World of Arsenal - Latest Comments

Re: A Valiant Effort…

84 — Mon, 13 May 2013 10:09:04 -0000

Just remember a couple of things about Wenger and Gazebo. This is the story of when Arsenal became Arsene_al. When Wenger¿s ally and friend David Dein was ousted from the board by Danny Fiszman in 2007, the manager¿s powerbase significantly strengthened. Wenger only agreed to carry on as manager with the proviso that he had complete control of player recruitment and strategy at all levels. The board, desperate to retain the services of the club¿s greatest post-war manager, gave him the keys, the combination and the code to the safe. Arsenal became ¿Arsene-al¿. Arsene Wenger has the autonomy at Arsenal that managers can only dream of. The result was that there was no-one to take Wenger to one side to ask, for example, whether Manuel Almunia was truly deserving of his status as No.1, as Dein would have done. Incredibly, the Frenchman vetoed the appointment of former Vodafone chief Paul Donovan as the new chief executive in late 2008. Ivan Gazidis, then Major League Soccer¿s deputy commissioner, got the job instead. Wenger had sanctioned his own boss. So englandsbest when you keep rambling about Gazidis just remember how he got the job.

Re: A Valiant Effort…

yemi — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 04:29:25 -0000

Obviously all is not same on this blog again. Debbd, dev, jat etc have y'all deserted?

Re: Can we scrape into the top 4? It’s going to be hard…

Rauf Arshad — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 05:18:01 -0000

I remember how Arsenal survive against the opponents last its
Tomáš Rosický 2 Goals Brings Arsenal to Top 4 in Premier League
Well the war for the top 4th place in the league between Arsenal , Tottenham , Everton and Chelsea , so this week its the team of the Arsenal who collect three points from the match and make to the mark and get the top 4th place position in the league its due to the Tomáš Rosický brillent 2 goals

http://thesportsclash.blogspot...

Re: A Valiant Effort…

barry — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 12:52:01 -0000

The most recently available figures show Arsenal spending about £144m a year on wages. A quick glance at Spurs (£91m) and Manchester United (£162m, some of which will be bonuses for winning the Premier League, as the figures are from 2011/12), and then a quick glance at the league table, tells you we’re not getting our money’s worth from our expenditure. Is this likely to change any time soon?

For years I’ve heard people talking of the much-vaunted ‘clear-out’ - AFC getting rid of the deadwood in our playing squad and using the freed-up income to invest in quality and make us competitive. For years we’ve been getting further away from the top whilst our wage-bill has continued to spiral. This year will be no different. “But Arshavin, Squillaci and Denilson are out of contract and we’ll sell our other players that are out on loan this summer – we’ll have loads of extra money to spend on new players,” I hear you cry. Wrong for two reasons –

(1) We will seriously struggle to offload our garbage. The reason that Chamakh, Djourou, Santos, Park and Bendtner are out on loan is not because they might have a future at the club – it’s because nobody else will pay them half as much as we do. Unless they take a considerable pay cut and the club will accept a marginal return on their investment (in transfer fee and wages) on these players, they won’t be going anywhere. Unfortunately, Silvestre and Squillaci are proof that even players who have had a career at the highest level will happily take the hand-outs that we are willing to give and still be welcomed with open arms at London Colney. Don’t be surprised if these players are all loaned out again next season because we couldn’t find a buyer.

(2) The money has already been spent – during the course of the season, Walcott, Wilshere, Ramsey, Gibbs, Chamberlain and Jenkinson have all signed new deals. I doubt anybody could contest us tying Wilshere down to a long-term deal and the Walcott issue is quite divisive, although many feel the new deal was justifiable. What worries me is that the other four have undoubtedly seen a significant pay increase far beyond what each of them could dream of earning at another club. Gibbs was having a good season but, after suffering yet another break-down, he has shown what a risk a lucrative long-term contract is. Chamberlain could yet be a great player for the next decade and Jenkinson is a genuine Gooner who has made great strides and will probably be first-choice next season after Sagna is sold, but was it necessary to give these players new deals only 12-18 months after signing on a long-term basis? Finally, Ramsey has just signed a fourth contract since joining the club – it would be difficult to justify three pay rises (inevitably) for any player in that space of time, but it is alarming given how out of sorts he has looked in the past two seasons. Rest assured that these new deals will have soaked up any saving we set to make by players being released.

Our approach seems to be to pay young players handsomely in the hope they make the grade and give them regular pay raises, with the fall-back of loan deals if they don’t cut it. This is in complete contrast to Manchester United, for example, who will only offer younger players a lucrative deal if they have proved themselves for a sustained period in the first team. They have accepted that some of their more frustrated youngsters may have their heads turned by big offers from elsewhere but they have deemed this a price worth paying and it’s hard to argue given their success. It also allows them to offer players like Rooney and van Persie in excess of £200,000 a week (reportedly) – I’m sure Ferguson doesn’t enjoy paying footballers that much money, but it’s a necessary evil if you crave success.

The policy is not working. It speaks volumes that we have loaned Denilson out for the last few years of his contract, essentially waiving a transfer fee and paying him to p*** off another group of fans. There’s no way anybody will pay any sort of remotely substantial fee for somebody like Park plus anywhere near the wages we’re paying. We’re stuck with these players until their contracts expire (or in his case until Kim Jong-Un loses the plot) and there’s nothing we can do except lie in the bed we’ve made.

Will lessons be learned from the last few years? It doesn’t look like it. Although there are a few players who will be snatched away from the teet of the cash-cow that is Arsenal FC every year, there are tens more waiting in line for unwarranted pay increases to ensure that our wage-bill goes up and we go down. All the while we’ll be hearing from those who staunchly defend Wenger and the club that we will be getting rid of X, Y and Z in the summer and we will use the money to add quality to the squad. Don’t believe it – nothing will change whilst the current manager is in charge under the current board

Re: A Valiant Effort…

leam — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 10:13:05 -0000

There does remain the view though that failing to qualify for an
unwinnable tournament at the hands of the spuds carries longer term
benefit for the Club? Many now subscribe to that view. Im not so sure.
Its only the missing out at the hands of the spuds that bothers me
though, not missing the tedium of the CL that's gets worse each season as
we scratch and fart about getting through groups, containing tiresome
Clubs before collapsing and losing to the first real opposition we meet!

Re: A Valiant Effort…

leam — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 08:30:02 -0000

The only problem with us getting 4th place is that it gives Wenger the
excuse to say how strong this proves we are. All summer we will then be
linked with a number of players buy none and in August be told by the
manager that it is difficult to buy better than we already have.

When we do invest we pannick buy over spend on fees and wages and buy
total rubbish. Santos, Gervinho and Park are three that come under this
heading but there are others too many in recent years.

What we need is a total clear out of the dross which infects the first
team squad and to buy top top quality players not fat overweight
Brazilian full backs.

To do this we also need a new owner, ceo, board and manager.
Also need new scouts because whoever thought that Santos was a
professional footballer, Gervinho could play or Mertsacker could run
needs help.

We also need to review our academy which is showing signs of being in
need of new direction. -

Re: A Valiant Effort…

@ASAPCon — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:44:48 -0000

I thought we'd be on the end of a 4-0 hiding but credit to the team we played well. The best thing about sports is unpredictability and there weren't many that gave us a chance. AW has to tell the boys that on their day we CAN beat anyone. So now we HAVE TO SHOW IT!! The issue is the inconsistency - now watch us struggle on Saturday.

Good to see Fab have a good game but realistically it won't last, we'll need a seasoned pro to really push Scezzers next season.

Re: A Valiant Effort…

Hokage Babayemmie — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 09:21:53 -0000

Re: A Valiant Effort…

sevin — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 08:54:57 -0000

The bottom line for Swansea, decide tomorrow or Friday. It was Gibbs’
first game back, and see how much tonight has taken out of the others.
If we can, keep that group together if we can

Re: Can we scrape into the top 4? It’s going to be hard…

dean — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 07:00:52 -0000

Fair point but i personally think he has destroyed the teams confidence, or the fact that no games for arsenal are considered a given win anymore...personally don't think we'll make the top 4 or 7 to be honest then how will he attract the big personalities? I hope kronke and the wankers at the board are sitting smug when the season ticket renewals decline..

Re: Can we scrape into the top 4? It’s going to be hard…

worldofarsenal — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 07:43:50 -0000

I understand what you mean, but he has to care, it's important for him too - I really think he's really annoyed and angry. Sagna leaves, we get in a new RB and then we need to keep what we've got and get some massive players with big personalities... It's his last summer in charge (according to his contract) and he will want to go out with a bang...!

Re: Can we scrape into the top 4? It’s going to be hard…

seamus — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 07:41:05 -0000

Watching Arsenal this season is like dying a slow death. It didn’t take
long to figure out they weren’t going to be challenging for the
Premiership. I figured that out when they sold RVP. But I thought they
were going to progress in both the League cup ( whatever they’re calling
it these days ), and the FA Cup. This is a horrible season. It’s so up
and down. What does Steve Bould actually do? I’m wondering if he’s
actually allowed to have any say in how the defence plays. It sure
doesn’t look like he’s allowed any input, with how shite the defending
has been this season. Yesterday’s game. How the heck is a giant chimp
allowed to run straight through the defense and have a free shot on
goal? What, they couldn’t see him? Mr Magoo could’ve seen that. I’ve
gotten to the point where I’ve given up on Wenger. He has purchased too
many poor players over recent years. I mean Giroud is our main striker,
for Pete’s sake. He’s like a French Bentdner. Some of the players STILL
on the Arsenal books include, Bentdner, Park, Chamakh, Djourou, Santos,
Squillaci, Gervinho and fricking Denilson. Arsenal still pay these guys
wages! No team will take them, because no team will pay them what
Arsenal are paying them. Wenger is the guy who has bought these players.
If the club hadn’t sold Song and RVP, they’d finish top four this
season. Lose 24 million on RVP, but how much do they lose by missing
out on the Champions league?

Re: Can we scrape into the top 4? It’s going to be hard…

dean — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 06:44:10 -0000

With every game, AW gets more and more on my nerves.. I cant
believe i actually trusted this man. I can't believe i let this man lie
to me for 7 years before only at the end of last season/start of this
one i realised how much him and all his mate's on the board are
destroying this club.... I never thought i'd say this, but i really hope
those Arabic billionaires buy our club... i never wanted our club to be
run by a sugar daddy but i would much rather see a sugar daddy who has
PASSION and LOVE'S our club, someone who is not motivated by making
money because they already have enough of it, running our club over some
yank that doesnt even have the balls to speak to the media or anyone
regarding our club...

Re: Can we scrape into the top 4? It’s going to be hard…

limet — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 06:43:55 -0000

No, if that was the case there would have been even slight changes...

Re: Can we scrape into the top 4? It’s going to be hard…

worldofarsenal — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 14:21:16 -0000

Based on our knowledge of Wenger - someone who absolutely hates to lose - don't you think he is hurting the most with this and surely wants to put it right?

Re: Can we scrape into the top 4? It’s going to be hard…

dean — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 11:21:04 -0000

Following on from my earlier reply to the WOA comment I see no point wallowing over what happened yesterday, better to move on and see
if there is hope that some phoenix of hope rise from the flames of
despair that come from the realisation that they are better than us. In a
particularly understated way Arsene did 'know' yesterday in the summing
up of his post-mortem:

"We were not efficient in the zones where it matters: at the front and at the back."

What I hope he also knows is that this statement unearths to two
parallel issues afflicting our team. Efficiency at the front seems to
represent the standard 'spend some money' argument for our woes.
Efficiency at the front is surely a shorthand for how our most attacking
players are good but not great and how the simple way out of this would
be to get an oilwell-sized chequebook out and try to bid for the Cavani
level of polished talent that it has not been our policy to capture.
For efficiency at the front a £1.5 billion takeover might help to some
considerable level.

Efficiency at the back is an entirely different issue however. A back
line that cost more than £30m is not bargain basement by any stretch,
and unlike many of my gooner kin I don't think the personnel are lost
causes. Defenders being drilled in one-touch passing routines rather
than actual 11-a-side defending makes them play like amateurs however.
Midfielders in front of them showing similar lack of rear guard nouse
does not help.

So in conclusion this debacle has so much in common with other failings
against those who we should compete against. Unless AW can revive his
talent for sniffing out an affordable world-beater we need to spend.
Unless he can reform his approach to tactics and training we need to
change our manager. I'm not confident on any of those things happening
soon.

Re: Can we scrape into the top 4? It’s going to be hard…

dean — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 11:16:02 -0000

My money is on the nothing will happen with this idiot in charge

Re: Can we scrape into the top 4? It’s going to be hard…

worldofarsenal — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 08:33:52 -0000

I firmly believe this summer will be his last chance.

Re: Can we scrape into the top 4? It’s going to be hard…

worldofarsenal — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 08:33:20 -0000

Well it looks like Sagna is off this summer for starters, but we have a lot of dead wood still - the likes of Djourou, Denilson, Squillaci, Santos, etc are still on the clubs books and the likes of Gervinho, Giroud and Oxlade are in bad form at the moment. There is every possibility a squad overhaul could sort us out this summer, at the same time, it is very possible that nothing will happen and we'll be stuck with the same team next season!

Re: Can we scrape into the top 4? It’s going to be hard…

paul — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 07:49:02 -0000

Can't say I was surprised. Spuds gifted their 2 goals, game over. Loved
Wenger's 'this team has something special' monologue. He's right;
they're the worst we've seen in many a long year. The defensive shambles
continues but now we have a willing donkey up front instead of a world
class striker. I like Giroud's work ethic but he no more than a
championship player. Wally's done zilch since we deemed him worth £100k a
week. I've posted before but we are the new Liverpool in waiting. The
nightmare scenario is that we will have endure a summer of Jack being
tempted to pastures new with the offer of trophy success and shedloads
of dosh. At present the club is going one and that down. Who will be the
first to jump ship ?

Re: Can we scrape into the top 4? It’s going to be hard…

limet — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 05:41:56 -0000

With each passing interview, it is becoming more and more apparent that
Mr Wenger is past his sell by date. Realistically we need at least 4-5
world class players to even think about competing for the title
again…..and let’s face it, summer will come and go and I fear it will be
the same old story with lack of investment once again. First it was the
comments about ‘not worrying about the opposition’ now this. Tactically
inept and out of touch with the transfer market.

Re: Can we scrape into the top 4? It’s going to be hard…

worldofarsenal — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 04:13:42 -0000

Indeed, 5 points is the deficit, let's look at this game by game...!

Re: Can we scrape into the top 4? It’s going to be hard…

worldofarsenal — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 04:13:18 -0000

Surrounded by a better team, he'd be better - shifted around the team with players around him who are all confused and not sure what is going on makes him look bad... although I think he's still recovering from his injury mentally... I'd keep him in the squad next season, as I think he will recover soon!

Re: Can we scrape into the top 4? It’s going to be hard…

worldofarsenal — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 04:12:04 -0000

Indeed, Swansea are a form team at the moment, and they beat us at home not too long ago - we can't take any of these games for granted, but we do have it in us to win them...

Re: Can we scrape into the top 4? It’s going to be hard…

worldofarsenal — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 04:11:21 -0000

It's not going to be easy, but there is definitely still a slim chance that we could break into it... but we need better team selection and some of our players need to wake up!