OK been more succesful then us.Originally Posted by Letters
OK been more succesful then us.
There were a few years there where we were better and more successful. Early noughties.
The rest of the time in the PL era though, yeah.
(I presume we're only talking about the PL era, they weren't even in the top division in the 70s for a while!)
I believe it is no coincidence that our falling away happened almost at the same time SAF stopped goading AW, I not saying he was rhe reaso just maybe he saw something sooner than AW did. . . ?
Fergie is just a better manager, not much else to it. Everyone thought Chelsea would dominate indefinitely after 2006, but he toppled them with apparently his worst side and has dominated ever since.
Last edited by Marc Overmars; 05-04-2012 at 01:31 PM.
I agree on the part that teams below us are much better than they were before.
As for the part in bold, how can a manager just lie down and look at attitude that is so defeatist in nature for the last 5-6 seasons running?? AW might go on and on about attitude and mental toughness in the group but we really are shambles in that area. If thats a weakness, a manager getting 6 million quid a year should have tackled it much earlier. Ditto for our defensive frailties. AW, IMO, has got a lot of chances... he seems clueless now to rise up and challenge with the 'big boys'.
As for better foundation, every season, at this time, dont we say the same thing? You have been on GW for a long time and you know that this is something that is said every year. In fact, I remember when I was talking to you, Letters n GB in 09/10, we felt we had the foundation for a great team. Problem is we keep losing key players every season. We do have a real captain but again, he seems likely to leave us just like how Cesc, Nasri, Hleb, Flamini, Henry, Kolo, Clichy etc have left us in the last few years. It's a vicious cycle which needs to be stopped and I just do not have faith in AW to stop the rot. 6 years of not taking care of things gives me no hope something different will happen next season.
We do seem a bit stronger mentally right now and we have got a decent captain (which is different from the last few years). If we stays (I think he will) and we sign some decent players in the summer (sceptical, but there are some more hopeful noises about getting business done early this time) then we might have more of a basis for improvement.
Wenger has never been a great tactician or a great motivator. Our best sides under him have always had a strong captain and other strong characters, I do see a bit more hope that we have that again right now but we'll see.
Yeah - and I think the presence of Arteta, Vermaelen and the like under RvP is the reason for our (relative) improvement this year. Some more of that and we will be serious challengers for the league.
just read theo's comments regarding this match. i still cant see the mental strength in this team and i feel that theo's comments illustrate that this team still has not learned. underestimated QPR? at this time of the year? this should not be happening and it should be a worry especially if there is a lack of transfer activity or if our manager is still here next year.
TBH Letters, a lot of your post lays considerable weight to the Wenger out argument!
1) hes not a great tactician or motivator
2) our best teams have always been made up of a strong captain and characters, and that we have the first signs of that for a long time
3) there are signs we are looking to add much needed quality sooner rather than later next time round
Just think what we could do if we did have a tactically astute manager who could motivate! ?
There are loads of managers like that out there, most of them manage teams who finish below us every season.
Wenger has his weaknesses but he clearly has strengths too in terms of talent spotting and developing players.
To keep us top 4 every year without spending big is not something which should be over-looked.
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