Written by Red Arse
Money! Money! Money! Like it says in the song “Money makes the world go around”
So, from the point of view of the fan, what has this to do with the Mighty Arsenal, you might ask? Well let’s see. There are three main characteristics in play when referring to money in football;
Envy:
We use the term in an envious way when talking about Chelski or Manure in particular. How often have you heard the phrases “They bought their way to the Title”, or “Without Abramovich’s money they would have gone bust” or “They bought the Title by hugely increasing their debt”. All of it true, perhaps, but certainly when seen from the perspective of the little green eyed monster. Money!
Pride:
We are all secretly, and maybe openly, as proud as punch when the Media announce we have the best stadium, or, perhaps, one of the best stadiums in the world. This was made possible by moving the ground to a new site and investing money into a project to develop the old Stadium into modern, expensive, domestic housing for sale at a hoped for great profit.
Suddenly, we were all puffing our chests out like entrepreneurs and talking about the property market and calculating the size of the resultant debt against the returns from the venture in boosting the club’s coffers. Money!
Awe and Incomprehension:
We are all aware of the fact that players cost clubs millions of pounds to buy. We also try to digest the enormity of their monetary salary rewards by breaking down these earnings into weekly amounts. Leaving aside the salaries of the top, top players who reputedly earn as much as £200,000 per week, we also are aware that “average” players can earn around £80,000 per week. That equates to approximately £4,200,000 per year. Over a player’s career of 12 years, that works out at £50,400,000. Yes over £50,000,000! Awesome Money!
Compare that to the average Joe who would be reasonably happy to earn £50,000 per annum. A simple 12 year gross earnings total would be £600,000, which is only a tiny 1.2% of the average player’s income over that period. But wait, the average Joe has to pay tax and N.I. too, which, less allowances, would roughly equal a 30% deduction on his salary amounting to £15,000, leaving a net yearly take home of £35,000, about half the player’s gross weekly wage.
Ah, you say, the player would have to pay huge taxes on his huge salary and that will balance things up. But no, his salary is calculated, in large part, on income received from the sale of his image rights, which are treated as non taxable! Incomprehensible Money!
………..Oh get to the point. We are where we are, it is what it is, and we can do nothing about it.
Well, I have got to agree with that sentiment. So I thought I would try to help Arsenal better fund this expenditure on infrastructure and players. How can we make more MONEY?
One of the greatest changes in English Club football has been to the demographics of their support. We are all familiar with the old black and white films showing supporters “Up for t’Cup”. Almost without exception these supporters were men. Nowadays, most women are financially independent and with the move away from standing terraces to seating and the new stadiums with their much improved facilities, there has been a huge increase in the number of women supporting their clubs. They are every bit as passionate, knowledgeable and vociferous as their male counter parts, and for the clubs they provide a welcome boost to their income. The clubs invested money into their infrastructures and reaped the benefits.
Another huge change to the Clubs’ income, perhaps its biggest, has been its UK and European television revenues.
In addition, television now enables almost every PL game to be shown around the Globe, and this is one area where Arsenal are sadly lagging behind the more enterprising clubs in making themselves available to fans, and potential new fans, elsewhere in the world.
All fans want to see their favourites in the flesh, and even the lower clubs in the PL are making tours to Africa, China, and America. The impact of this is that they are reaping the benefits of increasing numbers of fans and the sale of merchandise to them.
In the future, as television penetrates deeper into these markets, the TV revenue available will increase tenfold for those clubs who have made the effort and gained a toehold now, which will boost their share of the pot in later years.
In addition, revenue from the sale of football kit and memorabilia will produce potentially millions of pounds extra from the associated merchandising of the club and its players through the sale of image rights.
There are at least 2 billion people in the Middle East, Africa, China and America who are potential football fans and if Arsenal managed to get just 1% of these as fans and received only £1 extra revenue from each of them, that would amount to a £20,000,000 increase in their income. Only 1% paying only £1 = £20m! Imagine if this was 10% = £200m? Amazing Money!
So my advice is “Move your arse-nal Mr Gazidis and tell Arsène to pull his finger out and give Austria a miss in the pre-season — tour the world instead”!
Money, Money, Money, makes the world go around!
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
I have to agree with you Red Arse i a passionate Gunner and live in Cape Town,South Africa.I had that already,”will my team ever come play a friendly macth in South Africa and where the money is corncerned we can reach that numbers just by pulling the finger out.I am talking about Gazidis.This is our year.PEACE
This is an interesting post. I have long considered the trips halfway around the world for pre-season friendlies to be pointless but your calculations make tours to far-away regions tempting. There’s certainly a logic there – which is no doubt why Chelsea, Man U, Spurs, Man City, Celtic all went far and wide pre-season. On the other hand, Man U have been chasing the SE Asian buck for many years now – but where is their £200m added revenue? Jury’s our for me.
Nice article Red arse, very interesting although I don’t agree with your final conclusion.
I am one of the lucky ones who has travelled widely and it is my opinion that the shirts the youngsters wear world wide, are Man U, Arsenal, Chelsea Liverpool, exactly the four clubs most featured on Sky since the advent of the premier league.
My favourite memory is of a misty hillside in Borneo where two local lads seeing my smart camera, asked would you take our photo please, one was wearing DB7 and the other TH14.
An Arsenal fan from Singapore, since 1993.
If long tours around the world are bad for pre-season prep, I’d rather Wenger leave the lads in Austria. We can always head to the Emirates once in a while.
dandan – DB10 surely?
There are about 1.6 billion red arses in China, but The Arsenal’s pre season is in Austria?
Also,
Down here we’ve gotten Celtic, Rangers, Barcelonely, Real Boring, Manure & Chav tele, but never Arsenal 😉
I WANT ARSENAL TELE!!!!!!
Morning Guys,
Thanks for the response.
Articles like these are intended to further an overall debate in toto and not just the final punchline, which I know you understand.
Perhaps I should have put a disclaimer in the article, that it is not scientifically researched, but based on commonsense and years of related experience.
Le Marc’s comment is interesting because living in S. Africa, where I have many friends, he bears out the view that o/seas fans do want to see their team and will pay to do so, as will others too, who may not yet be “official” fans. 🙂
Gnarley,
🙂 Chines red arses! 🙂
How much are you willing to pay to watch? I’ll have a word with Gazidis.
I mentioned to you on another site, not that I expect you to remember perhaps, but I have family, many of them gooners, living in Sidney and Melbourne, who complain about the lack of Arsenal tour games or “proper” TV.
Fabulous post Red i like your style.
Makes complete sense to me, but calculations are just guesstimates to you and me – the powers that be will have considered it i’m sure and may well still be considering it.
The disruption to Arsenes pre-season and the notion of pot loads of money is always going to be a fine line when making this decision, any case how disruptive has this world cup, inappropriately friendlies and all the barca tapping been with our preparaions been this time araound.
China sounds like a good spot for next pre-season, isolation, no tappas, our very own “Gondolin” .
Oh bugger it!! Enjoy this oldie but goodie
Enjoyed that GG9, i was 2 then so i missed it first time round!
Brilliant post Red…..
Tommy,
I used to think Arsene was right about a “quiet” pre-season giving us an advantage over the “touring” sides, especially when we were trophies.
Err, not now. The Chavs and the Mancs are always shoeshining in the USA and the Far East and it hasn’t done them much harm in winning trophies, but has boosted their incomes.
Red,
well researched article but the backbone of revenue for the PL clubs has been Sky. Murdoch can more or less name the date and kick off time to suit the company.
I forsee a huge change that will bring in extra revenue,especially to the top clubs such as ours.
The way forward will be pay as you go Internet live football, already a 5 billion dollar business.The TV companies such as Sky and Canal + are losing millions with illegal streaming and plans are already afoot for every fan throughout the world will within 5 years have the opportunity to view at minimal cost every game on the Internet.
The Sky monopoly has to be broken and will be.
Merchandising will naturally follow suit, though I accept there are many fans throughout the world,who would like to see the players in the flesh.
Thanks Sharkey,
To hide my blushes, I am off to do a bit of “office” shopping to remind myself I still have to earn a living. 🙂
Kelsey,
Good comment.
Provided Arsenal keep in the vanguard of the changes we both appear to agree are coming, we should become more financially secure and successful.
That’s what I want. Beautiful, worldwide footie the way Arsenal play it!! 😉
Kelsey – why would this be beneficial to Arsenal? The bulk of our revenue comes from Sky, so if you break the monopoly (which sky has achieved through massively high paymetns) then the price comes down and we get less revenue. How will cheap, accessible interne viewing provide income? Through Sky I pay £50 a month but only really watch the games arsenal are i plus big games between the big four. If I start paying per game I will only pay for asrenal games – a swill others, hence the revenue will drop. If you start fighting sky you are playing a dangerous game. We might as fans get cheaper access, but Arsenal will get a lot less money and European football will go back to being dominated by the top european clubs.
if Arsenal gets these money what you expect.
They will buy players and try to win something.
Never……..
They will never go for that. Bcs they are concentrating more business than football.
Otherwise How one top FC can do this kind of shit to their fans
Morning all, well written post Red A and you make the valid point that a post up for discussion doesn’t necessarily have a definite conclusion.
It’s not like writing up a chemistry practical: intro, method, results, conclusion.
Moving onto today and we are getting the usual, groan inducing reply form Wenger when asked about transfer activity.
He wants to concentrate on the game ahead and is not thinking about transfers and it will definitely be Chezzer and the Verminator to start on Sunday.
While I’m not a “In Arsene we rust” disciple I can get quite fed up with the approach he adopts, namely leave it till late on to get some last minute bargains, but then say he wants to concentrate on the games ahead and when the window closes say “We almost signed x,y and z”
It’ll only take 2 injuries and well have Nordtveit and Song at the back.
In the years that we have either the UEFA or World cups in them, absolutely stick with Austria, but every other year we could do a trip. Arsenal become more accessible to the world wide fans but still, from a financial aspect, exclusive.
Lets be honest here, the Austrian training camp has not helped us to get any closer to winning anything in the last 5 years. Good squads and good tactics get you the silverware.
I just hope we get a keeper sorted soon.
Heffer,
maybe I didn’t make myself clear.Sky is not accessible to everyone in the World but the Interner is the way forward.note i said 5 years time.
Yes Sky may well keep it’s majority viewing such as you and I but others will be paying a minimal amount to watch games, I hear a figure of 1 to 3 GBP.This will be extra income to millions of people at affordable prices.
Good article Red Arse.
I’ve lived in Australia for over 20 years. I’m a lifelong Gooner and I would love to see us do a tour of South East Asia and Australia. Football has huge support in this part of the world.
Recently Everton toured here played Sydney FC and pulled a crowd of 40,446. ANZ stadium holds 80,000.That would have to be nearly as many people who would watch Everton at Goodison. And if memory serves me right it was pissing down. In Melbourne they played against Melbourne Heart a team in its first year of existence in the A League in front of nearly 20,000 people.
If Everton can draw crowds like that….. I believe Arsenal could fill the the Olympic stadium in Sydney and the MCG in Melbourne. Between the two stadiums thats 180,000 paying fans.
I travel a lot in Asia for work Arsenal shirts are everywhere along with manure and chelski. Its a huge market that we are not making the most of. The fans are here when we are in Austria.
Kelsey, But Sky are paying for exclusive rights – so how can they sell internet rights separately? If football is made available through new channels (internet), the proposition of exclusive rights for Sky has gone… and their fee will drop. You must look at this from a “money for Arsenal” business point of view rather than an “access for all fans” point of view. The matter, sadly, simply doesn’t matter anymore.
sorry i don’t agree with you heffer, but maybe my written word does not explain what i mean if for say we were having a face to face conversation.but never mind, no harm done.
Morning,
Very good article Red Arse.
I think one question that has already been raised is, if we did make a lot more money, would we necessarily spend some/any of it on players as most fans would wish or plough it back into ‘Business Arsenal’?
That’s ok Kelsey – it’s all about opinions. I just feel that more channels might well mean better access but won’t vnecessarily mean more money – and therefore might not happen. But hey, who knows.
At risk of sounding like a boring old fart, football does seem to be going to hell in a handcart. I’m hearing today that citeh are offering Ibrahimovic half a million sovs a week. Basically, its no longer a footballing contest to win the premier league, its a ‘whos got the most wonga’ competition, and the owners are like little boys in the school showers comparing the size of their dicks.
I’ve been watching the gunners since 67 – season tick holder at highbury and at the emirates – but frankly, if citeh and chavs win everything this yeart (and frankly they ought to, given their outlay) I wont be renewing next year. I dont want us to match them in spending, i just want the authorities to put a cap on the amount that can be spent. They do in Germany and the Bundesliga doesnt seem to suffer, and nor does their national side.
F***k the money, lets just get back to the football. Otherwise I’ll be off to watch the Orient, or Millwall or somewhere that thats what its all about.
Welcome Phillippe,
I have a lot of sympathy with your view. Maybe you should copy it to Arsenal.com? Surprisingly they do tend to respond to emails from supporters but only with a PR slant as you may suspect.
charey you almost got me excited then “chezzer and the verminator to start”,
chezzer in my books is our younger polish GK
Almunia
Sagna-Koscielny-Vermaelen-Clichy
Frimpong
Fabregas-Nasri
Walcott-Chamakh-Arshavin
anyone else see frimpong getting a start?
Afternoon Rasp,
Funny you should say that about Arsenal emails and their response.
I wrote to Gazidis, Fizman and Kroenke as well as the official Arsenal email address, (I made varient guesses as to what their emails are, of course), and I recive a reply from their customer service lady.
I had complained about the poor picture quality of their ATVO service, although I live near london and have an excellent broadband service.
The reply was the usual bland long grass job about my views being taken into account, blah, blah. Oh Yeah? 😦
Philippe.
Despite having sympathy with your view, I find it impossible to imagine giving up the s/t. We have been through many barren times in the past and remained steadfast Gooners.
The football we watch week in week out at the Emirates is fantastic – OK, we get slammed by MU & the CHavs, but apart from that….. (sounds like the Monty P sketch….. “but apart from that, what did the Romans ever do for us”). We have both been through the terrible but successful football served up by the George Graham teams, yet remained Gooners because there is always the future to look forward to. Or are we just Glory Hunters?
For a supporter who has been a Gooner since 67, your final sentence quite frankly does you little justice.
Tommy,
My team guess is the same as yours, except Denilson for Ping Pong.
Red Arse. A fine post today, thank you.
Well balanced and well thought out.
I am totally for the every other year on an Asian/US tour. It makes sense on so many levels.
And should the rumpurs be true that we are to get a new owner, I would be delighted to see us compete on an even playing field with MC & CFC.
Phillipe,
I suspect your final sentence about Orient etc is just a way of showing your frustration.
Actually, within their own macro economic reality, they too are governed by money or the lack of it. In large part at those levels, the clubs with dosh get promoted, those who don’t … don’t!
Thanks Big Raddy,
You are spot on as far as competing on an even playing field. If the way to compete with Citeh and ther Mancs is to generate more income, or get our own toyboy so be it.
If that can be achieved by capping expenditure, (squaring the circle to Phillipe’s point) then I would be for that too. Just don’t see that happening though.
I guess you all just don’t understand about asia afterall. If Arsenal go to asia they won’t be able to generate revenue for themselves. Talking about Asia generate massive revenue just crap. I tell you why.
At Asia, many not afford to buy original Arsenal merchandise. As an option, asian buy contraband item instead. It not that we don’t want to buy original item but we just cannot afford it. For example an original Arsenal jersey will cost MYR350 (60Pound) which already cost almost half of average asian salary.
At Malaysia, I can buy Arsenal Mug (MYR14/2pound), Jersey (MYR35/6pound) and many more for less than MYR100/15pound). So how can this contribute to Arsenal revenue. I pay for sport cable for only MYR25/4pound. I just cannot see where we asian can contribute to Arsenal revenue.
Even if they come here and the stadium is full, how much can they make. Average ticket price (this is ticket price when ManUtd come to Malaysia) is MYR100/15pound. Still lower compare to the ticket price in the premier league.
If Arsenal going to Asia it is only for the fans. It will never be for the revenue. revenue generation in Asia is not that high. But we just love watching. I keep my faith that this year Arsenal will win the league.
Gooner64,
I know that if the Gunners played in OZ, there would be about 40 of my lot prepared to pay to watch.
EWell, every little helps. :D:
Anyway, aren’t you supposed to be snuggled down in bed by now? 🙂
We must always factor in the machinations at Board level. None of is know if the Board is working to some plan/schedule. They may already know who the future owner will be (if any), or they may be working under a cloud of uncertainty all the time in fear of a hostile takeover.
Welcome Mark,
Thanks for your comment, it seems obvious when you think about it, but there will be other means apart from selling kits that would bring in revenue I’m sure.
Me too RA,
A cap on expenditure is a brilliant idea.
The media portray FIFA as the bad guys but at least they have sympathy with the plight of smaller clubs.
What chance have Everton or B’ham etc got when the Top 4 receive such enormous revenue from the CL.
It saddens me that a laudable 5th place is considered a disaster for a club like ours. I loved the competitive nature of the pre-PL days. But then I am an Old Fart
You emailed fizman, gazidis and co about the quality of you tv picture? Seriously? To be honest, I would expect (and want) them to pass this on to the customer service (you are, after all, complaining about a service) lady while they deal with teunning a premier league football club.
“Can’t put that bid in for Schwartzer tody I’m afraid Arsene, there’s a fella in Wantage who’s TV signal is a bit naff.”
Seriously, if you want arsenal to be an international force in football, you have to expect them to act like one too.
Mark Modi,
Thanks for that valuable insight. Of course economics in specific countries will dictate what income can be generated.
On the other hand, China, the sleeping tiger, is rapidly changing with more millionaires than anywhere else in the world.
But the economics for the expansion into Asia would rely on the sheer numbers with low sale prices.
** 60,000 londoners paying £1,000 p.a. for tickets = £60,000,000.
** 6,000,000 Asians paying £10 p.a. for TV or internet = £60,000,000.
These figures are just for demonstration purposes but show there are different values that can be applied in different markets.
Oh Dear Heffer,
I seem to have pressed the wrong button with you. 😦
My comment was not as puerile as you seem to want to make it, although I do bow to your greater business acumen.
The point I made was partly in response to your getting at cross purposes with Kelsey.
If Arsenal see development of their internet product as the precursor to an increased revenue income from this source, I was trying to make it clear to them that the product even for someone living in the UK was not of merchantable quality as required by the Sale of Goods and Services Act.
How this could be a template for distribution of the Arsenal “product” world wide is open to conjecture, and frankly is a false premise.
From your sarcastic and exasperated tone with me, you are clearly a professional and perhaps you can explain the errors of my ways?
Heifer 10.38 sorry one was a man u shirt, does that help LOL
Hmm, Red Arse and Dandan – it seems the tone is a little lost in translation.
Red Arse – I was not being sarcastic – I thought from your message that you were linking the two, not that you had emailed them on separate issues. It’s actually a point ‘fans’ make all the time that the club has got too impersonal and they don’t like being treated as customers. i was merely making the point that this is a by-product of growth and success.
Dandan – I was aware, and merely making a piint through irony… but thanks for coming back to me (eventually).
now play nicely…
I absolutely love the spirit of this blog !!!
shut your face 🙂
I think unless the stupid “we will pay any price” competition between disgustingly wealthy people for there own amusement is curtailed by the authorities. Then their teams will have to travel world wide to attract an audience. As real fans disillusioned by the excesses of these privileged few will look for a return to reality and transfer support to more local teams in the lower leagues.
God forbid Arsenal get taken over and start out on this road to devalued trophy hunting.
Heffer,
You say you did not intend to be sarcastic, and I am happy to accept that is the case.
In my response I am afraid I was cross, and I was being sarcastic as I am professionally qualified in this general area.
It seems I owe you an apology which I hope you will accept. 🙂
My interpretation of the post is that it is all about Wenger’s decision to continue the pre-season in Austria rather than change to one in the US or Asia,
Mark Modi makes the excellent point that questions just how much will really be gained finacialy from such Far East tours and RA himself expains at 12:58 the far greater importance of TV over simply playing there for three or four games before the season starts.
My own view is that Wenger uses Austria to bring the younger players through, it gives him a chance to see if the likes of Frimpong and Wilshire are ready to join the squad or in Lansbury’s case go out on loan. I now that this is obvious but the idea of a circus event in the US or Far Eastern is not all it is made out to be and give less exposure than one Champions League game.
Some of us are still proud to say in Wenger we Trust.
no apolgies needed – in fact it spices it up a little. be boring if we all had a love in.
Now – can people tell me if RVP and Cesc are definitely out tomorrow? And does anyone else feel guilt at having spurs players int heir dreamteam? I have defoe and bale.
I tend to look to America for portents of our future ‘sports brands’ in this country. Are there any examples of capping spending or imposition of wage structures in the US? I’m no expert but I’d be surprised. Of course it would have to come from FIFA/UEFA and be imposed univeraslly or we would lose our ability to compete with foreign teams.
I love the notion of imposing rules to make a more level playing field (excuse the pun) but realistically when money is king, I don’t expect it to happen.
Oops, TommyS, re .your 12.16pm, I meant to say Kozzer and theVerminator. Mind you maybe Chesney may not be a bad punt in advance of the perma-crock Djourou.
Dandan,
Your views resonate with mine.
You do, of course, realise you would be hung drawn and quartered for heresy for expressing those views on certain other blogs? 🙂
Trophies are the be all and end all for some, not the enjoyment of watching superlative footie played Arsenal style.
The paradox is that those who would vilify us for our views, would also bemoan either Usmanov or Kroenke for taking over the club, even though that might release a flood of money to buy “big” players and win those self same trophies. Weird”
Wenger to sign new contract. Breaking news on BBC
“I have to show how much I believe in this team by showing my commitment,” said Wenger. “My situation will be sorted out very soon.”
Raspers – as far as I’m aware there is a wage cap in the NBA and the NFL(at least till the 2010 season) – which is why there is no “quadroploy” in existence there as there has been in the Premier League.
As an aside they have strict rules on tapping up players, so in this instance we could learn a lot from the Septics.
Heffer, Sarcasm is too cheap a weapon to accuse you of. I am sorry I was not sitting waiting for your message. But even us old retirees do have lives away from the computer,
London I like you believe we are a club envied by the majority of fans everywhere for both our inherent style and quality of management .
Thanks chary,
Well maybe it could work, although I suspect the big clubs would find a way round it with bonuses etc.
Hi Rasp
A bit more commitment and you would have won some money off of me, with your prediction that Koscielny will start along side Vermaelen.
dandan – what’s a life? I gave mine up years ago.
be interesting to see the reaction to Wenger staying among some of those ridiculous doubters (of which unfortunately there aren’t many on this site to get my teeth into).
Hi London,
Have we chatted on AR previously?
Your summary is spot on.
Despite my exhortations in the article, I don’t seriously think Arsene will heed my advice! 🙂
No, the expansion of TV and the internet streams are going to increase a greedy money grabbing episode in the near future, with more Asian magnates taking over clubs. Prophetic words?
Afternoon all,
Only about 48hrs to kick off – wooopeeeeeee but 😦 for all the injuries.
Just saw Sky being mentioned – I bloody hate Sky. I wanted to get Sky Sports in at home but I’d have to 1) get a package of channels I don’t want 2) pay €16 a month for SS1 3) then pay another €16 for SS2 4) then pay another €16 for ESPN because Arsenal are often on that channel and all that will cost like €72 a month – fuck right off sky 👿
There is a lot of detailed contract law restrictions on players remuneration, all too boring to go into in detail, Raspers but it would take a major effort and show of willpower on FIFA’s part to go this way.
Hell, they’ve shilly-shallyed on goal line technology for an eternity – can you imagine Platini and Bladder doing enough helpful?
Great post Mr Arse, well done.
I also love Philippe’s post at 12.01, I agree 100%. Contrary to Red Arse’s point about envy, it isn’t just jealousy that some other team is suddenly drowning in cash and has players of a quality that could only be dreamt of before; it is the impact on the sporting contest for everyone. I understand where Big Raddy (at 12.28) is coming from, we all want to see our own team do as well as possible, especially when it is to make up for fallow years (“Arsenal are back!”, “Now you’re gonna believe us” etc etc). But for many fans, maintaining the sporting contest is as important, and that is why I agree with Philippe.
This may not be true of many fans, our partisan interests usually trump all, as the reaction of the overwhelming majority of Chelsea and City fans has shown. But I can definitely see why someone would lose interest in a sport that degenerates into a compare-the-wallet fest and nothing more. Of course money is important in football, it’s been like that since it became a mass spectator sport, but what is being done at City and Chelsea takes things to new depths. When Wenger described it as financial doping he was spot on – and the analogy with cycling and athletics is signifcant: if people think a competition is about something other than the sporting contest, it ends up boring them and they defect, abandoning the sport.
So the Platini Regulations are a great development – not quite strong enough yet, and introduced much later than they should have been, but definitely a step in the right direction. Chelsea are clearly preparing for them, getting rid of the less useful of their more expensive players (I can see Terry and Lampard being shipped out over the next year or two as well), but the interesting thing is City are ploughing on regardless. Makes me think some time in the next few seasons we could well see the first champions to be refused entry to the Champpions’ League. We shall see.
I did boycott first team games in the latter George Graham period, on account of the horrifically negative football that was played after that great 1991 season (I went to reserve games instead). I’m a long way from doing so again, I’m not yet so disaffected by the malign sporting effects of the artificial strength of City and Chelsea as to hand in my season ticket. But the thought has occurred to me, and if it gets worse, I might just do so. A minority view perhaps, but I’m sure I wouldn’t be the only one.
Heff 1.58 – Yep, both definitely out for tomorrow, but may be available for Sunday ! 😉
Irish Isn’t there a local pub has them all, couple of pints would be a cheap way of watching.
“God forbid Arsenal get taken over and start out on this road to devalued trophy hunting”
Dandan…thats brilliant !
Excuse me for asking heffer,but reading back yesterday i noticed chary say something like, that he didn’t recognise you at first as you had changed your user name.
Do you know us from a different blog or under a different guise ?
CharyB,
You are right about the NFL having strict recruiting rules. I am no expert but the way it works is that teams at the bottom of the league get first “pick” of new recruits and the teams at the top get the last pick.
This ensures that there is an “evening out” of the teams resources and the bottom teams can float to the top and vice versa.
Not so in MBL, where the NY Yankees, (Arsenal), who I have supported since I was a kid, have won consistently over the years as compared with the NY Mets (Spurs) who have won bugger all really. 🙂
Dandan – There is and that’d I often watch it but it’d be nice to watch it at home as well you know?
Nice touch dandan. Bit gutted I’ve booked that return train from Liverpool for Sunday morning now as well.
Kelsey – Chary did say that but not about me I don’t think. I’m new to this. Started my own blog earlier in the summer (more to share my views with a small group of friends than to create a social network like this), stumbled across this site in the process and have just begun chipping in.
I will put a couple of ciders and alchopops in the fridge, ship in some extra chairs, fire up the BBQ So Irish fetch your mates and join the party the boss is gonna resign yipeeeeeeeeee
Ah, I see, no problem I obviously misunderstood.You, as you know are most welcome.
I only mentioned it, as a few of us used to blog elsewhere and one night realised that we either knew each other, or either knew someone else who knew us or lived very close to one another.
Eventually, well actually some 18 months later Arsenal Arsenal was formed.
Funnily enough Heffer,
I started to read and comment on blogs about a month ago, I think.
On another site I was at first thought to have changed my nom de plume to red Arse. Apparently I wrote in a similar fashion to “London”, I think. Shiver me timbers! 🙂
Now you know me better, I am happy to respond to RA, as it is shorter for you and less vulgar. 😳 🙂
I miss BBQ – somehow they feel silly in Ireland as opposed to Oz with the sunshine, beaches and a couple of schooners of beer….
Dandan – I too have alcopops and cider in the fridge, great minds and all that 🙂
Le Boss ain’t going to retire, 4 more years.
Everyone have their fantasy football team in??
Lady Pants,
No! I don’t know how to play so I shall have to share a vicarious thrill with you when you win. 🙂
Red Arse – Just join and pick a team – simples 🙂 But if you don’t want to that’s cool, and you are more than right, I shall win 😀 (I probably won’t win but sheesh 😉 )
Lady Jesus Spongebob Gaga Pants (for it is she), what were the details again? I might try and get a team in, just to show how little I really know about football….
Something for your amusement: http://www.thefootballnetwork.net/main/s378/st161553.htm.
Kelsey, I said I didn’t recognise Irishgunner in her new guise as Lady Sponge pants Ga ga Jesus thingy. I’ve made no comment on Heffer, other than I’ll say now that I thought the name was Hefner, and I thought it could be Hugh.
26May,
You stirred up memories for me about the George Graham era.
My dad and I had season tickets at the time, and I loved the fact we won so often by 1:0, and sang One Nil to the Arsenal with gusto.
But my mum, to whom I could never lie, used to ask me was it a good game? Yees, I replied, we won 1:0 again. Not to be deterrede she would press on, to my consternation and ask, did youenjoy it? I was forced on more than one occasion to admit I had not.
Winning, yes, versus enjoying the style of play, no. If that makes any sense. 🙂
Hefner is better!
26 May – http://fantasy.premierleague.com/
Sign up and make a team etc, go to join leagues and put in the code: 165907-78746 to join the Arsenal, Arsenal league and then: 165907-145892 to join a league between Arsenal and Liverpool fans “Arses take on the Livers”
I’ve a feeling Lady Jesus Spongebob Gaga Pants isn’t a popular name 😥 Fear not, Irishgunner will be back Sunday.
I just wanted to be Jesus, Spongebob Squarepants and Lady Gaga for a few days 😦 be two of them fictional characters.
CharyB,
While we are all confessing, there was some discussion as to whether it was “heifer” and if so what was a heifer.
Thoughts ranged from a bull with its bits cut off [?] to an unmated female bovine animal, suggested by farm boy. Ooops that’s my alter ego.
There! It’s all out in the open. You can hit us now Heffer. 😉
Er Lady Pants,
Which two fictional characters?
Jesus? Spongebob? Lady Gaga?
Them’s three. 🙂
balls in tact. Thanks.
Are we really going to start the ‘jesus is fictional’ debate?
Does anyone know what happened to Frothing Inarticulate Loon who made a Star appearance yesterday lunchtime?
V. funny! 🙂
FIL had an innate sense of timing I thought Red A.
So Hugh it is – do I get an invite to the Playboy mansion then ? 🙂
Irish- 20 teams in the league now, this site aint done bad.
Although i’ll be around the relegation zone to be sure as i on principle dont use players from spurs, manure, chavs or city!
Red Arse – I can see why you’d think Lady Gaga is fictional such is her excellence 8)
Top quality discussion on here today guys.
I’m not sure about the details of overall funding caps, but in North America there are salary caps in the NFL, NBA, NHL and even the MLS (footy). If you take NFL as an example, since 1992 (the year that the English Premier League started) 13 different teams have won the Superbowl. In the same period, only four teams have won the EPL (and that includes Blackburn, with just one title – otherwise it’s only three teams).
The range of competitiveness of the NFL is directly related to the player salary cap. No matter how rich an owner is, they can’t just outbid everyone else for the best players. Obviously there are other factors at work, but the cap is significant.
Tommy – Yep, we’re doing well. Should be a good league with so many in it. I’m hoping for a top 10 finish 🙂
They seek me here, they seek me there ??
I’m 6ft 5 and good in the air !
If I can get a lift to Merseyside I’ll be happy to help out on Sunday arvo….
Lady Pants,
Well Spongebob Sugary Pants is real …. obviously. So simple deduction! 🙂
Who is your fantasy team? Are you following tommystouts’ no Manc etc policy?
Thanks for the clarification Rocky.
ESPN shows a tremendous number of American sports over here in the UK now and has rekindled my love of NFL and baseball (particularly the Yankees) from the days when I lived in NY. 🙂
FIL,
Good to hear from you again.
Hope I didn’t offend you yesterday, but lunch was calling and the frothing can be a bit hard to take! 🙂
Spongebob Squarepants, he lives in a pineapple under the sea,
Spongebob Squarepants, got killed in an oil spill by BP 😥
I’ve one Manc – Van der Saar, One fake Manc – Tevez, and one from the Chavs – Ca$hley, no bindippers or spuds, the maximum number of gooners (3) and the rest are made up of Fulham, Everton, Bolton, and Birmingham players
Let me guess your three gooners are;
Flappy, JD and Denilson. Super! 🙂
Red Arse-you’ve my team all figured out 😆
Red Arse
For a while there was a surreal enjoyment in the defiance of that period, but when Graham sold David Rocastle, one of our most creative players and a Gooner to his core, against the player’s wishes to Leeds, I realised the club was going wrong. It was nothing like the 1986 to 1991 period, when we defended well but had something about us in attack too. Signing players like Lydersen, Carter, McGoldrick and Kiwomya only proved the point, and the final straw was going to my first FA Cup Final, vs Sheff Weds in 1993, and seeing 120 minutes of utterly forgettable football. Absolute rubbish, like seeing the Dutch World Cup Final performance week after week. I’m just sorry Graham got sacked for taking bribes rather than his football.
Bloody kids LOL just got called out to jump start my daughters car, wouldn’t mind but her and her two boys are Manc,s
It wasnt just the one final 26 was it, both were rubbish
26May,
I remember. Don’t suppose we were the only one’s who found a lot of it stultifyingly boring. 😦
Dandan, Where did it all go wrong? 🙂
Dandan, yup, I was at the League Cup one too (and saw the broken arm incident), and agree it was just as bad. But that was only the League Cup, I could cope with that being bad, I just couldn’t accept the first FA Cup Final I’d been to featuring my team playing such turgid rubbish.
Would be nice to see the present side having 10% of the defensive nous of that side though…..
Leeds,Luton,Swindon saw them all, never again, bugger your defensive football give me Wengerball any time.
Dandan,
🙂
With you 100% Dandan.
I saw youtube highlights of that Swindon Final a little while ago – what a mare of a pitch, was like a ploughed field. It probably would’ve been abandoned now.
Don bloody Rodgers LOL
The Hef is in for the dreamteam action. Bring it on gooners.
my god that was quick hef, it took me like a couple of hours! 🙂
lay off the stout tommy dulls the thinking.
Afternoon all,
Does anyone know if Micah Richards is listed in citeh’s 25? I know Belamy has been left out but is apparently not interested in a move to totnum.
yeah i should have randomised the selection DD, it would have taken like 1 minute then. Those couple of hours i’ll never get back, bit like some of the games i witnessed last season 😦
Rasp – it was funny hearing Talksport this week interviewing bellamy, it was like the penny had just dropped with them about the repercussions of the 25 man squad rule, after we have been discussing it in depth for months!
Hughes is interested in taken Bellamy to Fulham I think.
Bellamy actually talked about retiring if left out of the squad! i’m sure that it was just him advertising himself to would be suitors!
Remember the last game of the season when Bellamy virtually celebrated the Spuds getting a CL spot? Talk about come and get me… 😆 that they’re not
Hi Tommy,
Yes I was listening to that too on talkShite. I’m not convinced by Richards. He’s certainly a powerful player but could he play wengerball? He is a staunch gooner and that always counts for a lot.
London,
If you’re reading. – have you forgoten that I bet you £1,000 that kozzer would play alongside TV and not Djourou? Actually I feel cheated because Djourou is injured and I’m sure AW would have played kozzer even if JD was fit.
City have started to abuse there spending power already they would rather Bellamy not play for anyone than someone they consider a rival…. That stinks
Anyone doing the Talksport predictor league thingy?
Calling all budding writers (and experienced journos) 😛 ,
We have Raddy lined up for Sunday’s pre-match report, but nothing to herald the start of the season tomorrow.
Tommy,
Did you hear Mad Jens on BBC radio this morning. What a contrast to Bellamy and those plonkers on TalkSport.
He answered some rambling questions by Phil Williams, a dyed in the wool Villa fan, with an accent to match, in a clear, concise and intelligent manner. And also commented upon Arsenal, his playing career with us and our prospects for the coming season in a v. favourable way.
After he left the studio, Williams said he was in awe of Jens, his replies and his superb dress sense, even though he was a Villa fan.
I was mightily impressed myself. Good stuff.
No Red wish i’d tuned in now!
Talksport are currently slagging us off again for offering Wenger a new contract.
God i hate that ginger git (Durham), even if he does get paid to get under our skin.
Yeah Red A – he may have been a loon(not a raving inarticulate one though)but Jens never besmirched our club and has the genuine love of our club that true legends like DB10, Bobby and TH14 have.
Micah Richards is in City’s UEFA Cup squad (the PL squad isn’t due till 1 Sept I think).
Funny quote from Mancini today: “Bellamy can talk but it is not important because it is false. Last year Craig played all the games with me. This year I have chosen other players. I am the manager. I make this choice. The rule is I have to make a list of 25 players and choose my team from that list. The ones who are out need another team and Craig Bellamy is out of the list.”
Hopefully the first of many tiffs and splits at the Wastelands this year.
tommy,
Don’t get me started on that appalling Durham.
There is nothing I can like about him fromthat awful nasal whine of his, his arrogant, illogical whingeing and apparent hatred of everything Arsenal and in particular Arsene.
If he is paid to court controversy and wind gooners up, he partly succeeds, but it is counter productive because after 30 seconds of his assinine drivel I switch channels. So at best it is a Phyrric victory.
Even talking about that pitiful excuse for a radio presenter and his scurrilous attacks on Arsene makes me feel bilious.
Have never listened to TalkSport, so looked up Adrian Durham – seems to be one of those predictable dickhead types but the blurb about him says predictable he’s “the world’s only celebrity Peterborough fan (although he has a secret soft spot for Arsenal)”. I take it that is a very well-hidden soft spot……
26May,
The peterboro’ thing is a smoke screen.
When Arsenal fans are allowed on his talk show, he always trots out his Peterboro rhubarb to deflect their comments about his bile towards Arsenal.
He is so clearly a Spuds fan they claim him as one of their own. Yeuk!
I almost blew a gasket about three weeks ago when Darren Gough, yes the Manure arse-licking cricketer, or creekeeter as he says, (sorry any Yorkshire gooners), also accused Durham of going in too hard on an Arsenal fan.
Durham’s response was that he wasn’t anti Arsenal because his son supported them. Oh yeah ….. of course.
I told you not to let me start on about Durham. 🙂
CharyB,
I thought that you were the famous Frothing Illogical Loony, but re-reading my comments on Adrian Durham, I think it might have been me all a long! 🙂 Strewth!
On the other hand I can’t stand Gough either, a supercilious nincompoop if I ever heard one. 🙂
Seriously stop listening to Durham ha ha all your blood pressures go up when ye mention him 😆
I put my Excel spreadsheets to bed so I could play with Lady Pants, and now she has buggered off.
A lovely glass of Pinot Noir is calling, to soothe my fevered brow.
If you are out there Big Raddy, “prost – sundhed – cheers” or whatever is said in Denmark! 😉
Lady Pants you are back, just as my lovely glass of wine is sitting there beckoning to me.
It’s a hard choice, but —– see you tomorrow! 😀
You’ll be back Red Arse 😉
LOL I must be off, gotta go do something in the real world. Shall be back tomorrow to talk football and the start of the EPL woop woop
Damn it Lady Arse you are right again! 🙂
RA Skol. I find Pinot Noir’s difficult. I can rarely find a consistently good wine.
Right now, being a rare Danish summer’s day I am on Sicilian Rose´and a very refreshing tipple it is!
Rasp,
I forgot to thank you for attaching that v. appropriate picture to the article this morning.
I would ask you how you do it, but I am sure it would be beyond my comprehension. 🙂
Thanks.
Incidentally,
Any of those who voiced concerns about the headline titles we sometimes use should consider today’s post as an example. A very well written and researched piece that deserved mass readership. It is likely to have received 1,200 hits by the end of the day.
Had we chosen a title like “Arsenal Need More Money” the hits would have doubled ….. and if we’d been even naughtier and gone with “Arsenal Envious of Man City’s Money”, we would probably have attracted 3 or 4 times as many hits.
There is a middle road that can retain the integrity of the site whilst encouraging as many bloggers to read the article as possible. The sample titles I have listed where quickly plucked out of thin air and would not have been used.
Sorry Lady Pants, in my excitement at my first slurp of wine I married us off!
God don’t tell your real husband you are now a blogger bigamist. 😉
Hi Red Arse,
My pleasure, I like articles to look attractive as well as have quality content.
I wrote my previous comment before I read yours @ 5:31. It was not intended as slur on your work in any way, just illustrating that titles are important and those who slag off a post just because of its headline have probably not bothered to read all the way through and are just looking to be critical.
Thanks Rasp, no complaints from me today, honest! I liked RA’s piece a lot, even if I didn’t quite agree with every word – the boy’s got a tremendous writing style!
Skol, Raddy,
Couldn’t agree more.
An “iffy” Pinot Noir is just not worth bothering with. I spend just a little more than I would really want to, but it ensures the quality I like. It’s worth it to me.
It is a little luxury I indulge myself in. 🙂
No worries 26m,
It would be very boring if we agreed with each other’s every word 😉
The site only comes alive when we have healthy disagreements. That is why I sometimes may appear to be over-protective when a new blogger comes on and misbehaves. I like the challenge of trying to win them over – not in terms of their point of view necessarily, but more so that they realise they do not have to be aggressive as we will consider their points and respond with respect (in the way that we tell them they’re wrong 🙂 ).
Rasp,
I can’t drag myself away from the site, but the warning signs of imbibing wine too quickly are there.
Nose going numb and the keyboard won’t stay still! 🙂
Didn’t take anything you said as criticism, and know nothing about “hits” or inappropriate titles. I wrote the title as it seemed appropriate to the piece.
Now you’ve let the cat out of the bag, I will write a cunning title headline next time to stir up a hornets nest of hits! 😉 Say like this;
“Arsenal, Man United and Chelsea say POO to the Rest of the PL Clubs”. 5,000 hits guaranteed!!!! 😉 Nite Guys.
Since it appears likely any new transfers will be concluded right at the end of the window, (another Rasp prediction waiting to go in the ITYS section!) I would suggest the last few days will be frenetic as a lot of clubs will have the same thought.
It looks like citeh will be holding players hostage rather than releasing them to rivals – SWP has made a series of bad career decisions. Late-purchases are cheaper, riskier and generally comprise players who are last-ditch back-up…. I’d cite Silvestre and not AA as an example as we’d been chasing AA for weeks.
Thanks Red Arse, have a good evening.
A couple of interesting Arsenal-related stats: Marouane Chamakh has scored the most headed goals in the top 5 European leagues over the last 2 seasons. And Manuel Almunia has one of the best clean sheet to games ratio in Arsenal’s history – 66 from 161 games.
Can you believe that 😉
How are you Mr Kelsey
dandan,
crazy household, kids coming home as i get up, 40 degres, just the usual routine :)manic marbella as always in August.
Rasp, still need a headline post for tomorrow?
Yes 26m, it would be wonderful if you feel inclined 🙂
I have posted one if you want it
😳 spoilt for choice now, can we choose the one which is most topical and publish the other next week?
The more posts written and in store the better.
I will miss London’s post match – assuming he doesn’t write one!. They are very good.
Rasp. Pre-match in but needs a snappy title and some graphics (I must do some work on the instructions you gave me)
Thanks Raddy, you’re a star!
I’m reading now, I’ll see what I can come up with 🙂
Rasp, I’ll knock something up later tonight and leave it to your goodself to choose!
Ta 26m, spoilt for choice now!
Off to see Leonard Cohen today. Outdoor concert, €80 a ticket, no food or drink to be taken into the park. Peeing with rain and the concert is a 2hour train ride away.
I must be nuts……. First day of the season I should be glued to the box and laughing at Tottenham
Enjoy yourself Braddy, i’ll laff at the spuds for you.
Thanks Tommy.
BTW we have some ringers in our Fantasy League
TS. Have you joined yet?
Morning all
Hi Raddy 😀
Rasp – are you about?
Just read your comment Raddy – I’ll laugh too 😆
Yeah Braddy, i’m in ….
with a team of no spuds, no manure,no chavs and no city…. poyfect!
Not funny Peaches. Gone are the days of free backstage passes and a post gig parties.
Now I pay a weeks wages to go and sit in a wet park , be striped €8 a pint for watered down beer, stand 200m away from the stage and watch a big screen to see a 74 y.o. who is laughing all the way to the bank.
Take me back to the Roundhouse and Pink Floyd or the Rainbow and Rod ….. please
Morning all,
It’s like London buses, you wait half an hour for one, then 4 come along nose to tail.
This will become relevant during the course of the day 🙂
I have just noticed that Blackpool open their campaign with 2 away fixtures,bit tough on them.
TS. I took Kolo for old times sakes and Drogba because the FL wouldn’t let me take RvP (too many Arsenal players)
Kelsey. Have you joined the Fantasy League?
Kelsey. What does your 9.31 refer to?
No, because I live on Fantasy Island.
It may become apparent during the course of the day BR
Did you read Mancini.he said he wouldn’t sell given to a PL rival(us) but City were quick to wave the cash at Toure and Adebayor.
Heard a classic last night about RVP now known as Robin van Patent.
Is it fear of being beaten by a bald man or technophobia?
Morning again
Theres a NEW POST – kelsey we’ll do yours a bit later xx
Why RV Patent?
Morning all,
I’ve only just got on the net!
I’m very impressed with the reaction to my call for a post today as we now have 3 to choose from 🙄
We may publish them all during the day although I would imagine the comments from 12 onwards will all be relating t the premiership games.
Thanks once again for the brilliant response.
Quite honestly I wouldn’t know what to do.I am quite a simpleton at heart, but the £ is now 1.2246 the highest for a year.
BR, not for sale 😉
Christ, wake up man.
Are there any games of significance in the PL today, Rasp 🙂
I am overwhelmed by the notion, the technology, the fitting-it-in around the relaxation of every thing else I have to do as Chief Cook and Bottle Washer in my company
Video Live…
[…]Arsenal; Money and The changing Face of Football « Arsenal Arsenal[…]…
This article is truly a nice one it assists new internet users,
who are wishing for blogging.
Simply desire to say your article is as surprising.
The clearness in your post is just spectacular and that i could suppose you’re a
professional on this subject. Fine along with your permission let me to grab your RSS
feed to keep updated with imminent post. Thank you 1,000,000
and please carry on the rewarding work.