Usmanov bids £1 billion to takeover.

[GP]

Apparently Jabba the Hutt has made a takeover bid.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39981841

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Kroenke would be mad to sell

You don't sell off a self refilling cash drawer for a finite amount

[McNamara That Ghost...]

He'll never make that kind of money staying with us.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

He'll never make that kind of money staying with us.

Not directly but the point of having us is as an asset at which to borrow large amounts at low rates with which to invest further in property.

[Globalgunner]

Maybe he is trying to save Wenger from a terrible fate.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Not directly but the point of having us is as an asset at which to borrow large amounts at low rates with which to invest further in property.

I'm not sure that's happening is it (as in I legitimately don't know)? There was that 'consultancy fee' thing but nowhere near the same kind of sum.

[AFC Leveller]

I'd rather usmanov and dein then silent Stan.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Going to split the topic, it's a big enough story to deserve its own thread.

[Maestro]

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/10884692/arsenal-shareholder-alisher-usmanov-makes-bid-for-full-control-of-club

[GP]

I'd rather not have murderous, rapist gangsters in charge, thanks.

[Globalgunner]

I'd rather not have murderous, rapist gangsters in charge, thanks.

No Trump is not making a bid for Arsenal

[Power n Glory]

Musical chairs. Usmanov can fuck off as well because he'd still keep Wenger in charge. If this were to happen it just buys Wenger more time.

[Niall_Quinn]

I'd rather not have murderous, rapist gangsters in charge, thanks.

Usmanov's lot are not much better, tbf

[Maestro]

welcome if even the least it does is put a bit of spotlight on Kroenke regards the shambles at the club. can't see him selling until he's well and ready in his own good time or if he needs the capital.

saying that I cannot see any significant further natural growth of the club without real on pitch success, i.e. PL & CL titles or final appearances ....of which financial success is a natural consequence in the form of bigger prize money, bigger sponsorship deals, more merchandising etc off the back of a successful brand. as things stand we're reliant on silly PL sponsorship. there is no way we're closing that financial gap on the top tier european giants given our static performances/finishes over the last decade.

[Niall_Quinn]

Musical chairs. Usmanov can fuck off as well because he'd still keep Wenger in charge. If this were to happen it just buys Wenger more time.

Yep, if Wenger's staying it doesn't matter who's taking over or how much the fans think is going to be dumped in for transfers - which I assume, is why anyone would favour this pig. Say he dumps a billion into transfers. Now Wenger has a billion quid. What a horrendous prospect.

[Maestro]

Yep, if Wenger's staying it doesn't matter who's taking over or how much the fans think is going to be dumped in for transfers - which I assume, is why anyone would favour this pig. Say he dumps a billion into transfers. Now Wenger has a billion quid. What a horrendous prospect.

now that is one scary thought.

[Globalgunner]

Yep, if Wenger's staying it doesn't matter who's taking over or how much the fans think is going to be dumped in for transfers - which I assume, is why anyone would favour this pig. Say he dumps a billion into transfers. Now Wenger has a billion quid. What a horrendous prospect.

He`d be able to buy you off NQ. Then fill the club with 2 dozen Gervinho, Sanogo and Kallstrom look alikes.

[selassie]

Yep, if Wenger's staying it doesn't matter who's taking over or how much the fans think is going to be dumped in for transfers - which I assume, is why anyone would favour this pig. Say he dumps a billion into transfers. Now Wenger has a billion quid. What a horrendous prospect.

Quite, even with unlimited funds I still think he wouldn't be able to replace Giroud, Walcott and Ramsey properly.

I'm praying Kroenke and Wenger bugger off, wishing thinking eh? :(

[Power n Glory]

Quite, even with unlimited funds I still think he wouldn't be able to replace Giroud, Walcott and Ramsey properly.

I'm praying Kroenke and Wenger bugger off, wishing thinking eh? :(

I can see the excuses already.

'You know when you're out of Europe, it's hard to attract top top top top qualiteee. Not even the Chinese clubs could convince a top striker like Mbappe to join their league.' :blah:


The one season we manage to get 19 goals from Theo, 16 from Giroud when neither have been regular starters along with 28 from Sanchez but still fuck things up. He somehow manages to rotate problems.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I'm not sure that's happening is it (as in I legitimately don't know)? There was that 'consultancy fee' thing but nowhere near the same kind of sum.

No he doesn't get any direct cash but the ownership of the shares themselves are an asset

[Özim]

:pray: If we got rid of Kroenke and Wenger in one summer it would be the best summer ever!

[Ralpheroo72]

:gp:
I'd rather usmanov and dein then silent Stan.

[Niall_Quinn]

No he doesn't get any direct cash but the ownership of the shares themselves are an asset

His whole LA stadium thing is backed by his other assets, supposedly. Last I heard he was looking for a massive loan to fund the thing.

He won't sell anyway. By end of 2019/20, if all goes according to their shitty plans, his 60% will be worth far more than a billion. That's when he might cash out, which would coincidentally (I'm sure) coincide with Wenger's next contract being up.

[Globalgunner]

if Usmanov ups his offer to $1.5 or at least 20% up on share price maybe Kroenke might bite. Alternatively he might spike a bidding war. Some other bidders might step up

[GP]

Some other bidders might step up

Hope so. Anyone but the fat Uzbek cunt.

[Niall_Quinn]

Usmanov's after 60% of the shares. An outsider would have to chase Kroenke's shares plus Usmanov's. Unlikely, especially with Usmanov having raised the offer on just 60%

It's the fat bloke or nobody I would say.

EDIT: Scrub that, the Chinese have just bid £4.2 trillion for a 2% stake.

[dostoy]

Surely Usmanov would be far far better than Kroenke and Wenger.

If Usmanov gave Wenger unlimited money, Wenger would leave as it would go against all his principles.

Wenger must go, regardless of who owns the club.

[Özim]

Kroenke committed to the club apparently :sigh:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39981954
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39981954)
Seems we're stuck with Kroenke and Wenger, neither of them seem to ever want to leave despite screwing the club over.

[Power n Glory]

Surely Usmanov would be far far better than Kroenke and Wenger.

If Usmanov gave Wenger unlimited money, Wenger would leave as it would go against all his principles.

Wenger must go, regardless of who owns the club.

Not really. Usmanov still wants Wenger in charge.

[GP]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40000479

[Özim]

Kroenke saying Arsenal not for sale and never has been, why won't the guy just take the money and leave us alone, noone wants him here! Sadly we've got the worst owner in football, not interested in football, doesn't care what the fans think and happy to run this club into the ground like his other franchises.

But as Wenger says it's not his fault.

[Letters]

Phew! Was worried there in a discussion about the board you weren't going to get a dig in at Wenger but you managed to at the end. Nice work.

[Özim]

Phew! Was worried there in a discussion about the board you weren't going to get a dig in at Wenger but you managed to at the end. Nice work.
It's no it my fault he decided to stick his oar in where it's not wanted (doesn't he always) and publicly voice his support for a man everyone can see with his own eyes doesn't give a damn about Arsenal and only cares about money.

Probably hankering for another pay rise knowing him though, only cares about himself after all.

[Letters]

:yawn:

[KSE Comedy Club]

Wenger makes a rod for own back Ty, Letters tbf.

[Letters]

True to an extent, but some people blame him for the weather or the state of the NHS. All a bit silly really.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

It's no it my fault he decided to stick his oar in where it's not wanted (doesn't he always) and publicly voice his support for a man everyone can see with his own eyes doesn't give a damn about Arsenal and only cares about money.

Probably hankering for another pay rise knowing him though, only cares about himself after all.

In fairness what he said was correct, It's not Kroenkes fault that we have finished in this position.

[Niall_Quinn]

In fairness what he said was correct, It's not Kroenkes fault that we have finished in this position.

No, but it's his responsibility. What's he going to do about it?

Oh, I know. Give Wenger a contract. So it WILL be his fault next time around, and the time after.

[Özim]

In fairness what he said was correct, It's not Kroenkes fault that we have finished in this position.

Perhaps not with the results in the season, but at the end of the day the owners determine the ambition of the club and what they'll accept, Abrahmovic won't accept 2nd best consequently Chelsea are successful and when there are blips he's quick to change things, Kroenke sits there and accepts the club being also rans (as he does with his other franchises), therefore it's is his fault, he should not be willing to accept what Wenger has delivered in recent years.

[Power n Glory]

We're not too far off from finding out what's acceptable. The league is over and if we lose the FA Cup final and Wenger still gets a new contract, it's over. Might as well turn off the football and stop contributing to the con.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Perhaps not with the results in the season, but at the end of the day the owners determine the ambition of the club and what they'll accept, Abrahmovic won't accept 2nd best consequently Chelsea are successful and when there are blips he's quick to change things, Kroenke sits there and accepts the club being also rans (as he does with his other franchises), therefore it's is his fault, he should not be willing to accept what Wenger has delivered in recent years.

Abramovich bought the club as a pet project not for money purposes, it was never a business investment for him so no comparison can be made.

Kroenke is never going to care about what we achieve as a football club. Like I said to you the other week he will only act against Wenger if the share values depreciate

Wenger has betrayed himself as a sad, desperate man whose only concern is keeping his job because he has nothing else going on in his life.

[selassie]

Perhaps not with the results in the season, but at the end of the day the owners determine the ambition of the club and what they'll accept, Abrahmovic won't accept 2nd best consequently Chelsea are successful and when there are blips he's quick to change things, Kroenke sits there and accepts the club being also rans (as he does with his other franchises), therefore it's is his fault, he should not be willing to accept what Wenger has delivered in recent years.

Yep totally agree. Kroenke only cares about his investment, he's only invested in the financial side of things, he doesn't care about the sporting performance, he has said as much on a number of occasions.

Wenger is essentially not judged on a performance/results basis. He is actually a law to himself, he decides what constitutes as a successful season, he pretty much said this the other day when he came out with that nonsense about points total for the season etc

Wenger is actually a fraud, he's constantly shifting targets, I'm honestly so angry with him and Kroenke, they disgust me and I wish they would just leave, I mean nobody even wants them here it's ridiculous.

[Özim]

Abramovich bought the club as a pet project not for money purposes, it was never a business investment for him so no comparison can be made.

Kroenke is never going to care about what we achieve as a football club. Like I said to you the other week he will only act against Wenger if the share values depreciate

Wenger has betrayed himself as a sad, desperate man whose only concern is keeping his job because he has nothing else going on in his life.

I agree yes, but there are other owners who sees success as the goal and aren't happy with just being also rans, the more successful you are the bigger you get (just look at Man U and how big they have got from the success they achieved), we're very much stagnating. At the end of the day if he was a good businessman he'd take the money and leave, he's be getting a huge profit on his investment, doesn't seem to want to though despite the downward spiral of this club which will no doubt probably result in a lower share price.

You're not wrong there, this myth that he loves the club is precisely, nothing he does indicates a love for the club in a true sense of the word.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Trust us to get bought by the only billionaire who isn't interested in us winning trophies and being completely successful :sulk:

If Kroenke took the £1bn he would have made a very tidy profit, so he is just another greedy twat.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Looks like things may get interesting - for another day or two at least:

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/807074/Arsenal-Takeover-Bid-Alisher-Usmanov-2billion-Stan-Kroenke-Majority-Shareholder



ARSENAL shareholder Alisher Usmanov is reportedly preparing a second bid worth around £2billion to seize control of the club.

Alisher Usmanov owns a 30 per cent stake in Arsenal and has reportedly already made a £1billion offer to take full control of the club.

The Russian oligarch wants to buy out current majority shareholder Stan Kroenke who holds 67 per cent of the club's shares.

Reports claim the American has knocked back Usmanov's initial offer and has no intention of selling up.

The 69-year-old reportedly intends to stay with the Gunners for the long term.

However, Usmanov has responded and is said to be preparing a second offer, doubling his original bid to a staggering £2bn.

The 63-year-old's move to seize control of Arsenal is part of a larger plan to increase his influence over the day-to-day running of the club.

The Russian currently has no say in the decision-making and is keen to have more of an involvement at the Emirates.

He is also known to have a fractious relationship with Kroenke and claimed last month the American entrepreneur must take responsibility for the club's current struggles.

"I do not think that the coach alone is to be blamed for what is happening," Usmanov said.

"I personally, unfortunately, am fully isolated from decision-making in the club.

“All the responsibility for the fate of the club rests with the main shareholder.”

The Uzbekistan-born businessman is reportedly worth around £11.2bn, making much of his wealth in mining and investments.

Kroenke, meanwhile, owns a portfolio of sports teams including the LA Rams and Denver Nuggets.

He bought a £500m ranch in Texas in February 2016.
Usmanov is also a supporter of Arsene Wenger and demanded stability last month amid calls for the Frenchman to leave the club from the supporters.

"Some continuity is needed," he said.

This includes the need to prepare a successor for Wenger, but in a very respectful way.

"I can suggest that Wenger himself can prepare a successor."

[GP]

No thanks.

[Niall_Quinn]

"I can suggest that Wenger himself can prepare a successor."

Chilling.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Chilling.Admittedly, that is the only part that worries me tbh

[KSE Comedy Club]

No thanks.
fattist

[Özim]

Chilling.

Yup, one clown is enough.

[rodders]

If I remember rightly it was David Dein who got Kroenke involved originally. We are stuck in mediocrity as long as Wenger and Kroenke remain.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I agree yes, but there are other owners who sees success as the goal and aren't happy with just being also rans, the more successful you are the bigger you get (just look at Man U and how big they have got from the success they achieved), we're very much stagnating. At the end of the day if he was a good businessman he'd take the money and leave, he's be getting a huge profit on his investment, doesn't seem to want to though despite the downward spiral of this club which will no doubt probably result in a lower share price.

You're not wrong there, this myth that he loves the club is precisely, nothing he does indicates a love for the club in a true sense of the word.

Kroenke is a property magnate. Most of his business is real estate.

The reason people like Fiszman sold to him is because they didn't want someone who would interfere in the day to day running of the club.

I think once Wenger goes as contemptible as Kroenke is, the hiring and firing of managers will be the job of the chief executive.

[Power n Glory]

Once Wenger is gone we might not be in a bad place. Having a hands off owner might not be such a bad thing. Stan's problem is that he hasn't fired Wenger.

[Niall_Quinn]

Once Wenger is gone we might not be in a bad place. Having a hands off owner might not be such a bad thing. Stan's problem is that he hasn't fired Wenger.

TLDR; He's a cunt.

His problem is he's a huge, fat, sucking leech. What's the point of him? He hasn't invested a cent, he's drawn cash out for zero reason. Sounds like he intends to ride the money rush in the PL until it runs dry. That's his whole purpose for being here and all his bullshit about wanting to stay and win the PL is backed by the grand total of no evidence whatsoever. He's using the club as a investment and he plainly doesn't give a flying fuck what happens on the pitch or else Wenger would be long gone. He's even stated he'd never have "invested" if the plan was to compete.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

The thing is we don't need his money to be competitive

Actually the less concerned he is with the whole thing the better.

Don't get me wrong the guy is a grade A cunt, but I'd rather not anyone own the club itself. I'd rather the club have several different shareholders who profit from the success, if they want to put some of their own money into the club great but it should not entitle them to a say in how the club is run.

I don't want an owner who regards the club as a new train set anymore than I want an owner who is using the share values against which to borrow at low rates.

[Globalgunner]

The Arsenal board is non existent a bunch of old duffers with no shares and no say. Kroenke not investing is not the problem except for his hoarder mentality where everything he ytouches is allowed to wither on the vine but not enough that it actually dies. In the US with its socialist profit sharing systems, none of his clubs can go under.

In the case of Arsenal however he is literally strangling the golden goose. If a non performing club like Utd can make money hand over fist based on a legacy built on 25 years of Ferguson, why not follow the template of success breeding financial success. Its a good thing Wenger is almost 70 years old. However another 5 years of his rule is quite feasible and in 5 years time, Chelsea, Utd, Spurs, Pool and even Everton could have left us years behind with proper on field management and astute people on the board driving the success. Our toothless dolts on our board couldnt even change the drapes in the boardroom without getting Stans approval. Another 2 year time Spurs will have their new stadium and so too could Chelsea. If West ham could luck upon a fantastic manager that would leave us nowhere.....in London.

[Niall_Quinn]

Yes we need money - lots and lots and lots of it. We have never had our big budget rebuild like all our immediate rivals. And the stupid cunts at our place have let our best players go for a snip whilst our rivals pull in 60, 70, 80 million fucking quid when their talent departs. Ronaldo, Bale. Then RvC, Fabregas and soon Alexis. See the problem?

Total fucking incompetence, right across the board.

200 mill for 4 world class players that other clubs actually want, plus wages. That puts us back on the map. Otherwise we continue to be a "project".

[Niall_Quinn]

le Grove, as usual, has a different take. Believes it might be a set up for Usmanov to take some cash from a third party and plough it into Everton. Sounds a bit far fetched but worth a read I suppose.
http://le-grove.co.uk/2017/05/20/usmanov-bid-is-not-about-buying-arsenal/

[Dicks and chicks]

Usmanaov is a cunt , kronke is a cunt either way we are getting some pussy boys

[Niall_Quinn]

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis will benefit to the tune of more than £5.5million if a change of ownership leads to his departure.

The revelation of a massive safety net for Gazidis, already one of the best paid club officials in English football, comes after majority shareholder Stan Kroenke turned down a £1billion takeover offer from Alisher Usmanov.

Kroenke has made it clear he is not selling but Usmanov's bid highlights the uncertainty surrounding Arsenal, with the future of manager Arsene Wenger still unclear ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final against Chelsea.

Some convenient revelations and possibly a slap for Ivan?

[Power n Glory]

le Grove, as usual, has a different take. Believes it might be a set up for Usmanov to take some cash from a third party and plough it into Everton. Sounds a bit far fetched but worth a read I suppose.
http://le-grove.co.uk/2017/05/20/usmanov-bid-is-not-about-buying-arsenal/

Worth listening to the last 10 minutes or so of the recent Le Grove podcast. A lot of the points made about the structure of the club, Kroenke and Wenger have been echoed on here and what I agree with.

[Özim]

This story has certainly disappeared from the news, seems the dream duo of Kroenke and Wenger are here to stay for the long haul.