Arsenal Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2017 *Warnings see OP-updated 09/05/17*

Quazzie

emmetlego wrote: »

I understand and agree Wenger needs to go ASAP, but first and foremost for me is Stan Kronke. No point in getting a new manager as long as that cash bleeder owns our club.

A different manager would make this team much better than it is currently performing. We have some great players in our team, but Wenger can't make them perform. A new manager that could is what is needed above all else.

gandalf

emmetlego wrote: »

I understand and agree Wenger needs to go ASAP, but first and foremost for me is Stan Kronke. No point in getting a new manager as long as that cash bleeder owns our club.

Yep Kroenke is the main issue, Wenger is just a symptom of the overall disease. Any other owner who has an interest in the actual success of the club would have fired Wenger ages ago. It suits Kroenke to have a manager who is willing to take the obvious restrictions that are in place.

Removing Wenger and bringing a new name into a situation like this would be disastrous. Firstly no top level manager would willingly put themselves into a situation like that, who does that leave as managerial candidates?

Kroenke has to go but I don't see him budging until at least 2019, when the LA Rams stadium is due to complete as he is using Arsenal as an asset against the loans secured for the building of that Arena.

Wonda-Boy

So lets just say that Kroenke went tomorrow, everything would be right with the club from then on?

I admit that he is a huge factor in the way the club is run and he needs to leave also but there are clubs with half the strength and quality of our squad and are a MUCH better teamm, that falls at Wengers door. The squad we have now is PURELY down to Wenger. He has had full control over the lot of it and now finds himself surrounded by mediocre players and under performing world class players, thats all Wenger.

And all this instability will rumble on for the rest of the year now matter what happens as Sanchez is still here, he is gonna be chased by all the clubs and it will intensify in December and January when he signs a pre contract with who ever and the media will run it for the rest of the year

#Shaaaaambles!

KaiserGunner

grumpymunster wrote: »

I do feel your pain.

Whats your feeling though is this going to be Wengers last season and if it is who do you see following him?

Even if Arsenal fail to qualify for CL again this year I don't see them having difficulty attracting one of the top managers and I would have though someone like Simeone would be perfect after Wenger as some steel most likely would be needed.

No I'd be shocked if Wenger doesn't see out his final two years and I wouldn't be surprised if he extended it.

From what I've read and listened to on podcasts etc, that one of the reasons they extended Wengers contract was because without him they'd have to hire a director of football, a new manager etc as he basically does everything when it comes to the footballing side. Basically Wenger has too much power and i can't see that changing in two years time. His "boss" Gazidis was overruled by Kroenke over the summer in giving a new contract to Wenger, so I'm surprised that Gazidis is still around.

the untitled user

KaiserGunner wrote: »

I'm surprised that Gazidis is still around.

Probably because his stock has dropped so much with his flip flopping at Arsenal he doesn't have anything else he can do.

gandalf

If Kroenke went tomorrow then the new owner would clean house, Wenger would go to and the vast majority of the upper management as well.

Wenger is the problem now, he has done Herculean feats for us in the past but it is obvious that he is no longer a viable manager of a top team and has not been for at least eight years. The incompetence is just getting more pronounced in the last couple of years. It is a real shame because he is destroying his legacy now. Instead of remember his achievements, the league wins, the invincibles, the most FA Cups by a Manager he is going to be remembered as part of the team that destroyed the club, that made senile team selections, that allowed world class players slip away from our team at bargain basement rates.

Yes you are right our core players are good on paper and maybe a new manager would get them performing better but at the end of the day the team needs investment from the owners and that will not be forthcoming until after 2019 and in reality looking at how Kroenke conducts business in his other franchises not at all.

emergingstar

So we made. 30m profit this window

The very amount we lost out on with having no Champs League

gandalf

emergingstar wrote: »

So we made. 30m profit this window

The very amount we lost out on with having no Champs League

YAY we win at "Accountancy Fantasy Football Manager!"

Leroy42

Would Sanchez be available to buy in January for a club still in the CL?

Lukker-

Leroy42 wrote: »

Would Sanchez be available to buy in January for a club still in the CL?

Clubs can register one player who would be cup tied normally as long its in a different competition so Sanchez would be eligible to play CL for a team.

DvB

Wenger is this era's Brian Clough. Forest left him in there years to long with terrible results with respect to their competitiveness & standing, & whereas Arsenal are a bigger club than Forest & should be able to at least compenstae somewhat to continue down this path indefinitely will ultimately damage the club massively. Taking off the Arsenal tinted glasses, this is a season we could easily finish 8th, and with large scale departures on the horizon next summer & an owner not willing to upset his financial wheeling & dealing god only kn0ws where we'll stand in a years time. Its a vicious circle & it shows no signs of changing until serious changes in the way the club is managed are carried out.

I remember the early 90's & finishing 6th & getting into the UEFA cup being the pinnacle of our expectations, I had hoped those days were gone, it appears however that football is indeed cyclical & we're heading back there at a rate of knots...

Football wise we are indeed a bit of a shambles, but at the end of the day the clubs primary function appears now to be an asset for balancing books against loans & suchlike and we appear to be performing that function adequately to not rock the boat, until that changes the football is a sideshow & will be treated as such... not what fans want to hear obviously, but sadly it suits the owners needs perfectly & its going to take a huge hit to the club as a business concern to change that IMO.

KaiserGunner

So now that the transfer window has closed and the squad is basically set in stone for the season.

Goalkeepers
Cech, Ospina. Basically the same as last season, however an injury to either could leave us short with untested youth keepers the only ones left.

Fullbacks
Bellerin, Debuchy :pac:
Monreal, Kolasinac. In theory it's strong enough and I reckon Mustafi will play right back the odd time if needed as I really don't see Debuchy getting a game. Chambers has also played there before, so would be a stopgap solution. Rhys Nelson could also play rwb in the cups.

Centre Backs
Mertesacker, Koscielny, Mustafi, Holding, Chambers. Effectively the same as last season and there are plenty of bodies there to deal with an injury crisis. Koscielny and Mertesacker are aging, so it's time one of the younger lads pushed for a spot.

Central Midfielders
Ramsey, Xhaka, Coquelin, El Neny, Wilshere, Cazorla. Again same as last season, plenty of numbers there again, but I still think it's quite a weakness there. Wilshere and Cazorla will be lucky to get game time this season. I dread this season going up to Old Trafford with a midfield of Coquelin and El Neny!

Attacking Midfielders/wideplayers
Ozil, Walcott, Alexis, Iwobi, Welbeck Again similar to last season. I'm hoping that Iwobi will play more than Walcott, hoping his days are numbered.

Forward/Striker
Giroud, Lacazette. A better set of strikers than last season, Giroud has proven that he offers something different in certain games and is a good weapon to come off the bench. If Lacazette settles in he could be a great scorer for the club. Shows he knows where the goal is in his two starts.

Having my glass half full Looking at the first 11 there, it is a bit stronger than last season on paper. The squad is essentially the same as last season. The only loss really was the Ox, but he was a bit part player.

greendom

The club may have a bit of a job to do on Alexis. Reports that he doesn't want to play again for Arsenal and blaming the club for the failure to get his transfer to City done.

beakerjoe

greendom wrote: »

The club may have a bit of a job to do on Alexis. Reports that he doesn't want to play again for Arsenal and blaming the club for the failure to get his transfer to City done.

Rumours of Barca looking at Sanchez and Ozil before their window shuts. Its not over yet for Arsenal

greendom

greendom wrote: »

The club may have a bit of a job to do on Alexis. Reports that he doesn't want to play again for Arsenal and blaming the club for the failure to get his transfer to City done.

Boohoo to both him and city. He could have handed in a transfer request early in the summer, they could have paid crazy money for him early in the summer.

Has the vote for the changing of the window happened yet? The sooner they close it before the season starts, the better.

Ol' Donie

beakerjoe wrote: »

Rumours of Barca looking at Sanchez and Ozil before their window shuts. Its not over yet for Arsenal

Someone give them a shove.

They don't wanna be here, fine, p*ss off and do your stropping somewhere else.

KaiserGunner

greendom wrote: »

The club may have a bit of a job to do on Alexis. Reports that he doesn't want to play again for Arsenal and blaming the club for the failure to get his transfer to City done.

If he throws a strop so be it. The money was no use to us as it wouldn't have been spent. Arsenal had the whole summer to get a replacement in when they knew Sanchez wasn't signing. Complete mess from the club and finishing the summer in a net profit is shameful.

greendom

KaiserGunner wrote: »

If he throws a strop so be it. The money was no use to us as it wouldn't have been spent. Arsenal had the whole summer to get a replacement in when they knew Sanchez wasn't signing. Complete mess from the club and finishing the summer in a net profit is shameful.

That's a bit of a damned if you do, damned if you don't. I don't remember that many people being happy when Van Persie was sold to United.

greendom

http://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2017/09/01/human-rights-watchdog-urges-arsenal-to-stop-torturing-fans/?utm_source=WWN_Twitter_Account&utm_medium=Twitter&utm_campaign=Social_Link&utm_content=Article

greendom

And City are threatening to take Arsenal to court for not going through with the Sanchez deal

Why did they wait until 6 hours before the end of the window to make a bid ?
Idiots!

KaiserGunner

https://twitter.com/matias_grez/status/903570025507901440

Yeah good luck with that one City. Some Chilean journalist reporting this.

greendom

greendom wrote: »

And City are threatening to take Arsenal to court for not going through with the Sanchez deal

Why did they wait until 6 hours before the end of the window to make a bid ?
Idiots!

There was some timeline of why it happened so late, but they knew it was always pending us getting a replacement in.

Lukker-

Lol City are so butthurt. Hope he joins a foreign club today, would be a laugh. They are acting so entitled, expecting ye to sell without a replacement.

RobertKK

greendom wrote: »

The club may have a bit of a job to do on Alexis. Reports that he doesn't want to play again for Arsenal and blaming the club for the failure to get his transfer to City done.

I bet he hasn't refused his wages from Arsenal.

Quazzie

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Sanchez can fúck right off.

Sign, go or be quiet.

carltonleon

Just imagine what would happen if Kroenke did sell to Usmanov.

Here's what would happen ..... Usmanov is a known fan of Wenger so he would offer Wenger a new 3 year contact and then give him gizzilions to spend.

purplepanda

emmetlego wrote: »

Wenger stopped commentary 3 years ago. He's in Paris tonight for something else, maybe to watch the game, maybe he was going to tie up Lemar! Who knows!

There was a photo doing the rounds of him in a commentary box, but that was from the last World Cup.

Nah! He was on the half time panel for the Wales Russia Euro game on French TV last summer. :mad:

I remember being in Tours with the Irish support that evening & the locals getting upset when I gave Wonga some "critical analysis" regarding his future at Arsene Stanley PLC! :rolleyes:

Gizmo55

So basically we've another few years of mediocrity while another stadium is built. Sake.

L'prof

Basil3 wrote: »

Has the vote for the changing of the window happened yet? The sooner they close it before the season starts, the better.

I'd be against that because the vote was only rumoured to be for the premier league. Absolutely no point in closing the window and having all your business done if foreign clubs can still sign English playera

sonic85

People are saying what use would the money be if we sold Sanchez but what use is an unhappy player that could well down tools and be absolute poison in the dressing room for the forseeable future? What a sh!tshow

emmetlego

sonic85 wrote: »

People are saying what use would the money be if we sold Sanchez but what use is an unhappy player that could well down tools and be absolute poison in the dressing room for the forseeable future? What a sh!tshow

If he does that, our under 23's will have a new forward. No player is bigger than the club, he can sulk in the reserves.

dinorebel

Ozil to Barca is the latest rumour.

sonic85

emmetlego wrote: »

If he does that, our under 23's will have a new forward. No player is bigger than the club, he can sulk in the reserves.

Personally I'd rather be rid of him. I suppose though it's all just speculation at the moment but it'll be interesting to see what happens in the next few days and weeks

brianregan09

Wenger will probably still play him anyway

tayto lover

I really hope there's war at the next home game and that Wenger feels the brunt of it.

greendom

tayto lover wrote: »

I really hope there's war at the next home game and that Wenger feels the brunt of it.

I must be mad - I hope the team plays well and wins!

tayto lover

greendom wrote: »

I must be mad - I hope the team plays well and wins!

So do all of us BUT we need rid of Wenger. At the moment that is the most important thing for Arsenal unless you personally think he can still win things.
I don't and I don't believe the players do either.

emergingstar

tayto lover wrote: »

greendom wrote: »

I must be mad - I hope the team plays well and wins!

So do all of us BUT we need rid of Wenger. At the moment that is the most important thing for Arsenal unless you personally think he can still win things.
I don't and I don't believe the players do either.

Owner first

Then Wenger

tayto lover

emergingstar wrote: »

Owner first

Then Wenger

They're both in cahoots as far as i'm concerned.
Two sides of the same coin.

Quazzie

emergingstar wrote: »

Owner first

Then Wenger

Changing the owner now won't improve our team this season, changing the manager will

farna_boy

tayto lover wrote: »

They're both in cahoots as far as i'm concerned.
Two sides of the same coin.

He (Kronke) won't spend money on players what makes you think he will spend on a manager? If Wenger goes first, I fully expect the board to get someone like Harry or Pardew to take over.

tayto lover

farna_boy wrote: »

He (Kronke) won't spend money on players what makes you think he will spend on a manager? If Wenger goes first, I fully expect the board to get someone like Harry or Pardew to take over.

I don't see it happening that way.
They would know they'd have to get someone better. A worse manager would only attract the same kind of attention. They won't want more of the same.

emergingstar

Quazzie wrote: »

emergingstar wrote: »

Owner first

Then Wenger

Changing the owner now won't improve our team this season, changing the manager will

I don't no would it

A new manager would a bit of backbone won't put up with the ****e that's going on st boardroom level

Better change owners then manager me thinks

tayto lover

emergingstar wrote: »

I don't no would it

A new manager would a bit of backbone won't put up with the ****e that's going on st boardroom level

Better change owners then manager me thinks

Of course we need to be rid of Kronke and Co. but Wenger is their front man so he has to go first imo.
You have to get past the bodyguard first.

wonga77

Doesn't matter a sh1te what we want. Wenger and Stan are around for the foreseeable future whether we like it or not

tayto lover

wonga77 wrote: »

Doesn't matter a sh1te what we want. Wenger and Stan are around for the foreseeable future whether we like it or not

I know that, it's why I want protests. Otherwise it's more years of the same shyte. Protests and media coverage of it is the only thing left for Arsenal fans. They don't like bad press.

wonga77

Unless you get a stadium that's more or less empty for a big game (will never happen), no amount of protesting is going to make a sign of difference. The owners have proved for a long time now that they don't give a tupennies fcuk about the fans

brianregan09

Lads I would love if Wenger some how got the heave ho in the next few weeks and Benitez came in to replace him , Be a great fit for us I think and he won't be long more at Newcastle by the looks of it

tayto lover

wonga77 wrote: »

Unless you get a stadium that's more or less empty for a big game (will never happen), no amount of protesting is going to make a sign of difference. The owners have proved for a long time now that they don't give a tupennies fcuk about the fans

They didn't like the planes and the bit of booing last season. It led to Wenger making a plea to the fans to get behind the team and Gazidis making the "catalyst for change" promise that was never kept.

wandatowell

brianregan09 wrote: »

Lads I would love if Wenger some how got the heave ho in the next few weeks and Benitez came in to replace him , Be a great fit for us I think and he won't be long more at Newcastle by the looks of it

Hasn't Rafa had issues with handling big players with big ego's? I could be completely wrong.