Arsenal AGM

[Cripps_orig]

ARSENE WENGER has called on Arsenal's supporters and shareholders to stay united behind his philosophy.

The Gunners boss, who celebrated 15 years in charge of the club earlier this season, has endured one of the most testing spells of his tenure over the past few months.

But the Frenchman told the club's Annual General Meeting that they must not lose their faith in his methods.

Wenger said: "I believe the values we defend are highly defendable.

"We want to do things with class and be very brave. Courage is a quality I admire, because it is highly needed in the modern world. These players are ready to fight. Trust us.

"I can see a lot of fear and discontent among you — and I can understand that because we live in a world where we fight with people who have extremely high resources.

"We can compete by trying to be intelligent and to be united, because football is very difficult to be consistent and we have been more consistent than anybody in the world in the last 15 years."

The Arsenal manager added: "To stay at the top, top level we have to stay united.

"That does not mean not I am not to be criticised, or the board — we accept that, but we have to show to the outside we are united. If you are not, then you have no chance."

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...ay-united.html

Stan Kroenke has addressed the fans and media for the first time since completing his takeover of Arsenal, and has pledged to stay at the club for a long time, believing everything is in place for success.

The American tycoon says he developed his interest in Arsenal over time despite initially having no plans to move into football, and praised manager Arsene Wenger despite a tough start to the season.

“What a wonderful club,” he said as he addressed Arsenal’s annual general meeting.

“We are involved extensively in sports in the United States and had lots of opportunities to involve ourselves in lots of clubs around Europe and in the Premier League.

“We did not have an interest, but as we became involved with Arsenal in a commercial undertaking in Denver, I became more interested.

“Arsenal has all the elements that you need to have success in this kind of business.

“[The club] has tremendous management at the top, a wonderful manager on the pitch who makes great decisions in regard to personnel, and a tremendous following with the supporters.

“With all those things in place, it was an easy decision for us to get more involved.

“We are glad to be here, are happy with the direction of the club and are here for the long term - we love London, you had better get used to seeing us, because we will be around.”

The club’s chief executive, Ivan Gazidis, delivered the opening address to the meeting. In it he maintained that “being a force” in the Premier League and in continental competition was still the Gunners’ “main objective”.

“We have a sound foundation to move forwards. Standing still has never been an option,” he added.

Arsenal sit in seventh place in the Premier League, having picked up in form after a poor start.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/...ss-owner-stan-

Same old shit

[Fist of Lehmann]

Doesn't tell the whole story, apparently a stormy affair.

Some tweets (Tim Payton of the AST, James Olley Chief Football Correspondent for the Evening Standard):

Glyn Taylor of AST Board asks for equity injection to make up shortfall in commercial. Club say no & will stick to only fans putting in

PHW says Gazidis passed all the criteria for his £600k bonus on top of £1m basic salary. Doesn't say what they were.

Shareholder calls for Peter Hill Wood to stand down and bring back David Dein to work with Wenger. Big applause. PHW says no plans to go

Hill-Wood in response: "I am sorry to disappoint you but I have no intention of standing down. I regard it as a privilege to be chairman."

Also:

Peter Hill-Wood informs the room that he still has his World War I Lee Enfield rifle and is not afraid to use it.

[LDG]

Blimey.

Now THAT is more like it.

Glad some of the shareholders aren't pussy-footing anymore!

[Ollie the Optimist]

1) Get rid of the we're doing well mentality we have at the club (losers attitude), winning is the aim and everything else has to be considered a disappointment, if we don't win we don't win but let's no celebrate coming 4th

2) Make some money available to bring in "quality" players, not kids, not nobodies but more established players who know what it takes to win, perhaps include leaders in this

3) Highlight the need to fix the problem areas urgently by whatever means necessary (if top coaches are required bring them in)

4) Back to basics approach where players must do the basics well, pretty football is desirable but must come 2nd to a players ability to do a job in their chosen position

5) Discourage playing players out of position except when necessary, if players are needed for a particular position find specialist players for those positions

6) Point out that it's the managers job to manage and that he doesn't need to worry about the money side

7) A balancing of youth vs experience, signing youths is fine in moderation but not instead of experience

8) Demand a plan of action for how we plan to move forward to achieve our goals in the next 5 years

the only point i disagree with is number 5. i dont htink stan or the board would have a good enough football knowledge of how that works and what is best for the team. thats what wenger is here for. otherwise all good

[IBK]

[QUOTE=Ach;60116]http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...ay-united.html

ARSENE WENGER has called on Arsenal's supporters and shareholders to stay united behind his philosophy.

The Gunners boss, who celebrated 15 years in charge of the club earlier this season, has endured one of the most testing spells of his tenure over the past few months.

But the Frenchman told the club's Annual General Meeting that they must not lose their faith in his methods.

Wenger said: "I believe the values we defend are highly defendable.

"We want to do things with class and be very brave. Courage is a quality I admire, because it is highly needed in the modern world. These players are ready to fight. Trust us.

"I can see a lot of fear and discontent among you — and I can understand that because we live in a world where we fight with people who have extremely high resources.

"We can compete by trying to be intelligent and to be united, because football is very difficult to be consistent and we have been more consistent than anybody in the world in the last 15 years."

The Arsenal manager added: "To stay at the top, top level we have to stay united.

"That does not mean not I am not to be criticised, or the board — we accept that, but we have to show to the outside we are united. If you are not, then you have no chance."

Problem is that Wenger is 110% right in what he says - yet it is his messianistic approach that I believe is hurting the club.

...and what is the point of having a billionaire owner if he won't fucking invest in the club?

[Ollie the Optimist]

what i learnt from today is that silent stan is just that, wenger deeply cares about the club and is determined to put everything right. hill wood doesnt care about the fans but just the money and can quite frankly fuck off. wenger was honest at least today, hill wood wasnt and ignored questions etc. makes me put blame at board not wenger

[Olivier's xmas twist]

[QUOTE=Ach;60116]http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...ay-united.html

ARSENE WENGER has called on Arsenal's supporters and shareholders to stay united behind his philosophy.

The Gunners boss, who celebrated 15 years in charge of the club earlier this season, has endured one of the most testing spells of his tenure over the past few months.

But the Frenchman told the club's Annual General Meeting that they must not lose their faith in his methods.

Wenger said: "I believe the values we defend are highly defendable.

"We want to do things with class and be very brave. Courage is a quality I admire, because it is highly needed in the modern world. These players are ready to fight. Trust us.

"I can see a lot of fear and discontent among you — and I can understand that because we live in a world where we fight with people who have extremely high resources.

"We can compete by trying to be intelligent and to be united, because football is very difficult to be consistent and we have been more consistent than anybody in the world in the last 15 years."

The Arsenal manager added: "To stay at the top, top level we have to stay united.

"That does not mean not I am not to be criticised, or the board — we accept that, but we have to show to the outside we are united. If you are not, then you have no chance."

Interesting,

[Cripps_orig]

Its worrying that he wants us to unite behind his failed philosophy when he should be changing it instead.

Time for a change

[Ollie the Optimist]

Its worrying that he wants us to unite behind his failed philosophy when he should be changing it instead.

Time for a change

think he wants us to unite as a club and support the team instead actually. which is a fair point, he says you can moan at him but when the games come etc, support the team and forget all taht has happened before. i agree

[IBK]

think he wants us to unite as a club and support the team instead actually. which is a fair point, he says you can moan at him but when the games come etc, support the team and forget all taht has happened before. i agree

Seconded