Why has he changed so much over the last six seasons?
My answer is: I haven’t got a Scooby Doo!!
We wondered, just who was he back in 1996....
With the change in his philosophy, came the change in his appearance and all in just a few years. For me though, the frustrations we feel, he does too and it shows.
So, why if he is feeling the pressure, has he not learned before today and the biggest question is, Has he learned now?
Again, I don’t know the answer but I sure hope it is ‘yes’.
Back in 1996, he arrived here at OUR club having been hunted down by David Dein, I think I am not far off the mark if I say most of didn’t really know who he was, hence the ‘Arsene Who’ comments that still get talked about today.
Arsene’s first signings were Gilles Grimandi, Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, Marc Overmars and Nicolas Anelka. We hadn’t really heard of any of them had we, but they came in and were outstanding. Yep, even Grimandi played his part.
He signed a few duffers too but it didn’t seem to matter so much at the time, we were ‘doing it’ on the pitch!
He sold a few too, Paul Merson, John Hartson and Paul Dickov to name just a few – jeez, right now, those three in their day would be great in the current squad.
Over the next few years we signed players like Freddie, Pires, Henry, Suker, Lauren, Edu, Gilberto, Diarra, Flamini, Wiltord, Van Bronkhorst, Campbell, Fabregas, Van Persie, Lehmann, Reyes, Hleb, Adebayor, Rosicky, Walcott, Eduardo, Sagna, Nasri, Ramsey…
I’m sure I have missed a few 😉
Then came what I think was his ‘final’ big transfer window – this didn’t involve who came in so much, it was more about who was allowed to go. We lost Sol Campbell, Thierry Henry and Ashley Cole. The previous season we had lost Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires and David Bentley. Also, let’s not forget we also lost our entire defensive unit in Seaman, Dixon, Keown, Adams and Winterburn!
We were losing the heart and soul of our side. We had just been beaten in the Champions League Final, we should be pushing on from there, not stepping backwards…
The following activity by Wenger in the transfer windows saw us buy players like Silvestre, Bischoff and Arshavin but at the same time we lost Hleb, Silva and Flamini, we had already let go Reyes, Gilberto, Freddie and Diarra. The following year we sold Adebayor and Toure but bought Thomas Vermaelen and signed an ageing Sold Campbell for free. At some stage during his reign we signed Bendtner!
Over the years Wenger, has gone from signing a lot of quality to signing an odd player who really makes a difference.
Off you go Arsene.....
My question is why, it’s taken it’s toll on Arsenal, it’s taken it toll on all us fans……
But also, it’s taken it’s toll on Arsene Wenger, a very intelligent man, a once well respected man’ but I truly wonder if the latter years have been of his own making….
He’s gone from being a feared manager to a manager who is almost laughed at by his peers and that is not right.
Want him out, or just want old Arsene back??
Finally, it’s a holiday here in the UK today so for those who benefit, enjoy the break.
For those who don’t get the holiday, ‘Life’s a beach sometimes’ 😉
That’s it for today, have a good one……
Morning all….
I suspect the better players transferred out after they saw no future with the plans they saw coming. The 30 years old and out policy did not help
Nice to see Jose and Ade get one over the ‘Mighty Barcelona’ in the Copa Del Rey final 🙂
I don’t think we would have so annoyed when the older players left if they were replaced like for like but thats where it started to go wrong, we lost experienced players, players who knew how to win….
He shoved the players approaching 30 out. Now look at Giggs/Scholes/Parker/etc.Of course it made way for the kids.But not all kids delivered. Pennant,etc did not make the grade.
If he doesn’t get the quality and experienced guys,Arsenal will finish empty handed next season.Btw stop the overplay and marathon passing. It has come unstuck in the big games.
Since we lost the famous old back four we’ve never really replaced them. AW just tried to patch up the defence piece by piece with players like Lehmann and Vermaelen. Fantastic! But he also bought Silvestre. Um not so fantastic! Still I think we are a decent defender and centre forward from being a major force
Hi Mike and Matt, welcome..
Some will argue that the likes of Squilli and Silvestre were bought as a 4th option but i don’t buy that, if they aren’t good enough, don’t buy them…
Losing Pires hurt……
Matt, add a central ‘defensive’ midfielder to that too…
All the players Arsene let go were past their best. Age was secondary. Which players that were let go, continued to flourish ?
Players past their best and players who could yet still play give and offer something to the team are two completely different things John, Gilberto still plays for Brazil, Vieira still plays, Pires did ok for a few seasons after he left, Diarra, Flamini…. so that takes care of your wenger loving comment…!
So it seems wengers captain and blue eyed boy did make those quotes in that spanish paper despite wenger saying it was all made up. Will you now sell your captain for speaking the truth Mr Wenger or will you actually sit up and take note that he is 100% spot on and merely saying what most of us have said for years.
My bet is he’ll sell him and go into his usual denial comments and tell us how great we are and how much potential we have…… Blah blah blah…….
john, we could have got another good season out of Henry & Pires…
Moring WATH, Diarra, forgot him, Flamini though wouldn’t be able to run, too many Italian splinters 😉
Gilberto and Paddy, one captain of Brazil, the other is only just thinking about retirement, when did he leave us?? 6 years ago….
Wenger gets it right with some but with others he really mucks it up and how that shows today with the inexperienced side we have…
That interview didn’t get the rubber stamp from AFC before it went to press WATH, said yetserday that i’m think Cesc is talking his way out of the club, he’s had enough..
His comments are true, but he should be telling wenger his views to his face not through the paps…
Rico, in the context of your post it’s not just the fact that were these players past their best thats actually not the issue its the fact we lots their input and their experience and these players actually knew what it mean’t to play for Arsenal they had it drummed into them by the likes of TA,MK,SB,DS,LD,NW and the Romford Pele……..! Noone there to drill this into the “kids” !!
I believe money has alot to do with it as most of the older players were on big wages. why pay experienced players large amounts when he can bring in younger inexperienced ones who cost less. And then when they establish themselves and demand higher wages we sell them off e.g Flamini, Ade and now possibly Nasri?
A W’s problem is he has lack of substance. Give him an enema and you could fit him in a matchbox
It seems the rubber stamp is crap its more that wenger disputes Cesc said what was printed but it now seems it’s 100%………. If Cesc also thinks wenger is Mr Stubborn maybe he thinks by saying these things in public in a sensible way the manager may actually take not and that as Cesc has said it in public the fans all know what he is feeling as well so if wenger does sweet fa in the summer and then Cesc asks to leave its because wenger won’t buy the players we need and he’s 100% right there as well.
I’m sorry for leaving that bit out WATH 😉
You are spot on – who is there at the club to pass on all things Arsenal?
I hope Bouldy is doing it with his crop and Banfield with his but I strongly suspect not, we need that big presence in the changing room which only the likes of those you list could do, now – RvP apart maybe, there is no-one…
I had to laugh at the post on LG today, some of those valuations on our players are mental….. half them and you maybe close….! 😀
that lot at ACLF are about as uncultured as you get. A rude mob!
I wonder if wenger lets Bouldy shout and gee up his youngsters or are they also wrapped in bubble wrap and protected from any kind of negative comments and criticisms..?
WATH, Sky are saying the magazine printing the story have released the audio tape, Wenger has lost this one, big time…
He’s not happy in his i/v…
amband, i’not for slating other sites but ACLF do seem to have a following that just love Wenger and the bloggers can be rude who challenge him…
Yogi, the owner writes really good articles though…
Maybe Cesc has said these things in public as he wants to get it accross to the fans that he cares…
Could this be the final nail in wenger’s reign??
This club is in a mess…..
If wenger slags off a magazine that has not twisted any words at all and wenger then says his Captain would not say these things how many eggs will be on his face..? Maybe your right Rico maybe even Cesc is pissed off wenger hasn’t bought and its his way of trying to get him to pull his thumb out his arse…? maybe Cesc has had these conversations in pvt with wenger before and yet nothing has happened..?. Seems the magazine is adamant they have not changed any words or the context of what was said.
Just listened to his i’v on sky WATH, wenger got real twitchy and he won’t listen to the audio, says he has other problems to worry about…
Darn right he has problems, and those problems are what Cesc has just spoke about….
Many an egg on his face i think, and not chocolate ones either….
Everyone will know Cesc has indeed said what was written and most will agree………. That alone puts wenger in a very isolated position…! Good…! answer your captain Mr Wenger…! We would all love to hear your reply..!
Wenger won’t, in any case, words cannot be heard when your head is six foot under the sand…..
good post rico
wengers getting wound up..welcome to our world mate..
difference is you got the power to do something about it..we dont..so do it and stop messing about..
cescs said what hes said..no doubt about that..wengers come out fighting and been made to look a mug…wenger doesnt like it when ppl dont tow in line and puts his fingers in his ears…
cant do that now..wenger can ignore it all he wants but cesc has said it how it is..someone needed to…although the timings wrong..
be intresting to see how wenger deals with it..probably sell him and give denilson a pay hike..
off topic a bit but the eboue to spurs rumours are picking up…it would be funny as fuck if we sold that silly sod to them…
morning jj,
i don’t care where he goes, as long as he goes…. he can take a few with him too….
I think Wengers on the verge of a breakdown…..
He moans about everything, the pitch, the time, the ref, loses it with other managers when we draw/lose, throws tantrams etc etc…
Wake up Wenger, this is all your own doing, not anyone elses….
£40 Million in the summer then, that’s what reports suggest wenger will have to spend, if he has that and whatever he makes on sales and WILL spend it….
could be interesting….
Off for a bit, back after lunch….
hi rics
its also worth pointing out that liverpool are set to sign a 25mil a year kit sponsorship
our kit deal is worth 6.5mil a year over 8 years..
whats that 48mil in 8 years..fucking hell liverpool make more than that in 2..
in 4 years they’ll make the same as what our STADIUM sponsership makes in 15 years..
we are so far behind its untrue..gimps..
how do we make our money?? i know..lets rip off the fans some more..
40mil??
wenger said in his conference their wont be wholesale changes..his squads 23 so whats there to change..
??
Wait till the summer.
hi will
could be wengers just saying it to keep the morale of the squad together, until the summer, then the axe falls
or hes just saying it cos he means it..
but judging by the last few years i fear its the latter…
What someone in the media should of asked wenger JJ is the squad maybe 23 but doesnt matter if they 17, 20, 23 ,26 or 50 if they not good enough you need changes and quite a few of them !! It’s not the age Arsene its the quality and the mentality and we lacking in both mr blinkered…..!
I am waiting for the summer, if with a new owner and a new direction we do the same thing, I will want wholesale changes.
We are Arsenal, we don’t do knee-jerk, that is for the plebs down the road.
what gets me wath
is that when wengers defending the fact his team dont win anything he says they are 23 and even if they dont win theyve achieved alot..
one of the answers is to find a couple of older guys in the window, as well as a few better quality ones, right??
but when asked about if there will be changes he says no..whats the need…they are 23..
i mean come on…
brick wall, head, banging…
its like the drunkered who walks into the same wall 4 times and thinks hes bricked in…
answers to stop drinking..
you keep doing the same thing your going to keep walking into the same wall and making yourself look a mug…
morning all…sunday at bolton. at least we are scoring goals away from home, but we are also letting them in. when was the last time we won while keeping a clean sheet in any competition? the 5-0 replay versus orient, right? that seems like ages ago.
“We are on a 16-game unbeaten run in the Premier League, so at least we don’t have a losing mentality.
“It’s down to us to transform the draws into a winning habit.”
How many have we won of those 16 games?
Afternoon….
We lost this title ages ago, how many of the so called lesser sides have we drawn against?
Had we had real title winning players we would have won those, be about eight points clear and have the title all but in the bag by now…
I don’t care if the players we have right now are 23 or 33 – age doesn’t matter when you are clearly not good enough…
I don’t get this over 30 policy. How great were Adams, Winterburn, Seaman, Keown, Bergkamp, Dixon over 30?
hi rico. we have a huge game at the reebok coming up on sunday, a side that will not roll over for us. that should be the immediate focus, but arsene is continuing his fight the don ballon magazine over the cesc interview…
it seems – according to the quotes i see – that arsene is furious that an apparent agreement that afc review the content before publication was not followed.
didn’t arsene come out once the interview was published and say that cesc’s words were “twisted”? don ballon has released the audio of the interview and i notice arsene – today – did not dispute the accuracy of the quotes, but has instead continued to focus on the agreement.
he comes out today and says if we win our five games we can win the title. then proceeds to perpetuate an unseemly squabble with a magazine over a procedural issue…sorry, but i think we have more important concerns.
Will,
neither do I, what makes it more crazy is if you could ask the players how they managed to play on and stay so fit, they thank Wenger and his eating/training philosophy…
Doesn’t add up….
Neither does it add up to then buy players who are over the age of 30….
Hi oliver, wenger is being a tad silly in my opinion, so what if the club sanctioned the i/v or not – Cesc has said what he said and he cannot deny it…
He should just say ‘I don’t want to talk about anything related to the interview with Cesc Fabregas’ if they persist, leave the interview…
To harp on about the way it was printed, well hand that over to the clubs solicitors…. Not sit there like a fool and argue with a sky sports numpty (or any others)
Boo! New day, more rubbish. It’s getting silly, this Don Ballon issue. I suspect Cesc did say the statements attributed to him; but I’m almost sure Don Ballon did a pick n’ mix of what would most sound controversial. It’s in keeping with the theme of discontent in the AFC world. It gives “substance” to the nth Cesc to the Stains story. It sells the publication. It generates website hits. Blah blah blah. That’s precisely why Don Ballon conveniently forgot to pre-clear it with the club.
On the other hand, so what? Cesc has not said anything that we don’t already know.
As for the title, seriously now, AW??
And rico, life really is a beach, sometimes. 😀
Boo agag, it always is for you, you seem to always be by one 😉
agree…unless don ballon doctored the audio they posted – and there has been no suggestion of that – then they appear to have accurately captured cesc’s comments. and i don’t interpret those comments as a personal attack on arsene – i see them as a football, entering the prime of career, openly saying he is not sure what direction the club is headed in, and what the true priorities are. the lack of a winning mentality – and he includes himself in that – is supported by the evidence of our performances in and since the carling cup final. the timing may not be perfect, but arsene and the club sanctioned the interview.
as it is, i think our players talk too much – both in interviews and over social media outlets. if arsene is really aggreived over this, then ban the interviews and tweets. he should make sure to extend that to himself while he is at it.
the club did a good job of keeping its collective mouth shut prior to blackpool and got our first win an a proverbial eternity. i am sure that is not the sole cause for the win, but perhaps the lack of talk lessened the pressure a bit and sharpened focus.
i don’t see how arsene’s media war with don ballon will help our team focus for sunday. give it a rest and focus on what is important…this is not…at least not as important as three points on sunday.
Oh oh oh, what made me really laugh today was that foxsport senior correspondent writing about the “changing of the guard in North London”.
What a donut! This man is paid to write???
every moment arsene spends thinking about or discussing don ballon is another moment where his focus is distracted from bolton…again, we have far more important things to worry about than this interview.
arsene talks about still having a chance at the title – mathematically, we do…but we also have a chance of dropping out of the top four. once again, we cannot afford to let sub-plots like this distract our manager from the big picture, which is to win at the reebok…
I think he should just stick to Arsenal, why should anything else be of too much interest, why talk about oter issues and other clubs…
He’s always had far too much to say… they all have, talk the talk but seldom do they walk the walk… toothless…
I doubt that DB doctored it, oliver. I just think that they decided to print mostly what would be perceived as criticism of AW and AFC. I think Cesc said those things, but it would not have been all he said. I’m sure he’d have been more complimentary.
I agree, our players talk far toooo much off the pitch, and not nearly enough on it. 🙂
rico, it really feels like summer here now. Very hot, very humid. You’d melt in under five minutes. 🙂
he talks about his players not getting the credit they deserve. credit for what? what have they accomplished? these are the kind of things i wish he would refrain from…
You were right, as soon as the interview in mentioned, Wenger should stand up, say thank you and leave.
I’d love it agag, well as long as i was in the sea or sat under a brolly 🙂
agag, cesc actually qualifies some of his comments and on a couple of occasions goes out of his way to praise arsene…so i don’t agree that they simply cherry-picked the salacious bits…
as a spanish publication, i am sure they emphasized the points where cesc questions club priorities, direction, and winning mentality. their primary audience is spanish, and the speculation of return will recommence in a few weeks. we would be extremely naive to think otherwise. the club sanctioned the interview – arsene said it – so perhaps they were naive in thinking that these things wouldn’t be highlighted.
regardless, i think he made some legitimate points about the club and the squad. it may be uncomfortable for arsene and others, but that does not detract from the validity of cesc’s – and many of our – concerns.
I am glad Cesc has said it. Wenger now can’t ignore what we are saying as his captain has said it.
arsene may not be able to ignore it, but by continuing to discuss the violated agreement, i suggest that he is doing his level best to try and take the focus off the substance of cesc’s comments…
personally, i think he will deal with cesc – one way or the other – this summer.
rico, you’d like all of my next five (gulps) trips, then. 😉
oliver, I won’t put it past DB to cherry pick, tbh. They have to write some of the complimentary bits; otherwise, it would be outright fiction writing. I am only saying that since it was a club-sanctioned interview, then Cesc would have maybe felt less guarded; and perhaps, they didn’t think it would have been written in the tone it was.
In any case, like we’ve all been saying; it was an honest assessment of our current status.
For the full transcript of the DB interview with Cesc
http://goonerburgh.blogspot.com/2011/04/cesc-interview-with-don-balonoriginal.html
perhaps they did, i cannot say for certain. i interpreted the interview as a fair, frank and balanced assessment from cesc, on where we are and what the issues with the current squad are. i didn’t think any loaded questions were asked, and i didn’t see much wrong with what i read.
the timing of this was certainly not ideal, i think we can all agree on that. but, again, the club sanctioned this. if they were hoping for a fluff, “everything is perfect” piece, then they should have done it themselves – we certainly see some of those on dot.com…and i think fluff would not go down well at all – if it ever does – considering the side’s current form…
If the transcripe is true on the above link, i don’t see that there is much wrong really – he says the invincibles were the best team he has ever played in, he was able to learn from the great players but now the responcibilty lay with he and Rvp
He says thats in Spain they would not accept not winning trophies for as long and at arsenal different things are important but at some stage you have to take the plunge….
to win or not to win..
oh, and he would never play for another English team…
mme….
FIVE agag, wow – that’s pretty exciting for you 🙂
Arsène Wenger has revealed he will be in a position to spend big this summer if required.
As ever, the Arsenal manager’s first close-season concern is to keep his squad together. While the youthful Emirates Stadium side may have dropped off the pace at the top of the Premier League in recent weeks, they have been in contention for the top prize throughout this season.
It was reported on Friday morning that Wenger had as much as £40 million at his disposal should he require it. At his press conference later that day, the manager did not confirm the figure but did suggest he had what he needed.
“Is [that] available? Frankly I don’t know,” he said. “We have not completely checked out our financial position. The only thing I can say is that the Club is in a healthy financial situation and, if needed, we can make a big transfer.”
But while the figures could be large, the number of incoming players will be few.
“No I don’t [expect a busy summer] at all,” he said. “The team is 23 years-old [on average] so why should we expect to have a huge turnover at the end of the season?”
rico, i agree…the link you posted resembles what i read the other day…as i said, his comments about mentality, priorities and club direction may be uncomfortable for arsene, but i see them as legitimate concerns, particularly for such an ambitious player on the cusp of his prime…
if arsene is sore at the uk media for distorting context, that is one thing…but in all i have seen, he is going after don ballon.
that whole article can be boiled down to a single sentence: “there are funds available to add new players to the squad, if i feel it is necessary.” didn’t need eleven sentences to say that.
which goes back to the ‘don’t talk about it arsene, leave it to the solicitors if they have done wrong’….
i’m more worried right now reading what wenger says about the summer transfer window…
The transfer situation is just another example of when Wenger talks rubbish imho…..
don’t worry about it rico…as before, he is leaving himself room to proceed as he feels best. the questions are inevitable, so he says everything (we are in good financial shape, there will be money to invest) and nothing (do we need to bring anyone else in?) to provide an answer that is no answer. he is just deflecting the question – and i have no problem with that. now is not the time to worry about who may/may not depart, and who may/may not arrive…we will have june and july to debate that ad nauseum.
i few posts ago, i blathered on about wanting arsene’s focus on three points at the reebok, not picking a fight with don ballon. in the same vein, i want his focus on three points at the reebok, not how much money he has for squad expenditures. that is an issue for the summer, not right now…
trouble is the two kind of go together and any interviewer will always ask him about his transfers – that’s because we keep drawing games, can’t score and this season have drifted away again from a promising situation in all the competitions.
Had we managed to win a few more, win the CC, not concede lates goals, throw away high scoring leads in games and be above the mancs in the league (where we should be) no-one would probably think about asking the question….
personally, i think our recent issues – especially the problems we have had scoring goals – are far more about what we use what we have, than who we should have brought in.
i won’t argue (what i think is) your point about lazy journalists banging on about transfers. i wish that some of them – and us – would not focus so much on signing this player and that that player, but consider why we have been getting so little out of so many quality, skilled attacking players lately.
its not like we can go out sign someone today to slot into the lineup on sunday…the questions are certainly valid and many of us think he should have been more aggressive in the market…regardless, it is what it is, and nothing can be done about it until after the season is over. so i don’t see any point in banging on about it right now. i certainly don’t expect arsene to dwell on it – he has much more immediate concerns within the squad and how certain players are utilitized. working that out will help us here and now…adding to/subtracting from the first team squad won’t – not until the summer.
so better not to work ourselves up about it…it will be very relevant in the summer, but completely irrelevant for these last five games.
agree oliver, we have what we have and we have to accept that, for now…
but – a club like arsenal should not be in the situation we are in right now and thats why most fans are very angry. i’m finding it very hard to get too excited about sundays game, i have kind of accepted we will draw and end up 3rd or 4th in the league….
🙁
And, because of what is going on, i think many are switching off from this season and looking forward to the summer, living in hope…..
how’s your daughter today oliver??
One too many, I’m told, rico. 😉 If you were less averse to flying, I’m sure you’d be wanting to take annual trips to SEA.
Our away form, at least is something to look forward to, oliver. On current form, that isn’t saying much, but I hope our coach and players end the season with more than the token effort of the last few games. We did well enough at the Lane, to be fair, until… we didn’t. 🙂
I hope your daughter is okay now, oliver.
rico, i shall not disagree, but may i ask what you wish to be done here and now? we cannot do anything transfer-wise until after the season is over. that is why i think the question about what arsene will have for squad expenditures this summer is utterly pointless in the lead-up to league fixture number 33. and that is why i think arsene was completely right to deflect and dismiss it.
mistakes have been made, i think we can all agree on that. but not all of them can be addressed at the moment. questions about who he brings on in what situations, where he positions certainly players and why aaron ramsey seems to have disappeared into a black hole are far more relevant than fretting over a transfer fund. that will take care of itself in the summer. if arsene sits on his hands, then he will be pilloried. but we should not anticipate that/worry about it until the summer. there is still plenty remaining at stake for this season…
she’s fine, thanks for asking. no problems with the nose last night or this morning. it is spring break for the kids, and my wife and i are both at work (shhh), so they are staying with one of my daughter’s classmates – his lola is watching them.
theres a few ways wenger can deal with this
1. accept cesc and 90% of the footballing world has a point and do something about it
2. do nothing and blame everyone else
3. fine him
4. strip him of the captaincy
5. sell him.
in conclusion
i think wenger too stubborn to do 1..
and any of 2, 3, or 4 will result in 5..
we need wenger to do 1…or cesc will indeed do one..
sorry – bolton is the 34th fixture, right? my math is bad…
hi jj…i think arsene will deal with cesc in the summer, one way or the other.
i’ve been on my soapbox about how irrelevant any discussion of transfer funds is at the moment. for me, that is something we should shift our attention to – and with it, the strategy for improving the squad, whether through addition/subtraction, player purchases or promotion from the youth system – in the summer. it it simply cannot help us here and now…
Haha, oliver. If she’s with a lola, she’s in good hands then. Loved mine, but we knew not to cross her. 😀
Hey, JJ. I was shocked about our kit sponsorship. Ack.
agag, everywhere we have lived, there is always been a friend who had parents living with them – always a lola or lolo who could watch the kids when neither of us could. they are indeed in good hands now…
what’s this about the kit sponsorship? all i have heard is that liverpool has signed a bumper deal with warrior sports to manufacture their kits in a couple years time. and, as i understand, they are improving on an existing deal (with adidas) that nets them far more than our current nike deal does with us…has anything happened with our kit sponsorship, or is this the liverpool news?
ha ha agag, i’ll never get over that fear 😉
oliver – what do i wish could be done??
I wish that a few of our weak, gutless, passionless players would finally ‘grow some’ – go out onto the pitch and give more than they have been this season.
Be organised, be switched on and stop throwing away points, show they care for OUR club and not just their pay packet….
jj, you been peeping at my post for tomorrow 😉
rico, your wishes are quite similar to some of mine. but these have nothing to do with what arsene may/may not have available for the squad in the summer. or what he chooses to do with it. that was my only point. transfer fund cannot address any of these things now.
if utilized responsibly, it can help with these – and many other issues – but only after the season, not during this last month.
there are things i would like to see arsene try in order to get a better return than we are currently getting on our squad investments. they may not work, but i think something different is worth a try at the moment.
hey guys
yeah oliver theres not much we can do about it until summer
but even when summer comes i dont think wenger will do much about it either 😉
agag the sponsership deals have always been a ball ache
we signed an 8 year deal back in 2006 for our kit worth about 6.5 million a year
on top of that we signed a 15 year deal for the stadium back in 2004 for roughly 6.6 million a year..
its a total of about 150mil which is shit when you take into account manu kit deal alone is worth 23mil a year
we get 6.5
fucking 6.5.
and theres nothing we can do about it until 2014..when the kit deal expires but the stadium contract goes on until 2019..so we stuck with that one..
lol rico
great minds eh 😉
I’ll make sure to email you photos as I take my trips. You have to bear with my rubbish cam though. 🙂 That’s not going to be replaced any time soon.
It’s news to me, oliver. I just didn’t think ours was so… dismal. 🙂
agag, there is a school of thought the sponsorship deals edelman signed were front-loaded to help with the emirates construction funding…hence the low return over the life of the deals…
i don’t know if this is completely accurate – jj can speak about these deals far better than i can…
oliver, i tend to disagree – wenger says he believes in these players, he is the mr motivator – if they cannot do it for themselves, him and the club then they are not good enough…
if that is the case, how long has wenger not seen they are not good enough…
thats accurate oliver
we needed the cash to use on the funding of building the emirates so about 100mil of it was paid upfront
edelman just saw the £’s and forgot about the fact it would leave us shafted for the next 15 years
in desperation to gain extra revenue for the short term edelman took the first deal on offer and forgot about the long term
needless to say edelman was fired not long after when the board finally realised they had been stung..
jj, indeed 😉
Why did we do such a bad deal for the stadium and kit sponsor??
oops, didn’t see olivers comment…
rico, i am not sure we are talking about the same thing. i certainly do not disagree that we have issues with the ability – and perhaps motivation – of some of our squad personnel…that is no different than most other squads. i cannot recall any squads of 23 world beaters, not even the all-conquering barcelona side we see today. and i completely agree that there is an underlying mental fragility with the squad as a whole. a “here we go again sense” when adversity inevitably arrives…
but i still cannot see how talking about a transfer fund and who we should bring in and move on will address these issues here and now. arsene and his staff have to figure out how to set these players up to get the best out of everyone, not just cesc and robin. that is one of the biggest issues i see…
talking about a transfer fund and player acquisition is idle speculation. no movement can be made until after this season – with five games to go, we should focus on the things that can be done to put us in the best position for these games. that is the point i am trying to make.
Ah, you’re a trove of information, JJ. 🙂
oliver,
i was answering your 5.39 comment, about what can we do now? I appreciate we can’t buy anyone so what i would like now is to see some of our players give their all for a change…
when they do that, we beat chelsea 3-1….
rico, that is something i would like to see also. i think they are capable of performances like that far more often than they show it…
i was the one of the wrong page, then. your 6:36 gave me the impression we were still discussing arsene’s comments about summer transfer activity. i now see that you were no longer talking about that.
No probs oliver 🙂
Diaby is out of the Bolton game and prob the Manc game…
When will he ever play ten games without injury….
no worries rico…nothing a couple of impressive wins would not take care of…for the remainder of the season, anyways.
at least we know what to expect with him…
isn’t it time ramsey got the opportunity to get a run in the side? if arsene wants to rest jack, how about giving ramsey the minutes?
Ramsey just might get some playing time now. He just needs to find his footballing feet. 🙂 He certainly looks up for it.
i think arsenes playing games with his comments on transfers to be honest..
recent results aside, we are still in with a shout of the title and with 5 games left hes not exactly going to come out and say im selling x y and z and bringing in 1,2, and 3..
its bad for morale..
same can be said for cescs comments..hes not going to admit to anything now, theres 5 games left and i think we all agree that cescs comments were badly timed..
the summer will become more clear when the summer arrives
wenger did throw us a little clue by saying there is money to spend on a big transfer
i thought the comment was clever..
but the only thing that bothers me is we all know wenger..we best of ignoring it until the time arrives and we see what he actually does,,
wenger also said he wants the fans behind the team until the last whistle on the last day and then he’ll listen to what we say..
plenty of clues..i think this is the summer.. 😉
And not a transfer window too soon, JJ. dare we hope???
we’ll see, jj…perhaps he does have something big lined up. or perhaps he is completely happy with what he has. the proof will be in the pudding come the summer.
i don’t believe a word wenger speaks these days, i think he is really narked with the press…..
jj, i been saying that for the last five summers 😉
But, i honestly think this is the one, i really do, wenger has tried his kids, now it’s time to mix it up with a few oldies….
But not too old, rico. Not too old. 🙂 No Sol, Mad Jens, et al.
Thats Ancient agag, i said old 😉
heavy rains over here…April showers indeed.
28% here today oliver, storms a brewing 😉
Right fine folk, i’m done for the day – it’s been a good one one here again,
Thanks all 🙂
Catch up tomorrow, enjoy the rest of your day …
Nighty Night
Ahaha. Fair enough, rico. 🙂 oliver, the rain is lovely for staying in. 🙂 Night!!
we are definitely staying in tonight – we usually, rather boring people, but that is how we like it. night.
Evening Gooners, just got back from London and everyone’s disappeared.
Where’s Wath? Where’s this list?
I could not see the last two games. Sunday evening knew the result with Liverpool and the Spanish commentator to say that “we had witnessed a sensational final with two penalties and 112 minutes of play.” It seemed to me that Eboue not did the penalty ..
Just today, back home, got to know the result with the spuddies and see the goals. I’ll try a calmer but what purpose the goalkeeper left feet? The striker was in an area not aligned perfectly with the goal and would cause the contact to get the penalty!
Two avoidable penalties and the title (almost) lost … leaves were in 2nd and 3rd in return.
Apart from Fabregas said that today, there’s money for new signings, players and more players, I still say that with this team, we could be champions. The MU has the worst team in recent years and Chelsea have little freshness so badly.
We continue to play for the “podium places”. Can anyone tell me in the last 30 years, how many times we were second and third?
Here we are JM mio amigo, you ready
1972-73 2nd
1980-81 3rd
1996-97 3rd
1998-99 2nd
1999-00 2nd
2000-01 2nd
2002-03 2nd
2004-05 2nd
2007-08 3rd
2009-10 3rd
2010-11 ?????????
AK, how’s u mate…?
You want schindlers list………. I’ll get it on dvd for ya 😉
Hiya Wath, was looking elsewhere as it was quiet on here, u ok? Oh and no ages from me tonight…….
List would be good
I’m alright mate, been quiet all week I think reflects the mood most Arsenal fans are in….
I didnt do the list in the end have it all down but whats the point its hyperthetic crap and with whats going on with the board n manager made it even more pie in the sky
Busy in London man, it was manic. Glad to be home. Good to see Kids in semi-final of Dallas Cup.
I seen they been doing ok but now am thinking there’s wengers next excuse…
We dont need to buy my kids just won in dallas they are the future, they have great spirit and don’t forget they are only 17 so they need time and I can’t buy to kill the youth……………….. Heard that b4..?
Nah mate, it’s all good knockabout stuff. I love to hear fans’ suggestions.
I hope while u were away you fixed that dodgy keyboard of urs 😉
Haha, Wath, your becoming an old cynic mate. Don’t worry…. HE KNOWS, make no mistake. This summer is shit or bust… no messing
Maybe I’ll do it one day next week will see….!
Keyboard….? Crystal set!
I’m just sensible mate I say what I see and nothing cynical at all, it is what it is unfortunately. I’m starting to wonder if he’s past the point of “bust”…!
mystic meg and her wizard fingers 😉
Had a quick look thru the comments i missed while i was away [ too much, to read the lot]. Seemed fairly calm all things considered. As if everyones accepted the inevitable.!
yeah mate, i know what ya mean re: Wenger. I’m still gonna give him this summer to prove to us that he can still do it. But it is becoming more and more difficult to defend him.
Mate, most ppl aint daft and most are not blinkered they see whats going on, we all hope and cling to the fact we had a chance to win things but deep down we all now we not good enough and that we were never gonna win fuck all, we just wanted to be proved wrong but then the reality was/is that this is turning out exactly as we all knew/thought and its bollox cos its not the first time and nothing has been learned.
This shit with Cesc and the magazine article has really made wenger look a total prick. He talks like we are all thick, stop taking the piss out the ppl that pay your wages and admit you aint got it right..! it takes a big man to admit he has got it wrong. I cant see it happening that makes it worse
The doubt I have now is that we give him the summer to put and right and he does fuck all that gives noone anytime to put things right if he give him the elbow in August…???
i can’t argue at all with your sentiments pal. To be honest i expected as much last summer after Wenger’s transfer biz was concluded. They actually over-achived, to what i expected, but in a way that makes it more frustrating as this season is such a missed opportunity.
Thanks Allezkev! So AW is pride in our second/third position. I bold that we have team for win the League this year and with lucky and reasoning last year too.
Yeah i missed a lot of that magazine stuff, but saw his press conference on the BBc. Not convincing!
Again spot on mate its just sooooooooooooooo fkin frustrating when he gives it the big talk and then does nothing and yet its a poor league that with the players we all know we needed we’d of pissed this league a month ago…! We end of talking and chatting abt the same stuff over n over and yet it won’t go away becasue they are the fundamental problems of whats wrong with this team and club.
AK the magazine has written what Cesc said and they have also come out with audio to back this up…. wenger now has to realise even his captain agrees with the fans so what are u gonna do abt it arsene…?
Well Wath, the way i see it is, if Wenger wanks away the summer, and AFC blow it again, then the fans en-masse will turn against him. Forget The Board, they’re a load of pussies, it’s the fans who’ll drive Wengwer out if he fails to address the same old problems.
JM this teams lacks passion and the fight to win anything…! they have the technique and the skill but not the spirit that wengers talks about week after week after week, if we had spirit we’d of won the league already.
The fans will show their hand very soon mate and b4 the season is up, watch…..!
JM, of all those 2nd & 3rd finishes, i have to say that Arsenal only really missed out on 3 stonewall titles, 1972-73, 1998-99 & 2002-03.
Wath, i’ve already told my son that the Villa game could be messy. The atmosphere could be poisonous
I was going to go to the Villa game, but i’m not sure i want to experience the bad vibes from the terraces.
Villa will be very messy…………..! 😉
I’m surprised ppl are only gonna make Villa messy and not before, last game an excuse can be made that its a minority, 2 home games on the trot makes ppl sit up and say hmmm not a one off then
The thing is, if we were a pile of crap it would be easier to cope, but we are so bloody close.
I think you’ll find outsdie will be where it’s at…. bad vibes is one thing questioning the truth entirely another..!
I think we’re a bit further away than we think, I think a culmination of not getting rid of 2/3 deadwood a season has also now come to a head as well so that will make it look worse than it is too but we need 4 big players in my opinion…!
Yeah, i know what ya mean, but everyone will be up for the Mancs, but if we go a couple down quickly, you might be right…
How the fcuk can this team turn from a side capable of whipping The chavs 3-1 into a bunch of idiots?
At that time the chavs were also not up for it and were awful…..!
I’m off mate, a cuppa and some tv b4 uncle ned…. Good chatting and catch ya 2moro sometime…! Cheers mate
Yep, 4 big players is about right, those tossers on The board owe us that, and so does Wenger.
But if he does bugger all it’ll be inexcuseable[?]
yeah mate, you take care, chat 2moro.
Morning…
New Post up…