Morning all.
In a completely unorthodox, twisted way, Arsene Wenger has done a remarkable job at Arsenal within the limitations of the parameters he sets himself.
A few years ago I read an article by Phillipe Auclair saying Wenger is a gambler and when you examine his career at Arsenal, the evidence is compelling. In his mind, he has been a resounding success. He is uber-confident bordering on arrogance, and he will broach no suggestion that his approach or philosophy is flawed.
The problem with that is it has been horribly exposed to the point of exhaustion and he still doesn’t see it. We only have to look at the amount of times he has taken us into a new season hopelessly under-prepared, giving our rivals a head-start. There are so many examples of complete negligence from Wenger, it’s incredibly distressing that Arsenal are completely under his control.
It is impossible for anyone to hold him to account because he sets himself such low parameters. When he said ‘top four is like a trophy’, he was spinning his way from accountability for not winning the title and of course what he did in his first 10 years meant almost total loyalty from the Arsenal faithful.
Who are we to question a manager with an invincible season, right?
In that statement he was granting himself room to experiment, to make Arsenal his personal project.
He ditched the 4-4-2/4-4-1-1 because he wanted to replicate Barcelona’s tikka-takka. This is the root of all our problems.
It’s very commendable to want to emulate Barcelona, but there’s absolutely no chance of recreating that vision with inferior players. Ray Parlour mentioned as much on TalkSport, saying that Wenger will never pay top dollar because he always believes he can get similar for a few million less. The difference being paying an extra £3m for a genuinely quality midfielder like Xabi Alonso, or settling for one whose best days are gone at £10m, after you’ve just been humiliated 8-2. This is what defines Wenger as a manager, restricting himself by looking for the cheaper option.
It would be fascinating to pick Wenger’s brain about exactly how he thought he could make Arsenal play the Barcelona way. As well as having inferior players, he really didn’t do his homework on Barcelona’s tactical set-up. Barcelona’s players are like bees, in and out of possession, the whole team working in tandem for the greater cause. They have an intensity, an end product, and a ruthlessness that Wenger has never instilled at Arsenal.
When Wenger arrived, Arsenal had a proper structure in place on the field, which only required a little tweaking and it was this that provided the spine for his success. Since the tactical change in 2006, the side has very rarely ever had a proper balance.
Essentially, his dream of total-football has been hampered by his own frugality in acquiring the right level of talent, and his lack of tactical due diligence. No other manager of any top club has overseen the humiliations that his sides have taken, and he never learns.
Up to this point, Wenger has kept Arsenal in the top four mainly because of the club’s vast wealth, but by subliminally lowering everyone’s expectations, he has painted himself as a modern-day football genius, when in reality he’s a failure because he tried to copy the blue-print of one of the world’s biggest clubs, forgetting, or just not bothering to read and apply the details.
It is scatter-gun management at best, which mirrors his transfer-policy.
Whichever way you look at it, Arsenal need wholesale change in virtually every area of the club, from the overall philosophy to the quality of player we want to see wearing our club shirt.
Cech, Ospina, Debuchy, Jenkinson, Monreal, Gibbs, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Ramsey, Coquelin, Ozil, Walcott, Sanogo and Giroud would all go for me.
Start using Arsenal’s money intelligently and efficiently instead of continually wasting £millions on sub-standard players. I know that looks extremely radical on the face of it, but none of these players will take Arsenal to the next level, though saying that, the current manager can’t take us there either.
If Wenger stays, the club owners will have put two-fingers up to Arsenal supporters, clearly indicating that their wealth is far more important than football success.
My real concern for the longer-term is that there are no football people at the club, which means on football related issues the Arsenal hierarchy are probably less clued-up than some of HH’s finest.
Are The Arsenal finished as a footballing force?
By Herbs Army.
Morning again all. Hope you didn’t mind Herb, it’s a good one.
I don’t think the club is finished, a new manager could soon turn things around imo…
Cech, Ospina, Debuchy, Jenkinson, Monreal, Gibbs, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Ramsey, Coquelin, Ozil, Walcott, Sanogo and Giroud would all go for me.
To lose that lot in one hit apart from leaving a massive hole in the squad ,would not really draw enough money to replace even half of them at the premium prices the players we need at current prices. It is now a long term project that also spins around keeping the players that we want to keep.
This calls for the massive overhaul that a few of us have seen coming for quite some time. It would not be enough just to try to do this in the transfer market , it requires the ability to bring through players that you don’t necessarily have to buy. It requires a refreshed coaching system , better scouting.etc
Of those 14 only a couple are in the right age group to benefit from different skill coaching but might benefit from a change of approach.
It doesn’t matter how many times we roll this subject round it always comes back to the answer being change.
Great post Herb and morning all.
I was chatting to some of the guys at the West Ham and many of them share your view Herb on many of our players, in that they aren’t up to the required level to win the EPL – and don’t get me started on the CL…!
But for me, our problems, as you have so succinctly alluded to in your piece, can only be left at the door of Arsene Wenger and the people he has surrounded himself with…
Since Bob Wilson retired, for example, we’ve had Gerry Peyton coaching the goalkeepers and I would argue that during his tenure we have seen a drop in goalkeeping standards at the club.
Has Wenger done anything about it, has he looked for an upgrade on Peyton or does Payton fit in? I mean Wilson used to speak up, he is an intelligent University educated man, Peyton is what he is, average and quiet.
What’s my point Herb?
Well put a new, more dynamic manager with more modern ideas in charge, someone who’ll shake up the coaching staff, change it and the ethos of the club.
Someone who is tactical and doesn’t rely on some Bosnian ‘genius’ in the stands, but who can work things out for himself and think on his feet.
Someone who takes defending seriously.
Someone who takes the strengths of the opposition into account and who adjusts his tactics and line-up accordingly.
Someone who could organise this squad, make them harder to beat and who could revitalise the careers of some of those you named above.
Someone who’ll take hard decisions, as Wenger did with Paul Merson when he was the ‘new man’ and bomb out the serial underachievers.
But change is vital, it doesn’t matter to me if we won the FACup and made the top four, the club is stale and needs a fresh direction.
That’ll only come with a new manager.
Morning Rico
I don’t think the club is finished either. We need a board and a manager who are modern and unbound by our history, which is long gone now. If Wenger remains I would think the pain will go on for a while though as I doubt if he will change, or even want to.
Morning Kev.
Al the best to Andrew ole who has had a kidney transplant……
Good comment Kev.
Not only is Wenger stale but equally as important, his coaches are too. I do wonder if he’s kept them all in place as they do as they are told and don’t cause a problem.
They certainly aren’t improving the way we play…
I can’t see a mass clear out either regardless of who the manager is next season. I would imagine the worst would go first, followed by others over the next season or two.
If you watch Wenger’s recent press conferences he has become more intransigent and arrogant I would say. All this stuff about telling the fans the truth of his situation ( a simple and honourable thing) being like an “Own goal” is beyond crass. He obviously feels emboldened by the win against West Ham though I would call it deluded myself. He seems to have developed into something of a tyrant, ignoring the ‘little’ people to his own end.
I didn’t even get the ‘own goal’ thing. Really odd.
Laughing about the 3 protesting was stupid too, as was bragging about ten turning up who wanted him to stay….
Morning all,
Good post Herb
Just to add to your observations, in training there is definitely something not right. Sanchez storming off, Andries Joncker leaving and taking Freddie Ljungberg with him, Bould super quiet, Peyton goalkeeping coack ? not Bob Wilson….
As Rico says, a new change top to bottom would be great. We should get rid of the “denilson-like players” that offer n depth or value, and use the academy as depth.
How we have a layer like sanogo on our books beats me..
A few years ago we had the mystery that was Amaury Bischoff
The fact remains though, that if, as is our usual practice near the end of the season, we go on a little run of wins, we can still be a top four and even (remotely) possibly win the FA Cup.
We will be losing the bragging right in north London though.
I read today that sanchez is willing to stay, if he gets assurances that the team will be strengthened.
If true, he has thrown down the gauntlet to le prof, who will ignore it at his peril.
The march against Wenger was cancelled, because only a few bothered to turn up. Does this mean apathy, or fear of change underneath it all?
Morning all, good post Herb. Don’t agree on Giroud, Monreal, nor probably Kos, Ozil and Cech. But hey, its about opinions, and agree we need a big shakeup. I think Ozil could be great in a team playing good football, sadly he’s the type lost when we are playing poor like most games recently.
I think it means that Arsenal supporters find it distasteful to demonstrate.
It’s not like back in the 1960’s when fans demonstrated outside Highbury to get rid of Billy Wright.
The Arsenal fan base then was more working class.
The home crowd has been gentrified, more middle class fans who don’t make a fuss.
That’s why the atmosphere at the Emirates is pants…
We aren’t Marseilles or Galatasaray, otherwise there would have been riots and flares let off on the terraces.
We can’t win.
Flares on the terraces Kev, I bet there were plenty back in the 70’s 😉
And the “Great smell of Brut ” . The world has changed and London in particular is now the stamping ground of P.C Liberal elites. Places like Kentish Town , Islington , Camden Town are now home to the well off where in my day they were rough houses dominated by the Cypriot and Irish communities. They of course made up a fair number of the Highbury support and with all the Irish pubs around the ground it was truly working class. Kev is right not now though. As the Pubs changed hands The Highbury barn became a wine bar, the Brownswood a family pub with real ales and Cider but mainly a bleached wood restaurant that sells beer too. The Plimsol became the Auld Triangle and is being revamped again and the King’s Head on Blackstock road has recently changed hands and who knows what will happen there ? All of these were Arsenal pubs packed on match days and even the players were in them especially Adams , Merson and before that Storey.had his minders in the Kings Head although quite why he needed them I am not sure. Nowadays the pre match drink is ,more likely to be a latte . The “”audience”” has changed and I am surprised that the roasted peanut vendor has not been replaced by a guy selling popcorn. They will not protest but they will grumble into their mobiles but that’s about it.
Potter, The Kings Head has been taken over by the previous owners of The BlackStock, i doubt you’ll not be seeing a wine/cocktail bar any time soon..
So many changes…
The most important: replace AW for instance for Marco Silva (Hull)
2.24 Potter, sums so many things up nicely…
Afternoon guys…
Horrid horrid stuff in Stockholm…. ?
Bastard ran over a dog too! I hate these scumbags!!
Night guys…
The Arsenal Tavern, The Gunners, The Bank of Friendship, The Woodbine and The 12 Pins are still Arsenal boozers Potter, not that I get in them anymore…
Morning rico1 & all,
Great post Herb?
Woke up early, it’s now game day with a chance to start the season 3 & zip. I struggle to sleep in on game day. But being one to not be too long away from the rumblings of The Arsenal, I checked newsnow. Alexis might stay if the Club shows more ambition. Well, so he should, & so should Ozil.
The Club was in a position of strength on the pitch early in the season, I thought it might win the Title this year (The PL) until I heard/read the first rumblings of Alexis & Ozils’ contract stalemate with the Club. That is when it all started to go pearshape IMO.
Now these things are bound to happen in a footie environment that is infected by player agency, etc., but it’s the way the stalemate was allowed to linger that is the core, & indeed the catalyst to the situation that The Arsenal ‘family’ finds itself in at the moment, IMO.
The Clash of the Season (The Fans V The Arsenal Establishment), whoever came up with that catch phrase is bang on. The Arsenal is a big Club now, top 5 in the world. We don’t have to build a new stadium, we dont need to re-build a squad, we just have to win Titles now, simples!
Going forward, having established a now common ground that both sides of the Wenger argument love The Arsenal, but some have different opinions ? , I believe it’s time for Arsene Wenger to go. But what should happen is that he be more transparent about this future for starters & that future be only one more year, to allow the Club to cast a broad net over all possible candidates in order to get the best manager for The Arsenal Football Club. Arsene Wenger should then have like a gap year or 5 from the Club so that when he returns he has been missed & his quite impressive legacy once again appreciated by all the fans.
Anyway, enough from me,
Up the Arse?
Morning all…
Enjoy the sunshine folks, catch up another time…
Morning Rico.
Morning Rico
It’s a beautiful sunny day out here in Essex.
Have a nice day off Rico, you’ve earned it… ?
Olivier Giroud to Marseilles in the summer then?
£30 million maybe?
What about the add one Kev? A contract must include his endless need for ‘boxers, plus beard trimmers and hair gel. By the time they’ve done it will be nearer £35m?
Saturday in the sun Rico? Can’t fault you! Just the job, have a good ‘un.
Clear blue skies here, lovely. Going to get the topless car out, I think.
Who knows whose going to be available this summer Wavy…
It’s up for grabs.
Topless car!
Blimey, how the other half live. ?
Back in the day taxis had semi drop head status! I’ve still got the Dinly Toys!! Not sadly the real thing. The big red penile substitute I’ve had for more than 20 years although, I’ve not used it much. It does however, give me far more pleasure looking at it than watching the team in red!(and white). What’s more I can polish it to my satisfaction, whereas I’ve no impact on anything Arsenal!
Dinky ffs!
Matchbox Yesteryear cars for me Wavy… ?
Evening all from hazy Cornwall . 🙂
Thanks Herb……….I shall answer the post`s headline with a ……………yes !………………………….you all know me by now and although a seriously top talented knowledgeable coach might make us a bit better, our demise will continue whilst Kroenke is in charge and until we get an owner of the level of the blue half of Manchester and Chavs we will always be playing catch up, yes we may have an anomaly season here and there like Leicester, but seriously look at who have won the Titles since we last won it……………………….the serious money teams !…………………all our hope went out the window the day FFP died a death !
A new manager !……….as I said, may help, but I`m willing to bet that I will be saying………. I told you so each and every season whilst Kroenke is alive !
The future will not be bright as long as Kroenke has a flickering light !
Oh…………and I`d keep half of them players you mentioned, Herb !……………………………..Ozil is still in my best ever Arsenal team along with Alexis ! 🙂
Sorrry LC but Ozil doesn’t stand up to Bergkamp who was better in every department. Alexis would be in my squad but not always a starter . would be an interesting thread for everyone to pick their best team of the Wenger years and see just how the present crop fare..
Got a few of them as well Kev. All bought in my childhood and kept…..for my kis (couldn’t let them play with them!) and grandchildren ….haven’t got any yet……and not looking likely at present!
Football…..disinterested at the moment. I have a new Wenger theory though……later….tomorrow perhaps.
Best player ever seen? Bergamp, by a country mile as for the rest….tomorrow. Good call though. I assume we are restricted to player we’ve seen play live, television can be so deceptive!
Nite all its been a blast.
Weather here…dark!
Morning…
Morning all and another fabulous hot day, psyching myself up for 10 mile run……….should come back toasted and knackered ! 🙂
Potter, I`d have both !…………..these are my essentials in an all best Arsenal team……….Bergkamp, Henry, Wright(not Richard ! hahaha), Ozil, Alexis, Viera, Adams, Seaman, Cole………………….you can pick the other two !…………obviously I dont care about formations ! hahaha………………………………………………..probably Keown and a right back ???……………….make it Bellerin……and only because Barca want him…………………and he`s fast ! 😆
Morning Rico. Lovely day here but I am finding it hard to shake off the negativity I feel towards Arsenal right now.
Dixon for me Ts, followed closely by Lauren…
New post up.
Morning Adam. I’m just looking forward to the end of the season…