Thetownend.com

Lost the plot surely???

Says he expects no one to leave the club!

yeah i saw that, i do like his style of play but what a stupid thing to say. This is also not the first time either, surely must be losing respect from their fans

Fatburys having a meltdown on twitter.

Whenever I saw arsenal last season (which wasn't often admittedly) fabregas always looked rubbish. Nasri too has had one decent two month spell in his entire arsenal career imo.

If, and it's a big If I know, Wenger decides to use this money on buying a hard bastard in center mid, a decent center back such as Jagielka and/or cahill and some decent wide men I reckon they could come out of this better than before.

It's all about whether he does this though, and history suggests he won't

Yeah fatbury is making me laugh, its as if its the end of the world

Apparently they're buying Brazil's up and coming answer to Fabregas. Who'll probably be pretty average when it comes down to it.

Put this in the "makes you feel happy" thread, but it's good enough to deserve being here as well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDBLSUKJiDY&feature=player_embedded

Did I mention I've thought Wenger has been overrated for years.

What a rediculous thing to say.  This about the man who introduced the fitness and health regimes in football clubs today as we know it and is responsible for the best football played in the English League, and arguably in Europe.

But who ultimatly is a manager who's objective is to win trophies? Best at spotting the way forward yes,best at playing superb football yes.Winning fuckall as a manager though recently which is of course his main job.

It's all about opinions Walrus, calm down and get your spelling sorted out!

Arsene Wenger is one of the best managers the Premier League has ever had. He's actually overachieved with the players he had at his disposal over the past 3-4 years. His main problem (and has been for some time) is that he's reluctant to go and and buy experienced players. He's always looking at sell-on value etc. instead of focusing on building a team capable of winning trophies. It's always about bringing players through, improving them and then ultimately when the player gets to a good level he becomes impatient and wants to win things and ends up leaving.

Style over substance.

Fact is its now 6 winless years. And he's only put together one capable team in that time, which was truly incredible admittedly.  Lack of ambition to manage a bigger club (that lets the purse strings go).

Mourinho is a winner. Ferguson is a winner. Wenger puts together nice teams to watch.

[url width=360 height=480]http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6144/6032803269_05dc53d224.jpg[/url]

Wenger was good in his day but hasnt moved with the times - Paolo Di Canio (altho its still early days) is moving things on a notch - has progressed with the game and works very hard at it. At times I feel Wenger is getting a bit lazy about things.


Im glad im amusing you on twitter anyway :D

Arsenal fans have been extremely patient with regard of not winning anything since moving to the Emirates,but they have reached the point where they have had enough.
Selling Fabregas and Nasri is a huge backward step. 2 superb players. You cant have the ground selling out every match,away allocations also selling out every game to dish out nothing each season.
Arsenal have come so close to being a great side in the last few years,but instead of strengthening to go that final bit, Wenger has just continued with the same weaknesess that everyone can see.

They wont finish top 4 this season and may even drop out of the top 6. Unless Wenger changes his stance on signing players of course

What's wrong with my speelings?!  Please correct me - it's the only way I'll learn!

But as a businessman (I'm quoting off the top of my head, so this may or may not be true) hasn't he made more money in the transfer market than any of the big four and by quite a margin?

His signings are his weakness.  Even when he signs an "experienced" player, they're not always of top four calibre.

However, he's been a revelation in English football and for one reason or another has not had the squad to be a genuine contender for the title.  Keeping Arsenal in the top four is an achievement in itself.

I still think Arsenal will finish top 4. A lot of people tipping Liverpool for 4th but just can't see it. I think they've bought terribly.

really? how so?

Just do. I think Ramsey will step up this season, they've got Wilshere, Van Persie. They've bought Gervinho who I think will do well. They're probably going to sign Mata and an experienced centre half. Won't be as bad as what people are making out.

sorry, i meant the liverpool comment?

If his hands have been tied then that's a very good point. And something the board should consider before moving him upstairs when the time comes.

In my opinion though he has had some funds available (according to quotes/press), but insists on preserving the style of football at the expense of winning. I'm sure that the club could afford a Joey Barton type or a defender of the same style. Instead they buy a Theo Walcott or an Oxwhatsit-Chamberlain.

I summary I think he's a very good manager, and there may be some validity in the financial constraints he works under, but my opinion is a top top manager would have found a way to win something. And he hasn't for some time.

The Arsenal board are going to come under pressure soon. You can't charge the top season ticket prices they do (£1k aren't they?) and win nothing.

I don't really care for any team in the Premiership, but I do think Arsenal will struggle to get near the top 4. They're perennial under achievers and always lacking an old head and a bit of strength, I think this season will be a comedy for Arsenal haters. I think Liverpuel have a decent shout at being well up there. Easy top 4 I reckon.

I don't think it'll be as easy for liverpool as people make out. They've bought a lot of players, but not many who've played at the top end of the league. Also interesting to see whether dalglishes success at the back end of last season was due to his skill as a manager or just a case of a new face.

Not convinced by Downing and Henderson signings. Without Gerrard always likely to lose.

Sorry but I can't let this pass without comment.

You're having a fucking laugh, right? You're suggesting that Wenger has already been surpassed by a man with all the experience of 2 matches as a football manager, in division 4?

sorry but i cant let this pass without comment

its clearly one match

...and it's division 4.

tsk.

didn't you play in the league cup?

No, it was postponed against Brizzle City.

So di Canio has a 100% win ratio, Wenger can't claim that.

 I think he was saying Wenger is still employing the same methods as he has always done, whereas Di Canio was a player in the Wenger era but has moved with changing times.

Maybe.

Aah, I see.

Still bollocks though.

I dont think its fair to say Wenger is over rated, his trophy haul at Arsenal is fucking impressive. Not many managers can better it.

He also managed a team that went a whole season unbeaten. Problem with Wenger now is that he too much faith in over rated youngsters and wont splash the cash on older, more proven players.

In his time at Arsenal alot of Wengers better buys have been already decent and in some case proven players and he has improved them - but they werent 15 and 16 when he did sign them. (Lauren 23, Campbell 27, Pires 27, Ljungberg 21, Vieira 20, Henry 22, Petit 27, Overmars 24, Anelka 18, Edu 23, van Bronckhorst 26, Gilberto Silva 26)

Ok, those players had various degress of success at Arsenal and thats not all his signings but Anelka was the youngest at 18. Add them to the already there old school Arsenal - Seaman, Dixon, Winterburn, Keown, Adams, Bould, Parlour, Wright and you've got a good mix of younger foreign talent and old british steel. One of Wengers probems imo is that he's never replaced the old british heads he inherited.

Now a days he seems too focused on technically gifted kids who can pass the ball and not do much else.

Wenger could sell Fabregas for 35m spend 8m of that on Scott Parker and be better off for it.

If I was in Wengers shoes I would have got rid of Fabregas and Nasri as early as possible and had my shopping list of Shay Given, Gary Cahill, Scott Parker and Darren Bent.

Wise words, maybe add in Jagielka too, to replace Squillachi. Why he doesn't sign Scott Parker in particular is beyond me. Not quite the meathead CM that they really need because he can play it about too, but I would have thought that increased the chances of him being up Wenger's street. Strange.

Even Joey Barton would do a job in their midfield.

Even add in people like Leighton Baines, Christopher Samba or even Steven Fletcher - not world beaters by any stretch of the imagination - but proven premier league quality with a bit of battle about them.

How Scott Parker is still at West Ham I dont know - he could do a job for anyone in the Premier League.

At that end of that period I'd have agreed with you. But he's been unable to replicate it and has lived off it since.

I've always been impressed with Fletcher too, DV, and he's surprisingly young too so plenty of room for development.

He had the best shots to goals ratio in the Prem last season.

I disagree. Downing did well for Villa last season and Liverpool have lacked a proper LM player for years. Now they have that. Henderson granted i'm not sure on but Adam is a god signing as well. I dont think they'll rely on Gerrard too much either. They have 2 good strikers in Suarez and Carroll and their midfield with Adam, Downing, Mereles, Maxi and Kuyt is not bad. It's just their defence which is a bit naff really.

should have bought given about 4 years ago, should have already bought 1 of samba, jags or cahill, now is the time for parker for sure and he should have offered villa the money for bent as soon as the prem league finished last season.  people rubbish bent all the time but he'd be top scorer in the league at arsenal and they'd actually conced a lot less with him in the side - less fannying about...

Not sure about Bent but the other three would all be very good buys.

I doubt Man City would have allowed Given to go to a club that they would consider a rival for a top 4 spot though. Wenger should have moved for him when he was at Newcastle.

Bent is also the highest scoring English striker in the PL over the past 4 years and I think he's the 4th highest of the lot.

Ramsey and Wiltshire (as I like to call him) may be good players, but it's much easier looking good with players like Nasri and Fabregas on your side.  Without Nasri and Fabregas it's a whole different story, Ramsay & Wilshere could have a difficult season without those superior players backing them up.

Looking forward to the premier league this year, it'll be interesting to see how it goes.

Wilshere did look good at Bolton too, on loan the season before last I think.

It's easy to look good when you're playing with players like Nolan and Campo  ;-)

Good point OF, but we're talking Ramsay and Wilshere being top performers for a wannabe top 4 side now, without the back up of superb footballers.  I'm not saying they can't do it, but it's a big ask for two young lads.

Wilshere can do it. Not seen much of Ramsey. Wasn't he on loan to a Championship side last season?

Yeah forest

Fletcher is class.  The fact Avril constantly overlooks him for the Scotland squad is a disgrace. Unfortunately some Scotland supporters have a problem with the lad because he asked to be excused from a friendly last season.  I don't have a problem with that but some do.

Liverpool fans should be wanking themselves off they got £50m for Torres. Then Dalgelish goes and signs Carroll for £35m and Newcastle fans are wanking themselves off..........other than the fact they haven't spent any of it. Liverpool then go and sign ordinary Prem players for £20m a pop. Liverpool will finish outside the top 6 this year and Dalgleish will be sacked.
Arsene Wenger is a million times the manager Dalgleish is. I still expect Arsenal to finish top 4. Wenger is a top class coach and talent spotter. The sad fact is that even nowadays you can still buy titles and cups.
I would love Wenger as England manager - the guy just oozes class.

I'm not sure I agree with your analysis on the scousers. I'm no Dalglish fan (as a manager) but I think his affinity with LFC will ensure there's no sacking and at the very least a top 5 PL finish. He's bought pretty well I think this summer.

i would also love arsene wenger as next england manager especially  over redknapp everyday of the week

Fact is any Man U player gets plenty of shit for no other reason than that they play for Man Utd.

Gary Neville is a great case in point,brilliant defender,great pro for club and country but constantly critisized.
Probably because he defended club and manager to the hilt...and hates scousers :D

Fletcher the Wolves player - who has just scored....

On another note, regarding the Premier League, i see Kieron Dyer has lasted less than 5 mins of his QPR debut before being stretchered off

Nasri will be no loss, he had a 2 month purple patch and then returned to being a lightweight, anonymous luxury. Guess when i put him in my fantasy team... yep, right before he went shit.

he was top notch for longer than 2 months.

Broken matertarsal (sp). Got to feel for him. He is on pay per play.

he was on something stupid like 70k per week at west ham.

im sure he will get by

Very unlikely he'll be on that at qpr.

no shit.

Kieron Dyer is a twat - sorry make that an overrated twat.

Joey Barton 8)

I bet fatters has punched his tv screen

what a fucking twat barton is. Is there a player i'd like to see hurt more? i dont think so....

Gervinho dived (or was clipped if you look at the replays joey - never a more apt name for a footballer) so Ill grab him by the throat and then dive when he strokes my cheek.  That'll serve him right! 

Justice!

An extract from the immature diaries Joey Barton age 28 and 3 quarters.

I love barton. That is all

If Barton had done what Song did Whingeing Wenger would have been calling for the Death Penalty, however as it was an Arsenal player we knew he would either say there was nothing in it or he didn't see it.

As for the dive/slap/red card incident, none of the players involved come out with any credit.
Gervinho did an impression of bambi on ice and made himself look a right twat.
Barton shouldn't have reacted like he did & then made a right twat if himself by going over too easily. (I bet he wouldn't go down that easily if he was slapped by someone in a pub).

That game was everything that I hate about the Premier League, over paid prima donnas.

Joey Barton in being a complete twat shocker.

Mind you, it was a pretty poor dive in the first place.

Gervinho didn't dive.

No, he was blatantly hacked down around knee height.

Just because there was some contact, doesn't mean it wasn't a dive.

There wasn't anywhere near sufficient contact to make him fall over, just as there wasn't enough force in the girly slap he pertpatrated on Barton to make him fall over either.

Both wankers, so lets move on

The fact that Wenger refused to condemn the actions of Song or Gervinho just reinforces how much I can't stand his petty attitude. Song should be banned in retrospect if possible, Gervinh odeserved everything he got, and as far Barton, yes he acted like a muppet but any other player and nobody would bat an eyelid.

All a bit pathetic and takes a lot of attention away from the fact that both teams were poor.

What reeves said.This will happen a 100 times and no one will say anything.

I didn't hear Wenger say anything wrong. He simply said that they (Gervinho and Barton) should have received the same treatment which is a fair enough comment - if anything Barton's actions were more deserving of a red.

Why isn't anyone commenting on Pardew? He said Barton did nothing wrong and simply helped Gervinho to his feet!

Bottom line is they are all wankers and the FA / Premier League needs to sort it out. Song and Barton should both get given reds and banned accordingly. Pardew deserves a disrepute charge for talking complete bollocks. Wenger should get an all expenses paid trip to Specsavers.

He didn't say anything wrong, but when asked about Alex Song he somehow managed to ignore the question and say "Barton shouldn't be talking to the 4th official about it" - as if that was the big issue!


Fair point, we have ignored Pardew. You've exaggerated what he said for effect, but his point was along those lines and he was wrong. In all honesty I think the ref got it right booking him. He pulled Gervinho up by the shirt (I think?) which was stupid and aggressive, but not what I would call violent. Whilst gervinho wasn't exactly violent, a hand in the face is a red card every time nowadays.

Should have given him a second yellow for Ungentlemanly Conduct for the way he went down after being bitch slapped.

Exactly the same thing as the first dive. One dive was conning the ref for a penalty, the other dive was trying to get a player sent off.

Song should have been sent off and will get punished i'm sure. Arsenal should have had a pen too. Contact was made and although Gervinho went down too easily it was a pen nonetheless. Barton should have been sent off for his haircut alone.