Managerial options from around the globe

by .

Take a read of Mike’s latest guest post, he covers managerial options from around the world. Enjoy, and give him a follow.

How are Arsenal making you feel right now?

I’m cautiously very excited.
I’m relieved that Emery’s gone even though it was at least a month too late.
I’m very excited to see what Freddie can do.
Excited but cautious as my trust in Raul and co has waned somewhat.
I’ve compiled a list of the many possibilities. Once you start digging there are many.
Some better and more realistic than others, but the list is intentionally long as Arsenal surprised us last time so its hard to know and certainly not obvious.

Below is a list of candidates, but first let’s look at the need….

What do Arsenal need?

You often learn what you want by seeing what you don’t want.

  • We need a fluent English speaking clear communicator.
  • We need someone who can balance our style with the need to deny the opponents, not one or the other, as we had with Wenger and Emery.
  • Arsenal fans want attacking football but are ok with a more pragmatic approach against better opposition.
  • We need a coach who can instill belief in the players to rejuvenate their away form.
  • We need someone that agrees with the coaching set up and won’t complain when those above him do their job (sign players) and it doesn’t completely jive with their best thought.
  • We want a coach who, after 17 years of being defensively leaky, will promote the need for a dominant DM and back four as a priority.
  • A coach who believes in our current set of youngsters.
  • A coach that can keep and attract players.
  • A coach who can progress the club into the CL, competing for the PL and eventually give us a chance to win one or both.

What’s the attraction of Arsenal?

I’ve said for years that Arsenal is a very attractive job. You could go down in history as the first coach to bring us back to PL glory AND in time, win the CL.*

*We are a mile away right now but with a little time and significantly better coaching it’s not beyond a club of our size.

Lesser clubs have achieved this goal. That’s how I would pitch it.

Arsenal are one of the biggest clubs in the world to have never won it.

They could also live in London, have a top salary, a good team with a few holes in the squad that needs balancing and become a hero for returning Arsenal to glory and a legend for doing what nobody has ever done.

Here we go…

Most likely

Mikel Arteta

Club: City assistant coach

Preferred formation: Unknown

Style: He wrote a piece for the .com whilst still at AFC and he stated that if he became a coach he would want a) full commitment b) attacking style c) expressive and entertaining d) not based on the opposition.

Sounds like everything we wished Emery was!

Pep has given Arteta credit for the improvement in Rodri, Mahrez and Sterling in particular.

Thoughts: Much like Freddie, he is an unknown quantity as a head coach but he has had one HUGE advantage…. he has worked with one of the best coaches of all time for 3 years and apparently had a big impact himself.

Carlo Ancelotti

Club: Napoli

Preferred formation: varied but mostly used 4-3-3
Style: A fantastic man manager beloved by former players. Won many titles, knows the PL and London so no need to adapt.

Thoughts: Napoli are currently imploding thanks to their goofy owner and his bizarre ideas. If Ancelotti gets fed up I could actually see him taking the AFC job.

I have one huge concern though….

When he was at Bayern, Rafael Honigstein, one of the most reliable journalists in Europe, wrote an article about how the Munich players ridiculed his ‘basic training sessions.’
A warm up followed by 11 vs 11 almost every day. Sounds like every young kids dream!

Sounds too much like Wenger to me and our players desperately need coaching.

Freddie Ljungberg

Club: Arsenal Interim

Preferred formation: somewhat unknown as he has been under direction from 1st team.

Style: high energy, attacking coach who believes in a balance between structure and offensive freedom.

Thoughts: Hard to find anything negative written about him as a coach. Players seem to love him, fans already do. Was part of Jonker’s relegation with Wolfsburg but never been the man in charge. Big difference.

Got a feeling that he could be far better than many belief.

Mauricio Pochettino 

Club: Available

Preferred formation: 4-2-3-1
Style: Organized, aggressive and powerful
Thoughts: Only way I see this is if he’s bitter. Will be offered far more prestigious jobs with far less hassle involved. I think he’s waiting on Tuchel or Solskjaer’s job.
Strong candidates

Max Allegri…

Turned Milan around then turned Juve into a dominant machine. Little concerned at his pragmatic approach rubbing fans the wrong way but clearly significantly better than Unai Emery was. Those that are adamant that Allegri is wrong for Arsenal are forgetting where we are currently and who he is and what he’s achieved.

Erik Ten Haag…

Assisted Pep at Munich and has done a fabulous job at Ajax, returning them to the top table in Europe. Will be snapped up by a bigger club or national team soon, possibly back to Munich.

Julian Nagelsmann …..

Not so young in coaching circles anymore but still only 32!!

Innovative coach who took somewhat of a sideways step in going to Leipzig when Real Madrid were interested. Hipsters choice but also a very smart choice, I believe.

Luis Enrique

A Sanhelli favourite who has just gone back to his National team job. As we all know, many coaches lose their jobs after major tournaments so I think if we choose to wait then Enrique may come back into the mix.

Created a high pressing, energetic team at Barca. Love the hunger he instills but concerned about his stubbornness and short term thinking which were two factors that saw the Roma and Barca fans turn on him.

An improvement on Emery but his lack of tolerance for the media, his imperfect English and lack of warmth with his squads are three factors that will hinder him.

The last two may be a bad memory for the players, one that they don’t wish to revisit.

Not sure how his daughters tragic death will have impacted him to be fair, as it will have had a profound effect, I’m sure.

Thomas Tuchel…
An antagonist but a highly talented coach.
Speaks fluent English and fluent football too! PSG are likely to move him on if they don’t get closer to winning the CL.
Possibly the perfect fit but like many on this list, we’d need Freddie to do well and carry us to the summer.
Some new and talented names

Jesse Marsch…

Firstly, if you like a motivator, watch the video.

The Red Bull Salzburg coach whose reputation is growing as he gives Liverpool and Napoli fits. Will Stan and Josh be interested in an American? An American who is one of the most impressive and well rounded coaches in Europe. A motivator, a tactical innovator and a great communicator. One to look out for.

Marcelo Gallardo…

The best unknown coach in the world.

The guy who Messi voted in his Top 3 as World Coach of the Year.

River Plate’s highly-rated coach has won everything and is considered the ‘new Pep.’

So much so that the rumor is that he is off to Barcelona.

Everything is there apart from (I believe) being an English speaker.

Marco Rose…

In some ways he could be perfect. The current Bundesliga leader has been credited with having success in every area that Emery is failing at, particularly his ability to be tactically flexible whilst establishing a base style. Just doubtful that Moenchengladbach would let him leave after less than a year or that he would do that to them.

Diego Simeone.... I think if AM sack him he will go to Italy. Would certainly improve Arsenal defensively but much like Allegri, I’m not sure how the fans would go for his style.

Pep Guardiola …. ‘What’s he thinking?’ I hear you say!

Why would one of the two world’s best coaches come to Arsenal?

He thought about it before he went to Munich until Wenger put a stop to it.

I don’t see a guy who looks totally happy at City. I think he may look for another challenge if he feels let down by his City team on or off the field.

I’m sure he’d have bigger clubs interested but I wonder if he would want a different challenge?

I am concerned that his irritation at the British press for being embarrassingly limited in their understanding of the tactical side of the game, will see him leave and not come back though.

THE DECISION

Unless the coach I want is available today, I’d happily keep Freddie Ljungberg in charge. I’d love to think that he could revitalize us and keep the job.

As we’ve seen with many former legends with little experience, the shiny factor can wear off but it could stick too.

This would give Arsenal time to breathe. I’d be actively looking for a permanent coach yet fully committed to Freddie if it works out.

I also think that we could get two ‘bounces.’ One from Freddie and the second from the new appointment, if he’s put in place this season.

I’d approach Pep Guadiola first. Why not? I wouldn’t expect him to say yes but I’d live in regret if I didn’t try, as I’ve got a sneaky feeling he’d be interested. Fully understand that this would mean keeping on Freddie until June.

If Pep wouldn’t take it I’d offer it to Arteta.

I’m not in the camp of being overly concerned about his lack of experience.

For as much as that is a true concern, so is the fact that many of the others are too worn, not as motivated, tactically stubborn, haven’t worked in England and haven’t had the experience of working with Pep like he has.

You’ve got to put it all on the scales and weigh it all up, not simply dismiss him because he’s new.

I’m also not afraid of getting it wrong. If it doesn’t work you move on. Be brave.

I’m also concerned that he may go elsewhere and we’d regret not taking the chance.

My third choice would be Tuchel. Ticks every box apart from PL experience.

If Gallardo can speak significantly better English than Emery, he’d be my fourth choice. If he can’t, I’d approach Jesse Marsch.

There are at least another 10 on this list that I’d be thrilled with so if you get anything from this article, don’t be part of the ‘but who is out there’ crew

Who do I think Arsenal will choose?

Luis Enrique or Thomas Tuchel.

I think Freddie will do well and that Raul will pick one of these two after both are fired in the summer.

Who would you choose and who do you think we will choose?

@mike_mmcdonald

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Gunnernet

What about Rafa rumors? I would get him as second option to Carlo

Bob N16

Marko, ‘to no avail’. Do you really think your opinion is likely to impact on the acquisitions?

Ishola70

Spanishdave “We have regressed so fast with the same players, why?” The players were regressing under Wenger. Then the club had a bandage aid transfer window when Emery first came in. Players that regressed under Wenger and the added bandage aid additions responded to a new manager for a period which we have seen before at other clubs. Next transfer window an expensive goalsoring forward was signed for an attack that was already healthy in relation to goals and the midfield which all could see as weak was ignored. They then decided to bring in a sabotage signing in the… Read more »

Marko

What’s that Bob? I mean it didn’t hence never buying a proper DM hence our struggles in midfield for a number of years. Hate to quote such an obvious idiot but sometimes it is only football and if you struggle with winning back the ball in midfield target ball winning midfielders. It’s simple really.

Marko

I can tell you’re ready to get involved in the conversation Bob and not just chime in because Arsene was being discussed in a negative light.

Valentin

Arsenal have published their account up to 31st May 2019 and they make for grim reading. Like expected the operational loss has increased from the previous year, but now the sale of players does not cover the loss anymore. In view of the money spent in transfer this summer, the numbers for 2020 are likely to be even worse. The increase in commercial deals revenue will not compensate Less revenue (empty seats …) But more expenditure (Pepe, Saliba, Emery’s payoff, …). So basically Raul has bet the club on Champion’s League football and he is losing that bet. In two… Read more »

Victorious

Ridiculous the amount of pen VAR have awarded Man U this season

Victorious

Rashford misses a sitter to put united 2 up

Spanishdave

Ishola
Yep good comments, but it is still rotting away.
I think the players know the owners are not that interested so why bust a gut.
It’s a cancer going though the club.
Sad times

Marc

Should be 3 nil to ManU.

Have the wheels come off at City because Arteta’s had his head turned?

Valentin

Ishola70,

The problem is some here have such hatred toward Wenger that they can’t think straight.
They can admit that sacking Wenger to replace him by an inferior manager was never a good plan.

salparadisenyc

Mikel out.

Marc

nil – 2 to ManU.

When is the decision from UEFA etc on City’s breach of FFP due?

Victorious

United 2 City 0

Fraudiola being found out radically

Dippers the big winners

Marc

Valentin

My whole point is sacking Wenger was one thing replacing him with Emery was another.

One decision being wrong doesn’t make the other wrong.

WengerEagle

Title all but sewn up in first week of December for Pool if result stands, crazy.

Jamie

“Have the wheels come off at City because Arteta’s had his head turned?”

Bravo!

Dream10

United are a massive threat on the counter.
They don’t have the tools to control the match but they punish teams on the break

MGooner

@Bob N16

Not hysterical mate, times have changed.

Andy Cole cost a paltry 10 million back in the day but we just bought a chap for 70M who warms the bench.

If you want quality, you have to pay. Else settle with Sokratis & co.

Champagne charlie

“By the way you’ve outed yourself with that previous comment.“

Good grief, you really can not handle a bit of written English.

Dream10

PSG losing 1-0. It is Pochettino’s job if he wants it

WengerEagle

Dream

What do you make of the mess unfolding over at Napoli. Players looked to have pretty much downed tools, losing 1-0 to Udinese atm.

Spanishdave

Man city missing a real striker

Ishola70

Well tbf to Bamford he was spot on when he said Man United would finish ahead of Arsenal.

Both Man United and Spurs are going to sail off into the distance away from Arsenal.

And yes I say this even if Man United let it slip at Man City currently.

Spanishdave

Pep off at the end of the season.
Next stop PSG

Marc

Dave

I struggle to have any sympathy for City with the amount of money they’ve spent and the talent they have available.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Pep walk at the end of the season especially if City get a CL ban.

WengerEagle

Citeh look mentally taxed, suppose putting up 198 points over the last couple of seasons takes its toll.

Makes what Fergie did at United look all the more impressive, won a PL 3 peat on two separate occasions.

Wenger never even managed to defend a title.

Marc

“Wenger never even managed to defend a title.”

That’s because we never gave him long enough according to some on here.

Dream10

Wenger Eagle

It’s crazy stuff. Their fans are on another level man. Ancelotti is primed for the sack.
He’s holding it down in the CL as usual.
Haven’t watched any of their matches.
A Fabian Ruiz Torreira swap deal possible or is he too good for us?

Ishola70

Hilarious that Man City are favourites to win the Champions League with the bookies.

Year after year the bookies put Man City as favs to win the CL.

Dream10

De Bruyne the crossing merchant is activated. He’s put in 365 crosses in the last 11 minutes

vickingz

Are we being linked to pep? Why this sudden collapse?

Dissenter

Like Wenger eagle said, why is Wenger still dominating the convo on this site?

Marko

Good job Bamford’s banned otherwise we’d never have peace

Dream10

Get Mahrez on the pitch. Need some flair and entertainment

Ishola70

Dissenter
“why is Wenger still dominating the convo on this site?”

Because certain Wenger sympathisers were putting out that Wenger should still be manager of Arsenal.

And naturally it can kick off after that.

That’s the story really.

Dissenter

I’m not sure its been said as much but Pep has the same short half-life in a new club, same as Jose Mourhino.
He keeps bouncing between privileged clubs that have an institutional league advantage.
This week he apparently got muddled up with which super rich club he’s managed, referring to city as Bayern…then “Bayern city” before realizing his error.
Pep has run out his clock at city and is already somewhere else.

Dissenter

Also United have made so many errors but looking at their starting lineup =, they have had some smidgen of a plan going on. They have been quietly buying up very young players with high ceilings.
They may still lose this game though.

Marc

OGS history at ManU

Caretaker manager – performs well winning lots of games.

Get’s appointed permanent manager – fucking awful losing all over the place.

The Poch get’s sacked and OGS is under threat – starts winning games.

Maybe simplistic but not a million miles from what’s happening.

WengerEagle

Dream Head-scratcher Napoli are. They’re playing with 35 year old Fernando Llorente up top, a guy that scored a total of 2 PL goals in 2 combined seasons for Spuds. Even in his prime he was Giroud level at best so now it’s literally just a case of hoofing crosses into him as he can’t even run. Lozano has been disappointing but he is being played out of position. Weird signing honestly as Insigne plays in his spot and they’re similar players in that they turn the ball over a lot and aren’t combination types at all, more dribbling soloists.… Read more »

Graham62

Didn’t it all kick off because someone on here said Ozil was shite?

Could have been me or was it Tony?

Are we the culprits?

Marc

Dissenter

I think he’ll probably take some time out but where do you think he’ll pitch up next?

Cesc Appeal

Again, watching this game what exactly is Arteta supposed to have learnt from Guardiola that translates to Arsenal?

This City team cannot defend and gets steamrolled on the counter. That is with a billion spent.

The defenders can’t defend, the midfield has lost any defensive nous and clearly Guardiola can’t coach it into them because all this is as a result of him losing Laporte (I think making Rodri CDM as well).

The ‘City IP’ seems to be have the best players in every position and you win.

Revelatory.

Bit of that at Arsenal.

Spanishdave

Marc
They have got away with stuff on the money front
Pep is a check book manager, he will never go to a club like us to build a side on restricted money, that’s why I have never rated him.
Arteta has not witnessed a manager who has built a side so he will have a problem with that.

Marc

Graham

I think the list of likely culprits is considerably longer.

Champagne charlie

Weagle

Banford will be tapping Pedro up for your email and home address to send you letters. Bet he’s having a fanny flutter on Twitter

Marko

Wenger never even managed to defend a title.

Referees fault wasn’t it

Marc

Cesc

You’re just being fucking silly now.

Marc

Marko

No it was the fans undermining him.

Dissenter

The club needs to rename Freddie Ljungberg job title as “undertaker manager”.
If not quickly replaced, he will be Nick Leeson of Arsenal.

If you’re wondering who the heck Nick Leeson, he’s a very hardworking junior banker that crashed a 200 year old elite banking institution in 1995.

Champagne charlie

“Because certain Wenger sympathisers were putting out that Wenger should still be manager of Arsenal.“

Given a lot of the Wenger chat was from myself, your “Wenger sympathisers” nonsense is exactly that.

Marko

I would happily take Fabian, his left foot is a jewel. Doubt they’d be daft enough for that swap.

Barca and Real are being linked with a massive move for him so what do you think.

Marc

Dave

People have a level that they and their methods work at. Allardyce couldn’t do at City what Pep’s done even with the money. Pep would be useless trying to coach a Bolton or Stoke level team, his methods would be beyond them.

With all that said I’d have more respect for Pep if he went to a club that wasn’t effectively nailed on to win the title.

Dissenter

Bamford rated united and I believe he predicted they will mount a top-4 challenge.
Am I missing something, please correct me if I’m wrong but it seems he wasn’t far from the truth based on. what we are seeing [so far]
On this singular issue, he doesn’t deserve abuse in absentia.

Marko

No it was the fans undermining him.

Vile fans get it right.

Champagne charlie

Dissenter

Pretty sure he rates OGS actually, and will no doubt be proclaiming he’s top drawer on this game alone.

Marko

What abuse dissenter?

Marc

If it stays like this the points gap between City and Liverpool will be greater than the gap between City and Arsenal, we’ll also have a game in hand.

Pep’s rubbish.

Marc

Sorry Marko

Spanishdave

Marc
You mean Arsenal then!

Dissenter

The city players will use the Arsenal game as a reaction to this [likely] loss.
God help us.

Marc

Dave

I wouldn’t say no – put it that way.

Maybe Pep could come is as Ass Manager to Arteta.

Spanishdave

Nice one Marc
Lol

Dissenter

How is that not a yellow card?
These refs ?%$

Marc

Dissenter

Shit I forgot we had them next weekend. Taking my nephew to the match as well, reasonable chance it’ll turn him off football for life.

Marko

Wan Bissaka is brilliant though

Dissenter

Marc
The amount of shots at goal we give up is astounding.
I think a good team like city will use those chances to replicate a very bad spanking, one that we will be talking about like the 8-2 loss.
I think we like at Westham, get spanked by city at home and go on to lose to Everton
…then Freddie will be sacked for Neil Warnock as caretaker manager 😁😁😁

MGooner

@ Cesc Appeal

Would really love to have that City IP here. I’d actually settle for half of that 1 billion they spent to win the titles.

jwl

Dissenter – I remember reading long article awhile back, said top coaches only last for two or three seasons at clubs before players start to tune out. Fergie was able to avoid this with constant churn of players and coaches, things didn’t go stale.

I think Pep is overated, like you say, he only coached best assembled teams, Mourinho has much more impressive record.

Marko

Perfectly set up for United. 10 men behind the ball and City pushing their fullbacks up they can break on Fernandinho and Otamendi.

Marc

Dissenter

As I parted company at the turnstiles with the guy’s I was with Thursday night I said “as long as it’s not another 2 -2 draw”.

Couple of hours later I’m praying for 2-2.

Dissenter

*we lose at Westham

Marc

You think it’ll be 1 point from 12 for Ljungberg?

Good to see the Northern scum in no way acting like scum and throwing coins at the opposition.

Dissenter

Utter disgrace as the etihad stadium.
These idiots were happy to have gulf-state billionaires fund their team to glory, now that they aren’t winning, they act like idiots.

Ishola70

This Angelino is causing problems for City.

Gets caught out quite a lot.

Nelson

MC fans are throwing objects to Manure players taking a corner.

MGooner

@ Dissenter

Undertaker manager 🙂

For the club of individual players? which one first?

Marc

Sorry that’d be 1 from 15.

Fuck me after those we’ve got Bournemouth away, Chelsea home and then ManU home.

Ishola70

Why isn’t Sterling booked for simulation

Dissenter

Marc
Yes, I think it will be one from 15 points for Freddie, Everton too will beat us away.
The players aren’t mounting a challenge at all. The manager has no independent thought, someone said it’s like Emery is on a stadium ban and is communicating with a walkie-talkie.
There are assistant managers who are very good as assisting others but cannot fathom a distinctive vision of what they want. I think Freddie is Ione of such assistants.

Ishola70

Has to be said Lindelof has been doing some good defending in recent matches.

Improving.

Maguire has been a good signing overall yet they have still conceded enough goals in recent games.

Marc

Dissenter

It could easily be a single point from the next 3 matches.

MGooner

Now you’ve got me starting to think about relegation.

Don’t be so negative guys.

Nelson

The coaching staff should study how Manure defends with 10 men. We’ll need that very soon.

Marko

Why isn’t Sterling booked for simulation

Cause he’s English and English players don’t dive

Dissenter

United are really in that position where a really good managerial appointment can transform them. I’m not a fan of OGS.
They have been. buying up young players with very high ceilings.

Marko

I really wish Bellerin and Kolasinac would study how Wan Bissaka plays full back. He literally contests every cross

Marc

MGooner

I’m not being negative – the way we’re playing at the moment it’s a distinct possibility.

The only positive I can think of is it might shake the management into getting something done.

MGooner

@ Nelson

It would help, but not enough. With Xhaka and Ozil in the team, we are 2 bodies short when defending.

Dissenter

Mgooner
“Now you’ve got me starting to think about relegation. Don’t be so negative guys”

Anyone not remotely considering that possibility, based on the current form, lack of squad character and absence of football wit in the backroom is living in a penthouse in la-la land.

Zacharse

Still no word on january bin-offs??! Xhaka, ozil, mustafi all set to stay?!
Good to see the club is losing money, bout time the kroenkes considered the future of their half-assed investment. Also ironic to see how american sports ownership mentality exposed. Wonder if josh/stan are paying attention now? Wonder if they even realize that going for pepe over zaha exemplifies the naivety of their appointed mgmt

MGooner

@ Marc

The problems are there for all to see. We are too slow in transition, in playing one touch football, releasing the ball quickly.

But we do not have the personnel to do it properly. The midfield and defence lack the technical ability for this.

A management team would need at least a couple of months to coach these into the payers, essentially playing 6 a side in tight spaces.

Marc

MGooner

That’s been my point about going back to basics.

Fuck the EL I want Tierney starting at LB, get Torreira and one other in a midfield 2 told to protect the back 4 – that’s your job, get Auba playing threw the middle not out wide, start Pepe we paid £70 million for him for fucks sake.

And most important of all I don’t want to see Xhaka or Mustafi anywhere near training with the first team let alone getting matches.

Marc

OK that’s going to make it an interesting final 6 – 10 minutes.

Dissenter

Oh dear
That was always going to happen

Nelson

I prefer positional defense instead of high pressing.

Receding Hairline

City have conceded 19 goals this season. They concede at will.

I don’t think their inexperienced assistant manager is the way to go right now.

Ishola70

Marc “And most important of all I don’t want to see Xhaka or Mustafi anywhere near training with the first team let alone getting matches.” The problem is there is another big twat that has landed in at Arsenal in the shape of David Luiz. Even when fans thought the team were half decent they were still so dodgy in away matches so it’s really hard to see Arsenal getting all the points at West Ham the way things are atm. It looks draw at best and this team so badly needs a win. Let’s just say a win would… Read more »

Victorious

So glad for Klopp

Absolutely deserve a title for the work he’s done at pool

Receding Hairline

People keep mentioning Carlo Ancelloti, Napoli’s last win was on 23rd October.

He has taken a very good Napoli team backwards.