I see some of our fans feel they need to have a word with the board about how the club is run. This week, several big hitting blogs got together and launched the #We care, do you campaign along with an online petition that currently has 80,000 signatories.
We all question things from time to time, and sometimes we get annoyed at certain decisions, but when did it become the norm to write letters to the owners questioning their running of the club?
Are we in the know enough to ask questions?
Are we qualified enough to question their professionalism?
Does reading everything that’s printed or put online about Arsenal make a fan more knowledgeable than an owner?
It’s certainly an interesting topic.
I actually quite liked that the club came out and answered the letter directly. Here are some quotes from his response.
For me, on a personal level, I’m not sure how to address my passion. Anyone that knows me knows how passionate I am about Arsenal Football Club.
Absolutely. Is it hard to take? Absolutely. But I’m not in this business to make friends, I’m in it to win. If anyone is ever going to question anything about our ownership – which I view as a custodianship, the supporters trust us to be a custodian of the values — that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to win whilst also respecting the values and traditions of the club.
I was there in Baku on behalf of KSE [Kroenke Sports & Entertainment], my father and family. I was down there on the sidelines, on the medal podium handing out second-place medals.
I saw the look on our coach’s face, our players and all our staff. I felt and I saw what they felt. I felt the same way.
I’ve sat down with supporters’ groups. I’ve not been afraid to sit down to have tough conversations with people because I’m transparent, we’re transparent, we don’t have anything to hide. We all want the same thing and we’re all trying aggressively to make it happen. It’s just sometimes our timeline might not be as aggressive as others would like to see.
But we’re not going to compromise the values that have kept Arsenal Football Club the way it is for over 130 years.
There has been a massive change in the management style of the club since Wenger left, and one thing that did used to happen under Arsene is he would give the fans answers to some of the questions that they had and he was trusted for the most part.
I feel that has been lost within the new structure so it was quite refreshing to hear from Josh Kroenke. I see some are unhappy that he hasn’t gone into depth about transfers, but what are they expecting him to do? Hand over a list of players that he’s interested in?
All we can do is hope that he’s true to his word and the club manage to get some of these signings over the line that he claims we are working on. I hope they do otherwise trust in this new structure will be lost before it’s even started.
fatgingergooner
Arsenal News 24/7
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Sorry to go straight OT.. but I’ve just seen that Joey Barton has been charged with ABH.. I honestly can’t stand him, he’s vile & a disgrace.. I was absolutely horrified all those years back, when there was talk of him coming to us…
Well there are some good games on today – City v West Ham… United v Leeds & Newcastle v Wolves, if only I was at home to sit & watch them!!
With regards to Josh – actions speak louder than words.. 3 weeks tomorrow the window shuts, will we be excited then? Hmmm 🤔
Fred, yesterday.
Sorry, out of sequence, good one re Martinelli vid. Is certainly confident and talented, and look at the shit pitches he’s playing on! Will need to be protected from the choppers though.
Now to read today’s post. The footie season is coming!
If you are hurt Josh, remember first how we who have been backing OUR CLUB, since way before you were born let alone attached to it! Go home and get your Dad’s head out of his a*** h***, and get him to REALLY back The Arsenal.
Yeah good post FGG.
I have to say I quite liked the response from Josh. It appeared sincere. However, he’s possibly skilled at that type of thing.
As Sue says it’s the actions though.
Part of me thinks we may look like a laughing stock moaning over and over. We moaned until Wenger left and now the mob have left over anger and they realise that actually the legendary manager they chased out wasn’t as culpable as they thought so let’s moan about something else. Reading between the lines there are only a few real gripes that can be quantified other than spend some money. I have to admit that if we wanted to make changes, 88,000 fans all turning up to games screaming there lungs out in support of the club would do a lot more to affect the points on the board.
I’m sick to death of booing our own and suggesting that our own players are crap. I’ll be honest there are a few ‘dead woods’ I’d be happy to cheer for, that are certainly good to be kept until we get back in the champions league (Elneny, Jenkinson, Mhiki, Xhaka, Monreal, Chambers…). The truth is the club need to be all business and if that means curbing the overall talent while we get back in the champions league then I’m sure the owners and managers of the team will know so much more than the arrogant minds of fans could ever think of.
Full disclosure though… I signed da ting. Lol
I second the nice vid on Martinelli Fred. He looks more robust and athletic that I thought. He does have that potential Ronaldo physique.
I don’t want to talk too much about transfers as it’s proabably a waste of breath but I like the idea of Ceballos though. Tell me Freddie couldn’t develop that lad. They have a similar style. Let’s hope we aren’t only looking to loan and then send back. It would be nice if we had purchase fees agreed so that if we get champions league these deals can be permanent.
Now that Ozil has blonde locks – someone said he looks like Megan Rapinoe 🤣🤣
Sue, it’s not blonde, he’s like some of us on the blog…..a silver surfer!
All rumours at the moment seem to be Ceballos, Everton, Tierney and Dani Alves. How would you feel if we were to bring in those 4 this window? Certainly goes some way towards filling the creative void in the side, and if we were able to add a good CB to that lot then I’d be pretty happy I think.
Leno
Martinez
Macey
Bellerin
Alves
Kolasinac
Tierney
Sokratis
Mustafi
Holding
??????
Monreal
Mavropanos
Torreira
Xhaka
Geundouzi
AMN
Chambers
Willock
Iwobi
Mkhitaryan
Özil
Ceballos
Everton
Nelson
Aubameyang
Lacazette
Martinelli
My one worry would be if UE sees Chambers as suitable replacement for Koscielny and we don’t but that CB we need.
Emery says we re after very big players, expensive signings… Doubt it…
We want quality signings, now… Not panic ones
FGG, still missing a CB and DM but if we got the players you listed, we can’t complain although Tierney, Ceballos and Everton are not the finished good or proven players…
i d be happy with Alves, CB, Tierney, DM, Doucoure (rather then Ceballos), Pepe (rather than Everton)
LBG.. what about a silver fox?!! 😀
RC.. big like Peter Crouch & RA?! 😄
Sue – exactly
Well apparently, Everton deal is very likely.
Alves not far either although Spurs could also come in the mix
I wonder if the club are looking at the CB situation differently to what we would all like. I think the Saliba deal will get done which means he’s coming next season, so maybe they are going to give the current group another chance in the hope that someone steps up and saves them £40m. Maybe 12 months is long enough for Holding, Mavropanos, Chambers or even Mustafi to improve into a first choice defender. You could argue that even if Kos goes, we still have 6 possible CB’s, regardless of quality, and if the CB’s they are after are not available in this window then why not wait another 12 months and see who’s around at that point if they need to buy in. You could even argue that signing someone like Cahill in a 12 month contract whilst we wait for Saliba and other possible targets is a viable option, especially if Kos leaves.
It’s not what we want and I don’t believe it’s a good way to try and get in the CL, but it’s possible that we could end up with what on paper looks a very average bunch of CB’s at the start of the season.
I’ll be interested to see if Chambers plays again and in what position because that might be the centre back you’re after FGG.
Ginger
Happy with Mustafi, Xhaka and Kola in that squad? Sorry, IMO, even with the youth given a chance, I think we would be making minimal progress in that case.
Sue
A fox in the box he has never been! Perhaps a silverback gorilla, (without all the power, aggressiveness, and standing) in the mists of averageness!
I don’t know the players very well.. Can someone tell me if Shane Duffy and James Tarkowski are solid defenders and are better than Mustafi and/or Sokratis?
Fred likened Tarkowski playing style to Sokratis.
Both of them have had good seasons statistically the last two years. They are 27 and 26. Could they be good acquisition? I prefer Bailly because I have seen him play in Spain and his start to the EPl was great before his injury but these two CBs I believe are home grown and are less expensive and have proven themselves in the EPl so I thought I d bring them up
For the CBs, I think we really need to let Mustafi and Kos go and send Mavro on loan and we keep Bielik.
I don’t think Cahill for 12 months would be a great idea… I d rather go for Tarkowski or Duffy as they are younger and we can tie them up for a longer period and if it doesn’t work with them, we can resell them – most likely at a higher value as the transfer market valuation of players keep on getting higher.
Ideally we get Koulibaly but that s not gonna happen while the Ruben Dias deal may happen
And fully agree that Xhaka should be sold
And then there is Lascelles from Newcastle
Thanks for the game update Sue, I tend to watch these cause am a big fantasy football fan so like to see who in form
Haller to West Ham is confirmed for 50 mln EUR. He s gonna be the new Giroud in the France squad. Very good player but 50 mln is a bit much
Yea martinelli look like a real talent in the vids, je seem to most likely the work on the left side also, so really no need for zaha sue
RC
Tarkowski and Duffy, similar to Sokratis in style, but both quicker and perhaps more conditioned to Premier League defending that Sokratis at the present. By that I mean, more cagey, less “through the ball, through the man and out the otherside” Sokratis type defending, which is liable to result in booking/penalties. Duffy is also a significant threat/goal scorer at set piece.
Yea I think was harsh with martinelli and the sitter he missed and someone told me other people gave him high on there reviews so went to watch over highlights and was pretty good to be fair, still got lucky on his goal
I like in the highlight how good he is on the left
Who is Rapinoe
FGG has taken over for Rc78 lol
Can we please only do this when we actually sign someone thanks
We we even need ceballos he isn’t even a starter at Madrid so deflect will be stunting Niles great
Seems like we playing 433 so six CB should be enough
Yea Duffy is solid but I doubt they would sell him because his partner dunk supposed to be on his way to Leicester if United buy Harry Maguire
If any has to go is mustafi, xhaka did score the winning goal at United so still have some class in him
Fred.. Rapinoe is an American woman footballer – google her & compare 😉
Well Fred, after seeing the results from earlier (the Mancs, especially) I’m glad ! was working 😀 4-0 & Phil Jones scored 😱 he won’t be in your team, surely?! Haha!
LBG.. poor Mesut 🤣🤣
No need for Zaha? Oh Fred….. 😔
FGG you always make perfect sense to me.
I could very well see us allowing the current defenders another chance. Aparently David Ornstein thinks that Mavropanos has not impressed and has fallen down the pecking order. That just means Medley moves a little closer.
Sokratis and Mustafi to start the season then Holding to take over for Mustafi I predict. With backup from the likes of Monreal, Chambers, Bielik, Medley and Mavro you could see how they can use the project youth tag to avoid spending money. I’m actually okay with that. If one of the unproven players steps up we would all be very happy I think.
Emery’s style is far easier for younger players to compete in. All these young fit players can produce for us.
My my….aren’t you all such expert managerial and administrative geniuses! Why aren’t any of you managing or administering an EPL club?
I rather support the current ownership and management, including Emery than leave any decision or direction to you lot!
ksE is a $ grubbing business- end of story.
stan the maN’s son could not run a lemonade stand.
Positive, linked to another bfg, Pape Abou Cisse, do not know anything about this player, but a big cb!
Everton Soares looks like another Brazilian super player in the making.
Might edge Saliba over the line.
Dani Ceballos from Madrid on a possible loan deal- do we even do those?
Tierney coming as Celtic take the $$?
Saha pulls a Kos, demands trade. I made that one up.
Glass half full today.
Morning all. I really enjoy writing and reading on this blog so the last thing we should do is make it a forum for politics and political correctness. It seem everyone on here is respectful even in disagreement and that’s what seems to be missing in the world right now. So i’d just like to say a couple of things and I hope no one takes offence or takes it the wrong way, First, there are a huge number of reasons why it’s easy to criticize the Kroenkes but in doing so, not consider what they’re doing that is positive.The simplest example is not taking money out of the club to fund his share purchases and not taking a dividend on his share value. Angry of Islington did a brilliant analysis of how much Kroenke has paid out and how much profit he stands to make. Currently it stands at about 800m pounds if the shares sell at 30k apiece. It also says he paid out about 1.1 bn over the last 12 years or so to purchase them. Everyone should understand money costs money. Either in opportunity cost of investing elsewhere or interest if you borrow. My comparison is the Glazers at Manure. They make the club pay the interest on their loans. Kroenke doesn’t as far as I’m aware. According to the Guardian, United have paid almost 1 bn in interest on the Glazers loans since 2005. As a matter of “interest” – pun intended, the simple interest return on 1.85bn pounds at 3% is around 55m per year. I think that is enough to make them custodians. Dein and Usmanov both made massive profits on their Arsenal shares yet they’re not vilified.Second and more controversial, I think we might look at this as more of a political anti Conservative capitalist America letter than looking at what’s really going on. I said before that a certain website introduced politics into their forum a few years back and that I haven’t visited it since. It’s no coincidence they are on the list of contributors to the letter. We’re competing against a Russian oligarch who’s money came from who knows where, a middle eastern oil family who’s country still has no care or concept of equality and equal rights and a billionaire that made most of his money gambling on the crashing of the pound (along with George Soros) which hurt millions of everyday English people.Those who were calling for Usmanov to take over really should have looked at how and where he made his money in the Russian natural gas industry. I’s scary. My point is, Liverpool are owned by Fenway Sports. Anyone remember how that started? Lots of protest and unrest. How are they doing now? It took a few years but it’s getting there steadily.
My overall point here is we are The Arsenal. Tradition and heritage are who we are and I don’t think KSE has a dubious reputation or history (leave the Walmart angle out – Stan Kroenke has been successful all on his own). If Arsenal don’t succeed, share prices drop and Kroenke loses A LOT of money. It’s not in his best interest to see that happen. Arsenal’s value has increased, someone was going to make a lot of money upon selling. It happens to be them, but they’re not selling yet. Why? I think they want to continue to increase their share value and build something great. When you have as much money as you could possibly ever need, something else tends to drive you.
FGG’s article is about trust and I don’t think it’s unreasonable to trust these guys. Why not? Because they’re American capitalists? Because they don’t go to games and have a high profile? Who on this site knows who Joe Lewis is? I’m ok with where we seem to be headed and I really hope we get there. But if we do, It will probably be in spite of that letter, not because of it.
Sorry about the length and again, I hope people can take this in the way it’s intended.
Lol
omgarsenal I will be some day watch and see
Another loan deal from a Spanish club why not since the last one wuk out so fine
Xhaka will probably end up as club captain so I doubt he’ll be sold anytime soon. I actually think he offers a lot to the midfield and in set piece situations (defensively he heads a lot of them away as well as sending crosses in when attacking) but I do understand that people get fed up of his mistakes. I still think he needs a real defensive midfielder as a partner to being the best out of him. I’d hoped that was Torreira but he seems to want to play a little bit more than a ball winner would and goes forward more than I thought he would. It still looked our best partnership last season though so I’m excited to see that develop.
As for Kolasinac, last year was his best in an Arsenal shirt and it’s a shame he couldn’t maintain his early form through the back end of the season. As a rotational player with Tierney though, I’d be more than happy for him to stay.
We all know how poor Mustafi was at times last year, but the dislike towards him became so bad that people started to totally ignore any good games he had, which is bullshit. It irritates me when fans aren’t open-minded enough to appreciate a good performance from a player within their own team. We all want Arsenal to succeed so surely somebody playing well, regardless of our personal thoughts towards their ability, is a good thing? I’ve got my own views on Özil, but if he has a blinding game I’m not going to ignore it or give him grief just because I think he doesn’t fit the side. Sorry, rant over!!!
I wouldn’t complain if Mustafi was sold, but do I still think he can do a job for us this season? He would certainly be a solid option to give players a rest in cup and EL games so i say keep him if nobody else is coming in.
Yea he can do a job, bring water for the boys
Hi Mike, I agree that politics and football don’t mix … but this is the big topic over the last 24 hours.
I was uncomfortable at the #we care campaign and was going to write a post urging caution on similar lines to your very impressive comment (but not as informed and nowhere near as detailed) – so I’m glad I didn’t 🙂
I put the post together today and to be honest was expecting some abusive responses from those vehemently anti-Kroenke. But as you say, it’s been respectful so I’m happy with the result.
Fred’s post yesterday got over 3,000 views … this today, only 800 … so we’re not rattling cages, just offering a more reasonable platform.
Trippier apparently gone Madrid
@ Rasp – Thanks. I really didn’t want to write that comment because obviously my views are going to differ from others but I agree the topic is worthy of comment. I also still expect some dissent but that’s healthy. Hopefully I can learn a different perspective that I don’t see, or maybe some facts that I don’t know or am wrong about. Either way, it’s good healthy discussion.
Every day I look on the transfer centre on Sky Sports, at who’s signed who & if I’m honest, I’m a little jealous.. I’d love to see us on there with a little clip or even a picture of us unveiling our new signing (s)!! Today West Ham spent 45m – a club record – on their new signing…. just have to keep waiting, I guess……
Surprised at Trippier going to Atletico, I guess their own goals will go up next season then 😂
Another thing that has amazed me, is Steve Bruce at Newcastle! I’d be distraught if I was a geordie, going from Benitez to him… how underwhelming! Plus they were thrashed by Wolves earlier.. and I thought we had it bad 🤣
Now I’ve said that, we’re going to lose to them on the first day aren’t we? I’ve bloody jinxed it 🤪
Jealous sue really, I hole I watching or game today and U will see teams need to be jealous of us
We have the shirt sleeve one aka kolasinac
We also have the blonde one aka Mesut
Very true, Fred… only 9 hours to go until we see Blondie 😂 (11pm for you, right? 4am here) When I wake up (I’m an early bird) I may catch the 2nd half… Mesut said he dyed his hair because he lost a cross bar challenge against Laca. But Mustafi & Kolasinac lost too, so does that mean they’re blonde too?? (Oops sorry, silver surfer, hey LBG 😉) Haha!!
Fred – do you fancy writing something about tonight’s game – if you’re going to watch it? Rasp is bound to want to pinch it if you don’t mind 🙂
Yea I will write not a problem,
Sue u watching the game this time should be 4 am for you all right
Sorry sue only saw your comment after I posted, yea 11 pm for us think I will take a nap early and get back up to watch
Mustafi a blonde technically a new signing then
[video src="https://fred1266.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/vid-20190717-wa0128.mp4" /]
Better in Caribbean style in fellas
how do i post videos?
https://fred1266.wordpress.com/2019/07/17/vid-20190717-wa0128-mp4/
I can see sue with a kolasinac tatoo on his face, wish I bet him that instead of a pint
Fred… his face?? Don’t you mean her?!! I’m not a man 🤣🤣🤣
Huh? My apologies
Mike,
My perspective is different than yours, not right, different.
Well, I guess we have to go there.
stan the maN borrowed $550 mill to buy out Usamov’s shares, with $45 mill of his own money.
He has not spent a dime of his own money on the team in 10 years-fact!
He has enjoyed the increase in TV revenue from the EPL’s rise in the global futbol popularity. He does not have to do a damn thing to make any money as he already has doubled his money if he sells today, by not doing a damned thing!
How do you think he is paying off all the interest on his multiple leveraged buyout loans? Does it matter or not if it comes directly from Arsenal or can even be traced to Arsenal ,now that he has taken the club private?
This guy is the worst. Past history tells us what kind of person he is. The guy married into wealth, made some good real estate investments at the taxpayers’ expense, along with the average American worker. He was able to do this with his wife’s wal-marT fortune.
From the Denver Post
“Kroenke and Wal-Mart also have drawn fire for receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in public subsidies for their projects.”
THF Realty, a St. Louis-based shopping-center developer in which Kroenke is a part-owner, received $117 million in tax breaks from local governments on 10 shopping-center developments from 1994 to 2006, according to Good Jobs First, a Washington-based group that tracks subsidies paid to Wal-Mart. Of that, $54 million went toward wal-Mart .”
This is this guy’s modus operandi, especially with wal-marT, and the sports teams of St. Louis, Denver, L.A., and now London.
Now, you can listen to his snake oil salesman son if you like, but his dad’s ownership results speak for themselves: the Colorado Rapids have 11 losing seasons out of 16, since he took over in 2003, the Denver Nuggets are 4 winning seasons from 9, the Colorado Avalanche have won 8 of 9, but he bought an incredible team that has a history of winning. The L.A. Rams have had losing seasons in 7 of the 9 years of his ownership. So, by my calculations 75% of his teams lose more than they win. He has also purchased AFC and their winning history.
He will make $ on them all due the teams location and popularity, as he will probably sell before he dies or passes them to his children to mismanage.
With regard to Arsenal, he just has to maintain mediocrity, top 8 or around, and he will make money, no matter what. And you know what, he will have used the club to make a super profit, no basic risk other than market risk, and the fans will have financed the entire charade, and be happy about it.
Now, I know it is difficult to take the high ground today, especially considering where the money comes from around the world, but this is AFC, and I want the team to do better, regardless of ownership. But, I guess if a country bought my team, I would probably not be a fan anymore, even I have limits. lol
Just my lousy 2 cents.
Emery better play the youngsters in the next game!
He, and everyone else already know the errors waiting to happen for 6th place. grrrr
Not even 8 minutes in and Mustafi makes a brain dead pass which almost leads to a clown goal.
Auba with some clean runs.
Millionaires jogging about….But, I don’t expect him to play the youth 2 games in a row.
Arsenal defense give up 2 clean looks through the box coming from the right.
Auba with an electric run, but Mesut takes a touch to much, and angle to steep to cause a problem for Neur.
0-0 or tied at halftime, as it should be.
No changes to Arsenal at half.
Get a fortunate own goal by Bayern and Bayern spurn 2 very good chances.
1-0 for Arsenal.
I stand corrected, Martinez and Sead in.
Gnabry with a good chance, then Laca on the other end.
Coman on the left with some nifty moves and pace!
For context, Bayern with 11 changes at the half.
Burton coming on for Willock, and Nelson for Miki.
Coman with another move and shot, getting closer. Good save Martinez.
Auba with the wiff from a Sead cross.
Just as I was thinking it will go to penalties.. get in there, Eddie 😝
Auba with a fantastic cross but Nelson’s 1st touch eludes him and easy save.
Mustafi beat by Lewandowski for an easy Bayern goal.
1-1
Anyone who say the youth not ready just watch this game
Sue so you really got up for the second half nice
Bayern with the counter, Gnabry with the shot and Martinez with a save he should make.
Chambers and Eddie on for Auba and Mesut.
Thank you, Eddie!! Happy days!
That winning feeling 👊
Looked rammed there & from what I’ve read on Twitter, it was a very enjoyable game – well of course it was, the Arsenal won!! Those 5 – 1’s are a thing of the past 😜
Well, I didn’t catch all of it, Fred.. plus I’m still in a zombie like state, so couldn’t be bothered to go downstairs and put Sky on.. just looked on my phone, saw the goals on YouTube. Trying to catch a glimpse of Kolasinac, could only see one silver surfer on the pitch, so I’m taking it he hasn’t dyed his hair???
Well well, the youth come on and do the job!
John-Jules with a clean look.
But, the Arsenal take the win.
May all the youth play the next game.
lol
OMG Kolasinac had short sleeves on 😱😋
Plus it looks like he’s done something to his hair, not quite Rapinoe though 😄
Very good write up, Fred! 👌
Who wants Zaha then? Cough cough hahaha!!
I’d give Kolasinac at least an 8 – just for looking that fine – I could get used to this winning feeling you know!
Off to work with a spring in my step, once again!! Thank you AFC (& Fred!)
kola was good but wish Thompson played ,
totally forgot to rate Kola and Martinez
Kolasianc – solid game wasn’t caught out as much as Monreal and still exceptional going forward – 7
Martinez – give him the number spot already – 7
Morning all
Just stolen Fred’s comment about the game to turn into today’s post. So chat about something else for a bit ……. 😉
…. New post ….