THE WENGER THREAD

[dPmunky]

no offence guys but you need to get a grip.

Podolski isn't that good., he has got a finish on him but his overall play can be distinctly lacking. He shouldn't be playing up front although playing an off form santi wide vs a podolski is a close call. Thing with Carzola is that he doesn't stay wide either and when he comes inside he has a good effect, something we really can't get with Podolski.

If anybody disagrees, please bring it.

PS. Arshavin ate himself out of contention.

you've lost your mind! not good? 11 League Goals same as Giroud, in one less appearance. And overall had 16 vs Girouds 17....so how is he not good, if Giroud, the starter is?

[northbank123]

Fucking ridiculous. I have a feeling Podolski will be departing in the summer - we can't hope to keep so many midfielders happy (and that's what he is as long as Wenger is in charge and playing 4-5-1 every week) unless we have loads of injuries.

He is a very good player who we haven't even nearly got the best out of but has still shown what he is capable of. I don't think it's a personal vendetta - Wenger has just limited Podolski to playing as a left-winger to crowbar him into his beloved formation and then decided that actually he'd rather play a CM/AM out of position there rather than a second striker.

On another note why on earth were both Ozil and Cazorla left on the pitch yesterday? I don't think Cazorla produces anything like his best when Ozil is playing and he's farmed out to left wing and I would seriously consider not starting both of them away from home but despite their wonderful passing ability and Ozil's unerring nack of keeping hold of the ball together they are too much of a liability and I would rather see a more industrious and/or direct player on in their place in situations like that.

[SteveO 35]

I don't understand why Wenger signed Podolski to start with

We have one formation that we have employed rigidly for 2-3 years now i.e. the 4-5-1 (4-3-3 depending on how you view it).

That formation requires a striker who can hold the ball up and bring other players into play. RvP could do that and Giroud can do that (not comparing them ability wise at all). Podolski has never been able to do that and throughout his impressive career has not operated that way

The midfielders Wenger employs are one of two types - holders or creators. He clearly isn't the former, nor is he a wide player or a drifter in the style of Ozil.

He's never pretended to be any of these things during his career. Germany have always had a Klose type, as have Bayern when he was there. He is a second striker, playing off a target man and a natural finisher.

If you've got one style of playing and he doesn't fit...then why oh why sign the bloke?

Its not that he isn't a good player. Its just that he's not a good "Wenger's Arsenal" player

[kiwomya]

Think the Podolski stuff has got a bit out of hand. He's been out injured for months and needs to work his way back into what has been a pretty successful side. Walcott aside, we have a nearly full fit attack which hasn't really happened all season so of course you are going to see different players coming in and out. I'm glad he was annoyed that Ox was coming on. Rather that than watching someone like Adebayor count the coins in his pocket after a little nap.

[clockender1]

I don't understand why Wenger signed Podolski to start with

me neither - when he signed both, i thought we'd start with two up front and play a 4-3-1-2.

both Pod and Giroud are proven internationals and quality IMHO but as is our way, despite signing in July, they were both not fit for the start of the season and AW started with wally who did a top job to be fair.

look at their Cv's and they should be the ideal partnership - a big guy who can head it and hold it up & a tough clinical finisher.

but noooo not for the Professor, though to be fair Pod did break down in August again thanks to the superb fitness and conditioning we enjoy....

when/if they will ever start together who knows ?

what i do know, is that Wenger does still have a great eye for talent as the buys of Pod, Giroud, Caz, Nacho, and Gnabry does show, BUT he has NO IDEA how to prepare them or use them tactically before a game let alone during it.

the same that we can see that it should be TWO OF Rosicky, Ozil and Caz NOT all three together.

I honestly believe that Wenger has no clue who his best first eleven is - chance and injury (a lot of injuries tbh) dictate his selections.

[Steve_I]

Still for him here of course. If only he'd listen to some of the advice here tho'... we'd be higher up the table easily.

Honestly fellas, the briefest glimpse of a player shaking his head at something we have no real idea of. Yep, he should shake his head when not asked to come on, they all should ffs! any who sit there happy to stay wrapped up and on the bench shouldn't be there.

Here, the slightest chance to say it's Arsene's fault is grabbed at the first opportunity. To have players who are good enough to play but aren't playing is what we all want isn't it? or do we want to go back to a threadbare squad with absolutely no quality sitting on the bench? one or the other chaps, your choice, meanwhile I'll continue supporting the man who has kept my club up there and in with a chance and, as I've said repeatedly, in a good enough position overall to make me believe we will win a few things over the next nine years.

endrant

[BFG4]

Still for him here of course. If only he'd listen to some of the advice here tho'... we'd be higher up the table easily.

Honestly fellas, the briefest glimpse of a player shaking his head at something we have no real idea of. Yep, he should shake his head when not asked to come on, they all should ffs! any who sit there happy to stay wrapped up and on the bench shouldn't be there.

Here, the slightest chance to say it's Arsene's fault is grabbed at the first opportunity. To have players who are good enough to play but aren't playing is what we all want isn't it? or do we want to go back to a threadbare squad with absolutely no quality sitting on the bench? one or the other chaps, your choice, meanwhile I'll continue supporting the man who has kept my club up there and in with a chance and, as I've said repeatedly, in a good enough position overall to make me believe we will win a few things over the next nine years.

endrant

So your support of Wenger goes so far as to admit we will win nothing for the next few seasons, but sometime in the next nine years, we might win something, even an AKB knows he isn't capable of winning trophies.

[Steve_I]

Still for him here of course. If only he'd listen to some of the advice here tho'... we'd be higher up the table easily.

Honestly fellas, the briefest glimpse of a player shaking his head at something we have no real idea of. Yep, he should shake his head when not asked to come on, they all should ffs! any who sit there happy to stay wrapped up and on the bench shouldn't be there.

Here, the slightest chance to say it's Arsene's fault is grabbed at the first opportunity. To have players who are good enough to play but aren't playing is what we all want isn't it? or do we want to go back to a threadbare squad with absolutely no quality sitting on the bench? one or the other chaps, your choice, meanwhile I'll continue supporting the man who has kept my club up there and in with a chance and, as I've said repeatedly, in a good enough position overall to make me believe we will win a few things over the next nine years.


endrant

So your support of Wenger goes so far as to admit we will win nothing for the next few seasons, but sometime in the next nine years, we might win something, even an AKB knows he isn't capable of winning trophies.

where have I admitted that? the next few seasons we will (i believe) win things, but in 9 seasons we will look back and we will have won a lot is my consistent line

[SteveO 35]

Still for him here of course. If only he'd listen to some of the advice here tho'... we'd be higher up the table easily.

Honestly fellas, the briefest glimpse of a player shaking his head at something we have no real idea of. Yep, he should shake his head when not asked to come on, they all should ffs! any who sit there happy to stay wrapped up and on the bench shouldn't be there.

Here, the slightest chance to say it's Arsene's fault is grabbed at the first opportunity. To have players who are good enough to play but aren't playing is what we all want isn't it? or do we want to go back to a threadbare squad with absolutely no quality sitting on the bench? one or the other chaps, your choice, meanwhile I'll continue supporting the man who has kept my club up there and in with a chance and, as I've said repeatedly, in a good enough position overall to make me believe we will win a few things over the next nine years.


endrant

So your support of Wenger goes so far as to admit we will win nothing for the next few seasons, but sometime in the next nine years, we might win something, even an AKB knows he isn't capable of winning trophies.

where have I admitted that? the next few seasons we will (i believe) win things, but in 9 seasons we will look back and we will have won a lot is my consistent line

And then they can all join us in Block 2, Stevie Boy for a loud chorus of..........







ONE ARSENE WENGER....THERE'S ONLY ONE ARSENE WENGER

[BFG4]

Still for him here of course. If only he'd listen to some of the advice here tho'... we'd be higher up the table easily.

Honestly fellas, the briefest glimpse of a player shaking his head at something we have no real idea of. Yep, he should shake his head when not asked to come on, they all should ffs! any who sit there happy to stay wrapped up and on the bench shouldn't be there.

Here, the slightest chance to say it's Arsene's fault is grabbed at the first opportunity. To have players who are good enough to play but aren't playing is what we all want isn't it? or do we want to go back to a threadbare squad with absolutely no quality sitting on the bench? one or the other chaps, your choice, meanwhile I'll continue supporting the man who has kept my club up there and in with a chance and, as I've said repeatedly, in a good enough position overall to make me believe we will win a few things over the next nine years.


endrant

So your support of Wenger goes so far as to admit we will win nothing for the next few seasons, but sometime in the next nine years, we might win something, even an AKB knows he isn't capable of winning trophies.

where have I admitted that? the next few seasons we will (i believe) win things, but in 9 seasons we will look back and we will have won a lot is my consistent line

You support Wenger, but the reason you are giving him nine years to win something is because you know deep down, he isn't going to win fuck all again for many years to come. Would you accept it, if we win a trophy in the 8th year of this 9 year time period, which at that point, would mean the club had gone 17 years without winning a trophy up until that point?

[dPmunky]

Wenger seems to be reviewed like any employee. He may not be exceeding expectations but he keeps the club in the top 4. keeps the club profitable. keeps the hope flowing which keeps people coming back, year after year. At this point he doesn't need to do more for the board/owners.

For me, if I'm doing the review I look at his first few years compared to his last and no one can argue there has been a massive let off. I was patient until the summer cesc left, the following year when he replaced rvp with giroud? The contempt he shows for the domestic cups not showing up to win, to save the 'stars' but then he never seems to have the boys firing on all cylinders for the CL games, what gives? I've had enough, scrambling for 4th barely beating out s*urs last year? You can make all the arguments about moving and being in better financial shape then other clubs but what good does it do to make a ton of money if all you do is sit on it?

So again, for me, if I am the one reviewing him, this is his chance, this is the year to prove me(and loads others) wrong....win the league, win the fa cup, make a run in the CL, act like the leader you were in 98-05. God, I desperately want to eat my words, all the sour feelings, but the guy can't even figure out his zipper?

And to the board/owner,
You want to grow "the Arsenal brand?" WIN! It's that simple.

[DB10GOONER]

I don't understand why Wenger signed Podolski to start with

We have one formation that we have employed rigidly for 2-3 years now i.e. the 4-5-1 (4-3-3 depending on how you view it).

That formation requires a striker who can hold the ball up and bring other players into play. RvP could do that and Giroud can do that (not comparing them ability wise at all). Podolski has never been able to do that and throughout his impressive career has not operated that way

The midfielders Wenger employs are one of two types - holders or creators. He clearly isn't the former, nor is he a wide player or a drifter in the style of Ozil.

He's never pretended to be any of these things during his career. Germany have always had a Klose type, as have Bayern when he was there. He is a second striker, playing off a target man and a natural finisher.

If you've got one style of playing and he doesn't fit...then why oh why sign the bloke?

Its not that he isn't a good player. Its just that he's not a good "Wenger's Arsenal" player

Top post. Sums up my thoughts exactly.

[DB10GOONER]

Still for him here of course. If only he'd listen to some of the advice here tho'... we'd be higher up the table easily.

Honestly fellas, the briefest glimpse of a player shaking his head at something we have no real idea of. Yep, he should shake his head when not asked to come on, they all should ffs! any who sit there happy to stay wrapped up and on the bench shouldn't be there.

Here, the slightest chance to say it's Arsene's fault is grabbed at the first opportunity. To have players who are good enough to play but aren't playing is what we all want isn't it? or do we want to go back to a threadbare squad with absolutely no quality sitting on the bench? one or the other chaps, your choice, meanwhile I'll continue supporting the man who has kept my club up there and in with a chance and, as I've said repeatedly, in a good enough position overall to make me believe we will win a few things over the next nine years.

endrant

Steve, I think you are missing the point entirely. No one is complaining that we have good players that aren't playing. I'm sorry - but that is a stupid comment tbh. Nearly everyone on here has been crying out for an improved deeper squad for years. The point is Pod is a finisher, the best clinical finisher we have. At the moment we have one fit striker worth anything in Giroud (let's not even piss about here with the Fat Drunk and the perma-injured postman ok?). He is the only striker getting games. So we have one. But it is obvious to anyone that he is tired and getting leggy. Wenger choses to keep playing him and bring on midfielders when he should be taking the pressure off Giroud by bringing on Pod or better still, playing both target man Giroud alongside clinical finisher Pod.

But that would involve Wenger having to then use Pod in the best way possible; ie as part of a 2 in a 4-4-2 but that would go against Wenger's ingrained doctrine/dogma of only playing 4-5-1 no matter what happens and no matter if players aren't suited to it. Again it's Wenger's ego and lack of realism/pragmatism that dictates here - and to the detriment of the team.

You say we would be higher up the table if he listened to our advice? Very clever, hilarious. The problem is you (like ALL Wengerists) are judging him now, during a good spell (one of which we have every season). But ultimately it will be this stubborn idealistic side of Wenger that will mean we yet again slip away late on in the season, win nothing and end up scrapping for 4th or 5th. The thing that frustrates me and so many others is that this is avoidable. We have the basis of a good team but we need to add a few players to it and we need a manager who can then look at the players and develop two or three systems of play that bring out the best in those players, that plays to their strengths, not a manager that tries to wedge players into a system that doesn't suit them, all because his ego dictates that that is the system he wants to use.

[Steve_I]

Still for him here of course. If only he'd listen to some of the advice here tho'... we'd be higher up the table easily.

Honestly fellas, the briefest glimpse of a player shaking his head at something we have no real idea of. Yep, he should shake his head when not asked to come on, they all should ffs! any who sit there happy to stay wrapped up and on the bench shouldn't be there.

Here, the slightest chance to say it's Arsene's fault is grabbed at the first opportunity. To have players who are good enough to play but aren't playing is what we all want isn't it? or do we want to go back to a threadbare squad with absolutely no quality sitting on the bench? one or the other chaps, your choice, meanwhile I'll continue supporting the man who has kept my club up there and in with a chance and, as I've said repeatedly, in a good enough position overall to make me believe we will win a few things over the next nine years.


endrant

So your support of Wenger goes so far as to admit we will win nothing for the next few seasons, but sometime in the next nine years, we might win something, even an AKB knows he isn't capable of winning trophies.

where have I admitted that? the next few seasons we will (i believe) win things, but in 9 seasons we will look back and we will have won a lot is my consistent line

You support Wenger, but the reason you are giving him nine years to win something is because you know deep down, he isn't going to win fuck all again for many years to come. Would you accept it, if we win a trophy in the 8th year of this 9 year time period, which at that point, would mean the club had gone 17 years without winning a trophy up until that point?

I wouldn't be happy, no, if it was the 8th of the next nine years that we won just one trophy. I have said clearly that I beleive we will win more than one. Your reasoning for why I support him is way off the mark but, I believe, helps you to understand why I saw what I do so fair play to you for thinking that.

[Steve_I]

Still for him here of course. If only he'd listen to some of the advice here tho'... we'd be higher up the table easily.

Honestly fellas, the briefest glimpse of a player shaking his head at something we have no real idea of. Yep, he should shake his head when not asked to come on, they all should ffs! any who sit there happy to stay wrapped up and on the bench shouldn't be there.

Here, the slightest chance to say it's Arsene's fault is grabbed at the first opportunity. To have players who are good enough to play but aren't playing is what we all want isn't it? or do we want to go back to a threadbare squad with absolutely no quality sitting on the bench? one or the other chaps, your choice, meanwhile I'll continue supporting the man who has kept my club up there and in with a chance and, as I've said repeatedly, in a good enough position overall to make me believe we will win a few things over the next nine years.

endrant

Steve, I think you are missing the point entirely. No one is complaining that we have good players that aren't playing. I'm sorry - but that is a stupid comment tbh. Nearly everyone on here has been crying out for an improved deeper squad for years. The point is Pod is a finisher, the best clinical finisher we have. At the moment we have one fit striker worth anything in Giroud (let's not even piss about here with the Fat Drunk and the perma-injured postman ok?). He is the only striker getting games. So we have one. But it is obvious to anyone that he is tired and getting leggy. Wenger choses to keep playing him and bring on midfielders when he should be taking the pressure off Giroud by bringing on Pod or better still, playing both target man Giroud alongside clinical finisher Pod.

But that would involve Wenger having to then use Pod in the best way possible; ie as part of a 2 in a 4-4-2 but that would go against Wenger's ingrained doctrine/dogma of only playing 4-5-1 no matter what happens and no matter if players aren't suited to it. Again it's Wenger's ego and lack of realism/pragmatism that dictates here - and to the detriment of the team.

You say we would be higher up the table if he listened to our advice? Very clever, hilarious. The problem is you (like ALL Wengerists) are judging him now, during a good spell (one of which we have every season). But ultimately it will be this stubborn idealistic side of Wenger that will mean we yet again slip away late on in the season, win nothing and end up scrapping for 4th or 5th. The thing that frustrates me and so many others is that this is avoidable. We have the basis of a good team but we need to add a few players to it and we need a manager who can then look at the players and develop two or three systems of play that bring out the best in those players, that plays to their strengths, not a manager that tries to wedge players into a system that doesn't suit them, all because his ego dictates that that is the system he wants to use.

I am most certainly not judging him now. I have an opinion on him as a manager based over all of the time he has been with us and the situation we find ourselves in. The cyclical argument we have is that we clearly feel strongly about our own viewpoints. I have judged him during what you all refer to as the low points just as much as I have 'during a good spell' as you put it.

I won't get into the 'tactics/formation' debate simply because I refuse to accept the premise that 'he don't do tactics' which, to my mind, is one of the most ridiculous sentiments/themes that one sees around and about and doesn't deserve the time. (simply my view, I appreciate, but such is the way it will ever be for me)