Great coaching outshines talent as Klopp destroys Barca

by .

The folk bizarrely pushing the idea that coaching isn’t an effective tool for progress had to cancel all future opinions going live in public.

Liverpool crushed the MIGHTY Barcelona in a 4-0 drubbing for the ages.

Yes, Shaqiri, Wijnaldum, Origi, and Henderson all featured and starred in an absolute masterclass at Anfield, showing that a strong vision, a defined footballing philosophy, and good old fashioned coaching can trump individual talent… even when that talent is Lionel Messi.

As Tr7 said perfectly the comments, ‘It was heavy metal football that rattled Barca, not the quality of players Liverpool has.’ They still delivered without their best players. An incredible achievement, even if it does make me pig sick… our biggest mistake of the last ten years was passing on Klopp and Pep.

MORE MONEY

MORE PLAYERS

MORE MONEY

MORE PLAYERS

… really doesn’t rub when you see Jordan Henderson as a regular in their side. Origi proving pivotal at the highest level. Low budget signings like Robertson game changing all season. Trent Arnold breaking through from the youth team and playing like a superstar. They lost Salah and still manage to compete. Arsenal lose Ramsey and the whole thing falls apart. Unai picked up a squad in better shape than Klopp, spent more money in his first transfer window than the German did in 2 years and managed to make things worse.

There’s no real way to compare the two managers. As I pointed out yesterday, Klopp finished a lowly 8th in his first season, but he also picked up a dreck squad that was deflated and 10th. He had no preseason to work with, and in his final 13 games, his team scored 31 goals. His coaching had him finish stronger than he started, you could see what he was doing on the pitch, not in hopeful translated text on Marca.

Their stadium was absolutely rocking. You know why? Because the football courses through the veins. It’s electric. The energy on the pitch translates to the stands. If you think that has been standard at Liverpool over the last ten years, you have never met a season ticket holder there.

I am jealous of what they have, Klopp has been a sensation. He was my original managerial crush way back when, I had my doubts about his rebirth at Liverpool, oh how wrong I was. Elite of the elite. Can you believe we let him sit without a job while Wenger paraded deal after new deal?

Just read these words Klopp had after the game.

“It was overwhelming … I actually … I said to the boys before the game that it’s impossible, but because it’s you we have a chance. I have watched in my life so many football games, but to play the best team in the world … look, winning is already difficult, but to win with a clean sheet … It’s 10.10pm and the children are probably in bed so I’m sorry about the language but can I say these boys are fucking talented giants. It’s all about the players.”

Employing an inspiring coach that knows how to develop players is so important. If you don’t have that, why persist? Charisma, passion, energy… that’s what makes a club rock. But again, I can’t hammer home how utterly bat shit it is to excuse this season because our players aren’t coachable. Think about that statement and how weak it is.

Pep Guardiola, the chequebook manager everyone slates, took a journeyman central midfielder called Fabian Delph and turned him into a regular left-back in a team that will go down as one of the all times greats in Premier League history. World class managers make average players great. They make collections of them work as a unit. They organise, inspire and equip them with the tools they need to succeed.

How about we talk about a really shite team, like, say, Southampton? They were in a mess before they played us at Christmas. Ralph Hassenhutl, an interest of Le Grove a few years ago came in and reshaped them. Ryan Bertrand had this to say on what he’s done.

“The manager has came in and has given us an identity,”

“He has given us a clear style of play and leaves no stone unturned.

“It is a real pleasure to go on the field like that and not have people questioning each other.”

“If you asked 100 people what Southampton’s style of play was, you would get similar answers,” he added.

“It would be that we are a high pressing team, very competitive and play good football.

“That may have been adrift before.”

If you asked 100 people about Arsenal’s identity, what would you get?

“Catch Kola on the overlap’

We are still there a year on.

Better players give you better results, no doubt, but whether it’s the highest level or the lowest, the clearer the vision, the better the outcome. Look at Mourinho over the years, his Champions League win with Inter Milan was genius. That squad was a ragtag bunch of pros that he turned into a formidable unit. Look at how Jardim toppled the mighty PSG. Look at what Ajax are doing, win or lose tonight.

Arsenal has conceded 52 goals so far this season. Some flag that Holding and Bellerin would have made things better… reality is, we were on for conceding 50+ goals with them in the side. Poor organisation is always going to leave you exposed regardless of who is playing. The game is far too competitive now to be able to get away with good players simply bailing you out. Everyone is of a high technical standard now, you will be destroyed if you aren’t organised and that’s exactly what’s been going on.

Sam Allardyce has always known this. He goes into clubs on fire, organises them and makes them competitive. He takes shite defences, with shite defenders and he makes them better. That’s good coaching even if the football causes an eye infection.

Anyway, time to move on. I think we all know where I stand on our bland on toast manager.

Tonight, we are ALL Ajax fans. Finally, something we can agree on.

However, I do fear that Spurs power will be a big problem for them and we’ll have to suffer a Champions League final where we want neither side to win.

I’m just going to be thinking about Vermaelen, Bergkamp, Kanu and Overmars all day today… then I’m going to pray to the footballing gods.

Spurs making a final would be too much.

If they lose this evening… that’ll be the 20th game of the season. They’ll have limped into top 4. They won’t have won a trophy, AGAIN.

How funny would that be?

Very.

See you in the comments. x

 

1.2K Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Marc

Dissenter “He wasn’t well treated in mu opinion, not after spending as much as 1.5 billion in the UK economy.” I assume you mean the withdrawal of his visa? Well you lie down with dogs you get fleas. As for spending £1.5 billion in the UK economy – you’re miles out there and I don’t mean the amount. He’s made some footballers many of them foreign very rich as well as some agents etc but how many people more do Cheslea now employ than they would anyway. The money Abramovich has spent has gone into a tiny number of pockets… Read more »

Marko

Ah net spend. The most irrelevant of stats when discussing the job Klopp is doing. You do realize that we’ll probably even out a bit this summer. Or does it only count the first summer? It’s not really important at the end of the day Klopp has spent money and was given time to get Liverpool to where they’re at. You want to get rid of Emery fair enough but the next guy is going to need time and money as well. There’s no quick fix to our problems.

Words on a Blog

Pedro: “how much financial risk are the Liverpool owners taking?”

According to Swiss Ramble, over the period 2008-2017, Liverpool’s owner financing (injections by Liverpool owners) was £257 million and cash flow from operations was £645m.

In Arsenal, as we all know the net injections by the owners was zero.

So yes, like most PL owners, Fenway has taken on direct financial risk.

Marc

You measure a club on net spend as it shows the financial health / strength of the business and a manager on gross spend, this shows what’s he’s had to work with.

Words on a Blog

As I have posted many, many times, using Swiss Ramble as reference, an overwhelming majority of PL owners are prepared to inject funds and take financial risk. In fact 42% of the cash generated by PL clubs over 2008/17 was sourced from the owners and not from the clubs’ net operating cashflows.

Marko

He didnt just sell £70m of players for the fun of it. It was because they weren’t good enough I suppose. I’m not even going to bring up the juvenile comment about how he wasn’t able to get similar results from the likes of Skrtal or whoever. You know the funny thing about the whole net spend pointless argument you keep bringing up is even if the manager wasn’t Emery say it was someone you actually liked (if that manager exists) the spending would have been the same. The problem of selling the players who aren’t good enough for us… Read more »

gambon

Marko We’re not talking about the job Klopp is doing though are we, you seem to be having your own argument because you are so wrapped up in defending Emery at all costs. God knows why. We’re talking about owner financing. People saying Liverpool are SOOOO much better than Arsenal. That would be Liverpool that brought Klopp in and gave him £0 to spend in his first 2 transfer windows. Versus Stan, who gave Emery £65m to spend in his first window. Klopp earned his ability to spend huge money in 2018, by doing an excellent job in his first… Read more »

Dissenter

gambon “In Emerys first window, he was given a £65m budget In Klopps first window, he was given a £0 budget” Sometimes, you like trying cognitive jujitsu like you’re discussing with a bunch of kindergarten pupils You mean Klopp agreed to take the Liverpol job with a zero budget? Lets reverse it, shall we Had we sold Welbeck for 15 million, Ramsey for 50 million and Ospina for 3 million, would you be crediting Emery for net spend of zero? The failure to make these happen is not on Emery. It’s on the the chaos that Gazidis uncertainty was creating,… Read more »

Words on a Blog

Pedro,

Liverpool, City, Bournemouth, Everton, Leicester – some of the clubs where the owners have put their hands in their pocket to fund their “visions”.

You want special sauce?

Where’s the fucking chilli?

Champagne Charlie

Marko You’ve still not absorbed the idea that you don’t just get time, it’s earned through performance (which is reviewed annually in most careers). Klopp “got time” because after his initial warming to the league he showed promise, but he wasn’t handed a war chest, he was told to sell to buy. The next season he’d earned more leeway through his performance. What has Emery earned of the Arsenal board this season out of curiosity? What’s he going to say to the board? “Oh yea sorry fellas I know it went a bit Lisa Ann end of season there, but… Read more »

Dissenter

“*Had we sold Welbeck for 18 million, Ramsey for 50 million and Ospina for 3 million, would you be crediting Emery for net spend of zero***

We spent 68 million last summer, not 65 million

Receding Hairline

the Net spend league

Marc

Words

Any money put in by Fenway will be protected by guarantees on assets, for the risk to kick in the club would have to go into administration.

They could recoup that money in an emergency by selling off some players.

Dissenter

They didn’t give him zero to spend
They got his transfer targets and sold players that he didn’t want to fund it.

That’s not the same as “giving him zero to spend”

gambon

“They got his transfer targets and sold players that he didn’t want to fund it.”

Thats called a £0 budget.

Receding Hairline

“What has Emery earned of the Arsenal board this season out of curiosity? What’s he going to say to the board?” Maybe wait till Thursday before crowing eh…there is a possibility we will be Europa league finalists this season and maybe even winners..why not hold onto your horses a little bit As for what he has to show, he has a top four challenge to show for his season, i know the end of season collapse is giving you orgasms but the man did compete for a top four finish till the very end. Maybe, just maybe the people who… Read more »

Words on a Blog

Marc,

Sure, the financial risk inherent in owners various forms of cash injections is usually protected in some way.

But it is not totally protected.

The larger point is that Fenway and other owners are prepared to take on that risk….KSE aren’t, despite having access to a much better underlying situation than most PL teams in terms of operating cashflows (match day revenues, commercial deals, TV Revenues etc.)

Receding Hairline

Okay with that in the sense that he has shown he can challenge, in his very first season, his team scored more goals than Spurs,Chelsea and Man United (i know gambon has been working overtime to tell us it’s all luck).

I don’t know what about Klopp finishing eight his first season and sneaking into fourth by a second in his second season told you Liverpool were going to be a force, we are all smart after the fact.

gambon

Emerys end of season review

Emery: “Good ebening. We are thinking that to be good things must have meaning and that there will be other improvement that they then can do with it, much like the looking for arrangements of what there is going to be happening”

Raul: “Get the fuck out greaseball”

Marc

Words

But they let the club spend a lot of money and look where it got them. If you take the supporter glasses off you can’t blame them for asking for the ship to be righted before going on another spending spree.

Receding Hairline

Or they can have their end of season review in Spanish, a language they both understand.

Care to write it out in Spanish for us Gambon, or are you still thrilled that you as an Englishman can speak fluent English while the Spaniard can’t??

Marko

Gambon I’m not defending Emery persay I’m more arguing against the idea that sacking him will change much in all honesty. We get rid of him time and investment is still needed to fix things. I’m also arguing against this unrealistic expectation that seems to exist in the Arsenal fanbase at the moment. The business we done last summer and the squad we have right now and the expectation is what exactly? Objectively we’re more or less where we should be which is not very good. Also the whole argument of earning the right to more time that Charlie is… Read more »

Receding Hairline

“He was given a 3 year deal with the option to cancel it after two seasons which suggests that they’ve given him two seasons to earn the right to more time. Not one season.”

Stop making sense. We are past that point on here

Graham62

jwl

Barcelona had no answer to Liverpool’s intensity last night. Each and every player Klopp has playing for him is a fighter and understands the philosophy of “Never giving up”.

We haven’t had this since the Invincibles.

That’s the bottom line.

Champagne Charlie

Receding I find the EL pretty immaterial in judging the landscape of the club, the FA cup has harder teams in it. Goes without saying it would serve as a massive shot in the arm if we are to win it, but it does nothing to convince me of the effect Emery will have on the club in our larger objectives. Much like Wenger winning some FA cups didn’t absolve his decline, the same will be said of Emery win or no win. The league is the bread and butter, Arsenal are not, and should not, aspire to be a… Read more »

Marko

“Oh yea sorry fellas I know it went a bit Lisa Ann end of season there, but gimme mad cash and ill turn it round, promise. Just look at my….uhm command of the language…that’s progress right there”

The language jokes are hilarious by the way. Guy isn’t responsible for who gets bought or who gets sold by the way.

Receding Hairline

I wish i had Bamford’s patience to go through old posts and drag up certain comments At the start of the season it was “this is going to be a painful process” , “patience is needed”, “we can’t expect much until a proper clear out of the squad” Now it’s “our squad is great we only needed coaching”, “look at Klopp making his second champions league final in his fourth season”, “we have wasted a season” ..i wonder how a club who competed for a top four finish and are still one of only a handful of clubs competing in… Read more »

CG

Alex James “””””Benitez is the man we should have gone all out for. He would have made something of this sack of rubbish we currently have””””””””” not my personal choice to take over – but anyone comparing Rafa Benitez to our joker Emery- also do not know what they are talking about. 2 league titles with Valencia Champions League Winners with Liverpool Champions League Finalists with some real footballing dross( Pennant etc) The man is a CLASS act in every aspect ( hugely popular everywhere- except Chelsea and has a wealth of experience that is probably unmatched in World Soccer.… Read more »

Words on a Blog

Marc, In some ways I don’t blame them. As absentee landlords they gave the keys and the chequebook to Arsene, and we are where we are now. My gut feel is that they are in a tight spot financially , partly because of late era Wenger mid-spending, but also partly because they’ve just shelled out a lot money (I.e. taken on,extra financial risk – taking out debt and putting in equity) to buy out Usmanovs share…. ….so they now need to cut back significantly on the clubs spending, particularly wages, and we won’t have much of anything in terms of… Read more »

Graham62

We have had too many i robots. Cloned with the same mentalities and physical capabilities.

Lacazette is our only natural aggressor.

All the others are just a bit too wishy washy.

gambon

Marko Well hopefully the club see sense and decide Emery doesnt know what hes doing. He’s had a season, and theres been no improvement. We should certainly expect the season to have ended better than it started. Hasnt happened, we are worse now than 12 months ago. I keep hearing “He needs his players” What for? He doesnt have a philosophy, doesnt have a style of play, doesnt have a system, cant even pick the same formation 2 games in a row. From what we hear in the press (may not be true) he cant seem to see beyond shit… Read more »

Marko

Can I say that when you have to resort to a lame attempt at humour or comments on a person’s appearance or whatever then you’ve lost the argument. If the discussion is Arsenal what we need going forward and how we’re going to improve ourselves when you bring up Emery’s teeth or his shit English you are in fact not making a good point. Also if the language is a problem which it seems to be for some then you might as well discount Allegri and Jardim for example. I don’t think their English will be much better. Nagelsmann too.

Receding Hairline

“I find the EL pretty immaterial in judging the landscape of the club, the FA cup has harder teams in it.” Yet the FA cup qualifies you for the EL. We won two of our FA cups by beating relegated Hull and Aston Villa..brilliant Charles “The league is the bread and butter, Arsenal are not, and should not, aspire to be a fucking cup side like Sevilla.” We dropped out of all the cups bar the one which qualifies us for the champions league, we actually competed for top four finish in the league, i know you like to pretend… Read more »

Marko

Well hopefully the club see sense and decide Emery doesnt know what hes doing.

Say they do that what do you think changes? Way I see it whoever comes next will still need major investment a squad overhaul and more than a single season.

Pierre

I think that Emery is not as stupid as he looks ( or sounds) …..or is he?

His ramblings at post match press conferences and TV interviews is a deliberate ploy to evade the question ….gibberish I called it back in September and gibberish is still what it is.

I believe that after 8 months of tuition his speech would be more coherent.

Guns of Hackney

Oh lighten up. Emery looks like Count Dracula. It’s not malicious, just a character observation.

I just happen to look like gods gift the the female species and have the physical attributes of a granite superman.

Que sera

Marko

I believe that after 8 months of tuition his speech would be more coherent.

That’s funny considering Ozil is here nearly 6 years and still does interviews in German.

Guns of Hackney

At least five managers would have done a better job.

Emery is a middle of the road guy.

No pizazz.

gambon

Yes, whoever needs to come in will need to spend money, and buy good players.

They will also need to improve the squad.

We have just picked up 4 points from Everton, Watford, Palace, Wolves, Leicester & Brighton.

Clearly, the quality of our players is far from the only issue.

OleGunner

I’m with Benny,

Get a new guy in, keep the current squad with no additions and we are top 3 next season and in 2020/2021 we win the league at a canter.

Xhaka, Mustafi, Elneny, Mikhi, Torreira, Lacazette, Auba, Guendouzi, Leno, Monreal et al have it in them to win the league with no extra help besides saucy coaching.

Come to think of it, why should honestly spend a dime? This team has all the attributes to conquer Europe and the club world cup.

salpardisenyc

Really can’t argue with work the Fenway group has done, stellar record. Since taking over Red Sox in 2002 they have turned a club of perennial almosts into a winning powerhouse. The club hadn’t won a title in over 80 years, now won it 4 times since takeover. Always contending along the way. Same ethic and good instinct with investment has been unleashed at Liverpool, Klopp showed mettle and was rewarded very similar. Henry has found his Terry Francona for Liverpool in Klopp. Two clubs shadowing each other, the ruthlessness they showed Rodgers was given to Francona’s predeccsor after bottling… Read more »

Jamie

Poch hid behind a translator for a year and a half at Southampton. Enough of bashing Emery for not speaking a 3rd or 4th language fluently within 8 months of arriving in a foreign country.

Words on a Blog

Having just taken a financial hit to pay Monsieur Wenger to terminate his contract and leave early and ultimately employ Senor Emery, will the cheapskate club take another hit to persuade Senor Emery and pay him to leave early as he has “underperformed” according to the good posters of Le Grove?

How much funds will that leave Herr Special Sauce to buy new players?

Then again, maybe he doesn’t need any money, as he’ll have prepared a dazzling and totally convincing presentation to the Board on how he’ll improve Mustafi and Xhaka and Mikki.
Fat chance

Champagne Charlie

When does the leadership “get tough” with Emery for poor performance exactly Marko?

You talk about time, yet Klopp took over 9 games into a league campaign. If you were a Liverpool fan you’d likely be the sort to say ‘give Brenda until the end of the season, we were a slip away..’.

At what stage do you decide you should’ve seen improvement? End of a season isn’t right apparently, so is it two seasons? Next Jan? 9 games in like Liverpool did?

CG

Gambon
“”””I keep hearing “He needs his players”””””

No-coach the bloody ones you have got !
You are a professional soccer coach. Its the basic premise of you job.

Coach, coach , coach , coach.
Improve , Improve. Improve, Improve.

If you can not make our players play better against Brighton, Wolves, Leicester, Palace, saints, – we should get someone who can.

there are lots of professional coaches out there:

Vieria
Howe
Benitez
Conte
Campbell
Lehmann
Freddie L
Dyche
Wenger
Simeone
Ancelloti
Arteta
Lampard
gerrard
Sheff Utd manager.
Even Mourinhio is out of work!

keep it simple
its only football!

Marc

Jamie

Funny thing is now the Poch can speak good English all he seems to want to talk about is leaving!

Marko

Clearly, the quality of our players is far from the only issue. Pretty important one which coincides with another important issue which is investment. Far from important is the manager’s English. I personally would say that that turnover of squad and investment is the single most important issue because those things can kind of help or mask over issues with regards to the manager. You want improvement there’s your improvement. You think a Jardim or whoever comes in and improves things without investment and time? Nah. But we’ve been over it and over it. Whatever they decide to do with… Read more »

Words on a Blog

Champagne,

“Leadership” at Arsenal to cal Emery to account?

I suspect there ain’t any.

More seriously, given that he has a two Year extendible contract, I suspect that Judgement Day against milestones/key performance indicators will be at the end of next season

GoonGoonerGone

Klopp playing heavy metal. Our manager playing country western without figuring out the chords.

gambon

“Far from important is the manager’s English”

You dont remember Iwobi being subbed on a few months back and having no idea where he was supposed to be playing?

There is poor english, and then there is utter nonsense.

I dont think anyone can make head nor tail of what Emery is saying.

Champagne Charlie

Woab

Which is an indictment on the leadership at the club and not reflective of it being a fair or sensible approach to hiring/firing a manager.

This talk of new players is so backwards, let’s being in a bunch of new players and then sack Emery a year later. That’ll leave the new guy with a bunch of Emery-type players and we go again.

The idea of worrying about the manager is to get that bit in place and follow up with the rest of the cracks

Receding Hairline

“When does the leadership “get tough” with Emery for poor performance exactly Marko?” I know this question wasn’t directed at me but reading your post one might come to the conclusion we just came off the back of a season where we were thoroughly useless and didn’t compete for anything I personal feel it is important to not let you get away with this, You gave a manager of 20 years leeway and even made his excuses for him, but the man who replaced him and competed for a top four finish should be “treated with toughness” for poor performances…..fuck… Read more »

Dissenter

Emery’s English is actually quite good for a man who barely spoke in English one year ago. His English is now as good as Pochettino’s.
It’s always amusing when English men criticize others for their language skills.
I mean, another way to describe a one-language speaker is to call them British.

Does gambon and CG speak other languages?

gambon

I think there will certainly be some tough questions for Emery at the end of the season. He will probably try to lie his way out, much like he did to get the job. He’ll probably have a presentation ready to explain why we scored less, conceded more, less shots on goal, more shots against, lower xG, higher xGA Then he’ll pull out a slightly modified version of last years presentation, saying we will be protagonists, pressing, improved defence. Then, as Bacaryisgod said, he will be sacked 10-15 games into next season. Emery knows this. Hes just trying to string… Read more »

Words on a Blog

Champagne,

I get the idea behind the manager first/players later sequencing, makes sense.

But I worry about Raul and Josh being the ones to make the decision on any new manager, and in the short term given the lack of money around, I worry that big name managers will be put off by the absence of sizeable transfer funds, whilst up-and-comers will be worried about the lack of structures etc to buy young players.

Marc

gambon

Is there any chance of you ever getting behind a manager? If so who would that be out of interest?

Receding Hairline

“We’ve all worked with people that were out of their depth, and just said the right things to the right people for as long as possible to keep their job.” Many mangers are out of their depth if Unai Emery is out of his depth. I get you do not like the man but at least respect what he has achieved since becoming a manager when his coach was sacked midway through the season and he became coach leading his team to promotion. I suggest you go through the European managers of the year awards list, you won’t find many… Read more »

Marko

You talk about time, yet Klopp took over 9 games into a league campaign. If you were a Liverpool fan you’d likely be the sort to say ‘give Brenda until the end of the season, we were a slip away..’. Ah Charles I thought you were smarter than that. If you can’t see the difference between Rodgers and what 3 seasons and Emery given one then I can’t help you. If anything that sounds more like you how many years were you judging Wenger in may and then when it came to be judged it never happened. You specifically I… Read more »

gambon

Marc

Any manager that improves us. Literally any.

CG

In many ways Jose Mourinhio would be the perfect manger for us.
Absentee Landlord- so no one to clash with or infighting.

Stan lets him get on with it,
And We see what unravels.

It certainly wont be dull.
could go either way,?

maybe – that whats we need after this failed Emery Experiment??

OleGunner

You’re a regular old galaxy brain ain’t ya CG?

Receding Hairline

“gambon Is there any chance of you ever getting behind a manager? If so who would that be out of interest?”

He keeps talking about Klopp like he would have had the patience if he was a liverpool fan to see his work come to fruition. Brendan did compete for the title with Liverpool before his sacking, Klopp is only competing in his fourth season but i am led to believe he would have had patience

Dissenter

If you’re being subbed in and you still don’t know your role then it’s partly on you. Iwobi should have had the manager or his assistant repeat the instructions. That’s Iwobi stupidity for you. Otto Rehhagel, the German manager that famously coached the Greek team to the 2004 Euros trophy didn’t speak Greek. He had to use interpreters for the most part for media briefings, even though most of the Greek players spoke German. Bobby Robson didn’t speak Portuguese or Spanish when he coached on the European mainland. That’s how Mourinho came about. Iwobi should have asked for clarifications. Stop… Read more »

Pedro

Benny, that take was… an interesting defence.

Dissenter, investing in a stand isn’t really risk, is it?

Dissenter

I credit Emery for one thing though.
He’s rekindled gambon’s interest in Arsenal. He’s made him return from his self-imposed exile.

He cannot be that bad if that feat was achieved.

Dissenter

It seems the Brazilian FA will expect compensation to let Edu leave.

CG

Marko

“”when you bring up Emery’s teeth or his shit English””

Well either improve both aspects or don’t become The Arsenal Coach.

I am sure he can afford a cosmetic dentist
I am sure he can afford the best Language tutors.

We are an Elite institution – not Billy Smart Circus!
Off course- its important, man!

Marko

Then, as Bacaryisgod said, he will be sacked 10-15 games into next season. I dunno man I see a decision being made on Emery the end of next season. I doubt he’ll be sacked in the summer or midway through next season because I see there being work done on the squad which will help no ends. You mention all that xG stuff and I’m telling you right now you replace Xhaka, Mustafi and a couple others in the squad and without getting into specific players to replace him those things will improve. The only way he gets sacked midseason… Read more »

jwl

gambon is little englander – sure Emery might have won multiple domestic and European trophies but what about his accent and teeth?

azed

“I think there will certainly be some tough questions for Emery at the end of the season. ”

Gambon

If we go by Guillem earlier podcast with Arseblog, Emery is far ahead of were the hierarchy expects the team to be. In that podcast, we were not expected to compete for top 4 this year.

Champagne Charlie

Oh look, the predictable ‘defer to wenger’ line of deflection. I did want a new manager, but don’t let that get in the way of a good lie. There’s also a difference in living in hope that a guy reproduces something he’s done previous, and for a guy to produce something for the first time in his career. Liverpool had more reason to keep Brenda after their stellar season they came 2nd, than anything Emery has offered. So the comparison is just, it’s about ruthlessness. When do Arsenal show some? Pretty widely accepted that faith in the previous manager was… Read more »

Marko

Gambon what happens if in the summer we turnover the squad and bring in some decent players and there’s a marketable improvement in the squad next season under Emery what then?

jwl

Graham62 – I agree about Arsenal lacking proper players since invincibles. I never understood why Wenger refused to buy athletic, physical players after we sold Vieira.

GoonGoonerGone

Ozil captain; Xhaka captain – tells you a lot about the manager’s ability.
As an aside: Relegated Fulham have asked Wenger to manage them next season which he has turned down.
And there I was thinking that Wenger would take this opportunity to get them, in his words, “to the next level”.
Old git is probably praying for a recall as Arsenal manager.

Dissenter

The last quarter collapse leaves a lot of explaining for Emery to do. It;s hard to defend how we collapsed. He has to explain that to the top brass.
My guess is that Raul knows that we have too much chaff mixed with the grain.

How do you plan for Mustafi not to do the inexplicable mistake he made against Palace?
I mean what defender does that? Even Senderos wouldn’t have done that,

gambon

Marko

If we start improving Im happy with Emery.

Im happy until the improvement stops, then its time for a new manager.

Im not talking about finishing 5th vs finishing 6th due to a bit of luck.

Im talking about xG rising, xGA falling, leading to more goals scored, less goals conceded, more clean sheets.

I would still love to ask Emery why we stood still for a year.

Marko

I did want a new manager, but don’t let that get in the way of a good lie. Ah yes but you also made a case for keeping him on with someone else doing the transfers and seeing if that could work. We all know how vocal you were under Wenger. I’m kidding you weren’t. There’s also a difference in living in hope that a guy reproduces something he’s done previous, and for a guy to produce something for the first time in his career. Which is? This is what I’m talking about realistic expectations in the Arsenal fanbase. Whoever… Read more »

Receding Hairline

“There’s also a difference in living in hope that a guy reproduces something he’s done previous, and for a guy to produce something for the first time in his career.” Which is what exactly for the first time in his career?? Top three finish?? done three times in a row with Valenica League titles?? Has one with PSG ( PSG appoint managers based on ability, managers just don’t take turns from across Europe) He is a well decorated manager, the only one in history with three consecutive Europa/Uefa titles. What exactly do you want him to reproduce that is above… Read more »

salpardisenyc

John Henry a different animal to Kroenke whom seems happy to content with being top four, Emery is going to have sink out of Europa league for a stretch before they’ll take action i’d imagine.

Its a bottom line game.

Receding Hairline

“I would still love to ask Emery why we stood still for a year.”

In what language??

Champagne Charlie

Marko

Your inability to follow a thread of a debate is your own downfall, not anyone else’s. I didn’t advocate Wenger and a change of recruitment policy as a genuine consideration, I did so to address the absurdity of your claim that it didn’t matter what manager came in to work with the players we have.

Read slow…..

If it didn’t matter who the manager was because the players are trash, we’d have been better off saving the severance money, spending that on players, then replacing Wenger at the end of the season.

Get it?
No?
Nvm.

bennydevito

Fuck Liverpool and Fuck klopp, this is an Arsenal blog. We can all suck Klopp’s cock all night long but there’s no getting away from the fact that that Barcelona side Messi including is a shadow of their former self. Origi, Milner, Henderson may not be the Hollywood stars that Salah and Mane are but they’re no Iwobi, Xhaka or Mustafis either. And let’s not forget the cost of Alison and Van Dyke who were also key last night. Van Dyke alone was more than our whole budget this summer. A few posts ago many of the Emery critics were… Read more »

Marko

I would still love to ask Emery why we stood still for a year. Well if we improve next season after a turnover in squad and investment wouldn’t it be pretty obvious why the first season went the way it did? Basically it sounds like even if he does improve you’d question the first season and basically would be waiting for the first sign of a problem and be back at it. That sounds very stressful. So basically when signs of improvement stops at Arsenal you want the manager gone. Considering the club you support expect to go through a… Read more »

gambon

benny

The last few weeks you seem to be arguing that you dont like Emery, but also hate everyone that doesnt like Emery.

Receding Hairline

“Arteta however clearly has a big role in the defensive setup at City so I for one would like to see him come in and take over from Emery and make a start at turning our defence into a much better unit especially if we’re not going to have the money to buy the VVD’s and Alisons of this world.”

Same City that has spent 230m pounds on their defense? What was Arteta’s role ..money transfer??

gambon

“So basically when signs of improvement stops at Arsenal you want the manager gone.”

So whats the alternative? Settle for 6th place in perpetuity?

Marko

I did so to address the absurdity of your claim that it didn’t matter what manager came in to work with the players we have. I’m not talking about anything recently you’ve said you have said prior to Arsene leaving that you thought he was still capable of challenging for major honours and that maybe a change in structure and taking away transfers from him might be a way to keep him. You’ve said something along those lines a few times before. Also how is what I said absurd? There’s no way Klopp, Pep Simeone whoever comes in and improves… Read more »

Champagne Charlie

Receding

Top 3 with Valencia? Is that supposed to be comparable with top 4 in the prem?

Emery didn’t get near the top two in Spain in all his seasons there, took Simeone a season to better the best points gap Emery ever managed there, then he won the league the season after.

Emery winning the EL three times is impressive, but doesn’t relate to an Arsenal team needing to reassert themselves domestically. He’s never shown the capability to do this, his domestic record is bang average and he has never scaled a league to the summit.

Marc

benny

Pep having a go at Arteta because of a defensive mistake does not mean Arteta is responsible for the defensive coaching.

It’s no difference to me turning to the guy sat next to me and shouting “what the fuck was Mustafi doing there?”

Something that has happened on a few occasions.

Marko

So whats the alternative? Settle for 6th place in perpetuity?

That’s one extreme. 3rd 4th would you still be sacking the manager? Are you only content with winning or does challenging count? I think in order for Arsenal football club to get to the point where you are happy or content with them that it’s going to take time and serious investment pal. That’s just a fact

Champagne Charlie

Mark

No didn’t say that, you’re doing your usual false fact routine.

bennydevito

Champagne CharlieMay 8, 2019    10:39:35 Dissenter You’re full of bitchiness lately, do you have an actual point or are you just here to refutes others? >>>>> Coming from you CC this is golden. You spend your entire time on here arguing the toss with anyone who posts a different opinion to you. Pedro banned Bamford for being rude and annoying yet leaves you on here and you’re the rudest, most condescending and patronising poster of the lot. Like a dog with a bone and flies on shit you twist and spin and contradict yourself at every turn and when it… Read more »

Marc

I’m actually coming round to the idea of giving Arteta the job, at least then when he doesn’t show improvement in 6 months we can sack him and never hear his name again.

gambon

Marko

I couldnt care less about winning right now.

As i keep saying, I care about improvement.

Constant improvement will result in winning the PL, but for now I would be happy just to see the level of perfrmance improve.

It hasnt, which is very worrying.

If you cant improve a team with £65m and 1 year, can you improve a team with £130m and 2 years, or £300m and 3 years?

Im not sure you can.

Champagne Charlie

Benny

Keep reasserting that hot take, I’m sure there’s no loads that agree with your managerial summary there.

Give Burnley Pep, and City Dyche and no doubt Burnley finish above City.

I’ve no argument against that Benny. As you say, it’s “fact”.

Receding Hairline

Liverpool 1- Palace 2

Newcastle 2- Liverpool 0

Watford 3- Liverpool 0

West Ham 2- Liverpool 0

Southampton 3- Liverpool 2

Swansea 3- Liverpool 1

Those are some select results in Klopps first season, where he finished 8th. pretty sure Gambon would have sacked him as Liverpool actually went backwards.

bennydevito

Marc,

Sorry but no. Go back and have a look if you can but Pep is clearly directing it at Arteta who then in turn starts shouting out at the players, I’ve seen it a few times now.

What do you think Arteta does? Just sit there holding the clip board? He clearly had a major input, he is the assistant manager after all.

Marko

I’m not sure how someone can suggest that Arteta is responsible for Man City’s defence. They’ll have to show some evidence other than saying clearly. Like honestly he was a RM then a CAM and never anything more than average sitting at the base of a midfield protecting a defence. There’s basically nothing to suggest that he can be responsible for an improved defence. I think Man City targeting very competent and very expensive top quality Defenders goes someway to making them good defensively

Words on a Blog

I feel really sorry for the defensive coach sat next to you at the Emirates!