So, how do WE win the league?

[Cripps_orig]

Are we seriously discussing getting rid of the manager having just finished 3rd behind two billionaire clubs? A manager who only has a year left on his contract anyway? How should it be done? Public humiliation? Maybe lock him out and throw shit at him from the upper windows?

Sounds good

[Power n Glory]

It's funny, people getting pissed off about results against *newly promoted teams* (none of which got relegated btw) and clubs like wigan or stoke who happy out played or out muscled our nearest rivals.

The quality gap between 17th and 3rd this season has been the smallest I've seen, hell, even the notion of city or united going unbeaten was wishful thinking at best even before winter. Teams who massively outspent us like the Chav's and Pool cling on to cups whilst ruefully wondering, what the fuck now? Where's stamford bridge telling us that our manager is holding us back today?

Sure, last summer was fucking unforgivable, and even the nearest hint of complacency with transfers and I don't think he'll have a prayer with the supporters next season - but there seams to be a certain myopic belief amongst that because Wenger isn't SAF, he's automatically shit. He's got strengths and weaknesses, despite what people think, beyond injuries and lack of spending, the squad doesn't suffer the same problems season after season (compare set piece goals conceded with last season for example) - So in the season where Man City have categorically, without a doubt, proven that money is the most important factor in winning *trophies* (In a game incidentally, that followed the same pattern as ours, with similar defensive mistakes against 10 man newly promoted, would be relegation fodder QPR!!!!) - I'm prepared to give AW and the club a little bit of slack, prepared to treat 3rd as a trophy and enjoy all the privileges and bragging rights that come with it, whilst feeling hopeful about the future.

That doesn't seem right and a bit of a contradiction. It's not that simple. If money is the most important factor, how comes the smaller teams with a lot less than us can beat us? Liverpool spent way more than us but finished way below us and it's the same for Chelsea. Money is a factor but when you look down the table, Wenger is a better manager then all below him. He has won more titles and only Kenny Dalglish has ever won the English league out of all the mangers below him.

It takes a combination of money and a good manager. If we can't compete with City financially, we will need to look at the other option and bring in a top manager. It's not impossible. Dortmund have managed to win the league again. Real had their Galatico period and couldn't win the league for ages.

We've been poor for seven years now. Even though we've improved in some areas, the lack of consistency and the way we can let one bad result spiral out of control are still there. It's our trademark.

[AKBapologist]

That doesn't seem right and a bit of a contradiction. It's not that simple. If money is the most important factor, how comes the smaller teams with a lot less than us can beat us? Liverpool spent way more than us but finished way below us and it's the same for Chelsea.

FA cup, league cup, CL final. Money > Manager tbfh.

It takes a combination of money and a good manager. If we can't compete with City financially, we will need to look at the other option and bring in a top manager. It's not impossible. Dortmund have managed to win the league again. Real had their Galatico period and couldn't win the league for ages.

I hear Andre Villas Boas is available, worth a punt?


If you have a great manager and lots of money, you become united, or real, or barca. If you have just a good manager, it's a toss of a coin and a few dodgy ref decisions where you end up and what you get over the long run tbh.

[Ollie the Optimist]

also anothe way to challenge is for those ****s that they call referees to do their fucking job. we were bottom of the league in terms of wrong decisions against us. things like that dont help.

[Power n Glory]

Are we seriously discussing getting rid of the manager having just finished 3rd behind two billionaire clubs? A manager who only has a year left on his contract anyway? How should it be done? Public humiliation? Maybe lock him out and throw shit at him from the upper windows?

What else do you propose? Are you suggesting we get rid of the Board and bring in owners willing to spend money? Or hope Stan or/and Jabba start throwing money our way?

If that's your one hope, I don't see how you can shit on City so much with their recent victory. It's hypocritical. A change in management is the only way I see things improving if we don't hit the lottery. Wenger only has a year left and now should be the time to search for his successor IMO.

[Power n Glory]

FA cup, league cup, CL final. Money > Manager tbfh.



I hear Andre Villas Boas is available, worth a punt?


If you have a great manager and lots of money, you become united, or real, or barca. If you have just a good manager, it's a toss of a coin and a few dodgy ref decisions where you end up and what you get over the long run tbh.

I knew you'd mention the cups they've won. All I can say is...last year...Birmingham...Carling Cup final. I'm still pissed with the way we lost that.

[Letters]

That doesn't seem right and a bit of a contradiction. It's not that simple. If money is the most important factor, how comes the smaller teams with a lot less than us can beat us?

How come City lost away to Sunderland and Swansea? It's pretty simple. In one off games the best team doesn't always win. Over the course of a season though we finished above everyone bar the who Manchester sides who can both outspend us and one (arguably both) have better managers.

It takes a combination of money and a good manager

Agreed. Unfortunately City have both. But they only have a good manager because of their money of course.

We've been poor for seven years now.

I'm not sure finishing in the top 4 every single year is 'poor'. But there are glaring weaknesses which repeat year on year with wearying regularity and some of Wenger's decisions, it has to be said, are baffling. Given that Wenger has kept us up there the lack of trophies is damning. A new manager might do better but I don't think many managers could have lost their two best midfielders and still finished 3rd with more points than last season. And changing the manager won't change the board so I'm not sure how much would change apart from a potentially worse manager.

[Özim]

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

New manager is a must, I don't care what anyone says but we're winning nothing with that loser still in charge (not me being nasty just facing facts, he's won nothing in 7 years and seems happy with 3rd/4th that makes him a loser).

Injuries definitely, how long has this ridiculous mess being going on now, we need new methods and a new medical team...Wenger's methods clearly don't work, too many players get crocked.

Again quality is a must, no more cheap sh*t from abroad, if you want to compete buy some winners, players who can improve the team.

I'm hoping Podolski will help us get more goals, the killer instinct thing is again down to the overpassing sh*t Wenger insists on, everyone wants to pass nearly everyone is scared to shoot.

Usmanov may not be necessary as we have plenty of money, but I'm not against it if it mean getting rid of the likes of PHW and the only billionaire in football who won't spend a penny on the team.

[Power n Glory]

How come City lost away to Sunderland and Swansea? It's pretty simple. In one off games the best team doesn't always win. Over the course of a season though we finished above everyone bar the who Manchester sides who can both outspend us and one (arguably both) have better managers.


Agreed. Unfortunately City have both. But they only have a good manager because of their money of course.


I'm not sure finishing in the top 4 every single year is 'poor'. But there are glaring weaknesses which repeat year on year with wearying regularity and some of Wenger's decisions, it has to be said, are baffling. Given that Wenger has kept us up there the lack of trophies is damning. A new manager might do better but I don't think many managers could have lost their two best midfielders and still finished 3rd with more points than last season. And changing the manager won't change the board so I'm not sure how much would change apart from a potentially worse manager.

We've struggled for years against teams that play a certain way. It's not a one off.

Also, if we're saying next year could be Wenger's last, then why are you reluctant to see a change? It's going to happen soon enough and it's best we be prepared rather than getting caught out. It's also worth considering the fact that Wenger may have lost his edge. It can happen.

[Özim]

Every year you say the same thing.

Spot on, how often do we have to see the same thing happen before people finally clock on to the pattern that's developed?