14 Aug 2013 10:48:37
Arsenal Fan Observation

Ive noticed recently A lot of Arsenal fans are thinking more about the clubs financial stability, than its footballing ability. If your a fan that first thinks about the transfer fee and wage structure, and tries to justify paying/spending x amount on transfers, it is my opinion that you have totally lost touch with what the fans (you) are paying to watch.

Its clear that because the club, and Arsene in particular, have spent so long talking about value, and FFP, a lot of fans have forced this into their way of thinking aswell.

Just my opinion, but Arsenal fans especially, are spending far too much time thinking about how much money Arsenal FC have in the bank. Its really not important information for fans in my opinion. You don't get a seat in the emirates to sit and watch stock values.

cheers

1.) 14 Aug 2013
Its just the way the club has spoken out in regards to various situations,

the fact that they have relied on FFP to give us a position of strength going forward.

However we are also aware of our transfer budget, if it really is 70 million.

Knowing that we have multiple positions to fill, we are all taking a punt and assuming that the reason player X was not signed as it would not fit into our transfer scheme.

at the end of the day we all make excuses due to our bias. but in reality, what matters is the fans signing to a trophy.

We want to have the best team. not the 4th best team. and when the club starts to win trophies, we won't look back on this period and say, it was due to this and that. it will be about the team in that moment that won the trophy.

as they say fans are as fickle as the players, and winning is all that matters in a world where results rule.

2.) 14 Aug 2013
I agree with the principle but not sure who you are actually accusing? Most fans seem to be saying that we are putting financial stability, or, even worse, profitability, ahead of footballing success. Those fans who do defend our club's austerity mainly say that being financially strong means we will be stable in the future and be able to maintain a good team and compete for trophies long-term. Maybe that's a flawed argument, but I haven't heard anyone saying that financial stability is a good thing in and of itself.

I personally think financial stability is good for football - it makes teams get the most out of their academies, players etc, and teams like City/Chelsea make football worse IMO. At the same time, as an Arsenal fan I think our financial behaviour is basically ridiculous and will go mental if we haven't properly invested in the team by September. At this stage, winning trophies has to be top priority -I don't think you'll find many gooners disagreeing with that.

3.) 14 Aug 2013
Well said mate could not have put it better myself. Yes we are a self sustained club but fans should not be bothered about the bank balance and be more worried about the trophy inbalance

4.) 14 Aug 2013
I think you have a point.

The majority of other clubs run at a constant loss every year, are in debt or they are subsided by a benefactor.

Either option is easy, any club can run at a loss and have loads of debt or find a "sugar daddy" owner.

But running a club properly is a lot harder. Arsenal do that and a lot of arsenal fans do feel proud about this.

After all, if we're honest, there isn't much else to be proud about recently is there, a part form being a well run club?

If the focus was on what we have won in recent seasons and a [genuine] buzz about what we might win this year, I think the 'being run well' would be a bonus not the sole object of some fans attention.

The club has done fantastically well to build a great new £450mil stadium and achieve financial stability, new commercial deals, etc.

'Off the pitch' the club has to be commended and that is something to be proud off.

However, it is now 'on the pitch' that the club needs to turn it's attentions towards. Which I think is what you're getting at and I totally agree.

The club needs to show its ambitious and why its so well run - to ultimate challenge and not just to be well run.

I don't won't to hear about the club saying they want to 'please the fans' with "big signings" - I want them to sign big players because *they want* to sign big players to compete and demonstrate that as a club they are as ambitious on the pitch as they are off the pitch.

This is supposed to be the window (escalation in financial firepower etc) when this can finally can happen.

I am (at least trying to be) patiently waiting for the club to show its hand.

Sorry for the long reply!