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?

Debate this more on our forum arsenalaction.com/board/

By admin · May 11, 2010 · 99 comments

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Comments

A says:

May 11, 2010 at 12:41 pm

Is this a genuine post?

We did better than idiots in the press, and loads of ignorant, negative gooners expected, nothing to do with his expectations.

It’s simply idiotic, and misleading to try and twist Wenger’s words to make out that his expectations were the same as those writing us off, when anyone with half a brain is totally aware that that isn’t the case.
BS Radar says:

May 11, 2010 at 12:47 pm

Ha Ha Ha, silly boy.
anto says:

May 11, 2010 at 12:54 pm

why dnt u fck off and support the scum up the road?? ur no arsenal fan.
Bob says:

May 11, 2010 at 12:54 pm

Dear Vanster, I’m going to try and explain to you politely, that unless you’ve had your fucking head in the clouds, we have had a sizeable debt to service over the last 3-4 years, which we have almost paid, and guaranteed CL football every season on a +26 million £ profit for this season compared to other teams huge defecits. I am far from part of the Arsene Knows Crew, but I recognise that he has had to wing the last few season’s where no one else would have managed us under these conditions, (can you imagine a top top manager coming here with no money to spend?). This, they say, is the season in which we can afford to splash out a bit. Give him, at the very least, until the beginning of the season to see if he has made the necessary improvements ie GK, CD, CM, ST, that we all know we need.
Knobber says:

May 11, 2010 at 12:57 pm

Vanster, Good post. However you have to understand that some idiot Arsenal fans think that Wenger is god and will never qustion him
braincheeeeese says:

May 11, 2010 at 1:10 pm

More crud from the anus of all web blogs that is Arsenal Action.
pete smith says:

May 11, 2010 at 1:10 pm

Can’t be bothered to read all or drivel. I’m pretty sure he meant better than most expected.
Trevor says:

May 11, 2010 at 1:14 pm

Nice post but I wouldn’t waste your time trying to convince anyone here.
thevanster says:

May 11, 2010 at 1:29 pm

I know that what he meant. And so what? Is he going to judge our performances by the standard the press set or by his own standard?
thevanster says:

May 11, 2010 at 1:31 pm

We are also third in terms of our wage bill and the fans pay the most expensive ticket prices in the world….
braincheeeeese says:

May 11, 2010 at 1:31 pm

“Spurs have a better squad”

You are a complete fool, and clearly know nothing about football or what equates to quality.

I bet you’re a yank!
thevanster says:

May 11, 2010 at 1:32 pm

You would be wrong. I’m sorry… Forgot you were a football expert….
thevanster says:

May 11, 2010 at 1:33 pm

Neither are you. I don’t want blind, misguided fools like you supporting my club. Go support a club like United. They suck their manager’s cock over there as well.
thevanster says:

May 11, 2010 at 1:34 pm

History is not on Wenger’s side. He’s promised to spend before and then reneged. Why should I give him the opportunity to go fuck up another transfer window?
thevanster says:

May 11, 2010 at 1:35 pm

There was hardly a huge gap between us points wise so they can’t be much worse. And they actually managed to get to a cup semi final this season. And have won trophies in the time Wenger has been fucking up our club.
mattn89 says:

May 11, 2010 at 1:35 pm

Calling Arsene Wenger incompetent pretty much sums up the quality of your post and general argumentation. This is the most successful manager in AFC’s history, and only surpassed by Alex Ferguson in the Premier League. I think most should be able to take your rants with a pinch of salt, as I suspect your real motive is to get as many visitors as possible. And by the way, as mentioned above, of course he meant the expectations of the media and pundits, not his own
thevanster says:

May 11, 2010 at 1:36 pm

Don’t post then….
jeremy goldsmith says:

May 11, 2010 at 1:37 pm

There is no doubt Arsenal have gone into decline these last five years.Arsene is responsible for this. All he had to do was strengthened the problem areas which he has done with kids.
Now that the kid policy has failed,what then?Surely ready made players ready to go into the first team is the answer.
Please no more ANC and south american players. These guys will be awy when they are most needed.
thevanster says:

May 11, 2010 at 1:38 pm

All these “go support Chelsea” lines are getting old and fairly generic. I don’t want to and never have. I don’t support a team for a glory but I refuse to sit idly and support a man fucking up my football club by refusing to try and improve it.

Unlike some of you, I am a winner. I want to win. Those who are willing to suck wenger’s cock are losers with as much pride and passion for the club as the mercenaries who are play for it.
thevanster says:

May 11, 2010 at 1:40 pm

Obviously…. I understand that. But why does he care what the media says? He never has before. He’s using it as a PR trick to try and make it out like we’ve had a good season. We have not.
thevanster says:

May 11, 2010 at 1:40 pm

More so, the “I bet you’re a yank” tells me you’re an uneducated dullard.
thevanster says:

May 11, 2010 at 1:41 pm

Why wise one? Care to enlighten me?
BS Radar says:

May 11, 2010 at 1:46 pm

Bweeheeh, I want a trophy! Boohoo, I want a trophy now! Please mummy make that nasty Mr Wenger, go away, blub blub blub.

Meanwhile in the real world there’s an economic crisis going on and football clubs are beginning to feel the pinch. Financial Fair play rules are being implemented by Uefa and squad rules by the Premier League. Liverpool are in serious danger of doing bust and their stadium is crumbling; Man U has enormous debs and interest payments leading to losses and possible banning from European competitions if not sorted in the next few years and Chelsea & City can only enjoy it while while their rich sugar daddies are not bored yet. Arsenal, under guidance of one Mr wenger, has a brand new stadium, is financially sound and has established an excellent youth system all for which they are going to reap the rewards in future years. I’d have thought every fan of the club would be over the moon; the foundations have been laid for great successes over the next few decades.

Your post is shameful, childish and very very ignorant. You should be proud of your club instead of hating it.
anto says:

May 11, 2010 at 1:46 pm

13 years of champs league football.ur only an asshole with a big mouth.ur a closet utd lover
Bgooner says:

May 11, 2010 at 1:47 pm

I have to agree with theVanster. Arsene has to take a lot of blame for a poor season. He has chosen not to change our goal keeper, he continues to stick with players like Denilson, when Parker was available. You can’t say this has anything to do with money. We pay a very high salary bill, so why pay for average players. We could have easily picked up Scott Parker or Shay Given or even Brad Fiedel. It was his decision not too, why keep making excuses for him.
Bgooner says:

May 11, 2010 at 1:50 pm

He said at the beginning of the season “We will win something”. We’ve just had one of our worst seasons and yet he says “We have done better than predicted”. No we haven’t. We are in a worse situation than we were in 07/08. We have lost more and conceeded more goals. We have finished further away from the top, when Chelsea and Man U have both been weaker, how can that be an improvement.
anto says:

May 11, 2010 at 1:53 pm

whers my reply 2 knobhead gone??? truth hurts does it
anto says:

May 11, 2010 at 1:55 pm

anybody with haf a brain can see tat injuries wrecked our season.gallas song cesc arshavin rvp tats the spine of our team.u seem 2 forget tat muppet
-dean says:

May 11, 2010 at 1:58 pm

“Why should I give him the opportunity to go fuck up another transfer window?”

You know that it’s not up to you don’t you?

Carry on with your bitter blog. I’m sure you get lots of hits calling Arsene Wenger incompetent. I can’t see any ads here so that means that you are driven by pure spite! How’s that working out for you?
Bgooner says:

May 11, 2010 at 2:06 pm

So you don’t think our squad is good enough to beat Wigan or Blackburn. Interesting, you clearly don’t rate our players then.

Injuries are just excuses. Wenger did not replace Adebayor and went into the season with RvP (who is always injured) plus Eduardo returning from injury and unproven Bendtner.

Wenger also didn’t address are injures issues in Jan, he just ignored them. Excuses over and over again.
East End Gooner says:

May 11, 2010 at 2:12 pm

I totally understand your viewpoint but you really must realise that there are other factors which Wenger has to deal with.

Suppose he came out in 2006 and and said “hey, I have no money to spend until 2011 because of the stadium – please bear with us while we don’t win anything until that time”. Technically he would be right, but fundamentally he would risk the stability of the club (reduced season ticket sales, disillusion, more complacency within the players that play crap).

I agree that Wenger has lied to us, but in doing so he has taken it on his own head so that there are no mass demonstrations against the board. We all think Wenger is to blame because he has unselfishly put himself in the firing line to protect the board, the young players and the club.

I sometimes tear my hair out seeing the gutless and error strewn displays from some of our players, but we love this club so much that we cannot just turn our backs on it.

Our situation is such that getting rid of Wenger would do so much more harm than good (Fab and RvP will leave, and the new manager will have to start over). All the other clubs’ fans keep singing about our “trophy barren spell” because they fear what we can do once the debt is under control and we revert to the earlier period of spending big.

Remember this – we are not going to do a Leeds or a Portsmouth. We will not go under due to the debts which can happen at United and Liverpool. We are not at risk of having no future if a sugar daddy gets bored like it can happen at Chelsea and City.

Once we start spending money, then you can rest easy that we are doing what we are supposed to. Forget the lies told by the board, forgive Wenger for the under achievement. We are Arsenal – we will never surrender!
Eboue For Prime Minister says:

May 11, 2010 at 2:16 pm

EBOUEEBOUEEBOUEEBOUEEBOUEEBOUEEBOUE!!

On a more serious note….this article is pants. Correct me if I am wrong, but were we not a mid table team when Mr. Wenger took over as manager? Am I wrong in saying Wenger has won us the Premier League title on 3 occasions, one of them being a WHOLE season unbeaten? Wenger pretty much gave us instant success, only a few other managers have succeeded in doing so in the Premiership (Mourinho, Ancelotti). Given the financial situation we have been in since we left Highbury, I think Wenger has worked wonders in the transfer market, bought through some good talent from the youth team, and I am hoping this season, brings in some much needed experience. If you remember the days before Wenger, you should appreciate the stature he has given this club!
East End Gooner says:

May 11, 2010 at 2:18 pm

I know – to keep a team together he has done that. The big players (Cesc, RvP, Campbell, Gallas and Vermaelen) deserve it. All I am saying is that is that although the board have shamefully played us for fools, the business plan in place has nearly paid off and we are close to operating under zero restrictions.

Just bear with it – it can and should be better but at least it is not worse. United had to sell Ronaldo to avoid posting a loss, and only spent a quarter of the money – we are not as bad as that.

Keep the faith.
dave says:

May 11, 2010 at 2:21 pm

Unfortunately, these moaners have no idea about what goes on behind the scenes; all they see is an empty cabinet! There is no other manager in the world that could have achieved what Wenger has over the last 5 years. Having to sell a big name every season, yet still delivers elite European football with a squad not old enough to vote!

If you ask the owners of Man U and Liverpool if they would take 5 years without a trophy to ensure a self sufficient money making business, that also plays CL football, they’d snap your hand off.. What good are trophies when the club is in administration?!

Just ask Leeds what they would prefer..

Open your eyes and try and understand that football isn’t all about trophies, no matter how you feel about it. Football is a multi billion pound business and our club is run as such. I’m as frustrated as you are, but for f*ck’s sake, get over it!
neville says:

May 11, 2010 at 2:27 pm

This post is pure rubbish. Admit your a penis and we can all move on
thevanster says:

May 11, 2010 at 2:28 pm

How do you know that? You know no more about behind the scenes than I do. It’s all speculative. Learn to respect the opinions of others.

No, United came close to sacking Ferguson after 3 years. But he ballsed up, signed Michael Carrick and won the league.
thevanster says:

May 11, 2010 at 2:30 pm

What? You consider Denilson a wonderful talent?

I appreciate what he’s done but I refuse to stagnate because of him. I’ve given him 5 years of leeway as he deserves. The club is bigger than he is and he has shown that he has taken us as far as he can.
SPECTRUM says:

May 11, 2010 at 2:31 pm

I agree with everything you said, Vanster. Wenger has done well for us in the past, but that was then, this is now.You can’t blame injuries. Even amateur grade team managers know there’s likely to be a run of injuries during a season.Wenger, like any prudent boss, should have had the foresight to have seen that, and planned accordingly.
The squad needed more depth at the end of last season,and the only one he brought in was Vermaelen.We needed a couple of cb’s, a dm, gk and a striker, at least.He was told by the board he would have the money if he needed it. But his blind faith in the kids proved fatal again. “Judge me in May” he said. On that basis, time’s up, and good riddance. But now we see the board about to back him again,thereby rewarding failure. It’s a crazy world.
Richard says:

May 11, 2010 at 2:31 pm

I sincerely hope you are aged under 23,and therefore have no real knowledge of Arsenal in the mid ninetees during the end of George Grahams era. Or indeed the Arsenal Pre George Graham in the mid eighties.
Do you have any idea of the revolution that Arsene Wenger has performed at Arsenal? Are you that pig ignorant that you have no concept of what is actually happening in football? Or at Arsenal over the last 5 years?
Sure, it is irritating that Wenger has stated he will sign players and then doesn’t, and I for one have no idea why he said those things, maybe he genuinely felt we were – only for the deals to fall through. But is a couple of broken tranfer promises enough to sack the man?
It’s becoming clear now that we’ve been struggling to have any transfer funds, with spin and carefully worded statements used to cover it up. Have you not noticed that until this summer the line has always been ‘we have money there if Wenger needs it’; how much though? 50 million? 5 million? Again, irritating. But enough to demand the head of our most sucessful manager ever? Who’s name will be mentioned alongside that of Herbert Chapman in years to come?
Do you not realise that there is most likely no other manager in the world who could have steered us through this time on that budget and STILL qualify to the latter stages of the greatest club competition on earth?
I understand and feel your frustrations too, but unfortunately you sound to me like a spoilt little brat, who knows no better. I support Arsenal. No matter what. If we were to finish 10th for the second season in a row I may call for Wengers head. But as we are the third best team in England this year and one of the best 8 in Europe, with an amazing future ahead thanks largely to one man, I won’t.
I’ll sign off with some words of advice I’ve picked up over my 27 odd years of following this great club:
SHUT YOUR WHINY LITTLE SPOILT MOUTH AND START SUPPORTING ARSENAL.
thevanster says:

May 11, 2010 at 2:31 pm

Then the club should come out and say it, instead of mess with the fans and tell them BS lies. If they had come out and said we have dept, I would be a lot more understanding.

However, we either get mixed messages or wenger coming out and saying (ve haz the monniez). So spend it you prick!!
thevanster says:

May 11, 2010 at 2:36 pm

I love my club and you have no right to question that. I however, have no love for inept, uninterested and unpassionate players. Neither do I have love for an incompetent lying bastard of a manager.
anto says:

May 11, 2010 at 2:37 pm

well said richard im sick of so called fans like this.glory hunters with with short and selective memories.supporters support.whingers whinge.its a sad day for us wen wenger leaves.
thevanster says:

May 11, 2010 at 2:38 pm

Well ‘muppet’, why do we not have a top class player to replace Arshavin? Especially when wenger says we have money?

I could have told you ‘muppet’ before the season started that Gallas and Robin would be out for long periods. Why? BECAUSE IT’S HAPPENED FOR THE LAST THREE FUCKING SEASONS.

Instead of dishing out a couple of million extra for Chamakh, he potentially fucked our season, meaning we had to play ARSHAVIN as a center forward.

For fucks sake.
Eboue For Prime Minister says:

May 11, 2010 at 2:44 pm

Denilson no. Ashley Cole (pains me to say it), Gael Clichy, Alex Song, Francesc Fabregas, soon to be Jack Wilshire. And I never used the word wonderful fella. You tell me what manager in world football, will come to the Emirates now, with a smaller transfer budget than the top 5, and that will do a better job than Wenger? What happens if we get another manager, and we fall out of the top 4? Bring back Wenger will be the cries. In 50 years time, we will look back at Wenger as not only our greatest manager, but undoubtedly one of THE greatest managers to have graced English football. Your talking pure drivel.

EBOUE FOR PRIME MINISTER!
thevanster says:

May 11, 2010 at 2:45 pm

You have no right to and cannot tell me how I should choose to support the club and what makes me a good supporter. We are third best and 8th best. Unfortunately, whilst you may be content being an “almost-been”, I am a winner and my club can do a lot better than that under the guidance of someone competent.

Why should I support shit decisions? If no one criticised, our whole society would fall apart. You may have 27 years of experience but you’re short sighted and not very clever.
thevanster says:

May 11, 2010 at 2:47 pm

Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate what the man has done for us. But I’m sick of seeing average uninterested players grace my club whilst the fans suffer and our management lies to us.

You cannot always afford to be sentimental. I prefer the winning style of Graham to Wenger’s shit team. So THERE WAS life BEFORE WENGER and there will be after he’s pissed off.
Steven says:

May 11, 2010 at 2:48 pm

I’m shocked at how many Arsenal fans have imbibed AW’s principle of ‘football is not all about trophies’! How can a team remain on the same level (third or fourth) for five seasons and all we ever hear from AW are EXCUSES, EXPLANATIONS, EXHORTATIONS? We’re paying back stadium debts but is that the reason why according to AW there’re no better players than Diaby and Denilson to partner Fabregas and Song in our midfield for at least 3 seasons now? There’re no better goalkeepers than Almunia and Flapiaski anywhere so ‘its not an area he’s thinking of strengthening over the summer?
Call me whatever you like but I’m an Arsenal fan (just like Vanster) but I want us to improve the squad and win things!

If we have a youth project that brings in young players from around the world to develop them into stars, we must also ensure that those that have been given the opportunity to impress over a course of 3 seasons(38 x3 matches at least) and have been well paid over that period but haven’t performed, isn’t it proper and prudent to cut our losses and let them go, and replace them with better players?

I often hear this fallacy among many fans (another chapter from Wenger’s football epistle) that certain players are not technically sound enough to play fro Arsenal and that they are merely brawn and no brains. Excuse me? Only a blind man will say other teams don’t have better players than Denilson and Diaby;other teams don’t have better GKs than Al-comedy and Flapiaski!What a joke!

I’m with you all the way Vanster; the game IS about WINNING not just playing endless passes with no result, promoting mediocrity and praising flopsters who play one or two good games every season and have no nerve for a title race…

At the end of the day, its Wenger’s job, its his career, its his philosophy and since the board members are okay with the barren years, the rest of us ‘disloyal fans’ will sit by and watch AW win ALL TROPHIES with his ‘Invisibles’!
anto says:

May 11, 2010 at 2:51 pm

u really havent a clue bout football or arsenal hav u van??
im ashamed that clowns like u call urself gunners.the more i read the more of a moron u become.if u dnt like wat ur seein at arsenal then fk off!! we dont need ur sort nobody gonna miss u like?? if u hate the best manager in our history so much then fk off back to the lane.probly wer u come from anyway.
SPECTRUM says:

May 11, 2010 at 2:58 pm

“See if he makes the necessary improvements ?” One of his latest quotes says something like : “IF we need more players.” “IF”???? AND ” it will be 1 or 2 “. e.t.c. Do these comments sound like deja vu ? This man has lost the plot, his stubborn arrogant ” I believe in this team” philosophy hasn’t worked. He plays people out of position, is tactically inept, is stingy in the transfer market, and I could go on. “I believe this” , “I believe that”. All his believing has done is deliver us mediocrity.
When we were short of strikers, he had the chance to bring in Huntelaar ( on loan ). He could have tried him out, at least. But no, he gambled on what he had, and we fell short yet again.
By the way, does Pat Rice ever provide any advice ? I never see him say a word on the match day t.v. coverage. We need a fresh face or two on the coaching staff, too !
Bgooner says:

May 11, 2010 at 3:01 pm

Arsenal have won 3 league titles in 15 years, how many other managers have had that much time. Mourinho retained the title in his 2nd season, something Arsene has never done. No other club would put up with such underachievement. Arsene have never won a European trophy at any club and by the way was fired at Monaco for his lack of success!