23 Mar 2014 13:53:36
Banbury, sorry mate I have to disagree with you.

If you look at the bald trophy stats you are right but the important thing is that when this trophy drought started we were at Highbury. Ok it was a wonderful stadium but it was not fit for the needs of a 21st century club and it wasn't a case of if we had to move, we simply had no choice other than to move.

We did that by taking on huge debts and I can remember the board pointing out how important this move was to us and that they expected there to be 10 years of austerity.

This whole project was driven by Arsene's desire to do the same as Herbert Chapman and make this the best club in the world. He knew it was going to be extremely difficult to do what was the only way forward for the club and to win trophies so he put himself 2nd and looked after the future of the club.

I don't see any other club (apart from Barca to a degree) or manager willing to take on this kind of venture without sugar daddy funding? Maybe because they know how difficult it is to spend on core infrastructure rather than the team and still stay in the top 4 and meet FFP.

What no one expected was the sugar daddy arrivals to the scene and the impact their bottomless pits of money would have.

This has made it much harder to compete than anyone could have possibly imagined so the other side of your coin is-

1-consistent top 4 and champions league money paying off the debt a couple of years more quickly than was originally expected.

2-the best stadium in the country bar none which will now begin to generate more funds than any other (and ok on that one ticket prices are too high but it's supply and demand - if no one wanted them then the prices would be much lower but the demand for tickets shows that we're doing an awful lot right!)

3- no serious debt, no reliance on one person like Chelsea (If I was a chav I would be bricking it right now in case the USA and UN extend the sanctions and include Roman because if they do he will lose all access to all of his UK assets and that includes homes and business of which Chelsea are one).

4-Added to that a few weeks ago UEFA announced they are investigating 137 clubs FFP rules and these include Man City and Chelsea. If they are found guilty then they are out of Europe until they put their house in order.

In summary, Wenger has done a brilliant job keeping us up there during 8 years of famine but now he is about to be able to reap what he sowed. He will have the cash the others have had pumped into them over recent years to compete for signings. The years of plenty are coming and the hard work and sacrifice made to get us to this position will make the success that we will achieve even more satisfying

One final point - Mourinho could not have delivered what Wenger has, he would have run away as soon as the cash got tight, Ferguson couldn't have done it- look at the mess he left for Moyes!

Maybe there are other manager who MIGHT have been able to get us through the last 8 years and out of the austerity earlier than planed but Wenger actually did it and he deserves credit for what will 20 years from now been seen as the most important managership in the history of the club.

I'm not looking at the past, it's gone, it's history we can't change it. I look to the future because that's where we are heading and we can change that and we are in a place as a club to be serious contenders for many trophies over many years.

Like many on here I am ATID so I will take 8 years of pain to benefit the club now and into my son's future. Some people don't know what they've got till it's gone and I know we will miss Arsene log after he finally leaves.

Before anyone accuses me, I am not an AKB - I am a Gooner and I want what's best for the club and right now I think Arsene deserves repayment for the loyalty he has shown riches he has generated to take us back to the top.

If we aren't winning trophies again consistently within the next few years my thoughts will probably change.

Hopefully we will make the 2014 FA Cup the first of many trophies.

1.) 23 Mar 2014
Not sure who you are but great post and you should be proud to put your name on it

2.) 23 Mar 2014
That is a very good post, I can't see who it is from though.

You are entitled to your opinion.

1) yes great stadium, looks a bit stupid though with the years we won trophies being highlighted, they clearly did that thinking the cup haul would continue. As I posted earlier it is no good having this great stadium with a side that is to be know as 'also rans'

2) FFP I have read all about that and 1 in 3 sides competing in both the CL and Europa cup are breaking the rules, do really think they will all be kicked out, Real Madrid/ Barca included. not a chance.

3) I agree Arsene has done very well on limited resources, but that has passed, we faffed around in both transfer windows with plenty of money to spare. Arsene needs to forget about balancing the books, he is a FOOTBALL MANAGER, not an Accountant.

4) You say a few years but how long is a few? 1, 2, 3 or perhaps 6 or 7 .

I take all your points and you made them well.

3.) 23 Mar 2014
Totally agree g62, good points

4.) 23 Mar 2014
Returning the hi to G62 from a post earlier.

Not been around for a while but back now G62.

My 2 pennies on the silliness of late.

I pity those that have no calibre, as manners costs nothing, but seem too expensive for some.

We all unite under a single mantra, which is the love of our club, Arsenal.

For this reason we are a family. And like all families, not ever individual Ly thinks, lives, behaves or even communicates in the same way.

But, we all want what is best for our club, or I believe we all do.

So, I am offering love and a hug to all my family members.

I have a special "BIG LOVE" for Flyboy, the family member who always brings a good comedic slight to anything!

I look forward to more of the banter, more of the comraderie, the shared joy and shared sorrow that we consistently outdoor with each other.

And a special mention to those neighbours who live next door and who are like and extension this family, those Liverpool fans who post on this page.

We are all individuals, we all think differently, but whomever we are we should all act with dignity, with respect and calibre and show that anyone and everyone can be someone of character and of class.

So who wants loving first? (G62, DG, Akie, Jenny T, Flybo [you know you want it!], Bagging, Welsh, and anyone else)

JinKent

5.) 23 Mar 2014
Banbury, G62, Baggins, my apologies the OP was mine(in case log fails again LOL, I'm Soopergooner lol)

Thanks for the respect in your comments as I felt Banbury's original post deserved the same respect as he set it out quite well and didn't seek to abuse anyone. It's only our opinions and mine not righter or better than anyone elses. Banbury is right in that we all have a right to an opinion. I reckon me and Banbury could easily share a bevvy and discuss things because we both share the belief that (as someone once said) we may not agree with what eachother says but we would always defend their right to say it

I take Banbury's point - I've always wished they had used that wall for more advertising as the trophy dates drew the attention of the press to the length of the period of famine - and that's all sensationalist numpties like Adrian Durham need to get them started. The additional income would have paid the debts off that little bit quicker too lol.

On FFP, there are a range of sanctions available to UEFA and they are linked to the level of reach. UEFA have got themselves into a difficult position as they will simply have no choice other than to ban any team that breaches the rules by the extent required for a ban because failure to do that would leave them wide open to litigation and compensation to the next team down who complied and should have got the place.

The thing that might get UEFA off the hook is smart accountants turning "breach"s into "compliant enough."

Hope this all made sense as the one thing that binds us is a shared desire for Arsenal FC to be the very best it possibly can be. It'd be boring if we agreed on everything lol (Mind you Durham would be out of a job so there would be an upside! LOL)

Finally lol in case I've messed up the log in.

Soopergooner

6.) 23 Mar 2014
JinKent
I've got a 20% voucher off a nights stay in a Travel Inn, including all you can eat! And it's a free breakfast too. Let's make it happen. ;)
Flybo

7.) 23 Mar 2014
Jin I say this calls for a group hug around the fattest mum we have between us

8.) 23 Mar 2014
Flybo,

Is it definitely breakfast thrown in? Will they deliver to us in bed? Could be the clincher!

And an all you can eat buffet?
Mmmm, food and naked bodies. What more could one want?

And for you, I would forego the 20% discount!

LOL

J

9.) 23 Mar 2014
G62.

Count me in on that!

Bagsy not at the bottom end of the Fattest Lady group hug!

:D

J

10.) 23 Mar 2014
Sooper great posts both mate, very well put the pair.

11.) 23 Mar 2014
Just a quick note: Chelsea are compliant with FFP so none of us over here are 'bricking' anything. We are doing very well on our own feet but thank you for the concern :p

With regards to the sugar daddy point, had Chelsea and Manchester City not received that outside help, would that mean Arsenal would have more titles? You haven't finished above Manchester United since the 2004/2005 season so its pretty much academic from that point of view. Blaming us is really just an excuse for not winning. It's a convenient albeit incorrect target to point your collective fingers at.

You really need to look closer to home. Arsenal just do not have the players or the tactics at the moment to compete in the big games. Playing a high line with your defenders against the pace of our counterattack was just suicidal.

Anyway, good luck in the FA Cup and sorry if my post is a little soon after that game :)

12.) 23 Mar 2014
StamfordLion.

I don't disagree with some of your comments.

Although if the sugar daddy element had not existed for yourselves or Man City then maybe some players at City would not be there, and some players at Chelsea might not be there.

Changes in personal may well have had an effect on our position in the league.

We were after Lukaku and Hazard if you remember, and we also had Nasri and were trying to get Mata when he went to Chelsea.

So things can change.

But you were better than us yesterday. Oxlade Chamberlain, made it easier than one should have.

And yes, you are close to FFP compliance.

But if you buy Costa and Falcao / Cavani then you may well slip outside of FFP by some margin.

But, let's be honest, it is good for things to be this close at this point of the season. Four teams in it and nobody knowing which way it is going to go.

Roll on the next 8 / 9 games.

J.

13.) 23 Mar 2014
Stamford I think you make some very valid points mate and no its not to soon for me mate, what's done is done and your post is very respectful, thank you.
Out of interest what's your view on Morinho not shaking Arsene's hand?
If it will cause you grief on your site please don't answer, but if its ok do you think he should have shown some dignity and respect