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02 May 2016 22:58:43
I don't think you can even start to describe what Leicester have just achieved.
Absolutely amazing achievement.
Congratulations to everybody involved with Leicester Football Club.
Total respect.
02 May 2016 23:16:47
Well deserved.
02 May 2016 23:20:30
Great post Dags mate.
02 May 2016 22:22:33
The pain at the lane just goes on.
Now we need Southampton and Newcastle to avoid defeat against the Toot, a couple of wins and we finish second!
Wenger to stay and the disloyal fans to be put firmly in their place. Shameful rabble.
02 May 2016 23:21:43
RG,
I'm a 'Wenger in' bloke, but think it's a bit unfair to describe the 'Wenger out' brigade as "Disloyal".
I like brown sauce on my bacon rolls, Mrs Dags likes red sauce, does that mean I like bacon roll's more than she does?
Nope, it's personal choice.
02 May 2016 23:36:07
Dags, RG orders mustard, not because he likes it himself but because he hopes others don't like it at all.
02 May 2016 23:43:03
You really can't get it into your head RG69. It's not the first time on this site that things have confused you.
02 May 2016 23:27:41
Only each belt buckle will solve that puzzle Dags.
03 May 2016 00:48:25
Do you not think a change might be in orde? Too many poor results?
Simeone is the only one!
02 May 2016 22:22:14
Big congratulations to Leicester best team in the league this year by far. Big raspberry to the chokers who were never going to win the league. Class ranieri.
02 May 2016 23:40:38
Are you talking about Arsenal Steve, they are the biggest chokers at least we pushed Leicester all the way unlike you lot.
02 May 2016 23:54:54
Raver I thought I was watching tag team wrestling. I know we choked raver I did predict it in December but if you remember on your site I also said you would as well. Looks like I was right, everytime spuds have come under pressure they've bombed. Ive got to say your biggest downfall was not beating the ten man chokers at the lane when we were there for the taking. But look on the bright side no spursday football for one season.
03 May 2016 00:37:00
tottenham tottenham no one can stop them. oh what's that? leicester did? LMFAO!
03 May 2016 00:38:02
raver pushed them all the way and won what exactly? sweet FA.
03 May 2016 08:14:02
There out of the FA cup ain't they supermac? Lol.
02 May 2016 22:09:32
Well Spurs need 4 points for sure but 3 in reality. Will they have enough to see them over the line? They have crumbled really they could even go to the wall or now play with pressure off and see second home!
02 May 2016 23:39:19
Sanago, one win over Southampton and you can't catch us mate, you better watch out you don't finish 4 th cause if city and Liverpool win the European competition you won't be playing in Europe.
02 May 2016 23:58:06
Your predictions haven't been that good so far this season raver.
03 May 2016 10:23:31
Here's raver thinking I beting on the dark horse. City and Liverpool win Europe lol.
02 May 2016 22:06:32
Congratulations to Leicester City. Also should give some credit to Spurs, they gave it their all. Must hurt especially to see Chelsea play for Leicester.
02 May 2016 23:43:29
Well said Wesley, what come's. Around springs to mind, what happens if Chelsea are going for the league next season and spurs are playing one of their rivals. I would play the reserves to get them back. They have opened a can of worms with the way they Said they would roll over for Leicester.
03 May 2016 00:01:19
Raver they don't have to roll over they did you tonight even though you tried to mug them all on the pitch. I can see some big retrospective actions coming on dembele, lamela, dier, walker and poch. You might have to put out the reserves for the rest of the season.
02 May 2016 22:01:47
John Terry is heading down the M1 and getting into his Leicester city kit ready for Saturdays presentation photo's :-)
02 May 2016 23:17:25
Love it G62.
02 May 2016 20:15:12
As things stand Leicester city are premier league champions.
02 May 2016 20:26:30
Far to early mate.
02 May 2016 20:40:13
big mouth!
02 May 2016 20:45:31
Chelsea are very poor.
02 May 2016 20:47:47
That's dembele with a 3 game ban! Or it should be.
02 May 2016 20:48:27
Ridiculess crowing 30mins in.
02 May 2016 20:50:30
funny they looked good against us - twice . shows how poor we and wenger now are doesn't it?
02 May 2016 20:58:37
Not really sure why anyone thinks that Chelsea would beat them. I genuinely couldn't give a toss. If Spurs finish above us it's because we have been pants.
02 May 2016 21:16:58
Chelsea back in it.
02 May 2016 21:58:12
As i was saying Leicester city ARE champions of English football.
02 May 2016 23:26:15
That's more like it g62! Better time.
02 May 2016 19:22:35
I don't know how many would still love to hear over the next 5 to 6 years "the ref made wrong decisions, we weren't good enough, we weren't efficient in the final third, we've lost key players thro' injuries"? All these are Wenger's words and it's hard to take when he's able to brilliantly pinpoint these issues and it hurts when he hasn't addressed them. I understand when he doesn't want to go hard on players when they underperform for fear of demoralizing them. But i believe he's the best one in position to tell the players the truth no matter how hard it is. Klopp does it well with care. I remember Ozil conceded that it's the fault of the players for losing out on the title but Wenger quickly refuted those remarks. I'm beginning to think he's shy of the truth. We shouldn't be happy when we finish above big teams. We are arsenal and they are who they are. We don't fight to be above them neither do we to be in top 4. Instead we fight to win the title and that's what ambitious clubs do.
02 May 2016 19:41:27
Its never him or he teams fault, I'm still trying to get my head round how 60,000 fee paying fans have let our over paid underperforming players down this season.
If you go to a concert and the artist sings off key and forgets the lyrics to the songs all night and the audience lose interest and start talking amongst themselves, who's let who down?
02 May 2016 16:31:04
Have read loads of comments and posts today. The talk of loyalty got me befuddled. Maybe to some, loyalty is being 3rd or 4th over a decade in the league and (with all due respect) seeing leicester fly out from nowhere to win the league. Again loyalty could be maintaining these same positions for another decade. I don't think anyone hates Wenger, instead it's his ambitions that we're all questioning. Everytime, he comes up with excuses for the club's failings when we all know those excuses are fixable today. The weaknesses in the team is for all to see. No one would want to have a stagnant life. It's true he Wenger has raised the standards of the club and that makes the fans want more. All these years, fans got his back even through the humiliating moments. I think it's time he pays the fans back thereby making the players feel fulfilled. We play to win. Everyone would in honesty want the club they represent to win major trophies. Wenger can't do it all, that's what he's missing. Everyone needs someone.
02 May 2016 16:40:45
Let's leave the word loyalty aside, the problem as far as I see it is that some fans are underestimating the job Wenger has done and is still doing. They appear to suggest that winning the PL and the CL is easy, when it clearly isn't. They seem to think that replacing Wenger with a manager that can do better will be simple, when clearly it won't be. The frustrating thing is that a couple of small clubs, not in the CL, will probably finish above us, when we should really have won the league. Mind you we still have an outside chance of finishing second and will probably finish top of all the big clubs. Wenger is still my choice as manager and many others too.
02 May 2016 16:54:25
Wenger has had a massive say in the structuring of this club, he put himself in sole charge, he decides who we buy, he decides who we sell, he decides what we will or won't pay for a player, he decides what to pay a player, he decided all that because he wanted total control. He is sailing this ship the way he wants it, he doesn't want a david dein. And while the ship is making money kronke is happy and doesn't see any need to interfere.
02 May 2016 17:10:35
No one is underestimating the job Arsene did but many are grossly overestimating the job he is doing.
Its ridiculous to say finishing top 4 but not putting in one single challenge for over a decade for the manager of one of the countries giant clubs is an acceptable performance.
The only thing I see as being underestimated is the size and capabilities of Arsenal football club.
02 May 2016 17:20:08
Steve r - Absolutely, Wenger manages the club as he deems fit and Kronke leaves well alone. Wenger has done an amazing job and still is, you would think we had failed to qualify for the CL and got knocked out of all comps in the early rounds! Wenger would love to have Dein at the club, they worked really well together and are still great friends to this day. You seem to want to blame everyone for finishing 2nd or 3rd this season and failing to win a trophy for the first time in three years.
So you replace Wenger with whom, be realistic and you want Kronke to sell his shares, which isn't going to happen, to whom? Usmanov, who has never mentioned putting his own funds into the club, but in the past he did say he wanted to raise £100m to spend on players, from the fans who would in effect lend the funds interest free, but this would have plunged the club into debt.
02 May 2016 17:55:46
Oh Rg69 he isn't still doing amazing how on earth can you say that it's mental. He's done ok by his OWN standards for 12 years which were amazing the 8 years previous. I'm for treating him with respect but you seriously can't believe that, because it's make believe mate absolute pie in the sky. There has been some external factors out of his control (overheads, the city, Chelsea situation) and he is still a good manager but he is no longer delivering what he delivered for 3-4 times his initial fee. He is and will always be the single greatest man at AFC but I can't see him achieving things that I want him to. He might be fulfilling your expectations and you might see him delivering on his promise after the 13th time of asking and that's fair enough I accept your opinion and I won't try and change your mind or chastise you for that but I can't see him delivering again managing like he has done for the last 13 years. If he has a complete change in approach and change the habit of a life time then who knows next year but the man is going after next season so let's hope there is some masterplan for the new era but I'm very concerned about the next 10 years.
02 May 2016 18:10:27
Rg you are going over the same things over and over, i have stated many times who i would replace wenger with, i don't rate the guy as a tactician and i just can't get over all the mistakes he makes. People on here have come up with lots of names and all coukd probably do a better job. Like i asked earlier if id said claudio ranieri should have been our manager at the beginning of this season for instance, you would have laughed and ridiculed it. So it doesn't matter to you what names we come upmwith, why do you ask, you have already stated that there isn't another manager you want to replace the irreplaceable wenger. Its not about you and me its about the atmosphere that is being created and this club will not move on until wenger does because it is unhealthy. People ard unhappy because of what, people are restless because of what, people are questioning our innabilities because of what. My whole family adored wenger including me and one by one over a two year period all 7 of us have turned, why is that and is it only me and my family, no. I repeat burying our heads and saying wenger has to stay is not going to change peoples opinions that have changed. The only way wenger can survive is basically to win the first game and stay top next season until the end because the patience has run out. And for my football club i don't want that.
02 May 2016 16:51:21
Total unrest.
02 May 2016 19:03:43
Rg read the post, i put A david dein, not david dein.
02 May 2016 19:29:17
There is NES but things need to be addressed and when people have really blinkered unrealistic views people are bound to reply and that reply is been taken as disrespectful to wenger, something needs to happen whichever way u slice it.
02 May 2016 13:50:27
By the way following on from what max and a few others have said. i'm as loyal to arsenal as anyone, i have been for longer than i like to think about but what is this loyalty to wenger about. Arsenal fc is my loyalty not wenger. I watched and supported arsenal through the GG years and i loved the bloke the same as wenger but i wasnt loyal to him, he was a person doing a job getting very well paid by arsenal and a few more, but when he went my loyalty stayed with arsenal not GG. i'm loyal to arsenal, i was supporting arsenal, years and years before wenger. Should i all of a sudden be loyal to kronke because he bought our club, no.
02 May 2016 14:39:08
I think the thing people need to realise about you Steve is that you want change and you have realised a long time ago where this was all going. You have never been disrespectful and hateful towards wenger like others on the out crowd have been and that's what people should remember. Me myself have turned a blind eye and I said last summer that this was his last chance especially when every man and his dog knew what was needed! It's not so much the non existent tittle challenge that has annoyed me just the completely blinkered approach to a season that was very winnable, without the players needed in positions where we are either thin or not got the required quality we never stood a chance and if people not intimate with the club could see this then why couldn't a man that has been there well over 2 decades not? For me it was gross neglegence. In saying that I am very greatfull and thankful that we have had the years we have had and we would arguably be no where near if wenger never took the reigns and instead this year we could have been over the moon with where we are! But mr wenger has in some ways made a rod for his own back and has set the bar high and he his not meeting his own expectations let alone that of the fans. We have to respect him and his contract and voice our opinions respectfully and not let our club become divided and descend into turmoil. In Arsenal we live but wenger we no longer trust!
02 May 2016 14:56:19
Fans are, of course, permitted to question the club, but must do it in a constructive way and showing open dissent at a match against one of the most successful managers in the club's history is not sensible and will, in my opinion do more harm than good.
I have my own critisicms of Wenger, but try to be constructive in my comments. The anti-Kronke brigade, I fail to understand as he appears to have done little wrong, unless supporting Wenger and giving him the ability to run the club as he deems fit is a crime.
Loyalty extends to supporting the club, the players, the manger, etc.
I can't say I liked the end of the George Graham era, we signed some dreadful players and became a very dull team, but I never felt the need to show open dissent against him or the players. When the board sacked him, the job was done.
I fail to comprehend the current anti-Wenger nonsense, he has been an amazing manager and even over the last three seasons, he was won two trophies and competed at the highest level at home and in Europe, which is no mean feat. Some fans mention his salary, which he deserved for running the club so well. These comments are clearly driven by envy, from people that simply don't have the ability to earn such a salary.
As I keep saying we will miss him when he has gone, the stability and growth that he brought to the club, as well as the training facillities, the stadium, the trophies, the football we have seen. Do I think he is any less capable now, not for one moment. The next club he goes to will be very fortunate to have him and we will find replacing him next to impossible,
02 May 2016 15:16:19
I will tell you the Arsene I will miss RG the one that left Highbury back in 2006 who had was full of footballing ambition, not the one who has emerged at the Emerirates who shows more interest in financial aspirations than footballing ambitions. m
As for Kronke I fail to see why he gets the blame when by Arsene's own admission he has never stopped him buying anyone he wanted to buy.
Personally I think our quite American owner has been a handy scapegoat for some fans to blame because they don't want to see Arsene's mistakes.
02 May 2016 16:13:24
G62 - yes before he had to manage under severe financial constraints and whilst the main competition was Man U. Then financially doped Chelsea and Man City arrived on the scene. Now even little clubs such as Leicester and the Toot have significant resources.
02 May 2016 16:34:53
People go on about the gg era as if it was an awful period, it seems to be the in thing to knock gg and his tennure. Well I will tell you just like wenger he was hero worshipped. We won leagues, doubles, cup doubles a european trophy and it wasnt as boring as people try to make out. While we were winning the football was great but when we didn't it got knocked, probably no different to today. Our football at the monent is not that exciting to watch and we aren't winning.
02 May 2016 16:54:47
mind the gap R. G. little club spurs lol.
02 May 2016 17:06:58
Raver! Behave! What gap? 1961, the pain at the lane still goes on!
Good luck tonight, for once I will be cheering on Chelsea! We can still catch you!
02 May 2016 17:12:11
Steve r - the GG era was fantastic, but the final part was desperate. The football was tedious, boring and the players he signed: Jimmy Carter, Glenn Helder, Pal Lydersen, Chris Kywomya. Probably loads more that I can't recall.
Wenger was a breath of fresh air, after Rioch of course, who brought Bergkamp and Platt to the club. The men I miss at the club are Dein and Fiszman.
02 May 2016 17:16:19
Raver, we know you are mindful of the gap . That's why you come onto the biggest clubs banter page to read what fans of a successful club talk about!
02 May 2016 17:53:23
George did a fantastic job and turned a lot of hard working players into champions but in the end his style of play became awful to watch even though successful, I remember against Sheffield Wednesday he had to bring back a player he had started would never play for him again Paul Davis to create something for Wrighty to finish.
Arsene was a brilliant and brought football to Arsenal I thought I'd never see, stunning sexy football built on the solid base George had left at the back, Arsene without any George players has failed to once mount a premier league challange, when Parlour and Keowen went they took the George fighting spirit and our title chasing days with them.
Arsene has proved incapable of building an entire team capable of putting together a single sustained premier league title challenge on his own, don't take my word for it the tables with and without George players are there to see.
02 May 2016 18:33:19
What success number 14, you lot can't even finish in the top 3 and that is without city, Utd Chelsea Liverpool struggling. We are on the up with poch and all the top boys signing new contracts and going into the biggest stadium in London. While you lot are going backwards with ozil and Sanchez wanting out in the summer and Stan the man and Wenger taking the club nowhere.
02 May 2016 19:27:50
Sorry I took so long to reply to your post Raver but I was too busy laughing . All good banter. I just can't get over the delusion you have that spurs are going to dominate this league in the next few years. Once Pepsiguardsthecola buys every player he wants with unlimited funds, and both Chelsea and Man-u splash out on new players it will be tough to replicate your teams achievements this season. Your team will lose its best performers to pay for that new stadium and replacing them will be tough no matter who is managing. You don't need to point out the flaws in my team as I'm well aware of our need to improve and challenge.
02 May 2016 19:30:37
Raver you need to stop going on so early let's see what tonight has in store for you and God forbid you loose because then it's 2points and I would start to worry.
02 May 2016 00:38:19
This year has been a failure which I admit, but is changing the manager the solution, I don't think so. All he has is a year left on his contract which he deserves to finish. The protests have cranked up the pressure on Wenger which I feel in a way is a good thing, but it is all going a bit overboard.
We've bought a world class player every year for the last 3 years, Ozil, Sanchez, and Cech, forget about the money spent. There is a good team being built by adding players every year from the transfers market as well as one or two youngster being introduced. Arsene Wenger prefers to add world class players to the squad not mediocre ones or buying just by succumbing to fans pressure, and what is wrong in that. We can afford to not sell players after many years, but that doesn't necessarily mean we can buy players without any plan. People go on about many players being available which he missed out on. How do you know that for sure? Have you ever been a manager yourself? can't people see that other clubs with infinite money also compete for the same players? For eg, Everyone wanted Hummels as a CB. Do you think there is a manager out there who couldve convinced a German player not to go to Bayern? . So people just criticize him for missing out on players instead of having any insight on what actually might've transpired.
Do people honestly think there are managers out there who have the capacity to pull players and compete with City, Chelsea, PSG, Real Madrid, Barca, Bayern and PSG without spending the money that they spend in the transfer market? I can't think of anyone except maybe Ancheloti coming close, which is a big maybe, and forget about Jose ever managing us.
Every one of the clubs I mentioned have an advantage over us in the transfer market. So just because we've come out of the financial constraint do you think everything changes overnight? We are a London-based club which serves as an advantage for us, but so are Chelsea, and they have more money, and so do United and City. We can't compete with Barcelona and Real for the Spanish players in the same way we can't compete with Bayern for the German players. Likewise the French leagues are the most scouted ones buy clubs all over the world, PSG have an advantage over us there as well now, but we still manage to nick some good youngsters from there. Is there a manager who can overcome all of these disadvantages and still bring champions league football to us every year?
We have an excellent youth system, we add players every year which would take millions for us to buy in the market. Where is Chelsea, Manchester United and City's Bellerin, Coqulian, or Iwobi? Is there a manager who can follow the same youth policy that we have by giving youngsters a chance and still compete with the top teams?
Lastly coming to the tactics, I agree we are naive at times when it comes to this, but the players also need to take equal responsibility in this matter. There are many ways to play football and become successful, but as a big club we cannot put 10 players behind the ball and park the bus. Do you think Leicester can emulate what they've done this season next year as well by spending 90 minutes chasing the ball on a Wednesday night at Bayern and then be able to do the same thing again against a Premier league club? I admit we lack cutting edge when it comes finishing which I believe we've been looking to address that for the last 2 years, and every club in the world needs a striker now. We did make a bid to buy best out there in Suarez which we failed to get.
Despite all of these and a lot of other pressures as well we've won two FA cups, we are on the verge of building a good 80 plus points team, we've had our own stadium built as well. The only thing missing is a league win which he deserves to have a go at for another year. It takes a lot of years to build a club to be able to compete with the top teams of the world, and all it takes is for some impatience for all of it to crumble. If all of these doesn't make him deserve another year I don't know what does.
02 May 2016 05:42:02
Excellent piece. If we avoid defeat at City, then 3rd place or even an outside possibility of 2nd are where we will finish. With a summer clearout, some quality signings and we will be in a position to challenge for the PL next season. I find the disloyalty to Wenger, Kronke and the club, by certain fans absolutely astonishing. Many appear to be driven by unrealistic expectations or envy aimed towards Kromk's wealth and Wenger's earnings at the club. Unlike other Owners Kronke hasn't used Arsenal as a cash cow and Wenger has deserved every penny he has earned at the club.
02 May 2016 07:49:51
I'm irritated by reading about my "disloyalty" to the club just because I want a change of management. A good post by Wesley for sure, but the key line for for me is "we are on the verge of building. "
We've been "on the verge" for years!
I have loved Wenger, think the man's a legend, revere him.
But he won't address the issues that there is consensus need addressing, his press ramblings demonstrate that he is out of touch (his comment a week or so ago that (essentially) if fan's don't like it they don't have to buy their season tickets, amply illustrate how far removed he has become) , and the bottom line is, we keep on missing or blowing our chances of WINNING TROPHIES!
Loyalty is a great trait and one all real fans should have, but blind loyalty is nothing short of foolish.
02 May 2016 08:22:33
Great post's and a fantastic reply by Max.
For me, Wenger's biggest problem is he has lost his ruthlessness.
Certain players, you know who they are, should have been sold last year.
They bring nothing to the team, take up a valuable squad space, stop younger players coming through and cost millions in wages.
Wenger should be a lot more like Mourinho (not this season) and get rid of players once surplus to requirement.
I'm all for sentiment, but sentiment doesn't put trophies on the table.
02 May 2016 09:14:15
All good posts
RG69, you talk about a Summer clearout, that is something Wenger doesn't agree with, his words " 4 players is the maximum to can change otherwise its too much disruption to the squad", me personally, I can't see wholesale changes why would he. Wenger will be thinking that DW is like a new signing, as is Jack as is Santi, Wenger will think he hasn't seen the best of Elneny so in his mind he will feel its a stong squad with unity, so don't expect many changes to the first 14 or 15 players. Fringe players will move on and that's your lot IMO of course. I should also add weren't we supposed to challenge this year?
02 May 2016 09:26:07
Bambam,
I can't see Wenger buying more than two players.
A Centre half and a striker.
(Maybe a midfielder too, hopefully Granit Xhaka)
02 May 2016 10:26:43
If Wenger gets a striker what then for DW and OG, he won't put 2 strikers on the bench, I think you are a tad optimistic mate, a CB for sure . not sure where else he feels he needs to strengthen.
02 May 2016 10:36:23
A great post Wesley but I am the only one allowed to write war and peace! 😉
As always there are multiple opinions on where we're good and where we're bad or how hopeless Wenger is or how good he is. The 1000's that sang his name against the 100 or so that held up a banner show he still has the love and respect of the vast majority.
How many would have loved Mangala, Bony, Otamendi, Schneiderlin, Sterling, Costa, Mata, Matic or Benteke here or even wanted that thug Fellaini here, 100's of millions of pounds worth of currently useless so called talent.
How many want Ronald Koeman, whilst all the top teams have failed he of all the managers in the premiership should be guiding Southampton to the title or at a minimum top four. In essence has he not failed on a grand scale, tactically hopeless against Leicester a few weeks ago.
So if Madrid don't get their target thus Benzema doesn't leave, Aubeyamang doesn't want to leave Dortmund, Fekir signs a new contract and Carvalho gets injured shall we just gamble on anyone.
No one says Wenger is perfect and there is nothing wrong with change but you cannot exonerate the players for their part in this, do you honestly believe Wenger gave them two complete sets of instructions for the games against United. The Barcelona game for 70 minutes we matched them but for a goal scorer followed by an individual error.
Quality teams punish you if you don't take your chances. We talked about Giroud needing goals from all our other attacking players to compliment the fact he won't get 20-25 a season, they have provided nothing. Other big games have for me shown that Wenger is not tactically clueless. He has changed.
We know certain players shouldn't be here but not the full circumstances as to why they are. Would any of them have gotten near the pitch had Benzema, Fekir and Carvalho arrived as they don't now we have a fully fit squad.
A lot of fans fit things to enhance their reasons for Wenger leaving, a great example was Elneny, "Wenger told me not to shoot", really, when in fact it was Wenger told me to be more intelligent when I shoot, said in praise, not annoyance, does anyone really think Sanchez wouldn't shoot because Wenger told him not too. No way ever. Ask yourself why Ramsey doesn't shoot, are the boo boys on his back again. Who ever gets confidence from that.
The crowd at the Emirates has a huge part to play, stay behind and demonstrate but not in a game, give the team and the players our support. It's the teams 90 minutes, our team. We want them to win, why would we not want to inspire them to do that whatever we think of Wenger.
And please, this fourth place thing, let it go, I don't know and don't believe that there is a player, a fan or for that matter the manager who sets out with anything other than a want to win everything going. Give it up its a pointless comment.
It's been a hugely frustrating season but a season is 38 games, not the first 6, the last 6 or any clump of games in the middle, where you finish is where you deserve to finish.
I believe Wenger will buy a striker and a quality midfielder, likes Dags says Granit Xhaka would be ideal. If he buys another defender to replace Mertesacker then that too is ideal and not out of the question.
Like this season I start with the belief we can win everything, exactly like I will next season. I don't even think of a 4th place trophy, whatever that is. 😉.
02 May 2016 10:36:34
Why will we be any closer to 80+ points next season?
If Raneiri or Billic had been motivating and organising our team would we have got 80 + points this season?
We have for years been half season wonders alternating between good start poor finish or poor start strong finish, why will Arsene suddenly be more capable of getting the best out his players over 38 games next season than he has been forthe past 10 seasons?
Unless Arsene accepts help and brings in someone with fresh ideas to add to his own I just can't see how or why things will any different next season.
I would be as excited by Arsene bringing in a new number 2 from outside the club and being willing to accept his help as I would signing a £50 million striker.
02 May 2016 10:39:40
Banbury, I note your points. However, the following may/ will occur;
Outs: Debuchy, Jenkinson (when fit) , Arteta, Flamini, Rosicky, Sanogo and Szczesny, plus other loan deals.
That leaves us with a squad of approx 23, including players that are below 21 years of age and don't count in the permitted 25 squad.
There are other possible exits.
I don't believe Wenger will sign any more than 2 or 3 first team players; a defender that can play at RB and CB. A midfield player and a striker.
Don't forget that we have played most of this season without a full sqaud due to injury and now all the players are fit, some top players can't even make it to the bench. I would just like to see the 2 or 3 signings, to be at the top level, to improve the quality of the squad.
02 May 2016 11:01:48
Hi RG
They are fringe players as I have mentioned mate, you make vaild poicts ( as always ) but those thinking we will spend 60 + million are dreaming and have a few worldies coming in will have a long wait.
The trouble is we never have a full squad due to injuries through a season. I predict we will have a repeat the same.
02 May 2016 11:05:04
The 4th place trophy Red? Do you really not remember who invented it and why? :-)
02 May 2016 11:50:42
62 you need to let it go mate, with our resources against that of others it WAS a suitable point to reach, that is clearly no longer the case.
Let's not stay stuck in the past, I never think of it, for one, its Uniteds new goal. 😉.
02 May 2016 12:02:38
62,
Wenger actually said, "The first trophy is to finish in the top four. "
What was Ranieri's goal, his first goal, was it to get to 40 points, did it change to finishing mid table, did it change to Europa league, did it change to Champions league, has it changed to champions.
A club of our size should be in the champions league, we cannot fail to do that, if money and losing your best players mean you can't achieve 3rd, 2nd or 1st that's the way it was.
So it's not a trophy mate, it's simply a goal, the press use it as something different, opposing fans do the same and before you know it our own fans are sucked into believing that is all we ever aim for. It's rubbish mate.
Did you ever play a sport intending to come 2nd?
02 May 2016 12:24:28
My opinion is we won't spend big this summer and get what we need, because we haven't before and I see no reason why it should be any different. I see nothing next season with this club except a continuation of the same and maybe a bigger struggle for fourth. This season will not repeat itself as far as the big clubs non existent challenge is concerned. Things as someone said will not change overnight. The disharmony is there and will be there next season and that's a fact.
02 May 2016 12:29:54
Red to quote Arsene " top 4 is a trophy' his words not mine mate :-)
02 May 2016 15:03:02
Where are uniteds Bellerin, iwobi and coq?
Is this for for real? Fosu-mensa, Rashford, CBJ, lingard etc are a few that have been given chances and done well this season, there have been others too.
Next season add tuzinabe, pereira and maybe grabben to that list.
Yes your right arsenal are the only team that gives loads of youth ago and 'competes' every year.
Posts like these I'm guessing that infuriates the wenger out brigade. U give him all the credit for maybe 1 player u have bought that is young and comes good while totally exonerating of the short comings he has.
I honestly hope u keep him, give him another contract for 3 years.
I'm afraid if u want to kick on monsour wenger may have to go or it will be wash and repeat next season.
02 May 2016 15:32:29
It's happened too many times to be ignored. Some have felt that way for a good few years now! I can no longer defend it! As for you lot you have been shocking and are still not too far behind . I do feel though that you have found a lot out about your youth ranks and have rightly pointed out some potentials, so maybe not a completely hopeless season for you.
02 May 2016 15:58:48
Since Fergie left united have failed to make the top 4 in 2 out of 3 attempts but I've a feeling they will be back challenging for the title long before we are again and CTR will be asking us how our 4th place trophy campaign is going on a regular basis I'm sure :- (
02 May 2016 16:37:48
62,
You have in a way proved a point, I'm quoting Wenger, you're quoting Wenger so which one is true.
There simply is no trophy for fourth place, have you ever seen it. No. Teams have goals and that was the first tick in the box. As simple as. It's what people make of it that differs from the fact.
02 May 2016 16:41:38
Ctr yes you are right, how so you feel about your bunch, looked awful a few months ago but you have some special kids tha van gaal has handled well, but I don't think he is taking you back. But maureen could kill that dead.
02 May 2016 16:52:54
young kids will always give u up and down performances steve, its to be expected.
I agree mate i want LVG gone (sooner the better) but Mou can have the first team and get it right for a few years while i hope behind the scenes we put in some good youth facilities and help the young lads fulfill there potential, there may be a few loans and a few first team appearances.
02 May 2016 18:15:03
Red mate you and me both know in reality there is no 4th place trophy but the big question is does Arsene :-)
02 May 2016 00:36:22
After the Swansea game I lost it and said Wenger should go - but ever since have felt disloyal - a trait I hold in high regard in my own life. Spend big this Summer with Wenger in charge SIMPLES.
02 May 2016 08:24:20
Nothing disloyal in expressing your opinion Sussex.
And you are correct, if Wenger spends and addresses the problem (s) in the team, we should be fine.
02 May 2016 09:15:15
What is spend BIG?
02 May 2016 09:27:17
Opposite to spend small? :-)
02 May 2016 12:26:37
Banbury - spending big is not necessarily a number - as long as he covers the obvious positions with players that want and are good enough to play for Arsenal and improve us I don't give a fishes tit how much they cost. Think he has to change our basketball style of football as well. COYG.