Arsenal
Is This the Beginning? End of Moral High Ground
By Merlion
June 20 2013
Every August for the last three seasons, without fail, ever-optimistic moi will always believe that we can win the title if only … I will prefer to be shot down in flames rather than wallow in misery whole season long to prove “I told ya so” as to what ails Arsenal FC.
Is 2011/12 and 2012/13 our worst seasons during the Arsene Wenger Era and inception of Premier League in 1992/93?
The beginning
Apparently not as his very first season was the worst season, winning 19 league games and his shortest season ever playing only 47 games (no UEFA game, 2 FA Cup games and 7 League Cup games).
Yes, like 1996/97 was the ‘Changing of Guard’ to Arsene Wenger Revolutionary Football, 2005/06 was the transitory period from The French Spine to the Fabregas Era with him as the FULCRUM – Arsene Wenger 2nd Arsenal Team. The rot set in after that 2005/06 CL Cup final, compounded by a deluded Arsene Wenger taking the fast sinking “moral high ground” in a quagmire of Abramovich’s “Financial Doping”
Disloyal players, greedy agents and marquee clubs smelling blood in the water of a vulnerable Arsenal FC with its rigid salary scale, Arsenal FC began to morph into a feeder club with all its quality players leaving en masse.
Ferguson Pragmatism versus Wenger “Moral High Ground”
When Roy Keane demanded to be paid “what he was worth at £50,000 pw”, Ferguson refused and started searching for a replacement. He was appalled to discover that it was more expensive to replace Roy Keane that to pay him £50,000 pw!
Similarly, Rooney got him over a barrel as he was the FULCRUM of his Forward Line with no decent replacement in sight till he bought Van Persie in 2012/13.
But Ferguson is ruthless as well, culling deadwood, or players that got out of line like Norman Whiteside, Lee Sharpe, Jaap Stam and David Beckham.
Compare the ruthlessness of Ferguson to this incident: Who can ever forget that farcical Henry-Pires penalty which Bergy looked away in disgust? That showed disrespect to the opponent, the badge, and to the manager who is indulgence to his “star players”. Really, Arsene Wenger had lost the dressing room to the French Spine with cliques being formed.
The difference is that Sir Ferguson is obsessed with winning as a football manager and let those over-paid “moneybags” to take care of the financial aspect of his football team. In contrast, Arsene Wenger is obsessed with being a high-brow “Le Professuer of Economics” and morphed into an Executive Vice-President (Football Operations) in Kroenke Corporation Inc. expecting to meet his Budget and deliver £50-million gross profits every FY. Arsene Wenger had sold his soul to Capitalism.
Youth project - “Ajax Model of Team Building”
A stubborn Arsene Wenger was then obsessed with his “Ajax Model of Team Building” as the correct approach to build a title-winning team with youths carefully nurtured into the senior team basing on this mantra:
We defence as a Unit;
We attack as a Unit;
We always talk to each other;
We are friends on and off the pitch.
At that moment of time in 2003, it was the correct approach and it made fiscal sense then as we were heavily in debt to build that £390-milion Emirates Stadium (final cost is £470-million?). A project to ensure Arsenal FC can compete with the “BIG BOYS” and to forward being an elite European club.
Between 2003 to 2010, arsenal were really struggling to find the money to buy and pay players, when the UK Property Bubble burst in 2008 it was a major setback to pay back that Highbury Square loan. Highbury Square Development was “ring-fenced” like any property developer such that if it is in dire straits it will not kill off the holding company. The financial bonanza in 2010 collected from Highbury Square sales was needed to reduce the debt burden and rendered Arsenal Holdings plc. “debt-free” by paying off those outstanding loans from property development and not to offset that £260-million Emirates Debt monetised into a bond with annual repayment till 2013.
Lesson learnt. The Board decided to get out of the property development business and sold off Queensland Road property.
But he underestimated the “Financial Doping” Power of a Sugar Daddy giving carte blache to Mourinho to spend as he liked to buy at least two world-class players in every position. This new Sugar Daddy Era doomed Arsene Wenger “Youth Project” compounded by his self-inflicted fatal strokes in “rigid salary scale” and refusal to pay over the odds of over £15-million for marquee players.
And Arsene Wenger missed a window of opportunity from 2007/08 to 2009/10 to win silverware and title. Simply that he failed to strengthen the squad in depth and breadth, saddling the team with plenty of “Sick-Notes” and refusing to buy in January Transfer Window with his favourite “Sick-Notes” out for months.
Disenchantments set in.
And why we are losing marquee players can be identified as the rot set in during this 2007/08 to 2009/10 period with players no longer wished to play for Arsenal FC and looking to leave.
Table 1 – Arsenal League Standing
Season … Finish …. W …. D …. L …... F ….. A … +/- … Points
1992/93 … 10th … 15 … 11 … 16 … 40 … 38 … 02 … 56 ….. 42 games
1993/94 ….. 4th … 18 … 17 … 07 … 53 … 28 … 25 … 71 ….. 42 games
1994/95 … 12th … 13 … 12 … 17 … 52 … 49 … 03 … 51 ….. 42 games
1995/96 ….. 5th … 17 … 12 … 09 … 49 … 32 … 17 … 63 ….. 38 games thereon
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
1996/97 …. 3rd … 19 … 11 … 08 … 62 … 32 … 30 … 68 points
1997/98 ……1st … 23 … 09 … 06 … 68 … 33 … 35 … 78 points
1998/99 ... 2nd … 22 … 12 … 04 … 59 … 17 … 42 … 78 points
1999/00 ... 2nd … 22 … 07 … 09 … 73 … 43 … 30 … 73 points
2000/01 ... 2nd … 20 … 10 … 08 … 63 … 38 … 25 … 70 points
2001/02 ……1st … 26 … 09 … 03 … 79 … 36 … 43 … 87 points
2002/03 ... 2nd … 23 … 09 … 06 … 85 … 42 … 43 … 78 points
2003/04 ……1st … 26 … 12 … 00 … 73 … 26 … 47 … 90 points
2004/05 ... 2nd … 25 … 08 … 05 … 87 … 36 … 51 … 83 points
2005/06 …. 4th … 20 … 07 … 11 … 68 … 31 … 37 … 67 points
2006/07 …. 4th … 19 … 11 … 08 … 63 … 35 … 28 … 68 points
2007/08 ... 3rd .… 24 … 11 … 03 … 74 … 31 … 43 … 83 points
2008/09 …. 4th … 20 … 12 … 06 … 68 … 37 … 31 … 72 points
2009/10 ... 3rd .… 23 … 06 … 09 … 83 … 41 … 42 … 75 points
2010/11 …. 4th … 19 … 11 … 08 … 72 … 43 … 29 … 68 points
2011/12 ... 3rd …. 21 … 07 … 10 … 74 … 49 … 25 … 70 points
2012/13 …. 4th … 21 … 10 … 07 … 73 … 37 … 35 … 73 points
2013/14 ……1st … 28 … 06 … 04 … 82 … 37 … 45 … 91 points
A New Beginning for 2013/14
From Table 1, in term of wins 2010/11 is Arsene Wenger’s worst ever season since 1996/97 as it signals a real decline of Arsenal FC being a competitive title-contender and in winning trophies.
But like 1998/99 to 2000/01 Arsene Wenger needed a 3-year transitory period to restructure the team by buying the players he needed and by building a “Core” that plays together regularly to develop that telepathic understanding of WengerBall – PACE, MOBILITY and INTERCHANGEABILITY. During the Decline the Gunners morphed into a “One Man Team” with first Henry, then Fabregas, and later Van Persie carrying the team. And our opponents realised that and proven correct in stopping Arsenal FC with a simple tactic of “Stop Henry (or Fabregas) (or Van Persie) and you stop Arsenal from playing”.
But no more as 2012/13 season had broken this “One Man Team” Curse with us playing more as a TEAM with goal-scoring responsibility shared amongst forwards and attacking midfielders like the French Spine in Vieira, Wiltord, Henry, Pires, Bergy and Ljungberg.
League Goals scored by Forwards and Midfielders:
14 goals - Theo Walcott
12 goals - Santi Cazorla
11 goals - Lukas Podolski
11 goals - Olivier Giroud
. 6 goals - Mikel Arteta
. 5 goals – Gervinho
. 2 goals - Tomáš Rosický
. 1 goals - Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
. 1 goals – Aaron Ramsey
Most importantly, since the defeat at WHL on March 3, 2013, we had collected 26 points out of 30 points available with a vastly improved DEFENCE and the goal-keeping situation stabilised in Fabianski and Szczesny. Both of them living up to their potential of what Arsene Wenger saw in them, stronger mentally and vastly improved from their “flapping days”.
During this run, we had conceded 6 goals and scored 20 goals (failing to score against Everton only).
Table 2 – Premier League Champions
W …. D …. L … … F ….. A … +/- __ Points --- League Champion
21 … 10 … 07 … 72 … 37 … 35 … … 73 --- 2012/13 Arsenal won “4th Spot Cup”
28 … 05 … 05 … 86 … 43 … 43 … … 89 --- 2012/13 Manchester United
28 … 05 … 05 … 93 … 29 … 64 … … 89 --- 2011/12 Manchester City
23 … 11 … 04 … 78 … 37 … 41 … … 80 --- 2010/11 Manchester United
27 … 05 … 06 . 103 … 32 … 71 … … 86 --- 2009/10 Chelsea
28 … 06 … 04 … 68 … 24 … 44 … … 90 --- 2008/09 Manchester United
27 … 06 … 05 … 80 … 22 … 58 … … 87 --- 2007/08 Manchester United
28 … 05 … 05 … 83 … 27 … 56 … … 89 --- 2006/07 Manchester United
29 … 04 … 05 … 72 … 22 … 50 … … 91 --- 2005/06 Chelsea
29 … 08 … 01 … 72 … 15 … 57 … … 95 --- 2004/05 Chelsea
26 … 12 … 00 … 73 … 26 … 47 … … 90 --- 2003/04 Arsenal
Look at Table 2 above. If only we cut out all those silly defensive errors at 2012/13 season start with a “28W - 5D - 5L” record, and may even win the title. All those draws and most of the losses are winnable as shown below:
Draws
H … 0-0 vs. Sunderland
A … 0-0 vs. Stoke City
A … 1-1 vs. Manchester City
H … 3-3 vs. Fulham
A … 0-0 vs. Aston Villa
A … 1-1 vs. Everton
A … 1-1 vs. Southampton
H … 2-2 vs. Liverpool
H … 0-0 vs. Everton
H … 1-1 vs. Manchester United
If Arsenal had scored 5 more goals and converted 5 draws into 5 wins, they would have collected 10 more points with the GD improved from +35 to +40.
Losses
H … 1-2 vs. Chelsea
A … 0-1 vs. Norwich
A … 1-2 vs. Manchester United
A … 1-2 vs. Swansea
H … 0-2 vs. Manchester City
A … 1-2 vs. Chelsea
A … 1-2 vs. Tottenham Hotspur
If they scored 2 more goals respectively to beat Norwich and Swansea, plus we drew one of the matches against Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, we would have collected 7 more points with our GD improved from +40 to +45.
W …. D …. L … … F ….. A … +/- __ Points --- 2012/13 League Champion
28 … 06 … 04 … 82 … 37 … 45 … … 90 --- Arsenal
28 … 05 … 05 … 86 … 43 … 43 … … 89 --- Manchester United
That is, it gives an indication that from the failures of 2012/13 season, we can win the 2013/14 title if only Arsene Wenger can get his acts together tactically, plus a willingness to buy experienced players to strengthen the squad with that “mythical” £70-million transfer funds?
And yes, to win the 2013/14 title or for the matter, the 2014/15 or 2015/16 title(s), he will need to re-discover his 1998/99 to 2000/01 “Luck” of buying another “Henry”, “Fredrik Ljungberg”, “Gilberto”, “Pires”, “Lauren” and “Sol Campbell” to strengthen the 2012/13” Core.
The added bonus is that this may the start of his success in “Ajax Model of Team Building” where the Wenger Wunderkinds mature, develop and fulfil their potential as world-class players to add depth and breadth to the 2013/14 squad by December 2013!
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:06:24:14:31:00 by Padre Pio.
The difference is where once there was some real truth to that claim perhaps in the years before 2005 (I certainly believe that) that since 2005 the Board used that image of our higher moral standards and ethical behavior to basically sell the Club and every one of us out in plain sight with nary a whiff of protest. They betrayed this club and every one of us for their 300 million pieces of silver they insisted they didn't want or need but happily took with even less protest than we have shown against them doing it.
Arsene hasn't been willing to pay the going rate for players that would genuinely improve us for a very long time.
If there's one person who's stuck two fingers up at the world, thinking "you're all wrong", it's Wenger.
Lay off the crack Merl' man. It's not healthy!
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
Such is his worth.
That may change by the end of this transfer window, with `The Hig`s` wages said to compeat with that figure. But with a new and improved contract on the horrizon, Wenger will again take the lead as our biggest earner. And deservedly so.
Since the end of WW1, 1919, when the FA restarted its 4 tier football league, with Arsenal fc in the 1st div, there’s only ever been one club to have never been relegated from Div 1/ EPL.
Arsenal fc
Let’s keep making history
Quote:Padre Pio
yes and he takes a socialist wage of only £7 million pa to do it
But created enough wealth to maintain Arsenal FC on a competitive basis, plus reducing overall debt to £198 million with an average annual gross profits of £30 million to £50 million per annual for the past 10 years?
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
Quote:Indiangooner
as if the deluge of Merl posts on the message board weren't enuff, now we hv AT sticky articles from Merl to deal with
Eat you heart up.
Why don't you write something for AT instead of behaving like Indian crabs in a basket .. whenever one is daring enough to climb out of the basket, the rest will put it done to their level.
Quote:Padre Pio
well done Merl you have upset both the pro and anti board factions
That is WUM for you
Quote:Merlion96Quote:Indiangooner
as if the deluge of Merl posts on the message board weren't enuff, now we hv AT sticky articles from Merl to deal with
Eat you heart up.
Why don't you write something for AT instead of behaving like Indian crabs in a basket .. whenever one is daring enough to climb out of the basket, the rest will put it done to their level.
i wld certainly like to write someday but i know i cant put more than 5 lines together without confusing myself... i know my limits and dont intend to bore any1 with my needless fiddling with the keyboard...
and as far as daring enough to climb out of basket is concerned, i know writing quality articles is not my forte and if u want to hear it plain n simple, neither it is urs... so whichever country's crab behaviour u r trying to portray, kindly shut it
Quote:Philly the kid
At least you admit it!
Our very own Piers Merlion!!
You should be here in those early days of 2003
Quote:IndiangoonerQuote:Merlion96Quote:Indiangooner
as if the deluge of Merl posts on the message board weren't enuff, now we hv AT sticky articles from Merl to deal with
Eat you heart up.
Why don't you write something for AT instead of behaving like Indian crabs in a basket .. whenever one is daring enough to climb out of the basket, the rest will put it done to their level.
i wld certainly like to write someday but i know i cant put more than 5 lines together without confusing myself... i know my limits and dont intend to bore any1 with my needless fiddling with the keyboard...
and as far as daring enough to climb out of basket is concerned, i know writing quality articles is not my forte and if u want to hear it plain n simple, neither it is urs... so whichever country's crab behaviour u r trying to portray, kindly shut it
What is sauce for the goose is poison for the gander.
From Each, accord his best;
Diversity is Life;
And Life is too short to be taken seriously.
I fancy AT over here is akin to the Indian Parliament;
A vast diversity ranging from communists to outright xenophobic and murderous ultra-rightist of Hindu nationalists.
Beware of the ad hominem fallacy.
Moi is here 'cos moi is attracted to Arsene Wenger's Total Football and his continual attempt with his Youth Policy to rebuild the 3rd Team based on "Ajax Model of Team Building".
Whatever creed or color or clique we are, come August, we will always wish for the best and for Arsenal FC to win the title.
Better to be deluded comes August and went down in flame come December, rather than being a bitter and cynical fans dearly wishing to bleat 'I told you so" come December.
COYG!
13/14 ... ... 70,000,000???
12/13 ... ... 46,640,000
11/12 ... ... 57,618,000
10/11 ... ... 20,240,000
09/10 ... ... 10,560,000
08/09 ... ... 35,332,000
07/08 ... ... 27,500,000
06/07 ... ... 13,266,000
05/06 ... ... 40,480,000
04/05 ... ... 10,560,000
03/04 ... ... 38,346,000
02/03 ... ..... 9,438,000
01/02 ... ... 28,762,800
00/01 ... ... 48,224,000
99/00 … … 19,932,000
98/99 ... ... 16,456,000
97/98 ... ... 19,382,000
96/97 ... ..... 5,376,800
95/96 ... ... 16,148,000
Who said that Arsene Wenger is scared to spend when he really need to?
What he spent in the 1990s when he joined Arsenal FC is the equivalent of £70m to £100m per season of 2013 money.
Similarly, after WC1998, when those players that he needed to strengthen the team, he was not afraid to spend the 2013 equivalent of £150m to £200m which was Arsene Wenger's Golden Era - 1999/00 to 2004/05 - with Arsenal FC.
And he spent £40m (or today equivalent £80m) in 2005/06 to restructure and to build his 2nd Arsenal team.
And even during 2008/09, he spent £35m (or today equivalent £70m) in a desperate attempt to replace those disloyal players.
And from above trend, we see Arsene Wenger had ramped up his spending's since 2011/12 to rebuild his 3rd Arsenal team.
And yes, 2013/14 will be his peak spending's - The Mother of All Spending's - as he knew that winning the title is within his grasp, and all depending on his buys, the right buys, which will definitely strengthening his "2012/13 Core" and transform a group of "potentials" into a title-winning team this time around.
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