Rafa having a pop at Parry?

[Gravy]

"They (Arsenal) have been working for ten years to build a strong squad, and we have been working for two years. My scout department has done an excellent job, but sometimes we go too slow as a club to make signings we need, and when we do there is not a lot of money."

 

Reads to me like a dig at the powers that be, and IMO (you won't be surprised to hear). he's bang on.

[_00_deathscar]

A Gravy post slating Parry.

 

What next? A Kev post being miserable?

[filopastry]

To be honest I'm getting a bit bored of listening to the "we've got no money" comments.

 

If you compare us to anyone outside of Chelsea and our spending's been competitive enough while Rafa's been here.

[IgPig]

To be honest I'm getting a bit bored of listening to the "we've got no money" comments.

 

If you compare us to anyone outside of Chelsea and our spending's been competitive enough while Rafa's been here.

 

 

It probably is if you already had a squad of players capable of challenging. Maybe not if you need to build one.

[Tones]

Dont see why its a dig at Parry. Parry doesnt have any money. All he can do is help release the money the club has. If the club has none, Parry cant do anything.

[JonShar]

I read that entirely differently.

 

I read it as if he was addressing DIC - "It's not that we don't scout the right players, or know who we should sign to make us better - we just need the money to bridge the gap"

 

But hey I'm probably wrong, since that doesn't include "having a pop" at someone.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

gravy, you should write soap operas with your talent for drama.

[Shadow Moon]

Bascombe has written comments along the same line:

 

".... In reality, this was a massacre ten years in the making. Arsene Wenger dared to consider it his most satisfying moment in management, because he's seeing a forward thinking strategy come to fruition.

 

When a visionary coach is paired with a board which has the foresight and financial strength to ensure the manager gets the players he asks for, you're left with a squad as formidable as this.

 

Young, athletic, fast, technically gifted and hungry for success. Everything Liverpool, with half a dozen notable exceptions, are not.

 

Watch, admire and learn....

 

Wenger's and Rafa Benitez's scouts tour the world together, compiling dossiers on the same players, but it's Arsenal who complete the deals, while the Liverpool boss impatiently lives in fear of another target escaping....

 

Economics, it seems, are increasingly on the mind of a Liverpool boss whose doubts grow by the day as he contemplates if he'll ever be granted the luxuries on offer to Wenger.

 

One even dared contemplate if Benitez's team selection itself was a plea for help before the transfer window closes.

 

Benitez is in no position to publicly state his increasing discontent at the lack of depth and resources he believes available, but a clear gulf in class in the back-up players delivers the message far more than a speech."

[Gravy]

 

"but sometimes we go too slow as a club " - How does that erad as not having a dig? Parry has put a block on that article going on the official site I believe.

 

It says in double talk, IMO, Rafa's main gripe. He gives the names of players to the board and then it's moved on too slowly.

[Guest Cardie]

 

Reads to me like a dig at the powers that be, and IMO (you won't be surprised to hear). he's bang on.

 

Except he's not.

 

January to January we've spent 30 million Arsenal have spent 27.

 

They haven't used additional money to buy the likes of Denilson and Diaby they have the been the actual squad signings so they aren't at an advantage being able to buy both squad players and reserve players.

 

Everyone of arsenals signings in that period have appeared in the premiership for them.

Edited January 10, 2007 by Cardie

[Knox_Harrington]

We'll never sign Kuyt and it's a disgrace the powers that be won't back our marvellous manager as much as they should. Disgrace.

[Guest Scot]

I think Gravy is right, both here and in the other thread. Rafa is clearly frustrated that deals are not completed with sufficient speed, it's not the first time he's said it either. The money thing is not a new topic either. None of that excuses our beating yesterday, but I find it hard to read Rafa's message differently than Gravy suggests.

[Poolfrog]

Bascombe has written comments along the same line:

 

".... In reality, this was a massacre ten years in the making. Arsene Wenger dared to consider it his most satisfying moment in management, because he's seeing a forward thinking strategy come to fruition.

 

When a visionary coach is paired with a board which has the foresight and financial strength to ensure the manager gets the players he asks for, you're left with a squad as formidable as this.

 

Young, athletic, fast, technically gifted and hungry for success. Everything Liverpool, with half a dozen notable exceptions, are not.

 

Watch, admire and learn....

 

Wenger's and Rafa Benitez's scouts tour the world together, compiling dossiers on the same players, but it's Arsenal who complete the deals, while the Liverpool boss impatiently lives in fear of another target escaping....

 

Economics, it seems, are increasingly on the mind of a Liverpool boss whose doubts grow by the day as he contemplates if he'll ever be granted the luxuries on offer to Wenger.

 

One even dared contemplate if Benitez's team selection itself was a plea for help before the transfer window closes.

 

Benitez is in no position to publicly state his increasing discontent at the lack of depth and resources he believes available, but a clear gulf in class in the back-up players delivers the message far more than a speech."

Frankly I'll be surprised if more than 2-3 of those players make the breakthrough to become Arsenal first team regulars in teh next few years, for all the exaggerated praise being heaped on them. Walcott for one had a stinker last night. Whatever they paid for him it was too much.

[Gilps]

We'll never sign Kuyt and it's a disgrace the powers that be won't back our marvellous manager as much as they should. Disgrace.

 

 

Imagine coming out with stuff like that and still not managing o be the biggest laughing stock in your own family.

[Gravy]

I think Gravy is right, both here and in the other thread. Rafa is clearly frustrated that deals are not completed with sufficient speed, it's not the first time he's said it either. The money thing is not a new topic either. None of that excuses our beating yesterday, but I find it hard to read Rafa's message differently than Gravy suggests.

 

Not often we agree Scot. I think he has deals like Simao, Alves, Figo and no doubt others we don't even know about when making these comments.

[Magic8Ball]

It probably is if you already had a squad of players capable of challenging. Maybe not if you need to build one.

Buried in that response is the reason why we will never truly compete with Chelsea , Arsenal or Man U let alone overtake them

 

 

We have to stop buying for the squad, we need to make a decision first team or promising youngsters, but no more average players for the squad

my vote - buy first teamers only and right now 2 world class wingers would be a good start ( one for RW one for LW )

[Buzz]

Like I saisd in another thread.

I just hopes Rafa sticks around to bring his work to fruition. Everytime we get near a transfer window, we get someone interested in investment and it never happens. My worry is he was promised big money from an investment, which is never gonna come and he might get the feeling he is being messed about, like at Valencia, and leave.

[Knox_Harrington]

I think Gravy is right, both here and in the other thread. Rafa is clearly frustrated that deals are not completed with sufficient speed, it's not the first time he's said it either. The money thing is not a new topic either. None of that excuses our beating yesterday, but I find it hard to read Rafa's message differently than Gravy suggests.

Think it's unneccersary and over-dramatic personally. Wenger's been doing this for years, Benitez hasn't. Simple fact of tenure. We've signed loads of young players since he's arrived and including two today. If the point is whether or not we should spend £10m on someone like Walcott then that's a luxury a man who has built his team over ten years has, not a man who is building his now.

 

I'm sure we could have concluded quickly on Alves and Kuyt had the manager not wanted Bellamy, Gonzalez, Neill and Pennant as well. (Yes, I'm aware we haven't signed two of those players). He's still got to take a significant share of the responsibility.

Edited January 10, 2007 by Knox_Harrington

[Bootle Buck]

It may have been 10 years in the making but many of the Arsenal players last night have been signed in the past few years and in many cases from somewhat obscurity. Even their most experienced player Toure was signed for £150,000, from Asec Mimosas in February 2002.

Wenger has been especially succesfull in spotting young African talent.

[Guest Scot]

Think it's unneccersary and over-dramatic personally. Wenger's been doing this for years, Benitez hasn't. Simple fact of tenure. We've signed loads of young players since he's arrived and including two today. If the point is whether or not we should spend £10m on someone like Walcott then that's a luxury a man who has built his team over ten years has, not a man who is building his now.

 

I'm sure we could have concluded quickly on Alves and Kuyt had the manager not wanted Bellamy, Gonzalez, Neill and Pennant as well. (Yes, I'm aware we haven't signed two of those players). He's still got to take a significant share of the responsibility.

 

I'm not saying it's all Parry's fault, Knox but I'm agreeing with Gravy that Benitez is clearly complaining.

[Flight]

"They (Arsenal) have been working for ten years to build a strong squad, and we have been working for two years. My scout department has done an excellent job, but sometimes we go too slow as a club to make signings we need, and when we do there is not a lot of money."

 

Reads to me like a dig at the powers that be, and IMO (you won't be surprised to hear). he's bang on.

 

 

[£440,000]

It says in double talk, IMO, Rafa's main gripe. He gives the names of players to the board and then it's moved on too slowly.

 

Indeed. Other clubs comes in, prices go up or opportunities are lost. That´s very definitely what Rafa is saying there.

[Knox_Harrington]

I'm not saying it's all Parry's fault, Knox but I'm agreeing with Gravy that Benitez is clearly complaining.

Benitez may be complaining but he needs to have a look at himself - not getting dramatic here, just stating - before thrashing about. He's been well-backed. Not brilliantly backed but well backed. And he's signed a lot of players.

[Guest Scot]

Benitez may be complaining but he needs to have a look at himself - not getting dramatic here, just stating - before thrashing about. He's been well-backed. Not brilliantly backed but well backed. And he's signed a lot of players.

 

Completely agree, Neil. Pennant and Crouch represent close to a 16m investment. It's a choice we make.

[Gravy]

Benitez may be complaining but he needs to have a look at himself - not getting dramatic here, just stating - before thrashing about. He's been well-backed. Not brilliantly backed but well backed. And he's signed a lot of players.

 

And after being well-backed and signing a lot of players, mostly in a price bracket that our main rivals don't have to operate in, he's won the EC and FA Cup. I'd say he's paid his dues and repayed us wouldn't you? WTF does he have to have a look at himself???