Are the glory days over for good?

[fakeyank]

If reports be believed Pat Rice had a hairdryer moment after the Spurs game, not just at the players but also at the other coaches and a certain Arsene Wenger, it will be interesting to see how the club responds from this. Perhaps the person we needed to have a word in Wenger’s shell like and tell him the wheels have come off has been here all along? Having been at the club for over 30 years no-one knows what a loss to Spurs means more than Pat Rice. Also interesting than when Wenger has been banned from the touchline we are unbeaten, is this because Rice is unbridled, able to shout and cajole and actually use substitutes the way they should be? After the stupid internationals break it will be interesting to see how the players react.

Is there a source for this? If true, one of the next best things to have happened since the 8-2 loss to Utd.

[IBK]

Is there a source for this? If true, one of the next best things to have happened since the 8-2 loss to Utd.

Here

ARSENAL NEED TO 'TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THEMSELVES'



Arsenal's players were read the riot act by club quiet man Pat Rice
Tuesday October 4,2011 The Express
By Matt Law Have your say(0)
ARSENAL’S crushed players were read the riot act and told to “look at yourselves in the mirror” by club quiet man Pat Rice after the derby defeat at Tottenham.

Rice accused them of letting the club down as they slumped to 15th in the Premier League with a 2-1 defeat at White Hart Lane.

Arsene Wenger’s No2 usually leaves all the talking to his boss but he could not control himself after witnessing another dismal performance from the dugout.

An Arsenal source told the Daily Express: “Pat went crazy in the dressing room. He left the players in no doubt they have to improve – and quickly. He told them to look at themselves in the mirror.

“It is quite out of character for Pat to be so outspoken with the players, but it shows how passionate he is about the club.”

The FA will this week contact Tottenham and Arsenal about abusive chanting aimed at Emmanuel Adebayor, Wenger, Harry Redknapp and Bacary Sagna.


Pat went crazy in the dressing room. He left the players in no doubt they have to improve – and quickly



Sagna broke his leg and it is claimed he was spat at by fans while he was being treated on the touchline.

[fakeyank]

Here

[Power n Glory]

In terms of the glory days I would say no, they are not over. We are a colossal club by any measure and the 3rd richest club in the world and that is while balancing the income and revenue against the stadium mortgage, which when paid off will make us debt free and with huge turnover. Also Usmanov has just been listed as the second richest man in football, way ahead of Abrahmovic.

However, none of that really matters if we refuse to play the game. While the playboy types exist we can either join in or get left behind, yes I find that as morally constricting as anyone but that’s how it is now. There is always going to be a team that can stick another nought on the end and we need to be one of these to compete, fact. The only way we would come out in front is if FIFA came up with some sort of relevant fair financial play rules…

Yes it would be brilliantly noble to self create a team that can win but another fact is that footballers are impatient nowadays and if a sheikh or an Oligarch appear with a free plane or a new yacht they will turn and run faster than the French infantry. Remember testimonials? I rest my case.

Our club is not reflective of the modern game anymore and while my conscience says that is great it’s not my conscience that is getting the piss taken out of it by Blackburn and Liverpool fans on a Monday morning. If Wenger won’t join in with the money game he needs to go and I don’t believe for a second that the board hold the same righteous torch that he does, they just say they do to back him when he is under fire. For the first time ever the team aren’t responding to him, the fans are turning against him (and the board he represents) and things are looking bad by our standards, we need a change but I wouldn’t hold your breathes.

If reports be believed Pat Rice had a hairdryer moment after the Spurs game, not just at the players but also at the other coaches and a certain Arsene Wenger, it will be interesting to see how the club responds from this. Perhaps the person we needed to have a word in Wenger’s shell like and tell him the wheels have come off has been here all along? Having been at the club for over 30 years no-one knows what a loss to Spurs means more than Pat Rice. Also interesting than when Wenger has been banned from the touchline we are unbeaten, is this because Rice is unbridled, able to shout and cajole and actually use substitutes the way they should be? After the stupid internationals break it will be interesting to see how the players react.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

If Wenger won’t join in with the money game he needs to go

And be an International team manager when he seems most suited right now. He don't have to spend money/ the team would easily pick itsself and he can build as many teams as he likes.

IMO is still a good manager just in the wrong mangement.

[Ernesto]

In my opinion, things are still "salvagable" at Arsenal. I'm probably going to sound like a broken record now after 8 pages worth of his thread but for our glory days to return, we need a drastic, dramatic change.

I want to take the season for what it is. I don't want to go all SSN on this topic and extrapolate our results all the way back to our Carling Cup defeat. If this season alone is anything to go by, Wenger should have been questioned after the 8-2 loss. An inquest should have taken place at board level. It may well have done, but if serious words were spoken to our manager by the fat cats at the top, then I firmly believe we WOULD have seen a difference- both in the transfer market and on the pitch at Blackburn, at White Hart Lane, and so forth.

Change the manager, change the mentality of the CURRENT crop of players (yes, I do honestly believe there isn't much wrong with our starting XI) and we'll see trophies in my opinion. We'll no longer be a selling club, no bad press about our fans, about our manager's shenanigans. That is my vision.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

In my opinion, things are still "salvagable" at Arsenal. I'm probably going to sound like a broken record now after 8 pages worth of his thread but for our glory days to return, we need a drastic, dramatic change.

I want to take the season for what it is. I don't want to go all SSN on this topic and extrapolate our results all the way back to our Carling Cup defeat. If this season alone is anything to go by, Wenger should have been questioned after the 8-2 loss. An inquest should have taken place at board level. It may well have done, but if serious words were spoken to our manager by the fat cats at the top, then I firmly believe we WOULD have seen a difference- both in the transfer market and on the pitch at Blackburn, at White Hart Lane, and so forth.

Change the manager, change the mentality of the CURRENT crop of players (yes, I do honestly believe there isn't much wrong with our starting XI) and we'll see trophies in my opinion. We'll no longer be a selling club, no bad press about our fans, about our manager's shenanigans. That is my vision.

Nah we'd have bad Press Wenger or no Wenger tbh. All clubs do.

[Fist of Lehmann]

In terms of the glory days I would say no, they are not over. We are a colossal club by any measure and the 3rd richest club in the world and that is while balancing the income and revenue against the stadium mortgage, which when paid off will make us debt free and with huge turnover. Also Usmanov has just been listed as the second richest man in football, way ahead of Abrahmovic.

However, none of that really matters if we refuse to play the game. While the playboy types exist we can either join in or get left behind, yes I find that as morally constricting as anyone but that’s how it is now. There is always going to be a team that can stick another nought on the end and we need to be one of these to compete, fact. The only way we would come out in front is if FIFA came up with some sort of relevant fair financial play rules…

Yes it would be brilliantly noble to self create a team that can win but another fact is that footballers are impatient nowadays and if a sheikh or an Oligarch appear with a free plane or a new yacht they will turn and run faster than the French infantry. Remember testimonials? I rest my case.

Our club is not reflective of the modern game anymore and while my conscience says that is great it’s not my conscience that is getting the piss taken out of it by Blackburn and Liverpool fans on a Monday morning. If Wenger won’t join in with the money game he needs to go and I don’t believe for a second that the board hold the same righteous torch that he does, they just say they do to back him when he is under fire. For the first time ever the team aren’t responding to him, the fans are turning against him (and the board he represents) and things are looking bad by our standards, we need a change but I wouldn’t hold your breathes.

If reports be believed Pat Rice had a hairdryer moment after the Spurs game, not just at the players but also at the other coaches and a certain Arsene Wenger, it will be interesting to see how the club responds from this. Perhaps the person we needed to have a word in Wenger’s shell like and tell him the wheels have come off has been here all along? Having been at the club for over 30 years no-one knows what a loss to Spurs means more than Pat Rice. Also interesting than when Wenger has been banned from the touchline we are unbeaten, is this because Rice is unbridled, able to shout and cajole and actually use substitutes the way they should be? After the stupid internationals break it will be interesting to see how the players react.

I would love to believe that all our ills could be solved with shouting.

But it's hard to imagine him going off at Wenger. Not so long ago, the perception was that Wenger surrounded himself with yes men and Rice was just the guy who put out cones.

Rice's stint on the sidelines may have opened some eyes, but it's a fair stretch from there to shouting at what is effectively his boss.

...I don’t believe for a second that the board hold the same righteous torch that he does, they just say they do to back him when he is under fire.

Doesn't ring true to me, but the only real test of this premise will be how hard they will try to hold onto him in the face of declining results (and consequent revenue). If the board really doesn't believe in sustainability, let's see them a) pay a premium to remove Wenger, b) expend money to recruit and c) make substantial (unsustainable) funds to back their new man.

I see them as being highly resistant to this, Gazidis' flat refusal to consider sacking, suggests this.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Very interesting to hear about Rice. . .would love it to be true but. . . .

1) its about 10 months to a year too late
2) our current crop of players are a) too stupid b) too pampered c) overpaid to take much notice of someone who has allowed himself to be molded into a classic 'yes' man

I have a lot of respect for Rice, an absolute servant to the club and I have noticed him at the sideline more. ?which is welcome

Cant help feeling that a new voice is needed that Wengers voice does not wake up the sleeping children anymore. . .sadly Wengers departure will mean goodbye to Rice, I imagine. A shame but like I daid word of a Rice rant is a bit late in coming.

:hail: Rice

[Power n Glory]

Pat Rice is a shouter but when Wenger first arrived and saw him take that approach, he told him that it's not the Arsenal way.