Even in context it’s a silly statement.
Printable View
We could get into an area of infinite regression, without Hill Wood we wouldn't have Dein.
There is no doubt that getting rid of Rioch was Deins decision, but Hill Wood didn't prevent him from taking it....I think Gazidis would not offer Wenger a new contract if there was no Kroenke.
I guess that makes sense if you think that.
I don't think he's gone crazy OR is joining the board in laughing at us.
I just think the game has moved on and a combinations of stubbornness and a misguided (although partially understandable) ideology means he's no longer able to compete at the very top of the game.
But I do think he at least cares how we do - I don't think the board could care less so long as the money keeps rolling in.
Arsenal is personal to me. I dont mean to say what football or supporting the club should mean to someone else, but I find my club very personal to me. So yes, my vitriol and hate will be personal as well. I would love it if Wenger would just get fired by the board after a run of bad results or if he did the right thing and realized he is way past it. However, we know thats not going to happen. The only way I can see him out of the club is when it gets ugly and worse for him. Then ugly and worse is what I hope happens.
If he cared he wouldn't leave us so unprepared going into every season, he only cares about himself and trying to win "HIS WAY". If he really cared and wanted to win he would do what is necessary and that certainly doesn't mean bankrupting the club or spending 55million on a CB.
He doesn't even have a ideology TBH, he's all over the place with his comments in the media and his actions regarding the squad and his recruitment policy don't follow any semblance of logic IMO, he's a "law to himself", he just does what he wants and treats Arsenal F.C. like some personal project.
Of course the board are to blame too, as long as the money keeps rolling in they couldn't give a hoot what Wenger is or is not doing.
Let's not ignore the fact that PHW is happy with the job Wenger is doing and seems happy with Stan also. That's the whole point to this. He was chairman before Kroenke was on Board and gave Wenger more responsibility and power once he fired David Dein. He's just as culpable as Stan Kroenke. You argue Stan and co need to intervene and wrestle power away from Wenger, force his hand, whilst ignoring the man who gave him that power in the first place and appears to have done nothing to reel him in.
Of course he cares. The disconnect comes from he deems as sufficient enough to do a successful job - or even what he deems as success now. As far as he is concerned, he is doing what is necessary to be successful. But nearly all of us - on this small fan board - see it differently.
The difference is that Hill Wood had Dein who could persuade or encourage Wenger to be more bold, i don't think Gazidis has that same influence or is allowed to exert it.
The difference is whatever you or I think of Hill Wood, for most of the time when he was chairman the manager was accountable and had the appropriate level of support, and the malaise and laissez faire attitude that he seemed to be fond of has been institutionalised under Kroenke.
The probability is that things were better because of Dein, because he was Wenger's boss in more than name only unlike Gazidis. And it is abundantly clear that Gazidis cannot function in that role because of Kroenke.
In many ways it's a similar argument to who was the worst Labour leader out of the current one Corbyn or Ed Milliband, now in many ways you could argue Milliband was just as bad because he facilitated the change of Labour leadership contest rules that allowed Corbyn to become leader because of the ongoing battle between the party and Len McCluskey.
But in practice Milliband didn't create the same schism in the Labour party that Corbyn and his cronies have created, allowing the party to be held hostage to the whims of people many of whom didn't even vote Labour at the last election (although I'll leave it at that because I'll have NQ on my case, and as much as i respect his opinions it's almost impossible to debate with someone who is coming at things from such a totally different angle).