Football : Season 2011/12

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

He hasn't won anything for to long to say it's as simple as 6 months of underachieving there are big problems at that club at the moment and as Wimbledon found selling your best players year in year out only leads to disaster in the end.

I don't think Wenger wants to sell his best players and the need to break even has put him at a massive disadvantage against Chelsea and City.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Damien

I don't think Wenger wants to sell his best players and the need to break even has put him at a massive disadvantage against Chelsea and City.

Don't really buy this need to break even stuff, even financial fair play doesn't require the stadium to be taken into account in the figures which is some thing the board now seem to have noticed as well considering the papers are full of speculation that the salary caps going to be smashed in the summer and some serious cash is to be spent, trouble is it might be to late to attract anyone by then or keep Van Persie if you're not in the Champions League.

[thenry]

Neither do I (break even)

The fact Wenger put way too much faith in flops told its own story, which is the story now. He could have easily signed an extra player or two which was required to keep the club on its toes but he neglected being stubborn. I'm talking about 20+ mill signings. there are players out there who are cheap and who would bust a gut.. how the hell do other clubs still do it? its all Wenger and co, Fizman who died last year set this all up so Wenger isn't disrupted and Peter Hill-Wood can go on drinking his way into a grave.

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

Don't really buy this need to break even stuff, even financial fair play doesn't require the stadium to be taken into account in the figures which is some thing the board now seem to have noticed as well considering the papers are full of speculation that the salary caps going to be smashed in the summer and some serious cash is to be spent, trouble is it might be to late to attract anyone by then or keep Van Persie if you're not in the Champions League.

You do have to break even for the security of the club. I am unsure why, in recent years, the money from sold players hasn't gone to replace them. I suspect that's why there are rumours of serious cash to be spent but I don't believe they will break the wage structure much, that would be insane. I wouldn't support it either, I would rather drop out of the top four teams but have a stable club rather than do a Leeds or Rangers trying to chase the dream.

[thenry]

The wage cap doesn't really need to be changed. its how its spent that needs to change. How much is Arsenals total wage bill and how much does Utds total? I don't think you'll see much difference which is incredible.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Damien

You do have to break even for the security of the club. I am unsure why, in recent years, the money from sold players hasn't gone to replace them. I suspect that's why there are rumours of serious cash to be spent but I don't believe they will break the wage structure much, that would be insane. I wouldn't support it either, I would rather drop out of the top four teams but have a stable club rather than do a Leeds or Rangers trying to chase the dream.

Instead of going from one extreme to another with Leeds why not just try and keep up with spuds, little debt there, certainly not enough to put the future security of the club at risk and how are you going to make the needed £25 million a year profit without Champions League football.

[denphone]

FA Cup 6th round draw

Everton v Sunderland

Stevenage or Tottenham v Bolton

Chelsea or Birmingham v Leicester City

Liverpool or Brighton & Hove Albion v Stoke City

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

Instead of going from one extreme to another with Leeds why not just try and keep up with spuds, little debt there, certainly not enough to put the future security of the club at risk and how are you going to make the needed £25 million a year profit without Champions League football.

My guess is the £25 million a year profit is as cover for Champions League income, so that dropping out of the CL doesn't cause Arsenal to take on more debt. Spurs is a good example but for the last 15 years, 7 or so operating under reduced circumstances, we have finished above them. This season we won't but that's only one season in which we have been terrible and they have been excellent. We should start matching them on transfer spend and hopefully the Nasri and Fabregas money will be spent this summer improving the team.

There is still the core of a good team there and we don't need a drastic rebuilding. We need cover for Wilshere to get more creative and decisive passing from midfield and another striker. Maybe another winger to replace Arshavin but we have to be careful not to hold back Chamberlain. I would prefer another left back as well. Center backs are ok, we have three decent ones and Song can cover in an extreme circumstance.

[denphone]

Well its looking good for a semi final place in the FA Cup and with a Carling cup final coming up next week its looking nice and rosy for Liverpool in the coming months..

[thenry]

yeah as much as it pains me cos of top 4 theres enough at your place to finish strong.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by thenry

yeah as much as it pains me cos of top 4 theres enough at your place to finish strong.

Yeah it would be great if we can nick that 4th spot thenry.

[denphone]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17088995

Arsene Wenger has reached the lowest point in his 16-year reign as Arsenal manager, according to Emmanuel Petit.

Wenger's side look set to finish without a trophy for a seventh season running and face a fight to qualify for next season's Champions League.


"This is the worst moment of Arsene's career with Arsenal and one of their worst moments in the last decade," former player Petit told BBC Sport.

Meanwhile, Arsenal ex-manager George Graham said the club were in crisis.

Arsenal were beaten at Sunderland in the FA Cup on Saturday, which followed Wednesday's Champions League thrashing by AC Milan.

They sit fourth in the Premier League, 17 points behind leaders Manchester City, and there is growing speculation that Wenger could leave in the summer.

"That would be the biggest mistake," said Petit, who played under his fellow Frenchman at Monaco and Arsenal.

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/30...van-persie.htm

http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport...ml?CMP=OTC-RSS

Arsenal to Wenger: Spend, Spend, Spend!

The latest in a long line of rather humiliating defeats and reverses for Arsenal may just, according to a Sunday Mirror report, have been the straw that broke the camel's back.

The 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Italian champions AC Milan, in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 game was bad enough. That, at least, Wenger could maybe pass off as being a defeat to one of the premier clubs in Europe... something Arsenal certainly are not

[Dave42]

Niall Quinn stepping down from his role and sunderland thanks and all the best big man thanks for saving us

[Kymmy]

Originally Posted by Dave42

Niall Quinn stepping down from his role and sunderland thanks and all the best big man thanks for saving us

He was always a great guy.. I met him at a MCFC charity event when he played for them..

[denphone]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17090404

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed his regret at passing up the chance to sign Joe Hart for £100,000 earlier in his career.

Hart, 24, joined Manchester City from Shrewsbury in 2006 and has become England's first-choice goalkeeper.

But Ferguson told BBC Radio 5 live: "I could have bought Joe Hart for £100,000 so we all make mistakes."

The Scot also said he would like an ambassadorial role at United after another "two or three years" as boss