Hi. Been a while since I posted here but I wanted to get a feel for how Arsenal's not606 fans felt about our situation. Like elsewhere there's a clear divide with alot of fence-sitters shifting towards Wenger Out. I'm in that latter category. And this is why. First off, I adore Wenger. When he does move on he deserves a gold statue outside The Emirates for everything he's done for us. Some say that he's lost it for quite some time, but when you take into account that we've made a healthy profit in transfer expenditure during this timeframe whilst others have spent hundreds of millions, the fact he's kept us in the top 4 all this time is borderline miraculous and more impressive than his original success with us. So whilst I understand the sentiment behind people saying he's lost it, it must be the case that a mentally defunct Wenger is still a better manager than 99% of others with their marbles intact. But it is now time for a change for the health of our club. The Swansea game opened my eyes to what I knew deep down anyway. Our flaws have been exposed for years now and yet still are not tackled by Wenger. Our once fluid passing game has gradually been replaced by a insipid and uninspired posession game. Our defending has been comical for some time now. There's a lack of organisation and communication that is borne from poor coaching. How many goals have we conceded that could so easily have been avoided? There's an unwillingness from players to put their bodies on the line for the cause. There's also a disturbing casualness to closing down opponents and making life difficult for them. In fact, we've only showed glimpses of it over the last few years. Remember the opening 1-6 victory against Everton? I thought I was witnessing Arsene and Arsenal's rebirth but alas it only lasted a couple of games. Also during our disastrous end to last season, we somehow in the middle of it produced a worthy performance in beating United 1-0. The work ethic and hunger our players displayed that day was incredible but again just a flash in the pan. Why do we only produce hard-working performances like that on isolated occasions? Why do our players seem so indifferent to the cause the vast majority of the time? It's Wenger's job to motivate our players before they take the field, but we all know that there's a casual indifference on show most of the time? That is unacceptable. Tactical sterility is another gripe I have with Wenger. Never try anything different, never attempt to mix things up. Keep the same formation even if it's demonstratably not working. It's his pure stubbornness that will be his undoing in the end. He insists on having total control at the club accepting neither advice nor criticism from any which is just unhealthy behaviour. He's stuck with Walcott for five years now when it should have been patently obvious to a man of his intelligence that Walcott lacked the composure and mentality to ever be good enough. He's playing Ramsey week in, week out when it's obvious that Ramsey is not quite ready for this level yet. He's stuck with awful keepers too long as well as the likes of Bendtner and Denilson. Why? It's the repetition of the same mistakes ad nauseam that has made things unbearably frustrating. So do we stick with Wenger and settle for continued gradual decline, or do we take a chance on a new manager? I'd opt for the latter. Picking the right man for the job is crucial. We'll need somebody who may be required to work on a shoestring budget but who can restore a competitive pride, all whilst keeping us playing attractive football. Hmmm, not too many who'd fit the bill but I've put forward Brendan Rodgers name (for which I've been generally derided). Is there many others out there worthy of replacing Wenger? One last thing I'll add in Wenger's defence though is on our transfer policy. It's very, very difficult to ascertain whether Wenger is spending-shy himself, or if it's the board and our negotiators who are hampering us. If the board are constantly ****ing up Wenger's transfer targets, then they are far more culpable than the Frenchman in our decline. Of course, the truth about why we still aren't spending money now that the worst of the transfer debt is behind us now is withheld from us. There's a distinct lack of honesty and respect being given to us in their silence on these matters. But none of that excuses most of what I've outlined above. I love you Wenger, but you've got to go at the end of the season. Still though, here's hoping we can still nick that 4th spot this season. It's still more than possible.
I'd stay stick with Wenger. Most of the people calling for his head seem to think that a new manager = new players, and I don't think that would be the case. I like everyone else would have preferred Ox stayed on, but IF Ox had got injured in the last 5 minutes and Wenger had said, "He was ill during the week and I was worried he was going to break down, but I took a risk", everyone would be calling for his head and blaming him for all the injuries. It is a tough job, that's for sure. I don't think Wenger is always the best tactician, but Im not one of those that think Arsenal have a right to win the league every year. Given our resources we should be solidly mid-table. We have been spoilt by the team over-achieving. Even at the moment, given the injury stuation, I think we are doing very well to be where we are in the table and still in the CL/FA cup. I may feel differently at the end of the season, but I am very very worried about life after Wenger, simply because I think we have all been spoiled by he results he has achieved, and our expectation level is just so out of whack with our financial muscle. If new manager comes in and performs averagely, then I think we might end up in the bottom half, having a hard job attracting a decent manager as well as top-class players.
ToledoTrumpton - you like all the other In Arsene We Trust gang are chatting rubbish. Stop going on about the old days (we don't deserve to win the league every year). WE are the 3rd most successful team in the country, we have the 4th or 5th highest wage bill, we have the highest gate receipts in world football, up until Wenger's "project" we were dominating the Premier League with Man U - with the same bloody resources we have now - we were able to compete, we beat Juventus, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Barcelona, proof hat we can do it. The ONLY reason we are not competing now is Wenger has become a bloody idiot !
What do you want? Arsene Style or Graham Results? At least you still have part of a footballing soul under Wenger You just want to win go support United, they even play in the same colour
For a long time I've been on record saying Wenger is at his sell-by-date - and been abused. There were only a few who had the balls to state they agreed. Now increasingly fans can see the truth - it ain't hard to see!!! Even our best player and captain openly says on the pitch that he's making a big mistake. The deluded, instead of keeping a low profile and letting some steam off, comes out and insists he's ALWAYS right. A frantic backlash because he has lost control, and has no strategy, no transfer policy, sticks with under-performing play, has not unloaded the wasters, makes bad substitutions and now tells the fans to worship him. History will list him with the hung on by fingertips leaders.
OK let me join in and make this thread more acceptable for the GC forum Arsenal F.C. Arsene Wenger Arse........There's a theme happening.
Of course you're correct. I'm just sorry that my brand of sh1t does not match up with that of the OP.
Chris Coleman would have been a good choice. Now I wonder what Wenger would have to do to make way for him.
