22 Aug 2016 23:29:41
Sy4,
How can you be happy that we just do enough to finish in top 4?
It's like Sunderland supporters thinking "If we avoid relegation, it will be a great season".
Does Usain Bolt think "I'm happy to finish in top 3"?
No, It's 1st or nothing because he's a winner.
Mourinho has said, "I want to win everything at Utd".
He's a winner. It's 1st or nothing.
He has bought good players and turned them into title favourites, after only 2 games.
When was last time we were title favourites under Wenger?
12 years ago?
I respect Wenger for what he has done, for what he has achieved, whilst having his hands financially tied with Emirates move and stepping into the ring against financial heavyweights like Chelsea, Utd and City.
His constant 'top 4' is to be applauded and not sneered at, but his stubborn refusal to 'move with the times' is ridiculous, as well as damaging to our club.
We are 2 players short of challenging for title, but he, or the board, refuse to buy them.
Like I posted the other day, you don't have to spend £100m every season, but you have to heavily invest at least once every 5 seasons.
Wenger, or the board, have turned this club into a laughing stock, due to the fact they are either blind or incompetent, or both.
Top 4?
Usain Bolt won't accept that.
Mourinho won't accept that.
Why should we?
22 Aug 2016 23:48:14
DG
I think you will find I posted a supportive post to your comment. Like I say, I am not completely lopsided like some.
I don't believe 100m spend will cover us as we need anther CB to replace Kos in 2 years, right bAck cover, nacho and Santi replacements. We need to invest more than that but not 250m every season. I agree
I don't like not competing but we have a self sufficient model that doesn't generate enough cash - I want change but not the msnsger, yet.
In the past he demonstrated ruthlessness in selling players as well as success plus always strengthening his side every window. That man is still there and deserves a chance.
What manAger would take the job and pressure without the funds? Why not change the model THEN the manager if he fails.
If he was failing - he would be sacked. He hasn't been so meets the boards expectations. So - address the board
That's my point - we both agree but timings are different.
23 Aug 2016 00:15:30
Perfectly summed up Dags. Why settle for top 4 when there is 1st to claim. Ambition of the club has drained down over the years and needs questioning. He (Wenger) always makes top 4 for the past decade, well done, but how many times have we come 1st during this period? Almost the entire world knows that we get knocked out of CL football at the 1/ 16th stage. It's been a pattern at the club. No improvement whatsoever. The board, the manager alongside some fans are happy with the stagnation at the club and then I question myself, don't we ever dream of winning CL or Epl at least anytime soon? Or am I a deluded fan? Everybody is ambitious in life but I can't understand why some fans won't translate those ambition they have for their lives into the club. I guess it would be better if the manager or most importantly the club announces that 'arsenal are no longer a big club'. Then and then only would I accept this kind of ambition the club has, being branded as a 'top 4 trophy club'.
23 Aug 2016 00:17:31
Dags has pretty much summed it up here, good post mate.
There's that old adage, 'second place is first loser' and in the prem that's as true as ever.
Don't get me wrong, finishing above Spurs on the final day last season was great, but purely because we finished above Spurs, if we finished 19th and they finished 20th that feeling would be the same.
I can't imagine many Arsenal fans went out and partied about coming second.
And again, as Dag's says, winners don't celebrate taking part.
I too, respect Arsene massively for what he did for this club, he came in and made changes to a very good team, which took them to the next level and gave this club a base for years.
If anything, my frustrations at Arsene and co this season, are partly because of this IS his final year, I want it to be a great one, where everyone can take a minute and reflect on what he did for us.
As it stands, a lot of people, particularly younger fans, will almost be glad to see the man gone and that's actually a little upsetting.
But times change and you have to change with them.
I can't go to my boss tomorrow and tell him I've not done my job today, but it's fine because 5 years ago I had a cracking day.
Why should Arsene get that pass?
Something is obviously wrong at that club and as much as I'd like to sit here and paint Gazidis, Stan and co as the Devils (they certainly aren't innocent either) when you've got ex players, icons of the club, coming out and criticising Arsene, you have to wonder.
We aren't talking players who never made the grade and are talking in spite either, these are icons and fan favourites, Henry, Vieira, Parlour, Merson, Nicholas, Hartson, Wrighty and players I'm forgetting (old age catching up with the brain! ) again, you have to wonder.
I saw an article today, from a Arsenal blogger who says he thinks the reason we employ less and less former players is because they'll rock the boat.
The current staff we employ, mostly aren't millionaires, they're paid well, but they aren't loaded, these are people who have mortgages, loans, cars, family's to pay for and run, they can't afford to be sent packing.
Do you think Henry's worried about his bills getting paid?
Vieira?
Bergkamp?
I won't throw Paul and Ray into that mix, I think 2 out every 3 quid those lads earned was a well deserved pint.
Arsene likes a steady ship, obedience all round.
He's got one of the most underrated CB's of the last 20 years sat next to him on that bench and Bouldy's not allowed to run defensive drills because Arsene wants to stick with Zonal.
When Arsene eventually leaves, be it end of this season or 46 years time, I really hope whoever comes in, employs as many of the former big guns as possible.
Imagine being a 16 year old striker coming into training and having Theirry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp tutor you?
I'm not saying Mike with his Btec in sport development isn't doing a job, but come on.
Went on a tangent there, apologies!
Unfortunately now, Arsene has made a rod for his own back.
No matter who he signs now, it won't please everybody (if we sign anyone)
We could literally sign Messi tomorrow and people will be up in arms it wasn't done earlier.
The club faffed about with transfers refusing to come close to valuations of good players and now we're 7 days from the window closing and firmly over a barrel.
If we really do want Evans (god I hope not) do you think he'd of cost £25m last month?
West Brom haven't got enough time to really scout replacements.
They can charge what they want, we won't pay it and then it's 'but we tried'
I know it's not that simple, but when we find out a club wants too much for a player or he's not for sale, we either make a reasonable offer or move on.
Instead of what seems to be our tactic of
Will you sell him?
No.
How about now?
Now?
Now?
. now?
'We ran out of time'
I reckon we get Jens Lehman back in as a negotiatior.
If clubs refuse our offer, he'd probably debate it over s fist fight.
At the end of the day, further down this page, Ed002 said we are working on deals (albeit saying he hopes we pull out of them if our fan base keep acting up) so at least we've got a very strong source saying we are working on SOMETHING.
It's only 7 days, hopefully we conjure skmething up in that time, but if not, it may be pitchfork time.
23 Aug 2016 00:48:17
I thought we finished 2nd last season and weren't happy? Just sayin'
23 Aug 2016 00:52:11
Dags I think you have hit the old head on the nail mate.
23 Aug 2016 00:55:31
SY4, I agree with your points.
Until recently, I was as Pro-Wenger as anybody, but this window has been a shambles.
We ended last season needing a striker and Centre Half.
We have started this season still needing a striker and a Centre Half.
We are one of the richest club's in world football, worth an estimated £1.2bn (based on matchday revenue, how much club is worth, nett spend, wage bill and other assets) .
We get twice as much matchday revenue as Chelsea, yet they have spent more than double our spend this window.
We get twice as much matchday revenue as Liverpool, yet they have spent more than triple our spend this window.
Last season our matchday revenue was £101m, the highest in world football.
We made £331m last season. Our club income and asset's grow 9% each year, yet we plead poverty and scratch around for pennies.
We are a £1.2bn business, yet can't (or won't) spend £70m combined on a striker and Centre Half, to help us challenge for the title?
Kroenke has just spent £600m on a ranch, but won't sign a cheque to strenghten the team he has invested in?
The club is a farce.
23 Aug 2016 01:12:06
Top replies Gent's. Agree.
23 Aug 2016 03:46:23
I want to be in dags gang. Lol.
23 Aug 2016 06:58:05
Dags with the exception of Leicester, what team with smaller total revenue or owners funded debt/ spend has finished regularly above us?
Look at the Deloittes report - we are improving on total revenue but without oil money we need to do something
You can't use Chelsea match day revenue as a comparison as how is that correlated to spend when they have 1bn in interest free debt from the owner
The one team is Liverpool in the UEFA cup but look at the state of them in the EPL.
Hope you have a great day and our great club makes some shrewd investments to bring us remarkably back to greatness. We all want to challenge but we don't have the God given right so we have to be a bit lucky and make it happen.
23 Aug 2016 12:33:55
SY, don't kid yourself - Osmanov is worth double what Abramovich is worth - he owns 30 odd percent of the club. Silent Stan (and his family assets) eclipse United, City and Chelsea. Chelsea's 'debt' was converted a few seasons back - at the start of the FFP farce.
Plead oil money all you like but the club do not seem to want to invest, either Arsenal funds or from SS's own pocket.
Something isn't right at the club, it's been that way for a long time. I'm not saying it's a long term model, but I wonder how different our time would have been if Usmanov had been allowed to buy the final stake to allow him to make a complete TO bid. At the time, he had offered to pay off the stadium debt and re-invest heavily in the team. Now, that is an owner with ambition.
23 Aug 2016 15:20:37
MJ
That's my point - we need additional investment to satisfy our need. I put that above a new manager as he has already shown he can compete with funds. More funds means higher expectations and if the manager can't cut it then he is cut.