Classy Jens says goodbye, and time to get Sidders back?
I never thought classy and Jens would be in the same headline of a piece that I had written, but yesterday Jens, you were a class act, I actually felt quite emotional, I even began to think you were treated harshly, but thats football.
You were up there with the best I’ve ever seen, you saved us on more than one occasion, you were part of the greatest team that ever played football, the Invincible’s and if it wasn’t for diabolical refereeing you would also have a Champions league medal, Jens we salute you and thanks for being an Arsenal legend.
Flamini looks like he’s off, see ya Matty, you had a good season, not bad, 1 in 4, if you have moved on, we’ll move on. I think we should bring Steven Sidwell back, he could be the perfect replacement, Parlour’esque, a great ball winner, an eye for a pass, a never say die attitude and we could pick him up for a couple of million, or get him and SWP for a firesale price, that would take care of 2 problems at once.
Don’t forget he was the captain of our last FA Youth Cup winning side, that would then free up funds for the big name players we need, like Sergio Ramos and Robinho.
My preferred choice would still be Barry, Johnson or Niko Kranjcar (in the event of Gilberto going too) but we won’t spend big, so back to Sidders for me or Kranjcar in the event of losing Silva.
I think Fabianski is a way off first team football, but he does look like our long term keeper. Nikki B looked like we could save some money with another of his trade mark ’slam dunk headers’ yesterday, don’t forget, this was a good team we played and this kid scores whenever he plays.
I left the ground up-beat and a little emotional yesterday, but a few signings like the above, would turn us from bridesmaids to brides, and it wouldn’t cost large.
Maybe with the kids coming through, our squad would be big enough with just 3 new signings. Have a pleasant and hopeful Lunes Grovers, we could still finish second!
May 5, 2008 at 8:07 am
Just christen with my posts on previous topic lol :
SACK THE BOARD AND DIRECTORS!!It is the only way forward if Arsenal are to win trophies. They’re both fucking cunts. Lie to the fans. Just because Wenger wants to do it his way and bring on shit kids and basement buys etc. 360 million in debt is a hell of a lot. But not if you put into consideration Highbury being sold, overpriced season tickets, matchday revenue, merchandise etc, new flats being built. Absolute fucking joke. Plus, you pay off for loans with a small amount each month, probably what Arsenal make in one or two home games. Total disgrace and lies. Man United might be in debt, but at least their trophies and success will go a hell of a long way in paying it off. Campbell, Wiltord, Edu, Pires and now Flamini all on a free and gone. A potential of at least 20 million lost inside 3 years due to the way this cunt of a team is being managed and controlled. Might get some anthrax and send it to Arsenal. Kill all the cunts. All spin and lies, just like the government. 25 million on one player nowadays certainly for a big club, should be the equilavent of 7-10 million 5-6 years ago.
Probably why Edelman was booted out because if I recall, he was the one who last year or so, claimed Arsenal were in a fantastic position financially and had 70 odd million to spend if wanted. Hill-Cunt and co, probably thought it blew Wenger’s cover and booted him out. In order to protect Wenger on his fucking shit policies and lie about having no money so Wenger has the perfect excuse when they come up short season after season.
Plus, Wenger harps on about our fantastic improvement and points tallie and be better next season. Funny that. Seeing as they just lost a key player (Flamini) on a free transfer who played a key part in that. So in fact, they are actually WEAKER already!
And people defend Wenger (Arsene knows brigade and apologists) stating the board are letting Wenger down in regards to transfer money. Wenger is the fucking man behind it!! He wanted to move to the stadium and do things on the cheap and brainwashed the board to the point they are now BOTH to blame. Wenger wouldn’t even spend 100 million if it was all good and wouldn’t effect the debt at the club.
Plus, Wenger said success can only be measured in time. Okay then. Have it your way:
7 trophies in 12 years not bad. But add up a total of 6 years of not winning anything, no back-2-back titles EVER, no Champions League, 3 league titles in 12 seasons, and no title for 4 seasons, and a trophyless 3 seasons on the bounce.
Overall, shit ratio. Well done Arsene!
May 5, 2008 at 8:13 am
Gelbs, that’s cheating! you already posted that once.
What about my suggestions, any views?
May 5, 2008 at 8:18 am
Lol, yeah but people won’t see it seeing as there’s a new post.
Chelsea probably wouldn’t sell Sidwell to us, and Michael Johnson would be too costly seeing as he is British, and might be past it anyway purely because he was at his peak years ago whilst being an athlete and not as quick. I think it is pointless anyway speculating, we all know Wenger won’t do shit or shit enough.
May 5, 2008 at 8:20 am
Besides, Wenger’s first signing should be bringing back Tony Adams seeing as his contract is set to expire at Pompey. Again, probably won’t do that, seeing as he might fear him being groomed to being his successor.
May 5, 2008 at 8:23 am
I agree with Adams, but if we don’t speculate we have fuck all to do for three months! Besides Wenger reads this blog, he’ll know how the fans feel.
May 5, 2008 at 8:26 am
Geoff, no offence mate but this post sums up all our problems!! The fact that you are looking around for cheap alternatives to what we actually need is the exact problem we are trying to solve.
If Sidwell & SWP aren’t good enough for chelski, then why is either good enough for Arsenal?? Chelski are in the CL final & still going for the league & they’ve done it without those two players. I don’t think either are the answer for us. SWP is just another Eboue, he goes past people but doesn’t have an end product.
May 5, 2008 at 8:27 am
Lol. I doubt he reads this blog. Probably too busy scouting African kids with large schlongs. With the help of Grimandi.
May 5, 2008 at 8:29 am
Interesting post Gelbs. what are you going to say when dd and usamov or whatever the fat fuckers name is, own AFC. bet you ‘re goin to say ‘HOW THE FUCK DID THAT HAPPEN?’ . Have you noticed that we’re the only top 4 that isn’t owned by some fat fuck that is using 100 year old clubs as their toys? And which manager in the universe would get that ‘ratio’ with the amount of money being spent? I think the amount that the chavs , manure and pool have spent in the last 5 years would just about get every country in the western world out of debt. We’ll win my friend, just be patient.
May 5, 2008 at 8:33 am
I’d rather have Kroenke than that twat Russian bloke. Besides, I’d rather NOT have a takeover. But it won’t get any better. Fact is, we do have money to spend. It is all lies in order to protect Wenger from not wanting to spend it and people demanding answers. Be patient? Liverpool have been patient for 18 years for a league title and still waiting….Took us 18 years to win another from ‘71 to ‘89 thanks to a new manager on the scene (George Graham), and it is gonna need someone else new this time around.
May 5, 2008 at 8:34 am
I watched pathetic Valencia go through the motions against Barca, it looks like any talent there will be leaving. Villa, Joaquin, and a few others are real talents. Then Vela looked decent against madrid in the following game. We need to make more than 1 signing. Wenger must know thats he needs a big one to appease the fans.
May 5, 2008 at 8:35 am
This is to Gelbs….. If you are so annoyed with Wenger for not spending no money on big so called signings that we desperately need because we are ’struggling’ so greatly… then that surely has to be the boards fault not his. Whatever Wenger is said to be allowed to spend he will spend if he feels he needs to. Last summer we bought 3 quality players in Diarra, Eduardo, and Sagna. Diarra left because there was too much competition for him - what does that tell you about our squad size?? Eduardo was comin on nicely untill the incident, and now Sagna is injured too. These events cant be controlled by Wenger, Sh** happens at the end of the day and instead of bein one of them supporters that cry about it and say we should have done this, should have bought this player for 30m lets just look to how we can improve. This is what Wenger is looking at 24hours a day, we should be proud of having a manager who is looking to continually improve us.
You moan about trophies as well… 3 trophy less seasons means we are in turmoil…?? dont think so somehow, we have upgraded to a great stadium, receiving compliments from all over the world about our beautiful football, we have great players… yet still fans if thas what i can call you manager to still find reasons to slap your own team off.. absolutely pothetic.
Wenger will sign a few players in the summer like he does every year, why should he spend 50m on each player.. look at Anelka, what has he done since arriving at chelski. Main goal is 2 keep all our players 2gever and add to the sqyad
May 5, 2008 at 8:36 am
Joaquin, what was Vela like? is he the answer we’ve been waiting for?
May 5, 2008 at 8:36 am
Glebs you speak some real sense, almost sounded like me!
Ive been saying this about Arsene for years, he is so stubborn that the only way he will change his pathetic ethos is for us to NOT qualify for the Champions league for a season, then he will have nothing to hide behind for a year and the board who are used to getting all that money will be placing some much needed pressure on the pussy!
May 5, 2008 at 8:39 am
Saw the match (Osusuna vs Real) Vela, was pants. He is only marginaly better than some of the twats we already have AND…AND I have watched him play for most of the season and he really hasnt been impressive, drifts out of too many matches and has very litte end product…
May 5, 2008 at 8:41 am
Geoff,
He showed a lot of potential, but was in and out of the game. I do blame a lot of that being that there was a lot of selfish play by osasuna and some better sefvice could have been giver. He was their main dangerman though.
May 5, 2008 at 8:41 am
It isn’t just the fact Arsenal haven’t won a trophy for 3 years. It is also the fact we just aren’t good or strong enough. We won shit in 1999, 2000 and 2001, but we had top quality players in Vieira, Bergkamp, Pires, Ljungberg et al. And they eventually came back to win the double in 2002. Compare that squad/team to now and it is shit. And this is even BEFORE the likes of Shite and Chelsea have strengthened to an already successful side! And who said I wanted Arsenal to spend big?? I don’t want Arsenal to spend millions and millions. The fact is, he (Wenger) doesn’t need to. A decent winger for example is out there for a good price, and he won’t do it.
Lol @ pressure on the pussy.
May 5, 2008 at 8:44 am
This is why we need to sign a decent winger.
GMR if we had Sidwell and SWP with our style of play they would be much better, Sidwell doesn’t even get a game there.
I think SWP could be a real asset to us with his pace and crosses, especially with Ade and Bendtner there to receive them.
Would you swap Cashley for Clichy? I sure as hell wouldn’t, because they can’t get a game for the chavs means nothing in my book.
May 5, 2008 at 8:47 am
Goebbels, you are one angry dude!
No news at the moment. As soon as I heard the tax deal offered to Flamini, I knew it was an offer too good for him to turn down.
Sunderland up next,. the main player we need out of our starting 11 is Eboue,
, he’s been given far too many chances, it’s time for him to head for Wigan or anywhere else that might want someone of his “skill” level.
Walcott is overhyped, has been given lots of chances and I still don’t see him as being “top quality” anytime soon, we need someone better on the right wing, he’ll probably be ready for the 2010 season, but the last time we spent so much time on developing someone was Aliadere and although he has improved he hasn’t yet found the consistency and finishing touches you’d expect of someone groomed for almost 3 yrs at a cost of 12m.
Traore was looking nippy, he made the vital difference in the game and i think he’s earnt himself anohter 90 minutes at Sunderland.
Fabianski
Toure, Gallas, Song, Clichy
Walcott, Gilberto, Denilson, Traore
Bendntner, Adebayor
Subs: Mannone, Eboue, Senderos, Gibbs, Hoyte
I’d rather Walcott played on the right and we gave Traore a start on the left.
Bendtner has done a good job for fourth choice this season, much better than Aliadere
and has outperformed many strikers in the League in his debut season.
He’ll have a significant role in our future success, now we’re looking for 10-15 from him next season and he looks ready to make the step up to 3rd choice.
The main thing is that we’re doing our job up front, our strikers are the key to winning most of our games, we need them to lead us to victory at the Stadium of light, it’ll be a tough game, but a real test of our squad players.
With 7…yes 7 first team players out, we’re looking a strong team, we’ve got the skill and talent to beat good teams vastly more experienced than us.
Our home record is a very big achievement, we were so close to winning the title, just a few points off and everyone bar the sourest of “fans” sees a bright future for us.
May 5, 2008 at 8:48 am
I’ve had a few people that are held in moderation because they are slagging people off, remember people we don’t slag our own, if you don’t agree with a comment, disagree, but no slagging.
This only happens at weekends, I presume it because during the week they’re at school.
May 5, 2008 at 8:50 am
I imagine they are slagging off me lmfao.
May 5, 2008 at 8:50 am
Good point about the team Finest, we were short but still did Everton.
May 5, 2008 at 8:51 am
We protect all of our bloggers Gelbs, everyone’s entitled to their opinion.
I won’t give them a platform.
May 5, 2008 at 8:52 am
flamini is going? big deal. we’ll find a replacement. season’s finally over. time for Arsene to do the business. and…i hope my comments get posted.
May 5, 2008 at 8:55 am
I still can’t feel confident about next year all the time Wenger persists on playing Eboue & Senderos…
Senderos was on for only 5 mins yesterday & he looked clumsy, out of position & generally out of his depth… I feel more comfortable with Song there!!! I really hope Senderos is gone.
Eboue… well everyone knows about him… well it seems everyone except the 1 person that has power to actually pick him. He does not bring 1 single good thing to the team… How can Wenger not see it?????????????????????????????????????
Possibly the worst player I’ve ever seen play for Arsenal, based on general ability & personal attributes, hes horrible on both counts.
Traore produced more in 20mins than Eboue did the whole game shame he’s not right footed aswell!!
Goodbye Flamini…. im sorry to see you go really thought u was a ‘gooner’?….
Okay Wenger time to show some balls & get rid of the c##p (Eboue & Senderos) replace what we are losing & lost (Diarra/Flamini/Hleb?) & build on rest so we can have a chance of a trophy next year!!!!!!!!!!
We Gooners are ready & waiting…………………. my choice Akinfeev, Zapata, Michael Johnson, Ben Arfa & David Villa…….. what are the chances i wonder????
May 5, 2008 at 8:55 am
Yesterday felt like the old days under GG. Lots of huff and puff, secure at the back, no creative midfielders, one accurate cross into the box, one great header (aka Alan Smith) and a 1-0 win.
Do we want morer? NO thanks!!!
May 5, 2008 at 8:58 am
One player who particularly impressed from Everton is Yobo, he didn’t give Adebayor a chance, we could do with someone like him on our team.
May 5, 2008 at 9:00 am
Yes Alfie that’s the whole point, this site is not a platform for people to slag off people that comment, if you can have reasoned debate, welcome aboard, if not, go somewhere else, there are plenty of blogs that do that.
Sorry guys I was answering a comment I didn’t post.
May 5, 2008 at 9:01 am
I liked Yobo and Lescott too, they’re the center back types we should be going after, not slow or short ones.
May 5, 2008 at 9:09 am
Lescott would be a fine signing, but if we go for an English CB, Micah Richards is the way forward. Trouble is the price tag.
Vela looked like Walcott a year ago. (and yesterday). He doesn’t seem to be in the right place to receive a pass, hence his lack of possession. He has plenty of pace though.
I would like us to sign a big defensive midfielder. My only criticism of Flam is that he is crap in the air. GS and Vieira were both great headers of the ball and could contribute at set plays. Real’s Diarra is the guy for me. A big unit with skill.
May 5, 2008 at 9:19 am
Wow Gelbs, you sure are a man of the extreme! I don’t think we could quite justify sacking the board, I don’t think it is them who are the problem.
Reporter: What would you do with £100 million?
Wenger: Give it back.
That comment sums it all up, Wenger feels he can do it on the cheap.
Geoff, I wouldn’t want Sidwell. Like someone said earlier, he has flopped at Chavski. He also has a poem about his wife plastered across his back… and his wife ain’t all that. What about Bastian Schweinsteiger? He can play the holding role and he can play on the wing apparently!
Lescott and Yobo looked good yesterday, an impressive pair.
What did you think of Traore out on the wing? I thought he looked good! He has a wicked cross on him! I think he is going to be our answer out wide next year.
May 5, 2008 at 9:23 am
I think that Sidwell has never been given the chance at Chavski, Troare is another prospect but a work in progress for me.
We need more finished product Schweinsteiger could be a good buy, but it’s down to money again, isn’t it?
May 5, 2008 at 9:26 am
Geoff, with due respect, while he is a versatile and fine overall defender, Lescott seems best suited to a left back role. Him not being played as a center back even at Everton is an indicator. Yobo is a fine player and a good marker of opposition strikers but not commanding in the air. it would be like signing another Toure.
Gelbs ranting on about the short comings of our team is all very well after a ’so close yet so far’ season but slagging the gaffer and that too in extremely foul language is quite unacceptable to most gooners.
May 5, 2008 at 9:31 am
A well argued and reasoned point on all counts Alex, and many would agree with you.
Who do you suggest as a center back though?
May 5, 2008 at 9:31 am
Intitially I though we’d be looking to buy a forward but I no longer think so, our win at home against Everton was a landmark game for two reason:
1)We’re unbeaten at home this season.
2) Bendtner has scored MORE goals than Eduardo in the Premier League with less time on the pitch.
Eduardo:
Minutes on pitch = 961
Goals = 4
Assists = 5
Bendtner:
Minutes on pitch =865
Goals = 5
Assists = 3
Aliadere has had 2123 minutes this season with only 4 goals and 6 assists.
Eduardo of course has the class and proved himself superior by scoring lots of cup goals, but Bendtner has what it takes to become a regular contributor.
May 5, 2008 at 9:34 am
Nice work Alex.
I do not think Sidwell is the answer. It is a difficult problem for AW because we have so many players that have no fixed position. His insistence upon playing players out of position means that we don’t know if Diaby can play the Flam role. Perhaps he can , and he certainly has more skill than Flam. Nor do we really know if Song/Denilson/Kolo can replace him.
May 5, 2008 at 9:44 am
No doubt all will finally be revealed today with Flam - not sure if he stayed, i could forgive him for for what he has done. No doubt he knew what his intentions were last summer, hence the good performance. Sneaky, but i suppose we had Sol do the same to come to us, so what comes around etc etc…
Hleb i think is naughty, he comes out with comments about being happy la la la, but then sets himself up in Milan, the same day we play them in CL - that is discraceful.
Does he have the same agent as Cashley……..
Do we really want Lescott in our side, was he not part of the defence who we put 4 past, and with ten men????
Toure - yes, YaYa, i think he would be the ideal replacement for Flam, and Barca have said they will have a shake up. I also think Yaya would come to us, he has done what he wanted by seeing what life at Barca is like, and i am not sure he is happy.
Kolo can ‘encourage’ his move, and i reckon, he and TH will get the same flight straight through the Emirates doors.
Ben Arfa and Makoun me thinks will be in - dispite what is said by their clubs.
Hleb should be sold NOW - make sure we get something for him now as his head has been turned, we dont want a season after season debete about him going or not.
CH - i stuggle here, but dont want Richards or Lescott just beacuse they are English,
Where in Stam, and how old is he. Does anyone know
May 5, 2008 at 9:46 am
forget stam, he is 36 and retired, i must keep up more.
But he is the type of player we need in the defence
May 5, 2008 at 9:46 am
Geoff, while suggesting Sergio Ramos’s name is easy, and there are merits - he is young, quick, good at set pieces and good in the air but its highly unlikely Real will let go of him. Even if they do they will demand a sum in excess of 20 million quid and Wenger has never been known to break the bank for defenders. His most expensive signings (Reyes/ Wiltord/ Theo) are usually strikers.
I agree with some gooners who have suggested that we need a tall, quick and intelligent center back in the mould of Vidic and Skrtel. The gaffer is probably searching for someone in this mould - a name we havent heard of. Song while a good makeshift option looks more like a promising defensive midfielder.
May 5, 2008 at 9:55 am
Rico, Toure a good call, Alex Ramos would be perfect, we know we have defensive problems and I would break the bank for him, but like you I can’t see it.
Maybe Velosa, defensive midfield/centerback, but do it before the Euros.
Song, Vela and Traore are not ready, we need a few names, Barry, Ribinho, Diarra, Ya Ya, Richards???
May 5, 2008 at 9:56 am
why bring sidwell back?
he could not cut it at the very top level with chelski so why would he with us?
very very good player that he is, he is not a replacement for flamini, simply put, SS is not world class.
May 5, 2008 at 10:03 am
then again, he would fit in well with us… we hardly behave like a world class club.
yup, my glass is defo half empty these days, ive had a fucking enough of the bullshit.
player after player, season after season , all our top players get tapped… fergie would never stand for it, he puts his players in their place.
wenger? “i am super cinfident he will stay” FUCK OFF you mug, stop mugging us off.
i’ve lost my patience with wenger now, he IS full of shit, he has no fucking control over his players, they come, they use, they abuse andf they fuck off to proper BIG clubs.
who can blame em.
May 5, 2008 at 10:06 am
gleb’s is spot on,well said mate i am a season ticket holder i had to pay £2500 in club level as i would have to wait another 50 years to get of the waiting list.i work in marketing and what arsenal football club do every year is all MARKETING and spin you see none of us will give up our seats,i’ll give you an example when it came to renewing my seats over the last 2 years i was emailed and told miss the deadline and you lose your seat as there are people on waiting lists etc.. but i know for a fact that people who sit around me have still not payed (the deadline was march 5th) 2 months later and the club are still sending them demands to pay or someone would get there seats bollock’s its all spin!! let know one fool you the stadium will be hlf empty if the team does not win throphys and we become a feeder club.and this £360 million debt is bullshit the accounts show that we paid £150 million upfront and that we will make at least 100 million profit from highbury that leaves a debt of about 100-150 million and as we keep getting told endleman got us a long term interest rate that was great value remember the pr when he got us a better deal now we were told the payments are 14 million a year this is FACT!! yet we are told we make 30 million MORE a season from highbury per season so with a bit of math that means we should be 16 million better off add to this champions league money,the best tv deal in history fuck me fulham spent over 30 million last season FULHAM!!! yet we make a profit from transfers not just henry and freddie there is diarra/mawumba/stokes/larson and sell on fee’s of 25 percent like pennant and upson the last two alone are worth 5 million. this is all spin from arsenal and i think it needs to be put in a document and presented at the next shareholders meeting.
you see all the above facts have been released by arsenal football club over the past 3 years but what happens at these meetings is the people from the floor are asked to submit there questions before the meeting and are vetted and a response manafactured.
RANT OVER!!!!!!!
May 5, 2008 at 10:09 am
if this bullshit wage structure of ours is not brought into line , you can be sure that fab will be off to spain within 2 seasons
and when all the young guns coming through make there name for us they will also fuck off to bigger clubs when they hit there peak.
maybe this is why edelman was sacked.
May 5, 2008 at 10:10 am
If we’re going to get some quality in at centre back, the Premier League should be our hunting ground. Even though we got Sol on a free many moons back, we still need someone of that class and calibre.
We need a squad player at left back….traore is looking more like a winger than a number two to Clichy, although Gallas can play left back, and Toure can play RB.
Gallas should be given a squad role, and if he complains, let him throw a fit and put him in reserves but we need one more quality CM in the first 11.
With Flamini gone, we have a few potential replacements up our sleeve…Diaby, Denilson, Gilberto….but on the wings we need to improve.
Up front, another quality striker would definitely come in useful. Bendtner will play a greater role next year but we need someone to cover for inuries. Because we already have a good strikerforce, I suspect that we’ll only get backup in and stick with what we’ve got.
We could do with a versatile (can play on both wings) top quality winger, a super midfielder like Barry to play olong Fab and some quality at the back. mSo 3 top quality players.
Hleb looks likely to stay, but if Wenger gets a good deal for him, sticks with everyone else we’ve got I don’t see him leaving as a problem, we would need to buy for his position.
Key players that cost us the title who weren’t involved:
RVP
Eduardo
Rosicky
We need at least 3 top quality players in over summer (CB, CM, Vers Winger), hopefully four if Wenger goes for an extra super striker. Two if he scrimps on the CB.
Two quality players needed this summer, bar minimum.
Chuck all the ex-loanees into the squad and promote a few so we’re never short.
One player we should use to get ourselves a discount is Eboue, trade him on for someone + cash, we need someone much better than Eboue.
May 5, 2008 at 10:12 am
nice post as usual,
got emotional too seeing jens, he’s been great for us; took us to the cl final, the one man show against manutd in fa cup 05,the invincible side… he’s still my fav keeper and i think better than almunia.
anyways
saw the real-osasuna match, vela isnt that great but at least he’s aggresive, looks like a threat and not afraid to shoot.he’ll definately improve but not our answer right now. still need to bring in a better winger.
And, since Real just won the league back to back, i doubt real would let sergio ramos go or he himself wouldn’t even want to leave real madrid. they are on a roll. but there’s still a chance for us to get robinho..
May 5, 2008 at 10:18 am
this wgwe structure bullshit is just that bullshit!! cambell was on 110k a week henry on 100k viera on 90k and dennis b on 80k and that was 4 years ago when at tiny highbury even now cesc and gallas are on close to 80k a week that means there is no wage structure
May 5, 2008 at 10:18 am
All the top clubs who go a season or 2 without winning the league, all bounce back with a vengeance and do a back2back. Unlike our shambles of a club.
May 5, 2008 at 10:20 am
Is it alright now to call Flamini a cunt? He knew what he was doing this season, having been offered an exit last summer. Somehow he managed to the Boss to play himahead of Diarra and Gilberto and he took his chance and became first choice central midfielder. He basically put himself in the shop window all season long, all the time umming and ahhring about a new contract with us. Then Diarra got pissed off because I’m sure when Wenger signed him he was told that central berth was up for grabs and he would be first in line, and instead found Flamini there. The Boss is culpable: after a month or so he should have been dropped unless he signed. If he didn’t then he would have rotted in the reserves while the big clubs forgot about him and when he re-emerged Newcastle or Fenerbache would have signed him, and pay him fuck all. Instead we let him have one great season, all time in an Arsenal shirt making cooing noises and fluttering his lashes at the Italian clubs.
Yes we can point the finger at management, board etc but at the end of the day Flamini’s still a cunt. I hope he rots in Italy
May 5, 2008 at 10:23 am
Geoff …Pedro … if we are seriously putting our faith in an average striker like Bendtner then we are really going nowhere … yes he may have looked good yesterday when nothing matters anymore (unlesss coming second ..Geoff … is seen as such a great achievement) but the fact is he wanders around the pitch looking lost in too many of the big games where he looks just average. And no don’t keep telling me he is just 20 ..football is a YOUNG mans game and it’s not like we have just pulled him out of a factory to give him a few games he’s trained for football all his life and played in major games so I don’t want to hear the rubbish about age (Look at the record of Amir Khan …. turned pro at 18 not lost in 14 or 15 fights) I know it’s a different sport but the point is if you have the talent it shines through on big occasions when it matters. Nikki Bs talent is average and age is no excuse. If we keep the likes of Bendtner as one of our main strikers then next season is a write off already.
May 5, 2008 at 10:28 am
Good old Roy Keane. Unlike the Arsenal shower of shit parading and larking about whilst United and Chelsea are gonna win stuff. Says it all http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/sunderland/latest/display.var.2247241.0.ruthless_boss_bans_lap_of_honour.php
May 5, 2008 at 10:39 am
geoff does wenger read this blog .. oh shit ?
does that mean i wont go to Arsenal heaven ??
Sorry Mr wenger for every time ive told you your a useless cunt !
or that he dont know what the fuck he’s doing ..
Geoff sounds like you walked thru some Arsene brain washing portal
yesterday , dont think much of the choices .. but it sounds like the beer and chips budget
that arsenal can afford .. i wouldnt be supprised if we end up with signings just like the ones you stated .. id much prefer villa - robinho - richards - and green in goals ..
but hey that costs money doesnt it !
May 5, 2008 at 10:41 am
PAT READ MY LIPS FLAMONEY IS GONE !!!
May 5, 2008 at 10:45 am
Armand Troure proved yesterday we need a left winger and a true right winger, many teams know we like to play it narrow through the middle and our wide players cut inside.
Eboue even though he is crap but does get good oppuritnities on the right hand side but messes it up.
SWP would be an excellent signing, but would chelsea sell to us thats the question.
SWP and Carlos Vela on the left would be useful, and Steven Sidwell would be a good signing as well.
May 5, 2008 at 10:48 am
another player pedro for your list
The agent of Inter Milan wing-back Maxwell has revealed the interest of Chelsea and Arsenal.
Mino Raiola said: “In the past Valencia had made their interest known, while Arsenal, Real Madrid and Chelsea have asked for information on his situation.
“I think Maxwell has proved he is the finest left-back in Europe and now it is up to Inter to prove they want to keep him.”
May 5, 2008 at 10:49 am
Robinho and Walcott on the flanks would be fantastic!
May 5, 2008 at 10:50 am
Gelbs …couldn’t agree more with what Keane has said … our players have no humility and to laugh and dance about when they have been dumped out of all competetions they entered is an insult to the fans … maybe if we were West Ham we could forgive them for being jubilant but we are Arsenal and if these players are celebrating winning when we only finish 4th or 3rd then they shouldn’t be playing for this club anyway. Ethan_gooner … exactly if we believe aiming for the highs is keeping players like Bendtner and not paying for real talent then we might as well get used to empty trophy cabinets for the foreseeable future.
May 5, 2008 at 10:53 am
Another departure…Gary Lewin. Off to join England as full time ( 10 days a month) physio.
Only Senders & Hleb will join flam & Jens.
Be prepared for more Eboue & Gilberto as staring roles.
The ‘£25m’ fund is false as it has to include new buys, their wages & the wages of the existing squad..No wonder Edelman was slung out.
We are the only football club that has Property Development as it’s prime business !
Anybody want to buy some flats from the people that have or will reneague at the old stadium ?
Le Grove ,,how organising a transfer whip round !
May 5, 2008 at 10:53 am
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/7383314.stm
May 5, 2008 at 10:54 am
Gooner P
Dream on !
May 5, 2008 at 10:56 am
The comical thing as well due to Flamini leaving, is everyone during the course of the season reckoned Gilberto was leaving and was past it. Now no doubt, Wenger wants him and to be first choice again next season all because he can’t or won’t find a decent replacement lol. Sad. I would perhaps keep him. But he wouldn’t be first choice.
May 5, 2008 at 11:04 am
gelbs the biscuit barrel is empty mate ..
we got no choice but to keep bert ..
its the easy option for wenger ..
he wont think to hard on that one ..
flamoney doesn’t need replacing ..
We will have this exodus every season until the club wins something and our own players
have faith enough to stay !!!
It fucking laughable when wenger comes out in december as states he has a 70 million war chest .. this war chest has been worn down to a war locket !
with a 10 p coin in it !
May 5, 2008 at 11:07 am
Lol. Wenger probably said to the board to stick the warchest into some savings bank and use it to pay themselves more money and payoff the loan or some shit. As I said as well, if Arsenal were crowned at least Champions this season, Flamini leaving wouldn’t even of been an issue.
How many season tickets are there at Arsenal? Is it 40,000? Because if you add that up, the club must make at least 40/50 million alone through that which could go on players!
May 5, 2008 at 11:11 am
this is fuckin\’ irritating..
RVP, Rosicky - Always Injured
Flamini - parasite who\’d have been warming his bench at St Andrews if not given the chance this year. Should have known from his Marsielle days.
Hleb - Goes for an Ice cream before the biggest UCL tie of the season against AC?!
Almunia - Clown before a worldclass keeper like Jens
Senderos - cry baby after f*ckin it up totally
Diaby - played at LM,
Eboue - at RM?!
Toure - at RB?!!! If he\’s tired, then what the f*ck is he doing in a fullback position?
Eduardo injury aftermath - couldn\’t control the mentality of the squad. Get a shrink, Arsene!
I blame Arsene completely..
May 5, 2008 at 11:11 am
ethan .. Wenger didnt claim we had 70MM to spend .. that was dikkhead KE
May 5, 2008 at 11:13 am
We already had a ready made Flamini replacement and we let him go to Portsmouth in January.
As for speculating on new signings, would people really be happy with players like Johnson and Kranjcar? Barry maybe, I rate him and I could see him partnering Cesc, he would also be good cover for left back as well,
Wenger will do the usual this summer, Vela will come in, Rosicky and Van Persie will be “like new signings”, he’s already said that Lansbury and Gibbs will be in the first team squad next season, throw in Nordveit and Merida, add a sprinkling more of Traore and Song. We will also see more Diaby and Denilson next season, so as far as new players are concerned, I expect very few, possibly 1 established player (like Barry) and 1 or 2 guys no one has ever heard of.
May 5, 2008 at 11:13 am
Arsene Wenger : “We won trophies with Gilberto and Jens because they’re special human beings. You don’t win with AVERAGE people.”
Cunt should take his own advice. Might become good, but still average:
Senderos
Denilson
EBoue
Djourou
Gilberto (average now)
Bendtner
Diaby
Rosicky (always injured -pointless, same as RIP (Really Injury Prone Persie)
Traore
Hoyte
Fabianski
Song
May 5, 2008 at 11:18 am
I thought part of the reason behind the emirates move was so we could attract the top players to a world class state of the art stadium… that looks like it’s out the window now and it’s definitely not attractive enough to keeps the likes of Flamini … and while he has definitely improved I wouldn’t rate him as one of the top players in the world. So who are we going to attract ??? the players we have on loan ….. Wenger will go with the core of this lot next season and when we don’t win anything again he will not have the excuse that they are young and just need experience and maturity so he will either leave or rebuild a new team …. taking another few seasons to get experience and maturity ….while all the time the likes of Man U, Chelsea etc are winning trophies … (Wenger …if you don’t know ..that’s why we enter competitions …to WIN trophies)
May 5, 2008 at 11:19 am
please dont give Gilberto another year
May 5, 2008 at 11:24 am
We all thought that Mark, and now we can’t spend because we don’t want to go bust, all a load of bollocks I’m afraid.
May 5, 2008 at 11:25 am
http://www.avfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~1305763,00.html
Barry won’t leave accoring to Martin O’Neill, but not if other clubs won’t be put off by O’Neill’s determination to keep him. This means he’s most probably off our radar. They paid 10 mill for Ashley Young who is the Prem’s assist king forward, second only overall to our Fabregas. Barry would cost 15-20 mill, somewhere nearer the higher figure so we have to look elsewhere for good but displaced players. Elano would be good, I wouldn’t turn Stuart Downing down either.
May 5, 2008 at 11:27 am
Has my link to Aston Villa’s site got me spammed?
May 5, 2008 at 11:28 am
gelbs..Traore is an outstanding talent .. you know nothing about football.. I can tell
you want to buy Sidwell and sell Traore..god bless that people like you are just spectators
some of your rants are pointless..Denilson has been in every Brazilian selection so he cant be shiit and he was much better when he joined the club .. lack of playing time.. you would prob also call Bojan/Pato crap
Nic B is a decent 4th choice centre forward that can be further groomed..whether he’ll make the grade 100% I am not sure..but give him one more chance
Diaby needs to be played in his position or he wont work
Song has proven himself recently and is not scared so keep him
now for the rest .. RVP is the most overrated player in our squad .. even on here, everybody loves him .. what has he ever done for us bar bad PR ..in jail ..etc..fukk all
Senderos/Hoyte/Eboue are the real weak players .. totally non Arsenal material
I would not sell Gilberto now that Flam has left..we need experience
Djourou is an unknown and has gone backwards
Fabianski is a decent young keeper.. no need to panick over him
Rosicky/Dudu that you forgot on your list .. big question marks over health ..
what we need is a bit more Sagna material .. proof is there that we ca
May 5, 2008 at 11:32 am
Barry won’t leave according to Martin O’Neill, but not if other clubs won’t be put off by O’Neill’s determination to keep him. This means he’s most probably off our radar. They paid 10 mill for Ashley Young who is the Prem’s assist king forward, second only overall to our Fabregas. Barry would cost 15-20 mill, somewhere nearer the higher figure so we have to look elsewhere for good but displaced players. Elano would be good, I wouldn’t turn Stuart Downing down either.
http://www.av
fc.premiumtv.co.
uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~1305763,00.html
All you need to do is connect the link together.
May 5, 2008 at 11:41 am
Arsene sucks the big one!
May 5, 2008 at 11:53 am
I think Sidwell is a great shout. I think you have to give your opinion based on him in his last year at Reading.
He was never going to break into the Chelsea side with Lampard, Makele, Ballack, Mikel etc ahead of him. He was blinded by the lights and Chelsea did what they did with SWP, they bought him to ensure others didnt.
Wenger still rates him as stated before a Premier League game last season and he would be cheap which means we can spend the money on the real gap out on the wings,
Ethan, in repsonse to you yesterday, I was not disspointed in the Arsenal management of the whole Flaminigate affair, I was just annoyed at members of Arsenal Football club not coming out with the news after yesterdays game. It was as if they did not know he was about to fly to Italy. I think the 50k a year was a good offer and ultimately although it was not enough to convince him to stay, to go beyond that offer would have opened the floodgates of Agents banging on Wenger’s door. Crazy 12 months though for a player that nearly joined Brimingham last summer.
As for other potential replacements, I dont think we already had one in Diarra, he isnt setting the world alight at Pompey, and the question is, would any of you buy Diarra back to replace Flamini? given his ego and his general skill, I would not touch him. Even if he did turn out to be anywhere near world class you could bet your bottom dollar he would be crying for Barca or Real in a year or two
Dependant on how much we have to spend (I think we have more than the 25m if needed), I would like to one of Sidwell, Veloso, Gattuso, Barry or De Rossi in for Flamini.
I dont rate that Richards at Man City, I would definately have Sidwell over him
And Robinho on the wing. Please no more Eboue, I would like to see him stay at the club as defensive back up but this RM experiment has to end NOW.
And Richards at CB.
And this may not go down to well, but I would cash in on RVP, he will never give us a full season and your best striker should be available for at least 90% of the Season. Villa to replace, I think looking at Valencia yesterday, they may cash in
Vela yesterday was ok, probably a 6/10. He has got pace, likes to shoot, is quite strong but his passing decisions need working on. He wont be the answer come August but there is potential
May 5, 2008 at 12:00 pm
sorry gelbs but i completely disagree with you. arsenal are not in trouble. they got dudded by some bad descisions in the second half of the season. i know we can’t blame a season on the refs but we got boned at birmingham, and a few others off hand. penalties that weren’t, got given and penalties that were, weren’t given… also though, 3 seasons is nothing. i support melbourne football club (in the AFL in australia) and they have gone 44 years without a season-win… thats kinda disheartening, they’ve been close sometimes, but haven’t gotten over the line on everyone occasion they come close, this is why i’ve enjoyed EPL alot more this season. stop whining imo.
i wanna see some of our young kids back, vela and fran merida and the like, but i also want to see some signings. i think we might pick-up ben afra but personally i’d like ricardo quaresma. i’m not overly fussed by flamini leaving but i’m not a fan of gilberto replacing him, he has a horrible work-ethic. also, farewell jens, champion in the club. enjoy retirement if thats your plan (which i think it may be…
=D
May 5, 2008 at 12:13 pm
James Barton …please can we put the bad decisions reason to rest … after the presuure was off and there was nothing left to play for we started winning again … it’s nothing to do with bad decisions but weak willed players who didn’t have the bottle to stay top when they were five points clear …they then couldn’t handle the pressure and bottled it. That’s the story of our season not bad decisions …. we need players who can handle the pressure not the lightweights in this team. Unfortunately Wenger is not shrewd or hard enough to make these changes and will let loyalty to such players ruin next season as well.
May 5, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Sorry Bratram
May 5, 2008 at 12:14 pm
BARTRAM
May 5, 2008 at 12:36 pm
We’ve been linked with twenty four year old Jean II Makoun from Lille OSC in France. Apparently he’s an high energy midfielder who’s been capped for Cameroon 13 times.
May 5, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Only problem with that Hughsie is the ANC every two years. What do you reckon, I think we should stear clear of African Players
May 5, 2008 at 12:40 pm
gelbs that was some rant the way you speak sound like we were relagated but to want to posion the board is a bit over the top who would have as a new manger my vote would go too sven
May 5, 2008 at 12:41 pm
even essein pat
May 5, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Not a fan of Essien anyway to be honest.
Not even Etoo, Unless the Africans fall in line with the European League schedule I would prefer to steer clear of them
May 5, 2008 at 12:46 pm
I also wonder if the Makoun thing is agent talk
Either way, I hope this year we do all our transfer dealings before Pre-season starts. lets get everyone in early and playing in friendlies rather than having to wait till November before they settle
May 5, 2008 at 12:54 pm
not going to happen pat we will get the same shit we get every year think we are buying a known player only to end up with someone nobody has heard of
May 5, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Oh come on Pat, would you reject Essien or Drogba because he goes to the ACON for a month every couple of years? And as far as the scheduling of the ACON, i think they’re probably having to squeeze it in around wherever they can, unfortunately for African football they’re not lucky enough to have the clout to get their major tournaments scheduled in the European off season.
Anyway, it’s just a link, i just report em’ i don’t make em up. As far as im concerned Flamini is replaceable - tireless midfield grafters like are probably the most common quality players in Europe.
Agreed with you on your final point though, id definitely like to have all our major signings secured before the preseason begins. I don’t mind if we secure or release a few minor reserves/youth players during preseason but the hard work definitely needs to be done early to give the squad as much time to gel as possible.
May 5, 2008 at 1:05 pm
makoun is agent talk.. he wants to orchestate a move to the uk, but only spurs bid for him..so prob wants moe money/bigger fee
watch toulalan from lyon..me thinks we are after him..good player..played very well against the mighty england recently for the ones on here who can remember.. would be fairly cheap too..we need Ben arfa..fantastic player..cant see wenger raiding lyon for two players though..he aint no lightweight btw..gtreat technique .. bye bye Hleb .. he is going .. but please not that fukking loser from Croatia .. Krancjar .. he is shiit and slow and doenst score..problem is that we have a croatian coach at arsenal right now..this sucks..now we are linked with all those rejects
May 5, 2008 at 1:11 pm
I like Drogba, but we have no need for him,
I just dont like Essien. It is not just a month, look what happened to Toure on his return, he has not been the same since, not sure what you can put it down to too, but something affected his game. I know it was just a link, was just putting forward my views on getting in African Players. They have excellent work ethics and skill but this ANC has always bugged me.
Flamini is definately replaceable, I dont think anyone saw him having a season like this
May 5, 2008 at 1:14 pm
I think Hleb is off as well. Again he is replaceable, I just hope we can some decent money for him in light of this new ruling
I know Wenger wants to keep him, but for me Hleb has not been the same since the cornetto incident.
May 5, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Toulalan? He’s currently Lyons and France’s future starting central midfielder, there is no way he’s moving unless it’s for big big money. Ben Arfa the same, he’s got too many ‘future star’ tags on him for us to be able to get him for anything less than 10m.
May 5, 2008 at 1:20 pm
BB, Boro Primrorac is Bosnian….
Besides, a lot of people rate Krancjar, we can do better than him and I think this is just the usual transfer speculation. If anyone guesses who we’ll sign they’ll do it by fluke,
and I certainly believe we’ll improve next season. Chelsea and Manyoo will be up there, Liverpool will invest another huge portion of cash and still might not make it past 3rd.
May 5, 2008 at 1:21 pm
hughsie .. thats still affordable. .Toulalan we could get for 8/10MM .. thats about the sort of money we can afford..
Ben Arfa..we will anyway only buy if Hleb goes which looks very likely..so money covered by sale
I think that AW is trying to push Inter to pay up for Hleb..hence the threat to take them to FİFA..now Inter must be careful as they could potentially face a ban on players transfers..we would settle for more dosh..
also were we to bring the King back, him and Hleb never got on..so maybe not everything looks that bleak 2day
May 5, 2008 at 1:22 pm
finestcuts.. is he really??u sure..will check that one out??
May 5, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Ok, how about a different tack to break up the monotony of the Hleb/Flamini/Kranjcar circle jerk.
Who are Chelsea and Manchester United going to offload and pick up?
May 5, 2008 at 1:24 pm
finestcuts..agreed.. he did play though for Hadjuk Split which is a big croatian club .. hence the links me thinks ..
May 5, 2008 at 1:30 pm
messi for chelski and manyoo are going for micah richards so say the snoze of the world
May 5, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Jesus BB, delving into the mists of time to pull out that memory. I think Liverpool were winning championships in the old First Division around the same time Primorac was playing in Croatia.
May 5, 2008 at 1:32 pm
http://www.footballdatabase.eu/football.joueurs.boro.primorac.17205.en.html
Everywhere it states Primorac is a Bosnian national.
Bosnian’s have their own language although Serbo-Croat was the official language in the former Yugoslavia so yes he speaks Serbo-Croat, but I don’t think that would be what influences Wenger, if this was the case we’d have a whole team full of players who speak Serbo-Croat, and currently we only have one.
May 5, 2008 at 1:41 pm
well ..listen Modric/dudu/Krancjar.. you might want to call it coincidence.. I personally emanate from the paranoiac variety of life.. hence my suspicions..
May 5, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Bastian Schweinstiger isn’t a holding midfielder … the games I saw with him he was a big threat going forward, plays on the wing or even in the middle, but a Fabregas type player. Good on set pieces, has a good shot, he also knows how to beat a man.
But not a Flamini replacement.
May 5, 2008 at 2:18 pm
nice 100 page programme yesterday wasnt it but I noticed a load of spelling errors. Does anyone here work on any of the arsenal publications? I wouldnt mind a proof reading job.
A little off topic I know, Best of luck Jens.
I hope palace get promoted- that way I get quality football in North and South London!
Dear Mr. Wenger you want to buy an experienced player- might I suggest Michael Owen? English, Good finisher, and with all the great ball he’d be getting we’d be unstoppable. Not sure if he’s compatible with Bentner or Ade but he will score goals.
Buy him on the cheap!!!
May 5, 2008 at 2:22 pm
gelbs are you from gunnerblog…
you are here after they banished you from there isn’t it…
we have 350 mill or so in debt so until that is cleared.. i don’t think we will be spending like a top four club…
so i suggest you go into hibernation and get ready for the 2010 season.. we’ll have “big signings” then.
May 5, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Wenger promised 2 “real quality” signings, and thats all we really need.
A CB, and a winger (hopefully Robinho but probably Ben Afra)
We won’t get a keeper cause Arsene showed faith in Almunia by leaving Jens out of the team.
Flamini replacement … we have a few players for that position … Diaby, Song, Denilson, Gilberto, even Toure.
May 5, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Grovers switch on the BB, ladies Cup final, fucking hell, the men should be watching this, good looking birds too!
3-1 Arsenal and all over them!
May 5, 2008 at 3:03 pm
trinidad .. Schweinsteiger scored 1 goal this season as a forward midfield player
according to the German press that I read sometimes and understand (always
he plays a very poor season .. so forget him ..plus he is a happy bavarian so loves the club
Ben Arfa would be great .. honestly .. and TH14..lets pray that he comes back
May 5, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Arsenal ladies do the Double again
Well done Girls, that RW is better than Eboue
May 5, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Hellloooooooo Grovers!!
Good to be back in sunny old blighty, I know it’s been said and covered, but I have to say it again, Fuck off Flamini, you will not improve as a player sat on the bench at the san siro, and you will find out soon that you would have been better off staying with the greatest team on earth. Now fuck off, and go and piss the rest of your career down the bog, enjoy your euros you cnut!
Moving on, what the hell happened with Edelman, the first I heard of it was this morning?
I take it Hleb leaves net, anyone notice how he, Flamini, Fab and Rosicknote were taking pictires after the game like it was the last time they would be together, anyway
for the AKB please explain how we make up for the loss of flamini, Hleb, Lehmann, Gilberto, senderos?
Oh I forgot, arsene Knows!!what shit planning! Let’s see who else’s contract we forget to renew next season!!
May 5, 2008 at 3:22 pm
BB .. I wasn’t really reccomending Schweinstiger (he has seemed to deteriorate while growing up), just he was being described earlier (and yesterday) as a holding midfielder
May 5, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Arsenal’s debt is over 25 years, if anyone thinks they’ll pay it off before then they are deluding themselves. Infact the larger secured bond we have cannot be paid sooner unless Arsenal want to pay a very large early repayment sum (which they won’t). Whilst the club has a debt the board can continually fob the fans off regarding signings whilst developing the property side of the company with the profits & therefore making themselves more money.
I also notice how much stick Edelman is getting for saying Arsene could spend the money in the bank (70 million at that time), but people have forgotten that Fiszman said live on sky that if Wenger wanted 100 million to spend in the transfer market he would make it available!! So if Edelman is a liar then so it Fiszman!!
When Arsenal’s accounts came out apparently Wenger said to Fiszman “Can’t we pretend we’re poor”, now this was supposedly said as a joke, but I’d put money on it that Arsene meant it!!
May 5, 2008 at 3:29 pm
no worries trinidad .. dont really rate any germans .. they play as a team, but hardly excel individually.. get Ben Arfa..come on Wenger..get ur dikk out and buy some players
May 5, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Won’t they get 250 Mil when they sell Highbury?
That’ll help pay off the debt right? Why 25 years?
I think thats just a formality for the loan … no bank would give a 5 year loan of 400 Mil, but you can pay it off early.
May 5, 2008 at 3:36 pm
I don’t really rate Germans either BB, but to be honest, a few years ago Bastian and Podolski were looking like really really good prospects…. something’s wrong with him this season though, maybe the arrival of Ribery, I don’t know how many games he gets.
May 5, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Odub the last line of your post is why Arsenal got rid of Edelman, Arsene was said to be pissed that he didn.t have that sorted out.
Now that the stadium is built and moved into, Arsenal want a replacement who can handle transfers and contract of players better..
May 5, 2008 at 3:48 pm
They aren’t going to make 250 million profit on Highbury!! Actual profit won’t even be 100 million. There is 125 million loan which is a short term loan & will be paid off immediately next summer & then Arsenal will have about 90 million & Edelman said the board would consider paying off the 50 million bond with that. The other 40-50 million was supposed to go towards transfers but the club have since claimed they’ve already used it on transfers (not sure how).
That still leaves the club with 180 million of debt, which is payable over 25 years!! However I didn’t say they couldn’t afford to pay it off sooner (although it wouldn’t be in the next few years as 180 million is still significant), what I said is that they won’t pay it off sooner because it gives them an excuse for lack of signings & a low level wage structure compared to other top clubs, plus it allows them to put the profits into Arsenal Holdings instead of the club & then they can reinvest that into other property deals to make the board richer!!
May 5, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Right enough of transfer talk and loans
Come on Newcastle, do us a favour and the hope of 2nd place
May 5, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Interesting post mate.
Sidder’s back? I understand your thinking and you can never say never in football but can’t see it.
Betcha Song replaces the Flamster.
And I also betcha that in four years time Flamini has run down his contract at AC Milan and is about to sign for a Spanish club getting £180,000 a week!!!!!
May 5, 2008 at 3:59 pm
If they pay off the 180M over 25 years, thats 7-8 M a year … what would they do with the rest if not using it on transfers?
Revenve for 60,000 overpriced tickets, sponshorship, tv deals, money from the premier league, champions league, etc … either they use everything and pay off loans early, or pay it off in 25 years while using money for transfers.
They won’t keep the loan over 25 years, but no players, and put the money in the bank.
May 5, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Even if Chelsea lose to Newcastle, chances are they won’t drop points at home to Bolton .. part of me would rather Chelsea win than ManU, I would love to see Ferguson and C Ronaldo crying after dropping points against Wigan… besides, if that happens, Jose wouldn’t think that he’s all that special.
May 5, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Make money, save money, make money, save money, make money, save money…………and the cycle goes on and on, only broken by the regulartity of a high profile player leaving (Flamini) which then adds to the money saved column………..after which the departing player is replaced by yet another 17 year old unkown who shows great potential, but the truth is the replacement is cheap…………..and as such while all our rivals strengthen we just stand still……
The only thing this current management structure understands is how to bleed all season ticket holders dry, are they really bothered if we actually win anything so long as 60,000 mugs come thru the turnstiles every other week and we get CL football each season, is this the real level of ambition of Arsenal Football Club under the current management?
I fear next year Hleb will be the new Flamini because football and player management has become subserviant to property management, and as such no one will think to get Hleb to extend his current deal, then what Cesc the year after………well i suppose that’ll elp to keep the wage bill down…………….these fuckers fuck me off, this is a football club and should be about football, football supporters and the players that play football………….
May 5, 2008 at 4:25 pm
the 25 years bond that Arsenal took on is not repayable early
its securitized debt .. I dont know the covenants, but usually their is no early call in such a structure
trinidad .. schweini got plenty of games at bayern this season..he is still crap
Flamini joined us in similar circumstances from marseille
I dont think that we should use the high moral ground here
he had one good season at OM and was still a junior without a professional contract when we snapped him up and seriously pissing off OM in the context..we just got back what we deserved..the guy is a schemy southern french guy..dirrty player but committed to the cause..no great talent, but a clever player..suited us well as we are full of naive dikkheads
May 5, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Yeah we should just move on about Flamini, we got him for free and he left for free.
Didn’t offer a new contract last year cause he wasn’t that great and they were trying to sell, then he plays a good season, and wants to move on.
How much does Cesc get paid?
May 5, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Arsenal will get £250 million for the old stadium, that’s a fact, 95% is already sold but we can’t take the money until they’re completed.
If anyone doubts that we can’t make £250 mil at least from the sale of a prime piece of real estate in Islington, they’re deluded.
Think about it and do the sums, I could make more than that if I had that amount of land selling that many flat lots to a building developer. Plus the £100 million for the naming rights and the £50 million for the shirt sponsorship and that’s £400 million.
Add to that revenue from TV, Prize money, EPL money Nike, match day revenue, seasons, player transfers, salary savings from players like Henry, Llungberg etc, etc we will pay the stadium off PLUS by the end of 2009.
That’s a fact.
May 5, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Hey, how about this for a little bit of maths.
Transfer fund: £25,000,000
Total fans through gates this year: 1,600,000
That totals £15.75 per head to get the transfer kitty for the summer!
It makes you wonder where all the money is going…
Great last post Geoff, you are spot on.
May 5, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Thanks for the info Geoff.
So…. buys like Sagna till summer 2010 after we break even in 09?
Thats more than ManU, Chelsea, and Liverpool can boast
May 5, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Geoff, you can call me deluded but where did I say Arsenal wouldn’t make 250 million?? I said it wouldn’t be a profit of 250 million & thats a fact. If Arsenal buy Diarra for 2 million & sell him for 4 million, thats not 4 million profit its 2 million profit.
Its been well known that the Highbury project was going to make Arsenal approximately 100 million. Its going to be slightly less than that now around 90 million.
May 5, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Got another transfer rumour, bit outreagous but I have it on good authoritie that it will go through-
Igor Stephanov
Quality center back. Much better than Senderos!!
Could be just the commanding defender we need!!!
May 5, 2008 at 5:07 pm
One quick point (probably already made several times). Flamini leaving was a masterstroke. For Flamini.
He works his way into the team. Gets his stock to rise and hits the jackpot. Honorable, loyal or even halfway decent behaviour? No!
But it is the job of the management (and in particular) Wenger to not let that happen. Which other team has lost so many profiles on a free. (Edu, Wiltord, Pires, Campbell etc.?)
How can they keep letting that happen?
I blame Wenger! For this particular part of his management is utterly ridiculous. He is stubborn to the extend of not knowing when he has failed. And you know for sure that he is not stepping away from his policies. Not for a second and not despite everyone screaming in his face that he is way off. Most obvious case in point: Eboue!
Is there no one at Arsenal to stand up to him and ask him what he is doing? Perhaps that’s why none of the old guard want to be involved with the daily tasks at the team (ie. Keown, Big Tone, Dixon, Seaman etc.) Why are they doing all sorts of puzzling activities, instead of helping the team they love and support?
Makes you wonder exactly what is wrong at the Arsenal.
Gus.
May 5, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Geoff, why do you keep saying that we got 100 million for stadium naming rights & 50 million for shirt sponsorship??
We got 90 million for the both. It only goes up based on certain factors (obviously sales based) but should eventually reach 100 million in total. Spuds get more from their 4 year shirt sponsorship than we did for an 8 year deal
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3715678.stm
May 5, 2008 at 5:24 pm
GMR, does our debt include the costs to develop the apartments?
If it does, then you have to look at 250M coming in, because the costs are already accounted for
May 5, 2008 at 5:30 pm
we all know that wenger is the boards puppet and even in todays current financial unstable market ARSENAL IS A REAL PRIME INVESTMENT , SO DONT TELL ME FUCKING LIES ABOUT THE RISK OF THE CLUB BLAH!!!! BLAH!!!!Going into a massive freefall debt,
This is the party scaremongering machine that is the arsenal board, You lot make me sick and when you all sell your stake holdings to either the fat russian or the yank and lie on a bed of cash not one of you will give a stuff about what happens to the mighty reds.
I know its the silly season but the rumours of players coming in have got me worried not only are they not proven class material the ones mentioned for the midfield position are once again small in size,
It dosen’t take a rocket scientist to see that we lack physical power in the midfield and centre back area this as well as having no natural wingers are our problem ,and wenger is now toying with the idea of using traore as a wide left midfielder ,not only is this another obvious example of Penny pinching it will end up like the last experiment ,
FUCKING EBUOE THE DISGRACE TO THE SHIRT ,
I CANT BELEIVE THAT SOME PEOPLE SAY HE SHDULD STAY AS COVER AT RIGHT BACK ,I’D RATHER SEE HOYTE THEIR AND THATS SAYING SOMETHING
SOME ONE HAS POSTED THAT THE SELECTION OF YESTERDAYS TEAM WAS GRAHAM LIKE , SPOT ON THAT MAN , AND THE BENCH WAS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHY WENGER DOESN’T KNOW…..
PLEASE GEOFF LETS LET THE AKB’S ON FOR A LTTLE SPORT AS they probabaly dont know what its was like following the team in the 80′ and 90’s prior to their master arriving ,Like you have said Wenger has been fantastic , but no trophies in 4 year s and the failure to win back to back titles especially after the invincible’s season is what i will remember most………………….
May 5, 2008 at 5:34 pm
He’s gone!!!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/7383314.stm
May 5, 2008 at 5:35 pm
He’s gone!!!!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/7383314.stm
May 5, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Luv it Simon McMahon, u crack me up….
You’re a bit of an Arsenal expert eh?
May 5, 2008 at 5:38 pm
I did do another post but as it is probably in moderation as I put a link in regarding the actual money we made on naming rights for the stadium & shirt sponsorship.
Trinidad_Gunner, the total debt will be around 360 million in the summer, maybe more I don’t know. The last accounts it stood at 307 million. Then the 250 million can be used but not all that is going towards the repayment of debt & even if it did it would still leave us with 110+ million to find. As Geoff is well aware we got most of the naming rights & shirt sponsorship money upfront so that money has already gone & yet the debt is still 307 million as of the last accounts, you can’t keep factoring it in.
There is loads of money which seems to have disappeared without trace & I’m sure the board has an excuse for all of it!!
May 5, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Flamoney has officially gone now , it,s on the bbc website, I don’t want to slag him off but feel he’ll leave to regret it!
May 5, 2008 at 5:46 pm
AC Milan now have Flamini as signed on their website. Nice of Arsenal.com to let the fans know.
At least everyone can sleep easy tonight after Wenger claims Fabregas “Will be fit for the Euro’s”
Finally Chelski winning means Arsenal are definately 3rd this season!!
What a fantastic day all round!!
May 5, 2008 at 5:48 pm
So 307 minus 250 = 57 Mil
We’ll make more that 57 Mil profit in a year, so they’ll take it easy on the transfers for a year or two, and we can break even.
By 2009, 2010 for the latest, not 2033.
May 5, 2008 at 5:49 pm
No Finest cuts Just a supporter of 36 years.
May 5, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Flamini is gone, its on every website apart from Arsenal.com
Now we can get this behind us, at least theres no more speculating and hoping.
Soon when Hleb goes, then we can concentrate on the summer.
Flamini was good, but after the past few weeks, even if he signed for us, we can’t love a player who held the club to ransom.
And Hleb, meeting Inter the night before one of our biggest games? We gave him a free plane ticket for a meeting.
We just have to hope Fabregas makes some ofther friends at the club
May 5, 2008 at 5:56 pm
I reckon Flamini knows he’s a bit rough, in Serie A he’ll shine.
Milan are an attractive club for a player who wants to win the Champions League, at some point in their career it is likely with Milan. Next season I expect the old Milan to be backm they’re really a force to contend with for the champions league, tham and Manyoo.
Barca are always going through a power struggle at the top, Real Madrid focus on the domestic league, so do most other CL clubs. Barca will sort themselves out but not next year, not while Henry is there, we’ll win the CL before him.
We have a good chance over the next five years again, but we’re a dark horse in the CL, but we were the first London club to reach the final, a landmark for the Premier League considering how much our competitors spend. Milan and Barca will always be an attraction because of their Champions League pedigree, so to consider ourselves a big club, we have to win it at least once. So people are comp