Arsenal have regressed. However you flavour it, however you want to dress it up, Arsenal are going backwards.
I don't expect them to win titles consistently, because they don't have the financial power of other clubs. I expect them to punch AT their weight - behind Man Utd, City, Chelsea, but comfortably ahead of Spurs, Everton.
I expect the occasional Trophy, but more than that, I expect the Team, Manager and Club to make a genuine attempt to win competitions. For this I expect a squad of players that is not just good enough to scrape 4th by the skin of their teeth, but one with quality right through, and quality in depth also.
I expect mistakes to be righted, players to be coached and tangibly improve, poor players to be moved on, and tactics to be improved upon.
What I see, is poor squad depth, poor tactics, poor play, lack of motivation, season-on-season regression and a failure to address glaring obvious problems that occur season after season while fans watch and reassess their expectations from winning titles, to winning cups, to scraping into the Top4 being classed as a trophy.
When Arsene arrived, he was a visionary. He was almost 10 years ahead of his time. He was fresh, new, exciting, brilliant, genius, le Professeur. But after that time, as other teams progressed, he stood still. He no longer innovates, he no longer even motivates. The Arsene Wenger who took the Premiership by storm no longer exists. The one who manages the Club now is no longer the best man for the job. He is no longer fit for purpose. His stubborn refusal to change with the times, to rely on others, has been his downfall.
For the good of the club, Wenger must step aside at the end of the season, while some of the fond memories still remain. If he chooses to call time, he will preserve most of his legacy. If he is ousted by fan pressure, as he surely will be when this decline continues, it would be a travesty, and the breaking of a man who should be considered a legend of the Club.
Why Wenger Must Go.
posted on 18/2/13
Jenius.........................What are you talking about. Most of the English base weren't central to us winning anything. Most of them were too high to even take the field.
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So how many of that defence did you have in the team to win the double in 1998?
Your first choice defence was Seaman, Dixon, Keown, Adams & Winterburn!
If Rioch was not choosing players, why didn't Dein just go ahead and sign Edgars? Ever since the early days of Dein at Arsenal he has done the negotiations for players, the manager just indicated who he wanted & Dein did the rest. Which is why Arsenal have struggled since Dein left.
Of course Rioch would have known how to contact Bergkamp, but as I said it was Dein's role to contact players & agents and negotiate on the club's behalf.
posted on 18/2/13
Of course Rioch would have known how to contact Bergkamp, but as I said it was Dein's role to contact players & agents and negotiate on the club's behalf.
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No, Greaves you misunderstand my point. Its about who instigates the contact. I am not sure you understand how technical directors work. We were the first club in England to implement the continental system.
Essentially, the coach asks the technical director that he needs a striker. The technical director then goes out and finds a list of players who are available and within budget. The technical director controls the budget which is given to him by the CFO.
The coach working with the technical director then settles on a name and they make the approach. Of course if the player is not available they move to the next one and so on. Thats what Dein used to do. Arsene Wenger does that now. Rioch wouldn't have even considered Bergkamp.
Some technical directors, for example for Man City and Chelsea don't even bother to consult. They just buy the player depending on where they think there is a need and expect the coach/manager to integrate the player.
Rioch was just a coach and not a very good one. Rioch wanted a new striker and Dein got him one. Dein knew we needed a midfield player and thats why he went after Davids. But as Dein was a very good technical director he wanted to get Rioch's opinion before he proceeded.
posted on 18/2/13
Your first choice defence was Seaman, Dixon, Keown, Adams & Winterburn!
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Yes it was. And what was that defence doing from 1993 to 1996? Leaking goals, getting high and not challenging for the title.
The reason we won the title was Vieira.
posted on 18/2/13
The reason we won the title was Vieira.
The rest of the team were c rap then? Vieira was important, but without the rest of the team he was nothing, would you not agree? Or are you saying Arsenal were a one man team, like last season?
And as for your comment re Technical Directors, I know exactly how things work within the professional game. How do you know Rioch wouldn't have even considered Bergkamp?
posted on 18/2/13
How do you know Rioch wouldn't have even considered Bergkamp?
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The man antagonised our most important player at the time (Wrighty) with stereotypes (I hope you understand what that means) that he issued a him or me ultimatum to Dein.
I hope you understand the type that were still in football in the 90s. Bergkamp would not be the first striker on his mind when he thought he needed someone.
Vieira was important, but without the rest of the team he was nothing, would you not agree? Or are you saying Arsenal were a one man team, like last season?
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I am saying that a defence does not win you leagues. Wenger had to clean up a lot of the mess that was at the club and he rejuvenated the back 4. But the KEY player to make that team function was Vieira. His importance was that he gave extra defensive cover to a slowing defence on their last legs and at the same time linked to a very creative striker in Bergkamp and lethal finisher in Ian Wright and a young Anelka. Sprinkle some magic by Overmars. Thats what won us the double.
posted on 18/2/13
Not only are you condescending, you talk a lot of rubbish. Of course defences don't win you leagues, but you can't win the league with a c rap one either!
You are now changing your stance. of course Vieira was a key player, but so was Petit, Parlour, Anelka,etc.
As for the slowing defence on their last legs, well they continued as first choice for at least another 4 seasons!
posted on 18/2/13
Well its not very hard to talk down to a Spurs fan who knows ZERO about Arsenal but thinks he can argue how we won the league based on stereotypical rubbish from lazy journalists.
posted on 18/2/13
Well I can say one thing, I bet I have played at Highbury more times than you have. I notice you did not comment how your defence, which were on their last legs (your words) managed to keep going for another 3-4 seasons. Some achievement that is & your last comment has shown me that you have no respect for anyone else who dares to have a different opinion!
posted on 18/2/13
Some achievement that is & your last comment has shown me that you have no respect for anyone else who dares to have a different opinion!
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Nonsense. My response was to your abusive post. And if you think that you pointing out that your opinion somehow carries more weight because you are an ex-player, it doesn't. You have no idea who I maybe. But I certainly don't try to validate my thoughts by my background.
You could have discussed your point but you didn't, instead you insulted my response.
It is quite funny how you selectively take posts out of context to highlight weakness in my opinion. I was not trying to score points. But it seems obvious you were. Thats hardly adult or educated.
I never said that the defence was cr@p or the rest of the team was cr@p. I just said the reason why we won the league was because of Vieira. And I later explained what I meant by that statement.
The media love to undermine Arsene by suggesting that he inherited a great defence and therefore he doesn't deserve any credit for winning the double so quickly. Arsene inherited a defence. An ageing defence that was on the decline because of off-field activities. However all I did was to try an point out that the reason why we won is not because of the English defence that Arsene inherited but because of young French player. Who was later key to winning a world cup for France as well. A foreigner.
And in fact the defence that Arsene actually built cole, sol, kolo, Lauren were far greater and they achieved a feat that will be never done by any team in modern football in a top country league. Not even Barca. So please don't try to play the victim. I am always happy to discuss Arsenal, even with WUMs. But only if they are adult about it.
posted on 18/2/13
Oh dear! Touched a nerve did we?
And if you knew anything about my posts, then you would know that I have been a long time admirer of Arsenal's football and a fan of Wenger!