Edu: Sporting Director … or high-priced bagman?: Page 7 - The Arsenal discussion community: One More in the Tolly

Edu: Sporting Director … or high-priced bagman?

Claudius

Daz one a dollar for dollar basis, Arteta sweats his squad. Look at where he has spent the most money. It’s always on the field. That’s how you measure asset utilisation. Not by picking one offs. We too often take the micro versus micro view on how we are run or how we perform.

Only big ticket that doesn’t play is Partey, who’s always injured.

Daz

So we're just ignoring the 30m he spent on Ramsdale in order to suit your argument?

Claudius

Daz I’m not ignoring it. I know he bought a goalie and then 2 years later when the guy he originally wanted became available, went back for him. Let me explain why that deal doesn’t bother me (again)

We went back for the keeper we originally wanted. So clear story here. It is not a whimsical purchase. It’s a long term target
We needed a goalie anyway. The best alternative to this deal would’ve been to either a) risk a season with Hein/Okwonkwo or b) buy a sub keeper now, who would’ve cost us money anyway, probably £10-25m - that we likely would’ve had to book immediately.
The Raya money doesn’t reflect on our balance sheet until next year, at which point the Ramsdale money would be off.

So those saying he’s wasted money are so far off the mark it’s not funny. Seriously.

Qwiss

Vieira was quite expensive too.

Don Pacifico

Claudius it's only not wasted money if (a) Ramsdale doesn't lose value when we sell him and (b) you believe Raya is a meaningful upgrade on him.

I know you disagree on the second point but I certainly don't see the upgrade as things stand.

Daz

OK so we are in agreement that in this case, they actually did spend money on a player and then toss him aside. Goodo.

Claudius

Don Pacifico and that’s fine. It’s not a 100 metre race. There is no clear cut criterion for who is better or worse. I perceive Raya to be better. You don’t. Not stressed 😊

Burnwinter

The thing with Raya and Ramsdale is that it's been a big hassle for at best a small margin. I think we'll lose money on Ramsdale too. Then there are our efforts this season to integrate Havertz. With Timber's unfortunate injury on top, last summer's business didn't do enough for us. We'll need to have closer to a 75% strike rate next time round, while also finding the right sales. It's a difficult job.

Clrnc

We bought mostly good buys to be honest, but its disingenuous to pretend everything is part of the plan and we didn't waste any money or discarded any players. Bottomline is we should have made better use of our money.

Coombs

Clrnc Bottomline is we should have made better use of our money.

Why is this the bottom line? I genuinely don't get it. You ignore every other club's bad signings, then nit-pick at our business based on nonsense trash ideas that mean nothing, like net spend, while completely ignoring our absolutely massive improvement on the pitch. I just don't understand what it is you guys want.

Clrnc

Coombs while completely ignoring our absolutely massive improvement on the pitch

Did you completely miss the part I said we bought mostly good buys?

QuincyAbeyie

How is net spend "nonsense trash that means nothing" unless you have infinite money?

RocktheCasbah

Clrnc I think if that had been your bottom line rather than "we should have made better use of our money" - a criticism any fan could make of any football team and is totally subjective anyway as everyone here will have different opinions on each investment we make - the conversation would probably have ended there.

I'm not saying you're wrong to say it, but you could apply that statement to any transfer window Arsenal have ever had, literally any one, and you'd be right. Except in the summer we signed Jens Lehmann for a million notes and then became Invincibles.

RocktheCasbah

RocktheCasbah actually, I've just remembered the 1990 summer where we signed Anders Limpar, Dave Seaman and FA Cup winning Andy Linighan for £3m and almost went invincible in winning the league title, so I reckon you might have to throw that one in too.

Qwiss

Oh jesus the old mans replying to himself now. ARE YOU OK GRANDAD?

RocktheCasbah

Qwiss lol, I'm sweet as a nut mate, thank you - it's the rest of you who've got problems...

QuincyAbeyie

I think Daz's point is that whether Raya is better or not is irrelevant to the statement that Arteta doesn't buy players and discard them. Every manager who discards a player does so because he thinks someone else is better.

Claudius

QuincyAbeyie what’s your point, Quincy? If your point is that the manger turns over the squad when he sees better options, then that is absolutely true and I agree with you . If it’s that he’s wasting money, the economics don’t bear it out.

QuincyAbeyie

It's that he does what you say he doesn't. Like anyone would.

Daz

Claude, maybe your initial point about not tossing aside players needed to be more clearly articulated. Either that or we are operating on quite different interpretations of what that means when applied to actual scenarios such as with Ramsdale/Raya.

Claudius

Daz to repeat… Arteta uses the money he spends, on the field. If you just take how much money we spend on our players and look at it against our minutes, the most coatly people are on the field.

Contrast with many of the other big teams (bar Liverpool) where large transfer fees and wages are on the bench/loan.

Again, I look at the whole, versus individuals. In any team of 20+ players I can find any exception. I can say for example, Arteta has a young squad, but he plays Jorginhno a lot. Not sure how much clearer I can be. You cannot judge performance on individual things - it’s really bad stats and preference management.

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