Unfortunately true. This season was like a reality slap in the face. We followed the same script that we've followed for 10 years, so I don't expect any difference next season. I think Wenger's level is domestic cup at best.
Indeed. Like they say "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results!" So anyone who wants Wenger to stay.....you are clearly insane
Like I said, I think the board and manager have been too conservative and missed out on players that they could have signed. But on the flip side they've built a stable financial base by not being reckless. Unlike Chelsea or city we haven't had the luxury of a sugar daddy to bankroll wild spending. Wenger also will persist with players that he thinks have the quality to succeed. You can always pick out examples where that hasn't worked out, but plenty of our fans were calling for us to ditch Ramsey and said that koscielny wasn't good enough, Monreal etc. So it's a mixed bag really. But at least he gives players a chance rather than simply throwing cash at the problem. As I said, I think the board (selling our best players) and manager (too stubborn tactically. Too tight in terms of transfer fees) have been too conservative at times when they could have taken risks. But lack of ambition, no that's not true.
The first and second sentences of this paragraph contradict the third and last part of the paragraph. You state that they have been tactically and financially too conservative instead of taking risks, then claim they do not lack ambition?! Their ethos seems to be, "Lets make sure we all get our payday, if the team manages to win something, then great, if not then pffft!" In terms of tactics, that was never Wenger's strong suit anyway, even when he won things. His gift was always finding talented youngsters on the cheap and turning them into World class players (Overmars, Ljunberg, Henry, Van persie, Vieira). That particular talent seems to have escaped him nowadays too. In terms of owners, I would much prefer someone who backs the club financially and believes in his investment, and shows ambition to win trophies, even at a risk, than someone who just wants to pedal on in mediocrity and just points to their finances and says "We (the board) are making tons of cash, why aren't you fans just happy with that?". I would much rather win the CL then spend 2 years out of the competition, than be in it every year and never get a sniff. This isn't a primary school sports day, there is no trophy just for taking part.
It wouldn't have made a blind bit of difference if he knew. He had ample opportunities to replace Gabriel when he was being slaughtered by Carroll during the game. Any sane manager would have made that change after 20-30 minutes. Oh no Wenger continues to play the man the entire game and Carroll unsurprisingly gets his first hat-trick after a million years. And some people think that Wenger has still got it!
Team sheets are made public an hour before kick off. You see what their game plan was from watching the entire 1st half and conceding 2 goals. You have half time to tweak things. I am confused.
He's stubborn. He wants to play one way and dislikes changing. A bit like his substitutions, he rarely ever changes a players unless it hits the magic 65/70 min mark. Take a more progressive manager like Klopp, they were leading against Stoke, but he chose to take off one of his players at half time for another, despite that guy playing well. But he noticed a weakness in the opposing side and acted on it. The player who came on scored immediately and Liverpool ended up cruising to a very good win. Wenger is almost blinded by his philosophy and rarely deviates from it, unless he's in danger of dropping out the top 4.
Some immediate thoughts... Leicester and Spurs have not required a sugar daddy to do better than we have. Ramsay is mediocre. I don't really remember many slating Koscielny or Monreal. Being too conservative is the SAME thing as lacking ambition.
You got Garry Colman memory bruh. Monreal was slaughtered big time. Remember around the time he played centre back??Koscielny came under scrutiny just like Gabby is now. He was raw and new to the team. Just saying.
But Monreal was played as a backup centre half, hardly someone Wenger was persisting as a first choice with like he does with Ramsay... More as a stop gap. Was he ever really slated at LB? And even then, he was a backup LB for ages. Koscielny... Meh, don't remember any significant slating for him at all. You got some for me to see?
PS I actually think Gabriel could be quite good. Unfortunately none of our players are going to achieve much until managed by someone better.
Even if you concede that Wenger persisted with Kos and Monreal and they came good, you cannot argue that they are world class players of the calibre of Henry, Vieira, Pires, Ljunberg, Overmars etc. Its been 12 years since he last won the league, he was bound to get at least some signings right in that time. He is past it, not ******ed (borderline maybe )
On another note, did anyone listen to Arsecast extra this week? Good take the game and us in general and a couple of points struck me. Firstly, do people honestly think our defence is that bad or is it the way we play which exposes them? Not for one second suggesting the players can't be held accountable at times but they're left open to attacks over and over again that it's not surprising if they look ragged. Or, to put it another way, do we honestly think Wes Morgan or Robert Huth are superior players to the likes of Koscielny or Mertesacker? Course they're not and the main criticism aimed at Merts is his pace which is on a par with the two Leicester CBs. I'd say player for player we're comfortably better than Leicester and Spurs (slight bias obvs). So, yeah, what the f*ck is up? I think it's pretty clear both teams have organisation, work rate and desire at a level so far above our squad it's embarrassing. I'm not saying some of our team don't want to win but you see how well drilled those two are and we nowhere near. Unfortunately for me this has to be laid at the door of Arsene and the coaching staff. If this is what can be achieved with one average, and one good but not great team, then imagine what Pochetinno or Ranieri could do with our players? For all their wonderful ability, if they're not drilled, organised and have a clear game plan we'll keep coming apart when things go against us.
I said this much in an earlier post. This squad managed by Fergie, Klopp, Pochettino or Billic would be champions this season. It is all about the character of the manager managing the team.
Yup true. A lot of managers could get more out of this squad in terms of performance level. On the other hand (and I know its not fashionable to give Wenger any props round here) not many managers could have assembled this team. Koscielny looked like an underweight average French centre back with only 1 year of French Top flight football. Not many mangers would see that potential. Bellerin. We signed him on a free as a 15 year old. He's now arguably the best RB in the league. There's literally no limit to how good Bellerin could be. Absolutely incredible young player IMO. Iwobi. You think he would be getting games under the likes of Mourinho or Pelegrini? I don't. Campbell. Looks like a Top talent to me. Hardworking skilful and basically pulled out of nowhere for a minimal fee. Elneny another one who could be a typical Wenger signing. Very little hype surrounded this guy but he looks like an excellent squad player. Soo yeah. We will finish 2-3rd in the league which is a shame because we could've done better this time round with City and Chelsea out of the runnings. But Wenger still does some things exceptionally well and this is why we ant 6-10th United/Chelsea style and have never had a meltdown /failure on that level under Wenger.
Again, I would much rather win the PL and CL then spend a couple of seasons out of the top 4 rebuilding than constantly finishing 4th and winning jack ****.
