31 Aug 2013 00:00:54
Paul Rochester, I said I won't come on here after 3rd sep unless the boss gets 1 big signing.
Also I don't know why the likes of you, Original Ag, Rue are so personal with me.
I know we've got different opinions, but I've never got personal. We still support the same team, and I'm with you guys on Sunday. let's hope we beat the scum.

1.) 31 Aug 2013
Wengerism,

I agree, I feel the personal attacks on you are unwarranted. I believe you are overconfident in our management; but at the same time most of the posters on this website are overly negative.

The truth lies somewhere in the middle.

In your favour:

1. The claim that Wenger has underachieved by some posters: Clearly, he is meeting the board's expectations as he is still employed; but is he meeting the expected results based on the resources expended? Well, he has the fourth highest wage bill in England and the 20th highest transfer net spend and he consistently places 3rd or 4th. Meaning he is achieving the result or slightly above the result expected, so at least in the league he is meeting his expectations.

Keep in mind that Chelsea, United (excluding Ronaldo), and Citeh, generally do not sell their star players whereas Arsenal had done so every year and you begin to see what Wenger has done as pretty impressive.

2. The thought that we have over 100 million pounds to spend: Yes, there is over 100 million pounds in the bank; but does that mean we can spend 100 million pounds? Has anyone ever thought that Arsenal have to maintain certain cash balances to satisfy our creditors of our liquidity? I imagine if you look at the minimum balance that Arsenal have held in the bank since the move and the loan documents signed, it is probably a requirement that Arsenal keep a certain amount of ready cash.

3. The myth that Wenger does not want to spend. On many levels, I am sure Wenger does not like spending like Chelsea or City (mainly the economist in him I suppose), but as he is paid to win, I doubt he is adverse to spending money to improve the squad. I think that at least until this year he was told by the board he had to sell before he could buy.

You may question why Wenger would not make this public knowledge or not walk out on Arsenal if this were the case.

I think there are many potential reasons why Wenger would not come out and say we cannot spend any money, but most likely he agrees with the approach of long term sustainability and he is classy and would air any grievances in private and show a united front in public.

4. Wenger has lost his touch in spotting talent. To this I say, if you have to shop at a discount store and are only willing to pay discount prices and wages, the risk of a defective good is higher, but Wenger has still brought in Kos, Arteta, Mert, Jenkinson, AOC, and Pod and none of the flops have really cost Arsenal a tonne of money (I take the point that the wages could usefully have been spent elsewhere, but that is ex post facto reasoning).

I think that everyone forgets that all teams have horrendous flops. Allie Ferg was notorious for buying stinkers Djemba Djemba, Veron, Forlan, Bebe, etc. (I agree that some were great players that could not settle, but the fact remains they added nothing to the team.) The difference between Arsenal on the one hand and Chelsea, Utd, and Citeh on the other is that Chelsea, Utd. and Citeh can just discard the flops for huge losses or continue to pay their wages while still recruiting, whereas Wenger has had to try to mold them flops into something useful over a longer period of time or minimize the loss on any sale.

In other words, since Arsenal pay lower wages and lesser transfer fees you would anticipate that Arsenal would have more flops than Chelsea, Citeh, or United, however, I think that Arsenal generally do as well as or better than the other three teams in the market (when Arsenal actually choose to buy).

5. We are the fifth richest club in the world. This is just false we are the fifth most valuable club in the world and we have the sixth highest turnover. The problem is the teams that make less money than us, are not attempting to run at a profit or even neutrally. The teams below us are happy to run at huge losses and so we have a lot less clout in the market than a lot of other teams.

6. We should buy so and so. WE should buy players that improve the team. Just because you play championship manager or fifa does not qualify you to make that determination. The fact of the matter is that Wenger is right it is difficult to find a player that suits the English game and our style of play and if you buy foreign you may end up with a lemon. (See Veron, Schevchenko, etc.)

There are probably many that I have missed, but I just thought I would lend some support to you.

Negatives:

1. We have so far had a shambles of a transfer window: This is true, maybe sanogo is good and maybe Flamini is good, but our squad is too thin for a premier league season, a champions league run, and two domestic cups. There are obvious holes that need plugging and we should not be doing it midstream. Even if we buy players at this point they will be thrown immediately into the BPL without time to learn our system and their teammates as well as the pace of the BPL. (So, all around bad work).

2. Wenger's socialist wage structure does not work: The reason we cannot shift some of our deadwood is simply that we offered them contracts that were too good for their value to the team. (I get that for younger players this is trade off, but it is still his fault).

3. We should have won something: Wenger has been in a number of finals over the past 9 years. We have a squad that should be able to win an fa cup or carling cup from time to time, even if the CL and BPL are currently beyond us. (IMHO, I would also prioritize the CL to either competition, but we should be able to qualify for the CL and win a cup).

4. Wenger shows too much loyalty to his players. I agree he should be more ruthless in dropping players, although, I think that his public support of players sometimes does not match his private treatment of the players. Again, I think he is a behind closed doors person.

5. We should have locked down first team players to longer contracts so that we would not lose them in their prime. We lost Nasri, RvP, Edu, and Flamini, simply because we did not ensure that these players were under long term contracts.

6. Wenger should be more open to changing his philosophy for results at times. I love that we try to play beautiful football; however, when we play Aston Villa and their approach is essentially to attempt to win the ball deep in our half by pressing and failing that to foul our players to prevent any break we might have, we need a big scary Paddy-esque player to give a stern word to the A. Villa players about that sort of treatment to our flair players and yes, also to get in the refs ear and tell him that he is losing control of the game. (And, of course, to cleanly but strongly challenge the A. Villa players) and if necessary take a yellow card to show that we will not be pushed around.

Everyone on here was belittling our efforts against A. Villa, but to be fair if we played in Spain or Italy, A. Villa would have been left with six players on the pitch at the final whistle, but the fact is Wenger knows we play in England and Wenger knows that, even if it is unfair, Arsenal have a reputation for diving or embellishing and, so, we will not get any sympathy from the refs in England (unlike the other big three). I totally sympathize with his post match comments on the spirit of the refereeing as A. Villa were not even trying for the ball at times, but it happens to us every year, we just need to expect the ref to not help us as much as the other teams.

Wenger's post match comments about allowing the treatment to occur is not going to fix the problem. What is going to fix the problem is having a big steely midfielder to intimidate the players from other teams from intentionally fouling our players and, if necessary, to take a yellow card for getting into said other players face after a rash challenge on ramsey, cazorla, wilshere, or rosicky takes places.

(it would also help if he sat in defence to aid our full backs on their marauding runs)

2.) 31 Aug 2013
We're not blind to the poor management within our club. You say Wenger has a plan? Why not have that plan ready for the START of the season. Have a sufficiently numbered squad that can cope with injuries. You will see tomorrow that yes the 11 that start will be a pretty good line up. But the lack of further game changing quality on the bench will be for every one to see. If it goes wrong on Sunday I will have Zero sympathy for Wenger Gazidis or any one of the board for the reaction that they get from the clear Majority of fans. As other people have stated. This club is stagnant. It hasn't evolved. We are stuck in the late 90s early 00s.
By all means defend your hero Wenger. He is a manager I will always respect for that he has achieved. But again that is zero in the last 8 years. And before you go on about finishing top 4 and saving money I don't care. That should be a minimum target. Fans want trophies. Players want trophies. Ask RVP!

3.) 31 Aug 2013
James R.,

nice post man, well reasoned.