pre season games match thread.

[LDB]

before the signings came in we were weak - the new players solidified us

In the end they did but the signings should have been made earlier. September/October was their bedding in period and frankly we were lucky to escape with the results we did before we began to look like something close to a team in november/december after being given the freedom of west london.

Just because we were so awful prior to signing these players does not entirely vindicate the way we went about things. Wenger dug himself out of a hole of his own creating, although we still ended up winning fuck all.

Whatever, we seem to have got lost discussing last season. The real question is would you rather start this season with all our (fit) players having played and bonded (oo-err) together over pre-season or not? Seems a no-brainer to me so no idea what you're trying to argue. Ho-hum.

[highburyJD]

Wenger wants them fit, I imagine the decisions are taken on a player by player basis
I don't think fitness should be gambled in order to play preseason friendlies

[franksav63]

I'm pretty sure Wenger doesn't mind the lack of pre-season games or that players won't be fit for the big kick off, he's now got the perfect excuse at the ready if things go wrong.

[augie]

I'm pretty sure Wenger doesn't mind the lack of pre-season games or that players won't be fit for the big kick off, he's now got the perfect excuse at the ready if things go wrong.

I absolutely 100% agree with this - one of the problems with wenger in recent years is that when things have gone tits up he has used things as excuses that he should have corrected in the first place In my opinion you cant bemoan the amount of injuries we have (except last seasons full back situation which was a freak) when you choose to operate with a small squad and a load of injury prone players in that small squad How can you use injuries to diaby, rosicky or gibbs as an excuse when they have spent most of the last 3 seasons out inj but yet our CIC had the neck to cite them as a reason for our failures There can be no doubt that a poor start to this coming season would see wenger complain about our new signings not being match fit despite the fact that he has held them back from friendlies thus denying them a chance to get match fit It is the same mentality he shows when talking about how we cant compete financially with chavs and citeehwhilst totally ignoring the fact that we are being outspent by 17 other clubs in the last 5 seasons

[highburyJD]

yes it would be ridiculous to moan about Gibbs, Diaby, Rosicky or RVP injuries
its also ridiculous to suggest (if I'm reading this right) that the manager would deliberately under prepare in order to generate an excuse...?

[Gunnersaurus]

I'm pretty sure Wenger doesn't mind the lack of pre-season games or that players won't be fit for the big kick off, he's now got the perfect excuse at the ready if things go wrong.

Yes, couldn't possibly have a fast start, expectations would become high and his fragile petals wouldn't cope.

[highburyJD]

this board is insane - multiple posters backing the idea a football manager doesnt want his team to win games??!?

[augie]

this board is insane - multiple posters backing the idea a football manager doesnt want his team to win games??!?

Not exactly what we are saying mate - for me you prepare your team to be ready for day 1 of the new season but wenger fails to do this hoping that he will get away with this approach but safe in the knowledge that he has an excuse as a safety net if the first few games dont go as planned. He wants to win these games, he hopes to win these games but he doesnt prepare properly to win these games and he will not see it as a failure on his behalf to not have these players ready for day 1

[highburyJD]

everybody compliments Fergiscum for how his teams are set up to kick on and reach peak form in the 2nd half of the season
the corollary of that being the team is less prepared for the first half...?

preparing for a long season is inevitably a serious of educated gambles

[highburyJD]

you prepare your team to be ready for day 1 of the new season but wenger fails to do this hoping that he will get away with this approach

for what reason do you think Wenger chooses not to prepare? laziness, a self imposed handicap? I can't see any reason why somebody in a performance based profession deliberately reduces his chances.

[franksav63]

you prepare your team to be ready for day 1 of the new season but wenger fails to do this hoping that he will get away with this approach

for what reason do you think Wenger chooses not to prepare? laziness, a self imposed handicap? I can't see any reason why somebody in a performance based profession deliberately reduces his chances.

Perhaps because he gets his 7.5 million a year regardless what he does... or now doesn't do... he's safe in the knowledge that the wankers at board level are happy with his qualifying for the CL... finishing 19-20 odd points behind the leaders, regression every season, not only in the points behind the leaders but also in the goals against column and games lost. He's got lazy, he loves excuses and I hope, beyond hope that he does finally fuck off in 2 seasons time. (if we're lucky sooner, I hope)

[augie]

you prepare your team to be ready for day 1 of the new season but wenger fails to do this hoping that he will get away with this approach

for what reason do you think Wenger chooses not to prepare? laziness, a self imposed handicap? I can't see any reason why somebody in a performance based profession deliberately reduces his chances.

Arrogance.....pure and simple arrogance The man believes without exception that he is always correct so he doesnt see the need to have his new signings ready for day 1 Of course only part of this arrogance is his fault cos if you go unchallenged when you make mistakes by either your employers or their customers then feeling untouchable is a natural progression from there Maybe, and it is only a maybe, but maybe if the day arrives that he is truly held accountable and asked to explain/justify his decisions then we might start to see a change in his mentality but sadly i fear that boat has long since sailed

[I Hate Hleb]

Alas this was the lead 'Media Story' on the official club website, and all the while that the Board and manager believe the majority of gooners think like this bloke, then change is unlikely to ever happen, not even in 2 years time ...

http://www.arsenal.com/media-watch

[highburyJD]

I asked

for what reason do you think Wenger chooses not to prepare? laziness, a self imposed handicap? I can't see any reason why somebody in a performance based profession deliberately reduces his chances.

the answers given mostly make no sense to me

Perhaps because he gets his 7.5 million a year regardless what he does

is silly but you know that

he's safe in the knowledge that the wankers at board level are happy with his qualifying for the CL

oh right - finishing ahead of loads of clubs on bigger budgets, which clearly requires no preparation

finishing 19-20 odd points behind the leaders, regression every season, not only in the points behind the leaders but also in the goals against column and games lost.

er no - that 'regression' + points gap is just last season, not every season (and not a great example as positionally we actually improved by one spot which kept us in the CL)

He's got lazy, he loves excuses and I hope, beyond hope that he does finally fuck off in 2 seasons time. (if we're lucky sooner, I hope)

lazy - seriously? you're going to go with lazy. Our manager has many flaws. Nobody with the vaguest semblance of a clue believes this is one

Arrogance.....pure and simple arrogance The man believes without exception that he is always correct

is much more believable than the inane 'lazy'
and Wenger, like most good leaders has a big streak of arrogance and self-belief which can hinder as well as help him.
but

so he doesnt see the need to have his new signings ready for day 1

is pretty foolish - you also think he has deliberately hamstrung himself, a bonkers claim

Of course only part of this arrogance is his fault cos if you go unchallenged when you make mistakes by either your employers or their customers then feeling untouchable is a natural progression from there Maybe, and it is only a maybe, but maybe if the day arrives that he is truly held accountable and asked to explain/justify his decisions then we might start to see a change in his mentality but sadly i fear that boat has long since sailed

I don't think any sensible owner will ask him to explain/justify finishing ahead of all but the Manc millionaires

[highburyJD]

Alas this was the lead 'Media Story' on the official club website, and all the while that the Board and manager believe the majority of gooners think like this bloke, then change is unlikely to ever happen, not even in 2 years time ...

http://www.arsenal.com/media-watch

cheers
quite enjoyed that