wrong of course in my own estimation that the results was. I don’t care what anybody says this needs looking at and sorting as this is just downright cheating how can millions see this and the FA persevere
Steve – you and me both 😉
AK – wake up 😆 😆
alan, what victims?
Well Rico,we will win competitions,but our arses and souls will be sold in the process.
If he comes in and does what has been done at Citeh,I will not be one rejoicing at our bought victories.
Great and detailed post Adam. I too can’t see how FFP will work. If Chelsea and City are still aiming to spend way beyond there natural means and the FFP rules were watertight then they would be effectively committing football suicide. I am convinced these people have had the worlds top business lawyers pouring over the FFP and have been told that it won’t stick. It probably contravines some right to practice business freely law and they would be able to tie UEFA up in expensive court battles for years to come in a case that UEFA eventually can’t win.
Some gooners seem to be talking confidently about which top player we replace RVP with in the “no-one is bigger than Arsenal and the club will still be here after he is gone” mould. In the past our status would see top players choose us if another top player had left but this time I think it is different. If RVP goes I cannot see us getting players like Cavani and Giroud. They have a choice of suiters, and although an RVP departure would leave spaces for other top strikers to fill, I believe they would view him leaving as a sign of a club in decline, (especially after last years departures), and would pick another option. That is why this time it is vital to convince RVP to stay and bring in the players to compliment him to form a title challenging squad. In many ways for me RVP’s interests are aligned with the fans. If he is convinced to stay it likely means we will have a strong competitive squad next year. If he goes it means he is not happy about the plans which means none of the fans should be either.
On AW needing replacing if Usmanov was in charge. I am not certain one way or the other. As you say it is one thing making the funds available but you need to be using them to full effect. I almost feel that equally important is someone who can remove AW from having to think about what a players worth is. I feel AW has too much input into that area at the moment and Gazidkis doesn’t have the power over AW to prevent it. For me the reintroduction of Dein is possibly as vitally important as I believe he would get AW to identify his targets and then say leave it to me and forget about the rest.
My biggest reservation about AW, however, is that he seems to lack a ruthless side when it comes tothe players, treating them as if they were his own offspring. It is not something you see in Ferguson or Mourinho who will recognise a player that is not good enough and freeze them out. They also don’t overpromote youngsters too early at the expense of the club and you will often see their promising young players come into the1st team slightly later when they are more mature ready. All top clubs need squad players also. The ones that understand that they are not in the strongest 1st 11 but are still decent and will do a job when required. AW for me too often pushes the wrong youngster on too early and doesn’t bring in stronger options for certain players which would push said player into being a squad back up player. For me it is easier to see who should definitely leave Arsenal and i think most of us agree about these players. The harder part is looking at players that we should keep but shouldn’t be 1st 11 if everyone is fully fit. We have about 3-4 players in that bracket but I feel AW’s lack of a ruthless streak means he will not buy a stronger option and demote a player to the bench at the risk of hurting the feelings of that player.
Steve,FA want billionaires investing in their product,so it’s to their advantage to have the rich guys sides enjoying success.
Hey,I’ve never been an advocate for video refs coming in,but if it really did bring in equality and fairness,then bring it on.
Morning all, Scott i am with you lets build the club not allow some one to bank roll it, and given how long it took both Chelsea and City to win no guarantee that it would happen any quicker anyway.
This is a hypothetical case. MC are in in contravention of FFP.According to to the Manchester evening news,the oil czar/sheil could buy some of the box seats to wipe of the debt. What would UEFA do?
So there are loopholes to be exploited. So Arsenal better not pin too much hope on the ffp.The thing is will Platini dare take action against one of the big teams?
Adam, have you thought of doing this writing thing for a living??
Adam.
The most forthright article about the situation my beloved Arsenal finds itself in. Wonder how our octagenerian chairman and board will be made to see the light.
Edward
Rico
http://alisherusmanov.blogspot.com.au/
Julian,if UEFA have the balls,football will never be the same…..it will be better forever.
Let’s hope.
Thanks Alan….our saviour is a very good,decent,clean living man.
But he does have billions to spend!
Haven’t we already sold them??
Just to a less rich man….
Lee.:D
Only if I can avoid having to work out how to use smileys mate.
When I say selling our souls,I mean the club selling out to be someone’s toy,their plaything.
You call him silent Stan…….fair enough…….you can’t say he interferes in the day to day running of the club.
You also can’t say he dictates which player starts a game.
Isn’t that article just one persons view??
If you think jabba is some kind of saviour I feel sorry for you.
Rico,are you suggesting it’s merely his view that Usmanov spent six years in jail,or that Russian politics has not been noted for corruption?
No-one can say what he does or doesn’t do, he seldom speaks…
We don’t know if he inteferes with the day to day running, he could do so by phone/email etc?
Wenger said he wouldn’t sell Nasri, some say Stan told him he must…
I wouldn’t begin to suggest he selects a team, would AU? I doubt it very much…
Abramovich does,why would another Russian billionaire treating us as his toy be any different?
Selling Nasri…..whoever made that call was just plain smart.
“Mr Usmanov was imprisoned for various offences under the old Soviet regime. We wish to make it clear our client did not commit any of the offences with which he was charged. He was fully pardoned after President Mikhail Gorbachev took office. All references to these matters have now been expunged from police records . . . Mr Usmanov does not have any criminal record.”
The article starts with ‘let me give you my view’ – after that i didn’t bother to read…. that person is entitled to his view…
I bet he’d have a say if he spend 50 million on a guy who couldn’t score….like Abramovic did with Torres?
When has AU said he would bankroll the club spend obscene amounts of money (kind of a shorter, not as svelte Richard Gere in pretty woman) he has suggested a rights issue, not a i will spend 250 million and buy X and Y and Z. Why does he want to buy Arsenal? for fun, no chances are he wants to make money from it same as Stan, with the new commercial deals coming up for negotiation lets not be so eager to sell the club off.
That last bit is completey false. He was pardoned by the nice man who runs Uzbekistan (google him and his family)
Briatore? Didn’t he start picking the team?
Rico,the six years in prison wasn’t a view.
rico says:
May 18, 2012 at 10:31 am
Isn’t that article just one persons view??
No he states facts that can be verified by many sources freely available. Abramovitch is the same
There is an outstanding arrest warrant for Borisevsky or whomover who was given diplomatic protection if you don’t mind so the Russkis can’t get him
Let’s chip and buy the joint back.
Usmanov in, but not for the financial reasons, I simply hate the club being effectively in sole ownership – yes Kronke could still veto him at every turn, but Alisher could cause waves.
To be honest the thought of Arsenal simply becoming a buying club like citeh fills me with utter dread. Yes I would like to win the PL / CL, but through both purchases and players pulled through the ranks. Is siverware really worth effectively selling your sole for?
If RvP leaves I suspect it will be to Real, even Barca look as though they are wobbling a bit (for the record in Spain I like Barca not Real). Citeh can offer him as much money as they like, but he is not another Adebayor or Nasri whose only real incentive was money. I do believe whilst he talks of winning silverware there is an element of loyalty that says another English club is a none starter.
Ultimately Arsenal need to keep him next season, even if he does not sign a new contract. Afterall, if the club do perform as Wenger wants us to believe, who says that RvP wouldn’t sign during the season? Teaming RvP with Podolski and maybe another 1 or 2 new players and potential sucess could be acheiveable next season.
With Wilshire (hopefully), Arteta & Mertsesacker all back next season, a rejuvanated Gervihno, Podolski (and a couple of other signings) , van Persie and then Verm, Kos etc…. the team/squad is starting to look very very strong.
Ive raed other sites talking about Arsenal battling out for 4th again next season, funny but I could have sworn they finished 3rd this time! If they can avoid starting next season with so many defeats……..
Yes I am a short-sighted optimist, but in the end isn’t that what being a football fan is all about? Getting pissed off and calling for changes is a short-term thing, come the start of next season we will all be 100% behind the team once again.
Alan,let’s ask him to buy the Tahs.
Or the Mariners.
Or Parramatta.
Simple solution! Get a fucking time machine in and kill the assholes who turned our beloved game into the festering business that is modern day football. Sitting on their asses with a sprained (insert medical condition here) whatever and counting out your money!. Any Gooners here who remember the 1980 season 70 games and the team hardly changed at all! OK we lost 2 cup finals in 6 days but hell we had Brady.
All we keep talking about is how much one club spends to another this is not a new thing United has done that for years and have been hailed as a great club at the end of the day we finished 3rd not pretty i agree and 20 points behind the leaders but were still 3rd Lverpool spent, even the filth spent, QPR spent, and will spend again all we need to do is marry the players together which is the priciple Wenger has been trying. He has buggered himself up with long contracts to not so good players, he has been able to offset this by loaning players out for a year at a time but he needs to be more careful in the future, I don’t believe we have to get in a spending war with our competeters we just need to blend the players better. We have a very good squad of talent but they don’t work together as they should, but the good thing is is that the young players are being taught the Arsenal way. Teams can only field 11 players at a time and we have to make sure that our 11 can work together whoever comes on
We can’t compare what one man might do against one that already does can we ?
Reality is, some want AU in and some don’t….
But, if he gets his 30% soon, things could change, he may get onto the board and as AW says, ‘Why not’?
Well said Steve,brilliant.
We did beat Citeh to too long so,as well.
The difference is squad depth,not best starting elevens.
Yes,we need a few players brought in,but we are better off than at least 17 clubs.
Think hard…..which club,as it stands with current squads,has most improvement,taking into account newish players and injuries.
You’d be hard pressed to comeup with a club who has more upside than Arsenal.
Rico,the trouble is we really don’t know what Usmanov wants with the club.
I agree Steve but will Stan/AW/Gazidis make sure we have the players who can do that?
At a time when we look like we are about to lose RvP, Theo and maybe Song, it’s not looking good….
rico says:
May 18, 2012 at 10:46 am
Reality is, some want AU in and some don’t….
But, if he gets his 30% soon, things could change, he may get onto the board and as AW says, ‘Why not’?
If he gets 30% he is obliged to make a takeover offer
I said it the other day.
If we sell RVP and DON’T invest the money,plus more,then I will totally,totally lose faith in the lot of them.
Scott From Oz says:
May 18, 2012 at 10:49 am
Rico,the trouble is we really don’t know what Usmanov wants with the club.
he launders his ill gotten gains through it
Lol Alan.
Do we with Satn Scott??
Or even Stan 😉
🙂
Hey,hey……I’ve just caught up……my first ever smiley!!
Watch out world.
That could very well happen, just as it did with Cesc and Nasri, where is that £50 Million now??
alan, that is one heck of an assumption
Sir SP that’s my view as well. We shouldn’t chase the best of the worst in billionaires funding.
I know Rico,it’s a possibility,but if Stan pockets it,he’s got a very short sighted approach to this club and I’ll agree we’re better off without him.
Ha ha Scott…
suddenly Theo become a great player, lot of us didnt want him on the pitch not so long ago. I think Arsen knows what he is doing, if RvP moves on some one will step up as RvP himself did this season.
rico says:
May 18, 2012 at 10:55 am
That could very well happen, just as it did with Cesc and Nasri, where is that £50 Million now??
alan, that is one heck of an assumption
Rico, what do you think Abramovitch is doing? I don’t assume a thing. You have some reading to do
DG, any news in your fine country?
That is where the problem is Scott, its going to take a person/group with masses of wealth to buy Stan out – of course I would much rather me win the Euro lottery and buy it myself – or any true Gooner do the same….
The day football changed and suga dadies were allowed to buy football clubs was the worst day in the game….
Hello there.
I am playing football tomorrow.
I play for Kanwal Rovers,and I am playing against Woongarrah Wildcats.
Goodbye now,because I am going to sleep now.
Sean from Oz.
not one but two billionaires at the helm and we’re as tight as a camel’s arsehole in a sandstorm….
Rico,
Those putting the most pressure on the club to sell out and buy trophies are the fans.
To me,that’s the disappointing part.
Sean was bugging me for 20 minutes to say hello….he’ll be asleep in five minutes.
Sean, just enjoy it my little friend!!
Namely, we hear that some Russian oligarchs feel that, if they become highly visible owners of beloved sports franchises, the Kremlin will be less likely to take them out.
Yes, as in that kind of out.
Read more: http://articles.businessinsider.com/2010-05-23/news/29999926_1_oligarchs-roman-abramovich-russian#ixzz1vDLa6zXA
Hi Sean, have a good game and good luck 🙂
Morning all,
Looks like we have a new sheriff in town, nice one Adam.
Arn’t we just Lee…
That is to be expected though Scott, look at what it costs the fans to buy STs and tickets – and look what we get in return…
The club cannot keep on take take take from the supporters and give little in return…
When jabba get’s 30% he’ll start asking for dividends. He asked that as soon as he bought Dein’s shares.
As scott has said lets see what happens this summer in the transfer market right now no one knows who is being lined up. If we look at the players bought last year the age experience profile was different it will be interesting to see if this continues.
No doubt Stan will resfuse his request….
Agreed Rico,Stan and his mates need to open the purse strings.
Just not to the extent Citeh have.
Go Sean. Football should be about achievements you dream of as a youngster. Enjoy. Sleep well. No reading in bed, your team needs you fresh like chicken egg from Rico. 😉
Lee 😛 A camel has one or two lumps??
Lee,he just loves everything about the game.
I keep a lid on him so he doesn’t get too caught up in it.
I was thinking of putting him in a Tim Cahill coaching clinic over the weekend.
I’m not cheap at all,but $300.00 for 3 hours was bloody exorbitant,I thought.
fancy Liverpool spending all that money and getting nowhere
Dutch,
These players truly think they’re bigger than the club.
Scott that is a lot
He’s hardly struggling for a quid Alan,is he?
I just can’t justify it.
All i would look for for Arsenal in the future is enough money to buy and replace players in every transfer window, not fortunes but enough to buy decent replacements, we have just aquired the services of Lucas podolski which suggests to me that robin will move on after all said and done he is ageing and it would be beneficial to sell him while we can get the best returns on him. Its very hard to see a player that has done so much for us this year to leave but its sound business for him to go. Theo is a player that on his day can be electric but he has had more games as a damp sqib than an electric eel we need players that can perform every week and Theo has proved he can’t in our set up so he should go. this is a game that requires players to perform all the time Theo cannot. Its a hard thing to move on players that have shown quality at times but if we are not ruthless we will end up with a non performing team which in all fairness we have now. I know supporters grow to certain players and hate to see them sold off i was like that with many that have moved on but success is built on consistency and we certainly don’t have that.
We can only hope that this is the summer of change, otherwise we are in for another season full of frustration and dismay….
That was in interesting link Alan.
Even more interesting were some of the comments….the last one,in particular.
Our current board are utter mongs. I shell out a ridiculous amount of money each week to come and see dross flood the Emirates pitch.
Brendan Rogers has turned down the chance to talk to Liverpool 😉
Rico,I know I’m putting you in the pot here,but here goes.
If we could get 15-18 million for Theo and Hoillet in for free,how old you feel?
I reckon if that cash was spent on a creative midfielder,I reckon most would be sold on it.
Pele,dross doesn’t run third.
Are you telling us you saw no quality football this yer from our guys….get serious.
It’s one thing to be critical,but be honest.
Who would want to manage Liverpool after King Kenny?
Out of interest,what’s a season ticket worth?
Steve – i am beginning to think you are right on RvP/Pod
My idea would be of a rolling squad, only keeping the better players that perform, two players out and two in in every window, that enables freshness in the side and competetive natures. no body in life feels like they have a job for life now and footballers would do well to appreciate that fact. Buying and selling can be ballanced quite easily and some years we could do better than others but what it does do is keeping all players hungry for success, we are in a position at the moment where we only have one goalkeeper a sad state to be in but he feels as safe as houses he should never feel his position is safe he should be pushed to give a good performance every game its just common sense
Just because Liverpool gave Dalglish £100 million and he pissed it up the wall, it doesn’t mean that it can’t work. Take all the good things about Wenger like his ability to spot a good player and turn him into a great player, his desire for a harmonious and spirited squad and his extraordinary football knowledge and team-building qualities. There are many more, plus a few negatives. So, take all this good stuff and then add the bonus of virtually unlimited financial support. We know that Wenger has the words self-regulation running through him like a stick of rock so there would be no “kid in a sweet shop” buying like Mancini. But, think of the weaknesses in the squad that have been so painfully obvious for the past several seasons and imagine if they could have been addressed by buying the right player/players at the right time, with no regard to the cost. I think we would have won the PL on at least two occasions and probably a cup or two. It always surprises me that people only think in extremes and absolutes. Money gives you options and we have been short of those for too long. Plus, we wouldn’t have to suffer our best players leaving every year.
Me personally, the last proper football I saw from this team was the 07/08 lot including Flamini, Hleb etc. We showed some good football in pactches last season but nothing for a prolonged period.
Scott, plainly put – we must thank God that RVP went through this season unscathed. You make it seem as if we cruised into third. This team needs thorough engineering this summer break or we’re liable to see an even bigger breakdown next season.
Adam,what Kenny DID show was that spending guarantees nothing.
Unless,of course,you spend half a billion,but that’s not just spending,that’s buying every second decent footballer alive.
I’d rather Theo Scott…
Pele,how the hell could you suggest that I think we cruised into 3rd spot???
Again,I asked or honesty,and that comment is a fabrication.
Of course we need players brought in,and nobody has suggested otherwise.
Scott. Kenny wasn’t the first to show that. Remember the Galacticos. Football has no conscience and it has increasingly less relevance to modern day living. Look at Spain. One in four unemployed yet RM and Barcelona’s debts rise every year to pay their players the money the market demands. A market set by the rich, out of touch clubs. To answer your earlier query. My wife and my season ticket will cost £2620 this year.
Rico i love Robin like you do but if we can get 25 mill for him it means that we could invest in slightly younger talent, we may look to the outside world as a feeder club but when our tactics start to kick in i am certain that would be the way of the poorer clubs to go. after all anybody billionare of course can spend spend spend and buy success but it would cost a fortune to maintain but this way we can compete without endagering the foundation of the club.
Fair enough Rico.
I asked you because I know you have a good opinion of both.
Scott From Oz says:
May 18, 2012 at 11:28 am
Who would want to manage Liverpool after King Kenny?
Guus Hiddinck
Scott – no, what it proved was that one man in charge of buying players got it totally wrong.
£100M in Wengers hand, different kettle of fish to KK….
Just as £100M in Mancini hand won them the PL….
My wife and my season ticket will cost £2620 this year.
There is no way in the world I’d pay that or anything near it
Let’s not be defensive of our status.
Teams that gave the top 5 a run for their money and made the season a nail biter cliffhanger were midtable squads. (QPR done so in the dying seconds of it.) They changed the league table week in week out. And basically handed us the opportunity to ‘dream’ spot 3. So good players are available at stock price instead of the billionaire fair we look to for trophy winning additionals.
That’s of money Adam.
On the money in football,you’re comment on unemployment is exactly why it pisses me off to hear players wanting ten,twenty hound extra per week.
It’s obscene.
People, there is a point at which the sport must be allowed to die because it has ceased to be a sport. Do you really think there is any real benefit to say the top 10 clubs in the EPL being owned by Arabs and Russians willing to spend GBP500m every summer? I agree that Arsenal is at a crossroads but as fans we must not beblinded by this drive to win trophies AT ALL COSTS. Let’s put it this way. if the Financial Fiar Play rules do not have the desired effect, there will be no football as a sport. In that case, find another sport where games between teams can be called “competition”. Personally, I believe that Arsene and Stan are right. If they have to be forced to do what City do, then they might as well quit. Trust me, football will die because there will be no development, clubs will buy players to bench them so others can’t get them, the smaller clubs will die because of the transfer and wage inflation, etc. This has started to happen in Spain, England is next.
If you want an example of sports that get better every year, and the clubs are still solvent, look to the USA and the German league. Year after year, these leagues produce great new young players, year after year, they fill stadiums, year after year they are competitive. Currently, no one around the world watches Stoke against Blackburn, next year it will be Aston Villa against Fulham, the year after it will be Newcastle against Liverpool. Then it will all collapse in a heap.
Looking at Wengers signing, chances are that the players he buys will not be the ones everyone says, like when he bought Vermaleen, Kosileny, sagna. I think he will buy as he knows better than us that the squad is short and with the players leaving the squad will get thinner in depth again.
Scott From Oz says:
May 18, 2012 at 11:46 am
That’s of money Adam.
On the money in football,you’re comment on unemployment is exactly why it pisses me off to hear players wanting ten,twenty hound extra per week.
It’s obscene.
that bis what hap[pens when you have billionaires owning clubs. You end up paying at the gate
Mancini had a club that had already spent 400 million though Rico.
Big difference.
If the board gave Wenger 100 million and told him to spend it,we’d be in business.
The onus is on the board.
The squad is thin in depth?! That’s rubbish, we have so much dross on our wage bill it’s ridiculous – part of the reason we can’t offer our players better deals.
My Wenger ratings have been going down by the season. When you bring in players like Park, Chamakh and Squillaci who are all on a decent wage, I will start to question your judgement and I have a right to.
ADAM YOU ARE A FREAKING GREAT WRITER.
I read it more than once. your pen is mightily good.
More of it please. I look forward to reading your posts. The structure and write up of the post keeps the reader quite interesting till the last sentence.
But you knew that already didn’t you? 😉
Great post LB.
I keep saying it Alan,how can anyone be surprised when a true businessman wants to turn a profit?
Scott. I agree and this was one of the reasons I wrote the post this morning. I found the sight of thousands of ordinary people camping out in that Madrid square, as they had no jobs and no money and all in the shadow of the Bernabeu stadium,a poignant sight. And I am seeing on the news that many Spanish banks including Santander, have had their credit ratings downgraded today. If football continues to believe it can operate in a bubble, that bubble will surely burst. FFP seems to have more relevance every day.
Pele,you rubbish the comment that the squad is thin in depth,but proceed to say we have too much dross on our wage bill!!!
Mate,you really need to explain that,because it kind of contradicts itself.
Adam,FFP MUST work,it just has to.
I get oissed off thinking about meat headed,halfwit Rugby League players earning 200-300 grand a season,then I compare footballers earning that a week.
Balotelli…….dumb as dog shit…….we would all take it personally.
Good Morning Fine Folk of the St Totteringham’s Faith.
LB – I think the fans of the clubs you mention would disagree….
Wasn’t it Wenger who predicted massive problems in the football economy of the future?
I think it is just semantics. When I refer to a lack of squad depth I am talking about the lack of quality in depth. Think of AC Milan at home in the second half. That 45 minutes alone is a powerful argument and encapsulates much of what I see as wrong at the moment.
????
Yes we have a big squad but it’s not exactly filled with quality is it?
I suggest we ship out around 10 players who don’t contribute anything and bring in 4/5 proven players who will greatly enhance the team.
To coin the phrase from Adam:
Will it happen?
No, I doubt it, but you knew that already didn’t you?
G’day Devil.
A great discussion going on ATM.
Romford, we have a huge squad, but the quality within that squad is the problem, like you say, get rid of all the dross and buy 3/4 players who are better than what we have, or at least on a par with what we are left with…
Pele,I genuinely am confused,so I shall leave it alone.
The days of those wages will surely come to an end Adam. maybe not now but when ffp sets in the players will feel the pinch
I would like to see what the adebarndoor and nasrita will do
Yes Rico, isn’t that what I just said?! Or has this 50 hour week gone to my head?!
What’s there to be confused about?! Please don’t leave it
Devil,they’ll go to China,all the while claiming its not about money!
Of course its a great discussion………
………a great discussion is always preceded by a great article.
I am really impressed.
China?????? Ahhhhhh………probably they will go for the girls there. 😉
Some nice looking chicks they’ll say
You rubbished the fact that the squad depth is thin,then said we’ve got too much dross.
These comments contradict each other.
That explains why Anelkas there lol.
It has nothing to do with big money and no FFP.
at the end of the day, although the mercenary players may leave, AFC will remain and the EPL will still remain the same. It was like that once in Italy where they payed astronomical wages. But now the Italian league finds that it cannot maintain the wages and there are some coaches on just 900k a year. not a week but a year. And in Serie A.
Even some of the players get paid less.
But the squad isn’t thin? We have a big squad hence me saying we need to get shot off the dross. We have too many players on the wage bill who don’t contribute anything to the side. Where is the contradicion here?
I know this is oversimplifying things massively,but footballers earning hundreds of times the wages of nurses???
What’s wrong with the world?
😆 Romford – yes
Nurses don’t get bring in television coverage and a fan base Scott, well, not all 😉
Player wise it is not thin. But footballing wise it is thin.
Excellent article, well informed and informative.
There’s too much money in football, far too much! It is in grave danger of pricing itself out of the market. Entrance prices too dear, wages excessive, paid to players and staff, who often do little to earn it! The world has gone mad! Citeh etc know the cost of everything but don’t know the value anything!
As for sugar daddies, whar happens when they tire of their toy and take their bats home??
Usminov is by all accounts not quite a proper person. Do we want ‘his type here?’ owning our football club? He could well be a force for good, loadsamoney, or he could be a hire ’em and fire ’em, as per Abramovitch. No continuity, no stability ultimately little progress. Chavs 6th in league, it was bound to happen. He couldn’t keep his finger out of the pie!
Incidentally Alisha Usminov’s initials are the same as the chemical symbol for gold! Au.Would he put us on the Gold Standard or not?
Makes you want to spit, doesn’t it?
I am off Fine Folk.
LAter on today.
Pele,I made the original comment at 10.47 am,and it was quite obviously talking about depth on quality.
Onya Rico.
Wavy,plenty seem to wish we had a guy pouring hundreds of millions in.
Thing is, we don’t need a sugar daddy. There is enough money at the club already to make the dreams a reality. Wenger and the board just need to pull their finger out.
Laters devil, have a good one…
Wavy, problem is, none of us know for sure whether Stan is the right man, or indeed AU is, the latter though just has the means to keep us challenging, to date, it doesn’t seem as if Stan does…
I doubt if either ‘really care’ for our club like a true Gooner would do…
Romford, offloading some dross would buy us one, maybe two quality players…
Kagawa and Vertonghen would cost under £20M, we could easliy make that with player sales…. and it’s not as if the ones we are offloading are on low wages, we’d get rid of 6/7 on £50 a week….
At least Almunia is now gone, Fabianski is reported to have told Wenger he wants to go, so that’s £100k off of our books….
Let’s not congratulate ourselves with Arsenal’s stature. I’m convinced it’s part of our weaknesses.
Teams that made this season months before ending a nail biting cliffhanger each week were midtable. League table fighters that gave 1st and 2nd and 3rd to 6th a run for their money. The big five were all interdependent on how much the also-rans confuzzled direct rivals. Heck, QPR done so into the dying seconds of this competition. They basically opened up and kept the opportunity open to pull 3rd spot from a lost cause, even when we lost or drawn our must wins.
My point is there are players available at stock prices that can turn us into title challengers. No need to fold your hands praying we’re invited to a billionaire’s fair.
Arsenal’s anxiety over Robin van Persie’s next career move has been reflected by them barring him from talking to the press while on international duty.
The striker travelled to the Netherlands on Thursday to begin his national team’s preparations for the Euro 2012 finals but Dutch reporters, who are used to a relaxed relationship with the players, were told that Van Persie was the only one who would not be addressing them.
“We made a deal with Arsenal and he won’t talk to the press,” said a KNVB spokesman.
Arsenal are fretful that Van Persie, the talismanic captain, will ignore the new contract that they have put in front of him and seek a fresh challenge. The player, who turns 29 in August, is determined to win a trophy and he has gone seven years without one at Arsenal.
He met the Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, and the club’s chief executive, Ivan Gazidis, on Wednesday to listen to what they had to say, in terms of money and ambition. Wenger was on record as saying that he wanted to resolve the situation before Van Persie linked up with Holland, partly to help his drive for new signings. He has already signed the striker Lukas Podolski from Köln.
But Van Persie, who has 12 months to run on his contract, has made it clear that he has no intention of re-signing at the moment as he waits for offers to crystallise from his various suitors. Manchester City and Juventus have a firm interest in Van Persie. The PFA and FWA Footballer of the Year would relish an offer from Barcelona.
Lukasz Fabianski has meanwhile told Polish media that he wants to leave Arsenal after months of watching his compatriot Wojciech Szczesny from the bench.
“I hope that my adventure with Arsenal has come to an end,” Fabianski told Friday’s Gazeta Wyborcza. “I intend to leave and play in a strong league. I wanted to leave in the winter, too, but Arsène Wenger did not give a green light.”
Fabianski, who has 20 caps, was named the Polish league’s top keeper in 2006 and 2007 during his time with Legia Warsaw.He joined Premier League Arsenal five years ago but has not been able to secure his position due to injuries and some conspicuous errors.
The Poland coach Franciszek Smuda has called him up to the provisional 26-man squad for the Euro 2012 championship, co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine starting next month, but he is expected to play second fiddle to Szczesny again.
Exactly Rico – most our our acquisitions can be made through player sales.
My list of players I want gone:
Almunia
Fabianski
Squillaci
Djourou (won’t happen)
Denilson
Diaby (definitely won’t happen)
Park
Chamakh
Arshavin
Vela
Bendtner
That would get you around £20m minimum. That could be blown on M’Vila. As you said, Kagawa and Vertonghen are both cheap. Add a back-up GK and promote Afobe as third choice striker – you then have yourself a competitive team.
Will it happen?
No, I doubt it, but you knew that already didn’t you?
DG – our problem is, Wenger isn’t looking to sign them 😉
If and it is a big if the conclusions in the article are true Rico, then for RVP Arsenal are not a first choice as he is waiting to see what happens. Thank the man for his outstanding season the way he has led the club and his service over his period at the club and sell him. Arsenal need players whose first and only choice is the club not well i will stay if no one better comes in.
Has anyone actually made a formal offer for RVP that we now of?
Vieira saying that we can’t afford to lose him is contrary to that of a side wanting to buy him,aren’t they?
How many clubs out there are lacking strikers,can afford him and aren’t put off by a 29 y.o. With a history of injuries?
Are we all merely buying into agents drivel?…
Rico. I doubt that AU would pay anything other than lip service to self-sustainability. We need a great striker, of that I am sure. In the big matches in the CL and in the PL chances are few so, when you get one, you have to take it. Remember Bendtner in Barcelona? A great player would have controlled that excellent pass and pushed it past the goalkeeper while saying “Thanks very much”. That’s why guys like Aguero and Falcao get the big bucks. Robin has been fantastic this year but the queue behind him is woeful for a club of our status and with our infrastructure. Those who disagree will always take the extreme view and say I want someone to pour hundreds of millions in the squad and even bankrupt the club. This is untrue. I want what I think the club needs and that is a shake-up of the squad with the obvious candidates moving on and a few great players to lift the quality and therefore the consistency of the team to a point where we can have a degree of confidence that we can at least mount a sustained challenge for the big prizes. There are no guarantees. And I reckon that is what Robin wants too. At the moment we all know that is not the case and if he goes I imagine he too will have asked those questions and not liked what he heard.
RICO,seeing that Wenger never talks about transfer targets,how can you say who he is or isn’t looking at?
It’s a mystery.
Maybe he will buy Neymar at the last minute…the one player he said he’d live,the super talent,the…..nah,won’t happen 🙂
hundreds is not what needs spending, some serious housekeeping, removing the dross and adding 3 quality players….intent shown by the club, then RVP will sign. If he still refuses to sign sell him immediately……….
Adam,who here has disagreed with you on the fact money needs to spent?
I haven’t read that once.
It’s important we nail M’Villa for starters…..actually,seconds.
Again. I never said that Scott.
Well,without spending money,how do we improve he queue behind RVP?
Squillaci…….
I think we are talking at cross purposes here Scott and you seem to misunderstand me. Let’s leave it at that can we as a blow by blow explanation would be tedious for everyone?
Sadly yes Romford, i knew that already 😉
Exatly Adam, and i agree with your last comment, but, i just can’t see that massive shake up taking place, not when it ‘appears’ that we are being run by a man who puts money before the team….
I include Stan and Arsene Wenger in that…
In relation to the striker, totally agree on the Nik comment, and for sure we need a guy who will bury his chances, we had one in Eduardo, we need someone similar and I know this will shock, but maybe Park could be that man…
Scott – you took my comment to seriously, I thought most would see i was being ironic, the wink at the end normally does it 😉
Adam,I don’t know what to think now.
I did disagree with a few of your points,but I’m disappointed you think mine and others have extreme views because of that.
Anyway,maybe I do misunderstand totally….I hope so.
Lee,We have quite a list of players we need out along with Squillacis….it’s bloody scary how many,actually.
Looking back at how many played no part,or very little this year shows how ordinary our depth is,quality wise.
Still,there’s definitely some good kids coming through,we just need a little more class and experience to top up.
That is, as you say, a shock Rico.
Squillaci could be the back-up striker we’ve so longed for…..
1.09 Lee – Spot on, and i know i am banging the same old drum, but we as a club behave as if we are broke sometimes, yet we keep dross and pay them a huge wage….
That isn’t being careful with money, that borders on being reckless….
I didn’t Rico,not at all.
Just wish Wenger would throw us a bone….give us a sniff…..some light at the end of the tunnel.
Anyway i’m off for a fight in a phone box with myself….
Lee. That is even bigger shock. Might I suggest you have a lie down?
Any jokes???
Don’t Lee, not even in jest 😉
Park scores for fun for Korea, well he won’t now he has been dropped but he could with a run in pre-season start scoring goals and push his way into contention.
That is of course if he stays, but I wish we had seen more of him instead of Chamakh….
No smiley at the end of that Park comment,RICO…how remiss of you lol.
It’s been a disappointing situation.
Early on we heard he’d had trouble settling in to London and Arsenal,but we kept rolling out Chamakh when there is is no way known Park would be less effective.
He should definitely have been given a chance of some sort.
Adam I’m utterly rattled the goalie issue still is one. After so many moons have passed. Tells you enough why they Russian roulette with the striker department. Didn’t RvP flogged a few words on replacing Adebarndoor. A bloody scandal to have 20 goals a season replaced by someone who raised doubts over his fitness levels at the time. We have some talent in the pipeline to give us multiple options up front. Though I have no doubt this coming season we need a Giroud/Cavani type on top of RvP’s extension. Plus M’villa and hopefully Sakho now that we seem to have blown the Vertonghen option. The usual suspects can be replaced by less costly transfers.
RIco,Bendntner bangs them in for Denmark.
Who said it the other night…..every time I type Rico in,it bloody goes to capitals!,,,
Can you change our name please RICO,I mean RICO…..bloody thing,try Rico….
Rico. The Park “thing” will probably always remain a mystery shrouded in an enigma. I could extrapolate a number of conspiracy theories, but won’t.
Scott, it does that on an Ipad mate……
Another rumour today….Newcastle are talking to Luke De Jong as a replacement for Demba Ba who is likely Arsenal bound.
How many is that we’ve got coming in??
The only thing I saw of Park was his very,very classy finish in the Cup tie.
I thought we may have something here.
It’s the only word in the English language that does it Lee….maybe Apple sponsor Rico,
Dutch. It always seems obvious from the outside doesn’t it? When it comes to Arsene and transfers, experience is a worrying thing. Off out for a bite. Speak later.
Afternoon Gooners.
lively on here today.
Just off to catch up.
GM if your still about, any chance of a trim…. 😉
Chavs to win the CL Final Lee, hows that for starters 😉
Lee, this should cheer you up,
My new dyslexic girlfriend just sent me a text saying see loves anal, turns out she really loves Alan, my best mate.
Scott, your not gonna go all ‘smiley’ on us are ya ?
I thought i recognised GM’s name AK, once of LG now AA…?
good afternoon
Catch you later
I won’t overdo it Micko,I promise.
Just like the scarlet pimpernel is our JM.
It’s scary Adam the experience thing. Before you know it you’re saying stuff like “What do you know about pollution? I have been breathing fine for sixty years” At which Al Gore hides his head between the shoulders.
I haven’t been tempted to go down that road just yet scott, i’m fighting it all the way.
The talk on Dempsey has died down…….maybe we are signing him as we speak?
Give in to the dark side Micko.
Afternoon Micko and JM
The very same Rico, he comes and goes between blow-drying… 😀
blow-drying?? who?
And I’ve got a friend who’s fallen in love with two school bags, he’s bisatchel.
So I met the bloke who invented crosswords today. I can’t remember his name, it’s P something T something R.
Then again Scott, I doubt it….. 😉
I recall him saying he had a salon in London AK…
He’s AA’s Nicky Clarke, Lee, blow-drying to the ‘Stars’….
But a massive Gooner as well…
Still catching up, so stay with me lee… 😉
who is?
i’m still with you mate….
Lee, just let them get on with it, that’s what i’m doing.
AK,I’ll help you catch up.
We all argued,made up,argued again,made up,agreed to disagree then made up….hope that helps.
Football has been ruined by rich oil sheiks and Russian criminal bosses. The stupidly huge transfer fees and the inflated player salaries paid out by the likes of Chelsea and Man City cheapen the game, and in the end, the English Premiere Leauge will suffer for it (already has). Stan may be silent, but he is NOT the problem. Usmanov would ruin Arsenal.
Lee 😆 even though that was bad …..
Scott you on the red meat again… grrr 🙂
Good see you’ve mastered the smileys.
Only one guy on here now who needs to get his fingers in gear….. Author…. 😉
Chicken curry was dinner tonight AK.
Micko, you blowing the froth off a couple tonight?
How do you make a blonde’s eyes sparkle? Shine a light torch into her ear…
Scott, FFS don’t mention the “C” word…..
Hi JM, catch ya later.
Blimey that bloke is always in a hurry….. 😀
Maybe Doc, maybe not – he may just get us back to winning ways, get us better sponserships and look after the club along the way..
Until that happens, we will never know 😉
The best for us would be the two rich boys work together, then we may just get the best of both worlds…..
I had a curry made with the feathered friends of Rico……..is that better Lee??
Four fonts walk into a bar. The barman says: “Oi – get out. We don’t want your type in here.”
Blimey Scott, lucky it wasn’t kangaroo curry, you’d be all over the place.
Mick 😀 give in 😯 you know you want to 😕
I reckon you’ve nailed it Rico.
Great partnerships often involve two people at opposite ends of the spectrum,and it seems as though this would apply to the yank and the Russian.
It might just work.
Oh no, they get worse 😉
AK,the chickens had me on the hop once or twice tonight lol.
A dyslexic man walks into a bra.
Lee, 😆 fontastic.
Afternoon all. Adam… That post was a belter mate!
I am off to bed guys,so have a great day.
No doubt that brat Sean from Oz will give you a match review tomorrow.
Seriously,he just wants to be involved with everything I’m in to…poor little misguided bugger.
He hovers around when I log in and just keeps asking can he say something.
He just loves it when you guys reply,so once again,a big thank you.
Goodnight.
Lee, i’d drink Guinness out of a welly if it came my way.
Jesus Lee, have you invested in a Tim Vine dvd or something?!!
Think I actually forgot to say to Adam that,though I disagreed with one or two minor things,it was one of the most brilliantly written articles I’ve seen,and I mean that.
Off now.
Scott, your 2.35 don’t mention AK’s mate!!
Just booked up my Micky Flannagan tickets…..
our office is like a morgue at the moment……..
Good night Scott
who wins the CL final?
I’mm looking to book them up tomorrow Lee! the ones for 24th & 25th May ’13?
Night Scott…
Lee, i’m leaning towards Bayern at the moment, but i’m sure tomorrow it will be the Chavs 😉
Doc Brody, say what you want about Usmanov but he turns up to all our home games and makes all the right noises, quite the opposite of kroenke who is probably flicking through the newspapers right now to see which group we have been drawn in for the european championships next month.
I’m fully booked and having a bit of a nightmare today kev.
Afternoon rocky
A young man saw an elderly couple sitting down to lunch at McDonald’s.
He noticed that they had ordered one meal, and an extra drink cup.
As he watched, the gentleman carefully divided the hamburger in
half, then counted out the fries, one for him, one for her, until each
had half of them.
Then he poured half of the soft drink into the extra cup and set
that in front of his wife. The old man then began to eat, and his wife
sat watching, with her hands folded in her lap. The young man
decided to ask if they would allow him to purchase another meal
for them so that they didn’t have to split theirs.
The old gentleman said, “Oh, no. We’ve been married 50 years,
and everything has always been and will always be shared, 50/50.”
The young man then asked the wife if she was going to eat, and she replied,
“Not yet. It’s his turn with the teeth!”
I said Bayern before either Semi was played so I have to stick with them really!
Know what you mean Lee… Our office is dead as hell. If it wasn’t for my traders banging 130 trades through in the next hour for me to sort out, I’d be off ASAP!
God Rico! Not you as well!!
Afternoon by the way!
miserable bunch….
you got the link with all his dates on?
Livenation one?
GM, never ever moan about being too busy mate… 🙂
Rico. That was a lovely clean joke for a Friday afternoon. I am just back from lunch and would like to join in but all the jokes I know are very rude and I know Rico is a lady of sensitive disposition and as you all know I am a gentleman.
Just looked on the Saturday…. There’s about 5 seats left, dotted all over the place! Think I’ll swerve that day!
I only know 2 that kill me every time….
1) What’s brown and sticky and
2) What’s orange and sounds like a parrot?
Go on Rocky.
Offski for a bit…
1) a stick
2) a carrot
Blimey! I supposed I asked for that.
Not me what, jokes, or bad jokes or even Bayern rocky?
Adam – I am not that sensitive, you go ahead 🙂
See you later AK, have a good afternoon….
A girl walks into a cocktail bar and asks the bartender for a Double Entendre.
So he gave her one.
Silent Stan don’t spend 2 dollars to have a shirt dry cleaned. He donates it to the Salvation Army. They’ll clean it and put it on a hangar. Next morning he buy it back for 75 cents.
Rico 😛 😛 re Mac D
Well I did mean say bad jokes Rico, but then I hit you with those 2 above!! I call that even!!
That stick one has been with me for about 20 years Adam!!
Very good Adam!
Was that a Benny Hill one Adam 😉
Bigger fool Stan DG 😉
There are of course the 2 woeful fish jokes….
1) 2 parrots sitting on a perch. One turns to the other and says “can you smell fish….?!
2) 2 fish in a tank. One turns to the other and says “do you know how to drive this thing?!
Apologies….!!!
Ha ha rocky, mine wasn’t quite as bad as yours though 😉
No Rico… Mine stunk the House up!!
There was a Blonde and her husband.
One morning the husband leaves for work and the blonde gets up. She’s determined to prove to her husband that blondes arn’t dumb, by painting the kitchen.
When her husband gets home he says to his wife “Honey why do you have 3 coats on?”
The blonde says, “Well the directions on the paint said to use three coats for best results.”
😆 rocky….
If you’re dating. How do you make a blonde laugh on a Saturday? Tell her a joke on a Wednesday.
Got to pop off for a while, back in a bit…
A Melbourne Zoo had acquired a female of a very rare species of gorilla.
Within a few weeks, the gorilla became very cantankerous and difficult to handle.
Upon examination, the Zoo veterinarian determined the problem.
The Gorilla was on heat.
To make matters worse, there were no male gorillas of the species available.
While reflecting on their problem, the Zoo management noticed Graham, a big Kiwi
lad & former All Black, responsible for fixing the Zoo’s machinery.
Graham, like most Kiwis, seemed to be possessed with ample ability to satisfy a female
of any species. So the Zoo administrators thought they might have a solution.
Graham was approached with a proposition. Would he be willing to have sex with the gorilla
for $500?
Graham showed some interest, but said he would have to think the matter over carefully.
The following day, Graham announced that he would accept their offer, but
only under three conditions:
“Fust,” he said, “I don’t want to have to kiss er.”
“Sicondly, you must niver niver tull anyone about thus.”
The Zoo administration quickly agreed to these conditions, so they asked
what his third condition was.
“Wull,” said Graham, “You gotta give me another week to come up with the $500.
Cracking DG…..
With the current Greek Tragedy, spreading soon to Italy, SPain, Portugal..those P.I.I.G.S. there is simply no dosh for Spanish banking system to loan out to Real or Barca to bid and pay megabuck to players they want to buy in the summer.
Only two clubs have the financial muscle and attraction for Van Persie now…..assuming:
Mourinho knew that he needs to rejuvenate Real Madrid every season to maintain that cutting edge and to drive away complacency as well as to retiatain that hunger for success for his team.
And Mourinho knew that he needed to sell before he can buy.
And next season, he aims to set another record of winning CL Cup with every team in the four big leagues of Europe, namely, he had done it with Porto and Inter…and now with Real…plus a future challenge to win CL Cup with an English club.
And if he sells Hiaquin to CHelski, then Van Persie is the natural replacement.
Now, Real Madrid believes Mourinho can walk on water and he will bid for Van Persie as last season, he is considered the Top-5 deadly strikers in Europe, nicely coming into his peak..just as his contract at Arsenal entering its final year.
A move to Spain is more platable to Arsenal, rather than Abu Dhabi City.
All Mouirnho needs to do is to submit a £35million bid..and Gazidis will be on the next plane to Spain to seal the deal.
Put it this way, it is either Real MAdrid or Van Persie stays and rot at Arsenal for one more year.
There is some truth then in Wenger and Gazidis saying they will “never” sell Van Persie.
But going by past trend, a £35million from either Real Madrid or Barca will seal the deal with an unhappy player leaving Arsenal FC.
Bluntly, if Van Persie has any intention of staying at Arsenal and only leave to win trophies and titles, then he will do a ‘Cashley Cole” and signs a one-year extension at £130,000 pw with the provisio that he can leave for a club of his choice in January 2013 if any club is prepared to offer £25million plus Arsenal FC is way off the pace in title race.
I suspect why the negotiation stalled is that Wenger might have told him that he can’t give Van Persie any assurances that he is going to bring in more players to strengthen the squad…
On the other hand, like Adewhore, Van Persie may have told Wenger to match £250,000pw or no contract.
Now, if Abramovich decides to pay Arsenal FC £35million and matches that £250,000pw, plus a 4-year contract..and Hiddink returns to CHelski…
I will say Van Persie will be literally on his knees begging Wenger to sell him to CHelski……
DOn’t believe all those stuff ‘I love Arsenal”..blah…blah…it is all money tlaks, bullsh*t walks.
Beautiful article,sums up the reality of 21st century football.I wish i had Scott’s morals,but i’m not getting any younger,i have given this club thousands of pounds over the years and i’d like to see us win the CLbefore i die.That is impossible under the current regime.Also,don’t forget that Stan has said the Glazers are doing a swell job and that there is nothing wrong with owners taking money out of a club.This would be the same Glazers who Mu’s latest accounts reveal took 71 mill out to pay for costs associated in their takeover.Once the old guard are gone who is going to make sure profits are reinvested in the club instead of in Stan’s pockets? The self sustaining model is based on fleecing the fans whilst providing them with a substandard product on the pitch.I am sick of paying top dollar to watch second rate players.
I’m having dinner in Constable country this evening…. I thought I’d share that with you all.
Hello Hello Hello
Talking of which:
Evening All 😉
The painter & decorator you heathen
You can take the girl out of Reading….
Evening, Strauss on 91, blowers absolutely of his tits and Windies bowling not great from the sound of it
😆 Lee, Newbury please 😉
vernat – have been watching, the captain is doing well, regardless of the bowling, some of which has been pretty good…
Trott now gone 🙁
What does Wenger say in that i/v about RvP, i can’t view it 🙁
The Daily Fail reckon we are closing in on Ba…..
Who is that? A Black Sheep 😉
100 up for Strauss – 18 months of waiting….
Holt has transfer request rejected by Norwich – has he been tapped up by Arsenal? Do they see him as RvP’s replacement? Is this the future? My God he would be a real marquee signing – we could make the CL final with his silky skils and devastating finishing!
Sorry, that was my contribution to the shocking jokes that have been the backbone of this afternoon’s blog.
Wavy, you had me worried there for a minute….
Its true about Holt then, he has handed in a transfer request….
‘It is time to repay Arsenal for their loyalty’ – Van Persie urged to ignore Manchester City by ex-Gunner Woodcock
The former England striker believes the Dutch ace should beware the “grass is not always greener elsewhere” with the newly crowned Premier League champions ready to swoop
EXCLUSIVE
By Rob Stewart
Former Arsenal striker Tony Woodcock has urged Robin van Persie to resist Manchester City’s advances and remain loyal to the Gunners.
Woodcock called on the prolific Dutch striker to stay put after his future was left in doubt following a round of talks with the Arsenal hierachy over a new £130,000-per-week three-year deal.
Italian giants Juventus have ruled out a move for Van Persie, whose contract runs out at the end of next season, leaving the Premier League champions in pole position to sign the player this summer if he chooses to leave.
VAN PERSIE’S FUTURE IN THE BALANCE
Arsenal striker has yet to reach an agreement with the club after talks
“I am sure there will be plenty of takers for him if he decides to leave Arsenal but one could do a lot worse I think by going somewhere else,” Woodcock told Goal.com.
“The problem is not so much him leaving English football it is if Manchester City come and knock on the door and then we are talking about loyalty.
“A lot of times people think that the grass is greener somewhere else and they go there and they find that does not happen so there are lot of things for Robin to take into consideration.
“And having said that, let’s be honest, Arsenal have been pretty loyal. Robin has one or two injury problems over the last few years and it would be interesting to see how many games he has played for Arsenal in the past and how many goals he has scored. You don’t have to plummet it all into one season. There is a bigger picture that you have to look at.”
The 28-year-old Dutchman’s 37 goals earned him the prestigious Professional Footballers’ Association and Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year Awards but were not enough to end the Gunners’ trophy drought.
Despite that, Woodcock believes that Van Persie should stay at Arsenal because of the stability the club offers.
“Arsenal are one of the two most stable clubs in the Premier League along with Manchester United and you just have to look at how long their managers have been there to see that,” the former England international continued.
“You have to look at the other aspects. And I am sure he will be looking into that. It can’t be a case of just going for the money. I know some players will go if you offer them more because they just want to go for the money.
“But I would like to think that top players had an attitude that it is more about the game and where I am playing then just money and the contracts I am going to sign.
“I think Arsenal are in a reasonably good position and I think that Robin knows what Arsenal have got to offer.
If we go back through tradition right up to modern-day football they are a good stable club that have had some great players down the years.
“The only thing that has been lacking over the last few years is actually picking up some silverware but they are not too far off doing that.
“That is particularly so when Robin seems to have got over all his injury worries and has had a very good season so far and so I am hoping this is the starting point for a number of excellent seasons at Arsenal.”
Woodcock also insisted that silverware and not money will be the motivation for Van Persie as he plots his future.
He continued: “It is always important to keep any good player at your club and to be quite honest if you look at the bigger picture and the G14 group of the top European clubs those 14 clubs are going to be looking to win trophies and that is what every top footballer wants to be doing.
He wants to be at a great club, he wants to have a very good contract and he wants to try to win some silverware down the line. So there are only a number of clubs that you can do to in order to improve. Are they on the list? Are they on the cards? That is one question. The second question is where do I want to progress myself.
“When you speak about players likes Robin van Persie and ones who are playing at the top of the Premier League it cannot be a money factor. If these guys have got their heads screwed on right then they will be financially secure so it can not be about earning a couple of million pounds more.
“It has to be about more other significant things. It has to be about the ethos of the club. It has to be about where do I want to live. It has to be about the history of the club. It has to be about the stability of the club.”
Busy then AK 😉
The Soaps are on, so my earphones go on and i listen to a CD and surf…..
Thank God for the InterWeb… 😛
http://www.arsenalnews.co.uk/if-football-journos-were-judged-as-footballers/link/642043/
Scott 9:46, that’s exactly how I think but you have to think if a deal could be done where A.U had to leave the club in the same financial condition he inherited it if he were to leave . it would mean we have sold our sole but the way football has gone it may be a way to challenge untill they sort out the fair play charter
They are recording in my house AK, been on the phone 🙁
Do you want to know what happens.. 😉
😆 AK, no !
Offski now….
See ya tomorrow Rico…
Enjoy the Soapies… 🙂
I’m having an early one guys, off to watch Silks 😛
Chat tomorrow and stay all…
nighty night…..
For all my fellow & fellowetes at HH and to Adam’s inaugural speech
Morning sll.
Its too early to be awake.
It will take a while for my sleep routine to get back to normal,then the new season will begin lol.
Nighty AK, have a good one….
Def gone now, nighty Scott and DG…..
Night Rico morning Scott.
nobody here…
nighty night
Morning all….
http://anotherarsenalblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/rvp-our-scum-support-and-eleven-yossis.html
A good read with a couple of very interesting comments
Interesting about that bloggers observation that Shittie fans are going on Twitter to pretend to be Gooners and abusing RVP and his Wife, in an effort to drive a wedge between Robin and the club/fans…???!!!
Hi AK, will have a read
There’s some absolute garbage on the NN at the moment…
Sure sign it’s the close season…
That Bleacher Report. What a pile of shite. I never read it anymore. I only have to look at it’s headlines to despair…
AK – did you see the report about RvP wanting to be paid as much as all the world class players, £275K has been mentioned…
Agree there, nothing like spreading doom and gloom….
If anyone is feeling a bit ‘down in the dumps’ you had better avoid Nn, or it’ll tip you over the edge…. ho hum.
Oh dear, best I write a different post for today then 😉 😉
Rico, can you imagine Robin being that greedy???
No chance imho.
What he wants to see is some bloody ambition from our skinflint Board….
I’m beginning to hate the Press with a passion again.
Ricooooo, have you been ‘sampling’ NN again?
tut tut….. 😀
No i can’t tbh, it’s garbage….
As you say, ambition from our club is all he wants i’m sure and with Theo and Song’s contract ending the same time as his, we could see all three go this summer if Gazidis doesn’t pull his finger out real soon….
Rico, when is the club going to announce those players, that are being released?
Only ones i know for certain are Hoyte, Almunia and Fabianski…
Not been on NN today AK, try not to read it, other than to check the HH post has gone up but you know what it’s like when it’s quiet 😉
Song’s contract expires in the summer of 2014 i think Rico…
I am not sure, I guess the ones out of contract are now gone, the others have to be sold and that prob won’t be until 1st July…
I thought it was too AK, but just read it’s next summer…..
The way i understand it, the contract situations are thus:
2013; RVP, Theo, Squill
2014; Song, Gibbs, Djourou, Rosicky, Kozzer, Sagna, Sir Chesney,Chamuck.
2015; Verm, Ryo, Gerv, Park, Coq, BFG, Santos, Jenks, Arteta and Diaby :).
2016; Ramsey, Jack
2017; AOC.
The contract situation of those thought to be surplus are thus:
2013; Botelho, Watt,
2014; Bendtner, Denilson, Lansbury,Mannone,
2015; Vela,
That’s about it…
That is pretty much how I thought too, but it was in PHW’s paper 😉
AK, the new post is up – would you bring the contract comments with you please?
No Probs boss. 🙂
RVP is gone he,d be crazy to stay and he ain,t 120m with us 250m MC or 300 in Russia add the fact they are talking a done deal with another 5m dollar log Podolski who can,t get a start up front in any other team forced wide left and Wenger bought a wide left dog last year guess who he replaces