Well good morning, I’m suffering from WAKE UP EARLY issues at the minute, so I thought I’d bang out ANOTHER post for you because I am on a streak.
Arsenal has offered the role of technical director to Invincible, Eduardo César Daude Gaspar. I’d heard rumblings we were doing a deal, but my info was that the offer hadn’t been accepted yet, though the club were confident he’d do so.
So what to make of this hire… at the second attempt?
In short, it’s a real, ‘who the fuck knows’ moment.
His experience sits outside of the Premier League and outside of Europe. He’s currently the technical director of Brazil, and I’m not really sure what that entails. Their national team hasn’t exactly been a box of dreams over the past 5 years, and even if it had been, how do you affect a nation of players?
I’ll bang through some topline thoughts.
What experience does he have?
He’s 40 years old. He played up until he was 32 years old. He was then given a Director of Football role at Corinthians. He had a good run there, the club won the South American equivalent of the Champions League.
He had a stint as the Iranian assistant coach, who hasn’t, right?
He then took the role at Brazil in 2016. This is where some of his comments started to get me a little excited. As I pointed out in the post earlier this morning, I want someone to come to Arsenal that looks at the club from a holistic perspective, capturing the true essence of our being. First and foremost, they need to understand the culture, the heritage and the prestige. If you don’t understand the basics, you can never be a good long term fit.
This is what Edu had to say about taking on the role at Brazil.
‘Tite and I worried about the mentality,’
‘People were thinking about Brazil in a way we didn’t like. When people look at Brazil, they should respect us for our present and for our history. We were missing that. The team were not close enough to the people.
‘With all due respect, I don’t want to be the way English guys are. We are Brazilians. So let’s be Brazilians: friendly, laughing, talking. Some people cannot afford tickets for a game. So sometimes we open up training and let 50,000 people in for free.
‘Before, Brazilian players would not go into a hotel through the main doors. Why? Why do you want to go through the back door? People just want to see us. Now we go through the main doors.
‘A kid breaks through and wants to see his hero. Let him do that. As a player, I tried to be nice to people. Say “hello”, it’s not hard. We are bringing this back.’
Yes, yes and yes.
He is entitled. Brazil is an institution of football, that is how they should be respected and thought of. He’s thinking about the people of Brazil, their socio-economic situation and general perception. He is talking about exciting people, because at the core, that is what football is all about, right? He believes they should be at the top. All these folk that call Arsenal fans spoilt because ‘no one deserves to win trophies’ are not the types that drive things forward. Edu sounds like he understands that.
I hear that he’s an incredibly nice guy, I know that sometimes empathy can be seen as weak in football, but again, I think it’s an important trait. Especially if you’re looking at reengineering the focus around young players. Carlo, one of the great, was always accused of being too nice to his players. This is what Edu had to say on his experience of prime Wenger.
‘I was feeling sad. I lost my sister a week before I arrived. I was not in a good way. But I found a club and manager that worried about me as a person, rather than as a footballer.
‘Every day Arsene Wenger pulled me into his office. He wanted to check I was OK and check how my family were. He cared so much and it made me feel so good. He let my dad watch training. I come to London once a year and always go to see him.’
You might call the above snowflake millenial nonsense, but the reality is, the generation of kids coming through have different expectations. They demand more from the workplace and they expect to be treated well. You have to balance those needs, but someone with a human touch is important.
I also like the fact he’s fully aware of the talent in England and that he has ideas about unlocking it. This was 2017.
‘This is a big generation,’
‘But the Premier League is so rich. You have a fantastic young midfielder in Phil Foden at Manchester City but there are two or three fantastic ones in his position.”
‘So, how can you play? How can you develop these guys? You have good players but to get better, they need to play in the first team. Clubs don’t look to the Under 17 guy because they go to the market.’
Edu will have been in prime position to watch the best young kids from around the world. He’ll have met with the best coaches, seen setups from the major clubs, and had hands on experience with the biggest names to grace the yellow and green of Brazil.
Apparently, when he was at Corinthians, he did visiting tours of all the major European clubs to watch and hear how they did things. This is a guy that is hungry to lean into the experience of others, someone that is open enough to know he doesn’t have all the answers, with an Invincible attitude that means he’s a winner.
Are their worries about his hiring? For sure. He played under Unai Emery for a couple of seasons. That was over ten years ago, but he was operating under his management at Valencia. Will that cloud his judgement when he has to pull the trigger on his contract next year? Possibly. But I’d hope that he’s been around enough big decisions to not be influenced by matters like that.
There’s also the experience question. Going for explayers feels good, but is it always right? He’s being asked the run the operational side of the football at Arsenal. That requires a huge amount of skill and vision for someone that is basically only 8 years into working life. Risks are associated with that.
The big worry is that all his experience is based out of Brazil. However, that can also come as a blessing. Firstly, he knows England and Spain intimately because he spent a lot of time there. Also, something I’ve cried out for over the years is finding someone who can root out gems in markets that aren’t already saturated. We have an advantage here. It’ll be very interesting to see what sort of recruitment head he brings into the club.
Another concern is that the Copa America is in his home country. We literally don’t have a Technical Director until July 7th. That’s a long time to leave Unai and Raul at the wheel. A lot of bad pound notes can be spent in that time.
Everything is a risk, but ultimately, give me Edu over a hack like Monchi. He was yesterday’s man, Edu could be the future. He’s young, he seems of great temprement and hopefully he’s the sort of leader that wants to surround himself with the best people.
Also… how much sauce does the guy have?
Additionally, there can be no doubt whatsover as to the style of football he is going to enforce. He is Brazilian and he played under PEAK Wenger. Arsenal are going to have a clear vision when it comes to style and footballing philosophy.
I was a bit worried when I first heard this rumbling, but in the space of writing an article, I am now absolutely convinced this could be a very, very good move for Arsenal.
Fingers crossed he signs on and we can move on with the second reboot of Arsenal.
Get them crosses into that box
End this now
Thought being soft away from home was an Emery thing eagle?
Anyway hope this doesn’t give Valencia ideas, they are more than capable
Barca shitting their pants 💩 💩 💩
I’m actually pleased….I knew Liverppol had the quality….i wondered why Arsene never looked at Wijnaldum….i like him
Barca are incredibly weak in the air. Messi is the only guy who can turn it around.
Liverpool winning with Shakira and black sideshow Bob, you’ve got to support them.
Messi needs to kill this Pool momentum with that away goal stinger.
Wijnaldum will be Liverpool legend if they go on to win this.
Just doubled my money with a Liverpool over 1.5 team goal be
Sweet
Pique looks like a miserable bastard. Every cloud and all that
Liverpool will wish they had scored one goal at the noucamp
All it will take is one Messi run or freekick
RH
Away from home in CL knockouts to top teams, not mid and lower table PL cannon fodder.
Didn’t Wjnaldum come from a relegated side?
Addressed to all those who dissed Fraser
Liverpool got the wind now
Facing the kop
Barca on their knees.
They are nothing without Messi.
Aghh
Scouse vermin
They had their chances Barca, Messi himself guilty too.
The romance of the game right before your eyes
This is what football is all about
How can you not love this game
Wijnaldum and Sissoko were always decent players for Newcastle. I always found the media’s negative reviews of them odd.
Liverpool getting 142 million for Coutinho was equivalent to the Great Train Robbery.
Wow unbelievable. Not that I have any respect for ‘pool of piss but Fuck Barcelona. After their epic win vs Manure in the CL (a classic game in my book) they turned to cheating in all ways possible to maintain their status. Something unforgivable in my book.
On another note. I just hope we have that same bottle when playing our away game vs Valencia this Thursday. I expect the same game plan as our away game vs Napoli: score an away goal to put it out of reach from Valencia.
Winaljdun is very underrated for the job he has done this season.
And how do people piping up about all down to players explain Liverpool scoring the 3 without Salah and Firmino?
Valencia are in a better position than Liverpool before the game started.
They have that one away goal which makes it easier.
Barca so weak in central midfield.
Busquets and Rakitic one-paced and lethargic. Scaring no one.
Yea,the old cannon fodder argument
For a team that finished sixth and about to finish fifth or sixth again we arsenal fans do have a pretty high opinion of our club.
Must be the PL title we won 15 years ago
DB10
100% mate. They’ve turned into a nasty club littered with cheats. Fuck em
WE
Liverpool fight to the end and they do have the twelfth man also.
All that without Salah and Firmino
And how do people piping up about all down to players explain Liverpool scoring the 3 without Salah and Firmino?
We
With players signed from lower league clubs too.
What point you trying to make here RH?
Messi is just amazing, all his touches are just sublime.
Weak argument eagle.. Just enjoy the freaking game.
None of our midfielders get into this game bar Ramsey so shut it. Wing whatever his name shits all over what we have.
Don’t be fooled by those rating Xhaka at 50m and Matteo 70m…lol no ones paying that for them
Some ball that to Messi
We
If alumunia plays that’s a goal
Mad that eh Marko?
Shaqiri and Origi elite talent that they are.
Rh
He’s right
And how do people piping up about all down to players explain Liverpool scoring the 3 without Salah and Firmino?
I mean they’re more than a two player team that’s obvious. They have a great manager AND a very good squad of players. We don’t have have either. And one really needs the other
Haha RH so you have no point to make, nice.
Shaqiri and Origi running Barca ragged but no love for Klopp.
Shaqiri and Origi elite talent that they are.
I’m not sure what you’re getting at WE. I’m not sure if there’s a correlation between our piss poor squad and it’s current struggles and a title chasing team on 90+points in the league overturning Barca
Who has no love for Klopp?
Guess Klopp is in his first season and getting it spot on.
That Dembele miss proved to be more important than Valverde would have hoped.
Clearly it’s not all down to players. Klopp is a great manager. its not one or the other the incessant back and forth about this is pretty tedious to be honest.
It’s a combination of both. But superstars do make a difference.. Would Pool even be in the CL semi-final without Salah and Firmino?
And will it even matter if Messi gets one of these shots right. By the way Retruth will be on later to tell you how shit Messi is.
This crazy notion Marko that managers can get more out of players.
Marko he is desperate to make a point that doesn’t really apply… Classic eagle really.. Clever in his own mind.
Obviously we wouldn’t be capable of this tonight. And that’s not because we have Emery instead of Klopp.
I mean they’re more than a two player team that’s obvious. They have a great manager AND a very good squad of players. We don’t have have either. And one really needs the other
Marko
Yes but we aren’t asking emery to beat Barca without laca and Aubameyang
He can’t even beat Brighton or palace with them 😂 😂
Just proof what you can do with a proper coaching team.
You could say did Barca give up 3 goals because of their manager?
Barca could have bought a whole new midfield with the money for Coutinho.
You mean eagle same manager that got more out of his players in beating Spurs, Napoli,Chelsea, United and the rest. Same one that turned the Emirates into a fortress and had most of you hoping for third.
Oh I forgot that was all the players doing , Emery only took over last month to mess everything up.
Classic RH tag-teaming because he doesn’t have a point to bat for himself.
You’re the one who dropped in the first snarky comment so bit rich now you’re telling me just to enjoy the game and shut it.
Clever in my own mind? Ha, talk about pot and kettle.
It’s Klopp’s hard metal football that has rattled Barca here,not so much Pool’s quality.
Obviously we wouldn’t be capable of this tonight. And that’s not because we have Emery instead of Klopp.
Marko
That’s not the argument though. Stop trying to move the goal posts
We just want the manager of arsenal to do better than 4 points in 18 with 6 games to go against mid table fodder
Marko – I misremembered, Raul/Ozil are not connected at all.
Fucking hell!!!
4 – 0
Trick corner Ha Ha!!!!
Lol Barca heading out ..guess that’s on Velverde.
Iwobi does it again
Yeaaaaahhhhh
Hahahaha
Well in Arnold oh English G
What a fucking cute goal.
That’s a scouse street mugging goal lol
Liverpool need one more to be safe…in case Messi happens
Bye bye Barca
Hahahahaha
Don right
We need some English players
Although I would take Zaha in a nutshell.
This crazy notion Marko that managers can get more out of players.
Oh. Very clever that. We’ll just overlook the talented squad with major investment in the last number of years. 440 million spent inside 3 and a half seasons. It’s not nothing it’s actually quite important too
Wot a cheeky corner!!! Lolz! played Barca at their own game. Quick tempo football!
Liverpool have still got the ‘heavy metal’ base to their side and are doing this with tempo. The slugs in the Barca side can’t deal with it.
Not sure about rules on this but that goal doesn’t look legit.
Is Messi still playing?
Can rule out one crazy run that will result in a penalty
That was school boy error
Very shameful for Barcelona to go out to this Liverpool team on show tonight. They have just been outrun.
Lol Barca heading out ..guess that’s on Velverde
Too right it is
He’s got the two best strikers in the world and they’ve folded to a team of barrel scrapers from England. What’s the difference? Their coaches
Nothing wrong with that TR7
Harsh on Messi but Barca behind him and Suarez are really ordinary.
RH and Marko fail to appreciate it is hard metal football that’s rattled Barca, not the quality of players Pool have. Alas ! our manager doesn’t even have a defined style or philosophy.
Best corner routine I’ve ever seen. Arnold is 20 years old.
Better than anyone that came out of project youth.
Wjnaldum
What a Don. Great play there
Took out the whole Barca midfield with that
It’s the old I’m gonna leave the corner then takes it intelligent. Remember back in the day we would put the ball on the corner kick it slightly and another player would charge into the box with it.
The opposition were never ready.
Thoroughly beaten.
Liverpool vs Ajax will be a treat for the neutrals.
Lol if Pool lineup is barrel scrapers what are we? the scum on the bottom of the barrel?
I fucking hate Scousers
Last week’s was an anomaly Liverpool are way ahead of Barcelona. No way Barcelona live with their intensity
Well surmised Midwest on the influence of players and mangers, wouldn’t stop dumb comments though.
I wish our team was this good they outpaced Barca tonight good on them
Not sure about rules on this but that goal doesn’t look legit.
Nothing wrong with it. They just switched off
Some would argue that Barca thought they were already through.
Sadly I don’t like Barca either .. But the media and the scouse fans will be relentless.
Shaqiri, Wijnaldum, Origi, Henderson tanking Barca 4-0
‘but how could Emery possibly coach players to better!’
The monopoly of Real and Barca is over
Watch the English clubs dominate Europe for the next decade
Hardly Samesong after last season.
They needed that away goal in 1st half to bury Pool hope.
Origi scores some important goals this season.
“RH and Marko fail to appreciate it is hard metal football that’s rattled Barca, not the quality of players Pool have. Alas ! our manager doesn’t even have a defined style or philosophy.”
What nonsense
It’s almost like Liverpool went shopping in pound-land for their players.
I can imagine Klopp reproducing this with Mustafi and Liechtensteiner
The first time he was in a European cup final with Liverpool, they were limp di*ks because the players weren’t good enough.
Liverpool have done this with a man down as well, Shaqiri
TR7, amen sir, amen!
Samesong
We used to do that to for my little league team when I was a nipper
RH and Marko fail to appreciate it is hard metal football that’s rattled Barca, not the quality of players Pool have. Alas ! our manager doesn’t even have a defined style or philosophy.
Is it the defined style or philosophy that’s beating Barcelona or the 440 million invested in the squad? Honestly you think they do that tonight without the 35 million pound Mane or the 75 million pound Van Dijk or the 67 million pound Alisson? Cause I have my doubts honestly
Does this dent the legent of Messi?
This is not the first time it’s happened
Pedro high fiving TR7 over a post that is so easily waved off.
“Does this dent the legent of Messi?”
Yes……
Malcolm and dembele are dogshit at Barca.
What makes anyone think emery will turn them into world beaters? 😂
Dissenter
Messi was the only player to show up for them tonight but yeah, he should have scored and ended this.
Can’t help but feel CR7 would have buried one of those chances first half.
Cut these boys some slack their playing Barca, Uefa, Unicef, Unesco and the white walkers all at once with Origi spearheading and Stoke’s Shaquri flanking.
It’s extraordinary the lengths some people go to I swear. What does Jurgen Klopp and 440 million spent in 3 and a half seasons at Liverpool turning over Barcelona have to do with Emery?