THE WENGER THREAD

[Allgunsblazin]

Arsene Wenger has ridiculed the role of the director of football and ruled out any chance of such an appointment being made at Arsenal as long as he is the manager.
'No,' replied Wenger, when asked if there were any plans to introduce a director of football as part of a restructuring process at the Emirates Stadium.

'Director of football? I don't know what it means. Is it someone who stands on the road and directs play right and left? I've never understood what it means.'
On the broader issue of restructuring, the Arsenal manager said: 'Sorry, no. I am not prepared to talk. I am the manager of Arsenal Football Club and as long as I am the manager of Arsenal Football Club I will decide what happens on technical front. That's it.'



Arrogant, dismissive, unlikeable man. Knows everything apparently, except how to win trophies. "Is it someone who stands on the road and directs play left & right" Sneering,arrogant, condescending. As opposed to him, who spends the game screaming at the 4th official because his team is playing badly.

Mourinho mentioned his constant beratement of fourth officials, not a charmer himself but clearly he is not the only manager to witness this disgraceful behaviour....

[General]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ev9KRhGasQA

Just fast forward to the last 2mins.

He shrugs his shoulders and says he's not aware the club is looking to appoint a DOF. The arrogance with which he effectively dismissed it as fantasy and that it wouldn't happen under his watch is frightening. Chest beating 'I'm the manager of Arsenal Football Club' says it all and in keeping with the 'I built this club' sentiment. Sad state of affairs that this narcissist has somehow gained total control of our beloved club. Any chance Stan takes his head out of his arse and sends this bumbling fool back to France?

[Trevor Ross]

Apparently, he has totally dismissed working with a director of football in his press conference, this may irk certain members of the board, I wonder (hope against hope) if it annoys Stan enough for him to insist.

He's gone regardless of what happens now in my view. The end is near and as I've said before if he stays he'll be hounded out of a job within months anyway. The real reason around his anger re the director of football, is that he knows that he will be found out if one is appointed. I've known about his MO for years, knew an employee at the club who intimated that AW was difficult to challenge at best. The way he treats fourth officials is scandalous, he's not alone in this of course, but if you look at all the evidence across many behaviours he is not someone with the technical or personal skill sets required to manage in the second decade of 21st century...not a football club nor a plc.

Who's going to hound him out? If it hasn't happened after the last few months of embarrassments and catastrophes it never will. His moonie disciples will never waver and all the other comatose customers that inhabit the soulless bowl aren't going to do anything. If it wasn't for a few legends from this board doing far more than their bit, Le Smirking Fraud could probably have signed the morning after the Bayern 10-2 and got away with it.

[EastupperA]

Apparently, he has totally dismissed working with a director of football in his press conference, this may irk certain members of the board, I wonder (hope against hope) if it annoys Stan enough for him to insist.

He's gone regardless of what happens now in my view. The end is near and as I've said before if he stays he'll be hounded out of a job within months anyway. The real reason around his anger re the director of football, is that he knows that he will be found out if one is appointed. I've known about his MO for years, knew an employee at the club who intimated that AW was difficult to challenge at best. The way he treats fourth officials is scandalous, he's not alone in this of course, but if you look at all the evidence across many behaviours he is not someone with the technical or personal skill sets required to manage in the second decade of 21st century...not a football club nor a plc.

Who's going to hound him out? If it hasn't happened after the last few months of embarrassments and catastrophes it never will. His moonie disciples will never waver and all the other comatose customers that inhabit the soulless bowl aren't going to do anything. If it wasn't for a few legends from this board doing far more than their bit, Le Smirking Fraud could probably have signed the morning after the Bayern 10-2 and got away with it.

Very fair point. My understanding is the press are currently giving him a period of grace, if he doesn't leave in the summer then it's gloves off, he has been disrespectful to fans, press et al, it's not gone unnoticed and is laughable. We shall see, but I firmly believe gazidis has the upper hand in the battle that is taking place behind the scenes. Wenger has wasted multi millions recently and the contact situation is crazy and this has not gone unnoticed leading to all the chat re sporting director. Remember Kroenke is a business man......

[Tollgoon]

He did say "If I'm manager" in response to the Lucas Perez questions - there's a faint sliver of hope that it may not be his decision. Thanks F*^&, because I've all but given up hope that he'd be gone. All the starts seem to be aligning for him at the moment.

[augie]

This is an area that is making me pause too - IF the club want to enforce a reshuffle behind the scenes (coaches, scouts, DOF etc.), and if the arrogant c.unt (note that I didn't call him an arrogant french c.unt DB10 ) is refusing to accept these changes, then that could be the break that we need to see his removal from the club

[rodders999]

He did say "If I'm manager" in response to the Lucas Perez questions - there's a faint sliver of hope that it may not be his decision. Thanks F*^&, because I've all but given up hope that he'd be gone. All the starts seem to be aligning for him at the moment.

I picked up on that too......and it gave me a glimmer of hope. I'll cling to anything that points to him pissing off

[Allgunsblazin]

Should we put the word "if"alongside "soon" we will be waiting a while!
No one has the balls to move him on....

[EastupperA]

This is an area that is making me pause too - IF the club want to enforce a reshuffle behind the scenes (coaches, scouts, DOF etc.), and if the arrogant c.unt (note that I didn't call him an arrogant french c.unt DB10 ) is refusing to accept these changes, then that could be the break that we need to see his removal from the club

There is a war going on here, Wenger has set his stall out categorically in public today, in what can only be described as derogatory terms in relation to role of DoF . I'm not sure this ends well for Wenger.......having said this he has repeatedly lied before so would imagine it plays out with a DoF coming in and Wenger saying it was he who recommended the role being created in the first place.

[Sean]

The Old Fraud's contract expires in 23 days - Just 536 hours; at the end of May 31st. If anything is to be announced, I believe it will be after the cup final; same goes for season ticket renewals. Those four days at the end of this month will be crucial to the future of the club.

It's ridiculous that TOF is still sabre-rattling about not giving up an ounce of his power, despite his contract expiring in just over three weeks and a decade of wilful failure behind him. As has been said, David Dein was effectively the DOF for TOF ( ) - and DD was clearly the brains of the operation. So why not accept the help he clearly needs?

I pray that somehow this becomes the sticking point for any renewal. I'm sure if Gazidis or the board want him gone, they can use brinksmanship on this issue to force TOF out of the club, but make it his decision, so the club can save face.

A few Gooners on here are pretty close to packing it in; for their sakes (and also mine) I hope he finally goes at the end of this month.

UTA

[Perryashburtongroves]

All that shit he spouts about acting in the best interests of the club and yet he can't quite get it that the best interests of the club are him fucking right off. I can't quite understand how he can claim to do all that caring about the club shit and not accept that a Sporting Director would be for the better. He just become a deranged, pathetic, self-serving, power-mad despot. Just fuck off.

[Gunnersaurus]

If (and it's a big if) Gazidis wants him gone it's pretty simple, he'll appoint a DoF regardless of what Wenger thinks.

His contract runs out at the end of the month, the season has been poor, they don't need his permission to shake things up based on the assumption that he may not sign, this is their chance to get him out via the back door because he certainly won't work with one.

My biggest fear is that he's already signed and Gazidis is trying to implement this but Wenger is not agreeing to work with one, if this is the case then there's only going to be one winner and it won't be Ivan, if he hasn't signed yet then there's no excuse not to employ one and give him the option to sign or fuck off.

[Bob Bayliss]

If it isn't enough that this old fool would bankrupt the country, he is trying to lumber us with the other old fool

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/ ... s-10385383

Perhaps they should swap jobs.......Corbyn could appoint John McDonnell to sit next to him looking gormless and Diane Abbott to negotiate contracts while Wenger could award underperforming workers artificically high wages. .

[Midz]

Aw squirmed a bit at the end of his conference today.






hee hee hee...

[begeegs]

I was loving the press conference today because he really makes himself look like a complete wanker. If there is any debate about him loving the club and wanting the best for it, that should be put to bed now. He just wants to hold on to power despite his under-performance.

He's gone guys!

If he does go, we really do need to have a proper summer barbecue. I'd be happy to arrange if it goes down....