I don't like this idea of him operating on a shoe string either. Or him unearthing gems. They spend more than anyone else on youth players and discard anyone who doesn't make it!
Arsene Wenger
- Thread starter MadAdey
- Start date
I don't like this idea of him operating on a shoe string either. Or him unearthing gems. They spend more than anyone else on youth players and discard anyone who doesn't make it!
jp5
Q-School Graduate
Who's happy being fourth? I think the majority of sane Arsenal fans find finishing fourth each year no more of an 'achievement' than surviving relegation.
The problem is Wenger through and through. Tactically he is awful. He always, always, always brings off attacking players for defensive ones if Arsenal have a tight lead. Then (surprisingly) Arsenal invite pressure on themselves and the opposition inevitably ends up nicking an equaliser / winner. Arsenal ended up with three defensive midfielders last night and were lucky not to lose the game in the end!
MegaSteve
Tour Winner
Figures in the quoted article don't support that though... 66% have gone on to win sweet FA...
jp5
Q-School Graduate
It's an illusion. Thankfully more and more fans, and the bum-licking press, are opening their eyes and viewing it from an objective stance instead.
How many of that 66% were proper squad players. I would suggest the % of players sold for a proper fee winning things is a lot higher. Not including all the youth players wenger stakes from youth set ups and then discards after 2 years.
jp5
Q-School Graduate
Compared to 100% of players who have stayed at Arsenal and won FA!
MegaSteve
Tour Winner
I find it difficult to openly criticise a man who's 'leadership' has brought a good deal of success to a club I have supported since I can remember... Of those on the 'departure list' only about half a dozen have I been saddened by their leaving... And one, in truth, left mostly for personal reasons rather than footballing ones...
Like I alluded to earlier there are many clubs who aspire to Arsenal's 'lack of success'...
Like I alluded to earlier there are many clubs who aspire to Arsenal's 'lack of success'...
cookelad
Tour Winner
At the moment I wouldn't put us favourites for 4th in the league, what a difference a couple of month can make!
Finishing 5th might be the kick up the Arsenal the board with or without Wenger need to get the multiple padlocks off the war-chest Wenger's been sitting on, problem for me has been the a combination of the fact that Wenger and the board see Champions League qualification as a trophy and that we've managed to scrape our way in it the last few years! Don't get me wrong I'd prefer to be in The Champions League than not be in it, but could we at least put up a fight for winning something? I'm sure every United fan felt sick to the core when the "AGUERRRROOOOOO" moment happened but at least you were in the fight - Right now I'd take that in a heartbeat, obviously I'd prefer to win it but compared to the last few years of taking 4th place while being a mile off the pace...
To clarify I don't want Wenger out but I think the next 15 months could be the most important to how he's remembered at the club!
Finishing 5th might be the kick up the Arsenal the board with or without Wenger need to get the multiple padlocks off the war-chest Wenger's been sitting on, problem for me has been the a combination of the fact that Wenger and the board see Champions League qualification as a trophy and that we've managed to scrape our way in it the last few years! Don't get me wrong I'd prefer to be in The Champions League than not be in it, but could we at least put up a fight for winning something? I'm sure every United fan felt sick to the core when the "AGUERRRROOOOOO" moment happened but at least you were in the fight - Right now I'd take that in a heartbeat, obviously I'd prefer to win it but compared to the last few years of taking 4th place while being a mile off the pace...
To clarify I don't want Wenger out but I think the next 15 months could be the most important to how he's remembered at the club!
jp5
Q-School Graduate
It's been the same old every year for the past at least 5 seasons though. In that time the team has got worse. The next 15 months won't be any better than the last 15. Wenger's had the money before and not spent it. He's finished as a manager. Hard to accept, but the truth.
Your final point is true, but whilst they would settle for that failure, I'm not sure it would still be categorised as success. If Liverpool win nothing for the next 8 years but finish 4th every season then that could be deemed as a stepping stone of progression. But to go from invincibles to this has got to be seen as failure surely?
I respect what wenger has done in the game, just think his time is up. If arsenal want to progress as a team. As a business maybe they'd rather keep him.
cookelad
Tour Winner
And if he doesn't start to turn it around that's how his term will be remembered, if however now that he's lost the ability to use the "paying off the stadium" excuse they've been using the past 5+ years, he actually buys what Arsenal need, an Adams, a Vieira and an Henry (he's already potentially got the Bergkamp), then he'll be remembered as the manager who steered Arsenal through a stadium build without dropping out of the CL then brought them back to former glories when "finances allowed".
If nothing else it could prove whether we've been lied to the last few years or not!
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
But he could have bought those replacement players in any of the last 4 transfer Windows. He didn't, and I have no faith in him to do so.
cookelad
Tour Winner
Honestly, neither do I, I just still hope/want to be proved wrong!
jp5
Q-School Graduate
Wenger will never buy another Adams/Vieira/Henry. He won't allow a big character in the team as they'll challenge his authority. He's an autocrat.
It wasn't the finances that caused Arsenal to lose a late equaliser last night. Or get drubbed 6-0 at Chelsea. Or 5-1 at Liverpool. Or 6-3 at Man City (all in the same season!) or 8-2 at Utd. It's the manager and his attitude.
The sole reason Wenger is still in charge is that he fulfils the boards objectives by finishing fourth and securing the Champions League spot and the income that comes with it. But the fans are starting to revolt against this and - as you hinted at - are becoming aware that they've been lied to for all these years.
cookelad
Tour Winner
Not a lot I can disagree with there!
I can only repeat myself and say at least the excuse is now gone now, supposedly we have a mountain of cash in the bank, new sponsorship deals hitting the P&L next season and no stadium to pay for, maybe I've more patience than some Arsenal fans (and less than others) but for me next season is make or break for Arsene's legacy!
MadAdey
Money List Winner
It has been very interesting to see the point of view from the forum regarding Wenger, Arsenal fans seem to be split 50/50 on him. I started this thread as I was curious as I keep reading about disgruntled Arsenal fans and how they are loosing faith in Wenger. there are things that I like about Wenger and could never fault him for:
1) He believes that football should be played the correct way, fast passing football, not just kick and hope
2) HE refuses to let anyone be bigger than the club and sells them if they start getting unsettled
3) He will never let a club force him to pay over the odds for a player
4) He will not pay someone mega bucks just to get them to sign or to keep them
the problem I see is it is his arrogance and stubborness that is becoming his downfall.
Sometimes you need to play ugly and get stuck in
Sometimes if a player is becoming unsettled you need to sit him down and make him feel wanted, maybe give him a nice new mega buck contract
Sometime if you want the best you have got to be prepared to pay over the odds to get them.
1) He believes that football should be played the correct way, fast passing football, not just kick and hope
2) HE refuses to let anyone be bigger than the club and sells them if they start getting unsettled
3) He will never let a club force him to pay over the odds for a player
4) He will not pay someone mega bucks just to get them to sign or to keep them
the problem I see is it is his arrogance and stubborness that is becoming his downfall.
Sometimes you need to play ugly and get stuck in
Sometimes if a player is becoming unsettled you need to sit him down and make him feel wanted, maybe give him a nice new mega buck contract
Sometime if you want the best you have got to be prepared to pay over the odds to get them.
Things must have changed, because when he had Viera and petite he was happy to kick people of the park and play direct balls down the wings to overmars to chase onto.
I agree with points 2-4. Spot on.
D
Deleted member 1418
Guest
As a Chelsea fan I hope he stays!
And Moyes too for that matter. All I need now over the summer is for another Man City managerial implosion like last season, and Suarez leaving Liverpool for one of the top continental sides, and I will be very happy!!
And Moyes too for that matter. All I need now over the summer is for another Man City managerial implosion like last season, and Suarez leaving Liverpool for one of the top continental sides, and I will be very happy!!
D
Deleted member 1418
Guest
Er, Ozil?!!!
Ozil is a £42m player in today's market. Leading assists in Europe for 2 years.
He's a luxury player and needs a solid base to work with. Arsenals midfield has no bite. It's no surprise his form tailed off once Ramses got injured and arsenal lost more midfield battles than they won.
