Arsenal's Transition

Eriku

That must be a fucked up bit of convergence for you

peterstorey

I reckon he ripped that off from the 'Collected Works of Storey' Vol II.

Bear Attack

To be honest, Gaz's claim is sound. Peterstorey's "10 year plan" sounds deluded because Arsenal are obviously not in a title winning position with big name exits and their lack of ambition to replenish areas of the team. Nonetheless, Arsenal and Arsene Wenger have decided to invest in the future longevity of the club instead of splashing cash on for immediate success. That allocation of money certainly detriments their transfer policy and it causes the players to question the ambition of the club but it sets them up for a bright future. It is somewhat laughable that Wenger still insists on not needing a centre half but their squad is decent and most importantly, sustainable.

MrMarcello

Wenger missed out on players like Ronaldo, Carrick and Smalling for various reasons, somehow missed out on Evra despite his penchant for luring French/Frenchish players, missed out on the likes of Park, Vidic, Young, Hernandez, et al. All of these players went for low fees (or relatively low fees w/wo add-ons), something Wenger prefers to do. SAF signed Obertan and shipped him out - Wenger would still have him in the squad waiting for him to finally develop.

He could have easily signed Parker this summer, a player that would add some bite and leadership to the club. Sell off Nasri and Cesc since they have wanted out and made it known publicly and then spent the cash on two established PL players (say Cahill and Parker) and two foreign signings (say Eto'o and Mata). Dump Almunia, sign Friedel to mentor that overrated Polish keeper for a season and fill in as necessary, and BANG - Arsenal are in a better position to win.

Snow

I do to but those two trophies really don't have much meaning. It's pretty much the same competition for United except there's a bit more money to the FA Cup. The reward at the end isn't really special because there's so much luck involved as well. Stoke reached the final and barely played a decent opponent. United played Liverpool, Arsenal and City.

It's good for the youngsters and excited if we win it because half of the team up to the final will most likely be inexperienced players. That's the most joy I get out of the cup.

Won't be bothered at the end of the season if it's lost, like I would the PL or a bitter CL end, but I hate losing a match and the cups won't be any different no matter what the significance of the match.

Hectic

How's that looking for you?

towcester_red

Gillespie

I am convinced Arsenal's lack of spending is down to the funding of the new stadium and I suspect also to the tight financial conditions imposed by the bank on putting debt repayment before investing in new players

Given the strong risk of not qualifying for the CL the resources for major purchases this summer will also not be there and we will likely sell RVP

We have to accept we will be at least 5 years away from challenging again

Hectic

I'd make that a 10 year plan if I were you.

peterstorey

Pretty much the same as it did yesterday or the day before. After all we didn't get the bum's rush from the CL by the mighty Basel or go into administration.

adexkola

What are the numbers?

towcester_red

You really should have gone out in the groups after that shambles last night.

Theres almost nothing better than a good old crisis at Arsenal

Hectic

You're nearly 20 points off the top in mid February, I don't think that qualifies as there or thereabouts.

towcester_red

Dont forget that this is also 'the worst Utd team ever' that they are behind aswell.

peterstorey

It doesn't really matter if you finish 2nd like you or 4th. We're still in the FA cup as well - another comp you made an early exit from.

Hectic

Well, yes, it does matter if you finish 2nd, or 4th, or 5th, or 6th...

The simple fact is we are challenging for the title this season, Arsenal aren't.

4th would be an achievement for Arsenal this season, given how many teams are currently fighting for that spot, and of course Spurs occupy 3rd, with 10 points on you.

Guy Incognito

The new stadium was meant to generate tonnes of cash. Arsenal will release their pre-tax profits in the coming week, we'll see how much money they have.

Pexbo

The only transition they have made in the last 6 years is the transition from top European football club to average Premiership side.


Seriously though, how long can an actual transition last? It's been 8 years now since they won the league and Henry aside who doesn't really count, they don't have a single player left who has been a part of a League winning side.

How is that any different to Liverpool's situation? Yes, Liverpool have won a few cups in the 22 years since they have won the League much like Arsenal have won the FA Cup but aside from that, they obviously don't have a single player left from their last League winning side.

So is it safe to say it's officially no longer a "Transition" and they are just another big club trying to rebuild a squad to achieve past glories?

towcester_red

Reapersoul20

What do you call a man who carries ten mugs but no cups? Robin Van Persie.

Guy Incognito

It's 'transition' when you keep selling your best players year after year. Clichy was the last championship winner to leave the squad. I recall Wenger saying it was his responsibility to make a profit of £15-20 million every year which is all you need to know about their situation. As much as it's the manager's fault for buying inexperienced players and using the wrong tactics, the board need to dish out some home truths.

Arsenal are turning into Monaco or Ajax in the late 1990s, feeder clubs.

FlawlessThaw

Wouldn't surprise me if Arsenal got knocked out of the FA Cup on Sunday, no Henry to save you guys this time. In any case what happened to the good old days when the FA Cup was a two bit competition and almost an irrelevance what happened there?

adexkola

As long as he does that, the board will back him, regardless of league position or progress in Europe. Which is why I'm baffled by predictions he'll be sacked. Which other available manager in Europe can do better with the resources he has?

Team Brian GB

In the manner they are currently playing, the nature of the players at their disposal, the skill of their management and the scale of their ambitions

It would appear that Arsenal is transitioning into England.

Hectic

peterstorey

That's a misinterpretion of his remarks, all he meant was that they needed to find £15-20M to pay the interest on the stadium loan, not that he needed to sell players to make money.

KingEric7

...

peterstorey

What does that make Chelsea? We're still ahead of you despite the £1Bn financial doping.

towcester_red

Team Brian GB

Here we go, all watch whilst PeterStorey tries to turn this into a thread about Abramovich.

Guy Incognito

I agree, he won't be sacked, he will walk out.

I know but how can the club get £15-20m just like that? Arsenal now are doing pre-season tours but their main source of income has been high ticket prices corrosponding with gate receipts and selling players.

peterstorey

Go on, stick your head in the sand and forget you're funded by gangster money.

CnutOfAllCnuts

There is a big difference between challenging for the title but finishing 2nd and being an also-ran not involved in a title race and finishing 4th.

According to you the FA cup is a mickey mouse cup that means fuck all!

towcester_red

Facebook wasnt even available to the general public last time Arsenal won a trophy

peterstorey

The revenues are enough to pay the stadium and support the wage bill without selling players. What we can't do is inflate the wage bill to be long-term unsustainable. Mata is a classic example - he wanted £150K a week (50% more than our going rate). If that were to be replayed across the wage bill it's another 60M/year and not viable.

peterstorey

I can be rude about it since we're still in - you can't since you got dumped out.

CnutOfAllCnuts

Ah, I see. You mean you can pick and choose when it suits your argument.

Gutted we are out of it.

Luckily, we are in the title race. Again

rcoobc

Patriotism at its best

Rood

So whats happened to cash bought in from Fabregas and Nasri? Not having a pop, genuinely interested in how things work at your place

Team Brian GB

No, no, no, it has to be like this: