David Dein - Football Focus

Eboue-Why? · Post by **Eboue-Why?** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 9:47 am

In depth interview tomorrow. Clips on the radio today have him warning fans not to criticise Wenger because he might up sticks and go and that he deserves respect for what he's done for the club.

What these wealthy people like Dein have to understand is that we have the greatest of respect for Wenger and will always be grateful for the work he's done over the last 15 years. But the clip I heard had Dein concentrating on the trophy cabinet whereas for a lot of us it's not just about that. It's about the money that's coming in v the money that's going out and some of the dross that the money is being spent on v the areas where money is not being spent.

This emotional blackmail from people like Dein is crafty but it'll be interesting to see whether he also has a go at Wenger's stubborness to wake up and smell the coffee and accept where he's been wrong and more importantly do something about it.

rigsby · Post by **rigsby** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 9:48 am

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14588552.stm

Its up here.

SPARKSY · Post by **SPARKSY** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:10 am

You have to remember he is a good friend of Wenger and brought him over into English Football.
What Dein doesn't understand are the points you've made. Its not just about the trophy cabinet, but where the money is going from these player sales and the unjustified ticket rises, rises in cost of memberships, the ambition of the club, lack of good quality signings, the ridiculous comments from the manager, the lies we are being fed......................is that enough.

I mean Dein didn't take over Arsenal purely for the love of the club did he?

â€¢Early career: Sugar trading
â€¢1983: Becomes Arsenal vice-chairman after buying 16.6% share of club for Â£292,000
â€¢Early 90s: Takes Arsenal stake to 42%, plays key role in forming Premier League
â€¢2006: Appointed chairman of G14
â€¢2007: Sells shares for Â£75m to Red & White Holdings (Alisher Usmanov)

Eboue-Why? · Post by **Eboue-Why?** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:16 am

SPARKSY wrote:You have to remember he is a good friend of Wenger and brought him over into English Football.
What Dein doesn't understand are the points you've made. Its not just about the trophy cabinet, but where the money is going from these player sales and the unjustified ticket rises, rises in cost of memberships, the ambition of the club, lack of good quality signings, the ridiculous comments from the manager, the lies we are being fed......................is that enough.

Yep, sorry, forgot about the lies eg 'significant activity in the transfer market this summer' 'competing with the best in Europe' etc etc as you say Sparksy, is that enough Mr Dein?

Post by **I Hate Hleb** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:32 am

Perhaps on reflection, Dein himself is partially to blame for the current state of things because he was constantly telling everyone things like 'Wenger is a miracle worker'; 'I don't know what we'd do without him' and 'We want him to stay for life' and other such homages.

When you and the world are constantly being told things like this and when you are seen as an almost deity-like figure, it's understandable that one's ego would expand so much that you'd think that you always knew best and feel almost omnipotent. It's not a total surprise that Wenger is no different to any other person put in that sort of situation.

MK Gould · Post by **MK Gould** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:41 am

I think that Dein has totally misread the mood. Of course I'd have liked to have won something in the last 6 years, but that is low down on my list of gripes.

Top of my list would be all the b*ll*cks quoted in justification of moving to a new stadium around being able to compete on an even footing against the best teams in Europe.

Our last match of the 2005/6 season was the CL final. Look at the team compared to that which took to the pitch against Udinese:
Lehmann > Szczesny
Eboue > Sagna
Campbell > Vermaelen
Toure > Koscielny
Pires > Rosicky
Hleb > Walcott
Fabregas > Ramsey
Silva > Song
Ljungberg > Gervinho
Cole > Gibbs
Henry > Chamakh

I'd say that there is only maybe one position where we are stronger now than we were then (and that might just be because I've matched the wrong players!).

And the Arsenal bench included Bergkamp, Van Persie, Reyes and Flamini.....compared to Jenkinson, Frimpong, Chamberlin and Djourou. And remember as well that the team of 2005/06 was weaker than those from earlier in Wengers career....!

Criticism of Wenger for failing to achieve the balance between youth and experience and for failing to address glaring weaknesses in the team over the years are completely justified e.g. keeping faith with Almunia, not addressing the need for a striker when Henry and RVP were injured, the lack of a decent Centre Half.

And criticism of the club for so far failing to deliver on it's promise to compete as one of the top clubs in Europe is also fair.

It doesn't need to be this way. There is a middle ground where we should be able to spend Â£30m net each and every year on player transfers without breaking the bank in Citeh/Chavski style...... At the moment though we're just a feeder club for the big boys!

into the red · Post by **into the red** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:43 am

They are very close friends and neighbours, so it is almost inconceivable that Dein didn't discuss with Wenger whether he should defend him in public and do this interview. These interviews don't just suddenly happen, but are usually 'offered' to journalists/TV when they want to do some PR. What is more interesting is how much content they agreed on - did Wenger approve Dein's message that he might quit if people didn't appreciate his talents? An interview to praise Wenger turns into a coded threat to fans who are making a noise. That is how Dein used to operate in the old days at Highbury, when fans took against him. Now he's at it again. What these multi millionaires fail to understand, in their cocooned luxury, is that fans don't give a toss about past achievements, or paying respect. They want to see some action now, and the arrival some quality players. Dein has no idea that a large section of fans aren't in the slightest worried about a 'threat' to quit, but would welcome it. He is very out of touch, but then for a man who touted his share to any billionaire who would have them, then tried to take over with the Russian's dodgy money, that is no surprise.

Post by **I Hate Hleb** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:46 am

Come to think of it, wasn't Dein the fella that used to say to fans worried that the new stadium would impact on the resources available for new players something like: 'Don't worry. There's no point having a great stadium unless you fill it with great players' ?

Not sure that worked out well - unless he meant it in terms of the opposition?

rigsby · Post by **rigsby** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:57 am

Well Dein was against the emirated wasn't he? I know he was very big on Wembley, but after that got shitted, he was a big exponent of getting a financer in who could fund the building of the new ground.

Tbh what Dein didn't do was defend the board.

SPARKSY · Post by **SPARKSY** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 11:03 am

into the red wrote: They want to see some action now, and the arrival some quality players. Dein has no idea that a large section of fans aren't in the slightest worried about a 'threat' to quit, but would welcome it. He is very out of touch, .

Exactly right, A large section of support has had enough and is in no way worried about Wengers threat to leave.

George Graham - 6 trophies in 8 years
Arsene Wenger - 8 trophies in 15 years

Simple maths tells you Graham was the more successful manager so there is very much a life after Wenger.

Its a shame for Wenger that his period at Arsenal is being remembered for the seconf half on his reign rather than that which went before.

donaldo · Post by **donaldo** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 11:17 am

SPARKSY wrote:
into the red wrote: They want to see some action now, and the arrival some quality players. Dein has no idea that a large section of fans aren't in the slightest worried about a 'threat' to quit, but would welcome it. He is very out of touch, .
Exactly right, A large section of support has had enough and is in no way worried about Wengers threat to leave.

George Graham - 6 trophies in 8 years
Arsene Wenger - 8 trophies in 15 years

Simple maths tells you Graham was the more successful manager so there is very much a life after Wenger.

Its a shame for Wenger that his period at Arsenal is being remembered for the seconf half on his reign rather than that which went before.

We wish. He has only won 7 trophies

rodders999 · Post by **rodders999** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 11:27 am

donaldo wrote:
SPARKSY wrote:
into the red wrote: They want to see some action now, and the arrival some quality players. Dein has no idea that a large section of fans aren't in the slightest worried about a 'threat' to quit, but would welcome it. He is very out of touch, .
Exactly right, A large section of support has had enough and is in no way worried about Wengers threat to leave.

George Graham - 6 trophies in 8 years
Arsene Wenger - 8 trophies in 15 years

Simple maths tells you Graham was the more successful manager so there is very much a life after Wenger.

Its a shame for Wenger that his period at Arsenal is being remembered for the seconf half on his reign rather than that which went before.
We wish. He has only won 7 trophies

The extra one is for finishing fourth

no. 1 is Perry Groves.... · Fri Aug 19, 2011 11:50 am

the 8th is a lifetime financial prudence award!

bradders · Post by **bradders** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 11:52 am

Unlike some Arsenal fans i remember, i was always against the sacking of David Dein.. It was all about Â£Â£Â£ Arsenal's fav subject.. I can remember when DD was ousted alot of gooners were happy to see the back of him and welcomed Gazidis with both arms

I wonder what those very same fans are thinking now...

I wont tell them i told you so, but i told you so

Post by **I Hate Hleb** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 12:09 pm

What exactly did you 'tell us'?