First of all I would like to focus on two players, Flamini who can leave on a free in June and Hleb, who can buy himself out of his contract in the summer.
I remember last season, both were figures of ridicule by many Arsenal fans, and many wanted them gone.
At this point the management should have either sold them and got a return, or made them sign new contracts so in the event they decided to leave, at least have made something on them.
What we could now see is the ridiculous situation of two of Europe’s finest, walking out the door for nothing or little. Poor planning from the money men in my book, but having said that, it will show how loyal those two are to the fans, we suffered them both for 3 years, losing possession, getting carded, failure to shoot, the list goes on and we all groaned, but we never jeered, we always supported them.
Now they’ve come good, they should repay our lack of booing with a little contract signing, they should also remember the Arsenal curse, I personally would like to see them stay and think they will, but if not, who cares? Arsenal will still be there long after them and we must move on.
We are still being linked in various sections of the press with the big three, Huntelaar, Benzema and Villa, I have mixed feelings on them all, but would like one of them, if you understand that! I think Wenger should study their medical records before making a decision.
Who would I go for? Tough! Is Huntelaar proven? would Benzema be another Aliadiere - but cost more? is Villa too small? I think given the Cesc situation, another Spaniard, in the toughest of the three leagues may tip it for me, but I wouldn’t kick any of them out of bed, if you get my drift.
That’s the forward line sorted, I’ll talk defence tomorrow.
Have a speculative day Grovers and don’t mention the ‘chav’ word.
April 23, 2008 at 9:15 am
Apparently we have just signed a 15 year old Dutch Turk.
http://youngguns.wordpress.com/2008/04/22/arsenal-sign-oguzhan-ozyakup-from-az-alkmaar/
I’ve spent a lot of the morning watching youtube videos on Robinho and i just think he would be perfect for Arsenal and if we got him i wouldn’t want any of the above strikers… check this video out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPuCHQwV3LE&feature=related
April 23, 2008 at 9:18 am
I have a feeling villa would be another Reyes and gut feeling, Huntelaar will be a Van Nistelrooy - by that I mean his goal scoring record, not his cheating/diving/equine tendencies
April 23, 2008 at 9:28 am
It would be great if Flamini and Hleb stay but you’re right the Club will survive without them.
I would personally go for David Villa, he’s a proven goalscorer both internationally and in La Liga, takes a wicked free kick and would form a lethal combination with Fabregas.
Benzema has a great future ahead of him though.
Can we have both?
April 23, 2008 at 9:29 am
Hleb even called Wenger as God last year for supporting him for his pathetic displays on the field (Its like supporting Eboue this year. Hope Eboue turns out to be another Hleb in case he leave. But thats a big dream………..)
Flamini was always good especially as left back. Pity that he leaves. Please no bad feelings against Flamini. He always gave his 100% to the team. Although I am an Arsenal fan I can understand that u cannot ignore such offers like what Juventus is offereing especially when u have completed your contract. Arsenal should match Juventus offer for Flamini especially after the Champions league failure against Liverpool .
April 23, 2008 at 9:31 am
Both Kezman and Kuyt had amazing goalscoring records in Holland, neither hace scored many in England. It’s not a given that he will.
April 23, 2008 at 9:32 am
Flamini wasn’t getting a look in, he was out the door, but changed his mind after Wenger’s likkle chats with him. He then put in a top showing this season.
As for Hleb, he is in the same boat as many other players who can now buy out their contract, but not one player has done this yet as the big clubs don’t wanna piss off their rivals/mates by signing a player under these dodgy circumstances.
April 23, 2008 at 9:34 am
BTW;
I would nt be at all arsed if we sold Hleb to Inter this summer…
April 23, 2008 at 9:34 am
Goonerjay, when I saw that headline, I couldn’t have been anymore deflated?
As for everyone banging on about Jack fucking Wilshere… STOP!
He is 16… he has the build of a 14 year old and it doesn’t matter how great he looks… he wont be ready for at least 3 years!
He is tiny! He looked good in the reserves the other night but how about Lupoli, 30 goal Nikki B, Aliadiere, Vernazza, Barratt, Omar somthing? (The chunky black fella who scored about a million ten years ago, left and did fuck all with his career?)… who can remember who I am talking about?
Barizite looks like the most likely of the bunch to be ready for next year.
Goonerjay, you are bang on the money regarding Robinho!
Chary, your comments keep dropping in the spam… I have no Idea why? I have changed some of the filters so i should stop happening now!
April 23, 2008 at 9:35 am
jack whilshire vid boys http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wOgKUdVXQE
April 23, 2008 at 9:36 am
did you hear the EBOUE quotes .. he thinks that the club should be proud of its achievements this season .. what a bloody useless tosser
David Villa is 27 .. probably too old for Arsene to splash the cash as his resale value would not go up .. Mr Stingy doesnt like that
I personally would be delighted if we bought Ben Arfa ..
April 23, 2008 at 9:39 am
Pedro, I did wonder why I seemed to be barred at times - and I never even said Arsene k***s !
April 23, 2008 at 9:40 am
I think you’ll find there were plenty of jeerers. I certainly wasn’t one of them. I think Hleb is one of the most talented players in the prem. His productivity cannot only be measured in goals/assists, although these need to improve.
Flamini has always given 100% when he’s played. A right midfielder playing left back and getting us to our first CL final. Genius! But I have been surprised by his level of improvement this year in all parts of his game.
Seeing as you were one of the ‘goraners’, if the management had offered them both new deals, you’d have been one of the first to complain! Can’t have it both ways.
April 23, 2008 at 9:46 am
I think Ben Arfa is more likely and much needed, we need a proper winger, not another stiker..although i would love to see Huntelaar also join us.
April 23, 2008 at 9:46 am
Chary, were you thinking it? Our spam filter is set up for pre crime as well….
April 23, 2008 at 9:47 am
I would prefer to see Diego Capel of Sevilla on the wing rather than Ben Arfa.
April 23, 2008 at 9:50 am
they wont sell to us how about wroight-phillips from chelsea
April 23, 2008 at 9:55 am
It looks like the Culb enjoy putting themselves into those situations regarding contracts (Edu, Flam,..). I think sometimes Wenger believes too much in his pesuasion power.
I can’t believe that in January, before selling diarra, Wenger doesn’t tell Flamini:
“Ok you’re having a good season, either you extend now in January or I play Diarra in your role for the rest of the season and you’re back to square one”
We always leave those kind of situation for far too long.
It’s fustrating as it feed the rumour…
April 23, 2008 at 9:59 am
pre-crime? brilliant i wonder if his name is causing problems pedro, its very close to r@y, if you knwo what i mean,
well done nr790 i looked for vid’s yesterday and coudl find nothing, savage goal!
April 23, 2008 at 10:00 am
There were plenty of critics, but no one jeered.
I think it is important to note that the Flamster refused to play as a full back at one point last year.
Some team player…
To call a player a genius for being able to fill in at right back is a bit over the top as well? He is a professional footballer… it would be genius if I could fill in at right back and get us to the champions league final.
To laud a player for giving 100% is rubbish as well… it’s their profession.
Hleb played well last season Will 2000, he was rated in the top ten midfielders by the telegraph (4th I believe). So there was no groaning here. In fact we were not even here this time last year…
Expecting players to be under contract regardless of their form is a must. Arsenal will always be able to pick up a few million even for youth team flops…
A poor comment Will…
April 23, 2008 at 10:00 am
Will I think you meant groaners, and we certainly wouldn’t have, we like making money, if you are one of the Arsene knows brigade go to Arsenal.com thanks.
April 23, 2008 at 10:01 am
Did you hear what fergie said last night? he said, ‘Last season we played much he same team every week because of injuries. Now we have a bigger squad you can see the difference and how it has helped us’.
Wenger are you listening?
his squad players dont moan about playing every few games. they know if they want to compete for and win the 2 big ones then you accept that. he has quality in reserve players so if he wants to rotate Hargreaves for Anderson, then its not a problem. he knows the player coming in is good enough.
wenger does it differently. he has his first choice 11 and then clearly back up players who are not as good. so in the end he feels like he cant rotate without weakening the team. so the players get tired and the reserves get frustrated with no games. I think Fergie’s way is better.
April 23, 2008 at 10:03 am
Naah - he may have known a previous years, but not this year !
April 23, 2008 at 10:03 am
Has anyone seen anything of Amauri, who we seem to be linked woth in every website on Newsnow?
April 23, 2008 at 10:04 am
Yeah, I wasn’t to sure what a ‘goraner’ was?
I thought he meant grover!
April 23, 2008 at 10:05 am
morning people…it is getting hot in the summer!!!!
yeah but you have to go wrong at some point and get it right the next time.. hope fergie whispered about a large squad at OT….
does anyone subscribe to ATVO… wenger has apparently spoken about his transfer list and stuff..
April 23, 2008 at 10:06 am
we don needs klaas and we needs david villa becoz he is skillful and inteliigent than klaas,we oso need signing robinho as winger to positive the team attack type…we needs to keep flamster and alex in the team cos they 2 can give us many many!!!arsene please give flamster as he want buy signing few players like david villa,robinho,ramos.richards or barry.we needs to strenght the team squard to make sure we can fight wit mu or chelski…or bring back KING HENRY to help us 2 leading young gunz fire trophys….
April 23, 2008 at 10:06 am
okkk welll heres wat should happen.
Hleb is a decent player but seems like he wants out. so since barca were interested in gettin him… we should set up an exchange deal for ronaldhino with a few funds travelling in compensation as well…
then flamini can leave if he wants… but wwe all know he will turn shit like the others that have left arsenal… viera left for italy nd he is a shadow of his former self..and we all know wats doin with thierry,…. flamini will crumble in italy….
We should buy agbonlahhor, richards, and david villar because they will complement the side great.. i think almunia did good in goals this year so lets have faith and fabianski can b groomed fo rthe role..
eboue, and lehman should also go…
April 23, 2008 at 10:07 am
did you get the low down on anr about finances, if it true the kitty was never as big as we imagined, but i am no economics expert, this might explain the small club mentality that has been displayed in recent time, dont shoot me down on that as i may have picked up the points wrong
April 23, 2008 at 10:13 am
Morning grovers,
Agree fully with the setiments above, both can bugger off for all I care, and they are both replaceable so good riddance and all that.
Let’s be honest about one thing, AW will not be buying a proven striker int summer because he’s argument will be Ade,RVP,Theo,Bendtner are enough plus Dudu to come back, and one of the toddlers can also ast as back up!! So my belief is we’ll be getting 2 of the following…a defensive midfielder, Centre back and goal keeper.
April 23, 2008 at 10:13 am
Choy, I’ll get that interview on Arsenal TV later as I’ve got Sultana - interesting what he’ll say. I’ll prepare myself for “happy with squad…blah….blah…just one or two additions..blah….blah..bringing youth through….”
Looking out the window it’s wet and gloomy., and now I’m really depressed..
April 23, 2008 at 10:17 am
I think i will prefer both hleb and flamini stay too stay.note (editor)I this message to be post to the two player that i love the two of them to stay so will i also like the likes of huntelaar and david villa,ben arfa,robinho,iniesta,edmilson.also our on denilson need 2 be given the chance.
April 23, 2008 at 10:21 am
Why are we Talking about strikers when we clearly need to be in the market for midfielders.
April 23, 2008 at 10:21 am
I think you can use the term arsene knows … Because no one else here does !
I know he has his little hissy fits about spilling the beans on any potential signings and that if he’s interested in a potential signee he will get more bidders and more bidders means more money and more chance to loose the signing that he wants to make, so he keeps quiet until the time is close .. .. but i think he needs to come out and give the fans at least some idea of what is happening .. Ive read so much speculation on here recently there is little point to comment ..
In fact if i was honest id say ill only be disappointed .. like i was when we let anelka go to the chev’s .. Arsene is fucking up a lot now … losing diarra to pompy , only to have flamini the greedy twat walk out .. like i knew he would in november … I mean lets face it ..
If they dont re-sign straight away they are only thinking about 1 thing !well 2 things
MONEY and there career !
would he of re-signed if we were winning the EPL title this season ! ? YES !
now if inter gets hleb they will more than likely get flamini too ..
then the arsenal curse will be null and void .. as they will have our midfield by the end of the season essentially .. And that pisses me orf !
And another rebuilding year … which makes A FUCKING JOKE of what arsene is trying to do here !
I agree with pedro/geoff that its bad planning on behalf of arsenal and arsene…
but hleb costed 10 mil so he had better be ready to give about 20 mil back to the club if he does depart … and arsene better spend every fuckin cent on a replacement worthy of the starting line up !
I only think what repercussions will it have them leaving this season if they do ?
how far behind the 8 -ball are we ? How eternally stupid was he for not giving diarra more of a run !!!!
April 23, 2008 at 10:24 am
And no winger FFS, unless he thinks Vela will play until Rosicky is ready for 1 or 2 games inbetween injuries.
April 23, 2008 at 10:24 am
i want the two player too stay,flamini and hleb.
April 23, 2008 at 10:31 am
the ANR piece basically says after 2 seasons on £200m income, we only have £25m to spend on players. I think the rest of it has been spent on developing Highbury Square and other similar projects. I got the impression that once the Highbury square project is done, Arsene will get a £50m windfall for players. but that wont be until another year. so this summer just £25m to spend plus whatever you can make from selling Hleb, Eboue, Hoyte and Senderos or whoever.
What shocked me was that we still owe over £20m on players we have bought. we have barely spent that much in the last few years!!
April 23, 2008 at 10:31 am
Im Sick of the flamini rumours. One Site says that he’s happy with arsenal, and is signing a contract as we speak, but the next day hes linked to Barca, Inter, Juve and AC at the same time! Someone better tell him that he can only play for one club, not as many as you want. IMO the Greedy idiot can leave, and ill be GAINING sleep, not losing it.
I wouldnt mind Hleb staying, but his incident suggests that he isnt interested enough at Arsenal any more.
Whats the News on Villa? Has Wenger fully trashed it now, or is there still a chance? i know there was another press conference today where the Villa issue was raised, but i cant find it anywhere other than in passing… Anyone else know whats going on?
April 23, 2008 at 10:32 am
Dont expect any big money signings.The current accounts suggests we are running on empty as the Emirates takes a huge amount of the money.
April 23, 2008 at 10:33 am
Straight from the Hill-Woods mouth:
“We have made what we think is a pretty generous offer and we are waiting to hear whether he will accept or not,”
“You just don’t know nowadays. You think players have a pretty good life, but, somehow, someone persuades them the grass might be greener somewhere else.
“So I don’t know the answer, all I know is we think we have pushed the boat out.”
April 23, 2008 at 10:34 am
arsene wenger should change is buying policy coz this is the problem he as brougth to us by not signinig any player in the january window transfer.i need him to change is policy and get good player like huntelaar,villa,ben arfa,iniesta,robinho,david silva,amauri,fabiano,gago,edmilson,diarra of madrid.likewise should we also give chance to our own denilson.coz i know the guy will make us proud like the likes of fabregas.
April 23, 2008 at 10:35 am
we are a FEEDER club FFS!!?
April 23, 2008 at 10:38 am
I WOULD PREPARE TO SEE HUNTELAR AT ARSENAL, VILLA IS TOO SMALL FOR MY LIKEN. HUNTELAR IS TALL AND VERY GOOD ON THE AIR WHICH ARSENAL HAV BEEN LACKING OVER THE YEARS. WHILE BENZEMA MAY NOT SUIT ENGLISH FOOTBALL, BUT HE IS GOOD ALSO I WOULD NOT MIND.
PLS IS ARSENAL GOING TO SIGN AMAURI FROM PALERMO, I HAV BEEN HEARING RUMOURS THAT HE ARSENAL HAV MADE AN OFFER FOR HIM.
April 23, 2008 at 10:39 am
Guys, lets face it. This board wants big bucks, and returns. they’ve fully used the miser in Arsene. David dein predicted the fall, and wanted a change. In retrospect, I think thats the answer to our trophy woes. Come on. IF Arsene signed a quality Centerback and Defensive midfielder, we wouldn’t be whining (like our good ol’ Arsene). But you know whats the worst part is! IT’s AKB. They’ll sell the shit that our club is giving. I pray that russian oligarch takes over, and we get quality signings. That’s the only ray of hope
April 23, 2008 at 10:41 am
pedro who is that regarding villa ?
April 23, 2008 at 10:43 am
Gazzap it said in the annual report we have £70million, they can’t take that back, simple.
The only way it would go back is if Wenger said that he doesn’t want it.
Paying off our debt early only makes us a tastier takeover prospect, so I can’t see that of benefit.
April 23, 2008 at 10:45 am
Transfer window hasn’t even opened yet and i’m pissed off… this is gonna be a long summer
April 23, 2008 at 10:45 am
Dont expect another defender to come in, unless Senderos goes, I bet Wenger is just itching to add another 17year old to the first team
http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?article=490577&lid=NewsHeadline&sub=Nordtveit+-+I+can+be+Arsenal’s+’new+defender’&sublid=NewsHeadline&Title=Nordtveit+-+I+can+be+Arsenal’s+’new+defender’&f=rss
April 23, 2008 at 10:46 am
Just watched the Arsene interview:
David Villa is not coming guys
He looks confident about keeping the team together
The transfer budget is not as big as the papers make out.
The transfer budget includes wage increases
He will add experience
He will not get rid of players, he will compliment
We have had a tremendous season, getting the Champs league final is better than winning the carling cup
April 23, 2008 at 10:47 am
Hey I’m still a groaner!! I for one would not be upset if Hleb leaves. As I have said before he has skills and is talented but I’d swap him for a player with pace and end product. Will 2000 how can you say Hlebs productivity cannot be measured in goals/assists! Surely thats what productivity is, especially for a player who for many games this season has been played almost as a second striker. His productivity is poor and personally I think he flatters to deceive! his skills make him look good but after analysis of end product he aint all that!!
As for Flamini, he has had a great season and has always worked hard for the team even when he was playing left back. I’d like him to stay but if he wants to go then I dont want him to stay. I only want players who are 100% committed to Arsenal. That is the least we as fans deserve. If he goes I’d like to see Diaby given a chance in his natural position. Not only do I think he will be better there than on the wing but also he is a goal scorer and would add height to what is currently a small midfield. If Flamini and Gilberto go which is looking likely that still leaves us in need of a midfield player. I’d like someone big and tough, I like Mahamadou Diarra at real madrid. At 26 he has the experience and it would be nice to take a player from Madrid for a change!!
April 23, 2008 at 10:47 am
Ethan that is regarding Flamini mate
April 23, 2008 at 10:48 am
In light of the small club mentality it seems we are labelled with, does that mena we are only interlopers into the big 3 ? We don’t - andf will not in the short term - ever have the buyong power of the other 3.
Fan -smegging - tastic.
April 23, 2008 at 10:48 am
Well said Tony.
April 23, 2008 at 10:49 am
Everyone jeers around where i sit - at Hleb, at Adebayor, anyone - we watch the best football in the league and many of the fans just moan. It would serve us right if one of these guys left because they didnt feel appreciated. For once on Saturday Jamie Rednapp said something sensible when he was drooling about how Hleb was one of the best players in the league and he could watch him all day.
April 23, 2008 at 10:50 am
£70 minus £20m we still owe for players minus £25m we are not allowed to touch for stadium payment security. that leaves £25m, which is what wenger has to spend.
April 23, 2008 at 10:51 am
Great, can’t wait! We all get our hopes up AGAIN, and we end up buying Tommy Never Heard of, and he’s 11 year old brother!
April 23, 2008 at 10:51 am
when i think of it .. its like a pack of homeless hobo’s who have just wont the lottery .
this board has’nt got a clue how to drive this limo of a stadium .. They are like a bunch of hungry chinese business men trying to raise the profile of this club and rubbing there greedy hands together thinking of potential share prices and what they can get from the coffers once they finally decide to sell there shares .. i bet you when they do sell they will all sell at once , like the ultimate scamm package deal ! And thats the reason no fucker will sell there shares .. because the highbury redevelopment is yet to bring in the big bucks.. So hold on you greedy thieves .. lets wait until we all get some good returns !!!
All the time screwing over our club and forgetting what we are here to do ….
play football !
and win !
April 23, 2008 at 10:53 am
PS did anyone else notice that Murty was going for a sly grab at Hleb’s bollocks when Alex slapped him?!
April 23, 2008 at 10:54 am
I’ve just watched that interview Pedro… same old Arsene doesn’t want to give anyting away and is already making excuses as to why he won’t be spending much again this year
April 23, 2008 at 10:57 am
That £25m includes any wages he has to pay new players AND wage increases to the current squad. Now you can see why wenger said he can only bring in one top quality player.
if you could choose to improve one position, what would it be?? Central defence? Wing? Striker? decisions decisions.
If Flam goes, will wenger spend that to replace him and stand still, or will he promote someone like Song or Denilson and then spend the money on a flair player?
Can Toure and Gallas continue in defence next season or have they been found out as not quite good enough to win the title?
Personally I think with £25m he can buy 2 players, providing we keep the Flamster. a centre back and an attacking winger cum striker. If flam goes we are fucked.
April 23, 2008 at 11:00 am
im so disillusioned at how we can add players so slowly and loose them so quickly ..
creating HUGE holes in the squad .. Don the board realize we arent getting anywhere fast??
We are a leaking boat with bowling ball shaped holes to patch up !
ade is bollocks
half the others are either injured or leaving …
yes we’ve had a great year !!!
won fuck all ..
and lets continue to rebuild and buy 16 year old players to replace hleb and flamini
if we dont sell them first !
April 23, 2008 at 11:03 am
Hey the difference is Jamie Redknapp doesnt watch him all day. He sees highlights of most games and watches the odd 90 minute match here and there. We sit through every single 90 minutes he plays and I dont care what anyone says. If you cant score goals and make loads of assists when playing as a secon striker/att midfielder then your not great!! Who would excite you more as the secon striker Bergkamp, Pires or Hleb? Who would you rather see? Who would give most end product. One thing is certain it wouldnt be Hleb and thats not even debatable because we have all witnessed the proof.
Big Johan, yes everyone jeers where I sit too. Mainly because as I have said Hleb - no end product! Adebeyor has the first touch of a bad pub player and his finishing is poor at best! Before you remind me of his 27 goals I will just say that he gets more chances than any other striker in the premiership! He misses more chances than any other striker in the premiership. He plays as an out and out striker, Henry used to play much deeper and often out wide yet score more goals and create loads of goals for others. We as fans have the right to expect more. I also believe we are some of the most patient fans in thr country. Jeers and moans maybe but just ask west ham players what real critisism is like!
April 23, 2008 at 11:06 am
someone will want sagna before the years out ..
Who wouldnt … !
and theo might get pounced on …
other clubs will rape us of our talent ..
and arsene will just sit there and let it happen !
if we only buy 1 player lets hope its a goal scorer !
because although people say we are 2nd in the league in scoring ..
we havent for the past 10 - 12 games prior to reading ..
and those sorts of flat NON-SCORING times lost us the title !!
April 23, 2008 at 11:06 am
We need a decent CB, a 6ft 5 ugly cnut that’ll just gobble up the likes of Drogba for lunch, a kind of cross between Materazzi/Nesta/Alex/Keown! That’s 15-20 of the budget gone already!
other than that maybe a goalie because when flam leaves AW will only move one of Diaby,Song,Djourou,Toure or Gilberto into the position.
April 23, 2008 at 11:11 am
so what is the concensus here, do we in fact not have the money we think we have to spend? if that is the case then at least now we know we wont be getting any wonder signings so we can now therefore not get the hopes up, even though we didnt anyway,
and has our critisism been unfair as with the funds available this is what we can expect and in turn somewhat over acheived for the majority of the season, assuming big money equates to better players and success,
April 23, 2008 at 11:12 am
chris seeing as the alleged 75 mill is now more like 25-30, I think we’ll be getting the 1 quality player AW suggested, so either CB or goalie!!
April 23, 2008 at 11:14 am
hey hey dont worry..
we got our new Maldini/tony adams in Nordveit, and a Dennis bergkamp in Barazite. Oh the English maradona in Jack wilshire, and the mexican Luiz Ronaldo in Carlos Vela. Dont worry amigos. We’ll be really flying. And oh yes, we also have Ignasi Miquel, he’ll be the next Puyol, and maybe even better than him. But the problem is, we grow our talents by letting them gain experience & lose our games, and sell ‘em next summer for our fat cunts in the boardroom. We won’t win a fecking trophy! ^*%$!
April 23, 2008 at 11:15 am
Hey Ethan you and others on here have it wrong!! The board are not greedy they are sensible. Yes there is money available but any old Joe can just spen willy nilly just ask leeds fans. Our board members do not even take dividends from the club which incidentally the big fat russian and his mercenary mate Dein would like them to do in future. Red & White want the to invest but most importantly for them they want to make a profit for their own ends, so maybe I am alone but I want this board to stay!!
We have over achieved this season bearing in mind we have seen player after player leave and no real replacements coming in but I still think that is just more proof of how amazing Arsene is. Yes I would love to see some additions to the squad but I will take stability every time so yes I believe Arsene Knows….. I am certain we will again reach the dizzy heights we have before but until all the flats are completed (thats not just sold but people moved in and paid for them) then we need to be a bit careful because when you are messing with 100’s of millions of pounds it can all crash very easily after all if the property market crashes heavily and we have spent all the money in advance just how much trouble could we be in when the flats dont make the money we had hoped?? So lets trust the board who have been great in the last 20 years and Arsene the manager who has a degree in economics and knows how to balance the book. Fingers crossed he thinks we can afford to add to the squad a bit tho.
April 23, 2008 at 11:15 am
I don’t want to sound like a conspiracy theorist… but the accounts said £70 million, now Arsenal are saying £20million…
You don’t think it is a ploy to get players on the cheap do you?
I’d like Arfa, but I only have £5million… how about a deal?
April 23, 2008 at 11:17 am
dead right tony …
ade has had more supply than any striker in the league ..
if walcott had the chances he had , we probably would be in the box seat right now ..
Id rather start the season more poorly and finish well ..
doing it the way it panned out leaves a nasty taste in your mouth !
if we did it that way .. we would be more positive ..
it proves that the players still lack experience and quality against the top flight teams,
which we must compare ourselves too !
If theo started as striker this season i have no doubt he would have over 30+ goals this season wih more assists to boot !!!.. look at TH14 out on the wing played 16 games bagged 7 goals ..
then barca wonder why there season is so shite !!?
If you gave TH 14 the role he was used too at arsenal and persisted with him there like arsene had done with ade , barca wouldn’t be 2nd best this season !
TH14 is the greatest striker to ever grace this earth ! playing him out of position just goes to show me why franky should be sacked ! and will be…
April 23, 2008 at 11:20 am
Gazzap what about the Premier league’s £30mil, the Champions league’s £25+mil, the accounts clearly said he had a transfer fund of £70mil, not all the rest, where did you get your info? if it’s true it’s fucking scandalous.
April 23, 2008 at 11:21 am
One final wishlist:
Huntelaar,
Rafael Marquez - quality CB and also a Defensive midfielder (Steal him from Barca, we should have signed yaya toure, that was a grave mistake from Arsene, not to sign him)
Quaresma or Robinho
April 23, 2008 at 11:23 am
I have a Degree in business management… it doesn’t mean I could takeover Accenture.
He has a degree in Economics, not accountancy… so balancing the books is not his speciality.
If he had such a sharp business sense perhaps he would have held onto Diarra before flogging him on the cheap, or tied the Flamster down earlier?
Arsene has made some shocking business decisions, lets not make him out to be something he is not.
April 23, 2008 at 11:26 am
All sounds like a mega fiddle to me!! We were told by the board earlier this year that the manager had 70 mill to spend, not to pay wages TO SPEND!
So where this idea comes from that the said funds includes paying off outstanding amounts for new players purchased, and wages is a load of tosh.
Your year’s budget would include all overheads INCLUDING salaries, so if you come out and tell the world you have 70 mill, it means you have 70 mill after all overheads, costs and any other incidentals have been covered! The press didnt quote the figure Asenal did! I am just amazed they can drop the figure by 70 odd % ad think they can get away with it!! What bollox!
April 23, 2008 at 11:29 am
Flamini - Good. Offer him 55k a week, short term deal - 3 years tops.
Hleb - Good. Don’t care if he goes though, he is notoriously a selfish little prick, just ask his team mates in the national team. Proper little prima dona. So if he goes, he goes.
We don’t have a huge budget this summer, but we certainly have more than 25mil.
I would be surprised if we seeing any big big signings. In a way the only way we’ll see new faces is if flam/hleb leave in which case arsene will have to buy quality.
I am sick to fucking death of Arsene and his contract bollocks. Let’s start with him, he sets this precedent for players because he does not lead by example. Lets his own contract run down to the final year before umming and arrring and then finally signing a new deal. Sadly players are not as loyal as le boss and so they let their contracts run down and cite the boss’s reasons for doing so ‘Oh i want to focus on my football this season and think about contracts later but i want to stay at arsenal.’ Then lo and behold they end up somewhere else;
Edu, Vieira (1 year left), Henry signs a last minute bumper deal only to fuck off a year later, Pires, Ljungberg and now flamini/gilbo etc. Arsene is pish at this side of management but is clearly trying with Cesc by tying him to long term deals.
I would of course love to see some signings come in but why are we wasting our breath on Robinho/Villa/Benzema/Van Der Vaarte/Ronaldinho etc?? Never ever will Arsene sign these players mainly because he has thought about signing most of them at some stage before; Robinho and Ronaldinho were very close too.
He will look for the next version of these players, never the finished article and that is precisely why we will continue to be disappointed in our seasons. These ‘next versions’ rarely materialise in the time we need them….we want a robinho/villa NOW arsene, not a 19 year old tipped to be the next big thing. The same tag applied to Denilson, Theo, Diaby, Bendtner, Merida, Vela etc but none of them are ready to win us titles yet.
Fuck it, I cannot be bothered getting depressed about this…
April 23, 2008 at 11:29 am
I would be inclined to agree with an Accountant Odub… well said.
April 23, 2008 at 11:29 am
Tony, I am a shareholder and would quite like a dividend, that what’s supposed to happen, when it doesn’t I wonder where the money goes, Leeds spent £90 million on ordinary players, fuck me Sunderland spent £29mil, we made £19mil.
It can’t be right, we’re making money for someone to take the club over, then sell it back to the club, just like the Glazers did, only the difference is, they won the Premier league.
I have said before if they don’t want to spend, they should lower the admission prices.
April 23, 2008 at 11:33 am
Here’s a thought, if AW actually signed his contract extensions without all the drama and prolonged bollox every time he’s due to chat with the board, wouldn’t his players follow suit and do the same year in year out? just a thought folks….
April 23, 2008 at 11:34 am
Sell injury prone & useless piece of shitte as below :
1. Adebayour - 15m
2. Robin - 15m
3. Bendtner - 8m
4. Rosicky - 15m
5. Gilberto - 7m
6. Sanderos - 6m
7. Hoyte - 5m
8. Diaby - 9m
9. Lehman - 6m
Total : 86m profit on selling player’s. Plus 25m transfer kitty allocation is about = 111m to spend on new quality, strong players & experience player’s.
Buy :
1. Thierry Henry - 15m
2. Karim Benzema - 20m
3. Ricardo Quaresma - 12m
4. Hatem Ben Arfa - 13m
5. Micah Richards - 20m
6. Gomes - 10m
Total to spemd 90m, only & the balance of 21m can be kept for wages.
April 23, 2008 at 11:34 am
I cant believe we continuosly let player leave for free - Edu, Wiltord, Pires, Kanu etc especially at a time when most would agree we aren’t exactly awash with cash!
We could have surely raised a few mil from these guys & instead we get not!! Viera & Henry £10 million less than we could have got a year previously. WHo makes these decisions - Wenger?
Wenger may know but it would appear that he need to go back & have a look at some of his economics coursework!!!
April 23, 2008 at 11:39 am
well guys… it is quickly looking like we are going to have another summer of dissapointment and fear of the soming season as opposed to excitement that all the other clubs…. even Everton are bigger spenders than us these days it’s ridiculous
April 23, 2008 at 11:41 am
a fair point odub,
April 23, 2008 at 11:41 am
RassHenry, I agree with some of your ins and outs, but surely you can’t make such wholesale changes in one go ?
That number of changes would destabilise any team, let alone a team short on confidence. IMHO 3-4 ins and outs would be best, but only if all the ins were the finished article.
Please, no more 15 year olds with potential - we have too many of them now.
April 23, 2008 at 11:49 am
I think i might start supporting the Womens team… Not quite so depressing
April 23, 2008 at 11:52 am
goonerjay their 51 game winning streak just came to an end! Sorry mate!
but still at least they win things every season, and the best players in the world come to them, and dont want to leave!!!
April 23, 2008 at 11:53 am
3 match ban for Hleb! See ya mate, was nice knowing you!
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_3463880,00.html
April 23, 2008 at 11:54 am
a bit easier on the eye too Odub… even if the football isn’t as attractive the players are worth looking at… some of em anyway.
April 23, 2008 at 11:54 am
RassHenry, methinks youve been smoking sumfink up your r’ass!! Adebayor,Gilberto, Hoyte are not useless.
You honestly think AW would want to buy Henry again and for £15mill?That will be the joke of the season mate!
April 23, 2008 at 11:55 am
For me I have faith in Theo, he will come good next season. We need a midfielder to replace Flamin (if he decided to defect) and Eboue, a CB and goalkeeper.
Barry and Reococker could boost our chances together with Wright-Phillips if he so decides to leave the Cunts.
April 23, 2008 at 11:56 am
Yeah Odub, we all knew the long hands of the FA were going to get him(Hleb).
April 23, 2008 at 11:57 am
true goonerjay, as much as I love Faye White, I wouldnt put her in the ‘easier on the eye’ bracket!
April 23, 2008 at 11:58 am
yes goonerjay
im with you ..
plus it would be good at the end to see them swap shirts
April 23, 2008 at 11:58 am
so in the perspective of things.. we have only a 25 million kitty…
chelsea are apparently going to spend 100 million…
we’re still hanging on….
what do you english blokes think about foreign ownership?
April 23, 2008 at 11:59 am
t-buzz
i agree
RassHenry,
yes also if somoene pays 8 million for bendtner ill throw in my nuts for free !
April 23, 2008 at 12:03 pm
RassHenry exactly who would give us 7 mill for Gilberto, 6 for senderos, 5 for hoyte, p for diaby and best of all 9 for the mad german!!!
t-buzz is right, whatchu been smoking mate?!!
April 23, 2008 at 12:03 pm
choy
id welcome it if it means the financial security to buy players and compete with
the jones !
I mean who really cares about English ownership …???
the money goes to a select few of rich tossers who have to put a certain amount back into the club ..
Does it really matter if we have a few more rich sir alan sugars ? or rich russian plonkers .
either way .. I dont care as long as we start taking competing seriously ..
April 23, 2008 at 12:06 pm
I think it would be great if Flamini can stay…he has been fantastic and important this season, and surely if Flamini moves, there will be a great loss in the midfield although there’s still cesc fabregas.
Villa is an amazing player..very skillful. I think he would be like that, or better, in Arsenal although some friends of mine say that it would be hard for him to adapt.
April 23, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Hey guys I am not saying that every decision Arsene makes is right but lets be honest, we are the only club in the top half and more of the prem that within the last 3 years have made a profit on transfers and yet Arsene has kept us in the top four. I do not think the board are always completely open about the financial constraints of the new stadium but as I have said earlier until the flats are sold it is a big drain on funds and in the current climate I can understand why they are being so careful. Would we all rather they went crazy spending money and risk our clubs future? Look at many of the names that over the years we have wanted them to sign, how many have been great in retrospect??
That is not to say that at £1300 for my season ticket and rediculous food prices I do not want to see signings and investment in the team but not at any cost to the clubs financial security!
April 23, 2008 at 12:09 pm
odub
the truth is thou .. or players arent worth fuck all !
at least rasshenry has pointed that out ..
in a round about way ..
year after year we’ve sold our biggest assets ..
if this isnt becoming apparent i dont know what is !!!
all thats left in the barrel is a few free transfer players .. ade and eboue ..
i cant see where arsene will get funds from this season ..
least last year he sold freddie and th14 to get 19 mil …
i cant see where he will get that sort of cash this season …
maybe hleb ..
But i know arsene is just yanking our chain about the amount he can spend ..
he has been doing it for years but we sort of believed him before ..
now it just looks desperate .. all i can say is hope the boats and luxury cars
the board has bought this season are worth winning nothing again to them!
April 23, 2008 at 12:09 pm
k ethan gunner…
i think thats what david dein was talking about a couple of days back.. foreign manager.. foreign players.. so why the fuss over foreign ownership… if that would help us win trophies and cater to the global audience .. why not?
here arsene keeps talking about less funds.. blah blah..
and we’re still punching above our weight… sunderland spent more than us …lol…
don’t know why the board are so pessimistic about this…. if we are meant to be a global force.. i don’t think ownership has anything to do with it…
April 23, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Gomes??!!! You must be joking
I’d rather have Emma Byrne
(http://www.arsenal.com/player.asp?thisNav=ladies&plid=60430&clid=4433&cpid=827
for those of you who havent yet switched to following the ladies team)
April 23, 2008 at 12:18 pm
geoff, read ANR about the financial summary. we really do only have £25m to spend this summer.
I tell you, this Vela guy better be fucking good!
April 23, 2008 at 12:19 pm
I doubt Liverpool fans would agree!
April 23, 2008 at 12:22 pm
tony
if you think that leeds would EVER happen again .. you need to get over it .
its a bench mark for the AKB brigade to use when throw err to caution about foreign ownership issues ! … heard it all before … mate no need to go there ….
we are not throwing caution to t he wind here !!!
we have not had any big signings since TH 14 !!!
who has come to the club who was a MEGA STAR ?? reyes ? hleb ? i think 13 - 10 mil respectively …
We have NEVER made a big signing on a player .
do any of you think it will start now ???
arsene needs them ! but we are clutching at straws ..
we will and always will buy a cultured unknown ..
and we will never amount to anything under his rule ..
thems the facts ..
With man C and spurs + the other unknown russians who will buy an EPL team this season our 4th spot will come into question more and more ..unless arsene chooses REAL WISELY !
the gap is getting larger every year .. we all know it ..
and the last thing we need is arsene to be a pussy and sell half of the nucleus of the team .. sure eboue’s ade’s even bendnters if they can be palmed off for profit do it .
we have a few players who are a square pegs in a round hole .. we need a clean out and
bring in some fresh.. unknowns in .. because that is what will happen ..
and maybe ben arfa as arsene felt him up … much past that we can speculate and dream all day .. to no avail ..
April 23, 2008 at 12:23 pm
do we have the best ladies team in the world?
April 23, 2008 at 12:27 pm
I see Harvard Nortdveit has put himself forward as Senderos’ replacement next season. he will be 18 in June. very young for any centre back in the PL. might be a step too far. He does look very good to me in the reserves though.
I reckon him and Barazite to come in to the PL team next season and ease a few of our worries.
What about Gibbs. I heard he was not having a good time at Norwich, but then Bentley was crap at Norwich as well and he’s not bad.
can wenger rush these players on to become first teamers sooner rather than later? he may well have to.
April 23, 2008 at 12:27 pm
http://gunnerslive.wordpress.com/2008/04/20/exclusive-news-flamini-will-stay-at-arsenal/#comments
Exclusive News - Flamini to sign new contract at Arsenal.
we will have a really great season with him now being our captain.
April 23, 2008 at 12:30 pm
http://gunnerslive.wordpress.com/2008/04/20/exclusive-news-flamini-will-stay-at-arsenal/#comments
FLAMINI IS STAYING AT ARSENAL …..
April 23, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Earlier this season,cant quite remember if it was the Arsenal shareholder’s meeting, Wenger made a comment about the future being bright with regards to english players in the youth squad being intergrated gradually into the 1st team.
I think Wengers got something up his sleeves(surprise surprise),this summer might not be as interesting as we hope regards purchasing known players. I for one am not getting my hopes high up with the stories linking us with Villa, Raul-Albino, Ben Afra,etc.
I see him buying 2 players(a CB and a goalie) and drafting a few from the youth academy…..hope thats not the case though!
April 23, 2008 at 12:33 pm
choy
ownership is just important to the owners !
who gives a shite if there english or foreign, its not like we will get to go around there house and play on there Xbox 360 ! or drive 1 of their 35 cars they own ! and if they own a football club they obviously have employed professionals on a full time basis to manage the club or sit on the board themselves ..
those managers spend money in the UK just like any other plonker who sits on the board would ! have houses here .. spend money here (UK) … I really dont see the problem in making a persons bank account fatter ! do we really care if he’s from india or USA ?
providing he doesnt run the club into the ground .. who really cares ?
And most sensible business men wouldnt buy a huge asset like arsenal only to piss it up the wall ! tony leeds was an isolated incident .. like geoff said over spent on average players and too late to make a difference .. biblical poor choices .. and leeds wasnt no liverpool or man U ! so i think you need to factor that into your methodology
April 23, 2008 at 12:38 pm
No way do I want foreign ownership….I want the club to stay in the hands of the current board….why? Well for my part, I am proud to be an Arsenal fan, I am proud of the way our club conducts itself, I am proud that we have class and identity and that despite all the clubs around us selling up and over-spending we are still up there with the best of them and producing some of the finest football in Europe. I think that is why Arsene loves the club too, he has spoken many times about the danger of foreign ownership - just look at Liverpool and Man U are heavily in debt, as are chelsea. Ok, we’re not winning trophies at the moment and that must change but my gripes are with Arsene, his spending policy and the current players, not with the way our club is run.
If that Russian fella or Kroenke was to move in, I think a little bit of the fire inside me for this historic and incredible club would die a little and would never come back. Everyone moans about us not producing english talent for the national team yet increasingly we are the only top club owned and run by englishmen. Irony? I think so.
Keep Arsenal in the hands of English owners, don’t want to become so billionaire’s glamour toy like chavski.
April 23, 2008 at 12:46 pm
then arsene is the way forward.. i don’t think any manager could do what arsene can with such a paltry budget.
April 23, 2008 at 12:51 pm
TH14’s Senseof Arrogance, you were spot on there! Wouldnt want whats happening to Liverpooh or Chelskie happening to us and like you rightly said, Arsene wants the club to keep its tradition as an english club owned by english(majority).
April 23, 2008 at 12:51 pm
I agree, Arsene achieves so much with a pish budget but he is also stubborn and what was once a necessity is now a choice for him. It is his get out clause, his comfort blanket. By refusing to spend big he can always justify not winning trophies but that does not wash with the fans, we deserve signings but running to foreign investment is not the way I want that to happen, we are a self-sustaining club with financial security that will last for many years to come.
We have money to spend, it’s down to Arsene to request it, nothing to do with being english owned.
April 23, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Well, if you won awards for pretty football on a budget… then I guess the Arsene way would be best.
Lets not get clouded by media propaganda. We are in this game for trophies not tags like:
The most entertaining football
Best run business
Best team on a budget
Best youth cultivators
Best team technically
They are great accolades, but I would prefer to have a few pieces of silverware to match them.
Especially as these tags are also associated with us:
2nd Richest club
Most expensive season ticket on the planet
Most profitable gate receipts
£70 million Cash Surplus
£10 million wages to one player for one years work
Etc….
April 23, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Huntelaar is a goalscoring machine.Take him,20-30 goals a season guaranteed!Let Hleb go,he can create chances,but absolutely useless in front of goal.He has a very poor goalscoring record for an attacking midfielder.For dribbling you don’t collect points.If he stays ok,if not ,don’t feel sorry for him.
April 23, 2008 at 1:28 pm
We charge the most for admission but are the only premier league club who cannot afford signings, 25 million to include fees & wages is quite frankly pathetic. A top quality player would want around 75k a week making 3.9 million a year, that would be over a 4 year period so 15.6 million in total, leaving Wenger 9.4 million for the actual purchase!! You can see what top quality players you can get for that price these days. Before anyone comes back with the c*** about our stadium debt, I don’t buy it. Man Utd take less per game but can still service a significantly bigger debt.
If those figures quoted on ANR are true then the club is extremely badly run & DD is right. As a shareholder I would want the board out, you cannot run a club like they are. We will be outspent by clubs like Sunderland this summer. We will not keep our top 4 status if every year clubs continue to buy better quality players than us. Eventually a team will get the management right & will plough ahead of us!!
April 23, 2008 at 1:33 pm
GMR .. maybe this is exactly what needs to happen in order for the current status quo to change ./. I mean governments are not voted out in times of ecomic excellence
look at poor old gordon brown
wenger/board play a little game on us .. we never know what is available when and how
they hide behing each other
I am very happy with the achievements under Wenger, but doubt he’s got the drive to bring the club to the next level
we are still run like a tier 2 club, not a member of the now defunct G14 elite
contract talks/decisions reg Flam/Diara/TH14 all prove this
April 23, 2008 at 1:33 pm
GMRI think the wages are just one year’s worth not the whole contracts worth. that is an annual budget. next year will take care of itself with a windfall coming following the property sales. I dont think wenger buys players who want £75k a week. I think he’d be looking at half that. ie 2m a year.
April 23, 2008 at 1:38 pm
the other thing about the anr item, it does say “Six month interim accounts to November 2007 ” so therefore its not even a years total, again unless i am wrong
April 23, 2008 at 1:38 pm
make no mistake the stadium is still weighing round our necks like a millstone but I next season is the last one where it will have such a big affect on finances. After that I see clearer sailing. wenger needs to have one more year of keeping this team togther. My concern is that one more year of 3rd place and no trophies will lead to several of our best players leaving. at some point you have to win trophies. If we do lose players its vital that we get decent money for them. losing good players for free is not acceptable.
wenger does play some blinders in the transfer market to be fair to him. this summer he is going to have to pull 3 rabbits out of the hat. If anyone can do it, he can.
April 23, 2008 at 1:42 pm
i did hear on the radio that it was going to be 09-10 before proper spending is going to happen, and that was suppose to be from the horses mouth (no not rudd)
sagna and dudu were virtal coups as far as transfer dealings are concerned on a budget as we are led to belive
April 23, 2008 at 1:42 pm
20-25m? That’s put me right off my sardine sandwich.
Though we didn’t really believe wenger would spend anything near 40-50m in one summer did we?
Looking back at the season its clear that the first team WAS good enough to win a title, problem was the SQUAD wasnt.
Because of the empasis on quality coaching and technical football (Wengerball) we dont need to spend 100m on stars. Just better quality back-up.
Tighten up at the back with a quallity centre half and competition for Almunia.
Sign Robinho.
Promote Walcott to striker/back up winger
Promote Vela to Rosicky/Hleb understudy.
Rotate Diaby with Flamini to keep him Fresh
Rotate Cesc with Hleb to keep him Fresh (Walcott/Vela/Robinho fills in on Right)
Eduardo is as good a finisher as Villa and similar build and style, we dont need two of the same.
Walcott is probably the most exciting young player in the EPL after Ronaldo at the moment, and he’ll have a great 08/09.
But we MUST keep Flamini and Hleb. That squad should be able to go one step further next year.
First Team
————Ade RVP
—Robinho Cesc Flamini Hleb
-Clichy Kompany? Toure Sagna
————Almunia
Competing for their places/back up
———-Eduardo Walcott
—-Vela Rosicky/Hleb Diaby Vela
—–Traore Gallas Djourou Eboue
—————-Gomes
April 23, 2008 at 1:48 pm
The misconception about Hleb is he is a dribbling footballer in a passing team. His value comes from being the one player to hold the ball, draw additional defenders to him or beat his man and unlock tight defences. We need one player like that in our team, but i think Diaby could also be just as good.
April 23, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Yangkamp that looks good to me mate… we just need to let Wenger know this is what the fans want
April 23, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Fact of the matter is, we need depth in our squad, enough no produce 2 teams. I really hope wenger will wake up to this cos you cant have 1 strong team and hope they remain injury free all season!! Aint gonna happen.
April 23, 2008 at 2:07 pm
————Ade
–RVP
Robinho Walcot
——–Cesc Flamini
Clichy Kompany Toure Sagna
April 23, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Robinho is a good player Yangkamp, but do you think he can cope with the pace of the premiership?
April 23, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Sorry about that was trying to put together a Away day in Europe team. Cheers GoonerJay!
————-Ade
—-RVP Walcott
———-fRobinho
——–f-Cesc Flamini
ffClichy Kompany Toure Sagna
————Almunia
Thats more like it!
April 23, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Hey T,
The pace? Granted he is a flair player but He’s toughend up in the past few years. He may take time to adjust but Having said that I think the entire team has learnt to cope with the Bolton’s etc.
Fair point though.
April 23, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Hope youre right YangK. It would be nice if he can/will join us and Iam sure Gilberto(hope he stays) will be instrumental in intergrating him smoothly into the PL.
April 23, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Robinho - it ‘aint gonna happen. It’d be out of this world and give the squad “unbelievable belief” (as The Merse would say) if it did happen.
April 23, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Stopped getting my hopes high many a seasons ago Charybd, so well aware it aint gonna happen as you rightly said.can only imagine what will happen if players of such calibre were to exhibit their skills in an arsenal jersey.
Thats all we can do,till Wenger gets 17 year Kongo Bingo from Gambia to fill in for the departing Flamini and Kysctic Kroockic from an eastern european club to fill in for Hleb!!
April 23, 2008 at 2:53 pm
A question to all that read the ANR bit, which I didn’t, what makes you think they have a clue?
Didn’t that blog say that Thierry Henry would never make the grade at Arsenal?
Read the Report and accounts Grovers, and why would Edelman say Arsene has £75mil in the transfer kitty if he had to take all the above out.
Sounds like the blind leading the blind to me.
Compare us to the spuds, we have more sponsorship, more TV revenue and make tons more per game than they do, but they spends miles more than we do. Year after year, and they”ve never been in the Champions league, never mind the final.
Yes we built a new ground, but we’re also selling one and we got a further £100 mil for naming rights and £50mil from the shirt sponsor, up front.
Finally we don’t actually have to pay it back tomorrow.
So please, we need to drop this ‘we’re in debt’ shit.
April 23, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Chary it wouldn’t just be the squad that get a boost if we signed Robinho.
Is there anyone here that wouldn’t get a real buzz about next season if we brought Robinho? A fan base buzzing about the prospect of there teams season would generate more of an atmosphere in home games which would help the team and would generate more revenue from merchandise sales which would help the club… it’s a win win win situation… but we know it is VERY unlikely.
T-Buzz… In the last season or so Robinho has become much more balanced and doesn’t appear to be so light weight so maybe the EPL would suit him and he has always had a very quick footballing brain so i think he would be a sensation for Arsenal.
April 23, 2008 at 3:08 pm
yes geoff.. it is pretty confusing as to where the money is actually going..
430 million on the stadium construction.. and we had like around 260 million debt in 06.
we are earning annualy about 170 million…
so we’re broke for a few more years i guess.
April 23, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Wouldnt that be nice goonerjay!!
A summary(according to fansfc.com) of players linked with arsenal
Panama international defender Felipe Baloy (27) of Monterrey. Why: he’s 6ft 1” so would add some height to Arsenal’s central defence and has won 26 caps. Why not: he will struggle to get a work permit as even though Panama are an up and coming football nation they’re still only ranked 66th in the FIFA rankings.
Spain international central defender Raul Albiol (22). Why: he’s slightly taller than Baloy and has plenty of La Liga and Champions League experience with Valencia. Why not: his release clause is £40m and he’s under contract until 2011.
Ireland U-19 international midfielder James McCarthy (17). Why: He helped get Hamilton promotion to the SPL and Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs, Rangers, Celtic, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are all sniffing around. Why not: he failed a trial at Liverpool when he was younger.
Holland international striker Klass-Jan Hunterlaar (24). Why: he’s always being compared to Marco van Basten, oh and Fernando Morientes as well! Why not: van Basten takes over at Ajax soon and will not want his best striker leaving for anything less than £30m.
Croatia international midfielder Niko Krancjar (23). Why: he’s been one of Portsmouth’s star performers this season. Why not: he’s a right footed left winger and will not provide Arsenal with natural width…and he may cost a mind-boggling £15m.
Trinidad and Tobago international striker Kenwyne Jones (23). Why: former Southampton boss George Burley described him as a ‘new Didier Drogba’. Why not: he may have Drogba’s power in the air, but the similarity ends there…and after paying £6m last summer Sunderland won’t let him go on the cheap anyway.
England U-21 international midfielder Michael Johnson (20). Why: he’s talented enough to be asking for £50k per week, according to reports. Why not: Liverpool have offered £12m apparently, a figure Arsenal are unlikely to match for a relatively inexperienced player.
Italy U-21 international right back Christian Maggio (26). Why: apparently he’s been Sampdoria’s best player this season. Why not: Spurs and Aston Villa’s interest may mean he’s a little bit pricey.
Brazil international goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes (27). Why: he’s fallen out with the general manager at PSV Eindhoven, Jan Reker. Why not: he’s going to cost £12m.
Palermo striker Amauri (27). Why: he’s been in decent form this season and does not need a work permit. Why not: Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini claims he’s nearly done a deal with Juventus and Arsenal have not been in touch.
I would love it if Klass-Jan Hunterlaar joined us cos he’s quality. Wenger could go for him, hes style of play and vision will definitely go well with Fabregas.
April 23, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I’m with Geoff, to say Arsenal are broke or unable to afford transfers is preposterous. As mentioned on multiple occasions we make shed loads from the prices we charge for tickets, one of the highest gate receipts in Europe. I also read somewhere that we make tonnes more than any other club on matchday sales - food/drink/programmes etc.
If we genuinely have no money, I want to know who the fuck is lining their pockets at our expense?
The ground payments are on a fixed plan for like 20 years or something. That debt does NOT factor in the day to day running of the club accounts. We took a loan for that, paying it off one a fixed rate and we can easily afford it, so transfer money is nothing to do with stadium debt.
April 23, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Actually when I was on a Legend Tour at Emirates last year with Samy Nelson , when I asked him when the debt will be gone he wispered that he has info that by the end of 2008 we should have paid all of it. i hope this info is correct and we will be able to spend for players and wages more freely:))
April 23, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Well said TH14. There is money in this club, they are just tight! Anyone who has followed the club for a number of years know’s that. I hope it does not happen but if we did end finishing 5th next season and missed out on the Champions League the cheque book would be out in a flash. While we qualify for the CL each year the board are more than happy to sit on the money.
April 23, 2008 at 3:37 pm
As 4 the strikers I would definitely sign Benzema as hes very powerfull ,fast, technically gifted player wich Im very impressed with. I dont get impressed with footballers often , but this guy oozes clas. The other one that really like is Bojan KRkich from Barca-just 17 but allready 2 striker after Etoo, and Messi of course.
April 23, 2008 at 3:39 pm
my list would be
1.David Villa- shud be available at 15-20m .he woul