Morning all.
Firstly, thank you David Ospina for not letting Bayern get into double figures. And there was me questioning why Petr Cech didn’t start, the Colombian really was in good form last night and he’d have done himself a huge favour if he’s after a summer move away from the club as he goes in search of regular football.
So much for all the players pre-match talk about how we can beat Bayern eh, those comments have seriously blown up in their faces because what was on show last night was nothing short of embarrassing.
Having played so well centrally in recent weeks, Oxlade-Chamberlain was shoved back out onto the wing, giving the responsibility of keeping the German clubs midfield quiet to Coquelin and Xhaka. That worked didn’t it? Not!
Having gone 1-0 down quite early in the game, we were handed a lifeline with the award of a penalty. Alexis fluffed his spot kick but certainly made amends when Neuer could only punch the ball back into play. A fine finish from the Chilean.
1-1 at half-time and all we needed to do was hold on for forty-five minutes and then have a go at them at The Emirates. This was a bad to the wall time, defend everything Bayern threw at us and if by chance the opportunity came to snatch a win then take it but for just forty five minutes, concentrate, be focused and don’t let them be first to the ball.
Well I’ve got no bloody idea what Arsene Wenger said to them during the break but instead of watching a strong second half-time performance, this group of players went into meltdown. That really was the worst display of football we could could have witnessed and from 1-1, the game ended 5-1 and we are certain to be heading out of the Champions League yet again.
This Arsenal is no longer a team, it’s a group of individuals who look lost and all out of ideas. They can be no guidance from above surely because if there was, they wouldn’t be so disorganised on the pitch and yesterday evening wasn’t the first time. Over the years Wenger has had to slowly replace those who were successful for him. A strong back five, a big and trusted midfield and an attacking unit which most managers could dream of managing but he hasn’t been able to do it, not successfully. His managerial abilities have been exposed gradually over the last few seasons and now this club is at breaking point, certainly an extremely important crossroads, actually, make that a t-junction because really there only two viable options.
Turn left – he goes.
Turn right – he stays.
I dislike Stan Kroenke, I really do and like many, I’d love for some rich and ambitious person or people to make him a financial offer for Arsenal which he couldn’t refuse but the reality is, he’s going nowhere as far as I can see and unless The Emirates crowd and the away fans turn on him big time as the Liverpool ones did when they their two American owners out, then his Arsenal life is comfortable.
That really only leaves one other option, and that’s a new manager. A fresh face, fresh ideas, new tactics, a new coaching team and a reason for us Arsenal fans to feel excited again because right now everything is stale and so very predictable. I actually believe the players feel just as we do and they’ve lost their own identities as footballers.
Arsene Wenger can make all the excuses he likes after that hefty loss last night but they don’t wash, not anymore and the only one who is jaded, is him.
Please Arsene, be a man and just walk away before our club really is in a mess…
For today anyway….
well written all true, he has lost the plot, terrible team mix but then that is not new, sick
Thanks Rico.
It`s very simple to me Scott……………….Kroenke is Lucifer….he takes the main blame and if he had any footballing knowledge he would have sacked Wenger ages ago, but I`m afraid Wenger get`s him his CL every year and the club is self sufficientcy at it`s best.
A man who has admitted he doesn`t care about winning trophies !…………..what does that say to any prospective manager ?……………….we are both on the same hymn sheet as far as Kroenke is concerned !…………..I want Wenger gone, but I literally hate Kroenke !
We could have numerous amounts of managers over the rest of time and none guarenteed to win anything and blame them each time, but the one constant will be the one who we should really blame……Kroenke !…………….everyone probably rightly so say`s he`s going no where………………….so please fcuking die……….asphyxiation by his syrup would be a fitting end !
Shit, Rico- now photos taking the piss out of the man?
Very disappointing.
HH is better than that.
Even though I cant ever bring myself to want it…………..a loss to Sutton would probably be best for all……………..could you imagine the amount of shit to hit the fan if that unthinkable was to happen !, personally I`d think I`d die of laughter ! hahaha
Did anybody who is heaping the blame on Kroenke praise him when we beat Chelsea 3-0?
LC, what happens in 5-10 years if, and I hope it doesn’t happen, we have a series of managers who fail, and we become a mid table club?
I’ll bet that fans are calling for Stans head if it happens lol
Adam, so one decent performance a year and Stan gets the credit.
Ok then.
That was all on Stan.
Funny thing is this-I can’t remember everyone lauding praise on Arsene, can you?
Morning all, how low can we go? Guess Arsene is really on a mission to find that.
Being at the same stadium and coming out with the same humiliating result twice in a row shows Arsenal have done fuck all about progressing forward. When was the last time we beat Chavs, Spuds, Utd and Scouscers scum away? And there will be stats showing how we’ve “improved” while we can beat our direct rivals to the title on their home turf?
The board and Wenger should come to an agreement and start a process of enlisting his successor come June 1. He was given time for transition when he was on a tight budget, now he can buy any quality (besides Messi and Ronaldo) and he still can’t deliver especially against teams/clubs which we’ve been conned to think we are at the same level.
We need a massive clear out, Wenger and the coaching staff need to make way. And any player who wants to go (Ozil) he can sod off too.
LC, a Cup win, missing top 4, Arsene going and Stan getting trampled by a bull is the perfect ending to season 16/17 🙂
I can remember people constantly praising Wenger for about a decade myself.
I thought they were funny Scott. Perhaps ask yourself why they are in the post?
I’m sick of him…
A decent manager might help to get the best out of our bunch of mercenaries, Adam, but over time and proven recent history we will need more money invested to compete with the “bigger” clubs !………as much as Wenger has spent recently, it pales into nothing compared to how much the “Big 3” have spent and with an “owner” who has never put a penny into the running of the club we will never compete for the title or CL consistantly………only odd trophy here and there…………Kroenke is the bigger picture that needs to be addressed .
Exactly Marshall.
Absolutely right Adam. We weren’t praising the board whilst Wenger was a success, so why blame them now because Wenger is failing on the pitch.
Don’t get me wrong though, I blame them for not sacking Wenger ages ago, or at least telling him that’s times up old chap, no new contract…
Welcome RG…
Ospina did an outstanding job to keep the score ‘decent’.
The club should ban players on yapping to the press before a game. Arsenal players always want to be talking to a reporter.
On thursday Wenger says Welbeck was coming up fine, Ox was great in the midfield and questioned Ozil’s mentality. To think he’d do the right thing he goes on and pushes Ox wide (I’d have put Welbeck) and the very Ozil maintains his place wtf!
Ozil was happy to have a nice view of Robben’s cut inside skill than press. He hasn’t earned his 140K for the last few weeks. He’d be ashamed for being such a leech. Yet there is a manager who is happy to let him do so.
Xhaka – Coq will never work. Ever.
I`m just a van driver, so have no idea how to address it……………..well unless he happens to be walkng behind my van at about 1pm out side the surf shack in St Ives on friday !……………….oops !
Adam, you brought that game up, not me.
Does he get the credit or not?
If so, does he take the blame for the rest?
Let’s be honest, the man makes no decisions, so makes no actual mistakes.
I don’t even hate him because he’s a non event.
He is, however, all that’s wrong at the club.
Money is more important than all else and nobody epitomises this more than Stan.
Was Stan the owner when Arsene was having success???????????
Yes or no will suffice.
LC. I understand your point but don’t agree with the specifics of it. As far as I am aware Kroenke has never denied Wenger a penny. It was Wenger who spent over £100 million on Ozil, Xhaka and Mustafi, not Kroenke. It was Wenger who decided to persevere with Coquelin after he got lucky with him so he didn’t have to buy Kante. Not Kroenke. In fact, every football decision that has been taken and that have lead us to this terrible state, has been Wenger’s. Obviously one can always say that Kroenke lets him get away with things without censure. I get that. But a better manager would get far, far more out of this disparate group of players. I really don’t believe it’s always all about money. The more Wenger has spent, the worse we have become.
Good post Rico, as always…
Usmanov and Dein back in, a new coach and shift the deadwood.
Let Ozil go , Sanchez is off anyway, and lets realistically hope we can have a decent challenge next year for the league and lets give up on the champions league. We are miles away from big 7:Barcelona , Bayern, PSG, Atletico, Sevilla, Dortmund, Juventus…and are at Monaco/ Bayer Leverkusen level=Europa semi finalist sort of level. In the Premier League without Sanchez, we are a mid table team.
Big changes required.
Players let the club down big time. No heart or pride.
In any other profession , if you balls up , you get the chop (Wenger???) and if a company fails to perform the board get the chop too (Stan and co) … Poor Fizsman must be looking down from the heavens and thinking WTF??
So Stan is the reason we’ve been shit for 13yrs in the PL or 20yrs in Europe?
Morning Rico and All
Good read..Left Right and circle’s
something has got to change.
The way this team is playing now
you would think Arsene has said Goodbye.
Just to go on..
I know on here a few thought we played well against
Hull.
My opinion was we were outplayed and Lucky with the
first goal,the penalty from Sanchez was lucky. Have a Look.
Sanchez is not a penalty taker.Have a look last night.
Anyway what did Arsene see against Hull?
Did he see a team good enough to beat
one of the best team’s in the world Away.
Did he think by changing the keeper
and bringing Granite into midfield we
would be good enough.
Last year 5-1 the same again
Sunday morning teams don’t get beat by the
same teams twice 5-1 do they?
The sad truth is Arsene really hasn’t got a clue
Has he………..
Sorry for the AKB who call him The Professor
The games up for Arsene..Surely now.
Adam, you make one brilliant point there….the more we spend, the worse we get.
Piss these big money Prima Donnas off and get men who want to wear the shirt.
If this’ is the guy waiting for Wenger to sign so he can sign too, I say they both GTF out of arsenal!
https://twitter.com/theunitedmanc/status/831976954857349120
Lee, no, but he’s obviously credited with the Invincibles lol.
Stan is god.
Stan bought his his first shares in 2007 and became majority shareholder in 2011.
Since 2007 we have won 2 FA Cups.
Not what I call successful
Hi George. How’s it going?.
Re your earlier Scott, after the start of the season and especially after we beat Chelsea so well, many were lumping praise on Wenger. Heck, even Lee said credit for Wenger who looks like he’s got his mojo back….
We can’t pick and choose who to credit and who the blame according to how things go surely?
Right now the football is crap and only one man is responsible and it isn’t bleedin Stan Kroenke…
It should be IG who would have an honest talk with Wenger then they approach the board with the decision to leave. But then Wenger interviewed Gazidis… Quite a niggle.
So it’s all left for Wenger to decide his future, while he can barely make sound decisions on the pitch. Heavens help us.
Morning Fred, I thought we were crap against Hull. In fact apart from against Southampton, we’ve been crap, period.
Rico, yes he is.
Of course he’s responsible.
He’s the owner.
Ask anyone who’s run a business who’s in charge and who is responsible.
The answer will be unanimous.
Scott. Look, we get the message about Kroenke and the board should have sacked Wenger. Fine, I agree with that. However, for all that goes on on the pitch is Wenger’s responsibility and he’s getting things so seriously wrong. He’s intelligent, he should know he’s ruining the club and the players careers so bearing in mind he has all the power, something he had before Kroenke arrived, he should be bigger than he is and just walk away.
Keep banging the Stan drum is getting quite tedious imo…
How the hell can Kroenke be responsible for the football we play?? That suggestion is simply quite ridiculous…
10.53 Marshall. Spot on!!
So basically it’s ok if you all bitch about Wenger all day, every day, but if I mention Stan consistently, it’s tedious and ridiculous?
So it’s not ok to disagree nowadays?
LC-did you get this notification about being tedious, as you’ve said in the last hour your agree with me totally.
The day I put up embarrassing and insulting photos about an Arsenal manager is the day I’ll cop anything you all throw at me without response.
One player touched the ball more than Ospina….
9 Bayern players made more passes than our most prolific passer….
Bayern 703 passes Arsenal 185….
Fuckng embarrassing yet again!!!!
That’s not what I’m saying and you know it Scott. It’s simply that you seem to want to blame the football we are playing on Stan and it’s not.
Yes, we all, well most of us know that Kroenke and the board are a bunch of useless idiots who really need to go but as far as transfer, tactics, team selection goes, it’s all down to Wenger…
Lee, ask Ginge-stats mean nothing as he’s always told lol
Rico, could you show me exactly where I ever said our formation. Starting 11 and/or tactics were Stan’s decision please.
Exactly, it’s embarrassing, terribly so…
Hi Adam,
Just grafting here in the desert..
WTF was that yesterday… no balls in that team
Stats like how far a player runs during a game are fucking pointless but those few stats there show how shit we were…
The gulf is massive and it’s on Wenger’s out dated clueless management , no one else!
George. It’s terrible but probably the price we have to pay for his early successes. It surely can’t go on for much longer I would have thought as he has nothing left to give. That’s the way that things work in a results-based business. It’s really all about the new manager and hopefully a new board set-up that includes some football men.
Glad you are well mate.
Lee, according to most, some of our very best wins In Recent years had us having a minor share of possesion, but I guess stats are irrelevant when we win 🙂 🙂
Ginge, where are you, mate????
EFL cup ✅
PL ✅
Annual CL embarrassment and exit ✅
FA cup pending…..
Who could of predicted that????
Stan says top 4 means CL so who gives a shit hahahahaha
Morning All
Morning Rico
Stan Kroenke, Josh Kroenke, Lord Harris, Chips Keswick, these are four of the six men who have to decide who the next manager of Arsenal is, how does that make you feel?
Ivan Gazides and Ken Friar have a bit of an idea, but I’m not at all confident that they have anything in place for a smooth transition…
Arsene has been a man who wants to control the whole shooting match, originally he had the trusted ear and influence of David Dein, to rein him in or give him a shove when need be.
Since Dein left he’s has a succession of people who have no authority over him, and here we are today with the consequences of that.
Our Board are a group of people who use their respect of Wenger to hide behind and do not have the stomach for the difficult decisions ahead. This has been brewing for several years and our board have procrastinated and waffled when then should have been proactive.
Even if and when a new man arrives, I think we could be in for a long period of uncertainty and unrest, the AKB’s will be desperate to proclaim ‘We told you so’, there will be no coming together of the fan base, we’ll not initially.
There needs to be a root and branch change in our playing philosophy, there needs to be much more emphasis on the tactical side of the game, more emphasis on defence and a weeding out of the players who have enjoyed an easy life.
The Coaching staff need to be sorted, as does our Academy and our scouting, all these things have drifted along on a sea of mediocrity for too long.
A Director of Football needs to come in, not just a 1st team coach/manager. Someone with vision, someone who has some leverage with the Kronekes, because it’s gonna be expensive.
This isn’t going to happen in a couple of years, it may take 4 or 5 years, if we’re lucky.
A top top 1st team coach is an imperative, a coach with a pedigree for winning the top prizes, not an Eddie Howe type, who good as he is, isn’t the type the 5th wealthiest club in football should be looking at.
All this self-sufficient guff has to go out of the window, you have to compete otherwise the spotlight must finally be on Kroenke, no more excuses for him…
Kev, the smart operators already have the blowtorch on Stan hahaha
Great post mate.
I won’t be saying “toldya so” if manager after manager fails, and I really hope it doesn’t happen.
When was the last time (outside Chelsea game) we’ve actually played good football?
It’s tippy tappy mundane shite just like Wenger mundane and tedious…..
Poor Fizsman must be looking down from the heavens and thinking WTF??
Stan owns 67% of just over 2 billion , latest Forbes figures. It was Fiszman that recommended him to the board and persuaded Lady Nina to sell to him as well. He was desperate to keep Usmanov out because he saw that as a route to Dein getting back in.
well kroenke should be blamed and arsene too, so much power has been given to winger such that what ever he says is final, well for me i think if it possible for fans not coming to watch football at the emirate stadium maybe when they lose huge sum of money and the stadium is empty. that should send them serious message. wenger should leave…
A new manager can’t do any worse than this drivel Wenger serves up can they?
Scott, Adam makes a good point @ 11:25. A new board set-up with some football men would definitely go a long way.
As for Stan being the reason we are playing crap football, i have to disagree mate.Since when did a board actually have an input to whats on the pitch? They are just a back office function and our current one is good at making money. I dont believe they are denying the manager funds, i actually believe without a football man on the board, they have mismanaged the transfer funds and bought alot of average players for silly money. Wenger is to blame for that and for how he sets up the team.
As a fan, I couldnt care how much money the players earn, but I want the team to play for the shirt and show effort as we work hard to support the club.
I want to see heart and some fight…none of which was on show last night
Lee, Citeh last season was a ripper, but as we’ve established, that was obviously down to Stans input.
Check this possessions stats on the game.
If I had to choose between Stan and Wenger who”d go, I’d pick Wenger.
We don’t deserve this same sh*t he keeps on dishing us. I bet in the last half a decade on this blog every feb/march there have been discussion of how Wenger has let us down and should go. If he stays it will be the same next year on a Thursday like this. Am tired of this same fucking bullsh*t. It’s 99% Wenger and he’d go.
Scott, Wenger has had the dream ticket since Dein left, total control, and here we are, ripping ourselves apart…
For a man who professes to love the club so much, what has Wenger put in place for a smooth transition, what parts of the job has he delegated to assist his successor?
Or has he spent the last three years drifting along, doing the same stuff, talking the talk and avoiding those difficult decisions that we’ll have to see faced up to this summer.
He’s probably done very little, in fact I’m sure he’s done nothing…
And so, if that is the case, then our directors should be on it….
After all, aren’t they in charge?
It’s a mess from top to bottom.
George, you’re the second person to say I have suggested Stan was at fault for our style of football.
When, where???
No matter how often I say it, my opinion is distorted by people.
Arsene must go.
I’ve said it often enough.
However, for the long term benefit of the club, Stan can not stay, else nothing will really change, imo.
Kev, he’s not as cushy as a Stan is lol
Maybe not far off, but damn, how many people can put in so little, and benefit so much as the yank??
Yep, the club needs an overhaul, no question.
Evening all,
If what Le Coq says is true, that Stan doesn’t care if the Club wins silverware or not, then the Yank has to go, otherwise the desired change for The Arsenal, that so many crave, won’t fully be implemented. And the fans have the opportunity to play their part in getting rid of Stan with people power. He needs to be forced out, & the sooner the better. Once he is gone, & replaced by a Usmanov type with a desire for silverware, The Club will be able to move forward.
Perhaps the shit we are seeing is down to the absence of Pat Rice…Bould was a great defender, but ehat was that yesterday? Mustafi in no mans land, Bellerin and Gibbs being run ragged , Xhaka’s tackling? abysmal…
Mr Allezkev. Excellent points there.
I’ll ask a question and hope people answer honestly.
I just did this elsewhere and result was absolutely unanimous.
If you had the choice, who would leave the club today-Stan, or Arsene??
Scott, at 10:43 you give the impression its because of Stan
I cant stand Stan but with or without him , its what the manager plays on the pitch, how the staff train them , and set them up.
As for your question who would i rather left the club? Arsene. Its stale and he is responsible. He bought those players and watches them daily in training.
Welcome Don, sorry for the delay, I had to pop out..
Scott, re earlier, indirectly, many times… If I could be bothered, I’d look back to see… lol
Sorry George, but I never gave that impression-that comment was in response to someone else’s comment.
A tick for Stan then?
We really are stuffed lol.
That bastard is going nowhere and we all know it 🙂
Wenger to leve.
Indirectly, Rico?
I’ll use that one day 🙂
Anyway, let’s all hope, by some miracle, they both leave else we are going nowhere.
Have a great day all, and pray we here some news on Arsene retiring at seasons end.
Morning Kev. Good comment.
Stan or Wenger? Wenger all day long as if he stays, nothing on the pitch will ever improve. In all honesty, I wish they’d all bugger off and start a fresh but that isn’t ever going to happen.
So two games in two seasons we’ve played well…..that’s fucking embarrassing like Wenger!
Thanks for your input but taxi….
Here you go Gnarley !……….haven`t read it as I cant be bothered, but the headline says it !
http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/stan-kroenke-i-didnt-buy-arsenal-stake-to-win-trophies-a3202046.html
Agree with you, Adam, but it`s the bit you say yourself, that Kroenke should be questioning Wenger, but he wont as link above suggests !………………and let me put my cards firmly on the table…….I want Wenger out !………………..We should all think that both should be gone though imo.
Kroenke out all day for me Scott, new owner can then sack Wenger ! 🙂
And like Scott, I have never said or suggested that Kroenke is our super tacticion coach………..although he probably couldn`t do much worse than Arsene and his syrup can replace the gagged Bould !
🙂
Thank you Mr Adam, I feel humble… ?
Hi George, how’s the camel..? ?
I’d like to know what our tactical genius Boro Primorac thinks about things?
And what an impact Steve Bould has had on our defence…
Whose on the coaching staff who is going to step up if and when Wenger/Primorac go?
Neil Banfield? Freddie Ljungberg? Kwame Apadu?
It seems that a new manager is probably going to need a whole new staff around him and that isn’t a perfect situation…
Where is the smooth succession from within in club?
Why hasn’t Arsene got all this in place?
I just copied this from LG:
Here are a few of the best stats to start with
Bayern managed 703 passes to our 185
Bayern had 24 chances to our 7
9 players in Bayern’s team made more passes than our most prolific passer of the night
Xhaka was our most prolific passer with 25 successful passes. This is a guy who can hit the nineties in a good game.
Ozil made a pitiful 18 successful passes all night
Ospina’s passing success rate was 43% on 30 passes
Coquelin didn’t make a tackle (some places, according to FourFourTwo, he made 2)
Coquelin made just 6 successful passes all night
Only one player had more touches of the ball than Ospina
Hi George and thanks re the post…
5-1 is a result that happens in football. It’s annoying but it does. The point is they are always the same ones who lose 5-1.
In my perspective, apart from the abysmal difference of the two teams, the aspect and physical freshness (very important) is the tactical culture.
You can not go to play to defend a result, with players who do not know how to defend, who do not want to defend, lines away from each other and without a cohesive block. We lose all games with identical quality teams because we will defend a result without being tactically and mentally prepared to do so.
Other important note: the German teams who rested 3 weeks in winter looks like they are starting the season. Yesterday, the players of Bayern won all the individual duels, they always arrived first, they were always more effective.
An embarrassing loss certainly helps with the number of comments, Rico .
🙂
We were ‘mullered’! He was a good player though. Only ever needed three touches to score a hat trick!
Stan out for me and new man, Usminov? To sack the manager as soon as and then give the new man a war chest to renew the squad with decent/brilliant world class players. Then we may see some progress…..then again….!
I hate days like these and they are coming round far too often.
Miserable here.
And we are one of those teams Jm. Consistently…
LC, very true..
I think now is the time to organise a response tbh.. id start with the Bayern game at the Emirates.. I hope all the season ticket holders don’t show up and the regulars who buy tickets don’t bother to go.
It’s the perfect game to do it… there is nothing at stake… we’re out..
The Emirates with 15/20k attendance will get the boards attention.
Kronke or wenger……kronke for me… as a new owner will sack him any how.
Wavy, I reckon any new manager would get a fair pot of money to spend and he’d probably generate a bit too after selling off a few passengers…
We don’t know that for sure though Kel. A new owner might just be as trusting in Wenger as Kroenke seems to be…
Well, my tickets for the Bayern match are on the exchange now. The idea that I am going to have to pay £88 each plus all the associated costs for that game just isn’t on.
They are shocking stats Rico but the way I see it is that, despite all the money Wenger has spent and his long tenure, he still couldn’t muster a team strong enough to even compete with Bayern. The players shoulder a large part of the blame but he is paid to win matches and trophies and we look further away than ever to me.
Hi Rico -Good Post – You are on point and I concur that AW must go.
Fed up and embarrassed to see AW tenure end like this with all he has done for the club.
THE AKBs are running on empty petrol tank nothing left to protect, No justification. Spurs will be ahead and annual capitulation will see us finish out of Top 4.
For the 1st time I believe some players mercenaries want him to go. They are not playing for him and hes lost the dressing room.
Hi all,
To start there’s a difference between responsible and accountable. Players are responsible for their game but Wenger is accountable for their performances.
Likewise, Wenger is responsible for how we perform in cups, league etc but Gazidis is accountable as he makes decisions of who he hires and fires and so goes the chain.
Regarding Stan, he got promised a successful business with a model not to put his own funds in (similar to United) but also promised not needing to put in further funds after owning the club.
So far, the business is performing according to plan, therefore no need to interfere in it’s running.
I’m actually disappointed in Jonker. Thought he was supposed to be the great youth developer. I think we should rather take a peak at clubs like Southampton, West Ham, Everton and even Liverpool’s youth set up.
Arsenal fans as noted here previously could learn from the Scousers. Once decided enough, their alignment was swift and result extraordinary to remove the owners. I do not see Arsenal fans uniting as the divide between classes is too apparent.
True enough, but the Yanks at Liverpool never had the money to push the new stadium beyond unveiling a shiny model.
The atmosphere in the ground these days in useless. If Wenger signed a new contract it would get even worse. The crowd lives and breathes on hope. Take that away and all that’s left is the exorbitant ticket prices and the investment in time and travel etc. I just can’t see it happening but, somewhat paradoxically, it wouldn’t surprise me if it did. 🙂
Sorry guys, I read the post and all the comments, I am missing something? So it was SK that called AW telling him to play that line up last night?
As I said before the game Bayern has been unconvincing all year, except in maybe 3 games against lower level teams. All the team that they struggled with had speed and squeezed them into the middle and attacked them wide. That line up with Coq, Iwobi, Ozil who are been struggling plus Xhaka with no pace was begging for trashing. That was not Stan’s fault. Do AW even scout opponents? And all this talk about transition is unnecessary, heck we been in transition for 10 years. There is no need for even another year of AW. In a worse case scenario ship him upstairs and faze him out in a year or 2, but he had to go as a manager. The Ox on the wing was the last straw for me.
The Wenger Kroenke debate ! ( even though I dont think there should be one as they both need to go ! )
Let`s look at our London neighbours the Chavs !……..they now sell more shirts than us (something like 400,000 more ), yet they were always a smaller club, I dont have to tell you why they sell more shirts…ahem…cough…..trophies………..they are the bench mark for me personally……………1) They have an owner who has put over a billion of his own money into the club and that will be even more once he builds the new stadium !…………..so an owner who spends money !……
2) If the club are not performing, he sacks the manager and he sacks and he sacks until one of them wins a trophy and if they dont win one again the next year he sacks them !……..fcuk me !…………he sacked their best manager ever !………DiMatteo for winning the CL ! 🙂
3) How many trophies have they won since we last won the title ?……………I`m sure enough to have made us happy had he been our owner !.
So what do you think our last 13 years would have been like under the Russian if he had bought us instead of the Chavs ?…………………….all them Chav trophies would more than likely been ours and we would probably been near to a level of Manshafter Std support !…………….It`s the owner who has got Chavs where they are now with a little help from the umpteen managers they have had !
Kroenke should have put a billion in our club and sacked Wenger had he not won more…………the ultimate power lies with Kroenke as much as we say Wenger is his own boss, but Kroenke is gutless and we will never hit the heights The Chavs have hit under Kroenke !…………………….he may never sell, but I dont have to sit back and like it and keep schtum !
Look at the two owners of Chavs and Arsenal and I`m sure you will be able to work out why our main now and future problem is…………………………Kroenke !………………………………Wenger to go now and quickly followed by Kroenke !…………..one can dream !
You can sense the media vultures circling overhead with the Sutton match on the horizon.
With two weeks off following the game, Wenger could go with a full strength team at Sutton, but many of these guys are so damaged that I’d go with the majority of the XI that did for Southampton.
Something we are good at !
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/588861/FA-Cup-all-time-stats-rankings-table-most-matches-wins-sportgalleries
LC. I believe that Abramovich is still owed that money after converting it to shares, so it wasn’t exactly a free gift. Kroenke or Usmanov could invest a billion quid, with no guarantee of success, and it would still be on the books and repayable when they left.
Oliver Kahn on last night, “it looks like the players don’t take the coach seriously anymore,” said Kahn.
Kahn, speaking as a pundit for ZDF television, said: “Of course Arsenal have their qualities, especially on the counter-attack, and they have good players like Ozil, but I haven’t seen him. Maybe you saw him.”
He added: “It’s sad to see what Ozil is calling a performance, how passive he plays, a player of his genius and qualities – it’s a shame.” That sums it up.
Obi. Personally I have never seen Ozil as a genius. If he is then I cannot imagine how one might describe Bergkamp or Henry.
Always thought it equated to an interest free loan, Scott !………….fact is he`s spending his own money to build a new stadium, that too could be some share issue or other, but just look at the trophies 1……………nice and gleaming ! 🙂
Sorry …..Adam !…………………..Scott`s the one on my team ! 😆 🙂
It’s Adam LC. In a sense yes, but the shares at Chelsea have risen in value too I imagine so there’s your interest right there. There’s also a political dimension to Abramovich’s involvement which doesn’t apply to us. If Stan had offered Wenger another 500 million, we all know what he would have said though. He believes this squad is stronger than the Invincibles. I think they’re a bunch of flakes.
I get what you say about the trophies though and completely agree. 🙂
Also, Adam…………..I thought the converting of share thing was some kind of loophole to get around FFP…………………the thing that is now a dead duck in water !……………………….it was supposed to be the making of Arsenal Football Club and I for one was on the crest of a wave thinking we were going to be in a better position than all the big clubs with our self sustaining business model !…………….it was just too good to be true to work………………………….big money will always speak louder !………………………Kroenke has big money but has gagged it ! 🙂
Apologies again, Adam ! 🙂
I know we both agree that Wenger should go………………..with or without the £500M 🙂
LC. I agree but a really modern, young and dynamic manager would have this team, with a few tweaks, challenging for honours I believe. Look at what Ranieri did on virtually nothing last season.
Kroenke has only really “gagged it” if Arsene has asked for money and been refused. I don’t think this has happened. The idea of the owner buying players is iffy I would say. Remember Shevchenko.
LC. Dunno about you but I would prefer it if Kroenke didn’t give Wenger that 500 mill. 🙂
I`ve always been of the opinion that Wenger isn`t a great coach and that his best early years were down to simply having the best players who knew how to do and look after theirselves on the pitch !
He is though a great manager of money and visionary of trying to make us better eg New Stadium………..buying London Colney with sale of Overmars and Le Sulk………hope i`ve got right as I read it somewhere !
Agree, Adam………..just give him the Ranch instead !……… 🙂
LC, I think we all acknowledge we might be better off with a different owner but then again, we might be a lot worse. As others have pointed out, the financial side of Arsenal is ticking along nicely so Stan will no doubt be a happy man.
My only gripe with him is that he and his other old farts on the board have sat back and allowed this debacle unfold for years but when a manager has so much power, which he had before Kroenke and Gazidis came in, the Wenger situation was always going to be an issue.
As for Wenger, he chooses who he signs, who he keeps, who he sells, how much money he spends, tactics, starting eleven, subs…. the list goes on and he’s mucking that up week in week out. With so much power, it seems from the outside that he is the only one who can remove himself.
Right now I don’t really care if we finish outside the European places all together, Sutton knock us out of the FA Cup and Bayern batter us in a couple of weeks times…
Because if that’s what it takes for Wenger to realise his time is done, then it’ll be worth it…..
Afternoon all…
One thing that was really rammed home last night was that Bayern Munich are a brilliantly run football club!
I thought we were supposed to be competing with Bayern not getting fucking annilhated by them yet AGAIN!!!
Still !………come Monday night I will be properly excited with a proper cup which we have a great history in…………………….unlike the CL………………last night will be forgot about, thrash Sutton and then back to normal cursing with Bindippers next league game away !…………….dont have a good feeling about that one and expect a good moaning session after it ! 😆
I do get your`s and others point on Wenger, Rico and agree !……………………….Wenger`s like the lodger who has outstayed his welcome, sneakily dips into your cookie jar, sucks the chocolate off your chocolate Brazil Nuts puts them back and wont fcuk off ! 🙂
And you`ll be all excited come Monday like the rest of us…….or is that just me ? hahaha
LC, your last is spot on imo although it’s taken me longer to realise. As said in the post, taking over the team he did made his life easier and although he added some great players back then, now his skills or rather lack of them are clear to see.
He can’t motivate as we all know and having listen to Sol Campbell the other day, he said Wenger didn’t need to because the players like him, Paddy etc etc would do it on the pitch. We haven’t got players like those now and that’s down to the manager.
He clearly doesn’t do tactics or research into how his next opponent plays and as Obi said, that team selection was all wrong when considering who we were up against. And the way his teams approach games stinks, absolutely stinks. Cocky, arrogant, lazy, unmotivated. Just like their manager yet there was a reason he signed these players and that’s because before they arrived at Arsenal, they looked good and most probably were but as soon as they get into our club, everything they had to their game gets sucked out of them…
Which is probably why Herb suggested Wenger is a parasite and I find it quite hard to disagree…
Standards are definately dropping on here alright, calling someone a wet lettuce, that’s not on either !
rico, any idea how much a backbone costs, we need one badly this summer.
Lee 3.46, 6 semi finals in the last 7 years with 3 different managers, not too shoddy is it, still no-one can take away our 2005-6 memories can they.
Lettuce pray !
They were proper men, Rico !…………latest lot are pansies in comparison !……….excluding one or two ! 🙂
At least Smudger has the balls to realise it’s time for change, unlike so many of the other Wengerites….
Hi Micko, sorry for my saladism… 😉
Too much for Wenger and his budget…
And who signed those pansies Lc? Please don’t say Stan Kroenke… lol
The serious question is though, were they pansies when the arrived at Arsenal or have they simply been ‘Wengered’?
🙂
It may be only just over a decaed ago Rico since our “men” won a title, but all players are poncey pansies now, not just ours !………………….the ridiculous money has made them different animals imo………………….actually, I think I`m being a bit too disrespectable to pansies !…………they are a very versatile hardy flower ! 🙂
Not sure if it is a money thing Le Coq, the Etihad ground staff earn more than our lot lol.
How Ozil is expected to live on £140,000 a week is beyond me, something’s not right with his head, easily his worst performance in an Arsenal shirt for us last night.
LC, not all imo- just look at the Watford players.. lol
Is Josh Kroenke on the board, does anybody know?
I can’t imagine the scenario if we are drop from the FA Cup…
He’s listed as being so Adam..
On AFC.com that is…
Thanks Rico. Not sure if it’s relevant really. 🙂
Just another who knows nothing about “soccer” Adam !……………………….can you imagine if Arsene left tomorrow !………………….Sir Chips Keswick would be taking training dressed in a smoking jacket wearing a cravat, smoking a pipe whilst reading one of Chapman`s training manuels on the WM formation with man servant Bould fetching his balls !
🙂
” I say Bould, go and fetch the round objects !”
“Balls, Sir Chips !”
“What Bould ? ”
“Balls, Sir Chips !”
“Well I say !…..no need for inpertinence Bould !….any more and you will be taken and birched at my gentlemans club !”
Ornstein !
https://twitter.com/bbcsport_david/status/832159858996699136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
If it’s a mutual decision Lc, unless the board grow a pair, Wenger will decide….
Adam, I don’t think he has much of a say does he? He’s just there to take over from Daddy when the time comes…
True, Rico, but because it`s Ornstein I believe the substance of that`s where it exactly is !…………….I only trust Ornstein and Kelsey ! 😆
Shit, Rico !………………………….that means I have to take out a double hit contract !………………please tell me there`s no one behind Josh in line otherwise it`s going to get expensive and Im` only a van driver on minimum wages ! 🙂
Time will tell I guess Lc, just hope the old boy comes to his senses…
Depends if Josh has kids…. lol
Morning all.
Adam, on your 2.00pm-what makes you think Arsene is paid to win trophies and titles 🙂 🙂
If only he were, because then, Stan would recognise him as failing each season, and turf him.
He’s paid to keep things profitable and is deemed a massive success……well, by a Stan, at least.
That, in a nutshell, is why I blame the Yank.
I’ll do my best to try not to harp on the point from here on in, but I do find it difficult to ignore the obvious.
Adam, you will be pleased to know that Josh Kroenke enjoys reading Harry Potter books and having his breakfast at McDonalds… ?
Josh Kroenke (born May 7, 1980) is an American heir to the Wal-Mart family inheritance and to Kroenke Sports Enterprises, his father’s sports-media conglomerate. He is President and Governor of the Denver Nuggets basketball franchise, President and Governor of the Colorado Avalanche ice hockey franchise, Alternate Governor for the Colorado Rapids soccer franchise and non-executive director of English association football club Arsenal F.C..
Not being funny Scott but as a manager of a top club, why would a manager need a financial incentive to win trophies? Any ambitious man/woman would want to do that regardless. Where’s the mans bloody pride?
Spuds lost 1-0 at Gent and for the first time in my living memory I dont give a shit !………….what have I become if I cant be bothered to rejoice in a Spud defeat !
Because worse troubles are on our doorstep….
Arsenal are, sorry to labour the point, the 5th wealthiest football club in the world and Wenger is the 4th highest paid football manager in England.
Value for money?
Europe not just England
Cheers LC re Stan Dosier
Gooners, we can go on blaming Arsene Wenger till we are blue in the face. (I can appreciate that a good many of you are already purple in the face from the cold in Blighty) but to solve the current situation, we need to cut off the head of the snake, so to speak. Because a new manager , no matter how savvy a football brain he has, will still have to deal with the same highly paid lightweights slinking around the place, sponsored by a man at the top with no football ambition. Stan has to go, then The Club can move onwards & upwards 🙂
Antonio Conte – £6.5m. …
Luis Enrique – £7m. …
Jurgen Klopp – £7m. …
Zinedine Zidane – £8m. …
Arsene Wenger – £8.3m. …
Carlo Ancelotti – £9m. …
Jose Mourinho – £13.8m. In the end Manchester United’s season ended in disappointing fashion, despite winning the FA Cup. …
Pep Guardiola – £15m. Manchester City finally got their man.
u.k.businessinsider.com/footballs-19-biggest-earning-teams/#19-inter-milan-italy-1
uk.businessinsider.com/footballs-19-biggest-earning-teams/#19-inter-milan-italy-1
Says a lot Kev, an awful lot…
Night guys, have a good one…
GG what if the £200m annual salary budget, the current squad plus a large transfers kitty were made available to a new manager?
The tyrant Stan has let Wenger have access to this for ages and he keeps wanking off…… maybe just maybe another manager might do slightly better?!?!
Let’s not shit ourselves about life after Wenger, let’s face it it’s been shit for over 10 years!
Football has moved on and Wenger really hasn’t, time for change!!
Tuchel or Simeone earn well under half what Wenger does……
Rico, he shouldn’t, and I wasn’t suggesting otherwise.
Then, it seems not many at the club really have ambition to do anything but finish thereabouts on the ladder.
Lee, nobody on here is saying Arsene shouldn’t leave.
It’s only himself and Stan who appear to be happy with his performance, and like it or not, they’re the two people who count.
Lee, I notice that Pep earns nearly twice as much.
Would anyone on planet earth dare attempt to suggest he’s going twice as well as Arsene??
At twice the price he should’ve hit the ground running, especially with what he spent and has at his disposal…..I did say he’s struggle in his first season and that should be expected, but at 15 million, is he entitled to take time???
Keep in mind most here wanted him at Arsenal.
15 million for what-a top 4 finish??
Are they even still in CL-he is the man when it comes to European football, people said.
What’s their budget?
Wage bill?
Before anyone suggests we shouldn’t worry about what Pep and Citeh are doing, then maybe we should stop comparing Arsene to Klopp and Simeone, but I guess that all logic and fair play can be lost when passionate arguments take place……
I reckon that Arsene at our club doesn’t help the players, the fans, the man himself-ok, he earns good money, but look at him-he’s a broken down old man.
Can anyone name me the single entity who Arsene remaining DOES benefit????
LC, I bet you can 🙂 🙂 🙂
Lee
I’m with 100% re Wenger, his time is up. But what supporters/fans need to understand is that they have a faceless man @ the top. He is invisible & doesn’t care about winning silverware, his words not mine. And what his son will inherit the Club?
In some instances, sporting organisations engage independent auditors to assess the issues @ hand & provide solutions to best achieve the common goal, winning silverware. As each year goes bye that sort of remedy will become more & detached from being able to be implemented. At present The Arsenal has a situation with Wenger ‘Lets be a team & do it my way’, & Stan/Board gives him carte blanche to do so.
Anyway, even during The Arsenal’s darkest days, its good to have Tottenham as a silverlining during these times, though I’d prefer silverware 🙂
Just a little offering to cheer you all up. 28 years since i’ve been to North London. When i get there in September I will pay homage to Highbury, just like i did all those years ago on that magic Friday night. I remember walking down St Thomas’s Road thinking how apt a street should be named after ‘Saint Micky did it’. then confronting the pandemonium on Avenell Road. There were 1000’s there. It was glorious 🙂
At Burnley Conte realized that his back 3 wasn’t working and they were being battered with long balls on the wing….. Burnley manager did his research. So Conte went to 4 at the back. The first time B’mouth played City dominated the midfield, the 2nd time what did Pep do, went a triangle with 2 holders, again a coach making adjustment. Alegri this weekend play Cagliari right after half he took out one of his best Midfielder Marchisio and Dybala because they were being stretched wide again adjustment. When was the last time AW made such adjustments. I can’t remember, unless there is a red card. Last night after half time almost every Bayern attack started wide. Everything. Did Arsene make any adjustments, I didn’t see any. I guess we are waiting for Stan to phone in.
Obi
So you think Stan is good for The Club going forward?
Remember Arsene Wenger still has that offer on the table for him to sign, which has been by the Board &/or the fella who ‘signs the cheques’ so to speak. I haven’t seen any veto activated by the Board &/or Stan in relation to Arsene’s 2 year extension since yesterday’s debarcle.
Lets be honest here, Arsene Wenger is to the Board/Stan like an old pair of jeans, a comfy fit. With the blow torch on those numpties, I’m make doubly sure Arsene Wenger goes by seasons end, that’s all.
There’s not a person on here who doesn’t believe his time is up.
Nor is there a person here saying his tactics have been good.
Just watching the game now.
Alexis lucky not to get done for diving again.
But then, he does run a lot lol
Ok, that was nasty and yeah, I was picking on the lad 🙂
Still, I saw until the 25-26th minute and head to leave, but we looked ok to that point-certainly weren’t being over run.
One thing I did notice, and something Rico often touches on-NOT THAT I AM SAYING SHE IS RIGHT, MIND YOU-but we were being beaten man on man constantly.
Boys against men.
Whether Arsene and a Stan stay or go, we need some hard guys.
Not just players who’ll foul when required, but players who will Intimidate their opponent.
Who wasour last player who could do that?????
Please don’t say Vieira-that was a generation ago.
Frimpong had that.
Maybe that’s why Arsene turfed him.
Lansbury was a hard nut as well-gone.
Frimpong was fucking woeful as Coquelin has been lately…Wenger should of brought Kante, proven PL ready and £20m. No he buys Xhaka who’s disciplinary record in Germany was atrocious and not accustomed to the pace of the PL.
Shit decision but how many of those does he make?
Poor decision yet again from Wenger!
Wenger has been paid £110m in the last 13yrs for two FA cups! We’ve been shit in the league and a fucking joke in the CL. We’ve had to endure proper hidings from Chelsea, Liverpool and Manure, our record against “top four” teams is beyond pathetic.
Apparently there was a massive dressing room row post yet another European hiding….. Sanchez venting his frustrations. The bloke is a grafter a winner, committed to the team. We could do with a few more Sanchez’s in the team not these powder puff wankers that Wenger loves! The team is a mirror of him, no fucking backbone,insipid and devoid of any direction.
Give another manager a crack at what Wenger has at his disposal and I’m confident they’d do a better job.
“Jaded” fucking hell that just about sums Wenger up!
Lee, Wenger gets no more bad players than any other manager.
He certainly never pays massive money for failures.
He did buy Alexis 🙂
What are your thoughts on Pep earning nearly twice as much as Wenger, and with a bigger squad, spent more money in the summer, and has a much larger wage bill, yet out of CL and will probably finish Top 4.
Best in the world?
Should be at Arsenal?
Please.
Yes, Arsene must go, but ffs, people need to stop carrying on like there is plenty of options guaranteed to do better.
Again, Arsene must go.
Morning all…
There are plenty of options of managers to take over from Arsene Wenger imo but we don’t know if they’ll succeed until the club at least try.
But I doubt there are many managers out there who wouldn’t whip this current team into shape because most know the basic rule of football which is not to concede. I bet even Tony Pulis could get our side defending better than Wenger does… Not that I’d welcome Pulis as manager before anyone thinks that’s what I’m alluding to…
As for the heated discussion after the game-so there bloody should be!!!
I wish they’d get a supporter in there to cut loose at the players!!!
Shit, imagine you, Lee, having a say?
Seriously, some home truths is what these overpaid Prima donnas need!!!!
Rico, realistically, there’s enough attacking weapons there so that any manager who sets our defence up properly will do well.
The most important home truths should be fired at Wenger, goodness only knows what he says to his players…
Exactly Scott which is why I was surprised to read your view on the options out there…
I’d suggest ‘people’ a frightened of change and possibly a large portion of those are at a younger age who have grown up knowing only the one Arsenal manager….
Life after Wenger will be much better imo…
Rico, I said there no guaranteed options-I never said there aren’t options.
I’m not frightened of change 🙂
I’d say the opposite applies though.
Young fans don’t know what the club was like pre Wenger so aren’t handling failure.
I’m pretty sure it won’t be any worse Scott. Maybe the younger ones aren’t, I don’t know, it was just a suggestion as to why there are still a large selection of fans who think he should stay.
Same with idiots like Neville. Slate him for years and still reckons Wenger is the right man. Cray, just crazy…
I’ve also got no don’t but that, long term, life ater Arsene will be brilliant, but that’s down In no small way to what’s he’s set in place, so let’s not forget that.
That should read “I’ve also got no doubt that, long term”
All he once did has been undone. A new manager will have to have a total revamp imo. Certain players have to go and a different type need to gradually come in.
What he did in his first few years was great, but as the back five left and the likes of Paddy, Petit etc etc were sold/retired, he’s shown what he’s really about imo..
Morning Rico. As I heard several months back, Pep apparently wanted to come to Arsenal but received no encouragement from the board.
Morning Adam. Probably because of Wenger..
I still think Pep will succeed at citeh and he pisses all over Wenger as a manager!
I would of loved him at Arsenal….
“Lee, Wenger gets no more bad players than any other manager.
He certainly never pays massive money for failures.”
I disagree and also when he buys a dud (which he’s bought loads of) he hangs to them far longer than any other manager!
I too would have liked Pep at Arsenal for many reasons. I suppose, as the season moves on, that speculation over the new manager will be rife. It will be interesting to see which way the club go.
Have to agree re the duds he’s signed. He’s far to loyal to rubbish/average players….
I’d rather Conte… 🙂
Rico. That’s true. Buying the right players is one thing, getting them to play the way you want is another, but knowing when to move them on is quite a different talent. If you look at the situation with Theo and Bale, it’s all rolled up into one right there. We should have bought Bale but ended up with Theo, who has been something of a disappointment – for 10 years.
Rico. Perhaps Allegri then?
Apparently Allegri is stalling on signing a new contract at Juve…. he can bring Dybala, Rugani and Pjanic with him too!!!
Morning Brudder. I can imagine lots of disinformation around as speculation rises. I read something saying that he was leaving at the end of the season, with a year left on his contract. His record is certainly impressive.
Apparently all the big clubs in Europe want Arsene though. 🙂
We certainly signed the wrong one Adam, I think we did with Chambers too….
I like the sound of him having read a few articles about his style of football and the ability to change tactics as a game requires. Unlike someone else we all know…
Stop it Lee, that’s just cruel… 😉
It’s complete busllshit to say Arsene has bought more duds than other managers, and you all know it!
Yes, he hangs on to them for too long, but that’s another topic, and I never suggested otherwise, because I agree, so don’t twist things I say, guys.
People still kissing Peps arse yet the man is on nearly twice that of our “fraud and parasite”, spent more in the summer, has a massive squad, bigger wage bill and better players blah blah blah, yet is out of CL!
This is the man you guarantee would do better than Arsene?
Fukken hilarious lol.
Any decent manager will do better than Arsene fan with this squad?
Next comment is that Arsene has assembled a shit squad-explain that lol.
Of course, any manager with half a brain would really struggle with Barca an Bayern, so Pep did a magnificent job 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
It is fine to talk someone up, and someone else down, but why is it when I raised these stats and points last night, people stopped commenting?
Oh that’s right, stats only mean something when it suits your argument lol
That’s all a bit aggressive and ott Scott…
What’s the difference between spending a bucket load of cash to assemble a winning team or inheriting a superb back five and spending plenty of money on attacking players to win the league??
I actually believe he has bought more duds than the likes of Chelsea, Utd and more recently City..
New post up now.
By the way Scott, City are still in the Champions League…
I can’t believe people can still kiss Wenger’s bony arse after 13yrs of gross underachieving!
Alumnia
Jeffers
Silverstre
Wright
Grondin
Cygan
Squillaci
Denilson
Santos
Park-Young
Gervinho
Chamakh
Wreh
Malz
Bischoff
Vivas
Off the top of my head and I’m sure there’s more, he also persisted with loads of the above…..
March or April when I believe club level pay for next season is when he will let the board know his intentions. Whether they will tell the rest of us plebs before we join or not in June is another matter.
The Pep , Arsene argument is a non runner and impossible to reach any conclusion, we won’t know until the time comes whether anyone can do more with this squad. My belief is that there will be radical change in the playing staff and any new manager will want to bring his own coaching people with him which will possibly absorb much of our budget. Players will leave and be replaced but selling will be a fire sale and buying will be at premium.
I have never doubted that his time has come and like with Brexit it will be rocky for a period but I do believe that it is the right thing in the long run.
Well, he reckons he will still be in football management next season, so it sounds as though he has been offered something elsewhere. It will be a wrench for him to leave, but I believe he will.
Sad to see him being grilled by the press, so openly and insistently on his future. A bit humiliating for him I imagine.
I just hope the players do their best for the remaining games. It will have a strange atmosphere around the club though, knowing he is on the way out. A lot of uncertainty for players and backroom staff.
20 years is a long time.