Arsenal
Celine Dion Wonders if Arsene is Really a Professor
Professor?
By Celine Dion
July 29 2009
What disturbs me the most at the moment about Arsenal is that not so much we haven't bought anyone other than Vermaelen, but that I don't think Wenger really knows what he wants, or when he wants it.
When my wife goes to the supermarket she writes a concise shopping list before she goes, then she takes a long time choosing the right stuff for the week to fit into the various delicious meals that we will all eat. If she can't get Golden Delicious apples (orrible apples, give me a Cox's Orange Pippin any time. Ed) she will buy Braeburn (slightly better. Ed), and so on.
When I go to the supermarket I don't write a shopping list, I stroll in there picking things up and putting them back, more often than not I return with a few cans of Stella and some carrots, completely useless to anyone other than myself. Then I see what was in the fridge before hand, and see what I can knock up. More often than not it isn't that great (the Stella helps though).
Absent minded professor?
Now I always had Wenger down as someone like my wife. That's certainly the image the club pushes on us, the meticulous professor who sits in a special room not unlike 'the control centre' morning noon and night, someone who is interested in what type of breakfast cereal a player likes before he signs for the Arsenal. That's how it is always intimated by club literature and so on; that Wenger knows what our team is going to look like in 5 years time, and it is all part of a 'master plan'.Well I would like to refute that at the moment. Wenger is looking more and more like me strolling aimlessly round the supermarket ten minutes before closing time.
I mean what went on with the Melo deal. There was clearly stuff being talked about, there was clearly interest, it hasn't happened. So did we go straight after another major name DM, in time for the new season? Are we even linked with any? And I don't mean Matuidi, who would be an understudy. You know, we either need a marquee DM or we don't. What Wenger appears to have done is go 'f*%k it, I'll stick with Denilson then'.
Who is in and who is out?
Then there is every appearance that we are going to go with Bendtner, Eduardo, RVP, and Vela next season. Unless Huntelaar suddenly turns up a week before the season start. What happened to Chamakh? You know it says something to me that one minute Chamakh is being talked about as going to us then next minute off he says he's looking forward to Sunderland. These aren't Arsenal deals, even if they DO happen. Arsenal transfer deals are done like Alan Smith when Graham signed him, he knew he was coming 6 months in advance, players were cleared out to make way for him.
What about Wenger's loan deals. Traore was playing left back in several big games at the end of the 2008 season, he was obvious cover for Clichy, then off he goes to Portsmouth, we are forced to play young Kieran Gibbs in the CL semi final, poor boy falls flat on his face, but he does quite well, over all, but wait a minute, now Traore's back. So we've got three similar left backs. But one right back, just Sagna, Toure won't be there to cover, and Eboue is constantly linked with a move to Italy because he doesn't LIKE being cover.And there's evidence that Arsenal have tried to chuck him into a few deals. Wait a minute, here comes Philip Senderos, back from his season long loan in AC Milan reserves. That should have sorted him right out. But what's this, Wenger says he can leave the club, it's 'up to him'. Yeah, that's how I run teams at work. I don't sack people, or recruit them, whether they come to work or not is 'up to them'. Of course. Meanwhile Philippe is playing a few pre season games in our midfield...
Who goes where?
Team positions, what is Abou Diaby's natural position. What position has he been lovingly primed to play, a long term fixture in our brave new future. That's right, I haven't got a clue. What is Nasri's position, given that he is clearly a central midfielder, with a pathological fear of crossing the ball first time. That's right, left mid, overlapping with Gael Clichy.Meanwhile meet our hulking 6 foot 4 centre forward Bendtner whose major strength is nutting the ball into the net from in swinging crosses. But wait a minute, he's injured, and we've sold Adebayor, so here's his replacement, fleet footed Mexican midget Carlos Vela. Then again, perhaps Fabregas would like a go at playing up front, why not try him in a derby match against local rivals Chelsea. Oh no, it has not worked, stick him back in midfield again.
Finally, issues of character.Again, I was bought up on Tony Adams and David O'Leary. Born kicking a ball for Arsenal. What have we got now. William Gallas. Fine fine footballer, problem is, when things don't go his way he doesn't talk to his team mates, and sits at the side of the pitch (and then he does his hair up to look like a fish). Then again, when you look at how he signed, he was bunged in as an extra in the Ashley Cole deal. Future team captain, bunged into the basket 2 hours before the transfer deadline.
Silvestre. Has that one really worked? I would argue NOT. And where are the long term central defenders coming out of our youth team. There's plenty of Lansburys and Wilsheres, but what is going on with Nordveit? Surely there should be a couple of them pitching in ahead of Silvestre. That is how you get hungry back up. Micael Mancienne please, not some plank from Man United who likes to let in 4 goals a game. Again, bunged into the basket on deadline day. Must have been near the counter.
Finally, Adebayor, has there ever been such a prize tw*t play for Arsenal. Great footballer, but the man? Wonder how many cosy tete-a-tetes you spent working out the character and moral fibre of Henrys long term replacement Arsene - 10 mins in the airport duty free shop?
Look lads. I like Arsene Wenger. He can undoubtedly get the chaps on the pitch playing a good game of football. I feel it is obligatory to write this at the end of any mildly critical piece about Arsenal. But meticulous professor? Or chuck it all up in the air and see how it lands. Hmmmm.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:08:11:20:44:18 by Padre Pio.
might open a few can of worms but ill now open my own
david dien
since he left we have gone a bit backwards in the transfer market
weather that is down to lack of funds i dont know
but arsene would identify a player and dien would say he'll be here in the next few days wereas more and more since dien left it has been more of what can be done at the last minute if anything
We did miss a Dein figure at the club, but he was a c*ck face so i am not concerned now because he has been replaced by a better man.
Quote:Flava
Golden Delicious, Celine? A poor choice.
Thats the wifes choice Flava. Its pink ladies all the way as far as I am concerned.
Quote:Ivan Gazidis helped sign Arshavin. Ivan Gazidis helped sign Vermaelen.
Yes those deals went as smooth as my bottom didnt they, oh wait, we signed Arshavin 2 days into February, after we had identified him as a target 7 months prior, woops. And 10 million for Vermaelen? Im sure the lads good but on those figures Toure should be worth atleast 20.
But back to the post, I completely agree, bu my feeling is Wenger has been like this the whole time. At times he managed to get lucky and sign up some Vieiras and Henrys for relatively small amounts but thos players are no more, they now come at a premium, and Wenger doesnt like paying a penny more than the figure he has in mind.
Calculating squad numbers is also not his game. He likes to collect players in certain positions every year. started off with strikers, then defensive midfielders, and now it seems to be defenders.
I think every one knows we need a new centre mid. melo was available, ok it was for 20 odd million but we could of got him with a swap plus money deal with eboue or someone. And now were linked with Matududoodi? No thanks, you cant go from thinking you want to sign a brazilian machine to getting a french rogue that could be the next alex song, lazy and plain shite.
Before about 4 years ago, ive always thought the squad has been healthy and with the right amount of strength in depth. Now I am far from convinced and actually feel nervous about having to play Fabianski in goal if Almunia picks up a knock. I would rather have Mark Poom to be my number two.
But yeh things arent going the way every one thought they would, its now very very close to the new season, and were not close to anyone, and it looks as if Ade, Toure, and maybe Eboue are leaving. What a great summer this has been. I was excited by Wengers comments about strengthening the team last season, but I think I took them the wrong way, I took them in the way that we ACTUALLY WOULD STRENGTHEN THE TEAM. And not call the return of Rosicky and Eduardo, who I seem to remember signing years back, as "new signings" even if in all likelihood they will get injured against rangers next weekend and be out till May.
He always put a positive spin on things.
He had confirmed this is a DECISIVE SEASON for him and if he still flop come May 2010, he will call it a day as there will be nothing he can do much to improve Arsenal and beyond.
Just look out for a "mutual parting" on amicable term comes May 2010 if he flops....again.
Verdict is still out till May 2010.
Moreover, the kind of stuff Wenger and club says to it's fans, well only politicians can compete, so why take his words in phase value. if making £40m from players sell and making more from other yearly avg documented profit of £40m range and he manages to still keep the club in top 4. Why on the earth he would leave...he wouldn't.
It is the first time that Wenegr had publicly admitted his doubt on whether his present policy is working or not...his confidence is definitely shaken.
If I am not mistaken, his contract extension was on a year-by-year rolling which allowed him to opt at season end.
And I cna tel you that if Wenegr goes in 2010, Fabregas will folow when BArca tables a serious bid.
SImilarly for rest of the players - Arshavin, Van Persie, CLichy, et al.
Wenegr is that "glue" thata ttracted all these foreign players to play at Arsenal.
Not Arsenal FC, but Wenegr hismelf.
And yes, presently, Arsene Wenger is bigger than Arsenal FC itself.
ANd if you think the odl cliche applies to Wenger "Nobody is bigger than the club", think again as yet even Gooner_Mike canot even put down any name which cana replaced Arsene Wenger.
Again, even if PHW & Ganag is willing to pay, will any European marquee manager wiling to coem to manage Arsenal FC on a shoestring budget to compete against SUgar Daddy's Team in England?
The board have taken us to a new stadia and have fallen foul of a recession,fans are split,some trust AW implicitly,some think hes bulled his way through the last five seasons and some like myself fall between the two.
He has lost some of his aura IMO either the board are playing him like a harp (which I doubt) or he is more interested in balance than winning,but he has lost a lot of AFC fans along the way,and if we sign no more players for the coming season he is taking his biggest gamble because failure will IMO leave him no choice but to fall on his sword.
Sure some, and in the last 3 or 4 years, quite a few of his aims have not come to fruition. That does not mean that he has not planned extensively or just let things roll along, as you`re indicating, CD.
I,m 100% sure he knew Kolo and Ade were going, before the end of last season and he already had contingency plans in place. You can`t and don`t run a top footy club by second guessing situations. Strategies and plans are probably in place for the season after next.
Our financial situation is obviously making transfers difficult. But AW still believes that his youth policy will not only negate these problems, it will also win us the silver ware we fans are demanding.
Surely, when working within a youth policy, your planning, strategies and intentions must be even more carefully thought through, and I, for one, believe there are very few managers with the ability to be able to pull this off. The professor being one of them.
Since the end of WW1, 1919, when the FA restarted its 4 tier football league, with Arsenal fc in the 1st div, there’s only ever been one club to have never been relegated from Div 1/ EPL.
Arsenal fc
Let’s keep making history
Quote:Padre Pio
If Arsene left there could be problems, but a new man would come in with new players. Most players would stay, how many players change clubs with their manager? Yes a few, but never a mass exodus.
Its just scare tactics Padre. The younger fans cannot envisage life without Wenger. The older ones recognise him for what he is, an exceptional manager who for whatever reason is now treading water. We might just surprise people this year, but it will be down to our oppostion losing ground, not some amazing master plan. And who do we really need to fear losing. Fabregas, Arshavin, the list gets shorter every year. Both could leave WITH Wenger still the manager.
What do you think Liverpool said when Shankly was getting too old. Oh well, its been good, but best pack it all in. No, Paisley, then Dalglish took up the baton.
This whole prostituting ourselves to Wenger and his idiosynchracies is ridiculous.
Quote:celine dion
Merlion if you really think wenger is bigger than arsenal then thats a very bad thing in my opinion. Theres 60000 people going to that place week in week out. Fathers, sons, grandchildren. There were 54000 packing the north bank and clock end when wenger was a dot on the horizon. Arsenal is a MIGHTY football club of heritage and distinction. If all that is in the pocket of one man then i would say the board needs contingencies and long term vision NOW. Lets look at it the other way, if wenger gets a bang on the head tomorrow and goes off to join the hare krishnas, what do we do. Close the gates and pack it all in?
You are living on past glory.liek Preston North End, NNotts COunty, Nottingham Forestr.....
of success, Notts Co. have had virtually none so I
don't know why you mentioned them.
Arsenal is a team that rides a crest of a wave
for a few years and then disappears under the sea
for several years. At the moment we're almost
submerged. It's anyone's guess whether we'll
ride another wave of success. I suspect not soon, we
may not be a threat for some five or six years
but I'm sure we'll win something again, maybe in
2020.
Quote:I suspect not soon, we
may not be a threat for some five or six years
but I'm sure we'll win something again, maybe in
2020.
I'd prefer to go back to Rio and watch Fla Flu (Flamingo vs Fluminenese) of 90's I used to watch in Maracana then....
Quote:We might just surprise people this year, but it will be down to our oppostion losing ground, not some amazing master plan
got to love arsenal supporters...always giving the other teams all the credit!
Quote:Chapman's Ghost
Merlion those three teams have had brief periods
of success, Notts Co. have had virtually none so I
don't know why you mentioned them.
Arsenal is a team that rides a crest of a wave
for a few years and then disappears under the sea
for several years. At the moment we're almost
submerged. It's anyone's guess whether we'll
ride another wave of success. I suspect not soon, we
may not be a threat for some five or six years
but I'm sure we'll win something again, maybe in
2020.
Meaning, we cna't live on our past glories of Chapman, Graham or even the French Spine.
Each period is an individual discrete event, none related to each other and only based on probability and projection from past events on what should be in the Future.
Like Cecil's postulation on Graham having a better trophy/tenured year than Arsene Wenger.
Similarly, Houllier did that "min-Grnad Slam" and Benitez winning the CL CUp, how much "weightage" we are going to give them in "trophy/tenured year"?
Mourinho?
By far I think he got the best "trophy/tenured year' ration than any premierhsip managers.
Then, is Mourinho better than Ferguson, Brian Clough, Busby, SHankly, Paisley, CHapman., et al simply based on "tropy.tenured year" ratio?
Is George Graham more successful than Wenger if Wenger's ratio is based from that period 1997/98 to 2004/05 where he won a trophy every year and did not finished out of Top-2?
How much bias, and how much weightage, are going to give to get a fair "trophy/tenured year" ratio?
What if Wenger stay from 1996/97 to 2016/17 - a 20-year tenured at Arsenal..and still won f**K all from 2005/06 to 2016/17?
WHat if Wenger starts spending 500-mil from 2009 to 2016, with 500-mil debt liek Liverpool and won a few Tin CUp, FA CUp, 1 or 2o titles, Top-2 every season.....is he successful by driving the club into receivership with 1-billion in debt liek ManLeeds or Lvieprol now?
WOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
my heart wont go on @#$%& holes
GRRRRRRRRRR
Ive just gone to the bookies and put £500 on Paul Potts to become Top Scorer
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