Wenger's Future And Burnley Next
Mar 7th, 2009 by 'holic
Before I get on to the Burnley contest, I was asked in the comments after the West Brom game about the rumours surrounding Arsene Wenger and the comments attributed to Cesc Fabregas this week. Well, GoonItAll, the response that Gerry and Steve gave echos what I feel about the Fabregas situation. Some journalists know they will get a lot of hits if they do a story where he claims he is off, and will use the flimsiest (or even no) evidence to support it. We’ve got used to that now, I think.
The Wenger situation is more interesting. Until now there has never been the slightest chance of him being lured away from Arsenal. Real Madrid, did you say? Not a hope. Given the free reign he has at Arsenal he would not consider the sort of set up they have there, where the coach finds his powers severely limited by the political wrangling and intervention from the President of the club down.
If I were Arsenal though I would be looking at sorting out his next contract soon because the Manchester City situation is different. If the press are to believed (I know, I know!) they are offering him the same free hand he has at the Grove, and considerably more money to play with. That proposition must be an attractive one to him.
My personal view, backed only by what I read and see of the man from a distance, is that he will not be looking to move to a new challenge at this stage of his life. I get the impression that he feels his work at Arsenal is far from complete, and I think he will want to find a way of making Wengerball mark three work before he retires from the hot seat. He will though, I’m sure, use the City interest to his advantage in any negotiations with Arsenal.
I see one last bumper contract for ‘Le Boss’, but not anytime soon. I think we will be returning to this issue a fair few times before that happens, too.
Burnley Next
Mixed news on the team front ahead of the FA Cup fifth round tie that has ruined many a Sunday lunch arrangement. As I am running out of time and space let me lazily point you at the preview on Arsenal.com. Fabianski obviously starts in goal and the inclusion of Gibbs will not be a surprise. Best news of all is a possible return for Theo Walcott and Eduardo. It’s possible one may start, but not both I would imagine.
Burnley have claimed so many scalps this season in cups, including that of the young Guns of course, that it would be foolish to underestimate their chances. There is not much evidence to suggest that this will be anything other than another tense afternoon for the Grove faithful.
I am tentatively suggesting a 2-0 outcome in our favour, which will not earn the ‘holic pound much of a return, 6/1 being the best on offer, at Ladbrokes.
As usual I hope those who are going have a good day, and those stuck in front of televisions and dodgy streams are not too frustrated. Have a great weekend ‘holics.
19 Responses to “Wenger's Future And Burnley Next”
Cheers ‘holic. I’ll have a pint of your finest please.
You haven’t been paying attention of the last 12 years, Goonerholic. I think there is as much chance of Wenger going to Manchester City as there is of me becoming the main striker for Arsenal and breaking Thierry’s goalscoring record! (I am 59 years old, by the way).
Man City’s new owners came in and immediately sacked a manager who had been doing well for the club. Now they want to sack the next manager – just the kind of commitment and stability that Arsene loves.
Arsene has said many times that Arsenal is the club of his life. He has turned down Real Madrid several times, so why would he want to take on mini-Real Madrid?
He has enough money to last him and his family several lifetimes and has always said that money is not a motivator for him. He told Anelka that he was a fool to chase the money, saying “How many beds can you sleep on at once?” He also said that “if someone offered him £100 million for players, he would tell them to keep it” because that just isn’t his way. Can you really imagine Man City going along with that?
I put this alongside the Kaka, Ronaldo, Messi and Fabregas plans that Man City so boldly announced and I am 100% confident this will similarly put egg on the sky-blue faces.
I believe that, when Arsene leaves Arsenal, he won’t manage another club. He may go into youth development, as he has said he would like to do, or manage a national team, possible Japan.
Working today ‘Holic so an irish coffee will have to do. cheers.
Revenge would be nice tomorrow, I travelled oop to burnleh only to watch their goalie have the game of his season. 4 1/2 hours there and 3 1/2 on the way back.
I see us popping in a couple in the second half – Vela to score first.
I don’t disagree with anything there aj. You have just articulated some of the many Wengerism’s that led me to come to the conclusion that he will stay. However IF, and that is a big if, there is any substance to this story I do believe this is a situation the board should not complacently dismiss. Arsene is a shrewd negotiator, and if you think he wouldn’t use such a situation to improve what is available to him, then think again. That may stretch to something other than his own recompense, by the way.
If we’d taken even a third of the chances we had in the Carling against Burnley (with a weaker team) we’d have won easily. I think tomorrow should be pretty comfortable.
Come on you Gooners !
Cesc leaving rumours will always be around, Barca, Real and their lackies in the press, coupled with the English tabloid hacks will ensure that. As for Wenger, there’s a really bitter article by some scouse twat called Brian Reade today, stating that Wengers crap now and Citeh won’t be daft enough to go for a passed it manager. The guy’s pissed off coz Benitez is getting loads of stick when he thinks Wenger should be!
Wenger’s made some bad decisions this season, IMO, won’t go into em now, BUT he hasnt been helped by some real bad injuries, poor performances and a lack of investment… And even though this season has been protrayed as a terrible one, we are still in the running to win 2 trophies!
AFC 4 Burnley 1
Bendy hatrick!
Gibbs to score too.
A pint of Old Peculiar please, ‘holic. I think it will be a tight game for the most part and I fear Burnley will score as they are quite happy to attack, but I reckon we’ll turn them over by a couple of goals towards the end. 3-1 to the Arsenal!
I must admit the only way I can see AW taking another club job is if we actually sacked him. I certainly do not see that as an option.
Cesc is totally different. I do think that he could be the first player that leaves when his career is not on the down turn. I do believe that the likes of Vieira and Henry were let go at the right times. I do have this fear that Cesc will depart for Spain with some good years ahead of him. Not for a few years yet though I hope.
There is no reason why the confidence gained from the West Brom result can not be expanded upon against Burnley. Burnley are a decent side, but I agree with the comments above. If our strikers had been on form in the Carling Cup then they would have won convincingly. I do not see any reason why tomorrow should be any different. We should have too much quality all over the park and we should also have the feel good factor back with the retuning Theo and Eduardo. Ideal preparation for Roma in mid week.
Keep the faith.
You are right, Goonerholic. We should never be complacent but I just cannot see anyone joining Man City, when they have a good career elsewhere, unless their prime motivation is money. In response to all those who suggest that Wenger’s time is up, I would bet that the queue of clubs and national associations wanting to take him on would be very long and we would end up looking like complete fools to let him go. In any case, who would we get to replace him? Scolari? Allardyce? Ince? Tony Adams? Wenger does have his faults and does make mistakes, like all of us, but I just cannot identify a manager who we might be able to get to join us, who would be better than Wenger. So, as a bargaining tool, he can use Real Madrid and a whole host of others, including Man City; we just have to accept that and give him a deal that he is comfortable with.
“If I were Arsenal though I would be looking at sorting out his next contract soon because the Manchester City situation is different. If the press are to believed (I know, I know!) they are offering him the same free hand he has at the Grove, and considerably more money to play with. That proposition must be an attractive one to him.”
I totally disagree. I think he genuinely finds the Manchester City situation to be utterly distasteful.
Agree with AJ and AusGunner.
Arsene won’t go until he’s sacked or declines renewal terms – ‘holic you’ve been around long enough to know better.
Whether that’s a good thing remains to be seen.
I would say more but with a problematic router and a very twitchy new laptop getting this far has been more than enough for me.
Tomorrow? 2-1 or (more likely a return to) 0-0.
i like to see wenger fired fast. he has tajen arsenal backwards with idioyts like song, eboue and diaby.
have you see united lately. 3 tophys already in the bag and CL & FA next
we have no fucking chance. kiss theis geezers ass will not get us any further. In my eyes, he has been a loser and has been comming 2nd and be content with 4th/5th or even 6th.
fire the sod!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
danny, have a cup of coffee and a couple of morphene fella. Nobody should inject that stuff at six in the morning…
danny rhymes with ‘Fanny’, twat.
Come on Danny, it really isn’t that bad. We’ve been punching well above our weight for the last 5-6 seasons when you compare our outlay on players with the likes of Manure and the Chavs. Anything we win is won with pride and hard work and player development, not bought for cash, whereas I see all their trophies as hollow victories. You should too.
‘Holic, thanks for the insights.
awe s for the burnley game, with all the eye nourishing goals from ED, Vela and Eboue, it sure makes the beer richer.
@snail
We’ve been punching well above our weight for the last 5-6 seasons when you compare our outlay on players with the likes of Manure and the Chavs. Anything we win is won with pride and hard work and player development, not bought for cash, whereas I see all their trophies as hollow victories. You should too.
those are great words of pride and belief, good for you. hell, good for all Gonners to remember for! however, with a club stature of Arsenal’s, getting into finals, merely enough to snatch a 4th spot and watching Fulham play ball passing at the 90th min is simply anything but a stab in the pride. yes i agree that we do not rush out there and get the Berbatovs or the Svchenkos, and still maintain one of the top sides in the game. but still, can you say that with the persistence on youth policy we have nt lost anything to our game? or letting go of so many players that AW knew would be too early to be replaced by his youngsters?
i for one, would love AW to stay until he has made a sucessful protege out of Dennis Bergkamp, that is my Genie wish. but i think he needs an assistant or director that can provide him with another view. in his replies to the boos, he said that he is in the business to make people happy and he takes it with stride and will work his way out. i am thinking that he may feel inside that you guys boo all you want and the more i want to show you that my system is working and i shall prove it to you at all cost.
manure is sweeping across all the competitions not soley because of the money they spent, but its as simple as having the depth of balance. youth and veterans. raw talents, speed, passionate surge towards glory in the youth, guided by experienced and leadership figures to calm things down and a slap to buck up the spirits. isnt that what manure are having right now?
what i am worried most is that when the so call youngsters grow in seniority and starts to attract the voyuers like barcelonas, AW sells again to prove his doctorate in economics isnt failing him. i sure how he’ll find ways to keep Cesc, RvP, Walcott and the emerging Vela. if stars keep leaving, when do we see our depth in squad, with the balance of youth and experience to shove Manure and Chelsea off the podium?
AW should stay, but please, leave the financial issues to the accounts people. be a manager that makes people happy.
spot on GoonAll!
Snail,
the only way to be proud of punching above weight is when you win; you dont fight only to get crushed and mocked…..that is naive at best.
and it is only fair to give credit where it due…….barcelona, manure, inter etal are winning things because of their team quality as well as their spending. and sensible spending in football isnot buying the cup
most teams these days think they can buy silver wear.theres more and more clubs getting taking over by rich billionaires wich i think can only be bad for english football
I would say this has been Wenger’s weakest year as a manger and has made a number of fundamental mistakes. It will be interesting to see how he gets on next season as more of his star players drift away.