via @Arsenal Instagram
I don’t know about you, but it just hit me hard that the Premier League season is nearly over.
What an unbelievable race it’s been.
Imagine being Liverpool and not winning the league with a points total as high as they are likely to go.
The greatest ever second placed finish of all time? Not an accolade Klopp or the Liverpool fans will relish. You never know, but it’s not looking good for them.
… but, hand it to Pep G. He’s the greatest. So many people want him to fail, but he, along with the MIGHTY Arteta are creating a brand of football that is once in a generation type stuff.
The issue the rest of the league has is that the football they deliver, at core, is about incredible coaching. They are spectacular on the ball, they are even better off it, then factor in that they are also the richest in the league… it’s simply not fair.
The Premier League can no longer be snarked at. Not only has it been the best league on the planet for years from an entertainment perspective, now it’s climbing up to the top from a technical viewpoint. More and more of the best players are slinking over here, and we’re making the other leagues look seriously weak. All Spain had was Ronaldo vs Messi.
That makes me very happy.
As a carry over from the argument I pitted against Emery yesterday, I do want to double down on some of the things I like about the manager, because those haven’t changed.
#1 He’s a fans manager
I genuinely think that he manages for the fans. I think he’s a acutely aware of the misery that we’ve been through over the past 10 years and I think he’s trying to give us something to smile about. Hard to say that about someone like Mourinho. I think Emery struggles a little bit to deliver what we truly want, but his focus always seems to be on getting the fans onside. I like that. I also like that he’s a fan on the touchline. His resting face is all of us sitting in the stands or at home.
#2 The man will pivot
I honestly thought that we were heading into Wenger MKII when the manager dropped his two best players to the bench. I couldn’t fathom that he might change his mind. To be fair to him, he’s done that a lot this season. The start of the year was marked by halftime changes in every game, which grew to look like indecision, but it was still a breath of fresh air. The latter half of the season saw him suck up a big chunk of his own pride as he reintegrated Ozil and Ramsey to great effect. A lot of people say this was his masterplan, I can assure that this damaging approach is never anyone’s masterplan. He dropped Aaron because he didn’t fancy him. He made a decision on him too early and he wanted rid. I think part of this decision making was down to not understanding the rigour of the league, but whatever, he brought him back. The Ozil fallout was even crazier, the player was literally trolling him online… but he brought him back. Say what you will about the German, he certainly bring flair to this squad. Say what you will about Emery, results come first.
#3 We’re a bit of a mystery
He’s a good tactician. Not a great one. But he’s certainly brought back an air of mystery to proceedings. He’s doing the basics, he’s looking at the opposition, he’s testing ideas, and he’s looking at the tools he has available and mostly using them correctly.
He’s still not perfect. I think his early season use of the squad left a lot to be desired. When I went to see us play Huddersfield at Christmas, we looked utterly one paced. I’d never seen a game so slow. Part of that is just not understanding the league. Pep and Klopp made the same mistake when they arrived here, both realised you can’t play the pressing game in the league because there are too many games and no winter break to speak of.
I also think some of his selections have been baffling. It’s like he sometimes picks his sides based on league position, versus the reality of the side. If you’re at PSG, a team in 10th is shite and you’ll steam them. In the Premier League, every team in the top 14 can beat you if you give them a disrespectful starting 11. Everton was the warning shot, and we could all see that coming. Palace was simply unforgivable considering the power, pace and giant killing power those boys have.
However, you have to say that we’re a force against big teams. We didn’t allow Napoli to score against us over 180 minutes. We’ve taken scalps against top 6 sides. We’ve competed in every one of those games bar the Liverpool one at Christmas. Whatever you think about the man, he has the players believing in the big moments, not something Wenger managed in his last ten years.
We’ve also clocked a lot of points in a dreary transition season. Year two, you’d hope the improvements would really bed in and we see true Emeryball.
I’ll land where I usually land. I think Emery is a transition manager. If he can get us into the Champions League, the selection has been a huge success. I don’t care about points accrued. It’s all about where we finish.
The big challenge we have as a club is what to do with that £45m investment. There is some serious wheeler-dealing to do and I don’t trust Raul and Emery to do it. We could really do with Paul Mitchel or a Luis Campos, otherwise this is going to be the blind leading the blind. Denis Suarez and Malcolm is where the thinking will be.
Right, that’s me done. BIG love to you all, see you in the comments.
P.S. SPURS CHOKED AGAIN. Right back in our hands. I am now convinced tomorrow will be an embarrassing loss to a Vardy Pardy, but let’s enjoy a day of laughing at Spurs.
Mid
Zinedine makes everyone of my top 5 lists, that goes for acting.
He’s the peak, nobody fucks Jesus.
Simeone tactics piss me off but dudes so effective consistently. Although this is not one of his vintage seasons.
Midwest
Zidane has won 3 CL and La Liga. We can debate how good he really is as a manager but he has numbers.
The Poch – err hang on I’m just looking behind the sofa and yes it’s the oh hang on no it’s not trophy.
He can’t even get 4th place on here for fuck sake.
Marc
‘You’d be better off trying to explain why you think the Poch is in the top 3 rather than blame anther poster for being mean to you.’
Poch has everything that I rate in a manager :
1. Ability to develop youth
2. Well drilled aggressive playing style
3. Consistency
4. Extracting the best out of what’s available
5. Good man management skills
Simeone, Allegri, Conte, Ancellotti and Mourinho all miss at least one of the above parameters. Of course for others winning trophies matter and that’s fine. I am not too hung up on winning trophies.
TR7
” I am not too hung up on winning trophies.”
Are you sure you’re supporting the right club then? Yes I do get the irony.
Can you imagine having a boss with that attitude setting your KPI’s?
I think Emery would kill to have the spuds squad. Cant say the same the other way around.
“Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino said his side were suffering from “stress and fatigue” after they slipped to defeat at home to West Ham in the Premier League.”
Yeah great management to give your players an excuse before the biggest match in the clubs history.
The Poch’s team once again fail to attract a capacity crowd at the toilet seat. Today = 60043 – 2019 below stated capacity.
Would anyone expect us to get out of the group stage of CL next season ?
Kay
Does that include the 12 players they have put up for sale in the summer?
Not that they need the money or anything.
Kovac a top gaffer in world footy?
Somebody hasn’t watched Bayern in a while it seems.
Hillwood
Well first we have to make it, second we have to see what business we do in the summer and then see who we draw.
At that point I’ll give you a prediction.
I think Emery would kill to have the spuds squad. Cant say the same the other way around.
Come on that subjective.
Poch is a good manager so what would stop him implementing his style with our players.
It’s management we are talking about and whether you like it or not our players are on big big wages. There is so many factors to think about.
Safe to say footie is a results driven business, no matter how one gets there winning is the benchmark. I respect the Cruyffs of this world and the Simeone’s, lets just hope by seasons end were not forced into putting the Poch on the list.
Tr7
You’re not too hung up on trophies certainly explains a lot…..You probably should support some other team though if those are the parameters you’re looking for because I’m sure most Arsenal fans, heck most Football fans only care about results and trophies….Even Abramovic has gotten tired of trying to get Chelsea to play a certain way because football is a constantly changing and evolving sports with one thing remaining constant which is Results and Winning…… Not sure anyone remembers the 07/08 Arsenal season bar us because no matter how beautiful the football was, we won nothing
Question: What do you need if you’re Emery and things are incredibly tight for your Arse-(nal) team in the race for top 4?
Answer: Advice from commentators on the “Blog of Lube”.
Ancelotti has also been over the hill since his 2nd year in Madrid.
Looked clueless in Munich and Napoli have had a very poor season when compared to their runs under Sarri.
Hillwood-
Good question.. Re/ CL. With our current squad … depends on the draw. but no. If we make good moves this summer then yes. That’s another question I guess.. I’m slightly optimistic regarding transfers assuming we even make CL. My optimism stems from we are clearing a lot of payroll or we can very easily.. it depends on who we sign obviously and how much we have to spend.
History may repeat itself. I remember there was a year Spuds lost big the last game to NewCastle, allowing us to jump ahead of them to second. This year, Spuds will play a well rested Everton 4 days after they travelled to Ajex. If we won the final 3 games, ST day is still a possibility.
I think we should just got for Wolverhampton’s coach.
Marc
I would say the squad as a whole. Just thinking what can Poch do with the likes of Mustafi, Xhaka, Kolasinac, Ozil, Iwobi et al?
In my opinion I think Poch has taking spurs to there highest level. Spurs have had a lot of jamminess along the way and still lost what 12 games this season. They are a top 4 club but nothing else.
Poch should of at least won a domestic cup by now also.
Dortmund blow the league today in spectacular fashion at home to bitter rivals Schalke who are having their worst season in living memory.
4-2 defeat, 2 Dortmund red cards in the space of 5 mins midway through 2nd half at 2-1 one of which was Marco Reus, Bayern fans couldn’t write that mess.
Answer: Advice from commentators on the “Blog of Lube”.
You liked that one WOAB😂
Poch is clearly an excellent manager, to say otherwise is pretty silly. He’s built Spurs’ best ever squad spending little money and has them competitive in the PL in previous seasons and the CL this one.
He’s not a top 3 gaffer in Europe though, has to win some silverware to be put at that table.
Samesong
I am really serious. I don’t think Poch can extract the best or what really is their best w.r.t Mustafi, Xhaka, Kolasinac etc?
I dont really want to feed the trolls. But sometimes I do think wenger was let down by the trash we or rather he accumulated post Cesc era.
Blog of Lube LOLZZZ 🙂
Samesong,
I sure did enjoy it….now instead of getting irritated everytime A Random LeGrove Commentator makes a ridiculous assertion, I’ll just smile to myself and remember your catchphrase!
“It’s because he’s losing regular good posters like Cesc Appeal to the dickhead group of CG, CC, Pierre and Un.”
Meanwhile you expect cordial discourse from me? Yea ok.
You’re utterly intolerant to opposing/differing views, that’s literally the crux. You claim you want reasoned views, but then dismiss every reasoned view that challenges your own. Do everyone a favour and bother less.
Wenger Eagle
Excellence in management also comes with a drive to win stuff and move up the ladder when the chance comes calling.
Which is why one has to wonder why Poch didn’t leave spuds when Madrid and Real were sniffing around.
Does he have the mettle for the next level?
Ancellotti works well with teams which have experienced players who don’t required too many instructions and hand holding. Mourinho used to be in most people’s greatest manager list and yes for his faults he will still feature in the list of great managers for his success in CL and across leagues. New age managers have made him look relic of a manager. Zidane won 3 CL ,a historical achievement but how many of you will remember the Real Madrid side 10 years down the line ? I love Zidane as a player , behind only Messi for me in the… Read more »
TR7,
I really like Comte too, but really struggle to imagine his explosive personality gelling with the soporific executive management team at Arsenal.
Don’t think he’d think much of the self sustaining model either…..
I do think Pedro was being hyperbolic when he came at me with the Poch is top 3 manager thing He might be top 3 in PL. . But the real argument is would he struggle with our squad to make top 4 and I still contend any manager would struggle with this squad to make top 4. It doesn’t excuse Emery from mistakes.. and flaws.. but he is doing pretty good with an average poker hand. If he can bluff his way to a top 4 finish or Europa League trophy then job done and well played. If not… Read more »
The ideal transition would have been to have a proper DoF in place in 2013-2015 period when we start signing better players again.
That was we would have a proper back room in place now but we all know Wenger resisted that.
Now we are stuck in a rut in the back room [I struggle to understand what Raul does if he’s not he DoF] at the same time we have to assess a new manager at the end off the season.
Tr7
How does someone luck out and win 3 freaking CLs in a row? Whatever juice you’ve been on lately man you need to lay off it a bit….I mean yea sure you can luck out 1 year ala Chelsea but to then go and it consecutively twice?
TR7
Something tells me i’ll remember ZZ’s Madrid a whole lot more in 10 years time than I will Poch’s Spurs.
Agree on Conte to a certain extend, but then I think about how Wenger bettered him on several occasions. Notably the cup final.
The manager I would like to replace Emery [if it came to that] would be Nuno Espírito Santo
I do realize that he wouldn’t be that effective without the recruitment that Wolves have had.
We bought footballers to play whatever bright ideas Wenger was having at a particular moment. It’s different for any other manager to just pick up this lot and get flying.
Marc
In this case I mean funny as in odd or unusual.
Dissenter
If Nuno comes in guess well do the double and bag Sven’s replacement in Mendes.
Diss
It won’t come to that
Done well in season
Good clearout without cutting the crack hole we’ll be back next year.
A fence- sitting piece of certifiable clap trap by the unusually ‘pliable ‘PedRo.
( is it that friend again-?)
A PR puff piece for the Emery Admirers….a.k a The Arsenal Delinquents.
But as Valentin surgically and forensically counters – its undeniable nonsense being spouted by author PedRo..
Do other serious football clubs- have Transition mangers by the way???
But clap trap or not…I thank him for it.
Look at the abuse Emery is taking for having us at least in with a shout for winning Europa and top 4 and you think people would be patient with Arteta or Vieira if they finished 8th or whatever.. I say 8th because Vieira is currently 8th in France. And the pressure would be unreal for those guys. Emery has at least dealt with that kind of pressure. Of course a good percentage of the abuse is just because Emery isn’t Wenger and they want him to fail and I take that criticism with a grain of salt. And yes… Read more »
CG
I see you cleaned up very quickly, right after you rightfully had a swing at Pedro.
Pedro
You’ve stated many times how great our conversion rate has been this season, calling it ruthlessly efficient in the prior post. Where are these stats being pulled from? I see our strikers missing guilt edged chances on a weekly basis it seems.
Here’s a reddit thread that dives into big chances missed and big chance conversion rates. Auba with the most big chances missed this season, Laca near the top of the list as well. The conversion rate removing penalties is interesting. Again, our two strikers are converting around 25% of their big chances. Not good.
https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/bgsg73/most_big_chances_missed_this_pl_season/elnbikd/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app
Give ZZ his props the man won La Liga over prime Messi’s Barcelona, only Simeone and Mourinho have managed that (once each) in the last 11 seasons.
You don’t fluke 3 CL’s either. Nobody else had ever even won 2 back to back.
One can only think- that it must be The Male Menapause, that’s making him believe this drivel, he is posting ….
From memory….it subsides….
The summer transfer season will be one of the business ever because of the sheer amount of moving players.
Too many big clubs have to sell or buy bi players and that will cascade throughout the window.
Honestly have a word Tr7
Even spuds fans won’t put Bottlechino in top 3..
Honestly don’t rate Emery but at least he’s got a proven record and has won a trophy or 2 which to be fair is the most important facet of their job… Trophies
I rate the Wolves coach higher and duly predicted he would best Emery last week,wish we could nab him b4 chavs get to him
Cc They claim they want cordial discourse constantly then when they get it quickly resort to type. Then squeal when they get a bit back Look at how they treat TR7, Valentin and cg who never retaliate. They’re always polite, reasoned and never sweet yet they are told to crawl back under their rock, their thick, pricks, cunts bla bla bla. Just a bunch of shrill harpies rounding on the next guy who sees the game as it is rather than join in with their group think. Most of them claim to be educated yet seem incapable of thinking for… Read more »
It’s a shame Arsenal are in transition because Spurs along with Man Utd and Chelsea.have been terrible.
Nuno’s no flash in the pan either, he built an excellent side at Valencia the last time that they had a pulse before Marcelino walked through the door.
Marcelino is another gaffer that I recommended on here a while back, has Valencia playing some quality ball and in the Copa Final vs Barcelona, the EL SF and on the cusp of a 4th place finish in the league only losing 5 matches all season in the league.
All set up nicely tmao for Smuggy Vardy to end our top 4 hopes and race down our touchline hushing Emery up..shuddering thought
God We have to WIN tomao,pls Emery get the players fired up and let them what’s at stake and urhhhmmm can you also get your set up spot on for once this season
I mean the double sub at half time has gotten state as fvck , fail to get CL and fvck right off from our club
Brighton actually play some decent football. They may be 16th in the table, but they are nice to watch. 1-1 now with Newcastle.
Banter would be second to none if Vardy scored a last minute equaliser against Citeh to hand Pool the title.
Emery a tactician? Lost to Wolves and Palace at home, laughable.
Ha, Bam have a word with Dissenter who was trashing them the other day.
Worse side than Fulham and play worse football than Pulis’ Stoke so he was saying.
TR7 “Zidane won 3 CL ,a historical achievement but how many of you will remember the Real Madrid side 10 years down the line ? I love Zidane as a player , behind only Messi for me in the last 20-25 years but top 3 as a manager ? Not really. Not a popular opinion but thought he was lucky to win 3 CLs in a row.” Ofcourse TR7 is right. Nobody will remember the side that made history winning 3 CLs in a row. But everyone will most definitely remember Loser Poch’s Tiny Totts achievements. I mean, come now… Read more »
Wenger Eagle
I repented and said I might have overstated whatever point I was trying to make.
I like Chris Houghton
WE
Yeah, it’s kind of amazing how different of takes people can have while watching such a seemingly “simple” game.
BTW, I misspoke: Brighton are 17th in the table. They are a nice watch, though.
Hahahaha, who would have thought punchable face Vardy could potentially have a huge say in the title race and CL spots
Hope he fails to hit a cow’s ass with a banjo tomorrow
It’s in jest Dissenter, blog of lube mate.
TR7,
Its alright, lad. You should come out of the closet. Nobody will think less of you if you would rather get tattooed a turkey over a cannon.
Its the era of tolerance.
The game against Brighton is not a given for us.
Its not a statement about Brighton’s quality but is an indication about how poor we have been recently.
We could go on and lose every game left in the season .
Right now we are playing like shit.
I’m not expecting us to take any points away from Filbert Street tomorrow
That was truly a shocking take by Tr7,i mean what was he thinking? Bochettino might not even be in the top3 in EPL
Nuno has proven to be a better coach with a far lesser squad
Emery has the good sense of prioritising a tangible trophy over an imaginary top 4 trophy.
Funny that Leicester can have say in both the title and top4.
Can massively help Utd and Pool.
With Barca resting Messi with La Liga all but won and CL to focus on, it’s pretty likely that M’Bappe will pip him to the European Golden Boot.
As of today Messi leads with 33, M’Bappe has 30 but 5 Ligue 1 matches to play and he’s averaging a goal a game.
Would make him the first under 21 year old to win the Euro Golden Boot since… Ronaldo Lima.
“blog of lube” becoming an instant classic.
It’s shame Messi leaves his shooting boots behind when it comes to knockout rounds of the World Cup..
Classic day on Le Grove really.. Red is getting his Messi hate on to top it all off. 😀
Red
EL is a loser cup which would explain why your hero is the master of it
I tend to respect more a manager who can take a spot in the CL via the league positions
In ten years’ time, we’ll all be asking ourselves: where we’re you when Samesong came up with the classic Blog of Lube catchphrase 😄
Victorious.
Like Spurs lol
The context was so good too. It fit right into the conversation even if it was a typo. 10 out of 10. Would definitely recommend.
Wenger 20 top 4 finishes..No Champions league trophy….lol…joke manager
Well said Vic
Emery is indeed a specialist in the Losers Cup. Well observed too…. that’s his only claim to football.. being proficient when the biggest teams are absent.
He would though make a wonderful Spurs manager, one day…
One can dream…..
Wenger couldn’t even win the Losers Cup so shit is he.
Emery went a full season with Seville without a single away victory,whilst bossing the EL, meh that’s some record ,
first manager to fail to win the league at PSG even though they were on a run of winning it 5/6 yrs?
Guy is a complete cup manager,not what we need at all if we aspire to be top dog in the PL again
Victorious
Dont state facts here- The Delinquents will state you are ruining their fun..
Truth hurts these folks ,badly.
Wenger’s sprciality was knocking out TWO non league sides on the way to beating another shit side Hull in the FA CUP Final.
“being proficient when the biggest teams are absent.”
Sorry what has the Poch won?
What European trophy’s did Wenger win?
It’s funny how the clown school move the goal posts between what’s expected of Emery and Wenger / managers of other clubs.
Pedro would have banned these AKB’s not so long ago.
After 50 games in charge Emery is the greatest manager in Arsenal history.
Emery has won more European trophies than Wenger, Poch and Arsenal put together.
I can see it now, our new club kits for the Blog of Lube.
Think they’d stand tall next to my favorite the JVC Arsenal kit, early 90s away was fucking immense. My old man took me to Upton Park in 92, Wrighty brace in that thing, what a hero.
Second favorite the away blue lighting bolts.
CG has got a tube of lube with Wenger’s face on.
Vuctorious
“first manager to fail to win the league at PSG even though they were on a run of winning it 5/6 yrs?”
Lost to a Monaco side who topped the table on 95 points scoring over a 100 goals, not to.mention reaching a Champions league Semi-Final to boot…….arsehole
Poch has won fuck all and will continue to win fuck all.
Marc
Preaching ban again are we? I mean what are you now, the new Branford? Kudos then
Exactly why CC was nailing you earlier,you’re utterly averse to a differal POV so you resort in grouping and labelling folk who don’t agree with you like it sorts of validate your point
Argue the point been made or shut the fck up
benny
If we get top 4 the narrative will change – it’s only because of blah blah blah, if we don’t that will be the be all and end all.
If we don’t win the EL Emery’s rubbish if we do it’s a second rate competition so doesn’t count.
I’ve said recently that Pedro is letting the comments section run away with it’s self. If he’s not careful all he’ll have left are the idiots kicked off of Untold for being too pro Wenger.
Serio though, how hilarious is it that CG slates Emery for being a loser when he has won 3X the European trophies Wenger had. It’s actually quite embarrassing.
I see a lot of praise for Poch here and I can’t help but feel I should give my 2 cents as well. First of all I agree that Poch is a top manager and a nice guy. But world class? Top 3??!!?? No, not at all. Let me explain. The narrative is that Poch took a piss poor spurs side to UCL regulars, which is in fact true. But he gets the entire credit for that. My argument is that the Spurs squad which he took over was always decent. They looked like shite because their managers(AVB & Tim… Read more »
Sal_
My fav.. still the O2 kits.. circa 2003. No shame in using lube though.. it’s where you put the lube that matters. 😀
CC was nailing fuck all Victorious other than his misplaced over inflated ego. He kept incorrectly stating that Klopp finished 4th in his first Liverpool season when in fact he finished 8th.
Marc totally schooled him.
Fact.
Wenger was such a failure, thank God he’s gone. If he had stayed we more than likely would be fighting a relegation battle this season.
What are you talking about. Spurs were fighting Arsenal for a top 4 place under Harry Redknapp but bottled it on more the one occassion.
Middy the O2 kits were great, simple with class.
RT
Don’t see how we can blame Monaco class for Emery’s away day blues with PSG the season Monaco topped table spending a fraction. Dude lost title away from the Parc des Princes and crashed out to Barca in spectacular fashion only to be in that tie finishing second in group to Wenger’s Arsenal. No small feat.
Surprised the oil mongers didn’t sack him then.
Away shirt in 2002/03 my favourite away strip, blue O2 one. Henry seemed to score so many belters in that one.
Grew up on those O2 strips, qualiteh.
Victorious CC tied himself up in so many knots earlier he’s still trying to untie himself. I don’t have a problem with other points of view I just don’t know what CC’s is other than Emery bad everyone else good – I have an issue with hypocrisy (judging one manager by one thing and then moving the goal posts for another), not having the balls to state your position ie agenda’s and fans who don’t’ go to matches either telling other fans how to support their team or acting as some sort of ambassador for the club when they are… Read more »
Paddy V came from Samesong’s school of thought regarding lube, used to drench the front of his jersey in it before games.