Arsenal Banter Archive April 19 2017

19 Apr 2017 22:33:07
Just put my team to play city in the semi final on the team page
What's your team formation and subs for the game?

19 Apr 2017 22:59:02
Seaman dixon cambell adams cole sanchez viera petit pirez bergy henry. Subs wright keown lungberg overmars gilberto stepinovs ( only kidding )

{Ed007's Note - Can you put any follow up posts on the teams page lads, cheers.}

20 Apr 2017 00:01:16
Sorry ed just having a bit of fun.

{Ed007's Note - No worries mate, it's just it doesn't look good if one of the main pages gets clogged up with team lists.}

20 Apr 2017 06:31:47
Your team reminds me of the days when we started every match believing we could win!

20 Apr 2017 08:19:27
Where is the team page eds.

{Ed001's Note - Teams Page

21 Apr 2017 10:37:27
Thanks ed.

19 Apr 2017 18:23:39
My gut feeling is that he will sign that's if he already hasn't then at some stage next season when it comes apparent that its the same old same old and we are struggling the board will eventually realise that he is past his sell by date and they made a massive mistake with a new contract and do what they should do now SACK HIM!

19 Apr 2017 19:10:26
I think there's​ a very distinct possibility you will be proved right Heybridge mate
Nothing is set in stone and many things could change that outcome but i think what you predict has to go on the high probability list.
It's highly unlikely Arsene is going to change his footballing​ principles where attacking​ football is everything and the defensive side the game to be considered but not to be dwelled on overly, out scoring other teams​ is part of Arsene's​ footballing philosophy while out thinking and out smarting opposition managers with tactics Arsene finds unnecessary because he feels his own philosophy will triumph eventually.
The players we sign this summer are unlikely to make more of a difference than Ozil Sanchez and Cech have no matter who they are because if you could have the world's best 11 and have them poorly motivated disciplined and organised they wouldn't win the premier league in a decade of attempts.

19 Apr 2017 21:26:10
I'm not sure why there is a doubt Wenger is never walking away .

19 Apr 2017 21:39:56
BG I accept what you say and I see where you are coming from. Wenger says he love the club are you saying he is thinking of himself more or that he wants to go down with the ship. He looks at stats well just looking at his stats with the top five managers must tell him he's not hacking it.

19 Apr 2017 23:23:20
Change is not only coming at Arsenal change is already here, and that change is the fans themselves.

Players can no longer go on twotter have a go at Spurs then walk on the pitch and be a hero (Poldolski).
Players can't simply have an outstanding game a couple times a season or be Arsenal through and through and be protected species anymore (Jack Ramsey Gibbs Theo pre this season).

Mertesacker ducking or turning his back on the ball wouldn't be swept under the carpet if he was in the side now.
Arsene himself can no longer blame officials the fa fixture list TV schedules and be listened to.

Being good in the changing room and of no use on the pitch is no longer acceptable as sentiment is fast going out of fashion with Arsenal fans.
I'm not sure even beating city will do much to change the mood of change but a heavy defeat will certainly raise the volume and increase the pace that's for sure.

20 Apr 2017 06:38:26
From what I hear Wenger will leave, despite press reports to the contrary and Allegri is the first choice replacement, negotiations underway. I have tried to explain the source of this information, but for some reason it hasn't been allowed to be shown. Two defensive signings have been targeted; Van Dijk and Kolasinac. It is hoped that with quality signings, Ozil and Sanchez will be persuaded to stay. A top forward has also been targeted. All I will say is that my wife is an Italian working at a major Italian law firm. Hopefully this can be shown!

20 Apr 2017 09:28:21
You might be right RG but i think if it was already decided he would leave we all know by now as i can't see what good it would do to hold that news back, fans players media would all get right behind him win lose or draw so i can't see why anyone would hide that news.
My guess is nothing is sorted one way or the other although i do think Arsene would like to stay and most probably will start next season at least but as Heybridge has pointed out there is no guarantee he will see out the season even if he is manager in August.
Again my guess is the board have no appetite to force Arsene out but niether do i think they will be working night and day to stop him leaving either, in many ways i think the board would be relieved if Arsene called it a day.

20 Apr 2017 10:03:03
one day he has to leave no doubt. a loss to man city followed by spurs after a midweek game changes so much. but we could win both of course.

i still think he's waiting for top4! isn't happening and his bargaining lessens no longer can he stroll around as the top4 man who brings in extra money.

if he signs il say ok i called it wrong but it won't end well and allegri doing what he's doing has turned the board imo.

20 Apr 2017 11:10:15
Derby mate even we beat Spurs and City and go on to win the cup all of which i doubt very much but if we did would everyone or even enough people suddenly forget the rest of the season or the seasons before this wnd the one before that?

We have seen rousing runs at the end of the season before we've topped the table going into the new year on more than one occasion where everyone suddenly thinks this time it's different this time we will stay the course but only go into typical Arsenal mode and fade away.

If we finish this season with an unbelievably fantastic run where we win all our last 7 league games plus the cup will anyone really think this is it this time we will kick on, next season will be the one that sees us right in the thick of the title race well into May?

I very much doubt it mate we've all seen heard and thought it far to many times before to be able to convince ourselves it might yet be possible for Arsene to make us competitive again over a season.

Arsene has followed George W Bushes advice of " You can fool some of the people some of the time, and they are the ones you need to concentrate on ' for to long now and he can no longer fool enough of the people any of the time to carry on for much longer at Arsenal.

20 Apr 2017 17:04:12
If we win the cup and finish top4 hel be here for sure no doubt in his mind he hopes its possible. Will we do it no I don't think so. Which just pushes him closer to going

Juve and monaco on great runs and I think one of them managers will be wanted by arsenal. If he stays gunner il happily send you some beer money and say you warned me. Sad times if it happens.

19 Apr 2017 11:48:27
Ed, any way to get an update on what's actually happening? Not a question about staying or going, but whether the board or players are losing patience with the uncertainty?
Just getting a little worried seeing every other club linked with strengthening projects, while we're seemingly rudderless.

{Ed002's Note - I am honestly not interested in tittle-tattle at all. Right now there is nothing signed but my understanding is that he will stay. It puts the club in a very difficult position.}

19 Apr 2017 12:11:17
I can totally see the clubs unenviable position.
The board will not be popular whatever do so they may as well do what they think is best for Arsenal and accept the flack that comes with it either way.

19 Apr 2017 13:29:34
This is why I point the finger at the owners 62, if they're happy with what they've got then we won't take strides forward.

That's always been the case. Wenger can get it in the neck 24/ 7 but they are the ones who ultimately allow it.

19 Apr 2017 14:26:08
Very fair point Stoner mate, Arsene is responsible for what his team does and doesn't do and the board are responsible for what thier manager does or is allowed to not to do.
I still don't see how the board have prevented Arsene from achieving all he was personally capable of but where they have been at fault is allowing him far to much of his own way for far to long for his or anyone elses good, although i'm not sure compromise on his on views was ever on the agenda where Arsene was concerned.
Arsene is extremely popular and the board are extremely unpopular with the fans so they have taken the easiest route for a quite life.
The Leicester board were nobodies favourite people a few months back but I'm sure the Leicester fans and the footballing world have warmed to them since they took the outrageous decision to sack Claudio Ranieri but headed to premier league safety and champions league quarter final.
Popular or right?
Our board might as well be right because they will never be popular :-)

19 Apr 2017 14:31:53
Thanks Ed. Didn't want to ask the typical question, but can't see the point in thinking of targets if our house is not in order.

{Ed002's Note - That is why it makes it difficult for the club. There is no way the board will sack Wenger but time has come for significant changes to be made and it would be far from ideal for long-term planning if Wenger was to bring the players in that he wants, not to have them gel, and then to have him leave.}

19 Apr 2017 14:52:00
Ed i understand the club will never sack Arsene but does that exclude the possibility of not extending his contract with out compromise?

{Ed002's Note - I am aware that a two year deal was offered last summer (this year plus one more) which better suited the club as regards a replacement. Right now the club has as you know enquired after three different managers whilst making provision - and they did give a deadline to Wenger. That has long past so I rather suspect he has said that he would like to continue but I am not aware of any contractual agreement just yet. I think it unlikely they would draw a line across but until there is agreement it is possible.}

19 Apr 2017 14:58:43
I still think the biggest issue is the ambition of the club. Correct me if i'm wrong, as I read this elsewhere, but apparently Arsenal players are due to lose out on their bonus' for not reaching the top 4 this year (should that happen) . Comparing that to Chelsea, apparently their bonus targets are primarily built around winning trophies. No trophy = no bonus.

Chelsea players, no trophy = no bonus
Arsenal players, no top 4 = no bonus

If this is true, it tells me everything about the ambition and direction of this once great club.

{Ed002's Note - I am not aware of the detail of the contracts of the players for either club and this simply sounds like speculation.}

19 Apr 2017 15:59:34
You're spot on 62, the board cannot be blamed for Wenger's failings but simply failing to act on them as Abramovich or Sheik Mansour have and still do.

So I don't make them accountable for what happens on the pitch but what they fail to do off it.

19 Apr 2017 18:53:50
Its not wenger the board love its the champions league money. That going changes everything. .

Of course he wants to stay but there's a reason he hasn't signed a deal yet.

19 Apr 2017 20:08:51
Derby the reason is desperation that they still hope we get top four.

20 Apr 2017 10:11:23
true steve.

19 Apr 2017 06:37:34
I was very impressed with Rob Holding against Boro. I was away, was Mustafi dropped or injured? If we play 3 at the back, it might be worth trying Chambers at wing back when he returns. He would provide a decent option for Bellerin. I also thought that Mustafi might be worth deploying as a defensive midfield player, as his distribution is excellent and he could add some bite in front of the back three.

19 Apr 2017 11:48:36
It was Boro

The same performance this weekend will see us get beaten.

19 Apr 2017 20:18:59
Rg we scraped a win against boro and that was it. No hallelujah moments i'm afraid.

19 Apr 2017 20:23:10
Oh and sorry yes holding did ok.