As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
kiwomya wrote:I thought the Pepe Reina deal was telling. Liverpool wanted his wages off the bill so money clearly is a bit of a problem. How long can they refuse the sort of cash we are offering? is it just the usual face saving excercise or are they seriously willing to hang on to him?
And how long before their American owners override Rodgers and take the cash?
They're probably stalling hoping for Real Madrid's interest to materialise
It's like a game of poker except the dumb duo that is gazidis & wenger showed their hand to everyone by announcing to the world they had between £70 and £100million to spend IF they needed to.
Don't know about you, but I would much rather be Totally Surprised by a signing or three - thinking we had the usual nothing to send...than be told there's £70 - £100 million in the 'war chest' and then not see it spent.
highburyJD wrote:thought people on here hated the lack of honesty?
If we do have £70M to spend - then you can't really have it both ways...
I think people always want honesty but the club has to balance that with what's best for Arsenal.
At the time, I did think Gazidis' bullish comments earlier in the summer was showing the strength of our hand a little bit too much. Maybe I'm wrong, but surely that's going to add a few £million to anyone's asking price?
Either way, it was a open secret anyway as we've seen the finances and recent sponsorship deals.
xgtdec wrote:Is it possible that Gazidis has had enough of Wenger....put the money spending ball in his court...and will use it as the rope to hang him with?
I don't think Gazidis will ever hang Wenger out to dry as such, the relationship they've got is too cosy and it makes AFC too much money. I do think Gazidis went public with how much money we have to shift the focus off himself though...
I'm not too surprised about Reina. He's been average at best the past few years. They should have sold him to us whilst they had the chance but then that's hindsight.
highburyJD wrote:Bard, do you not rate Bac?
He had an up and down season, some very poor games but a few great ones too...
I think he's one of our best players and probably our 4th choice CB.
My pref would be him signing a new contract.
I think people massively over-rate the importance of Ivan Gazidis
he's just another employee.
If he took against Wenger don't think it would be our manager who'd go...
highburyJD wrote:I think people massively over-rate the importance of Ivan Gazidis
he's just another employee.
If he took against Wenger don't think it would be our manager who'd go...
Gazidis has 2 bosses from what I can see..Kroenke first and Wenger second and he will only go against Wenger if Stan tells him too.....and he only revealed the "warchest" because he had permission from above to do so for whatever reason...I suspect that reason was to renew season tickets and fool people into believing we might actually bloody spend some of it!
highburyJD wrote:I think people massively over-rate the importance of Ivan Gazidis
he's just another employee.
If he took against Wenger don't think it would be our manager who'd go...
By some accounts, the old sod in charge and Gazidis don't speak. Gazidis has mentioned this money as a reason to show the world where the real power lies. It is Wenker who decides what to spend and although Gazidis may be a bit of a knob, I do think he has tried. Wanker/Wenger has patronised and blocked him at every turn, I reckon.
As much as I dislike Gazidis he's just implementing the policy that's coming from above and below. If he were to depart for whatever reason he would just be replaced by another smarmy prick who would do exactly the same job and who would instead take the flak for Wenger's blind faith in his failed philosophy.
