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!
Even in a team of kids Xhaka manages to be the worst player on the pitch
Bellerin was not exactly great on the goal.
“The little fella Nelson wants to dribble too much”
He always far too hesitant. That’s my main gripe with him.
Considering young players usually come in and look great before plateauing, I can’t see him being a first team fixture.
He also doesn’t seem to have a position at all.
UT
Or maybe it’s because it’s the standard, the game is setup nicely to shred him a new arsehole.
This time last season, were fielding a full strength team against a half-strength United team that had made Europa league the priority.
Roles reversed today. Don’t blame United for going fore the jugular today.
Xhaha will be great under new management,you can quote me on that.
Xhara out amn in
Xhara is so so rubbish. Missed Progba in an unnecessary sliding tackle on the goal. And got a yellow from a blatant pull of Jesus. O God!
Remind me who bought Xhaka? Didn’t Piers Morgan say this was a choice imposed on the gaffer who had at a point threatened no to play him.
The can of worms will open slowly, little by little.
This football club has been punching above its weight for too long. With players like theses, we should be fighting relegation.
lol Xhaka wrong side. Gives away dangerous freekick
Charlie you so realise this is why we are shit right?
Nobody gets criticized within the club. This is one of the central reasons for us collapsing off the edge of the world in terms of footballing relevance
We’ll know if we have a decent new manager if the first thing he does is get rid of Xhaka.
The second stringers of Atletico leading against Alaves.
Who would think Bellerin is on 100k weekly?
Nelson has a good technique. Needs to bulk up a bit and gain some experience.
Why Aub not go right and take a shot there??
Bellerin can’t fucking cross worth a dime
BELLERIN STOP IT
Bellerin final ball, one day…..one day
“Xhaha will be great under new management”
How’s that then? Will the new manager give Xhaka a pair of rollers to move about the field faster? Or a new brain that can process scenarios better and improve decision making?
How anyone can be a professional footballer and not even have anything resembling crossing ability is beyond me.
Professionals have literally put in 10,000+ hours with a ball. No excuses. You might not pass like Beckham but fuck me cross like a professional at least.
Let the game flow ffs ref
These guys are so slow/ docile as as they don’t want to play.
Not even trying to appeal for a pen even at 20% chance. Ashley Young will claim with a dive ffs
“The can of worms will open slowly, little by little.”
Using that logic, I suppose the can of worm will open for every manager in world football once they are sacked.
Wenger was buying garbage long before he bought Xhaka.
I don’t like it when young players do not play desperately when they get their big break.
Reiss Nelson plays like he’s all there already. That’s why I have a question mark on him. He never looks like he’s giving that extra 5%.
Thick Arsenal fans booing Sanchez. How about booing Wenger instead? Always directing the focus at the wrong person.
Mikhi has been excellent.
Odd watching two irrelevant sides who were once THE duo.
Danish Gooner
April 29, 2018 15:57:39
Xhaha will be great under new management,you can quote me on that.
———————————————————————————-
He certainly will, under new management when we sell him to an U13 Albanian girls team. He’ll look like Pele and Maradonna rolled into one in their league.
Get bang bang off n throw on Eddie
The greek boy doesn’t look overwhelmed…yet.
I get why United are in second gear, but why is arsenal? I guess this is the level of intensity under arsene.
Xhaka has started in his usual clumsy and erratic ways
Don’t you know he’s in good form.
I’m not sure a new manager keeps Bellerin.
If bang bang had shorter Afro rather than the dela soul one would have got mote power on it
Lol Bellerin found someone. Miracles do happen!
Mhiki dumping Pogba on his arse there
“If bang bang had shorter Afro rather than the dela soul one would have got mote power on it”
WHAT?
I think we’re playing alright. AMN has the makings of an excellent player. People not convinced by 18 year old Nelson- give him a chance!
What a dire game so far.
AMN – need to see intensity boy. Not casual jogging and like
Nelson – nothing player. Any forward passes yet?
Iwobi – Fuck off
Marv….. Greek kid – tall and probably faster than Chambers
Kolac – becoming rubbish
miki, our best player so Far.. people are too harsh on xhaka. ramsay isn’t on so they need another whipping boy…
Useroz…half empty sort of life.
Mikhi with a decent run there.. Hopefully, he’s taken off at halftime with a view to playing him against AM
Xhaka on a yellow handballing it in the opponents half. Thick as fucking shit that lad
we are making ashley young look Like a world class defender and winger…
Zfree
“I get why United are in second gear”
They are definitely going through the motions here. No real intensity in their play.
Mourinho it seems has no interest in whacking Wengz in his last days.
Arsenal have had a couple of dangerous attacking situatoins.
Useroz, enlightening analysis, particular with ‘Marv’.
Redknapp absolutely coating Xhaka.
Jaime Redknapp showing how Xhaka “covers” in the Arsenal midfield. He’s a whipping boy for a reason
Jamie Redknapp rightly showcasing Xhaka’s defensive weakness this half.
Why is Mykhi even playing in this meaningless game?
He gives a real chance of getting a result at the Wanda Metropolitano on Thursday. Take him off at half time FFS.
There’s a nice flow to the team
Lacazzete better than Auba…. becoming increasingly evident week by week.
I don’t rate De Gea with his feet.
Holding is better than Chambers for my money too
Nelson completely out of his depth.
Marko
“Jaime Redknapp showing how Xhaka “covers” in the Arsenal midfield. He’s a whipping boy for a reason”
No no Marko.
We just like slating Xhaka because he is a Swiss Albo.
Can’t stand Swiss Albos can we.
The Greek lad is actually more assured than Chambers. Hopefully we develop him going forward
Elmo
There’s a 5 hour video of him sky have
Sloppy
Shocking
Insignifant
Bob can easily make it very full like ‘…Wenger we want you to stay’ by the manure…
I’d honestly forgotten iwobi is on the pitch… this whole team needs new management.. when Is Wenger leaving ??
Dissenter, hasn’t played for a while, needs match sharpness, I imagine. 6o mins and then off. Probably sub on Thursday.
Just my opinion guys,but I think the damage done by this present owner and a complicit manager over the last decade has done for Arsenal competing domestically and in Europe.
I read all the talk about new managers,but let’s face it,an Arteta appointment has all the hallmarks of exactly how Wenger has been operating.
No top manager is going to touch us,with the amount of money needed for a rebuild job,that is not on offer..if you believe the 50 mil stories.
Arsenal to this yank cunt is nothing but a money making vehicle.
I hope I’m wrong,but can’t see it.
Lacazzete better than Auba…. becoming increasingly evident week by week.
Forward players look alright actually. Can’t understand how you look at that 45 and think huh Lacazette is better than Auba.
Miki and Sanchez both trying very very hard to make old boss repent. Miki is succeeding better.
By the way very immature of Arsenal fans boo every touch by Sanchez. No wonder such immature people that tolerated Wenger con like a finger up the prostate .
Pretty shocking when you think about how much our wage budget is and the poor squad we have.
people are too harsh on xhaka. ramsay isn’t on so they need another whipping boy…
I’d honestly forgotten iwobi is on the pitch…
There’s your whipping boy. Iwobi is doing alright today. Xhaka is his usual self
No Useroz , I’ve wanted Wenger gone for years.
Just don’t like people bitching about young players who may have the ability to succeed, giving their best, wearing an Arsenal shirt. You, Paulinho slagging off young players, playing in a scratch side against Manure. Writing off Nelson, give us a break.
Auba is better , faster . But needs technique for a faster and more intense league. Over to the new Manager
Ishola
Really what will you do when Xhaka leaves Arsenal? 🙂
Xhaka getting the business here. No accountability and all that. Good form the last two and a half months though…by our standards
Bob16
Since we haven’t produced any great youth talent since Ashley Cole maybe he has a point about Nelson
CC,
Listening to souness and TH re xhaka ?
marko
given a choice between iwobi and xhaka, I’d pick xhaka every single day…
Xhaka being ripped a new one by the sky pundits. Same unprofessional play for the first goal not tracking back,exactly the same for the Watford away winner earlier in the season.
Same old Arsene taking the piss…
UT
Yea, Souness asking why nobody at the club has laid into him for it. Exactly what’s being said about a new manager coming in and coaching players.
given a choice between iwobi and xhaka, I’d pick xhaka every single day…
How about neither mate
Dissenter
“Really what will you do when Xhaka leaves Arsenal?”
Is he leaving? Get in.
What is your take on Xhaka Dissenter?
Do you rate him?
Or is it you just get sensitive on his behalf about what is spoken about him on a football blog?
As you can see Dissenter there are plenty of non-Xhaka fans around the place.
Xhaka again with dumb challenges. He is very consistent in that regard.
Yea, Souness asking why nobody at the club has laid into him for it. Exactly what’s being said about a new manager coming in and coaching players.
Kind of missing the point about him being shit though. Can’t really coach that out of a player
No not today’s 45 mins Marko, always preferred the style of Laca and now even performancewise Laca is turning out to be better. Mikhi got in to the opposition box numerous times but Auba was nowhere to be seen for interlinking or receiving passes.
The lack of intensity in this team is why Wenger leaving cant come soon enough. We have given youngsters a chance on the biggest stage and they look like its a testimonial. Imagine Simeone’s kids playing at the Bernabeau? They would be dying for him – lets get Thurs night out of the way, a proper manager at the helm (Jardem or Sarri) and build Arsenal back to where they should be!
Looks like marko has a new obsession.. XHAKA
yesterday it was SUBSTITUTIONS
Before that it was WENGER
Tomorrow… Who knows.
So that’s it then London Gunner, no decent players to come through our youth set up ever again? Agreed not many world class, we had hopes for Wilshere. AMN showing signs but I’d rather give them the benefit of the doubt for first 30 games or so. Nelson’s barely started a game, 18 years old…write him off by argument is too harsh.
Marko
No, you think he’s shit. I don’t. I think he has plenty quality to be coached into a proper player for us. I told you yesterday, the rabid back and forth about that isn’t interesting to me.
Proof will be evident under a new manager – same applies to many players we have.
What’s up Pierre how are you? What’s your thoughts on Ramsey mate? Exactly
Nothing up marko… All good
To be honest, I think your obsession is champagne Charlie…
If we get one we will get 2
Yawn alert. Arsenal are playing!!!
Every single Arsenal player is tripe.
Some have a good game every 8 games or so…some, never.
Bellerin makes me physically sick.
Nice to see the Greek lad break Lukaku in half, been a while since an Arsenal player has looked capable of that
Add kolsanic to the shit list
No, you think he’s shit. I don’t. I think he has plenty quality to be coached into a proper player for us
Even at Gladbach he was a clueless idiot who couldn’t tackle hence the discipline record. You right I don’t want to get into a back and forth thing either but after a 45 like that how could I not comment. And also why is it when he’s shit he could be coached out of that but when it comes to Bellerin and Iwobi they should be sold.
Mhiki with a beaut
Beauty.
There are definitely shades here of posters who shall we say were more pro-Wenger being defensive about Xhaka the player.
Not all but quite a few pop their heads up.
Wallace of course bless him being the prime example.
I think we should sell Xhaka just for the reason that the ex pro-Wengers and the anti-Wengers can get together and unite going forward.
That nasty Xhaka is an obstacle to this now.
get in mhiki…
I haven’t really formed an opinion yet on most of our kids but I think it’s not right to say that they shouldn’t be criticized because they’re young These are grown men earning 20+k a week to represent a premiership club with a million odd supporters worldwide. And they’re playing against one of the old enemies If they look casual in this match that is very concerning. And it’s exactly because we’ve been a culture where criticism is deemed wrong that these kids are so sheltered. It’s time for arsenal as a club to grow and the players and managers… Read more »
Cc
Agreed seems a unit
Get in there!
Stroked that in! Nice!
Assist from Xhaka, needs a statue
🙂
Rashford come in and by the looks of him Wenger is getting an apolexy.
But Miki equalises. Good boy
Lol
The fattest player since Mick Quinn has busted a cap in Man yoo.
Damn! 25 stone and doing the biz. Good on him…the fat bastard.