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My mum crossed the road the other day blindfolded and she's fine, ergo there is no correlation between crossing the road carefully and safety.Quote:
Originally Posted by Globalgunner
(She did the same thing the next day and got run over though).
Possible != Probable.
And who won the league the previous four seasonsQuote:
Originally Posted by Globalgunner
And this is why I've changed my position about him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie
There were years when we couldn't compete financially with some teams, IMO Wenger did OK keeping us relatively competitive during that time.
But now the money is there, we should be competing with anyone. My expectations have changed, the performances haven't. The FA Cups were tantalising and showed some hope we could push on (I am not the only person who thought that on here, some of those now pretending they think Wenger has failed for 10 years also thought so).
But we haven't, so #WengerOut.
But, like you, I'm a bit weary of the revisionism going on.
With Wenger even with money, winning the league is impossible. That is the only issue. Do we compete, never. Leicester have a better chance of progressing to the last 8 than us, even with Shakespeare at the helm.Quote:
Originally Posted by Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie
No, it proves you can't correlate spending power and success when looking at our failures.Quote:
Originally Posted by Letters
I think to be fair even when clubs have won due to being able to massively outspend us it's largely disconnected from our own performances
For example the all too predictable collapses in form and then runs in form when top 4 is becoming endangered, which speak to poor mentality rather than squad depth or quality.
If we were getting to April and ultimately falling short because the players had given it everything and just couldn't keep the pace with a side that just isn't dropping points than i would have bought the financial disparity being the ultimate factor, it's a factor but it's also been an easy excuse to hide Wenger's failings.
It wasn't just the fact that Leicester won the title despite not being a big spender, it won the title with a points tally that was a five year low for 1st place finishes....surpassing their points total was well within the ability of the squad we had.
Ultimately apart from three seasons from the last 12 when we have got 79 and 83 points twice, our points tally has been as low as mid sixties and plateaued at 75.
I think winning the title would have been an incredibly tough ask this season as Chelsea have accumulated 66 points from 81 they just aren't dropping points, but the problem is the capitulation.
Again this is the problem, any attempt to say money is clearly a massive determining factor is seen as a defence of Wenger it clearly isn'tQuote:
Originally Posted by Globalgunner
:good: Fair enough.Quote:
Originally Posted by Delusions of Grandeur
I think my point is that even with Wenger gone we simply aren't going to go toe to toe with Chelsea or Man City or United every season, we just won't
Some seasons we will come close but ultimate their squad depth and quality will get them over the line, and some seasons we will struggle to make it into the champions league or even fail to qualify simply because of the spending of sides around us like Liverpool and Tottenham will increase.
I would hope the difference is, is the end to the embarrassing defeats the 8-2's, the 6-0's etc, the 10-2 agg drubbings.
That when we do qualify for the champions league we make it count and get as far as possible
That if the likes of chelsea, city or united have off seasons we are able to take advantage (because 90% of the time the title will be shared out between those three clubs)
We aren't even with a top manager going to start winning multiple titles or winning the champions league that seems unrealistic, the champions league seems closed off between bayern, real madrid and barcelona and arguably even bayern are shut out of that equation.
It doesn't in anyway excuse Wenger, but football has been totally poisoned by money
I think that sums it up well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie
To not even be in a position to compete when the opportunity arises is what has ultimately exposed Wenger. Money might have been an issue 5-10 years ago but the flaws and traits we had then are still prevalent now. It was only ever an excuse to mask his own failings.