Many more than those who state that the new club that they currently play for and get paid shedloads by, just aren't quite up to it.
Btw, how is lesbo doing these days? Still revelling in last year's bit part?
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Many more than those who state that the new club that they currently play for and get paid shedloads by, just aren't quite up to it.
Btw, how is lesbo doing these days? Still revelling in last year's bit part?
In his case, he may be right - he is playing for Fergie.Quote:
Originally Posted by BoringBoringArsenal
But to everyone else, he just looks to have picked up from where he left off with no discernable difference.
Next manager?Quote:
Thierry Henry has opened the door to a possible third spell at Arsenal and says he is saddened by criticism of manager Arsene Wenger.
The New York Red Bulls striker is Arsenal's record goalscorer and played over 250 games for the Gunners between 1999 and 2007.
The 35-year-old says he would love to return to the north London club in some capacity when his stint in MLS ends.
He said: 'All I know is that I will be involved in the game for sure and hopefully be involved with Arsenal because that is the heart talking there, that’s the team that I support. Forget about me as a player, that’s the team I support.
'In any type or shape, if I can go back to the club I would love to do it, but it’s not up to me. That would be a desire, more a desire than something that can be officialised, I still have two years playing here and then I will see.
'But I would definitely love to be back with Arsenal.
The French forward says he is saddened to hear the criticism of Wenger from fans and pundits this season as Arsenal have struggled to keep pace with the title-chasing Manchester clubs.
He added: 'When you don't win people are always going to question your work, your legacy and what you did before. It is sad somehow but that is the way the game is. What are you going to do?'
'For me, it is difficult to hear, difficult to see, but for me the boss will always be Arsene - always great for me and I know what he has done for the club," he said.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz2KpHp9r2p
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Is it arrogance or Wenger being a bit shit?Quote:
Arrogant Wenger to blame for Blackburn defeat, claims Arsenal legend Wright
The former Gunners striker says the Frenchman is "not bothered" about winning the FA Cup and claims the club's exit from the competition is down to the manager
Arsenal legend Ian Wright has accused Arsene Wenger of "sheer arrogance" following his side's FA Cup exit at the hands of Blackburn.
Theo Walcott, Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere all started on the substitutes’ bench as the Gunners slumped to a 1-0 defeat which ended their cup run at the fifth round.
Colin Kazim-Richards notched a 75th-minute winner to stun the hosts and, speaking on his Absolute Radio 'Rock ‘N’ Roll Football Show' after the game, Wright laid blame for the defeat solely at Wenger’s feet.
“You have to blame the manager for the sheer arrogance of not putting enough into the competition,” he said.
“The fact is when you’ve got your manager talking about fourth place [in the Premier League] being the only priority, why are the players going to be any more up for it?
“The manager has made it clear that the FA Cup is something he is not bothered about, but what he is missing is that the FA Cup is something that is worth winning. It’s a great day for the fans.”
With Arsenal 21 points shy of Premier League leaders Manchester United, FA Cup elimination leaves the north London club hoping Champions League victory can end their trophy drought.
The Gunners host runaway Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich on Tuesday evening in the first leg of their last-16 clash.
Wenger talks persistently about his priorities and ranking one competition over the other, that's bound to rub off on the players.
We won't win a trophy again with him in charge, you can bank on that.
http://www.goal.com/en/news/article?contentId=3766928
Looks like he's our new manager.
Laudrup would be awesomeQuote:
Kh
IAN WRIGHT has tipped Swansea manager Michael Laudrup to replace Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.
The heat has been cranked up on the Gunners boss this week after his side were knocked out of the FA Cup by Blackburn and humiliated at home to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
And Wrighty reckons Laudrup, who leads out the Swans in this Sunday's Capital One Cup final, has what it takes to succeed the Frenchman — though he still hopes Wenger can turn things around.
The SunSport columnist said: “Laudrup could maybe step in, who knows.
“There is so much pressure mounting on Arsene now I would hate to see him go out like that.
“I have been shouting from the rooftops for many years now about the deficiencies in respect of replenishing the squad and buying the kind of player that is going to get Arsenal back to, not just qualifying for the Champions League, but getting past the quarter-final stages and really having a good go at it.
“If we are not careful we are going to end up going for fourth spot every single season and if that does not happen — then what?
“With Arsenal, apart from the Bruce Rioch situation, they aren’t too quick to sack people.
“They’ve given Wenger time and put their faith in him.
“If I’m totally honest I think he deserves the time because of what he’s done for the club and many people will agree.
“Personally I don’t want to see Wenger go out on his sword, I want to see Arsenal get back to a situation where they are fighting it out with the big boys again.”
Wenger showed the strain of recent results when he hit out at critics in his press conference on Monday before the Bayern clash.
And Wright, who played under the French manager for two years, believes he is to blame for “everything” that is going wrong at the Emirates.
The Gunners legend admitted: “Watching Arsene Wenger in that press conference hurt me.
“It made me feel very, very sad because as much as I don’t think he would ever admit it, everything that is happening right now is ultimately down to him.
“Yes, he sends the players out to do the business but you have to say he is to blame.
“We’re all still very much in the dark about the money situation at the club, whether he has money and doesn’t want to spend it or he’s a company man and he’s protecting the board.
“Whatever it is I think we should have found out a long time ago because all of the mystery just adds to this unnecessary pressure on Wengers shoulders.”
Arsenal currently sit fifth in the Premier League, four points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham and at risk of missing out on Champions League qualification for the first time in 15 years.
If they are knocked out of Europe by Bayern, the Gunners will have gone eight years without any silverware.
And Wright added: “Arsenal are in danger of slipping into a similar situation to Liverpool, struggling to get a squad together and attract players to get back into the Champions League.
“Liverpool have an unbelievable European record as a club but they just can’t get back on track at the moment.”
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...#ixzz2La8iywNa
Moving to the Emirates has been a glorious failureQuote:
Overmars open to Arsenal role in the future
The 39-year-old, who is currently working as a technical director at Ajax, says he "wouldn't be surprised" if the Gunners approached him about taking up a position
Former Arsenal star Marc Overmars has revealed that he views taking a role with the club in the future as a distinct "possibility".
The 39-year-old scored 41 goals in 142 appearances for the Gunners during a three-year spell which saw him lift the Premier League and FA Cup prior to a £25 million move to Barcelona.
And the Dutchman, who currently serves as Ajax's technical director, stated he would be open to returning to the English club, but ruled out going into management.
He told Standard Sport: “When you get older as a player, you work out what your qualities are for the future. I was quite fast to realise being a manager was not my job.
“The way I work with Ajax, I do the transfers, the contracts and organise the scouting, so it suits me. It wouldn’t surprise me if I work in the future at Arsenal — it could be a possibility.
“I’ve never discussed it with Arsene Wenger. But if the board think about the future and make a list of people to work at the club, it wouldn’t surprise me if I am on the list of people. However, at this moment, I want to stay at Ajax.”
Wenger's men currently face a battle to qualify for next year's Champions League and, barring a miraculous second-leg comeback against Bayern Munich, are set for an eighth season without a trophy.
And Overmars cited the club's move from Highbury to the Emirates Stadium as a possible factor in their recent decline.
“I went back to Highbury to look around that area and still felt such a power there," he added. “When we were playing at home, we were unbeatable. That’s how we felt. But that’s the problem with a bigger stadium, often you lose that aura.
“It used to be intimidating at Highbury — that is the difference between the new stadium and the old one. When you build a new stadium, you must try to get the people as close as possible to the pitch.
“I was playing with Ajax in the old stadium and then the new stadium and we had the same problem. All the opponents wanted to play in this nice stadium so you lose that home advantage."
Pretty muchQuote:
Marc Overmars says Arsenal must beat Tottenham on Sunday – or their season is finished.
The Gunners are sitting fifth in the Premier League going into the north London derby at White Hart Lane, four points adrift of third-placed Spurs.
And Overmars has warned his former club they cannot afford to drop any points against their fierce rivals if they are to have any hope of finishing in the top four come the end of the season.
“Sunday is crucial for them,” said the Dutchman, who scored 41 goals in 142 appearances for Arsenal between 1997-2000.
“At this moment in the Premier League, it is very difficult for Arsenal. They have to win the match. If they don’t, the season is over.”
A negative result this weekend will heap further pressure on Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who has faced calls to quit with the club seemingly certain to end an eighth straight season without any silverware.
They have to win the match. If they don’t, the season is over
— Marc Overmars
But Overmars, who won a host of trophies under Wenger during his three-year spell in north London, has told supporters to trust the Frenchman.
“They have to keep faith in Mr Wenger and the board,” he said.
“The problem is football has changed a lot in the last ten years. With all clubs having private investors or owners, it makes it more difficult.
"In my period, we had seven or eight English players in the team and three foreigners. These days it is the opposite. So it makes it more complicated to get the right player into your team."
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has it become a big game again cos Spuds are doing well or cos we are a bit shit?Quote:
Ray Parlour believes the north London derby has regained its position as Arsenal’s most important fixture – because of Tottenham’s renaissance in recent years.
The Gunners legend played during an era where matches with Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea made up the biggest games of the season.
But, ahead of the Premier League fixture between the pair this Sunday, Parlour claims the match against Spurs is all-important for Arsene Wenger’s men.
During my time as a player Tottenham wasn’t our big game, it was always the matches against Manchester United
— Ray Parlour
“During my time as a player Tottenham wasn’t our big game, it was always the matches against Manchester United,” he told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show. “But now Arsenal v Tottenham has become a massive game because of how well Spurs are doing.
“They are trying to finish above Arsenal so it’s a massive game for both sides.
“It’s bigger for Arsenal than it is for Spurs. Tottenham will be happy to get a point. If you look at the league they’re four points clear. If they can keep that gap going towards the end of the season, then they’ll be delighted.”
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Both. It's big again because Spurs have improved and we've declined, meaning both sides are fairly evenly matched.
Aye.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marc Overmars
When we were involved in title races and Spurs were mid-table laughing-stocks the NLD was an annoying distraction, the real big games were against Utd and latterly Chelsea.
For Spurs it was their Cup Final, the one thing that might just give them brief bragging rights - never did of course 'cos we were a much better side.
Now the sides are evenly matched, all we have to play for is the Fourth Place Trophy and as Spurs are in the race for it too it's suddenly a big game again. It always was a big game in its way of course because it's a Derby but now it's vital.
Spot on.Quote:
Originally Posted by Letters
Was always a big game....only for different reasons now.
Villa I'd take. Valdes notQuote:
Arsenal lack a player like Villa, says former Gunner Lauren
The Barcelona striker has struggled to force his way back into the team since recovering from injury, but the Cameroonian believes he would be perfect for Arsene Wenger's side
Arsenal are lacking a player like Barcelona striker David Villa, according to former Gunners defender Lauren.
The majority of Arsenal's goals this season have been split between Theo Walcott, Santi Cazorla, Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud, but none of them have surpassed 11 goals so far in the Premier League.
Podolski has managed eight goals in 24 appearances, while Giroud has nine in 26, and Lauren clearly feels they need more in attack as he highlights Villa as an ideal summer signing.
He told La Xarxa: "Arsenal need a striker like Villa. They need that sort of player.
"Villa can get you 15, 20, 25 goals in a season, and that's what Arsenal need at the moment. Villa has a lot of talent, scores a lot of goals.
"He would do brilliantly at Arsenal. He'd combine well with Monreal, Cazorla and Arteta. He'd fit in with the Spaniards in the dressing room, and the adaptation period would be very quick."
Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has attracted criticism this season, but Lauren is unsure of whether Arsene Wenger will move for Victor Valdes, who has recently confirmed he will leave Barcelona at the end of his current contract in 2014.
He continued: "[Valdes] would fit in well in any league in the world. Wenger has a lot of confidence in Szczesny, I don't know if he'll go for Valdes."
Valdes is still twice the keeper Schzz is but there are better keepers than Valdes around at half the money
http://www.goal.com/en/news/article?contentId=3794113Quote:
Sol Campbell urges Wenger to change Arsenal's transfer policy
The former Gunners defender cites Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to play £24 million for Robin van Persie as evidence of a bold and highly successful move in the market
Former Arsenal defender Sol Campbell believes Arsene Wenger must change his transfer policy if the club are to be a force in Europe once again.
The Gunners look likely to finish the season without a trophy for the eighth year in a row after losses to lower-league opposition Bradford City in the Capital One Cup and Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup, while a heavy 3-1 home defeat to Bayern Munich leaves their Champions League hopes hanging by a thread.
Arsenal lost key player Robin van Persie to Premier League leaders Manchester United last summer in a £24 million deal, and Campbell - after seeing the impact the 29-year-old has made at Old Trafford - feels similar bold moves in the transfer market could help the Gunners progress.
"You have to give him immense credit for what he has done and it has been overlooked that while they have not done well in the cups, they have been consistent in the league," Campbell told The Mirror.
"But maybe there has to be a change regarding transfers. It should be done on a more case-by-case fashion. I think the fans deserve that.
"Sir Alex Ferguson clearly looked at what United could win if they had Van Persie and decided that if they succeed, that would justify the fee.”
Arsenal visit Tottenham - another of Campbell’s previous clubs - in the north London derby on Sunday, and the former centre-back has warned the more inexperienced players to be extra vigilant during the occasion.
"It will be a test for Arsenal at Tottenham, no question. Players like Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla, who are playing at Tottenham for the first time, will need to be ready for that first 20 minutes which can be so intense.
"You have to be ready for that or you can be one or two goals down. You have to do your homework.
"Gareth Bale has been in great form and Arsenal need to be alert to that. They have to be ready, take him to areas where he can do no damage, and they will be aware of the threat posed on the other wing by Aaron Lennon.
"Tottenham will need to be focused and switched on as much as Arsenal and I feel the match could well be decided in the last 20 minutes. It is vital that both teams maintain their levels of concentration."
http://www.goal.com/en/news/article?contentId=3793110
Overmars seems to be talking a lot these days
http://sportwitness.ning.com/forum/t...-like-tottenhaQuote:
Whilst Stewart Robson was busy telling France Football all the things he usually tells everyone about Arsene Wenger, a few pages later there was another former Arsenal player sharing his feelings about the Frenchman. It was the same magazine and the same lengthy feature on Arsenal's struggles and Wenger's part in them, but what Smith said and particularly the sentiment, couldn't have been further away from Robson's Rants even if it had been planned as such.
Alan Smith had a successful trophy-laden career with the London club and obviously has a fondness for all that's associated with it, and therefore a respect for Arsene Wenger. Whilst Smith doesn't put his fingers in his ears regarding the problems at Arsenal, he doesn't seem to come from an agenda.
So many opinions related to Arsenal and Wenger are now firmly rooted in one camp or the other. It's either 'Wenger In' or 'Wenger Out' and near enough everything said by those so entrenched in either is molded to fit. Former players, pundits, journalists, Arsenal personalities and blogs - there are many so far down their own particular tunnel that they can't see anything else other than the light at the end they are striving for.
To give Alan Smith credit, he's not one of those and can see a more rounded situation. He told France Football:
'Arsene Wenger is still the greatest manager in the club's history. Nobody wants his Arsenal career to end this way. It will be interesting to see what he does this summer regarding investment [in new players]. He needs to improve the quality of the workforce. The question is: 'Will he and the club be able to attract players who will?' Are his scouts as competitive as they once were? Has he the right people around him?
And there are signs that suggest this is not necessarily the case. Americans work at Arsenal, and I'm not sure they are really as critical as they should be. It must change. What must also change, it is the way he [Wenger] works daily at the training center. There is not a coach in the strictest sense, but he has always been surrounded by players who can take their cues by themselves, as Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell did, world-class players.
The quality of the workforce is no longer the same, largely due to economic reasons. He had to let go of players like Fabregas and Van Persie. I do not see how he could keep them, because these players are primarily motivated by their ambition to win titles. Van Persie was not at a club who could offer this possibility. And Wenger has not been able to replace these players.
He found himself in a situation where he was forced to defend the position of [the owners]. Eight years without a trophy is a long time. And these fans have seen their team change its nature during this time. Players have become more fragile, a characteristic more associated to being usual with Spurs!'
Whilst the Tottenham comment is funny, there may be some truth in it. Whereas Arsenal have tended to have hugely competitive players in recent history, they are losing that now. There's not the aggressive and over the top hunger which Wenger enjoyed in his early squads.
Smith says that Wenger's Arsenal career is now being divided into two stages, the first eight years and the second, with a distinct difference in the success of the two halves. The former striker remains polite about Wenger and obviously wants him to do well but his comments suggest he may feel now is the time for Wenger to go.
"As the years pass, we start to doubt. I never stopped believing in Wenger, but he spent a lot of time at the head of one club, and there are not many managers who can maintain their edge that long. There is only one [Alex Ferguson], and he is an exception."
Whilst Arsenal were for so long the London team associated with success, Smith and Wenger wouldn't them taking on some of the characteristics shown by Tottenham so far this season.
spot on from smudger.
Yep. Someone worth listening to rather than the prattle that usually gets posted on this thread.
Mind you. It's a round about way of saying what we all know. The quality of the side has slipped, and the consequence is that we're not as good as we once were.
it's nice to have a real gooner point of view about a return to basics expressed in the press, as usually you just hear 'well they balance the books and the fans want to spend billions..' so all other fans seem to think is that we should be eternally grateful for everything under wenger and never let him go because none of this is his fault.Quote:
Originally Posted by LDG
Yeah, that get's me too.
Wenger's not stupid enough to believe that the fans want him to spend billions on Messi, but he uses that message the media and some of the more idiotic pundits give out, in order to carry on doing what he wants.
At some point, it would be nice if somebody actually put the fuckers on the spot with a dose of reality.
I wonder what the AST will be saying at the next get together....whilst I'm all for their highbrow/professional approach, it would be nice if they could use their influence a bit better this time. A louder voice is needed.
It seems you're expecting journalists to be crusading and inquisitive.
I'm not expecting journo's to be anything other than utter filth.Quote:
Originally Posted by Master Splinter
Be nice if somebody used their influence with the media a bit better though. There are plenty of sesnsible gooners out there who could make a bit of difference, but there are too many sitting on the fence, and too many Piers Morgan's out there, who know pittifully nothing about our current predicament.
If you asked WUMger about why he has unceremoniously dropped Podolski or why Walcott was allowed a free role against top opposition even though attacking fullbacks in his most influential position in those games would have been eminently sensible or why he refuses to give Rosicky a game or why he doesn't even minutely adjust a consistently losing formula despite even his stat machines telling him he's doing it wrong, you'd get another Wenget 'breakdown' to obfuscate the situation.
Even with the inevitable non-answer, it would be nice if at least one person asked something attaining to be worthwhile for once.
He'll give the typical 'you're are all experts' speech. I don't think there is anyone that could ask him that without him taking offense.Quote:
Originally Posted by Master Splinter
Why doesn't someone just come out and ask the bloody obvious?
Why is Gazidis such a fucking ****?
I can't ever recall that being asked at a press conference. It's ridiculous how everyone in the media is skirting around this issue.
This line from Smudger best sums up my feelings:Quote:
Originally Posted by Terry Tuffnutz
And, while not a direct quote, I also agree with this sentiment.Quote:
Arsene Wenger is still the greatest manager in the club's history. Nobody wants his Arsenal career to end this way.
Good read - thanks for that.Quote:
The former striker remains polite about Wenger and obviously wants him to do well but his comments suggest he may feel now is the time for Wenger to go.
From Smiths article above.Quote:
It will be interesting to see what he does this summer regarding investment [in new players].
Will it? It'll be the same summer as the previous few.
They'll have to buy a striker. Not even Stan and the crew can ignore such a key requirement for long. Not saying they won't sell big to fund it though.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...the-worst.html
3 former players giving their view.
Thats us fucked then.Quote:
“It is just about professional pride."
:lol: we've been saying that for how many years? 'surely we cant go without signing a player in x position!!', only to see yep, we've failed to sign a player in that position.Quote:
Originally Posted by Niall_Quinn
in fact i remember posts like that last summer when a certain mr song was sold.
Can't find fault with what Smudger says. And what all the references to SAF's longevity always fail to mention is that he is no more a football coach than Wumger - yet unlike Wumger he has always relied on the services of excellent coaches - to whom he has delegated proper authority. How many of SAF's coaches (or players for that matter) have gone on to be successful managers in their own right? SAF is a better manager than Wenger - probably because he realises he can't do it all himself. Wenger has tarnished his legacy by refusing to countenance that he is unable to do everything himself - and failing to realise his own limitations. I admire SAF for being big enough to do this. He is a much bigger man than Wenger.Quote:
Originally Posted by GB.
10 years ago we'd have never admitted that SAF was the better coach.
Think 10 years ago they were on a par but Wenger has stagnated and Fergie has improved and is a better motivator!
4th is gone tbhQuote:
Former Arsenal goalkeeper Bob Wilson admits the Gunners face an uphill battle to qualify for next season's Champions League.
Arsene Wenger’s side are currently fifth in the Premier League table, five points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea, with ten games left of the campaign.
The north London club are looking to qualify for Europe’s premier tournament for a sixteenth consecutive season, but Wilson, who won the First Division title during his time at Highbury, claims the odds are stacked against them.
“Arsenal are right up against it,” he told Hawksbee and Jacobs. “If you were a betting man you would not back them to finish in the top four this season.
“They’ve got a lot to do to get into that top four. The performance [against Bayern Munich] is a massive fillip for them though. To beat a team that are on the top of their game, haven’t lost at home in ages and have great individuals will be a huge boost to their morale.”
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Poor old Bob. It really hurts him :(
Shame some of our prima donna's can't do it for classy legends like him.