So there we have it, Monchi is over and out. Finito.
He was offered a huge wedge of money to revamp Arsenal and he said no, instead returning back to Sevilla.
Wimp.
Should we read too much into this? I wouldn’t. If he’d picked Everton over us, maybe I’d worry. But he took the plunge, moved abroad, and had a very rough time, so he’s gone back to what he knows. He’s loved in Sevilla, there’s very little expectations there, he knows everyone, and it’s his home.
His reputation from Roma wasn’t good. He sold players for a lot of money, but he didn’t replace with ‘now’ quality, and the local fans were never going to give him enough time to see what the young kids were capable of.
Nzonzi and Pastore, both 29, were his big bet last summer. That’d make my eyes pop out of my head if he did that at Arsenal. Inexcusable.
Arsenal are bigger than Roma, we have higher expectations, we shouldn’t be sad that we’re not hiring in someone who was let go from a contract early. Roma are tight as you like, so things must have gotten bad if they were willing to let him go for zero fee.
Missing out also avoids a Spanish monopoly at the club. Monchi was a sexy name, no doubt, but letting a manager bring in his mate over him reeks of peak-Wenger. If Emery was tanking next December, would he pull the trigger? It’d be tough. I don’t want a boys club at the top at Arsenal. You want people that are making rational decisions based on data.
Now we have to look towards a new Sporting Director. Marc Overmars is clearly a very strong contender. He started at Ajax in 2013, I think it’s fair to say his first cycle will come to an end this summer when Ajax are obliterated by Europe’s vultures. He’s highly qualified. Ajax are buying better players, playing better football, making better decisions with managers, and the youth product is back to churning out proper talent.
There’s also Luis Campos. The man tasked with making Monaco an elite club, currently resides at Lille. There’s no doubt in my mind that the best talent in the world consistently comes out of France. Campos has it all as far as I’m concerned. He’s far more than a Europa League specialist, he can work on a budget and he has a consistent track record of bubbling up major talent from the lower reaches, and turning them into hot prizes for mega clubs.
There are a few people suggesting Monchi turned us down because of Kroenke.
Please people, give it up. You’re like the rich kids complaining about the lack of Michelin Star restaurants in the favelas you’re working in on your gap year. Arsenal is an elite offering. We have everything you’d want. Great training facilities, an investment fund (right?), massive brand new stadium, £220m wage bill, £100m in transfer fees… London address.
‘… but Kroenke’ is such lazy analysis.
Monchi didn’t move to Arsenal because he wanted a safe place. Arsenal is an attractive proposition to anyone. Even more so when you consider the salary we can offer. Remember, Atleti has a net spend of £13m a year. We can blitz that. If you are ambitious, you’d see Arsenal as a sleeping giant ready to be awoken. If you don’t see us that way, then why would we bother investing?
My big worry with Raul is that he’s not running an effective search and select process. Who is out there helping him? Or is he just calling up his mates to find out who is in favour with a super agent? The fact there’s only one contender being linked either says we’re very secretive, or this search is super limited.
Right, that’s me done. See you in the comments. x
Afternoon!
Hello
Bankz
Tr4phy
4
Bit strange the whole Monchi thing. Looked like it was done and dusted. We should have a serious look at Overmars now.. This Ajax team are pretty interesting, and if he could bring one or two our way it wouldn’t be a bad thing – even more so if he can unearth more in that mould. Plus his Gooner DNA has gotta count for something. That said, we shouldn’t be going for him purely cos of his history with us.
Monchi can’t munch it. I hope we find excellent candidates so that his refusal will turn out to be munch a do about monching.
Luis Campos is the best of the three. Believe me!
I see what you did there.
Pedro
Yeah, based on what I’ve read, I prefer Overmars to Monchi.
Reality slaps in the face for Pedro and co, again. Monchi rejects us.‘Anyone and everyone would love to work at this club’ they continue to shout at the top of their voices.
Like peak AKBs, the delusion is strong
Van Djke the greatest!!!
Gives a freebie to Fulham
Had that been Mustafi we would have people frothing from the mouth.
VVD is the best defender in the world according to some here. Still making mistake that if Mustafi had made the same, we would be up in arm.
Hello
Its a bit shocking that he turned us down.
I would opt for Overmans now
Goodday Gunners
Pedro
Your post reeks of sour grapes
You didn’t want Monchi until he decided to go to a club where he would be in charge fully, not under Sanllehi.
Stop sensationalizing a backroom position that requires more on the nerdy spectrum than glamor
Everyone jumping on the overmars bandwagon?
How much part did he play in recruiting and nurturing their youth then?
He could also assist in us pinching de ligt. Won’t happen but a guy can dream
Saw some where recently that he’s considered the best young talent I. The world
Imagine us getting him.
Ball playing defender in between holding and mavropanos
Owner doesn’t care if Arsenal is sleeping anything therefore obvious lack of investment. More like sleeping golden goose.
Did Overmars come up with the Ajax Philosophy? Did he create their academy training approach? Did he broaden their scouting beyond the typical Ajax reach? The answer to all these is NO, NO and NO Ajax’s scouting has always been superb. They were scouting Kanu Nwankwo and Finidi George from Nigerian club sides you lot have never heard of in 1993; two years later they were playing in the CL final against Juventus. Ajax philosophies as entrenched as Barcelona’s, it’s not been altered. People just jump on the latest bandwagon. Why does it have to be a big name? Why… Read more »
I don’t think that it will that easy to find a new DoF the way we have defined the role.
It is a director of football in name only, more like a super head of scouting.
A proper director of football will feel restricted. The same thing happenned with Sven. The same thing is likely to repeat with Overmars as most of work at Ajax has also been on the commercial side and that would be Raul’s reserved domain.
@Dissenter, Valentin
Allison was at fault. Van Dijks been worth every penny since going to Liverpool.
@Pedro Agree and disagree. Monchi never tickled my balls (mainly because I’m numb to technical appointments), but I’m always a bit perturbed when the club singles someone out and fails to land. Bit ‘oh here we go…’ with recent Arsenal for me. He’s not the only sauce merchant anyway, but would be nice to land the guys we want. Dissenter/Valentin Your weird rejoicing at a VVD blunder is a bit playground. Name me a better defender and I’ll offer up countless slip ups. So VVD isn’t top drawer because he made a cunt of himself against a diddy side? Gerrard… Read more »
Thomas
“Allison was at fault. Van Dijks been worth every penny since going to Liverpool.”
Yea right?
Another VVD fanboy.
Actually it was the ball, the wintry rain, the grass and the wind.
…everything bu the defender who didn’t take care of the ball and sold his defender short.
Defenders are thought to make headed back passes away from the goal to give the keeper an advantage.
…everything bu the defender who didn’t take care of the ball and sold his keeper short.
Dissenter
No one is making any of those claims for Overmars. But given how good Ajax are at the moment, there is reason to think he knows what he’s doing, especially when it comes to younger players.
And of course the TD could be someone we’ve never heard of, but how is anyone here supposed to sing the praises of someone we don’t know about?
I feel like you’re being disagreeable just to be honest disagreeable.
There’s something wrong with our management structure
Unless the technical director means assistant director of football under Sanllehi, we will struggle to fill the position with any one of note.
There’s nothing to suggest to me that Sanllehi’s director of footballing operations BS isn’t synonymous with Director off football.
Even Van Djke isn’t making excuses about the mistake; “I shouldn’t have handled it better,..nothing else to say”
Maybe his fanboys need to take a cue from him.
I fully with agree with CC.
Pedro
Agree, too, that Monchi choosing Sevilla has everything to do with his desire to return “home” and nothing to do with our ownership or our not having enough money.
Bamford “And of course the TD could be someone we’ve never heard of, but how is anyone here supposed to sing the praises of someone we don’t know about?” I’ve consistently maintained that this ids more of a promotion job for a bright young child scout or scout, not an audition for a big name blast from the past. Why do you have to sing the praise of someone operating a very technical job, that can’t be measured until after about 5 years. The good DoFs spend an average of 10 years at their jobs before people like Pedro start… Read more »
Valentin
VVD is the best defender in the world.
Those that can’t see this are clueless.
End of.
Good post Pedro. Never wanted him anyway. Initially it sounded good. But the more you look at how he has been in recent times, the worse the idea sounded. He was yesterday’s man and I was firmly in that camp when he looked odds on to join us. Overmars would be perfect. If Campos is the guy behind Monaco when they were collecting superstar youngsters for fun, then it’s a big yes from me. Dortmund and Monaco are the real blue prints of the last few years. Ajax just on the scene to be honest, but are working from a… Read more »
A lot of Ajax success is due to their academy. I doubt that Overmars has had really a big influence on their academy. His main credit would be the purchase of the older players such as Tadic. Also the way Arsenal have defined the DoF, will Overmars have the influence that he would like. At least his influence this summer would be minimum. If Overmars arrives during the summer, you would think that most of the targets had already been selected before his arrival. With Emery finally finding a system, the new DoF would have no say on next year… Read more »
Dissenter
Stop playing silly games.
VVD is class personified.
Monchi took one look at our shower of shite and gave it the big heave ho. Fair enough if he wanted to go home…but really? Seville will ALWAYS be home so why not give arsenal a couple of years? Nah mate…Arsenal are as popular as Liam Neeson in Brixton. If Overmars comes in and brings some Dutch class, great! If he doesn’t, great. At least he’s someone who has a connection with the club. Perhaps he has a cloning machine? We could use a bit of him and Bergkamp. Turned down by a guy who’s head looks like it’s on… Read more »
So Graham, you disagree with VVD own assessment.
He made a mistake. End of.
Did Van Dick make a dick of himself?
Everyone is allowed a rick.
Fuck me, the great Marco Van Basten gave Tony Adams twisted blood back in 1988 and that didn’t work out too badly for the donkey.
“So Graham, you disagree with VVD own assessment. He made a mistake. End of.”
I’m pretty sure it’s the link back to anyone that considers VVD best defender about at the moment.
Care to highlight how an error against Fulham eradicates the possibility of someone considering him the current gold standard?
!
“DissenterMarch 17, 2019 15:47:40
Van Djke the greatest!!!Gives a freebie to FulhamHad that been Mustafi we would have people frothing from the mouth.
ValentinMarch 17, 2019 15:48:34
VVD is the best defender in the world according to some here. Still making mistake that if Mustafi had made the same, we would be up in arm.“
Yes, and Messi once missed three penalties in a row, surely must be overrated.
Valentin It’s impossible to measure a technical director’s body work in a very short time. The quintessential DoFs that have deemed worthy of mention by Pedro have spend an average of 8-10 years at their jobs. We are setting the wrong expectations if we look at it as a 1-3 year stint. I think we are trying to mask out lack of a coherent philosophy with a big name appointment. I understand that some will say “but the DoF creates the philopshy”…and to that I will say NO. We need to know what we are about before bringing in all… Read more »
I was hoping that Everton might managed to take a point (or more) off Chelsea today. Not going to happen they really are fucking awful.
Any chance of the Spud’s signing Pickford!
Did Messi really miss 3 in a row? And the team let him carry on past the first miss?
Lionel MISSey.
The overrated prick.
Chitom
Re; VVD
“Yes, and Messi once missed three penalties in a row, surely must be overrated.”
Thanks for making my point.
You’re actually putting the consistent class of Leo Messi who’s demonstrated his legendary status over the last 12-14 years with a central defender who required three transfers to get to a top club at 27 years old.
Thanks for the unwitting assist of my point.
Dissenter
Ok, let’s cut to chase.
Who, in your opinion, is better than VVD?
I look forward to your response.
What has VVD acknowledging his own mistake got to do with it?
Comparing Mustafi and VVD ‘ mistakes is like bringing up someone’s jaywalking offenses at a serial killer’s sentencing to prove no one is infallible.
Graham62
Some here said it was the goal keepers fault when the calamitous backpass was all on the defender.
….That’s why it matters that the defenders had the decency to own his mistake …something that fanboys like you wouldn’t haver done.
Dissenter,
Find one Liverpool fan who thinks VVD is a liability at the back and I’ll concede the argument .
Good luck with that , and you might want to start your search in looney bins first btw.
Dissenter/Valentin
Who is better than VVD?
Answer the question and stop beating around the bush.
You can’t can you?
Dissenter and Valentin
Have you two been involved in the Brexit negotiations?
All the Pool keeper had to do was fall on the ball. It was right there instead he went in 50:50 with his feet against Babel…All on Alisson for me
Weird seeing a good many going on like VVD is the bees knees,
He is a good defender and just had a brain fart akin to our very own Mustafi
Not a Mustafi but also not the best thing since since bread, maybe somewhere in between.
VVD is the Franz Beckenbauer of the modern game.
*slice bread
Ok, I’ll make a coffee and come back in an hour.
Make sure you’ve done your homework.
Chitom What are you arguing about? Who’s talking about VVD being a liability? You’re making incoherent babbling points to answer questions that only exist in your mind. This VVD issue started because I mentioned that he wasn’t being overly praised for doing things that defenders routinely do. I was tired of reading how fantastic he is because he scored a headed goal in the champion’s league quarterfinal, his first CL goal at the age of 27 years old. It was like defending was been redefined buy this majestic defender. the heavens parted and the angels were singing hymns to praise… Read more »
VVD is a very good defender but if he is the level that Graham claims he’ll picking up at least one if not two trophies this season.
I can’t see Liverpool winning the league and they’ll have to beat Barca to get to the CL final where they’ll come up against Man City or Juve.
It will be interesting to see where Liverpool go if they fail to win anything this season.
Victorious
Thanks my man
I was saying that I wouldn’t put him in the same panther with premier league greats like Tony Adams, John Terry, Campbell, Company, Vidic, Ferdinand etc …just yet.
TheVVD fan club flipped out
I said I wouldn’t;’t mention him with the same breath as transcendent all time greats like Baresi, Maldini, Bobby Moore, Beckenbauer, Cafu etc.
The VVD fan club went into grand Mal seizures.
Has VVD ever won anything?
Dissenter
We now live in a culture that exists on instant gratification. A player is either fucking amazing or utter shite based on a few appearances.
It would be interesting to see the reaction if Liverpool hadn’t got the win as that would have really put City in the driving seat.
Marc
“Has VVD ever won anything?”
He’s won as many Scottish league trophies as Dedryck Boyata
He scored his first ever CL goal last week, 4 months short of 28 years old and the heavens opened up with unreal praise.
He’s undoubtedly world class and his record fee is not fluke but the praise on steroids was just too deafening for me.
Dissenter,
That’s funny pal but you brought Mustafi into this , which is a like for like comparison.
The Messi pen misses was just a tongue in cheek on my part to show how ridiculous your” VVD made a mistake therefore he’s shit” statement was.
I couldn’t care less whether you rate him or not btw, but the fact you haven’t named anyone better yet ( in your opinion) speaks volumes.
Lol.
Come on Everton!
Marko ‘It all evens itself out in the end’ Everyone keeps saying all the bad referring decisions even themselves out but I suspect it is not true at all. Of course I can’t back it up with real data but my sense is big clubs get more favorable decisions than the smaller ones. Manchester United under Fergie is a classic example, they were rarely at the receiving end of bad decisions against them, most often it was the team playing against them that bore the brunt of poor referring. Spurs get a lot of penalty decisions in their favor. As… Read more »
Marc
There we go.
Everton are ahead…may leave us in 4th place
I wouldn’t rejoice yet because we still have to play them.
I hate dippers but absolutely love Klopp
Would be absolutely heart wrenching on him to narrowly miss out on the EPL to city who’re the most expensive team in history,
Think he’ll make the CL semi or final again this season haven lose out in the finals of last
Think he’s lost 6 finals on a spin too, not sure how more unlucky can anyone be.
Klopp is doing an amazing job having dippers right in the mix for the title but you just can’t help but feel they’ll eventually lose out to oil money.
The way Ajax are run has nothing to do with Overmars and why would we want to be like Ajax anyway
Dissenter
I’m sure if you looked back to the summer they’d be some saying Pickford is amazing.
Marc Dissenter himself thought Everton were amazing before the season started. He kept saying they were going to overtake us
Receding
Le Grove often operates with either the memory of a goldfish or just a complete lack of historical knowledge.
I can’t even be bothered to run through all of the home grown Ajax player’s that came out of the early / mid 90’s.
Receding
Do you think Silva will survive the summer?
Graham ‘A genuine fan would feel ashamed by such an outcome. Only those in denial would blame the officiating. Simple.’ I find it sad that you’re able to define everything in black and white (might be your age) when there is a lot more going on than that that contributes to any outcome, idea or conversation. You are welcome to your opinion but wouldn’t it be nice to be able to consider others opinions may have some validity, even though they differ from yours, without dismissing them and having a conversation instead? You should try and stop talking about AW… Read more »
TR7
“As I said I think referee decisions are very very skewed in favor of big teams.”
Your argument falls down when you include the Spud’s as an example of a big team!
Chitom
I brought Mustafi into it because VVD, the defender whose fart smells like $4000 Aventus Eau De Parfum made a fundamental error…like Mustafi.
You think VVD is above criticisms?
No one will say the same of Messi because he’s proven his class over and over again.
Umtiti and Varane are just as good as VVD…and have been so for several seasons while VVD was languishing at smaller clubs. They have also won lots of stuff unlike VVD.
“Who’s better that VVD?” … is a meaningless theoretical exercise.
Marc he shouldn’t survive …Silva is the definition of a fraud if ever I have seen one. Living off a revival job with Hull he didn’t even see through
Everton will do their best to mess upntheir lead.
Everton are poor and should be beatable.
Receding
‘Marc Dissenter himself thought Everton were amazing before the season started. He kept saying they were going to overtake us”
I got that very very wrong.
I was drunk on too much pizzaz wine and over-rated Marco Silva. I really thought he would make them play better than the sum of their parts, instead he’s been gash.
Dissenter
Pizazz wine is only found in one place and you know it.
Sky have just put up a stat on Everton since Jan 17 in 25 matches against the top 6 zero wins.
It won’t be an easy game but we should be able to beat Everton.
“Pizazz wine is only found in one place and you know it.”
Is it the same place as that special sauce I keep hearing about?
Fair enough dissenter
Someone else around these parts would have denied he said so and tied himself in nuts trying to prove he didn’t.
I didn’t expect much from Silva, too much posturing for my liking, carrying on like is God’s gift to coaching
Dissenter
Just because you admit to a mistake does not mean you are the greatest poster on Le Grove OK.
Everton pen
2 nil
Yes hahah chelsea
“The way Ajax are run has nothing to do with Overmars“ Guy has been DOF for the last 7 years. The way their football department is run has everything to do with him. “and why would we want to be like Ajax anyway” Because we’ve been punching below our weight for a decade. Ajax punches above its weight. Granted they aren’t the only one. “I can’t even be bothered to run through all of the home grown Ajax player’s that came out of the early / mid 90’s.” What exactly has this got to do with anything? Apart from Overmars… Read more »
If we can get our away performance back up to the Autumn form, we would have qualified for the 4th place with 1-2 games to spare.
The teams around us are going to lose points.
Napoli just made a hash of a two goal lead to go in level at half time.
Carlo would have improved us better I’m told but looking at the league table he has taken a very good Napoli side backwards.
Chelsea still have Liverpool and ManU away after this.
Alonso should’ve been sent off
Thanks Everton
Chavs are officially now a joke team and surely out of the top4 race
Probably now focus on winning Europa of which they have a great chance at
How exactly are Ajax punching above their weight? Dumping out a Madrid side in disarray and presently on their third manager?
They aren’t even top of their piss poor league.
I agree with Marc, some of you simply live in the here and now.
I don’t care who the DOF is, Raul is there to mess things up. Nothing about him fills me with confidence
Theo still can’t shoot
“He was offered a huge wedge of money to revamp Arsenal and he said no, instead returning back to Sevilla.” “He was offered a huge wedge of money to revamp Arsenal…” Prove it. Sarriball? Seems like just another coach who over-thinks the beautiful game. Avb was one. Jorginho at DM?? Hahaha who does he think he is Xabi alonso! Now lets enjoy chavs panicking to at least draw this game. To be 2 nil down at this stage of the game is a huge L whatever the final result. Out of all the clubs chasing top4, Sarri is definitely getting… Read more »
I would have us as shoe in for top4 already if our away form is anything to write home about
I mean Our road form is really troubling
We look a completely different team away from home and unless Emery finds out a working formula asap,i’m afraid thats where we’d probably lose out
qna
““The way Ajax are run has nothing to do with Overmars“
I believe the writer of that comment was making the point that the Ajax philosophy, academy and scouting has been so defined and etched on stone tablets that the DoF is all but an administrator.
They’ve been going into virgin territory to sign players right from the 1990’s. I used the example of Kanu and Finidi George in 1993.
There are volumes of books written about the Ajax philosophy and identity from the 1970’s. Ajax was glamorous before Barca sucked all the oxygen.
I hate chelsea
Everton suck ass too
qna “What exactly has this got to do with anything” Well it has to do with the fact that Ajax have a long history of youth development. “Doesn’t that enhance Overmars?” Why what has his playing ability or the guy who coached him at youth level got to do with his ability as a DOF? You seem to have missed my point – praising Overmars for Ajax having a great youth program is crazy they have a long history of that. I don’t know enough and I’m pretty sure no one on here has access to the info to know… Read more »