Wenger Referendum: Yes Or No

[Niall_Quinn]

We seem to be talking about two different things. I'm talking about pushing on to compete at the top level on a consistent basis, like your chavs and gypos. The stadium move is an essential ingredient for that to be even moderately realistic. As for the other argument, I doubt anyone disagrees we could do better than Wenger in terms of tactics, selection and the general approach to on-field activities. But that's not the only aspect to consider at Arsenal. Wenger has been involved in much more than that and you look around and wonder could any other manager have transformed the club in such a way as we have witnessed since his arrival? Whether it's right or wrong for Wenger to have had such a huge role is immaterial after the fact. For me his job is all but done now and he's leaving the club in excellent shape for the next guy. Some are saying our ambitions are limited, I think it's the opposite. We're up against industrial scale dopers and we're still turning a modest profit year on year while hanging on to their coattails. Now the commercial teams need to get to work (which they have been doing) and the board has to start considering Wenger's replacement, which is surely on the cards? They won't leave it until the day Wenger leaves to start hunting around. I bet that search is already in progress. We'll get what we want in the end, a top class manager with a much more limited role backed by a financial powerhouse of a club. If that's the plan then it suits me.

[Dein-machine]

We seem to be talking about two different things. I'm talking about pushing on to compete at the top level on a consistent basis, like your chavs and gypos. The stadium move is an essential ingredient for that to be even moderately realistic. As for the other argument, I doubt anyone disagrees we could do better than Wenger in terms of tactics, selection and the general approach to on-field activities. But that's not the only aspect to consider at Arsenal. Wenger has been involved in much more than that and you look around and wonder could any other manager have transformed the club in such a way as we have witnessed since his arrival? Whether it's right or wrong for Wenger to have had such a huge role is immaterial after the fact. For me his job is all but done now and he's leaving the club in excellent shape for the next guy. Some are saying our ambitions are limited, I think it's the opposite. We're up against industrial scale dopers and we're still turning a modest profit year on year while hanging on to their coattails. Now the commercial teams need to get to work (which they have been doing) and the board has to start considering Wenger's replacement, which is surely on the cards? They won't leave it until the day Wenger leaves to start hunting around. I bet that search is already in progress. We'll get what we want in the end, a top class manager with a much more limited role backed by a financial powerhouse of a club. If that's the plan then it suits me.

Competing financially with the Chavs & Gypos is not going to happen but to give ourselves a chance we have to address our squad in a similar way. Both of these teams have quality players in all positions with strong benches. This is NOT impossible for us to do.
We may not be able to have as many £50 mill players in the squad but we can make sure that when we buy, we buy quality that may cost more that Wenger is prepared to give. Chelsea for example buy Felipe from Athletico whilst already having Azperlaceuta. Would we not have been better to buy a Felipe type left back instead of Monreal for an additional £10 mill. If we are to compete, the answer has to be yes. Wenger doesn't see it this way & therefore all the money in the world will not allow us to bridge the gap.
Both Chelsea & Man City would not have Arteta or Flamini anywhere near their teams, nor would they have the likes of Podolski, Rosicky or Sonogo on the bench. They move their deadwood out as soon as they realise they have or need better, Negrado being an example from City whereas Wenger has too many squad players that would struggle to get a game for Stoke. If we are bringing on Monreal at CB, Flamini or Podolski in Midfield, Sonogo in attack, we are not replacing like for like. This has to change. It will cost decent money, but we have it & we are not talking about buying 5 Gareth Bale's.