Wenger rues power of TV over fixtures

[KSE Comedy Club]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16550777.stm


Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has claimed football has "sold its soul" to television companies.
He accepted the importance of the money TV rights brought, but said Premier League bosses must intervene to ensure fixture scheduling was fair to clubs.
The Frenchman said: "The Premier League has to make sure that there is a bit more fairness in the schedules."
All five of Arsenal's games during January have been moved for the television cameras.
"I don't believe the Premier League has played, in the last month or the last year, a very fair role in the distribution of the fixtures," Wenger said.

Live domestic rights to top-flight English games for 2010-13 raised a total of £1.782bn and Wenger accepts that alterations to schedules to suit television are now part of the game.
However, he believes the sport's governing body must do more to limit the influence television companies have.
"We have sold our soul and we do not control our fixtures any more," said Wenger.
"It is the truth and I cannot say the television is wrong, but it is not normal that you can have a direct influence on the schedule through the television."
Arsenal's two most recent fixtures - the Premier League defeat at Fulham (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/16331404.stm) and the victory against Leeds in the FA Cup (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/16381242.stm) - were switched to Monday evenings while forthcoming matches against Swansea and Manchester United will each be played on a Sunday.
And the Gunners' fourth-round FA Cup game with Aston Villa has been moved from Saturday 28 January to Sunday 29 January because ESPN want to show the game.
As a result, their Premier League fixture with Bolton the following Tuesday, which had been in the schedule since June, was moved to Wednesday.
Arsenal's January fixturesContinue reading the main story (http://www.goonersweb.co.uk/forum/#skip_feature_02)

2 Jan - League - Fulham (A) 1-2
9 Jan - FA Cup - Leeds (H) 1-0
15 Jan - League - Swansea (A)
22 Jan - League - Man Utd (H)
29 Jan - FA Cup - Aston Villa (H)

Wenger added that the viewing schedules, which now run from Friday night to Monday evening, can have a direct influence on games, with some clubs advantaged at the expense of others.
"Television is influenced by some clubs to choose the fixtures. Some clubs get advantaged by television," added Wenger.
"Is it Sky or is it ESPN? They have an influence there from the clubs directly and the Premier League should be a much bigger barrier than they are in front of that.
"I do not want to go personal on any club. I just think, when things are repeated, they are not a coincidence any more.
"In England, it is always very difficult to say what you feel about that but, I am not the only manager who thinks that and I think there is a real problem."
Wenger's remarks echo to an extent those of Manchester United counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson, who complained in September (http://www.goonersweb.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15059636.stm) that TV had too much control over the game.
But he conceded: "When you shake hands with the devil you have to pay the price."
The Premier League declined to comment.


He's right of course, but I cant help but feel that he is getting the excuses in early for the lack of transfer activity.

If we had a couple of quality players we could put on to change a game then these fixture changes wouldnt have such an impact.

[Marc Overmars]

They can do whatever they want, the money from TV has escalated the game to a new level and allows him to receive his 5m a year. So it's a small price to pay really.

[dazthegooner]

Yep I don't think the board will be complaining about too much exposure for us in Tv means more money in the coffers.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16550777.stm



He's right of course, but I cant help but feel that he is getting the excuses in early for the lack of transfer activity.

If we had a couple of quality players we could put on to change a game then these fixture changes wouldnt have such an impact.

wtf you on about every other manager said the same thing on sky sports yesterday.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Didn't we 'sell our soul' by moving to a new stadium? Although Wenger might have meant 'we' as in Arsenal I suppose. Anyway, there wouldn't be an issue with fixtures if England only had two domestic trophies like other leagues.

[KSE Comedy Club]

wtf you on about every other manager said the same thing on sky sports yesterday.

I think you should re-read the whole of that sentence :good:

[Özim]

Wenger's whole job is about money I don't see why he's complaining about something that's allowing him to achieve his objective (profit), besides don't see why he's that bothered when he's happy to settle for 4th every year...a few fixtures jigged around won't change that.

The problem for us has always been injuries and when it comes to crunch time not having the bottle, if he signed the right players maybe that wouldn't be an issue...I really don't think the fixture list affects our chances in any way, it's the way he chooses to do things.

[Özim]

He's right of course, but I cant help but feel that he is getting the excuses in early for the lack of transfer activity.

If we had a couple of quality players we could put on to change a game then these fixture changes wouldnt have such an impact.
Yeah but as always seems to be the case with him these days he looks for the cheap options, it's price first for him, quality is secondary.

He's not willing to take a risk by signing a few top quality players who can make the difference, if it didn't work we may not make a profit and he won't be able to harp on about making money for the club anymore.

He always takes the safe option, that's fine but if you take a risk the rewards are much greater if you succeed.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

I think you should re-read the whole of that sentence :good:

i commented on what i needed to. You posted this thread like he was the only manager to say this thats what i was getting at.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Yep, thats exactly how I feel in that respect Zimm.

I do agree with him and every other manager that TV has too much influence over fixture scheduling.

However, Arsene always moans about fixtures every year, when the results dont go our way. But its not the fixtures that are the problem, its the lack of game changing, quality players that we should have in our team.

[KSE Comedy Club]

i commented on what i needed to. You posted this thread like he was the only manager to say this thats what i was getting at.

But its an article on what AW has said, how can I portray it any differently? :shrug:

I agree with him on the sole issue of TV and fixtures, but I feel like it is a pre-excuse statement in case we dont get the results we need in the next month because we have nothing left in the tank. Again.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

He always takes the safe option, that's fine but if you take a risk the rewards are much greater if you succeed.

This day an age when players are out for themselves you have too, who else is going to care about the club.

[KSE Comedy Club]

This day an age when players are out for themselves you have too, who else is going to care about the club.

Thats just plain wrong tbh.

Were talking about paying a bit more for a quality player or two who would improve the team and push them on, inspire them to win games they would normally loose, not so they care more about the club.

Also, have you ever considered the possibility that these players would start to care more about the club after joining it?

[Olivier's xmas twist]

But its an article on what AW has said, how can I portray it any differently? :shrug:

I agree with him on the sole issue of TV and fixtures, but I feel like it is a pre-excuse statement in case we dont get the results we need in the next month because we have nothing left in the tank. Again.

I see what your saying and was not saying wenger won't use this as an excuse, i as aluding to the fact other managers have said the same not just him.

[GP]

Didn't we 'sell our soul' by moving to a new stadium? Although Wenger might have meant 'we' as in Arsenal I suppose. Anyway, there wouldn't be an issue with fixtures if England only had two domestic trophies like other leagues.

Agreed, Mac. Scrap the premier league.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Thats just plain wrong tbh.

Were talking about paying a bit more for a quality player who will improve the team and push them on, inspire them to win games they would normally loose, not so they care more about the club.Also, have you ever considered the possibility that these players would start to care more about the club after joining them?

Their is paying a bit more and then paying over the odds for someone who is not even worth that amount. my point was with players these days they hardly care about clubs/fans because they know within 3 years they will be off anyways.

Id rather have someone who is happy to play for the shirt and the team, then someone who only is good but only plays for the money.

[Xhaka Can’t]

He is right about football selling it's soul.

Then again, he is being paid six million pounds a year.

[gunnerrrrr]

tbh he should just shut the fuck up and concentrate on winning us trophies

[Özim]

tbh he should just shut the fuck up and concentrate on winning us trophies
He'll never shut up, he never win us trophies either........his best days are numbered and he has no answer to the way the modern game has changed, if he was adaptable and less stubborn perhaps it could change...sadly he isn't so until he finally leaves we'll be left trophyless and hunting for 4th place every season.

I'd love it if they took away the 4th place spot, that would shut the muppet up about 4th place being all important :lol:

[Olivier's xmas twist]

He'll never shut up, he never win us trophies either........his best days are numbered and he has no answer to the way the modern game has changed, if he was adaptable and less stubborn perhaps it could change...sadly he isn't so until he finally leaves we'll be left trophyless and hunting for 4th place every season.

I'd love it if they took away the 4th place spot, that would shut the muppet up about 4th place being all important :lol:

Not really all he will says is 3rd is like a trophy or 5th.

[Özim]

Not really all he will says is 3rd is like a trophy or 5th.
Well he'll never get 3rd these days as the sides above are more ambitious and want to win stuff....5th can never be a "major trophy" :lol:

[Niall_Quinn]

The sport is too far gone for Wenger to actually achieve what he'd like to see, a game focused on sport rather than money. That's a game all of us would prefer I assume. But does that mean he should accept it? It's like politics. Just about every cunt in politics these days is in it for himself regardless of who else gets screwed. But there are a few who still speak out against it. Like Nick Clegg. LOL. Okay there are fewer and fewer who speak out against it. Evil prevails when good men do nothing. Football will have to collapse completely before the sport rids itself of the leeches that have clamped on (and that includes most of the players). When that happens, which it must just like any other bubble, perhaps people will remember what Wenger has talked about and then his views will become popular and realistic.

[Coney]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16550777.stm

He's right of course, but I cant help but feel that he is getting the excuses in early for the lack of transfer activity.

If we had a couple of quality players we could put on to change a game then these fixture changes wouldnt have such an impact.

wtf you on about every other manager said the same thing on sky sports yesterday.

OK -so they're ALL getting the excuses in.

[Grebbo]

I don't think fixture planning makes an ounce of difference to this team fucking up.

We had a piss easy Christmas schedule for example, all of our games were in London and two were at home. We couldn't beat Wolves at home and lost away to Fulham.

Typical Wenger.

[Grebbo]

The sport is too far gone for Wenger to actually achieve what he'd like to see, a game focused on sport rather than money. That's a game all of us would prefer I assume. But does that mean he should accept it? It's like politics. Just about every cunt in politics these days is in it for himself regardless of who else gets screwed. But there are a few who still speak out against it. Like Nick Clegg. LOL. Okay there are fewer and fewer who speak out against it. Evil prevails when good men do nothing. Football will have to collapse completely before the sport rids itself of the leeches that have clamped on (and that includes most of the players). When that happens, which it must just like any other bubble, perhaps people will remember what Wenger has talked about and then his views will become popular and realistic.

Spurs pay their players £40m per year less than we do and they seem to be doing ok.

Wenger spending no money is a myth. He spends it all on wages. That's his problem.

[Niall_Quinn]

Spurs pay their players £40m per year less than we do and they seem to be doing ok.

Wenger spending no money is a myth. He spends it all on wages. That's his problem.

What choice does he have with the likes of City paying their players a stupid amount to sit on the bench? You want top 4 you spend the cash. You want a title you spend even more cash. It's pretty much as simple as that these days.

[Grebbo]

What choice does he have with the likes of City paying their players a stupid amount to sit on the bench? You want top 4 you spend the cash. You want a title you spend even more cash. It's pretty much as simple as that these days.

Sure, money = success.

Although I think you'd be surprised at Man Utd's net spend for the past 5 yrs. Very surprised. And Spurs aren't doing too badly.

Bottom line is the club/manager haven't even attempted to be ambitious. And our recent transfers have been generally mediocre.

We didn't not buy Modric because he was too expensive - we didn't buy him because Wenger thought he was too weak for the Prem.

We bought Walcott instead of Bale.

We didn't buy Parker for £5m.

etc

The above is just bad management. Nothing to do with money.

[Marc Overmars]

Sure, money = success.

Although I think you'd be surprised at Man Utd's net spend for the past 5 yrs. Very surprised.



Given they sold a player for 80m, I don't think many are surprised.

[Grebbo]

Given they sold a player for 80m, I don't think many are surprised.

Well that's why our net spend figures are so good as well.

If you're basing an argument on money = success then you can only look at net spend and wages.

[Niall_Quinn]

Well that's why our net spend figures are so good as well.

If you're basing an argument on money = success then you can only look at net spend and wages.

They spent a fortune in previous years for players that served them well and helped them win trophies. They have a much weaker team now, by comparison. They won a very weak league last year. The lack of spending will hurt them too in the long run.