Fair point. Also, how about Spurs? Gone from “lads, it’s Spurs” to nailed on for a top four slot without any kind of structural overhaul, in an era where top four is harder than ever to achieve. While the teams around them are blowing their wages/transfer budget out of the water.
You don’t think Woodward’s propensity for throwing away full seasons before acting to rectify his own mistakes is worth criticising? Picking the wrong guy happens. Failing to correct your mistakes, over and over, is negligence.
That's the thing, the required structure is function of the expertise that you have within the club, there is no panacea. Spurs have a talented negotiator, talented talent spotters and they brought an excellent head coach. Liverpool brought a man with contagious enthusiasm and a deep understanding of what he wants and how he can get it. Arsenal decided to revamp their structure in order to compensate for the loss of the man that was in charge of everything.
Comoli left and Michael Edwards came in 2016. So it wasn't just Klopp, Edwards formed part of the new team.
They may be able to see it but I doubt that they really care but you’re right they’re not idiots and I can’t help but feel that the lack of serious investment in the squad and the seemingly reluctance to get rid of Mourhino and throw a few quid to hire a DOF, which they’ve been crapping on about for months, is because of what it will cost them to do so, they may well be ready to sell their sick puppy to the highest bidder.
I hope so
He was pretty decisive when it came to sacking Moyes and Van Gaal. The latter maybe should have got his P45 before Christmas but then we maybe wouldn't have won the FA Cup? When it comes to sacking Mourinho, then a lot will depend on who's available/capable of replacing him. I don't see any obvious candidates now, so can't really blame Woodward for being extra cautious about getting this next decision right. Even if that does effectively write off the season.
Waiting is all very well, but at what cost longterm. It is clear he has 'lost the dressing room' Key players are not signing new contracts, openly letting it be known that they are waiting to see what happens with the manager first before committing. There comes a point when Ed has to take the best interests of the club as a priority. Maybe there isnt a permanent option available right now but certainly a caretaker manager could do wonders to lift the spirit and the players.
Who was available in the summer though? Also, sacking him after finishing second (plus making FA Cup final and CL knock-out rounds) would have set a crazy high bar for the next bloke.
If the team is winning then people forget about the owners etc. I remember one Arsenal fan on AFTV constantly banging on about how nothing will change until Kroenke and the rest of the board feck off etc. Think he goes by the name of Bully. It seems he's more active on the Caf nowadays.
It wasn’t just one Arsenal fan. They were all saying how Kroenke had ruined the club. How he only cared about top four and that they’d never compete with the other big clubs with him in charge etc etc etc. (sounds familiar, right?)
Exactly! People banged on about how Arsenal will fall into a great depression once Wenger leaves. Nope they just got a decent coach that works hard + concentrates on football, not being a celebrity. Surprise surprise they're looking good again.
They're still competing for top 4 and doing exactly the same results they were doing under Wenger, the same results that kept him in job. I don't understand what's that massive difference people keep banging on. Last I checked they have been alternating between 4th and 5th this season. A routine "Wenger" season so far.
They still don't spend as much as they need to to compete for the honours they were competing for before Kroenke came.
That's true, but the fan in question was a constant.
They’re spending a hell of a lot more since he took over than they did beforehand, that’s for damn sure!
There players are showing a intensity I hadn't seen in many years. Under Wenger I believe they would've capitulated against Spurs.
Wenger defeated Spurs last season at Emirates.
Eh? Everyone and their dog knew Wenger was done long time before they let him go. If anything, people wanted him to stay in Arsenal...
Could not agree more re: Arsenal. They battered Spurs at the Emirates last year, more convincingly than this year. It was the same when they drew with Liverpool the other week at home. Wenger drew 3-3 with them last year from 2-0 down. And this was Wenger's worst season ever remember. They're going to finish 1 at best 2 places above last years disaster and one of the main reasons is because we've imploded.
And did the same with Mourinho. They also won the Champions League and FA Cup double with fecking Roberto Di Matteo in charge!
I don't know about Chelsea but yeah people are overestimating Arsenal season like hell, as if they were midtable club under Wenger and now competing for the league.
I'd say it's quite early on. He got a tiny transfer budget last summer. They're playing well right now, aided by low expectations but what happens when they need to strengthen in the summer, will the money be there? How will that squad deal with both Prem and CL...
Exactly. Shows you how much the players dictate there. It's the sign of a poor and weak structure.
I doubt a Wenger team could've come from a goal down against a top 6 side. There was a reason they were referred to as being bottlers under him. Xhaka was playing poorly under him too along with a lot of other players. Emery seems to be getting much more out of the players in comparison.
We’ll have to wait and see. What I can say for certain is that their form so far this season is streets ahead of anything we’ve produced since Fergie was in charge and that has to be primarily down to their manager.
£28.4m net per year under Kroenke. The £60m net last year really isn't particularly substantial in today's market either. The ownership qualms are justified.
He took the club over in 2011.
I couldn’t give a toss about their ownership qualms tbh. I reckon Pocchetino would kill to get that sort of financial backing, that’s for sure.
I'm not saying anything to the contrary. He's been a revelation thus far. It's just the long haul that I'm mindful of.
As United fans it’s got to the point where worrying about sustaining recent success over the long haul is the type of “worry” we can only dream of!
I was talking about the fecking league. If the FA cup could've saved managers then both Wenger and LVG would've still been in jobs.
No, because your post was
So together we can confirm that hey presto Kroenke has ruined the club, he only cares about top four and they’ll never compete with the other big clubs with him in charge etc etc etc. but they do now have a temporary sticky plaster to cover their deep rooted problems for a season or so. All their problems solved!
Can I borrow your crystal ball when you're done with it?
