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You Can't Get Rid Of Wenger Just Because He'll Never Find Another Henry
Now I'm not an Arsenal fan, but I grow increasingly tired of Arsenal fans saying Wenger has to go. That he needs to buy a dominant centre-half, a bruising central midfielder, more experienced players, we used to have Adams, then Vieira, we need a leader.
When Wenger arrived, the players he replaced were his two central midfielders and a centre forward. These players? The completely unknown Patrick Vieira and Nicolas Anelka. He also drafted in Emmanuel Petit, hardly a household name. Any different to what he does now? Not really.
When he needed to eventually replace his creaking defence, did he go out and lump loads of cash on the best around? No, he brought in Lauren from nowhere, Campbell on a free, and Ashley Cole came through the ranks. Sound anything like Sagna, Gallas and Clichy.
He has occasionally brought in expensive players, for example Overmars, Wiltord, Reyes. But he has splashed out in the last couple of years to bring in Arshavin, Nasri and Walcott, amongst others.
And finally, his trump card, when he brought in a struggling Thierry Henry from Juventus and turned him into one the world's best. 30 goals and 20 assists a season guaranteed. He currently has Van Persie, who might get somewhere near those figures if he could stay fit all season.
Now here is why it's not working so much for Arsene any more. Other clubs have basically copied his methods. Every top club in Europe is now scouting far and wide for players who are 12, 13 years old, and they are signing them up as soon as they can. There is no chance now of a Vieira, or an Anelka, remaining largely undiscovered until they are 18, 19, because someone else will have gotten their claws into them already. I know Vieira was at Milan, but he hadn't played a game for them. Added to that, Arsenal are nowhere near to being the richest around, which makes it hard for Wenger to bring in the very best, so he shops at the tier below, bringing people in on a free, or for a reduced price. Just like he did with Henry. The thing is, Henry is the sort of player you get at your club maybe once every 25 years, and if Arsenal are expecting Wenger to produce another Henry, then they are barking up the wrong tree.
Andy, London
...This may be an unpopular view seeing as Arsene's just wrestled Rafa's title from the British media of 'worst manager that ever lived', but I genuinely think that history will show Wenger to be the best football manager of the past 30 years - ahead of even Alex Ferguson.
Before I go any further, I'd like to point out that I'm not an Arsenal fan, nor a top four fan, and if anything have always favoured Utd and Chelsea over the rest, enjoying the work of Paul Scholes and Jose Mourinho as I do. However, this recent end-of-the-world nonsense coming from dumb Arsenal fans is like an idiot staring at the Mona Lisa from an inch away and spotting a smudge, rather than stepping back and enjoying the masterpiece being created.
You see, Wenger is a visionary. An innovator. The kind of man that if you put him in charge of a bread factory, would find new ways of making the best bread, and wouldn't settle for just buying in the best bread making machine in the catalogue. Because life isn't as simple as throwing money at a problem, nor should it be, with the very best kind of people changing the way we think with imagination, drive and a willingness to try something new.
The entire football industry is rooted in a failure to embrace the new and stick with the tried and tested. It's understandable due to the likelihood of a swift sacking if a handful of results go the wrong way, but the truly great men in history weren't afraid to change the world, and this is what Wenger's doing. It's not stubbornness to stick to one's principles, it's courage to stand by one's convictions when the risk of failure and humiliation is ever present.
So, in the same way that it seems to be the accepted wisdom that Shankly was the superior manager to Paisley, for the strength of his innovation despite winning so much less than his successor, I believe that Wenger will be seen by history as more illustrious than all his contemporaries: The man who created a masterpiece blueprint that turned football into an art form, that could coach diamonds out of promising coal , that built a fabulous stadium, that won his fair share of silverware, that challenged the towering financial odds he faced and, finally, which I firmly believe will win him the league (again) and Champions League.
I'm not an Arsenal fan, but if I were I'd be bloody thankful that Arsene knows.
Mark, Hampshire, YTFC
There's Only One...Arsene Wenger
Having read the various diatribes about Arsene Wenger over recent days I feel compelled to write and say that I am absolutely, positively 100% thankful that Arsene Wenger is manager of Arsenal. And I'm equally hopeful that he finishes his managerial career in north London.
I don't know if Michael Ballack is familiar with the works of Machiavelli but his recent comments, alongside his general approach to playing football, suggest he would agree with the assertion that the end justifies the means. This is also the attitude of most football pundits and ex-players i.e. winning is the be-all and end-all and for me it's sad that this is the prevailing 'wisdom' in the game but it's also unsurprising given that most pundits and ex-players and many managers have the intellectual depth of a spanner.
Chelsea and United have both proved, more or less conclusively, in recent years that a more ruthless, physical, direct and less complex or artful approach will be successful the majority of the time in football, certainly in the Premier League, but, personally, I'm immensely glad this is not Wenger's approach.
James Molony, Gooner
Does He Need A New Assistant?
I'll start by saying that I've been a fan of Pat Rice since the 1970/71 season, however, I am now questioning his roles as Arsene's assistant. Obviously, I don't know exactly what is said in training and on the bench during matches, but Arsenal's inability to successfully change or adapt tactics for big games is really annoying me now. Clearly, this has never been Arsene's strength but, for example, I remember GG winning at Anfield in 89 with David O'Leary starting as sweeper in a 541 formation behind TA and Steve Bould, having played 442 for most of the season - something that Arsene would never do (even if he had the personnel).
Arsene himself is untouchable (quite rightly), but I think that he now needs someone to talk to him and give him ideas about how to adapt tactically to changing situations, especially against the top sides. Pat Rice has always been Arsene's assistant at Arsenal and has been a fantastic servant to the club for 40 years, but it seems to me that now is the time for fresh ideas, whilst remaining true to the Arsenal ethos. I would also like to see some more organisation in defence, again never one of Arsene's strong points.
The question is, who would replace him? The names of Bould and Keown immediately spring to mind. A bit more extreme are the likes of Adams and O'Leary. If you're going to choose someone who didn't play centre half, then how about Liam Brady. For f***'s sake, after seeing us defend against MU and Chelsea, I could even make a case for bringing back George Graham (after all, Sir Alex had Walter Smith as his assistant for a season). In the end, I'm sure that Arsene will do his own thing anyway and probably promote Boro Primorac to the role, but at least it would be a recognition that things have grown stale and something different is needed.
Philip Lewis, Gooner since 1970
Fanmail For Stewie Griffin
After sitting on my sofa and practically p***ing myself laughing over what surely must be one of the best MB letter in a long time I must send my thanks to Stewie Griffin! That was brilliant, mostly because it is so eerily accurate! And even a reference to Samuel Beckett, not a common thing in the MB. In the words of the skinny-trousered Jamie R, Top top performance! ;)
Agustina G, CFC
...May I just applaud Stewie Griffin for the mail of the year so far. Which is a surprise, because they're usually boring as ****.
Simon ' Saints to get to Wembley tonight' Goddard, SFC
...Stewie Griffin's email was funnier than anything that's been on F365 since that thread about Coca Cola and The Sun on the forum.
Brian Beers, Arsenal fan.
Not Everyone Is Impressed
Although I'm a Man U fan, I kind of wish Arsenal would do a bit better so we don't have to read anymore pessimistic s*** from Stewie Griffin.
We get it. You're unhappy with the way your team are playing right now. Do you really have to write to the mailbox almost every day to say so? Go tell your friends about it, your family, a small child out playing in the snow. Just please, no more 'witty' letters that say the same thing over and over.
Craig, USA
Defending Almunia...Sort Of
The following comment was made in the 'It's going to be a big midweek' column: 'Plenty of criticism has been levelled against the Spaniard, so for now we'll simply say that, in the last four league games, Arsenal's opponents have had 14 shots on goal. Seven have gone in.'
Now as much as I'd love Arsenal to replace Almunia with a better keeper (or any keeper from League One upwards) you really can't just judge a keeper's quality on the number of shots gone in when the entire defence has been a bit of a shambles. For instance, his own goal from Nani's cross I don't really think he could have done much else. He was at full stretch and tried to palm it over the bar. If he'd left it then Park would have slotted it home anyway. The two D****a goals on Sunday were pretty much unstoppable, the second one especially, for England's Almunia as Clichy basically pointed D****a towards the goals after inviting him goalside
So what I'm saying is that you need a bit more analysis. Why choose the last 14 shots on goal? There might have been a period prior to that where there were 30 shots on goal and he saved them all. We know this didn't happen but I'm just saying like.
I think a better way to analyse and judge Almunia's rancid performances (can we use that turn of phrase since Hleb left England?) is to notice how he constantly lumps the ball up towards Arshavin. Now that's having a laugh. Arshavin is up against Terry and Carvalho, it's like tying a carrot to a stick and holding it out in front of a tiny speedy little donkey.
Finally I would like to moan about Walcott. If someone, anyone plays a through ball in front of him then he could use his pace to damage the opposition, which would be spiffing. Instead they pass it sideways to him or just slightly behind which means he gets tackled before he can get going.
I don't think Arsenal need any new players I just think they need to re-organise the current squad if they're ever fit
Goalkeeper - Diaby
Defence - Song, Eboue, Ramsey, Eduardo (he likes a good tackle)
Midfield - Campbell, Djourou, Fabregas, Traore
Strikers - RVP, Vermaelen
This could be a laugh anyway.
Cliff Mallinder
Arsenal Will Soon Have An 'Uncompromising' Centre-Half
After the last couple of days of hearing Arsenal fans complaining about their defence having a lack of any aggression, organisation or tackling ability, they should be happy to hear that Kyle Bartley now has the dubious pleasure of having to play next to Chris Morgan for the next three months.
Hopefully he'll pick up a few things while with us, and if all else fails he can always hospitalise opposing forwards. That should stop the whining masses asking for a 'tough centre half'...
Karl ( . ) ( . ) McKenna, SUFC
Why Can't 'Arry Make Changes?
Thoroughly agree with everyone's assesment that Tottenham desperately need a win tomorrow night. We really have had a chance to grab that fourth spot and haven't taken it. At all.
Anyway, probably my only criticism of our otherwise very capable manager is his lack of ideas during the game. No score against Villa on Saturday. Not much ambition from them. But yet for the second game on the bounce, Harry didn't make a single substitution. Gudjonson and Kranjcar are sitting on the bench. Luka Modric couldn't hit a cow's backside at the moment, Bentley had a pretty good game but wasn't amazing. With 15 or 20 to go why not try something different? There are some really capable players waiting to get on - you'd lift the crowd, give the oppostion defence something new to think about it, fresh legs, new ideas etc etc.
Harry's philosophy seems to be keep plugging away, and it'll happen. But it isn't happening, so change it. (Or make Aaron Lennon better. Quickly).
Andrew (I don't want to be in the Europa League, it's rubbish), Woodford Green
The Villa Backlash Continues
Like a lot of other avid football fans I tuned in to watch Spurs - Villa on Saturday evening. Even though I am not a fan of either team I can definitely empathise with some of the Tottingham fans on here giving out about how boring and one-dimensional Villa actually were. Yes they put in an admirable defensive performance, no-one is arguing with that. What people are upset about, especially Spurs fans is seeing a fellow top-four contender (or so they say) come to their ground and totally shut up shop, showing absolutely no ambition whatsoever to take the game to the home team who aren't the most solid bunch in the world (let's be honest).
To Conor - No you're not Hull, cos they've actually gone and put a bit of effort into showing some ambition and scoring a few goals the last few games they've played - As for the flat-track bullies comment - every single team can be considered to be one of those and goalscorer etc as previous mails on f365, Rooney Defoe etc.... why don't you come up with your own statements as opposed to borrowing past ones from this site...??
John French
...'Prior to Christmas we had scored 29 goals which compares favourably to Liverpool's 34 and City's 33 at the time.'
No Conor, I'm afraid to say that right there is an unfavourable comparison, given that both 33 and 34 are numerically superior to 29. 29 only compares favourably against numbers of 28 or less.
Sorry.
Paraic (Paraic, Ireland), Ireland
...Blah Blah Blah, stats say this, stats say that. Who cares, life and indeed football are about more than stats.
Admittedly I haven't seen Villa play much this season but if Saturday is anything to go by they most certainly are.
They didn't look interested at all. If they really have serious ambitions to break into the top four then they are going to have to show more ambition in games against their rivals for this position regardless of where the game is played.
Honestly I really think if Spurs had just passed the ball sideways for 90 minutes Villa would have been quite happy to leave it to us.
However that does not excuse the woeful finishing on display, albeit Friedel did make some very good saves during the course of the game.
Pat McDonagh (Spurs & England)
Who Knew Villa Fans Could Be So Angry?
Thank you Aaron Collins for your insightful, conclusive email confirming that Villa are in fact dull.
F*** the stats you idiot, they have nothing to do with how dull or exciting a game/team is. They may prove that Villa are poor but it doesn't prove that they are dull. Anyway, there may only be a 10 shot difference between Villa in 14th and whoever is top of the shot tree. You can find a stat for any occasion, don't fool yourself into thinking that you've solved all the world's footballing questions.
Anyway, Villa are not defensive, they just have a good defence. I bet Man City would like to be more defensive.
Talos, AVFC
...So we have had the 14th most shots in the league, and play a 'long ball' game and are the worst purveyors of anti football since the last team to bully Arsenal in the grim north.
We rely heavily on Heskey and Carew flicking the ball on for our sprinting machine Gabby to chase.
And you know what, the above may or may not be true, but I don't care.
As a season ticket holder, it really does not bother me.
We have taken 10 out of a possible 18 points against the Sky 4, better than most I would imagine, sit 7th in the league, but within one win of 4th place, have a cup final at Wembley to look forward to, and a winnable tie in the FA Cup 5th round that has no Man Utd, Arsenal or Liverpool.
Long-ball football? Maybe, but we are doing a damn sight better than most.
Adam Hall
...As a Villa fan I am surprised at the amount of coverage that has been given to the way we play - by both opposition and Villa fans alike. It's not particularly important.
True, we have not scored as many in the league of late but have been free scoring in the cups (13 in 4 games). I also agree that in recent games we have not been as exciting to watch and think maybe some of our more creative players are possibly feeling a little tired. Also, since Xmas in the league we have played Arsenal twice, Liverpool and Spurs - all decent sides. The other 2 games have been the 2-0 win against Fulham and the admittedly dour 0-0 with West Ham.
Once we have a run of games against 'lesser' sides, I'm sure we will be less cautious in our play. The point is, who cares how we are currently playing. We are 7th in the league (with a game in hand - 3 points off 5th) and are in the CC final which is a big deal for us. On a final note, we also have, in terms of goals conceded, the best defence in the league - surely that is something more worthy of discussion!?
S (can we move on now) Gibbs
Do United Need Ribery?
United won 5-0 alright; but everybody seems to overlook a problem in that match. Nani played on the left and definitely was not as effective as in his three matches before that. Right wing is the right position for the lad and Valencia can not play on left. So what does Fergie do with two right wingers and not left winger (assuming Giggs not an out and out winger these days and he will anyway not play for long).
Is Fergie going to sell one of Nani or Valencia (he will definitely get some good cash given current form of both players) and go for a quality left wiger. What about Ribery ?
Sanjay, India
