Morning all.
Arsene Wenger has changed his tune about the prospect of working with a DoF. A couple of weeks ago it was a flat no, no way. Yesterday, it was a why not?
Wenger was asked on Friday whether he would work with a ‘director of football’ and stressed that his problem would be with people choosing players for him:
Director of football – when I say that – is a guy who makes the decisions that normally are down to the manager. That means selection of players, buying and all matters that concern the functioning of the team on a daily basis.
Of course we can need help to become better. I am always open to open that. I am always open to things that improve the quality and the future of the club. After that, you have to see if it’s really efficient because the titles do not always make you better.
I kind of get that, the manager needs to choose the players he wants but once he’s done that, walk away and leave the rest to the DoF. Let him and whoever else get the deals done, not the manager himself. But Arsene, winning titles means we have got better!
Talking of help, could the big man from Russia be about to become our saviour, our super hero, our Bond? No pun intended.
The FT have released information suggesting that quite recently, Alisher Usmanov has made a £1bn offer to Stan Kroenke for his seventy odd percent shares he has in Arsenal FC. The man from across the pond has allegedly said no as he’s in it for the long haul.
Of course he’d say no regardless of what his intentions are as no one says yes to the first offer, certainly not where Arsenal are involved. The big guy might come back with a bigger offer, or then again, his offer might just start a bidding war as our club really is a massive sleeping giant. Everything is in place for it to excel, all it’s lacking is a more ambitious owner and a younger manager who craves, no, lives for success.
But hang on, Alisher Usmanov is a big Arsene Wenger fan so we could be stuck with the Frenchman if he is eventually makes an offer Mr Wallmart can’t refuse. However, I think what we could expect that a) Usmanov would invest heavily in the club and b) he wouldn’t accept anything but a proper challenge on all fronts once he’s invested.
Mr Usmanov is an advocate for Arsene Wenger being involved with finding the right man to take over the reigns once The Frenchman hangs up his bibs, cones and whistle which is something I’m not convinced is the best of ideas. But until, or even if he ever takes over our club, there’s no point in worry about it. I just seriously hope that this first bid won’t be his last because the worst thing which could happen to our club is that the big fella loses interest and invests his money elsewhere in the Premier League.
Stan Kroenke is heading to the courtroom sometime soon I believe and should he lose his case, well who knows, he may just need to sell off a few of his assets.
In Wright:
He has put in the bid and it is great news,” Wright told BBC Radio 5 live.
Something has to change, whether it is the manager Arsene Wenger or whether it is the board upstairs.
It is not looking good for Arsenal at the moment. They may be out of the Champions League – something they are not used to – and they have to beat one of the best Chelsea sides I have seen for a long time in the FA Cup final to try and get something from the season.
Where are they going to sign players from? Who is going to want to come to Arsenal instead of anywhere else in London? At the moment, they are not an attractive proposition.
We are already missing out on the managers we are supposedly interested in and we are going to start missing out on the kind of players that are going to be available and want to play in the Premier League.
Top players may want to leave. Too much is up in the air. Something has got to happen for Arsenal to go to that next level. This bid will galvanise the fans.
He’s right, Ian Right. With a guy like Usmanov at the helm, suddenly the top players will want to join us, unlike now it seems. Man City is a perfect example because until Sheikh Mansour, took over, they couldn’t attract great players from overseas for toffee as London or their neighbours were the more attractive offer.
Fans will see the beginning of a new era, ambition, perhaps success again and of course we can again silence those idiots down the road. This is huge for all of us, it gives us hope, hope that our club will soon return to being on the road to where is should be and that’s not playing on a Sunday and Thursday.
Just make it happen big guy, just make it happen.
By the way, I know Alisher Usmanov was born in Uzbekistan but it wasn’t long before Russia became his home.
And Ian Fleming didn’t write about some guy killing baddies over there did he……?
Morning Rico and All
When you think Usmanov owns a 1/3 of The Arsenal
and has never seen the boardroom wallpaper.
He must be spitting feathers to see whats going on.
On top of that we have the little gangster down the road
chopping and changing managers willy nilly and winning
everything.
Amazing this has just come out to the media to
circulate.
He must feel its time now to make his move.
Not bad for a scrap metal dealer.
To be honest…..I’d take The Queen of Sheba
to run The Arsenal…Now.
Great post to read Rico..Please god.
Morning all, I was wondering what the topic of today’s blog would be! ?
Good post Rico as always.
Let’s hope the Usmanov bid increases enough for the syrup to sell up.
Would Dein come out of retirement if Jubba got hold of The Arsenal.
Fred isn’t the fat man pro Le Senile One though?
Morning Fred, Lee and thanks.
I was struggling Lee, but then I came across Wenger’s DoF comments… 😉
Fred, Kroenke has been crazy for dismissing Usmanov over the years, I guess he doesn’t like sharing…
Just pray the big fella is 100% serious and keeps going until he’s gets the shares…
Isn’t Dein a bit too old to come back? Although if he just agreed to help the club during any takeover if it materialises, I guess he’d be a good person to have on board…
Age is but a number Rico, wise words from Brudders Adam & Kev!
🙂 Lee
Usmanov loves Arsenal as a fan. Kroenke loves Arsenal as a bank. No contest – but convincing the blind twats who are asleep in the boardroom is another thing entirely. Can’t say I’m pleased with Wrighty – especially after his spud love comments. Think he has a lot of crawling to do to get onside with true Gooners.
Kroenke is a cancer eating away at the club. He has put nothing in financially and knows absolutely F all about football so he actually contributes NOTHING to the club. Rapes us for 3 million a year though! Protests should be directed firmly at Kroenke. We know the club won”t allow banners on so a massive flag at Wembley telling the syrup to get his stinking hillbilly butt out of town would be a start!
Bang on Bob John!!
Good summary Rico. Just what most Arsenal fans have been wanting to hear…..for years!
The only difficulty I can foresee is Usminov actually succeeding. When tempting a man to sell his toys the offer has to be so tempting that the owner cannot say no. In the normal world where the toy’s owner is just a regular kind of guy with no massive savings or wealth, the man is vulnerable to being offered riches beyond his wildest dreams, however, Stan syrup is not a ‘normal kind of guy’. He Is rich beyond all our wildest dreams. Dammit all, he owns half of the USA!! Why given that he really doesn’t need the cash would he even consider selling to some Ruskie? I suspect, unless all his franchises hit the skids and he suffers some kind of massive personal cash loss, he will smile silently and just deflect the offer(s) no matter how big.
The thing is, syrupy boyo has slashed his cash and written it off, for the time being. He owns Arsenal, or rather 64% of it, he creams or skims a little off the top year on year, it is a nice little earner for him and his all American boy! A nice little plaything that’s earning him a few quid, why sell?
I agree Kev everybody has their price, I just don’t think that whatever Alisher offers will be enough! The only way he will get his hands on the Arsenal is by some kind of levered take over as the Glazers managed at Manure. Plus a little help from the dwindling fan base. Protests and other anti social behaviour directed at the Kronke family might make them think again…perhaps.
Alternatively, when Jezzer becomes PM in a few weeks time he could task his Chancellor to ‘nationalise’ the club, in the public interest and then sell Arsenal on, taking a small profit and put the cash towards saving the NHS! ….laugh…I’ve nearly wet myself..the very idea!
Sadly for the time being we’re stuck with the Trump loving tonsure wearer, until such time as his wig needs replacing!
Was bright and sunny here, not now though, the clouds have moved in!
Morning all.
With you there Bob. Make things awkward for him whilst sitting in his posh free seat.
As much as we need a change of manager, a new owner would be equally as beneficial imo..
Thanks Wavy. I believe that everyone has a price and as said yesterday, if the big fella is serious, he won’t stop until he meets Kroenke’s. As others have suggested too, this bid from Usmanov could spark a bidding war between very very rich people..
Could get very interesting over the next few weeks/months. Hopefully with a positive conclusion by the time July 1st arrives.
Morning All, all you need is a cup of Yorkshire tea and you feel 21 again.
No, it really does work.
Morning Rico, a very uplifting post.
Come on St Louis, get the hairpiece into court and take him to the cleaners.
David Dein is one of those lucky people, who never seem to age, a bit like me.
And Adam and Lee, it’s all that curry.
Gnarley, I’ve heard that hairpiece has some issues with one of the stadiums where another of his franchises plays, in fact the Emirates is probably the only stadium he owns outright.
Morning all
Sorry I don’t understand where he is quoted “he will accept the changes” He is a control freak and practically every player who played for him are all saying he should go for all the reasons we have stated on here and other sites on a daily basis.What I do see is a team that occasionally trns up, a fraction of dissent in the dressing room, short and long term season tickets holders saying enough is enough.I don’t think Kroenke dispite his billions knows how to delegate the right people to run the club.All his Americam franchises are distinctly average,never win anything and as I said yesterday the timing of usmanov’s bid is interesting and I think there is more to come.We now have a situation where the majority shareholder is being questioned, the Board are in disagreement, some fans are fighting each other inside and outside the stadium, lifelong supporters are staying away and Wenger is allowed to dictate as the walls come tumbling down around him. I never ever thought it could get so bad,so sad and so chaotic at our club.Beating Everton or and Chelsea is irrelevant in the long term .We need forward thinking from the club not continuos lies and statements that are withdrawn or put on hold.
Stan Kroenke’s sporting franchises
Arsenal:
Football – Premier League Fifth in league, FA Cup finalists
Colorado Rapids:
Football – MLS Bottom of Western Conference
Colorado Avalanche:
Hockey – NHL Bottom of Western Conference
Denver Nuggets:
Basketball – NBA Ninth in Western Conference
Los Angeles Rams:
American Football – NFL Third in NFC West
Kroenke Out banners at Wembley are an interesting option?
Morning Kev, it’s been a long time coming. I’m rather excited at the prospect of Kroenke heading back to where he belongs, after all, ‘we don’t need his sort at Arsenal do we’………
Kelsey, I guess his comment on a DoF is open to interpretation. I took it as he meant he now welcomes some help (probably forced) but wants to remain in control of who the club sells or buys which to a degree, I understand as it’s not the DoF who picks the team etc.
Hopefully, his openness to change extends to other ares too, like coaching staff because imo, if he changes them and listens to them, we may just improve..
If he doesn’t though, as you say, it’ll be more of the same….
Morning Rico
Usmanov still dont get it at Arsenal.Why 1billion only ?
Correct bid would be …1billion and 1 pound
Maybe usmanov is looking to cash in to…. if He thinks kronke will never sell to him but knows there is other interested parties?
So by making this bid these other parties could come in and match it or gazump it…
Stan may prefer to sell to someone else… ?
Btw Nice post Rico..
Depends who the DoF might be , If it’s Dein and Usmanov ups his offer and says that he will invest in the squad , Kroenke gets stuffed in court and gets a billion plus fine . Who knows what we might be looking at !
Wenger stays with Dein doing the deals and we are back in the old routine.
Or not !
Hi Alex. Thanks Kel
I wonder if he fails he follows his old mate to Everton but if we are to believe what he says, he’s a big Arsenal fan and one who has no intention of selling his shares. So we are stuck with two owners, neither of whom say they are prepared to sell.
I bet you Usmanov ups his offer it’s a game of poker and his timing is right especially if we finish out of the top four.I don’t like what Abramovich did but we are still one of the greates clubs in the world and it’s time to go with the flow even if we don’t believe it’s right,otherwise we will be left behind.Get Dein back for a few years .AW won’t leave yet but we are practically like The Titanic and need saving.
rico
I read your thoughts the minute his mate sold his shares to him.Everton now have permission to extend the ground and you maybe right but Arsenal is a much bigger club worldwide and that may interest him more.
That’s just it Kelsey, we are being held back and whether we like the thought of another Roman type of takeover, it’s in the best interests of the club imo and the fans.
It’s all very well beiningas we are right now, but we won’t be successful that’s for sure as it won’t be long before many more of the PL clubs are bought out by some big rich guy…
Dein would be a good option for the short term maybe Potter, just to make the switch calm. Still, it’s all pie in the sky if Kroenke won’t sell..
Arsenal Ladies on the BBC…now
Hasn’t Usmanov already invested in Everton Kelsey? A training pitch or something I think I read..
I think he sponsors it Rico..
Which channel Bt?
Thanks Bt. I wasn’t going mad then… lol
On the Red button Rico
FFs 1-0 down already …lol
I am not sure Rico, but I think he may have but then he can’t eventually have a major share holding in two PL clubs.Will be intersting to see how the lawsuit goes with Kroenke Hopefully the pending court case in the US will have a bearing on being able to get rid of this unholy parasite
Thanks Bt
As Bt said Kelsey, it’s just naming rights with Everton so I doubt they’d be any conflict of interest… Ditto though, the sooner Kroenke is gone the better.
However, if Usmanov does take over, I hope he doesn’t keep Wenger on for too long…
It has to be one or the other for usmanov he can’t own part of two clubs in the same division surely?
He’ll never sell to Stan, Stan won’t sell to him. (Yet) but if a third party arrives with for example a 1.8billion offer Stan and usmanov are in the money..
One things for sure this offer has put a spanner in the works lol.. at least it’s give us something to talk about..
Hasn’t it just Kel. Hope it’s not a cunning plan to take the pressure off Wenger…
1-1
1-1 ..
Snap Rico..lol
Radio 4 news has announced that wonky Cronky has said that he’s at Arsenal for the long haul, wants them to win the EPL and has no intention of selling up and shipping out.
And I think he means it. I think he’ll would have to freeze over before he would sell to anyone. As I said earlier, he’s made his investment and he’s creaming the cash, why would he sell? Whilst he has his shares he is only getting notionally richer and richer. And then he’ll die! Perhaps Josh will have to sell up in order to pay the death duties! That may be some years ahead. Any immediate deal is not even in his purview!
However, it’s given us a new focus of hatred and derision. We’ve left Wenger alone to stew in his own gravy, at least until after the Cup. Then we can all start again!
Money talks wavy wouldn’t read to much into what Radio4 says..
The Ownership battle is more exciting than the football at Arsenal. ?
The power could be in the hands of the fans if only they were united in their disdain for Kroenke.
1-1? Final score?
My wife can see David Dein”s house from her desk. Sees him walking his dog every day. Keep telling her to have a word with him but she is reluctant
2-2 Bt.. lol
Now that Usmanov has made his move, perhaps the fans will unite Adam? Then again, I think there are fans who see Usmanov of a wrong un and don’t want him at the club…
3-2….Rico..
3-2 come on ladies…
🙂 Bt.
Game over… well done ladies…
4-2…..yeeha
Afternoon and thanks Rico.
I love all this cloak and dagger stuff with the owners, it put`s back into perspective the real long term evil at our club………….Kroenke !………..been a while since I could fantasise about his end, yes I know Arsene is the short term out, but I`ve missed dissing Kroenke………..fcuking die you bastard !………….oops !….getting carried away and get aroused at the thought of him gone ! hahahaha……………………………trouble is, I`ve had a downer on it as the man who is more in the know than Kelsey…………………….Ornstein !………….. has tweeted, I hope for once he is wrong as another journalist from the times ( cant remember his name) thinks that Uzzy is prepered to go to £2B with the offer !………….I hope that is true and the first offer was a tester !
https://twitter.com/bbcsport_david/status/865828224399486976
Evening guys, has Stanley sold up yet?
Evening Rico, no, the wig is firmly in place..
Evening Bt, I bet it is..
Rico, did you happen to read through Pedro’s post today?
I haven’t Bt, but will do now..
The conspiracy theories are starting already !……….interesting read…………what a bummer if Usmanov did jump ship and buy Everton and made them successfull like Chelsea !
http://arseblog.com/2017/05/usmanov-bid-could-spark-others-to-come-forward-and-turbulent-times-at-board-level/
Not sure what to make of it really Bt, could be right, could be wrong but like most of us, guessing really…
That’s my fear Lc and he very well could. I guess we’ll know over the next few weeks whether or not Usmanov isserious about Arsenal. If no second offer then maybe Pedro and Arseblog are on the right track…
Catch up tomorrow…
Night Bt, Lc and all..
Night Rico, interesting times ahead..
“Interesting. Very interesting.” Barry Davies. The doyen of commentators although I found him rather tedious. Each to our own!
Rico, you are right about money talking and everybody has their price but, Kronke’s price may even exceed Alisher’s patience and value of the club. If we’re stuck with SS we are in the shite, big style imo.
Most enjoyable post rico, its cheered me up after a footy disaster last night for me.
I see Dr Stan is coming out with more spin for the fans.
“The club’s American owner is now reassuring fans that he wants to guide Arsene Wenger’s men towards major honours instead of settling for mediocrity”.
Why not the past 10 years? Its all coming out now, now he & his hierarchy are under pressure 🙂
Anyway way my mate in London there is hosting his work corporate box @ chelski 2 day, so I’ve asked for some pickys of the cup presentation. He hates the chavs but its his work’s box so he goes due to commitments.
Thanks Gg.
Morning all…
New post up.