Objective – Keep Wenger! (3/7)

[Eboue Can't Defend]

Galasso,

I agree with most of your above analysis. In my previous post I was also talking about Dein's impact on the club since the early/mid 80's, including the George Graham era, and not just the Wenger years. That was when we first began to give a real challenge to the leading clubs of the time, after 18 years of very little success.

You are correct to say Wenger has been the most important person since his arrival, and it has been the Frenchman's vision that has seen a new training ground and stadium built. However, it was Dein that convinced the Board to at first appoint him, and then have the confidence to give him the freedom and resources - little as that may have been - to enable Wenger's vision to become reality.

Dein hasn't always been a fan's favourite; remember all the trouble over the Bond Scheme back in 1991? And yes, he was definately on the wrong side of the argument over the new stadium; and maybe also over the Kroenke episode, although only the passage of time will tell us if that is so.

Yet, I can't help feeling that were we to make a list of all the pros & cons of Dein's tenure on the Arsenal Board, I am certain that there would be a healthy surplus on the 'pros' side. Would we have a similar outcome with regards to the Board?

Anyway, what is done is done and we can only be thankful for the part Dein played up until now in making Arsenal great again. Hopefully, he will be able to contribute again to the club he loves sometime in the future.

Meanwhile, the best contribution the current Board could make would be to sign Arsene up for at least another 3 years, and then give him whatever resources he wants. Now, I'm sure that is a point no true gooner could really argue against (although it wouldn't surprise me if someone tried!)

P.S. Message to fellow gooners: Whatever you think of the opinions on this thread, please, please, please don't start the chicken & egg debate!!

[Galasso]

ECD

What have you got against chicken and eggs

My stance is this, as I stated in a previous post. I would support the return of David Dein for his expertise, but would be sceptical and questioning if it came in a takeover package. Sceptical, not dismissive.

The David Dein situation is complex. Just one thing to note from your reply. It is easier to measure Dein's influence at Arsenal and football in general during Wenger's reign due to our success (leading in no small way to dein's rise in administrative power) and their close working relationship (much close than with previous managers). I specifically did not mention the board as I wanted to think and reflect mainly on Wenger's and Dein's influence on where we are now.

I think you are right to point out that Dein began some of his work in the 80's, but this was very shady (again ,the bond, yep) and the main structures for continued success on the playing side have since been put into place by Wenger, albeit with the able backing and support of Dein.

The pros of Dein far outweigh the cons as far as I am concerned, and agree that whatever the board can do to support Arsene Wenger, our most prized asset, should be done.

[Eboue Can't Defend]

Galasso,

So what you're basically saying is that you totally agree with me!

[Galasso]

ECD

Other than saying that Dein was perhaps the most important element of our success, which I believe is Wenger's honour (probably )

And regarding chicken and eggs, on which I am looking forward to a healthy, free and wide-rangeing debate.

[Eboue Can't Defend]

Ah, but the important part of my post that you failed to pick up on was the word 'probably'.

As for the puns on eggs, please don't start that off because you know all we are going to get is a series of bad yolks!!

[Galasso]

Perhaps we would. But if we lay down some ground rules, then sensible debaters would be prepared to come out of their shells.

[proudtosaythatname]

I have to say that this thread has been my most enjoyable read of all time on the Gooner website - logical, well argued and amusingly entertaining without being crude (well, mostly) - though that is not to denigrate other postings - particularly my own. Thanks guys.

As for my own take; a brilliant visionary move by Dein to recruit Wenger, who has been the making of the club; equally, however, a move to Wembley would quite possibly have meant a painful enfranchised death. So all square at full time - and after extra time too, as it's very difficult to say whether Kroenke (with or without Dein) would be good or bad.

This season is effectively the penalty shoot out - and we know all about those, don't we? Will it be a 'Valencia/Galatasaray' or a 'Sampdoria/Millwall'?

[Chunky The Gooner]

Ah Valencia 1980 ! I was 10 and it was hard to take losing 2 finals a few days apart ! Brady and Kempes both missed penalties too as well as poor old Graham Rix.

Proudtosaythatname are you the author of the book of the same name??

[I Hate Hleb]

Perhaps we would. But if we lay down some ground rules, then sensible debaters would be prepared to come out of their shells.

THAT'S A SMASHING IDEA! I HAVE RACKED MY BRAINS TO THE POINT WHERE THEY ARE SCRAMBLED, TRYING TO FIND A FEW GOOD EGG PUNS. YOU COULD ACCURATELY DESCRIBE THE CURRENT STATE OF MY BRAINS AS NOTHING SHORT OF FRIED!

I THINK IT BOILS DONE TO THIS: CAN WE COME UP WITH ENOUGH MATERIAL TO JUSTIFY EXPANDING THIS THREAD? I KNOW SOME OF YOU LIKE TO POACH IDEAS FROM ELSEWHERE, BUT ISN'T THAT TANTAMOUNT TO GOING FROM THE FRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE?

MY THOUGHTS EGGACTLY!!