Afternoon all.
Newsnow is full of rumours which suggest Carlo Ancelotti could replace Arsene Wenger in the summer, but we don’t need him then, we need him right now.
He ticks every box. He’s a winner, experienced in most leagues including the Premier League and he’d instil a whole new attitude into our current squad. I doubt he’d accept lacklustre performances, individuals who can’t be bothered and there’s no way he’d accept us leaking the amount of goals we do.
As a manager, he has worked for Reggiana, Parma, Juventus, Milan, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, and has won domestic titles in Italy, England, France, Spain, and Germany. Not bad eh?
Ok, Bayern sacked him but Pep was always going to be a hard act to follow and don’t forget that he was the manager who inflicted one of the most embarrassing on us in the Champions League with a 10-2 aggregate. Shocking. That was the final straw for Alexis apparently as having reportedly agreed to stay, he changed his mind. The penny dropped for him.
His CV speaks for itself:
Juventus:
UEFA Intertoto Cup:
Milan:
Serie A: 2003–04
Coppa Italia: 2002–03
Supercoppa Italiana: 2004
UEFA Champions League: 2002–03, 2006–07
UEFA Super Cup: 2003, 2007
FIFA Club World Cup: 2007
Chelsea:
Premier League: 2009–10
FA Cup: 2009–10
FA Community Shield: 2009
Paris Saint-Germain:
Ligue 1: 2012–13
Real Madrid:
Copa del Rey: 2013–14
UEFA Champions League: 2013–14
UEFA Super Cup: 2014
FIFA Club World Cup: 2014
Bayern Munich:
Bundesliga: 2016–17
DFL-Supercup: 2016
Individual honours:
Serie A Coach of the Year: 2001, 2004
Panchina d’Oro: 2002–03, 2003–04
Ligue 1 Manager of the Year: 2012–13 (tie with Christophe Galtier)
IFFHS World’s Best Club Coach: 2007
European Coach of the Year—Alf Ramsey Award: 2003
World Soccer Magazine Manager of the Year: 2003
Globe Soccer Awards Best Coach of the Year: 2014
Globe Soccer Awards Best Media Attraction in Football: 2014
Enzo Bearzot Award: 2014
FIFA World Coach of the Year (Runner-up): 2014
Miguel Muñoz Trophy: 2014–15
Italian Football Hall of Fame: 2015
A.C. Milan Hall of Fame
A.S. Roma Hall of Fame
The best thing our club could do is appoint him now until the end of the season, give him enough money to sign a few additions on the defensive side of our game, secure top four and then work his magic in the summer if his appointment works for both sides.
Makes sense to me, how about you?
Perhaps if Chelsea spank us later, it’ll make sense to the board too….
Couldn’t agree more Rico… right now with who is available he would be my choice.
sorry to say though top 4 is gone imo..
if he came in now it would be to steady the ship and plan for the summer…
and if getting tanked tonight gets Wenger sacked then so be it… I’ll take it on the chin for the greater good.
As would I Kel, sooner he’s gone the better…
Tuchel is out of a job too but he’s not got the experience Ancelotti has…
Bristol City did well last night, hope they do even better in the second leg. Not that I expect us to get to Wembley by the way.
I remember a few seasons ago Ancelotti sitting watching a game at the Emirates, he was available then to.
the club needs to act in its best interests Arsenal need new blood new ideas, they need to stop this penny pinching transfer policy it’s pathetic.
I’ve no problem with being smart with money or getting value for money but Arsenal need to act and behave like the club they actually are one of the biggest clubs in europe financially.
and for a club who prides itself on it’s financials letting it’s two prized assets run down their contracts is absolutely idiotic just what is going on over there…
Totally agree Kel. I’ve no problem with cheaper signings, nor youth signings etc but it’s about the quality of a player for me and not a price tag. Yes, in certain positions I think big money will needed to be spent to get the right player like a DM, CB, Striker etc, but there are still bargains out there to be had imo.
But AW has wasted so much money on dross over the years.. Someone should have told him it’s quality, not quantity…
That’s a very impressive cv rico re Ancelloti. ..if only it could happen.
I’d take anyone to be honest. .not sure about Tuchell though..he is wenger like when it comes to defending!
It’s still a wild dream that wenger would get the sack, he seems to have 9 lives, everytime it looks bleak for him, he gets out of jail somehow!
I expect a loss tonight with the usual controversial ref decision. .I wonder who Riley assigned for the game tonight?
VAR tonight though Kk, we might see an honest game… lol
I doubt they’ll sack him myself, just ask him to resign, but either way, I think we’re stuck with him until the summer at least…
There are so many issues on the field at the moment. So may contracts either up or heading that way. So many problem positions etc, etc. Even if Wenger does go the new manager is going to need a hefty bankroll to re-equip the club and get it pointing in the right direction again. Add to that the fact that not too many players going out will command huge sums and a snapshot of the general health of Arsenal is not pretty.
But, at least we will see whether the oft stated ‘ambition’ is going to be financially backed or will remain yet another load of hot air. Knowing Italian managers I reckon most build from the back and that will be a good thing.
I wonder where we’ll be a year from now.
A change in manager might mean a change of players views about departing I’d have thought. I can only see the reason so many are not in a hurry to renew is because of the state things are in. Like us, it’s highly probable they see that under Wenger we’re going nowhere.
Oxlade-Chamberlain was the beginning, the club needs to act fast before many others follow. Ivan and his sidekicks must see that. His office is at the training ground so he must talk to the players regularly..
DE BRUYNE ON SANCHEZ – Sky Sports
Kevin De Bruyne believes Alexis Sanchez would be a welcome addition to the Manchester City squad.
Sanchez has six months left on his Arsenal contract and has been strongly linked with a move to City.
De Bruyne said: “(He is) a very good player. Obviously we will see what happens in this transfer period.
“If a good player comes to us that is better, if he doesn’t come we do it with the team we have. We are on a good period already – the whole season. Everybody is doing a good job.
“When he comes he will add something to the team.”
Interesting use of ‘when’ in that last quote…
If Alexis doesn’t play tonight, then he must be going.
If he does go then it’s down to Danny Welbeck and Chuba Akpom to make up the shortfall in goals, because it looks like Walcott is going as well.
Clear the decks for the new manager I guess…
Afternoon all
You may or may not have noticed that the original figure of 12 million for Coquelin has now been ammended to 22 million.If he is to be replaced with someone better in these crazy inflated prices of today, what would we have to pay for much needed class player, or to put it bluntly would we ?
Simple question:What woul be the criteria for Wenger leaving this Summer when anyone with a football and business brain should never have given him yet another contract.I am not being disrespectful to him but we can’t live on past memories forever.Every other player wants to leave,we negotiate generally quite badly,Wenger invented the word DITHERER in football terms,dressing room discontent already noticed last season and so on.It’s all a bit like after the horse has bolted.
I wonder if for once the club are restricting spending purposely if Sanchez/Ozil/Wilshere/Giroud/Walcott/Debuchy etc ( perm any 2 upwards from those are going) as winning any trophy or even top 4 is becoming a bit too distant and would rather start again next season with a new man without any interference from AW ,rather than let him buy in this window as up to now all his quotes seem to suggest very frugal spending depending who we sell.Even Perez he now wants back on loan.We aren’t acting like a big club,are we ?
Arsenal: Ospina, Chambers, Mustafi, Holding, Bellerin, Xhaka, Wilshere, Maitland-Niles, Welbeck, Iwobi, Lacazette
Subs: Macey, Mavropanos, Mertesacker, Nelson, Elneny, Walcott, Sanchez
Obviously Iwobi is not on the naughty step.
Evening all and thank you Rico.
Although Rico it was going well untill you mentioned Ancelotti winning the FA Community Shield in 2009 !…………….that then made Wengers honours look more respectable as he has won it about seven times !.
😆
To be honest I`m still seething from the FA Cup defeat………..Wenger has turned me into a pycho murdering fiend with a taste for wearing womans underwear !…………………….I`ve been filling all the rabbit holes in my field wearing stockings…..die rabbits die !
Dont give a shit about tonights game and if he plays a full team elevating the league cup above The FA Cup……………well I dont know what I will do, probably tie myself to mannequin in a Ann Summers store demanding the execution ……sorry……… extradition of Wenger and the right to deport rabbits from Cornwall to Kroenkes Texas syrup making ranch !……………………..Love to see two rabbits going at it on top of his head !…………………………..anyway I dont really know what I`m on about as I haven`t been right since the cupid stunt Wenger ruined the FA Cup !………….
Here`s a question………………………..we are the holders of the most FA Cup wins…………………….who would you want to win an FA Cup final between Manshafter and Spuds ?………………………..Manshafter equalling our most wins or Spuds stopping them !………………….hard for me as I hate Tottnumb so much it hurts…………………….I suppose the sight of sobbing spuds is much better for erectile dysfunction than seeing happy people from Surrey !
Iwobi again? What is he thinking of…
You have your answer Kev.
Get over it Lc, it could be good in the long run… ?
£22 million for Coquelin Kelsey, didn’t see that one…
Wilshere starts again, he’ll be crocked soon..
Arsenal: Ospina, Chambers, Mustafi, Holding, Bellerin, Xhaka, Wilshere, Maitland-Niles, Welbeck, Iwobi, Lacazette
Subs: Macey, Mavropanos, Mertesacker, Nelson, Elneny, Walcott, Sanchez
£22m for Coquelin, I’m a bit sceptical about that figure but it would explain why the club doesn’t want to risk him…
Where are our goals coming from tonight?
Welbeck? ?
Iwobi? ?
Yep Rico, you’re right, 3-1… ?
Just checked, it’s £12m for Coquelin and the fee has been agreed with Valencia. Good luck to him, at least they’ll be a friendly face to greet him..
If ManCity offer between £25m and £30m he’s gone Rico…
I bet they take it to the last week of the window…
I reckon he’ll go by the weekend Kev.
Mustafi really needs to be Chambers and Holdings ear Kev, give them support and encouragement…
Yeah Rico, Valencia ain’t that flush with dough.
£12m sounds about right.
Maybe there’s some add-ons?
Still think we should have kept Gabriel…
Me too Kev, he was a beast when he arrived and I think he’s back to his old self now…
Mavropanos might get a run out tonight Rico..?
Depends how the game goes I guess Kev. Actually, strike that, Wenger will have his changes already sorted I suspect. It’s not like he’s proactive is it….
The team selected is the first eleven, bar Ospina, post February 1st. All others will be sold off for as much as the club can get! Having fukced up in the summer.
Of Iwobi starting, it stinks. I rather think when you have reached Wenger’s level of dementia what happened on Sunday is not now even a memory! I can’t think there is any other explanation. It certainly can’t be for footballing reasons. Presently he’s not even up to Championship levels.
Result tonight. 4-1 to the chavs. And I’m being generous when I give is one!
What on earth is going on at Arsenal FC?
Shall I watch, possibly on my iPad. Can’t really inflict another desperate performance on lady wavy! She suffers enough as it isn’t!
Ho hum.
Ozil not even on bench, so I will ask as I squeeze the life out of my Wenger effigy………………..why was he not playing against Forrest ?
Hard to disagree there Wavy but I do think we’ll sign a few this window too. Lord knows who though but hopefully it’s Sven who identifies them…
I hear Wenger’s long time pursuit of Kalou might finally be satisfied!
Change the corner taker!
Without Ozil and Alexis we have no creativity up front…
Much better result than I predicted earlier, which is a good thing. However, apart from Lacazette’s attempted conversion, we never looked remotely like scoring, so we were never going to win it where we? Better at the back little,in midfield especially after Jack went off and precious little up front. Not a lot of positives there!
Wenger earns yet another week’s reprieve. Hey ho!
Well played draw I thought. .
Jack crooked as you predicted rico ?
Atkinson called the no penalty right but i thought he would have given it if there was no VAR..he knew his decison would be challenged and he would look stupid ..lol.
Why wenger didn’t use the 3rd sub even to waste more time is a mystery!
Well played. Curiously disciplined.
Afternoon all from Hot Launceston, By far your best post in a while, due maybe to actually having something good to write about. Yes, I agree with “we need him right now”.
Jack has a sprained ankle, nothing too serious. That’s positive.
Also positive was a clean sheet and an improved defensive performance.
From what I heard on the radio and read, we kept things relatively tight.
An away goal would have been nice, 1-1 even as away goals come into things if we finish extra time in the 2nd leg all square.
Lacazette was sick all day so respect for him putting in a shift when he probably should have been in bed.
Alexis on the bench makes that decision all the more curious – or not as the case maybe.
Now if Koscielny, Ramsey, Ozil, Monreal and Kolasinac are fit for the 2nd leg and we don’t get anymore injuries, Wenger will have some interesting options to choose from.
Morning HH great game last night. We looked more compact at the back. Holding and chambers were better than the weekend. What can I say about Jack the lad. I remember he made a similar sumptuous pass to Sanchez against Crystal palace. Shame he’s out for a considerable amount of time. He’s playing out of his skin now. A better coach and manager and we just might have our jack Wilshire back. I was impressed by iwobi too even though am not his biggest fan. As for AMN he’s just something else isn’t he? Play him in his preferred center role and he ‘ll blossom. Can’t wait for new manager. The ingredients are there even for a team in shambles we just lack a good cook. The big question is can we win both legs?? I doubt it.
Morning Kev, Goonster and all.
Good news re Jack then, thank goodness.
I thought Iwobi was dire goonie… Much much better from the defence although Mustafi and Chambers need to stop all this pushing and shoving which gives away free kicks in dangerous areas. Further up the pitch as Elneny did to stop an attack is ok though imo…
Really Rico well I thought he was the only one aside from Wilshire who was really taking the game to Chelsea. Anyway let’s see what happens when we have all our big guns available for the second leg.
The burst through the Chelsea team said it all for me. Great to see him go at the defence but when it mattered, he failed to spot someone in a position to score. Instead he went alone and his pathetic attempt trickled towards Courtois. I just don’t see what Wenger clearly does.
I know Theo is not the future but why not play him? He’s no worse than Iwobi when it comes to defensive duties.
Lol that shot on target against courtois was laughable. What’s with arsenal players always fluffing their chances? It’s so embarrassing for professional players to hit the ball like little girls. Shame.
Harsh goonster, girls can get power behind a shot you know……
Lol Rico emphasis on “little “????of course girls can. Have you seen my maternal cousin Gretchen? Lord God in heaven. She’s built like a tank.
Morning Rico, Goonster and all. Strange game last night with a thankful absence of out usual Kamikaze defending. We actually looked rather disciplined and as mentioned, compact. I thought that both Holding and Chambers looked much more comfortable alongside Mustafi. I have never personally understood what Iwobi is all about except for a flailing-armed step-over on occasion. I liked Jack’s performance and our creativity suffered when he went off.
A decent result against a horrible team then and I think that players like Hazard who rely on simulation to win free kicks and penalties are going to find that VAR is not their friend. He was notably quiet last night because he knew he wasn’t going to get away with cheating as he usually does.
Morning Rico and all
On reflection a better result than predicted by most on here.I think it was a mixture of last ditch defending and Chelsea not on song.Morata and Lacazette both had poor games for different reasons and the team chosen definitely put the effort in but skill is questionable with so many players.
Jack was a major loss and we hear yet again it’s an ankle injury,this time a sprain.
I am not going to name players again except Welbeck and iwobi regardless of skill can’t kick a ball 10 yards with power between them, just not acceptable, but there are far too many who just aren’t good enough yet we seem to do well against this Conte’s Chelsea.
Shoot on site apparently isn’t allowed by AW, zonal marking is still not perfected and our dead ball taking ,which should be a threat,is abysmal.
We don’t know in two weeks who will be back from injury or if there will be any transfer activity by then,I wonder if AW will keep Sanchez until after that game.
One of the joys of supporting Arsenal is you never know if they will turn up on the day.
Morning Adam and Kelsey.
You guys seen the article in The Mail about Wenger in the stands…? It’s funny.
New post up now.