Wenger Referendum IV

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I think you’re just playing devil’s advocate. I’ve listened to similar views expressed here, on podcasts and blogs like Aresblog and just think a poor argument is being presented with little evidence. For example, I can’t understand why people are placing so much importance on Gazidis making a show in public with another statement. He’s already said his piece and hinted at a change in both of them. What else is expected from Mr PR? He’s not going to come out and out right say Wenger has to go and he’ll only be criticised if he backs the manager. But that’s another argument.

Do you think if Gazidis applies for another job they’ll be judging him on how he’s handled Wenger? An old man that feels he’s built the club with his bare hands and knows better than everyone else? I’d say having a public fall out with the manager and not being able to work with him goes against his reputation. In the era where managers feel like they’re the superstar, I doubt it effects his reputation on a professional level. The owners do the hiring and firing. The balance figures and revenue generated are what counts for or against his reputation. How he manages other members of staff and the new ideas implemented will be the main things. I highly doubt it will knock his reputation and if it were, leaving the club right now would be the dumbest move he could make. He’d be leaving with his tail between his legs.

As a CEO yes marketing and improved figures are a big part of your role, but compare us to Bayern Munich for instance who charge their fans nowhere near the amount we do (yes that's partly because of where we are based) but they are richer than us because they make up that difference through marketing which they are able to do by sustained long term success. I don't think Karl Heinz Rummenige would get much truck saying...sorry the shareholders are happy with the manager because even though we aren't as rich as we could be, and the on field success is pretty mediocre...the share values are pretty good because of tv money etc.

Take away the recent sponsorship deals and most of the money we make is from gate receipts, tv money and champions league money and in the recent past player sales.

I don't understand how you think it would not harm Gazidis' reputation that after promising change to fans he is unable to deliver anything, and how you think it would damage it if he was able to say I have joined another organisation which matches my ambitions for expansion.

What i am saying is that there isn't any outstanding evidence for Gazidis being a particularly effective CEO, and being able to influence the change of football structure around Arsene Wenger (I take it we both agree that there is no chance of Wenger leaving in the summer) might go some way to proving his detractors wrong.

I have never once claimed about Gazidis firing Wenger, but a CEO expands the business by leadership and influencing the working practices of those it is their job to manage. It seems now the method Gazidis has chosen to do this is by trying to install a director of football....and his effectiveness within his job will be shown in his ability to convince Kroenke of the necessity for such a role to exist despite Wenger's protestations.