As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
LeGinge (Northern Branch) wrote:I think Wenger possesses super quality as a coach. It’s just a shame that the current constraints within the club mean he is being forced to manage with the handbrake on.
Working under these circumstances proves he has great mental strength and that while mistakes will / have been made he will fight on with great spirit and learn from those previous mistakes.
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What they don't tell you is that it costs £25! But you do get a free straw so not all bad
Starting with Arsene who? To the present Wenger out.
I cannot understand the changes in his persona.
When we were winning silverware and playing only second fiddle to United.
Close seasons were always happier back then. Revelling in the PL title deciders and FA cup trips to Cardiff, to selling out Wembley for Cl games. Bloody Batistuta, and THAT goal which knocked us out, but there was always next season.
He even came across as humble, and would accept defeat with some grace. We achieved some great successes under his guidance, but that is in the past.
Now, we see a man who looks battle worn. Kicking water bottles at almost every game. Claiming he "did not see it" whenever a controversial decision goes our way, and most annoying, his increasing reluctance to acknowledge another manager's success with a handshake, when we have been beaten, especially when it comes from a 'lesser team'. I find that particularly embarrassing.
I recall the end of season threats in the media that other clubs wanted his signature, but I found solace in the knowledge that he never left before his contract was up. I hoped that he would sign on, and he always did. Now unfortunately, I find myself thinking of Arsenal after Wenger. Not healthy really.
He use to sign up our most promising younger first teamers on long contracts and all seemed to be going well. Now those players that lived up to their promise were allowed to run their contracts down, and the dross, (of which there is all too much at the club) are the only one's being rewarded with contract extensions.
I often wonder what exactly changed at the club so drastically, especially in the last 6-7 years, that Wenger did not find it within himself to walk away from it all. It suggests tho me that he is now quite content to try and juggle a sub standard squad, whilst pocketing his £m? salary.
I cannot find it in myself to blame him wholly for the debacle, with regard to how the club is run however, he is responsible for the tactically inept displays which have become increasingly commonplace in recent seasons.
That all said, he will one day, be remembered for his achievements as well in a smaller way for his shortcomings.
I think that he and the board entered a symbiotic relationship once the new stadium was built. Wenger was told that his job was safe while the club had to tighten the purse strings for a few years. In return, Wenger agreed to act as the human shield and the first line in the PR defensive - "even if someone gave me 100 million, I'd give it straight back".
That isn't to say that he doesn't have failings, or indeed that he shouldn't go. It's just that, in my opinion, blaming Wenger solely for the financial prudency of the club is grossly misguided. I just think that he agreed to toe the party line in exchange for securing his job. This benefited both parties - Wenger secured a nice long-term contract and the Club secured a big name coach at a time where, if he were to leave, I think that they would have had difficulty attracting a new big name were this big name to be made aware of how little money he'd have to spend. Anyway, this is all just my opinion.
What really winds me up about Wenger though is how tactically flawed he is as a coach. Even during our most successful years, he couldn't make a match changing substitution to save his life. I remember playing Chelsea at Highbury in Mourinho's first year in charge and, if memory serves, we were leading at half-time so Mourinho came out after the break and immediately made two subs. I remember thinking to myself, "wow, this is a manager who really takes the initiative" and I was quite envious.
The way the new contracts have been handed out to players also really winds me up and I blame Wenger for this. The whole notion that there are to be no superstars and that everyone should earn roughly the same amount has really hamstrung the Club in the transfer market and, to me, this move just stinks of something Wenger would try and push through.
So, I want Wenger out - not because I think we'll suddenly start spending more money once we get a new manager, but because I think that tactically things have gone stale. Everyone is far too comfortable with the status quo and I'd like to see things on that side shaken up a bit.
to sum Arsene up, seven good years followed by seven bad years, he's neither a genius nor a moron. he was an innovator at first, but everyone else caught up, he also had eyes in places others didn't but now have scouts scouting talent ever younger.
i thought mid season that he should go,but wasn't sure who would be good enough to overhaul the club, not only the first eleven - we all know, and we all see that the medical staff is not good enough, we also see that most squads have added defensive coaches, attacking coaches, set piece coaches etc as well as player liaison/ambassadors, and the depth of the reserve and youth squads are minimal.
now, after seeing the january loan clearout, gazidi's comments about restructuring the wage bill, and the 1 1/2 signings so far, i'm prepared to give him til Christmas.
and the reason for that is, he seems to have either been told to shape up or he's actually listened to someone, so a change could be coming.
i'd still like to see a quality DM to protect the back four, and a quality CB to rotate with TV and Kos, otherwise we will not make the top 3 or win any cups- which has to be our realistic goal every year.
i'd also like to see us put the league and FA Cup first and treat the CL as a bonus for the squad, not the main focus of the season - as its only when we start dominating domestic big games are we going to have the quality and mentality to win big european games when you're outplayed like liverpool and chelsea have, and like we did in '94 (is there any doubt our win in Copenhagen was based on domestic success in 91,92, and 93 ?)
one more chance Arsene, then that's your lot - because as they say " those that fail to learn from the past, are destined to repeat" and he's a smart guy,if he doesn't change it this year, never will.
I love my Wenger ,the missus got it free with Cold Storage stickers ,comes in very handy is fit for purpose and doesn't put a foot wrong .
It also holds not one but 2 water bottles in case I feel like throwing one .
I'm happy with my Wenger
do you take it with you while mountaineering through the himalayas with brad pitt , fighting off sherpa hooligans with one fist, kicking a mountain goat to death with your feet and lighting a cigar with your other hand?
Henry Norris 1913 wrote:do you take it with you while mountaineering through the himalayas with brad pitt , fighting off sherpa hooligans with one fist, kicking a mountain goat to death with your feet and lighting a cigar with your other hand?
Henry Norris 1913 wrote:do you take it with you while mountaineering through the himalayas with brad pitt , fighting off sherpa hooligans with one fist, kicking a mountain goat to death with your feet and lighting a cigar with your other hand?
Henry Norris 1913 wrote:do you take it with you while mountaineering through the himalayas with brad pitt , fighting off sherpa hooligans with one fist, kicking a mountain goat to death with your feet and lighting a cigar with your other hand?
See out his contract until 2014, then I can easily see him taking an internatioanl job. Wouldnt be too ridiculous to say the next England manager. He would finally get a chance to pick all of these English players that he found to over priced in the market.
I think that still shows up at the ground occasionally. 
