What would success look like for you by the end of the season given the current situation?
We are in trouble, we haven’t lost 4 out of 5 consecutive Premiership games in the Wenger era until now.
Is there anything that you feel can happen in the next few weeks to improve the mood.
Questions from RC78
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Actually I think a top four finish alone would be a great achievement this season
Thanks for the idea, RC78.
Adding the Wenger bit after each option makes it sound like everyone has the choice of defining success by whether he stays or goes.
But I suppose that really is what it has come to for many.
I’m tempted to vote for ‘None of the above and Wenger stays’ because it makes almost no sense at all. 🙂
Our next two games are both at home against Man City and West Ham in the space of three days.
Six points from those two would improve my mood, though even that would not improve the mood of some. 🙂
I agree with both Peaches and Chas. A top 4 finish would be brilliant and whether AW stays or not is beyond my ken.
“crocodile sandwich” 😀 😀
Victory in the FA Cup would do me, but that’s me being purely selfish again.
Seems there is some speculation around AW future – I made a correlation between our success and his tenur as our Manager but there is not necessarily a causal effect….
In any case – I want it all: Top 4 finish, a Cup and if we achieve this, then I would like AW to leave on this positive note as I believe that he should leave on a positive note rather than a sour/disappointing one.
Arsenal v Leicester City Re-arranged date
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Kick-off: 7.45pm
Thanks RC. Top 4 would come top of my list, followed by FA Cup. We should always want the club to win whatever they are competing for. The decision on the manager … or more likely the manager’s decision …. should not affect our ambition.
Thanks RC. I was exactly the same as you and went for F.A cup, top 4 and AW to leave on a high.
You are right that there seems to be a lot of speculation about AW deciding to stay. I actually thought he would be calling it a day but the reports suggest he feels he is still the man to take us forwards.
For me there are 2 ways of seeing this :
Firstly he is still the right man to progress Arsenal from this point regardless of other good managerial candidates being available.
Secondly he is not the right man to progress us but there are no other available good managerial candidates right now, so AW represents greater stability for a short period. That would make him a stop gap, which is something I don’t think he would ever want to be.
As would be expected I voted – none of the above and Wenger stays.
Thanks 78
The answer is what ever one is feeling at that moment, unless your an extremist like me, so in that case other peoples feelings do not matter so Arsene stays.
Football is very similar to the love of a women. One day she cant understand how you misinterpret the signals “I think next week we should try that new Italian restaurant” when what she is really saying is “cant you bloody well do the dishes you lazy sod”
Your failure to read the obvious 78 means on that day your sacking is contemplated, and rightly so.
The following day “I think we should go see your mother”. Now, if you quickly say yes, you are Wenger losing to WBA and are once more favourite for the sack. If however you read through the obvious, your wife is really saying “If you say no, tonight we will make love just the way you like it,” thus a superb two minutes awaits and youve just qualified for Europe.
I would prefer the FA cup first. In truth I am not that concerned about the Champions league, so 4th is not a priority at present. A year away from that, and in the less strenuous Eufa cup might do us good.
I suspect that AW will extend for a year and we will see that in that year they will start looking for an appropriate successor in earnest. If they find one before the end of the next season, we may see some sort of transition period.
There are 16 teams in the league who were there last year.
Comparing our results against them as against last years’s (thanks for the breakdown), we are 2 points up.
As for the 3 teams that went down and the ones that came up, we took 16 points from the ones that went down and have taken 13 from the ones that have come up, and have one game left, away to Middlesborough.
AW and his staff have 2 weeks to get the players fit and back on track, so we may very well not do worse than last year, and possibly better.
” thus a superb two minutes awaits and you’ve just qualified for Europe.” 😀 😀
It is close to 50-50 total- which it is about basically everything when it comes to human selection.
Would enjoy an FA Cup win, and a top 4 placing, but if not that than a FA Cup win and 9th place, drop away from the europA garbage and all that entails. Would allow for the Arsenal to really be strong in the coming year. Minimal games and maximum output.
who voted ‘can’t decide’ 🙂 🙂 was it you chas?
as for those who are hoping for the FA cup this year – ha ha ha ha, get real guys! We have as much chance of winning anything as micky becoming the next Nigel Kennedy.
We are going to win nothing and finish outside the top 4. Wait till May before you call me a doomer. One way or another there is going to be mayhem, which unfortunately only Wenger can control. I’d much rather someone else managed, but it is not going to happen, or the club is in danger of serious instability.
Doomer….ooops…sorry Eddie, just realised we are only in March 🙂
yes GB, I will remember your remark in May darling
Eddie
“Doomers” have been predicting we’ll finish outside the top 4 for 10 years.
If we do finish outside the top 4 this year (which does look more likely with each defeat), there’ll be loads who’ll say, ‘See, I told you so’, whereas in fact, they’ve been wrong 90% of the time.
Crystals, for instance, has predicted we’d be 6th or 7th for many a season now.
It seems a tad unfair if he suddenly claims his predictions were right all along if this season we do finish outside the CL places. 🙂
Dooming is that constant need to suck negativity towards us.
It’s just so unnecessary.
chas. Such wise words – so unlike you
Eddie, you know that you and I mostly agree anyway, but I still have to hold out hope that the team will rally and finish the season strongly, even though I know we are up against it based on recent performances. The team seem devoid of all confidence at present.
From a few years back I always held out hope that AW would adapt his long held principles to fit the modern game and that there was another title in him, and he would thus bow out on a real high. The problem is I see no evidence of him adapting, changing, or trying something different, and he seems very entrenched in his own beliefs that nothing or no-one will alter, which is why I don’t feel he can take us forward from here (I hope to be proven wrong of course Chas).
If he is with us next year I will enter the season hoping that Arsene has suddenly realised he will have to change some of his long held practices and he will be like a manager reborn.
chas – but I didn’t predict for 10 years we will finish outside the top 4, so if we do this year I will bloody tell you, yes specifically you – “I told you so”. And I will be 100% right.
Suck negativity towards us? Ey? What’s that all about? Cosmic waves and bad energies 🙂 you are a funny fish
How about being a realist for once. How long you have labelled some of us (ok, me :)) doomers and dismissed all the points about concerns, perceived problems and bleak future? And what now, the shit HAS finally hit the fan, hasn’t it? It didn’t happen overnight, some of us could see it coming, but you hushed us by namecalling. Personally I don’t mind, you can call me what you want, but some feel a bit uneasy with that. Just accept that you have your right to be happy clappy but we (Eddie) have right to be negative. All right?
You called yourself ‘a doomer’, you fool.
Are you really saying you want credit for turning on the Club this season?
ironically, I call myself a doomer ironically, I don’t really think I am a doomer. I consider myself a realist, with my both feet firmly on the ground.
No, I did not mention any credit and no, I did not turn on the Club this season. All the failures of the team are not my fault.
To be fair “dooming” is a state of mind. I still think we’re going to win the league.
Any one who thinks otherwise is a defeatist. However, I am a man of mercy so after a quick trial with a total admitence of guilt and remorse, i propose lenient sentences of 20 years. Crystal’s will be given 25, but receive humane attention and be allowed to start his own bird sanctuary.
As for Arsene, any one caught insulting him shall serve 5 years. Arsene is a great man and should be allowed to make us worse with dignity.
I am a realist as well and I expect us to stay in the top 4 because every year we do. I expect us to win the FA Cup because more often than not, we do. If we dont, then we dont but history, stats and consistency indicate that we usually do. I dont think anyone here expected us to finish above the spuds last season even though we always did in the past and yet we did again. I am happy to be called wrong at the end of the season but until then I just support the realistic expectation that we will somehow finish in the top 4 and win another trophy. More importantly in this way I can focus on just supporting the team until the end of the season. Protesters (and I dont call them supporters) flying planes FFS. That is the lowest of the lows. Its football, invest the money into charity or social justice not a desperate grab for infamy.
And I agree with both Eddie and Chas, their opposing views both have merit and they still support the team and would probably agree on the not flying of planes, So I am the ultimate fence sitter however I am 100% behind HairTransplant, probably safer to be behind him then in front of him.
Sorry but none of us should be thinking about a top four spot as success! Is that the standard, is that how we measure success? I have stated before, Wenger is the greatest manager in our history, he has done so much for this club but the party is now over, he cannot do it any more. I honestly wish that he had left several years ago with his head held high and with pride. Top four is really meaningless, whats the point….we have done it for 20 years now (yes a great achievement) but surely after 20 years you would have thought we would have won the bloody thing (CL) by now! Our performance in the CL has been sub standard for many years now. Arsenal FC has been under achieving for far too many years and everyone is afraid of life after Wenger but it is time for change. Both Arsenal FC and Wenger have stagnated! It is time for new blood and start of a new era!
When Wenger goes it will be interesting to see if we have been underachieving.
JanMan,
The Arsenal were 12 minutes from winning the damn thing. That was playing against Barcelona, uefa, and a referee. Played with 10 men and should have beaten them, and would have if it would have been 11 v 11. That Arsesnal team also held the record at that time for games without giving up a goal- look at who Arsene started too.
But, as you saw against PSG, uefa rigged it for them to advance, no question in my mind.
Aeron, with the proliferation of betting and the history of corruption in FIFA all the way down… I fully agree with your statement.
I FULLY agree with your statement.
In corruption cases they always say, follow the money, the whole article below is about the betting odds…
My son is playing competitively at a big club here and the amount of talk about players and refs making bets to capitalise on the odds during different stages of the game…I believe it is very widespread and could explain why sometimes players under-perform
Barcelona defied Sky Bet’s in-play odds of 200/1 to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League, after a stunning 6-5 aggregate victory over Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
The Catalan giants went into the game with a mountain to climb and were 8/1 prior to kick-off at the Nou Camp, as they looked to overcome a 4-0 defeat in the French capital three weeks ago.
No side had ever overturned such a deficit in the history of the competition, and Luis Enrique’s team were pushed out to 66/1 to win the Champions League ahead of what proved to be one of the greatest comebacks of all time.
Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi scored either side of a Layvin Kurzawa own goal to make it 4-3 on aggregate, but Edinson Cavani’s away goal in the 62nd minute seemed to have secured PSG’s progress.
The game then appeared to be petering out, with Barca available at 200/1 to make it through to the quarter-finals, until Neymar stepped up in the 88th minute and fired a brilliant free-kick into the top corner.
The Brazilian then took responsibility from the penalty spot after Suarez was fouled, prior to which the qualification odds had drifted back out to 100/1 from 66/1.
And the famous win was completed deep into injury-time as Sergi Roberto netted with almost the last kick of the match.
its a sad lonely place on here when the regulars go missing.
the pressure to write something or contribute is intense rather than just happily read the regulars banter
conspiracy theories was the best I could come up with…
Over here in Australia, we don’t celebrate the Easter holidays until mid next month. Must come early in Europe…..
Morning All,
Eddie. How can you deny that negativity attracts negativity, just as positivity attracts positivity? Bizarre statement.
VP. Unfortunately some of us regulars have to work. Easter is next month here as well
RC’s post has had me thinking for almost 24 hours – a rarity. What do I consider success this season.
In August I was convinced we had the squad to win the title. By Xmas I felt the same and we could overhaul Chelsea. When we lost at Chelsea away I was convinced the referee had won them the game, as they do in many AFC losses.
Winning the CL group was a happy bonus and I thought we could get to the semi’s but typically we drew the strongest possible opponents.
By Feb, I thought we would fight for 2nd.
March saw us humbled by BM (again the ref stuffed us) and a re-adjustment of what would be a good end to the season.
Today, I would be delighted with 4th but if not I will be excited to see how we do in the Europa.
Morning Raddy, don’t you think this obsession with positivity v negativity is becoming a bit tiresome?
The self appointed positive camp think they occupy the moral high ground and those labelled negative are somehow not worthy.
It’s not about glasses being full or half full, it’s just about opinions. No one side has a monopoly on the truth.
We used to be able to agree to disagree. This blog had a cutting edge once, we hated blogs where those with an unwelcome view were hounded out. We saw an alternative opinion as an opportunity to discuss the merits.
I agree repetition is tiresome, and being aggressive and argumentative is not what we want. Times are hard for an Arsenal supporter. Change will come whatever we wish. I see it like Brexit, once the decision is made we just have to get on and make the most of things.
Rasp. No I do not, it is a central tenet of my life, not just with AFC but in everything. My questioning of Eddie is philosophical not football related.
Thanks Raddy, fair enough … perhaps we could at least desist from the labelling as a compromise.
On a football note. The most recent polls (none official) ask who we (the public) blame for our current situation. A sizeable percentage believe it is the players who are to blame. This has led to the question … has AW lost the dressing room?
The journey of optimism you describe gojng back to August in your @ 9:30 sums up the way I feel. A team that promised so much seems lost and directionless … what has happened to bring about that change?
I never realised all those years ago when, as a boy, I first became an Arsenal fan that I would have to become involved with all the paraphernalia of judging the manager, the referees, the Board, the owner and to have ‘statistics’ shoved down my throat by fans, many of whom have f*ck all mathematical knowledge, to ‘prove’ this or that particular factions viewpoints.
Do other clubs have their equivalent of AKBs or WOBs – I think not – and to someone like me who has never wanted to join a faction, and will never do so, as I prefer to make my own mind up about football, life and whether or not Terry and GoonerB are two sides of the same coin – or are just two loons.
It’s all bollix. I support Arsenal – that’s it – and with that support I just want my team to win everything in the Universe, while realising it is unlikely to happen. So what? If the manager and the team give their all in trying to achieve that it is fine by me.
Naturally I reserve the right to have a little hissy fit occasionally, and I do not expect every other fan to agree with me, on pain of being called unpleasant names, or to question their intellectual credentials.
Mainly because it is possible to be cross after a match and then realise I only saw ‘the incident’ from one position and it was not as bad as I originally thought — time for a rapid change of mind.
The toxic atmosphere between these rival ‘gangs’ of so called AKBs and WOBs in the blogosphere is simply appalling — so they ca include me — out.
We all know life is full of ups and downs, so why should football be any different? It’s emotionally fandamntastic when your team are successful, and it is gut wrenching when they are not — and I would not [for myself] expect or want it to be any different.
I like Arsene, as a person — he has been a fabulous manager — but I see no contradiction in saying that I think he should put two fingers up and say sayonara — he should not have to suffer the abuse, and maybe his departure will be the catalyst to usher in a new era for AFC — on the other hand, the OUT brigade will gloat that they were instrumental in ‘evicting’ him, and I would not blame him for staying just to spite them.
Hi Redders 🙂
Hi BR,
Your comment earlier caught my eye; “Eddie. How can you deny that negativity attracts negativity, just as positivity attracts positivity? Bizarre statement.”
Now, not wishing to get in the way of a good punch up betwixt the pair of you, can I say that nature may not agree with you Raddy.
Magnetic fields are associated with two magnetic poles, north and south and it is a fact that ‘like poles repel; unlike poles attract’ the same can apply to people in my experience.
A stirrer? Moi? 😀
How ya doin’ Rasper? Well I trust? 😀
I’m ok ta Redders. Twitter has taken a lot of the traffic out of blogging, but it’s still worth the effort I feel. How are you keeping?
Seems that the pundits are divided on Wenger’s tenure as AFC Manager. However, they all agree that he deserves respect and that he has achieved a lot with AFC.
Some of them say – he has lost the fans and cannot get the best of the squad so he must go for himself and for the club
Some of them say – he should stay one more year and then leave to ease in a new manager
In any case – I believe that he should announce his plan by the end of this month so that it gives the board, the team and the fans some visibility. It will ease pressure on him and help rally the fans around our club.
I am still aiming for all the possible glory this year: 4th + FA Cup 🙂
COYG!
Here here to that RC
Glad you are OK, Rasp. 🙂
I am sure you are right about Twitter having an effect on the blogs — for myself I never go near Twitter — from what I have heard it is poisonous and I have my own problems without getting involved.
What I have learned in my sojourn away from the calm of AA, is that the positive and negative tribes throw brickbats at each other and are frankly indistinguishable, other than their respective ‘like v dislike’ of poor old AW.
RC78,
Good questions posed in your Post, and I agree with your 11:23 am comment.
We need closure on the question of AW’s future – one way or the other – as soon as possible.
Zed. Agree with your 10.35
As to magnets …. it depends upon where you are 😀
When the cameras zoom in on half a dozen fans holding up a banner that says “out”, they should then zoom out to the other 50k+ fans that are not holding up a protest banner, and then ask if AW has lost the fans. Why must the vocal minority rule the quiet majority. I say it should be sorted once and for all in the carp park after the game…
Zed 10:35, great comment
Zed the voice of reason again 🙂 …. we’ve still got the Redders therapy banner if ever you want to get back in the saddle
Thanks, VP. 🙂
As for the car park after the game suggestion — you are tempting me — altho I have had my knuckles rapped a couple of times by the cops over the years (not in the UK) — its always the big lump who is blamed. Can’t think why. 🙂
Hi BR,
I am magnetically attracted to you — must be the old opposites attract thing – altho in a contradictory aside, there is an awful lot I agree with you about!! 😀
Rasper,
I never really left – just wanted to suss out life in the wider blog community. Some very good guys (and gals) and some not so much.
Nice to come back and chat to the inestimable AAers. 🙂
Morning all.
My mornings are always positive life is too short to spend time in a cloud of negativity so it has no place in my life – period.
I tried several times to post this comment yesterday but Word Press kept telling me it was a duplicate – so I’ll try once more.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
I am not a judge or a member of a jury and my opinions have been formed over the past seventy odd seasons. This does not make them any better or worse than another persons but it does make them more seasoned.
I’m obviously in the minority with this opinion but I don’t give two hoots about if we win this that or the other.
I don’t support Arsenal for the sake of trophies or a top four position; supporting Arsenal is, as I wrote in a post a few years back, a part of my DNA (Dysfunction Named Arsenal). My support is non- negotiable and is much a part of my life as my family, I never miss a game and I’ve experienced every possible emotion conceivable.
I’ve seen more games than most and every manager in both the first division and premier league since 1947 and very few of these mangers have been close to being as good as Arsene Wenger.
Even though in the past twelve seasons we have not won the league we have still won three FA Cups (maybe four) and 95% of the other clubs in the land would be elated with that performance.
The thing that upsets me the most is the very vocal minority who I believe are driving out one of the best managers in the world.
Hi GN5,
Very well put sir, and if it was a duplicate it was well worth saying twice – like New York, New York. 🙂
Good day GN5, ZedRA, BR, Rasp, VP et al.
Some good points today and there is one thing that I have felt for quite a while but never really directly voiced. I kind of hoped that my position, and maybe many others like me, would have been picked up on. Maybe it has and I am just not getting the feeling it has.
Now whether it is intended this way or not, many comments tend to take a tone that indicates a line drawn in the sand, on one side of which is very white and on the other very black. On one side it is indicated are the die hard AW supporters who want to see him continue, and are the true loyal supporters. On the other are the Wenger haters who want to hound him out of the club.
What about the middle ground? Those that love Arsene and all he has done for us, feel he is and will remain our greatest ever manager and don’t want to see him abused or hounded out, but also feel his tenure has run its course and we need to move on.
They don’t want to be seen to be abusive or hold up banners, which they find disrespectful and unnecessary, but if you were to ask them their opinion over a pint in the pub they may quietly say that they feel it is time to replace the manager because they feel he can’t quite do it at the highest level anymore.
For me the two feelings can be present at the same time and are not mutually exclusive. Does it make them a bad supporter if they feel Arsene’s time has passed and the need for change is required? That seems to be the inference in many cases. Do they actually support Arsenal any less?
I do think that the banner wavers are a minority, and that on the opposite side of the coin there will be numbers in the ground that want Arsene to continue, but maybe they are a minority as well….who knows?
Maybe there are a silent majority of non banner wavers who, as I say, love the guy and will not disrespect him in this way but still feel the time for change has come.
To be fair the banner wavers and abusers make me feel guilty towards Arsene and I feel a need to offer my support to him even if I feel his era has ended, and for Arsenal to continue at the level he took us to we need fresh ideas and approaches.
If that person is not available however, then it may be folly to dismiss Arsene now. If they are available then should we just let him make the decision because he was once great.
If Arsene stays then he will likely have to rebuild a squad again. Without sounding disrespectful I think Arsene has co-ked up the last 4 years of team development. A variety of factors from recruitment policy, to tactics and systems, and to who plays where, have undermined the development of this team into a top one.
I think Ozil and Sanchez will go because they can go to top teams that are more ready to win things. 3-4 years ago it looked like we were heading that way, and they came to us with that ambition in mind, but something(s) went wrong in how Arsene progressed us. This doesn’t mean I hate AW and don’t recognise him as our greatest manager but I feel the last 4 years have been an indication that he can’t do what he has done in the past.
For me there is no room for sentimentality because the modern football world is perhaps not so kind to a club that starts to lose its elite status and will make it far harder to come back up. The past is the past, to be celebrated in all its gloriousness, and now is now.
I think it will take a bit more than just changes in playing personnel to make us better (and cover the likely loss of 2 top players), and all those other factors will need to be addressed. I think it will take a wholesale change in AW’s outlook to make it work. I am not sure he has it in him to make this happen but you never know.
Hi Zed, it’s always great when you re-appear on AA, it’s a real shame that AA has lost so many great bloggers over the past few years; I wonder – is it down to results or attitudes or just pure apathy?
It’s never as sexy when you’re not the champion but…………………….
Hi GN5, although there is a minority of visible banner wavers who let us all down, I can assure you that the majority (of fans who respect AW and his achievements) think that sadly it is time for a change.
Although you are very positive about AW, you are negative about the future of the club should he leave … so not universally positive … no one can be
Nicely put, GB, and good afternoon to you. 🙂
Drawing a line in the sand throughout Blogdom is quite a nice way to express the differing viewpoints, and it is true that an inapt comment, whether it be in a negative or a positive camp, is likely to cause verbal grief for the innocent blogger.
If you read my comment at 10:35 – not that I am saying you should – you will find I said much the same as your comment @ 2:05, perhaps without the embellishments – so you are not alone.
Rasp said earlier that AA was famous for spurning censorship and ‘allowing’ dissenting comments, provided they were not personally abusive or unnecessarily used foul language, so that arguments could be put forward for discussion, and agreed to or not.
I see no sign that has changed much, but maybe as a middle grounder myself I am being a little naîve.
Sadly, as I previously mentioned, the issue of whether AW should go or stay has been conducted in a toxic way on many blogs — outside of that, as you said, it is possible to discuss things normally over a beer without matters coming to blows, verbal or otherwise.
Long may that continue to be the case on AA. 🙂
GN5, @2:05
You flatter me. 🙂
Many of the truly great bloggers have moved on, much to my regret, but work and family issues do change people’s priorities, and perhaps blogs are only used by those with part-time jobs, [like moi 🙂 ] or are retired, with the balance made up of those who are working but can only come on occasionally to comment — especially when the boss is around – and finally, as Rasp said earlier, Twitter has drawn more and more fans to comment there – and even Donald Trump, a renowned Gooner has recently set twitter alight.
Well, oK, I do not think Trump has any interest in ‘soccer’ – but he has taken a great liking to twitter – perhaps a good reason to stay away from it. 🙂
Rasp,
To be very honest I can’t remember saying anything negative about a future without Arsene; but I certainly may have said something to the effect that it will be a struggle to emulate his achievements.
Maybe you think that’s negative but to me it’s just an opinion; however I certainly don’t look forward to a change of management.
Zed, If you had called him a well known Goon then I would be it total agreement.
Rasp,
But I will be behind the next manager and wish him the best of good fortune as he may well be the last manager I get to see…………
Rasp,
On another note. It’s not possible to be sure that the majority of fans would like to see him go as I know of no study on the subject – so it’s purely a subjective comment based on individual’s opinion’s.
The last time I looked it up I saw various reports on world wide supporter ship but all of the reports had numbers in the tens of millions.
That’s good to know GN5. For every positive there is an equivalent negative (yin and yang). My hope is that whoever eventually takes over, he gets the support of the owner and Board to create his own team and everyone (fans especially) give him time to make his mark.
Sorry GN5, I didn’t get the last line of your comment on my phone. I wish you a long life and the time to enjoy many more managers
Rasp,
Despite my age my health is fantastic (less two very dodgy knees) so my comment was in consideration of average longevity and nothing else.
My prostate cancer has been in remission for over five years and I get a PSA blood test every three months – I keep my own records (more spread sheets) so that I can monitor the situation.
I urge all of you gents to get an annual blood test – early detection is the best thing as over 90% of men are vulnerable to prostate issues.
Oops I turned the blog into a medical journal.
knot ear etal, apols. depressed? yes. looking for a cheer? no. enjoying the pangs of supporting Arsenal? yes.
so, nice question, RC. 🙂 I voted cant decide. For me it does matter whether Wenger stays or leaves, but only in relation to what is going to happen afterwards. Unhappy to miss St Totts Day, but not so disappointed to miss out on the 4th place trophy. Many FACs have come and many more will, so not particularly bothered about that as well.
Worried about the future manager though. I dont want a string of managers. If whosoever comes let us choose the time and person appropriately with the idea that we are happy to appoint the new manager for a minimum of 5 years.
However, I doubt that will happen, so I am quite unhappy about the situation. Even more unhappy if there is any wind of dressing room trouble. That should not happen. We are a club where everyone treats everyone else, and most importantly the club, with respect.
Up the Arse.
Arnie, your last line leave a question up who’s?
ha ha ha, GN5, my own, for starters. 🙂
Having said that, I noted your advice and warning, not to mention your humour. I have not yet been offered a blood test on the health service. But the NHS is in shambles. Our beloved club seems like heaven in comparison. The moment I reach 50, I plan to start shouting.
Agree completely about blood tests. Get it done.
Well done Arnie – even if you have to pay yourself it’s well worth it.
yes indeed. 🙂
ZedRA, I thought you might have been saying what I said but I didn’t have my dictionary handy so couldn’t be sure 🙂
It seems you and I agree that we would rather see AW go than receive the abuse that he certainly doesn’t deserve. I am not sure about your stance on his current ability (and future ability) as 1st team coach and me thinks you may have sustained a couple of splinters in that fine Yankee doodle derriere on that one…..please do tell 🙂
To be fair redders although I have said I feel he can’t do it, if he does stay, I would love nothing better than him to pull it out of the bag and prove me and many others wrong. A lot of changes would be needed IMO for that to happen.
Maybe there is a post in what Arsene (if he stays) needs to do to have an EPL challenging side again…….or another one in how he reshapes and rebuilds a side minus Ozil and Sanchez……or maybe combine the 2.
12.51 through to 6.32
Thats what makes AA such a great site
Another great read before I head off to work.
Morning all.
I have enjoyed today’s contributions, as I have done since I started to come here on a more regular basis.
I wonder if the age of participants is an indication as to the toxicity of their comments.
Those of us who have been supporters for 50 years or more, I think, are less likely to join in with the vociferous clammer for Aw’s head, simply because we have seen many many years of such dross, that the last 20 years have been a pleasant oasis in the desert.
I do not think that Aw is so selfish to believe that we cannot do without him. I feel that he loves the club so much that he does not wish to walk away, but would rather stay on until there has been an orderly transition to a manager that can continue the good work.
That is why I think that he will stay for one more year, during which time the new regime will be introduced and eased in.
I am not too concerned at the loss of Sanchez and Ozil. It was good to have the, but i reckon that their time was coming to an end anyway.
The team cannot develop whilst they are here, because they are too much of a focal point.
It is ironic that we have now scored more goals than last season and have a third of the season still to go.
Good Morning you fine mixture of old wrinklies and young toxics 🙂
Morning All,
Can I be an old toxic?
My Dear Erik
You are so beyond having the option about being toxic. Your body is the envy of many a top pharmaceutical laboratory
Tell you what, I’m pretty bloody toxic myself this morning.
Returned to my hotel last night. The one with the executive room overlooking the river, to find I’d been given the heeve-ho. I’d only booked three nights instead of four and they were full.
The nice receptionist kindly found me the nearest room.
I’m now overlooking platform two of Price Albert stop on the Docklands Light Railway. If that isn’t brilliant enough, it’s also directly under the final approach to London City Airport.
Peaceful is not a word that springs to mind.
Ahhh, young toxics. Superb pic.
I reckon the average age of the North Bank has risen by 20 years.
The view from my window 🙂
Where is 7:40?
Battersea?
Great pics chas.
7.40
Two big dippers alongside each other.
Scared the life out of me as a kid. They were falling apart.
Caption for 7.42
“The Royal Docks, East Ham, from the east, 1934.”
😀 😀
I guess the funfair must be in the Midlands. Hated roller coasters , still do.
If I want to be scared I can tell Mrs R that her bum looks big.
Last one.
Who is drinking from the Uefa Cup trophy?
BR
I’m London born and bred.
Haha, Mrs BR’s bum. 🙂
That’s tough especially as I guess this is the Fairs Cup.
Bob Mcnab? Hair is a bit light for Sammels
Sorry, it’s even harder. Not the Fairs Cup and not Arsenal.
Good Morning Pimples. 🙂
Could it be Leicester? Frank played CB there and they were in the Inter Cities Fairs Cup?
Wonderful Google — still probably wrong. 🙂
Nope. I will think on’t
Morning GoonerB getting up by now. 😉
I did not specifically mention AW and his current abilities as a coach, or his future capabilities on AA. Or at least I do not think so.
What I have said in print re AW, is that he is the best manager Arsenal have ever had, sorry Herb, and is arguably the best Premier League manager in modern times – [yes, there are those who would argue against that and quote Fergie, Moany etc] – but AW, like all of us, has to go thru phases in life – Tyro, Novice, Professional, Master, Veteran, Retiree, Deceased.
In my opinion Arsene has arrived at the Veteran stage — it’s age you know, e.g. Mickydelicious 🙂
Veterans can bring an awful lot to their work, but they are inevitably in the descent part of cycle — and an honourable retirement for someone who reached ‘Master’ level is not a slur.
So in some businesses there is a small segment that can be reserved to accommodate sentimentality, but in the hard nosed world of major corporate businesses, and Arsenal is in the entertainment business, there is very little room for it — so, dignity and respect points inexorably to Retirement.
I’m proud to have supported Arsenal while AW managed the team and brought us Doubles and FA Cups, without being bolstered by zillions of dollars from oligarchs or petroleum-states.
Zed, how would you classify old man Murdoch…
Is it Mick Mills 1981 chas? It was the year I bought my first pair of white shoes.
Good to see your Redders. What is this other site you frequent?
Hi VP,
If you are referring to Rupert Murdoch, I think he is clearly a tough, clever, ex-Aussie now American entrepreneur, and if being an extraordinarily successful businessman – he is all that.
But the saying goes that you have to judge a man through his friends, and associates, and the guy owns 21st Century Fox, and that has editorial control over Fox News, and that is one of the worst, politically biased, nauseating channels I have ever had the misfortune to see.
The idea that he (through 21st Century Fox) could take over Sky TV appals me.
That is all his public profile image that gets me — in private he may be a very nice man with an extremely large appendage to go with his extremely large fortune – but I don’t know about that. 🙂
Terry, darling, 🙂
I do not frequent any specific blogsite, as I tend to hop from one to another, but wearing different soubriquets, I visit Untold Arsenal, 7 a.m., Positively Arsenal, Highbury House and A Cultured Left Foot.
There are some really nice peoples on each of them, and some who do not ring my bell.
I have been reading and chuckling at your madcap stories, and hope to continue to do so. [By the way, do you know what has happened to that cheeky rascal GLIC?] 😀
Bloody hell Redders, you mention Cornwall and I just 10 minutes ago sent him an email asking how he is. I suspect he is currently institutionalised and will reply to me as King Philip of Macedon? Will let you know.
Bang on, Terence.
Nice one chas. The give away was Mills hairy stomach.
Gentlemen, I’m in my 80th year and believe me when I say that the only major change in my overall ability is physical and even then it’s only my knees that are an issue. I still get assignments in my consulting business and I act as a second in command of my son’s business plus I maintain all of our business records.
It’s wrong to draw the conclusion that age alone affects all people in the same manner. AW looks as fit as a fiddle, has a fine mental dexterity and shows no signs of slowing down.
Very true GN5.
Redders, I have just spoken to Cornwall and apparently Raddy banned him over some Skiing bloke called Wank? Raddy, if Cornwall doesn’t mention that geezer again, can he come back on?
His jokes were always very colourful Terry. 🙂 🙂
haha, yes GN5. Very funny geezer.
I’m trying to imagine him skiing in Cornwall and doing what that bloke was called?
ZedRA, great to see you back on more, and it seems we concur.
While I would say GN5’s statement about Arsene’s mental and physical health is great, it has no real bearing on current managerial abilities. Lots of managers are fit mentally and physically but are not necessarily up to managing a top team and making them title contenders.
I say that GN5 not to pick any fight but I do have one thing in my mind that may be in Arsene’s favour. It regards the question that has often been asked has to whether Arsene has really changed that much.
If the answer is no then for me it means that he doesn’t have that top level ability anymore. If the answer is yes then it suggests that accepting what was not working and changing again to practices that do could still provide what is required.
I always felt Arsene changed over the latter years to pursue some Utopian style of football that looked good on paper but didn’t work. For me there is still hope, with a massive acceptance from Arsene that his ways were not working and the need to revisit some of his past more basic principles was required, he may still redevelop a new side and become the king again.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Cornwall back on again. He was a great doomer and us doomers need all the help we can get, what with unerringly positive expats in Canada and mental Greek accounts hanging around 🙂
sorry accountants not accounts
You will be giving him ideas GN5 haha. Hes originally from Bethnal Green and I’m from Stepney. Back in the day, you needed a sense of humour coming from those parts.
haha, mental Greek Accounts is about right GB
Terry back in the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s – N5 & N7 where I was born and lived were not a bed of roses either. Living through WW11 and the aftermath required people to make their own fun – so I get it my friend.
On another note AW has won nine trophy’s in the last twenty years whereas we won five in my first 30 years. So I have good reasons for lauding him and not looking forward to the day he retires.
Life today is a breeze in comparison to what Londoners had to endure back then.
A vehicle has been used to drive into people on Westminster bridge, a police officer has been stabbed by a man who has been shot apparently.
Parliament has been sealed off
I’m watching it live on CNN, they are speaking with eye witnesses but their accounts of events differ, just awful.
One female fatality so far from the bridge incident, others reported as having catastrophic injuries …
fecking murderous bastards found a new method now – ploughing into crowded places.
Morning All,
Hard to think about football today.
raddy – I think football, match days, crowds, danger
Amazing it hasn’t happened yet (as far as I know)
Raddy – I think the security services are doing an amazing job stopping 99.9% of the attacks. But a lone nutcase is probably impossible to trace
Raddy, Istanbul, Dec 2016
Stade de France – Nov 2015.
There is no end to this type of radical fanaticism, there will always be lone wolf attacks. The more technology improves and knowledge becomes more readily available the easier it will be for them to reek havoc on innocent people.
Driver-less cars will be a real concern – they could easily be converted into weapons. It’s sad to say but it’s a very unfortunate fact.
I feel for those who are left behind to grieve and those that lost their lives, wherever it occurs.
The moral of the story – don’t listen to Mike Parry. 🙂
Has he gone yet? 🙂
Alright then, what’s on telly?
Hey Chas
My daughter tells me there’s another Designated Survivor on tonight. Are you really that disciplined that you can wait another week or two to binge?
I can’t
is Designated survivor really good? The Good Wife is shit
Yes Eddie
Basic story. Good gripping entertainment. Perfect when your knackered and can’t think anymore.
I’m on season 7 episode 8 of the Good Wife, so yes I can wait. Still got another 14 episodes to watch.
6 seasons times 22 = 132
Plus 7 so far from the last season
= 139 episodes of shit. 😆
season 7, episode 8!!!
Blimey
I’ve been invited to Dortmund v Monaco. Should I go as a pretendie business trip?
Aren’t you banned from entering Monaco?
ha ha
It’s in Ze Fatherland
micky – only if you are still interested in football. I wouldn’t bother
chas – do you like The Good Wife? Is it just me thinking it’s shit
Did you see The Night Of? only 8 episodes and excellent
Mmmm, I’m actually quite enjoying watching other CL games, although it’s unusual for me to watch anyone other than Arsenal.
My biggest reservation concerns my german chums drinking habits. Last known session began at 7pm. Last recorded beer ordered, 5am the following morning!
see, another reason not to go 🙂
ok, I am downloading the survivor thing
what’s the survivor thingy?
Anyone got an idea for a post tomorrow?
There used to be a history page on Arsenal.com but I can’t find it. I thought we could cheer ourselves up with a history lesson 😉
Hi Peaches
Decision made. Frozen Planet. Now that is superb viewing.
See you at first light
the Survivor thingy is another American crime series. Didn’t start very well – too many beautiful women in beautiful outfits, living in bearutiful houses and wonderful sexy husbands. Only in America 🙂
that’s why I love Olivia Colman and Bob Hoskins
Eddie,
The Night Of is superb, as is Taboo, and True Detective. I never managed to watch The Night Manager so I think that could be next.
Does anybody watch Veep? Absolutely love that show but nobody seems to watch it!!!
I noticed a few Arsenal players chirping up in defence of Arsene whilst away on international duty. Interesting that none of them came out whilst they were with the club. Do you think that could be instruction from the manager or another reason?
FGG
Simples. They’ve learnt he’s staying could be the explanation.
This is where those roller coasters were located.
Let’s be honest, there is absolutely nothing positive to say about Arsenal, so regarding posts, we have to engineer an alternative reality.
Errr…
Micky
How about you tell us how you first became an Arsenal supporter in a post?
Easy. My Dad. 🙂
School run, then back
Fattie – Night Manager is good, not as good as The Night Of, but good. Thanks for recommending Taboo and True Detective. Going to download it tonight. I don’t really like political shows, I have to concentrate
True about nothing good coming out from N5 at the moment.
and finally 2 excellent films before the new season starts:
Tyrannosaur and Sightseers, British classics, unmissable.
Dog Altogether will ruin your day
Ha ha ha Eddie….”before the new season starts”
So you’re already on hold until August 🙂
Morning All,
6.45 Margate? Should have got Southend, piss poor showing from BR.
Eddie, once again we disagree. I though Night Manager was the best thing on TV since the first series of The Bridge.
Erik
The Night Manager has a searingly hot lady in it. This could be the root of Eddie’s discontent
no Raddy, it was too far fetched, a bit like James Bond movie. And all the women who were gagging to get to bed with him….nay, not that great at all. Good, but that’s all
unless you identify with the character??
Oh bloody hell Arsene. You said we would all know “very, very soon”. Your words, not mine Pal. So come on. We can’t plan future tactics bollocks or nuffink. Limbo is where we’re at.
My view is they can’t decide when is a good time to drop the bomb.
Hope for a home win against City then wallop, wait till the season is over and fans gone home, or put a one line ad in the Islington Gazette and be done with it
Sadly, Mickydelish, you are at the core of Arsene’s intransigence!
He said that he would have loved to announce his decision, made over a glass of vermouth with his mates, including moi, of course, but he would rather keep you worrying over tatickal doodads and fings!
And as his dad, Inspector Clouseau, said “Mickydelish’s bumbe is not as big as my bumbe, n’est-ce pas? So, pouffe to heem!”
To which Arsene said, “Does my bumbe look beeg in this?”
Unfortunately, I fell asleep after this riveting exchange zzzzzzzz.
Oh, and bonjour — ça va bien?
Morning all. You all obviously have far too much time on your hands watching all these shows. I barely have time to watch Jackanory.
Micky if Arsene is staying to rebuild it must surely be with an admission of having done things wrong with the team development these last few seasons, and that in recognising this there will be a change of direction in how things are approached. Just going through the same motions as the last few years would be folly to me. Do you think Arsene can do this Micky?
Morning ZedRA, have you been on the Vermouth? 🙂
Must dash will catch up later
I have watched Veep, FGG, and also loved it, especially the earlier series — and, if you like that, there is ‘Parks and Recreation’ which has now finished it final series, but it is still being shown on W – I think.
Truly brilliant — and Chris Pratt before he went all ‘serious’ in Guardians of the Galaxy is tremendous as an intellectually challenged fantasist! 🙂
Actually the whole cast are terrific.
That’s nice GoonerB-going — dash off when I need a shoulder to whinge on!!
By the way – one of the camels told me that when you watch Jaconarry, or whatever, – he stumbles on some words – that you move your mouth as the characters speak, just like you stick your tongue out when you are typing!
He lurves you — or that have been – leaves you – who can tell with a mumbling camel! 😀
oh no, Taboo is a historical story, no, politics, history and sci-fi are not for me. I am still looking
Morning, Eddie,
The Night Manager was pretty good, although with a slightly dodgy story – but all the men enjoyed the long-legged sex bomb who that naught manager liked to whoop standing against walls.
Imagine if you and Chas were the characters in the show — you would probably have thumped him for being cheeky! 😀
There is a hastily written New Post
I know it is uncool but I prefer reading to television. Just finished American Gods by Neil Gaiman …. brilliant entertainment.
The book of Night Manager was even better than the TV series
‘Taboo’ is both historical and political, Eddie.
The East India Company were the ‘unofficial’ British armed forces who kept the commercial trades open for the UK.
They became so powerful they were more influential than Parliament in some MPs’ eyes, and in the story ran foul of His Majesty.
[Anyway – it is stuffed with kinky sex – that’s why the men all liked it! 🙂
thanks Zed, I am deleting the download as we speak 🙂
Raddy – you are very uncool 🙂 Reading, I say…
Ha ha Zed
Oui, things go well, as they say in French 🙂
No GB, I don’t.
There’s me slowly replying to chronological comments and then I get to Erik’s New Post comment