03 May 2017 08:41:26
Saw a quote that seems to fit at Arsenal: "The best way to demotivate and lose top performers is to reward mediocrity in an attempt to maintain status quo"

Just seems so true, and the evidence is there when you look at the likes of Walcott getting big new contracts for, well I am actually not sure what for.

1.) 03 May 2017
03 May 2017 09:48:54
Add Wilshere Artetta Rosicky Flamini and Mertesacker to that list too Ed001 how can the give something for nothing policy ever produce a hunger to achieve mentality within the club.
We are and have been for far to many years the jobs for the boys cosy club and what we see on the field and in the results over a season shows it perfectly, there is a conscious or subconscious attitude of " just do enough to maintain and protect what we have ' running through the club from top to bottom.

{Ed001's Note - good point g62. It was unfair of me to single out Walcott when there are so many other examples too!}

2.) 03 May 2017
03 May 2017 09:50:34
As the extraordinarily well known 19th century American politician Gaylord Nelson said, "The ultimate test of man's conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard".

Messrs Kroenke and Wenger could heed these words and do the decent thing and recognise when their race is run, as it most surely is.

google: it's a wonderful thing!

{Ed001's Note - extraordinarily well known! Hahahaha. Though you have to question how anyone could forget a man with a name like that???}

3.) 03 May 2017
03 May 2017 10:16:02
Theo is a great example thought Ed001 mate because if he'd been at a club where a lot more was expected of him, even demanded of him, how much better could he have been?
But Theo fitted in nicely as he was happy to take turns rather than fight for one place to make his own like other players do at other clubs.
This is why the Ox has to leave Arsenal if he ever wants to be all he can be as a player because he's most definitely Arsene's favourite player to leave out or sub off for no apparent reason.

{Ed001's Note - do you think the Ox has it in him to be more, or do you think he has grown happy with how things are at Arsenal?}

4.) 03 May 2017
03 May 2017 10:17:42
I thought exactly the same thing when i read we are ready to offer the ox 100k a week. Here we go again! Yes he's improved over the last few months, but only really because he's been so inconsistent, injury prone and unable to make the team before! I wish him all the best and hope it proves shrewd so he doesn't skip off on the cheap, but if he regresses and turns out to be more suitable for a mid table team, none of them will be prepared to take those wages.

5.) 03 May 2017
03 May 2017 10:34:01
I just can't see how a man who used to be a visionary and was so good for football can go from that to utter delusion.

6.) 03 May 2017
03 May 2017 10:41:23
Are you talking about Gaylord Nelson there Sanogo?

7.) 03 May 2017
03 May 2017 10:49:37
Wasn't he the one in meet the parents 😂.

{Ed001's Note - ah yes, now it all makes sense.....}

8.) 03 May 2017
03 May 2017 13:25:56
It's a good point about the Ox Ed001 maybe he been here to long to change now, shame if he has because pre 2014 world cup I thought he looked a real prospect.

{Ed001's Note - he did up until the point he signed for Arsenal ;-)

9.) 03 May 2017
03 May 2017 13:38:58
It's a sad state ed, as you know I've stuck up for Wenger countless times in the past as I thought he deserved to be given a chance for a period after money was available and I don't think I've ever felt so let down.

Even now it's hard to slate him as such but he really has got us into a bad position, like 62 says where or what was the thinking behind these signings.

I think not just rewarding mediocrity but buying similar. We have waited for these players, particular Walcott and Wilshere to be something they're clearly not.

Flamini's last year, Arteta's last year and Mertesacker just really beggar belief.

There, when you really open your eyes as I now have, are so many things wrong here, player contracts, wage structure, training methods, injury records but worst of all Wenger's ability to do what he did 13yrs ago. He seems totally lost, unable to motivate or really know what to do next.

We really are running the risk of causing ourselves, as a club, damage that will take more than a few seasons to repair.

That our future lies in the hands of Kroenke doesn't fill me with anything other than dread.

{Ed001's Note - he has just lost touch with reality. Total dictators do, as there is no one to say anything other than yes.}

10.) 03 May 2017
03 May 2017 15:01:34
I think the Ox should move on for the good of his career.

Honestly it'd be nice to start over this summer with a new manager, lots of space in the squad and enough money for the new regime to build their own team.

Ed001, do you think it'd be better for Arsenal to switch to a more continently style of managers staying for shorter periods of time or for Arsenal to look to appoint someone who can stay at the helm for a long stint ala Wenger?

{Ed001's Note - the continental system has a sporting director that stays at the helm for the long term, who provides the continuity. They do a large portion of the role that a manager currently does, while the head coach, who is the one that is often changed, looks after the team given to him. Arsene is already basically a sporting director, he doesn't take training (except for the cameras), so the continental system is already in place. A sporting director for the long term, who then brings in a head coach.}

11.) 03 May 2017
03 May 2017 15:12:40
Arsene doesn't take training?! That serious? I thought he did. If he doesn't who does? If that's the case wouldn't it be better to get someone to train and manage the team whilst he continues to do whatever he is doing in the background. Or will he never allow that.

{Ed001's Note - all I will say is that there have been questions asked by some players about what he actually does do as he does not take training. Mind he is a manager, not a coach. He has coaches like Bould to do the coaching.}

12.) 04 May 2017
04 May 2017 09:42:13
There you go! Steve Bould does the coaching. Out of all the past players we have had it's steve bould who gets the gig.