Groundhog Day...
Morning Grovers! Oh, and happy new year from Pedro and Geoff our first joined at the hip post, we feel we need to do this because our Emperor has lost his clothes and his boss has lost his marbles.
Peter Hill-Wood, our bumbling Chairman has been talking with the Daily Star again (You would think a club as big as Arsenal would use a paper more serious than a morning wank rag to leak stories), and the news is familiar in an almost Ground Hog Day kind of way,
‘I don’t think there is a lot of money anywhere’
‘One has got to look ahead – in the future there is probably not going to be much more money coming in’
‘We have got money, but I am not sure we are going to spend it. We’ve got to continue to run the business in a sensible way’
‘It may sound boring, but we are not going to rush out and spend fortunes on people who won’t help us achieve anything better than where we are at the moment’
‘Arsene has a lot of young, talented players at the club and I think he will probably give a chance to one or two of them’
Peter, we all understand global economics and the problems you are facing at the moment, but we haven’t seen anything other than prudent spending in the transfer market in the last 5 years. If you were so keen on being prudent, how come our wage bill topped £100million last year?
If we continue with this talented youngsters theme we will not qualify for the Champions league and people will not renew their boxes or season tickets. What you fail to understand is that we’re all fed up with the experiment, when will you all see it won’t work? What supporters want is to see new and exciting players bought, like the Bergkamp’s, the Pires’s, the Henry’s the Charlie Nicholas’s, that is what football is all about, when Beckham signed for Milan the crowds turned out, when Ronaldo signed for Madrid the same thing happened, fans want to see stars, not players like Alexandre Song, you need to wake up, because the new young crop of supporters won’t come to Arsenal because their dads do, they’ll go to teams that have ambition, the only ambition Arsenal seem to have is to pay off the mortgage double quick.
You aren’t being prudent, you’re being naive, if you were being prudent you wouldn’t pay the kids over the odds wages or charge us a fortune to get in, you will lose support, we don’t even play attractive football any more, the last three games have been like the old Arsenal of the early 80’s so wake up before you kill the Goose that lays the golden egg.
If you and Wenger don’t think there are players out there than can improve this team you both need to think hard about your positions, you are killing this club with your misguided rhetoric.
Act before we lose all that has been built up, because if you don’t, you’ll firstly lose the fans and secondly lose the decent players we do have because make no mistake, they want to win trophies as much as we do.
You have less than a month, don’t be a prat.
January 2, 2009 at 09:00
OOH2B
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12876_4731970,00.html
NOT WHAT WE WANT TO START THE DAY WITH..NO MONEY FOR TRANSFERS -
Ive been pumping this out for the last 18 months.
Maybe I’ve been well informed all along. Club are playing a very dangerous strategy here.
January 2, 2009 at 09:03
1st??
January 2, 2009 at 09:03
podium?
January 2, 2009 at 09:04
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 2, 2009 at 09:05
Bang on Geoff/Pedro
January 2, 2009 at 09:06
Morning Geoff/Pedro – good read, and like you I dont think PHW would speak to the Daily Star, its all pap crap to slander us – and let them get on with it i say,
AW and PHW – show us fans how much money the club has in the way of 2/3 players and start today.
Posted earlier that it seems that all the in house stuff is being sorted out first, Simpson, LJ and then hopefully Theo. At the same time though, honestly, I believe the new man(can never remember his name), stan and arsene are getting things moving for new players
January 2, 2009 at 09:07
Morning Grovers……..
Pedro….here’s a question….what if Wenger and Hill-Wood are saying this to throw clubs off our targets?
January 2, 2009 at 09:07
Rico, PHW always uses the Daily star… he used it yesterday as well.
January 2, 2009 at 09:08
Geoff/Pedro – is that a little crack i can see on Le Champ…. ? Do you reckon someone is trying to get in there …………
January 2, 2009 at 09:08
Morning Guys.
Once again your message is clear & our fears appear to have foundation.
WTF are he Board doing ?
Is Wenger 100 % party to this policy ? (I;m reliably told he is & won’t rock the boat )
If no proper recruits are brought in this month then it’s time for us to turn on these ditherers & they have taken our money with false promise.
January 2, 2009 at 09:08
Iceman, doubtful… we’ve been suspecting that theory falsely for about 8 years!
January 2, 2009 at 09:08
I don’t expect to do a City and have the club start mouthing off about paying over the odds for players because its the Arsenal spend bonanza but some of the statements coming out of the club are a bit worrying.
Whats wrong with saying “The manager makes the decisions as regards who comes in and who goes out, we naturally will support whatever he wants to do”.
But instead Peter’s got to get his name in the papers.
January 2, 2009 at 09:10
Pedro – I saw all that stuff, are you saying that the Star is really his mouth piece, or are they just picking/making stuff up… I thought he would be a Times Man
January 2, 2009 at 09:10
i cant see phw is using this to throw clubs off our targets to be honest. if we sign maybe arshavin , given etc it will make phw look like a stupid idiot. i’m gutted but i reckon we will get a p[layer in on loan and thats it.
January 2, 2009 at 09:11
DG, it could cost Arsenal double £30million if they lose out on 4th this year… I don’t know what the game is? Newcastle are going on another splurge… Everton will probably spend, as will Villa, City, Spurs and the Hammers… yet Arsenal, the most profitable team in the Europe… are skint…. AGAIN!
It’s such a load of old bollocks.
January 2, 2009 at 09:11
Then if it’s true we’re kinda screwed….
They’re taking too many things for granted….if we don’t finish top 4 and no CL revenue it’ll be too late….
January 2, 2009 at 09:12
THIS IS BULLSHIT FROM PHW!!!
Where are you Usmanov??????
Buy Lady Nina’s shares and takeover…!!!
I thought this would be a positive year for Arsenal where we win the trebble but some cunts can’t stop ruining our club.
January 2, 2009 at 09:12
Rico, it really is his paper of choice! I can’t understand it! Danny uses the times… the players use the sun… and PHW uses a paper that is one level off being the Daily Sport.
January 2, 2009 at 09:13
By not spending, we are saying to the rest of the Prem that winning the league is not our goal
January 2, 2009 at 09:13
I hope hill wood is being a twat and not speaking the truth.
January 2, 2009 at 09:13
QOS:
Problem is this policy of destroying a unique side & going for youth has been going on for 4 years.
I doubt PHW’s comments are a smokescreen for the opposite.
I was catergorically told 10 days ago. We will not spend unless we sell first as NO Money will be used for transfers.
January 2, 2009 at 09:13
I am going to try and stay positive, if he said we cant spend big, maybe he means 30M on one player… yes, i am a fool
January 2, 2009 at 09:14
gday all,
welcome back to me, been off the air waves a bit in recent times.
Happy new year to you all!
so i see that same old-same old is going on with the transfer bollocks.
i also see the arseshaving rumour is back again – is there even 0.01% truth in it, or status quo as per last time?
January 2, 2009 at 09:14
Pedro – I am amazed, maybe its he ‘fish n chips’ paper
January 2, 2009 at 09:15
he = his
January 2, 2009 at 09:15
HNY Evo
January 2, 2009 at 09:15
Pedro:
We are saying WE ARE NOW A CLUB WITHOUT AMBITION !
We all appreciate the club has to be well run, especially in these times. But no investment will be even worst for the club, as you correctly state.
January 2, 2009 at 09:18
Let’s hope it’s just media crap and not true……..
Clearly Wenger said we’re short……..if he now comes out and says we’re promoting from within people will be like wtf…………
January 2, 2009 at 09:18
what happened to all the talk of the war chest available to Wenger? Such a load of bullshit.
January 2, 2009 at 09:20
Morning Geoff / Pedro,
I hope this is just a smoke screen……….I fully agree with PHW! ther really is no need to rush out and buy players that will not improve the squad.
Therefore, just get out there and buy some fucking players that will improve our squad and replace the current players that have lowered the standard of our play!!!
Cheap is expensive…..not buying will be more costly in future.
January 2, 2009 at 09:20
so Nordveit is back, anyone know if he is fit?
Toure wants to go – and he is rated at $10 mil, surely not? he is 28 in march. not many years left for him i would have thought?
January 2, 2009 at 09:20
Cripes, hang on there, I was just scrolling down the comments quickly,….&….yes, evo, Happy new mate
January 2, 2009 at 09:22
Who is advising the board? From a PR perspective they are so inconsistent and dishonest… it really is no way to run a top four football club.
January 2, 2009 at 09:22
*year
January 2, 2009 at 09:22
If there is no spending we wont be in the top four…
January 2, 2009 at 09:23
Pedro
The Club appears to be tin on the ground for football people, thats for sure.
Can I make myself clear here. I follow Arsenal Football Club, not Arsenal The Business.
January 2, 2009 at 09:23
Well said Pedro!
Best blog out there – for being passionate about this club but also willing to be rational about how things are!
January 2, 2009 at 09:24
*thin
January 2, 2009 at 09:24
happy new year gnarely – you looking forward to the blockbuster kick off in march?
January 2, 2009 at 09:25
can’t wait, me old blue bagger mate
January 2, 2009 at 09:27
time for a takeover anyone???
January 2, 2009 at 09:27
Morning all and HNY again
Rico – you had an early start, hope you feel better soon xx
For those of you who want to believe there is money I’m sure Danny Fizman will be along later to say that Arsene can have whatever he wants to spend on whoever he wants to buy.
I would suggest the current board members are only interested in their investment and not at all worried about Arsenal FC competing for honours.
January 2, 2009 at 09:28
should be a good one – judd vs cousins!
January 2, 2009 at 09:29
Sorry I’d rather wait until I hear it from the horses mouth before commenting. We all know what the Daily Star is like its the mouthpiece of Spuds.
PHW has said so many times that there is money available so why all of a sudden the change – doesnt make sense to me.
January 2, 2009 at 09:30
Great Post Pedro/Geoff.
If this is true, it is a serious blow to OUR club. What a shit way to start the day, and it says reams about PHW that he spills his guts to the Star. What a joker.
How is it that only the management of our club cannot see what a mess we are in? This squad is not good enough.
Very soon we will see empty seats at THOF, because the football we are playing is boring rubbish. No excuses from AW for this …. It is not good enough.
January 2, 2009 at 09:30
morning peaches, i like that theory, and thanks
January 2, 2009 at 09:31
So if I read between the lines, I see no big signings coming our way, & its only Jan 2.
January 2, 2009 at 09:33
Hey you OZ boys. Stuffed at home by the ‘Boks, !Now you know how it feels !!
January 2, 2009 at 09:34
Kelsey – George Graham
Big Raddy – John Radford
GG9 – Charlie George
The ‘71 Double winners are starting to get some serious representation on here now
January 2, 2009 at 09:34
Rico, are you back to full fitness yet? Your chickens need you
January 2, 2009 at 09:36
I can live with being beaten by the Yarpies every 100 years, but not by the Poms ever. Losing to the MCC/England hurts I must admit.
January 2, 2009 at 09:36
Freddie, PHW always uses the Star… he used it yesterday as well.
January 2, 2009 at 09:37
Okay Kitch, when was your first comment then eh?
January 2, 2009 at 09:38
yeah ponting stuffed up his captaincy on day 3 of the last test. that was easily the worst captaincy ive seen from any countries captain in any test ive watched!
January 2, 2009 at 09:40
Well said GG.
I am reeling from the ineptitude of PHW. Money HAS to be found. I realise that we have players with potential, but they need guidance, Kolo and WG are patently unable to offer responsible adult inspiration. HOw can the coaching staff not see this ?
What a terrible message for PHW to send out. He is saying that we are a small club, and can no longer compete with the top 6. FFS Everton bought a £15m midfielder in summer, and are looking to spend. Even the Spuds are investing in their future.
Get the effing cheque book out…………..
January 2, 2009 at 09:41
Raddy I am now seriously considering not renewing my tickets, I’ve had enough of this shit.
January 2, 2009 at 09:42
The club are struggling for cash. They have been for a while (look at the current state of the squad)
Why is this a surprise to anyone?
January 2, 2009 at 09:43
Tony, look at the annual reports… we’re not struggling at all.
January 2, 2009 at 09:44
GG/Evo
It is sad when I rejoice in a Yarpies win. I don’t like them, especially their Captain – what a knob.
But England get stuffed wherever we play. The Ashes could be another humiliation for me, so I need to get a few blows in early…..
January 2, 2009 at 09:44
Raddy – No I am not yet, so annoying, today i have a balance problem as my ear is blocked, no driving for me, hooooorah, plenty of toddy’s…. Thanks, and you are right about the chicken, I am just cooking them some rice….
And that rice is for them to eat, not to accompany……
January 2, 2009 at 09:44
evo
ponting has a team of over the hill players like hayden, lee, & symonds, mingled with never will bes like Siddle, Clark & Hauritz.
January 2, 2009 at 09:46
I think we should be ready to protest if by the end of the window no-one has come in.
January 2, 2009 at 09:46
Morning everyone
what the f*ck is PHW saying talk about giving the football world a laugh he may as well sit outside on a saturday afternoon with the begging bowl out.
When you hear news like this the sharks circle at the end of the year Madrid,
& Barca will be in for Cesc at a cut price case & point with TH14.
Does our club mean anything to PHW & AW??? or are we faithful simply mushrooms kept in the dark & fed horse s*it?
January 2, 2009 at 09:48
I can’t cope with another rubbish transfer window, I really can’t!
January 2, 2009 at 09:48
Where are you Usmanov??????
Buy Lady Nina’s shares and takeover…!!!
If you believe the stories doing the rounds about Abramovic and his yacht. It is safe to assume that Usmanov has lost money too and will be more likely to unload rather than buy. £ 20 million for Arshavin is mainly agent and paper talk and unlikely to happen but I can see one or two extra players arrive but they are likely to be better than average journeymen ( Grimandi/ Garde ) types rather than established superstars.
January 2, 2009 at 09:49
rico – how many chickens have you got? I’ve never asked you about them – have you got a lovely garden for them to roam in? Are you in london?
January 2, 2009 at 09:50
I reiterate a point Geoff often makes “THE MOST EXPENSIVE TICKETS IN FOOTBALL”.
January 2, 2009 at 09:52
As a group of supporters what can we do to protest if this window brings no-one?
Morning QOS – fighting talk! HNY
January 2, 2009 at 09:52
Well said Geoff.
I can accept that the team has problems. I can accept (somewhat)the reasons for our plight. But what I cannot accept is that the club treat their fans like complete fools.
We are not naive, we have followed the team for decades, we KNOW that there are problems. And the management seem to think they can fob us off with the same trite nonsense over and over again.
There is a need for transparency. An acceptance of responsibility. These people guide OUR club, They are responsible to US, and yet they hide behind platitudes.
Especially Wenger. I am so disappointed with him this year. I always believed he was an honest man, but he has clearly lost the plot. Why can’t he tell us the truth. This team is struggling, it is not good enough. If he needs time to get back to winning ways – bloody say so !! The fans will back him, but they will not back his lame excuses. Most other managers would come out and say that a performance like Pompey was unacceptable and apologise to the paying fans.
What do we get …….. ? Nothing. Just a fat,old fool telling a disgrace of a paper that we have ‘no money to improve’. It is bollocks. Pure and simple bollocks.
January 2, 2009 at 09:52
Presumably Hill-Wood is Danny Fiszman’s mouthpiece and didn’t Danny tell us there was plenty of money. Enough for a single £30 million player if Arsene saw fit. Yes, there is a credit crunch but there is also something seriously wrong with the way the club is structured as we have, apparently, the 2nd largest wage bill after Chelsea. Even larger than Man Utd’s. Yet they continue to borrow to spend. Or so it seems. I wonder about our supposed fantastic reserve team. I am told they are all on serious wages but how many of them actually come through and make it into the 1st team on a regular basis? Very, very few. Cesc was bought in from abroad but who was the last home-grown player we produced who went all the way. It was Cashley wasn’t it? Perhaps its time to forget about our youth policy unless we have a football factory where the club earn money by selling them on. This blog is correct. Short-termism will get us nowhere. We simply have to improve this first team squad otherwise we will fall out of the top 4 and suffer the financial penalties and that, believe me, will be worse than where we are now as we will loose the decent players we have and will find it hard to attract the very players we are not in the market for now. This board makes no sense to me. They are forever harping on about how well they run the club and that they don’t need outside or foreign investment when it is blindingly obvious to everyone that some sort of financial injection is precisely what the club do need.
January 2, 2009 at 09:53
. . . . . . . but we have a lovely shiny stadium . . . . . . . .
January 2, 2009 at 09:53
Gnarley – agreed, however he couldnt have fought his way out of a wet paper bag on day 3 of that test. The saffas were there for the taking and he fucked up with shit field placings, poor bowling selections at times and he dropped a chance in slips that normal slips fielders gobble up for lunch
January 2, 2009 at 09:54
wake up before you kill the Goose that lays the golden egg !!!
January 2, 2009 at 09:54
January 2, 2009 at 09:54
Morning Grovers,
Read the words PHW said, not the headline.
He states we have money. 3rd Paragraph, starts “we have money”.
The 4th paragraph is what it is all about. he is stating the Wenger line, we wont buy crap. We wont buy for the sake of it. We wont buy players who are NOT as good as the players we have.
He also says “where we currently are”. So I take that to mean, the players we have available.
So, the way I read what he said, and not the headline is.
We have got money – GOOD.
We wont buy CRAP – GOOD – no more Songs
Would Arteta add to the squad? YES. He is better that what we have, so PHW is saying we can buy him.
Same for Arshavin, Hangerland or Upson or Green or Alonso.
The TRUTH is in the detail, dont fall for lazy journalism, read the detail, and make your own mind up.
January 2, 2009 at 09:54
Pedro/Geoff I am not so pessimistic.Bringinging in Upson,Given and Arshavin,and let go Bendtner,Song.and Gallas will bring the necessary balance to the Team
Besides we have Wilshir and Rambo nearly ready to be includded,with Eduardo and Walcot nearly recovered
Wish you and all the readeers a very Happy New Year
January 2, 2009 at 09:55
the point is why do they keep lying? one day they come out and say 30 million warchest shit..next day they are moaning about the financial crisis..
January 2, 2009 at 09:56
btw one positive story today..Jack has signed on professional terms..
http://youngguns.wordpress.com/2009/01/01/jack-wilshere-signs-first-professional-terms-with-arsenal/
January 2, 2009 at 09:57
HNY Peaches!
I think there are loads of things we can do to protest. I like the approach that TV Fan Clubs take when their favorite show in the States gets cancelled. When Quantumn Leap was killed off thousands of people sent in QL memorabilia into the network and when The Gilmore Girls was cancelled thousands sent in flowers to the network.
I’d favour sending in Old Arsenal shirts, either directly to the clubs press office or maybe to a specific media outlet. For example if hundreds or thousands of people sent in an old Arsenal shirt to TalkSport then for sure there would be lots of coverage, possibly even the opportunity for a spokesman (Geoff) to go and put the fans perspective.
January 2, 2009 at 09:57
Mark C .. I hafta hope u r rite !
January 2, 2009 at 09:58
evo
I must admit some of his decisions have been a bit
, but that team for the 2nd test was one of the worst to wear the baggy green since the Bobby Simpson era during World Series/Kerry paker cricket.
January 2, 2009 at 09:59
i cannot see the point of bringing in either upson or given? if you’re going to buy him you might as well have bought brad friedel and if you’ve comtemplated buying upson, just bring back sol campbell instead.
absolutely no point with either of those players….
January 2, 2009 at 09:59
Xeez.
Everyone is coming on here, and reading the headline the star came out with, and taking that as the TRUTH.
Read what PHW said.
We have money. We wont buy crap. He MAY use 1 or 2 young players. OK so that could be RAMBO and LJW.
January 2, 2009 at 10:00
Evo.GG
Your last posts are the only thing that cheers me today
January 2, 2009 at 10:00
Its simple: If we dont invest in quality, there is a huge chance of us slipping out of the top 4. The board wouldnt love this as there would be less money to sit and count all year long. Isnt it strange that we are looking at the bottom of the table for players? West Ham, Newcastle etc… Our decline is so depressing…:(
January 2, 2009 at 10:00
QoS
When the Gilmour Girls & Sex in the City were cancelled, men drank barrel loads of beer in pubs to celebrate
January 2, 2009 at 10:01
The early 80’s analogy is spot on. For Brady read Vieira and for Henry read Stapleton. Hill-Wood happily presided over what followed. Only the arrival of Dein in 1983 began to change things for the better, with Don Howe giving Rocastle his debut a year later and signing Steve Williams too. We strengthened every year and often during the year, until George G lost the plot in 2002. The one beacon of light at our club is Steve Bould, who I sincerely hope will be boss by 2011. I know the Usmanov thing is unsavoury, but this club needs to make its peace with David Dein asap – he knows football and he understands what Arsenal fans like to see on the pitch.
January 2, 2009 at 10:02
Please Arsenal board, stop this nonsense of saying that there is no money to buy. why? are u eating our money? stuppid business men.
Sorry Arsene Wenger, we have been harsh on you that you are stubborn you don’t want to buy players. now we can see that its not your fault.
The board is full of old men who have completely run out of modern ideas.
Please buy us two players in January; a tackling midfielder and a c lacy winger. failure to do that, step down and apologize.
January 2, 2009 at 10:02
What I am struggling to make sense of is the two ideas that are present. Pedro and Geoff advise us there is money. Seems like a sensible idea seeing as the accounts indicate we are healthy. PHW says we have no money. Could be true as the economy is poor and he is aware of the inside of the business. If we take the Geoff and the Pedro line then the question is why would they not spend. Do they really want us to fail and go out of the CL. Seems odd as the board are by and large real supporters and ones who do not take real money out of the club. Do they and Arsene really think the squad is good enough. Odd as injuries and previous statements indicate they think additions are needed. So this leaves playing the market. maybe they are after players but are not able to or willing to pay the asking price or wages. Possibly true in Arshavins case.
My money is on two signings. One will be in midfield. Possibly someone who can be creative and not an enforcer. The second will be and attcker and my money is still on Villa.
Have a great day
January 2, 2009 at 10:03
George G lost the plot in 1992, not 2002. These millennia are confusing me!
January 2, 2009 at 10:04
Mark, it is not jut today’s report (or non report) that pee’s me off. It is the attitude of the club to it’s fans.
We need leadership. Let PHW go on Arse,com and state what our objectives are. Not specifics. just a clear indication of where the Board see the future of the club., and how they are trying to achieve those aims.
We are Arsenal FFS. not some mickey mouse organisation. The club has some of the most loyal fans in the World and we deserve better…
January 2, 2009 at 10:05
great news about wilshire what a prospect he is now for the moan sorry guys but
WG is one of the highest paid players we have …. Get rid
Bendtner is simply not good enough…. See ya!
Eboue…. Ill come round and help you pack & im sure someone will drive you to wherever you want to go.
Diaby ….. dont panic west ham always take our cast offs
Song …. keep Diaby company
Rosicky ….. you being injured you may as well not be here.
Come on its not rocket science if this was the case in the summer why did we not accept the silly offers for ade…. oh yeah thats right there werent any.
January 2, 2009 at 10:06
Mark,
‘We have got money, but I am not sure we are going to spend it. We’ve got to continue to run the business in a sensible way’
Arsenal have been running with the same,’We’re not going to buy bad players’ line all year.
Who is asking the coach to buy worse players? Does he really think there aren’t better players than Song and Eboue on the market? He is deluded if that is the case.
January 2, 2009 at 10:06
Raddy – The Ashes will be won by the hosts this year, all the hype will be about Warnie (got my spelling right george) and England will come good just at the right time
peaches – just the two chicken, Lea and Perrin, the later is fondly know better as Reggie though – we dont have a huge garden, but quite a long good size one so we have had a fence put up two thirds down and they have now trashed it!! One started laying a couple of weeks ago, it was so eggciting
The eggs taste so diffent, and being a non meat eater, they get used pretty quickly.
We are not in London, which is why i dont get to as many games as i would like as it takes a whole day up
January 2, 2009 at 10:06
this not a big suprise to me wenger has never spend more than 20 milllion at any one time and i dont think thats going to change especaily now there paying for the new stadium, however i still expect to bit of busness but he will not be spending taht mush i will most likely just buy 1-2 players thats not a big suprise to me
January 2, 2009 at 10:07
Stevus. I think the Dein point is more than valid. This board got rid of Dein because of some stupid in-fighting political bullshit. The outed him because he wanted Kroenke on board. In other word they put their own little spat above the good of the club. This is not good practice and it has cost us. The odd thing is that Kroenke is now a board member to ward off the attentions of Usmanov who they don’t like because he is a friend David Dein’s. DD was an operator and a mover in shaker in the world of football. Getting rid of him was a really, really silly decision and detrimental in the extreme to the club.
January 2, 2009 at 10:07
Nice posts, Stevus and Dave T.
January 2, 2009 at 10:10
I notice that a good many people have a dig @ George Graham for his boring style, etc. But 2 things stand out for me with him
1. It was he who broke the drought of 18 long years, paving the way for Wenger with his solid back 4; &
2. There is one song that Arsenal fans sang proudly when George Graham’s team lifted a European trophy. “One nil to The Arsenal” & no one looked sad to be singing it either.
Time is running out for Wenger to lift a cup for The Arsenal in Europe & afterall, that is the one thing Wenger really wants.
January 2, 2009 at 10:11
Agreed about Dein.
He had so much influence on the modernisation of the club. His guiding hand has been desperately missed.
January 2, 2009 at 10:11
Pedro,
By stating that he wants to run the business in a sensible way. Is providing Wenger a weak squad sensible?
Dont think so.
Is finishing outside the top 4 sensible?
Dont think so.
I agree he should use arse dot com, to provide consistent messages to the fans, but that is what club chairman do.
to me, he is messge is, dont get carried away, we are not going to buy loads of players.
January 2, 2009 at 10:11
Only because we women, let them GG!
January 2, 2009 at 10:12
any team news for tomorrow night?
no live footage for us here, will have to stream it on the net im affraid!
January 2, 2009 at 10:13
Stevus
Arsenal lost one game in ‘92 to win the League, won the F A & League Cups in ‘93, & Cup Winners Cup in ‘94(I think).
If GG lost the plot, then Arsena Wenger is well & truely in the cukoos nest.
January 2, 2009 at 10:13
Dave T.
How wrong can you be.
Check the quotes, PHW states we have money. You said he said we dont have money.
January 2, 2009 at 10:14
Well said GG.
Look at the success we had from 88 onwards… those weren’t the dark days… they were great times. I was raised on GG football and I loved it… winning cups regularly… getting to finals… grinding out wins… singing one nil to the Arsenal!
Superb!
That is why I hate reading about how Wenger made the club… he didn’t… he pushed us on and he introduced a mesmerising brand of football… but the board were planning a move away way before Wenger came on board. We were always going to move in a new direction regardless of Wenger. More money, more viewers etc…
January 2, 2009 at 10:14
I dont really see the point in going for Given 4 years ago would have been a great idea now im not so sure.
we want players in there 20s who are ready made for the first team now you have to question the ambition a manager who seams unfazed by us being in 5th position.
January 2, 2009 at 10:15
QoS
Yes it was a great feeling being let out for those big nights from she who must be obeyed
January 2, 2009 at 10:15
GG,
I went to almost every game of the GG era. Loved every minute of it. My first trip to Copenhagen was for the Parma Final – we sang 1-0 to the Arsenal for about 10 hours prior to the game, and 24 after ! But during that historic match we only had one shot on target !! We sure played some desperate football under GG
Give me Bertie Mee ………..
January 2, 2009 at 10:17
Mark, to me he is saying Arsenal are not going to spend because we have good kids… and they are worried about revenue streams in the future.
Do you really think Arsene is telling PHW he will finish outside the top 4 with the current squad? Don’t think so.
Do you think PHW would ever question Arsene Wenger? Don’t think so.
January 2, 2009 at 10:17
I’m off out now… catch you all later!
January 2, 2009 at 10:17
we lost 1 game in 91, and not 92 GG
We won the cup double in 93 under GG
94 we would the Cup Winners Cup, and lost in the final in 95.
January 2, 2009 at 10:18
Gnarley in 91 when we won the league I believe we only conceded 17 goals as well.
January 2, 2009 at 10:19
GG and Pedro – re the George Graham reign, we weren’t the most expensive team to watch then, at Highbury, standing on the North Bank.
January 2, 2009 at 10:19
Raddy…. for me Rioch not for the football but for the transfer market magic …. Bergkamp & Platt! let Rioch have the purse strings could end up with Kaka & Messi LOL
January 2, 2009 at 10:19
Raddy I was there that game and lost my voice the next day, the planes were all delayed and we didn’t fly back until about 4 am, boy was I hammered, mind you I was hammered before the game started!
January 2, 2009 at 10:20
Yes, Hill-Wood says “We have money”, but the whole tone of the quotes are ridiculously negative and downbeat and not what a man in his position should be doing at all. He should be driving the club forward at every opportunity but he is now a portly Port-sodden apologist for the board’s general incompetence over the past few years. I too have money. I have £2.80.
January 2, 2009 at 10:20
I want to say afew things,that i am shure that will upset most of you,but i am using these very good site,in order to take out the pain and frustration(with my doggy english,,,sorry).
may be some of you know my idias,and i am shure- that some of you where very upset because my opinions in the last 4 years looked like going against our beloved team.
Unfortchenatlly i was right,as i said 4 years ago-after our great “non loosing year”-that because of wanger’s ego,and the bed people in the board(mainlly Mr’ Hilewood),those non sportive reasons,,,are DESTROYING our great club!!!!!
Some of you atteck me,but at that time i ,could understand you,because it looked very odd,4 years ago.
Our team is in avery bed state(in the arsenal standarts-that i must onestlly say some of these high standarts layed down by wanger himself!!).
And today Mr’ Hilwood is saying that “wanger has a tight budget??!!”,i must say-from a point of view of a fan(a former footboller)it sound like-”a sportive CRIME”!!!!
AND TO JUSTIFY THE ABOVE -i am going to give you fallow gunners astatment(that again will upset you)-our club,,,mainlly Hilwood and the board,must get a”SHOCKING THERAPPY”,and to folfil that therapy-i can onestlly say,that i wish from my bottom of my hurt(avery painfull one)that arsenal will FAIL these season to quolify to the champions leage,and maybe it will be a wake up call,for Hilwood(he only understan the “money language”,Wanger,and our selvs-the arsenal fans!!!!
I know that in England to criticise your football team,is like a betrayel,but you must understand the people who run OUR club,care about,there ego,and the money!!!!!
If you looke at the money that we gained in the last few years(including the ‘MORGAGE” for the new stadium)WE DO HAVE MONY,,,,ALOT OF MONEY!!
I said these 2 years ago and 6 months our last exacative said the same thing(and he was,,saked by the board)that the extra ravenews from the new stadium.exceed enormaslly, the yearlly payments for the stadium morgage.
And you need to remember that even during the Hibghry days,our ravenws where in top 10 clubs in the world,,,,,,,,,and Hilwood is saying,that we have a tight budget!!!!!!!!
IF YOU CARE ABOUT OUR CLUB-PLEASE RAISE YOUR VOICE,AND FIGHT FOR THE FUTURE OF THE ARSENAL,HILWWOD IS NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
January 2, 2009 at 10:23
I think its all spin and David Villa is on his way to THOF
January 2, 2009 at 10:23
Dein at the moment is a non runner I’m afraid and now we have Gazidis to do the negotiations. What we don’t know is whether he will be led by members of the board and who is doing the leading. Arsenal have a mortgage which currently is manageable and by not spending too much are improving the balance of debt against assets. In whose interest is it ? should someone wish to be realising their stock in the near future to have a healthy cash situation with low repayments on debts.
January 2, 2009 at 10:24
Raddy
Bertie Mee sold Charlie George to Derby so I don’t have a great liking for him.
January 2, 2009 at 10:24
read this article.
All clubs are talking shite regarding bringing in players.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7805852.stm
January 2, 2009 at 10:24
Great stuff Lou
January 2, 2009 at 10:25
http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/320134000?-19387
January 2, 2009 at 10:25
Geoff
17 goals in 20 games
. & only lost that one game 2-1 @ Chelsea.
January 2, 2009 at 10:26
I was so sad on that day GG.
One of terrible days. Like when I heard about Brady, and the horrible shock of TH14’s departure.
January 2, 2009 at 10:27
And Petit/Overmars
January 2, 2009 at 10:28
Pires
January 2, 2009 at 10:29
BR sad because Charlie was cast off, or sad because of the loss to chelsea?
January 2, 2009 at 10:29
Geoff,
I did the same !! The trip home was one of stupor. I was so exhausted mentally and emotionally. It was a tortuous match – seemed to last 4 hours.
What a great day, and a wonderful memory of the George Graham era.
January 2, 2009 at 10:31
Israeli, well said, it’s not a betrayal to criticise your team, it’s a service!
Gnarley I was putting a roof on my shed and had the radio on that day, it was snowing and someone I never heard of scored against us at the Bridge, Stuart I think?
January 2, 2009 at 10:32
good post,it covers everything,not much more to add,except i believe every word phw is saying.
we will never pay 20million for a player,we cant compete with this squad,and worst of all we will quickly become at best a mid table team.
we are being taken for a ride and most probably the compensation of not qualyfing for next year’s c.l. will be offset by selling fabregas.
wengers judgement recently of buying mercenaries like gallas,adebayor and diarra would never have happened if dein was still at the club.
what a sad state of affairs to start the new year when only a year ago we were top of the league.
January 2, 2009 at 10:33
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger:
“Although we are not close to signing anyone at the moment, if we do buy I think what we need is maybe someone with a bit of experience. I need a creative midfielder and eventually another midfielder, because we are short.
“We already have many young players so, if we buy, it will be somebody who is ready to play straight away. A loan deal could also be a possibility.
“What we might need is someone who can create a little spark.”
January 2, 2009 at 10:33
Speak of the devil…..its George Graham, the avatar
January 2, 2009 at 10:34
It was a dark day, but Charlie had been rubbish for some time by then. The booze and the media attention got him.
A great shame that the club didn’t nurture him the way they are with Theo. Had they done so, CG would have been one of the true greats. Lazy bastard though……..
Not like BR
January 2, 2009 at 10:35
A little spark? That could be Guy Fawkes
January 2, 2009 at 10:35
Israeli, hope you and your family are safe.
January 2, 2009 at 10:35
I loved him, one of us Raddy!
I’ll be back in an hour.
January 2, 2009 at 10:36
Morning Pedro / Geoff – a great post that reflects all of our feelings and dashed hopes.
I’m out for most of the day but would like to offer this debating point. Can we organise some form of protest (on-line petiton maybe) that we can deliver to the board so they can understand the size of the possible revolt?
January 2, 2009 at 10:37
mmmmmm??? booze & media attention. So thats who George Best modeled himself on later in his career, Charlie
January 2, 2009 at 10:37
Morning Kelsey. I read about the temp in Spain …. it was Minus 10 here last night !! Not much better today and a wind coming from Siberia, …. it is brass monkeys !
January 2, 2009 at 10:37
Hill wood should keep his mouth shut. Does he ever say anything good? Hasn’t he heard of spin like Wenger. At least he lies to make us feel good (in the short term)
January 2, 2009 at 10:37
PROTEST!!!
Everybody bring a banner to the next homegame!!
have your say about the board, who only care about their own buisness!
they are not arsenalfans! they are big moneyfans , sitting on their diamond chairs far from the real fans!! Have your say!!!
January 2, 2009 at 10:38
All of the talk re George Graham comes back to a point I made after Pompey.
I dont care how we win, I just want the 3 points.
I am not bothered at the moment for the pass and move football, I want results.
Once the team is back, and playing with confidence, then we can go back to sexy football, but we need to learn how to win ugly, and that is what Wenger should be focusing on now.
January 2, 2009 at 10:38
PHW is a knob and I really cant understand how this prat is still chairman, when decent board members have been sacked. He doesnt even own many shares, so it really doesnt make sense.
January 2, 2009 at 10:39
Actually we’re a laughing stock. Look how made up all the pundits are by saying “the big 3″ CUNTS all of them
January 2, 2009 at 10:40
gnarley hi mate.
i dont quite agree with you there raddy about charlie george.he had a comparitively short spell at highbury and there was a clash of personalities between him and bertie mee(you couldn’t get two more different people from totally different backgrounds)he was only 23 when he went to derby,shame
oh i wish we had a local boy again,who stood on the north bank,a complete idol,maybe for the time a bit of a rebel,but wasn’t that part of his fascination.his winning goal in the double year,in the cup final will always be one of my foundest memories.
January 2, 2009 at 10:40
Mark C
I agree. The semi against Villareal & ‘05 F A Cup were drab affairs football wise but wow what great results
January 2, 2009 at 10:42
What makes you think that is the entire interview…. It is not uncommon for papers to just print what makes more of a story and not the rest of the interview.
He is basically just saying exactly what AW has said.
i.e.
‘It may sound boring, but we are not going to rush out and spend fortunes on people who won’t help us achieve anything better than where we are at the moment’
We will spend if can buy anyone who will make a difference, but won’t buy someone just to cover Cesc/Theo injury etc.
I wouldn’t expect Alonso, missed chance to sign him before season and no way Liverpool would sell him now they would be mad.
I think (with the exception of Man City) there won’t be many big money moves this window (aside from City or those with lots of money from selling a player to City!)
Even Chelsea are selling before buying and that says allot about the climate!
January 2, 2009 at 10:42
atleast we have to commend PHW for coming out with the truth, rather than beating about the bush
January 2, 2009 at 10:43
kelsey
Big Raddy thinks that Charlie took all the accolades, while John Radford did all the graft. But it was George to Radford to George for that ‘71 scorcher.
January 2, 2009 at 10:43
something is wrong with the RSS feed.
earlier i used to get the full article but now i am able to see only first few lines.
Can you guys fix this?
thanks
January 2, 2009 at 10:45
Beating around the bush? If I was face to face with PHW he’d get the bush treatment. A size 12 doc martin aimed straight @ his scone.
January 2, 2009 at 10:46
there would be a queue behind you gg9
January 2, 2009 at 10:46
The pundits are quite happy to discount Arsenal as a big team but for the last 10 years+ they have included liverpool as a big club even though they have not won the league since it was the old first division.-double standards I think.
January 2, 2009 at 10:46
you younger guys cant imagine how it felt to win something in 71 and the fairs cup the year earlier when we had won fuck all for 17 years,a lot of the time in the shadow of the spurs.you have to have been there to witness it.last league game at spurs to win the league,50000 locked out,it was magic,long live ray kennedy
January 2, 2009 at 10:47
Morning all,
I’m not so sure about that story, even if true could it not be a ploy to reduce overinflated prices???
January 2, 2009 at 10:47
OK all, happy PHW Day/Night. I’m off. See you for the Plymouth game. Over & outski for now
January 2, 2009 at 10:47
Kelsey,It is true that Charlie left before he had time to flourish. But he was struggling in the team, and had to go. His career at Derby showed that he was unable to fulfill his potential. Of course, this is a purely personal assesment, and is seen through the rose -tinted glasses of happy memories.
Shame, he was so great in his first two seasons.
That team had a few “showboaters”, what with George “Stroller”Graham, CG and Jon Sammels.. All brilliant players. I loved Sammels – until the boo-boys got him, and destroyed his confidence.
Glory Days…………….
January 2, 2009 at 10:49
i dont think we should get silly about phw’s comments, he hasn’t said anything we didn’t already know, and thhe could be interpreted in different ways. depends when he says we have money but dont think we’ll spend it whether he means we won’t spend it all, and how much money we have.
we know wenger is just after two players, an attackind mid and one other mid, and anyone talking about signings forwards or keepers was always in fantasyland. we were never gonna spend 60 million, but could still spend 15 mil and be absolutely fine
January 2, 2009 at 10:50
A – Alonso and Arteta for me, are the signings Wenger should make.
If he has to sell a defender, Hangerland should come in.
All 3 players with Prem experience.
January 2, 2009 at 10:51
raddy we are just a couple of old fuckers trying to cheer ourselves up with all the shite going on at the moment.
January 2, 2009 at 10:53
Morning and happy new year to all .
Geoff ,
one thing that you may wish to include / discuss in an article at some point if
I may suggest is the discrace that is the club charging £20 more for so called
“GRADE A GAMES ” like erm……………….. West Ham !!!
A £40 ticket becomes £60 scheme members like myself .
This is a blatant shafting of which I refuse to subscribe to .
Your own club ripping you off . This really bugs me this morning when you here these comments !
January 2, 2009 at 10:55
In fact ,its a absolute fucking discrace
Am I the only one who is bothered by this ??
January 2, 2009 at 10:56
Yeah I agree a defender will have to come in if kolo goes, but i’d be very surprised to see him go in jan, i think he’ll stay until the summer. I think if he goes, and city rumours are true a straight swap with richards would be a possibility
However i don’t agree with alonso, nor arteta. Although alonso is quality, he isn’t the player we need to make a different and solidify the midfield, unless you rate song very highly?? Even then alonso would cost more than he’s worth. I’d much rather we snapped up senna if he’s available, or some random big powerhouse from the french league.
Arteta would be ok, though in the prem i’d much prefer elano, or to a lesser extent kranjcar. Arteta is quality at everton, and would be ok at us but his greatest talents are his crossing, and we don’t rely on crossing really.
January 2, 2009 at 10:58
Hi Jules,
Was good to see you all on New Years Eve, hope the house wasn’t too trashed?
January 2, 2009 at 10:59
I didn’t know that jules, that worries me quite a bit actually, maybe the credit crunch has affected us more than we thought for the club to feel it needs to change games to category a
January 2, 2009 at 10:59
I don’t mind being an old fucker Kelsey, the older the instrument, the sweeter the tone…….
We have no chance of getting Alonso. Arteta is a possible as Everton are blessed in midfield. Fellaini looks though he could be a really good player.
January 2, 2009 at 11:00
Hi TJ
Cheers mate and thanks for coming , hope you guys had a good time .
House is almost back to normal !!
Happy new year to you both . Fucking hill wood !!!
January 2, 2009 at 11:03
A
its been like it for a while ,, grade A games like spuds , manure , liverpool etc
and erm west ham ! grade a my arse ! go from 40 and 43 pounds to 60 and 66
for excactly the same seat !
its a joke , I refuse to pay it .
January 2, 2009 at 11:03
yeah i agree raddy about fellaini, but he’s just signed so we couldn’t get him and he’d cost a bomb too!
January 2, 2009 at 11:03
A .
We don’t rely on crossing because we are so piss poor at it. Sagna and Clichy get one in 10, if that. At least Nasri and RvP can cross a ball. If we play with Nik B and Ade, we can be formidable in the air, but they never get the service.
January 2, 2009 at 11:03
Guys, as you know I am usually the first to jump on a bad headline, and maybe whilst I think i am realistic, some think I am negative.
Which is why it is maybe strange that today I agree with A and Mark C
I have read through the story in the Star and just feel they are sensationalising a few quotes from PHW. i dont even think those quotes were given direct to the Star as the first few lines read that Wenger is becoming increasingly frustrated by lack of transfer funds a the club. This is hardly the kind of inclusion that you would expect if this was a PHW exclusive.
I also agree that he is not saying anything we dont know. He says there is cash and also repeats the obvious statement that they will only buy players that will improve the squad. So alas Sunday League players across the Country can forget their Arsenal dream as they are on a par with Alexander Song and not better than him (Well maybe some are)
It is s difficult position though, we have no option but to give them Jan to sort it out. I personally think that all business should be done by Bolton, but hey I dont expect that to be the case.
However if they dont buy then the decline will potentially go into freefall. They will have run out of excuses and opportunites to get it right, the gaps that were oh so evident at the Pompey game will become a regular occurance, We will struggle to get 4th (and dont forget Everton in that battle), we will continue to play crap football (And it has been crap), People will not renew (I did not last summer, but that number will spiral this summer), Corporate and Sponsorship money will drop (Nike and the Emirates signed when we had the Likes of Henry at the club, the current crop are hardly a draw for new fans or sponsorship, we will end up with a dodgy .com sponsor).
I really hope that they fully grasp the gravity of the situation if they fail to strengthen with class.
January 2, 2009 at 11:05
The good news if we swapped Toure and Richards is that we could also sell Eboue because Richards would be our No2 right back for sure.
January 2, 2009 at 11:05
oh ok jules, i’ve never noticed that.
Just thought, i’ve never seen us play west ham at home, hadn’t thought about it before, even at highbury, weird! Seen us at upton park a couple of times, and against every other prem club bar hull and stoke, but never west ham
January 2, 2009 at 11:05
Jules, I never knew that the difference was so marked. It is disgraceful.
How many Grade A games are there ? I guess Spuds, Bindippers, MU, Chavs, … that’s it.
January 2, 2009 at 11:06
I think a protest to sum up the depth of feeling is overdue to be honest.
I read the quotes and if nothing else it appears like PHW does not understand how passionately we want new signings.
January 2, 2009 at 11:08
no we couldn’t qos, we need more bodies in the squad, not less! We can’t afford to sell anyone, it’d be ridiculously stupid to have even less players than we already have! And i’d much rather eboue right back than richards too!
i don’t think we have the players to rely on crossing paddy, just because when you cross, invariably you lose the ball, and the only way we’re capable of not conceding is by keeping possession as much as possible, we aren’t anywhere near solid enough to be a crossy team!
pat i don’t think there’s a chance of us losing 4th spot, we’ll be there very comfortably come the end of the season even if we don’t sign anyone
January 2, 2009 at 11:08
Jules that is a disgrace, all you can do is vote with your feet buddy and find an internet feed until the club starts being managed properly
Personally I wonder if the board know too well that takeover is inevitible at some point so are paying off the debt as soon as possible to maximise the profit.
every day this goes on for is another day where I lean more and more towards changing ownership of the club. I dont want a Russian but would be open to investment similar to the one at Man City. There money is pretty safe so why not at least look at it.
January 2, 2009 at 11:09
QOS.
I have had time to calm down now, and agree with A, and Mark C. This is a regurgitated piece of lazy journalism (at least I hope so).
The Star FFS !!
January 2, 2009 at 11:11
Hi Big Raddy and happy new to you
I think it is those four and west ham . so 5 I guess . Ok not many but it is discracefull .
I am suprised not many of us know about this . Geoff maybe you could debate this one
please . Im not sure if it is just scheme members it affects , I guess it is but that is still alot of people getting ripped off.
January 2, 2009 at 11:11
So Inler is a no
Speaking to Todayszaman.com Inler claims he is happy at Udinese and has no interest in becoming a Gooner.
‘I have a three-year deal with Udinese. I am not interested in transfer issues. My manager deals with that. My target now is the success of Udinese. I am happy with the team and am not interested in Arsenal. I run out onto the field and play; I don`t care about the rest.’
January 2, 2009 at 11:13
So do you get a refund when the players put in little effort as well Jules?
I dont think I would give one of our performances a Grade A this year, so seems really tight to bill for it.
January 2, 2009 at 11:13
I meant sell Eboue and replace him with a proper right midfielder rather than a makeshift one A.
January 2, 2009 at 11:14
pat you wouldn’t consider beating utd or chelsea, or the way the team came together with ten men against liverpool grade a?!
January 2, 2009 at 11:14
Cheers Pat
I dont book those games mate , discovering you have been ripped isnt a good feeling so why volunteer it !??
January 2, 2009 at 11:15
I’d like to keep him as right back sub qos, and play him against teams who are more defensive against us rather than sagna
January 2, 2009 at 11:15
do you fuck Pat !! lol
January 2, 2009 at 11:17
On the basis that he’s better going forward than Sagna A?
January 2, 2009 at 11:18
A
yeh , they only play for more money now !
£20 more to watch song , eboue and bentner , great value !!!!!
January 2, 2009 at 11:20
yeah qos, much better. Sagna and clichy are fantastic defenders, but as a team and with our style of play we’d definitely lost something with how poor they are going forward, although clichy can dribble. Cole and silvinho, and lauren and eboue were the players who gave us width when our attacking mids drifted in, sagna and clichy try but when it comes to crossing or passing, or just generally kicking a ball in the opposition half they’re completely retarded
January 2, 2009 at 11:22
Jules,
I understand you’ve got R’s tickets for Saturday, are you going to Bolton as well as would be good to go for a few beers?
& yeah, the pricing is a disgrace as not everyone is a TV star like you! You’ll be in a box with a prawn sandwich before you know it mate!!
January 2, 2009 at 11:28
tj
yes going to the Bolton game so meet for a beer but you have to speak to my agent
to arrange the meeting .
January 2, 2009 at 11:29
TJ
are you going to the Bolton game ?
January 2, 2009 at 11:31
Personally no I dont A, I thought we were pretty lucky to win against Man Ure and Chavski and if anything we have played a lot better in those fixtures in recent years and lost.
I thought we were dreadful in the game against Liverpool, again lucky and only really got going once we were down to 10 men.
Just watch some season videos from 3-4 years ago (Even last year) and you will see that we have been playing really poor football this year. The results against Man Ure and Chavski were great the performance, skill and effort was definately not (Bar a couple of moments from individuals)
January 2, 2009 at 11:31
This seems more like the work of our new MD, it is more intelligent to say that you have no money when you are looking to buy some new players. What kind of idiot goes into the car dealership saying they have all this money and they want to spend it now, you end up paying the list price then.
We say we are broke because for the first time we genuinely need to buy players, I was not depressed by this news at all, I took it to mean that we are actually going to get some people on board. Just that we want to pay credit crunch prices. Not Man City prices.
January 2, 2009 at 11:34
Jules, yep! Twelve Pins?
January 2, 2009 at 11:35
Jules
£20 more to watch song , eboue and bentner , great value !!!!!
You are right, it is not acceptable. It is like paying Oasis level money for a concert to watch those dodgy singers that dont get passed rehearsals.
I honestly think Corporate and Club level will take a battering in the Summer if things dont improve. They got conned last summer when Wenger made the Reassuring signings in 2-3 weeks comment conveniently timed with renewals, just as they did with his Super Super class comment the year before. They wont get bitten again and Arsenal despite how passion we have and how much we love the club is not good value for money at the moment.
January 2, 2009 at 11:36
SHould read
It is like paying Oasis level money for a concert to watch those dodgy singers that dont get passed rehearsals in the X-Factor
January 2, 2009 at 11:37
Excactly Pat .
January 2, 2009 at 11:37
Talk about ruin your day. Thanks PHW!!!!
If this is true then i couldnt blame the likes of Wenger, Fabregas, Clichy if they wanted to leave.
We are so tight with money. The reason we lost Flamini was because we wouldnt pay him an extra 5k a week.
Good business that was. Now we have to spend 10 million plus to replace him and probably pay him 65k a week!!
January 2, 2009 at 11:38
yep TJ
Twelve Pins , Dennis and Chris go there too so will be good !
January 2, 2009 at 11:40
jules,
this is common practice over here in spain.Malaga(our nearest la liga club) are always mid table or below.the capacity is 24000,and a season ticket is 400 euros for the best seat,however if you are not a season ticket holder and real madrid or barcelona come to twn the price is about 200 euros for each game and that is not black market price.
obviously,i am not making a comparison,but several people i know buy a season ticket and go to about 6/8 games a season.half the stadium is full of ex pats who have adopted malaga as their second team(god knows why)
January 2, 2009 at 11:41
Good post Pedro and Geoff. Happy new year to everyone. Keep up the good work during 2009 in telling it like it really is.
January 2, 2009 at 11:43
PROTEST!!!
Everybody bring a banner to the next homegame!!
have your say about the board, who only care about their own buisness!
they are not arsenalfans! they are big moneyfans , sitting on their diamond chairs far from the real fans!! Have your say!!!
January 2, 2009 at 11:51
Rice – you are a bit off the point.
The current board, care about the club and team.
Why would you have so much cash tied up in something, that gives you little in return?
January 2, 2009 at 11:51
Newcastle fan on Given:
“Andrew Burns (Newcastle United fan) says…
Having watched him throughout his eleven years as a season ticket holder, I’d be happy to take £10m and see Steve Harper between the sticks. He’s the best shot stopper in the Premiership but far from the best keeper. His main weakness is the fact he doesn’t command his six yard box – let alone the larger box!! Poor communicator (great at screaming at defenders when the ball is in the opporitions half), and his distribution is weak. My main concern about his potential move is the statement it makes about the clubs’ lack of ambition…who will want to come to SJP when our ‘best’ players want out? (Only those chasing £ notes…and we’ve had enough of them!!)”
Sounds like Almunia to me
January 2, 2009 at 11:53
Still tickets available for the bolton game. we’ll end up like the chavs. I paid £120 for 2 “grade A” tickets for the w ham game on new years day last year. I’d rather have watched it on tv. Shit atmosphere. As far as I know all knockout games in the cl are grade A.
January 2, 2009 at 12:00
Hey Hans Leeds Utd spent £97mil we’re saying spend £30mil.
Leeds fans didn’t pay what Arsenal fans do and as for someone else having my ticket, what do you know? That’s my point, no one can afford it, that’s the point of the post, read it next time, or get someone who understands English to.
Sorry folks, an AKB in moderation.
January 2, 2009 at 12:01
Jules – you make a good point about the pricing.
I was not aware that the gap was so great.
Does anyone have a list of the pricing for grades A and B for the different ranges of seats.
I presume the Club level ones are even more expensive !!!
A season ticket is 19 home league games, and 7 Cup games, FA and CL.
By purchasing a season ticket, the average price per game is normally reduced, compared to that of a standard match day price.
Supply and Demand I guess if there are 30,000 Red members going for 5 or 10 thousand seats per game.
Dont forget, the bigger teams, also get more away tickets, therefore there are less home tickets available.
January 2, 2009 at 12:02
Cheers Goonermichael .
those seats are normally £40 or £43 .
I just checked the ticket hub and Weat Ham game is £60 .50 and £ 65.50 !
Same seat for bolton is £43 .
What a joke . Cheers for the message Kelsey .
January 2, 2009 at 12:03
Geoff
what do you think of this “grade A” business ??
January 2, 2009 at 12:06
Marc C
I am a silver member so I guess it applies to red and silver members .
still alot of fans being ripped off !
January 2, 2009 at 12:06
Why are West Ham grade A but Fulham not? They are both London teams.
January 2, 2009 at 12:07
Roma is a grade A game
January 2, 2009 at 12:11
manure have signed tossic and another player that i cant spell!!!
January 2, 2009 at 12:13
hill-wood is really startin 2 piss me off now… 4 yrs since we won a trophy… 4 YEARS!
evry1 criticises wenger 4 not spendin but i think he wud if the fukin bord allowd him 2!!!
iv seen us linkd with arshavin and i think the deals done and hill-wood comes out with this comment…
2 yrs ago we had a deal for eto’o and the bord didn’t provide us with the fund.
If hill-wood carries on like this i dont think we’ll see wenger after 2011!
why the fuk must they get my hopes up by sayin “20m-30m available” and then as soon as we’re linkd 4 a player “no money is available”. this is a football club more than its a business and you thick shits don’t seem to get it. look at united they spend at least 30m a season… and what aren’t they 500m in debt… no1 givs a shit der in debt cos dey win trophys… arsenal need 2 win a trophy… iv been patient 4yrs but now i feel as if im going to explode after hearing his comments! :@
January 2, 2009 at 12:14
guys you’ll be pleased to know that Arsenal released their year end accoutns on the 13 December you can probably get them off the Arsenal web page. You’ll also be glad to know that they are now making profits without the sale fo players for the first time in 4 years. their match day income has now risen to £94m per annum, so even after the repayment of debt at £26m it’s larger than the income generated by highbury which was £44m. A couple of interesting points though their wage bill is now £101m per year which means it’s larger than United’s last posted wage bill and only a few million behind Chelsea and their debt has risen from £345m to £415m so they borrowed a further £70m in the year which I’m not sure what for, but I’ll investigate when I get a chance. This also means they have larger debts now than Liverpool.so there it is,make of it what you will.
January 2, 2009 at 12:19
How the fuck is our wage bill more than Man Ures.
When you look at the playing staff on both clubs books, it is beyond belief and to be only a few Million behind Chelsea.
How fucking much are we paying some of these average players.
Club needs sorting out,
January 2, 2009 at 12:20
How in the name of fuck is the Arsenal wage bill anywhere near these teams, what sort of clowns are in charge of paying shite like we got the same sort of money as the players at the winning clubs, the whole set up at Arsenal has gone past being a joke now, what the fuck is happening.
January 2, 2009 at 12:21
nice post patthegooner
January 2, 2009 at 12:25
Rico
other guy’s name is “Adem ljajic” have they completed the signing???
it was rumored that the deal had broken down only today media again said that they are going to sign them both…
January 2, 2009 at 12:25
Great start to the New Year.
I am SO pissed off!!
January 2, 2009 at 12:26
I imagine that it does not help that Kolo Toure is probably one of the highest paid players at the club and has been out of form for over a year. We are still paying him a weekly wage for his form of 2-3 years ago.
Based on his form and how much he costs, and if I knew we would buy a replacement I would take the money from Man City for him. Although I would say if Bridge is going for 12m then I would want at least the same for Toure.
January 2, 2009 at 12:27
Guys – calm down a bit here.
Arsenal is a PLC, they have to by law declare certain bits of Financial information.
Liverpool, Man U and Chelsea, are all privately held, and therefore the level of information they need to declare is not as great.
If Arsenal have just released their figures, and the other clubs have not, you are comparing 2008 – against 2007.
I would be very surprised, if we are like for like 2nd in terms of players wages.
January 2, 2009 at 12:28
I am actually quite pissed that we have not signed anyone yet.
That might sound a little harsh, but we have known for a long time that the players did not step up as hoped and we were already short anyway.
Players should have been identified and prelimary negotiations should have been held before the window opened. The players should be in London now and should be featuring in the Bolton game.
January 2, 2009 at 12:30
I guess the question is does that figure include wages for Diarra, Hleb, Flamini, Gilberto and Lehmann.
Fuck that just depressed me typing that, all that experience to be replaced by Nasri and Silvestre.
January 2, 2009 at 12:31
hey everyone, i’m really confused and dissapointed by these latest quotes by PHW.
But one thing streams to mind, if wenger really does not want to spend then why is it that he did bid for inler and alonso in the summer but couldnt get them due to offering too little money and inler choosing to stay at udinese.
It really shows that arsene does know that our squad is not good enough. And he does want to buy players.
so i dont believe the notion of him refusing to spend players and saying he could find anyone special is a big fat lie, he is still concerned on OVERprotecting his players.
and then we have the usual ‘ we were close to signing c.ronaldo,this player and that player …..’ so he does want to spend.
and what about those latest quotes from arsene himself —
The Gunners boss said: “We are not close to signing anyone at the moment.
I think what we need is maybe someone with a bit of experience.
“We already have many young players so, if we buy, it will be somebody who is ready to play straight away.
“We are not looking for any player, we want someone who can add to the team.”
Andrei Arshavin has been strongly linked with a move to the Emirates.
And while Wenger refuses to identify any potential targets, the Russian definitely fits the bill.
He added: “I don’t need to announce a name.
“When you do that there is 50 per cent less chance of making the signing.
“But I need a creative midfielder and eventually another midfielder because we are short.”
the last sentence says “i need a ….”
still this mix messages from the club is really bringing us fans down!
January 2, 2009 at 12:32
Jules my tickets are nearer £78 a pop but I know Arsenal have always operated this grading deal, if for instance you want a ticket for Liverpool and hospitality, you also have to take a Fulham and Bolton one too.
Everything Arsenal do is to take out the maximum from the fan, which is okay if they spend the money, Wenger thinks it’s okay for us to pay loads and him to spend none (except for on their wages), oh and we should be grateful.
That’s why I am fast going off him, he tries to act impartial but he’s as greedy as the rest of them, we the fan means nothing, if we did he would either have delivered, or reduced the prices, he’s done neither.
January 2, 2009 at 12:32
Franchise wrote good stuff a week or so ago that we have 39 mill profit from the sale of flats which is seperate from other stuff and free to use .
I still don,t see us spending much though ,
Pat , I think you will have to wait untill midnight on deadline day to be really dissapointed !! You know when you stay up watching sky sports news all night
to end up really fucked off !
January 2, 2009 at 12:33
And the other question is does that figure include wages for Song
Surely we dont pay him real money.
I am still convinced this is all part of a reality TV show where he has to fool the paying public that he is a Proffesional Footballer when he is actually a Knock off goods salesman on a Market Stall in Cameroon.
January 2, 2009 at 12:33
You know the more I think about it, the more I come to the conclusion that David Dein may have been right in his view of what Arsenal needed to do:
[1] Stay at Highbury and invest in the team
[2] Get foreign investment into the club
Taking each point in turn, I’m a big fan of the new stadium, I think it’s fantastic. However at what cost? We have a large mortgage and we promised that the increased revenue would go into the team. Well that seems to have happened, but not in the way we all expected. The seem to pay decidedly average players and reserves huge wages and refuse to buy in any real quality experienced players.
With regards to foreign investment, it all depends on who we get. Is the owner going to treat it as his plaything e,g, Mike Ashley/Man City Arab jokers or are they going to a real positive influence e.g. Randy Lerner. I reckon Kronke would have been another Lerner. So looks like Dein got it right again … as far as Usmanov is concerned well every one makes mistakes. However maybe Dein say the writing on the wall and wanted to offload at value. I wonder if Lady Nina will sell him her shares?
In conclusion, I think the current situation is a mess. Our football has suffered our reputation has suffered … who now fears to play us? Something needs to change and fast.
January 2, 2009 at 12:35
Have said that before Geoff
maybe it is the mis-management from above that has put him in this position but sometimes Wenger sounds like a CFO and not a Football Manager. He should not even be concerned with the finances at the club unless the board turn down a request for funds from him.
January 2, 2009 at 12:35
Mark C
you are correct that one can’t make an exact comparison,however if you look at the current value of our players(assets) against the other top 3 it really is not comprehensible.I think sol was on 90k a week but apart from ade getting a wage rise to 80k what in god’s name are we paying the rest of a fairly average young inexperienced squad.
January 2, 2009 at 12:35
You would think so Pat! Welcome Citygooner.
January 2, 2009 at 12:35
hi guys how can Manc who are not neccessarily in need to strengthen their squad sign players b4 us????? I was expecting a transfer statement 3 players by the 2nd of Jan.
January 2, 2009 at 12:36
lol Pat
Im sure Song sold me a dodgy watch on a beach somewhere .
January 2, 2009 at 12:37
rookie – both have been confirmed, tossic is going straight to manure, the other is staying with his club on loan for the rest of the season…
January 2, 2009 at 12:38
Guys we are attracting the likes of Nordveit, Merida etc with pro contracts worth a few thousands a week. It all adds up. Merida has been on our books for 3 years and he is still like two years from making an impact at the club.
January 2, 2009 at 12:38
i must say i have my dought about this story because the arsenal board are very private about such matters plus the fact wenger had at least 20 million spend the summer and he he only spend 12 million all of which was paid back by selling hleb, i dont think wenger is a big fan of doing alot of business jan beacuse the finflated prices.but i realy dont think think wenger will going crazy i think he will get central mid and try to get defender who can play df position but someone with abit more experience and i would not rule out bringing in players on loan and doing his business in the summer
January 2, 2009 at 12:39
Hi Franchise
was I right in mentioning the 39 mill from flat sales ?
Was it you who told us about that ?
Just want to check it was you so my post is ok .
January 2, 2009 at 12:40
Also Franchise to answer your question …
unlike manure don,t fuck about !
January 2, 2009 at 12:40
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm; Manure have bought 2 (!!!!) players already from Partizan Belgrade (Tosic & Llajic) and looking to add young Delph from Leeds (this after Fergie saying he would not buy anyone in the January window), and what are AFC doing??? PHW is stating very little money available, AFC have plenty young talent …… bla bla bla bla , I don’t know what to beleive anymore, I am (like Geoff) so totally despondent and beginning to question my dedication to a club that is in my blood and has been for a very very long time. Shay Given states he is ready to walk out on Newcastle and linked with Arsenal, Tottenham and Man City (??????) and yesterday Gooner Talk posted (via an Italian source) that Arshavin’s Agent has confirmed Arsenal deal (again???) so what are we supposed to beleive??? Don’t think I can handle another transfer window like the one during summer’08. I am off to Homebase to buy some new cushions for my sofas, well, what else is there to do then???
January 2, 2009 at 12:40
Sorry I meant
unlike us
January 2, 2009 at 12:41
No Jules it wasnt me
January 2, 2009 at 12:42
Appoligies Franchise
January 2, 2009 at 12:42
At least it looks like Senderos is coming back……………..it just gets worse!!!
January 2, 2009 at 12:44
Kelsey.
I have read the accounts just now.
The accounts are for the season just gone, so what happened in 2007 / 2008 season, when we were top for most of the season.
The 101 mill you have found is for ALL Employees, not just the players.
This includes just short of 400 employees of the club, 50 or so, are paid players.
Since the end of our latest Fiscal Year, we have let go Gilberto, Hleb, Flamini, Hoyte and so on.
We have 9 players out on loan. I believe a loan deal, means the other club pays half the players wages, so we are getting 9 players being paid for by other clubs or at least contributing.
All we really signed in the Summer was Ramsey, and Nasri, with Clichy, Sagna and Ade getting improved deals.
If you have got the actual players wages as a total, seperate to those of the other club’s employees, and you can do that for the other clubs, then you can compare, and come out with statements like we are the 2nd highest payer for players wages.
I think we are probably 3rd or 4th. a good 10 or 15% behind Chelsea.
January 2, 2009 at 12:46
the thing i cant stand is the lies. Why so much propaganda from a fooball club? this is not the cold war FFS
January 2, 2009 at 12:48
Almunia
Sagna Toure Djourou Clichy
Eboue Denilson Song Nasri
Ade Van Persie
Imagine Nasri and Van Persie get injured!!
January 2, 2009 at 12:49
Wenger bought Theo and Ade in one January transfer window and if I’m not mistaken Reyes in another.
When he bought Theo and Ade there was a third but I can’t remember who.
January 2, 2009 at 12:49
Jules – you are correct to say we have received 39 mill for the completion of 90 or so flats.
We also have 30 mill in deposits for the other flats that have exchanged.
Further to that, the accounts state we have completed on all of our other JV’s so it has been stated that we had to build 7000 units, to get the Emirates. Well we went into partnership with building contractors, and the 6300 other units we had to build, have all completed.
Lets hope the credit crunch, means when a player is looking at a new deal, the pay rise is not as steep as it once would have been.
January 2, 2009 at 12:49
geoff
diaby
January 2, 2009 at 12:50
we are 3rd in wage bills in the prem. i bet that about 70% of the £107mill is for the players and coaching staff. probably more
January 2, 2009 at 12:50
Geoff – it was Diaby.
He did it all on the same day.
A Friday if I remember correctly.
January 2, 2009 at 12:53
Man’ure have acted quickly in the transfer market I see. Shame we can’t do likewise!
When was the last time you honesty got excited about going to see a new signing, Reyes maybe??
January 2, 2009 at 12:53
Hi Mark C
Sorry , It was your good self who informed us . Lets hope we use it !
January 2, 2009 at 12:55
the squad is very small but i dont club are going bust but because they are paying off for the new staium i dont think they have that many funds and that large reason why wenger is going on side pf youth but wenger is not the type to make excuses and he tends to keep such things in private but because the sqaud is stretched he will get 1-2 experienced players evon if its on loan
January 2, 2009 at 12:55
It has to be a smokescrene. A year a go, or so there where reports that AFC was the richest club at one point. This statement came out after the stadium was built and since, all we did is get Remsey and Nasri. What is really going on though?
I’m disgusted about the fact that Wenger didn’t enter this transfermarket like a wild dog ready to start biding wars everywere. But what is really going on is that R. Madrid is doing alot of noise and getting some really talented players of the likes of Hunterlaar and even having the odasity to ask for people like Ribery, Cesc and even Wenger! What is AFC doing, apart from staying in a corner as quiet as a mouse. I’d rether they make noise and call for unaffordable targets instead of being a blimp on peoples radar..
January 2, 2009 at 12:55
Hi everyone!
Mark C did you get your shirt and hat I posted monday? Just so I know it arrived..
Hi Jules how are you?
January 2, 2009 at 12:56
Cheers for the reply Geoff
January 2, 2009 at 12:56
Mark C,
i was not trying to mislead anyone.the total wage bill is for all employees as you correctly said.i didn’t say it was for only the players.but nevertheless whichever way you look at it,it is extremely high cost running the club for little if any improvement on the pitch.
wenger’s net spend on ins and outs is 18million in 12 years. i will post the link.
January 2, 2009 at 12:57
Franchise, there is no propoganda,
it is just poor journalism.
The facts are there in the clubs accounts.
You just need to know how to read them to make sense of them.
I am sure we pay well, and I am sure we have cash to buy players.
I am not sure if Wenger has the bottle to sign a big player.
January 2, 2009 at 12:57
Hi Avenell
happy new year to you and your family .
January 2, 2009 at 12:57
Why does it run slow Jules? Lol
January 2, 2009 at 12:58
TJ
prepare to not get excited again mate !
January 2, 2009 at 12:58
Hi Avenell. Happy New Year.
I have not got it yet, I will let you know.
January 2, 2009 at 13:00
I would be surprised if 70% was of the wage bill was spent on the playing and coaching staff. My guess would be much smaller.
January 2, 2009 at 13:01
Jules,
I won’t but talking about spending money………………………. Did you know you can get a Green Check Shirt at Sainsbury’s for only £15 – bargain!
January 2, 2009 at 13:02
Kelsey,
Yup, you are right, you said wage bill, and then everyone else, started talking about PLAYERS wages.
The 101 mill, is for last season not this.
I believe it was the 3rd highest, we were top for 3/4 of the season, and we finished 3rd.
I would like to think we have reduced this for 2008/ 2009, or not increased it as much as Chelsea and Man U, due to the football we are now playing.
January 2, 2009 at 13:02
Thanks jules and mark C.. same to you.
Mark they should have arrived before the new year but the PO are busy I suppose. If you could just leave a message when/if they do.. If not I will contact you next week sometime..
January 2, 2009 at 13:03
If we really dont have any money for transfers, I guess Cesc is going in the summer.
Wenger might also retire early if Cesc goes.
January 2, 2009 at 13:03
London
I don,t know . I can never find it cos its always in the wrong fucking place ! lol
January 2, 2009 at 13:03
everything will be ok!
arsene knows
January 2, 2009 at 13:03
Geoff, if you are still on, awesome post on Kolo a few days back! I was off and read it only today. Absolutely awesome!
January 2, 2009 at 13:04
Damn TJ
You ve seen it !?
January 2, 2009 at 13:06
my stab in the dark would be 50 players out of a staff of 400.
So that is about 12 or 13% in head count.
if the remaining 350 employee’s total cost is 30k a head, which includes, wages, NI and pensions, then that is about 10 mill.
So the actual wage cost for the players would be around 90 mill.
January 2, 2009 at 13:06
Mark C im not making my assumption on what was in the daily star. Its years and months of being told rubbish by the club thru the media. What are we to believe?
“Arsene can spend 30million on one player if he wants……”
“The money is there”
“Sign a few players in two weeks to reassure the fans”
“Im here with my chequebook”
“Im too busy to worry about players”
“I might surprise you”
“Internal solutions”
“There are no 20million players out there to improve the squad”
“No one is leaving”
“There isnt money”
January 2, 2009 at 13:07
Will Wenger hold a press conference today(since it’s a Friday) even though it’s not a league game we’re playing tomorrow?
January 2, 2009 at 13:08
Franchise
Do you remember the ” my cheque book is,nt big enough ” line .
I don,t know what to believe anymore .
January 2, 2009 at 13:08
Jules, yep & only just stopped laughing – very funny mate! I’m calling you Zoolander from now on!!!
January 2, 2009 at 13:09
PDT why do you think its less than 70%. The board get f*ck all apart from HillWood i think. What Ade earns in a week if its 80K would be a good yearly salary for mid-level admin staff.
January 2, 2009 at 13:12
Jules i remember that one…. too many mixed messages
January 2, 2009 at 13:13
maybe wenger does not have the money its difficult to say wenger is always ery coy about such amtters although the board have always said the money is availeble i think he has abit of money but wenger will never spend more than 12 million on 1 player
January 2, 2009 at 13:13
I’ve long suspected that all this talk of “the wage bill” included the entire staff of a football club. If that’s the case, then obviously a London club with a big stadium will have a higher wage bill than Liverpool for example.
But it’s weird that this never seems to be sorted out. Why can’t they just explain it.
January 2, 2009 at 13:14
He is not as cool as me TJ
January 2, 2009 at 13:16
Franchise
who knows ?
January 2, 2009 at 13:19
Something to worry about is the fact that Aston Villa will be strengthening in January for certain.
That fourth spot seems to be getting further and further away!!
I hate talking about Arsenals season is a battle for fourth spot. What has happened to us????
January 2, 2009 at 13:21
we gave our soul away to the f*** emirates
January 2, 2009 at 13:21
I dont know much about how the Board system works etc.
But could they be being tight on the purse strings due to a buy out in the near future???
January 2, 2009 at 13:22
an interesting read from a respected journalist
http://www.guillembalague.com/rumores_desp.php?titulo=Are Wenger and Fabregas on their way to
January 2, 2009 at 13:25
Manu have completed 2 signings. I hate the cunts but I’m starting to get really pissed off that we’re not more like them in our dealings. If Wenger bought someone quick it might reassure us a bit.
January 2, 2009 at 13:30
what a load of shit, they really take us all for a bunch of drunken football hooligan idiots or what? Fuckin board, thanx for waisting my time, and everybody elses, while they count their chips, boring mf that couldnt care less about football, or the fans of the club. There are some real tight asses in the sporting domain.
January 2, 2009 at 13:31
we’ve lost so much competitiveness in the league that im beginning to care less about our rivals and enemies. im just trying to protect myself from excessive bitterness and hurting envy…..
January 2, 2009 at 13:35
Kelsey. The link you posted was very interesting.
Elsewhere on the site, it cools down talk of Arteta to Arsenal, and has Chellini and De Rossi in the team of 2008.
January 2, 2009 at 13:41
lol, ManU say they would not get players and they do. AFC says its possible that up to 3 players and we dont, WTF, Congrats Wenger, you joke! Keep misguiding us lets see how long you last, same thing goes to the board!! I dont want to see a sqandal like what happened in Newcaslte, nither do you!
January 2, 2009 at 13:44
RasDef!
great post! we (the supporters) have to do something.
January 2, 2009 at 13:44
We should change the team name to ArseneWengernal FC it almost is isn’t it.
January 2, 2009 at 13:46
or wengeranal fc
January 2, 2009 at 13:52
Sorry if i’m being nasty, i did wake up on the wrong side of the bed and I just got, another, fine for speeding, which i can ill afford. What i feel AFC is doing to us is like when you really like this girl, and you know that she really likes you too, but you never really get it on with her because she prefers to pull your dick!
January 2, 2009 at 13:57
Good afternoon all, and a Happy New Year to all fellow Gooners. Let’s hope we have a better year than the last one, although I am already disheartened with the noises coming out of our club. I really cannot remember when last I’ve heard a positive statement coming from the Arsenal, so I hope the recent comments from the board are nothing but a smoke screen.
January 2, 2009 at 14:00
RasDef,
if nothing else that’s a different angle on the situation
January 2, 2009 at 14:01
Interesting analogy Rasdef, I just feel like he’s taking the piss out of me.
If he thinks Song has talent I fear for him, I really do, because he’s shit.
January 2, 2009 at 14:09
did you see this guys
reportedly interested in him, Witsel spoke about his favourite club.
“Arsenal, Feyenoord and Real wanted to sign me when I took part in the European U17s Championship in 2006. But I wanted to stay close to my family.”
“I’ve been an Arsenal fan since I was a kid, around 5 or 6 years of age. I love the club because there’s so much young talent. When they play well – it’s amazing”
Despite the rumoured interest of Chelsea and Manchester United, Witsel revealed that he’d rebuff any offers from both clubs if Arsenal came onto the bidding scene.
“I dream to play for Arsenal. If Man United, Chelsea and Arsenal want me, I’d go straight to Arsenal without any thought.”
A massive statement from such a young individual. Talking of massive, guess who Witsel’s favourite all-time Arsenal player is?
“Thierry Henry, my idol. I love this player because he has so much class. What I love most is the way he celebrates his goals. It seems he doesnt care about his goal [he smiles].”
The classy young Belgian stated his disappointment at the removal of William Gallas’ captaincy, but also admitted he wasn’t surprised at the whole event.
“It doesn’t surpise me. When I arrived at Standard there was also conflict between young and old players. The old ones are jealous of the young players. It’s not lack of respect, it’s just evolution.”
Witsel was present for Arsenal’s clash with Portsmouth last weekend, when asked about the game, here’s what he said.
“To be honest, when I see that [the match], I think I’m good enough to play for Arsenal.”
During, and after the game, Witsel showed his passion for the Gunners even singing anti-Spurs songs with the Arsenal faithful!
“Come on Wenger! play van Persie, you’re crazy!”
“Well, this win is good for the team. But thank you ‘Calamity’ James”
A Spurs fan went up to him when he was travelling back home, the fan told Axel that he should sign for Tottenham, Witsel hastily replied.
“Are you joking? I said I want to sign for a big club!”
One thing’s for sure, Axel Witsel is definitely a die-hard Gooner and a player who looks Arsenal-class.
I’ll leave you with a video of the youngster in action for Liege, it’s a
January 2, 2009 at 14:19
Yeah got to be creative in life.
I agree that Song is crap, forcably there are better players comming out of the African continent. Furthermore how the hell did Bentner get so many starts, he hasnt improved at all in all the time he’s played. AFC probably havent sold him because no one wants him, not even on loan. These are two players that need to leave, they are not good enough to play in a real team!! We should give them to the tossers north of us as a sign of what we think of them..
January 2, 2009 at 14:23
I don’t mind and can half understand Wenger’s decision to focus on youth, but why the feck did he put them all on such high wages, to the extent that we almost the largest payers in the premiership?
We’re left with this ridiculous situation where we have a lorry load of average players and a massive wage bill, which makes it quite tricky to go out and buy the likes of Arshavin and the several other major plaeyrs we need due to keeping the wage situation in check. So we have to be cautious and wary, however a large part of it is Wenger’s stupidity in giving out such high wages to medioctrity.
Why didn’t he just offer them low-to-mid range wages with the promise of some champions league football thrown in. I can’t imagine there was much competition for the likes of Song and Denilson.
January 2, 2009 at 14:25
axel is pure class..he can play anywhere in the midfield
January 2, 2009 at 14:26
I cant watch Arsenal TV anymore.
Watching the old games where we have Lehman, Sol Campbell, Fabregas, Vieira, Bergkamp, Pires, Henry etc just depresses me.
The likes of Song and Denilson would not of even got on the bench.
January 2, 2009 at 14:28
Tomorrows line up is out and there is no denilson and toure…hope ramsey gets a run out.
January 2, 2009 at 14:30
Paulinho- wow there fella.
Where did you work out that all of the youth are on high wages?
Can you prove that?
I dont think so.
The player wage bill for last season was around 90 mill, by removing top earners and bringing through youth the wage bill should reduce a bit, or not rise as sharply, due to the pay rise the senior players got.
I doubt if Denilson, or Song are on BIG money.
Neither of them would be on 40k a week, they are young inexperienced players and their wages will reflect that,
January 2, 2009 at 14:31
When the club says they dont have money, it serves as a smoke screen to who, other clubs know exactly how much everyother club has. Another thing is that the comments made are utterly useless. Does it mean that we dont have 100mil to spend, 50 mil to spend, 20mil?? It would be understandable if we were like HullFC and say yeah we got 3mil, but we’re not… How many millions does it take to be able to make some signings? Don’t we have some of the best recruting people out there?
January 2, 2009 at 14:38
The Pre game press conference stories are just starting to hit the press. Here is the first one
Wenger today declared people were in “dreamland” if they expected Arsenal to break the bank during the January transfer window, and warned football was not immune to the credit crunch.
Gunners head into the new year already behind in the Premier League title race while also without key men like captain Cesc Fabregas and England winger Theo Walcott because of injury.
Wenger is expected to look to strengthen his depleted squad, most likely in midfield, this month.
Russia playmaker Andrei Arshavin continues to be linked with a £20m move away from Zenit St Petersburg, but Wenger today played down reports Everton’s Spain international Mikel Arteta was another target.
Wenger maintains there are very few clubs in the Premier League who can simply buy their way to success.
“Chelsea have not built a stadium and they lose £100m per year – how do you imagine you can deal with that at Arsenal Football Club without going bankrupt? We have to be responsible,” he said.
“I do not understand how you can compare with that. The other clubs, except for Manchester United, lose money.
“We have a specific budget which is not as big as I have read in the newspapers, some ridiculous amounts of money that are completely crazy. But we will try to use it wisely and well if we can,” he said.
“This team is together, getting stronger and stronger – but what we need to focus on is continually developing and not live in dreamland where we are linked with players of £30m or £40m because that is not realistic.”
“We have a very, very good squad and we will go for an exceptional talent only – but if it is just to have one player more, we will not do it.”
January 2, 2009 at 14:42
It does make me laugh when he says that the team is together
Duh, Is that why Toure put in a Transfer Request.
Oh and it is the old Exceptional talent line again, beautiful. Remember though Grovers Song was and Exceptional talent
January 2, 2009 at 14:43
Wenger added: “At the moment, people in football are not conscious of what is facing us economically.
“People still think we are in a bubble, but we will be hit like anybody else in this economical crisis, I am convinced of that.
“You will have a much more cautious market than you expect it to be and one of the isolated powers you could have are Manchester City.
“That will be one of their strengths because they will not have quite as much competition as they would have had in normal circumstances.”
Arsenal have a long-term debt commitment following the move to their new, 60,000-seater home at Ashburton Grove – and Wenger maintains the Gunners must continue to live within their means.
“What is most important is the club has built a new stadium and we live in a very strong and healthy situation financially,” he said.
“You look how many clubs have done that and we play at the top. “How many clubs have managed to build a new stadium, have a good financial situation and continue to play at the top?”
Wenger continued: “It is not that we do not want to spend.
“We have gone for a policy that is to develop our young players and we have to show some character and strength, not listen to everybody who comes out everyday with a new name.”
Wenger maintains there are very few clubs in the Premier League who can simply buy their way to success.
“Chelsea have not built a stadium and they lose £100m per year – how do you imagine you can deal with that at Arsenal Football Club without going bankrupt? We have to be responsible,” he said.
“I do not understand how you can compare with that. The other clubs, except for Manchester United, lose money.”
Wenger does not expect any of his players to leave this month – including defender Kolo Toure, who had a transfer request, lodged in the wake of a disagreement over team selection, firmly rejected.
“The situation is that Kolo is a player who has two-and-a-half-year contract and will remain with us,” said Wenger.
“I am happy with players who are committed and Kolo is a big example.
“There was a minor incident that you can multiply by 20. It happens every day in every club which is sorted out. Kolo is happy here.
“We have a very young and compact squad and I don’t expect anybody to leave.”
Arsenal’s last trophy came when they won the FA Cup in 2005, and they face Championship side Plymouth in the third round at the Emirates Stadium.
“The FA Cup is one of three trophies that we go for with regular players,” said Wenger.
“It is one of the major priorities of the season.”
January 2, 2009 at 14:43
so was Bentner…
It must be that 1-2% talking again
January 2, 2009 at 14:43
Utd are primed for domination for another 10 years IMO
tosic,ronaldo,anderson,nani,rooney,ljajic,tevez, rafael
all under 24 years and yet to peak
we are not doing too bad ourselves with the likes of fabregas, nasri, walcott, clichy, ramsey, wilshere, vela
the advantage utd have is that they are better at keeping and setting unsettled players like they did with ronaldo and they have a team that is currently capable of winning things.
January 2, 2009 at 14:46
Mark C, our wage bill is ahead of everyone bar Chelsea. That means we spend more wages on players than United or Liverpool. Considering a large chunk of our squad is made up of unproven, uninspiring youngsters, it’s fairly logical to conclude that certain players like Denilson and Diaby are getting paid very high wages and getting more than the likes of Nani, Park Ji Sung, Rieira, Agger, Fletcher, O’Shea. All players that they should not be getting paid more than IMO.
This is an area where Wenger has fucked up big time. Rewarding mediocrity and hampering the chances of being able to accomodate an Arshavin or De Rossi. Real top players.
January 2, 2009 at 14:47
Has anyone actually heard what Wenger said today.
It seems Toure and Denilson are out, which means SONG will play.
Also not too sure about Djourou, as I cant handle Silvestre in an Arsenal shirt.
January 2, 2009 at 14:47
So Yaya wants to stay put, so does Inler, Wenger has rubished stories of Arteta and Given, and there is no way Liverpool will let Alonso go.
Not looking good is it.
January 2, 2009 at 14:47
Paulinho UTD is higher than ours but u r right the other three teams have better players than ours
January 2, 2009 at 14:48
Just posted it Mark C. That was his pre-match conference.
January 2, 2009 at 14:55
Arsene can fuck off. he refused to spend when things were better economically he wouldnt be able to believe his luck that he has such a good excuse to give not to sign much needed players.
Just shut ur gob and sign some players.
January 2, 2009 at 14:55
Its funny on the Arse web-site Wengers saying that he isnt interested in Given, DAA otherwise you would have really waisted a lot of time and money on that loser and reject from the spanish team, Almunia… Oh and he’s vice captain, unbelieveable!!
January 2, 2009 at 14:59
If we really dont have any money to spend then we really cocked it big time with the investments in highbury square. The problem might be short term but how do we survive until things pick up?????? I think its time for some serious sugar daddy to buy the club out i dont even care anymo if its Usmanov.
January 2, 2009 at 15:00
Arsène Wenger refused to be drawn on his transfer plans when he faced the media for the first time in 2009.
The transfer window opened on New Year’s Day and the Arsenal manager has already been linked with a number of players, including Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta and Russian international Andrei Arshavin. Predictably the topic loomed large at his pre-match press conference on Friday but Wenger remained tight-lipped.
“Mikel Arteta is a very good player but we have not made any enquiry about him at all,” insisted Wenger.
“There is no progress [on Arshavin]. If there is any progress made you will be informed, I promise you. If we buy a player you will be informed.”
Looks like something is happening on Arshavin
January 2, 2009 at 15:00
Fabianski is starting tomorrow.
January 2, 2009 at 15:00
Mega rich Arsenal Football Club cant find money for players in this transfer window.
However, we are still expected to find the money to pay for the inflated ticket prices.
The clubs becoming a JOKE!!!
January 2, 2009 at 15:01
I think the players we get will be unknown to us, bit like Sagna was – well I didnt know about him…
January 2, 2009 at 15:01
Cty have nabbed Bridge then….
January 2, 2009 at 15:03
You never know Rico
Reading into his comments there, it does look like there is something happening with Arshavin. He talks of Progress
It might just be me mega clutching at fucking straws though.
Arteta looks a no go unfortunately. Shame
January 2, 2009 at 15:03
Tell you what though, I would take Arshavin and Vieira on loan right now.
January 2, 2009 at 15:05
rico Sagna was a good signing but he is no Cafu. I think we need more than that. We need a ’statement’ player. Someone to make us excited. Someone obviously good enough to check egos like Ades b4 they go out of control. I think we need 2 of those players and 1 sagna-like signing. we need to sell though IMO
January 2, 2009 at 15:07
Arshavin is a top player, a bit hot and cold, but he’s better than every other player we;ve got. He might be the player to bring the much fabled counter attack back, the counter attack that everyone longs for.
He’s not a wonderful ball retainer so we’re not going to play great possessional football with him in the side but he will sharpen our blade up front and make teams fear us a bit more.
January 2, 2009 at 15:09
Sagna was most peoples’ best right back in the Premiership last season Franchise.
It we sign the players who become the best DM and the best LM in the Premiership (even if they are no Cafu) I’ll be quite happy!
January 2, 2009 at 15:11
Arshavin is probably best described as a wide Steven Gerrard I think, on his game he drives the team on.
January 2, 2009 at 15:11
we should get Arshavin. we should sell Song and get M’bia. then either get one of turan, witsel or Eljero Elia
January 2, 2009 at 15:13
Glad we’re not bidding for Arteta. Our transition from championship challenger to top six also rans would be complete if we signed him.
January 2, 2009 at 15:15
Paulinho we were so shit that Arteta wld have improved us like WO!
January 2, 2009 at 15:16
just as i thought,money available until a couple players show interest in us,then it dissapears again
January 2, 2009 at 15:16
Sagna was a wonderful complimentary player last season to go with our tricky playmakers. His incredible basic offensive game wasn’t that highlighted because we didn’t really need him to be that great to make a difference going forward.
However, this season with all creativity sucked from us, his limited abilities going forward have been badly exposed.
January 2, 2009 at 15:16
QoS Sagna has put in like 4 decent crosses in hi whole Arsenal career not good enough at top level
January 2, 2009 at 15:18
not just sagna,clichy matches him for crossing ability,at least sag can defend
January 2, 2009 at 15:19
4 good crosses,same amount as theo then,and 3 more than nasri
January 2, 2009 at 15:20
please stop right there, Sagna is top quality, one of Wengers better recent signings! If you got issues with Sagna then the whole team needs to change according to you!
January 2, 2009 at 15:22
Who would you prefer Sagna, Lauren or Hoyte in that position?? Sagna is solid!
January 2, 2009 at 15:22
Crosses? What are those?
January 2, 2009 at 15:23
No one says sagna is bad Rasdef but for all his defending skills we have still coneded a lorry load of goals and he hasnt contributed to our attcking plays this season. So lets call things as they are.
January 2, 2009 at 15:23
Yeah he’s great defensively but average going forward. That’s plainly obvious.
Clichy is pretty mediocre in both departments but is a good interceptor.
January 2, 2009 at 15:23
id rather have 11 sagnas than the current team
January 2, 2009 at 15:23
My point Franchise was that Richards is better than either of them going foward. So on that basis I’d rather have Sagna with Richards as back-up than Sagna with Eboue as back-up.
Eboue is actually quite a poor right back.
January 2, 2009 at 15:24
well then we have 1 good defender,mr sagna
January 2, 2009 at 15:24
Sagna just sends in shit cross after shit cross, it’s incredible. It’s like he can’t be bothered to actually look in the area.
January 2, 2009 at 15:24
berg i can remember at least 5 walcott assists in my head at the mo. he isnt as bad as sagna and nasri. he is probably the best crosser of the ball we have.
January 2, 2009 at 15:25
richards as back up,richards prefers centre back
January 2, 2009 at 15:26
Ok, did you see Silvestre trying to cross? That was horrid!
January 2, 2009 at 15:27
franchise,oh come off it,i was takin the piss,but theo is a huge underperformer,he has had maybe 2 good games in a year and one was for rngland,the rest of his good play come in just moments,2 minutes a game maybe,at least sag gives effort,his job is to defend because the rest cant
January 2, 2009 at 15:27
eboue is better going forward than sagna. sagna is another athlete we have in defence. we dont have any proper natural defenders in the mould of Bould, Adams, Winterburn, Dixon, Campbell, Keown. and i think that is our biggest problem defensively. Senderos is our most natural defender
January 2, 2009 at 15:28
the thing is our full backs get further forward than everyone apart from ade,quite sad
January 2, 2009 at 15:29
eboue was one of our best attacking players till wenger ruined his career
January 2, 2009 at 15:29
true berg. theo is such a massive underperformer. even his best game this season for england where he scored the hattrick he was poor apart from the goals
January 2, 2009 at 15:29
i also agree re eboue berg
January 2, 2009 at 15:30
Senderos is bloody slow! I’d like to see him try to defend Abonglahore like Gallas did!
January 2, 2009 at 15:31
we have talent,we just lack mentality to batter teams,then the next time they play us they have lost as soon as they see our team sheet,theo and them need to start usin this talent soon
January 2, 2009 at 15:31
I know Berkamp but we were discussing swapping Toure and Richards and I added that as an added benefit we could lose Eboue and get a proper RM instead.
January 2, 2009 at 15:32
“No progress has been made on Arshavin” (Arséne Wenger 2.01.09)
I take this to mean that a deal is in progress but not yet finalised.
Arshavin is the sort of player Wenger likes: one that is regarded as a special talent, a bit like Rosicky, Hleb or even Pires.
I have said this many times; the loss of Rosicky gives Wenger a genuine reason to buy without damaging, as he sees it, his precious youth policy.
January 2, 2009 at 15:32
i am sorry but sangna is one of the best wright backs in the world not only is he an exptional defender but he very good going forward,i like clishy but i think he is mush better going fowrad than defdending but he is still a good defender,but wenger is not going to go mad in the market i can only see him buy 2 playing at the most in midfield area, song has been disapointing to me at times but protects the defence well enough, but i still do see him a as dm player delinson,daiby,ramsey,nasri all are good but if any ofthem gets injured they are real trouble they are so thin in that area and i wenger is just going adress that area and do most of his business in the summer
January 2, 2009 at 15:33
RE: Real Madrid wanting Wenger…
“I believe I have shown my commitment to this Club,” said Wenger. “I accepted when we built the new stadium to stay to commit my long-term future to the Club under restrictions.
“I don’t think anyone can doubt my commitment here. You can question my decisions and I accept that, but not my commitment.
“No [no one has spoken to my representatives], because I represent myself.”
RESTRICTIONS? I’m begining to wonder whether it’s actually the board that are being so tight with money.
January 2, 2009 at 15:33
Silvestre is a brilliant long passer but can be a very good crosser but he still hasn’t really loosened up on the ball yet. I remember in the F.A Cup final of 2005 Silvestre’s long balls to Rooney on the right killed Ashley Cole.
January 2, 2009 at 15:33
the thing is gallas was dumb,he defended a high line on the halfway line against agbonlahor and got burned twice this season,the against peter crouch he defends as the last man goal side of crouch in our own penalty area,lucky crouch hit the post, senderos could be forgiven for such mistakes but not the 100cap respect me please ex captain
January 2, 2009 at 15:33
He was crap apart from the hattrick? Did you really just write that??!? lol!!
January 2, 2009 at 15:34
What did the Romans ever do for us eh?
January 2, 2009 at 15:34
Queen, have you seen Richards this season? He has been playing like a right clown. Seems to have lost his pace as well. I would hold fire on that one.
January 2, 2009 at 15:35
Arshavin worries me.. he wants to play in Spain. He is using arsenal as his stepping stone.
He will take a year to settle, one decent year and he’d be of to sunny Barca..
January 2, 2009 at 15:35
the thing is special talent usually has a big name,unless were talkin about 14 year olds again with special talent maybe in 10 years
January 2, 2009 at 15:36
Fair point Paulinho he’s definetely having difficult second album syndrome at the moment. I actually think his best position is right wing-back funnily enoungh
January 2, 2009 at 15:38
well as long as we charge barca our asking price and stick to it for once instead of takin oportunity to profit by cuttin the wage bill again then id take asshaver,he’s 28,give him a four year deal then he can do a webster when he is 31 if barca wont pay the askin price in a year
January 2, 2009 at 15:39
I love Clichy, but the problem with Clichy and the whole”great going forward, not the best defender” view is that Clichy can be really poor in the final third. He’s great at getting to the final third, but his crosses are still really bad. He also tends to give the ball away a lot. Fans don’t seem to notice it for some reason. Whenever I’ve looked at passing statistics for the players after a match, Clichy consistently has the worst. It made me look closer at his performances, particularly his passing. Watch how many times he sends in a long ball that lands at the CBs or the keeper.
January 2, 2009 at 15:39
Paulino- Silvertre was good, not anymore that ManU reject! He tried two long passess that were absolutly horrid, i think it was against Pompy…
January 2, 2009 at 15:43
bergkamp
i dont think so wenger has already stated no he is without fab is looking bring someone straight into the fisrt 11 he might evon bring in someone on loan until the summer
January 2, 2009 at 15:44
is it just me or does the clear lack of ambition for success at the emirates seem shocking, the manager seems happy investing precious seasons with sub-standard youthful players in the hope that this tiresome process may result in future success, then the board happily states that ‘we’ve got to continue to run this business in a sensible way’
so whats sensible, overcharge fans to watch crap players like song and eboue simply because winning trophies is not a priority at the emirites, forget the january transfer window, if we dont win a trophy by the end of the year, serious changes need to be made, either a complete new look team or a new manager or director, rant over….
thoughts fellow grovers???
January 2, 2009 at 15:45
‘In Arsene We Trust’
Still relevant???
I hope so.
January 2, 2009 at 15:47
so is Sagna QoS second season syndrome
January 2, 2009 at 15:48
If Sagna could cross we would have to suffer even more crap every summer with stories like Real Madrid want to buy this and AC Milan want to but that.
I actually think the reason we were able to keep Viera for as long as we did was because he was flawed: his shooting ability was woeful and he froze in front of goal. I know it’s possible to find exceptions but they are the exceptions that prove the rule.
January 2, 2009 at 15:48
the + sagna has over clichy is better concentration and less clumsiness
January 2, 2009 at 15:49
There’s never any strikers in the box when anyone crosses. if there was the crosses wouldn’t look so bad anyway.
January 2, 2009 at 15:51
London that is not the reason why we kept Vieira sorry. the club refused several offers for him. i dont celebrate mediocricity from players even if it means they stay at the club longer.
January 2, 2009 at 15:51
Sagna is simply very good this season where as he was brilliant last season. More a case of familiarity breeding contempt.
January 2, 2009 at 15:51
Morning all, well i just got up so its my morning. So Bridge is the first mover and we probably wont buy abyone is certain stories are to be believed. This year hasnt started very well at all has it!
January 2, 2009 at 15:51
Well Franchise that is my theory. I am not asking you to agree with it.
January 2, 2009 at 15:52
Sagna is brilliant. Not perfect but brilliant anyway. We had the chavs under control til he got injured last season.
January 2, 2009 at 15:52
lol good point avenell, were are the strikers gone?
In the last minute against the AV game, sagna was the only one still playing, the rest of the team were ballwatching as if they were on the bench…
January 2, 2009 at 15:52
avenell true but b4 u cross u dont just hit the ball hopefully. u try to pick a target by looking up
January 2, 2009 at 15:52
Sagna has only played bad since Theo was put in front of him.. What a coincidence!
January 2, 2009 at 15:53
i would like us to clone bosingwa and sagna
January 2, 2009 at 15:54
i dont think wenger lacks ambition i think once they got the emerirates i think funs were going to tight a few years,so has to invest on younger players,i think he has the money just not as mush as people think most likly around 20-30 mill mark,but he managed to find top players before without having to spend more 10 million per player i dont see why he cant do that again,players like henry,edwardo,viera,sangna,clichy,fab,.so i dont believe wenger will have to spend 15-20 mill on one players wenger i think i hope is looking for player who has at least 2-3 years first team football
January 2, 2009 at 15:54
Passing with out looking? That is what Bentner does all day, everyday!!!!!!!!!!
January 2, 2009 at 15:54
ave theo bad link up player
January 2, 2009 at 15:54
Ade is pretending he is Thierry on the left. RVP is sitting in the centre circle pulling up his socks.. What’s the point of looking up?
January 2, 2009 at 15:54
Both Sagna and Clichy have been affected by the loss of a quality DM. They dont attack as much because there is no cover for them and in Clichys case they have no confidence so they make misakes.
January 2, 2009 at 15:56
Franchise.. I know I said he’s not an arsenal type player and i got slaughtered on here and was told I deserved it!!!
January 2, 2009 at 15:57
Crossing does nothing for our team anyway because the strikers are never in the box. Van Persie is our best crosser of a ball so he cant do both.
January 2, 2009 at 15:57
So jealous of Man Utd right now Tosic looks a great player!! Tosic, Rooney, Vidic, Ronaldo, Anderson, Carrick, Tevez what a team that is………….
How exciting to be a Utd fan today?? god its painful being a gooner these days
all we get from wenger is constant denial of players we are linked with then 2 years later will say he had chance to sign him but didnt!!!!!!!!! Urrrggghhhh
Just spend sum of our god damn money & give us gooners a real team again!!! When is this gonna end????????????????????????
January 2, 2009 at 15:58
Even the reserves play more in the Arsenal way, tiangle passing and movement.
Route 1 first team need to learn it again.
January 2, 2009 at 15:58
looks like the uefa cup for us then lads
January 2, 2009 at 15:58
triangle.
January 2, 2009 at 16:00
Goona P i feel u. i said a few days ago that i was jealous of UTD’s recent success and i was almost slaughtered
January 2, 2009 at 16:00
We dont have one disciplined player in the team. The defenders want to attack and the attackers dont know where to be when attacking. We miss loads of chances because there is noone finishing moves off, be it a header or a shot on target. We need a poacher who wont leave the box unless its to create space for a midfield runner. Janco or Progregnyak(or whatever way its spelt) ie a giant CF.
January 2, 2009 at 16:00
Avenell
Walcott is one of Geoff’s sacred cows but I don’t think that anyone will be able to improve on Pedro’s discription.
“Walcott is a Ford Fiesta with a Ferrari engine”
January 2, 2009 at 16:01
i misss the uefa cup
January 2, 2009 at 16:02
Uefa cup might end up being a bonus so don’t count on it
January 2, 2009 at 16:02
I don’t agree with that we only created 2 chances against Pompey.
We used to create between 15 and 25 per game.. The midfield is fucked.
January 2, 2009 at 16:03
London… alright mate?
It was Pedro who said i deserved it lol.
January 2, 2009 at 16:04
The diference between us and united is that their youngsters coming into the team are surrounded by experienced talent. Our kids are surrounded by Kids and have toomuvh responsibility. Is it just me or do their kids fit into their team with ease? Anyone we promote takes a long time to fit it. United play Evans regularly now, even in the CL and doesnt look out of place. And Welbeck even. Our kids coming into the first team look lost for the most part. Only a few look top class.
January 2, 2009 at 16:04
Doesnt anyone share the opinion that Mikel Arteta was never a realistic target.
1. He would be much much costly than the rumored 12 million.
2. Why would Everton let their best player go?
I think this January we will spend a max of 20 million.
Arshavin deal is a lot complicated. We need a plyer of his calibre and talent undoubtedly. But being unproven it is insane to splash anything over 13-14 million.
I think a defensive mid would come on known… someone who isnt well known.
I think these are the two minimum players that we will sign. But I would also hope that we sign Hangeland on loan.
I think Roman being the first millionaire to invest in pl club would be the first to divest. It is not a profitable business if you stop winning. I think it is a matter of months now when we will see Chelsea deflating. Only Mancity are immune from the economic crisis. And we are very close to dominating owing to our strong financial conditions.
And I do not believe buying players necessarily gives us a better chance of winning anything in this season where almost every team except the big four is happy to play out a draw.
This season is weird…. and I still believe 80-82 points would win the league.
January 2, 2009 at 16:06
I have a spare ticket for tomorrow if anyone is interested. Face value ofc.
January 2, 2009 at 16:06
Right now I’d take the Uefa cup but after the window, who knows! We probably wont buy anyone and will get 5th(if we are lucky)
January 2, 2009 at 16:07
Ikon are you a Wenger spokes person or what??
January 2, 2009 at 16:09
lol ikon. Wenger in disguise!
January 2, 2009 at 16:09
Can someone throw Wenger a shoe, or two, as a protest against his policy…? Preferably a pink one..
January 2, 2009 at 16:09
Everton need strikers and Moyes has to sell to buy and the story is that he is willing to sacrafice Arteta.
January 2, 2009 at 16:13
Who the fuck told anyone we had money?
Why did you believe accounting statements/chairmen/the manager/newspapers? Companies that survived the great depression are going to the wall this year. All bets are off.
The people who run the worlds finances don’t have a freaking clue, anything you think you know about Arsenals finances is a GUESS.
The evidence of the available transfer kitty is there right before your eyes – the current state of our fucking squad.
January 2, 2009 at 16:13
Why dont Hill-Wood and Co. sell a castle or two to provide the club with some funds…? The made the money from the fans, now its time to give it back, or are you scared to be poor like us??
January 2, 2009 at 16:13
Avenell
Happy new year.
What do you think the chances are of getting Arteta?
January 2, 2009 at 16:14
you watch if we make the europa cup how many fans will turn up id say at least 30.000
January 2, 2009 at 16:14
IMO From what is coming out of the club at present, I see one signing at the most. I think the announcement by PHW this morning was to put out the message to the likes of Arshavin we will not pay big money for him, we want him it seems looking at Wengers comment but in this climate we will not pay silly money. I think we have said here is the deal take it or leave it, PHW makes his comment and Wenger says no progress as yet.
All of that said, imo, we will end up signing no-one, comments will be people wanted silly money, we willnot pay it, we have a strong enough squad…wenger is always building for tomorrow……tomorrow…tomorrow, the suns gonna come out tomorrow……..and we all know tomorrow never actually comes!
I for one will not be sucked in by the lines in later months about 2 or 3 world class signings that arsenal fans will be over the moon about….forget 09/10 season tickets for me unless I see some movement this window to show a desire to win.
True with the likes of Ramsey, Wilshere, Vela, merida shwoing potential…without experience to complement we will revert to UEFA cup challenges.
January 2, 2009 at 16:14
no chance at all
January 2, 2009 at 16:16
its europa cup lolllllll
January 2, 2009 at 16:17
the stadium will be lie man city’s on a europa cup night empty
January 2, 2009 at 16:17
TonyS.. bang your head against a wall.. I have given up on that one.. time will tell who is wrong or right.
London I’d say less than 30%
I don’t like all this I saw a player on you tube, I want him at arsenal crap going on at the moment so I stay out of it mainly.
January 2, 2009 at 16:20
tomorrow if we get beat will not shock me one little bit especially if he sends out them reserves
January 2, 2009 at 16:21
afternoon all,
hhhahahahahahaah, what a laugh, some ramblings of an old fool who sold his shares years ago and could be next on fiszmanns hit list
and the same old wenger spin
im gonna wait until february before making judgements and i dont expect us to wait until deadline day either
January 2, 2009 at 16:21
I will be interested to see how the stadium looks tomorrow. ST count for this one, but will people vote with their feet due to current statements coming from the club.
January 2, 2009 at 16:21
its all one way traffic at arsenal thes days we have hit a massive downward spiral and we just keep on sinking.its like the board and wenger are our enemys
January 2, 2009 at 16:22
Why doesn’t Hill Wood sell a castle? Because Hill Wood is not as wealthy as many might think. No where near as wealthy as Fizman for example. Hill Wood sold his shares to David Dein in the early eighties for around 350,000, which nowdays, would only buy you a flat in Highbury Square.
January 2, 2009 at 16:22
time to make a stand tomorrow and let the wankers on the board know we are not ammused
January 2, 2009 at 16:23
if we dont sign anyone, i aint going to no more games, it costs me an arm and a leg as it is in travel expenses and so on,
i aint going no more.
January 2, 2009 at 16:23
that p.h.w cunt needs to have a heart attack befoer we start moving again
January 2, 2009 at 16:23
Pedro- focusing on the title of your post, IMO your right on… Look at Leeds, they’ve been trying to get back into top flight football for a long time, always spending more and more money with no availe. If AFC doesnt spend now, we will feel the effects for years to come, when all the board members are retired or dead…
January 2, 2009 at 16:23
I love Arsenal, but I really HATE the emirates uae fukkkinggg stadium name from hell
January 2, 2009 at 16:24
lolz stu… I said what I thought as realistic.
If we forget about the frustrations that we have been carrying over wenger decisions I think we would think more realistically.
If we hadnt lost to Stoke, Hull, or dropped points at Villa and pool, we would be top of the league without playing awesome football. I dont think we would be so desperate for signings.
If anyone can explain me our accounts a little clearly I can comment on that too. I am not defending the board. But when Wenger goes on to say things like “….we can go bankrupt” it has to be taken seriously.
As far as I know, economic condition is going to worsen for the next 10 months at least. Not long ago we had 70 million to spend, I think had we spent 50 of it, we would be selling our best players at the moment.
Wenger’s decisions are highly questionable. But the answer lies in buying big, I am not sure.
January 2, 2009 at 16:24
jon jon you will be label’d as a good time fan lolllllll this is the time when the team needs you the most lollllllllllllllllllllhahahhah
January 2, 2009 at 16:24
BBK like the board who have £400 mill invested want to see the club in the shit!!
January 2, 2009 at 16:24
Afternoon JonJon
I think you are absolutly right. I would not be surprised to find that Hill Wood is next on Fizman’s hit list. The revolution in the board room has already started.
January 2, 2009 at 16:27
im sorry i just don’t buy into this poverty stricken shit
January 2, 2009 at 16:28
you never know the europa cup might be fun
January 2, 2009 at 16:28
London- dont tell me that wank has no money, ah!
January 2, 2009 at 16:28
bollox to them BBK. i aint bothered what people call me, i fork out over a grand a year to go support my team and i aint even got a season ticket, i cant afford a grand as it is, never mind forking it out to go suport a team that treats the fans like shit.
let them call me what they want, if they want me to go then let them give me that grand and ill happily go on thier money, and i bet im not the only one who feels this way.
January 2, 2009 at 16:30
jonjon i know what your saying m8 calm down calm down lol
January 2, 2009 at 16:31
JonJon
That three day bender has made you a bit grumpy. Lol
January 2, 2009 at 16:31
If I lived in or around London I would go every week and follow arsenal into the championship if I had to.
January 2, 2009 at 16:32
fucking right jon jon these cunts have been mugging us off for far to long now its time for a stand
January 2, 2009 at 16:32
hahaha
just woke up properly guys, then i read all this shit, and manutd have forked out another 16mil, and they won the double last year, man im pissed off
rant over, how are we all??
January 2, 2009 at 16:33
Just seen i/v with Moyes, he got quite stroppy when asked about Arteta and us, very defensive. Said he could and would only go for loan players…. mme, that sounds promising…..
Sagna type, i meant i hadnt heard of him but he is quality, and like QoS, i could not care if he is not a big name, if he slots in straight away and plays bloody well, i dont care what his name is…
Wenger is definately going to buy a player or 2, there is something about his i/v, but it wont be Given as he said we def wont be looking at any keeper
January 2, 2009 at 16:34
we don’t have too be where we are them pricks on the board and wenger chose this path,it was definitely the wrong road to go down
January 2, 2009 at 16:34
Hi ave
January 2, 2009 at 16:34
My money is on Arshavin coming. I would like Arteta as well but Wenger seemed a bit too specific in his denial, the same way he was with Given.
January 2, 2009 at 16:34
HAHAHA avenell, would you follow them into the Championship if they were still paying the highest wages and charged the highest prices?
if i had the money to burn then i probably would too, but i dont.
January 2, 2009 at 16:35
JJ – they can only field 11
January 2, 2009 at 16:35
jonjon..I am caught, I love the club, have 2 x ST..but am totally losing the faith when I see players that our manager seems to think can win us the PL, CL or even the FAC in the form of song, eboue bentner and denilson. he has better players at his disposal that he refuses to give any real game time to…that imo would have us in a better position than we are in now given the time on the pitch. (Vela, Ramsey as an example.)
Against Pompey, around me everyone was really quiet, until Vela and Ramsey got on…then the spirit lifted and so did the noise.
January 2, 2009 at 16:36
haharr lolllll big up jon jon and his 3 day bender woop woop
January 2, 2009 at 16:36
Right with you JJ, im also pissed off about how nothing is happening in AFC to counter the ManU domination in English and world football…
January 2, 2009 at 16:37
Hi Rico how are you
£35 quid a week is about the same everywhere in the prem isn’t it?
I’m like you JJ 300 miles away) but if it was just admission big deal..
January 2, 2009 at 16:38
i reckon with wenger’s and the boards vision we can dominate english football around say 3009
January 2, 2009 at 16:40
BBK
That’s funny. Lol
January 2, 2009 at 16:40
In some ways i’d rather we went down and got rid of some of the glory hunting spoilt fans who only know success..
January 2, 2009 at 16:42
happy new year avenell, i hear ya mate
are tickets available on match day? i thought they were all sold on on the regular.
January 2, 2009 at 16:43
Btw I rate Zhirkov that chelsea are about to sign
January 2, 2009 at 16:44
I’ld rather we didnt go down because we are the only club in the top flight never to be relegated. We might as well hold onto that record because doesnt look like we’re geting any other ones any time soon. I would rather we got 5th and all the shit players left, but then we might only have a squad of 6 so….
January 2, 2009 at 16:45
ESPN Classic are showing the Cup Winners Cup final of 1994 Arsenal Vs Parma…
January 2, 2009 at 16:45
“The FA Cup is one of three trophies that we go for with regular players,” said Wenger.
“It is one of the major priorities of the season.”
Oh no it isn’t mr.wenger,does your memory stretch as far back as LAST season,where you sent out a tam which was humiliated,and i for one felt embarrassed by our performance.
On another theme,who is the arsenal player of the month for december ? actually i think we should give that one a miss, that’s how good we are. and were is the wonderkid bischoff ?
January 2, 2009 at 16:45
???if wenger was to leave at the end of the season do you reckon there would be a mass exodus?and if so what players do you think would follow?????
January 2, 2009 at 16:46
it sounds bad but id rather not finish for the CL, if thats what makes wenger change the squad then so be it.
hes a proud man who is proud of the fact that he has taken us into europe 10years on the bounce,
one season away from it would be a shock to the system
January 2, 2009 at 16:46
Zhirkov is good but neither a left back nor a winger so where will he play? Probably left back i suppose. Imagine that- a rival having 2 good players for only 1 position. How strange!
January 2, 2009 at 16:47
I voted Nasri and commented that everyone was lazy on the pitch!
January 2, 2009 at 16:47
BBK all of them cos no other manager would work with them
January 2, 2009 at 16:47
ave, of the bug still, but otherwise fine thanks, and you all ?
January 2, 2009 at 16:48
oops – full of………… !!
January 2, 2009 at 16:48
lolllllll jj
January 2, 2009 at 16:49
Afternoon all, I have to say that I can’t see us and Zenit agreeing a fee for Arseshaving. They want a bucket load of roubles, we don’t like spending money, especially on 28 yr-olds. But I am prepared to be surprised – I do remember Wenger downplaying him during the Euros and saying that he doubted he could be a consistent performer week-in week-out. This is a) actually true, and b) the exact kind of thing AW would say if he was interested in a player. Whatever people may think of the boss currently, there is no doubt that he has a razor-sharp mind, so it wouldn’t surprise me if it had been a smokescreen.
oh and London thanks for your comment a day or two ago, it was noted with appreciation, and at £5m a year or whatever it is, I would graciously accept your recommendation
January 2, 2009 at 16:49
BBK, most of the plyers would leave because they came here to learn off of Wenger. And if they didnt want to go they would be sold anyway because the next manager wouldnt dream of playing them.
Should Wenger leave most of our squad will be fucked, thinking “shit! now where will we get all this money for being for ruining a club!”
January 2, 2009 at 16:49
JJ – just woke up ????
January 2, 2009 at 16:49
We will fight to the end!!!
January 2, 2009 at 16:50
god this logging in business is tedious -.-
January 2, 2009 at 16:51
wengers already thrown in the towel vandejie
January 2, 2009 at 16:52
London. Hill-Wood … poor? Hardly. When I was a kid, I washed his Dad’s Roller. They lived in Hampstead Garden Suburb in one of those beautiful houses overlooking the Heath.
Still live there I hear.
HNY to you
January 2, 2009 at 16:52
it dont surprise me wenger is keeping his cards close to his chest, everyone knows we need players and prices will be through the roof, and the last time wenger was open about admiring a player chelsea came in with a 23mil bid for him the next day
hes not going to say ive got 30mil to spend cos if he wants arteta everton will ask for 20mil, when we could get hi for less then 15, its all spin spin spin.
January 2, 2009 at 16:53
yes rico, give me an hour and il be ok.
January 2, 2009 at 16:55
BBK
maybe a miracle is going about to happen….
who knows?
January 2, 2009 at 16:57
If AW leaves, none of the squad will follow him.
Two reasons… One, AW is not Arsenal. With or without him, we are still a top club. How many of the current squad would get near the Barca, AC, MU, Real, Bayern first teams ?
Two, These guys have contracts, and after the Flamini debacle, I would guess the Arsenal lawyers have made players contracts as tight as a duck’s rear-end.
January 2, 2009 at 16:58
vandejie lollllllll
January 2, 2009 at 16:59
great to have you back raddy!!
January 2, 2009 at 16:59
but don’t you think big r wenger has put us where we are???
January 2, 2009 at 16:59
United sign Tosic and Ljajic for 16.4 million pounds!!! WTF? Sometime Wenger will say, ” We were after Ljajic, but we were outbid.”
January 2, 2009 at 17:00
Its not just who would want t leave but also about who would be sold.
But if Wenger takes a job at board level would he let those players be sold?
January 2, 2009 at 17:00
do you think we would be where we are with another manager?????
January 2, 2009 at 17:01
if wenger never took over
January 2, 2009 at 17:01
with another manager this team we would be relegated.
it would take another manager over 100mil to fix the team to how they want it.
January 2, 2009 at 17:02
I really hope we can secure the 4th place…
That’s the miracle I’m talking about.
To secure the 4th place in PL.
January 2, 2009 at 17:03
If Wenger didnt take over we wouldnt be where we are now but that doesnt give him permission to put us back where we were when he arrived either.
January 2, 2009 at 17:04
Valencia have admitted they would consider parting company with star men David Villa and David Silva if they were to receive an ‘exorbitant’ offer.
January 2, 2009 at 17:04
it looks highly unlikely now id say vandejie especially if they do not bring anybody in
January 2, 2009 at 17:05
pat man city are all over that one
January 2, 2009 at 17:05
I agree with JJ…
with other manager considering the current squad that we have, we might now battling from relegation IMO.
January 2, 2009 at 17:07
But if we had another manager would he have allowed the squad to be so bad right now?
January 2, 2009 at 17:08
another manager wouldnt have been able to do the job wengers done with no money
January 2, 2009 at 17:09
BBK, I was thinking about Silva, not Villa.
January 2, 2009 at 17:09
I think JonJon and BOY BETTER KNOW SHO!!!! is the same person!!!!!!
January 2, 2009 at 17:10
so we are going to sign Arshavin.?????..He did nt say we are not interested as he said about Arteta…
January 2, 2009 at 17:11
Stu, we are not going to have another manager until Arsene himself resigns from the club.
Everyone know that the board 100% behind wenger.
January 2, 2009 at 17:11
how come nobody complained about highbury when we were winning the league but now suddenly its not big enough.this stadium has set us back so much
January 2, 2009 at 17:12
you think we could buy silva pat?they would go for the same price
January 2, 2009 at 17:14
I know that vandejie, i thinkeveryone knows that. He probably wont renew his current contract tho. He will have a massive say on his replacement so lets hope he picks someone good soon so they can be groomed foe the job.
If we were to appoint a former player who would you all appoint? Bould seems the likliest option if we prompte from within. Well?
January 2, 2009 at 17:14
evening jonjon,bbk and others.
wenger wont be sacked he has another 2 years left and then he will go back to paris st.germain as president,back to his so called roots in france.
what might happen if we don’t qualify for the c.l. is that we will sell again,and we are fast running out of quality players worth big money.only 3 would bring in mega bucks,cesc,rvp and ade(of last year) in fact the more i think about it we will sell someone even if we do qualify.
January 2, 2009 at 17:16
Silva is too much money for wenger.
I doubt it will happen.
January 2, 2009 at 17:17
Villa would go for much more than SIlva. If we were to get Silva, we’d have to say no to Arshavin. They’re about the same price and the Russian has higher wages, I think.
Against Plymouth:
“However that is not why I think Arsene should play a strong team in the third round; and an injury to Denilson already undermines that concept. The reason for playing a strong team is that Arsenal’s league form needs lifting. In particular Adebayor and RvP need to find the net far more often.
There is no mid week match coming up, so no one needs a rest. The team needs to get out there and score lots of goals. Though that is easier said than done. This team lacks confidence; it needs to find it, and perhaps a bit of magic in the cup could rub off into the league. Players often regain form against, with all respect to Plymouth, lesser teams.”
January 2, 2009 at 17:18
We are very like Ajax in a way now. We both were formerly challenging for the league but in the last few years we havent been good enough and always sell our star performers. But Ajax got in a diff manager and are top now (i think). Obviously im only talking about the last 10-15 years tho.
January 2, 2009 at 17:19
evening kelsey m8 you well fella
January 2, 2009 at 17:19
Whos words are those Pat?
January 2, 2009 at 17:19
if another manager came in now we would be fucked, if we had another manager instead of wenger we wouldnt have the stadium, we would have never seen henry, pires or vieira play for us
wenger is not suddenly gone shit, hes just changed his philosphy to suit the spending, but when other teams are spending 60mil everyseason its hard to keep up
wengers done a great job,
really we could say other teams are spending to stay ahead of us, in a world without a transfer market, we would sweep up everything, but in the real world there is one and teams are using it to keep ahead of us, we should use it too,
January 2, 2009 at 17:20
Pat rice?
Adams?
Actually I don’t know who is suit for the job…don’t have any idea abt that.
January 2, 2009 at 17:24
one or two quality signings, and we are right back in the mix, but wenger wants to be the man who breaks the monopoly of big spenders, the table doesnt lie, but when the teams around us have all spent multi millions on their team, we arent doing that badly,
replacing wenger is not a realistic option at the minute.
January 2, 2009 at 17:24
I actually like Ramos. yes, the ex-Spud manager. He’s a great manager and I really have no idea why he did so bad with Spurs. He’s top class.
AW: “Lukasz Fabianski will play in the FA Cup this season. You might see Aaron Ramsey as well. But the rest will be the regular team.”
January 2, 2009 at 17:24
Stu
ajax won the cl 4 times!!!
January 2, 2009 at 17:24
DAMN…I’m so desperate for the title…i mean we are.
If we didn’t win PL this season, I can accept any team except manscum.
January 2, 2009 at 17:24
i reckon steve bould could have a shout at being next arsenal manager
January 2, 2009 at 17:24
pft Pat Rice.
Thats a good one. We might as well just but Herbert Chapmans statue in charge.
January 2, 2009 at 17:24
Wow. Never thought I’d read a rumor linking us with Ji Sung Park
January 2, 2009 at 17:25
vandejie throw the chavs into that mix aswell
January 2, 2009 at 17:28
steve bould knows the arsenal way.he was a top top defender for us so he knows its important for us to build from the back,he’s doing a fantastic job with the younger team all in all id say give him a go at the job when wenger packs it in
January 2, 2009 at 17:28
pat…
lol…can u provide the link?
January 2, 2009 at 17:33
I would take Park. Fine player.
Another manager ? Why ? I accept AW is experimenting, I just wish he would be open about it, and say that we may have a few more years in ‘transition’.
This squad will win doodly squat.
January 2, 2009 at 17:34
Gris, whats your point?
January 2, 2009 at 17:34
Seb – When you log onto WordPress, put a tick in the box that says ‘remember me’, it keeps you logged then, and saves all that keep logging on thing
January 2, 2009 at 17:35
We should go for the FACup. Our only chance of silverware. CL is realistic too, as long as we don’t face any “smaller” clubs.
January 2, 2009 at 17:36
Raddy – Spot On, give us all the TRUTH and we would understand, mixed tales come out of our club and that winds us up
January 2, 2009 at 17:36
Not Bouldy, not TA, not DB10. Not O’Leary, nor Brady. We need a proven manager to take over from the Great Man when he decides to hang up his tracksuit.
Right now, I would be grooming Slaven Bilic, and offer him a pre-contract deal.
January 2, 2009 at 17:37
The FA Cup is the only chance we have. We wont win the CL because we cant defend and need 10 shots to score once.
January 2, 2009 at 17:37
I think we are after Arshavin, but someone has said it already, I doubt we will be able to agree a fee with Zenit and it will go down as another nearly signings.
I think todays comments from Wenger were a little bit more informative for the fans, and I welcome that, but I do fear that it lays the foundations for an excuse if we dont sign anyone in Jan. I am in no doubt the club will bid for players, but matching the selling clubs valuation is a whole different story.
January 2, 2009 at 17:38
Its funny, if any other club other than us win the league, i hope its Villa first, then Manure – Dont like them but they play football with quality players – My dislike is Chelski and Liverpool, big time
January 2, 2009 at 17:38
Rico… you are becoming a computer whizz !! Who would have thought it. You can be the new Choy
January 2, 2009 at 17:39
Raddy – you hear the news today about Bilic wanting to quit as International Manager?
January 2, 2009 at 17:40
cheeky Raddy, i learned only because i got fed up with logging on, and wondered what that box did, – hey presto
January 2, 2009 at 17:40
Ji Sung Park no thanks
would be another prime example of accepting 2nd rate average players. the only benefit would be asian merchandise sales.
January 2, 2009 at 17:42
I see Spuds have approached Podolski,
Now that is a player I would like to see at the club.
January 2, 2009 at 17:42
MU for me Rico. They are a joy to watch – just makes me sick . Because if we had competed on the transfer front, we would be in the driving seat. We had a chance to create a dynasty, and the new ridiculous buy-in policy has cost us dear.
January 2, 2009 at 17:42
Big Raddy, happy new year.
I didn’t say that Hill Wood was poor. I just said that I don’t think he is as wealthy as people might think. A house in Hamstead Garden suburb and a nice car? Most of the first team have that and much more.
January 2, 2009 at 17:48
thanks rico, top shout
now I can be yellow all the time!
January 2, 2009 at 17:48
Too true London
But you know what they say about fools and money….
January 2, 2009 at 17:49
If pool win it we will never hear the end of it. If United win they are the most successful english club ever and if Chelsea win it they will be level with us on prem titles and thats just not fair after 5 years as a top club.
January 2, 2009 at 17:49
Seb
What does your avator mean?
January 2, 2009 at 17:53
Thomas! Charging through the midfield!
Thomas, IT’S UP FOR GRABS NOWWWWWWWWWW!
Thomas, right at the end, the Liverpool players are down absolutely abject …
January 2, 2009 at 17:55
How does that song go (wish he would) Raddy
Oh, I could have been me……. Me being our club of course
You can only praise old red nose, gets his players today, and he says, thats it for this year, then he said, no, this season….. that is a club who will sacrifice a lot to win…
Seb – no probs
January 2, 2009 at 17:59
Seb.
That must be the finest commentary of all time. “Abject”….. I love it.
Up there with “there’s people on the pitch. They think it’s all over. It is now”
Perfect. And I am so happy London asked. Every time I see it I will think of May 26th. 1989
January 2, 2009 at 18:02
Rico.
MU are a Big Club. We have shown that we aren’t
Big Clubs ? Real, Barca, MU, AC and Bayern.
Which goes to show that winning the domestic title doesn’t make a Big club. Inter may be head and shoulders better than AC for the past few years, but they are no way the bigger club.
January 2, 2009 at 18:02
evening all… been so busy lately.
About arshavin, wenger did not say “no” like he said when asked about shay given.
He said that there has been no progress.. am I reading too much into this?
January 2, 2009 at 18:04
Nice one Seb
Someone is going to get “One minute” soon.
January 2, 2009 at 18:07
well we all need a reminder of good times – not to mention our ‘traditional’ away colours!
January 2, 2009 at 18:07
evening london.. BR and Miss le grove
January 2, 2009 at 18:08
just to cheer you all up,this week is the first anniversary since rosicky got injured.how much is that in wages.the accounts should show players and non players wages and why are we 70million more in debt in the published accounts for 2008.
January 2, 2009 at 18:09
No I dont think you are reading too much into it Choy, but I am not getting too excited by it as I just dont think we will match the valuation.
January 2, 2009 at 18:09
hello to you kelsey and seb as well.. how is it going lads.. any news? apart from wenger not leaving ?
January 2, 2009 at 18:10
Hello Pat.. yeah at least it looks like we have made an offer.. thats a start
January 2, 2009 at 18:12
just watched a rerun of our 5-2 win against gillingham in 2002.christ , jeffers was shit and grimaldi not much better,yet we went on to win the cup
January 2, 2009 at 18:12
Juve is bigger than AC Milan
January 2, 2009 at 18:12
1989…wasn’t even born yet!!
January 2, 2009 at 18:13
choy evening,
has toure got a groin strain or not.kind of convenient he isn’t available for tomorrow.
January 2, 2009 at 18:15
pat,
arshavin is on 90k a week at the moment,so even with a drop in price and wages,to me he isn’t a priority.a central defender or holding midfielder must take preference.
January 2, 2009 at 18:16
I wondered that about Kolo, but Wenger seems adamant he is not selling, but he was about Hleb as well. Ok Hleb might have pulled out the Webster card as pointed out earlier but he still said he was under contract and going nowhere.
Personally I would take the cash and buy a replacement. Kolo has been pretty poor for a year now and you wonder if he needs a fresh challenge himself. He also looks like a Competitor for Huddlestone at Fat Camp.
January 2, 2009 at 18:17
Raddy – once again you are Spot On, and isn’t that so very sad
Starsky & Hutch, Capt Holby has died today
May he RIP
January 2, 2009 at 18:17
kelsey don’t know the fook is up with toure.. however i do think that denilson is being rested.
Kelsey I think a creative player is as important as a defensive one.. we seem to be creating fuck all these days.
January 2, 2009 at 18:18
Arshavin said he won’t even ask for 75,000 EUROS a week. He knows how we are with money. He said that 2 days ago, maybe 3.
January 2, 2009 at 18:18
Definately Kelsey, for me the Holding Midfielder is the priority but I do think we are lacking creativity, I cant believe how few chances we are creating game to game.
I am not fussed on a CB, we are covered with Djourou, Gallas and Silvestre. And Toure if he stays. I only want a CB if Kolo or Gallas leave.
In order of priority for me it is
DM
Winger
Striker
CB
Keeper
Manager
January 2, 2009 at 18:21
Hleb had a much bigger impact in games than Nasri. Cesc had much more room to operate last year when Hleb played. Do you guys see why I miss him, or do you still think Nasri is better?
January 2, 2009 at 18:21
Evening Grovers!
How are we all? January 2nd… officially one of the most depressing days…
Gym, nothing to look forward to… credit card bills!
What could make me feel better? Oh yeah, some top signings in the next week!
January 2, 2009 at 18:22
Pat, not until his 3rd year.
January 2, 2009 at 18:22
Flamini and Hleb are fools. Our system suited their style perfectly. Hleb and Cesc controlled the pace of games, Flamini worked his socks off.
Damn Arsenal for not trying harder to keep them.
January 2, 2009 at 18:23
pat..
we will see at the end of the season.. if nasri ends up winning nothing as well
nasri does seem to be turning up at home, lets see him bring up the away form as well.
January 2, 2009 at 18:24
Pedro, I agree he was shit for the 2 previous years, but so was the whole team!
Last year we had it all clicking.
January 2, 2009 at 18:24
Pat hleb… was 26 and was here 3 seasons nasri is 21 and has been here 1/2 in a poor midfield and has had injuries..
Is it fair to compare?
January 2, 2009 at 18:24
Hey, can anyone find the article where we were linked with a £40/£30million player?
Wenger keeps banging on about it… but I haven’t read it?
January 2, 2009 at 18:24
I think we needed both of them Pat
I always thought scoring goals was the only thing missing in Hleb’s locker, apart from that he was World Class.
If no one had left in the Summer and we had bought Nasri and Ramsey, I would have been over the moon. I also think we would be top now.
Nasri was what we missed last year, Lehmann, Hleb, Flamini and Gilberto as cover are what we are missing this year!!!!!
January 2, 2009 at 18:25
Pat, at least Hleb had the pleasure of playing with some great players. Poor old Nasri doesn’t have anyone exceptional to play with in midfield… bar Cesc.
January 2, 2009 at 18:26
Agree with that Avenell,
We cant look at Nasri as Hleb’s replacement. I am sure we would still have bought him if Hleb had stayed.
January 2, 2009 at 18:26
The thing with nasri is that he can be shit, but still score. I think he’ll be better than Hleb in the long run, since he’s still young.
January 2, 2009 at 18:26
Pat, I doubt it… when does Wenger ever have competition for places in his squad?
January 2, 2009 at 18:27
sorry… patthegooner that last one was for.
January 2, 2009 at 18:28
the trouble is that gallas and silvestre are both over 30 and you know what that means.i confess i don’t know how long either is contracted till.
i think raddy hit it on the head,all we want is the truth,not complete opposite quotes coming from the board and wenger.if there is money available be it 10 or 30 million it must be spent otherwise we will fall further behind.if there really isn’t then so be it and wenger is doing a remarkable job with next to no funds.i know which version i believe
January 2, 2009 at 18:29
Everone uses Bendtner and Songs age as an excuse but Nasri is only a year older and new to the prem and is expected to fit straight in.
January 2, 2009 at 18:30
True Pedro, but it would have given us a strong bench.
I still cant fathom how the Club think they can let the three best Defensive Midfielders go in the space of 6 months and try and cuff it with options 4,5 & 6.
Not even David Blaine would attempt that magic trick
January 2, 2009 at 18:30
I don’t think anyone expected Nasri to slot straight in… French players never do. He has to adapt to the pace and the strength of the league. That is why it would have been ideal for him to learn his trade alongside Hleb.
January 2, 2009 at 18:31
Pat, I’ve always wondered that with Arsene… he has never had a decent size squad and the years we’ve missed out on the league have often been because Wenger squads can’t take an injury crisis.
January 2, 2009 at 18:32
I think we should sign Axel Witsel and Blaise Matuidi..
Everyone would want these names on their backs, maybe even combine the two..
January 2, 2009 at 18:32
Avenell, I’m comparing based on what we needed NOW, THIS season. Not in the future. Stop talking about the future like Wenger. We’ve won fuck all the last 4-5 years. We miss hleb really bad.
January 2, 2009 at 18:33
Avenell I hate the age excuse
At the end of the day, Wenger has chosen these players to be part of the 1st Team and as such age can’t be taken into consideration. We are here to win trophies and to compete. You are either good enough or you are not and in both Song and Bendtners case they are not. You use the Youth, Reserves and Loan deals to develop players not the 1st team and even if you do use the 1st team, you limit the amount of positions you are fucking with. We are carrying too many average players in any given starting 11 and it is not good management.
January 2, 2009 at 18:35
I know Pedro, and when was the last season we didn’t have an injury crisis?
January 2, 2009 at 18:35
We don’t just miss Hleb.. This depression started last january when hleb was still playing.
We miss Flamini, Hleb and Rosicky equally ….I bet Cesc did too…
January 2, 2009 at 18:37
Keyser, I’ve watched Witsel play before… he looks a good prospect. No idea about the other guy.
Pat, Nasri was a good buy… he’s not a long term future player, he is a second half of the season player. There aren’t many players who settle immediately and give you great performances. Even ronaldo took 3 seasons.
I wouldn’t be worrying about Nasri… I’d be worrying about Song and Eboue… they’ve been here years and they are still not cutting it.
January 2, 2009 at 18:37
and Henry, Bergkamp, Vieira, Pires and Ljungberg Avenell
January 2, 2009 at 18:38
Although currently pretty inconsistent, I think Nasri has shown some really promising signs. I think he will only get better.
January 2, 2009 at 18:39
Pat… kind of last year I think.
The core of our team stayed fit.
I know we lost Rocky, RvP and Eduardo… but we kept the back 4 mostly fit, the keeper stayed fit and our main striker did.
We should have been in a position to cope with those losses.
January 2, 2009 at 18:39
Pedro – It’s only been in recent years where we’ve started hearing about 2 World Class players for every position, before that really United had the best squads around and we’d just have to make do.
If we went like for like of all the players we’ve had out compared to previous Arsenal squads would we have done aswell ?!
It’s weird how much the leagues changed in the last few years, teams like Villa spend 30 million a season now.
January 2, 2009 at 18:39
Song was signed on loan September 2005, and signed permanently August 2006.
There’s still time for him to come good!!
or is that the xmas goodwill to all men still talking…. ie bullshit
January 2, 2009 at 18:40
ahh if only we had persuaded Hleb to stay… just like Fergie did with Ronaldo and O Neil did with Barry
January 2, 2009 at 18:41
Pedro – I just like the names, imagine hearing them in commentary, Heh, Witsel’s good put ina couple of good performances against Liverpool and Everton, but is young and the Belgium league isn’t anywhere near the Premiership at the moment.
January 2, 2009 at 18:41
Keyser, I’m not asking for 2 world class players in each position. Just a squad capable of fielding a right midfielder when an injury occurs… not a right back. Or a squad capable of putting a left winger out wide… not a lanky centre mid.
You don’t need 2 world class players in every position… shit… we don’t even have one world class player for every position.
January 2, 2009 at 18:41
We should have been able to cope but with Rosicky especially we were suddenly playing Diaby and Denilson as Left Wingers.
January 2, 2009 at 18:42
Pat… We were lucky to have had the privilage of having those as arsenal players and all at the same time.
January 2, 2009 at 18:42
Keyser, Fellani is doing ok… Kompany is not the worst player. Eboue came out of the Belgium league
January 2, 2009 at 18:43
I just can’t see that Seb.
When you look at the younger players you would at least like to see signs of improvement and I really just dont get Song. He is consistently poor and then we does shock and have an average game it stands out and people think he is brilliant when in fact he is still pants.
January 2, 2009 at 18:44
Yes we definately were Avenell, but arguably we could have replaced them better…
January 2, 2009 at 18:46
Pat, I was looking at the stats the other day… and I reckon Rosicky was our most critical loss last season.
6 goals and 2 assists in 15 games… imagine if he’d played 35 like the rest of the midfield.
That would have been 14 goals and 5 assists (I think)… could that have won us the league?
Maybe!
January 2, 2009 at 18:46
“We do have a specific budget. It is not as big as I have read in the newspapers but we will try to use it wisely and well if we can.”
“It is amazing what you can get for a tenner at Woolworths. The players will enjoy those hot water bottles and pastel blue bedside lamps, when I am reading them their bedtime stories.”
January 2, 2009 at 18:49
Once Rosicky was injured, we had that 5 game winless streak.
January 2, 2009 at 18:49
Seb, I like your positivity on Song!
I just don’t see it. Normally with a struggling player you can see signs…
Freddie looked poor… but he was always in good positions to score… he just needed to hit the target.
Flamini was a bit of a head case, but if he learnt to channel his energy, he was going to be good.
Pires just needed to get the ball out of his feet a bit quicker and be a bit more clinical.
Song… well, he has no pace, his passing is poor, his tackling is poor and he has 0 concentration. He is literally a body on the pitch… and Pat… spot on about Song having an average performance and everyone talking about it like it was a MoM game.
January 2, 2009 at 18:50
Keyser
“teams like Villa spend 30 million a seson now” Says it all really. Just how far behind we are.
January 2, 2009 at 18:51
No one answered me earlier… where is the link to the £40million player Wenger goes on about every transfer window?
I can’t find it anywhere?
January 2, 2009 at 18:51
Pedro – But thats it though, Chelsea have that or have had that and we’re ether going to have to work towards that or wait for them to fall back. United have just followed suit, it took them a couple of years, but now they’ve startd spending almost as heavily.
Fellaini – He suits Everton, they’ve got him and little minions running around him.
Kompany – He’s not shown anything particularly special.
Eboue – Is probably one of the best imports we’ve ever had from Belgium..
January 2, 2009 at 18:52
GM, it’s amazing the Villa with all 14 of their corporate boxes can afford such sums… I am pretty sure Randy Lerner doesn’t dip into his own pocket to fund the transfers.
January 2, 2009 at 18:52
catch you all tomorrow, my bed calls
Be good and be safe
Nighty night
January 2, 2009 at 18:53
I try to think of it like this:
Will these players get worse, or better?
It has got to be the latter.
The issue is the rate of improvement.
January 2, 2009 at 18:53
I would rather a can of stella than eboue.
January 2, 2009 at 18:53
bye rico, that’s what happens when you get up at 3am!
January 2, 2009 at 18:54
Bye rico
January 2, 2009 at 18:54
Villa summed him up to me Pedro
He was asleep on the corner where he just let Sidwell run past him to head against the post, and then the lazy idiot did exactly the same thing on the very next corner.
And sometimes when you see the camera pan out and you look at the teams shape, there is this gaping whole in Midfield and it is then like spot the ball or now known as spot the Song to try find out how far out of position he actually is.
And when you look at his whole game, if I was a Swansea or a Forest fan, he would probably look out of his depth there as well. It is a crime that he is playing for a top four football club and a perfect example for when people talk about rubbish foreigners taking the place of home grown talent.
January 2, 2009 at 18:55
Keyser, third best import… Kolo was first… and Stella Artois second… then Kolo third, because I can’t think of anything else we Arsenal sell that is shipped from there.
Man U have always spent heavily. It’s what keeps them on top. Arsenal aren’t even in the top half for spending for the whole league… we all have similar revenue streams (Bar the Chavs, but they are in the same boat as everyone else now).
January 2, 2009 at 18:56
Seb, what happens if they’ve peaked… I mean, Senderos didn’t ever get better did he? He regressed if anything… the same with Aliadiere.
January 2, 2009 at 18:58
Pat, the same in the Boro game before… he just nods off.
What happened to Bischoff… he is like the new Stefan Malz…!
January 2, 2009 at 18:58
Before the window I was worried we wouldn’t buy anyone now it’s here I still think the same so I don’t know why I’m still depressed. Manu have just spent 14 million on jan 2nd after spending 30 million on count dracula in the summer. We’ll (me anyway) probably still be on le grove 2 hours after the window closes talking about out of contract players like appiah.
January 2, 2009 at 18:58
Blog hogging! haha!
January 2, 2009 at 18:59
Villa’s spending is pretty much all down to Randy Lerner, they wouldn’t be going anywhere if it weren’t for him.
They owe him something like 50 million in loans I think I read somewhere, everyone goes on about how good a job O’Neill is doing without mentioning how much money he’s spending.
January 2, 2009 at 18:59
You mean Bischoff that we were going to see after 2-3 months!!!!
God knows, is he even in the squad for tomorrow or is he another duffer that we will bring into the squad next year to play every position apart from his own.
I am being harsh there, I did see him in one reserve game and he looked quite good.
January 2, 2009 at 19:00
Keyser, what is wrong in spending sensible amounts of money in a sensible way? He’s done a great job on a modest budget.
January 2, 2009 at 19:01
I’m off home. I think the spuds are playing at home tonight. My tube’s going to stink
January 2, 2009 at 19:04
Pedro – They were the only team we were competing with for a few years, what was the difference in revenue before we moved ? They’ve staurated almost every market in the World just by pimping out players like Beckham and Far East tours, we’ve got a long long way to go.
Even Chelsea I think we’re going to have to wait a few years, they fucked up big team with the players they bought, Shaun Wright Phillips for 21 million, if they’d bought Villa back then he’d have made them multiple amounts more.
January 2, 2009 at 19:05
O’Neill is not spending that much is he?
I am not asking us to try and match Chavski, that would be irresponsible and impossible, I am just asking us to use the available resources to buy enough players of class that will then enable us to challenge.
January 2, 2009 at 19:07
Keyser, how do you make an impact in a market that is already saturated by another football team? You can only support one team can’t you? Who is going to buy into the Arsenal dream in China? No real superstars… no cups… no leagues…
Success on the pitch allows you to pimp your club, so those markets will stay Manc for a while.
January 2, 2009 at 19:08
That tosser Wayne Bridge is money grabbing again.. I hope Man City sign another left back and bench him..
January 2, 2009 at 19:08
Pedro – It’s not a modest budget, seriously it’s not just spending, it’s net spending, in the last couple of years it’s 50 million net I think, he’s just been quietly accumlating and Lerner’s just let him dip into his pockets. Without having to really sell anyone.
Only two teams, one of them is Inter have equalled or exceeded his spending this past year.
January 2, 2009 at 19:11
Pedro – It’s all on a timeline, unless we get massive investment into the club without having to pay it back right away, we’re going to have to stick with the way we’re dealing with it now. A player here or there could help but in terms of the teams around us we’re going to still have to be extremely clever.
United were pimping out there club back in the 90’s when we were still trying to mount a serious challenge.
January 2, 2009 at 19:11
Keyser, £50million over 3 years is hardly bank breaking.
£40 odd million in TV money, UEFA Cup cash… full stadium most of the time…
It’s only Arsenal who see a cash surplus from transfers as an ever season must.
January 2, 2009 at 19:14
Villa are the 6th highest net spenders in the last 5 years… Arsenal are 18th.
http://www.purelymancity.com/wp-content/5yearspendingcomparison.jpg
January 2, 2009 at 19:15
Wow, even reading have invested more money than us!
Comical or what?
January 2, 2009 at 19:15
I agree pedro.. where the fook the money goes i have no frikkin clue.. sunderland ffs spend more than us.. look at man utd.. they’ve already bought two players!!!
January 2, 2009 at 19:16
Choy, and that is why everyone is catching up with us!
January 2, 2009 at 19:17
what do you think about arshavin.. wenger didn’t say no.. do you reckon they are negotiating?
January 2, 2009 at 19:17
Did David Blaine just magic the stadium?
January 2, 2009 at 19:18
Looking at that table a 5yr net spend by Villa of 40m is actually pretty good in my books.
Keyser we dont need a sugar daddy, we need the Manager to actually do some sensible net spending to accumulate. If the club carries on this policy as it stands, we will be bankrupt for different reasons.
The fans are turning, next it will be Coporate and then it will be Sponsors. Just watch the empty spaces grow towards the end of the season. They might think they have a hoard of red members in the wings but those red members are just as pissed as those that are going.
January 2, 2009 at 19:18
the emirates avenell? are we back at highbury… does bergkamp and bobby p still play for us?
January 2, 2009 at 19:19
sorry i dont think arsenal are missing hleb at all hleb was far to indirectfor nasri is mush more suited to prem not a better player just more direct willing take shot more than hleb,hleb had exptional ball retention and dripler and very similar to diaby,arsenal are missing someone who can organise the midfield basically a carming influance and orgainse and intercept and read passes someone with a bit of experience, a work horse and they are missing a wide player with lots of pace they missing wilcatt big time. look the fact we dont if flamani could reproduce the form he showed last season,ade had great last season he he has been quite poore.
i keep on hearing wenger needs to spend big,if look at the big names that arsenal had like henry,viera,pires,lumberg,edwardo,sangna,ade,fab non of he ever spent more than 15 million on wenger going to spend more than 15 million on a player never,if compare arsenals spending liverpool or chelsea and man city they dont have new stadium to off.
look the fact arsenal my be fortunate but they are only 10 points behind which is only 3 games liverpool and chelsea nad manu and most defenatly vill a are goinng drop points we still in it just about. i suspect wenger wenger just has budged of around 20-25 million around that mark and i think he will try bring in some one of exptional with experience if he cant get someone likethat for the right price he might bring in someone in on loan
January 2, 2009 at 19:19
I really cant see what the problem would be with a net spend of +20m every year on players.
January 2, 2009 at 19:21
Pedro – It’s not breaking the bank because it’s dipping into the pockets of an investor or getting him to back the loans, if we get an investor in then we could follow suit, until then we’re working on a budget.
I’m not saying we can’t spend, just showing that this is the situation we face, the stadium has had an effect, if teams around us choose to get investors to back then we’re pretty much stuck unless we do the same.
5o million is a lot, do you have this years spending ? Because if it’s net it all adds up.
January 2, 2009 at 19:22
It’s like bergkamp said when you get your first mortgage you have to keep out of the clubs and pubs for a couple of years.
January 2, 2009 at 19:23
I thought we had the funds available in Cash reserve, from the profits the club has made
We dont need to be dipping into the pockets of an investor.
January 2, 2009 at 19:23
Just have SSn on. Wenger apparently said he will only buy exceptional talents. More Songs on the card so. Fudging lovely!!
January 2, 2009 at 19:23
is it just me that finds Pedros link utterly depressing? We moved stadium to compete with utd/liverpool butwe’re being outspent by reading, bolton etc.
We should be up there with liverpool, £80m over 5 years is nothing if our £37m profits per season are to be believed.
January 2, 2009 at 19:24
Keyser I dont think anyone is asking us to spend 50m pounds
We are asking to sensibly use the 30m that is available to us to strengthen the squad.
January 2, 2009 at 19:24
pattheGooner – Take the last two years or three, he’s spent like 40 million and 20-30 million net, I’d need to find the link before I’m certain but he’s spent a hell of a lot.
It’s coming from Lernar, if we had the same fine, as for talk of bankruptcy ? Come on it’s not that bad, Heh.
January 2, 2009 at 19:25
Definately Gambon
Where the fuck is all the money going?
January 2, 2009 at 19:26
We built the stadium to compete, but the project isn’t over yet in 2010 we compete.
January 2, 2009 at 19:27
All the money that goes in disappears and nothing goes out! Where the fuck is the money?
January 2, 2009 at 19:27
pattheGooner – 30 million ? By all the looks of it, I’d have guessed that was available, but it doesn’t look like it anymore.
Where have I said we need to spend 50 million, i’m just saying it shows how tough a situation we are in and 30 million is probably our whole budget at best, we need to be careful with it.
This is just talk of Villa, we haven’t even looked at united, who’ve spent 60 million for the last couple of season + Tevez.
January 2, 2009 at 19:27
pathegooner
there is nothing with spending that money if you have the money,as you know wenger has always been very coy about takling about such matters and plus i just think its his style he has never spent any more 15 mill on one player
January 2, 2009 at 19:28
Hi Grovers, I’ve just got in and read the statement from AW – it appears we are not after Given or Arteta, but he is not denying interest in Arshavin, just saying that a deal hasn’t been done yet
January 2, 2009 at 19:28
Get to the bookies before the spuds play Wigan, Gareth Bale is playing and whenever he plays they lose, either that or they dont win. What a great player. They should make him captain.
January 2, 2009 at 19:30
Was he asked about Arshavin?
January 2, 2009 at 19:30
Pat on the other hand where has all the money come from to build a £400 million pound stadium?
January 2, 2009 at 19:30
No its not but it could be Keyser.
We need to be filling that stadium, and already gaps are starting to appear. My mate reckons there was at least 5-10 thousand gaps at the Pompey game.
If we dont start showing some ambition, we will be on a steady downward slope, new fans will not choose us, eventually only the hardcore element of probably around 30,000 will go to the games, the sponsor deals will go down as ultimately they want success, attractive football and big names on the park, corporate will not renew, Club level fans will be hard pushed to justify renewals given the standard of football and we will struggle to attract any good players and will lose the ones we have.
I have been looking for the transfer stats myself but could only find them on their individual Wiki pages, I dont think it is as much as you think it is, especially bear in mind that they had a lot of work to do.
January 2, 2009 at 19:30
if you look at liverpoool ,amu and chelsea on of them are spending realy big expect mabe man city plus the prices are just so inflated its bad time buy players its always better buy in the summer
January 2, 2009 at 19:30
Well we know that Avenell it came from a manageable loan that we are easily meeting the repayments on.
January 2, 2009 at 19:31
Yes, he was asked about Arshavin.
January 2, 2009 at 19:32
Leon,
We have the money though, I base our budget on the fact that the board released a quote stating that Wenger could spend 30m on a player if he wanted to.
So we have 30m to spend on a few players.
January 2, 2009 at 19:32
Pat half of it does what about the other half?
January 2, 2009 at 19:33
Rasp, what did he say on Arshavin?
January 2, 2009 at 19:34
Yes it is better to buy in the Summer but he didnt so we are where we are.
To not buy anyone in this window could be catastrophic for the football club.
January 2, 2009 at 19:35
So what are you trying to say Avenell,
Despite them saying we have cash we actually havent?
January 2, 2009 at 19:35
So, another transfer window opens and, no doubt, there will be many of us on here on the last day waiting for us to sign someone, not necessarily a £30m superstar, just someone we have heard of, who’s quite good would do.
We dont need anymore 12 year olds with potential.
We dont need anyone else with exceptional talent, we already have Song, Eboue and Ramsey.
Please Arsenal spend some of our money, (yes our money, we buy the tickets, the shirts etc.), and give us all a Bergkamp moment, you know when you have to buy every newspaper in the shop just to make sure its true!
ps. Happy new year everyone
January 2, 2009 at 19:36
Apparently this is what Wenger sad when asked about Arshavin….
“There is no progress [on Arshavin]. If there is any progress made you will be informed, I promise you. If we buy a player you will be informed.”
January 2, 2009 at 19:37
I think Pat is right… we’re not asking for £35million players left right and centre… just the purchasing of some exciting players that can take the squad back to where it was before.
He is also right about us going the other way. Do you really think corporates are going to stump up 3 years worth of cash up front for the boxes this year? No way! Firstly, companies don’t have the cash to do that… secondly, you can’t fill the boxes for love nor money!
If we drop out of the champions league, we’ll lose that £25million bonus… maybe get played less on TV due to the football not being the same standard as it used to…
There are grave ramifications for not spending the money he has if it goes tits up at the end of the year.
£16million a season… that seem reasonable for a club that wants to push into the champions league. Half a berbatov.
January 2, 2009 at 19:37
but wenger would never spend 30 mill on one player and plus what club do you know is going let go there top player in jan of all times its going to happen wenger has already been snubbed by 4-5 players in the summer its that simple
January 2, 2009 at 19:37
Surely he must realise how pissed the fans are that he didnt buy in the summer so not buying this months could push a lot of fans over the edge.
What annoys me is that whenever sky or setanta talk to an Arsenal fan they always manage to speak with an Arsene lover. They always say shit like, Wenger knows what hes doing, its all part of his plan and he got us unbeatable so he will come good. Why do they never talk with one of us.
January 2, 2009 at 19:39
stu
that is why i would never be season tickit holder
January 2, 2009 at 19:39
Leon, that is a pretty defeatist attitude. Are you saying we are the only club in the world that can’t lure a player against the clubs will?
There will be plenty of players available for the right price.
January 2, 2009 at 19:41
We have some cash that if these players that mr wenger put his trust in stepped up like they should have, we wouldn’t need to spend.
But i reckon we have about £20-£25 mill plus whatever we can sell, to get us back on track.
But Chelsea, Liverpool , man U have had no financial restrictions on building a new ground and they have gone further in the red than us with no assets to show.
January 2, 2009 at 19:41
Stu, I don’t know how they find them… I never sit next to an AKB.
In fact, I was sitting next to someone so irritating at Arsenal the other day, I wanted to give her a slap.
I’m all for moaning after the game… or moaning when Ade misses an open goal… but this woman was ridiculous… she was bemoaning the good things players were doing!
January 2, 2009 at 19:42
pattheGooner – They spent 12m on Milner, 8m on Cuellar, 3m on Young and then Nicky Shorey aswell, I think they’ve extended contracts aswell for Barry, Agbonlahor and the other Young.
It adds up, thats probably 30 million by itself. On top of the money he spent of other players, Ashely Young cost abut 9m in 2007. Reo Coker, Davies and i’m sure there’s plenty more. Oh yeah Fridel aswell this summer ?!
January 2, 2009 at 19:42
was just about to say the same
There are players available, but if we have to pay slightly over the odds then we only have ourselves to blame.
For instance if I was the Chairman at Zenit, i would be trying to squeeze every last penny out of us for Arshavin. Who has the greater need for the player?
January 2, 2009 at 19:43
do you know what?
I am sick to death of talking about money and whether we have it or not and whether we are going to spend it or not.
We used to talk about football as gooners, and we had plenty to talk about… it seems like an eternity ago now. What a bloody shit state of affairs.
January 2, 2009 at 19:43
Avenell, ManU have been £800 odd million in debt for three years!
I think we’ll see problem for those clubs…
Chelsea laid off 15 scouts due to finance problems…
Liverpool have to renegotiate their deal in Jan or June if they can get away with it…
ManU have the same problem… renegotiating a massive deal when banks don’t want to loan.
January 2, 2009 at 19:44
Ashavin is willing to pay some of his transfer out of his own pocket.
January 2, 2009 at 19:45
i dont even think £30m is available. if thats the case we’re either being lied to or the board are holding money back in preparation for selling the club.
The only other possibility is that the highbury square thing has really gone wrong. ive been through the accounts over and over but still cant understand why we are being so tight.
if our wage bill was say £80m rather than a ridiculous £101m we would still be paying more than lierpool for example and we would have £30m extra right now.
£30 mil would buy Cana and Arshavin, which i’d be happy with.
January 2, 2009 at 19:45
Zenit dont even play Arshavin anymore. Aside from being in their off season they dont play him unless he is needed. They are coping without him for now but are looking at Iaquinta as replacement.
Pedro, you should never ht a woman no matter how much she deserved it.
January 2, 2009 at 19:46
That is not too bad Keyser,
In fairness any club with a new manager and chairman will invest. Just look at what Sunderland spent int he Summer.
But well done to O’neill, he didnt spunk it all on one player, he has bought pretty well and not paid over the odds for any of them
January 2, 2009 at 19:46
Pedro – Thats it, 16 million a season is reasonable if you’re not paying for it through what you earn from the club or have a stadium to pay off, if we had an investor come in fine, if not then we have to be very careful in how we spend our money.
January 2, 2009 at 19:46
Spot on Pedro.. What if those clubs had to build a stadium on top of them debts?
January 2, 2009 at 19:46
Keyser, I don’t understand your point?
Seb… I hate it to! It’s what happens when the club isn’t honest with the fans.
If Arsenal said, ‘look we’re skint… we’ll be skint for 3 years while X happens’, we’d all accept our lot and sympathise with the club and the coach…
Instead we’re getting conflicting messages… Wenger and PHW say there is no money… others on the board have stated 8 times in the press we do have money…
So you get the ‘there is cash camp’ versus ‘there is no cash, Wengers covering up camp’
January 2, 2009 at 19:46
pedro
all i am saying there alot top players top quality experiened for 8-10 million but to in jan its alot more difficult because its in the middle of the season, let put this way if you were manger you had someone frank ribery or gareth baryy or some of that ability would you sell him in jan of all times to matter how much money you were offord
January 2, 2009 at 19:48
It’s pure agony to be a gooner in the transfer window
January 2, 2009 at 19:50
Saying we are skint isn’t going to attract Nasri or Ramsey or keep our best players like cesc.
January 2, 2009 at 19:50
The transfer window is one of the worst part of the season now because its all hope and dissapointment(sp).
January 2, 2009 at 19:50
Keyser, we make nigh on I can’t remember our profit figure, but it dwarfs our repayments.
Lerner paid £58mill for the club, cleared it’s debts and used it’s own resources to pay for the players. He has leveraged the £58million against the club… in the same way our board have leveraged the cost of the stadium against the club.
If they get Champs league football, they get an extra £25mill… if they do it next season… another £25mill… then Randy’s investment looks pretty good.
January 2, 2009 at 19:50
pattheGooner – Not too bad ? Hmm depends on how you look at it, O’neill’s fine while Lernar keeps helping him out but when the money dries up he’s going to have to stop and really earn his keep kind of like, he still hasn’t broken through to the Champions League and even then Villa are going to have to invest again to get their squad up to the standards needed for the Champions League or get knocked out at the group stage.
O’Neill’s had a hell of a lot of backing and now he has to deliver.
January 2, 2009 at 19:51
True Pedro, it’s like a big come-on, a big tease, getting us all standing to attention, and then….
“Sorry, we’ve got a headache now.”
well F you PHW!
the only trouble is, it’s not a one night stand, we’re married to the club, and as annoying as it gets, the club knows we ain’t going nowhere in a hurry. So they can prick tease us all they like! bitch…
January 2, 2009 at 19:51
Avenell, I am sure Nasri and co don’t look through the clubs finances before signing. They looked at the coach, the previous successes and listened the coaches plan.
Just like Thierry did… that is why he left I suspect.
January 2, 2009 at 19:52
Walcott should have extended his contract by now things are not looking good there!
January 2, 2009 at 19:54
pedro
wither you agree with wenger or not the fact is wenger never going spend any than around 20 million at the most ,i dont expect any than 2 players to come to arsenal in jan,i think wenger will alot business in the summer but not now expecaily with credit crunch now
January 2, 2009 at 19:54
Walcott wont extend his contract unless he is guarenteed to play up front imo.
January 2, 2009 at 19:54
evening avenell,
good point about theo.i think the extension to his contract expires in march.
January 2, 2009 at 19:56
Leon, credit crunch or not… you still need to invest in your business. Imagine how much worse things will be if we don’t make the champions league?
Coke wouldn’t let their product quality slip just because of tough times… it’s even more important to keep your customers happy when things are going down hill.
January 2, 2009 at 19:57
You don’t have to go through any finances if the manager says we are skint, It’s like you said about Man C, if they buy a world quality player others will follow.
If you look like a selling club players won’t come.
January 2, 2009 at 19:57
Most of the players joined the club for success and the longer we go without it they will start to leave. Not Song and Eboue tho because they have a free ticket to richness(if that even makes sense)
January 2, 2009 at 19:57
He is a Liverpool fan I think?
January 2, 2009 at 19:57
anyone knows whether the wage bill includes the board members salaries?
January 2, 2009 at 19:58
Pedro – These clubs aren’t running within their means, if you want to advocate a buyout thats one thing, but until then we’re going to have to be stingy with what we spend. If Wenger spends fine, if he doesn’t I can understand it aswell, all these players we’re linked with they have to work out or we lose out even more so.
We look at how much we have and how the club aren’t spending but the reason we’re looking at them to do so is not because of mis-management it’s because the teams around us are just backed by investors or have always had money behind them.
Villa get fourth they have to face another fourth placed team next year ? They get knocked out, it’s all a waste, and that’s what it is Lernars investment, not Villa’s self sufficiency it’s money being pumped in, we are in a precarious position and we’re going to have to be very careful. I don’t think we’ll fall away but it’s a fine line to where we want to be.
January 2, 2009 at 19:59
Any player that hoins us will only do so because they want Wenger to make them better and then get their move to a bigger club.
January 2, 2009 at 19:59
Have just found this on arse.com –
Win the Arsenal Edition of Football Manager!
The Arsenal Special Edition of Football Manager™ is fully skinned with Arsenal colours and the club logo, and features all of the official Arsenal player photos. This Special Edition offers Arsenal fans a unique way to experience the fastest selling version of the Football Manager series, which is currently No.1 in the UK PC charts.
Apparently its just like all the others except you cant buy any players over the age of 12 and when the transfer window opens all your good players fuck off!!!
January 2, 2009 at 19:59
Coke were selling tap water as pure and had to withdraw it from the market.
January 2, 2009 at 19:59
pedro
i totaly agree but wenger is going use scouting networks bring in some players without dought villa is looking very good and for asranl to finish out the top 4 that would not be funny at all but one thing wenger is good at is getting top players he has done it past and going have to again
January 2, 2009 at 20:00
remember phw said of kroenke that we didn’t want his sort around the club and now a few months later they are lapping up to him.
January 2, 2009 at 20:01
When we just got 4th in 06 Wenger went out and bought Rosicky. Did he buy anyone else that summer?
January 2, 2009 at 20:01
Keyser, I don’t know how you work that out?
We are 17th in the 5 year spending league… are you saying all the clubs above us are mismanaged? How can we have so much income and no transfer budget?
In fact, you’d be saying every top 4 European club is mismanaged… because they all spend more than us.
Lerner isn’t pumping money in… Villa earn money from the Prem, Fans and Europe as well.
January 2, 2009 at 20:02
Avenell, because they were putting naughty chemicals into it.
January 2, 2009 at 20:06
Good evening Kelsey.. Computer crashed I had to shut down..
January 2, 2009 at 20:09
Pedro If you see anyone tomorow wearing the exclusive T shirt give them a smack, only me and you should have them and Marks is on walkabout at the moment.. lol..
January 2, 2009 at 20:10
Has he not received it yet?
I’d better not where mine in case I get a whack! haha!
January 2, 2009 at 20:11
That hat you sent topped my Christmas tree!
January 2, 2009 at 20:11
just watched Le Boss On SSN cant believe the smug lying bastard ,comes out with the same old shit,,,,
money, or lack of it at our Club,
The press love old arsene coming out with his retoric of bollocks ,
I’M PISSED OFF WITH THE LYING BASTARD , we have had money ,he continues to pay over the top inflated wages to SHIT LIKE
SONG, EBOUE, ALMUNIA,instead of buying top class players,
now you favourite trick is to play Niki Ego, as a right winger you have truly lost the plot,
as has been said lets look forward and take a look at the renewals of season tickets at the end of the year ,
lets wait till the agm ,
this comedy club that is the arsenal board have now got to realise that its the fans that are arsenals life blood , without us they are nothing..
January 2, 2009 at 20:12
I bet there are a few AKB’s you will need to avoid first Ped.
January 2, 2009 at 20:13
It’s funny… I’ve met a few AKB’s about who say they read this blog and other AKB blogs… but they like them all because reading a different perspective is always interesting.
January 2, 2009 at 20:16
I personally dont hate AKBs. I just hate the cunts who laugh at realists when Arsenal get a lucky win, Wenger makes a good decision or something like that. And i especially hate the AKBs who slag us off by saying “fuck off and support chelsea or spurs”. Thats the most annoying thing of all.
January 2, 2009 at 20:16
Well, Dos Santos appears to be on his way out of Spurs… and Van De Vaart is available for transfer…
January 2, 2009 at 20:16
Pedro – Eh ? We’re paying off a brand new stadium, we’ve been in it two years, I didn’t say we have no transfer budget and you’d have to go and compare every other European Club around and all the factors that affect them.
We’re asking to loosen the purse strings because other teams are outspending us, they are doing that mainly because of outside investment or they can simply afford to spend that sort of money freely.
I’m saying unless we sell out to an investor we’re going to have to tread carefully over the next couple of years, or do you not agree ?!
January 2, 2009 at 20:17
v.d.v should be top of Wengers list. How much does he cost?-roughly
January 2, 2009 at 20:23
Did ye see that for a dive by Bentley. What a bitch!
January 2, 2009 at 20:24
Bentley’s thick, he does that shoulder thing every time he dives it’s soo blatant, even when it’s a foul he flicks his shoulder anyway.
January 2, 2009 at 20:30
I wouldnt mind buying from Wigan. They have some fairly good widemen, way better that what we have atm. De Ridder doesnt really play but doesnt look bad when he does and Valencia is a great winger and can play good football too. If Wenger does Bruce so many favours then why not ask for a favour in return?
January 2, 2009 at 20:31
Keyser, coming out of the transfer window every year with a positive figure is ridiculously prudent. Other teams who are outspending us are doing it with outside investment… but the top 4 aren’t.
Ignore the debt, Liverpool could afford £24mill on Torres… ManU have always been able to afford good players… we’ve always been top 4, always had champions league football and have always been prudent.
We’re asking Wenger to spend like he used to… this prudence is only a new thing and it is based more project youth than it is restrictions.
We don’t need an outside investor to be able to afford £16million a season on transfers… we have record profits! The whole point of the stadium was that we would never need a sugar daddy… so no, I don’t agree.
January 2, 2009 at 20:35
i have been reading your blog for some time and i agree with most of what you say.
however, the funny thing is that it looks like you write in the hope that arsene will read it and follow your advice. it doesnt happen and wont.
January 2, 2009 at 20:35
Pedro are you saying Chelsea are outspending us without outside investment?
I know they are poncing off the russian, I just don’t get you.
January 2, 2009 at 20:40
Evening all!
Have we signed anyone yet then??!!
January 2, 2009 at 20:41
Stu,
De Ridder was the only decent player against us in the Carling Cup for Wigan
January 2, 2009 at 20:41
Wenger is good but you have got to give him some money.. He needs a 1/4 of what benitez has spent.
January 2, 2009 at 20:45
Evening Wrighty.. Tomorrows another day lol..
January 2, 2009 at 20:46
Another day that will be wasted.
January 2, 2009 at 20:47
Pedro – I don’t think it’s ridiculously prudent at all, Chelsea changed the face of the Premiership forever and we’re still feeling the effects, that hasn’t changed it’s still there, United were where we are about 10 years ago and Liverpool are a bit of a joke.
If they didn’t have outside investment, then I don’t get you either.
16 million a season is what Villa spend net, they’ve spent about 30 in the summer and will spend again in January, yeah we make profits but it doesn’t suddenly mean you stop considering the teams around you and the situation you are in.
We will compete with the new stadium, but it doesn’t change the fact that United have had the same sorts of crowds turn out for about a decade previously.
January 2, 2009 at 20:47
Avenell, just say Roman fucked off tomorrow and left them with no debt… Chelsea would out spend us… it’s illogical to say that everyone spends beyond their means and Arsenal are the only ones spending what they should every year.
We are 3rd in money behind Madrid and ManU… think of all the teams below and how much they spend… then tell me they are all badly run.
January 2, 2009 at 20:48
I we have no money or little money like Wenger clamins then either get some players on loan or go buy from Germany. The players there are as cheap as chips(used to be) and very good technically(for the most part). Plus the efficiency would be very welcome.
January 2, 2009 at 20:53
I still don’t understand your point Keyser…? Are you saying that we can’t afford the same transfer budget as Aston villa?… despite all figures pointing towards the fact we can?
Or are you saying all the teams above us in the spending league are badly run?
January 2, 2009 at 20:53
Clearly there are two opposing views on the finances. Either we have the money or we don’t. I am assuming that most will agree that if we have the money, we should buy if suitable players are available. so the relevant questions are…
Does Wenger have money available and chose not to buy?
Is there no money and Wenger is covering for the sake of the club?
A more complex question is; who out of Edelman and PHW is telling the truth and have they conspired to give conflicting views or are they in opposition?
I wouldn’t be surprised if Gazidis is wondering if joining Arsenal was a good idea since the first couple of days of his tenure have been a PR disaster.
January 2, 2009 at 20:54
And on the ManU point… they make £1million a game… we make £3million a game. I think we are a little further ahead of where they were 10 years ago.
January 2, 2009 at 20:57
Chelsea were one day away from going under completely, till Bates sold to the Russian.
Chelsea will be sold depends on what Abramovich will take as losses.
We are third on turnover, not profit.
We turnover £3 mill a game but we have to pay the electric bill out of that.
January 2, 2009 at 20:59
sorry i have not got staium to pay off and have noticed that evon chelsea are sarting cut down on there spending ,there a alot top class players around 23-25 wenger just needs find player suited to arsenal for the right price,if you at the players we had when we won the title not one of them cost more than 15 million
January 2, 2009 at 20:59
Hi avenell,
Our wage bill is ridiculous though considering the quality of players we have don’t you think?