THE WENGER THREAD

[northbank123]

I have disliked wanker for a long time now, but it has become hatred after that shambolic January transfer window, when we turned down the chance to sign Draxler, because we didn't attempt to pay a realistic transfer fee, but attempted to pay what Wenger thought he was worth. Then we pissed around until the last day of the window before attempting to sign a striker, that we badly needed, and the reason for all this, is because wanker knew that the VT was all but guaranteed, so didn't bother making an actual effort, because the man is a loser. Also any delusional idiot that still wants to defend Wanker, then I have two words for you, Kim Kallstrom.

Agree with the general consensus and if we did go half-hearted for Draxler that sums us up. But am I annoyed we didn't spent £35m+ on another young attacking midfielder? Nope.

[Ryanswannell]

http://positivelyarsenal.com/2014/05/07 ... nd-lies-2/


Have a read of this and also read the comments section,priceless

Does he mention the failure to buy a proven, quality striker? Does he acknowledge our many away thumping's this season? What about our failure to beat any of last years top 3? Maybe he wrote about our pointless transfers in Sanogo and Kallstrom? He mentioned Arsene's lack of adaptation to the squad depending on our opponents, surely?

Did he fuck .

[northbank123]

http://positivelyarsenal.com/2014/05/07 ... nd-lies-2/


Have a read of this and also read the comments section,priceless

Does he mention the failure to buy a proven, quality striker? Does he acknowledge our many away thumping's this season? What about our failure to beat any of last years top 3? Maybe he wrote about our pointless transfers in Sanogo and Kallstrom? He mentioned Arsene's lack of adaptation to the squad depending on our opponents, surely?

Did he fuck .

The things Wenger has said about Sanogo alone have left him open to monumental criticism. When he was first signed Wenger indicated repeatedly that he was signed to play a role in the first team this season and offered his typical view that people didn't rate him just because he didn't cost a lot of money. Wenger then announced in January/early February that having Sanogo at the club had persuaded him not to sign another striker in the window.

He's managed a paltry 4 starts and 8 substitute appearances, racking up 0 goals. Even Bendtner has made more of an impact on our season. Wenger has arrogantly declared that he has relied on Sanogo rather than sign a striker for TWO windows - everybody could see it was an attitude that would cost us this year and sure enough it has.

Ozil is an absolutely class player, I still believe he will be a massive player for the club and that he would prosper with better team-mates (and striker in particular) and I am glad we signed him. But I would far rather have seen Higuain come to the club and have some change left to spend. Refusing to spend a penny bolstering a strikeforce that really struggled last year and then going out and spending £42m on a player in our strongest position sums up his undying commitment to his vanity project.

[the playing mantis]

http://positivelyarsenal.com/2014/05/07 ... nd-lies-2/


Have a read of this and also read the comments section,priceless

Blackburn George no doubt the same Blackburn George who used to phone Tom Watt every week absolute bellend of a man.

omg, has there ever been such a collective of jcl tarquin spastics.

"It’s like pinning down mercury with a fork with that lot, you show them evidence that their points are wrong – then they go on about a bunchof new perceived wrongs Wenger and the Board have done to them"

all crapping on about how progress is being made...fucking hell. seriously? every proper arsenal fan i meet (by proper i mean someone with an actual knowledge of football, whos followed us/football since they were a kid) to varying levels of fervor wants wenger out and sees us going round in circles. the attitude in the emirates may not match this on the main simply because the type of supporters you get there due to the cost of attending, the likes of highbury jd who picked up football as a fashionable pursuit in the late 90s id suspect.

sure some on here are excessive in there spite for wenger (only in the sense of wanting him dead etc), but those on that blog simply see nothing at all wrong, and can only see it all being rosy. seriously what drugs are they on

[turricaned]

OK, this is going to be an interesting one. I'll admit I followed PhunckyTimes over from the Graun, not least because he's developed an unerring habit of getting the last word in before they close comments on an article.

First off, I'm not a slavish devotee of AW by any stretch of the imagination - what I do believe is that from where I see things, he's currently a lot better than any alternatives I can think of, and he's got a lot more stick than he really deserves.

So - bit of Devil's Advocate. We know that when the club settled on Ashburton Grove as the new location, it'd leave them with serious money issues, and the board agreed with Wenger that to try and minimise the hit, the squad would have to get new blood from younger players - wage bills aside, massive one-off transfer fees were not going to happen until the stadium costs were offset by something else. In short, they were asking Wenger to try to build a squad with one hand tied behind his back indefinitely - and most managers in the modern mould would likely have walked at that point. AW actually had the cojones to give it a go, when he could quite easily have gone back to the continent and taken his pick.

The sponsorship deal inked just before this season finally removed that restriction - the only problem being that the transfer market over the summer and in January was pretty feckin' dire in terms of the talent on offer. If you don't believe me, consider that the Spuds spent around £100M in that window and got bugger all out of it - they've been nowhere this season. Whatever AW tells the press, what actually seems to have stayed his hand striker-wise was that there was no-one remotely decent worth buying (at least no-one who would work within the squad).

Sure, Sanogo hasn't lived up to assurances - but on the other hand I saw our support giving AW hell for taking Poldi off against West Ham in the semi and keeping Sanogo on - but Poldi (still recently back from injury) was obviously not 100% even at the start of that match. Poldi then takes a central role in annihilating Hull the following week - a pretty good argument that taking him off against West Ham was the right call.

If AW's preferred methods end up limiting defence, then fair enough - but I'd argue that by bringing Steve Bould into the coaching team, he's aware of that limitation and trying to get things balanced.

Winning the league when the other top 3 sides are bolstered by a blank chequebook for transfers (and you're forced to watch the pennies) was always going to be an impossible task. You can talk about Everton and Liverpool's success this season, but neither of those teams have been in Europe this time round - and both teams are clearly flagging towards the end. Next year they'll have a much tougher time.

The away defeats were rotten, but to be honest pretty much every team in top-four contention has had at least one major embarrassment away (most have had more) - City's away form has been particularly shocking when you think about the money spent on the squad. And our squad has usually come back stronger after each knock - such as after going down 5-1 to Liverpool, we knock them out of the FA Cup the following week. More to the point, the recent away defeats happened with most or all of our top-drawer midfield players out to injury, and yet we still took points off Man City and hung on against West Ham to make the FA Cup final. As they came back from injury, our games have been much more solid, and in the same period of time we've seen Chelsea, Liverpool and Everton humbled by Palace.

If we can lift the FA Cup (amen), then that's the old "silverware" albatross banished - and if we can manage that it's looking likely to be made sweeter by Mou coming away completely empty-handed. A decent hand in the transfer window could see us looking very strong next year - no lynchpin players are itching to go, and we've got a 90%-there squad already.

So - while I'm not blindly trusting in Arsene, I do think that we should give him a year or two to finish the job he took on - which was a pretty thankless bloody task - and even if you disagree, who do you think would be both willing to replace him and capable of doing better?

[defleppardisking]

OK, this is going to be an interesting one. I'll admit I followed PhunckyTimes over from the Graun, not least because he's developed an unerring habit of getting the last word in before they close comments on an article.

First off, I'm not a slavish devotee of AW by any stretch of the imagination - what I do believe is that from where I see things, he's currently a lot better than any alternatives I can think of, and he's got a lot more stick than he really deserves.

So - bit of Devil's Advocate. We know that when the club settled on Ashburton Grove as the new location, it'd leave them with serious money issues, and the board agreed with Wenger that to try and minimise the hit, the squad would have to get new blood from younger players - wage bills aside, massive one-off transfer fees were not going to happen until the stadium costs were offset by something else. In short, they were asking Wenger to try to build a squad with one hand tied behind his back indefinitely - and most managers in the modern mould would likely have walked at that point. AW actually had the cojones to give it a go, when he could quite easily have gone back to the continent and taken his pick.

The sponsorship deal inked just before this season finally removed that restriction - the only problem being that the transfer market over the summer and in January was pretty feckin' dire in terms of the talent on offer. If you don't believe me, consider that the Spuds spent around £100M in that window and got bugger all out of it - they've been nowhere this season. Whatever AW tells the press, what actually seems to have stayed his hand striker-wise was that there was no-one remotely decent worth buying (at least no-one who would work within the squad).

Sure, Sanogo hasn't lived up to assurances - but on the other hand I saw our support giving AW hell for taking Poldi off against West Ham in the semi and keeping Sanogo on - but Poldi (still recently back from injury) was obviously not 100% even at the start of that match. Poldi then takes a central role in annihilating Hull the following week - a pretty good argument that taking him off against West Ham was the right call.

If AW's preferred methods end up limiting defence, then fair enough - but I'd argue that by bringing Steve Bould into the coaching team, he's aware of that limitation and trying to get things balanced.

Winning the league when the other top 3 sides are bolstered by a blank chequebook for transfers (and you're forced to watch the pennies) was always going to be an impossible task. You can talk about Everton and Liverpool's success this season, but neither of those teams have been in Europe this time round - and both teams are clearly flagging towards the end. Next year they'll have a much tougher time.

The away defeats were rotten, but to be honest pretty much every team in top-four contention has had at least one major embarrassment away (most have had more) - City's away form has been particularly shocking when you think about the money spent on the squad. And our squad has usually come back stronger after each knock - such as after going down 5-1 to Liverpool, we knock them out of the FA Cup the following week. More to the point, the recent away defeats happened with most or all of our top-drawer midfield players out to injury, and yet we still took points off Man City and hung on against West Ham to make the FA Cup final. As they came back from injury, our games have been much more solid, and in the same period of time we've seen Chelsea, Liverpool and Everton humbled by Palace.

If we can lift the FA Cup (amen), then that's the old "silverware" albatross banished - and if we can manage that it's looking likely to be made sweeter by Mou coming away completely empty-handed. A decent hand in the transfer window could see us looking very strong next year - no lynchpin players are itching to go, and we've got a 90%-there squad already.

So - while I'm not blindly trusting in Arsene, I do think that we should give him a year or two to finish the job he took on - which was a pretty thankless bloody task - and even if you disagree, who do you think would be both willing to replace him and capable of doing better?

Arsene is that you?

[turricaned]

Non.

(Wouldn't mind his bank account though! )

[Theoperator]

Hmmm, not sure I buy some of that, quite a lot actually. Especially the "No talent in the transfer window being available". Thats pure AW speak, welcome but sad youve been taken in.

In the January transfer window we saw Jelavic and Long transferred to Hull, Odemwinge and Kenwyn Jones exchange clubs. Whilst none really set things on fire all 4 would have been a better bet than Sanogo, unproven and as yet still to actually do the decent thing and get the ball in the net. The Jan transfer window prooves beyond arguement that the club is an embarrasment when it comes to transfers, especially following on from the start of season window....

[defleppardisking]

Non.

(Wouldn't mind his bank account though! )

So do I

[northbank123]

Jesus Christ that was a real slog to get through. Could spend hours dissecting it but I imagine it would fall on deaf ears so a few salient points.

- Not a Wenger devotee but he's a lot better than any alternatives? Saying he is by far the best manager available sounds a bit like devotion to me.

- "Wage bills aside" - brush aside a point that completely rides roughshod over your entire argument? For the last few years we have been fighting tooth and nail to scrape above the Scum despite spending about £50m/year more on wages.

- Don't bother with any sort of partial defence of so many away dickings in one season, especially in the wider context of our record in big games in the last few years. It's ridiculous.

- Keeping on a player who he has prioritised over signing a class striker (and has returned 0 goals) is vindicated as we scraped past a Championship team on pens (with him playing no positive role) and Podolski banged in a few against the Shammers after - what???

- "Impossible" to win the league with City and Chelsea there? Grow up. Difficult yes, impossible no. Especially when you're citing progress and positives on one hand, don't then turn round and say it was never within our grasp anyway. I bet you weren't saying it was impossible in December.

- How many windows in a row have we been saying a few key signings could make a difference? It's not going to happen, never does.

- Thankless job? Other than the £7m+ he pilfers every season?

- How long should he have to finish this job? It's always another 1 or 2 years, it's been nearly a decade now. He rightly had a huge amount of credit in the bank but he's been in the red for years now. It's a fucking endless job.

Other than that welcome to the forum.

[turricaned]

Especially the "No talent in the transfer window being available". Thats pure AW speak, welcome but sad youve been taken in.

By whom? I don't recall AW saying that - nor anyone else.

In the January transfer window we saw Jelavic and Long transferred to Hull, Odemwinge and Kenwyn Jones exchange clubs. Whilst none really set things on fire all 4 would have been a better bet than Sanogo, unproven and as yet still to actually do the decent thing and get the ball in the net.

Sanogo's unproven, yeah - but in Poldi and Giroud, we already have two strikers in the "pretty decent" mould - Walcott wasn't injured until later in January, so what would any of that lot have realistically been doing other than making up the numbers?

The Jan transfer window prooves beyond arguement that the club is an embarrasment when it comes to transfers, especially following on from the start of season window....

Again - Spurs spent big in that transfer market, where has it got them?

Jesus Christ that was a real slog to get through. Could spend hours dissecting it but I imagine it would fall on deaf ears...

Not at all - I'm listening.

Not a Wenger devotee but he's a lot better than any alternatives? Saying he is by far the best manager available sounds a bit like devotion to me.

So answer the question - which managers likely to be available to start next season do you think could do any better?

"Wage bills aside" - brush aside a point that completely rides roughshod over your entire argument? For the last few years we have been fighting tooth and nail to scrape above the Scum despite spending about £50m/year more on wages.

The point is we *did* stay above the Spuds - every time. Even when they had Bale.

Don't bother with any sort of partial defence of so many away dickings in one season, especially in the wider context of our record in big games in the last few years. It's ridiculous.

But this isn't the "last few years" - as I said. We aren't losing any significant key players (other than Sagna, but while he's good it's not like we can't cover for him). The squad is actually getting stronger as a whole, and we're looking good for at least a 50:50 chance of silverware and a very interesting season to come.

Keeping on a player who he has prioritised over signing a class striker (and has returned 0 goals) is vindicated as we scraped past a Championship team on pens (with him playing no positive role) and Podolski banged in a few against the Shammers after - what???

The latter wouldn't have happened if Poldi stayed on and hurt himself again, would it? Yes it was a gamble, and I had my heart in my mouth, but it did work.

He hasn't "prioritised" Sanogo "over signing a class striker" - there weren't any game-changing strikers on the market last year - not at the level we needed, anyway.

"Impossible" to win the league with City and Chelsea there? Grow up. Difficult yes, impossible no.

And ManU up until this season (though I reckon Fergie would have gone home with second or third at the end if he hadn't talked Scholes out of retirement).

Especially when you're citing progress and positives on one hand, don't then turn round and say it was never within our grasp anyway.

Er - I'm citing progress and positives *this season*. When we were fully fit we were top of the PL for a longer period of time than we have been in years.

I bet you weren't saying it was impossible in December.

With all due respect, I was saying just that in December - this season would probably be a test run for a decent assault on the title next year. We *might* have just been in with a shot if Ramsey, Walcott, Özil and Wilshere had remained match fit for the whole season, but not without that.

How many windows in a row have we been saying a few key signings could make a difference? It's not going to happen, never does.

The most recent windows were the first time for a decade where the board weren't keeping the purse-strings tight, and it just so happened that the pickings were slim. Hopefully they'll be better this time round.

Thankless job? Other than the £7m+ he pilfers every season?

My best mate is a Palace supporter, and he has said more times than I can think of that every team in the English football leagues below 4th in the PL would give their knackers to be in that position so consistently - hardly theft fro mthat point of view.

How long should he have to finish this job? It's always another 1 or 2 years, it's been nearly a decade now. He rightly had a huge amount of credit in the bank but he's been in the red for years now. It's a fucking endless job.

As I said - the financial position of the club vis. transfers right now is a world away from what it has been for the previous decade. If we don't at least come within a gnat's chuff of the PL title next year, then feel free to bury me in "told you so" - but I think it's worth at least one more round.

Other than that welcome to the forum.

Cheers - good to be here.

[augie]

So because the scum spent big and failed, we shouldn't bother spending in a bid to improve ?

[officepest]

The away defeats were rotten, but to be honest pretty much every team in top-four contention has had at least one major embarrassment away (most have had more) - City's away form has been particularly shocking when you think about the money spent on the squad. And our squad has usually come back stronger after each knock - such as after going down 5-1 to Liverpool, we knock them out of the FA Cup the following week. More to the point, the recent away defeats happened with most or all of our top-drawer midfield players out to injury, and yet we still took points off Man City and hung on against West Ham to make the FA Cup final. As they came back from injury, our games have been much more solid, and in the same period of time we've seen Chelsea, Liverpool and Everton humbled by Palace.

I think you jumped the shark with this one I'm afraid, why is it we are continully demolished away at title challengers? To finish 4th in a three-horse race, and after being top for well over 4 months, is pretty poor.

You talk of Chelsea, Liverpool and Everton being humbled by Palace? Well we were humbled by all of the first three.

[Supagoon]

Hmmm, not sure I buy some of that, quite a lot actually. Especially the "No talent in the transfer window being available". Thats pure AW speak, welcome but sad youve been taken in.

In the January transfer window we saw Jelavic and Long transferred to Hull, Odemwinge and Kenwyn Jones exchange clubs. Whilst none really set things on fire all 4 would have been a better bet than Sanogo, unproven and as yet still to actually do the decent thing and get the ball in the net. The Jan transfer window prooves beyond arguement that the club is an embarrasment when it comes to transfers, especially following on from the start of season window....

Honestly if Arsenal scouts couldn't find strikers better than Sanogo, Kenwyn Jones and Jelavic they should be fired.

Do you really see Jelavic in Arsenal red and white, why replace poor strikers with slightly less poor strikers?

[Theoperator]

Especially the "No talent in the transfer window being available". Thats pure AW speak, welcome but sad youve been taken in.

By whom? I don't recall AW saying that - nor anyone else.

Thats what you said "the only problem being that the transfer market over the summer and in January was pretty feckin' dire in terms of the talent on offer"

In the January transfer window we saw Jelavic and Long transferred to Hull, Odemwinge and Kenwyn Jones exchange clubs. Whilst none really set things on fire all 4 would have been a better bet than Sanogo, unproven and as yet still to actually do the decent thing and get the ball in the net.

Sanogo's unproven, yeah - but in Poldi and Giroud, we already have two strikers in the "pretty decent" mould - Walcott wasn't injured until later in January, so what would any of that lot have realistically been doing other than making up the numbers?

Walcott was injured on the 4th jan, by the Monday it was known for certain he had an ACL injury, so we did actually have 3 weeks + to get someone

The Jan transfer window prooves beyond arguement that the club is an embarrasment when it comes to transfers, especially following on from the start of season window....

Again - Spurs spent big in that transfer market, where has it got them?

Im NOT saying that we should necessarily have spent big, just spent SOMETHING, and do some sensible things, The Higuain debacle, 1p over Suarez release clause, last minute loan of a midfielder with a broken a
back, all are rather embarassing dont you think :rubchin: