Middle East consortium 'to bid for Arsenal'

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Originally Posted by Joker

Interesting to see that there are still a fair number of supporters fully behind Kroenke (not necessarily on this messageboard):

http://positivelyarsenal.wordpress.c...ething-part-2/

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Here they are.

http://i1035.photobucket.com/albums/...psb5f3733b.jpg

The consortium is a saudi prince and a few of his mates. Their too late tbh FPP kicks in next year and no one can spunk a billion on a club without consequences from now one. We were fucked then and we're fucked now.

Saudi Royal family? Worst sub-human filth on earth. Makes sense. I wouldn't worry about FFP standing in their way - that's what bribery and corruption is for.

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Originally Posted by LDG

Disgusted with the whole thing.

They can all fuck off.

What a sad state of affairs for our club and football in general :(

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That.

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Originally Posted by Joker

Interesting to see that there are still a fair number of supporters fully behind Kroenke (not necessarily on this messageboard):

http://positivelyarsenal.wordpress.c...ething-part-2/

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I've no idea what point this guy is actually making about Kroenke. Words like stability chucked around without any substantiation. Aside from his nothingness there is precious little to draw on when talking about him. The one saving aspect might be his background in sports but phuck knows.

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Originally Posted by Niall_Quinn

We have money to spend earned from gate receipts, TV cash, competition on the pitch. The cash doesn't come from some bloke tossing it over a wall in a blood stained bag. The fans want the money the pay to go into the team. Nothing unreasonable with that at all and all in the spirit of competition.

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You constantly go on about the board and needing them out as they're the problem, but when the opportunity arises you don't want it to happen. If anyone buys the club they'll have to be minted and in all likelyness will want to invest in it.

We've got a rich guy, he just wants his share of the profit....we either live with that or with someone who pumps money in, don't think there's another option.

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Originally Posted by Arse n Wonga

You constantly go on about the board and needing them out as they're the problem, but when the opportunity arises you don't want it to happen. If anyone buys the club they'll have to be minted and in all likelyness will want to invest in it.

We've got a rich guy, he just wants his share of the profit....we either live with that or with someone who pumps money in, don't think there's another option.

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Big difference between Kroenke and an owner who will reinvest the profits and gives a shit about what goes on on the pitch. Even bigger difference compared to a bunch of thieves from a shit hole. We could be far more competitive if our present board would focus on football. No need at all to sell out to crooks. Only bad could come of that long term and I'm guessing no fan wants bad things for the club.

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Originally Posted by LDG

I dunno. Honest answer.

Loke GP said, I'd always look out for the results.

Even now, it's not the Arsenal I grew up loving though. I watched that TH14 documentary yesterday (posted up in another thread) an I was on the verge of tears at points, remembering how much those times meant as a fan. And we had the class that went with it, on and off the pitch.

I wish Wenger would take a look back at some of those times and realise what the last few years has cost us.

Does anyone really feel the same adoration for the badge anymore?

But this is why this all matters. Because I still cling to the hope that one day, we'll find our way again, on our own two feet. And I don't care if that means being mid-table.

All about the club for me. Not the money or the trophies.

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:gp:

I really should re-read Fever Pitch again, Hornby writes with passion about what being a football fan is about, the ups and downs, the trophies and the disappointments. Most importantly, the connection. Connection with the club, the players, fellow fans. We are THE Arsenal and f*** all the rest.
It's not like that now.

The club? They don't give two shits about the fans - they don't see us as fans any more, we're customers and, worse, customers who can't go elsewhere.
Sod us, we can't change allegiance so keep ramping up the prices, keep pumping out the merchandise, maximise profits.

The players? Jack is a notable counter example, he seems to get it - get what playing for The Arsenal is about. The rest...yeah, they'll sign a new contract if we offer enough but if a better comes up you won't see them for dust. They're paid so well so young (which is Wenger's fault) they've made it financially by their early 20s, why would they care how they do after that, there's no great incentive to improve.

Fellow fans? That's still there, to an extent. But even then a lot of the traditional support has gone, priced out or jaded by the corporate Sky Sports bullshit that is modern football.

None of this is Chelsea's fault, or City's. They're just exploiting the way it is. And the way it is is down to the FA, UEFA and FIFA who have conspired to let this happen, or at least sat by while it has. It's not much fun any more. I just don't care which billionaire's team beats which other billionaire's. That's not what football is supposed to be about. It's supposed to be a sport. I won't be renewing my season ticket, I should cancel Sky Sports really as I pretty much never watch neutral games and I don't think I can bear to watch us today as I think we'll lose and I can't be doing with it any more.

In brief:

Football :rose:

Watch the game you pussy

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Originally Posted by Letters

:gp:

I really should re-read Fever Pitch again, Hornby writes with passion about what being a football fan is about, the ups and downs, the trophies and the disappointments. Most importantly, the connection. Connection with the club, the players, fellow fans. We are THE Arsenal and f*** all the rest.
It's not like that now.

The club? They don't give two shits about the fans - they don't see us as fans any more, we're customers and, worse, customers who can't go elsewhere.
Sod us, we can't change allegiance so keep ramping up the prices, keep pumping out the merchandise, maximise profits.

The players? Jack is a notable counter example, he seems to get it - get what playing for The Arsenal is about. The rest...yeah, they'll sign a new contract if we offer enough but if a better comes up you won't see them for dust. They're paid so well so young (which is Wenger's fault) they've made it financially by their early 20s, why would they care how they do after that, there's no great incentive to improve.

Fellow fans? That's still there, to an extent. But even then a lot of the traditional support has gone, priced out or jaded by the corporate Sky Sports bullshit that is modern football.

None of this is Chelsea's fault, or City's. They're just exploiting the way it is. And the way it is is down to the FA, UEFA and FIFA who have conspired to let this happen, or at least sat by while it has. It's not much fun any more. I just don't care which billionaire's team beats which other billionaire's. That's not what football is supposed to be about. It's supposed to be a sport. I won't be renewing my season ticket, I should cancel Sky Sports really as I pretty much never watch neutral games and I don't think I can bear to watch us today as I think we'll lose and I can't be doing with it any more.

In brief:

Football :rose:

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So what you are saying is Walcott is shit?

:gp:

He better score today though. Theo :bow:

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Originally Posted by Niall_Quinn

Big difference between Kroenke and an owner who will reinvest the profits and gives a shit about what goes on on the pitch. Even bigger difference compared to a bunch of thieves from a shit hole. We could be far more competitive if our present board would focus on football. No need at all to sell out to crooks. Only bad could come of that long term and I'm guessing no fan wants bad things for the club.

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We've already seen the current board aren't going to re-invest what we get, so that leaves the option of someone buying in which realistically will be someone loaded who will probably want to put his stamp on the club and make them successful.

They won't want to buy us now.

Time for the billionaires to come home.

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Originally Posted by Arse n Wonga

We've already seen the current board aren't going to re-invest what we get, so that leaves the option of someone buying in which realistically will be someone loaded who will probably want to put his stamp on the club and make them successful.

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that option is always there but it is becoming more and more wishful thinking.

more likely someone has seen the blueprint created by this current lot, will buy in hoping to keep on doing the same thing before they fuck off and hand it to someone else.

there is no reason in the world to ever trust a billionaire owner will have the best intentions for anyone bar himself. we're fucked. stuck in the playground of richmen to kick us around until the walls cave in on the game.

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Originally Posted by Dennis Bendtner

Watch the game you pussy

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Think I made the right call...

do we really want to become another chelsea or man city?

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Originally Posted by PGFC

I concur.

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Yup. With you on this.

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Originally Posted by Dennis Bendtner

Gotta admit I tl;dr to this when pasting it in. But, the Middle East bringing back the North Bank? :haha:

This is TEG on a WUM.

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Leave it out. They'd be more West Bank than Norf bank.

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Originally Posted by Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie

do we really want to become another chelsea or man city?

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Do we really want to be challenging for trophies as they are? Yes

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Originally Posted by Cripps

Do we really want to be challenging for trophies as they are? Yes

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We wouldn't be challenging for trophies, we'd be bidding for them. Or buying them outright if the new mob were prepared to chuck the most stolen money around.

Stolen money, crooks :lol:

God forbid these people made money through legitimate ways.

Think people need to grow up a little. Fair enough if you don't want us to be taken over and stay in this mediocrity. I however would rather we compete with the big clubs by any means necessary. I'm a gooner after all

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Originally Posted by Cripps

Stolen money, crooks :lol:

God forbid these people made money through legitimate ways.

Think people need to grow up a little. Fair enough if you don't want us to be taken over and stay in this mediocrity. I however would rather we compete with the big clubs by any means necessary. I'm a gooner after all

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Saudis, legitimate? :haha:

Me grow up? :haha:

Considering they would have their hands chopped off if they were doing anything illegal, I'd say they are the most legitimate country ever.

Not like England where drinking, drink driving, raping etc is seen as a good time and not punishable

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Originally Posted by Niall_Quinn

Saudis, legitimate? :haha:

Me grow up? :haha:

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Anyone who lives in the sand is a terrorist or is funding terrorism.

And I should know, I've seen Fox News.

I have no geopolitical adversity to such a move, it's that i do believe in the term "financial doping" and i think it's a form of cheating.....i think it would be hypocritical of many of us who bemoan the artificiality of the chelsea/man city acheivements and accept it for Arsenal.
It's also extremely short term thinking, maybe ask Malaga fans what they think of their middle eastern owner

Also look at what Man City have spent in the last three-four years and tally it up with what they have achieved, not exactly the most impressive of return on investment.

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Originally Posted by Grimandi's Perm

Anyone who lives in the sand is a terrorist or is funding terrorism.

And I should know, I've seen Fox News.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dUoxruCh8c

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Originally Posted by Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie

I have no geopolitical adversity to such a move, it's that i do believe in the term "financial doping" and i think it's a form of cheating.....i think it would be hypocritical of many of us who bemoan the artificiality of the chelsea/man city acheivements and accept it for Arsenal.
It's also extremely short term thinking, maybe ask Malaga fans what they think of their middle eastern owner

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it's all we have left. how many other people in the world can afford to buy a business for so much, bar billionaires from anywhere in the world?

until the game falls to pieces and the money floods back out of the game, we'll always be under the control of rich men with their own agendas and/or dodgy histories. it's pretty fucked up tbh.

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Originally Posted by Cripps

Considering they would have their hands chopped off if they were doing anything illegal, I'd say they are the most legitimate country ever.

Not like England where drinking, drink driving, raping etc is seen as a good time and not punishable

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It's the royals doing the chopping. They don't chop their own hands off for stealing.

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Then why not spend the cash reserves of $190M reported in the semi-annual accounts a couple of weeks ago?

Jumping to the conclusion that Arsenal has $190M available to spend on new players is like looking at your bank balance after pay day and deciding that you can spend the lot.

What you have in the bank is only relevant once you have accounted for all the payments that have yet to clear and the liabilities you need to settle before pay day comes around again.

Of the $190M on Arsenal’s books, $35M has to be held in reserve under long-term debt covenants. There is another $210M worth of liabilities that must be settled in the next year. That means a negative position of $55M but that is offset by $105M in monies owed to Arsenal within the next year.

So a $190M cash reserve dwindles to a net reserve of $50M.

Without fixating on the $50M as a transfer fund there is further reason that Arsenal should be able to sign more players (and better?) this summer.

A number of contracts are up this summer and it is clear that Arsenal is not going to renew most of them. Salaries of at least $25M per year could drop off the books.

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http://www.forbes.com/sites/bobbymcm...a-decade-late/

good read.

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Originally Posted by Cripps

Stolen money, crooks :lol:

God forbid these people made money through legitimate ways.

Think people need to grow up a little. Fair enough if you don't want us to be taken over and stay in this mediocrity. I however would rather we compete with the big clubs by any means necessary. I'm a gooner after all

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I dont want us operating along the same lines as City or Chelsea. Nor do I want us to operate as we currently do.

All I want, and I suggest others do as well, is for us to make the maximum use of the resources the Club generates.

If that were to happen along with being well managed, we could compete and feel genuine pride in what we achieved, just as we did in the past.

What if this was us using the maximum use of our resources? Someone posted that they think Wenger is giving 110% but he's just not good enough anymore. Same for the team yesterday. I can't really fault the effort of the lads. They gave it their all but quality wise we are lacking in all areas and unfortunately it will take big money to get that quality in.

I agree with you in that I don't want us to be taken over by whoever and become a penis extension (which btw is an awesome phrase) nor do I want what we are currently doing. If I had to choose one, it'd be the latter though.

We don't need to spend £30m+ on 5 players this summer but why can't we spend that much on one player? If we can't do that then our finances aren't as good as its made out to be and the fans as usual are sold a crock of shit.

it doesn't take millions to talk to each other in defence and not concede the goals we do in such a piss poor fashion. changing that would change a lot of things. wenger obviously can't do it so we need someone who can.

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Originally Posted by GB.

I dont want us operating along the same lines as City or Chelsea. Nor do I want us to operate as we currently do.

All I want, and I suggest others do as well, is for us to make the maximum use of the resources the Club generates.

If that were to happen along with being well managed, we could compete and feel genuine pride in what we achieved, just as we did in the past.

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Exactly. We were slugging it out toe to toe with Utd on half their resources in the past. Our decline in fortunes stems from mismanagement at all levels shielded behind the myth of us being the best run club in the world. Of course ****ish accountants and pen-pushers will love the way we are run. Those ****s love anything from which life is drained. We love football so it's time to kick the fucking accountants out and get any sod in from the street to run things. A mother with three kids on a tight budget could do a better job than the flash ****s we have congratulating themselves upstairs. They are fucking losers with a lot of cash, that's all. They know the price of everything and the value of fuck all.

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Originally Posted by Terry Tuffnutz

it doesn't take millions to talk to each other in defence and not concede the goals we do in such a piss poor fashion. changing that would change a lot of things. wenger obviously can't do it so we need someone who can.

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No, but it might take millions in therapy to convince Wenger we are not Barcelona, seeing as he's not leaving.

Friend just recommended this book to me:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/They-Stole-G.../dp/178033401X

Wobbly table?

:lol:

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Originally Posted by PGFC

Wobbly table?

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Your face is a wobbly table <_<

I actually believe in the self-sustaining model the club has in place, i just don't like how
a) the wage bill has been so disastrously handled
b) Ivan Gazidis has done sod all to bring us the kind of commercial revenue we need in order to operate this way, and the money the club brings in is all through gate receipts and player sales


But neither of these things is responsible for what happened yesterday, yesterday was caused by a manager whose fault lies in his being too stubborn to learn from his mistakes....why on earth did mertesacker and ramsey play yesterday, why did we hold such a high line, why was cazorla played out of position, why did we take carl jenkinson off, why didn't podolski and rosicky start?. Why are we so slow at making runs into the box when the ball is crossed in low.

I'd hate to imagine what Steve Bould's blood pressure is like at this moment, probably passes out at the end of each match in frustration at his Boss' ineptitude.

I don't enjoy criticising Wenger, and frankly the vitriol aimed at him on this board saddens me, but it's not entirerly undeserved. Personally I think it would take a lot for me to dislike him as a person, and i think listening to him speak is a lot more interesting than hearing the self-regarding tripe that comes out of most managers mouths. I think the media especially treat him with a disgraceful amount of disrespect.
However he is a frustrating individual who is making a rod for his own back but i don't believe for a moment he doesn't care. If he didn't care he would have signed a new contract, and i think he's dreadfully unhappy with not having won anything for so long.
I think he is firmly entrenched in this idea that it's only the financial doping in the other clubs that's responsible for him not winning things, when the truth is we rarely make it above 70 points in a season these days and there is a lack of leadership, ideas and fight in his team.
I'd love nothing more than for him to vindicate himself and throw it back at the people who scream "you don't know what your doing" at him, but in my head i don't see it happening.

I hope they buy us ASAP.