Big thanks to Kurt Angle for Modelling the stylish new Shirt
First up, our new shirt! After seeing it up close, I like it… the stripes on the sleeves are maroon… which is pretty cool. Me and Geoff like the collar as well. So a big thumbs up after my initial thumbs down.
Onto todays post!
Ok, so I am angry… more angry than I have ever been about a summer!
Why? Is it about Arsenal? Is it the weather!
Well, no, it is about the state of football.
Arsenal have had one player leave purely down to money and 2 more hoping to follow in his footsteps. Frank Lampard is leaving Chelsea as the bastards wont give a 30 year old a 4 year deal worth £140k a week, Ronaldo is miffed that he only getting £120k a week… he feels he deserves £300k tax free and countless other players are also rocking the boat at their respective clubs.
I am not going to knock players for demanding these sorts of wages; after all, they are on offer… I won’t knock the agents stretching clubs to their limits after their clients have one good season… but when do Europe’s elite clubs around a table and decide enough is enough?
The EU implement employment laws to protect the average workers rights. They are not there to make a millionaire sportsman richer.
So what is the solution?
Well in America, their bosman ruling happened in the 70’s. They had something called a ‘reverse clause’ which meant no player could discuss a move without permission from the club who held the rights. After the players lobbied various sporting bodies this clause was lifted and players could talk to other teams on expiration of their contracts. This was called ‘restricted free agency’ and led to bidding wars for the best players.
Restricted free agency caused the same problems for American sport teams as it is causing European football teams. The best players go to the most affluent clubs (or Clubs willing to go into the most debt), causing a lack of competitiveness.
To address the lack of competitiveness, and waning fan interest, the national associations for basketball, football and Hockey implemented salary caps.
The way a lot of American sports associations implement their caps is by working out the leagues revenue and dividing it by the number of teams so everyone has the same limit.
NFL and NHL have a hard cap… that means no one exceeds their limit. NBA has a soft cap, meaning that no one exceeds their limit unless the team who own the player are renewing a players contracts (The ‘Larry Bird’ provision). This is to stop a teams best player from moving every year and it helps keep the fans happy (Fans don’t like change… bless um’).
So there we have it…
The premier league and all the other major leagues can set a uniform wage cap to use how they please.
Everyone is in the same boat then and this has many advantages:
1. The team with the best coach and the smartest board will succeed.
2. Teams won’t be so inclined to buy players to stop other teams purchasing them (SWP effect).
3. Teams will think twice about paying players like Joey Barton £60k a week.
4. Teams will be run organically. Having a sugar Daddy will be of no benefit.
5. Season ticket prices may stop soaring (Dream on I hear you say…).
6. THE FANS WILL ENJOY THEIR SUMMERS MORE!
The idea isn’t fool proof, and this article here suggests a salary cap just makes the richest and the smartest, richer and smarter. But let’s be honest, Arsenal are a pretty savvy club… so let’s not worry too much about that!
Admittedly my idea is a bit idealistic, but lets be honest… falling premiership gates and a disdain for the modern game ain’t gonna reverse if we carry on as we are…
Fan’s help pay the salaries of these over paid sports stars and if they feel they are not getting VFM or that the game is not competitive, they will eventually switch off.
So if you are reading and you are a club chairman, have a think about it and share your thoughts with another chairman!
That is my solution, let me know yours!
Happy blogging!
P.S.
This morning Arsenal have been linked with Falcao, the Columbian scoring sensation (38 in 58 apparently.). The Hleb fee has been agreed and Hleb has been bashing London again. Arshavin has been bid for by and English club… £19mill apparently! Oh, and Gilberto has apparently been transferred to Pana. If that is the case, I think it is a real shame. Our treatment of Gilberto has been poor and you really can’t blame players approaching 30 for wanting to leave. That will be the 5th player to leave since January (If Hleb and Ade leave)… all first teamers or potential first teamers… that is a turnover that would make McDonalds blush! How does Wenger fight back from this? Only time will tell Grovers!
P.P.S There is another story on the news feeds regarding wage caps… I wrote this yesterday morning incase you were wondering!
P.P.P.S. See the Falcao vid here…
July 10, 2008 at 8:38 am
1st??
July 10, 2008 at 8:38 am
1st Today
July 10, 2008 at 8:39 am
I did it - YEAAHH!!!!!!!
July 10, 2008 at 8:39 am
Hoorah …. it’s been a long time coming!
July 10, 2008 at 8:40 am
Haha….. you did what Kenya?
July 10, 2008 at 8:40 am
Swines, the lot of ya!!
July 10, 2008 at 8:41 am
You buggas can’t be reading the post………
July 10, 2008 at 8:44 am
Sorry about the long post… but there was a lot to be said today!
July 10, 2008 at 8:46 am
NEWSPAPERS KEEP TWISTING PLAYERS INTERVIEWS TO SUIT THEIR NEEDS - MOST OF THE WRITERS ARE ARSENAL HATERS……
I STILL BELIEVE IN SAGNA……….
Bacary Sagna is hopeful of being fit for the start of the new season, but has admitted Arsenal need to learn from the mistakes of last term.
The right back’s season came to a premature end when he picked up an injury against Chelsea in March.
The 25-year-old is back in full training and has issued an upbeat bulletin on his fitness.
“I’m okay,” Sagna told L’Equipe. “I was back at training last week, a bit before everybody, to accustom myself to running at a high rhythm again.
“In principle, if everything goes well, I should be ready when the season starts.”
The defender has high expectations for the new season but is still concerned by Arsenal’s late capitulation.
He added: “Lots of people tell me it must be a season to confirm the last one, but last year I was already told it was a season to settle. At the end of the day, I did not put myself under pressure and gave my all.
“Of course I’ve been surprised that everything went that well, most of all because I scored my first goal (laughs). But the objective is always collective more than individual.
“We have regrets following last season and we can legitimately aim for higher. But I don’t think setting objectives is a good idea.
“We have to learn from our past mistakes and take the games one by one.
“It’s the best way to experience a good season and to my mind it will be the coach’s words as well. It’s useless to plan for March when you’re not sure to be still in the hunt for the title at that moment.
“When you’re a competitor you’ve to fight for whatever and that’s how you improve. Regarding the Champions League, we experienced very good moments last year, including against AC Milan. We can’t wait to play in it again
July 10, 2008 at 8:49 am
Nice post Pedro! great picture, I love the shirt.
July 10, 2008 at 8:51 am
Who cares about Gilberto, Hleb, the Togonese Greedy Bastard,,we’ve got Alex Song.
July 10, 2008 at 8:55 am
Top post Pedro
Salary cap….Larry Bird (the greatest basketballer ever) & thats a nice suntan on Kurt Angle.
The salary cap works. In our AFL(Aussie Rules- I know we blokes alone play it
) The way the clubs out do each other is exactly what you referred to Pedro. Better medicos; better gym; spend more money on talent scouts, better fringe benefits for the players, etc. etc. But it is a more even comp, & i hope the FIFA look into some of the points that each salary capped comp around the world abides by.
Footnote: the reason they introduced a salary cap into AFL in Oz was because Clubs back into the early ’80’s were going into debt buying players & some clubs got in over their heads. Manure anyone????
July 10, 2008 at 9:00 am
Cheers Gnarley…
I spoke with one of my Scouser mates about this yesterday and he was convinced if we brought in a salary cap, our best players would go and play in Dubai or America?
I am pretty sure players are just as concerned about history and prestige as they are about money… and a salary cap isn’t on the individual, it is on the club right?
Blogger Geoff, that is a pretty good pic… I am still wondering how you managed to do that on your own!
July 10, 2008 at 9:02 am
Very good post again,…… yesterday was the first time i saw the new shirts closely and they are quality i can tell you.
July 10, 2008 at 9:03 am
Morning all, now is today the day for some transfer activity?
July 10, 2008 at 9:03 am
Pedro / Geoff:. Permission to get Le-Grove 7 ?
July 10, 2008 at 9:04 am
Pedro - You should implement a squad number system on Le-Grove shirts !!!!!!
July 10, 2008 at 9:05 am
Morning all
Nice post Pedro, gives a great insight as to how the NFL & NHL wage caps operate…the FA should learn from it.
On to more pressing issues(and I mean pressing issues), where is the exclussive story of our major signing, Mandingo Dkembe Dkembe?? Iam shocked and flabagasted that its not even back page headline anywhere!!! lol
The new gunners jersey looks cool after being modelled by ol’ Kurt btw!
July 10, 2008 at 9:05 am
who is that wearing the shirt???
and I didn’t know that you were almunia’s fan!!! lol
July 10, 2008 at 9:06 am
Its Geoff if the width of the neck serves me right !
July 10, 2008 at 9:08 am
Well-done Pedro
I said in April that we (arsenal funs) will be a miserable summer but I didn’t taught it will be this much mess
Morning all
July 10, 2008 at 9:13 am
Choy, that is the model athlete know as Kurt Angle.. lol
July 10, 2008 at 9:17 am
I just got thin now
Hleb thanks Wenger as he takes Barcelona medical
Thursday 10 July 2008 - 02:55:06 - Click to post or view
Alexandr Hleb is in Barcelona to take a medical now that Arsenal have finally agreed a transfer fee for the want-away midfielder.
Arsenal were trying to force Barca to give them Yaya Toure as part of a swap deal but the Catalan club refused continually. After Hleb’s attack on Wenger last week they realised they had no choice but to let him go.
July 10, 2008 at 9:17 am
the key players to Arsenal are fabregas, Clichy, Sagna, Eduardo, Van Persie, Gallas and Toure.
All of these are committed to the Arsenal cause.
The players making noises about leaving can leave. In fact please leave, leave quickly, give us the cash, plenty of cash and let us go and find a few more players who are better and hopefully more committed than the players that want to leave.
July 10, 2008 at 9:19 am
http://footylatest.com/news/news.php?extend.1127
July 10, 2008 at 9:22 am
I couldn’t agree more Mark
July 10, 2008 at 9:22 am
That’s not Kurt Angle! His necks straight!
July 10, 2008 at 9:22 am
can i get the fab 4no?le grove 4.morning all.hope not another dusy day for the tabloids
July 10, 2008 at 9:24 am
i have to say great site, every time i hear about a player being paid anything above 30,000 a week and still bitching about it i want to scream. BYE BYE to both hleb and adebayor. i still believe ade cost us the title with his missing of chances, i say bring in anyone who knows where the goal is. Falcau wud be a great signing my brother who watches a lot of south american footie has been talking about him for almost a year and i rate his opinion highly. have a good one guys
July 10, 2008 at 9:24 am
Good post Pedro - a cap would stabilise prices all round and more money would be available for the lower divisions (hopes!). It does need to be ‘global’ though as other leagues progress as pointed out.
The shirt looks great but where’s the white apart from the number? Hope this isn’t the precedent for a white shirt ……………………………..we’re the REDS!
July 10, 2008 at 9:24 am
We don’t need this want away players anymore I think AW will have to chose not only quality he has to see the player’s aptitude also when he brings any one in the future we don’t need any ADE anymore
July 10, 2008 at 9:26 am
OK so no Yaya, who’s next?
July 10, 2008 at 9:26 am
The vibe tells me, Adebayor is going anywhere. No one will pay what the Club wants; he is under contract so he will stay.
In years to come fans might talk about the Adebayor Factor - It was the time Le Boss finally took a stand, “drew a line in the sand” & said The Arsenal will take no more shit.
July 10, 2008 at 9:27 am
veloso?
July 10, 2008 at 9:29 am
Hi Pedro
Nice article.
Yes the game is changing fast…
On your funny silly season list, just a suggestion. Could you striketrough the names of the players who have signed for other clubs? Like Gomes, Guiza, Ben Arfa,…
And if you beleive Young Guns, Coquelin has joined the reserves.
Have a nice day
July 10, 2008 at 9:30 am
if we sale Ade we will Definitely will end up with a better player
July 10, 2008 at 9:30 am
Mind you they’d have to stump up the MONEY then, so it could happen………..
if not we still need a dominant DMF as AW says we aren’t getting a CB but that could have been smoke and mirrors WE HOPE!
July 10, 2008 at 9:30 am
just scanning through the on line papers and i spotted this, couldn’t resist a laugh, does this story sum up the Sun or what “Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate insists he can lead the club into the Champions League.” (The Sun)
July 10, 2008 at 9:32 am
pierre… o)
July 10, 2008 at 9:33 am
Hey Kenyan am also Kenyan
July 10, 2008 at 9:37 am
It says in the Hleb’s story he agreed the deal not Arsenal Hammmmmmmmmmmmm got me thinkn “Officially, Barcelona have broken UEFA regulations by holding contract talks with Hleb while he has two years of his Arsenal contract to run”.from the SUN
July 10, 2008 at 9:37 am
really?that makes u,me plus arsenalkenya.in nairobi?
July 10, 2008 at 9:38 am
Despite Ade’s negatives like first touch and offsides, he remains a very quick, awkward, tall, heavy, very hard working striker and I can’t think of anybody else that ticks all those boxes. If he was given the rests last season that the injuries to RVP and Eduardo cost he might have done better on the skill/judgement factor!
Having said all that he maybe has burnt his boats and £30M goes a long way.
July 10, 2008 at 9:40 am
Maybe Southgate thought champions league spot is up to 10th for the next season
July 10, 2008 at 9:41 am
Surely we’ve got to take the money Patrick? Just think how many builder cups of tea that’ll pay off!
July 10, 2008 at 9:43 am
tbuzz - our new signing logged on yesterday to leave us a hello message!
July 10, 2008 at 9:43 am
dont worry AW will take the money like THE MASK’s jim carrey in the bank
July 10, 2008 at 9:46 am
Sorry Markc I dont usually get on at people but Gallas commited to the Arsenal cause the man still has the mentality of a child.
Sulking at Birmingham is not easy to forgive neither is critiscising TW14 did you see him for france???? he upset the balance in the team not Eduardos injury never been a captain in my eyes Gilberto was twice the leader.
As for his defensive work not as good as Toure,We need a strong commanding CB to partner Kolo not Gallas
July 10, 2008 at 9:46 am
I have never saw or heard AW propose one of he potential superstar of the future propose to other clubs this happened first in Ade
July 10, 2008 at 9:47 am
In theory the salary cap is a great idea but can you see someone like the russian chavmaster losing out on a player because he’s already exceeding his quota? No, what he will do he will find a way of giving his players extra money jut so that chavski could remain competive. However, if he failed chavski and many other clubs would simply become average sides. Arsenal on the other would thrive as they have been operating under the salary cap threshold for years!!!!!!!
July 10, 2008 at 9:48 am
he did not criticise theo!!!
July 10, 2008 at 9:49 am
Morning Grovers!
Had a tight deadline to hit… so I’ve been off the board!
Spike, I’ll add those names in a bit!
Bud, consider number 7 yours! I saw you as more of a number 6 man?
I was going to write about our new signing today… but there was so much real news out there I couldn’t cram it in!
So… hleb is off… berto is off… Ade is off!
It’s going to be a busy few days!
Regarding Falcao… I remember another scoring sensation from columbia who didn’t quite cut the mustard… Angel! I know he is currently ripping it up for the New York Metros!
Gutted about berto by the way… Diarra, Berto and the Flamster in 7 months… what a disaster!
So who covers?
Denilson, Song and Diaby… brilliant… actually, not even song, he is a centre back.
July 10, 2008 at 9:50 am
Good post but I have to disagree about the shirt. I thnk it’s hideous! I think the red collar looks awful, Arsenal should have a white collar.
Still we all have our opinion on these things, people will still buy them in their thousands.
Time to work.
July 10, 2008 at 9:51 am
AFC53 - you hit it right on the head, i can’t see us winning anything while Gallas being deployed centrally and as captain!
July 10, 2008 at 9:59 am
I don’t think there’s any truth in the Falcao story, he’ll flop like Forlan and then piss off to spain.
July 10, 2008 at 10:00 am
I never understood Diarra, he was at Chavs for a few years and got fuck all action, came to us and got in the carling cup team, but started moaning after a few months about lack of first team action? Makes me wonder what Wenger promised him when he signed him.
July 10, 2008 at 10:01 am
I think we sometimes overstate the effect a captain has on a footballl team. Ok, he shakes hands with the ref and the oppo’s skipper at the beginning of the game butr after that tactical changes are down to the manager (and what a skilled tactician at AFC we have, but I digress).
In cricket, a captain actually does have a lot to think about - bowling changes, field placing, batting orders etc…of course this extra requirement is a logical adjunct of the slower pace of cricket.
Yes, he can help with a degree of team organisation but once a game starts everyone should know their jobs and if they perform the captains job is failry easy - captaining a winning side is a pierce of p***, right ? A captian is said to show necessary leadership - if a team is successful then what is there to do ?
On the whole a football captains role is largely ceremonial and IMHO os only useful as a half heated attempt to keep someone at a team if their interest is waning.
July 10, 2008 at 10:02 am
atleast we’;ve got DKEMBE DKEMBE coming that should bolster the squad when hleb leaves!!
July 10, 2008 at 10:04 am
QoS, Geoff has been described as a Kurt Angle lookalike with bling,cigar, the works. Hence the reference…not that the Real Kurt Angle was pinned down, forced to wear the jersey for the pic!
dennisdamenace…damn, I missed out on his hello!
Does anyone think we should give ‘Manuel Al-blondie another chance as our number 1 GK?
Anyone seen this Falcao fella in action by the way???
July 10, 2008 at 10:05 am
I always rated Gallas when he was a chav, but been disapointed with him as a gooner, I think it would improve his attitude if he wasnt captain, although saying that taking it off him now he will chuck his dummy out the pram big style!
July 10, 2008 at 10:05 am
Yes Arsenal Tom, we have got Mandi coming as long as we can keep Top4Tottenham away from him we’re sorted and, of course, “reassured”.
July 10, 2008 at 10:06 am
yeah am in nairobi. cant wait for the season to start. forlan cud have bean great i think he was just a mistreated worker at manu. just look at his record for paraguay and in spain. at this rate i wud have settled for crouch, he did score a top quality hat trick against us
July 10, 2008 at 10:08 am
IMO Gilberto was expecting to get the Captaincy, but when he didn’t, I reckon he lost his drive for The Club after that. You could say it broke his heart
At the time, before they gave it to Gallas, I thought he was the logical man for the job. Gutsy! Mans man! Would die for the Club type of player, but Wenger gave it to Gallas, & the rest is history.
If you go back to the time when Wenger 1st arrived @ The Club, would he have given it to the greatest Arsenal captain of all time Tony Adams. I think not.
Good luck Giberto Silva, & thanks for the memories,
July 10, 2008 at 10:10 am
AFC53/Abdenor - Nobody knocked Gallas when things were going well - he rescued us on a few occasions with his goals - He did let himself down at Brum but perhaps it was the overload having been consoling Sagna with the loss of his brother all week, who knows. Life is tough at the top, trust me! But I don’t think Fab who’s the only alternative now would be as good a leader, maybe in a few years. I feel that’s a weakness on the field currently and one that AW needs to address.
Agreed about his defensive qualities or lack of!
July 10, 2008 at 10:12 am
Pierre, may be AW promised Lasagna Dhiarrea he’ll be replacing Pat rice, and when it didnt happen he p!ssed off to Pompey….we’ll never know.
Abdenor,
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/07/10/ufnfalcao110.xml
Depends on how reliable you think the Telegraph are.
July 10, 2008 at 10:12 am
pedro
i think you need to make an analysis of why arsenal fans are worried about
players leaving and whilst i agree with the over all concept relating to other sports,
i think it would stunt the EPL .having a salary cap ! is back to the fuckin dark ages . like the AFL in Oz .. ( what a rare fuckin bear game that tripe is !)
No incentive for a real top player to join an EPL team if you pass that motion ! he is better staying in italy or spain ! , or to restrict the amount of stars in a team which you will do ..due to reducing wages .. good players will go elsewhere ! … barca-milan etc
NOT SMART FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE ! or the future of watching top class football in the UK !!!!
I know why this has brought you to say this… ade leaving for more cash and hleb also !
flamini’s contract was up..so he shouldn’t even be discussed ! If you want the truth on flamini , it was the clubs bad planning not to re-sign him the season prior ! we would have sold him for something….
The truth is its a 2 way street and other than ade- hleb - TH14 -Cole
i can see freddie - gilberto-lauren- PV4 -Jens -pires -parlour going out the club forced by the clubs hand !!!!! the list is endless its a 2 way street !
a revolving door so to speak ! sure feel bitter about Hleb -ade wanting to leave but how about freddie and bert wanting to stay .. pires - PV4 !
Wenger must expect hleb to want to leave he is 27 .. sign a 3 year deal then your probably out the fuckin door ’cause your 30 !!& due to arsenals ! (not the EPL ) stupid over 30’s policy ! He thinks his time is numbered at AFC anyhow !!
I wouldnt worry about trying to change the league ! i think the EPL is where it needs to be ! our teams are competing and doing well in Europe !! One would say dominating !
Every top club in europe wants our players …
they saw us (the UK teams) dominate the Champions league !
doing what your proposing might give AFC a better chance of competing but that is just like changing the rules of football to help us win things again !
I honestly cannot agree with the salary cap notion ..
We need to change with the times and have a fucking back bone !
we need to play the cards dealt to us and turn this hand into a winner !!!
no free lunches here !
we need top class players not more 14 year olds !
only hard graft and good professional decisions and players will put this club back on track !
BOO YEAH !!!!!!!
July 10, 2008 at 10:12 am
Davuid Seaman 7th greatest!
July 10, 2008 at 10:12 am
*David
July 10, 2008 at 10:13 am
Falcao video link at the end of the post!
July 10, 2008 at 10:15 am
Agreed Gnarley re. captaincy. Big mistake AW! Lost a brilliant squad player on the strength of that last season but don’t think he had the legs at the end of it so very warm thanks to Bert for his many years holding the centre and nice warm climate 3 years got to be better for him.
July 10, 2008 at 10:21 am
gilberto was at the copa !
there was no way he was going to captain last season !
and he played like shite when he returned !
i dont think gallas is the answer either .. but gilberto needs to go !
i would like him as a bench player but he wouldnt stomach another season like last one..
toure or cesc needs to take the captaincy .. we need someone with some years left in them !
July 10, 2008 at 10:22 am
Cheers Tbuzz, still don’t think there’s anything in it though.
Patrick - I am not saying Cesc would make a good captain but Gallas??!!…… i mean come on!
I also don’t think he’s a CB otherwise Moaninio would’ve played him there.
You can say what you like about the portugese tosser but he knows his stuff defensively, that you can not deny.
July 10, 2008 at 10:25 am
Ethan,
IMHO, I have never seen a positive comment come out of your PC. I don’t know whether that explains where you head is at or what. You are boring sunshine.
I love Australian Rules, so do my mates, it has been apart of our culture for 150 years. What do you love, other than fuck’n whinging, moaning, groaning. Kiss my arse
July 10, 2008 at 10:28 am
Ethan,
The idea would be imposed by Uefa… so across all the European leagues. It would stop clubs like Man City artificially buying their way to the top…
The salary cap wouldn’t be for players… it would be for the club. So Milan can still pay Kaka £140k a week… but they can’t pay Flamini £60k to warm their bench and stop Juve signing him!
July 10, 2008 at 10:29 am
Sorry Geoff/Pedro, I guess Mr Nothing is Ever Quite Right wore me down.
July 10, 2008 at 10:29 am
I wouldn’t want Cesc to be captain…..
And before you all scream at me - the reason is, i wouldnt want any extra pressure put on the guy.
He is already the focal point of our team, and i would prefer for him just to be left alone to get on with it.
Leave it with Gallas for another season - he did go mental at Birmingham, but prior to that, most of us agreed he had done bloody well.
July 10, 2008 at 10:30 am
Patrick7 - Am with you on Gallas !
Funnily enough I have watched a few of last years games on Ars TV lately and Gallas has been exceptional in all !
IMO - I think a lot of Gooners have not taken to him as their own yet due to his Chelsea roots !
I do not remember as much opposition for TH14 when captain, when he was sneering, giving daggers or dropping his shoulders and flailing his arms at anyone who misplaced a pass or did not put it exactly where he wanted it !!!!!
July 10, 2008 at 10:38 am
george your a fuckin idiot
im boring ??? fuck what the fuck are you then ??
all that comes out of your keyboard is dribble !
your opinion of AFL is a laugh however…
just go on a AFL blog and talk too the other 2 twerps who are
stupid enough to be fans also !
i suppose thats why its played internationally ! ???
i suppose its because theres NO fucking skill involved just pulling pants down and knocking the ball out of bounds ! everyone laying on top of each other like an orgy pretending to punch the ball !! the game is shit and will never be played as a world cup or at the Olympics because its shit and no other country is stupid enough to want to play in professionally ! !
put that in your pipe and smoke it !
ill be positive when i see positivity !
if you think arsenals dealings this season and the lies are positive you need fucking therapy !
you think ade will stay ??? the beer drinking alone has rotted your brain !
you have got the footballing acumen of a potato !
July 10, 2008 at 10:38 am
GG9- I fu**ing hate Aussie rules. To be fair though I only hate it because its not predictable & therefore I cannot bet on it!!!
July 10, 2008 at 10:41 am
Guys… rules of engagement! I don’t want 2 regulars arguing.
I also don’t want and argument over Aussie rules football!
Love thy fellow grover…
July 10, 2008 at 10:45 am
pedro
can you ever see Uefa ever going for that ?
Maybe if the UK dominate the champions league for the next 5 years ..
But i think madrid - AC - inter - barca have all had a kick up the bum because it was an ALL ENGLISH C.L final ! you cant expect them to hold back there spending this season!
they will be pulling out the buck to compete like spurs and liverpool are doing locally ..
July 10, 2008 at 10:49 am
well pedro ..
some start it .. some finish it !!
he’s been wanting an ear bashing for a while with the garry glitter comments !
Fucking aussies ! they a a flip switch in there fuckin heads !
all i can say is come barking around my tree lil doggie and ill poison your food !
July 10, 2008 at 10:49 am
gday all,
the captain morgan at the pub was a treat and i had one for you all. Must admit, i had to skim over the post as im a few beers into the evening, but what i can say is, Larry Bird was my favourite player…needless to say i dont watch NBA anymore at least for the last 15 years.
GMR - i hate you and your GMR lack of understanding, the day i get to give you a hip-and-shoulder is the day you’re knocked out! only joking! you take back your aussie rulz commets and i wont line you up!
July 10, 2008 at 10:53 am
Good morning all,
I am going to keep my opinions of Aussie rules to myself through fear of textual assault!
Ethan, on the issue of wage capping.
I agree, the only way it will come into play is if the English start to dominate.
I like the premise, doubt the chances of implementation.
I do believe something must change though, becuase it is becoming boring.
That Falcao fellow looks pretty average to me. 38 in 58? No thanks. Give me Huntelaar or Villa.
Did anyone read that Arsenal have stopped printing Adebayor shirts?
July 10, 2008 at 10:54 am
Evo, the day Aussie rules becomes predictable & allows me to make money betting on it is the day I’ll change my opinion!!
Until then just bring it!!
July 10, 2008 at 10:55 am
“As far as I know the player and the agent will travel to Athens to meet with the Panathinaikos people,” Gunners acting managing director Ken Friar told Sportday.
“If Gilberto reaches an agreement then we will reach an agreement.”
A model pro, what a damn shame.
July 10, 2008 at 10:56 am
That was a joke by the way!!
I made good money on the super 14’s, so I like that!!
July 10, 2008 at 10:58 am
no probs mate, is more predictable than the rabbitohs winning a game
July 10, 2008 at 11:00 am
jason - i did read they’ve stopped printing the shirts…even so, who the hell was buying them before?
July 10, 2008 at 11:03 am
Indeed, hardly the most aspirational player!
I just read Thierry waxing lyrical over dos santos.
I do wonder why we weren’t interested? Or why Barca sold him?
July 10, 2008 at 11:04 am
got any link for the dos santos chat?
July 10, 2008 at 11:07 am
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_3800970,00.html
July 10, 2008 at 11:08 am
He’s shit trust me Jason, i have watched lot of Barca last season and he’s average at best.
July 10, 2008 at 11:08 am
jason
with you 110 % percent ! glad you agree… UNLIKE some ####### !who thinks somehow it was negative ?!?!?!? FUCK i thought it was positive for EPL FOOTBALL !
not everything Arsenal ! I think it shows character that im not a blind eyed change the goal posts kind of guy to give arsenal a winning edge !
i think George could learn a few lessons on debate from you !
July 10, 2008 at 11:11 am
Sack PHW and get this guy in, he is the sort of chairman we should have.
July 10, 2008 at 11:11 am
Is it only me but I feel really gutted that we are ready to sell Hleb for 12MM quid to Barca .. roughly the same price we paid for him.. and Villa are selling that English shit called Barry for 18MM quid .. this is the poorest piece of biz that AFC has ever conducted .. Hleb is a peach of a player and will do very well in Spain .. much better than our offside hero from Togo ..
the club is run by sad fukking morons .. of which Wenger is part of ..
July 10, 2008 at 11:11 am
http://youtube.com/watch?v=QTdBBVW9bTs
July 10, 2008 at 11:13 am
BB - are you saying sack wenger and the rest of them?
July 10, 2008 at 11:18 am
Evo, I take it you have quite a knowledge of AFL & NRL, in which case I might from time to time ask for your expert opinion so I can bet on them!!! Thats if you don’t mind of course??
July 10, 2008 at 11:21 am
GMR - no probs mate, i have a centrebet account and a TAB account (both aussie betting agencies) that i use to put on bets and also multi bets….load up! if you have any vice versa info im happy to share mate!
July 10, 2008 at 11:21 am
BB - You’re making Hleb sound like Maradona, 10 goals in 3 season and very few assists hardly setting the world alight, We paid £11 mill for him & he hardly improved since joining so fair price in my book.
July 10, 2008 at 11:21 am
says in Daily Star we’re getting £15m for Pleb, of which £11.5m ig going on Nasri.
July 10, 2008 at 11:27 am
yeah fair price
July 10, 2008 at 11:31 am
woe, let me retract my last comment, the Guardian says “Barcelona, however, have returned with a bid of £12m up front and a further £2.5m in add-ons, subject to the achievement of performance-related targets” so if thats goals and assists then, the price will stay at £12m!
It’s probably still bullshit and speculation, but its a better class of bullshit and speculation!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/jul/10/arsenal.barcelona
July 10, 2008 at 11:32 am
Evo, I also have a centrebet account, but mainly I use Betfair which also has a license for Australian residents now.
Anyway we’ll have to help each other out through the different seasons!!
July 10, 2008 at 11:33 am
Hleb is a very fine player .. he will do very well at Barca.. I know that he is not the most efficient player, but after seeing the Euros, there isnt much around that I would want to replace him with .. and please dont mention David Silva or Podolski .. Modric’s last ball is 10 times better than Silva’s .. Hleb would have had a starting place in all of the Euro sides ..
July 10, 2008 at 11:35 am
GMR - lock it in bro, im yet to get a betfair account, not enough time in the day, yet i dare say is on the cards!
Look forward to winning some cash!
July 10, 2008 at 11:37 am
are you lads loving the test match with nasser hussain, beefy and mike atherton on the commentary, how bloody boring!
July 10, 2008 at 11:38 am
hleb is a gunn of a player and wanted by barca !!!
HELLO ? fair price ? fuck me i dont want it to be pick on the aussies day .. evo !
but BB is dead fucking right !
this love affair with barca has got to stop ! we let TH14 goto barca for 16 mil !
THE BEST STRIKER TO GRACE PLANET SOL ! and we didnt flog him on the open market we gave him his golden ticket to his club of choice ! Now we are doing the same to hleb ! we cant replace a player of hlebs caliber for under 12 million so keep him ! Or sell him for 16+ mil !
barry is reasonable… but he is No way better than hleb !
and if he was better barca would be buying barry dont you think ??
July 10, 2008 at 11:40 am
ITS HIGH TIME THE ARSENAL BOARD AND THE ARSENAL SUPPORTERS TRUST NAILED THE CHAIRMAN OVER THESE ALLEGATIONS ON EVERY OTHER BLOGG THAT WE ARE A SELLING CLUB.
Arsene Wenger has produced miracles in his 12 years at the Arsenal helm.
But the Frenchman now faces the biggest test of all his time as the Gunners chief - building a team that can challenge for honours when nobody wants to stay.
Alexander Hleb’s outrageous bid to force Arsenal to let him move to Barcelona came with the Emirates hierarchy already fighting a losing battle to keep Emmanuel Adebayor at the club.
Privately, Wenger has told friends that he will not try to hold the Togo striker against his will, not believing the player is worth anything like the £120,000 a week Adebayor wants.
AdvertisementHleb, too, appears surplus to requirements, with the Belarus midfielder having blotted his copybook by making too many disparaging remarks about Wenger and the club.
But with the Arsenal boss still reeling from the desertion of Mathieu Flamini - who swapped the Champions League for a UEFA Cup campaign at AC Milan - the economic reality that will make depressing reading for every Gunners fan became increasingly evident.
Wenger can offer any player on the planet the footballing education they crave.
Under his tutelage, an average player will become a good one, a good player can become a great one.
What he can’t give them, though, is the cash that matters more than anything else to the modern player - and, more significantly, his agent.
And for all that Adebayor talks about being part of the Arsenal “family” and Flamini spoke lovingly of his bond to the club, after four years which have brought one lone FA Cup triumph and a series of nearmisses, that is not enough.
If they can’t get silverware, they want silver. And Arsenal do not have enough of it. On July 1, Wenger was given a pot of £90million to spend on his squad. That was not a transfer fund, but the global amount, to be spent on new players, squad wages, and agents’ fees.
If he wants to spend more, then he has to sell. It makes Adebayor and Hleb expendable, but at a time when Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool continue to make more and more cash available, it also makes it harder for Wenger to compete on level terms.
Even with Arsenal baulking at Adebayor’s demands, they cannot resist the upward pressure of wage inflation, up eight per cent over the year to the end of the 2006-07 season. Even a player who wants to stay at the club, like Robin van Persie, admitted recently: “They won’t pay enormous amounts of money. I think that they should go to a higher level of salary.
“If you want to keep the group together, you have to keep them happy. If you are 27 or 28, I can understand that you would make the decision to go elsewhere if you can earn three or four times as much.”
Adebayor’s persistence will end with Arsenal yielding to the inevitable, and perhaps make the need to sell to a foreign investor - such as Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov - all the more pressing.
Usmanov’s chief representative, ex-Gunners vice-chairman David Dein, still a close friend of Wenger, warned: “Will Arsene keep on unearthing nuggets in the transfer market? He has got to!
“Chelsea spend on average £1.5m per point - if they get 80 points in a season, they have probably spent £120m to get those purely on wages.
Their wage bill is between £120- 130m.
“Arsenal get, say, 70 points and they have spent £70m on wages - it’s £1m a point. Manchester United have 85 points, that’s about £1.25m a point.”
Dein has doubts over the income from the prestige Highbury Square residential development, with the club facing another 17 years of debt repayment on the Emirates scheme.
Wenger conceded at the weekend that this means he will have to sell a big player every summer merely to help balance the books.
It is why Dein insists: “At Arsenal, something has to break.
“Nothing lasts for ever. The board, because of their age - and a couple of them are not well - will change.”
Until it does, the Gunners are by some distance the most vulnerable of the Premier League’s Big Four.
Even Wenger is powerless to resist. The black clouds that gathered over London Colney all day may have been symbolic of his mood.
If they can’t get silverware they want silver. And Arsenal do not have enough of it
##########################################################
The commotion surrounding what seems to be the increasingly likely departure of Emmanuel Adebayor from Arsenal has led to Arsene Wenger openly accepting that Arsenal are now a ‘selling’ club. “The strategy of the club is to sell every year and to buy less expensive players,” he told the News of the World. One could argue that this is nothing new. The success of Arsenal’s youth policy in the Wenger era has facilitated the sale of ‘big names’, often without much damage to the team. Furthermore, these sales have generated huge income for the club (just think of the return when a £500 000 Anelka was flogged to Real Madrid for £23 million) which has been re-invested in future stars. This has long been how Wenger has chose to operate; now it may appear that he has no such choice.
Wenger versus Dein
This time last year Wenger appeared unruffled by fears expressed by then vice-chairman David Dein that the club’s financial constraints, largely imposed by the recent construction of their stadium, would have serious consequences. Wenger did not foresee any negative consequences manifesting themselves immediately. He has expressed in the past that he has been quite happy with his resources. He said last year, “I feel, in the short term, I do not need more money. You have to see how the game’s evolution is in the next four or five years. But if I wanted to buy a player…I have money available.” Wenger expressed how he was satisfied with his squad prior to last season. He announced, “I believe I can compete because I have a team which I believe can win the Premier League and do well in the Champions League.”
For a large part of last season, Wenger seemed to be justified in holding this view. However, the eventual capitulation of Arsenal’s title challenge may indicate that David Dein was right to be concerned. Dein felt so strongly that he left the Arsenal board in April 2007 after his attempt to involve the US tycoon Stan Kroenke as a financial backer was rejected. Dein believed that “without new investors Arsenal might very soon not be able to compete successfully at the very top level.” Is Arsenal’s attitude in the transfer market this summer an indicator that Dein was right? Perhaps so.
Sell, sell, sell
With Mathieu Flamini gone, and now Aliaksandr Hleb and Adebayor heading towards the exit, things could look that way. It is certainly worrying that a class-act such as Van Persie stalled on contract talks, demanding that the club proved to him that they can hang on to key players. “Keeping this team together,” is, he claims, what holds the key to gaining his signature. When influential players are leaving, the signing of the highly promising Aaron Ramsey from Cardiff City is unlikely to convince star players such as Van Persie that things are changing for the better. The purchase of Samir Nasri may however be more helpful. The problem remains, as was discovered last season, that a team in such a continuous stage of transition and development will be hard pushed to maintain a genuine, season-long assault on the title.
Wage Policy
Not only is it Arsenal’s eagerness to cash in on their best players that is a cause for concern. It is their inability to lure other big names to the stadium. It was surprising last season, when the promising Ryan Babel, who had been hotly tipped as the next Arsenal signing, opted for Livepool. When I consider Arsenal strict wage structure, it really should not have been such a surprise. Arsenal have the strictest wage policy of all the top clubs by a long way. Wenger’s adherence to it is worthy of praise but it is also the source of anxiety for many fans. Yes, Arsenal may have a good youth policy and Wenger maybe as shrewd as ever but if they are to seriously challenge their big spending rivals they need to be able to splash the cash as well. The majority of players who can really make a difference come at a price.
Fernando Torres for example, cost up to £27 million and is earning around £120 000 a week, but would anyone at Liverpool argue that the 23-year-old is not worth it? I do not think so. Cristiano Ronaldo may have left last season, had Manchester United not increased his salary. Would United have had their double success had they replaced him in the side with a promising youngster such as Nani? In theory, if Ronaldo had been at Arsenal, they would have let him walk. Although their refusal to be held to ransom is admirable, it seems somewhat foolish in the modern, money-mad game. Especially when you consider how much more money United would generate if they sold Ronaldo now as compared to if they had failed to improve his contract and let him go last season. Arsenal’s strict adherence to an out of touch wage structure, their inability to resist big offers for players, and their reluctance to spend big, will inevitably limit the extent to which they can compete.
Why Arsenal can’t compete: big stadium, big debt
The primary reason Arsenal are struggling to compete is the costs imposed by the construction of their £400 million Emirates Stadium. Restructuring of the finances in 2006 decreased the club’s annual debt service to around £20 million. This means Arsenal have to include this in to their costs and this is why Wenger accepts Arsenal are now a ‘selling’ club. They need to sell at least one big name a season to generate this income. How else could Arsenal deal with this debt? That answer probably lies abroad.
Foreign Investment
David Dein predicted that Arsenal needed heavy investment, hence his attempt to involve Stan Kroenke. If we look at the transfer market this summer, it looks as if Dein was right. Manchester United and Chelsea have funds available. Liverpool are looking to purchase Gareth Barry, yet still rumoured to be interested in David Villa. Outside the top four, Manchester City have forked out nearly £20 million on their new forward Jo. It is much a case of spot the difference; these clubs have received heavy foreign investment, Arsenal have not. Has Premiership football turned into a game where only those backed by wealthy overseas investors can succeed? If Wenger’s Arsenal fail to triumph this season it may indicate that this is the case. It may also then be time for the north London club to pursue investment.
The Future
Arsenal fans should not worry prematurely. As I see it, either Wenger succeeds in bringing home silverware this season and it is a triumph for football or he fails and Arsenal recognise they need to pursue an investor with considerable financial clout. I would like the former outcome more than anyone but I am no fantasist, I think both the Premier League and the Champions League will be beyond them. However, If Arsenal were to seek investment they would be highly attractive. Last financial year they generated a turnover of over £200 million, which was second only to Real Madrid. Although this does not mean they are particularly cash rich due to their significant debts, it does mean that they are potentially lucrative and thus an investor would not be hard to find. If Arsenal do go down what seems an increasingly inevitable path for big Premiership clubs, Arsenal could then afford to compete and David Dein could afford a wry smile.
July 10, 2008 at 11:42 am
It’s a matter of opinions but Hleb is one of the most infuriating and overated players that i’ve ever since in an Arsenal shirt.
On his day, a top player but how days does he have?… NOT MANY!!!!!!
Has bags of talents but rarely affect matters on the pitch.
Oh there are a lot of players that i would have instead of him……
Arshavin is one.
July 10, 2008 at 11:43 am
ARE WE A SELLING CLUB????????????
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/07/08/opinion-why-does-everyone-want-to-leave-the-gunners-89520-20635859/
http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=770692
July 10, 2008 at 11:45 am
ethan - stay off the opal nero!
July 10, 2008 at 11:45 am
Senderos to me is better than Gallas with Kolo although he makes mistakes he is 100% commited and throws himself in front of everything and goes for everything.
I think with the right man training him TA or MK he would make a good defender but im afraid AW doesnt like looking at CB Stepanovs,Cygan, need i say more
July 10, 2008 at 11:50 am
Kenya - one word…….
MONEY!
Read today’s post and you’ll get fair idea!
July 10, 2008 at 11:50 am
the day that kleb becomes a striker like podolski is the day i give up beer…surely you cant compare the 2 players purely because they dont even play in the same positions?
July 10, 2008 at 11:52 am
Abdenor
you could be right but i tell ya when flamini cesc and hleb are operating the midfield we dominate possession and we supply the togonator with his lions shares of chances !
(which he fucks up ! )
without hlob and cesc the team looks less stable and dare i say it’ looks in pieces’ !
look at the last 3 or 4 games when he was suspended ! our midfield was a fucking shambles ! It didn’t look like the Arsenal passing game we know and love , and i would say it will be interesting to see how well we do without him ..
sure he didnt score goals but he is not in the team for that ! neither is toure !
but both are arsenal legends !
So george stick that where the sun dont shine if you think thats not a positive statement about 1 of our players ! !
July 10, 2008 at 11:53 am
evo im not the self confessed drunk !
thats your role !
July 10, 2008 at 11:54 am
Abdenor
It’s a matter of opinions but Hleb is one of the most infuriating and overated players that i’ve ever since in an Arsenal shirt.
i think ade wins that accolade hands down !
July 10, 2008 at 11:54 am
correct analysis…im all for the tricky ball, but just put it into the net a al ronaldae…whats the difference?
July 10, 2008 at 11:58 am
evo
because wenger wants his ball handlers to be precisely that !
he cant control the park and be in the fucking box at the same time ..
He feeds the strikers , i think it is painfully obvious thats the game plan !
i think you need to stop watching AFL and start concentrating on a REAL game !!
a game with tactics , wingers should be scoring more than our central players like eboue !!!
the cunt has NEVER scored an EPL goal ! and has had a whole season as a right winger .
theo comes in for the last 10 minutes and has a tally of 5 or 7 ??!
July 10, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Do we need/ want Nasri?
For 12 mill I think there are better players out there.
Hopefully Wenger is questioning his decision.
July 10, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Ethan, come on mate, you know we agree a hell of a lot about the stuff thats going on at Arsenal, but there’s no need to slate Australian sports. Just because Evo & Co enjoy AFL & NRL doesn’t mean they know any less about our football!!
July 10, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Pierre
i think most transfers have those little clauses in there !
if they get there boxes ticket the clubs swap funds ..
but im sure 99% of those clauses are not common knowledge ..
its like theo’s clause with his former club ..
his price basically doubled after a certain amount of starts before a certain age !
Im sure thats why wenger never hardly started him !
more conspiracy theories but i think if he had started theo more, we might have got something last season and everyone would have stayed !
July 10, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Theo will be an Arsenal legend (if we can keep him)
July 10, 2008 at 12:07 pm
GMR
its called for if you come and do a shit on my lawn !
July 10, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Speaking of the Theo transfer, i read that because Soton are shafted for cash, they accepted a knock down sum from us for the outstanding Theo debt, same as they accepted one fron the sp*ds for Bale. We got Theo for around £9m ish it said, bargain!
July 10, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Hleb is a feckin brilliant player. As Ethan rightly said, he can’t control operations in his own inimitable way by goal-hanging around the six yard box. His game is about dropping deep and prompting from deep, allowing Fabregas to use his slipstream to get into the box himself.
People need to get these definations of wingers out of their heads ie. a winger has to score or has to have a direct assist. It’s all about a combination of talents. Hleb worked a treat for Arsenal mark III. The problem was not having a direct goal threat in Eboue’s position.
July 10, 2008 at 12:13 pm
MarkC .. Nasri is a smashing talent .. the finest technical player coming out of France since Zidane .. not necessarily a recipe for success, but a good starting point
I cannot stomach seeing Hleb leaving for less than that useless crap called Barry
please please .. what is this club doing to itself??
July 10, 2008 at 12:13 pm
So Paulinho… what do we do now? A Hleb Mark II or do we go for an out and out winger?
If Ade, Hleb, and Flamini all leave… is it time to have a rethink?
Do we go for a traditional holding midfielder… can we replace from within?
Is there a new approach!
Fucking blatter… what a cunt. How dare he compare slavery with football… I tell ya, if it was 200 years ago and someone offered me £40k a week to be a slave I’d have bitten there hand off to sign a 4 year deal.
Wanker.
July 10, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Pierre
i heard it could of gone up to 15 million if we started him X amount of times ..
RE : THEO ..
July 10, 2008 at 12:14 pm
im happy to concentrate on the gooners, i just want goals from all areas and kleb, hleb, pleb, cunt eyes is not going to cut it!
July 10, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Paulinho - Hleb played 60% of last season as a supportive striker, if you don’t judge him on goals and assists then what you jugde for .
…. and Just for the record,,, he will flop big time in La Liga as the hot climate won’t suit him one bit.
July 10, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Someone might have already done this…
But I think things have been quiet with Hleb becuase he is in the British BB house:
http://www.nowmagazine.co.uk/imageBank/cache/b/BB9-Michael_e_c491c3a88e57420f1fe11279acd5bc68.jpg
July 10, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Paulinho
well done lad .. at least there is someone who can see his talent !
I mean barca wouldnt be lining him up for nothing !
And its pretty plain to see for anyone who actually watches every game that he is a hinge pin in the Arsenal passing game ..
Oh GMR
id like to show you the shit on my lawn but it seems pedro came along with the pooper scooper
July 10, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Wenger will use the same system I believe. Nasri looks a fine prospect and he could conceivably slot into the Hleb postion on the left.
However, when it comes to vision, clever passing, jamming with Cesc, knowing the system inside and out, I can’t think of a better player in world football than Hleb. He doesn’t score often but fuck, he’s a like a football band-aid, a medicinal player who gets a team playing football. I’ve said it often enough but look at the games he wasn’t playing in last year, Arsenal could string a pass together.
Maybe other players will step up, but I think while Hleb was a fully grown cow in that position, the replacements for him will be bandy-legged calves, slipping and sliding over the barn. What player will suffer the most from such teething problems? Mr. Cesc Fabregas!
July 10, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Great post Pedro - I agree. And nice shirt too . Im getting one soon with Secs 4:))
July 10, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Evo it isnt the AFL ..
why do you think i wanted ade to go ! ???
our strikers score the lions share of the goals !
toure can score also ! but he cant be relied upon !
Hleb had a job to do and he did a fucking Stirling job !
just read Paulinho’s above comments if you dont want to hear it from me !
he will be missed and his experience (like TH14 ) cannot be replaced for what we are selling them to barca for !!!!
its a fucking joke !
July 10, 2008 at 12:23 pm
If berto is going we are very skint in the middle of the park , so we def have to buy experienced DM.
July 10, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Fucking hell ArsenalKenya………… I started to read, but then decided to wait till it comes out in paper back………… jeez, when did you start typing that…. January???
July 10, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Arsenaldo… we still have Le Grove 2-6 and 8-16 available!
Paulinho… Hleb was a great player last season but in a midfield that can’t score goals, I think he was a bit of a luxury. You can’t have Flamini supporting Cesc, Hleb and the right midfielder.
Cesc will look good with anyone. Nasri looks like he’d slot in with the Hleb role, or maybe Rosicky can string more than 4 games together and shoulder some of the responsibility?
As I read it, Nasri was there to compliment the squad, not replace someone…
We need goal scoring midfielders and that is where I think we lost the Prem last year.
July 10, 2008 at 12:30 pm
knackers ive read all the comments, my info is based on the fact that kleb wants to go.
i agree he is brilliant, but now he’s on the move, ive also moved on! There are shitloads of blokes out there than can dribble, just give me a few beers and i can do the same! i think wenger signed kleb for a reason, he fits into our game beautifully, but now that he is want away, nasri is the bloke to do the dribbling! easy peasy!
July 10, 2008 at 12:32 pm
yes sorry pedro i disagree with the post ..
i agree with 99% of your posts but im all about the best team winning !
if chevski spend 100 million quid in a transfer season
then good luck to them ! And if we had what you said happen we would get wigan winning the EPL ? where do you want it to stop ?
spuds 1st
newcastle 2nd
stoke 3rd
and wigan 4th ?
man U relegated ?
Sorry gotta say i like the best players in the world playing in the EPL !
Clubs have heritage and history for a reason ! Because they have a fan base that doesnt change every 2 years …
to make the thing like the AFL , with salary caps stunts the game and the club ,global marketing , branding .. the history of being a success for years would be threatened ! This has been like this for as long as i can remember 1st the liverpool domination of the 70’s then the man U - arsenal shuffle upto now ..
to say our club should be salary capped like wigan or bolton is a step in the wrong direction for AFC !
yes we will stop the dominance of the Man U - chevski regime but you will also bring into line the wigans and west hams .. man city .. every fucker !
sorry bring on the capitalism .. and get with the program or slip out of the top 4 …
July 10, 2008 at 12:33 pm
I am of Algerian origins same as Nasri’s so i propably know more about him than most, he is not a Zidane and never will be.
He might develop and become a top class player, that could be a few years away i feel but still have him ahead of Hleb though ..
has got better vision, better final ball and can shoot from anywhere but still not the match winner aka Pires that we desperately need.