Arsenal have £200m & Benzema wants to join

Why do you believe that in this one instance they are wrong?
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They do not have sufficient information whereas directors on the board do. Simple as that. There doesn't have to be an agenda. Using lag information is an extremely dodgy method to forecast when you do not and in fact cannot take into account factors such as expected income streams not publicly announced. So naturally they tend to be on the conservative side. Especially after being fed the thrift line continuously for years!

You cannot seriously be suggesting that Harris of Peckham is lying?

"Money was tight when we moved to the Emirates but it’s a lot freer now. In the accounts, there’s over £200million in the bank."

I have already shown you from last year's accounts that he was talking abut the cash reserves which amounted to £140m even after earmarking a large percentage for debt cover. Even if you think that Arsenal will not generate another £100m of income albeit the new TV deal is about to come on line, there is already £140m ready to be spent on transfers. Keep in mind it is the board who plan budgets to allot how the money is to be spent and NOT Arsene Wenger. So when Carpetright Harris speaks you have to take his word for it that money is allotted to transfers.

The TV deal is changing everything. Did you ever think that a club like Crystal Palace which has been in and out of bankruptcy could suddenly afford to buy players like Cabaye from PSG?

"I could put Messi's name on a list and hand it to my director to sign him... who's fault would it be when he stays at Barca?"

Harris quite clearly states that Ronaldo and Messi are amongst a handful of 'unsignable players', so yes, were either of them the only names on Wenger's wish list then yes there would be reason to put the blame on the manager's shoulders.

However, as I've already said, Benzema cannot surely be classed as a player so elite that he is classed in that category. So then, who is to blame? If anything, Harris seems to have stitched himself and the board up with his words, if, as is to be believed, Benezma IS Wenger's number one target.

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"A manager has to give targets ranked in some sort of priority list. If the top target simply can not be attained then (given the 4 odd years to prepare) a second, third or fourth option can be secured."

There's already some debate in France as to who is the better striker, Giroud or Benzema? Or at least, is Benzema that much better than the Arsenal man.

Meaning if Benzema cannot be lured to the Emirates, who should we next turn our attentions to? Lacazette is the name on everyone's lips, yet what sort of impact did he have today (genuine question as I didn't see the match)? Either way I'm guessing there might be more than a few Gooners having second thought about him now.

So then, third or forth choice..?

Doubt we're now talking about players better than Giroud or Walcott, or even Welbeck for that matter.

Akpom's squad place might be in jeopardy though.

J99

Yet throughout this debate you have failed to provide any evidence to back up Harris's claims. Even AW stated the claims were untrue.

“He’s gone a bit overboard. It’s not true."

However, every single commentator, accountant, financial blogger, and AW himself are all wrong...

There's £200 million in the accounts, not in the transfer fund. The two are simply not the same.

Anyone who believes otherwise is frankly, deluded.

However, as I've already said, Benzema cannot surely be classed as a player so elite that he is classed in that category. So then, who is to blame? If anything, Harris seems to have stitched himself and the board up with his words, if, as is to be believed, Benezma IS Wenger's number one target.
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If Real Madrid listen to offers on Benzema, and the board to do not make money available to make the deal happen obviously it is the board. However, and this is what was leaked from the board, the last time, we get another Higuain situation when Wenger refuses to agree with the valuation of a player, or he prevaricates than obviously it is Wenger. In my opinion both parties, Wenger and the board have to work together to make a deal happen. The board have to stump up the money and the manager has to persuade an in demand player that his plans for the future are more attractive than say Van Gaal at Man Utd. (assuming they are also after a striker).

I think the situation maybe slightly different. I believe Arsene is dithering. And the board also recognise this is happening again and they are making it clear that they will trigger any move that Wenger wants but they want him to do it. In the past I mentioned Sol Campbell. Edelman once gave an interview where he suggested that when all the media blew up after Sol's move became public, Wenger actually backed off. It was Dein and Fiszman who pushed the deal over the line. And obviously Wenger was not very brave in the Suarez situation. The safe option is to give Giroud a new big contract and then go into season hoping he will do it.

I was not very impressed with Lacazette today, though it is pre-season. But then I admit I don't know enough abt French football and the only assessment I can make is from watching highlight reels when a player gets linked. My personal choice is to make Theo number one. Simple as that. Make it clear to Giroud that is what is being planned and go with a dynamic forward line based on movement and speed. My fear is then what happens with experiment does not work or Theo needs to be rested. I would not at that point change the system where Giroud is once again linking play rather than scoring goals. Then what do you do? Thats why I was intrigued with the link of Aubameyang. We could go with a forward line of alexis, aubameyang, theo all interchanging with Welbeck/Akpom/Oxo of the bench. I just want a fast forward line.

What I suspect will happen is that we will go into the season with the status quo. Giroud leading the line and Theo on the bench till he signs or leaves. And we will back here again after once again expecting different results by doing the same thing again and again.

comment by What would Stuart Pearce do? (U3126)
posted 14 minutes ago

Anyone who believes otherwise is frankly, deluded.
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We are going around on circles. I don't give a feck what Wenger thinks. He is not on the board and frankly if he fails another season I doubt anyone will have the patience to give him a new contract.


Yet throughout this debate you have failed to provide any evidence to back up Harris's claims.
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Why can't you accept what Harris says at face value? And what more evidence to do you want than a 'on the record interview' specifically spelling out Arsene can buy any player he wants?

Its just so odd to find someone who thinks a subordinate is more important than his boss. Football supporters are just weird.

J99

We seem to be going round in circles here.

Would you therefore accept anything Harris said "on face value" even if it was proven (like in this instance) unequivocally to be false? Just because he's a director?

Maybe you should have this debate with the affirmationed (accountants, AW, etc) and inform them of their mistakes.

Would you therefore accept anything Harris said "on face value" even if it was proven (like in this instance) unequivocally to be false? Just because he's a director?
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Yes I would because they are legally bound by what they say. Directors cannot say things that are not true because it affects share price. But in this case it also erodes confidence between the board and the fanbase. Josh Kroenke is trying to establish himself at Arsenal. He is not going to put all of that in jeopardy with interviews from fellow board members without full PR coordination.

And what are you on abt accountants? What accountants? Laughable. The only accountants I would believe in the official auditors of Arsenal Holdings Plc. Not some fans with a GCSE in Business.

J99

You're now going beyond the realms of fantasy!!

Each and every financial analyst, the club accounts, AW, all state Harris's comments were false.

Yet you are willing to "take his word for it"

You are being at best naive, and at worst delusional.

Believe Harris. I'll (with everyone else) consider the facts, and make an informed decision.

comment by What would Stuart Pearce do? (U3126)
posted 31 minutes ago
J99

You're now going beyond the realms of fantasy!!

Each and every financial analyst, the club accounts, AW, all state Harris's comments were false.

Yet you are willing to "take his word for it"

You are being at best naive, and at worst delusional.

Believe Harris. I'll (with everyone else) consider the facts, and make an informed decision.


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Harris said 200m in the accounts.

Last accounts said cash reserves were 138.8m, so given that reserves are highest in the summer, 200m will likely be somewhat accurate. In fact, reserves were 173.3m last summer.

Where the confusion is, is how much of these funds can be used on transfers/wages. Lord Harris implied all of it.

But given that most teams have neglible cash reserves (eg. Juventus only had $2.1m recently), it's clear that the majority of it could be spent. Especially now that debt is completely under control.

Operating costs (mainly wages) are always easily covered by annual revenue, so cash reserves are largely independent of that.

I personally wouldn't mind finally giving Walcott his much wished for central striker role, J99. Have to say for me his most prominent fixtures there, against Spurs and Villa in the FA Cup, were both successes. Yes, there will be times when it doesn't work for him up there, but the same can be said of almost any other striker, Giroud included.

I would not be overly keen to see Aubameyang brought in though. I know he played well against us in the CL, but generally speaking I've always been underwhelmed with him whenever I've seen him. Limited player.