Wengers recent comments are worrying. The thing that worries me is that Wenger seems to genuinely think this team has a shot at the title, even without signings. This is the weakest squad we have had since the mid 90's. If he really thinks this group of players is good enough he is no longer fit to manage our Club.
To quote F Escario, "There is a fine line between bravery and stupidity. If you get away with it you are brave, if you don't you are stupid". Does it take any imagination and bravery to coast along and accept the status quo? I wonder..... Even if I supported a team like Bayern, Barca or Real, I would like to think I would have the balls to ask for improvements in the team year on year.
I wouldn't read too much into Wenger's assertions. See this from today's Sky Sports story: He was questioned about it and he responded positively (though to be honest, it seems more like an irate response than anything else). He'd risk hurting the confidence of his current team if he said they were miles off challenging and would also be taking a pretty big gamble by saying they could if they signed some players on the off chance he doesn't manage it.
As an outsider looking in I'm absolutely sure of 2 things: Man City and Chelsea will be well ahead of the field and will fight it out with probably City prevailing by 3/4 points. The next gang of 4 I simply cannot seperate and the next few weeks will decide it all. Tottenham - Will grab 3rd or 4th if the sell Bale quickly for the reported 80M and invest it all back on 3 quality players. Liverpool - Have bought well and will be better for the additional year under Rogers - Can see them fighting for 3rd/4th IF suarez doesn't go to Arsenal. Man Utd - Won a poor league IMO and have some real defecincies in defence and midfield that haven't as yet been addressed + no SAF. Can see them truly struggling if RVP has one of his below average Seasons re. injuries. Arsenal - Wenger quoting FFP has got me truly worried for you - Did he or anyone else think that UEFA or FIFA would turn down money!!?? Which Business model actually dumbs itself down financially in a deliberate mode?? I don't see you imploding and fighting for 3rd/4th with the other 3 but genuinely believe that you and Utd are 3rd and 4th favourites of this bunch currently. That can all change of course in one hit - Suarez chooses Arsenal and Utd get Fabregas etc, but you have to admit last day panic buying might just not be enough this year. Good luck to you all -Feel this is going to be an intriguing Season. By the way - For what it's worth, don't think Sisu is a wum and just the fact that you guys are so heatedly divided at times should show you that you need to at the very least readjust your Busines Model. I'm not a wum by the way - Just sick of my own board where one ok game can turn the thug Dumbarton into a hero with some.
Thank you, but we have enough of our own fans worried for us, without taking in strays. Suggest you don't put money on your theories, I think you have the mainstream view and they have been spectacularly wrong for about the last 8 years, most notably in selecting a winner of the PL and CL. For the record - Still not worried.
Another outsider looking in haha, Why didnt Wenger just buy Fellaini out of his £22M clause and then sign Suarez 2 months ago and I genuinely think you have a shot at the title, especially with all the managerial change this season. I'm a Sunderland fan and even I get frustrated at Wenger haha I do always want Arsenal to do well and make the step up, I dont know how you guy can cope.
The Fellaini thing is weird. I think his buyout clause has gone now, really thought Arsenal would move for him, just what you need IMO. Maybe there is something we don't know about him, something that scares Wenger off?
Fellaini's clause either expires on, or becomes active on, the 15th of August afaik and so tehre is still a possibility of him changing clubs and i think either Utd or Arsenal are his preffered destination, but i think he will have to realise no-one is gonna pay him 110k a week!
31 July was the date going around for months, then this 15th August suddenly appeared. Its all just speculation Im not surprised by Arsenal but I really thought Utd would go straight in for him as soon as the window opened..
That 31st of July was being reported for a while and then when it got closer to the 31st, all of a sudden new information seemed to appear that suggested that actually the 15th of Auguest had some relevance to the clause. Whether it expires then, or only becomes active then i have no idea. But it was suggested by a few people that movement could still be expected on that front but that his wages where puttign teams off.
Purely out of interest, what is going on at Arsenal? I really thought you guys would kick on, with all the bluff and bluster about having stacks of cash, owing no more money, etc., etc. Sure, the bid for Suarez is there, but if he then actually becomes available wouldn't any number of other clubs fancy taking him on? Just seems a bit odd that your squad looks relatively (in top 4 terms) weak and you're only after one talented-but-volatile player.
Tell us something we don't already know. This transfer window has been the most frustrating in recent times. We have the money and Wenger has it to spend, but boy we are taking an F'ing eternity to buy anyone.
So far we have had bids rejected for Suarez and Bender, inquiries made about Cesc and Rooney and supposedly had a deal in place for Higuain before madrid made him 10-15m more expensive. There will also be a number of things going on behind the scenes that haven't leaked at all. So i'm not too concerned - i'm pretty sure we will have some players come in before the window closes and i think we are still in for a few big names as well.
Refused offers and enquiries mean nothing at the end of the window, we need to buy players not just make half hearted attempts
It really is a strange one. On the face of it - magnificent ground, commercially superb, world-renowned manager - you SHOULD be aiming high. Yet I can't shake that feeling out there that you guys really are, at best, a "4th placer". Also think maybe Suarez is aiming a little TOO high and your manager isn't concentrating on what he really needs. Talk of Fabregas to Man U must be infuriating, surely Arsenal could do with him back? And I don't subscribe to your managers apparent theory that you're essentially just one striker away from being complete. For my money, you guys should have Julio Cesar in goal, Fabregas back at the club, be in talks with Luis Gustavo and maybe pushing for Cardozo (just to bag a few, when taking chances seems to be a key problem). Given all the talk from Wenger, that's where I thought you guys would/should be. Sorry, not baiting, just interested in the inside view.
