UNTOLD ARSENAL » 2009 » January » 23

If we take a look at what a few clubs in the EPL are doing just now, it gives a good insight into the options on offer.

Manchester Bankrupt: not just bankrupt, but even with their mega sqaud they have injury worries and a crisis meeting going on.  Yes they are 6 points ahead but the financial situation looks dire.   The sponsor is pulling out and the increase in cash has to come from “more marketing” according to the owner.  Not sure how you do that during a recession.

Liverpool Insolvency.  With the banks wanting money back by July, they are up for sale to the Arabs (see Manchester Money below).   The manager has refused a new contract and is showing signs of hysterical panic.  The banks have said none of the current loan can be spent on players.  The manager demands the absolute right to decide on player and fee – which is why he left his last club.

Everton Dictatorship.  This week the planning application to build on their training ground was turned down by the council and the government’s appeals panel.  They are now screwed because they already have a new training ground, so the old one is worthless.   Their reaction – not just to blame everyone else (of course) but also to blame the democratic process and demand that the elected representatives of the people  be kicked out with Liverpool instead run by a self-electing oligarchy of businessmen and bankers.   Good one.

Newcastle Zebras.   Lost 100 million of something (I forget how much).  Can’t sell the club, right down the league, nutter of a manager (who is a laugh I must admit).  No real money to buy anything except a cut price pint – and an owner who this season was warned about breaching alcohol rules.

KGB Fulham. Owned by Mr Absent Abramovich, no sign of new players, arguments within, they have sacked their entire youth set-up, and abolished the world-wide scouting scheme they tried to set up to rival Arsenal.   Mr Absent Abramovich has asked for his 600 million back, and the club might be bought by the Arabs.  See Manchester Money

Manchester Money.  The most laughable team – as we reported ‘tother day, they have bid for everyone from our Thierry to Kakakaka and his dog, and everyone turned them down – even the dog.  (The Daily Dog-bite ran a scare story about rabies in Manchester).   They might have all the money but they are near the bottom, their supposedly best player trotted off to Brazil, has been fined lots of dosh, and then the Oooze (manager) has said he wants to kiss and make up.  The model does not inspire confidence.

The Tiny Totts.  I’ve always thought that if the Tinies did not exist you could not make them up.  But the same is true of Harry Houdini.  As pointed out in the ever readable comments section of Untold Arsenal, Harry does it everywhere.  Goes in, says the players he has are rubbish, says his wife could do better, wheels and deals, and then… sometimes their luck holds, sometimes not.  Look at Southampton after bringing in Harry.   Start in the EPL and keep going down.

Arsenal.   No problem with manager.  No problem with the banks.  Biggest deal of the transfer window looks likely to happen with us buying.  While Everton can’t get their training ground sorted, and the Totts training ground planning permission was held up as an example of “all we have achieved”, Arsenal just got on, bought land, built ground, and built the flats.   6 points behind leaders is not ideal, but is not impossible.   And here’s the big thing…

The run of seven unbeaten in the league is being done without Eduardo, Theo, Rosicky, Cesc, the two centre backs.   And lurking behind is the ever growing Wilshere, Vela, Fran Merida (looking better every game), Bischoff, Randell.   And then there’s Traore.  And Jay Simpson.

Meanwhile people want to buy our players.  You might not like Nicklas Bendtner, (personally given his age, and given that most great centre forwards emerge fully in their mid 20s and remembering what Henry was like when he came, I think he could well become a great classic centre forward) but others like him enough to start making bids – including Bundesliga leaders Hoffenheim.    Eboué is the subject of an offer from Atlético Madrid.  Again, you might not like him, but clearly Wenger is not on his own in rating these players – and the point is people want to buy from Arsenal (Real Mad are doing the Cesc + Wenger story again at the moment.)

So, if I didn’t have the emotional ties and could change, I think I’d still stay with Arsenal.  Any of the others could disappear at any time.

(c) Tony Attwood 2009.  You’re very welcome to reprint, but please just mention my name and cite Untold Arsenal.   Thanks for reading (assuming you did and didn’t just skip to this bit, for some odd reason).