Arsenal’s net wage reduction revealed

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I’ve been trying that CBD oil malarkey, I don’t want to keep talking about wellness, but damn, that stuff is fine. I used it for a broken arm so I didn’t get hooked on painkillers, but now they do the stuff in a can called Recess. Get on it people, puts you lights out if you go to bed at night anxious about what the nasty boys in the LG comments section are saying about you.

It also gives you a way in when you’re at a party with people younger than you. They’ll think you’re super cool and likely forgive the fact you’re wearing Crocs and t-shirt that says ‘TOTAL LADS TOUR, KAVOS 2008’ with your salty nickname on the back. Come on, admit it, you did it because you were a little bitch that couldn’t stand-up for your future snobbish self.

Anyway, Paul Merson has been giving Unai ‘Wenger’ absolute pelters in the media.

He thinks all Xhaka is good for is bookings, he doesn’t think we’ve moved on since last season, and he thinks Mesut Ozil should be brought into midfield because we’re over-reliant on elite striking, which won’t last (like last season).

Paul gets a lot of stick from the champagne socialists amongst us (usually Xhaka lovers, amirite!), but I for one think he has some incisive views on Arsenal. He’s never far off. We do need to add some creativity to the midfield. I’d rather it were Ceballos if I’m honest, but if Ozil wants to act like an adult, he’ll absolutely do.

I saw this excellent Tifo video that explored how West Ham could use their new record signing, Haller.

*BREATHES IN*

I’m going to talk tactics to you.

They mention that Frankfurt played a 3-4-1-2… with Rebic acting as a sort of #10.

This is kind of interesting considering some of the options we have at Arsenal.

Steve Bould mentioned that Lacazette could almost be a number ten last season. So potentially, a #10 role wouldn’t be totally awful for him. He basically assumed that job at the weekend, only far deeper. Additionally, you could very well see Ceballos playing that role with Matteo and Willock sitting at the base. Bellerin and Kola could make up the wide options, and the 3 centre backs could make up for some of their defensive lapses.

LOOK I TRIED.

But seriously, what do you think?

Does it feel like I just offered you a bite of bacon-infused dark cocoa chocolate (95% pure) with a dash of fig marmalade? I think it does. This is new. You feel like you’re at a sophisticated words premise, right?

I’m sure it’ll more likely be a 4-3-3… I just worry we don’t really have the personnel to operate that at 100%. AMN is not a right-back, Kola is never going to be a great defender, so what are the options open to keep a front three of Pepe, Lacazette and Auba alive?

If you have a better idea, put it in the comments.

The Times reckons we removed £45m from the wage bill this window. I am struggling to see how that works out as a net figure. So I worked out where we landed.

  • Mkhitaryan
  • Cech
  • Ramsey
  • Welbeck
  • Koscielny
  • Monreal
  • Elneny
  • Iwobi
  • Ospina
  • Lichtsteiner
  • Jenkinson

-£900k p/w

  • David Luiz £125k
  • Nicolas Pepe £140k
  • Dani Ceballos £51k
  • Kieran Tierney £75k
  • Martinelli £20k
  • Saliba £N/A (would assume St Etienne are taking that on)

+£411k p/w

NET -£489k pw

TOTAL -£25,428,000

That’s pretty good going in a summer that we’re all very happy about.

Aaron Ramsey’s £300k a week does not look a miss either, and shock/horror, he’s out injured already.

So in one summer, we’ve made things mostly a lot better, and we’ve moved the wage bill down below £200m. Good going.

What we don’t know is what the true spend of the summer was… and I hear we committed to a huge number. Super agents don’t come cheap and I’ve no doubt we went to bed with many of them and woke up very sore.

I was told we’ve committed next summers budget to the cause this year, so anyone talking about Emery simply being a caretaker this season is very off the mark. It was Raul that brought him into the equation late on, so he’s very much his man. This season simply cannot end in failure, and if it’s looking terrible by January, I wouldn’t be shocked to see something happen… though I have been told by people in and around the club that that eventuality is very unlikely.

What I do like about this bit of info is this, if true, is all Raul cares about is success. He’s not hedging bets, he’s not hiding behind a manager, and he’s not pushing for status quo. He’s put his balls on the line and he’s making a play for the big boy leagues. That is what we’ve wanted. We have no inherited the second coming of Gazidis, it’s going to be totally different whatever happens… but make no mistake, it’s a big gamble. One that looks sound based on what’s around. One that needs to deliver some winnings.

I was also told, before the Liverpool game, that the training ground has been the best it’s been in a very long time. Lots of hope and energy. Hopefully that buzz lasts, and hopefully Emery can make the fixes he needs to before we attach ourselves to the slog of two games a week. We need happy players and we need good results.

Right, listen to my solo podcast and talk to me about the new tactics blog I should set up.

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Spanishdave

Ozil hasn’t played yet so 4×350
Won’t play for two more weeks so 2×350.
So over 2 mill pounds for doing nothing.
Totally insane.
Joke club now

azed

“Azed was arguing that Wenger in his last season had a better squad than Emery in his first.”

Actually, I was telling Un that Wenger with Alexis and AOC finished 5 so him saying Emery going from 6th to 5th with Iwobi and Mhki wasn’t an improvement was him not being objective .

alex cutter

Thanks again all. Regarding a “go fund me” thing, fortunately that’s not an issue as my insurance (eventually, after a fight) pays for most of the stuff. And I’m incredibly lucky to be able to work essentially full time (remote and office). To be honest, and I don’t know what it says about me, but if money were an issue, I’d rather just drop off the map and head down to Mexico to live out my days. After spending a lot of time on the r/cancer subreddit (reddit.com) with others dealing with this, I have it relatively easy. So many… Read more »

Chris

Alex Cutter

Sorry to read you are going through this. I hope you can come over to see the Arsenal real soon.

All the best.

Wasi

azed
There are some people on here who just downright hate emery and wont acknowledge him even if he shows improvements. I beleive if we finish 3rd or 4th this season these ppl gon come out saying he couldn’t win us the league. Just leave them be. Or they might dig up some underlying stat showing how bad Emery is and has yellow teeth.

Wasi

He couldn’t win us the league this season.*

Un na naai

Cutter

I didn’t know you had cancer

I’m really sorry. Hope you pull through man. Truly.

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Alex.

Good luck in your fight.
Best wishes.

Valentin

Azed, You explicitly said that Emery did not have a stronger squad than Wenger. AOC was gone just after the Liverpool game so he barely featured for us in that season. Alexis was useless his last six months at Arsenal. He kept losing possession especially in dangerous position. Like I said we all thought that he was just disinterested when his career at ManUtd seems to indicate to much deeper reasons. You are the only one arguing that the squad that Emery got with the addition of Leno, Sokratis and Torreira was weaker than the one Wenger had the season… Read more »

Un na naai

I’ll contribute to cutters ticket. 100% Cutter. A very good friend of mine. His daughter has cerebral palsy Not the same I know but he took her to this guy in Canada. Pays a lot of money to see him. Has radical treatments that aren’t necessarily approved by mainstream but my friend is totally converted to alternative therapies and medicines now. Anyway he swears thug guy knows how to get the better of certain cancers Not sure how much I believe it but it’s always worth a look. If you’d like I could get a link to his details for… Read more »

Valentin

Alex,

Stay strong.
You may get good news tomorrow.
Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

Arsenal fans are like any family, you fight, you argue, but we should support each other.

Valentin

Just seen a video that Barcelona tried to get Lucas Moura when it was clear that they could not get the deal for Neymar over the line.
I just hope that they really destabilise him even more until January.
Would be perfect, Ericksen and Spurs entire defense gone on a free. Lucas Moura angling for a love to Barcelona. Spurs left with just Sissoko, Delle Ally, Harry Winks and Eric Dier…

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Mustafi.

The man is 27…. good 6 years more playing plenty of time to rebuild he’s career.

No fight or ambition in his life bit like his football side.

The down size is he will leave on a bosman.

27 saying your career is over … just shows that football is a business not a sport to be enjoyed.

azed

Valentin

This was my comment from yesterday

“FYI Wenger had Alexis and AOC on the wings are finished 5th while Emery has Iwobi and Mhkitaryan on the wings.”

See this also
Buying of players is subjective. Wenger bought Lacazette, Kolasinac, brought back Wilshere and Calum Chambers while going from 5th to 6th.
Aubameyang and Mhkitaryan also joined in January.How come Wenger went backwards?

Valentin

Just seen the original video rather than a video reporting the video. Their take is slightly different.
Barcelona did not make the first contact. In fact Spurs offered Lucas Moura to Barcelona for £50 millions. Barcelona dwclin d their offer.
With the revelation that Trippier was forced out of the club by Levy in order to raise funds, that could indicate that financially everything is not so rosy at Spurs.
Maybe we should make a cheeky bid next season…

Batistuta

Hey

Alex Cutter, so sorry to read all of what you’re going through man, gonna say a prayer for you tonight man, fingers crossed we get good news tomorrow mate

Valentin

Azed,

You are backpedaling.
Everybody knows that Wenger’s last season was his worst. He messed things up and the club was going backward.

azed

Valentin

I just showed you my comments from yesterday where is the backpedaling?

“Everybody knows that Wenger’s last season was his worst. He messed things up and the club was going backward.”

And Unai in his first season did better than Wenger in his last. The question is was that an improvement?
A simple “Yes” or “No” would suffice.

Dissenter

Un na
The last thing you want to tell people facing life and death situations if to lean towards untried and untested methods.
Do you even know what CP is? …non-progressive brain damage during development. What’s this charlatan going do?…swap the brain?
You want to give him a link? eh

Little Mozart

Alex Cutter you are a warrior, a true fighter. Keep going and wish you the best.

Un na naai

Dissenter

I don’t know. Just know he’s improved my friend’s daughter immeasurably and that the kids on the nhs will never ever be as advanced as she is.

My mate said that he believes in the guy 100%. All I have to offer

TR7

Alex Cutter

Wish you all the best in your fight against cancer. I hope you pull through and continue to post here for years to come.

þorkell einarsson

lets start Martinelli in the next game and give Pepe a breather..
willock and dani in middle of the park, saka as a lw ?
lets nudge those cahonjas

Mysticleaves

Dissenter Dissenter, you never fail eh?

Alex, I viewed those pictures, gross man. But nice you shared and talked. You will be alright fam.

Good night le grove, my jewel of inestimable value. Pedro I love you so much you have no idea.

PhD2020

Alex Cutter

Sorry to hear about your plight Alex.Stay strong,in one’s prayers.

I’m sure you will bounce back in no time.Love your posts in general.Unrivalled in wit,humour and intelligence.One of Le-grove’s resident and respected posters.

You will be fine…

raptora

Cutter,
Keep fighting red&white brother! Be strong and who knows, maybe you’ll do a Michael Thomas on that pest.

Valentin

Azed,

Your own comment yesterday at 19:29
When challenged that the squad was better.

The idea that the five players made us automatically better is ridiculous.

Leno, Sokratis, Torreira do not make us better according to you.
The fact that Chambers was unavailable is not something you can pin on Wenger either. It was a decision that Emery took. It was a mistake because he had not realised how bad was Mustafi. It is understandable but still a lot of people were advocating to keep him knowing that Koscielny was not going to be fit for a long time.

MidwestGun

Alex C.- Sorry to hear bud… As you mentioned earlier your a sarcastic asshole … I’m a sarcastic asshole.. Probably why we get along… wishing you all the best man… Definitely get yourself to the Emirates… If you need help with that endeavor I’m sure many would help including me if needed. I think many forget there is a person behind the typing on the keyboard.. and we all have our own fucked up issues… The good part is we all have at least one thing in common and that is talking about Arsenal.. and its good to take our… Read more »

azed

Valentin

Why didn’t you post my full comment?

Gentlebris

Alex,

I pray you win this. I believe for you. I’m a Pentecostal christian, I believe for you. I hope you believe in miracles, I hope you believe in the Name of Jesus Christ. That’s all I can give you now, that’s all I have.

I’m sorry man, so so sorry.

Samesong

Alex so refreshing to hear your story. How that everything works out for you.

Samesong

hope*

Marko

Paul Merson incisive? When he insulted Emery sure.

Also I dunno if it’s been mentioned Rebic was loaned for two years to Milan. That’s Rebic, Jovic and Haller gone.

Marko

Alex goes without saying good luck with everything you’re going through. Hopefully you pull through. Either way living out the end of your days in Mexico sounds like a great idea. Hopefully it’s in your 80/90’s with a belly full of rum and a sombrero tilted just right.

Bojangles

Alex, all the best in your fight against that fucked up disease, lost two sisters to it, so I have an inkling of what you’re going through. Stay positive.

azed

All the best Alex.

Leftsidesanch

Stay positive Alex and best wishes.

Bojangles

With only Macey in his final year and just 5 others,Papa, Özil, Luiz, Auba and Mustafi whose contract expire in 2021 we seem to be getting our shit together on that front. With Raul saying a players contract should never go to the last year, as a policy, we should expect to see action taken with regards to extending or making a real effort to sell of those surplus to requirements. Auba is the only one likely to be offered an extension. Luiz has just joined so he’s not going to be sold. We have been trying to rid ourselves… Read more »

Bojangles

Emery ranked 14 in Eropes top 20 coaches according to Tribuna. Before scoffing at such a lowly position take note that the beloved Poch is ranked 15.

Bojangles

Sorry, forgot to add the link

https://tribuna.com/en/liverpoolfc/news/3455408/

SUGA3

Bojangles,

not unless we have a CB that can hit the ground running or Holding bossing it and staying fit

G8

All the best Alex Cutter
True gooner, keep fighting man.

N5

“Arsenal fans are like any family, you fight, you argue, but we should support each other.”

Thats what I love about this site. We argue like cat and dog, but when someone has something serious or needs help the whole site comes together.

Victoria concordia Crescit

Danialtos

ValentinSeptember 4, 2019 18:48:51 Danialtos,I am afraid that you got the wrong end of the thread. Azed was arguing that Wenger in his last season had a better squad than Emery in his last. According to him AOC who had already been sold and Alexis who was there in body the first part of the season were two players that Emery was missing. I was arguing that with Leno, a fully settled Aubameyang, a firing Lacazette, a fully fit Torreira the squad could not be described as weaker. I have followed the argument Valentin and there is a post in… Read more »

Danialtos

Alex cutter stay strong funny man,always enjoy your posts…I am not going to pretend to know your situation…..I lost a very dear friend to cancer last year and her suffering literally made me cry at times and made me appreciate the tricky situation this disease puts someone in….so keep strong brotherman.Cheers

Danialtos

Pedro if mane/salah or Sterling/aguero hadn’t scored all those goals last season their respective clubs wouldn’t be nowhere….or let’s be honest here,how many games last season have we seen Legrove lovechild’s(Pochettino’s) team playing absolutely shit only to be reached by 90th minute kane/ or son goal?…It happens everywhere…even Barcelona always look shit without messi

Danialtos

Rescued*

N5

“even Barcelona always look shit without messi”

You had a point until this comment.

Marko

There is something very wrong with over-dependence on two strikers.

Where would City be without the goals of Aguero and Sterling. Liverpool without Salah and Mane. You pay 55 million for two strikers you expect some sort of reliance on their goals. Not to worry though Pepe should help out in that regard

N5

“Yes Marko, we’re in the same situation as Liverpool and City.”

Ha ha, now that’s sarcasm! 😀 😀 😀

Bojangles

We all know that Kane and Alli are “cheaters” but it’s very possible that they are being encouraged to do so by none other than saucy Poch. Poch sees it as football trickery.

https://amp-theguardian-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/amp.theguardian.com/football/2018/feb/06/mauricio-pochettino-dele-alli-dive-tottenham-trickery?

I know this is an old post and possibly been discussed here previously but in light of the Poch lovefest that has been prevalent around here in recent days I thought it was worth bringing to the attention of all.

amp_js_v=a2&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQEKAFwAQ%3D%3D#aoh=15676337102887&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Ffootball%2F2018%2Ffeb%2F06%2Fmauricio-pochettino-dele-alli-dive-tottenham-trickery.

Kay

You will be alright Alex. Get well soon bro!

Valentin

Danieltos, there is a post in which you are clearly alluding that we only got by last season because of auba’s and laca’s goals(which is true) and not because Emery improved anything….which is why I have asked what is wrong with a 100m strikeforce bailing us each week? Again you got the wrong end of the thread. I was not the one making that argument. I believe that it was Un na naii. However we should not need to be bailed out every week. Because in the end your luck will run out. Our midfield was impotent and our defense… Read more »

N5

Counting on the attack to score more than the defence let in is Blitzkrieg tactics. It’s a irresponsible approach to football.

Words on a Blog

This one’s for Pedro and all the Poch lovers over here in Le Grove.

It’s a a totally scientific, quantitative and data driven power ranking of European coaches, showing Emery in 14th place and (some mistake surely) Poch one place ahead of him in 15th.

The quants have spoken and I rest my case!

https://tribuna.com/en/liverpoolfc/news/3455408/

Words on a Blog

**One place behind!

Bojangles

And dismissed just like that.

Henry Root

God bless Alex Cutter.
Positive vibes from all over the Goonerverse

N5

I was about to say that. It has OGS at #17, if he’s in the worlds top managers I wouldn’t hold much faith in that report.

Valentin

Does anybody seriously think that the study has any credibility?
OGS is in the top 20 of the best coaches in Europe.

Maurizio Sarri, Brendan Rodgers, Thomas Tuchel are in the top 10.

Looks like somebody compiled the list of best clubs in their respective league and randomly ranked their managers.

Words on a Blog

Pedro,

Honest, the pointy head bods over at Tribuna use a super-computer and lots and lots of xG data and stuff.

They’re totally legit.

Words on a Blog

On second thoughts, the guys at Tribuna are not quite as legit as Pedro is when he asserts that Poch is one of the “top 3 managers in the world.”

bennydevito

Alex,

Jesus Christ dude. I’ll keep you in my prayers along with my nephew.

CBD pil has to have the THC element to fight cancer otherwise it’s essentially a placebo. Here in the uk THC is illegal but cbd oils are booming business but it’s a rip off as they’re exploiting the latest fad that doesn’t really work without the thc especially where cancer is concerned.

All the best Alex and I really hope you have good news on the latest scans and that you get to see the Arsenal in person.

Ghost

Hey Alex Cutter, I am grateful that you shared this.
Wishing you all the best in your treatment.
Will you be given IV food or will they pass a tube into your remaining bowel and give you liquid diet?
Am surprised the melanoma wasn’t suggested for removal by Dermatologist.
Despite all you might go through I really want you to know you can can contact us for support.
Family is necessary at this hour.
All the best.

azed

“There is a big difference between having good goalscorers and great football… and just goalscorers who bail you out with limited chances.”

I don’t want this to keep dragging on but according to the official EPL website, we created more chances than Spurs, and also scored more but Emery is bland and pure garbage.

#Just putting this out there.

azed

Last one for the day

Team
xG
xGA

City
82.13+2.13
17.16+6.16

Liverpool
60.68+0.68
20.78+6.78

Arsenal
56.13+0.13
43.14+8.14

Spurs
46.63-1.37
35.83+10.83

Bojangles

Not sure why so much faith is placed in xG when there is so much variance in the models used and some of the input data is subjective. Whichever way you look at it it comes down to math and personal pov.

https://mackayanalytics.nl/2017/06/19/how-accurate-are-xg-models-ii-the-big-chance-dilemma/

Marko

Ahhh, the elite minds of Tribuna and a table.

To be fair at least they had a table and I’m sure there’s actual data behind those rankings. Which is far more than simply using words like “sauce” and “pizzazz” that you get around here.

Tony

Keep positive through your treatment Cutter.

Marko

‘Sauce’ would be an upgrade in thinking for you.

That’s not a thing. Just saying sauce isn’t a valid enough point.

Marko

Salah and Mane accounted for 53 of the 115 goals Liverpool scored last season while Auba and Laca scored 50 of our 112.

Marko

They’re just buzz words Pedro. You can neither prove one person has it and another person doesn’t. Feel free to throw up a graph one of the days on Poch’s sauce index. I’d love to know how the data backs his sauce to say another’s bland or someone else’s pizazz

Guns of SF

Cutter,
We got CBD all over here. THC and all.
Has it helped any for you? MY father has some serious health issues too, and CBD only helps him with the anxiety. His physical symptoms are unaffected.

Bojangles

Pedro, what is your definition of sauce. I have googled it and found no definition that can relate in any way, shape or form to being a requisite for selecting football manager. The closest I come to, what I think you mean is,
“used to describe someone who has a style, confidence, and attraction about them. Usually someone who is well-, dressed, fashionable and has an aura about them. Swagger style.”

Bojangles

When I enter a room most people leave. I always thought I had BO but I see now it’s that it’s down to me lacking sauce.

Seriously though, I can see it being an asset for a manager to have it but it shouldn’t be a requisite. It comes behind his ability to coach a team.

I think Emery has a little too not on the same level as Klopp and Pep granted.
He can’t help it if he reminds people of a Spanish waiter.

Bojangles

Sorry about the double post, must have hit post comment without realising it.

Tony

Just caught up with the comments on the last page.

“If you feel like it, try setting up a GoFundMe or something similar to get some funds together so you can visit the Emirates, post it here. I will make a contribution for sure.”

Me, too Alex

Hope your tests go well with more positive news and that you make it to the Emirates.

Bojangles

You said yourself the training ground was buzzing. Some of the players, Guendouzi and Willock come to mind, have stated that he has helped them. So he can’t be doing everything wrong.

Guns of sf

Pedro it’s late man. You still battling about emery

Wasi

Pedro
Many players have come out saying thay Emery’s coaching and inputs have improved their game. Amn, Iwobi and Guendouzis recently off the top of my head. So the coaching is working out to some extent. And we cannot talk about fixing the defence until we have our full backs back. So lets hold that.

Danialtos

Pedro nobody is saying we are the same as pool and city but facts are facts….do you really believe pep would win the title without an over reliance on aguero’s goals?….Or Liverpool without mane/salah goals?…Even your saucy boy,poch,who btw has failed to beat the bland Emery in 3 league matches now is being bailed out by kane/son week in week out….if we ask aubameyang how he feels about putting in an 89th winner every week for arsenal,he will definitely say he would feel elated about it

Danialtos

“even Barcelona always look shit without messi”You had a point until this comment.

I don’t know what your point is N5 but you should find some time and watch Barcelona games without messi,it’s sideways passing with no end product…I happened to stumble across alot of Barca matches last season where they were pure shit only for Messi to come in in the 70th minute and save their bacon….just look at how they are fairing this season….at the weekend,the only positive was Ansu Fati,the 16yo teen who is so good…otherwise they were pretty boring to watch and lacked ideas

Nelson

I have to say that the way Emery setup the team for the NLD was disappointing. The midfield was playing as if they have never played together before. The team was helped by the fans really pushing the players to fight. Emery is now with the club for over a year. I don’t feel that the team is mature at all.

Danialtos

Salah and Mane accounted for 53 of the 115 goals Liverpool scored last season while Auba and Laca scored 50 of our 112.

What a surprise….the two top attacking talents of two attacking teams get almost 50% of goals for their respective clubs…. honestly,it’s not a must for people to make everything negative around Arsenal here.

Tony

N5 & Pedro CBD is helpful for a vast range of illnesses but everyone’s tolerances are different. If people are in a position (legality wise) to make their own CBD, it’s very easy to extract the plants’ oil to use for its THC content or discard to only have its medicinal properties. The extraction only takes around 20 minutes and there are many links on the web giving easy instructions to follow and various recipes for cookies and brownies to make it all much more palatable. CBD certainly works for me where my colon disease has stayed firmly in remission… Read more »

Sid

Big NO to threesome from the back(CBs) big YES to threesome from the front (strikers)……. put them in for fun

Mark

Mourinho’s sauce must be very sour. Chelsea , Manchester UTD and before that Inter , maybe even Real Madrid didn’t like the taste

Major_Jeneral

Alex cutter Get well soon.