A funny (but true!) look at Arsenal’s transfer policy….
This is a Guest Post from Alan Machnik who is a comedian and an Arsenal supporter. This is his first post on his new website called ArsenalBanter.com. It’s fact that Arsenal fans definitely need a sense of humour……
Through The Transfer Window by Alan Machnik
It’s that time of year when the Transfer Window arrives and Arsenal are linked with everybody and their dog. The only problem is that Man City have signed everybody and Arsenal’s bid for the dog is way lower than the asking price.
Still, it’s more than likely that there will be a couple of puppies going cheap in another country, so that will sort of have to do.
This is what we’ve had to get used to over the last 4 or 5 years as an Arsenal fan. It’s like watching your neighbour parking his new Lamborghini Aguero in his driveway while you try and sneak your new Ford Chamberlain into your drive, under cover of dark. Not that there’s anything wrong with Chamberlain, long-term. He might turn out to be a great buy, but is he the difference between a winning or losing a trophy, any trophy? No. He isn’t.
The transfer policy needs to be looked at so that there are experienced players being introduced or kept at the club. When Alan Hansen said that you don’t win anything with kids, he was technically correct, but he failed to remember that Man Utd still had a nucleus of experienced players in their squad that helped to integrate the youngsters into the system. Plus, Hansen often likes to hear the sound of his own quasi-Scottish arrogant accent.
Arsene Wenger seems to be going down the arrogant route that Hansen took. He never listens to the fans, who have been more than patient; and he never listens to former players – even ones that played under him, like Nigel Winterburn.
Everybody knows what is wrong with Arsenal, except Wenger. He thinks that as soon as someone is out of nappies, they’re ready for the first team. He thinks that if you are technically gifted and fast, you’re ready for the first team, even if you are too short to get onto most rides at Alton Towers and even if you were, you’re not brave enough or mentally strong enough to handle it.
Sometimes you need to go out and buy a round peg to fill a round hole. Don’t buy a smaller, oval peg and assume it will grow and change to fit what you are looking for.
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AGREED,ONLY WENGER WILL BE BRAVE 2 FLOOD YOUNGSTERS IN SUCH A PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY DEMANDING LEAGUE(JACK WILSHERE IS AN EXCEPTION THO),WENGER BUYS YOUNGSTERS COS WEN IT IS TIME 4 THEM 2 BID FAREWELL 2 OUR CLUB WE GET SOLID CASH(I DONT MEAN HES CUNNING OR ANYTHING,ITS OK HE DOES DAT BUT WEN HE DOES only dat it bcomes a problem.wengers mistake is simple,sell viera,henry etc b4 their transfer value goes down such dat nobody want them.if viera and gallas still remained,things cud hav been different……….
Opinions divided. What do you think?
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You would hope that Wenger will learn from recent failures when it comes to buying experience and getting depth squad, unfortunately it is hard to train an old dog! Now Gervenho is suspended for three key games. RVP is a glass so it is a matter time before he breaks down. What happens if TV5 or Wilshere is injured? it is all over. We can’t win with the puppies!
Top Gooner!. Agree or not?:
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haha
hilarious!
Opinions divided. What do you think?
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The main issue is players sulking or leaving. Its not like they retire at Arsenal or stick around like they do at Chelsea, Man United.
I mean things could have been different had Henry or Patrick stayed. Then you look at players like Flamini, Hleb, Adebayour who were good players for us then sulked and engineered moves away. This trend has now continued with Nasri, Clichy, ( Fabregas I dont feel so much as he just wants to go home).
Top Gooner!. Agree or not?:
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Stumbled across this site thinking it was for Arsenal supporters. Is it? Critique is one thing but Arsenal bashing is best left to the other red & blue teams in the Prem.
AW has delivered 2 doubles (1998 & 2002), an invincible league win in 2004, and further FA cups in 2003 & 2005. He has also delivered: finalist in the Champ leagues 2006, Finalist in Eufa cup 2000, Finalist in FA Cup 2001, Finalist in League Cup 2007, 2011. He has finished in the champions league places since 1998. Then there is the Youth cups of 200, 2001,2002. Oh did I also forget a world renowned 60 seater stadium.
Wenger bashing is very easy from the side lines. Those of us who have managed teams will know how difficult it is to build competitive squads. Magnitude that with the money need in the premiership & champion’s league without a sugar daddy and living with the debt required to build the stadium which ensures our future for the next century.
I for one know we need a centre back, defensive Midfield and experienced playmaker (when Nasri & Fabrigas leaves) (as does AW). Arsenal is also a business. The transfer fee is only a small part of it balancing the clubs wage bill is the other. Arsenal cannot afford a team full of £140/week players) AW has being balancing the books and competing with teams like Man City and Chelsea who happily break these rules in the short term in the hopes of generating future income. Remember Leeds Utd!!
Don’t bash the young player eithers. They need our support which will give them confidence. The reason you are all frustrated is that AW keeps finding these nuggets ( which initially seem like mediocrity) and Arsenal do not have the finances to pay the high wages yet to keep them when they develop. AW would if he could, remember what he did to the wage structure when he first came.
AW warned us that the new stadium would restrict funds for 5 years. Look what he has still achieved. Really, would any other manager have delivered more within the same restrains? I believe not but this is my view and I suspect the view of the silent minority thank goodness.
I have supported the arsenal for over 35 years. Let me tell you that times were a lot worse than these even when we were win the odd trophy in the 70′s & 80′s. Give me the last 14 years any day. And I would take another 10 years.
I will always positively support Arsenal. Again criticism is OK it is what Football is about but let’s keep it to criticism not bashing.
Top Gooner!. Agree or not?:
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When you sign young kids, what are the odds of them staying ONLY at Arsenal till the end of their careers like giggs or scholes!?! This philosophy and approach is flawed.
If you tell me you can tie these kids down for a 10-15 year contract, which they have to see out till the very last day, maybe I can understand. However, this is NOT the case! So why play with the emotions of the fans and still continue to sign kids instead of QUALITY, EXPERIENCED players?
Let’s kick GREED out of football!!!
Opinions divided. What do you think?
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Humourous but not strictly true.
pick you first and 2nd x1 with the players currently on the books but leave out almunia bendtner fabregas nasri and eboue. there are actually not that many kids assuming everyone is fit!
szcesney fabianski
sagna jenkinson
koscielny djourou
vermaelen squillaci
gibbs traore
song frimpong
wilshire diaby
rosicky ramsey
walcott gervinho
van persie chamakh
arshavin vela
20 full internationals and how long before jenkinson and frimpong are capped? then we have a raft of exciting youngsters most have already enjoyed international football at u20 or higher mannone miquel coquelin eastmond lansbury chamberlain campbell afobe sunu miyaichi hoyte henderson.
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Gary neville just posted an article about Arsene Wenger at the dailymail website and i think u guys should check it out! it’s a great piece from a non-gooner….even an outsider understands our policy unlike some of u gooners..It’s unfortunate that, the media has succeeded in inciting gooners against their own club!..please gooners don’t fall for this!..otherwise our club’s long term plan will be jeopardise!..The media talks as if when nasri and fabregas were present, they did not criticize the team for not having another mid-fielder in the form of Vieira!..Don’t let the media (guardian, sun,etc)pull us down from our vision! don’t be deceived,if Wenger leaves now there is no replacement!be prudent!..gunners for life!
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@ Wordi – more burying heads in the sand I see.
The media did not turn fans against Wenger. Over the 6 years for the large part a majority of gunners stayed loyal to Wenger for a majority of those years.
Gunners are turning because the board sold out and sodded off. There was no loyalty from them.
Now we have a manager who is not just a manager but involved in the running of the club. This is a conflict of interest as this has now turned our first team into a trading activity with player sales being used to post profits in the accounts.
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This article is completely true and I agree. When sneijder himself is saying that a move to the premier league is possible than why doesn’t buy him we’ll have an experienced replacement for fabregas and if we can’t afford him we have sochaux’s martin as another option then won’t wenger buy him. Also nasri is going to leave and there are a lot of options to buy replacement but wenger says he cannot find one. Hazard,Mata(who can play in central midfield as well),Andre Ayew who has a £12mil release clause and he is saying he cannot find players. Another area that wenger needs to improve is the defence. When we had the chance to buy a cheap left back like jose enrique but we didn’t buy him and will be dependant on gibbs. We also need a centre back so we should bulk out the money an buy someone like gary cahill . When there is all this he needs to do how are we going to win a trophy ? And when the matter of money comes in we are getting around £70 mil from the sales of fabregas,nasri,eboue and bendtner.
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Have we become fickle, jumping to the media’s beat?
Most of you Wenger bashers are new supporters spoilt by the success HE brought.
It is embarrassing because we were all warned that the new stadium would have a major impact on our finance.
We’ve spent less than Spurs, Liverpool and even clubs like Sunderland have laid out more money than we have. Where is their 14 years of sustained champions league football?
Charlton fans said ‘thanks curbishley, but you’ve taken us as far as you can’. I’m sure you all remember what happened next. I’m not saying we’d drop down the leagues, I’m just saying be careful what you wish for you ungrateful idiots.
Top Gooner!. Agree or not?:
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liverpool drew yesteday it was a good start for them apperently, chelsea have just drawn 0-0 with stoke and according to the pundits and chelsea fans that cheered them off thats a good start aswell. we draw away at newcastle and keep a clean sheet and the knives are out and we are in freefall! food for thought gunners!!
Top Gooner!. Agree or not?:
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Thankyou Toby.people do not realise the stigma attached to us, fans are so stupid and small minded, but thats most men for you really.
Interesting READ!!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2025700/Gary-Neville-Arsenal-fans-shouldnt-criticise-Arsene-Wenger.html
I’m not demonising Arsenal fans for being impatient because i’m certain EVERY single clubs fans including United would react how most of ours are in the these frustrating times.
I beg for prespective when considering the 2nd most succesful manager in PL…
No one has the devine right to win anything. But we are giving it a damn good go whilst paying off our stadia.
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Looking at the team, there are more challenges ahead. I wonder if we can play Stoke, they are quiet physical. Man u has kids and yet they win and play well. Wenger is now behind time. With the dynamism in the game, it is almot unreasonable to follow plans strictly for five years. A few years ago, the arsenal team would have been okay, but the Chelsea revolution, players have become more expensive and all other teams have accepted that except Arsenal. Good players now means good money. We sell but dont replace, instead kids are signed for resale when they mature.
Opinions divided. What do you think?
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I will bet a lot of money that those who call for Wenger’s head are those who only decided to call themselves Gooners after the success he brought us not too long ago…
Be careful what you wish for guys because I guarantee we will not do better with someone other than Wenger in the upcoming years. Wenger has kept us in the CL for 14 years running and still spent less than plenty of teams who finish below us in the League…
This is what a Man Utd fan told me not long ago:
“Arsenal will be debt free in 2 years, along with Bayern Munich, the only major clubs in Europe to do so… That’s what arsenal built for the last 10 years. After the new Stadium there would be 5 years suffering, then you guys can buy all you want, your taking in 3.2 mill per home game for heaven’s sake. You must be patient.
I’m a man united fan, but I appreciate great teams, and I’m a realist.”
He also said:
“Mate, some people just have short term eye sight. great teams will always be around. The FIFA fair play rules coming into effect will deny clubs from spending more than they take in revenue prof compared to their debt. look, as far as im concerened, Arsenal are a club I admire, do i think for one momont that Frimpong, Wilshere, Ramsey, Song , Chamberlain, Miyaichi and Gibbs won’t be established players by 2013/14 ? No way!! I want united to stay ahead of the pack, but Arsenals LT system frightens me…”
I think he’s bang on target. Some people on here are just so shallow and narrow minded.
Top Gooner!. Agree or not?:
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@ ryan
you mention “It is embarrassing because we were all warned that the new stadium would have a major impact on our finance.”
Who are you trying to kid mate? Since the move to the Emirates, the clubs turnover have increased by several millions a year and they are recording PROFITS despite the debt, which is to be paid back over a longer period. How hard is that to understand?
Now, they increased ticket prices and more recently got into partnership with carlsberg giving them exclusive marketing rights on a global basis, to promote their beer and sell them at the stadium. How much is that worth!?
And we cant buy quality players? can’t we put up more money on top of the £12 million spent on 17 year old Alex OC to get a proven quality player?
Let’s kick GREED out of football!!!
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Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Out of tune?. Like or Dislike:
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one small but very relevant point for all those deluded fans that believe in wenger’s success…the last trophy he won he still had a george graham player playing in the side……..in other words look at the personnel throughout those glory years. also if you respond with henry pires etc..remember he didnt have to do much to sign those, they were waiting to join us. He is incapable of building a defense with a half of the strength of the graham outfit…in fact the defenders he has bought or got free are a pathetic joke (for a so-called top premier club)
For all that success, he is now taking us backwards…which is crazy!!!!!……there is no need for him to meekly accept a champs league place….he can spend some of the profit we have generated on new quality players ..not unknowns and cheap younsters.
wenger is a deluded idiot!
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watching live on t.v thought Barton pulled Gervinho up by the shirt in the penalty area,why the ball was still in play.the result should have been penalty to Arsenal and Barton sent off.
Arsene here is your mission if you choose to accept it.
Build a 60,000 state of the art stadium.
pay for the relocation of all the business’s in ashburton grove (cost milllions)
Pay millions for the building of new waste station.
help finance the transformation of highbury to luxury flats.build hundreds of flats in the Holloway area.
Keep Arsenal in the champions league every year.
play the most entertaing football in the premiership
Top Gooner!. Agree or not?:
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Chelsea, United and Liverpool all struggled in their first games. The difference with Arsenal is we were the only side that wasn’t at full strength. If any of those other teams were without 2 of their best players away from home and a man down they would have been content with a point. As I am for now…
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@truefan:
Good perception. Most of these jokers have no concept of what Arsenal have been through in the last 7 years.
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typical united they always play pants and yet still get the win! it just always happens for them no matter how bad they play. still vidic and ferdinand crocked so there is some justice! if we can get past liverpool and united without defeat and deal with udinese to qualify for cl this team should build up some steam, then again ???????………………..?
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Arsene your new mission,
replace this great but ageing group of players,
bergkamp,henry,viera,pires,campbell,keown,parlour,freddie jans etc
cost of replacements in their prime apx’ 200 million plus
Money given by board to buy replacements:whatever you can raise in the transfer market;
Solution play youngsters,and buy promising players at a cheap price.
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@ those who mention and like Gary Neville’s article
i stopped reading his article after a few lines. how can anyone of you arsenal fans believe his nonsense? Why didn’t he tell his teammate Patrick Evra about his views then to shut him up? Patrick Evra has called arsenal all kinds of things – men against boys, arsenal are a training academy etc! why didnt Gary Neville put him in place?
and why would he care if arsenal wins or not? he’s an ex man utd player and fan. i am sure he will be happy that arsenal does not win any trophies for the next 10 years.
he should focus on his own club!
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not only that gary neville said recently:
“I think the likes of Man United and Real Madrid will get past Barcelona in the next two years.”
why didn’t he mention arsenal???
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If you find this funny you have an shit sense of humour tbh. Nothing to do with it being aimed at Arsenal….it just really isn’t funny :L
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@ Gunnnersfan! Gary became a sky sports pundit mate. you can support your team, but you have to be honest and give a neutral perspective.
and mate an ex united player gave backing on arsenal yet u comlpain at him? dumbass should hate after reading what they say.
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fst ad 4most i wil lke 2 tanks all arsn faitfull fans 4 been paticent til now.let tell de managment ad board dat since they can not bring qulit player we wil stop wachting arsn matches ad let c were money come 4f 2 pay player ad coah ,may jst 4f 3 matches them we wil wait 4 de nest reaction thanks ,arsn i remaine
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Hope wenger change his attitude 2 transfer market before its too late.
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Fab and nasri in particular said he is not leavin arsenal bcos of money but where 2 achive sucess.are we(d fans) d ones 2 blame 4 lack of trophies.hw many times has he gone an extra mile 2 do d imposible 2 push arsenal thru in a match,just like viera,pires,henry in those gud old days.pls stop blamin wengar.let them go where they wil cary al d trophies in d world.we shal see if they wil not end up like adebayor,hieb & co.arsene is a genius.i believe wit time arsenal wil rise 2 d top again……keep gunning 4 life…paulligar.abuja~nigeria.
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@ wtf?
Gary Neville’s article is in support of Arsene and NOT Arsenal (Arsene’s name is mentioned throughout). It shares the same views as the AKBs and sorry mate, but I do not support it. We all have our own opinions and mine is that AW has to go! I prefer Ian Wright’s articles.
I am still waiting for the “super quality” that he promised.
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I think a lot of you guys listen to the media too much. When Fabregas and Nasri were here and not expected to leave, we were getting criticised for not having a Viera-type player. It seems the media can only ever criticise harshly, or overrate players.
Don’t let their antics and idiocy fool you. Don’t let them pull us down from our aspirations.
And any of you ungrateful, shallow people who simply supported because of the trophies we were gathering up a few years ago can just go and follow Man City for all I care.
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I bet you any of the “fans” running round insulting their own club will only turn back when we win a trophy and give it all the “Yeah, look what my club did, your club is rubbish hahahaha Arsenal are the best”
Preferably defenders.
They’ll have completely forgotten how they wen’t against a policy, called those behind it an idiot and then were proven wrong when that idea turned out good.
That being said, Wenger does need a new defender. Vertonghen will do. And when Fabregas goes Eriksen or Gourcuff can take his place, and the rest can be used on a striker to pair with van Persie and then just more 18 year olds for the future
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we are still in agreement that we need a centre back….SAMBA CAHILL VERTONGHEN, DANN, JAGS…ALL MENTIONED!!!….
DO WE ALSO AGREE THAT ITS A BIT LATE NOW THE SEASON HAS STARTED?????
OR IS IT PROF WENGER’S MASTERSTROKE THAT WE ARE UNABLE TO COMPREHEND????
SLOW DITHERING MAN OF INACTION!!!
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I am a big supporter of Wenger but I agree with the comedian — he has pointed out a major flaw in Wengers coaching philosophy.
Ok sure, Man U did it once with juniors —- Ok —- once in 125 years plus of Engish football? give your head a shake!
Wenger is beginning to sound like a junior. When things dont go his way — wah wah wah.
Arsene, buy some backbone and size please and pay the going rate. they really do come off the shelf, albiet, at the market price!
And finally, tell these kids to look into their own hearts, choking at key junctions is just not on! Cool, calm, and collected— contolled agression, thats the difference between champos and chumpos.
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@pnkgooner
Its true fans like you that arsenal really need, not some imposter prowling this blog.
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We have been building future Arsenal in the past years and just now that its time to use them, they are leaving us one by one. Just think about Clichy, Eboue, Cesc, Nasri , …
I think we do a cyclic thing creating new players and selling them again.
For example this year we missed cesc, clichy, nasri, and got Oxlade, Ryo, Campbell ! Again, we will train them for a few years and then they will leave us.
This way we wont improve or get any trophy IMO
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The rift in the fans seems very wide. Wenger is controlled by the board who refused to sanction a large pay rise for Nasri – unlike Manure last year where Sir AF was allowed to double Rooney’s wages when he threatened to leave. Arsenal are going to find it difficult to compete on wages if the board do not sanction wages over £100K as ManC Manure and Chelsea think nothing of paying much higher wages. Wenger is also a “consultant” advising on transfers with PSG who are now one of the richest clubs in Europe due to oil money. I can certainly see him leaving if PSG do not win anything this year and then he will have for once an open cheque book and the freedom to compete. I am sure he will then not only take some of the current Arsenal squad with him but will create a very good team as he is a very able manager. For those who want to see the back of him should understand that Arsenal will not attract one of the best managers with the present transfer policy and we would be stuck with a “second division” manager who will take this team on a downward journey.
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Just seems like wenger doesn’t even want to try and bring in top class players. People, 11 million for gervinho isnt much for arsenal where’s the mata, the hazard, the Cahill that SHOULD be but are not in an arsenal shirt, do you not agree with these players arsenal would stand a very good chance. Wenger won’t change. His idea of a big signing is a 10million pound bargain from French leagues. Fabregas is gone, nasri is going, clichy is gone song and gervinho suspended for 3 games, wilshere injured, RVP is injury prone… Rosicky, diaby both s**t Arshavin VERY average. At least we’ve got chamberlain and Jenkinson going to score 20 goals each this season. Arsenal- 5th this season. No trophy’s. I hope seriously that arsene pulls his finger out and bags Cahill and 2 midfielders.
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