The Banner

[SteveO 35]

That must be what 'real' fans do in their hour of glory i.e. point figures, saying we were right and you were wrong. How very mature. Any more small minded and they'll be following Wolves....

[Rosie_titters]

One of the biggest threads of the OG in 2011/12. We got flak for never showing it. We effed up on this count, and I hold my hands up for it. But I've just seen this thread on AFC Forum from our good old friend. Apparently by finishing 3rd Wenger has proved us wrong and a fair few agree with him. Is this a sign of how far we have fallen? Who is behind Wenger's continuation as Manager? Are you giving him one last chance? Or is he God in your eyes forever?

http://www.afcforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2981

he has a new man at the club, it's got so bad that he has had to make up friends, because he ain't got any - apart from the demons in his head

[SteveO 35]

Frank, I'm not sure why you're beating yourself up over this. There are 2 opinions

1. Wenger has done a great job keeping us in the top four

2. He hasn't done a good job - we were out of the title race by September, finished 19 points behind the winners and runners-up and did fuck all in the Cups

When the debate was going on about the banner, I maintained throughout that there were still a vast majority of fans that want Wenger to stay. I think even when things got really bad at the start of this season at least 70% of the fans wanted him to stay. The "Who'd Heard of Fabregas and Nasri" banner types far outweigh the number of fans in the "It's time to say goodbye" camp and always did.

This forum has become representative of most of us wanting Wenger out but there are dozens of forums where it is overwhelming that they love him and want him to stay. Have a look at the 3000+ comments on the club's Facebook page after we've scraped a 1-0 win for example.

Its still a minority that want him to go - it hasn't changed mate

[Top Londoner]

Your link afforded me my first visit to that forum. I had a good look around and, well, it's a shithole.

[QuartzGooner]

When it comes to "Wenger Out", in the eyes of the club my views are irrelevant, as are the views of this Forum.

Wenger is here for at least two more years until his contract is up.

2014 - a year of change?

New commercial deals.

New manager? Could be.

I wanted him out, now I just know he is not going anywhere under this board.
So we just have to hope Steve Bould can somehow carve a niche as a decent defensive coach and make up for what Wenger lacks.
We have to hope that we can learn from last summer's transfer scramble.

With this third place finish, the board are not going to think about replacing Wenger unless we get relegated next season.

[frankbutcher]

I'm just stunned at people's acceptance of our decline. If you look at us on any Premiership Years programme from 1998 to 2004 it just makes you cry. Yet there are thousands who see the current team as competing. It is just pure delusion. It really is staggering how far we have fallen. I agree that 3rd is the best we could of done after our start, but who's fault was our start? It saddens me how our expectations have been lowered. It really staggers me how quickly incompetence is now accepted.

[SteveO 35]

When it comes to "Wenger Out", in the eyes of the club my views are irrelevant, as are the views of this Forum.

Wenger is here for at least two more years until his contract is up.

2014 - a year of change?

New commercial deals.

New manager? Could be.

I wanted him out, now I just know he is not going anywhere under this board.
So we just have to hope Steve Bould can somehow carve a niche as a decent defensive coach and make up for what Wenger lacks.
We have to hope that we can learn from last summer's transfer scramble.

With this third place finish, the board are not going to think about replacing Wenger unless we get relegated next season.

....but even that would be 'special circumstances'

No seriously, agree with Quartz and have always maintained that Wenger would be here till at least 2014. If Kroenke has sold the club by then there might be a change but if he hasn't then get ready for the contract extension

[Almunia is a clown]

Didn't have the guts to display it home or away, what exactly was the point of paying to have it made then?

Agree with the banner BTW but should have Kroenke & the rest of the crooks destrying our club named instead of AW getting all the blame

[SteveO 35]

I'm just stunned at people's acceptance of our decline. If you look at us on any Premiership Years programme from 1998 to 2004 it just makes you cry. Yet there are thousands who see the current team as competing. It is just pure delusion. It really is staggering how far we have fallen. I agree that 3rd is the best we could of done after our start, but who's fault was our start? It saddens me how our expectations have been lowered. It really staggers me how quickly incompetence is now accepted.

But this is where the club have been very clever in brainwashing everyone. They choose to believe that we can't compete with Man United and Man City and that Financial Fair Play will save the day.

As has been said elsewhere look at Dortmund in Germany - no big stars (well not that they signed as stars), no big wage bill, back to back titles at the expense of Bayern (the German equivalent at United). In Holland, FC Twente have won titles ahead of Ajax in recent years, Valencia did it a few years ago in Spain, Montpellier have been up there all season knocking Lyon off their perch and up against PSG who are outspending everyone in their league.

For every example of a Chelsea there's a Dortmund.

I'm just glad I didn't have my brain removed when I was 8

[frankbutcher]

Didn't have the guts to display it home or away, what exactly was the point of paying to have it made then?

Agree with the banner BTW but should have Kroenke & the rest of the crooks destrying our club named instead of AW getting all the blame

Hi PurplePanda (as you are on the Herd Board). You drink in the Bank of Friendship don't you?

[hugh jardon]

Same old onlinegooner - moan and moan from the comfort of your laptop. But do nothing about it in real life.

[flash gunner]

You should have shown it and you would have been right to. The general acceptance of our piss poor team and even worse manager is disgraceful

[frankbutcher]

You should have shown it and you would have been right to. The general acceptance of our piss poor team and even worse manager is disgraceful

If the banner hadn't been kidnapped by a few (un-named characters) then I would have shown it. £50 down the drain. C'est la vie.

[flash gunner]

You didnt show it but i dont expect anything to change next season with regards to the team so it isnt too late Frank

[frankbutcher]

You didnt show it but i dont expect anything to change next season with regards to the team so it isnt too late Frank

Agreed.