I don’t think Wenger has “lost the plot” like some suggest. Managers either have THAT ability or they don’t. They don’t suddenly “lost it” just because the team has not been doing well. I heard the same thing again and again when people said Alex Ferguson had “lost the plot” in the past. Do people still think he has now?
The way I see it - When Wenger bought van Persie and Adebayor, he must have thought to himself, “I now have a player with skills and talent (van Persie), and a player with a physical presence (Adebayor). They will be able to provide us some nice alternatives up front. Henry’s vision and unselfish play means he should be able to bring the pair into the game without a problem.”
That’s the plan. As for how it really works out it’s largely beyond the manager’s control. It’s like when van Nistelrooy had a goal drought last season and which resulted in a bad run of results for United. People started suggesting Ferguson had lost the plot or the dressing room - all the same old rubbish. What more could a manager do? He put his best striker out there, yet he couldn’t score, whatever reason that was. Why was it suddenly the manager’s fault?
In Arsenal’s case, the truth is - so far, Henry has not established a chemistry with either van Persie or Adebayor.
Why are we playing 4-5-1 now? We know Wenger has always been a 4-4-2 believer. Against the weaker sides there was no need for us to pack the midfield with 5 players. The reason we are still playing 4-5-1 is because we simply can’t play two men up front. Henry, van Persie and Adebayor can’t seem to play well with each other at all.
Take the Henry/van Persie combination, when they were partnering up front, one drifted left, another drifted right, they were not linking up with each other whatsoever. Both were isolated doing their own thing.
Did Wenger envision that this would happen? No one could possibly see it coming. Particularly the role Henry been playing at the moment. When Arsenal decided to keep him at all costs, the large part of it was hoping Titi would help lead the young players around him and smoot the transition period. Just like what Bergkamp did when Henry first joined the club.
Has Titi been doing that?
I won’t put all the blame on Henry though. I’ve always believed in one thing -
when the team is doing well, it’s not just the manager’s credit, not just the star players’ credit. Football is a TEAM game, you win as a team. Likewise, when things are not going well, we can’t just suggest the manager has lost the plot.
15 Responses to “Has Wenger lost the plot?”
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November 30th, 2006 at 12:49 pm
He’s stubborn. He believes in his ideas, and doesn’t stray from them. I guess that can be both good and bad.
When things are going well, the manager is a genius, when they are not, its ON YOUR BIKE.
Well… this rollercoaster is on the down-slope at the moment. He hasn’t lost the plot, but I’d certainly like him to be a bit less rigid and adapt the teams style and configurations and players a bit.
But I don’t see him changing. That could be for the good or bad, and only time will tell. I wouldn’t want anyone else in charge. That is for sure.
Fergy and United?
Yes, folks on this site wrote Fergy AND United off… so did many… but they are TOP of the league… lost RVN, and they are even better than before. Carrick has helped alot… and Saha and Rooney and Ronaldo have played excellent football up front. Their midfield has held up well, as Giggs has played like he is a lot younger. Their back 4 is SOLID… and their keeper is good. NOT all STARS, but some stars with consistent players in there. They are currently the team to beat. You NEVER can write off Manchester United or Alex Ferguson, to do so is stupid.
For once, I think many non-United supporters, will be rooting for THEM to win the title. Better them than 3 in a row for Chelski.
Our League season is in a shambles… I would like to see the likes of Alidiare Bendtner and Stokes get to play for us, but Wenger is un-bending, so it won’t happen. What else can the kids do?
If we aren’t getting it done with the players we have… and we ARE NOT right now…
Then CHANGE SOMETHING. You can’t keep trotting the same folks out and doing the same things and playing the same way. IT IS NOT WORKING.
The blame goes ALL OVER. Coaches Manager Players … evenly.
November 30th, 2006 at 1:20 pm
btw stag, r u a gamer? i mean Football management PC game? I have been a CM/FM addict for a long time, but lately there is another cool game in the market - FIFA Manager 07 (EA Sports). 3D game play. And the best thing is - while Arsenal in real life has been disappointing, at least we can draw some consolation by managing the team ourselves and try to lead them to the championship!
at least that’s what i’ve been trying to do. I spent 10 mil on Scott Parker and Roque Santa Cruz, got rid of Song, Flamini, Gilberto, Lauren, Alumania! Now that’s what u call “rebuilding”!
you can also get a girl in the game, born u a son or two so in the future they may play for your team like Nigel Glough once did for his old man Brian.
give it a try, at least it may help to keep our spirit up a bit. With things going lately, we probably really need that!
November 30th, 2006 at 1:30 pm
No Wenger hasnt losst it… its a trying period thats all. If we dumped everyone every season they didnt play well and bought Shevchenko in people would still moan. So its snot use.. The Henry point is interesting …
According to me:
Henry’s poor form = Pires/Bergkamp leaving + Ashburton Grove + His fitness + His thought processes
So whats the most imprtant..?? clear the cobwebs in his head and we’ll have Captain fantastic destroying people again..Lets hope we win at Spurs…
November 30th, 2006 at 4:19 pm
Won less than half of the games played = title pretenders, not contenders.
Forget it again for this year.
Get a few things shaken up on the squad, get the forwards cooperating well, use some of our on loan stars and think about it next year.
November 30th, 2006 at 5:27 pm
When people question whether Wenger has lost the plot, I’d assume they are asking whether he’s lost his ability to lead the team to win honours. If that’s the case, I’d say no. His contribution and role at Arsenal is more than just a football manager - his vision over youth development, transfer policies, player fitness/diets, the Emirates stadium project, etc. are just a few non-footballing areas where Wenger has positively influenced the club for success in the past, present, and future. I hope he remains with the club until he retires.
However, everyone is questioning Arsenal’s recent run of results, whether we are able to win games and challenge for the title this season, or in fact the next. To anwser that you have to understand one fact: Wenger has never relied on his tatical ability alone to win games, he’s not a strategist or a great tactician.
Wenger is a footballing philosopher, he believes his players should have pace, technically gifted, and able to play free-flowing football to technical perfection. He believes these qualities will allow his team to control/dominiate games, and score goals to achieve the results needed to win games. This philosophy is the core of the Arsenal style of play that we rave about when we win, and moan about when we lose.
The only downfall in Wenger’s footballing philosophy is that each team member must be sharp(focused) and on form in order for the system to work - one weak link and we exposed. Currently, we’re experience the latter case with most of our squad, no one really is on form except for maybe Walcott and the occassional brilliance form van Persie’s set-pieces.
I would expect Wenger to adapt his tactics to suit the environment/situation. Unfortunately, he is stubborn and has not. Success in the CL last year was misleading since it was a mini tournament with a knockout stage - but we will have to wait for every player’s potential to reached the top before we can see some consistency in performance and stringing together enough results to win the title again.
This is perhaps the one main reason why we’re struggling - we have no plan B. If we can’t play out Wenger’s footballing philosohpy on the field, our players seems to be lost and doesn’t know other ways to get the job done…
November 30th, 2006 at 10:52 pm
Wenger hasn’t lost the plot. His current crop of players are not following the script as outlined by ‘neova’. George Graham points out that Arsenal have lost 7 world class players and have replaced them with young players who have yet to reach their peak. So be it. That’s the deal with Arsenal. No retreads here. This is not a Harry Redknapp team.
Wenger is under a tremendous amount of pressure. There are cracks starting to appear in his aloof gallic demeanor. His public displays with Jol and Pardew may be the outward signs of that. Now is the time for a stiff British upper lip. I am worried about Wenger’s psyche though. He stated today the Arsenal “WILL beat Sp*rs”. In September that statement would sound confident, today that statement is frankly psychotic and delusional. If I’m Sp*rs I’m thinking: “no f*****g way”. If I’m Arsenal I’m thinking: “its too soon, I’m not ready to go back out there”. I will not post my prediction since I got the last one right. I don’t want that power on my conscience. I just know it will end badly as usual. Wenger knows.
Here is a novel thought (that I’ve expressed before): why doesn’t Wenger bring back the loanees and see who can best fit in with Henry. We are not chasing the league title now, so why not. Come January, Wenger will be forced to make a “concession speech” for the second year in a row.
November 30th, 2006 at 11:30 pm
Jeremie Aliadiare would “fit best with Henry”.
Wenger won’t play him for some reason.
So forget about the loanees coming back and getting playing time.
Its not going to happen.
November 30th, 2006 at 11:39 pm
i don’t think wenger has lost the plot. the bottom line is, hes created a team for europe. not a team suitable for the premier league. I’d put any money on us beating porto next week no probs. because eurpean teams give our midfielders time on the ball. For the premiership, i suggest wenger buying a proper left winger and play this side. I haven’t included fabregas because hes not premiership material. He’s a european player and the pace and physical side of the premier league doesn’t suit his game. I kinda feel the same way with gilberto aswell.
With this team, you got Eboue and Clichy providing crosses for baptista. VanPersie and Walcott cutting in and shooting. Rosicky’s long shots. Henry playing in his favourite position. Thats plenty more options for goals then playing Hleb and Fabregas, as they like to sit on the ball and work little passes around. There’s no pentretration with them. I really hope wenger tries out this team.
—————Lehmann
Eboue—–Toure——Gallas—-Clichy
VanPersie-Rosicky—Gilberto—Walcott
———Baptista—-Henry
December 1st, 2006 at 1:53 am
To answer the topical question - YES, for the moment atleast, Wenger has lost the plot. I base it on a very simple fact. Last year, when we were losing left, right and centre, we said that it was a transitional season and the boys were young and the team would come through. One year down the line and we are ACTUALLY WORSE off. I know there are some intangibles like the youngsters growing up and all. But yet again, it’s a fight for 4th place. We might get there in the end but how have we improved over one year’s time? Having said that, it doesn’t mean AW can’t turn it around. But it would take a LOT.
On the point of RvP and Ade not gelling with Henry, why hasn’t AW tried to partner Henry with an actual goal scorer? So far, he has tried Reyes (lots of potential), RvP (lots of talent) and Ade (supposedly lots of physical strength). But NOBODY had a goal scoring record before. Granted that they were all too young to have one. But now we expect them to score regularly. Didn’t AW see the obvious absence of Pires and Ljunberg as goal scorers. Just who did he expect to step up? Now we have Baptista, who actually has a proven goal scoring record and AW wants to play him as a midfielder!!! What can I say.
On the point that the current team is suited for Europe but not the league, it’s partly true, but only partly. If it was truely the case, we would not have been struggling to get through to the next stage in the CL.
I am more than willing to give AW the chance to get things right. Not only does he deserve it but he has also proved that he can do it. But if sticks to his guns and is too adamant about certain things, I fear for the worst. But it’s time for the fans to stick together and get behind the team.
December 1st, 2006 at 2:47 am
By the way, did anyone notice that for all the flak RvP gets, he is now joint top scorer with Henry and actually leads him in the assists?
December 1st, 2006 at 3:46 am
neova, your comment is the best piece of analysis I have read (anywhere) for a while. Great insight, and caught AW’s strength and weakness, above all, what kind of manager he really is, beautifully.
December 1st, 2006 at 3:47 am
neova, your comment is the best piece of analysis I have read (anywhere) for a while. Great insight, and caught AW’s strength and weakness, above all, what kind of manager he really is, beautifully.
December 1st, 2006 at 6:15 am
Still floggin the Alaidiere horse? Adebayor is the only player who remotely fits with Henry, see the assists and goals last season for proof. Van Persie is too selfish for Thierry, Aliadiere too similar, there is however a slim hope that Baptista can do the job from deep, at Sevilla he loved a one-two, but his assist record wasn’t great.
Adebayor may have missed a few, who hasn’t for us this season? He works right across the front line pressuring the defenders, doing the dirty work that Henry seems not too bothered about in some games.
December 1st, 2006 at 12:13 pm
That is why I asked people to read ‘neova’s’ post in my comments. It is a brilliant analysis that reveal’s the current side to be a pale imitation of last year’s side. We lack the intensity our play had at the end of last season.
December 1st, 2006 at 12:17 pm
Not bad for being played out of position.