Rainy day in gidi and even though i'm nice and dry at my favourite buka observing my lunch break, i cant help peeping through a popular sports news paper in the hands of a man eating next to me. A caption states Arsenal are about to hand Wenger a new deal to keep him as our manager for the foreseeable future.Now this is a very sensitive subject that from my experience divides arsenal fans sharply in equal halves..FOR&AGAINST. Some are of the opinion that Wenger has taken Arsenal as far as he can and its now time for him to gracefully bow out.Some who are less charitable even go on to stress that he should be sacked, seeing that he has been on the decline and the club has been going nowhere fast under his stewardship in the last couple of years. The other divide rise staunchly in Wengers' support saying he is still the best man for the job. They are quick to reel out mitigating circumstances in his defence that they beleive have been at the heart of his problems in delivering the kind of success that our great club deserves. some of those reasons are the stadium debt, the now abandoned "project youth" and others. Whenever these two parties meet on any platform to thrash out the "Wenger out" or "Wenger in" issue, it always often ends up in chaos. such is the obstinacy of their positions.
It is inarguable however that Arsenal are need of a change in fortunes. Its been 8 long years without any kind of on-field success and every fan i speak to whether "For" or "Against" Wenger, agrees that this is unacceptable and has to end. Wenger himself acknowledges this, and has been quoted as saying that he will not remain in charge if we continue to suffer a lack of silverware.In my opinion, this is an admission of a man who understands why he is being criticized, and why he has to pull a rabbit out of the hat somehow before his contract ends officially next summer. Managers like Ferguson, Wenger and i might add Marcello Lippi are rare in modern day football. They are a special crop who have successfully combined ethics, cunning, tenacity and loyalty to deliver success in a way that will be difficult to replicate. Their kind do not come along often and that is why their Parent clubs have found it hard to part with or replace them.Regardless of his shortcomings and frustrating habits, Wenger in my estimation remains a great Manager. His track record is impressive and he cannot have become a bad manager overnight. His philosophy and vision are the reason why we are currently in the Top 10 rankings of UEFA's best clubs. His ability to spot unheralded talents and mold them into world greats is 2nd to none, his roll call reads George Weah, Thierry Henry, Robin Van persie, Cesc Fabregas etc. its his knowledge and ability to spot a gem early that has made Arsenal punch above its weight despite being under heavy financial burdens. Much has been said also about the way Arsenal play the game, the passing and attacking fervor on display when the Gunners are in full flow. That class is intrinsically Wengers' making stemming from years of indoctrination and application.
However, the past few years have brought Wengers' competence under scrutiny and his suitability to take the club he loves any further has been questioned. A steady erosion of the talent base of his team under questionable transfers have dented the clubs' image and ridiculed its ambition. Add to that an increasingly frustrated fanbase and trophy starved supporters,and you can see why the pressure to bring back the winning days gets hotter with every passing season of disappointment for Wenger. Background facts exist and we've heard from Wenger himself in the past say that his hands are tied with respect to his access to funds,however close watchers will agree that he also hasn't helped himself on occasions both on and off the pitch with his decision-making.For example, i still wonder how and why we persisted with Almunia as our number one even though it was clear he wasn't anywhere as good. or how he ever deemed Sylvester a good enough signing for us only to see Drogba embarrass us and himself in the FA cup semifinal in 2008. Questions like these have arisen from critics as proof that Wenger runs a one man show and nobody questions his decisions. The Arsenal board have always backed him publicly and his loyal fans state that there's no manager available that can take Wengers' place. its a sensitive situation which pitches emotion against pragmatism but many insist its Wenger that holds the aces, he knows where the future for him lies. The board will not sack him, so should he leave it'll have to be him falling on his Sword or shall we say Cannon. (To be Continued....)
No comments:
Post a Comment