Anyway, getting back to solutions. I don't think sacking Wenger is it, in fact I think it would have the opposite effect. For me, it's about quality of players. We've got some really good players and a decent first XI, but then a squad that doesn't have anywhere near the same amount of quality as Chelsea, Utd and City. It sounds like a cliche, because it is, but we are still only 2-3 players away from a winning team. How long have we been saying that you might ask ? Well that's because we've had the players and then sold them. Look at the players that Wenger has brought in over those years, he brought them to this club. The board sold them, and that was a openly admitted policy of our business plan. Now they are saying we can spend and match wages. So for me, that's the test and the measure of this issue. What we do to supplement the quality that we have already got and ensure that our good players stay with us.
That said, it's still a massive gamble. To sack Wenger, you'd have to be sure that what you're replacing him with will achieve more. Otherwise you'll have just taken a massive step backwards. It's not about being scared of change. It's about being aware if that change will make the difference.
A gamble maybe or a calculated risk? My point is one day we will have to move on without Wenger. That day may come sooner than we think. Arsene is a legend and I love the man.... Possibly the only man I love more than my dad. Part of my decision in wanting him to give up the managerial position if he fails to get top four is not just because I want to boast about how we are always in the top four but because I want Wenger to be remembered as the great manager he is and not the one I'm witnessing now. Losing ideas and stuck in his philosophical bubble, combined with a stubbornness which is simply infuriating!
I take your point about gamble and calculated risk. Getting that right requires an astute plan about what exactly you want to change and how it will improve us, rather than just changing for the sake that the idea of change alone will bring improvement.
I'm not an online manager type and I don't pretend to be but I know decline when I see it and I know there are positions within the squad which could be improved. We are crying out for defensive midfielder and a reliable left back. We need to stop playing one way (this is Wengers territory) why doesn't he change our style to suit the current squad prioritise defence over attack, give bould more control like at the start of the season, when we looked solid defensively. I don't have the answers piskie but I know that Wenger is slowly losing touch with the fans and possibly the players. We have a style which has not changed in a decade ( although I can understand why as its kept us in the top 4) maybe I'm asking too much of Wenger? maybe I should accept that this is how it's gonna be for a while until FFP is up and running or wait until Wenger buys a new set of players in the summer? I have supported Arsenal since 1986 and seen nothing but a relatively successful football club. so maybe I'm just a spoilt brat!?
Wenger doesn't like buying expensive players. More cash isn't going to change anything, it's likely he'll keep looking for rough diamonds or bargains.
It is about the style. Wenger wants Champagne football. Problem is - Champagne football requires top ingredients. As Wenger himself says " super quality". Otherwise it loses to a good beer. We can not get it on the cheap. Wenger says there are a lot of players who want to play for Arsenal and Arsenal can afford 90% of them. Problem is - it might well be that only 10% are capable to improve the team by playing the football Wenger likes. And these are those players we can not afford. I do not buy this "2-3 players from a winning team" - it IS a cliche. We hear it year after year. And this year it is further from the truth than ever before. As I see it - a couple of new players will not turn this team into winners. And I think Wenger understand this. Hence his reluctance to buy anyone in our price range.
I remember reading an article where AW was compared to Brian Clough in that both could build a winning team but not re-build one.It has been obvious for some time where our deficencies lie and i cannot understand why they are not adressed.Whilst he is Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will always have my 100% support as will any player who puts on the red shirt.I have never booed the team at a match and i never will.Arsene Wenger will leave sooner or later and when he does i hope that he severs all ties with the club because i don't think it would be fair on a new manager to have someone looking over his shoulder.I remember what happened at Man Utd when Sir Matt Busby retired and the problems that it caused.I think it took until a strong character like SAF took over for the shadow of Busby to be removed
I'd like to bump this to give more people a chance to vote after the recent performances and disappointments. This thread was started in December, at which point some Arsenal fans were already in favour of Wenger leaving. It would be very interesting to see what the Vote is now after the disappointments. Has Wenger got the most out of this squad? Why didn't Podolski start yesterday? Why hasn't Rosicky played more? After the poor performance against Villa, there was only ONE unforced change - Ramsey for Diaby - was that enough? The defense has not been a cohesive unit for almost the entire season, and the attack has been faltering. Who's fault is that? Above all, is Wenger the man to take Arsenal forward from here? Or is he actually part of the problem?
might even win it. That seems very far fetched to me, we're as good as out and ity will take a miracle for us to get through. Not just because we are behind already and playing there, but because I cant see which of our players can step up to put in the performances that would be needed for us to win by 3 goals. Im sad to say Im expecting our biggest aggregate lose in CL ever. And as for Wenger, I still say we dont know for sure if there was no money as he said or he didnt spend what was available as the board said. If he has £70m available in the summer but has not made any significant signings (by which I mean proven world class players rather than youth/next level down) by the end of June he should go to give a new manager time to buy decent players and have pre-season.
I've just had a horrible thought. If Wenger leaves, then say goodbye to the Bergkamps and Henry's coming back to Arsenal as part of any coaching staff.
dont understand why NON arsenal fans votes have been included. Of course Spuds are gonna hope he stays. I would have voted for them to keep Harry...
Question : *If* there was a point that the vast majority of Arsenal fans wanted him gone, whether it later proved to be the right or wrong decision, and Wenger and the board already believing it would be the latter *should* Wenger and the board listen to the fans if it is what most wanted? The fans make the club, the fans are the real bosses, so should those in power listen even if they believe it will end badly?
