Tag Archives: She Wore A Yellow Ribbon

Greedy, Greedy Arsenal

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greed-is-good

They’ve done it again, they’ve done it again, Greedy Arsenal, they’ve done it again.

By now I am sure you would have all received an Email from the club. Or those of you who are image1season ticket holders would have done anyway.

For those not aware, as a season ticket holder, he automatically pay for the first 7 home cup ties of the season (excluding the League Cup). This is the primary reason when studies on season ticket costs are done, Arsenal always appear so much more expensive than other clubs.

Now this for me is already a bone of frustration. Especially when we have to play a Champions League qualifier, which often becomes our first cup credit used. There have been previous suggestions from the club’s fan groups (I think the BSM came up with this one) that Arsenal should offer a ‘Season Ticket Lite’. An option to exclude cup games, and just pay for the 19 league games.

So these Emails, and there are plenty about, show that due to the amount of games that the club have deemed ‘relevant’ this season, there will be an additional charge to season ticket holders. Ranging from £16.11 to upwards of £25.

How can they tag on additional costs, you may ask? Well within the clubs General Admission Season Ticket Terms and Conditions 2015/16 it states the following:

4.5 In the event that the First Team plays more than seven Relevant Cup Matches during the Season and/or there are, during the Season, more than six Category A Matches, or more than 14 Category B Matches, or more than six Category C Matches, the Club will provide information regarding the availability of tickets for such matches through the Club’s box office on request and on the Website (as well as information on where entry to the Ground for such matches can be obtained by the use of the Season Ticket). The cost of the tickets for any such matches shall be payable by you.

Now in the season ticket, paid for before the start of the season, we know we get a mixture of Cat A, Cat B & Cat C tickets making up the full cost. The club dictates that of the 26 games covered by the season ticket, there will be “six Category A Matches, 14 Category B Matches and six Category C Matches”. The 6 Cat A games are usually Spurs, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and more recently Manchester City. They then usually throw in the 1st knock out game of the Champions League. Thus making 6 games.

However, this year, due to greed, the club made an unprecedented move and made a group stage game Cat A. The home match against Bayern Munich. Having already played (or release ticket information) for the above 5 home Premier League games, it meant we had already had out 6 Cat A games. And then we drew Barcelona. This in turn led the club to make the Barcelona game Cat A, and enforce clause 4.5 of their terms and conditions.

Now £16.11 is not much money. It is affordable. But it is more the principle of the matter.

Just a couple of weeks ago, Arsenal announced the news that ticket prices would be frozen for 2016/17.

At the time,  Ivan Gazidis said: “We have incredible home support with sell-out crowds for every game. This decision reflects our on-going aim to maintain a fair and balanced approach to our ticket pricing.”

The clubs website even boasted “It will be the seventh time in 11 seasons at Emirates Stadium that prices have been held flat.”

And then they do this. It essentially works out to nearly a 2% rise. Talk about spin!

What also grates is that with the new TV deal, the club are set to earn hundreds of millions more over the next few years. This additional charge makes the club a little more than £720,000. I n the grand scheme of things, it is nothing. Just a little bit more money to sit in the bank.

Of course, the situation is exaggerated further by Arsenal’s current form. No wins in 4. Next to nothing spent in two transfer windows.  And all this news will do is alienate the fans more. Cause my divisions. And eventually it will boil over and the fans will vent their frustrations in the only way they know, and can, at the team.

It just does not sit right.

Of course, Arsenal are not the only club who seem to think “Greed is Good”.

https://twitter.com/PR_WhoRu/status/695404861324529665

A £30 cap on away tickets is not quite as far as The Football Supporters Federation Twenty’s Plenty campaign, but it would at least be a start.

The fact that clubs rejected this proposal shows that deep down, they really do not care about the fans. They care about money. Reducing tickets to £30 for away fans would not have cost the clubs much. Maybe a couple of million a season, if that. Taking into account that TV deal, it would have been a nice gesture.

But the Premier League do not do nice gestures. They are looking to maximise income. No matter who it upsets.

It is worrying that Arsenal apparently led the No Campaign. How true this is (as it was a closed vote) is not clear. Is it just an attempt by the Daily Mail to add a top club to it for click bait, or is it true? It would not surprise me if Arsenal voted no.

What is frustrating is that whilst it is true, Arsenal do charge the highest for away fans (those 5/6 Cat A games, they get charged £64ish), we also get charged the most as away fans.

Wherever Arsenal fans go, alongside Manchester United and Liverpool, we are always Cat A. This means we have to pay £50 to go to holes such as Norwich, West Ham & Sunderland.

An Arsenal away fan who go’s to every Premier League away game will pay about 35% more than a fan of Leicester, or Southampton, who often pay the lowest categories.

The majority of tickets we pay are over £40. About 4 or 5 games northwards of £50.

Whilst the club voting yes might have cost the club more than any other side, it would have also saved clubs fans the most. It would have saved me around £300 a season. A big chunk of change that.

So in their own self greed, by voting NO, Arsenal have kept their profits high, and missed a chance to save their own fans a lot of money.

This weekend, fans of Liverpool will be protesting against their owners, FSG, after it was announced that next year tickets will be as high as £77.

Considering that when FSG took over from Gillett and Hicks, they were seen as white knights, riding in on their Yankee horse to save the club, it is a massive shift in popularity. It shows that owners, especially seemingly the American ones, are no different to each other. you get rid of one lot, and the new lot are just as bad.

Over at Manchester United, we are seeing what could potentially happen if the bubble bursts.

Reports this morning are that the Alex Ferguson Stand could be closed for their UEFA Cup home tie against Midtjylland.

Despite dramatically reducing ticket prices (allegedly), there are still 27,000 unsold tickets. this despite them having a policy where season ticket holders are forced to buy tickets via direct debit – if they cancel their direct debit their season ticket get’s cancelled.

In the grand scheme of life, £16.11 is not a massive amount. My rail season ticket has gone up more this year. But it is the principle of the matter. When there is more cash in the game then ever before. And this cash is going to dramatically increase again, the fact that Arsenal, and other clubs, are trying to squeeze every last penny out of fans is just wrong.

Of course, there are some who say “the solution is easy, just do not go.” It is not easy.

Keenos

Do Arsenal need a proven winner to replace Arsene Wenger?

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So with yesterday’s news about Pep Guardiola about to join Manchester City, my mind started working overtime. And the result ended up with the simple questions.

Do Arsenal need a proven winner to replace Arsene Wenger?

Now let’s work backwards.

Arsene Wenger

A Ligue 1 titles back in the 80s, followed up by a single French Cup triumph. A couple of trophies in Japan (I have no idea how important they are) and then he became ‘Arsene Who?’. The rest, as they say, is history. Doubles, unbeaten seasons, back to back FA Cups (twice).

George Graham

Imagine the scenario. “Arsenal hire Steve Bruce”. Crazy. But not so in 1986.

After the dismissal of Don Howe, Arsenal turned to former player George Graham – having been turned down by Alex Ferguson. Graham was managing a little old south London club called Millwall, with him guiding them from promotion to the old Second Division.

He bought Arsenal back from the dark times.

Bertie Mee

Even more ludicrous than signing an unknown Frenchman from Japan. Or giving the job to an ex player who had only been in lower league management for 4 years. Let’s give the job to the physio.

Yes, Arsenal’s first double wining manager was, for 6 years before becoming the manager, the team physio.

So much did he doubt his own ability that he actually had it written into his contract that if it was not working out after 12 months, he could return to his old job. He ended a 17 year trophy drought, won in Europe, and gave Arsenal the magical year of 1971.

Now if only Colin Lewin wasn’t so busy in the treatment room.

Tom Whittaker

Everyone go’s on about the Liverpool boot room, but not a lot is written about the Arsenal boot room.

Another ex-club physio (further proof that Colin Lewin as the man), he never managed anyone before Arsenal, never managed anyone after Arsenal. And won the league title.

George Allison

So we have had 2 physio’s go on and do a job as manager, winning titles. How about Ol’ George Allison.

He came to London as a journalist – greyhound correspondent for the Sporting Life. His first job at Arsenal was programme editor. After the First World War; he was first club secretary and then managing director.

After Herbert Chapman’s death in 1934, he was appointed manager, overseeing 2 league titles and the FA Cup. How much more would he have won were it not for the Second World War?

Herbert Chapman

Ok, you got me. The man who laid the foundations for everything future about Arsenal, and one of the greatest innovators of English football, was a proven winner, having won back to back titles at Huddersfield Town, as well as the FA Cup.

 

So bar Chapman, none of our previous league winning managers were proven winners. They were the right man for the job.

And that is what Arsenal need to replace Arsene Wenger. Not someone who has the job just because they have won trophies elsewhere, but someone who will do the right job at Arsenal.

Ps: I am sure the boys over at The Arsenal History could do a much better attempt at this blog than me.

Keenos

Pep Guardiola to City – Have Arsenal missed out?

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The end is nigh. Josep Guardiola Sala has agreed to join Manchester City in the summer. Our season is over. We might as well all pack up now and go home.

Hysteria, hysteria, hysteria.

I have a few thoughts about it, mixed thoughts, that I will attempt to share (badly).

Am I disappointed he is going to Manchester City? Yes. Ever since he was at Barcelona, I felt he was the right fit for the next Arsenal manager. On paper.

I have always said that if a better option than Arsene Wenger comes available, he must step aside and go. Jurgen Klopp, Guardiola & Carlo Ancelotti three such men. All would have been at a new(ish) club during a 12 month period. Have Arsenal missed out? Potentially.

His success at Barcelona and Bayern Munich is unquestionable, but also questionable at the same time. Hence the mixed thoughts.

Trophies, trebles, success. At both clubs.

But he clearly enjoys a club with a set up. Where global stars are already at the club. Where there is money to spend.

At Barcelona, he already had Puyol, Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, etc.  In the 4 years at Barcelona, he spent €305million. And won it all.

Then onto Bayern Munich. Robben, Ribery, Neuer, Alaba, Lahm, Schweinsteiger and more. €180million over 3 years spent. And able to pick up his rivals best player on a free transfer.

Yes, his high pressing game causes issues. But is he a tactical genius? Is he a good coach? Who knows. Because everywhere he has been, he has had the best players. Or been able to buy the best players. He clearly enjoys an easy job.

Look at Barcelona. He left them in 2012 with just the Copa Del Rey in his final season. The season after he left Barcelona won the league. In total since he left them, Barca have won 2 out of 3 La Liga’s and the Champions League. They have had 4 managers.

Luis Enrique won the treble. Is he a managerial genius?

And at Bayern Munich. In the season before Pep Guardiola took over, they also won the domestic treble.

That brings up the question, is it Guardiola who is bringing success to these clubs? Or is it these clubs bringing success to Guardiola.

Of course, over the last 7 years, he has earnt the right to pick the club he joins. And of course he is going to pick the club which gives him the best opportunity of success in the Premier League. And that club is Manchester City. Why would he take on a challenge? Like Mourinho he has earnt his stripes. He does not need to take on a challenge, a tough job, unless he wants to.

And that then brings up the question as to whether he is the right fit for Arsenal.

Whilst the Arsenal job is not the hardest in the world, it is not as easy as Manchester City. Would he be the right man working within our wage budget – everywhere he has been he is in charge of a club with a much higher wage bill than Arsenal.

Does he fancy the job of fighting it out for a top player, rather than just slinging more money at them?

We label Guardiola as someone who likes a project. Yet he has never stayed anywhere more then 4 years. He says 3 years is more than any manager should spend at a club. So does he like a project any more then Jose Mourinho?

Mourinho is often derided for walking into easy jobs. For leaving after a 3 or 4 years. Is Guardiola any different? Or is he just more polite. More loved by the press. So they ignore his indiscretions?

He clearly has the arrogance of Mourinho. Announcing half way through the year that he plans to leave the club currently employing him. If you did that at your employer, gave 6 months notice, you would be put on gardening leave straight away. But Guardiola has now done it, twice. So in 3 years time, when at City, I imagine with 4 months to go in the season, he will be announcing once more that he is leaving.

That being said, he clearly has something about him. He clearly is a good manager. A good motivator. A good tactician.

It is disappointing that he is going to Manchester City rather than Arsenal next season.

Despite his bad points, like Mourinho, he guarantees success.

Arsenal are stupid to not have enquired about him. Maybe they did? But we probably know they did not.

But let’s not throw the toys out of the pram yet.

At the end of the day, Guardiola going to City in the summer makes no difference to Arsenal’s chances of winning the title now. In fact, it arguably strengthens it. Will players be that motivated to play for a manger who is set to leave (we all remember what happened at Manchester United when Fergie announced his original retirement in the early to mid 00’s).

And Yaya Toure, he will know he is off in the summer, having had a fractious relationship with Guardiola at Barcelona. Will he be at 100%? Or will it be a case of self preservation. Do not try too hard. Do not get injured. Work on a deal away.

A final thought, on the table would have been offers from Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United. He chose Manchester City. Arguably the easiest job of them all.

Pep Guardiola clearly does not like a challenge.

In 3 years time, PSG will be announcing him as their new manager. Get money on it.

Keenos