Arsene Wenger played a team with the average age of 21-years-old for Arsenal’s last game of the Champions League group stages against current Greek champions, Olympiacos. Wenger sensibly looked to the weekend and rested his best players with the hope of picking up three points in their next league game.
Unfortunately for Standard Liège, who had played Arsenal’s strongest team on two occasions, losing both games, Olympiacos’ win meant that they couldn’t qualify. Did Wenger care? Course not. He was concerned with his own team, as he should be. As Sir Alex Ferguson was on our last game of the season against Hull when he rested pretty much every starting player (not that it had an effect on the league because we won regardless). As Rafael Benitez was towards at the end of the 2007 season when playing a weakened team against Fulham (which did have an effect on the league, with Sheffield Wednesday relegated by 1 point after Fulham claimed 3 from Liverpool’s B team).
Two weeks after Arsenal selected a considerably weaker team in the Champions League, Mick McCarthy rested loads of players against United midweek with an eye on the weekend, wanting to pick three points up against Burnley. He wanted to do what was best for his club. Did he care what effect this had on other clubs? Course not. Just like Benitez didn’t care about Wednesday, Ferguson didn’t care about Newcastle and Wenger didn’t care about Standard Liège.
Still, that didn’t stop the Arsenal manager moaning about having to compete against United over 37 games rather than 38. I’d argue that when you consider we’ve been playing with two or three midfielders across our back four, as well as a second choice keeper, for the past month, teams competing with us should be ashamed they’re not running away with it. But that is beside the point…
Gary Neville has today argued that McCarthy is entitled to play whichever set of players he chooses. Given that Wolves returning players earned themselves three points at the weekend, moving up to 12th in the league and two points away from the top ten, it’s fair to see McCarthy’s plan worked.
“It’s the prerogative of a manager,” said Neville. “Mick McCarthy has the whole season to think about. It’s wrong for people with big squads like Arsene Wenger to criticise Wolves when they have a different agenda. Wenger doesn’t know what is going on at Wolves, neither do we, and Wolves should be able to prioritise what game to play each player in. Clubs have squads so they can rotate players. It’s not for anyone to criticise – Wolves can decide what they want to do. They can go and play their youth team next week if they want; it’s entirely up to them.”
Man Utd News 24/7
Gary Neville, spot on the money. The only people a team selection should concern is that team. Typical of all the whinging managers to blame someone else for their lack of progress. Well done Wolves, they were proved right.
Do i av anything 2 say about wenger. His hypocrisy are well documented
What did he say about Wolves ? Nothing. All he said was that it took away the credibility of Premier League and that Manchester United will be playing 37 competitive games .
Here’s the exact quote
“We will have to compete with Manchester United over 37 games instead of 38. I believe it is a problem for the international credibility of the Premier League, but it is not my problem, it is a Premier League problem.”
So the Gary Nevilles and the Tony Pulis of the world have just shown themselves as ignorant biased headline reading overreactive twats.
Im actually quite surprised no manager has picked up on what wenger did in the champions league and mentioned it in the media.
Garry Neville is a red …………
PG Get the fuck out you clown, read it again, we shouldn’t have to idiot proof quotes, he is being careful with how he says his points. You tard!
This is such a load of crap. That game against wolves might influence the leagues position. The game against olympiakos was the last game in the groupstage. The LAST and not the 17th like Wolves.
Whos talking about hypocrisy now
Wenger is a man of little integrity.
He claims to be a “football” man. He is not. He is all about “Wenger”
Gary Neville IS a “football” man and as such was compelled to point out the duplicity of this weasel of a manager.
Same old Arsenal always cheating ? You bet they are – Wenger is as trustworthy as a Little Teds Nursery teacher.
hey it’s sheffield united. not wednesday..
The one thing you can be sure of is that if teams were to start surrendering to Arsenal and gifting them 3 points (they don’t ever do this!) Fergie would be saying the exact same thing. He’s the moaniest man out there!
Very well said.
I’m a gooner and garry nevile has a point but everyone is missing the most important one. wolves and man u are BOTH STILL competing for whatever their goals are but Wolves decided to give up (or make it look that way). while that stage of the champions league for arsenal was finished for arsenal (non competative anymore). That’s the difference
If it was the other way around would Sir Alex have kept quiet…No he would made a similar trite comment in order to scare off other teams from similar actions.
I reckon everybody should get back in thier prams and stop going nuts over a tame comments from Le Professeur.
Wenger’s decision on resting the first team did not affect the final outcome of the Champions League Group G. Had Olympiakos lost the final game, they would have accumulated 7pts. That is still 2 pts more than Standard Liege accumulated due to their draw result in the final game. Your comparison between Wenger and McCarthy is flawed and inaccurate, as McCarthy’s decision potentially influences the final outcome of the Premier League – given how close the points are. However, I do concede that it is McCarthy’s right as a manager to take all action that benefits the club first. But lets not hide behind the fact that his decision was not in the spirit of the most competitive football league in world and gave Man U an easier 3pts than a full strengthed side.
All I would say is yes McCarthy is right to select whoever he wants, to a point, considering the stated rule that says you must field your strongest available team at all times, fergie and wenger and some other teams can rotate and come in under this rule, which is a grey area lets be honest.
The quotes attributed to wenger have been embelished as usual as do all other managers quotes including fergies, how many times have you said hang on he didnt actual say that and anyway its was an answer to a direct question, its not as if Wenger held a press conference on that issue.
Where at times I wish he try and hold his council a tad tighter, i have heard some journos agree that he is one of the best to ask questions as he will give an answer they can work with and make headlines.
Your right in that all the managers of big clubs have at times selected teams to suit the occasion, the one you quote for Arsenal, did you watch? we outplayed them totally, we didnt roll over and we went there to win and like you we have an awful injury list, McCarthy didnt and went there without the objective of trying, where he was wrong was he didnt inform the fans in the build up, funnily the biggest moaning has come from their own fans!!!! so why do we all get involved? but the reason I am writing this is your last statement, Wolves and MCCarthy have not yet been proved right, ok they beat burnley, but at the end of the season, what if they get relegated by 1point? how will he feel then? United had lost to villa and had about the worst defensive crisis you lot have ever had, why not go there and get something? they beat a full strength Spurs away, so why not go to old trafford full of confidence, if you still had tevez or ron fair enough but you aint, so lets see how many points they get at the end of the season then we’ll see if he was right………………………He can select who he wants in my eyes, not sure the premier league agrees and it will be interesting want they do, because it was in direct violation of that rule, the players werent injured………..however…….
Its going to be one of the best seasons for a long while, Chelsea are the team to catch at the moment but they are dropping points as well, United and Arsenal are in behind with several others vying for the top four spots, so who gives a rats about the bottom for now?
What do the rules say? What did Wenger actually say? All you lot jumping up and down over nothing…. slow news week. Neville at least has an excuse. There’s only so much rubbing in of deep heat and polishing the bench with his arse he can do before he gets bored and chats on about something that’s happened a while back. If Wolves had played their first team they would have beat you the way things been lately. So, they bottled it. Can we talk about something more current now?
Spot on again Gary!
So when Leeds United gave your side a torrid time in 1996 despite only having ten men, what right did that give Fergie to question their commitment and ask if they would do the same against Newcastle (in the title race at the time) a few days later?!
The difference between the above and what Wolves did was that the latter had thrown in the towel before the game started. Had Arsenal or Chelsea benefitted in the same way, your lot would be moaning just like old Red Nose.
By the way, when Wenger fielded the youngest line up versus Olympiacos, he did so with the intention of having hungry players rise to the occasion, which they did judging by the performance. Any first team players who would have played would not have tried as hard as we had already qualified. Contrast that your home performance versus Besiktas and you’ll find that although the results were the same, the quality was missing in United’s display.
Lastly, might I add that any of that sick chanting that your lot aim at Wenger is indicative of your dirty mind sets – either that or you have experienced it personally (pot calling the kettle black anyone?).
what can u really say bout wenger???
simple word : idiotic
I’VE READ CAREFULLY WHAT YOU said and I still don’t know what you are talking about. Gary Neville’s main contribution to football was to kick people then hide behind Roy Keane. I think you’ll find that a certain red nosed Scot gets a bit shirty if he doesn’t think teams are trying against United’s rivals. Worried about cheating? You do realise that you are posting at a United site, you know the club Rooney plays for and Ronaldo used to? And somebody should tell that Vidic if he wants an opponents shirt he should ask for it after the game.
The reason you hear what Wenger has to say about stuff like this is that he actually has the balls to stand up in front of journalists every week without kicking out anyone he doesn’t like. It’s easy when you have integrity and self control but still not everyone manages it.
In fact Arsenal made fewer changes than Wolves did and Standard were directly responsible for several of them, notably breaking Kieran Gibbs’ foot. Changing the entire team is unprecedented
Basically what I’m hearing is that you lot are still embarrassed.
After getting a 3-0 spanking by Fulham, a full-strength Wolves v Man Utd tie could have been very interesting…
Steveo you thick twat, you think you know how the sports media works? You think all of a sudden Gary Neville woke up this morning and decided to conduct a press release slating Wenger because he’s tired of sitting on the bench?
Obviously some interviewer asked him this as one of the questions and its been publicised now, and anyway it is a pretty current because the interviewer thought it a fitting question.
As for his response, Scott’s article clears up any issues as eloquently as possible and there’s nothing left to discuss. Squad rotation happens, and Wenger may feel we have benefited on this occassion but McCarthy’s decision was nothing to do with United and everything to do with the success of his team, as he proved by winning at Burnley.
These things even out over the course of the season, and for Wenger to say Arsenal are competing against United over 37 games is utter bullshit.
“It is a problem for the international credibility of the Premier League” he said – just like his fielding a weakened team against Standard Liège is a problem for the international credibility of the Champion’s League?
Wenger needs to get his facts straight and you should actually think and use your brain for a minute before typing out a load of bollocks.
that`s, of course, absolutely right what is written in the article
oh c’mon garyboye. this is so stupid, that argument, those situations where totally different and arsenal had 10 players on the injury list so dont compare wolves vs manuela united) and arsenal (vs olympiakos). thats a pretty lame press release, not necessary, is it? its like asking ferguson, why he’s not putting his best back four on the field. because they are injured. no one blames him for that.
Standard Liege had to win their final group match, they didn’t so the Arsenal result against Olympiacos was irrelevant.
Surely there is an important distinction:
Wenger fielded a team that he truly believed could win. McCarthy fielded a team that he was certain would lose. Would Man U supporters be sensitive to this distinction? Well…
When did this blog become a thick cunt gooner love in!!!! When Chelsea played a Portsmouth team the following day, which had made seven changes to their line up there wasn’t this outcry over competing against Chelsea over 37 games! “By the way, when Wenger fielded the youngest line up versus Olympiacos, he did so with the intention of having hungry players rise to the occasion”….you prick, I didn’t realise you’d sat down with Wenger and McCarthy and had an in depth decision as to why the two managers had fielded under strength teams!….fucking deluded! The very fact that you are on OUR blog just serves to highlight how preoccupied you are with Manchester United!
A few years of shite has made Wenker a grumpy and bitter old man.
Its not Wednesday that lost out cuz of Liverpool. They suck d*ck. Its Shef. Utd, who are marginally better.
I have been reading this website for about a year now and there are some quality blogs. (first time writing anything though and I have been inspired to do so by nobheads like Steveo, East end gooner and Vivas)
G Nev is bang on here as usual! Not a fan of Mcarthy by any stretch of the imagination but it his prerogative to pick whover the hell he likes and it paid off as he got 3 points the next game.
Still confident we are gonna win the league. Wes Brown back in the next ten days…….roll on the african nations
Hey Scottie whaz up? Your posts attract more bitter Arsenal and Chavski fans than our lot.
RE: mikekelly12
I happen to have access to news feed that picks up articles elsewhere where key Arsenal words are typed in, hence the link to this shit article.
Of course you also happen to have the same type of newsfeed picking up United tidbits, so no doubt you know all about Rooney shagging a granny in 2005, Rio doing coke and going awol in 2003, and that 4some involving Ronaldo, Anderson and Nani in 2008. Why your lot sing about Wenger with that disgusting chant and ignore the laws of nature being broken by your own players I just will not know.
All this stems from journalists asking Wenger any question and him responding – a far cry from what Fergie won’t do. Did he face the cameras on Saturday – of course not!!!! He lost the game, remember?!!!!
Chavski and Gooners get over it. You are so SHITE even if we play Kusczak upfront Rooney center back and Evra in goal we will still win the league. Losers.
Venger is a dickhead, albeit a professorial one.
“when Wenger fielded the youngest line up versus Olympiacos, he did so with the intention of having hungry players rise to the occasion”
So when Wenger picks a second string team, his players are hungry and will rise to the occasion, but when McCarthy does, his players aren’t and won’t?
Fuck off, you’re as much of a hypocrite as Wenger himself.
Vivas…..gary nevilles ‘contribution’ to football (with and without roy keane) in case you didn’t know
Premier League (8): 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2008–09
FA Cup (3): 1995–96, 1998–99, 2003–04
Football League Cup (1): 2005–06
FA Community Shield (3): 1996, 1997, 2008
UEFA Champions League (2): 1998–99, 2007–08
Intercontinental Cup (1): 1999
FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2008
PFA Team of the Year: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2007
Overall Team of the Decade – Premier League 10 Seasons Awards (1992/3 – 2001/2)
……yes i did just copy and paste from wikipedia but i couldn’t articulate my argument any better.
the reason why arsenal win fuck all these days is probably because the club as a whole perpetuate the belief that other teams kick and cheat there way to success.
Wenger didn’t give a shit about Wolves, he was just trying to distract everyone from the fact that Arsenal tied against Burnley the next day. SAF does this all the time, though he’s more likely to pick on the ref than on another manager.
Arsene Wenger is hypocracy personified. Off topic, there is no end to Terry’s idiocy – he named Drogba, Ballack and Iniesta in that order for the FIFA World Player of the year ahead of Lionel Messi. What a cunt he really is.
No one needs to be Einstein to figure this out.This issue was pretty much straightforward.I don’t get it why this has been blown out of proportion.
A very intresting topic.
I agree completely with what Mick Mccarthy did.Yes the premier League is very popular but it is not upto Mick Mccarthy to preserve the “integrity” of the league. Mick has to keep Wolves up in the league and he is free to do whatever he wants.That will determine whether he keeps his job.He had a very valid excuse because Wolves have lost key players to injuries in recent weeks and Burnley home was a more winnable fixtures for Wolves despite United not being in top form. Wolves players would have had to work their socks off again just 3 days after giving in 110% in the game against Spurs. if you had asked Mick Mccarthy before how many points he expected to get out of the Spurs and United game his answer would have been ’0 Points’. He got 3 against Spurs and that was a bonus.Fans will be righly disappointed that he did that especially given the money they paid, but ehat would you rather want.See your full strength team at Old Trafford or Premier league Survival?. There is only one answer.This step dosent gurantee Wolves will stay in the league but Mccarthy’s decision was justified as they won on Sunday.Also despite a United fan i have to agree if the top 4 can do it, why cant Wolves. The top 4 have their reasons but then it can affect other games indirectly like Liverpool did against Fulham in 2007, United did against Hull in May and Arsenal did against Blackburn(think so) before the semifinals 2nd leg against United in this years CL Semi final.Wenger plays the kids in the carling cup.Dosent that disrespect the competition or what he did against Olympiacos. if the young lads could do so well even one or two regulars would have been enough to get a result for Arsenal and send Standsrd Liege through.Let me make it clear that i am not criticising Wenger for what he did. Every manager takes decisions for the benefit of his team.They may or may not come off. The top 4 do it the most so not only Wenger but no other manager can say anything about it.
@Kings
You gotta be kidding me, I can’t believe he would say that! What a twat!
@East End Gooner
Wenger has every right to respond to the question but his bizzare answers of United having to play 37 games and doubting the league fixture system really are wierd.Wenger should only have said whether he agrees or not and why rather than criticing the fixture system.He has done it himself. So you have no right to say anything about another manager.”practice what you preach”. Also all the top 4 have problems because of fixtures. if you remember United had to play Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea all away after Champions League games last season.Even this season we had away games after trips to CSKA Moscow. So that part really dosent make sense. if the younsters of Arsenal are hungry werent Wolves reserves hungry to try and stake a claim for a first team place?
” I’d argue that when you consider we’ve been playing with two or three midfielders across our back four, as well as a second choice keeper, for the past month, teams competing with us should be ashamed they’re not running away with it.”
thats the whole point. they had a good chance of taking points of you lot but didnt even try. pathetic
When Wenger rested his first team; Arsenal had already qualified for the last 16. Meaningless game to Arsenal.
When Fergie rested his first team; United had already won the title. Meaningless game to United.
When Mick rested his first team; Wolves were (and still are) relegation candidates, but they still threw away 3 points against the champions.
—
Spot the difference.
For Arsenal fans who are claiming it didn’t matter that Wenger rested his first team for Olympiacos because Standard Liège didn’t win their final game anyway – that is beside the point. Standard Liège played Arsenal’s strongest team twice, Olympiacos played them once, and in picking the team he did, Wenger knew this COULD have an effect on who qualified for the next round… just like McCarthy knew his selection COULD have an effect on who wins the league.
For McCarthy’s decision to effect Wenger, Arsenal would have to be within a point or two of United come May. I don’t fancy your chances, but whatever.
The fact that standard leige didnt beat AZ to qualify anyways matters.
Fabianski was polish number 1 till he got injured ahead of kuzack
Ramsey is a full welsh international and has played champs lg, same as walcott, same as silvetre, vela and song who are all apart from ramsey going to the world cup. Out of the team that played Olympiacos only 3 players had no champions lg experience.
6 of those players are regularly in our first team.
Ramsey, song, silvestre,walcott, vela and fabianski not mentioning merida or wilshere.
Its hardly changing 10 players with no intention of winning.
Still dont let the facts stop you.
Gee – first team is a 22 player team ? Yes, it makes difference. =)
as far as micks right to play whatever team he like – fair enuff he is wolves manager and its his right. but there is nothing worse than watching a team give upg and surrender against the top teams than when they stand and fight. just like its not fun watching bums get beat up in boxing cause they give up. the best fights are the ones were two people go for it toe to toe. so should it be in football, thats all im sayin
They didn’t give up and surrender you muppets!
They made a fight of it, besides the penalty & keeper howler from the corner, only one goal seperated us and IMHO I thought their players played their socks off. didn’t Give up, even at the end!!
All you gooners with your childish retorts
ie. Wenger Paedofile… Nev’s Tash… Fergie doesn’t talk to BBC?…
absolute tripe!
Only Arsene Wenger (the poster, not the paedofile) can make a good arguement. The rest of you lot seem to be new-goons (the worst type IMO) who think Arsenal is the only ‘football’ team and your ‘style’ is better than anyone on their day and the sun shines out of Wenger’s arse! You’ll be singing Wenger Out next season anyway… sad fact!
& Gee, Vela & Ramsey… yeah… regular internationals… Your arguement does not matter. Quite frankly, YOU don’t matter!
Comparing premier league players to bums is idiotic
as some1 said earlier, just shows how up yer own arse some of you frog eating cunts are…
Park’s Dog’s Dinner Said,
December 22nd, 2009 @14:50
“They didn’t give up and surrender you muppets!
They made a fight of it, besides the penalty & keeper howler from the corner, only one goal seperated us and IMHO I thought their players played their socks off. didn’t Give up, even at the end!!”
yeah but would their strongest team have done better? the signal sent out from the start by dropping his entire first team was ‘i m not gonna try hard to win the game’
anyways dont get mad its christmas- merry one to you too
“as some1 said earlier, just shows how up yer own arse some of you frog eating cunts are…”
Wow…….. i dont argue with kids esp kids who think they are internet gangsta’s
In the spirit of chistmas i bid you all a merry christmas and peace and goodwill to all peoples of the world french , chinese, welsh white black or green.
peace.
a no story from a little munt of a manc who should be more worried about his own teams problems before opening his mouth and trying to argue against Mr Wenger. plastic mc is a fool, your own mad dog keene was right about mr integrity.
1 billon in debt. no money to replace ronaldo, giggs on his last legs. vidik or whatever his name is off in the summer, rio more interested on making films than playing football. taken to the cleaners by the spuds on berberpop for 30 million in your last ever major signing at that price. old man fergie sounding more like Mr Wenger as every week goes. “we don’t need any players” ” i have the money but do not want to spend it” ….
no longer the richest club in manchester. even if you did have any money to spend on much needed players to replace your old men you would be outbid by the arabs next door. the fat lady is singing for you vile mancs and it could not have happened to a nicer bunch of munts.
Simple fact about this all – Arsenal a shite nowadays and none of them can take it, hence being on this board trying to steal the moral highground – a joke in itself.
@ anon
so what’s your point? City are gonna replace us and start dominating in the same way Chelsea did to your lot 5 years ago and are now streets ahead?
At least if your predictions are true (i’m humouring you now btw), Sir Alex would have a lot more to show for our era of dominance than your lot could ever dream of FACT.
If all the l’arse fans ran their mouths in the stadium like they have on here maybe the Emirates wouldn’t be the worlds biggest library! A lot of ifs here and there. IF Wolves played their strongest team, IF the same thing had happened regarding chelski and l’arse. All IRRELEVANT points. If a big club utilises its squad its called squad rotation. If a smaller club does it its called throwing the game. So the next time we lose a game after some tinkering from the manager in terms of team selection does that mean we threw the game. Of course it bloody doesn’t. I despise Mick McCarthy but his decision in the short term worked wonders. Burnley was a 6 pointer and he got the result he wanted. Fact is this season the media has been winding fans up more so than ever by making small news big news and the constant loop that is Sky Sports News doesn’t help matters just intensifies a situation that doesnt need intensifying.
Scott already said this, but let me say it too because i followed that group closely. Wenger’s decision to rest players against Olympiacos was a 6 point decision, not a 3 point one. Olympiacos picked up 3 points against a weakened Arsenal team and Liege potentially lost 3 points because they had to play against Arsenal’s strongest team.
I don’t fault Wenger for doing it. But he must not act like he has never done it. I am all for teams resting players even in the middle of a season. McCarthy made the right choice because he won the game that mattered to him. Besides, a premiership relegation fight doesn’t require that you win every game. It requires that you win those that count.
Besides, did Wenger complain when Benitez practically kept Fulham up in 2007?
@ Costas
“Besides, did Wenger complain when Benitez practically kept Fulham up in 2007?”
I doubt you’re gonna get an honest answer to that one mate lol
@kylelaw84:
Probably yeah. And to be completely honest and fair, that same season we lost to West Ham because we rested a couple of big names for the FA cup final. As long as it’s legal, i think managers will play weakened teams whenever it suits them. No use complaining whenever the shoe is on the other foot.
Also it amazes me how thick some fans actually are. Reporters ask questions to all footballers/managers etc. On Sky Sports they showed the majority of PL responding to this situation. What the fuck has it got to do with them? These professionals are asked their opinion because their involved with the game and ARE entitled to their opinion. That is a logic lost on most l’arse fans who judging by some of the posts think that l’arse and Wenger are the same thing and that they’ve always played beautiful football. Do any of them remember George Graham, thought not. By the way he’s won more European trophies for you and reached more finals than the paedo you have as manager!
@ Costas
Yeah you’re right. I agree with someone else earlier as well when they said wenger is just playing mind games with that statement. Probably just making sure no other team will have the balls to play a weakened team at Old Trafford, i don’t think he believed it when he was saying it but haven’t said that you never know with wenger!
RE: Park’s Dog’s Dinner
Mate, I shudder to think of the childhood you must have had to be talking the way that you are. No eloquence whatsoever – I wonder how old you were when you had your first sexual experience…..given my earlier comments on pot calling the kettle black about your lots’ chanting at Wenger, I guess it must have been when you were still in primary school.
RE: NotoriousRedDevil
I guess when you label others as “peado” then you are talking from experience?!
Wenger does what he does…so lovely too! the fact he has the balls to say one thing and does the complete opposite get me chuckled. He gets players and managers hating on him lol even the fans from other clubs.
I for 1 say keep up the sterling whing Wenger I salute you . Only worry I have is the up and coming new owner that yank had the board up in arms and now they worship him.He won`t bend like the ginger Glazers or Ren-n-stippy hicks . So get all you hating out lads it might not last lol
truthfully who gives a shit, but if last game of the season and chelsea need 3 points to win the league and their oponants field a reserve side then damn im sure there will be a big report on it from every manager who could have took the title had chelsea been held to a draw
i actually think mick mcarthy was smart, burnley beat man united and take 2points off arsenal but willprobably go down,where as wolves took vital points off burnley which thickens up the relegation battle draggin burnley in deeper therefore giving themselfs better odds,smart management
Notorious Red Devil – Spot on, none of these Hampstead Heath cockney cunts will even know who George Graham is. Jumping on the Arsenal bandwagon after seeing in the media that they play the best brand of football. My arse. Got them fuck all. If it wasn’t for the back 5 that George built I very much doubt they would have even won the league under Wenger. No coincidence that since the demise of Dixon, Adams, Keown, Winterburn, Seaman, Bould etc they haven’t managed to win that much. Has Wenger ever even bought ONE decent defender?
Owen Coyle is a fool. Instead of going hell-for-leather for a point against Arsenal, the could have rested players, rolled over to Arsenal, and maybe been fresh enough to beat Wolves.
God knows Arsenal can do with some free points.
English football has imploded into buffoonry. Suddenly it’s now acceptable to capitulate to your opponents and give away free points to the opposition.
In any case it only confirms what we always knew. Many teams already tamely roll over and get done in the bum at Old Trafford. Some at least bother to show up with their first teams.
we saw it last season. From December to May, only Blackburn, Newcastle & West Ham even tried to win their games at Old Trafford until Liverpool showed your vulnerability. But when subsequently Villa and Tottenham then played to win, the referees were there to help.
The last person who should talk in this issue is anyone arguing the Manchester United corner. Twice in the last three seasons you won the league, Arsenal despite having nothing to play for picked very strong teams, and gave spirited displays to draw with Chelsea in 07 andf Liverpool in 09 to hand you the title.
Of course you most likely would still have won, but the point still stands. Arsenal respect the competition of the Premier League, and thus Arsene Wenger is on as strong a ground as anyone to criticise Wolves.
Finally, I ask; Since when has it been acceptable in English football to capitulate before a game? Forgive me if I sound like an old timer…but that was never in the spirit of the game. All teams go out and try to win. That’s what English football has always been about.
But Wenger complains about it, just out of spite buffons in the media take the contrary position.
Shameful.
All you Gooner muppets! The team Wolves fielded against us, most of these were the players who helped them earn promotion you deluded twats.
@Ole Gunner:
I said it above. As long as it’s legal for managers to rest players before games, they have every right to do so. Whether that’s fair or not, i won’t be the judge of. And Wenger shouldn’t either because he has gambled with a competition’s integrity in the past. Namely, the Ch.League of this season. Lets face it, in this game no one is a saint. Not Ferguson and not Wenger.
You spoke about how teams performed at OT from last December to May. First of all, Newcastle and West Ham came to OT before that time period, but so be it. Lets see what went down in home league games from December to May:
-December:
1)United v Sunderland: 1-0. Sunderland park the bus and we score in the 90th minute
2)United v Middlesbough: 1-0. United are knackered after the trip to Japan and the SToke game and we needed a volley from Berba to win.
-January:
1)United v Chelsea: 3-0. SUperb United performance. Chelsea were going for the title, so they obviously didn’t roll over did they?
2)United v Wigan: 1-0. United score in the 1st minute and in the second half Wigan gave us a real scare. In Fergie’s words, “the toughest team to come to OT that season”.
3)United v Everton: 1-0. A penalty from Ronaldo in the 45th minute. Like Wigan, i remember some nervous moments in the end.
-February
1)United v Fulham: 3-0. A great display by Scholes in the first half put us in a comfortable 2-0 lead. Keep in mind that during that time we weren’t conceding goals at all, so 2-0 at half time meant game over.
2)United v Blackburn: 2-1. A real struggle. Blackburn even hit the post at 1-1.
-March
1)United v Liverpool: 1-4.
-April
1)United v Villa: 3-2. Villa were winning until the 80th minute until Ronaldo came to life. No help from the referee whatsoever!
2)United v Portsmouth: 2-0. Comfortable win.
3)United v Tottenham: 5-2. A penalty that to this day keeps me divided brings up back in the game. But from that point on, Tottenham collapsed and that’s not just because of the penalty. Keep in mind that in the same game, Palacios made one of the most thuggish tackles to Ronaldo that io have ever seen. Should have been a red and he didn’t even give a foul.
-May
1)United v City: 2-0. Nothing would please our rivals more than to beat us. We were better on the day.
2)United v Arsenal: 0-0. Another struggle. We just scraped it.
So how many of those teams came to OT to roll over? None. It’s not our fault Portsmouth and Fulham didn’t have the metal to give us a bigger fight. That happens at OT from time to time.
You can’t compare those two matches. The starting eleven at Olympiakos had every chance of winning- it included Fabianski, Walcott, Song and Ramsey. The Wolves team that played at Old Trafford were doomed from the start. I agree with Neville; the manager should be able to choose what team he plays, thats his job, but to send out a frankly useless starting eleven to get destroyed is different to putting out a young team that has ever chance of getting a result, and to be honest its quite shocking you only put three past them. Its not Arsene Wenger’s job to ensure the best teams qualify for the second round; its quite the opposite. It was a game he could afford to lose and the loss produced a favourable result.
McCarthy’s defeatist attitude is probably something that will rub off on the Wolves players who were probably stoked to start at Old Trafford but found they’d been replaced by the reserves.
A few Arsenal fans have already stated this, but Wenger said what he did because it was imperative for him to deflect attention away from a bad performance at Burnley. It’s as simple as that. His team couldn’t put away a Burnley team that is in the middle of a relegation battle which just played its weakest possible team against his rivals. It is infuriating and when has Wenger ever bottled up his frustrations?
What McCarthy did was proven to be the smart thing to do but is it honestly the right thing to do? It’s very disappointing for fans to travel to an away league game and see a team devoid of all its stars playing against the PL champions. If this was the plan then maybe he should have announced this days before the game so that fans wouldn’t bother making the trip. Wenger had already ruled out 14 players with injuries before the Olympiakos game, and Arsenal fans would have been furious if he risked Gallas, Vermaelen, Fabregas and the likes in a meaningless game.
Let’s see what McCarthy does on April 3rd when Wolves visit the Emirates befor an April 11th showdown against Stoke. If they roll over against Arsenal when United are playing Chelsea on the same day then maybe Sir Alex may be just a little peeved. Somehow I don’t see McCarthy doing that.
BTW – This is quite a nice blog. Cheers.
You lot still on about this? Every time AW opens his mouth you wet your pants. Did you not field some reserve team against some Turks and get spanked?
@Steveo:
AW mentioned Man UNited’s name, so we responded. Likewise, you fielded a reserve team against some Greeks and got spanked. The difference? We didn’t influence the outcome of the Group.
Costas, he didn’t say anything about you lot. He was on about Wolves (very briefly in passing). Why do dumb Mancs think everything is about them?
@steveo:
Wenger added: “It is sad, but what can I do about that? I am responsible for Arsenal.
“We compete with Manchester United over 37 games instead of 38. I believe it is a problem for the international credibility of the Premier League, but it is not my problem, it is a Premier League problem.”
Taken from skysports. Indirectly, the comment is about us. If that was Sunderland beating Wolves’s reserves 3-0 would Wenger had made a comment? No.
And go easy on the name calling.
Ok Costas. You’re right. AW needs shooting for that. I stand corrected. And sorry for the name calling. Didn’t realise you lot were so sensitive behind the screams of ‘paedo’ every five minutes. Merry Xmas to you all and I hope your players Xmas party passes without incident this year.
@Steveo:
Of course he doesn’t need shooting. What this article points out is the hypocrisy in Wenger’s comments. This isn’t just for Wenger, but i am sick of managers getting sensitive only when the shoe is on the other foot. Even when Ferguson does it. It’s a pointless arguement anyway. In my opinion, teams at the bottom rotate their teams a lot of times. But we don’t hear about it as often because they don’t play against Manchester United. 2 years ago, when you played against Liverpool 3 times in a week, they used some reserve players in the league. I don’t remember us ever making a fuss about it. And i don’t think it’s just because Liverpool got a draw at the Emirates that day.
I and a lot of United fans never condoned the paedo chants, so maybe you should direct your anger at those who do. Merry Xmas to you too and don’t worry about it. The party will be quiet and free of incidents like it’s always been.
Nice to see Costas on here owning these gooners…
But seriously, the arrogance of Arsenal fans knows no bounds. I got a good laugh from Ol Gooner saying that arsenal handed us two of our last titles! HAHA well cheers, I guess, we really appreciate it. We’ll hang your picture in the trophy room.
@Drew: I think that picture will go along with Emile Heskey’s for the goal he scored at the Bridge in 2008 as well as Mark Viduca’s for the goal he scored at Highbury in 2003…
In all seriousness, i think the comment was meant to say that Arsenal tried their best whether they had something to play for or not. I don’t disagree with that, although the Wolves situation is entirely different. I will always say that Wolves were a victim of circumstance. 3 games in 6 days. A team fighting to avoid relegation has the luxury to choose which games they can go for at this stage of the season. They got the unexpected win at Tottenham, so they figured that they should save themselves for a potential 6 pointer against Burnley. And lets not forget that United made some changes themselves for that game. One other point we could make here would be that at some point they cut down on the schedule, especially during the festive period. It’s too much. 20 teams in my opinion is too much.
Go on Costas lad. It sickens me when fans of other teams come on here spouting “facts” when in truth they have no idea what they are talking about. Your breakdown of the games at Old Trafford was excellent and a prime example of Arsenal fans talking shite. Not one team I would say “rolled” over for us at Old Trafford between December and May. In fact quite the opposite. United is their Cup Final.
Thanks King Eric. Not trying to embrarass someone or anything like that. You know how geeky i can get with facts(not Benitez ones thank God).
There were other tough games at OT. Hull 4-3(they never gave up!) and Bolton 2-0(where they missed a glorious chance to go ahead). Our easiest wins were against the new boys. Stoke and West Brom.
@ East End Gooner Not speaking from experience Theo Walcotts girlfriend told me the other night that Wenger molests him! Seems like its okay to call Fergie all the names under the sun but giving Wenger abuse isn’t okay. I forgot l’arse fans were the silent type! Before giving anyone grief about where they’re from your from the East End! That place has just as many rats as dipperland.
@ King Eric & Costas. Both of you make some relevant points in general but reading the back pages of tabloids (NEVER buy them always one at work) opposing fans come on here and spew the same shit. None of them can think outside the box, the classic one being for over 10 years now how the opposition never get penalties at Old Trafford. Well there were more penalties at OT than at chelski, l’arse and dipperland. That point gets ignored EVERYTIME. Where did the stoppage time come from in the Villa game last season and bitter blues this season. Both cases were justified on Sky Sports News but its treated like the “Lost Only Fools and Horses episode” in that the justification never happened. l’arse biggest cunts up and down the country and the only side I’ve seen concede a penalty only to have the ref change his mind. Then they have the audacity to say the ref favours us! 4 years without a trophy soon to be 5!
Gary Neville? look, I have the right to drink myself to death but that doesnt make it right. You see with rights comes responsibilty and to me it is irresponsible for a manager to just give away 3 points. How you guys defend this is beyond me.
First, Wolves fans were the ones who complained the most, are they wrong?
Why does it matter that Wenger made the comments? Also how can you compare a cup competition to the PL? thats totally ridiculous.
The PL is based on points, so this idiot potentially threw at least one point. If Arsenal get kicked out of the CC, its doesnt hurt anyone and yes the team that played in the CL played great and I dont see in anyway that Wenger gave away the game, his intention was to win, was this idiots?
You also cannot say it worked because they beat Burnley because we have no idea of knowing how things wouldve turned out and your dismantling at the hands of Fulham would give any rational thinking person food for thought. The only sensible thing is to wait till seasons end and even then, this will be still be a shame and a right mockery of the PL.
The reason why Wenger mentioned you guys is because thats who the wolves played, its not personal. We can take being supporters of a team too far and lose all sense of reason.
You guys got three points so I can understand your defense of this and your attack on Wenger, but its really not about Wenger but whether or not it is right to give a team points, is it?
I agree that if the shoe was on the other foot and it was Arsenal that wolves played we would be having a lot of articles here and I can hear Fergie now.
I believe we should forget about the teams we supports and who said what and deal with the situation at hand and the influence it could have on the PL. In my opinion it would be terrible if team started to give away points in this manner.
Lets get over the Arsenal/Wenger hate for this on.
Have a Merry Christmas all!!
God bless!
@NotoriousRedDevil
Actually the East End can be a great place to live in – depends on whereabouts and I can thankfully say mine is pretty decent.
In all seriousness mate, let me tell you that calling anyone a paedophile just to get under their skin is PLAIN WRONG. The fact that Wenger does not make an issue about it is because he has no intention of lowering himself to your sub human standard. Of course, it would be interesting to see the reaction from a child abuse victim when you go running your mouth in front of them, as I’m sure that is the only education you’ll understand. By making that chant, you and your fellow sub humans are trivialising the actions and mental scars that child abuse victims have endured and still carry respectively.
If you want to call Wenger an effing bast***, or a wan***, or a c*** then by all means do it – no one gets adversely affected. But by calling a well respected manager a paedophile, you belittle not only the victims of paedophilia, but yourself, your club and everything your fellow fans stand for. I don’t agree with or condone Munich chanting because its disrespectful to the dead – why can’t you see the bigger picture when it comes to chants about Wenger?!
Sadly, I don’t expect a positive response.
Costas Said,
December 23rd, 2009 @0:00
“I will always say that Wolves were a victim of circumstance. 3 games in 6 days”.
You’re looking like the hypocrite. Maybe perhaps you don’t understand that this exact point you’re making is same as the one Wenger was making.
In a week in which there was the Europa League, the Premier League scheduled games. That decision is very stupid since there was no Europa League this week.
Wolves, reacting to this decided to go to Old Trafford and get done in the bum, while Arsenal responding to this complain of the fact that their opponents (Hull) had had the week off because some moron messed up the fixtures.
I won’t go back and forth on the other issue. It is quite clear to anybody that teams should not decide to concede league games before they are played.
It is against every thing that our football and our league is about…at least traditionally. In the old days, Wolves would have faced a lot of oppobrium.
You might choose this occassion to criticise Wenger’s “hypocrisy” but after all is said and done, what Wolves did is very wrong, and I guarantee you that both Wolves and Manchester United will be made to pay for it…somehow.
Ole Gunner – United will pay for it. Pay for what? Is it United’s fault that McCarthy decided to field a weakened team? Is it fuck. Get over it pal.
@Ole Gunner:
I am not a hypocrite. I may be making the same point as Wenger does, but the difference is that i complain about the fixtures all the time. I did it last season when they had you play against Livepool with fewer days rest. Wenger only remembers stuff when it suits him. That’s why he is a hyporcite in this case and i am not.
And drop the “Wolves came to OT to get done in the bum” thing. Playing with reserve players and playing to lose intentionally are 2 completely different things. If you want to talk about teams getting done in the bum, look at Middlesbrough and how they did against Arsenal during the McClaren years. How many times have we seen reserve teams play in the Premier League and get good results? Didn’t Man UNited’s second string win at Hull? Besides, who’s to say the first team players of Wolves would have fared better at Old Tafford? They run a lot at White Heart Lane and they were probably knackered. But no one approaches it from that stand point do they? They would have still lost at Old Trafford and then would have been even more knackered for the 6 pointer against Burnley. And why? So that Wenger would be satisfied?
If Arsenal were in Man United’s place last week, i would have said the same things. Managers have the right to rotate. Whether that is 2,3, 5 or 10 players it doesn’t matter. And how the hell will Man United pay for it anyway? Next thing i am going to hear is that Ferguson picked the Wolves line up! Jeez…
@King Eric:
United have to pay mate. They have to pay for being founded, for winning 18 championships, for winning 3 European Cups, for having 11 FA cups and for having everyone live in our shadow for the past 18 years.
Crimes against humanity!
To all you sub humans out there (the vile chanters about Wenger) – read the following and weep: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article537442.ece
There are 4 occurrences of United players or staff in there, plus 2 others who had played for United. Looks like “pot” and “kettle” are more prominent than I thought!
@East End Gooner:
Come on, the Beckham thing wasn’t really a scandal! Considering his wife, i think he took forever to have an affair! I respect the fact that he is married and feel bad for his boys, but i have never respected his wife. As far as the rest, well Yorkey and Bosnich were still at Villa at the time! Martin Edwards was pretty lame, i give you that.
Seriously though, i have said it before that the paedo chants have to stop. Same goes for the Munich chants for opposition fans or the horrible stuff that Beckham and Ronaldo used to hear when they were England’s public enemy 1. Have you heard that last year Chelsea fans were chanting at Ronaldo that he should have died in the tunnel(he had a car crush in one a day or two before the game)? Pathetic.
I like a good banter when it comes to Wenger(for example the sight of him standing between United fans who were appaluding ironically in August). But only as far as that.
The guy had no thought of winning the game, you know that, so dont be ridiculous! its obvious the idiot decided to throw 3 points, if not why the hell did he do it?
You dont believe your first team can win but you play your reserves? now, in all honesty, does that make any sense at all?
The guy is an idiot and anyone who defends it needs a head check.
Also people complaining about Wenger moaning, fact is the things he says will benefit the whole PL, not just Arsenal and though we beat Hull the man still said he disagrees with the fixture pile ups.
Also why shouldnt a manager complain for the sake of his own team, isnt that the team he manages? all managers do that, even Fergie.
This anti Wenger rubbish just for the sake of it should stop, its immature.
@Paul N:
The arguement can be seen from different angles. Who said McCarthy didn’t believe in his first team and that’s why he played his reserves? He rested players because they worked their socks of 3 days before and had a 6 pointer 3 days later. What’s hard to understand? You people act like he did Man United a service on purpose. If Wolves were playing at the Emirates that week, he would have done the same thing.
And i do take an issue with Wenger, because no matter how he disguises it, he is moaning because it was to the benefit of a title rival. Two years ago, Liverpool and United fielded weakened teams, lost to Fulham and West Ham respectively ad thus Sheffield United went down. Did Wenger care about the integrity of the Premiership then? No. And i can assure you that i have the same issue with every manager who moans only when it suits him. Even Ferguson. For example, i was against him opening a war with Alan Wiley and the refs after the Sunderland game.
Costa, I dont buy that rested players thing, you have to rest TEN players, who are your best?
Man U and Liverpool fielded weakened teams because the title was over, I m sure. Sheffield United only have themselves to blame for going down, if you win you dont go down but someone must. Also I dont think they said, lets giv away these points so we can take on our wearker rival will a rested team, did thy?
Wolves is different, the title is in the balance, also his own team needs the points and he sell out, like a punk? thats BS`and you know it. Fulham kicked you guys butt, mayb he couldve got something.
I dont see why you would defend this, its just simply ridiculous.
Arsene was right about it, whether he has something to gain or not he is right. If this happens in football it will become a joke.
I dont care what anyone says, YOU DONT GIVE AWAY POINTS!!!
Forget about Wenger, this guy is an clown.
@Paul N:
Believe me, the last thing that a Man United fan wants to do is defend Mick McCarthy. I just try to look at it from the context of what’s legal. Resting playiers, even 10 of them, is legal. And keep something in mind. Teams fighting to avoid relegations aren’t like ours. Thet don’t have to win every game. Look at it from another angle. Who’s to say the Wolves first team would have been a match for us? From what i heard, they run a lot of miles at White Heart Lane and they are unaccustomed to playing 3 games in a week.
In the examples that i told you, United and Liverpool did have ulterior motives. They rested players because they wanted to keep their regular ones fresh for some big games. We had the FA cup final and LIverpool had the Champion’s Leavue final. I even remember Neil Warnock, the Sheffield United manager, cursing both teams and hoping that we lose our respective finals. Which of course we did! I think what you said about Sheffield applies to us. I mean, if we drop points stupidly left and right, we can’t expect Wolves, Burnley or Hull come to our rescue.
Also, the point some of us are making, is that Arsenal, like UNited for our last 2 games, played with reserve players in their final game in the Champion’s League. And i know that Liege didn’t win their final game, but they didn’t expect any favors from the Arsenal team in Greece in order to do so. Finally, i reiterate that there’s a difference between resting players and throwing games away. I don’t know how confident McCarthy was in his secod string, but i know that for a while it did get very uncomfortable before Rooney opened the score.