Arsenal

[Miner Willy]

How come nobody's talking about these Wenger/Real stories?

And regarding the ongoing debate over how much money Wenger actually has to spend, this struck me as interesting:

He was also frustrated by a board meeting earlier in the day at which he discovered that his transfer budget for the summer will not be as significant as he had hoped, and must also be used to fund improvements in the contracts of existing players.

It is understood that any pay rises that are agreed this summer must come out of Wenger’s £15 million transfer kitty, which will leave him little to play with. Theo Walcott has already signed a new deal that trebled his wages to £60,000 a week, while Robin van Persie is in talks about signing a new four-year contact that would give him a £20,000-a-week increase.

From here: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle6315337.ece

£15 million MINUS wage increases? That doesn't leave much of a kitty for these 'experienced signings'. Unless Adebayor is sold for decent money, I guess - but then I'd argue another striker needs to come in, if significant improvement is expected.

[Lucas]

I don't think anyone is talking about Wenger to Real as it is a load of old bollocks. Even if he did go, I dont think that would be until he finished his current contract with the club.

[Mars]

Absolutely, not worth dignifying it with a discussion.

[Miner Willy]

I'm sorry, who's fabricating it? The papers, or Wenger?

[carlito]

Plus these figures for £13/15 mio limits on transfer kitties are pure fancy.

How would anyone outside of Arsenal's financial inner-circle know what is and isn't available? It's absolute bullshit, pure and simple.

[Mars]

I said I wouldn't dignify it with a discussion

[Daley]

I'm sorry, who's fabricating it? The papers, or Wenger?

It was in Spanish papers originally. The Real Madrid elections are on June the 14th and Florentino Perez, who is trying to become President again, has promised "big changes". It is bullshit.

[Miner Willy]

It was in Spanish papers originally. The Real Madrid elections are on June the 14th and Florentino Perez, who is trying to become President again, has promised "big changes". It is bullshit.

Fair enough; was just wondering what the Arsenal fans' take on it was. Thanks Daley.

[Daley]

Fair enough; was just wondering what the Arsenal fans' take on it was. Thanks Daley.

Just seems extremely unlikely, especially to Real Madrid. Wenger got his knickers in a twist because a few people asked him some questions last week. At Real Madrid they give you whatever players they feel like buying and tell you to pick the team then sack you when it goes wrong. I would be amazed if he went. It would require a complete turnaround for Wenger or Real Madrid.

And thats my last words on it.

[phresh]

I don't know what you expect a manager to do. Should he really be concerned with the dealings of the club "behind the scenes" - probably not in the most part. I think he has done all that can be expected of him though. He's allowed a financially stable platform on which to build in the future, he has brought through some absolutely world class players who will play at the top level for years to come and beneath that he has nurtured a core of youth players who, if they have the dedication and luck, could go on to be just as impressive. I don't know what more you can ask.

Maybe keep some of the experienced players? I don't know about the rest of it though, can we really say whether he wanted more of a hand or not in transfers? By 'behind the scenes' I was referring more to everything around the players, coaching etc. I've said it before that I think United have benefitted from having a stream of new assistant managers/coaches that bring new ideas and benefit the club as a whole. To me personally it doesn't look like this has really happened at Arsenal. I'm not saying this is fact as I don't know the club anywhere near like what you guys do, that is just my perception of it.

Your recent youngsters have been mixed at best. Wellbeck, Possebon, Macheda and Evans all look good but I can't say that Eagles, Bellion or Richardson have impressed quite so much.

I completely agree, but to help my point United bought in a new 'skills' coach a couple of years ago who re-wrote our youth scheme and we know have probably the best group of yougsters we've had since Giggs etc.

At the end of the day, success aside, you are a club in debt to the tune of £700 mio which means that inspite of your having the highest turnover of any club in the world all you can do is service the interest on that debt, none is actually paid off.

Although I would obviously rather the club was debt free, even if United were to fall on hard times there would be no shortage of buyers. The problem comes if you keep selling to richer and richer buyers as they would eventually run out....

I don't think Wenger would go to Madrid but they will probably take note that he gets his team playing a very similar type of football to the current Spanish Champions....

[Mars]

Fair enough; was just wondering what the Arsenal fans' take on it was. Thanks Daley.

Sorry if I was less helpful - I'm just not giving the stories any credence because 1) this is Wenger we're talking about and 2) this is Real Madrid/Perez we're talking about. And us not having a huge amount of money is not new information and again, I'm pretty sure that these figures of £13/£15 million are based not on fact, but actually, shit.

[Guest]

I'm pretty shocked that fat-cat shareholders see fit to criticse Wenger considering all he's done for you guys.

Surely the guy never has any more, what's he supposed to do? He couldn't even compete with Sunderland in the transfer window 2 years back.

[Daley]

I'm pretty shocked that fat-cat shareholders see fit to criticse Wenger considering all he's done for you guys.

Fans own shares too. It's not all "fat-cat shareholders". We have all been saying similar things in here too.

[BlinkyBear]

It's not just the transfers though is it? Has anything changed behind the scenes to ensure success in the future? You do get the feeling that Wenger controls everything and that there has been little change in the clubs structure in the last 10 years. It's not just the money that has made United succesfull, it is the constant re-evaluation of what needs to be done to keep us succesfull. Changing personel, completely rewriting the youth training scheme and various other things have all happened at United recently which have aided our success as much as any 30 million pound striker.

Ferguson, Wenger and probably Benitez now Parry has gone, all have what are essentially Director of Football roles but you get the feeling Wenger needs to change things behind the scenes, youth alone will not freshen things up.

Really?! Has he changed anything? Really?

I can't even be bothered to begin to list the sheer number of things he's done, but rest assured, he's revolutionsed the club from the ground up. We're almost a club of two halves, Before Wenger and After Wenger; the last 13 years have been completely and utterly 'new'.

My only slight agreement with you would be that we haven't had any form of staff-shuffle in a few years-hence my belief that we should bring some classic Gunners back into the fold to not only reinvigorate things, but also get some classic Arsenal pride back into the squad and provide some backroom experience of winning contemporary trophies.

As for Wenger going to Madrid-David Hyter has written a great little article on the absurdity on the suggestion of him leaving.

Plus, once again, that £13/15mill story is bollocks, no doubt planted into the Media by Usamov et al to help their cause.

If we were shy of money I have no doubt that Kronke would chip in with a couple, but it's just not needed.

I reckon we'll dump £30mill (aside from the money from Ade) on 3 players.

Also, next season's Emirates Cup is a shit line up.

[Guest]

Fans own shares too. It's not all "fat-cat shareholders". We have all been saying similar things in here too.

Ah right, from the brief bit I saw I thought it was more some the city types.

Do you guys really want rid of him though? Who would you bring in?

Ranieri just got sacked you know

[Daley]

Ah right, from the brief bit I saw I thought it was more some the city types.

Do you guys really want rid of him though? Who would you bring in?

Ranieri just got sacked you know

No I don't want rid of him. I just want him to splash the cash on players we need, and if there is no money just tell us. We will understand. But don't tell us there is money for any player we want and then not spend it and then ask me for nearly £1200 for a season ticket to watch Diaby.

Link to that piece please BlinkyBear.

[carlito]

my belief that we should bring some classic Gunners back into the fold to not only reinvigorate things, but also get some classic Arsenal pride back into the squad and provide some backroom experience of winning contemporary trophies.

I couldn't agree more. I would love someone like Keown to come into the staff to help out with the defensive coaching.

Not Adams though. Not Adams....

ask me for nearly £1200 for a season ticket to watch Diaby.

I have a feeling it will be quite a pleasure to watch Diaby in the not too distant future. In terms of potential I think he's got as much as anyone in the squad, although I agree it is frustrating to watch him lose posession as much as he does at the moment.

[Guest]

No I don't want rid of him. I just want him to splash the cash on players we need, and if there is no money just tell us.

Is he allowed to admit that he's not got any money? I.e. what with it being a business, shareholders, etc?

[Daley]

Is he allowed to admit that he's not got any money? I.e. what with it being a business, shareholders, etc?

He is allowed. But it may put off players from signing and fans from paying over a grand up front for a season ticket if he says "sorry we have no money but check out this French 17 year old I found in Finsbury Park!"

The real problem is the mixed messages. The board have always said we have money to spend and Wenger spends nothing. I get the feeling Wenger has got too involved with the money side and needs someone, hopefully the new dude Gazidis, to just go and get players he demands.

[BlinkyBear]

No I don't want rid of him. I just want him to splash the cash on players we need, and if there is no money just tell us. We will understand. But don't tell us there is money for any player we want and then not spend it and then ask me for nearly £1200 for a season ticket to watch Diaby.

Link to that piece please BlinkyBear.

Sorry fella, thought I'd linked it.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/ma...nal-real-madrid

[Lucas]

I couldn't agree more. I would love someone like Keown to come into the staff to help out with the defensive coaching.

I hadn't realised that Keown as onboard as some sort of defensive coach when we did that champions league record in 2005/06, until I read it recently (was it on here?) Shows what a difference it makes.

[Petrousgyre]

I couldn't agree more. I would love someone like Keown to come into the staff to help out with the defensive coaching.

Not Adams though. Not Adams....

Christ, not Adams. Keown is a good call, he's a surprisingly smart chap and could go very far in management in time. Some of his analysis on MOTD2 is excellent.

[BlinkyBear]

I couldn't agree more. I would love someone like Keown to come into the staff to help out with the defensive coaching.

Not Adams though. Not Adams....

I have a feeling it will be quite a pleasure to watch Diaby in the not too distant future. In terms of potential I think he's got as much as anyone in the squad, although I agree it is frustrating to watch him lose posession as much as he does at the moment.

Adams is supposedly a brilliant coach. That I can imagine and the stories from Pompey when he was a manager suggest that man-management really isn't his thing.

[carlito]

I hadn't realised that Keown as onboard as some sort of defensive coach when we did that champions league record in 2005/06, until I read it recently (was it on here?) Shows what a difference it makes.

I didn't know that either.

[BlinkyBear]

I didn't know that either.

Isn't Keown a scout for us now?

And clearly, we need Lee 'look at this box of space between the defence and midfield' Dixon back on board.

[phresh]

Really?! Has he changed anything? Really?

Sorry, again I should have specified that I wasn't refeering to his entire reign but the time around and since you won your last trophy. Sorry for any confusion!

Christ, not Adams. Keown is a good call, he's a surprisingly smart chap and could go very far in management in time. Some of his analysis on MOTD2 is excellent.

I mentioned it in here before I think but I couldn't stand the bloke as a player (understatement of the year) yet I actually like hearing his analysis on MOTD.

[carlito]

Isn't Keown a scout for us now?

And clearly, we need Lee 'look at this box of space between the defence and midfield' Dixon back on board.

I've never heard anything about Keown being a scout for us either.

Seconded on Dixon though.

[Rev]

From Wiki:

Martin Raymond Keown (born 24 July 1966 in Oxford, England) is a former English footballer, who spent much of his career at Arsenal, with stints at Aston Villa and Everton as well. He is now a part-time scout and coach for Arsenal, as well as a pundit for the BBC.

He is on football manager too I think...

[cantonarv]

Wenger had a great team to begin with the famous back four plus Bergkamp - as soon as the whole team is his he has not won anything and is blaming everyone but himself - it seems to be he should be a director of football and let someone else manage the team day to day

[Lucky]

When Wenger took over we had:

David Seaman

Lee Dixon

Nigel Winterburn

Patrick Vieira (I know AW brought him in, but he still had him from day 1)

Steve Bould

Tony Adams

David Platt

Ian Wright

Paul Merson

Dennis Bergkamp

Marttin Keown

Ray Parlour

plus some other shit players

We seem to have gone full circle, from this, right up to the invincibles days and back again to todays squad. Actually the squad today probably doesn't have as many top players as above.

Also, heard today that AW is earning £6.5million per year. I knew he was on good money but I didn't realise it was that much.