Wenger Myths debunked: the great developer of Youth

[psychoangus]

I'm still pissed off about Fran Merida, Nordtveit and Nacer Barazite not being given a good go, they all looked great to me.

[marcengels]

I'm not sure that g88ner is saying that at all.

[Offside]

A few weeks ago I put up a thread about the Carling Cup team of 2007 which was destined to rule the world and none of them lived up to expectations and the few of them that looked good moved on to bigger European clubs. Also, the youth project is a false economy because Wenger thinks he's saving money on paying big transfer fees for experience but this means giving stupid wages to underachievers and when he finally realises that they aren't good enough (about three or four years after everyone else has), he can't shift them because no other club will give them such ridiculous contracts. So they either have to be loaned out or they remain in the team. Then Wenger (as he has done in the past few days) has had to splash the cash on experience anyway. It's the economics of the madhouse.

[Babatunde]

I'm not sure that g88ner is saying that at all.

I see what you mean. I kow he ain't calling them successes but the insinuation is that they are because Wenger gets them in the hope of developing them into quality. And this is linked by his comment that AW has done a 'great' job develping youth. He hasn't. It's been shit.

Where is Rui Fonte again now? Or the next Henry Giles Sunu how about him?

[T.S]

What are the rules for this so I don't get shot down? Developed from scratch or not?

Surely Szczęsny was developed by Wenger?

[flash gunner]

What are the rules for this so I don't get shot down? Developed from scratch or not?

Surely Szczęsny was developed by Wenger?

Yeah i reckon he was but he has a long way to go and is hardly the finished article, yet

[MK Gould]

What are the rules for this so I don't get shot down? Developed from scratch or not?

Surely Szczęsny was developed by Wenger?

I don't think it should be from scratch..... Otherwise people could deny that Wenger developed Cesc which would be wrong.

I think I remembered reading once that Chelsea would judge their youth policy a success by getting one player into the first team in 4 years...... Still not sure I understand why any of the top clubs still have academies though given how few of their own "kids" make it through.

[Babatunde]

What are the rules for this so I don't get shot down? Developed from scratch or not?

Surely Szczęsny was developed by Wenger?

TonySaunders I make you right. Chesney was developed by Wenger true.

And there are still a few problems with this

1. Sczesny is still a nobody in global football terms. He has won nothing, he has proved nothing. A few good games for half a season does not a keeper make. I think many of you are quick to forget the amount of spectacular cock-ups he has made. Good keeper and promising yes....but I can't forget those two major mistakes on the big occasion (Carling cup final).

2. If Wenger has developed this kid and he's excellent, then the question needs to be asked: why is it that all Brentford fans have known for over two years that Scezny is a way superior keeper to Almunia, and AW did not?? This strikes me as bizarre for a man who puts his faith in youth apparently. Brentford fans (a League 1 club are they?) have for a couple of years, been perplexed as to how a twat like Almunia can continue to cost Arsenal so big-time, whilst a rookie like Chesney who is far superior is not given any chances.
In fact, even when Almunia was finally jetissoned, it was the hapless Flapianski that was selected. It took 2 injuries to rubbish, older keepers for Wenger to give Chesney a chance. How does that tally up with being a great developer of youth??

Chesney is just promising and nothing more. He's still hit and miss for me. Problem is, as with the transfer window, Arsenal fans have been fed excrement for so long that the first half-decent keeper that came along was always going to be hailed as the next Lashin!!!

[paulinohio]

In the past seven years, can anybody please name a single young player that Arsene Wenger has brought through and successfully developed?

Jack Wiltshire?

[arseofacrow]

In the past seven years, can anybody please name a single young player that Arsene Wenger has brought through and successfully developed?

Jack Wiltshire?

Do you work in the club shop?

[T.S]

tonysaunders wrote: What are the rules for this so I don't get shot down? Developed from scratch or not?

Surely Szczęsny was developed by Wenger?

TonySaunders I make you right. Chesney was developed by Wenger true.

And there are still a few problems with this

1. Sczesny is still a nobody in global football terms. He has won nothing, he has proved nothing. A few good games for half a season does not a keeper make. I think many of you are quick to forget the amount of spectacular cock-ups he has made. Good keeper and promising yes....but I can't forget those two major mistakes on the big occasion (Carling cup final).

2. If Wenger has developed this kid and he's excellent, then the question needs to be asked: why is it that all Brentford fans have known for over two years that Scezny is a way superior keeper to Almunia, and AW did not?? This strikes me as bizarre for a man who puts his faith in youth apparently. Brentford fans (a League 1 club are they?) have for a couple of years, been perplexed as to how a twat like Almunia can continue to cost Arsenal so big-time, whilst a rookie like Chesney who is far superior is not given any chances.
In fact, even when Almunia was finally jetissoned, it was the hapless Flapianski that was selected. It took 2 injuries to rubbish, older keepers for Wenger to give Chesney a chance. How does that tally up with being a great developer of youth??

Chesney is just promising and nothing more. He's still hit and miss for me. Problem is, as with the transfer window, Arsenal fans have been fed excrement for so long that the first half-decent keeper that came along was always going to be hailed as the next Lashin!!!

Whoa there. Hold your horses! See, this is why I wanted the rules explained to me before hand, because it seems you've already made your mind up about this, so it doesn't matter what anyone says in response. You asked for, and I quote, a "decent young player" that AW has developed in the last seven years. I think WS13 should be counted in there. I didn't realise I then had to meet other criteria!

P.S. Never did I suggest that WS was anything other than a "decent young player" and it cannot de denied that he is that.

So, if you wouldn't mind - what exactly is the proposition you're putting to people on here? I'll see if I can put forward any decent suggestions for you in response.

[Number 5]

In the past seven years, can anybody please name a single young player that Arsene Wenger has brought through and successfully developed?

What would you say of Van Persie? He was what 21 when we got him and rough as fuck round the edges.

I'm on record here as probably his biggest fan. I don't rate any striker in world football better. He is equal to them all.

Does that count? His improvement over the years has been massive and Wenger has to have some credit for that, no?

[QuartzGooner]

I do not think Wenger was ever championed as developer of youth players.

His credit was buying in players in late teens early 20's and giving them a first team platform, where perhaps at other clubs they were on the bench or in the reserves.

[Babatunde]

What are the rules for this so I don't get shot down? Developed from scratch or not?

Surely Szczęsny was developed by Wenger?

I don't think it should be from scratch..... Otherwise people could deny that Wenger developed Cesc which would be wrong.

I think I remembered reading once that Chelsea would judge their youth policy a success by getting one player into the first team in 4 years...... Still not sure I understand why any of the top clubs still have academies though given how few of their own "kids" make it through.

Wenger developing Cesc is total b.s and you know it.
Wenger did not develop Cesc. La Masia did. They also developed Pique, Messi, Xavi and Iniesta.

As a great example as to why Wenger clearly did not develop Cesc, look to Pique. He came to ManYoo as a young kid. He was rather average when he did play for them and didn't do much. However, the class was always in him, you can see he was quality. He finally went to Zaragoza on loan and started coming into his own, and then has gone on to become one of the best centre-backs in Europe. Did Fergie develp him then?? Since he was brought to ManYoo as a kiddie? NO.

Barca did.

Don't take my word for it, ask Wenger: Wenger says that if a kid has not been technically developed by the age of 14 then it is too late for him. Words spoken from the mouth of Le Twat himself.

By the time Cesc came to Arsenal he was already 15 wasn't he?

Barca developed Cesc and gave him his footbal education.
Cesc was always going to make it, just as Pique was always going to make it.

Wenger just gave Cesc his chance in the first team. That's it.

[rigsby]

I think Cesc is a better player for coming to Arsenal. The way he's started in Spain you can see the pace and strength he's got. He of course had the technical ability, but Wenger and of course english football as a whole, moulded him into a fantastic all round player imo.