While big bucks play a pivotal part in defining the success of a club in football, is it fair to say that the success of a team is dependent on the wealth of funds at the club’s disposal?
It’s a debatable subject because on one hand you have clubs such as Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester City, to name a few, that have been recipients of success in recent years with the influx of big money.
The purchase of top players has yielded success – trophies – to be precise.
But on the other hand, clubs such as Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Barcelona have had success built on the solid foundation of home-grown talent.
But where does this leave the heavily condemned Arsenal FC?
Arsenal is a club steeped in history and has developed a huge following across the globe for the attractive brand of football on show.
The Gunners have consistently remained in the top bracket of football for scores of seasons, both in the domestic circuit as well as in Europe.
While manager Arsene Wenger has catapulted the club to dizzying heights since his inception in 1996, he has been at the receiving end of criticism as the club has failed to win a major competition since the FA Cup victory in 2005.
We tend to forget that the scholarly Wenger is forced to create the best squad with the limited resources at his disposal and, therefore, it’s in the wrong to hold him entirely responsible for the club’s barren trophy cabinet.
While the devoted legion of Arsenal fans have been piling on the pressure on the management for the purchase of high-profile players, the club has been adamant about making a splash in the transfer market.
Chairman Peter Hill-Wood has admitted that the club has no intention of competing in the transfer market, and also pointed out that clubs need to learn from the recent state of affairs with the now cash-strapped Scottish club Rangers currently competing in the third-division in the 2012-13 season due to mismanagement of funds.
With the recent departures of some of their best players Robin Van Persie, Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas in the last couple of seasons, the glamour quotient of Arsenal has taken a beating.
But the current squad still possesses a lot of firepower within their ranks to hold fort against the best. This is an opportunity for young players such as Gervinho, Chamberlain, Chamakh and Santos to step up and create a name for themselves and with a brilliant coach in the form of Wenger at the helm.
But going back to the question of whether money can buy success, do you think a surplus of funds is the only way Arsenal FC can win silverware? Or do they persevere with faith in the young brigade and remain resolute in their quest for success? Time will tell.
k77sujith
Guest
Well you're right because Madrid and City are marquee clubs. I think we also have to keep in mind the fact that some of these big clubs are in debt. I guess players tend to demand more as well as they prolong their stay at a club. Thanks.
Walesy
Roar Rookie
but why is that? can they not find the money to keep these players? i think it is the celebrity lure that comes with manchester city and real madrid
k77sujith
Guest
Thanks Walesy, you're right but seems like the merry-go-round stunt at Arsenal will continue for some time to come.
Walesy
Roar Rookie
big clubs get big players and keep them. look at messi at barca, rooney at united, even cassilas at madrid. arsenal cant keep their big players and every time one leaves it sets them back a year or two int he development of the club. fabregas was a huge loss, nasri they could deal with but was a pivotal play maker for them and to lose RvP as well was devastating. how can a club expect to build a premier league/uefa champions league winning side when their best players leave every year? they have to work out how to keep these players not just bring them to the club.
k77sujith
Guest
Ian Wright under Wenger...I think the Professor would know how to deal with him :)
HardcorePrawn
Roar Guru
Wasn't it Ian Wright who famously said that he couldn't take instructions from managers who hadn't played at the highest level? He was alluding to his time in Graham Taylor's England team, but I've often wondered how he would have reacted to playing under Wenger.
k77sujith
Guest
Cloning the legends..nice one :). Cesc is just going through a lull I reckon..I don't think he'd want to leave Barcelona anyway. Thanks Mac.
whiskeymac
Guest
we should have cloned Bergkamp and Ian Wright. Fabregas is unhappy for now in Barca. we have first option to buy him back but prob he will stay and or he will cost too much.
k77sujith
Roar Guru
Yes, it was a good result playing away. Like you said, they are most likely to finish in the top 3 in the EPL...but u never know...:) Thanks Bondy.
Bondy.
Guest
I watched them this morning and thought they would still be a major player if they could've held Fabregas and van Persie,they'll run third this season in the prem if anything so far is to go buy.
k77sujith
Guest
I think Wenger for sure will continue with Arsenal. You're right about him having to find quick-fix solutions time and again. But then, the beauty of Arsenal lies in their game and consistency with a reasonable set of players. But yes, they have to take that up a few notches to win trophies. Thanks.
jinesh m
Guest
well for arsenal i think they are confused and in a mid level state...if u have seen the buys they made last2 seasons it has been desperate buys..like u wud nt have expected them 2 hav got in arteta,podolski,cazorla..cos wenger normally if u hav seen invested purely on youngsters..but i guess with their star players leavin and voices for silverware gettin louder i guess wenger is left with no choice...the arsenal board have clearly said that they wud not spend big bucks like city or chelsea..it all comes down to how long can they trust wenger n not winnin trophies..isn't wenger's contract runnin out end of nxt season...they hav a very gud team..play attractive football but winnin trophies i still dont thnk they have the mix of players to win trophies..its like evry star leaves wenger has 2 start from scratch again rebuildin the team..
k77sujith
Guest
Ooppps....so sorry :)
HardcorePrawn
Roar Guru
That's Prawn, you'll upset my mother if you call me Pawn! ;)
k77sujith
Guest
Thanks for that Pawn.
HardcorePrawn
Roar Guru
"But on the other hand, clubs such as Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Barcelona have had success built on the solid foundation of home-grown talent." The Manchester United team that ran out to play Sunderland on the final day of last season were actually more expensively assembled than the Man City team that took on QPR the same day. Mind you, that doesn't take into account the millions City spent on players that don't get much game time, but even so, the idea of United bringing through hordes of youngsters into the first team is a bit of a myth. Yes, they do have some players who progress from the youth team to the first team, but probably not much more than most other English clubs have.
k77sujith
Guest
You raise some good points. Currently I guess even Walcott's future isn't secure. You're right about SAF who's a master at finding replacements. Like they say...its all a cycle that keeps rolling from one club to another. Thanks.
whiskeymac
Guest
Its a myth barca, bayern and man u are home grown compared to others. all the top teams have good academies, and all the top teams poach and snare up and coming talents and established stars from other teams. Be they Ribery, Kagawa, Song or the like the list over the years is impressive (Henry, Hleb, Fabregas, Overmars, Petit... Nasri, Toure, Van Persie, Clichy to the Manchesters let alone other unsettled players like Viera and Flamini) but even then where did Arsenal get them from - Feyenoord, Ajax, France generally, Southampton etc.. Some were let go by mistake in hindsight (interesting noises about keeoing Bendtner now, Silva and Pires ) but the recipe for success is having a good replacmeent and knowing how to regenerate a team (SAF is the best at this IMO). Arsenal have not been that good at it. They have missed out on the names they were linked with (Hazard for example) as much to do with money as with a tarnished prestige due to years of comparative failure (ie no silverware, stars leaving under a cloud and uncertainty as to direction). This may change with Podolski and Cazorla partnered with Arteta and Walcott up front and a fit again Vermaaalen in defence. But then again look at the recent Sagna mutterings as well. Yes Barca have Iniesta Messi and Xavi now, but this is a freak almost. In the not so distant past they relied on foreign stars (Stoichkov, Kluivert, Hagi, Romario, Henry etc) and i have no doubt they will again. Would money have kept the stars. Some maybe (Cole, Nasri spring to mind) even though Arsenal still have a substantial wage bill. Winning something in the last how many seasons would probably have helped too but i think theres more of the mercenary to many players nowadays anyway. Few are loyal - players such as Totti and ADP are rare, even stalwarts like Henry and Fabregas (yes i know he is half barca) move on... where Barca and Manu seem to be step ahead is in the marketing of the overall package. these are clubs players believe they need to aspire to play for to win and obtain adulation.
k77sujith
Guest
Agreed Simpson...I should probably say..'in their prime' :) Thanks.
simpson
Guest
Chamakh and Santos are both 28 and 29 respectively so I don't think you can really call them 'young'