Wenger blows top

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/7282512.stm


Basically, Bentley said that Walcott could leave Arsenal, get more regular playing time and develop more quickly as a player. And of course, he's right. Walcott could do this, would get more playing time and would probably develop quicker as a result.

Wenger sees this as profoundly unjust:

Bentley is entitled to his opinion but it does not mean he is right.
I don't know why one player should incite another player to leave a club. It is not his job.

So if an Arsenal players says 'we'd love to have such and such at our club and I hope we sign him', that's perfectly fair. But a player who has furthered his career by leaving Arsenal offers some advice to a youngster who is struggling and suddenly he's the villain?

Three days after a highly respectable win in the CL you might be excused for thinking Wenger had better things to do than find yet another way to be hypocritical.

Here's some more ammunition for you. Off you go.
http://football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_3253176,00.html

So, Mourinho and Bentley are tossers, tell us something we don't know

How is Bentley a tosser. He said IF Walcott isn't getting enough football he should consider leaving. He didn't say 'he should leave', which is clearly how Wenger read it.

10 years in England and he still can't speak the language.


As to Mourinho's comments - he's three years behind me on that one. I was saying that back when 606 was still great and Arsenal were still winning trophies.

Never heard of this "Top" bloke.

borocooper wrote:Never heard of this "Top" bloke.

You have... he's the guy that forced himself on you in the train toilet last week.

That was you Tweeds, and your name isnt "Top"

borocooper wrote:Never heard of this "Top" bloke.

Yet more proof that genuine wit is possible on the internet.

borocooper wrote:That was you Tweeds, and your name isnt "Top"

How do you know it isn't?

borocooper wrote:Never heard of this "Top" bloke.

Who ever he is, he's underage.

Yoda wrote:

borocooper wrote:Never heard of this "Top" bloke.

Yet more proof that genuine wit is possible on the internet.

He responded 9 hours after you made this thread.

Parks lives wrote:

Yoda wrote:

borocooper wrote:Never heard of this "Top" bloke.

Yet more proof that genuine wit is possible on the internet.

He responded 9 hours after you made this thread.

How do you know when I first read it?

borocooper wrote:

Parks lives wrote:

Yoda wrote:

borocooper wrote:Never heard of this "Top" bloke.

Yet more proof that genuine wit is possible on the internet.

He responded 9 hours after you made this thread.

How do you know when I first read it?

Probably about 5 hours ago and it took you that long to come up with your 'witty' reply.

Parks lives wrote:

borocooper wrote:

Parks lives wrote:

Yoda wrote:

borocooper wrote:Never heard of this "Top" bloke.

Yet more proof that genuine wit is possible on the internet.

He responded 9 hours after you made this thread.

How do you know when I first read it?

Probably about 5 hours ago and it took you that long to come up with your 'witty' reply.

Took you 6 minutes to come up with that?

Thats not an attempt at wit is it.

A Tribe Called TS wrote:

borocooper wrote:Never heard of this "Top" bloke.

Who ever he is, he's underage.

Parks lives wrote:Thats not an attempt at wit is it.

Mine wasnt an attempt at wit either. It just was wit.

borocooper wrote:

Parks lives wrote:

borocooper wrote:

Parks lives wrote:

Yoda wrote:

borocooper wrote:Never heard of this "Top" bloke.

Yet more proof that genuine wit is possible on the internet.

He responded 9 hours after you made this thread.

How do you know when I first read it?

Probably about 5 hours ago and it took you that long to come up with your 'witty' reply.

Took you 6 minutes to come up with that?

One of the most pointless, but funny, exchanges I've read on here for a long time.

"But do not say he is growing young players into talents. What he does is take young players who are jewels and polishes them"

Messiah wrote:"But do not say he is growing young players into talents. What he does is take young players who are jewels and polishes them"

Couldnt agree more

:mexichin:

Yoda wrote:How is Bentley a tosser. He said IF Walcott isn't getting enough football he should consider leaving. He didn't say 'he should leave', which is clearly how Wenger read it.

10 years in England and he still can't speak the language.


As to Mourinho's comments - he's three years behind me on that one. I was saying that back when 606 was still great and Arsenal were still winning trophies.

What Mourinho said was very true. Wenger won next-to-nothing for a couple of seasons yet his job status was never in doubt.

S4P wrote:

Yoda wrote:How is Bentley a tosser. He said IF Walcott isn't getting enough football he should consider leaving. He didn't say 'he should leave', which is clearly how Wenger read it.

10 years in England and he still can't speak the language.


As to Mourinho's comments - he's three years behind me on that one. I was saying that back when 606 was still great and Arsenal were still winning trophies.

What Mourinho said was very true. Wenger won next-to-nothing for a couple of seasons yet his job status was never in doubt.

This is more to the detriment of the board - or you could see it as smart management depending on how you interpret this.

Wenger now will see he holds more power than a regular manager, i.e will be given the benefit of the doubt and support as a result of what he has achieved at Arsenal (much in the way SAF has been given time to rebuild)

This faith in my opinion is good for football particularly at larger clubs if you have the right manager, as it allows managers time to develop players into their plan and team.

The biggest issue i would have if i were an Arsenal fan, is that the ever increasing influence Wenger has on the club the more he will be consulted on decisions, and lets face it like Fergie he is a man of football not neccessary of business and if the decision making over controlling key areas involving money is given to the manager this power could lead to big mistakes that can affect short term future which like domino's can lead to medium and long term issues - with perhaps not seeing the whole business picture just the football picture.

I will add that Wenger has been incredibly sensible with money, but should he ever become under increasing pressure to deliver, the influence he commands at the club may make him behave irrationally to save his own reputation - as improbable as this scenario this is the very real risk with having first team managers having a hugely supported say in how the business behind the football club is run.

The flip side is they will always go in with the intention to make football the emphasis over other business interests, they key here is to listen to your head as opposed to your heart, as passion is not always pragmatic.

I can honestly say with a hand on my heart that I hope Wenger is our manager for another ten years. When he leaves, it'll be a very sad day for the club.

For the two seasons where we had a blip, its worth noting that our wrists were tied a bit in the transfer market due to the stadium development. Hopefully from now on, we'll be able to push the money around a bit more and improve on what is already a good base. The only real criticism I have of Wenger is his relectance to make the neccessary purchases even when we have the money. For instance, we clearly needed left wing cover last summer and the lack of investment there has cost us at times this season when both Rosicky and diaby, our two best players on the left, have been injured.

Tweedle wrote:I can honestly say with a hand on my heart that I hope Wenger is our manager for another ten years. When he leaves, it'll be a very sad day for the club.

For the two seasons where we had a blip, its worth noting that our wrists were tied a bit in the transfer market due to the stadium development. Hopefully from now on, we'll be able to push the money around a bit more and improve on what is already a good base. The only real criticism I have of Wenger is his relectance to make the neccessary purchases even when we have the money. For instance, we clearly needed left wing cover last summer and the lack of investment there has cost us at times this season when both Rosicky and diaby, our two best players on the left, have been injured.

But even within your critism you are splitting hairs, because Wenger has actually behaved quite rationally, although you required a certain player, and although you had money to spend, he didn't spend for the sake of spending, he obviously didn't see a player in the market worth purchasing.

The wonderful thing about top class managers is that they don't buy because they can, they would rather wait untill the right player is available then purchase this player.

I to an extent agree with you, Wenger has been nothing but a success for Arsenal, but his biggest challenge is the era now which he operates in, his team went unbeaten for a whole season in the Premiership, a similar achievement would be required for Wenger to retain the league title.

The one thing that has impressed me, after years of not budging from his pass and move football, the team has been given the license to take advantage of Adebayor's physical presence, whether you'd agree or admit it, Bentley would have thrived with the players you currently have, i entirely understand why he never made the team at the time he was at Arsenal, but now with games, confidence and development - and recognising the way Arsenal now play he would be ideal.

Does it annoy you at all that Bentley was let loose? Wenger has usually be ok with letting players go (Pennant, Jeffers etc), but this must be one you agree that got away?

Bentley wasn't so much let loose. As far as I remember he was pretty keen for a move at the time and with Bergkamp ahead on him in the squad (as back then he was more of a support forward), we really didn't have an option.

Its a toughy. I think Wenger with time would have given him more opportunities but I think the move away has also made him a better and mentally stronger player.

Also not sure, with a fully fit squad, that he would make our first XI - when RVP is back we'll go 4-4-2 and Hleb will fill the right wing role.

As has been mentioned before, our game also relies on a lot of pace - something that Bentley isn't particularly bless with.

Tweedle wrote:Bentley wasn't so much let loose. As far as I remember he was pretty keen for a move at the time and with Bergkamp ahead on him in the squad (as back then he was more of a support forward), we really didn't have an option.

Its a toughy. I think Wenger with time would have given him more opportunities but I think the move away has also made him a better and mentally stronger player.

Also not sure, with a fully fit squad, that he would make our first XI - when RVP is back we'll go 4-4-2 and Hleb will fill the right wing role.

As has been mentioned before, our game also relies on a lot of pace - something that Bentley isn't particularly bless with.

Without saying it you are effectively agreeing.

I said at the time he was released it made sense, but now with games, experience, confidence and his ability hes proving to be a top player.

You mention pace, and i recognise that your game particularly expects this, but the prime example (which you referred to) Bergkamp had none, because he was so technically astute, i could quite easily imagine Sagna or Eboue bombing past Bentley on the right flank whilst he decides whether to lay off or deliver a technically accurate cross.


I think you'd agree he would in his current form be an asset to your squad, whether he'd start no-one knows, but one thing i have picked up on was Wengers appreciation of Beckhams game, and seeing as though Bentley has many similar characteristics and some (being able to beat a man, can use his left foot to an extent) Surely he would have now fitted the bill?

It is much easier in hindsight, at the time he had an on form top quality Lungberg to compete with, which at the time would have been very difficult to replace particularly for a youngster learning the game, perhaps only Figo at the time would have been an adequate alternative, such was Lungbergs form and quality at the time.

Bently could never start a head of Rosicky or Hleb. Two real playmakers who understand the concept of pass n' move on an almost telepathic level with the team. For Bently to be good enough for Arsenal he would have had to stay and learn the pass and move style. Though he has good vision, he has little imagination and can't dribble past players and also has average ball manipulation. Hugging the touch-line, getting chalk on your boots and firing crosses in just isn't good enough for an Arsenal team. IMO he would take a year to adapt to the football. He should have stayed if he wanted to play for a top team. He can only hope to play for an ordinary team or maybe Liverpool who play that type of football. I'd rather have Young or J.cole.

The great thing about Wenger is he is careful with his spending. Just because he has £20 million available doesn't mean he should spend it on large numbers of second rate players like Liverpool have done this year (Torres excluded although of course he cost more than £20m on his own). A team like Arsenal run on tight commercial lines can't afford to do that. We don't need bench warmers.

Sir Les wrote:The great thing about Wenger is he is careful with his spending. Just because he has £20 million available doesn't mean he should spend it on large numbers of second rate players like Liverpool have done this year (Torres excluded although of course he cost more than £20m on his own). A team like Arsenal run on tight commercial lines can't afford to do that. We don't need bench warmers.

Arsenal run on tight commercial lines? Might I remind you that he signed Reyes for 17.5 million, who flopped and was sold on for a fraction of the price without the slightest criticism being aimed at Wenger? Might I also remind you that the Arsenal board have been saying that the money is there if Wenger wants it, that he is in no way tied to a small budget as a manager? And might I also remind you that compared to 99% of football clubs, Arsenal are ludicrously wealthy?


Once again, propaganda fails. The truth is out there.