Money is at the root of Arsenal’s problems (17/11)

[gooner.ed]

http://www.onlinegooner.com/exclusive/index.php?id=848

usual thread starter… I’ve stated before elsewhere that these players are paid too much compared to other professionals on the basis that they are unproven and have won very little. A dose of reality is needed and although I didn’t like to hear booing at the end of the game v Villa, I hope at least it went some way to pricking the bubble of the players. I hope they feel ashamed at their lack of commitment, desire and – on Saturday – basic ability. They didn’t play like it mattered to them, and for the money they are on, I expect at least that much.

[Seven Kings Gooner 1]

Very well put by Mark, I have pages of things I wanted to write but I can't top that excellent blog. I really think that the lack of a CEO at the club is now the major problem, I bet Arsene must love working at a club that lets him do as he pleases with no pressure on results or the playing staff. Arsene sits in a comfort zone that the more it continues the worse it it will become and there is no one to offer any relevant challenge to his way of doing things. An example of this is the reported £80,000 a week deal being lined up RVP, why? what has he and Adebayor done to warrant this kind of reward?
A strong MD would surely shake things up, like the team on the pitch the running of the club is rudderless, name me any other business with our kind of turnover that does not have a proper Chief Exc.
It is so sad to see such great potential being lost to ego and stubborness and as Mark clearly states it is us the fans who suffer.

[REB]

dont get me wrong as it was a good read but to say money is the root of the problem isnt right, im sure the man u and chelsea players earn more then ours and they dont have too many problems getting themselnes up for games, the problem as i see it is the players are not as good as they think they are and have no passion for the club in the way the fans do

[Lord Peter of Highbury]

Mark, I enjoy reading your articles, but the money argument cannot be a valid reason for our immediate problems. Otherwise Man U, Chelsea, and the Mickeys plus all the other clubs that overpay less talented staff, would suffer the same fate?

Unfortunately, I feel that the underlying problem lays in squad quality - we are lacking in midfield power and pace - Diaby, Denilson, and Cesc are all short on both counts. Whilst technically of the highest quality, our pedestrian approach is giving opposition defensive units far too much time to get in amongst us and upset the rythym.

We are a bit like that Monty Python Germany vs Greece Philosophical football match sketch - everyone stands around thinking hard about how best to play without actualy doing much (type in philosophical football match into Youtube- you'll see what I mean)

I feel like a scratched record, but we've never needed a Vieira (or an Archimedes) more than we do now - someone less cerebral and a bit more direct - anyone know what he's doing these days?

[Seven Kings Gooner 1]

The difference between our players and the Man U players is that if the mancs don't put the effort in Fergie will sort them out. Our players are very rarely shaken out of their cosy world and that now is what they are in serious need of, dropping 3 or 4 for the next game would be a start.
We cannot just do nothing and think it will be alright in the next game.

[Jumpers For Goalposts]

I probably need to clarify a couple of things as I wrote this not long after watching my team perform as meekly as I have seen in nearly 30 years.

I don't think that money is the root of all our problems - I think it is the over-riding problem.

Lack of quality and poor attitudes are equally to blame but nobody at the Club seems willing to admit that we are well short of where Arsenal should be, just 4 years after an unbeaten league season.

I really think that this is because of the huge sums that we are paying to watch our team. Their attitude seems to be "if you're paying millions to watch us, we must be good". The huge amounts we put into Arsenal are allowing players, the manager and directors to live in a completely different world to us and that is not a healthy place to be. A large dose of realism is urgently needed by all of them!

When I was recently on the Fans Forum, we asked Keith Edelman why the Club don't make a decent gesture and put ticket prices down like some other clubs had just done. He gave a typically crap answer before one of his minions said "We don't need to - the stadium is always sold out".

It is this attitude that kills me - football is not about "let's see how rich we can become". And unless Arsenal address it, the Club will never get back to the spirit of 2004.

[QuartzGooner]

Unfortunately, I feel that the underlying problem lays in squad quality - we are lacking in midfield power and pace - Diaby, Denilson, and Cesc are all short on both counts. Whilst technically of the highest quality, our pedestrian approach is giving opposition defensive units far too much time to get in amongst us and upset the rythym.

I feel like a scratched record, but we've never needed a Vieira (or an Archimedes) more than we do now - someone less cerebral and a bit more direct - anyone know what he's doing these days?

Almsot spot on, as I would not doubt Vieiras intelligence but agree we need his power and directness.