Wenger has a reputation for always keeping his word and he will see out his contract. Not sure if its at the end of '05 or '06 but it will be at least till then. I think what may help him in his decision to stay or leave is how we do in Europe. If we reach a semi in that time, he'll stay to try to win it.
He won't quit. But if Arsenal were looking for an end-around to raise enough cash to build that stadium by 2005, all they'd have to do is pinch pennies now, buy Landon Donovan from Leverkusen in May, ahead of a promotional push for their upcoming USA Tour of MLS cities where they play preseason against, South American club of your choice, Mexican winner, and two teams from Europe who also want to splash their name in the US market (they played lightweights this season). They'd sell enough shirts to erect the Grove overnight if they wanted. Plus Wiltord would be expendable, and the cost of LD could be subsidized by his sale. But is this in the pipes? Oh No. They're letting Man. U. soak it all up, using a goalkeeper! (Tim's good, but he's not exciting. Think of the attention a field player would bring!) For my money and from my perspective, the Arsenal's marketing arm is the arm of an alligator: short, stubby, and awkward.
But at least an alligators arm serves some purpose, it does walk on them. I would say it is more like the arm of a T-Rex. In the words of science..absolutly useless.. Good point about Donavan, I have always thought he would be a good fit for Arsenal not just because of his US marketability, but his style of play; i think compliments itself to Arsenal.
This is actually not a new story, but appeared two or three weeks ago. It is a classic English "Journalism"...speculation was a dash of truth thrown in. Some might say well this comes from an Arsenal legend, and it does, but apparently he is anything but an insider at Highbury since his criticism of the players at Old Trafford(to me, ostracizing anyone for being honest, right or wrong, is far worse behavior than anything that took place in that match, but apparently that's the case)and there is a sense that maybe he's grasping for stories like any normal English football writer not at the Times or Independent or Guardian(the only papers who I really trust...maybe the Telegraph too to be fair) A shame really, if the stories are true to see a true hero of Anfield in 89 to be in such a position. But the thing is this story doesn't have a whole lot behind it now...
Donovan For Arsenal I have Donovan in my Arsenal Championship Manager team and he has already bagged a dozen goals and added some assists as well. He would fit right in at Arsenal. He is a good runner with the ball and can play a playmaking role that Bergkamp will be vacating when he retires. I was in the stadium in San Jose when the US played Wales and saw him go on a solo run that left the entire Wales defense baffled. I think that it would be a good marketing move for Arsenal as well. Bring the team some more US based fans.
Potential number of Landon Donavon Arsenal shirts sold in the US: 48 Not only would LD add little to Arsenal on the pitch, he would add little from a marketing perspective. Freddy Adu is exciting, but when was the last time you saw LD anywhere? The guy scored two goals in the final, was he on Letterman? Leno? If so I missed it. No offense to LD, he just isn't getting it done in the excitement dept.
Don't know what Alan Smith said to get himself ostrasized, but, he needs to get his facts straight about why Arsenal are relocating. The first choice was always to redevelop Highbury. The board were frustrated by local government and Highbury residents pressure groups. On top of this, if you know the area around the stadium, it is very unlikely that the infrastructure could handle a significant increase in capacity! Redeveloping Highbury may have cost more! Arsenal would need to compulsorily acquire homes around the ground, widen roads, provide additional parking and substantialy increase the size of the underground station, before adding an extra seat. I would also be interested to see if the cash we would save over the next 5 years, by not building AG, would be enough to give us the buying power of Chelski or ManUre? There was a thread a few weeks ago extolling the virtues of our 'young Guns" and in my head I poo pooed it, coz there's no crystal ball in football. Even so, cash or no cash, AW must have been heartened by the way the youngsters demolished Wolves the other night. Come you Gunners!!!
Donovan While Freddy Adu is without a doubt the biggest news in American soccer since the World Cup, Donovan definitely is more primed to shine on a big scale a lot sooner than Adu. Appearances on Letterman and Leno are noteworthy, but that's largely due to his hype -- all stemming from his $1 million contract w/ Nike a while back. I do like to think of the possibility of Donovan, who is in his prime now (while Adu will play a few years in the first team of the MLS before he hits his peak and signs with a big European team), playing for Arsenal. I also have indulged the possibility in CM, but that shouldn't necessarily dictate real-life actions. He would develop a lot quicker in an Arsenal side, but I'm just not sure he's quite at the level of caliber of our first-team side at this point. But if SOMEHOW we signed him and made a little money off of Wiltord, who knows? Freddy is good, but he's still just hype at this point. Adu wouldn't start for Leverkusen, but Donovan certainly would. What self-respecting, competitive European club would have the stones to start a 14 year old? Aside from being a media spin, no coach would be keen on the idea. Landon, on the other hand, is a little more intriguing. On the note of jersey sales, they're already preparing to make a bunch of Adu US jerseys (Nike is the kit maker, after all), and market them over the next couple of years in preparation for the possibility of playing in the 2006 WC. Given that Nike is not the maker for D.C. United's kit (adidas), I personally feel it would be somewhat marketable to field an American in a big European team who's kit is made by Nike. (ie - Arsenal). That, paired with a preseason US tour would give the jersey possibilties a valiant shot in the arm. But all in all, the likelihood of us jumping on it first is slim (and a little risky), but we can all dream, can't we?
I'm glad you asked. Yes he was on Letterman and I believe he was on Leno with a few other players. Sorry you missed it.
I think he was refering to being on Letterman or Leno after the MLS final. I do remember him on Letterman after the WC.
I said it in another thread, and I'll repeat it here: our youngsters have "Wenger Dynasty" written all over them. I don't think he'll leave until either: a.) there is nothing left for him to accomplish, b.) the Board don't feel like paying him anymore or c.) he dies. That's how I sees it.