A solution to all Arsenal's problems
By Avenell Dave
Do you know what the Arsenal motto is?
For those of you who are such new fans that you don't remember the old club crest, it read: "Victoria Concordia Crescit". Victory through harmony.
Teamwork, in other words.
So it struck me, looking at the FourFourTwo Rich List that it's about time the Arsenal Board got together and started making the club as competitive on the field as it is off it.
Granted, even for a non-economist like me, the business model seems sound enough and when the Emirates is paid off and the Queensland Road development and Highbury Square are completed, we will be in one hell of a powerful position.
Things are going well on the pitch at the moment and we look competitive and can score goals all over the park.
But if William Gallas, Thomas Vermaelen or even Alex Song gets injured, we are going to be in a bit of trouble I fear, and with the club on the brink of something special, it seems so avoidable.
Wouldn't it make a lot of sense if the club brought Stan Kroenke and Alisher Usmanov together - two of the top ten wealthiest people in football with a combined wealth of more than £3bn - rather than continue with the cold war that is currently going on around the club.
We've been led to believe that Kroenke is a responsible, successful businessman with a track record of bringing glory to his other sporting interests, while Usmanov has been painted as a renegade and someone the club are desperate to keep away from taking control.
Whatever the truth is, the phrase 'keep your friends close and your enemies closer' could not be more appropriate.
Surely bringing Usmanov into the fold and working with him would make so much sense?
While I appreciate and respect Arsene Wenger's Project Youth, £20-£30m could make such a difference - and would be small change to Usmanov and Kroenke.
Wenger could go the extra million and buy Chamakh in January to give us extra domestic firepower, and bring in the defensive cover that we need to compete on all fronts.
I'm also not sure all the boardroom uncertainty is particularly beneficial even though I don't think it affects performances.
Stability is a key word at The Arsenal and it seems obvious that the best way to maintain the status quo is to get all major shareholders working together.
We have the resources in place to really challenge the M*nure/Ch*vski hold on top spot, and stave off Liverpool and Citeh.
You know it makes sense...
DA
Reader Comments (11)
If we pick up Vieira for virtually nothing (wages aside) and Chamakh for £5m c. I don't see how important it would be to get Usmanov and Kroenke together (even if it were possible). Our conservatism in our financial dealings means that we have a pretty reasonable transfer kitty with only City, United and Chelsea with potentially more funds. This 20-30m you mention is already available so this idea that somehow a get together of our major share holders will mean that (1) Wenger will then have sufficient funds to spend and (2) he'll chose to spend it is somewhat pointless thread of thought (with respect).
Come on you Reds, we're not far off!
Nonsense. You note that our business model is sound and point out that it will only get stronger in the coming years as our property is sold, then reason that getting Usmanov and Kroenke more involved will allow us to spend more.
Financially, we're already strong enough to buy players and, while we can't spend extortionate amounts on individuals, very few clubs can. That isn't what stops us getting Chamakh, or another midfielder - it's that Wenger is convinced by his current crop.
What we need is an executive to work with Wenger and challenge him to add the final 5% to this team (i.e. backup in defensive midfield, maybe a centre half). What we don't need is to hand over power from the boardroom to a sugar daddy (or sugar daddies) - especially a criminal like Usmanov.
if Usmanov wasn't just in it for the money then it might make more sense but he has publicly stated he supports man utd and has also publicly asked for dividends to be paid, something the current shareholders refuse to take.
It doesn't so much seem that Usmanov want's to put money in as take money out and if I remember correctly he's been associated with more dodginess than almost any other football club owner - quite an achievement!
You still don't get what AW is doing do you? Bringing in non world class muppets will seriously arrest the development of the next cohort of genuine world class juniors- unless he buys them and benches them. What is the point of that. It's fair to no-body that. Leave him alone and if you can't work it out - or cope with the patience thing- just pretend AW know what he is doing!!
Your a wally! We have money to spend so we don't need anyone investing in us. Arsene Wenger chooses to keep money he has. How can someone that clearly doesn't research the club properly write a blog!
Its Actually VICTORIA CONCORDIA CRESCIT. You must be one of those 'new supporters' you were refering to!
'Avenell Dave' another poor blog written by an armchair fan
"Victoria Concodria Crescit"? You muppet, you don't even know our crest properly.
And it's "Victory Grows Through Harmony" you fucking muppet.
The responses are rather harsh in my opinion. If wenger had released the cobwebs from the purse strings during the summer of 2008 perhaps we might of bought Arshavin in July, won the champions league and enjoyed a better championship position at the end of the season. I still believe we need to strengthen, yes we are currently doing well, but what happens when we sustain injuries at the business end of proceedings. I dont care if a few players become unhappy because they warm the bench, i just wanna see a winning team again. Football has moved on, there are many teams with huge wallets willing to splash the cash. Money doesnt bring automatic success but it certainly helped Chelsea, Liverpool Man U and now City. Another defender and central midfielder would not guarantee joy at the end of the season, but might give important players a break during a hectic schedule and prevent niggling injuries throughout the campaign.
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