Well, well, well.
It’s becoming increasingly difficult to find a line of defence when it comes to the rapid decline of the Unai Emery maiden voyage. Last night’s loss to BATE is a tough result to compute for many reasons, but before we jump into the details, let’s be real here… we will beat them in the return leg. It’ll be a destruction.
I’m just going to bullet out some concerns that the game threw out.
- Chelsea is in freefall, United were totally outclassed by PSG and have a nasty run of games that will leave them fatigued and sad. We have just clawed our way back into top 4 contention. It’s incredibly important that Arsenal remain fresh until the end of the season. Emery just tanked away from home against a shite team and now he’ll have to rescue the game with a hard return at The Emirates when he should be resting players.
- BATE is an out of season pub team. Their last game was December 13th vs PAOK. How can there be any excusing a loss like this with a first team that is in PEAK fitness mode? We’d be furious if the kids tanked that game. Alex fucking Hleb played. This is what he had to say on the game prior:
‘Arsenal are at the peak of readiness – for them this is a huge plus,’ Hleb told Pressball, a leading sports newspaper in Belarus.
‘It will be hard for us, and very much so. But we will try to squeeze the maximum out of the physical form that we have gained.
‘We are not yet ready (to play at) 100 per cent, but the coaching staff decided not to force anything – realising that the guys had to rest after a hard season. And now we are working – in general, everything is according to plan.’
- A lot of fans are blaming the TERRIBLE PLAYERS EMERY INHERITED from dear old Arsene Wenger. That excuse took a sharp slice to the jugular last night because Wenger put 10 goals past them, winning 6-0 and 4-2. In the 2017 6-0 game, do you know who scored? Debuchy, Elneny, Giroud, Theo Walcott, Giroud and Jack Wilshere. Emery added £70m worth of talent and still took an L away from home. To repeat: Wenger, with a squad that had given up on breathing, still managed to turn over a pub team twice.
- Also worth remembering at the start of the season, the people celebrating the WINNERTIVITY Emery had brought to a limp squad of Wenger babies (me), are now saying nothing can be done with Wenger’s limp lizards (not me). Are we really blaming Wenger for an away loss to Bate Borisov in mid-February?
- The manager didn’t take Mesut or Ramsey away (the Welshman damaged a knee carpet sliding after that deal), leaving our creative outlets to be our fullbacks again. This isn’t bearing fruit. Why does Emery persist? Why not use the players who can help? Mend those collapsed bridges, because we are literally throwing away any chance of success this season by leaning on failing strategies that the players seem to have given up on. This was BATE away from home. Emery can’t even be bothered to humiliate Ozil in the hope that maybe he’ll drop a performance worthy of a Premier League start (or, dare I say it, a performance that might invite a bid this summer).
- When the players lose faith, it cannot easily be rectified with additions. You can’t replace an entire squad, gossip memory is a thing. That’s why it’s so important for Emery to turn this around. The cracks need to be filled this season with good coaching, adding a layer of class to proceedings in the summer. You can’t prop up a toxic squad with more bodies. That’s not how it works. If Emery doesn’t have the player believing by the end of the season, he’s done by December.
- Additionally, does anyone think the effort output of anyone in the side is greatly outshining what Mesut would bring? Is Mikhi really putting in a shift? Iwobi? Is it not time to make Mesut and Ramsey work for their money. I’d prefer lazy and class, versus meh levels of effort and meh levels of ability. We had 3 shots on target today. In the second half, we didn’t hit the target until the 92nd minute. That is shite. We need to create. A lazy creator feeding outrageously clinical strikers sounds a better plan than average creators feeding nobody.
- We are in February and the same predictable approach of using our fullbacks to create cutbacks is being used. We have no interest in working through the middle. We are so dull to watch. If you are predictable, you are easy to plan against. This used to happen under Wenger.
- The players can’t motivate themselves for the small games. That tells you a lot about how interested they are in the manager and his ideas. Motivation should not be an issue with top level footballers. It certainly shouldn’t be an issue in a new managers first season.
- Emery stands on the sidelines like he’s just found out The Daily Mail has accessed his ephemeral SnapChats from 2015. Zero sauce. Total panic. You might think that’s a minor observation, but come on, who isn’t going to be affected by the weak body language?
- If Emery is such a demon with the video analysis, why didn’t he realise the pitch would look like a WWI trench warfare simulation rehearsal had taken place on it? Playing it along the ground was never going to work. As someone pointed out, Chelsea complained about the pitch. We had no plan to deal with it.
- Suarez. Can someone hit me up with the ‘why’ here? Light-weight, weak passing, can’t even take a corner. Why did we bother with him if he wasn’t ready to hit the ground running?
- Finally, a lot of folk gossiping that the lack of Emery funds were down to the board worrying he wouldn’t make it past this season. Does Raul see Emery as an Ivan signing? Does he identify the folly in giving a £100m to a man who needed £300m to rectify PSG taking a spanking from Monaco in his first season? Doubtful. But come on, it’s not unreasonable to be logical about Raul and his thoughts, is it? If you’re a real football man, and you watch the game with clear eyes, do you truly believe Emery is any good? Of course not. Zero vision or style in 9 months is alarm bells for real football people. Telling the world you’d be the protagonists whilst fixing the defence needed tangible results, and they haven’t come. Why waste a summer on someone who can’t craft a style or vision with a squad that costs £220m a season is a joke, especially when you can see what Bielsa did with Leeds (a 7th place team in a lower division that had never played expansive technical football).
Before you go, GFFN has a supportive article on Emery you should read here.
“There is no success without a real relationship with the players”. Right from the start, he has been making pain-staking efforts to create strong bonds with his players. For example, he went to meet Neymar before the Brazilian left for the World Cup. “That’s the great difference between him and Emery”, surmises Canal + pundit Eric Carrière. “The Spaniard saw players as “X”, like tools he could use to win. It is the opposite for Tuchel. For him players are human beings, with a name, a personality, a sensibility and proper characteristics”.
And to whom you must show affection through a little hug, a little text message or some extra holiday time. “His management relies on benevolence, which doesn’t exclude authority and discipline, just like Rabiot and Mbappé experienced after being late at the pre-Classique speech and therefore sent on the bench at the Vélodrome,” says Carrière. “The strength of this manager is his ability to unite. Today, if a player doesn’t feel the kindness or thinks it is fake, he won’t fight for you. And you can tell that it is not fake with Tuchel. It is way easier to win trophies with such a team… Emery was a good tactician but didn’t have this ability”.
My narrative on Emery is fueled by good intel, not gut feel. Watch this space, Le Grove will lead the way on this one, I can assure you. He’s the Spanish David Moyes, or hopefully, the 1996 Bruce Rioch. Either way, he’s not leading us to the promised land. Be sure of that my friends. x
Leedsgunner “Both teams played in the same conditions and on the same field, I’m sorry we are supposed to be one of the best teams in the world in the best league and we’re blaming the weather and field?” How can Arsenal be seen as one of the best teams in the world if they do not even play in the premier competition in the world going on for three years now? And last reaching QF stage of the premier competition a decade ago? How does that equate to being one of the best teams in the world? As for… Read more »
Ch C
Instead of Allegri ….
We got the Old Boy ( Lichsteiner) from The Old Lady
Gazidas needs shooting….
@Bamford are you saying that this fucking stadium of ours is not totally paid yet ??
Charlie George not only has a poor IQ, but also a shit sense of humor.
Highbury
I don’t know how to interpret that question. Are you being facetious?
Ffs… we are still in debt for this fucking tourist mausoleum ??
It was finished in 2006 and we’re in 2019, that’s fucking insane!!
Pedro
“A lazy creator feeding outrageously clinical strikers sounds a better plan than average creators feeding nobody.”
At this point, i’d bite your hand off for that..
Highbury
I’ll leave the exact details to the finance guys, but the loan was for around £260m and will likely be paid off over 20-30 years. It’s been 14 years or so, I believe. We pay £20m a year on it.
Allegri was the favourite and was also very interested until the DOF structure got put in place and Allegri would only be head coach. That’s why Emery was chosen because he’s used to working under that structure. But what’s the difference between a DOF and a technical director and what do they actually do? They select the players? Choose the formations? Oversee the academy etc? What exactly? As far as I’m concerned there should be scouts who spot the players, the manager chooses which ones to buy and picks the team, tactics etc and the CE offers the wages and… Read more »
We’re not one of the best teams in the world. Hell we’re not even in the top 15. We’re barely a top 10 Premier league team ffs
CC – You could be right. I would find it remarkable if he seriously considered leaving Juve for us though. They’re in a position to throw the best part of £1m a week at their two highest paid players. We could never offer him that kind of budget. On the one hand, rebuilding jobs (they call them ‘projects’ these days ever since Mansour took over City) have a certain allure for a manager looking to build a legacy no doubt. On the other hand, taking a rebuilding job, spending loads of cash, and failing to meet KPIs can be a… Read more »
Thank you and goodnight
We’re not one of the best teams in the world. Hell we’re not even in the top 15. We’re barely a top 10 Premier league team ffs
Calm down Mate.
Be carful what you wish for……
This was always the road kroenke was going to take us down once wenger went. He was the only man who stood between us and what we are now experiencing.
Yes he was past his best but his worst is still better than it’s going to get for us for a long while.
I will say again. We will win nothing important under kroenke if anything at all.
haha, some of the “hate to be proven right” garbage is hilarious. This place is the absolute piss
” He was the only man who stood between us and what we are now experiencing.”
Arsenal 1- Ostersunds 2
Nottingham Forest 4-Arsenal 2
Stoke City 1 -Arsenal 0 (stoke now play Championship football)
Swansea 2- Arsenal 1 ( swans now play championship football)
These are just embarrassing results from last season…we are not experiencing anything new
Last year we lost at home to Ostersunds at the same stage, all be it after a comfortable first leg victory.
The thing is that was under Wenger, so it was half expected. Last night’s result was far worse because we had a so called savvy and streetwise coach at the helm who wouldn’t allow such things to happen.
My doubts about Emery are intensifying with each passing game.
Can anyone provide any positives?
Jamie As I say, you’re underestimating the pull we have being a premier league team in London with the resources at a managers disposal. It’s such a fallacy for some to downplay us like we’re Stoke, we’re the hottest ticket in the premier league given our potential – certainly a toss up with Chelsea, though Abramovich brings volatility to that role. The trouble is boardroom and the change not settling there yet, it’s put off Allegri who had no assurance of anything (pretty shit pitch when trying to sell us). @Receding I’m sure at some point the penny will drop… Read more »
Receding Hairline
Thanks for the positives.
The performance on the pitch warrants couple of new ‘heads’ in the boardroom.
Only Arsenal.
” He was the only man who stood between us and what we are now experiencing.”
I guess Charlie you also believe Wenger was the only man who stood between us and embarrassing results ..wonder what all the fuss was all about, oh i forgot why did we sack Wenger??
Bate Borisov-Bayern munchen 3-1 ,2 october 2012.
Stop it Danish
The world ended last night when we lost 1-0 to BATE Borisov
Never has such a thing happened in world football…the sun did not rise here today.
One thing that definitely hasn’t changed since the Wenger era is that we don’t do late equalisers or winners.
“These are just embarrassing results from last season…we are not experiencing anything new“
….
“wonder what all the fuss was all about, oh i forgot why did we sack Wenger??“
Says we’re not experiencing anything new, then mocks someone for asking why we changed Wenger. 😀
I’m actually game for replacing Emery I’m the summer as he seems quite clueless with what he’s doing but as long as we’ve got the same utterly useless set of players, we’d be here again having this same conversation. Almost like we over rate our players and expect them to be something they’re not at this football club.
Do some of you ever just sit and wonder how the likes of Kolasinac and Maitland-Niles actually play for this football club
I would have said the overreaction to the result is surprising but it’s not..it was like a party on here last night with many “hating to be proved right”
What i find confusing is same people professing we will smash them next week, if that is the case why the excessive celebration last night?? What exactly were you proved right on..that we will lose a football match??
We have already lost quite a few this season so it’s not exactly a rare occurrence
CC
You are 100% correct.
The thing is, even after all the negatives of the past years( and there have been so many) it is only now that you and many others are questioning.
I get it, I really do.
Rather hypocritical don’t you think?
Maybe it was all down to how pretty we were.
What’s your take on it all?
Says we’re not experiencing anything new, then mocks someone for asking why we changed Wenger. 😀
Yes anyone who asks that question deserves scorn and mockery
Same with the person who said Wenger stood between us and embarrassing results. Wenger invented embarrassing results
Receding
You’ve not understood the purpose of the question because your crusade doesn’t allow it.
When someone says why did we replace Wenger? it’s said hypothetically to insinuate the new guy is offering nothing more. Considering the new guy is offering nothing more, it would’ve been better to let Wenger have this season with the “new structure” in place. We’d have saved money on paying him and his staff off and we could’ve invested that in the team this season.
So again, what was the point of replacing Wenger when this shit is what we’ve gotten for it?
“Wenger invented embarrassing results”
Time to move on. He’s not a lover who cheated on you. He’s not a thief who stole your savings. He survived so long cause Kronke trusted him. The moment Kronke thought differently, he’s gone. Time to move on and focus on now. If you want to big up Unai by belittling Wenger, I think you have already lost your point.
Danish Gooner
“Bate Borisov-Bayern munchen 3-1 ,2 october 2012.”
They also beat Roma at home in the CL a few seasons ago and have taken out Spanish Primera team as well so they are not immune to getting one over “superior” opponents.
They do get heavily beaten as well though.
So they are not quite the farmers team some may want to portray.
Certainly on their day got more about them than an Ostersunds.
Really not enjoying this trend of people quoting other people without using quite marks. Makes it very hard to follow a conversation.
CC – I hear you, and please forgive me for being riddled with pessimism. I’m trying to be more positive, but I see us as a EL club rather than a sleeping giant because I feel there’s so much housekeeping to be done before we can progress as a club. Our wage bill is astronomical for the returns we get on the pitch, we’ve let tens of millions of pounds’ worth of talent walk out the door on free transfers, and we lack genuine quality in several key positions (notably CB, AM, and on the wings), and that’s assuming the… Read more »
Only if we had rested our players since December, we would have beaten bate borisov yesterday.
He was the only man who stood between us and what we are now experiencing.
Bunga party
Maybe you should tell the person who wrote the above to move on. Wenger did not stand between us and anything, he spent years lying to fans and wasting the resources we had on players who will remain loyal to him.
If you somehow believe the seven month old manager is the reason why we are a Europa league team with a champions league team wage bill i suggest you have some catching up to do
There is a reason why Allegri wanted £200m , yesterday being a prime example.
£200m is the minimum requirement to flush out Wenger’s rejects.
How much exactly was the total pay off for Wenger and his backroom staff??? How many player would that have brought in??
Charlie from your posts one would assume Wenger was sacked early when the opposite is the case.
I’m not sure I bought the £200m line.
Allegri wanted to finish the job with Juve. Win the Champions League.
He landed Ronaldo.
Arsenal don’t need £200m. If Atleti can make two finals and a semi in 6 season on a net spend of 13m a year, we should be able to reach the heights with more money.
You don’t need £200m to change Arsenal. Obviously, it would be nice, but it’s not a requisite for success.
Graham You’re comparing apples to oranges. My “take” on it is that Emery (or whoever new) has everything to prove whereas Wenger had already done so and what many were guilty of was extending a romantic amount of leeway in the hope he’d reinvent himself. He didn’t, shame because he was brilliant, but we move on. What I didn’t do, which irks some, is blame Wenger for all our ills along the way. We were in neutral for 5/6 years and that was leadership at the club, and a manager too entrenched to know what’s up. Of course what it… Read more »
“£200m is the minimum requirement to flush out Wenger’s rejects.”
We will see about that. 70m is already used up last summer. If you add Auba and Mkhi (since it happened at the tail end of wenger’s regime)…we are already close to 200M. Even if we agree auba and mkhi don’t count, we only have 130m left….how many Denis Suarez can we buy with that money? And if we buy 3 good Denises, don’t think Emery can coach them…I’m convinced of that.
Please who else sides with Charlie that Wenger should still be Arsenal manager with the “new structure” now in place??
First move in the market this coming summer is to get in Herrera from Porto on a free to replace the Swiss traffic cone surely?
Apparently Arsenal looking at the Genk winger Trossard. Mislintat’s last recommendation before he left.
Pedro how many from our current squad of players do you want to see retained at this club by next season??
From your recent posts it’s almost like you believe we have one of the best squads in Europe, do we??
Hey Peders, feel free to erase my comments any time you want.
Fuck off.
I have said it before and I will repeat it : Arsenal football club should start looking for a new manager, Emery is an ordinary manager, ordinary in every aspect of football management.
Sorry to get off topic but are these Kai Havertz links real and does anyone believe we actually have a chance of snatching him up?
Un na naai February 15, 2019 10:08:57 “We all saw it and called it months ago. Well. Those of us who understand the game did” While there are obvious issues with the team, we still have a chance to achieve our objectives this season and qualify for the Champions League. If we fail to deliver that then those of us wo are prepared to give the manager some time might join your point of view. The chances are based on current performances that Emery will not turn out to be the right man for the job, however I find your… Read more »
Is it wise to keep quoting Atletico Madrid and their net spend?
Everyone knows their particular brand of football is paramount to their success on the pitch.
More so than the player dealings.
Their player dealings would be totally irrelevant if it wasn’t for Simeone and his management and their “style” of play.
A “style” many fans would not put up with.
“If you somehow believe the seven month old manager is the reason why we are a Europa league team with a champions league team wage bill i suggest you have some catching up to do” You are moving the goal post. Although I am convinced now that Emery can’t coach…I still want him to do well.. Do great and succeed and I would like nothing more than that as far as Arsenal are concerned. What frustrates me more than anything is Unai hasn’t improved this team even a bit compared to last 2 years. We are basically the same predictable… Read more »
“Please who else sides with Charlie that Wenger should still be Arsenal manager with the “new structure” now in place??“
Still not grasping what was said despite it being explained.
I’d have Wenger (and more money for transfers) this season than Emery. Club could’ve announced it was his final season and the cloud would then be lifted with us gearing towards a proper transition.
All decisions for the year could’ve been taken with a with to next season, instead of shit bandaid nonsense like Denis Suarez in Jan. It’s really a dead obvious one for those paying attention this season.
Joke Friday –
A thief broke into the police headquarters during the night and took all the toilets. Cops say they have nothing to go on.
If life gives you melons, you might be dyslexic.
Emery experiment is basically turning into Wenger Rehabilitation program.
I’ll never forget my grandfather’s last words to me before he kicked the bucket. He looked me in the eyes and said, ‘Son, how far do you think I can kick this bucket?’
Why did the old woman fall into the well?” Because she couldn’t see that well.
Bamford ‘it was cold’ ffs…
Dad comes to his son and tells him he’s adopted. The boy screams. ‘I knew it! I wanna see my real parents!’
Dad replies, ‘We are your real parents, son. Pack your stuff, they’re waiting.
I was wondering, why does a Frisbee appear larger the closer it gets? Then, it hit me.
I’d have Wenger (and more money for transfers) this season than Emery. Club could’ve announced it was his final season and the cloud would then be lifted with us gearing towards a proper transition.
Not buying the scenario you are painting Charlie
You want to throw away the present season with anyone else was Emery is the vibe i get from you.
Wenger already stayed on too long and the relative failures of the present manager does not change that.
RH,
CC isn’t saying Wenger should still be in charge, what he’s saying is why bother getting rid of Wenger at all if nothing has changed at all this season in terms of defence and performances?
That’s what he’s getting at.
They will have to get used to grounds like that If they stay in this competition
Dick Out 😳
However, despite last night and the arguable lack of style and reggae reggae sauce, points on the board, points and victories away from home being more than the whole of last season already and points distance to top 4 at this stage of the season does show real tangible progress.
Style and saucyness is subjective and not provable, whereas our league indicators are.
Pedro – you and your mole within club expected too much this season because clubs/people don’t just radically change from one year to next. Wenger had total power for long time, he has influenced club greatly and that doesn’t change overnight. To compare Emery to Moyes is asinine, the Scot inherited club that won league and finished seventh while Spaniard took over club that finished sixth and now has more points than last season. Emery has his flaws for sure, like all managers do, but to have expected him to transform club in eight months with other people making decisions… Read more »
CC isn’t saying Wenger should still be in charge, what he’s saying is why bother getting rid of Wenger at all if nothing has changed at all this season in terms of defence and performances? We bothered getting rid of him to effect the change. This man doesn’t deliver we get another. He got away with not delivering for a few years living off “what he has done for Arsenal” and “the jobs he turned down”. Arsenal football club have rid themselves of that problem now. Nothing that happens going forward will ever make me doubt the wisdom in sacking… Read more »
What was called months ago? That we would be one point off the Champions League with injuries to several key players?
Brilliant stuff. Incredible insight.
Benny Spot on. It’s little to do with Wenger other than establishing what was being offered last season vs this season. We retired Wenger and his staff for circa 10 mil, this is a club who could only muster a loan for Denis Suarez this past Jan. What I’m saying is the effort to bring Emery in was a complete waste of time and I’d have sooner kept Wenger, spent the extra in players, and made this transition process season long instead of the Buck’s Fizz equivalent during a World Cup summer. Basically another indication the leadership and vision of… Read more »
Still can’t understand the Arteta love in on this blog. Benitez was the man. Don’t know whether he was approached but he would have sorted things out. He is a winner, knows the PL and can operate with a relatively poor squad. And he is tactically astute as respected.
“What was called months ago? That we would be one point off the Champions League with injuries to several key players?Brilliant stuff. Incredible insight.”
I now understand why you do not post here often Paulinho and i think i will be following your lead going forward.
There is nothing to discuss with anyone who believes Wenger should still be anywhere near this football club or that we would be playing breath taking football with this current lot regardless of manager.
I agree with Receding Hairline, firing Wenger was best decision because his influence over entire club had to be broken.
If Wenger was still in charge, it is likely that Torr and Guen would not have been purchased and they are many gooners two favourite players now.
The point of firing Wenger was that his negative influence on club has been ended and Arsenal can now try to build regular squad that competes for leagues and cups every season.
Has Calciomercato ever got anything about Arsenal right? I really hope they are on the money with Kai Havertz.
First name that we have been associated with in a long time that excites.
Receding. How are you in a 4 hour argument with AKBs justifying the decision to sack Wenger. Stop feeding the trolls.
“If Wenger was still in charge, it is likely that Torr and Guen would not have been purchased and they are many gooners two favourite players now.”
Apparently the new structure would have seen to that.
The wisdom is we should have kept a man who could not take us forward with players he handpicked and forced him to play with players bought by another going forward. A man who isn’t even that good a tactician
Did you read his interviews when the new appointments were made? He was jumping for joy..what is a director of football he asked
The arseblog article hit the nail on the head today.
Alex
“Still can’t understand the Arteta love in on this blog. ”
There is no love for Arteta on this blog. With the exception of Pedro, and maybe another one or two people, everyone hated the thought. Don’t think he would have done better than Emery. I’m with you on Rafa.
“Receding. How are you in a 4 hour argument with AKBs justifying the decision to sack Wenger. Stop feeding the trolls.”
apologies Qna but the fellow is a special kind of AKB. He wanted Wenger gone since 1996 you see but somehow still wants him around now but with players purchased by another.
He wants a proper send off in fact. The endless parade last season in different grounds wasn’t enough for him.
Laughable how the same old sausages on here stick up for Emery.
They have no understanding of football, just experts on talking bacon.
Receding – Yeah it’s all really quite bizarre. Wenger was the rotting wood in the wine cellar. He had to be removed, and thank god he was. As you and others have said, no real attachment to Emery, and we can move him on after two years, but I still think he’s pretty much perfect for the situation where are in at the moment. A high-intensity blue-collar mentality that is okay getting his hands dirty working with mediocre players. The fact PSG picked out him out of all of Europe says a lot for his pedigree. Also the fact almost… Read more »
James: Laughable how the same old sausages on here stick up for Emery. They have no understanding of football, just experts on talking bacon.
Here we go. Finally some brains on here to set everyone straight. Who is the magic man that we should have. Please enlighten me great sir.
“A high-intensity blue-collar mentality that is okay getting his hands dirty working with mediocre players. The fact PSG picked out him out of all of Europe says a lot for his pedigree. Also the fact almost everyone(impartial) in the game rates him, whether it be coaches or ex-players in the media.” Impartial being the key word Paulinho Some dislike him for not being Wenger, others because they have convinced themselves that at this moment in time we can do better. I will draw my conclusions on two things 1. Where we are come season end 2. If he is allowed… Read more »
qna
Seriously I could do a better job than this bloke and that’s saying something.
Impossible to fail more than Dick.
The fact that PSG sacked him, and that pretty much all their players had no respect for him, suggests he is not a top level manager.
We want to be a Champions League team, and we’ve hired a manager that can only cut it in the absolutely shite Europa League.
qna
Can you actually tell me something emery has succeeded in this year ?
Let’s not forget that those doing the hiring would be going on about the Wenger “legacy”. You can imagine Gazidis waffling on to any prospective candidate the importance of keeping the Wenger tradition. Emery probably went along with it all nodding his head. Benitez on the other hand would have told Gazidis to fuck off and he will do things his way. This is why Benitez was never an option and was more likely not even considered let alone approached. Emery has never said at any time that he would get the defensive players at Arsenal to actually improve defensively.… Read more »
Anyone got Stewart Houston’s number ?
We want to be a Champions League team, and we’ve hired a manager that can only cut it in the absolutely shite Europa League.
Isn’t that debatable? Based on yesterday apparently he can’t even cut it there
“The fact that PSG sacked him, and that pretty much all their players had no respect for him, suggests he is not a top level manager.”
Difficult to have zero respect for a manager you won 7/10 trophies with. But if you say they all don’t i believe you. Please no more quotes from Thiago Silva.
James that’s not an answer. Who would have been a better answer. I’ll help you out: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/05/22/unai-emery-not-arsenals-original-manager-shortlist/amp/ After everybody pulled out it was down to Viera and Arteta. Both rookies. I agree Emery probably proved he is not a top quality manager by simply taking the job in the first place. The good managers were too smart for that. Either their transfer demands were not met or they looked at the squad and said no thanks. I’m not an Emery man. But given the limited options he was easily better than Viera or Arteta. Those two are welcome to apply… Read more »
Gambon
“We want to be a Champions League team, and we’ve hired a manager that can only cut it in the absolutely shite Europa League.”
Correction, gambon. Based on last night he can’t even cut it in the shite Europa League.
Qna total truth
Emery started solidly
Recently he’s done poorly. Questions can rightly be asked about if he’s the one even though he certainly deserves until the end of the season
Lastly spot on that considering who was available at that time and the various demands or likely demands, emery was by far one of our best options on paper. Even if he turns out a failure which feels worryingly possible right now, the decision to hire him was based on sound logic at the time so we needn’t have regrets over that.
Arsenal hired the guy who blew a 4-0 lead to Barca in 20mins. Imagine that? His credentials are basically: sacked. Can’t cut the mustard.
It’s like hiring John Wayne Gacy for your child’s birthday party.
Arsenal are Bantz FC. No other club comes close to Arsenal and bantering the fanbase.
qna – I’m not sure you were on the panel for section so you neither have a clue who was on the list nor is it relevant.
I would suggest there are 1000 managers in England, professional and amateur who could have managed a marginal improvement on last season.
“I would suggest there are 1000 managers in England, professional and amateur who could have managed a marginal improvement on last season”
You forgot the pub sides and Eddie Howe.
Emery makes Peter Reid look like Marcelo Lippi.
15.07.41.
James H .
Yes James just one thing.
“He has mastered the Wenger ZIP problem.”
Receding
You’re a joke. Instead of constantly reimagining what I’m saying why don’t you simply read the words.
There’s no pining for Wenger, there’s no absolving of his responsibility, there’s no expectation of anything you’ve suggested.
Pure deflection after yet another shocker. Something I predicted would come immediately after the fact, so you’re nothing if not predictable.
Emery is delivering nothing more than Wenger. Period.
Champagne
Funnily enough during the Wenger reign of terror, we had a couple of run ins…now I am 100% behind you with regards to emery.
You are correct.
Arsenal hired the guy who blew a 4-0 lead to Barca in 20mins.
I remember that game. Di Maria & Cavani missed sitters in that game that should have finished off Barca. It took a worldy free kick from Neymar to claw Barca back into the tie but we all know the referee killed the game by giving shocking decisions in favour of the Spanish giants.
Guns
I’ve taken some more contentious POV here previously and I don’t shy away from a difference of opinion, but I thinks it’s difficult to argue the merits of this one wouldn’t you agree?
It’s not simply an Emery thing though, there’s a big slice of fuckery from the suits at the club at present, which in no way helps the manager.
Emery is delivering nothing more than Wenger. Period.’
Hear hear.
James. GOH. This is the nuts and bolts though. Anyone can say sack the manager. When things are going badly those people even look like they make a bit of sense. But you have to wait and see what their solution to a problem is. Not that they can state the obvious. I can tell all I need to know about a person’s understanding of football by who they suggest to take over as manager. Howe? Arteta? Calls for Dyche, 1000 managers in England etc. Enough said. I can see we have a problem too. But I respectfully suggest you… Read more »
CC Mate. I am on your side. I too have taken some horrible abuse for suggesting that Emery was not fit for purpose. In fact, way back after we got handed our arse at the start of the season (early I know) I said and so did Lucky Pierre that “emery wasn’t the right guy”. I think after the past few months, my initial opinion has been justified. And this isn’t a “I told you so”…it’s a “why does it take some people so long to see problems developing”? Muddy Stop. The ref might have made a mistake or two… Read more »
Conte won a league title..then finished 5th and won an FA Cup all the while bemoaning the quality of his squad
Is Sarri delivering more than Conte??