Arsenal

[Malappapper]

If we kept RVP things would have been very different. It proves that we should have splashed BIG money on a world class striker, to replace a world class striker we just lost. 40 or 50mil for Falcao + 150k per week, just to jog in the same place, barely replacing RVP instead of giving him what he wanted. Why did we allow Nasri's contract situation to get to that point? Everything has gotten much worse since Gazidis was brought in to supposedly turn us around. The only ones laughing now are the board, who made millions from the sales of Cesc/Nasri/RVP.

All they are interested in is getting 4th place to jog in the same place every year. Keep that money rolling and keep their pockets filled. Meanwhile we win nothing and more players get fed up and leave. Like I said before, getting 5th place might be a blessing in disguise. A wake-up call to get our shit together.

It is you the Arsenal fans who are to blame.

The Arsenal board and stockholders are nothing but capitalists looking for profit. Their interest lie in keeping costs down, while revenues are maximized. This mean expensive matchday tickets, expensive merchandise that can be sold all over the globe thanks to EPL popularity. Finding good sponsors, like Nike and Emirates, and of course getting that crucial 3rd/4th place that gets you the extra CL cash, and also maintains you (even barely) in the European elite. If they can also get Wenger to locate and nurture talent and then sell for profit (Persie, Cesc, Nasri, Adebayor) well that makes things even better.

Now, it is a fact that City and Chelsea have oil money with which you cannot compete, and United are around 20% (maybe a bit more) richer than you. But if the club was at the hands of someone who cared only about the results of Arsenal FC, then the club would not be looking to make any profits at all. It's not as if you are an industrial enterprise that wants profits to re-invest in equipment and technology. You are a football club, that would have had little problem in running even small losses (nothing wrong with that) in order to remain as competitive as possible.

If I were the collective mind of the Arsenal crowd, I would have simply boycotted the games (all games) until the board makes a pledge to just break even, and re-invest all profit into buying players.

There is no other way.

If I were an Arsenal stockholder, I would be vary happy now with the value of my shares plus the dividends.


*I even remember reading somewhere the comments of one Arsenal bigwig (do not remember who) that claimed that even if Arsenal were to lose out on CL qualification, their business model would still be sound. That means, that the number crunchers at Arsenal are calculating that it is more financially wise, to risk a 5th/6th place finish, than spend on players. Tells you all you need to know really about the logic of shareholders controlling a football club.

 

[Aryagorn]

If I were an Arsenal stockholder, I would be vary happy now with the value of my shares plus the dividends.

like Wenger

 

[Malappapper]

like Wenger

Exactly.

Not only is he a shareholder, he is also on a massive annual salary, funded by the money that Arsenal do not spend on talent.

 

[Robbie]

Wenger wanted Angel Di Maria, and his club wanted 6 million for him. The board wouldn't give him more than 4mil so he lost out. Even Di Maria is quoted being surprised that the move didn't happen.

Wenger wanted to sign Xabi Alonso, and Liverpool wanted to sell for 18 million. The board wouldn't give him more than 16 million so it didn't happen.

Wenger wanted Felipe Melo but the board wouldn't let him get into a bidding war with Juventus.

Now let's look at Wenger's best players in recent years. RVP (2.75 mil), Cesc (300k?), Adebayor (4mil?). See the pattern here? He has to pick up these bargain basement buys and take these risks because the board is hamstringing him. One of the biggest stadiums in europe, most expensive tickets, globally supported club, and he has to scrounge around the transfer market like Everton or Aston Villa. It's ridiculous, and if he wasn't such an honourable man he would have walked out years ago.

 

[Dan1983]

If I was Wenger I would've walked out years ago.

 

[Barcaman]

Wenger wanted Angel Di Maria, and his club wanted 6 million for him. The board wouldn't give him more than 4mil so he lost out. Even Di Maria is quoted being surprised that the move didn't happen.

Wenger wanted to sign Xabi Alonso, and Liverpool wanted to sell for 18 million. The board wouldn't give him more than 16 million so it didn't happen.

Wenger wanted Felipe Melo but the board wouldn't let him get into a bidding war with Juventus.

Now let's look at Wenger's best players in recent years. RVP (2.75 mil), Cesc (300k?), Adebayor (4mil?). See the pattern here? He has to pick up these bargain basement buys and take these risks because the board is hamstringing him. One of the biggest stadiums in europe, most expensive tickets, globally supported club, and he has to scrounge around the transfer market like Everton or Aston Villa. It's ridiculous, and if he wasn't such an honourable man he would have walked out years ago.

You're right mate. Wenger has done an outstanding job with resources he got and above that his team played some very good attacking football.
People often blame the Frenchman when the real culprits for lack of results in recent years are the owners who are treating the club as money-making business. In the end, it's their prerogative and while Wenger isn't exactly helpless, he's hardly the guy to point fingers at.

I don't see how any other manager would have done better with Arsenal than Wenger.

 

[Jenks]

If I was Wenger I would've walked out years ago.

Why? He's got a ridiculously cushy deal.

 

[GiantKiller]

*I even remember reading somewhere the comments of one Arsenal bigwig (do not remember who) that claimed that even if Arsenal were to lose out on CL qualification, their business model would still be sound.

Ah, now that would be Mr. Gazidis , I believe.

 

[Robbie]

Why? He's got a ridiculously cushy deal.

He could be making 5 times that at PSG or Madrid, or be national manager of France. Losing is killing him, and you can see it on his face. A lesser man would have publicly blasted the board and placed the blame on their shoulders, but he takes everything for his club and his players. He doesn't care about his reputation or legacy. Only Arsenal.

 

[Malappapper]

He could be making 5 times that at PSG or Madrid, or be national manager of France. Losing is killing him, and you can see it on his face. A lesser man would have publicly blasted the board and placed the blame on their shoulders, but he takes everything for his club and his players. He doesn't care about his reputation or legacy. Only Arsenal.

You have gone a bit melodramatic there.

In fact Wenger is making around the same as Mourinho at the moment ( a bit less) but what he has at Arsenal is job security (in Madrid two bad results and you are out) plus lots of Arsenal shares that are good value since the firm is profitable.

My personal view is that Wenger is happy with the general environment at Arsenal and London, he is happy with the millions of £££ that he is making every season, and he does not want to risk that for an adventure at the Spanish capital.

 

[Jenks]

He could be making 5 times that at PSG or Madrid, or be national manager of France.

No he couldn't. Mourinho doesn't make even twice as much as him, let alone five times as much. Wenger is the fourth highest paid manager in the world and hasn't won anything in years. He has a seriously cushy deal, perhaps more so than any manager.

 

[Semi-Neutral]

Podolski just scored, this might be a rout.

And now a quick brace from Cazorla. That guy is a beast.

 

[Superfly]

Cazorla

 

[barcanuck]

Cazorla is a great signing it must be said. Real or City should of really signed him.

 

[Semi-Neutral]

24 pts for my fantasy team, too bad I didn't pick him as my captain. Excellent performance from him, Podolski had a great game as well, Walcott looked annoyed but got his goal in the end, Wilshere played well although got frustrated. Good show!