Social competence challenges for two heavily linked names

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Today, we’re going to talk social competence, because that’s often a consideration overlooked when fans think about a new leader for their club. We think tactics, trophies, hair density, how much they dance about on the sidelines.

Jokes aside, social competence is one of the most important aspects of a managers game, and quite often the defining factor in success. The man who represents your club sets the tone for how your brand is perceived, they can inspire sensational player to move to shitty areas, they can make average players believe they’re heroes.

Barcelona passed on Mourinho because he was a brand destroyer, but players like CR7 describe him as one of the best motivators in football. Jurgen Klopp has a band of average players on the verge of a Champions League final, those players feed off him. Leonardo Jardim took a group of inexperienced youth players and made them the most exciting attacking force in Europe. Social competence matters, and it comes in many different forms.

Arsenal and Arsene have tried to reflect their values in the squad, ultimately at the expense of trophies. Whether it’s keeping Diaby for 5 years too long, giving crap players massive wages to help with their feelings of inferiority, or keeping nice boys like Theo around… all were attempts at managing the psychology of the club for the better.

We celebrated values over accomplishment, and that has to stop. But there’s a clear demarcation line of the type of coach we could hire, it’s good versus evil (through the lens of Arsenal). We could opt for an out an out winner, who leads through fear, or we could hire a man of the people that motivate players and inspires fans by connecting to them on a human level.

Nagelsmann famously told Rapha Honigstein:

“Thirty percent of coaching is tactics, 70% social competence”

“Every player is motivated by different things and needs to be addressed accordingly. At this level, the quality of the players at your disposal will ensure that you play well within a good tactical set-up – if the psychological condition is right.”

The young prodigy was ironically mentored under Thomas Tuchel, a man famed for his football genius, not his people skills.

This is a comment from Antony Ujah comparing Tuchel to the new manager, Sandro Schwarz, at Mainz.

“Both are detail-obsessed and tactically very good, they do a lot of video analysis, so we need players to remember certain things, the difference is communication and human interaction.”

Ultimately, you can be a genius at extracting greatness from players on the pitch, but if you’re no good at the personal stuff, things break down very quickly. This was the commentary after his stint at Dortmund, his first major job.

“Even earlier, in January 2016, Tuchel had fallen out with head scout Sven Mislintat… being banished from Dortmund’s training facilities.

“More bridges were burned and the fall-out with the club and the fans continued. He already had parts of the team questioning him, when he hit out at Bayern-bound Hummels following his last match for BVB in the 2016 DFB Pokal final.”

“The coach also lost influential parts of Dortmund’s fan base. Jan-Henrik Gruszecki, notable fan and historian, told ESPN FC: “Tuchel never identified with the club.”

Even Mourinho admits his emotions have caused issues, and were something he tried to address.

“I believe that I am able to transmit this serenity to those who work with me, to my players. I have the same ambitions as before. The same involvement, the same professionalism, but I’m more in control of my emotions.”

His passion and inability to stay humble is why he rarely longers long than 3 seasons, but also maybe why he’s one of the most successful coaches in the world. He knows how to exract excellence for a short period of time before players and staff give into his social incompetence.

If you want to really nerd out, this quote takes you down an interesting rabbit hole from a football perspective.

“In 1988, Goleman analysed 188 global companies, where he tested and interviewed the star performers within them. He found that at managerial level, technical and cognitive skills were comparable, with emotional intelligence being the crucial factor that differentiated employee’s positions. Boyzatis, Goleman and Rhee (1999, p.3) define emotional intelligence as “When a person demonstrates the competencies that constitute self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and socials skills at appropriate times and ways in sufficient frequency to be effective in the situation.”

“It’s why a smart manager is gold in the game. Players usually turn into coaches. Most players are not taught to be real humans. They lack curiosity and don’t need social skills because they are fit, rich and good looking. Social skills are a rare commodity in football, so they are something our board should aspire to have in a new manager.”

That moves me to my point. The two supposed lead candidates for the role at Arsenal are Luis Enrique and Mikael Arteta. The exBarcelona coach famously offered to resign because he couldn’t get on with Leo Messi, there were also lots of reports that he never really bonded with the players. Then there’s Mikael, who some rave about, but quite a few people in the ranks at Arsenal do not speak of him in favourable terms. Apparently, he’s not a galvanising force, he’s outspoken, he lacks humility on quite a grand scale, can be immensely difficult and he’s seen as one of Ivan’s boys.

At a club that suffers divisions in the dressing room, do we not think the club should be considering someone a bit longer in the tooth? A little more mature? Or someone who has a less controversial reputation amongst players and staff? Or someone known in the game for having a world-class approach to culture?

Or, do we see the genius? He’s turning ok players into world-class operators. He’s captivated the City players, Pep G loves him, and City are winning.

The club might want a change of pace. Maybe we want to hire a ruthless manager to bring discipline and focus to the squad. Maybe a bit of ‘telling it like it is’ is what’s needed in a team that’s lacked direction and leadership over the last ten years.

If he has a streak in him, is that just par the course of absolute excellence? Is elite sport not a place for the nice guys?

Well, there are managers like Jurgen Klopp who operate on the other side of the fence. A man who leads through passion and love for his players. He’ll go to war for all his boys, and they die out on the pitch for him. He brings the fans together, the players and everyone loves him. I think Diego Simeone is another manager who has that sort of reputation for bringing players together, he operates a siege mentality and not many push to leave his nest despite massive riches on offer elsewhere. One of the most successful managers in the world, Carlo Ancelotti, is one of the nicest guys in the game. Players love him, a people’s man, and an absolute winner.

There are two sides to the argument, the question is, right now, what do Arsenal need with limited funds and a squad that sits out of the Champions League?

Matt Law is reporting that Arsenal are not in for Allegri and Sarri, weirdly because they won’t bring the stay away fans back to the club. Seems like an odd thing to say about a two managers that are best in class for sexy football, and tactically unreal football, battling it out in the most interesting Serie A in years.

Interestingly, he’s the first journo to talk about Leonardo Jardim, who should be the frontrunner for the Arsenal job. Interestingly, Marcelo Gallardo who is managing Club Atlético River Plate at the moment, is being linked with the Monaco job. Could Jardim be a backdoor signing? Or could Juve, PSG or Chelsea be up to some back door planning?

Anyway, point of this post is there are so many layers to this hire, and so many people to consider. The health of a football club goes beyond the 11 people that line up on the pitch. If the focal point of the club isn’t a brand fit, it can be horrendous.

The big question for Ivan is this: Who does he want Arsenal to be in a post-Wenger era?

We’ll find out in due course.

Right, see you in the comments.

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kc

ROTFLMFAO at the AKB wind up merchants still fighting a lost cause. Just spewing anything spiteful they can to get a rise. Please keep up the wonderful entertainment. Your anger and despair brings me schadenfreude.

Thanos

Do you remember what the bin dippers did when they had Woy Hodgson in charge, there were massive protests, let’s not pretend they have better quality fans than us, we also need to talk history Arsenal have always been a great club winning things in many eras Liverpool had a 20 year golden era in the 70s and 80s and since then sporadic trophies,

OleGunner

Pierre, I don’t say this lightly but you are an arrogant, condescending and disingenuous prick.

Ishola70

Mystic there is no confusion in the wording. Prestige is not out of place at all. Overall Liverpool have more prestige and respect as a football club than Arsenal. They are seen as a more serious football club than Arsenal. It doesn’t worry me to say these things. I’m just being honest. Liverpool are not even a proper rival of Arsenal. Once Arsenal start stacking up title wins on a more regular basis and win the premier european competition then we can start talking about Arsenal having more prestige as a football club than Liverpool. And that still holds despite… Read more »

Redtruth

1970-Fairs Cup
1994-Cup Winners Cup
2018-?

24 year gap between European trophies ..could it…no not with Wenger…..

mysticleaves

“Both clubs have waited far too long for a league title win but Liverpool pop their head up in the premier knockout comp that being CL at times something Arsenal have never done.” You can say that. But ask a neutral fan to choose between Arsenal and Liverpool. Then ask 30 neutral players to choose between Arsenal and Liverpool. Even with our abject season to booth, you might be surprised at their answers. What am getting at is that Liverpool won UCL 13 years ago nd they weren’t there favorites. Since then, they have pretty much won nothing (or very… Read more »

Carts

Still laugh at Moh’s cuck attempt at doing a go-fund me for Wenger. What a fool!

Ishola70

lol “better facilities” Mystic.

“We got a better ground than you”

Have some of that you scallies.

Pierre

Vintage gun
” I was VERY happy for all our recent domestic cup wins BUT we are a Massive club with massive resources which means we should be at least challenging for the major honors after a decade and a halfs wait to compete.”

Totally agree…..it’s the “fans ” who are not even remotely happy when we win trophies that I have an issue with …not you.

Ishola70

I wasn’t on about players either Mystic although at this time for purely football reasons you would think a player would choose Liverpool over Arsenal.

Ask followers of football in the top footballing nations who has more prestige and you will get the answer I stated at the beginning.

And I mean top footballing nations.

Not Africa. Sorry.

Victorious

pierre
‘Let’s hope the new manager can replicate our successes of the last 5 years and greatly improve on our performances and results in the”

wouldn’t get my hopes up,most especially if that manager turns out to be Arteta

Pierre

Olegunner
“don’t say this lightly but you are an arrogant, condescending and disingenuous prick.”

Flattery will get you nowhere.

mysticleaves

Dream10
April 26, 2018 08:10:33

Absolutely, would love Jardim. He knows how to pick players too. Would be good to have a guy who has an eye for those French young talents again. And we have a few good young guns that he could bed in very well.

Massive no to Carlo.

Pierre

Victorious
Agree…Arteta is bottom of my list..

Redtruth

Thanos

You’ll find Liverpool have won more trophies over a longer period of history than Arsenal.

HighburyLegend

“Your anger and despair brings me schadenfreude.”

kc, are you a Bayern fan in disguise ??

Ishola70

And that’s no slight on Africa btw.

Just that the feelings and opinions there would be less comprehensive. Lots of affinity from many Africans towards Arsenal because of African player connection.

Ask fans in places like Italy or Brazil though and the majority will say Liverpool.

mysticleaves

Ishola a neural fan is a follower of football. And prestige is most important to players. Once we get a new coach in place Liverpool ain’t seeing our back in terms of player pull. And if we get our swagger back The Arsenal of early 2000s will be back. Need I also remind you that you didn’t need to dominate any era to be a top3 brand unlike Liverpool who simply have not been able to relive their dominance of the 70/80s.

We have better facilities than Liverpool and ground to booth

Redtruth

Pierre

You are a disingenuous prick..

Most Arsenal fans (not me) would take top 4 over winning the FA Cup……

Dissenter

Wenger is such an inverterate liar, a disgusting one at that,
Yesterday he continued his moaning party and was forced to retract his own public statements.

He’s determined to burn down the house on the way out. He has this feeling of entitlement to Arsenal. You just know he’s not go out quietly.

Victorious

Ishola drop the shovel

Victorious

European success aside,Arsenal trump the bindippers in every other level.

mysticleaves

Ask fans in places like Italy or Brazil though and the majority will say Liverpool.

And you know this how? Until you ask you will never know.

Dissenter

Ishola was spot on about the so-called Liverpool vs Arsenal “rivalry”.

Redtruth

Guardiola said top 4 is better than winning the FA Cup yet many criticise Podgytino for saying the same thing..

Lets not forget Wenger said it too

mysticleaves

Our commercial deals are also better than Liverpool’s. Unless you are trying to say that the companies are owned by Africans. Arent we the 6th richest club in the world too?

Pierre

Your Comment Here

Ishola70

Maybe it is best not to ask them after all Mystic.

In that way you can remain oblivious to the truth and feel good.

We wouldn’t want you to be exposed to the harsh realities. Not even harsh really. Just the realities.

Ishola70

Dissenter
“spot on about the so-called Liverpool vs Arsenal “rivalry”.”

Yeah why are these boys getting their knickers in a twist because Liverpool are seen as a more prestigious club than Arsenal in places like Brazil, Italy, Germany etc.

Win some top trophies in the coming years and it may change.

At this moment in time don’t care that Liverpool are seen as more prestigious. It is what it is.

mysticleaves

Maybe you think the Arsenal situation is so bad because of Wenger, it’s not. We are a top brand and a top club. We just lost our way. The major Cancer is out. We need now to know that Kronke won’t hinder us going forward. To even compare us with Liverpool in the past 20 years is cringeworthy.

Pierre

Bloody hell Ruth, you are talking more crap than ever.

” most Arsenal fans would take a top 4 than winning an FA cup “. …really.

” Guardiola said top 4 is better than winning the FA Cup yet many criticise Podgytino for saying the same thing..Lets not forget Wenger said it too”

And how many years was Wenger slated for saying exactly the same thing …hence the top 4 trophy on le grove…..you’re tying yourself in knots .

Ishola70

Mystic you are going right off the main road here.

I don’t think the situation is so bad at Arsenal.

I simply stated that Liverpool at this time are seen as the more prestigious football club than Arsenal by football fans in the top footballing nations.

That you can’t come to terms with that is your own issue.

Dissenter

Mystic
Our commercial deals aren’t better than Liverpool’s
You’ve got that bit wrong.
We have more match day revenue because we bilk the fans more from tickets while Liverpool have better commercial,deals overall.

They are going to be further ahead if us commercially when the figures from this season come in: they have been winning the transfer battles and will earn tonnes from reaching the finals of the CL. Their stadium capacity also just increased by 13,000 more.

mysticleaves

Pierre you would realise that red said top 4 vs fa cup. Unless you have us at a level where we just aim for just fa cups. there’s the league also. and the UCL to compete for. Personally I wont mind the fa cup, but if that our ceiling then I would prefer top4

Pierre

Ishola
“Ask fans in places like Italy or Brazil though and the majority will say Liverpool”

Yeah , because Liverpool are held in high esteem in Italy aren’t they !!

Black Hei

“You’ll find Liverpool have won more trophies over a longer period of history than Arsenal.”

And you can add everyone else except Manchester United to that list.

I think the point is moot.

What matters is relevance and Liverpool is currently more relevant than Arsenal.

Hack they are even more relevant than Spurs, who in really Spursy tradition, decided they want to be the new Wenger, trophy drought and all.

mysticleaves

Dissenter we just started renewing our deals and will do new shirt sponsors next year so our commercials are better. We have more sponsors too.

They are winning on the transfer because of the coach and he’s gone. Nothing more. More so, we haven’t targeted the same player recently. the last neutral player we both targeted chose us.

Dissenter

I think I read someone write about the “successes of the last five years”.
I’m paraphrasing but whoever wrote that ought to be stripped naked, publicly tarred and then feathered with hair from Wenger arse.

Ishola70

Pierre
”Yeah , because Liverpool are held in high esteem in Italy aren’t they !!

Now, now Pierre there is no need to bring in the darker side of the game.

Despite the unfortunate events in the past with the scallies and the Italians those Italians respect Liverpool as a football club. What they have done on the field.

Pierre

Mysticleaves
5 years ago top 4 meant nothing to Arsenal fans and they just wanted us to win a trophy .

Now the FA cup and Europa cup means nothing to some fans and top 4 is important …

.we all want to win or challenge for thw league , that goes without saying

mysticleaves

With the right managerial appointment and key support in transfers and back room staff we will be ahead of Liverpool and spurs in no time. I only worry about Man utd, Chelsea and man City. That’s why Gazidis have to leave Wenger values behind and take over the club. Has he been in the club too long to be Wengerized? Only time will tell. Also I don’t understand why papers keep saying who Sven wants as manager like it matters. He’s head of player recruitment last time I checked and the new manager department is above his pay grade. He… Read more »

HighburyLegend

“we all want to win or challenge for thw league , that goes without saying”

Do you speak for yourself, of also for all the Akb’s ??

gambon

“Our commercial deals are also better than Liverpool’s.”

This isnt remotely true.

Liverpool are always ahead of us commercially, as are Chelsea, which is an absolute travesty.

Wallace

Black Hei

“What matters is relevance and Liverpool is currently more relevant than Arsenal.”

yup

Pierre

Ishola
Just saying it as it is…..I would imagine Liverpool are still not particularly well thought of in Italy …maybe I’m wrong.

mysticleaves

“I simply stated that Liverpool at this time are seen as the more prestigious football club than Arsenal by football fans in the top footballing nations.”

There! This is what I wanted you to say. this is why I asked you to explain what you meant. See you have added “at this time”, that’s fair enough. AT THIS TIME Liverpool IS SEEN as the more prestigious club, that I can’t argue.

Pierre

Leg end

He’s going, you need to Chang your tune

TR7

Is Klopp wins the CL with Liverpool, will he be talked in the same breath as Pep?

Ishola70

Pierre
“Just saying it as it is…..I would imagine Liverpool are still not particularly well thought of in Italy …maybe I’m wrong.”

No not wrong. They will be hated and despised by plenty in Italy.

But we were not talking about which club is hated. That’s a different matter.

Buckhurst Gun

Pierre – “I haven’t seen protest and empty seats at anfield despite no title for 28 years…I haven’t seen protest or empty seats at White Hart Lane despite no title for 57 years.” Come on , you’re smarter than this – You won’t see protests and empty seats becuse both these clubs actively try and make the necessary changes to work towards those goals – we haven’t , until now we stuck with a man that made the same mistakes over and over and over again for 10 years too long – and if there are protests at said clubs… Read more »

Wallace

http://uk.businessinsider.com/the-20-richest-football-clubs-in-the-world-2018-1/#6-arsenal-fc-4876-million-419-million-or-5971-million-arsenals-total-revenue-was-a-club-record-on-the-pitch-the-club-won-its-third-fa-cup-in-four-seasons-but-the-failure-to-qualify-for-this-seasons-champions-league-tournament-could-see-arsenal-drop-down-the-deloitte-ladder-next-year-15

9. Liverpool – 364m
8. Chelsea – 367m
7. – PSG – 417m

“6. Arsenal FC – £419 million. Arsenal’s total revenue was a club record. On the pitch, the club won its third FA Cup in four seasons but the failure to qualify for this season’s Champions League tournament could see Arsenal drop down the Deloitte ladder next year.”

5. Man City – 453m
4. Bayern Munich – 505m
3. Barcelona – 557m
2. R Madrid – 579m
1. Man Utd – 581m

gambon

You need to add £40-50m to Liverpools numbers, and take £30m away from Arsenals.

Which leaves Liverpool ahead of us.

Ditto for Chelsea.

HighburyLegend

@Pierre : you are aware that your “leg end” don’t make anybody laugh, don’t you ?? (lol)

HighburyLegend

“Come on , you’re smarter than this”
No he’s not.

JAMES WOOD

Mystic disagree regarding the Noise at Highbury.
The North bank end could be very noisy.
But that was a hard core English support.
Off course i am going back a bit.
🙂

gambon

Talks that Luis Enrique is close to the Arsenal role (L’equipe)

Not sure Im that keen. I cant really judge Enrique as he had a very good Barca team, but it feels like a very lazy appointment.

Do people think we have scoured the world, interviewed 10 people and picked the best man, or did Raul just text his old mate Luis and ask him if he wants the job?

Buckhurst Gun

Not a very inspired appointment at all is it – I said it yesterday – I don’t feel you can judge any manager aside from pep , from their success at Barca ….

TR7

Gambon

‘Do people think we have scoured the world, interviewed 10 people and picked the best man, or did Raul just text his old mate Luis and ask him if he wants the job?’

So much hoopla around the new establishment of Sven,Raul and Ivan but none of them has been doing any due diligence when it comes to transfers and appointments. PEA and Mikhi both worked with Sven at Dortmund. If Enrique gets picked then it means it was Raul’s turn to flex his muscles.

Romford Pele

I said i’d get behind any new manager but Luis Enrique is so meh. Urgh. Celta Vigo was meh. Roma was a disasterclass. Barca had one of the best front three of all time but he’s a big part of why their midfield is now so dysfunctional. They spent so much money under him including players like Alcacer and Andre Gomes. Not sure how I feel about Raul thus far tbh. Then again, Sven’s suggestions aren’t exactly inspiring either.

mysticleaves

Gambon, Dissenter

all the articles I have read have Arsenal above Liverpool in revenues. I was more talking about commercials alone which actually showed Liverpool edged it by around 3 million. So I was wrong on that. But putting all other revenue streams together we have been better than Liverpool yearly. Because of the UCL maybe this year would be different..

Romford Pele

“Not a very inspired appointment at all is it – I said it yesterday – I don’t feel you can judge any manager aside from pep , from their success at Barca ….”

Agreed. Everything since has been feeding off Pep’s work. This the first season the formation has changed at Barca in years and while they’re going to win the league (still undefeated), performances have been far from what you’d associate with Barca.

Ishola70

At this point I’d prefer Nagelsmann to Enrique despite the latter winning trophies.

Allegri to trump those two.

Enrique is better than Arteta though of course.

Enrique doesn’t strike as having much of a character or charisma on the touchline.

Pierre

I would have thought it would have been better to announce Wenger was leaving and at the same time announce who his replacement is for next season to stop all the speculation.

Maybe they already know but will wait until the end of the season but it seems pointless to wait another 4 weeks or so before we find out who the replacement will be .

mysticleaves

“Do people think we have scoured the world, interviewed 10 people and picked the best man, or did Raul just text his old mate Luis and ask him if he wants the job?” When hiring you also go for the devil you know sometimes. Enrique and Raul worked together and were absolutely successful. He would want to recreate the magic again if he can, that’s why coaches normally takes back their former players at new clubs. Romford Good to see you are back, how you been? Celta wasn’t a disaster at all and that was the stint that got him… Read more »

Buckhurst Gun

Romford

Hopefully Enrique prices himself out of the Arsenal job and heads over to Chelsea – outlets saying he wants 15 Mill a year – unproven in the prem , only success at Barca – the jobs we should be judging him on , like you said , Celta and Roma meh , there’s no way he can be paid that much and there’s no way we should give it to him – cheaper more dynamic appointments to be made

mysticleaves

Nagelsman will be a complete disaster. Doesn’t know the club, doesn’t have pedigree, will have no allies in the club. Ramsey won’t even listen to him. He will be sacked in 6 months

gambon

The positive about Enrique is that if we are backing Sanllehi and Enrique to take us back to the top, surely we will have to back them financially.

These guys worked at the very top level, they arent gonna be happy with wasters like Iwobi and Welbeck.

Certainly, you would have to believe the club is 100% targeting winning the PL, otherwise we would appoint lower level people.

Buckhurst Gun

Mystic

He’d have Sven just like Enrique would have Raul

Remember Nagelsmann is all about the social aspect – Enrique is the one who upset the legends at his previous 2 clubs ….

gambon

Yeah, definitely dont want any of these hipster cunts like Nagelsmann or Tedesco.

Ishola70

No allies?

Wenger surrounded himself with allies and yes men for years and can be detrimental.

Does Enrique know the club Arsenal better than Nagelsmann?

Enrique is quite a staid character on the touchline. Doesn’t have much charisma although he may be good in other aspects from appearance.

Nagelsmann would be a fresh and quite exciting appointment.

In saying that he would be down the pecking order of course in comparison to an Allegri or Jardim.

Romford Pele

Mystic – Good thanks man, hope you’re well. The Celta spell was the best for him. Take your point about Totti making it hard for Enrique at Roma but it’s really hard to escape the fact that he got the Barca job on the basis of being an ex-employee. Barca have traditionally not gone for big names. They go for ex players or those entrenched in the philosophy. Put Messi in his place? How do you define that because I don’t remember it that way? That club literally doesn’t function without Messi.

Buckhurst – agreed mate

Bamford10

How would people describe Enrique’s philosophy, system or approach? Has he implemented the same system, style or approach at each of the clubs he’s managed or is he more flexible, has done different things depending on the players he had available to him? Is he similar to Guardiola in his thinking, approach or different in some way?

Buckhurst Gun

I don’t think Nagelsmann would be a disaster at all – he’s a 21 century manager , literally the footballing equivalent of the latest version of Apple iOS – we’ve just been told we’re finally replacing windows 98 – this team is crying out for a manager with his ideas I have no doubts he would bring a different level out of this team and he players would be on board very quickly

WengerEagle

Enrique bought mostly shit while at Barcelona though as RP pointed out. Sanhelli’s involvement in that too would also concern me.

They should have gone from strength to strength after winning everything in 2014/15 with MSN, instead they bought largely average players for bloated fees and disimproved season upon season.

All well and good achieving what he did with Messi, Neymar, Iniesta, Pique, Busquets, Alves, Alba already at the club.

We need a manager that recruits well here, because we don’t have the luxury of having these calibre of players, we need a complete player overhaul.

Romford Pele

“The positive about Enrique is that if we are backing Sanllehi and Enrique to take us back to the top, surely we will have to back them financially.”

True but outside of Neymar who is obviously phenomenal and everyone in world football would have him, who else? Their recruitment policy has been questionable for while tbh. They’ve signed a lot of duds and a lot of them under Sanhelli’s watch. Neymar is obviously the one you give him credit for as he brought him to Barca but you feel that’s a deal that could’ve happened even without him there.

gambon

I would say Enriques approach is very much a 3 man forward line, usually 4-3-3.

He isnt tippy tappy, plays very vertical football. Quite similar game to what Liverpool are doing this year.

The problem is, we dont have the players for that right now.

I couldnt see Ozil, Mykhitaryan, Iwobi, Welbeck ever getting a game wide in his system.

So we would probably see a lot of change stylistically…..which i’m all for.

Romford Pele

Bamford – what he did differently to Pep was that he focused on being more direct, especially through the front three whereas Pep’s focus has always been on having total control through the midfield. Under Enrique we’d probably be very direct and score goals but would struggle in midfield, especially in games against the bigger clubs. He plays 433 like Pep but it’s much looser and not s strong positionally. The fact the front three don’t track back puts an awful lot of strain on the midfield three. It felt more disjointed whereas Barca under Pep were a complete unit… Read more »

JAMES WOOD

Yes if they had already had negotiations with the
likely new manager then why not make is public.

Trouble with Arsenal they are a bit like the Masons.?

gambon

Romford

Sven is the transfer man though, isnt he. Enrique would get a say, but I would imagine it would be a case of Enrique saying what he needs, Sven makes the shortlist, then a commitee makes the decision.

For example the first think Enrique would want is 2 wide attacking strikers that are great one on one.

I think from that point Sven would have just as much influence as Enrique or anyone else.

Pierre

Buckhurst gun. The point I was making is,if you take Wenger out of the equation , both of those clubs ,as have Chelsea and city previously , have given their fans very little to cheer about (one champions league the exception) but they have stood by the team and supported the players throughout many lean years whereas at Arsenal it started ten years ago , just 4 years after the invincibles and 2 years after being ten minutes away from winning the champions league. There were many mitigating circumstances as to why we failed during that period , namely losing… Read more »

WengerEagle

Luis Suarez as well RP, he’s another that was the obvious signing to make in 2014 as he was the best player in the world then after Messi and Ronaldo. I give them credit for Ter Stegen who’s been great and Rakitic who although has been up and down has largely been a very good signing, especially value for money considering he cost a bargain £13 million. Umititi as well looks like he will be a very good player for them for years to come. Don’t rate any of the Arda Turan, Aleix Vidal (he’s absolutely dire, amazing how he… Read more »

Bamford10

Nagelsmann’s age and limited experience will exclude him, I think. Given the importance of this appointment, they are likely to choose a candidate who is “safe” in some way. Nagelsmann would be far too adventurous and chancy. Plus he distanced himself a couple of days ago from rumors linking him to Arsenal.

TR7

Midfield is our weakest link and we hire a manager who bought very average midfielders at Barca, I don’t get it.

WengerEagle

Two top class wide forwards will cost a bomb though gambon.

Look at the fees that Coutinho and Dembele fetched.

Will we really spend £200 million+ on forwards in your mind?

Rambo Ramsey

Arsenal aren’t gonna announce a new name maybe because it’d be a distraction?Making it all about Arsene and only Arsene.. perhaps hoping the players can pull the best performances for the old man and win the Europa. Last desperate attempt to get back to CL.

Buckhurst Gun

WengerEagle

“All well and good achieving what he did with Messi, Neymar, Iniesta, Pique, Busquets, Alves, Alba already at the club.”

Exactly this.

I think I remember flying off the handle at you a while back on here – apologies mate – must have been a bad day on my part ,

WengerEagle

Agree TR7.

You look at the quality of City’s midfield and the disparity is huge, Bernardo Silva isn’t even a consistent starter for them.

Romford Pele

Gambon, it’ll be interesting to see how the power play works at the club now. With Wenger going, Mislintat, Gazidis and Sanllehi will all be vying for power. Your method theoretically should be the model but we know how egos can play a part. One thing is for sure, there’s no hiding behind a Wenger-like figure so if they don’t deliver the fans will be on their back.

While the German market is ripe with players, I hope we aren’t too focused there. Need to be looking in France and Spain (sanllehi) as well.

Ishola70

Yeah huge warning signs here about Enrique in regards to his previous and when we consider terms such as loose structure, not the best positioning.

We have seen that long enough under Wenger.

WengerEagle

BG

All in the game mate, no apologies necessary.

Who would be your pick to take over?

Vintage Gun

“The positive about Enrique is that if we are backing Sanllehi and Enrique to take us back to the top, surely we will have to back them financially.”

I agree. I read an interview with Sanehli where he said it was Arsenal’s staff recruitment plans moving forward which CONVINCED him to join us.

Basically you don’t hire the Barca DoF and then play silly-buggers on the transfer kittys and overall ambitions.

Rambo Ramsey

Lol. There isn’t an abundance of good midfielders in the World, the quality has been on a steady decline.

Romford Pele

Eagle – yeah good shout RE Suarez, totally forgot. But yeah, him and Neymar were obvious signings tbh. “Don’t rate any of the Arda Turan, Aleix Vidal (he’s absolutely dire, amazing how he has not been binned), Alcacer, Andre Gomes (lol he’s pathetic), Cillessen, Digne, Mathieu, etc.” That’s a terrible list of players, my word. You can see why Pep mostly focused on promoting players within La Masia to help maintain the style. TR7’s point on midfield is so true. Central midfield is where we’re very weak and Enrique, going by his career thus far, doesn’t place much emphasis on… Read more »

Marc

WengerEagle

Or you could always buy them for £8.5 and €15 million respectively. Seems a better idea to me anyway.

Dissenter

At least Enrique can stand up to the board unlike Areteta. He will also be able to break up th team because he ha s the DoF in his side.
We won the playing any tippy tappy for sure.

We will.have a busy transfer window because I can’t imagine he won’t be demanding for transfer funds.

WengerEagle

Is the German makret ripe with players?

I personally think that the Bundsliga currently is complete shite, worst it’s been for a long time.

I’d argue that Ligue 1 has more talent to choose from atm.

Romford Pele

“Lol. There isn’t an abundance of good midfielders in the World, the quality has been on a steady decline.”

What type of midfielders are you alluding to?

Dissenter

I expect we will start signing South Americans very soon….good ones.

WengerEagle

Marc

Don’t think that you’re even getting a Welbeck now for that kind of money.

Romford Pele

“I personally think that the Bundsliga currently is complete shite, worst it’s been for a long time.”

Depends what type of player you’re pursuing. Ligue 1 is definitely ripe for picking though. Ndombele and Aouar from Lyon are my favourites although I was very impressed with Golovin from CSKA in the last round.