02 May 2016 00:38:19
This year has been a failure which I admit, but is changing the manager the solution, I don't think so. All he has is a year left on his contract which he deserves to finish. The protests have cranked up the pressure on Wenger which I feel in a way is a good thing, but it is all going a bit overboard.
We've bought a world class player every year for the last 3 years, Ozil, Sanchez, and Cech, forget about the money spent. There is a good team being built by adding players every year from the transfers market as well as one or two youngster being introduced. Arsene Wenger prefers to add world class players to the squad not mediocre ones or buying just by succumbing to fans pressure, and what is wrong in that. We can afford to not sell players after many years, but that doesn't necessarily mean we can buy players without any plan. People go on about many players being available which he missed out on. How do you know that for sure? Have you ever been a manager yourself? can't people see that other clubs with infinite money also compete for the same players? For eg, Everyone wanted Hummels as a CB. Do you think there is a manager out there who couldve convinced a German player not to go to Bayern? . So people just criticize him for missing out on players instead of having any insight on what actually might've transpired.
Do people honestly think there are managers out there who have the capacity to pull players and compete with City, Chelsea, PSG, Real Madrid, Barca, Bayern and PSG without spending the money that they spend in the transfer market? I can't think of anyone except maybe Ancheloti coming close, which is a big maybe, and forget about Jose ever managing us.
Every one of the clubs I mentioned have an advantage over us in the transfer market. So just because we've come out of the financial constraint do you think everything changes overnight? We are a London-based club which serves as an advantage for us, but so are Chelsea, and they have more money, and so do United and City. We can't compete with Barcelona and Real for the Spanish players in the same way we can't compete with Bayern for the German players. Likewise the French leagues are the most scouted ones buy clubs all over the world, PSG have an advantage over us there as well now, but we still manage to nick some good youngsters from there. Is there a manager who can overcome all of these disadvantages and still bring champions league football to us every year?
We have an excellent youth system, we add players every year which would take millions for us to buy in the market. Where is Chelsea, Manchester United and City's Bellerin, Coqulian, or Iwobi? Is there a manager who can follow the same youth policy that we have by giving youngsters a chance and still compete with the top teams?
Lastly coming to the tactics, I agree we are naive at times when it comes to this, but the players also need to take equal responsibility in this matter. There are many ways to play football and become successful, but as a big club we cannot put 10 players behind the ball and park the bus. Do you think Leicester can emulate what they've done this season next year as well by spending 90 minutes chasing the ball on a Wednesday night at Bayern and then be able to do the same thing again against a Premier league club? I admit we lack cutting edge when it comes finishing which I believe we've been looking to address that for the last 2 years, and every club in the world needs a striker now. We did make a bid to buy best out there in Suarez which we failed to get.
Despite all of these and a lot of other pressures as well we've won two FA cups, we are on the verge of building a good 80 plus points team, we've had our own stadium built as well. The only thing missing is a league win which he deserves to have a go at for another year. It takes a lot of years to build a club to be able to compete with the top teams of the world, and all it takes is for some impatience for all of it to crumble. If all of these doesn't make him deserve another year I don't know what does.
02 May 2016 05:42:02
Excellent piece. If we avoid defeat at City, then 3rd place or even an outside possibility of 2nd are where we will finish. With a summer clearout, some quality signings and we will be in a position to challenge for the PL next season. I find the disloyalty to Wenger, Kronke and the club, by certain fans absolutely astonishing. Many appear to be driven by unrealistic expectations or envy aimed towards Kromk's wealth and Wenger's earnings at the club. Unlike other Owners Kronke hasn't used Arsenal as a cash cow and Wenger has deserved every penny he has earned at the club.
02 May 2016 07:49:51
I'm irritated by reading about my "disloyalty" to the club just because I want a change of management. A good post by Wesley for sure, but the key line for for me is "we are on the verge of building. "
We've been "on the verge" for years!
I have loved Wenger, think the man's a legend, revere him.
But he won't address the issues that there is consensus need addressing, his press ramblings demonstrate that he is out of touch (his comment a week or so ago that (essentially) if fan's don't like it they don't have to buy their season tickets, amply illustrate how far removed he has become) , and the bottom line is, we keep on missing or blowing our chances of WINNING TROPHIES!
Loyalty is a great trait and one all real fans should have, but blind loyalty is nothing short of foolish.
02 May 2016 08:22:33
Great post's and a fantastic reply by Max.
For me, Wenger's biggest problem is he has lost his ruthlessness.
Certain players, you know who they are, should have been sold last year.
They bring nothing to the team, take up a valuable squad space, stop younger players coming through and cost millions in wages.
Wenger should be a lot more like Mourinho (not this season) and get rid of players once surplus to requirement.
I'm all for sentiment, but sentiment doesn't put trophies on the table.
02 May 2016 09:14:15
All good posts
RG69, you talk about a Summer clearout, that is something Wenger doesn't agree with, his words " 4 players is the maximum to can change otherwise its too much disruption to the squad", me personally, I can't see wholesale changes why would he. Wenger will be thinking that DW is like a new signing, as is Jack as is Santi, Wenger will think he hasn't seen the best of Elneny so in his mind he will feel its a stong squad with unity, so don't expect many changes to the first 14 or 15 players. Fringe players will move on and that's your lot IMO of course. I should also add weren't we supposed to challenge this year?
02 May 2016 09:26:07
Bambam,
I can't see Wenger buying more than two players.
A Centre half and a striker.
(Maybe a midfielder too, hopefully Granit Xhaka)
02 May 2016 10:26:43
If Wenger gets a striker what then for DW and OG, he won't put 2 strikers on the bench, I think you are a tad optimistic mate, a CB for sure . not sure where else he feels he needs to strengthen.
02 May 2016 10:36:23
A great post Wesley but I am the only one allowed to write war and peace! 😉
As always there are multiple opinions on where we're good and where we're bad or how hopeless Wenger is or how good he is. The 1000's that sang his name against the 100 or so that held up a banner show he still has the love and respect of the vast majority.
How many would have loved Mangala, Bony, Otamendi, Schneiderlin, Sterling, Costa, Mata, Matic or Benteke here or even wanted that thug Fellaini here, 100's of millions of pounds worth of currently useless so called talent.
How many want Ronald Koeman, whilst all the top teams have failed he of all the managers in the premiership should be guiding Southampton to the title or at a minimum top four. In essence has he not failed on a grand scale, tactically hopeless against Leicester a few weeks ago.
So if Madrid don't get their target thus Benzema doesn't leave, Aubeyamang doesn't want to leave Dortmund, Fekir signs a new contract and Carvalho gets injured shall we just gamble on anyone.
No one says Wenger is perfect and there is nothing wrong with change but you cannot exonerate the players for their part in this, do you honestly believe Wenger gave them two complete sets of instructions for the games against United. The Barcelona game for 70 minutes we matched them but for a goal scorer followed by an individual error.
Quality teams punish you if you don't take your chances. We talked about Giroud needing goals from all our other attacking players to compliment the fact he won't get 20-25 a season, they have provided nothing. Other big games have for me shown that Wenger is not tactically clueless. He has changed.
We know certain players shouldn't be here but not the full circumstances as to why they are. Would any of them have gotten near the pitch had Benzema, Fekir and Carvalho arrived as they don't now we have a fully fit squad.
A lot of fans fit things to enhance their reasons for Wenger leaving, a great example was Elneny, "Wenger told me not to shoot", really, when in fact it was Wenger told me to be more intelligent when I shoot, said in praise, not annoyance, does anyone really think Sanchez wouldn't shoot because Wenger told him not too. No way ever. Ask yourself why Ramsey doesn't shoot, are the boo boys on his back again. Who ever gets confidence from that.
The crowd at the Emirates has a huge part to play, stay behind and demonstrate but not in a game, give the team and the players our support. It's the teams 90 minutes, our team. We want them to win, why would we not want to inspire them to do that whatever we think of Wenger.
And please, this fourth place thing, let it go, I don't know and don't believe that there is a player, a fan or for that matter the manager who sets out with anything other than a want to win everything going. Give it up its a pointless comment.
It's been a hugely frustrating season but a season is 38 games, not the first 6, the last 6 or any clump of games in the middle, where you finish is where you deserve to finish.
I believe Wenger will buy a striker and a quality midfielder, likes Dags says Granit Xhaka would be ideal. If he buys another defender to replace Mertesacker then that too is ideal and not out of the question.
Like this season I start with the belief we can win everything, exactly like I will next season. I don't even think of a 4th place trophy, whatever that is. 😉.
02 May 2016 10:36:34
Why will we be any closer to 80+ points next season?
If Raneiri or Billic had been motivating and organising our team would we have got 80 + points this season?
We have for years been half season wonders alternating between good start poor finish or poor start strong finish, why will Arsene suddenly be more capable of getting the best out his players over 38 games next season than he has been forthe past 10 seasons?
Unless Arsene accepts help and brings in someone with fresh ideas to add to his own I just can't see how or why things will any different next season.
I would be as excited by Arsene bringing in a new number 2 from outside the club and being willing to accept his help as I would signing a £50 million striker.
02 May 2016 10:39:40
Banbury, I note your points. However, the following may/ will occur;
Outs: Debuchy, Jenkinson (when fit) , Arteta, Flamini, Rosicky, Sanogo and Szczesny, plus other loan deals.
That leaves us with a squad of approx 23, including players that are below 21 years of age and don't count in the permitted 25 squad.
There are other possible exits.
I don't believe Wenger will sign any more than 2 or 3 first team players; a defender that can play at RB and CB. A midfield player and a striker.
Don't forget that we have played most of this season without a full sqaud due to injury and now all the players are fit, some top players can't even make it to the bench. I would just like to see the 2 or 3 signings, to be at the top level, to improve the quality of the squad.
02 May 2016 11:01:48
Hi RG
They are fringe players as I have mentioned mate, you make vaild poicts ( as always ) but those thinking we will spend 60 + million are dreaming and have a few worldies coming in will have a long wait.
The trouble is we never have a full squad due to injuries through a season. I predict we will have a repeat the same.
02 May 2016 11:05:04
The 4th place trophy Red? Do you really not remember who invented it and why? :-)
02 May 2016 11:50:42
62 you need to let it go mate, with our resources against that of others it WAS a suitable point to reach, that is clearly no longer the case.
Let's not stay stuck in the past, I never think of it, for one, its Uniteds new goal. 😉.
02 May 2016 12:02:38
62,
Wenger actually said, "The first trophy is to finish in the top four. "
What was Ranieri's goal, his first goal, was it to get to 40 points, did it change to finishing mid table, did it change to Europa league, did it change to Champions league, has it changed to champions.
A club of our size should be in the champions league, we cannot fail to do that, if money and losing your best players mean you can't achieve 3rd, 2nd or 1st that's the way it was.
So it's not a trophy mate, it's simply a goal, the press use it as something different, opposing fans do the same and before you know it our own fans are sucked into believing that is all we ever aim for. It's rubbish mate.
Did you ever play a sport intending to come 2nd?
02 May 2016 12:24:28
My opinion is we won't spend big this summer and get what we need, because we haven't before and I see no reason why it should be any different. I see nothing next season with this club except a continuation of the same and maybe a bigger struggle for fourth. This season will not repeat itself as far as the big clubs non existent challenge is concerned. Things as someone said will not change overnight. The disharmony is there and will be there next season and that's a fact.
02 May 2016 12:29:54
Red to quote Arsene " top 4 is a trophy' his words not mine mate :-)
02 May 2016 15:03:02
Where are uniteds Bellerin, iwobi and coq?
Is this for for real? Fosu-mensa, Rashford, CBJ, lingard etc are a few that have been given chances and done well this season, there have been others too.
Next season add tuzinabe, pereira and maybe grabben to that list.
Yes your right arsenal are the only team that gives loads of youth ago and 'competes' every year.
Posts like these I'm guessing that infuriates the wenger out brigade. U give him all the credit for maybe 1 player u have bought that is young and comes good while totally exonerating of the short comings he has.
I honestly hope u keep him, give him another contract for 3 years.
I'm afraid if u want to kick on monsour wenger may have to go or it will be wash and repeat next season.
02 May 2016 15:32:29
It's happened too many times to be ignored. Some have felt that way for a good few years now! I can no longer defend it! As for you lot you have been shocking and are still not too far behind . I do feel though that you have found a lot out about your youth ranks and have rightly pointed out some potentials, so maybe not a completely hopeless season for you.
02 May 2016 15:58:48
Since Fergie left united have failed to make the top 4 in 2 out of 3 attempts but I've a feeling they will be back challenging for the title long before we are again and CTR will be asking us how our 4th place trophy campaign is going on a regular basis I'm sure :- (
02 May 2016 16:37:48
62,
You have in a way proved a point, I'm quoting Wenger, you're quoting Wenger so which one is true.
There simply is no trophy for fourth place, have you ever seen it. No. Teams have goals and that was the first tick in the box. As simple as. It's what people make of it that differs from the fact.
02 May 2016 16:41:38
Ctr yes you are right, how so you feel about your bunch, looked awful a few months ago but you have some special kids tha van gaal has handled well, but I don't think he is taking you back. But maureen could kill that dead.
02 May 2016 16:52:54
young kids will always give u up and down performances steve, its to be expected.
I agree mate i want LVG gone (sooner the better) but Mou can have the first team and get it right for a few years while i hope behind the scenes we put in some good youth facilities and help the young lads fulfill there potential, there may be a few loans and a few first team appearances.
02 May 2016 18:15:03
Red mate you and me both know in reality there is no 4th place trophy but the big question is does Arsene :-)