courtesy @allthatchas
Atleti won the Europa League, Griezmann’s first major trophy… but it should have been ours!
I cannot believe we didn’t make 10 men at home count for more than nothing.
A lot of ‘why don’t we hire Diego’ after the game.
- He likes Atletico
- He likes Inter Milan
- He doesn’t speak English
I’m also not sure if you’d want that sort of football at Arsenal. I mean, some fan now seem impervious to the idea of bringing negative football back to Arsenal, I can’t help but think they’d be disappointed in that.
Not that I’d be against Simeone, I’m just not sure we need to go there.
One manager the club certainly like is Ralph Hassenhutl, the German went on the record last year to say he’d spoken to Arsenal about the potential opening at the club. That’s three Bundesliga managers we know the club were interested in, having spoken to Schmidt and Tuchel the same summer. Anyway, point of the thread is the Austrian has quit his position at Leipzig after two seasons with the Redbull outfit. He finished an incredible second last year, but couldn’t quite replicate that form this year, dropping down to 6th.
The 50-year-old found managerial fame taking German minnows Ingolstadt to the Bundesliga with a promotion, then keeping them in the league with a powerful defensive system that made up for having the worst attack in the league.
It’s unclear who rang the change bell, Rangnick or the manager. But the post-firing commentary was very positive from their Sporting Director.
“I would have liked to go into the new season with Ralph Hasenhuttl as our head coach,”
“I came to the realisation that another year together to begin with would have been sufficient. For Ralph however, there was no alternative to a premature contract extension. It was his explicit wish to terminate the contract and we accepted that with a heavy heart.
“In the past few season, Ralph has been incredibly impressive with a huge contribution and put in a lot of work. I don’t see Ralph as just a very talented coach but he’s also an incredible person. From the bottom of my heart, I wish him all the best for the future, both professionally and privately.”
Where Hassenhutl is planning on going next is a mystery. He reckons he turned down Bayern in January.
“The fact is that today I spoke with no other club, except that I once had a loose contact with Bayern Munich.
“I said that I cannot imagine that I am not a solution for Bayern, because I lack the international experience.”
The coach who compares himself Klopp when it comes to philosophy made an odd choice considering he’s 50 years old, but who am I to judge? That’s why I wonder if he’d move to Arsenal?
Anyway, he fits our brief from a philosophical perspective. He’s very organised, knows how to drill a defence, his game is all about intense pressing, he’s had to coach young kids at Redbull (they pride themselves in developing the youth between 17-23), and he’s picked up some of the flair Rangnick was famous for.
He’d be a solid hire, not an overly exciting one… though he does run up and down the sideline, something fans equate with winnertivity I believe.
Interesting that Bayern Munich, a mega club who signed Carlo and Pep, have opted to sign the Frankfurt coach Niko Kovac. The German-born Croatian doesn’t have much of a CV, he played some exciting direct football under Frankfurt for the past two seasons, but he’s hardly WINNER like you might think Bayern would want after not winning the CL for a while. The big pull for them was having a German and that German having played for the club. He has that emotional tie to Bayern, and that’ll take the edge off them not landing a mega name.
Anyway, point is, they’re a bigger club than us, with better players, and they’re hiring someone who basically did a good job of not getting Frankfurt relegated.
The Galactico manager is a dying breed, unless they bring the magic football…
Not that I’d ever bring the post back to who I want Arsenal to sign.
“Arsenal executives were involved in discussions on Thursday regarding who should next take over at the club.”
At least, they’re still thinking about the question.
Transfer Rumours
Jorginho to Citi £50 mil
Ricardo Pereira to Leicester £25mil
Sime Vrsaljko to United £30mil
Evans to Arsenal 3mil
somethings never change 😉
Can’t see Henry being a credible option if the board want their man in before the World Cup.
“The bad thing with TH14 : he seems to be far too obsessed by money to say goodbye to his TV consultant job.”
It’s almost as if… people work … to make money …
@A14
Think you’ll find I didn’t post that comment.
“Evans to Arsenal 3mil”
lol the very first big signing of our new era.
Wenger wants Arteta as his successor. Yikes. If that’s not a red fucking flag, I don’t know what is. Ferguson wanted Moyes, and we all know how that worked out. The man has been going backwards for a decade now and we’re supposed to just jump on board with his choice for a replacement? Wenger 2.0 is not what I had in mind. This will not end well.
Charlie
Are Sky not reporting that Henry’s being talked to for the actual manager gig as opposed to a coaching role?
Where you seeing Vieira to Nice links Ozy?
Would be great move for him, they’ve underachieved this season with some of the talent at their disposal in Balotelli, Plea, Seri.
@kc : maybe Arteta’s reign will be as short as the Moyes one was. ,-)
WengerEagle
Has Balotelli extended his contract? I thought he was available on a free. If got a right manager I personally wouldn’t mind taking a punt on him if he was on a free.
Mercurial player and not to everyone’s taste but for the manager who could get the best out of him, you would have an amazing player for next to nothing.
Weagle
Yea, but Sky are Sky and others are professing it’s about being part of the new look coaching team
I said yesterday that a crucial reason that we needed to get the managerial appointment right is because we need to be able to attract the players of the right calibre to the club. It also works the other way, in an era of crazy astronomical transfer fees we need a manager who will convince our best talents in the first team and especially in the youth squad to stay. It would be a terrific shame if we lost our best youth players like Reiss Nelson becausehe didn’t believe in the manager coming in. By all accounts we have a… Read more »
Your Comment Here
I wouldn’t like Henry as manager anymore than I’d like Arteta as manager.
I can accept Arteta as a bold choice because there’s merit/scope to suggestions of him being talented as far as coaching goes.
With Henry you’d do well to provide some idea of how he could even be considered as “potential”.
I don’t think his interviewing is managerial at all.
lol Marko
You still not come to terms with Arteta being the appointment.
It’s done bar the official announcement now.
Most on here have to be honest though and admit that Arteta would not have been their personal choice and there is nothing wrong in saying that is his appointment is underwhelming. On appointment that is.
We will see what the future holds with him.
Ishola I’ll come to terms with Arteta I’m just not going to pretend that it’s a smart appointment
It will be tough for him to get back into top four and as said before as the league is very much a six team league now it would be unacceptable if he drops from the six and finishes lower than this season.
jeez, what a joke. we sign Arteta and lose Usmanov is the same month. how pathetic. Arteta is cheap, and a yes man the two other directors can boss around. it’s gonna be horrible. and if Usmanov bankrolls Everton into the CL then god help us.
If it goes tits up at least we know Stan doesn’t like empty seats,and that’s the way to go after him in the future.
Is Usmanov leaves..then we really royally fu*ced.
Kroenke will have free reign.
Usmanov can sell to whom he chooses but the shares will end up with Koenke eventually.
Leeds we’re in agreement
If the best candidate is a woman, WOMAN IN init
Usmanov has no say in anything Arsenal, so doesn’t really matter now whether he stays or leaves.
Arteta shouldn’t even be in the frame let alone first choice.
This AKB’s board need to clear off!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44150823
pedro shills choice ha. Save all the tweets, screenshot everything. If
and when Arteta takes over and falls over arse first into excuses like, “It’s my first season we all need time” loser excuses. Ill be there to shove it. I told you so. We all told you so
Gazidis is king maker? No, he’s made himself King. This is Gazidis’s club now.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5740719/Arsene-Wenger-backs-Mikel-Arteta-succeed-Arsenal-manager.html
Arteta has Wenger’s blessing… is that a good thing?!?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5740859/Arsenal-hold-talks-Henry-vacant-managerial-position.html
We don’t really know what is going on behind the doors at Arsenal at the moment, but if the Mail is to believed, to me, the last minute approaches to Vieira and Henry has to hall marks of a PR exercise all of over it… to legitimise Arteta’s coronation.
Just so that the Board can say something like that they’ve done an exhaustive search, and even approached TH!4, and PV4, but they didn’t want the job so in the circumstances, that Arteta was the best man for the job.
Look how long it took for many Arsenal fans to even SEE that Wenger was a busted flush? He was done 5-6 years ago.. yet only NOW the last 25% of the fanbase accept this reality.. ONLY NOW???
Ask yourself, why didn’t i see wenger was finished earlier?
Now whatever that answer is.. Now ask yourself, is the same reason i didn’t see wenger was finished, the same reason i cant see why Arteta is the wrong choice?
Open your eyes! Arsenal fans deserve everything they get. This is pathetic.
The only ex player i would ever consider taking a risk as Arsenal manager is club legend Bergkamp.
“Hiring Arteta just feels lazy to me, we’re hiring someone just because Pep and others say he is good. The sad thing is we have to take their word for it… why? Arteta has absolutely no track record to demonstrate it himself.”
My biggest thing is he played with half these guys. They will see him as their pal.
I’ll say it again but I remember the day kroenke bought the club I turned to a gooner pal and told him we’re fucked as a club now. Looks like I was right
“My biggest thing is he played with half these guys. They will see him as their pal.”
Or he’s perfectly placed to know the strengths and weaknesses of each of them and can adjust accordingly, coach accordingly, or sell accordingly.
An Allegri will have a vague idea about the current crop, but still need time to judge the squad. Arteta comes in and knows what’s good/bad immediately.
Wouldn’t surprise me if Bob Bradley Is the next name the club claim to be considering.
Jasongms
“The significant difference is that with Allegri, it’s almost guaranteed that he will leave the club/team (even if things went badly) in far greater shape than it currently is, solely based on his vast experience in management/coaching”
Did David Moyes and van gaal not have vast experience in management /coaching.
And did not guardiola and zidane have little experience in management /coaching when they were appointed at Barca and real.
AKBs still supporting the ghost of their master. Its pathetic! Arsenal needs a manager who can simultaneoulsy improve in-pitch performance as well as clear out Wenger’s mess.. which I believe will take at least 3-4 transfer windows. I’m not an expert on hiring football managers, but its outrageous to believe Arteta could do that with ZERO previous experience. What’s wrong with these pathetic idiots? Don’t they want to see Arsenal progress? I understand it’s not in the fans’ hand to appoint the next manager but it’s outright ludicrous to take a stance for a unproven prospect when the club needs… Read more »
nep
Loads of pompous shite in that post mate, why not dial it back a touch. You don’t have any cheat codes, what you’re spouting as fact is your appraisal of the circumstances and nothing more.
Just so we’re clear, anyone who doesn’t fall in line with your vision is a “pathetic idiot”?
No Lacazette in the French squad, but space for Thauvin..
Anyone but Arteta
Les 23 #Bleus
G : Lloris, Mandanda, Areola
D : #Sidibé, Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Kimpembe, #Mendy, Rami, L.Hernandez
M : Kante, Pogba, Matuidi, Tolisso, #Nzonzi
A : Griezmann, Giroud, Mbappe, Dembele, Fékir, Lemar, #Thauvin
Payet ❌
Lacazette ❌
Martial ❌
Coman ❌
Rabiot ❌
Pretty incredible that Matuidi and Thauvin made the squad tbh. Rabiot is strides better than him, Martial/Laca/Payet are better than Thauvin in whatever fashion you want to favour.
Deschamps is an oddball though.
nep
Splendid post…fight the good fight
All the 5 players left out of the squad above are players I rate very very highly. Payet is an amazing player while Rabiot miles better than Matuidi. Martial better than Thauvin. I can see why Laca and Coman have missed out though, tough competition.
Nep
Great comment. This blog is mostly full of gormless losers tbh. (There are some great posters wenger eagle, dissenter ect)
But most fans e are so wengerfied and pathetically unambitious that they would settle for a completely inexperienced novice.
Let’s stop being such pussies and cheapskates and bring in a top quality manager who can make us a special club again.
There are no guarantees with whoever we bring in but there are probabilities a world class experienced manager vs a novice it’s not rock science.
Interesting that no Arsenal player made the EL squad of the season (not XI).
– Most wins Arsenal
– Most goals Arsenal
– Most passes Arsenal
– Semi final Arsenal
Yet not one player was included in the 18 man Europa League squad of the season.
Wtf….
Spot on nep!
Full squad list and commentary from Uefa’s Technical Observers (whatever the fuck that is): Goalkeepers Jan Oblak (Atlético) Technical Observers say: The competition’s outstanding keeper, he performed when his team needed him most. Rui Patrício (Sporting CP) Technical Observers say: An important player for his team. Defenders Leonardo Bonucci (AC Milan) Technical Observers say: Milan’s skipper and talisman is happy defending and comfortable in possession of the ball. Diego Godín (Atlético) Technical Observers say: The winners’ defensive leader was impressive in his reading of the game, tackling and aerial ability. Stefan Lainer (Salzburg) Technical Observers say: The right-back provided five… Read more »
Deschamps prefers physicality and athleticism to technical finesse,always has. Shit manager ! Spain my pick for the WC.
Who would you have in it Charlie? Keep in mind in the early stages we played the reserves and kids and in the second half of the competition we played the seniors.
Also Laca missing out but Giroud gets in is honestly a joke. Giroud has struggled or impressed as much as Laca this season. In fact I’m pretty sure Laca has more goals. Deschamps just had a little chubby for Giroud it seems
@Nep
Spot on about how badly Wenger has left the club in. Also agree will take couple years minimum to sort out this shit
The only ever present in the europa league for us would probably have been Ospina. Even though I’m pretty sure that Cech made some appearances at the end there
“If Arteta can comes to Arsenal as manger, 2 things can happen. He will either fail or succeed. If Allegri comes to Arsenal same thing applies to him.”
So, according to your “logic”, if your team needs to convert a penalty to win the title, you might as well have a special needs, blind chimpanzee take your penalty instead of Ronaldo, since there are only two possible outcomes — fail or succeed. There’s absolutely no difference in who takes the penalty. One outcome is just as likely as the other.
Fuck off.
Marko
I know you’re not a fan, but Ramsey bossed the Europa for us. He played 6 and scored 4 from midfield, yet Naby Keita is in there because he ” impressed in five appearances in the competition and is important to his team.”
All I keep hearing are ECHOES.?
Henry was always my first choice out of all the ex-players.
Marko
Giroud has been good this season once again, but he’s there obviously as their best target man option. His inclusion isn’t hard to justify at all, plus he scores plenty for France.
“Henry was always my first choice out of all the ex-players”
Based on?
“Henry was always my first choice out of all the ex-players.”
To fuck?
Because on his best days he’s an arrogant prick who would likely have as much success managing a team as Michael Jordan did.
Seems like the club is expediting who they are talking too…. my guess is an announcement soon
I find Henry to be bland ,egoist and unintelligent but that’s just me.
The brightest spark out of all them mentally IMO. Naturally talented but deep thinker as well to get the best out of himself. Vieira was never really a thinker in my book. A leader but his incredibly bland interviews laden with cliches just smacked of someone who was an incredibly player but didn’t think much about the game after training. Henry used to watch games religiously as a player – even league 1 games- and knew every player from every team. So similar to Arsene in terms of swattery. He has that natural passion and thirst for it. Experience at… Read more »
*Never said he was perfect.
TR7 – He dithers and takes an age to express a point because he’s too much of a politician on TV.
He’s a lot more candid off camera. Jamie Redknapp spoken of how knowledgeable he is, and I bet a lot of it off-camera talk.
Isnt Josh K a big fan of TH14? I can see this pick getting more traction
Paulinho
So pure subjective speculation about his intellect?
There won’t be any corroboration from a coaching perspective considering he’s spent more time in the studio than the training ground. Really odd for anyone to pitch Henry as “best” of any particular subgroup.
He’s the least qualified/defendable candidate there is, you’ve basically just told an idealistic tale about Henry.
“Isnt Josh K a big fan of TH14? I can see this pick getting more traction”
Ding ding ding
‘He dithers and takes an age to express a point because he’s too much of a politician on TV.’
Yeah exactly, this is why I find him bland and unintelligent. Most former Arsenal players shy away from criticizing Wenger and Arsenal too much for obvious reasons and I understand that but still they comfortably put their points across. Henry sounds and looks so confused. Also I am not sure he can handle criticism if he is given charge of Arsenal.
Charlie – It’s an opinion, of course it’s going to be subjective and speculative to an extent.
Idealistic tale, what bollocks. Henry has come out with plenty of tactical insights during his time on TV and it’s a fact he’s a student of the game, and not been nudged into coaching like Vieira has been by City.
I suppose he’s in your bad books because he called out Xhaka for his shit passing earlier in the season.
“He’s the least qualified/defendable candidate there is, you’ve basically just told an idealistic tale about Henry.”
And the irony of that comment coming from someone championing Arteta.
Payet is injured
Rabiot hasn’t shown much with France ( and doesn’t want to play number 6 ) while n’zonzi immediately played well at that level.
Thauvin has 22 goals and 13 assists and will not play a lot anyway.
Plus we´ ve got loads of solution in that area.
Martial struggled this year for various reasons.
Good list overall, feel a little sad about Laca’s omission though.
“I suppose he’s in your bad books because he called out Xhaka for his shit passing earlier in the season.”
Oh, can’t handle criticism so you have a hissy fit and make erroneous statements.
“And the irony of that comment coming from someone championing Arteta.”
1. I’m championing Allegri, and have done for two years
2. Henry doesn’t have the coaching pedigree Arteta does, to argue that is laughable.
You’re asserting Henry based purely on this anecdotal idea he’s a “student of the game”. It’s paper thin.
Paper thin possibly when compared to Allegri, Klopp, Ancellotti.
Not when in the esteemed (sarcasm) company of Vieira, Arteta. All three are unproven and punts.
Arteta’s biggest claim to fame is improving Raheem Sterling. I have a feeling Henry could be quite handy at that type of thing………..
Gary Neville – Sky Pundit and Ass Manager for Belgium and then tried to manage at Valencia.
Thierry Henry – Sky Pundit and Ass Manager for Belgium.
Using “tactical insights on TV” as a reason someone’s qualified to managed is as much bullshit as saying “worked alongside Pep” is.
Paulinho Yea thats the difference, you have a ‘feeling’ whilst someone like Arteta and even Vieira have been doing it. Your ‘student of the game’ patter is bollocks, being knowledgeable about football doesn’t make you a football coach/manager. The ability to coach/manage shows that you can apply knowledge, which is a different entity altogether. Arteta is most coveted, most endorsed, and has been part of one of the best coaching setups since leaving Arsenal. Vieira has managerial experience, but it’s in Sunday League football. Henry has coaching badges and a Sky contract. So whilst all three may be unproven, Henry… Read more »
Neville Ass Manager for England is what I meant!
Giroud scored 7 for us and 5 for Chelsea so 12 all season long. Lacazette scored 17 goals this season. Maybe if he was given more than 16 measly appearances for France he’d have more goals for France. Fact is if you make a case for Martial and others missing out on form or Thauvin making it on form then there’s a case for a striker who scored more this season making the squad over a striker who scored less. Fuck even Ben Yedder scored 21 goals this season.
Experience at Barca under Pep added a new dimension to his interpretation of the game.
Also as much experience with Pep as Arteta. That’s all it takes really these days
Marko
There’s a world of difference to following the plan and being part of forming it. We don’t know how much influence Arteta has at City, only he seems to be rated.
It’s a huge risk – none of us really know just how calculated a risk it is. If it works Gazidis comes off as a genius, if it goes seriously pear shaped he could easily pay with his job.
“He’s the least qualified/defendable candidate there is, you’ve basically just told an idealistic tale about Henry.”And the irony of that comment coming from someone championing Arteta.
Don’t wanna get into a back and forth thing but fucking A. Dismissing the credentials of Vieira and Henry only to pass off Arteta as a viable option is honestly a stretch. None of them should be seen as viable candidates
Guardiola just extended his city contract to 2021
Pedro would have us believe that City were grooming Arteta to take over in 2022!
Comments not going through for some reason. Anyhoo Henry is my man!
Id be more open to an PV4 with Arteta as first assistant
They might compliment each other- disciplinarian and tactician, both respected at the club… both young and amibtious.
but hey, we can speculate anything right about now… all in the dark
Arteta’s biggest claim to fame is improving Raheem Sterling. Yeah can we stop this bollox please he’s 23 years of age his last two years at Liverpool he scored 10 and 11 goals and his first two years at City he scored 11 and then 10 goals. This season he got 23 seems fairly progressive no? I mean if we’re giving Arteta credit for Sterling’s goals this season shouldn’t we be asking questions of why he didn’t improve him the first season. Basically I think a lot of the Arteta credit seems to be subjective. Man City were incredible last… Read more »
Guns of SF
” all in the dark” and that’s the thing – some people on here are stating opinion as fact.
Arteta could be the second coming – he could be fucking awful.
I do think we can do better than Arteter but whom ever is brought will only be the head coach , they will not have full control over the club the way Wenger did. Before the way transfers were being well let’s face it, it was a joke. So who ever comes will just be coaching the team. For me we need to off load some players, this is just me, I want to see at least one powerhouse in midfield. I would not offer Casorla a new contract he is too injury prone and he is 33 now. The… Read more »
“Fact is if you make a case for Martial and others missing out on form or Thauvin making it on form then there’s a case for a striker who scored more this season making the squad over a striker who scored less” What part of TARGET MAN are you missing? You can make a case for Martial/Laca over Thauvin because they’re not too dissimilar. Advocating 5’9 Laca for 6’4 Giroud is missing a rather obvious point. “Dismissing the credentials of Vieira and Henry only to pass off Arteta as a viable option is honestly a stretch” They’re being considered in… Read more »
What part of TARGET MAN are you missing? You can make a case for Martial/Laca over Thauvin because they’re not too dissimilar. Advocating 5’9 Laca for 6’4 Giroud is missing a rather obvious point.
Oh so fuck how many goals a striker scores height is an important factor for your THIRD CHOICE striker. I dunno about you but if I want my back up to come off the bench I’d prefer one who’s in form. But sure each to their own. England should have brought Andy Carroll I say
marko
What are you blabbering on about you man-child? Giroud will more than likely be starting striker for Deschamps. Even if he’s coming from the bench, when Griezmann and Fekir aren’t doing the business with cute interplay and quick movement; why would bringing another one of those types be much of a tactic at all?
Giroud is a brilliant bench option and offers something nobody else in their side does as a forward. Is it really that hard to work out?
Not everything has to be an argument Charles. I think a striker who scores more goals should be considered over someone who doesn’t. Fuck me right
Marko
You encourage arguments because you dismiss the context thats being stated. Giroud is there because he gives France a different option that’s proven at that level.
In fact it’s one of the most traditional tactics going, throwing on a big man. Yet you refuse to endorse it lol
Marko
How many goals has OG scored for France ? A lot more than Laca.
Plus Griezmann is at his best with Giroud.
Sad but true.
Ben Yedder has 1 cap, Deschamps won’t run the risk.
Don’t necessarily agree.
Reiss Nelson PL2 player of the season.
Has never looked up to much when in the first team, either needs a loan or his mentality is questionable. Obviously talented.
Disclosure: I liked and like Wenger, but for many years it had been obvious something needed to change and that it wouldn’t be Wenger that changed. I am less pessimistic about the current state of the club than many voices I read here. Aubameyang, Lacazette and Mkhitaryan are exciting ingredients for our attack and several of the defenders were quite-well rated until they came to us. Also, somebody [sorry forgot who] mentioned a couple of days ago that there were some very attractive free agents this summer that could substantially improve the team — given that we reportedly have a… Read more »
Ray
Right there with you mate. Also, jealous of the fact you’re in LA…
Looks like the media has got bored with arsenal an the quest for the new leader of the poison chalice ……
Laughing stock on the pitch now the laughing stock off it
When will they ever learn
Even the arseog guys are saying its a huge risk to appoint Arteta, it’s time to move away from the romantic stories and take the pragmatic choice….
Hundred percent agree
The fact that Arteta is even considered for the job is an utter joke but at the same time so Arsenal like. Always wants to do everything the odd way.
Jack no cash
Cech – 2 mil
Ospina – 5 m
Jenkinson – 2 m
Mustafi – 15 m
Perez – 8m
Rambo 15m
Welbeck -10m
Xhara – 20 although I don’t think they will sell
Elnenny- 10m
79m approx there
I think that’s a fair can’t pay winter pay valuation
U agree
Take the 2015 summer transfer window for example. Only club in Europe not to sign an outfield player. Why? Because it’s “the Arsenal way” whatever the fuck that means.
They obvisiousely want the new coach to jump through hoops and agree to a lot of things not being in his remit,,,,
Maybe that’s why there struggling to fill the role and only a rookie will agree to it .
Arteta is ‘doing’ nothing of any note. No one takes the role of assistant – in lieu of a possible manager role – remotely seriously.
They had a crap season in his first and spent a boatload of money (very intelligently) to put in the season they just did. Arteta is a footnote and irrelevance in Guardiola’s success, whether at City or anywhere else.