Summer Transfer Misery and Recriminations.

[Niall_Quinn]

There's a perception though that Wenger is far too involved, and maybe that's true. Is it Wenger saying he won't pay £31m rather than £30m and thus losing a player or is it Dick Law? If the latter then Wenger doesn't deserve as much flak as he's getting. If it's Wenger messing up deals by penny pinching then he deserves the flak.

Can you honestly envisage Law (or anyone at the club) being in a position to overrule Wenger? It would be one of the reaches of the season to suggest anyone bar Wenger is responsible for our shambolic transfer policies. He admits it. You can see the pride he takes in holding the club back from its potential, though of course he doesn't see the reality and seems to genuinely believe he's doing the game a huge favour. You've heard him. Endless commentary on what other clubs are doing wrong, a bag full of excuses for our own behaviour. His biggest problem is he can't admit so many of his players are duds and he absolutely won't accept the way the market has gone. I mean he's right, the market is a joke. But his proclamations change nothing and his failure to act results in the bland outcomes that have become a hallmark of the club. He's the most unsuitable man I can imagine to be the manager of a modern football club. This is where the theory that literally anybody could do a better job comes from. Any old Joe might not be able to secure that coveted top 4 finish on such a consistent basis, but they would at least appreciate reality instead of the fantasy that Wenger has immersed himself in. And then you have the other half of the unholy duo, that yank vampire who couldn't give a fuck about the club beyond its capacity to provide him with collateral for his land grabs. What a mess.

[Özim]

I think Wenger does have final say in a lot of situations. There was a thread on Reddit about Kim Kallstrom's time at Arsenal (a really good read btw) that transcribes an interview he had on Swedish radio recently. For example, when he was going through his medical on transfer deadline day, the med staff picked up his back problem that would have killed his move in most cases. Wenger was in the room and despite the advice, overruled and made the final call to still sign him, even though he wouldn't be available for two months. So I would imagine Wenger would have the final say in transfers too. But what bothers me is how easily fans are influenced by media transfer stories. It's quite sad really. Wenger deserves flak for failing to manage the team, our repeated failings and for not getting in players quickly enough. But when the media lead he narrative on what he are/not doing in terms of negotiating, it frustrates me. Arsenal fans are easy targets (because of Wenger's failings in finding players quickly enough) the media exploit that to the fullest and fans fall for it each and everytime. The problem is I guess, that while the media do not deserve the benefit of the doubt, the club hardly do either.

The problem isn't the media, they trying to make money, it's the fact the guy doesn't sign anyone and certainly not anyone we need, if he did the media would be irrelevant, but people are so desperate for a signing they'll believe any story.

In the end though he's the problem, if he signed players none of this would matter, because he doesn't all these failed signings become all too believable, either he tries to sign these players and fails, or doesn't try at all, both are no good.

[Kano]

You just summarised almost everything I already said above.

[Power n Glory]

The problem isn't the media, they trying to make money, it's the fact the guy doesn't sign anyone and certainly not anyone we need, if he did the media would be irrelevant, but people are so desperate for a signing they'll believe any story.

In the end though he's the problem, if he signed players none of this would matter, because he doesn't all these failed signings become all too believable, either he tries to sign these players and fails, or doesn't try at all, both are no good.

The media’s doing him a favour. It at least gives the perception that we’re active in the market. What if he’s taken a gamble on certain positions and our business has already been done? We signed Rob Holding but nobody would have thought he’d be starting against Liverpool. Had to be a signing for the future. Even with our injury crisis you would have thought he’d play Debuchy or Monreal with Chambers. Heck, even Bielik or Coquelin. Not Rob Holding. He was too young we all thought. But he started the game. If you’re good enough, you play, according to Wenger. Age doesn’t matter. So maybe he really thought Rob Holding could have a breakthrough season and we didn’t need to spend on a CB. That’s a scary thought.

[Letters]

Can you honestly envisage Law (or anyone at the club) being in a position to overrule Wenger?

Being in a position to? The board are his bosses aren't they? Of course they're in a position to, take the responsibility away from him, get someone else to manage the transfers. But they don't want to because Wenger is doing a brilliant job, from their point of view. Keeping us relatively competitive, enough to keep the CL money rolling in anyway, and not spending silly money on transfers. It's perfect for them.
Wenger has far too much power in the club but the board are responsible for letting that happen.

EDIT: Oh, and for all his faults I genuinely believe Wenger cares how we do. I don't think the board give a shit.

[Power n Glory]

Being in a position to? The board are his bosses aren't they? Of course they're in a position to, take the responsibility away from him, get someone else to manage the transfers. But they don't want to because Wenger is doing a brilliant job, from their point of view. Keeping us relatively competitive, enough to keep the CL money rolling in anyway, and not spending silly money on transfers. It's perfect for them.
Wenger has far too much power in the club but the board are responsible for letting that happen.

EDIT: Oh, and for all his faults I genuinely believe Wenger cares how we do. I don't think the board give a shit.

Shifting goal posts.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Being in a position to? The board are his bosses aren't they? Of course they're in a position to, take the responsibility away from him, get someone else to manage the transfers. But they don't want to because Wenger is doing a brilliant job, from their point of view. Keeping us relatively competitive, enough to keep the CL money rolling in anyway, and not spending silly money on transfers. It's perfect for them.
Wenger has far too much power in the club but the board are responsible for letting that happen.

EDIT: Oh, and for all his faults I genuinely believe Wenger cares how we do. I don't think the board give a shit.

No the only person who has any authority over Wenger is Stan Kroenke

[Letters]

Shifting goal posts.

Care to elaborate?

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Dick Law is his name. Cocking up deals is his game.

Dick Law does as well as he can given that he has one arm tied behind his back, he is a proxy for Wenger.....it's well known that he was in a room negotiating a contract with a players representatives only to be called out and told on the phone that Wenger had changed his mind and didn't want that player anymore.

[GP]

That player's name?

Albert Einstein.