Don't think he has been bad in the transfer market, Mascherano definitely wasn't a bad buy. When he bought Villa he was scoring for fun and still had 3-4 good years left in him.
He hasnt been in the market. He is the coach! There are only a few old school managers left and wenger and fergie are two of them!
Cesc was very honest in his recent interview when he said he feels much better now with Barcelona, where his role is much more strictly defined, unlike Arsenal where he was given full freedom to create and organize the game. He had his moments of genius with us but overall he was struggling to cope with this role plus captaincy. You could feel it was too much of a burden. Now he is told what to do by Guardiola and has to work for his partners. And it looks like he is happier with his new role. Cesc is a wonderful player, but not a born leader. That was our problem with Fabregas. he can shine in a team of equally good players, he can not lead a bunch of lesser ones.
All im hearing is Pep isn't that good because he has a great team. He is the guy thats brought Barca together to be the best team on the planet. It will go down as the best ever teams in history. As much as Wenger has brought to Arsenal, his best years are way behind him. No top class manager wouldn't have won nothing in 7 years. So what if he's knocked a string of good results together, we are Arsenal and not some struggling club. Just remember, we got knocked out of all competitions by Feb this year. This is poor for a club for the size and heritage of Arsenal. I see this team making the same mistakes this year that it's made years ago. So what changes has Wenger made? Sometimes you need a new man, a man with fresh ideas and enthusiasm. I know everyones scared but sometimes you have to take the plunge...
Pep has resigned. I'm telling you all, give Wenger another year and if he flops, go all out and get Pep. We have to move forward!
Pep is a very good manager but, personally, I'm delighted we've moved away from the tippy tappy snore-fest we were using for years. When it worked it looked amazing but even then we were passing 20/30 times more than was required per move. Honestly it drove me up the wall. Guardiola will want to play that way as it's what he knows and what he's had enourmous success with. Can't argue with that and you'd sign him knowing that's the brand of football you'd get. Well I DON'T WANT IT! Also, as someone else mentioned I think he'd need to spend big to get in the type of player who can use this football and I can't see our board giving him that freedom. Awesome manager but not for me.
The difference is, they are much better and more dangerous doing it. I believe that if he came to Arsenal, he would solve the one major problem we have, focussing for the full 90 minutes os a game. I genuinely think that we have a good squad and the players to win again. The main problem is the motivation. Sometimes we just switch off and stop closing down players. If you watch Barca, they will continuously harrass players when off the ball, that's why they are so difficult to beat. Lets face it, Chelsea were lucky to beat Barca. Had Messi scored the pen and taken their numerous chances, it would have been game set and match. Sometimes luck goes against you and you lose. Chelsea has had lady luck all this season, which is fair game. Sometimes you need luck to win things...
Oh I agree with you that he's better at it, just doubt he'd be given the finances to get the players he'd want to fulfill it.
Has anyone else noticed how far Wenger has fallen? He is not being linked with the top jobs in Europe anymore! Looked at the names being linked with the Barca job, he is no where near?
I don't think we need many more players to become winners again. As long as we tie RVP down to a 4 year contract and get a couple more signing, we are on the way there. We have a quality 11, we just need it to be fine tuned and given a better work ethic, this is everything he will do.
I don't think he's available. I would think they would be interested but a mega club isn't his thing. He rather build one up...
I think his (Wenger's) record over the past 7 years has mortally wounded him, question does he still know how to win things? Is he ruthless enough? Look at how long he has held on players, when the world and its dog knows otherwise...... Alumnia, Bentdner etc etc...
I'd not mind him as our manager but were we to sign the 3 players we're being touted with it signals to me that Wenger is finally adjusting his mind set and will have created a team to challenge all. Cue him not signing any of them and us being told our current squad is enough and our youth are going to be stars of the future...
Luck? It wasnt a pen in the first place. The same vs inter 2 years ago. It was horrible cheating to get the inter lad sent off. So there is luck and then there is just poor finishing.
There is a lot of bollox in this thread .. my goodness. How did Cesc "engineer" a move away ? He was 16 when he joined us, some of you are questioning a decision made by a child using the logic of an adult, ridiculous He came to Arsenal and missed his home so wanted to go back, why is that so strange a story ? Cesc is a great footballer and one I would welcome back at Arsenal in a heartbeat - he's better than what we have now. Some of you "fans" are petty and pathetic. So a player left Arsenal, get over it. I would not take Pep Guardiola over Wenger and I have said it before. Look at the players Pep has to work with compared to what we have. I don't for one second think Pep could do a better job than Wenger - I mean - who couldn't manage Barca FFS ?!!! Pep turned an already great team into an untouchable team. Plus, would we want a manager who is going to jump up and leave in 2 years ? English football is an entirely different beast, Di Matteo knows this thats why he made his Chelsea team defensive and strong, AVB tried to be continental, not going to work against the likes of Stoke City who deny you time and space and get all up in your grill.
OK, so he has officially confirmed it. Now Pep, take 40 millions from Abramovich, have a rest for a year, get sacked, collect another 50 ml of compensation and enjoy the rest of your life. You have earned it.
Hmmmmnn I'm wondering if Arsene has a big balls-up this next year ( not saying he will but a lot depends on what kind of summer we have ) would we be better off with Di Matteo instead?