Wenger's initial success was built upon finding bargin priced players and either developing them or reinvigorating them...our scouting network seemed to be the envy of all. Anelka - 500k Veira - 2/3M Petit - 2.5M Pires - 6M Overmars -5M Kanu - 4.5M Campbell - FREE Ljungberg - 3M Adebayor - 3M RVP - 2.5M Clichy - 250k Gilberto - 5M But over recent seasons Wenger has clearly lost the ability to buy the same quality players and or develop them. Squillaci / Chamakh / Vela / Bendtner / Park / Ramsey (maybe make an exception with the leg break) You can't expect a Manager not to make mistakes (Jeffers, Richard Wright, etc. ) but he can't seem to find those same bargains and the players he does bring in take 6-12 months longer to develop) A player like Arshavin hasn't developed he's gone backwards....and the jury is still out on Gervinhio, Mertersaker, Jenkinson and Santos (Arteta seems solid but for 10M why did we not get Parker ?!?!?) Many say we can't compete with United, City and co. but as shown above that's not how we were successful in the past! There have been plenty of recent transfers that although maybe not "World Class" are SIGNIFICANTLY better than what we have now and would assume we would have a decent chance to sign them if we'd have gone in for them. BARGIN BIN Demba Ba - FREE (I know he had injury concerns but we signed Overmars and Kanu when they had issues) Tiote - 3M Cabeye - 5M Sessegnon - 6M Parker - 5M Larsson - FREE Dembele - 5M Shane Long - 7M Discouting RVP because he was signed so long ago the only players of real quality are... * Wilshere....but he's only had 1 full season so we still don't know if he can repeat and or improve on that * Szczency...despite some dodgy recent form he looks a great prospect but like Wilshere we need more time to see if he is the real deal * TV....obvious quality but serious concerns about his injury record Wenger has never been good with tactics or strategy but he could find a develop great players and that ability has clearly left him...maybe that's down to no longer having David Dein and other backroom staff to push and negotiate to get those players?
Well that last point was discussed following the transfer window last summer. It was a discussion by some who ought to know ( think it may have been the football correspondent with the Standard, James Olley and others ) that the combo of Gazidis and Dick Law are not very good at getting our man, unlike as you say, as in the days of David Dein. Parker as the guys said above was one who clearly got away. I don't even think ' Arsenn ' had him on his radar and he was only a 5m pound throw. Worse still of course is where he ended up!!!
Agreed - Parkers bite in the middle is exactly what we need especially with Jack out. As for bargains, there are fewer out there now, when AW signed Anelka any player going for £5m was headline news, then the chequebook clubs appeared and blew all sense and reason away with their valuation of players. It's easy to look at Torres because he's the obvious one, but over the years Chelsea have signed Duff (£17m) Crespo (£17m), Mutu (£16m), Veron £15m), Del Horno (£8m), Wright-Philips (£21m), Shevchenko (£30m), Boulahrouz (£7m), Luiz (£26m) to name just a few. Only Luiz is still there and the others combined for just over 300 appearances in all comps, not a great return. When Man City have got to the £1b spend figure I'll do them.....
Really makes for interesting reading when you list them like that Mr Grizzly. I knew Chelsea had been rather liberal with their money but that's just burning the stuff. I had to add up those values again. £157m before wages is amazingly dumb. Would be interesting to see how good City are at turning cash into gold.
RVB - there are many many others. I always thought their biggest waste of money was Ferreira at £13m but I was shocked to see he's now racked up 130odd appearances (taken him 7/8 years)....
What it must be like to have access to money eh friend? Could also be seen as what it is like to have a benefactor who is not afraid to spend. I don't think any of us are calling for uncontrolled spending sprees but just some good additions not unlike what we used to do would be helpful. Seems we are not in a position to do even that. I really hate to have to face a period of decline and am going to blame some people if we do.
I think the issue is that no-one, anywhere, ever, in the history of time will get every decision right and the clubs with limitless funds at their disposal will always sign a dog that makes them look silly (Chelsea just happen to have signed a few over the years). And this is where I would feel a little aggrieved if my season ticket price H/T pint and hotdog etc kept going up and the man in charge was wasting tens of millions - I'd feel it was my money (anyone that's ever worked for the civil service will know what I mean !). Weren't Chelsea meant to break even 2/3 years ago ? How the hell is that ever going to happen if spending £30m+ on players plus the salary that goes with it is the norm ? I'd hate Arsenal to become a club that behaves like that....
I wouldn't disagree Mr Grizzly. However we cannot even get the few players we need. Instead the money is squandered on young potential talent and a wages policy that rewards mediocrity. That is in part of where the rising cost of that HT pint and hot dog are going. We need to get leaner, meaner and sharper. Both on the pitch and in the offices at N5.
Completely agree RVB - although whilst everyone comes with a price tag and we all know how overpaid some of our youngsters are, they don't command Rooney and Terry type wages, if you pay your captain or star £250k a week, the next line of decent players will want £200k, the third tier £150k, you can't have one on £250k and everyone else on £50k it wouldn't work. Sell your soul and it's gone forever, no turning back....
