GAZIDIS Q & A @AISA AGM - MONDAY 8TH AUGUST 2011

[RoscommonGooner]

I'll answer this one

8. You've claimed that the 6.5% increase in ticket prices was necessary in order to help meet the financial fair play rules, as a result of the shortfall in revenue streams from poor sponsorship deals etc. If this is true, once these deals have been renegotiated will you reduce the ticket prices accordingly? And if not, why not?

No. Because the new sponsorship deals will be fuck all better (if even better at all) than the current ones. Who the fuck will invest big money in a club that has won fuck all in SEVEN years?

[SteveO 35]

Ask him whether he's noticed that tickets are still on sale for Liverpool at home. First home game of the season normally sells out in double quick time and especially if we're playing a 'big gun'.

Nothing to do with the scandalous Category A prices at the bowl now ?

[Jumpers For Goalposts]

6. At the AST meeting in May you said on record that Wenger was ultimately accountable to the fans. Are you prepared to stand by that statement and act on it if/when the fans hold him to account, or was that just a load of empty PR ***** to appease us? It can only be one or the other.

7. Why is Wenger paid £6m a year (3rd highest manager's salary in football & more than Alex Ferguson) when the man himself says the club must adhere to a frugal financial policy? How do you explain the hypocrisy of exempting himself from this policy?

8. You've claimed that the 6.5% increase in ticket prices was necessary in order to help meet the financial fair play rules, as a result of the shortfall in revenue streams from poor sponsorship deals etc. If this is true, once these deals have been renegotiated will you reduce the ticket prices accordingly? And if not, why not?

9. Does the board genuinely believe the squad we have is capable of winning the league this season? If yes, would you then consider falling considerably short (again) as a reflection of poor management of that squad? If no, would you consider the failure to strengthen the squad into a potential title-winning one as a reflection of poor management? Again, it can surely only be one or the other.

10. Who at the club conducts the negotiations with transfer targets and their clubs? And who is ultimately responsible for determining how much we are prepared to pay - re: both transfer fee and wages?

11. On behalf of your American cousin: Back in 2005, when the decision was made to redevelop Highbury instead of selling it… what colour panties are you wearing?

* Obviously I don't really expect him to answer any of this with anything but politrickal double-speak, but it would be good to at least back the slimy bastard into a corner & let him know his previous statements haven't been forgotten.

Very good mate - especially the one I've highlighted. I'm tempted to go now and ask him that exact question.

Trouble is as many have pointed out - Gazidis is a typical management speak man and he'll give a waffling answer designed to sympathise and appease but ultimately he will do nothing to change Wenger's project in any way.

[franksav63]

If anyone really is going and wants to put some sensible questions forward I would suggest:

1. Ivan, what is your 3 year plan for Arsenal ?

2. How do you measure success ?

3. Whilst you talk about inflation being a key reason behind the 6% ticket price increase we couldn't help but notice from the company's half year financial statements that the wage bill at the club is now £8m p.a. higher than last year and a much higher % of revenue. One would suggest that is the real driver behind the ticket price increase - agreed ?

4. Why is it all our transfers, both incoming and outgoing turn out to be long drawn out affairs?

As oppose to United, Chelsea and City who sign players instantly? All big major signings seem to take a fair while and appear to be long drawn out processes. Maybe the point should be, why do we seem to quibble over a couple of quid when trying to acquire certain players?

Sorry, Tosspot, but didn't Manure tie up deals for Jones/Young/De Gea before June was out!!! and I noticed you didn't mention our outgoing transfers!!!!

[Its Up 4 Grabs Now]

I'll answer this one

8. You've claimed that the 6.5% increase in ticket prices was necessary in order to help meet the financial fair play rules, as a result of the shortfall in revenue streams from poor sponsorship deals etc. If this is true, once these deals have been renegotiated will you reduce the ticket prices accordingly? And if not, why not?

No. Because the new sponsorship deals will be fuck all better (if even better at all) than the current ones. Who the fuck will invest big money in a club that has won fuck all in SEVEN years?

I'd be amazed if they're not better than the Abu Hamza fisting we've allowed Nike & E******s to give us for the last 5, 6 years. Liverpool's sponsorship/kit deals are much more lucrative than ours and they've gone only a year less than us without winning anything, plus they've been out of the CL for 2 years.

Either way the point is that if Gazidis claims they had to put up ticket prices to counter that shortfall then surely once that shortfall's addressed they can put them back down again. They wont (we all know that) but I just want the humpty-numpty egghead put on the spot & his own words used against him. If his initial claim is true he should be able to commit to reducing prices asap, if he cant do that then either he lied about the reason for the increase or he's basically admitting the club will continue to fleece the fans for all we're worth as long as they can get away with it. Give 'em enough rope…

[A dallying Gus Caesar]

On the back of what he heard at the AST and the promises he made there, I'm sure Glazidis is not looking forward to it. What are the chances that we announce a new signing tomorrow in order to take a little pressure off Glazidis before the meeting?

You are either psychic or you know the way that our club works.

Oxlade-Chamberlain having a medical at Arsenal according to the BBC, and I trust them 100%.

[worthing_gooner]

On the back of what he heard at the AST and the promises he made there, I'm sure Glazidis is not looking forward to it. What are the chances that we announce a new signing tomorrow in order to take a little pressure off Glazidis before the meeting?

You are either psychic or you know the way that our club works.

Oxlade-Chamberlain having a medical at Arsenal according to the BBC, and I trust them 100%.

[Simon]

I'm a Life Member of AISA but I just can't be bothered to drag all the way to Highbury (sorry - old habits die hard!!) to listen to a slick, American businessman telling yet another pack of lies. !

FWIW I think he's South Africa born and bought up in England.

Serious questions I'd like to ask him....

How does he think Arsenal can continue to compete with our rivals when it is clear we do not have a coherent transfer policy and seem unable/unwilling to pay to bring established world class talent to the club.?

I'd also like him to ask him how he thinks Arsenal gives any kind of value for money to its long standing supporters bearing in mind we have the highest ticket prices in the PL?

[Boomer]

Maybe I'm the only one but I've a bit of time for Ivan's....he's simply just the mouth piece for the board.
At present he comes across well, made some changes that PHW wouldn't have done and doesn't belittle us nor appeared to have lied to us...yet

Of course his very good at the spin and, as the a member of the board, the board are fully behind Wenger.
So Wenger can do no wrong. I just feel that he's spouting alot of soundbites most of which would have come from Wenger himself.

[Its Up 4 Grabs Now]

Maybe I'm the only one but I've a bit of time for Ivan's....he's simply just the mouth piece for the board.
At present he comes across well, made some changes that PHW wouldn't have done and doesn't belittle us nor appeared to have lied to us...yet

Of course his very good at the spin and, as the a member of the board, the board are fully behind Wenger.
So Wenger can do no wrong. I just feel that he's spouting alot of soundbites most of which would have come from Wenger himself.

Thin line between spin & outright lies a lot of the time though. I thought he seemed decent at first & even now I don't think he's some evil bastard or part of some great Bernie Madoff conspiracy to run away with our money, but the spin needs to be cut through. I agree he's just the mouthpiece and to some extent fair play to him for fronting up in person to these meetings, but on the other hand that's exactly what he's paid his millions for. It's pretty clear he was hired largely for his ability to waffle disgruntled punters back into contentment with faux-empathy & pr-speak. He's a bit Tony Blairish, seems ok enough at first until the words quickly ring more & more hollow. He'll be taking us on tour to Iraq next summer.

[TeeCee]

Iraq?..........us?...........with all that shooting?............nah

[tinpot lane]

If anyone really is going and wants to put some sensible questions forward I would suggest:

1. Ivan, what is your 3 year plan for Arsenal ?

2. How do you measure success ?

3. Whilst you talk about inflation being a key reason behind the 6% ticket price increase we couldn't help but notice from the company's half year financial statements that the wage bill at the club is now £8m p.a. higher than last year and a much higher % of revenue. One would suggest that is the real driver behind the ticket price increase - agreed ?

4. Why is it all our transfers, both incoming and outgoing turn out to be long drawn out affairs?

As oppose to United, Chelsea and City who sign players instantly? All big major signings seem to take a fair while and appear to be long drawn out processes. Maybe the point should be, why do we seem to quibble over a couple of quid when trying to acquire certain players?

Sorry, Tosspot, but didn't Manure tie up deals for Jones/Young/De Gea before June was out!!! and I noticed you didn't mention our outgoing transfers!!!!

De Gea took well over a month, rumours were circulating before the end of the season. Jones and Young were quick signings because both clubs were cash hungry and the club involved was Man United. Outgoing transfers? What are we supposed to stump up the money for the clubs interested? Look no further than the Tevez saga if you're moaning about time. Barca won't stump up the cash and Wenger wants to keep Nasri. What do you want us to do?

[Jumpers For Goalposts]

What do you want us to do?

Win some silverware!!!!!!!!

[Dan_85]

timpayton tim payton
Gazidis rightly telling fans that Emirates vital for Arsenal business model. Chelsea and City benefactor factors have since overtaken model

timpayton tim payton
Gazidis confirms retaining the self sustainable model is proving increasingly difficult & describes wider unease in game at financial issues

Yadda, yadda, yadda. Change the record Ivan...

[arseofacrow]

timpayton tim payton
Gazidis rightly telling fans that Emirates vital for Arsenal business model. Chelsea and City benefactor factors have since overtaken model

timpayton tim payton
Gazidis confirms retaining the self sustainable model is proving increasingly difficult & describes wider unease in game at financial issues

Yadda, yadda, yadda. Change the record Ivan...

All that the self-sustaining model has been successful in so far is making some directors very rich.