Morning all.
No doubt everyone has now seen the report from David Ornstein which included an email Ivan Gazidis supposedly sent to all the players soon after the transfer window closed. There’s other stuff too which has found its way onto the back pages.
It’s destructive if it’s true and there’s no reason to believe it’s not. The club is in a mess. I would suggest there must be a plan at the club but right now it seems like they make things up as they go along. IF, and it’s a big if, Wenger had to raise cash, why leave it so late to sell players? If the club were prepared to sell Alexis to City, tell them early in the summer and set a deadline? If they and I mean Wenger, really wanted Thomas Lemar, why leave to until deadline day to make such a high bid for him because now that offer has been made, Monaco will hardly be prepared to accept a lesser offer. Of course, we won’t get the same money offered for Alexis either in January, or Ozil if the club cash in on both. A wise move would be to sit them both down, tell them they can go in the summer and include that promise into a new contract and hope they both agree to it. Then it’s up to them but if they still want out next summer, at least we’ll get a lot of money for them.
What more is there to say that’s not been said? We can moan all we like but it’ll change nothing. Nothing because it appears to me that no one at the club gives a toss. They all say they care but if they really did, you know, like we do, they’d do something about the mess the club is in. The players, the manager, the board and the owner. Not one of them cares enough to make something change. Or so it seems.
I thought Ivan Gazidis was going to be that person but after his email, I’m thinking again. Who would write, let alone send an email like that out? How on earth can such a pathetic transfer window be turned into a positive one?
Has Ivan been told to spin a positive slant on what’s going on? Perhaps, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised but if he has and he’s simply followed orders, then he’s a culpable as everyone else. Yet he was my hope. The man who made a bold statement during the summer appears to have surrendered, surrendered to the mighty Wenger at least for the time being. If I was him and regardless of how much I was being paid, I’d leave but the mere fact he hasn’t yet, could mean he’s playing the waiting game. Just as most of us are.
Same with Arsene Wenger. If and it’s another big if, life has been so tough having had to work with such a tight budget for so long then why not walk away, leave now and tell his story! Tell us it’s not been his fault. Tell us why he signed only Petr Cech during a transfer window when we needed more. Tell us why he’s neglected signing a strong midfielder this summer and at least one defender. Tell us why he’s wasted so much money on signing average players during the last ten years and rewarding them so handsomely? An explanation for his weird and not so wonderful tactics and team selection would make interesting reading too. So much of what he’s done over the last few years has been unforgivable and unforgettable. He’s managed to sign the odd cracking player and for that credit where it’s due but the poor old boy doesn’t ever appear to know what to do with them and now they want out.
Steve Bould is another. Why not get off of the Arsenal financial gravy train and work somewhere else with someone who might give a toss about his input. But then like Ivan, perhaps he too is playing the waiting game.
I just wish someone would tell us fans what’s really going on at the club we help prop up financially in our own way. Spare a thought for those who throw good money after bad to watch what is a very average performance most weeks. It’s not like it’s a cheap day out is it? Sadly though, that’s all it is for ‘some’ at The Emirates, a day out..
‘What shall we do today dear?’
‘Weren’t you given a couple of tickets to go to that posh football stadium in north London by one of your work clients?’ His wife replies.
‘Oh yes dear, I’d forgotten. I don’t know who’s playing but shall we pop along and take a peep?’
‘Why not, but I must be back before 5pm to get the washing in.’ She answers while reaching for her purse so she can purchase some lovely refreshments at whatever ground it is she’s going to. Mind you, she’d need a credit card for the prices Arsenal charge.
‘No problem.’ He says, knowing full well England kick off in the rugby soon after then and he wants to be home and plonked in front of the television with a glass of sherry……
But nobody cares about that do they, as long as ST’s are sold and the club can announce a full house attendance each home match, life is rosy.
As for the other toothless tigers who hold down a place on the board and bow every time Wenger passes by. Bugger off, all of them, and let’s see some younger Arsenal people at the club. Stan Kroenke might as well sack the lot of them if he really wants the club to be a success as I believe he hinted he does.
What plonker would compare us to Leicester, not so much as a club but the possibility of becoming League Champions on a budget? There’s little to no chance of Wenger being able to win the league with Messi and Ronaldo in the team let alone do what Ranieri did, even though it was just for one season.
Just months after Ranieri had won the league, he struggled. Struggled to get his players behind him and that was evident from the way they performed. As Leicester flirted with relegation, their owners took action. Ranieri was gone, Shakespeare gave them the kick they needed and they survived. I wonder if Kroenke will give the green light for Arsene Wenger to follow suit if we stay close to where we are now.
The last part of David Ornstein’s report/tweet, whatever you want to call it, suggested that there is money but it’s just being kept aside for the next two summer transfer windows. If that’s true then perhaps there is hope of life without Wenger and this summer it was more about him trying to sort out the mess he’s created by clearing the decks before the new man arrives.
And just maybe that’s the reason Steve Bould and Ivan Gazidis are hanging around for a bit longer….
A bit of gossip.
Roberto Mancini is after the Arsenal job according to Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol.
West Ham are reportedly keen too as Bilic looks like he could soon be out of a job. The Hammers have had an awful start to the season and right now they are just a few places below us, propping up the rest…
Still, it’s early in the season eh, perhaps both Bilic and Wenger will sort their problems out. Then again…..
Morning all.
Top post, Rico.
One point really is THE point, for mine.
The fact is, the club tells us nothing, other than what they want us to hear.
I think that’s what frustrates fans more than anything else.
What frustrates me most Scott is Wenger…. Thanks by the way.
Rico, Wenger, Stan, Ivan-none of them tell us the truth.
They’re all tangled up in their own little game with us.
The club has absolutely no leadership.
The players not having leadership is the biggest problem for me. Once Wenger is gone, people can get on with their own jobs without the controller poking his snozzer into everything.
Like Adam said, no Arsenal manager will ever again have the kind of control Wenger has….
Rico, fair enough, But equally, no manager will ever again have to shoulder so much responsibilty due to the inabailty of others.
Disagree there Scott. He could have easily handed back many of his responsibilities he took on when Dein left on the day Gazidis was appointed. But no, he’d already had his hands in every pie and relished the control imo.
The person who has the greatest inability to actually do his job imo, is Wenger.
Again, fair enough, but we really don’t know if others can do their job yet 🙂 🙂
Whatever the reason, whoever is to blame, massive changes are required, and I reckon we’re all in agreeance there lol
I guess they all do what Wenger tells them… I can’t wait for the day when he’s gone…
Rico, and the other fellow 🙂 🙂 🙂
Morning Rico.
Top post and interesting reading.
My take is why we are in such a mess is that a disinterested Silent Stan is simply too tied-down with his US$2.66-billion Inglewood project slated to open in time for 2020 NFL season. He needed Arsene Wenger to stabilize Arsenal Holdings plc financially, control expenditures and Gazidis to grow the commercial revenues with Gunner brand-name.
EPL is lucrative and a cash cow such that even a relegated Sunderland collected £100-million in TV broadcasting revenues and prize money from EPL from the 1st year of that 3-year £6-billion TV Rights.
And Silent Stan is certainly using Arsenal Holdings plc as that surety to secure at least US$1-billion mortgage loan to finance Inglewood project. To Silent Stan, Arsenal Holdings plc is his most most lucrative investment in his stable till LA Rams started playing in Inglewood.
Until the day that Silent Stan sold Arsenal FC, we will always remain a Top-4 club at best, a mediocre club and never a title winner like all those clubs in the Kroenke Stable.
Certainly, do not expect Silent Stan to release funds of £150-million to £200-million for Arsene Wenger to restructure his squad into title-contender. The message is cleared that Wenger must sell before he can buy, hence the fiasco of trying to sell Alexis and Mustafi at the 11th hour to sign Lemar.
No doubt there is some truth that Wenger insisted on keeping Alexis and Ozil for one last fling this season to win the title. But it is a calculative financial gamble, the lesser of two evils of losing £100-million in transfer fees or buying their £100-million replacement which may take 6 months to integrate into the team and English Football.
Arsene Wenger knew that as long as he can motivate Alexis and Ozil to give their all in a last fling to win the title, Arsenal FC is title-contender, back to Top-4 and with CL Cup football next season, he can restructure the team yet again in his current 2-Year Project.
Let’s wait for Bournemouth match before we render final judgement that we are in crisis or Wenger can pull another rabbit out of his hat to stabilize the ship. Can Wenger does a “Conte”?
Conte was in a similar crisis after losing 3-0 to Arsenal. See what happened?
I am an eternal optimist during autumn months.
I’m not fussed about him for now Scott. The bigger problem is the football and keeping players who are clearly sick of Wenger running the ship the way he does… imo of course.
I have been a Gooner since 1966 so have seen the Good, the Bad and the Very Bad. Don’t remember the year bit I remember we were flirting with relegation when GG bought big John Harrison and Chris Kiwomya to get us the goals and we survived. My gut feeling is that we will flirt with relegation again if the Board don’t get their act together. Anyone agree.
Paddywhack
Hi Merlin. Wait for the Bournemouth match? Are you serious? We’ve been waiting for bleedin years now. Certainly don’t need Bournemouth to tell us anything.
If you need confirmation that we are in a mess, just wait for the following match as it’s clubs like them we need to judge ourselves on, not Bournemouth….
Paddywhack, I don’t think we will be in danger of relegation, as we have too much quality.
Mid table is a real possibility, though, I’d say.
Welcome Paddywack. A flirt with relegation is exactly what I expect too. It’s all gone too far to retrieve imo. He’s lost the players and there’s no going back…
Hi Scott. I wish I could share your optimism. But I know what you mean about us having too much quality, the problem might be if that quality decides to down tools and does not play for the manager. Then we could be in the more.
I read Wath’s post yesterday and I reckon that Gazidis is nearer to the truth of how to get the very anti fan base back on board.The club needs change from top to bottom. Firstly I think it starts in the board room .New blood preferably with football ingrained in them ,ex players possibly. Then a shake up of the coaching .We have seen people with impressive cv’s come and then go as theyhave encountered the brick wall that is Wenger. They and he are set in their ways and might possibly pay lip service to improving but Gazidis fails on the altar of Kroenke’s bottom line.
Lol Paddywhack, I don’t have much optimism left 🙂
It’d be a major surprise if we didn’t finish in the top half of the table, though obviously it’s possible.
Our best 11 is better than last season-on paper, at least-but overall, we are weaker so I guess injuries could play their part, as well as the issue you raised.
Paddywhack. I remember that time well. The board caught him with his hand in the till and he was gone soon after.
Wouldn’t a new manager have a clear out of coaching staff and employ his own though? Remove Wenger and the rest will surely fall into place…
I would think so Rico. Top managers come with their own staff these days. If a top manager is the sort of bloke the club will move for.
Injuries? What about Wenger, he’ll have a big say in why things could go wrong…
A comment posted on another site in reply to a gent saying that Krunkey is the problem and any manager will have huge problems working at Arsenal under these conditions… Food for thought in this response..!
What conditions are you talking about? Please tell me?
How hard is it to work at Arsenal?
Is the money not being given? Why have we spent more money than Chelsea in the last 5 years? By £70m! Liverpool has spent less. Spuds are almost positive at £15m net spend for the last 5 years. We are at £210m!!!
We give almost twice as much salary as spuds. We give 1/4 more wages than Liverpool. We are less than 1/10-th away from Chelsea but we’ve spent more money on transfers.
Whoever says that Kroenke has put the club’s spending on a leash and we cannot compete because of that is deluded!!
Good comment WATH (even though you nicked it ?) no one seemed to pick up on it on the previous post!
To be honest Adam. Right now anyone seems better than who we have. Manager wise I mean…
Rico, I said the “other issue” Paddywhack mentioned.
So the money is definitely available it’s just distributed wrongly and by the wrong manager! Get him out and see how it pans out…
I thought Wath’s comment was a good one. If he’d not wasted so much on dross or rewarded average players so handsomely, he’d have saved a few million over the years. After all, who buys Silvestre and then pays him, or the others we’ve have to suffer…
It has been available Lee but it could perhaps have been spent better. Too many flakes who aren’t good enough for the shirt and a distinct paucity of imagination, flair and innovation.
I meant the lack of signings Scott and him of course…
Rico, I was meaning just him lol
Afternoon All
Afternoon Rico, great post.
I don’t get upset by the club not telling me anything, because they never have.
Never in all my years as an Arsenal fan has the club ever been open about its affairs, tbh I don’t really know any football club that is…
Everything that is put out there in the media is PR, spin, half-truths, downright lies, a lot of it isn’t really meant for the fans anyway, it’s aimed at agents, players, other clubs, sponsors, investors, but certainly not the poor bloody infantry.
So when I hear about a war chest I just chuckle, when I hear we have no money for big transfers I yawn, when I hear Wenger or a Gazides go on about contracts I doze, it’s all shit, it’s always been shit and I don’t give a shit.
I refuse to get outraged by all the nonsense and machinations of the club.
Fcuk them.
I’ll enjoy the UEFA Cup and possibly the League Cup, the rest of it can fcuk off.
Oh, and all that old guff about saving money for the next two windows, do me a favour.
Ornstein might know a bit more but he isn’t the oracle.
Lee you feeky chucker… I didn’t nick it at all… I merely “shared” it with you all….
As i also said previously, what deluded nutcase decided to offer Ox 180k per week…. what bunch of deluded nutcases allowed said first nutter to make such a offer as well…? vicious circle of useless deluded nutters running our club..!
Afternoon Kev, thanks.
The Uefa cup could be a breath of fresh air, especially if the under 21/reserve players are used. Same with the milk cup…
Agree on Ornstein, he only knows what the club want him to…
Rico, I think that the club use Ornstein, he can say things and they can deny them or not offer a comment, the club play us like a violin.
I’m really looking forward to seeing Reiss Nelson develop Rico.
Get him on a 5 year contract, enjoy him until he’s 23/24, then watch him run down his contract before we sell him.
They all have feet of clay Rico
I hope the Manager plays Reiss-Nelson and ties him down to a long contract. Also I have seen clips of JRA and he seemed class (yes I know you never can tell from clips). What about Zalelem, he was supposed to be the next big thing, where is he. Youth might be the answer but with experienced players. Maybe BFG will shake the youngsters up, if he is allowed to.
Kev, I reckon Ornstein does alright out of us though…. 😉
As am I Kev, really like what I’ve seen of him in pre season.. I reckon he’ll be with us for a long times though..
Arsenal plan “Mass contract” talks….. 4 players is mass contract talks is it… Ramsey, Cech, Welbeck and Theo…. well can’t say i’d be overly upset at any of those 4 leaving in fact i’d sell Theo ASAP ah yes we tried but no one wants to pay him 140k per week ad we now want to offer him more..? really..!! I’d offer Ramsey a new contract and Welbs as a decent squad player but we definitely need a new keeper and Theo i’d say thanx but bye…!
Nelson, we don’t need to crucify in his first season with the 1st team either nor add to much pressure when the older players are not performing. A few others like him as well but can we afford to play them when the so called big players are playing utter shit..?
Zelalem is still recovering from a long term injury.
I’m hearing that Iwobi is injured
I’d play Nelson in all the UEFA Cup games
Surely Arsenal should have already snapped up the best young goalkeeper in Europe or the UK so Cech could bring him along toward taking over when he retires.
Of youth. Arlene signed a 16 year old right at the beginning of the window. Can’t remember his name. Or nationality. Anybody got any further information…..perhaps he’s the next Pele!
The future is youth. Let’s make it our new project!!
Same ol’ same ol’ !
Do we have at the moment, 11 players fit and committ with The Arsenal?
Martinez perhaps Adam?
Josh Zirkzee Wavy…
Jm, in the under 23’s maybe… ?
Not Zirkee, I’m wrong, he chose Bayern…
Found him, Jordan McEneff
Wengers Europa squad. Plenty of youth which is great..
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-europa-league-squad-revealed-11116779
Rico, Bournemouth is a good indicator of the commitment of Arsenal players to Arsene Wenger.
Will they play for him or just gave up the ghost like at Anfield?
Eddie Howe has got a team of committed players who will go hammers and tongs at a dispirited and apparently Arsenal team in disarray. I am watching which Arsenal players are still fighting and swinging when they are down.
It is not the size of the dog in a fight that counts, it is the fight in the dog.
Arsene Wenger had 2 weeks to instill the fight in the team.
And yes, Rico, I got criticized heavily when I first appeared here as being anti-Wenger years back.
I think there are also a youngest competition in UEFA.
Merlin, he hasn’t as most have been on international duty for two weeks. In any case, he’s had years, what difference will two weeks make…?
I’d rather judge us against a top top club. No offence meant to Bournemouth…
I’ll have to have a look back on your comments, not sure about you being criticised for knocking Wenger… ?
Evening all and a great post Rico !……………………..however, Miss Rico and Master Kev will have detention and write a thousand lines of…………………………….I must not blaspheme against the Lord Ornstein ! …….hahaha
Wath`s nicked comment is fine just as all other comments are fine and can all make sense to either side of the coin or should I say Dollar !, but Scott made a good point at the end of the last post in that Chavs had a great base of expensive players to start with from big spending just before FFP and lets not forget how many youngsters they have stock piled in a warehouse filled to the top, all of which didn`t come under FFP rules.
Also on the Kreonke point about seeing how good he is when another manager comes in……….well my friends, I`m not sure how many managers he has got through in his other “successfull” sports teams, but they are a rip roaring success !…hahaha………………………….I`m afraid that all the top teams in the world have one thing in common……………….they are fcuking rich or have rich benefactors who invest money in the players to make the clubs successfull !……………here is a simple formula that has worked every where since the year dot……………………………………………loadsa money speculated = loadsa trophies accumalated…..come from Einstein , although he looked like a piss poor tramp himself ! hahaha
Great news that almost a third of Arsenal`s Europa squad are U21 ( I`m with naughty blashpeming Kev that I`m only looking forward to the EL and League Cup, although I`ll add FA Cup as we`re quite good at that one !) 🙂
Bad news……….Simeone has signed a new contract……………………… 🙁
Still think Bournemouth will be beaten by a record EPL score and everything will be justified……………………..then we`ll get stuffed at the Bridge and be back to normal ! hahaha
Afternoon Rico and All
Looking at The Mancs and the so called
Glazier brothers taking millions from the
club every year.
Why has the fan base shut up.
Well they changed a few managers
simple really.
Point being The Glaziers are still at
the club even though hated by everyone,
so why continue to keep thinking that
The Syrup has to go before we get thinks right on
the pitch.
Thanks Lc. I think it’s different here. Not sure he’d have experienced the kind of fan abuse for Wenger that he gets in the US for his other team managers. They are just playing at the game, over here it means more imo…
Einstein tells me that even though the double Glaziers take money out of the club……….the money making juggernualt that is Manshafter Std brings in a few pennies here and there to spend on big fee`d players !………………..how long did it take us to match the two £30M+ players they got in around 2002…………….Rio and the argy bargy bloke, cant remember his name ?……………………anyway what year and who did we buy for our first £30M+ player ?….Alexis ?……….brains gone dead !
Afternoon Fred, totally agree but then I think you know I would…
Ozil Lc…
I hope you are writing lines Rico !!!!………………….and no talking !!! hahaha
Took us 12 years to match Manures fee paid for Rio and Argy boy !…….it was Alexis !
Yes ……………….Ozil………………………….and Juan Sebastien Veron !…..
🙂
Alexis was a bargain wasn`t he ! 🙂
He was actually, his work ethic is incredible. Well, it has been and I can’t see him changing..
To be honest.
Its the cart before the horse.
Without going into my clubs and teams,
never in that time has the running of
the clubs committers been booted out
before the managers,when the players
heads start dropping.
The only team where the fans have gone
piss off were wimbledon.
Proper fan power.
Were there some Manshafter fans who were really disgruntled with the Double Glaziers that they formed FC United of Manshafter ?……….that is some statement especially considering the amount of trophies Manshafter have won under the Double Glaziers !
See Debuchy is still alive !……………he`s in the Europa Squad and someone called Keto………………..wasn`t he Clouseau`s man servant in the Pink Panther film`s ?
Since the disgruntled Manshafter fans formed FC United of Manshafter in 2005……………….the Doubles Glaziers team have won 5 Titles, 1 CL, 4 LC`s, 1 EL and 1 FA Cup !………………………………………………….think we should form our own team for disgruntled fans of Wenger and Kroenke…………….FC of The Arse !…………………..in a similar 12 year stint to the aforementioned, we will probably win the Quadraple in our first season in the EPL after the formative years of going up through the pyramid in which we would have won 12 FA Cups and 12 LC`s and all the divisions in leading up to it whilst our old club…..The Arsenal will have won fcuk all !…………………our success will be down to my revolutionary tactics of the 4 wingers, Rico`s Veggie dishes, Scott`s Amber Nectar and our rich secret benefactor only known as…………..Kev !
So no more Arsenal talk on here…………………..only talk of……….FC of The Arse !……………………………………….can anyone guess what the FC stands for ? hahaha
I`ll give you a clue…………………………………..Kroenke and Wenger are a pair of them !………………………………..my monies on Lee getting it first !
Like I said after the tranfer window closed It’s simple really. Arsenal are being turned in to a average mid table club. To make over a 100m all you need to do is stay in the prem.Why spend most of your prophits on silly wages and big transfer fee’s when it doesn’t guarantee success.That what all Kroenke’s other clubs do Wenger is the perfect manager for that his net spending over the years is far less than any other top manager. Kroenke will probably extend his contract again at end of next season. The only way Wenger will get sacked is if we are looking like relegation fodder. Even then may not. Kreonke will just take the PL cash and sell the club on. Read what Kroenke is about he does not give a shit about fans or his clubs histories. He is the worst type of club owner you can get a fucking parasite .
But he’s said he’s hungry for success Stevey….
Thanks Rico, it’s been bugging me. But Wenger said he was going to sign 3 new players and he did! I knew I could trust him?
Ha ha Wavy…
He also says (well his board says)the club is ambitious and wants to be the best!!!
Adam 11.57, I’d say it was rife back then, a mate of mine worked in a pet shop around the same time and like GG ended up getting the sack, only he got caught with his hand in the trill……….got no reason to lie !
I suppose The Donald would call that a tweet!
Rambo on the score sheet again for Wales tonite, after watching it countless times can’t believe some are saying it took a deflection, maybe you could clear it up for us Scott, everyone knows you have more camera angles over there !
Micko. Was it Palmers Pet Store in Camden Town? 🙂
Morning sleepy heads…..
Morning Rico
Good read as usual and thank you.
I mean i read what other fans opinion is this days and i do believe the Le prof supporters are just getting fewer and fewer .Even the Untoldians dont look like praising each other as they do.Any way i never see them as Arsenal fans more like Arsene self elected solicitors.This days there is no hiding.
Le groovians always ultra negative one defeat is the relegation battle.
I like your posts and thank you
Morning all.
On my way to our old Highbury Stadium to have a word with tenants/owners to see if we can revert the gardens back to a pitch for FC of The Arse`s new ground ! hahaha
Big relegation battle on Saturday, we`re just above the zone and May`s not too far away……………..
🙂
Morning Alex. I’m not keen on talking about other websites or their followers as they are not here to defend themselves but I don’t think with LG it’s a case of one defeat. It’s probably the same as it it for many of us, it’s about ten years or watching the seasons repeat itself.
Matters not who comes in, nothing changes. Performances like at Anfield have become the norm. One or two often pop up each season.
That’s funny Lc…
New post up now.