One - New Club Captain
We are missing a leader on the pitch. We do not think that Vermaelen has been vocal & the captain that Arsenal have always needed. He also has under performed considerably during the 2012 - 2013 season leading to him being dropped and appears burdened by the captaincy. He also has not taken the lead with the media and left others to face the cameras when he should have done so.
We would make Jack Wilshere our club captain now.We need vocal, committed leader on the pitch & he is ready! Some say he is too young, but he is the same age that Tony Adams was when he was made captain and he did not do too badly!
Some say that he shouldn't be put under the additional pressure, but we think that he would revel in the opportunity to lead the club he has been with since he was nine.
We know that there will be many calls for Michel Arteta to get the captaincy, especially as he has been a good stand in captain for many of the 2012 - 2013 games. We feel that giving it to Jack would send a clear signal of Arsenal's intent to push on and would be a big boost for many of our young players. Michel would make a great Vice Captain and provide advice and support to Jack.
We would make Jack Wilshere our club captain now.We need vocal, committed leader on the pitch & he is ready! Some say he is too young, but he is the same age that Tony Adams was when he was made captain and he did not do too badly!
Some say that he shouldn't be put under the additional pressure, but we think that he would revel in the opportunity to lead the club he has been with since he was nine.
We know that there will be many calls for Michel Arteta to get the captaincy, especially as he has been a good stand in captain for many of the 2012 - 2013 games. We feel that giving it to Jack would send a clear signal of Arsenal's intent to push on and would be a big boost for many of our young players. Michel would make a great Vice Captain and provide advice and support to Jack.
Two - Put a Respected Ex Arsenal
Player On the Board
This would add some real world foorballing experience to a very corporate Arsenal Board. They can help articulate the boards intentions to the fans and bring their experience as a respected player to board discussions.
The election needs to be fair and open. We would like to see all ex Arsenal players with 50 or more caps being given a vote every three years to select the Board Member.
The ex player can only be a Board Member for a single three year term. We would pay a nominal salary of £1 per year.
We would go for Bob Wilson. He has close links with the club over many years, has real passion for the club and is not a 'YES' man.
The other candidate we like is Ian Wright. His continued passion for the club is there for all to see and he is not scared of expressing his view. That could be a very useful for the Arsenal Board to hear first hand.
The election needs to be fair and open. We would like to see all ex Arsenal players with 50 or more caps being given a vote every three years to select the Board Member.
The ex player can only be a Board Member for a single three year term. We would pay a nominal salary of £1 per year.
We would go for Bob Wilson. He has close links with the club over many years, has real passion for the club and is not a 'YES' man.
The other candidate we like is Ian Wright. His continued passion for the club is there for all to see and he is not scared of expressing his view. That could be a very useful for the Arsenal Board to hear first hand.
Three - Put an Arsenal Fan On The Board
There needs to be fan representation on the Arsenal Board so that we have a voice. Their role would be to act as the fans voice and ensure that the Arsenal Boards intentions for the club are explained to fans clearly.
The problem is there are loads of fans groups, supporters clubs, self appointed fan leaders etc who would think they deserve a seat on the board and would all fight to get the place because of their own views etc and not act in the best interest of ALL Arsenal fans. This does not mean that they don't play a valuable role or have valid views, they do, but we want someone with a wider oversight.
To resolve this we would not go for a member of any of the fans groups etc but for the supporter who has held a season ticket the longest. They have sat and watched our team play for the longest and will have the life experience of how our club has changed and what has worked and not worked from their view.
They would be expected to take account of the varying views of fans and ensure they articulate their views clearly.
We would also pay them a great salary (maybe £100,00 a year so they can concentrate on the job full time. This might seem a lot but we want the person to concentrate full time on representing the fans.
They would need to sit with the fans and not in the Directors Box as engaging with as many Arsenal fans as possible to be able to represent them properly.
This approach has served some well respected clubs like Brentford FC well. They built a solid, positive working relationship with their fans and it has moved the club onwards. Working together is far more productive than fighting !
The problem is there are loads of fans groups, supporters clubs, self appointed fan leaders etc who would think they deserve a seat on the board and would all fight to get the place because of their own views etc and not act in the best interest of ALL Arsenal fans. This does not mean that they don't play a valuable role or have valid views, they do, but we want someone with a wider oversight.
To resolve this we would not go for a member of any of the fans groups etc but for the supporter who has held a season ticket the longest. They have sat and watched our team play for the longest and will have the life experience of how our club has changed and what has worked and not worked from their view.
They would be expected to take account of the varying views of fans and ensure they articulate their views clearly.
We would also pay them a great salary (maybe £100,00 a year so they can concentrate on the job full time. This might seem a lot but we want the person to concentrate full time on representing the fans.
They would need to sit with the fans and not in the Directors Box as engaging with as many Arsenal fans as possible to be able to represent them properly.
This approach has served some well respected clubs like Brentford FC well. They built a solid, positive working relationship with their fans and it has moved the club onwards. Working together is far more productive than fighting !
Four - Clear Out Bit Part Squad Players
We have a long list of first team squad players who are happy to sit and take a huge salary each week with no chance of playing. They should be shipped out on loan even if it is second division or made to go coaching local kids in schools around The Emirates full time.
For some, we should pay off their remaining contract and cut our losses.
We can then rebuild the squad with a mixture of suitable replacements by transfer ONLY where we do not have the talent in our Academy that can make the move to the first team.
We should also ensure that the salary of squad players are kept down and a 'Pay When Play' element is included to encourage stronger competition and avoid 'Bench Warmers'.
For some, we should pay off their remaining contract and cut our losses.
We can then rebuild the squad with a mixture of suitable replacements by transfer ONLY where we do not have the talent in our Academy that can make the move to the first team.
We should also ensure that the salary of squad players are kept down and a 'Pay When Play' element is included to encourage stronger competition and avoid 'Bench Warmers'.
Five - Dennis Bergkamp To Take Over
Youth Academy
Ensure Dennis Bergkamp takes over at our Youth Academy from Liam Brady. This is because he is in our opinion the most technically skilful player that we have ever had and has done some excellent work at Ajax FC. He has the correct blend of skills and is an Arsenal man through and through.
While there are many other well qualified candidates, Dennis brings with him a level of experience and understanding of how to pass on his knowledge to our young players.
The Youth Academy is the future of our club and needs to keep the focus that Arsene Wenger has given it.
We would support it with a £15m investment for him to spend how he wants, maybe on new accommodation block and facilities to ensure any young player would want to sign for us. This would help make us the first choice for the top tier of young players and ensure that we compete favourably with clubs such as Barcelona who have established set ups with considerable reputations.
While there are many other well qualified candidates, Dennis brings with him a level of experience and understanding of how to pass on his knowledge to our young players.
The Youth Academy is the future of our club and needs to keep the focus that Arsene Wenger has given it.
We would support it with a £15m investment for him to spend how he wants, maybe on new accommodation block and facilities to ensure any young player would want to sign for us. This would help make us the first choice for the top tier of young players and ensure that we compete favourably with clubs such as Barcelona who have established set ups with considerable reputations.
Six - Changes to Season Ticket Pricing
& Structure
Make changes to the season ticket pricing & structure that @BlackScarfAFC came up with.
It is good for the fans and club alike.
It is good for the fans and club alike.
Seven - Support Local Businesses
Arsenal has become too corporate and needs to get back to keeping it business local. Many contracts are signed with large multinational companies, ignoring the incredible talent that is on our doorstep.
There are loads of great local businesses that are run by gooners that the club should be using rather than relying on faceless corporations.
Using local businesses would bring work and support to the local community. For example, why aren't the pies at the Emirates supplied by @PieburyCorner . They are award winning pie makers and any real fan knows they are the best place to eat outside the Emirates and beat the disgusting pies inside the ground hands down.
Nobody would lose by keeping it local. Fans would be happier to buy things, knowing it it has been made locally, supported local jobs and the club would still make a profit. Ok, the profit the club make might be slightly less, but over time the boost to the economy around the club will be good for the local area and Arsenal alike.
There are loads of great local businesses that are run by gooners that the club should be using rather than relying on faceless corporations.
Using local businesses would bring work and support to the local community. For example, why aren't the pies at the Emirates supplied by @PieburyCorner . They are award winning pie makers and any real fan knows they are the best place to eat outside the Emirates and beat the disgusting pies inside the ground hands down.
Nobody would lose by keeping it local. Fans would be happier to buy things, knowing it it has been made locally, supported local jobs and the club would still make a profit. Ok, the profit the club make might be slightly less, but over time the boost to the economy around the club will be good for the local area and Arsenal alike.
Eight - Appoint A New Chief Executive
Sack Ivan Gazidis. He is a good Chief Executive with great business skills and a background in American sport but he does not understand Arsenal. He has managed to upset most of our fans, even though he has pulled of some good deals for the club, by his apparent lack of understanding and care for Arsenal fans.
To be fair, he has helped transform the financial side of the club and this will improve as some big new sponsorship deals start to come online. But it is his lack of understanding of the fans and his treatment of them that has led to us making this call.
We need to find someone with the same business acumen AND either a history with our club or the ability to listen to and engage with our fans.
This person is NOT David Dein. He has blotted his copybook with us by proclaiming his love for our club then voluntarily selling his shares for a reputed £75M profit. We need someone WITHOUT all the troubled history that he has with the club.
To be fair, he has helped transform the financial side of the club and this will improve as some big new sponsorship deals start to come online. But it is his lack of understanding of the fans and his treatment of them that has led to us making this call.
We need to find someone with the same business acumen AND either a history with our club or the ability to listen to and engage with our fans.
This person is NOT David Dein. He has blotted his copybook with us by proclaiming his love for our club then voluntarily selling his shares for a reputed £75M profit. We need someone WITHOUT all the troubled history that he has with the club.
Nine - Succession Plan for Club Management
The newly formed board (with an ex player and fan members on board) sit down with Arsene Wenger and work out a detailed succession plan for new club management. This does not mean that we want him to go now or even sign a new contract, but there needs to be a plan to ensure the club moves forward with a long term plan. This worked well for Manchester United. We hate to use them as an example of good practice but they managed the transition very well, with minimum of fuss. This is compared to some of the horrendous ways clubs like Chelsea & Manchester City go about it.
This is not a call for Arsene Wenger to be sacked, in fact we would offer him a new contract if he wanted one.
When Arsene Wenger decides to give up as club manager we would be given a job on the board. We would give him a role building Arsenal's international reputation and helping identify the next generation of young players whether they live in Watford or Wyoming.
This is not a call for Arsene Wenger to be sacked, in fact we would offer him a new contract if he wanted one.
When Arsene Wenger decides to give up as club manager we would be given a job on the board. We would give him a role building Arsenal's international reputation and helping identify the next generation of young players whether they live in Watford or Wyoming.
Ten - Piers Morgan
Ban Piers Morgan from ArsenaI for life. The guy is just horrible and wants to damage the club at every opportunity. He is only interested in self publicity........
