Wenger admits he's a very average manager! Can anyone disagree?

Morning all,

Mikel Arteta has been ruled out for 6-8 weeks and Per Mertesacker will take the captains armband for tomorrows opening fixture. Reports suggest we have just ELEVEN fit outfield players. Will that kick start our manager into transfer action?

We’ll soon see…..

There’s a new book out called ‘The Manager’ which Arsene Wenger has contributed to.

The Daily Telegraph are printing extracts and this one is from our manager:

Unfortunately sometimes in the job I feel very average when I do not deliver results, but there is something in every individual that pushes him to try and be excellent. That is my petrol. 

If you want to make a career at a big club you must be capable to believe in your abilities, and to keep them in perspective off the field also. You can have players who appear quickly to have a big talent, but if they cannot handle keeping their feet on the ground and continue to improve, they will be eliminated.

If a player is only motivated by money he will not go far. Players are made rich very quickly, so if he has the money and is only motivated by money where does he go? The players at the top are people who have a very strong internal need to be the best. 

One of the difficult things of being a manager is to sack 14 people every Friday morning – and then re-employ them on a Monday morning and say: “Right, we start again – I take you back on board.”

So what is he actually saying?

He won’t sign players who are interested in money alone?

Adebayor, Flamini, Nasri, Chamakh, Bendtner and eeven Cole are just a few who, since the invinsibles were allowed to depart one by one, were just that weren’t they? He so often say’s he will only sign ‘special’ players, well most of those cost a lot of money and demand a very high wage. Aren’t they driven by money?

Then we have players who thrive to simply be the best they can – admittedly, we have quite a few of those…

So who are the 14 players he’s wanted to sack after a match, only to want to re-instate the day after? Simple, that would be the entire starting eleven and the three players he used as substitutes.

So, all 14 players were deemed so bad after a bad result that he’d sack them…

Poppycock, I’d suggest that the one in charge of those players takes a long look at himself in the mirror because when something is clearly not right with all those he employs, maybe the employer is getting it seriously wrong…..

Average manager?

Yes, I’d say so these days and maybe it’s time he changed…..

Let me remind you of what Ivan Gazidis said a long time ago:

This year, we are beginning to see something we have been planning for some time, which is the escalation in our financial firepower.

We have a certain amount of money which we’ve held in reserve. We also have new revenue streams coming on board and all of these things mean we can do some things which would excite you.

Didn’t the manager back up those comments by saying he will sign players?

Something which he has since repeated when admitting the squad is thin and again yesterday:

There are 18 days to go, so that is a long time in the transfer market and we will be active. I cannot certify what the number [of players coming in will be], but we will be active until the end, that is for sure.

Well he sure hasn’t been active at the beginning, let’s hope and pray he’s truthing this time.

The footings are in place Arsene, now go and build a solid home…..

0 thoughts on “Wenger admits he's a very average manager! Can anyone disagree?

  1. tsgh says:

    Morning again,

    Good read Rico… I know it all seems dire and depressing but that something in me looks more on the brighter side the more desperate things become…. is it the survival instinct/mental ailment?

    I will continue to believe until the window shuts and even then I will continue to believe… it won’t be easy though….

    No next generation competition this year due to lack of signing. What a shame…

  2. W.A.T.H says:

    Good post Rico, can Wenger be trusted to build on the footings that are in place is my question….! At the moment I would say it’s an emphatic no from me…!

  3. tsgh says:

    AW says he could not convince LG to join Arsenal as he believe playing regularly for Wolfsburg was his only chance for playing in the WC next season…

    I think good for us anyways…. we do not want another bottler as Syg said yesterday.

  4. rico says:

    Thanks Ts, Wath..

    You know Wath, my own view is Wenger needs to change, if he won’t then maybe it’s time he is changed…

  5. asiangooner says:

    Morning Rico, TS, DG, Scot and other HHs

    Excellent post and I agree if he fails to strengthen this squad before the TW shuts he must leave. AW says arsenal will be active till the TW shuts well I hope its not the kind of active we have been since the begining and be more active like city or spuds!!! don’t just say things actually do things……… actions do speak louder than words

    As far as our opening fixture against Villa is concerned I see a draw 🙁

  6. S2S says:

    Morning..

    Nothing much to say..hope season kick starts soon..

    Btw, why don’t FA consider playing few games on Friday? If they did many more games will be televised and many more teams will benefit and league will become even more competitive.

  7. Bradster says:

    Good read Rico.

    That’s hillarious ts. The guy who loves to milk Barca’s creche has no more babies for next Gen. Even funnier is that the U/21’s are full of eligible aged kids in their squad.

  8. asiangooner says:

    Hi TS, does that mean LG has gone to wolfsberg?

    Rico i really doubt wenger can change he is too stubborn in my humble opinion.

  9. GunnerDNA says:

    Morning all, “Luiz Gustavo has transferred with immediate effect from Bayern Munich to Vfl Wolfsburg.

    “The 26-year-old midfielder has signed a contract until 2018 and will be officially presented today (Friday) in Wolfsburg.

    “Both sides have agreed to remain silent about the transfer arrangements.”

    AW day are numbered, he is too concerned with what players earn and all the other bs that will not improve the squad. The day of reckoning is hours away.

  10. vernat1066 says:

    Perhaps he was talking about players like Bentley, Bendtner, Jeffers etc… As for sacking 14 players on a Friday morning he is talking about not picking them for the match, and them motivating them again to try and make the next squad so I can see what he means there.

    Average manager no an average manager would not have kept us in the top four average managers like Steve Bruce, Mark Hughes, Tony Pullis would not have achieved what he has achieved.

    But some one has to force the issue here and take control of the club, the manager identifies positions he needs players in the scouts search out players. The manager selects which ones he wants to pursue gives a guideline price and then has nothing more to do with it, it would be madness to employ a manager on 7 million a year and not respect his opinion on who to buy but it is also madness to allow that same man to dictate how much the club pays for them so that no initiative or common sense can be used.

  11. rico says:

    Morning Asian. I don’t know what to believe from the man any more, all empty promises…

    Thanks Brad..

    Who has stopped the NextGen, or have we just pulled out for a season?

  12. emma says:

    re: Gustavo – To be fair, if the wages and bonuses being quoted are true then arsenal made the right decision to pull out of the deal

  13. Lewis says:

    Morning all.

    Nice post rico.

    If arsenal and AW don’t deliver signings we feel will make us compete and we have another stumbling start to the season then it really is time to say good bye to Le Prof. I think in the majority of fans views its his last chance, we are at the end of our tethers!

    The years of mediocrity have to end!

  14. tsgh says:

    I am hearing DD was with the Arsene and IG last night trying to get some deals through…

    We bid £7M for Williams but they want over £15M…

  15. rico says:

    Gdna, can’t blame AW for a player wishing to stay in a certain country.

    Blame him for a lot but not Gustavo I believe.

  16. tsgh says:

    There are loads of DM out there better than Gustavo…

    Camacho, Kvist, Joshua G, Mulumba, Witsel and even MF as a box to box…

  17. Bradster says:

    Personally I like AVB. I understood the change he was trying to implement at Chelsea but player power was stronger.

    I think he has done a good job at Spurs and made some good buys. Pity he still needs to clear out the rubbish Harry bought.

  18. David says:

    Wenger is even worse than being an average coach. He has lost all d magic for over 8 years and the problem behind our trophiless season. He’s only interested in signing under age players and I don’t think I will stand watching how our tiny squad will be molested this season. Let me quit now before we face relegation.

  19. mattyboy86 says:

    Cant believe that twat has missed out on gustavo… angers me so much.. cant wait to see the reception tomorrow!

  20. asiangooner says:

    I dont know much about LG havnt seen him play much but our experts here TS, KT and SYG were not keen on him so I dont mind if he is not coming…. but we definitely need to strengthen this area.

    Maybe wenger is thinking frimpong for this role but yes i agree with rico we dont know what or how he thinks and now we surely dont believe a word that come out wenger’s gob.

    TS. 15M for wiliams is just insane I think 10M would be ok

  21. GunnerDNA says:

    No excuse, AW should have signed LG, he was a key member of the squad that just won a major championship. This squad have no experience to win anything.

  22. Scott from Oz says:

    Gustavo wanted a guarantee of first team football during a season leading to a world cup.
    Who wants a friendly wager that he only ever plays one season at Wolfsburg?
    Morning guys.
    Nice post Rico.
    My rant will follow.

  23. Scott from Oz says:

    We need players, and we need them fast.
    I am having a bit each way here…..we all wanted the deadwood gone so can not complain, but for gods sake, we started with 70 million and now have 80, so stop working on deals and get the bloody things done!
    Rant over.
    I can not wait to see our lads tear Villa apart.
    3-1 with Aaron bagging a hat trick.

  24. Federico says:

    Hmmm – I think that we definitely need a change of manager and only because Wenger is also in control of the contracts or how much is spent on transfers.

    I still think that he will buy players and from reading from a person who watches the Bundesliga closely, he thinks that it was a good thing that we didn’t buy Gustavo.

    I still don’t really understand why he hasn’t bought yet, but he isn’t an idiot, so I expect that he will buy someone – who knows – maybe it will be Rooney/Suarez.

  25. Steve. says:

    ARSENE YOUR NOT AN AVERAGE MANAGER,YOUR MORE OF A “CRAPP MANAGER”, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS I COULD COMPARE YOU WITH,BUT I’M AFRAID THEY WOULDN’T PRINT IT,DO US ALL A FAVOUR AND RESIGN. “UP THE GUNNERS OUT WITH PLONKER”.

  26. stevepalmer1 says:

    Morning all, I usually say nice one Rico but not today.
    Wenger done nothing in the window this season, what about the 20 odd thats off the wage bill, negotiations are not just for incoming he still has a responsibility for outgoings as well. He has taken the squad on tour he has took us to the Emirates cup where we only lost one game he also took us abroad to face City where we were triumphant. We have quite a while till the window shuts and i have no doubts he will make signings. We have to remember that Arsenal football club doesn’t come to a full stop when the transfer window comes round, and its not to late to get players in. I consider the outgoings just as important as the incoming but i would empty before i brought in. Yes were thin on the ground squad wise and yes we have injuries but more than half our team was playing for their countries in a fcuking useless friendly international a couple of days before the season starts and it just so happens this useless weakened team had more than half of its team playing. You may not agree with Wenger and he’s way of working but give the man till the end of the window and see what he does if he is as useless as you say he is i hold my hands up if we dont make top 4 i hold my hands up if we dont get through to CL. i hold my hands up if we dont buy all i ask is for you to see the window out, he says he will buy quality lets see if he does, you asked for 3 maybe 4 players at the start of the window i believe we will get more.

  27. tomstoned says:

    my last chance to have a dig at kroenke and gazidis we all know once the season kicks off tomorrow we’d better gather around Our team,they sure as h*ll going to need it 🙂
    my main issue is still with kroenke and gazidis,how on earth can anyone see them as *right*for Arsenal,to me gazidis is nothing more than a slick lying s*n of a b*tch and kroenke well he’s fattening his cow(Arsenal)before selling in the feature…
    with that said im ready for Our season…lets kick villa to kingdom come tomorrow…5-2
    Have a superb season all Gooners..it could be the season we surprise everyone !

  28. ibk124 says:

    ofcourse he is average, he has won only 7 trophies in 17yrs at arsenal, while man u chelsea have won 9 major trophies each in the last 8yrs that Arsenal has been trophiless

  29. frednerk says:

    Morning rico & all,
    Good post rico takes me back to the beginning of june:

    The bullish comments from Ivan Gazidis in June. Ah, those heady days of (early) summer, when Arsenal’s chief executive boasted, “This year we are beginning to see something we have been planning for some time, which is the escalation in our financial firepower.” He continued, “We have a certain amount of money which we’ve held in reserve. We also have new revenue streams coming on board and all of these things mean we can do some things which would excite you.”
    But specifically what could this mean? For example, could Arsenal now pay a £25 million transfer fees and wages of £200,000 for one world class player? Gazidis pulled no punches, “Of course we could do that. We could do more than that.”
    In truth, Arsenal have benefited from higher revenues than the vast majority of other clubs for many years. Their £235 million turnover was the third highest in England in 2011/12 and is likely to rise to more than £300 million in two years time.
    One of the most fundamental laws of economics is the one relating to supply and demand and that is relevant here. In other words, it does not matter if you have money, if there aren’t any quality players to buy. Gazidis referred to this in his June interview, “It doesn’t only require our decision, it requires the player’s decision and other clubs’ decisions, so there is a market that has to move not just dependant on one party, but dependant on a number of parties and many of those parties have been in a period of uncertainty.”
    That’s perfectly valid, but has not prevented other clubs doing business, e.g. Manchester City have already bought Stevan Jovetic, Fernandinho, Jesus Navas and Alvaro Negredo, while Spurs have acquired Paulinho, Roberto Soldado and Nacer Chadli.
    Less justifiable was Wenger’s complaint that “Some clubs acted very early so the choices were reduced”, as if the transfer window were some kind of handicap race and those clubs had been given a head start.

  30. emma says:

    I still believe signings will be made but we should have strengthen other positions before now. I wouldn’t mind waiting for the Suarez fiasco to continue until the last week of the transfer windows

  31. Woody says:

    Morning All – I’m as worried as any of you regarding the size of our squad, but I can’t help but think there must be something lined up.

    Given that we have moved on so much ‘deadwood’, it would be truly foolish to think that you can compete with such a thin squad, especially given the injury problems we’ve seen in recent seasons.

    Maybe I am being too optimistic (not something I’m known for), but everyone at the club, Wenger included, knows this.

    Maybe clubs we are buying from have asked us to wait while they line up replacements?

    Surely this is exactly what the Spuds have done with Bale?

    Can they afford to splash the cash without selling him? No CL income and low stadium revenue?!?!?!?

    I wouldn’t mind better that Levy has agreed a deal with RM, but wants to get players in before the deal is announced, so they are not overcharged after getting far too much for Bale.

  32. tsgh says:

    Dna, LG played only 16 (6) games last season with 7 of those being with Brazil… He is slower than MA08…

    We bid more than Wolfsburg for him but the player knew deep down he will struggle to adapt to this league in time for the WC.

    AsianG, I am not expert lol…;)

    Come down guys ….

  33. GunnerDNA says:

    Every player who already move in this transfer window could never improve AW squad he is looking a super quality, damn idiot.

  34. Bradster says:

    Nice one Steve, good use of caps so that Wenger doesn’t need his glasses, just in case for some silly reason Wenger will come on this blog and realise that wow your comment hits home and he should resign immediately.

  35. rico says:

    matty, I get your anger but if this player wouldn’t move regardless, there’s little Arsenal/Wenger could do.

    Funny though, Gustavo was reported to want to play under Wenger, someone is telling fibs…

  36. rico says:

    Thanks Scott, you rant 😉

    Gdna, each to their own re players, we all have our own favourites. I stood by TW for years and got a right bashing 😉

    He’s ok now though…

  37. KEN says:

    i am very surprise that some of us are still believing that wenger is telling us the true about transfer,when we all know that he wants to pretend and wait at the last hr b/4 acting to be there.sorry for us, this man is wicked and heartless.

  38. tomstoned says:

    Emma
    we all kinda knew this right,being self suistainable means(even though we might have the money)that we wouldnt buy anyone before we sold/got rid off the fringe players,and qualified for the champions league…
    to me thats the explanation plain and simple,…am i right..well its only my take on things…

  39. rico says:

    Caps Steve, are they really needed??

    Thats ok Sp, I won’t hold it against you 😉

    Shame he hadn’t done all those great things to make money and sign good quality to ensure we get some great results and performances this season as well…

    That’s all the Eastern tour was about, money and why did we play City in Finland I wonder, big crowds, more money..

    Not knocking it but everything seems to be geared up to make money rather than spending it.

  40. vernat1066 says:

    The clubs who have done the most business this summer have a dedicated Director of Football at them, Spurs, City etc… we don’t and it shows If we had the Director of Football whose job was to sign players and agree contracts then we would know who to praise or blame foe whatever situation as it stands know we don’t. The process has to change or we will keep on making the same mistakes over and over again

  41. tomstoned says:

    tsgh mate
    agreed on gustavo..he is not the quality we needed,imo we should have bought Fellaini..a long time ago..

  42. Scott from Oz says:

    Fair dinkum, some of you ought to just top yourselves hahaha.
    Come on guys….just over 24 hours put from our first game and some would prefer to moan and groan about Wenger than show any sign of support for the guys out there doing their best?
    Disgraceful effort.
    Perk up.
    Support them, smile.

  43. tomstoned says:

    Vernat1066
    the clubs you mention does also have Owners who clearly loves football,much like kroenke….right ?;)

  44. rico says:

    Welcome to those just joining HH..

    Woody, I reckon you are spot on re the Totts and Bales omission from their opening fixture would support that…

  45. GunnerDNA says:

    Rico i know he is spanish but if he was a brazilian could he play in the team that just won the CC. It was a friendly debate with ts, I’m off.

  46. ozgunner says:

    Gazidis has actually been saying since 2010 there was nthing standing in Wenger’s way buying quality and the board would not refuse his requests for that special one – 2010 that was – this club is now asset stripped of world class talent and its causing some serious issues. They have made their own bed

  47. tsgh says:

    Guys, nothing qualifiers me to be an expert but lets take a step back and look at the players who we have been linked with and if all they would have really taken us higher.

    It is a fact Jovetic is injury prone, with our luck with injuries would it have been sensible to sign him? No is my answer.

    Rumours are Aubemeyang agreed to join BVB the moment Gotze started talking to Bayern. We made enquiries but the player thought he would find it easier playing in Germany than in the EPL due to the WC coming up.

    Capoue, I have no reason why we did not go after him…

    Bony, most on here said you did not want another African in the squad and was not high profile enough…

    Negredo was a huge miss but he is no different to OG12 so maybe it was a good choice not to have gone for him.

    Navas is light weight and looking at the size of our squad he would have reduced our average size even further… he is smaller than SC19…

    Schurrle, Chelsea and Leverkussen agreed he would be sold to them this window.

    Lewandowski- we made inquiries before May and his agent informed AW he has agreeed to join Bayern. AW reported that to the world before even Dortmond informed their fans.

    Hig- well in my opinion was not worth any more than £15M. With no EPL experience he was not worth £31M. Even Pellegrini who bought him to Spain did not think he would be suitable to this league…

    Just my opinion of course, but the fact is Jose is going for De Rossi when MF is available; if he was that good I am sure even Moyes would have gone for him by now as he knew about his clause and all….

  48. Gunner forever says:

    We will walk into a new season headless, thin, and foolishly. Wenger must go. Can Wenger tell anyone that Suarez is a special player NO. Then what has he seen in Suarez who bit his fellow players. What is so special about Diaby who doesn’t contribute anything to the team. What special is Wenger talking,

    Tomorrow, he will sit on the bench convinced that he will win the league STUPID. How on earth can you pass an exam without preparing for it. Wenger has some some players who turn like Bulldozers (Metsuker) how can you win the league?
    SAD.

  49. ozgunner says:

    I actually think Spurs have been real movers and like their purchases – we’ll see if it gives them the final lift they want. We meantime…. Rico, might be the straw that…

  50. Scott from Oz says:

    Let’s face it.
    Players suddenly become better players when we seem interested, and raise a few levels again when we do not get them.
    Why is that?

  51. ozgunner says:

    15m for Hig tsgh? I assume your havin a laugh mate. The guy is a proven 20+ goal a year striker at the top of the game, how can he be worth only 3m more than the very average Giroud??? A 29 RVP was 23/25m for goodness sake

  52. vernat1066 says:

    Tom my point is that some one who is employed to perform these tasks exclusively will perform them better than some one who is not employed to do that or has not a clearly defined role with powers and responsibilities laid out. He know what he is employed to do, what powers he has to do it and can then concentrate solely on performing his task optimally.

    We may well have people employed to perform these tasks but there needs to be a clear and distinct laying out of what they do and what power they have to do it.

    Now all we hear is that AW said no and that is that if that is the case it is unacceptable as that should be the sole preserve of the man employed and paid to negotiate contracts and transfers surely?

    To be honest do any of us care if the owner loves football or is it just a business to them as long as they put the money in and buy players to improve the team no one cares why they do it, look at the Glazers at Man Utd for example

  53. ozgunner says:

    I said it before and say it again, panic buys and cross your fingers will again be the only plan Wenger is left with. Its obvious to see. You don’t attract world class talent to a selling trophyless club like he has now created in all his greatness.

  54. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Morning all …. Rico, Ginge,. Emma, Brad, AsianG
    Our last two Brazilians were a shambles and I don’t hold much hope for our current Brazilian Wellington Silva either…
    Sometimes you get what you pay for and sometimes you don’t.
    Gilberto Silva and Edu were both quality players, but back then £6M could get you a lot of player…. Nowadays you spend £6M and you get an Andre Santos.

    Our first 18 back then – 18 can be a decent squad, make no mistake

    1Seaman – Good (Excellent in his prime)
    2Lauern – Good
    5Campbell – Very Good
    6Keown – Good
    3Cole – Excellent
    7Pires – Excellent
    8Gilberto – Very Good
    4Viera – Excellent
    11Ljungberg – Very Good
    9Henry – Excellent
    10Bergkamp – Excellent
    12Edu – Very Good
    13Toure – Good
    14Parlour – Good
    15Cygan – Average
    16Wiltord – Good
    17Kanu – Good
    18 Adams – Very Good (Excellent in his prime)

    Current 18

    1 Wojciech Szczesny – Good
    2 Bacary Sagna – Good
    4 Per Mertesacker – Good
    5 Thomas Vermaelen – Good
    6 Laurent Koscielny – Very Good
    3 Nacho Monreal – Good
    7 Tomas Rosicky – Good
    8 Mikel Arteta – Good
    10 Jack Wilshere – Very Good
    16 Aaron Ramsey – Very Good
    19 Santi Cazorla – Very Good
    14 Theo Walcott – Good
    15 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – Good
    9 Lukas Podolski – Good
    12 Olivier Giroud – Good
    25 Carl Jenkinson – Average
    28 Kieran Gibbs – Good
    24 Abou Diaby – Average

    Today we have a steady squad, but no one who is really Excellent – yet. Back then we had 5 excellent world class players and only one average one. One average on can be carried. A few cannot.

    At one time (between 2006-12) we had Excellent players in Fabregas, Nasri, Van Persie and Arshavin, but they carried too many average and below average performers such as Eboue, Song, Denilson, Silvestre, Djourou etc.

    Today there is no one really stinking the first 18 out.
    They are all decent players – We just need game changers – Excellent – or very good additions to what we have.

  55. Scott from Oz says:

    We know all that Oz.
    You tell us often enough mate.
    The cycle has begun again.
    I will remain positive.

  56. tsgh says:

    Dna, Gustavo before this year had played only 3 times for Brazil since 2011. Why is that….?

    If Ramires, Ganso and Sandro were fit he would not have been selected.12 caps since 2011 with no major injuries…

    He has never been first choice until this summer due to the Brazil league and the fact that he did not feature much for BM so he was available whilst Dante featured in the CL final and was a bench warmer….

  57. tomstoned says:

    rico…i think that we have to accept the fact,wenger isnt going to change….but at least he has proven that he can do it…what have gazidis ever proven besides from his blatant lies…me personally i just want him gone..just the look of that guy makes me puke..
    so…mignolet,fellaini and one striker would do it for me,…sanogo could possible be the one..but its a gamble…maybe we should have gotten higuain…
    but deep down we all kinda knew we wouldnt do our shopping until we qualify for the CL…
    honestly its no more than a calculated risk from The Arsenal…

  58. tsgh says:

    I totally agree with your assessment… I thought Gerv was International class but I guess I need to go to specsavers. 😀

  59. tsgh says:

    Oz, Bent has scored more goals in a more difficult league in a poorer side… will you pay £10M for him?

    Hig was a good player nothing else… he was 4th choice at best scoring hatricks when the season was over against weak opposition…. how many times was he selected to play against Top teams in La liga or in the CL?

  60. Scott from Oz says:

    As long as do get the right players in this time, i could not really care if it happens later.
    Better than never.
    It had better happen this time, though.

  61. ozgunner says:

    Scott – apologies mate. It’s the only place i get to vent i guess. You’re right I do go on year after year but I see nothing but crap running from Wengers mouth. He’s like so many salesman i have terminated over the years, always fast with the excuses. Anyway, I shall tone it down

  62. tsgh says:

    SDyg, Rico- Theos STATS are on par with Pires and Ljunberg now… lol

    He rates higher than Reus Ribery and the likes apart from Muller… but he is a dirty bastard so… lol

  63. Scott from Oz says:

    Ginge, i can cop it.
    I will always support the guys out on the field…ALWAYS.
    Oh, and i have never been one to throw in the towel, especially before a bloody ball has been kicked in anger.
    Where is Adam hiding guys?
    Is he on holiday??

  64. Jimi says:

    I think the point a lot of you are missing is that the season starts TOMORROW.
    It’s all very well saying wait until the end of the transfer window, but we will have played 5 matches by then, including 2 Champions League qualifiers and a North London derby.
    Whoever comes in (that’s if we sign anyone, which is a gigantic IF) will have had no pre-season with his new team, so they are going to take weeks to settle compared to if we had signed players at the start of the window.

    Also, I normally like the articles but today’s was not very good. Sorry.

  65. Scott from Oz says:

    That is better Oz 🙂
    Do not stress what you can’t control mate.
    You know better than anyone there is more crap going on 🙂
    Relax and enjoy it.
    Lets get behind the boys.
    The 11 on the pitch.
    Lets forget the manager, CEO, owner, board, cleaners, medical staff………give the guys wearing their shirt our best 🙂

  66. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Hiya Rico … correction: “On his day, Theo Walcott is excellent”
    There’s no-one more than we would like to see him take the bull by the horns and knock out a 35-goal season.

    An outside bet for PFA Player of the Year 2014: Aaron Ramsey

    Wenger has accepted his proper position and injuries aside….

  67. rico says:

    Tom, Mignolet has signed for Liverpool, no chance of getting him now..

    I differ from you, I believe Gazidis and don’t believe a word from AW any more…

    But that’s fine, we can differ…

  68. vernat1066 says:

    I think that Giroud will improve from Good to very good this year, at his last three clubs his goal scoring improved in the second season. Podolski again I think will improve to very good this season. Walcott should carry on his improvement this season as well and i hope the Ox plays a more prominent role.

    where we are lacking excellence in the midfield and defence and that is where we should be spending our money, if De Rossi is for sale lets offer Roma more than Chelsea and see if we can get him, or lets at least look at getting that level of player with 50 + caps for a top footballing nation. Same at centre half lets identify the top players in that position and break the bank to get them like AC Milan did with Nesta and Utd did with Ferdinand.

  69. tsgh says:

    No I haven’t buddy… I will DL it tonight…

    I will let you know later this evening if I can meet you for a drink lunch time-ish before the game… Hopeful the Mrs has not got some errands for me

  70. rico says:

    Jimi, I think we all know the season starts tomorrow… Oh, and I won’t lose any sleep over you not liking the post.. 😉

    Syg, that’s better….. lol

  71. tomstoned says:

    rico..
    yes i know..but if we had done our business early well..buying late will set us back a couple of months…
    and rico some fall for that american slang ;)lets just differ..
    us being the new mcdonalds he surely fits in 🙂

  72. emma says:

    Interesting! The scums are in for Lamela. Thedippers have opened talks with Anzi over the signing of Willian. They will need our suarez money then

  73. Scott from Oz says:

    Emma, probably the only thing i am now positive about is that Suarez will not be at Anfield in a few weeks time 🙂

  74. rico says:

    As is Santi emma, suggestion was he’d not be fit enough..

    So all not quite so bad, still bad enough though..

  75. tsgh says:

    He is Syg… lol

    I thought with Harry gone no more bugging but…

    then again I think Akpom could be better than Lamela as a goal scorer in a year or 2…

    He is not really a striker so…

  76. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Wenger: “I don’t want to come out on any specific name because that would not be right. Usually in the press, you are well informed.”

  77. emma says:

    Lamela is Roma’s best player. But I dont see the scums paying 35m Euros after spending close to £60m. If at the end of the day they are unable to make top 4 it will be a colossal failure which could have a devastating consequence financially

  78. rico says:

    tom, tried it a couple of years ago, it was a bit of a flop..

    If someone wants to set one up and send me the log in details, I’ll get it up and running on here….

  79. southyorkshiregunner says:

    I heard Rico. My idea of top, top players is a lot different to Wenger’s idea of top top players.

    Did you see the Caughtoffside blog £45M + Vermaelen? I’d love to know where they get their info from…

  80. rico says:

    I did Syg, Brad mentioned it on the last post, in principle, IF AW was looking to sell TV then a good idea but:

    He’s not fit

    We’d then need to sign 2 defenders

    And why on earth would Tv want to go up there, I think he likes his wheel hubs….

  81. tsgh says:

    Tom- a deal had been agreed to sell the player re Bale ages ago, it’s just a matter of how often the installments are made… imho

  82. vernat1066 says:

    Top Player definition I would like to see applied to players signed : A Player with considerable experience in a major league minimum 5 years with champions league experience and a current international first choice for a Major (Top 10) footballing nation with over 25 caps aged between 23 and 30. If we signed players who fitted that description then i would be happy as at least it would

    Show ambition
    Give a better chance of them succeeding
    Help improve the overall quality of the squad
    Provide a role model for the younger players to learn of

  83. tsgh says:

    Rodgers said:
    “We are all very determined this year. I can’t let [Suarez] detract from that. Nothing can sabotage what we are trying to do” –

  84. tsgh says:

    The American who has moved to Fulham has taken to the cheap option like a rat in sewers..

    Loan deals and freebies… lol

  85. Lenz says:

    OMG Arteta faster than gustavo? Wonders shall never end,suddenly he is not as good as arteta.
    Everybody knows martinez is better than gustavo but it doesnt mean he is poor.
    The only thing arteta has over gustavo is passes and arteta’s main passes are between mertesacker and sagna.

  86. tomstoned says:

    Thx tsgh !your joining the HH league right ;)..dont you dare to not sign up ;)and of course Syg,Emma,Rico,Bradster,Vernat,and everyone else…lets all do what wenger doesnt buy buy buy and have a crzy season 😉

  87. devilgunner says:

    Good Morning Lady, Sir, Gentlemen and Ladies.

    Good article Rico.

    To those who wrote dis-respective remarks about the article….the fact that you felt compelled to write something about the article shows that you were influenced by it. So next time please, just dont say only that it is poor, but say why.

    Another thing Rico…..can you kindly remove those who write in block capitals? Especially whole paragraphs. Its dis-respectful to those who write here. I am not commenting on those who write a couple of words to emphasise something but those who come on here once or twice in a blue moon just to write something do irritate.

  88. Scott from Oz says:

    Hiya Devil.
    Last game of my coaching career tomorrow mate, unless Chelski sack another one hahahaha

  89. rico says:

    Ts, I’d rather The Sun one, but you can’t access the paper online without paying..

    Tom, you have the link please?

  90. TT says:

    @SYG

    I do have objections to some of these gradings syg…

    Current 18

    1 Wojciech Szczesny – Good(ok I can live with this assessment)
    2 Bacary Sagna – Good(I can live with this assessment too but if we look at more than last season I would put this at Very Good)
    4 Per Mertesacker – Good( This is a problem…play him with Kosser then very good…with vermalen average soo good will do for me)
    5 Thomas Vermaelen – Good( sorry no average to me….he always had blunders in him even when we were praising him the most. )
    6 Laurent Koscielny – Very Good(OOOOHHHH…he is so close to being ranked excellent in my book but very Good will do for now)
    3 Nacho Monreal – Good(Agree)
    7 Tomas Rosicky – Good(I would put him at very Good)
    8 Mikel Arteta – Good ( for the job he does for the team Very Good)
    10 Jack Wilshere – Very Good(NO…Good and no more. Jack has not shown anything consistant, I know about his injury but Sagna had a broken leg twice..Jack has flashes of brilliance and then disapears. One for the future fore sure though)
    16 Aaron Ramsey – Very Good(Agree wholehartetly)
    19 Santi Cazorla – Very Good(Again agree)
    14 Theo Walcott – Good(No fooking way!! Very Good at least…look at his goals and assists!! Another good seasonbecons very Good IMO)
    15 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – Good(yep but not far from being very good)
    9 Lukas Podolski – Good( ok but close to average for me though than to very good. To often disapointing and does not track back well enough though that may be by design though.
    12 Olivier Giroud – Good(Agree no more than good)
    25 Carl Jenkinson – Average(Agree but with a bit of improvement on averness he will take a huge leap)
    28 Kieran Gibbs – Good (Very Good for me.)
    24 Abou Diaby – Average(Who?)

    This SYG is of cours only my opinion I do agree with lot of your assessments.

  91. tsgh says:

    Bendtner is so good he wears guru gear to Colney..

    Frimpong and Jesus. #Bendtner pic.twitter.com/4nY8IIpJnU
    1:19 AM – 15 Aug 2013

  92. tomstoned says:

    hmmm ok !…i think one have to create a team and then join the HH league..but you could of course get the mail adress and password i used..no probs

  93. tomstoned says:

    sent an invite to HH…that would be great Rico as said im not a genius when it comes to computers…and im sorry if this means extra work for You Rico..

  94. vernat1066 says:

    You have to register on the site, create team no more than three players from one team and must choose 15 players for a budget of £100 million then name and save your team and choose join private league and enter code from Tom

  95. vernat1066 says:

    Nothing about a signing so far today, so the rumour about some one signed by 12.00 false then or we have just not heard about it?

  96. vernat1066 says:

    LOL I really really tried to pick from those team but it Burned so bad i had to stop for my own safety

  97. tomstoned says:

    Rico..we’ll just have to drag people in then ..no worries,,,and your in thats a plus ;)so far we’re four…not bad in this short time..

  98. Scott from Oz says:

    Tom, i never have the time nor inclination to make changes every week in FL, so i don’t join them any more.
    I am slack lol

  99. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Every chance, Woody.

    To make waves as he has done – calling Rogers a liar. Yes.

    £50M

    The agent gets a nice slice of that as does Suarez plus he gets a whacking great pay rise, Champs League football and to live in London.

  100. tomstoned says:

    No worries Scott…my work makes it easy for me to keep up,being stationed at a weather station in Svalbard for 6 months a year..so time isnt an issue for me mate 😉

  101. ktr7 says:

    If suarez had apologized the scouse loving media would be announcing it off the rooftops .i wouldn’t read much into it that he is training with the 1st team.nasri played for us vs city before leaving,rvp was all.smiles in training…

  102. vernat1066 says:

    What we did a deal on Two Bob Allen surely not, what a W****r he was and is. Spend the money on midfield and defence that is where we are weakest and then buy a striker for 15-20 million if we can get one that improves the squad.

  103. southyorkshiregunner says:

    That much is true KTR7.

    His team mates haven’t done anything wrong. Rogers has. Rogers lied to him and his blocking his way out.

  104. ktr7 says:

    SYG from the start suarez said he had no problems with the supporters or teammates.his problem is with Rodgers and the management.he has not said he is staying at all.he has probably been advised to shut it and let things play out amicably.

  105. ktr7 says:

    Wenger and Rodgers have stopped even talking about the issue.the clubs probably held peace talks to ensure a healthy relationship between the 2 clubs before any negotiations.

  106. Woody says:

    I’m sure Brenda would want a public apology and not a second hand report that he has apologised to his teammates. Really they are the last people to care about these things.

    If I see a public apology then it’s a different story!

  107. southyorkshiregunner says:

    There’s talk on twitter that a fee for Suarez could be agreed with Arsenal …. Saying that – there is talk on Twitter that Falcao could come here

  108. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Hiya Scott – had an email this morning saying that three bidders are jockeying for the £1.5BN valued 8km F3-M2 link along the Pennant Hills Road corridor in New South Wales.

  109. southyorkshiregunner says:

    He’s yaps as much and has a brain the size of one, Ginge.

    Campbell and Bendtner look giants along side of him

  110. tsgh says:

    The BSM leading a battle cry….

    ay 89 since the end of last season, and tomorrow we head into a new campaign. It was hoped and envisaged that this summer we’d take the transfer market seriously, invest some of that huge wad of cash we have in the bank, and hit the ground running ready to mount a serious challenge on all fronts. It’s needed, it was anticipated, and yet again it hasn’t happened. We’ve been through the hopes, we’ve been through a huge increase of ITKs spouting shit about the players “100% signed” (and of course showing themselves up)… and despite this being a HUGE summer for the club, we’ve come up shorter than Ronnie Corbett kneeling down. In a ditch.

    Tomorrow, Aston Villa arrive at Emirates and given all the crap that’s been going on at The Arsenal this summer, they probably fancy their chances. I guarantee their fans do; a bigger mob of lairy visiting supporters you’ll be hard-pressed to find. Many neutrals maybe fancy Villa too. However, I have one thing to say: we are THE ARSENAL.

    This club has always reacted when apparently backed into a corner. It’s always come out fighting when the chips are down. We sneer in the face of adversity and say “We’re The Arsenal, who the fucking hell are you?!”. This is one of those times, and it’s time we stood together.

    So if you’re going to the game tomorrow, I ask this of you. Get 100% behind the team on the pitch. Cheer them, sing loudly and passionately. Show them that despite what’s going on with the management of this club, your love of The Arsenal will always prevail.

    I know the squad is balsa wood weak at the moment but last weekend’s game against Man City showed that we have a starting eleven who can mix it with the big boys. The players we have now seem much more committed than in previous seasons, and we have some real quality in the team. I know we could really challenge if we spent some of that cash on top quality additions, but tomorrow is tomorrow and we need to let the players know how much we support them.

    It’s obvious that there is a lot of ill feeling towards the powers that be in Highbury House, and most of it is absolutely justified. I’ve never seen an Arsenal fanbase so divided, so full of anger, and if last season’s fighting in the stands is anything to go by, the potential this time around is even worse. Whose fault is that? Those running our club. They have driven a wedge between supporters, they have created the situation we’re in. But the players who take to the pitch have nothing to do with what goes on behind the scenes so that’s why I ask that you give them your backing 100%. At the BSM we’ve always called for fans to get fully behind the team on the pitch and this is no different.

    Your team needs YOU. Make some noise and let’s get help the lads get three points.

  111. Scott from Oz says:

    Syg, that link has been on the agenda or years and will be a MASSIVE bonus…..it means peole can get from one end of Sydney to the other without a traffic light…..it will save plenty of time on a trip.
    Cheers mate.

  112. GoonerD says:

    “So who are the 14 players he’s wanted to sack after a match, only to want to re-instate the day after? Simple, that would be the entire starting eleven and the three players he used as substitutes.

    So, all 14 players were deemed so bad after a bad result that he’d sack them…”

    Haha is that how you really took those comments?.. He’s notsaying that at all!

    What he means is that he has a squad, say 30 players (I know, I know!) every Friday he has to drop about half of them as they won’t make the squad. Then the next week the whole squads in training, rinse and repeat.

  113. Henny says:

    I’m a little down at the moment seems like players do not want to join us, but I’m still looking forward to watching the team play tomorrow and if Arteta is out I am interested to see how a midfield of Ox, Ramsey and Wilshere will get on. I believe that we will beat Aston villa tomorrow and a good start will enhance the teams confidence

  114. tsgh says:

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  115. Woody says:

    I like your optimism Rico!

    If only things actually happened that quickly. Do you think City and Chelsea fans sit there waiting for quiet transfer windows?

  116. Woody says:

    You know what I have a friend who’s a Southampton fan and he said to me that he saw a stat that said that Southampton have spent more in this window than we have in the last 4.

    He went on to say that it would drive him mental if Southampton didn’t make any signings by this point in the window!!

    He really doesn’t know the half of it…

  117. rico says:

    That doesn’t surprise me to hear that, isn’t AW the only PL who has made more money than he’s spent too…

    Yet how much have we in the bank now, £150 million plus….

  118. Woody says:

    Thanks Rico – you actually already know me as you helped sell my spare season ticket 🙂

    I’m going to make an effort to stick around…

  119. rico says:

    🙂 Woody, for sure I know you, always glad to help a fellow gooner…

    You must owe me a post or two for doing that 😉

  120. Woody says:

    Yeah, but to fair I’ve always understood the need (to a degree) with financing a new stadium, but now we have bundles of money but there isn’t a player out there good enough to play for Arsenal.

    We’re all after super quality, but judging by the actions of our club this summer they must feel that no one is good enough.

    I also fail to understand why it was such a hard sell to keep RVP, if the club was planning to spend big this year.

    Waiting 1 season to spend money isn’t much…I can only conclude that they never told him this…or never planned for it!

  121. Woody says:

    Hahahaha – I like your style, I’m just not sure people are that interested in what I have to say.

    It’s something that I would consider though, if I ever get a bee in my bonnet about anything Arsenal.

    I work online all day, so it shouldn’t be too difficult

  122. rico says:

    I think most have understood that we had to be careful, but not quite for so long and now, when we are out of the woods, we are still faffing around.

    RvP is a mystery, if what he said was true, surely he couldn’t have been told about what was coming next, or what is supposed to have happened.

    I guess at his age, AW wasn’t prepared to let another year go by without getting a good price for him….

  123. rico says:

    🙂 Woody, I am not sure people are interested in what I have to say but it matters not, it’s all about getting us chatting so don’t think you can wriggle out that easy…

    Thanks, I hope that bee soon starts buzzing 😉

  124. tsgh says:

    I am hearing we inquired about Erik Lamela but he is on one of those 3rd part ownership deals…His skills …

  125. rico says:

    It is Woody, think most are feeling pretty downhearted about the squad we have going into the first game….

  126. Wavy says:

    Not too worried about tomorrow but I am really worried about games 2, 3, 4 etc. the squad is so thin it would give Twiggy, at her thinnest, a cause for concern. What we have looks good, very good even but we are so short in numbers there is no way come November that we will be competitive at anything greater than beating a bottom 3 club!
    The wizened old frenchie needs to get is knees moving and that post haste if we are to achieve anything, apart from abject failure, this year!
    Jolly good, I’ve just completed another really positive post! Hurrah!

  127. Paddywhack says:

    Whilst I believe AW time is up, no one is sure that SK has given the go ahead to spend the funds. and IG is a slippery snake. Maybe AW is not allowed to spend any money as SK is such a money grabber. If that is the case then AW should come out and say so. Just a thought

  128. W.A.T.H says:

    In all honesty the only game that really concerns me is losing to those swampies cnuts up the road…. If we lose to them then I am going to be very very very very upset and fcuk then 2nd of September…! Just so you all know and Scott or Kev don’t accuse me of being miserable…!

  129. W.A.T.H says:

    Scott, what are you gonna do if we lose…? what you gonna do if on Sep 3rd we have bought sweet FA…? just an honest question amongst mates….? No ulterior motive just intersted to know what ur response is…

  130. rico says:

    Mourinho, who won back-to-back championships at Chelsea in 2005 and 2006, begins his second stint in charge at home against Hull tomorrow.

    He said: “Do you think United won the league last year because they were an unbelievable team? I don’t. The other contenders didn’t have a good season. The year before, when City won, were they an extraordinary team? I don’t think so. Other teams made so many mistakes.

    The champions in other seasons were magnificent. In the past two seasons, no.

    “Years ago, you had Arsenal who were champions without a single defeat, you had a Chelsea team with a points record.

    And Mourinho is adamant his side can win that title back – especially if a new £28million bid for Wayne Rooney is successful this week.

    “We can win the championship,” he said.

  131. rico says:

    £7 million a year if it’s true Carlos, not that I believe that is what’s going on.

    I think there is money, plenty of it and IG has made sure we all know so if players aren’t signed, only one man is to blame…..

  132. stevepalmer1 says:

    Morning all, Reading this post again, and looking at some of the comments, i had missed something from the first read. Wenger is an average Manager You said it and even he said it. An average manager plys his trade in the lower divisions he manages there because he is an average manager, A premier manager has normally aquired his position because he has stood out from the norm somewhere or other, Harry Rednapp for example has a lot of dodgyness about his past but is he an average manager he now ply’s he’s trade in a lower position but just a season ago he was tipped by most supporters to take the prestigious position of England Manager the Ambasador for English football. Redknapp no matter what you think of him has won very little but he has been a players manager and although i dont think a lot of him i would say he was better than average but thats my view. Arsene Wenger is much much higher in my esteem he has managed a premier team for seventeen years and he has made top 4 for all the time he has been here, that in itself shows that this man is a sight better than average. In his time here he has won many trophies he has managed a team who never lost a premier league game for a whole season and as far as i know no over premier manager has done that. Wenger has managed to keep his club up there with the rich clubs maybe not beating them to often but has kept his team in touch. While spending clubs have spent millions to get glory our manager has still managed to get us into a position where we can get into Europe Not just Europe but the Champions league fo every year it has been going that is not Average managing that is top management. Where so called top managers are coming and going like busses at a bus stop our manager has battled through tough times times where money has been thin on the ground, He has made average type players into superstars he has blended average players into teams that can make champions leage finals arsene Wenger is much much better than average and should we ever lose him you will start to understand just what we have lost Average never in a blue moon.

  133. Woody says:

    Morning!

    Let’s put transfer misery to one side today and get behind the team. A good start is vital for us this season!

    Rico – I can feel a guest post about the support the team receives at the stadium on match days coming on…

    Sadly I get the feeling that if we don’t score in the first 20 minutes, then the everyone will start moaning when Theo doesn’t control the ball properly etc…

    I wish we could come up with a solution for better match day support – with or without new signings!

  134. rico says:

    Morning Woody, good news re the post.

    And once the new post goes up, I’m sure it will be a new day, match day ….

    Too many JCL’s at the stadium and the way things have gone over the last few seasons has driven ‘real fans’ away and that’s backed up by ST sales…

    Or lack of them….

  135. Woody says:

    I agree re the JCL’s, but at the same time giving your ticket up because you’re team are going through a lean spell having financed a move to a new stadium AND because they’re competing against people with never ending funds is a bit rubbish in my view.

    I know I might receive a lot of abuse for it, but I always thought real fans stuck by their team through thick and thin, no matter how pissed off they are.

    We’ve seen far worse teams than Arsenal keep their fans turning up. Looking at some of the rubbish that’s been served up at Anfield over the last few seasons. They still turn up and support their team and they ALWAYS sing that f’ing song at the end, no matter what.

    Heck we’ve seen much worse than what we watch now. I know the media hype doesn’t help with these things and it was never a problem 20 years a go, but I’m not sure what anyone gets out of ruining an atmosphere and making the players nervous.

    It’s counter productive and the team feel it for sure.

  136. rico says:

    It runs deeper than that from what I have read, it’s about the off-field stuff…

    I can’t voice my own view from the stadium as I’m not an ST holder so it would be wrong of me to try…

    But no way are fans not supporting their team, they are just refusing to spend vast amounts of money which doesn’t seem to be re-invested in the squad.

    Or of course, they are keeping their ST and renting them out…

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