Which Transfer Policy Will Prevail?

The fallout (and fallings out) from the weekend continue unabated. Nerves are raw and more tension is in the air than on the morning of a cup final or title decider. Thus will it be for some time, I suspect.

Players such as Vermaelen, van Persie and Szczesny have all had their say. And to be honest, their words are correct but it is beyond that point for this season. Platitudes do not work anymore, time to win at Fulham to bring some small crumb of comfort, rest and then be back at work on time for next season.

I have a lot of time for the three of them and did not agree with the criticism of the young Pole for his observations post-Villa. For once Arsenal got the PR right in that they are three who have performed to a consistently high level or produced a mini-boost by returning to the team, even in defeat.

Elsewhere rumours of a Champions League qualifier against a top notch side were scotched when it emerged that the 4th Qualifying Round is seeded and as a club with one of the higher co-efficients, Arsenal will be amongst them. It means that Arsenal are likely to face Udinese/Lazio, Dinamo Kyiv rather than potentially of Villarreal or Bayern.

Nothing indicates more the fall from grace than we the certainty of finishing fourth is now accepted rather than fighting for third. Realism strikes.

Summer signings are dominant with the end of season collapse. Scott Parker is the media favourite with a transfer fee anywhere between £6m – £18m (no, seriously, according to the media that is how much West Ham want). Surprisingly, there seemed to some support for Arsenal’s lower valuation which must go against the grain somewhat.

It has been the chance that some have been waiting for. Reports are emerging that the Board this time around will be more involved in transfers and that Wenger is being told no more ‘foreign johnnies‘ by Peter Hill-Wood’s pet newspaper whilst they have sought to boost Britain’s ailing economy by suggesting that transfer business be conducted domestically.

So who is on this list of British-based players then? Well, there’s Scott Parker for starters. And…well, come on, we’re waiting. We haven’t got all day you know. Oh for God’s sake, if you’re going to come up with a fanciful transfer notion, at least have the names ready.

The question is whether KSE will interfere with Wenger’s transfer policy. Having been accepted into the Establishment and been viewed as the lesser of two evils – if you believe Alisher Usmanov’s Sunday Times interview – the Daily Star‘s belief that direction is being given by the board does not sit well with past events.

Are we really expected to believe that they are the wolf in sheep’s clothing? Not unbelievable but not likely.

KSE will not fund a massive spending spree this summer for two reasons. Firstly, it goes against the self-sustaining model. The two are mutually exclusive. Arsenal do not have the pot of gold that everyone seems to think, the most common manifestation being talk of money in the bank. That is not just for transfers and more importantly, with all of the activity being bandied around, is totally insufficient.

Secondly, they do not have a history of such interference in their US ventures immediately nor do they have the footballing expertise. Had they brought along a ‘football advisor’ or Director of Football, then such micro-management might well have been achievable although the question is how people involved in football could credibly carry out such a role with Wenger in charge.

As it is, the likelihood is of Wenger naming his targets and they either sign a new contract with their current employers or join. I doubt that a missed transfer because of £200k will arise this summer; KSE will not want to preside over inactivity, perceived as disastrous and displaying a lack of vision.

Yet there are contradictory messages. Calls for summer signings as well as investing in finding the next Cesc or Jack Wilshere. Ian Wright demands new signings today as well as giving youngsters a chance despite a lot of them not being good enough. All in the space of one paragraph which is as impressive as his scoring record was.

This summer is unlikely to see the huge volume of signings. Wenger’s previous record indicates this and there is a credible argument that too many – more than five or six – is as disruptive as it is refreshing. More likely two or three for contention in the starting line-up with the rest of the squad unchanged except for departures.

Whatever the plan is, decisive action quickly and early in the transfer window is going to be necessary. There is a full fixture list next season, internationals in the week preceding the Premier League kick-off on August 13th with the Champions League Qualifiers the following week. Integration with the squad is difficult when matches are in continuous flow. Let’s be done and dusted before pre-season please.

’til Tomorrow

Arsenal Lose On And Off The Pitch

Arsenal 1 – 2 Aston Villa

0 – 1 Bent (12)
0 – 2 Bent (16)
1 – 2 van Persie (89)

Five points out of the last thirty. Five. It’s not good enough.

It’s a simple fact, the form has not been good enough, nowhere near title-winning form. And for a team that until three weeks ago, were genuine title challengers, it is a disappointment that is hard to bear.

And if I feel this badly about it, surely the players do.

With second place firmly placed in their grasp thanks to Newcastle’s late equaliser, a win was imperative. Even if second means nothing, surely professional pride dictated that a win would be sought out.

But it never came.

I cannot remember feeling this numb following the end of the final home match of the season. I am sure I have but I do not remember that instance. Perhaps I hope it to be the case to make this moment feel less painful. I am more sure of that being the case than I am of my failing memory.

Where to begin? There were refereeing errors but that is not the reason for this defeat. If we are honest, that particular avenue of incompetence has become too convenient a peg upon which to hang our hats. Yes, there have been some appalling decisions. Yes, they did cost us points. But Aston Villa did not win because of refereeing ineptitude.

But he did contribute.

Arsenal lost this match because they beat themselves. They did not concentrate in the first twenty minutes and were suitably punished. A train of thought is that Darren Bent showed what happens when you spend money, Monsieur Wenger. It conveniently ignores the fact that Robin van Persie has a better goals per game ratio this season, scoring more having played less in the Premier League.

That mattered for nought yesterday. Bent scored twice, Arsenal did not. Villa took three points, points which mean that a Champions League Qualifier now seems likely. How did it come to this?

Displays such as the one yesterday were the answer.

No, I don’t understand how Chamakh’s goal was disallowed. And if that was the benchmark, where were the penalties for Richard Dunne’s fouls on van Persie and Ramsey?

That reasoning, whilst not specious, distracts from the truth. Arsenal were not good enough and to be brutally honest, not interested. In the absence of Cesc, they lacked a guiding light in midfield. Samir Nasri’s injury has exacerbated the problem.

Squillaci will not look back on his time at Arsenal with much fondness, deemed by many not to be ‘up to it’. He set about proving his critics right in his time on the pitch. Arsène spared him the second half punishment as Alex Song dropped back into his place.

The French international played Bent onside for the first as a lofted pass over the top. It did not really get better for him after that. Thomas Vermaelen returned, slipped and Bent had opened a match-winning margin. Thankfully, the Belgian improved and his performance was a genuine high spot of the afternoon.

Robin van Persie’s strike against the post before the interval might have stopped the boos at the whistle but I doubt it. And no matter how much you do not want to hear them, it is not hard to understand why the players trudged off to the sounds of despair, defeat and disinterest.

The ‘Lap of Appreciation’ by the players at the end took place to a stadium that emptied quicker than Wembley following the Carling Cup Final defeat. Suggestions that around 12-15,000 remained as the players showed their thanks, are not wide of the mark. The efforts of the season to be in a position to lose it all are forgotten as rancour casts its shadow over May.

A large portion of the support stayed away. That’s their choice and is more representative of opinion that 0.5% marching beforehand. 

The Emirates has become a joyless place to watch football in recent weeks. The performances on the pitch have contributed to that to a large extent but other agendas are apparent. Supporters are crossing swords, equally vehement that the other point of view is wrong, not caring about the abuse handed out. Immature on and off the pitch.

One more game remains for this season whereupon the summer break begins. A new season brings new optimism. And according to the manager, new faces. Right now, Arsenal need them.

’til Tomorrow.

Villa Preview & Rice Paper Talk

Aston Villa arrive at The Emirates, the final whistle signalling the end of the home campaign. For Arsène, following the events of recent weeks it is probably not soon enough.

He had some good news with Pat Rice staying on for another year. For the manager, it solves a problem. I’m sure that Wenger will find a welter of criticism in the decision if he bothers looks online. The theory will be that in retaining Rice’s services, the perceived stagnation in training is going to continue. That no-one can prove that exists is neither here nor there in this theory. It is inconvenient.

Elsewhere, Bayern Munich are turning into the new Barcelona, off the pitch at least. The Bavarians are now linked with Samir Nasri, at least with this story the transfer fee quoted is realistic being £25m. The Frenchman would be in comfortable surroundings, joined by Gael Clichy, Nicklas Bendtner and Bacary Sagna if this season’s transfer gossip all came true.

Other gossip this morning links Andrey Arshavin with a move to Chelsea. Apparently Roman Abramovich has set aside a transfer pot of £80m for Ancelotti (or whomever is in charge) with £12m going on his compatriot. This is apparently a big fee, representing a mere £6m loss on the signing for Arsenal.

This brings the current total of Arsenal’s net spend this summer down to £90m.

Onto this afternoon. I find the final home match of any season an occasion tinged with sadness, the signal that a long football-less summer is imminent. This time, in part it is a respite from the bitterness into which the last month has descended.

For Villa, it is a dead rubber. Yesterday’s results and next week’s meeting between Wolves and Blackburn mean that they cannot be relegated. Sadly it seems that Blackpool will be slipping through the trapdoor as a victory at Old Trafford seems highly unlikely.

Having lost Burnley last season, Premier League survival is not going to happen for footballing sides. Birmingham and Wolves have pumped the ball effectively in recent weeks to put survival in their own hands. It’s not good for football in this country if promoted sides believe that the only way to survive is to ‘mix it’. West Ham and Wigan going will further serve to emphasise this point.

For Arsenal, second place is still achievable. To do so, they need to win by big margins against Villa and Fulham whilst hoping that Chelsea suffer a dip in form today and at Everton on the last day of the season. All the while, Manchester City are lurking. If a lack of focus is evident, the tour of the Far East is going to be followed by entry into the qualifying round of the Champions League.

Thomas Vermaelen is the talk of the team, Laurent Koscielny’s absence making his start a certainty. The Belgian has been missed this season, his experience might have made a difference at St James’ Park or White Hart Lane. He might not, Arsenal were not rock solid at the back last season either.

He is welcome though as it gives competition for places and at this moment in time, Vermaelen is the best centre back at the club. He might be joined by a new face this summer as Arsène has confirmed he will be buying in the transfer window.

Samir Nasri and Cesc face fitness tests which leaves the line-up in doubt but my guess is,

Szczesny; Sagna, Djourou, Vermaelen, Clichy; Fabregas (Ramsey), Song, Wilshere; Walcott, van Persie, Nasri (Arshavin)

A win is essential, a repeat of the performance against Stoke is unacceptable and would tarnish the efforts of this season even more than recent weeks have done. To finish with a kick in the club’s step would make the long summer somewhat more bearable. Quick and decisive action in the transfer market would be a more emphatic statement of intent.

Enjoy the match wherever you are watching it. ’til Tomorrow.

Arsène, It’s Easy. Sign & Motivate – Just Get On With It

The owners of this blog would like to warn you that it may contain product placement.

Arsène started yesterday by denying Paul Merson’s claims about drugs and fluid intake.Wenger observed that he was too tight-fisted to have ever given anyone anything and that Merson had solved the riddle of who was drinking his banana milkshakes (from Mister Jimmy’s Kebab Emporium, Enfield High Street  – we put the ram or lamb with the ding dong, so Donna can sell the kebab) in the early days.

Recent years have seen Arsène told who to buy and when. This summer, a quick and decisive burst of activity immediately after the Fulham game would dampen the ardour of his critics. The failures of this season are going to be heard long into the close or pre- seasons.

The suspicion is that the first activity will be to offer new contracts to those who are about to enter the final year of their existing ones. It is an interesting time for the players. Will they benefit from the largesse of a new owner, perhaps getting a better deal than would be normally expected since KSE will not want to preside over a bad first transfer window or see a ‘star’ player leave.

For Wenger this is the priority,

The first target is not to weaken our team but to strengthen it.

He has a forlorn hope that others will not be involved in a transfer splurge,

I hope that the financial fair play rules will come in and, because I know Chelsea and Man City has voted for it, I hope as well they will respect it. We will always have to respect our wages schedule.

There was an interesting dissection of the loopholes by Gabriel Marcotti earlier this week which suggests that Uefa will not be forced to ban any of the loss-making clubs so long as they can prove that the losses are diminishing and are part of a sustainable plan to turn them into profits.

Those expecting lawyers to have to work for the escape clause will be disappointed that it is so easy to get out of them.

Arsène is not naming names about whom he will sign but an out-and-out winger is not going to be one of them, Nicklas Bendtner will no doubt have been disappointed to have seen his name amongst those whom Wenger believes can play on the flanks.

My suspicion is that the outcome of any discussion between the Dane and the club is going to be along the lines of it’s either the wing or waiting for van Persie to be injured for you chance to play in the first XI. Actually that’s not a bad option if goes for the injury, should be around the second international break if past seasons are anything to go by.

Martin Keown spoke on Thursday about this season,

I think Arsene Wenger has almost over-estimated what they are capable of and they have let him down, so it is a shared responsibility when the team does not do well and collective praise when they do.

I am sure everyone will look at themselves, and that they will bounce back.

His views are not going to sit comfortably with some. In fact, many will outright disagree,

Arsenal are not far away, it is not all doom and gloom. With the right collection of players with experience and strength of leadership, then I think Arsenal can win something next season.

If the right players are signed, the honours will be forthcoming.

Well, according to Emmanuel Adebayor they would be if Arsène could instill some belief in the players.

The former Arsenal player praised Jose Mourinho, words that should in no way be construed as him seeking to make his move to Madrid permanent. Wenger it seems, is second best to The Special One in the preparation stakes with the pivotal moment of losing to Birmingham City never contemplated in his head.

So Arsène, it’s easy. Keep the stars, sign new players and learn how to motivate people better.

’til Tomorrow.

Stone Cold Friday: No More Mr Nice Guy

And now, on with the soap opera. Let joy be unconfined. Let there be dancing in the streets, drinking in the saloons, and necking in the parlor. Here’s Darius…

This week, I wrote to Arsenal with a demand. I felt it was justified to ask the powers that be to force Arsène Wenger, the coaching staff, and all the players on that team sheet that travelled to Stoke City to forfeit their wages for the day. It can only be right that after such a criminal performance, the docked pay be given to Centrepoint, Arsenal’s charity of the season.

The Britannia Stadium seems to be that sort of place that took over from Sam Allardyce’s Reebok stadium as a place Arsenal players don’t fancy. You could almost picture the classic footage of Robert Pires’ funny but contemptuous demeanour as he got off the bus at Bradford City a few years ago.

His body language was more of “what the frigging hell am I doing in a place like this on a freezing day”, as opposed to “hey, there’s 3 points up for grabs here”.

Even though it was clear to tell that Bobby Pires would rather have been somewhere else, he was always a dependable lieutenant for us on the left side of the pitch. I think somehow, he would have found solutions to work something out at the Britannia.

You have to ask yourself though, what is it about a team that can comfortably put United, Chelsea and Barcelona to the sword at home; yet play like a League 1 side devoid of nous and guile when it matters most. This only a week after a tenacious and spirited performance against United.

Do we have a schizophrenic team that adopts different personalities?

As the season concludes, it becomes ever more painful to reflect back, especially at the 15 points we lost from leading positions this season. This isn’t even taking into account the home and return ties against West Brom, and the away games at Bolton and Stoke.

The least we expected, especially after the United game was a spirited end to the season with great performances against stoke, Villa and Fulham. Truth be told, I have no clue what to expect for the remaining games.

The only joy over the last couple of months seems to be that Tottenham are back in their rightful place firmly heading for mid-table mediocrity.

Patrick Vieira’s thoughts about knowing when to win ugly and balancing finesse with a selective mix of brawn, laced with a no-nonsense attitude should be framed and placed at strategic points in London Colney alongside the medical and fitness charts you find everywhere from dressing rooms to the toilets.

Wenger has some tough decisions to make to find the balance that is needed to move this team to the next level. It’s not enough that when we fix some things, we still have the knack of losing focus on other aspects of our game.

It doesn’t help of course that the silly season is in full effect. I even heard that we’re in the market for an experienced customer like David Weir who at 41 will give us the necessary experience without threatening the place of our up-coming charges.

It’s nonsense to suggest that the team needs massive surgery, but Wenger will have to pull his finger out and work with a mix of new faces and this talented squad of players who need to make that mental leap to the next level.

I’m actually excited about the possibilities and potential new faces coming in, but pray that they’re not signings for the sake of signings to appease the baying mob calling for Wenger to be issued with his P45, and some players be permanently shipped to Australia.

I would love to see a player like Chiek Tiote join our ranks and provide cover and rotation options for our midfield when Song is being rested or is not available. This to me makes much more sense than some of the options being touted out there.

If Pat Rice does retire, his replacement will probably be a more significant signing than we would anticipate. This also is another opportunity to reinvigorate the squad and to build on the stellar work that the Irishman has done in the decades he’s spent at Arsenal.

More importantly, the team that takes the pitch next season has to prove to the Arsenal faithful that they can walk the walk, whether they swagger or whether they walk ugly. I suspect most fans would take a “No more Mr. Nice guy” approach as a manifestation of the mental maturity needed to move us to the next level.

The team can do well by seeking a modicum of redemption with acceptable performances against Villa and Fulham. Silverware is out of our reach this season, but there’s still a hell of a lot of pride to fight for.

’til Tomorrow

Merse Ingests, Vieira Digests As The Media Suggests

A bizarre morning with Paul Merson claiming that he was popping pills and liquids at Arsène’s behest. He didn’t have a clue what he was doing or what he was ingesting. Which is no surprise since he freely admits that at times he did not know what day of the week it was.

It hardly bears comparison to the various pharmacies at Italian clubs, comparable to small NHS hospitals according to reports. Wenger’s preference for Creatine is well-known, the manager admitting to its use before Fifa outlawed it. Whether he would still be using it now is open to debate, especially with the side-effects.

As for the liquid, well, maybe someone was taking the…out of Merse?

Talking of old players, Patrick Vieira seems to be on the verge of retiring but not before he had harsh words for the current squad,

When they are in trouble, they always concede a goal. A big team when it’s under pressure, it pulls together, it makes the trouble go away. Sometimes you know you have difficult periods, even the best teams. You accept the opponent is stronger, you defend, you stay strong, more compact. You accept you have to suffer.

We did it in the [2005] FA Cup final against Manchester United. I’ve no idea how we won – United were all over us for 90 minutes. We knew the only way to win was penalties. Some days are like this. It’s not your day. Accept it and find a different way to win. Fight for each other. It’s not the way you want, but what’s important is to win.

Those words encapsulate neatly the mental strength required. Call it a winning mentality, call it what you want. Whatever it is, this is how it should be typified. That is the ‘missing link’ which Arsène needs to find this summer.

It is interesting to hear what Vieira’s thoughts are, no matter how unpalatable. This is how opponents view Arsenal. It is not that he believes they cannot handle the rough stuff, as the media would like to perpetuate. Quite simply, they cannot deal with a match going wrong on a consistent basis.

Against United, they showed the determination required. Dominate, score, defend. That now needs to be transferred into the fixtures against the lesser lights or as Vieira highlights, when things are not going your way.

So to the rumour mill, by way of light relief. Cesc is wanted by Manchester City, a club who seem to desire everyone and everything. If there was a footballing equivalent of penicillin, they would be in for it.

Hardly surprising that Mancini is looking to sign the Spaniard. Not because of a belief that he is the missing link in the City side to make them Champions but simply as a statement of the owner’s intent. If they are willing to back him in a £50m transfer, then he is not likely to be sacked this summer. City are still some way off being Champions so this may be merely putting off the inevitable, staying execution for a year or less.

Bacary Sagna is wanted by Bayern Munich and a trawl through this month’s news stories about whom we are signing and selling sees eighteen players joining with nine departing as well as a net £120m out of the Arsenal bank account. And this is without Hugo Rodallega telling everyone that he wants to sign for Arsenal, an almost Annual event now which signals that the silly season is well and truly underway.

Anyhoo, that’s it for today. ’til Tomorrow.

Squad Evolution Not Revolution Is Required

A question of what have been surrounds Arsenal this morning. Following Sunday’s capitulation at Stoke, Arsène is once more under scrutiny, criticised around the blogosphere for indecision, inaction and being in situ. 

It is exacerbated to an extent by Sir Alex Ferguson’s ‘revelation’ that he was offered the Arsenal job back in 1986. The approach by the Board back then was widely known but his assertion that they wanted an answer straight away, rather than waiting until the World Cup campaign, highlights that impatience is not the sole preserve of the Football Association when it comes to appointing managers.

This snippet accentuates the incompetent way that the Board of the day handled managers then. The vacancy only arose because Don Howe caught wind of Terry Venables being approached to take over at the end of the season. Understandably, Howe was unhappy with the situation and resigned.

He was the architect of his own downfall though. A decent footballing side had descended into the mire of long ball football that pervaded the English game at the time. If you did not witness a game of football in England during the early 1980s, count your blessings.

Charles Hughes and another whose name escapes me but heavily influenced Graham Taylor, theorised about the minimum number of passes required to score. As they ran the National coaching courses, Howe and his assistant, John Cartwright, became misguidedly influenced by them. Nobody seemed to question that the dominant Liverpool and Everton teams of that era did not subscribe to this theory.

As it happened, Arsenal’s next choice was George Graham who did not do too badly until he hit the slippery slope. Similarly to Howe in fact, he descended into a mire of long ball football. Next time there’s an aimless punt downfield for Arshavin to battle in the air for…

Would Ferguson have been able to build consistency into the Arsenal psyche? Certainly his teams have the knack of being able to retain titles, something which has eluded Arsenal since the 1930s.

And it is hard to fathom why consistency is so elusive.Well, in fact it isn’t that difficult at all for the same warning signs are there now. Squad evolution. Or rather the lack of it.

Bertie Mee’s double side broke up too soon. George Graham evolved 1989 into 1991 seamlessly but after that? No strength was added and a title never looked like being won again during his tenure. A good cup side emerged in its stead.

As for Arsène, his teams have threatened and challenged until now. When the title slipped three seasons ago, it seemed that some judicious activity in the transfer market might make that step. It did not happen, this season seemed to suggest that the two backward steps had been taken and a giant leap forward had been made to win the Premier League title.

It did not happen. The squad does not need the wholesale surgery that is being suggested nor will that happen. The squad will evolve and some will move on. It is the nature of the beast. Crucially, there needs to be as much emphasis on changing the mentality. For whatever reason, Arsène’s recent signings have not brought the toughness that was required in February / March when the cup competitions fell by the wayside.

In terms of talent and ability, this squad is title winning. Mentally it is not. That will be Arsène’s toughest job this summer.

’til Tomorrow.