Did he tell the club he wanted Suarez, Rooney or Higuian? Paper talk perhaps? There's been so much of it this summer and most of it seems to have been BS up to now?Originally Posted by Danbert Nocurry
I feel sorry for Wenger, how is he supposed to build a great side when he's constantly losing key players? People seem to buy the idea that's it's him penny-pinching over targets. So was it him allowing star players to run their contracts down, too? Hardly seems feasible.
Losing top players constantly makes it a huge struggle for Wenger to restore the big club mentality they had. In the transfer market, it seems he can't win. Go for young players and he's accused of being stubborn; go for middle-level punts like Giroud/Gervinho and it's lack of ambition; tell the club he wants Suarez, Rooney or Higuian and he's left with nobody because they fail to get them.
As always, top four would be a great achievement by Wenger this season and one few other managers would replicate in his position.
If you were one of them would you go to Arsenal?
I think Wenger's Invincibles were a fantastic team and although Wenger took over a decent team in 1996 he made them better and this was a team of his making.
But he's never come anywhere near it since.
If indeed the mitigation you have set out held water, then surely Wenger would have left by now due to divisions with the board?
But no, I think he has signed some duffers
AND
failed to retain his better players
He didn't get the success from splashing the cash, he gained it from spotting talent at decent prices and mostly when he splashed the cash it didn't work out.
Here are most of his buys in the first 10 seasons of his tenure.
Look down the list - I've highlighted those that I thought worked and really made an impact - debatable I know, but I don't think there's that much argument. I get it to 12 impact players.
Signings since then - well it can be said that none really have had much of an impact as they haven't done anything as a team.
Arshavin, Gervinho, Chammak, Podolski, Giroud - his main offensive buys of recent years that wouldn't get a look in at Man Utd, City or Chelsea - even Spurs come to that!
Vermaelen, Koscielny, Squillacci, Mertesacker - his main defensive buys - ditto.
Artete - panic buy - past his best and was always a bit over rated anyway
Cazorla - I actually think this guy could be something - but he's 28 and not exactly a snip.
Gislason Undisclosed
Lukic Free
Garde Free
Vierra £3,500,000
Anelka £500,000
Upson £1,200,000
Grimandi £1,750,000
Boa Morte £1,750,000
Mendez £250,000
Overmars £7,000,000
Petit £3,500,000
Manninger £1,000,000
Wreh £300,000
Vivas £1,600,000
Grondin £500,000
Ljungberg £3,000,000
Pennant £2,000,000
Kanu £4,500,000
Diawara £2,500,000
Luzhny £1,800,000
Malz £650,000
Sylvinho £4,000,000
Suker £3,500,000
Voltz Undisclosed
Henry £10,500,000
Lauren £7,200,000
Pires £6,000,000
Wiltord £13,000,000
Stepanovs £1,000,000
Danilevicius £1,000,000
Edu £6,000,000
Dimel Undisclosed
Svard Undisclosed
Inamoto £3,500,000
Jeffers £8,000,000
Van Bronckh. £8,500,000
Wright £6,000,000
Tavlaridis £600,000
Toure £150,000
Cygan £2,100,000
Gilberto £4,500,000
Senderos £2,500,000
Shaaban Undisclosed
Warmuz Undisclosed
Djourou FREE
Clichy £250,000
Fabregas FREE
Flamini Undisclosed
Almunia Undisclosed
Reyes £10,500,000
Van Persie £2,750,000
Eboue £1,000,000
Mannone £350,000
Bendtner £75,000
Traore Undiisclosed
Hleb £10 million ish
Diaby £2,000,000
Adebayor £7,000,000
Walcott £5,000,000*
Poom Undisclosed
Rosicky £6,800,000
Song £1,000,000
Denilson £3,400,000
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