So it appears we have a bad summer (in terms of transfer activity), we lost a key player, adding just one new face to the squad. But there is something we have to understand - it’s not Arsenal and Wenger are not TRYING to buy a new player. It’s just that we couldn’t find a right deal, or in the Beast’s case, some players are not keen joining us. So what else can Wenger do? If anyone has played the Championship Manager series, the transfer dealing there is rather easy, just throw whatever you got trying to land the players you fancy. If it doesn’t work out and your clubs goes broke, no big deal, just start a new game. However, in real life I suppose things may be a little bit more complicated and difficult than just throwing away cash.
When we are trying to land a new player, talent asides, you also need to look at his mentality and temperment. Is he a team player who will work hard for the team? Does he have a suspective temperment that may harm our dressing room chemistry? Is he hunger for success? Or he’s just coming for a big pay cheque? Even if everything seems perfectly right, is he AVAILABLE for sales? And can we afford him? Of course, if you got a sugar daddy who will back you up with unlimited fund, things would be a little easier. Afterall, even if the purchase turns out as a flop you just simply sell him with a discount price. No fuss, no big deal. Unfortunately, for 99.999% of the clubs in the globe I afraid things may work differently. You better make sure you got it right, a bad buy not only would cost your club the result, it may cost your job as well in certain cases. Let’s look no further than the richest club in the world - a certain club up north in Manchester, their summer spending themselves have not been inspiring have they?
I am all for - if we can’t find anyone right, we might as well save the cash. No doubt we still got an unused transfer budget, but don’t forget we are, as a club, still been carrying a hugh debt due to the construction of the new stadium. So if we can save a penny, save it. Who knows? Perhaps the fund maybe useful during the January transfer window? Like everyone else, I want our club to be successful. But most important, I want to see them grow steadily. LoveG once pointed out, about 10 years ago, Leeds and Arsenal were two of the few big clubs who’s running the show of the Premiership. Since then obviously the two clubs have been heading towards the different directions. I guess the key reason down to one thing - the way these two clubs managing the finanical aspect of the club. One looked for instant success and went broke eventually. Another always seek for long term development, seldom did we spend money wild and blindly. Though we may not have won everything every season, we were always up there challenging it. Personally, I will settle for that.
21 Responses to “Don’t play the game CM style”
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July 31st, 2005 at 10:37 am
Spot on, Andez. We’re doing what we can, and its far more complicated than it appears with all that is happening at our club.
There’s still time to sign until the 31st. If it doesn’t happen, we’ll have the cash for January. Its not Wenger’s favorite time to sign, but I’m willing to bet he sees some things playing out in the market that may be worth the wait.
This is business, not Christmas.
July 31st, 2005 at 11:44 am
Good Post! Nice to see a non doomsday post. I agree that it would of been nice to get more new blood to complement the kids that we have. Gleb it seems will be a heck of a good acquisition and who knows who else may join the club. As for Baptista, it is too bad that he will not be coming to highbury but the climate along with the cash there make Spain very attactive for him and other South America players. RM amazes me and make me think of the NY Rangers, they bought Baptista when they don’t even need him and even worse could of had him cheap in January or next year.
As for Arsenal I beleve that they will do the near impossible in that they will rebuild their team while staying at the very top of the EPL. Will they win a trophy this year, well who knows? I would not put it past them and if Liverpool can win the CL then it proves that any club can also, it is all in the teamwork of all players and a measure of good fortune.
Arsene has cash and no doubt is evaluating what is out there. As mentioned he has until the 31st of Aug to make a move so lets wait a bit before we panic and see this thing out. I believe that the team that we have right now is excellent and can compete with any other team. Are we thin on experience on the bench, yes but it is a trade off as these youngsters are all highly rated though unexperienced. Would it be better to have experienced but less talented players on the bench. I don’t think so, although a mix of both would likely be best.
The season starts soon and I look forward to seeing us fighting chelski for top spot again and who knows we may all be in for a pleasant surprise.
Go GUNNERS!!
July 31st, 2005 at 12:42 pm
Good posts, good comments so far..I can live with Lehman in goal for one more season especially after his F.A Cup display, then bring in a Shay Given type. I can accept the forwards we have can on their day look brilliant, and if we cant buy an ‘Owen’ standard player alls not lost….But I strongly feel that our midfield as it stands will get over run and pushed around as the season progresses. There are surely transfer targets out there to assume the defencive midfield ‘holding hardman’ position. This is the area that concerns me most, the kids cant express their skill and vision if they are continually bundled off the ball. You lose the midfield, you lose the game. I`ve said before I`d like Wenger to bring in Graversen, (who unfortunately has been linked with the scum) but there must be a ‘ton’ of these types out there….and Wengers got his scouts. Find another ‘Romford Pele’ or Manu, Grimonde, Peter Story,(70`s) I`m babbling but you get my drift right.
July 31st, 2005 at 12:47 pm
Scotty, this post was inspired by one of your previous comments. U mentioned though we haven’t landed some new additions, it’s not like we have not been TRYING. I couldn’t agree more with that. David Dein flew to Spain hoping to lurk the Beast to Arsenal, and we had been trying to buy him for almost an entire month. Yet at the end of the day, if he doesn’t want to come, then he’s not coming, there’s nothing else we can do about it.
SWP? It really didn’t matter AW want to wait Chelsea made the move first or not. He’s as good as theirs from day one. We could have bided 13 mil or 30 mil for him, but you knew Chelsea were always going to up the price. If a club like Man Utd couldn’t beat them to a player’s signature (Robben), we don’t have a prayer.
Or Jenas? A player to the most worth 7 or 9 mil, Newcastle is asking for 20. Maybe we should be worry that we are not getting any new player, but I would be even more worry if we DO pay 20 million pounds for a player like Jenas.
Who else?… If we are going to buy a new player, I would want him to be a legit quality addition. The last thing I want to see is yet another Almunia, Cygan, Shabban type of players who seems to be only coming here to make up the number.
But the truely good players are hard to come by. There is also one other factor to consider: sometimes getting a good player is not just about whether we have the transfer fund. It’s also about the wage package we are able to offer. Say, if both Real Madrid and Arsenal bid 20 millions pounds for a top class keeper Buffon for instance, both clubs’ bid are accepted by Juve., but then if Arsenal is only able to afford to pay 80,000 pounds per week while Real Madrid is able to fork out 120,000 pounds, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out which club the player is more happy to join for.
July 31st, 2005 at 12:51 pm
I agree. If we are purely talking about the position we need to upgrade MOST, it gotta be the CM position. As talent as Cesc is, he’s a defensive liability. And both Flamini and Cesc are too lightweight to compete with the heavy weight midfield “holding hardman” as u described it.
July 31st, 2005 at 1:26 pm
At last….I am not alone!!!!
July 31st, 2005 at 1:28 pm
Watching our match against Porto and we’re down 1 nil, slightly against the run of play. As much “run” as we seem to be up for. However, outside of Hleb, there seems to be little flow in the midfield and Reyes, go bless ‘em, is doing what he can to link up which just isn’t enough. Flamini’s played well, but Bobby really isn’t comfortable.
Its just a kickabout, and its pretty easy to tell that Wenger is just taking a look at how a few will do this season. Cygan, unfortunately and unsurprisingly, is doing what he can to disrupt out back four. The guy hustles, but…
Not looking altogether fit, either.
July 31st, 2005 at 2:19 pm
Can you see if Wenger is frantically dialing on his cell phone?
July 31st, 2005 at 2:25 pm
….One more thing that unfortunately might be against a player coming to London is the threat of terrorism. The chances of injury are almost non existant, but having lived through the I.R.A`s attempts to disrupt us I can see how when all things are equal, this issue could tip the balance against us. Sad but true!
July 31st, 2005 at 2:35 pm
I think he decided to pass out a few Red Bulls in the locker at the half, instead. Freddie brought some real class to the pitch, but it was more a matter of injecting some pace into the play. It was never a contest after we started running. Even Cygan improved.
That being said, Henry seemed to be more interested in dipping his toe in the pool today. I wouldn’t be shocked if Wenger told him to keep play on the feet of the others. We did exceedingly well to get it to him again and again, and when he wasn’t being dispossessed in the box on the touch line he looked like a basketball player trying hook shots from the 3 point area. Made his usual faces, too.
I may be the only one here, but I’m pleased by us scoring 3 goals and winning this tournament for the first time (well Boca could still take it with 6 clear goals as of this post). We had a lot of youth out there, and there’s nothing like winning. “Bob” Eboue was picked on a lot and looked game but a little shaky. Still, no Clichy, Gilberto, Cesc and RvP to make things run more smoothely.
We’ve won every game in the pre-season. Depending on how you rate these little things, its the first time that’s happened that I can remember. And now onto The Shield. All I want to see is us playing with heart and staying injury free. Let’s hope we keep our heads together and that Henry is inspiring as captain.
July 31st, 2005 at 2:35 pm
F.Y.I,(American posters) the local newspaper for Arsenal news is http://www.islingtongazette.com
July 31st, 2005 at 2:37 pm
Thought about that too, NBG! I’d have to think it was a very real threat to our bringing someone in.
July 31st, 2005 at 4:16 pm
very nice to get a balanced and positive view. its very imp for clubs like us to realize the dangers of going the leeds way. and i think we shud have faith in arsene wenger and vot he is doing….even if his plans at the moment seem a little more for the long run.
July 31st, 2005 at 5:15 pm
i thought Cygan played a good game. He wasn’t at fault on the goal, it was the rookie…
enjoyed the match, well, the 2nd half… but we are out of sorts in the middle…
July 31st, 2005 at 5:19 pm
I don’t think anybody is asking us to do a “Leeds” and spend over our heads.
We were supposed to have money Last January, and a “war chest” this Summer. Add to that 14 million for our captain…
We don’t need to go crazy in the transfer market, but don’t tell me there aren’t good players to be bought… I don’t believe it.
We didn’t improve. Wenger said it himself after the Porto match. He stated we are in a worse position than coming off last season, where we were undefeated. Its fact.
July 31st, 2005 at 6:55 pm
Attackers looking sharp. Defense and midfield, very iffy. Arguably they’ll get better with return of Cesc/Gil. Defense seems to be all over the place.
July 31st, 2005 at 7:23 pm
Great post, Andez. Other good posts, everyone else.
Stag, we’re not saying they’re aren’t quality players out there that we can go after, all we’re saying (I’m presuming others have the same thought as me) is that it’s not as simple as, ‘we have money, we like you, come play.’
Yes we have money. But it doesn’t mean we HAVE to spend it. Again, I’ll use a business example:
If you’re looking for a prime location for your shop, restaurant, etc. & can’t get it b/c the owner of the real estate is asking too much (but you have the funds numerically, doesn’t equate to practical future financial planning or future hard capital), you don’t necessarily buy it b/c you can.
The point is Wenger may have very well wanted Baptista. We obviously could have paid more than the price we offered Sevilla for him, but would it have been worth it? Only time will tell but I can live with Wenger not getting him b/c of a possible over-inflation & the player not being to keen to come to Arsenal anyway.
Perhaps I’m just an optimist or a biased Wengerite but I have to trust the man’s decision making b/c of his track record. Besides, I’m actually excited & getting anxious (in the positive, eager sense) of seeing some of the kids possibly getting some real playing time, namely Bentley & possibly Quincy, Eboue & Lupoli.
I DO agree with the fact of we definitely need another at least decent quality keeper as a backup or to groom as the future #1. But again, who would be available w/o having to overpay & thus forcing us to go sign somebody from the continent?
July 31st, 2005 at 7:49 pm
Your point is one to consider, except that Spain has had Basque sepratist bombings for decades as well, plus the Madrid train bombing a couple years ago didn’t stop the assembly of the ‘galacticos’ or any overt fear of transferring to a team in Spain…
July 31st, 2005 at 10:43 pm
How about this business example…
I have a top rated restaurant, and we lose our head chef… we no longer have to pay his salary. We damned well better get another top chef in quick. There are other good chefs out there. Go get one! You aren’t going to serve fabulous meals on a consistent basis with apprentice cooks!
ESSIEN. How about we spend 25 Million GBP to bring him in. It appears Utd and Arsenal are in an attempt to hijack the deal.
THAT would make sense to me. Don’t give a rats ass how much it costs, because we’ve sold players, and have had an alleged war chest since January, and collected money for CL appearances and all that stuff. GO GET HIM ARSENE! Then, I’ll be right back on board.
August 1st, 2005 at 12:06 pm
New stadium, new players, new trophy….more fans, more sponsors, more money.
August 1st, 2005 at 11:54 pm
Well,no doubt it is how things go.
I think we should be cautious to purchase players,of course.But that does not mean we should not buy any players.
A club’s final aim is to gain glory,not money.If we are all running for money,run the club as a company,and then sale it,we will become a Leeds or MU.
But we won’t.Because we are aiming the glory.
Saving money cannot bring instant success,nor can it bring future success.
Vieira’s leave is a good example.Good players are going to the well supported clubs,they cannot wait.
They need instant success.
So Vieira had complained for a long time that wenger did not seem to bring big names when their rival, Chel$ki , threw cash crasily.
So, we should seek balance between the instant success and future success.So sometimes CM stile works.