22 Aug 2016 16:08:18
I understand all the doom and gloom, and for the first time I'm starting to question if it would be best if Wenger stepped aside, but we've still got 2 weeks before the transfer window closes.
There are plenty of CBs out there who would improve us significantly, and fingers crossed the big clubs start a merry-go-round of transfer dealings that leads to us signing a striker.
If we don't make signings, or we sign Johnny Evans, then I will join in with you and metaphorically stone Wenger.
22 Aug 2016 17:37:03
Pep, the most sought after manager in the World spends £50m on Stones - a young English CB with bags of potential, but not entirely convincing to date.
Wenger spends £2m on Holding - a young English CB with bags of potential, but not entirely convincing to date.
If holding plays as well as Stones this season (I'm guessing he'll start til Gan is back) , hopefully AW will be given more credit and respect for the way he does things.
22 Aug 2016 18:11:20
Personally to date i hope holding is going to be better than stones, totally over priced but lots of potential, holding totally under priced but lots of potential. It will take years to find out the answer. Stones and holding will not be overnight successes.
22 Aug 2016 18:12:17
Has Arsene been pumping Holding'stires all along as he is the new CB this year? Too bad Asano didn't get a game sure he would have got raves from the boss.
We look strong boss but we need at least one player of quality. Maybe get ed2 to help, he must have bags of time now that he doesn't help on here (hope he has a sense of humor, jury is out ;-)
22 Aug 2016 18:26:05
Just to clarify, as I'm not the smartest, but the disagree means that, if Wenger signs a centre back who performs as well as the one Pep has signed, for £48m less, then he doesn't deserve any credit or respect?
Why do people think that arsenal fans can never be pleased?
22 Aug 2016 18:46:06
Surely no one could reasonably argue that if Holding even matches Stones Arsene has done the better deal there, let's wait and see though because that is a very big if.
Out of interest if Pep spends 100 mil and Arsene only spends 35 mil but city win the title and Arsenal qualify for the CL in a distant 3rd or 4th who is the better manager? Pep taking over a team that could only manage 4th last season and making them champions in his first season or Arsene who after 20 seasons has yet again saved the club a fortune while doing the Arsenal double of top 4 and above Spurs?
22 Aug 2016 18:49:19
That's fine, if he does perform as well as the one Pep has signed. But my guess is Guardiola knows his onions. Happy to be wrong though!
22 Aug 2016 19:07:19
I couldn't have put it better gunner.
22 Aug 2016 20:13:38
Its one of the most relevant criticisms you point out G62. Should AW throw money and gamble on winning (as that's what it is ultimately)
I don't know how much clubs like Villa and Newcastle spent on players, but I do know that you can't take anything for granted. If we spend and start to drop places, I'm not sure many fans would be happier. Jose at Chelsea last season, van Gaal, Moyes at Man U, Rogers at Liverpool, even spurs post Bale. All splashed with no title to show for it.
The manc clubs are both throwing cash around again now. Does that make them a better team? In hindsight, anyone can say aw should have gone in for ibrahimovic. he might not yet keep performing and last the season though. How many of those knowledgeable fans also thought aw should have got in before José on Falcao and Pedro. Or snapped up Benteke or balotelli? Were outraged we didn't want Fabregas etc. Etc.
I generally have trust that aw has forgotten more about football than most of us will ever know. I look at us and think aw knows the team really are good enough to win the league. He doesn't play to come second. He's shown that.
For me it comes down to this:
If we win the league this season, aw was right and justified in everything he has done.
If not, as painful as it is, either the players have not performed, his judgement was wrong or his tactics were wrong, or something unseen is holding him back. he'll have had a fair amount of time to win, so would then have to acknowledge something has to change. Not necessarily him - an assistant with different tactics, or a new manager with aw advising. But he knows that. He's no idiot.
We've been 4th, 3rd, 2nd.
Until the end of the season, 1st is still up for grabs, and the team need support. I'm still behind the boss.
22 Aug 2016 20:51:37
Very much agree with your posts jimgoon, sensible positivity.
22 Aug 2016 20:52:25
Jim can I ask you do you feel Arsene was right to be the only manager in Europe not to buy an outfield player last summer?
Mate I totally respect your right to support Arsene no matter what still, even if I struggle to understand it I still respect we don't all see things in the same way all the time.
22 Aug 2016 22:17:59
Steve, good you supporting your buddy 62 when he references Pep spending 100m. What week was that as his spending far exceeds that plus all the money spent in last two seasons at City - please talk sense.
23 Aug 2016 02:30:39
G62, I guess I don't really think of it like that.
I would have LOVED a stellar signing, but I know they don't always work, and also think there are plans - like bringing players through etc. That we don't know. I also see how close some players are to being great. So although I'd like mahrez, or lewandowski, when they don't come I know I'll be excited to if someone takes their chance.
When we didn't/ don't sign any/ many, I'm still hopeful for two reasons:
1 - I accept that Arsene won't pay crazy money. that's a huge reason why I love AFC anyway. I would much rather we earn a title the hard way than buy it, or even worse pay £££ for Falcao, balotelli, schweinsteiger etc.
2 - I hope that AW knows/ sees things we dont, and he really believes that there are no realistic upgrades. Again, I love that we can find quality players like elneny, hopefully holding etc. But bear in mind that our big signings have all proven successful. In fact, the lesser ones too recently. Compare that to other clubs. Didn't loads of fans want Rambo out, doubted bellerin and booed ozil? I trust AW!