Hello everyone.
The dust has settled a bit after yesterday's horrific loss and not only did it not serve to calm the nerves, the cold light of day showed, our problems go much deeper, than a simple defeat.
There was, as usual, a post-match press conference and the manager was again heavily questioned about his non-existent transfer policy. His reaction was rather unexpected. He said, the reporters should be happy, their "prophecy" has been fulfilled, seeing as the team without additions lost. As if they (the journalists) are to blame for his downright incomopetence, when it comes to securing deals. Arsene Wenger, and he alone, is guilty for failing to secure signings, which resulted in a defeat. Sure, it's not so simple, the additions would not necessarily bring us the three points, but they would have made the team stronger, more capable of coping with injures. As it is, we've lost a game fair and square.
The manager was also quick to blame the referee and, while these accucations aren't without basis, using the ref as a scapegoat and turning a blind eye on our problems is not the way of solving these problems. I have a feeling, had this not been the first game and had it not been played on our turf, the quality of the pitch and the exhaustion of the players would have somehow made their way into the manager's speech.
And, of course, the injures. We already knew about Gibbs and Sagna, but Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosicky and Ramsey are fresh additions. The Ox, according to some reports, may be out for three months. Rosicky and Ramsey may not be badly injured, after all, but the boss's line about us being "quite good on that front" sounded like sheer mockery.
The current situation with the squad is, frankly, appaling. We have only three fit defenders to face Fenerbahce: Koscielny, Mertesacker and Jenkinson. Maybe Sagna will be available, maybe not. Either way, we've reached breaking point here. We don't have options for a starting eleven, let alone for a nicely packed bench. Action has to be taken, and quickly, if don't want to find ourselves outside the Champions League, we've fought so hard to get into last season.
But is Arsene Wenger the right man to take these actions? I don't think so, not anymore. Don't get me wrong, I have huge respect for the boss. He seems a very nice person, he delivered some stellar achievements in the past, but it looks like his time is up. There's a very thin line between respect and hatred. If he holds onto his position without achieving anything, the fans will grow to hate him. He will look just like any player we've let go in recent seasons. The only differrence between him and them will be in that they've left to earn money, while he opted to stay to do likewise. If he really cares for the fans, if he understands them and if he wants to leave, while still being respected for everything he's done for the club, he should go now, before it's too late. Before this season goes to the dogs and sees us finishing outside the top 4. Before we hand over to Tottenham and repeat Liverpool's fate.
Amid all this misery, the most I feel sorry for, are the players. The ones that stayed and showed their loyalty and dedication. The group of players we now have is truly commited to the cause, they are ready to fight until the end for us, no matter what's the cost. Just look at Gibbs and Sagna yesterday. At some point yesterday, I wanted to do something to warn them, to try and warn them against staying and soldiering on. Arsenal's ship seems to be on crash course and I don't want them to be here, when it reaches its destination. I never wanted our leaders to leave the club, I condemned the ones that did (with just a few exceptions), but they do seem to have no future here. Under Arsene Wenger, at least.
Yet I understand, that most of these players would not have listened to me. Guys like Whilshere, Szczesny, Ramsey - they have all dreamed they would some day pull on an Arsenal shirt. As small kids, they have watched this club win things and wanted to be a part of it. Not necessarily the winning, but part of the club. And they won't leave, because in their eyes, they already are in the best club.
All of it is really sad indeed, mostly because I don't see a way out of this mess. There is no quick solution to our problems, yet finding one is essential. Maybe a change of manager will help, but there will be little time for him to change the squad, which will definitely result in our season ending in a disaster. On the other hand, should Wenger stay, it's unlikely much will change, even in terms of signings. The board of directors should really give it some thought.
That's it for today. Back tomorrow
The dust has settled a bit after yesterday's horrific loss and not only did it not serve to calm the nerves, the cold light of day showed, our problems go much deeper, than a simple defeat.
There was, as usual, a post-match press conference and the manager was again heavily questioned about his non-existent transfer policy. His reaction was rather unexpected. He said, the reporters should be happy, their "prophecy" has been fulfilled, seeing as the team without additions lost. As if they (the journalists) are to blame for his downright incomopetence, when it comes to securing deals. Arsene Wenger, and he alone, is guilty for failing to secure signings, which resulted in a defeat. Sure, it's not so simple, the additions would not necessarily bring us the three points, but they would have made the team stronger, more capable of coping with injures. As it is, we've lost a game fair and square.
The manager was also quick to blame the referee and, while these accucations aren't without basis, using the ref as a scapegoat and turning a blind eye on our problems is not the way of solving these problems. I have a feeling, had this not been the first game and had it not been played on our turf, the quality of the pitch and the exhaustion of the players would have somehow made their way into the manager's speech.
And, of course, the injures. We already knew about Gibbs and Sagna, but Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosicky and Ramsey are fresh additions. The Ox, according to some reports, may be out for three months. Rosicky and Ramsey may not be badly injured, after all, but the boss's line about us being "quite good on that front" sounded like sheer mockery.
The current situation with the squad is, frankly, appaling. We have only three fit defenders to face Fenerbahce: Koscielny, Mertesacker and Jenkinson. Maybe Sagna will be available, maybe not. Either way, we've reached breaking point here. We don't have options for a starting eleven, let alone for a nicely packed bench. Action has to be taken, and quickly, if don't want to find ourselves outside the Champions League, we've fought so hard to get into last season.
But is Arsene Wenger the right man to take these actions? I don't think so, not anymore. Don't get me wrong, I have huge respect for the boss. He seems a very nice person, he delivered some stellar achievements in the past, but it looks like his time is up. There's a very thin line between respect and hatred. If he holds onto his position without achieving anything, the fans will grow to hate him. He will look just like any player we've let go in recent seasons. The only differrence between him and them will be in that they've left to earn money, while he opted to stay to do likewise. If he really cares for the fans, if he understands them and if he wants to leave, while still being respected for everything he's done for the club, he should go now, before it's too late. Before this season goes to the dogs and sees us finishing outside the top 4. Before we hand over to Tottenham and repeat Liverpool's fate.
Amid all this misery, the most I feel sorry for, are the players. The ones that stayed and showed their loyalty and dedication. The group of players we now have is truly commited to the cause, they are ready to fight until the end for us, no matter what's the cost. Just look at Gibbs and Sagna yesterday. At some point yesterday, I wanted to do something to warn them, to try and warn them against staying and soldiering on. Arsenal's ship seems to be on crash course and I don't want them to be here, when it reaches its destination. I never wanted our leaders to leave the club, I condemned the ones that did (with just a few exceptions), but they do seem to have no future here. Under Arsene Wenger, at least.
Yet I understand, that most of these players would not have listened to me. Guys like Whilshere, Szczesny, Ramsey - they have all dreamed they would some day pull on an Arsenal shirt. As small kids, they have watched this club win things and wanted to be a part of it. Not necessarily the winning, but part of the club. And they won't leave, because in their eyes, they already are in the best club.
All of it is really sad indeed, mostly because I don't see a way out of this mess. There is no quick solution to our problems, yet finding one is essential. Maybe a change of manager will help, but there will be little time for him to change the squad, which will definitely result in our season ending in a disaster. On the other hand, should Wenger stay, it's unlikely much will change, even in terms of signings. The board of directors should really give it some thought.
That's it for today. Back tomorrow
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