At the time he wanted 60k a week, and aresenal said No.... That was a stupid decision.
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At the time he wanted 60k a week, and aresenal said No.... That was a stupid decision.
Well not really. We got quite a good deal out of it - Gallas + £5M, and Clichy stepped up into the first team well. The relevance of that point in the article was that he's since given that to players of a lesser calibre, when actually - as GC pointed out - 60K was significantly more then than it is now.
Does this mean you're accepting Nasri's move was financially motivated?
60k back then, was still worth it, Keano was on around 90 even then. Cole move was motivated by both mainly, back as he has said, Arsenal where changing and whether you want to admit it or not, he was right.... You havent got the backbone you had, you havent got the players you once had, and your no longer favourites for trophies like you once where. You where the biggest side in London, if not this country. and now your no-where near that.
And as I said... I find it pretty difficult to believe anything he said at the time. Utd have always paid higher wages than Arsenal, and signed more expensive players. It's a risk-factor; if you don't mind that - fine, but again it's not really what this discussion is about.
Of course we've changed, and of course things were changing as early as 2006, but for him to leave saying that after that season (in which we got to two finals etc etc), is absolute bull-****.
EDIT:
I don't understand what you're trying to discuss with me - whether Ashley Cole is a greedy **** or whether Wenger should be sacked and Arsenal are no longer a good team etc etc etc?
fuelledbypassion
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You'd have to be very naive to believe that money wasn't a major factor, if not the deciding factor, but other things will have come into mind.
From an outsider point of view, Wenger seems to run the club in a very methodical and calculated way, which obviously has it's pro's and con's. I don't think he is a great man manager, and he certainly doesn't come across as an authoritative figure. I know that SAF makes sure every new signing understands the history and culture of United, and that they respect the traditions and older statesmen. There was quite a large number of foreigners coming into Arsenal at the time, and perhaps Cole needed the feeling of belonging as well as the discipline and respect that it seems Wenger doesn't always command?
I'm sure Wenger and Arsenal could have kept Cole if they really wanted to, but the manager decided to stick to his own principles, for better or worse. I really don't like the lack of loyalty that Cole showed the club, but I'm not sure that I would have felt differently had I been in his shoes. I'm sure he probably had more friends at Chelsea than Arsenal at that time. The situation with Nasri is totally different to the alienation that Cole may have been feeling, but the disloyalty is still the same, and if I were an Arsenal fan I'd feel the same disappointment.
At the end of the day, SAF opted to extend our wage cap to meet Rooney's demands because he is that important to our football club. Was Cole that important? Is Nasri also as important? With Wenger's youth policy, there is always a youngster ready to step into their shoes.
Apologies for the long(ish) post, must have Curtis syndrome or something
I am saying i understand why Ashely left and How wengers policy has failed....
You clearly where changing, and Ashley saw this. He saw a change in the dressing room attidude, He wanted out, maybe he went about it is a way that made him look like a prat. but his reason where not just money based, Sure the extra cash helped and no-one would turn that down, Just like Samir wont. but he wanted to win things.
Really tired but quickly:
Lots of foreigners coming into Arsenal at the time, so Ashley Cole went for... Chelsea. Chelsea, who that very season signed Schevchenko (Ukranian), Ballack (German), Kalou (Ivorian) and Khalid Boulahrouz (German). Not sure I get that point, but I think that Nasri's importance to the team - although not as good as Cole was, even comparatively looking at the whole squad - is elevated by the fact we haven't won anything for 6 years and it's no good losing top players (Cesc, RvP, Nasri etc) and also because the general financial position of the PL means we now have to accept inflation to a degree IMO and look to boost the squad, rather than deplete it.
I don't mean we should be signing £100m mega-stars, just that we obviously need investment and that along with that, one or two exceptions have to be made to the current players to keep them. I think Nasri is less motivated by money tbh. Various reasons which are long and I can't really be bothered to go into atm.
fuelledbypassion
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I just mean that the British Arsenal players were all retiring, whereas Chelsea had a British core with players like Terry, Bridge, Johnson, Duff, Lampard, Wright Phillips, Cole etc. so he may have had more friends in that squad. I'm not saying it's a major deciding factor, and I'm not defending him, but I know that I'd prefer to play alongside my friends if I had the choice.
Also, regarding Nasri. It was a genuine question rather than a rhetorical one. Is Nasri that important? If he is, then why doesn't Wenger do everything he can to keep him, including changing the wage cap? Rather than spend on improving the squad, shouldn't the priority be to keep the existing squad together? Or do you honestly think that he will sign a new contract based solely on your transfer business?
Cole was rather blunt in his autobiography about why he left Arsenal. He felt 'undervalued' when Arsenal offered him a new contract. If he'd been happy with the financial terms of that offer, he'd have stayed. He wasn't, he threw a wobbler, and went off to Chelsea for a big wedge of cash.
Arsenal are limited by the terms of their loans. If they start getting wage inflation beyond their current cap, they start getting squeezed financially from both the wages and also worse terms on the money they owe.
Arsenal are limited by the terms of their loans. If they start getting wage inflation beyond their current cap, they start getting squeezed financially from both the wages and also worse terms on the money they owe.
Khalid Boulahrouz is Dutch.
Not that it conflicts with your point, just in a pedantic mood.
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They say that Gervinho is signed :Football | Barclays Premier League | Arsenal sign Lille striker Gervinho | ESPNSTAR.com not sure if it is true though.
Well, I don't think we should cry over spilt milk about Cole, we have Clichy who may just about to leave, but that gives Gibbs first-team football. Nasri says he just wants AW to spend in the transfer window, maybe a bit because of cash, but he wants some more talent in the squad.
Well, I don't think we should cry over spilt milk about Cole, we have Clichy who may just about to leave, but that gives Gibbs first-team football. Nasri says he just wants AW to spend in the transfer window, maybe a bit because of cash, but he wants some more talent in the squad.
looks like we have been brought over by the wrong billionaire at least this one wants to spend some money....
"The Premier League is one of the most competitive in the world and whilst we have consistently challenged for honours, the club needs to develop talent and buy top-class players to win the trophies we all crave. This requires greater investment which, I believe, has been lacking thus far."
Usmanov hits out at board | Sky Sports | Football | Premier League | News
"The Premier League is one of the most competitive in the world and whilst we have consistently challenged for honours, the club needs to develop talent and buy top-class players to win the trophies we all crave. This requires greater investment which, I believe, has been lacking thus far."
Usmanov hits out at board | Sky Sports | Football | Premier League | News
1. Clearly the work of a PR man, rather than Usmanov himself.
2. MUCH rather have Kroenke than Usmanov. Alisher Usmanov doesn't know what he's doing and he'll simply plunge the club into further debt. Like the Glazers have done, like Abramovich has done.
If doesn't matter if it was his PR man or him they talked a lot of sense. It is clear we need investment otherwise we will just be moving backwards.
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Looks like it'll be Arsenal vs Liverpool to sign Oxlade Chamberlain! Fisticuffs out, people!
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Until Man Utd ****** him in the last minute
Stealing all our players, shame on you!...
...Although, you can have Young! Apparently, you lot offered an extra 45k a week than us for him.
