09 Jul 2016 19:29:28
I see the season hasn't started yet and Wenger is already being whipped. I cannot honestly think of what this man has done to deserve so much animosity
Wenger has failed badly in the last 3 to 4 seasons to mount a serious challenge and bolster the squad in an adequate manner. No one has ever tried to dispute that and last season was a monumental failure. But to dismiss what this man has done for this club is disrespective to his legacy.
Malaga; by all indications Arsenal are a really big Club and me supporting all the way from South Africa is testament to that. The Club is huge here despite Wenger doing nothing for 12 years. My question is which big club lost all the class players we lost, built a new stadium and managed to remain in the CL every season?
This is no excuse for the failures of the past few seasons, we all see that. But remember Wenger Could also have jumped ship. He has stated many times that he had offers from the biggest clubs in the land yet stayed with us. He should have done more with the financial constraints a thing of the past, but to slag him off for the barren years is very harsh and frankly unfair.
Yeah its easy to belittle the man in retrospect . The question from my perspective is not whether he would have been sacked at another "big" club, But rather which other world class manager would have stayed under the same conditions .
09 Jul 2016 19:46:26
Just out of interest who made offers to Wenger?
Genuine question.
09 Jul 2016 20:32:52
I read the other day that wenger has never been offered a job by either man u, man city, chelsea, real, bayern, Barcelona or juventus, ever, so who are these big clubs, better than he is at.
{Ed001's Note - he has been offered the Man City job on more than one occasion.}
09 Jul 2016 20:39:53
Not what i read but i will take your word for it ed.
{Ed001's Note - I was told that by one of the ownership group at City, so I would think it true, as he has no reason to lie. It was in the early days of the City project. Pep was always the main long term target.}
09 Jul 2016 21:24:39
Thanks for the info ed, do you know if he was offered the job or just sounded out, not that it matters too much, just interested.
09 Jul 2016 22:11:57
If it was in the early days of the City job it was a no brainier he stayed at Arsenal
So
Just who are these clubs that lined up to grab Wenger?
09 Jul 2016 23:21:40
Madrid and PSG i believe.
09 Jul 2016 23:46:44
Athletico aren't big
PSG are in a league equivalent to the SPL
Hardly great choices.
10 Jul 2016 00:06:16
I should add I gather you meant Real, that's far too big a risk for Wenger, winning is a must there or it's good bye.
10 Jul 2016 00:27:55
I mean real madrid bg I know you have them down as not but I remember reading a lot about it over the years and former Real president Caledron has said they tried to get him, he also said wenger asked him "Are you going to Hollywood again, or to make a football team? â€,
And PSG have threatened success in the CL for a number of years now.
10 Jul 2016 00:46:01
As far as i understand and its not 80% no 100% certain but psg and monaco and the france job have enquired after him at varying times and he has rebuffed them. None of the elite clubs have ever tried to get him. England are calling though. Lol.
{Ed001's Note - sorry I don't know why your previous question was not held for me, but he was offered the job. He had given his word to the board and so turned down the chance to leave, rather than break his word. You have to admire him for that, City were offering him a blank chequebook to use.}
10 Jul 2016 09:07:27
Not really Ed, with City's track record with Managers he would never have gone there no matter what money
Wenger is in his comfort zone it's very difficult to get someone to take something with risk, and risk isn't something Wenger does.
10 Jul 2016 09:47:00
Im sure there have been big job offers but with them would have come very high expectations and who would swap Arsenal and top 4 being enough for Real where a champions league and la liga double probably wouldn't be enough to keep your job?
As for city well Pelgrini and Mancini both lost the job despite winning titles and cups.
On a personal level Arsene made the sensible choice staying at Arsenal.
10 Jul 2016 10:08:59
To be fair Banbury say whatever about him underachieving the last few years who am I to argue that. But saying he isn't a risk taker. Surely rejecting the chance to go Madrid or city and stay at Arsenal during such a big transition is a huge risk?
10 Jul 2016 10:13:19
BG, I don't think Wenger can win in your eyes here. Either it's a big club and too much risk or it's a medium sized club. Key is, they all had money to burn so success was a pretty good bet BUT he stood by OUR club. Don't we slag players off for jumping ship. Now we do the opposite to the manager.
We moan when we don't sign players before the window starts or Euris are over, we moan he doesn't find cheap gems, we moan when he signs cheap players, we moan that the expensive players were gifted to him, we moan that players join other clubs probably for personal/ money/ tax/ exchange rate/ first team opportunities or size of club. We really need to sit back as a bunch of supporters and look at ourselves.
We are never happy and moan on the radio / on line etc.
Not a dig at you but pointing out how we look.
No one is guaranteed success
We don't have an endless supply of money
We don't have a sugar daddy
We don't have the history of success like UTD or Madrid or Barcelona
We do have great values, history as a club, strong squad, big fan base and a great manager -> we are quite lucky and do I want more -> yes of course but only one team wins the league and it's bloody hard.