“Winning isn’t everything,” says Tom Fox, the Arsenal commercial officer. And that is all we needed to confirm that Arsenal are no longer a football club, but rather a business who use the sport as a device to grow financially.

Maybe that’s not always the best way to paint the picture; plenty of clubs, whether they’re football teams or clubs of other sports, drive to become stronger financially. But the need has always been to invest in order to grow on a number of different fronts. It just seems to make very little sense to sell a losing club as a fantastic model for which others should follow.

Where does Theo Walcott come in? Well like every season gone past, and starting with the year Ashley Cole moved to Chelsea, the club have seen little value in rewarding and keeping it’s best players. I’m firmly of the belief now that the Walcott ship has sailed and the player will be off come the end of the season. ‘Its not about winning’ is just a method to paper over the impending disappointment of losing another player for whom many supporters can identify.

Yes the player has been frustrating for so long, but there are very few fans who want to see the player leave. At the other end of the scale, many, many fans want to see the player as a regular member of the starting XI following his good performances up until this point.

[post_link url=” https://www.footballfancast.com/premiership/arsenal/finances-aside-this-could-be-a-good-thing-for-arsenal,https://www.footballfancast.com/premiership/arsenal/wilshere-getting-back-to-his-best-at-arsenal,https://www.footballfancast.com/premiership/arsenal/the-real-finger-of-blame-at-arsenal” target=”_blank” type=”tower”]

Tom Fox is one of the many names currently at the club who have no idea how to run a football club or what it means to be a football club. How much of Arsenal’s identity will be preserved with people openly talking about winning being a secondary to something else? It’s almost as if the club are drawing the landscape for the future, yet one that doesn’t feature the trophies that helped elevate Arsenal’s status in English football.

Naturally, Fox, Ivan Gazidis and Richard Law’s job descriptions are likely to be rife with terms that keep the club’s finances in check, and that just sums up where we are with Walcott.

Arsene Wenger seems determined to keep the player, although it’s difficult to say how much influence he has over the matter of the final wages offered.

There is no ambition other than to sit on as much cash as possible—from the board’s perspective, not Wenger’s—even if it means the best players move on. There’s no concern for strengthening your closest rivals while you continue to decline.

Gazidis came from the MLS and Stan Kroenke owns franchises in America, but do any of them know how to properly run a football club? It’s all about working to a wage structure that is unrealistic of what the club needs: Champions League football.

It worked for so long because players were in place from a previous regime, but slowly and without remorse, the current figures at the club have helped to disband a squad who were the only alternative to the heavy spending of clubs like Chelsea. Now that Walcott and soon Bacary Sagna remain the final few to be forced out the door—because I’m not convinced either of them want to leave—where do the club go next?

There seems to be absolutely no method to the madness, at least from a footballing perspective. Perhaps that is why there is such an emphasis on the club retaining Wenger, for he appears able to keep the club at the highest level. It’s maximum revenue from competitions and match days, but extremely little spend when in comparison to others. At some point or another, the well will run dry and the club will have no answers.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

On the pitch, Walcott is one of the team’s most dangerous players. He makes the team come alive and helps them raise the tempo, something which is absolutely key for the style of football they play. But he’s so much more than just an important figure in the squad. It’s players like Walcott, Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who you want representing your club. Yes there’s the English factor and the sense of connection with the fans, but it’s also the role models and the players who know how to speak in front of the camera.

None of that is taken into account, and yet the club think they’re standing in a reasonable position when offering £75,000-per-week. Theo Walcott may not be worth £100,000-per-week or just shy for his abilities on the pitch, but everything that adds up including the morale at the club is so important. Yes he is worth more than the reported wages he’s been offered, but the club do not see it that way and they never will.

[ad_pod id=’ipad’ align=’center’]

Aston Villa are set to bid £4 million for Genk striker Christian Benteke.

The Belgium international stands at 6′ 5″ and could be brought in to partner Darren Bent.

Villa boss Paul Lambert is set to make a move for the 21-year-old in the next 24 hours, though The Sun claims there is also interest for the Belgian’s signature from league rivals Fulham.

It’s reported that following the West Midlands’ club’s miserable start to the Premier League season, owner Randy Learner is willing to finance three signings before the end of the transfer window.

With other senior striker Gabriel Agbonlahor injured, there is huge pressure on Bent to regularly score for the Villains – who have netted just once in their first two league meetings.

Another attacking option could ease the pressure on the England international; so far unproven strikers Nathan Delfouneso and Brett Holman have partnered Bent.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

The 28-year-old did score his first goal for Lambert last night in a much-needed 3-0 win over Tranmere in the League Cup, though adding another away at Newcastle United this weekend will prove much tougher.

[ad_pod id=’dfp-mpu’ align=’right’]

Tottenham Hotspur boss Andre Villas-Boas has confirmed that the club were extremely close to signing Porto midfielder Joao Moutinho on transfer deadline day in a deal that would have broken the clubs record transfer fee.

However, the former Porto and Chelsea manager claimed that the player’s personal details were the issue behind the deal not going through and that he is pleased with the business Spurs have done this summer.

“The deal was almost done but there were problems with the contract. It was always a difficult deal to complete and we were ready for it not to happen,” Villas-Boas told Sky Sports.

“The player terms were agreed a little bit late but I am extremely happy with the amount of players we have.”

Spurs added the much wanted midfielder Clint Dempsey to their squad in the dying minutes of the transfer window as well as Lyon ‘keeper Hugo Lloris.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Despite a poor start to the season that sees Spurs still looking for their first win, Villas-Boas seems to have unfinished business in England and despite Moutinho’s deal falling through, he has the squad to challenge the Champions League places this season.

 [ad_pod id=’writer-1′ align=’right’]

Tottenham assistant head coach Steffen Freund has said his players can “start to think” about Wembley, having beaten Carlisle 3-0 in the third round of the Capital One Cup last night, reports the Telegraph.

Freund, who was a League Cup winner with Tottenham in 1999 said: “It is special to go to Wembley and I think the players will start to think about that now.”

“I know eight Premier League sides are already out, and there are only two games and then we are in the semi-final.”

Tottenham made eight changes from the side that beat QPR on Sunday, with summer signings Jan Vertonghen and Gylfi Sigurdsson both opening their accounts for their new club.

21-year-old winger Andros Townsend was also on the scoresheet, and Freund believes there were many positives to be taken from the game.

“We brought a few young players in and we believe in them all,” Freund said.

“Adam Smith was fantastic at right-back and Ryan Mason has been scoring in the development squad, so we knew he can play. Then in the centre of midfield Tom Huddlestone is back after his injury, Michael Dawson is back.

“There are young players coming through which is nice to see, and it is especially nice to know that we have someone [Townsend] behind Gareth Bale who can jump in and create something.

“Don’t forget, we have several injured players and still had a fantastic, strong team on the pitch today.

“We deserved to win in the end and it was difficult for Carlisle to create chances.

“That’s why I’m really happy, as is the whole of the coaching staff.”

Hugo Lloris somewhat surprisingly did not make the match day squad, and has only featured in a Europa League tie since his summer switch.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

However Freund was keen to play down his non – involvement saying:

“I think at the moment we are just going from game to game.

“It is not the right moment to talk about individual players because we had a fantastic performance as a team today.

“Let’s see tomorrow who is available for [Saturday’s league game with] Manchester United.”

The average football fan may have spent the summer eagerly anticipating the European Championships or the end of transfer window, but I had the premiere of Being: Liverpool frantically highlighted on my calendar. As a television programme that focused heavily on attracting and enlightening an American audience, I knew that it would contain equal measures of wisdom and amusement. But if we peel away the Hollywood glaze airbrushed onto the footage, what insight can we gain into the dawn of a new era on Merseyside?

It goes without saying that every fan around the country perceives their club as more than just a sports team, there’s a sense of community or belonging that is perhaps not present in other walks of life. However, with regards to Liverpool it feels like the blind faith and optimism stems from an unrivalled sense of passion and devotion. This can produce some of the best (and worst) supporters in the league.

In the opening monologue, the club is hailed as a ‘religion’ with Anfield noted as a place of worship. There is an immediate sense that everyone associated with the club suffers as one cohesive unit if results or performances fail to reach a certain standard. The illustrious history of Liverpool Football club therefore invites a dizzying level of expectation, which surely serves as a hindrance as much as a source of inspiration.

The programme essentially presents itself as the perfect platform for new manager Brendan Rodgers to promote his plans for the future. It’s obvious that his philosophies exist off the pitch as well as on it, with phrases like ‘family atmosphere’ helping to send the cliché counter into overdrive. There is certainly an element of confidence in they way that he presents himself but it’s difficult to decipher whether the players greet his words with any credibility, especially given his limited experience as both a manager and a player.

In an ideal world you would couple the influence of King Kenny with the mindset of Rodgers, but instead you’re left with the nagging fear that the club have gone from one extreme to the other in an attempt to reverse their fortunes. Rodgers talks about educating his players rather than training them, which again makes me question whether the sincerity of his words is purely for the sake of the cameras.

One aspect that is abundantly clear from the outset is how Rodgers likes to surround himself with familiar faces. As we’re introduced to his backroom staff, we’re told that he looks for people he can trust or has had a positive working relationship in the past. Moments later Fabio Borini arrives for his medical and Rodgers greets him like a long lost relative anda voiceover talks about how he targets players as much for their mentality and attitude as their playing attributes. With this in mind, its little surprise Andy Carroll seemed destined for the exit.

It’s also evident that introducing new and often alien techniques into the world of a professional footballer is incredibly difficult. In a scene that conjured memories of Glenn Hoddle and Eileen Drewery, the Liverpool team snigger their way through a yoga session. The treatment was devised to teach coping strategies needed to combat the pressure of the modern game, something synonymous with Liverpool and their players, but instead it descended into chaos as a worryingly high percentage of the squad struggled with balance issues. Without wanting to invite criticism, may I offer the unstoppable Ryan Giggs as evidence to the benefit of implementing yoga into the training schedule? I can’t imagine any Liverpool fans would complain if Steven Gerrard were able to continue playing at the highest level into his late thirties.

One undeniable positive involves the strong emphasis on youth development at the club, with the likes of Raheem Sterling and Jonjo Shelvey benefiting from as much attention from Rodgers as the seasoned stars at the club. In one of the opening sequences we see local lad John Flanagan busting a gut on the training pitch, long after everyone else has gone home. This highlights not only the impressive attitude of Liverpool’s young starlets but also how vital it is to make an early impression when a new manager arrives. As Gerrard pointed out, unlike ten years ago, the spotlight is already on the next generation of stars well before they are regulars in the first-team.

The third episode of the six part series debuts this Friday and promises to be slightly more engaging as attention shifts to events on the pitch. There will even be footage of Rodger’s team talks, which should provide a great insight into a once sacred and very private exchange.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

The club has to be commended for allowing such access, especially when previous football documentaries offer little else than ammunition for ridicule (see: The Four Year Plan). However in order to retain its credibility, I hope we’ve seen the last of the cringe worthy shots of Ian Ayre on a Harley Davidson motorbike and the segments where Rodgers appears to be reading from a motivational book written by David Brent and Alan Partridge. Then again, perhaps this whole project has been designed to distract or rather convert people while the club undergoes a significant transition period.

Join me on Twitter @theunusedsub where you might be surprised to learn that Liverpool have the youngest team in the Premier League this season with an average age of just over 23.

England Under-21 manager Stuart Pearce wants to see an increase in home-grown talent being given Premier League opportunities, picking out Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling as the perfect example.

Eighteen-year-old Sterling is on the verge of making his under-21 debut on Friday in their European Championship play-off against Serbia and has impressed Pearce with the start he has made to the season with a struggling Liverpool side.

Pearce told the Daily Mail: “He has had a fantastic start to the season. He has been in our development age groups prior to this season and he had the fortunate opportunity to be with the seniors last time out and he has come in now and has got the opportunity to vie for a place with the Under-21s.

“He has fit in really well to be fair, he will bring the confidence he has got and that Brendan Rodgers has given him – he has got his tail up at the moment and looks a real handful.”

Sterling was named in Roy Hodgson’s senior squad for the World Cup qualifier against Ukraine to gain precious experience at the highest level, and Pearce wants to see more players like Sterling being given a chance.

“We would prefer more young players breaking into their teams, there is no doubt about that,” he said.

Pearce also picked out Liverpool as a side who are giving their young talented youngsters a chance to prove themselves in the Premier League.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

“When you look at Liverpool there is (Jonjo) Shelvey, Andre Wisdom has just got in the team recently, Raheem has got into the team,” he added.

England under-21s play their return leg against Serbia on Tuesday evening in Krusevac, with the winner over two legs making it through to next year’s finals in Israel.

William Gallas believes mistakes were made in Tottenham’s defeat to Chelsea at the weekend and that Spurs must rectify them if they are to beat the top teams.

Andre Villas-Boas’ side lost Saturday’s match 4-2. They led the Blues 2-1 at one stage, after scoring a goal soon into the second half, but gradually capitulated to last season’s Champions League winners.

Gallas, who captained Spurs against his old club, feels they conceded goals that could have been avoided and that the team made mistakes after getting back into the game following half-time.

“I’m very disappointed because even if I think we didn’t start the first half very well, we came back well in the second half. We equalised and we scored the second goal, and then I think we made so many mistakes,” Gallas told Spurs TV.

“We could not keep the ball in front and it was very difficult for us because they had a lot of chances and they had the occasion to equalise and then to score the third goal. On all the goals we conceded we made a mistake.

“When you play against Chelsea you have to be strong for 90 minutes, and we made so many mistakes. We didn’t keep the ball very well and they started to play in our half again, they had some chances to score, and in the end they won 4-2.”

However, the defender believes that Spurs must now put the game behind them and move on to thinking about the next fixture.

“We have to put this game behind us. It’s difficult to accept it, especially when you play against Chelsea – when it’s a derby you always want to win. But we have to forget about that game and think about another one,” he added.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Boss Andre Villas-Boas praised his team, saying Spurs’ second half comeback “showed great strength of character.”

[post_link url=” https://www.footballfancast.com/premiership/the-15-great-polar-opposites-within-football, https://www.footballfancast.com/premiership/football-fancast-paints-a-picture-of-the-modern-footballer, https://www.footballfancast.com/football-blogs/top-players-in-europe-who-would-be-the-perfect-fit-in-the-premier-league,https://www.footballfancast.com/premiership/the-football-quarterbacks-and-their-role-within-the-game,https://www.footballfancast.com/premiership/arsenal/the-ideal-role-for-theo-walcott” target=”_blank” type=”grid”]

Rivals Manchester United and Liverpool are set to battle it out once again, but this time for the singing of highly rated Heerenveen midfielder Filip Djuricic according to Sky Sports News.

The 20-year-old Serbian international may well have a whole host of clubs after him as he announces his intentions of leaving Holland despite being under contract at Heerenveen until 2014 and both the North West clubs are set to bid around £4million for the players’ services.

“I have no offers at the moment and I’m also not thinking about a new club,” Djuricic told Novosti.

“I don’t even have a manager (agent), who would talk with clubs. I’m totally focused on my obligations at Heerenveen.

“But then again I must be completely honest and say I do not know where I’m going to play next season.

“And it is unlikely I will stay at Heerenveen.

“I know many will not like my words that I want to move away in the summer. But they must realise it will also be the best for club.”

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Kevin Nolan and Sam Allardyce came back to haunt Newcastle at St James’ Park after the perfect away performance from West Ham this afternoon.

Fellow Geordie Andy Carroll had a quiet game up front for the Hammers who had to face a Newcastle onslaught in the second half to earn their vital away win.

West Ham took the lead mid-way through the first half when Joey O’Brien’s shot was turned home by Nolan who was judged to be onside and the former Toon midfielder didn’t celebrate right in front of his former supporters.

Newcastle stepped it up a gear after the goal and West Ham began sitting back in their own penalty area but were saved by the half time whistle.

Shola Ameobi came on at half time for the hosts, in place of a poor Papiss Cisse but it was the former Hammer Demba Ba who went close to equalising with a powerful header, but Jussi Jaaskelainen pulled off a stunning save to keep it at 0-1.

Newcastle couldn’t turn their possession into chances however and a few stoppages in play disrupted any momentum the Toon could build up.

West Ham’s midfield of Mo Diame, Mark Noble and Nolan were particularly impressive with their work rate and closing down that frustrated the home side and Alan Pardew.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Allardyce will have been delighted with the result after receiving plenty of stick in his time in the North East and it’s a second away win of the season for the Hammers.

West Ham have hit the lofty heights of sixth place in the Premier League after their good start to the season and Newcastle remain in tenth after adapting to life in the Europa League.

With Liverpool FC making hard work of beating a struggling Southampton side at Anfield 1-0 at the weekend, courtesy of a Daniel Agger header, the need for reinforcements was stark, particularly given that star striker Luis Suarez will now sit the next game out through suspension after picking up a needless yellow card.

The club are currently sat in 11th in the Premier League and with a favourable run of fixtures over the festive period to look forward to, as they seek to climb up the table. Even though reducing the wage budget and being frugal has become an FSG priority in recent times, Rodgers is still likely to be handed a budget in the region of, maybe even slightly north of £10m to bring in a few players, but which ones will he be after?

Click on Wilfried Bony to unveil the top 10