THE WENGER THREAD

[mcdowell42]

PS he contrived to send a team out that lost to Birmingham City in the Worthlesstinpot. Birmingham City ffs, one of the worst sides ever to grace the top-flight (post/pre Sky).

If he cannot motivate his team to roll-over 2nd rate oppo in the least important cup what the hell hope is there?

Dont forget the fa cup semi final agains the chavs when he didnt play arshavin cos he wanted to see if they could win without him

[highburyJD]

Birmingham City ffs, one of the worst sides ever to grace the top-flight (post/pre Sky).

really? They were shite but loads of their players + their manager went on to good jobs.
Can't be put in the Derby/Swindon/Sunderland bracket (and thats just Prem)

[QuartzGooner]

I'm not suggesting bus parades,
just contradicting the bizarre suggestion Wenger gave up trying to win things

Signing, paying and handing contract extentions to (in no particular order): Almunia, Denilson, Djourou, Diaby, Gervinho, Vela, Flappy, Rosicky and Bendtner is tantamount to sitting on his stool and asking the cornerman to chuck the towel in.

I do not think these players can provide any evidence Wenger gave up trying to win things, even though I believe he thinks it unlikely we will win things whilst the man c clubs and Chelsea are better backed by rich owners.

Almunia - Obscure goalkeeper bought on the cheap. Not sure he was ever intended as first choice though I think Wenger erred by keeping faith with him for so long.

Denilson - Made a lot of sense as a purchase, captain of Brazil for every level he had played at and had a good first season with us. Problems started when he regressed with us.

Djourou - Highly regarded youth prospect, who again, has regressed with us and suffered major injury.

Diaby - Good prospect who started well but regressed after major injury and multiple subsequent injuries.

Gervinho - Jury is still out in my opinion.

Vela - Technical skill, but lacked application.

Fabianski - OK, looked to have been a mistake.

Rosicky - Highly regarded throughout Europe. Problems came after serious injury.

Bendtner - Highly regarded youth prospect who fell at the final hurdle. Possibly a victim of his own hype rather than major failing by Wenger.

[highburyJD]

thanks Quartz
there are plenty of things the players, manager and club can rightly be criticised for
not wanting to win ain't one of them

[officepest]

Quartz,

It's not the players mentioned per se rather it's the fact that they have been/were persevered with far beyond the point where the penny had dropped for most. I would love for Wenger to rekindle the magic and compete again but for myriad reasons it won't happen. The money clubs are a legitimate gripe but it cannot be hidden behind forever and it certainly should not be used to mask other, home-made failings.

Rosicky was a fine player and I was delighted when I heard he'd signed, unfortunately the Little Mozart turned out to be a massive crock instead yet he was handed a new contract. I think he should have been released to free up the wage bill.

Denilson is so out of favour we've had to loan him for two consecutive season whilst still contributing to his salary, this is unsound business practice at best and I cannot believe we genuinely turned down Alonso in order to develop denilson instead.

Of course opinions on players are entirely subjective, my point was a general cheap shot aimed at Wenger's myopia concerning his signings and his inability to utilise them properly i.e. Bendtner/Diaby on the wing.

Our continued employment of Diaby is another thread entirely though.

[officepest]

Before I hit the sack, I know most people on here have pretty entrenched opinions on Arsene and Arsenal's current direction (myself included) and I'm aware of the financial constraints that the club have. With this in mind what would Arsene's supporters like to see done differently and what would his detractors accept as matters outside of his control?

For my part I would be happy to see us at least try to attempt to rectify our tactical rigidity as opposed to simply sending the same formation with a 'go and express yourselves' philosophy. I also think our relative nickle & dime transfer policy is costing us in terms of the playing squad.

Considering Arsene's going nowhere until 2014, thoughts?

[highburyJD]

unfortunately the Little Mozart turned out to be a massive crock instead yet he was handed a new contract. I think he should have been released to free up the wage bill.

he's just had his best season. Some said 'playing for a contract' the other side of that is if it hadnt been an option, Rosicky had been on the way out - chances are he wouldnt have got game time. Maybe we end up coming 4th...

Denilson is so out of favour we've had to loan him for two consecutive season whilst still contributing to his salary, this is unsound business practice at best and I cannot believe we genuinely turned down Alonso in order to develop denilson instead.

story I've heard is we were in for Alonso but it was just Liverpool stringing us along to guarantee their primary target Barry (bizarre I know)

Of course opinions on players are entirely subjective, my point was a general cheap shot aimed at Wenger's myopia concerning his signings and his inability to utilise them properly i.e. Bendtner/Diaby on the wing.

I couldn't believe he persisted with a winger up front when we had a world class finisher like Suker getting splinters up front. Singlemindedness can cut both ways. If the manager is gonna do what the fans and press want we may as well vote for each starting XI by text message

[AFCasap]

http://www.espn.co.uk/espn/sport/story/163048.html

this has the nerve to talk about "reckless" spending...but has been pissing millions away on average to shite players wages and a bollocks smokescreen youth system that has produced f all for years now....and never mention the outrageous 7.5 mil wasted on him

[mcdowell42]

id say chelsea and man city are very upset over his comments

[augie]

I'm not suggesting bus parades,
just contradicting the bizarre suggestion Wenger gave up trying to win things

Signing, paying and handing contract extentions to (in no particular order): Almunia, Denilson, Djourou, Diaby, Gervinho, Vela, Flappy, Rosicky and Bendtner is tantamount to sitting on his stool and asking the cornerman to chuck the towel in.

I do not think these players can provide any evidence Wenger gave up trying to win things, even though I believe he thinks it unlikely we will win things whilst the man c clubs and Chelsea are better backed by rich owners.

Almunia - Obscure goalkeeper bought on the cheap. Not sure he was ever intended as first choice though I think Wenger erred by keeping faith with him for so long.

Denilson - Made a lot of sense as a purchase, captain of Brazil for every level he had played at and had a good first season with us. Problems started when he regressed with us.

Djourou - Highly regarded youth prospect, who again, has regressed with us and suffered major injury.

Diaby - Good prospect who started well but regressed after major injury and multiple subsequent injuries.

Gervinho - Jury is still out in my opinion.

Vela - Technical skill, but lacked application.

Fabianski - OK, looked to have been a mistake.

Rosicky - Highly regarded throughout Europe. Problems came after serious injury.

Bendtner - Highly regarded youth prospect who fell at the final hurdle. Possibly a victim of his own hype rather than major failing by Wenger.

A couple of quick pointers quartz -

1. With the exception of the forehead who only just signed (still goona be shit though), the rest have been shit/regressing for a long time now and yet with the exception of vela the spanish waiter(he only left cos contract ran out) every single one of them is still at the club and diaby is even pencilled in as an important player by wenger

2.Secondly it is all well and good proclaiming that finishing behind the manc money clubs is acceptable but it ignores the large number of points that we were behind them plus it totally ignores the absolutely disgraceful defeats we suffered at the hands of your blackburns, fulhams etc

[highburyJD]

Wenger's spending is obviously sustainable not reckless - in fact everyone here wants him to spend more
Chavski & ManShitty would instantly go bust if for any reason owner funding stopped
We have balanced books

AFCasap are you suggesting we should spend less than that?
weird post

[AFCasap]

Wenger's spending is obviously sustainable not reckless - in fact everyone here wants him to spend more
Chavski & ManShitty would instantly go bust if for any reason owner funding stopped
We have balanced books

AFCasap are you suggesting we should spend less than that?
weird post

weird?....keep backing your leader at all costs

[highburyJD]

what's your point caller?
do you want us to spend less or more?

[highburyJD]

A couple of quick pointers quartz -

1. With the exception of the forehead who only just signed (still goona be shit though), the rest have been shit/regressing for a long time now and yet with the exception of vela the spanish waiter(he only left cos contract ran out) every single one of them is still at the club and diaby is even pencilled in as an important player by wenger

2.Secondly it is all well and good proclaiming that finishing behind the manc money clubs is acceptable but it ignores the large number of points that we were behind them plus it totally ignores the absolutely disgraceful defeats we suffered at the hands of your blackburns, fulhams etc

1-on basis of performances so far I'm not holding out huge hopes for Gerv but 2nd season you never know
Almunia is gone (nice guy, bad signing)
Denilson may well be too expensive to shift
Djourou is a 1st team squad player (I think he has something to offer at CB)
Diaby fingers crossed can be awesome (will be average then injured)
Vela - we'll make money
Flappy - guessing we'll make money
Rosicky - might not have made 3rd without him
Bendtner - we'll make money
for a list of bad signings thats not so bad
2- everyone loses to poor teams. ManUre lost at home to Blackburn and only a dodgy ref got them past Fulham

[rodders999]

I presume that Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles are on that jury that's still out on Gervinho!