Match Reaction vs Soton (away)

With a decent enough squad to finish 4th last year & £80 mill to spend, we might not build a squad like City's but you can certianly build a squad that is more resiliant to fatigue & injuries - our forward line is the weakest in the league in depth & it was at the start of the season.

I agree with that. I'm irritated, although not that surprised, that we haven't strengthened up front when it's a clear area of weakness.

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Originally Posted by Niall_Quinn

Everyone in the club has been talking about it, excluding Silent Stan. I don't think they pay exclusive attention to Wenger, but they do seem to pay a lot of attention to our financial model. I would say, like most large and influential organisations, they have people in one camp who genuinely want to improve the game, then they have corrupt bastards on the take. Wenger, along with other figures who value the integrity of the game, will be lobbying to one faction, the chavs and gypos will be bunging cash and favours at the other group. I can't prove that of course, but it's the normal way for business and politics to interact and the usual outcome when criminal elements posing as respectable businesses are involved.

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Honestly, it seems like he's playing the 'poor old Arsenal' card and I hate that. We know we're underdogs but from the outside it looks like Wenger is appealing for more help and protection. We just need to get on with it.

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Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory

Honestly, it seems like he's playing the 'poor old Arsenal' card and I hate that. We know we're underdogs but from the outside it looks like Wenger is appealing for more help and protection. We just need to get on with it.

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We each have our opinions, but it doesn't look anything like that to me. I see him focusing on the only area that could undermine the financial dopers. I see the gypos are likely to be excused for breaking FFP rules, posting up yet another loss despite the fact they have blatantly cooked the books. It seems that without sustained prodding the bods in charge won't be doing much to implement FFP in practical terms. So Wenger (and I'm sure others) are prodding and reminding. What's wrong with that? I did't hear any sort of "poor Arsenal" message, it was more like a reminder to UEFA about their own rules which they have made a big song and dance about.

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Originally Posted by Niall_Quinn

We each have our opinions, but it doesn't look anything like that to me. I see him focusing on the only area that could undermine the financial dopers. I see the gypos are likely to be excused for breaking FFP rules, posting up yet another loss despite the fact they have blatantly cooked the books. It seems that without sustained prodding the bods in charge won't be doing much to implement FFP in practical terms. So Wenger (and I'm sure others) are prodding and reminding. What's wrong with that? I did't hear any sort of "poor Arsenal" message, it was more like a reminder to UEFA about their own rules which they have made a big song and dance about.

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Wait a second....the Mata comments have very little to do with the FFP ruling to be fair. It's a seperate issue Wenger is taking on. He's calling for the January transfer window to be scrapped. That's totally seperate.

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Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory

Wait a second....the Mata comments have very little to do with the FFP ruling to be fair. It's a seperate issue Wenger is taking on. He's calling for the January transfer window to be scrapped. That's totally seperate.

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Yes, it was the secondary issue Wenger used to lead into FFP because that's what he was asked about. He said he didn't agree with the January window but then he speculated the chavs were selling because they might finally be paying attention to FFP. The procession was a bit complex for the poor old fat and drunk hack journos to follow, so they went with their typical shit. I think one journo has had the guts to tell the truth about the gypos and their despicable owners. The rest just whore themselves out cheaply.

I think you're reaching on that one. If he's saying their trying to comply with the rules it I don't see how it's shining a light on their cooked books.

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Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory

I think you're reaching on that one. If he's saying their trying to comply with the rules it I don't see how it's shining a light on their cooked books.

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Read his interview again. There's no reaching, his main point is very clearly about FFP. In the world of politics and diplomacy if you want to call somebody a complete and utter cunt you say their, "actions need clarification." If you want to call somebody a cheating cunt you say, "I'm encouraged they have decided to abide by the rules." This is what Wenger said.

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Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory

Wait a second....the Mata comments have very little to do with the FFP ruling to be fair. It's a seperate issue Wenger is taking on. He's calling for the January transfer window to be scrapped. That's totally seperate.

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He's been calling for that for years and when he made that comment he made it clear he didn't think Chelsea were doing anything wrong.
More media bollox.

I've read his comments and he seems to be suggesting that the rules are working and the Mata sale is a result of the FFP rules.

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'I think it is a purely financial reason,' he explained, as quoted by Sky Sports. 'That is the first time I come to that conclusion with Chelsea. It means somewhere that Chelsea changes philosophy and they want to get on line with financial fair play.

'For me that is the main reason, and that is a good thing.'

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It's a very long stretch to interpret it any other way. We'll agree to disagree on this one.