Arsenal will spend significantly this summer to reinforce the first team squad regardless of where we finish in the league.
This statement is not based on having spoken to a bloke who did the plumbing at Vic Akers’s second cousin’s house.
Nor is it directly attributable to anyone in a position of authority at the club (Stan is famously silent, Ivan only talks babble and Peter Hill Wood has not seen his mate from the Daily Star for some time).
It is a statement of what used to be called “the bloody obvious.”
Just think about it for a second.
After years of austerity prompted by the stadium move, the cash is finally starting to roll in from multiple sources.
The Club has announced a string of big sponsorship deals, culminating in the kit deal with Puma which will bring in £30 million a year and which, according to some sources, includes a large up-front payment.
The new TV rights settlement for the Premier League comes into force next season bringing oodles of cash for all the clubs. A commentator in the (North American) coverage of our Wigan game this week observed that, next year, the club that finishes BOTTOM in the Premier League will be paid as much as Manchester City were paid last year for finishing TOP.
Meanwhile Arsenal’s competitive environment is also undergoing tectonic change between now and the start of next season.
All three of our main competitors for the league title will embark on the 2013/14 season with new managers – and all the upheaval in personnel and playing styles that that brings with it.
Mourinho will almost certainly resume the helm at Chelsea and will be welcomed as a returning messiah by the fans. But fans have short memories. The scars between Mourinho and Abramovich have not healed, they have just had some cosmetic touching-up and if things don’t go quickly to plan for Chelsea, they could reopen even wider than before.
Manchester City, meanwhile, will probably have Pellegrini in charge. I love his sparkly water, but he has never managed in the English Premier League and there is sure to be a period of adjustment. On paper their players should walk any league in the world, but this season has shown that – as military commanders have known throughout history – mercenaries can’t always be relied on when the fighting gets dirty. Even with the riches at their disposal, it’s far from certain that City will slot straight back into title-challenging form.
And, most significantly of all, Surralex Ferguson has stepped down at Manchester United, replaced by David Moyes. He may have been a misanthropic, cranky, malevolent, spiteful, chip-shouldering, sputum-spewing bully with a bloated winesack for a face, but he knew how to win football matches. Moyes may turn out to be the right man for United’s future, but it feels like a hell of big gamble to me.
The upshot of this managerial merry-go-round is that no team should be better placed that Arsenal in terms of stability when the new season begins.
Finally, for the first summer in a long time we will not spend the close season in protracted agonies about whether one or more of our best players will listen to the call of filthy lucre (or filthy DNA) from places distant.
There really is a “perfect storm” of reasons why next season should be a good – even, possibly – a great one for Arsenal.
And if we are all aware of these facts, clearly Arsene Wenger and the people who run our club are too.
With the recent crop of commercial partnership announcements, the much-criticised Gazidis (Ivan the Not Terriby Good?) is beginning to show why we hired him. He and the Board of Directors will be fully aware that this is the summer to make a big statement and that next season we should be having a real tilt at the title.
I have never been more confident that we will be bringing in at least one huge name (be it Higuain, Rooney, Jovetic, Fabregas, Eboue or whoever) and that several other astute buys will also be made.
And it makes no sense to think that the club’s strategy will be any different if we finish outside the Champions League places. If anything, finishing fifth would be an encouragement to spend even more than if we finished third or fourth.
Yes, there may be some players who will not join a club that’s not in the Champions League, but there are plenty of superstars who would be only too happy to join Arsene’s Arsenal regardless.
Our form since late January has been that of a title-challenging team. The core players responsible for that run – the likes of Cazorla, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Ramsey, Walcott and Podolski – will all be in harness at the start of next season.
We have continuity, confidence and money.
As someone once said: The Ghosts of the Thirties are Stirring.
RockyLives
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Great stuff
but it will affect the quality of players who want to come to the club as they will want UCL
This is an excellent post RL and covers all scenarios but I have always maintained that a good settled team needs little management and as much as some despise what Abramovich has done,Chelsea have quite an impressive list of trophies, despite having countless managers.
City will be interesting to watch as players like Tevez,Balotelli,Nasri and Adebayor are not long term prospects and too many prima donnas in one team is not a good mix.
I fully expect Moyes to plunder baines and Fellini as Everton desperately need the cash.
I think whatever one thinks of Kroenke downwards the club have made provisions if we don’t qualify for CL and even if we do we are a season or two away from really mounting a challenge to be a real contender to win it.
It will be interesting to see what happens to the so called deadwood as we really need to reduce our wage bill on players who are not in Wenger’s plans,and evidently haven’t been for a while.
To me it’s not about Spurs possibly finishing above us as once every twenty years is quite acceptable,but it is about a true intention to add 2 or 3 quality players to the squad to make us that little bit sharper and a force to be reckoned with.
This is the main worry for me as Wenger’s sharp eye for picking talent has waned these past few seasons with a couple of notable exceptions,so let’s wait and see.
Morning as Chelsea won last night does that qualify them for the CL being urea cup winners .
If so that qualifies us for the CL .
Sheep
Thanks Rocky,
A great read with suitable optimism. I share that and your hopes for the coming season[s]
COYG
Reblogged this on Gunners and Gooners.
Fantastic post Rocky well presented argument, and I fully agree we are in a healthy position to kick on……but I can’t help but be fearful of what failure to qualify for CL might do.
Sheep simply put no it doesn’t.
Top 3 UCL group stages
4th UCL qualifying (unless UCL winner is English and finishes outside top 4)
5th, 6th and 7th Europa unless FA Cup or League Cup Winner is outside top 7 then they qualify for Europa instead, or Europa League Winner has not finished in top 7 then they qualify for Europa League.
So if Chavs were set to finish 6th 5th place would miss out on Europa. But they aren’t they are finishing 3rd so have qualified.
Mad English clubs allowed in Europe = 7 (4 CL, 3 Europa)
Great post Rocky. I’d like to think you’re correct but somehow the added kudos of the CL will in my opinion have an effect on our ability to attract top talent – hence the ongoing debate about Bale leaving if the totts don’t get 4th.
But in reality, I don’t expect us to be shopping from the top shelf even with all this ‘new’ money.
I say this for several reasons:
We will still be paying the wages of quite a few players on £60-70k a week who will never play for the first team again.
The money from the new TV deals will be spread across all the 20 prem clubs.
We still won’t be able to compete with the likes of city, the chavs, manu and the big European spenders
And lastly, I do believe AW doesn’t feel comfortable in spending vast sums on established stars
Lovely Post, Rock Hard, 🙂
Frankly, out of the list of new arrivals you were surmising, I would be ecstatic if we brought in Eboue and Whoever. Class!
You opined that “The Goats of the dirty are steering” and I hope they know where they are going.
With apologies to Toothless Terry Telescope. 🙂
A quick hello to all AA’ers 🙂
Super post Rocky – love the passion and positivity 🙂
Let’s hope for a great game on Sunday and a grand finale to the season – CoYG!
Fine post Rocky, you ticked all the boxes.
But personally I hope that it’s a “Wenger Revival” aided by the “Ghosts of the Thirties”
TA. Hope all is well with you.
As you say COYG
Hi TA, good to have your company 😛
How much will Wenger’s net spend on transfers be for next season.
Afternoon all.
Its been a while since ive commented on here but i have been busy making a baby!!!
I totally agree with RL that our spending doesnt depend on CL football.
For the first time in a while, im actually looking forward to the TW safe in the knowledge that we wont be selling more superstars to rival clubs. Let the games begin (after Sunday!).
Congratulations FGG!!!
I’ve seen you on twitter quite regularly I assume 140 characters is easier to do between shifts 😉
Great news fgg, many congratulations. What about if we create a virtual crèche for you and GiE – do you think you’d be able to comment more? 😆
Hi Raddy & Rasp 🙂
All is well, thanks.
Hope you are all OK too!
Another transitional, ‘V-shaped’ season, but we are on the up again. 😛
Very pleased with the grid and passion in the team and now looking forward to the return of sexy football again next season.
Think about it. How many games is the champions league competition each year. 6 mini league game followed by 7 more if you get to the final. Say a reasonable assumption is you get to the first knock out stage that’s only eight games…. are you telling me someone wont come to us for an extra eight games…. I don’t think that’s reasonable.
Rasp, 🙂
On one of your points (the spread of the TV deal among 20 clubs) you seem to have doubts as to its worth to Arsenal.
Let’s see. The new footie contract with TV is worth approx £4,000,000,000 over 3 years – (and may still rise); so £1.4bn per annum, divided between 20 clubs = £70,000,000 each.
Well, allowing for support payments to the Football League, and relegation compensation, and administration costs, let’s say the payment to each club is going to be around £60m per annum.
So, Arsenal will get increased sums of £60m from TV, £30m from the new kit deal, and if we qualify for Europe, approx another £20m from the CL, (provided we qualify), as well as other increased commercial deals of a lesser value.
The increase over the previous year’s income from those sources must amount to approximately £80m.
Therefore, if Arsenal really want to push the boat out to buy players == they are already rumoured to have some £70m available in the transfer kitty announced some time ago, and an additional commercial income of £80m, as explained above, so that makes a ball park figure of some £150m to spend.
[There will be tax issues to calculate — but as all the figures are estimated, this can be ignored for these purposes] 😀
I therefore elect you to the Kelsey Realist Club forthwith.
Twitter is easier with one hand GIE! 😉
Thanks Rasp. The baby isnt due until December so plenty of time to baby proof the site!!!
Hopefully i will be able to comment a bit more now that some of the unsavoury characters the site picked up mid season have disappeared. Thank god we started winning again! 🙂
Hi TA, 🙂
I thought you had popped on to offer your AA friends one of your brilliant Posts!! 🙂
Why should Bergkampesque get them all?? D:
Hi Redders, I understand what you say, my point was just that since we’re all getting the TV money, it alone doesn’t give us an advantage over the other PL teams. The extra money from sponsorship etc that you list is all good but still won’t put us in the same spending bracket as the clubs I listed.
Trophies define a Club and shape it’s history, not accumulating coeffiicient points.
In ten years time Chelsea will have acquired more Trophies than Arsenal, is that what you want.
Arsenal’s net spending in the last ten years under Wenger has been zero.
Great post Rocky. I agree that we will spend this summer regardless. I don’t think that the loss of revenue, if we are not in the CL, will be the most damaging aspect but agree with Rasp that it will maybe rule us out for some targets. I also agree with Rasp that some of the biggest so called names will be out of our reach mainly because of our wage structure rather than transfer fees. We might stretch to £150kpw for a special player and it is ludicrous that this may still fall £50k to £100k short of what other clubs will offer. Personally I don’t want to go down that route of having to literally bribe a player to join you and would rather have that feeling that the player has looked at and admired Arsenal and really wants to play for us.
On the flip side I also agree with you Rocky that there will be some high quality players that will still come to us regardless of CL football or not. Some will take the sensible view that we are building a title challenging team and can focus more on the EPL for one year before re-entering the ECL. They may feel our brand of football is suited to them and that this is more important. I would rather have that player at us than a more celebrated name that has only made the final decision based on wages. The world cup next year could provide a great opportunity this summer to get hungry players that want to impress the national team manager, and playing well and regularly for arsenal in the EPL will put them in the shop window even without CL football.
Looking at Rasp’s premise that we will still shop from the next tier of players or the emerging superstar group of players, I don’t think we will get any of Rooney, Falcao, Cavani or Lewandowski. I actually think Rooney will end up with Chelsea if he leaves and will likely be joined by someone like Falcao with Torres off loaded. Chelsea will pay the big wages and Rooney has his litlle gang of England friends already there, and Mourinho will lead a charm offensive on him. If Chelsea get Mourinho and bring in those 2 I would have them as title favourites next year. The stability is already there with the older players of Lampard, Terry and Cole and Mourinho will get them all signed up again and make them his generals and add the 2 big signings that will make them very strong.
There could be an opportunity for us though with Torres. He will be desperate to regain his prolific form in a world cup year, and I still have a feeling he could regain his best form at us under AW. I have seen snippets of his pace and ability returning recently and he is really putting in a shift recently but I think the pressure on him currently probably makes him tense. I think AW could tap in to his improving form and get him, while still working hard, relaxing more and enjoying his football again. He is that classic number 9 that is perfectly suited to our current 4-3-3 system. I don’t think it will worry him about not playing CL football for 1 season either and it could represent the kind of smart transfer that would go well for us.
RA,
According to the Sporting Intelligence website, our tv income will rise from £56m to £82m for 2013/14 based on us finishing 3rd this season.
Anyone else notice in the latest edition of The Radio Times that Gary Neville has cited as Manager of the Season one Arsene Wenger, saying: “If he gets Arsenal into the Champions League it will be incredible.”
Thoughts ?
Hi GoonerB, I think to some extent I have not addressed the theme of Rocky’s post – with which I fully agree, we will be buying decent players.
Without wishing to encourage any of the trolls, I think it is important that the signings demonstrate that there is a new energy in the club to try to get back to the very top and yes, win a trophy or two. I believe money is the major decider with most transfers but being in a side with a chance of winning trophies to admire long after you’re retired is also a major draw for a player – and so our signings have to be of a level to significantly improve the squad.
AW has always said he will only bring in players that improve the squad and with the likes of Cazorla he has done that …. I won’t mention Chamakh … oops I just did 😳
Great post Off your Rockers !. 🙂
If anybody has ever wondered why Silent Stan also has no vision, then have a quick pop over to Bergkampesque where Dr Glic has delved into Stans problematic back ground in a comment, a comment which would probably fail the peaches mum test !. 😆
Hi Lew, I haven’t read the article but I guess it depends on the criteria the author is using to reach that conclusion.
Was it because we’re in a position of having CL qualification in our own hands after being 7 points behind the spuds not so long ago?
Was it just to have achieved CL yet again on a negative net spend on players is a minor miracle?
It couldn’t be based on wages paid as that would create an expectation of 4th.
It is unfortunate that our results against our main rivals (the top clubs) have been pretty poor this season. On the balance of play, we should have beaten pool, city and united at the Emirates this season.
Hi Rasp,
I think the criteria is….I’m Gary Neville !!
Just interesting that someone deemed so perceptive has opted for Wenger, going against the flow of all the negative media over the (admittedly topsy turvy) season.
Interesting that a couple of reports are saying that the Jovetic to Arsenal deal may be cooling and he may be looking at Juve. I would be disappointed, but to be fair if there is anything in the rumours that Cesc may be on the move we must get him before Utd.
Cesc is still one of the worlds best for me and has recently developed much more into an attacking goal-scorer in the number 10 mould. In this sense his qualities and Jovetic’s are now very similar. We would need to show him that we are serious about the other purchases we are bringing in at that Arsenal’s time is nigh so that he would choose us over the rumoured possibility of Utd.
Imagine Cesc back with one of say Torres, Villa or Higuain, a powerful DM another CB and a good keeper to challenge Chezzer. On the last 3 I think there are good reasonable options out there like McCarthy from Wigan, Rami from Valencia and even maybe Julio Caesar from QPR. They are attainable, don’t break the bank and would make us significantly stronger. We would be ready to rock and roll then and I feel we would be strong contenders next year regardless of what other teams spent and on who.
Thanks Lew, I really like Gary Neville. I had expected him to be a manc loving half wit, but instead he is an entertaining and perceptive analyst of the game, very articulate and seemingly completely subjective in his comments … although I suspect he has a sneaking admiration for Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal 🙂
GoonerB, I agree – unsurprisingly. If anything, the summer will be a greater test of AW than the season it follows. Can he/will he/does he want to ….. bring in the type of player you describe? We’ll all know the answer come the end of August.
Are we going to express an interest in a player but claim the asking price is too high and hope we can cut a deal in the last hour of the last day?
Are we going to be apparently working hard to sign player A and then sign player B completely out of the blue?
Its going to be fun to see how it all turns out.
Agreed Rasp. I think we may need a couple of significant more expensive signings but I also think that if we were looking to bring in say 5 players that 3 of the 5 could be sourced from be a much more reasonable price bracket but without sacrificing the required quality.
Some fans would throw their toys out the pram if we don’t spend £30m each on 5 players but I think we still have to have faith in AW still working his majic and bringing in the required quality in some areas at a good bargain. My main issue would be if we went for bargains on all 5 as I don’t think that would get us to where we need to be.
Very true. AW has demonstrated that he can be hard this season by dropping TV and Sz. I hope he will be equally ruthless when it comes to Diaby – time to call a reluctant end to his Arsenal career. I’d rather pay off the contracts of the likes of Park, Chamakh and Bendtner than have them hanging around quite honestly.
The only area we would need to spend big money would be a striker or if we could cut a deal to bring Cesc back. A strong powerful midfielder wouldn’t be cheap but elsewhere we already have decent quality.
I think we could get a top DM for £15m and under which is still not bad and not in the £25m + bracket that others will look at.
By the way, are any AA’ers going to the live screening on Sunday?
I’m working GB, but I think peaches is toying with the idea.
Good to hear that from GNev2. Most of the ‘experts’ at the beginning of the season said it would be a miracle if AW steered this team to CL without RVP. Yet in the last few months, they describe our season as up and down, or below expectation. At least GNev2 has the bottle to stick to his guns and actually give praise to a manager who, in some peoples words, is on the verge of performing a miracle.
Oh dear, to add to my reputation of being so-so about Theo, I am going to also say that I would prefer Cesc does NOT come back to Arsenal.
It is nothing to do with his ability, it is also nothing to with all that DNA rubbish, which many seem to have already forgotten or forgiven, my reasoning on this is far more mundane, and borne out of experience.
NEVER go back! Fabregas’ expectations, and the fans’ expectations may not equal the reality. The thought of disappointed fans boo-ing, jeering or castigating a decent human being, and decent player simply would not be worth it to him, or us.
It is never the same going back to old stamping grounds, and injuries have not been kind to Cesc. Part of Barca’s dissatisfaction with him is that he is not the same player he was for us. He has lost at least a yard of pace and without that he is badly hampered, even in Spanish football. The Premiership would be worse.
Just as well I am not trying to win a popularity contest! 😀
I enjoyed the thought provoking post but find myself agreeing with Rasp’s 11.22 — which was a bit confusing at first as agreeing with Rasp is not something I do often. And then, realising that my last three years of blogging have not all been in vain — I sat back contentedly.
I disagree with the last paragraph of course which made me realise I still have a bit more work to do.
“I do believe AW doesn’t feel comfortable in spending vast sums on established stars,” (Rasp)
Urban myth or less politely, a slang word for testicles.
The last time Wenger had money to spend he jolly well spent it. There is not a single shred of evidence to suggest that he wouldn’t be as happy a sand boy spending money to improve the squad in the hope of winning the league. Not one shred.
A lack of funds and the ability of Chelsea and City to out bid us are the only things that have held Wenger back.
The worm could be turning which I think is the other point Rocky is making in today’s post.
COYRRG
Afternoon all, I see where you are going Mr Rock, but as a lot of the increase in income will, as Raspers pointed out, be available to the rest of the league(the TV rights) the incremental benefit to us is minimal.
I do agree though that the a lot of unproductive players being out of contract will free up spaces on the payroll.
Guess who will have to do a final swan song for Fergiescum’s last matchday ?
Yup, our ref for the day Howard Fergie’s-rent-boy Webb.
FGG @12:46
As I indicated, I was trying to show that the ‘new’ deal would put a lot of extra money into the Premiership clubs’ hands.
I know nothing about Sporting Intelligence, and my figuring was based on estimates of expected income, less an estimated figure for disbursements. (as presumably their’s would be too).
The current deal is supposed to have been worth between £1.1bn and £1.5bn. The new deal is worth north of £4bn.
You say the Sporting Intelligence calculation shows an increase from the current £56m to £82m (net £26m). To compare their figures to mine, we need to add the Shirt deal and CL qualification monies.
[£26m + £30m + £20m] = £76m
I have already admitted that the actual figures are unknown to me and are based on newspaper info only.
Anyway, my calculation was done as I typed my comment, and called for a net increase of £80m to be added to the already rumoured £70m available for transfers = £150m.
But taking the Sporting Intelligence figure, shown in your comment, lets see how that works out.
— They say, an increased income of £76m overall on a like for like basis.
— I said, an increased income of £80m overall on a like for like basis.
Not a million miles apart — and we are both guestimating! 🙂
Hi CharyB,
The premiership is already financially skewed so that only the the Mancs, Chelsea and now increasingly Arsenal can compete with each other.
The new deal distribution won’t change that distorted financial position, but it will make all the prem clubs more able to compete with no-Uk clubs, or reduce the gap between the prem and other league clubs.
With FFP requiring transfer costs and salaries to be restricted to amount of commercial income and to the profit and loss account, in crude terms, these new monies have played nicely into Arsenal and Manures hands.
We are more able to compete with the majority of the foreign clubs, and despite all the talk of Chelsea and Citeh spending more hundreds of millions that is all rubbish.
Without selling first, those two clubs cannot square the circle and remain within the limitations of the FFP.
We will see soon enough how this all pans out, but with the Premiership clubs signing a binding agreement to enforce their own additional FFP, this leaves little wriggle room for the big spenders, and Maureenio might be in for a shock when his plan to buy success, again, hits the rocks, maybe not next year but certainly the season after.
@ Kelsea.. Adebayor & Balotelli are not at Man City..
@ Sheep Hagger..Chelsea don’t qualify for CL for winning the Europa League..that should perhaps be the prize for winning it & make it a more admired competion.
Good day all and thanks for some really great comments.
I never cease to be amazed at the intelligence, wisdom and perspicacity of the regular contributors to this site (and many of the visitors).
I wrote a Post based on a gut feeling about the summer ahead, but your comments have illuminated the subject like the sun breaking through clouds.
dalziel
I wonder why UEFA don’t make CL qualification the prize if the Europa Cup? It would massively transform its standing and status and seems such an obvious thing to do…
I might need a good slap round the face with a wet fish: I think I’m developing man love for Gary Neville 😳
Redders, it boils down to what will we get extra that the Chavs, camel shaggers and ManUre don’t.
Being better off than the other Euro leagues will help except for when we have to go shopping in the EPL
As for not winning any popularity contest re. your thoughts on Cesc, I say PISH TOSH.
I say that for 2 reasons, firstly a number of us would agree with you on that and secondly, I just love to say PISH TOSH.
LB @ 2:22 😆
I’m sure you have a mental record of everything I’ve ever written on the blog and so I don’t need to remind you that I have always acknowledged our lack of ability to compete with the big spenders and I have never insisted that we should spend beyond our means – just apportion what we have more effectively.
….. which brings me to my second point …. re: “I do believe AW doesn’t feel comfortable in spending vast sums on established stars”
Aw has stated that he is (was?) in favour of a narrow wage band for the players and therefore my assertion that he isn’t comfortable in paying large sums and therefore high wages to certain individuals makes sense I believe. He may have moved away from that kind of thinking … we’ll find out very soon.
I know how much you hate to hear it but most of AW’s bigger spending days were in the past and that side of things was handled by your old pal David Dein who certainly wasn’t afraid to spend da money. I’m not convinced that the purchase of Arshavin and maybe Park was driven by AW.
Now I’ve severely rattled your cage I shall retire and put on my hard hat and dark glasses 😛
Arsenal are only the 4th club in the history of the Premier League to have 4 players get into double figures (goals)
Wenger has always said he wants clubs to spend within their means.
So if we have a lot of money coming in, I would expect him to spend a fair proportion if it.
Rasper,
Even if you applied DCF [discounted Cash Flow] algorithm to the monies paid for Viera, Pires, Freddie, etc, it is still peanuts in today’s terms. Of course, back then, when Rocky was a young man hiding his junk from any envious Moose, the economics throughout European football was different, so I suppose it’s swings and doughnuts.
CharyB, I will see your Pish Tosh and raise you a muggleflump!
Hi Redders, yes peanuts in today’s terms, but top money in comparison to what other clubs were paying at the time. I don’t deny that AW (maybe with DD’s help) bought some absolute bargains in his early years at Arsenal. I do think other clubs have learnt from the success of our scouting network in those days.
I am the very figure of a popinjay and hereby slap your muggleflump with a fey waft of my glove. 🙂
FFP will never work
Fair point, Rasper, (as the Elk said to Rockadiddle) but not similar to manure paying £30m for Ferdinand, or £29m for Veron, or £19m for Van Horseface, or £28m for Wooney in 2001.
But what is more pertinent, is, as you say, that our scouting system masterminded by Le Prof was second to none in identifying talent in the French market. [Not Fifi Le Bonk, CharyB]
Almost immediately Abramovich bought Chelsea we were still being linked with top quality players in France, but suddenly Drogba, Makelel and Ettiene were nicked off us by wads of cash.
What was worse was that by his own admission Ronaldo admitted he was about to sign for us, when CharyB’s friend pinched him off us.
My theory was that other clubs watched what AW was doing, and then, tipped off by agents, they sashayed along with a bag of loot, and finito!
Our scouting system has not been up to scratch lately — but that’s another story for Kelsey! 🙂
Peteq will never work. Who wants a troll? Anyone?
I agree Redders, it was Abramovich’s arrival on the scene that started to change everything – the fact that the timimg coincided with our plans to build a new stadium just compounded the disparity
CharyB, I just don’t see you as a pop in jay — but I would be careful where you say that, even if jay is fey! 🙂
Incidentally, I think Villa paying £24m for Bent has claim to be the biggest waste of money and by a club that really didn’t have the buying power.
Pool £35m for Carroll and the 50m for Torres probably take the cake though.
I don’t know !!. £200,000 for Jeff Blockley in 1972 still rankles with me !.
£29m for Veron was poor, and £30m for that guy Chelsea bought 10 years ago, because Abramovich wanted him.
Probably the £3m for Stepanovs beats all of them. 😀
RA;
One thing is for sure, I will never be a member of the “Realists” club as I’m too much of an optimist, with some very nervous tendencies, especially during games.
Message from Stepanovs:
“You rang, Sir?”
Hi GN5, 🙂
I was only joking about the realists, on AA, of course, because I think we all have an element of cautious optimism about our team, but as you say, during the games nerves can come to the fore! 😀
I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting the coterie of AA regulars who frequent the Tavern before games, which is just as well, as I think they would hate me, if the don’t already. 🙂
Why? Well, I am like a large coiled spring, and I yell my support without let up, and always try to exhort the team to their best efforts at the top of my voice, but I am known, while sitting watching the TV, to shout “Oh, bollocks” [OK, and a bit more] 🙂 if a promising move breaks down because someone plays the horse’s ass.
My emotions are rather like a piano arpeggio and cover the full gamut from major to minor and back again, and are totally visceral and brook no interference from the cerebral part of my brain!! 😀
A rubbish supporter by AA standards! 😳
Shot any Mouse penises lately, or should that be penae, Rock-a-bye-baby? 🙂
It is becoming harder to provoke either you, or that nice cherubic CharyB, as you have the knack of avoiding my rapier like wit by buzzing off and pretending not to see me slit your gizzards! 😀
I met Stepanovs in Spain some years ago, while on a golfing break.
He was a very nice man, and at breakfast I told him, with a smile, that some Arsenal fans told me he was rubbish.
He agreed, and said they were lovely fans and he remembered his stay with fondness. At least, I think that is what he said — his accent was difficult for me. Conversely, he may have misheard me when I said ‘rubbish’ and took it as a compliment.
He really was a nice man though. 🙂
No shooting for me Redders.
And certainly no long-distance moose circumcising…
I’m glad you liked Big Igor. He was actually not a bad player – he just suffered from being in the first wave of young CBs who came in after the glory years of Adams, Bould, Keown, Campbell and Toure.
Incidentally, I would hazard that if one was inclined to try and circumcise a moose, the only sensible approach would be to do it from long distance…
Think of it as a tip, if you like…
I am not rising to that Rasp, I obviously spoke too soon, we are as far apart as ever and your memory of what you have said about Wenger in the past is, hmmm, how can I politely put it….selective.
Before I go, have you heard this one?
A man walks into a bar with a paper bag. He sits down and places the bag on the counter.
The bartender walks up and asks what’s in the bag.
The man reaches into the bag and pulls out a little man, about one foot high and sets him on the counter.
He reaches back into the bag and pulls out a small piano, setting it on the counter as well.
He then reaches into the bag once again and pulls out a tiny piano bench which he places in front of the piano.
The little man sits down at the piano and starts playing a beautiful piece by Mozart!
“Where on earth did you get that?” says the bartender.
The man responds by reaching into the paper bag. This time he pulls out a magic lamp. He hands it to the bartender and says: “Here. Rub it.”
So the bartender rubs the lamp, and suddenly there’s a gust of smoke
And a beautiful genie is standing before him.
“I will grant you one wish. Just one wish. Each person is only allowed one go so make it good!”
The bartender gets real excited, and without hesitating he says, “I want a million bucks!”
A few moments later, a duck walks into the bar. It is soon followed by another duck, then another, and another.
Pretty soon, the entire bar is filled with ducks, and they keep coming!
The bartender turns to the man and says, “Y’know, I think your genie’s a little deaf.
I asked him for a million bucks, not a million ducks.”
“Tell me about it!” says the man.
“Do you really think I asked for a 12 inch pianist?”
Of all the genies, in all the world …………………. 😀
Ta ra.
No I’m afraid you’re wrong there LB, I have been consistent in my view towards our spending and have written posts on the subject. I have also been honest in my views about AW, I don’t know why you have such a problem if it appears we agree on any given topic.
“And lastly, I do believe AW doesn’t feel comfortable in spending vast sums on established stars.” (Rasp)
This is anti-Wenger nonsense and I simply do not agree with you.
It was a mistake trying to comunicate with you I will refrain from doing so in the future.
Hello, Mr Troll.
He never troll’s the truth does he??
dalziel73 says:
May 16, 2013 at 2:47 pm (Edit)
@ Kelsea.. Adebayor & Balotelli are not at Man City.
Ah but they were and Adebayor is on loan, you obviously missed the point of my comment.
I would add that if Wenger pays around 17/15 million for a player it is always a gamble if they adjust to PL football and he himself says it usually takes half a season, and the same could apply to any player signed be it a free or a reasonable sum (whatever that is.)
Pound for pound Arshavin must be in recent times sadly a bad buy.
So Sunday signals the end of the self-induced torture for some and the start of the annual grab a bargain wish list for the more disenchanted of our fellow gooners worldwide.
Third, fourth, fifth places they are all “dependant on how the points fall” still up for grabs. Then from 5 0clock onwards, the well informed will eagerly bombard the media in all its forms, revealing with the utmost certainty, financial secrets extracted from the London Based branch of Fort Knox otherwise known as The Emirates Stadium.
We know it will happen, we shake our heads in dismay with incredulity at what we read, but still we read it, are we beyond help, I often wonder. But then I know next August I will look at our squad and confirm in my mind that with those players and the skills of AW it has got to be our year, we will be champions.
I think it’s a strength of AW’s that he has a reputation for not paying top dollar at the top of the market.
I can’t think of a single player who came to us as an established superstar with an attendant price tag (with the possible exception of Sol, who of course cost nothing 🙂 ).
Even Dennis (whose arrival pre-dated Arsene’s anyway) was considered to be a bit shop soiled when we bought him from Inter.
Although I also think AW would spend really big for the right player in the future (particularly given how the market has changed during his years at Arsenal).
I would offer that AW has not lost his magic touch when buying players.
Santi Cazorla was one of the best buys in 201/13 and our best in, well, a moose’s age.
Hi Rocky,
I tend to agree with you that we’ll be looking to spend quite a bit of money regardless of where we finish in the league. You are wrong that this is unsubstantiated. Wenger said so himself a few weeks ago. When asked if it’ll have an effect on his plans for the transfer market, he said it might impact on some players’ decision to join us, but it won’t impact what we want to do. But having the CL money and prestige will obviously help and I hope we get it.
As for Wenger doesn’t spend money. The one evidence cited for this is the joke Wenger made, probably in response to his reputation for getting value for money from his purchases. The joke was of course that if he had a 100m what would he do? Return it to the board. Yet, in 2009, he was asked the same by Martin Samuel and Wenger asked in return whether he had to spend that amount on lots of players or one player. When told it was up to him, Wenger said he’d spend it on the one player he felt could make a real difference. I read about 2 years ago, that accounting for inflation, Henry would cost 26.8m pounds. Wenger, in my view, has never been against spending money. Nothing he’s said has ever led to that conclusion. He won’t spend just for the sake of it though, and will only spend on players he feels can make the defining difference between also rans and winners. I think our ability to attract these players has been less these past few years, is why we’ve not seen such buys.
Also, the calculations by RA of about 80m extra money. One thing that should be remembered is that of the TV money that we receive, only 4m of it can be added on to our wage bill, as per the domestic FFP agreement. 4m is equivalent to less then one top quality players’ annual wages. In which case, our sponsorship money, CL money, our cash reserves, as well as our expiring contracts, will give us the edge compared to other sides. (Although the top sides will still have the CL money)
Kelsey,
I’m not so sure that the amount of the transfer fee dictates the players settling in period?
There have been many instances of big money players never making the grade, Veron being one that simply failed and at two big clubs.
Surely it is not about the ‘spending’ — cheap or costly — it is getting the right quality of player to blend with the core that we already have.
A first class player, who is perfect for us, and acquired for bugger all is a fantastic signing, or is the corollary that if his club says “x will cost you £5m” do we insist that they take £20m for him, otherwise he could be seen as Wenger being a cheapo?
If AW has to pay £20m for a player, because that is the going rate – I am sure he will.
The money is ancillary to the deal, and if we have a budget for it — AW will make it happen.
What he will NOT do, is pay £20m for a player he only values at £10m. What else would he do?
A fuss over nothing, perhaps?
Shard,
But the receipt of TV money can be put in a teams reserve fund and then the reserve fund could be depleted by the same/similar amount. That’s assuming that a team has an adequate reserve fund to draw from?
All good points Redders, Kelsey and GN5
In addition to Cazorla, I reckon the BFG was an excellent piece of value for money. And Koscielny was relatively cheaply acquired and has matured into a fine CB. Which other EPL centre backs would you want ahead of that pair? Not many, I would suggest.
Shard
I never place much store in what AW says in public. He has to face the press every week and he has to answer all sorts of difficult questions, so he has to say something.
GN5
I’m not sure what you mean. As far as I know, teams which have a wage bill above 52m pounds this season, can only use 4m of any TV money that they get to add to their wage bill, until next season. The season after, it will be teams above 56m which have that restriction (they can only increase it to 60m using the Tv income), and so on, for a total of 3 years I think.
The rest of that TV money will of course go into the club’s coffers, and yes, it can be used to add to the wage bill the following season.
I’m not sure, but signing on bonuses might be a way to get around this restriction. But maybe the lost interest on giving players a lump sum up front would act as a barrier to that anyway.
RL
Agree with you there. Just saying that your theory isn’t entirely unsubstantiated.
Santi Cazola is obviously a great buy. Is there anyone who thinks Wenger wouldn’t buy Messi if we had the money and he wanted to play at Arsenal?
I don’t think so.
The idea that Wenger is reluctant to spend money is a piece of nonsense concocted on Le Grove and passed on by people who should know better.
GunnerN5 @7.10
I thought that was exactly what I said 🙂
Strangely in recent years the one foreign import that stood out for me from day one was Sagna.
BFG is another great example.
But would Wenger have brought Hummels rather than the BFG if he wanted to come to THOF?
Of course he would.
What stopped him? The shortage of available money, not a reluctance to spend it.
Interestingly, the “six months to get used to the EPL” notion seems to apply less these days than it did in the early Wenger years.
I remember the likes of TH14, Anelka, Overmars, Pires, Toure, Petit all taking time to bed in (there were occasional exceptions like Vieira).
But more recently, Cazorla, Sagna, BFG among others have settled very quickly.
Perhaps it’s due to the fact that more EPL teams now play in a manner that is at least partially familiar to foreign players, whereas back in the ’90s the EPL really was a different world.
If you look back to the Anelka, Overmars era I don’t think there was a single Spaniard in the EPL.
Fantastic post Rocky, and of course i agree with your sentiments. Were ever we finish this season it will have little relevance to our medium to long term plans or the bigger all round picture.
I wont indulge in the debate on how much, or how we will spend our increased revenues, though i will say that LB is spot on about Arsene having no fear on taking financial risks.
The finances will speak for themselves as the club gets stronger. We can be sure of two things. We will have more clout in the transfer market and be in a stronger position to keep our players.
I am, and always have been very excited about our future. Everything is begining to fall into place for the club to compete, and do so in the right way.
Incremental steps i know, but this is what the last 10 years or so has been all about. Foundation building is difficult and requires paitence, but we are soon to reap the rewards.
The Ghosts of the Thirties are Stirring.
Picking up on some comments today would it be extremely ROLFing funny if Wenfer bought back Cesc and Nasri, and added one more maybe a striker or maybe a centre midfielder to help Arteta out.
It would be more ROLFingly funny if we bought Nasri for say £10m and Cesc for what we sold him for.
Don’t think it’ll happen as Nasri probably burned too many bridges and Cesc as RA says will be highly weighed upon, although a midfield of Jack, Arteta, Santi, Cesc, and Nasri would’ve great to watch and with a supporting cast of Gervinho, Ox, Rambo, Coquelin would be a strong core.
Neville said the same about Wenger last season. One thing we need to get in our heads about wages is that our 4th highest wage bill is not all players for all we know we could have the tenth largest player wages and the top staff wages, wages that are a result of the size of the club we support compared to Chavs. I’d wager both United and Arsenal spend more on non football staff than City and Chavs.
I’m guessing that City’s and Chavs wage bill are 50% higher than ours so is that still likely to be true?
Shard,
I was responding to your comment that only 4m of the TV money can be used to buy players.
What I was suggesting is that Arsenal are not necessarily dependant only on TV money to buy players. If they have extra cash on hand they can simply increase the money they had intended to spend on incoming players and still retain the 56m TV money.
Makes sense to me.
The truth is that the troll should be used as bait for an Orca.
Just popped back to address the point made by Shard re how much can be spent on’additional’ salaries. and thought it might help to show the rules first.
The salary restriction he mentions is not directly linked to FFP and might cause some confusion, so the following should make it clear it has been brought in by all the clubs in the EPL.
I wrote a Post on this as some of you may have seen, and it also explains why I said today that the idea that Chelsea and Man Citeh could once again spend hundreds of Millions of pounds is a nonsense.
“On 7 February 2013, the FA Premier League in England agreed to new financial regulations in the wake of the big upcoming new TV deal and pressure from both the UK Government and club supporters.
From the 2013-14 season, Premier League clubs cannot make a loss of more than £105 million over a three season period (including 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16) which is an average of £35 million per year.
Any club that loses more than £105 million in that time faces possible point deductions while clubs making any loss up to the £105 million limit will come under tighter financial scrutiny from the Premier League.
Clubs are restricted on how much of the Premier League Central Funds they receive that they can spend on player wages. The limit is £4 million in 2013-14,
£8 million in 2014-15 and
£12 million in 2015-16.
However this only applies to clubs that have a wage bill higher than £52 million per year in 2013-14, £56 million in 2014-15 and £60 million in 2015-16.[184]
On 11 April 2013, these new rules were ratified at a summit in London and added to the Premier League rulebook. 14 of the 20 clubs voted in favour, 5 voted against while Swansea City were the only club to abstain altogether.
In effect, the TV monies must be used to pay down debts, build up youth training etc and stop players and their agents sucking even more money out of the new funds available.
So if Chelsea (say) spend £100m on new players + the same again on salaries, they would have to navigate the FFP rules first, and then the EPL rules, so that they would have to find the resources for any salaries higher than the EPL rates, mentioned above, from their commercial revenues or by selling off players and reducing the salary bills, as per the FFP regulations.
All clear? 😀
So Shard is partly right, but only regarding the premier League money from the TV deal, in effect. However, leaving that aside, other commercial income can be applied to transfer costs and salary increases — not easy for them to do.
Arsenal will need to trim their salary costs, but that will start to unwind with contracts coming to an end, the sale of certain players with their salaries coming off the profit and loss account etc.
Our commercial income is among the biggest and best, and eventually will put us, with Manure, in a commanding position, even allowing for the moneybags of Chelsea and Citeh.
So, you see, we will soon be among the big spenders, if not this summer, then definitely the next. 🙂
oooo Rocky, I love that post!!! you are right – we is filthy rich and an almost finished product with a proven manager. No team gelling for us, no wobbly beginnings, straight to the top ! Ooooh oooohh I can smell trophies…
Maureen’s return to the Chavland is inevitable – they bloody deserve one another! Did any of you see them singing ‘Jose Maurinho’ just after poor Rafa led them to another undeserved victory? They are toxic, I hate them more than GM hates Manyoo.
GIE;
The issue with both Nasri and Cesc would not be the transfer fee, it’s more likely to be their compensation expectations.
However, I would vote against seeing either of them back in the Red and White – although I could be convinced otherwise with Cesc.
GN5
Point taken. I think we agree. I meant that we’ll have a little less money to spend on wages than was mentioned earlier, but that we’d have an advantage over most other teams due to sponsorship money and expiring contracts, as well as cash reserves (of which we have the highest).
Oh, and the key word there is wages. All PL club can only add 4m in wages from the tv money. We can spend the rest on transfers though. There is no restriction on spending the extra TV money. Just can’t spend it all on wages.
Shard,
Oh, now it’s a lot clearer to me, I thought that what I read was that it could not be used for incoming players.
That’s what happens when you pop in and out of the blog – and then respond without having totally absorbed what was actually written.
Woe is me……………
Umm, your comment “All PL club can only add 4m in wages from the tv money” is not correct, see my comment at 8:13.
“this only applies to clubs that have a wage bill higher than £52 million per year in 2013-14”.
RA
I know. And I mentioned that in my first post. For the sake of ease of communicating a seemingly confusing topic, I generalised the point.
What I did get wrong, and didn’t know was that 8million could be added in the second year for those that are above 56m in wages. I thought it would still be 4m
I see I didn’t mention it in my first post. My bad 🙂
Still, for the purposes of the discussion, I think it suffices.
Redders, I hope my gizzards are physically intact even if they have slit metaphorically. 🙂
Only 1 thing provokes me nowadays and that’s the Dark Laird of Salford, the sweaty soak/sock.
That’s true, CharyB. 🙂
I would not like to be in Fergie’s shoes when you are waxing eloquent!! 😀
I shall try and do better tomorrow!!
By the way, I enjoyed your 7 a,m, Post, t’other day!
Thanks Redders, I usually get about 7-800 views for my match reports, because of the link from Arse.com I got around 3,000 yesterday – yay !
All very interesting about the EPL rules on the wages. Can any of you highly intelligent figures chaps put it into context with an example. For instance lets say Rooney goes to Chelsea from Utd. Can Chelsea swallow up his £250kpw wages with the new rules coming in?
By the way who silenced the Troll earlier? Who was our champion Daddy Billy Goat?
GoonerB only if other players on equal wages have left….lets assume Lampard has taken a £100k a week paycut and Torres is moved on then yes.
I’d guess despite being on good wages Mata and Hazard combined are paid just a smidge more than Drogba was earning.
City will be looking to offload high earners too.
Maybe this question is one for RA to answer in the morning….what players wages are considered for the PL FFP rules? Is it the 25 man squad, or is it all players including youth?
Great post. I’m with terry 🙂
I like your style “eboue” haha I only saying a few days ago that we will be the most stable club, I honestly believe a few additions and we will be there next year top of the league, Chelsea are my biggest worry.
Thanks Ian (or is it Andrew?).
You’re probably right about Chelsea, but their old guard are getting even older and Maureen will want to make changes so I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of them having a bad first six weeks then struggling to make up ground. They’ll be coming strong by he season end though.
Rocky simply rocks! Reding the post fills me with Arsenal Energy 🙂
This kind of pep talk can make any bloke feel confident and why not Arsenal fans. With Wenger confirming he’s going nowhere, we certainly have the edge over other temas. But still, I’d be eagerly following 3 games in about 70 hours from now.
Thank you Rocky for this kind of positivity when the fans are awating the ultimate game, or should I say games of the season.
Excellent stuff, Rocky.
I’ve never quite believed the ‘we are 2 or 3 players away from being a title winning team’ theory.
The mancs have pissed the league this season, but have they really got such a great set of players. I don’t think so.
The light blue oilers ” should walk any league in the world”. Really? Would any of us want Milner, Barry, Kolo Toure, Clichy or even the FFBW in our team. (admittedly Yaya, Aguerro and Kompany would be nice but I’m not even sure Silva would get a game 🙂 )
The chavs bought the title when Abramovich first took over, true, but the billionaire’s ridculous levels of spending can now only buy a few cheaply won European trophies by virtue of having Mr Spawn as a guardian angel.
If we bought back Fabregas, will that turn us into title contenders. I can’t see it myself. Jovetic and Higuain might be great players, I haven’t seen enough of them to tell, but they will want 200k a week, wouldn’t they, with no promise they’ll settle in the prem. Even Mr Potato Head with his proven English record might be a liability moving to London where he can choose from grannies of every nationality in the world. Bright lights and all that.
Anyway, apologies for rambling, what I meant to say was that having more money won’t necessarily make us a better team.
Here’s a bit of Mozart to welcome the new day.
Morning all,
Well, morning Chas.
Right, where were we? Oh yes, just read three days of superb posts and equally superb comments. Brilliant.
Chas
Can he do the Pistols?
Thought not. Twat.
Ooo, that comment should have had a 🙂
Chas
That is one serious comment for this time of day.
I’m afraid I am very much in the “two world class players” and we would compete for the title camp.
AW and Fergie have proved that great managers win, but they do need top class goalscorers. That is the position where class players really make the difference.
Utd goals For 81 A 38
AFC goals For 71 A 37
Does this prove my point? Errrr, well I’ll say Yes 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EmxbbAoDq4
Micky,
Do you think we’d have won the league if bsr had stayed? I don’t think we’d have scored any more goals than we did with everyone chipping in.
Hard Core that is Chas 🙂
Stop bending my rules to suit your case. I said “two” players 🙂
Chas
Quite topical your Pistols vid. I’ve just been in Paris for a few days on business. Saw a lot of my oldest mate (I’m godfather to one of his daughters) who really did see The Pistols a few times. Then, I had a meeting in a Media Types office, and the reception area walls were covered in the owners personal collection of Pistols memorabilia. Original posters, Boy gear, etc.
Shame I couldn’t find any Pistols played on water glasses.
Evonne,
Looking forward to your Theo piece. Were you a “sign da ting” girl?
Here’s a staggering fact.
Going into the final game of the season, there’s only one person who can win the DidIt Quiz outright.
Less staggering is the fact that it is me….whoahahaha
Good Morning, good sirs, 🙂
My Didit Quiz entry has been falsified by a dodgy typo.
I want a re-count!! 🙂
RA
I’m in the lead now, but I won’t win I doubt as my result rests on Spuds losing and us drawing.
Although only I can win outright, many others come into play with all the remaining variables.
Haha, Micky, that’s funny.
Two draws and a defeat, hmmmmm?
Morning, RA.
RA
One thing I can assure regulars is this.
As judge and jury, there is no chance of one of the trophy hunters who came onto the site just once as something was on offer getting anywhere near poncing off with the spoils 🙂
A regular WILL win.
Micky, that’s a disgraceful misuse of power. They might be someone who reads every day but just doesn’t comment.
Chas
On this occasion, a bent ref will definitely be working in our favour.
I’ve warned you, I hate trophy hunters 🙂
Wow, great pic.
Must off.
Maybe the greatest save ever.
yes Micky, I am the ‘signed da ting hip hip hooray’ kind of guy
why do we need any more players? Perhaps a goalie and a defender, but any more than that would be surplus to requirements, no?
LB’s typical overreaction to my innocuous phrase ““And lastly, I do believe AW doesn’t feel comfortable in spending vast sums on established stars.” reveals far more about his hang ups than my own. Luckily the person he thinks he needs to defend is not so oversensitive.
The tired and overused allegation of my innocuous comment being “a piece of nonsense concocted on Le Grove and passed on by people who should know better” is utter nonsense, I never read LG, unlike LB I formulate my own opinions based on logical evaluation.
Micky, I was actually saying that my real Didit prediction was much worse than the one I have been credited with!!! 😀
[It is just possible my gut feel was tempered by my limited intellect being influenced by GIE’s Results Predictorscope!]
Chas great to see you back in full flow, vids and all! 😀
Morning Rasper, 🙂
Opinions, whether misrepresented, or not, are just that, and others may, and almost certainly will, disagree on occasion, and have their own opinions, but no one should try and elect themselves as judge and jury!
Blogs are talk shops – nothing more, nothing less!
RA – Chas wasn’t away, he was busy collecting more vids to amuse us during the boring summer; some sentimental songs for Raddy, sexual theme for you, jokes for Micky and doggy things for me
Thanks Redders, I challenge anyone to read back through my comments yesterday and infer anything worthy of LB’s vitriol.
This is a discussion blog that encourages sensible debate. I have met LB several times and always found him to be a polite, pleasant mild mannered person … strangely he somehow morphs into a cyber warrior when behind his keyboard
joys of internet anonymity, we can be anything we want to be. So why so many people chose to be stupid?
Nobody here of course, we are all very clever 🙂
Chas – do you have any new vids of JT winning trophies by proxy?
GIE,
You asked last night, after i had retired, what players the EPL salary caps applied to.
The UEFA FFP rules apply to first team ‘squad’ players, and although I have not seen a definitive stipulation on the EPL version, I suspect it will fall in line with UEFA’s definition of ‘squad’ players, which means the published salaries and wages in the accounts are only a guide, as they will include all employees of the club.
Hope that helps.
“Terry ruled out of the final with an ankle injury”
Thank god it wasn’t his wrist otherwise he would struggle to lift the trophy after the match 🙂
Morning All,
Love the Uke vid.
I believe we have the players and the games since Jan prove it. Another striker would be good and of course someone to take over from Arteta (where is Coquelin) but essentially the squad is almost there.
It took time to bed the team with the new signings. The return of a fully fit JW will improve us further as will OG and Pod’s second season.
evonne 😀
Gentlemen: Thanks for the explanations of the FFP.
I am worryingly calm ahead of the Newcastle game. Que sera, sera.
I will meet your challenge Rasp
Show me where I have suggested other wise?
“No I’m afraid you’re wrong there LB, I have been consistent in my view towards our spending and have written posts on the subject.”
My original comment at 2.22 clearly states that I agree with your view minus the last paragraph.
I still don’t agree with it and have given several reasonable examples as to why I don’t, most notably at 7.30 pm.
“unlike LB I formulate my own opinions based on logical evaluation.”
I challenge you and your condescending comment to counter my 7.30pm.
GIE,
Here is a quick Question and Answer list regarding the EPL regs.
Q: Will the Premier League now have a salary cap?
A: Not in the strict sense of the word. Clubs whose total wage bill is more than £52million will only be allowed to increase their wages by £4million per season for the next three years. [I gave the stepped year on year figures yesterday,]
Q: Are clubs like Arsenal and ManU limited to a £4million a year total wage increase?
A: Not quite – the restriction only applies to the income from TV money. If clubs boost their income through extra sponsorship deals or matchday income, they can spend that on wages too.
Q: What do the new financial fair play (FFP) rules mean and which clubs will it effect?
A: These will put a ceiling on the amount of losses each club can make to £105million over three years, but these have to be guaranteed by the owners.
Q: How does that compare to UEFA’s FFP rules?
A: UEFA’s are more stringent – losses over three years are limited to 45million euros (£39million).
Q: Which clubs fall foul of the £105million losses over three years figure?
A: On the most recent figures, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Aston Villa have all reported higher losses than £105million, but the trend is towards cutting losses and this will not apply until the three years before 2016.
Q: If a club’s official annual figures show losses of £110million, will they automatically be in breach of the regulations?
A: Not necessarily – spending on academies, facilities and stadiums can be offset.
Q: What will happen if a club is found guilty of breaching the salary and spending regulations?
A: They are likely to have a points deduction.
This is just rough and ready list.
Oh, dear.
I blame it on the sherbet,Rasp
If that is aimed at me I haven’t had a drink in two months….trying to lose weight.
Santi Cazola is obviously a great buy. Is there anyone who thinks Wenger wouldn’t buy Messi if we had the money and he wanted to play at Arsenal?
I don’t think so.
The idea that Wenger is reluctant to spend money is a piece of nonsense concocted on Le Grove and passed on by people who should know better.
Stating the bleeding obvious there LB.I am up for it if you like
Good morning Kelsey
Of course it is obvious, that is the quickest way to prove a point and I think it proves it very well.
And your reason for disagreeing with me is?
I don’t disagree LB
Exactly kelsey, the idea that Wenger would be reluctant to spend if the funds were available is a nonsense.
RA
The problem is the rules don’t actually state points deductions as a penalty. Scudamore hinted that this is likely, but so far hasn’t been officially agreed. The only penalties for exceeding the 105m loss is that owners will have to guarantee covering those losses, and those clubs will be subject to stricter financial scrutiny (sharing information). That, is basically, no punishment at all, for clubs that want to operate the way Chelsea or ManCity do. The only way it’ll affect them is by forcing them to convert the losses of the club into equity. But this would only be a concern for the owners if they want to sell the club at a profit. Otherwise, it is business as usual for them.
Which in a way, makes sense. The intention of these rules is not to increase competition and bridge the gap between the top spenders and the rest. The intention is simply to not allow a repeat of a Portsmouth or a Leeds. Which these rules would probably achieve.
If they bring in points deductions/disqualification, then it might also lead to a more competitive environment. But I’m not sure that’ll happen. The Uefa rules, provided they apply them in the right spirit, might do that. However, if they allow all the City and PSG commercial deals to stand as they are, FFP is dead before it is born.
Still, I wouldn’t say the rules will have no effect. Creative accounting has it’s limits too. Plus, having some financial control can perhaps lead to better/more stringent controls in the future.
Morning all
New Post ……………………
LB, if you continue to distort my words and add a meaning that only exists in your mind, any type of debate with you is futile.
For the last time, this is what I wrote:
“And lastly, I do believe AW doesn’t feel comfortable in spending vast sums on established stars”
Let’s examine this sentence. It starts with the words “I do believe” – this means it is my personal opinion not something I am shoving down people’s throats as if it were fact.
Next I said “AW doesn’t feel comfortable” – that doesn’t mean he won’t it means he doesn’t feel comfortable. I (remember the relevance of the word I) think he has taken such a global view of the club’s finances that he cannot justify in his own mind spending vast sums of money on players – that’s my opinion.
As to the evidence … where do I start?
He and others have acknowledged a wage historic policy described as ‘socialist wage structure’ this would preclude the acquisition of £30+m players who would demand high wages.
The regular purchase of 5 or 6 players all averaging £6 approx in recent seasons to ad to an already large squad in terms of numbers.
His own recognition that he doesn’t buy superstars, he creates them.
The fact that apart from maybe Reyes,Wiltord and Arshavin, we haven’t splashed out huge sums on players.
I coud go on but when the historical evidence is so strong I don’t see the need.
Fine
That is your opinion and I do not agree with it.
Reyes, Wiltrord and Arshavin are proof that when he had the funds he spent them which is my whole point.
I believe that had he had the funds more recently he would have brought Hummels and not BFG the example that I gave of Messi is just as relevant.
Wenger is too clever to complain about the lack of funds he has had available to spend he has found better ways of explaining his handicap.
Go back the only reference I make to Le Grove and show me where I mention your name?
I don’t, the vitriol you talk about is in your head