This is the final instalment of Jonathan Blaustein’s guest post series. Please give him a big fat follow on the Twitter @JBlauPhoto
I was in North London a couple of weeks ago, staying just off the Holloway Road.
I hadn’t been back in 6 years, and the neighbourhood had certainly gentrified.
The London Metropolitan University put up a bunch of high-rise dorm buildings, since last I was there.
Shiny and modern, for sure.
I was walking along the Holloway Road, on a Tuesday morning, trying to figure out which lane led to the Emirates Stadium, as I’d only ever found it accidentally.
When I hit the first major crossroads, I looked to the left, but the road was curved, so I couldn’t see very far, and anyway, I didn’t see a stadium-top.
I was headed to buy some merch for myself and the kids, and when I looked across the street, those fancy new buildings caught my eye.
So much so that I raised my new iPhone to take a photograph.
As I went to snap the photo, a nice middle-aged Englishwoman walking behind me stopped, looked at the image on my screen, looked up, saw the buildings, and then said, “That’s a lovely photograph! So great of you to notice it. That’s really art!”
Of course that began a conversation, as I accompanied her to her office at the college in a building up the block.
I continued Southeast on the Holloway Road, trying to find the damn stadium.
I passed one intersection, because I couldn’t see it, and took the next one instead.
Finally, I saw signs, and followed them, dejected, as we seemed to walking just back where I came from.
(And I was in a time crunch as well.)
Sure enough, I finally saw the stadium gleaming in the London morning sun, and realized it was exactly where I’d just been.
I’d gone out of my way, and essentially walked in a circle, to get back to where I started. Only by the time I got there, I was annoyed, rather than excited.
Did I go into the Arsenal store anyway?
Yes, yes I did.
I bought things from the bargain bin, if you’re wondering, because all the cool new clothes were branded with the new marketing slogan “Kings of London.”
Kings of London.
(Pause.)
Kings of London?
Are you fucking kidding me?
By what possible metric are Arsenal the best team in town? Let’s be honest.
Right now, we’re #3.
I know it. You know it.
And so do all the players who are going to sign for new teams this summer.
What kind of player, or better yet, what actual player will want to sign on for the Unai Emery era, if they’re also being recruited by City, Chelsea, Liverpool, or Tottenham?
Who would choose Arsenal over those teams, to join the Emery experiment, now that we’ll be in the Europa League for the 3rd consecutive year, and we just pulled a massive double-choke in the Premier and Europa Leagues.
So we’re clear, I’ve written a column here all year long. I was consistent. Let’s give Emery a year and see what he produces. Maybe his chokes at PSG were a thing of the past.
Maybe we were getting a bruised-but-still-high-end-talent who’s ready for redemption?
Like a Pre-Liverpool Klopp?
That was wishful thinking for a best case scenario, to mix my business jargon. And now, in early June, it has been proven farcical.
I know there were a few small green shoots this year, like beating Chelsea, Tottenham and ManU, and drawing with Liverpool.
And I guess PEA co-won the Golden Boot, and Laca emerged as awesome.
Guendouzi was fun, and Torriera had a few proper runs.
But now that I’ve gone through the pretense of looking at both sides, I’m here to say that if I were in charge of Arsenal, I’d be firing Unai Emery.
Now.
If Stan and Josh, much less Raul, want anyone to believe that accountability has returned to Arsenal, you can’t keep on a coach who oversaw that type of collapse.
Not after Late-Wenger.
Say this for the old man, at least he bagged those 3 FA Cups.
To choke as badly as Arsenal did at the end of the season, (not to mention PEA’s penalty choke against Tottenham,) will stain Unai Emery’s credibility forever.
He’s tarnished goods, for absolute certain, and his ceiling for greatness was likely limited to begin with.
Really, who was banging for “Emeryball” before he was hired?
Coach was a last-second panic hire by Gazidis, to get us out of the Europa League.
And it didn’t work.
So now, rather than wasting more time trying to slowly walk back the soft comfort that Wenger created, it’s time for a new, fresh, hard-working, grinder of a coach with a dynamic offensive AND defensive philosophy.
Someone the players will go to war for.
If I sound a lot like Pedro, it’s because I agree with him completely.
Sweep the decks.
Start over before you walk too many blocks in the wrong direction.
Because the truth is, when that lady interrupted me on the Holloway Road?
I was 150 meters from the stadium, and my camera was set to video.
I never got that photograph, and I walked right past the stadium, because I got distracted by a cute and comfortable little moment.
It seemed harmless at the time, but it cost me twenty minutes of wasted walking.
That’s what this year felt like, now that it’s done.
A fucking waste, with no trophies.
Start over, and do it right this time, before we’re looking at Everton and Watford and Wolves thinking, “Wow, how did they get ahead of us? We’ll have to work pretty hard to make sure we qualify for the Europa League again.”
That’s the cold truth.
We need our own Sean McVay.
And we need him now.
Remember to follow @JBlauPhoto!
Dark Hei and what’s wrong with making a squad look at themselves?
Are you saying our squad gave everything they had and were only let down by bad coaching?
That’s an interesting take if so
Who said Emery isn’t blaming himself? Has he said as much? Maybe he wants to get his players and staff opinions on every level. Maybe he wants every side of the coin. And maybe, he made it public because he reads public opinion and sees a load of knee jerk hot heads calling for him to be sacked and he wants to show them he gives a shit and he’s exploring every avenue in an attempt to source the issues and improve them. Or maybe he’s just a shit manager who hasn’t turned us into Man City in a season… Read more »
Reading the transfer news seems pretty dire stuff.
Really will be scraping the barrel with 40 million.
There will be way more than 40m spent this season London Gunner.
Way more.
Actually incorrect. Emery is also assessing stats to see if his fitness sessions are having an adverse effect on matches and whether he needs to change training in the day(s) before a game. But a lot of these players need to look at themselves. Too often they are allowed to hide. Considering the bitches we have in this team I think it’s a great idea to ask ‘what do you think went wrong then?’ A great teaching technique is asking students to critique their own and others work and tell you. If they can see errors and areas of improvement… Read more »
There is nothing wrong in having an inquest into the cause of failure but normally it is not lead by the person who was in charge of the failed project. Subordinates are unlikely to tell Emery to his face ‘you shat the bed with your tactics and personnel changes’. Same thing if they believe that his pet Spanish assistant is responsible. Under good leadership, somebody independent should investigate and then report the conclusion of the investigation to Raul. To Raul and not Emery. Raul should then transmit the relevant part of the dossier to Emery. The reason is that otherwise… Read more »
From the mail link posted earlier. “The former Paris Saint Germain boss has spoken publicly about how much demands from his players during training sessions – and Emery may look to adapt the intensity of certain sessions to ensure his players stay fresh, while there remains concerns about an apparent mental fragility of his squad.” Seems like somebody is now acknowledging that maybe he should have listen to the conditioning team in that regard. The EPL is different from the other major leagues in that it is not only a lot more physical but it also does not have a… Read more »
I wonder what the product Pedro was advertising on the shoot….
Next day rushes of …..
Coffee?
Toothpaste ?
Magazines ?
What do you reckon it was …
Pedro I’m sure you will give the winner done sort of prize ? Yeah if we guess right.. a mention in the blog ???
After reading the report on the “inquest” itself, I think it wasn’t as adversarial as I thought.
It seemed genuine. Though at the same time, I do worry that Emery needed to ask anyway at all.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7114095/Unai-Emery-quizzes-players-coaches-inquest-Arsenals-end-season-collapse.html
I’ll tell you why I don’t want to sack Emery this summer, because I don’t think there is any way in which he has made this team his own; and I don’t want to be like city, Chelsea or man U just chopping and changing manager because other teams were just as good as them for a season. I know in hindsight that sounds stupid, as for them changing managers it has brought success. But if we really want this self sustaining success, we need to at least have a few seasons to build and and to keep a manager… Read more »
Pedro
Was it an advert for suitcases
Samsonite ?
” I do worry that Emery needed to ask anyway at all.”
Please shed more light on the worry part
Is a football coach all knowing?? isn’t this a team game? Is he supposed to draw his own conclusions and stubbornly stick to it??
Some of you are hard to shift once you have it in for someone
Goobergooner
Bravo!! Every you say is spot on.
The best post on here for many a long time.
Everything
RSPCA it was a lube advert 😜
Cheers Graham! How are ya mate?
Receding,
Emery was meant to win the league this year without a loss. Didn’t you know
Imo, the fact we came away from the season empty handed will help Emery.
Now he knows those players he can trust and wants to keep and those that are surplus to requirements.
Last season he had to follow a script and make do and then try and adjust accordingly.
It will be interesting to see what materialises over the coming weeks, not only with regards player movement but also the support Emery gets from the owner/board.
Let’s see what happens.
“and I don’t want to be like city, Chelsea or man U just chopping and changing manager because other teams were just as good as them for a season. ”
In other words, you are far more advised than the likes of Pedro, CG, Guns Of Hackney, and so many others…
(lol)
RH
Hey, he is clueless, but as I mentioned, he wasn’t being mean or cynical.
Everyone knows why we flunked. Our football lack coherency and we relied too much on our strikers beating the odds.
And unlike the early part of the season, we couldn’t tough it out as our fitness dropped and we lost that bit of luck.
I don’t think our players, bar Ozil, weren’t motivated or didn’t squeeze themselves hard enough. I think they truly gave what they could.
Kings of London? Are you fucking kidding me? By what possible metric are Arsenal the best team in town? Let’s be honest. Right now, we’re #3. I know it. You know it.” Anyone with non-Arsenal tinted sunglasses knows it. The rot started about 6-8 years ago andI’m afraid it’ll only get worse before it gets better. I haven’t thrown Emery into the “definitely not going to work” bin yet but it’s not looking like he’s the one. This was always going to happen though, it was wishful to think that the very next manager was going to come in and… Read more »
Goobergooner
I’m fine thanks, except for the weather.
Your post was much needed.
The last few days have proven to be a bit of a bind on here, with so much negativity directed at Emery.
I know my harping back to Wenger infuriates so many on here, which I feel is not a bad thing, but when you move into a house that has been run down and neglected for over a decade, you know that a quick fix is nigh near impossible.
You get the drift.
Tits
Not enough posted on here about our “delusional fan base” or as I now like to call them “the chips on shoulder brigade”
Hahaha I love the ‘post Wenger’ Wenger banter, as it riles people up so much. Good for a laugh that’s for sure and mostly true 😂
Also I’m in Melbourne, weather is just as shit haha.
But yeah since the final it’s been a bit sour around the club. As it should be. Absolute shit fest haha.
But maybe I’m just more optimistic about the next few seasons and can take more shit as long as the approach is from a different perspective (aka not Wenger’s alone).
“I don’t think our players, bar Ozil, weren’t motivated or didn’t squeeze themselves hard enough. I think they truly gave what they could.”
That you believe this is what’s actually worrying,
“Everyone knows why we flunked. Our football lack coherency and we relied too much on our strikers beating the odds.”
Who else was scoring regularly?? Most of you spent the season calling for two strikers on the pitch, we ended the season playing two up font and fat good it did us
Pretty much my sentiments tits. Just too late of a change to expect more immediate success.
I was actually stoked we had a shot at top 4 right til the end and were in the final
Goober
Well written and optimistic post.
Yes, we are trying to put in place a structure but things like accountability and transparency do not take time to be demonstrated in public. The fact that Raul or Vinai or Josh still haven’t come with a public statement in support of Emery speaks volumes about the men at the top and the club as whole.
Think about it, just a simple statement of support towards Emery will go a long way in addressing the dissent towards him.
When your midfield maestro is xhaka you’re not going to score more than the odd long bomb from that area of the pitch. Fuck even Wilshere was more prolific
Dark Hei
“I don’t think our players, bar Ozil, weren’t motivated or didn’t squeeze themselves hard enough. I think they truly gave what they could.”
—————————
You just had lunch with Wenger or what ?
Sid,
I feel that the statement of support is somewhat there in their shitty interview.
What I do agree with is that the owner and top executives aren’t what we need
RH
In other words, Emery’s football tactics, strategies and coaching are largely sound and it was the players that screwed it all up because they are Wenger’s snow flakes. And those new players recruited contacted the same malaise by being around Ozil.
Hey, if that is what you think, I can understand why you are persevering with Emery.
Clean out the entire playing squad. Don’t forget to fumigate the changing rooms.
siddharth14
You didn’t know? I am have an exclusive to his next book.
It is a fluffy and rosy take on his tenure.
“Hey, if that is what you think, I can understand why you are persevering with Emery.” You clearly have me mixed up with someone else, i am just a poster on le grove not the man in charge of hiring and firing at Arsenal. That i chose to give a manager an extra season before declaring him “hopeless” and “average” is something i am entitled as you are entitled to your sack him now stance That you believe that giving their absolute bests our player cannot manage home wins against Brighton and Palace is worrying, you do not need a… Read more »
All this talk of whisky and not one of you mentions Ardbeg, the utter king?
I now no longer trust your judgement on players…
RH Personally, I think it was a combination of luck and trust in the manager that got the players through for the first 22 games. I don’t know what happened, but I think the players and the manager lost some spark midway through the season. That for me is the reason for the collapse. And you are right. I don’t get to “sack” Emery. Honestly, it is easy for me to sprout this shit exactly because I don’t need to sack him. If I had to sack, him, my big headache would be to ask Stan for some cash to… Read more »
Professional footballers by trade or not. They are now on such high wages winning or losing the incentive to give 100% every game becomes less. They are going to be paid anyway a BARKING Coach when things are not going well will make no difference they are still going to be paid, Do you think the Goldfish is bothered if he plays or not.? Perhaps wage structures should be totally redesigned there are crap players on such high wages. Win bonuses etc should be more extensive make the players want to win the times I have seen sides just going… Read more »
james That is very true but at which club do we get to witness such wimp performances on regular basis. Arsenal are champions elite when it comes to lack of desire and grit. I can understand such performances under Wenger’s last couple of seasons but Emery in his first season ? It’s not like we have an old squad with players approaching the end of their careers. Surely, it’s in the best interest of every player to put in a decent effort irrespective of the tactics. A lot of players obviously see themselves leaving to other clubs in a year… Read more »
“Think about it, just a simple statement of support towards Emery will go a long way in addressing the dissent towards him.”
This kind of comment shows the naivety displayed by some posters on here. How many times are managers given the dreaded “show of support” by the chairman only to be sacked a week later, it’s got to the stage where the act is almost part of the dismissal process. A few vocal posters on a blog is not enough “dissent” to get on anyone’s radar at the club.
Emery had the gall and audacity to play certain players contracted by Arsenal in a home game against Palace.
It didn’t go well but the team recovered after adjustments and we were on top until another contracted player decided to have a brain fart and gift Zaha with a goal on a platter.
For these reasons, Emery must go.
‘
Siddharth.
Your comment “ surely it’s in the interest of every player to give his best
with the view of moving on in a season or two”.
Sorry can’t agree with that players like The Goldfish will suck the life blood out of a team as long as they retain their 350,000 a week they will have no ambition to move on their goal has been achieved.
There are plenty of players who find themselves very comfortable whether
They play or not ( Jenkinson comes to mind)
“Emery had the gall and audacity to play certain players contracted by Arsenal in a home game against Palace.”
A sack-able offense in any club
Can you imagine Emery took am risk to rest players and rotate with senior players that Arsenal have contracted.
They knock him for that and then knock him from overplaying.
They knock him for even seeking feedback from his players. As if that stops the director of football from doing his own interviews. The club will already have the players inputs through their agents anyways.
We ought to just sack him and appoint a new manager.
Marc That was purely my comment and i don’t think any other poster has called for Emery to to be publicly backed. As regards, to the act being almost part of the dismissal process; i don’t remember that happening at Arsenal in the last 10 years when people were starting to witness the fall of Arsenal under Wenger. It is naive to reference other clubs when our own club is the antithesis of the norm. Lastly, do you honestly believe that almost all supporters or fans who regularly go to games are convinced by Emery or Arsenal under the present… Read more »
Dissenter
Exactly.
People still going on about the Palace game?
Check how many of those rotations were forced by injuries, suspensions and fatigue before you keep bleating on and on about it. Or you can keep ignoring the facts if that suits your agenda better.
Siddartha
The point is that most supporters think (lEmery is a competent, hard-working guy who did a pretty good job with an inadequate bunch and that he definitely deserves another season.
As for an expression of support, Raul and Vinai explicitly stated in their last interview that they are very happy with Emery and wouldn’t change a thing.
I see The Loosers are out in force- in full entrenched mode. Backing this Looser Emery. ( no wonder they cant see his inadequacies- they clearly have their own to navigate on a daily basis)** Emery- the man who has failed everywhere he has been ( except the Wretched Loosers Cup) fails again in his first season at Arsenal. If Arsenal pull out any tough fixtures early on next season. Do not be surprised for Drubbings. Juicy ones…. When will the fine people on here- realise the players dont Rate him. Nor Respect him Nor like him. We have lost… Read more »
Siddartha
Sorry, I should have added that the Emery-out brigade are a tiny minority.
Dissenter
Oh so Emery was just taking necessary risks as a manager with “contracted players”, so what’s the fuss?
You’re the most contrarian poster going.
Imagine trying to argue that a manager making poor decision after poor decision shouldn’t be critiqued because he was merely taking risks with club employees 😂😂
Bamford
“”””As for an expression of support, Raul and Vinai explicitly stated in their last interview that they are very happy with Emery and wouldn’t change a thing.”””
And we must never Forget their Words.
They are even more culpable than useless Unai.
Champagne
What were all of these many “poor decisions”? Please list some of them. Also, please tell us the XI he should have deployed against Palace & why. If you can’t do these things, your criticism is nothing more than empty hot air.
I don’t think that the Emery Out Brigade is the minority. The Emery Knows Best are just the most vocal in their support. Even if the EOB was the minority, that does not mean that they would be wrong. The Wenger Out Brigade was initially in the minority before it became evident to everybody that by refusing to change he was impairing Arsenal. In the end he was removed from his post for the good of the club. I have no doubt that bar a miracle Emery will not be in charge of Arsenal at the beginning of the season… Read more »
CC
Emery rotated key players with contracted Arsenal players who have trained with the squad all season.
What’s so contrarian about that. You’re the one who always maintained the squad was good enough.
You must consider yourself part of a rapid fire-quick response anti-Emery squad on legrove because you’re quick to rebut any post that’s remotely balanced about the manager.
Biggles –
Ardbeg is a great shout! Bruichladdich deserves a mention too. I love this game.
CG
Seven more points than the previous season, one place higher in the table, eleven points closer to fourth and our rivals.
That’s improvement.
This ship was never going to be turned around in one season, and your commentary reads like someone who is a little unhinged.
Whats the risk in playing Jenkinson against Palace at home?
Shouldn’t that be a routine rotation given that the squad is good enough is you’ve followed the railings of agenda-Charlie all season?
Dissenter Your ridiculous assertion completely overlooks squad management and assumes all players are ready and able for the task at hand. Clearly not the case. A lot of the younger players never got appropriate minutes through the season to garner a start, other players were overloaded, but above all that we never had any tactical acumen in the home stretch, we looked bereft of ideas and totally exposed to each teams attacks. That in itself flips on its head the idea Emery prepares on a game by game basis, given that’s not arguable it’s pretty clear his performance as manager… Read more »
Bamford
Dont kid a kidder.
Dont be delusional.
Be honest with Yourself, man
He is hopeless.
He is problem creator not a problem solver.
He cant communicate
He is a bore
He is uncharismatic
He has appalling teeth.( No excuse nowadays-Excellent cosmetic dentistry in Cape Town and cheaper than mainland Europe)
He has a track record of Failure.
He will Fail at Arsenal
Because that’s Unai Emerys MO
Truth Hurts…
Valentin
One, that the Emery-out brigade is a tiny minority is an obvious fact. Two, I’d point to AST polls, or supporter polls, or Twitter polls, but none have even been run because no one regards this as a serious question.
Maybe we should appoint the all knowing Valentin as assistant to the footballing director.
I’ve never seen anyone make so major deductions from perusing the daily star. Most people read the daily star for laughs, Not so much Valentin.
-One day the story is that Meunier hates Emery so much that he reported him to the PSG hierarchy.
-The moment the story broke that Emery had been trying to convince Meunier to come to Arsenal, Valentin conveniently broke the new story…oh Emery and Meunier did make up after all.
Dissenter
“Shouldn’t that be a routine rotation given that the squad is good enough … ?”
You might have been alluding to this, but let’s recall that Charlie is one of those (few) who has been arguing that the squad was good enough this season.
Then turns around and criticizes Emery for using that squad.
Now arguing that a Jenkinson should have been played more. Hilarious.
CC Individual errors from the same BS players cost us in 3 in 3 of the last 4 games. Leicester away- AMN’s casual loss of the ball and stood reaction to recover it. He then went on to hug the guy who got him sent off before trudging off the field. Crystal Palace at home- whatever you think of the starting selection. The game was being redeemed after the half tie adjustments. Ozil equalized and was having the game of his life. We were all over palace and we on course to win the game until Mustafi showed up…individual error.… Read more »
The Emery Backers would have a lot more credence to their arguments- if Emery had a track record of success previously.
He has not.
He has failed before
He failed this season
He will fail until his inevitable sacking.
10000000% certain – he will be gone by the turn of the year.
5 defeats out of 10 = relegation form.
Unsalvergable.!
*in 3 of the last 4 games
Valentin
Well, he might be replaced next summer. No doubt. But if we finish with seven more points next season than we did this season and a place higher in the table, he will have secured us CL football and and he will have helped us to rebuild and refashion ourselves after the debacle that was Wenger’s last few years. And that’s his only remit at moment.
“Truth Hurts…”
@CG : your IQ, that’s what truly hurts.
High Leg
If you were in charge of Arsenal would you persist with Emery or look for someone better?
CG, why don’t you just buy the club ?? At least we wouldn’t have to deal with you on Le Grove anymore…
CG
Are you ok? Your ramblings are genuinely concerning.
I’m not sure how you think you are coming across but it certainly isn’t coherent.
High Leg
Answer The Question, dear boy.
Its straightforward enough
The whole of Le Grove is waiting ….
CG
“Looser” and “10000000%”……………..lol!!
Thanks for the lesson.
Oh yeh and buy the way, we get it!
If he’s gone by the end of the year, so be it.
Somehow though, I don’t think that will happen.
Do you like cricket?
Dissenter We were demolished at Leicester, we had the least possession in the first half in PL history and didn’t create a thing. The fact you’re trying to put that game down to an error is laughable. Also, football games are littered with errors and micro-errors. An error doesn’t account for us conceding 9 goals in 3 games. That’s setup and management. That’s lineup and selection. What you’re doing is going to embarrassing lengths to absolve Emery. It’s the classic ‘this little thing had such a profound impact’ routine to detract from the reality that our bed was covered in… Read more »
“I have no doubt that bar a miracle Emery will not be in charge of Arsenal at the beginning of the season 2020-2021. Why prolonging the agony?” What agony really?? A season that ended two points off third place and a cup final?? What miracle..a title win?? Yea right A top four finish?? not really a miracle seeing as he was two points off third in his first season …..so what exactly are you on about? The only vocal emery outers are wenger loyalist doing what they think is payback and some who have been convinced we are one special… Read more »
CG
“If I was in charge of Arsenal” I would have sacked Wenger ten years back and then we wouldn’t be in this mess.
Don’t you agree?
^^^ that all day long. Haha
If our standards were so lofty as a club Wenger would have been sacked 10 years ago
Now his most vocal supporters, even one that has listed him as the man to lead the rebuild, want Emery out after one season, yes one season.
And they have their xG and xGa’s to back it up…
CG
You just open yourself up.
Did you enjoy yourself in Portugal?
Anybody has information about Ozil and Xhaka?
Not a chance you convince me this team moves forward carrying those liabilities.
Actually, after much deliberation, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s important to have someone like CG on here.
It’s like flicking through the TV channels. Eventually you’ll come across a rerun of “Wile E Coyote and The Road Runner”
Just keep at it CG, you’ll catch us out one day.
Anybody has information about Ozil and Xhaka?
yes there bloody awful and you forgot mustafi as well.
after watching England defend last night CG are you still wanting Gareth Southgate to replace emery?
@Dissenter,
You keep making those snarky dig at people and when they retort you complain about it.
You should learn to disagree with people without resorting to cheap tactic. That say more about you and not in a positive way than the subject of your dig.
Yeah cause 2 defensive mistakes must mean Southgate is a shit manager.
“Those links make sense considering Andersen’s biggest asset is his long-range passing ability from the back, with the Denmark international’s raking diagonal passes out to the flanks from both feet very much a feature of Sampdoria’s build-up play last season. Andersen’s ability to distribute the ball effectively over distance is highlighted by the fact that Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic was the only outfield player to complete more accurate long passes (229) than the Sampdoria defender (188) in Serie A last season, according to Whoscored. Considering his tendency to launch long balls forward, Andersen’s overall pass accuracy rate of 88.8%… Read more »
“In terms of actual defending, Andersen relishes one-on-one duels, although he does have a tendency to get too tight to opposition forwards resulting in fouls given against him, similarly to Arsenal defender Sokratis Papastathopolous. Last season, he was booked seven times in the league. For a defender with a 6’4 frame, Andersen is also not as dominant in the air as you might expect either, as he won 75/139 (53%) of his aerial duels last season. In contrast, the much-maligned Shkodran Mustafi, who incidentally made his name at Sampdoria, won 123/185 (66%) in the Premier League.”
Now the negatives
Still can’t identify or discuss any specific mistakes, still can’t identify or discuss any of these many alleged errors. Still speaking in empty generalities. Like I said, nothing but empty hot air.
@Bamford, Having 7 more points does not guarantee that we will be finishing in the top 4. Other teams may improve by more than us. ManUtd has decided to correct their recruitment mistakes. They are going with young hungry English players with potential. Players who see playing for ManUtd as an objective not as a stepping stone. Chelsea will be forced to use their loanees. Some of them may reveal themselves to be quite good. They and ManCity have had the best academy system for quite a few years now. However Chelsea never gave them any opportunities. The ban may… Read more »
“Although Andersen could tighten up certain aspects of his game, he reads the game well, has an excellent passing range and possesses good physical attributes for a Premier League central defender. At 23, he should only improve playing in a better team with regular exposure to a higher quality league.”
Now with a little positive
there are very good reasons to think that emery isn’t that great and should go, even now. personally, i don’t think there’s much to be gained from changing now, but it’s a rational position given some analysis beyond the points improvement and proximity to fourth place, especially when chelsea and spurs had collapses of their own, which makes the race closer than it probably ‘should’ have been. 7amkickoff does a quality work on this http://7amkickoff.com/index.php/2019/06/01/how-can-anyone-be-emery-out-after-just-one-season/ TLDR; emery had at least some influence over the 70m we spent, and had a full preseason. we fluked the 22 game unbeaten run because… Read more »
“Praet’s manager in each of his three seasons in Italy, AC Milan’s rumoured next appointment Marco Giampaolo, has utilised the Belgian in a deep-lying playmaker role on the right side of his default 4-3-1-2 system, therefore restricting his freedom to break forward. Although his underlying statistics of two goals and three assists in 34 Serie A appearances last season do not particularly jump out, Praet did rank top for chances created (39) and dribbles completed (37) in Sampdoria’s squad, highlighting both his playmaking abilities and good close control. A neat and tidy midfield player, it isn’t hard to see why… Read more »
Valentin
Two things: one, I don’t know why you haven’t noticed this yet, but no one uses the @ convention here. You can drop it. Just type the poster’s name.
Two, if anyone is guilty of trafficking in snide remarks rather than arguments, it’s Pedro, gambon and Champagne. No one else here is even close.
One thing you are consistent with Valentin is your faith in “academy football”.
You seem to believe hunger and youth are all the ingredients you need to build a winning squad, experience and actual ability matters very little to you.
Valentin
That’s why I said “and one place higher in the table”. I wasn’t assuming the one necessarily means the other.
Matt
Right, but if Spurs and Chelsea —teams with better players and good managers — both had their own “collapses,” doesn’t that suggest that our “collapse” might have an explanation other than “the manager isn’t good enough” or “the manager doesn’t know what he’s doing”? Yes, it does.
Let’s face it. What you get with an elite manager is priceless, and for club to hire one shows ambition. You don’t think a club will go for Pep if they are not intending to win. So when a club goes for an elite manager, that alone mean the fans can trust in the process. But when you hire a manager sacked elsewhere for poor performance and he bottled a job in his first season here, given that Arsenal was already a joke under Wenger, any serious supporter should feel uncomfortable immediately with the situation. If we had hired an… Read more »
“Two things: one, I don’t know why you haven’t noticed this yet, but no one uses the @ convention here. You can drop it. Just type the poster’s name“
Imagine being this sort of a person. No wonder this absolute fruit gets banned and bombards Twitter.
Gentlebris
What ‘elite manager’ would you have appointed?
‘yes there bloody awful and you forgot mustafi as well.’
I can’t understand why I kind of like Mustafi, he’s an error producing machine I know.
But his physicality seems to win me.
Good offer, we sell.
Gentlebris
The issue of “failure” at a former job is a bit subjective
Emery was hired by PSG with the sole aim of progress in the champions league. they really didn’t care for anything more, PSG had a possible ten competitions they could have won under Emery, they won seven of those.
You mentioned Pep, will you also call him a failure for failing to win the champions league at Bayern??
“But his physicality seems to win me.”
Physicality? Mustafi??
“Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly prepared to pay €25 million (£22 million) to sign Sampdoria defender Joachim Andersen.
Tuttomercatoweb claim the 2019 Champions League finalists are ready to act on their long-standing interest in the player, after north London rivals Arsenal saw a bid rejected for the player.”