THE WENGER THREAD

[Clash]

more lies, lies, lies on the official website

why do people still keep believing this shit??

when we fall out of all competitions there needs to be a coordinated protest at every home game until he goes.

The problem is that in the real world it doesn't work because you will get zero sympathy - and a protest needs some element of sympathy.

When we moan about Wenger and the club, we come across to other people as spolit brats.

It's a complex problem - more complex than people really want to see and will only become evident in the future. But by that time, things might to totally different again. We might habe been sold, a European Super League might be in place, and then we're in a completely different setting.

This is a problem I find when I talk with my mates who support other clubs. When I'm moaning about Wenger, they just dismiss it saying ''you cant moan about Wenger after what he's done''. It drives me fcuking crazy!

No trophies for over 8 seasons!!! That is 33 competitions Wenger has failed to win since May 2005 yet we cant complain ffs. And yet a couple of these ignorant bastards think Moyes needs to sacked after 6 months

I should be sticking up for Wenger while they're slagging him off ... but its all the wrong way round.

[rodders999]

I think for me this season the saddest thing is the constant lies and propaganda from the club.
we have never really been in a title challenge this season if you look closely at the results.

it was a quirk of the fixture list that we were top for so long.
yet the AKBs were conned into believing that this season would be different! Unbelievable.

the goldfish brain mentality amongst a large section of the support never ceases to amaze me. why would this season be any different just because we signed 1 world class player from Madrid? I knew this team was going to struggle long term this season when we went to WBA in early October and failed to win. That was a match, probably forgotten now by most people in that a win should have been ground out if we had any real aspirations of winning the title. I was more frustrated by that match than any other this season - the other defeats/draws I have since just shrugged off with weary resignation.

Cardiff City - at home on New Years Day. I was at the Emirates in the wind and the rain and we needed a late Nicholas Bendtner goal to win against probably the worst side in the league. At half time I don't think I have ever been more fed up as the realisation hit me that I was probably watching the worst Arsenal side for over 20 years.

This current team is appalling - no guts, no desire, no strikers, no hope. The collective PL results in Europe confirm how bad we now are. At least in 2008 when we similarly folded on the run in we did so agains the top 2 club sides in Europe at the time. we are now struggling to finish 4th in a league which is falling behind worryingly against the rest of Europe.

Wenger must now be blamed and must GO as soon as possible because he is starting to cause real damage at the club.
just as to blame are the board for letting him stay for so long. Wenger, Kroenke, Gazidis OUT

Superb post. Utterly depressing but the end is nigh so keep the faith.

[Theoperator]

I think for me this season the saddest thing is the constant lies and propaganda from the club.
we have never really been in a title challenge this season if you look closely at the results.

it was a quirk of the fixture list that we were top for so long.
yet the AKBs were conned into believing that this season would be different! Unbelievable.

the goldfish brain mentality amongst a large section of the support never ceases to amaze me. why would this season be any different just because we signed 1 world class player from Madrid? I knew this team was going to struggle long term this season when we went to WBA in early October and failed to win. That was a match, probably forgotten now by most people in that a win should have been ground out if we had any real aspirations of winning the title. I was more frustrated by that match than any other this season - the other defeats/draws I have since just shrugged off with weary resignation.

Cardiff City - at home on New Years Day. I was at the Emirates in the wind and the rain and we needed a late Nicholas Bendtner goal to win against probably the worst side in the league. At half time I don't think I have ever been more fed up as the realisation hit me that I was probably watching the worst Arsenal side for over 20 years.

This current team is appalling - no guts, no desire, no strikers, no hope. The collective PL results in Europe confirm how bad we now are. At least in 2008 when we similarly folded on the run in we did so agains the top 2 club sides in Europe at the time. we are now struggling to finish 4th in a league which is falling behind worryingly against the rest of Europe.

Wenger must now be blamed and must GO as soon as possible because he is starting to cause real damage at the club.
just as to blame are the board for letting him stay for so long. Wenger, Kroenke, Gazidis OUT

Superb post. Utterly depressing but the end is nigh so keep the faith.

In fairness at the time WBA were doing pretty well, it wasnt necessarily such a surprise- the Manure games for me have been the biggest disappointment IMHO- the 0-0 v Chavs wasnt so great either.


Im not so sure its the worst Arsenal side for 20 years, its better than the last 2 or 3 years worth, and at times thay have played stunning stuff this year- Napoli home was just great, but totally agree at the "no guts, no desire, no strikers, no hope" comment- that sums up this year in particular.

In fact this last match was so totally depressing v The Orcs- no internet for a week with BT so all I could do was listen then watch MOTD- never seen as fast a game summery- just totally awful.

Yet THE SAME team bar Gibbs in for Monreal detroyed a Sunderland team just a week before with some superb play - one MOTD view V The Orcs was telling - 5 or 6 players mimicking Wenger raising their hands- the team had lost the game before the kick off started. The motivation and desire just seem to have gone, I cant see it coming back unless something radical happens. We seem lost for ideas both in our play and transfer "policy" its just an embarrasment

[clockender1]

Kroenke, Gazidis, Wenger out.

[BFG4]

I think for me this season the saddest thing is the constant lies and propaganda from the club.
we have never really been in a title challenge this season if you look closely at the results.

it was a quirk of the fixture list that we were top for so long.
yet the AKBs were conned into believing that this season would be different! Unbelievable.

the goldfish brain mentality amongst a large section of the support never ceases to amaze me. why would this season be any different just because we signed 1 world class player from Madrid? I knew this team was going to struggle long term this season when we went to WBA in early October and failed to win. That was a match, probably forgotten now by most people in that a win should have been ground out if we had any real aspirations of winning the title. I was more frustrated by that match than any other this season - the other defeats/draws I have since just shrugged off with weary resignation.

Cardiff City - at home on New Years Day. I was at the Emirates in the wind and the rain and we needed a late Nicholas Bendtner goal to win against probably the worst side in the league. At half time I don't think I have ever been more fed up as the realisation hit me that I was probably watching the worst Arsenal side for over 20 years.

This current team is appalling - no guts, no desire, no strikers, no hope. The collective PL results in Europe confirm how bad we now are. At least in 2008 when we similarly folded on the run in we did so agains the top 2 club sides in Europe at the time. we are now struggling to finish 4th in a league which is falling behind worryingly against the rest of Europe.

Wenger must now be blamed and must GO as soon as possible because he is starting to cause real damage at the club.
just as to blame are the board for letting him stay for so long. Wenger, Kroenke, Gazidis OUT

100% agree, but sadly what us fans consider as success, and what the board, and manager considers as success, are two completely different things, for them, if we dont win a trophy for another 20 years, it wont matter, as long as we qualify for the cash cow. The thing that bugs me the most is, how could a man who was brilliant for the club, played great football, led his team to an unbeaten season, and brought the likes of Henry, Viera, and Pires to the club, be replaced by this loser, who sees top four as success. I have dvds at home reviewing the 2002/03 season, and the 2004/05 season, and in Wengers interviews, he is bitterly dissapointed, not to have won the league(even though we won the FA cup in both seasons), that was the amount of drive he had to win, now he is nothing but an arrogant asshole, who has lost his mind, WENGER OUT.

[postmanPat91]

Came across this gem in the comments section of The Guardian:

Am I the only one who gets tired with listening to journalists and certain fans droning on about ‘silverware’ and ‘winning something’ as if it’s the be-all and end-all of football?
Football is an entertainment and to me the main joy of that entertainment comes in the form of particular games, especially v Man U, v Spurs or Liverpool, etc or whatever turns out to the most thrilling or exasperating encounters of the season, pulling my hair out of refereeing decisions, shouting my head off (for good or bad), seeing how the team progresses since last season or arguing about players and tactics.

The way that some journalists and fans talk you would think that any season in which the team doesn’t win a trophy is somehow a waste of a season in which we’ve been cheated and should be demanding our money back (which basically applies to 16 to 19 out of the 20 teams every season). Almost like saying that a new album from your favourite band was only worth listening to provided it won a Grammy.
Did you enjoy the games or not? Did you at least get to watch a few great victories or impressive and passionate displays from your team? Silverware and ‘winning something’ is the great bonus cherry on top and something that of course we aspire to, but it’s not reason I watch football.
People say that Arsene hasn’t won anything in 8 years. Actually, he has won a lot of games and given me some great entertainment. He hasn’t won any trophies, but I’m a grown man, so I’ll survive that disappointment.

Can't stand this pacified, small-time mentality. It's idiots like this that keep Wenger in the job.

[The Knowing One]

Wenger seems to have backed himself into a corner regarding signing his contract, I mean if we are to believe that the thing has been on the table since before Xmas, there has been ample opportunity when his stock has been way higher than it is now.

I'm not sure what his strategy is here, did he really believe we would win the PL/CL and he could make out that he was doing us all a massive favour, does he really think there are any more miracles to come this season? would he now consider an FA cup win as a serious sign of progress? (which is by no means assured, we'll do well to get past Everton, never mind City).

My guess is he really believed there would be a point where we had an unassailable lead at the top or had dumped Bayern out of the Champions League, but now is hanging on for his mates/fans in the media to start linking him with the Real Madrid or PSG job, he might even go as far as interviewing for one of them this, trouble is I've got a feeling that the people running these clubs don't believe he's a top European manager any more than we do these days.

[Gunner Rob]

Came across this gem in the comments section of The Guardian:

Am I the only one who gets tired with listening to journalists and certain fans droning on about ‘silverware’ and ‘winning something’ as if it’s the be-all and end-all of football?
Football is an entertainment and to me the main joy of that entertainment comes in the form of particular games, especially v Man U, v Spurs or Liverpool, etc or whatever turns out to the most thrilling or exasperating encounters of the season, pulling my hair out of refereeing decisions, shouting my head off (for good or bad), seeing how the team progresses since last season or arguing about players and tactics.

The way that some journalists and fans talk you would think that any season in which the team doesn’t win a trophy is somehow a waste of a season in which we’ve been cheated and should be demanding our money back (which basically applies to 16 to 19 out of the 20 teams every season). Almost like saying that a new album from your favourite band was only worth listening to provided it won a Grammy.

Did you enjoy the games or not? Did you at least get to watch a few great victories or impressive and passionate displays from your team? Silverware and ‘winning something’ is the great bonus cherry on top and something that of course we aspire to, but it’s not reason I watch football.
People say that Arsene hasn’t won anything in 8 years. Actually, he has won a lot of games and given me some great entertainment. He hasn’t won any trophies, but I’m a grown man, so I’ll survive that disappointment.

Can't stand this pacified, small-time mentality. It's idiots like this that keep Wenger in the job.

believe it or not I did actually agree with this sentiment until a couple of years ago. Maybe I was brainwashed up until 2012 like some still are today. The thing is we havent even had much entertainment these past 2 years. April 2012 was the last time I felt that we actually won a big match - v City when they were going for the title

[Gunner Rob]

[Im not so sure its the worst Arsenal side for 20 years, its better than the last 2 or 3 years worth, and at times thay have played stunning stuff this year- Napoli home was just great, but totally agree at the "no guts, no desire, no strikers, no hope" comment- that sums up this year in particular.

In fact this last match was so totally depressing v The Orcs- no internet for a week with BT so all I could do was listen then watch MOTD- never seen as fast a game summery- just totally awful.

Yet THE SAME team bar Gibbs in for Monreal detroyed a Sunderland team just a week before with some superb play - one MOTD view V The Orcs was telling - 5 or 6 players mimicking Wenger raising their hands- the team had lost the game before the kick off started. The motivation and desire just seem to have gone, I cant see it coming back unless something radical happens. We seem lost for ideas both in our play and transfer "policy" its just an embarrasment

sorry but the Napoli game is a bit of a myth. I was in the clock end and for the first 15 minutes then yes we were superb and went 2-0 up. What happened for the remaining 75 minutes? If we were that good wouldn't you have thought that we might just have scored once more?

also for that match Higuain didnt play.

[mcdowell42]

http://le-grove.co.uk/2014/03/03/4-item ... more-18854

[BFG4]

Wenger seems to have backed himself into a corner regarding signing his contract, I mean if we are to believe that the thing has been on the table since before Xmas, there has been ample opportunity when his stock has been way higher than it is now.

I'm not sure what his strategy is here, did he really believe we would win the PL/CL and he could make out that he was doing us all a massive favour, does he really think there are any more miracles to come this season? would he now consider an FA cup win as a serious sign of progress? (which is by no means assured, we'll do well to get past Everton, never mind City).

My guess is he really believed there would be a point where we had an unassailable lead at the top or had dumped Bayern out of the Champions League, but now is hanging on for his mates/fans in the media to start linking him with the Real Madrid or PSG job, he might even go as far as interviewing for one of them this, trouble is I've got a feeling that the people running these clubs don't believe he's a top European manager any more than we do these days.

I doubt that is the reason. As delusional as Wenger is, he knows our capabilities are to finish in the top four, and nothing else, that's why, he thinks its a trophy. Maybe he realises, that with the club letting him run things from top to bottom, that if he leaves, they will be fucked, so he is holding out for the highest contract, he can get, or he has just had enough, really hope he leaves, but cant see it.

[Kvltman]

http://le-grove.co.uk/2014/03/03/4-item ... more-18854

A good read with some interesting points. I would take Klopp in a heartbeat and I also think Martinez would be a success. It would just be a refreshing change to see a manager who took the time to study the opposition and prepare accordingly, rather than just 'play our own game'.

[DB10GOONER]

http://le-grove.co.uk/2014/03/03/4-item ... more-18854

A good read with some interesting points. I would take Klopp in a heartbeat and I also think Martinez would be a success. It would just be a refreshing change to see a manager who took the time to study the opposition and prepare accordingly, rather than just 'play our own game'.

Agreed. I honestly think the team we have is quite good. It's not far off being a top side, but it is seriously hamstrung (sic) by the manager's myopic unrealistic view of how football "should be played". We obviously need a top top striker and a new left back (and a couple of other signings) but I believe if we had a manager that understood (Christ - even believed in) tactics this side could go on to achieve great things. I'd take Martinez in a heartbeat. Just to try something different, just to see what an informed, humble, pragmatic manager could do with these players. And if he didn't win anything? Well, is that any worse than Arsene has done in the last 10 years?

[rodders999]

http://le-grove.co.uk/2014/03/03/4-item ... more-18854

A good read with some interesting points. I would take Klopp in a heartbeat and I also think Martinez would be a success. It would just be a refreshing change to see a manager who took the time to study the opposition and prepare accordingly, rather than just 'play our own game'.

Agreed. I honestly think the team we have is quite good. It's not far off being a top side, but it is seriously hamstrung (sic) by the manager's myopic unrealistic view of how football "should be played". We obviously need a top top striker and a new left back (and a couple of other signings) but I believe if we had a manager that understood (Christ - even believed in) tactics this side could go on to achieve great things. I'd take Martinez in a heartbeat. Just to try something different, just to see what an informed, humble, pragmatic manager could do with these players. And if he didn't win anything? Well, is that any worse than Arsene has done in the last 10 years?

Another great post, some brilliant stuff on here today. Totally agree and at this moment in time Martinez would be my number one pick as a manager. Arsenal have become institutionalised under Wenger and would get a massive lift by his departure alone not to mention what the new manager would bring to the table. Here’s to a bright future come the first league game of next season.

[Kvltman]

http://le-grove.co.uk/2014/03/03/4-item ... more-18854

A good read with some interesting points. I would take Klopp in a heartbeat and I also think Martinez would be a success. It would just be a refreshing change to see a manager who took the time to study the opposition and prepare accordingly, rather than just 'play our own game'.

Agreed. I honestly think the team we have is quite good. It's not far off being a top side, but it is seriously hamstrung (sic) by the manager's myopic unrealistic view of how football "should be played". We obviously need a top top striker and a new left back (and a couple of other signings) but I believe if we had a manager that understood (Christ - even believed in) tactics this side could go on to achieve great things. I'd take Martinez in a heartbeat. Just to try something different, just to see what an informed, humble, pragmatic manager could do with these players. And if he didn't win anything? Well, is that any worse than Arsene has done in the last 10 years?

Yes I would be very interested to see what a manager like Klopp or Martinez, ie tactically astute, would achieve with the current side, let alone with a couple of additions that would really make the difference at the business end (that we are really crying out for over the next run of games). I too would rather give someone else a chance rather than fail in the same way we have done ever since around 07/08.

Like you say we are not far off at all having a top side but if we lose the likes of Sagna and Vermaelen than that is 2 positions we need to replace as well as addressing the areas that are really starting to cost us this season. I would say that is possibly 4 or 5 players needed and that seems like too much action for Arsenes cheque book going off recent form! In other words we address one weak area in the squad but then another becomes apparent and isn't rectified to the needed level, and so the cycle continues...a new manager with our 'new found' wealth might not make those mistakes.