Summer Transfer Speculation and Shit

[Power n Glory]

Firstly, I think Wenger deep down is at a stage now where he knows that what is right & needed for the team but it goes against the grain of everything he believes in. I am & always will be massively thankful to him for what he has achieved for my club. I have not been very complimentary about him in recent years but if I met him on the street I would be honoured to shake his hand.
You mention the stadium & how well has done to achieve what he has done & in a recent post you also mentioned beginning to deliver on the pitch "as scheduled". What schedule are you working to. When Danny Fitz & Wenger told us the news about the Emirates move & how it would mean we could now compete to become Europe's best, I simply don't remember any schedule's. Certainly not 10 years & to be honest are we actually any closer to that than we were when we started. We were told that 40,000+
at home games would cover stadium payments & the balance plus new lucrative commercial deals would mean we had money to spend. Again no mention of a decade of financially struggles. Wenger was part of this & how many times was he or the board asked if we had money to spend & answered like they were politicians. I don't think he's a thief but he was part of the lie that cemented the move. Yes, its wonderful to have a modern stadium & be told we are finally ready to compete but nowadays we have to be more ambitious & ready to spend a little bit more to get the quality needed as opposed to our Highbury days. We don't have a manager in that mould, if we're not going to do all in our power to compete with the Chavs & the Mancs then we may aswell admit that we have spent 10 years paying for a stadium to watch a team struggling to finish top 4 in England let alone the "best in Europe".

[Niall_Quinn]

Firstly, I think Wenger deep down is at a stage now where he knows that what is right & needed for the team but it goes against the grain of everything he believes in. I am & always will be massively thankful to him for what he has achieved for my club. I have not been very complimentary about him in recent years but if I met him on the street I would be honoured to shake his hand.
You mention the stadium & how well has done to achieve what he has done & in a recent post you also mentioned beginning to deliver on the pitch "as scheduled". What schedule are you working to. When Danny Fitz & Wenger told us the news about the Emirates move & how it would mean we could now compete to become Europe's best, I simply don't remember any schedule's. Certainly not 10 years & to be honest are we actually any closer to that than we were when we started. We were told that 40,000+
at home games would cover stadium payments & the balance plus new lucrative commercial deals would mean we had money to spend. Again no mention of a decade of financially struggles. Wenger was part of this & how many times was he or the board asked if we had money to spend & answered like they were politicians. I don't think he's a thief but he was part of the lie that cemented the move. Yes, its wonderful to have a modern stadium & be told we are finally ready to compete but nowadays we have to be more ambitious & ready to spend a little bit more to get the quality needed as opposed to our Highbury days. We don't have a manager in that mould, if we're not going to do all in our power to compete with the Chavs & the Mancs then we may aswell admit that we have spent 10 years paying for a stadium to watch a team struggling to finish top 4 in England let alone the "best in Europe".

Gazidis stated the target for bringing serious additional revenue streams online is the Summer of 2014. We're almost there so his prediction and the effectiveness of the plan can soon be tested. Don't forget there was a crash in the property market and a general economic downturn, property was tied in tightly to the financial plan. But apparently we are on target. I think this is why some have stepped up their desperate efforts to undermine Wenger. They want him out regardless of anything he has done for the club and regardless of damage to his reputation because they feel another guy can better utilise what has been built over the last decade. In principle this may be correct, maybe there is a better option purely in terms of what happens on the pitch. It's the manner in which they go about these things, belittling the man, throwing his achievements in the bin as irrelevant or downplaying them. They are happy to take the money and hand it to another guy, but still feel the need to stab the guy who helped generate the revenue (now and sustainably into the future) in the process. Some want us out of the CL if that means Wenger walks - they actually want to damage the club and set us back. Some want us to be beaten on the pitch by our rivals. I have this nauseating image of the same people cheering and expressing their undying love for the club the next time we win something.

[selassie]

Firstly, I think Wenger deep down is at a stage now where he knows that what is right & needed for the team but it goes against the grain of everything he believes in. I am & always will be massively thankful to him for what he has achieved for my club. I have not been very complimentary about him in recent years but if I met him on the street I would be honoured to shake his hand.
You mention the stadium & how well has done to achieve what he has done & in a recent post you also mentioned beginning to deliver on the pitch "as scheduled". What schedule are you working to. When Danny Fitz & Wenger told us the news about the Emirates move & how it would mean we could now compete to become Europe's best, I simply don't remember any schedule's. Certainly not 10 years & to be honest are we actually any closer to that than we were when we started. We were told that 40,000+
at home games would cover stadium payments & the balance plus new lucrative commercial deals would mean we had money to spend. Again no mention of a decade of financially struggles. Wenger was part of this & how many times was he or the board asked if we had money to spend & answered like they were politicians. I don't think he's a thief but he was part of the lie that cemented the move. Yes, its wonderful to have a modern stadium & be told we are finally ready to compete but nowadays we have to be more ambitious & ready to spend a little bit more to get the quality needed as opposed to our Highbury days. We don't have a manager in that mould, if we're not going to do all in our power to compete with the Chavs & the Mancs then we may aswell admit that we have spent 10 years paying for a stadium to watch a team struggling to finish top 4 in England let alone the "best in Europe".

[Power n Glory]

Why have you introduced the idea I'm claiming a split between the manager and the board? The old lot have cashed out and are gone. The new lot are investing, so it appears. Where did I say their aims differ from Wenger's?

Or put in a simpler way, why are you making shit up?

You’re just not getting it. If you’re going to accuse the old Board of thievery, then Wenger has played his part and was complicit. He’s kept quiet about transfer fees and played the politician, as Dein Machine points out, whenever questioned on our finances. He’s sold the dream to the fans regarding our young squad, 2% away from domination and the benefits of the Emirates. ‘I am Invisible’ even points out the difference between a coach and a manager. The man helped design the stadium for pete’s sake. How can you accuse the old board of something so cynical and turn a blind eye to Wenger when he’s come up with the policies?

[selassie]

Gazidis stated the target for bringing serious additional revenue streams online is the Summer of 2014. We're almost there so his prediction and the effectiveness of the plan can soon be tested. Don't forget there was a crash in the property market and a general economic downturn, property was tied in tightly to the financial plan. But apparently we are on target. I think this is why some have stepped up their desperate efforts to undermine Wenger. They want him out regardless of anything he has done for the club and regardless of damage to his reputation because they feel another guy can better utilise what has been built over the last decade. In principle this may be correct, maybe there is a better option purely in terms of what happens on the pitch. It's the manner in which they go about these things, belittling the man, throwing his achievements in the bin as irrelevant or downplaying them. They are happy to take the money and hand it to another guy, but still feel the need to stab the guy who helped generate the revenue (now and sustainably into the future) in the process. Some want us out of the CL if that means Wenger walks - they actually want to damage the club and set us back. Some want us to be beaten on the pitch by our rivals. I have this nauseating image of the same people cheering and expressing their undying love for the club the next time we win something.

Or maybe some of us want a manager that does everything in his power to achieve success for this football club?

OK...so I can only speak for myself here, I totally respect Wenger, what he has done for this club is commendable work and I agree that we will thank him in the future for building a solid platform for this football club and putting us in a stable position financially.

The issue I have with him are what appear to be his ideals. I don't like the way he approaches the transfer market, I think he is very passive in this regard and IMO he places far too much of an emphasis on internal development than external solutions. I think this attitude stretches to the way he trains and develops players too, far too much trust is given.

I certainly don't want the club to struggle or fail, I don't want Wenger to fail, I just want Arsenal as a football club to do as much as it can with it's given resources.

I don't really see any tangible progress in the grand scheme of things and that's why I have been quite vocal about wanting Wenger gone, what are people waiting for or expecting to change?

[Dein-machine]

Gazidis stated the target for bringing serious additional revenue streams online is the Summer of 2014. We're almost there so his prediction and the effectiveness of the plan can soon be tested. Don't forget there was a crash in the property market and a general economic downturn, property was tied in tightly to the financial plan. But apparently we are on target. I think this is why some have stepped up their desperate efforts to undermine Wenger. They want him out regardless of anything he has done for the club and regardless of damage to his reputation because they feel another guy can better utilise what has been built over the last decade. In principle this may be correct, maybe there is a better option purely in terms of what happens on the pitch. It's the manner in which they go about these things, belittling the man, throwing his achievements in the bin as irrelevant or downplaying them. They are happy to take the money and hand it to another guy, but still feel the need to stab the guy who helped generate the revenue (now and sustainably into the future) in the process. Some want us out of the CL if that means Wenger walks - they actually want to damage the club and set us back. Some want us to be beaten on the pitch by our rivals. I have this nauseating image of the same people cheering and expressing their undying love for the club the next time we win something.

Not talking about what Gazidis told us in a couple of years ago - that's 8 years after the "best in Europe" speech.
I have no doubts that you are right about certain people but in truth he has brought a lot of this on himself. The gutter press & certain individuals take great pleasure in trying to disprove arrogant people. Over the years it has been embarrasing to listen to some of his excuses, always when angry after a defeat, even as a Arsenal Fan. The "I didnt' see it" series. He wouldn't be told about his "youth" policy, wouldn't be told that we needed a different style (plan B) at times, wouldn't be told we were weak in certain areas when even my grandma could see it - these things mean he puts himself out in the open ready to be shot at. All the time we were winning things & at least competing he could hold two fingers up to the world but the promises of things improving has now run its course & he's inner frustrations are clear to see. Its hard for someone like him to admit that he is failing but in his own mind he knows he's past it now & any chance of Arsenal becomming the best in Europe will not happen under his reign.
Those people you mention who actually want us out of the C.L & to see us lose to Wigan simply say this out of spite in the hope it wakes the board up to take their noses out of Wengers arse. They are no different to you, they want whats best for their club but unlike you they think that can happen whilst Wenger is in situ - if these people got their way & Wenger was replaced next year & we went on the win the league, would you not cheer & express your undying love for the club - I think & hope you would.

[Globalgunner]

Its not that he dosent get it he refuses to. Big difference. NQ lives vicariously through Wenger, claims to know stuff that can easily be disputed. Wenger is being paid apparently for doing stuff that other managers dont. Work that trophy targetting clubs leave to others.

It is widely reported that our pay back terms are annually anything between 20-24m. Which is about 6 days match revenue. Wenger himself earns anything between 7-8m annually.

So Saint Wenger earns about 1/3rd of our annual mortgage and has delivered not a tiddlywink since we moved to Emirates. He certainly loves the club. but not enough to make the fans who earn him his mountain of dosh happy. Instead he indulges himself in flights of fancy and football for idealists. Buying players that he likes, not what the team needs.

Wed best be careful not to kill Wenger on these boards otherwise someone else might just keel over and squawk.

[Özim]

Or maybe some of us want a manager that does everything in his power to achieve success for this football club?

OK...so I can only speak for myself here, I totally respect Wenger, what he has done for this club is commendable work and I agree that we will thank him in the future for building a solid platform for this football club and putting us in a stable position financially.

The issue I have with him are what appear to be his ideals. I don't like the way he approaches the transfer market, I think he is very passive in this regard and IMO he places far too much of an emphasis on internal development than external solutions. I think this attitude stretches to the way he trains and develops players too, far too much trust is given.

I certainly don't want the club to struggle or fail, I don't want Wenger to fail, I just want Arsenal as a football club to do as much as it can with it's given resources.

I don't really see any tangible progress in the grand scheme of things and that's why I have been quite vocal about wanting Wenger gone, what are people waiting for or expecting to change?

Brilliant post and totally agree, I'm not sure what will convince some people it's time Wenger moves on, every season he gets another season and the same thing happens again, when do people say enough is enough it's just not working anymore?

They seem to have successfully convinced some people 4th place is a successful season for us.

[Niall_Quinn]

You’re just not getting it. If you’re going to accuse the old Board of thievery, then Wenger has played his part and was complicit. He’s kept quiet about transfer fees and played the politician, as Dein Machine points out, whenever questioned on our finances. He’s sold the dream to the fans regarding our young squad, 2% away from domination and the benefits of the Emirates. ‘I am Invisible’ even points out the difference between a coach and a manager. The man helped design the stadium for pete’s sake. How can you accuse the old board of something so cynical and turn a blind eye to Wenger when he’s come up with the policies?

Nicely switched. The old board members were mentioned as being far better candidates to accuse of thievery than Wenger because they genuinely took much more than they put in. The original claim was Wenger has stuffed his pockets at the expense of the club - which is of course utter bullshit. He's put in far more than he's ever taken out, not in terms of investment from his own pocket but from the financial rewards of performing to a certain level on the pitch and collaborating with the board to expand the infrastructure of the club, continue to attract a certain level of players and place the club in a position to sign lucrative commercial deals. Crucial revenue at a crucial time leading to bigger revenues at a later time. You quote "I am invisible" in one respect and then ignore, "Personally speaking, I don't think there should be any questions about whether Wenger deserves his salary, because I think he's absolutely earned it for the careful job he's done in guiding us through the last 10 years (and for nearly 2 decades of service in general)" A convenient and selective oversight?

[Niall_Quinn]

Its not that he dosent get it he refuses to. Big difference. NQ lives vicariously through Wenger, claims to know stuff that can easily be disputed. Wenger is being paid apparently for doing stuff that other managers dont. Work that trophy targetting clubs leave to others.

It is widely reported that our pay back terms are annually anything between 20-24m. Which is about 6 days match revenue. Wenger himself earns anything between 7-8m annually.

So Saint Wenger earns about 1/3rd of our annual mortgage and has delivered not a tiddlywink since we moved to Emirates. He certainly loves the club. but not enough to make the fans who earn him his mountain of dosh happy. Instead he indulges himself in flights of fancy and football for idealists. Buying players that he likes, not what the team needs.

Wed best be careful not to kill Wenger on these boards otherwise someone else might just keel over and squawk.

As everyone can clearly see here - the lack of respect for Wenger goes well beyond the decisions he makes on the pitch or in the transfer market. It's a loathing, gloating hatred and it's this sort of shit that will cause people to rally behind the manager. Look to the match threads if you want to see just about everyone criticising Wenger for his substitutions or team selections, look to the transfer threads if you want to see just about everyone criticising Wenger for his signings or lack of them. Look in places like this if you want to see hatred of the manager and anyone else who won't join in the frantic braying for not just the manager's head but his reputation too. Fans who have respect for the club will know what to make of it.