ANR reply from Ian M : Fabregas and Wenger
Enjoying your exchanges with readers, Myles.
Fabregas is the jewel in Wenger's crown, so I am not surprised at his denialism - bluff it out and it will all go away.
But if Fabregas is bent on going, then I believe we should thank him for some glorious football and not stand in his way.
Ferguson acceded to reality and let Ronaldo have his dream move - I believe we should be equally sanguine. As you say, Wenger has failed to build a team around Fab worthy of his genius. I also believe, like you, that Spain would have been a far better team, who wouldn't have laboured to beat others, with Fab in his familiar forward midfield role.
Unlike Xavi and Iniesta, he has learnt from English football the virtues of directness when it counts - lurking behind the strikers, evading defenders and killing teams with his immaculate angles. He will do the same for Barca. Fab is commendable for his gratitude to Arsenal - at most I think he will give us one more season - which maybe Wenger's last chance
too.
The irony is we have two great up-and-coming replacements - Wilshere and Ramsey - to soften the blow. The question, as you point out, is how Wenger will develop these talents?
The enigma of Walcott continues - is he getting the coaching he needs? But if he and Fab were considered good enough for the first team at a tender age, then I think Wilshere and Ramsey (when he comes back) should be too. If you are right about his touchiness re English players, maybe he feels burnt by people like Jeffers and the poorly handled Cole saga - one thing seems apparent - Wenger doesn't take kindly to strong willed individuals - maybe that is a trait he finds in English players, or just his take on a culture not his own.
Certainly it might explain his indulgence of so many players for so long who don't cut it - why Aliadiere was on the books for so long is a mystery, and now Vela - not to mention the preponderance of midfielders who flatter to deceive.
Wenger has obviously been up there with the best. But I hope he knows when to exit with dignity. Another season of false starts and promises will try the patience not just of fans, but of some players too. As you say, a target of top four and Champs League every year may be an achievement, but it merely represents business as it has been for some years now.
BTW I think Hodgson is a great sigining for Liverpool and has the capacity, subject to the whims of the idiots who own it, to transform the club.
Myles replies:
I don't think Walcott is getting the coaching he needs. But then I don't think Nasri or Sagna are getting the coaching they need either. As for Wenger's exit strategy, I'm terrified he'll stay forever as Director of Football. My biggest worry is that he'll never go. The Arsenal team has been in decline since 2004 and this feeble squad will win nothing.
Reply from John Ball :
Ian M is totally missing the point when he argues that Ferguson was being 'sanguine' in letting Ronaldo have his drean move. The point is £80m paid for Ronaldo against less than £30m that Barca have offered for Cesc. They are trying to get him on the cheap, and I'm right behind the Club telling them where to get off.
I'm very surprised that you, Myles, didn't pick up on this.
Jul 25, 2010