By Walter Broeckx
So let us suppose the board give in to the pressure from some part of the Arsenal fan base and sack the manager today.
What is the main criticism I read about Wenger:
- He knows nothing about tactics
- He will not buy players we need
The first one is something that mostly is said by people who haven’t proven anything about their knowledge of tactics. Unless of course going on the internet and juggling around with all kinds of terms and formations makes you a specialist.
Anyone can produce any type of formation on paper as long as you can count to 10. But being able to do this doesn’t make you fit enough to be a professional football manager. On the computer it is enough. On the real playing field outside: no.
Why do you think in almost all leagues in Europe nowadays it is required that a football manager has a certain degree? They have to follow all kinds of courses, do trainings, to exams and then you can say you can manage a team. As far as I know Wenger has a managerial degree since 1981. So he must know something about tactics. And if you look at his career it sure does seems that he must know a bit about tactics.
In his managerial career he has won 4 league titles and won 11 cup finals. Now do you really think that he would have won them and wouldn’t have a clue about tactics? He sure must have the biggest rabbit’s foot in the world. (Dutch expression – meaning having all the luck in the world). The fact that he managed a team through a whole season unbeaten in the PL, the fact that he in fact changed tactics during the years must mean that he knows something about tactics.
And certainly when you look at the fact that Real Madrid has been trying to get Wenger to their club on a few occasions. The fact that now once again rumours saying that PSG wants to pay him 30M to come to their club and to manage them. Surely those people from top clubs in their country must know that he knows a few things about managing a football team. Or are they dumb? And are those on the internet claiming that Wenger knows f*ck all about tactics much smarter? Well allow me to doubt this.
So this criticism about Wenger not knowing anything about tactics is ridiculous. Unless of course you play football manager 2012 or Fifa2013 or whatever it is called these days.
Next thing is buying players. Of course if you look at the what the media makes of Wenger his words you can sometimes wonder. But when I compare the words spoken on arsenal.com with the words put in his mouth by some part of the media I see completely different things. Now of course it could be that as a person who is not a native speaker of English could misunderstand some things. Or could it be that Wenger being French uses other expressions that are more accustomed to the French language and do sound a bit different in English?
And so perhaps the media tries to turn those words in something different than Wenger intended. Like his words about the squad being good enough. Well I also do think the squad should be good enough. Not to win the league. I think we are missing one player. A player that wanted to leave at all cost. With him I think we would be where United is now.
And even after those two defeats I still think the team is good enough for a place in the top 4. The second half against both City and Chelsea gave me the impression that when the team really goes for it without any handbrakes on they can win from any team. Just have to find a way to get that handbrake off.
But Wenger also has said that he wants to bring more players to the club. But only when they will improve the team. Do we want another wrong buy? Do we want another Chamakh? Do we want another Squilacci? Well I think Wenger also doesn’t want another of those. So if we have the choice of buying another Chamakh/Squilacci do you think he should go for it and spend his money on those players?
I understand that Wenger only wants to buy a player of whom he is 95% sure he will add something to the team. And yes even then it could go wrong. You don’t have any certainties when working with human beings. I think Wenger his track record is rather good when it comes to buying players. How many times in the last 7 seasons have fans moaned about Wenger having bought Van Persie. During his injury years and when he signed a new deal many were up in arms that Wenger spend money on this always injured player. Wenger knew why. And so do all of us by now. Of course Wenger couldn’t foresee that he would be an ungrateful **** after all the time and money spend on him. That is part of those 5%.
But would a new manager be able to spend lots of money on new players. People claim that Gazidis said he could spend 35M. He never said something like that to me to be honest. And if you have a link to arsenal.com saying so I would be happy to read it. But those 35M, well that is one top player and than the money is gone. Would I mind spending him that money? NO. I wouldn’t mind spending that money at all. But we have to keep in mind that this money is the result of years of saving up money. And it could be gone in one second. With all the kicking again allowed by the refs in recent games against our players it could be that a new player could be out for 1 season.
Now of course we could go out and buy all the Remy’s, the M’Villa’s the Mbyia’s from France that are linked to us. Most of us don’t know them in fact but let that be no problem for buying them. Maybe those players could offer something extra to QPR. Or to Newcastle. As those clubs are trying to buy each and every player that has been linked to us. Leaving our fans moaning about another missed player. And when one of them scores in his first game, the moaning gets even bigger. But let us wait till the end of the season to see if they are a real success. Remember Chamakh and the start of his Arsenal career? One swallow doesn’t make a spring
And the final problem: will a club sell one of their stars to Arsenal at this time of the season? Let us look at the big names that are mentioned in the media: If you would be president of Naples would you sell Cavani now? If you would be president of Dortmund would you sell Gotze right now? If you would be president of Everton would you sell Fellaini right now?
Do those players want to leave their club right now?
The only way such a big player can come is when both he and his club agree on such a move. If they don’t want it, then it is impossible to buy them. And that is something that stays the same whoever our manager might be. And that will not change if we change our manager.
Walter,
No one hear with a brain cell could possibly slate you for not being analytical and deeply caring. More than anyone, it’s plain to see. However, the moment has gotten to us, and not necessarily for bad. It’s a time to re-group and carefully analyze the moment and its prospects, looking back in order to look forward. This person 49unbeaten – took the time to read and to analyze – in detail – and make specific recommendations in response to your posting. That’s is him taking your posting seriously. He is not a yes-man to UA. Nor is he AAA. His posting was constructive criticism meant to improve our side. It’s one thing to choose not to respond. Imo, it’s another thing to dismiss or choose not to engage a contribution that’s analytical and specific. To dismiss it with a lame joke (whose subtext is you are not a football manager so you have no basis for comment) is to invite tribalist support and a form of bullying which bitch-slaps with OIK/AAA labels; this instead of an engaged response which an analysis (like the one you made in posting) would only hope to get back in reply. Your “strange mood” shouldn’t be so all-encompassing as either a specific reply or an apology. Let’s all forget ego’s and just keep going for the truths we can try to raise. Cheers
p.s. sorry, meant to write “…shouldn’t be so all-encompassing as to rule out either your specific reply or an apology.”
I think it’s very telling what Fàbregas said. At Barcelona, he stated the importance of tactics and at Arsenal he said he didn’t learn about that.
Here we have what Fàbregas said during the World Cup:
“Here they give us much more information than they do at Arsenal, definitely,” Fàbregas said of his time with the Spanish national side. “At Arsenal we don’t really look at anything from the other team, we look for ourselves and that’s it. Here, maybe two three days before the game, we start looking at some videos, we know more or less the starting eleven that is going to play, we know nearly everything about them.”
So, how Wenger does understand tactics if he totally disregards the opposition?
After the defeat to Shalke 04, when Wenger was serving a UEFA touchline ban, Bould was asked why he didn’t make any changes at half-time and he said ‘the substitutions were certainly pre-planned’.
That is to say, Wenger had previously decided when to make the substitutions.
Unless Wenger can predict the future this shows once more a total lack of consideration for the opposition.
It’s not rocket science, a good tactician needs to know your opponents very well. Then, he’ll try to take advantage of their weaknesses.
It’s crystal clear that Wenger does not understand tactics. You only need to watch his Arsenal side playing to make your mind.
Add to that Wenger’s usual 70 minutes to make his subs and you get the picture.
I mean: a good tactician needs to know HIS opponents very well.
Yes I heard cesc say things to that effect, but having seen games he has been involved with in the last year, I would say he has deteriorated as a player, tactics or not
Mandy Dodd,
Is x-Cesc playing the same type of midfield at Barfa
as he did at AFC. Surely not. So, in that sense, the
deterioration that you report might well be that he
was not restricted by pre-defined tactics at AFC, because
AW recognized that it would – in his case, I’m not generalizing this – restrict his flowing style. And perhaps this has
hurt his overall game at Barfa. What do you think?
Could well be the case Bob, guess it is fair to say his role has changed at Barca, and with their players, he is not an automatic starter. With us, maybe he was a bigger fish in a smaller pond….and had the freedom of playing for a team custom built around his abilities. He may have his medals, but to me at least he is not as good as he was with us
Good points Walter and I agree with your observations. I would add a few others as well:
1)Aside from the average bloggers’ ignorance of anything tactical, there is their equally abysmal understanding of man management. Wenger is a master of this and has recuperated careers that were almost dead using his skills in this area.
2)His economics degree and excellent market mastery, especially in the Arsenal’s transfer dealings have meant that while we inevitably lose some (not all as many claim) of our best players to richer or more famous opponents, he manages to keep Arsenal from sliding into the negative numbers. Arry Redknappy never worried about that side of the business and he helped bankrupt 3 clubs with that attitude.
3)Wenger’s paternalistic approach to his youth diamonds, while inviting ungrateful repercussions, has never been slighted by ANY of his ex-players. This is the mark of a great person and manager – his former players uniformly respect and praise him as a professional.
It is so easy to criticize his every move, based solely on their¨superior¨knowledge about how it ¨should¨be done, learnt from the jaundiced media and AAA whiner-moaner minority. The truth is that not ONE complainer/moaner/whiner/spoilt entitled plastic fan could ever sustain the pressure, the visibility, the stress and the responsibility of having such a famous Club as the Arsenal under their aegis. It is legitimate to question the direction, style and rationale of many things at AFC BUT there is no license to bitch included in the ticket price.
Agree with you on most of this Domhuail but on point 3, a few exceptions, ex players..the universally bitter axe to grind Stewart Robson, the worshipped….but in terms of employment overlooked Tony Adams, Ian Wright ….another hero, but one whose son was never signed….partly on his fathers monetary advice……and then there are a few ex legends who lower themselves to The Sun or talkshite radio. But RVP questioned the direction of the club, but said he would always respect wenger, despite his late career agent and SAF tapping inspired trophy and money anxiety. Cesc loves the club clearly, Sol and Thierry came back, Paddy and Bobby would have come back given the chance. Yes, most of our greats think highly of this club and the manager…..even though some may question the direction the club is taking at the moment.
The reason you get a degree is so teachers can have jobs
After reading this article ,I tend to agree with the words
of Bertrand Russell ,” The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves,
and wiser people so full of doubts.”
Of this I’m certain ,…I think !
@Domhuail wengers “man-management” skills that ensure you tow the clubs line as to how you’re perceived by the publics is not enough at the moment..no wonder he wont sign a player like m’villa(perceived bad boy)whose services we desperately require..managing players on the field of play is lacking in his portfolio at the moment..wins we’ve had lately have come from moments of individual brilliance and not team effort par say.
M’Villa reminds me a bit of Diarra.
Going to Chelsea for the big money. Getting not enough games, being unhappy, making a fuss, moving to Arsenal. Not getting enough games, making a fuss, wanting out, making trouble.
Got sold to Portsmouth (another big money signing for arry) then had a decent run.
Then went to Real Madrid and it didn’t work for him as I could have told you before he went there as I really think he was not good enough for the top. A squad player as he was used at Arsenal but nothing more than that.
Now Diarra plays at Anzhi Makhachkala. Club famous for paying big money. But it played no part in his move of course.
At the end of the day I think he was not good enough and no need for players demanding a starting place.
@walter the proof of the pudding is in the eating,if coquelin,frimpong,diaby aren’t given a proper consistent run to play and when given the chance cant deliver i thinks its only logical for a manager to look for another options out there..arteta is a stand-in if we call it like it is..
i’m currently disappointed and frustrated at wengers choices or lack thereof..before the transfer-window gets closed somethin’ gotta give!
I think Coquelin would have been given a serious chance now and then ….. he gets injured. No real wonder with all the kicks he got last Sunday
celtic’s wanyama is another option…i’m kenyan like he is and afew seasons ago mariga his brother was scouted by arsenal and city tried to sign him, shity technicalities in britain hindered his transfer and instead mourinho at inter nicked him..
my point the wanyama family are arsenal fans and there’s romours sir. alex is in for him,if wenger would approach him i bet he’d say yes for the sake of all kenyans who would love to see a kenyan in the epl more so being a GOONER.