Morning all.
They don’t make them like him anymore do they? The Arsenal running through his veins, so much so that when the day came that he was told his Arsenal career was over, he cried and as someone on HH wrote the other day, so did many fans. Rocky was everyone’s favourite, along with a few others who were around during his time. Unlike Rocky though, whose life was cruelly cut short back in 2001, his mates are still with us and they too will be remembering our old number 7 today. The Daily Mail have written a lovely tribute to the great man.
David Rocastle is a true legend, a man who loved his/our club, a man who gave his all in every match he played. Of course he made a few mistakes, what footballer or human being doesn’t but never can it be said he didn’t try. As he once so famously said: ‘Remember who you are, what you are and who you represent.’
Words which many footballers today could do with taking note of… Not only those playing the game either, certainly when it comes to Arsenal. The board, manager and coaching staff could all do with reminding just who it is they represent. Arsenal are not a club fighting for promotion into league one, they are a Premier League club steeped in history, flush with money and one which should be challenging for the title every season.
Winning something each season would be great but that simply will never happen. But not really challenging for the Premier League for so long now, is unacceptable. The media like to make a big deal about us not having won the league for the last 13 years but it’s not just about that for me, it’s about not even being anywhere close to the eventual winners, especially of late. Not once since 2003/04 have we managed to anywhere near the 90 points we earned that season. The closest was in 2007/08 with 83 points and from then until now, we’ve not managed to break into the 80’s. We won’t this season either.
We had chances during those barren years but just when it looked like we were finally going to break the duck, the year turned and we dropped down the table. Only a couple of places I know, but when we needed to push harder, we bottled it.
When Arsenal needed Wenger the most, he couldn’t deliver, he can’t deliver.
Ian Wright has been talking to The Sun about the managerial issues at the club:
This is typical of the lack of leadership and direction at Arsenal. He’s in position where he can just do what he wants.
Somebody upstairs should be telling him, “either you’re staying or you’re going. You must make an announcement.’
Arsenal and the fans need stability over what is going to happen with the club’s future. This wouldn’t happen at any other club.
No Wrighty, someone upstairs should be telling him he’s going! There should be no option for him to stay on, not anymore. All this messing around and playing with the media and fans about his future is wrong. Either he’s staying or he’s going and as Wrighty says, we the fans need to know.
Yesterday in his Press Conference he hinted at changes at the club, players need to be signed he said, or something similar which in itself suggests he’s staying, so perhaps he’s finally realised that this team need a few big characters, the kind who he’ll hope will drag us over the line at any cost. Like Adams, Vieira, Keown etc etc….
But in all reality, hasn’t he tried that with the likes of Gabriel, Mustafi, Cech, Mertesacker etc over the last few years? All seasoned internationals who arrived at this club with a great reputation for being strong characters. Yet look what’s happened to them, they’re as quiet as little church mice these days, just as Arsene Wenger seems to like them.
Regardless, I don’t think he should be staying nor be given more money to waste on ‘yes men’ or men he wants to mould into ‘nice’ players. He’s wasted enough.
What a mess eh…
Be at peace David ‘Rocky’ Rocastle, we’ll never forget you…..
Mornig Rico
RIP GREAT MAN
My hunch from yesterday prezza ………is going to stay.
I add to what i said yesterday that there is in need of a serious surgery in that team.
Le prof maybe had waken up that the fraudelent players he got need to be shipped.
Feo…..cannot even considered to challenge 34 year Defoe on that england team and people talk bemoan about Sanogo.
An entire decade banking on this solo sprinter is just a complete embarassment.
Opposite player all they have to do is stay close to him and will blindly run on them.In ten years he cannot pass skilfully one player.In ten years has no positional sense.Just look the last game against Manure.
He moulded him into a propper yes man so footballing matter count second.
Le prof for that alone merit a sack.But i more inclined to believe that he will stay rather leave.
The little hints that is throwing that there is need of change into the team is meant to make us believe that he is well aware of what is needed to be changed and probably will ease tension.
No…. Le prof
unlike any manager you being time and money and you by your own choice by your own full decision without anyone interference you create not one or two but trhee different teams.No one has an appetite to see you mould a fourth team.
Just go
Morning Alex.
I’d love to see a few of these players performing under a new manager, I really would. Isn’t Theo our second leading goal scorer? Says a lot eh…
News from AST which shows how the mood has changed re Wenger.
78% say no to new contract for Arsene Wenger in AST Survey
Posted Tuesday 31st January 2017
AST statement on results of membership survey on Arsène Wenger’s
contractual position at Arsenal
Last week the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust (AST) surveyed all members on the current situation regarding Arsène Wenger and whether his contract to manage Arsenal should be extended beyond the end of this season.
AST members include Arsenal shareholders, season ticket holders, home, away and overseas fans. Our membership is a broad church with a shared belief in the important role of supporters in the life of the club and the values of custodianship and sustainability that the AST promotes as guiding principles for the great club we support.
The results of the survey were as follows:
1. Do you support Arsène Wenger signing a new contract and remaining as Arsenal manager:
Yes – 15%
No – 78%
Don’t know – 7%
2. Do you think that the way that the Arsenal Board have dealt with Arsène Wenger’s contract is in the best interests of Arsenal Football Club?
Yes – 9%
No – 86%
Don’t know – 5%
The AST membership is just under 1000 supporters. We also offered all members the chance to give their written views and these are attached with this document.
There were 424 written comments in all and they can read in full here
We also commissioned an independent report from Kisscopy who analsyed the written responses and the common themes within them.
The analysis of the written responses and common themes can be read here
They demonstrate that despite the view that the manager should not sign another contract that there remains large respect and gratitude toward Arsene Wenger for all he has done for Arsenal Football Club.
The AST Board make the following comments:
“In light of these survey results the AST now calls on Arsenal’s Board not to renew Arsène Wenger’s contract at the end of the 2016-17 season. A substantial majority of our members believe he is no longer the right person to take the club forward. We are confident this is an accurate reflection of the wider fanbase.
“The AST will be writing to and meeting with members of the Arsenal Board to convey these results and our position that they should now withdraw the offer of a new contract. We believe the Board’s role now is to successfully manage the transition to a new manager, an eventuality for which they have had plenty of warning and time to prepare.
“The AST has long believed that change is needed in the Arsenal Boardroom. The fact that only 9 per cent of our members believe the Arsenal Board have handled this issue well reinforces our view that a fresh approach is urgently needed. The Board needs more dynamic and independent members with skillsets that reflect the challenges Arsenal face, including the need to grow commercial revenues and to rebuild a football management structure that increasingly looks out of date.
“In adding our voice to calls for Arsène Wenger to leave Arsenal after 21 years we would like to reiterate the importance of this debate taking place in a civil and responsible way. We respect the right of every fan to have a view and for that view to be respected and heard. For this reason, we have reported every opinion our members offered, but we are compelled to go with the majority.
“We also recognise and pay tribute to the tremendous contribution that Arsène Wenger has made to Arsenal. Regardless of the current debate around his contract we believe that he deserves huge respect and admiration for his long-term contribution to our club, including delivering some of the best football ever witnessed not just by Arsenal fans but all of those who follow the English game”.
Notes:
The AST survey was conducted between 20 and 26 March 2017.
Every written response provided by an AST member has been reproduced – see the link above
The AST has previously conducted surveys into Arsenal in the close season, including into the role of Arsène Wenger. Historically these surveys have demonstrated support for the position of Arsène Wenger which adds weight to the view that many Arsenal fans have changed their minds: In the summer of 2015, 84 per cent of AST members agreed that Arsène Wenger was ‘the right person to manage Arsenal Football Club’ (10 per cent disagreed and 6 per cent had no view). The AST membership has remained steady demonstrating the extent to which the views of Arsenal fans have changed.
RIP Rocky…. One of us and never forgotten. In our hearts always, if only we had more like him playing for us now.
Morning Rico. Having watched the press conference yesterday I believe that Arsene is a man in denial. His constant referrals to “The next game” have become an automated defence mechanism. It actually means nothing as we have seen his preparation for the next game and it hasn’t been good enough.
It’s sad in many ways I think.
When ever talking about Rocky he’s always mentioned as “our” Rocky…. I wonder how many players from the last ten years would be referred to as “our” Tom, Dick, or A.N.Other………… None in my mind..!
Sums up modern day footballers and modern football on so many levels.
Morning Adam. He seems to think all will be well in the morning doesn’t he. Hard to believe he can’t see what we see, or does he?
Agreed Wath, none, maybe Jack in time if he stays and makes the midfield spot his own. Even that’s a big maybe…
Kelsey, but what does that all really mean? Do the AST really have much clout?
Morning Rico and All
R.I.P. Rocky..Loved that boy.
For me not saying you are staying will be taken
as you could be going..
On top of that we have our two top players running
down contracts.
The Syrup & Co if known should be confirming then
if he is staying..How can it help the players.
The results are proof of this.
I can’t imagine him staying after all this.
So I will carry on hoping his Off.
The silence from Wenger and the Board on his contract just reiterates the total disdain and contempt in which they treat and think of the fans…! No respect what so ever, absolute disgrace the lot of em.
Morning Fred.
Wenger is denying his situation has any bearing on our results, but it must do surely. He’d be much better off telling us what’s going on, either way, especially if he’s going though as we cold all have a party…. lol
Rico, the AST has about as much clout with the Club as we all do ranting on here about what’s wrong and being ignored and taken for granted. SO just like all the other fan groups they get meetings with the club they are “heard” given tea and biscuits and then sent on their way…!
Replace I with Arsenal… lol
Wath, are you convinced the board and Wenger agree 100%?
Just because Wenger says he knows what he wants to do, might not mean the board/owner agree with him….
Very little then re the AST, thought so…
I agree Rico. There is never anything new from Arsene, just the same old responses to the same old questions. It is incredibly tedious and disheartening for the fans. Nobody wants him out because he is doing well do they? There is simply no bright future with him at the helm but he seems absolutely determined to carry on in the ways that have lead to this situation.
Exactly Adam. It’s not like this has happened overnight. I think the fans have been kind to him really as things could have been a lot worse a long time before now…
Even he should know that. At any other club, the fans would have made themselves heard a lot louder and I suspect had we still been at Highbury, they would.
Morning Rico
Gloria Gaynor, that’s a blast from the past, makes ya wanna get your flares and platforms out again…
Morning All, no news is, er, no news I guess…
Just finished Ray Parlours book, he mentions things like splits in the dressing room and Wenger avoiding confrontation during the latter years when he was back training at the club. In particular the toxic influence of William Gallas.
New stadiums for Tottenham, Chelsea and now Everton, with increased revenue streams.
Tottenham and maybe Everton are going to be regular competitors for the top four, if Arsenal slip and Wenger stays we could slide into being a top six club for awhile?
Morning Kev. I have that book, it’s ready for my holiday reading and look forward to it. Wrighty’s too..
Gallas. I’ll never understand that deal, nor him wearing the number 10 shirt. Disgraceful!
There are a few things to be sorted out unqote.
This gives two alternatives ,either the board are trying to wrest some powers back or he is asking for things they are unwilling to give.
Who knows, I am now bored of the whole saga.
Morning all. Loved Rocky. Is it a good read Kev?
“I think it’s not only the period that matters – it is a decisive period – but also what is at stake for us is how we respond mentally to a disappointing period and how much we can focus and stick together now,” he said.
“We come out of a difficult period and we play at home in a very big game. It’s a good opportunity for us to bounce back. I think it’s two teams who, when you look at the numbers, have the best numbers of the final third in the league.
“That promises to be a very positive, attacking game. Both teams will attack – they go for it, we go for it, so it should be a promising game.
“Our season will now be decided by the next two months, but as well by the ability and the strength we can show together to fight and come back in a very convincing way.
Read more at http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20170330/-this-is-a-decisive-period-for-us-#tIzsmpV87CD9B8Zd.99
What a bizarre comment…
Mid-table club soon the Kev, if he stays…
Great read Rico. I suggest that those ” Wenger-Out” banners should also display stuff like ” Like Mugabe, Like Wenger”. The 2 men are similar in hanging on to power by all means. Both are old. Both do not consider the feelings of the citizens/Fans. Both are very selfish. Both are so so so annoying these days. Maybe by comparing him to Mugabe, he might then look at himself in the mirror and ask: Am I really like him?
The new stadium is remote from the fans.Back in the Highbury days Avenell road would be full and the marble hall steps had to be negotiated through the crowds.Where I agree with the AST they are well protected in their ivory tower , if they are actually there that is.
Shame we cant post pics on this forum, but see if this works.
Still got the shirt, just can’t get into it 🙂
https://www.flickr.com/photos/149011914@N06/33624378361/in/shares-1Jdzve/
Has anyone has seen the table that shows all PL club’s away results against top half teams?
I saw it on LG the other day and couldn’t believe it. But it seems it is true.
Blimey.
Mr Adam
Yes Andrew, it’s not as good as Perry Groves’ book but it’s quite funny in parts.
Rico, when you consider that Arsene has lived in this country for over 20 years, his English can be quite confused…
Adam, saw that one too…
Adam, but have to admit we’re no bad against the bottom clubs..
I saw that table. Staggering and not for any good reason…
Rico, just for you:
https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/wenger-out-campaign-2017
Uzochukwu. Thanks re the post, not sure AW would even realise why both were on display..
Certainly can be Kev. Well, he confuses me…
Hi BT. In most situations those figures alone would be enough to warrant some action.
Bt, thanks.. Best I go and sign it…
Planes flying over West Brom trailing banners.
Fans fighting among themselves.
Demonstrations outside of the Emirates.
Petitions online.
How the feck did we come to this?!
I’ve seen bad times, real bad times, but the toxic atmosphere among the fan base is really worrying.
I’m not sure that it’s ever going to be the same, with all Arsenal fans united for the cause…
Adam, can you cut n paste those away game figures please?
So Wenger wants to stay! Nothing new. Set up for more failure and disappointment
Just seen it, 1 point, not good, down with Burnley, Sunderland and Middlesbrough…
So, next Sunday, is there a football match or not in the Emirates?
Is it to win or keep schedule?
Will Arsenal play to the end and “fall to their feet,” or will they be doing a “freight” on schedule?
Arsenal, will respect the public and fans, or not?
These are the main issues at the moment. Everything else is folklore and premature.
Sorry Rico
I put that AST thing up to show though they number only about a thousand, then add the in house fighting and banners and many people just had enough that this isn’t good PR for the club.
I mention again that half the first team squad contracts are up in 14 months so it makes sense for a new man to come in ASAP not let Wenger stay one or two more years,but Kroenke doesn’t care as the stadium will always sell out and he would rather have a bank manager for his cash cow who understands that making money by any means, which also includes selling our best players is what we have become, a second tier club.
IMO it will take years to sort this out.
AW inherited a very good solid defence and has never replaced it.I don’t think he knows a good defender if he starred him in the face.
All great teams are built from the back and hardly need managing.
Kelsey. I don’t think there’s much wrong with Mustafi, after all, he plays for Germany. Kos too is a good defender but a bit soft.
Wenger could sign Campbell and Adams when they were in their prime, but if they get left exposed by those ahead of them, even they’d look average.
For me the team lacks discipline and organisation- no one seems to know their role…..
Take a look at the Chavs.
J Terry played about one game this year
his been offered a new contract..Why?
Because he is a winner.
The Chavs just want him around the players
chatting and geeing up..Not to play.
Can you imagine that at our club.
Not a chance Fred, mind you, we haven’t got any winners in this squad, not really.
Surprising though as many of them have won things with their respective countries.
Friday night is party night… Catch up tomorrow guys….
Saw this recently on another forum:-
**I got tired of describing what AW is really like and then getting told that I was unfair and listening to folk making excuses. I got so peed off with what he has done to Arsenal in the last decade. So I did a wind up for a couple of weeks, taking on the mantle of a myopic Gooner.
You know what I think about AW, he lost the plot twelve years ago and has been dining out on his glory years (based on the defence he inherited and, to be fair, developed at first) ever since.
In the early years, AW stayed true to Graham’s philosophy of a strong back four with two big, hard mids in front of them and brought in the likes of Ashley, Viera, Lehmann, Campbell, Kolo Toure and Lauren. His defence continued to be strong, fast, organised and above all intimidating. To this, he used his connections to add French flare up front.
After the Invincibles he lost it totally. He became infatuated with Barcelona and decided the future lay with a midfield and front six of small, technically gifted youngsters on which he gambled all, ignoring defence in the process. He signed players like Senderos, Djourou, Eboue, Traore, Squillaci, Santos, Song and Mertesacker who were not even fit to be squad backups let alone first choice. Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Monreal, Mustafi and Bellerin all proved OK but none of them had/has steel. AW wanted ball playing CB’s but never did the work to make them sound defensively and weld them into a defensive unit. You can’t sign wimps and turn them into Adams and Vieira.
Arsenal now are no worse than they were in 2007; I don’t understand why it has taken most observers a decade to realise that they have stood still under him since the mid-2000’s and that the Emporer has no clothes.
It has been obvious to any impartial observer over the last decade that AW lacks tactical nouse and that he has failed to understand what it takes to create a winning team. His arrogance and stubbornness is shown in the way he threw away the successful formula of strength, commitment and never say die in defence combined with flare in the front four. He is tactically so naive it’s embarrassing to see, he has no plan ‘B’ and no flexibility. He is trying to compete with dynamic managers who have moved from top club to top club every few years and are in touch with the modern game.
In midfield, he replaced Vieira, Petit and Silva with mediocrity – Song, Ramsay, Wilshere, Diaby, Flamini, Arteta, Coq, Granit who ran/run about like headless chickens, make sloppy passes, don’t press, can’t tackle and get turned over.
AW tried to bring Barca to the Emirates without understanding what made them so good. It is not just about their superlative skills on the ball but also their movement, timing, vison, teamwork and tactical nouse. They don’t lose their shape, everyone knows where to be and what to do in and out of possession. When they lose the ball they press in packs to win it back. Arsene’s players have none of this never mind the technical brilliance of Barca men. Barca players look like boys but they have cores of toledo steel and they are coached to perfection by the very best.
In the process of aping Barca AW’s teams became timid, small and bullied. The top clubs came to love playing a team they once feared and they wiped the pitch with them. Through arrogance and/or incompetence he misunderstood what made his side so strong in the late 90s and early 2000s and has left the club treading water for a decade. He can’t see it, of course, he has no inkling that he is out of touch, that he is the problem.
While he sat on his hands in his Emirates Gin place for the last decade Barca have had five managers who have taken them from strength to strength. When Enrique leaves at the end of the season their two most successful managers will have walked away while at the top to stop the side going stale. Enrique tonight sent out his team in a brilliant 3-4-3 formation with Messi in the number ten slot fired up to come back from 0-4 in the first leg, and they won, contrast that with AW’s surrender and excuses last night.
I don’t hate AW, I see a stubborn, arrogant out of touch, burnt out man who has allowed his club to stagnate under his nonexistent leadership for the past ten years.**
I suppose this is probably a typical post for many who are sick of it all.
Meerkat
Thats it in a nutshell..Spot on.
Wait till Scott see’s that.Put your crash helmet on.
I’m more worried about his mates in North London, they’ll blow a gasket lol !
Meerkat
“You can’t sign wimps and turn them into Adams and Vieira” or “You can’t polish a turd” as they say in the classics! And Arsene Wenger has been ‘rubbing away’ at some shit players for over 10 years now
IMO, the first sign of a chink in Arsene Wenger’s armour was when he made the decision to only give players over 30 years old one year extensions. That decision probably went unnoticed at the time, but I thought at the time it was a stupid decision, & off went Gilberto. I mean in essence, Tony Adams would have played some of his best seasons winning titles @ say Manure under that Wenger law!
Anyway, there is obviously no chance of a decision being made at The Arsenal that managers over 70 years old be put out to pasture. Blimey, the irony ?
RIP Rocky
New post up.
Kelsey
1000 people response does not do the trick .
It is same as the few plackards we see it WENGER OUT…
Would love to see a substancial number at least 40000 in number to make a bit sense.