How do you rate his tenure so far? He's kept silent, as is his moniker. Yet the money has been spent. LOTS of players came in last Summer - and they had to. More have come in this Summer, but at what cost? There have been losses, heavy ones. There seems to be a tougher stance pervading through the club at present - the sale of Song a very relevant point. Are the coaches getting tough? There's been a BIG shift in emphasis from young players with potential to established players ready for the now too. How would you rate Kroenke as an owner so far? Has he done enough to convince that he's here for the long term and he's the right man for the job?
I'm 'satisfied' with this summer's transfer, so that's a good thing, they're showing that they do want to do something, rather than sitting on their asses. On the flip side, as you said, there have been a lot of major losses, some of them understandable, some of them not so much.
Bonstar, at the risk of becoming boring, I have to point out again that we have spent nett nothing again this year, we will probably make money again. so far 39 mill out 39 million in. All we have done for so many years is to sell off our best players, and replace them with lesser quality, Cazorla being the exception. Lots of players have come in, Park, Gervinho, Chamack Mert, etc, but how many were Arsenal standard, (old Arsenal). I think Kroenke is a businessman who wants to add to his personal wealth, he really doesn't care about the club. The only thing that will maybe change his opinion is if we don't qualify for the Champions League for next year.
Arsenal's spending HAS been a problem for them in that they have clearly been paying up and coming stars way too much money ... this is fine when it's the likes of Whilshere (excuse spelling), your keeper etc. but not for the likes of Chamakh, Bendtner, etc. Chamakh was a free transfer but has cost you a fortune in wages, £65,000 BEFORE bonuses image rights etc. He also got a big signing on fee. That's as much as our top players got until this year I think that you balance the books on transfer fees but pay much high wages than most clubs (I know City United and Chelsea outspend you). Maybe this is a money concern which is hidden as fans and the press tend to ignore signing on fees, wages, bonuses, image rights etc. I ain't have a dig...just looking for reasons.
My bad...Thought I remembered 65k as he was a free...even so that is still a huge amount for some one untried in the PL...so instead of being free he is costing a min of £2.5m per year in wages (Excluding bonuses, image rights and a big signing on fee). It makes it near impossible to get rid of them and is a serious drain on money.
A lot of people were quick to slate Kronke and Gazidis, because we hadn't won trophies. But we hadn't won anything for a few years before they came in either. Since they have, we've been more active in the transfer market and as pointed out, we've been buying experienced players. We're increasing our commercial revenue and maximising overseas opportunities too. The club are solvent and on course for a good future. I'd like to hear Stan talk a bit more about his long term vision and intentions for the club, but other than that, I'd say so far so good.
I'm paranoid that Kroenke is going to do to us what the glazers did to ManUre. Yes, they win, but financiallly they're a mess.
There would be no reason to though fella. Arsenal are solvent and making a profit. we've just about paid off our debts and are financially sound for the future. People go on about us having a £150m war chest that we don't spend, but that is our surplus, to service the club and ensure that we don't end up in debt. The Glazers have loaded Utd with huge debt, all okay whilst they are winning, but any dip and they are ****ed.
I'd argue it's still too early to tell what the effect has been/will be. In three or four seasons, then maybe we can take stock, but in the meantime (and without knowing exactly what's going on behind the scenes) I'm reserving judgement.
Time will tell. Ultimately the judgement of whether they are success will always be measured by trophies, but there is more to it than that for me. I'm happy that Arsenal are being managed properly, even if it doesn't mean Silverware straight away. The only reason Chelsea and City have been winning the league is because they've thrown obscene amounts of cash to do so, that is the truth. Before then City were getting relegated when we were winning doubles and Chelsea were trying to climb their way back out of decades of obscurity.
I think that money has (within reason) always been there for AW to spend but he's simply chosen not to. I personally think he's incredibly stubborn, he was slow to accept that B52, Denilson, Vela etc would not cut it at the very top, and I have every belief that if he wanted to buy £15m players 1,2,3+ years ago he could have, he just refused to accept that his original strategy was being outmuscled by the chequebook clubs. Those that believe we could have held onto any of the big 4 that have left us in the last 12 months are fooling themselves, Cesc aside they all wanted riches over and above the multi millionaire status that Arsenal, and more precisely Arsene Wenger, created for them, we made big profits on them all so the business was shrewd and when a manager has selfish/disloyal players who don't want to be there then he has to get rid. The fact we're about level on 2012 transfers doesn't indicate a lack of investment, it highlights the great business that AW has negotiated.
We had our hand forced on RVP and Song ditching us was just baffling really. I think Wenger handled those situations pragmatically and managed to strengthen the squad and break even, I don't see why that's a problem. Would people just rather we spent **** loads for the sake of it ?
Bang on Piskie, the thing is we have a number of younger fans (I am in my mid 30's) who only remember us winning things, they don't remember finishing mid table year after year. I don't want to sound patronising, but we have been in a lot darker places before and we will come back brighter!!
I agree, but success does this to all clubs. We have a generation of fans who only know Arsenal being successful under Wenger. They are obviously bound to be more impatient.
Being a younger fan myself i have to admit i have become impatient waiting for success.It's been 7 years FFS
They seem to be working hard to improve the commercial side of the business - where Arsenal have been for a while far behind their rivals. Tours of the far east, and the proposed (failed) Nigerian one highlight how they're improving their overseas appeal. Resurrecting the problems of Nigeria by sending Merts, Pod & Sagna over for press work was great - they weren't able to go to Asia, but were still useful for enlarging the brand in Africa. It's a shame Frimpong didn't also go, since he's also injured, but I'm not sure if being Ghanaian he would have been a particular asset. People talk about the undervaluing of the current sponsorship deals, but they were signed up for less per year, but for more years, to ensure stable income while the stadium was paid off - part of the long-term strategy. The major deals are to be renegotiated in the next couple of years. Which brings us to a bone of contention, and that being winning trophies. It bugs me that the new deals are up for grabs, and will be worth huge amounts of money, and a trophy or two would increase their value greatly. Spending 2m to get Mata, or one or two other players, last Summer, in January, or this Summer, could have proved sufficient to win a trophy, or keep van Persie, or Theo, or all three. Those few millions now could translate into many more when the deals are renewed. In some aspects Arsenal seem to be thinking very long-term, and doing very well. In others, it appears they can be incredibly short-sighted.
Bonstar you are right, we are working very hard to improve the commercial side of the business, but for whose benefit, we already have shed loads of money that they are not spending. Once again we will actually make money from transfers this year. I can't help feeling that the club is a cash cow for Kroenke. Which any businessman will tell you is great business, and any supporter will tell you means diminishing success.
