Arsenal's future is much clearer strategised at this moment in time. I for one would like to just voice my annoyance that 90% of the reasons behind it are to do with:
1- retaining a top manager (which I think most would agree we had with Benitez before he left under H&G)
2- building a new stadium/expansion (which again you can point fingers at H&G and Moores who both chose to line pockets than invest in club infrastructure)
3- lack of a long-term strategy (which was the reason why H&G were sold the club)
For all of the dislike of FSG, I can't quite believe these comments:
They {ARSENAL} could dominate along with city
over next 5 years.
All FSG are doing is tidying up the books and showing no ambition at all even the redevelopment of anfield has not started again an unambittious project which will lock the club forever in second best status.
I have been in business many years you have to take a chance invest and risk that investment for reward. That's what arsenal did 15 years ago and they are absolutely light years ahead of Liverpool.
All FSG are doing is housekeeping on day to day expenditure which is fine but it won't take the club forward
The one thing I think nobody can question is that FSG are taking a lonstrategy, and not just working day to day. You suggest that Arsenal could dominate?! They can't attract the quality of players they want. Even Ian Wright commented as such. Whereas Wenger seemed like the only one investing in youth, there are now a lot more teams doing it, which by proxy gives them more competition for players - and for the point I want to make, we have entered a similar market and that is why we've struggled (in some peoples eyes anyway) to attract big players in the market to date.
So much respect is given to Wenger because of his philosophy, and yet most Liverpool fans on here are happy to jump on Rodgers' back in trying to do the same. Wenger has failed (for 8 years) to replace Vieira. At various times, they have looked a couple of players short, and Wenger has insisted on spending money on the wrong positions. Now many on here could suggest that Rodgers has done the same so far this transfer window, but we still have time to, and signing Costa and Papadopolous would be investing in two areas we need to. A striker to play ahead/alongside Suarez, and a first-choice centre-half to play alongside Agger. In Melgarejo, he is investing in a youthful and talented player, who has struggled at left back but is very good offensively from what I have read
and heard from critics. Rodgers either thinks he is a better back-up for Enrique than Robinson, or he is going to play him as a winger, and potentially pick up Cissoko too. Either way, he is still going to improve on Robinson who isn't good enough to make the team of any PL side right now.
There is potential we'll have a first team of:
Mignolet, Johnson, Papadopolous, Agger, Enrique, Lucas, Gerrard, Coutinho, Suarez, Costa, Sturridge...
Our second string:
Jones, Kelly, Toure, Coates, Melgarejo, Allen, Henderson, Alberto, Downing, Aspas, Borini
Which leaves Wisdom, Sterling and Ibe looking like the young trio behind that.
FSG have a long record of bringing success to the Red Sox. They are near the
top of the table currently, having gone through a similar process. Ridding the club of high-earning under-performing players at fair prices, and bringing in younger (perceived to be better) prospects.
FSG also have record of expanding the stadium there, and an announcement was set to be made near the end of the transfer window... Which we have no reason to doubt won't happen, given there has already been much publicised progress on buying local houses to allow the build to happen.
Arsenal "are absolutely light years ahead of Liverpool"... Please... What FSG have done is suggest that expanding the stadium would provide the club with sufficient income to compete. Unlike Arsenal, there would be no need to build new, no need to invest £400M and by proxy, there wouldn't be a need to suffer long-term as a result. We would have a similar size stadium, with the same backing from a local fanbase, and potential to expand corporate facilities too.... How, when that could be funded and built inside 4 years, would that make us light-years behind?!
FSG's housekeeping is ensuring we have a lot of money to spend while we're outside the top 4. The club was already adjusted initially through FSG to be in a position where it was raising £10-15M per transfer window. Ridding the equivalent of £500k off the wage bill will give the club £23M excess on previous, which would be sufficient to add to a transfer kitty and give a manager near £45-50M of spending potential (albeit, I suspect Rodgers will be spending into that in terms of wages and transfers)...
No offence Stanley. I respect you, and I do really enjoy some of the comments you make. I just think you aren't actually seeing and judging FSG for what they are doing...
