The end is nigh for poor old Unai. Rumours abound about the succession plan. The slow walk towards a fat pay off for the post-Wenger nightmare hire.
I feel for him on a human level. He wanted to succeed, but things were never going to work for him at Arsenal. He was badly miscast and Raul has a lot to be sorry for.
At the core of the failure is a simple one. His English has been terrible; if anything, it has regressed. That he failed to improve on it over the course of 18 months is on him. Watching a Sky Sports reporter take the piss out of him was a real struggle for me. On the one hand, it’s really fucking unprofessional to do that to someone for a cheap laugh, kicking a man like that was cowardice. On the other hand, I can’t help but think it summed up the whole issue of communication rather well. If Emery had understood what was going on, he might have had a chance to fire back at him.
‘You stand before the great Unai and you mock my accent? Come here little bitch boy and I will spank you bare arse with my leather belt like your mother’s boyfriend should have’
The reality is, he’s at the absolute pinnacle of the game, he’s earning £6m a year… he’s in the top 0.01% of humans on the planet when it comes to wealth. If you can’t master the language of the country you reside in, you don’t deserve the job or to be successful. It’s a very important details thing for me. I keep coming back to it, but his inability to master the word ‘evening’ 18 months in speaks volumes about how seriously he’s taking his Duoling apps. That issue should have been nipped in the bud two press conferences in.
‘The Brits can’t talk, they’re language ignorant’
Yes we are, but if £6m was on the table, you’d have Big John from Mardyke Estate chatting Mandarin to his clients in no time.
This is a reductive line of attack anyway. Emery took the job, presumably predicated on learning the language quickly. He has failed. I have two cousins that work in the trade, they wanted to learn Spanish. In a year, they are fluent enough to have elevated conversations with my Hispanic girlfriend. If they can do it in the name of getting access to elite foreign women, I think Unai can do it to help save his job.
I still can’t quite believe that large portions of the fanbase argued language wasn’t a problem. Quite staggering. The internet will argue anything if it’s me. Poor me. But right me all the same.
That means the next person we hire is going to have to be a sharp-tongued master of the Queen’s English. I want a manager that does poetry slam’s on the side. Someone that has – I enjoy puns – in their social bios. A manager that didn’t need a ghostwriter for the best selling novel they penned on the side.
Step forward Steve Bould.
‘GRANIT YOU FUCKING DONUT’
The story doing the rounds is that the job will be given to Freddie and Steve until Arsenal lock in a new manager. That makes sense, it’s not a longterm solve, but it’ll bring a bit of spirit back to the squad. We might see a bit more logic to the way we set up. The fans might actually want to go to the games.
Then we have the familiar selection of names being pushed around. Pochettino will be talked about because he’s the obvious candidate. I would love him, he’s everything we need, but the guy seems like he has values and I can’t help but think he’s being groomed for United… or he’ll be eyeing the PSG job when Thomas Tuchel moves to Bayern Munich in the summer.
Allegri still doesn’t have a job, but by all accounts, he interviewed so badly with Arsenal the entire selection team thought Emery was mesmeric. Think about that. What the fuck did Allegri do? Did he pull out a presentation for Spurs because he’d misinterpreted the brief? Did he fart and acknowledge it as part of a wider metaphor about resolute defending? I suspect his English may have been poor at the time, which could ONLY have been a problem because Raul couldn’t translate because that certainly wasn’t an issue for Emery.
Big worry for Allegri is simple. He’s a big fucking deal. He is part of the elite. He’s unlikely going to want to oversee a major rebuild on children’s money. I worry he could be bigger than the club and I’m just unsure if he feels right for the brand of football we pretty much all want to see.
Mikael Arteta is my man. You know this. Question is, would he move midseason? Are we appealing after we bitch-slapped him back to Manchester? Does he have the stomach for the mess?
He’s a much-hyped coach. There’s a high chance he could be the next thing. A football obsessive, an ex-captain, and part of the most winningest machine in Premier League history (that plays sexy future football). You’d be mad not to want some of that Manchester City hot sauce. Aash mentioned on the podcast that Eddie Jones visited Pep to get tips on territory strategies for the rugby world cup. That’s how phenomenal the IP is down there. Our next coach needs to be thinking beyond Kola on the overlap.
There will always be a set of fans that promote the idea that a club can’t be fixed by a great coach. That is a nonsense and you should beware the pessimists. Wenger was defended for years with toothless deflections like ‘but who could replace him’, now look where we are 5 years on. Liverpool and Spurs, who were both behind us by a margin on and off the pitch, are now in far better shape than us.
Both rebirths started with an exciting vision brought about by two exciting coaches.
Arsenal need a vision. If we don’t make top 4 this season, a long shot at this moment, we’ve basically got the transfer ban Chelsea had this season, so we’ll need a similar strategy to move forward. Young coach, everything to prove, doing it with exciting young talent. Arteta is a great coach, no doubt, question is, can he be a great manager? I certainly think he has enough elite endorsements to be worth a shot midseason.
Fingers crossed Edu doesn’t have a friend that has a pal that knows a dog that has a line into Neil Warnock.
You can never be too careful…
Right, that’s me done. Listen to our new podcast.
“He’ll dump Wolves instantly ”
Not so sure about that, he has a good steady project ongoing there and works under the radar.
What exactly are you offering him here to make him dump Wolves instantly? The rumor you have mortgaged the clubs future on immediate champions league qualification?
Brendan Rogers would be the perfect fit for us , he’s got Leicester playing great football , fluid, quick football from defence to attack .
I have to say when his name was mentioned after Wenger left I was not keen but you can not argue with his record , in his press conferences he talks slow and measured but is also very straight forward , what a difference to Wenger spouting world politics or emery just talking incomprehensible nonsense .
azed
Why is it that you think Nuno would “dump Wolves instantly” to come to our shitfest?
Arsenal fans continue to have this snobbish attitude when it comes to thinking how wonderful our club is.
Think logically, think clearly.
Rogers is a decent manager but really if we can’t aim any higher than him, we might as well just give up.
Leicester is about his level.
Dr Emil
Leicester are, at present, far more appealing than Arsenal.
Brendan Rodgers knows this.
So do you.
…even if we have mortgaged our future.
Did I hear right, Emerys been given 4 games to save his job?
FFS!!!
That’s the problem , leicester are a more attractive proposition than us , just shows how far we’ve fallen .
I don’t think we can get Rodgers but he would be great for us
Spotted iceberg.
Hit iceberg..
Ship is sinking.
Passengers dying and sprawling about in the water……………and our captain is told he’ll be given another 4 chances to get it right.
Unfriggingbelievable!
Moray
Are you serious?
😂😂😂
If Everton sacks their manager Arteta is very much their “Lampard.” Let him go there and make his first mistakes. I know he is one of flavours of the moment but I remain unconvinced until he has some sort of track record. The Arsenal job is too big still for a trainee manager no matter how desperate we are. Where’s our pride? Arteta is still much of a risk.
I rather have someone like Bergkamp who has intrinsic knowledge of the Ajax system and understands what it means to wear the shirt and win in it.
*too much
Graham, we’re in a mess but Wolves are way below us as size of club is concerned. Our budget/ support/ history is massive compared to Wolves. Without any inside knowledge, I imagine De Santo would jump at the chance, just like the majority of managers.
Just because you’re feeling down, don’t project too heavily on potential successors being put off. Passion is one thing but you have to see the situation objectively too.
I’m warming to Arteta.
At least we won’t spend a whole season while some clot learns about the effect of the lack of a winter break on team performance.
“I rather have someone like Bergkamp who has intrinsic ”
There is another name that hasn’t come up
I am in the anyone but Freddie camp even if i am the only member
‘While there are obvious and valid philosophical concerns about Mourinho’s appointment, it could pay off in the short term at least, simply because of the perception that he’s a manager who wins things. Mauricio Pochettino, for all his strengths, has never won a thing, and it would be interesting to discover whether that harmed his standing in the dressing room after five excellent but trophyless years.” RH, you really are a case. You accused me of bizarreness because I wanted us to hire Mourinho, now you are hyping same Mourinho in other to score a cheap point in the argument… Read more »
Bergkamp hasn’t been doing anything since 2017 ?
Mid season. It needs to interim. Then let our ridiculous inept board make a decision on a hiring process for the summer.
Even if the interim fails, then we’ll, have to realize at board level we’re pathetic as on the pitch.
2020 needs to a much better year for us a club. 2019 is a write off right now.
We’re a laughing stock. So sad to see.
A Freddie or mert interim appointment is basically them admitting they had no clue this season could end up in the shit. That seems most likely.
What is concerning is the decision they would make come next summer.
Let’s slow down a bit Pete.
Arteta played for Everton and was also a captain there, Everton are looking for a coach now but are focusing on Moyes and Eddie, totally ignoring Arteta.
Lots of clubs all over Europe have done some coach shopping in the last 12 months, not even once was Arteta’s name mentioned in those scenarios.
But you think Arsenal, a big outfit with very serious problems at this moment should be the club who gives Arteta the opportunity to practice the role of head coach? In the middle of all this whirlwind?
Using Graham’s example hiring Arteta would be like giving controls of a multi billion pound cruise liner in rough waters to someone who just passed his nautical exam… he might be alright but risks are higher he will make a fundamental mistake due to inexperience more than not.
At least Lamps had a season under his belt with Derby. What does Arteta got in terms of actual hands on game time experience?
Riding on Guardiola’s coattails DOES NOT count as the same thing… no matter for how long.
“RH, you really are a case. You accused me of bizarreness because I wanted us to hire Mourinho, now you are hyping same Mourinho in other to score a cheap point in the argument against Poch.”
I don’t need to hype Mourinho, man is a bonafide winner. His medals speak for him.
I have no issues acknowledging that, and i still don’t want him here for other reasons. Not mutually exclusive.
Bergkamp does not want senior management, he wants to work with the kids.
I think it’s true of a large majority of fans that I don’t wish badly on Unai. Despite the sometimes mean jokes and shit we say on here I genuinely believe he’s a lovely guy who is trying his best – but he’s just the wrong guy for arsenal
Very best to the guy in his future endeavors. I just hope that we can move on quickly rather than this slow motion death dance we watch each week
Bergkamp should be a youth coach and a board member
Can you imagine being a 10 year old and getting coached by Dennis ducking bergkamp??? Deary me id shit my pants shorts and socks daily
Tho I dunno if kids these days would really know or care who he is. Would be a bit like us millennial growing up listening to our parents talk about George best or whatever. It’s like I don’t doubt he was awesome but it doesn’t resonate with me because I didn’t grow up watching him play
China, the guy should be fine as I believe he interviews well…
The bergkamp Newcastle goal is still the greatest goal in footballing history imo.
Genuinely bar none
Arteta is tailor made for Everton. Let him take his glossy hairdo to the toffees. We need a manager not a prospect
‘I think it’s true of a large majority of fans that I don’t wish badly on Unai. Despite the sometimes mean jokes and shit we say on here I genuinely believe he’s a lovely guy who is trying his best – but he’s just the wrong guy for arsenal’ You said that for me 100%, China. Emery seems to be too eager to stamp his feet after PSG and I feel sorry for him. The only thing he does wrong apart from his incompetence is telling us after a very bad game that we actually controlled the game and did… Read more »
The funniest part is that if Pedro was the owner of Arsenal and knew what appointing a manager of a big club truly was. He would never ever consider Arteta. We can only take such risks in the security of knowing we wont be the ones baling out the crap with our own hands.
Im sure the Spuds did not give him an iota of a thought. before appointing Mourinho
Sweet memories of ancient times… “boring boring Arsenal”, “the Invincibles”… it was just a beautiful dream, it’s all over now, we have to accept it.
Arsenal is done as a football club since Dein left.
And Dein must be blame first, as it’s him who brought the Kroenke family at the helm.
Whoever mentioned sol Campbell I love it
Not gonna happen. No experience managing a big club or in a big league and he’s not trendy like arteta, but I love the guy.
My favourite ever player and he did a great job in his previous managerial post. Would definitely give him the time of Day as arsenal manager even tho I’d probably love to regret it as it’s primarily built on love than football reasoning
When no one else can help, who you gonna call? The Weng Man.
You just know this makes sense. He knows the club, will return and get us fourth, become a hero again and then, back away, legacy repaired.
I’d rather this than Bould FFS. Also, I really miss Arsene and his unique brand of cray cray. Also, can you imagine the next NLD? Wooooooo!
Come on Arsenal.
BobN16
How much do you charge for a hourly consultation?
i know, logic says we are a more appealing proposition. Being objective about things is all well and good but even you would be the first to admit that AFC are in such a mess at present that any “potential successors” would be having second thoughts about jumping on board.
Sol Campbell is unstable. Not the right mind to take a high pressure role.
Ridiculous.
Arteta is not a risk. Get a grip and see the bigger picture.
Arsenal are busted so we are essentially starting from square one. Mikel would be able to have a clear run and becoming a legend. I have a feeling that Arteta is the next big thing in management.
He has pizazz.
No to Sol, it would be like Keegan at Newcastle, the pressure of the top flight would ruin the mans mind……again.
Pedro, u taking this language thing over board. Yes, Emery tanked but learning a new language and working in a different environment isn’t as easy as u see it. Try working in another country speaking different language and u feel for him.
Perhaps that’s why most English players don’t like playing professionally out their respective country.
If Emery is rid off us, good riddance!
Someone said Sol Campbell.
May as well get Gazza and Merse.
“He knows the club, will return and get us fourth, become a hero again and then, back away, legacy repaired. ”
Beyond hilarity.
Sorry but no to Sol.
Let him get on with trying to keep Southend up.
I see Wenger now, sitting in his mansion, lights off looking skywards for the Weng Symbol to go up. He’ll suit up, go into the Weng cave and get in the Weng mobile.
Save our club.
“Why is it that you think Nuno would “dump Wolves instantly” to come to our shitfest?”
Money talks man. We are paying Emery 6m per year. I am sure that his assistants are being paid more than Nuno’s assistants.
See, it’s not easy replacing Wmery with a credible candidate.
Most of the options available can be pulled apart within a number of seconds.
‘At least Lamps had a season under his belt with Derby. What does Arteta got in terms of actual hands on game time experience?’ Apart from that very very important fact of having actually done the job of a head coach for a whole season and played good football while developing guys like Mason and Abraham, Lampard is a natural warrior and a true legend, Mikel Obi was saying not long ago that Lampard was the hardest working teammate he has had. The job of a head coach is a lot of hard work. And in spite of the fact… Read more »
GoH
Are you also on drugs?
G62
Only heroin. Why?
If Arsenal want to steady the ship and get some structure and order back into the team, there’s only one solution.
Get Rafa.
“bonafide winner”
lol. I mean sure. So was Wenger to a point of his career. After that the same bonafide winner branded him a “specialist in failure”. Maybe that’s what Mouninho is. Winning Caraboo cups and Europas in a weak effort to be called relevant again.
G62
Rafa? I guess we’re both on drugs.
GoH
No comment.
Currently, Ajax, Chelsea and Valencia are all tie with 7 points. We better hope that Chelsea can get a result in Valencia this Wednesday. If not, we may end up seeing Chelsea again in the Europa Cup competition.
lol
It looks like a few clubs will be looking to change managers soon.
Do Raul or Edu know about some of the English managers ?
Probably not. Arteta will go to Everton he lives up there , and it’s not so demanding for his first job.
I don’t trust them to get it right, it’s cheaper to promote Freddie, but as some of you have said is he part of Emery’s failed tactics?
@Nelson : seriously ?? This is the last of our worries right now.
Adams / Campbell come on?
Great headers of the ball yes.
But there is not much between
the ears of either.?
GoH: “You just know this makes sense. He knows the club, will return and get us fourth, become a hero again and then, back away, legacy repaired.”
GoH said it.
Let’s do it!
Joke aside, caretaker Wenger would be a fantastic thing to see.
Like Henry’s winter loan all these years ago. Played a total of 90 mins in the league – scored 2 goals.
Wenger could have a similar effect until we manage to secure our 1st choice coach.
Wonder where all the Pellegrini lovers went. After a decent start, West Ham have picked 2 pts in the last 7 games. Winless for more than 2 months. That’s relegation form.
“He’s a much-hyped coach. There’s a high chance he could be the next thing.”
Based on zero evidence.
I would say there is a 50% chance because we don’t know either way.
Raptora gets it.
Wenger has star power.
I genuinely can’t believe that some posters on here are advocating for Wenger’s return.
It’s not Friday is it?
#WengerHasSauce
“Joke aside, caretaker Wenger would be a fantastic thing to see.”
No it won’t
Pierre,
The only knob is you. Are you calling Pedro a knob?
It wasn’t a minority either, it was the majority of the fanbase eventually after the slowest car crash in living memory. 3 FA cups against mostly inferior opponents because the bigger teams were throwing the FA cup to focus on Europe is nothing to crow about whatsoever, and only the most demented of AKBs like yourself would try to spin it positively.
8 points from 4th spot.
8 points from bottom 3.
Marvellous.
#WengerHadSauceButItGotOldAndTurnedMouldy
@Raptora
In West hams defence, before fabianski got injured they were 4th. Not sticking up for pellegrini, as want him nowhere near Arsenal. But fact is, without lacazette and aubu’s goals, we’d be in a relegation battle as well. So let’s not laugh at pellegrini to much eh. Both pellegrini and emery are piss poor managers.
We have a modern backroom structure. 😂
bennydevito
Let’s not forget the Community shield and Emirates Cup triumphs.
Incredible how snubbish Arsenal fans were towards potentially Mourinho coming in…Still wanting to do projects it seems, never learn
“So was Wenger to a point of his career. After that the same bonafide winner branded him a “specialist in failure”. Maybe that’s what Mouninho is. Winning Caraboo cups and Europas in a weak effort to be called relevant again.” LOL Imagine doubting Jose’s reputation and comparing him to Wenger when it comes to winning. Jose has two Champions league titles …Wenger has none Jose’s last league title was not in 2004, it was in 2015, quite recent in comparison The man has won everything conceivable in club football, he won Carabao cups and Europa leagues because he can, not… Read more »
“In West hams defence, before fabianski got injured they were 4th.”
Not really much of defense is it?
They have lost to Palace, Everton, Newcastle, Burnley and Oxford United
Not really giants of the game where you need a world class goal keeper to survive the onslaught
Tyagn,
I agree. We need someone who’s career is on the up. Not someone that is as old as Wenger and another that feels like a broken man after his first unsuccessful marriage.
I haven’t made up my mind yet on who I’d like to see as our long term manager. But Gerrard sounds exciting af. Contrast to Arteta, he’s coached a team and he’s done pretty well. He’s also overwhelmingly a spectacular leader and winner. Super respected by anyone.
Haha Sol Campbell and even Wenger back…brilliant.
I’d rather have Wenger’s nurse in charge than Wenger back.
There’s such polarity on the issue, it’s no surprise our overlords have chosen to sit on their hands and watch us barrel down the table.
“I don’t want Freddie, he’s part of the coaching team that has failed this season.”
“I don’t want Arteta, he’s not the main guy at City, what exactly does he even do there?”
– resident militant
haha looks like collective mania breaking out on here! Things are pretty grim right now, but if you want them grimmer, and the club to become the ultimate laughing stock bring back good old Arsene. That would be the darkest of days but when you look at the clowns running the show…………
FFS when are we sacking Emery, the fraud?!
The idea that Arteta is a club legend is a joke, though. He had a decent half season as I remember and then just swanned around the pitch for the rest of the time.
Not necessarily his fault but we shouldn’t look back with rose-cunted spectacles.
GG
So true.
Laughable.
How has Arteta become “a club legend”?
I’ve seen in mentioned a few times on here graham.
Graham, a club captain that served us well during a shitty time.
Have no sympathy for Emery. Oversold himself for a job he probably knew was two big for him.
Time waster. Chancer. A bit dishonest to behave like that. And of course now gets the pay off.
The football gravy train is really sickening.
“How has Arteta become “a club legend”?”
Ah ah, very good question.
“a club captain that served us well”
lol even better.
The only thing worse than making a hash choice of a manager would be making 2 in a row…….That would be Emery followed by Arteta for some of you.
That would be like me handing over my worldwide recognized football blog to a an intern who makes great coffee while I go on a 3 month sabbatical to find myself in Turkmenistan.
Before I get back. CG. Pierre and Champagne will have turned this place into a wasteland.
The most obvious issue some here continue to ignore is that AFC can’t afford to get it wrong again. And that’s the only reason I would support the idea of a caretaker till May.
And if it has to be a caretaker then I prefer Per. Cool headed, intelligent, cultured and mature. Let him take the job for six months and throw all his energy into Europa. The PL route into CL is a pipe dream as it is.
Hitman, I’m sure we’ve all sold ourselves too high at some point, in the belief that we will rise to the challenge.
Problem for Emery is that he also had a shit show going on behind the scenes. That, on top of his inability to communicate properly, an absence of a proper comprehensible style of play and poor decision making…it was never going to work out well.
Gentlebris, I’m not sure a few more months would help the shit show of our BoD to make a decent decision. That’s the worry.
I love seeing all this hindsight stuff now on here.
Just over three months ago 90% of the posters on here were predicting a comfortable top four placing knowing full well of course that Emery was coach.
Pep’s new take on Arteta and Arsenal:
“Everyone, not just me, is more than satisfied to have him here. He is an incredible human being and work ethic. I said after a few months, this guy will be a manger. He behaves like a manager.”
“Have no sympathy for Emery. Oversold himself for a job he probably knew was two big for him.” The Arsenal job isn’t as big as some of you make out, he just came off managing PSG so maybe cool off on the too big for him bit. Coaches fail at jobs for different reasons, end of. “And if it has to be a caretaker then I prefer Per. ” Another good shout. You see give it to Freddie and Bould is not the only easy call available. You can bring back Bergkamp as caretaker You can bring in Sol You… Read more »
Did I just read that someone wants Wenger as a carteaker? Surely they jest. It’s a moot point anyway because the man’s ego would never allow it.
@Raptora
Right now I’d take anyone over Emery. Can’t believe they’ve given him 3 more games. Ffs how much further away from the top do we need to be before those fucking idiots Finally realise Emery is out of his depth. They are all on big money, yet not one of them has a clue.
Global, the common thread of ‘logic’ had Emery down as a great hire because he could win Europa Leagues and had experience.
Didn’t work out.
Hiring Pep G to Barca back in the day was not seen as a logical move. Nor was giving Zidane the job at Madrid. Nor was giving a translator a job at Benfica (then Porto).
Logic doesn’t always apply to football. ‘Winner’ Mourinho goes to United. Failure Brendan Rodgers goes to Leicester. ‘He’s just a big smile’ Klopp goes to Liverpool.
“this guy will be a manger. ”
Indeed. lol
Ish, 3 months ago most people knew Emery was utter shite.
Ffs how much further away from the top do we need to be before those fucking idiots Finally realise Emery is out of his depth.”
The whole “3 more games” thing is a ruse. You don’t pull a 180 in 3 games. They know he’s done.
“3 more games” is just code for “we know he’s done but we are not in a position to sack him yet”.
Hitman, you can’t call a man dishonest for believing in his own ability. I have never coached an elementary school football before, but if you offered me the Arsenal job I would still imagine I could do it effectively.
And, though highly improbable, I could actually come him, set my amateur instincts in play and get it done with high merits.
How many times have I felt a coach should make two particular subs during a game and 5 minutes later he did just that and went on to win the game!
Really not getting the hype around Arteta.
What has he done except sit besides Guardiola looking really glum and distant while presiding over the best players that money can buy? Not exactly the situation that he will find at Arsenal.
If you want to look at the current crop of ex players making their way in management, why not suggest Lee Boyer?
He is doing a job, without a proper Chairman, a barebone squad and no money. He should not feel too out of place at Arsenal.