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"Thanks for that Brian" said:
There's much in what you say. One issue that hasn't come up is perhaps the most important in what happens next. What are Stan Kroenke's intentions?

His ownership of franchises in the US suggests that winning doesn't come top of the list. That's backed up by one of the few pronouncements that he's ever made about Arsenal and by your level of spending relative to the usual English CL competitors Chelsea, United and Citeh since he took over. Is he going to buy players at the top of their game by going toe-to-toe with those clubs at £70m, £80m, £90m or £100m and do that for more than one player? If yes, then a really good manager might turn things around relatively speedily. If not, things could look more like Liverpool post-2010 with a number of frog managers kissed until a prince showed up and one CL place in 7 years.

Now that there are 6 clubs going for 4 places, getting back in there is going to be no easy task in the short term. That landscape is going to make for some interesting times ahead. History suggests that the first manager into the seat isn't going to be the long term answer and the statement from Gazidis that a successor hasn't been identified at this point is surprising and would be a concern to me, if it is true and they're not waiting for Chelsea to sack Conte.
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It's interesting you bring up Kroenke's intentions actually. Whilst he does care more about the £ piggie trough that comes with CL football, this current season has seemingly sent him on red alert. Ornstein's report yesterday said he was growing concerned with the empty seats and low corporate-level ticket renewals. This obviously affects commercial deals and image rights etc, which would affect the amount of money Arsenal are making.

I still think he is a massive problem and will not go above and beyond to propel us to success. However, as I mentioned in my previous comment, the board have tried to be a lot more proactive by recruiting new members of staff who all have their own personalities, approaches and ideas regarding what they want to achieve. They all also have a plethora of experience in their respective fields. Raul Sanllehi, as Head of Football Relations, Sven Mislintant as Head of Recruitment, Huss Famy, as Head of Negotiations and Darren Burgess, as Head of High Performance.

Their knowledge and expertise is certainly a cause for optimism. And although a dodgy owner isn't ideal, in some ways, Kroenke being less involved in the club may work in our favour when it comes to the football side of things. But I think even he is aware that a second successive season outside of the Champions League means we will have no option but to abandon the overly-frugal approach that hasn't served us well over the years. We still have a significant pot of money to spend on players; we just need to identify the right players and ensure they will fit in at the club. Of course there is no guarantee with any new player that they will do well, but you have to maintain trust that the club and Wenger's successor will know how to incorporate them into the style of play/team that they desire.

Although Gazidis has publicly stated we haven't been actively looking for a successor yet, Ornstein said he's been hearing they have had a five-man shortlist ready to present to Kroenke in light of Wenger's departure. Included on them are Jardim, Allegri, Nagelsmann, Ancelotti and...Rodgers (God help us if he gets the job). Any statements in the public domain that come from Gazidis' mouth are to be taken with a handful of salt. Deep down, they must have known this was coming at some point and with the new off-pitch acquisitions, it would be gross negligence to not have some names prepared to take over.

I guess we'll just need to wait and see, but I am quietly optimistic that this is a leap forward.
 
Feckin’ ‘experts’...... in this case, Terry Butcher.

‘Zaha probably dived there because there wasn't enough contact to go down, and he went to ground very easily. The referee took control of the situation very well and it was the right decision to give a goal kick and not to book Zaha.’

Twat! <doh>
 
At least he’s consistent...

‘Zaha has left his foot in there a little bit. His foot is high and he catches the keeper on the thigh but it's not enough to warrant a yellow or even a red card.’
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<doh>
 
Spur of the Moment said:
Feckin’ ‘experts’...... in this case, Terry Butcher.

‘Zaha probably dived there because there wasn't enough contact to go down, and he went to ground very easily. The referee took control of the situation very well and it was the right decision to give a goal kick and not to book Zaha.’

Twat! <doh>
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Zaha is probably THE player in the PL that needs booking for diving, more than any other. Dele's received a few yellow cards and they've been fully deserved and probably a couple on top.

I think Palace have received more penalties than any other PL club this season. Mostly due to Zaha being a much better diver than Dele. When officials can see he's gone down far too easily, he needs to be booked.

Now, he's booked for one that might have been a penalty. He's got nobody to blame but himself.
 
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"Thanks for that Brian" said:
Zaha is probably THE player in the PL that needs booking for diving, more than any other. Dele's received a few yellow cards and they've been fully deserved and probably a couple on top.

I think Palace have received more penalties than any other PL club this season. Mostly due to Zaha being a much better diver than Dele. When officials can see he's gone down far too easily, he needs to be booked.

Now, he's booked for one that might have been a penalty. He's got nobody to blame but himself.
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<laugh> Serves the fecker right.....
 
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BrunelGooner said:
Interesting that quite a few of you on here think things are likely to go on a downward spiral now that Wenger has gone. Truthfully, I can never tell if that's your honest opinions or if that's the natural pessimism you guys have towards Arsenal as Spurs fans. ...
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When the PL was a 2 horse race, Wenger was great
at taking the fight to Fergie every now and then.

When Chelsky won the lottery, the writing was on the wall
but the Library debt was used as the convenient excuse.
And then when the Library debt was being cleared down
nicely, the excuse was what : Sugga Daddy FCs ??

Now the fight is between 6.
One was the recent Empire. Two are Sugga Daddy FCs.
One is far more astute in its wage/transfer dealings than
the Goons, and with an emerging manager, meaning they can
punch far above their financial power.

Each year out of the CL costs a club getting to the KO
stages about 40m in UEFA money, and God knows what
in TV/sponsorship revenues.

Time will tell what each year out of the CL will do to your
revenues. This season (not yet done until at least the Atletico tie)
has obviously panicked Keystone Kroenke and the bean counters
sufficiently to get rid of Wenger.
 
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As crap as some things have been this weekend, spare a thought for Sunderland. No team deserves to go through the amount of **** their fans have had to endure the past couple of seasons.

I still feel sorry for this bloke from last season...

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You can take the player out of Chelsea, but you can't take Chelsea out of the player, apparently.
Note Marko Marin on the right making possibly the most ill advised dive of all time:
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Shame.

After the match a journalist had the following exchange with Lorenzo Insigne:
J: "They said that they would play like a Champions League final and they lost..."
I: "They're used to it."
Oh, that fragile Juve mentality... <whistle>
 
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PleaseNotPoll said:
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Shame.

After the match a journalist had the following exchange with Lorenzo Insigne:
J: "They said that they would play like a Champions League final and they lost..."
I: "They're used to it."
Oh, that fragile Juve mentality... <whistle>
Click to expand...
Funny how Pepe Reina had to leave Saltypool to be a title contender, isn't it?
 
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