Transparent Mischief We Could Do Without
Jul 5th, 2012 by 'holic
With apologies and thoughts going out to those who have suffered real bereavements in the last day or so, I suppose I have to comment on the two assaults on our football club in the same time-frame.
It is so very difficult to gauge the tone to set. Robin van Persie’s statement was designed to ensure he doesn’t have to remain held against his will by a club that has heartlessly shackled him with lots of money and the finest private medical attention that anybody could want in the last eight years. A club that endured his semi-permanent broken-ness and still enabled him to reach his full potential in his unbroken season. A fanbase that took him to their hearts.
No, perhaps that is not the mood I want to capture in a public forum. As much as it pretty much sums up the view I hold at this moment, time may dull that initial hurt and bitterness. For the pleasure I gained from watching van Persie flourish in the last eighteen months or so I would like to be able to thank him and wish him the best. The treachery of yesterday makes that impossible right now. Perhaps the best guide I have is my complete and utter indifference to Frank Stapleton these days. Elephants and ‘holics have long memories.
I understand those who used his attack as a justification for questioning the way the club is being run again. I may not share some of the more extreme and unreasonable arguments put forward to change the way the club is run, but we cannot avoid the fact that such a huge and diverse following is bound to encompass people with wide-ranging and often contradictory beliefs. If Robin van Persie was the only issue that divided us this week then the usual exchange of ‘virtual insults’ would have been exchanged by complete strangers, and the storm would have blown itself out before we joined each other in the hostelries of North London for the season’s opener.
Opportunity is a mistress to be seized by the mischievous however. Those of a Red & White hue, presumably well informed by one of van Persie’s ‘advisors’, were quick to seize the chance to try and turn that divide into a chasm. Once more I find myself questioning if I should add to their chances of success by regurgitating my view of them. It is not as if most of you don’t already know anyway. What has added to the hurt today has been watching Arsenal supporters turn on Arsenal supporters online.
Posts in public places seem carefully placed, soundbites are quoted or misquoted to support ‘our point’ or ‘your foolishness’. Of course there are those who can not, or will not, argue their points rationally, and so bitterness and rancour ensues. Red & White rub their hands and congratulate each other, for only by fostering discord can they hope to apply any pressure on the current custodians of our heritage. I get how hard it is not to react to the more absurd suggestions that surface. I sometimes show weakness in that regard. Frustration is a worthless ally.
There are serious issues which surface surrounding the financing of the club and the funding of the football side of the business. Few would argue the need for further investment and more churn in the playing staff this summer. That has already started with two major signings and the first announcements of departures. It’s not enough, but as things stand I am seeing and hearing the right noises from all but van Persie. As usual we appear to be one or two players short of a squad that can challenge for major prizes. Insert something here about the ship and a ha’porth of tar. The football is all that is important, really. The rest of it is just noise.
For the benefit of those who have asked today, I am not pro-Kroenke, and obviously not pro-Usmanov. I am pro-Arsenal, pure and simple. So are the vast majority of you if you have taken the time to come here. We can hold different views, but I would hope that we will all be firmly behind those who will trot up the tunnel in the red and white six weeks on Saturday and every week thereafter. Let’s have the debate about the politics of rights issues and directors wealth face to face over a pint of Guinness. I find in those circumstances very few people find any good reason to call anybody names.
Not in a disaffectionate way, anyway.
438 Responses to “Transparent Mischief We Could Do Without”
First
Now to digest the blog
Cheers mate, been waiting for that. Pro-Arsenal, that’ll do for me.
Third. I am in no-one’s pocket but my own. Quit a topological challenge, I assure you
Crazchee schit – what happened guyzsch?
Wise as always holic. Those who wish for a spendthrift owner have to remember that we have yet to see the end game for the chav and city. As for Rvp we should stop being sad, the stapletons prevail over the brady’s and pires’ of this world. We are fans of the club not the individual and the great support of last year will see us to greater things
Hurrah, the ladies beat Chelsea.
Esso, you have been on fire today geezer.
Well played π
would have been first , if holic had not banned my IP -_-
Well said ‘holic.
Not sure where I place myself on the spectrum.
Pro-Kronke – not really
Anti-Kronke – not really
Pro-Usmanov – certainly not
Anti-Usmanov – probably
Pro-Arsenal – Absolutely. Never in doubt.
That post is, by any stretch, pretty stellar Holic.
I shall therefore order up a pretty stella please and of course one of whatever you’re having for yourself.
Here, here Guv’nah.
Indifference is the perfect reaction. But, from the last bar:
I just operate by the Sun Tzu propaganda paradigm:
If someone says itβs not about moneyβ¦ it IS about money.
If someone says itβs not you, itβs themβ¦ it IS you.
If someone says theyβll never leave youβ¦ they WILL leave you at the most inopportune time and in the messiest way possible.
And finally, if you ever find yourself patroling a jungle path with an AR-15 in hand and you happen to see something dangling from a tree in an attempt to lure your gaze upwards⦠look DOWN⦠IMMEDIATELY.
BMBD.
Rules still apply Sajit. Be cool π
When one talks about ambition you have to look at the type of players that we have been buying in for years now. Our scouting system has gone to hell. We have stuck with Diaby who hasn’t played ten games in three years. Gone to Germany and bought the slowest player in the country and then a forward who judging by the European championship is playing the game by numbers and has forgotten how to score. From Brazil we bought in the only Brazilian in Denilson who can’t actually play and a defender in Santos who can’t defend. We gave Djorou a new long term contract. We could go on and on but the club is in sit from top to bottom.
A step away from being a legend and he want’s a silverware in another colours.
Shameless exit, shameless statement.
Everything he owns, from shirts and socks to cars, came from Arsenal.
132 goals and adios!
He was wetting his pants when he came from Feyenoord and Wenger made a footballer out of him but sadly not a man.
Up yer bum, RVP! Lost and forgotten.
Sell him right away but just leave him with Frimpong alone in a room. Just for 5 minutes.
That’ll do.
TaBS – I never had you pegged for the “wife beater juice,” mate? Perhaps you’re a Stella 4 man?
Tee hee π
BMBD
At last some sanity thank you.
Well, ‘holic, the site is still very slow. So I shall read the post now, but maybbe new post means frenzy like yesterday, so perhaps wise that I just say goodnight rather than try and keep up.
Oh, and well in GoonerTerry at 100.
Played ‘holic – thou art a pro – and of course Arsenal too. Amen to all of that.
A Pint of alter one’s state wine, ta – and double, doubles all-round – pleas.
You have to love the way our false 3 keeps tweeting away like nothing has happened!
Cheers ‘holic, great post as always.
What’s all the fuss?
A Guinness will do me just fine thank you, barman. π
Not really a stella man Lonestar – tend to crumple at the merest sniff π , just couldn’t ignore the pun I’m afraid.
I’m pro the
over a pint of guinness bit.
Is it a 3pm kick off, or more importantly, is it a 10am pint?
the European championship is playing the game by numbers and has forgotten how to score.
Cavalry, I’m confused, we bought RvP who is shit and therefore we should sell him because he’s too good? Or something? :s
Great post by the way, Holic.
Evening Ollie.
I think vast numbers are hovering on NewsNow pouncing on every new article as it appears. I don’t kid myself everybody is here for my old nonsense…
The frenzy is widespread.
Defo 10 am zico π
Alright Wolfie π
Fed up with worrying about next season? Tennis fan?
Oh well, try these for size anyway if you have 25-odd minutes to spare:
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
nicely done, ‘holic. pro-arsenal, come hell (r&w) or high water (kroenke).
lonestar, sun-tzu as well, is excellent. and damnably germane to rvp’s point.
a pint of ginger ale for the moment, ‘guv. work still calls. drinks all around, though, with a toast to clear thinking, of course on lars’ tab.
Alright Holic.
I shall be there at 10 am backing up my Cinzano Biancos.
VP speedoes discarded, fresh fur-lined Poldi speedoes on.
The king is dead, long live the King ! or Queen π
Great blog.
Disappointing. I did not expect loyalty, just common courtesy. He is unfortunately immature and likely ill-advised. This statement cost the club how much cash? What is the impact on his transfer fee? Bastard.
He better hope his next club has a decent treatment room; karma’s a bitch.
Can’t believe the new post got me again. spent half an hour typing some long replies to previous drinks only to find everyone else had left the room and adjourned to the saloon bar.
Anyways, that is a brilliant post ‘Holic.
That last paragraph completely sums up how I feel about anticipating the new season, meeting in The Tollie and all the unnecessary name calling, you old bastard ! π
I say, guv’nor. What’s with the Your comment is awaiting moderation on mine @30 above? It’s links to three completely harmless eight-minute videos. Honest.
Thoughts
1. Wont join the RvP hate bandwagon. He is a professional. Yes he was injured for 6 seasons but he is the primary and perhaps the only reason why we are going to be playing on Wednesdays rather than Thursdays or even worse. He was a superb captain and leader.
2. Having said that he has been badly advised. Very badly. Unlike, popular perception , I doubt any of the real top clubs (better than what Arsenal can offer) will be after him. Ie, I dont see any of City or Utd making a bid. Chavs are possible. I see him going to either of Barca or Real. Which is fair enough.. But everyone saw through his bluff about direction and crap. Which is why I think he has been badly advised.
3. I think we are better off without him. I honestly do. I believe we have seen the best of RvP – just like we / not Barca / saw the best Thierry. His injuries are bound to show up sooner rather than later. Now is probably the best time to cash in.
4. RvP’s departure makes Theo invaluable. We simply have to hold on to him. And for me that is the REAL WORRY. We cannot lose our top 2 goal scorers and expect the new boys to fill in.
5. RvP’s departure also means that we need to hunt for more fire power up front. Something, I wish we didnt have to worry about anymore this summer. Dempsey anyone?
6. Am glad this has happened now rather than late July (like last season) – we have entire pre-season to try out RvP – less formations and be prepared for the new season.
Conclusion: Im upbeat. we have managed to get 2 quality strikers. Convinced Sao Paolo to pay Denilson’s entire wages. Close to making deals for Squillaci and Vela. Just need to add Chamakh and Park and we have finally got rid of the deadwood and can start looking to plug in those few remaining gaps.
Lonestar @12 –
Heh! π
Excellent piece Holic. Viva la Red Solution..whatever that may be..
@ Cavalry
You forgot to add that Jenkinson is too young; Rosicky too old; Archavin too heavy; Yossi too ugly; and Wenger too French…oh Song has bad hair. Did I get everyone know? I mean if you’re gonna have a moan have a proper one.
As always great article and even better perspective during these difficult from holic and his band of regulars at the bar.
Cheers
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/arsenal-postpone-pre-season-game-in-nigeria
More bad news
Oxon, anything over two links it thinks it is spam, sorry. Will go and release now…
FunGunner and Impeccable1 –
Answers to your points in previous drinks if you’re still interested.
Cheers.
Can I make one pint last four and a half hours ? π
10am?
Well I will be in town the previous evening for drinks with a Sydney-bound Gooner.
So I might be able to make it early-ish.
I read so much drivel written about our great club it is refreshing to find an oasis of sanity and reason here as always. I have actually been touring the Emirates today and was reminded of the great heritage and history of our club.
In one off the record aside ,Charlie George our host was asked how well he knew the current team. He replied that they wouldn’t know who he was- a reminder if any is needed that so many players come and go without ever getting involved in the heart and soul of the club. Van Payslip as we referred to him is just another.
Usmanov has acted in typically Machiavellian style but frankly the crux of this matter is if FFP kicks in with a vengeance or as many believe will be toothless. If FFP proves a false Dawn that Gazidis and co have dangled erroneously in front of us then Usmanov’s comments will seem far more appropriate.
I don’t like what is hapening in football,it is unsound ,empty and vacuous and I have to believe it won’t go on for ever. We all have to shatre this hope soon for without it we either conform in an empty sham of competition or just fail to join the battle. Time will tell but at this stage the Bard have my sympathy but Kroenke doesn’t get my emotional commitment.I want an owner who loves my club as much as I do not one who is an absentee landlord with a tenuous grasp on what the club stands for.
Holic,any chance of removing my office IP (currently the one im loggied in from) from the banned list.
I promise to use any expletives unless the sentence has Terry or Sp*rs.
not to*
Thanks Guv. No offence taken – please find a nice Guiness on the bar awaiting your return.
Night all. I really am going to try to catch up on some sleep tonight.
Oh, yes.
Sajit,
You been intercepting our supply of happy pills?
Or has someone hacked your account π
What good is a billionaire with a self sustaining model? ‘Self sustaining’ is another way of saying that the fans should pay. I understand a fear of change particularly when it comes to Wenger but can Usmanov really be any worse than Kroenke? He goes to the games which already puts him ahead in my book.
Blancmange for Oxon, and goodnight from me.
Thundertinygooner – thanks for any of the kind words that were directed towards me. However, please be careful who you describe as sane and reasonable – several of the regulars here might take offence. Just sayin’ like.
Right; I really am awa’ tae my bed the noo.
@ 43
I’ll be happy if you can make it last longer than AL’s π
Senor ‘Holic I salute you – excellent blog and bang on the money!
If it be quality replacements we need then I am happy to offer my services as an out and out striker with not one but two chocolate legs, the robustness of Arshavin and the dashing hairstyle of a Letchkov in his prime.
I am even prepared to settle for Robin’s current wage packet and do not require an increase, although clearly given my description above, image rights are key!!!
Sajit, send me another message so I can pick the ip up from the spam filter. What drugs are you on? That was a most reasonable post π
Andy, just Google him. I don’t want to spark another defence of his character by his planted commenters.
Heh @ EPB
Test post π
Sajit @ 36 – Can’t share the optimism, I’m afraid but well said in point one. I just wish he’d signed a new deal because then, although I hate the self-sustaining model we’re tied to, I might have believed that those inside the club think we’re moving forward. Instead, all I can see is our best players dying to get away at the first opportunity. Again.
How does a club ATTRACT top players when it cannot KEEP its top players? It can’t, so it ends up buying the Gervinhos and Parks of this world.
Theo Walcott will go. He has no reason to stay.
Haha.,. Thanks Holic, just did.
No drugs Holic.. If anything , last summer , taught me that no shit is too deep.. If we survived after what in my memory was the worst transfer window ever as an Arsenal fan – I know we will survive.
UTA and all that π
@57 Unhappy
Well, we attracted Podolski and Giroud. Even if we won the darned CL, we were never going to buy the Hazards and Goetzes. That is just not us..
And I think Gervinho is going to show is Ligue1 form this season. Wait and watch.
Who is after Theo? I hear Chavs (yet again FFS) are after Theo.. Dunno why they need him.. but Chavs are morons.
I hope Theo stays.. As I said, that would be my priority no1 if I were Wenger.
Nice analysis ‘Holic. I share your frustration/anger at RvP’s teenage rant. I think we should sell him to Juve or Real and let him prove his fitness there. I am however less clear about the Kroenke-Usmanov dichotomy than I thought I was.
Despite recognising the opportunism in his open letter and the manipulative element in its openness, there are clear issues therein that should be addressed. Stan does need to show and tell.
A nice 18yo Highland Park is sitting on the bar for you.
One of the best posts ever, ‘Holic.
“Pro-Arsenal” – that is exactly what I am as well. Kroenke is the lesser of two evils, it’s as simple as that.
Wish I could join in the drinking on the opening day, but I’ll be there for Southampton on September 15th. Will look into booking flights and hotel tomorrow, the thought of that puts a bit of a smile on my face.
I can’t see Theo staying, particularly as he is very matey with RvP. He’s also not being played in the position he wants to play, which is through the middle (although maybe that will change now)
If we sold him, I doubt we’d be short of offers to be honest.
I would LOVE to be looking forward to the new season, but the RvP news, and most people jumping on the hate wagon when he basically carried this club on his own last season, has shot the legs out from under me.
I’m not exactly thrilled with Giroud and Podolski but time will tell. It always does.
Kroenke is in it just for the money. But Usmanov is ever worse. These are the moments we wish we had someone like Danny Fiszman. We were lucky to have a gooner in charge of the club.
Yea , but who can offer Theo better than what he has at Arsenal?
Even if he goes to Chelsea, he is not going to play through the middle. City and United dont need him.
Why would he leave a club where he is a starter and that offers him CL football?
Again, I no longer can vouch for footballers – but I honestly dont see why Theo would wnat to leave.
Honesly, Walcott should move to a good continental club; he could do wonders in a top Italian or German or French club. I agree with Sajit; who wants him that is better than AFC? Chavs? If he wants a payday, but I don’t see him playing as big a role there.
For Walcott, the fans (both England and AFC) have never fully supported him. Why would he owe the fans loyalty? Wenger and the club, that’s a different matter. Then again, he is matey-est of mates with RvP…
I say buy Lewandowski from Borussia as a replacement for Van The Gone Man. Good finisher, strong in the air, scored a a lot of goals for them season just gone.
Disappointed with Van The Gone Man never thought he would go this way!
Strangely Sajit that ip was not on the list. The spam filter must know you intimately π
I have unspammed the last comment and hope that works, otherwise you will have to keep trying the mobile. Use wireless though, that G3 can get steep if you go over your limit…
Still looks the same to me
Long time reader of the blog here, ‘Holic, but first time at the bar ordering drinks. RVP’s shenanigans have driven me to partake in a drop or two of the hard stuff.
Not felt as hurt since Liam left back in ’80. Don’t know why. Loved (still do) Cesc but had mentally prepared for his leaving last summer. It’s the manner of it all that’s so distressing.
But, on a serious point, I’d love it, just love it, if we played hard ball. Someone needs to make a stand against such blatant greed and avarice, and as a principled club, it should be us that makes it. I understand it would be better in many respects for a clean break – sell and move on – but on the other hand, if AFC don’t start making a stand over these issues then really we have no-one to blame but ourselves when the same situation repeats, as surely it will. We need to show the rest of the footballing world that we are a power; AFC is a club not to be messed with, and that we are not a means to an end but an end in itself.
Any Adnams in the house?
@ ‘holic.
Measured.
Kroenke has never pretended to be anything other than an investor, which makes him a lesser evil in my book. Danny F and Lady Nina sold him their shares rather than Usmanov, which I find tellling.
Usmanov can question our model all he likes, but where were his billions when we needed finances for the stadium? Or when the property market crashed and we were left with flats we couldn’t sell? Why isn’t he offering ridiculously lucrative sponsorship deals right now? Hogwash. He just wants power.
@ Andy
“self-sustaining” means that the club spends the money it generates itself from matchday income, sponsorship/commercial partnerships and TV rights. Fans pay to watch their clubs everywhere.
@ Trev
I saw your response, thanks. I latched onto the word “banking” because it carried the implication that the board are sitting on the money to earn interest or something like that. They may well have one eye on the share price but I can’t believe that winning trophies or moving up the league would lower the share price. In other words, I can’t see why they wouldn’t give it everything, short of running a deficit.
I’m operating way above my pay grade when it comes to talking about accounts, but the point I was making is that all the profits going on the football does not mean all the profits going on transfer fees or wages. I mentioned a CL safety net before; we have also built a medical centre. As for making a profit on our transfer dealings, what is the problem? If we spend every last penny, we must be wasting some of it because there is no way that wages and fees would conveniently come to exactly the amount we have available each year. So get what you need for the least possible outlay, save the remainder, and have the money to be flexible or bid big when we need to be. That money can go on bumping up wages, or on a big bid every now and then – like the Β£20m for Reina, for example. If we don’t have it, we can’t offer it.
trev over the last post, last post – well worth a read!
Heartfelt impartial stuff that captures the genuine gooners (that includes pretty much everyone here as far as i can tell) real dilemmas, and ain’t afraid to admit the little most of us really do know about some stuff that’s mighty important to us all when it comes down to it.
we’ve all got our gut feelings/hunches/instincts – however you call it. But these is strange and confusing times to be ah goonah – and that post pretty much encapsulates the state of play right now from where i’m looking.
Bad editing at the end there, Trev, but I hope you get the point.
Sorry did i spill (oops, pardon) miss something??? A sleeve perchance?!
@North West Gooner,
I hate to say it, but Spurs did that with Modric last season to a certain degree and resisted big money for the man. Different situation, and it might not work out for them this summer, but still… they took a stand against the big money.
I still say cash in on him. You cannot play him in the team. It is one thing to insult the manager and the club, but the DIRECT dig at his teammates makes his inclusion in the dressing room untenable. He is like an Adebayor and Nasri lab mutant; Samir Adebayor. He knows it and that is why the statement came out. It was deliberate, the same way Rooney did last year.
Arsenal are never going to splash for big transfer fees. We make players… unfortunately, we now sell them.
Take the cash, sell Theo too, and pick up a striker, a winger, a defensive midfielder and an experience keeper.
Thanks for all the goals last season, RvP. Now f’ off to where ever it is and have fun pulling in bigger pay while being crocked.
NWG @ 70 a Tony Adnams? Fine first post – have one on me (mine usually go on Zico, unfortunately).
You are becoming as wise as Solomon, ‘Holic.
“Opportunity is a mistress to be seized by the mischievous” was worth the price of admission alone.
Reading all the drinks over the past 24 hours or so, I come to the conclusion that what we all want most is for our players not to turn out to have feet of clay. We idolize them for a while, and ask for only commitment to our cause while they are wearing our colours. A trophy or two, would be nice, too. But when it is their time to move on, we are at one with that, whether it is for the money, or because they aren’t starting enough, or want to play elsewhere, or just feel they need a new challenge. We just want them to be straightforward and honest, and not behave like complete a*holes as they walk out the door.
Trev@the previous drinks: Treat that Β£21 million net transfer gain over five years with a pinch of salt. I am assuming it is taken from the financial accounts. You have to take amortization and capital gains into account, and also phased payments on players bought and sold when converting that into actual cash in the piggybank available to spend on players. Also that sum works out at Β£4 million a season, which wouldn’t buy much more than a David Bentley. And why would you?
NWG@70: welcome to the bar. Good post to get you off the mark. Tradition dictates a libation of your choosing on Lars’s tab.
@71 … Well said. Personally I like a self sustaining model over a sugar daddy approach. I like that Arsene goes for lesser known players that are geniunely overjoyed to be at Arsenal. The thought of supporting a bunch of superstars on 200kpw makes me sick to my stomach. Also, not sure why everybody is so deflated for the season. I for one am more excited than ever for kickoff. ( after a few more transfers of course π
bloody hell change the site name to ‘lets all suck holic’s balls’. Once Van P leaves we have no skillful players left, just potential! that won’t win us shit next season!
Most skillful player will be our left back ffs!
All hope on Ox next season an 18 yo kid who we risk burning out just like whilshire. I’m expecting a bad season, I just don’t have the same optimism as some of you guys. If you look back at last season we were so so lucky to get in the top 4, we played crap and if not for Van P we would have been in the bottom half of the table.
I love Van P and sad to see him leave but I can honestly see why, and I don’t blame him tbh. It’s not for the money like most of u believe, he’s already got more money than he could ever spend. He has probably 2/3 years left at the top and he wants to win something before retiring, simple. Go to City and have a 80% chance of winning a trophy or stay and it’s more like 10%.
On the plus side looking forward to watching Ryo, Ox, whilshire, coquelin, vela and hopefully Afobe this season all have great potential.
Squillaci, Rosicky, Arshavin and Bendtner need to be sold.
Hard ball is a wonderful dream but reality is we cash in on him. RVP already proved he’s a bit petulant through his career. We don’t need a cancer around the dressing room. Cash out on RVP and the ” deadwood ” guys and bring in 2-3 more quality signings.
Excellent stuff, Holic. Right up there with the best of what’s been written on this subject over the last 36 hours.
Only question now is how to maximise the value of the asset of which we are about to dispose. I have the feeling that a player swap rather than simple cash might be the better route. So, while Real Madrid or Barcelona are unlikely to fork out Euros soiled by Spanish banking incompetence, they may be prepared to get into human trafficking.
Xavi Alonso anyone?
holic can i order something else i hate guinness.
Couple of passing thoughts: in four of van Payslip’s (h/t to Thundertinygooner@45) eight seasons with Arsenal he scored fewer than 10 goals. Would Theo be such a loss? As I questioned in previous drinks, has he developed as much in the six seasons he has spent with us as was expected when he joined from Southampton? He has pace, to be sure, but what else? His Arsenal career stats: goal every 5.2 games; assist every 5.5 games. By comparison, the much maligned Arshavin: goal every 4.3 games, assist every 3.8 games.
@80 … Of course it’s about money. Has more money than he can spend? You must not follow sports much. Mike Tyson is broke and he blew through half a billion. I could list another 50 examples without even trying. One post playing days divorce and RVP is broke too.
Always worth while waiting for the dust to settle and see the sense emerging.
A terrible week for the club – and we needed some solidarity.
Thank you Holic!
The only hair I’d split with you – might be a beamish over a guineass..!!……but other than that, a wonderfully sensible, thoughtful and considerate take on it all.
Also enjoyed the Tabs / FG exchange as well as the Tabs / NB1 chinwag.
BTM – welcome back.
Zico – as ever..!
Trev – encore..!
My limited and reserved viewpoints on it all:
The is a maxim adapted in both law and accounting known as “substance over form”.
RVP’s statement is contrived. It is written by another. It is a statement that has been deliberated to achieve a result. It is a label. It is not from the heart. It is not a true reflection of the situation. It is petulant, selfish, disrespectful and contrived to achieve a result. There is no real substance to what he says.
Last season, I watched with my head held low, when we were spanked by Manu 8-2. It was an incredible low for any AFC fan. I said then, that if Wenger managed to turn around that result and get to CL qualification, that it should rank amongst his finest achievements.
I stand by that.
In a week when our manager has, (yet again), rebuffed an offer to manage the French national side, (as well as many offers from other top European clubs, and other national sides), his captain, who he has stood by during his protracted injuries over the past 8 years, has not only decided to leave the club that made him, but in the process, he has acted like a complete prick in disrespecting everything the club, the manager and fans stand for…!
As to what we should do next? Well Im prepared to leave that to Wenger. He’s not always right, there’s no doubt about that, but I don’t think there’s any other manager who could have kept us competitive on the resources available to him.
Amidst all the money, the exorbitant wages, the badge kissing, the agents, the prima donna statements and the will for a tin cup………………we have manager who refuses to bow, a manager who will not be tempted, a man who stands for everything he believes is right for the club and for the game at a large…
Thats fucking substance. That’s substance over form…!
I’ll repeat for the benefit of TH14 (whom I am not sure is worthy to use that moniker by the way)…
If someone says it’s not about money… it IS about money.
See other essential truths @ 12, above.
BMBD
@84 …. I won’t cry myself to sleep over Theo leaving.
FunG –
There is no harm in making a profit on transfer dealings, as such, but the issue, I think, comes down to an old chestnut of Steve T’s.
“Are we being the very best we can be?”
Last summer the consensus of opinion was that the Player Transfer Account contained around Β£40million before the sales of Cesc and Na$ri.
That should have meant a balance of around Β£100million befors our summer business was subtracted.
I have never been one who demands Β£30million marquee signings and, in the end, I quite liked our summer signings as they provided some missing experience and maturity.
What I find hard to understand is why, with significant amounts of cash earmarked for transfers, we have been buying Sylvestres and Squillacis and Parks. I fully accept that there have been excellent signings too like Vermaelen and Koscielny and Oxlade-Chamberlain.
I find the idea that the PTA also has to provide for player’s wages confusing. Surely these must be paid from incomes over the season, as the PTA never holds enough to meet the wage bill.
But this is why I didn’t want to get into financial waters – they are much too deep for me.
I would love if we played hard ball but cooler heads will prevail. With RVP, there will be several suitors thus keeping the transfer fee at a tidy level, plus we have two months to get the business done…vs. one bidder for Nasri and we still got 20mil+ at the end of the transfer market. Can we realistically expect another season like the last one from RVP?….I’m not an expert w/numbers but I do understand the concept of “reversion to the mean”.
I have to think that Le Prof knew this was coming with the recent signings and let it rest for a while hoping for a changed mind but now that RVP has fired the first shot it is time for action. Certainly this will be sorted far ahead of the start of the season?
I get it, chance to cash-in on a lucrative contract but he is hiding behind “winning trophies” and we all know it. If we had won something last year, would he have just signed another deal at 75% below what he could be paid? No Way. No need to release that bull on his website. Just say he wants the cash b/c he is at the peak of his career and this is his chance to cash-in, I can live with that. Not the first time this has happened and won’t be the last.
If he plays in the team he will be a malcontent and we will have to pull the captaincy from him while he’s on the team….just doesn’t work in my view.
RVP, he leaves when he wants.
ned@77, 3d paragraph: yes, please, particularly the last sentence.
one thing i wonder how this whole thing, particularly rvp’s “open letter”, will affect the clubhouse cameraderie. last year we heard not a little bit about how he and bouchra were organizing the outings with the wives/partners and the boys, and how everyone was genuinely happy to be there/be a part of it.
now it comes out that he doesn’t think this lot can help him to “win trophies with the team and to bring the club back to its glory days”, so he’s off. i can imagine the boys and their wives/partners aren’t really picking up their phones when the van persies call from here on out.
hopefully someone will step up and take their place. perhaps the vermaelens? tv is supposedly vice captain, so does he keep the oars all pulling in the same direction? the sagnas? he’s (in my mind) the next in line for captaincy…
@80
Suck Holic’s balls ? Oh, go on then .
If he didn’t miss last season, I’d be clamoring for Jack as captain. As it is, probably Vermaelan.
@86 A manager who is the 4th highest paid manager in the world and has won nothing in 7 years.
And Lester @72 and Joe – cheers fellas.
Nice work Joe @86.
I am Persienally Persied out now, so I will bid you all G’night.
Btm,
Alonso would be fantastic. Sadly our departing Cap’n is on his way to City.
I’m so confident, I’ll even buy you your fish and Chips next time you’re in The Tollie, if I’m wrong.
Cheers Joe π And an absolutely fantastic post .Agree with every word. Great stuff.
Ping?
BMBD.
Before I go –
Get to sleep as well TH14 – must be exhausted after all the thought that went into @80 and 94.
@94,
I wonder if the player of your chosen moniker has the same disparaging (and simplistic) view of the manager ?
Doubt it.
Nods in?
Superb lurking Garsguns π
And assisted by the man himself,cheers tabs π
TH14,
Yeah thats what its all about isn’t it? Don’t bother your arse mentioning the new stadium, the lack of funds, the Oligarchs & Oil Shiehks who have changed the landscape of football and sought to destroy everything he has tried to built.
Instead, follow the usual lazy tabloid headline.
We play some of the best football in the world. We, largely, compete at the highest level, and I don’t deny they’re are exceptions to that. We do so organically, with a vibrant sense of self worth and an ethos about what the game should stand for. Maybe one day, you’ll get that..!
I’d pick Arteta or Koscielny for captain personally. I am not sure if TV5 is an automatic pick with a healthy Koscielny and Mertesacker (who I think will show to be a great signing this year).
TH14
That’s some great moaning.
Since you’re obviously a bright lad who knows a thing or two, would you care to share with us your solution to the malaise? The Uzbeki? Mourinho? Messi? Jesus?
Le grove style …. ” WENGER OUT!!! Bring Pep in. He’ll convince Messi then get Thiago Silva for 50M, Cesc back for 40M, Ronaldo to back up Theo and EPL is ours!!!! WENGER OUT!!!! “
Oh my good gawd – fink the club may have released as yet unseen footage (ahem!) of Artetetetetetaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! our latest and p’raps second greatest Spanish maestro rehearsing pre-season for his new role as club captain?!
http://youtu.be/kwJWr_Zk1R8
And on that note goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-d nite
very disappointed over on this side of the atlantic, but i believe that some on this board have already posted some excellent thoughts on our situation, and it’s good to highlight what i feel are really well-made points.
1. rvp was gone, and maybe we expected a bit more from him. if he’s forcing the issue though, i don’t believe we can sell him to an epl club regardless of the money on offer. we’ve proved that last year and this year, despite the immense difference in squad cost, we can compete with city and chelsea and even united if we don’t have eight people out injured and are trying to finish our transfer business. we got out of the CL group again against the bundesliga title-holders last year and this and we dropped a really bad game against the best team in italy before roaring back in style and almost making amends.
2. rvp has most likely played his best in any football shirt as players peak at 28 so while i’d like to keep him, perhaps selling him isn’t such a problem if we replace with able scorers. for example, why wouldn’t we have purchased someone like clint dempsey last season (not sure he’d be good purchase now) who we knew could get 10-15 goals every season and could play on the wings or through the middle? a player like that would have been better than almost every one of our purchases from the past few years save arteta, kos, vermaelen (isn’t the same player). and as someone already mentioned, we brought in some pretty damn-good players.
3. the one constant through all the turmoil has been wenger who has made mistakes, or more correctly probably, failed to account for oil oligarchs spending the gdp of a few third-world nations on assembling a team of mercenaries. that’s some kind of world in which to compete where your biggest rivals are losing 4 times in a year what your club has spent to assemble its squad. i’m critical of wenger for not more quickly adjusting to this new environment, but i have to admit that i can’t imagine any other manager on the planet achieving the same.
4. ffp is going to be toothless or what is even worse and probably closer to the truth end up creating an unbridgeable chasm between a chosen european super group of teams. i hope that our piety with regard to our financing will have some weight and put us into that group, but who knows with world footballing organizations how decisions really get made, and i shudder to think.
5. i think some should really reconsider what an owner means and also read up on the finances of the club at swiss ramble. it’s nice to think that owners all love the clubs that they control, but that may not always be the best situation. emotional ties can lead to poor decision-making. it’s also a bit hasty to wish for one of the owners to drop millions or even billions on a new squad when it’s just as likely that you end up with a liverpool or villa scenario. i think that it would be nice for the billionaire owners to take the debt of the stadium off of the club if they really want to show their affection. the debt service might not be difficult to take on, certainly not for usmanov and the structure could remain the same, perhaps rent the stadium back to the club for 1 quid a year or something.
Great post Holic. I have been struggling to keep up with it all at the moment. Some great comments both here and during the previous round.
I like your analogy of the twin assaults on our club. We all feel protective of what we still consider to be, our club. And there lies the route of the problems. The club is ours. We were all here pre RVP and AW. We were here pre Gazidis and Silent Stan. We were here before Usmanov and God willing, we will all he here long after they have gone. We canβt change even if we wanted to. The problem is that loyalty only applies to the fans. The rest is about one thing, and one thing only. Money. Money is and always will be the biggest problem in the game. Greed has taken over at all levels. From players to board level.
RVP. Does he want more dosh? Of course he does. I have read many that blame his agent. His agent is employed to get best deal possible. As is Arsene Wengerβs agent. As are the agents the club uses to broker deals all over the place. Personally I hate them. But they are sadly now very much part of the game.
So, are Robinβs comments treachery? In my opinion they are not. He has a year left on his contract. He is entitled to his opinion and he is entitled to decline a new contract. Am I happy with that? No, most certainly not. So why does he not want to sign? I must say that I am firmly in the camp that I do not think it is just about money. I get it very much that effectively he has had one fantastic season. But what a season. I said in the last drinks that I dread to think where we would have ended up had he got his customary injury. Robin is entitled to his opinion. He is entitled to express it. He is clearly in possession of far more information than any of us. Again, I am far from happy with his decision not to sign but quite frankly, that is life. We deal with it and move on.
The response of Red and White was as expected as the rain we will no doubt get tomorrow. They sense a potential weakness, a vulnerability, and then stick their two bobβs worth in. Is anyone really surprised at that? We should all have expected it and should all have had a rough idea as to its content.
As soon as Stan and Usmanov assumed their assault on the club we all knew it was likely to end in tears. I hate to say it but I fear this is only the start. We have two self elected Alpha males bidding to become the solitary Alpha male. Stan obviously has the upper hand at the moment, something the Uzbeki gorilla is not happy with. So any chance of a cheap shot will not go wasted. However, it achieves nothing. It gets us in the papers for all the wrong reasons and sets loyal Gooners off on one at each other. But having sold out to the money men there is nothing we can do about it. Constant speculation will just fuel the anger of certain fans. Trev raised a point that I have been raising for a few years now with regards to the profits we make in the transfer market. Hence my continued asking of the βare we the best we can beβ question. Who knows, perhaps RVP actually feels the same.
My problem is definitely with the Alpha male syndrome. There is clear disharmony. I do find it strange that someone with 30% ownership is shunned in such a way by the current board. I have no feelings towards either. Like everyone here, my love is for this great club of ours. I for one an bored stiff with going through these situations almost every close season. I am bored stiff at having to sell captains. I am bored stiff seeing our best players leave season after season. I feel that by now we should be beyond all of that.
The Alpha make battle needs to be settled. RVP? I am with BTM although as much as I love Alonso, I would be bringing Benzema in.
Keep the faith holics.
Joe@103 – I was going to (try and) write exactly that but couldn’t summon the steam. Well said.
TABS – Haddock please. (And a pickled onion for Dr Z)
@105 not that bright just putting across my opinion obviously upset a few people with that. I don’t think there’s a quick fix tbh I think the clubs been going downhill for years now not sure if related but ever since dein left out best players are leaving and contracts are being left to run down.
Going forward someone needs to invest some money in the team whether that be Uzbeki or kronke, both are billionaires ffs it’s like they’re both playing a cat and mouse game with our beloved club. Either one of these guys could clear our debt with one call to thr banks the uzbeki guy bought a freking boat for Β£300m our remaining debt is just Β£250m.
Also we need to keep our best players and add quality world class players only each season, we can’t sell our best players and replace them with players half as good and expect to win trophies its not working.
Haven’t commented for ages as our dΓ©jΓ vu seasons made the arguments too circular to continue.
This crap however is something else again. Self serving drivel from our, surely, erstwhile “captain” coupled with a new outburst from the ever obnoxious “Red and White”. The stench of the Dein’s is overpowering.
‘holic’s excellent piece deals with the former but as to the latter, well . . . .
R&W don’t want a seat on the Board? Not my impression of their various manoeuvrings.
IG approaches some dodgy Russian mobile phone company for sponsorship which, lo and behold it turns out Usmanov owns. But as he never, ever, ever wants to sit on any Board perhaps it’s not too surprising IG has no idea of the connection.
As for “we have invested circa Β£200 million in cash in the equity of the club” let us be clear: you have spent that amount in buying shares way beyond their market value in the hope you can take us over and make even more money. That cash has not gone to the Club, simply to people fortunate to own shares in it. David Dein being the most obvious recipient.
Oh but wait they are “Loyal supporters and will never do anything that will destablise, blah fucking blah, etc”.
The nonsense continues with comparisons to the chavs and arabs – rich sugar daddies – and Real and Barca – normally up to their necks in debt; which is apparently something R&W wish to aviod.
And how is this to be achieved? Why, through a debt free club – wave that magic wand why dontcha? – and being listed on the ever wonderful Stock Exchange.
Fuck off and die is my considered response.
There are undoubtedly still huge problems at the club but we really don’t need to invite this lot in to create even more.
I can already hear “Fuck off van Persie” echoing around The Grove in the not too distant future.
Happy days . . . . .
Trev@89: I doubt that the Transfer Proceeds Account (TPA) contains anything like the Β£100 million you suggest. The TPA is a condition of the bonds part of the stadium financing, intended to protect lenders by making sure that the club continues to invest in its core asset, the playing squad. Seventy percent of net player trading proceeds have to be paid into it. It doesn’t appear as a line item in the accounts, so we don’t exactly know its level, but, as you say, last summer, before the Cesc and Nasri sales and the Arteta, Mertesacker &c arrivals, it was estimated to be in the Β£40 million-50 million range. Buried in the footnotes of the last annual accounts is an estimate that our net proceeds from last summer’s transfer business that occurred after last year’s books were closed (Cesc et al) was only Β£12.1 million, and only 70% of that would have to go into the TPA. Furthermore the TPA isn’t a transfer war chest. It can be used for extending contracts (which is where you may get the impression it is used for players’ wages), meeting liabilities such as delayed transfer payments when players we have bought make so many appearances &c — we are potentially on the hook for up to Β£12 million for those β acquiring other footballing assets that enhance the squad, even paying off debt early. Hope that helps explain it a bit.
WS@92: Tsk! Tsk! Respect for the Guv’nor.
Re: Steve T @109: Is it time we went in search of some alpha females? π
Personally, I would settle for some beta females but that’s another story.
MF@108: you are right that the economics of the game have shifted fundamentally since we launched the stadium project. But they did so once our course was set. The long term financing of such a project means that a rapid change of course is impossible. It is not Wenger alone who has to adjust to the new circumstances but the board as a whole. They have started to do so, but, like turning round a supertanker, it takes time.
…and to add to that, AW has done a wonderful job of buying them time.
I can’t believe Arsenal are getting stick for running their club In a responsible manner, which Include’s paying their employee’s the market rate. Β£200,000- Β£250,000 per week Is not market rate, It’s the rate only a few club’s can afford.
It’s not like every club Is subsidized by whole government ala Man City or a guy who has raped his homeland (Russia) of It’s natural resources and has denied his people what RIGHTFULLY belong’s to them, Instead he Is pumping money that belong’s to the Russian people Into a mid table club which was more known for It’s hooliganism than It’s ‘Great Trophy Laden History’
Steve T,
“So, are Robinβs comments treachery? In my opinion they are not. He has a year left on his contract. He is entitled to his opinion and he is entitled to decline a new contract.”
I’m good with the first bit. The pain is coming from the fact that he is declining to fulfill his current contractual obligations (which is, of-course the basis for his excellent 90k per week, with most of it spent in the hospital ward wrapped in horse placenta).
By firing off Wednesday’s anarchic Exocet, he effectively said “F.U. I’m not playing next season but I don’t have the balls to ask for a transfer (because it would cost me money)”
Benzema is the back half of Andy Capp Carrol’s pantomime horse. His touch is terrible. Please, please no.
Best regards to the young protege. Look forward to seeing you both soon.
Right. Definitely back off to sleep now till August. You make wake me up via Her Nellieness if we sign someone.
ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…………
@ 94 TH14
I’ve been waiting to show you and your fellow doom and gloomers on Le Groan this for a while. Based on other accounts–I even have a citation for my numbers–Wenger isn’t even in the top four highest paid managers in the EPL.
Here is the list:
http://www.footy-boots.com/revealed-footballs-highest-paid-managers/
Oh yeah, the list came out after AVB was fired so his 4.4 million salary isn’t even on the list. Once again, if it was it would be higher then Wenger’s as well.
By the way, I think he earns every penny he makes whether he’s the 4th highest paid in the world or the 40th.
But I’m sure you’ll believe what you wanna believe.
Just an ordinary boring pre-season. That’s what I wanted. Remember those? Waiting for early pictures on the .com of the players at the training camp in Austria. Then if we had a new signing – the first photo of the player in his new Red & White shirt. Yea. That’s what I want …
π
MAGunner @ 120: I have observed that as a principle concrete evidence to the contrary has a habit of fueling faith in false ideas. People choose to believe because it is absurd. π
Moving on… some other interesting updates. Hugo Lloris is apparently on the cards. Surprising if it is true, but a very reasonable move indeed. If it is true, Szczesny will have the competition and guidance he really needs and between them we should have a reliable pair.
Sagna by his own admission is back running. Hopefully he would be able to start the season fully fit, and young Jenkinson will be able to continue his impressive development (I don’t know about others, but I think he made good progress last season and there is a very good player in him) without having to step into the field as the first choice RB.
I hope Theo renews his contract, but he if doesn’t we would need another right sided wing player as otherwise it would be Ox sharing duty with Rosicky who is not at his best in the wings anyway.
I know Bendter and Vela are up for sale, and so is most likely the most prosaic of the enigma called Park, but what do you all think about the prospect of Chamakh and Ryo? I am in favor of keeping Ryo in the first team and not loaning him out again. Start him in Carling cup (or whatever it is called this year) matches but also bring him on in selective PL matches against teams that are not known for attempted thuggery.
Chamakh is an interesting case. Most likely he would be gone too, but I won’t be surprised if Arsene would like to keep him as the only remaining central Striker who is at least familiar with Arsenal and the PL.
Dr Faustus: Delighted to hear about the Lloris rumour: He’s a great GK and I believe that we need his kind of steady assurance to back up our firebrand Szez.
What, btw, has happened to all the M’Vila hype?
I hear that our new French striker is a great header of the ball – its would be nice to see him get under a few of Corporal Jenkinson’s crosses into the box. I always felt that good crosses were wasted as far as the Arsenal team was concerned … but that may be about to change..
Chamakh is a smoker and I don’t like players that smoke – get rid of fast IMO …
Apart from that I am still as gutted as yesterday … π
‘holic — You are, as always, a very measured gentleman. For that, I salute you.
My take is that Silent Stan is the problem. Him and his self-sustaining model bullshit. Gooners, please read Soccernomics. Football clubs are not meant to be profitable business companies. Period.
Silent Stan is the problem.
Give me sugar daddy Usmanov every day of the week and twice on Sunday.
How in the world can the second largest shareholder, Usmanov @ 30%, not even get a seat on the Board? Absolutely reprehensible.
AFC does not spend like a club that generates the 5th largest revenues in Europe. That is the problem. Lack of ambition. Lack of spending. It saddens me π
Silent Stan, you are a lightweight compared to the Russian oligarch, therefore, for the best of the club, please sell your shares to Usmanov. I implore you. AFC does not deserve to be Man City’s feeder club π
GT @ 123: The Lloris thing is a rumor only at this time. Hopefully Snir would shed some light. π
About Chamakh — I would leave the decision about a player’s lifestyle suitability to Arsene. π But most likely he would be gone too. It is just that we need someone centrally who has scored at least one goal in PL. And it is too early for Theo to play centrally, if he stays.
I am not really gutted. RVP in my mind was gone as it was apparent he was not willing to renew. I didn’t really expect the lack of class and respect, and allowing himself to be so easily manipulated by his greed or ‘ambition’, but then once it happened not entirely surprised either.
The recent experimental (most likely) confirmation of the existence of Higgs Boson is one of the greatest events in Physics in last few decades. It is an excellent validation of the Standard Model a theoretical framework of which is an encouraging reminder of the great heights human mind can attain. The self-service pettiness and skulduggery of bloated egos and ill-gotten riches are then easy to forget, and forgive.
I am off to bed now. π
Off to golf.
Play nicely please. Thanks.
ned@116, i think these two sentences “The long term financing of such a project means that a rapid change of course is impossible. It is not Wenger alone who has to adjust to the new circumstances but the board as a whole.” underly everything we see going on. and that is with the second sentence incomplete (imho it should read “…as a whole, and all the fans”).
it’s about ambition, eh robin?
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1248749-the-robin-van-persie-saga-why-its-all-about-money?
nicely put.
1:50 AM Jamaica time. Good night..
Good 129 GT, but I expected you to get 100.
Well in garsguns.
Have fun, ‘holic.
Though surely rain is not the ideal weather?
Listless and tired…time for a break methinks…
midnight at the oasis, this camel is off to sleep, perchance to dream.
Back-drinking before heading off to work…
BridgeGooner@83 At long last, the voice of sanity in this bar. Have a couple of pints of whatever on my slate next time you’re in.
Apart from that, too many good posts to mention. (Or, translated into English… Lots of posts, many of which I agreed with, some I disagreed with and several slapping down the ones I thought deserved it; also a few slapping down views that I agreed with but generally that I’ve forgotten about.)
Oh, it’s FFF. Well F…. Nah, can’t be bothered. Good luck in the rain all in the UK.
High ho, high ho, it’s off to work I go…
Has anyone spoken about the club’s restrictive wage structure and wage ceiling? If Man City, Man Utd, and Juventus can offer RvP double his wages:
1) Why does anybody begrudge him for wanting to leave?
2) Why doesn’t AFC offer their long serving employee, and current captain, FMV?
3) Is there something massively wrong with AFC’s current football management philosophy?
How many players need to exit the door on their own initiative for every Gooner to accept that things aren’t run in a kosher way at the moment?
Just last year: Cesc left (he was just entering his prime); Nasri left (he was just entering his prime); RvP is leaving (last season’s EPL MVP); Walcott is next to go; Wilshere just as soon as he can; etc. etc. etc.
The writing is on the wall. I’m not blind. Why is the Board?
Last trophy: MMV
It’s a shame that AFC doesn’t have the same ownership structure as FCB, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, et al.
That is, ownership by the club supporters. This bullshit would not be currently happening. At least, not for long. Silent Stan would not be re-elected.
We are not too far off from being Everton at the moment. At least the way we operate and spend money.
Aaahh, flights and hotel now booked for my first London trip of the season. It’s more than two months away, but at least I can see the light at the end of the tunnel π
scruz@128: very good read, cheers!
Many interesting and well-thougt posts and also a few which just makes me shake my head in disbelief. I still think we will come out fairly ok as a team.
Also, I do not really agree that what we are seeing now is a repeat of last summer. To a certain extent, yes, but we were in a FAR worse position then. We had only brought in Gervinho (and Jenkinson, but he was not primarily brought in for immediate first-team strenghtening) at that point and looked set to lose not just one but two major players. We didn’t have Mertesacker, we didn’t have Arteta, we didn’t have Santos (who I think is a far from as poor in defence as many others seem to think) and we certainly didn’t have Podolski and Giroud. In any case, there were two things we needed to to this summer, which was a) reduce the dependency on RvP to score shitloads of goals and b) improve defensively. Point a) has been addressed and judging by the persistent rumours about M’Vila we are in the market for a defensive midfielder as well.
Anyway, got to go do some actual work now, need to bring in the money so that I can afford to fly to London for as many games as possible!
“…Perhaps the best guide I have is my complete and utter indifference to Frank Stapleton these days. Elephants and βholics have long memories…
Pure Goonerholic gold.
Well nailed, maestro.
Lars, TS, ‘holic — You chaps are the ever eternal optimists. God bless you. I truly don’t know how you do it? A certain off the market herbal drink perhaps? I’ve gotta get me some. I’m so glass half empty fella at the moment.
If only that fine skinny Italian woman didn’t stand me up tonight, maybe I would have been a glass half full bloke upon awakening? π
Just did some very amateur sleuthing on t’interweb:
Both playing from a mostly left wing position:
Robin Van Pursey; 28 years old. 59 caps Nederlands. 24 goals
Lucas Podolski; 26 years old. 101 caps Germany. 44 goals. *
Arsenal in crisis!!!
*these may not be exact, but you get my point….
Okay. Off to bed. G’day ‘holics. Dreaming about what might have been — on more than one level … π
Roberto @ 135
Why donΒ΄t we offer him the same as Man City & Man U ?
Answer: Leeds Utd, Glasgow Rangers. π
IΒ΄ve also got a problem with people citing all the players we have Β¨lost”
Viera: we sold him when we wanted to. Past his prime.
Henry: Ditto
Nasri: Good riddance
Adebayor: Good riddance
Cesc: We had little choice. Over a barrel.
Clichy: Seriously??
Gilberto….. NOW there is where we made a mistake. IMO.
Unrequited love.
It’s the most painful kind of love. Β Someone we felt we loved, and who, we convinced ourselves, Β loved us back. Β In an earth-shattering moment we discovered, it was all superficial. Β At least on their part.
How painful it is to see them up close and personal with that suave, swarthy gent, whose principal attribute is to have shed loads of money and tasteless bling. Β The tacky, new rich. Β
But it’s only money. Β Our love won’t be lofted on to a pedestal, any more than the rest of the harem, believing the lies they tell themselves “It’s not about the money.
Oh it’s about the money all right.Β
It always is.
Catalan@143 Please don’t feed the trolls.
Catalan@144 I wholeheartedly agree about Gilberto. It’s the first time I’ve seen someone mention him. Have a small one on me.
Dr. CG,
Two points:
1) We are nowhere close to those clubs you cited. We actually make profits. Football clubs aren’t supposed to be profitable enterprises. Very few are or ever have been — Soccernomics (Simon Kuper).
2) We no longer decide when our best players leave. They decide now and all the best players of late have spoken loudly and clearly with their feet. Also, said best players are leaving before they enter their prime which never happened before. Bottom line: we no longer decide when our best players leave — they do — massive difference, respectfully.
Note: I am not happy about the present situation. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Which would not have been the case if that sweet little Italian vixen wandered off. Oh dear π
Roberto, for me it’s very easy to be optimistic – I just am π Just look at the bigger picture here, we have lost/sold good players before and in the eyes of many been seen as doomed but somehow we are still up there and while we may not have won anything lately, only three other clubs have won the league since we won it last and all three of them have huge financial advantages for various reasons and two of them have virtually bottomless pockets. It can’t just be down to luck that Arsene Wenger pulls off the supposedly impossible season after season (when was the last time we were NOT widely tipped to fall out of the top four before the start of a season, for example?), him and the club must be doing something right after all.
zico,
“Unrequited love.”
“Itβs the most painful kind of love. Β Someone we felt we loved, and who, we convinced ourselves, Β loved us back. Β In an earth-shattering moment we discovered, it was all superficial. Β At least on their part.”
That’s exactly what I’m talking about!
Cole, Toure, Adebayor, Clichy, Nasri, Cesc, and now RvP. Also, throw in Lady Terry, my fine, sweet, nimble, nubile, Italian vixen. Oh, what might have been. The things we could have achieved … together. Lady Terry. Cesc. Robin.
I need a fine Catalan lady friend that won’t stray π
Roberto, it is a point of debate wether RvP leaves before or after his prime but my money is on him never again coming even close to repeating the last season and a half.
Lars,
I do admire your optimism. If it wasn’t for the genius of Wenger this club would have had much different results once Abramovich and Oil Dubai came around. Note: once the Russian came around, more or less, we haven’t had silverware. That’s not a coincidence. Now there’s also Oil Dubai in the picture. We cannot compete with that at the present moment. My humble opinion: Silent Stan (lightweight) please sell a controlling interest to the Russian Usmanov (heavyweight) who is willing and able to put this grand club back to where it belongs — winning trophies.
After I whispered the above situation to Lady Terry she fully grasped the situation and took flight — much like a flying Robin ;(
s/b π
Lars,
Well, point taken on RvP wrt his prime. However, Cesc and Nasri certainly were only approaching their prime before they left — this never happened in the past to us, it’s not a good sign for the future, the more this happens along with the longer we go w/o a trophy equals a slippery slope. A veritable black hole which will become ever increasingly more difficult to get out of.
Are we slowly becoming Everton?
Please reassure me that we are not.
Even Liverpool has won silverware recently …
I’m waiting for van Persie to do a Rooney, and sign a new contract by tomorrow π
Lars @ 151
I keep hearing that.
Yet if Robin had said, “right I am now signing a new 4 year contract,” each and every one of us would be looking forward to 4 more years of what he produced last season irrespective of whether that might be realistic or not.
Anyone who is saying he won’t be as good as he was last year, is howling at the moon, because they are just hoping that will be the case.
If he stays injury free, he will be a potent threat wherever he ends up.
But he will be what he is – not a legend, just another player.
Roberto @ 150
Of your list, I truly believe that only the last two are worth
getting your knickers in a twist about…..if you must.
As it happens, plenty more fish in the sea……but keep away from
the ones with green eyes π
So, the writing on the wall turned into the writing on twitter,myspace, facebook and the web site.
This isn`t news to Wenger or any of the higher management as we have brought two strikers before the window opened. Would they have done that if RVP said he was signing ? I think Not !
Every summer Arsenals best players are leaving for pastuers new were the feilds are paved of gold and injuries and miss fortune await them. The list of players who have fell foul of the leaving Arsenal because everything is better else were is too long to list.
So leave ! But dont insult the fans that you are only leaving because Arsenal dont match your ambitions.
AW : Robin we never want to win a trophy ever again and do not want to sign any players.
RVP: Really ?
AW : Yes ! we are hopping to get relegated this season are sure you wont reconsider signing ?
RVP : WTF !
AW : Ok thats not entierly true, Heskey is signing on a 5 year deal !
RVP : You have left me no choice ! I will not sign a contract !
AW : AAHHHH Shit ! I knew I shouldnt of let him in on our cunning plan !
So please don`t insult us Robin !
Good luck RVP were ever you may end up, but leave with dignity like Clichy did. Bigger players have come and gone and Arsenal still remain !
Gooner for life
zico, to clarify my 151 drink: I only meant that RvP has most likely passed his peak. But as I have said many times, I wanted to keep him at Arsenal because he will of course still be a good player.
Anyone who is saying he wonβt be as good as he was last year, is howling at the moon, because they are just hoping that will be the case
Didn’t the humble pie after Milan teach you not to be so definitve? π
Kidding aside, there is of course every possibility that you may be right. But I also remember many of us talking, at the Tollie, as early as late October (before Stoke at home, to be precise) about what we would do if someone came in with a biggish bid for him this summer and the general consensus was more or less that that could be good business – partly because we thought it unlikely that Robin could keep up this scoring rate for too long.
Heh Lars,
Love a bit of Humble Pie, me.
The key to it is whether he will remain fit and healthy – the turf accountants would give you a fairly short price on that, and the vindictive will wish him injured and indulge in some major schadenfreude (now where have I seen that word recently?)
Best case scenario for us is that he goes abroad, but I doubt it will happen. I expect to see him replace Dzeko or Tevez at Man City. And if he’s fit, he will score a barrow load of goals for them.
Anyway, stop this debating lark. Get the drinks in.
PS – rethinking my visit for the first home game given the Olympic palaver – maybe see you on 15th instead.
Decisions, decisions.
zico — I know most Gooners hate him but Cole is still a near world class LB. and we missed all those years of his service. Also, I know most Gooners hate him but Adebayor would still be doing the business for us (scoring goals) if we were only willing to pay him a reasonable FMV pay packet. Adebayor is we were only willing to pay him a reasonable FMV pay packet. Adebayor is not far off from Balotelli. And we saw what Balo did against Germany. Also, I know most Gooners hate him but Clichy would still be doing the business for us if we were only willing to pay him a reasonable FMV pay packet. Clichy was selected ahead of Evra (that Man Utd LB) as France’s first choice LB for most of Euro 2012 (of course, only after Abidal wasn’t available due to receiving a recent liver transplant). Clichy also played the business end of ManC’s EPL championship campaign. Don’t try to tell me that our present LBs are superior. They simply are not.
Although, I do like the Brasilian going forward, I must say. I also wish that Lady Terry had a Brasilian π
Oxon… cheers! But only a small one? It is Friday…
Lars…. I was thinking the same re RVP. In fact, there were a few little droughts of goals in the final months, were there not?
That was kind of what I was thinking when I posted the Poldi stats.
1971 – heh!!! π
Sorry guys. I’m really not trying to be difficult and I do have the best interests of the club at heart.
I’m just having trouble falling asleep.
Notwithstanding:
Current Year: MMXII
Last Trophy: MMV
Silverware Drought: MMXII – MMV = VII & counting
One of the reasons I drink so many draughts is because of the above drought π
Hurricane is 18 today!!!
Lars, get your wallet out…. π
As for Poldi and now Giroud — they were always pre-emptive signings to replace RvP on the rational thoughts that Robin was going to fly the nest as soon as he could.
At least Goldi Poldi has a kick ass song we can sing at the Grove, eh?
Roberto,
So I just imagined Adebayor’s lack of effort in his last season with the club? He is a walking attitude problem and that can cost a lot more than salary.
I wouldn’t have him anywhere near the club, personally.
Fuck em all – the non-legends that they are! 8)
Roberto I don’t know weather your craving a bit of ass or a few mercenaries more π ?
Happy Birthday Wind.
You now have no excuse – Guinness in triplicate please π
Happy birthday wind.has anybody noticed ever since zico recommended H2H for the holic train executive committee he has mysteriously gone missing?
Great news. We have almost offloaded Vela. Fee is small but theres a massive sell on fee. Makes perfect sense for us. Hope the Squillaci thing can be sorted out sooner rather than later.
This season , like last, HAS to be about moving on players who are preventing us from investing in new ones.
Chamakh,Park, Diaby, still far too much deadwood in there.
Wind Birthday? Now blow these candles and have a great one.
Eisfeld to step up to the plate??
Happy birthday Windy Wonder! Hope it’s a good one…
I’m off to get some drinks and then do some artwork.
Chat to you gooners later
So why did Adebayor show such a lack of enthusium when he had excelled else where
http://www.arsenal.com/indesitfridgecompetition
Judging by some recent developments, we finished 17th so I’m confused the options are 2nd 3rd or 4th….
Roberto
Re Leeds and rangers.
That was my point. Spend money we haven’t got and we will end up as they have. City and united have more financial clout than us.
Suicidal to try and match them.
Trigger
Such as at city, who also couldn’t wait to get rid?
Another splendid offering from arseblogger today.
Oh, and shut up Kolo too. It’s tiring.
Wind’s birthday eh? Have a good one mate – your ‘first’ visit to a pub!
Oh and Toure? Kindly fuck off, thanks ever so much.
Just bit off topic, is it only me or it is for the fact that when things are looking good you can see only regulars in the drinks and when things turns doom and gloom (now the RvP issue) suddenly lot of newcomers turns up in the bar?
It is just fascinating that there is an urge to express yourself only when things are negative and when everything seems ok, there is no “Hey, they seem to be doing great job in there so far”. Which was pretty much the case until Robin expressed his desire to not sign new contract.
Eandy…. Spot on π
Don’t get me wrong, I am also disappointed by the whole thing but I think that club did enough (in its power and limits) to convince him to stay. Bought proved international player – check, bought another striker to offload pressure and “overreliance” on him – check, offered him best contract possible in clubs wages structure – check. Along with other stuff like becoming bloody legend.
I am bit torn about how the situation should be dealt with. I would say sell him now, just not to City. On the other hand hardball approach is also very tempting, to show other clubs and agents that Arsenal is no longer going to allow to get messed with in this manner.
Eandy @ 180
Good shout.
Although, in fairness, whenever Arsenal have a really great result I like to treat myself to a little trip over to some of the more vocal doomer blogs.
It’s great fun watching the authors squirm and equivocate as they attempt to hide their obvious disappointment that the team has done well and proved them wrong.
I guess if we flip that round then there might be some out there who drop in on our own fine establishment on dark days to see if we’re all still managing to whistle a happy tune.
@ 89 Trev
I don’t really understand it either, but… What Ned said at 113, basically! Thanks, Ned.
Triffic stuff today from some of the regulars. And you are of course right, Eandy, about the sudden infestation of pop-up trolls.
@ Steve T, RvP can leave – he doesn’t have to be gratuitously insulting, disrespectful, ungrateful, and mendacious.
Ah, Gilberto…what a gentleman.
Interesting reading so many comparing our wages with those at Citeh, the mancs and the Chavs etc. I am not suggesting for one second that we pay such over inflated premiums for players, but we should not be too far away. I am genuinely not sure what happens at board level anymore. However, when we are quitting money just consider this. In the last 5 years we have made a net profit on transfer of 21 million. A side like Stoke have a net spend of 60 million. Even Swansea Cith have a net spend greater than ours. Consider that along with the ticket prices and match day revenue we generate. Now, I won’t for one second believe that the main motivation for Robin’s comments are not financial. But is it any wonder when you consider those facts that there are some that question the club’s ambition?????
And Garrett at 112 – great comment
Happy birthday, Wind.
Eandy @ 182: Once it has become obvious that we have to sell a player I don’t think choosing not to sell him to the highest bidder is a viable stance. So if oily city is paying the highest price, we would sell RVP to them. There really are not that many clubs who will cough up, for a striker approaching thirty, the kind of money that we may be able to get from Man City. However, like you too I would be glad if we don’t have to play against him in PL, simply because he remains an excellent player.
I am already over this. Let us now see how the team shapes up: one goalkeeper and one defensive midfielder are to be added, but any further bolstering of the strike force or retaining out-of-favor Chamakh? Any attacking midfielder? If Theo doesn’t renew any winger? Should we keep Ryo in the first team or loan him out again? What about Afobe?
I think last season’s lessons have been learnt and at least the core of the team would be finalized and gelled together before the season starts.
Catalan @ 163, Zico @ 167, garsguns @ 168, Ollie @ 170, CoR @ 172, Camberwell @ 179 ( π , it really will be if I go!), NBN @ 187, thanks you guys π
@ 185 Steve T
It doesn’t really make sense to say we “shouldn’t be too far away” from City et al. We can only offer our top player a certain amount. That amount is determined by our finances, not by City’s or Chelsea’s. We have the the fourth highest turnover and the fourth highest wage bill – that seems logical to me.
And in any case, whatever we offer, City could offer more.
Ned’s comment at 113 explains the finances. We are not in fact sitting on a vast unspent sum.
If you measure ambition solely on how much we spend on buying players, then we are not the most ambitious club in the league. But I don’t think that is the sole measure. I think the quality of the players matters more than how much they cost us to buy or develop. I also think that building a training centre, stadium and medical centre, and aiming to recruit top personnel, are all evidence of ambition.
Stoke have not got their minus Β£60 million spend through getting better players. They have just been worse than us at playing the transfer market. We have bought better players for less overall and sold our players for more money overall, is what that says to me.
I think there are huge strains on Arsenal but they are coming from outside the club, not from inside the boardroom.
Chamakh is an interesting one Doctor, with RvP well on his way off right now, he might be in for some more playtime, but with Giroud in who is pretty much same player stylewise, it does not make much sense …and it does, since they could easily rotate while the system team is going to play could remain unchanged.
As for Ryo, I would love to see the little wonder in first team next season, in the same role Ox had this one, starter in cups, cameos in league games and if he proves as good as Ox did, use him as an impact sub even in important games. I dont know why but I have gut feeling that this kid is going to be big. He is pacy guy with lot of skill on the ball, could prove as good sub for Theo.
Going to my birthday dinner soon & my phone with internet is getting repaired, be back on after π
Eandy @ 191: I too think Ryo has huge potential. Not only he is fast and tricky, his decision making on final ball is good for his age, but the most impressive part is his desire and work rate.
About Chamakh, he most likely well be sold too. But then we would need another striker. I think Poldi and Gervinho would compete for the left wing, Theo (or a replacement) & Ox on the right, with Ryo as the third replacement on either wing, and in that case Giroud needs a backup, preferably someone with PL experience. And then Afobe can be the third choice.
Afternoon All,
Looking forward to when the Birthday Boy, Wind, turns up. Maiden round (on Lars of course), always humungous.
So then, what’s occurring ?
SteveT @109 – Great post .Agree with your angst re the Sport itself and the greed that underpins it, but I’m not sure why you’re giving RVP such a free ride.He is,of course, at liberty to decline a new contract.Had he done so and played out the last year of his contract and then sought the big(ger) bucks, few, I suspect, would quibble. Instead, he has sought to force a move with an attack on The Club, the Board, AW, and by implication his playing colleagues (both old and new). Not too keen on using words like “treachery” in a football context, but insofar as it can be applied to football, I think VP’s statement is pretty much as treacherous as it gets.
As regards our two billionaires my views are well known, but agree that whilst the stand-off continues and the Uzbeki continues to snipe from the sides, the only loser is the Club and of course the fans.Those that say to Stan “if you don’t like him, buy him out”, are of course guilty of applying the same simplistic logic as so many do when discussing the transfer market.
For a transaction to occur, there must be a willing buyer and a willing seller. Usmanov has given absolutely no indication that he wishes to sell (quite the opposite), he sure as hell doesn’t need the money, so it’s my guess the present position will endure for quite some time to come.
A game of who blinks first I guess ?
BtM @110 Haddock it is then π , and @119 agree completely on the VP bit, but have to say I’m with Steve on Benzema. I haven’t seen a lot of him, but when I do, I have to say I have invariably been impressed. I don’t think Andy Carroll would get too many starts at Madrid π
Garret @112 – Brilliant.
And of course what R&W’s latest turd does is to give those who only turn up in times of “crisis”, every excuse to wheel out the list of names that we have supposedly lost to the “more ambitious”. Well done Mr C , Lars and everybody else for knocking that particular long hop straight out the ground.
Ollie – Couldn’t agree more on Arseblog’s latest offering. Superb.
Right, any chance of a bit of birthday cake ?
Lars – meant to say before that I agree with your idea that spreading the goal scoring load should ultimately be a positive.
Our midfield became too predictable too when absolutely everything was channelled through Cesc.
Good to hear you have your flight booked, but what kind of plane do you have that flies through tunnels ?
NBNed –
Thanks very much for taking the time to explain all that accounting stuff.
I think we roughly agreed that Β£40m + Cesc and Nasri fees = Β£100m.
Summer arrivals obviously had to be subtracted, and Iam going back to re-read what happens after that. Do appreciate your time.
Funny isn’t it – I still remenber all those years ago, aged 8, playing 3’n-in, in my new, first Arsenal kit. Imagining I was dribbling round Amortization, nutmegging Capital -Gains, and smashing one into the top left corner.
Those were the days. π
Ok, back to @145.
Btw, agreed Catalan about the circumstances of some previous sales – Vieira, Barndoor etc.
Zico, ditch the Sunderland game, I’ll buy you a pint before Southampton π
Catalan, Robin did have a bit of a slump towards the end of the season. In the last ten games, he scored in three games – one v Wolves (penalty), one v Stoke (tap-in from a wonderful Rosicky cross) and two v Norwich. This of of course not proof positive that he is on the slide because it was only ten games and it was the end of a trying season, but in any case, those are the statistics.
Wily cunning fucker that Amortisation fella Trev. Always got the better of me in those playground games π
Fuck, writing on the iPhone is too slow – I’ll be back later when I can use my laptop again π
And there was I looking for an assist Lars π
Nods in 4 his double?
Haha π
The old one-two again Garsguns . Deadly !
tabs with 201, you’re on a roll. Although judging by the time stamps or contents, these +1 seem deliberate π
Now, garsguns is the new GoonerTerry!
Looking forward to sharing a
walletnon-virtual drink with you again, LArs!π turning into my favourite partnership of berkamp/wright tabs!sorry ollie nobody else has there shooting boots on at the mo.
Worst Headline Of The Day
‘Robin: Juve Got Chance’ – The Daily Mirror go with a headline that demands that you know how the Italians pronounce the beginning but not the end of a word.
This made me chuckle.
Twitter is full of twats.
The end.
You still bother about it, Dr Z? ;O
You know you’re missing it, Ollie. π
Hardly, zico, hardly.
And I suspect my blood would have been boiling if I’d checked it over the last few days.
garsguns (or as you’re known here, Brace) π @ 168
The disappearance of H2H and his invitation on to the Board of DL Limited is purely one big co-incidence. After all, H2H is well known for his clean living and……. Oh. π
Well in @199 and 201 Tabs. π
And garsguns, well in at the rather less significant 200. π
Zico I’m all for going 2 the dam to look for him might not get pass the first coffee shop thou π G thanks 8ball π come on andy Murray hope he does the business!
Dr Z haha , prompted by my outburst ? π
Cheers 8Ball π
Hey Ollie: I am trying to increase the chances for FunGunner by not trying to score – besides I have not been enjoying scoring as I should during these dark days with no end in sight ….
π
Trev@195: Just for you….
Here is a list of our transfer business for the 2011-12 season.
In:
The Ox Β£12.1m
Gervinho Β£10.6m
Arteta Β£10.6m
Mertesacker Β£9.9m
Santos Β£6.2m
Park Β£5.7m
Jenkinson Β£990,000
Campbell Β£880,000
Total spend: Β£57m (plus loan fees for TH14 and Yossi, both unknown)
Out:
Fabregas Β£29.9m
Nasri Β£24.2m
Clichy Β£6.8m
Eboue Β£3.1m
Traore Β£1.2m
JET Β£1.1m
plus loan fees received for
AA Β£1.1m
TGSTEL Β£880,000
Denilson Β£352,000
Botelho Β£299,200
Total revenue: Β£68.9m (plus loan fee received for Vela, unknown; all other loans were on a free)
Net gain on transfers, Β£11.9m, which is pretty close to the Β£12.1m quoted by the club in the last annual accounts. That would add a tad over Β£8m to the Player Transfer Account.
Three-and-in in the park. You bring a misty tear of nostalgia to my eye…
http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&ie=UTF8&rurl=www.google.com&sl=auto&tl=en&twu=1&u=http://www.sport.pl/celebrities/1,96810,12081466,Transfery__Arsenal_szuka_nastepcy_van_Persiego__Angielska.html&usg=ALkJrhgnupqDYW8uKoAm_btodIpCTFpNSg
Arthur. Welcome back my old son.
And if that came to fruition then I would say great deal.
FunGunner@190, SteveT@185: Stoke’s transfer activity in the four seasons since returning to the Premiership is eye popping. Buys: Β£91.4m; Sells: Β£12.4m. Net loss: Β£79m. Of the 36 players they sold or let go over those four seasons, they sold only four for more than they paid for them. Plus they got money for two of the seven players who left the club after coming up through the youth system. Richard Cresswell (remember him? I thought not) was their big money maker, bought from Leeds for Β£880,000 and sold to Sheffield Utd for Β£1.1m, netting a whopping Β£176,000 gain. Seven of the 37 were sold at a loss.
Player Bought For (Β£) Sold For (Β£) -/+ (Β£)
Dave Kitson 6,160,000 0 -6,160,000
Ibrahima Sonko 2,640,000 0 -2,640,000
Abdoulaye Faye 2,552,000 0 -2,552,000
Eidur Gudjohnsen 2,200,000 0 -2,200,000
James Beattie 3,520,000 1,584,000 -1,936,000
Tuncay Sanil 5,016,000 3,960,000 -1,056,000
Seyi Olofinjana 3,344,000 3,080,000 -264,000
Steve Simonsen 0 0 0
Leon Cort 1,584,000 1,584,000 0
Dominic Matteo 0 0 0
Vincent Pericard 0 0 0
Russell Hoult 0 0 0
Anthony Pulis 0 0 0
Marion Broomes 0 0 0
Andy Griffin 396,000 418,000 22,000
Demar Phillips 220,000 308,000 88,000
Lewis Buxton 0 88,000 88,000
Richard Cresswell 880,000 1,056,000 176,000
Carl Dickinson Youth team 250,800 –
Rod McDonald Youth team 0 –
Andy Owens Youth team 0 –
Jimmy Phillips Youth team 0 –
Marc Grocott Youth team 0 –
Adam Rooney Youth team 57,200 –
Robert Garrett Youth team 0 –
Jon Parkin 330,000 n/a –
Now, I really must go and get a life…
@ 213
When did you “burst out”?
I just thought you were out π
I think you’re mixing me up with Wolfie Dr Z π
NBN @ 216
Where do these numbers come from – I always thought our deals were always “undisclosed fees” ?
Oh look – Its one hour into guinness time – to the pub!
And the zPad.
Some of the time I’m “in”, and some of the time I’m “out”.
In fact, I’d go as far as to say that I’m at my best when I’m in-out-in-out-in-out-in-out-in-out .
tabs,
I’m always mixing up.
Medicine, for example. π
Heh at Double Nelson.
And a very good job you do too Dr Z π
Trev, nothing wrong with the planes – it’s just me that has got tunnel vision!
Ned, I read somewhere that Stoke are basically funded by bank loans even though it is dressed up to not look like it but at the bottom there are loans. Can’t for the life of me remember where I read it though so don’t take it as gospel.
Arthur, haven’t seen you here in a while, have a pint of the finest Polish vodka on my tab!
“Me that has” – I hereby report myself to the grammar police officer Ollie…
Heh @ Wolfie.
@ 227
Getting some practice in as we speak.
11/12ths black π
Lars, you’re nicked!
Lars….guilty as pleaded – you are up for sentencing !
Lars, the ever excellent Swiss Ramble has the backstory on Stoke: http://swissramble.blogspot.com/search/label/Stoke%20City. In short, Peter Coates, the millionaire behind bet365, bought the club, paid off its bank debts, lent it a load of money interest-free and then converted those loans into equity, in effect writing them off. Put another way, he made a Β£40m donation to the club.
Zico@223: I have my sources. I’d have to send Shaft after you if I told you though.
@ Ned
Thanks for providing the detail. You’re very good at explaining, and I will be nicking your comments to post on other blogs when I need some backup. (fully attributed of course.)
Please have a drink on me.
@ Arthur the Gooner
That rumour about Jovetic is interesting, because last autumn a club official (name escapes me, but he had recently left Fiorentina) said that we had made a bid on, or at least inquired seriously about, Jovetic.
I bet you’re very proud of your compatriot Agnieszka Radwanska?
Cheers, FG. Theft is the sincerest form of flattery. π
Talking of rumours, anyone heard anything about Theo doing a Cashley and heading for the Bus Stop?
tabs @ 194, no chance for cake, it got blitzed… 8)
Tragedy, this, and especially for the Nigerian Gooner Ladyboy Massive:
http://news.arseblog.com/2012/07/nigeria-friendly-postponed/
But we will apparently be visiting Nigeria next summer. We seem to have identified a PR issue with our African faithful having offloaded Kolo, Eboue and Adebayor without bringing in African replacements. I say bring in an African who can score 40 goals a season and we won’t have to go to Nigeria!!
NBN@116
so we can widen our criticism from wenger to the entire board, and perhaps they do deserve quite a bit of stick from us, but let’s not act like arsenal is an analog for an oil tanker. despite its recognizable brand, arsenal’s business is really not that large at all, and not responding to changes in its environment is borderline criminal since that’s basically what a football club is about, on the field and off.
i didn’t suggest that the adjustments would be or would have been easy, but we did and still do need to think about using the brand more effectively to increase commercial revenues (that were sacrificed to get the stadium built – the board and wenger knew this), think preseason trips to asia and america that chelsea was doing back in 06 and wenger himself was adamantly against. maybe in strictly footballing terms that was the best decision, but expanding our brand is the means for expanding our commercial revenues just as united have done. the problem is that we ceded that territory to chelsea, which has little of our history, and united which continues to sign on more supporters each year. having been to the east and seen the fans of the game wearing liverpool shirts by the truckload when that club doesn’t even have a premier league title to its name says to me that they are ripe for the convincing.
i think it’s also pretty clear that the strictly youth/player-development model was found wanting, especially now that we have quite a few young, promising players that are thinking about leaving or have left before their prime. we could have afforded to mix in more seasoned veterans with our purchases of young players.
do we really think that the board was to blame for both of those miscalculations, when they would have been reasonable responses to the economic environment that we found ourselves in post 05?
I’m soooo tired…
BMBD
(Happy birfday, Wind)
Holic
That was a much needed post. Excuse me if what I am about to type may not represent your thoughts, but all the same, i am feeling your optomism.
Yes i will except the invite to the tollie and many of you will realise I am a cool guy.
At the end of the day RVP arrived at Arsenal believing he was joining the best club in the prem league ( which he did). However modern day society is pre-consumed by wealth. A footballer whose main concern is trophies will stop and think when he believes he is not receiving either trophies or ca$h. That is the modern day footballer, in particular world class players. Didn’t Ronaldo break ‘in debt’ supporters hearts worldwide?
AFC were put in an uncompromising situation last season and e wer extemley exposed. However the club prepared themselves for the inevitable. I dont think its a secret how players contracts are negotiated nowadays. However AFC added what was needed to replace RVP. Two for the price of one (pardon the pun). Anyway I agree we have what we need to still be Arsenal.
I’m off to gather my thoughts a little more before I type myself into a hole.
A Guiness to celebrate the arrival of Pod and G anyone?
π
Apologies for I-phone typos (AFIPT)
i would also add that we’ve made what’s probably a good investment in a new medical facility during the time period we were buying or bringing in squillacis and chamakhs, but we had yet another awful bout with the injury plague both in the beginning and near the end of the year, luckily rvp somehow made it through unscathed (not so sure he’ll be that lucky in the future). so while investing in new medical equipment might be a great idea, it doesn’t really seem to have paid off yet.
i would still like to see us go through a season without having eight first teamers and four to six starters out. every time i’ve gone to that website (escapes me now) that catalogs all of the epl players out injured by team, eight or nine is right at the top, and that’s where we seem to be almost every season for at least some significant portion. if some masochist were to catalog our injury woes relative to the other teams in the hunt for the title, i’d be willing to wager that our problems in the treatment rooms have cost us titles.
Ned, cheers for the info on Stoke – that must have been the article I read, but as we can all now see I didn’t remember it correctly.
On train.
Girls.
Dr Feelgood.
Drink.
Chemical reaction.
It’ll all end in tears……
Well said Steve T @ 185.
RvP
Last season: “He scores when he wants”.
Offseason: “He leaves when he wants”.
Next season: “He scores when he wants”. Caveat — just not with us.
Why do we rip on players that want to leave and just might be saying the honest truth about the club’s present situation (i.e. that the club lacks ambition)?
Best strategy for holding on to our star players: Don’t name any of them captain this season. First nominee for new captain: Squillaci.
Roberto: I’d say he himself is showing a lack of ambition if he isn’t prepared to stay and fight. How much is a title worth when others have done the work for you?
I’m really starting to get the hump with all this extreme focus on winning titles. The whole point of sports is that some win and the others lose. You or I or Robin van Persie have no divine right to win a title anymore than I have a right to earn Β£150k per week just because I really, really want to.
We have the money we have and not a penny more. Sure, there have been mistakes and players bought that we, in hindsight, shouldn’t have but there isn’t a club anywhere that hasn’t got a few duds. Man City have a shitload of players they don’t want and are if not desperate then at least very keen to offload, Adepaymemore and Dzeko (for whom they payed upwards of Β£30 million) probably the two most prominent names. But they can just buy a new one in the next window and ditch the flop with no regards to finances. We can’t do that.
Lars,
RvP was our well respected captain and league MVP just last season. He says what’s honestly on his mind and some of us Gooners rip him like a past romance gone sour. Why can’t he be allowed to say the truth?
Put yourself in his shoes. Players have short careers. Get what you can while you can. Be that money and titles. He’s been a loyal and long serving employee and has little to show for it.
Always enjoy reading your opinions. Even when I disagree with them. Also, enjoy your next trip to North London.
Lars,
Don’t.
Take.
The.
Bait.
Is Sept 15th 3pm?
Took the words out of my mouth, zicoinexile!
Lars,
Also, wrt the club’s spending. Are we really doing what’s best for the club? Doesn’t AFC actually consistently make profits? AFC isn’t McDonald’s. The money should be plowed back into the club. 5th largest revenue in Europe but our transfer policies and wage structure aren’t commensurate.
Usmanov is the second largest s/h at @ 30%, I heard on a podcast recently, but doesn’t have a seat on the Board and doesn’t receive dividends from a profitable ‘business’ which is masquerading as a football club. Either be a business like McDonald’s and make profits or be a football club and don’t. Football clubs aren’t meant to be businesses (or at least have historically proven to be bad ones).
I know we cannot compete with ManC and Chelsea financially. But ManU is currently constrained with the Glazers debt via a LBO. We should be spending more than we currently do on player acquisitions and their wages.
I’m just getting frustrated π I’m gonna need a drink π
Ah zico & FG — you bhoys are no fun.
Right then fellas. I’m off to have a Big Mac before I start on my Guinesses for the evening.
Enjoy your evening Lars, zico, FG, et al.
@ 86 Joe
great comment, forgot to say so earlier.
zico — Among European club friendlies today I noticed that Cowdenbeath drew at Elgin City 3-3 π
Roberto,
Cows and beef scored three?
And you’re off for a big mac?
Subliminal advertising at its best…..
Priceless, Dr. Z @ 252.
Absolutely priceless. Bob Scat (I mean, Schad) has shown himself to be a wind-up merchant.
Enjoy your weekend, fuckers (it still is FFF, lest we not forget).
BMBD
zico – Good one. Nice technique. Proper delivery.
Very little love from some though. Just one reason to have pints of the black stuff, I say.
Garrett – missed that first time through – great stuff.
Zico – heh !
I’m about to start watching my recordings of last season’s best wins, cos whatever else is happening I can’t wait to see those red and white shirts tearing into Sunderland on August 18th.
Hopefully by then we will have a team full of players who want to be there, and I will support them to the hilt, as ever.
Afraid I am sick and tired of transfer guff and talk of finances and boardroom this and shareholder that.
Great pre-match company and The Arsenal back on the pitch. That’ll do for me.
NBN – You are Statto! Amazing work as usual.
Happy Birthday Wind by the way. Sorry it’s a bit late. π
MF@240: my supertanker analogy referred more to speed and maneuverability than size. But you raise an valid point about the relationship between brand and commercial revenue. Manchester United showed the way in brand driving revenue, and we have uncontrovertibly been in its wake in that regard. Whether it is unrecoverable lost ground viz a viz Liverpool and Chelsea — and Barca, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Bayern Munich come to that — I don’t know. The board is alt least addressing that now. If you are saying that AW stood in the way of developing a commercial staff to have done that earlier, I doubt very much that was the case, even if it is true, as I have always understood, that AW was adamantly opposed to pre-season tours and had to be dragged away kicking and screaming from holding his annual Austrian pre-season camp. As for the youth development project, while undeniably to AW’s turn of mind, it could not have gone ahead without the board’s full support. It was a central pillar of the stadium redevelopment. Youth development is always a gamble. Not all young players make it, and the numbers alone are against it. I am, though, not clear on what point you are making with your final sentence.
The Scene : D L Ltd – Boardroom
A full complement of the Board has convened to discuss the imminent departure of a key employee, on the verge of being headhunted by a fierce rival – the discussions are getting quite heated, with everyone in attendance shouting to be heard over one another…..
Dr Feelgood : “Let him go. Β We’ll be compensated. Β There will be more girls for me for a start…..” (sniggers)
Professor Storey : “We should appeal to his conscience, and remind him how we nursed him through the dark days……”
Dr Spin: Β “We need to claim the moral high ground. Β Get on the front foot with the press – we need to get a statement out”
Dr Disorder : “We need more Jagermeister…..”
Dr Feelgood : “I made him our best offer. Β He said it wasn’t about the drugs – he felt that we were moving in the wrong direction…..in my experience, that usually has everything to do with the drugs….”
Wolfgang Smallballs : “Has anyone seen my shoes……?”
Dr Feelgood : “….of course, it could mean he wasn’t seated in the direction of travel…..”
Drs T and C (in unison) : “We need more aneasthestic……”
Dr Feelgood : “What I think we need is new blood………”
The door opens……and then they all hear:Β
“We need bloody Mary…….”
And a new era begins, as the man from Holloway returns from Holland………and takes his place amongst the Executive……
to be continued…..
@ zico
ha ha
@ 262 NBN
cracking response there.
On the subject of a football loyalist. I would rather go down as a legendary Gunner that may have never won trophies than remembered for selling out to the likes of a club that thinks they can buy their trophies. I would rather piss, shit, and hack blood from my every orifice in battle for glory than sell out to the likes of an all mighty dollar. As a fan, a gooner,a 25 yr Sunday balling baller, I have to say he was foolish and arrogant with a wonderful lack of class to the whole beautiful game and The Gunner, each and every one of us. Good Riddens RVP because tomorrow and all the ones to follow, I’m waking up a Gunner.
LG — I’ll have you know, the only thing I wind up is my wrist watch π
zico — Big Mac mission complete. Guinness mission about to lift off π
I find the hysteria the media has generated over RVP laughable if not stupid. Just because City and Chelsea’s owners decided to throw money for fun, everybody expect Arsenal to do the same. Yes we need some investment but there is no way we can do what city or chelsea are doing. Arsenal held by many as the example to follow as a football club.
City won a title and to be honest no one really think it is a remmarkable achievement it a shallow glory has no taste and feels hollow. People don’t admire their win but rather laugh at the amount of money wasted down the drain for a tin pot. I hope we can achieve some success without going down that road. RVP wants to go, good luck to him, he is a footballer and he wants to do what is best for him and Arsenal do what is best or I should say what they are capabale of doing. The list is endless of huge names leaving Arsenal and RVP is no different.
Wenger will stick someone else up front change the game aroud him and he will be banging goals left right and centre.I’m not worried or concerned and I hold no grudge against RV, he help us finishing 3d.
As for players wanting to leave — aren’t there many of us out there in Goonerville who still hold it against Cesc for leaving even though he left in the most respectful way possible?
Isn’t the greatest sin leaving The Arsenal irrespective of how politely it is done?
Food for thought …
Dr Z – Its ALWAYS about the shoes (and the speedoes ) ! π
Great work Ned .
Rob Schad –
not so respectful in my book when one peered under the settled dust.
Personally I don’t think there was that much difference.
Granted, Cesc didn’t issue damaging messages into the public domain, but he made it very clear he wanted to go and where, and landed the club in a one bidder auction.
Allegedly he refused to play in a game when the manager wanted to select him too. Not the most respectful way to behave for a player who had an eight year contract.
Zico @263 – heh. π
More of this is what we need.
Trev — Points taken. But of all those who have left the club I’d say that Cesc did so with about as much class as possible.
Which player(s) have left in a more respectful manner? Clichy perhaps?
Guinnesses going down well at the moment π
Trev — Against whom did Cesc allegedly not wish to play?
Up the Arsenal! Good night.
The Uzbeki Usmanov makes a number of sound points in his letter to the Board. It seems to me he truly has the best interests of the club in mind. I hope he continues buying shares and eventually gains a controlling interest.
Kroenke’s teams in the US don’t win much these days either and haven’t for quite a while. Coincidence perhaps. A distinct trend is more plausible.
Barman, another pint of the black stuff please.
Oh I was waiting for this. What a sensible lad this Roberto Schadenfreude seems to be.
π
Have the mischief makers been banished yet? I just want to know when it’s safe to come out …
It’s pouring buckets outside here in the warm night. For some odd meteorological reason it seems to rain much more in the night here than during the day. At any rate, After a week of fearsome heat it is some relief at last.
Can’t say for sure, but this Roberto Schadenfraude character seems to have the particularly characteristic writing of one of the regulars. Hmmmm. Must think about this for a while as the rain sinks into the dry earth outside.
Good one by Dr. Z @263. Out of his brain on the train, apparently. π
Nice effort ‘holic!
Pretty much sums up the perennial nonsense that i now find nauseatingly boring to become drawn into any longer! None of the parties that are ever concerned are worth even a “scratch of my itchy testicles” so let’s take what we want from them, say “feck-you” and now feck-off to where your cesspit-virtues desire to be! Good riddance!!!
Joe, Steve T, Thundertinygooner, Fun Gooner – nice posts!!! A quart of the “wife-beater” to you all! π
Welcome North West Gooner and a nice virginal offering! π
Been away for a while and can honestly say, haven’t missed or cared much for the usual bollicky shenanigans of the post-season! Utterly boring and tedious garbage of a parallel universe that will inevitably merge with reality sooner or later (just ask all Glasgow Rangers’ fans)!
My simple take on the RVP, Kroenke, Usmanov, Dein, yadi yadi yada, matter is this:
Arsenal football club is bigger than anyone or any group! Its values and principles are unwavering and have been built on something tangible and longstanding that many outside and some from within are desperately trying to dismantle so that we enter this current era of Sodom and Gomorrah in football! The truly sensible observers, fans, players, management, etc. who understand our values, know why we are the way we are that’s why we fans have supported this wonderful club for so long and have laughed and cried in equal and irrational measure!
If there’s ANYONE associated with our club (be it a fan, player, coaching staff member, management individual, or large shareholder) who doesn’t appreciate or have the purity of these values and the emotions it stirs, then please just feck-off and take your triviality with you. Your naivety has now become very boring to listen to! Yawn, yawn, yawn, Zzzzzzzzz……
My word, in the Daily Mail of all places……
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-2169935/Arsenal-trust-Arsene-Wenger-Robin-van-Persie–Des-Kelly.html
GoonerTerry,
“Oh I was waiting for this. What a sensible lad this Roberto Schadenfreude seems to be.”
Far more sensible than this current geriatric board is there mate π
Two questions for you:
1) Are you happy with the club’s performances since MMV?
2) Do you think Usmanov is a complete loon?
Yes and yes. That was easy wasn’t it? Now I am off to bed. Seems that you never sleep though Roberto…
π
zico@252: yup, it’s a 3PM kick-off.
Wenger’s coat@268: City won a title and to be honest no one really think it is a remmarkable achievement it a shallow glory has no taste and feels hollow
Amen to that, brother. I’m sure City fans enjoyed winning it, but I am equally sure that most of them also know very well that it wasn’t really an achievment – they won the lottery, basically.
Dapper, good post.
zico@280: could not believe my eyes reading that. But it’s nice to see some common sense for once in one of the tabloids.
Roberto, don’t think we’re getting much further in our debate. Just sit back and trust me – we’ll be fine in the long run! π
Also, a fantastic post has been put up on Yogi’s site – it will resonate in particular, with those of a certain age
zico, I may be of uncertain age but I agree with every word Yogi said in that post.
I think it was a guest post Lars, π
Ah, I just saw “Posted by Yogi’s Warrior” at the top and assumed he was the author. Still, agree with every word anyway π
I always sleep with one eye closed there GT π
All of AFC’s current Board, with just one exception, are so old they are eligible to cast for “Cocoon II — The Reawakening”. π
Miss Terry darling. Don’t forsake my longings …
Until we meet again Miss T …
I’m off on a Caribbean vacation soon folks. All these off-season festivities has made me silly.
Speaking of which — has anyone heard from Cusop lately β
Well, can’t be much to do in Canada these days. Unless you have a cuckoos nest to fly over…
Had a feeling there was a sting in the air…..
ta 4 the nods Zee – never met a kelly i didn’t like. And yogi’s guest poster’s death of sporting hope stuff/richman’s plaything thing…well, during in the darkest ones who don’t think it…still it’s only a game ent it! Right orf out into the sunshine for me…oh!
Many happy ones, Wind.
Morning chaps. This is the wettest fucking drought I have ever fucking seen π
Morning ‘holic.
I was quite shocked on driving back from work yesterday as I got a massive splash coming from….the other side of the rail. Unexpected but thankfully I could see far ahead before so no danger despite being unexpectedly and suddenly blinded for a couple of seconds (it had stopped raining then, so wipers weren’t on).
Dreadful.
Morning all. Thanks for confirming my suspicions as to Roberto’s former identity.
The dog with a bone style was what alerted my suspicions!
How was the golf?
Two hours sleep after a farewell to friends is interesting…. Coffee on the boΓl?
zico 284:
why be shy?
http://aculturedleftfoot.wordpress.com/2012/07/07/the-bitterest-pill/
And I feel old
Go to the supermarket now, or wait until number 300? π
Guys thanks for pointing me in the direction of today’s ACLF. Absolutely fantastic post.
Knocks the ball forwards….
Glad to assist, Dr C.
Off you go Ollie. Don’t forget the milk
Cheers, Dr C!
A well worked goal that was! π
There you go. NOne of this tippy tap bollocks. Simple and direct. The two man attack decimated the defence.
Celebrates quietly with Ollie. Could you get some nurofen for me too? Cheers
Should have let her make her own breakfast missed my hat rick π well in Catalan
Holic @ 293, thanks mate, better late than… ahh you know the rest π
Well in Catalan @ 300, top assist Ollie, in the blink of an eye π
In other news today, looks like I got all my points back on the driving licence.
Heh, Brace @ 303
You made your own breakfast? What is it, a leap year or something?
π Dr Z the modern man and all that,in fairness to her she has a hard day ahead of her digging the the founds for the new shed/bar.
Arseblog coming out v strongly re the arse board show some effin leadership sharpish and don’t sell robin van fill my pursie to mank citah under any circs front…
why, thems wise ones, i reckon. Most definitely enjoying the cut of his g this morning…right back out to bask in some more o’ that ol’ sun…
@ 307 π π
or indeed cut of his j – either way am liking his him sheet
http://lci.tf1.fr/economie/entreprise/orange-s-efforce-de-tirer-les-lecons-de-son-vendredi-noir-7406980.html
I did wonder why my phone had no connection for a good chunk of yesterday afternoon.
Funny as I am seriously considering changing operators.
Extremely unfunny if the fault lays with one of our products. :s
Do you think Stan cares though, AL?
I agree with blogs, but I won’t hold my breath waiting on the club to tell Man City to F off π
@ Dapper Dan
Thanks for the kind words, but I’ll pass on the “wife-beater”, thanks. Lime and soda wil do me nicely.
garsguns,
Dr Z is very much the modern man (no man bag tho), but Dr Feelgood?
He’s in bad shape π
“cares” – zee – is far too strong a word re the silentish majority share-holder. I’m fairly sure Arsene cares though – and IG – possibly – can be made to. Those two still have some influence at Arse Foot Corp. i reckon.
$ami Na$ri ain’t sung yet… (an amusing ending, but what with his shitty connections, a flawed one i think – oil well! Doh!)
Not convinced AL,
We must keep RvP at any cost sounds like this seasons Cesc/Dyke is staying to me, with AW hung out to dry by the Board.
He will go to the highest bidder and we know who has the deepest pockets. He is able to use the threat of disruption in the dressing room if he doesn’t get his way, and I think we will give in to that and take the money.
Just my opinion. Time will tell.
It’s not just your opinion zico – said as much meself, as have others. But will hope – for now – that the board take a broader view (if the will exists it can be done), show a little imagination and try to reshape the recent pattern of dealings between us and them.
None of us can afford to be too definitive either way just yet – because in all honestly none of us for schure.
Like i said little $ami aint sung yet
Pardon “none of us knows for schure”
Honestly i meant “Honesty”
now orf to meet a very funny man down the pub who’s a goonah too. So he’ll feel the pain and hopefully the need to put his hand in his pocket – loads!
To beer and beyond!
The trouble with Arseblogger’s idea is that we cannot sell on RvP’s registration if he refuses to sign a contract with the new club. So our choice is only between selling him to a club which he wants to join, or keeping him.
So Stinky Voyeur has returned – hunches correct then.
If you’d only said so from the start Stinky, we could all just have bowed down and agreed with you in the certain knowledge that you are always right.
Disengage. Bye. :goandplaywiththetrafficface:
Nice link to the amazing Daily Mail zico. – who knew ? π
Cookie caught by the sub on for Lee. 70-1 in the 17th. Solid platform, as they say.
I know it’s the one-day game/team, but the Ashes to stay at home for a while by the sounds of things Holic?
Ollie @311 – you can try the new market leader FreeMobile, who have driven all prices down since the beginning of the year (I use a Freebox ADSL and no axe to grind ):
Strange I typed that here, zico. Didn’t notice I wasn’t on Twitter. Dozy old twonk, me π
Heh,
They should keep old folks away from computers π
π
The Bitterest Pill on A Cultured Left Foot was an excellent read. Thanks for the link, Ollie. It made me feel old, too. In my youth I knew amateurs who didn’t turn pro because they made more money from their day jobs. Seems inconceivable now.
I was at an under-11s game not too many seasons ago. Local league. Beautiful artificial pitch and facilities. One of the kids said he knew the opposition couldn’t be too good because they didn’t have a shirt sponsor. Jumpers for goalposts isn’t in it.
I wonder if RvP’s club ambition would be so acute if his national team had won anything during his time in the orange.
Maybe Zola will cook up some good pasta for the Hornets?:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18722107
Or would that be lasagna? π
Gianluca Vialli has a pasta dish named for him:
http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/cuisine/european/italian/pasta-vialli.html
Or there is this:
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/hornets-nest-cake/
Or even this:
Green Hornet shots:
http://www.drinksmixer.com/drink10188.html
(‘Holic: pls kill the post containing all three links. Forgot about out three links and out rule.)
NBN, Very interesting about Vialli’s own pasta dish. So Zola has quite some living up to do. π
And where better to live it up than in Watford, bt8b?
I see water-carrying dwarf cunt will be the new FRance coach.
cognac 311, yeah I know, but ethically I don’t feel like involving myself with a company that is relying exclusively on the Chinese’s cheap stuff and don’t look like they have any business at all with us.
Cheers! Pro-Arsenal!!
NBN, I’ve never been to Watford and have no immediate travel plans but I will take your word for it. π
Evening all.
Only upside to yesterdays ‘drowned rat’ golf day was the bottle of Highland Park I won in the raffle.
Not a malt I have sampled before, and I suspect more to bath’s taste, but I shall find out shortly π
Howdy ‘holics.
Decided to take a step away from the internet after things started to get a bit nasty after Robin’s ill advised statement. I (like everyone else) am extreamly dissapointed with the manner he choose to do things, but on the other hand we all wanted the situation clarified and boy did he do that.
I’ve read every drink that’s been published since I last posted, some great posts I agree with, some equally good that I don’t and some utter crap that reminded me that opinions are like erections; every prick can have one but will they stand up long enough to screw(tinise)?
Anyway, what has become increasingly obvious is that RvP had no intention of renewing his contract, fair enough, his delay in announcing this also gave us the time and space to make a couple of decent signings without the whole world knowing that we needed to replace him, for that I suppose we should be grateful. Unfortunatly that same statement has tarnished his image for ever and made him look like a pawn for Fat and Orange’s dasterdly minions who proclaim love for the club while plunging us into turmoil. (In the eyes of the media)
Even though I believe his statement was concucted by Double Dickhead and co to ensure max damage while helping their agenda, I still can’t shake a niggly feeling in the pit of my stomach. Albert Einstein once quiped that insanity was doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Well, we’ve definetly been here before haven’t we?
As fans, we follow our team blindly with unconditional love, we’d like to think that the players love the club as much as we do and with Robin we may of even thought “he get’s what it is to be a gunner”, but once again like so many before him it all ends up in tears. Maybe it’s our own fault and the sooner that we realise that playing for our beloved club is nothing but a pay check to them the better……….
But that ofcourse will not happen, footy fans are passionate, it’s the nature of the game, anyway, that’s not entirely the reason why the crazy haired one word’s were resonating in my noggin. No this was more because it baffles me why we can’t seem to keep hold of our best players. Is it really all just about the money? Or is there another reason why our stars head for the door?
Once again I found myself thinking of Steve T’s; are we being the best that we can be? Don’t get me wrong, I don’t long for 30mill plus signings or twats on 2 ton a week, I can’t see that particular practise lasting for too much longer anyway, that bubble will eventially burst leaving quite a few up the swanny. Yet if you look at some we have lost and who they were replaced by, I do believe that we may of missed a trick.
On the positive side, I do believe that we have done everything in our power this time around to strengthen, and have learned the lesson from last years horror window show. (even though Arteta turned out to be a great purchase.) I’m not sure what more RvP expected from the club, unless it is indeed an even more ridiculous salary then he’s already been offered. The only way he can redeem himself is to sign for a team abroad, sign for Citeh and, well, we all know what the concequences of that will be.
My ex-boss likes it, ‘holic. I had to bring back a bottle from Delhi Airport for him.
Ofcourse I have also been
doing excessive drugs and alcoholworking overtime, to get myself up to HT Executive standards.Do you still see him, Ollie?
Nice one H2H. I don’t think we have missed a trick so much as being subjected to a war of attrition between two major shareholders, the connivance of a vengeful ex-director and his son -a powerful agent – who seems hellbent on destroying the club from the inside out. You could not make this shit up could you?!
I have never ever seen the like since Dallas. Who I wonder will die in the fire …
π
Evening all – nice post from H2H
Having a lot of trouble logging on here, again. Seems very slow and temperamental recently.
I’m sticking with Blogs and AL on the van Pursie situation, in case anyone is still remotely interested in it.
It is true, as commented above, that we cannot make him sign for a team against his wishes. But if Citeh is the team of his wishes we don’t have to let him join this summer.
I still think the club need to stop this ‘inevitable’ cycle of Citeh plundering our squad every summer for whomever they like. If that means taking a hit in the van Pursie this summer then so be it, if it prevents repeats with The Ox, Jack and gawd knows who else.
Hello Trev
Sorry to hear about the loading issue. Not had a problem here. What os/browser combo are you on and I will try and replicate it…
Mr C,
I have just discovered, in The Quackery reception area, large amounts of glass and chocolate in boxes marked “For Use With Strength And Conditioning Work”.
I know this to be the case only after much help from good old Google Translate, as these instructions are in Dutch.
Is there an urgent job on that would require these ‘magic’ ingredients.
One further box appeared, with Translate’s assistance, to be something to do with “new born horses”.
The only other thing I could gather from the box was a most unholy stink and some rather unpleasant discolouring in one corner.
Any ideas ?
Mr T.
Evening ‘Holic,
I’m on iPad / Sky Broadband if that’s what you mean by browser.
In any event it’s leaving me with furrowed eye-browsers π
Thanks anyway, hope that’s helpful.
Sorry, forgot to switch monikers.
‘holic 344 Yes I do, we’re still working on the same site (when he’s not travelling), so we lunch together sometimes.
Heh, I was wondering if you’d just put on a costume, Trev.
Heh Trev.
For the record, I’m all for telling Citeh to fuck off. My first post after the news broke was to say that I’d rather sell him to Juve for 8mill then Citeh for 20.
As the club has stated, he has a contract, now is the time to play hardball, if he really wants out then let him ask for a transfer request. If he’s difficult, shove him in the reserves because if he’s not in the shop window he’ll find it hard to get a decent contract in a years time, when he’ll be hitting thirty.
If it’s dirty games he wants I think we should call his bluff, we’re holding the best cards this time, not him and not his arsewipe agent, time is on our side.
Nice post by H2H above.
And the one @ 341 isn’t bad either. π
Sorry – not enough time to read the posts so this might have already been said.
David Dein is probably closely involved with Red & White. His son is one of the team that manages RVP. Arsense Wenger still goes on holiday breaks with David Dein.
It just strikes me that given how ‘close’ they all are they probably chat to each other when there is something going down.
I have read RVPs post a couple of times and instead of jumping to conclusions I just took it at face value. He is not signing a new contract because of the stated strategy of the club. He does not overtly criticise the boss.
Is, as most commentators have concluded, Robin burning his bridges to make sure he gets away or is he stiring tUhe pot with the council of others.
Red and White then back up the argument while Arsene stays quiet.
Now if I were a conspiracy guy I could argue that it is a well coordinated plot to put pressure on the club to release funds with RVP (being advised by Agent Dein) working in tandem with Red & White (Double D) with Le Prof masterminding the cunning plan.
Confused – you will be.
Just saying.
*newsflash*
Lloris signed on Friday.
http://www.francefootball.fr/#!/news/2012/07/07/230518_lloris-s-est-marie.html
A Marriage contract that is.
#355 Derr. Council is counsel.
@ 356
You tease.
Anyway, is he any good? Has been a bit “up and down” anytime I’ve watched him.
He’s had a few mishaps indeed, but I haven’t seen any ‘keeper being 100% consistently good over the last few years.
Even Buffon and possibly Casillas have made serious blunders this year.
He is very good.
To the ‘hPad…
Mmm, mega-quick. Suggests Sky may be the problem Trev? You are using Safari (bottom left icon) to access the web?
H2H at 353, totally agree with you re making RvP play in the reserves, although I do think that the occasional first team game against Stoke should be allowed. Am quite shocked at myself to be honest but I think it is time to show that We sell when We want. If a good offer comes in from non EPL then maybe selling him a good idea, but selling him to City should not happen.
Hmm, cue for a song perhaps? Now if only there were a tune to fit “Robin van Persie, we sell when we want”. Or was that the point?
@ Kingsverycross
I agree that something about Fat and Orange needs to be explained, but are there really extra funds that can be released? This comes up quite a lot but IG and commenters like NBN and notoverthehill and a few others who know about accounts say there isn’t a big sack of unspent money. I wonder if that’s one of the more successful memes peddled by Fat & Orange?
Hope you enjoy the Highland Park, ‘Holic. A favourite of the memsahib. Comes from the northernmost distillery if memory serves.
And thanks for the clean-up earlier. Apologies for the mess in the first place.
@ H2H
We can’t help it though, can we? Doomed to fall in love and get our hearts broken over and over again…
Many excellent posts on the current headline topic. The article on ACLF linked earlier by Ollie hits the spot for someone long in the tooth like myself. However we are in 2012 and not 1960s – life and perceptions move on.
I have long detached myself from “loving ” players….I just love their balling skills and what they bring to the club I love but have no expectations from them in any other respect. Of course I like loyalty etc etc but mainly this is just platitudes. The chinless wonder kissing the badge sums up the hypocrisy of it all.
RVP is quite entitled to not extend his contract (just as the club can likewise not renew contracts when it suits them). As a matter of good practice I hope the club try to sell him abroad….let’s not strengthen one of our main competitors where we can. He will move on and so will AFC….the king is dead, long live the king (whoever the next one is).
340 ‘holic. Drowned rat you may have been but you got a round in. My club has been closed for 6 out of last 8 days…..thick fog / sea mist (its 600 ft up ) and now 5 ins rain today. If its not the golf weathered off, then it’s the same for the bowls. Might as well go back to work for a living π – at least the local remained open;)
FG364: What Usmanov is implying is not so much that there is a wodge of cash that IG or AW has stashed under his mattress and refuses to spend, but that he would bung a couple of his billions their way so we could go out and buy a team of Andy Carrolls. (He may not actually imply the Andy Carroll bit, but you get the idea.)
Our cash reserves, to my mind, are reasonably prudent given the stadium debt that has to be financed, the timing mismatch between revenue coming in (more in the early part of the year) and going out (more in the second half of the year) and the rainy day fund that is clearly being kept against missing out on CL qualification for a season.
369 Ned…what concerns me is not the financial approach – which appears to be prudent in the current scenario but what are the intentions of Silent Stan? He has no interest in the glory of being owner of our wonderful club so it can only be for investment purposes. When u invest hundreds of millions of pounds you are either looking for good dividends on a regular basis or see an opportunity to sell on at profit. Is the surplus being stashed away for this.
As for Red & Orange, I suspect this is more of a requirement for respectability – he would appear to have surplus cash to not worry about inestment returns, the clubs inherent value should keep his initial investment safe.
Who knows what is the underlying strategy of both investors?
Just thinking like π
no matter what, i don’t want this to happen to arsenal:
http://news.yahoo.com/man-united-filing-shows-glazers-borrowing-buying-debt-043355007–sector.html
better financial folk are here than me, but Β£423 million in debt, with cash and cash equivalents dropping from Β£150 million to Β£25 million since june 2011? π―
scruz: The stuff in that article is sensational – yet we have hardly heard a word in the U.K. media. Can you imagine if this article was about Silent Stan and the Arsenal?
seriously, i thought i was imagining things when i read it. i am not geeked enough on finance to have even a dilettante’s understanding, but it doesnt look good for manure.
were it arsenal? blood in the water for the fleet street sharks to frenzy over. sustainable business model, what?
@355: Kingsverycross, I was pondering something like that yesterday myself but not sure how feasible it would be…
It would mean that Arsene himself is also not a fan of self-sustainability right? He did help come up with a massive contract for Cesc making him the most well-paid at the club at the time. Maybe he wanted to do it again and Gazidis said no, so RVP decided to move…
Dear all.
After eight great years I have decided that the time is right to move in to a final challenge in my career. I do with regret and fond memories of my time here. It had been an especial honor to have captained the club in the past season.
Thank you for your support and I wish you all well in the future.
Not exactly hard to write that letter correctly, is it? Maybe Robin needs to learn some manners and humility?
Stinky.
Does not answering you mean we are treating you badly??
You seem happy enough talking to yourself most of the time.
A Guinness to keep you rolling along..
Ah!
Maybe strictly limit yourself to two drinks a day rather than binging?
Then we Will Have time to digest them and apreciate their genius.
Perhaps you are too potent in large doses? π
Ian Wright?
Great goalscorer, intellectual pygmy.
Morning ‘Holic –
Sorry I couldn’t answer last night – I got completely locked out.
Yes the browser was Safari, and I think Sky is / was the problem as nothing else has changed but it seems fine this morning.
T’Internet, that is, not the effin’ weather. π
Thanks for testing it anyway.
Dr. Z knows!
Morning holics good to see H2H back,and with a bang agreed with him regards RVP we call the shots this time,bring him on tour,let him face his team mates without doubledickhead(genius h2h)add 1 or two with or without Robin next year I think we will be fine,coffee anyone?
Doble espresso. Por favor
Cafe solo per me.
Morning all. Must have had a lock-in last night. Quite a bit of trash to clear out this morning.
Cafe, Ollie? In here? I think not π
Morning all.
H2H @ #341 – Splendid posting my friend. Loved the Einstein reference, no surprises there. Have you or others read this as linked on Arseblog?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/jul/06/arsenal-progress-dysfunctional-owners
IMO, Amy’s a good sort and a genuine, died-in the-wool Gooner too. I think she has hit the nail on the head as to why we are stuck in this current rut of being not quite good enough to win the big prizes.
Do you have Bloody Mary flavour? if so, yes please Garsguns.
Amy bleeds red alright, TS. Always a worthwhile read.
Coming right up H2H,I go for a shower,come back and holic has cleared the bar of trolls π my local is looking for a bouncer holic π
Morning TS.
I like AL always a good read, however this was not her best. (imho)
What she fails to mention is that Stan has absolutly no obligation to let the Uzbechy anywhere near the board, let alone talk to him, even if his shareholding goes above said 30%, as long as Stan has 51% he is the proverbal man and it’s his barbeque.
IMHO, Fat and Orange have shown great disrespect towards the club by employing their dirty tactics, making us look weak in the process. What they’re basically saying is that if you don’t take our money then you lack ambition, which is ofcourse bollox.
Some may see F&O as a knight in shining armour, a modern day Robin Hood dishing out arms to the poor and needy, free cash in the form of additions to the squad, what a great guy he must be…………….
Wake up boys and girls, there’s no such thing as free money. This Robin Hood is not scaling the castle walls to rob the rich, he is the fuckin’ rich. This so called free money would be raised (or so I read) by issueing extra shares, devaluing current shares and the value of the club as a whole. The biggest losers would be the small stake holders, (eg the AST) who would be basically be left holding shit. Hey, the rich like their money, they don’t just give it away!!
Now I’m not Stan K’s and I. Gadizzles greatest fan, but there’s just something about the alternative that doesn’t sit right by me.
ALl right, ‘holic, the Irish version then please:)
Indeed H2H, I’d rather call on Dennis Moore than on F&O.
What I also forgot to add is that if the FFP, by some miracle, actually does what it says it will do, then all that “free money” would mean that we would no longer by financially prudunt which could mean sanctions, ie disqualification from the CL.
HEH Ollie, nice Monty reference.
http://lci.tf1.fr/economie/entreprise/orange-s-explique-sur-les-raisons-de-la-panne-7407231.html
Now I’ll be very interested to hear the talk at work on monday.
Can’t trust anything connected to Orange lately.
F&O, the telephone company and RvP, all gits.
Ouch. Could have done without the direct reference, I am guessing Ollie?
*Should of been a winkysmiley thingy after last post
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, galloping through the sward,
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, and his horse Concorde.
He steals from the rich and gives to the poor,
Mr Moore, Mr Moore, Mr Moore.
Ah, the poet laureate has arrived.
Morning big man π
Bam
Wotcher chaps. Might be in here a bit more as I’m pretty well done with top at the moment.
‘holic 396. Indeed. I was scrutinising the news when I heard the CEO was making a press conf yesterday and was pleasantly surprise at no reference.
Somehow now it’s out there. If the whole territory was affected though, I’m surprised if it’s the radio part. Not sure how much of the core part we have too. As I said, I’m really looking forward to learning more on Monday hopefully, because at the moment, I can’t guess much. Since neither 2G nor 3G seemed to work, might be problems with the HLR but I haven’t got a clue and I don’t want to get too technical with you. We might be totally innocent.
Top singing, Esso. I imagine you’re also dancing π
Well in Ollie.
Right I am off to Worthing for the rest of the day. And the sun’s come out. Hurrah!
Good old Sussex by the sea? Have fun fella.
Enjoy, Esso!
Have fun.
It’s pissing with rain here again, I’m not that bothered as long as next week is dry. (paalzitten)
If Snir’s about, I read somewhere that Stewart Robson is no longer working for ArseTV.
Heh, Dennis Moore
Your lupins, or your life
Catalan @375: That was a really nice letter. It was concise, clear and very effective. If Van Persie had released a letter of that ilk, indubitably ,there wouldn’t be such ire and rage from the fans. As Gooners, we would be disappointed to see him go but I’m sure we’d all politely acknowledge his wishes and move on. However, the arrogance and the utter self importance illustrated in his letter made everybody enraged. Catalan, you presented it so succintly. Perhaps Mr. Van Persie should try to purchase some humility and good manners with the load of dosh he’ll be earning when he departs North London.
Ollie @409: That would be some really good news after such a shitty week. Tired of hearing his bullshit commentary. Goodbye ” Mr Penis Head”. Lol
It’s true Ollie – confirmed by Robson himself on radio on Friday.
Push or jump ? No idea, but apparantly due to his “very strong opinions”.
Well good riddance indeed.
He can put his ‘very strong opinions’ where the sun don’t shine.
strong opinions – term used in attempts to dress up self-serving claptrap as valid criticism
(quote from the Oxford Dictionary, pg 49, section 38/26-12-0)
Re: Impeccable1: I too read Catalan’s letter at 375 and thought it was very effective. Says everything it needs to without offending a soul. Speaks for itself really so I didn’t feel any need to comment at the time but it does prove that being short and to the point is always bound to offend fewer people.
… especially when polite is added to short and to the point. π
Heh @8ball. Real talk
Oh, and I forgot to say that I agree with everyone about the imaginary letter penned by Mr C. A few would still have been upset, but almost everyone would have said “fair enough, I understand – thanks and good luck unless you play against us”.
Lars speaks for me.
H2H @ #389
Thanks for your considered response.
My distaste for F&O is probably as strong as yours not least because of AU’s incredibly shady past. I view him as no more than a super-rich thug, a criminal.
I think the timely cr*p they pulled earlier in the week was a nasty publicity stunt designed to cause more angst and divide amongst The Gooner Family (from board member to fan) with the real agenda being to force their way into a seat on the board i.e. personal gain.
IMO, it will be a sad day if control of our club ever passes to F&O.
However, I also believe that it would be better for The Club if they do get their board seat. Others, far wiser than I, have remarked it is better to have people like this ‘inside the tent p*ssing out’ and I agree with that view.
As you point out, SK is not obliged to do this. However, he certainly does want to increase the value of his investment (as does AU) and the current M.O. isn’t doing that, no matter how many years we continue to qualify for CL football but achieve little else in terms of winning trophies.
Giving F&O a board seat won’t increase their share holding. When it comes to voting on issues, they would only be one vote and the other board members could still vote together and veto anything that F&O may propose that the other members disagreed with.
I’m with Amy. Two warring, billionaire owners who currently refuse to talk to eachother sets a certain dischord at our club which filters down from the boardroom and into the dressing room .
Victoria Concordia Crescit.
A hitman is the preferred solution for me, TS.
Plus we’d probably need new chairs to accomodate F&O.
I’m very uncomfortable with the idea he could get near the boardroom.
Afternoon all. Watching a bit of Tennis. Call me when something happens. Nice letter Catalan. Had he done that we would have all understood and questions about our club’s ambition would not be asked – at least now at this time…
See you all later… π
Nice letter indeed Dr C. But I’m afraid for Robin that particular horse has bolted, found a new stable and decorated it in a nice shade of hay.
=====
TS, I can’t see anything good coming from Jabba the Butt(head) being on the board, but I’ll admit that it may have it’s advantages in the “pissing” department. But unless the silent one does a complete turnaround, it’s not gonna happen.
If it did happen we’d have an Uzbecky-Stan boardroom….
I’ll get my jacket.
heh H2H
@h2h424, aiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!
I can see problems when the fat bastard releases “through channels” financial information designed to make the stan look bad, after a board decision doesn’t go his way. right now he doesn’t have access to the inside financials; leg rash might support his access, though, if only for “further transparency”.
well written, dr. c. van penis’ reasons for writing it another way are yet to be clear, but the way is shut.
happy way belated, windyboy, a row of four pints of your choice on the bar for you. hopefully it’s hair of the dog after an extended party.
Oh yeah, excuse my forgetfulness.
Congratulations on reaching the ripe old age of 18, Cool Breeze.
Let’s introduce you to the wonderful elixor we call beer, the cause of and solution to many of lifes problems.
Drink up now, son. π
Roger the greatest
Thanks, Ned. I think the distinction is blurred in many people’s minds.
@ 385 True Storey
Wotcher.
Regarding Amy Lawrence’s article, I echo what H2H said. Also, Amy Lawrence’s conclusion, that SK has to “put up or sell up” is completely illogical – in the self-sustaining model, he isn’t supposed to put up, is he? So why the pressure on him to put in his own money?
“Others, far wiser than I, have remarked it is better to have people like this βinside the tent p*ssing outβ and I agree with that view.”
There is absolutely no point in yoking together two people who cannot get on personally and have diametrically opposed views about what is best for Arsenal/their pockets. Especially when there is no need or requirement for this.
If AU is so desperate to throw money at the transfer budget, why doesn’t he? He’d be putting it into AW’s hands, not Stan’s, so what’s the problem?
@ 375 Catalan
Exactly. Let’s not confuse the issue – we’d all be sad to see him leave, but it’s the wording of the statement, its timing and the fact that he issued it independently and without consulting the club, that has aroused our ire.
Don’t mean to sound testy, btw. Have recently emerged from the cave of headaches (not that kind, a migraine) and still feeling a bit fragile.
Catalan Gunner – I have nicked your “RvP letter” to repost on ACLF – attributed of course. Hope that’s OK.
Fun Gunner et al
Thanks for the kind words! I guess that’s the benefit of always being made to sit down and write thank you letters after Christmas. No matter how embarrassing the jumper I received!
I’m guessing that footballers live in a different world.
Great drinking all..
Heh! A man after my own (and me Mum (RIP)’s ) heart. In my xmas stocking I always got a packet of notelets with which to write my thank-you letters. And it worked! One Auntie carried on sending me presents till I was in my 20’s cos she loved the thank-you letters.
Couldn’t agree more. A little bit of please and thank you goes a long way.
FG some fine posts above and that. And I’m no fan of the big Red and White fellow – but it doesn’t make much sense to unilaterally put money into a business that someone else owns a controlling interest in, i don’t think
And i’m far from a fan of the whole sugar-daddy lark either – but found this to be a thought provoking comment – sort of related i s’pose – from Yogi’s Warrior – on ACLF – he said something like: the self-sustaining model made more sense when the club had greater plurality of ownership. But when that model is in the hands of billionaires it smacks of profits and potential asset stripping.(You could possibly add to that, and under-investment, arguably.)
If anyone were to put money into the club to help it grow and progress and so help what is mostly their business (for that’s all it is to these fellows, as we know) grow too – shouldn’t that come down to the majority share-holder?
Part of the problem i’ve got with the crass open letter from R & W the other day is that it’s kinda letting the silent one off the hook at the mo – the reverse of what they intended it to do – of course – f-f-f-foools. We still haven’t heard enough detail from stan re his longish-term plans for our club. We want to be the best, with our marvellous manager in charge type platitudes are not enough.
Anyway thought Yogi’s subtle distinction was worthy of a ponder. (Ponder over, now a pint.)
432 Dr C is Ronald Weasley? :s
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
@ AL
Thanks for the response. Here’s mine to you…
but it doesnβt make much sense to unilaterally put money into a business that someone else owns a controlling interest in, i donβt think
I’m not advocating this, you understand, just saying that he’s got it, he thinks we need to spend it, so why not hand it over to AW? Not IG/SK. Unless of course, he’s bullshitting. Instead of ridiculing IG for approaching his telecoms company for sponsorship. why not give us a fantastic deal with the proviso that all of it goes into the football side? Unless of course…
But when that model is in the hands of billionaires it smacks of profits and potential asset stripping.(You could possibly add to that, and under-investment, arguably.)
I’m not best clever when it comes to commercial and corporate matters, but I understood that asset stripping was selling off assets to give the proceeds to the directors or shareholders in the form of a dividend or other payments. I assume by assets you mean players being sold? For one thing the decision on who is sold is AW’s ultimately. Secondly, I am indebted to NBN for explaining to me that under the terms of our loans, 70% of the proceeds of any sales have to go into the TPA and cannot be used for anything else. As to the 30% which doesn’t, you’d have to show me where in the accounts it shows money being paid out to SK. YW has discussed this with me before and he thinks the most likely sources of SK’s profits will be from a) replacing ticketmaster and b) providing a subscription channel, sort of Arsenal TV with knobs on. Although Robson has now resigned. (See what I did there?) All of that profit, YW agrees, is money that the fans pay third parties anyway (ticketmaster) or would be optional additional spend by fans. It wouldn’t reduce the club’s revenues.
If anyone were to put money into the club to help it grow and progress and so help what is mostly their business (for thatβs all it is to these fellows, as we know) grow too β shouldnβt that come down to the majority share-holder?
But the question is “if” isn’t it? If we are a self-sustaining club, then nobody puts money in and nobody takes money out. That was what he bought into. He thinks that the business is growing in the normal way – by people making deals to increase our commercial income, increasing our fan base worldwide, etc etc. AW acknowledged last autumn, and IG did so in his recent long Q&A with the AST, that local supporters have been tapped out.
As to his long-term plans – I’ve guessed at his own business plan for making additional profit, but as far as the vision goes, he is right behind IG and AW, he says.
I would rather we had a group of fans in charge, but Orange put paid to that, and between Fat and SK, SK is the lesser of two evils because he isn’t making false promises.
Anyway, after that long read, you deserve a drink, so have your favourite tipple on me!