Mails: Are Spurs praised for what Arsenal were criticised for?

Daniel Storey

A good, solid Mailbox. Now don;t let us down in the afternoon. Send them to theeditor@football365.com…

 

We’ve been waiting for this (and it’s a reasonable point)
Ok so as a semi regular contributor to this mailbox many people might realise that I am an Arsenal fan, and ergo, biased. But bear (or is it bare? I never know) with me.

For years and years (about 8 in total), Arsenal adopted a policy of relative austerity when it came to squad investments. There were 5 players in particular that were allowed to leave and not replaced (Vieira, Henry, Fabregas, Nasri and van Persie). We were told that the club was paying off the stadium and for the long term benefit of the club we as fans may have to suffer a few barren years. We did. No trophy from 2006-2013 (though would have arguably won the league in 2008 without Eduardos leg break).

This divided (and still does) Arsenal fans into the remarkably tedious AKB and WOB brigades. But it appears now that Arsenal are leaving that phase of the clubs life behind them. Now, some argue that we always had the money but chose not to spend it. Which is perfectly possible, but seems like an entirely sensible approach for any company to take regardless of its business. Consolidation is a valid and worthwhile business strategy, especially if you have embarked on a medium to long term high finance project.

However during this period Arsenal were widely castigated by the press and fans of other clubs a like. “No ambition” they cried, “X years without a trophy” they scoffed. And even now after the club has won 3 FA Cups in 4 years, we actually discover that trophy only actually means the league title or champions league. Strangely though other clubs count the Europa shield and League Cup as trophies (and Mourinho counts the charity cup thing).

In 2017 Spurs are mirroring Arsenal from 2006. New stadium to pay for after arguably their best team in decades. Do I see Pochettino and Levy slated for lacking ambition in the press? Has anyone ever mentioned that they haven’t won any trophy in over ten years and no FA Cup since 1991 and no “Arsenal level” major trophy for over 55 years? No. I see praise. Praise for operating differently to the oil money clubs. The oil money clubs which amazingly Arsenal are being bracketed with.

As a side note, since Spurs last won the league, Arsenal have won 6 leagues. Since Spurs last won the FA Cup Arsenal have won it 8 times. And here Spurs are, being praised for something which Arsenal were abused for 24 months after going an entire league season unbeaten. They’d earned the right to tighten things up.

And If one club on earth has earned the right to spend big on players, it’s Arsenal and in particular Wenger. So the stick that was used to beat the club for 10 years and counting is now being used to beat the drum of Sense and sensibility in favour of Spurs. I find it astonishing.

I applaud Spurs for their approach. Just as I applauded Arsenal. There is absolutely nothing wrong or incorrect about running a football team as a going concern. If anything it should be illegal not to. I’m more annoyed about the double standards.

Hearing Jo-say saying how other clubs are ruining the game by over spending (there is actual footage) was simply the most incredible thing I’ve ever heard. He’s spent £164m on Pogba and Lukaku and paid £40m to ONE agent in the last 12 months. People lap up his “fake news” though and it drives the agenda for the season ahead.

Football365 is a beacon in a sea of agenda driven quasi-journalists and I implore you guys to keep it up. Otherwise I feel that the fake news will seep into real news and he likes of Jose once again get away with absolute murder.

Just so I’m clear, can anyone tell me whether austerity is lack of ambition or something which should be applauded in the face of massive spending?

Have a good day team.
Brad S
(MC – I think our answer would be that Wenger and Arsenal *did* get credit for consistency during the stadium years, and certainly kept his job. But it’s his/their inability or unwillingness to transition from that era to the one where Arsenal had the funds to compete and chose not to that has invited the most criticism. And that criticism is fair.)

 

Is there a breaking point on transfer fees and wages?
Reading the submissions on yesterday’s mailbox about the transfer prices got me thinking – there has to be a limit?!?..

Whilst I fully agree with Rob A that economics play a huge part in it, and that image rights and merchandise are paramount on player ‘A’ signing for a club I think we can all safely assume that the number one reason, bar none, is greed. Weather that’s from the player themselves, or, and probably more so, the players agent who will want to ensure he gets his slice of the pie, rather than ensuring that his player gets game time, recognition etc etc, it’s the only way to explain why some players, some decent, some bang average, have moved from a middling club playing 90 mins every game to a ‘bigger’ team to warm the bench as they’ve been found out.

I would suggest that the situation is easily solved by simply introducing a wage cap – regardless of whatever team you are playing for, the maximum weekly salary is (picking a figure out of my ar*e) £200,000, I’m simply not having it that earning the best part of £10.5 million a year isn’t enough for any one person!!! Then it becomes a simple case of who do I want to play for, rather than who can pay me the most.

Yes I’ve heard all the normal replies, that “a footballers career isn’t forever” etc, but come on, most people won’t earn that in a lifetime!!

Thoughts?….
IK

 

The ICC has actually been really good
Call me skeptical, but are there notable bonuses at stake in the International Championships Cup? Other than the volume of substitutions; the aptitude, attitude, intensity and competitiveness on display has been quite high in comparison to “friendlies” of old.

Neymar and Messi have been so engaged their unplayable, Juves second vs. PSG was world class and the genuinus of the majority of the goal celebrations are just a couple of examples.

Not everyone is in the “shop window”, and surely not attributable to pride?

Either each way, been a very enjoyable tournament thus far.
RC, Canada (a skeptic)

 

Emre Can is Thomas the Tank Engine
Your gossip article said “Still, be a bloody shame to lose [Emre Can]”. I’m not so sure.

There’s an alchemy when the quick feet and innovation of Firmino, Coutinho, Lallana, Mane, and Henderson interplay. Get 3 or more of those ingredients together in one move, and defenses dissolve and sparks fly. But Liverpool have another set of players who are predictable, slow, and allow defenders time to compose themselves and settle into formation. Prime examples are/were Origi, Can, and Lucas. Anytime they’re involved in a play, the chance of a goal plummets. We’ve already said farewell to Lucas, and should do the same to the other two.

To be fair: Emre Can does have one party trick: he works up a head of steam, builds pace like Thomas the Tank Engine, and charges directly towards goal. That’s useful. It inspires attacking purpose, leaves space behind his trail, and provides an obvious opportunity for a through ball to meet the path of his bulldozer (aka the Watford move). But it’s not enough to reliably dismantle the fleet of parked buses that Liverpool regularly meet around the league.

I started off writing about alchemy and sparks, and ended up talking about Thomas the Tank Engine, bulldozers and parked buses. That’s the influence of Emre Can.
Mike, Chicago

 

On the Gentle Giant
Thank you Mr Storey for your profile on John Charles. I grew up my entire life hearing my father critique every single missed header in every game we’ve ever watched with “John Charles would have crushed that.”

There was no equal. You are correct in stating he was the greatest player of his generation, and that other comparisons aren’t necessary. My father, a Swansea boy himself, closely admired this gentle giant and told me story after story of his career. Talk about living vicariously.

To my point then. When John Charles signed with Leeds he told his mother, who said he couldn’t go because he didn’t have a passport. Small towns, humble people, quiet lives…world class icon.

It’s critical to talk to our kids about our own histories and color their lives with our heroes. They will carry those memories forever, even if it seems they could care less. Those connections will mean so much later in life.

So Dad, if you’re reading this, thanks for all the small talk. You owe Mr Storey a beer. Then you can tell him about the time John Charles came over and asked your advice about the ladies.
Dave in Chicago (still sifting through family fact and fiction)

 

Fight, fight, fight
One of the most compellingly awful scenes from a movie in recent memory is when the Joker, wonderfully played by the late Heath Ledger, lets two opposing henchmen know that his organization is looking to aggressively expand, but only has room for one of them, so they are going to have…tryouts. At this juncture, he breaks a pool cue in half and leaves the two henchmen to sink to the depths of inhumanity and depravity in order to survive.

I only mention this because Karius and Ward of Liverpool are both missing training today.
Niall, Denver

 

Why is nobody talking up Leicester for the top six?
How come no pundits, punters or mailboxers are talking up Leicester’s chances of at least breaking into the top 6?

This is a team that won the title a couple of years ago, have (as yet) not lost any key players, had a massive upturn in form with Shakespeare in charge and have the likes of Ndidi settled in and Mcguire adding pace to the back line?

I’m telling ya – it’s not Everton that threaten to break into the top 4 or 6 – its Leicester!
Duck

 

It won’t happen but: Award points for playing kids
I know it will never happen but as I sit here bored at work, it struck me that if there was some reward for playing homegrown players, it could encourage teams to start pushing them through.

For example, for every 500 mins played by homegrown players under the age of 23, an extra point is awarded. This would work well for the lower teams who can get some extra points when they don’t have the same money to spend but could also be a big help at the top end.

For example, the season before last, Harry Kane would have been worth 6 points or so and therefore probably making the title race a lot closer. It also gives a buffer to managers at the top where winning is everything.

I think it is unrealistic to expect Conte to blood youth when you’ll probably get fired for 2nd place (thinking Ancelotti here) but if you could incorporate them and gain something back if they were to cost you game, might make it more interesting.

And obviously this leads on to the greatest England team of their generation…

Anyway, as I said, won’t ever happen but made sense when I thought of it!
Gareth (probably a lot of reasons why it won’t work), Gloucester

 

Welcome to the family
Hello,

My name is Col. Woods of US army and I would like to be your friend.
COL. Geoff Woods