Rumour (goal.com) is that Arsene Wenger has agreed a new verbal contract. If true, is this good news?
As you may know, I am a huge Wenger fan, to me he has been at the forefront of taking Arsenal from being a big club in London to being a major player on the World football scene. Many may argue and claim that it was the board and David Dein who masterminded the expansion, but Wenger has been the hub, because without success on the pitch everything else is ineffective. No pitch success – no 60,000 fans at THOF, and proof of this is that Liverpool did not sell out their home game with Chelsea – 4 days after losing a European semi-Final! One could say that we have gone 5 years without a trophy and thus no success, but the years prior and the superb football on offer has resulted in maintaining a full Emirates. Though it should be pointed out that there have been problems selling Club Level season tickets ….. could this be a harbinger of difficult times ahead?
However, despite Mr Wenger being a very sprightly and fit older* gentleman (*in deference to those who are of a similar age 😉 ), as with any older man, the ideas get stale. It is less easy to take onboard new tactics and ethics, one becomes entrenched in one’s beliefs. I hesitate to use the word on this auspicious election day, but one becomes”conservative”. Wenger’s management style has not permitted the presence of a strong and younger No.2. Pat Rice for all his
strengths is hardly the man you would expect to be a persuasive voice in opposition to AW, and there is no-one at the club who appears to be being groomed as our next manager.
Wenger will not want to leave his youth experiment unfinished but next year the team he has grown will have plenty of PL experience behind them, and have less need for his guidance. In Fabregas we have the Wenger brand of football exemplified. Intelligence, fighting spirit, vision, a master of the pace, superb natural skills, a desire to entertain and above all a winner. As long as Cesc stays, Wengerball will be at the heart of the team.
Many have written that players come to Arsenal just to play under AW, and that should he leave, it will herald an exodus of players. I do not believe this. Firstly, players are contracted and more importantly, Wenger would not allow it.
Perhaps we need to try something new. Not next year, which is the end of AW’s current contract, but for the 2011/12 season. I would choose for AW to have ties to the club but not be involved in team matters, and for a younger man to take over with new ideas. That said, the new manager would have to believe in WengerBall. There are candidates out there who are looking for long-term employment and not just a 2 year Mourinho type stay.
I would like to distance myself from the knee jerk reaction to the last couple of months which has brought condemnation of AW around the blogs. It is definitely not my intention to deride Wenger’s considerable achievements. I wish to say (in the words of the late, great George Harrison) that “All things must Pass”, and for that reason, it is my hope that Mr.Wenger leads his young team to be PL Champions next season and then retires.
Or is this sedition??
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
I am depressed this morning. All the results I hoped for over the past month have gone belly up. And last night was the final straw. I am desperate for the summer and a break from the emotional turmoil I put myself through.
The fact is that if the current Arsenal team had been in the same situation last night, we would have lost. The Spuds played in a way that we can’t against a very good side. We can’t defend as well as Spuds and we don’t fight like they did.
Can anyone doubt that had the Spuds come to the Emirates looking for the win, they would have left with it?
With so many THFC mates, I am in for a difficult day. Please God let us win on Sunday.
Quite simple. if he doesn’t deliver a trophy next year we get in someone like Gus Hiddink who can make that happen. He thinks we need minimal signings, we all disagree, we try it his way and if it fails he’s gone.
To be honest i am fed u p with people even raising the question. Do you know how many other clubs look at arsenal, the football we play, the way the club is run, the money that will be available through our own means, our stadium and only dream of one day having those and guess what a lot if not all of that is down to one man!! Arsene Wenger!! We have been spoilt since he has been at the club but I am old enough to remember the previous eras of Arsenal football where reaching a league cup final or finishing top half was about all we had to hope for.
We have been in the Champions League for the last 12 seasons…a feat achieved by no other club except Man U… I for one have faith in the manager and despite the last 2 months feel we have progressed this season and with the addition of a couple of players in key areas which no doubt will come i definitely think we will be challenging for the title again next year..For me any fan who wants Wenger out is no fan of football or Arsenal…Come on you Gooners!!!
Morning Raddy,
Very good honest post. You and I are quite different if you are going to find the summer break a relief, I am going to find it highly stressful every time arse.com sends out a coded message to dash my hopes.
stonroy,
Hiddink is one of the few managers I would like to see at THoF if AW were to leave.
He should of spent £30m last summer the nperhaps £20- £30m this summer. Now we need to spend £40-£50m this year of which we dont have and he wont spend it either.
Move over Le Boss thanks but youre getting to set in your ways .
Welcome Goonerdan,
Fine words and I hope all your predictions come true – but have you asked yourself how you will feel if we don’t sign ‘a couple of players in key areas’?
Chamakh is already in the bag. Totnum, citeh, manure, chelski and probably pool will all strengthen their squads over the summer, if we don’t, that covetted CL qualification record may go.
Good honest post indeed, i wouldn’t have been so generous.
Telefonica (our Internet server) are playing games at the moment and we keep getting cut off, so excuse me if I suddenly disappear (shouts of approval.)
I have hopefully a post going up on saturday, and can someone please confirm to me who is out of contract this summer and who is still negotiating a contract as well. Thanks
Yes Goonerdan, what you say is very true. However, where all of our rivals – with the exception of Liverpool – have moved forward, we have remained stagnant. It is no good generating wealth if it is not re-invested. The last 5 years tell us that buying one player a year is not enough. Besides, howcome we have only spent an average of £7.5m on players each year for the past eight years? We can’t expect Arsenal to be champions if teams like Fulham and Sunderland have outspent us. It may be time for a change, or we have to spend serious money on quality and experience. We also need to get rid of those players whose ‘Potential’ tag is looking a bit worn e.g. Walcott.
sky last night said we made a £25m profit on transfers in the past 3 years. arent we lucky that we have this money in the bank and no goalkeeper at the club.
to me this is very very wrong.
I don’t think we have 11 first team players (1 for each position) who are all good enough – possibly 9. Any player earning 40-60k a week should be of first team quality. We are paying too much for potential and mediocrity. If the potential fails to develop into the expected quality, then there has to be a time when a player should be moved on to make room for someone who can reach the standard.
This debate has been running since 2005 and is becoming boring and has no substance.
There are very few brilliant managers around that a) can maintain CL for 11 yearsb) discover and develop talent and minimul cost and c) sell players who never succeed elsewhere and d) do not find the club in serious debt.
What AW has done is put the foundations down first before finally putting the roof on while others have put the roof on first.
One day we will bemoan the loss of AW and be stuck with a manager who unravels ( like knitting ) all the hard work done by AW.
My suggestion to all the fical gooners , grow a set of b—s.
Gooner through and through as I have been for 53 years.
Welcome aged gooner,
It’s a very comfortable view to hold – when do you expect that AW will ‘finally put on the roof’?
next season should be his last season then he should go,signing players like chamakh and possibly diakahte,the guy’s missing.also not going to address the keeper situation,please help us arghhhhhhhhhhh
aged gooner,what do really see wenger doing in the next 5 years for this club????/just keep on balancing the books and saying a 3rd and 4th place finish is good enough,are we ever going to win a trophy again.
Aged Gooner.
Firstly, my credentials. I have had a season ticket for 50 years next season.
Secondly, I am not suggesting we dispose of Wenger who clearly is the man with the plan. I am suggesting that he sees out his contract and moves “upstairs”, allowing a younger man with fresh impetus to take over the coaching of the team.
I believe the responsibility of taking on as many off field projects as AW has taken it’s toll. As I said , us older gents become entrenched in our ways and less open to new tactics and coaching methods,
Although my optimism has taken a bit of a battering in the last few weeks, I still think we’re not far away from being a title-winning team. We definitely need key signings this summer, but I believe they will happen: Chamakh, plus a defender and a ‘keeper.
Should He stay? Or should He Go?
He should go with immediate effect.
Arsenal it seems are all about rewarding failure. And there’s not a bolder statement than to give Wenger an improved contract for completely wasting this season away.
Only managed to muster the same points from last year, lost more games, conceded more goals and yet we’re improving?
The worrying thing is that next year’s PL campaign is going to be much tougher than this one. Spuds will splash the cash big time now they’re in the CL. They’re already a strong squad and Twitchy will bring in some world class players.
Citeh will also spend fortunes and even though they’re not in the CL their money will still attract big players.
This year we will finish third (hopefully) in a three-way contest. If Liverpool hadn’t imploded our hold on the CL place would have been in real question.
Next year it will be a full-on five-way contest (ManUre, Chavs, Spuds, Citeh and us) and I bet the bookies will once again install us as favourites to miss out on CL qualification. They were wrong this season and I think they’ll be wrong next season – but that depends on AW dealing with some of the weaknesses in the squad.
A blinding post.
Most exceptional BR.
Kolo Toure had 3 free headers against the spurs.
Crouch scored with a header, hit the post and King had one ruled as improper in the first half.
If we were any decent on set pieces, we probably wouldve waltz the league.
Time for new ideas.
Gooner dan well said and welcome my friend.
Scott look around you at Portsmouth and Liverpool. and beyond football Greece , Portugal, Spain even the UK all up to their Eyes in debt because they spent what they hadn’t got, while we are solvent and have a kitty at last, Wenger will spend I have no doubt,
A couple of Quotes from Olympic champions
It’s perseverance that’s the key. It’s persevering for long enough to achieve your potential.
Sport and life is about losing. It’s about understanding how to lose.
Lynn Davies
The reason sport is attractive to many of the general public is that it’s filled with reversals. What you think may happen doesn’t happen. A champion is beaten, an unknown becomes a champion.
Roger Bannister
5 years in the scheme of things is nothing, Trophies alone are nothing.
Being a supporter is a lifelong commitment, the belonging and companionship are the reward see this blog. Trophies are a bonus for some clubs and tend to go in patches again see Liverpool.
If we do invest we may win something but there are no guarantees others will invest more but one thing is certain we will not go broke. OH and we will buy a proper goalkeeper.
I think the main problem with Arsenal now is that many players dont seem to have much fight in their characters.
I still believe Wenger should stay — at least for the next season, because players look upon him.
After such season, if wenger leaves it would be a big shock and i can foresee that Arsenal would be like Liverpool next season.
Im pretty much convinced he will be buying experienced players for next season.(at least i’d choose to believe him for the last season)
This current squad isnt too bad imo, but the team must work on defense display and strenghthen in defence!
I dont know whether you guys would agree with me… but i think Arsene should try to win those so-called “small cups” like Carling Cup and FA Cup. This team seriously lacks confidence in believing they are able to win things!
It is apparent from this morning’s posts that we are in ‘polite disagreement’ over whether AW has served his time as manager.
Is there anyone on either side who would disagree with the following statements….
1. The squad needs reinforcing in 2 or 3 key areas
2. The money is available to buy these players
3. If you agree with 1 and 2, AW will be damaging our chances of qualifying for the CL and winning anything if HE chooses to persist with the existing squad. (accepting that Chamakh is on his way)
Appreciate the responses but the roof is about to be placed upon and a little more patience and your wish will come true and please bear in mind that the Premiership would have been ours if it was not for that dreadful tackle on Eduardo that season before the wheels came off and therefore we would not be discussing the topic of should AW go or stay.
Look how many clubs,business’s and certain countries have tried to buy success and it has ended in tears.
Let AW complete his objectives as rome was not built in a day
Rasp, I certainly don’t disagree with those statements, although I might re-word number 3:
3. If you agree with 1 and 2, AW will be damaging our chances of qualifying for the CL and winning anything if HE FAILS TO STRENGTHEN the existing squad. (accepting that Chamakh is on his way).
It may seem a small point, but your wording implies that he should not persist with the existing squad (ie get rid of loads of them). My view is that the squad is not as bad as it seems right now and just needs adding to.
Fair enough Rocky – it was a bit loaded. I looked at the totnum team yesterday and apart from the desire that our boys seem to be lacking, they just had a much better balance to the side.
City reminded me of us – struggling to unlock a resolute defence. With Chamakh, I have no problem with the attack, but we have to enlist personnel to stop us haemorrhaging easy goals = set pieces, GK errors etc etc. The midfield has to defend. I have watched some of our midfielders lose possession of the ball and make no attempt to track back this season.
The arrival of Chamakh must spell the departure of a striker.
Chamakh, Theo, RvP, Nik B, Eduardo and Vela all fighting for 3 or possibly 2 places. IMO one or two have to go. But would that be strenthening? And are these super-ego’s prepared to sit on the bench.
Chamakh would not come if AW had not promised regular first team action, why would he when he can go almost anywhere?
So…. who would you sell?
Radders – Vela, in a shot !
It wouldn’t surprise me to see at least two from that list depart Raddy. I think Nik will be relegated to sub for most games – I don’t see how we could accommodate RVP, Cham and Nik in the side unless he plays Chamakh wide left and AA doesn’t play.
Plus, if we have to trim our squad further Eddy has to go too – the poor chap has lost it now nad the fact he’s hardly been used lately implies Wenger thinks so too.
Clearly letting squad players go is a healthy and productive course of action if we choose to reinforce with players of better quality – it should not be viewed as failure. Some of our players may benefit (Dudu in particular) from moving to a new club in terms of first team opportunity and fitting in with a different system.
We need to not lose sight of which Arsenal we’re talking about.
For obvious reasons, the Arsenal that collapsed against Wigan and was woeful against Blackburn is the one foremost in our minds.
But this season we’ve also seen the Arsenal that hammered Spuds at the Emms, that demolished Porto, that hauled themselves back into the title race when dead and buried, that fought to the bitter end in game after game to secure vital points.
Clearly there’s still a gap between us and the top two – but the picture is not as bleak as it feels after the most recent results. That’s why I’m convinced that we need only minor adjustments (three new players) to make substantial progress.
All true Rocky. Hold that thought, three new players, with the caveat that they are at the stage in their careers that they can pretty much step straight into the first team! – wouldn’t you say?
Definitely Rasp. This is not the time for more ‘promising youngsters’. We need battle hardened players in their prime – aged 25 – 29.
And I would go further and say we specifically need experienced players who have won things. That ‘how to win’ habit needs reinforcing in our squad.
The only extra player I’d like to see after a new GK, CD and Chamakh, might be someone who can deputise for Song (HM) as I don’t think Diaby or Denilson come close. Apart from Cesc, TV and RvP, Song would be the first name on my team sheet.
12.27 RL. Well said that man apart from the big gap thing. Fully fit first team versus fully fit first team, I would back us. We lost at OT thanks to Diaby’s insanity, and a dodgy pen.
The Chavs however are a different story and will be deserved Champions.
BR,
you have just fecked up my post, thanks you old danish codger 😉
Song (HM) Heavy metal Raspers ?
Whoever said we lost the league two years ago at brum when eduardo was injured, is IMO wrong. We lost it prior to that at OT with a weakened team that was humiliated in the Cup.
Song’s improvement is amazing!
I think we need 2 CB’s. Though as Song has shown he is adept in this position, another physically strong DM would suffice.
Sorry Kelsey. Totally unintentional 🙂
You Spanish Geriatric
Chary. His Majesty….
Holding midfielder chary 😆
chary you would lose vela in place of eduardo?
surely the logical solution would be to let eduardo go if we had to move on out.
he looks to have lost that sharpness and at 27, is at his peak, so should be playing his best.
whereas vela is still only 20, with his best years ahead of him.
vela is starter for mexcio, i think a lot of people will be surprised at the way he plays during the WC.
he is a far more confident and comfortable player with his national side.
The few times I have seen Chamakh, he has played on the Left. Vela’s position in this AFC line-up. but perhaps he can play across the frontline. So logically Vela is the one to move on
Where does Vela play in the Mexican team?
vela play CF or a kind of half striker for mexico
he was mainly used as a winger when on loan in spain by us.
the national side have mostly liked to use him and dos santos and the strike pair right the way from the u-16 mexico side through to the full side.
they are very good mates and have a fantastic understanding on the pitch.
vela seems lost in the arsenal, he does not have that understanding.
maybe both vela and eduardo are both redundant in this 4-3-3/4-1-4-1 formation.
If I were Vela I would move to Spain, because I cannot see him getting enough pitch time to fulfill his undoubted talents. I realise he is still young but he is well down the pecking order, and with AW bigging up Eduardo (could be a sales spiel) and Chamakh’s arrival …..
That is how I see it SfH (1.28). Very expensive back up in a formation that doesn’t suit their play.
I’m guessing Melo would be the HM/DM/LB/CB you’d like to see at the Arsenal SfH 😆
I am not in the ‘Wenger Out’, but I do want him to change his ways and by that I mean, stop ingnoring the obvious shortfalls wihtin our squad; ignoring the fact we do not have a great goalkeeper, ignoring our defensive errors, ignoring the fact we lost our best striker to injury and made no efforts to replace him.
IMHO, his shortsightedness and reliance on his continued use of his youth policy and ‘failed’ experiment has cost us this season and will continue to do so. If he really does think that we do NOT need any new blood prior to the start of the 10/11 season, then he really has lost the plot completely.
The players can also be blamed for some of the recent inept and embarrassing performances and need to buck up their ideas on Sunday or it will be 4th place for us.
SfH – I’ve been seriously disappointed with Vela this season and had high hopes for him – I believe he just can’t cut it in a physical league like ours. He’s had many chances this year to show us what he can do and he’s failed time after time.
As for Eddy – he is, sadly, a spent force; a player felled in his prime never to reach his potential so his time here is at an end also – thanks a lot Martin Taylor.
Arsene Wenger is the best manager we’ve had in our history, this is a fact. He has had his hands tied by the club’s finances even since before the move to the Emirates, this is a fact. He has kept us in the top four and got us at least as far as the Champions League quarter finals each season since then, this is a fact.
Should he go? Are you f***ing mad?
amazing the praise and jubiliation for the spuds… they spend over 220M
and finally finish top 4
we have done that with ease… on a transfer profit over the same time.
RayB,
Thanks for the comment and welcome to the site.
Supporters have a right to ask questions … that is a fact. The writer of the article is a firm Wenger supporter … that is …. well you get my drift 😉
Wenger for life anyway we can preserve him like the american presidents on futurama? 😀
richard nixon in futurama
we need to sell some superstars probably cesc, arshavin so that we can beat last years profits
LOL Franchise. Nice to see your retain your enthusiasm
Raddy i cant wait until next February. I wonder what the finacials will reveal
if we cant sell cesc and arshavin i think a ticket price hike would be appropriate
dare we not at least match this years profits. what a shame that will be 😀
Hi Fran – in high spirits then 😛
At least we will top a League !
Raddy its all about making the world for you
😀
peaches yeah im in high spirits. whats the worse that can happen hey? 😛
we get pipped to 3rd by spurs?
can it really? hmmmmm
* Raddy its all about making the world work for you
Bet’s on the Spuds putting out a DVD of last night’s game ?
one thing for sure chary Spurs season review would outsell ours by 3 to 1
Only 3 to 1 Fran!!!!!!!!!!
Is it your turn to go to the game on Sunday?
im not sure i want to see the game peaches
but i will be down at the tavern
i thought about the ratio it could easily be 10 to 1
Raddy – knowing your feelings about keeping positive and how much you admire AW I thought your post was very well constructed – not too much hissing and spitting of feathers 😆
They wouldn’t need to release a season review DVD Fran – you can get all the best bits on DVD’s they’ve already pumped out so far.
Hello gents,
Firstly id like to say how welcoming this blog has been to me since i made my first comment here this morning. Secondly how refreshing it is to see actual logical debating going on rather than some of the ridiculous arguing and real slating of arsenal, the board and le boss…
I would echo a lot of the comments on todays board…I stand by my comments earlier that Wenger and arsenal are the envy of many clubs in england and across europe. I especially agree with the comments of aged gooner regarding putting the roof on soon..
When i look back over the season there is one performance that stands out for me that really shows me that we have progressed this year..Stoke away where that horrific injury happened to Rambo. I have never been so proud of an arsenal side to come through the way they did and show they had the heart and determination to go on and win this title…As we know that is not how it planned out but i feel we are on the right track..
The addition of Chamakh i feel will spell the end for either Eduardo or Vela(poss only loan) and i definitely think 1 cb poss 2 if all of silv, gallas and senderos leave, a gk and possibly a DM cover are essential..
I feel that we now have adequate funds to fill these positions and hope we do it..COYG!!!
Nice comments Goonerdan,
Though there are ladies on here as well, but you wouldn’t have known that.
Apologies for my total neandephalness!
It is now duly noted 🙂
Thanks for your input GoonerDan. I agree re: Stoke. It was a day to be proud of.
But perhaps that spirit should be the norm rather than a stand out moment.
Big Raddy,
Very much agreed I was just using it as a reference point in comparison to the capitulation at Birmingham 2 seasons previous. It was the point where i really started to believe we had the determination, regardless of injuries, to do it. Ultimately i was proved wrong but i have faith in the manager to spend in the right areas and for us to have a real run at the league next season…
The only area i worry about is the GK. I am sure the club want to bring Sczesney through to be No1 but think next season is too soon. I just hope that doesnt mean we give almunia and fabianski another year because as a title challenging club you need GK’s to gain you vital points in a season and Fabianski, Almunia and Mannone have all lost us points at vital times during this season. I feel we will definitely add in other areas and review the medical staff to see if we can stop the impossible injury list growing next year…
I sincerely hope that at the start of next season you are correct GoonerDan. All you requirements spot on.
I would keep Almunia for a season as back up for the new GK, after all, he has played in a Champions League Final!
We also need at least one extra CB.
Yes i agree at least one centre half possibly 2 as i feel sol will be given a 1 year extension to act as cover but i think that gallas, silvestre and senderos will all be on their way out..
That would leave us with Vermaelen, djourou who is just returning from 9 months out, campbell and an improving Bartley and Nordveit who may be loaned out again. So i would suggest that we would need a right sided CB who is good enough to start alongside TV5. I have seen a number of names banded around the likes of hangelaand, subotic, diakhate, upson, zapata and kjaer all of which are probably pure speculation but a good, prven experienced CB and possibly a younger one to mould although i do feel that only 1 Cb will arrive
Nikk
Will do well in a sub role. He should never have been allowed to play that many games and was lucky to play due to injuries. He should come off the bench.
It will be a front 3 of Arshavin—Chamakh—RVP
Eduardo is gone imo.
Theo/Nik on the bench, in which case what is the point of keeping Vela?
Vela should play on the left like Arshavin
I think the criticize towards our mexican is very unfair.
He was just as effective as Arshavin against blackburn.
And certainly he hasnt had as many chances as Theo/Nikk.
criticism 😀
OK. GF. We can keep Vela!
Reading the BBC rumour mill shows just how much nonsense is generated by the press. and how gullible some people are to believe it. Now we are meant to be preparing to swap Cesc, RvP or Clichy for Buffon, who is undoubtedly a fantastic talent.
Clichy? Perhaps, but the other two !!
Upfront we are complete (almost)
Arshavin/Vela—-Chamakh/RVP—-Bendtner/Theo/Nasri
Although if AW sees Nasri as the Next Bobby P (God bless him) he should play on the left and he should play there consistently.
For this team to win it all we need a box to box midfielder with an unbelievable engine…in addition to Song.
Rasp.
I have a post for you if you are interested.
You stuck with one of those US English spell checks GF ? 😀
Hahaha…I dont know any other way its spelled really! 😉
Good balanced post. I’ve been toying with the idea of a new manager myself. That said, if Wenger does win the PL or CL I might get emotional again.
Right now with the way the season’s gone (worse is how it can end, surely it won’t… will it?) Arsenal has left me with a bland taste. I do believe Wenger’s hurt too but the question is whether he’ll adapt to the current styles or try harder in doing what he’s always done. Mind you neither option is the out rightly wrong one.
Yea..Did i tell you what a fantastic post this was.
Great respect Raddy!
Mayank
I dont understand Wenger. With all the money in the World that we have supposedly surpased Chelsea in our spending power…he is insisting the spending will be minimal.
The penny pinching continues.
Is it out rightly wrong?
Well has there been anything to suggest its been right?
What a fine day the suns out and England won a game of cricket top bombing hope all are well what’s that GoonerDan says about no negative comments today I’m not having none of that
“Board Out” Thats better!
3-1 The Arse sat and then all behind the Fulham next Wednesday 😉
GhostFace,
There are two ways to look at the season. One is to look at the points table, which although doesn’t lie does not tell the complete truth either. The other is to look at the season as a single game where we dominated possession but a few mistakes cost us. I believe a few games and a few players made the difference between being top or fighting for 4th.
Now on the face of it we you could say that changing the style of management makes our chances go up considerably (tactics and spending). Which is true. But you could be courageous and let Wenger have one last crack and deliver to us something truly memorable. Or is that romanticising the situation a bit too much?
Mayank
It isnt clear to me which way you view the season…is it through the table or looking at every single game separately?
When you say “a few” players how many and in which positions?
I am more than willing to give Wenger another chance he deserves that bit…but its quite clear he is determined to prove his detractors wrong as opposed to what is best for AFC
I’m not decided on it either. There are too many questions. How many are decidedly not good enough for us? Are the faults in our game related to personnel or is the system flawed? Can we make up the difference that costs us by a few shrewd signings or are big names required to achieve big things?
Right now I’m leaning more towards a change in the mangers attitude towards tactics and transfers.
I think all of those questions are fair questions…
The tactics are fine and the formation was good for when we had the right players to play in the system.
When we lost RVP we persevered with the same tactics and it didnt work out too well because we didnt have the same personnel. The whole world could see this except AW which is just worrying.
Transfers is definitely something that we need and cannot afford to continue with our “minimal” approach.
Even by AW admission we have over-achieved
Even if we win at Fulham we wouldve finished the season with a massive grand total of 3 points above where we finished last year and that is what is considered to be over-achievement.
Its one more season with Wenger for me.
Evening Ghostface,
If you have a post ready kindly submit it, as i was going to do a post based around vela and Eduardo particularly but the debate has well and truly started.
BR,
Spain is in free fall and the euro is colapsing hit 1.18 expect 1.25 within three months.
Reasons to be cheerful 1, 2, 3 😉
Kelsey….. Hurrah !!
I find the suggestion that Wenger will be leaving at the end of the season interesting, given that the board are in the process of negotiating a 3 year extension to his contract which still has a year to run. Plus I have heard at least two board members suggest that Arsene will be invited to join the board when he feels that he has had enough of managing.Even most of the anti Arsenal press are incredulous that such murmurings are circulating.
Here we are about to finish in a CL position for the 12 time in a row and are moaning about our club. When down the road the spuds, having spent over 200 million in the 18 months since arry joined, just to arrive in that position for the first time in his entire management career, are offering him (if you will excuse the pun)up for canonisation
My forecast is that given the economic situation all of us are facing. (look at Kelseys glee over the Euro) In a years time far from replacing our manager we will be be thanking our lucky stars for the job done at Arsenal by the Wenger + Board combination irrespective of us winning a tin pot or not.
Yes of course it is nice to win, but we have been savaged by injury’s over the year. No we didn’t buy in the Jan window as we could have done, but who would argue that the best players are either not available then or overpriced.
Yes the team spirit has suffered in recent weeks but as the injuries sustained were not only to our top players but also our natural leaders with the exception of Sol that to is understandable
All you say is true DD, but it does not preclude the arrival of a new coach in 2011/12 and AW going upstairs, which (today!!) is my best possible scenario (I am a Pisces and as such am prone to regular changes of direction).
All the D & G’ers gloss over the injuries which are central to our late season problems
Absolutely right…poor Arsenal
We couldnt buy a decent goal keeper because he wasnt available or over priced.
Such a shame we didnt think to loan one either..or a striker for that matter…
How much do you think City paid for Fulop?
And what rubbish about the economy the economy will be no worse off in a years time than it is now.
In a supposed rough economy the Glazers are trying to be outbought, Liverpool are finding suitors and City are going to spend like cash is coming out of a faucet.
Spurs were in a relegation battle and spent 200million.
200million from relegation to CL is worth every penny of it. Say what you like
We should be thanking our starts and dancing around because we may or may not finish 3 points above where we finished last year?
But then again this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Life is after all about understand how to lose now and not how to win now isnt it? 🙄
Hi GhostFace,
Yes please send us your post. I think chary is doing one for tomorrow but we can ‘juggle’ or use yours on saturday.
kelsey, I’m sure your post will have plenty of interesting points to discuss, please don’t be put off 😉
I will wait in line Kelsey
If you had a post to put up by all means brother be my guest…mine can wait.
Rasp
I’ll send it to you after editing. My spelling is particularly piss poor today.
Hi guys
Nice debate going on today. Whatever we want Arsène is going to be given an extension to his contract but the problem of someone challenging him is still there. When everything goes smoothly we go along with it but as soon as we hit a wall we have to be realistic about whats going on.
I stick my head in the sand too – when its good I don’t want it to change but when its going wrong the only solution is for a drastic change 😉
Rosicky,Bendtner,Song,Almunia and Denilson are all definitely out and Clichy is a maybe. So not our strongest team to finish the season with.
GF said “And what rubbish about the economy the economy will be no worse off in a years time than it is now.” to which I strongly disagree. I would go so far as to say a PL club will go to the wall next season.
To right Raddy some rejigging among the coaching staff may well freshen up the thinking, but the arrival of our new French centre forward with his supposed superior heading skills will change the dynamics and give us the facility to reach the bye line and pull the crosses back in the air a plan B we have lacked this season.
Mr GF, do I detect a note of irony or maybe god forbid even an attempt at sarcasm in your post.
This is not a economic forum so I shall leave you with your financial delusions, but one thing is certain, if you don’t know how to lose in life, you sure as hell wont know how to win. And Lyn Davies knew how to win.
I leave you with another cliche; form is temporary, Class is permanent and Wengers Arsenal is a glass act.
Reading some of the quotes on here and other sites one can’t blame Wenger entirely.Christ knows how many fitness,dietry,medical staff we have ? We appear to be fitter than most, hence the number of late goals, but subtle gifted players need to be physically stronger than our present squad.Blame Wenger if you wish,but I would not blame him for that, I would say that the ability to revert to a different game plan doesn’t sit well with him.With regards to motivation, I can’t answer that as I feel football being a business should be rewarded on achievement with a basic salary and added bonuses.But football has it’s own rules, and damned agents so loyalty is a rarity which can sometimes be misunderstood as being motivated.It’s not easy these days.Watch City unload most probably Adebayor,Tevez and others, buy loads more players and pay them even more.it doesn’t add up when the world economy is in crisis,footballers have a comparitively easy life style and in our case the attending fans pay through the nose, but that doesn’t give us a devine right to win trophies.Those are the facts, even if it doesn’t make pleasant reading.
Time will tell isnt it?
It is your opinion…and I just think with the new rules and the smaller squads with UEFA breathing down on the FA’s neck over what happnd to pompey it will not be as bad and certainly wouldnt be a sky falling down scenario
Glad you agree about everything else though.
DD
Quite right. Leave me to my financial delusions. Here’s a new idea. How bout you talk football and not finances?
Are you suggesting Arsenal havent discovered how to lose after 5 seasons and counting?
Kelsey
Incoherent ramblings.
What does motivation of players have to do with what the fans pay through the nose for? And somehow this is not Wenger’s fault because nobody else in the world of football isnt paid a salary with bonuses?
No ghost my Losing quote was aimed at the doomers,
Hi all
I am back from my little sojourn, I saw the game — dreadful, I watched their second goal three or four times and still cannot see why people think that it was a foul, clever play by Blackburn if you ask me. That said I was far more disappointed with our midfield than I was with Fabinaski but hey ho.
I notice some excellent new contributors: GoonerDan, Aged Gooner and RayB; his comment above restored my faith in blogging.
I also notice Ghost Face has returned, although, I sadly see his memory hasn’t improved.
Why didn’t we loan a goal keeper at Christmas?
Because at Christmas everyone hated Almunia and wanted him replaced with Fabianski. Remember!
The post that I would like to read from you Ghost face is what it means to you to support Arsenal. That would be an interesting read.
Hi London – both keepers as bad as each other if you ask me 😉
Agree with you about the mid-field – Eboue was trying too hard, Diaby wasn’t trying hard enough and Nasri couldn’t do it all on his own.
Nasri’s turning into the new Hleb 😦
Hi Peaches
Re the keepers, sadly it looks that way now. If you want a glimmer of hope bear this in mind, Wenger always gives players a chance, meaning, it would look bad and send the wrong message to all the other up and coming players if one was sold without being given a shot.
Hi Rasp
I was very disappointed in Diaby, not in the way we were before Christmas, since then he has put in some top drawer performances, it is because of those that I can now see that he is capable of so much more and just don’t understand why he is not delivering.
Oooops I almost forgot, it was great to see JonJon creating hell again.
And, as things stand now I think Hleb was better. But Nasri is younger so I suppose there is still hope.
Yes I’m sure you’re right London and giving them chances is the right thing to do but when theres no improvement it seems like such a waste of time.
Hi rasp 😛
Gf if you are around, Wall street had dropped 1000 points at one point today, yes 1000 crisis what crisis.
Hi London,
How was Wales?
I wasn’t a huge Hleb fan – I thought he overcomplicated play and slowed down attacks. It was a breath of fresh air to me when Nasri was more direct and was prepared to shoot but he seems to have lost some of his edge recently. I agree about Diaby, his recent form has been very disappointing.
Nasri has always been able to do the Hleb thing – slalom runs and not shoot 😦
Nasri scored in his first league game – a 1 nil victory over West Brom I recall.
You have to give players chances to come to the realisation that they are not improving, without chances we are all guessing; last Christmas most people wanted Almunia replaced by Fabianski, it’s only through the chances that he has been given that we now know there is little to choose between them. No?
I agree. We’ll never know how good Merida could have been for us as he didn’t really get a chance. I hope we see a bit more of Coquelin next season (CC at the least)
Rasp
Wales was relaxing nice of you to ask.
I share your views on Hleb. The most worrying thing about the weekend was if Diaby and Nasri cannot dominate against Blackburn who can they dominate against? Vela received no service and after the first 20 minutes neither did Theo, this is the fault of the midfield.
Merida is a tricky one. Most people are crying out for more power in the middle, which is difficult to argue against.
I’m off then, see y’all soon
Yes, I certainly think we need another more imposing player in the midfield, but as Sharkey said yesterday, the player doesn’t have to be massive, just have a massive heart and desire – I was hoping Coquelin would develop into a Makelele/Mascerano type.
Nite London
rasp – chary has sent his post through but I can’t open my aol (for a change 😦 ) so he’s sent a copy to you too. Don’t worry about it now but you have it in case I can’t get to mine in the morning.
Thanks peaches, I’ve got it and have pasted into drafts and adjusted the alignment problems.
Blimey how desperate is that dictator Gordon Brown. People turned away from voting. What a farce 😆
DD
I am very aware of that my portfolio took a hit.
Some cunt cost me money…human error on a sell off..
But once again that is a financial debate that i would be happy to have on a financial blog/website.
London
Its good you are back. We missed you to.
Perhaps what you mean to ask me was what It means to me to support Wenger?
London
Who wanted Almunia replaced by Fabianski by christmas?
WHAT?
Who in their right mind who has seen Fabianski play at Chelsea in the Semi final of the FA cup and then at Anfield last year.
And then at Stoke City shitting himself and flapping at every Rory Delap throw or set pieces…
What a laughably Ironic thing to say that my memory doesnt serve me correctly?
With respect do you remember watching Fabianski at all?
How can we see this from a keeper on January 24th 2010
and then determine that this is the best way to move forward for the title.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWlfabY__CA
Most people wanted Almunia replaced by Fabianski?
Fabianski has always been error prone…Always been shite getting down on time to save low shots to either of the left or far posts and comes out for everything.
A decent shot stopper at best but till date has only had 1 respectable game for Arsenal in 3 years.
GF. As I recall there was a definite groundswell of support for the inclusion of Fabianski in January.
You may well be correct to say that Fab was poor prior to Jan, but most football fans have short memories, particularly when faced by an unreliable GK.
I remember fans calling for Almunia when Mad Jens made a few costly errors. Today most would take Jens over the current incumbents, even a Jens in his latter years.
Morning,
GhostFace said at 9.51 Kelsey
Incoherent ramblings.
If you wish to be blind to what is going on in the world today, and you also cannot see how financial stability is paramount, as it is already affecting football, that is your choice.
We conduct ourselves in an orderly way on this site and I take umbrage to the way you addressed me.Make your point by all means, but perhaps I am not the most prolific of writers on here and don’t express myself elequently enough, but please just leave it out.
Oh so that there yet not another argument on here, I will abstain from posting on here for a while.I think it may be best,for the good of the site.
No Ghost Face, what I meant is what I said; I would be interested to know what it means to you to support Arsenal. Quite clear.
And another thing don’t start dictating what can and can’t be discussed. The recession was a cruel fact, all clubs that tried to work within their means were affected by the worst stock market crash since 1929 if you do not understand that go and play on a site that is as equally naive as you.
As for Fabianski, I was responding to your slur that Wenger should have thought about loaning a keeper in January, BR put it more accurately than me, the fact is, there was a ground swell of enthusiasm for Fabianski around that time. A poor performance against Stoke is no reason to instantly replace him. Now, however, at the end of the season, is different.
Have you ever heard of the expression: everyone gets it right with hindsight?
New post…