THE WENGER THREAD

[BFG4]

Sorry if the point has already been made, but....

One presumes that Guardiola has signed his pre-contract Man C on the proviso they will be in the CL next season. That's by no means certain now, and it must create uncertainty. Whether or not he is a good manager remains to be seen, as he really has had the two of the best clubs, with the very best players, to look after. But there's no denying he attracts top players.

So if City do f*** it up, what happens?

Surely Arsenal think we have got to step in here, move Wenger upstairs (I think he'd make a very good MD) and tell Pep to get up to N5 pronto. Everything is in place.

Could be a golden opportunity, for like the old Chinese proverb says....

"Man wait long time with mouth open for roast chicken to fly in."

I despise Wenger, but he may as well stay if he is going to move upstairs, because if he does, he will pick his successor, and whoever that is, will have to continue with the same nonsense we have seen for the best part of a decade, with little or no activity in the transfer window, and treating 4th place as success. Do you really think Pep would sign for a club that he would have to manage with Wanker dictating to him, could you imagine what would happen to most of the playing squad, Wenger wouldn't allow the many dross players we have to be sold. Honestly, some people think that as soon as Wenger vacates the dugout then we are done with him, not a chance, this fucker will be here for many years to come.

[Perryashburtongroves]

It has occurred to me today that there is a distinct possibility that the next Community Shield could be between Leicester and Watford.
Has there ever been a more pathetic assessment of Wanker's management?

[xisstential]

Ozil in particular gets a raw deal from some on here, but its ridiculous to expect him to do anything with Giroud up front. Ive lost count of the amount of times Ozil gets the ball, and is forced to pass it sideways because a through ball to Giroud(with his lack of pace) is pointless. I remember Alan Shearer saying on MOTD before that with a player of Ozil's ability in the team, any decent striker should be scoring near 30 goals a season. Giroud has 12 league goals, in a season that he has been the lone striker in a team creating multiple chances, that sums him up. In a typical Wenger move, he bought a world class playmaker, and kept with the usual mediocrity up front.

Agree with most of this but also would say it's easy to be critical of Giroud (and right to be critical - he's been gash for months now) but we also have to look at what the manager is trying to achieve and in what manner. Giroud cannot play the lone striker in a 4-5-1. Neither can Welbeck. That is one of the toughest jobs in football and only a few top strikers can do it effectively. Giroud and Welbeck are squad players at best really.

If you are going to put your money into buying a Giroud or a Welbeck and pick them as starters then you have got to build and play a system that helps them, that plays to their limited strengths, not blindly believe in some fantasy idea of what football should look like and then just wedge them into it.

Therein lies the problem, Wenger doesn't see it like we do, they don't have limited strengths, he has convinced himself they are world class. And who are you going to believe, people like us who have been watching football for decades, or Wenger, who has been managing footballers for centuries??

[xisstential]

Sorry if the point has already been made, but....

One presumes that Guardiola has signed his pre-contract Man C on the proviso they will be in the CL next season. That's by no means certain now, and it must create uncertainty. Whether or not he is a good manager remains to be seen, as he really has had the two of the best clubs, with the very best players, to look after. But there's no denying he attracts top players.

So if City do f*** it up, what happens?

Surely Arsenal think we have got to step in here, move Wenger upstairs (I think he'd make a very good MD) and tell Pep to get up to N5 pronto. Everything is in place.

Could be a golden opportunity, for like the old Chinese proverb says....

"Man wait long time with mouth open for roast chicken to fly in."

You must be out of your mind, no decent manager in his right mind would come with Wenger sitting over him. Wenger will shackle the man financially, oversee every purchase and make absolutely certain the new manager is not more successful than him. He will have the same remit, get CL qualification, and he will get just enough help to achieve that.Wenger will rule him with an iron fist, whilst overseeing transfers, in & out of the club, merchandise, ticket prices, you name it.... Hell guys like Ramsey, Walcott, Giroud,etc will probably go whining to Wenger if they feel the new manager is treating them unfairly. He will answer to Kroenke only ensuring that money continues to pour in and probably have even more power than he has now.

But hey, he's earned it right??

[armchair]

John Cross - "For years Arsenal been mocked for 4th place trophy. Now other big clubs could miss out, maybe it puts the achievement/consistency in context".

Finishing top four forever actually is quite the "achievement" and something to strive for and be proud of.............
If you're spurs

If you're Arsenal however, not so much.
This is how Wenger has lowered expectations. Glorifying failure.

[Ikechukwu1]

Reports Ozil and Sanchez are getting annoyed. This is what will happen if we dont actually compete. In Wengers mind, making the last 16 is something to be proud of, but the likes of Ozil and Sanchez, having played for Barcelona and Real Madrid, and regularly gone deep into the champions league stages, are not going to be pleased with constant exits at the first hurdle. If it dawns on them finishing in the top 4 and winning the domestic cup is the glass ceiling, they will F off very quickly.

Cesc and RVP left for the same reason, although both stayed at the club for many years, thats because they knew nothing else and felt they owed Wenger. When Cesc won the world cup with Spain, I knew his mind was made up. Imagine the high of winning the World Cup, playing with would be team mates Xavi, Iniesta, ect, and contrast that to the rubbish at Arsenal. RVP was 29 and realised he had to leave otherwise his decade in English football would be a solitary FA Cup medal.

Wenger can pull the wool over the eyes of the likes of Feo, Ramsey, Chamberlain, Giroud, as they dont know success and football at the highest level, but trying to convince Ozil and Sanchez that this is a good season where 'progress' was made. They wont have it. Wenger needs to admit failure and not accept the season going the way it has. But his ego wont allow it. As if Ozil and Sanchez hear about 'success' this season, why wouldnt they become dismayed?




I fear the consequence of keeping Wenger, will drive our best players away.

Maybe if they pulled their finger out and performed we could have pulled out a victory against Barcelona, we had excellent chances to score and both missed their opportunities. I'm not defending wenger. They were both culpable of missing opportunities when the score was one nil. Instead of getting pissed off with the club, they needed to step up on the big stage...maybe its the reason they are playing for us and not still at Barcelona and Real
Madrid.

Sorry but this is nonsense
It's the same bollocks reasoning that was used when RVP left "he's part of the failure". No he wasn't, he was playing with clowns and the minute he joined a serious club and manager he won the PL. Nasri same. Cesc same. Ozil and Sanchez can't do it alone, they need quality support and you're never winning anything with jokes like Meltesacker and Gabriel, and Flamini and donkey Giroud up front.
Just like with RVP, the minute Ozil joins a serious club with a top class striker up top he will break assist records and win pots. Top players need to play with other top players, it's a joke that Ozil and Sanchez have to play with such dross. As for Giroud and Wally, on £130k and £140k a week each, yet Giroud the only number 9 at the club can't start ahead of Welbeck when fit, Wally is considered (and is) inferior to Iwobi. And yet the oil money clubs are apparently the ones who inflate prices and spunk money up the wall Giroud is Lille or Nantes level, incredible he's at Arsenal and relative to wages and league numbers will go down as one of our worst ever strikers.

Wenker came out with another gem "tell me a team that wouldn't miss a player of Welbeck's quality for eight months"


Welbz works hard but face it he's a ManYoo reserves reject. Never scored 10 league goals in a season in his life. Erratic finisher.
Yet being spoken of as the reason for failure. At Wenker FC it's never about who's on the pitch but who's missing. "with a fit Wilshere"..."tell me what team wouldn't miss Cazorla"...
Like the time he said finding a midfielder of Arteta's level in the market was impossible

Which bit is nonsense? They both went missing against Barcelona and missed good opportunites? They were both let go by bigger clubs because they were surplus to requirements or it just doesn't fit with your agenda against Wenger?
As I said before the top players need to perform in big game's...our two didn't... Welbeck and Iwobi both outperformed our big two world class players on the day. The manager needs to change but the players need to step up.

Yeah ok. Maybe Barca should sell Neymar to Villa and see how he gets on there. Or perhaps Benzema could join Norwich next season and see how he gets on being supplied by the likes of Robbie Brady and Pat Bamford. Of course, you could blame Benzema for being "part of the problem" too then eh? Forget that he's surrounded by abject dross. If you don't bail them out alone then you're shite. LOL. Like I said, I heard this sorry excuse used for RVP after he left then he went and made everyone silly by going to Mancs and tearing up the league and winning it, the minute he stopped being surrounded by the likes of Song, Eboue and Bendtner eh

Ozil and Sanchez are top class players who joined the wrong club for their ambitions. It's real simple. Ozil needs better than donkey Giroud, and a better level of protection from midfield. Sanchez needs superior passers in the team, as Ozil is the only player who can pass properly. It's that simple.

[armchair]

So anyway, just found out what happened in the away end at Everton saturday.

Turns out at the final whistle the Time For Change banner gets shown. Couple blokes beside dont like it so they try to rip it down, probably thinking, wrongly, that.......1) the bloke was alone, and.......2) they'd have got it off him even if he was alone.
Then couple of mongs tried attacking from behind coming over the seats spitting and c unting off the guys with the banner. They didnt get very far before other gooners closed ranks and they were stopped in their tracks and told in no uncertain terms to behave. It got a bit heated but handbags apparantely. Then the old bill arrived and spoiled the fun.

So yet again its those who dont like the banners who resort to violence. Stupid fucking idiots because with their childish antics they only bring more attention to it.

But spitting on fellow gooners? A new low.

[wilko49er]

Interesting read
http://www.lasportsanostra.com/arsenal- ... er-league/

[g88ner]

Yeah ok. Maybe Barca should sell Neymar to Villa and see how he gets on there. Or perhaps Benzema could join Norwich next season and see how he gets on being supplied by the likes of Robbie Brady and Pat Bamford. Of course, you could blame Benzema for being "part of the problem" too then eh? Forget that he's surrounded by abject dross. If you don't bail them out alone then you're shite. LOL. Like I said, I heard this sorry excuse used for RVP after he left then he went and made everyone silly by going to Mancs and tearing up the league and winning it, the minute he stopped being surrounded by the likes of Song, Eboue and Bendtner eh

Ozil and Sanchez are top class players who joined the wrong club for their ambitions. It's real simple. Ozil needs better than donkey Giroud, and a better level of protection from midfield. Sanchez needs superior passers in the team, as Ozil is the only player who can pass properly. It's that simple.

In fairness, Suarez dragged Liverpool to a completely new level and almost won the title for them with his brilliance and will to win.

Mahrez is surrounded by Albrighton, Okazaki, Drinkwater, etc. but is doing a fantastic job in keeping little Leicester top of the league.

It's nice that you think it's an impossible task for Sanchez and Ozil, but I do think we should be expecting more from these 2 in the big games.

[Ikechukwu1]

"Move Wenker upstairs"
This one always kills me and it takes a special kind of faculty to say this.
If Wenker isn't fit to manage the club and if it's generally agreed he's pissed away millions upon millions on dross, whilst overseeing a discontented fanbase that frequently fights with each other, WHY OH WHY WOULD YOU WANT HIM IN A DIRECTORIAL POSITION OF EVEN MORE POWER?
We've seen his repugnant arrogance towards the fans when he's supposed to be a manager so imagine him "upstairs"?
Expect even more shocking tirades against fans, and more interference. Reminds me of when Putin retired as Russian president and Medvedev was in charge. Nobody thought Medvedev was actually in charge now did they

[Ikechukwu1]

Yeah ok. Maybe Barca should sell Neymar to Villa and see how he gets on there. Or perhaps Benzema could join Norwich next season and see how he gets on being supplied by the likes of Robbie Brady and Pat Bamford. Of course, you could blame Benzema for being "part of the problem" too then eh? Forget that he's surrounded by abject dross. If you don't bail them out alone then you're shite. LOL. Like I said, I heard this sorry excuse used for RVP after he left then he went and made everyone silly by going to Mancs and tearing up the league and winning it, the minute he stopped being surrounded by the likes of Song, Eboue and Bendtner eh

Ozil and Sanchez are top class players who joined the wrong club for their ambitions. It's real simple. Ozil needs better than donkey Giroud, and a better level of protection from midfield. Sanchez needs superior passers in the team, as Ozil is the only player who can pass properly. It's that simple.

In fairness, Suarez dragged Liverpool to a completely new level and almost won the title for them with his brilliance and will to win.

Mahrez is surrounded by Albrighton, Okazaki, Drinkwater, etc. but is doing a fantastic job in keeping little Leicester top of the league.

It's nice that you think it's an impossible task for Sanchez and Ozil, but I do think we should be expecting more from these 2 in the big games.

Yes. Suarez won the virtual PL title
Of course if Suarez had been at Arsenal and asked to leave we would be reading about how the failure to win the title would be down to him "being part of the failure".
I can flip that argument right back at you: do you know for instance, that Suarez in that virtual title season, didn't once score home or away against Arsenal, Chelski, Citeh or ManYoo? Isn't that failing to perform in big games then? Well Barca begged to differ and paid £75m for him. If Ozil leaves tomorrow Bayern will be all over him, yet reading some stuff here, Ozil is apparently part of the problem?
Really don't know what fantasy world some people live in: despite playing with donkey Giroud and headless Welbz, Ozil is on course to break the PL assists record (held by TH14). Now imagine if he had Pires and Ljungberg making runs for him?
The Mahrez example is not wrong but then again, overlooks he's playing for a smaller club of whom nothing was expected, and where there's a strong tactical system that doesn't rely on superstars.

[g88ner]

I can flip that argument right back at you: do you know for instance, that Suarez in that virtual title season, didn't once score home or away against Arsenal, Chelski, Citeh or ManYoo? Isn't that failing to perform in big games then? Well Barca begged to differ and paid £75m for him. If Ozil leaves tomorrow Bayern will be all over him, yet reading some stuff here, Ozil is apparently part of the problem?

I certainly don't believe Ozil is part of the problem. He's our best player. I'm still disappointed with his performances in the big games since he joined though.

As for Suarez... I must admit it does surprise me he didn't score in those games so thanks for educating me (every days a school day ) - I've no idea how he played that season but he scored 31 league goals in 33 games that season (thanks wiki ) so he must have done pretty well in some big games to be fair.

Sanchez has scored 1 since October. love him to bits but he's had a poor season.

[BFG4]

Interesting read
http://www.lasportsanostra.com/arsenal- ... er-league/

Again the article places most of the blame at Kroenke's door, which I disagree with. Kroenke doesn't give a shit about on field success, and that's why Wenger is still here, but it doesn't change the fact that even with Silent stan in charge, another manager would have us far closer to competing for top honours. Kroenke makes money available for Wenger to spend, but he doesn't spend it, and goes down the embarrassing route of claiming average players as world class, and pretending he couldn't find anyone better than what he's got currently. Wenger is the one who has no tactical approach, and plays the same way regardless of the opposition. He is the one with pre-historic training methods that lead to many of our squad being injured every season. Blame Kroenke for not getting rid of Wenger, but even under the current ownership, another manager would have achieved actual success.

[Ikechukwu1]

I can flip that argument right back at you: do you know for instance, that Suarez in that virtual title season, didn't once score home or away against Arsenal, Chelski, Citeh or ManYoo? Isn't that failing to perform in big games then? Well Barca begged to differ and paid £75m for him. If Ozil leaves tomorrow Bayern will be all over him, yet reading some stuff here, Ozil is apparently part of the problem?

I certainly don't believe Ozil is part of the problem. He's our best player. I'm still disappointed with his performances in the big games since he joined though.

As for Suarez... I must admit it does surprise me he didn't score in those games so thanks for educating me (every days a school day ) - I've no idea how he played that season but he scored 31 league goals in 33 games that season (thanks wiki ) so he must have done pretty well in some big games to be fair.

Sanchez has scored 1 since October. love him to bits but he's had a poor season.

Can't argue on Sanchez as he has looked like a Chilean Andros Townsend for about 6 months now

[Ikechukwu1]

Interesting read
http://www.lasportsanostra.com/arsenal- ... er-league/

Again the article places most of the blame at Kroenke's door, which I disagree with. Kroenke doesn't give a shit about on field success, and that's why Wenger is still here, but it doesn't change the fact that even with Silent stan in charge, another manager would have us far closer to competing for top honours. Kroenke makes money available for Wenger to spend, but he doesn't spend it, and goes down the embarrassing route of claiming average players as world class, and pretending he couldn't find anyone better than what he's got currently. Wenger is the one who has no tactical approach, and plays the same way regardless of the opposition. He is the one with pre-historic training methods that lead to many of our squad being injured every season. Blame Kroenke for not getting rid of Wenger, but even under the current ownership, another manager would have achieved actual success.

In a way I see why people get at Kroenke. If you get him out, and brought in Usmanov, Wenker would be history. Forget what Usmanov says in public, he wouldn't stand for this shite. No ambitious owner would. However it's correct that Kroenke actually makes millions available to our "manager". Kroenke's main fault is that he hasn't fired Wenker, when it should have been done at least 4 years ago. To compound that with lucrative pay rises for Lord A-hole is as Arsene would say, "a farce".

Flipside to this is despite some people wanting to absolve Wenker by looking to Kroenke, it should be reminded that Kroenke sanctioned 17m on Arshavin, £42m on record signing Ozil, £35m on Sanchez and the infamous £60m on the infamous trolley dash.
Kroenke has also sanctioned a wage bill of £192m - virtually the same as Citeh. That to me is an owner spending serious amounts of money...wages are The most expensive cost for any club and ours is 192 fuckin mill
So "spend money" - yeah he's a greedy c*** and I want him gone, but it's clear the manager is The problem. Keep Kroene this season and stick Pep, Ancelotti or Jose in the dugout and Arsenal win this piss-poor PL title by at least 10 points. Same owner, different manager? Arsenal would win it and not many would be moaning about Kroenke.
New owner, same Wenker? Groundhog Day and 4th place trophy