Arsene: We're Ready to Spend Big Now.

but I would rather be 3rd or 4th than 5th with a League Cup/F.A Cup

 

I guess adding the trophy variable muddies the waters a bit. I think 5th would be a disaster both financially and reputationally, at least in the short term. However, I can't think of a person who thinks of 3rd or 4th as a 'huge success'. To most it seems the bare minimum, and to many it represents a deficiency in the team. I think this backs up what Wenger and TT were saying.

 

Financially, not finishing 4th is the worst thing that could happen. Means we'd have to sell players as we'll be losing money. So therefore we couldn't strengthen at all in the hope of getting back in a year later, unless we wanted to do a Leeds, spend big and risk failure, jeopardizing the future of the club. Yeah, it is the bare minimum to expect, hence why no top four this season would be such a bad failure for the club.

 

I know i'm old school but i'd take winning the League Cup over a top four place anyday.I remember the joy i felt when we won the League Cup in 1987.It ended an eight year wait for a trophy.In my opinion the Champions League is one of the worst things that ever happened to football.

 

I 'll go on to say that I don't think many fans really care whether we finish 4th or 5th. Winning is all they care about, so they don't see any advantage of a few extra games in Europe, if we dont "have a chance of winning".

I think European qualification is important because I think it helps us to attract players and it defines us as a "Big Club". I think being in the top 4 sets expectation levels, even if those expectations are not fulfilled. We will see. Maybe a few seasons in mid-table will improve Arsenal, but I doubt it.

If we get a new manager and he fails, then it will be the board's fault, or something else. I doubt the unhappy fans will say that being in the top 4 was significantly better. I would have liked Wenger to win something on his way out. Whatever you think about how badly we have been affected by the stadium debt, I think everyone has to admit it has had some effect, and so he has, at least in a small way, been playing managers against SAF with a handicap, which isn't going to be easy.

 

European qualification is important for two reasons;

1. It means we don't run at a £40M loss every season; we'd have to sell £40M worth of players per season just to stay in the black. So forget about signing new players.

2. It means we can attract a higher quality of player.

That's it. Reason 1 is why it's 100X more important than a trophy.

 

The new TV deal with SKY and our new sponsorship deal with Emirates negates any losse through not participating in the CL.
I do agree with you that participation in the CL attracts a higher quality of player though

 

No, I get it, but I was just saying for most of the really unhappy fans, those are mere details that they don't care about.

 

The annual value of the deal with Emirates is affected by non-qualification for the Champions League.

“There are certain clauses, from 2015, that we pay them a percentage less if they don't perform,” said Boutros. “The Champions League is part of the new contract. It's just to keep them on their toes. It's fair to us and fair to them.”

No Champions League doesn't just mean no Champions League Income, it means reduced Sponsorship income too.

 

Until now it hasn't though and as The Bonstar Wandit we'll get less TV money and sponsorship money for finishing 5th than we do 4th. We'll likely still struggle to break even with the new deals if we didn't have CL. So CL is still more important than a trophy, from my point of view anyway.

 

I'd happily take the FA Cup this season and finish 5th or 6th.

 

True, but I think it's concerning when the manager says in the AGM that 4th place is like a trophy. We need him to be showing ambition in both his message to the fans and his actions in the transfer window.

 

Anyone who still doesn't understand the importance of finishing in the top 4 is just a ****ing ******.

I mean seriously, can people not see how the money or lack of it would affect our club?

Oh yay a single FA cup or league cup and then the next few years doing a liverpool while spurs sit in the top 4. Don't be so ridiculous.

The MINIMUM we have to achieve is a top 4 finish. This is REGARDLESS of whether we win a trophy or not. 5th/6th and the fa/league cup is NOT ok, it is failure and far worse for our club than remaining top 4 and missing out for a further year on a domestic trophy.

The idea of having a platform to build from is that you keep those foundations solid. Winning a single cup now but losing out on the attraction of CL and the money from the CL would do more damage to us, than not winning a cup but keeping CL football.

I'm sure inside your heads the idea of silverware sounds lovely. But in reality if we miss out on the top 4 it is a VERY bad thing for the club.

This doesn't mean we should not be pushing and trying our hardest to win a trophy. Bu it does mean that Top 4 is the first priority for the club - if you can't understand why that is then there is no point in trying to explain it to you - it couldn't be any simpler.

 

I'd happily take the FA Cup and end up 5th or 6th. .

 

On a side note - i've just noticed that i no longer have a little line of green bars under my username - Now it's a single red bar!!!!

I'm infamous am i? :O - That's gotta be about a million thumbs down from A87 and gunner.b.alright surely?

 

I know you would A87, but i also know your beyond help

 

How do you thumbs down someone's comment?

 

Under each comment there is a Smile, Thumbs up, and thumbs down. I assume thats how the red/green rep bars are effected?

 

Who knows!?
I have more posts than you, more points than you, and higher rep power than you, yet I'm still a "rough diamond."
Go figure. Though I've received 2 less likes, and a whole lot more dislikes than you

 

I have green bars and i doubt anyone gives my posts thumbs up so who knows..