Untold Arsenal: Arsenal News. Supporting the Lord Wenger in all he does » 2010 » May » 03
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It is easy to argue that Wenger should go by taking one issue and shouting it, without any backup argument.
But it is harder to construct the logic over a larger number of issues.
In fact I have never seen it done with any of the debate and logic that is brought into the pro-Wenger arguments. But that doesn’t mean it is not worth trying.
So, if you want to come onto this site and place a few we designed anti-Wenger arguments before the readership fine, but please don’t take the short cut by running one argument without the back up. You should be answering four or five of the points below in depth, not just because that’s what this site does on the pro-side (and you will look awfully silly if you just take one diddly widdly point) but also because the world is inter-connected.
Just go and look outside for a moment, and you’ll see.
1. Denilson is rubbish.
Stats help with an argument like this. Comparisons of intercepts, passes, tackles with other players in similar positions.
2. The players are in revolt.
The argument is that Arshavin is always slagging off everyone. To show how true this is just take any article in its original language – normally Russian – and get it translated by an independent bi-lingual person, and then compare the comments with what Arshavin says on his own web site.
3. Cesc is going to leave and everyone else is following.
A tape of the original interview in which Cesc says this, with a translator at hand would be good, plus a logical debate as to why the article from the paper is believed over what the player himself says. Also an analysis of why this statement turned out not to be true last time. And the time before.
4. There are five players in the team who are not good enough and who should be chucked out now.
Aside from the stats mentioned in point one, it is good to show that better replacements are available, that the club is willing to sell, and that the price is not put into the stratosphere to ward off buyers, and that they are not demanding as part of their transfer to be paid the highest wages in the club.
5. The performance against Wigan/Tottenham/ anyone else was unacceptable.
Include here an analysis of our injury situation, why we get so many injuries and the quality of our reserve team. If more players should be in the reserves then explain also how we keep them happy when they only play a few games if the top man is ok. Then compare with any displays this season that you think were rather good. Everton 1 Arsenal 6 is a starting point. (And if you say that you can’t judge the club by a handful of results, then that applies to your own argument as well as the counter argument). Oh yes and also explain how a run that has lasted 10 years could be kept going forever.
6. We need to spend.
It is helpful to start off this article by explaining…
a) How we avoid being like Real Madrid who have spent more than anyone and are not certain of winning the league
b) How we avoid being like Man City who have spent more than anyone in this country and who certainly won’t win the league
c) How we avoid being like Chelsea who have spent billions and failed to win the league for the last three years
d) How we avoid getting into the mess of Man U and Liverpool where the only way out is find someone, anyone who will buy. And to explain how it is that a club as successful as Liverpool can end up with a reserve and youth system so awful that even their Academy coach says it is all useless.
7. Wenger’s transfers are a disgrace – he sells brilliant players and buys ordinary players.
Here you need to quote the actual stats for Flamini, Hleb, Toure, Adebayor, Henry, Vieira and anyone else you want to focus on – looking at how many games they have played and how things have gone generally since leaving. There was a comment here recently that said selling Hleb was a disgrace and how brilliant he had been since. The story of Hleb at Barca should be included at this point I feel – just to get the facts right. It is also important to engage in the debate in terms of players over time. Flamini had two average seasons and a good season – why is the good season taken to be “the real Flamini”? It is worth arguing through. And also how come we got Nasri.
8. The youth project is a failure – we can see that because we haven’t won the league for five years.
To make this argument work you have to look at when the project started, and how old those players are now. If you really think that the bunch of players brought together at the age of 11 who are now 17/18 should all be in the first team, otherwise the youth project is a failure, well, fine, make the argument. But not just the headline. Playing a bunch of 17 and 18 year olds in the EPL would certainly be a radical approach.
9. We can’t even win the Cups any more.
Here it is good to consider the youth project at the same time, since we play the reserves and youth players in the cup games. Liverpool, Chelsea and to a large degree, Man U, don’t play the youth team in the cups. But that’s because they don’t have a youth team like ours. So, are you suggesting that the youth team don’t get any league outings. If so, please also consider point 8 above, and then explain how they get games and how we see how they are going.
10. We haven’t won, we won’t win.
Anyone putting a sensible argument together here will incorporate the financial advantages of Chelsea and Man C, and will also consider what is happening with the league rules next season with the 25 rule and the Uefa financial rule the following season. You might consider how other teams will cope with them. And yes there is the argument that Chelsea etc will find a way around the rule – but it does seem that the 25 rule is being implemented next season. But if you feel that some clubs will be able to bribe Uefa to change the rule, then how do you propose Arsenal should deal with that? Should we be bribing too? If you think so, come out and say it.
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