Not all is above the board at Arsenal
Admittedly it is very hard to write about this club right now. Last night I was leaning towards taking a week off and picking back up after the international break. Being an Arsenal supporter isn’t easy and frankly the bickering going on between fans only makes it worse. What happens on this blog is pretty tame to the arguments playing out on the social networks. It used to be oh simply back when. . .
But rather than hole up I’ve decided to look at the issue by asking this fundamental question –
Is the mess we are in down to Arsene Wenger only or is it Arsene Wenger operating within the boundaries of his job as dictated by the board?
Now that’s actually a pretty complex question. Let me first say this – as with regard to the product on the field – Wenger has to take some responsibility to his unfailing, blind support of players like Denilson, Bendtner, Eboue, Almunia, Rosicky, etc. Granted on some occasions there is nothing he could do with regards to players available. Still some time ago he should’ve learned that Denilson is crap, that Bendy is only good against lesser teams, Eboue is a cheerleader, Almunia – well as I said last night – he is the gift that keeps on giving. . . and giving. . . and giving, and final Tomas Rosicky is past it.
He also has to bear responsibility for the way he sets his team and not getting the best out of his players. In yesterday’s game, it was clear that Denilson wasn’t going to cut in the centre of the pitch. Nasri was doing OKAY out wide but in the second half with Chamakh brought on for the inept Denilson, Nasri had more influence and more directness coming in from the middle of the pitch. Though I should add, I thought a couple of times he tried to too much. Arshavin for whatever reason was constantly open on the wing on the left and as his goal showed he was being given the space to operate
But yesterdays match is not the purpose of this article.
Which really now brings me to the point of this piece – is Arsene Wenger really a stubborn old git who won’t buy because it spoils his principles, or who refuses to see deficiencies in his squad or is he a manager who is operating under less than and ideal situation by a board who has saddled him with certain constraints?
To say that Wenger is suddenly a bad manager basically diminishes his past success and his impact on the English game. You don’t just become a bad manager, you are either good or bad. A bad manager who has some success will always be found out ala Mark Hughes at City or Hodgson at Liverpool. Good managers just don’t stop being good. Fergie was good in Scotland and I feel he take a team like Bolton and make them winners. So if you think Wenger is a bad manager, I would argue that you don’t think he accomplished what he did and got lucky.
What I really believe is this – that while blame certainly does rest on Wenger – the board is equally or more so compliant in our current state of affairs for failing to provide the team requisite leadership it needs or requires. The mixed ownership model of the board is failing to set a course that clearly states what team’s onfield objectives are.
A sustainable business model without being saddled with debt is admirable. Given the current state of things, the board should be applauded for that. But that’s about it. The constant word on the ground is that noone on the boards stands up to Wenger because of what he has achieved and his near cult like status with large portions of the fan based. To criticize him would bring a backlash of epic propotions. Let me answer that this way – what a complete and utter ridiculous piece of shit statement that is.
These are multimillionaires in some case billionaries who step on people on a daily basis to make money. Wenger may be a managerial genius to some but to these guys he really is a cash cow. If they wanted to set the operating paramaters of success that said – you must win silverware every year – they’d do it. They don’t to the board a trip to the Champion’s League and the resulting funds is enough for them. They can rest their laurels on the “success” of the team and sell seats and kits and say “hey we tried” when we go out. Yeah those all sound like familiar Wengerisms but I believe he is more of parrot towing the company line than his original thought. Like I said, Wenger was much more enjoyable and less “cerebral” prior to our move to the Emirates = which to me is the epicentre of all our current faults right now.
Right now our board, is happy with the status quo. They must be and they must think Arsenal fans are patsies because of the recent announcement of the price increase on the club level seats – right after the worst two weeks of club performance in recent history. Talk about the audacity of hope. Wow. If that’s a board afraid of Wenger I hate to see what they’d do if they weren’t.
It all boils down to leadership. An acceptance that winning is the only thing. That culture emanates from the top. It goes beyond the level of the manager and startd behind the closed doors of the board room. It manifests itself in the face of Ivan Gazidis and filters to the Manager and then the players. There is no sense that the board is about winning anything at the moment.
Here’s the thing the board seems to be missing in my estimation – winning does more for the coffers than any policy of prudence ever will. My Philadelphia Phillies – team that has the losingest record ever in baseball (over 10,000 losses in its history) is only just realizing that. Since our first venture into the playoffs in ’07 and eventual World Series title in 08 – you can’t get a seat to the park to save your life. They are a consecutive run of sell outs now that is well over 100 straight. All because they win.
If the board gave direction and said to Wenger any cup is a must or you face the axe – I am just paraphrasing here – it would go a long way to giving some pressure on our manager. I am sure he feels it from the fans but fans don’t sign the checks the board does and they seem quite happy with the way things are going.
I really think we are at the crossroads for this team, this manager and the board. I think the way we have gone about our collapse this season, has started to create a firestorm similar to the likes that saw to the departure of Hicks and Gillette from Liverpool. If there is not a change direction – starting with the board and ending with Wenger, the club will have serious issues. It is only a groundswell right now – but it can become epic if after this season’s flameout signals a status quo.
Going back to Wenger, I know a lot of people get frustrated or angry with his Wengerisms and his positive outlook on the team. I get that but that is part of the manager’s job. You never publically criticize your players or your team. Week in and week out part of your job is cheerleader and chief because as much as what is said to the press is for public consumption it is also for the team’s absorption. If the players don’t believe their manager has their back they won’t play for him. You see it all the time in any sport. I rarely see a manager/coach rip one of his own players. Everything is always rosy.
I won’t get on the Wenger must go band wagon until I see a fundamental shift of leadership in the board that tells Wenger to win. If they do that and he still does not – then I cannot support him for manager of this team any longer. Until then the only change of leadership I want to see is an actual establishment of leadership at the top of the club.
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Amazing things here. I’m very satisfied to see your article. Thanks a lot and I am looking forward to contact you. Will you kindly drop me a e-mail?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1368549/Gael-Clichy-set-crunch-contract-talks-Arsenal-line-Celtics-Emilio-Izaguirre-potential-replacement.html
Even a f&ckwit like Calamity is plotting to ditch the Wenger club!
Is contract is up in one year.
Needless to say I hope we ditch him – in addition to the Great Seven. Even if we buy absolutely nobody and just replace the eight calamities with youth out on loan, we would be much better for it.
We still won’t win anything that way, but at least we would be spared the high blood pressure. Why? The fans might even start having a real connection to the players.
DAG: Interesting piece and I think many (not all, of course) are coming around to the idea that the issues are along the lines you point out. I find it all pretty exciting in a long term sort of way…. While it would be nice for some benign money to fall from heaven and allow us to buy new players and jettison others (who are being overpaid) our board and manager are clearly taking a different tack….
For some it is too much and I pity them. If they/we choose to retain our support we need to cope (suffer along?) with it. Here in the States we have leagues with revenue sharing and other elements that insure a (more) level playing field, as well as more consistent profits (or smaller losses) for the owners. Frankly I’ve gotten bored with it and I really don’t follow ANY team sports except for Arsenal and English and European football. The wide open (financial) landscape is super interesting, to me.
I’ll repeat some of my favorite things here: That most fans, me included, are shortsighted and live and die with each result (and twisted headline….), that there is a persistent underestimation of the Abramovich (and now Sheik Mansour) effect and how it skews the transfer AND salary market and that Arsenal are doing pretty damn well under their (self-imposed) constraints. It should also be remembered that the implosion of the world wide market for real estate has done us few favors; if the bubble had kept blowing up we’d be 100 or more million pounds ahead…..
The outlook for this season looks bleak and the injury situation (at GK and CB and MF) will prevent us (in my estimation) from getting the results we hoped for. I’m hoping we see an active close season and some real turnover of personnel. Though they have (extensive) injury problems, I think our commitment to our top players should remain while we bolster in the deeper ranks. A key buy or two, giving many on loan a real chance in pre-season and throughout the Fall and sending others on their way might freshen up the squad enough to help keep pace with the clubs that have owners who tolerate operating at a loss or going deeper into debt.
It’s not easy, and if you see the club as “the enemy” taking “your money” then I can see a rationale for the abject hatred I read over and over, sort of like the love-hate thing that these two had going: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwlYo8EYTWI (edited to say, the longer link wouldn’t buffer on my system, and this is probably more in line with people’s attention spans….)
The alternative, walking away and supporting another club, seems rough. Obviously, I’m not there yet and I will (try and) remain hopeful while admiring what I can about the way the club does things. In truth, however, I’d rather discuss things that were happening on the pitch….
@Sachin,
I was really brought up in the George Allison years, The 30’s were the only time in our history when we managed to retain a championship title. Those days saw a Tube station named after the Club, as well as a murder mystery film “The Arsenal Stadium Mystery” in which our players took part.
During WW2, for many, football provided an escape (for 90 minutes) from the trials of a wartime existence and militant rivalries were virtually nil.
I’m afraid that the sort of :bye: :-) football hatred between Arsenal and Spurs was only spawned AFTER the war, as though we had to have enemies to replace the Germans and Japanese. A sad reflection of post-war life which seems to continue today.
@Sachin,
I was really brought up in the George Allison years, The 30’s were the only time in our history when we managed to retain a championship title. Those days saw a Tube station named after the Club, as well as a murder mystery film “The Arsenal Stadium Mystery” in which our players took part.
During WW2, for many, football provided an escape (for 90 minutes) from the trials of a wartime existence and militant rivalries were virtually nil.
I’m afraid that the sort of :bye: :-) football hatred between Arsenal and Spurs was only spawned AFTER the war, as though we had to have enemies to replace the Germans and Japanese. A sad reflection of post-war life which seems to continue today.
@nicky, Thanks so much for your comment. I had a feeling that something must have happened after the war to cause the rivalry to start up again. I always imagined that it must have been intense a few years after 1919 but then I always imagined around the war, it must have simmered down. I have met some 2nd generation Spurs fans who left England when they were young and must have only attended games until they were 8-10 years old. Yet, the hatred they have of Arsenal is something I have never seen.
I am glad you mentioned The Arsenal Stadium Mystery as I wanted to see the film but never got around to it. I might finally track it down :)
The following story is no joke- it actually happened (just now as a matter of fact).
Long story short, I have a social function tomorrow night that I really don’t want to attend (for good reason), so I Googled ‘good excuses’. You know how the results page also displays other types of results? (i.e. there will be subheadings that say ‘Image Results for…’ or ‘News Results for…’)
Well under ‘News Results for Good Excuses’ the news headline that was the top result was “There are no more excuses – Arsenal are simply not good enough.”
@ChicagoGooner, LOL, to keep from crying, as I like to say….
In other words: Funny (very), but also sad….
First to the new commenters – welcome. As you can see we have an active and ruly bunch of regular natives here. But anyone and everyone is welcome here.
So thanks for stopping on in.
Secondly to the regulars – at least those questioning a supporters credentials – what is it you’ve told me when I challenge you?
Just be fair – all opinions and voices are welcome here. You don’t like it when you are called on such things.
@DaAdminGooner,
I don’t care if you are not kumbuya – but even a healthy respect of people you disagree with is expected here.
@ Fred
I get the impression that you do not believe my comment that I have supported Arsenal since 1933. At my age of 87, I have long put up with ignorant fans like you spouting off about what is wrong with our Club. Having followed Arsenal through trials and tribulations for nearly 80 years, I can easily :yawn: tolerate you idiots who want Arsene to go, buy Messi or some other legend and pontificate on football matters you barely understand.
@nicky,
ArfaSheds has also been supporting Arsenal since the thirties I believe.
@nicky, That would make you a very unique person in having supported Arsenal in Chapman, GG & Wenger’s era. Wow. I always wanted to ask this of a long time fan —
has the north London rivalry gotten worse over the decades or is it tamer now compared to the 30’s?
Did Chapman always exude confidence on the touchlines? You were too young to remember this probably but curious. He did pass away in early 1934 so who knows how much more he would have done for Arsenal — trophies, tactics w-m, shirt numbers?, clock and station name.
@nicky,
Hahahahah!
OK, I’ll play along.
For an 87 year old you do have a potty mouth.
Please name the person who wants us to buy Messi?
Wenger can not be fired soon enough.
Truth is Fred, We cannot fire Wenger. Look at what happened to Aston Villla and Liverpool this season. A club can go to shit very quickly and for all of wengers faults life could get a lot worse very quickly, with him gone.
Instead of asking for Wenger’s head the argument should shift to who could replace him. Also when wenger goes, cesc goes as well as Nasri and all of his illigitament kids (deni and his big brother Almunia) meaning that alot of spending will be forced upon the club for them to be competititve.
Truth is just like Wallstreet Wenger has become too big to fail (or too big to be fired). If people want him gone then they need to comment on the life post wenger and how we can avoid becoming like Liverpool or Aston Villa and being the second team in North London
George (AKA Sirep)
@Name,
So Liverpool should have stuck with Rafa?
Who knew who the hell Wenger was before he joined Arsenal? So suddenly he is the ONLY man in the world who can do the job. I call bull on that.
What special tactical insight does he bring? I dont see it.
He has the “pass and move” basic setup. And that is good.
Any new coach should not tear that up. But actually add to it.
An addition of tactical nous and a removal of the gigantic French ego would do the club a whole lot of good.
Wenger can not be got rid of fast enough.
@Fred
I have supported Arsenal a little bit longer than nitpickers like you. In fact since1933.
I hope this explanation gets through to you, at last. Our injury list results, IMO, from the way many of our opponents stop our fast, close passing i.e. by physical means, fouling etc.
I’m sure all the Clubs you mention are much better than we are in fast, close passing. That is totally irelevant and doesn’t alter, in any way, the fact that this method is the one we currently try to employ…….to the best of our ability.
I hope you can now understand, a little better, the views I have expressed. I’m sorry that I can’t make them any simpler.
@nicky,
“In fact since1933.”
Aha, in that case, I am very sorry for responding to your comment. I mistook it for a serious one.
@ Fred
If you have to ask “what fast,close passing” I wonder what team you watch and support.
@nicky,
I watch and support Arsenal – since 1995. What team do you support?
That said, I repeat what “fast, close passing” do you speak of?
Is our passing (of this season) really any faster than other relatively attacking teams like say Milan, Spurs, Dortmund? ….. (not even going to bother mentioning Barca).
Shouldnt “fast passing” imply that we get injured less? Afterall we would then get rid of the ball faster, get up the pitch faster and overall attack faster.
And by “close passing” do you mean Denilson style sideways pass to the player 5 yards away?
If so, then yes, we do have “close passing”.
“Almunia’s composure is clearly shot to pieces. He looked a broken man as the scale of his clanger against West Bromwich hit him.”
So the choice in goal is between Manuel from Bar-thé-lona and a rusty geriatric German. Bring on the clowns!
Another dream comment – via Arseblog …..
“He looks like a guy who’s not been involved for a long time but has kept his body fit. He has the basic physical fitness but he lacks a little bit of decision-making and practice in goal. Would I consider starting him? I’m not going to get into that now, we now have two weeks.”
Since we are (in theory) in a title race and our situation is quite dicey … why dont we just recall Mannone. Or get another old man who is actually match fit to keep for us?
Am pretty sure Wenger completely expected Almunia to play well for the rest of season – despite being proven wrong over 10 times in the last five years.
I am starting to think Almunia has a 50% chance of STILL being at Arsenal in September! All he needs to do is play a blinder in the last (meaningless) game of the season.
@Fred,
We can’t recall Mannone – he is injured and out for 6 weeks. He got a leg injury playing for Hull.
I think what you are posting here and implying is a little misleading – Wenger was asked in the press conference should he have considered and would he consider starting Jens Lehmann in goal.
@DaAdminGooner,
In other words, despite several previous he gambled on Almunia based on reflex saves in two games and has now realized and explicitly implied for the 11th time in 5 years that Almunia is utter crap. But, the emergency replacement is a serious doubt to actually play. And Wenger actually has doubt whether he is able to actually play games. Thereby making him not of much use.
At the rate Wenger loses these gambles, Lehman might actually turn out worse than Almunia if that is at all possible.
Blaming the invinsible board is a bit pointless.
All boards in the world care mostly about money. None want to spend more money than necessary. The ONLY exceptions are those that have regular fan elections. e.g. in Spain.
Ofcourse the board does not want to spend money, so they love that Wenger is not spending it. Why would the board demand their manager spend money? It is a sweet deal for them, they get profits subsidized by the fans.
The blame lies solely on the manager. If he asks he WILL get.
——————————————————————————
This is a very good test for Wenger:
EVERY Arsenal fan I know accepts that the following players should not be at the club next season:
Denilson, Diaby, Almunia, Eboue, Rosicky, Bendtner, Squillaci.
Removing these repeatedly tried and failed players is a first test for Wenger in the summer. And it has NOTHING to do with the board.
Personally, I would consider it immoral to knowingly sell such defective players for cash (like selling fake, non-working, knock-off products), but that is just me. Realistically we can get maybe 10-15 million for these players – with probably Bendtner getting us the most.
Now, if we replaced those shipped out players with:
Bartley, Lansbury, JET, Frimpong, Mannone, Coquelin, Miyaichi.
We are then back to similar squad numbers but with the added boost of having more “home-grown” players. And quite frankly, the quality would actually increase on the current, sh&tty players.
Now, in ADDITION to this, there is also a consensus that we absolutely NEED to strengthen our spine with experience, strength and quality.
In other words, we need a SOLID CB, a SOLID DM, a SOLID center forward.
And no, we can not pin our hopes on Vermaelen returning for next season, no, we cannot pin title hopes on Song (who will be going for the ANC in January) or on RvP staying fit all season. Forget about Chamakh.
———————————————————————————-
But ofcourse, we have been saying this for several years now. NOTHING EVER CHANGES.
I expect us to do absolutely NOTHING. Of the seven players that absolutely need to go, only one or two will go. And in addition to that we will NOT buy anybody substantial.
And at this time next year, we will be having the exact same arguments as we are now.
So here is te question for the Wenger Must Go Brigade – if the board is setting the parametres the club is operating under – there is no gurantee any other manager is going to be successfuol under the same constraints Wenger plays under. Right?
@DaAdminGooner,
The only constraints Wenger is playing under are the ones he imposes on himself.
A new manager that
– is better tactically,
– that actually trains defense,
– trains for setpieces.
…. will out perform Wenger from the start.
@Fred,
And you base this on?
@DaAdminGooner,
I think every reasonable person accepts that we are lacking in tactics, defensive training and with set-pieces.
Any coach who brings that … will improve the team from the off … even before wiping out the dross players and bringing in better ones.
I agree with this article 100%. Instead of spending proper money for proper players (10m-20m), we spend much less for players who would USUALLY perform, but inevitably fall short at crunch time.
Example? Bendtner. Costs us <£1m, which is pretty cheap when his transfer fee is about £15m. Not bad at all for profit. Now think about this. He scores 3 against Leyton Orient. Against Barca he failed big time to control a Wilshere through ball which otherwise would probably send us through. The rest of the squad is pretty much the same, with a few exceptions like Wilshere.
I still say our failings year on year, are largely due to a long injury list compiled because of our playing style. Our fast, close passing format can only be combatted by strong physical tackles (and fouling). That is not to say that we have to change. What it DOES mean is that in some way we have to toughen up and improve our ability to combat the physical side of the game. It’s not going to be easy. :sweat:
@nicky,
What “fast, close passing” do you speak of?
I really enjoyed this article. That drive for success must come from the top. And the comments from joshuad is spot on as well. When Arsene arrived he inherited a team that was really god defensively and he brought in other attacking players. Our team was balanced and thats why we were successful. I dont think the majority of players in this team understands or appreciate the history of this club. They here because they know arsene gives young players exposure. You dont see any fight from them knowing that the title depends on us winning our remaining games. The ONLY player that was torn up about losing in the carling cup final was jack. he cried because this club is in his heart. that cant be said about 99.9% of the team
back during the success of the unbeaten season, i suggested that wenger didn’t deserve all of the credit for arsenal’s success. wenger certainly brought a special set of skills that allowed the club to be at it’s best. but arsene was only a piece of the puzzle. wenger inherited a fabulous group of characters who were the bedrock of the ’98 double winning side. those players also served as mentors to wenger’s unbeaten team in 2004. for me, that mentorship was as significant a signing as wenger, henry, bergkamp, or any other signing. wenger also had david dein who wenger clearly respected and surely used him as a sounding board. these and other variables helped arsenal find tremendous success but i believe strongly in peer leadership (mentorship).
in 1996, arsenal signed a 19-year old french midfielder fresh from the olympics in atlanta named patrick vieira. this young kid comes in with a tremendous pedigree, good size, and excellent technical skills. but he hadn’t won shit. he’s sitting in a dressing room with the likes of martin keown, ray parlour, tony adams, ian wright, and dennis bergkamp; all big-time players with big mouths, and big bravado. most importantly, they had all won something. it was real quick for patrick to learn his place and if he didn’t know it, there were personalities there to let him know it. a similar story with bergkamp, henry and quite a few others.
you can imagine where i’m going with this. wenger’s part was finding vieira but paddy really learned from players who were good enough to remain at arsenal and win silverware there. it’s like that on any job that the new guy doesn’t actually learn much from the boss. they taught him that the premier league was nothing like france and italy. they taught vieira how to win in england, how to win with ten men, and most importantly how to never lose to spurs.
arsenal don’t have any old heads who’ve won anything to show the new guys how it’s done. since vieira (arsenal’s last real leader) left, so went the silverware and that’s no coincidence. can arsenal win again? it’s possible but it will take longer as these kids, despite their tremendous talent, have never done it. winning silverware without mentorship is like finding your way in the desert with no compass.
@joshuad,
Absolutely! For God’s sake people! – Wenger is NOT some genius manager/coach! In fact he is far from it. If it wasn’t for the team he inherited – he would have been long gone! Well said Joshuad! :clap: :clap: :clap:
@wankerwengermustgo, understand, i’m not suggesting wenger is some sort of idiot. i was suggesting he was a piece of the puzzle whereas now it seems he’s become the whole picture.
arsene talks about many qualities and traits like belief and team spirit. anyone who’s ever found success in a team endeavor knows that those qualities are essential. however, there is more to it. for a talented player to become a champion he must have a tremendous will to win. many of our current crop don’t have that. they seem to possess a sense of entitlement.
I have asked this very question several times in my comments just “who is pulling the strings”?
My own thought, and I have only my experience of human nature to go on, is the money boys want their pound of flesh and, instead of giving him money for players, stick it in their own pockets. Usmanov has no interest in Arsenal apart from a return on his investment but he`s not on the board so outside doing a little sabre rattling he`s ineffective. On the other hand Kroenke is on the board and can influence Wenger. I don`t know which one of these two is the greedier, my guess would be Usmanov who worships money, but Wenger is securing his job by pleasing one or both of them.
Great piece.
For me very simple..either he’s working within tight financial / low ambition restraints imposed by the board, or, he’s bigger than the Board & calling the shots . In either event the Board is at fault.
It’s clear that we need to spend to improve/strengthen the squad in certain areas, or the day’s going to come when we won’t even get EPL top 4 & would struggle to regain that status there after. If AW is asking for money & not getting it the board needs to wise up. If AW isn’t asking for money the Board need to be kicking his arse & issuing ultimatums.
Wenger HAD some great managing seasons, when the team was still sprinkled with some GG hold-overs. We were just a machine in the Invincibles season… I’ve never seen anything like it.
We play a completely different style now… watch the tapes. The early teams Wenger managed at Arsenal did not try to maintain possession for long periods passing side-ways and backwards and side-ways again. They moved the ball up the field with incredible speed and ease… a killer counter attack that teams couldn’t compete with. We had some youth, some grit, some experience (especially at the back)… and it all blended together into a team with passion and comraderie.
Wenger is RESPONSIBLE for his folly… his make-up of the current team… its ALL HIS… and frankly, its SHIT after a good starting 11, made up of fragile stars who can’t play more than 1/2 a season.
To me, its MORE WENGER than the board.
Yes, the board fecking LOVE him. He’s MONEY, literally.
The board are resting on his laurels and victories from 6 years ago… and the sheep are following regardless of the outcomes. So they don’t feel they need to change anything.
But if Arsene Wenger ASKED for funds… and said WE NEED THESE PLAYERS or CASH for PLAYERS…. or else I’m gone…
a) he’d get it
b) if he didn’t … and the board said Nope… he’d bear ZERO responsibility, and the supporters would KILL the board.
He has this idealist approach … with stubborness… and faith in players… (that he believes will stay no matter what, and they always go)… and he is just too close to the forest to see the trees.
Nobody questions him.
And… while Highbury burns… he fiddles.
Sorry, its not going to change… Wenger isn’t going to change… nothing will change… he has to go.
The sooner, the better… for the supporters who actually want the club to win trophies…. and be among the great teams in England.
Right now, we are also rans… and teams like United and Chelsea LAUGH at us…
Great ideals that Arsenal… but they pose no threat.
@stag133,
Stag –
I get it I really do but how do we know constraints haven’t been placed on Wenger? True if Wenger didn’t in some part believe in those constraints he could just say “Give me what I want or else” and then walk.
True, Wenger has to bear criticism for his stubborness, and his blind loyalty to players who don’t deserve it .
True about the first version of Wenger but even those players who were part of GG credit Wenger for for turning around their careers and you have to acknowledge the players brought in by Wenger that took Arsenal to a whole new level of excellence.
I contend that the while the youth policy and building from within is something Wenger believes in and the style of attack only oriented football is his philosphy, that the need to go with a primarily youth oriented team is a factor of the move to the Emirates.
Is it any wonder that the wholesale shipping out of older players happened after the move to the Emirates. These were our higher salaried players. We also let go pretty much any player that was asking for way more money than the club wanted to play.
I believe that the money policy is driven from the likes of Peter Hill-Wood and his cronies and it is why Dein is gone. Wenger let David deal with the board. (I don’t buy into the heroic talk of David Dein as some sort of Arsenal legend I view him as a capable foil to the board on behalf of Wenger).
Again I don’t I agree that we pose no threat. I think our first-team provided they are healthy (yes I know that is a big ask lately) are as good as if not better than the teams currently being fielded by Chelsea and United. I know I am probably singular on this board in that belief but they have shown it.
Fergie only pays mind to the teams that trouble him and he has given Arsenal a lot of lip service recently.
But I digress – I won’t remove Wenger from all the blame but here is the fundamental problem I see with replacing him – whoever comes in is going to have to operate under the same circumstances because I believe that the board is dictating the money focus of this club.
@DaAdminGooner, Our starting 11… might be as good as any in the EPL… I agree on that… but when you are in 4 competitions… 3 seriously, every season… and your starting 11 are known for being as fragile as glass… WHOSE RESPONSIBLE for the team make up.
Arsene Wenger is.
And frankly, from what I have seen for the last month of matches or so… I think its quite possible he has LOST this team… the players are playing without passion… without determination & grit… and getting out hustled and outplayed by lesser teams.
When less talented teams are taking points from us, even at Highbury, the blame goes to the manager 100%.
Why would Wenger allow the board to DICTATE who he can buy, who he can sell, … etc…
He could get a job as manager at MANY big clubs … all over the world…
I believe its HIS ideals that are in the way… its his team, his style of play… The board support him, because he fills the coffers with cash…
Something HAS to change … that much is evident.
@stag133,
You know Stag I was beggining to wonder about the “lose the team” part of things this weekend.
Really, I know we didn’t have Cesc. And Manny’s calamity aside they should’ve shredded that team on Saturday.
I hate to say I want to see more – but you could well be right on that point. I can’t deny that. And if it really does seem that way, I would have to amend myself on the Wenger out theory.
Right now though, I am still waiting and seeing.
@stag133,
If the board came out and set goals – let’s say Wenger you have to win the FA Cup . . . just for the sake of picking something . . . and then he didn’t or was knocked out early – and let’s say the board laid other things out there like say £35-40 million available based on the removal of underperforming players and new talent of a certain calibre brought in. . . if he still doesn’t buy then I I would definitely say its time to go.
But I guess what I am asking if the board establish that line in the sand is that change that you can deal with. Because if I am right not only do you not like what Wenger is doing but the board equally as well?
stag, you’re on the money in declaring it a shame for arsenal to be losing to less talented players. but to blame the manager? well, yes and no.
in the end, it’s the players on the pitch getting out-hustled, not arsene wenger.
a certain culture has developed where many young arsenal players believe they have a sense of entitlement to silverware based on what the club has achieved in the past. they don’t seem to understand that no one is going to give them anything and that they actually have to work hard today and every day to take what they want. for allowing this culture to settle at the club, then i agree, it is wenger’s fault.
i talked further up the thread about how the dismantled mentorship program is the root of arsenal’s problems. as children, there are certain things we learned from our older brothers or cousins that we never learned from adults. it’s the same at arsenal. big bro will kick your ass for different stuff than your parents would. arsenal have a father figure in wenger but where are the big brothers to let the young kids know that it’s not enough for them to just show up?
@stag133,
Spot on Stag – the rest of the fans have to get this – if he realized that he had to spend money he would have asked for it and GOT IT – or else all hell would have broken loose by now. No- this man is only concerned about his job and his pocket. I reckon that is a really cozy arrangement between the Board and him – don’t spend our money and we’ll give you …. what does he earn now ?? 5 1/2 mill a year or something?? Wenger MUST GO – there is no 2 ways about it.
Why give him another year? There is a saying in business “Failing to plan is planing to fail” Wenger has been guilty of negligence as regards the defensive department if he was running a business he would have been fired for this long ago.He should go at the end of the season
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“Which really now brings me to the point of this piece – is Arsene Wenger really a stubborn old git who won’t buy because it spoils his principles”
Yep.
I said this weekly three years ago on AA!
;)
Thanks DAG, this gets to the heart of the matter.
Is Wenger constrained by the board (who insist he has money if he wants it) or is the problem inherent in his 2.0 philosophy of nurturing a young team to its full potential.
Pre-2004, Wenger was a genius who delivered unheralded results for Arsenal — amazing record-setting achievements and trophies deploying teams that had both silk and steel.
Since then, he has grown in power within the club, and as a result, his teams more directly reflect his hopes and failings.
His flaw these past six years is, I think, a mix of romanticism and stubbornness, and that horrible whiff of victim mentality when we lose. It’s always someone else fault — the ref, the pitch, the other team’s negative tactics.
If only Wenger wasn’t so proud, he admit could our failings — when it comes to the crunch, we just are not yet good enough – and address them with some forays into the transfer market. He has this suicidal insistence on trying to win the moral high ground, when more ruthlessness in letting go of talent that doesn’t pop and buying in more finished talent would revitalize the team.
Chelsea’s David Luiz at 25mill looks like a steal compared to
the contagious nerve-virus that is Squillaci. Ditto whatever we could have bought someone like Shay Given or Van De Saar for, instead of clinging to Almunia, who joins Cygan and Senderos on the Officially Hapless List.
Yes, we have bad luck with injuries, but then you look at ManUre who’ve been similarly clobbered and they still grind out a result against us.
After the horrible familiarity of our Don Quixote ‘two weeks in spring’ title-chasing collapse, Wenger (as I see it) has one year left to refine his approach or be moved on.