Daily Bits and Bobs

Wenger Out – Is It That Simple???

Posted on by rico
As the dust settles on yet another horrible result, we are left to ponder what happens next.
Does the club throw in the towel and say enough is enough?
Does the club stick with what is has and wait to see how the season pans out?
At this moment in time the club finds itself at cross roads situation.
Sack Arsene Wenger and get in someone new or stand by him, knowing well enough that he stood by the club during the transition from Highbury to the Emirates and with it, turned down other lucrative job offers?

In my opinion, change for the sake of it sometimes is needed and not because the situation isn’t going well.  Arsenal are lying in 6th place in the EPL.  There are another eighty plus clubs who would willingly trade their present status for Arsenal’s current position and financial strength.

 However, for a club of Arsenal’s stature that place is not enough.

Some of the increasingly shrinking AKB’s might point out that Fergie lasted longer than Arsene Wenger as a manager of one club and they are right but even he was an advocate of change for the sake of it now and then.  Ask him how many times he changed his assistant and his coaches?  And then ask how many times Arsene has changed his assistants and coaches.

Yes, Arsene and Fergie might be alike as much as chalk and cheese, however while one is stubborn enough not to admit the glaringly obvious failure unfolding right in front of his eyes, Fergie, for all his volatile temper and an almost Hitlerian dictatorship, knew when change was necessary.  Coaches, assistants, tactics, players, tea lady, etc.  That reminds me of the incident between Herbert Chapman and one of his right hand men when during the season just before he died, he said that the team was played out and change was needed.  This comment was about a team which won three leagues in a row when players were paid a pittance.

Unlike today’s millionaires.  Few of the Arsenal team would justify their pay packet. Granted, I agree that there are moments when a player has his off day and these exist in every team, however, for whatever reason that a player is having a stinker, at the end of the day the buck stops only with one man.  The man who buys the players.  The man who plays the players.  The man who chooses the position of his players.

That man is Arsene Wenger.

Currently the social media on internet is awash with one cry “WENGER OUT”.  However, a few years ago, even just a few months ago, it was awash with this player out, that player out.

Iv’e never been against the players and Iv’e never laid the boot on players like Almunia etc but yes, I’ve winced when their name was on the team sheet.  We all have our favourite player and I have mine but I’ve never had any hatred or knocked any player who was in the team.  They were not to blame for their shortcomings.  I lay the blame on the person who buys them and selects them.

Have I managed more than 1000 games around the world, something Wenger suggests is required before allowing an opinion?

That is a wish which sadly will never be fulfilled even though I possess the full coaching badges.  However managing 1000+ games all over the world or not does not mean I do not know how to manage or not being able to read the game.  It does not take a genius to work out that had every player in the wall been over 6 ft plus against Swansea, Sigurdsson’s freekick might have had different results.  Yet in that wall the midget of 6′ 5′ Mertesacker was standing at the side, while the centre of the wall was manned by 5ft 7 giants.  No prizes for guessing over which head the ball went.

Do not tell me that the set up of the wall was decided there and then because what players do in a game is practised in training and while the coaches take the training sessions it is the manager who usually tells the coaches which aspects are going to be coached during a particular session.

Going around the blogging world on the net I was reading only the same thing.  Its been happening over and over again.  4-0, 3-0, 2-0 up we cant seem to defend and see out the result. I believe we need to be 6-0 or 7-0 up for us to have the game sown up as I believe that with this manager I will never rest easy until the final whistle is blown.

 We’ve had good defences during the first few Wenger years but they were not his defences. They where the remnants of Graham’s legacy. Apparently, the first thing that Wenger was told by Pat Rice and the coaching staff was not to meddle with the defence and he didn’t and subsequently took the credit for the successes that followed.
While the 2004 defence was his own purchase, it must be pointed out that it was led by and old style centre back…. Sol Campbell.

What now for Arsenal?

 Should they look elsewhere for the manager’s job or persevere with Arsene Wenger?
In my opinion managers such as Ancellotti, Guardiola and even Mourinho would achieve different results with the same squad Arsene Wenger has.

But is it the right time for a change?

Over to you…..
Written by DevilGunner.
rico

134 thoughts on “Wenger Out – Is It That Simple???”

  1. scottfromoz says:

    Very good post, Devil.
    None of us know exactly what the future brings, regardless of whether or not change is in the air.
    That’s ok, as we don’t really need to.
    Stan, however, has even less idea on what’s required, and probably doesn’t care.
    If Wenger stays, things will just roll on.
    If he leaves, we either drop down the ladder, or, IMO, have some short term success, but inevitably will hover around 4th and thats because Stan doesn’t care about trophies, unless he he can melt them down and cash them in.
    Wenger going doesn’t bother me now.
    Again, I believe we will continue to be a fringe club until Stan is gone, so Arsene leaving might just prove to people where the real issues lie.
    Maybe then all effort will be aimed at that bastard….not just some of it, as is the case now.
    Yes, it’s time for change, but I don’t see it happening.
    Morning all.

  2. Wath says:

    Scott, for me the question is this… If Wenger goes and for me the club will not sack him they are to shit scared and think no one can replace him because they are sat in their safe cocoon which is the board room……! “IF” Wenger left, would it preempt Kronkey leaving as he would possibly feel that his “investment” wasn’t a sure thing any more and he’d be asked to invest or get more involved and maybe see his share price drop…? would he think getting out would be the right time to jump ship as the great Wenger not there to secure that 4th place trophy and money stream…?

  3. escapecontrol says:

    I’ve claimed years ago… if AW releases a book after he leaves, I would pre-order it! There HAS to be some hidden agenda as to why the hell he simply isn’t on the same page as most of the supporters. I’m sure he can see the team requires a central defender and some strong central defensive midfielder? He can’t be THAT stubborn? Can he? #FML

  4. rico says:

    Morning all..

    Good one Devil and yes, the club are at a huge crossroads. If The Telegraph are to be believed, AW’s staff are starting to doubt him and if that’s how they feel, how must the players feel.

    No wonder their performances are very average.

    For me change is needed asap and that both Kroenke and Wenger are a thing of the past.

    However, we all know Kroenke will stay put, AW will for now bury his head in the sand and nothing will change, certainly not before the end of the season..

    All imho of course…..

  5. potter says:

    Fair description of the problem that. I don’t have the badges but I have played and see the same problems as you. Possibly you can say that the keeper should have been further over but had it curved round the wall he would have looked stupid and anyway most keepers are better diving to their right. I think most Arsenal fans would accept that when the Wenger years are over things are likely to be a bit rocky until new systems are sorted.However to do nothing is to invite the inertia to continue and our acceptance of downward spiraling to go on.Whether changing just Wenger is enough we will see, we also need more dynamism in the boardroom and perhaps an ex player or two that have football as their sole ambition.

  6. rico says:

    Escape, I once wondered if AW was doing all of ‘this’ on purpose, just to get Kroenke out of the club, but as he professes to love the club so much, surely he wouldn’t do such a thing….

  9. Nickie says:

    Wenger should have left 5 years ago. He turned down opportunities to manage Real and co because he wouldn’t be allowed to be a dictator at those club. He can’t handle it when he isn’t in full control.

    great piece Dev.

    Morning all

  10. Nickie says:

    You’re right Potter…I’d want someone that knew what they were doing with money and studied opponents vigorously. Someone that wouldn’t stop on the training ground practising something until he was happy and plays a brand of football that appeals to me. For me it’s Pep….plus he and Mourinho have a bit of history and he has experience in beating him lol

  12. Nickie says:

    If he’s willing to throw away £8m a year on Wenger why not? He’ll get bored of Bayern, they were already established winners when he took over, there’s not much you can do there and i’d be concerned if he didn’t win that league with the tools already supplied. Arsenal is a project, it’s such an attractive proposition…Come in, build a squad, battle Mourinho, amazing stadium, “toughest league in the world” fans backing, he’d be a hero before he even started.

  13. Wath says:

    What we also have to consider is Arsenal sack wenger they have to pay him off…. Not happening…!

    Does Wenger walk….? not in my mind he doesn’t he far to stubborn so we stuck..!

    The board can only have new blood to implement intend and direction “IF” the owner allows them to steer “his” ship….!

  14. Nickie says:

    Wath in addition to your first point. If they had it in the back of their minds they may sack him it would have been a standard 2 year deal. The 3 year deal to me indicates Wenger is unsackable. Wouldn’t be surprised if Wenger wrote up his own contract, clauses and pay….then signed it haha

  15. galteegunner says:

    thinking back over the years since losing the final in Paris, we have had so many frustrating transfer windows when most fans could agree on what type of player we needed and then Arsene goes the other way. Usually we all see a need for defensive type players but did not get them. This summer seems to me a real watershed for most. AW not getting a DM when he was linked with Khedira, Carvalho and Schneiderlin was ludicrously risky, same with a CB and relying on one youngster to act as back up to two seasoned CBs. How many of us at the time thought, god AW is going to regret not getting a DM and a CB. And now we see the result of that failure.

    I have enjoyed the AW years overall but they have become increasingly frustrating. Its like ground hog day, year after year. How can AW even enjoy his job when he’s constantly fighting off criticism and trying to secure a 4th place finish. Hardly rewarding work. Its very sad.
    I would love to see another guy come in. Someone up for a new challenge and with the energy to see the project through. Someone who is serious about results and can see when sometimes tactics have to change during games and when playing the strongest teams. Who will ever forget the traumatic defeats we have had. I am still scarred from the 8-2 at Utd and the Chelsea one last season.

    I have defended AW to outsiders for years but like other gooners have harboured concerns. Now I have passed the tipping point and want change. I don’t want ugly protests or anything that will tarnish our great club. I want to leave the AW years intact. Nevertheless, change is required and fans will need to let the board know that.

    Maybe a new manager will struggle for a while, maybe they won’t. At the end of the day, we all want to start a season with hope that this year is gonna be our year. However its been a long while since I have had that feeling. I can survive this season but I really can’t bear to see two more years of this while AW winds down his contract. It’s time to look for a successor

  16. Wath says:

    Nickie, Think they had no such intentions of sacking him hence the 3yr deal as it seems they are of the opinion that no one out there is better which simple isn’t true that pure drivel based on being to scared of change and being to gutless to act and be held accountable for finding a proper replacement. If they carry on regardless like nothing wrong then it’s easy not to be put into a position that god forbid they actually have to do something constructive.

  19. Wath says:

    Can’t see him walking either Rico. Amzing still that so many keep on with the same old crap of “who else is there”…. Who had heard of Wenger before he joined and we got rid of Rioch just before the season started…! People are so shit scared of change yet happy to plod along regardless…!

  21. begeegs says:

    I don’t see him walking either. I think that he believes that he can crack the nut of the CL/Premiership. Yes, he seems to be a principled man, but would you walk away from £16 million?

  23. goonster says:

    Morning rico and fellow housers….great post by the way. Wenger out is the only wat we move from this rot. He has to go. End of. Name a low level coach that ll survive 6.2 5.1 6.0 and 3.0 in one season let alone a top class coach. Owen Coyle ll do a better job. Wenger out Now.

  24. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Afternoon beautiful eye lashes and handle bar moustaches.

    Thanks for the comments lovelies.

    I want, just want for one second, someone to say to my face, in front of me, that fecking question….”Who is there to replace AW.”

    Will not give an answer, though you might all guess.

    Arsenal was there before AW and will be there long after he finds out that the fire in the cremation department does not care for stubborn headed fools.

  26. goonster says:

    Hahahahahahhaha just read your comment dev.. that’s hard core. Haven’t seen you in that light before? I like it.

  27. Scoop says:

    Yes. It is that simple. Wenger has turned this team into 4th Place Cowboys.

    Wenger passes on re-signing one of the best midfielders in Europe on the cheap.

    Wenger consistently produces magical attacking football, but the team lacks the ability to play in different styles on different occasions—this is key for a team to win big titles.

    Wenger’s teams have a weak mentality. After so many years in the CL playing against the best competition in Europe, the team lacks the maturity and emotional strength to close out matches against Anderlecht and Swansea City.

    In 17 seasons at the club, two of his worst three season have been in his last three years.

    Ever since Alex Song left, we’ve needed a strong defensive midfielder but he hasn’t signed one.

    Wenger could’ve signed Suarez right before he went on one of the best scoring runs in Prem history, yet he decided to get cute with his negotiation and was made to look like a fool.

    Wenger got smug with the media when commenting on Mourinho’s motivations (which is fine with me, Mourinho’s a clown). But then when he plays Mourinho, the team is weak and lacks fight and gets humiliated 6-0. Mourinho makes Wenger and the club look foolish.

    I’m sick of Wenger. He had a great run in his first 8 years but the game has passed him by. He appears to be having some sort of break with reality. He seems to live in his own universe but I think he’s quietly succumbed to the successive years of pressure at this level of football and needs a break.

    Thanks Wenger! Wenger Out!

  30. rogerbij says:

    OH such a good post Devil!
    I dont have 1000+ managerial games either, and I never quite made the pro grades, but Ive played enough and seen enough to spot the glaringly obvious – defensive midfield and defense has never been properly taken care of. On attack we can be too one dimensional – fergie always mixed it up. And you always need a killer striker.

    Funnily enough though, I still dont jump into the Wenger out brigade. Im not in the Wenger knows best brigade either, (because clearly I know best 😉
    Its hard, Wenger is still an institution and we have made the Champions League for what, 17 years straight, last 16… 9 years? Some comparisons:

    – Man city cant play in Europe no matter how much they spend
    – Spurs cant find a manager despite spendings 110+m after they sold Bale
    – Liverpool were a revelation last season and cant play for nuts this year. Rogers out?
    – Man Utd – diabolical last year, not much better (in fact worse) this year…
    – Hows Jurgen Klopp going this year? Last time I checked Dortmund were in relegation form.

    … so while we have not hit the heights we want since the Champions League final days, we have been pretty amazingly consistent. I know this is frustrating too, but careful what you wish for. Because in a few years you might be calling this the good old days.

    Wenger’s stubborness with the defense needs a shakeup, add a world class striker and we are not far off. As always 🙂

  35. escapecontrol says:

    I hate to say this… but there are other teams in the league that plays BETTER football with a better plan than AW! AW is not AFC!

    I look at West Brom, Swansea, etc that are playing better and with more heart than most of the AFC team. And why in the world does AW complain about experience at the back (against Swansea) when he had Poldi on the bench but decides to play Sanogo, who is fresh from injury??? Good grief… it makes a fan’s heart cry!

  38. rogerbij says:

    Afternoon Rico, Peps doing great! He did inherit a champions league winning team, and because the guy is brilliant he’s kept them at that level, maybe even improving them. Obviously I would take Pep in a heartbeat, and Im not against Wenger leaving and adding a top top manager like Pep… but get real too – there arent so many of them around and even fewer available…

    Sorry Nickie, we are amazingly, beautifully, the best super consistently *just short of top*. We are far better than average – but if you are comparing with your expectations then average is about right. In Europe, we are one click below elite. As funny as that is to write. I get you guys, I really do. I feel it too.

  39. rico says:

    Afternoon Roger, I personally think there are many who could do better than AW is doing right now…

    Wenger is far from being the manager he once was and I think perhaps that’s where the problem for ‘some’ is when they think about who could replace him…..

  40. Nickie says:

    one click below elite would wipe the floor with Anderlect. Give a relegation battling Dortmund a fair game. My expectations are higher than ever. If you call 6-0 chelsea, 5-1 liverpool, 6-3 city, 8-2 man u, 2-1 Swansea, 2-2 Hull, 1-1 leicester, 1-0 bradford, 1-0 Blackburn *just short of the top* you’re delusional. I wish I could see what you see, I’d feel much better.

  45. goonster says:

    Wenger is a has been. The sooner folks like roger realizes it the better. No top class coach?? Really?? Prandelli Diego Simone massimo alegri heck even joachim loew. Roger how can you defend a man who plays the best NO 10 on planet earth on the wings thereby rendering him ineffective. People sound like we are doing so well now that if he leaves we ll be in shambles. News flash we had to labor to win a trophy against a championship team. We get steam rolled by any big team. How many top teams have suffered the kind of humiliating defeats we ve had over the past 5 years. Milan barca manure chelshit and even little liverpoop have all thrashed us. This season we haven’t beaten a top half team yet people don’t want him gone. I need me a drink.

  46. rogerbij says:

    Hey Nickie, like I say, I feel you. I watched all of those thumpings last year. I stayed till the end in the pub wearing my Arsenal shirt while Liverpool trounced us. I dont like losing. I hate it. This year is not good enough – last season however was excellent in patches, and with proper investment last January in a top striker, we had a shot at this title! (I know I know, we didnt invest and faded).

    But just remember, whoever we bring in to replace Wenger wont have much more (if anymore) resources than Wenger at his disposal – so if I want an improvement its going to take a really special manager, and we all need to be honest about what those prospects are. Results aside this year, we did buy Ozil last year, and made 5 very good buys this year (with one awesome Sanchez). There are signs Wenger is getting it that we need to invest, and defence is part of that need.

    You want to feel better, but youre going to feel a darn sight worse if you enlisted David Moyes, then paid him out, then brought in Van Gaal, and youre having your worst start since 1986… and then imagine you dont have 150m to spend in a single window (we dont)… thats all Im saying

  47. goonster says:

    Roger wenger has the best NO 10 on earth. He’s got sanchez theo ramsey merteshieny and yet can’t do fuck all with em. Give that same team to koeman Martinez and even monk and see what happens.

  48. rogerbij says:

    Er… goonster, joachim loew plays Ozil on the wings for the national team. And you want him as Arsenal manager so he… doesnt play Ozil on the wings?
    How do the rest of you feel about Goonsters picks for next Arsenal manager?
    Quite a few wanted Roberto Martinez at the end of last season… and now?

    Noone’s saying that the current situation is good enough, certainly not me. Im just saying that your ‘cure’ could well be worse than the disease. But most of you dont want to think about that – instead gamble that virtually anyone must be better.

  49. bradster says:

    Hi All,

    Our biggest problem is Wenger not trusting the players he has at hand. If you look at the other sides they use their youngsters that have potential and sell the not quites off to the lower teams but still in the prem.
    We buy youngsters to release when they turn 21, no one sees them other than in the Capital one cup and then to much lower division teams.

    It’s sad to see Tottenham, Man U, Liverpool and Everton finding and using players from their academies.

  51. goonster says:

    Roger loew plays him on the wings for team balance plus Tony kroos was on fire for bayern last season how are you gonna reconcile that? Wenger on the other hand chucks him on the wings to accommodate wilshere….genius . lol

  52. bradster says:

    I believe Wenger’s stance on Attack is the best means of defence is his achillies heel for park the bus counter attack football. Any decent manager will shore up the back and build from there.

  54. Nickie says:

    Wenger can buy Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar, we’d have still lost all those games. All you have to do against Arsenal is work hard with a little bit of quality. That’s how easy it is. Leicester and Hull prime examples….a bit of hard work against us and we’re out of ideas.

    David Moyes as an example is extreme, you can’t compare Man U then and the current Arsenal squad. Man u was a complete rebuild job. There is huge potential within our squad…some tactics would help. Another manager could get more….Wenger seems allergic to his technical area these days.

  55. rogerbij says:

    Comeon Goonster, you know full well that Ozil is injured, sanchez is awesome and setting the PL on fire, Theo hasnt played a full game for 10 months, ramsey was injured till the other day, and Kosh is injured too. Jesus Christ cant do fuck all with em injured either, let alone koeman or Martinez.

    Bradster, fact – they arent good enough (yet). When they are young and good enough (Chambers, Gnabry, Jenks, Bellerin on occasion) they get games. Sanogo is young and gets games, and you know what I think of his quality so far… may he become great, but not while I watch.

  58. rogerbij says:

    Yes ‘amazing consistent’ is what I said, nothing more. settle down. 17 years champs league and 9 or so last 16 is amazingly consistent, even if it doesnt hit the heights we all want. Anyone want to argue with that?

  60. goonster says:

    Hahahahah for 5 million a year I ll give my life to win the league. See that’s the problem with the club when top 4 is acceptable to folks like roger. That’s why the French turncoat ll still have a job in 3 years time cause of people like roger. For shame. Lol

  63. rogerbij says:

    Gooster, You do me great credit to think I have the power to keep Wenger in a job or not. Anyway, when there is less hot air, and actually a few realistic plans lets hear them. There is a whole lot of nonsense written by various of us at certain times, and Wenger is right far often than most of the people on here.

    The number of people on HH who wanted to buy Balotelli, or get rid of Ramsey a few years ago, or play the kids, or get Sanogo starting ahead of Giroud last season. Madness.

    So its all taken with a grain of salt.

  64. goonster says:

    Rog my man let’s not fight amongst ourselves. That’s what the dictator wants . lol. I mean we get dumped out of the first round every season so why bother? When was the last time we made the quarter finals? I still have nightmares of shitvestre starring for us against messi at the nou camp I ll be haunted for life.

  65. Nickie says:

    I’d love to hear Wenger’s realistic plan. or a realistic plan in terms of tactics or defending. Currently, it seems to me like there is no plan at Arsenal, definitely not from Wenger anyway. Those with plans, for example maybe Steve Bould has a defensive plan, it’s shot down. The continuous lying from the board and Wenger “if we sell Vermaelen we will replace him, yes” makes us believe there is a plan before that famous ST renewal day. We’re in the champions league to make numbers up and as far as this season is concerned we’re in the PL to make up numbers.

    Arsenal is a club who should be challenging.

    Here’s a question…

    In 2011/2012 our squad was littered with mediocrity with the likes of Chamakh, Squlliaci and co but we didn’t seem too distant away from your Chelsea, City and then Man U, we hit top 4 great and knew with a better squad we could compete with them….Come 2014 we have a much better squad yet we seem even further away to Chelsea than we did when we had our sh*t squad and can’t even keep pace with a faltering man city? How is that?

  66. goonster says:

    Nickie back in 08 we were smashing the league. Van prick was injured and adethewhore had lost a bit of form. We could have won it had the geezer strengthened but no he sat on his flat rump looking more dead than alive then bam edu got chopped down by Taylor and the rest is history. It keeps repeating itself year in year out. The guy has serious issues. Wenger out Now.

  67. Nickie says:

    That was a sad day Goonie. That’s Wenger’s mentality all together. He could have used Eduardo’s injury in that game and the rest of the season…spurred the lads on. Nope, we feel sorry for ourselves and concede the league.

  68. goonster says:

    Clichy concedes a penalty and gallas broke down…hahahahahahhaha. Wenger is a wimp his teams are a reflection of him.

  69. rico says:

    Hello all, dummies back in now…. 😉

    Bradster – I am with you, if AW put in as much effort into our defence as he does our attack, we’d be better that’s for sure.

    Also agree that he doesn’t trust enough players, if he did, he’d rotate more rather than flog players like Alexis and Welbeck to death. In Jan/Feb, Wenger will be moaning when both are out injured…

    Goonie, Joachim Löw – if he took over from AW tomorrow, I’d be happy, just as I would if Pep or Klopp would.

    Klopp is struggling right now, but then so did Wenger when he lost RvP and other players before him and not too long ago and at a similar stage of the season, we were sat nearer the bottom of the PL than we were to the top so where Dortmund sit right now means little.

    Because just like Wenger did, my money is on Klopp getting Dortmund somewhere near the top of their league.

    The difference is, Klopp hasn’t always settled for 4th in his previous years!!

  71. rico says:

    Nickie, although I chuckled at the demise of Utd at the time, I think Moyes wasn’t given enough time and LvG is proving what you said to be true.

    In fact I blame the Utd players for a lot, they all looked like they thought ‘who F**k is Moyes and why should I play for this bloke after Fergie’…

    Moyes for me is an easy example for ‘some’ fans to suggest change is risky.

    I also think Devil is spot on, AW has been naive when it comes to keeping things fresh, as much as I love pat Rice, he should have been replaced years ago, bring in younger people with younger ideas but he didn’t and most of us know why.

    Darn control freak!

  75. goonster says:

    Rico what attack? You mean the tikitaka crab like sideways footie? But for sanchez we ll be languishing just above the relegation zone. Beautiful football my arse. We haven’t had that since fabregas left. I can count on my fingers the games we ve played that came out “beautiful” over the past 3 seasons. Spurs 5.2 both games napoli and the second half against shitty. The rest of the time it’s a smash and grab not fit for TV crap.

  77. rogerbij says:

    I like the title of todays post very much – Wenger Out – Is It That Simple???

    No – its not simple to get him out 😉
    And no, its not simple to get an improvement year on year. (unless youre pretty sure Pep is coming to Arsenal *cough )

  78. rico says:

    Goonster, no, not that alone, but he’ll always sign an attacking midfielder/striker ahead of a defender/CDM.

    Ok he did back in the summer but he had no choice with Sagna going and Jenks leaving on loan.

    When did we last have fourreally good central defenders to choose from?

    Also, he always spouts about the best way to defend is to attack, perhaps if he believed that the best way to defend is by defending, we’d see a difference…

  79. rico says:

    Roger, it’s not simple to get AW out under Kroenke, but under a more ambitious owner, his exit would be a forgone conclusion imo.

    Unless he finally read and implemented what’s in the Football in 2015 Coaching Manual!

  80. rogerbij says:

    True Rico, hence Wenger Out – Is It That Simple??? I dont know whats less likely, Wenger out or Kroenke out. Thoughts?

  81. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Rogerbij….being in the CL for 17 years is consistent. Staying in the top 4 is consistent. I was consistent in schooling especially at Uni. But even when I came top of the class/Year I still was livid the next year when I came first again but dropped 5 points from the previous total. My Pa told me to calm down. Calm down I said. Not when I realize that the points dropped were silly mistakes which had I paid more attention they would have been attained.

    So sorry, but that argument does not hold.

    And do not tell me that at the moment who should we bring in. Because until we chuck him out and replace him we will not know. Neither you nor I.

    And those who know me might still remember that from that 3-8 drubbing at Old Toilet I still have not forgiven AW. I dont have anything against him. I dont love him anymore. I am cold and unemotional now.

    When GG was sacked the club vowed never again to let a manager have total control. We have gone back to the last weeks before GG’s demise.

  82. rogerbij says:

    Devil, I think you make one of the best points – that fans dont care about consistent anymore – they want to try something new. And thats fair enough, I can buy that. I can sign up for that.

    But the last thing I want to hear is that those fans didnt know – didnt know that its a risk, that the clubs falls out of the Champions League, that players dont want sign for us so easily, especially good young players, or that we play uglier like Chelsea of years past.

    On the other hand, it could be a great adventure. But remember we wont have much more resources to spend than now, so its a bet that someone can straight up do better than Wenger. One of these days we will see.

  83. goonster says:

    Dev the humiliation at old toilet should have been his death knell. It’s unacceptable. We are not reading or yeovil town. We are the mighty arsenal. Would he had made it out of the stadium alive in brazil? You guess is as good as mine.

  84. goonster says:

    Roger could you just stop….we are the richest club in the world right now…..cash in bank that is. We don’t have the resources? ? Lord God in heaven you sound like le prick already.

  88. rico says:

    The 8-2 result at OT doesn’t haunt me as much as the batterings at Chelsea, Liverpool and Everton last season.

    Back then we had many many injuries, so many we almost fielded a reserve side if my memory serves me right. Also, we weren’t I think, as well off financially as we were the summer after that defeat and as we are now.

    Wenger had the chance to ensure that nothing like the result at OT ever happened again. He failed.

    He panic bought after the defeat, the following summer he failed to address our needs and funny enough, he did the same the summer after…

    The OT result was a freak, a horrid freak but what our illustrious leader failed to do, is ensure we’d never get battered again…

    But we did!

  89. rogerbij says:

    Cheers Rico, and play the ball not the man goonster.

    However rich you dream we are, we arent likely to be spending more than we did last summer. I get it goonster, youre a Wenger out, as is well known Im not a Wenger apologist – I criticise plenty and often, but Im a realist too.

  91. goonster says:

    Rico 8.2 a freak?? I think not. We were battered again last season. It’s a recurring occurrence. I see another pasting coming this season but this time at the emirates. Brace yourselves gooners.

  93. goonster says:

    If a team like anderlecht could come back from thr dead against us at the emirates then trust me the chavs ll whoop the tar out of us. I can’t wait. 😀

  98. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Can you really blame them for being fed up. when something you love keeps hurting you over and over again, in the same old fashion.

  116. Lee says:

    No but Arteta is being offered a contract until 2016…..what a fucking joke we are!?!? People are scared of change, change can be good! We are being held back by wenger at the moment so time to move on! Get some fresh new ideas and new impetus!

  117. scottfromoz says:

    Lee, Arteta can do a job.
    The problem is he’s our best DM at present when he should be second or third in line.

  119. scottfromoz says:

    Rico, I disagree IF, and it’s a big IF, we get a top notch DM in January.
    I mean, if Arteta goes we need two, right?
    Is that going to happen?
    Morning 🙂

  120. rico says:

    I’m just talking about the situation Scott, it shows just what we have become. I like Arteta but he’s too slow to be playing where he does. Flamini is equally as bad but in different ways.

    My view is we need two midfielders in any case, two who would do for us now what Paddy and Petit used to do.

  128. scottfromoz says:

    Flamini should be ten times better.
    He’s been in Italy, probably the most tactical league in football, yet learnt nothing.

  129. potter says:

    When he was in Italy he played 96 games in 5 years average 19.2 games a season. According to Wiki he mainly played when others were injured . Effectively that made him a squad player that they were not over enamoured with.

  130. Wavy says:

    Flamini’s tactical instruction have been issued by our Head Coach, that he is to run around like headless chicken kicking out at anything that moves but not in in an Arsenal shirt! Much the same as he was in Italy! Tactics? My arse!!

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