Tag Archives: Arsenal

Manchester City €2.7bn doping – and why it is good for football

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Many will disagree with me, but I have no real issue with Sheikh Mansour pumping his billions into Manchester City.

It is his money, he has legally earn it. Why should be restricted as to how he spends it?

The important thing for me is that once he has given the money to Manchester City – whether it be through gifts or sponsorship – that money then becomes Manchester City’s.

Manchester City are very different to Chelsea. They have zero debt. Sheikh Mansour has financed them and does not seemingly want the money back .He has not loaned them, the club does not sit with £2.7bn debt owed to the owner. Chelsea, meanwhile, currently owe Roman Abramovich £1bn.

This means if Roman was to ever leave, the club would be forced to pay off his huge loan, or the new owner be forced to take it on.

A lot of people are pointing out that Sheikh Mansour’s funding of the club infringes UEFA’s Financial Fair Play laws. This is a justified argument, but only works if you think that FFP was legitimate in the first place.

I have had problems with FFP since the day it was proposed.

The theory behind FFP was understandable. It agreed to in principle in September 2009. The aim was to prevent football clubs spending more than they earn in the pursuit of success and in doing so getting into financial problems which might threaten their long-term survival.

But this was just the tagline the clubs already at the top of the tree put towards.

The truth is FFP was invented to stop the likes of Chelsea (and future clubs who get bought by billionaires) breaking the dominance of the established big boys.

UEFA Member Clubs feared that there could be a Chelsea in Spain, Italy and Germany. Clubs with little to no history being bought out by a super rich Russian or Arab who was happy to bank roll that club to success. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, Liverpool, Juventus and Bayern Munich led the way for FFP. They were frightened that their monopoly on success could be ruined.

It is the old money / new money that you often see in Kensington when the super rich move in and decide to build an iceberg basement.

Those currently living on the street are against the basements works, even though they have already spent millions on their own one. Once they have their own basement in place, they do not want a new guy moving next doors, building his own one, disturbing the street.

It is the same in football.

The likes of Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid because they were the richest clubs of the time period. The had the owners who bankrolled them to the success that made them a big club. Whether it be TV companies (Sky with Manchester United); Dictators (General Franco and Real Madrid) or companies (Littlewoods Pools and Liverpool).

All of these clubs had, at some point, a wealthy benefactor that has enabled them to become the self-sufficient giants that they now are.

By introducing FFP, they were basically saying “we have had our wealthy benefactor who financed us to the top, we are now going to ban you from doing the same”.

The argument was that a Roman Abramovich or Sheikh Mansour created an unfair playing field, but the truth is the opposite.

By banning these characters putting money into a club, it mean that the already-rich would stay at the top, unchallenged by the not yet rich (Leicester City aside is a one season in a 100 thing). Elite clubs in Europe were basically solidifying their place at the top table but restricting what other clubs could spend.

Whilst Manchester City ran away with the league last season, the Premier League is the most competitive in Europe’s top 4 (I do not count France as a top league).

There have been 4 different winners of the Premier League in the last 6 years; Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City & Leicester City. There have also been 5 different sides to finish 2nd in those 6 years (Man U, Tottenham, Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool).

Prior to Chelsea being bought out by Roman Abramovich, just 2 clubs had won league titles in the preceding 6 years (Arsenal & Manchester United). The money that came in to Chelsea made the league more competitive. It stopped it being a 2 horse league.

A 2 horse league like La Liga – where Real Madrid or Barcelona have won 13 of the last 14 league titles. They also monopolise second place; with 12 2nd place finished in 14 years shared between the two of them. Only twice since 1950 have one of Barcelona or Real Madrid not made the top 2.

FFP was designed to keep Real Madrid and Barcelona at the top. To restrict a Chelsea (or later Manchester City) rising in Spain like they did in England. La Liga is now a boring and predictable league. A two team league. The Sunny SPL.

It would be a lot better if a super rich owner came in, bought a mid size club, and smashed the Barcelona / Madrid monopoly.

Italy is similar.

I remember the glory days of Seria A being a highly competitive league. Juventus, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Roma, Lazio all won the league over a 7 year period. Juventus have now one the last 7 titles. How boring and predictable is that?

And the Bundesliga is no better, with Bayern Munich having won the last 6 titles.

This is what FFP does. It keeps the current establishment at the top by restricting what lesser clubs can spend.

Europe’s elite are basically saying “we have had decades of being the richest club, spending the most. We have had our benefactors come in and spend millions, now we are going to stop you.”

A final thought on this.

FFP was bought in to stop clubs going into huge debt. Manchester United, Juventus, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Liverpool – 5 of the clubs who drove for FFP – have combined debts of nearly £2bn.

Billionaire owners are good for leagues. They break up the establishment. As long as they pump money in and do not expect it to be repaid; then they are a positive.

UEFA’s elite clubs used FFP to try and solidify their place at the top table. The same way they are proposing a European Super League where its founders are immune from relegation.

FFP is working in Spain, Italy and Germany as it is stopping other clubs becoming competitive. It is ensuring the old guard continue to win titles.

The Premier League is the most exciting, competitive in the world. And the only league where we have a mixture of old guard (Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal) and new money (Manchester City & Chelsea)

Keenos

Pride and togetherness back at Arsenal

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Anyone at Fulham who was in the away end singing ‘We’ve got our Arsenal back’ would have felt that tingle. Been years since I felt like that. Certainly will be one of my favourite moments of the season.

Are we back though? What does it actually mean?

For me, it’s two things, pride and togetherness.  

That was The Arsenal I fell in love with. The Arsenal who I felt proud of, regardless. Being with people, different from me, but together with them for the most important thing in the world for 90 minutes.  An Arsenal who fought, a team that no one fancied playing and a club whose rich history and standards would always shine through.  

Versus Blackpool I sat in the West Stand for the first time, near the bench. Unai was on his feet the whole game. Stamping his feet, looking angry at times, and gave Guendouzi a glare I’ve seen before by George.  It made me smile. 

I spent the week worrying about the Liverpool game. It wasn’t the losing, it was more the fear of the disappointment that maybe it has all been a honeymoon period, maybe I had been kidding myself?   I needn’t have worried. We did everything we needed to do. Started fast and with intent and played for 90 minutes. We matched them in every area.  You know you’ve had a good day when Klopp, with 10 mins to go was happy with the draw. We have gaps, we have areas to improve, but we are further forward than I thought if I’m honest. It seems Unai certainly does know. 

A good manager gets the best out of what he’s got. Players, who I would inwardly groan at when I heard their name called out, now have become a sense of relief for me when they start. Iwobi is the main example, how he has been transformed in such little time is astounding. Solid, offensive, tough and playing with the confidence he’s always needed. Wonderful to see.

The biggest impact has been, we have become a team. No superstars, no one man carrying the team. A proper team of hard working grafters, led by a man who won’t accept anything less.  Players who will stick their foot in and will recover a lost pass. 

It’s so nice to talk about football again and not the business or the board. This is what we’ve got back, a common purpose, a passion and an excitement for every game. 

We will have some moments of despair, but I’m very confident we will pick ourselves straight up. Anything less with not be acceptable to Mr Emery. No shame in losing when you’ve left everything on the pitch. 

Results are what matters in football, but for our team,  who were so damaged and fractured we need to repair first and build some strength again.  

Yes, we have our Arsenal back. 

*JD*

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Match Report: Arsenal 1 – 1 Liverpool

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Arsenal (0) 1 Liverpool (0) 1
Premier League
Emirates Stadium, Drayton Park, London N5 1BU
Saturday, 3rd November 2018. Kick-off time: 5.30pm
(4-2-3-1) Leno: Bellerín, Mustafi, Holding, Kolašinac; Torreira, Xhaka; Mkhitaryan, Özil, Aubameyang; Lacazette.
Substitutes: Cech, Ramsey, Maitland-Niles, Lichtsteiner, Smith-Rowe, Iwobi, Welbeck.
Scorers:Lacazette
Yellow Cards: Lacazette
Referee: Andre Marriner
Attendance:circa 60,000
There are so many memorable events from the past that have involved these two leviathans of the English game; cup finals, championship deciders, Charity Shield matches, along with great performances from legendary players, it would be impossible to pick out a highlight from our respective histories, except to say that when Liverpool come to The Emirates, the atmosphere becomes almost fever pitch. Whatever the result of today’s match, all we can hope for is that our lessons have been learned with regards to our mistakes of this season so far, and that we walk away worthy victors against one of our top rivals.
Our team today is the strongest that Mr. Emery can assemble at this moment in time for the visit of Liverpool, and the inclusion of Sead Kolašinac in place of the injured Nacho Monreal shows good intent. Unlike so many games this season, Arsenal showed strength and creativity from the start. Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Mesut Özil were causing damage in the Liverpool defence, so much so, that they changed formation twice withon 20 minutes to try and stem the tide of Arsenal’s attacks. The speed of play was breathtaking at times, the accuracy of passing unbelievable. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette came close to scoring within minutes of each other, and when the half-time whistle went, both sides were pleased to recharge their batteries; so frenetic and intense were the first 45 minutes, that no injury time was added, which is testament indeed to the pace and power from all involved on the field of play.
The second half started and carried on in much the same vein as the first; Lucas Torreira consolidated his influence on the match, and was often a target for the frustrations of the physical Liverpool defenders. Unbelievable to think that this man is only 22 years old, as he plays with the maturity and wherewithal of a player some five or six years his senior. It was becoming obvious that the only way that anyone could score a goal would be either from fatigue or an error, and so it was the latter that Liverpool took the lead just after the hour. A low cross came in from Sadio Mané out on the left, Bernd Leno managed to push the ball away, but unfortunately it hit Rob Holding and the rebound fell to the feet of James Milner who clinically put the visitors ahead. No heads down, though; Arsenal regrouped and went about their business professionally and quickly. Liverpool changed formation yet again, this time to mirror Arsenal’s, and in doing so found themselves the on back foot, particularly down the channels.
Mr. Emery believes fervently in late substitutes, and so Alex Iwobi took the place of Henrikh Mkhitaryan on 68 minutes, Aaron Ramsey did the same for the physically shattered Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang five minutes later too. It became obvious that Sead Kolašinac was being given the runaround by Mo Salah, so Danny Welbeck took his place with just ten minutes left of the match. Fresh legs gave Arsenal new impetus and little more than two mintues later, the scores were even. Alexandre Lacazette managed to shield the ball away from the the Liverpool goalkeeper, turn, and as defenders were closing in on him, turned and scored a superb goal to redress the balance. This seemed to wske things up a bit, and for the rest of the match both sides came close to scoring, but in the end a one-all draw became the order of the day.
A superb performance by our team today, one that we can all be very proud of indeed. They have answered many questions, and in doing so, earned the applause and cheers from our supporters as they left the pitch. Every man fulfilled their promise, and all expectations were met. We now know how good we can be when facing one of the top Premiership teams, and the potential of the side that the manager is slowly building. Remember everyone, keep the faith, get behind the team and the manager, as these early days are going to be crucial for our future success in all competitions. Stick with the winners. Victoria Concordia Crescit.

Steve

Too Dearly Loved To Be Forgotten: Arsenal v Racing Club de Paris 1930-1962 by Steve Ingless (Rangemore Publications, ISBN 978-1-5272-0135-4) is now available on Amazon.

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