Wenger’s Porkies

In April this year Wenger said “I can now compete with Chelsea for transfer targets”. As far as I am concerned this clearly set an expectation that this year, above all years Wenger was set to finally spend some money. I probably wasn’t alone in being excited about the prospect of some real class arriving..

Another of Wenger’s recent comments was that he wanted to wrap up all transfers before the start of the world cup. ‘All told, I believe the earlier you settle your teams for the next season, the better it is and the less anxiety you have’. Good to see that worked out well then, but why break the habit of a life time when last minute shopping always works out so well for us. I mean, it’s not as if slotting in a new goal keeper at the last minute will cause any anxiety.

It’s not all bad news however; Wenger signed Chamakh and Koscielny after beating both Chelsea and Manchester City in a fierce bidding war for such world class talent. It was reassuring to see us competing with the big boys leaving Chelsea to focus their attention on secondary targets like Kaka and Balotell.

If we have money to compete with Chelsea for transfers, why are we still bargain basement shopping and looking at free transfers? (Cole, Chamakh, Ballack – yep apparently we were looking at Ballack).

Wenger also said judge me in August on my transfers, I’m not sure we have to wait that long. Sure there is still 6 weeks to go and Wenger may amaze us with a transfer coup that will have Arsenal fans celebrating outside the Emirates, but based on Wenger’s previous porkpies I’m not expecting any world class talent to arrive.

Actually, I feel kind of disappointed with myself for falling for Wenger’s lies (yet again). I really thought this season would be different and with Cesc wanting to leave I thought Wenger would make a statement of intent to persuade him want to stay.

At the shareholders meeting this year, I hope Wenger gets some tough questions about his lack of transfer activity instead of 50 questions about how he enjoyed the food in South Africa. It really is time for fans to wake up and start asking questions, even the most die hard AKB can’t keep giving him unconditional trust. I doubt it though, Wenger has very cleverly redefined the meaning of success and brainwashed all the AKB’s in to believing that success is not about winning trophies, it’s about finishing in the top four. Success Wenger style is a bit like having a car fail an MOT and redefining the MOT test to ensure the car passes. Or taking a flight to Australia and after a 24 hour flight arriving in Paris to be told that there is a lot of competition for flights to Australia, and besides Paris is like Australia because it’s foreign. In fact it’s better because it’s closer to home. Shortly after you find that the pilot was a 17 year old, but not to worry because he gained valuable flying experience.

No doubt Wenger’s personal army of elite AKB commenter’s will be alerted to the fact that someone is questioning the great man, how dare anyone express an opinion that conflicts with their view, and will be here in their droves not so politely telling me what team I should support. But I really hope this is Wenger’s last year, I want a manager that believes success is winning.

By BigL

Debate this more on the forum - arsenalaction.com/forum/

By admin · July 22, 2010 · 85 comments

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luke says:

July 22, 2010 at 6:01 pm

why are everyone dissing AW when he has done so much for arsenal. i can’t wait till see what happens to arsenal when he’s gone, the board will sign a shit manager up when you will be respecting AW
Muppet says:

July 22, 2010 at 6:03 pm

Ahh… a forum where they publish your posts if you stick up for Wenger. Unlike Le Grove Maciek.

All the Wenger doubters and haters – what entitles us to be as good as the top 3 teams in Europe ? The fact that you believe we should be is only down to the expectation level Wenger has created. Think about it. If you know anything about arsenal, you would realise we have never been a top european club – never. And before you bleat on about no silverware in 5 years – the reason why we haven’t won silverware in 5 years – Mancs and Chavs – probably the 2nd and 3rd best teams in europe, and have been for the last 5 years.

Get real. And oh.. by the way.. where have Real Madrid been in the last 5 years with their colossal expenditure ? – nowhere.
Goonerant says:

July 22, 2010 at 6:09 pm

BigL, I can’t believe that you’re so naive that you believe everything that’s said in public by any manager especially about transfers. I’m not from the Wenger Knows Best brigade but you’re making a point about transfers 6 weeks before the end of the transfer season………. doh………. This is tabloid blogging…..
bertie bloggs says:

July 22, 2010 at 6:09 pm

Wenger actually said
I think we can overcome [Chelsea],” he told arsenal.com. “For a while we were not investing maybe because we had built the stadium but I think our financial situation is now becoming much stronger and we will be capable to buy the players we need to buy.

“No we cannot [compete] on wages with Chelsea. That is simple. I believe what is not normal is not our wage bill but their wage bill because that should not be allowed.

“However they cannot all go to Chelsea, it is as simple as that. There are top players outside of the ones Chelsea want to buy who are good enough for us.”

But as usual you will twist his words to suit your crappy theories
clockendjim says:

July 22, 2010 at 6:13 pm

Whatever you AKBs say, if we had signed a quality goalkeeper at the beginning of last season, we would have ended up as PL Champions. Never has such a golden opportunity been wasted.
That’s what I give Wenger credit for.
You website critics should be at The Emirates like I am for most matches to experience the real frustration of the fans that you can almost touch.
If we do not sign a world class No.1 for this season, then we are doomed
Chippy says:

July 22, 2010 at 6:25 pm

Steve @. 4.55

Couldn’t have put it better,

Jim,
But by doing that he may have killed Almunia or Fabianski

We are one of the richest clubs in world football and yet are waiting for a 35 year old to let us know if he would like to play for us next year, Its farcical.
Old Gooner says:

July 22, 2010 at 6:26 pm

Wenger does not show us supporters any respect and hasn’t done for some time, he doesn’t compete in the cups as he says that they are second rate, and he fails in the league. Excuses excuses excuses, even I laugh at him now and I have to work with loads of chav & spud supporters daily.

I seem to recall him saying that he was going to bring in only world class players in order to plug the gaps.

Even my wife knows where the weaknesses are, yet what do we get, we get more lame excuses, well Mr Wenger its payback time, sign some world class players and make us proud again or SHIP OUT and let my wife run the team
Dan says:

July 22, 2010 at 6:53 pm

Wenger has not won a trophy for 5 years so his successor has 4 years to get things right. Why can AKB fanboys not separate Wenger 98-05 from Wenger 05-10?, how long will he go on living off past glories?.
muppets a wanker says:

July 22, 2010 at 6:58 pm

go and talk bollocks on a cultured left foot
boobooziera says:

July 22, 2010 at 7:02 pm

i usually think this site is full of poo but you are right to highlight wenger’s lies. it’s groundhog day again. there will be no new goalkeeper and we will start with that clown in goal again and we will win nothing again. but don’t worry, this does not matter to the akb brigade because all those muppets are interested in is turning up to that soulless dome and handing over their cash to watch boys and drool over wenger. he has bewitched them and nothing you or i or anybody else say will break the spell they are under….
Dazza says:

July 22, 2010 at 7:03 pm

Basars, your point about 2 DMs is a good one, the problem is Denilson is usually the other one. That man is clueless – I will never forget the way he totally slept as Rooney ghosted past him to get into the box and make it 0-2 at the Grove. Unforgivable! Unbelievable! Most of all, pathetic! Anyone who defends that guy should just watch that goal again (Wenger included). I may be wrong but I think Song/Denilson started against the chavs at home – Song subbed at HT? And we got ‘done’ on our right twice, so you still need your wide men to do their bit.

It seems obvious to me that our players are not taught anything about the opposition. Just sent out to ‘be true to the way we want to play’ and just hope the other team aren’t savvy enough to pick us off. It’s lucky 14-15 top flight teams are not good enough to exploit our obvious weaknesses.
deRuyter says:

July 22, 2010 at 7:25 pm

The simple fact of the matter is we will not be in a position to compete until the Emirates shirt deal expires in 2014. That deal will go down in Arsenal history as the worst commercial decision the club ever made.

The deal is worth 6 million a year. That compares to 20m a year that Liverpool and United get from their shirts. Spurs get 12 million and Chelsea 10.

Factor in that our money was frontloaded, and we generate 20 million less a year in cash than United or Liverpool,

The situation with our kit deal is similarly disastrous. The aforementioned clubs have a huge headstart on us from that revenue source season after season. Before a ball is kicked in August we are 20 million worse off than Chelsea, 25 million worse than Spurs, 30 million worse than Liverpool and 40 million worse than United.

Thats not a one off disadvantage. Its an institutional handicap we have been burdened with until 2014. Why do you think the first think Gazidis did after his arrival was attempt to renegotiate these deals? Unfortunately his predecessor did not even have the foresight to build any get out clauses into the deals.

Coupled with the interest payments on the stadium (which admittedly were well negotiated) this means we have been far worse off financially ever since we moved to the Emirates than we were at Highbury.

The problem is not Wenger,but Emirates Airlines and to a lesser extent Nike.
John says:

July 22, 2010 at 7:59 pm

Wenger shops in Lidl, and he should be shopping in Harrods.
Smudger says:

July 22, 2010 at 8:00 pm

So the season hasn’t started and you’ve already written it off? Rather idiotic, no? How about last season when Chelsea signed “world class” defender Zhirkov for ~£20m and we signed “some nobody” Vermaelen for ~£9m? Which worked out better?

By “Ballotell” I assume you mean Inter striker Ballotelli, the youngster with a massive attitude problem. Your implication that spunking £20m+ on him would be better than signing Chamakh on a free is hilarious. Chamakh is an established international and Champions League quality striker. And you’ve written him off, even though you’ve probably never seen him play.

It’s funny you label true Arsenal supporters as “AKB” merchants. Who is serving the club better – the people who turn up at the stadium, show respect for the most successful manager in Arsenal’s history and support his players; or the no-nothing numpties who sit posting on their two-bit website that the season is over before it’s even begun?

You’re a joke.
Dazza says:

July 22, 2010 at 8:04 pm

deRuyter, the figures coming out of AFC do not back up what you’re saying. The club are making more money now than they’ve ever done. Admittedly, they could be making hell of a lot more on deals but at the time funding was essential for the stadium so they couldn’t really bargain from a strong position.

Those other clubs you speak of, ManU apart, will be screwed when the ‘spend within your means’ ruling is in place. Indeed, look at ManU even now, they are hardly splashing the cash are they? Chelsea? Well they got Benayoun I suppose….nice! Spuds? How many of their players would get in our team? Liverpool are totally screwed, still spending money they simply dont have and on what? Scottish centre halves. It would be wrong to be envious of the financial situations at any of these clubs.

Wenger is part of the problem I’m afraid. His tactics are frankly awful in big games – thats nothing to do with money. Almunia as no.1 is nothing to do with money, just very poor judgement. In Wengers own words, ‘judge me at the end of the season’. Well, we have and guess what – the people who question him and his pampered babies are always right to do so. They are simply not up to the job
gooner76 says:

July 22, 2010 at 8:13 pm

AKB’s wake, Wenger’s achievements ended when Dein left, he had the minerals to go out and spend money (not always wisely but as the saying goes ‘You have to speculate…), once Wenger took control of the purse strings he wont spend because he is stubborn and will not veer from his project, which ultimately failed at Monaco and will fail here, you cannot just build a team from youth anymore you have to augment with some experience and quality even if it means paying a bit more in transfer fees, because that extra 2 mil on a keeper like Shay Given for example might win you the title and recoup that money. We once had a first 14 of quality that would walk into any team in the prem and we now have maybe 3 or 4. Yes it will be tough when Wenger goes but another season of just qualifying for the Champs League is not acceptable when you have been told for the last 8 years a new stadium will mean we will compete with the best in Europe – the board should learn from his mistake and spend to get the best manager in Europe regardless of which club he is at and how much it will cost
Baldy says:

July 22, 2010 at 8:13 pm

Look, we knew that by moving to the Emirates Stadium there wouldn’t be a lot of cash around for a few years. AW is busy in the transfer market but often the players simply don’t want to come to Arsenal, it has nothing to do with transfer fees, salaries etc., they just don’t want to come which is their choice. What is AW supposed to do, hold a gun to their head & force them? Or maybe you’d rather he offers such ridiculously high money for them that they come simply because of the cash, so we become Man City. And the comment made by Muppet is spot on, Real Madrid have spent ridiculous amounts & where are they?

It’s been 5 years, that’s all. God forbid if half of you ever became chairman of a club, you’d be bankrupt & getting death threats from fans quicker than you could say “quick, I’ve just scouted Mario Van Bigbollocks on youtube, let’s buy him for £100 million because he’ll single handedly win us everything”

Building a great team takes time, and patience. A few eggs get broken along the way, but what AW is also building is a future, a legacy to hand over to the next generation of Arsenal Managers. Financially we are healthy, we have an amazing ground & we will soon have a team capable of dominating Europe for years to come. I’m more than happy to sacrifice a few years of silverware & let my Man Utd & Chelsea-supporting workmates have bragging rights over me at the end of a few seasons because I can see what AW & the board are trying to achieve.

Having said all that, I’d like to see a keeper & a DM come in
chippy says:

July 22, 2010 at 8:17 pm

Money, Money Money,

Heart, Desire,And a will to win whilst respecting the traditions of the shirt your wearing cost Fuck All and some of those players should be reminded of that or moved on,And while we are talking money some tactical nous costs zip how much did Grahams back 5 cost ? Not much but they were drilled and drilled again until they became one of the two best back fours in Europe the ledgendary Milan being the other, Where as this lot look like they’ve never met.
perrygrovesworld says:

July 22, 2010 at 8:36 pm

shit has the season started already?? did I miss the last six weeks of the close season.. No.. No.. Its just the usual doom mongers at work. I can’t even be arsed to get annoyed with you Big L or is it Little Sinbad? Buying players is a bit more complicated than on Playstation you know, anyhow the time to pass judgement is around November time not now unless of course you’ve got no life. It’s the summer fuck it, go out and get sunburnt at least you’ll feel more red and white.
hers says:

July 22, 2010 at 8:53 pm

VAN PERSIE AND BENDTNER MUST STOP DREAMING AND THEY MUST STOP SCORING GOALS WITH THE MOUTH AND MORE WITH THE FEET.ARSENE MUST WAKE-UP, LAST SEASON THEY COULD’NT FINISH TEAMS OFF IN THE FIRST HALF AND THE TEAMS TOOK ADVANTAGE AND THAT IS WHY WE HAD A POOR SEASON. I WOULD MAKE THE SWAP WITH CLICHY AND MELO, CAUSE GIBBS IS A BETTER PLAYER AND IT WILL ALSO GIVE MORE BACKBONE TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TEAM.WE NEED A STRIKER THAT CAN DO THE WALK AND NOT JUST THE TALK (REMY, SUAREZ). SELL FEBREGAS AND BUY NEVEN SUBOTIC, KHEDIRA AND MEZUT OZIL.
BigL says:

July 22, 2010 at 9:06 pm

@hers whatever happens I think we need to keep Cesc. Unfortunately he is one of the only world class players we have that could attract players to the club. RVP is a world class player to attract top doctors to the club.

@baldy – you say that players simply don’t want to come to Arsenal (despite Arsenal saying the contrary). Nether the less you would appear to be correct, we just don’t attract world class players. Perhaps because they know they are never going to win anything.

A new manager with a winning mentality would do wonders.
Dave H says:

July 22, 2010 at 9:58 pm

I go every week have two season tickets and I can categorically say that 50% of the people that sit around me at the emirates are never going to let wenger get to xmas with Almunia in goal and the smallest midfield in the premier league without dishing out a lot of stick.
He has two options as far as I can see….
1, buy a gk, defender, and imposing midfielder whilst not getting rid of Fabregas….

2:, getting a couple of freebies from africa/france/nordic regions that no one has ever heard of and finish 4th again

Believe me if he takes the 2nd route the crowd will turn by xmas and he will be under a lot of pressure, and don’t forget that 13,000 people did not renew their season tickets this year and 19,000 did not pay a tenner to stay on the season ticket waiting list….. come in no 1 your time is up.
deRuyter says:

July 22, 2010 at 11:35 pm

Dazza, I am not envious of other clubs finances,but I am immensely pissed off we are missing out on such a large scale. I don’t even buy the apologist view that Emirates and Nike had us over a barrel. Yes, we needed money, but are you seriously telling me nobody else could have been interested in partnering with Arsenal?

Liverpool are in dire straits, and yet their commercial people have the nous to negotiate a deal that generates 350% a year more than ours.

Of course blind spots like the diabolical Almunia/Fabianski situation are Wenger’s fault, but the bigger picture is that Keith Edelman’s incompetence will haunt us for years to come. Thats the Keith Edelman brought in by Fiszman.

The fact is Wenger was happy to spend whenever and whatever he could in his first 5 or 6 years at the club.How much of that was Dein’s influence I have no idea.

What pisses me off is the disingenuity of it. Either man up and admit we fucked up financially, and won’t be able to spend for a few more years, or alternatively get rid of the manager who refuses to do so.
This Site is Shite says:

July 23, 2010 at 12:25 am

What a Muppet. Please do go off and support City if all you want is big named signings.

If Chamakh (a striker that took Bordeaux to the Semi’s of the CL) cost 25 Million would you be happy ? is he a better option than a striker with an attitude problem, that has come out and claimed his love for his current rivals?

Is holding onto Cesc, better than signing Yaya Toure on 200 grand a week? The wish to do business befroe the World Cup is just that, not a promise…. your knolwedge of football and how the transfer market works is not very strong, I can only assume you are young, as your niavety is enormous – only 4 teams have ever won the Premier League, and three teams more than once. Arsenal are one of those three.

And when it comes to competing wiht Chelsea on transfers, please do remind me how much Chelsea have spent this summer?

You are a Joke, this site is a joke

deRuyter – Were you educated by dogs? have you had a labotomy? you say “The fact is Wenger was happy to spend whenever and whatever he could in his first 5 or 6 years at the club.How much of that was Dein’s influence I have no idea”

Do you forget that we watch football in one of the best stadiums in Europe? a stadium that will secure the future income of Arsenal for years to come? A stadium that due to the finacial dealings of the board is almost paid off, Seriously to envy Liverpools finaicial situation is possible the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.

Try supporting Arsenal rather than Bitching about them, a ball hasn’t even been kicked.
Bogger says:

July 23, 2010 at 2:17 am

BigL….

You need to support the coach regardless of whether you think his way of building/running/training is good/bad. He is the coach and until e resigns/retires/leaves, he is it!!

Your comments are not helpful at all and go nowhere to help form a stronger club or supporter base. Yes you are entitled to your opinion BUT it is easy to comment when one is sitting in the stands!! A whole different ball game when you are on the field!!

Start supporting the TEAM!!
Titus Bramble says:

July 23, 2010 at 3:38 am

Excuse me but I could be the special signing you guys need I am convinced of it.

I have been training hard all summer I even dusted off my old subuteo set to get some extra practice in, the static plastic figures and wobbly legs thought me everything I know about the game.

Arsene my phone is on awaiting your call. I even have your picture as my screensaver. I bought new boots and new shoelaces I am ready to go. Please call me Arsene, call me soon.

Thanks

Titus
Spectrum says:

July 23, 2010 at 4:54 am

It seems Wenger is pandering to Sol Campbell way too much. He’s allowing Campbell to take his time on deciding if he wants to stay. Problem is WE DON’T HAVE TIME . Not only that, the guy was originally signed as a stop gap to cover for injuries. Fair enough, he did a good job in that role.But he’s 36, and he should have been given a DEADLINE by now to make up his mind, so the squad can be finalised.
It appears the manager plans to have Campbell as one of the regular CB’S all through this season. When he should be using him as a back up ONLY, and getting a proven experienced defender in, not someone who’s ready for the retirement home. But hey, Arsene can save a few quid by making do. When you’re only concerned with finishing in the top 4, the AKB’s won’t see anything wrong with that.
” In Arsene we rust”.
Spectrum says:

July 23, 2010 at 8:14 am

Bogger – Support the TEAM, yes by all means. But that doesn’t exclude those same supporters from criticising the players when and where NECESSARY. And certainly not the coach either ! I supported the coach up to the point where I could plainly see that he had lost direction. On and off the field. You haven’t reached that stage (yet). But I wonder how long you are prepared to give Wenger before even you concede that the ship needs a new captain? Perhaps this season ?. The club is on a slow but steady spiral downwards, I regret to say.
As for comments not being helpful, on the contrary – pointing out deficiencies can be useful – if certain people are prepared to listen .Don’t forget that the fans ARE the club,(despite the commercialism prevalent nowdays). I wonder if the manager and board read these blogs – they don’t have to take any notice of course, but it’s a pretty good gauge of the fans’ mood and expectations. Neglect those same fans TOO MUCH, and pressure will build and build, till it can’t be ignored any longer.
“In Arsene we rust”.
DB10 says:

July 23, 2010 at 8:23 am

No wonder Cesc wants out. Why play for a manager who’s sole ambition is make a profit during the transfer window rather than win trophies?
BigL says:

July 23, 2010 at 11:00 am

@Bogger sorry mate but I respectfully disagree. Questioning why we are not making ‘quality’ signing despite:

1) being told that we will
2) being told that money is available
3) needing to making signings

Is helpful. It’s not just me asking why we are not making signings to strengthen, the players have been asking too.

What is not helpful is fans burring their heads in the sand and accepting the situation.

We all support the team, some of us want to try and win a trophy while others are happy living in past glory days
Mehmet says:

July 23, 2010 at 11:28 am

Heard that Arthur Boruc signed for Fiorentina for less than 2 mill and AW are after Swarczer for 4 mil! Where is AW scouts? Maybe he is ain’t french IMO!
Clockend Lloydie says:

July 23, 2010 at 3:15 pm

I am totally in opposition to your opinion, but I respect your right to have one…
PAULIE says:

July 23, 2010 at 3:53 pm

Bravo, excellent post. Ill go further, Ive enough of Wenger, Ive no interest in the liars excuses anymore, get him out.
Pork the Pie says:

July 24, 2010 at 7:21 am

“No we cannot [compete] on wages with Chelsea. That is simple. I believe what is not normal is not our wage bill but their wage bill because that should not be allowed.”

Arsenal Wage bill: 120m
Chelsea Wage bill: 137m

Hmmmm …..
Old says:

July 28, 2010 at 3:55 pm

Why do we bother listening to Wenger, he knows what is required and he promises to do it, then nothing happens.

I for one am fed up with him, he treats the club as his own, this club is ours and we want it to do well.

We need 4 or so world class players in order to compete for the league title. Wenger is yesterdays man we need someone that really wants to win for the fans.

Wenger’s Porkies

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