THE WENGER THREAD

[LeftfootlegendGooner]

OK so first of all I'd like to apologies for any insults, that is not on and I accept that. It was reactionary to the abuse I felt I was getting from the get go but still doesn't make it right.

Now back to the point at hand and hopefully we can get some serious and meaningful debate occurring, I believe Wenger should be given another year contract extension out of respect for being the greatest manager we have ever had and bringing some of the greatest players we have ever had to the club. He should be allowed to stay to facilitate the resigning of Sanchez and Ozil, who I'm convinced will both leave at the end of the season if Wenger goes too.

I dont like the term 'get go' but ill let you off (for now)

I like the term tbh and have done since the get go!

[OneBardGooner]

OK so first of all I'd like to apologies for any insults, that is not on and I accept that. It was reactionary to the abuse I felt I was getting from the get go but still doesn't make it right.

Now back to the point at hand and hopefully we can get some serious and meaningful debate occurring, I believe Wenger should be given another year contract extension out of respect for being the greatest manager we have ever had and bringing some of the greatest players we have ever had to the club. He should be allowed to stay to facilitate the resigning of Sanchez and Ozil, who I'm convinced will both leave at the end of the season if Wenger goes too.

I dont like the term 'get go' but ill let you off (for now)

I like the term tbh and have done since the get go!

But it's actually Git go!

[OneBardGooner]

OK so first of all I'd like to apologies for any insults, that is not on and I accept that. It was reactionary to the abuse I felt I was getting from the get go but still doesn't make it right.

Now back to the point at hand and hopefully we can get some serious and meaningful debate occurring, I believe Wenger should be given another year contract extension out of respect for being the greatest manager we have ever had and bringing some of the greatest players we have ever had to the club. He should be allowed to stay to facilitate the resigning of Sanchez and Ozil, who I'm convinced will both leave at the end of the season if Wenger goes too.

Fair enough.

Personally I used to be of the mindset that Wenger deserved to be respected for his achievements in that first decade and I had wanted him to leave with his head held high and dignity intact. But even that has been eroded away over the last 10 years. I don't hate him the way many on here do. I can't. The man gave me some of the best footballing times I ever had. Similarly - unlike the bastard Flash ( ) - I can forgive GG managing the scum for the same reasons.

I want Wenger gone more than any Arsenal manager in my time as a Gooner.

The repeated mistakes by Wenger over the last 10 years have cost us dearly. The renewing and extending of contracts for players proven to be poor or rubbish (often with insane pay hikes), the failure to strengthen in January in a couple of seasons when doing so could have won us the PL only to watch our challenge wilt under the usual squad exhaustion, player fatigue, injuries and loss in form - all these mistakes are made on an annual basis and the fact he keeps making them is criminal.

Some points well made that I cannot disagree with but please don't come at me with this 'player exhaustion/fatigue/form/injury' rubbish. These players are paid more in a week than most of us earn in years of actual, real hard fucking work - for running round a field for 90 minutes twice a week - come on man these guys need to wake up and take more responsibility for not winning much for the last decade. I truly believe Wenger built a strong enough squad and did as much as he could to get this team ready to win the PL last year but they bottled it and let him down

You have to take a look at how the game and training techniques have changed and how players have changed. Being exhausted is not just about being physically tired but also mentally sharp. The first 5 yards in any footballer is in their head. It's an old old saying but it is true. And form? Form is the great intangible. A player can be world class for months on end and then suddenly no rhyme or reason he goes to shit.

We look on modern players as pampered molly coddled brats that don't work hard and to some extent that is true. But the physical and psychological impact of playing a high performance sport competitively at the highest level every 3 or 4 days (on average) is mentally draining. That's why you need a squad and why there has to be a decent level in the squad players that come in when the first choice players get injured or tired or drop in form.

And I agree there have been players that have let Wenger down. But then surely it is Wenger's job to either man-manage better performances out of them or drop them and replace them with better motivated players? He does neither. If he hadn't persisted with a seriously off-form Giroud for the entire second half of last season, who knows what we might have achieved... but he did persist with him.

Wenger also sticks to the 1 up front rather than 2 ....he refuses to change and hence he has become a shadow of his earlier self - Sad!? yes...But also 1,000% frustrating for us long time Gooners who have followed the club for over 40 years.

[Kvltman]

rjw1985, honest question for you. Do you honestly feel that Wenger's in and pre game tactics are now up to scratch with the likes of Conte, Mourinho etc?

I would be interested to know the thoughts of someone on this who still backs him, as it would appear extremely often that we do not plan for individual opponents and persist with the same formation no matter what.

One notable match where we did (against Man City away a couple of years ago, a 2-0 win) Wenger even admitted that some of the players approached him before the match to ask for the tactics to be altered. Do you think this is surely the role of the manager/head coach to have in place anyway? That is quite an admission to make.

In the Chelsea match recently our fullbacks were both bombing forward at the same time like they did in the 6-0 loss there a few years ago. Then there are multiple admissions by the manager abou the players not being mentally prepared or ready after defeats, again surely something he is responsible for.

I do think there are great players in this squad and with more direction, motivation and being better prepared they could perhaps transition from falling short to winning the bigger prizes. This is why many fans whilst remaining respectful of Wenger's achievements would like to see a coach brought in who can bring all the pre match preparation and in game strategy to the table.

As a pro Wenger man (they are an endangered species here!) it would be good to see what you make of Wenger's tactics etc

Honestly I think Mourinho is probably the best tactician in the game, pains me to say it but that's my honest opinion. Conte is a different ball game, still can't quite work him out but he has undoubtedly got Chelsea playing a good system that suits their personnel, so fair play to him.

We are talking about a man who was won 3 PL titles 6 FA cups, I think he knows how to prepare and setup a team for any game

When you read the bolded part back it seems logical, but expand on it further and there has been plenty to suggest otherwise over the last few years, not just the examples I mentioned. By his own admission Wenger has on more than one occasion admitted that the team was not properly prepared, is that not something that would concern you? Whose responsibility would you say that is?

I just feel a more pro active approach to tactics and preparation might be enough to take the team to the level we all want to see it, but it doesn't seem to be happening under Wenger. Otherwise mistakes that occur season after season would not occur on such a frequent basis.

[xisstential]

Where else would someone be allowed so much power unchecked?
To behave like it all belonged to him? That he could pretty much do as he liked?
Judge, jury and executioner.

The arrogance of him is disgusting. He likes to let everyone know how smart he is. So much smarter than anyone else.

Hes got his favourites and allows them way more leeway than others. Think Podolski and now Perez compared to Rambo or Ozil.

Any dissent or questioning he doesnt like is quickly stamped out. Say the wrong thing you may get banned a la Jaqui Oakley. Cant argue with him - he is always right.

Cant think of anywhere else that would allow this to continue?

Well said mate, screw all the BS semantics..the guy has turned into a despotic failure who circles the wagons around his precious overpaid charges, gets completely protected by the club, gets furious if criticised and treats each and every person who provides his wages with total disdain if they do not bow down and worship him. F... him,I hope he gets hounded out in ignominy. I don't care what he did a decade ago, he has trashed his reputation...shame on our club for allowing this man to perform this bloodless coup without opposition.

[wibble]

Where else would someone be allowed so much power unchecked?
To behave like it all belonged to him? That he could pretty much do as he liked?
Judge, jury and executioner.

The arrogance of him is disgusting. He likes to let everyone know how smart he is. So much smarter than anyone else.

Hes got his favourites and allows them way more leeway than others.

Any dissent or questioning he doesnt like is quickly stamped out. Say the wrong thing you may get banned. Cant argue with him - he is always right.

Cant think of anywhere else that would allow this to continue?

Bearing that in mind, I'm not so sure speaking about DB10 so publicly is wise, especially as you have only just returned from a ban

[GoonerMuzz]

Wenger quite simply has come to the end of his tenure, the Club has become stale under his management, it is immaterial whether he continues to gain top 4 and CL qualification or even wins the FA Cup again, as a fan i want to see real accomplishments, not virtual ones and unfortunately much as i love the FA Cup it really is not enough these days.

Can you honestly say that under Wenger in the current era we are a good enough team to win either the CL or the PL, he has had 20 attempts at the CL of which we have reached 1 final and 2 semis, hardly a resounding success and in terms of the league it is 13 years since we won our last and in my opinion in that time we have only really challenged consistently once.

No other Manager at any of the top teams in Europe would survive this long on sentiment alone, ask fans of RM, Barca, Bayern, MU, MC, Chelsea or Juve for example and none of them would accept CL round of 16 or 2/3/4 in the league as acceptable under the same manager for so long even if that Manager had previously had the success Wenger did in his first 8 years.

Sentiment aside, of which i personally run out a good few years ago there is no footballing reason i can think of to keep him as our Manager any longer, i'd much rather a younger, hungrier and more daring manager took over even if it meant a few years of uncertainty or inconsistency

[rodders999]

Fuck being competitive, qualifying 20 years in a row is the real achievement

WENGER 4 EVER

[Jumpers For Goalposts]

Yet another last 16 battering for a Wenger team. Didn't see that coming!!

Can't wait to hear how our new friend tries to spin this one.

[armchair]

Imagine thinking that losing for 20 solid years in this competition is something to be proud of.

[Jumpers For Goalposts]

This is totally surreal.

Listening to commentary on 5 Live (refuse to pay for Sky) Anything good is down to Wenger (e.g. Giroud's coming on - brave from Arsene) but everything bad is down to anybody and everybody else.

How the fuck does he escape criticism for the same shit time and time again ???????

[Perryashburtongroves]

Fuck off.

[goonersid]

Bastard!!!!!!

[Offside]

Be careful what you wish for

[Sean]

0/19 for The Old Fraud in the Be All and End All.

One final appearance. Two semi-final appearances.

FUCK OFF!