Football 2013-2014

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

They have the 4th highest wage budget in the league and finished 4th. There's room for improvement but to me underperformance would be missing champions league which they haven't done. They will aim to improve like other clubs. Arsenal need to perform better against better teams, Liverpool need to defend, Chelsea needs to score more goals.

Hundreds of teams enter the fa cup, but only one has gone through without losing, winning that cup is a good achievement whoever you are.

[pink_triangle]

They have one of the highest wage bills in Europe however, and they've had the money there to spend if they wish. This isn't Arsenal needing to address issues which have only cropped up this year. It's a long running issue which was brought up again by their cup final performance. It's very much a shit or get off the pot situation.

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

How is their wage bill in relation to other European team relevant to the premiership these other foreign teams do not play? The fact is there are 3 clubs with more money and that puts them at a disadvantage compared to these teams. While there is scope they could compete with man utd in terms of finance, they will never compete with city and Chelsea as they are run to make a profit.

I don't deny they need to spend money and there isn't a team in the premiership who shouldn't be looking to work on weaknesses. If Ramsey hadn't been injured things may have been different, just as Liverpool probably wouldn't have been in the title race had suarez missed 3 months injured but that's the way the cookie crumbles.

Its easy to focus on the fact Arsenal aren't having great seasons, but you cant ignore the fact that unlike all their opposition they aren't having poor ones either.

[thetime]

End of the day the relationship between arsenal and Wenger has been perfect until the stadium was paid for.

It pretty much kept both of them pretty happy getting top 4 year after year.

[pink_triangle]

Because we're talking about them bringing in top quality, big game players, something which other teams around Europe appear to be able to do, on lower budgets than Arsenal. The budget argument loses a lot relevance this weekend out of all, considering what Atletico have done.

This is slightly different from working on weaknesses. As you said, all teams have weaknesses. This is a long running problem which has decayed the team, and again reared its head, and prevents the club from moving on. Weaknesses are something which are addressed, solved, and moved on from, which Arsenal haven't done.

If you're talking in terms of not being relegated, they're having great seasons, but if you're talking in terms of actually competing to do anything, they've been poor every season for the last five.

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

Who are these teams in Europe bringing in big game players on a lower wage budget than Arsenal? The budget argument does not lose relevance this weekend at all, you are using exceptions to prove the rule. Off the top of my head the teams with the biggest wage budgets in England, Germany, Italy, France, Holland, Scotland all won their league titles. The Spanish league has been dominated by the 2 big spenders.

When talking about Arsenals long term problem they coincidentally combine with building a new stadium which is a huge investment which will reap future rewards, how many other big European sides have moved in this time?

I don't deem success as avoiding relegation. As with every team they will have good, average and bad seasons. You would expect teams with the 3rd/4th budget to lose their top 4 status during a bad season and the fact Arsenal haven't is remarkable.

[pink_triangle]

It's using an example to prove what can be done. Arsenal have one of the highest averaged wage in Europe, with several teams who have produced consistently on lower budgets, Atleti being notable as a team who are currently paying off their stadium, as are Roma, Juventus etc. etc.

Edited May 18, 2014 by pink_triangle

[mrtourette]

I thought it was a good final, and serves as a reminder of why Aaron Ramsey has become so valuable to them - he appears to be the only player prepared to put his foot through the ball when half a chance arises rather than fannying around with it as so many others were guilty of on Saturday.

Edited May 19, 2014 by mrtourette

[The Nal]

What was Wilshire at?

[hot_ice]

I thought it was a good final, and serves as a reminder of why Aaron Ramsey has become so valuable to them - he appears to be the only player prepared to put his foot through the ball when half a chance arises rather than fannying around with it as so many others were guilty of on Saturday.

[hot_ice]

I thought it was a good final, and serves as a reminder of why Aaron Ramsey has become so valuable to them - he appears to be the only player prepared to put his foot through the ball when half a chance arises rather than fannying around with it as so many others were guilty of on Saturday.

[mrtourette]

What was Wilshire at?

[ThomThomDrum]

What was Wilshire at?

Edited May 19, 2014 by ThomThomDrum

[TheGayTent]

Van Gaal official now

[The Nal]

Van Gaal official now

[ThomThomDrum]

I wonder if Giggs will be wearing the pants? If LVG does not do things the "UTD Way" (Giggs' way) will Giggs throw his toys out of the pram again and try and fuck another manager over?

[zahidf]

I wonder if Giggs will be wearing the pants? If LVG does not do things the "UTD Way" (Giggs' way) will Giggs throw his toys out of the pram again and try and fuck another manager over?

[Wooderson]

LVG w/Giggs at Utd. What could go wrong?

;D

[thetime]

Nice to see the Liverpool members out in force.

[Wooderson]

How long before LVG's nuts are out in force?

[ThomThomDrum]

Nice to see the Liverpool members out in force.

[thetime]

What is going on at Utd is by far and away the most interesting aspect to this summers speculations and bull in the EPL. Utd, LVG and Giggsy will commanding a hell of a lot of column space. Its only starting

[eFestivals]

Van Gaal official now

Excellent!

Oh yes, it's very very excellent.

Man Utd don't have the money to spend to guarantee that vG will turn them around, and without that big spend Man Utd don't have the players to guarantee that vG will turn them around.

And of course, a big name manager means fuck all, as Chelsea have had the pleasure of showing us all.

So with a bit of luck it's more of the same and a proper meltdown.

Let's see those Norwich scarfs lads.

[ThomThomDrum]

If Giggs does step out of line or looks sideways at LVG's wife I hope he pulls this move on em!

[zahidf]

Oh yes, it's very very excellent.

Man Utd don't have the money to spend to guarantee that vG will turn them around, and without that big spend Man Utd don't have the players to guarantee that vG will turn them around.

And of course, a big name manager means fuck all, as Chelsea have had the pleasure of showing us all.

So with a bit of luck it's more of the same and a proper meltdown.

Let's see those Norwich scarfs lads.