Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Help Keep Boards Alive. Support us by going ad free today. See here: https://subscriptions.boards.ie/.
If we do not hit our goal we will be forced to close the site.

Current status: https://keepboardsalive.com/

Annual subs are best for most impact. If you are still undecided on going Ad Free - you can also donate using the Paypal Donate option. All contribution helps. Thank you.

Arsenal Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2013/14

13738404243339

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,334 ✭✭✭the untitled user


    I think the Arsenal board need to be more open to new ideas instead of this closed book. Kroenke's methods wont exactly guaranteee long term sustainability either if the club continue to be stripped of its assets and no reinivestment. Ozil being the exception, the club now needs to keep the promise they undoubtedly made to him that we will be competing for trophies. If they dont and go back to their selling of players then that will do as much damage to the club as any crazy owner could

    Again, you're being naive here. The reason Arsenal were forced into being a selling club temporarily is down to two things:
    1. The credit crisis and having to take a short term high interest loan to finance the development of the Highbury apartments.
    2. Having locked ourselves into long term deals pretty much the year before commercial revenues started exploding (and with it players wages).
    Those shackles have come off now... that loan is paid off and this season should see our commercial revenues pretty much explode on the back of the Emirates renegotiation.

    Also, you missed something obvious there: a rights issue underwritten by Usmanov would have seen his shareholding in the club increase and have forced them to grant him a seat on the board. Again, it's another example of his ulterior motives.


  • Posts: 24,286 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    I would have my criticisms of the current regime at Arsenal but when you look at the likes of Anzhi or even to a certain degree, Real Madrid and their bizarre transfer policy it puts things into perspective. We could be worse. We could be better of course but id rather stay the same then morph into those aforementioned clubs


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,334 ✭✭✭the untitled user


    wonga77 wrote: »
    Maybe its common knowledge so pardon my ignorance, but how do you know so much about Usmanov's private dealings?

    Found the blog post I was looking for... from a former UK Ambassador to Uzbekistan. http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2007/09/alisher_usmanov/


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,222 ✭✭✭✭Marty McFly


    To be fair to untitled user, for every Chelsea there is also an Anzhi so i could see his concerns certainly if Usmanov was to obtain too much power. He should be kept at arms length. I'd like Dein back but im not so sure id like him back under the banner of some oligarch

    It would seem Dein knows Usmanov through Moshiri who is London based.



    I wasn't calling for him to run the club either every single new investor should be treated with caution. I've read all about Usnanov and his past aswell, a lot of it is speculative. But regardless all we can do is speculate on what his motives for investing in the club none of us know for sure.

    My main point was I don't care who runs the club as long as it is run correctly regardless of that persons past or private lives generally speaking would be of no concern for me.


  • Posts: 24,286 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Again, you're being naive here. The reason Arsenal were forced into being a selling club temporarily is down to two things:
    1. The credit crisis and having to take a short term high interest loan to finance the development of the Highbury apartments.
    2. Having locked ourselves into long term deals pretty much the year before commercial revenues started exploding (and with it players wages).
    Those shackles have come off now... that loan is paid off and this season should see our commercial revenues pretty much explode on the back of the Emirates renegotiation.

    Also, you missed something obvious there: a rights issue underwritten by Usmanov would have seen his shareholding in the club increase and have forced them to grant him a seat on the board. Again, it's another example of his ulterior motives.


    Ozil aside though, i felt Wenger and the board handled the summer fairly badly. They handled it no different to years when we had no money.

    Explosive revenue streams aside, will it still be enough to go toe to toe with the likes of Man City in the transfer market?

    Look perhaps your right about Usmanov, but i still think if Arsenal have to raise further transfer funds that they might have to think outside the box a bit at board level.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,012 ✭✭✭✭Alfred Borden




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,334 ✭✭✭the untitled user


    Ozil aside though, i felt Wenger and the board handled the summer fairly badly. They handled it no different to years when we had no money.

    Explosive revenue streams aside, will it still be enough to go toe to toe with the likes of Man City in the transfer market?

    Look perhaps your right about Usmanov, but i still think if Arsenal have to raise further transfer funds that they might have to think outside the box a bit at board level.

    On the first bit... it was the first window in over a decade that we had the financial security to be able to buy at the top end of the market. It was always going to be difficult, especially as the press keep falsely representing us as a club in decline.

    Also, don't underestimate the effort of clearing out the wage bill took, a lot of man hours would have been invested in that to try and recoup some losses. We hopefully wont have to do an exercise like that again for a long time.

    On the second bit... yes and no. I agree that we could do with some fresh heads in there, but thinking outside the box usually involves high levels of risk. Our board is clearly risk averse, but, by and large, it's served us well to date. Remember we are pretty much the only club in Europe (with the possible exception of United, although they get much more favorable concessions from their local council than we do from what I can tell) to be as competitive as we are without external backing. Even Bayern, the champion of financial fair play supposedly, are only where they are because they have the backing (and occasional digout) from German big industry.

    Jury's out yet, because we haven't won anything obviously, but the club does seem to be moving in the right direction, so I'd be an advocate of the risk averse, patient approach. I understand why people would disagree with me, long periods without trophies for a club of our stature are hard to stomach, but if we had taken a gamble and failed in the same period... we weren't that far off hitting the wall like Leeds did at one point (supposedly Di Maria was supposed to sign for us before he went to Real, paperwork all done, but the money never appeared in the account. That was the same period we took out the short term loan).

    At the very least, the last three or four windows have shown we're no longer reliant on having to gamble on youth to develop the first team. It might be a slower pace than people would like but at least it's in the right direction.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,828 ✭✭✭gosplan


    Raf32 wrote: »

    Blah ha ha ha ha.

    Jesus Christ though. Wenger with those resources should be awesome.

    Continue as per usual adding cheap youth players to the squad like Ramsey Wilshire, and so on, but then every window or two sign an Ozil or a Suarez.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,222 ✭✭✭✭Marty McFly


    Raf32 wrote: »


    As much as I hope that is true, big transfers like that generally don't happen mid season.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,012 ✭✭✭✭Alfred Borden


    Suarez is very doable in fairness, not cup tied in Europe and wenger willing to spend big on him. we just need to pull away from them before january and show that we arent direct rivals and that they havent a hope in getting fourth!


  • Advertisement
  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,828 ✭✭✭gosplan


    AdamD wrote: »



    Swear I've watched every Ozil video on YT at this point :pac:

    Rival fans are underestimating this transfer methinks, Madrid fans however; not best pleased.

    Holy sh1t.

    I know it's been said before but Giroud must be delighted with this.

    He'd be a smart move for ff now as our only striker.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,428 ✭✭✭.jacksparrow.


    Would we have got ozill if we had of got Suarez?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,012 ✭✭✭✭Alfred Borden


    Would we have got ozill if we had of got Suarez?

    i think so yes.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,012 ✭✭✭✭Alfred Borden


    Sanogo got a hat-trick of assists for France U21s against Kazakhstan U21s.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 25,953 ✭✭✭✭kryogen


    Raf32 wrote: »
    Sanogo got a hat-trick of assists for France U21s against Kazakhstan U21s.

    You have a good player there if he becomes anything like he did for me in FM


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,012 ✭✭✭✭Alfred Borden


    kryogen wrote: »
    You have a good player there if he becomes anything like he did for me in FM

    haha agreed, loads of potential barring he stays away from injuries, give him a run out in the cups and will be settled for next season to go with Giroud and one more striker.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,589 ✭✭✭Awesomeness


    To be fair to the chap though he was a raw talent to begin with but the 3 bad knee injuries really really f*cked him up. Still young and interestingly enough Wenger has kept him around so he must see something in him. Fulham were dying to sign him for one.....Hopefully this league cup campaign can kick start something for him. I for one am not giving up on him just yet :)

    If he gets a run in the team then like Aaron Ramsey, it could change everything.
    Id love to see it. I love players who have a genuine love for the club do well.

    And I agree he has had a rough time not sure if he will get enough game time. Hopefully a good carling cup run could do it for him


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,433 ✭✭✭wandatowell


    Raf32 wrote: »
    Sanogo got a hat-trick of assists for France U21s against Kazakhstan U21s.

    Delighted to hear that. Assists are always something I look out for in young players


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,433 ✭✭✭wandatowell


    gosplan wrote: »
    Holy sh1t.

    I know it's been said before but Giroud must be delighted with this.

    After watching that video, I can see Ronaldo's scoring stats taking a dip this season.

    Some of Ozil's play is just sick!



    Prrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,739 ✭✭✭enfant terrible


    So which striker is gonna be the final piece of the jigsaw Suarez, Benzema, El Shaarawy, could Wenger temp Ibrahimović to finish his career in England.

    Maybe Mandzukic if Lewandowski goes to Byern?

    Convincing the first world class player to join was always going to be the hardest part and Wenger jumped that hurdle in style with Ozil so exciting times ahead for the gunners whoever we target next :D


  • Advertisement
  • Posts: 12,761 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    I'd really like to see Ibra for a year or two...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,739 ✭✭✭enfant terrible


    I'd really like to see Ibra for a year or two...

    His astronomical wages could be a problem though :)

    El Shaarawy looks more like a Wenger signing along with the fact Milan finances and not the best.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,778 ✭✭✭emergingstar


    My money's is on benzema with Suarez going to Madrid


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,819 ✭✭✭EuropeanSon


    Would really enjoy a bit of Ibra.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,500 ✭✭✭Drexel


    After watching that video, I can see Ronaldo's scoring stats taking a dip this season.

    Some of Ozil's play is just sick!



    Prrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

    Some of the passes with the outside of this foot were amazing!

    Is Ozil better at picking out a pass then Fabragas is?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,819 ✭✭✭EuropeanSon


    jonny666 wrote: »
    Some of the passes with the outside of this foot were amazing!

    Is Ozil better at picking out a pass then Fabragas is?

    His assist and key passes stats would say yes.

    I'd say he's definitely of at least the same class anyway.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,007 ✭✭✭wawaman


    Does anyone know how long Flamini signed for. When it was announced i thought it was for 2 years but i read last Sundays programme and it said he joined on a short term deal.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,305 ✭✭✭slingerz


    any fear among arsenal fans that Ozil might move on in 2 years? He could be the new Fabreagas


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 7,442 ✭✭✭G1032


    wawaman wrote: »
    Does anyone know how long Flamini signed for. When it was announced i thought it was for 2 years but i read last Sundays programme and it said he joined on a short term deal.

    2 years with an option for a 3rd


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 7,442 ✭✭✭G1032


    gosplan wrote: »
    Holy sh1t.

    I know it's been said before but Giroud must be delighted with this.

    He'd be a smart move for ff now as our only striker.

    He's already gone up 0.2 million since Ozil was bought. Get him quick before he increases any more.....


This discussion has been closed.
Advertisement