RJ
As an accountant who has not worked half a day in football, I really have only a basic (if that) knowledge of coaching and tactics. I barely understand the offside rule. However, I do know a lot of things about the way businesses work, and I begin to see what AW and IG have been doing over the last few years. Hindsight bringing a clarity all of its own.
So here is the skinny which I will present here as complete truth and fact (which it isn’t of course – it is just speculation):
• We embarked on a ridiculously ambitious programme to build a new stadium funded out of our own cash flow – laudable and sensible – increase capacity, give ourselves a chance to compete with the best.
• That programme was clearly going to disrupt the club for at least ten years (planning, delivering, paying back the debt).
• At the start of this programme, to keep the followers of This Great Club on-side, the Board couldn’t say “it is going to be a struggle for ten years before anything really positive comes out of this – we are going to have to watch the pennies carefully, and the chances are we will win sweet FA (not even the sweet FA Cup) – they had to tell and stick to the “this will help us compete with the best” – not telling us it might be ten years before we get the chance to do it.
• In the middle of this programme, the world economy takes its biggest hammering in 70 years, and two billionaire loons enter the Premier League with the express intention of buying as many players for their fantasy teams as they can. Could it have been predicted? Probably yes.
• To make sure we could compete and maintain the financial plan, we couldn’t afford the big signings – hence “Project Youth” – I don’t think Wenger ever believed it would win him the league, but I think he thought it would give us an outside chance, and keep some cash rolling in – it is incredible that we have achieved CL football (not important for being in the CL, but important for the money it generates to support the long-term programme), with the squads we have had – Wenger must actually be a genius, especially given the amount of players who are not worthy on non-league football if some of what I read on the Online Gooner is to be believed.
• The programme is about complete, and financially stability is pretty certain for the club – and so Project Youth is quietly jettisoned and Project Win The Premiership is launched. Cazorla, Giroud, Podolski to add to some strong signings from last season. Yes, the squad is not finished – but the business that has been done this transfer window in our attacking options is outstanding – especially at the prices being quoted. Now to address the defence – does the name Steve Bould ring any bells? And remember, Cazorla should have been in the team last season but for us being gazumped by Malaga – who now struggle to pay their bills having been a rich man’s plaything a year ago (be careful what you wish for).
Now to hopeless optimism – I think AW is a heck of a lot cleverer at football and business than most of us who bother with this website (I don’t think he knows best, but he certainly knows better than me) and I think he and the Board have been driving to a grand vision, and we are now reaching the point where the curtains will be pulled back, and the cannon will fire again.
I predict that in the next 3 seasons (so to be clear – no later than the 2014-15 season) WE WILL WIN THE LEAGUE. If we don’t, I will never write another piece or comment on another post on the Online Gooner – which will give some of you a bit of divided loyalty – if we don’t win the league, that mug RJ will shut up – hmmmmm. And frankly I expect us to push for the title this year, and finish second or better. Seriously I do – and if you can’t have hopes and expectations before the season starts, then you may as well not bother. I love our club, our history, my fellow fans and I also love our hatred of all things Tottenham. I have one wish and prayer my comrades in arms – give the squad a chance – let them get through at least five games before grumbling about how rubbish it all is. Cannot wait for Sunderland. C.O.M.E. O.N. Y.O.U. G.O.O.N.E.R.S.
