Articles
Top 5 Media Myths about the Arsenal
Date: 29 Dec 2008By Ole Gunner
5. A club shouldn't worry about getting its finances right.
This is a really baffling one. Arsenal get a lot of stick for keeping a close eye on making sure incomings are more than outgoings. It's hard to understand why though.
One would expect anyone who's made it through teenage years would know the very fundamental wisdom inherent in making sure you stay on top of your finances. Well, truly after the last 8-10 years or so, it seems large numbers of people in industrial societies didn't learn that lesson but one expects the media to be enlightened.
The criticism of Arsenal often centres on another myth. The myth that football clubs exist only to win trophies. A useless myth if ever their was one.
90% of football clubs will NEVER win anything. The Premier League is a competition which has been won by 4 teams in all its history, but no fewer than 30 clubs have participated in it.
If it were true that football clubs exist solely to win trophies, then the likes of Chelsea would have ceased to exist from 1970 to 1997 in which they won f*ck all.
Football clubs, like most organisations, exist to survive and to continue their business. Football is about competition. Competition means striving to get the best performance given your resources.
Sport might be about winners and losers, but above all, sport is about competition. 99% of the people who enter into the Tour de France have no chance of winning, but they sure do compete. Tennis is a sport where 99% of players will also never win a grand slam but they compete, and have fulfilling careers.
It is really very perverse that Arsenal get so much stick for trying to do the right thing. Life is about values, and even business valuations depend on values. The rules of the game.
If the media and the football culture value spending (to win trophies) more than competition within resources, it's no wonder that most sports have become riddled with cheats, dopers, and morons. That's why boxing is dead. That's why athletics has lost its credibility. That's why deep down we all know our football culture is stagnating or decaying.
The likes of Chelsea, Manchester United & Liverpool are more at risk at Arsenal. They are more in crisis fundamentally than Arsenal. They are praised no end, for their 'pragmatism' while Arsenal is the quaint old club that's lost its way. Perverse is the one word that explains this.
4. Injuries can hurt other teams but never Arsenal.
This is a rather amusing one. Jose Mourinho, the media's masturbatory god, threw a strop in December 2006 after John Terry's injury derailed Chelsea's season. He wanted a new player signed in the January window. The owner refused, and he claimed they lost the league for this reason.
The media accepted this narrative. Even more, I can't count how many times we've been told about how well Chelsea were doing despite big injuries. (A statement that acknowledges that injuries would accept teams). Since their form changed, pundits keep talking about them missing Essien, Drogba, and Carvalho.
Real Madrid were in outstanding form last season. They simply overwhelmed Barcelona and the rest of La Liga. Well, this season they have numerous injuries, and they're in 5th place. Real Madrid, with a squad packed full of expensive big names.
The team, however, that can never be affected by injuries is Arsenal. Just mentioning the impact of injuries on Arsenal in any way is making excuses. The reason is that it has been decided, that Arsenal have no "strength in depth". And if you have no strength in depth it does not matter if you're hit by injuries or not.
Look, as a fan I am sick of our struggle with injury. Is it an issue that Wenger has to find a way to deal with? ABSOLUTELY! But you can't pretend it doesn't affect the club.
3. Arsenal are always in crisis.
It was surprising to see a strong outpouring of criticism of this article by Kevin McCarra in the Guardian yesterday.
Apparently, Arsenal fans have simply become sick of reading the same unending story of Arsenal crisis. Every situation bodes badly for Arsenal.
You only have to wonder, reading the media and listening to pundits for 6-7 years now, why Arsenal has continued to prosper.
Every season, right from the Overmars-Petit exodus, every exit has been the signal of impending doom for that little French club in North London.
Every Red Card for Paddy Vieira was the sign of something deeply wrong about Arsenal.
In this era, it's the impending exit of Cesc Fabregas who's now been equated to Arsenal Football Club.
The number of articles saying exactly the same thing as McCarra's is quite a lot and you wonder why Arsenal continue to even exist.
Seriously, if you read the newspapers you would think Arsenal are in relegation zone.
To be fair, lately, boardroom worries have left the notion that something might be about to unravel. But some of us have heard of impending doom so often that even that seems trivial.
2. Arsenal players have no quality
This one is related to Myth 4. Here are the facts: Here is Arsenal's line up with all players fit.
Sagna Toure Gallas Clichy
Rosicky Denilson Fabregas Nasri
Adebayor Van Persie
Bench: Walcott, Eduardo, Silvestre, Fabianski, Djourou, Diaby, Vela
If that's not a quality side, I want to see one.
I am just tired about hearing about how Arsenal don't have quality and all that crap. The core of the side is pure quality and I have to think we're the only top 4 side that hasn't had this core fit for one whole year.
Arsenal fans might argue about what needs to be added. Improvements have to be constant and continuous. The squad is not perfect by any means. Bodies are needed given the injury situation.
It is however wrong to forget the basic fact that we actually have a core of players who, kept fit are good enough to win titles.
We have a squad that despite a particularly difficult set of circumstances; the disappointment of falling away last season, the loss of important players, injuries, a hostile footballing environment, discord within the squad....despite it all we're 8 points away from the leaders at Christmas time.
When one really thinks of it, that's amazing! Our squad can't be crap and still be up there. It's just not possible. People had better recognise this.
1. Wenger has lost it
Far be it from me to think I can defend Arsene Wenger. Wenger's record defends Wenger.
Even in the famous last three seasons since we last won a trophy here are his results;
1. Champions League Final.
2. Topping the table and looking the part for 3/4 of a season until rather extreme circumstances derailed all that. Even after the loss of the club's greatest every player who the team had been built around.
3. Carling Cup Final with a team of kids.
I want to know how many managers in the League have done better than that in the same period.
By the way, why don't I hear unending stories about how Liverpool haven't won a trophy since 2005? Unless I am missing something, the last time Liverpool won a trophy is 2006. I am looking forward to hearing unending references to this fact.
Anyway, Wenger hasn't lost it by any means. He is getting a lot of stick for not recruiting players and not replacing the invincibles. However, unless I am missing something, here are the players he has acquired since 2004/05; Gallas, Sagna, Eduardo, Rosicky, Diarra, Adebayor, Diaby, Walcott, Denilson, Nasri, Hleb, Eboue...etc etc. I am unaware of anyone putting a gun to his head to make him acquire those players.
Seriously, Wenger has constantly fortified his squad.
I know that the criticism is that he did not buy last summer. Like most fans, I was very disappointed we didn't get direct replacements, if only to quicken the heart of the squad, and please the fans.
Deep down, however, I find it hard to believe he didn't try. Even when we had the invincibles Wenger bought every year. Even when we had Gilberto, Flamini, Diaby, Cesc, Song in central midfield, he still went out and got Diarra. It would be completely out of type for him to not buy, and he did buy.
I think what happened was that he was focused on trying to keep the squad, and not lose his players, and the Adebayor, Hleb situations (and others we might not know about) took his time and focus,
I see the criticism of Wenger for letting Diarra go and I am incredulous. His move to Real Madrid is supposed to reflect badly on Wenger. If anything it does the opposite. Wenger got this player for £2M. His apparent valuation is €20M. If that's the case it just underlines the rank folly of persecuting Wenger for not spending big.
The mark of Wenger's true greatness is being willing and confident enough to start again from scratch when he was at the top. This was inevitable anyway. Even Real Madrid had to do it after the Galacticos. AC Milan are having to do it now.
Arsenal's football and style of playing as much as quality players is a strength. The reason clubs go crazy, and treat playing Arsenal like a crusade is that Arsenal's way of playing can tear teams apart. it is effective.
A lot of recent problems this season has had to do with not finding a way to play as Arsenal do. The team has been unrecognisable due to a serious lack of confidence within the squad.
It's hard not to admire a man able to swim against the tide and go against the mob. Balls! That's what he's got.
In the final analysis, everything that has made Wenger great is still in action.
He works harder than ever.
He knows better than ever about football.
He is as able as ever to pull out quality players at a premium.
Arsenal's football is still effective.
He is still a brilliant man manager.
He is still a man of deep character.
He is still a brilliant manager of the team's operations and organisation.
He is still a winner.
To me, anyone who wants to throw away the best Manager in the world, doesn't want the best for Arsenal. Pure and simple.
And yes, Arsene Knows. And I am a Brigadier for that cause.
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I cannot imagine any other manager doing his job better than he has with our resources. Any manager can spend money that their club do not have on players that everybody knows about.
Wouldn't it be interesting if every manager worked on the exact same budget. (from natural resources preferably)
I would love to see how Ferguson would act if he couldn't pick up the best Premier League player outside the top 4 for £30 million every season.
One thing though, I would have Nasri on the right and Rosicky on the left. Nasri can go outside a player more than Rosicky can.
one of the most uplifting article i have ever read
even some fans can be disappointing
ARSENAL FOOTBALL CLUB IS NOT IN CRISIS..IT IS THE OPPOSITE AS A MATTER OF FACT
EXCITING TIMES ARE AHEAD
COMMON GUNNERS
Given
Sagna
Gallas
Upson/Hangelaans
Clichy
Arshavin
Fabregas
Inler/Palombo/Parker
Nasri
Eduardo
Adebayor
Subs: Fabianski, Eboue, Djourou, Ramsey, Walcott, Vela and van Persie
That is a proper team. No Arsenal team should have Almunia and Toure in it and Denilson is still a few years off. But hopefully Rosicky can come back. World Class.
pure quality
Sorry for the crap spelling. I am not a retard
We aren't in big crisis, but we struggle for that 4th position.
We have quality in our first team, but in certain positions we lack it (DM, CB, GK). Also, we have some player who play too much, and aren't good enough (Denilson, Diaby, Bendtner, Song) to play in Arsenal at the moment.
Wenger seems to have lost it, because he thinks it is more important to bring up youngsters than winning things.
What a star you are. Good positive Arsenal comment.
We need to stop the media Hysteria and really get behind Wenger and the team. So lets have some direct articulate action.
Peter
Yes, we may have harsh treatment from certain newspapers and tv programmes, but most of it is justified.
Blindly following Arsenal and clinging on to anything positive will drive you insane. Keep it real.
There are few great Managers who can only win if and only if they spend too much. What makes Arsene special is he can win trophies without big spending.
The future is bright for Arsenal!!
Yidne
Do you really think that all is so bad at Arsenal right now?
Are you talking short term or long term? I also think that Denilson has been one of our better players in the last few weeks and in my eyes, I would rather have Djourou than Upson.
As for Denilson, he has been fantastic this season. But is he a holding midfielder? Is he a dominating force that works with Fabregas rather than against him? Is he just a kid that should come into a team with men around him? One of those statements are correct.
I rate our long term as long as we scrape through this tight rope of a season. But the short term is bleak if we do not splash the cash and do what every fan and even Wenger wanted us to do in the summer.
Signing a DM and a winger is crucial to our season. A CB and a goalie are less important die to the emergance of Djourou, but it would not be a bad thing. Gallas needs a force alongside him. We need to be able to contain games, hold of attacks. Not concede two late goals against anybody.
This season has been, strap your foot to the pedal, lock in your seatbelts and close your eyes. At the moment we are heading off a cliff.
This article is rubbish if we miss out on the CL.
Peace all.
ML
Don't for any minute think I for example am any less worried than you about the season. I just think we need to have perspective.
What worries me the most is not holding on to leads. If we can't do that even relegation is a possibility....remember Fulham last season? Always ahead in the first half but always losing games.
But the media nonsense has gone way too far on too little, and that does hurt the team.
Forget keeping the window open, you should be book marking this site
I do rate Upson, I watched him a lot when he was with us and I can see the improvement in his game. Powerful in the air, good in the tackle. But being an Arsenal center half is different to being a West Ham center half.
Upson would have to be a more complete footballer, step into midfield and keep the ball moving.
More importantly he needs to be quicker than he is. Upson is no slouch but he is not fast enough to be a recovery defender like we need at this club. We play a very high line with two attacking full backs. Play the ball down the side of Upson and he could be exposed as Senderos was on many occasions.
I also had the same reservations about Denilson as a defensive midfielder alongside Cesc and I still think we need reinforcements in that area (DM) but in recent weeks he has charged around like a man possessed, winning tackles, making blocks and protecting the back four.
We would have seen even more of his ability had we had a settled midfield (Nasri, Walcott, Rosicky and now Cesc) around him.
I agree with you 100% in the positions what we needed strengthening. As Ole said in the article, if squad for most of the season then we would be right up there.
Last season we had our players fit for the first half of the season and we showed that we were the best, no question. This time round we have chopped and changed our team so we haven't been consistent.
Yes, we have gone off the rails somewhat but with a bit of tweaking and better luck, it could be a great second half of the season. I know we are better than Villa we just have to get a settled side and show it.
Also, please never include Walcott in our fully fit midfield. He was the rout cause of most of our problems when he was playing. We needed a winger and a DM before the start of the season. This should not change because of Cesc's injury. Denilson or Ramsey can step it for him and do well enough. They, and Cesc when he comes back, need a hardened pro who will kick anyone who kicks them, a player who will help Gallas and his partner rather than looking for an extra goal.
Now with Toure's continued dismal failure I suggest we sign a CB to play alongside Gallas and help Djourou, Hoyte and Nordtveit on the training pitch.
Also a goalkeeper would not be so bad.
Don't mistake this for negativity, I ain't no Le Grove bummer. I just hate seeing things like this with no appreciation for our problems, more intent on ganging up against the horrible media.
http://blog.emiratesstadium.info/2008/12/27/the-past-was-not-as-good-as-some-imagine/
They flirted with CL qualification a few times and didn't get it. The fans turned on the manager whose vision took them up there and kept them there. He left.
Now they're facing relegation to League one....
Nuff said. Thanks all for the very positive feedback!
Who gives a monkey's arse if we were crap in the past?
I care about Arsenal underachieving right now.
First of all whats the point of fucking having money if your not going to improve the fucking team. To say this team is quality is full of bull. You need to get some new glasses that arent rose tinted. Smell the fucking flowers, Aston Villa are beating us to 4th spot. Our 2nd best midfielder is Denilson. Alex Song makes Robbie Savage look like Zidane.
Injuries, are just not an excuse anymore. Weve been buying and playing with injury prone players for half a decade now. You really think its a coincedence? Rosicky has barely played 90 minutes in 2 years. He should of been released ages ago, freeing up his 70K he takes home a week for someone else. Maybe its our training ground, maybe its the diet, but whatever it is, its coming from our own team. So dont give me that shite that we are unlucky with injuries you cocky jockey.
Crisis, yes we are in a fucking crisis, your heads are shoved so far up Wengers arse you cant seem to see we are out the fucking carling cup the only trophy we have a realisitic chance of winning, we are going to finish outside the cl places, Ade, Cesc, and Gallas are on the verge of leaving and yet Arsenal charge the highest amount for seats IN THE WORLD. Yet is there any return with transfers? no... We are in a crisis where the fans are getting fucked anally yet some people are just choosing to bend over and take it.
And finally. Wenger has lost the plot, his most succesfull seasons have been when hes gone and bought 3, 4 or even 5 players who cost around 7-10 million. These players were a good mix between younger, older, experineced, they had it all.
Now though hes just bought a couple of teens, lost 4 experienced players in the process (Lehmann, Giberto, Hleb, Flamini) and tried to win a mans game with boys. He's become so fucking deluded by his own youth policy that he refuses to buy older players JUST TO SPITE PEOPLE WHO THINK HE SHOULD DO OTHERWISE, ESPECIALLY THE MEDIA.
You knobjockeys will see when were playing uefa vase or intertoto cup football next season and youll be begging for a summer spending spree. I hope you all die, you make me sick... Its funny how you never turn up when were loosing to Hull or Stoke but when a rare vicotry pops up your flooding message boards with your "HAHA WENGER KNOWS I TOLD YOU ALL" bullshit. You need to wake up and smell the shit that we are in. Deluded cunts.
IM ARENAL TILL I DIE AND FUCKING PROUD OF IT!
Thanks for this great article.
The future is bright for Arsenal!!!!
ha ha ha ha ha ha.... the master of the Universe is here to decree the future. Bow your heads...ha ha ha
Realistic Gooner,
At least you're a gooner.
It's not about stockpiling money. It's ensuring the club goes on. It is insane to spend future money for success today and hope like crazy you have extraordinary success that generates the funds back. It's even more insane when you have 3-5 other clubs doing the same, thus further reducing the possibility that your gamble will come off.
Injuries....I'm sick of talking about injuries for the last 3 seasons really...but no matter how sick you and I are about that, it's reality I'm afraid.You can't undo reality with rhetoric. Swear all you want, it'd still be true that injuries have hurt the team.
Crisis; Arsenal might be in crisis now. Maybe. Maybe not. All I know is that if you followed the media we've been in crisis since forever.
Wenger still buy players....I don't know what your hysteria is all about. He still buys players regularly... What he doesn't do is spend £20M on a player. Even this summer he spent a bit of cash. Ok...so what you want is older players....fine...but I dont see anything to burst a gut about in that. Anytime he needs a player for right now...he buys older players. When he wants to develop the squad long term, he does it the other way.
In any case, I am not here to defend Wenger. As I said, his record defends him. Look, believe what you want....
As of now, this season is not over, not lost yet, much as it seems you want it to be.
Wenger needs 1 or 2 buys but maybe we need a couple of changes in the backroom staff. Someone to organise our defensive play when we haven't got the ball, and someone to improve our fitness so we don't get so many injuries.
Agree so much about the finance point. Arsene even mentioned that at a time when the whole country is about to fall into a deep recession, it is not possible for the club to splash out big time in the transfer market! The problem is that most Arsenal fans don't live in the real world. Most have credit cards. Most have massive debts. Most see nothing wrong with that. And for that reason, most don't see why Arsenal shouldn't do the same thing. I love Arsenal, I don't want the club to go bust...I want us to have a sustainable business plan and to live within our means. Congrats again on your well written article!
Huge mistake. You almost have to disbelieve what you read about Arsenal.
I think Arsenal is too opaque in too many ways. But when it comes to transfers it's the exact correct policy.
A value hunter can't do business in the open. So when Wenger comes today and says; "We don't have money", it might mean just that, but it could also be a bargaining ploy.
When he comes out and says I didn't see it, he means "fuck you, you actually think I'll blame my player, I never will".
His antics can be cumbersome and annoying to tell the truth, but the best managers try to shape the environment as much as they can knowing that the environment will ultimately shape their and their clubs' fortunes.
Anyways, I don't get why people suggest we buy X or Y like all Arsene has to do is make a call and they will bust a gut to join. Sorry, and this may came as a terrible shock to Premier Manager devotees, it doesn't happen like that in the real world. For the record I do think we have to buy, but we can only buy players that their clubs want to sell mid-season. It would kinda help if they weren't cup-tied in any way as well. Whomever we do buy will have to be able to slot in to the team or the same fans who are demanding purchases now will be screaming for Wenger's head because he has bought the wrong players.
And as for discounting injuries as being irrelevant, think of any other team which could loose two internationals for a whole year and not be effected, let alone all the other injuries. Let's not forget that Rosicky was expected back soon, on numerous occasions. Short of having two world-class players for every position, you can't legislate for that.
Does Arsene know? Well time will tell, but it really isn't as easy as writing a comment on a blog. We're not in great shape, but then we're not the Spuds. There's always a silver lining
Bravo.
Firstly you state that there is a 'myth that football clubs exist only to win trophies.' I agree a huge amount of them don't but Arsenal does. I regularly debate with my dad (also an arsenal fan) over players, mentalities, tactics etc... and whenever we have a debate he isn't going to win (he would defend Wenger to the death) he finishes by saying 'even if we don't win anything this year, next year or the 10 years after that I’m not going to stop supporting us'. Quite right and nor I’m sure would any of us who read this article. But Arsenal has more fans than those of us who write about our club or follow every match either at the games or over the internet. These other fans are the 5 year old boys who want to support the best club in the country, the people over in other European footballing countries who want to support a 'big' side, and most importantly Asia. It cannot be overstated how big the football following is over there and how, as the economic climate shifts to the East, important it is to be one of the favoured football clubs. Manchester United make absolutely millions in merchandise from over there but currently we're not miles behind. More importantly however its how much they pay for television deals and i question how long is it, 5, 10, 15 or less years before clubs negotiate their own T.V. deals and when that happens who gets the most money? The most successful club, because success brings support, support brings money and money in capable hands brings more success. You say it’s not all about winning trophies, frankly in the world we live in it is.
Fundamentally i accept your point that we have been wise with finances, but to look at it simply how many premiership clubs are there who spent less than us in the last few seasons? How many have a transfer record in a time of huge footballing inflation that dates back to 1999/2000? In addition whilst we can criticize purchases such as Shevchenko, Veron (both times) and Bent, I daresay both the financial backers and people like Peter Keynon are looking at our decision to turn Highbury into flats with a wide wide grin on their face. As financial disasters go I wonder when all the flats are finally sold what losses we incurred. Someone mentioned above what happens if Liverpool don’t get their loan renewed, a fair question, but what happens if all or the majority of the buyers pull out of flats that are no longer worth their agreed value? How many will accept the one off nature of the property to still buy it and how many, with the knowledge house prices could fall by up to 50%, will happily wave their deposit goodbye?
With regards to Wenger losing it he certainly hasn't and you'd be mental to think he had. However one cannot deny that some of the complete and utter crap that has come out of Wenger's mouth this year regarding his current crop of players and his transfer policy fits far better into a bucket containing a selection of Platini and Blatter quotes than his own of previous seasons. Whenever I read what Wenger says nowadays i take it with a large pinch of salt in the hope he means it only to boost a squad of players he simply can't wait to replace as soon as the January transfer window opens (something he will deny to both lower prices and help the fragile mental state of some of his players).
With regards to those players, I’m sorry you've written a first team with Denilson in and called it quality, I’m pretty sure Denilson could wreck a team full of Van Basten's, Ronaldo's and Zidanes if he wanted. After all no Arsenal fan can deny the bloke is better without Fabregas and Fabregas is better without him, a player that damages the way Fabregas plays is a player i don't want on the same continent let alone on the same football field! Also if you've failed to notice the inability of Gallas to play with Toure I worry for you as the idea of them forming a quality back four is comical. In addition since malaria hit him i don't think Toure has been close to his best and whilst i don't want him sold to City or wherever (as malaria if you know the disease comes and goes) I don't think we can count him as our first choice centre half anymore. Still there's another point to our list of injuries, perhaps we should call it injuries and illnesses now then we can constantly count Eboue as a casualty for serious mental illness. Do we have strength in depth though? Of course we do, indeed we have far more strength in depth than the current league leaders whose squad comprises of a series of fairly average players (the locked up Gerrard and injured Torres aside).
I read through the end part of your article a few times and i can't quite tell if you believe Wenger to be beyond criticism. Wenger himself doesn't believe he is beyond criticism he said a few months ago that he had made mistakes in the transfer market but he wouldn't talk about it because they 'still hurt'. It doesn't take a genius to know who he meant. Ronaldo certainly but he treats that with a bit of a joke. If we ever sign Yaya Toure he'd be another. More seriously Ribery and Di Maria who Wenger lost due to pricing and I think is still furious about, then even more tellingly Diarra who is not worth £20 million but it is Wenger's fault and Wenger's fault alone that a squad he thought needed both Flamini and Diarra now has neither. I agree when Wenger says he couldn't keep an unhappy player at his football club but if you'd have told Wenger Flamini would leave at the end of the season i guarantee Diarra would still be here however bad his tantrums were!
Still on the topic of transfers i can’t name who we should sign that’s not my job and it’s not the job of football manager players either - to look at an example above Palombo is not that good in real life, though i daresay he's better than Song... As a fan we can only say where we should sign and it can't be argued that we need a new experienced centre back, a new holding player and a winger who can play both sides. I don't see the need for an arshavings type player that Wenger is talking about. As i said above Denilson is as good a player of the more attacking midfield role as he is a bad one of the defensive role. If Wenger wants to well and truly replace Fabregas put Nasri in the centre and buy a winger, easy, that works as a long term solution to Rosicky too! Or, in fact, he could actually put to use the fact that Carlos Vela has spent 2 seasons on loan playing on the LEFT WING and impressed there against Portsmouth to greater avail and actually give him a premiership start or two! As much as Wenger has to be loved and respected he still has a duty to improve a team that has already lost more games in half a season than it did in a whole one last year. Wenger doesn't need replacing or anything drastic he needs a kick up the backside (that the dreaded DD used to give) to get into the transfer market and spend some, wisely as always, of the huge amounts of money Arsenal should have if they have been as financially prudent at boardroom level as they would have us believe!
Sorry but i can't agree on 2. Arsenal players have no quality, people always know that Arsenal has the quality, just that quality is not often link with success. Also, Rosicky spent 80% of his Arsenal days in the sick room, so there is no point of including him in a FULLY FIT Squad.
AS a perfectionist, he wants everyone to carry out thing in his way, mainly the style of playing is attacking. The serious problem of defense wall cracking was ignored.
Secondly, if someone ask him if he made an error, then twist the question to make it appear like the referee or someone is to be blamed for upsetting his game plan. His tactic and line-up have gone wrong. It is lacking of creativity and poor defending. HE wants to be above criticism and therefore shifting the blame on other for the team performance.
Procastination - taking a long time to replace experienced player like Gilberto, Flamini, Diarra and other. Taking a long time to realise Eboue is a lazy player who cannot compliment well with diligent Sagna.
1. If Arsenal is not in crisis, what would have to occur for you to consider us to be in crisis?
2. If you were in Mr. Wenger's position, what would you change to improve the team (i.e. buy players, bring in new coaches, different training routine, new formation/starting XI)?
3. Do you feel we should buy any players in the January transfer window? If so, what type of players and any specific names you would recommend?
4. Suppose we finish without silverware this season and outside the Champion's League spots. And suppose we do not make any significant transfers in the summer but perhaps lose 1 or 2 of our more important players. If we begin to tank again next season, would you keep Mr. Wenger and allow him to continue taking us in a direction that appears to be unsuccessful? How long would you give him?
Thank you for your time and honest opinion fellows.
1. Arsenal are in trouble, but not in crisis, being 4th/5th on dec 31st...8 or 10 points off the leaders isn't necessarily a crisis. Finishing 5th or lower at the end of the season may constitute a crisis, of course there will be a number of other things to consider, some of which I will try to address separately in point 4 below. The truth remains that the team isn't playing very well, and we have been poor defensively and so on, but the fact is we have been picking up points, albeit one point at a time. From a financial perspective, the club is doing relatively well playing in a new stadium, that was completed well before the current economic downturn. Had we been losing 4-5 games on the trot, worrying about losing our best players, dealing with a takeover issue(still may happen) and a lot player unrest, I might be moved to classify the situation as a crisis.
(Yes there is always a worry that we will lose fabregas and gallas and adebayor, but that speculation will last regardless of where we are in the table right now. Vieira was always being linked to madrid, henry to a number of clubs...and we were doing very well in the league at that stage. Amr Zaki of Wigan is being linked to every other club in Europe, surely Wigan can't be considered to be doing well in England? Not to pick on them, just an example. Likewise C.Ronaldo at Manchester Utd....is supposedly going to Real madrid..)
2. and 3. I think it is quite obvious that what this team needs is consistency and with that in mind, I would rather prefer sticking to one or two set formations that the players feel comfortable playing with. As far as different diets and training routines go, I am not qualified to comment on those aspects, and I am assuming that even the most critical of critics will understand that Wenger is better placed to decide on things like that. That is not to say that everything that he is doing is right, he makes mistakes too, but what I am saying is, how can I say that the players' diet has to be looked at, without any basis for argument.
Buying or not buying new players is the most contentious topic at the moment, and I feel that being as we are in the middle of the season, it is highly unlikely that we will be able to find players to fit in at the club and also not be cup-tied. Of course the exception will be younger players who haven't yet broken into their respective teams, but whenever we move for these players it is considered a step back rather than a move for the future. You can't have it both ways. You can't keep buying experienced 25-29 year olds and then expect that a 17 year old player in the reserves will wait for 4-5 years and turn out to be a natural replacement. Wenger did this earlier, and he had the likes of Sidwell, Pennant, Upson, Stack, Harper, Bentley, Wright and so on....these were younger players who struggled to get into the senior team, and were played sparingly or loaned out to other clubs. eventually they were sold, at a profit, as there was no way to move them into the first team, when there were established stars ahead of them. I was disappointed that Wenger didn't buy another 1 or 2 players back in the summer, but then in his defence he might have thought that Rosicky would be back, and of course he must have had high hopes after the near miss of 07-08. Those who say that we lost experienced players, and didn't replace them, I wonder what exactly Lehmann/Gilberto did on the field last season?....their experience in the dressing room would have been great for the team, but they hardly made any great contributions when they played. Flamini wasn't replaced, but Wenger expcted Diaby/Denilson/Song to step up and have a great season like flamini did last time around. Hleb was replaced with Nasri. So to sort of sum up, it would be great if he brought in another defender, who can complement Gallas, because Djourou is the only other player who is showing any sort of form at the moment...both Kolo and Silvestre seem to lack presence when needed. I would much rather we invest and buy players in the summer, once the dust has settled and we know how well or badly we have done.
4. I think in this day and age, at the very least Wenger must get another full season so I'm saying till the end of 2009-2010 season. That is assuming all your hypothetical criteria is met, and we end up having a poor finish to the season. At the same time, there are other factors that will probably play a big part in any decision that is taken in this regard, if and when the time comes, like the overall economic situation, the performances of the other big clubs etc, and of course the longer term future of the club itself.
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This is just my view on the way it goes, I am not trying to convince you to go along with it, in fact it is great that so many people all over the world are willing to go to such lengths just to try and make things better for the club, but what benefit does it serve to resort to calling names and swearing at others...
relax we're all passionate about this club, and just because some people try to be realistic and think that we're in crisis doesn't make them any less loyal, just as supporting Wenger a little more than usual doesn't make us delusional. Wenger doesn't come out after games and say "we are no good, we're not going to win the league etc." because that won't do the club, or the players any good, of course he's going to defend them even when they put in abject performances, he doesn't have to announce to the whole world that the players played badly, he can deal with it differently, likewise when he says he believes in this team, and he feels they're good enough, of course he knows he is going to be criticized, but then he works with these players and he feels they can, just because they don't do it the very next season doesn't mean his views are flawed. Also since I'm on the topic...in 2005-2006 we had Sol Campbell, Pires, Henry, Bergkamp, Reyes, Lauren, Gilberto, and the youngsters coming through, but we struggled to get into the CL places....the run to the final in Europe sort of mitigated the consequences of a poor season, and back then we had given hope of being in the title race before Christmas. So having all that quality doesn't necessarily translate into success...
Happy new year to all gooners worldwide, lets hope the next 5-6 months give us more to cheer about than the past 12 have!
At its core this team has some of the most creative dynamic players in Europe with Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri, Tomas Rosicky, Abou Diaby and Robin Van Persie.
Add to that Walcott, Eduardo, Ramsey, Denilson, Adebayor and this team is seriously talented.
Its just the question of forming the right combination.
One big difference i see from the top three is the lack of that power player like Gerrard,Lampard or Rooney. And the defensive mindset with very few players commited in the box.
If we can pour forward with more aggression and maybe develop RVP or Diaby into that power player, we will have half a chance.
1. If Arsenal is not in crisis, what would have to occur for you to consider us to be in crisis?
MY RESPONSE: A boardroom meltdown for sure. A continued period of inquiet amongst supporters.....relegation. A scandal. Impropriety. etc
2. If you were in Mr. Wenger's position, what would you change to improve the team (i.e. buy players, bring in new coaches, different training routine, new formation/starting XI)?
MY RESPONSE: This is the hardest question. It's hard because we don't have an inside view of the club. We don't know what's gone so awry. But I can tell you the problems I see....
1. Older players are out of form, and play with panic. Gallas, Toure and Silvestre defend like they have soldier ants in their drawers...
2. The balance in the team is not right especially in midfield.
3. We don't find a way to take a hold of games early.
4. We can't defend leads....this has been worrying since last season.
5. Our shape in attack is wrong. Not enough players make runs, and combination play through the middle is not Arsenal standard this season.
6. A very hostile football environment, from teams who seek to kick us out of games, to a hostile media and punditry who continuously crap on our young players, to disquiet amongst fans, to dismal officiating in the Premier League (we're not the only victims), etc.
7. I could go on and on...
Exactly how to solve this I dont know enough to say.
3. Do you feel we should buy any players in the January transfer window? If so, what type of players and any specific names you would recommend?
MY RESPONSE: I think we need bodies. The squad is short in numbers, and we don't have any player who is specialised as a defensive minded midfielder. Song and Denilson can fill gaps. Song can become one, but one who does it naturally is needed right now. If Wenger finds such a person, sure bring him. Names? Thiago Motta but his history of knee injuries will give me pause. Veloso but he's cup tied. So I say, even Lee Cattermole or Jimmy Bullard would do. Just someone who's naturally a tackler and grafter in midfield.
4. Suppose we finish without silverware this season and outside the Champion's League spots. And suppose we do not make any significant transfers in the summer but perhaps lose 1 or 2 of our more important players. If we begin to tank again next season, would you keep Mr. Wenger and allow him to continue taking us in a direction that appears to be unsuccessful? How long would you give him?
MY RESPONSE: Wenger's fate is not in my hands. I honestly don't see the board firing Wenger who has increased their wealth multiplefold. Maybe I'm thinking like a businessman....
However, I think if there was persistent indication that he can no longer succeed at Arsenal FC I think even he would make the choice to move on. But not qualifying for CL would not be enough.
In any case, if anyone wants to say that Wenger should go if we dont make Champions League or win a trophy, I'd then expect that person to shut up now, and not make it more difficult for him to succeed. Again, maybe I think like an executive.
But the trick in having managers is to give the person room to succeed or to fail so you can act decisively. Otherwise you might fire the manager, but have created an environment that will guarantee failure to the successor. In which case the problems just mount.
The worst the board and Arsenal FC can do is to cave in to the mob around Arsenal now. Once they do that, they lose the ability for they, or any new or current manager to shape the environment they operate in.
Once the boo boys and Sunday pundits start setting direction for Arsenal FC, be sure we're in deep shit.
I want to make it clear that I don't hold Wenger beyond criticism. I criticise Wenger all the time. From 1999-2004 I believed Wenger was underachieving because I always thought we had a team that was better than United's.
There is criticism, and there is griping. Today Wenger is blamed for not playing kids, and at the same time, for playing kids. That's just insane!
Anyway, the points on the players;
Toure and Gallas are two very good but off form defenders. They look jaded to me. Just even last season they weren't that bad. I don't place much hopes in us finding more experienced and better centre backs. If it's true that what we need is a Vidic, then maybe we need that. Just be aware that we'd have to build the team around that player. It'd have to be a very proven super player.
As to Denilson, I am sorry I can't agree. He's been our most consistent performer who runs all match, and all the performance stats place him as one of the best midfielders in the league. To blame all our problems in midfield on him is unfair to say the least.
About losing the defensive midfielders; Yes that's costing us. I try to resist pointing out that nobody gave him credit for getting all of them in the first place----ok red herring.
But I think the Diarra case is another case of pervesion. The person who should face criticism for going is Diarra. If he'd stayed he'd be first choice for Arsenal now. But he wanted to go, and he'd been their 10 minutes which meant he was too low in the pecking order to be accomodated.
Mean Lean will attest that I criticise Wenger for Diarra too. I criticise him for not sending him off to the reserves till he came to his senses. I'd have done that personally, but that's the kind of person I am.
About transfers; I honestly don't think Wenger needs pressure to buy. If the club wants to tell the manager that the youth policy should now stop....I won't cry. I just don't think there is ANY evidence that Wenger has to be pressured to buy. Look at all the players he's brought in since 2003!
almunia
sagna,toure,siilvester,clichy
nasri,fabregas,denilson,rosicky
ade,rvp
de rossi is a ideal replacement for denilson
We may not win any silverware but that we are competing football wise while remaining financially prudent is enough hope to give me reason to cheer the lads and pay my subscription to Sky year in year out.
I did see Titi waltz his way in a maze of glory to the buzz and cry of opposing fans cheered alike by rivals and us fans and remember he was once a no-boy @ the Old Lady! I live with that in such a difficult time and hope like all TRUE fans that the current lads find their feet and some luck to keep me bleeding red and white.
I'm equally tired of switching on the 'Football Focus' and similar stuff hearing again and again the same crap, just described by the author here in this article.
When do these "know-all-better" wannabees leave AW in peace and finally recognise. That will make my day - just as the artricle did. GREAT !!
even some plastic fans belive in this myths..esp the first one..
However, the news that Cesc is going to spend a month in Barca before he starts his recovery work is worrying... I wonder how many phone calls he will get from Laporta and the likes of Xavi, Henry, and worst of all HLEB! Can just imagine Hleb whining at Cesc to join him next season, although I wonder how long Hleb's ego will be able to take being a permanent fixture on the Barca bench!
Wenger should pop down to his local Tesco's and pick up a Villa and Iniesta. I hear its buy one get one free these days.
Great input mate.
In Arsene we trust!!
GET YOUR OWN OPINION YOU BRAINLESS THICKO!
I rate the article because it is one man's view. A slightly blinkered view but at least an attempt at being sensible, but 60% of the bull shit posts in the comment section show Arsenal fans up.
This one is related to Myth 4. Here are the facts: Here is Arsenal's line up with all players fit.
Almunia
Sagna Toure Gallas Clichy
Rosicky Denilson Fabregas Nasri
Adebayor Van Persie "
There are two ways how to judge the quality of certain player. How good is the player on his best. And how good is the player on his worst.
Here is the problem with Arsenal team. On their best all mentioned players are world class, but lot of these players are also very volatile in their performances. Of course footballers cannot perform all the time at the same level. There are always some ups and downs, good days and not so good days. But more experiences players can hide their weak days, they have wisdom, experience and attributes to compensate when they are not on their best. After the match fans will say "Yes, he was not brilliant as three days ago, but he was solid. His performance was okey."
Performances of younger players fluctuate much more. One day they are very good, another almost crap. The scale is wider.
I have seen many matches of Arsenal and many matches of Liverpool this season. If I compare left players of both teams - Nasri and Riera, then on their best they are quite equal, but Riera has been much more useful for Liverpool (and in this sense he has more quality) because on their worst Riera is much better. His performance is not so volatile.
I think lot of Arsenal youngsters have ability to become truely world class, but it means that they cannot shine only here and there, but they need to perform game after game, month after month pretty much on same level without large ups and downs. Usually this is achieved with years and with experience.
@Kris
As I understand it there is no reason at the moment to think that the flats will make a loss, or fail to make a profit. Only two buyers have pulled out so far, even with the credit crunch being here to give people the perfect excuse to pull out if they wanted to. Also the property business is ringfenced, so the club is protected from any losses it makes.
The interest on our debts is paid for by the revenue from the stadium. As long as we can fill that, we're fine. If the worst came to the worst the debts could be paid off over time by the revenue from the stadium, any sponsorship etc.
Your worries about overseas fans, kids etc moving away from the Arsenal if we don't win lots of trophies soon only underline Ole Gunner's point about the folly of overspending now and hoping to recieve bumper rewards in the future. If it doesn't work out, you have spent loads of money in vain AND lost loads of fans who could provide revenue as well as support. There would only be any point in overspending if it GUARANTEED future rewards, and it can't. Man U spent, so did Spurs. Villa spent a lot, but so have Man City.
Fabregas and Denilson is not the right balance in the centre of midfield and Toure and Gallas is not the right balance at the back.
I like Denilson but he does not compliment Fabregas in the way Flamini did.
Gallas is a very good defender but he is a reactive defender who does his best work making the second ball. He isn't a defender who looks to win the first ball in the air. Toure is very similar in style. I also think Toure has some fitness issues as he hasn't looked the same player since the African Cup of Nations. I wonder if he ever will?
As for the issue of injuries. We have been very unlucky but we are in the age of the super-squad. Our main rivals have two top quality players for every position. Man U have done this by keeping on their older players. Giggs, Scholes, Neville etc. These are the Pires, Gilberto and Lauren of the Man U set-up. We have cleared the way for youth but left ourselves weak as a result. We have not kept up in terms of squad depth so now a few injuries seems like a crisis.
I don't want to sound too negative. We are only a couple of players away from being a very good side and a very strong squad. Those players may come from inside the club, sometimes players you don't expect step-up to the plate but there's no sign of it happening soon so we have to accept it is time to buy.
Sense and sensiblity sometimes involves eating a big piece of humble pie.
DucthGooner10 wishes all Gooners a happy ending to 2008.
Cheers.
I have to agree with you in regarding to the pathetic media myths surrounding Arsenal over the last few years.
Then again, I am not surprised. Everybody is somehow deep down jealous of what Arsenal and Arsene have achieved. They all admire our stadium, they all admire our business module, they all admire our scouting network, they all admire our youth teams and academy.
and What you dont have, you covet and this turns into a pathetic excuse to slash Arsenal and Arsene at any occassion.
However, There is one question we at Arsenal need to ask ourselves (away from the media and mythes and all that crap).
From gooner to gooner, we need to ask ourselves: 'What is the minimum requirement'.
To just be part of the 99% in the tour de france or atleast be in the 1% who sign up every season for the tour, having prepared all summer and pumped up their muscles wanting to win.
If winning is not everything, then what is the minimum requirement?
Title challengers like last year?
Reaching the CL quarter finals every year?
Being part of the top 4?
What Kind of Arsenal Do We WANT ?
Can’t say I ever expected you to read what the essay I wrote but thanks!
I completely agree that individually Gallas and Toure are not just very good but world class defenders. Last season I think Arsenal fans had a case that Gallas and Toure were individually, not in partnership, better than any Chelsea or United defender. This season I agree they are terribly out of form (not helped I’m sure by ridiculous stories like today’s in the Daily Star). Regarding Toure I think it is fairest to put it down to the malaria not just because I love the player but because I know a lot of Boro fans who said they could always tell when Yakubu was suffering from it. Gallas, though I suppose you could put it down to him being jaded or suffering from the captaincy, that Villa goal (first game) when he was outpaced by Abonglahor that shocked me, the main reason I supported him coming from Chelsea was his pace – where has it gone? That can’t all be mental or down to tiredness in a short sprint! I agree it’s not easy to identify a player in defence, but it’s easier than a defensive midfielder at least we have links this time and personally I think Hargelland (sp) has a Vidic about him! My requirement would not be experience but aerial ability, to attack the ball, in short a Senderos who watches the ball!
Regarding the defensive midfielders, I think the point that Wenger deserves credit for getting the players that have since left shows even more why I’m exasperated he hasn’t replaced them and is talking at the moment about a ‘creative’ midfielder. If Wenger could find a world class defensive midfielder, or three, in the first place surely he can do it again? And if he let them all go surely he had confidence in himself that he could indeed find that kind of player again. I’m sure you’ll agree there is zero evidence, with the exception of a few good African Cup of Nations games for Song, that he has found that person or persons. Let the January window prove me wrong.
I also agree Diarra is not the sort of person that I want or indeed wanted at Arsenal, I mean he’s thrown tantrums even at this early stage of his career to rival Gallas and Anelka. But I still fail to understand why Wenger let him go before Flamini had signed a new deal or a long-term replacement for Gilberto had been lined up in the Summer Transfer Window! Still the only sense I can make of it is that Wenger thought he would disrupt a team on the way to the title if Diarra stayed so thought he’d better cash in. If the real answer is that Flamini did convince Wenger he would stay and then didn’t then Wenger was a fool as he is far too experienced in football to know if it’s not contracted it’s far from certain.
I’m afraid I will have to permanently disagree with you over Denilson, the OPTA index (or whatever it is) may place him in the 5 best midfielders in the Premiership but if statistics told any truth Emile Heskey wouldn’t even get into most championship teams let alone play for England (A goal every 5 club games and one every 10 international ones, even Denilson might be disappointed by that!). As far as I’m concerned he doesn’t help Fabregas. I just think they are too similar in the way they play and Fabregas is the better player, Denilson thus should be second choice to Fabregas’s position. I think if Wenger is going to sign a creative midfielder it is stupid as it makes three (or four if you count Diaby) for one midfield position. That is unless it is Arteta who would be perfect as he would complement Denilson as he is more of a deep laying playmaker – hence why he can play with Fellani, Cahill and Piennar who love attacking!
Finally perhaps I phrased incorrectly what I meant to say about Wenger needing ‘pushing’ into transfers. I just feel fundamentally Dean’s role was never replaced and other people like Edelman, who helped with transfers, leaving haven’t helped. It’s simply not been as easy for Wenger to buy players over the last two transfer windows. Whilst before he could say to Dean ‘I want this player, this player and this player’. Dean would try and get them and during that period Wenger would be identifying alternatives if Dean couldn’t get his first choice players. That’s simply not been the case as Wenger has to do the whole lot himself and if he does get any considerable help I severely doubt its been as good! There are two perceivable implications of this. Firstly that Wenger is indeed only human if its been a lot of personal work for him to sign a player (as it clearly was with Nasri!) he’ll be far more inclined to think his own squad has more than capable alternatives to signing new players. Secondly the fact he has been doing Dean’s job meant he spent time pursuing his first choice targets not making notes on the second choice ones. A lot of Arsenal fans will have you believe, and I believe them, that Wenger probably made very serious offers for around three central midfielders (definitely Alonso, probably Inler and potentially Arseshavings) and probably had Barry as an expensive back up until he declared about two weeks before the window closed that he wouldn’t be moving. Had Dean still been there to do that job I’m sure that Wenger would have had even more targets than those he couldn’t get but because he was doing so much of it himself he simply didn’t have the time or effort!
Now you may have read some of that in anger because I talked up David Dean a lot despite the fact most Arsenal fans would gladly lock him up in an Uzbek prison and throw away the key. But it is undeniable before he became an idiot that Dean did a very important job and it is only now, with the new chief executive, that he has been replaced! In fact the point I’m making is more of a defence of Wenger in that he was undeniably given more work than he should of, or that he could cope with. In my opinion, this has worked seriously to the detriment of the club this season.
And in conclusion it does make me a bit sad that I’m working hard to find so many excuses and explanations, as believable as some may be, for our failings over the whole of 2008.
I wrote on this forum that Arsenal fans cannot think that the financial crisis is not going to effect football. I was told we were immune to it. These are Arsene Wenger's comments today:
“I still feel football will be hurt as much as anybody else in this economical crisis. At the moment, people are not conscious of what is facing us economically. It will certainly be more difficult because it was not long ago 1.40 and 1.50 [Euros to the pound] but now it is one to one. It is a big handicap for English football.
“People still think we are in a bubble, but we will be hit like anybody else, I am convinced of that.”
Maybe more Arsenal fans need to live in the real world and realise that this isn't one big game of football manager...
hats off to you mate, im a bit in between the arsene haters and the arsene lovers, i sit on the fence, all i care about is the arsenal. no matter whos in charge or who plays on the pitch
no other manager could of done what hes done with the money hes had, any other manager in the world would not get this current team into the top 10, yet wenger has them in the top 5 and hes a genius, yet that doesnt stop him being immune to critisism from time to time
i normally read this blog, and i do sometimes comment, i sit on the fence, i sometimes agree and i sometimes dont agree with everything you say ole and ive had some great debates with you in the past which has got a bit childish like two drunks in a pub but this my friend is an article thats bang on the money, credit where credits due ole, big up to you.
the only thing i have to say is that if we were west brom, stoke or hull etc then i can understand that their main aim is to survive and are in that 99%
but as a member of the elite 'top 4' which we have been for years, more consistently than manutd chelsea and liverpool we should be aiming to get into the top 1% every year.thats the arsenal i want, i cant say i expect it, cos nothing is guaranteed in football, but from the position we are in, with some of the best potential in the world and a state of the art stadium, it is fair to say that arsenal are a club that should be pushing for that 1% every season, like we have been doing for the past 12, no body deserves their place, nobody is guaranteed anything, footballs a funny old game, but from the postion we are in and from the position of the invincibles, its fair to say we should be going for that !% and not being happy for 4th every season.
wenger is the man whos got us this consistency and he is the man thats got us along with the stadium and the youth to keep this consistency in years to come even after hes gone, the mans a football and economical genius and a living legend
BUT, although our future is bright, the brightest than any other PL club, football wise and financial wise (and the media do target us for this) we are in danger of losing that consistancy this season because we are lacking a couple of quality players here and there
i beleive the players we have will come good, with the exception of a couple, but we need to win something soon.
this squad has the potential to be one of the greatest, IF they stick together, BUT the chances are they wont if we dont win something soon, they will beome disallusioned and we leave one ny one, just like flamini and hleb did, and we will be back at square one every season, we need a trophy to keep the consistency.
we need a trophy to see the fruits of this team in years to come, and we need a trophy to keep the extra 20000 fans that have come to the emirates in their seats, attendances are already starting to dwindle, we need to keep the stadium full to help keep the finances running smoothly
the new fans are used to trophies, if they dont get, they will dissappear in their droves, and that cant be good for the club in the long run.
im not a new fan, and im not a glory hunter, i just want whats best for my/our arsenal. ive been a fan for 30years and ive seen the bad times and the good and what some fans dont realise is they are lucky that wenger ever came to our club, what we are seeing now is nothing compared to the 80's or infact any time before wenger got here.
they should be grateful to have seen such a manager, and seen such players as henry, pires, and vieira,(id say bergkamp but he was already here lol)
but like i say i sit on the fence, IMO if we want to see the friuts of all this hard work in the past 5 years we need to sign 1 possibly 2 experienced players to hold the fort until the players like walcott, denilson, vela, rambo, jacky, are ready to take over
we dont need to spend multi millions, wenger could sort this out with 20mil max, wenger does make signings every season, but they are normally kids, we dont need any more kids, we need some established players at domestic and international level, just to help to guide the ship in smoothly.
any trophy will do, just to keep it ticking, for the two main reasons i have written above and for the fans. i want a trophy to help keep the club at the top, and if we dont get one ill still follow my club into the coca cola league if i had to, alot of fans want a trophy because thats what they are used to and they demand it,
great article Ole, im sure we'll speak again soon, and next time i doubt it will be as heated, my respect for you has gone up big time.
peace.
http://malawi.worldcupblog.org/team-news/why-do-%e2%80%9cfifa-lower-ranked%e2%80%9d-national-teams-join-the-world-cup.html