THE WENGER THREAD

[SteveO 35]

What amazes me is that I still manage to be amazed by just how inept he is in the transfer market. I knew we would be left short and hardly had high expectations, but it is still dumbfounding that he can brazenly ignore our shortcomings and the monumental improvements made by Chelsea, City and United (not to mention the vast amounts being chucked around by just about every PL club all of whose already-massive revenue streams have jumped again, and yet still enjoy the unwavering cult loyalty of so many fans.

He isn't even trying to win the league any more - for the second summer in a row it's not about money but There are apparently no players out there who could improve our squad - how does he get away with spouting shit like that?

We were lied to about leaving Highbury and were being lied to every fucking time this charlatan opens his fucking gob.

Its like I've bought a time machine and gone back to 1992-95 when Graham fucked about signing all the lower league and sub standard foreign shit he could get his hands on as we slipped further and further from being competitive in the league. People forget how fucking awful that period was but I don't and our modern day transfer dealings are every bit as baffling.....as is the manager's stubbornness

[supergeorgegraham]

Wenger has been the best manager in the premier league in terms of turning a club into a solid business.

We are most financially stable then any club in the world in my honest opinion. As a business owner I would want my manager to be like him.

However you also need to keep your fans, or clients in my case, happy. That means upgrading players (software), stadiums (premises) and trophies (hmmm struggling to find a comparison with this one in my case).

Anyway, we can't knock the old boy. He has turned our club around. I agree we need a new injection of fresh air. What manager is there that we could possible get to take on the reigns? Mourinho?! Pep? Klopp? Seriously these guys just spend spend spend. That's all good but look at our stadium, facilities, food, venue, it's top notch.

I sound bias but maybe that's because i have 10 season tickets and 2 platinums plus i run the finance office for the hospitality company, so I live and breathe the club. But still , we are a solid club. We just need a manager that doesn't just want to spend all the cash and f*ck us

Any ideas of a manager that has it all??

Turned our club around ????? Turned it around from what exactly ???

In the seven years before Wenger arrived we had won the League twice, done a domestic cup double (when domestic cups sill meant a huge amount) and won a major European trophy. AND - we were one of the three most successful English clubs of all time, based in London with a colossal fan base.

Christ Almighty - listening to some of you Wenger apologists you'd think that Wenger took over a non-league outfit and transformed them all on his own. He was good 15 years ago but now he is holding Arsenal back!!

It was George Graham that turned Arsenal around. The record during his time speaks for itself.

[augie]

What amazes me is that I still manage to be amazed by just how inept he is in the transfer market. I knew we would be left short and hardly had high expectations, but it is still dumbfounding that he can brazenly ignore our shortcomings and the monumental improvements made by Chelsea, City and United (not to mention the vast amounts being chucked around by just about every PL club all of whose already-massive revenue streams have jumped again, and yet still enjoy the unwavering cult loyalty of so many fans.

He isn't even trying to win the league any more - for the second summer in a row it's not about money but There are apparently no players out there who could improve our squad - how does he get away with spouting shit like that?

We were lied to about leaving Highbury and were being lied to every fucking time this charlatan opens his fucking gob.

Its like I've bought a time machine and gone back to 1992-95 when Graham fucked about signing all the lower league and sub standard foreign shit he could get his hands on as we slipped further and further from being competitive in the league. People forget how fucking awful that period was but I don't and our modern day transfer dealings are every bit as baffling.....as is the manager's stubbornness

Not disagreeing with your assessment of GG's last couple of years in charge at all, but it also needs to be recognised that back then our club was at least a level or two behind the bigger clubs when it came to financial resources. It also should be noted that, as dire as the football was, he still won the cup winners cup 18 months before his sacking, and his team reached the final again just months after he left - as my buddy used to say (aftter banging some awful looking tart ), it's a results business

[SteveO 35]

What amazes me is that I still manage to be amazed by just how inept he is in the transfer market. I knew we would be left short and hardly had high expectations, but it is still dumbfounding that he can brazenly ignore our shortcomings and the monumental improvements made by Chelsea, City and United (not to mention the vast amounts being chucked around by just about every PL club all of whose already-massive revenue streams have jumped again, and yet still enjoy the unwavering cult loyalty of so many fans.

He isn't even trying to win the league any more - for the second summer in a row it's not about money but There are apparently no players out there who could improve our squad - how does he get away with spouting shit like that?

We were lied to about leaving Highbury and were being lied to every fucking time this charlatan opens his fucking gob.

Its like I've bought a time machine and gone back to 1992-95 when Graham fucked about signing all the lower league and sub standard foreign shit he could get his hands on as we slipped further and further from being competitive in the league. People forget how fucking awful that period was but I don't and our modern day transfer dealings are every bit as baffling.....as is the manager's stubbornness

Not disagreeing with your assessment of GG's last couple of years in charge at all, but it also needs to be recognised that back then our club was at least a level or two behind the bigger clubs when it came to financial resources. It also should be noted that, as dire as the football was, he still won the cup winners cup 18 months before his sacking, and his team reached the final again just months after he left - as my buddy used to say (aftter banging some awful looking tart ), it's a results business

In the same way Wenger has won 2 FA Cups in the past 3 years? Now, you know I'm not defending his record of the past few years, but people forget that GG went into meltdown arguably in a bigger way than Wenger did. The other day I was watching one of those PL Years programmes on Sky (think it was 94/95) and saw us languishing 13th in the table. Wenger has never taken us down that low, and there is no way that 12 teams had greater resources than us back in the day.......FFS, the likes of fucking QPR and Sheffield Wednesday were able to finish above us. I remember us being linked with the Roy Keane's of the world in the early to mid-90s only to end up signing the likes of McGoldrick, Jensen, Siggi Jonsson, Colin Pates and a whole host of other shite

GG's last 2-3 years - Copenhagen apart - were as miserable as any time watching Arsenal. Shockingly shite football and a manager out of touch with the modern PL. Wenger is getting close though - some of the turgid shit from February onwards with the slow paced, sideways passing reminded me of those shite mid-90s matches

[A11M11]

'If this money doesn't go to the NHS, I will go mad'

Until we get out , we won't know. At the moment it's a red herring because until the great day ,we are still paying our dues to the unedifying club therefor the money isn't there to give.

[Wilson]

What amazes me is that I still manage to be amazed by just how inept he is in the transfer market. I knew we would be left short and hardly had high expectations, but it is still dumbfounding that he can brazenly ignore our shortcomings and the monumental improvements made by Chelsea, City and United (not to mention the vast amounts being chucked around by just about every PL club all of whose already-massive revenue streams have jumped again, and yet still enjoy the unwavering cult loyalty of so many fans.

He isn't even trying to win the league any more - for the second summer in a row it's not about money but There are apparently no players out there who could improve our squad - how does he get away with spouting shit like that?

We were lied to about leaving Highbury and were being lied to every fucking time this charlatan opens his fucking gob.

Its called beat dog syndrome. For many years now Arsenal fans have been degraded and told not to expect too much. We have become so used to unfilled expectations and disappointment, that feelings of being let down is second nature and to be expected. You hear it when we play Barcelona and Bayern - the beat dogs say things like 'its Barcelona, what did you expect'. They have been battered into submission so much, that they dont even entertain the idea we could have sort of success against these teams.

These self-defeating attitudes are riff among many Arsenal fans. It really is a master class of psychology by Arsene and Ivan - to manage expectations of the lemmings in order to keep their support despite not actually achieving anything. Just look at Ty from Arsenal Fan TV - what a lemming. I have never seen someone in so much in denial. He defends the inexcusable. Yet he is oblivious to the fact he has been successfully brainwashed to accept such levels of poor performance. For years, Ty, and many others like him, have been told 'we cant compete financially' and 'its Bayern, what do you expect' and my favorite, 'we have no right to win the league'. They have been been, as Jamie Redknapp puts it, brainwashed into believing all this dog shit about 'having no right to compete'.

Its a form of Stockholm syndrome, in the sense some fans side with their oppressors (Wenger and the board) rather than showing some back bone and demanding their due. I really cant believe what I see, when I see some naive Arsenal fan supporting Wenger and defending him using the excuses they have been indoctrinated and brainwashed to believe. As they are working against their own interests as fans by seeing Arsenal succeed, and instead prop up support for Wenger and Ivan who ironically, the biggest obstacle to Arsenal success.

Its just incomprehensible watching these naive fools bend over backwards to support someone who is the cause of so many problems. These remaining Arsenal loyalists - they are cult like in their behavior and rationality. There is no other explanation for supporting Wenger, other than having been brainwashed.

[cameron326]

Wenger derives more pleasure from competing for a top 4 position as self-imposed underdog than I think he would from spending the 150+ million probably necessary for a serous shot at the title. We moved ground to supposedly compete with the elite of Europe. That was a decade ago. Fast forward to 2016 Amany many journalists rightly do not back us to even be IN Europe come next season given the paucity and averageness of our squad. Any other top club and Wenger would have been shown the door a five years ago.

[cameron326]

Wenger derives more pleasure from competing for a top 4 position as self-imposed underdog than I think he would from spending the 150+ million probably necessary for a serous shot at the title. We moved ground to supposedly compete with the elite of Europe. That was a decade ago. Fast forward to 2016 Amany many journalists rightly do not back us to even be IN Europe come next season given the paucity and averageness of our squad. Any other top club and Wenger would have been shown the door a five years ago.

[DB10GOONER]

What amazes me is that I still manage to be amazed by just how inept he is in the transfer market. I knew we would be left short and hardly had high expectations, but it is still dumbfounding that he can brazenly ignore our shortcomings and the monumental improvements made by Chelsea, City and United (not to mention the vast amounts being chucked around by just about every PL club all of whose already-massive revenue streams have jumped again, and yet still enjoy the unwavering cult loyalty of so many fans.

He isn't even trying to win the league any more - for the second summer in a row it's not about money but There are apparently no players out there who could improve our squad - how does he get away with spouting shit like that?

We were lied to about leaving Highbury and were being lied to every fucking time this charlatan opens his fucking gob.

Its like I've bought a time machine and gone back to 1992-95 when Graham fucked about signing all the lower league and sub standard foreign shit he could get his hands on as we slipped further and further from being competitive in the league. People forget how fucking awful that period was but I don't and our modern day transfer dealings are every bit as baffling.....as is the manager's stubbornness

Not disagreeing with your assessment of GG's last couple of years in charge at all, but it also needs to be recognised that back then our club was at least a level or two behind the bigger clubs when it came to financial resources. It also should be noted that, as dire as the football was, he still won the cup winners cup 18 months before his sacking, and his team reached the final again just months after he left - as my buddy used to say (aftter banging some awful looking tart ), it's a results business

In the same way Wenger has won 2 FA Cups in the past 3 years? Now, you know I'm not defending his record of the past few years, but people forget that GG went into meltdown arguably in a bigger way than Wenger did. The other day I was watching one of those PL Years programmes on Sky (think it was 94/95) and saw us languishing 13th in the table. Wenger has never taken us down that low, and there is no way that 12 teams had greater resources than us back in the day.......FFS, the likes of fucking QPR and Sheffield Wednesday were able to finish above us. I remember us being linked with the Roy Keane's of the world in the early to mid-90s only to end up signing the likes of McGoldrick, Jensen, Siggi Jonsson, Colin Pates and a whole host of other shite

GG's last 2-3 years - Copenhagen apart - were as miserable as any time watching Arsenal. Shockingly shite football and a manager out of touch with the modern PL. Wenger is getting close though - some of the turgid shit from February onwards with the slow paced, sideways passing reminded me of those shite mid-90s matches

A lot of people on here view the GG era with seriously rose tinted spectacles. I don't and have often said on here that GG turned us from a League winning team into a cup side. Not disrespecting him or diminishing what he achieved but he too had run his course. The thing is he wasn't sacked for being past it as a manager, he was sacked for the bung. Now Wenger has truly run his course (for me it was May 2010) yet the board will not sack him either.

I loved GG and still do (even after he went to the vermin) because he brought the pride back, he was Arsenal true and true - but the later stages of his tenure were awful and there's no shame in admitting that.

[DB10GOONER]

What amazes me is that I still manage to be amazed by just how inept he is in the transfer market. I knew we would be left short and hardly had high expectations, but it is still dumbfounding that he can brazenly ignore our shortcomings and the monumental improvements made by Chelsea, City and United (not to mention the vast amounts being chucked around by just about every PL club all of whose already-massive revenue streams have jumped again, and yet still enjoy the unwavering cult loyalty of so many fans.

He isn't even trying to win the league any more - for the second summer in a row it's not about money but There are apparently no players out there who could improve our squad - how does he get away with spouting shit like that?

We were lied to about leaving Highbury and were being lied to every fucking time this charlatan opens his fucking gob.

Its like I've bought a time machine and gone back to 1992-95 when Graham fucked about signing all the lower league and sub standard foreign shit he could get his hands on as we slipped further and further from being competitive in the league. People forget how fucking awful that period was but I don't and our modern day transfer dealings are every bit as baffling.....as is the manager's stubbornness

Not disagreeing with your assessment of GG's last couple of years in charge at all, but it also needs to be recognised that back then our club was at least a level or two behind the bigger clubs when it came to financial resources. It also should be noted that, as dire as the football was, he still won the cup winners cup 18 months before his sacking, and his team reached the final again just months after he left - as my buddy used to say (aftter banging some awful looking tart ), it's a results business

We also hamstrung ourselves with the wages cap put in place by the board back then - which was something GG agreed with, it must be remembered.

[doublewinners1971]

Corrr, the abuse.

So this is how Arsenal fans are to one another?

I've lost count to the number of people who have abused me - why? Because I have an opinion just as much as yours?

First of all, you say I'm not a real fan as I have 10 season tickets? Interesting theory, care to elaborate? Can I not take my dad, brother, sister, son, the whole family to the games? Maybe pass by and say hello - Block 14, 15 and 3 and 46. I am happy to shake your hand and take whatever sh*t you have face to face.

Someone also mentioned that I am a shit manager? Hmmmm.

If you run a business and you have a manager that MAKES YOU money, are you going to complain? Surely, you are going to be happy? So as a business owner, why would you get rid of your manager?

Same principle here. Wenger makes money. It is a simple as that. He has a job to make money for the owners.

We are constantly top 4 - yes we all want to see silverware, there is no denying that. But try seeing it from a business point of view - that is my point. Unless of course you don't have a business, then fair play.

I joined the forum thinking I would get good discussions from it, but f*ck me, there are some serious twats here.

IMHO, Wenger is a good manager for the club. Not necessarily for the fans, but for the club. Yes, maybe his course has run and we need fresh life, but there is no way I would want a manager who just buys success - we would end up being like Chelsea and City - buy our way to success and that isn't what Arsenal is about... or is my opinion going to get berated with abuse again.

[officepest]

Moving to that monstrosity is the most tragic decision in Arsenal's history and for long term Arsenal fans it has compounded the other unwelcome changes made to the game in the last 20 odd years.

And the cruellest irony of all? The obscene TV deals mean that there was absolutely no point in moving; none whatsoever.

Hindsight is wonderful and all that, but still.

[northbank123]

If you can't understand the difference between a normal business whose primary motivation is profit and a football club whose primary motivation is (or should be) winning trophies and on-field success, there's not much hope for you.

Besides, the idea that Wenger runs the financial side of things is a myth. How many PLCs with an estimated value of over 2bn dollars would employ a CFO whose only qualification is an undergraduate Economics degree which is about 4 decades out of date? Don't equate his refusal to spend with great financial management of the club.

In fact, his self-perceived economic knowledge has been arguably the single-most damaging thing to the club's chances of success. He has predicated his entire approach to management on his failed crackpot economic theories (like declaring nearly a year ago that football can't exist in a bubble and spending would reduce within two years).

No other top flight club requires a manager to financially run the club so why do people have this idea that we do? Not being able to read a balance sheet didn't hinder the likes of Clough and Ferguson too much.

[officepest]

Corrr, the abuse.

So this is how Arsenal fans are to one another?

I've lost count to the number of people who have abused me - why? Because I have an opinion just as much as yours?

First of all, you say I'm not a real fan as I have 10 season tickets? Interesting theory, care to elaborate? Can I not take my dad, brother, sister, son, the whole family to the games? Maybe pass by and say hello - Block 14, 15 and 3 and 46. I am happy to shake your hand and take whatever sh*t you have face to face.

Someone also mentioned that I am a shit manager? Hmmmm.

If you run a business and you have a manager that MAKES YOU money, are you going to complain? Surely, you are going to be happy? So as a business owner, why would you get rid of your manager?

Same principle here. Wenger makes money. It is a simple as that. He has a job to make money for the owners.

We are constantly top 4 - yes we all want to see silverware, there is no denying that. But try seeing it from a business point of view - that is my point. Unless of course you don't have a business, then fair play.

I joined the forum thinking I would get good discussions from it, but f*ck me, there are some serious twats here.

IMHO, Wenger is a good manager for the club. Not necessarily for the fans, but for the club. Yes, maybe his course has run and we need fresh life, but there is no way I would want a manager who just buys success - we would end up being like Chelsea and City - buy our way to success and that isn't what Arsenal is about... or is my opinion going to get berated with abuse again.

No he doesn't. He has a job to try and win trophies.

He should have absolutely no need to worry about making money; that is the job of the board and commercial departments. If Wenger spends too much ( ) then the board should have word with him, he himself shouldn't concern himself with the finances.

The fact he spouts off about it all the time is a smokescreen for his own failures. But you know this, don't you?

[doublewinners1971]

Corrr, the abuse.

So this is how Arsenal fans are to one another?

I've lost count to the number of people who have abused me - why? Because I have an opinion just as much as yours?

First of all, you say I'm not a real fan as I have 10 season tickets? Interesting theory, care to elaborate? Can I not take my dad, brother, sister, son, the whole family to the games? Maybe pass by and say hello - Block 14, 15 and 3 and 46. I am happy to shake your hand and take whatever sh*t you have face to face.

Someone also mentioned that I am a shit manager? Hmmmm.

If you run a business and you have a manager that MAKES YOU money, are you going to complain? Surely, you are going to be happy? So as a business owner, why would you get rid of your manager?

Same principle here. Wenger makes money. It is a simple as that. He has a job to make money for the owners.

We are constantly top 4 - yes we all want to see silverware, there is no denying that. But try seeing it from a business point of view - that is my point. Unless of course you don't have a business, then fair play.

I joined the forum thinking I would get good discussions from it, but f*ck me, there are some serious twats here.

IMHO, Wenger is a good manager for the club. Not necessarily for the fans, but for the club. Yes, maybe his course has run and we need fresh life, but there is no way I would want a manager who just buys success - we would end up being like Chelsea and City - buy our way to success and that isn't what Arsenal is about... or is my opinion going to get berated with abuse again.

No he doesn't. He has a job to try and win trophies.

He should have absolutely no need to worry about making money; that is the job of the board and commercial departments. If Wenger spends too much ( ) then the board should have word with him, he himself shouldn't concern himself with the finances.

The fact he spouts off about it all the time is a smokescreen for his own failures. But you know this, don't you?

I agree with you there - but what can we do? They love him - spends hardly anything, top 4, money rolls in. What more can a board ask for? They are as bad as him then..? Right?