Morning all.
The good old top four finish which nowadays, even listening to the football pundits, one would think it’s the bee all and end all in football. Well, I’d say it’s not, especially when football fans of any one club know they have a manager in place who simply isn’t going to win it and that’s the case with Arsenal under Arsene Wenger. Right now as we sit in 6th place, it’s unlikely we’ll make the top four and you can visit FootballPredictions.com for the best odds on that happening.
There are no guarantees that should Arsenal appoint a new manager he’ll win it either but at least the ride might be more enjoyable.
However, my own opinion is that a new manager would inject this squad with new ideas, freshness, different tactics and something exciting again for us fans. Something more positive, fewer defensive errors, less sideways and backwards passing, more fluency in our play (thanks Arsene) a substitution which comes about long before 70 minutes has passed by and a little bit of passion on the sidelines. Just watching Wenger sit there, rub his nose with his jacket sleeve or hand every time we go behind in a game or we miss another chance to score, isn’t pleasant on the eye and even before a game kicks off, you know exactly what he’s going to do. Boring! (Thanks Judge Rob)
Just to switch on the television when the coverage begins, or to turn up at the ground before kick-off, there’d be a little bit of excitement, a buzz in anticipation that finally, we may just have something to look forward too. The Emirates might even wake up from it’s ten year slumber.
Chelsea, Utd, City, Liverpool, Totts and even Everton are all building. All have been through the managerial changes and finally, they all look settled, or certainly on the way to being settled and that’s exactly what Arsenal need. They all have younger men in charge, men with ambition, managers who don’t care who they drop, not if they honestly believe it’s good for the team. yes, the team, not for the player or the owner, the board or media, the team and it’s fans. They don’t care who they sell either, if players don’t work hard, they’ll be out of the door faster than Giroud can put his hair back in place after yet another cross knocked one of his curls out of place. This doesn’t happen at Arsenal. We get to see the same players regardless of what they did the game before, often regardless of what they’ve been doing the five seasons before because Wenger isn’t ruthless. How many managers would have played Mesut Ozil as much as he has this season after bottling out of a tackle time and time again, or not even having the interest to track back or even run for a ball? None, and they wouldn’t care either but that’s not the case at Arsenal. If that’s bad enough, who else would allow at least two other ‘passengers’ to play in the same team each week….? You know the answer, well, I hope you do.
Then there’s the squad. If you were appointed Arsenal manager this summer, I suspect there’s at least five players who straight away you’d get rid of one way or another. That might mean putting them up for sale, or if their wages are too high which many are, just let them go out of loan and leave when their contract expires having replaced them with better. And better doesn’t always have to mean in terms of ability but in terms of attitude, work-rate and that kind of player doesn’t always need to break the Arsenal bank does it? Saying that, I bet if a new manager wanted to break the bank for the right player, the board and owner would back him 100%. After all, Ozil wasn’t that cheap was he yet they didn’t scoff at that price and didn’t Lord Harris or Sir Chips tell us last summer that only Messi and Ronaldo were out of our financial reach? One of them did so if they are telling us the truth, the old ‘we don’t have the money’ excuse is utter bollox. Wenger’s comments about not being in the Champions League next season, backs up my theory too. Only one person makes the decision on how much the club spends during a transfer window and that man doesn’t spend his time sunning himself on a ranch in the US of A.
So as much as the ‘careful what you wish for’ and the ‘change of manager doesn’t guarantee success’ or something similar gets churned out time and time again, just remember that by sticking with Arsene Wenger guarantees Arsenal FC will not be successful and nor will he bring change. He certainly won’t bring excitement to the club in terms of football either so what’s there to be afraid of?
Nothing, absolutely nothing imo. Embrace change because it could be very exciting, refreshing, new and even dare I say, successful.
Heck, it might even bring success and even Champions League football might be something we look forward to as Bayern Munich or Barcelona get drawn against us in the first knock-out stage unlike the last goodness knows how many years when we dread the day the fixture actually arrives.
We might even start to beat one or two of the clubs around and above us too, that would be novel eh. Yes, there might be the loss to a lesser side here and there, we might still lose to Chelsea etc on the odd occasion but if we do, it won’t be the same as the way we lost before. Top managers don’t repeat the same old mistakes week in week out, they see the mistake and over time, rectify the errors on the training pitch and if the personnel can’t work it through, they’ll change the player instead of flogging a dead horse season in, season out…..
Change, bring it on I say…..
First, Rico 🙂 🙂
Morning all.
Arsene is going.
Morning and thanks Rico.
If he stays, I say lets embrace it !…………..do yoga every day and become buddhist monks and think that Arsene is like caterpillar who is about to reinvent himself as a beautiful butterfly !………………our mental strength is within……………………….omm………….omm……………………….omm
hahaha
Good post, morning all.
When we stuffed Chelsea, their Manager took stock, and made changes. They haven’t done too poorly since. What do we do after each embarrassing defeat … absolutely nothing.
With so many clubs now on a financial level and we are one of them accordinging to all management levels at AFC……….it must be simply down to tactics and this is where Arsene fails miserably !………………………..cant wait and I`m excited to see who the new one will be !………………the downer and cause of so many gooners erectile dysfunction is that do we trust our pompous old git board of no football intelligence to get it right ?…………Sir Chips !……more like a bad sack of spuds !
*from last post*
True Scott. Money has ruined the game, and those who respect the value of it are not popular.
My issue with arsenal and money is they are stuck in the old business model. Treating the stadium like a walmart and the fans are the target, where they are milked dry. *see the pun is did there 😉 *
If Arsenal cared for the fans, they’d have better sponsorship deals (which I believe we are capable of) and lower ticket prices. With the TV money coming in, that’d balance the books. But what do I know.
Nice post, Rico.
I’m guilty of saying changing manager doesn’t guarantee success, but not for one second am I suggesting we shouldn’t make that change.
I just hope fans will accept potentially a poor year or two, as that may well happen, and give the new guy every chance because we don’t want to turn into a Chelsea or Spuds-swapping managers every 18 monrhs.
Of course, the impact might be instant and that’s what we’d all be hoping for.
Adam
If he was leaving why not say now? They run the club as the CIA – on need to know basis. How worse could our performance get?
Marshall, none of the guys running the club even know what a fan is.
Andrew we do do something! We do nothing at all, that at least is something of nothing.
I think we’ve all come to realise the team play Wengerball and nothing else. The philosophy he developed in 1928 is just as relevant today, as far as he’s concerned. It’s his way or no way. So, we have no progress, no advance and the old, tired hackneyed possession football with no forward movement will. Continue for as long as he is head coach at the Arsenal football club.
Perhaps, as he won’t leave of his own volition, rather than sacking him the Board should invent a new aimless, powerless, uninvolved position that he could fill with total disconnection. Director of football comes to mind. A new coach could just ignore him and the players too. Effectively he would be put out to pasture, and good riddance.
Just a suggestion?
Funny how back in August we were the most stable team in the top teams. Chavs, Manchester clubs had new managers, Klopp was still relatively new at the scum, even I thought we’d have an edge over them. Surprise, surprise.
Evidently we are the most unstable club atm.
I disagree, Scott !………………………………………..I`m sure our aristocratic board of colonial toffs know what a fan is !…………..it`s a punkhawallah !
Lord Harris and Sir Chips at half-time…………………………….
https://perkingthepansies.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/punka_wallah.jpg
I think that the way the Chavs are run and amount of managers they have had since we last won the league proves that being stable is over rated !………………………for an unstable club of so many managers they sure have won a lot of trophies !………………………obviously has nothing to do with probably nearly a billion spent ! hahaha
Lol LC-they’re quality people!!’
Re Director of football, not sure I’d want Wenger directing anything at Arsenal any-more.
Footballing wise we are a fucking joke….cheers Arsene!
We’ve put up with several years of this shit, why wouldn’t we put up with a transitional period under a new manager????
You never know he might do an Eddie Jones with exactly the same team……
Wenger has been patted on the back for playing a huge role in building a stadium 2 sizes too bloody SMALL !! As a fan of over 50 years, you must remember certain games in the 60’s that had Massive crowds of 60 thousand plus and that is when we had not won anything for years !! (Deja Vu ? or what)
But to go from watching a one and a bit footed footballer like The Ox running down the wrong wing followed by the truly Ugly awkward sight of the TOTALLY one footed Alex Iwobi doing likewise is a perfect example of someone who has completely lost the PLOT!!
My message to the fans is make HUGE BANNERS AND STICK THEM UNDER THE NOSES OF THESE ARROGANT TWITS THAT RUN ARSENAL FC.
If Wenger is to go he has to go for good….
Lee, So you want Aussie?
I’m with you 🙂 🙂
Don’t ask me why people some don’t have patience-how dan I explain that?
The fact is plenty don’t.
The new manager that is…
Point is we’ve put up with Wenger’s below par football for ages so let’s give the new man a crack!
Thanks Guys re the post. Pure frustration at what a bloody joke our club is at the moment…
Marshall. I don’t know why he doesn’t announce his intentions. I just see so many potential downsides to him staying but, having said that, he probably will. Mine is just a gut feeling really.
Agree, none of this ‘Wenger go upstairs’ stuff. Get out, totally…
Great post Rico, I can’t disagree with any of it.
Adam, it’s another form of control imo.
Thanks Steve.
Not only control. Not telling us what he’s decided after saying he knows what he will do shows it’s all about him. He’s an attention seeker, he seems to love all the cloak and dagger, he wants people to ask him about him… Signs of a man who is lonely and needs to seek attention for self reassurance….
good post, but Wenger wasn’t sacked yet?
Lee, believe me, I’m with you 100% on that.
Pick the man and give him a 3 year contract, and stick to it no matter what.
Arsene potentially going upstairs says less about him than it does the other cowards who won’t take the responsibility of running the club, imo.
When he goes, he must truly go.
Thanks JM, sadly not.
We are one point worse off than last season at this stage…
And Wenger says he’s ready to take us to the next level…. What a joke.
The problem with Wenger is that he won’t go, not voluntarily. Sticking him in a cupboard under the stairs with a job that has a grand title but means nothing. Lock him in his office and don’t let him out! A partial solution? Frankly, any input from him will have no effect, why would his words have any gravitas? Nobody listens to him now, he’s lost the dressing room or at least most of it. So why his body floating around the Emirates will do anything harm fail to see. I would ensure that his job NEVER involves him being at The Colney, EVER. He needs to be totally SIDELINED, emasculated, as far as football is concerned. FOR EVER.
That all depends upon him. If he goes, problem solved. If he doesn’t alter his role to something irrelevant and non football related. Head of char making?
good Morning all.
A good friend of mine has been going Home and Away for 47 years and has had enough and is going to support his local team where he now lives, in Northampton.
If I may please read this excellent piece
.
What is going on at our football club?!(from GUNNERS TOWN)
I’m a disgruntled season ticket holder who’s been going along to watch The Arsenal for over 50 years now and I’m finding it increasingly hard to justify paying over a £1,000 a season to watch a bunch of under-performing, pampered prima donnas. I can’t ever remember the club in such disarray. In the past when it eventually reached a stage where the managers job was untenable he got relieved of his duties, the club appointed a new manager and we moved on.
Despite Sir Chips saying it would be a mutual decision if Arsene Wenger stays on it clearly isn’t the case. The club have become so weak and inept at Board level that they’ve allowed a situation where the manager decides when he’s ready to go.
To offer Arsene a two year contract is absolute madness. His position has become untenable, just like his predecessors Wright, Mee, and Graham, but it seems this pathetic bunch of individuals known collectively as ‘the Arsenal Board’ have apparently decided (in their infinite wisdom) to give him another two-year deal.
The atmosphere is already toxic, but if he stays the toxicity level will go up several more notches. What has Arsene Wenger done recently to even merit a new contract?
The contrast between the first half of his reign and the players he had compared to now is staggering. The football we are being served up now is utter dross. One thing that was always a hallmark of an Arsene Wenger side was the beautiful exciting style of play. Now that’s gone, it’s just endless side to side passing with no penetration and no end product. Yet Arsene – who, by the way – was (in my opinion) for a while the best manager in the business says “This is the best squad I’ve ever had!”
Do me a favour…
The players have stopped believing in him. They are not listening, and just going through the motions. As a consequence we have slipped to sixth place and if Arsene stays it will only get worse. It looks almost certain that Ozil and Sanchez will leave; how will Arsenal attract top players to the club? Who will want to play for a manager who sadly has been overtaken by younger coaches and will no longer able to offer Champions League football?
I cannot think why anybody would want to give Arsene another two years other than for sentimental reasons. Football is a results-driven business and Arsene isn’t delivering. The Club is regressing. Allowing him to stay is not what’s best for either Arsenal Football Club or Arsene Wenger.
I’m sick of hearing the players after every setback saying “We’ve got to learn from this, it isn’t acceptable” then going out and doing the same thing again! I’m fed up with having a side with no leaders, with captains that never play. I’m sick of the constant spin of “War Chest” stories every time it’s season ticket renewal time.
I’ve had enough of comments like Arsene’s “fourth place is a trophy” and Ivan, remember him “We should be able to compete at a level with a club such as like Bayern Munich” and Stan’s “If you wanted to win championships then you would never get involved”.
Arsenal used to be a club that strived to be the best. Herbert Chapman’s aim was to make us the best club in the World. He delivered us the best stadium, the best team and the best facilities. We’ve always done things with style and panache. We’ve lost our way a few times along the way since then. But we’ve always bounced back.
We were told the move to the Emirates would allow us to compete with all the top clubs in Europe and would ensure we’d be able to buy the elite players and keep our top stars. We were sold a dream. But that has turned into a nightmare.
The Board built the new stadium. We had everything in place to move to the next level. But the Board sold the club down the river by selling their shares to Stan Kroenke and he’s the one reaping all the benefits now – not the club, or the fans.
We’ve been patient, waiting and understanding that while the stadium was being built, it was draining resources and while the old commercial deals were still in place we couldn’t reach our full financial potential. But the new deals have kicked in now and the club are not meeting the expectations we were promised. They are not showing the ambition required to make us a Bayern Munich.
What makes it even more galling is our bitter rivals Tottenham have copied our blueprint for success. They have a bright young manager, with a young exciting side, playing an attractive style of football, with a wage bill half the size of ours and a brand new state of the art stadium to negate the financial advantage we’ve had over them.
The saying “Be careful what you wish for” is sounding more ridiculous as every week goes by. The club needs change from top to bottom. That can’t happen while Arsene Wenger still has control over every aspect of Arsenal Football Club. We need a new manager with new ideas. An astute Director of Football. A visionary to revamp the youth academy. We need to improve the scouting network.
The squad needs to be re-evaluated. The club needs to back the new manager and that will take substantial investment. Get rid of that bunch of free-loading directors like Sir Chips Keswick and Lord Harris and replace them with younger, more ambitious men with a football background.
The club has become complacent with an over-reliance on Arsene Wenger, which isn’t a healthy thing for a billion-pound concern like Arsenal Football Club. We are stagnating and on the road to becoming a mediocre club. Ivan has said before that the club are “Incredibly ambitious” – they’re not. They are drifting along aimlessly with nobody steering the ship.
If Stan Kroenke isn’t prepared to do what’s required then sell up to somebody who is and get the hell out of our club and take your son with you. As Alan Davies once said Highbury didn’t die for this.
I have no desire to see him wandering the corridors of ex power and hanging around like a bad smell. I want him and his influence gone, totally gone. But I don’t think the shrunken headed old men upstairs have the balls to pay him off. Alternative strategies may have to be employed. So long as he is no longer involved in the day to day running of the club or has any influence over any part of any football team at the club from this May on……..
I won’t be happy if he hangs around but better out of sight, and out of control and away from the players. It may prove a long haul to be rid of him. So long as he goes……..eventually and with no power I could just about live with that.
Kelsey. That’s a very good piece with a lot of frustration and sadness in every word. I believe it represents what a lot of people are feeling right now.
Thanks for posting it.
Yep, top comment, Kelsey.
And not a swear word in sight 😉
Just read it Kelsey. Very good…
I dont mind if Wenger stays and does the stadium tours as cover for Charlie and Perry !………………………..” See zees seats !…………I put them in with my bare hands!”………………………
That’s funny Lc….. lol
” See zee……….In Arsene We Trust banner ?…………….two week patchwork quilt course I had to go on !”
hahaha
Well, love him or loathe him, I think that his standing in the football world is still very good, he is highly regarded at home and abroad, and I think he would be a wonderful Ambassador for the club.
He is multilingual, articulate, knowledgeable and loves the club. He is just past it re managing and coaching.
As long as he accepts this, and any new manager would make clear he won’t tolerate a ‘back seat driver’, I still think he has a place at the club.
Christ if Manure still keep dopey Bryan Robson on as an Ambassador, and are offering the same role to Rooney, why wouldn’t the club want him? Arsene is far more diplomatic and articulate than those neanderthals, and could actually meet and greet for the club in any language.
Just my opinion of course, and I don’t expect to be agreed with.
I think we are on the same page here, M`kat with the stadium tour stuff ! ………………………..although if Lee or Goonster took the tour, they would have to be in straight jackets to be restrained ! hahaha
Nice post Keysey!
Another I’ve just read on Quora is pretty balanced, maybe a touch generous but then written at the start of the season!
Is Arsene Wenger a failure or a success?
Vik, Gooner since 2002
If Wenger quits after this season, the records will show that he served as Arsenal manager for 20+ seasons. He won 3 premier league trophies and 5 FA Cups. He also facilitated the move from Highbury to Emirates without ever letting slip the UCL positions. That in my opinion will always be termed as ‘SUCCESS’
However, I feel the Wenger reign can be divided into 3 sections:
1996 – 2005: This term included 3 EPL trophies, 4 FA Cups including 2 doubles. The 3rd EPL was the invincible season which is an unbelievable feat. He did this by buying players that were either unknown for most parts or struggling at some clubs. This term is definitely a SUCCESS
.
2005–2013: 2005 saw the starting of the lean years. Arsene let go of his superstars like Vieira, Pires, Henry etc and bought cheaper replacements or younger players. Examples were Fabregas, Hleb, Flamini, Adebayor, Diaby, Djourou etc. Although he did not win any trophies, considering the budget he was on, his finishing positions were still brilliant and he came close to winning the UCL, FA, League Cup and EPL on at least one occasion. Hence, I would term this one also as a SUCCESS.
2013–2017: The 2013 summer window was one of the most disappointing ones, but it culminated in Arsenal breaking their transfer record by adding Ozil. EPL looked within reach till March, but then the run collapsed. However, Arsenal managed to break the trophyless shackles by winning the FA Cup. The next season saw the arrivals of Sanchez, Chambers, Debuchy, Ospina and Welbeck followed by Gabriel. This season also ended with an FA Cup win. It was clear that the financial constraints were broken but nothing was done on multiple occasions to solve basic problems. Assuming that Arsenal dont win anything this season, it would mean that Arsenal have won 2 FA cups in 4 seasons after the financial shackles were lifted. While not exactly a failure, this term will be considered as NOT SUCCESSFUL.
Afternoon guys.
Not good stuff going on at Westminster….
Hopefully Rico, the scummy cnut they shot is actually dead….!
Then we have to read that us fans need “perspective” says our genius manager and quotes the club has in huge factors like integrity, respect and bla bla bla…. maybe he should show some respect and integrity to the fans and instead of being selfish tell us all what’s going on at our club (sorry) i mean “his” club….. It seems it’s all about reflecting criticism and pointing fingers elsewhere as winning trophies isn’t just what a club is about.
Absolutely amazing…. the bloke is a walking lunatic. I am at the point where I now despise the man, constantly insults the fans intelligence and treats us with utter contempt and disdain…!
My club died the day we left Highbury and when the league sold it’s soul to sky…!
One is dead Watch, so hopefully it’s the idiot and not an innocent person..
Just seen it Rico, appears it’s an innocent woman..
Afternoon Wath. There is no doubt that the Arsenal we grew up with and which formed such a large part of our social life is long gone. What remains unfortunately still bears the same name but is run by a bunch of self-important freeloaders. Whether it can be resurrected is debatable.
I share your views on Wenger Wath. Every time he opens his mouth these days he insults the fans.
And to think there’s still a number of fans who hang on to his every word….
That’s terrible Bt. Another reported dead too….
Rico. There’s a single Wengerite who sits near me. Retired businessman I believe. He tried to convince me that we were unlucky against BM. I imagine he is quite insane. He is certainly one of the most turgid conversationalists I have ever met.
Apparently Rico the scumbag was shot and injured by police, St Thomas’s reporting a lady has passed away.
Adam, seems like we a football club in name only and yes mate run by a bunch of free loaders who know nothing of football yet are all part of the self appreciation lets slap each other on the back club for a great job done…
As for ‘his’ latest ramblings and spin he just gets worse and worse as if we are all so stupid that we do not worship at his feet for a great job done, did he do it for free out of the goodness of his heart this JOB he’s had for 20 odd years..? nope I didn’t think so….. yet we pay to watch the turgid rubbish we’re served up week in week out and we must now have perspective… It seems a shame his moral fibre isn’t as good as the words he speaks.
Thanks, Wath. What a bastard eh, should have been him dead, not the lady….
Rico, his words these days stink of desperation and of a despot hanging onto power by the skin of his teeth, thing is i don’t think he holding on at all as the board have no inclination what so ever to get rid of him as he is their meal ticket.
He appears to have become a somewhat shameless individual who has lost his self-respect. He is killing whatever affection the fans had for him bit by bit.
He certainly is Adam and it’s hard to believe he can’t see it..
I lost respect for Wenger when he lied Welbeck was a few days away while he’d just had surgery! That same transfer window he signed only Cech. What sort of a self centred would that old man be? To me he’s just a tyrant at the club.
In the last few months he’s suggested the fans lack perception in judging him and also insinuated we are being brain-washed. Like we don’t have a mind of our own. Nobody should question the tyrant! fts.
If he extends, by the time he leaves he’ll have soiled his reputation so bad that you’d grow a wreath on it.
Adam. i hope your gut feeling is right and he is leaving.
Having listened to him on Saturday in his press conference, i can only see him staying. The more he’s pushed into a corner the more he wants to prove people wrong, no matter what the consequences.
I hope i’m wrong..
“I managed about 2,000 games — I might know a little something about the game as well.” – ain’t this patronizing?
How about those people who’ve watched over 2,000 games, those who’s played a fraction of them, why does their opinion not matter?
In 20 years. Is there a single match that Wenger has absorbed the blame after a loss? Say he and his team just failed to perform. Why is he quick to take praise when we are winning yet after a loss it’s either luck, physicality, length of the grass, team being naive….he can’t be wrong.
Hi BT. Someone at the club must look into the future and consider the atmosphere if he does sign and things don’t improve next season. I always think, six games in, seven points on the board? Could happen perhaps. They’ll have to then stick with him for another season at least and I reckon there’ll be a lot of fan action too. All this will be lapped up by the press and every conference will be dominated by questions about his future, etc.
Alternatively he could win the double and we’d all love him again.
Very disheartening incident at Westminster, these people are the scums of the earth. I hope they suffer on their death beds! Or whatever caves they hide in.
Lol Arsene win the double? Even his boss is not in it for the championships.
The 8-2 at OT started it all for me, followed by the embarrassing deadline day in the transfer window. Actually no, that perhaps was the end…
Although I think I may have got a little overexcited when we won the FA Cup for the first time in years… lol
Wath. The cup was going to act as a springboard for Wenger’s revival wasn’t it? Lol
Still cant hate the man and never an AKB, but I started questioning his honesty when we sold both Cesc and Nasri after he said words to the effect of…………We cant be considered a big club if we sell both !……..then duly sold them !…………………………………if he stays, then this will be put to the test again after he has said that Ozil and Alexis will not be sold and made to see out their contracts !…………………….something he could have done with RVP and stopped Manshafter winninng the title !.
It was meant to Adam, however…..
No manager can perform any miracle with the bunch of lazy, mediocre players that make up 90% or so of the current Arsenal squad. What I want to see is a change of the squad first. The current squad cannot just do what we are seeing at Chelsea, man City of Spurs. I don’t care whether it’s Wenger or Guardiolar, I just want to see at least 5-7 top performing players at Arsenal. Bring in the kind of players who know how to do it even when the manager fails.
And to think if the club had been a bit more patient we could have signed Gerard Houllier back in 1998…..oh well we’ll never known what could have been.
It must of been tea cup Adam…………
or Fergie in 86 Micko……………..
optimist h, Who bought 90% of those lazy players, trains them, pampers them and sticks up for them..??? The current manager..!
LC, Nasri himself stated Wenger did everything he could to NOT sell him, but was overruled.
Also, the only reason we got decent money for RVP was that Wenger intervened after the call was made by others-make of that what you will, seeing as though Arsene is the almighty one at the club lol
Morning all.
Optimist, you make me look a pessimist and that’s saying something 🙂
Stick to your beliefs and don’t change for anyone else l, however, criticising a squad that Wenger assembled is in itself a criticism of Wenger, and rightly so.
OH, you don’t think they are under performing because they are bored with the manager?
Loving the German Podolski tribute. Another player who Wenger couldn’t manage…
I don’t believe that about Nasri. He couldn’t wait to leave…
Rico, I never said he didn’t want to leave, just that’s arsen did not want him to go.
Podolski was lazy.
I wanted him at the club long before we got him and even I was disappointed.
For app. The last 6 weeks of the League season before the WC, he was brilliant and energetic-our to impress the national manager.
That was the only sample we got of his very best but what a left foot!!
Pure football bliss.
Best left peg I’ve seen.
What you saying Scott ?…………………….someone above Wenger (and that can only be Kroenke as no one else is above, not even Gazidis) wanted the money !…………………..you trying to make me hate Kroenke ?……………too late mate, he`s top of my …….Most Unwanted List ! hahaha
Any how, Arsene would have got more respect if he had said that he tried to keep Nasri and “someone” above him over ruled him !…………………also, you haven`t given the Cesc reason in your conspiracy theory…….do love a conspiracy theory I does ! hahaha
I loved Podolski, but thought he was enormously over rated !…………….watched him for Germany when we bought him and thought ………………….”what does he actually do ?………..not fast….cant dribble…………stuck out wide and not a winger !……………….only good point , has a shot faster than the hadron collider ! “…………………………………lovely guy though !
My point was Scott, I don’t believe Wenger was overruled. After all, don’t we have a board and owner who never get involved with the footballing side of things?
I was one of them who said moving was the
right thing to do.
But now thinking back,we got 60,000 long before
The Arsene Football Club………..came along.
His got some front,leaving us fans Dangling by
the Albert’s..While he fcuk’s off on holiday.
Don’t know about you lot..I wished we stayed now
Seems we agree on Podolski aswell ! hahaha
As was I Fred, and why wouldn’t we? We were fed the line which suggested Arsenal were ready for the big time. What we didn’t realise is that we’d have the ghost of Christmas past, still be present today….
Not much wrong with Podolski imo, he’s like Ozil. The key is not to have too many players who don’t track back in one team at the same time. Give Podolski a sniff in front of goal, he’ll score more often than not…. imo of course….
Personally, I love the new stadium.
All a matter of taste, just like me and the missus, she loves cozy cottage, inglenook, wood beams and charm……………I love big glass contemporary architecture………………
Haha LC, no conspiracy theory about Nasri as that is absokute fact-Wenger was overruled and I saw Nasri say it in an interview-no minced words, just that Arsene did not want him to go but the “club” took the cash.
On Cesc, Well I was upset like most when he left but then, why keep a player who wants out?
I say show them the door, which isn’t easy to say at the time, admittedly.
Once the stories came out how he behaved in the period before leaving, then it was pretty clear Arsene couldn’t take him back and why would he?
Great player, but why bring back a player who’s shit on the club?
Not for me.
Rico, you’re right on Podolski- a luxury player who we just needed to give the ball to in a little space, because he’d hit the target every time.
He didn’t work out because, as you said, too many like minded players at once, as with Ozil.
The player who I reckon has made the most progress on that front with us is Santi.
Early on, his work rate was average, at best-never saw him at Malaga so I can’t say what he was like there.
Anyway, he lifted his workrate and became just a fantastic player for us.
Shame we’ve missed him but even greater shame we had no replacement.
Where please is that factual about Nasri Scott? And please, it’s a question, not an egg shell moment….
I never went to Highbury, unfortunately.
The Emirates is bloody impressive. But most definitely lacks atmosphere.
Seems it’s “prettier” on the approach than it is inside, though.
I went to a 1-1 draw with City and we were fantastic-unlucky not to win comfortably.
The atmosphere at the pub later was 10 times better, to be honest, so god knows how bad it is now.
The noise in the joint just seems to blend into 10 different sounds, if that makes sense.
Santi was always a super little player imo… so so talented… Only one person on here slated him during his early days and he’s irrelevant…
Rico, I saw the interview only quite recently-last few months or so-so I’ve no idea which network/station it was on and I can’t even remember who interviewed him, so I wouldn’t know where to start looking but I saw it, no mistake.
He was absolutely clear on the topic and again, he never suggested he wanted to stay, just that Arsene truly didn’t want him to go.
I guess you can all decide to take my word on it or not.
Rico, who was that, on Santi?
I thought Santi was, as you said so talented early on, But when he lifted that work rate, became incredible.
We’ve missed him terribly.
How old is he now?
Can he get back to his best after this injury???
Scott, Wenger wanted to keep RVP too, but we know what happened there…..
Re Santi, that person is irrelevant now as I said. Thankfully.
Fair enough, Rico.
Just my opinion but I think santi has played two roles for us. At first, the attacking midfielder, second, after Wenger was too tight to sign a defensive minded midfielder, he was converted to that role.
True, and it’s made him a better player….good management or good fortune?
It went the other way with Arteta who really was hung out to dry…..
Good fortune- just like so many which fell into Wengers lap after injury or being tight…
Lol.
True, but there the success stories. As well.
Seems they were more prevalent with attackers though, not so much with midfielders or backs.
I think Arteta might have had an influence on Santi playing in the defensive midfield role. Which with a player of his skill set he flourished. Ox is the closest we can get as a replacement.
Playing Santi every other game wasn’t very shrewd.
Trouble with me now I look at Arsene as a
Nitwit even when looking back at some of
our great player’s I’m finding it hard to believe
Arsene made these player’s.
Even a broken clock’s right twice a day.
Ox has looked good recently, apart from his defending on set pieces… lol
Ha ha Fred, sad but true…
I’m off guys, got some tv stuff to catch up on…
Night all….
Fred, he never “made” players, but he made plenty better.
We can not deny that.
Before anyone says he made plenty worse, don’t bother because we all know lol
Podolski a sniff in front of goal, he’ll score more often than not…. imo of course….
Got the lottery numbers ?
Potter, spot on.
Another player wasted because Wenger couldn’t work out how to best utilise them.
Look at Jack.
The man has a left foot that just wanted the ball 25 yards out. Feed him and he scores ask him to play tippy tappy and it don’t work.. Wenger as usual bought the player and tried to change him instead of changing his style to take advantage of his assets.
Wenger two more years deal?
When the environment arround the team and the fans will be unsustainable in nexte two years, AW are entitled to a high indemnity
Fantastic goal for Podolsky.
Good Moaning,
I see The Arsenal beat Spurs 1-0 (Podolski goal beat Spurs riddled England) this morning. Its a good sign for the FA Cup semi
Rico, that’s a good point you make, when you look back at some of Wengers signings and wonder if he really knew what he was doing or was he just very very lucky…?
Give me a lucky manager I suppose, but he nearly dumped Ashley Cole, Coquelin was on his way out until injuries forced Wenger to recall him from Charlton. Injuries again meant that Cazorla and Coquelin linked up, I cannot imagine that Wenger had a cunning plan to pair them up initially…
Lauren was a midfielder, Toure was a midfielder, circumstances/injuries/ luck saw them end up in the defence.
Silvestre was a full-back at ManUre, why did Arsene imagine that he was a centre-half?
Oleg Luzhny, Nelson Vivas, both played centre-half, was that another brainstorm?
The list is endless…
Of course, the sensible thing if you need a particular type of player, is to go out and sign one, like, if you need a defensive midfielder, go out and buy, and I know this might be radical, a defensive midfielder.
It’s not really as complicated as he makes it….
Kev, Thierry and RVP show when he got it right, he got it right big time though 🙂
One of the many things that piss me off about Wenger is that if a player wasn’t good enough he’d still persevere with them……that list is a fucking long one!
I mean go to Lille to buy a player and come away with Gervinho NOT Hazard….. laughable really!
Same shit happening with Sanchez as RvP etc……why pay below average players above average wages and NOT pay your best player the going rate? I suppose the average players will all come out in the media saying what a great coach you are?!?!
Hoardes of shit players being paid handsomely aboard Wenger’s gravy train no wonder we can’t shift any of them.
The new manager will have a serious job unwinding the over paid squad that Wenger has assembled. The huge salary bill needs to be distributed in a more efficient way, so we accommodate more Sanchez-esque type players.
Leopards and spots.
Must be a struggle to survive on 150k a week.
I really don’t know how they do it but I’m sure their girls get some cleaning gigs hahaha
They’re all bloody well overpaid, Lee, though some more than others, granted.
There was an article yesterday, it was Rooney moaning about having to eat pasta at 9.00am when he had a 12.00 kick off……my heart bleeds for him on £300k p.w having to do that once in a blue moon!!!
What an oxygen thieving prick!?
Hahahahaha
They really lose their sense of reality, don’t they?
Morning Rico. Yesterday’s interview with Arsene is a superb exercise in deflection and retreading old ground. Nothing new on his current situation though.
Morning Adam, all.
I haven’t heard/read his interview but I doubt it’s much different to those we’ve heard so many times before..
I am 100% convinced that Wenger is staying….. what a fucking terrible decision!?
Sanchez & Ozil’s contract discussions are on hold until the summer!
That means they are off and the funds will be used for the “massive” overhaul! Wenger could spend £300m and he’d still win fuck all, what a joke?!
I’ll take an Arsenal sabbatical until Wenger leaves….
“Nothing is good enough anymore”
“Success is to take the maximum out of the potential of the team”
What a deluded under achieving bell he truly is…..
http://le-grove.co.uk/2017/03/23/top-5-things-wenger-said-what-he-meant-the-le-grove-analysis/
Pedro really is on a roll. Another goodie imo…
There is absolutely no defending him.
It’s that simple.
I don’t know why he bothers Lee, everything that comes out of his mouth these days is just rubbish. It really is and he’s so full of contradictions….
Rico. You didn’t miss anything. It’s the same old stuff, as you say. We can assume that he knows what he is going to do but steadfastly refuses to let the fans know. Reading between the lines it seems that, upon reflection, we are actually doing rather well. He mentions our two games in hand, cup semi final blah, blah blah. his ego has blinded him to the reality of the situation it seems.
Yes, LG and Arseblog were very good yesterday too.
Adam, reading between the lines he’s staying put isn’t he…
I think the Wenger out posts are gathing momentum, I’ll have to get my dictionary out to find some stronger words… lol
Rico. I am not convinced he is staying but then, I always was an optimist. His support is dwindling and those that sincerely believe he should leave are now feeling very resentful towards him.
Do you think that, if he lost 75% of the remaining games, it would make any difference to a man who has already decided what he is going to do?
I am Adam, 100% sure he’s staying put and he’s loving these mind games with the fans. Shows just what the old fool thinks of us…
Re the 75% loss. No, I don’t think it would make a difference as in his mind, he thinks he can change things imo.
Then he deserves all the adulation that will surely flow his way.
Adam, that’s a scenario that i have mulled over in recent days, i think some of the defeats would have to be of epic proportions before he would consider an alternative decision.
Morning BT. Me too. I think the club’s support is incredibly edgy right now and what can he do to change that? Then again, perhaps he really doesn’t care. If that’s the case then what’s the point of any of it?
I still cling to the hope that he is as bright as he once was and will leave with a modicum of self respect intact.
Perhaps if we don’t win another game between now and the end of the season even he will realise that there may be something wrong at the club. Having said that he won’t consider that it’s him at fault he’ll blame the mentality of the players or the weather or his own personal wind!
Sorry I’m wrong aren’t I? He still won’t leave because he will feel that after more than 2000 games I/c he deserves a chance and indeed ‘knows’ how to rectify the Arsenal weaknesses! So he still won’t fckuing leave.
Who will rid us of this man?
My money is not on Mr Carpet Right!
Morning all its turned out fine again here today!
Stan will swoop in and save us, not!!
Nah, old boy will go, I reckon.
New post up guys…
I’m with you there Wavy.
Wavy. can Mr.Carpet Right or any of the board other than The cattle Rustler, sack AW?
I doubt it.
Morning all.