THE WENGER THREAD

[Wilson]

What winds me up, is Wenger will be looking for sympathy in the coming months. He might decry an injury here and there, or just grovel about funds and resources. Yet right now, there is opportunity to avoid all of this by signing the right players.

He is like a mountaineer who gets half way up the mountain, realises he chose not to pack any oxygen tanks, then makes excuses for why he couldn't scale the whole mountain - yeah you didnt pack any oxygen tanks.

So when the season commences, and we fall off the pace. He cant be allowed to rationalize our position, or defend himself. Because in the time he has to prepare accordingly - he instead twiddles his thumbs.

[SteveO 35]

Even by own miserable standards I can't ever remember being so switched off at the prospect of another long, boring season with TO1AW at the helm. I was with a couple of Gooner mates at the weekend and I can't even bring myself to talk about the coming season. I only know who we're playing in the first 2 matches and haven't checked when we're on TV etc. As for transfers......I gave up all hope of signing a quality striker to excite the fans many moons ago

It only feels like the utter boredom of last season has only just gone and would prefer it if we weren't playing for another 3 months. Lots of other footie fans excited by their new managers and signings, while we sleepwalk towards another under-prepared start with TO1AW at the helm. 9 months of misery awaits.

Personally I've been enjoying the summer sports........the new PL season can fuck right off !

[silus]

Even by own miserable standards I can't ever remember being so switched off at the prospect of another long, boring season with TO1AW at the helm. I was with a couple of Gooner mates at the weekend and I can't even bring myself to talk about the coming season. I only know who we're playing in the first 2 matches and haven't checked when we're on TV etc. As for transfers......I gave up all hope of signing a quality striker to excite the fans many moons ago

It only feels like the utter boredom of last season has only just gone and would prefer it if we weren't playing for another 3 months. Lots of other footie fans excited by their new managers and signings, while we sleepwalk towards another under-prepared start with TO1AW at the helm. 9 months of misery awaits.

Personally I've been enjoying the summer sports........the new PL season can fuck right off !

Same as SteveO.
There's an air show in the town next to me on the same day as the scouse match.
I can sit down the beach, drinking beer in the sun, watching the red arrows, spitfires etc.....
....or I can watch Walcott as our lone striker .

At the moment it's a no brainer.

I'm so bored of this shit.

[augie]

Even by own miserable standards I can't ever remember being so switched off at the prospect of another long, boring season with TO1AW at the helm. I was with a couple of Gooner mates at the weekend and I can't even bring myself to talk about the coming season. I only know who we're playing in the first 2 matches and haven't checked when we're on TV etc. As for transfers......I gave up all hope of signing a quality striker to excite the fans many moons ago

It only feels like the utter boredom of last season has only just gone and would prefer it if we weren't playing for another 3 months. Lots of other footie fans excited by their new managers and signings, while we sleepwalk towards another under-prepared start with TO1AW at the helm. 9 months of misery awaits.

Personally I've been enjoying the summer sports........the new PL season can fuck right off !

Same as SteveO.
There's an air show in the town next to me on the same day as the scouse match.
I can sit down the beach, drinking beer in the sun, watching the red arrows, spitfires etc.....
....or I can watch Walcott as our lone striker .

At the moment it's a no brainer.

I'm so bored of this shit.

I shall be in salou and I am already arguing with my kids over the game - they want to go down to the bar to watch it, but the thought of watching it surrounded by loads of victims fans (English and irish) does not fill me with joy

[rodders999]

Gives me an idea for this season!

As well as the regular match day threads we always have there should also be an "Alternative To The Match Thread" so people can say what they are doing to avoid the mind numbing, groundhog day, car crash season that's to come.

Wasn't there someone on about unblocking their drain last season (that wasn't a euphemism I presume )

[DB10GOONER]

Gives me an idea for this season!

As well as the regular match day threads we always have there should also be an "Alternative To The Match Thread" so people can say what they are doing to avoid the mind numbing, groundhog day, car crash season that's to come.

Wasn't there someone on about unblocking their drain last season (that wasn't a euphemism I presume )

Real fans have patience. Real fans end up as patients? I dunno - one of those sayings anyway. You need to "fuck off and support Chelsea" etc etc and so on and so forth.

And yes, I believe it was a euphemism.

[BFG4]

I don't think I have looked forward to a season any less, than this one. I'm not even consoling myself with the thought that Wenger might leave at the end of the season, because that's just a pipe dream. This season will be like any other one, in which we start well, followed by a mid-season collapse, and then struggle into 4th, with the media and AKB'S proclaiming it as "Wenger's greatest ever achievement". In the unlikely event we do finish outside the top 4, then the board will still offer Wenger a new contract, as who else could bring us back into the CL.

[Gunner Rob]

Gives me an idea for this season!

As well as the regular match day threads we always have there should also be an "Alternative To The Match Thread" so people can say what they are doing to avoid the mind numbing, groundhog day, car crash season that's to come.

Wasn't there someone on about unblocking their drain last season (that wasn't a euphemism I presume )

this could become more popular than the match day thread

I haven't even thought about football since the Euros ended - some great other sport on at the moment.
its amazing how exciting cricket, tennis etc can be when you compare to the tedium of watching Arsenal last season.

I am just about aware that the first match is v Liverpool, then of course the highlight of the summer, THE DRAW FOR THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP STAGES!! I presume we start thinking about who to buy once this has taken place?

[TeeCee]

CL footy is not even that important anymore, we get 80m each season from Sky now so the 30m or so we may be lucky to get from CL footy isn't important, especially if the Banker in charge doesn't spend any money, we are quids in! Kranky makes his profits, Wonga gets his financial bonus bonus and they are happy bunnies, fuck the paying consumers. I hope we lose our first 6 games, I want to see the c.unt squirm this season, really squirm!!

[begeegs]

I don't think I have looked forward to a season any less, than this one. I'm not even consoling myself with the thought that Wenger might leave at the end of the season, because that's just a pipe dream. This season will be like any other one, in which we start well, followed by a mid-season collapse, and then struggle into 4th, with the media and AKB'S proclaiming it as "Wenger's greatest ever achievement". In the unlikely event we do finish outside the top 4, then the board will still offer Wenger a new contract, as who else could bring us back into the CL.

I do think that this is Wenger's last season. I think that the fact that there was an inside the ground protest (which up until that time was unprecedented) would have wounded Wenger. As it looks likely that he isn't going to add any more players, he is going to be on a hiding to nowhere when it goes tits up and key players are angling for a move. I reckon that we will be well off the pace by mid-September. I still don't think that we will be as bad as people predict this year, but I do think that we will be in for a massive struggle to stay in the top 4.

People at the Emirates will probably hold back on their venom because of the belief that it is Wenger's last year as well. So any protests will be tepid at best. Maybe mildly better than last year, but only if they are done around mid-season. Anything towards the end will be less and less of an effect.

[rodders999]

Gives me an idea for this season!

As well as the regular match day threads we always have there should also be an "Alternative To The Match Thread" so people can say what they are doing to avoid the mind numbing, groundhog day, car crash season that's to come.

Wasn't there someone on about unblocking their drain last season (that wasn't a euphemism I presume )

this could become more popular than the match day thread

Well already you've got silus at an air show, augie getting pissed up in Salou...... I might even have a go on porn hub for a bit.

The fringe thread is where it's going to be at until Le Fartpipe F's off

[BFG4]

I don't think I have looked forward to a season any less, than this one. I'm not even consoling myself with the thought that Wenger might leave at the end of the season, because that's just a pipe dream. This season will be like any other one, in which we start well, followed by a mid-season collapse, and then struggle into 4th, with the media and AKB'S proclaiming it as "Wenger's greatest ever achievement". In the unlikely event we do finish outside the top 4, then the board will still offer Wenger a new contract, as who else could bring us back into the CL.

I do think that this is Wenger's last season. I think that the fact that there was an inside the ground protest (which up until that time was unprecedented) would have wounded Wenger. As it looks likely that he isn't going to add any more players, he is going to be on a hiding to nowhere when it goes tits up and key players are angling for a move. I reckon that we will be well off the pace by mid-September. I still don't think that we will be as bad as people predict this year, but I do think that we will be in for a massive struggle to stay in the top 4.

People at the Emirates will probably hold back on their venom because of the belief that it is Wenger's last year as well. So any protests will be tepid at best. Maybe mildly better than last year, but only if they are done around mid-season. Anything towards the end will be less and less of an effect.

You could be right, but i see nothing in Wenger's previous behaviour to suggest, he is suddenly going to walk away. Wenger's response to the protests was to pass them off, as nothing more than a few angry fans,( who, in wenger's words were brainwashed) showing their frustration. The guy is an ego maniac, and isn't suddenly going to give up power, especially when the board(and some of our fans) treat him as a footballing god, who can do no wrong. I think he is holding off signing a new deal, so that he can hold our idiotic board to ransom, until they bump up his wages significantly. Alternatively, if he does call it a day, then he will move upstairs, and pick his successor, who will be a mini-Wenger. I don't know what's worse, having Wenger or an imitation of him.

[DB10GOONER]

Gives me an idea for this season!

As well as the regular match day threads we always have there should also be an "Alternative To The Match Thread" so people can say what they are doing to avoid the mind numbing, groundhog day, car crash season that's to come.

Wasn't there someone on about unblocking their drain last season (that wasn't a euphemism I presume )

this could become more popular than the match day thread

Well already you've got silus at an air show, augie getting pissed up in Salou...... I might even have a go on porn hub for a bit.

The fringe thread is where it's going to be at until Le Fartpipe F's off

Set it up Rodders - I'll make it a sticky. (oo-er, missus!)

[silus]

Gives me an idea for this season!

As well as the regular match day threads we always have there should also be an "Alternative To The Match Thread" so people can say what they are doing to avoid the mind numbing, groundhog day, car crash season that's to come.

Wasn't there someone on about unblocking their drain last season (that wasn't a euphemism I presume )

I think you're on to something ...
.....and anybody who mentions wenger on it gets an automatic ban for a week.

[Kvltman]

I don't think I have looked forward to a season any less, than this one. I'm not even consoling myself with the thought that Wenger might leave at the end of the season, because that's just a pipe dream. This season will be like any other one, in which we start well, followed by a mid-season collapse, and then struggle into 4th, with the media and AKB'S proclaiming it as "Wenger's greatest ever achievement". In the unlikely event we do finish outside the top 4, then the board will still offer Wenger a new contract, as who else could bring us back into the CL.

I do think that this is Wenger's last season. I think that the fact that there was an inside the ground protest (which up until that time was unprecedented) would have wounded Wenger. As it looks likely that he isn't going to add any more players, he is going to be on a hiding to nowhere when it goes tits up and key players are angling for a move. I reckon that we will be well off the pace by mid-September. I still don't think that we will be as bad as people predict this year, but I do think that we will be in for a massive struggle to stay in the top 4.

People at the Emirates will probably hold back on their venom because of the belief that it is Wenger's last year as well. So any protests will be tepid at best. Maybe mildly better than last year, but only if they are done around mid-season. Anything towards the end will be less and less of an effect.

You could be right, but i see nothing in Wenger's previous behaviour to suggest, he is suddenly going to walk away. Wenger's response to the protests was to pass them off, as nothing more than a few angry fans,( who, in wenger's words were brainwashed) showing their frustration. The guy is an ego maniac, and isn't suddenly going to give up power, especially when the board(and some of our fans) treat him as a footballing god, who can do no wrong. I think he is holding off signing a new deal, so that he can hold our idiotic board to ransom, until they bump up his wages significantly. Alternatively, if he does call it a day, then he will move upstairs, and pick his successor, who will be a mini-Wenger. I don't know what's worse, having Wenger or an imitation of him.

This is my worst fear about this situation, in that Wenger will move upstairs when he eventually leaves the dugout, and become a technical director of sorts or middle man to the board from the new man who would be a low key appointment designed to follow Wengers blue print.

The new guy under Wengers advice or instruction would carry on with the same stale and insipid style of play/formation etc and if he tried anything different would quickly be brought back to Earth by Wenger (especially if it brought success!) and told to stick to the formula.

Worse still, if it goes spectacularly wrong for the new guy he will have the Wenger apologists on his back and the clamour for Wenger to return property would begin!!

Maybe a little far fetched but I am still having trouble seeing a time when we are rid of him completely. It is so incredibly frustrating.