Yes Wenger may not be a Failure to Kroenke but he would be to Abramovich
(EU)
Yesterday’s article from @invinciblog caused quite a stir. Most understood that the author had done the research to understand by Stan Kroenke might want to keep Arsene Wenger as his manager. The arguments was compelling but as one Gunners Town reader pointed out in numerous tweets the view is dependent on the owner. A certain Russian across the way might have viewed things differently, Here is that readers response…..
I posted a response on twitter to the article “If you believe Wenger is a failure you’re deluded, here’s why”. (My twitter is @mic8408).
@goonerdave66 suggested I email it in so I decided to do so.
It is as follows…..
I’m sorry but this is a much blinded view of things.
Yes, you may have used facts but a top football club’s success is based on more than an average performance over a period of time.
Your whole article is from the viewpoint of a Kroenke type businessman. The type of owner who is ONLY involved with the club for profit. Not an Abramovich type owner, an owner who wants his club to be the biggest and best in the world.
Under such an owner, all of those facts would mean diddlysquat.
They would also take into account other little bits of info in those stats.
For example, our average league position during our “feast” years.
You have us on a higher average position than Utd, which is a rose tinted stat.
I find it interesting that you went up to 05, and then included the most recent season. It seems you have done this in order to inflate our average position over Utd, as without those 2 seasons included Utd would have been above us (considering they won five titles to our 3).
Now I will give you the FA Cup, we have excelled in that competition under Wenger and what he’s done in it won’t likely be repeated, but even that wouldn’t save him under an Abramovich who wants to be the best and win the big trophies.
I am going to ignore the league cup. It is not a big trophy and even then, despite apparently out performing other teams, we have not won it.
Which brings me nicely to the Champions League.
From a Kroenke point of view those stats and (until this season) that consistency (and flow of money) are great.
From an Abramovich point of view, not so much.
Yes like you said you have to be in it to win it, but for the last few embarrassing years its felt to me and probably most fans as if we’d actually have more chance of winning the lottery than seeing Arsenal win the CL.
The top five clubs in the world would not accept our recent performances in the CL.
The top 10 would not tolerate not even qualifying without the manager’s head rolling.
Despite the stats you presented, the fact remains that we have not won it, only even come close once whilst being in it every year, while we have seen the teams we have apparently out performed (MUFC, CFC, LFC) actually win it.
Kroenke does not mind that but Abramovich would.
Now to back up a bit to your opening paragraphs.
They sound like a rant from an EU remainer with a hint of Trump thrown in for good measure.
It is basically “YOU’RE WRONG”, “YOU’VE BEEN LIED TO”, “ALTERNATIVE FACTS”, “MEDIA BAD”, etc etc.
Now while the media have been ravaging Wenger like a pack of starving hyenas, they have not influenced results.
The media did not hammer us 10:2 on aggregate. They did not cause our defensive naivety that saw us concede numerous goals to teams like West Brom & Bournemouth. They did not cause us to throw away dominating positions v LFC, an out of form City and Everton sides.
Moreover, they are not the sole cause of fans unrest.
The results are.
Which brings me to another point,
BAD RESULTS PRECEDE BAD SUPPORT.
No supporter HAS EVER turned on a winning team. It just does not happen like that.
The bad support this past season was a direct result of poor performances from the team and manager.
And the extremely short fuse leading to bad support from bad form is a direct result of the frustrations at similarly poor performances over the last few years that a couple of FA Cups just can’t balance out.
Many fans are not happy.
The club made promises to compete at the very top with the elite and those promises have thus far been empty.
Now while you may think fans our entitled to their opinion but in the grand scheme, it is meaningless, you are wrong.
As wrong as wrong can be.
We are fans yes, but from a business point of view (as per the basis for your article) we are customers.
We do have an investment in our club.
In addition, we do have power over it, not just a little either but ultimate power.
Without customers, a business does not exist.
Without fans, stadiums are empty.
Without readers, the Harry Potter movies would never have been made.
Therefore, you should not be so quick to dismiss the importance of the role fans (customers) can play in the running of any football club.
Anyway, I am about done with my rant, but just for the record, I am neither AKB nor WOB. (Even if I am guilty of angry Wenger out rants after bad results)
I am on the fence and can see the positives & negatives of keeping Wenger or not.
I agree he has done so much for our club and achieved great things but I strongly disagreed with your article.
Your stats, although factually correct, are blinkered to reality.
And in reality it will take a lot more than those stats to appease a lot of the disgruntled fans right now who have more in common with an Abramovich type owner than a Kroenke one.”
That is it from me so I hope you enjoy the read. Thanks for posting it.