Morning all.
So that’s the heading practice Arsene Wenger referred to last weekend when asked what the boys had been doing all week having allowed Andy Carroll so much freedom!
What good will that do? Set the table a few feet higher and they might improve….
Seriously, I get the need for some down time and fun but watching them mess around is like a kick in the teeth when on the pitch, it’s not happening! Maybe that’s why the club are struggling to sell tickets for tomorrow’s match against West Brom. This picture is from the official website, reprinted by The Mirror.
The orange blocks have seats available, the red is sold out….
As the saying goes, every picture tells a story and this one is no exception. The attendance tomorrow night, or rather lack of it, will certainly keep the media tongues wagging and hopefully their reporting will reach the office of Silent Stan!
Drawing at the weekend against Crystal Palace was just one of many dire performances this season. Palace, a club flirting with relegation had themselves not so long ago been playing awful football resulting in a dreadful run of 14 Premier League games without a win. Pardew has said that during that time, he knew he was getting something terribly wrong but didn’t know what, not entirely.
So what did he do?
Bury his head in the sand and carry on?
No, he got the players together and they all had a cuppa and a good old chat and more than once.
We had a couple of meetings before the West Ham meeting that were lively, and where there was what you would call frank discussion.
Were players allowed to criticise me? Yeah, of course.
As much as I don’t have a lot of time for Pardew, how refreshing is that? Meanwhile, the Arsenal players had a meeting just a few weeks ago but Arsene Wenger was kept out of it which in hindsight was perhaps the wrong idea. He should have been there, he should have listened to experienced international players, he should have taken on board their ideas and had he done so, just maybe things could have been so much better this season.
Every week a different Arsenal player comes out with what the team need to be doing to improve and it’s deemed ok to print their view on the clubs official website but does that message ever get through to the manager? Even if it did, I doubt he’d take much notice because that’s not Arsene’s way is it?
None of those players have managed in the Premier League for twenty years so their opinions matter not, just as ours don’t or those of anyone else who dare criticise his managerial ways….
Finally, Arsene Wenger has been talking to the media this morning ahead of tomorrow’s fixture and he wants the team to focus on the way they play, rather than the league table but with City being held to a draw last night, three points would see us back into third place, a position we really must secure to be sure of Champions League football next season. Jack Wilshere won’t be involved against West Brom but he could return on Sunday for the trip to Sunderland.
During the press conference, the manager was asked about his future and the Frenchman’s reply will not please many of us. ‘I always respect my contract’ he replied….
Happy days…..
Imagine the scenario – you have a successful business that is raking in shed loads of cash. You feel you deserve a treat or two, so splash out on flashy cars, houses and holidays. You get so used to the good life – and your business keeps rolling in the cash, that you become a little blase and relaxed. You don’t notice other businesses beginning to steel your thunder, offer more up to date products and essentially putting the customer first. All too late, you realise that you should have been re-investing in your cash cow to ensure continued success. Alas, all of your competitors have now caught up and surpassed your flagging empire. Now, to rescue your business, you understand that you will have to dip into your holiday funds and spend really big – knowing deep down that even this might not be enough. Worried and confused, you order another ’76 red and bury your head in the sand.
Or another big Ranch in Kroenke’s case….
Quiet here today so catch up later…
If Wenger had a meeting every week with the team nothing would change the man is deluded. Im sure he doesn’t even talk to Steve Bould
Hi all”Or another big Ranch in Kroenke’s case….”
What on earth has that to do with Arsenal? the million pounds Kronke took out of arsenal are not gonna buy him anything and with a club of Arsenals income its irrelevant.
Its the manager and he alone that spends the budget….or not as happens most often. Kronke can be accused of many things but being stingy is not one of them. After all its he that sanctions 200m £ wage bill a year and was instrumental in the Ozil purchase and sanctioned the Sanchez purchase.
Lets not be dragging Kronke into this as some kind of villain because its the manager and manager alone that is the culprit when it comes to the yearly under achieving. If you can blame Kronke for anything its not sacking the senile old git but then again why would he? While the sheep keep putting money in his pocket on a yearly basis all is well.
The fans are to blame for the current situation more than the owner as huge section of it is still signed up members of the Kim IL Wenger personal cult. I’m still coming across fans that believe the sun shines out of his arse and that if we drop out of 4th spot is a trophy place then he and he alone is the only one that can lead us back to the promised land of 4th place and annual failure in the last of the CL. Try too reason with them their eyes turn blank and they start talking gibberish and foam at the mouth!
Tomorrow nights game is the start of the fans turning though. They are now voting with their feet and that’s good to see. Plummeting revenue is the only thing that will force the owners hand sack the manager, or what is most likely to happen allow him to graciously leave for “health” reasons. Can’t wait for that day to be honest,
Mgtt, my comment about Kroenke has everything to do with Arsenal and if you read here more often, you’d know my thoughts on the manager too.
Did I insinuate that I blame Kroenke for anything on the pitch? Did I pass comment on him taking money from the club? No!
I merely suggested that he is burying his head in the sand and going off buying another ranch which was in response to the first comment of the day.
Someone with more ambition would have reacted by now..
So please feel free to climb down from your high horse….
As for blaming the fans, what an odd statement to make, they have even less to do with what goes on at Arsenal than Kroenke….
No the fans have blame too imo. Its the fans that give the club its voice, not the owner and its only now that the fans are starting to make them self’s heard. For years the fan base has been silent and and none responsive to the problem at the club. There are exceptions to this of course but they are few and far between.
And as for my high horse please read my comment again and tell me where it was a slight at you.I was merely responding to the Kronke statement and giving my opinion on the matter. You have a open forum and if the previous comment was not to the standards you set then you have the option of vetting them like Untold Arsene.
8 comments, doesn’t that say it all about the current despondency surrounding AFC…
Basically indifference is the biggest threat to KSE.
Once the fan base doesn’t care anymore what good is £150m in the bank?
kev- so true.
I am always lurking but even my stats dont hold much water these days. 😛
… HH will always have patrons as long as the lady of the house posts…
MGTT, so Stan doesn’t take as much out as we suggest, and isn’t greedy , but he won’t sack the “senile old got” because he keeps putting money in Stans pocket??
Sensational argument.
Morning all.
TT – I’m not getting into an argument, I just blame Kroenke as much as I do AW and the most of the board. They are all gutless and pretty useless at what they are meant to be doing.
Ts, perhaps as a fed up fan, I should stop… 😉
It sure does Kev. If a new manager came in tomorrow, the place would be alive and kicking again, a bit ike The Emirates would….
Kev, it’s all just an anti climax at present.
At least we have a transfer window coming up 🙂 🙂
To be fair Scott, AW does continue to line the pocket of the club by not spending money, as do the fans, sponsors etc etc but only the manager is responsible for the stuff on the pitch.
And bearing in mind 70% of the club is Kroenke’s, it’s him who is laughing….
Hiya Ginge/Scott
Rico, I’ve got a half finished post at home… ?
I just can’t motivate myself to finish it…
lol, Rico. You cant do that…
It must be really hard coming up with stuff for us to read…
Onya Kev lol.
Rico, I’m not disputing that one bit, but doesn’t MADTT’s argument contradict itself?
Stan is not greedy, yet keeps Wenger because he continues to line his pockets??
Anyway, I’m off to bed so have a great day guys.
Kev, I know how you feel… 😉
It is Ts, some days I just give up and don’t bother… There’s little to be positive about if anything really and little things like the players playing table tennis heading which should be fun, really cheese me off…
Arsenal should be in a very different place to where it is now…
Night Scott, I get what you mean though, I think… 😉
Night Scott.
I wonder how the brexit will affect AW’s position.. Lol
🙂 Ts, that’s funny…
Good post Rico.
A good Chairman would see the problems that have been there for a few years. Winning back to back FA cups just papered over the cracks.
What is the point in having Bould as coach if he cannot question things. In many games there are too many individual school boy errors, that have led to defeats, whether this is due to a lack of concentration, or individuals not accepting responsibility. Either way, these are things that are worked on at the training ground.
Maybe, Wenger has lost what use to motivate him. Maybe splitting from his wife and daughter has taken its toll. Either way, with him at the helm and his inability to tactically change the outcome of a game, the future looks bleak.
Hi Marinello.
I reckon you are right about the FA Cups and I know I’m guilty of thinking he’d change his ways after we won the first one – I also thought the signing of Ozil was a sign of better times ahead but no, nothing has changed either in a transfer window or on the pitch…
I think that when a person has been in the same role for nigh on 20 years and not having a boss who pushes him or questions him, he has become complacent. Add that to him being stubborn, and always believing that his way is the right way.
Yes the Premier League has changed over the years, and on a good day all teams are capable of beating each other. But at least prepare the team in the right way. He has played Mertesacker in games that he shouldn’t have, Walcott instead of Cambell,
and left Cech on the bench when he should have played. As for signing Flamini on a free, no other club wanted him at the time.
The list is endless. Most good Managers have a good No 2, who are allowed to impart their knowledge at times. Wenger is human and makes mistakes, the worrying thing is, neither he or the club learn from these mistakes.
Marinello, taking of AW being here for 20 years amongst other things,the only way I can make perhaps this is not the real AW but a double… 🙂
All dictators apparently have doubles so…
Ginge what do you know about football?
you was trying to tell me that juventus were better than munich,not so long ago
afternoon rico and the house
RIP Victoria Wood.
Such a great lady and a superb comedian…
Dreadfully sad news…. 🙁
very sad news rico, great comedian
RIP
T’s, interesting take on it. Bit like I was Monty’s Double and all that….
At 66 being offered another 3 year contract on £9m a year, he’d be a fool to turn it down.
Hope he lives long enough to enjoy his wealth. Oh, forgot, he has a divorce coming up, maybe that’s why he wants another 3 years, to pay for it…
Hi Mg, it sure is… She was one of the best…
Very sad news. Could not have been very old.
62 years old…
Evening Rico. Very, very sad news about Victoria Wood I think. She always seemed refreshingly natural.
Evening Adam. Very sad, I’ve seen her live several times. Very funny and a really nice lady…
Night Adam and all.
So the red blocks are sold out rico, that wouldn’t be the away supporters allocation by any chance would it lol.
ManUre are one point behind Arsenal…
Isn’t it exciting.
Yawn….zzzzzzzzzzzzz!
Boooooring!
“We are responsible for the performance of the team and it is true that, at the moment, it is not a highlight but we have to take a distance with that. I hope in the next years, Arsenal will always play in the top three and, hopefully, people won’t get disenchanted.”
What a joke Wenger has become, where’s your pride and self esteem? We need a manager that doesn’t see a top three finish as a success….
Sorry but your time is up, we had some great moments under your tenure but you are being left behind and need to go.
Thank you and goodbye Arsene!
Yes, agreed, but that has always been his target, the top four was/is success! For him and the club it has never been finish first. He gave up on that when the chavs came into money. He surrendered and took the Board with him. Did he con them into thinking that it was impossible to compete with the super rich clubs? I think he did and still does, despite our so called riches under the floorboards.
He really should consider his position as a series under performer.
Morning all. Another match day, probably full of more excuses and poor performances.
Morning all.
Wenger retired yet?
I hope the walk out goes ahead this evening.
Morning all.
His recent comment about playing in the top three says it all… Arsenal are a ‘always the bridesmaid, no longer the bride’ club..
Tonight should be fun, especially with Utd so close to us and the Hammers not far behind them….
Morning All
Morning Rico
A feast of football awaits at the Emirates this evening.
Lucky old Adam…
Perhaps he should set his sights on the top 6 prize and no eurofool football at all. That would be a measure of his new found status of, dare I say it? “A success in failure”.
Morning Kev.
I reckon we’ll win 4-0 and all will be well again… 😉
Don’t know about about a walk out but I am not going so that’s two empty seats on the North Bank.
If reports are right, the place will be quite empty tonight…
New post up now.
Morning Rico,
I feel a 2-0 win tonight.
The players must be feeling the stick from the fans and owe them a good performance and a winning display. They need the 3 points but how many times have we said or thought this only to see the team have all the possession and come away with a draw….