Arsenal FC, not PLC

[SteveO 35]

Sorry about the tone; I'd already replied before you clarified the point about what you meant by a 'plan'. I can't speak for everyone but I will help in any way I can to at least get our feelings recognised by the club....but I'm not a militant. I won't stop going to games and spending my money, as it's a big part of mine (and my wife and kids') lives and we enjoy it.
I just want clarification on the 3 points that have been raised; that's all. What do i expect ? A standard reply from Gazidis or one of his extended commercial team.....

Fair enough, cant argue with that at all. For what it's worth, not sure if you're aware but according to the AST, Gazidis has agreed to an open meeting at the end of the season & will, apparently, answer all questions - non-vetted unlike the AGM as far as I can tell. Whatever direction this protest goes in, might be an idea, if someone involved is a member of the AST, to put some of these questions directly to him - as well as, not instead of, the protest itself. And/or the protest group could join as a member (collectively) & nominate someone from the committee to ask the questions on the group's behalf. Just my 2-pennies worth.

Didn't know that, thanks. I think the audience needs to be used wisely and the questions need to be put sensibly. The twat who referred to Silvestre as a geriatric did a lot of damage to fan reputation last time. I just think we need to put the points across sensibly....let him answer them (if he will) and prepare counterarguments in advance

[Its Up 4 Grabs Now]

Didn't know that, thanks. I think the audience needs to be used wisely and the questions need to be put sensibly. The twat who referred to Silvestre as a geriatric did a lot of damage to fan reputation last time. I just think we need to put the points across sensibly....let him answer them (if he will) and prepare counterarguments in advance

No chance of getting Sid to ask the questions then?

[Its Up 4 Grabs Now]

Still not in full agreement with the protest overall (from what I've been able to make of it) but I'm def in favour of reminding the club we're about the football first & foremost so came up with this banner idea with Dan. All credit due to Dan really, I just came up with the basic idea & a (very) rough draft, he did all the work...




Hi-Res version: http://i53.tinypic.com/vhaoee.jpg

[flash gunner]

For what its worth I cant back the movement without the removal of Wenger being part of it.

I do wish you all best of luck with it though

[augie]

For what its worth I cant back the movement without the removal of Wenger being part of it.

I do wish you all best of luck with it though

[frankbutcher]

For what its worth I cant back the movement without the removal of Wenger being part of it.

I do wish you all best of luck with it though

Would you rather have 50% of reality or 100% of a dream?

If you think that a Wenger out protest group would get anywhere, you are living in ****'s playboy grotto.

[flash gunner]

For what its worth I cant back the movement without the removal of Wenger being part of it.

I do wish you all best of luck with it though

Would you rather have 50% of reality or 100% of a dream?

If you think that a Wenger out protest group would get anywhere, you are living in ****'s playboy grotto.

As i said i wish you all the best but i cant get involved in something i dont believe in 100%

[frankbutcher]

For what its worth I cant back the movement without the removal of Wenger being part of it.

I do wish you all best of luck with it though

Would you rather have 50% of reality or 100% of a dream?

If you think that a Wenger out protest group would get anywhere, you are living in ****'s playboy grotto.

As i said i wish you all the best but i cant get involved in something i dont believe in 100%

I perfectly respect that viewpoint Flash. At least you aren't trying to dis-credit people on here. I would say that whilst a Wenger out protest is fine in principle, it would never garner enough support to get off the ground. I reckon it would re-inforce Wenger support.

[Arsenal 1991]

Arsenal fans are being hit with big ticket price increases - even though the club still refuse to splash out on players.

"It just seems a bit rich," said Wood, who runs Le Grove fans' website. "When you look at the cost of tickets compared to the number of trophies, then we must be the most expensive club in the world.

"It's a slap in the face for supporters. We would like to see a few more signings and yet they take the easiest, most unimaginative way of trying to make ends meet - just put up prices and make their supporters pay."

Read more: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Fu ... z1GiO7D7O2
Sign up for MirrorFootball's Morning Spy newsletter Register here

[USMartin]

Arsenal fans are being hit with big ticket price increases - even though the club still refuse to splash out on players.

"It just seems a bit rich," said Wood, who runs Le Grove fans' website. "When you look at the cost of tickets compared to the number of trophies, then we must be the most expensive club in the world.

"It's a slap in the face for supporters. We would like to see a few more signings and yet they take the easiest, most unimaginative way of trying to make ends meet - just put up prices and make their supporters pay."

Read more: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Fu ... z1GiO7D7O2
Sign up for MirrorFootball's Morning Spy newsletter Register here

While I think we should leave the whole ticket price thing to other groups at this time it does make it much harder for the club not re-think its investment policy and if they do not will surely aid those like us looking to pressure them on that specific matter.

I agree we should reference that price hike in our efforts to press for these changes - just that we should let other groups psuh to actually change the prices.

[QuartzGooner]

This is my latest edit, based on SteveO and Arsenal1991's versions and taking into account USMartin's concerns about the youth.

I have simplified and shortened the aims, made them more punchy, but kept them general and respectful.
Not mentioned specific revenue figures as that can allow the aims to rapidly date.
Not mentioned long term contracts because as someone said, that was just sound business sense in response to losing Flamini on a free.





1.) To encourage the club to invest in quality players, who reflect our high ticket prices and revenues, to increase our chance of winning trophies.

2.) To seek clarity over the club's youth policy, in particular pay rises for young players, which have increased the club's wage bill but not resulted in trophies.

3.) As supporters we want the club to win trophies, preferably with style. We want to understand the PLC's longer term vision and strategy. As an organisation involved in various business sectors and worthy community endeavours, but whose main activity is football, we believe that on the pitch success should be the principle objective of the PLC.

[USMartin]

This is my latest edit, based on SteveO and Arsenal1991's versions and taking into account USMartin's concerns about the youth.

I have simplified and shortened the aims, made them more punchy, but kept them general and respectful.
Not mentioned specific revenue figures as that can allow the aims to rapidly date.
Not mentioned long term contracts because as someone said, that was just sound business sense in response to losing Flamini on a free.

I think they should be shortened a bit each - Rosie titters suggested publishing a flyer to be handed out to supporters and I think that is great idea at least intially but that a flyer should be as you say punchy and to the point and hit our main talking points without going into detail straight away. Subsequent fliers can build upon what the first on says jsut like one web page with the bullet points on top followed by details about each point below. The first flier is the most important - it must be short simple and to the point so people will take the time to read and still be able to understand what we are trying to do - in other words I ain't wriitin it





[

[USMartin]

I thought I'd address each point seperately

[quote="QuartzGooner"] 1.) To encourage the club to invest in quality players, who reflect our high ticket prices and revenues, to increase our chance of winning trophies. [ /quote]

This is what I mean right here - pretty much perfect. Short easy to read and understand. I like the re-writing that makes the mention of trophies sound less petulant(for lack of a better term) than earlier.

The only changes I might suggest and neither is essential necessarily would be maybe a line about "to make the best effort to give us the best possible chance to win trophies"

My only other concern is more general and that whether we should ade into the ticket price debate at all at this point as it can divert us from our real goal and undermine our credibility in pursuing - someone - might have been you or Frank Butcher pointed out its hard to credibly press for more investing and lowering ticket prices in the same moment.


This is what I came up with that might be incorporated into point 1


1.)To encourage the club to invest in quality players (who better reflect our record-high ticket prices and revenues of recent years), and by doing so making the best possible effort to give the club the best possible chance of winning trophies we are competing for.

[USMartin]

Okay looking at point 2

[quote="QuartzGooner"] 2.) To seek clarity over the club's youth policy, in particular pay rises for young players, which have increased the club's wage bill but not resulted in trophies. [ /quote]

I like it but think we need to add some reference to the wage structure here because it is directly affected by how the younger players are overpaid initially as well as at the time of renewals. I do not agree entirely about the soundness of the long-term contracts here but think that is not essential to the point we are trying to make initially so agree it was good to pull that and keep this simpler.

But as you will see I have lengthened this slightly to address my real concern which is that overpaying the underdeveloped and underachieveing players makes it harder to invest in better players which is the real crux of the issue to me. See if you can't integrate points these as well

2) To seek clarity over the club's youth policy and wage structure, in particular high initial salaries and pay rises for young players, which have increased the club's wage bill but possibly impeded our ability to invest in players who will give the best possible chances to compete for and win trophies at the same time.

[USMartin]

Point 3

[quote="QuartzGooner"] 3.) As supporters we want the club to win trophies, preferably with style. We want to understand the PLC's longer term vision and strategy. As an organisation involved in various business sectors and worthy community endeavours, but whose principle activity is football, we believe that on the pitch success should be the principle objective of the PLC.[ /quote]

This is excellent for a letter to the Board or a website but a bit meaty for a flyer if we were tor try that. Well written and gets the key points across, but if we were to do flyers or handbills even its a bit long and too business-focused. I think I shortened this still get our concerns across but in away some skimming a flyer might pick up more easily and be more ready to consider supporting.

3.) As supporters we want the club to win trophies, preferably with style. We want to understand the PLC's longer term vision and strategy. and where Arsenal Football Club and its pursuit of comeptive success on the ptich fits into that, and are concerned about where the Football Team lies in the PLC's priorities