AST Meeting (update last page - 10th june 2013 )

boyzis wrote:David Dein used to be so much better than this lizard Gazidis. He would have worked for fans also not just milking money out of them.

Dein was no saint.

Funny how fans forget.

srigooner wrote:

boyzis wrote:David Dein used to be so much better than this lizard Gazidis. He would have worked for fans also not just milking money out of them.

Dein was no saint.

Funny how fans forget.

You also forgot him

Dein was instrumental in convincing some of the world’s biggest talents to join the club.

In September 1991 he helped Arsenal sign Ian Wright from Crystal Palace for £2.5 million

In June 1995 Dein flew to Milan “and returned with the signature of, for the first time in Arsenal’s history, a true international superstar” Arsenal bought Dutch International Dennis Bergkamp for £7.5 million from Internazionale.

Over the following years, Dein was also responsible for recruiting players such as Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, Marc Overmars, Thierry Henry, Davor Suker, Robert Pires, Sol Campbell, Gilberto, Gael Clichy, Kolo Toure, Cesc Fabregas and Robin Van Persie. All were to contribute heavily to the success of Arsenal.

On 18 April 2007 it was revealed by Arsenal that he had left the club with immediate effect after "irreconcilable differences" between himself and the rest of the board. It is thought that he was in favour of a possible takeover of Arsenal by an external benefactor seeking to invest money into the club. Arsenal had invested heavily in the development of their new stadium which forced the club to take on heavy debts which meant the club was in need of new revenue. The other members of the board were said to have signed a contractual agreement that they would not sell their shares for a year, and they jointly expressed their intention to retain their shares in the longer term

On the contrary, I have not forgotten any of this. But it was nice to read it all again.

I never doubted his skills and contributions as a transfer negotiator. It is what we have missed so much.

However, there was a reason he was ousted. Because selling out to sugar daddy owners is not our philosophy, I can never respect this club for what it has achieved despite the self-imposed constraints.

Today, we are a club which many other clubs aspire to be like. A club with principles. Not a club derided for ruining the beautiful game by inflating player wages and transfer fees.

Ahhh finance

Every Arsenal fans wet dream

srigooner wrote:
Today, we are a club which many other clubs aspire to be like. A club with principles. Not a club derided for ruining the beautiful game by inflating player wages and transfer fees.

Over inflating ticket prices.

Over inflating dead wood salaries so we can not get rid of them until their contracts run out. Although that does inflate wages for everyone.

Over inflating transfer fees when we sell the world class players we once had. Although that does inflate transfer fees.

Not being able to compete for silverware.

Yea I can see that is much better.
Not saying that I want us to be like manc. If you look at some arguments for what we do you can look at them in a slightly different manner and notice we are just as complicit.

6unner wrote:

srigooner wrote:
Today, we are a club which many other clubs aspire to be like. A club with principles. Not a club derided for ruining the beautiful game by inflating player wages and transfer fees.

Over inflating ticket prices.

Over inflating dead wood salaries so we can not get rid of them until their contracts run out. Although that does inflate wages for everyone.

Over inflating transfer fees when we sell the world class players we once had. Although that does inflate transfer fees.

Not being able to compete for silverware.

Yea I can see that is much better.
Not saying that I want us to be like manc. If you look at some arguments for what we do you can look at them in a slightly different manner and notice we are just as complicit.

tbh, the prices are a bit high.. but is expected as we are in debt and trying to raise our revenues to compete among the best.. you may take it as milking fans..
and abt deadwood..people talk about not having squad depth and and cry at the same time that Chamakh (who was on free) is getting 60k.. i cant understand that logic.. Chelsea have Lukaku, Marvin, Romeu, Moses, etc apart from having 2 strikers, 5-6 first team midfielders.. United have Nani, Anderson, Fabio, Phil Jones, Chicharito/Welbeck who are the fourth strikers.. and no need to mention about City.. people want us to compete among all these teams but cannot tolerate having a a failed second striker at 60k, Squid (a 4th choice CB) at 50k and a Bendtner who is always on loan.. devoiding all logic and totally impractical...
and getting maximum money for players who you cannot hold ? i believe it is a good thing..

Well let me put it in a slightly different way then. My original comments had less to do with what players we have or don't have and more to do with the comment on being.
"A club with principles. Not a club derided for ruining the beautiful game by inflating player wages and transfer fees."

I also understand that everyone is entitled to their own beliefs, I just feel as though if you are going to charge the highest ticket prices in the EPL that you should at a minimum, have the "principles" to try and field a team that will compete for silverware. Not the mythical 4th place trophy. I am of the opinion that our manager, board and majority owner knowing went into the last few seasons without truly believing that we would win any silverware. I am not positive about these prices I got them out of an article from the BBC. If they are right, I actually look at them as being more than a bit high. To the point that I believe that our Brand loyalty has been taken advantage of.
Team Most expensive season ticket, £ Cheapest season ticket,
Arsenal 1955 985
Chelsea 1250 595
Man City 695 275
Man Utd 950 532


As for player wages, again my comments had less to do with who we have or why. It was really directed at my belief that we have about 6 players that are average at best or below average and that we have increased the wages we pay them above what they can make anywhere else. We also have those that have failed. Regardless, again my belief. But if you increase the medium wages of average to below average players you in turn become just as culpable in the increase of wages as another team that is willing to overpay TOP TOP TOP players.

The entirety of what I said was really nothing more than questioning the altruism that some think our club stands for.

Before it is brought up, I have supported AFC for way to much of my life to be affected by the last few years of decline. I still hope that something out there is going to change and we will once again become the AFC that we should be. Challenging and winning silverware.

As a last comment and one last opinion. I think that the worst of our clubs issues can be directed at 2011 when Stan became the majority shareholder. That is when our selling started really affecting us. If you look back to 2008 when Stan was given a board seat we were really only in need of that one more person. Coincidence or not?