THE BOARD - Kroenke, Usmanov and Finance

[swimmer1]

He is back again always near transfer deadline day .

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/footbal ... 69614.html

[northbank123]

Sure there will be more to come out of that Swimmer, wonder how Henry will react when pressed for a comment.

Previous article had some excellent analysis on Wenger's reign but as I said on the other thread the bloke isn't a fucking economist.

[armchair]

Why can nobody critise Wenger in any way? Except Stewart Robson?

He truly is untouchable. The elephant in the room. Fuck me.

[swimmer1]

Why can nobody critise Wenger in any way? Except Stewart Robson?

He truly is untouchable. The elephant in the room. Fuck me.

Wenger is a problem yes but it's running a lot deeper than that where is US Martin to explain ? .

[armchair]

Why can nobody critise Wenger in any way? Except Stewart Robson?

He truly is untouchable. The elephant in the room. Fuck me.

Wenger is a problem yes but it's running a lot deeper than that where is US Martin to explain ? .

Wenger is the problem.

[swimmer1]

Why can nobody critise Wenger in any way? Except Stewart Robson?

He truly is untouchable. The elephant in the room. Fuck me.

Wenger is a problem yes but it's running a lot deeper than that where is US Martin to explain ? .

Wenger is the problem.

So you have no problem with the board ?

[armchair]

My problem is with Wenger.
He's the one who I see doing the same shit week after week, season after season. He buys the players, negotiates the wages and contract extensions.

The board has consistently said there is money for him to spend and Wenger has refused to spend it, saying if he had 100 mil he'd give it back. Our stagnation started before this board were in place and continues today, the common denominator being Wenger.

The board defers to Wengers experience. As has been said Wenger is a "Kronke perfect" manager. My view is that Wenger puts the constraints on himself. And the rest of the board are only too happy to oblige and put no pressure on him to win anything tangeable.

This is Wengers baby, no-one elses.

[QuartzGooner]

With respect to everyone, I take what Wenger or the board say about things with a pinch of salt.

The evidence shows we have bundles of cash in the bank, but owe a lot on the stadium, and have a number of squad players on high wages.

Wenger is to blame for how the money is spent, the board are responsible for how much Wenger gets to spend in the main, with the qualification that they cannot force Wenger to spend.

[Skooner]

My problem is with Wenger.
He's the one who I see doing the same shit week after week, season after season. He buys the players, negotiates the wages and contract extensions.

The board has consistently said there is money for him to spend and Wenger has refused to spend it, saying if he had 100 mil he'd give it back. Our stagnation started before this board were in place and continues today, the common denominator being Wenger.

The board defers to Wengers experience. As has been said Wenger is a "Kronke perfect" manager. My view is that Wenger puts the constraints on himself. And the rest of the board are only too happy to oblige and put no pressure on him to win anything tangeable.

This is Wengers baby, no-one elses.

Surely the sentence "The board defers to Wengers experience." is in itself a problem with the board. No other manager is allowed that much control of their club, not even Fergie. It's up to the board to hold the manager accountable for his actions and this board will not do it to Wenger.

Don't get me wrong, I am with you on Wenger being the biggest problem and he is the first one that needs to go, but the board are running the club poorly as a football club and at some point that also needs to be addressed. If they aren't willing to get tough with Wenger, why would they do so with any other manager unless he is costing them their precious money?

[armchair]

With respect to everyone, I take what Wenger or the board say about things with a pinch of salt.

The evidence shows we have bundles of cash in the bank, but owe a lot on the stadium, and have a number of squad players on high wages.

Wenger is to blame for how the money is spent, the board are responsible for how much Wenger gets to spend in the main, with the qualification that they cannot force Wenger to spend.

I agree Quartz. The fact that Wenger sits in on board meetings and they leave these matters to him due to his past success (both in terms of trophys and value for money) only re-enforces the view that Wenger is responsible for where Arsenal are today, whether you think that where Arsenal are is reasonable for a club of Arsenals stature or not.

FFS you only have to look at the board members. I dont see that any of them have a clue about on-pitch footballing matters, players etc except Wenger. Thats why they will let Wenger set the bar and are happy to do so as no-one is under pressure. They have their excuses - the stadium, FIFA fair play, Chelsea, Man City. Then we see Wenger and his excuses - FIFA fair play, Chelsea, Man City, the pitch, the officials etc. It all allows Wenger to get away with top four and so the board and Wenger are happy. All very comfy.

[armchair]

My problem is with Wenger.
He's the one who I see doing the same shit week after week, season after season. He buys the players, negotiates the wages and contract extensions.

The board has consistently said there is money for him to spend and Wenger has refused to spend it, saying if he had 100 mil he'd give it back. Our stagnation started before this board were in place and continues today, the common denominator being Wenger.

The board defers to Wengers experience. As has been said Wenger is a "Kronke perfect" manager. My view is that Wenger puts the constraints on himself. And the rest of the board are only too happy to oblige and put no pressure on him to win anything tangeable.

This is Wengers baby, no-one elses.

Surely the sentence "The board defers to Wengers experience." is in itself a problem with the board. No other manager is allowed that much control of their club, not even Fergie. It's up to the board to hold the manager accountable for his actions and this board will not do it to Wenger.

Don't get me wrong, I am with you on Wenger being the biggest problem and he is the first one that needs to go, but the board are running the club poorly as a football club and at some point that also needs to be addressed. If they aren't willing to get tough with Wenger, why would they do so with any other manager unless he is costing them their precious money?

Because I believe that any reasonable manager with a shred of decency would not have allowed a potentiol world beating squad of players to be so diluted in quality as to fall to where we are scrabbling about for fourth season after season.
Yes the board are running the club poorly, but thats partly due to the fact that they allow Wenger so much say and put no pressure on him to win an actual trophy as long as top four revenue comes in. If we dont get top four that may change.
Another manager will not make all the groundhog day decisions that we see Wenger making week after week, year after year. Another manager will not be Wenger therefore things will change. Thats why I can never understand those who say "Things will not change until the board go". I believe "Things will not change until Wenger goes as hes the one pulling all the strings evident to us on a weekly/yearly basis

[georgeknows89]

Taught at a very young age that a degree in hindsight would be the ultimate one to have but it don't exist.

The biggest problem we have is that we don't know- board Wenger Wenger board, who to blame to what % and the effect on either without the other.

My biggest concern is that if everyone thinks its all Wenger then are all these people saying that when mr new comes in he will have the backing to spend more or is it that all think he will spend just more wisely ?

[armchair]

Taught at a very young age that a degree in hindsight would be the ultimate one to have but it don't exist.

The biggest problem we have is that we don't know- board Wenger Wenger board, who to blame to what % and the effect on either without the other.

My biggest concern is that if everyone thinks its all Wenger then are all these people saying that when mr new comes in he will have the backing to spend more or is it that all think he will spend just more wisely ?

The problem is george that we do have hindsight. We've seen it all before. Failure to address glaring weaknesses year on year culminating in breaking unwanted embarrassing records with a squad so weak and devoid of tactics, leadership and backbone its not funny. Players so comfortable, manager so comfortable, board so comfortable.

For me I can only judge by what I see and make my mind up based on that. And I see Wenger not strengthening where and when needed. I see him sacrificing trophys year in year out with his focus entirely on top four to the detriment of all else. I see baffling decisions. I see him with his "socialist" model and failed signings on such a wedge that we cant offload them. I see a truly great team downgraded so much as to make me want to cry. I see gooners fighting in the stands due to how divisive the Wenger name has become. I see The Arsenal becoming a laughing stock where once we were held by all (even grudgingly) in high esteem. Surely that is enough?

As for your concern that "everyone thinks its all Wenger", then rest easy. Wenger supporters or at least those who want him to change and stay, or those who blame the board and not Wenger are by far the majority. I honestly feel that they just refuse to believe that Wenger after the success he has brought is capable of failure.

When "Mr. New" comes in who knows? But it will be different. It will be change. For the better? I certaintly hope so.
But one thing is for sure "Mr. New" wont be Wenger. (Unless that is as we suspect he'll be appointed by Wenger which again will prove that he runs the club). So it will be different. Different approach. Different tactics. Staff. Maybe even some defensive coaching? Now that'd be a positive change eh?
Anyway whoever would come in there would be change so really you cant justify saying "things wont change until the board goes". The real fact is "things wont change until Wenger goes"

[gavbacon]

Interesting Usmanov interview, if it's legit.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... al?cc=5739

It'd be interesting to see The Arsenal's position on FFP if Usmanov one day did take control!!

[georgeknows89]

[quote]Unless that is as we suspect he'll be appointed by Wenger which again will prove that he runs the club[quote]

Armchair, i understand all what you say but my hindsight and foresight concern is exactly this.You think that things will change without a board change and just changing Wenger but I think we will look back in the future and realise that this was a dreamful hope.

You are advocating that new manager same board will all be hunky dory and he will spend wiser and better and will be rosy in the garden but it wont be as we will get a wenger clone or a kronkite puppet and the overall cautious spending strategy
will leave us deeper in the wilderness.

Won't get the opportunity but if ownership changed ( to any sugar daddy not necessarily usmanov )whilst Wenger in charge and he was given the resources required to compete, only then would you know if wenger was the right man but if he turned round and said he wouldnt spend a blank cheque then and only then would you know it was him with the problem, but on the other hand if he went out and bid for the world and bought the world then you would know that perhaps a lot of his actions and decision were based on the situation and budgets he was given.

either way we are in a shit position for the forseeable future and I believe that even a guardiaola or a mourinho would under achieve under the current ownership but would love to be proved wrong