Wenger ignores the fact Arsenal are the poor man's Manchester City

The 12th anniversary of Arsene Wenger’s arrival at Arsenal on Sunday should be an occasion for genuine celebration throughout the land – even at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge – as his principles of attacking football and youth development have enriched the English game for over a decade. The Arsenal manager has often appeared a martyr to his cause, particularly in defeat, though it does not necessarily follow that the man himself is destined for the sainthood.

Wenger’s various blind spots are the stuff of legend, most notably regarding the disciplinary shortcomings of his own players and the scouting of a truly reliable goalkeeper, but he is also prone to overlooking shortcomings he would utterly condemn in others. The moral high ground is a dangerous place, as it only takes a small stumble to fall down the slippery slope towards hypocrisy and recrimination.

The gospel according to Wenger is an attractive and compelling one, though even a man of his standing should be wary of embarking on a personal crusade. Just as morality does not belong in politics – even, or especially when the Prime Minister is a churchman’s son – it is equally out of place in the shark-invested waters of football, where even blood brothers can soon become sworn enemies for the right price.

In condemning Manchester City for turning football into a supermarket recently Wenger was ignoring the fact that his own club operate in a similar fashion, albeit at a much lower level, using their reconnaissance and resources to hoover up all the world’s best young players. The Frenchman was either being disingenuous or staggeringly naïve, as footballers have been viewed as commodities to be traded for over 20 years, with the smart money on the former.

While the money from Abu Dhabi enables City to shop at Harrods, where they can indulge in such lavish purchases as Robinho, Arsenal must content themselves with trawling the world’s mini marts, where there are much bigger bargains to be had. Wenger’s record in the area of player development – and willingness to give youth a chance – makes this policy justifiable, though there is also a cost, most notably to clubs who lose players they were planning to build their futures around for relatively little.

Other than their latest home-grown hero Jack Wilshere the three outstanding players – Carlos Vela, Fran Merida and Aaron Ramsey – from Arsenal’s magnificent Carling Cup win over Sheffield United were all taken from clubs where they had had little or no opportunity to contribute to the first-team, often for minimal or none-existent compensation. Cardiff City were relatively happy to secure £5million for Ramsey – even if they would have preferred to sell him to Manchester United for a higher sum – but judging by the way he passed the ball on his first appearance at the Emirates Stadium that is looking like a steal.

Barcelona claim that Merida was stolen from them after he joined the Catalan club at the age of eight, with Arsenal still appealing against a Spanish court’s decision that they should pay £2.5m in compensation, while the £2.5m fee they did pay to Mexican club Chivas de Guadalajara for Vela is hardly commensurate with his obvious ability and future value. And there are those at Paris Saint Germain who turn purple at the merest mention of Nicolas Anelka, who joined Arsenal for a paltry £500,000 before being sold to Real Madrid for £22.3m two years later.

Arsenal cannot be accused of acting improperly in any of these cases, other than aggressively pursuing their own interest within the laws that govern them, which is the fundamental essence of any sporting competition. Rather than criticise those who choose to do their business at the more mature end of the market Wenger should let them get on with it, and count himself fortunate that he has put a world class system in place which enables Arsenal to get more for less. High-minded principles have nothing to do with it.

* * *

It takes something special for a manager to emerge with his reputation enhanced from a 3-1 defeat in a cup competition to a weakened side in which one of his own players committed possibly the worst foul that will be seen all season, but Gareth Southgate achieved this remarkable feat this week. The Middlesbrough manager’s refreshing willingness to immediately condemn – and offer a public apology for – Emmanuel Pogatetz’s challenge on Rodrigo Possebon revealed a great deal about his integrity, as well as prompting the intriguing question of whether Sir Alex Ferguson would have done the same had the situation been reversed. Southgate is making many friends and influencing others as he conducts his managerial apprenticeship in the north east and, as one of few Englishmen working in the Premier League, is already on the FA’s radar as they plan for a future home-grown manager.

* * *

Alan Curbishley thought he had it bad when players were bought and sold above his head by West Ham United’s director of football, Gianluca Nani, but at least he did not have to cope with transfer policy being dictated by an FA tribunal led by a former president of the MCC. Gianfranco could be forgiven for exclaiming Mamma Mia!

Comments

[Gareth]

George, please, answer a few questions.

Please name another top flight (Premier League, Champions League) manager who has achieved as much as Wenger, as consistently, and by spending so little?

Wenger has three titles and four FA cups, 11 (?) straight seasons in the Champions League, runner up in the League about 6 times, runner up in UEFA and Champions League.

Other than Man Utd, who has a better record? Chelsea don't, and Liverpool certainly don't.

Arsenal finished 4 points behind Man Utd last season. A 15 point improvement on the previous season. Went to the quarter final of the Champions League, and the semi final of the Carling Cup. If that isn't challenging for honours, I don't know what is. If Tottenham had had that as a season it would have been their best for 45 years, and they would cream themselves to death (witness the CC hysterics!).

Chelsea are in debt to Abramovitch for about £600m. Man Utd are in debt to such an extent they cannot repay the interest on their loans. Liverpool cannot afford their new stadium (Arsenal did), Tottenham have spent £100m + to achieve... one Carling Cup, their first trophy in nearly a decade. Wow.

Wenger's teams play the most attractive football, pretty much. Most people would agree with that. Wenger is certainly trophy-for-trophy / average league performance the best manager in the game.

Could Wenger spend the £50m or whatever people claim he has? Sure. He could. But then, what on? Look at Tottenham, they have spent a fortune, for what? Torres scored the same number of goals as Adebayor last year, and at the end of the day, that is what it is all about, isn't it? Liverpool didn't make it to the Champions League final, and finished below Arsenal in the Premier League. Maybe the £20m they had to borrow just to buy Torres wasn't worth it.

Critics can't have it both ways. Wenger has stated many times he has a plan and a project. And that is to develop youth players. It is the only sustainable model in football, and everyone of the 56,000 who saw the 16, 17, 18 and 19 year olds annihilate Sheffield will tell you that it is the right plan. So, what's it to be? Does Wenger go and spend £20m on some over priced player (Bentley, Bent, Modric, Berbatov, Keane, to name a few), or does he give a chance to Mark Randall, Jack Wilshere, Gavin Hoyte, Henri Lansbury?

If he does go and buy someone, you'll just moan about him not giving young (Engligh!) talent a chance, and if he does give the talent a chance, you moan that he doesn't blow his wad on some over priced, over rated, mercenary.

The press were almost orgasmic over Spurs spending so much money in the summer, they were bound to take Arsenal's spot in the top 4! Yeah, that's really working out, isn't it! Oh, and by the way, why is it always "Arsenal's spot in the top 4"? Why not Liverpool? They were below Arsenal last year, and have a much worse average position record over the last decade to boot.

Personally, having looked at the finances of Man Utd, and Chelsea, and Liverpool, I think all three of them could end up in deep doo doo. They all have unsustainable business models, and unsustainable debt. Man Utd pay a variable rate of about 14% on most of their £700m + debt (their profits are pre interest and tax (EBIT), which is why they announce a "profit"). Arsenal pay a little over 5%, which is fixed for 23 years. And Arsenal have the funds from the redevelopment of Highbury to come. And Arsenal have an amazing crop of young players, either at Arsenal now, or out on loan (like Traore at Portsmouth, and some more kids in Spain). Who are Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham promoting from their youth teams to their first teams this season? I don't know of a single one.

So, yes, I think Wenger is the best manager around. That's why everyone wants him (Barcelona, Madrid, et al), and everyone wants his players. Arsenal have the same wage bill as Man Utd, so we're certainly not skint. We just don't spend way over the odds on cruddy players.

[George]

"Wenger is the finest football and sport manager in the game."

You just have to love Arsenal fans. For a man who was not won the European Cup, nor ever retained the Premier League title, the amounts of deification that goes on in North London is absolutely staggering.

Still, as long as they remain happy with it, at least Arsenal won't be a real force to challenge for major honours, which suits everyone else!!

Arsenal keep briefing from the executive management that there is north of £50m for Wenger to spend, yet he never does. I think there is a real vanity in there - Wenger prides himself on 'making' players. There is no glory is signing Torres for £25m, Wenger would much rather buy 25 players for £1m and watch the world marvel when one of the exceeds expectations.

Arsenal fans are constantly whingeing about how they are the greatest because they don't spend lots of money and play the best football... it's so boring. Quality in football is an absolute concept. Sure, a manager will get credit for doing a great job with paltry resources, but at the end of the day it's about what you win, which in Arsenal's case over the past few seasons, thankfully, has been nothing.

Which is all they have deserved.

[Gareth]

I never understand the repeated comments about Arsenal finding a "reliable" goalkeeper. What, you mean like the increasingly error-prone Cech and Van Der Sar? When was the last time Almunia made an error that actually cost a goal? let alone a game? Cech did it last week, VDS the week before against Liverpool. Reina isn't exactly immune, either. Almunia is solid and reliable. He's just not a trendy big money, famous signing. So, therefore, he has to be rubbish, right?

Also, Arsenal's youth system IS and HAS been producing first team players for years. Hello!! Ashley Cole, David Bentley, Anthony Stokes, Fabrice Muamba and Justin Hoyte to name a few. It's so convenient to forget them though, isn't it!

Wenger rebuilt the entire youth system - under Liam Brady - when he joined. It is now starting to produce players of simply awesome quality, as anyone who saw the performance against Sheffield will testify. Wilshere, Randall, et al are not the first, but they are the latest, and the best ever so far. Several of them are good enough for a first team spot at Arsenal in years to come. Where is the hoard of Man Utd youth players pushing for a first team spot? Who has made it since Neville and Giggs? Fletcher? Is that all?

I don't see any issue with Wenger taking young players. What is the difference between him and Fergie? Fergie just doesn't have as good scouting, and will pay a lot more for them later on in their career. Fergie has admitted he didn't know about Fabregas, for example. I'm sure Wenger knows about every player Fergie signs before he signs him. And, to be fair, Fergie does sign young players too, such as Possebon, and Rossi.

Wenger does not tap up players like Fergie, and Chelsea. Man Utd announced the signing of Ramsey on their website, before Cardiff told them they hadn't. Chelsea were selling Robinho shirts. Fergie cries like a baby over Madrid and Ronaldo, and then has a dose of amnesia as he picks up Beratov from the airport, when Spurs have only given him permission to talk to Man CITY! Now that is just taking the proverbial.

Wenger is the finest football and sport manager in the game. His teams play the best football, he conducts his business in private, and by the rules, and he is great at spotting a bargain. The object of the game is to win games and trophies. Spurs have spent £100m + in the last few years trying to break in to the top 4, have sacked their manager along the way, and now stay rooted to the bottom of the table. Money does not bring success. It really doesn't. You could give Keegan (and, it seems, Ramos) all of the money in the world, and they won't win anything of note at all. It is about everything. The football, and the money. And on that level Wenger is better than anyone today. He keeps Arsenal in the top 4 and in the latter stages of the Champions League on a fraction of the spending of other clubs who can only dream of his achievements.

[kev]

why do people go on about wat city spent they only spent a large sum on robinho and that was coz chelsea wouldnt pay the asking price i think its sour grapes has the owners was looking at other clubs

[Lati]

Are the likes of ManU, Chelsea Real, Barca or now Man City truly responsible for the inflated prices of players? I prefer to think not. Why did Spurs put such a ridiculous price on a player that clearly wanted to leave? What would you say to your boss if he/she did the same to you? The success of AW's policy has peaked as everyone has caught on.

On the issue of recruiting from abroad, AW is not responsible for the start of this and also it had nothing to do with English players not being good enough. The FA and their ridiculous academy rules is the foundation of this. Insisting that clubs can only recruit kids from within a restricted distance of the club is what caused Arsenal and Manchester United, 2 clubs that believe in youth development to go abroad and bring the best young talent they can find. The fact that ManU then also spend big on experience is because they unlike Arsenal do not want to go another long period without winning. Aresenal are making a choice. Hansen was rightly ridiculed but it still rings true that you cannot win with just kids. As for Man City, let them enjoy the ride of a new found wealth. Will anyone here give up their lottery winnings because it will make them live richer than their neighbours?

I am a Man U fan by the way.

[bob torrent]

I suggest that if Arsene Wenger was as poor at his job as Matt Hughes then he'd be sacked in no time.

[Ian J]

Arsenal are a great club and Wenger is a great manager. However, he knows that he can no longer expect to be in the top 4 let alone the top of the table. City's academy is more productive than Arsenal's and we now have limitless spending power too.

The Arsenal fans on here can not see the truth due to envy and the fact that they are scared of the truth.

(1) Arsenal are poorer financially than City now are - as such you know that in time you will be out of the top 4 if things remain as they are.
(2) City's academy produces home grown talent and nurtures it in many cases from a very early age. Arsenal carpet bag 15 to 16 year olds off other clubs - just like Utd did to us when Ryan Giggs was at City aged 16.

The Dr who made all of his stupid claims is no longer linked to the new owners of City other than he is from Abu Dahbi. The owners have always run the Godlphin Horse stable in a low key and respectful way according to reports. Wenger knows that he could have had all of the Abhu Dahbi money but the greedy board blew it. Now he will have to continue tapping up 15 year olds whilst we buy who ever we want to compliment our academy graduates.

So Arsenal and City have historically had great academys - but Arsenal rarely produce home grown talent which is what supporters really crave. I would take Johnson, Ireland, Richards, Wright-Phillips and Onuoha over your lot any day as would Wenger I am sure. Add to that the money then there has been a tipping point and it is all down hill from here on for Wenger. Geovanni a City free transfer took you to the cleaners yesterday!

[Shinzo]

I am afraid u misunderstood AW. He has nothing against wheeling and dealing. in my opinion, his career is built around precisely that. afterall, he and Harry Redknapp are the masters at this.
AW is unhappy that Man City is declaring what they are willing to pay in public and who they want without consulting the clubs involved first, turning the transfer market into a "supermarket" as it disregards contracts that the players have with their clubs.

[Yoel M]

I think AW should combine their youth policy with the purchase of a few world class players.

I cant believe this is beyond their financial means.

An extra world class striker and defender would put them in equal contention of the Premier League. With all respect with the likes of Adebayor and others, who are overperforming under Arsene, other teams have considerably more firepower.

Having just a few world class players would still leaves places for the youngsters to come through. These in turn would have great role models to improve against.

[Tristan Walton-Foster]

Arsenal's policy is a shining example to all non super rich clubs that competitive teams that play attractive football can be assembled by focussing on youth.

The fact that Arsenal obtains youngsters at a rate 'not reflective of future value' is a largely moot point. The club is paying the market price at the time. The club losing a player cannot be aggrieved as (a) if the price they accept does not reflect potential then they have failed to properly value their asset (b) the player wanting to leave illustrates that youth development and opportunities at the club are insufficient.

Of course the losers in all this are the very small clubs both domestically and abroad who cannot hope to succeed in either. In the case of Arsenal, transactions with such entitities are increasingly in a minority. However, the likes of Barca complaining about poaching deserves no sympathy.

Furthermore it should be noted that (a) Arsenal often pay seemingly inflated prices for youngsters, and (b) the youngsters usually join as very crude talents requiring much refining.

As an aside, it is slightly onerous that Arsenal are referred to as the 'poor man's Man City' when should correctly read 'poor man's Man Utd/Chelsea' but I suppose they're flavour of the month!

[James]

Matt,

Poor. I particularly object to your conclusion and your analysis of Wenger's character flaws. And don't try and tell me it is balanced because all the praise is obviously a hollow precursor to the rest of your sermon. Its articles like yours that create the impression Wenger is a martyr, not his actions which are invariably understated and respectful.

By saying Wenger "count himself fortunate that he has put a world class system in place" I think you miss the point. He built that system and it took 12 years of careful and skilful management.

[gc]

Arsenal do a great job with young players. He successfully time and time again nutures talented young players to fulfil their potential.
He is also one of the biggest hypocrites in the game.
A couple other things: good to see Southgate doing well, but the last thing we need is another promising English coach being plucked prematurely to lead England and ruining his career.
And Chelsea are flirting with academy success. Notables: John Terry, Carlton Cole, Mikel Forrsel.
It takes a long time to match the great youth development clubs of West Ham and Arsenal.

[Simon in Kings Langley]

Ferdinand (£30m), Berbatov (£30.5m), Tevez (£30+m), Rooney (£27m), Carrick (£18.3m), Nani (£18m), Anderson (£18m), Hargreaves (£17m), Ronaldo (£12m), van der Sar, Evra, Park & Vidic, (all between £5m & £10m), not to mention all the others bought since Beckham, Giggs and their like played their first games 15 years or so ago.
And ManU's last financial results didn't include the purchases of Nani, Anderson, Hargreaves or the £10m to borrow Tevez for the season.
And apparently they could only pay £42m of the £81m in interest payments due.
At least Chelsea's and now Man City's owners can write off the debts if they wish.
Arsenal's interest payments? £20m. Our turnover? £223m.
The cost of Arsenal's first team? £35m. ManU's? £156m.
And ManU haven't & aren't buying success? Don't make me laugh.

[godof86]

What is the right age to buy a player from an opposition club, then, Matt? 12? 15? 18? 21? 27? Only when the price is right for the small club / other club? When (if ever) is the price right ?

By your logic, Paul Scholes (who came in from Oldham to ManU) is an example of Wengerism. How is Scholes (brought in at 15) a homegrown talent, and Fabregas (at 16) not?

The Aaron Ramseys of the world flock to Arsenal (notwithstanding the offers from other teams) because they are offered first team chances when much younger... So while the others in the top-4 lure already established players with money, Arsenal does so with the promise of a chance to shine early... and that is an offer which can lure only youngsters. Arsenal cannot complete with the likes of Chelsea in spending, so do the best they can with their unique source of attraction to youngsters. Thereby comparison with City or Chelsea is useless.
And Ramsey at 19 is a steal at 5M, and say if he played a season more at Cardiff, he would have been a steal at 20 at 10M. Where is the quandary here? Arsenal would have loved to have CRonaldo at his price at 18, and he chose Man United. Fair, I will say.

And just like your column does here, criticising people who live within different principles, who follow different religions, who have different cultures, has been true for ages. That's what Arsene does. He is not a saint; just a great, great manager; and should be applauded for finding the 'other' path.

[Anthony]

Why take a cheap shot at Arsenal or Arsene Wenger, when all he has done is say what every other manager is thinking.

Good luck to Man.City and their trillionaire owners, but I'd rather follow Arsenal's policy anyday. If you can spot cheap talent and nuture it through to top quality, why pay over the odds?

Man.City have had a good Youth policy, but even they have admitted that this is likely to suffer to due to the new financing. Because Arsenal still see youth as the way forward that doesn't make them the 'Poor man's Man.City'. Over 56,000 saw the youngsters beat Sheffield Utd. during the week, that alone speaks volumes for Arsene Wenger's approach & success.

[Si]

Gary Neville, Wes Brown, Ryan Giggs, Darren Fletcher, John O'Shea, Jonny Evans, Paul Scholes... all players in United's first team squad, generated by their own youth set up. That's just now.

David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Philip Neville all ply their trade elsewhere nowadays.That world beater Robbie Savage was also a productof Manchester United. Arsenal wouldn't compete with that would they? The best they've produced in recent years now represents Spurs.

[J]

Point 1 - Arsene Wenger has, without a shadow of a doubt, bought and developed some fantastic young players from abroad during his time at Arsenal. The question of whether he has developed these young players or not is entirely subjective. At what age do young players start/stop developing? How many years does a player have to spend at a club in his teens to classify as being developed there? I for one would like to see radical changes in the laws of youth transfers, giving clubs that hone players through their early years more reward somehow. E.g - Should Arsenal sell Fabregas for £50 million next summer, Barca should receive a percentage of this fee depending on a ratio of his years spent at both clubs (obviously taking into account his productivity in the first team of Arsenal compared to a Barca youth side) The same for players like Rossi, Pique, Walcott etc. I can only imagine how apoplectic Wenger would be if Real Madrid were to nick Wilshere for £1 million next summer.

Point 2 - Arsenal fans seem to regularly blast Utd for "buying" the title year after year as a retort for us winning it, yet make the point on several of these posts that their issue is actually with City and Chelsea spending outside of their clubs actual income, rather than their owners pockets. Seeing as Utd's most recent financial results see a pre-tax profit of just under £60 million, does this not mean we spend within our own limitations? (excluding debt repayment obviously). You can't have it both ways boys!

P.s - Ricky "its 1 thing spotting talent". Is Fabregas being in the Barcelona youth team not a fair indication he has been "spotted" already? He's hardly out kicking an air flow football on Clapham Common...

[Clacko the gooner]

I am getting really fed up with all the Arsenal bashers out there. Firstly Arsenal don't have enough English players and then when we do bring through English talent suddenly it's wrong that we are buying young players. Lay off us and turn your attention to Man U who apart from Giggs, Beckham and Scholes hardly ever give their youth a chance and when they do, discover that they are not good enough! Or even the case at Chelsea, You never hear a word said against them even though i can't remember the last person they brought through their academy!!!!! Have to say Man City do bring through good young players but now that the sheikh at the top is putting money in, i can't see the youth getting much more of a look in now and that i think is what Arsene is getting at more than just the money.

[Taymur]

I agree with nearly all the comments. I am a Liverpool fan but i have nothing but BAGS of respect for Wenger. The fees he pays for his players can be afforded by anyone in the premier league, the fees being paid by Man City CAN NOT. Secondly, what clubs like Chelsea and Man City have managed to do is GREATLY inflate players prices. Fine clubs maybe making MORE money but the cost of players has increased much more in comparison.

Also by making such comments one forgets that all these youngsters would NOT necessarily have become STARS were in not for the nurturing and coaching of Wenger. An important example is Henry and Viera were both reserve team players in Italian clubs before they became WORLD class under Wenger.

[Robert D]

The thing is though that Wenger has won trophies (admittedly not for a few seasons now...) it remains to be seen whether Man C will get anything of significance for all the millions they seem set to spend. Things are just to competitive for it to be a guarantee. I for one hope not but wish Wenger all the success in the world!

[Matt King]

As an Arsenal fan from birth. Yes, we still have the season tickets but i live overseas. I do wih Arsene wouldnot pass comment on others. He does not need to and he should keep his magic secret. I am convinced we will win the PL again and the CL one day. As for Southgate. I dream about him taking over from Wenger one day.

[Dave N]

Even as a City fan I share the concern about inflation - huge fees and wages costs will be incurred just to keep pace. However, it's been about money since the maximum wage went out 50 years ago. In City's defence it's only one guy and a spokesman at that who made all the bold transfer target statements - the real owners haven't done that. Also, we have an excellent record of developing young talent, are well regarded for our work in the community, and implement sustainable procurement policies - if these initiatives are affected I'll be truly disappointed. Anyway, aside from the money issue it would be good to see the 'big four' broken up.

[Mark]

Jacko.
You don't seem to have thought through your comment. While I give credit to Manchester City's obviously fantastic youth set up,(which may be under threat if the new owners really do intend to splash the cash the way they say they will)I believe you are mistaken in what you say. Firstly let's not get ahead of ourselves. There is no guarantee Wilshere will make it.It's a bit premature to think of him as being the finished article. Secondly Wenger/Arsenal have brought through many English players who have not been deemed good enough for Arsenal but who are making a contribution at Premier league level;Justin Hoyte, David Bentley, Fabrice Muamba, Steve Sidwell, Ashley Cole and Stuart Taylor to name but some. Wenger has had to shop overseas as all of the above (perhaps with the exception of Bentley but I'm not convinced) are never going to be great players or have left in search of more money.English players also come at vastly inflated prices; Perer Crouch £11m,Emmanuel Adebayor£7m you decide.

If I were to take your point that Arsenal do not bring good English players through tell me who any of the top clubs have in the last five years or so. Man utd,since their exceptional generation cherry picked Ferdinand, Rooney,Carrick and Hargreaves (£90M-how can Arsenal and others compete against a club that pays £30M + for 2 holding midfielders?), Chelsea have had Terry on their books for years and since then have paid for Cole,Cole and Lampard and Liverpool again have had Gerrard and Carragher for years and sold off Owen.Where are the ready made replacements? Is the apparent lack of them all down to Arsenal trying to be prudent?

Arsenal have attempted to operate on a realistic business model for years, unfortunately your bleating about city's spending power points to years of mismanagement at the top level of your club (you can attract 50,000 for a game why has this potential not been realised sooner?)

Arsenal fans hypocritical? I couldn't say this is entirely untrue but isn't that part and parcel of supporting a football team?

Enjoy the money while it lasts.

Mark, London

[Donut]

Aw may end up falling off a tightrope

[David Hawthorne]

Mr Wenger speaks in code when he uses a term like ' good for Football ' he means good for Arsenal. City buying a competitive team which may take a top four slot is not good for Arsenal therefore ' not good for Football ' clear thinking from a focused, all be it one eyed man.