Ivan’s trial balloons + Arsenal’s likely search and select process

by .

Screen Shot 2018-04-23 at 21.41.42

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.

Screen Shot 2018-04-23 at 21.21.20

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.

490 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Ishola70

Looks worse on replay.

Horrible keeping from Karius. Lucky boy

Ishola70

“VVD has been a superb sighing for Liverpool. The guy is a leader. I thought he was way overpriced but looks like Liverpool were right in spending a fortune on him.”

Messi would have both Dick and Lovren on toast.

TR7

Roma pretty much dominating Pool so far

Marko

He’s been better recently but that just reminds you he’s not ultimately a great keeper

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

What happened to the ox . Just got in an he’s leaving on a stretcher ..

Did it look bad ?

Ishola70

Jesus has looked their weakest defender so far.

Should be targeting him.

Guns of Brixton

Just as i praise him he gets injured

I must of jinxed him lol

TR7

Ishola you don’t rate VVD?

Ishola70

R.S.P.C.Arsenal
“What happened to the ox . Just got in an he’s leaving on a stretcher ..Did it look bad ?”

yeah nasty.

Big heavy collision on’s Ox leg

Ishola70

Mane not quite top class

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Cheers ishola

Hope it’s not a bad one, he’s an honest kid.

Ishola70

TR7
“you don’t rate VVD?”

I see his strengths as you say leadership, strong

but a low gravity tricky dribbler up through the middle will gave him big headaches.

Not the most agile.

azed

Salah again.

Ishola70

lovely goal.

effortless.

and unsuprisingly on the defender Jesus’ side.

Should keep on pecking at Jesus’ side of defence.

gambon

Salah has to be the best signing in the last 10 years.

As always Wenger was nowhere to be seen.

TR7

What a goal

Bamford10

Great frickin’ goal. Salah is out of control at the moment.

Ishola70

Lovren should have taken that.

TR7

Pool have ramped up their game after a tepid style. They might rue not taking their chances up though.

Ishola70

The Wij man has looked lively since he came on as sub.

azed

“Salah has to be the best signing in the last 10 years.”

I think Mahrez has to be. $400k and led Leicester to an EPL title takes it for me.

Guns of Brixton

Klopp can make the dead look alive.

Flipping heck

TR7

Salah again… Wow

TR7

The guy has a bit of Messi about him especially the style in which he scores goals

Dissenter

Salah is unplayable…but you get the sense that Wenger would have played Welbeck ahead of him.

Samesong

I said before Mo Salah came to Liverpool he will rip up teams and here we go.

Ishola70

Salah shows Mane what real top class marksmanship is about.

Great finish.

This Jesus is getting the runaround by Salah, Big weakness in the Roma side.

izzo

Mo Salah is currently the third best in world football. Can’t fucking argue with that.

Take me back to Highbury

Liverpool winning the CL will be the biggest kick in the nuts for akbs.

Ishola70

What does the trainspotter do for Roma at half time?

The left side of his defence is weak.

Jesus is praying to the skies at this point.

Dissenter

You just know that Liverpool will win this year’s champion’s league.
They have the best player in Europe this season.
Salah is on course to become the best player in Europe for 2017-2018.

Guns of Brixton

Salah man

What a player

Hope he takes this form to the WC

gambon

Depressing to think that Liverpool fans know they will be fighting for the title next year…and they’ve already made the best signing of the summer.

Meanwhile Arsenal will be banging on about values….which is a euphemism for “we aren’t interested in competing”

Dissenter

His finishing is Messi-esque…the soft touches can’t be taught.

TR7

32 year old Milner puts most if not all our midfielders to shame. Tireless running, good passing and understanding of the game, very few errors.

Take me back to Highbury

Salah!

How much did he cost Liverpool?

Dissenter

Klopp knew how he wanted to play…and then the club got him the type of payers needed to make it work.

Samesong

The key for me is the way they rotate positions up front Klopp knows best.

Take me back to Highbury

Gambon

Spot on. I would trade all 3 of our last fa cups to make a CL final

Brings way more excitement

Samesong

Firminho is the workhorse up front. Very underated player.

Dissenter

Liverpool have peaked at the right moment.
That’s contrary top what many said about Klopp’s teams
Aren’t they supposed top be tiring now with all the gergenpressing?

Defies the conventional belief held here about Klopp.

azed

“32 year old Milner puts most if not all our midfielders to shame. Tireless running, good passing and understanding of the game, very few errors.”

This was one of Wenger’s biggest problems. You don’t need 11 technical players, you mix and match.
Put a Cazorla with Milner and another worker and see him do his magic.

Take me back to Highbury

Dissenter.

While Wenger buys players and forces square pegs into round holes

Wallace

Dissenter

“Liverpool have peaked at the right moment.”

for a run in the champions league, yes.

how far back of City are they in the league?

Pierre

Take me to back to the place I have never been to in my life .

Just think , next season J.oe will have to watch a game without referring to Wenger or AKB’S every time a player does something decent .

Dissenter

Liverpool have also built up a very good squad, every player has very good competition
To make matters worse they have Kwita coming in next season.

gambon,
I hate to break it to you.
Liverpool may have won the signing of the season for next season in Naby Keita.

Take me back to Highbury

Pierre

It’s going be fucking wonderful not having to see the fraud on our sidelines

Can’t wait for next season.

TR7

Klopp will steal the thunder of Pep if Pool win the CL.

gambon

Dissenter

Keita is who I was talking about.

TR7

Steal Pep’s thunder*

Pierre

Take me back to the place where I have never seen Arsenal play.

J.oe ,there is no way you will be able to watch a game of football next season whether it’s Arsenal playing or whoever without referring to Wenger or AKB’S.

How about try starting tonight .

Take me back to Highbury

Why Pierre.

Does it bother you so much that Liverpool is proving how much of a waste the last decade was for arsenal under Wenger because fans like you couldn’t let go?

It must kill you that “Klopp the flop”
Is showing up Wenger to be the complete fraud he is

Take me back to Highbury

Pierre

Tell us again how is all the refs fault for the last 14 years

Champagne charlie

Roma are garbage. Manolas and Fazio have been dogshit

HillWood

Does Jurgen Klopp buy his teeth at Tesco?

Ishola70

Liverpool are through yet folks.

This is a team that canned Barca at home.

To say they are a handy home team is understating.

Take me back to Highbury

Charlie

We’ve played Swedish and Russian pub teams to get to the semi finals of Europa

Let’s not judge.

They did just beat Barca over two legs

azed

Salah slightly offside there.

Samesong

Ishola70April 24, 2018 20:00:30
Liverpool are through yet folks.

Don’t see Liverpool front 3 not going to Roma and not scoring.

Ishola70

3-0 .

However good Salah is that left hand side of Roma’s defence is shocking.

That Jesus guy on that side is shocking.

Just let Salah have the walk of the park again.

Champagne charlie

Fuck off j.oe you moron, a spade is a spade. Roma are wank.

That was a freak result against a complacent, arrogant Barcelona. They got spanked 4-1 I’m the first leg, they’re going to get beat by 5 in the CL semi.

Is been 3 vs 3 at the back all game long and they’re doing nothing about it.

gambon

Remember all the AKBs saying Wenger was a better manager than Klopp?

HillWood

Charlie
Pool have played them off the park
Roma can’t compete with this

Take me back to Highbury

Charlie

Let me put it another way

We wouldn’t not be up 3 nil v Roma

We would not beat them over 2 legs.

Ishola70

Laughing at how bad a defender Jesus is.

Again no idea where he is with another Liverpool chance.

Shocking defender.

Samesong

I rate this Alex Arnold.

Samesong

Wow

azed

Liverpool vs Bayern.

TR7

4-0

Poll are definitely through to the finals now. Literally toying with Roma defense are Mane, Firmino and Salah.

Ishola70

lol said after 15 minutes target Jesus and the left hand side of their defence and Salah just walks past Jesus again for their fourth.

Take me back to Highbury

Fuck off j.oe you moron, a spade is a spade. Roma are wank.

And what the fuck were ostertunds and CSKA

Haha

Fuck me

Gunner2301

https://www.arsenaltrust.org/news/2017/ast-members-say-no-to-final-year-for-arsene-wenger

I wasn’t aware of this not that it would have been decisive but may have been a consideration added to that the fans staying away.

azed

Didn’t Coutinho leave to win the Champions league?

Dream10

This Roma performance is reminiscent of ours at Anfield in on a sunny Sunday last August.

They pressed Barcelona with the same midfield. They haven’t been able to deal with the direct ball bypassing their centre.

Champagne charlie

J.oe
What have arsenal got to do with Roma being shit? Drop the pathetic commentary.

Hillwood
No mate, sorry but this is total capitulation from Roma. Liverpool haven’t had to do a thing, they’re being given acres and acres to play in. No defender within 10 yelards of Salah for that goal and you’re telling me it’s Liverpool playing well? Cmon

Dissenter

Ishola
Why are you slating the defender?
You’re always seeking a villain
How about just aknowledging that Salah is simply unplayable at the moment. He’s on fire.

Samesong

This is the first time I’ve seen Alisson is he having an off day?

Ishola70

The Roman trainspotter did nothing at half time to remedy the problems on the left hand side of his defence.

Pays the price heavily.

Dissenter

When you look at the depth Liverpool have. They have many senior players out injured like Lalana and Nathaniel Clyne.
Yet Klopp keeps finding a way.

Dream10

Samesong

Liverpool wanted to sign Alisson for next season, but he’s too expensive. Real and PSG linked as well.

Dream10

These fuckers are signing Naby Keita and someone to replace Emre Can (Kovacic?!?!)

FFS

Champagne charlie

5-0 and 20 minutes to go. But Roma aren’t shit lol

Ishola70

Dissenter
“Why are you slating the defender?
You’re always seeking a villain
How about just aknowledging that Salah is simply unplayable at the moment. He’s on fire.”

Don’t be daft Dissenter.

I’ve acknowledged on here that Salah is playing superbly but that still does not get away from the fact that after 10 minutes that Jesus guy looked a dud.

5-0

Dissenter

Didn’t Liverpool beat city HOME and AWAY.
What’s all the hair-pulling about?
They are the best team in Europe at the moment…on form.
They will wallop Madrid if the CL finals was scheduled for next week.
They are the team on form

Stop insulting Roma..Liverpool are just too good at the moment.

Ishola70

The trainspotter has finally taken Jesus off .

Wallace

weird game. Roma actually looked really good the first 15mins. the Ox going off and Liverpool going more direct has killed them. Wijnaldum very impressive.

HillWood

Charlie
Pool totally overwhelmed them

Ishola70

lol Dissenter what is wrong with you?

We can acknowledge that Liverpool are playing well and have a great player in Salah but at the same time criticise some of the Roma defending and some of their individual players.

But you would prefer the line just that Liverpool are fantastic. That’s a bit simplistic Dissenter.

Champagne charlie

Hillwood

Sorry mate, but Roma have been fucking abysmal. You can blow smoke up Liverpool all you like but that Roma back three have been Sunday league, individually and as a unit.

gambon

To think, we just sat on our hands while Wenger ruined the club.

Champagne charlie

Ruined the club? Lol

Not hyperbolic at all then..

Ishola70

Let’s not act if this is a great surprise.

Liverpool have the pedigree and the genes for this competition simple as thar.

This has nothing to do with the EPL.

This is Liverpool and the Champions League.

Separate entity.

Marko

Salah has to be the favourite for the Balon D’or

gambon

Charlie 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. We’re now 14 years without the league, havent made it past the R16 for 7 years, got humiliated 10-2 last year, we’re at our lowest for 23 years, the finances are shot because no companies want to be associated with a failing team. We have the worst defence in the top 6, and are the only club in the top 6 that doesnt have a £100m rated player because we’ve bought… Read more »

Dream10

That’s tremendous from Dzeko. What a player

Take me back to Highbury

Gambon Careful what you wish for they told us for 10 or more years Klopp has taken 3 years to get Liverpool to a CL final but our fans don’t think we can win the league with 3 and Cl within 5 I will go out on a limb here and say we will Compete for the league next season and CL within 3. That’s how much I believe Wenger has fucked over Arsenal. CC just doesn’t want to give Liverpool credit because it makes Klopp look good and Wenger like the imbecile he is. Now watch Pierre. Victorious and… Read more »

Ishola70

Penalty

Ishola70

What a cool penalty

TR7

Self destruct button on

5-2

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