No sooner had I thrown the white towel in on the managerial race, than old Duncan Castles chimes in with a piece for The Sunday Times in which he declares the exec suite at Arsenal see Enrique as an inappropriate hire due to his money demands and his self-absorbed style of management.
That my friends, if true, is music to my ears.
Every manager who is linked to Arsenal needs a special superpower, for the life of me, I couldn’t work out what his was. Sure, he’s a good manager, but is he great? What could he bring to a broken group of players with very little money? I wasn’t sure…
The weird part about the story is the club are apparently interested in Sarri. I don’t quite get that. I mean, the guy creates masterful football, but he’s also an accused racist and homophobe. I’m not sure that alligns with the values of the club.
So that leaves the field shrinking.
My gut feel is this.
Ivan G wants to hire in Arteta, but that’s a massive risk and it’d take balls of steel to make a decision like that. The fans don’t love Arteta like they’d love a Vieira. I think most would see his hire as a mistake. It’d be an interesting move, but it’s not quite the same as Pep to Barca or Zidane to Madrid. I think it’d be a pretty exciting hire, but I’m not sure I have the appetite for extreme risk. It’d be an arrogant move fraught with danger, and really Ivan needs the fans united, and he certainly doesn’t want to be on the end of unpleasant op-eds if things go wrong.
It’s clear we’re not getting Allegri who is top 3 in the world for what he does. The only other elite manager who we could opt for is Conte (assuming Tuchel is off limits), and I’m not sure he’s our cup of tea if we’re looking for someone who behaves well and can keep their ego in check.
I think Vieira would be suicidal, the only superpower he has at the moment is his past as an amazing captain. That could be an Alan Shearer like mistake. You know what I think of the Geordies.
So that narrows the search down to Nagelsmann and Jardim.
I think the German feels like the right level of compromise if we want to go for an exciting young manager like the Rams did (good read on Hoffenheim here). He has experience, he is influenced by Rangnick, Tuchel, Klopp and Guardiola, he took a shite team to the Champions League, he’s personable and understands people dynamics, and it seems like there’s a fairly clear run for him.
I love Jardim, but I’m not sure how great his English is, and I wonder if the club want to make a splashier headline grabber for the fans.
Nagelsmann is the one for me. He checks all the boxes. He could be the next level, is the next level, is the next level.
Today’s game won’t be next level. We’re taking a b-squad up to United. It’s an opp to give our exciting kids the chance to rock it at Old Trafford. Someone said to me it’s almost a middle finger to Jose. Wenger doesn’t care about losing to him one last time, he’s all about the Europa League.
I’ll take anything better than losing 4-0.
It’s all about this coming Thursday.
I’m back on the pod this afternoon, if you want to listen, stay glued to Twitter and await my order.
SEE YOU IN THE COMMENTS!
If all we are promising a new manage is £50 million in transfer funds then we aren’t going to get a proper manager.
£50 million is only good for a blow job in the modern era.
*just state your preference on the manager hire*
And a Curry.?
Arteta would Be the worst choice of all the managers mentioned so far A boring safe non inspiring hiring. Will Not the get the fans excited. Or the players. We won’t be hiring arteta CC. Unless your “ guy at Arsenal” is eavesdropping on Ivan and josh while he cleaning the bathrooms he has no clue about any whispers Give it a rest Allegri would be first choice. Jardin second Enrique would be a great hire as well regardless of what Pedro thinks. Barca haven’t won a CL since he’s left. Says a lot. Don’t think they’ve made it pas… Read more »
Mystic
I agree with you that Pedro was waging this wink-wink campaign for Arteta.
He has come out more clearly in today’s post to say that it’s a very risky move.
Alexander You and others have long distorted what Kroenke meant with those remarks. He didn’t mean that he has no interest in titles or championships. He said that a smart owner concerns himself with “both side of the business,” i.e., with both the quality of the team and the quality of the business model. Further, he was saying that winning titles or championships is not easy and that it would be silly to get into ownership if that was your sole motivation, i.e., if you didn’t see it as a business that should be run in an intelligent, sustainable way.… Read more »
Take me back to Highbury,
“Allegri would be first choicedin second Enrique would be a great hire as well regardless of what Pedro thinks. Barca haven’t won a CL since he’s left. Says a lot. Don’t think they’ve made it pas the 1/4 finals”
…aaagh, that’s a bit disingenuous because he only left last season and Barca have pretty much wrapped up the league already.
The new manager is about to winthe league in the season after Enrique left…that’s what the facts say.
We will have more than 50m to spend
Even arsenal aren’t stupid enough to arm a new manager with just 50m.
Even Stan realizes it has been told how much Wenger has fucked us and that we will neee to spend.
Stan wants/needs top 4.
A new man makes us better just by showing up as he will not an improvement over Wenger but he will need to spend to fix Wenger fuck ups
100m plus sales.
Bamford give it a rest please! You running interference for Kroenke is both disingenuous and boring. Even the fiercest critics of Wenger know Stan is a penny pinching owner. Perhaps now that Wenger is no more there at the helm you will slowly be able to grasp it.
Luis Enrique didn’t do anything special at Barca.
He has three of the top 4 attacking players in world football; that essentially what carried the team.
“Unless your “ guy at Arsenal” is eavesdropping on Ivan and josh while he cleaning the bathrooms he has no clue about any whispers” Haven’t you heard Josh does all the toilet cleaning himself as well as clearing out entire buildings when he’s in town 😉 “Allegri would be first choice. Jardin second Enrique would be a great hire as well regardless of what Pedro thinks. Barca haven’t won a CL since he’s left. Says a lot. Don’t think they’ve made it pas the 1/4 finals” Agreed, sort of get the sense that whoever it is, has already been agreed,… Read more »
I have no objections to a manager wanting to spend money. But if the only way a manager knows how to win is through his cheque book then he’s not all that A balance is necessary and reasonable. We shouldn’t be acting the pauper because we’re simply not. But I don’t trust any manager who thinks the only way to reach the next level is through spending ridiculous sums But I strongly disagree that a good manager would want to work with shit players to improve them. This is like some strange kind of self torture which I can relate… Read more »
Dissenter.
Sorry. Thought he had been gone for 2
He won a Treble and double in his 2 years there.
He would be a great appointment.
Bamford
You giving ‘lessons’ in logic whilst defending Kroenke for “clearly wanting to win” despite allowing Wenger to stay 10 years too late (by your own admission) is hilarious.
You always provide a smile 🙂
J.oey
Why are you so hung up on me knowing someone at Arsenal? Don’t lash out because you can’t make friends. Rise above it
It’s going to tell a lot about the direction the club is going to take with the next appointment.
Allegri or Enrique and they are serious about winning or at the very least challenging for major titles.
Arteta/ Vieira and co, top 4 and a cup run (bare minimum and status quo)
I have an odd feeling the Board is looking to bring Henry in as assistant manager, particularly if a manager is appointed who has no history with the club. Henry would guarantee fan support for whoever comes in and be a succession plan when the TOP guy moves on. Having Henry there could let Ivan be a bit more adventurous with his choice (which for me should be Jardim or Nagels as I don’t see Allegri making the move). The issue for most of these guys is the adjustment to the Premiership, so they would need someone who knows the… Read more »
TR7
I’m not running interference for anyone; I’m just defending the facts from those who would distort them in service of their (tired) narrative.
And no, sorry, not everyone agrees that Kroenke is a “penny-pinching” owner. This is the narrative of a handful of posters here.
Cheers.
Allegri and Enrique would want to bring their own team in and this is also something the Board should be wary of.
Why?
That’s how all top managers operate and how top teams operate. Why should we be different?
Jardin will want to bring his own guys as well.
Charlie at 13:42. Hilarious. Still doesn’t understand the argument.
My concern about the replacement for Wenger is the man making the choice – Ivan the Terrible.
Does anyone who understands football really believe that Gazidis is the best person to make this hugely important decision. We all know that Ivan is in the pocket of Sleazy Stan and that less than 12 months ago, he rolled over and gave Wenger a two year contract.
I sincerely hope I am wrong about Kroenke and Ivan. But nothing so far persuades me to believe differently – not even the incoherent ramblings of Banford.
Mystic
Can you say a little more about why you are so opposed to Nagelsmann? You seem really vehement on this point. What’s driving this?
We need to start acting like the big top club we are.
Wenger has us all thinking we are some small club punching above our weight.
He’s warped the thinking of too many of the fans.
Jasongms
I agree but can I add another premise?
“Allegri or Enrique and they are serious about winning or at the very least challenging for major titles.
—–Will ask for a considerable transfer budget and assurances that they have a manger’s final say on squad changes.
Arteta/ Vieira and co, top 4 and a cup run (bare minimum and status quo
—Will tag along and be very pliable just to get a break in their careers they will help the board cover up stuff.
Micheal
12 months ago Ivan said they searched all over the world and they kept coming back to Wenger. Hahaha
Let’s hope Raul has more of a say than Ivan.
You have to think Ivan’s job is riding on next season’s results. He will not want to fuck this up
One thing is certain; Arsenal need to get this appointment right.
Spurs are moving into their new stadium and will benefit hugely from increased revenue, and Liverpool are back .
We’re not just going to stroll back into the top four.
There will be no extra cash from kroenke- ever, which means if arsenal don’t improve and continue to languish in 6th, 7th or worse, the club will find itself in the land of ever diminishing returns- more empty seats, less money from sponsorship deal, less revenue from merchandise etc etc.
It’s crunch time.
Arteta/ Vieira and co, top 4 and a cup run (bare minimum and status quo
—Will tag along and be very pliable just to get a break in their careers they will help the board cover up stuff.
Dissenter
This won’t work anymore. Fans are on edge. Wenger has the benefit of the supporter of his loser akbs.
Arteta/viera will not get that. And if it fails and it’s status quo both manager and Ivan will be out.
Highbury, the manager will need to understand English Football as well as the culture of the club. That’s not to say they need to slavishly follow either, but they should be aware of both. It is no accident that Guardiola took Arteta when he came over from Spain. I’m not advocating Henry, by the way, but I think this is the way the club will go.
Bamford
What do you really know about Nagelsmann…beyond what’s been written here?
How many times have you watched Hoffenheim play in real time, not youtube clips?
Michael
Except that Gazidis isn’t making the decision, at least that’s not what reports tell us. Reports are that Gazidis and Sanllehi are doing the scouting and interviewing and that Kroenke will make the final determination (with their input).
And nothing I’ve said is incoherent.
Dissenter
I’m not really making a case for Nagelsmann, and I really only know what I’ve read, all of which seems to suggest that he’s smart, young and ambitious. I’m more curious about Mystic’s view, because he is so opposed to him. That is all.
Dissenter
yeah, was thinking that as I was writing.
Under that premise, increased funds/demands or basically a status quo situation.
With Arteta and or co as manager, they’d be replacing Arsene with a yes man, whilst taking control of the power vacuum left by Arsene. Would be a smart move at board level, but a terrible one for the fans.
Alexander Liverpool aren’t just back…they have moved to challenging for the title. I think they’ve surpassed the fourth place contest level. -They are losing Emre can but have a better player coming in next season – Naby Keita. -They have as proper squad with promising youth back up a good first eleven. -They have players out on loan who are better than some in our first eleven. -They’ve also had key players out injured all season like Lalanna and Nathaniel. Clyne. -They also have a playing system that’s set-up already under Klopp. I think City, Liverpool and United have the… Read more »
Make the wrong appointment and this time next year fans will be shouting, “we want our Arsene back”
I can actually see this happening 🙂
Bamford
Actually, Gazidis has to be one of the people making the decision. He’s part of the deliberation and the DoF submits a list of the final candidates to him.
He’s the CEO; Sanlehi and Mislintat REPORT to him.
It’s the CEO who takes it to Kroenke and the board.
Dissenter
Agreed.
What really fascinates me is how Spurs are effected by their stadium move. The club have taken on a huge debt but will they embark on austerity?
..also how chelsea fare is completely down to Abramovich. Has he got fed up with pumping money into his team? Perhaps.
jasongms
I don’t think so. Most Arsenal fans are glad to see the back of wenger whatever happens.
Realistically, our club will not compete for the title in the next three/four years. Spending big on Enrique or other top managers will not be appropriate. They will asked for large transfer budget to keep their reputation. Unless we suddenly get a super-rich owner, otherwise, we’ll need to be patient and plan for a well thought-out rebuilt.
Football is a team sport. Tactical formation and chemistry among players help a lot. We also need to give young players a chance. I don’t know whether those big name managers would be willing to do it.
Realistically out of the top six we are the club that has to invest the most, just to keep from standing still.
Let alone getting back into the top four or fighting for the title.
It’s probably only US and Chelsea that will be changing managers, so four clubs will be more stable than us straight away.
Whoever comes in has a massive rebuild that won’t be achieved over night, and won’t be achieved with 50 or 100 million. Going to be a long road ahead.
Reiss Nelson and Konstantinos Mavropanos start.
Allegri has been learning English for the past year, per Italian tabloid reports.
The only big club managerial jobs available are Chelsea and Arsenal.
Both are Europa league clubs for next season
One club has a reputation for being inpatient with managers and can’t sustain a medium term project
The other club has a culture of being more patient with a lower burden of expectation; most gooners are prepared to give the new manger time so long as there is progress.
The movement from Jesus for that goal was out of this world. We need an offensive manager who will prioritise speed & movement. Shame Tuchel is going to PSG.
Sterling running riot in the second half
The disrespect from the FA for not nominating Sterling for player of the year.
The premier league made a calamitous mistake in not allowing VAR for next season.
The officiating has been pathetic and referees are winning man-of-the-match week in- week out.
Excited to see Mavropanos today, trial by fire. Jose is going for the jugular today.
Just read that Wenger is sending out Mavropanos as the CB to face ManU. I am lost.
Dissenter
Deliberate ploy by the PGMOL to make VAR unworkable by cocking it up.
They then allowed clubs to vote for or against VAR and they voted against.
It doesn’t take a lot of working out that we voted for VAR and spurs were against it.
Mavropanos the new Tony Adams
Kids going to run riot at old Trafford.
Interesting that Holding has been left out
Seriously,if you start out with wanting 200 mil for new inventory you really havnt grasped how Arsenal work as a business and football club,it could easily be that Enrique is the Bomb but asking for 200 mil from old Stanley is like me asking for Scarletts cum stained knickers,it aint happening my friend,sure he might end up with 200 mil but that would be like 100 mil plus player sales(entire squad) bar laca and auba.
English football being totally dominated by the Manchester clubs.
It’s obvious that Abramovich has reevaluated his business plan with Chelsea, instead of buying/winning the league from the top down which was unsustainable. It looks like he is taking the necessary steps and strategy of building the club from the ground up. They already have worldwide commercial appeal from the exposure of winning league titles and European cups. Investing in a new stadium, which when finished will be one of the most iconic looking stadiums in world football and allow them to be financially secure well into the future. Personally, I think the days of Chelsea buying the league are… Read more »
Banford
Some deflective nonsense. I understand perfectly well that you’ll twist the narrative when challenged.
You’re an idiot.
‘Leave Kroenke alone he clearly wants to win, but fuck Wenger for staying well past his worth.’
Absolute whopper you are.
I would love for the new manager to implement that they will have to earn their wages and not get them handed out,to many very ordinary players under Wenger have been given too much money for very little out put,just look at denilson,Diaby,wilshire,chamkh etc the list is endless,the terrible Bendtner earned 52000 grand a week a complete disgrace and something that ruined his career.he got to much money to early and lost interest.
It’s not a question of it ‘fitting a certain narrative’. More like following the current narrative. Alexander we’ve spent 90 million one summer 52 million last summer bid 90 million for Lemar and spent 55 million in January. There’s no sense in us just having 50 million now. There’s no way Sven and Raul come on board with that kind of budget because they wouldn’t be able to do anything with a budget like that and it’d put their jobs in jeopardy. But look cause at the end of the day it’s just all pointless arguing and speculation wait until… Read more »
Dream10
Yep. Pace and movement off the ball. So important.
Champagne
No idea what you are on about. And given that everyone is trying to be a little nicer to one another here, would you mind calling me by my correct name? The whole “Banford” trolling thing is just old. I don’t mock your moniker; how about not mocking mine?
The new coach has to have the balls to clear out the players that are just not performing there should be no sentimentality at that point
Guns of SF
Well that’s for sure there will be more taxi’s leaving the Emirates than coming in.
Xhaka, Naitland-Miles and Iwobi in central midfield? Mavropanos and Chambers as the CB’s? Should be interesting. Or maybe Mkhitaryan as the CAM, with Iwobi wide? We will see.
Taxi for Banford.
🙂
so it’s going to be a weakened line up.. more adverse risk open football ??
Today isn’t likely to be 8-2 but it could be a battering. The Mavropanos lad might not recover from today for a long time (thanks Arsene)
lol our midfield.. pogba is going to make a meal out of them…
The only thing to look out for today’s game is performances of Mavrapanos and AMN.
I can’t complain about our line-up. Been saying we should’ve been playing kids since Jan when it was clear the season was over.
No Martial for United, he really should have been the makeweight in the Alexis deal, now here’s hoping we get him when he’s available this summer and sell mihki
If Sarri is a racist or homophobe he is out. I liked him but no more
Classy from Utd there.
nice touch by man utd there…
These blue kits are the worst
The almighty Iwobi… down to 10 men fr the start lol
Xhaka with his usual assured start.
Banford
No, you’ll have to develop a thicker skin. It’s more than warranted.
A 7 year old could follow what I’m saying, you’re being dishonest. Alas, it won’t be the last Kroenke defence you succumb to. I’ll remind you at the next one
A silly foul and a stupid giveaway from Xhaka the captain.
Xhaka has started in his usual clumsy and erratic ways
I thought all the top managers in the world would be lining up to lead the mighty Arsenal. Seems like 1. most top guys are no longer in the running. Even Tuschel said no. After all why would he leave a resourceful club like PSG for Arsenal. 2. the remaining top guns who want to manage us (Enrique , Ancelloti) do not fit the bill suddenly. In fact it is because they want money to spend on proper players to compete. 3. They board could go with Viera so they can dictate the spending etc. In fact they will now… Read more »
With rubbish pass like it in our box Xhara just wanted to show all he doesn’t want to stay
xahka with the now obligatory mistake, it would be good to see the end of him.
Xhaka is absolutely basement
Xhaka given acres of space there and all he can do is make sideways passes. His passing is so overrated, can only pass long balls to overlapping wingers on the left side.
Can someone explain the point to me of Bellerin supporting the attack if he can’t cross or shoot?
not bad so far..soaked up the pressure well
Not convinced at all by Nelson.
15 mins.. that’s how long it took…
I don’t blame the kids.. pogba and sanchez were gonna have a field day…
There you go. No one managed to take down Progba outside the box and no one tracked him in the box….
Xhaka.
Why dive in there, when he could just have marshalled Pogz outside the box? Simply doesn’t have the right instincts.
I rate Pogba, but he’s comical acting like this is at all a game in which he’ll land plaudits haha.
Chambers seems oblivious of what’s in his penalty area. Not the best trait for a central defender
Xhaka couldn’t be more useless.
Like the jip of Mavropanos.
lol look at the way Pogba beat Xhaka on the edge of the area leading up to the goal.
An embarrassment for Arsenal Football Club this day having such a player as captain.
The little fella Nelson wants to dribble too much. Showed his inexperience and lost the ball got robbed.
United fans singing “Arsene Wenger we want you to stay”
Didn’t they get the memo? They are supposed to be playing nice.
These kids are physically weak.
How could Mikki not no goal fr there ffs?
Xhaka going to be whipping boy again today I see, nice and consistent
I’m waiting for the day Ishola will say something good about Xhaka.
Xhaka is always the whipping boy.
CC,
Maybe because he’s making stupid challenges and giving the ball away ?
When xhaka puts in a good season for us, we might be more lenient when he plays like shit…
Lets all laugh at the numbskulls who rate Xhaka.
You know who you are.
Welcome to the wenger crèche where xhaka deserves a participation trophy and we shouldn’t criticize him for regularly letting the team down
I would make amn the captain next season and build the team around him.
The lads got something about him on 5he pitch.
Deffo captain material
I have absolutely no time for Xahka, how anyone could still think he is a decent footballer after watching him for 2 seasons is mindboggling.