Season 2015-16 Opinion Talking Points
Wenger the Great!
29 Comments
Incredibly, Pep Guardiola has spent more money in 21 months at Manchester City than Arsene Wenger has in 21 years at Arsenal. Whilst clubs like Chelsea and Manchester United were spending hundreds of millions, Wenger was competing, and often out-performing these clubs on a minus net spend. What he has done for the ingrates at Arsenal is actually quite amazing when you look at the figures.
I always looked forward to turning on a live game and watching his sides playing fast-flowing, pass-and-move football. To listen to their entitled fans hounding this man out of a job after 20 years solid of qualifying for the Champions League is astounding. Even over the past 5 seasons, the man has won 3 FA Cups, reached a League Cup Final and finished runner-up in the Premier League. They are on the verge of a European final as we speak. Imagine for one moment if that was the record of a recent Everton manager? There would a dozen statues around Goodison by now!
Listening to tales from his ex-players, about how he even introduced warm-downs to the English game and how his training methods, which were 20 years ahead of their time, makes me think how desperate we are for someone of his ilk to transform Everton. Even if we didn't push on to the Champions League under his stewardship, then surely he would lay the foundations for someone else to follow him and deliver success. That alone has to be worth hiring this man.
Over the hill? No chance. He's been hurt by the way he's been let go. That will definitely light a fire in his belly to prove to the footballing world that they've made a mistake sacking him. Because that's what has happened, he still had a year left to run on his contract. The press didn't really run with the 'Wenger Sacked' tagline. He has publicly stated he wants to carry on in management. He won't be doing a Fergie and 'going upstairs' to take a directorship.
David Dein said he's already received many calls in relation to Wenger's availability; it's not too much of a stretch to think that Mr. Moshiri had been one of those callers. Could we get him? Personally, I think it's doubtful. If he is to stay in England though, would any of the established top five clubs want him? I can't see it. That would leave us as the only realistic candidate for his services. A club with the resources to back a big name. It would be an incredible coup for Everton to be able to convince Wenger to be our next manager.
Only today, he is quoted as saying: "I hope these are not my last European cup games – my target is to play in Europe again. I've had no break for 35 years. You can look around, and that doesn't exist. I don't know now how addicted I am. I am like a guy who plays Russian roulette every week and suddenly has no gun. I will see how much I miss that gun."
Has he got one last hurrah left in his locker? I think he has. Wenger on a bad day is 10 times the manager we have recently seen pollute the dugout at Goodison Park. He would modernise this club from top to bottom if we gave him a free reign. That has to be an attractive proposition for a scorned man like him, with something still left to prove. Come on, Arsene, are you up for the challenge?
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2 Posted 27/04/2018 at 11:33:13
His only weakness is in defence but to turn up at Goodison and watch football played "Wenger style" every fortnight whilst he revolutionizes the club would be brilliant.
Wenger has always been ahead of his time and seems to be a lot more caring about his football club than to just go throwing money at it; once he leaves, I'm sure most Arsenal fans will realize this.
Could we get him? Who knows, but I hope that's what Moshiri is trying to do now.
3 Posted 27/04/2018 at 13:22:06
4 Posted 27/04/2018 at 16:32:53
No doubt he revolutionised the game in England when he arrived but he is lacking in many areas.
He's poor in the transfer market when money is available. Mustafi, Wellbeck, Xhaka etc have all been bad buys in recent years.
His teams have generally been poor defensively, in particular in recent years.
That's not to say he'd be a bad candidate for Everton. People cry out for a winner though. Is Arsene a winner any more, or does he just want his teams to pass and move?
5 Posted 27/04/2018 at 16:33:40
If... If we could secure a manager of Wenger's stature, I'd be made up... It feels to me that at the moment EFC is an after thought for the top end managers and DoFs.. but surely as supporters fate will deal us a good hand soon, in terms of the clubs plan and direction?
Has Farhad Moshiri got a master plan to take the club forward?
6 Posted 27/04/2018 at 17:10:25
Agreed.
7 Posted 27/04/2018 at 17:32:16
However, I do feel that, after the season we have just suffered; the boardroom lacking in any sort of leadership, such appointments are presently beyond the scope of EFC.
8 Posted 27/04/2018 at 19:39:38
You are absolutely correct.
Who wouldn't take Wenger over Allardyce, especially if it only costs 6 months pay ?
Even if Wenger was 'moved upstairs' he would have a greater beneficial influence than Allardyce.
However, Moshiri has been bitten and so will probably consider that firing Allardyce now would be wasteful - ignoring the potential benefits of replacing him with Wenger a.s.a.s.p. !
9 Posted 27/04/2018 at 19:54:05
11 Posted 28/04/2018 at 09:10:44
The legend, has been hounded out because results have not been good enough for the Arsenal fans, but Moyes, left to rapturous applause for keeping Kenwright, and plucky little Everton, As the best of the rest for so long.
So much irony in life, and just writing this down now, makes me think... that how was this allowed to happen?
Kevin, I was wrong, I thought this thread would bring about loads of Wenger detractors, but the fact that this is going to be post number ten, makes me wonder why you bothered mate!
12 Posted 28/04/2018 at 11:16:20
If he can produce or duplicate the football and success that Arsenal think they have suffered then, as far as I'm concerned, he can pick the crowd if he wants.
13 Posted 28/04/2018 at 12:36:05
14 Posted 28/04/2018 at 13:01:53
15 Posted 28/04/2018 at 13:05:18
16 Posted 28/04/2018 at 13:06:40
Dream team for me.
[BRZ]
17 Posted 28/04/2018 at 13:16:15
Wegner, as Tony @ 2 mentions, is way better than many recent managers in Everton's history.
He evidently did not choose to leave the Arse. His hand was forced and his subsequent comments clearly suggest he is up to a new challenge still.
He has been a great innovator and stylist in the English game.
On the one hand, he still appears to have the fire in his belly and - despite fading results in the league compared to the vast bulk of his years at the Arse - his teams still play wonderful football, still get to cup finals and still win trophies.
On the other hand, I wonder if - to a smidging degree - he is already 'yesterday's man', that what we really should be looking to recruit is not the old Wenger, but the new Wenger.
Now who the hell that is, I have no idea.
I would also remind you that in very recent years he was once also very dismissive of Everton EVER being able to compete again at the sharp end of the table.
Some disqualify the likes of Benetiz for similar disdain towards us.
The Arsenal ownership in the past always spoke of retaining Wenger at the club when he stepped down as manager, for all the other skills he possesses. I'm guessing, the nature of their separation, rather precludes that.
On balance, I wouldn't be averse to seeing Wenger appointed Everton's manager even short term, but it seems an extremely unlikely appointment IMO.
18 Posted 28/04/2018 at 13:28:06
And as there is more chance of the third requirement happening than the first...you might as well, while you're all at it, wish for Wenger to bring Usmanov with him too.
Not
Going
To
Happen
19 Posted 28/04/2018 at 13:41:36
I watched ToffeeWeb turn on a man who valued attacking and possession-based football because he didn't know how to defend. Roberto Martinez.
Roberto is NOT in the class Arsene Wenger is. I understand that.
But for about 5-6 years everyone and their brother have been saying Wenger needs some "steel in defence" or "a take charge holding midfielder". In short, he's completely neglected that other part of the game - defending.
Based upon the frustrations Evertonians developed with Martinez, the same thing would happen under Wenger. The man plays beautiful football, but he's not honed in on defending.
I think he'd eventually drive the natives fucking nuts.
As for me, I wouldn't care at all. I'd take Wenger and Arteta in a heartbeat.
But the fanbase would be slitting their wrists at the porous defense I think. So it's not really a good fit.
20 Posted 28/04/2018 at 13:51:35
Wenger produced some wonderful teams in his early years at Arsenal. The current team is weak and unprepared for the rigours of the current PL. His teams can't compete with the likes of Citteh and the Shite.
We need tomorrow's man, not yesterday's man. Since Moyes left, we've been through four managers. It may well take another four before we find the right fit. But of the four, Koeman and Martinez were both positive appointments, although neither really worked. Allardyce was clearly a negative appointment to steady a very badly holed vessel. The only question is whether the ship is ready to be sailed by a new captain, or whether we're still in choppy waters.
Fucking hell, starting to sound like Captain Pugwash may be our next manager.
21 Posted 28/04/2018 at 13:54:26
22 Posted 28/04/2018 at 13:54:35
with fresh ideas.
23 Posted 28/04/2018 at 19:32:18
China or France look his likely destination - unless a certain David Beckham collars him for Miami!!
I'd be happy for him to come in for a few years though - to oversee the stadium move, and then hand over to somebody like Arteta or Howe.
It seems more likely we will end up with Silva or Fonseca instead.
Or Allardyce !
24 Posted 28/04/2018 at 20:35:36
Arsenal fans know better than us about Wenger, just as we know best about Allardyce. Please don't fall into the “outsider looking in†trap – honestly, as you probably know, the fans know best. Entitled or not, we know... always.
25 Posted 29/04/2018 at 09:56:23
The thread is similar to the Wenger rumour articles week or so ago.
Arsenal fans will be calling for Arsene to come back in 12 months when they realise that they can't compete with City, Chelsea and United. Their boardroom has been a mess for a long time but his performances have papered over that. Watch them being exposed next season when he isn't there.
26 Posted 29/04/2018 at 10:19:40
27 Posted 29/04/2018 at 12:53:02
28 Posted 29/04/2018 at 22:14:45
It beggars belief that some people wouldn't want him as manager especially they mention who they would go for.
I wish he would come to us I really do.
29 Posted 05/05/2018 at 23:59:54
Like the striker transfer bullshit from last season, I fear that Everton will chase a host of top foreign managers, get turned down by them (and humiliated in the press) compromising Allardyce as a manager and unsettling the players.
In the end we'll be held to ransom by Allardyce or some mediocre Premier League manager (or former manager) who like the two before him won't be able to step up to the level of our expectations.
Cue another shit year!
Or we could seize the opportunity of confirming the arrival of a proven Premier and Champions League manager, whose greatest failing is that he recently won 3 FA cups in 4 years and that his team has never fallen out of the top 6 in 2 decades! Not to mention the win ratio.
Such a nice guy. A Legend that commands respect. His presence alone in the dressing room and on the touch line will transform our team and game play.
Arsenal fans wanted shot of Walcott who has turned out to be one of our better players. What do they know? If we can get him, I welcome Wenger.
30 Posted 09/05/2018 at 20:04:44
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1 Posted 27/04/2018 at 11:31:47