Change the word perspective in to Wenger in the thread title and i totally agree
Change the word perspective in to Wenger in the thread title and i totally agree
I think it's one of the inevitable risks of the policy we started with to keep us going through the lean times, if you take all those players to be complete and utter failures then yeah it seems like a critical error and that we are a club in crisis but take a look at it as the fact that they're NOT as bad as most people think they are and it doesn't look so bad. I think we have been remiss to some area of their education, it can't be a coincidence that we have too many fair-weather fancy-dans flouncing off at the first time they're out of the team or feel under-used nor is it likely to be a coincidence that we have too many of them and we collapse at the vital moments but there have been enough successes to suggest the entire idea isn't flawed, just that the balance is wrong.
To echo the final part of the OP though, it is quite worrying that we don't seem to be the attraction we use to be, hardly surprising, but I don't think there's any lack of belief in the footballing philosophy that Wenger has instilled on the part of the players, more a lack of belief in AW's ability to get it done and that could be even more difficult to overcome if that's the case.
Thing is Wenger gambled and I completely understand why.
He tried to play a system in which an average player can understand and play, and in some cases looks good.
Clearly this was to try and ensure we stay in the Champions League money without spending too much while we pay for the new stadium.
The emergence of City and their bottomless pit of oil money has upped the stakes and with Liverpool making some sensible decisions in the last 6 months has made things more difficult to break the top 4.
We sold some of these players on at a profit which is always nice but the biggest mistake was trying to keep them at the club by paying stupidly inflated wages. Guess what "there is always a bigger fish". their is no loyalty anywhere in this league. Only Man U, City and Chelsea can really hold on to players with these wages as they also invest in players so to ensure they compete all through the season rather than for 6-7 months of it.
The project has not entirely failed, its just that the stakes have been raised.
Wenger did not make it easier for himself when he does not invest in better players. He could of after all sold some of the shite he had 12-24 months ago to cut wages. This was not an astute deal to keep these "fringe" players when money is tight.
Im not so sure he picks up gems either. After all he has bought atremendous amount of poor players and I feel that this has stopped him gambling on new quality players now.He is playing far too safe.
In all honesty I dont understand why an "intelligent" man could make so many obvious errors, and I feel this is why he is being slatted now. We could all see it but nothing was done.
Wenger is no longer the big fish in a small pond. In fact, the pond is now bigger and so are the fish. The flaws we now see in Wenger has always been there. Think back to those awful Champions League days with the old guard. We never performed well on the world stage and it's part of the reason Henry never won the World Player Award. The problem with discipline has always been there, think back to Anelka and the problems he had with our Dutch players, having to sell off key players...it's always been there.
Man City and Chelsea have played their roles, but in opinion, Wenger is limited as a coach and was bound to get exposed which is why he has always avoided going to a big club. He's content at this level. After his spell in France he decided to go to Japan instead of going to larger club. Bayern Munich once wanted him the French National team wanted him and he decided to go to the J League! Why? He's not that confident and it's probably why he surrounds himself with players that need work and not that arrogant. He has to raise his game now. The league never had so many strong teams and coaches when we were winning.
Well - if that's the case, then we really do have a perfect storm - because unlike the brilliant SAF who always make sure he has talented coaches around him, Wenger by all accounts brooks no other real input...But I disagree with you re his confidence. I think that the manager has utter belief in his abilities. Maybe nearer the truth is that he regards his principal talent as developing players, not improving proven ones - which would explain his choice of clubs. Also, I think that the thing that keeps him at Arsenal is that he receives unprecedented patience; control and board support with us.
Putting the laughter back into manslaughter
He believes in his philosophy but I don't think he's confident enough to handle big personalties. Adams, Keown and co used to put the foreign players in their place if they thought they were slacking. Vieira was made captain because he could also control the dressing room. Henry was given the armband in an attempt to control his outbursts and get him to assume the position as a leader, Gallas as captain is another example, he seems to avoid conflict. At a club with huge stars and egos, I think he'd struggle. With our players, when they hit that level when their on the big boys radars, he can't keep a hold of them.