The Bitter Truth?

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Yep, I agree with that. Not sure why he hasn't made use of players like Gnarby, Bendy, Vermaelen, Jenkinson....even Ryo. They're all bound to have ups and downs but they need match practice to get sharp, it gives other players a rest and we could potentially have an extra weapon from the bench if they're played into form. Not wholesale changes, just small from game to game just so it doesn't disrupt the balance of the squad.

Problem is you couldn't rely on Bendtner to get you goals enough to play him, and i agree we might not have had quite the problem with injuries if Wenger had rotated more but the fact remains that the three big defeats came against clubs who would have beaten us come what may because they have better and more expensive sides (by that i mean city, chelsea and liverpool).

[Power n Glory]

Again i hate to keep harking back to Liverpool but if you look at what their young players are on relative to us the difference is no difference.

Joe Allen, Raheem Sterling, (Jay Spearing was on 60k a week before he moved to Bolton FFS), Jordan Henderson etc all on at least 50k a week. Henderson on 70 in fact (because you can't move for 20million and accept anything less)

Did Jordan Henderson get a bumper deal less than two years with Liverpool? He signed in 2011 and they're talking about a new deal now in 2014 when he's down to his last two years. That's logical.

[IBK]

Problem is you couldn't rely on Bendtner to get you goals enough to play him, and i agree we might not have had quite the problem with injuries if Wenger had rotated more but the fact remains that the three big defeats came against clubs who would have beaten us come what may because they have better and more expensive sides (by that i mean city, chelsea and liverpool).

I would rather have relied on Bendtner - who has not been the worst striker we ever had and would be playing for a new contract elsewhere - than a French Ligue 2 player who is clearly nowhere near Premiership standard yet.

And have you forgotten our results at Liverpool and Everton away?

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

No. Its the salary expenditure of each club 2013/14.

salary expenditures are published at the end of the season, so that figure you mention is where we have had chamakh, denilson etc still on our books and liverpool haven't doubled suarez's salary, aren't paying a combined 160k a week for toure and sakho or the spanish strikers that don't play poncing 60k a week off the club.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I would rather have relied on Bendtner - who has not been the worst striker we ever had and would be playing for a new contract elsewhere - than a French Ligue 2 player who is clearly nowhere near Premiership standard yet.

And have you forgotten our results at Liverpool and Everton away?

I agree and fortunately Sanogo has hardly played in the league, but neither of them could be trusted to fill the boots of a mid-table quality striker like Giroud.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Did Jordan Henderson get a bumper deal less than two years with Liverpool? He signed in 2011 and they're talking about a new deal now in 2014 when he's down to his last two years. That's logical.

The players of a young age are still there or there abouts on the same money, so makes little difference. Plus when you have lost players like Nasri, Fabregas and Van Persie in such a short space of time would you not go out of your way to protect what assets you have remaining from the bigger clubs?.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I would rather have relied on Bendtner - who has not been the worst striker we ever had and would be playing for a new contract elsewhere - than a French Ligue 2 player who is clearly nowhere near Premiership standard yet.

And have you forgotten our results at Liverpool and Everton away?

No Liverpool have more money and therefore a better squad than us, and because of our small squad (Everton have taken the approach to bring in more players on loan so they are taking less financial burden in the long term, but really only brings you short term advantage) the players we had avaliable to us against Everton made it unlikely that we could get anything. When you have no pace in your side and a striker that's mid-table quality you can't really bemoan the game plan.

[IBK]

I agree and fortunately Sanogo has hardly played in the league, but neither of them could be trusted to fill the boots of a mid-table quality striker like Giroud.

My personal view is that the likes of Bendtner; Vermaelen; Jenkinson and Gnabry are not much behind our first team in ability - but both their development and their confidence has suffered by Wenger's refusal to trust them in a rotated team. Monreal is no better quality than these four - yet for some reason he's been rotated in. Fabianski has exceeded expectations when used. Wilshere has been backed by Wenger with disappointing returns. The previously neglected Rosicky has turned out to be arguably our man of the season. Wenger is inconsistent in the use of his players, and he has not made the best of the resources he has - sometimes with damaging results.

[IBK]

No Liverpool have more money and therefore a better squad than us, and because of our small squad (Everton have taken the approach to bring in more players on loan so they are taking less financial burden in the long term, but really only brings you short term advantage) the players we had avaliable to us against Everton made it unlikely that we could get anything. When you have no pace in your side and a striker that's mid-table quality you can't really bemoan the game plan.

Sorry - but I just do not accept your points about Liverpool and Everton. Both teams are below ours in terms of resources - and that is partly why the Wenger edifice is crumbling.

[IBK]

salary expenditures are published at the end of the season, so that figure you mention is where we have had chamakh, denilson etc still on our books and liverpool haven't doubled suarez's salary, aren't paying a combined 160k a week for toure and sakho or the spanish strikers that don't play poncing 60k a week off the club.

Wrong again, I'm afraid. The figures are based on the weekly wages the teams' players are paid.