You can notice the real inner pride officials at the club have taken from gaining the new sponsorship deals and new financial money over the past year and our well increased budget is something to certainly be optimistic about.
I was admittedly one of those that were open to the idea of increasing Alisher Unmanov's share at the club in order to help us in the market a few years back when we were losing our top players to make profit.
The opinionated point I'm trying to express is that in the end I think the right choice can be made and I suppose Ivan Gazidis deserves credit where it's due. It's obvious that this took a decade of planning and was a massive risk as all may not have gone to plan (Wenger being forced out, losing CL place being set back in our plans, losing major ground on rivals etc) but the risk has come off really well and the new era really took off tremendously after winning the F.A Cup we don't go into the season with that burden on us.
We've brought 2 world class players in their prime (maybe just before it) in the last 2 summers now and will continue to do so I believe. Contracts are also being secured with our important players (Kos' new deal was the most relieving news for me personally) the ground is set for a promising few years ahead all that needs to be seen is Arsene Wenger's new tactical flexibility and ability to carry the club all the way in a title push as well as better demonstrations in Europe.
I'm rambling now, but do you think the club made the right decision to be self-sufficient even with all we suffered throughout? Isn't Wenger deserving of taking us through this new era as some reckon he could have left on a high?
Usmanov's Money
posted on 30/7/14
There was a balance to find and we were far too frugal. A share issue before the stadium move could have raised valuable money for the club, for instance.
There's also the fact that we could have spent money we did have far more efficiently, Wenger's signed some good players but failed to strengthen at key times for many seasons and has spent money on some utter trash in his time here.
Additionally, we have had far more money to spend for many years than many people on here seem to believe, and in fact, we still have a considerable amount in the bank, so not signing a defensive midfielder at the very least this summer would be a travesty.
But I've been impressed so far this summer and if we can add a William Carvalho/Pogba plus the striker that I'm sure we need and yet everyone else seems to think we're fine without, we can likely mount a title challenge at the very least.
posted on 30/7/14
Penguin
I agree but regarding the money available beforehand I think we could afford decent players only Koscielney and Santi were the best kind of deals we were ever going to get you can see we have been largely working towards clearing the dross out occupying wages we now have a squad where everyone maybe over 23 can be considered good enough to be registered in my opinion
It look like we've been saving up to capture the much more valuable players in Ozil and Sanchez and Wenger did highlight the importance of quality over quantity,
In terms of the work still ahead in this market I very much agree a MF is essential and if we can get the names you suggested it would be good work but if we get cheaper options or none a ST would have to be purchased to be satisfied with our work, although I won't be happy regardless if we don't get a dominant mf/DM
posted on 30/7/14
(barring Kos and Santi which were the only great deals we were going to get)
baked
posted on 30/7/14
Never wanted Usmanov, we would have turned into another City/Chelsea and I probably would have lost interest. Gazidis made a speech a few years ago and got absolutely slated for everything he said but things turned out exactly as he predicted. Full credit to the board/Gazidis/Wenger who never lost sight of what they were trying to achieve long term in the face of extreme fan pressure. When you compare the club to when Wenger took over and now it's incredible.
posted on 30/7/14
Usmanov should have a say in the club or at least should sit on the board as he owns just about 30%.