Quote Originally Posted by Letters View Post
You have repeatedly and consistently stressed the importance of 2nd place and repeatedly downplayed the FA Cup. So you haven't said it, but you've certainly implied it.

Yes, we've let the "2nd Place Trophy" slip and the "Finishing Above The Gypos Trophy". I'll cancel the open top bus.
Those aren't real trophies! The importance of a top 4 finish is obvious - it means CL qualification with all the money and prestige that brings. Top 3 is better yet because it means you don't have to go through the qualification stage. Beyond that if you're not going to win the title then it really doesn't matter that much whether you finish 2nd or 3rd.
The 'tangible result' of the good run is automatic CL qualification.

Last year we finished the season with 5 wins in a row and the FA Cup win, it didn't seem to do us that much good going into a new season.
We can finish on a high anyway by winning the last 2 league games and the FA Cup.

There IS a lot riding on the Cup, it's the difference between finishing the season on a high with a trophy in our hands or finishing with a disappointment and failure.


No. Again, if we qualify for the CL AND WIN THE FA CUP then I will deem the season a reasonably successful one.
Clearly I (and Wenger) want us to challenge seriously for the title next year.
I can understand why it never occurred to you, but it's not either/ or for me. I wanted both. I prioritise winning, both would be the natural consequence of that. Settling for second best is what prompts the either/ or option. It's hard to argue with somebody who can't understand why it is important to finish above your rivals. I guess if you don't believe that's the case by default then it explains how mediocrity can become acceptable and even commendable. The suggestion of winning is greeted with derision.

It may not matter (much) to an accountant or a well paid manager or overpaid players if the final placing is 2nd or 3rd but it comes as a surprise to learn there are fans out there who can't spot the difference. It's not even that we failed to haul the gypos back, we failed to capitalise on that run of games you view as important by giving up ground. We capitulated. It's a recurring theme under a decade of Wenger. Anyone who says it isn't hasn't been paying the slightest attention.

You are correct, we failed to finish above either the chavs or the gypos last season, a particularly poor Chelsea if you recall. This season we had it in our hands to beat one of them at least. But I guess nobody told the gypos how insignificant playing to the final whistle is. They went and moved 5 points clear of us in the most unnecessary fashion.

More money.
Better players.
Fewer injuries.
A poor city.
A recovering Utd.

Different season. Same shit. These are the facts.

Wenger is unparalleled as a club manager, and demonstrably second tier as a team manager. The record spells this out. The appalling record against the chavs, the embarrassing record against Utd, the pitiful record in the CL. If we want that to ever change then we have to give him a heartfelt thanks for his management of the club but beg him to leave based on his record with the team. It's only the former that has bought him grace with the latter. Any other manager at any other club would be long, long gone.

Qualifying for the CL and winning the FA Cup? We know he can do that. It then becomes a discussion about the club and where we feel we stand in the scheme of things. Is it an achievement to be qualifying for a competition we stand zero chance of winning? Financially, yes. In terms of sport - not at all. Is it an achievement to win a knock out tournament while running behind the league leaders by double digits? Yes, it's an achievement but should it be the limit for a club like ours?

I said at the end of last season give him the second season where he has proper funds and see what he can do. Well he fucked it. So there's the answer. He should go now. He always said he'd leave if he had nothing left to offer. He lied. He won't go and when he fucks it again next season you'll say what you are saying now... next season, next season.