Things feel like they’re moving at a rapid pace in the hire for the new manager of Arsenal FC, but I’d caution you to all slow down a touch.
The leaks to the press are interesting, but I think we need to be careful about what we believe.
Things we’re pretty damn certain about:
1. Arsenal were not talking to any manager about Arsene’s job before last Thursday. That was a respect thing, the club like to claim they have class, and we’ve no reason to believe otherwise.
2. Arsenal want to get this next hire right. Ivan has been waiting for 10 years to make a proper impact on the playing side. This is his chance, his moment to shine like Pascal Cygan’s forehead on a summers day. Do not believe they fired Wenger so they could make a decision in 4 days. They have time, they’ll use it.
The club will go through a proper search and select process. Firstly, they’ll likely have spent a year building a brief of the type of manager they want to hire, Ivan already stated he wants someone who can work with young players, it’s clear they want someone who understands how to implement a pressing game, and he’ll want to lean into the playing values Wenger brought to the club. They’ll be thinking about what they’re looking to achieve, and the ways they can achieve it, as well as the different ways they can achieve those goals.
From there, they’ll compile a group of names and they’ll press contacts throughout Europe to build reports (Sven and Raul will show their worth here, just like Henrique has been doing at PSG). They’ll want to know about their characters, their ability to deal with pressure, style of management, how they work with those above them, and what players think of them. According to Ballague’s book, it was after this phase Arsene Wenger was pushed out of the reckoning for the Barca job in 2008.
From there, they’ll whittle down to a list of names they can speak to, maybe they’ll reach out to agents to gauge interest, then they’ll set up interviews.
You’d imagine for a job the size of Arsenal, they’ll be expected to present their vision of the club (Ryan Giggs classically failed here for Swansea). Arsenal will want to interrogate their ideas for Arsenal, find out more details about their footballing ideals/values, understand their management style, and get to grips with how they work with the specialists where they are. Jose Mourinho failed to get the Barca job back in the day because when he was asked if he’d relinquish his combative approach in the media, he refused, stating it’s part of his game.
I’d imagine after working with Wenger, the club will want someone amenable to a more democratic structure, a man open to new ideas, comfortable with empowering those around them with responsibility and decision making power, and the absolute key… being able to communicate ideas with intensity and passion.
Whenever you read about Pep, it’s always his intensity. Players love his training sessions (read), no one has more energy than him, no one has better ideas, and his commitment and his vision are utterly infectious (watch). Intensity is something we lack on and off the pitch, and it’s something the board will want to see back at the club.
So basically, what I’m saying is this… sure, Enrique and Arteta are going to be in the mix for the new role at the club, but don’t be daft enough to think they’re near a decision yet.
I’m not so keen on Enrique. I don’t know a lot about him, but I kind of feel he’s a poor man’s Pep G. This from Sid Lowe at ESPN very eloquently gives an insight into the manager that I’m not sure we’d enjoy.
Barcelona’s problems are a reality. The team that once invited opponents onto them now looks frightened when they are pressed, unable to find a way out; those passageways they once opened remain closed, the mechanisms malfunctioning. Or maybe there aren’t any? Maybe that element of their game, once so central and important, has been relegated to a minor issue? The evidence on the pitch suggests so, and so did the comments on the touchline.
Luis Enrique is a former Barcelona player, a Barcelona B-team manager, a man who embraced the city and the club and loved to wind up Madrid, who said he was coming “home” when he took over, likening the Camp Nou to Disneyland. But some critics suspected that he was not really Barcelona, and now they’re even more convinced. When Luis Enrique said he was “faithful” to the style but wanted to “evolve it, perfect it, improve it,” they suspected he actually meant destroy it. Now they’re even more convinced of that. Not least because they were convinced of it then, even as he won trophies and fans chanted his name
I’m kind of hoping the name will go away, but the key here is that Enrique knows someone at the club.
There’s a clear pattern from yesterdays media leaks. All the people that are supposedly still in the mix are linked to someone at the club. I don’t think that’s necessarily a key decision point, but as you know in business, it really fucking helps if someone can vouch for you. I have my doubts it’s any different in football.
I’d imagine a big part of Ivan’s decision making has to be with the fans. He’ll never admit it, but he needs us onboard. Letting Sky know Arteta was his favoured candidate might not be as irresponsible as you think. I’m sure he’s gauging fan reaction to see how much stomach we have for risk. Managerial trial balloons, I’m not sure he’d have liked the reaction, which seems cold if I’m honest.
I’ve been telling you since last May the club wanted the return of Arteta, and that the Spaniard turned down Spurs because he wanted to return to us at some point. I wrote in November why he’d be an interesting hire.
To summarise:
1. Signing Arteta works from a culture perspective, he gets the club, he’s well-liked, and he knows everyone
2. Ivan would own his pristine hair and his backside. Being a kingmaker allows you to control the manager and the direction of the club. Something he’s lacked under Wenger.
3. You’re hiring from the best-tutored coach in the world game. The greatest innovators are usually exposed to genius somewhere along the line (Steve Jobs @ Xerox). They often take others ideas, and reimagine them for themselves. If Arteta is as smart as they say he is, he could be a force to be reckoned with if he can adapt to the gravity of the job.
4. There’s a cost benefit. A young manager charges less, comes with fewer people, and if it goes wrong you don’t have to spend much to rectify the issue.
I’m not sure we’ll have the balls to go with an Arteta like signing, but look, I’d not be against the move. I think it’s strategically sound, and I’d certainly be excited about watching a young manager bring Pep levels of intensity to the Colney dossers club.
Definitely worth a few of your pennies if you’re a gambler, but I do think it might be sharper for the club to look at Nagelsmann if we’re going for untested. He’s already proved he can build something from nothing, he’s taken Hoffenheim to the Champions League (from relegation fodder), he’s shown he can develop players, and he’s on the verge of recreating the same success of last season for the second year running. He’d still be a brave move, but I think the fans would be more comfortable with him as a risk.
There will be more names linked, likely more experienced, and I think the favourites list from the bookies will go back and forth. Expect Conte to be linked, I’d imagine the Allegri rumours will start again, we’ll absolutely explore Jardim, and I’d imagine we’ll see names like Hassenhutl, Jardim, Poch, Carlo and Tedesco in the papers.
Everyone, I say this truthfully, I have not been this excited about Arsenal for 15 years.
The future is bright. It’s technical. It’s unpredictable and joy-filled whatever happens.
We’ve broken the grip of Wenger, now we can enjoy football like any other fan of a rich elite club in London.
What a summer we have ahead.
See you in the comments.
Nah tie is over. Liverpool will score back at Roma. Roma already self destructed letting in 5.
Gambon
You crack on with the Wenger talk, his era is done.
Arsenal have a modern stadium, rake in the money, 5th most valuable club in world football, 6th most popular club in world football.
To suggest we’ve been ruined, or set back, is rubbish. You and others are banging such a bs drum, get the managerial appointment right and we’ve every chance to be in the conversation again for years to come.
Roma showing signs here of what they will do in the second leg.
Can put heavy attacking pressure on Liverpool in the second leg.
Problem is for them though certain areas of defence with Salah around.
Jesus should be left out for the second leg. Will have mental scars from this match tonight.
come on roma
“CC just doesn’t want to give Liverpool credit because it makes Klopp look good and Wenger like the imbecile he is.“ I wanted Klopp at arsenal you absolute gobshite. Liverpool have been good, but Roma have given them an abundance of space against a slow back 3. More like you can’t call Roma shit, instead you talk abou Arsenal being shit when we’re not even playing. Marko Oh is that how it works mate? Arsenal are shit at defending, so arsenal fans can’t moment that another team has been shit? That’s a new one. Arsenal could’ve onceded 109 for the… Read more »
“Arsenal have a modern stadium,” A modern stadium that wont even be the best, or biggest in North London in 3 months time. “rake in the money,” No….used to rake in the money. That all changed when Wenger presided over the current slump that has seen us go from the second biggest financially in the PL to the 5th, soon to be joint 5th with Spurs. We’ve allowed Chelsea, then City, and then Liverpool to overtake us. “6th most popular club in world football.” Which means nothing when 20,000 people stay away, and sponsors dont want to be associated with… Read more »
Marko
“Prior to tonight Roma conceded 41 goals on the season so 46 now while we’ve conceded 65 so I wouldn’t be so quick to criticize another teams defending. We also conceded 63 the previous season”
Nice stats Marko but I could see that Jesus looked a big weak link and looked a little lost after 10 minutes.
Really their manager should have looked to sort something out at half time but he didn’t.
rake in the money, 5th most valuable club in world football, 6th most popular club in world football.
We were all this before Wenger came.
Don’t pretend Wenger made arsenal.
The stadium was gong to be built regardless of Wenger or not
How are spurs building a stadium without a “Wenger”?
Liverpool will score over there they’re still going through
Man I am so excited still
Take me to back to the place where Arsene Wenger won 3 premiership titles..
It’s still Wenger ,Wenger ,Wenger …give it a rest jo.e.
Oh is that how it works mate? Arsenal are shit at defending, so arsenal fans can’t moment that another team has been shit?
I mean we can but it’s a bit rich is all. Especially from you I seem to remember us incessantly arguing during the summer about signings and you were of the opinion that the 5-2-3 formation that worked in the cup final and better tactics were the way to go forward while I wanted defensive signings. I wouldn’t be too harsh on the likes of Manolas or Fazio
Pedro is correct we never knew who our last 3 managers would be until Arsenal told us
“No….used to rake in the money. That all changed when Wenger presided over the current slump that has seen us go from the second biggest financially in the PL to the 5th, soon to be joint 5th with Spurs. We’ve allowed Chelsea, then City, and then Liverpool to overtake us.“ Deloitte money league has us at 6th in January 2018. So we clearly do rake it in. “Which means nothing when 20,000 people stay away, and sponsors dont want to be associated with us.“ Except they’re patently not going to stay away now, and both Nike and Adidas are fighting… Read more »
Roma managed to keep the tie alive although Liverpool remain strong favourites.
And no, Roma ain’t shit.
gambon
“When Wenger took over we hadnt won the league for 5 years, a Euro trophy for 2 years, and were the second most successful club in the country.”
mate, I don’t think the second most successful club in the country has Bruce Rioch in charge. if you’re going to talk shit at least wait until some of the older posters have gone to bed.
What a freaking game that was !
Marko
I’m very much of the opinion our defensive issues are more tactically dependent than personnel. Wenger ignored off the ball work, we have no shape, and there’s no discipline in the team at all.
Take any of our back four and give them to Simeone and they’d perform better defensively. Give us the best defender you can think of and we’ll still be shit defensively.
That argument also took place with the relative budget in mind. You’re always talking about making 8 signings and swapping players out like it’s Fifa – something arsenal cannot fiscally produce.
Charlie What evidence? We have less sponsors than all the other “big clubs” Both Manchester teams make over £100m more than us in Sponsorship The Sponsorship gap to Man Utd has gone from £20m to £150m in the last 10 years We have fallen behind both Chelsea and Liverpool commercially in recent seasons. We have less global sponsors now than we did 5 years ago Our new Shirt deal is noticeably worse than Chelsea, UTD and almost certainly Liverpool when they re-sign shortly Our proposed kit deal is estimated to be far worse than Man Utd and even CHelsea, a… Read more »
Charlie
Mo Salah is on fire
Pretty much unstoppable tonight
As for the Deloitte rating, that is working with old numbers from when we were in the Champs league.
Since then our Gate money, commercial money and prize money have all fallen, leaving us in 8th place at best.
The problem being 4 of the teams above us are PL teams,
can anyone speculate why PV4 would not want this job?
Gambon
What part of us earning the 6th most money in world football are you missing?
We’re not doing that because of half time pies alone. The figures you’re generating seem like they’re coming out of thin air, where are you getting this info from?
http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-turnover-exceeds-400m-for-first-time-in-latest-financial-results-a3646256.html%3famp
I’m very much of the opinion our defensive issues are more tactically dependent than personnel. Wenger ignored off the ball work, we have no shape, and there’s no discipline in the team at all. I know that was the argument but tactics smactics Mustafi is still shit and Koscielny has grandma ankles. That argument also took place with the relative budget in mind. You’re always talking about making 8 signings and swapping players out Ah that’s not fair last summer I only wanted one particularly significant purchase in that area. A year later we’re worse off and a year older… Read more »
Charlie I already told you, old data. That is based on our revenue from last season…..when we were in the CL. This season we have taken a £40m hit, becuase our gate receipts have fallen, our sposorship money has fallen and out TV/Prize money has fallen, all due to Wengers mismanagement. At the same time, Chelsea and Liverpool have added significant revenues, and overtaken us, so AT BEST, we are 8th, if not probably 9th now, with 4 domestic rivals above us. Saying “we are 6th financially” is akin to saying Chelsea are the best team in the PL, or… Read more »
Headlines from Italian newspapers:
Juan Jesus un disastro.
Juan Jesus disastro di Anfield .
Mamma mia Juan Jesus… lool
Juan Jesus inguardabile – unwatchable
James Doig – Liverpool fan on twitter = Let’s all hope Roma starts Juan Jesus in next week’s game. Diabolical player
Links to Emile Forsberg appearing. Yes please
it was a fascinating game. Roma are huge, and really shut Liverpool down when they were short passing early on, but once Liverpool started hitting longer balls they couldn’t cope. would imagine something similar to the City away game for the 2nd leg. Roma throwing everything at it and one of Salah, Firmino or Mane nicking a few on the counter.
Forsberg would be a dreadful signing.
We already have a number 10 in Mesut Ozil, a number 10 in Mykhitaryan, a wannabe number 10 in Aaron Ramsey, and a young number 10 in Reiss Nelson.
Death by number 10s, which has been Wengers playbook for years.
We need a world class wide attacker, not another central drifting, ball to feet player.
Been said to death what Arsenal need and it’s not a Forsberg.
Gazidis was on about younger players.
Well there is the centre back Diop from Toulouse and the DM from Lyon Tousart who play with a maturity and concentration beyond their years.
I read a while back that the money we make from the EL won’t be far off what we made last year in the CL on account of Everton not making the knockout stage. meaning the pool of money for English clubs all goes to us.
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/english-soccer/ken-early-wenger-s-bottom-line-cost-arsenal-s-fans-1.3470467?mode=amp&__twitter_impression=true
Gambon No what I’m not understanding is your rendition of “no sponsors want to be associated with us” when we’ve negotiated 3 new deals since January and two of the biggest lot manufacturers want us after Puma. Show me the numbers that confirm what you’re saying, because until then it’s your ramblings masquerading as fact. Our earning potential isn’t under threat at all, and the rhetoric you’re producing on it is either totally ignorant, or just another slight. CityAM/Deloitte: “Arsenal have overtaken Paris Saint-Germain as the sixth richest club in the world, according to the latest edition of Deloitte’s Football… Read more »
Ishola
You may not know this but you’d have a tendency to just see the player you think is failing.
My point is sometimes the best players, on excellent form can make ANYONE look bad. That’s what happened to Jesus today.
There’s no way Roma come out to cancel a 3-0 deficit and stop Liverpool from scoring away goals.
Charlie
Are you really this thick, or just bored.
THAT WAS LAST SEASON….NOT THIS SEASON.
I really cant explain it in any more basic way.
Champagne
The figures you’re using do not reflect the lack of CL qualification for this season.
We’ve had top reduce put ticket fees heavenly we to adjust for the Europa league; that’s a drop in revenues in itself.
It’s 2027, Guardiola has retired as a manager with 78 trophies to his name, Arsenal have bad 3 managers in a decade…….and j.oe is still posting articles about Wenger because he’s nothing else to say.
Dissenter “You may not know this but you’d have a tendency to just see the player you think is failing. My point is sometimes the best players, on excellent form can make ANYONE look bad. That’s what happened to Jesus today.” No not true Dissenter. I was praising Salah through the match on here. But not one-eyed in looking at the overall picture. Jesus was poor as well. And plenty seem to be in agreement judging by reactions not just from Italians but Liverpol fans as well. Now you would think Liverpool fans would be just like you and say… Read more »
Ishola
Lets agree to disagree then.
Don’t you think Xhaka is coming ton terms with the English game/ 🙂
Gambon
Good grief, you were here slating the commercial side and saying we have been ruined. I’ve provided evidence of where we were as of the most recent study.
I’m well aware this season isn’t accounted for, it’s the ridiculousness of you to sit here and suggest one season is going to put us behind the fucking 8 ball when we’ve literally nestled a cash reserve pile for this very outcome.
We earn a ton, and our sponsorships are right up there, or being negotiated up there upon renewal/replacement. Your narrative is bogus
****We’ve had to reduce our ticket fees to adjust for the Europa league; that’s a drop in revenues in itself.****
I like Forsberg would take him in a heartbeat over Mhiki and Ramsey and yeah probably over the wet sponge Ozil
Dissenter
“Lets agree to disagree then.
Don’t you think Xhaka is coming ton terms with the English game”
Yes Dissenter I’m very excited at the thought of our Xhaka being the hub of our central midfield for many years to come.
Marko
How much is he mooted to go for? I saw he critically said thanks to everyone the other day on social, viewed as a goodbye.
I’m under the impression he’s another lad that struggles with being robust. Don’t need another half season specialist like Rambo, and not the “type” we’re crying out for imo. Unless he can play centre half?
CharlieYou’ve been going on for the last hour about how Wenger hasn’t ruined arsenal
That front 3 of Liverpool’s is scary. As good as anything right now in Europe. Mane imo is the most dynamic of the 3, on his day can shoot off both feet, rinse anyone 1 vs 1 and has pace to absolutely kill, more so than even Salah. Firmino is the glue that holds the attack together, crucial piece that facilitates the fluidity with his runs and his harrying of defenders is a vital aspect of his game that is often overlooked. Does it all extremely well even if he’s not as blockbuster as Mane, better finisher for me and… Read more »
J.oe
You have a different name, but you spout the same shit. Just swerve me and go help an old lady cross the street or grease a pole.
Charlie
Is that meant to be funny?
Your humor is about as good as wengers managerial skills
Go back to having your ass handed to you by gambon
Charlie Re to what you were saying earlier about ZZ, so what if the club that sacked Del Bosque, Mourinho, Rafa, Ancelotti and every other manager before him decide to give him the boot? You’re an advocate of Rafa and ZZ took over his mess and turned them into a UCL winning side, and went on to win another UCL and the league the following season. There is a good chance that they will win it once again this season. To me he’s gotten his tactics right and been unconventional at times, away at PSG was one of the most… Read more »
J.oe
No it was meant to let you know I find your input myopic and irrelevant (as always), hence I suggested you go do some other irrelevant activity instead of engage on here with me.
Not at all surprised that went over your head though. Always been a thick cunt 🙂
Pierre and CC are just mad things haven’t gotten the way they wanted in regards to Wenger. The plan was for him to stay for many many years. Now he’s been sacked, hounded out of the club. That’s why they hate that Liverpool are doing well as it doesn’t fit their narrative of “Wenger couldn’t compete” “It was the media’s fault” bla bla. Same thing with Leicester winning the league making Wenger and his stupid followers look like mugs. Destroying their idea of not being able to compete. They have no arguments left.
Yes Charlie
And your insight is amazing.
Tell us again how xhaka was the best signing and was gong to make us league contenders that season
You really know your football
And now pedalling arteta as a good choice for manager
Haha
Keep it coming CC
Steve
Today it was that Roma are shit hahah
The lengths they go to.
Liverpool destroyed them.
Roma couldn’t handle it.
But they certainly aren’t shit. They are in the semis of the CL
Something Wenger and the likes of Pierre And CC only wish Wenger could do for us
Weagle
Rafa’s mess? Lol what are you talking about?
Madrid fans didn’t want him as manager from the off, he was booed at his first home game and they never let up. Ronaldo also threw his toys out the pram because he liked Ancelotti who’d recently gone.
Rafa didn’t cause any “mess”, he was there 7 months and only lost 3 games in 25 under that cloud of shit. Could very easily spin it that Madrid won the CL that season with the foundation Rafa put in place. Your “mess” talk is total rubbish I’m afraid though.
J.oe
Thank fuck, you found a friend in chav Steve. Hope you both keep each other busy with intellectual debate, you’ve found a match for one another in that department.
Charlie Ok ‘mess’ makes it hyperbolic but things certainly were not rosy under Rafa, dressing room problems notwithstanding. Their results against the top teams around them were not good, hockeyed at home 4-0 by Barcelona, beaten by Sevilla, beaten by Villarreal, draws vs Atletico and Valencia. ZZ picked up 51 points from a possible 60 upon taking over, Rafa took 37 points from a possible 54. And how can you say that he set the foundations for their UCL success? He won them the group, something that every RM manager has done before him too (ironically ZZ failed to achieve… Read more »
Take me back to the place where I never saw wengers invincibles play..
J.oe. …he’s going , it’s over …it’s time to move on and talk about something different….
Get it into your thick head ….we are all happy that he’s going .
Weagle I’m not stating he set the foundations, I said that in jest because it’s precisely the type of obscure rehashing that people produce on here. I’m not ignoring ZZ’s influence, but for me it came more as a result of the unrest at the club in the time. He was this mythical figure that came in and waters were calmed once again, players shut up and played, media backed off, fans were onside, momentum built. My point is he’s proven himself tactically lacking, and short of the ingredients of a Pep. He’s a figurehead type, I don’t see ZZ… Read more »
‘My point is he’s proven himself tactically lacking, and short of the ingredients of a Pep. He’s a figurehead type, I don’t see ZZ tipping up at a Roma and making them tick with his football genius the same way Pep would. His sheen has dulled and he’s getting moved on, that’s not typical of managerial elite.’ See I don’t understand this, UCL football is as tactical as it gets because it’s a much higher level of opposition with threats coming from all parts of the pitch, it’s where your tactics have to be spot on. It’s why we were… Read more »
Granted they were poor against Juventus in the QF but even if that went to ET, I would have had RM winning as they did against Bayern last season.
Juve were sitting back and inviting pressure the last 20 mins and you felt that goal was coming.
Even Buffon admitted that over the 2 legs, RM deserved to go through.
WengerEagle
Any side that concedes 3 goals at home doesn’t deserve to through which is what i think the Juve goalie was saying……plonker
WengerEagle
Any side that concedes 3 goals at home doesn’t deserve to go through which is what i think the Juve goalie was saying……plonker
No moron, he said that RM were the better team over 2 legs.
And Juve conceded 3 at home too re.tard.
Weagle Disagree entirely, the league is a better reflection of tactical ability and management. Cup football (especially knockout) is about the day, and often what the players do, tactics take a back seat imo. Is ZZ capable of producing a game plan that can knock an opponent out of a competition? Ehh sure I’ll concede that begrudgingly based on what I say above. Now is he capable of producing a tactically dominant league campaign? Nope, I have massive reservations about that. This Barcelona side aren’t that impressive, relatively speaking, and they’ve blown his Madrid side away this season. Madrid are… Read more »
Red is a lovely man
I’ll have to look back at the stats but it’s as if Klopp was inadvertently aware that Liverpool seem to switch off if Salah goes off.
I used to wonder why when ever Liverpool seemed to have games wrapped up, they’d leave it well into the 80s to sub Salah off.
But yeah, those two goal hey conceded will fill Roma with a lot of belief. Still fancy Liverpool to not get outscored next week
Charlie Disagree, league matches you’re generally the better team and the favourite if you’re in charge of RM, let’s not pretend that you need to put in a tactical masterclass to beat a Leganes, Eibar or Real Sociedad on any given day. The league was over pretty early on, unlike in England anything over a 10 point lead in Spain means lights out when you’re dealing with Messi and Barcelona. And what you’re neglecting to mention is that he won the league last season! Which i suspect is why you’re now fishing for a ‘dominant’ league win. Nonsense, the fact… Read more »
Yeah 5-2 is too steep a mountain for Roma to climb. You’re only capable of one of those crazy comebacks that we witnessed over Barcelona, it’s literally only happened a couple of times in the history of the Champions League, Deportivo’s comeback over Ancelotti’s Milan in 2004 and Barca’s 6-1 pasting of PSG last season were the only other ones that I can think of. Barcelona themselves needed a repeat last season of their PSG comeback after going down 3-0 to Juventus in Turin, could only manage a tepid 0-0 at Camp Nou in 2nd leg. Liverpool are in the… Read more »
ITs like ROma did not do their homework. The way they played was like they had never ever head of liverpool. Second leg will be much tighter… Pool might still go through by one goal perhaps
WengerEagle
The tie was lost at home which is what the Juve keeper meant….dimwit
Feeling real pity for Oxlade.
Word is that he’s torn a cruciate in his knee. What a blow for him because he was flying so high.
very impressed with Liverpool last night. initially thought Roma might be a match for them, but they re-adjusted and gradually upped the tempo. Lovren’s late f*ck up aside they were very solid defensively, VVD has made a huge difference, and loved the aggression and energy of their two young full backs. Wijnaldum was excellent when he came on, and while Salah gets all the attention, love watching Firmino at #9. so much energy & intelligence.
Dissenter I echo those sentiments also.
Just think of the buzz around the club if Arsenal had Patrick Vieira as manager and Henry as his assistant.
It would give the club a massive lift , Henry and Vieira have very astute football brains …..I believe it could work and would give the club and fans the injection of life that it needs..
They are both winners at the highest level and would command respect from day one from the experienced and youth players alike ….it’s a risk but a risk worth taking.
Wallace
Yeah agree..Liverpool were superb last night , a great team to watch .
The last ten minutes would be a worry for their supporters for the return leg as the defence started to look very edgy .
An early goal conceded and they could be in for a really difficult night.
Weagle
I’m not neglecting anything, I can’t be more plain than what I’ve said.
Zidane came in, fathered momentum, and rode a crest; now the romance has subsided and his managerial acumen is what he’s having to fall back on, which has been thin at best.
He’s not that good a manager, I’ll gleefully say he’s proven me wrong when he steps outside the Madrid folklore bubble and competes at another football club. My guess is were he to expose himself to where the hierarchy/fans demand results without the status he holds at Madrid, he’d be found wanting.
Pierre
Vieira/Henry combo would be fantastic for fanfare and buzz as you say, but I’d have my reservations over their managerial mettle – much like I do with Zidane – and ability to survive after the honeymoon period.
Worth noting that Arsenal operate on a level, and with competition, that requires someone with a smart managerial input. We ain’t working for long with a figurehead style manager imo.
I would subscribe to Patrick Vieira becoming Manager/Head Coach, but I am not sure that I would appoint Thierry Henry as an assistant coach. If Vieira is appointed there needs to be a clear divide in pecking order between him and the other coaches and I don’t think that would work. The club needs proper leadership in running the first team. I think that what was suggested to me by another season ticket holder who has close contacts with members of Board may well be correct. It seems that Louis Enrique is likely to be the preferred choice. Appointing Iniesta… Read more »
CC It’s risky but worth the risk. My worry is if we got someone in like Arteta in and we got off to a bad start , the fans would immediately be on his back whereas vieira/Henry would be allowed time to put their ideas across … To be honest , I don’t want to return to the negativity from media and fans of the last few years ….the negativity will return very quickly if we don’t have a good transfer window (centre mid and defence is a priority) and we are under prepared for the start of the season… Read more »
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/11345073/alexis-sanchez8217s-success-coming-at-the-cost-of-losing-anthony-martial
while I’m pleased we now have two very highly regarded strikers at the club, I’m gutted it’ll probably rule us out of being a possible destination for Martial.
“My worry is if we got someone in like Arteta in and we got off to a bad start , the fans would immediately be on his back whereas vieira/Henry would be allowed time to put their ideas across …” It’s a key appointment, there’s no hiding from it. My concerns are as you say, but with an Arteta (or someone with perceived managerial acumen) you may have a slow start but their quality would win everyone over at some point. I do worry with Vieira/Henry that people are too invested in the players and less about what their management… Read more »
Wallace The club needs to focus this summer on upgrading goalkeeper and defence. There are those who are far too concerned about the suggested NET £50 million budget. Personally I am not, because very few clubs are being offered that amount. Chelsea, Liverpool and Spurs are not spending anything like £50 million net. If they spend £100-150 million it is because they negotiate sales to cover that amount. If you take a look at Liverpool [see transfermarkt] they have in fact recouped slightly more on sales than they have spent on purchases in current financial period. The problem at Arsenal… Read more »
We should be all over Anthony Martial.
Hes a completely different player to Lacazette or Auba, and would play on the left.
Put it this way, would you rather see Martial out there, or Iwobi?
Our current team, with Martial out on the left, would be good enough to win the PL from an attacking point of view. He would also provide some balance to the “death by number 10s” that we have employed in recent years.
Costa although being injured has apparently travelled with the squad to London, Juanfran hasn’t however.
stroller
Re Liverpool …it helps to balance the books of you receive 140 million for one player..
I wonder if Coutinho is regretting his decision to leave.
Gambon
Sorry but the club needs to prioritise. We are not in the same position as the
two Manchester clubs.
In Eldorado where money is no object yes you are right Martial would be a decent buy.
The reality is that over many years the club has created its own problems by
buying too much mediocrity and then paying grossly inflated wages as well.
Our current wage bill is not significantly lower than that of Man City. If you
pay elite club wages to players then you need also to buy elite players with a
resale value as well.
Pierre
I doubt it. Latin American players will always prefer to play in Spain and Barcelona is realistically a club higher in pecking order than Liverpool.
One swallow does not make a summer.
Emirates Sorry I disagree. We have a clear hole in our current team/squad. We literally dont have a wide player, we have about 8 players who want to play number 10. Any decent manager will recognise this straight away. No other manager in world football would be happy with Welbeck and Iwobi as starting material. Iwobi isnt even PL level, Welbeck is mid to lower table level and should be at Watford or similar. Im sure Liverpool fans were saying last year that Salah wasnt a priority etc. You dont turn down the opportunity to sign such a quality player,… Read more »
NEW POST
For what it is worth, I think we should go for a clean break from Wengerite football of indirect football (trying to pass the ball into the net, avoiding shooting from the distance, free kicks etc. What Liverpool have shown (apart from high/energetic pressing) using move out of the defence with long balls over the opposition midfield, much more directness in breaking out. That is why we should avoid Wenger’s replacement to be someone who advocates tiki-taka build up. Personally, I think that should rule out (almost) any current French (or Barca) footballing name. No Enrique, no Henry. Also nobody… Read more »