Rafa set for the chop!

[BOJDE LFC]

BOJDE, i'm sorry if you already answered this, but just to make sure i understand your concepts of relative success and competing with endless cash clubs, what do you think about arsène in the last 5 years managing arsenal? do you rate it as successful or not, and why?

Lets see:

2005/06:

League: 4th
European Cup: Runners up
FA Cup: 4th Round
League Cup: Semi finals

2006/07:

League: 4th
European Cup: Last 16
FA Cup: 5th Round
League Cup: Runners up

2007/08:

League: 3rd
European Cup: Quarter finals
FA Cup: 5th Round
League Cup: Semi finals

2008/09:

League: 4th
European Cup: Semi finals
FA Cup: Semi finals
League Cup: Quarter finals

2009/10:

League: 3rd
European Cup: Quarter finals
FA Cup: 4th Round
League Cup: 5th Round

Since you haven't won anything in the last 5 years I would say that it hasn't been great, but you have steadily improved results in Europe which is an improvement. The big problem you've had is not enough players stepping it up in big games. Could you tell me though how much Wenger has been allowed to spend in the last few years because I'm always hearing different things like the money being there, but him not spending it? Going on results alone I would say the last 5 years have been average for Arsenal considering your success in the previous 5 years:

2000/01:

League: 2nd
European Cup: Quarter finals
FA Cup: Runners up
League Cup: 3rd Round

2001/02:

League: Winners
European Cup: Last 16
FA Cup: Winners
League Cup: 5th Round

2002/03:

League: 2nd
European Cup: Last 16
FA Cup: Winners
League Cup: 3rd Round

2003/04:

League: 1st
European Cup: Quarter finals
FA Cup: Semi finals
League Cup: Semi finals

2004/05:

League: 2nd
European Cup: Last 16
FA Cup: Winners
League Cup: Quarter finals

[I Hate Hleb]

In answer to your question Bojde, no-one really knows if the money has been there for Wenger to spend or not. However, you might find this interesting. These are the figures for transfer spending in the period 2004-2009.

Arsenal were 20th in the net transfer spending league table for Premier League clubs over that period:

Arsenal

Purchases: £112,050,000

Sales: £138,320,000

Net Transfer Balance: -£26,270,000

Ave Spend per season: -£4,378,333

In contrast, Liverpool were 3rd in the table, behind only Man City and Chelsea, with the following figures:

Liverpool

Purchases: £249,230,000

Sales: £140,480,000

Net Transfer Balance: £108,750,000

Ave Spend per season: £18,125,000

Source: www.transferleague.co.uk.

[g88ner]

I was looking for those figures myself, Hlebby.

It does annoy me when Rafa and Liverpool fans moan about how little they have to spend when over the last 5 years they've had a net spend of £130m+ MORE than us in that period

They may have shit owners who have saddled them with debt, but only mega rich Abramovich and The Citeh Arabs have made more cash available for the manager to spend, yet somehow we're supposed to think Rafa was hard done by. It's unbelievable.

[MegaGooner]

I was looking for those figures myself, Hlebby.

It does annoy me when Rafa and Liverpool fans moan about how little they have to spend when over the last 5 years they've had a net spend of £130m+ MORE than us in that period

They may have shit owners who have saddled them with debt, but only mega rich Abramovich and The Citeh Arabs have made more cash available for the manager to spend, yet somehow we're supposed to think Rafa was hard done by. It's unbelievable.

Leave me out of this........lol..

[augie]

I was looking for those figures myself, Hlebby.

It does annoy me when Rafa and Liverpool fans moan about how little they have to spend when over the last 5 years they've had a net spend of £130m+ MORE than us in that period

They may have shit owners who have saddled them with debt, but only mega rich Abramovich and The Citeh Arabs have made more cash available for the manager to spend, yet somehow we're supposed to think Rafa was hard done by. It's unbelievable.

That is the part that gets on my tits too - scouse fans choose to ignore how much money has actually been spent and instead support rafa's calls for more money I am firmly convinced that rafa could have sheik monsoor's cash behind him and he would still balls it up with his track record in the transfer market

I will also add that rafa is more suited to european football than the premier league - tactically he plays not to lose which is great in the champs lge but in the premiership you have to actually turn those tight games into wins and I dont think he was committed enough to attacking. His lack of appreciation to that aspect might explain how the scousers have been left with strikers like ngog and babel to play with torres - it is a similar situation to wengers appreciation of the goalkeeping importance where he has left us with poor keepers and by all accounts the last two keepers that he has tried to sign were schwarzer and sorenson

[merson_is_god]

He spunked a hell of a lot of money on some distinctly average players at Liverpool. How shite is Lucas? He can't be Brazilian!

We should have signed Alonso from them last summer and helped him recoup some of his vast spending!