Spot on.
Complacency has been our downfall.
I agree. Whilst we're in danger of becoming 'Liverpool' if we get rid of Wenger, it looks like there's more chance that will happen than us winning the title again.
What's so frustrating is that I still think Wenger is a great manager he just can't address immediate issues and it's caused too much damage.
Can't say I disagree with anything you wrote
I actually think Liverpool are in a better position that us now
I can't help but think that there are too many people saying that something is going on behind the scenes, but at the end of the day all we have to go on is what we see.
I don't know about you guys but what I can see is a manager who refuses to spend or even address the weaknesses in the players we already have, and a general lack of desire for our best assets to remain at the club.
It's not just a question of 'why don't we buy x' anymore, now its a question of 'would x even want to come to us if we put in a bid' which is truly worrying. If (and I admit it still is a big 'IF) spurs get CL football this season at our expense, then for the first time in my lifetime it'll be a situation where spurs are the more attractive club to play for.
Even just 2-3 seasons ago such an outcome was unthinkable
I actually think Liverpool are in a better position that us now
---------------------------------------------------------------------
I kind of agree but I wouldn't swap our squad for theirs in a million years. They are similar to us last season in the way that without Suarez/RVP they would really struggle.
Is this season the result of years gone by?
=======
Yes. You've hit the nail on the head with a pneumatic drill!
Last season (believe it or not) was one of Wenger's biggest achievements. Finishing 3rd (regardless of circumstances, last day dramas etc) with the team he had, especially after a woeful start was a minor miracle. I don't believe any manager in similar circumstances could have done that.
I'm not being all pro-Wenger, just stating what I see as a fact. The huge problem and it is a very real problem Arsenal have had and are really feeling it now, is that selling your best players and replacing them with new players who are not as good is going to hinder ANY team.
I honestly think Arsenal will finish outside of the top 4 this season.
Maybe I'm being an idealist here, but I am a firm believer that SOMETIMES 'you have to go backwards to move forwards'.
The club has been in the comfort zone of the top 4 and all it's benefits for a long time, almost looking at it as a given right. Last season was a close call, but I think this campaign the club will drop out of the champions league places. Then it's time for the board, management and even the players to realise that they've got it all wrong and actually do something progressive and affirmative and start again!
NO the basic point is that if we are not in the champions league in the summer, no top striker will come to us anyway!
We have to sign one now!
And the fact is that ALL our most expensive signings over the last 8 years have been in Jan, not summer.
Reyes
Adebayor
Diaby
Walcott
Arshavin
All Jan signings.
Spurs and Liverpool have invested in their squads, even without Champions League money.
Arsenal haven't invested in theirs WITH Champions League money.
And that's the grim wake-up call to all those Gooners who think missing out on a top 4 finish might be the best thing for the club.
Without the Champions League money we won't become the 'new Liverpool' at all. We'll become another Aston Villa/Everton.
Your situation now reminds me of ours with Benitez a few years ago. There have obviously been things happening behind the scenes that have prevented the manager from doing exactly what he wants to but you get the feeling Wenger is being that stubborn now that he can't see the wood for the trees.
You literally were 2 or 3 players (with the right level of experience) away from being right back up there, potentially for a very long time but the best players have been stripped away and it will be a slow process to rebuild. Believe me, I know.
At least you got a new stadium out of it though, even if they do charge silly money.
The Emirates is the worst thing to ever happen to Arsenal.
'The Emirates is the worst thing to ever happen to Arsenal.'
Frankly, I find this an idiotic statement - you obviously never saw any AFC team under Billy Wright. Going back even further I remember my uncle telling me horror stories about the team under Leslie Knighton.
Given that football, especially at the top levels, is so much more money-dependant than it was even 5 years ago, how does a club with a capacity of less than 39,000 compete?
You want top class players - so do we all. How will you pay for them with a capacity only just over half of Old Trafford and with a crumbling infrastructure?
I loved Highbury. The place had soul and it was always a great day - win, lose or draw - when I could stand on the North Bank. But times change and sometimes to change with them is painful.
The more I see of almost any blog on Arsenal, the more I'm convinced that most people who provide any input are actually fans of success, not of Arsenal Football Club.
I don't think the emirates itself was the 'worst thing to ever happen to Arsenal', I think its more the injection of super rich clubs that has caused all kinds of issues to the game, and we've sufferred for it.
Being in my mid-twenties I've mostly grown up with a successful Arsenal side, however whilst I appreciate things could be a lot worse, they also clearly with the right purchases could have been alot better.
I think the thing that stings the most as an Arsenal fan is that it's never been out of our reach to be title contenders/winners in the past 7-8 years, however for one reason or another the board/manager just haven't done what is necessary,
and the worst part of it all is, that there is absolutely no recognition at all from either party that the club has declined, just more and more doublespeak and propaganda in an attempt to convince us paying fans that actually, things are all rosy. It's insulting, infuriating and a little bit scary.
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Is this season the result of years gone by?
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posted on 21/1/13
Completely agree.
posted on 21/1/13
Spot on.
Complacency has been our downfall.
posted on 21/1/13
I agree. Whilst we're in danger of becoming 'Liverpool' if we get rid of Wenger, it looks like there's more chance that will happen than us winning the title again.
What's so frustrating is that I still think Wenger is a great manager he just can't address immediate issues and it's caused too much damage.
posted on 21/1/13
Can't say I disagree with anything you wrote
posted on 21/1/13
I actually think Liverpool are in a better position that us now
posted on 21/1/13
I can't help but think that there are too many people saying that something is going on behind the scenes, but at the end of the day all we have to go on is what we see.
I don't know about you guys but what I can see is a manager who refuses to spend or even address the weaknesses in the players we already have, and a general lack of desire for our best assets to remain at the club.
It's not just a question of 'why don't we buy x' anymore, now its a question of 'would x even want to come to us if we put in a bid' which is truly worrying. If (and I admit it still is a big 'IF) spurs get CL football this season at our expense, then for the first time in my lifetime it'll be a situation where spurs are the more attractive club to play for.
Even just 2-3 seasons ago such an outcome was unthinkable
posted on 21/1/13
I actually think Liverpool are in a better position that us now
---------------------------------------------------------------------
I kind of agree but I wouldn't swap our squad for theirs in a million years. They are similar to us last season in the way that without Suarez/RVP they would really struggle.
posted on 21/1/13
posted on 21/1/13
Is this season the result of years gone by?
=======
Yes. You've hit the nail on the head with a pneumatic drill!
Last season (believe it or not) was one of Wenger's biggest achievements. Finishing 3rd (regardless of circumstances, last day dramas etc) with the team he had, especially after a woeful start was a minor miracle. I don't believe any manager in similar circumstances could have done that.
I'm not being all pro-Wenger, just stating what I see as a fact. The huge problem and it is a very real problem Arsenal have had and are really feeling it now, is that selling your best players and replacing them with new players who are not as good is going to hinder ANY team.
I honestly think Arsenal will finish outside of the top 4 this season.
Maybe I'm being an idealist here, but I am a firm believer that SOMETIMES 'you have to go backwards to move forwards'.
The club has been in the comfort zone of the top 4 and all it's benefits for a long time, almost looking at it as a given right. Last season was a close call, but I think this campaign the club will drop out of the champions league places. Then it's time for the board, management and even the players to realise that they've got it all wrong and actually do something progressive and affirmative and start again!
posted on 21/1/13
NO the basic point is that if we are not in the champions league in the summer, no top striker will come to us anyway!
We have to sign one now!
And the fact is that ALL our most expensive signings over the last 8 years have been in Jan, not summer.
Reyes
Adebayor
Diaby
Walcott
Arshavin
All Jan signings.
posted on 21/1/13
Spurs and Liverpool have invested in their squads, even without Champions League money.
Arsenal haven't invested in theirs WITH Champions League money.
And that's the grim wake-up call to all those Gooners who think missing out on a top 4 finish might be the best thing for the club.
Without the Champions League money we won't become the 'new Liverpool' at all. We'll become another Aston Villa/Everton.
posted on 21/1/13
Your situation now reminds me of ours with Benitez a few years ago. There have obviously been things happening behind the scenes that have prevented the manager from doing exactly what he wants to but you get the feeling Wenger is being that stubborn now that he can't see the wood for the trees.
You literally were 2 or 3 players (with the right level of experience) away from being right back up there, potentially for a very long time but the best players have been stripped away and it will be a slow process to rebuild. Believe me, I know.
posted on 21/1/13
At least you got a new stadium out of it though, even if they do charge silly money.
posted on 21/1/13
The Emirates is the worst thing to ever happen to Arsenal.
posted on 21/1/13
'The Emirates is the worst thing to ever happen to Arsenal.'
Frankly, I find this an idiotic statement - you obviously never saw any AFC team under Billy Wright. Going back even further I remember my uncle telling me horror stories about the team under Leslie Knighton.
Given that football, especially at the top levels, is so much more money-dependant than it was even 5 years ago, how does a club with a capacity of less than 39,000 compete?
You want top class players - so do we all. How will you pay for them with a capacity only just over half of Old Trafford and with a crumbling infrastructure?
I loved Highbury. The place had soul and it was always a great day - win, lose or draw - when I could stand on the North Bank. But times change and sometimes to change with them is painful.
The more I see of almost any blog on Arsenal, the more I'm convinced that most people who provide any input are actually fans of success, not of Arsenal Football Club.
posted on 21/1/13
I don't think the emirates itself was the 'worst thing to ever happen to Arsenal', I think its more the injection of super rich clubs that has caused all kinds of issues to the game, and we've sufferred for it.
Being in my mid-twenties I've mostly grown up with a successful Arsenal side, however whilst I appreciate things could be a lot worse, they also clearly with the right purchases could have been alot better.
I think the thing that stings the most as an Arsenal fan is that it's never been out of our reach to be title contenders/winners in the past 7-8 years, however for one reason or another the board/manager just haven't done what is necessary,
and the worst part of it all is, that there is absolutely no recognition at all from either party that the club has declined, just more and more doublespeak and propaganda in an attempt to convince us paying fans that actually, things are all rosy. It's insulting, infuriating and a little bit scary.
Page 1 of 1