Ivan Gazidis Is A Clown….

Today Gazidis has come out with some ludicrous comments. I mean how can the Executive director of a football club of Arsenal’s stature be allowed to talk like this. It appals me that such comments can come from a man of his position and just be put ‘to bed ‘ so easily.

“We would rather qualify for it but we have a really sustainable model that can cope without it. Not just cope, but we can do well and compete”

“It would be very foolish to build a business model that relied on being in the Champions League for perpetuity and I don’t think any clubs do that and, if they do, then they probably aren’t being run as responsibly as they should be.”

So let me get this right Mr. Gazidis. You are saying that it would not be a disaster for a club like Arsenal to NOT play in the champions league? What do you think the champions league is about? Is it only about money and nothing about playing and competing with Europe’s Elite? This is why I say this clown has no idea about what football means to supporters.

“Every club has the temptation to think that money is the answer to issues and ‘if we only spend just a little bit more, it would push us over the top of a curve’ and that is what drives the cycle of spending that you see in the game and that is not by any means always what is successful, actually”

No of course not. Instead of signing Arteta, on whom we spent 10 million pounds, if we could have added that to our existing offer of 15 for Mata, it would have been a disaster of unimaginable proportions.

“It is tempting to think that it is. It relieves pressure for a while but actually builds long-term pressure in other ways. We will continue to act with discipline to make sure we have got a good short-term and long-term future.”

So if you spend money on quality players it builds long-term pressure. As of this moment Arsenal have 50 million in the bank a/c waiting for more money to be piled on.

I believe it will attract strong and capable ownership that clubs at the moment are struggling to attract investment. There are many clubs in this country that have enormous potential that could be unlocked. But can it be done in a year by buying players? No.

Then why buy Chamberlain, Walcott and youngsters from such clubs? Let them have their players and unlock their potential.

We don’t have a salary ceiling. I don’t know where that story comes from. We have a very sophisticated business model that looks at what we need to do to compete today and what we need to do to compete next year and five years from now. I’m comfortable we will be able to be competitive in whatever environment is created.

Sorry Sir, but we don’t have a salary ceiling?! Mr. Wenger has said on several occasions that Arsenal can not compete with the wages being offered elsewhere. And I don’t think we will be able to compete with the current dross in the team. Yes, if you do sign a few players in January then your quote makes more sense. Otherwise, its just ‘pure’ garbage similar to what Wenger says in his post match interviews regarding team spirit and champions mentality.

“We are not looking for credit for being a self-sustaining club. I do think it is the right model for us. It gives us stability and the ability to look forward with confidence without worrying too much about the ups and downs, the competitive cycle or the economic cycle.”

I will give you credit for that though. Not many people do, but to keep in mind fans interests it just has to be tweaked a bit. Spend a bit more than what you think you are spending. And do it wisely.