Wenger Right to Slam Fans
Posted on April 11, 2011 8:17 pm
I just want to go back to pre-season. The discussion among my fellow Manchester United supporters obviously centered around our hopes for the coming season.
A show of hands around that time would probably have a majority seeing a domestic title challenge as the most realistic expectation.
With most of 2009-10′s goals arriving from a single source in Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov misfiring throughout and Michael Owen providing little assurance regarding his ongoing fitness problems, the attack was deemed lacking. With Nani frustratingly inconsistent, Anderson apparently stalling in his development and Michael Carrick seemingly bottling at crunch time, people again questioned when and how this midfield could finally feel complete again.
When United signed an unfamiliar Mexican forward in Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, to add to the recent captures of Chris Smalling, Gabriel Obertan and the infamous signing of unknown Bebe, the LUHG/MUST crowd went into conspiracy theory overdrive. Fergie was secretly being denied funds. Or when it was pointed out that a man starved of cash would be unlikely to blow 9m on a guy nobody had heard of, there were suggestions that the Glazers were looking to force the wage-bill down. Then came the placation and pay-rise of Rooney. But this isn’t a Glazer post, or even a Man United post.
It’s an expectation post. Whatever United’s problems or issues, the signings seemed to underwhelm, while the existing roster didn’t scream European glory.
The talk seemed to center around a Chelsea repeat. They’d just won the trophy and despite being a year older, they remained cohesive and nobody had seemed to make moves that would produce a clear competitor. United apparently required another stellar outing from Rooney to be in the hunt. Arsenal still weren’t the finished article even if Barca-flirting Cesc Fabregas did put his heart into it. Manchester City were an expensive crapshoot, with as many volatile chracters as gifted individuals. Liverpool were on the downturn and Tottenham Hotspur weren’t even on the radar.
What a difference a season makes. Man United sit on top of the league, in Europe and have reached the FA Cup semi-final. Arsenal, despite notable results going against them, are the closest second contender in the Premiership and remain a realistic one. Chelsea, despite a rampant start find themselves in recovery from a dramatic slump. Europe remains the best chance of glory, though if those above them slip up, they still have a slight chance of defending their league title.
Did anybody but the most optimistic of Gunners see Arsenal as strong title contenders this term? I’d have pitched them as nothing more than dark horses, with again consolidating Champions League football as a realistic aim.
Whatever your theories or explanations for the dynamic of this season, Arsenal have done more than expected. It’s become a frustrating cliche for their fans and we’ve all used it mockingly, but it turns out that all the talk about this team “maturing” is showing signs of coming to fruition. Stan Kroenke might finally provide some cash injection that has Arsenal competing for the top names again. In the same way United have had to watch the likes of Real Madrid, Chelsea and more irritatingly, Manchester City splashing sums that they couldn’t, Arsenal have been in that boat to an even greater extent. Indeed, for all that Arsene Wenger has said to irritate us in the past, the guy deserves credit for dealing with his own situation while Rafa Benitez bleated on about financial constraints, while grossly outspending the Frenchman.
Arsenal fans need to thank Wenger. He’s been taken out of the chase for big names by forces outside his control and still built a talented squad. Sure, they need that bit more in terms of mental toughness, but a tight season like this can breed that.
More importantly though, why the hell would you turn on the manager NOW? Winning games in hand puts you within 4 points of the top spot. Keeping that form up and beating United puts you within a point. Respective Chelsea and Arsenal victories a week later puts you top. Whatever reservations you might have, this is the time you should be behind your manager.
And if it ends as I’m holding out for and Arsenal end up second, ask yourself if you’d have taken being a serious title challenger back in August.
…and this comes from a guy who has a vested interest in NOT wanting your team to succeed.
I think a lot of the anger at Wenger is about his choices NOT to buy players when it is glaringly obvious he needs to. Everyone knew we needed a goalkeeper, an actual decent backup for Song, and a central defender in August and again in January but stubborn Arsene refused to buy anyone. We aren’t asking for him to go out and buy Pepe Reina(most of us anyway) but just some actual quality midlevel players who can step in when the starters inevitable get hurt. It isn’t the fans fault that Arsenal hasn’t won a single thing in 6 years now either. Sure Arsene has done more with less but what has it gotten us in the end? A bunch of close but not quite results and a coach who whines about when the fixtures are and how bad the fans are.
Though I have no dog in this fight, I fing it interesting that in a blog post ostensibly about Wenger over half your article is about Man. U.
I think (and based on his recent article Jonathan Wilson might agree with me) that the fans are more than justified in getting on Wenger. Somebody associated with Arsenal needs to demand some accountability and it certainly won’t be Wenger.
Are they doign better than expected? Perhaps. But the sad truth is they are in 2nd place (in the weakest field in years) because of poor results in games they should have won easily. Losing high profile games is already a habit for Arsenal, now dropping easy points is becoming one.
I, for one, greatly appreciate all Wenger is doing and I’m thrilled we’re still in the hunt for the title.
A realistic goal for this season was win something at least one thing. The team thanks to defensive and goalkeeping woes lost the Carling Cup and no we are out of all competition except for the League which is slowly drifting away. Wenger is a great coach but he is stubborn. Sure I like the fact that unlike Man U and Chelsea we don’t spend hundreds of millions of dollars every offseason but Wenger needs to learn to get players with money that eh has. It’s not like we are poor, he has enough money to get a good GK but he hasn’t done it for about 6 years now. He has no right to slam the fans who support him (almost ) 100%. He needs to change, we haven’t won a trophy in too long and he won’t change his style. i’m not saying go and buy 10 players but maybe getting a good GK and a couple good defenders and scores might be a good idea.
I think that today’s wretched result proves that this club needs a revamp from a manager who is obsessively clinging to the hope that his young players can win the big one.
Unless Wenger brings in some strength and experience to help guide those talented players, it will be a hard road ahead.
“Wenger cuts a forlorn figure as Arsenal fade away”