Out of touch

[highburyJD]

There's also nothing philosophical in Wenger's stop gaps signings...

er, yes there is...
a clear stated philosophy, which is loan signings like Lehman, Campbell and Henry serve a purpose when we need them but
a- don't block the path of youth players to the first team and
b- have experience and a winning mentality that rubs off on those young players

With Lehman it worked fine - I back Szcz to be our keeper for years
Campbell did a job, maybe Kyle Bartley or Ignasi Miquel will come through...?
post Henry... not sure - I rate Benik Afobe, pretty early for him to be doing it in March

[franksav63]

There's also nothing philosophical in Wenger's stop gaps signings...

er, yes there is...
a clear stated philosophy, which is loan signings like Lehman, Campbell and Henry serve a purpose when we need them but
a- don't block the path of youth players to the first team and
b- have experience and a winning mentality that rubs off on those young players

With Lehman it worked fine - I back Szcz to be our keeper for years
Campbell did a job, maybe Kyle Bartley or Ignasi Miquel will come through...?
post Henry... not sure - I rate Benik Afobe, pretty early for him to be doing it in March

What ever happened to COMPETITION, if the young players are good enough they will make it like Cesc did, you have a similar namby pamby view like Wenger, no wonder you love him so much.

Aa for Szcz, he would be on his bike if it wasn't for injuries to Almunia and Flappy and Wenger only then decided to give Szczęsny game time, we are supposedly one of Europe's elite teams, but doing this shit makes us look like cheap small time.

[SteveO 35]

seriously? we might be far far behind Citeh
but I see every other side as catchable with the right moves in Jan

But Highbury JD, that is exactly the point mate.......and the word 'if' is the same little word that has appeared in every approaching transfer window of the last 4-5 years.

Every year it is the same, just the position that changes - if we signed a GK, if we signed a CB, if we signed a CDM.....now the consensus seems to be if we signed a second striker (and I don't mean our legendary TH14 currently being turned into the latest marketing gimmick).

Then the window passes without a ripple of activity, and when we were "very close" in April/May, I guarantee you that yourself and others will be saying - "oh, this time he'll sort it out in the Summer / he looks tired and gaunt / he knows which players have let him down / there will be a clearout etc" - stuff that has been said every Summer since 2007 if my memory serves me correctly.

And what will that window bring in Summer? The almost inevitable sale of RvP, some sub-standard replacements and another healthy profit.

Perhaps my view is "out of touch" as it doesn't represent the majority - fine, that's life, I can do little about everyone else's view. Doesn't make me wrong or them right. What it certainly doesn't mean is that I have to accept it and continue to buy tickets and feed the business model that I believe is ruining our first team squad.

Remember that we moved "to compete with Europe's elite". Matchday revenues were set to double. Instead the club has banked a transfer profit virtually every year since, in addition to the huge increase in matchday revenues, and the team is further away from competing with Europe's elite than at any point in the last decade.

[swimmer1]

Spot on SteveO 35 could not put it better myself lol .

[brazilianGOONER]

seriously? we might be far far behind Citeh
but I see every other side as catchable with the right moves in Jan

But Highbury JD, that is exactly the point mate.......and the word 'if' is the same little word that has appeared in every approaching transfer window of the last 4-5 years.

Every year it is the same, just the position that changes - if we signed a GK, if we signed a CB, if we signed a CDM.....now the consensus seems to be if we signed a second striker (and I don't mean our legendary TH14 currently being turned into the latest marketing gimmick).

Then the window passes without a ripple of activity, and when we were "very close" in April/May, I guarantee you that yourself and others will be saying - "oh, this time he'll sort it out in the Summer / he looks tired and gaunt / he knows which players have let him down / there will be a clearout etc" - stuff that has been said every Summer since 2007 if my memory serves me correctly.

And what will that window bring in Summer? The almost inevitable sale of RvP, some sub-standard replacements and another healthy profit.

Perhaps my view is "out of touch" as it doesn't represent the majority - fine, that's life, I can do little about everyone else's view. Doesn't make me wrong or them right. What it certainly doesn't mean is that I have to accept it and continue to buy tickets and feed the business model that I believe is ruining our first team squad.

Remember that we moved "to compete with Europe's elite". Matchday revenues were set to double. Instead the club has banked a transfer profit virtually every year since, in addition to the huge increase in matchday revenues, and the team is further away from competing with Europe's elite than at any point in the last decade.

that is a quality post, steveO.

[bergkamp10]

I dont buy all this "it is all Wenger's fault"

what about the players. can't some of them accept responsibility any more?

also even IF a new manager comes in we are still at the Emirates. There is no going back to Highbury so all the corporate shit, and the merchandising will continue whoever is in charge. lets face it the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge is similar to the Emirates if not worse, and I can't see it changing anytime soon

RM, agree with most. I started out watching AFC in mid-70's and we had some pretty shit years....

I say sadly now I mostly only see away games, and there is a 50/50% split on AKB...

I cannot see him leaving the club anytime soon,

[mcdowell42]

I think we have to be realistic there is not a hope in hell of AW getting the sack,even though i thinik its time for him to step away.We have him at least until his contract ends.Theres no getting away from it.

[highburyJD]

SteveO's right it's a big 'if'
as I've said, I believe this winter we will make signings beyond Henry

there's plenty that's actually happened to be angry about (Wolves)
getting angry about what may or may not happen next month is futile

I said just before last window shut - don't worry we will make several signings and was roundly abused on here as a fantasist
told there was no way in hell it would happen - that we would definitely not buy

when we did buy the nay-sayers just switch tack and say the players we have bought aren't good enough

some of the 'obvious' positions that needed strengthening in previous windows wouldn't have resulted in good signings - but it's always possible to argue your fantasy team would have been better than the real thing

this window, this situation is different. I remember rowing on here with people who said the whole Villa team was better than ours - that they would def get 4th. All along I laughed it off and said they had no chance. Personally I think even without Arshavin we would have finished ahead of them.
But Wenger felt 4th place pressure so hit the market for proven quality.

Now we are under more pressure - Villa were punching way above their weight. Chelski have good players and will reinforce. Spuds too have a strong team. Very different quality of opposition. We also have serious cash in the bank, RVP and Walcott seeing what happens before signing, this summer lost the box office draw of Cesc (and to a lesser extent Na$ri) and the 6% issue.

Because of those factors (and despite sounds to the contrary coming out of the club) I see us making serious signings. Wenger and the board will be fully aware of what the fan backlash would be if we finish 5th with money in the bank let alone the baseline financial realities.

[swimmer1]

There will be no more signings it's the same as last 2-3 years we are in contention for 4 th place so keeps the board happy so the board thinks the fans are happy.

This where we go in circles as I think we will get 3rd or 4th place by the end of the season our top players will leave as we end up with no trophies and bring some not so good players spending less money and try and get lucky that they become world beaters.

[kiwomya]

Now we are under more pressure - Villa were punching way above their weight. Chelski have good players and will reinforce. Spuds too have a strong team. Very different quality of opposition. We also have serious cash in the bank, RVP and Walcott seeing what happens before signing, this summer lost the box office draw of Cesc (and to a lesser extent Na$ri) and the 6% issue.

B

Chelsea also spent £70M+ last January on soppy bollocks and Torres and it didn't really get them far. Will they do it again?

[highburyJD]

I think they have to
need to replace Cech, Terry, Lampard and Drogs - the spine of their success

[swimmer1]

The thing is Chelsea will go out and replace when needed where we just stand still

I think they have to
need to replace Cech, Terry, Lampard and Drogs - the spine of their success

[highburyJD]

people on here love to bang their heads on the wall about what may happen
there's plenty of reality to be upset about without suffering from hypothetical despair

[FatChaz]

people on here love to bang their heads on the wall about what may happen
there's plenty of reality to be upset about without suffering from hypothetical despair

hypothetical despair has usually become a reality though.

[swimmer1]

This the place I like to vent my anger by banging my head against the wall other than that I am peace with the world

people on here love to bang their heads on the wall about what may happen
there's plenty of reality to be upset about without suffering from hypothetical despair