Wenger is still the best Manager our club has ever had. Also it's my opinion that he is still the right person to take us forward over the next few seasons.
Not all our trophy less seasons since 05 have been a failure, in some we came quite close, I have no problem with that. The last couple have been poor though.
This It's too much of a sweeping judgement to say - He's not won anything for 8 years, so he must be crap. It's my opinion that we have been restricted financially from investing in the squad (for a variety of reasons) and the board have seen fit to sell our best players. I'm not saying that Wenger is perfect, but I think he's basically kept this club in contention despite some very difficult circumstances to work with.
Whilst I agree with most of this we're now getting to that stage when we can no longer use the "financial restrictions" excuse. We've almost paid off the stadium and are consistently turning a profit. I'll be paying close attention to how we go forward from now on and should we continue to be frugal in the transfer market and unsuccessful on the pitch then I will be miffed (I'm trying to moderate my language today).
In my view its Wenger who has bought and sold the players, Piskie. You have no evidence to suggest that the board are going against Wenger's wishes on the playing side. That's just trying to point the finger somewhere else. i am not saying Wenger is crap because he's won nothing in 7 years, I am saying his credit from his early years has run out. We should be looking at him for this coming season with a critical eye, ignoring his past successes and judging him on what he achieves over the season. The only thing you can level at the board is the wage structure - which has been dumb for years. As far as our best manager ever? Its close. I would give it to him just because of the style of play, but in terms of trophies per year George Graham has a better rate. He also won in Europe.
Wenger was quite clear about keeping Nasri and Fabregas, the former, he was willing to keep and run down his contract. I think it's pretty safe to say that the board instructed him to do otherwise.
Agree We are getting to a stage now where 'financial restrictions' are not an excuse, but since the move from Emirates until now, they most definitely have been. I too want to see what happens next, I think we need to be bold and ambitious. Finishing in the top 4 is an achievement, but as fans of a club like Arsenal, we want and expect more.
I dont think that is clear at all. Wenger believed they would stay, and that he could persuade them to do so. Where have you seen that he was forced to sell them?
Finances have never been an excuse. From day 1 we earned more profit from the Emirates than Highbury, and over the years we have built up nearly £200m in cash from profits. Wenger just hasnt used it.
took the coast road home from work Dawlish to Torquay for that reason ... beaches = girls with not much on ...= result. fnar fnar ....!!
You think that Stadium payed for itself ? We have had financial restrictions - anyone with a nouse of insight can see that. As for Wenger wanting to sell Nasri - Why did he say that he was going to keep him for his final year of his contract if he was intending to sell him ?
Anyway Jayram, this is the excited and optimistic fred - get some of that Pamanga juice down you and leave the angry little man at home
Wenger said a lot of strange things last Summer! I think it is pure speculation to say that he was forced by the board to sell them. We have had no restrictions Piskie - its all just excuses. We paid for the Stadium debt AND had more profit. The reason is the income jump was more than the debt repayment.
Angry? Not angry at all - I just like to undermine clear excuses. We need to get rid of the excuses and demand more success.
I think it's pure speculation to say that Wenger decided to sell them. And more likely that he was instructed to by the board, seeing as he had said he was going to do the opposite. Where's ya Pamanga juice ?
Well it could just be a case of Wenger wanted them to stay, the players wanted to go and we all know that - rather than risk losing Nasri for nothing we got £24m and we got the best possible price for Fab seeing as he only wanted to go to Barca. Thats strong business right there, Wenger was being a stubborn fool. As for us being hamstrung by stadium debts, how have we managed to amass a £200m stockpile if we have been so hamstrung ?
Can someone show me the evidence of this £200m stockpile ? Even if we have cash reserves, you don't simply just go out and spend it all just because you have it, that would be somewhat negligent.
