Morning all.
Ok, we are not good enough, that’s clear. Most of us know that the time has come for change and if we’re honest, that time was a while ago. Arsene Wenger and his tactics, or rather lack of them, are dated, his squad is weak and clearly divided.
But for fifty odd minutes last night, Arsenal looked the best they’d been in a long time. We were zipping the ball around with purpose and having scored an early goal, it really looked like we’d come out of the game with a little bit of pride restored. But then the officials stepped in and we capitulated just as we so often do.
The penalty decision in itself I thought was harsh but once given, I guess the referee had little choice to produce a yellow card but what his assistant was thinking when he interfered simply beggars belief. Never in a million years should Laurent Koscielny been sent off for that incident with Lewandowski, who replays show was offside in any case,, not in my opinion anyway. Shocking officiating, it really was. Just as it was when Theo Walcott was fouled in the box, but no, no penalty awarded for us eh.
From then on it was all over as Bayern once again hit us for five yet as already said, up until then, I thought we looked the better side.
Mistakes are made by officials and whilst we are going through a torrid time, ones like last night hurt most but after the sending off it was all about regrouping, being defensive and if and when the chances came, take them. But in almost carbon copy of the first leg, we went to pieces after our captain on the night, left the pitch and this is when Arsene Wenger’s ‘failings’ will again be scrutinised.
Why bring on Mesut Ozil when Gabriel and Gibbs are on the bench? The two defenders may not be everyone’s cup of tea but they’ll dig in more than the German. We were by then effectively down to nine and up against the German champions, there was only ever going to be one outcome. Damage limitation was what we needed but instead, Bayern ran us ragged and it didn’t make enjoyable viewing…..
Before the game kicked off the march in protest of Arsene Wenger staying for another two years was in full flow and further objections are expected ahead of our FA Cup match against Lincoln City on Saturday night. Maybe by now Kroenke has seen the fans are unhappy and perhaps he’ll do the right thing and withdraw that contract offer. Maybe Arsene Wenger himself will think long and hard before realising he really doesn’t have what it takes to compete with the top clubs in Europe and to be honest, he never really has. Not even The Invincibles could win in Europe, although they should have imo but Arsene doesn’t know how to beat the best in Europe.
Twenty years of constant Champions League football is something to be proud of, but our performances and results in this big competition, is not. Just one final in all those years, and the chances of winning that one went when Jens Lehmann was sent off. We really have been a club which has simply made up the numbers just so Arsenal can bank the money.
The same can be said on the domestic front too as when was the last time we truly challenge for the Premier League title? Ok, we don’t have to quite go back to the days of football in black and white, but it’s a long long time.
Anyway, Premier League over for another season, as is the Champions League over for and the way things are going, I’m not convinced we’ll be involved in it next time around…..
Maybe then, we’ll get the changes our club so desperately needs…
Morning Rico. I think we are playing Lincoln the weekend having already beaten that other non-league powerhouse Sutton. 🙂
Morning all.
I remember a few years back we were 1-0
Up over Spuds, and when they had a player sent off, AVB went all out attack.
Our fans were pretty much unanimous in the belief he was tactically doing something brilliant, and something Wenger would never try because Wenger was past it.
Last night, Wenger tries it and it’s almost unanimous he’s wrong but I’ve always said no matter what he does, it’s wrong lol
On the previous post I asked would anyone feel differently about Wenger and the club if we’d won
2-0 or had a close loss and I doubt anyone would.
I honestly can’t see any benefit in Wenger shutting things down and realistically, what did we have to lose?
The feelings around the place can’t be much worse so why accept defeat??
It may have been one last, desperate attempt to cling on to things but again, what was there to lose?
Tough times, no question.
Scott we were 7-2 down on aggregate after Kos/ penalty and needed 6 goals……no one in their right mind would go for it would they?
Lee, under the pressure he’s enduring, how could any of us say how we’d react?
Yes, he’s brought the pressure on himself, by the way.
I’m not making excuses for him.
I’m not blaming the referee.
Try and keep the score down imo.
Lol down to ten men against bayern 7-2 down and go for it… ha ha fuck I’ve heard it all now…
Yes a 2-0 win would have made me feel better… rather than a 10-2..
Didn’t watch the game. The highlights shows that was a soft penalty especially for a player being offside. We are never lucky with the officials. Seems we started brightly, nice.
A good manager should know the strengths and the weaknesses of his team. Even Rico’s woofa knows we cannot defend even to save our lives, Let alone against Bayern Munich. Best tact is bring on defensive players for damage control and keep the score decent. Maybe Wenger didn’t trust Gibbs ad Gabriel after the debacle at allianz arena, but still, bringing on a passenger?
Bournemouth played a full second half against manchester united with 10 men, and managed to keep the score even. The vast gap in footballing ability had the manager knowing the limitations of his team and set it up for a defensive game. It’s like we are never prepared to play with a man less. Especially with all the red cards we’ve been picking of late.
It’s like being locked in a room watching a never ending loop of La La Land. You know it’s shit after 5 minutes, but there’s no way out. Interminable and mind numbing.
Kel,
Would you feel better about Wenger and the club today if we’d lost 2-1 instead of 5-1??
Marshall, so we can’t defend to save our lives but we should try to defend?
About wenger no… yes I’d rather lose 2-1 than 5-1…I suspect most fans feel like that.
And if you were in his shoes, in today’s circumstances and desperate for a result, you’d choose an honourable loss?
I call bullshit.
I’d say you, or anyone in Arsenes current situation would do anything to get a result.
What’s the alternative to not trying to defend then… oh I know 10 -2
Hi all
Disregarding the first leg and taking last night’s game in isolation it was typical of any game against one of UEFA’s darlings. Barca, Real, Bayern have the best players no doubt but the protection they are afforded by the officials stinks of corruption at worst or fear on the part of the officials at best. The officiating last night was laughable and the penalty decisions just the latest in a long line of stitch ups we have been subject to in Europe. Bayern are a team of smarmy cheats and I’m afraid if I had been out there I would probably have been sent off too. Probably for crippling Lewandowski or Robben or Ribery or Alonso or Martinez……….
Lee
MARCH 8, 2017 AT 8:26AM
Scott we were 7-2 down on aggregate after Kos/ penalty and needed 6 goals……no one in their right mind would go for it would they?
Aggregate was 5-2 before the penalty was scored (6-2, afterwards).
I guess the manager was trying to keep the momentum going and trying to WIN the game and restore some pride. Alas! It wasn’t to be. Let’s be honest; after the losses we’ve suffered in the last 6 games (all competitions), very few expected anything less than another stuffing, starting from the first whistle. The lads rather put up a fight, overpowered Bayern in midfield, won the 50-50s, got stuck into it and rattled the opposition defence. Who knows? If Welbeck started and applied himself as we know he can, we could have been 2 up in the 1st half. That score line will certainly put some uncertainty in their minds and strengthen ours.
Wenger chose to go for it because a Loss is a Loss, anyway. The aggregate isn’t good for the history books but, we had to go down trying.
Marshall. Funny you should mention that Man U. V Bournemouth game. I thought that the effort the Bournemouth boys put in with 10 men was amazing. They are quite a dirty team, especially when you see them live, but they really stood up and went toe to toe with MU. This is not something you associate with Wenger team’s of the past dozen years or so.
Really bullshit? Because I’d prefer to lose 2-1 rather than 5-1… nah m8 imo your talking bollocks.
Kel, fair enough and you can keep the insults up if that helps with your frustration lol
Goonereris, I’m glad someone can see through their emotions and talk sense 🙂
Now Scott when you call someone’s comment bullshit.. and I respond… you seemed surprised lol..
We have different mindsets then you’d went for it 6-2 down… I’d shut up shop… pride to some of us it means a lot.
Scott, hardly an insult from Kel when you’ve said he’s talking bullshit so tit for tat I would say and hardly bullshit when you asked for an opinion and got one…!
Surely at 1-1 you realise we were already thrashed in the first leg and common sense prevails… you try keep it tight bring on a defender and maybe just maybe nick a goal on the break and win 2-1 but the last thing you do is give them the opportunity to embarrass us yet again..! just my opinion of course…!
1-1 or losing narrowly at worst restores a little bit of pride but allowing them the opportunity to smash us 5-1 ‘AGAIN’ is just embarrassing and as said not for the first time.
Nah your 8.38 was your first one Kel-maybe dementia is hitting you as well as Arsene lol
Adam, at-least you get my point.
We’d learn to organise ourselves, make in game tweaks as the the game requires of us. Normally when a player is sent off, first instint if you’re ahead or level is to keep the scores that way. We’d have learnt the art of defending with a man down a long time ago. Going gung ho is stupid and clueless of the manager and the players. Especially with the fate already decided.
Wath, sorry but there’s absolutely no chance you’d say that if you were manager and hanging on by a thread-I can’t see how he’d have been thinking “lucidly” at that point 🙂
It’s easy for us all to say what should have happened but the circumstances are hardly normal.
Marshall, We were behind.
It’s a two leg tie.
Scott I laughed at the idea of being 6-2 down… down to 10 men and going for it.
Am I not entitled to laugh.. did I say bullshit?
The fact is Arsene just cannot win with the fans these days. When you are down, you fear no fall. Jose Mourinho, Sir Alex and even Pep have been known to take out defenders and throw on strikers when they are chasing a win; a decision which usually backfires. Their response is always along the lines of “whether you lose 10-0 or 1-0, you lose. Better to lose while trying to win”. Also recall Alexis’ last instagram post went along similar lines. We are not privy to the team meetings and what they have agreed will be best for their morale. For me, they can look back at their first half performance and forge a path to the run-in to May.
On another note, it is curious for me, that we have been paired against Bayern and Barca 7 times in the last 16 draws, over the past 8 seasons. We are told about the “luck” of the draws, but when you consider this coincidence amidst reports of frozen balls in the bag, you must wonder if it was just the result of someone’s mischief that we have continued to have such bad luck. Could it be, someone trying to bring the club or manager to ridicule?
Wath, I’ll change that in my 9.07.
I’ll say “I doubt you’d say that”.
I’m very diplomatic these days 🙂
Sorry Scott but that’s exactly what I would say… If i am the manager i have told you exactly what I would of done and what I would do every time when in that situation, common sense as I said but seems he lacks that along with many others at the club on and off the pitch. When the shit hits the fan does he really want another embarrassing result..? Yes the ref was a fucking joke so to the other officials but they didn’t let in 5 goals again did they. Wengers mind set is so blinkered that instead of trying to keep the score as it was and carry on battling we leave ourselves open yet again to get tanked.
So yes mate i am saying that and as said it’s exactly what i would of done what ever the circumstances.
Look in the end of the day wenger did what you would have done then . Go for it… as we all seen it was a pathetic call…. he damaged the club globally with that result imo.
Now you can read my mind as well from that down under crystal ball as well Scott…?
Please tell me what I am thinking for the winning lotto numbers….. ta…!
How many times have we played with 10 man -against quality teams. We mostly go for attack which backfires almost always. How we never seem to learn baffles me.
Ozil is a player many didn’t want him playing, never-mind coming on when we are 10 man. What difference would he have made with his current form? But what do I know
We took a battering in the first leg up until the sending off we were doing ok, then you know ok backs to the wall here lets keep it tight keep fighting and maybe nick a goal but if not we at least don’t get embarrassed again…!
Playing against Bayern is already a ‘handicap’ contest. When we went down to 10 men, we were already on a limb and a prayer, to be fair. This Bayern side smashed 8 past a team of 11 men and have scored, what, 17 goals (?) since the 1st leg of this fixture.
I think we should just look at that refereeing decision and move forward.
Goonereris, Check my 8.15 out- the first few lines.
Just about everyone on here gave AVB credit for going all out while saying Wenger would never do it.
Now he does it and he’s wrong.
Seems fair lol
We were going for the win Marshall lol it was only 7-2 at that point… ?
Wath, youd need a crystal ball to have experience in the exact situation Arsene is now in 🙂
Lottie numbers-do I get a share??
6-2 or 7-2 the tie was well and truly finished…..
Bit like Wenger’s managerial career.
We leaked 5 goals with a full side and yet You lot say we should try and defend with 10 bahahahahahahahaha
We don’t need Allegri lol
Horses for courses as well Scott, you look at the opposition you merit the game your playing, league game, cup game what ever, you look at the risks involved as the manager to make the gung ho call or not and in my mind last night wasn’t right to go gung ho when we’ve had an awful last month. I’ll use those two words yet again ‘common sense’….. As a fan how i feel about Wenger doesn’t change on last nights result win lose or draw, win 1-0 10-0 or 50-nil I don’t give a rats arse but a respectable draw when we’ve rolled our sleeves up and battled then ok fair play but another 5-1 is just yet another embarrassing result to add to the ever increasing list.
Do you get a share… piss off you can’t read shit let alone pick me a winner….!
90/10 split Wath.
You get 100 lol
“try’ being the key word Scott………. trying to defend may have mean’t we only lost 2-1…??? who knows but it would of been way better than what happened but also shows we don’t train for things like that obviously. All we had to do was take off the caravan at centre forward play 4-4-1 and run the forward into the ground and replace him with 20mins 2 go with fresh legs. That’s what’s i’d of done but if it was me that lot of ours would also be able to defend better as well then again what do I know sweet fa I just sit watch and shake my head…!
See you can’t add up either 😉
Time and place for going for it…
spurs being 1 -0 down against us and AVB goes for it…. yip i understand it.
Last season Arsenal 10 men v spurs we went for it got a 2-2 draw.
last night us being 6-2 down to Bayern and a man down and still think we should go for it is mental.
Bonkers.
Bahahahahaha
I thought I got it just right lol
You have to admit the pressure the mans under played it’s part in a Hail Mary decision.
How can we really say how we’d react?
Ok Kel but as I just said to Wath, look at Arsenes situation.
He’d be trying absolutely anything.
Pressure means common sense surely…??? I’d of thought you sit there and think holy fuck the last thing we need is another tonking we’ll be a laughing stock…?
I’d say he wasn’t exactly thinking clearly.
It’s all hypothetical because I know I’ll never be in his situation 🙂
He seems to sit there and think we’ll I am thinking we can maybe score 6…???? really…. is he for real can any of us honestly say yes he was sitting there thinking we’ll score 6…? I think to try ad nick a win you have to go balls to the wall as a unit defend for your lives or at least try and then maybe nick a goal on the break not play pretty football in our own penalty box and commit suicide…!
The situation is exactly the same when you running Seans team and you just gone down to 10 men… commit suicide and suffer the aftermath or fight and try grind out a draw..?
Lol Kel. Ozil would have come on and scored a hat trick like he did against some poor Bulgarians. And two assists as well. Wenger is a genius! What win was he going for? Brilliant manager he is. What would we be without him.
Scott, he ain’t been thinking clearly for many years………….. that’s our problem..!
Well at that point are you trying to save yourself ie your job.. or do you do the right thing and protect the club..ie avoid a demolition.
I love the club so I’d protect it as best I could from that type of annihilation.
As I said earlier m8.. the club got embarrassed and damaged globally last night… 10-2 is championship manager/Xbox fifa result…
Marshall, you stated quite clearly we can’t defend for our lives, then next sentence suggest we should try and defend while a player down.
I’m sorry if I’m confused lol
Wath, we will agree to disagree because we’ve pretty much all agree he’s not handling the pressure and it shows, So why would we think he’d suddenly think clearly when Kozzer went off?
Seeing as we are all about as pissed of as is possible with our team at the moment time for a question………….
Sensible answers on a postcard please and no i am not asking for the winning lotto numbers as you’d all want a bloody commission………..
Who in your opinion should be the next manager and who would you employ as his back up staff…
Also, lets assume for the time being the owner gives him an open cheque book to the clubs cash hordes…!
Who also would you buy to add to the squad to make us competitive….!
We are scraping along the bottom right now for sure.
Kel, the man was quite obviously desperate and thinking from his own point of view.
I’m not defending that but I do understand it.
Scott, maybe you don’t have the intellectual capacity to understand my point. Or get that am clearly trying avoid explain it to you. Let it swirl, you will get it eventually… or not.
Is that you admitting it was a selfish and stupid thing to do then Scott..??? 🙂
Marshall, no need for the personal dig mate…. argue all you want but no need for that..! If Scott said that to you i’d tell him to wind his neck in, so same goes…!
15-5 over the last 4 games v Bayern…..
Is that cricket Lee..?
I can feel the frustration in many many posts but I doubt anything will change until the end of the season.Kroenke will remain quiet and a judgement as far as he is concerned will be made if we finish in the top 4 IMO. Protest as much as you wish and I can understand that but of more concern is that AW has lost the respect of many of the senior players and will they give their all with the remaining games.Ironically the one guy who went over to the fans Oxlaide Chamberlain and who tried his best has been verbally frozen out on many occasions by AW,he literally goes weeks without speaking to him.I can testify to that. Adding everything up our manager has not only lost part of the dressing room, our performances go from bad to worse and his interviews get more bizarre week after week.We really are in a sorry state and to be totally honest and logical we have to talk about the present and approaching future and just think of the glory years under AW as history.
I expected a few heated exchanges after the game but we now have broken several records in the history of the CL which I am sure we will be reminded about for years to come.
Yes we did play well in the first half, should have had a penalty (even though we haven’t even got a good penalty taker in the side) and perhaps we might have had another goal or two,but remember Bayern are one of the best club sides in the world and in all probability could and would have upped their game
The sending off was a turning point(as Kos’s injury in the first leg) so logically one would have thought AW would have learnt from that, to at least marshall your troops to save embarrassment, not just cave in and become an even bigger laughing stock than we were.
it may sound ridiculous but Lincoln won 4-0 yesterday and despite their status will have no fear in playing us.I can’t actually believe I am writing this
On the changes Wenger made, I would think it was obvious he has not brought on those 3 players to WIN the game but rather, a white flag to suggest we won’t score 6 but maybe we can get the win on the night. He had also seen the heads dropped with some players and wanted to freshen things up. Besides, Ozil, Perez and Coq could use some game time after being off the last few games (in the case of Ozil).
Wath, from what others on here have said it seems Allegri is a great shout.
I would bring Dennis in as an assistant with a view to him taking over-don’t care if he flies or not.
Sell Alexis.
Get a WC striker.
Two wingers to deliver.
Bring in a dirty big bastard of a DM.
I’m alone, I know, but I don’t think our backs are too bad at all.
Give them protection in the midfield and some bloody structure and at least see how they go.
We wouldn’t need to spend that much, I reckon.
Marshall, so nasty lol
It’s ok to admit you have no answer.
Don’t feel embarrassed.
Love it lol
“Scott…. Wind your neck in…! told Marshall now telling you… Wath..!”
Excerpts of Arsene Wenger’s responses after the game, culled from club website:
on the defeat…
I felt that we produced a performance with the spirit and the pride that we wanted. After that the story finishes badly. Personally, I would say that we really put Bayern under pressure and that we were really unlucky tonight because it was 100 per cent a penalty in the first half after the foul on Walcott. I checked it on television. In the second half, the referee killed the game. After that, it was very difficult but the referee was very, very powerful for Bayern tonight. At that moment in the game, not only was it not a penalty, but Lewandowski was offside. On top of that, he gave us a red card and that killed us completely. Overall I must say that Bayern are a good side, but tonight they can also say thank you to the decisions of the referee in the second half.
on how he feels…
It leaves me very angry, very frustrated and, because we are in a difficult period, it hurts even more. It’s absolutely unexplainable and scandalous. You look at what really happened, and the guy behind the line gives the penalty and the red card when the referee had given a yellow. Okay we have to take it on the chin and I have to stand up for it, and I will take a lot of criticism, but it doesn’t change my mind. We have to deal with these kinds of situations in this game but that doesn’t make them right.
on whether the players have let him down…
No, I feel the referee has let us down.
on the lack of leadership shown after Koscielny’s dismissal…
It’s difficult when you have to go forward and score goals. You have a deficit of four goals and you’re down to 10 men. If you go forward you can be caught on the counter-attack but if you don’t go forward then people will say, ‘Why did you not at least try to score goals?’ so it’s a difficult situation. It’s an impossible situation.
Well, make of that what you may.
We struggle defending lose our best defender and bring Ozil on…. surely that’s the point FFS?!?
Wath, yes, I’d say he was being selfish, but again, circumstances should at least be taken into account when judging him, imo.
It’s his job Scott and what he gets paid a shit load to sort out so circumstances have been brought upon himself so my judgement remains the same, show common sense and realise the players don’t need another hammering and neither do the fans more to the point..! think we’ve flogged that one to death though.
Wath. Morning mate. On the ‘next manager’ question, it seems that Allegri might be the best option to me. Obviously Simeone would offer something quite different. He’s an aggressive fucker but that’s ok. Would the board, knowing what a bunch of softies they are, countenance such a move? Perhaps not.
From what I’ve seen of Allegri, he is solid and understands how to win within a dynamic situation and as an Italian coach, is good where defence is concerned. This is an aspect of the game that has never really challenged Arsene as he seems entirely uninterested.
As each week passes, the next manager’s tasks seems to increase though.
And after a mauling like last night’s it can seem as if it’s a ‘tear it up and start again’ situation.
Adam, some recently posted Allegri wants to take Pep and Conte head on-that’s the type of attitude we need in a manager.
If it’s true, he will be running his hands together with what Arsenal have on offer so there’ll be no tearing up required, just a few tweaks.
It’s been fun but I’m off.
2.30 am wake up and it ain’t for Arsenal?
Not happy.
Night all.
Scott. I don’t see it that way. Goalkeeper, LB, CM and striker are all question marks for me. The ongoing contract sagas, Ramsey, Coq, Theo etc. I say there’s a lot to sort myself.
Morning Adam, I must say have seen very little of Juve and don’t know enough about Allegri to really make an educated call. I agree his pedigree would lead us to believe that he’d build from the back and he’s at an age where he has lots to prove and obviously wants to win/hopefully….
I do like the look of Jardim at Monaco, he has them playing good football and up until the 5 conceded at City they had also defended very well, there were a cpl of factors in those goals which I thought were very telling and am very interested to see the 2nd leg to judge if things change and if they do he’d get the thumbs up from me as being on the short list.
Agree with you on Simeone as can’t see the board having the balls to make such an appointment.
I’ve always said Rijkaard would be one i would look at and as a dark horse and totally a left field call I’d consider Vieira…! learning his trade well, had good grooming from others and is most definitely his own man plus he’s Arsenal through and through.
Bergkamp for me I’d consider as head of the youth academy…! not sure if i’d consider him part of the 1st team staff. Keown or Dixon definitely should be involved also a possible would be Arteta.
The major shake up then needs to be at Board level and to get rid of the old cronies and get football people involved and helping to run and guide the club forward.
Leave those sheep alone Scott…….
Lol Wath.
Adam, it might be worth some of those guys having a crack under someone new though, but you make a good point.
Anyway, offski.
Later all.
Morning all.
As much as I want Wenger out, I`ll stay with the minority of thinking he doesn`t deserve the abuse……….I`ll also stay with the minority about fcuk the damage limitations lets go for it as we have nothing to lose when we`ve already lost !
Reff or shall I say ……assistant changed the game and up and till then we were restoring some ride, so I`m not going to have the usual moan about anyone as we were basically robbed by the officials….1-5……………1-10 it doesn`t matter !
Love the Ox, needs to be tied up soon !
I look at this picture and I think…………..bloody hell !….he`s got my body ! hahaha……………………..off doen my gym soon to keep Ox fit !
And Goonster thinks he`s a hunk my training schedule would kill him . hahaha
http://www.thickaccent.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/C6WQzhxXQAIAS7j.jpg
Adam after that fa cup win against villa was the perfect time we all said it well most.. squad was good, contracts good…
Instead he has hung about like a bad smell.
Wath… Simeone for me.. with that squad as is, and say 250m invested over 3 seasons, we’d be a different animal.
Wath. I agree. I watched a Juvenile game recently, specifically to see Allegri. Firstly, he has some great players there, but they started off tentatively. Then, after about 15-20 minutes he leapt up, made a couple of adjustments and they took off. Dybala is such an exciting player though. From what I read, he (Allegri) shifts team shape depending on the game. Something entirely new for us I would think. 🙂
Anyway, it’s all idle speculation until Arsene lets us know what’s happening.
Nice Koz stats earlier………………………….he is also the 2nd leading interceptor in the EPL behind Curtis Davies………………….Monreal is in the top ten above………Kante !…………..
Always said any manager should have an horses for courses game plan, Adam !………………………seems common sense to me………………not sure Arsene has common sense, supposedly highly intelligent individuals all seem to lack it………just an opinion from experience !.
That last line of your’s Adam is also the reason why we are in such a state…. Until Arsene lets us know what’s happening…… The board should grow a pair, make the decision so all involved know where we are at. The fans would stop slagging the bloke off when we’d know he is no longer still ‘thinking’ over his decision and that we at least have some direction in the knowledge he is off. I’d expect a reaction from the players to give him a decent send off and to be playing for their places.
Wenger would be appreciated for what he’s done yet we’d be excited to bring in a new man and hopefully see the team step up and improve. That is of course if the board can be trusted to bring in the right man..!
I’d like Bergkamp as the assistant coach. He’d be the guy to tell the players what it means to play for arsenal.
Allegri would be exciting. If Barca doesn’t get him fast.
Wath. There you have it. The classic Arsenal fan dilemma.
It’s not a dilemma Adam it’s a huge worry as I have absolutely zero faith in the board… custodians of their won fate more like and looking after the caviar and krug in the boardroom is all they care about… They definitely not interested in the interests of taking Arsenal forward as it’s obvious to a blind man they have zero ambition and they take no responsibility in holding anyone on the footballing side accountable. All very well and good showing off about a great bank balance but I never seen one of those on a football pitch banging in 30 goals….!
That’s why we need 3/4 footballing gents or ladies on the board who also business savvy but who also are very driven for on field success as well as not bankrupting the financial side. Seems the way Bayern are run at board level is the blueprint for how we should be set up.
Wath. Yes, obviously a worry but I was talking about the way that fans express their disappointment. As recent as yesterday evening I heard Rio Ferdinand trot out the well worn “Arsenal fans should be careful what they wish for” schtick which ittitates me as I think it’s an insult to our intelligence and implies that we are thrashing around in the dark after a few bad results. We won’t really know how ambitious the board can be until Wenger has gone I would say. His tenure at the club has been unique and unusual, but the opportunity to start again is what is facing the board now. They might well blow it though. 🙂
Mate Rio and the like talk as if 99% of the support base for any club have no idea what they talking about but as we know it makes good viewing for the masses to listen to him slag us all off. Very very very few decent ex players on tv talking any sense what so ever and yes as you say to insinuate this is because of a few crap results is pathetic and shows how clueless Rio is in understanding the situation. He doesn’t actually care am sure but h sounds good so he thinks.
The whole persona of the Club needs to change and a new manager i’d hope would bring that in so far as the broom sweeps clean and he brings in his own ppl and players are told in no uncertain terms you’re all starting from new and you all need to prove to me you deserve to play for this club and this shirt. That would be a great start but yes we also need a board to be way more proactive on the footballing side but do they also have the nous.. not in my mind as they only have knowledge of the financial side hence they reticent to get involved so should then abstain from footballing decisions and bring in ppl to run that side of the “business’………… will they..? I doubt it but we shall see over the next few weeks/months.
Marshall, I love DB10 and for me he’d be great at Arsenal but for me give him free reign over the academy and make him head honcho. The likes of Keown and Dixon would make sure any and ALL players know exactly whats expected to represent our club.
Shocking though it was last night, and humiliating reading some social media, having now slept on it, I feel the game should be analysed to put into context what happened.
Bearing in mind of course that this is just my opinion.
We were the better side, we were 1-0 up, and looked to have got another couple. Whilst we were never going to win 4-0, things were looking good and a respectable win at home, whilst accepting the loss overall, was on the cards.
Enter officials to cock the game up. Kos went off, but our players looked so up for it, even more so because of that decision, they looked determined.
Why wouldn’t we go for the win? We knew we had lost over the two legs, but we were the better team at the time. Wenger may have felt that it was our night to show we can do it.
Course we can’t, but thats easy to say in hindsight. My point is, It looked as though we could last night. So he made a poor judgement call, and instead of parking a bus and killing the game, he thought we can beat these tonight, not 4-0 but we can beat them.
If it had worked and we had held them, or scored again. that would have been a fair result.
It didn’t work, Ozil hid as per usual, we had no leadership, we got tonked by a swaggering BM, (nasty bigheads) and the ref. Down then to nine men.
We had players, who instead of offering encouragement, sat sniggering and laughing (until they realised they were on camera) watching the defeat. I hope Sanchez and Cech get filled in today at training.
We had an old school defender, Steve Bould, sitting there like a dummy instead of barking out orders to the team. He should have been fuming, but showed no emotion at all.
So, we had lost, but had a chance on last nights performance to get a decent result. It didn’t happen, and we all think he should have just thrown on a couple of defenders and shut up shop.
Fair enough. He thought we had them though, and went for it. Wrong. Total capitulation. Who knew?
I’m pretty sure he will be going very soon, and christ knows where a new manager will start.
He clearly needs a whole new backroom staff, getting shot of the dead wood who are happy to pick up their salary every month and allow Wenger to be hung out to dry.
I know, the buck stops with him, not them. But let’s not forget the owner and board.
I don’t trust Kroenke to find us an adequate replacement. He will probably think ex England manager Roy Hodgson is the man. Heaven help us if whoever interviews the applicants, doesn’t have a real clue about football.
Of course it could all be settled behind the scenes already.
Meerkat,
Lets also realise that the media showing Cech and Sanchez laughing is yet another excuse to add another stick for all and sundry to beat us with, who’s to know if they didn’t just call the ref a very nice descriptive word that summed him up…? we’ll never know but it also suits the media agenda to stir the pot and cause rifts between players and fans at this moment in time.
As for Bould do you think he is allowed to even get up and lambaste the players…? It’s not the wenger way so why would he allow his staff to do so..? he doesn’t.
A snippet I know to be 100% true, a few years back in pre-season just before Song went to Barca, Song made comment that Arsenal were just a crappy club and he was to good for them and off to Barca, Bould had him by the throat and made it very clear to him he was a mouth little upstart and how dare you disrespect this club… Arsene told Bould off and said he cannot treat a player like that and not to react like that again…! Fact… Arsene does not like confrontation hence the backroom staff all sit there gormless looking.
A new man would I hope bring in ALL new back room staff and then the players would have a wake up call, wouldn’t it be great to actually see the men from the boys when it really matters and to actually have players once again who fight and spill blood for the club shirt fans and themselves.
As for Kronkey finding us a new manager Meerkat he won’t be involved at all but the board will and thats as scary if not worse…!
Why wouldn’t we go for the win you say meerkat.. ahh mmm we were 6-2 down and going for the win with 10 men against one of the best teams in europe just left us wide open to be humiliated.
Total capitulation who knew..? not saying I’m mystic meg or anything but as I sat and seen what was happening with ozil and perez coming on i knew right at that moment we would be picked off.
Mystic Kel, can I plz have the lotto numbers mate…………. ta 🙂
I actually won 800 quid on it few weeks back lol..
No honestly I seen that tanking coming, from the point of the sending of it was very obvious to me.
I’ll tell you one thing I never seen was us fucking winning at that point lol…. now that is real vision ??
Totally agree with you Meercat. Couldn’t have summarised last night better myself. You’ve saved me the trouble.
Wath, the laughing bit and the press. You are right, quite right, it could have been that old joke about the Englishman, the Scotsman and the frenchech Alsatian! We’ll never know. It’s just the press printing ‘fake news’! A la Trump!
1-0, 10-0 in a knockout competition, same result. After Rooney cheated and ‘won’ a penalty we were losing 1-0. When the second goal went in we were going for the equaliser. We lost for the first time in 49 matches. The thing of it was, we lost. Can’t change the result, can’t change the referees mistakes, can’t change the fact that last night we were excellent for 54 minute, can’t chase the fact that we lost. But above all, we can’t change the fact that this result and the two games represent more nails in Wenger’s coffin!
Perhaps we should sharpen a few more nails to impale the old wrinkly one after Saturday’s game against Lincoln City, and that’s no forgone conclusion either, not on our current unpredictable form.
Morning all and a cheery hello to you all.
Sorry wavy have disagree 1-0 or 10-0… it’s the same? No one’s a loss the other an annihilation..
When you put it like that Kel, then obviously not. However, I didn’t mean to try to win the tie, just last nights game. We could have, we were the better side for whatever reason in the first half and could have had a couple more goals. Why wouldn’t you go for it if you thought you could win?
He was totally off though with his choice in bringing Ozil on, but lets face it, when you know you’re damned if you do, and damned if you don’t, why not just go with your decision to give it a go? Win or draw perhaps on the night. It didn’t look impossible.
Of course with the Greek ref bias toward his German masters, that gave them twelve men, and us with Ozil, had only nine. We were totally annihilated.
You’re right, we cringed when we saw them come on, and we were all right, but Wenger clearly didn’t see it that way. He thought we were in with a good chance of salvaging something from the game.
I bet he didn’t sleep a wink last night, and I wouldn’t be surprised if his resignation is in the post.
We were the better side until the sending off yes I agree… but it’s Bayern Munich.. one does not simply beat bayern Munich with 10 men… and considering it was 6-2 on aggregate.. the risk of humiliation was high, but wenger went for it anyhow… imo he didn’t think about the club at that moment, he damaged us globally.. THE ARSENAL being beat 10-2… holy fuck.
Catch up later guys n girls…
Cheers Kel
Lol scott this is getting ridiculous now. Surely you must me trolling. I love you man but sometimes i just want to shove you into a group of kangaroos???? dude we were smashed 5.1 at Munich and you want us to attack with a man down!!! A Wenger team??? Hahahahahahaha you crack me up scotty oz. You always do. Morning HH…lol
After the penalty it was 1 – 1 on the night , any chance of a win was 2 – 1 at best. it had to be two banks of 4 with pace either Theo or Sanchez up front. Instead of playing Xhaka in the back 4 Gabriel on and Gibbs in front of Monreal. They were so far in front that they were unlikely to push too hard and we might have nicked one ourselves . But then what do I know ?
As for the state of the club the board have sold a great story about how they built the stadium to compete with the best. That probably was the premise of Danny and David ( shame they couldn’t patch up their differences ) but for the others it was a self sustainable cash cow.
25 home matches a season at £ 3.5 million profit a match. Throw in a few Carling cups and your are looking at £ 80 million a year from just the supporters. The whole stadium project was completed in 2006 at a cost of £390 million. The club’s former stadium was redeveloped as Highbury Square for an additional £130 million. The stadium has undergone a process of “Arsenalisation” since 2009 with the aim of restoring Arsenal’s heritage and history. According to a press release on Wicki.
which should pay for players wages and other inflated lifestylesWe have been there for 10 years now , so gate receipts have covered the whole thing. They would have taken another course were they interested in the clubs footballing wellbeing but really their only purpose was to pocket whatever they could. Since then of course there is sponsorship and tv money to add.
Wath you don’t need the lottery numbers just Arsenal’s spin doctors. .
If has written his resignation and put it n the post, I bet it’s LOST?
AfternoonAll
Afternoon Rico and Wath
Yesterday I wrote that I didn’t care about the result, but that wasn’t strictly true, because I expected a narrow Arsenal win or a draw, what I didn’t expect was a total capitulation…
This is what happens when you fill your squad with nicey nicey players.
Yeah, they all want the ball when it’s going well, but when we need backbone they wither away.
Whoever takes over, whenever that is, the first job will be the spine of the team (yet again).
A big footballing beast in front of the back-four, a number 10 with a bit of devil in them, a central striker and maybe a younger, more athletic goalkeeper.
Work on the defence is an absolute necessity, organisation, shape, discipline, dare I say an Italian influence.
A change in mindset, in mentality is needed.
Those that can’t adapt, will have to go…
Arsenal will beat Lincoln this weekend, we might even give them a thrashing, but I’m not confident about the Semi-Finals because we won’t be playing a Wigan.
Expensive day at Wembley to watch the inevitable North London derby.
Don’t go there….
Give me anyone but the Scum
Not sure about Arsene not liking confrontation. He gave Napoleon a slap around the head, and has been involved in a few ding dings with other managers and officials.
Ok the coaches nay be under orders to not get rough, but to not even show any emotion? How could you not?
Robert Pires is at the club now, and he said that the spat with Sanchez and other team members, was just over a tackle he didn’t like, and walked off the training pitch. Nothing to do with a fall out with the manager.
Who really knows what goes on, but with a precious couple of players like Sanchez and Ozil, it must be hard for the team to put up with.
If fans don’t get behind them, after this mauling, we could lose to Lincoln. We only need another sending off for one of the usual culprits, and we have had it.
Bellerin gave a heartfelt interview and apology to the fans. Nice one.
Right, so. Would you all play Sanchez and Ozil? Wenger probably doesn’t want to, but would be frightened not to because of the inevitable fallout if we fail to win or even draw. *shudder*.
?
http://arseblog.com/2017/03/arsenal-1-5-bayern-munich-both-legs-show-arsenal-cant-compete-at-this-level/
If Arsene picks a similar XI, to those who played yesterday, then that’s asking for trouble, because I cannot imagine them not having Bayern on their mind and if, by some horrible turn of fate, we go a goal down, then heaven help us…
I’d like to see BFG start for sure, preferably alongside Holding, Gibbs and Gabriel.
Fresh minds with no residual hangover from the previous game…
I’d start Ox, alongside Ramsey and Niles.
Up front Welbeck if fit, Perez (ffs) and Walcott…
https://twitter.com/GeorgieTheGoona/status/839231878225866755?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Shame we haven`t got video Reff now as Wellendowdski would have been sent off for simulation and we would have went on to win 4-0 !
Dont get all the angst !………we were by far the better team until Wellendowdski got his Oscar nomination, then it was an unfair game which even though we have the best win ratio of any team who go down to ten men, we had a Reff who didn`t want to upset his German pay masters, his country needs a bale out so unlikeley to bite the hand that feeds him !
As for Lincoln ! hahaha grown men on here crying about an amateur team……………………………we will wipe the floor with them………………………….more chance Kev` working for Uber than them beating us !…………………a great opportunity to get our pride back on Saturday
😆
Yeah it’s a dive but the papers say 5 -1. and that’s all that will be remembered.
Hello Rico and everyone
Same all same…..
Pride is the talk i guess. What kind of pride is left when we been spanked by 5 goals in the first leg?
The protest it suppose to be untoward Kronke first and foremost.He is the one that already offered the 2 year contract.As much as i want Le prof to go if the owner will convince him to stay Le prof will stay.
Sad sad sad times.
The same papers who will say it was only Lincoln after we get a record FA Cup score against them !
🙂
Kelsey said he spoke to David Dein and it`s 99% sure Wenger will go !……………that is an incredible statement to make which could embarrass Kelsey ……………so to make it is extremely brave and I trust the man !………………………………Wenger only 1% to stay is say like Leicester winning the league, it wont happen !…………………………………….and Lincoln are only 0.0000001% likely to beat Arsenal !…….it wont happen ! 🙂
Afternoon guys, looks like I’ve missed a good day… 🙂
Has he gone yet?
Yeh Rico, Scott’s gone but seems he up soon to go chase sheep………… 😉
🙂 Wath…
Cheeky bastards lol.
2.30am and I’m up for work-and not very bloody happy about it.
Seems a few brave souls have offer S similar opinions to mine overnight.
Of course, nobody took the piss out of their comments, rather disagreed with extreme politeness-funny, that but maybe it’s a North London thing lol
Gotta love the internet 🙂
Have runs guys.
Cockiie
Maybe he’s changed his mind and wants a public beheading. If he does stay for 2 years (that’s the 1%) there will be anarchy at The Emirates.
By the way I know several people that went last night to protest and the estimation is that there were 1200 not 200 as reported in some newspapers and they are doing it again when we play Lincoln.
Afternoon Rico and All
Hard to imagine what’s next…
Will Arsene Brazen it out?
A lot have had a go at the protester’s..But
Surely they have a right to wave a banner.
Clapping Arsene into the ground by AKB’s
with him waving back get’s up a lot of supporter’s
hooter’s as well.
We all know…..well most that Arsene’s a control freak
as regards to the running of the club.
But as I have said before..We were here before 1996.
Thank You
Still not many Kelsey, not really…
Afternoon Fred, surely he won’t stay now…
He can’t stay.
Sorry Scott, can’t be arsed arguing with 2 different ppl over the same thing, 1st come first served…. LC is in Cornwall so he’s hardly North london you plum…!
Now… go ba ba ba a sheep or what ever it is you do with em 😉
Rico, i was told around a 1,000 protesting and not bad for an evening game where ppl are working, it’ll get bigger…. plenty won’t actually protest even though they agree as they say they respect wenger so won’t protest which is fair enough but as said think the numbers will grow
Lol also think Scott is trolling at times cracks me up. Before each game begins Wenger is expected to have a game plan. Starting from the first eleven, reserves, and tactics of course. Each game lately begins with Wenger getting all three wrong and throughout the game he does not manage to get any of them right.
Wenger has lost it totally and the sad truth now clearly is that he will not get it back not ever. No amount of money will save him now. A new manager a right new manager will get it right, we truly have some quality with the right man at the helm
He’s wounded and weaker now, and the board and players can sense blood. They won’t see him in quite the same light after all this. He isn’t invincible, he has feet of clay, so his day’s are numbered.
No club should allow this situation to arise, where the manager micromanages every aspect of the club, it makes them indispensable to the owners. Especially those owners and directors who can’t be arsed with all the mundane, day to day, running of the club.
The whole system will need an overhaul, to delegate responsibility appropriately in any future structure at the club. Someone needs to be in place and accountable for each separate area of the management team, instead of the manager being held responsible for every aspect.
The owners have allowed this to happen, if he has become a bit of a control freak after twenty years in charge.
I still want him to leave with some dignity intact though, and fond memories of the club.
Before the players turn on him like the Foxes did on Claudio and he leaves in disgrace.
I don’t hate him and want him dead, unlike some, just for doing his job.
The rest of my family and in laws were away, Rico.
Seriously the sad thing is that many friends of mine who saw the really dire years and some are season ticket holders, are just fed up and losing interest in Arsenal and football in general.
THe BT deal ends next year,they are losing money so that will be interesting if they renew or not.
Shame it wasn’t more though Wath. Maybe Saturday
Agree Mabo, good squad which under new direction could be very very good…..
This whole “Wenger micromanaged every aspect of the club” is another in a long line of mythical narratives that are held against Arsene Wenger for his longevity at the club. I don’t think Wenger is any more in control than Alex Ferguson was at United, and it all comes down to the respect for the gaffer, both for having been around very long and for the success he had brought the club.
Arsenal has a Holding company structure where the footballing side has Keswick, Gazidiz, Lord Harris and even Josh Kroenke to manage the Strategic and short term decision making, relying on inputs from Wenger and other heads of units (?), such as marketing/merchandizing, finance, operations, etc. Now, the business is first and foremost, a footballing one, so there should be no surprises if the coach is a key voice at the club, especially as Wenger comes with the additional advantage of being an economist (an educated man). The implication of this is that Wenger can be fired IF he falls below his set Key performance indicators. The fact he is retained, therefore, is because he has met his KPIs and been rewarded with newer better contracts, successively. It has never been in the club’s DNA to succumb to outside pressure to sack our managers, especially one who has taken the club from No 13 (yes, so many clubs were ahead of us before 1996-1998) in revenues amongst English sides, to top 2!
When he leaves at the end of this season, Arsenal will get on fine. The trouble for me is our fans joining the media witch hunt to get him out with ignominy; so the history books can say in future “so much for Arsenal FC’s much touted class” and we will be no different from other clubs. The man should not be hounded out of office. He doesn’t deserve that. The actions of fans has only gotten the players tense and creating nerves at games.
Up until last nite I think our heaviest home defeat in Europe was against Spartak Moscow in 1982, I was in the North Bank that night, the monkey I’ve been carrying around ever since now has a bloody nose so I’d like to say a big thank you to Arsene.
My favourite stat on Australia….24 million people and 150 million sheep, you might be onto something Wath.
Love affair’s alway’s end’s in tear’s.
No one want’s to scratch his eye’s out ..do they?
Arsene’s clinging on by his finger nail’s..Surely.
If he stay’s after this..
You would have to question his Sanity.
Nurse..Nurse
Goonereris – even many ex players tell us that Arsene has full control at the club. Is that not enough to make you believe he does…?
They’ll be tears Fred, some of delight, some of sadness… Lol
I don’t think many want him dead either !
No, those views are cruel…
Rico, to be fair, players will only know about the “playing” side of things, no? Of course, he will have full control of the footballing side of things, especially as we don’t have a Director of football role (because he probably made it irrelevant with his scouting team and access to the top management). Longevity gives you that.
Goonereris, he has full control of everything both on and off the pitch imo.
Look, I don’t want him to stay forever but he doesn’t deserve to be hounded out, just because the media goad us along and social media has become such a voice.
Well, the Daily Star claimed that he’d already told the players that he was going, and who can seriously doubt the Daily Star?!
Mind you, if he had already told the players it seems strange that so many of them are stating that they want him to stay?
My guess is that between now and May we’re going to hear a shedload of rumours, whispers and downright untruths, so I wouldn’t get too carried away, we’ll find out soon enough, probably from the Metro…
How else can we fans get him gone Goonereris?
Saw that yesterday Kev, via some Italian site or other, either someone has leaked it or it’s utter bollox…
Rico, any examples of this evidence of Wenger’s control of anything outside of football? Mind you, I stated it is a football club first and foremost. …,
Goonereris, as said earlier, from ex players… One only has to listen to what so many have said to realise that.
Rico, by all means, let the fans air their thoughts about a need for change. But this can be done respectfully and with an understanding of what’s at stake, considering we are still mid-season. He will leave some time, and I believe it is at the end of the season. Is that too much to ask for? Must we embarrass him, at the risk of toxifying the whole place and losing out of the fun of a strong run-in and possible trophy?
Goonereris – most on here are quite kind towards him. But he is the one embarrassing himself and the club…
Rico. As far as I am concerned I can clearly see between Arsene as a man and as a manager. As a man he seems ok, but professionally he is failing. That’s the reason he should go. To get dragged down by idiots who wish him ill is dumb and avoids the real point that he isn’t taking the club forward at all despite having plenty of opportunities. A manager will succeed or not through his decisions and as is evident, his have been poor for a while now.
Adam, agree there but the longer this goes on, the more the two sides of Arsene will meet.. I’d never wish him ill, but sadly, I think he already is….
I know what you mean Rico. It’s a sad state of affairs.
I can understand why some fans are driven to demonstrate, for me it is born out of the frustration of being ignored by the club.
But it still makes me feel uncomfortable even though I share their pain.
We have no direction from above, those with the authority just hide behind Wenger and refuse to justify their position…
Did the fans not have to demonstrate to get the club to act over Billy Wright?
Wright, if I recall, never worked at another English club, so there ya go…
Bertie Mee came in and the rest is history.
Mee had the sense to call it quits when he realised he could go no further. He has my respect for that…
Arsene Wenger cannot seriously think (or maybe he does and that’s worrying) that he has it in him to win another EPL or CL…
What has he done since 2010 to make him think that he can?
He hasn’t come close, finishing 2nd in 2016 had more to do with the turmoil of our usual competitors and the Scums inadequacy, than anything Arsene did…
Currently Arsène Wenger has the responsibility for just about all areas of the club that don’t fall directly under Ivan Gazedis. I believe that in total he has in the order of 150 staff in various capacities reporting through him covering everything from coaching, scouting, medical, kit and equipment, nutrition and analysts. I also suspect that he has ultimate say over recruitment, salaries and everything at both Colney and the Emirates.
My gut feeling is that this is too much for any one person to manage effectively and that an alternative management structure would be beneficial for the club whoever the manager is.(source angryofislington)
Goonereris :- “”he footballing side has Keswick, Gazidiz, Lord Harris and even Josh Kroenke to manage the Strategic and short term decision making, “”
Inspiring Not. Their joint knowledge of footballing strategy is pretty much non existent.
“” the business is first and foremost, a footballing one, “”
Were that true there would be a continual push to strive for greater things,
” The fact he is retained, therefore, is because he has met his KPIs and been rewarded with newer better contracts, successively.””
Which suggests that his targets are set financially rather than for footballing success.
“” It has never been in the club’s DNA to succumb to outside pressure to sack our managers, “”
I give you Billy Wright , Terry Neil and of course George Graham.
I agree that the man should not be hounded out , he should have fallen on his sword some time ago.
Just wait until it’s time to renew season tickets, see if it’s in the club’s DNA then?
Very sad Adam…
Good points Potter…
Kev, I don’t know much about the circumstances leading to Billy wright’s sack, but what I can do is paste an excerpt from his page as to his last days:
Arsenal were unable to improve on their seventh in Wright’s first season in charge, and their form gradually declined. Wright won only 38.46% of his matches in charge, the lowest rate for any post-war Arsenal manager (caretaker managers excepted). After a poor 1965–66 season – where Arsenal finished 14th and were knocked out of the FA Cup by Blackburn Rovers (who finished bottom of the First Division) — Wright was dismissed by the Arsenal board in the summer of 1966.
Football writer Brian Glanville, discussing Billy Wright’s time at Arsenal, wrote: “he had neither the guile nor the authority to make things work and he reacted almost childishly to criticism”.
Any surprises he was sacked?
I agree though, that maybe Wenger should have eased himself out much earlier, when the ovation was loud (after the 2015 FA cup win). As for the other names, they couldn’t have been as successful or added as much value as Wenger has to earn the respect he has.
Some great, thoughtfull and interesting comments over the last 24 hours have kept me entertained….thank you all !
I`m also quite capable of taking any stick to give Scott a break seeing as I agree with a lot of his comments !…………I`m thick skinned and thick because although I live in Cornwall, I was born and bred in Bethnal Green and have Kelly`s liqour running through my veins ! 😆
Potter, you do make very good counter points, but mostly (like most views, including mine) your opinion.
Potter -“Inspiring Not. Their joint knowledge of footballing strategy is pretty much non existent.”
Your opinion. I think they have done a relatively good job, in the face of global soccer upheavals, considering we remain modestly traditional in our financing model. The Kroenkes do have useful knowledge of sports management too.
Potter- “Were that true there would be a continual push to strive for greater things”.
We strive, potter, just same as over 50 other clubs who fall short too. Take the EPL, isn’t it said only 6 clubs (including Arsene’s Arsenal) have won it since the premier league started in 1993?
Potter- “Which suggests that his targets are set financially rather than for footballing success”.
Pure conjecture again; we don’t know that for sure.
Potter- “I give you Billy Wright , Terry Neil and of course George Graham.”
See relevant aspects of above response to Kev. Read up on Terry Neil and we know George Graham’s circumstances as well. None hold a candle to Wenger’s achievements.
Potter- “I agree that the man should not be hounded out , he should have fallen on his sword some time ago.”.
I cannot disagree with that. He should have gone a couple of years back. Maybe, the board still need him; maybe the owner is satisfied with him. Who knows?
I don’t think we should compare the past with the present – the money in the game now is so different.
But at least back then, our boys had balls to fight….
Micko, the Moscow Spartak side ripped us a new one that night, remember that warm up tey came out and did up in front of the North bank, they kicked absolute shit out of each other, ran off the pitch came back out to start the game and dismantled us easily, they played us off the park. It was that poxy green kit we wore….!
If he`s trying to charm me then it`s working !………………well it`s only a rumour, but if Allegri comes, he wants to bring Dybala with him !…………………….aint Juve` known for a great defence ?…………………….bring them too ! hahaha
LOL! rico. *But at least back then, our boys had balls to fight….*!
And they were a lot heavier then too;-)
Goonereris has a point though, it’s all conjecture. None of us really know for sure what goes on, it is mainly word of mouth.
I’ve just spoken to a Birmingham friend. Christ, we think we have trouble. A ‘sleeping giant’ managed now by a ‘name’, Zola. Two wins in seventeen games and lost at home last night to a bottom of the league side.
I told him not to even think about poaching our manager, lol.
But some people on here do Meerkat….
Who gives a toot about Birmingham….. 😉
I’m off, it’s been a long day..
Chat tomorrow, night guys…
Goonereris said “”they couldn’t have been as successful or added as much value as Wenger has.””
It’s a moot point and one that has been the subject of many bar room discussions . In his 8 year reign as Arsenal manager Graham won 2 leagues , 2 league cups , 1 F.A Cup and 1 European Cup winners Cup.
Wenger however has won more in total 3 leagues and 6 F.A Cups but has had 21 years to do so.
I will leave it to you to say who by percentage is the most successful. Obviously the longer Wenger goes without addition takes his average down even further.
LC, You cannot be agreeing with Scott to much due to the fact he lives upside down is full of shit but mostly cos he’s always wrong so i’ll give you the opportunity to not take sides with him to often or at least don’t make a habit out of it and this is just because of the pie n mash connection… I am Manzies man myself..! Lee I know will back you on Kelly’s though..!
Hi Eris, an interesting piece about Billy Wright.
I used him as an example because it’s been fairly well documented that the crowds antipathy to Wright, led to his dismissal.
Of course a crowd of less than 5,000 at a home game vs Leeds towards the end of that 65/66 season, may also have had an influence. Money talks Eris…
Night Rico….
Just been listening to some more post mortem Arsenal chat on the BBC, with David Ornstein stating categorically that Wenger will stay…
So disregard the rumours chaps…
Night Rico
The Kroenkes do have useful knowledge of sports management too.
Reading the American posts , they do seem to have a way of running their franchises into the ground and the win ratios are not particularly impressive.
Wath, I had no idea we played in green and blue that nite, the memory is definately on the way out, you learn something new every day.
Nite rico.
Yes mate we were def in that crappy green rubbish kit. The only things nearly as bad as that 5-2 stuffing was having to watch Lee Chapman prance around in those god awful shorts… Kev has a pair just like them ‘apparently’
Kev, actually, when I referred to “succumbing to outside influence”, I was thinking of the media kind and all what it induces.
When you put it that way, obviously if it comes down to a choice between merchandizing revenues and Wenger, no prizes for guessing the club would ease Wenger out, pronto.
Cheers.
On the subject of our directors and their knowledge of football , Lord Harris is chairman of Carpetright and made his money selling rugs .
Probably why Kroenke keeps him on.
oooh Potter that’s so cruel…………… lol
Sorry it just had to go.
Incidentally Barca 4 goals down against PSG from the first leg are 2 up coming up to half time.
I hear ya mate…… is that a rug or a pelt I ask myself….
I now see why Lehmann is called mad Lens!!
Oops!! I didn’t have my lens on, sorry I mean Jens 🙂
Imagine if England/Great Britain/UK/Europe (I think that covers it) decision making back in 1770 was being made by Stan Kranky & The Arsenal Board, there wouldn’t be Australia.
Barcelona what a come back…
More like Divelona. ..
Credit to them though. .
PSG looked like rabbits caught in headlights. . Missed sitters too. .
Great come back, Barca! Wow!
Did have a few decisions go their way though. There was a trip on Di Maria which could have been a penalty and red card (that only happens to the less favoured sides) and the second penalty shout was dodgy. Still, nice to see a team defy the odds.
Amazing how PSG grabbed a defeat from the jaws of victory !…………………………they conceded 3 goals from the 88 minute !…………………that`s a worst result than our`s yesterday, had the Bayern Reff not awarded the outrageous penalty we would have done a Barca !
The Daily Star say`s that Wenger personally sabotaged Arsenals attempt to get Pep !
My boy The Ox………………..you might see the REAL penalty in the clip !……….
https://twitter.com/EmanDaGoonn/status/839406190757044225?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Just seen the Barca result. Knocks last night into a cocked hat! PSG a top top euro club, financed by a richster, in the clone of maonsour citeh and the chavs have been right royally shafted! Who are going to dominate the back pages tomorrow? Arsenal are now chip paper! Yesteday’s news!
We ger, is he saved by a worse result than his own ineptitude? Do you know, I think he is!
I’m off to the holy stone to bless the old wrinkly one and give thanksgiving for having him bless us with his wisdom and fill myself with the prospect of finishing fourth this year, next year and the year after. And then I’m embracing the notion of change thereafter, after all the talented managers are accounted for and tied up on long long contracted that Arsenal cannot break. We can then employ a total knob in order to further enhance the Saint latterly known as Arsene the saviour!
Heaven save us all fro. Such a scenario. It’s beyond belief and probably my sanity.
Your right about those shorts Wath, I only that I could still get my arse into them… ?
Circa 1982-83 I think…
Was stonewall penalty no doubt. .
Ox has been decent recently. .shame that he just announced he wants out of Arsenal comes the summer. .
Another dagger in the heart of a fatally wounded club!
Eris, they were very different days, no internet, no football blogs, no fanzines, hardly anything in the Press, no SKY TV or BT Sport, but even then, it was all about the money…
Does living in Tasmania make you a Kiwi?
Where do you live kev?
kev
Yes different days back then. People being killed on the terraces, rioting, England banned from Europe, etc. Nowadays England has banned itself from Europe 🙂
Morning all.
Marshall, your comment about Dennis being brought in was interesting after it followed my 9.50am so if we agree on things and my intelligence level is low………just saying 🙂 🙂
Karma-she’s a bitch lol
I’m a big believer in Karma Scott , she can get ya 🙂
It bit him fair on the Arse lol
Morning all,
Lol, Scott. I’d say that is general knowledge but I won’t 🙂
Wath, DB10 would be immense for the little ones too. Can he be assistant coach and the coach for the U21s at the same time? Wenger supposedly runs everything. Db10 can have just those two roles.
I didn’t watch the Barca-Psg game, but if you are to go gung-ho, go with MSN, they’ll score more than you’ll concede. Not a player who left his form in Bulgaria lol.
Or bring back Arteta for the U21s. Him and Per.
Pep doesn’t need two assistant coaches. Keown definitely to replace Bould as the defensive coach. Seems our coaches/background staff need more replacement than the squad itself.
That’s been the case for a long time. Wenger shows loyalty to more than just his select players but to his coaching staff too. Once in, it is said ,that the only way to leave the coaching inner sanctum is to walk yourself. As have many from Terry Murphy to Andries Jonker . When their input is ignored they go on their own accord , it is rumoured the reason for Brady’s departure was the fact that boys he had bought through never got a chance.
Funny enough, I’ve just been writing something similar in the post for today Marshall having listened to Ray Parlour yesterday on TalkSport.
No prizes for second, Marshall-especially when runner up to a dummy hahahaha
Morning guys.
What’s the latest-one paper reporting Arsenes going and another telling us he’s staying?
For the first time I can recall, Aussie mates with no real interest in football are asking me what’s happening with the club and Arsene.
The protests have received some airplay here.
Rico, great minds 🙂
Ox has been the only positive in this stormy situation, him playing in the midfield has been a reveleation. I hope it stays that way, despite the media wanting to take that away from us by saying he’ll be leaving/ he wants out.
I too hope Ox stays, he’s finally coming good…
Or dull minds Marshall… 😉
Hector Bellerin on whether he wants the boss to be here next season…
‘Of course. It’s as simple as that, especially for me. He’s the one who gave me my chance since day one. He’s played a big part in making me the player that I am, and there are loads of players in the dressing room who will be in the same position as me. We all back him and of course we want him to stay.’
Morning Rico. If all these players are leaving is Arsene the man to rebuild a new team?
Rico, let’s see how he (Ox) gets treated now that Ramsey is back. A 4-3-3 would perfectly accommodate then both, but Wenger has been a manager before I was born! He knows best.
That’s the correct thing to say. Re Bellerin.
Morning Adam. No. 🙂
Why do the media ask players their opinion on Wenger?
What do they expect them to say?
Quite incredible.
Agree Marshall. Keep Coquelin on the bench at best with Xhaka or Elneny in there. Time for Iwobi to have a long break too…
That wasn’t the media Scott, that was Arsenal.com……
Even worse, Rico lol
Talk about putting someone on the spot!!
How cheap is that?
Pathetic attempt to tell the fans Wenger should stay…
Absolutely.
How could they think anyone would take it seriously?
They probably did, buffoons….
New post up now.