I'm happy enough to let Arsene carry on for a bit - to be honest, I can't see him ever changing his 'one size fits all' approach to our gameplay, but I do have some hope that he now has the means to surround himself with the same kind of top-level players that he used to, so we can turn our one style of play into something to fear again.
An overhaul of our approach towards fitness and recovery would also be nice.
Originally Posted by Steve French
Arsene Wenger, the only football manager that got paid 8 million quid to do nothing but sit on his arse..
It would be nice for him personally to have ended on a high but I'm not sure it would have been the right thing for the club. One of the criticisms of the club is that Wenger has too much influence. That may be true (while we're here, that's why he gets the big bucks, he's far more than a football coach - whether he should be is another debate) but it does mean that replacing him will not be easy. IMO we need to spend the next few years making that transition.
We've finally got the monkey off our back of not winning trophies, we've got new commercial deals in place which should see us more able to compete in the transfer market for years, we've got the feelgood factor of winning a trophy which gives everyone a lift. I don't think that's the right time to be changing manager with all the disruption that could cause.
It's already happening. Ivan has been getting his own men on the business side of things in place for a few years now, and Jonker has just taken taken over the academy (Ivan's man). It looks like all of Wenger's chosen coaches have been moved to either those youth levels directly below the first team, or have been given positions with him in the first team (basically all the areas that Wenger will be dealing with over the next 3 years), and that any of the levels beyond that (i.e. those age groups that are too young for Wenger to need to consider in the next 3 years) are now being run my new appointments (Ivan and Jonker appointments). By the time Wenger (pressumably) retires in 3 years, these will be the U21s and reserves, and at this point I would expect another coaching reshuffle, with a further raft of appointments who are tied to the club and not the manager...
I am going to say that I am happy.....although I have voiced frustration at his 'ways' of doing things, something inside me still says he deserves to dictate when he walks but not at the expense of the club, who I don't doubt for a minute he loves as much as any of us do......my hair is readying itself for another period of pulling out of my head
Gutted... especially with Moyes available for hire.
Better the devil you know IMO. I think it's only fair that Wenger has a chance to spend a decent transfer budget seeing as he played a huge part in creating this Arsenal money making machine.
He has faults, no doubt about it but he's still a very good manager and we could do a lot worse. Is that a good enough reason to keep him? Looking at Man Utd it is.
It's also worth remembering that old Wenger can still spot and attract talent. I think he was the main reason Ozil joined us. Man City have an unlimited budget and want a right back...who are they signing? A player that Arsene bought to England. Half the damn City team has been Arsenal in recent years and that tells you that Wenger can still find talent, he's just had to do it on a budget which has hopefully now changed somewhat.
Whilst I think it's time to move on, and freshen up the club, it's probably true that we need a period of transition with Wenger atvthe helm to keep the good ship fourth, steady.
Who knows. Maybe the cup is a springboard, in which case I would be delighted. He's still a bloody good manager, for all his faults. And lets not forget, we understand these faults because we are so familiar with him, and quite honestly, it's not like he's run the club into the ground. We're a big club, with a big stadium, good players, and a trophy in the cabinet. Not that bad really!
Plus. I still love the dude. He's Arsenal through and through.
All in all; I'm not all upset about something which isn't really that bad, especially when you consider "Moyes".
It's better to burn out, than to fade away.
Wenger's health (no doubt private health care) is bound to be better than most and his personality and obsession with fitness lends itself to long life. I don't by any means think this has to be his last contract.....as if every football manager has to be on the brink of snuffing it in their late 60's!
I feel about the same way Invisible does on it though. The thought of finishing 4th next season without a trophy has flashed across my mind though and the reaction it would garner....
He'll be like a new signing...
Meh
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