Arsenal Banter Archive March 15 2016

15 Mar 2016 22:42:17
Come on people let's be positive.

Like somebody posted earlier, the usual top 4, City, Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea, have all stuttered this season.

I'm already writing this season off.
But, I believe it could be an eye opener to Wenger and the board, that we are not good enough.

Wenger will be in charge next season, so get use to it.

The good thing is, I believe he will spend big this Summer because he now realises the likes of Arteta, Flamini and Rosicky bring nothing to the team. In fact, they drain the team in wages and squad space.

So, let's enjoy the rest of the season, get behind the boys, pray Leicester finish above Spuds and look forward to a major squad overhaul in the summer.

15 Mar 2016 23:51:05
Let's hope the talk that our transfer budget Of 75 mil is not true Dags as these days that won't buy the re-build you talk about, as crazy as that statement sounds!

16 Mar 2016 00:04:18
Sorry dags but i really can't see him spending big this summer or any, he has Wilshire Cazorla Oxlade Chamberlain all coming back that's 4 new signings in midfield in his eyes, then there is Welbeck who because he was out for so long is like a new signing upfront so we won't get a striker, and to be honest i wouldn't be surprised if he sends Mertersacker on a speed training course and then calls him a new player.
I'll be surprised if we sign 2 or 3 players and that will only be replacing outgoing players so just maintaining the squad.
Sorry I'm not as positive as you mate, really wish i could be but i have zero faith in Wenger ever doing what is needed in a transfer window again.

16 Mar 2016 00:47:13
Damn,
You guys just 'kicked' the positive right out of me :-)

16 Mar 2016 00:54:34
Im going for 4-0 against barca, not saying who too though.

16 Mar 2016 07:51:42
3 - 0 and I don't think you'll score over the two legs. Curtains boys on another season.

16 Mar 2016 08:53:27
NES, you could be correct unfortunately.

16 Mar 2016 12:07:24
Days, forget this weeks result, the weekend is more important for both teams!

I'd be surprised if both our teams field strong teams this week.

#enjoytheride.

15 Mar 2016 23:44:43
I said last summer when arteta got a new deal. That's signals Wenger's end to winning a title. The problems are deeper than first thought and I don't see it changing next year. If he's here next year itl be same old. I just hope Stan goes soon.

16 Mar 2016 15:00:47
I am not really sure why anyone would think that Kronke will sell his stake during the summer? With this massive new TV deal kicking in next year, that would be like selling your lottery ticket after seeing the first 5 numbers come out. He is about to see his investment take a massive upturn, and i am no expert, but you look to sell your investments at the top, which for him, is not now.

16 Mar 2016 18:03:01
Dags, don't panic . You will still get a bronze medal for finishing third . But if you have £75mill for new players, that will buy you two, where's the money for the other 6 going to come from! 🤗.

16 Mar 2016 19:32:00
David,
We could get Harry Kane for £10m :-)

16 Mar 2016 20:56:01
Dags, for that I would give you his left toe . Throw in 6 off your first teasers from tonight's game, and I will give you his right toe as well!

16 Mar 2016 23:22:25
Haha Davo,
No chance.

15 Mar 2016 20:45:33
Question for you - is our business model actually set up for any manager to reasonably only finish in the top four ( bar the normal teams imploding like this season and a team like Leicester landing on their feet with a few lucky, great signings ) ?

We don't seem to want to incur huge debt outside of the stadium.

We have investors rather than play boys around the boardroom table. Why should they throw their money at the club like Chelsea! They work hard for their money and it's their call.

It's frustrating that this was the year that our model could and should have paid dividend but that's life. We have won the FA cup twice and play some great football. We enter each season hoping to win something. That's a privilege.

To compete for league and Europe - you need serious cash and I am not sure that's our bag. Football has turned into big money business where by you need a lots of money or lots of luck. It's a lot cheaper to aim for top 4 and a cup.

We are lucky to have Wenger and support a great team. Change of manager doesn't mean success. Change in business model has a higher chance of success. Let's get behind the manager as he has been good to us.

15 Mar 2016 20:56:43
Appreciate Wenger for everything he has done. However he picks the players, decides tactics but it's clearly not working. Yes, the board is full of non footballing business men and that it a bigger issue but Wenger has to take responsibility for his shortcomings which have come to the fore this year more than most. No plan B, overpaid premadonas, no leaders, no passion etc, etc.

{Ed001's Note - did Wenger not choose a large portion of those non-football men on the board? He certainly had a large say in the appointments in recent years.}

15 Mar 2016 21:38:57
Ed - not disputing that. As I said, the board situation is another issue. The way Wenger was allowed to be involved in helping select those above him is wrong on every level which is one of the reasons why they will back him to the hilt. My immediate concern is that there are no excuses why we should not be in a position of strength all things considered and yet have allowed other teams with lesser resources catch up and over take us. Imo the manager is culperble.

{Ed001's Note - I was backing you up mate, pointing out that Wenger was in large part responsible for the failings at boardroom level anyway.}

16 Mar 2016 09:15:06
Cheers Ed001, no problem.

{Ed001's Note - no worries, sorry I should have made it clearer I was agreeing with you.}

15 Mar 2016 23:46:37
It's OK if they feel finishing top 4 and standing still is OK. But the fans have had enough. You can't take in top ticket money and spend very little. Sooner or later the fans stay away. They have done it long enough now.

15 Mar 2016 12:11:59
Eds. Maybe this is a naïve question.
Can you explain to me why we are waiting to the end of next season to replace Wenger what's wrong with the end of this season? .
Apart from contracts which can be renegotiated what's the problem. Are Arsenal specifically targeting someone that's not available until the end of next season because personally speaking why delay the agony.

{Ed025's Note - that agreement was made before this present turmoil lanesra, arsene wanted to leave now but was persuaded by the board to do another season, who knows, things might change now with the way the supporters are venting their anger mate, the problem will be...who replaces him?..

15 Mar 2016 18:22:22
I have to agree with Ed25, who is available to replace Wenger?

Us Arsenal fans are about as fickle as they come. We want to compete with the mega rich clubs despite us not being as financial strong, not only that but we want to win with a certain style of play. A quick glance at the managers most fans want and you'll struggle to find a suitable replacement.

Diego Simeone: Wins, but makes Jose Mourinho look like the king of attacking football.

Roberto Martinez: Massively underachieved this season, and just like with his time at Wigan this Everton squad is becoming increasingly error prone in defence the longer his reign goes on.

Ancelotti, Klopp and Guardiola: All just moved clubs.

Max Allegri and Thomas Tuchel: Would they leave their clubs for us?

Ronald Koemen: Not exactly the style of play we'd want but he's shown he's a great manager and so far he's delivered despite the yearly exodus of players.

Unai Emery: Had moderate success with Valencia, followed by a poor spell in Russia, now he's delivered European success with Sevilla. However he could finish outside of the top 4 in La Liga for the 2nd season running.

Eddie Howe: A young manager who could potentially emulate what Wenger has done for this club. Plays passing football and has shown that he can get the best out of players acquired for what is essentially peanuts.

Joachim Low: Has done fantastic work with Germany, but he's been away from club football for a long time now. He also never managed a top team during his club football career.

Jose Mourinho: Just kidding :)

Personally I like Tuchel, he did well at Mainz and is showing his class at Dortmund whilst also fixing the issues that had plagued Klopp's reign there.

15 Mar 2016 17:08:47
Koeman will do at least. Van dijk comes with him.

15 Mar 2016 20:08:45
Koeman for me, knows the prem also great man management skills handling and getting the best out of Spyder and Wanyama even though he'd forced them to stay when they wanted out.

15 Mar 2016 20:49:50
Me id give henry a go, koeman, de bore and bergy, what about shaun dyche, id love simeone but language could be an issue, I will get stick but I think mark hughes is ready for another big club, where is laudrup now, did brilliant in the prem. For me any young coach with a level head standsxa great chance of moving us forward.

15 Mar 2016 20:53:39
Ive said him before eddy howe. I like what they all say and set their teams up.

15 Mar 2016 21:45:36
Steve Eddie Howe wouldn't be a bad shout for me. But will they think he isn't a big enough name? And I think Thierry could be a huge mistake. I just don't think he'll have what it takes to be a good manager. Just have a bad feeling about it.

15 Mar 2016 22:09:44
Now I think henry would be great, maybe we might find out one day D16.

15 Mar 2016 23:12:42
Frank de boer and Dennis Berkamp have to be in with a shout. I think they have won the Dutch league 4 times in recent years.

15 Mar 2016 11:18:11
Im trying to make sense of it all as to what in the hell goes on at Arsenal.
But there's no denying some of the stats and improvements that some clubs have made in changing the manage and rapid changes too.
For example heres just a few.

Leicester City :- Ranieri 2015
West Ham :- Billic 2015
Chelsea :- Hiddink 2015
Tottenham :- Pochittino 2014

Im sure you could all add a few more in the last couple of years that have turned things around.
As the saying goes
" When the going gets tough the tough get going "
Or in our case
" When the going gets tough the dead wood should get going ".

15 Mar 2016 10:46:09
What do you guys think will happen this summer in regards to new transfers? It seems this season is a total failure. you think wenger will just please the cash and try to salvage his name for his last season?

15 Mar 2016 12:15:53
justkunal.
With all due respect to you mate my answer to you would be
this must be your first season as an Arsenal supporter :)
The answer to your question is this.
From experience it will be absolutely NOTHING .
Does that help?

15 Mar 2016 13:50:59
Wenger will blame it on the injuries, say we are strong enough, and just carry on as normal.

15 Mar 2016 16:07:38
If Arsene sees out his contract its difficult to see him clearing out and spending big, I think he will pretty go with what he has one more time.
Big job of sorting out Mertsacker Theo Gibbs etc will be left to the new manager the season after I think by with time Kos Monreal Giroud will all be in their early 30s.
We will need to give the new manager 3 years even if it means mid table in his first couple of seasons, we mustn't panic like utd sacking Moyse without even 1 season under his belt.

15 Mar 2016 16:38:53
Gunner i don't think we have a total rebuild on our hands, a new manager could easily come in re shape the team and ideas add three or four players to start with to a basis of a good team, probably like wenger did when he came and i am sure you will see improvement. We are not in that bad a shape that a few new player and new ideas won't sort things out.

15 Mar 2016 16:40:14
Oh plus eject silent stan.

15 Mar 2016 08:21:16
Something I don't understand is the club have repeatedly come out and said the money is their to buy players and very openly announced we could sign anyone but Ranaldo or Messi
So are the board as bad as we are painting them?
We allegedly chased you know who all last summer with talk of 50 million bids, so if true the money for that was there so it could have gone else where too and would Arsene really continually take the stick each and every season for not spending if no money was available and would he not question why the club continue to publicly announce money for transfers is there if it isn't?
We will only find out for sure once Arsenes successor takes charge but personally I think the club is getting a bad name because of Arsene not the other way round and apart from replace him which would not have gone down well until recently their hands have been tied.

15 Mar 2016 08:46:19
I agree G62,
Wenger is an incredibly powerful figure at Arsenal, from top to bottom.

If he wants money for players, for team strengthening, I believe the board will give it to him.

He doesn't go round knocking on the Chairman's door asking for money, which he should do.

That's why Wenger and the Boardroom is a match made in heaven.
They are in it for the money, and the coffers just swell up because Wenger doesn't spend it.

Sanchez and Ozil, whilst great buy's, were bought to appease the fans, I just wished Wenger bought more, but to complete the team.

I have said many times, we just needed one Summer Window where Wenger spent £80-90 million and we would have been Champions.

Ok granted, money is not always the answer, City just spent £160m in the Summer and are in the same boat as us, but 2 more decent signings last summer and we would be in a better position.

You reap what you sow, unfortunately Wenger keeps driving past the garden shop without going in.

15 Mar 2016 09:05:51
Agreed Dags its been Arsenes choice not to spend and although the board may or may not all be money grabbers what more could they do than make the money available? If they'd signed a DM 5 years ago against Arsenes wishes because the whole world exempt Arsene knew that was our biggest need he would have walked and they would have got stick for that too.
I must admit from the outside looking in it does seem to me the boards biggest mistake has been allowing Arsene to much respect and listening to him when perhaps it would have been better for all Arsene included if they'd asked a few more questions of him along the way.

15 Mar 2016 09:50:58
It's not just getting the players, but the attitude and confidence of the team. we play scared or like we have something to lose - rather than aggressive and like predators. Pas mal!

15 Mar 2016 10:17:33
Everton fan here lads, you say you need 2 players to be contending again? This is just my opinion like but I think it's worse than that at arsenal at the min, I think u need a whole new spine ov leaders, am 27 and as long back as I can remember u always had a solid defence, top top central defenders from Adams Campbell keown, and they was always protected by solid midseason, Gilberto Silva was my favourite player growing up that didn't play in blue haha, do u agree u need to spend big this summer on a top class cb to partner kos and a Vidal type midfielder and definitely definitely a world class striker, would appreciate your views, I am a blue threw and threw but have always liked arsenal and want them to do well, 2nd in the Orem behind Everton would do obviously hahaha.

15 Mar 2016 13:21:46
welcome across Johny, and yes agree 100%, we certainly could do with a decent powerful CM and CF straight away, with a CB if one is available to follow later IMO at least we have the GK! ) . mind you, you might hope that Wenger doesn't realise this as we might be coming after a certain CF currently plying his trade very well at your club!

15 Mar 2016 13:53:34
Absolutely spot on Johny.

15 Mar 2016 17:13:28
Wenger wants a player. They say no. He goes on I'm offer to resign. They say ok we will get him.

He likes the restricted challenge. Buying players he doesn't see as a challenge. He won't win it his way.

15 Mar 2016 07:48:27
Wenger out. Kroenke out. The players out. We all have different opinions about why we are performing terribly recently. Let me just say something against the Watford game: Our players did not do enough. But who chooses and buys players good enough? Wenger. But who may not grant funds or show enough ambition to get these players? It starts with the owner. But, for a successfull season, let's face it this season was our chance for the league and we didn't take it. We need to not repeat the mistake for next season. 1. Giroud and Theo are not good enough, they have shown this season they are not enough to win the league. We need a striker in the summer. 2 We need another centre half to compliment and take the workload of Koscielny, Mertesacker and Gabriel are not good enough. 3 RW remains an issue. We have two very promising players who have had very different seasons: Campbell and Chamberlain. Do we buy another right winger or not? Would Campbell get in to Chelsea's league winning team? 4 The desire is not there. The players need to play with the hearts and their heads. Few players have done this recently. Welbeck has come back and done well and worker hard. Özil has been different clas this season and he hasn't faded away. Imagine a Lacazette, a Morata or even an Ibrahimovic who can all finish off Özil's chances. But we need every player in every position playing with their hearts on their sleeve.
On Wenger, he has a philosophy which is to play nice short passes and score very attractive goals. That is not going to work every time, that has been shown this season. Or maybe Wenger has been caught out by the fact he never bought a forward who can consistently score goals. I am in the opinion that if we had bought say Morata in January, we would be well in the title race. However, would a younger European manager bring new tactics and fresh faces for this club? Would that bring a successful season? I guess we can only wait and see what happens this summer. But we need to purchase in real quality.

15 Mar 2016 13:31:45
Have to agree with you Lucas. I would sacrifice Walcott (if there is any taker who could actually afford his current wages) to get a dedicated RW. If, as reported our summer transfer fee was around £75m, i would look to spend £50m on a striker and the rest on a good DM/ CM (would have to be both a good technical player but also a physical player) . Unfortunately i can't see our transfer budget stretching any further, so we would have to wait for a new CH, unless we flog Wilshire or the Ox and use the extra cash to buy a CH as well. I have always rated Scott Dann who could be a cheaper option for CH?

15 Mar 2016 01:29:37
Does anyone here do twitter and follow our players, if so maybe some one can mention this site to them so they can read our views and how disappointed we are with there performance. Just wondering if the eds don't mind.

15 Mar 2016 03:41:02
I think its probable that most of the players follow arsenalfantv even Thierry Henry mentioned them in an interview recently.