Morning all.
A regular topic of conversation here on HH is about the players who during Arsene Wengers reign have left which got me thinking.
Arsenal have for the last ten years, maybe more, been run in a self sustaining way which has ensured the long term stability and survival of the club. Some admire such traits when being honest, yet others may believe the club are lacking ambition by not shelling out more money when the transfer window comes around.
Right now, I believe Arsenal find themselves in a vulnerable position.
Not for one minute am I suggesting our survival is at stake, but the stability is not there at the moment due to fan discontent which has grown for several reasons which I won’t go into. Well, not all of them.
In the year or two either side of moving to The Emirates, we lost some key players, but over the years which followed, Wenger signed a few good ones which ensured the club remained consistent although not as dominant as we’d hoped we would be.
Losing our better players has continued and with the contracts sagas of Ozil and Sanchez up in the air, this is something which could again rear it’s ugly head in the summer despite the club being wealthy. Maybe that’s because Wenger wouldn’t spend big, maybe it’s because he couldn’t/can’t- hopefully we’ll find out the absolute truth one day down further down the line. But, I digress.
The problems really started arise when Roman started pumping massive amounts of cash into Chelsea and later Man City followed suit when they were taken over but a group of super rich men. Money was no object for either club as they spent whatever they believed required in order to win silverware. Behind them are Man Utd and Liverpool who follow suit, yet like us, haven’t found success over the last few seasons.
During this time, Arsenal have had a wage structure in place which wasn’t conducive to keeping our very best players content because all the time we weren’t/aren’t winning anything and to those players who are ambitious, we as a club have not or are not, fulfilling their needs. When that happens, money suddenly becomes a hot topic for conversation, especially when players agents are trying to sort their next big move as frustration grows slowly but relentlessly.
We’ve all seen this happen to our players – a systematic break down of the love affair they once had with the Arsenal.
Now we have a situation where there’s suddenly a number of clubs in England, let alone in Europe, who can offer success and a big pay packet to go with it so it’s even harder for Arsenal to keep hold of the few good players they have.
Players friends and families will no doubt be urging them to think twice about staying at Arsenal, international team-mates will have their say too when they meet up and of course, agents will be hoping to line their pockets handsomely as they encourage their client to move on to pastures new.
The pressure on the player must be immense and I for one have never really thought of it from their point of view, but it must be a testing time for them.
The result – well, usually they leave and I think it’s as simple as that.
They take their nice little pay rise which solves half the issue and even if they don’t win silverware, they can smile each month as their bank balance increases vastly. After all, they’ll be earning a lot more than they would had they chosen to remain at Arsenal.
If they end up with many medals around their necks, they can tell themselves and the world that they made the right move.
Arsenal has become a club which appears to be a stepping stone towards the bigger spending clubs and those clubs love us for it.
When we are paying our players a similar amount, if not more than other clubs pay their players and you only have to look at the neighbours to see that their so-called superstars are on less than our better players, yet they stay put. The likes of City, Utd, Chelsea and other top European clubs though blow our wage structure out of the water and any of these can swoop in to sign a ready made player who, if at another club, they’d probably have to pay even more for to entice them away.
Wenger has made his mistakes, Kroenke and the board have their influence, none of which is positive in my opinion as they are just greedy people in suits acting in the “best interests” of players and their careers whilst of course knowing that the club has just made another tidy sum of money their own. Yet it’s Wenger who so often takes the blame.
I’m not trying to defend Arsene Wenger at all, I’m just questioning how his replacement, whoever he is and whenever he joins, reverse these issues?
If he does build a strong squad coupled with top young talent, will they be patient in their search for Arsenal success or will the trend of players leaving for greener pastures continue….?
Hopefully, someone will confess to writing this post later, as it wasn’t me…..
PS – Santi Cazorla has been ruled out for the rest of the season… Terrible news for him, and us!
I still believe it’s Wenger who has the final say on who comes and who goes so any new manager would be able to stop the selling IF he builds around our better players by signing equally as good, if not better players…
Interesting post, thank you whoever you are ? 🙂
A much respected manager may help, but I will say my usual and that`s a better owner would help even more !
Link may flick from page to page, but you will see who pay the biggest wages on it and I`ll let you decide whether there is a correlation between the higher wage payers, mega rich spending owners and winning trophies !……………………guess what I think ! 🙂
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3930658/Manchester-United-revealed-biggest-wage-bill-world-football-average-Premier-League-player-s-salary-reaches-2-4m-year.html
Didn`t know this, but apparently quarter finals go to extra time !
http://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/news/revealed-fa-cup-rule-changes-12644588
LC, Ginge always said Arsene does well based on wage levels.
We could always do better though 🙂 🙂
Morning all.
Well, how’s this for a revolutionary idea?
Buy great players for specific positions and then play them in those positions. I know it’s radical but it might just work.
And there was me thinking that was what football was all about Adam, certainly at the level our club is at..
Good Lc, don’t need a trip to Lincoln eh… lol
Rico. That’s where we have both got it wrong then. 🙂
How would a better owner make a difference though Lc? A different owner might have changed our manager by now but he isn’t responsible for which players we sign or sell surely?
Strange eh Adam…. lol
Officially he does, Scott. 🙂
We pay 4th highest wage (in EPL) and get 4th or better !…………………….however I think a better coach could possibly punch well above our weight ala Leicester !…………..but again I say……….. a mega rich owner who invests in club will imo undoubtably take us to another level and be on par with the bigger wage payers we are up against and lets be honest battling against the tide !……………..sadly I dont think we will ever get rid of the bastard Kroenke ! 🙂
Like Adams revolusionary idea of playing players in their best positions !…………………………….that will be Ramsey on the wing when he recovers ! 🙂
I’m saying nothing 🙂
I suppose the basic question is whether, with another £100 million to spend on players, would Wenger a. Spend it and b. Achieve PL or CL wins?
I dunno Rico………………….Abramovitch seems to sign decent players with all that money, even if the manager doesn`t want them ! 🙂
Ok ok Shevchenko didn`t pan out to well…………………or Torres !……………………………..but I dont need to tell you how many trophies the Chavs have won since we last won a title !……………..and with the amount of managers they have had in that time, it cant all be down to them as great coaches !……….call me a cynic, but I think a lot of Chavs success was more to do with the money Abramovitch spent than the quality of their managers, but I could be wrong. 🙂
Even if he’d spent an extra £100 million, I truly don’t believe it would have made a difference because it’s the kind of players he’s spending money on which is half the problem imo.
And any strong players he does bring in, he changes them.. Even Mustafi doesn’t look the strong player he was and it’s almost like he’s been told not to boss about everyone around him..
Yet what we are seriously missing is strong players both mentally and physically…
I don’t believe Roman signs the players Lc, he buys them but surely the manager identifies who he wants and then leaves it to those job it is to get the signings done…
Not sure no amount of money will make Wenger win a title, Adam ! 🙂
We need a horses for courses manager !………..we/Wenger cant play the same tactics against Bayern as he does against Sutton………….another Achilles heal he has !
Afraid I`m gooing to bore you with some exercise, so look away now for an hour !
🙂
Spot on Lc, but he does. Same team usually, same approach, same result…
Only in the two domestic cups does he really go for change and I must say, some of those players who come in put in a lot more effort than his favoured starting eleven.
Please spare us Lc….. lol
True Rico, but Roman still spends the money and he did buy Shevcenko for himself, you`ve got to give me that one ! 🙂
I’m off for a couple of hours too although if the wind makes travelling tricky, I’ll be back quite soon… 😉
Sitting at Stansted hopefully the wind will be behind us
It’s a very blustery day out here in deepest Essex…
Interesting post by Mr X, or Ms X…
I’m not sure that our playing system/style should depend on one player!
As much as I luv Santi, do we really rely on him that much?
I guess that Isco could have been on Wengers radar as Cazorlas successor, but he’s staying for at least one more year, maybe beyond?
So it’s just a case of taking more care of him and not flogging him to a standstill.
TBH, does anyone really believe that if Santi had been available all season that it would have been any different to how it is currently? Because I don’t, we actually have a decent squad, that should be performing better than it is, but nothing will change until Arsene makes up his mind.
All our squad needs is a couple of ‘minders’ added to the group and a more defensively organised set up. You know, and here’s a bit of a stretch, how about adapting to your opponents and making tactical adjustments during a game if things aren’t working…
LC, that wage stats while it might hold for some league, it doesn’t apply to Wenger. Wenger combined has more top 2 and top 3 finishes than 4th. The idea he’s always getting 4th is not true. Which lead me to think that it’s not the wages of players but perhaps better tactics and management would’ve yield better results.
Something else new !.
http://dailycannon.com/2017/02/substitute-rules-change-fa-cup/
Heaven forfend Kev.
Do mean changing something during a game. Do you mean recognising a shortcoming and dealing with it on the spot. Do you mean adopting a policy of adaptation according to need? Well l……..that’s too modern for me. I’m stuck in my ways and I know when I’m beaten! What’s the point of changing something that has worked for the past 30 years or more. Do you think I’m wrong? With all my experience I know I’m right! Challenge me and I’ll drop you!
You can ‘hear’ the conversation, can’t you? The stubborn one doesn’t believe in looking at the opposition only the performance of his own players. How can he prepare them for the Unknown? When it’s unknown!
He’s the modern day version of Ethelred…..unready for all eventualities. That’s why we are in the sh1t we are in.
A bit windy here, too. Just lost two fence panels and two snapped off posts. More expense! Still, it’s in the annual budget as it happens every year!
Wavy, sometimes you can be almost as cynical as me… ?
Cant argue there, Obi ! 🙂
And here are the finishes under Arsene………………………….
3
1
2
2
2
1
2
1
2
4
4
3
4
3
4
3
4
4
3
2
Unbelievable really considering the latter part was against really big money, still think he needs to go though and still backs up my Kroenke is the bigger evil theory…………no not theory……fact ! 😆
LC, imho, there in lies the basis as to why AW should go. We all see the lack of tactics, mismanagement of players, selection, motivation etc. etc., that has been demonstrated. But if these results are being achieved, then perhaps our players are not as crap as some think. So if we had a manager that has stronger acumen in these areas we will be better.
Ok, ok am gon’ come out and admit, nah it wasN’t me who wrote the post.
Nasri putting the blame squarely on the players and the board. He has a point.
Example, on Robben’s goal. Wenger may not watch tapes of our opponents but players should take the innitiative and watch who/what they’ll be up against. Had Coq known Robben cuts in 99% of the time he’d have made a better job. He seemed clueless. Just like the shit display he did with Hazard.
Once Wenger leaves, the club’s mask will be revealed and all these players and board hiding behind him will be exposed.
Again I cant argue with you, Obi…………..stop being so agreeable with ! 😆
I have no doubt that a manager such as the like`s of Pep, Conte, Poch`, Simeone and Koeman would have had us tactically better !……………………………….I could not see the Bayern result being so disasterous under one of them and we have had quite a few drubbings over the last few years in knock out stages !
LC, am trying to get you to the point where you will realize that Sonogo is a “superstar” that Wenger has mismanage…LOL.
Block roads, tree down, gusty winds and diversions all made an exiting journey today… 😉
Afternoon guys…
Kev, I reckon we’d have been a bit better with a fit Santi, going forward anyway…
Potter, off anywhere nice?
3-21 Marshall. Agree with your view on when Wenger leaves. Only then will we know the real situation going on at Arsenal.
hahaha Obi…………..I admire your persisitence !…………………………if it wasn`t for the Sanogo stalking I`d say you were the most intelligent HH blogger ! 🙂
Just seen something on newsnow that our glorious club are the 4th most digitally followed club in China with 3.5M followers……….3rd are Bayern Munich with 5.3M……………..2nd are Mansour City wit 8.1M and 1st are ManshafterStd with 8.7M followers !…………………….I have my suspicions about this !……my theory is that a lot of Chinese dont know that the two Manc clubs are different teams and I suspect that Mansour City would probably be somewhere further back behind us !…………especially as they play in blue and the chinese like lucky red !………………….I could however be completely off the mark !
I base my theory on the fact that the guy in my local Chinese take-away said that he wants to go to The Hawthorns to see his favourite team West Ham !
Nothing better than listening to him sing his rendition of………..I`m forever blowing baggies !
The way the heavy winds are blowing at the moment, Rico……………I`d say potter has no say in where he`s going to land ! 🙂
Can’t see him taking off Lc, let alone landing….
The wind has dropped at last.
Not here yet….
I went for a run in it earlier……………talk about resistance training !………..
Silly old you… ?
You lot will live in England 🙂 🙂
Spuds playing later……………………………the magic of the Europa League !
I bet the only violent winds down under are when you`ve had a brutal curry, Scott ! hahaha
Hope they win Lc..
Leicester have sacked Ranieri… Amazing!
I wonder how we would feel if, out of the blue, Kronke and co sacked our beloved manager?
Looks like everyone has gone for the day so night all….
Would we be shocked and upset?
I wonder………?
I kinda hope that Leicester go down now…
Nah just at work, Rico.
LC, I’ve seen a few of the HH people doing the curry thing-it ain’t pretty lol
Wavy, I think people would be shocked and maybe a happy, but genuine fans would also feel quite sad at some point, even if they believe it’s the right thing.
Best for all concerned if Arsene makes the call himself, I reckon.
Same here Kev.
The players are still in party mode, me thinks.
Kane scores again OOPS its a own goal
OOPS Ali straight red. Love it
Scott @ 8:43, if Arsene have to make the call himself he may never leave…..lol. But regardless he should never be let go during the season, Arsenal have too much class for that. Is not like we are Tottenham.
Football can be a cruel mistress sometimes, us Gooners know it better than most !
Gent 2-2 ?
Gent 3-2 on aggregate ?
3-2 full-time, hilarious…
Potter, if worst comes to worst think of the money you’ll save on the suntan lotion !
You lot are welcome to Storm Doris, glad to see the back of it lol.
Doris hasn’t made to Catalonia. But arrived late but 3 tapas each with 6quintos 3 vino tinto and chupitos to round things off all for 20 euros.God I love Carnaval week.
Hi Obi,
sorry for the delay getting back to you.
You posed a question about what we think Arsenal should represent.
It’s a good question.
The Arsenal that the older generation identify with has essentially gone. In many ways, Arsenal have been totally re-identified. The two biggest changes, obviously, are the stadium and the club’s iconic crest.
It’s one thing re-branding, but if you’re going to do this on such a mammoth scale, it has to be better than what you’re replacing, and unfortunately, in its current state, it is nowhere near as good as what went before.
It hasn’t been a complete unmitigated disaster, but it isn’t the all singing and dancing celebration the hierarchy promised either.
In fact it has all gone very flat. And it’s not because they aren’t winning major trophies, because historically Arsenal have suffered many years of trophy-droughts.
It’s more to do with the slick PR machine that keep spinning the same empty rhetoric without actually delivering a decent, exciting brand. The constant deception that they’re challenging for the PL and CL is grating, especially as they’re getting further away from these targets.
Arsenal are the fifth richest Football Club in the world who are rooted in the second-tier in relation to their sporting achievements, which is hugely under-whelming, and given the club’s stature and resources can only be looked upon as complete failure.
It isn’t the fault of a particular individual, there are many at fault for the gradual decline, and the underlying problem is that there is no-one at the club with the vision or intelligence to arrest this slide.
As Rico said, fans just want a club that are challenging, not the powder-puff bottlers that crumble at every litmus test presented to them. Players brave enough to battle the Chelsea’s, Barcelona’s, Munich’s etc. instead of wilting and simply surrendering. Chelsea went to the Camp Nou in 2012, and won 2-0 with 10 men after captain Terry was sent-off. They are everything Arsenal should be, ruthless ambition to be the best.
Arsenal were that at one time, but the lack of urgency to climb back to that status is causing anger, discontentment and disenchantment across its global fan base. Many are astounded that an institution the size of Arsenal are allowed to simply limp along to embarrassing annual failings of exactly the same nature.
In essence, I want a club that is brave enough to take on the world or die trying.
I wish I was there. Viva espana!
Anywhere but close to Doris! Was the wind behind Potter or was it all up front?
Have fun, got ta be better than here.
Only good thing about today, Ranieri can go name and have some home cooking with his Mama! Lucky man! (Or not?)
It’s great to hear Laurent Koscielny claim that all the players want Arsene Wenger to stay and that the dressing room is right behind him.
Also rumours, from an unreliable Spanish source (aren’t they all unreliable) that Hector Bellerin would want to leave Arsenal if Arsene Wenger left.
Now there’s loyalty to the manager, er, obviously fcuk the club, but that’s a minor matter.
All this on the back of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez saying that they’d want to leave if Arsene Wenger left.
Hmm, all these superstars standing so steadfastly behind the manager…
Doesn’t it make you proud.
And the way the players fought and battled and simply refused to surrender in Munich only goes to show their commitment to the manager…
Er, hang on? ?
Kev, loyalty to the man is a great thing if, as you suggest, they fight for him.
Then, in my opinion, even if a player doesn’t like the manager, he owes it to the club and its fans to fight anyway!!!
Kozzer fights but others, not so much.
Morning all…
Kozzer a fighter Scott… You sure?
Morning Rico. Herb, your comment late last night is bang-on I’d say.
Morning Adam, a lovely bright one…
Yes Rico. But nippy here. 🙂
It’s rather mild here Adam… 🙂
New post up now.
Raining here , first parade tomorrow ,at least it’s warm water.