A reminder of how things have changed and why top four finishes are not to be decried

13 Replies to “A reminder of how things have changed and why top four finishes are not to be decried”

1. Good read Tony. In my school, many of my friends and other kids at school were Man Utd or Barca fans (mainly because of Ronaldo and Messi). I am glad that I started supporting a club has rich values in its foundations, has a sense of togetherness among the staff within, and has great people part of its history that have shaped English Football.

   P.S Cardiff City (second most recent team to shift stadiums) are 23rd in the Championship, on the verge of another relagtion.

2. It would be interesting to know the extent of the waiting list of season ticket holders for Chelsea and Spurs. Both clubs need their grounds upgraded of course, without necessarily increasing attendance capability.
   Where are all the missing fans from these two clubs, now?
   Do they reluctantly attend the Ems, anxiously waiting for the day when SB and WHL can accommodate them?
   With the huge open spaces in the former Olympic Stadium now that West Ham are in lonely occupation, will a lesson be learnt that with or without State Aid, attendances depend on performance on the field rather than the architect’s drawing board. 😉

3. Re stadium redevelopment – a quote from the Liverpool owner this week indicated that the newly opened stand at Anfield could mark the end of the expansion of the ground due to the downward pressure on ticket prices. It was looking less and less economic to speculate on building if the financial rewards were not forthcoming.
   Spurs. at the time of their attempt to move into the Olympic Stadium. announced that the Northumberland Project (their name for their new ground) was no longer economic and that situation prompted them to try to get a new home for next to nothing.
   Since then, as reported by Liverpool, things have actually got worse with ticket price freezes becoming the norm. West Ham have had to virtually give away season tickets to kids in order to fill what is now known as the London Stadium.
   Spurs have announced that they are hoping ground share with an as yet unknown American Football franchise. Good luck with that!
   Meanwhile Arsenals latest financial results released today show that despite spending previously unheard of sums on new talent the Club remains in a zero net debt situation with enough cash in the bank to pay off the mortgage tomorrow if they really wanted to.
   Thanks to Arsene Wenger and what he has created we have got to this situation at only the half-way point in the mortgage repayment schedule.
   The man is second to none.He has not only beaten Spurs more often than not on the pitch he has helped to put them in an extremely risky financial position off it.
   You have to smile.

4. A bit OT, but since we haven’t stopped celebrating the 20th Anniversary:
   NBC just aired a material called “Inside the Mind of Arsene Wenger”. One of the first images show The Banner (yes, Untold’s) in a way that seems to underline it’s about Arsene’s very philosophy. If I’m making too much of it, that’s fine, I’d rather be mentioning this aspect than let it fly under the radar. Congratulations again, Untold!

5. Generally with long standing supporters the rivalry with the Spuddies has always been most important one. We’ve been so consistently above the them that certainly some of the newer supporters don’t have that same passion for beating them.
   The bottom line is that we’ll always have many rivals especially whoever we’re competing with for the top spot, but even if the Spuddies drop to Div 1, they’ll always be the Derby rivals.

6. Our new 61,000 stadium, the best in Europe as well, will project us above woolwich. The good days for the mob from south london are coming to an end.

7. that’s very nice, Florian

8. Normally we don’t publish comments which contain no evidence – unless the evidence has been supplied before – but I thought yours so amusing Mr Gascoigne that I made an exception.

9. Correct me if I am wrong.. I went thru the financial report and Arsenal sttill has a debt of 194m debt . No doubt we have a positive cash flow , I applaud Wenger-san steps to ensure Arsenal future sustainability .

   Fans has to wake up and remember that Arsenal can’t afford to go wrong until the debts are cleared..

10. Far East Gooner, Although I can’t confirm or deny the figure, you’re correct that we still have a very large mortgage. I seem to remember 230m being the figure but it’s probably less now. The set repayments are apparently quite a small manageable figure now, provided we continue getting a decent PL income.

    Mr Gascoigne, surely you don’t believe the only thing that’s been keeping you behind us is the ground size, do you? Your little Middlesex stadium wasn’t much differ income-wise from our Highbury stadium, so why weren’t you always above us before our move then?

11. Unfortunately, Mr Gascoigne,,at the risk of sounding like an accountant, the relative lack of high priced and corporate facilities at the new WHL mean the EMs will still take in more match day revenue.
    Wenger has kept Arsenal pretty much out of sight from Spurs, and even when you get close, you implode in his shadow.
    Personally, think you should worry more about West Ham once they get their issues sorted.

12. Spurs will have 61,000 supporters to fill the new stadium? Show me the proof. Let’s hope Spurs management is generous enough to give away free tickets to fill up the stadium.

13. Great piece tony again it’s nice to see the breakdown and facts of how clubs fare after moving to new stadia. Again mr Gascogne’s comments are at least amusing and I do have to point out even in this week of twentieth year celebrations there have been stilla large number of negative blogs stories about Wenger and Arsenal.