Who is Wenger kidding? Deeds not words
Nick of Time
By Boris Mellor
April 6 2008
In pre match press conferences Wenger stressed that he was still pursuing the league championship, and that he welcomed the fact that he could put pressure on Man U by playing first. He was either joking, or it was some elaborate kind of mind game; because drawing one one puts pressure on no one. Indeed Chelsea felt so pressured they won 2-0.
The only thing, some, Arsenal fans had to cheer was that Comply or Die had won the National. Those who backed losers will have to look elsewhere for consolation for there was little here.
It would be unfair to single any player out for blame, for the blame has to lie with Wenger. The minute I heard the team sheet, and that was one minute before kick off as I was late getting to my seat, I feared the worst. To be honest, with Hoyte at right back I expected we would lose, the team sheet was a suicide note.
Liverpool played a very different team to the Wednesday evening; even the talentless and gratuitously nasty Pennant got a run, and a yellow card. It was one of the weakest Liverpool teams seen in London for years; so if Wenger was serious about winning the league he would have put out a stronger team and bench. This was a poor opposition which was ripe for the picking, but no doubt went home very happy.
By his deeds
Wenger must have known his team might not be strong enough to overcome a quite strong Liverpool reserve team, he must have known, at least, that it wasn't a foregone conclusion, that it was a gamble. It is a good job Rafa didn't believe his pre match bull about fielding the strongest possible team and put out a stronger eleven himself. Because if he did Arsenal might have suffered their first defeat at home this season.
Forget Wenger's words about still winning the league, he clearly didn't believe that or he wouldn't have picked the team he did. The team he named clearly demonstrated that he decided to prioritise the CL and battle for third place. Although understandable, I still find it galling, but the idea we can win the league in the form that we are in is nonsense. Injuries, especially those to Eduardo, RvP and Sagna have now become burdens too heavy to bear. We just have to hope that the team can still raise itself to its earlier heights one more time in the CL quarter final.
Oh you want a match report? What for, you have seen this game many times before. You insist - ok - Arsenal went one nil down due to sloppy defending from the right hand side defenders. Then in the second half the Gunners finally woke up, scored a good equaliser from a free kick; then besieged the opposition half but left it too late to get the second goal, so yet another draw the third in a row at home in the Premiership, five in a row if you include the CL.
However it is clear where Wenger priorities are now, don't watch his lips, just his deeds. Those deeds will only be justified if he wins at Liverpool; if he does then it will make amends for what was a debacle. If it doesn't then a far more serious appraisal would be required
System Normal All F**ked Up.
The rot started in January transfer Window when he refused to strength the squad knowing we are carrying 2 "Sick-Notes" plus youngsters wer flagging as early as November/December 2007 when Fabregas and Hleb were carrying injuries and need the same as in AUgst and September.
Too many journeymen and no creative spark since start of Janaury 2008.
Now we need favors from other teams to pip Chelski to 2nd spot.
5 games left and we need to beat Derby, Reading and SUdnerland to clinch 3rd spot...and then we can start dreaming of beating ManLeeds and Everton, and hopign Chelski loses a game, to clinch 2nd spot ...
3rd is the ebst we can do now.
08-April?
Forget it, as we got a disunited team in disarray.
Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0...and we are out fo CL Cup.
The bottom line is we have the players but they are not performing.
All the players who started the match bar Hoyte are EPL standard players, and no one has questioned their place in the arsenal squad prior to the match. Why was it all of a sudden such a hugely inferior team? Obviously it wasn't our first choice team but you simply cannot play your first team every match.
If Wenger is to blame for anything it is that he hasn't rotated the squad effectively enough prior to our slump and even during it.
I would liked to have seen Barazite come in for Hleb a couple of times to give him a break, Senderos a few more games, same with Traore. Even Diaby in for Flamini a few times.
The striker situation has been bleak and I dont think anyone could tinker to find the right blend at the moment. All of them seem to be failing.
Why doesn't he just tell the players, your playing for your future. That will jack them up...
They should put a bloody media embargo on the players and manager until they can string two wins together.
We better beat pool on tuesday or i will have lost a little faith in wengers motivational techniques, which are pretty much non existant
I bet the worst a player expects after a bad performance is an evil glance from wenger as he passes them a jaffa cake and orange juice.
Why all the bull about challenging for title when it is clear it is not true? Who does it help exactly?
Whether it is going to work we will see at the end of the season. But it doesnt look likely that it is.
At times it looked like a practice match, I am afraid if you dont work hard enough then thats what you get - nothing
Rotate by all means but one at a time please
On Wenger's lack of signings in the Jan Window, I would forgive him his lack of movement if he had not sold Diarra or at least signed a replacement, how was it that Diarra was needed in the squad up to Jan but no replacement was needed after he was sold.
Never thought I'd see the day when Boris got so exercised about Arsene's little jokes.
Quote:One thing I never understand with Wenger when he brings in reserve players is that he brings in three or four at the one time, which is so unfair on them and us. Why could he not rest Clichy for a game earlier in the season and let Traore play with 10 first choice men
my thoughts exactly. its my only big criticism of wenger this season. we have 'all this talent' waiting in reserve- why waste them in the 4 matches in the CC and thats it?
we should have been giving, randall,traore,barazite etc a few games here and there with a 'first team' squad around them so they arent under so much pressure.
people have been claiming we hav such a small squad- maybe we do but what exactly are all these talented youngsters doin at arsenal then if they dont form part of our squad?
Quote:just what i was saying- too much babying and not enough foot in @#$%& for shocking performances.Well no point in giving them a dummy
not saying we need flying tea cups but they should no that a special togetherness and an airy fairy 'belief' dont cut it at this point- start winning!
btw- anyone watching the borough v man utd match?
i hope reyes isnt he would be scarred for life! good grief the weather is worse than when we played wigan but the pitch looks emaculate!
borough being wasteful- had a number of chances in the last 10 mins to put the game out of sight-
united will win it in the last 10 mins.
I also with Mike.
I still can't belive that we were top of the league for 90% of the season but fail in the last hurdle. FFS!
Quote:Zainy
we have 'all this talent' waiting in reserve- why waste them in the 4 matches in the CC and thats it?
we should have been giving, randall,traore,barazite etc a few games here and there with a 'first team' squad around them so they arent under so much pressure.
people have been claiming we hav such a small squad- maybe we do but what exactly are all these talented youngsters doin at arsenal then if they dont form part of our squad?
You hit the nail on the head there Zainy.