Moaning on in the press that his poor team have to travel all the way to Newcastle for a KO at 5.35. He is even prepared to forego the TV match revenue if the FA move KO to midday. Well NUFC aren't mate! We want the TV appearance money. Bloody cheek.

While I'm a traditionalist who likes matches at 3pm an a Saturday, I have no sympathy with Wenger. I recognise that ARsenal have a Euro game, the following week but what difference does a couple of hours really make. Plus when I think of the changes that have been made to loads of our games recently, meaning mad travel arrangements for supporters, I have less sympathy.

Remember when we had to play the Semi v Chelsea at Wembley FFS! When it's supposed to be a venue accessible for both teams. Or the games in London with evening kick offs where it's impossible to get a train back up North.

Really it's too much and if the FA and/or BBC cave into him I will be hopping mad.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

Answers

It would have been nice if he'd raised the problem his fans will have in getting home from Newcastle on a Saturday night, for the second week in a row.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

It's nice to think he needs an excuse already.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

That's the real issue isn't it mac? Last train is 7.30 so for 2 weeks running they will either be staying overnight or leaving early. We'd be furious if that was the other way round and ought to show a bit of support for their fans whatever we think of that prick with ears who manages their side.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

I wonder how Arse-end would have coped with an important European home fixture at 7.45pm and then travelling the other end of the coutry for a 2pm game against tough opposition less than 48 hours later?

Such was our case THIS season - home to Troyes (19/8), evening KO, and within 2 days a 2pm clash away at Chelsea (21/8). So Arse have a full Sunday and Monday plus most of Tuesday to recover from their defeat ;-) Pity a-f**kin'-bout them.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

I have some sympathy with their fans but I didn't hear too much support from London based clubs when we had to travel to Wembley for the semi. It all seems a bit one sided to me.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

Word has it he has made a threat not to turn up! A pass into the semi for us I think! :o)

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

Tough! If you're in that many competitions you should have a big enough squad to cope with it. Oh I forgot, they keep getting suspended. My only sympathy is with Toon fans who have to travel.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

From the Sun

>>He wants it switched to noon and hinted at drastic action if it is any later. Wenger rapped: "We will be at Newcastle at midday - whether we will still be there at 5.30 remains to be seen.

Should be a nice easy game if they aren't there then!

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

Steph, I have to travel North from London for both Arse games, and I don't mind. So they can all sod off, Wenger and his fans. Hope they're shagged by the time they get up there. Cheeky bugger wanted a Friday game, with us playing Liverpool away the previous Wednesday. Is he Ferguson in disguise?

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

Excellent indication of priorities from Wenger that I can only hope rubs off on his players. The Cup and to an extent the Premiership are just an annoying distraction. We'll win both games for sure. ;-)

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

Absolute Pratt. I hope they don;t show and get kicked out the competition for ten years. then get nocked out of Europe and lose three league games and putting them out of contention for the league. Then he really will regret everything.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

As the tartan army sang when Latvia (?) didn't turn up at kick off time .... there's only one team in Latvia

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

Estonia.... "one team in Tallin, there's only one team in Tallin..."

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

The FA have told him to F*** Off. They reminded him who the (contractual) paymasters are for the FAC (the Beeb) and that indeed, hey could have requested the game to be played on Sunday. Worse is the only game going on on Saturday - the other 3 are on Sunday.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

great news that the other games are on Sunday! Means we can go through and relax, enjoying watching the other poor buggars rather than - as it was last weekend- being the last match on.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

Only if we win Nick. If we loose I'm not interested in the other six. Won't even watch the final. Sorry, but if it's not NUFC, it's not footy.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

True

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

Arsene Wenger is bloody unbelievable.

He has to squeexe in a whinge about something at least twice a week.

Petty moans like "the pitch at Highbury isn't big enough" and "we are playing too many games" are pointless and make me wonder whether he is actually as intelligent as he likes to come across.

Would he rather have less games but be denied the money from the Champions' League to pay Mr Pires' and Mr Henry's wages?

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

Apparently, the BBC originally wanted to schedule our game for their preferred Sunday evening, 'prime time', slot, ie. 7pm. After Arsenal's initial objection, they reluctantly agreed to move it to Saturday. Arsenal then appealed against the evening ko time, insisting on a 12:00 ko.

At this point the Beeb told them to sod off!

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

Apparently the FA have also told Arsin Whinger ko stands at 535pm on Sat, like it or lump it. :-)

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

As Terry says, the biggest piss-me-off about Wenger's attitude is that he suggested we play on Friday! Saturday-Tuesday's too tight for him, but Weds-Fri is supposed to be ok for us, is it?

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

Sorry Dan, you're quite correct - Arsenal initially asked for a Friday ko. The FA vetoed that as the Toon have a fixture on the previous Wednesday. The Beeb then reluctantly agreed to move it to Saturday.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

We've played loads of games on Saturday and then a Monday night for Sky.

Arsene Wenger has a serious problem, terminally whinging.

I really hope they get beat tonight, as it makes their next CL game even more important.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

How happy was I that equaliser went in?....I really want arsenal to be struggling in the champs league before they meet us....give them a real priorities headache....

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

Galatasary are playing Liverpool tonight and their manager, Mircea Lucescu, has clearly been to the same self delusion classes that Wenger has been to. T

hey had 4 (four) players sent off in the local derby against Fenerbahce (losing 1-0) at the weekend. Quoted afterwards ... "we were robbed against Fenerbahce, everything happened against Galatasary. We had four players sent off but I do no believe discipline is a problem"

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

Nice one Macbeth, Sounds like a comment Winger would have made.

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

Wenger just keeps losing respect. Who does he think he is? It appears as though no other team matters apart from his. A clue to why so many of his self impressed whiny tossers for players get sent off all the time? If any of this at all rubs off on his players we should be the winners...

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

He's just determined not to let that upstart O'Leary beat him to the title of Most Annoying Manager in the PL

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

Great piece of man management from The Wingeing Frog- got Bergkamp to drive all that way then sat him on the bench for the whole game. Priceless!

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

Aye Nick I laughed at that in the paper this morning, Bergkamp drove to Germany in his car then didn't even play a single second of football.

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

Sky reported today that Whinger may rest some of his first team for their FA cup game with us to keep them fresh for the CL...As a protest at being made to play at 5:35 on the Saturday night - Go for it Arsen..leave them all at home to have a rest

We'll beat you with or without your "stars"

-- Anonymous, February 24, 2002

I'm looking forward to hearing Mr Wenger's excuses for next Saturdays heavy defeat. In order I reckon:

1. We had a tough midweek Champions League game, the players gave it their all but how can the FA expect them to play football twice a week.

2. The late kick off time really disadvantaged us as we were worried we wouldn't get home in time for Casualty. How can the FA possibly expect players to perform under such stress.

3. Newcarrsell is too far away from London. Unless the FA can do something to rectify this situation then English clubs will continue to do badly in Europe.

4. I didn't see the incident that led to Viera/Adams/Parlour/Bergkamp being sent off but I worry that referees pick on these players just because they elbow other players in the face. I often see players on other teams elbow each other in the face and the referee just laughs. The FA must act or we will never win the Champions League.

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002

Arsenal will be no push-over!!

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002

Biggest, and perhaps toughest, game of the season. Win it and things start to look very interesting; however, the key is to avoid getting beaten by them.

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002

With Leeds/Chelsea dropping away I would like us to win to keep the title dream more than a dream. If we beat Arsenal they then HAVE to win at Man U later on to stay in it, although Man U apart their run in is very similar to ours.

Man U themselves have Arsenal at home and Leeds and Chelsea away in three weeks around Easter.

Ain't no stopping us now

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2002