So we’ll start today with a video from Rio Ferdinand.
Rio talking about Arsenal after visiting the training ground. 🔥
Via @Amuel_7
— Le Grove (@LeGrove) November 25, 2021
It’s hard to deny one of the best Manchester United defenders of all time their opinion on the culture brewing at Arsenal. He played for the best, he did it with young players, and he likely knows what a good training ground feels like.
Why does he feel this?
Culture. You can feel it in a business that has it nailed down properly. A good sign of culture is that everyone knows what the plan is. Rio specifically says he spoke to a load of the coaches and they all knew where they were going.
There is no more powerful tool in business than clarity. The same for sport. Clarity of vision tells everyone where they are going. Clarity reduces friction in an organisation, because when it’s not there, other people fill the clarity vacuum with their version of what it is. Once you know what the vision is, you can build a culture around it and set out the principles for how people operate within the system.
Arsenal hasn’t had clarity for 10 years.
Reengineering decline (rot) of that magnitude was always a big job.
This is how it usually goes:
- The vision is set
- Certain folk complain about the vision and explain why it’s not for them and they can’t do it
- The new leader is challenged because the ‘can’t do’ folk spread negativity. Everyone else in the business grabs the popcorn to see if the new leader caves like a coward or stands their ground. ‘Can this person be fucked with’ is the question everyone wants to find out.
- If the new leader stands their ground the arsonists that don’t want it to work are weeded out. This is painful, because arsonists in business can be popular and often are. Removing influential arsonists always rocks the boat. Especially if they are talented (Netflix talented dickheads conversation)
- When you remove big names, you have to show that it was worth it. In business, you just fire people. In football, you have to drop people to the bench or take their squad number away, which is way more painful. If you’re doing that while losing, which is what happened, things can get really spicy.
Every new vision needs proof points.
It took until December 26th for those proof points to happen for Arteta. He was on life support by the time those came through. But he made it.
Well, this season, the vision is clear, the culture has been set, the dickheads have been moved on, and now we have new foot soldiers that believe in what is going on.
There are also results. They are early, sure. But whatever is happening is delivering points and belief at the training ground that things are progressing.
That’s powerful. It’s even more powerful when the person telling everyone that is Rio Ferdinand on a Youtube channel desperate for that NOT to be the story.
Is a great culture the end goal? No. Top-tier trophies are. A culture is a rallying tool that creates the right environment to get you there.
Isn’t the attacking output a bigger issue?
Yes and no. Culture doesn’t solve tactical or personnel issues. But it does make it more likely we’ll find a solve because there’s desire from everyone to fix it.
Example:
❌Mesut Ozil is not going to solve the lack of pressures when out of possession
✅ Auba, for all his challenges, is trying his harder to adapt his game. He’s one of the top strikers for pressures in the league. Why is he doing this? Because he believes in the culture and wants to lead it.
Look at the issues Poch has at PSG. All the players, but no culture. The players run the show there and if they don’t like the manager, then that’s how it’ll go. There’s no desire from them to fix the issues. It is AMAZING to read people call him a bad manager. He’s one of the best in the business. PSG is the problem. No top manager wants that job, which is why they end up with people like Unai Emery.
Patience is key in all of this.
As a fan, you’re going to have to accept that we are operating a recruitment strategy that has inconsistency baked into the plan. This current squad of players hasn’t had an attacking revamp yet. The only true attacking player Arteta signed was Willian. Everyone else is Wenger or Emery. We tried for Tammy in the summer but couldn’t make the one-in-one-out work. There’s still more that can be done with what we have, no doubt. We’re below par attack-wise. Our best striker is not at his peak. Our young players are in and out of form. The team still doesn’t really know each other and they don’t have the ability to deliver full performances yet.
… but it’ll come.
As I wrote yesterday, this season is a messy bitch. We started the first 3 games with a subpar defence that we changed out after the international break. There was also a covid outbreak and a load of injuries. Arsenal can’t handle 9 players out, most teams can’t, so that was a mitigating circumstance.
We’re 9 games in with a new team. We’ve accrued the 2nd most points, scored 2 less than City, and have the 3rd best defence. The players have largely won over the fan base. Could there be a correction coming? Maybe. It’s unlikely we’re going to be accruing the 2nd most points over 9 game periods all season, we’re simply not that good or experienced enough… yet. But, it is weird for people to criticize consistency when the flow of points has been so consistent over those 9 games. I’d also re-up yesterday’s comment. Arsenal has been remarkably consistent since Boxing Day last year. People keep saying what we’re doing right now isn’t sustainable, ignoring that we’ve been doing it for nearly a year.
We have 9 big games coming up right now against some very beatable teams, plus some very tough games that on our day, we should be winning. Then we’ll see where we are. If we’re still 5th, we’ll be able to make better conclusions about the data. If we’re 7th, but within spitting distance of top 4, we have to be ok with that, because the back half of the season looks good for us. This time last season, we were 10 points off 4th. Now we’re 3.
Progress happens in spits and spats. It’s not linear. That’s why it’s good to look at how we’re doing across phases, versus wetting the bed over a Liverpool game we were always likely to struggle with.
So I’ll leave you on a short post today (short when I started). If Rio Ferdinand is telling you the culture and vibes at Arsenal are good, you should see that as a positive. He doesn’t need to say that and it’s especially amusing when it’s through gritted teeth. It’s yet more context for you to wrap around those xG numbers. When Arsenal were ‘flying’ under managers of the past, the vibes at training were not great, which is why I wrote with such confidence about the incoming correction.
Messy data tends to correct in a good way when players are engaged.
Let’s see.
If you haven’t, please check out the excellent interview we did with ex-Head of Medical Services, Colin Lewin. The man has seen it all, he’s one of the best around, it was a total pleasure talking to him. It’s nice to know a man as humble as Colin has staff still at the club. Good culture doesn’t happen without good people.
You can check out his clinic here, his team will help you if you are an elite athlete like me. He might even help you if you’ve pinged a hammy reaching for the Percy Pigs. Enjoy, leave us a rating on itunes, or subscribe to our Youtube Channel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYtGl1dX5qI
Time up sad but true. Should be Arteta’s byline when Wenger shifts his out fiorwst to head coach while Wenger garner’s the manager’s position. New will be beck to Wengerball all over again but this time the playing fields have leveled up with the TV money being spent wisely with at least 6 clubs scrapping for 4th spot. In Wenger’s day it was 2 clubs. Why couldn’t we have gone for Rangnick at the beginning of the season? Arteta had proven his lack of credentials and still a rookie mentally and little trust in our youth. The only small positive… Read more »
Decent pick PhD. I don’t listen to much dance and Rap but Yello is cool
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jJkdRaa04g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcXsK_u4ixI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyaZmFGyuMg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ui9umU0C2g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Dg-g7t2l4
Some tunes to make Friday palatable for the weekend’s fun and a brilliant weekend of football to watch.
Tony
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwevRf41Law
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxWMhCUxdD0
Phd Seal, cool love his voice.
Jesus, this Arsenal blog did a character assassination on Henry just because he made innocuous comments when the team was performing poorly and is now drooling over Ferdinand the dope just because he said something positive about dearest leader.
Oh my…
Trevor Horn was the leader in the big sound. He’d light up a big spliff at the desk and commence to produce. Fabulous studio with similar sound to The Church studio in London the Eurythmics made famous.
https://www.musicradar.com/features/5-songs-producers-need-to-hear-by-trevor-horn
Hey Tony,
I think Seal credits Trevor Horn with making his career-more so with the-‘ Kiss from the Rose’ song..And going forward with their further collaborations.
Certainly,Trevor Horn has a background that has gone somewhat unnoticed in the mainstream media.
He was the 80s top producer where he was first to make the big sound with Seal and Franky Goes to Hollywood that led to the dance era big sound that progressed to the 90s from new producers copying TH’s techniques, Phd.
Martin Rushent was also an 80s top producer who leant towards more New Wave band’s such as The Stranglers, Buzzcocks, Madness final mixing etc.
He was the polar opposite of TH making albums in quick time.
https://www.soundonsound.com/people/martin-rushent-producer
TonyNovember 26, 2021 03:14:31
He was the 80s top producer where he was first to make the big sound with Seal and Franky Goes to Hollywood that led to the dance era big sound that progressed to the 90s from new producers copying TH’s techniques, Phd.
——-
Oh cool..Learn something new..I was made aware of Trevor Horn,from Seal’s concert actually..
So,was Trevor Horn responsible for the old Adamski track with Seal?
OH s..t, Rangnick to Man Utd. had all the ESPN-FC pundits were praising that move. “Someone decided to switch on the lights at Man Utd”. and now the Dec 2nd game will have the additional challenge of the New Manager’s bounce. All of a sudden there is a new dynamic in fighting for the 4th spot in the table. That is what happens when you have disinterested owners. Kroenkes couldn’t give a rat’s ass as long as we stay in the EPL and he has a club with history to point to as owner. The changes at Arsenal should have… Read more »
PhD, I don’t think Trevor was involved in Killer as it was credited as an Adamski production.
I think Kiss fort a Rose was Trever’s first collaboration with Seal. It’s possible a Killer remix was done with Trevor later; it would make sense that it was.
MD if we lose to Untied the excuses are ready made.
PhD2020November 26, 2021 02:43:18
Hey Tony,
I think Seal credits Trevor Horn with making his career-more so with the-‘ Kiss from the Rose’ song..And going forward with there further collaborations.
———-
TonyNovember 26, 2021 04:15:42/China1(Whirlpool)
PhD, I don’t think Trevor was involved in Killer as it was credited as an Adamski production.
I think Kiss fort a Rose was Trever’s first collaboration with Seal. It’s possible a Killer remix was done with Trevor later; it would make sense that it was.
——————————-
Tony/China1
Point taken…
Curious to here your other takes.Along with Chnia1’s take on Seal’s-‘Whirpool’ strumming that guitar scenario….?
We should Not be worried about Man u,
‘
the vision is clear, the culture has been set, the dickheads have been moved on,
Im telling you for free!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDSA8h9oHdA
PhD
I think Seal was wrapped in his own dimension with his unique sound and writing style. Most if not all his songs had repetition rifts from his other hits; it is what made his sound unique. He kind of bridged the gap from say the likes of Bill Withers. Then if you listen closely you can see his inspirations from pre and post Motown as they’re not immediately obvious or weren’t for me.
So what happened against Liverpool, Sid?
Seal has great music, he should Not have involved himself with Heidi Klum, he became domesticated, less exciting to her.
TonyNovember 26, 2021 04:54:08
So what happened against Liverpool, Sid?
“” Arsenal has been remarkably consistent since Boxing Day last year. People keep saying what we’re doing right now isn’t sustainable, ignoring that we’ve been doing it for nearly a year.”””
From the horses mouth. No pun. Lmfaooooo
TonyNovember 26, 2021 04:53:11
I think Seal was wrapped in his own dimension with his unique sound and writing style. Most if not all his songs had repetition rifts from his other hits; it is what made his sound unique. He kind of bridged the gap from say the likes of Bill Withers. Then if you listen closely you can see his inspirations from pre and post Motown as they’re not immediately obvious or weren’t for me.
——————————————-
You mean the cover version(s) he did of the following:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dmMDJu4DEc
TonyNovember 26, 2021 04:53:11
I think Seal was wrapped in his own dimension with his unique sound and writing style. Most if not all his songs had repetition rifts from his other hits;
—–
Do you think the below song was a repetition rift of his other hits?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgPk-kyOfG8
PhD not really, I don’t remember much of the later 80s early 90s due to projects I was working on, usually around 15 hour days. Mid 90s I was out in LA for a month, but was away from the music scene other than when rarely seeing friends from the industry sociably at a concert or music social gathering. No real Internet back then that you could compare to today. Mobile phones were all the rage. When I was working in the industry I collected vinyl wherever I went especially white label from record companies. I didn’t have time to… Read more »
“Do you think the below song was a repetition rift of his other hits?” In the opening bars yes. His vox sound and spacey production; once the song kicks off it becomes less his traditional sound. Perhaps I used wrong choice of word with rift. But I hear other parts and change in beats from other songs and vox nuances. I hadn’t heard Weight of my mistakes before. It’s ok, but I’d prefer listening to say John Meyer than Seal other than his big hits. I tend to make playlists up rather than listen to one album unless it’s really… Read more »
SidNovember 26, 2021 04:55:32
Seal has great music, he should Not have involved himself with Heidi Klum, he became domesticated, less exciting to her.
—-
You are funny…Lol..
TonyNovember 26, 2021 05:40:49
Understandable.
Hope all is well with you either way.
Same back PhD.
Tony-One last one for you from Seal..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NUNd7z3eew
Tony
November 26, 2021 04:53:11
I think Seal was wrapped in his own dimension with his unique sound and writing style. Most if not all his songs had repetition rifts from his other hits; it is what made his sound unique.
——
You may have a point.But I don’t see the repetition rifts from his other songs,reflecting on this particular song or other songs I’ve sent to you previously.
Though,I stand corrected.
Pedro, The culture may have been over the whole course of Artetas reign. Can’t take credit away from where it is due. But the direction the club has been taking has definitely changed since he failed his top 4 now campaign with the “mature, experienced” route. Literally 12 months ago, over a year into the Arteta era we were all sitting here (except you, well held opinion) thinking wtf does this guy have to do to get sacked. I am seriously stoked they did stumble onto the formula that actually brings the fans into the mould a bit more. We… Read more »
Seal – crazy.
A song I coulr never not listen to before a surf. Until a day I got dropped by a 10+ footer and was tumbled around like a rag doll in a washing machine for 3 of the 4 sets. I nearly drowned. But the whole time in my mind “but you’re never going to survive, unless you get a little crazy”.
Did seal save my life?!?! Maybe he did 😂😂
Goobergooner I’m on the same page. He has managed to turn it around and I like the strategy but the club need to make a some serious signings to bridge the gap between us and the top 3/4. We need a top striker and a worldie in midfield. The youngsters won’t carry us through. As for lauding Rio’s comments it made me laugh. Next up you’ll be quoting Robbie Savage, Chris Sutton and all the other rentals making a living saying the first thing that comes into their heads.
Was just talking to a Spanish man U fan. He rates Arteta, and I’m not sure if it was a piss take.
That’s a sign 😂
The bard
😂😂😂
I had a chuckle at that also.
But, Pedro has made this the blog of laughs recently, so I think it’s fitting.
Laaa you peds (sorry beers)
Pedro has excuses and back up excuses
He’s covered every eventuality with a ready made excuse.
Diss,
Just gotta go along with blog of laughs for a bit. I’ll still read your opinions with less salt 😂😂
Englandsbest.
I’m in the mood for a hallelujah mate!!
Hahaha oh fuck. Mr serge you cheeky devil. But EB, get in on it
Pierre “Teams will know that we are vulnerable passing out from the back and they know there is no real outlet so they can press high and with numbers.Our home form is fine, Newcastle will give it a go at the weekend and i believe will play on the front foot so they may give us some problems at the back , but they will also leave themselves open and we should be too strong for them.” I watched the aLiverpool game again last night and the thing that struck me was how easy Liverpool dealt with the playing out… Read more »
Terra/Pierre Playing out of the back consistently without assessing the situation, or only assessing the ultimate risk as a time to hoof it forward has been our downfall on many occassions. It doesn’t have to stick at the forward. It can go longer and battle it out with a CB or whatever. But we never ever have a plan for that long ball. Never first to it, our forwards are pussies in the air; never at the 2nd ball, or never quick enough from that long ball to get into defensive shape, which means despite clearing our lines it is… Read more »
Az dog (I can finally call another person az 😂) has a fucking belter of a right pin on him. Get someone there that understands/can actually hold onto the ball and build off a long (****and quick) launch from the keeper and instantly we have another proper outlet
GoobergoonerNovember 26, 2021 07:21:41
Seal – crazy.A song I coulr never not listen to before a surf. Until a day I got dropped by a 10+ footer and was tumbled around like a rag doll in a washing machine for 3 of the 4 sets. I nearly drowned. But the whole time in my mind “but you’re never going to survive, unless you get a little crazy”.
————–
This made me really chuckle…Still chuckling….
A barrel of laughs…Lol…
Nice one and a nice story(well not really a nice experience-no doubt)… 🙂
Got to love Aussie humour…
Goober In that Liverpool game the defensive structure and indeed abilities of the Liverpool defence meant it was almost guaranteed that possession would be given up. Another working theme that was appearing from that game was how when Liverpool started to probe was the poor positioning of Lokonga when their attack developed and indeed the number of occasions he didn’t race to get back into the defensive shape.Ok it wasn’t on every occasion but it doesn’t need to be more than a couple of times for top plays to exploit the space. I watch football from a fans perspective, the… Read more »
S Asoa.
You’re a funny man!!!
DissenterNovember 26, 2021 07:30:08
Pedro has excuses and back up excuses
He’s covered every eventuality with a ready made excuse.
——–
Not going to lie-this week has been a barrel of laughs and pure banter…
Just got to roll with it and enjoy the spectacle..
I’ve been in tears…Worth the entertainment free entry. bonanza.
*Worth the entertainment free entry bonanza.
Terraloon. That is exactly how I see it. But it doesn’t mean just attack. It means midfield is bypassed in the least affecting play on defence. This can be improved by both players and tactics. But we are soooooooooooooooooo great at having 5 in the frontline but literally none of them making a run in behind let alone coming to the ball. Which leaves our midfield (and when it’s xhaka or elneny, to an even worse degree) to die on their own bravery to pick the ball up in those central positions. Our main “plays” over the last few seasons… Read more »
So fuck me sideways for having a gripe with the man making our team play sooooo damn naively
Yayayay 151st. (Artetas place without Saka and esr)
PhD hahaha I’m glad that made you laugh! 😂😂
GoobergoonerNovember 26, 2021 08:41:51
PhD hahaha I’m glad that made you laugh! 😂😂
——
I’m still chuckling……
Fornicating hilarious that story of yours…
PhD what are you up to? Have any stories similar? Or just think it’s funny seeing a ‘dumb ol’ convict’ try out his new territory? Hahaha.
So Arteta wants Wenger to help him.
That’s progress?
No Arteta is lost as a coach and is desperate to stay for the money.
God help us
Spanish. Yes. Step backwards in defence, but step forward in attack! So we literally would be back to where we started 😂😂😂😂😂
Big Weng deserves his seat back. I say let’s vote him back. Fuck the system we need Weng
I’d love wenger back as long as the role has absolutely zero power.
Ambassadorial, fantastic. A mentor for the coaches and players. Wonderful.
But do not give the man any authority please
I have a funny story from yesterday but don’t have time to type it out currently
I’m waiting for the last larf, come end of season
Inconsistency? We have never looked like being able to score 3 goals under arteta. We haven’t even for a half gone you’re not going to get the ball we will throw everything at you.
Conte Sunday, you could tell goals were coming, second half the pressure was there.
The lack of pressure to date is a worry, it’s not inconsistency, it’s a style of play over 2 yrs in
If I was Arteta, if Wenger is to be brought back, I would wait until he manages to bring Arsenal back into the Champions League under his own steam.
Otherwise he is forever going to be compared to Wenger… and how he falls short.
Do I want Wenger back?
Genuinely mixed. Respect him hugely as a person but as a manager he stayed on too long… and left us a massive rebuilding job.
Good analysis of Auba’s numbers on Arseblog.
Suggests what some of us were saying, that more likely the lack of service and Arteta’s style of play to blame for his lack of goals, rather than the new big money contract, or being on the wrong side of 30.
Clearly neither Auba or Laca seem the type of attacking players Arteta would sign given a choice, but their scoring record to date surely proves a good coach should be getting more out of them.
I went to the Doctors today as every I pass wind it makes noise that sounds like the word Honda
In a blink of an eye My GP said “ You’ve got an abscess “
“Wow “I said” how do you know that?”
“Ah “he relied” haven’t you ever heard that abscess makes the fart go Honda ! “
Terra that’s so bad it’s funny
Oh faaaaak! Stan has to pay out US$790 million to the town of St Louis. TBH, I hope he sells The Arse to the Swedish fella to cover the loss.
The Kroenkes are a bloody liability when it comes to footy/throwy ownership 🙁
Just wait until Xhaka comes back. When Bellerin returns off loan. Like El neny did. Like Kolasinac did. They went on loan before right. And then came back. because nobody out side the prem can afford their wages and nobody in the prem wants them. Anyway. All these UTD fans over excited about Ragnick. He taught klopp. He taught Tuchel. Cobblers.He might be a great coach but this is the big time now. Has he proven anything On the Elite level. Him. Himself. Not his “students”. Just Him? Typical UTD P.R team including paid fan outlets trying to paint narratives… Read more »
“”””What was evident is Ramsdale needed specific angles and it seemed to me that his body shape indicates a few seconds before passing the ball to the CD in the box. The majority of times he clearly prefers to pass the ball the his left .””””
I was checking some heat maps before the above post, i was amazed that managers had Not figured this out and prepared for it.
I was impressed that Klopp seems to have prepared for this.
https://youtu.be/Ku0VMMansrc
Pedro
You are from Befnel Green inch ya. Enjoy 🙂
LM7 on Monday
So here’s a funny story about me from yesterday I never got my drivers license in the UK and I’ve been here 8 years in China so figured it’s time to just learn here. But the first step is you have to register and do a health check. My wife told me when she did it years back it included a super basic eye test. I panicked a bit because even tho my eyesight is actually excellent, I am in fact quite severely colorblind. I have no difficulty identifying the red/Amber/green lights etc that I’d need to drive but I… Read more »
I’ll be watching the Saints against Liverpool with interests this weekend. I want to find out, why is Arteta’s team always collapses against big teams and we don’t even try to give them a game or fight under Mr averageness.
Diet Peps tactics are very predictable, big teams have more intelligent players that know our next move on the field.
Reality Check “Anyway. All these UTD fans over-excited about Ragnick. He taught klopp. He taught Tuchel. Cobblers.” It’s not just fans, pundits & journalists are always blowing smoke up managers’ backsides. You see it from fans on this blog all the time. Go back and look at all those heralded as ‘great’ managers that suddenly didn’t meet expectations. I remember when Mourinho was guaranteed to win trophies and it was doom for Arsenal; we have just had exactly the same with Conte. You have to laugh. Mourinho stunk up the place and Conte is so good he can’t even get… Read more »
China1
Good story by the way. Fernandez of MUFC is colour blind and he said it often causes him problems on the pitch. If Portugal wear green and the opposition is in red he says he has to look at the shorts and it affects his performance. Not good at traffic lights either.
China1November 26, 2021 13:17:07 Yep,indeed a funny story… Except for the fact that your story is emanating from a country that ‘allegedly’ unleashed the virus to the rest of the world,decimated lives,economies and in return sold faulty’Covid-19 test kits as a by-product to the NHS in particular the UK,to add insult to injury. Never mind that people go missing in your country of residence,females sterilised,men of a different faith,political persuasion imprisoned,children separated from their families and brainwashed,in addition to dissidents and people articulating a different thought and faith having their organs harvested…It goes on…… Yep,funny story indeed in light of… Read more »
I think Diet Pep is colour blind, he must have thought Klopp is Mane.
China lol
China1
I got your back man. It’s the animals in England I’m pretty sure.
Bring back Santi
No to a Wenger return.
PhD2020
The whole world’s fu*ked up, if we start discussing it in reply to a funny story by a poster, who know by a pseudo name, on a football blog, on a Friday evening, then my friend you need to cheer up a bit. Life’s already tough enough :))
China
Very funny. Thanks for sharing!
Pedro
Where are the ads? I could see a blank space in the articles, not sure if it’s for approval process but if not, you should consider the ones which collapses if there’s no bid to your ad space.
P.s. I only know about AdSense but it should be there for any other ads services
Just heard on Sky that Spurs are lodging an appeal with UEFA after their humiliation in Slovenia. Apparently, the plumber who played in goal wasn’t gas safe registered.
I have watched this evening the Arsene Wenger film.
Fascinating story and a very good watch. I can understand very well why Arteta would like to see Wenger to return to the club in some capacity.
Whether that will happen or would be a good idea is a different matter to consider.