I guess players like Sheerah and Le Tisser are an example of hero status being enough. Although they're from another era, you'd be hard pressed to find a player like them these days.
I guess players like Sheerah and Le Tisser are an example of hero status being enough. Although they're from another era, you'd be hard pressed to find a player like them these days.
Alan Shearer i guess is the perfect example of what Syn is talking about
Yep this is what i meant. Modern footballer is different. That loyalty thing is more or less a thing of the past.Originally Posted by Marc Overmars
When I lived near Tooting Broadway I often got drunk and ended up there on the last tube.
TootingWhere i have to get off on the tube.
Doesn't he do it every year though? (Alright, maybe not always heart, but often valuable players)
Vieira - 2005
Cole, Pires, Bergkamp, Campbell - 2006
Henry, Lauren, Reyes, Ljungberg - 2007
Hleb, Flamini, Silva, Lehman - 2008
Toure, Adebayor - 2009
Gallas - 2010
Clichy, Nasri, Fabregas, Eboue (steady) - 2011
We have basically sold/lost our 'star' players every summer for quite some time now. Not really good enough for a team with title aspirations - but I guess, we aren't one anymore.
Last edited by -Xs-; 17-05-2012 at 05:09 AM.
He might not have felt in a position to offer them what they wanted. Was the wage structure enforced by the board or Wenger? I know Wenger said things about the structure but he is a loyal employee - once the board has made it's decision, he would not be seen criticising it in public, even if he disagreed. A comment he let slip about the ****ley **** saga implied it was not under his full control. Negotiations with RvP, roumour has it, might include breaking the current wage structure. Given the board must bow to Kroenke's wishes, that might have changed. (I know they have wage structures in the US, but Kroenke might be a smart enough businessman not to apply US methods to non-US companies.
Last summer was different. By and large, with the noteable exception of 2008 with Hleb and Flamini, Wenger intended to sell, or at least anticipated the sale of the players mentioned. The departures affected our team, but didn't send it into meltdown like last Summer. Wenger took his eye off the ball last Summer, and clearly didn't anticipate those 2 tossers going. I don't think he will do the same with RVP.
Putting the laughter back into manslaughter
Plus its exactly this issue that I'm getting at on the other thread. I think Wenger has to shoulder much of the blame for misjudging last Summer, but regarding the other departures, I wonder if its fair to point the finger at him? Because doing so suggests that we as a club are capable of holding onto top players. nd I think that we need to accept that financially, and therefore performance-wise, we are simply aren't in a position to do so. I'd even go so far as to say that because of Wenger's rep and the perception that a) We play football in the right way b) We give young players an opportunity and c) We treat our players wth respect and do business the right way - we are, and have been punching above our weight for years as regards our ability to attract talent. Its no surprise that this talent gets its head turned at a later stage.
Putting the laughter back into manslaughter
My view?
I think RVP is an Arsenal Fan. And like all fans in his position, he wants to use every single iota of leverage and influence he can to change the direction of the club. I don't think it's about money, more fed up like we all are of watching richer club stockpile talent, whilst we scrape by buying the bare minium we need to stay competitive. Like all fans, he would rather he won trophies here, however, as a competitive professional sportsman, he wants his career to mean something, which is difficult being in a club effectively running an academy model.
Make no doubt, RVP is in an exceptionally strong position, or, conversely, Wenger and the Board are in a very tight corner. Personally, if they can't promise signings, they should have done what Fergie did to Rooney and gave him a 250k per week contract without any messing around. The moral sapping nature of another star leaving can't be underestimated - not just on fans, but on our current squad, and any prospective transfer target we'd have in mind - it would pretty much put an end to any notion that we're competing. Even RVP being forced to stay a year before leaving on a free would be a diaster. It's quite depressing seeing the club fuck around with this.
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