Arsenal AGM

[Özim]

So. What would you do with the club if you were in Stan's shoes. Be brief, and no need to say "sack Wenger" because I think we know that.

Seriously, with the majority stake in the club, how would you change the club. I'm interested, because I want to see whether your logic regarding the football side of things, balances with the financial.

1) Get rid of the we're doing well mentality we have at the club (losers attitude), winning is the aim and everything else has to be considered a disappointment, if we don't win we don't win but let's no celebrate coming 4th

2) Make some money available to bring in "quality" players, not kids, not nobodies but more established players who know what it takes to win, perhaps include leaders in this

3) Highlight the need to fix the problem areas urgently by whatever means necessary (if top coaches are required bring them in)

4) Back to basics approach where players must do the basics well, pretty football is desirable but must come 2nd to a players ability to do a job in their chosen position

5) Discourage playing players out of position except when necessary, if players are needed for a particular position find specialist players for those positions

6) Point out that it's the managers job to manage and that he doesn't need to worry about the money side

7) A balancing of youth vs experience, signing youths is fine in moderation but not instead of experience

8) Demand a plan of action for how we plan to move forward to achieve our goals in the next 5 years

[LDG]

1) Get rid of the we're doing well mentality we have at the club (losers attitude), winning is the aim and everything else has to be considered a disappointment, if we don't win we don't win but let's no celebrate coming 4th

2) Make some money available to bring in "quality" players, not kids, not nobodies but more established players who know what it takes to win, perhaps include leaders in this

3) Highlight the need to fix the problem areas urgently by whatever means necessary (if top coaches are required bring them in)

4) Back to basics approach where players must do the basics well, pretty football is desirable but must come 2nd to a players ability to do a job in their chosen position

5) Discourage playing players out of position except when necessary, if players are needed for a particular position find specialist players for those positions

6) Point out that it's the managers job to manage and that he doesn't need to worry about the money side

7) A balancing of youth vs experience, signing youths is fine in moderation but not instead of experience

8) Demand a plan of action for how we plan to move forward to achieve our goals in the next 5 years

I must say, that sounds more like what I want to read, rather than constant digs. Thanks for this

I agree on pretty much all your points.

My question to you now, is, should Stan demand this kind of action, which I think we all know is warranted, could Wenger do this job?

My argument here, is that he is avery good manager, regardless of what you think of him. You, yourself, must agknowledge some of the things he brings to the party. I know it wears thin on you, but he has acheived more, consistently, than many other managers with much more money behind them ('Arry for example).

Therefore, if he were to change his ways because Stan dictates that to him, would you then support the geezer?

And also, if Wenger is the problem (as you beleive), why have you raised all those points, which, SHOULD be implemented and SHOULD be dictated to Wenger by the board.

By that logic, it must be the board being weak / greedy / whatever, to let Wenger get away with it.....

[Özim]

I must say, that sounds more like what I want to read, rather than constant digs. Thanks for this

I agree on pretty much all your points.

My question to you now, is, should Stan demand this kind of action, which I think we all know is warranted, could Wenger do this job?

My argument here, is that he is avery good manager, regardless of what you think of him. You, yourself, must agknowledge some of the things he brings to the party. I know it wears thin on you, but he has acheived more, consistently, than many other managers with much more money behind them ('Arry for example).

Therefore, if he were to change his ways because Stan dictates that to him, would you then support the geezer?

And also, if Wenger is the problem (as you beleive), why have you raised all those points, which, SHOULD be implemented and SHOULD be dictated to Wenger by the board.

By that logic, it must be the board being weak / greedy / whatever, to let Wenger get away with it.....

If we put these changes in place and it was clear Wenger was making these changes then yes I'd be behind him, what riles me about him is this almost oblivious approach that seems to keep us in a rut, he doesn't accept that things don't work and hasn't really shown much interest in changing things.

I believe the board are happy because they are making money and that's their incentive, I have a real problem with this and I make no bones about the fact they take a lot of the blame, but Wenger also just goes along with it and goes further than this by supporting/defending this approach.

He's clearly happy with it or else he wouldn't need to publicly come out with the things he does...he seems to get adequate pride from us doing well economically that he doesn't feel the need to go the extra yard to achieve success, he's had a long time to make changes now and show that he's adaptable IMO it's obvious can't or won't adapt.

I ask the question would Mourinho or Ferguson just take their 6 million a year and then accept they can't win, I doubt it I'm pretty sure they'd be doing everything they could to win and wouldn't be overly worried about the financial side (which isn't a managers job after all).

[LDG]

Fair do's.

I can't make up my mind. Haven't been able to for some time now. There always seems to be this sense that he has the ability to turn things around, but frustratingly in recent years, hasn't gone the extra steps to make it so.

But I've also come to the conclusion, that an intelligent man such as himself, surely can't be as deluded as it appears, and that there has to be more to it.

And if there is more to it, then bringing in another manager won't change a thing. If the same policy of profiteering on player sales is thrust (teehee) on another manager, then we're in for more of the same, possibly worse. Because I still believe that Wenger can find players on the cheap that many other manager can't.

That said. Another manager may bring in more dicipline, that Wenger seems to shun.

Difficult one, and that's why I don't think swinging towards any extreme is particularly right. And that's why I believe we just have to get behind the boys and give the players (if nobody else) as much support as possible, perhaps rather than dismissing some decent results, or bemoaning our lack of Vieira's, Henry's and Piresessss's(?).

Just my take.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Fair do's.

I can't make up my mind. Haven't been able to for some time now. There always seems to be this sense that he has the ability to turn things around, but frustratingly in recent years, hasn't gone the extra steps to make it so.

But I've also come to the conclusion, that an intelligent man such as himself, surely can't be as deluded as it appears, and that there has to be more to it.

And if there is more to it, then bringing in another manager won't change a thing. If the same policy of profiteering on player sales is thrust (teehee) on another manager, then we're in for more of the same, possibly worse. Because I still believe that Wenger can find players on the cheap that many other manager can't.

That said. Another manager may bring in more dicipline, that Wenger seems to shun.Difficult one, and that's why I don't think swinging towards any extreme is particularly right. And that's why I believe we just have to get behind the boys and give the players (if nobody else) as much support as possible, perhaps rather than dismissing some decent results, or bemoaning our lack of Vieira's, Henry's and Piresessss's(?).

Just my take.

Not if the board let wenger bring in his own sucessor, it be someone like him maybe another "yes man" as some put it to the board.

[Cripps_orig]

ARSENE WENGER has called on Arsenal's supporters and shareholders to stay united behind his philosophy.

The Gunners boss, who celebrated 15 years in charge of the club earlier this season, has endured one of the most testing spells of his tenure over the past few months.

But the Frenchman told the club's Annual General Meeting that they must not lose their faith in his methods.

Wenger said: "I believe the values we defend are highly defendable.

"We want to do things with class and be very brave. Courage is a quality I admire, because it is highly needed in the modern world. These players are ready to fight. Trust us.

"I can see a lot of fear and discontent among you — and I can understand that because we live in a world where we fight with people who have extremely high resources.

"We can compete by trying to be intelligent and to be united, because football is very difficult to be consistent and we have been more consistent than anybody in the world in the last 15 years."

The Arsenal manager added: "To stay at the top, top level we have to stay united.

"That does not mean not I am not to be criticised, or the board — we accept that, but we have to show to the outside we are united. If you are not, then you have no chance."

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...ay-united.html

Stan Kroenke has addressed the fans and media for the first time since completing his takeover of Arsenal, and has pledged to stay at the club for a long time, believing everything is in place for success.

The American tycoon says he developed his interest in Arsenal over time despite initially having no plans to move into football, and praised manager Arsene Wenger despite a tough start to the season.

“What a wonderful club,” he said as he addressed Arsenal’s annual general meeting.

“We are involved extensively in sports in the United States and had lots of opportunities to involve ourselves in lots of clubs around Europe and in the Premier League.

“We did not have an interest, but as we became involved with Arsenal in a commercial undertaking in Denver, I became more interested.

“Arsenal has all the elements that you need to have success in this kind of business.

“[The club] has tremendous management at the top, a wonderful manager on the pitch who makes great decisions in regard to personnel, and a tremendous following with the supporters.

“With all those things in place, it was an easy decision for us to get more involved.

“We are glad to be here, are happy with the direction of the club and are here for the long term - we love London, you had better get used to seeing us, because we will be around.”

The club’s chief executive, Ivan Gazidis, delivered the opening address to the meeting. In it he maintained that “being a force” in the Premier League and in continental competition was still the Gunners’ “main objective”.

“We have a sound foundation to move forwards. Standing still has never been an option,” he added.

Arsenal sit in seventh place in the Premier League, having picked up in form after a poor start.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/...ss-owner-stan-

Same old shit

[Fist of Lehmann]

Doesn't tell the whole story, apparently a stormy affair.

Some tweets (Tim Payton of the AST, James Olley Chief Football Correspondent for the Evening Standard):

Glyn Taylor of AST Board asks for equity injection to make up shortfall in commercial. Club say no & will stick to only fans putting in

PHW says Gazidis passed all the criteria for his £600k bonus on top of £1m basic salary. Doesn't say what they were.

Shareholder calls for Peter Hill Wood to stand down and bring back David Dein to work with Wenger. Big applause. PHW says no plans to go

Hill-Wood in response: "I am sorry to disappoint you but I have no intention of standing down. I regard it as a privilege to be chairman."

Also:

Peter Hill-Wood informs the room that he still has his World War I Lee Enfield rifle and is not afraid to use it.

[IBK]

[QUOTE=Ach;60116]http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...ay-united.html

ARSENE WENGER has called on Arsenal's supporters and shareholders to stay united behind his philosophy.

The Gunners boss, who celebrated 15 years in charge of the club earlier this season, has endured one of the most testing spells of his tenure over the past few months.

But the Frenchman told the club's Annual General Meeting that they must not lose their faith in his methods.

Wenger said: "I believe the values we defend are highly defendable.

"We want to do things with class and be very brave. Courage is a quality I admire, because it is highly needed in the modern world. These players are ready to fight. Trust us.

"I can see a lot of fear and discontent among you — and I can understand that because we live in a world where we fight with people who have extremely high resources.

"We can compete by trying to be intelligent and to be united, because football is very difficult to be consistent and we have been more consistent than anybody in the world in the last 15 years."

The Arsenal manager added: "To stay at the top, top level we have to stay united.

"That does not mean not I am not to be criticised, or the board — we accept that, but we have to show to the outside we are united. If you are not, then you have no chance."

Problem is that Wenger is 110% right in what he says - yet it is his messianistic approach that I believe is hurting the club.

...and what is the point of having a billionaire owner if he won't fucking invest in the club?

[Ollie the Optimist]

what i learnt from today is that silent stan is just that, wenger deeply cares about the club and is determined to put everything right. hill wood doesnt care about the fans but just the money and can quite frankly fuck off. wenger was honest at least today, hill wood wasnt and ignored questions etc. makes me put blame at board not wenger

[Power n Glory]

The Board and Wenger are dancing to the same tune. Wenger is no victim and that image of him being helpless can be laid to rest.