AFC transfer policy isn't like buying house in warzone -11/7

[gooner.ed]

http://www.onlinegooner.com/exclusive/index.php?id=670

usual thread starter… There’s no doubt that ever since the Bosman ruling, it’s become increasingly difficult to build a team for the long term. I wonder how many regular changes in personnel fans can tolerate before they stop identifying with the players as representatives of their club rather than mercenaries. For example, Overmars and Petit were at the club for only three seasons. Do you look back on them as Arsenal men? Do you immediately identify with certain players as representative of the club? Do some never convince you in spite of being around for quite a while? Any examples to demonstrate your view on this?

[LB]

I'm always impressed with the quality of writing on this blog, absolutely first class and well thought out. And I am in complete agreement. I hear a lot of Arsenal fans (maybe some, not a lot) complain that we don't buy stars, we should try to keep Ade, etc. It is the same argument about whether to sell the club to some non-English billionaire. The question I ask is also the same: What do you believe in? If placing the club on a risky path for short term success is your approach, then you are right. If you believe like I do, and clearly like the board (and Arsene) do, that success is built on a sound business footing, then you support Arsenal's buying policy.

Many argue that without winning trophies, financial prudence is irrelevant and I disagree. Take Chelsea, for instance, they are a very successful club in the last five years because of the obscene monies they've spent. Well and good, they have done better than Arsenal. But to me this is really HOLLOW SUCCESS wrapped tightly in DUBIOUS DISTINCTION. I believe that if I had GBP500m to spend, I could coach Chelsea to the Champions League title. All I have to do is buy Kaka, Messi, Robinho, Ronaldo, Buffon, Pirlo, etc. If I don't win it because of the quality of my team's football, I will win it by weakening other teams. And that's Madrid's strategy. Explain to me how Ronaldo can make Madrid better when they have Robben, Sneijder, Robinho, Guti, etc.

I'm happy as an Arsenal fan, and I am a big supporter of the current board and Wenger. In this age of paying GBP17m for Nani and GBP30m for Ade, and of course Blatter, the Madrid member, I have to find morality somewhere in this sport I love.

[Number 5]

Whilst I do agree with a lot of what the writer says I feel it also needs to be taken into consideration that in most professions when building things you usually start from a decent base and grow on it from there. So far this year we look to be losing 3 key players from last years first choice eleven. Flamini, Hleb and Adebayor. I've made this point before. How can any team honestly claim to be building for the future and trying to avoid the pitfalls other clubs are falling into when losing their better players?

The writer can talk about other clubs hawking around changing players for less the better, but are we different? We have for 3 years failed to win the league whilst Chelsea and Man U have spent ridiculous sums. The closest we got is this year when clearly the squad lacked enough depth to push on. What happens? We lose more players than we bring in? And though the transfer window is still open it'll likely stay that way.

The only thing that has kept Arsenal where we are is Wenger. We'd be sunk without him.

Moving on to gooner.ed's point, out of the two I'd identify Petit as more of an Arsenal man the Overmars even though Marc had probably a better impact. Petit was shipped out from what I understand with Wengers full blessing, Overmars he would have kept. Petit borrowed cab money form Sugar to come to us, true or not a great story. He turned down a move to Hoddle's spurs citing he couldn't play for them after once playing for us. And generally all round got stuck in, would have been captain if TA wasn't around. In today's squad I'd say Senderos has never quite convinced despite being around for longer than Overmars and Petit. Some take a lot longer to embed. I remember Keown being barracked back in 95 or so when he had his second spell with us, legend now. Parlour taking a few hits before finally being endeered. These days it may take 5 years or so to be truely accepted if you are not TH or DB quality wise, and the modern day player just ain't gonna wait that long.

[proudtosaythatname]

For me, a good article and sensible comments. Football today is like Poker or Blackjack - at the end of the season shuffle the pack and redeal.

Anyway, loyalty can be pretty difficult when a competitor openly offers to double, triple, quadruple your salary, provide own personal harem etc in a career with a limited lifespan - especially when the predator really has no limit as they can recoup the transfer fee overnight on replica shirts a la 'Beckham 23'.

[Redexpress]

I agree that we could do with holding onto our best players as part of the "foundation building" of a young squad, but the problem here seems to be the players in question and not the club.

when adebayors agent comes out and says "if barca come in for him he'll find it hard to resist", then that just about sums it all up for me.

I was of the opinion that we should take what we could get for adebayor, and put in down as a great profit, but after watching the season review dvd I am not so sure.
If he goes then we might really be praying for the likes of Walcott and Bendtner to amaze us, a la Flamini.

I must say I am surprised at Hleb, as I got the impression that he was great buddies with Cesc.

All said and done, until you see a player posing with his clubs new kit, then its all paper talk and bulls wotnot.

[Trevheff]

Fantastic article and in the main I'm very much in agreement. However club strategy is not all about money. Last year I believe we lost the league because we were short on numbers, not quality. Yes we were unlucky with injuries, but if Arsene decides to keep faith with RVP and Rosicky, he needs to be mindful of the fact that they are injury prone. As others point out, it is very likely we will start the season with no big a squad than last term. I'm not asking Arsene to splash millions to increase the squad size, just buy strategically so we have adequate cover (adequate meaning able to cope in the PL now, not in 2 or 3 years time). For me we would have had the League wrapped up with games to spare last season had we had a commanding centre half - I believe this weakness was glaringly obvious to anyone with just a small amount of football knowledge and the pain of Anfield, Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge surely must have brought that weakness into clearer focus? Yet there is no sign of this being addressed by Arsene. I also believe we are sat on a potential disaster if the transfer window closes without the purchase of an experienced keeper. If Almunia were to pick up a serious injury at the start of September our season would be in the hands of Fabianski (well to January at least). Not to say the Pole won't be a good keeper in years to come, but he's not ready now. Will Arsene seriously take the risk of not buying a keeper?

Please don't take this as a negative rant. It goes without saying that I back Arsene all the way and I pray he stays at the club for years to come. I also fully support the strategy of the Board and believe the club is in safe hands. But I feel the concerns I raise above are realistic issues that need addressing and could be addressed (given the unbelievable knowledge and astuteness of our great manager) within budget constraints.

[QuartzGooner]

Five seasons plus an incident can qualify a player as an Arsenal man, plus leaving club by retiring or against his will rather than asking to leave.

No need to be an amazing player either, but need too be a hard working player.

Grimandi I see as an Arsenal man, the tackle at Denis Bergkamp's testimonial on Edgar Davids confirmed this!