So, how do WE win the league?

[Marc Overmars]

Consistency is key and you need a good squad now. United and City don't go on silly runs of 1 win in 6 like we do.

Keep our best players and upgrade on the deadwood with some hungry players who want to prove a point and fight for their place. At the moment we have a decent first 11 but that's it, just 2-3 injuries and the whole system goes to pot and performances nosedive. It's an absolute miracle that RVP played every single game this year, I dread to think where our season would have gone had he missed even as little as say 5 games.

Of course we could also do without the ridiculous fuck ups at the back. Hopefully Bould will work to tighten up that area.

[Power n Glory]

The transfer windows system is unfair anyway. For things to be truly fair, they'd have to introduce some sort of wage structure and draft system similar to the American sports. Even without City, we still have the divide been clubs like ours and smaller clubs who have no chance of winning the league unless there is some sort of takeover.

I don't hold anything against City. The whole system in general needs a shake up.

[Joker]

We need a new manager with fresh ideas who's not so obsessed with the balance sheet and acting the accountant. Tactically Wenger's been found wanting a lot this season, which has no doubt cost us quite a few points. When we throw away leads late on in games, the manager has to take some responsibility for it because we are so utterly disorganised at times when defending a lead. Wenger's become too stubborn for his good, pursuing ideas and his way of thinking which has failed to deliver for a long time now.

However, changing the manager won't be enough because we need a board who are willing to invest in the team and aren't purely motivated by dividends. This may be controversial but I wouldn't mind a bigger role for Usmanov tbh. Yes, he's an Oligarch etc etc, but the way modern football is nowadays, we can't really turn down his money. Moreover, the current board are not made up of people who care about trophies and think of Arsenal FC as purely a private enterprise, existing to maximise value for shareholders. Perhaps an Oligarch's motives would inadvertently coincide with the fans, because they want the prestige and status that comes with owning a successful football club, so he'll be pushing for trophies even if it's not for altruistic reasons.

[Grebbo]

1. Spend £100m on some quality. Striker, left back, DM, AM.

2. Play 4-5-1 with TWO holding midfielders like City do. Our team defending is fucking shit and the only way to solve it (and the cheapest way) is to have a proper DM along side Song. I guess that's where M'vila comes in.

[Joker]

The transfer windows system is unfair anyway. For things to be truly fair, they'd have to introduce some sort of wage structure and draft system similar to the American sports. Even without City, we still have the divide been clubs like ours and smaller clubs who have no chance of winning the league unless there is some sort of takeover.

I don't hold anything against City. The whole system in general needs a shake up.

Exactly, I don't condone the way football is nowadays, which is why complaining about a symptom (Man City's wealth) doesn't do anything about the actual cause. If you look at Championship clubs, they complain about the change in regulations that has made it easier for top Premiership clubs to poach their younger players. Teams at the lower end of the Premiership complain about unfair TV deals and the Champions League cash-cow that simply perpetuates inequality. I'm all for changing the system to something that is both more meritocratic and egalitarian.

[Flavs]

oh oh also, i would replace some of our "passenger foriegners" with players from he teams who went down. Seriously look:

Chamakh - Steven Fletcher

Benayoun - Mark Davies

Vela/Ju - Hoilett/Jarvis

Flapiankski - Hennessey

Also who knew Yakubu was only 29??? Although i think that is in what we would call "Kanu years"

[Xhaka Can’t]

I think we need a change of Managers and more ambition from the Board. There is the capacity at this Club - even in this financially doped environment to challenge for the Title along with picking up the odd bit of Cup silverware.

We need to make full use of the resources the Club generates rather than banking them. And the money we do spend, needs to be done in a better way. We spend far too little in replenishing/refreshing the squad and far too much on wages. The wage structure cannot be changed overnight, but it needs to change. We spend enough to pay 3-4 marquee players and should do that, with lower wages elsewhere in the squad in line with what is paid out elsewhere. Make players earn the big money contracts rather than paying on the prospect of them earning them and trying to keep everyone, regardless of ability in such a narrow and expensive salary band.

[Xhaka Can’t]

We need a new manager with fresh ideas who's not so obsessed with the balance sheet and acting the accountant. Tactically Wenger's been found wanting a lot this season, which has no doubt cost us quite a few points. When we throw away leads late on in games, the manager has to take some responsibility for it because we are so utterly disorganised at times when defending a lead. Wenger's become too stubborn for his good, pursuing ideas and his way of thinking which has failed to deliver for a long time now.

However, changing the manager won't be enough because we need a board who are willing to invest in the team and aren't purely motivated by dividends. This may be controversial but I wouldn't mind a bigger role for Usmanov tbh. Yes, he's an Oligarch etc etc, but the way modern football is nowadays, we can't really turn down his money. Moreover, the current board are not made up of people who care about trophies and think of Arsenal FC as purely a private enterprise, existing to maximise value for shareholders. Perhaps an Oligarch's motives would inadvertently coincide with the fans, because they want the prestige and status that comes with owning a successful football club, so he'll be pushing for trophies even if it's not for altruistic reasons.

I agree with a lot there, but we don't need Usmanov's money, we just need to fully employ the resources the Club generates and do it in a more effective way.

[Letters]

I don't think we can win the league in the current climate. I do think we could and should be a lot closer though.
A change of manager won't change things as the board as as to blame, if not more, for the lack of investment as Wenger IMO.
In the circumstances we've done well to finish 3rd but we shouldn't be so far away.

[Cripps_orig]

New manager is the simplest solution

Also fixing our biggest problem would help, the injuries. Its ridiculous the likes of Wilshere is out for the whole season with an injury that was supposed to keep him out for a few weeks. Sagna breaks the same leg i think from just controlling a ball clearly proving it wasnt healed. Theres the Diaby situation. Fair enough hes a bit shit but that isnt the point.

Bringing in quality players instead of run of the mill Pub Team players/French Africans/youngsters with potential cos we havent got the time to wait for them to come good.

Get a killer instinct. We dont score enough goals for the chances we create.

Plan B. Wengeritis football rarely works.

Go back to 4-4-2. 4-3-3/4-5-1 has been a failure. 4-4-2 is what we won all the trophies under.

Better mentality. We crumble under the slightest of pressure and we all know how we are after a big defeat.

Bring in Usmanov. If you cant beat them, join them