Diving Arsenal Players - The Least Shocking Admission Ever

[Lord Kangana]

I think Freedman hinted at that very thing in the quotes you put up, actually.

[BWFC_Insane]

I think Freedman hinted at that very thing in the quotes you put up, actually.

Difference between saying its difficult and just giving up though.

Could Arsenal really not have improved with the £75M they themselves claim
to have available for transfers?

[Lost Leopard Spot]

And despite the fact that everybody points out where Wenger is going wrong, on he serenly sails in his Gallic dhow, with other clubs regularlly pinching all these (Arsenal) players he's not buying.

There are a lot of clubs and managers one could take the piss out of, but honestly Wenger and Arsenal are hardly fxcking up.

[thebish]

And despite the fact that everybody points out where Wenger is going wrong, on he serenly sails in his Gallic dhow, with other clubs regularlly pinching all these players he's not buying.

There are a lot of clubs and managers one could take the piss out of, but honestly Wenger and Arsenal are hardly fxcking up.

are you still here??? at 10-ish this morning you bid your fond farewells - then you did so again at just gone noon!!

#itwouldn'tflush

[Prufrock]

They said they've paid off the stadium and have cash to spend. They may not be failing Coventry stylee but I think you'd be entitled to be a bit f*cked off if you spending a grand a year to watch your best players leave to win trophies. It's one thing previously when they've said the profits have been going towards paying off the stadium. Now what's the excuse?!

[Lost Leopard Spot]

They said they've paid off the stadium and have cash to spend. They may not be failing Coventry stylee but I think you'd be entitled to be a bit f*cked off if you spending a grand a year to watch your best players leave to win trophies. It's one thing previously when they've said the profits have been going towards paying off the stadium. Now what's the excuse?!

There's nobody out there that can actually play football for the amount of money one offers?
I've come up against the same problem on eBay, believe me. Only difference was I wasn't fourth in my particular category, and nobody knew about it.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

And despite the fact that everybody points out where Wenger is going wrong, on he serenly sails in his Gallic dhow, with other clubs regularlly pinching all these players he's not buying.

There are a lot of clubs and managers one could take the piss out of, but honestly Wenger and Arsenal are hardly fxcking up.

are you still here??? at 10-ish this morning you bid your fond farewells - then you did so again at just gone noon!!

#itwouldn'tflush

oy. Oy. I'll be gone soon, but there's more WiFi stuff for free in Manchester than you'd ever believe. There are about three square feet in Matlock so long as nobody else is there. Heading north as we speak...
Scotland, here we come..........

[Lord Kangana]

They've paid off the stadium? Seriously? I thought it cost about £300m or something? Didn't it? Have they? Really? I have no idea, but I'd find that a stunning feat of financial prudencey (is that even a word?)

[thebish]

They've paid off the stadium? Seriously? I thought it cost about £300m or something? Didn't it? Have they? Really? I have no idea, but I'd find that a stunning feat of financial prudencey (is that even a word?)

no - I believe there is still £246m of stadium debt and it won’t be paid off till 2031...

it WAS supposed to be ring-fenced, though...

[BWFC_Insane]

What Pru said. If they were breaking even financially each season the they'd be maximising their resources and be praised for it rightly.

But they are making big profits and not reinvesting that into the team. Quite the opposite they've sold off their best assets and still spent less replacing them. More profit.

Whilst having the most expensive tickets in the land. Every summer they promise 'we have loads of money to spend and we are going to spend it' are linked with some top players in deals which nearly but never quite materialise, then Wenger says they can win the league anyway and scrabbled around last minute for a few bargains.

Surely they are one of the worst examples of modern football? Charging their fans absolutely top dollar whilst creaming off the profits and watching the team bob along happy to pick up the champions league money for yet more profit?

[Lord Kangana]

£299m of it then?

[thebish]

i think we should wait until the window slams shut before making any definitive statements about Wenger in this season's transfer window.. there's a wee while to go yet...

[thebish]

i believe that the stadium debt is currently being paid repaid at around £19m a year (£6m capital and £13m interest)

what Arsenal earn each year over and above £19 million, I don't know - but it's probably quite a whack...

[Lord Kangana]

So in other words, they've still got a thumping great mortgage then? I have no idea what ring fencing entails, but I'm guessing when the bank comes calling, its not sufficient to answer "sorry, spent that money on players. Haven't you heard of ringfencing old boy?". And is that figure fixed, or based on current interest rates? And if they've been overpaying, but still have that big figure outstanding, surely the situation isn't going to improve significantly anytime soon? No?

[thebish]

So in other words, they've still got a thumping great mortgage then? I have no idea what ring fencing entails, but I'm guessing when the bank comes calling, its not sufficient to answer "sorry, spent that money on players. Haven't you heard of ringfencing old boy?". And is that figure fixed, or based on current interest rates? And if they've been overpaying, but still have that big figure outstanding, surely the situation isn't going to improve significantly anytime soon? No?

no - i don't think the bank would recognise the idea - it IS what the fans were told though! (it was a lie!)

[BWFC_Insane]

So in other words, they've still got a thumping great mortgage then? I have no idea what ring fencing entails, but I'm guessing when the bank comes calling, its not sufficient to answer "sorry, spent that money on players. Haven't you heard of ringfencing old boy?". And is that figure fixed, or based on current interest rates? And if they've been overpaying, but still have that big figure outstanding, surely the situation isn't going to improve significantly anytime soon? No?

They are making about £40M profit a year purely on the football side.

IF their hands are tied by the stadium 'mortgage' why not just say that instead of promising big signings and money spent each summer then not delivering?

Surely their fans would be more accepting if the promises were not made by their board in the first place?

[thebish]

wenger could take a pay cut if they are so strapped - he has a massive salary...

[Gooner Girl]

It's not looking great but I will reserve judgement til the end of the transfer window...

[Prufrock]

My mistake if they haven't paid it off, but they did say something along the lines that the stadium costs would no longer have any effect on the transfer money available. They've been mouthing off how they have big cash to spend.

Plus, they've two billionaire's involved, I'm sure there's no danger in finding the stadium money if it came to that.

[Lord Kangana]

So in other words, they've still got a thumping great mortgage then? I have no idea what ring fencing entails, but I'm guessing when the bank comes calling, its not sufficient to answer "sorry, spent that money on players. Haven't you heard of ringfencing old boy?". And is that figure fixed, or based on current interest rates? And if they've been overpaying, but still have that big figure outstanding, surely the situation isn't going to improve significantly anytime soon? No?

They are making about £40M profit a year purely on the football side.

IF their hands are tied by the stadium 'mortgage' why not just say that instead of promising big signings and money spent each summer then not delivering?

Surely their fans would be more accepting if the promises were not made by their board in the first place?

I think you need to think about that for a minute. You'll sell more season tickets promising excitement and talent than prudence and fiscal restraint. Rather 60,000 disgruntled ST holders than 30,000 on board with the best interests of the club at heart.