12 Apr 2016 03:15:30
Thoughts gunners. Last night henry winter was special guest at ast meeting. He says wenger will sign another 3 year contract, he doesn't think he is an elite manager anymore, he says we will try and sign kante he's wengers no1 target, wenger post highbury had 30 mil a year to spend every year, that was his budget.
12 Apr 2016 03:52:32
If henry is right and he is a respected journo not a hack, then i'm in agreeance with the middle two statements.
12 Apr 2016 06:03:57
Wenger may well sign another deal and he is still a quality manager. Yes, we can criticise him, but replacing him with a manager that will be superior, is extremely difficult. The current flavour of the month is Pochettino, who has won absolutely nothing as a manager and looks likely to finish a creditable second in the PL this season. Next season will be far harder, with the added burden of playing at least 6 CL matches and the probably resurgence of Chlesea, Man City, Man U and Liverpool, as new managers at the first two clubs and a likely new manager at Man U and Klopp's influence increases. Don't forget the Toot were knocked out in the early rounds of the domestic cups and were able to rest players in the EL.
When comparing Wenger to Pochettino this season: Arsenal defeated the Toot at WHL in the League Cup. Arsenal went further in the FA Cup and although both clubs reached the last 16 in Europe, you can't compare the second rate EL to the CL. As for the PL, assuming Arsenal win their game in hand, the gap will be closed to only 3 points, which gives Arsenal a chance of overtaking the Toot, Even if the Toot finish above Arsenal, it will be by a small margin. Next season the Toot will suffer from having more players playing regularly for their international teams, particularly in a season when there is a major European tournament. So all in all, whilst the top managers are not available and young pretenders are not proven, another 3 years of Wenger would suit me.
12 Apr 2016 06:40:16
Great and honest post
I would suit me too. Maybe bring in a young manager to be guided by our greatest ever manager.
Wenger if he left would be wanted by an awful lot of top club.
12 Apr 2016 08:32:07
Let's see what happens next season before we get to excited about Arsenes new contract either way, the premier league will at its most competitive for years next season in my opinion with city Chelsea Liverpool much improved on this season and Spurs are no flash in the pan under Poch and will be even stronger than this season for sure, Leicester won't just go back to being relegation fighters willingly and West Ham in their new stadium under Billic will be looking to improved as never before plus after what Leicester have done this season players fans managers at clubs like Bournemouth Swansea, Stoke Watford loaded with more spending money than ever before will dream the dream of what might be achievable for them rather than just accept things going back to the days of the pre Leicester city mould breakers with every one knowing their place and accepting top 4 as a 4 or 5 club race.
Us? Will Arsene join in the spending bonanza that will come with the new TV money? Or will he refuse to get involved in the madness and instead feel Jack is due a good season?
None of us know yet but next season will be our toughest yet to secure top 4 let alone try and go forward to bigger things.
Will Arsene finally give up on Theo's and Mertesackers and accept we need to a top striker and be happy compete for top players in a more competive summer window than ever before or will he feel we have settled side and that in itself will see us give us the advantage over our rivals?
None of us know but it's far from unimaginable for Arsene to be talking up the potential of our current squad come August.
Everyone talks about Arsenes past achievements but his recent past especially in transfers and identifying and fixing our weaknesses doesn't exactly fill me or some others with excitement and if he continues on that road this summer I'm not sure there will be any new contact discussions taking place for people to debate.
12 Apr 2016 11:06:51
The Toot will not win the league. But is Poch a good manager? Absolutely. Personally I have always thought he is a good young manager. This season he has managed to turn the Toot into a good team. No one can argue that there has been obvious progress in just one season. Can we say the same for Arsene? Have we really progressed on the pitch in the last three seasons? For me it's a big no. Yes we want to and might finish above the Spuds. But in terms of progress, the Spuds have grown in leaps and bounds while we have been more or less the same.
Wenger must go in my opinion. Sooner rather than later. He has been fantastic, but age is catching up with him and tactics are evolving quickly. He can not keep up with the pace especially next season with Guardiola and Conte coming in.
12 Apr 2016 14:44:20
Good posts, but in my view if we have a manager going into his seventies with no league challenge for 10 plus years and a huge proportion of supporters against the idea, when he's had money to spend and refused to, bats off critisism from anyone ( at least martinez today says I must listen to critisism because there is a reason they critisise and I must put it right) I think while these things are floating around his job his impossible, down to him unless he wins the league. The problem is most people don't think he is now capable and don't trust him no more. Like people say keep doing the same things and you get the same results. he's not going to change his stubborn ways at going 70.
12 Apr 2016 15:06:12
Rue that post for me is absolutely spot on. Couldn't have worded it better.
12 Apr 2016 19:05:15
Poch is a good manager and Spurs are a hard team to beat this year.
12 Apr 2016 20:38:39
Welsh nobody should ever be guided by wenger, i'm sorry that is 100% not what is needed. The next manager does not need telling, right this is how I used to do this and that and don't listen to him etc. No the next manager should be someone up with the modern game and not guided by the past. Definately not.
13 Apr 2016 06:39:38
Before you write off Wenger, just have a look at his record at the club and compare it to any manager that might be available to replace him, with the exception of Mourinho, who many Arsenal fans appear not to want, despite his awesome trophy haul.
I fail to understand the comments in respect of his age, as he not 70, he is 66 and he appears mentally and physically in extremely good shape. Yes, like the vast majority of fans, I get frustrated by him at times. His insistence on having so many of the same type of small technical players. Keeping players at the club that are past their best or simply not good enough. Not buying a tall dominant centre back and a powerful defensive midfield player, as well as a world class striker, despite having millions in the bank. On the other hand we have had 20 years of success at the club: New traing facillities, a new stadium, attractive football, 3 titles, 6 FA Cups, 6 Community shields, finals and challenges for trophies every season. We have seen world class players at the club, etc.
It isn't easy to win trophies. The CL is particularly demanding and tends to be won by the big boys of European football. The frustration this season is that a smaller club such as Leicester or the Toot, will win the PL in a season when we should have done it.
Next season will be a defining one in Wenger's reign at the club. He needs to buy 3 world class players this summer and we all know he won't, there will be one at best.
However, the alternative to Wenger has a difficult task to follow, they have to win the PL or the CL, both very difficult tasks, whilst the supporters will not be nearly as patient with a new manager as they have been, in general, with Wenger. Huge teams such as Man U and Liverpool have found a top manger difficult to come by. For me, despite reservations, I'm up for another few seasons of Wenger or instal Mourinho next season.
13 Apr 2016 21:44:20
Rg 69 without having to repeat myself I think he is holding this club back and I don't rate him as a coach and tactician as much as I do quite a few more. There are managers out there that could do equally as well if not better who are not deemed fashionable. I have always said he is good manager but an awful coach and tactician. he's easily replaceable in my opinion. he's past it as far as elite managers are concerned. And as far as big clubs wanting him, he has never been on barca, reals or bayerns shortlist of managers, whatever people say on here and if he was their manager the fans would be rioting in spain for his lack of success after one season not twelve. He has never left arsenal because he ain't stupid, infact he's quite bright in that respect.