Jose Mourinh-oh-no

by .

Good morning my darlings, a very short post from me today because I have NOTHING to write about.

The hot news that has the comments section in a fluster is the story that Jose Mourinho has said NO to Lyon. Why? He wants a job in England.

Some are speculating he’s looking to sneak the Spurs job, I find this one tough to grapple with. Daniel Levy knows he has a great coach (that is clearly under fire), one that’s not dealt with dark times in his Scum career so far, so I’d imagine he’ll see it through with Poch.

Interesting thing with Spurs is they haven’t been a well-run club prior to Levy. If anything, Poch and the generation of elite talent they cultivated has been the happiest of accidents. I am going to watch with a fascinated eye to see what happens next, because based on historical evidence, they could go back to type after this generation withers and dies. Poch has created the impossible there, he’s crafted talent, he’s spent very little, and he’s kept players so motivated, money hasn’t been an issue. That’s coming to an end, the dream was a potless one.

Anyway… bring back Harry.

The second Jose conspiracy theory is that he’s waiting on Unai Emery to fail. Mustafi ramped up the pressure. As I said yesterday, the German defensive expert was on the path to a Balon D’or before Emery took over at Arsenal. The Spaniard crushed his spirit, forced Arsenal internet to take up arms against him, now Unai is left with blood on his hands.

Will the board tolerate this? Who knows…

I do think everyone has a feeling in their bones that Jose is waiting for the guillotine to drop. His agent is probably telling Edu that Jose is a top 4 machine, Edu probably has a top 4 bonus planned. The agent might even be slipping him a presentation… not a powerpoint, like Unai did… no, a Google Slides, because he is a modern businessman willing to create in the cloud… the same place he crafted his Arsenal vision.

I do not think this is a good long term option for Arsenal, but contrary to some of the shrieks I hear, Jose would be a good stop-gap… and any man that cries that he misses football is going to be more than happy to take on our incredible squad of players.

Also worth noting the press hype…

‘Jose was right about United after all’

Those stories are no accident.

Right, that’s my inflammatory post for the day, see YOU in the comments where I will battle you with all my will. xxx

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Champagne charlie

Bob Yes Torreira was initially excellent, as was Xhaka alongside him during that run, but many players have been just that and went on to be anywhere brilliant to dogshit. Cisse? Michu? Bony? All started like a house on fire. I’m not saying he’s a bad player, I’ve actually said the opposite in other conversations, what I have said is that he’s shown me nothing that suggests he’s going to be a transformative element in our midfield just by a switch of position. I think that’s folk latching onto a vague hope in conjunction with this inane Xhaka witch-hunt. Hope… Read more »

Bamford10

Bob

No, I was referring to Azed’s comment about how Liverpool won the CL.

Champagne charlie

Azed

Stats about a teams win percentage with or without a player are some of the most redundant about.

Correlation is not causation.

azed

CC

But lots of people are of the opinion that replacing Xhaka with Torriera would magically transform us.

Torreira is not a bad player and I actually prefer him to Xhaka but Kante he is not.

Champagne charlie

“We have no problem scoring, we score over a goal a game our major problem is conceding.“ I’m not going there again, it was all said yesterday ffs. Liverpool and City have “no problem” scoring, we scored 26 and 32 goals led respectively than them last season. We don’t have “no problem” scoring because we scored 6 more than Spurs. For the attacking talent at the club 13 goals in 8 games is mediocre and can be improved upon. None of the above has any link to defence, and it certainly doesn’t detract from the improvements that can be made… Read more »

Pierre

When Tierney and Bellerin come into the side, to maximise their potential, Arsenal will need a player who can slip the ball inside the full back with a perfectly weighted ball.. Will add that if the pass is not perfectly timed with the perfect weight , it will either be intercepted or will go out of play. . If we don’t wish to maximize their potential, then play the much easier ball out to the touch line where they will be limited and restricted in their play due to lack of space as it is a much easier ball to… Read more »

Bob N16

Sorry Bamford, misunderstood.

CC, Torreira’s form may have been a flash in the pan although I hope not. I think my frustration with Xhaka (which I appreciate you don’t share) is compounded by Emery asking Torreira to play further forward where he is much less effective, to allow Xhaka do what he does in a deeper role.

So for me it’s a win/win if Xhaka’s omission allows Torreira the opportunity to show that his first half of last season was not some sort of DM mirage.

Champagne charlie

“But lots of people are of the opinion that replacing Xhaka with Torriera would magically transform us.“ That’s their opinion, I don’t see it from what I’ve watched of him and I don’t see it because the collective structure of Emery’s Arsenal side is no coherent ie play who you like it will not make much difference. That being said, a stat like win percentage with or without a player tells you nothing. It’s the most superficial of stats going. We could’ve been missing countless key players at the same time he was out, we could’ve played harder teams blah… Read more »

Bamford10

Cesc I said this the other day, but why he selects Xhaka is not really all that much of a mystery — even if it’s an egregiously bad decision. He selects Xhaka for the same reasons the players elected Xhaka captain. Xhaka is seen as a “vocal leader”, a “warrior,” a player of “blood and guts,” a player with “experience”. He’s the guy who speaks or shouts when the players gather into a circle. Xhaka is not a good player, but he looks and plays the part of the leader, the warrior, the hard-man midfielder. This is why he continues… Read more »

Bob N16

Good passes are more effective than bad passes, who new?

Pierre

Bob
Only certain players can make certain passes .

Not every player could play the perfectly weighted through ball…
But of course you know that and you were just acting deliberately dumb or trying to be clever ( dumb probably)

Bamford10

By the way, arguing for Torreira’s inclusion over Xhaka or Willock’s inclusion over Xhaka is not an argument (in any absolute sense) for either of those two players. I don’t rate Torreira very highly, and I don’t think Willock has arrived in any sense, but I do think our best midfield three at the moment includes one of them at the expense of Xhaka. That is, while neither of those two players is ideal, Guendouzi-Torreira-Ceballos and Guendouzi-Willock-Ceballos are probably better midfield threes than any combination involving Xhaka. In truth, though, I think we should be looking at CMs in January,… Read more »

Bob N16

Who’s capable of making the best passes in our squad? ‘You know who’ must be a shoe in if we want to make the most of our returning FBs. Stands to reason, surely?

Bob N16

Bamford most of your last post I agree with but not with ‘I don’t think Willock has arrived in any sense’.

Of course he has, he’s young but incredibly promising and now deserving of time on the pitch during PL games. Sure as an 18 year old his starts will be limited, although with an injury or two, who knows? He’s arrived in the first team squad.

Sorry if I’m being overly pedantic as I think your analysis of our midfield is pretty close to matching my own.

Chitom

Problem with Ozil is that he plays for team Ozil more than team Arsenal in my view. I know this may sound weird when talking about a player who would rather assist than try to score himself, but if he really had Arsenal’s best interest at heart he could easily show this on the pitch. For all the talk how beautiful football gets the fans going and brings them together this is still the Prem and most fans appreciate hard work ethics. Ozil was dumped by RM and he’s always considered Arsenal a step down and a downgrade, and it… Read more »

Marc

Chitcom

The question the Ozil fans can’t or won’t answer is who are the managers who would manage to set up a team that would get Ozil to produce and a team that functions?

They can’t accept that he’s just not interested anymore.

Bob N16

Assumed Xhaka on paternity leave, just about to play against Denmark. Was there any truth in the rumour about him taking time off?

Bob N16

Lichsteiner booked for an allow after 19 seconds.

Bob N16

Elbow

Redtruth

To all those who see winning the Charity/Community Shield as a bona fide Trophy.: In its early days the format was fluid, early incarnations featuring a game between professionals and amateurs, the winners of the Football League and the Southern League, while in 1950 an England side took part and when Tottenham did the Double in 1961, they played an FA invitational XI. It was not held at Wembley either and its shift to the grand old stadium was when people started taking it more seriously. A little too seriously as it turned out, as the first time it was held… Read more »

Gonsterous

Mesut is so good the club’s lining up to bid for him are from very poor leagues. And sadly none of them can afford his wages.

Bob N16

Xhaka nearly scored a screamer, fingertip Dave onto bar by Schmeicel.

Bob N16

Save

Pierre

Chitcom “Problem with Ozil is that he plays for team Ozil more than team Arsenal in my view. I know this may sound weird when talking about a player who would rather assist than try to score himself, but if he really had Arsenal’s best interest at heart he could easily show this on the pitch.For all the talk how beautiful football gets the fans going and brings them together this is still the Prem and most fans appreciate hard work ethics.Ozil was dumped by RM and he’s always considered Arsenal a step down and a downgrade, and it took… Read more »

Bob N16

Wash your mouth out with soap Chitom, how dare you question the Golden One, sacrilege!

Redtruth

Wenger was unable to utilise Ozil in the team and Emery is unwilling to utilise Ozil in the team meaning the game is up for Ozil.

Chitom

Pierre,
I don’t have a history with anyone here so let me ask you something if I may: are you a fourteen year old girl with Ozil posters plastered all over your bedroom walls?
If so , and only then, I would take back what I said about Ozil seeing how fragile teenagers are these days.

Words on a Blog

Chitom,

Nah, it’s a myth that teenage girls are fragile. Sure they have posters of their idols on the wall, but they know it’s just a passing crush.

The really fragile ones that never let go, are usually middle aged men.

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