Against whose standards is Wenger judging us?

Really? He said that his team did “better than expected” Against whose expectations though? If he expected his team to finish below third then I think we have a problem. So then why is he judging the season against fans expectations? Seems to be the only time he listens to fans. If he didn’t think we had the squad capable of challenging on all fronts, then we have an unambitious manager and a big problem. If he KNEW that we didn’t have a squad capable of challenging on all fronts, then we have an incompetent manager and a huge problem. But as it is, he probably thought he did have the squad to challenge on all front and the evidence is there in front of him. He failed. Yet he fails to admit. This is the biggest problem, because it seems we have a manager who is blind and incompetent.

More so, over achieving in itself is a problem. Because we over achieve this season, it doesn’t mean we will next season. We weren’t exactly comfortably third and all in all have a weak, think, inconsistent and physically challenged squad. We need to sort that out immediately and money will need to be spent to do that. If we don’t, other teams will and the gap that has slowly been closing between us and the rest will finally close.

How much time are we really going to give this guy? It doesn’t take a genius to analyse a squad. I was pretty certain we’d finish third and trophyless this season because that is the maximum capability of our squad. We are not as good as United or Chelsea. I’d even argue that Spurs have a better squad than us and they have belief now as well…

Yet he claimed at a board meeting that we will win a  trophy this season. He didn’t. Are there going to be no repercussions? Which top team would let this go? He’s been promising us improvements for years but we have never finished above 3rd since we won the F.A Cup. Every season, fans and players say “this is the season, if we don’t win anything this season, I want him out” but at the end, he is always given another chance. Why? Circumstance? Bullshit, no one is as unlucky as that over 5 years. Wenger is a PR genius and some how, some way, always seems to be able to put the blame on some one else.

I mean, look at the polls we posted up a couple of days ago. People were not happy with our performances this year, did not believe we could win the league next year and were not happy with the quality and depth of our squad, but still wanted to give Wenger a new contract. Why? Our demise is Wenger’s fault and he needs to step up and take responsibility. Just how much more time are the fans going to give the guy? Fans fail to realise, that they have the power here. Tsar Nichloas II of Russia – like Wenger – was an autocrat. Yet his people over threw him. Wenger F.C cannot function without the fans and we need to be united in taking him out. Because of a lack of unity, Arsenal F.C seem to think it is ok to treat the fans like shit. It’s clear that he’s the reason for our lack of success. We can blame it on back room staff and players but there has been tremendous shifts in both over the last 5 years. The remaining common factor? Yes, Wenger. I will not give him another season, I want Wenger out now.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like a possibility in the near future. Does no one else see how wrong this is?

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Comments

  1. thevanster says:

    I’m ashamed to call you an Arsenal fan. You are hindering the progress of the club you claim to love. Yet, it makes you happy to see them fail?

  2. Bgooner says:

    First of all, we were not a mid-table side, when Wenger took over. Where do the Wenger boys get this stuff. We had just on the League twice, FA Cup, League Cup twice and CWC, under GG. Rioch had then guided us into the UEFA cup in 5th/6th place before he was fired.

    Wenger hardly came along and took us from average to great. He inherited the GG back 5, to whom we all owe a lot of gratitude.

    It’s the Wenger boys who do not remember history very well. He has done well, but recently has done very badly and there is no excuse for it. Saying no other manager could have done, its riddiculous, why!.

    You don’t think Moyes could have done it with the salaries we pay or Redknapp or many other managers.

  3. SPECTRUM says:

    Living on past glories.I acknowledge what he HAS done. But his pet ” youth experiment” of the last FIVE years, clearly isn’t delivering NOW, repeat N-O-W.
    All great leaders have their “day in the sun”, but at some stage, they get complacent and stale, and outstay their welcome.Wenger is too blinkered to see that.

  4. RichE says:

    Can you provide me direct Wenger quotations wherein it states he say “if.”

    Further from what I have seen him say its seem we are looking at between 2 or 3 new signings, with a significant chance our injury situation will be improved, see Gazidis interview part 1, on arsenal.com.

    Yes, we had 2 opportunities within a season to take a punt on a player who scored goals for fun in the Dutch league. But wait why did we have 2 opportunities….basically because the player was useless in both the Spanish and Italian leagues.

    As for the stingy comment thats ridiculous, when we have had money, money has been spent, Vermaelen, Arshavin, Sagna, Reyes, Wiltord.

    Think before you write.

  5. RichE says:

    that’s a novel idea, the individuals in the know ie. the board, have come out and said he has had his hands tied, the most recent example being Gazidis today.

  6. SPECTRUM says:

    I honestly think Wenger would be better suited as an accountant.He definitely has ability to balance the books.But the finances should be left to the board.He is paid to manage the TEAM.
    He has been told that although things were tight, the money would be made available if he needed to spend.He chose not to, depite every man and his dog, urging him to do so.If we had had say 3 more ( experienced ) players, we could have won the league. Wenger must accept responsibility for his inaction.

  7. RichE says:

    Agree very much with your go support chelsea sentiment.

    However, the Wenger fucking up comment, I think is somewhat naive. The man has had he hands firmly tied in the transfer window, buying players that he has been certain of, Arshavin and Vermaelen.

    Gazidis has admitted we don’t have money to spend, and given the abnormal level of breaks Arsenal have suffered, it is impossible to predict and try to plan.

    I have huge pride in the club, and support the idea that Wenger has acted responsibly, thus ensuring we don’t do a Portsmouth or Leeds, wherein huge numbers of staff relying on the club for income are placed in situations of jeopardy.

    Manchester City have spent near of 200million past few seasons and won nothing. There is no surefire way to success.

  8. Richard says:

    You just don’t get it do you – WE HAVEN’T HAD THE MONEY TO SIGN BIG NAME PLAYERS FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS. Because of this our manager has guided us through, maintaining a decent level of success WITH NO MONEY. Name me one other manager in world football that could have done that. Yes it is frustrating. I want Arsenal to win every single trophy, every single year.
    But to say sack the man for finishing in the top four of the hardest league in the world with a net spend of -4m or so would make us no better than Real Madrid.
    We are about to have the ‘financial shackles’ removed. The last time Wenger had the kind of money he is going to have over the next two years he built a certain ‘invincibles’ squad.
    As for calling me short sighted – you are the one wanting the immediate fix, not I. Sack the manager and Van Persie and Fabregas would most likely leave too. Thought about that one?
    And as for not very clever? Touch a nerve did I?

  9. RichE says:

    the club did say, the financial statements have said, there is no way of hiding it there has been money but it has been extremely limited given the need to service the debt. therefore limited players that have been chosen well to compliment the squad, Vermaelen and Arshavin.

  10. SPECTRUM says:

    RichE – Yes, I said “stingy”.We missed out on Alonso. Why ? Because Wenger was quibbling over another couple of million.Just one example.
    Arshavin’s deal went right to the last few minutes of the transfer window.Wonder if money had at least something to do with it ?
    Why does it seem that most of our transfer incomings take so long to negotiate ? We were after Smalling – a defender we sorely could have done with as it has turned out. We hesitated at the price, but Man. U nipped in, paid the money and clinched the deal. Done.No fuss.
    Wenger often says “we only will buy at the right price”.That’s o.k. some of the time, but when you’re desperate to strenghten the team, and a quality player is there to be had, you act decisively. Not Wenger. Are you telling me there was not even ONE player in any position during the transfer window that wasn’t good enough to play for us? Wenger didn’t think so.

  11. Richard says:

    Steven,
    Have you ever thought that the reason the team has not improved is because Arsenal have had very limited money, due to the new stadium? And that maybe, just maybe Wenger couldn’t find any better players with the money he had at his disposal?
    For the first time in 5 years the club are admitting to not having been particularly well off since 2005. Can you imagine the damage in supporter confidence that could have been caused if they had admitted that three years ago say, whilst admitting also that we wouldn’t be able to buy big without selling first?
    I have been frustrated too with the transfer promise let downs, but the bigger picture is there to see. We will rise again. And I for one couldn’t think of a better manager I would like to see have the first attepmt than Wenger.

  12. richote says:

    The problem with wenger is he thinks he owns the club, and does not keep his word ..isnt that lying?

  13. Neflixsis says:

    Hey Van, I Know ur frustrated but think bout the club n where it is now as compared 2 many years ago… teams have come n gone but we r still there challenging ( yes! no trophy but still up there in the table n champ.league) . Name me one self-sustaining club that manages 2 build a stadium, compete with the best, n sell experienced players every year like we do?… then ill consider ur point on making changes. Rectifications need 2 b done but what we can do is stress it to the club n wenger that we want a better defence – THAT N THAT ALONE HAS FAILED! Not wenger or his philosophy…

    Wenger is all about consistency n trust me wenger is not gonna b sacked as long as he keeps improving this team… They will win something n they will win it big, then dont come running back like all the other crowd fans as if u guys were all behind the team. I think even if we had won the league this season, U would not have felt great about it or cherished it coz ur negativity would mean u make excuses such as other teams have slipped up n thats the only reason weve won it… Be positive Van n support the team all the way. Even ur support seems to lack consistency!

  14. richote says:

    Wenger doesnt know how to fix defense, that’s the truth. To him, flapianski is ok. Hello, is he managing a 3rd division team or what?

  15. Gunn'Ho says:

    Money is not and cannot be always the excuse for the constant failure! How much does Wenger need to teach this group of so-called defenders how to defend a corner? Or a free-kick? Do they practice that at all? Or to tell to our headless chicken a.k.a wings that they should trace back and support the defence?

  16. Neflixsis says:

    If this is still not gud enough 4 u.. i think u shud spend a season seeing arsenal relegated 2 actually know the value of the position we r in. Theres no comparing our club 2 others coz ours dont need 2 lament on money talks, instead improve football. If u ask me im freakin ass proud that were where we r financially coz if u ask me theres no club in the world in the position we r. Were the best run club in the world if u ask me!

  17. RichE says:

    ‘Quibbling over another couple of million’ I would hardly describe a couple of million as quibbling. And can you back up that claim that it was ‘simply’ a couple of million.

    I would imagine money had a lot to do with it yes, but we got him at money Wenger who willing to pay. Further there is no indication what the reasons where apart from tabloid speculation.

    “We sorely could have done with Smalling??” Really, Fulham wanted to keep him until the end of the season and to be honest given Smalling has played so few premiership games and can’t retain a place in the Fulham squad, I am more than happy Wenger didnt involve himself in petty bidding wars for a player who is unproven.

    No that’s reasonable all of the time. Paying market value is always the right thing to do. I don’t know your financials, but if I was a seller and you had that attitude, I would constantly take the piss, and Arsenals financial situation is not stable enough for clubs to consistently take the piss ala Man City.

    The player, Sol Campbell clearly was. I am sure Wenger thought of many players that would have improved us, I can say with relative confidence Wenger knows many players, Messi, Xavi etc couldnt improve our squad but they are not available. Its like me saying an macbook pro would enhance my life, however it simply isnt available at a price which makes it an option.

  18. GunnerSince!WasAGlintInTheMilkman'sEye says:

    The simple facts are,. that the writer hates Wenger and wants him out. Perhaps we should go for Mourinho maybe??? He’d love to come to a club that will not and can not spend multi millions every season!

    I think every manager has fucked up some where along the line and Wenger is no different, the fact he has been here for so long only adds more fuel to the fire of those calling for his head. He fucked up and in hindsight, could’ve signed a striker and a GK in January, if any were available of course.

    But that didnt happen and given the fact that apparantly the finances have not been so healthy might have something to do with the lack of signings that soooooo many Fantasy Football managers crave.

    I think we will see a few players come in this season and as well as them, I hope a few of the kids step up and stake a claim for 1st team places too.

  19. GunnerSince!WasAGlintInTheMilkman'sEye says:

    Have you actually watched the team this season? We kinda lost our 2 CBs and the main failing s have been with the keepers, or a lack of protection when we have been without Song.

  20. GunnerSince!WasAGlintInTheMilkman'sEye says:

    No doubt that cost wont be something you have to worry about! 3rd highest wage bill and 3rd best team, there you8 have it!

  21. GunnerSince!WasAGlintInTheMilkman'sEye says:

    Give us the blueprint of success and show the world yout footballing genius!

  22. GunnerSince!WasAGlintInTheMilkman'sEye says:

    FFS! We have been linked with fatty Robinson of Blackburn!

    It is also worth mentioning that almost every other major club has stated that due toi financial restraints, caused by the global down turn, they will be trying tio sign young unproven players, instead of the more experienced “ready made” ones.

  23. Bendtnersdad says:

    Thank you A, you’ve saved me the bother of telling this dullard what a dullard he is. Dullard!

  24. Mike says:

    Whilst some comments from each viewpoint are correct there is only one way to react to what is happening at Arsenal and the last 5 years. Either we understand that we have had to suffer (although CL football isn’t suffering by any stretch and watching the best young footballers in the country) for a short period of time so that we can reap the full rewards of the new stadium and compete for many years at the top level. Or, we can try and disrupt the entire thing just as it is getting to fruition by getting rid of the person who built the only team in PL history to go unbeaten all season.

    Vanster, I understand that your patience and faith have probably worn off, imagine being a Liverpool supporter, or West Ham, or Blackburn, or Aston Villa, or Everton or fuck it you get where i’m going with that. What i’m saying is that you need to chill out, take a step back and contemplate whether or not you realise how good you do have it. We are now the 3rd richest football club thanks to Wenger, we have one of the best youth systems thanks to Wenger, we have one of the best stadiums in Europe thanks to Wengers previous success, we have the best young players in Europe wanting to come to Arsenal because of Wenger, we have kept our biggest names despite lack of money and success because of Wenger, we have the only Golden Premier League trophy. But I guess you’re right, he’s just not good enough for Arsenal.

  25. Mike says:

    Well you managed to find the only two meaningless things to counteract all the other good. Our wage bill as a percentage of our turnover is the best in the PL taking into account our league position so thats a good point too as it means we are stable financially and ‘we have the most expensive ticket prices in the world’. Is this always going to be the case do you know? and anyway Arsenal TV is only £4.99 to watch all the games but if you really were a true Arsenal fan that factor wouldn’t even come into it. No-one is asking you to pay especially if you’re going to be this down-hearted when inside the stadium anyway.

  26. thevanster says:

    Pay me 70,000 quid a week and I will…

  27. SPECTRUM says:

    And why, BGooner, when Almunia came back from injury,did Wenger automatically drop Mannone, who had done so well during the handful of games he played?
    How would you feel as a reserve goalie, if you had played well, and was dropped in order for that clown to get his place back ? Poor judgement from the manager again.Wenger has his favourites, or should that be he has blind “faith” in players that aren’t up to it ?

  28. D B says:

    just read this article, and it makes utter sense!

    all you wengerites are so blind, if cheseas season ended how ours did, anclotti wouldn’t have had a job.

    why do so many of ya think its fine for us to be lied to season in and season out?!

    it’s pathetic, the whole club is pathetic. wenger has way too much power. why don’t he spend 100mil on sorting our crap squad out and just begin paying rest of stadium off from next year.

    not like the stadium is going to go anywhere, theres no rules saying we must pay 100mil off every year

    the geezas a lying twat and his policy is shit.

  29. BigL says:

    Funny how for the last 5 seasons both the board have said there is money should Wenger want it, and Wenger has said there is money if I want it.

    Are you saying they lied to us in the past or they are lying to us now?

  30. BigL says:

    Talking about how much money we spend is looser talk put about by AKBs to justify our failure.

    How much did Sheffield Wednesday spend to win the league in 1930, how much did Chelsea spend to win the league in 1955? The answer is no one cares; the trophy says ‘Champions” That’s all that matters.

    I’m not saying we should spend outside our means and become the next Real Madrid, but touting around our fugal spending like we win the Barclays Golden Chequebook Trophy or something is stupid. In history no one gives a toss.

  31. BigL says:

    The same guys will tell you that Wenger built the new stadium.

    What a guy, managing the team and out laying bricks and cutting steel.

  32. BigL says:

    Richard why dont you look at the published accounts. They show money available.

    If memory serves me, we had to pay back £20 millon off the loans last year. We paid off nearly £100 millon. Does that sound like we have no money to spend?

    You twist the argument around to unhappy fans wanting to spend £200 millon on players. No one is asking for that

  33. BigL says:

    Wenger, he has done a lot for us and you have to respect that. But he has lost that winning mentality. We used to compete for the double, now we compete for 3rd so something has to change, be it the manger or the clubs transfer policy.

    We don’t have any guaranteed right to win anything but I do expect the team to be strong enough to compete. I for one will feel appeased if Wenger goes out and buys some quality players. When I say quality I mean someone who is going in to the team from day one and not another 17 year old ‘star for the future’ signing.

    It would be nice if it was a couple of marquee signings to signal intent to the rest of the league and to generate a huge lift at the emirates and unite fans. Never underestimate what a couple of superstar signings will do to lift the supporters and generate income from shirt sales etc. Real Madrid has built their entire philosophy around it.

  34. john marbury says:

    “Really? He said that his team did “better than expected” Against whose expectations though?”

    Well considering one of contributors states here http://arsenalaction.com/board/predictions-2009-10-t619.html that Arsenal would finish sixth this season and another one states here http://arsenalaction.wordpress.com/2009/08/11/deja-vu-for-arsenal-fans-still-no-sign-of-reinforcements/ that Arsenal will finish outside of the top four I’d say against your expectations.

    Wenger has taken a squad that you yourselves thought was incapable of achieving Europa League qualification to third in the league and a title challenge. Must make him a pretty good manager eh?

    Making legitimate complaints is one thing, banging on every single day when you can’t even back up your arguments is quite another.

  35. Arsene's Choreographic Muse says:

    Arsene Wenger is a deity. I want Arsene to stay Arsenal manager as long as he wants to. I hope he signs a lifetime contract for the rest of his life, but he’s a deity so make that a contract for eternity. I don’t want Arsene to change any of his ways at all. I don’t want him to change anything at all about the way he runs things. I want him to keep faith with all of his players. I want him to only sign maybe one, if any this summer. And I want the signing to be equivalent to sylvestre. In fact, I want Gallas to leave and I want Arsene to keep faith with a backline of Vermy, Sylvestre and Djourou. And definitely I do NOT want Arsene to sign any goalkeeper. Why shouldn’t he keep faith with all his players? He’s incapable of making an error so we know that since he already had faith in those players he can’t be wrong in that, so therefore there’s no need for him to make any changes. A deity never changes anything, because a deity is perfect and therefore it and it’s decisions are perfect the first time, always and every time. I want him to keep saying the things he says, and doing the things he does. And I want the people who are angered by him to keep on being angered and I want the people like you who eat his shit to keep eating his shit. If everything goes to plan then I win! I get so much comedic entertainment from the entire Arsenal setup, from the board to Arsene to his ballerinas, to his training methods, his tactics, his man-management skills, his eye for top goal-keepers, the people who create angry posts deservedly savaging Arsene for creating this situation, and the Arsene followers for whom he can do no wrong. The entire setup is a veritable cavalcade of whimsy which I look forward to. Far, far more entertaining than following the club from a footballing perspective. Arsene you deity, please please take it to the limit ( of comedy ), one more time…

  36. Arsene's Choreographic Muse says:

    Well, which is it? Lying in the past or lying now?

  37. Arsene's Choreographic Muse says:

    Arsene Wenger is a deity.

  38. Arsene's Choreographic Muse says:

    Arsene is a deity.

  39. Arsene's Choreographic Muse says:

    How dare the squad of a deity be beset with injuries!

  40. Arsene's Choreographic Muse says:

    Arsene’s a deity.

  41. Arsene's Choreographic Muse says:

    of course he built the stadium. there is nothing a deity of Arsene’s stature cannot do.

  42. Arsene's Choreographic Muse says:

    I honestly think Wenger would be better suited if he assumed his proper place on a throne of majesty upon high.

  43. john marbury says:

    Would that be the same Real Madrid that have won two league trophies and 1 domestic cup since 2002? Exactly the same trophy record as Arsenal in the same period coincidentally.

    Would it also be the same Real Madrid that are ranked a full nine places below Arsenal in UEFA’s club rankings at present? What a great example to pick!

  44. opty says:

    wenger dosnt have to spend big money to turn this team into winners. he is the one that proved you dont have to spend big money on big names to win things. wenger is a great manager but he has been as frustrating as his team in the last couple seasons. a good goal keeper dosnt cost big money shay given was bought for 7 million. flamini should have got his pay rise if any player deserved a rise at that time it was flamini he worked tirelessly for arsenal and we have badly missed him. he also knew van persie would be injured for most of the season as he also is but he brought in no one to cover again. so it wasnt like he had to spend a 100 mill to sort this team out. im convinced 3 things would have won us the league this season 1 is a decent keeper he would have won us at least 10 to 15 xtra points 2 kept flamini we miss him badly he was a terrier in midfeild and he would have given the team the kick up the ass that they needed so many times this season. and 3 it would have been nice to have some cover for rvp but our style of play is sometimes very boring and predictable against teams like chelsea why to fuck are we trying to pass through their midfield and defence we need to get more direct instead of passing it 5 times to get to point b one pass will do and we need to fucking shoot im sick to death watching this team trying to pass it into the net fucking shoot

  45. BigL says:

    John, you’re a typical AKB.

    If you actually took the time to read what I wrote, you would see that I said Real Madrid have based their entire philosophy around shirt sales.

    Where did I say we should follow that model?

  46. Bgooner says:

    It’s true that some people felt we would fall out of the top 4. Personally I thought we would get 4th, again. However this was because of Wenger’s poor squad and lack of transfers. Setting the team up to fail and then slightly improving on that is hardly the equivalent to success, is it?

    Wenger has done very well with an average squad, but he has chosen to have the average squad and that is the issue. Its like buying a ford and coming 5th out of 6th in the BMW race. It’s better than any thought, but why not buy a BMW. Before peope spout the usual crap about spending millions or turning into Leeds, which are both riddiculous extreme’s. He could have easily replaced Almunia, Silvestre and Denilson, which would have made a big difference, but he DIDN’T.

    Arsene is paid to win trophies and he said he would win something, he didn’t, so he failed. This is not a “one off”, we have had 5 seasons of the same rhetoric and the same problems. Yet we are no closer to success than 5 years ago.

  47. john marbury says:

    Big L in answer to your question this is what you actually said “It would be nice if it was a couple of marquee signings to signal intent to the rest of the league and to generate a huge lift at the emirates and unite fans. Never underestimate what a couple of superstar signings will do to lift the supporters and generate income from shirt sales etc. Real Madrid has built their entire philosophy around it.”

    That sounds very much like advocating the same philosophy as Real Madrid and if you are not I would question why you bother including them at all. Fact is Real Madrid have probably invested more in their players than any other club on the planet and don’t have a whole lot to show for it apart from a huge income from shirt sales.

    As I said their trophy record over the last ten years is remarkably similar to Arsenal’s on about 100 times the budget and in fact they are a textbook example of the way not to run a football club and that investing money in a team does not necessarily correlate with on-pitch success.

  48. john marbury says:

    Firstly he clearly doesn’t have an average squad and anyone who thinks he does is a moron. He has one of the top ten squads in world football. Having said that I would agree that Almunia has never been good enough and I said last season we should replace him. With the 5-10 points poor goalkeeping has cost us this season we may have won the league.

    Secondly, I would argue we are in fact closer to success than we were five years ago but as you obviously don’t and won’t agree with me there isn’t much point arguing about it.

    Bottom line is this. Do I think Arsene is perfect? No. Do I think he has made mistakes? Yes. Does he frustrate me sometimes with his decisions? Yes. Do I think he is the best person for the job at the moment? Absolutely, without question.

  49. Bgooner says:

    If you look at the league position, points, goals conceded, etc, we are definitely not any closer to winning the league than we were 5 years ago, when we finished 2nd.

    If you look at our record, we have done considerably worse than 2 years ago, so we are not progressing.

    We also lost home and away to Man U and Chelsea, plus we were defeated by Spurs & Man City, we only took 4 points off the entire top 6. If that is not poor, I don’t know what is.

    Not sure if he has one of the top 10 squads in world football. When you consider than 90% of our players have never won anything, there is no way the squad can be considered that good.

    We are a top 4 English club, so out of a league of the eilte clubs, we are near the bottom. Just look at the top 2 in Italy, Germany and Spain. Now I don’t really see that as a great achievement. Yes we are better than most in the PL, but that’s not how we are and should be judged.

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