Soccer Thread

[abrar14]

Do ya think Arsne will get sacked?

 

[PokeTrainerJay]

Not sure. But his week has been really bad.

 

[The Benmeister]

Just came back from Millwall vs. Bolton, the Millwall fans are a rather loud bunch...

 

[Jinvaani]

It pains me to see Arsenal like this. I used to love watching them a few years back, Champions League semis and all. They're not fun to watch anymore.

And how bad was Arteta today?

 

[Notalwaysbalckanddwhite]

Football? You mean Herdball? [/glenn beck reference]
I used to play recreational football/soccer (I live in America) up until the 3rd grade. My team won the championship, but I really didn't enjoy myself and I was worthless as a player (even my coach admitted it to me, he's my neighbor). So I quit, went into cheerleading, and looked back miserably. Now I just don't play sports.

 

[Kananar]

To be honest I don't think Arsene Wenger will get sacked. The board must love him, he spends no money at all. Though he clearly needs to go - you can't be a serious contender for 4th/3rd spot and lose some of the games they have. Sure, today at Sunderland was a slip-up and it is by no means an easy game but some they have lost or drew (Swansea, Fulham, Bolton, Sunderland, Blackburn, AC Milan etc.) are just not good enough. Take away Milan and you have a lot of games you need to do well in. Fair enough dropping point occasionally, nobody can help that but it just isn't good enough to be honest.

 

[Zantera]

I think it's interesting how many people blame Arsene Wenger in all of this, maybe cause I try to look on the big picture and gather as much information as possible. While I won't defend Wenger on all fronts, I think there are a lot of things most people seem to miss.

My theory is that the board in Arsenal doesn't want to spend a lot of money. They have said themselves that they want Arsenal to be a club that can reach success through young players without spending big cash on transfers, and the latest statement about this wasn't more then a few months ago. The big question that many people seem to ask is: "Why is Wenger still in Arsenal when he hasn't had any success the last years?" Interesting question, but the answer is not far fetched as people seem to think. Looking at what kind of money Wenger has gotten from the board, he has performed miracles. Under Wenger, Arsenal haven't missed Champions League a single season, and that is fantastic considering how little money they have spent, and if you compare that to clubs like Chelsea and Man City spending lots. The reason Wenger is still in Arsenal, is because the board knows that nobody could do a better job under these circumstances. If they would fire Wenger and take in a coach like Mourinho, he would say: "I need cash for player X and Y", and they would gently reply: "That's not how we do things around here".

Moving on, it's also a known fact that Arsenal were very close to signing Mata during the summer. "If Arsenal had the money, then what was the problem?" Again, when Arsene Wenger says that Arsenal has money to spend on transfers, I think he's putting it mildly. I think the truth is very different, and that even if the money exists, there is no way that the board would allow him to use it. The reason why Mata ended up in Chelsea was simple. Arsenal needed the cash from Fabregas in order to finance the move for Mata, but seeing as Barcelona were lazy and slow as always, Arsenal couldn't manage to complete the move in time, and Mata ended up in Chelsea. Wenger also said that he wanted to bring on a striker like Benzema, but again that is a player that would have costed quite a lot. Wenger is a reasonable trainer. He hasn't hesitated in offering the cash for the right players before, why would he do it now? Sure he has always had the whole "buy cheap & smart"-philosophy, but he has still put up cash for good players.

As some other people might know, David Dein (ex. Vice-Chairman) was a big key-figure within the club, and it's not strange that the club has been doing worse since his departure in '07. He had the ability to attract great players to the club, and he was certainly more of a "lets do this"-person, then the "whatever is fine"-people that runs the club now.

To sum things up: Wenger is easy to blame because he is the coach. I do think he has his issues, but that is more problems like how he handles the team during games. But people who say "lets fire him and get a manager who will buy players", they don't really seem to be seeing the REAL problem. Wenger is a smart coach and he has great experience, the Invincible-season is a big proof of that. Why wouldn't a trainer do anything if his team is sinking? The most reasonable explanation would be that his hands are tied.

/Just my five cents

 

[Kananar]

^Wow. That is interesting. Kudos for writing all that

The idea that to board do not give Wenger the money he needs is an interesting one, and if you ask me that theory could be correct.
We all know Everton are slightly behind others when it comes to money. Mikel Arteta was on I believe a mediocre £80k a week (Not saying I would mind that ) and he had to take a pay cut to come to Arsenal. I know £10M is a relatively large amount of money to spend but in terms of wage you can't expect a quality player like Arteta to settle for much less than his previous wage. This suggests that Wenger wasn't given too much money. I guess it is something we won't know surely until he is gone.
Being a Man Utd fan though please don't think this is right, it's just my opinion.

 

[Kierzor]

Props to Stevenage on the draw.

 

[Rezzo]

I think it's interesting how many people blame Arsene Wenger in all of this, maybe cause I try to look on the big picture and gather as much information as possible. While I won't defend Wenger on all fronts, I think there are a lot of things most people seem to miss.

My theory is that the board in Arsenal doesn't want to spend a lot of money. They have said themselves that they want Arsenal to be a club that can reach success through young players without spending big cash on transfers, and the latest statement about this wasn't more then a few months ago. The big question that many people seem to ask is: "Why is Wenger still in Arsenal when he hasn't had any success the last years?" Interesting question, but the answer is not far fetched as people seem to think. Looking at what kind of money Wenger has gotten from the board, he has performed miracles. Under Wenger, Arsenal haven't missed Champions League a single season, and that is fantastic considering how little money they have spent, and if you compare that to clubs like Chelsea and Man City spending lots. The reason Wenger is still in Arsenal, is because the board knows that nobody could do a better job under these circumstances. If they would fire Wenger and take in a coach like Mourinho, he would say: "I need cash for player X and Y", and they would gently reply: "That's not how we do things around here".

Moving on, it's also a known fact that Arsenal were very close to signing Mata during the summer. "If Arsenal had the money, then what was the problem?" Again, when Arsene Wenger says that Arsenal has money to spend on transfers, I think he's putting it mildly. I think the truth is very different, and that even if the money exists, there is no way that the board would allow him to use it. The reason why Mata ended up in Chelsea was simple. Arsenal needed the cash from Fabregas in order to finance the move for Mata, but seeing as Barcelona were lazy and slow as always, Arsenal couldn't manage to complete the move in time, and Mata ended up in Chelsea. Wenger also said that he wanted to bring on a striker like Benzema, but again that is a player that would have costed quite a lot. Wenger is a reasonable trainer. He hasn't hesitated in offering the cash for the right players before, why would he do it now? Sure he has always had the whole "buy cheap & smart"-philosophy, but he has still put up cash for good players.

As some other people might know, David Dein (ex. Vice-Chairman) was a big key-figure within the club, and it's not strange that the club has been doing worse since his departure in '07. He had the ability to attract great players to the club, and he was certainly more of a "lets do this"-person, then the "whatever is fine"-people that runs the club now.

To sum things up: Wenger is easy to blame because he is the coach. I do think he has his issues, but that is more problems like how he handles the team during games. But people who say "lets fire him and get a manager who will buy players", they don't really seem to be seeing the REAL problem. Wenger is a smart coach and he has great experience, the Invincible-season is a big proof of that. Why wouldn't a trainer do anything if his team is sinking? The most reasonable explanation would be that his hands are tied.

/Just my five cents

Good post. I think you might be onto something here as the current advent of Arsene Wenger remaining at the club has shocked many. Obviously sacking a manager and bringing in a new one would be costly and may just be the reason it has been avoided for so long.

 

[AquaRegisteel]

Props to Stevenage for the match, watched it on ITV. It'll be tough for Stevenage to go and win at White Hart Lane.

Anyways, I am happy that Stoke advanced to the quarter finals, but I'm dreading a potential tie with Liverpool...let's hope we can pull it off.

 

[Jinvaani]

Props to Stevenage for the match, watched it on ITV. It'll be tough for Stevenage to go and win at White Hart Lane.

I watched that match and I want my Sunday afternoon back!

And I can't leave a match on in the background anymore because I ALWAYS miss the goals, sending offs and other important stuff. It's normal talking one second and then Clive Tyldesley screaming goal the next. Whenever I go downstairs for a drink or the toilet, I come back 10 seconds later and they've scored. I swear I'm cursed for this stuff like this.

They don't show replays that much either *Especially on Sky Sports!!!; I remember a team scoring in the first 10 mins or so and they didn't show a replay of it throughout the entire match (and i can't be bothered watching half time crap)*.

 

[The Benmeister]

As an Arsenal fan it sucks to once again go a season trophyless. There always seems to be a week where everything just comes crashing down, happened in the previous few seasons as well, I guess they just can't deal with pressure. But this year is worse - there might not be a Saint Totteringham's Day! =(

I'd never ask for Wenger out, but more and more I wonder how soon it is before he's gone. It will be a sad day when that happens, I've only known our manager to be Wenger so it's like we'd be losing part of our identity. And I think the problem goes deeper than just the manager, that much is obvious.

Having said that, we are fourth at the moment, are we not? So if we manage to keep it, then we can try this all again next season! It's all part of the fun of being a Gooner!

 

[Jinvaani]

I fear that the biggest loser out of all this is the Premier League.

 

[The Benmeister]

Guess we can't do well every season. Considering the high calibre of the English teams in Europe it's stupid how poor we've done. Only Stoke and Birmingham can really claim to have tried their best, having said that, there is still every chance of a Manchester club winning the Europa League, I'd have to say Manchester United are the favourites. I think Liverpool were the last English club to win it, and that was over a decade ago.

It of course could also just mean the playing field is being leveled out. Well, except for Barcelona and Real Madrid, who just seem streets above everyone else.

 

[Locormus]

Sooooooo, has anybody taken a look at the Dutch League?

6 contenders for the title! It's quite entertaining, especially with the upcoming weekend in mind, in which 4 of the 6 are going head to head, and the 2 remaining face somewhat tough teams.

 

[The Benmeister]

It's a bit wacky, isn't it? Surprised to see Heerenveen up there. Not to mention last weekend both PSV and AZ lost 3-0, it really is all up for grabs.

Seems like most of the major league's title race is proving to be very interesting.
Germany has a four way battle, including Monchengladbach who last season only survived relegation due to the playoff.
France seems like it's between PSG and Montpellier, or maybe Lille could pull off two in a row?
Italy looks like one of Juventus or Milan, Juventus are still unbeaten too!
Portugal looked like Benfica would run away with it, but they lost last weekend so it's all close again between them and Porto.
And we all know how close England is!

The only league that seems to have been settled already is Spain, Real Madrid look to be coasting it.

 

[7 tyranitars]

I hope PSV wins , they got the best team.. and I hate Heerenveen.. even though they got some good strikers.. With united and city in the europa cup I lost hope a dutch team could win it .

 

[The Benmeister]

Didn't see those two late goals coming!

Rather bizarrely six of the eight Champions League group winners have lost the first leg, with the two exceptions being, you guessed it, Barcelona and Real Madrid.

 

[7 tyranitars]

Fantastic game last night (united - ajax) I loved it. And I was suprised Ajax even won it, it felt that a miracle was posible, pity that last goal came too late. :/

Psv won easily from trebzonspor (4-1)

And Az and Twente both won aswell.

I hope PSV wins from Valancia, but it will be hard.