THE WENGER THREAD

[Theoperator]

Never mind for or against this Man has to be our next manager.

http://metro.co.uk/2014/02/05/is-boruss ... g-4291839/

He knows about tactics.

He knows how to laugh off Maureen's BS whilst beating him on the pitch and his sense of humour will make supporting the Arsenal fun again,

Aprt from Klopp and De Boer/ DB10 is there anyone else anyone would like?

I heard mention of AVB and Laudrup but they seem unlikely to me to be any better in a great many ways.

The last few years have been a major disappointment and if this ends up as tits up as some are suggesting then we may well be needing a warehouse of flip flops

[augie]

I have championed Martinez as a future AFC manager and I still believe that although I wouldn't expect him to leave everton after a year.

Klopp too is unlikely but off the top of my head laudrup, simeone, rijkard (sp? ) and bielsa should all be in the hat as our next manager.
I am well aware how much ridicule I get every time I say it but I still think that avb could be a good appointment for us - I am so fed up with a tactically clueless manager who allows his players to go out and play gung ho football with no semblence of a gameplan and I think that avb would bring some organisation and tactical awareness to our set up. Our players all have technical ability and skill but what we need is organisation and somebody to light a fire under them and I would hope that our next manager, whoever they may be, will bring these assets to the table

[augie]

Actually can I add heynckes to that list - he is a man that is slightly sore at how he was disposed of by Bayern and would have a chip on his shoulder which might suit us

One of my favourites would be Joachim low - he has been in that Germany job for 7 years and might be open to a change after the world cup

[Its Up 4 Grabs Now]

I do think we're progressed. And as I've stated before, 2013 has been undoubtedly better than 2012 and 2011 (in my opinion).

But as you know, I don't think Wenger is the man to take us forward so I won't be attending the BBQ.

We've improved in a lot of ways over the last year from the previous few - if anyone doesn't think that they've got incredibly short memories of just how shite we were. But, at the risk of making it a semantics issue, 'progress' is a slightly different concept to me. Genuine progress this season would mean an upward trajectory that's also leading to continued improvement next season, not just a temporary spike.

As things stand, in the summer we're gonna need to buy another striker (a genuinely top class one at that), quite possibly a replacement for Sagna, at least one centre-back, probably 2 if Vermaelen goes, and a defensive midfielder.

Three of of those five would be for the first 11, not back-ups. In other words, we'd still be '2 or 3 top class signings (or "1 or 2%" ) away.' Pretty much where we've been every summer for years now - walking forward in a circle, ending up back where we started.

Of those three, a striker of the calibre we're talking about would almost certainly require breaking the bank and getting in ahead of other big clubs. Replacing Sagna would mean replacing one of the best full-backs (defensively) in the PL over the last 7 years. Granted full-backs are generally less expensive but that's a major ask to find a replacement who actually improves us, rather than weakens. And united, city, liverpool, plus PSG etc will likely all be looking for defensve midfielfers this summer too, so the talent pool gets smaller and the prices get higher. I don't know much about the Bender's & the Gundogans etc but if their talent matches the reputation I'm guessing that's another £20-25m+ easily, not to mention having to beat off more stiff competition. If it comes to a race, what's the odds we're left eating the soggy biscuit, again.

I wouldn't have much faith in Wenger to pull that off at the best of times, but in a world cup year, where there's even more need to act early & decisively? Who's gonna loiter around the Ivory Coast team hotel in Rio hoping the players' mums come to visit if Arsene's busy actually doing his job?

That said, I dont actually think Wenger will re-sign so all of the above is as redundant as all my previous 4000 posts.

Progress!

[clockender1]

After 500odd pages I've come to the conclusion 90% of people on here would never have followed the arsenal in the 70's early 80's ....

All you do all you do all you do is FUCKING MOAN

Sorry mate but the majority of the 'moaners' on here WERE following Arsenal back in the 70's and 80's but weren't charged a fortune to do so while being force-fed constant bullshit about wanting to challenge when the reality is so different!!

Yes I was following The Arsenal in the 70's and 80's as well.

If anything, it's the JCL's from 1996 onwards who are giving Wenger a free pass that is out of order.

But let me ask the Wenger defenders on here - if we sack Wenger now, what do we actually have to lose ?

[Its Up 4 Grabs Now]

I am well aware how much ridicule I get every time I say it but I still think that avb could be a good appointment for us - I am so fed up with a tactically clueless manager who allows his players to go out and play gung ho football with no semblence of a gameplan and I think that avb would bring some organisation and tactical awareness to our set up. Our players all have technical ability and skill but what we need is organisation and somebody to light a fire under them and I would hope that our next manager, whoever they may be, will bring these assets to the table

AVB's too far the other way. Wenger's complete disregard for tactics & basic preparation is mind-boggling, but a shifty little *word censored* with a powerpoint presentation on the "concave chocolate starfish formation" is just ott. Not to mention he's shite, a scum-reject and doesn't seem remotely capable of "lighting a fire" under players in the way you say you want our next manager to. Looking at him he's probably lit a few fires under bridges at night to keep warm, but that's about it.

[Steve_I]

After 500odd pages I've come to the conclusion 90% of people on here would never have followed the arsenal in the 70's early 80's ....

All you do all you do all you do is FUCKING MOAN

Sorry mate but the majority of the 'moaners' on here WERE following Arsenal back in the 70's and 80's but weren't charged a fortune to do so while being force-fed constant bullshit about wanting to challenge when the reality is so different!!

Yes I was following The Arsenal in the 70's and 80's as well.

If anything, it's the JCL's from 1996 onwards who are giving Wenger a free pass that is out of order.

But let me ask the Wenger defenders on here - if we sack Wenger now, what do we actually have to lose ?

No JCL here (something to do with the knee I think?)

If we sack wenger we have the best manager we have had to lose. The manager that has kept us in with a shout despite the money fuelled teams near us. We could spend a fortune on players but only short term, we could glory grab a trophy perhaps but for me that is not good enough. I want longevity and I want my grandchildren to follow the Arsenal and have a chance to see us win something. The fact that this is a most likely occurence is, imo, because and not in spite of how the club has been and is being run and managed.

Yes we have money (cash rich at last after consolidation through which we have remained in touch whereas I believe any other manager tht would not necessarily have been the case) but we do not hav ethe money that the bottomless pit of oil or russian shenanigans produce.

We are getting there and I return to my mantra that is, in nine years time I believe we will lokk back at a collection of trophies and success and that will be chiefly down to Arsene and the current and recent management

it is truly sad that folk are outpriced and can't go and, because such as me are fans of Arsene does not mean we agree with 'everything' the club does.

The fickleness that arises, and here I agree with augie and the like, is marked on here at times of such defeats as we suffered yesterday, as it is when we have a good run of wins. I am also aware that here (this forum) is vastly skewed in relation to the real world [of course this is my opinion]

I still believe we can win something this year but remain convinced that we WILL over the next nine --- and a few wins too.

So, if we sack him we ruin everything that has thus far been built and the foundation we are strengthening as we go.

I believe also that my views are closer to the vaste majority than many here think or wish to accept but such is the way of the football fan.

uta

[T.S]

I don't hate Wenger. Nor do I think he's a *word censored* (as many on here do). However, I simply do not think he has what it takes to prepare us for the big games any more.

So, when you're asked, "yeah well, who could do a better job than him?" The answer is simply; a manager who knows how to organise his teams to win big games.

He has taken us as far as he can. I believe he should be given credit for how well we've done (so far) this season, but if we have aspirations that are higher than 4th place (and that's a big 'if'), then the decision is simple. It's time to give someone else a crack at it.

[clockender1]

Steve - so no other manager could win trophies with this squad and the 100million in the bank ?

We already know what Wenger can and can't do - just look at the last two seasons when money has not been an issue - losses to Norwich, Bradford, Blackburn, schalke, Swansea, villa, napoli, and one win against the top four in one and a half seasons ?

Why not let a top manager take the club forwards - even if you believe that Wenger took us through a difficult time, that time is some years past and there's no sign of upward progression is there ?

Wenger is also 65 now, at an age when most people's minds are slowing down. Wenger is NOT the open minded 47 year old that arrived here and inherited the worlds best back four and Bergkamp and Parlour. He's an old man set in his ways and the world has passed him by - even ferguson lost it in the end too, he stayed two years too long and look at the mess he left Moyes !

Time to move on with a younger manager now, anything else is game by game just delaying the inevitable.

[Eboue-Why?]

I don't hate Wenger. Nor do I think he's a *word censored* (as many on here do). However, I simply do not think he has what it takes to prepare us for the big games any more.

So, when you're asked, "yeah well, who could do a better job than him?" The answer is simply; a manager who knows how to organise his teams to win big games.

He has taken us as far as he can. I believe he should be given credit for how well we've done (so far) this season, but if we have aspirations that are higher than 4th place (and that's a big 'if'), then the decision is simple. It's time to give someone else a crack at it.

Agree with every word.

[Ed Hunter The Gooner]

Steve - so no other manager could win trophies with this squad and the 100million in the bank ?

We already know what Wenger can and can't do - just look at the last two seasons when money has not been an issue - losses to Norwich, Bradford, Blackburn, schalke, Swansea, villa, napoli, and one win against the top four in one and a half seasons ?

Why not let a top manager take the club forwards - even if you believe that Wenger took us through a difficult time, that time is some years past and there's no sign of upward progression is there ?

Wenger is also 65 now, at an age when most people's minds are slowing down. Wenger is NOT the open minded 47 year old that arrived here and inherited the worlds best back four and Bergkamp and Parlour. He's an old man set in his ways and the world has passed him by - even ferguson lost it in the end too, he stayed two years too long and look at the mess he left Moyes !

Time to move on with a younger manager now, anything else is game by game just delaying the inevitable.

Well said, I totally agree. As much I have enjoyed our success this far, I don't believe a minute that we can really get something out of this year competitions with wenger.

[topgoon]

Actually can I add heynckes to that list - he is a man that is slightly sore at how he was disposed of by Bayern and would have a chip on his shoulder which might suit us

One of my favourites would be Joachim low - he has been in that Germany job for 7 years and might be open to a change after the world cup

If he can get a tune out of Ozil then I'd have him

Agree with most of what's been said on here that isn't rude.

He has given us some great years but it has gone stale. Nothing changes and each season mirrors the last one. The only way this one will be different will be if he lifts the FA cup but with Maureen and shitty still in it, I can't see it happening.

The odd demoralising defeat you can almost handle but every season now he fails to motivate the players to play to their utmost. No one expects them to do this for a whole season but we seem to have blips when it really matters year in year out. We go out against top opposition with no tactics bar -play our own game-
Football has changed and you need actual tactics and proper formations and sometimes even man marking to get over the line.

Arsene seems completely opposed to doing anything like that so we will continue to be nearly men, except now we have to look over our shoulder and worry about Everton,dippers,the scum even the saints will get better.

If he won't change then we need a new manager, if even the most ardent Arsene supporter can't see that then I am at a loss. .

[northbank123]

I don't think Klopp is that unlikely. Am I the only one who thinks he will get tired at Dortmund in the next few years? He's overseen their transition into a side that won back-to-back titles, a league and cup double and get agonisingly close to winning CL. He's done a phenomenal job.

And now they're being bullied by Bayern. Last season Bayern knocked them out of the cup, beat them in the CL final and finished 25 points clear. To add insult to injury they then announced the signing of Dortmund's best player who is used on a fairly rotational basis despite the fact he'd walk into just about any other team on the planet.

This season they were out of the one-horse title race by October and sit 17 points behind Bayern already, and their best striker has already announced he'll be pissing off to Bayern for free in the summer. Dortmund scraped through the CL group stages by the skin of their teeth and who would bet against Bayern ending their challenge on both cup fronts again?

Despite the German football love-in everyone seems to be experiencing now it is the most boring league in the sense that any time a credible threat arises Bayern will throw around their muscle and stamp it out within a season or two. Dortmund have disappointed in the league the last two seasons but in the grand scheme of things they've not done a lot wrong - if they were from any other country they would have been building a dynasty with their team of talented young players but as it is they're not even nearly hanging onto Bayern's coat-tails as they mercilessly pull apart Dortmund's side. That has to be extremely demoralising for Klopp?

[clockender1]

My other question to his defenders is - what do you think he did when we were 2-0 and 3-0 down in 15 mins.

A) step out to his technical area and take charge, make 'calm down, slow it down' motions to his players, encourage them to put their foot on the ball, pass it round at the back, keep possession - take the pace and sting out of Liverpools momentum, knowing we could still get back in the game with 70 miniutes still to go ?

Or

B) none of those thing, just sat and watched the game get away from us and go in 4-0 at half time ?

[markyp]

its obvious Wenger is past his best,he can no longer deliver,just because he did once doesn't mean he will again,especially not after 8 trophyless years,it would be like lining linford Christie up in the 100m at the next Olympics and being convinced he can still win gold just because he did it before,sadly it ant gonna happen no matter how hard he tries,once you are past your best youre past it,brian clough and king Kenny spring to mind,Wenger is our clough