Wenger no longer welcome at the back of the Bus

'Like' e-Spurs on Facebook here!

Article by e-Spurs Writer ginolasleftfoot

One wonders if Arsene Wenger wakes up each morning in a cold sweat, panting, ripped from a recurring dream in which all the players he ‘could’ have signed all over the years stand before the end of his bed in some hybrid of a ‘What you could have won’ game show and Dickens’s A Christmas Carol.

The ship tends not to so much sail when referring to Arsenal’s transfer policy, but rather appears as a last glimpse on the cusp of the horizon, as Wenger and company saunter to the nearest helpdesk and politely enquire as to the ships whereabouts.

Wenger, was once the hip, young French kid, yellow backpack on, stuffed full of treasures unseen and a head full of ideas, who immediately got to hang with the cool kids at the back is now slowly being forced further forward. In fact, he’s now stood at the front of the bus, talking to the driver. (Probably about players he could have signed).

Previously, Arsenal’s transfer identity served them well as Wenger’s knowledge of the African and French market was unique in the Premiership which added to his collective effect on the league and gave Wenger a pool of talent, untouched by others. But now, what was once unique is now mainstream, and one only has to look to Newcastle’s scouting network to see how far teams have come regarding foreign players, especially of the French ilk. Arsenal have been left behind and now appear to have an outdated transfer model bereft of leadership, innovation and intent.

Arsenal seemed to have now abandoned Wenger’s transfer policy as there is a general acknowledgement that they have dropped off from the lead pack and the perennial ‘building for next season’ drum that Wenger continually beats is now just plain annoying. Large questions must be asked over why despite Arsenal’s Champions League status and 21^st century stadium are they failing to attract not just elite players but top prospects.

Is it simply that attractive football aside, Arsenal are no longer an attractive enterprise?

 

A short way across London, Tottenham are currently embroiled with something of a David Vs Goliath transfer wrangle with Marca Newspaper……. sorry, Real Madrid involving the sale of Gareth Bale. If Madrid thought the acquisition for Bale to be a straightforward process, then perhaps they should of done their homework. Easier still would have been to reflect on Tottenham’s steadfast stance concerning the sale of Luka Modric.

Daniel Levy, Spurs chairman and contractual/transfer hardball supremo outright refused to even entertain Chelsea’s pursuit of Modric, prior to his end of season sale to Real Madrid come the close of the 2011/2012 season. A figure of 40 million pounds was reportedly tabled by Chelsea for Modric’s signature, on the final day of the transfer deadline, yet Levy foresaw both the external and internal implications of allowing the sale to go through, stuck his fingers in his ears and ignored Modric’s request until the close of season. Interestingly, Modric finished the season with four goals (his highest tally) and six assists.

Levy, it seems is not a man to be trifled with when business matters are at hand. A caveat to Tottenham’s brilliant acquisition of goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was Lyon’s chairman Jean-Michel Aulas saying;

"The negotiation with the Tottenham directors has been the hardest I have ever had to undergo in these 25 years.”

Which brings us to the imminent sale of Gareth Bale (oh my heart weeps..dont go Gareth…and back again..) to Real Madrid.

All reports signal that Levy is adamant that only a princely sum with the addition of Alvaro Morata as a makeweight in the deal will allow Tottenham’s stance to alter. Tottenham do not need to sell Gareth Bale. His ascent to the Worlds Most Expensive Footballer as been far sooner than anyone imagined and Real ‘s constant thirst to remain ahead of the curve and match their Spanish rivals, Barcelona who recently acquired Brasil’s current shining star, Neymar, has inflated Bale’s transfer fee to a level far exceeding his true value.

Tottenham appeared to have wielded the assurance of Bale’s services for one more season as a bargaining chip in the acquisition of Paulinho and Nacier Chadli to good effect, and now with the addition of Roberto Soldado and possibly that of Etiene Capoue stand to mount an excellent challenge come next season, irrelevant of Bale’s possible move. Levy has maneuvered Spurs into a checkmate position and now waits for Madrid to finally surrender and topple their King. Their folly was to pursue Bale’s signature so aggressively, somewhat blinkered, and altogether quite unnecessary as no other clubs made a formal bid for him and have now appeared to show their hand far to early.

Levy stands on the brink of but two possible outcomes; The first being the sale of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid with a figure of £104 million pounds being estimated as a ball park figure. Just sit and chew on that on for a minute…

The stumbling block seems to be forming in the payment plan Real are insisting on, added to this is the 20 million pounds still owed for Luka Modric; Tottenham seem determined to secure a vast percentage of the fee first, before any payment plan is proposed. And having already signed the above-mentioned players, Tottenham’s transfer strategies have yielded excellent rewards considering the club can only offer limited European football. Therefore, regardless of Bale’s movement, Tottenham are not in need of the funds to generate further signings. Financially, Sours are a well run club so the £104 million is just gravy….a boat load of gravy.

The second outcome is that Bale remains at Tottenham as Real Madrid realise they have bitten off more than can be chewed and spend the entire season with their head down the toilet vomiting up bits of Bale transfer speculation. Whilst this is happening, Bale has another storming season, Spurs go from possible fourth placers, to; ‘Hey there Jose, love the view from up here.’ and come the close of 2013/2014 season everyone comes knocking at Levy’s door for Bale.

Meanwhile, Arsene has decided he’s become very aware of his carbon footprint, and who cares about sitting at the back with Jose, Andy, Grini and old Scary Eyes.

 

A pushbike is a far more sensible option.

 

Come with me on a journey through time and space @ginolasleftfoot

 

Comment on this article below.

 

Other e-Football Sites:

e-Football:
Site - www.efootballnet.blogspot.com
Twitter Feed - www.twitter.com/e_footballnet
Facebook Page - www.facebook.com/pages/E-football/529821593719736
Forum - www.e-football.freeforums.net

e-Spurs:
Site - www.espurs.blogspot.com
Twitter Feed - www.twitter.com/e_spurs
Facebook Page - www.facebook.com/pages/ESPURS/164631843709508

e-Manchester United:
Twitter Feed - www.twitter.com/e_ManUtd
Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/pages/e-Manchester-United/202927566530790

e-Arsenal:
Twitter Feed - www.twitter.com/e_arsenalnet

e-Crystal Palace:
Twitter Feed - www.twitter.com/e_crystalpalace

e-Middlesbrough:
Twitter Feed - www.twitter.com/e_middlesbrough

e-Ajax:
Twitter Feed - www.twitter.com/e_ajax

e-Eredivisie:
Twitter Feed - www.twitter.com/e_eredivisie

e-Ligat Ha'Al:
Twitter Feed - www.twitterligat_haal

Share on Google Plus