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!
Do you think fellaini’s hair influences the direction/spin/movementnof the ball?
Serious question….
gonsterous
“PEA has been so invisible today..”
Stoppit dude.
shhhhhhh, you’re not supposed to say that.
We were very naive in the last 10 minutes or so Inviting pressure and allowing them the free cross.
Players who should be on their way out of this club….
Welbeck
Iwobi
Xhaka
Wilshere
Ospina
Cech
Koscielny
Bellerin
Mustafi
Contrary to what Wenger says thy are not special and they do NOT have mental strength.
Classy from Pogba there giving Maitland Niles a hug and a word. Knows he was in a good tussle with the lad. I’d absolutely start him over Wilshere Thursday
The whole patronising culture around our team and players is unreal as well.
Maitland Niles is an unremarkable player, unlikely to do anything great or terrible, yet the commentators take on this weird role of hyping him like he’s some standout talent.
Something positive is that Sanchez was shit
We really did get his best years out of him.
Naitland Miles is good enough
Please let the short arsed Wilshere leave
We were very naive in the last 10 minutes or so Inviting pressure and allowing them the free cross.
Very true. Don’t know why we stopped playing. Mhiki off perhaps
Mav impressed me. There might be a proper player in there. Hopefully.
Nailtand Miles is the only youth product of note.
Even Pogba saw that, he had a quite word with him after the game.
Good players know good players after the 90-minute tussle is over.
I was trying to provide balance Ishola, you said it was meaningless for Manu, it wasn’t exactly meaningful for Arsenal. If United had a semi final next week, what sort of team would they have picked?
This game had some positive, AMN, Mavro, some decent passing, lots of effort, young players gaining experience. Personally, I’d rather dwell on that than Manu. Our new manager would have made some useful notes, not all line through names.
Nice to hear the mocking
” Mourinho we want you to stay ”
New title
The Neurotic One
The whole patronising culture around our team and players is unreal as well.Maitland Niles is an unremarkable player, unlikely to do anything great or terrible, yet the commentators take on this weird role of hyping him like he’s some standout talent.
Ah Paulinho we’ll just pretend like you don’t don’t do that with Ramsey on a fairly consistent basis
‘gonsterous
“PEA has been so invisible today..”
In big games he will put even Ozil to shame. Laca a better striker but unfortunately most people are taken in by the hype of PEA.
Marko – Massive flaw in your comparison being that Ramsey is standout in making runs and stamina.
I feel more comfortable about Thursday night at the Wanda Metropolitano after seeing Mykhi today.
He’s on fire.
He has a special Europa league charm, he may carry us on his back to the trophy like he did for United last season.
Thought the Greek kid had a solid debut today
PEA is exactly what I thought he would be.
Fast but basic.
I think PEA is more of a scavenger or dare I say “fox in the box” (but god not Jeffers) so he relies totally on service from others which lets face it recently has not been good. We could have the best striker in the world but if the ball doesn’t get to him…….
Marko – Massive flaw in your comparison being that Ramsey is standout in making runs and stamina.
Making runs? That’s funny. Stamina? I mean he should have a little left in the tank he forgets the defensive side of his game enough. Point is you’re criticising commentators for hyping up an unremarkable player in Maitland Niles you do the exact same with Ramsey. He’s the best at runs into the box so it’s alright
I thought our young team put in a far better performance at OT than many earlier full strength teams.
Apart from score mikhi was shit.
Marko – Ramsey is our highest scoring central midfielder. In our entire history.
Just shut it for once mate. Obsessed with starting tedious debates about Ramsey.
AMN has the raw ingredients to do well for Arsenal, he’ll be a good understudy next season and hopefully he can respond to the incoming coaching.
Mavropanos was another that can walk away feeling he delivered on the whole. Good debut from the lad, up to him to take it further.
Fast but basic. If Auba is simply categorised as fast but basic what the fuck could one say about Ramsey. Honestly you fanboys lack objectivity
What happen to all the hype over Nelson?
The kid is so shit
Just shut it for once mate. Obsessed with starting tedious debates about Ramsey.
Fair enough pal. Any more little quips about Xhaka? No? Fair enough. You’re all the same
Let’s just get this damn season over with and move on. Get a new manager in and start the rebuilding competitive process. But get the damn thing over with.
Dear lord still blabbering about Ramsey.
No. We were going to talk about how well the kid Maitland Niles done today but you’re not having any of it so now we’re just going to sit here in silence. Are you happy Paulinho
Marko – You’re free to talk about Maitland-Niles all you want. Don’t let me stop you.
Can’t see you getting much mileage out of it though, because there’s not really a whole lot to talk about with him.
Paulinho
You’re overly-tetchy about Ramsey
It doesn’t take that ,much poking and …..boom Shaka laka
https://youtu.be/12_g_5SY3zw?t=33s
When Nelson plays has he made a impacted on any of the games he played in?
Mid table mediocrity,get used to it,this is Arsene legacy.
Can’t see any top manager putting his credentials against this rebuilding job.
Bring on Arteta and more empty seats next season.
Marko, here’s an advice for you- Focus on giving your own opinion on matters rather than constantly nip at others’ heels.
Always on hand to police the blog, like some bigshot footballing authority.
You’re frankly worse than Bamford. How you get away with it is what is surprising.
Cunt.
This team need to be drilled in the correct way,if that is done we will be awesome,furthermore the counter attacking phase leaves much to be desired but a huge aspect of our game that can be improved with fast players as laca and auba.I would take a stab at Wilfried Zaha i finally think he has improved enough to start play for Arsenal.
Damn near 40 points behind. Sad it came to this but as long as this joke is out of here can’t be too sad.
Hahaha Christ, the reaction to some Ramsey bait is priceless
I hear the boy is an Arsenal fan really think he could give us another edge.
‘What happen to all the hype over Nelson?
The kid is so shit’
No he isn’t – 2nd prem start and it’s Man U
Grow up
Moan moan moan moan –
Some positives
good to see some of the kids get a run out none of them looked over awed playing at OT , they gave a good account of themselves , How can you not see it for what it was ? Good run out for Mkhitaryan aswel
One thing that’s evident from the two league matches against United this season is that while they’re streets ahead of us in the table, they’re not up to much on the pitch, and under a new manager we should be looking to take 4 points from them next year.
We lost to them both home and away, but the home defeat was almost entirely due to Wenger, and this away loss they failed to assert themselves against a reserve team.
If they play at the same level next season, we should be hoping to do much better against them.
Nelson to be the next over hype crap like wilshere
We are trailing City by 36 points,in october i said almost in contempt of the team that we would end up 40 points behind City,now that it is very likely i feel ashamed as an Arsenal fan.
Marko, why don’t you stick your neck out and tell us something good you find about one of our players.
Then we’ll call you out on that every hour of every day, whenever you make some a comment talking about other players.
Cunt.
Never has anything positive to offer, then acts like some footballing sage pointing at others’ mistakes.
Nelson need coaching on a very high level there is absoulutely no reason why he shouldnt be great but not under Wenger.Remember how crap Raheem were and look at hhim now even Oxlade is vastly improved ,it is all about the coaching,
Nelson can find a club in the championship and get all the right coaching he needs
Once again the shortcomings of Ospina were exposed. A goalkeeper like Oblak would have saved that second goal as he showed in the first half against us on Thursday. Ospina took a step backwards when Fellaini headed the ball and in so doing failed to reach the ball. As Pedro has suggested many times he is too small and also simply not good enough to play against top teams. Some might argue that Man Utd should have won this game in any event, but overall the team played reasonably well today. I was surprised how well Chambers played at CB… Read more »
Danish I think Zaha will simply be too expensive. He is absolutely critical to Palace; without him they would have been relegated (he missed 9 PL games through injury this season and they lost every one; they only lost 7 in 27 when he played). He’s under contract until 2022, so even if he wants out, they’re not going to sell him for less than £50m. I guess it’s in the same ball park as Malcom (£45m+). Depends on how much we raise from sales as to whether we have the spare cash to risk on wide players who are… Read more »
They can have Monreal and 25 mil.
Bob is shifting his Wilshere-nipping to Reiss Nelson.
Watch this space.
Not a match to make judgements about individual players saying how good they were due to the end of season feel to the game and the fact that both teams were not fully at it especially Man Utd.
But of course people do like to make judgements.
Saying that those that failed to shine today in such a match there will be concerns.
The game against Atletico coming up now that is a match where judgements can be made clearly. On the line match.
Here are my observations: David Ospina is too short. That was a weak header. He didn’t have the reach to stop it. Hector Bellerin let Sanchez have a free header. Later, Martial ran pass him as if he isn’t there. Calum Chambers looks solid. All the youth players perform well. We should play them again in the next PL games. The team has to familiarize with Aubameyang’s game. He is quite static positioning next to the two CB’s. He didn’t hold the ball up. We need to send well measured passes for him to run into. Today, the quality of… Read more »
Emirates cup Bob .
A real snoozer of a match, but at least there are signs of life in some of the players, which could bode well under a new manager, one who can get the best out of them. As an overall some need a serious kick up the backside, but again a new manager will be guaranteed not to coddle them.
Not sure what really to make out of ManU, they have pretty much been “bleh” for the majority of the season. The result was inevitable and over the horizon there remains optimism – there has to be.
classic comment from ishola
“Not a match to make judgements about individual players saying how good they were”
“Saying that those that failed to shine today in such a match there will be concerns”
Basically you are saying if any player did themselves justice ,they can’t be judged but if they failed to shine then they can be judged …..classic.
Not one away point in all of 2018
Thank you for the memories Wenger
Yes Pierre
Not every Arsenal match is the be all and end all.
And certainly not this one.
I actually thought at one point that Mourinho had decided to to go easy on Wenger and let him get a result that being a draw and really that should have been the end result.
Man Utd were coasting that match for the majority.
It’s not a match to dwell on at all.
I only saw the highlights of the game but looks like we were unlucky with the goal as it came off Xhaka AND fellaini at the same time – no way fellaini could have meant it to go right in the corner of the goal. But also looked like we had let them come on to us for the last 10 mins so we were asking for it. glad to hear some of the youngsters having a good game. I think wenger should have been giving them a chance earlier when we were playing badly. I have said for a… Read more »
Six consecutive away losses in the league
That’s relegation form.
At least no one can say he didn’t deserve his sacking.
Fiorentina 3 0 Napoli
Surely Surely…. Juventes must win the title
Take him back to Highbury (please God )
Well j.oe it’s nearly all over, the curtain is coming down for the last time for Arsene Wenger ….what are you gonna do…
Remember j.oe ” be careful what you wish for and the grass isn’t always greener on the other side ”
Bear that in mind because you never know , history may say that the past 5 years are one of the most ( I said one of the most)successful periods in Arsenals history .
News tonight that Ancelotti has signed a contract with an unnamed club who he is not allowed to reveal. Could it be Arsenal? I think its a definite possibility.
Gazzap
Agree about the youngsters , makes you wonder why the Greek lad hasn’t been given a run out yet ..
Maybe Wenger set him up to fail as he wasn’t one of his signings..
gazzap,
Anchelotti is set to become manager of Italy.
Just watched the ATM vs Alaves game. Both Torres and Costa started. ATM needed two penalties to win. They have also rested a few regulars, including the goalie.
How do those touting Sarri feel about Napoli blowing their title push at the last?
Does that reveal a soft underbelly? Is there style and no substance with his teams?
Genuinely asking.
article I read said it wasn’t Italy but a club and could be PSG, Arsenal or someone else.
We can get a high scored draw against Atletico on Thursday, that’s what I’m hoping for.
It can be hard for them to defend a 1-1 advantage from the first leg; there’s that dynamic of shall we hold to what we have already or go for the kill?
So long as we don’t implode at the back….
There is too much fear in the game nowadays to give the kids a chance plus the fans are too ready to criticise mistakes and then the player loses confidence. Reis Nelson should be told to go out there and use his skills but he looked scared to try anything ,scared to lose the ball .. 9 months ago he looked like a star in the making but he seems to have lost his way … Wenger playing him at wing back probably hasn’t helped and today, although he was playing against a very good experience player in Valencia ,… Read more »
CC
I’m sure I read that sarri has never won a trophy in his managerial career, may be wrong though…could be another pochettino
Pierre
That would be my concern with him, however maybe thats unwarranted?
To me he seems a bit hipster in choice, kind of a maverick figure, plays sexy stuff, but ultimately not delivering the things we’d like to see most of all.
Take me back to Highbury
Pierre was just being cheeky when he said that nonsense.
We’ve had a precipitous decline in the last 5 years. Wenger used the FA cup to mask the decay.
Interesting comment from Sarri.
IN 2016, Maurizio Sarri memorably said: “If I saw my team defending and counter-attacking after 30 minutes, I would get up and return to the bank because I would not be having fun.” It’s music to the ears of fans of the beautiful game –
DaveB666April 29, 2018 17:27:35
Players who should be on their way out of this club….
Welbeck
Iwobi
Xhaka
Wilshere
Ospina
Cech
Koscielny
Bellerin
Mustafi
Contrary to what Wenger says thy are not special and they do NOT have mental strength.
/
He knows they are mentally weak so he keeps telling them ‘you’re great, you’re a star, you’re special’ to try to convince them otherwise. It’s a very basic confidence building technique. Primary school teachers use it everyday..
Nelson needs to score 1goal then he will be the next British core hero
Didn’t expect much from that game besides the customary 2018 away loss.
Granted, we gave an ok account of ourselves – or at least the reserve lads did.
Utd have blagged 2nd place, and fair play to them. Arsenal on the other hand simply need to win the EL.
As for the manager situation, I’m glad Enrique is off the list. Don’t fancy him, and he comes across as very cold.
Dissenter Maybe , just maybe , Atletico scoring may have done Arsenal a favour (stupid as it sounds) . If it had finished 1-0 to Arsenal then Atletico would come at us all guns blazing but as its 1-1 they might just settle for a 0-0 to get through and play defensively which will be to our advantage and then we Nick a goal near the end … A sort of Michael Thomas moment …..I can also remember Vaesson scoring in the last minute in juventus to put us through ( I think it was 1980) in the cup winners… Read more »
Arsenal get a goal before the hour mark against Atletico and it puts a ton of doubt in their minds. We score two goals I think we’re through.
Hopefully Pierre will fuck off back to Untold when Arsenal lose to Atletico..
Arsenal’s soft underbelly developed under Wenger will ensure Atletico ease to victory…
They’ll have Costa & Griezmann upfront and play long balls throughout the game. Our CBs are incapable of keeping a clean sheet. They’ll score.
Always on hand to police the blog, like some bigshot footballing authority.You’re frankly worse than Bamford. How you get away with it is what is surprising.Cunt.
Wow wow. Worst than Bamford. Harsh
Jo.e
“Yes because this is simeone’s first rodeo”
Sorry mate ,we are talking about football on here ,go back to your cowgirl blog and take Ruth with you …
I thought Chambers was our best player tonight. Almost did everything right. Should keep him. Sell both Kos & Mustafi and buy a new defense.
Find it hilarious Rambo you’ve got no problem with someone dog piling on Xhaka or Bellerin or Iwobi for the hundredth time but take such grievance over Ramsey getting shit. It’s really weird. I was actually talking about how I thought Maitland Niles was having a good game today and then Paulinho made a remark about how he’s overhyped and unremarkable and why do the commentators do such a thing and I said him and others do the exact same thing with Aaron. And then you called me a cunt I guess for shit talking Ramsey. I mean you Ramsey… Read more »
Cult of Wenger being replaced by the cult of Ramsey it seems. Hilarious when you consider that if we signed someone like Kovacic or Trigueros or had we signed Goretska he’d be forgotten in 5 minutes
I feel better with us going there with a 1-1 result. I’ll never believe we can defend a 1-0 win against Atletico but we might be able to have a goal-filled draw.
I feel more confident after seeing how sharp Mykhi is.
We now have Laca, Mykhi and Ramsey as goal threats.
Welbeck batter them with his athleticism.
We are better when are the underdogs. It’s basically just attack, attack and attack. We know we are going to concede anyway.
Wenger has to play Welbeck, Ramsey, Mykhi, Ozil and Laca together.
RISK AVERSE OPEN FOOTBALL baby
Take me back to Highbury?
“Dissenter. Who’s going to stop atletico scoring 4 vs that lineup?”
Risk averse open football baby!!!
Go read the Aubergine/Northern doctrine
Team needs a complete overhaul. We had no midfield creativity. Cannot depend on Xhaka and mikki came off it changed the team completely
The new coach needs to get rid of about 5 to 6 players and bring in some young hungry world class killers
Manchester United in the final 20 minutes of the game was making Precision passes that were hitting their targets left and right we don’t have a creative midfielder and PIerre went missing today sorry to say
TBF, AMN is an excellent prospect. Technically excellent, can actually keep the ball when pressed, one of the the best dribblers in the squad. Got good pace, engine and physicality. He needs to improve his passing though(today he did pass the ball well).
I thought he did OK whenever he was being played at FB. His performances in the midfield(ostersund away and Newcastle? where he came on as a sub) were pretty bad. But today he showed, why he’s a midfielder.
And he’s a genuine character. Nothing fazes him. Ice cold. Could develop into a complete midfielder.
Paulinho
29, 2018 17:44:00
Marko – Ramsey is our highest scoring central midfielder. In our entire history.
Sanchez was our highest scoring winger of all time…
Stick to recipes Delia, your football patter is embarrassing
Watching match of the day it was obvious that the match was decided by the ref.
Nelson was brought down before the first United goal.
AMN was brought down by Sanchez in the first half…. Penalty.
Before the United winner they were given a phantom corner… Ashley Young kicked the ball out but ref gave a corner.
Nothing mentioned in the analysis after the game though..
All immaterial as the game had nothing riding on it but very poor refereeing.
Oh…it’s your general patter that’s garbage, nvm.
You’re an empty vessel Delia, if you’re not belittling Arsenal/Wenger, or reeming opponents, you’ve nothing to bring to the table.
There’s no football ideas of your own, you’re just the internet warrior going about undercutting others and ridiculing various inputs. No wonder you’re a massive failure in life.
@Pierre
Fuck off to Untold. You’re better suited there with your pathetic ref conspiracies.
Delia you’re the one that’s resurfaced spouting your usual bollocks. Seems you’re triggered more than anyone because you’ll actually have to provide something other than Wenger ridicule.
Pretty much snookers you with your intellect
Watched MotD. Didn’t look like much of a match. Probably the editing. Which in itself was revealing. What was interesting to see was that the gift from Manure to AW was/ looked like a trophy!!!! The cynical bastards!!! And gifted by none other than Fergie, who has bested him in all departments. The score line must have given him a smirk (arsehole). Then you have the punching in the air by Maureen when Fellaini scored. To me that was Maureens’ fuck you to AW. And annotingly the BBC are still firmly on Fergie’s side. On another note, I managed to… Read more »
Interesting…
The alledged £50 million transfer budget is doing the rounds on MOTD. Wrighty saying that it’s nowhere near enough. I’m glad he’s come out and said this.
For the 6th richest football club in the world to limit it’s spending in this way is an insult to arsenal fans.
This is already very bad PR for Arsenal.
Let’s hope it’s just gossip.
We’ll soon enough know Alex. Soon know what kind of an owner Stan is