What constitutes failure? By Tony Attwood One of the most interesting issues raised in correspondence about the “philosophy of Wenger” articles was the question, “what constitutes failure”. I was asked whether seven years without a trophy would be a failure? Or ten years? And that led me into thinking that really that was far too …
Read More “The philosophy of Wenger: what would be too great a price to pay for a trophy?”
Wenger, Chapman, Graham – a comparison By Tony Attwood I was intending to stop this series on Wenger after covering the three basics: Philosophy, Practice and the Total Revolution. But a reader wrote in asking me what would constitute failure in terms of the Wenger revolution, and I thought it such a good question I …
Read More “Chapman, Allison, Graham, Wenger: a comparison”
By Tony Attwood (You can go back and read the article from the start, by clicking here). So the revised Wengerian philosophy emerged out of practical considerations. It had these basic points… a) The new youth system is working and some of the players coming through (Wilshere is the most obvious but there are many …
Read More “The philosophy of Arsène Wenger: the total revolution”
By Tony Attwood I pointed out in part 1 of this article that Wenger brought to Arsenal a new approach to football, not just in the style of playing, but also in the style of coaching, of economics, and of running the club. However the world changes, and football was not blind to what Wenger …
Read More “Wenger’s theory and practice of football – part 2”
By Tony Attwood The issue has been raised a number of times: this blog has gone totally over the top in praising Arsène Wenger, instead of recognising his faults. Maybe there’s something in that, and if so, it is entirely my fault. So I thought I would go back, look at Wenger, and all he …
Read More “It is not Wenger, it is the Wengerian philosophy that matters”
By Tony Attwood What a jolly day. And so many issues. I’ll combine them into one article, so we can move on to broader matters of substance for consideration and in-depth analysis tomorrow (or not if I get up late, or if you are bored and have had enough). Wenger’s “rant” (as one correspondent described …
Read More “Totts booed and issue DVD, Wenger supremely clever”
By Walter Broeckx Some fans have only bad words for Arsène Wenger. It might be worth having a look at some of them – especially in the light of a 6-0 win. Wenger doesn’t want to buy. Yes Wenger doesn’t want to buy just for the sake of buying a player. He isn’t interested in …
Read More “6-0. Thanks for staying Arsène”
by Tony Attwood For years there has been a general assumption that there are only three ways of developing a club and two ways of making money out of football. You can make your club grow (so it was always said) by Development Method 1) Buying in those who are already acknowledged to be the …
Read More “How Wenger has changed football once again”
By Tony Attwood Running a football club is about two things: surviving and winning. Obviously if you can’t do the former, then the latter is out of the question. So far, only one club in the modern era has fallen from pretensions of greatness to a desperate attempt to survive: Leeds. Other supposedly big clubs …
Read More “It is not about winning a trophy this year. It is about making sure Arsenal is there for my grandsons in 20 years time.”
By Tony Attwood Star of stage, screen and the members pack Well, if you have received the full Arsenal members’ pack, and put in your DVD (at least the round thing in the pack), and then worked your way through the Ray Parlour stuff, watched the goal of the season countdown, and wondered what next, …
Read More “Untold Arsenal appear on the Arsenal membership DVD; Arsène copes well, I make predictions”
By Gooneraside A simple grammar for those who just don’t get it Fiction. The Mirror, 7 June 2010 – Joe Cole will join Arsenal after the World Cup. So we know that for the piece of poo it was. But how many of you believed this at the time? None of you, you say? Then …
Read More “FACT OR FICTION? A simple grammar for those who just don’t get it”
By Tony Attwood The supporters’ rebellion at Manchester United this summer was supposed to involve season ticket holders not renewing until the last minute. But the trouble with rebellions is that they can sometimes get a bit out of control. I am not sure that the middle class members of the 3rd Estate in France …
Read More “In 3 years time Old Trafford will be half empty, but the Ems will still be full”
According to Sky with its story, “Wenger steps up preparations” Arsenal are going to have to sell players to make space in the squad, because of the 25 player rule. They say, Meanwhile, Wenger has hinted that he may look to move a few players on this summer, with new Premier League regulations stipulating that …
Read More “Sky reveal exclusively Arsenal will sign at least six more first team players”
Why us gooners have much to be proud of Aria Khani The recent world cup final was contested between a technically gifted Spanish side and a very hard working and talented Holland. The Spanish victory was hailed by Alan Hansen and co, as a good result for football. They marvelled over the passing game and …
Read More “Why Gooners have so much to be proud of”
By Tony Attwood The members of the North Korean branch of the Arsenal supporters club tend to consider Arsène Wenger a renegade running dog who can’t admit his mistakes, who clings to power when all the world that victory is inevitably theirs. Their world view is a simple world view. First, they set up a …
Read More “The philosophy of Arsène Wenger and how the North Koreans don’t get it”
The players are doing a bit of pre-season limbering up, our new man from the Orient is already here, there’s Chamakh too, Henri Lansbury looked last season like someone we ought to sign (and hey! we have him anyway), Jack Wilshire is back, Theo hasn’t been injured in the world cup, Djourou is fit, and …
Read More “Supposing we didn’t have Wenger, but had someone far more frightening”
