Schalke 04 champions league

[officepest]

Just got back from a gig - didn't know the result.

Is Wenger still in a job? I know Bould was 'in charge' but this bunch of failures are all Arsene's.

I knew Huntelaar would shit on us.

Please Arsene, just go away. Now.

[Bradywasking]

Arsenal assistant manager Steve Bould: "The result knocked us. We haven't looked our best since the international break. We looked like we're lacking a bit of confidence. If we escaped with a 0-0 draw we would have been delighted. We're not making many chances and that's a concern. It looks like we're lacking confidence on the ball and that's unusual. We looked a bit tired and jaded."

Well well! Same excuses, just coming out of a different persons mouth.

Jurgen Klopp anyone?

Think that was written for Bould before the game. PEP ANYONE? Won't happen because our board wouldn't have the vision or the balls to do it. Even with Wenger high up in the stand the changes didn't come until after the 70 minute cut-off .

[SteveO 35]

Just got back from a gig - didn't know the result.

Is Wenger still in a job? I know Bould was 'in charge' but this bunch of failures are all Arsene's.

I knew Huntelaar would shit on us.

Please Arsene, just go away. Now.

We had one shot on target in the entire game mate.....

.....by Gnabry after 93 minutes....

and I'm not taking the piss either. Still Giroud is 'very promising'

[Skooner]

Absolutely appalling performance, for the second time in 5 days.

If you had asked me even three years ago if I would ever give up my season ticket I'd have said 100% no unless I literally couldn't find the means to pay for it but if they give Wenger another contract I'm done.

The lack of desire is criminal. It is impossible to tell whether we are winning 5-0 or losing a game, we just keep knocking it around without a care in the world.

From a football perspective can anyone give me one attribute that Wenger has today which makes him better than the average premier league manager?

[officepest]

Just got back from a gig - didn't know the result.

Is Wenger still in a job? I know Bould was 'in charge' but this bunch of failures are all Arsene's.

I knew Huntelaar would shit on us.

Please Arsene, just go away. Now.

We had one shot on target in the entire game mate.....

.....by Gnabry after 93 minutes....

and I'm not taking the piss either. Still Giroud is 'very promising'

Christ alive.

27 years of Goonerism and I struggle to think of a team that's as supine as this.

[Dan_85]

Can't get angry anymore, its not even a surprise. I predicted it on Saturday.

[topcat]

Absolutely appalling performance, for the second time in 5 days.

If you had asked me even three years ago if I would ever give up my season ticket I'd have said 100% no unless I literally couldn't find the means to pay for it but if they give Wenger another contract I'm done.

The lack of desire is criminal. It is impossible to tell whether we are winning 5-0 or losing a game, we just keep knocking it around without a care in the world.

From a football perspective can anyone give me one attribute that Wenger has today which makes him better than the average premier league manager?

The ability to bounce back due to a very high level of mental strength and a great team spirit.

[mcdowell42]

Just watching ssn and they pointing out tht we have a great record at home in the group stages, and schalke have a terrible away record against english clubs, so im going to predict victory for schalke tonight.

[officepest]

Huntelaar is going to be pissing himself laughing at the thought of playing against Mannone.

[Its Up 4 Grabs Now]

From a football perspective can anyone give me one attribute that Wenger has today which makes him better than the average premier league manager?

This is absolutely the point for me. What does Arsene Wenger actually bring to the table as a football manager at this point? What aspects of football management does he actually excel in? I literally can't think of a single one, and the vast majority he's not even remotely competent in.

Tactics? Transfers dealings (whether that's players bought, players sold, players we realistically could have bought but didn't or players we should have sold but kept)? Motivation? Preparation? Team selection? Developing talent? Affecting a game (positively) in-play?

I'm genuinely curious as to what attributes those people who think he deserves to keep his job think he currently offers...

[Dan_85]

Shout out to everyone who said that "Norwich would be the kick up the arse we needed"

[Wengerball]

Shout out to everyone who said that "Norwich would be the kick up the arse we needed"

If Norwich was the kick up the arse, this was the kick in the stones

[officepest]

Shout out to everyone who said that "Norwich would be the kick up the arse we needed"

If Norwich was the kick up the arse, this was the kick in the stones

More like a bullet in the throat.

[highburyJD]

The first thing that comes to my mind is pretty tragic...
That was a lot better than v Norwich,
what a horrible thought, that a performance with no real threat whatsoever
could actually be a material improvement. Embarrassing.

[highburyJD]

about to go to bed, was absolutely screwing, now pissed, full of food
and my post meal digestif has calmed me a little

still moody... but here's my silver lining
Coquelin's performance has surely put him ahead of Rambo
Wilshere and Frimpong returning must relegate him further still
I don't want to be to down on Rambo...
If we are going to play a lone frontman and counterattack, Gervinho's performance (and Giroud's unsupported cameo)
must have demonstrated it's vital we buy a striker in January whatever
AND Gervinho goes to the ACON + Walcott could have signed for another club before he's fit
We have an obvious void in our squad, for a striker who will play a lot in the new year when the games come thick and fast

I think we will buy a striker.
Normally for that kind of player Wenger goes mid range, sub £10M Adebayor (Jan buy) and Eduardo spring to mind.
Other attacking Jan buys are Reyes and Arshavin. For all his talk January has been a prime hunting ground for Wenger.
Lets just say the board accept we need a striker (books were ahead with the Song sale. RVP money+ his wages gone, must be bonus)
Inevitably, as contracts expire big earners like Arshavin, Bendtner, Denilson, Chamakh, Squillaci will leave the wage bill
we may even get, some, transfer fees.
We have a soon to be reduced wage bill, a transfer surplus and a position in which we clearly must make an investment

IMO youth teams can breed Defenders and Midfielders
but to get the very best you normally must buy strikers and goalies

Any reasonable board, in the current position, would accept buying a striker for £15M, on £70k RVP's old wages
We have sponsorship contracts coming up in 2014 - why not spend a bit more?
Invest an additional £30M buy a World Star, increase your chances of winning a knockout competition
in terms of depth we need a striker who can instantly play - lowballing could be more risky

In terms of the cycle this is IMO the logical time to invest
hope I'm right (that we significantly bump up the standard £15M - even I'm thinking £45M is a bit of a dream)

Gnabry is wicked, leCoq will make it - how many tackles did he win today?